This post is probably the most picture-heavy post you’ve ever seen on my blog!  🙂  I’ve gone to Convention for the past six years and admired the display boards stamped by talented stampers from all over North America.  This year, I’m throwing my hat in the ring to be a display stamper.  We were asked to gather up three cards, two 3D items, and one scrapbook page to show examples of our work.  First my cards:

Label Love – I’ve included extra pictures to show some of the details on this card.

Bright-Label-Love-Convention-Swap-Card

The first closeup shows a bit of the ruffled ribbon detail, as well as the dry embossing done with the Big Shot and Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Display-Stamper-Card-Label-Love-Embossing-Closeup

The second closeup shows the main image embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder onto Bermuda Bay Cardstock, as well as the paper piercing on the circle, done with the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack.

Display-Stamper-Card-Label-Love-Closeup

 

Gently Falling, Sketch & Outline Alphabets – This card uses some of my favorite things!  A great two-step stamping set, the Chalk Talk Framelits, paper piercing, and a background stamp!  Check out my original post about this card to see the video I filmed on making your own custom die cuts (in this case I wanted to shorten) as well as how to use the Envelope Liner Framelits Dies (how I made the matching envelope liner in the first picture).
Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-007-Gently-Falling-Masculine-Card-with-Envelope

The second picture is the decorated inside of the card.  I kept the design of the inside super simple since I like to write a lot!  Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-007-Gently-Falling-Masculine-Card-Inside

 

 

So Very Grateful – I used Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder to make the stamped images really pop!  I also used it to turn one of our 1/8″ Silver Mini Brads into gold!  The main image is stamped onto watercolor paper and was colored using the Aqua Painter and our Classic Stampin’ Pads.

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-019-So-Very-Grateful

This picture shows a closeup of the dry embossing, again with the Big Shot, but this time using the Scalloped Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  You can also see the Gold Foil Paper under the sentiment and as the scalloped accent.  I love that stuff but boy is it hard to photograph! 🙂  You can also see the silver brad turned gold here too!
Display-Stamper-Card-So-Very-Grateful-Embossing-Closeup

Just a closeup of the gold embossed and watercolored image!  I love this stamp set!!!

Display-Stamper-Card-So-Very-Grateful-Closeup

 

 

Ok…on to my 3D items!

Candy Dispenser Box – I was able to make this by adapting a basic template I found online (no measurements so it was a tad tricky) to fit this entire box on a sheet of 8-1/2″ x 11″ cardstock!  I love this combination of colors, taken from the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack!

Display-Stamper-3D

The front of the box is decorated with a sentiment from the Chalk Talk stamp set.  I also added a Bitty Butterfly punched out of designer series paper I first heat embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder to give it a great, glittery shine!  The butterfly is topped off with a Crumb Cake Candy Dot…LOVE those!  Loops of Linen Thread add to the whimsy!

Display-Stamper-3D-Candy-Dispenser-Front-Closeup

The flower atop the candy dispenser is made with oodles of punches.  I punched two from each punch, the bottom layer from cardstock and the top from the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack.  The punches I used, from largest to smallest are:  Blossom Punch, Pansy Punch, and Boho Blossoms Punch.  A Large Rhinestone Jewel added a bit of flair to the center after I crumpled the papers up to give them a bit more life.

Display-Stamper-3D-Candy-Dispenser-Flower-Closeup

 

Dream Banner – The second of my 3Ds is one of my favorite projects I’ve ever made!  It is 10 times more beautiful in real life!!!  I used the Pennants Framelits Dies to cut out both the black and vanilla Modern Medley Designer Series Paper (largest pennant die), and the Gold Foil Designer Vellum (2nd largest).  The pennant toppers were cut from the largest Deco Labels Collection Framelits Dies.

