No Time To Stamp?

Now this was just a fun, fun project — purely playing around as I have absolutely no use for this card, but it sure was fun to make!!! LOVE doing this type of thing!!! The inspiration piece for yesterday’s Inspiration Challenge at SCS was a cocktail dress, which you can see here. So this is my entry for that challenge, a day late, but that’s OK!!!

I just love this dress!!! So fun!!! It fits a standard business sized envelope. I first made a template by cutting a piece ofscratchcardstock8 wide x 9 1/4 high, scoring in half on the Scor-Pal so the folded card is 4 x 9 1/4 (left side fold). Now, with a pencil I just drew in her curves on the left, folded side of the card only, remembering that the card needs to stay together, so it is still attached at the bustline and from the hipline on down. Then I cut along my pencil lines. Now, to get the other side perfectly the same, I went to the Scor-Pal and scored on 2″, which is the center of my 4″ card. I folded it in 1/2 on the score line, and that gave me a line to follow to cut the right side of the card so that it will be exactly the same as the left side. Using the Large Tag Punch from SU, punch out her neckline at center, top. Remember, this is just my template, so it doesn’t matter that it is scored down the middle. OK, now we begin the real card:

• Cut Very Vanilla 8 x 9 1/4 and score in half for a 4 x 9 1/4 card with a left side fold.
• Lay template on top of card and trace shape. Cut card to reflect shape of template.
• Punch neckline the same as on template.
• Apply adhesive to card front. Attach dress top paper to top, and dress bottom paper to bottom. Refer to photo below– I am attaching rectangular sheets of paper, they are not yet cut to shape.

On the left you see my template. On the right you are seeing the back of the card with the decorative papers adhered to the front of the card, not yet cut to shape, just adhered.

OK, now take your scissors and cut the DP (which is adhered to the card) to fit the card, which is now very easy as it is attached and you just follow the card lines. Works best with sharp, long bladed scissors, cutting in smooth, long strokes.

The DP used for the dress bottom was the Chocolate Small Leaf by Sandylion and I made the top paper. It is Brushed Gold Metallic which is embossed with a Crackle Texture stamp with Gold Embossing Powder. LOVE that effect — very rich looking.

Then I tied the ribbon just under the bustline which was easy because it can wrap right around to the inside of the card, and I made her purse using the punchout from the neckline. I used a little scrap to make the purse flap. The entire card is DTP’d on the edges with Encore Gold and it shows up and looks really nice IRL, but it barely shows in the photo.

• Stamps: Crackle Texture by Paper Inspirations
• Paper: SU Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold Metallic. Chocolate Small Leaf DP by Sandylion.
• Ink: Versa Mark. Gold Encore.
• Accessories: Gold Detail Embossing Powder, Oatmeal Ribbon by Offray, Gold Elastic Cord, Gold Brads, Large Tag Punch, Red Sticky Tape (under ribbon), Crafter’s Tool Kit.

That’s it — fun, fun card!!! Try one!!! If you do, post a linkhere so I can see — I LOVE this type of project!!! If anyone’s in the mood for a challenge, please consider this an unofficial challenge to make a shaped dress — could even be a baby or child’s dress — fun stuff!!!

I have another idea for another cocktail dress that I’ll try to do tomorrow, if time permits — so many toys, so little time!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!!!

This is another quick gift set I made of 6 cards to be presented in my favorite new clear boxes. The main image is embossed with a small embossing folder on the Cuttlebug, cut and embossedwith a rectangle Nestabilities die, then mounted onto a scallop cut and embossed with a rectangle scallop Nestabilites die by Spellbinders.

The card is stamped with SU retired French Script and the striped ribbon (black and ivory) is by May Arts. These were quick and fun cards to make. As they are general purpose cards, there are no sentiments on any of them.

• Stamps: Retired SU French Script
• Paper: SU Basic Black and Very Vanilla
• Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
• Accessories: Cuttlebug and Fancy Corners Embossing Folder. Rectangle and Rectangle Scallop Nestabilities Dies by Spellbinders. Ribbon by May Arts. SU Vintage Brads. Clear Box from Clear Bags.

Thanks much for looking. I need to get busy with some SU samples real quick here!!!!

