Demonstrator Web Site

I bit the bullet after a lot of thought and signed up to have a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Business Website. I will hold onto this blog, but will mostly be updating my DBWS. So check it out at:

www.amyjasper.stampinup.net

Let me know what you think of it.

Black and White Tri-fold Shutter Card

I've seen a lot of these types of cards and thought I'd give it a try for my friend's birthday.  I thought this black and white designer series paper (retired from the holiday mini catalogue) would look elegant for this card along with my favorite green - Old Olive.  Most items on this card are retired, I'm afraid, but there are always substitutions out there to consider.

Notice the paper piercing, the distressed edge on the card front, and the use of the new Border Punch.

Supplies: Basic Grey CS, Basic Black CS, Old Olive CS, Night and Day Specialty Designer Series Paper (Retired), Ribbon Originals "Mistletoe" (Retired), Heart image from "Sketch It" stamp set (Retired, but I have a used one available for purchase), Friends image from a retired rub-on package (sorry, don't have the name of it), paper piercer and mat pack, Old Olive ink, cutter kit (for distressing paper edges), stampin' dimensionals, adhesive.

Hybrid Valentine

Valentines Day has come and gone and I'm only finishing this post now.  Sad, but better late than never. Hopefully, you get some inspiration for an anniversary or wedding card with this one.  I'm still pleased with the final result.


This is my hybrid card - a combination of paper crafting and digital crafting.  The heart and the "love forever" are images from My Digital Studio which I sized and positioned to print on whisper white cardstock.  My printer doesn't print colours very true, but it worked fine. 

 

This layout was one I saw done by another demo named Tessa Wise and thought it was uniquely attractive.  The background image is inspired by her card as well.  I started with a piece of Close to Cocoa cardstock and very lightly and unevenly sponged it with Close to Cocoa ink.  After using my embossing buddy over the entire piece of cardstock (this step prevents embossing powder from sticking where you don't want it to), I stamped my French Script background in Versamark ink (this background stamp is retired, but very similar to the current En Francais stamp).  I embossed the background stamp with clear embossing powder, then thoroughly, but still unevenly, sponged chocolate chip over the entire image.  The ink doesn't stick to the embossed image, leaving it lighter coloured than the paper.  The effect is lovely, though not captured well in this photo.

Supplies:  Real Red CS, Close to Cocoa CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Whisper White CS, Border Punch, My Digital Studio (Images from "Always" and "Fundamental Phrases"), French Script stamp, sponges, Chocolate Chip ink, Versamark ink, embossing buddy, clear embossing powder, heat gun, mini library clip, White organza ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, adhesive.

Hoping for Spring Snowglobe Card

Here is my version of a snow globe card. I got the basic layout from my downline and worked my own style into it.  The bird was stamped with stazon on white cardstock, then coloured with blender pens and ink.  After I finished colouring it, I covered the entire image with versamark using my versamark pen and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I sponged my background over the bird. The clear embossing resists the ink and the colour of the bird can stay true. 

Supplies:

• Little Leaves sizzix die
• Leaves are cut from SU Designer paper in old olive and sponged with old olive ink
  
• little bird is only available for demonstrators to give as gifts
• Bird: black stazon, blender pens, Pacific Point ink, Apricot Appeal ink
• Sponging: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Sage Shadow
  
• white stazon
• SU Medium Window sheet
• Snowflakes from Serene Snowflakes set
• Soft Suede ribbon
• black mini clip
• Rich Razzleberry CS
• Soft Suede CS
• Whisper White CS
  
• Versamark ink
• heat gun
• Clear embossing powder (for bird)
• Black embossing powder (for sentiment)
• sentiment from Heard from the Heart stamp set.
  

Clearly Inspired

I just love acetate cards and am really pleased with the combination of Dusty Durango and Bravo Burgandy. The picture above shows the front of this 6x3 card. The picture below shows the inside left of the card. Hope you like.

supplies:
Window sheet
white stazon ink
dusty durango CS
whisper white CS
Bravo Burgandy CS
stampin dimensionals
sticky strip
Bravo Burgandy ink
Organza Ribbon
Baroque Motifs stamp set
Inspired by Nature stamp set
versamark ink
clear embossing powder
heat gun
sponge

Robotic Well Wishes

A simple card, but a cheerful colour combination to brighten someone's day just a little bit.