Display-Stamper-3D-Banner

You can get a bit more detail in this picture.  The letters are Gold Foil Paper with the So Very Grateful largest floral image (the one I used on the blue/gold card above) heat embossed on it with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  It is so striking in real life!  The rosettes were made by scoring every 1/4″ on the Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  I strung them together with the Gold Baker’s Twine, used Sticky Strip to attach the Gold Sequin Trim and tied a knot of Victoria Crochet Trim at either end.  Voila! Display-Stamper-3D-Banner-Closeup

 

Gorgeous Grunge Scrapbook Page – On to the final entry!  The splatters are all from my favorite stamp set of all time, Gorgeous Grunge.  The letters are also heat embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder – the large ones again using a stamp from Gorgeous Grunge.  The large gray portion in the background is embossed with the Modern Mosaic folder, but it is super hard to tell in my photos!

Display-Stamper-Scrapbook-Page

This picture shows the fun fringe I created with the Fringe Scissors.  I thought it was the perfect touch on a page all about my much loved bangs! 🙂

Display-Stamper-Scrapbook-Fringe-Closeup

Here’s a closeup of the letters embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder.
Display-Stamper-Scrapbook-Title-Closeup

I hope you enjoyed looking at my projects!  I sure had a great time pulling together some favorites and making some new projects to enter into the selection for Convention 2014 Display Stampers.  Thanks for sticking with me through this long post!

 

The Retiring Lists are finally here!!!


Both the STAMPS and ACCESSORIES on the lists are while supplies last only so get them now before they sell out!  Stampin’ Up! made this especially easy by offering FREE shipping on Monday, April 21st – Friday, April 25th.
FREE SHIPPING is on ANY Stampin’ Up! products:  current, retiring, online-exclusive, clearance, etc. so feel free to combine any or all of these types of things in my Online Store when you’re shopping.
I’m also offering a free gift for everyone who places an order using the Hostess Code HMTUFKZS.  (Do not use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order of $150 or more as you get your own hostess benefits.)

The Retiring 2012-2014 In Color Products (Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit) will sell out the fastest so remember to stock up on your cardstock, ink refill, ribbon, etc. if you’re loving a specific color, sooner rather than later!

Again, remember that the products will only be available while supplies last (this is the first time SU! has done this so I just want to make sure everyone knows).
If you would rather have the Retiring Lists as PDF documents, here they are to download too:

Contest Winner

The winner of the Retiring Stamp Contest and $30 SU! Shopping Spree is
Melissa Ferguson! 
Congrats Melissa!  Contact me for details on redeeming your shopping spree! 🙂
As always, don’t hesitate to email me at Sarah@SarahLovesToStamp.com or call/text me at 816.341.0208 if you have any questions or need anything whatsoever!
 

***This is my second post for the day!  Be sure to scroll down so you don’t miss out on my project for today!***

The Retiring Lists come out on Monday…SO, before then…

A CONTEST complete with a PRIZE!!!
Go through the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog (HERE it is online if you don’t have a hard copy.  Or click HERE to download it.) and pick out 10 stamp sets you think will retire. Email that list to me by Sunday, April 20th at 6 pmCentral Time.
The winner will receive $30 in FREE product of their choice! If there’s a tie, the first person who sent their list to me will be the winner.
I will announce the winner on Monday in the email I will send out to share the retiring lists with you.
To Be Eligible:
-You must be a current customer (have placed an order with me in the past 12 months).
-Email your list to me at Sarah@SarahLovesToStamp.com (please use ‘Contest’ in the subject line).
-List must include only 10 stamp sets from the 2013-2014 Annual Catalog (do not include Occasions Catalog stamps or online only stamps)
-Late entries will not be accepted.
Finally, if the Retiring Stamps are revealed early, only the entries that were received before the release will count.  (I’m not expecting this but it’s only fair to those who got their entries in before the list was announced.)
 

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-033-Baby-We've-Grown-Bunny-Card

Hi there!

Combining my Design Team project from the As You See It Challenge today with a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and the color combo from Dynamic Duos (last week’s) has resulted in the card you see above.

Come on over to the As You See It Challenge and play along with us this week!  We’re switching it up with theme week this week…anything ANIMALS! 🙂  I chose to use this super cute bunny from the adorable Baby, We’ve Grown stamp set from the Occasions Catalog!  Love this little guy!