Challenge #15 - Keyword ssnotime15-There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload yourproject at Splitcoastand/or your Blog, anytime at all! You can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

Todays challenge is to make anything you want, using something new! Perhaps a Christmas gift, or whatever you last got that is newest to you — whether it be a stamp, paper, ink, tool, accessory — anything new!!! Just have fun playing with new toys!!! However, please tell us in your description:

1. What the new item you are using is.
2. What, if any, new stamp related items you got for Christmas.
3. What new items you plan to purchase with any Christmas money or gift certificates or that you are just wanting to treat yourself to!!!

Even if you can’t play, please let us know in this post by way of comment what New Toys you got and are excited about!!! Or what you plan to be purchasing!!!

That’s it — can’t get much simpler!!! Have fun and I’m really anxious to see/hear what everyone is excitedabout using — my guess for the top gifts received are Nestabilities and Scor-Pals. Let’s see if I’m right!!!

Remember when you upload to use the keyword above, followed by a comma.Please come back here to post (as a comment) that youve played, and provide a linkso I can check out your card right away. You can find all cards uploaded for this challenge by clicking Gallery Submissions Here.

Some wanting to play said they have never uploaded before. If thats you and you need help uploading, just go to my Challenge No. 1 here.

Here’s my card. I used my newest, uninked set from Flourishes — LaceHeart — Oh, what a beauty!!! I also used this gorgeous and elegant paper which was a gift from Pam Bassett (4Hounds at SCS)!!! Thank you so much, Pam!!! I LOVE this paper in it’s rich chocolate brown, accented with gold. I think it goes so well with the flourishy lace heart!!!

This is one of my favorite type of cards to make — ULTRA SIMPLE!!! One large stamp, embossed in gold. After that, it’s just a matter of layering, adhering and embellishing. Like I’ve said a million times it seems, when you use gorgeous things, you really don’t have to DO much — CASE IN POINT on this card!!! Gorgeous stamp, gorgeous paper, gorgeous ribbon — DONE!!! The layer framing the heart is the mirrored gold paper, while the card base is a brushed gold metallic paper. I used the Horizontal Slot Punch to make holes to run the ribbon through. The heart panel is up on mounting tape.

• Stamps: Lace Heart by Flourishes
• Paper: Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold Metallic, Mirrored Gold Metallic, DP is Chocolate Small Leaf by Sandylion.
• Ink: Versa Mark
• Accessories: Gold Detail Embossing Powder, Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Horizontal Slot Punch, Mounting Tape.
• Measurements: Card is 5.5″ square. Vanilla heart panel is 4″ square.

Thanks much for stopping in!!! Hope you can play with New Toys today!!!

I wanted to use some new stamps today so I used a brand new background stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms on this, the first of many thank you notes I’ll be needing. I also used another relatively new set from Flourishes called Open to Love, and I love the window in that set — it is such fun to create with this arched window image.

To make this card, I first stamped the Pretty Pattern background by CHF (a Lisa Strahl design — YAY, LISA!!!) onto Whisper White paper with Color Box Chalk Ink in Rose Coral. I then stamped the arched frame image on top of the background. Then I stamped my 3 vases of flowers over the background and colored them in with SU markers. I then cut out my arched window, mounted it onto the DP with the coordinating DP beneath it. The lacey scallops are the lace punch by Martha Stewart. Both stitched ribbons are by SU. The border of lace at the top of the card is adhered with mounting tape to raise it up just a bit to give the feel of a valance. And if you can notice, each lace scallop is actually double - I like to narrowly border this scallop with another, offsetever so slightly,to highlight it more — it barely shows, but it really makes a difference in how much the border stands out! The Thank You is from Flourished Words. Fun card to make!!! Love these little vases and my new CHF background was so fun to work with, too!!

• Stamps: Open to Love and Flourished Words by Flourishes. Pretty Pattern background by Cornish Heritage Farms.
• Paper: SU’s Really Rust, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Whisper White and Fall Flowers DP.
• Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Color Box Chalk Rose Coral. SU Markers in Really Rust, Cameo Coral, Garden Green and Close to Cocoa. Signo White Gel Pen.
• Accessories: SU stitched ribbons, Red Sticky Strip, Mounting Tape, Martha Stewart Lace Punch.

Felt good to stamp a bit this evening. Thanks much for loooking!!! Hope you all had a great Christmas!!!

