Houston, Texas

Just got back from Houston, Texas, yesterday so I don't know if I will make it to the craft area today or not. I have the usual laundry and bags to unpack so that might take up most of my day. My oldest son, Levi, finished his internship with NASA so we were able to get a first class tour of the Johnson Space Center. Here are just a few of my 200+ pictures I took of our trip.

Bird Builder Punch & Ornament Punch versatility

Some of you may have seen this card before, but I don't remember posting to my blog so here it is. This little fish is made up of the Ornament punch that I rubbed ink on to white cardstock to look like a trout and the fins are punched from the wing of the Bird Builder Punch. I thought he turned out kind of cute.

Bird Punch Poinsettia

How about using the bird punch to make a poinsettia? There are 7 Always Artichoke birds punched for the leaves behind the flower, 7 birds punched for the back petals on the flower, and 5 bird wings punched for the center of the poinsettia flower. I added three gold brads in the center and added a little glitter around the edges of the flower petals. Another way to use the bird punch.

Belt Oldie

Are you ready for one more oldie, but goodie? Do you remember making a card like this one? Using the Word Window punch you create a flap on the front of the card for the belt to slip into. This belt holds the card shut just like a belt. I'm thinking the Everything Eleanor stamp set would be a good one to replace the stamp set that was used on this card years ago. Another idea to try again.

Oldies, but goodies!

I've been looking through some of my cards that I have made over the years and came across a few ideas for cards. The stamp sets on the cards are no longer available, but different stamp sets could be used instead.

Here is a slider card. Later next week I'll see if I can come up with some directions. The middle piece will pull up from the top to reveal your message. 

Something a little different.

If you would like to see some directions, leave a comment or email me at dexterjane82(at)gmail(dot) com

Papillon Potpourri

Have you ever looked through your old card designs and thought how you can make them again with updated stamps and supplies? Here is a card I had made a long time ago and it would be real easy to switch the butterflies to the new and improved Papillon Potpourri butterflies. The mask for the top and bottom butterflies could be easily made with the coordinating Elegant Butterfly punch.
Here's my old card . . .

Here's my revised card. I added some gems for the body of the middle butterfly.

So if you are falling short of an idea for a card to stamp, just look back at a different card you have made and keep the design, but change the stamp set.

Owl Punch & Cupcake Punch

Today's card is making use of two different punches, in two different ways. I used the breast piece of the owl punch to create these cute little dresses that are hanging on the line. The cupcake punch was used to make the clouds in the sky. I had seen this idea on the Internet and couldn't resist trying it out. I did jazz up a few of the dresses with pearls and rhinestones. I added a little crystal effects on the flowers of one of the dresses and added a little glitter too. Hope you enjoy!

Flower tutorial and Delicate Doilies Sizzlit

Today I want to share a little flower tutorial with you. The flowers make the card a little bulkier so I'm not sure how mailing the card would work, so I decided to made it a wedding card that would be hand-delivered.

For the smaller flower, I used the Boho Blossom punch and punched out three of the small sized flowers and three of the middle sized flowers using vanilla cardstock. I inked the edges with Soft Suede and paper pierced the centers for a hole to insert the brad. I lightly spray the punched images with water to make them easier to work with.

I added the flowers to the brad starting with the smallest flowers and finishing with the medium sized flower. Here it is still all flat. Remember the flowers are still damp from the water.

Then you start pulling the pieces up toward the brad, pinching the pieces . . .

to create a tight ball.

You pull the pieces back away from the brad and arrange it however you like. The pieces are still a little damp from the water. After you let dry, the flower will be nice and hard and will keep its shape (little over 1/2 inch flower).

Here are the pieces for the larger flower (roughly an inch). With the Boho Blossom punch, I punched three of the largest flower and three of the middle sized flower. Do the same with the flower pieces by inking the edges, paper piercing the centers, and spritzing the flowers with water. I've set the large flower next to the small flower so you can see the difference in size.

 I assembled the pieces onto a brad starting with the smaller flower and ending with the larger flower.

Start pinching the flowers up toward the brad until you have a tight ball. Then you can pull the flower pieces back down away from the brad to shape your flower.

I chose to make one large flower and two small flowers for the card. I set the flowers on my cutting pad so you could see the sizes.

Here's the card I finished to use the flowers. I've used the largest of the Delicate Doilies. The white circle with the text on it is 2 inches. The text is from the Word Play stamp set.