AYSI-Challenge-033

I got a little excited about this sketch and made a whole bunch of these cards in different color combos.  I also filmed a video for you on how to watercolor.  The sentiments on all 4 cards are different, showing how versatile this little image can be.  The main card above says “Happy Easter,” whereas the other 3 cards are baby themed with “for your shower,” “hello, baby,” and “thank you.”  Think of what a great gift a set of the “thank you” ones would be for a new mom!

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-033-Baby-We've-Grown-Bunny-Card-Group

I also showed some variety in the backgrounds.  One is Designer Series Paper, one is dry embossed cardstock and the other two are (surprise, surprise) my favorite, Core’dinations cardstock!!! (Seriously, can I even make a project without it?)

I’ll be back with the video as well as the How To and Supply List soon!

 

Stampin' Up! Project Life IntroductionStampin' Up! Project Life May 1 Products

We are so so so excited to let you know we’ve partnered with the amazing Becky Higgins to bring you the real deal—authentic Project Life products, now in exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors and designs. If you’ve somehow missed the Project Life craze and are wondering what it’s all about, we’ll fill you in: it’s a super simple, totally affordable way to get your photos into albums: you just slip your photos into Photo Pocket Pages and add designed cards. It’s a back-to-basics approach to documenting your life. In a nutshell, it’s all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.

You’ll be able to order a selection of Project Life products starting May 1! And with the launch of our new annual catalog on June 2, you’ll be able to buy from our complete line of Project Life products.

Can’t wait that long? Stampin’ Up! demonstrators will be able to order the limited selection starting April 21. So if you’re a demonstrator make sure to check the demonstrator website that day; if you’re not a demonstrator, sign up and you can order the products early too!

Here are the items you’ll be able to purchase on May 1:

Stampin' Up! Project Life May 1 Product ListI started papercrafting when I was 10 when my mom and I started scrapbooking together.  Many, many years later, I found Stampin’ Up! and fell in love with the simplicity of card making.  Project Life is EXACTLY what I need to get back into scrapbooking again so I can’t wait to order these products and start documenting our memories again!  I love looking at my old scrapbook pages and remembering the stories and people.
Now to print some of the thousands of pictures that I’ve taken…that’s definitely one drawback of digital photography.  Anyone out there like me that hasn’t printed a picture in years?  I think pictures are actually the #1 reason I quit scrapbooking.  I’d print a picture but so often felt like I needed it in Black & White or a different size or whatever so I just went to card making where I didn’t have to worry about a picture at all.
I hope you’ll stay tuned!  I’ll do some videos on the products when they come but I won’t be able to post those until it’s available for customers to order on May 1st.  I hope you’re as excited as I am!  And just in time for National Scrapbooking Month!!!  Perfect timing!
I almost forgot…here’s the video announcement!

 

Hi there!  If you aren’t on my mailing list yet, you’ll want to be before Tuesday!  I’ll be sending out my newsletter on Tuesday full of great projects and other info.  Here are some of the perks of being on my mailing list:

  • Monthly newsletter full of project ideas (I try to include a card, technique, scrapbook and 3D item each month as well as a Tool Tip and Q&A) EXCLUSIVE to my newsletter!  You won’t find these projects elsewhere!
  • Other emails throughout the month with upcoming SU! specials, promotions, announcements, etc.
  • Notification of specials, promotions and announcements directly from me!  (Some offers will be for my newsletter subscribers ONLY!)
  • First notification of upcoming classes and other events
  • Free video upon signup (New updated video coming soon!  Don’t worry –  if you sign up now, it’ll get sent out to ALL of my current subscribers when I upload it, as well as new ones too!)

How to sign up?  Visit SarahLovesToStamp.com if you are viewing this in a blog reader and sign up via the pop up or to the left where you can put in your name and email.  Don’t forget to check your email after that first step – you HAVE to click the link in your email to actually be added and start receiving messages from me.

 

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-032-Sketch-Alphabet-Masculine-Card

Back again today with a challenge card for the As You See It Design Team!  This sketch was a bit tricky for me as I had the main image part done and had to figure out what to do with the circle elements.  I ended up using buttons to mimic the circles on the sketch as well as to create a visual triangle around my main focal point piece.