I had plans to make a Christmas card for all of you, that I was going to post here this evening, but, as with so many of my plans, it just didn’t get done. I do, however, want to share with you this card I received from a dear online frend, JerriJimenez, or Jerri Kay over at SCS. Her watercoloring always just makes me pause in my tracks and stare in awe — and this card is a wonderful example of her beautiful work. I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I have!

Thank you so much, Jerri!!! This is a card I will treasure always and I’m so pleased to be able to share it in this way with all my other online friends. And at this time of year I feel it isappropriate to tell you all just how much you mean to me — I have so many friends I have never met, and likely will never meet, but you are all, nonetheless, true and wonderful friends, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to meet you all both here on my Blog and at SCS. Oh, what a strange and wonderful world we live in!!! Thank you, thank you, Friends, for the continual encouragement and support you are to me — you all mean more to me than you will ever know — I feel so truly honored to have had this chance to get to know each and every one of you!

I now look forward to our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service this evening — always such a Blessed and special time! My prayer for you all is that each of us remember the true reason for the season, which is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the City of David a Savior has been born toyou; He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

At Christmas time I also always love to read what I call the “Yes, Virginia” story. I am sure many of you know exactly what I mean. It is such a beautiful story, it brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. Here I’ll do a copy and paste from the net for you, along with a few other interesting tidbits about the story. I hope you enjoy it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897. [See The Peoples Almanac, pp. 13589.]

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, If you see it in The Sun, its so. Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia OHanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be mens or childrens, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but thats no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the babys rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

About the Exchange

Francis P. Churchs editorial, Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus was an immediate sensation, and went on to became one of the most famous editorials ever written. It first appeared in the The New York Sun in 1897, almost a hundred years ago, and was reprinted annually until 1949 when the paper went out of business.

Thirty-six years after her letter was printed, Virginia OHanlon recalled the events that prompted her letter:

Quite naturally I believed in Santa Claus, for he had never disappointed me. But when less fortunate little boys and girls said there wasnt any Santa Claus, I was filled with doubts. I asked my father, and he was a little evasive on the subject.

It was a habit in our family that whenever any doubts came up as to how to pronounce a word or some question of historical fact was in doubt, we wrote to the Question and Answer column in The Sun. Father would always say, If you see it in the The Sun, its so, and that settled the matter.

Well, Im just going to write The Sun and find out the real truth, I said to father.

He said, Go ahead, Virginia. Im sure The Sun will give you the right answer, as it always does.

And so Virginia sat down and wrote her parents favorite newspaper.

Her letter found its way into the hands of a veteran editor, Francis P. Church. Son of a Baptist minister, Church had covered the Civil War for The New York Times and had worked on the The New York Sun for 20 years, more recently as an anonymous editorial writer. Church, a sardonic man, had for his personal motto, Endeavour to clear your mind of cant. When controversal subjects had to be tackled on the editorial page, especially those dealing with theology, the assignments were usually given to Church.

Now, he had in his hands a little girls letter on a most controversial matter, and he was burdened with the responsibility of answering it.

Is there a Santa Claus? the childish scrawl in the letter asked. At once, Church knew that there was no avoiding the question. He must answer, and he must answer truthfully. And so he turned to his desk, and he began his reply which was to become one of the most memorable editorials in newspaper history.

Church married shortly after the editorial appeared. He died in April, 1906, leaving no children.

Virginia OHanlon went on to graduate from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree at age 21. The following year she received her Masters from Columbia, and in 1912 she began teaching in the New York City school system, later becoming a principal. After 47 years, she retired as an educator. Throughout her life she received a steady stream of mail about her Santa Claus letter, and to each reply she attached an attractive printed copy of the Church editorial. Virginia OHanlon Douglas died on May 13, 1971, at the age of 81, in a nursing home in Valatie, N.Y.

These are two gift card holders I made quickly for 2 of our God children. The golf themed gift card holder is for a 17-year old boy who is an avid golfer, and the spunky girl is for an 11-year old girl (who isn’t spunky - LOL!!!) Not too many detailsas I’m super busy, but wanted to post these anyway. This is the same basic gift card holder I have been doing for years — 1/2 sheet, scored at 2 and 6. It was a challenge at SCS a year or so ago.

These papers make the project — don’t you just love them!!!

