First Christmas Card of the Season

Here it is July and I have made my first Christmas Card. I always mean to do this but do I actually do it? Well, yes but not until October or November. I remember the year that we moved from Maryland to Wisconsin on October 25, I thought that year I probably wasn't even going to make Christmas cards at all and that year I managed to stamp 85 cards. I was so happy. This card is a little more involved and since then the Big Shot has come along, I can hardly make a card any more without it. Embossing and die cutting add so much to cards these days.

This is a pretty straight forward card, you can tell what I did by just looking at it, except you may have questions about that pretty little poinsettia. I wish you could see it in person. I sprayed it with smooch spray and it shines so pretty but you know that pictures don't pick that up very well.

The flower is made by using the 5 petal flower punch. I used the paper snips to cut into the center a little bit more between each of the petals and then did an embossing line right down the middle of each petal and leaf. I then folded each petal and gave it a good pinch. I used stickles in gold for the 3 dots in the center then sprayed them with smooch spray and let them dry overnight. I suppose an hour would do fine. Then I assembled the rest of the card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Petite Pairs (Brand new)

Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Holly Jolly dsp (retired)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler markers

Tools: Top Note Die, 5 Petal Flower Punch, Petals a Plenty embossing folder, Small oval, large oval and scallop oval punch

Thanks for stopping by At Paula's Place. If you have any questions contact me at me email on the right side bar. I will be posting 2 more variations of this card later this week.

Green & Black Graduation

We had two graduations this year. One from high School and one from medical school. The green one is for the High Schooler. She had her graduation ceremony Sat. and we gave her this card. The other one is my sister in laws son who graduated from medical school in Galveston, TX. I hope they both enjoyed receiving these as much as I enjoyed making them. I don't know where the original idea came from but I've seen them around on various blogs. Let me know what you think.

Supplies:

Stamps: Word Play

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green

Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green, Whisper White

Tools: Big Shot, Top Note, Paper Piercer

Accessories: Dimensionals, Brad, thread

Thanks for stopping by At Paula's Place.

Just One More Printed Petals

Okay, this is the last card I am posting using the Printed Petals stamp set. But I had to show you. These are so great. I love the set and this one with the stamped images then dry embossed through the Big Shot machine and the Square Lattice embossing folder is so pretty. Also the dsp has been run through and got it's embossing on too.  Notice the build a brad detail along with the little tag. And the richness of Soft Suede, and Crumb Cake and then the pop of Tempting Turquiose  is stunning.

So get this set while it's on special, there is only a couple of days left before it goes back to regular price. Then you can make all these beautiful cards too.

There's a lot more on sale too. Check it out. 

Email me with an order and I would love to take care of you. Thanks for stopping by At Paula's Place.

Punch Potpourri

Here is a completely different type of card then I have been posting lately. This is from the regular 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catlog and uses one of the Hostess Sets, Punch Potpourri. With this set you get a butterfly, a bird and a heart and also 3 cute little flowers and all of these coordinate with Stampin' Up's punches. I love the look of stamping and then punching them out. Mary Fish made a similar card to the one pictured here which used  the Bird stamp and then was punched out with the large oval punch and trimmed on each end to form the vase. I love the modern look of this. I also used Just Believe stamp set for the flowers in the vase and the Retro Remix wheel for the background. Night of Navy card stock and ink was used for a monochromatic look. Although in the picture the ribbon looks like a different color it is navy ribbon, 1/4" grosgain.

Here is a picture of the inside of the card. I like to decorate the insides of all my cards but it is imperative when dark colored card stock is used for the base of the card.

If you have any questions let me know and thanks for stopping by At Paula's Place

Remember When

Do you remember last year before the new 2010-2011 idea book and catalog came out, before the "upsetting" color renovation happened. There was panic in the streets when that came about. Now, we love, love, love the new colors and cannot imagine going back. Well, before all that took place I made my friend Kye Ann a birthday card. I met her at church and she takes part in a group called the Linus Project. That organization provides blankets to local hospitals to provide them to children patients. So when I learned how to make this type of card I thought of her and went ahead and made her this birthday card. She will receive it today. Even though the card stock and dsp are retired I hope she likes it.

• Cameo Coral card stock was used as the base for the card.
• A Top Note was made through the Big Shot and using the Top Note Die
• 1 1/4" square punch on the designer series paper
• The squares made from retired Spring Flowers dsp (2006-2007) were then adhered to the Top Note with Anywhere Glue Stick
• The stitching was added with the Chocolate Chip marker
•  Scallop Square punch was used on Chocolate Chip card stock
• A beautiful K was stamped with Lovely Letters stamp set on Very Vanilla Card Stock and Chocolate Chip ink then punched out with the 1 1/4" square punch 
• Both the letter square and the finished Top Note were lightly sponged with Chocolate Chip ink
• The bow was added by using 1/4" Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon

It's a card that is impressive and once you have the technique down it goes fairly quickly.

Another added step you can do, which I learned about after I made this card, is once the Top Note is covered with dsp and the "stitches" have been taken it can be run through the Big Shot again using one of many of the Embossing Folders. The Finial Press, Wallpaper, Square Lattice to make it look even more quilted.