The color combo and actually even the square inspiration came from an old Colour Q challenge that I’ll post below.  The image doesn’t show that you should use black, but I thought the black really made the other colors pop!  🙂

Please head on over to the As You See It Challenge Blog and check out what the rest of the Design Team has to share with you!  Then, before next Wednesday, play along and link your card on the blog so we can all check out your creation!!!
AYSI-Challenge-032

Because my card base was Basic Black, I also added a Whisper White layer to the inside to write on.  I decorated it with a few of my extra squares from the front too.  Check it out below.

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-032-Inside

*Full instructions to come!*

 

 

Hi there!  Here’s my video I promised when I posted my As You See It speed stamping challenge card last Friday.  A little late with this one but it’s a simple design that can be executed in a myriad of colors!  Go with the ombre, or go with 3 different (non-monochromatic) colors instead, or do all 5 panels the same color!  So many options but I LOVE stamping the background stamp over them to tie them all together.  Hope you love it too!

 

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-031-Shades-of-Blue-Starburst-Sayings

Our As You See It Challenge for the week is a double challenge.  You must use shades of blue and try to finish your project in under 10 minutes!!!  It’s a fun one and I really encourage you to give it a try!  As inspiration, here’s a video of my process from start to finish (I did fast forward while I was at my Big Shot).


How To
1.  Cut Midnight Muse cardstock to 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ and score at 4-1/4″.  Cut Whisper White cardstock to 4″ x 5-1/4″.  Cut 2 pieces of each of Soft Sky and Marina Mist cardstock and 1 piece of Midnight Muse all to 3-3/4″ x 15/16″.

2.  Use Multipurpose Liquid Glue to adhere the cardstock strips in an ombre pattern. *TIP:  Multipurpose Liquid Glue is essential when you want to have a minute or two to slide paper pieces exactly where you want them.

3.  Stamp this piece with the World Map background stamp in VersaMark ink.  Glue it onto the Midnight Muse cardstock.

4.  Stamp the sentiment from Starburst Sayings onto Whisper White cardstock with Midnight Muse ink.

5.  Cut the sentiment out with the matching Starburst Framelits Dies, using the Magnetic Platform to hold your framelit in place on your stamped sentiment.  Attach it with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Hi there!  I wanted to show you my new system for storing my Framelits dies!  I’m loving the magnetic sheets and how this streamlines the amount of items inside the folder so it is easier to take them out and put them away.  You can also do this and then leave the magnetic sheets outside of the folders and put them into some sort of container that makes it easy to flip through.  If I didn’t put all of mine in their folders, I bet I could fit all of them into one Littles Carry-All Caddy from thirty-one.  This has helped me tremendously with storage and organization but also with my creative process as I can easily see and access all of my Framelits dies.  Maybe this tip will help someone else too!

 

Sale-A-Bration-Banner-Blast-Sendoff-Card

I’m having a customer appreciation event tomorrow night, including Make-and-Takes (the card above is one), a prize drawing for over $100 worth of SU! goodies, handmade items for sale, my Stampin’ Stash Sale, as well as an opportunity to get FREE SHIPPING on the orders placed tomorrow only (read on for more info).  It’s the LAST day of Sale-A-Bration tomorrow so it is the FINAL opportunity to get in on the Exclusive, FREE products with every $50 you spend.

The card above uses 4 of our Sale-A-Bration items!!!  Can you tell I’m a fan of this year’s offerings?  I used the stamp set See Ya Later for the greeting and Banner Blast for the banners.  I then punched out the banners with the fabulous, matching Banner Punch.  I ran the Whisper White layer through the Big Shot (AFTER stamping) with the 4th SAB item, the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder.

I also wanted to share the Envelope Punch Board with my crafters, so we’re making the 3D Open Box too!  This was a fantastic idea from SU! Demo, Sam!  LOVE it!

Sale-A-Bration-Sendoff-Open-Box

Out of town customer?  You can be entered into the drawing for placing an order before the event.  If you are placing an order under $150, use the Hostess Code 666UFGFP to qualify for the FREE shipping offer (I will have to PayPal you the money back or send you a check if you live out of town).  If you are placing an order over $150, I will still offer the FREE shipping, but do not enter the Hostess Code as you qualify for Hostess Benefits on your order alone.