 

If you have any questions, let me know. 

Papillon Potpourri

Can you tell I like this set, Papillon Potpourri, and the coordinating punch (Elegant Butterfly) is so handy. I heat embossed the butterfly using white embossing powder and added rhinestones for the body. The designer series paper is Not Quite Navy paper from the Regals Pattern stack. They are 2 x 2 pieces with the corners rounded. The Little Leaves Sizzlit is cut in Old olive and the words are from the Trust God stamp set. Very basic card that can be made quickly and in large quantities, if needed.

Papillon Potpourri & Mixed Bunch

Still another hot one out there. I wanted to share the cards that I was able to make at the Burwell Stamp Club on Saturday. It's always such fun getting to see the ladies in Burwell (and Peggy you are not a nut!).

These first two cards were part of the stamp club demos by Terri. 

We also had a shoebox get-together in the afternoon so here are the cards I was able to make that were brought in by some very talented ladies.

Pat's

Earla's

Janice's

Stella's

Loretta's

Linda's

and I need to finish yours Chris. I'm not sure why, but I missed doing the card that Chris brought so I just grabbed the supplies and I'll have to come up with something. Keep stamping ladies because I really enjoy getting to come down to Burwell and getting all of these great ideas.

Word Play

I'm enjoying the word stamp set called Word Play that I just got. I know, I had to tear myself away from the Trust God word set. It's a pretty basic card, but one I could throw together pretty quickly. I used versamark ink on the swirls from Everything Eleanor stamp set and a heat embossed, silver butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set. I used the hearts textured embossing folder for the middle band. Hope you like it!

Bells & Boughs

Here's my Christmas in July card. Do you think by making a winter card, it will cool things off outside? I doubt it, but it is worth a try.

The background poinsettias were finished by using Versamark and rubbing red chalk over the flowers and green chalk over the pine needles. The rest is pretty self-explanatory. I do have crystal effects and glitter over the ornament in the word Joy. Have to have a little glitz! If you have any questions, just email me or make a comment.

I'm looking forward to stamping and seeing the group in Burwell on Saturday. Plans are right now that I should be able to make it.

Catch Up

Hi everyone . . . it's been a whirlwind around here. Leaving the house early to go mow in the hayfield, back in the house to make a quick dinner, and then later during the day back out to rack in the hayfield. No rain in sight so there is no break in sight either.

I have been working on a project every chance I can, but I can't share it with you yet. It's been a fun project so hopefully it will be worth your wait.

I'll try to find some time later today to make a card to share. Stay cool!

Viola's Lace

Another quick post and off to the hayfield. We are getting close to being finished. Whew!

I wanted to try the Viola's lace wheel that I had taken off the wheel once again. Gotta go!

Mini Scrapbook

I did manage to finish a mini scrapbook for the bridal shower last Saturday. It turned out to be one of my favorites that I've made lately. I used some rub ons that can still be found in the clearance rack in the Stampin' Up online store. They are called Old Saint Nick rub ons and can be found on page 7. Here are quite a few pictures . . .

I printed the 'First Christmas as', but was able to use the new Mr. & Mrs. stamp available in the new Stampin' Up catalog.

I added some jingle bells and a few small ornaments of holly leaves, Christmas ornament, and a red ribbon bow.

I added crystal effects to the red berries on the stamp from the Bells and Boughs stamp set to give some extra dimension.

The inside cover was made into a pocket. The rub ons are such an easy way to add to each page.

Each page has a flap that opens up.

Here's the same page with the flap opened. I printed the area for the text message. The tag pulls out from the pocket to give more room for added pictures.

This is the back of page 1. The doily is a pocket that pictures can be placed behind or added to the soft suede cardstock piece that can be taken out and it opens up. A total of five photos could actually be added to this page.

Here's page 2 with the flap closed.

Page 2 with the flap opened.

This is the back of page 2.

 Page 3 with flap closed.

Page 3 with flap opened.

Back of page 3.

This is page 4 with the flap closed.

Page 4 with the flap opened.

Here's the inside back cover that also has a pocket like the inside front cover.

And on the back cover, I added my 'Created by' and signed my name.

I wasn't able to attend the bridal shower because of haying, so didn't get to see the initial reaction of the bride-to-be. Hope she liked it. Have a great day!