I have been asked to make the birthday cards for the ladies in my church group this year. These ladies are older and I wanted something classy for them. I was looking for some fresh ideas when I came across this card on Laurie Zoellmer's blog. It was perfect. I changed up the colors a little and switched out the sentiment to suit my need. I also expanded the front panel to full size. I made 5 of these for the ladies with a September birthday in no time. I am also working on remembering to stamp the envelope.PRODUCTS USED:
Stamps: Vintage Vouge, Sincere Salutations
Colors: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Basic Black
Accessories: Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Rhinstone Brad
PaperFairyFris--Please contact me by 9:15 am on Sunday or a new winner will be drawn. .jpg)
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There are two embossing folders in the Winter Mini Catalog. The first is the "Spider Web" Embossing Folder (#120889) found on page 6. I ran the embossing folder through with a piece of Velumn Cardstock (#101856). I turned the velumn over and with a Basic Gray Stampin' Write Marker (#120966) I colored in the groove left by the embossing folder. I attached the velumn to the card with little bits of snail adhesive in the corners. I put the velumn onto Whisper White Cardstock to help the image stand out. The bottom of the card is Basic Gray Cardstock. If you look closely the Basic Black strip at the bottom looks a little fuzzy. Stampin' Up! Cardstock is known for it's durability. This is because the cardstock is actually two halves together that are solid throughout. If you crumple the paper up many times or run it along the side of your table over and over it will break the fibers between the two layers. You can then very gently peal them apart leaving a soft feathered look to the cardstock. I piece of the new Raven 1/2" Lace Trim finishes off the card.
The next set of projects also features the "Spider Web" Embossing Folder. This time I used the Embossing Folder Like a STAMP. First I cut my Pumpkin Pie Cardstock into the dress shape with the use of the Scallop Circle Die, the Big Shot, and a pair of paper snips. I inked up the raised side of the embossing folder with versamark ink and carefully layed it onto the dress shape. I rubbed on the embossing folder to make sure the ink transfered to the cardstock, then carefully lifted it back up. With Basic Black Embossing Powder I heat embossed the image left by the embossing folder. Since the embossing folders are made of plastic you will not get a perfect stamped image as you do with a rubber stamp. Still, for the web, it works just fine and gives you many more options for using this embossing folder. I love the little spider from the Batty For You Stamp Set. I used him again here. This card is perfect for an invitation to a Halloween costume party. Change the color of the dress or embossing powder and you have a prom dress, Christmas outfit or even a Wedding dress.
The last project I have for you uses the other embossing folder found in the Winter Mini Catalog. It is the "Northern Flurry" Embossing Folder (#120902) found on page 26. The common way to use an embossing folder is as a background to a card. I embossed it the same way as you would with a card, but instead of using the entire embossed image, I cut out the snowflakes with paper snips and various punches. I then sprayed the snowflakes with the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (#118772). It is difficult to see in the photo, but the shimmer mist gives them a nice sparkle. For those interested in sizes, each page is 12x12, the large photo mat will fit a 5x7 photo and the smaller ones on the right side page will fit a wallet (2x3). 
Here I used just the tree image, the small bulb image and one of the sentiments. I stamped the tree onto Old Olive Cardstock and then colored in portions with a Real Red Stampin' Write marker. The Old Olive somewhat tints the Real Red so it matches the Cherry Cobbler Cardstock used for the base. I cut the tree out and popped it up with some dimensionals. You can use several of the other images in this set for other holidays or occassions without using the bear it was designed to go with. 
Again I masked off the center before wheeling the images. Removed the mask and stamped the large cupcake in stazon ink. I also used the watercolor pencils and a blender pen to color in the images. The watercolor pencils give things a nice soft look. You can also shade easily with them.
Spotlighting is pretty simple. You simply focus your coloring on a part of your image. In this case I rolled the "Kindness" Jumbo Wheel onto two pieces of Whisper White cardstock. The first piece goes onto the project. Using circle punches, punch out several random places on the second piece. Color in the image on the punched circles. Mat the circles onto cardstock punched slightly larger. When mounting the circles onto your project line them up with the original image. .JPG)
Mine are made with a Certainly Celery Base. Where did I get the color combination from? Why the Color Coach of course. For more information on the color coach, check out the blog post 
The colors of the purses are Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, and Island Oasis Designer Paper on an Old Olive base. Since Becky sells the tutorial I can't share how to make them here. Contact me and I will put together a class for you and your friends. 
The box is made from Cherry Cobbler Cardstock and holds 4-- 3x3 Gift Cards and Envelopes. You could probably fit 6 card with tags, but I just happen to only do 4 this time. The cards were done with textured Basic Gray Cardstock, little strips of Cherry Cobbler and a small piece of Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper. I also wrapped the nugget candy in Jolly Holiday DSP..jpg)
I don't have the measurements of the box for you today. I want to tweak the box a little so the candy fits differently. Maybe I just need bigger candy. I will work on that and post it in the future. I covered the box using the Medium Window Sheets. 
The penant banner is made using the Pennant Banner Die for the Big Shot. This is the larger of the two penants that come on the die. The Old Olive scallop circles are also on the die. They are slightly bigger than the ones made with the scallop circle punch. The letters were cut with the Big Shot using the Timeless Type Alphabet. 
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The color combination for thie project is Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, and Early Expresso. I cut the large circle with the Circle Scissors Plus. The Circle Scissors Plus is perfect when the punches just are not big enough. You can cut a circle any size up to 6". You can also cut through multiple layers at one time. Simple adhear them together, place them on your glass cutting mat, and Circle Scissors Cut away. I then stamped the large flowers from the "Elements of Style" stamp set onto the circle in Blushing Bride. The bird and sentiment is from the same stamp set. I stamped the bird in Pear Pizzazz, cut it out with my paper snips and then mounted it using dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped in Early Expresso directly on the Whisper White circle. I punched a 3/4" strip of Blushing Bride with the NEW Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border. A couple quick layers and a short piece of the Early Expresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and I am done..JPG)
The coordinating scrapbook page uses the same circle and ribbon strip from the card. I then added 3 simple boxes for photos on the side. The squares hold a 2x2 photo. There is plenty of area if you want to put a title or some journaling. I love the simplicity of the layout. Now to find the 3 perfect photos to use. (hmmm 3 kids, 3 boxes, I think I know what to do)