Anyone in the Saint Joseph, Missouri area is welcome to come to my event tomorrow night!  Feel free to send me an email at Sarah@SarahLovesToStamp.com or call/text 816.341.0208 if you’d like directions to my house!  You can also call, text or email if you have other questions but my event runs from 6:30-9:30 pm tomorrow night so I will answer everything after that!  Orders must be in by 11:30 pm Central Time so I can get everything entered in before Sale-A-Bration ends.  I’m sad it’s coming to an end, as it’s my favorite time of year, but glad that there’s one more day!  I don’t want you to miss out! 🙂

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-030-SAB-Petal-Parade-and-See-Ya-Later

I’m so in love with this sketch from our As You See It Challenge Blog!  Head over there and check out what the rest of the Design Team has to share with you!!!  (AND…play along, of course!!!)  My color combo this week is from the Colour Q Challenge…but I changed it up to use current SU! colors Smoky Slate, So Saffron, Coastal Cabana, and Calypso Coral!  I LOVE this color combo and will be using it again soon!

I’ve used the Sale-A-Bration sets, Petal Parade and See Ya Later on this project, as well as the Sale-A-Bration embossing folder, Decorative Dots.  Monday, March 31 is the last day that you can earn any of these items (as well as the other Sale-A-Bration) choices FREE with every $50 increment you spend!  Man, am I going to miss this year’s offerings!!!  🙂

The polka dotted background was a total DIY patterned paper, using the Eye-Catching Ikat Photopolymer Set!  I sure am addicted to it!  I love the look of these imperfect circles.  I also cut a tag out of Smoky Slate Core’Dinations Cardstock (from the Neutrals Core’Dinations Pack) and ran it through my Big Shot with the Sale-A-Bration Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Then I sanded it with my Stampin’ Sanding Block.  HOWEVER…the color that showed through was very vanilla…creamy…not fitting with my crisp, fresh color palette including white…SO…I just sponged on a bit of So Saffron ink with a Stamping Sponge wedge (be careful if you use a sponge dauber, as you want VERY light coverage here) to slightly tint the raised, sanded dots.

Here’s a closeup of the glittery beauty that adding Iridescent Ice Stampin’ Emboss Powder creates!!!  Man, I LOVE how pretty these look! 🙂

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-030-SAB-Petal-Parade-and-See-Ya-Later-Closeup

I’ll be back later today with a full supply list and some other details for you!  🙂

 

 

 

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-027-Feel-Goods-with-Backyard-Basics-Sunburst-Card

Hi there!  Finally back with a fun, new sketch from As You See It Challenges!  I used a technique from the Stampin’ Up! demonstrator-only magazine, Stampin’ Success that came out in the Nov/Dec issue!  I’ll film a video on it soon because it was super easy and you only have to do it once and you have a template you can use over and over again on lots of different projects!  Gotta love that!

How To
1.  Make your sunburst template (I’ll embed the video below when it’s finished) and sponge Daffodil Delight ink onto a Whisper White cardstock layer measuring 3-1/2″ x 4-3/4″.

2. Rub an Embossing Buddy over the card layer from Step 1 to remove the static and help the embossing powder only stick to the stamped image.  Using a Stamp-a-ma-jig, position the greeting from Feel Goods and stamp it in VersaMark ink.  Pour on Black Stampin’ Emboss Powder and use the Heat Tool to melt it.

3. Repeat the steps above with a scrap of Whisper White cardstock and the butterfly from Backyard Basics.

4. Color the butterfly in with a Blender Pen and Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, and Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin’ Pads.

5. Use the Two Way Glue Pen to apply glue in between the sponged sunburst rays and pour on Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Tap off excess glitter (sometimes I also use a paintbrush to really brush off the excess glitter so it doesn’t fall off later).

6. Use the Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach the main panel onto a piece of 3-3/4″ x 5″ Basic Black cardstock.  Glue that onto a Strawberry Slush card base, cut at 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″.

7. Cut the butterfly out with Paper Snips.  *TIP:  Move the cardstock around, not the scissors.  Attach it with a half Stampin’ Dimensional onto the center of the sunburst.  *TIP:  Use a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker to run around the Whisper White edges to really finish the look and hide any cutting mistakes.