Supplies:
Burmuda Bay CS
Crushed Curry CS
Soft Suede CS
Kraft CS
Basic Black classic ink
Stampin' Dimensionals
Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Paper piercing tool
Mat Pack
Lots of Bots stamp set

Bumble Bee in the Window

I just love this little bumble bee from the Bloomin' Beautiful stamp set.

Supplies:
Soft Suede textured CS
Crushed Curry CS
Medallion stamp
Versamark ink
Clear embossing powder
Heat Gun
Soft Suede ink
sponge
Bloomin' Beautiful stamp set
White stazon ink
Stampin' Dimensionals
Soft Suede ribbon
Sticky strip adhesive
Fresh Cuts stamp set

Bleached Suede Christmas

This card is done with real red, soft suede, bermuda bay and very vanilla. The snowflake background was done by first sponging very vanilla cardstock quite heavily (especially the edges) with soft suede ink. Then I put some bleach on a folded up piece of paper towel (in a flat bottomed container - the plastic box that holds your stamp sets works well) and used it as an "ink" pad. The snowflakes are from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set. After the bleached images were stamped, I stamped a few more snowflakes in Soft Suede ink.


Other supplies used include:

Spiral Punch, Corner Rounder punch, Tag punch, Heard from the Heart stamp set, Soft Suede ribbon, jumbo eyelet, crop-a-dial, stampin' dimensionals.

Hope you like it!

Jolly Christmas Cheer

This card was one I found on the Splitcoast Stampers website while I was perusing ideas. I slightly adapted the original to develop my version of the card.



Whisper White, Real Red, Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip are the colours used to make this 5x5 card. I used the "Christmas Punch" hostess set and used my squares and circle punches to punch out the images. The center sentiment was stamped after using my Real Red and Chocolate Chip SU Markers to ink up the rubber stamp while covering the parts of that stamp with masking tape that I didn't want to stamp onto my paper. And, of course folks, this gal used stampin' dimensionals to pop up the circle image in the center. I wonder how often I actually don't use any on a card. hehe.

I'm failing aren't I?

Forgive me, friends, for I have failed you. It's been more than two months since my last post.

Okay, but hey, I haven't completely given up on trying, because here I am once again!

I'm wading deep in the busy-ness of my life and am wishing for better, guilt-free stamping days to come. I am happily forced to find stamping time as I have commited to a stampers group and a scattering of parties to keep me going. Thanks to that "obligation" I MUST stamp! LOL!



This card came to me quickly and I really like how it turned out. It's difficult to really see it in this photo (my apologies).

I used acetate (SU has some fantastic window sheets available) as the base of this card. The patterned paper is from the current holiday mini and is a lovely paper pack. I used real red ribbon with the organza white ribbon (such a pretty ribbon, too). The sentiment is from my Many Merry Messages stamp set which may now becoming overused, but I still love it! I embossed the words with black embossing powder for some extra punch.

Glad There is You

I made this card a while back for my Mom. There are a few items on here that are no longer available as they have retired, but you could easily substitute using the same idea. Many of us are great at taking an idea and making it work with what we have!

Recipe
Card Stock -- Sahara Sand, Basic Grey, Not Quite Navy, SU Designer Series Paper
Ink -- Sahara Sand (sponged around edges), Baja Breeze
Stamps -- flourish from "Baroque Motifs"
Accessories -- Scallop Edge Punch, brads, jumbo eyelet, rub-ons, Crop-a-dial, Sizzix Daisy die, Big Shot, Sticky Strip

Wedding Invitation

With the bride's help, we made these lovely wedding invitations. I used the Fifth Avenue stamp set in Elegant Eggplant and Apricot Appeal on Very Vanilla cardstock. The eggplant cardstock was dry embossed using an embossing folder. Stampin' Up! doesn't have this particular one, but has a number of dry emboss options with folders, texture plates, and templates. A great way to add texture and interest to your projects!