• Stamps: None
• Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Earthy Pad by Crafty Secrets, Wacky and Wonderful Vintage Images by Crafty Secrets
• Ink: Creamy Caramel to sponge
• Accessories: 3″ circle punch, Jumbo Eyelets and Cropadile, Light Box and home made template, Mounting Tape, Red Sticky Tape, Self-adhesive Velcro Dot

• Stamps: Alexa’s Set by Missy B Designs
• Paper: DP by Making Memories, Whisper White, Garden Green, Certainly Celery
• Ink: Black Stazon, various SU markers to color
• Accessories: Corner Rounder, Ticket Corner Punch, Ribbon, Mounting Tape, Red Sticky Tape, Self-adhesive Velcro Dot

That’s it — got to run!!! Busy, busy — I know you all are too!!! Thanks for taking the time to take a peek!!!

Challenge #14 - Keyword ssnotime14-There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload yourproject at Splitcoastand/or your Blog, anytime at all! You can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

Todays challenge is to do a QUICK CASE.There are times when we are all rushed, need something quickly, so what do we do — scan the galleries at SCS. Sometimes we are just looking for inspiration, but sometimes we want to CASE, and that’s what we’re going to do today, with a little twist — it’ll be a QUICK CASE.

ETA: PLEASE NOTE: You DO NOT have to do a set – one card is fine!!! I think I’m freaking some people out with my large sample!!! I needed a set, so that’s what I did, that’s all!!

Here’s what I mean — the gift set pictured above is entirely cased, very quickly. I needed a western themed set for another Christmas gift, with no time left to think, much less design. So here’s what I did, and what I mean by a QUICK CASE. I knew which sets I wanted to use (Wanted and Bronc Buster) so I went to those galleries. I knew I wanted cards I could do quickly, so I very quickly scanned the gallery pages in search of something simple and attractive. The first few things I ran across that were what I had in mind, I printed — no hours in the gallery here — I’m talking a couple minutes. I went down to my stamp room with my printed pictures. I planned to make 6 cards, so I had 3printed pictures — I was going to do 2 of each. I pulled outmy supplies, pretty much going with the colors in thepictures. Then I started, making doubles of each card as it doesn’t take much longerto make 2 than it takes to make 1. I also altered theCASES to make them easier and quicker, using the pictures as mybasic guide. Working like this it is amazing how much you can accomplish in a short time.

For today’s challenge I want you to chose a stamp set, run through that gallery very quickly, make your selection, print it out (if your computer isn’t right in your stamp room), and make your card based on your printed picture — bearing in mind you may make adjustments to make it even easier and quicker if you need to. If you’ll read the descriptions to each of my photos below, you’ll see what little things I did to make each of these CASES easierand quicker than the original.

When you upload your challenge card,REMEMBER to tell us who youCASED and link their card — NO.1) because when youCASE that is the right thing to do; and, NO 2) so we can compare your QUICK CASE to the original. If anyone has trouble linking, just PM or email me and I can help.

Remember when you upload to use the keyword above, followed by a comma.Please come back here to post (as a comment) that youve played, and provide a linkso I can check out your card right away. You can find all cards uploaded for this challenge by clicking Gallery Submissions Here.

Some wanting to play said they have never uploaded before. If thats you and you need help uploading, just go to my Challenge No. 1 here.

I did 2 of this card, which is a CASE of Laurie Schmidlin (Lauraly). Here isher SCS upload. This is pretty close to a direct case, but I used the Jumbo Brads rather than the punched circles and brads Laurie used, because it was quicker. Also, I did not want a sentiment on this as I wanted all these cards to be general purpose cards, so I omitted the sentiment but added the punched stars. Also, I omitted all sponging and distressing, as that takes time, which I did not have.Instead, I stamped the main image (on all these cards) with the Sandedbackground to lend some of that distressed feel. I used all the same colors Laurie used, and this really is Artichoke, though it is looking rather bright in this photo.

These cards started as a case of Shannan Teubner (steubner), but I ended up making some major changes for the sake of saving time, but you will certainly see the similarities. Here is her SCS upload that I printed. I went with the embossed DP as that is what drew me to her card, but I only used 1 piece for the sake of time, where she used 2. I kept a similiar main image panel and ribbon (on one), but simplified. And the card on top with the lasso — well, that was a mistake — I ran the DP through the Cuttlebug upside down, so Ijust used the other side ofthepaperand went with a super simple design, using the same main image panel. The brown ribbon didn’t show up on the brown DP, so that’s why I went with the lasso — always making adjustments — LOL!!!