Any questions let me know.

Sale-a-bration is still going on and for every $50 you order inb Stampin' Up product you will receive a FREE item from the Sale-a-bration Catalog. So go on over to my Stampin' Up website and start shopping.

Thanks for stopping by At Paula's Place.

 

Christmas Cardinal on a Quilt

Blythe Klipple sent me the instructions to make this card in her 12 days of Christmas. As soon as I saw it I knew that I would be making this and showing my stampers how to do it. I love the quilt look with the double run through the Big Shot. Here is her blog.  I will post the instructions here also. I changed the sentiment, I think tidings of comfort just go along with the quilt look. My mom is a quilter and I made sure she got this card for her Christmas card from me.

SUPPLIES

STAMPS: Word Play clear (120651), wood (120308)

INK: Cherry Cobbler (119669)

CARD STOCK: Old Olive (100702), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Very Vanilla (101650), Daffodil Delight (119683), Garden Green (102584), Basic Black (121045)

ACCESSORIES: Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439), Top Note Die (113463), 11/4" Square Large punch (119865), Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper (117159), Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder (116824), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275), 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch (119860), Heart Small Punch (117193), Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch (118074), Two-Step Bird Extra-Large Punch (117191), 2" x 1-3/8" Oval Extra-Large Punch (119859), Stamping Sponges (101610), Anywhere Glue Stick (104045), Snail Adhesive (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

INSTRUCTIONS

To make the card:

1. Cut a piece of " Cherry Cobbler card stock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" for your card base. Fold this in half.

2. Cut a 5-1/2" strip of Old Olive card stock and punch a border using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch. Adhere this to card front horizontally in center.

3. Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock 5" X 4-1/2" . Punch out 12 squares of designer series paper using the 11/4" Square Punch. Adhere in random order onto the piece of Very Vanilla card stock. I have found it easier to "smear" the Anywhere Glue Stick onto the base card stock, in this case, Very Vanilla. I chose to 'smear' mine glue stick as I go, not all at once. Then attach your squares.

4. Run this piece of Very Vanilla card stock through the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine using the Top Note die. Take this cut out piece and then run it back through the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine using the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder. Adhere to your card.

To make the bird:

5. Punch a circle from Cherry Cobbler card stock using the 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch. Cut this in half in an arc shape. Punch a heart from Cherry Cobbler card stock using the Heart Small Punch. Adhere this one to the bottom back half of the half circle forming a tail.

6. Cut a 1" square from Basic Black card stock. Adhere to front of bird head and trim. Cut a 1" square from Daffodil Delight card stock. Cut in half and adhere to back of bird head to form beak. Punch out smallest circle from Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch and adhere to bird head for eye.

7. Punch out the branch from the Two-Step Bird Extra-Large Punch using Garden Green card stock. Adhere this to card front. Adhere bird so he's sitting on the branch.

8. Stamp Joy from the Word Play Stamp Set onto Very Vanilla card stock in Cherry Cobbler ink. Punch out, using Extra Large Oval Punch. Using Stamping Sponges, sponge around edges. Adhere to card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

9. You’re done.



Please leave a comment so I know you came by to visit and what you think.
Thanks for stopping by At Paula's Place.

Some New Cards

Hi everyone, When Stampin' Up came out with the new catalog on July 1 I was very excited and still am. This is the best one yet. Of course I keep saying that but it is true, they work very hard to give us all the very best products out there. And you get wonderful demonstrators showing you how to best use these products.

When the Holiday Mini Catalog came out Sept 1 I had to have one set in particular. The Day of Gratitude set. Wow, I love that medallion. You can do so much with it. It's the perfect size and it lines up with several other products. Like the lattice die cut. It's just beautiful. And the top note with a twist featured on the card here.

I have here a card I cased from Mary Fish, she is amazing, and so talented. Her card can be found here. I changed up a couple of things like the jumbo brad very vanilla in the center of the felt flower and just one button. I used a real thin strip of very vanilla card stock for the "thread"

If you like what you see here please leave me a comment so I know that you stopped by. Also, any suggestions would be great, please do them in a sensitive way.

What I have done here is used the rock and roll technique. You ink up the stamp in one color, usually the lighter color ink, then in a darker ink, roll the stamp and ink just around the edge to give it some definition.

Here is a closeup shot.

Thanks for stopping by at Paula's Place. Hope to see you again real soon.

Stamp Set: Day of Gratitude (WM 120835, CM 121148)
Paper: Poppy Parade Card Stock (119793), Early Espresso Card Stock (119686), Crumb Cake (120953), Very Vanilla (101650)
Ink: Poppy Parade (119782), Early Espresso (119670)
Cool Tools: Top Note Bigz Die (113463), Big Shot Die Cut Machine (113439), Paper Snips (103579), 5 Petal Flower Punch Extra Large (119880), Sponge Daubers (102892)
The Perfect Touch: Jumbo Brads 5/8" (112533), Neutrals Designer Buttons (119743), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)