Supply List
STAMPS:
Backyard Basics (Wood-Mount 130514, Clear-Mount 130517) ***Buy the Backyard Basics Bundle and save 15% on the stamp set and matching Backyard Basics Framelits Dies. Wood-Mount Bundle 132729, Clear-Mount Bundle 132728***
Feel Goods (Wood-Mount 131916, Clear-Mount 129684)

PAPER:
8-1/2″ x 11″ Whisper White Cardstock (100730)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Basic Black Cardstock (121045)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Strawberry Slush Cardstock (131295)

INK:
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin’ Pad (126944)
Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Pad (126945)
Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin’ Pad (131178)
VersaMark (102283)

ACCESSORIES:
Black Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109133)
Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755)
2-Way Glue Pen (100425)
Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

TOOLS:
Stampin’ Trimmer (126889)
Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334)
Bone Folder (102300)
Paper Snips (103579)
Blender Pens – set of 3 (102845)
Heat Tool (129053)
Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Grid Paper (102787)
Stampin’ Scrub (126200)
Stampin’ Mist (102394)

 

Sarah-AYSI-Challenge-025-Geometrical-and-Perfect-Pennants-Banner-Card

I’m really excited about how the banners came together on this card!  I had originally planned on using Banner Blast (from Sale-A-Bration) when I first saw this sketch, but I left it in Kansas City at my upline’s home when we had a meeting a few weeks ago!  I’m kind of glad I did, because it gave me the opportunity to think about what else I could use and I’m wild about the results!

I had written down a similar color combo (it had Cajun Craze instead of Tangerine Tango) but I felt like Cajun Craze gave it a fall feel so I substituted in Tangerine Tango!  I will be using this color combo again – it isn’t typical me, but I LOVE it!!!  I hope you do too!

I’ll be back with the supply list and instructions later!  🙂  And with the weekly challenges I’m going to enter the card in too.  Check out the other creations by the Design Team at the As You See It Challenge Blog!  And, OF COURSE, play along!!!

AYSI-Challenge-025

 

Language-of-Love-and-SAB-See-Ya-Later-Meet

Hi there!  Today I have my husband’s Valentine’s Day card to share with you!  I combined a few great challenges to bring a fun, masculine card to you (at least my hubby says it is still masculine with the pink since it was for V-day and he says ribbon is ok too).  Loving this lovey combo of colors from the Color Throwdown Challenge and the FABULOUS sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!  I can tell you I will be using this layout again soon!  LOVE!

I received the Language of Love stamp set (Wood-Mount 133074, Clear-Mount 133077) at Stampin’ Up! Leadership in Houston in January (FREE perk for attendees!  Woohoo!) and had NO idea I’d fall in love with it (no pun intended…honestly) this much!!!  I combined it with the perfect sentiment from the FREE Sale-A-Bration exclusive stamp set, See Ya Later (Wood-Mount 133533, Clear-Mount 133536)!  LOVE IT!  This sentiment is also GREAT for any love card: Valentine’s Day (obviously), weddings, anniversaries, best friends, and even for adopted parents/children too (I instantly thought of how much my parents changed my life when they adopted me).

One tiny detail you can’t see well from the picture?  I used markers to ink up the 5 Heart Strip stamp from Language of Love in the 4 different colors I used and stamped it in the bottom left corner of my envelope.  I used the Basic Gray Stampin’ Write Marker to put a tiny “W + S” in one of the open hearts on the envelope for a personalized touch for my hubby, William.  I also used the Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172) to line the envelope with some Real Red patterned paper from the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack (130134).

You can earn See Ya Later, or any of the other 12 SAB exclusive choices, FREE with any $50 product order!  Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity!  Click here, or any of the links below to visit my Online Store!

How To
1. Cut Basic Gray cardstock to 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ and score in half at 4-1/4″.  Cut a strip of Basic Gray to 4-1/4″ x 1″.  Cut Whisper White cardstock to 4″ x 5-1/4″.

2.  Using Small Heart Punch, punch 2 hearts out of scraps of each of Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, and Real Red cardstocks.  Push the punch in as far as it will go and leave space between the 2 punched hearts for the next step! (Set aside the hearts you punched out, as you actually want the negative image for this project!)