These last 2 cards are cases of Vicki Garrett (summerthyme64). Here is her SCS upload. Vicki’s card used Versa Mark Resist and Heat Embossing, neither of which I fussed with. I used a sheet of DP instead. She also had a torn edge — I went straight. She had a lot of distressing and sponging — again, I omitted that — QUICK was my goal, so I had to cut corners. She had a cute dangling little star - I just stuck one on with a dimensional. I did add piercing to this one that I don’t believe was in the original.

A little hint: If you’re going to skimp on technique, add a little hardware instead. It’s amazing how a bit of hardware instantly dresses up a card — LOVE my Hodgepodge boxes!!!

OK, so can you see how quickly you can CASE a card, but still make it your own, to suit your purposes and time constraints? Admittedly, my cards don’t have the attention to detail that each of those I cased has — I omitted all that detail work which makes a card stand out — but, there are times we MUST omit some things, and that’s OK — even though we do things to simplify, we can still produce a nice product.

• Stamps: Wanted, Bronc Buster, Sanded
• Paper: Natural Ivory, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Really Rust, River Rock, Outlaw DP
• Ink: Timber Brown Stazon, Creamy Caramel
• Accessories: Jumbo Brads, Cropadile, Vintage Brads, Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, Large and Small Star Punch, Crafter’s Tool Kit, Dimensionals, Ribbon, Hemp, Cuttlebug, Textile Embossing Folder

And all these cards will be put into the clear box shown in the top photo to make a quick little gift. If you are interested in those clear boxes, you can read more about them here and here.

Well, sorry this post was so long — if you need something quickly, hope you try out a Quick Case!!! Thanks much for stopping in — I still have more things I should do and get posted — I’m trying — LOL!!!

Do you remember last month when Jami issuedthe Elzybellchallenge to all Dirty Girls, past and present? Well, we all had so much fun, itwas decided to make ita monthly challenge. Today, Dec. 20, is our day to upload for this month’s challenge, which was to make a card using a penguin — any penguin. The other stipulations were that we could use NO blue on the card anywhere, but we had to have an *icy* feature on the card. So, here’s my card:

My penguin stamp is huge!!! The watercolor panel he is stamped onto is 3 3/4″ x 5 1/2″. The finished card measures 8 1/4″ x 5 1/2″. Since he is a pull toy, I decided to makea little wagon as the card base. That was fun and so, so simple. The card base is 4 1/2″ x 11″, scored in half (side fold). I then adhered a panel of DP to the front. Then I made 4 wheels — fun!!! Here’s the measurements:

• Red: 2″ circle
• Green: 1″ circle
• Black Center : Large brad, maker unknown
• Black Ring: Punch a 1 1/4″ inch circle. Discard the circle and use the negative image. Place that into a 1 1/2″ punch, and punch, which leaves you with this thin ring.

The main image is stamped and watercolored, an eyelet inserted for the *rope*, then I added a piece of hardware on top to hold the rope up. I added jingle bells on the ends since he has a jingle bell on his neck. I added a bit of glitter to the top of his head, back andfeet to get in the required *ice*.

• Stamps: Penguin Pull Toy by Stamps Happen, Inc., Many Merry Messages by SU
• Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green, Watercolor Paper, Fruitcake DP by Basic Grey
• Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black. Reinkers in Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green, So Saffron, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Going Grey. Gold Glitter Pen (on bell).
• Accessories: Aquapainter, Ribbon, Brads, Eyelet, Jingle Bells, Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Mini Glue Dots, Cropadile, Crafter’s Tool Kit, Round Punches in: 1″, 1 1/4″, 1 1/2″, 2″.

To see all the uploads for this challenge, click here. They will be coming in all day long, so check back often!!!

Thanks much for checking in! Tomorrow (Friday) is our Stamp Simply challenge again — and this one is super easy, being as how we are all so busy right now — hope to see you tomorrow!!!