The photo is matted with Very Vanilla cs and mounted with Stampin' dimensionals. We used the white organza ribbon with a single silver brad for interest.


Inside the card was done on paper vellum by printing it from my computer in red ink and quickly clear embossing it while the ink was still wet. I used vellum tape (not available with SU) to apply the vellum to the vanilla cardstock. Leanne wanted to have a place for her bridal registry information as well as a map to the wedding location, so she wanted a pocket area to put everything into to keep it tidy. We did the pocket on the inside of the card front by adhering only 3 sides, leaving one side open and punching a half circle to make the pocket obvious and easy to access the contents. The purple writing on the top inside of the card was also done on the computer.

I'm excited to see if the new My Digital Studio now available through SU will make formatting these things easier. I'll let you know as soon as I get mine in the beginning of October!

38 Long

I love the jokes that go along with this stamp set (not from SU, I'm sorry to say).

This one says:

"your bra size is 38 long" !! LOL!


The card base is the new Melon Mambo and I stamped the bra images with the same ink. I used blender pens with ink from my ink pads to colour the image after stamping it with black Stazon ink on whisper white cardstock. The white CS is sponged around the edges with Rich Razzleberry ink and matted with Rich Razzleberry CS. The yellow paper is textured Whisper White CS that I sponged with Crushed Curry ink. I used my Spiral punch on the strip of Old Olive CS and I punched out hearts from Rich Razzleberry CS with my Heart to Heart punch. My corners are rounded with the 3/16" Corner Rounder punch. And, of course, Stampin Dimensionals were used to apply the white paper to the Rich Razzleberry matting as well as to apply the hearts to the card.

I don't have very many non-SU stamps, but I had to get this one. It was just too funny!

WINNER!!

Unfortuneately, I was camping in Golden Ears Provincial Park through the 15th and could not pick and reveal a name at that time.

But today is the day!! My son picked a name today. The winner will receive two SU stamp sets. A paper crimper with kids hands all over it, fabric flowers, brads, buttons, grommets, eyelets, an assortment of new SU In Colours, 2 yards of the new SU Soft Suede grosgrain ribbon, 2 each of precut sizzix die cuts that I have (matchbox die, topnote, circle ornament, pillow box), and more!

I'm so pleased at those who have commented with such loyalty. I will be continueing my blog, but since only a handful of people have showed an interest, I will have to cut back on time spent uploading my cards and updating information on this site. Soooo . . . I will be more slack on how frequently I post and will not be taking the time to add links to updates on the Stampin' Up website. You will have to rely on the website itself to be informed on current specials. (or you may receive information through me directly if you're on my customer list)

So without further ado, I'm happy to announce that the winner of my blog candy is . . .

PATRICIA JASPER!!!

This will remain at the top of my blog until a name is drawn July 15th.

From April 5 to July 15, every time you comment on a post on my blog, your name will be entered into a draw to receive a package of goodies from me! You may comment more than once per post (bless your heart if you do), but your name will only be entered once per post. So, send me your comments and thoughts about my projects and cards and I will draw a name July 15!

Please scroll down for more recent post.

Coming Soon!

Well, folks, it's getting closer to the day that I draw a name. I have many entries, but only one person has commented on just about every post since I began this blog candy offer. I want to make sure it's clear that your name will be entered once for each time you comment on a single post. If you comment more than once on a single posting, I will only put your name in once. If you comment on this post and commented on my post for June 6th, then you will be entered two times, once for each post.

I've been away for holidays and just wanted to let you know I haven't dropped off the earth! I've been busy making wedding cards for a friend, working madly to spread some mulch in my garden, off camping and then to visit family in Alberta. I haven't had much time to think about my blog and so here it is . . . neglected, I'm afraid.

I'll catch up with some cards and projects over the next couple days, so don't forget to comment on this, what has been and what is to come, so you can have a better chance at some happy mail!

Wonderful Wonder Crayon Thoughts

I am very pleased with this card. I gave it to my good and dear friend who's dad just passed away. Love you, Tammy.

