THANK YOU, JULIE!

When I checked the mailbox this evening, I had to swipe a spider to the outside and, in the process, one of my envelopes hit the ground.  Yep!  It was the one with this card from my sweet friend, Julie.  She mentioned on her blog that she'd mailed a Rich Razzleberry birthday card to me, and isn't it sweet?  I love the vintage image and the stacked layering and, of course, the Rich Razzleberry!  Thank you, Julie!

STENCILS & VINYL FOR "FEMININE FRIDAYS"

Last week, Julie issued a mission for me to use a Stampin' Up! stencil on a gate fold card, and I chose two of them for my projects . . . the smaller stencil from Vintage Ornaments I and Kind Thoughts Brocade.  On the front of this square card, I sponged Concord Crush ink on the ornament stencil and used a sponge dauber to apply Frost White shimmer paint for the detail.  Rhinestone jewels and tinsel trim were used to embellish the card, as well as the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and Brushed Silver card stock.  Frost White shimmer paint was again used with the Kind Thoughts Brocade stencil inside the card, and I used "Four the Holidays" stamp set for the sentiment and an image from "Tiny Tags" on the signature tag inside the card.  For my second project, I re-purposed an old cabinet door.  I used gold stencil paint creme and the Kind Thoughts Brocade stencil and added house numbers and keys, which were cut  from a Stampin' Up! Chocolate Decor Elements sheet of vinyl.  I used my Cricut Expression and the "Sentimentals" and "Storybook" cartridges for the images.  The door isn't quite finished, though.  I plan to add a glass knob and use sanding paper to further distress the door in the areas where there isn't stenciling or vinyl.  Julie, this was a GREAT mission, for one reason, because it prompted me to go ahead and do something with one of the cabinet doors which, until now, has been collecting dust.

THE CARD THAT PRACTICALLY MADE ITSELF

I keep a jar on my desk for die-cut and punched shapes that I end up not using at the time I cut/punch them, and it really came in handy while making this card for my aunt.  The butterflies and tags were ready to go, and it was a coincidence that the colors coordinated with the Bashful Blue and Pear Pizzazz that I had used to create the background for my stamped image, which is from Stampin' Up!'s "Just Believe" stamp set.  When I opened the drawer to get Bashful Blue card stock, would you believe that I found the card already cut and scored?  If not for the embossed white layer, I think this card could have made itself while I hopped in the shower!  You just have to love it when a card comes together so quickly and easily!

SMOOCHED AND SQUARED

Smooch Spritz.
Square card.
"Notably Ornate" stamp set.
Antique Brad.
"Newsprint" designer paper.
Pretty much what you've come to expect from me, huh?

A "BELLA BLEU" HELLO

I'm a bit late sending cards to special aunts, so I decided to make a few today.  This is one of the four, and it features Stampin' Up!'s "Bella Bleu" designer paper, "Tiny Tags" stamp set, Eyelet Border, Jewelry Tag, and Spiral Border punches, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Not Quite Navy card stock, and vanilla taffeta ribbon.  The main image was cut with the Cricut and "Sentimentals" cartridge, and I sponged the edges of most of the layers with Early Espresso ink. 

FAMILY ALBUM

This fun little album is my work in progress.  There's a lot of  area to cover (literally), and I can't possibly decide on all of the embellishments right now.  I've got my photo sections, some of them with mats, but I've left everything else until after Christmas when I plan to place photos and complete this family album.  When the album is opened, there's a gate-fold section at the top (held closed with a designer paper "latch"), and a small flap at the bottom (the clock layer) which flips up to reveal two accordion-folded pull-out panels with swinging photo mats.  At the base of the album is a generously-sized area for a large family photo.  (In the photo at the bottom of this post, the clock layer is covering the base section.)  I'm so excited about completeing this album, but I plan to take my time and get it right.  ;-)  You'll notice that I used Stampin' Up!'s "Sense of Time" stamp set, which I love!  Speaking of time, have you changed all of your clocks yet?