I am so sorry to bore you folks to death, but I just can’t get off this kick! I am *so* into these super simple and quick cards lately using a combination of the Cuttlebug and Scor-Pal, and I can’t seem to put Nursery Necessities away - I just love it!!! Here’s my latest:

This is made in a similar fashion to the cards in my previous posts. White panel is 4 x 5.25″. The small folder was used to emboss with the Cuttlebug. Place the folder in the center, run through the CB, then do each side, so it is going through the CB 3 times. Then take it to the Scor-Pal, turn it upside down so the embossed squares are facing the table (wrong side up), line up the top of the embossed square on the4 1/2″ line, then score at the 4 1/4 and 4″ lines, pressing hard and going over it twice to get a good impression. Turn it over and it should look like the above. Stamp as shown, attach ribbon to panel, attach completed panel to card base — done!!! Another super quickie with the use of good and fun tools!!!

• Stamps: Nursery Necessities
• Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
• Ink: Pretty in Pink and Basic Black Markers, Black Stazon
• Accessories: Ribbon, Cuttlebug, Stitched Squares Embossing Folder, Scor-Pal

ETA: And now that I see this on the monitor, I notice my little chickies need some eyes –a little black dot will do it — so often I think I’m *done*, then when I see it on the monitor some *unfinished* aspect of it just jumps out atme!!! Oh well — easy enough to fix!!!

My last few posts have generated a lot of questions, so I guess that means I didn’t do a very good job of explaining things — so rather than answer all the emails, I’ll try to address the questions here — and there are basically only 2 questions, but they’ve been asked repeatedly:

1) A lot of you out there are unaware of what the small folder is - so here’s a picture — it’s on the same size display card as the full size folder, it contains 4 small folders, is about $6. I got mine from Michael’s, but if you Google search for Cuttlebug, a ton of places will pop up where you can order them online. The two sets I have are called Stitched Squares and Fancy Corners. Here’s the picture:

2) Everyone wanted to know the exact size of the box I used here. I will be the first to admit, the Clear Bagsite is not the most user friendly! The box you see in that post is 4 1/2″ x 5 7/8″ x 1″ thick. It is item number FB17, and is found on this page. From that same page I also ordered FB6, which is 1/2″thick, and FB3, which is 5/8″ thick, though I haven’t yet used either of those 2 sizes.

That’s it , once again!!! Stay tuned for some fun uploads at SCS on Thursday, the 20th. Not sure if I can say or if it’s a secret,so I won’t — LOL!!! But keep your eyes open, and I’ll post here very early on Thursday and spill the beans then!!! Thanks much!!!

I was planning to make a gift set out of Nursery Necesseties, but time is getting away on me, so when I saw Beth’s TLC challenge today at SCS I thought I’d get two cards done anyway — and I’ll do more later, if time permits. The challenge was to do a technique called Dazzling Diamond Dust — which always confuses me — because you don’t use Dazzling Diamonds at all, you use Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder - but it looks very Dazzling and like Diamonds when it is done — LOL!!! Here are my cards:

Both of these cards use the Cuttlebug and the Scor-Pal for dry embossing. My white panel is cut 4 x 5.25″. First I did the Scor-Paling. I lined the left edge of the panel up at about 3 1/4″ — there is no mark there, just guess. Then score 3 lines at the 4, 4 1/4″ and 4 1/2″. I went overit hard and twice to make a good impression. This is the WRONG side of the panel. Flip it over. The 3 lines should be like you see above. Now, take your CB folder, insert the panel and line the left edge of the folder up with the third scored line, and run through your machine — done — quick, huh? Now, attach the ribbon and adhere this panel to your card.

Next make the main image panels and stars, cover them with Versa Mark andemboss them with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. Adhere to card with Pop Dots, elevating the star higher than the round panel.

• Stamps: Nursery Necessities
• Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana
• Ink: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Versa Mark, Signo White Gel Pen
• Accessories: Taffeta Ribbon, Brads, Punches: 1 3/8″ circle, 2″ circle, 2 1/2″ scalloped circle, Large Star; Pop Dots, Cuttlebug and Baby Embossing Folder, Scor-Pal.

On this post I give instructions on how to neatly punch out the moon.

A note about using Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder — I find it a bit more touchy than other powders. It embosses very quickly and will burn quickly as well if you don’t keep on a moving with your gun. I always just watch for the sparkle, telling me it’s done. And it’s better to under heat it — you can thenfeel with your finger — if it flakes off, emboss some more. When it is properly adhered, it is tight, will not flake and has a sand paper feel.

That’s it — time is short — got to run!!! I have so many more sets to get done before Christmas with a variety of themes, so please stop in again. Thanks much!!! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!!!