This card uses Very Vanilla cardstock for the base layer as well as the second layer which was stamped with my Bella Toile background stamp in Creamy Caramel ink. I stamped the ink off once on a scrap piece of paper before stamping it on my card to give a softer colour.


The main image is from the stamp set "Thoughts and Prayers". I used my Water Colour Wonder Crayons (Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Regal Rose, Rose Red) to colour the rubber after dampening it by misting it with water from a spray bottle. Once coloured, I misted it again a few times until it was slightly wet, then stamped it onto water colour paper. I used my white gel pen for the flower centers after the colour dried.

The edges of the water colour paper were sponged with Creamy Caramel ink. The White Organza ribbon was a couple of scraps that I attached with Sticky Strip just to the edges of the Toile stamped cardstock so that it appears to go all the way through behind the water colour paper. I stamped the sentiment in Always Artichoke ink on Very Vanilla CS from my "Wonderful You" stamp set (retiring at the end of this month) and punched it out with the small oval punch. I then framed it with a large oval punch out of Creamy Caramel CS. As a final framing touch, I used the Vanilla Hodgepodge designer label and attached it to the card front with the coordinating brads. The oval sentiments were attached with stampin dimensionals to the center of the label.

All layers were attached with dimensionals (I'm a bit dimensional happy, LOL!)

The Last Chance Lists!

Stampin' Up! is getting ready for the new catalogue coming in July so it's that time again to move out the old to make room for new great stuff! I'll post the lists on the left for you to view sometime today. If you need to order something feel free to contact me. Remember, accessories are only available while supplies last while stamp sets are available until June 30th.

There are some great new In Colours that will be in the next catalogue. It's always fun to use new colours. They have some great polkadot grosgrain ribbon in the In Colours as well as SU Markers!

Sparkly Edward Cullen

My friend Melanie and I read the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer. Easy read and definitely hold your interest.

This is a fun card I made for her. I found a poster photo of the main male character, Edward and changed it up a bit (for personal use only) adding his name, making it black and white and taking off the advertisement for the movie coming out. I printed it on Whisper White cardstock and coloured his face and chest with Versamarker so I could emboss that area with Iridescent Ice embossing powder!! In the movie, vampires (for he is a vampire, ladies), glisten in the sun like diamonds! So I made his skin shimmer, then used my Versamark ink pad to cover the entire image and clear embossed the rest (this blended the Iridescent Ice embossing in with the rest as well as prevents the ink from bleeding or smudging).

The Real Red ribbon was added to the image using Sticky Strip after I distressed the edges with my SU distressing tool. I used the medium weight window sheet from SU as the card base. This product is much more sturdy as the acetate overhead sheets which I have used in the past.

The image was then applied to the cardfront with Stampin' Dimensionals and matted on the other side of the clear window sheet on the inside of the card with Basic Black textured cardstock.


You can sort of see his sparkling chest in this photo. Of course, Melanie loved the card and had a good laugh!

Hope you did too. lol!

Mother's Day Shadow Box Cards

Here are the shadow box cards I made for my moms for Mother's Day. I used a tutorial from The Sunset House blog. I chose Pacific Point and Certainly Celery for my colour pallet with a splash of So Saffron.

The one card uses a Cuttlebug embossing folder to make the diamond embossed background. I made the cutout circles with my Spellbinder Nestibilities (you could also use the Coluzzle cutter or the Circle Scissor Plus cutter). The flowers inside the box are coloured using a blender pen and some pacific point ink.



The second card has some 3D butterflies which were stamped on Vellum (cardstock weight) with Black Stazon ink and carefully cut out. Then I coloured around the edges with a blender pen and some Pacific Point ink, folded the wings up and glued the body of the butterfly to the paper (lining it up with a prestamped image on the card base).

The butterfly stamp is from the "Dreams Du Jour" stamp set; the flourish is from "Baroque Motifs"; the sentiment is from a retired set from a few years ago; flowers from the Pretties Kit; brads are Old Olive and So Saffron; I used the ticket corner punch to finish the edges; paper piercing was guided with the Mat Pack.