3.  Using the 1″ Circle Punch upside down (so you can see where you’re punching), center it around each of the punched hearts from Step 2.  Punch all 8 of these out and decide on how you want to arrange them! 🙂

4.  Stamp the 5 Heart Strip stamp from Language of Love on 1″ strips of Whisper White cardstock in each of the following colors:  Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette and Real Red.  Use the 3/4″ Circle Punch to punch out 2 hearts from each color.  The hearts that look white above are actually Pink Pirouette.  This color is VERY pale and hard to pick up in the photo.  Sorry about that!  *TIP:  The hearts are close enough together that you will punch an edge of the heart next to it.  This is not a big deal at all because you won’t see that through the little circle/heart windows we made in Step 3.

5.  Use Stampin’ Dimensionals (cut apart) to adhere the circle/heart windows from Step 3 onto the stamped heart circles from Step 4.  I put my dimensionals on the back of the circle/heart windows – a half dimensional at the top of the heart point and a quarter dimensional on each side of the bottom point of the heart.  Then I lined it up over the top of the heart I wanted behind the window and pressed down. 

6.  Next I laid out where I wanted the circles to be and made a mark between the 2nd and 3rd set of circles so the sentiment could be right in the void between the circles.  I then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the “Someone” sentiment from the Sale-A-Bration choice See Ya Later stamp set in Real Red ink.  Earn it FREE with a $50 purchase from now until March 31, 2014.

7.  I used the Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive to adhere the circle hearts down to the white layer.  *TIP:  Use the Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive anytime you need a bit of time to move things around a titch.  That’s the beauty of a liquid adhesive – it’s a total life saver for my perfectionist nature!

8.  Run the strip of Basic Gray cardstock through the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine with the pinked edge from the Finishing Touches Edgelits Dies.  You’ll have to run it through once for one edge and a second time for the second edge. 

9.  Run the strip of Basic Gray through the Big Shot again using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder to give it a bit extra oomph and add some texture to the card!  It is rare that I can make a card without these things!!!  *TIP:  Do all embossing LAST!  If you have any cutting to do with the Big Shot, running an embossed piece through the machine will flatten the embossing a bit. 

10.  Glue the Basic Gray strip to the top of the card.  Trim the excess off of the edges.  *TIP:  I shared this yesterday, but when I’m going to emboss and I need it to be a specific size (this strip needed to be 4″ wide), I cut it a bit bigger and trim it after embossing, either on my paper cutter or with Paper Snips if it is a strip that will overhang the edge like this one.

11.  Finally, tie a knot of ribbon around the white layer and adhere the layer to the card base!  🙂  *TIP:  Whisper White and Very Vanilla are a bit thinner than our other cardstocks and thus I have trouble with them buckling when I go to tie my ribbon around a single layer of these cardstocks, so I used my favorite ribbon tying trick on this card.  Check out the video posted below for how I do this.  On this project, as I mentioned in the video, I used a Glue Dot (Stampin’ Up!’s are mini sized) in the center of my knot to put it exactly where I wanted it.  Also, in the video, I used our regular Stampin’ Mist bottle.  Since the ribbon needed to span 4″ (plus some to tape on the back) on this card, I used the Stampin’ Mist Refill bottle as my cylinder (it is larger).  I taped the edges to the back before adhering it to the card base. 

*BONUS TIP:  The ribbon tip in this video will also help you use a little less ribbon too – stretching your roll to make even more projects before it runs out!  Just by a couple of inches of course so not huge but if you’re using a specific color tons or mass producing cards, you’ll notice a difference.

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This card was entered into challenge at:  Color Throwdown, Cupcake Inspirations, Freshly Made Sketches, Artistic Inspirations, Crafting from the Heart, Challenges 4 Everybody, Cuttin and Stampin, Digistamps4Joy, Lexi’s Creations, Lady Bug Crafts, Oldie But a Goodie (Woodgrain folder, Edgelits, Punches, Pink Pirouette), Paper Pretties, and Splitcoaststampers Ways to Use It (Red, Red, Red).  🙂

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