"WINTER POST" TREAT & GIFT CARD HOLDER

I found this project on SCS and was very anxious to create one.  My first one was a flop, but that's okay because it gave me some ideas of what I wanted to do.  First and foremost, I wanted the top of the treat box to be easy to open without having to tear the paper and ruin the project.  I used Sticky Strip around the sides and bottom of the box and tied a bow on top.  Inside the box, I placed a candy bar that I wrapped with Stampin' Up!'s "Deck the Halls" designer paper and decorated with a tree from the "Merry Details" Sizzlits die.  The window of the box was created with the Modern Label punch, and there's a piece of acetate covering the window.  Stampin' Up!'s "Tasteful Trim" die was used to cut the two decorative strips of designer paper located under the window--just below the row of pearls.  I used the "Winter Post" stamp set to decorate the front of the card and the gift card holder in the pocket.  Other Stampin' Up! products used include Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, and Cherry Cobbler card stock and the following punches:  Snowflake, Decorative Label, Designer Label and, to create the holly berries and leaves, Wide Oval, 1-3/8" Circle, 1" Circle, and Itty Bitty Shapes circle.  I also used Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz on the punched snowflake.  I adhered my finished project to a piece of Early Espresso card stock for added stability.

"FEMININE FRIDAYS"

Happy Friday!!!!!  Pictured on the left is a sneak peek of Julie's "Feminine Fridays" project, which you can see and learn more about on her blog.  She has a fun gate-fold and a clever flower created with punches, plus some stencil art on her project!  Sometimes I get nervous about the missions that she sets forth for me, but I'm kind of excited about the one she posted this week.  ;-)  I am learning that Julie's missions can be challenging but, at the same time, they give me a set direction when I sit down to create.  You might want to try her missions, too!

VINTAGE "SENSE OF TIME"

Can I just say that I had such a fun time designing and creating this card?  Ever since I first saw this stamp set, I have wanted it but, for some reason, I kept bumping it off of my orders.  "Sense of Time" arrived on my porch this week, along with Stampin' Up!'s "Tasteful Trim" Sizzix die, which I used to create the Early Espresso scallop and ric rac trim, both of which have been swiped with Champagne Mist shimmer paint.  There are several layers of detail on the clock image.  I began by stamping it with black ink onto Very Vanilla card stock, dirtied it up with Crumb Cake ink, stamped and gold-embossed the floral swirl image from "Elements of Style," and then sponged Early Espresso ink around the edges, very heavily on the absolute edge.  Finally, I sprayed Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz on the clock, which has a mat from the Scallop Circle #2 die.  Beneath the clock is a piece of "Newsprint" designer paper which was crumpled and distressed with Early Espresso ink and embellished at the top with Crochet Trim and, at the bottom, cuts from the "Tasteful Trim" die and Eyelet Border punch.  That just about covers the details for this card, other than the Antique Brad on the left edge of the sentiment.  If vintage is a style that you embrace, visit my web site http://www.regina.stampinup.net/ and order it ASAP!  You will NOT regret it!

SIMPLE DISTRESSED PACKAGE

Recently, a good friend (who happens to also be a customer) ordered one of Stampin' Up!'s embossing folders and, since I wasn't sure when I would see her, I decided to mail the item to her.  I couldn't just put it in an envelope, though--I wanted to make a vintage-y package for it since that style appeals to her (and me).  I can't remember how wide I cut the card stock for this envelope, but it's 12" long, folded in half.  I used Stampin' Up!'s "Newsprint" designer paper, which I crumpled and then sponged with Early Espresso ink.  I also used the Scallop, Large, and Small oval punches, as well as the "Tiny Tags" stamp set and Jewelry Tag punch (love this punch).  This project was complete after I placed the rhinestone jewel on the tiny tag.  Being a demonstrator is really fun, but the biggest perk has got to be the friends I've gained along the way.  The one who received this package was one of my very first customers almost 7 years ago!!!  That pretty much makes her a sister!  ;-)