Stampin' Up! - Craft Carnivore

Thanksgiving Has Come and Gone Once Again

Posted on November 26, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Thanksgiving? Yup, it was here. I think.

It’s already the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. I’m back home from a visit to Baltimore to see my girls and my grands. Whew! It certainly seemed like we got there and left all in the same day!

I did manage to get my Thanksgiving cards out; I only had a couple to send this year so I made two of the same kind.

It was only after I had sent them out that I realized that one of the cards had had an embellishment malfunction. Can you see it?

One of the “rules” of design is the “rule of three.” To that end, I try to attach my embellishments in odd numbers, usually three or five. Oops!

But hey, all’s fair in love and cards, right? Sometimes you just have to let it go, set it free, move on, etc. 🙂

Here’s a photo of the inside of the card – it’s from a retired set from a few years ago, “Mingle All the Way.” I had trouble finding an appropriate sentiment for the inside that said more than just Happy Thanksgiving.

Now it’s time to get to work finishing those Christmas cards. Okay, fine! It’s time to get to work starting those Christmas cards.

Now go do something creative – today is the day!

Holiday Card Planning 2018 Version

Posted on November 12, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Christmas & Holiday Card Planning 2018

Here’s a quick guide to planning out your handmade holiday cards. If you scroll to the end of this post you can download a free PDF of this planner.

These are just suggested dates. Don’t lose your head if you’re behind. There’s always next year, right? 😉October 15 DESIGN At this time you should be narrowing down the ideas you have for what your card design is going to be – here’s what you need to consider:

are you making multiples of one design or several designs?
What is your color theme?
Are you going to do any die-cutting?
Are you stamping?
Do you prefer printing?
Are you making your own envelopes? (Are you nuts?)
Is your design going to be clean and simple or are you going in a more elaborate direction?

October 31 SUPPLIES Now that you have your design the next step is to figure out what supplies you’ll need to have on hand.

SUPPLY LIST

~ Stamp Set(s):

Stamp 1: have ___ or need to order___
Stamp 2: have___ or need to order___
Stamp 3: have___ or need to order___

~ Card Stock:

Color 1: have ___ or need to order___
Color 2: have ___ or need to order___
Color 3: have ___ or need to order___

~ Ink pads:

Color 1: have ___ or need to order___
Color 2: have ___ or need to order___
Color 3: have ___ or need to order___

~ Designer Series Paper: have ___ or need to order___

~ Embellishments:

Ribbon: have___ or need to order___
Buttons: have___ or need to order___
Bling: have___ or need to order___
Embossing Powder: have___ or need to order___
Washi tape: have___ or need to order___
Other: have___ or need to order___

~ Adhesive: have___ or need to order___

~ Envelopes: have___ or need to order___ or want to make___

~ Return Address labels: have___ or need to order___ or want to make___

November 15 ASSEMBLY It’s time to put all the pieces together!

Cut all your card stock
Cut all your Designer Series Paper
Stamp your images
Die cut or punch your shapes

If you want to stop after this step you can store everything in container of some kind and pull it out when you have time to work. It’s portable: take it with you anywhere you know you’ll be waiting for something: your kids, the doctor, your boss, etc.

December 8 TIME TO MAIL Don’t forget that you can order your holiday stamps online at the US postal service website and have them mailed directly to you for a small fee (as of today’s date that fee is $1.75). Address your cards, add the return labels, slap those stamps on, and you’re done! Time for eggnog and cookies! Or vodka and olives!

Enjoy your creative time and be happy!

Click here for the PDF of this holiday card planning guide.

Children’s Cards Easy Peasy

Posted on November 8, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to making cards for the kids in your life? Let me show you a few cards I made recently, even though I used retired Stampin’ Up! stamps to make them. You can easily grab a simple stamp set and go to town.

Easy Peasy Children’s Cards

My daughter asked me to make a few cards for her to send to her niece who is seven years old. So I wanted something whimsical and pastel, because she requested pink and unicorns, in no particular order. So I went to my Evernote file (this is a great tool for keeping an inventory of your stamping supplies) and looked through everything I have that is kids related and pulled out a couple sets, one of which I’d yet to use. So that was an added bonus!

These cards are note card size – 3 ½” x 5″. They take a regular US postage stamp.
Stamp set one: Magical Day from the Myths and Magic Suite
Set 2: Cheerful Critters
Colored with Stampin’ Blends
Gratefully stamped with the Stamparatus!

I love the little unicorn from this set. Very fun to color, and very little to color, to boot. While the mermaid card is a bit more detailed, it was still easy to do. I die cut and colored the mermaid and sea horse, and the card stock and ribbon/bow are both Pool Party.

** Full disclosure here: I got some ink smudged on the half circles above and below the mermaid; Basic Pearls were a quick fix! **

Die cutting can take time, but don’t forget that since these images are small and in different colored card stock you can run them through the Big Shot with one pass. Cutting them out ahead of time and all together is a time saver!

Simple stamping here with the Cheerful Critters. I stamped the critters first and then went back and stamped the sentiment inside; could not have done it without the Stamparatus! Simple matting with colored card stock, images colored with Stampin’ Blends, and done!

My daughter was really pleased with the results. Hopefully when she sends them out her niece will feel likewise!

Click here for some other fun kids’ cards!

Snow is glistening!

Posted on November 4, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Snow Is Glistening is one of two stamp sets from the Snowflake Showcase. Here is my interpretation of a card that was made as a sample by Stampin’ Up! to share with all of you. Here is the original:

and here is mine:

For the main color I used Petal Pink ink and card stock
I stamped the center flake and the sentiment in Petal Pink and then embossed them with clear embossing powder
Believe it or not, I actually cut the large snowflake out of fun foam
The mini pearls are from the Share What You Love Artisan Pearls set
Wrap the Polka Dot Tulle around the piece of Petal Pink card stock before you adhere it to the bottom.

I really like how soft the pink makes the card seem. I think I would probably stamp the sentiment on Whisper White card stock next time instead of vellum. It’s hard to read the print. All in all, I have to say that I really like this stamp set and I’m especially fond of the all of the snowflake dies that coordinate with it.

Hope you’ve had a good weekend. And I also hope you made good use of that extra hour of sleep you got (if you’re in a Daylight Savings area). Now go get crafty, my friends!

Take Me Home Country Home

Posted on October 28, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

This is what happened when I looked at the 2018 Holiday Catalog.

As usually happens, whenever a new catalog comes out I can’t wait to go through it from cover to cover. And often my first response is, well, that’s nice, but I really don’t see anything that I really need or want. HA! All I have to do is go on Pinterest and the next thing I know I see so many wonderful projects created from the sets I never thought I’d want and, well, you guessed it, I get hit with ohmygoshIhavetohaveit syndrome. You feeling me here?

Now before you think I went through and bought the entire 2018 Holiday Catalog, let me assure you that I did show some restraint. I really don’t care for two of the more popular sets in there, the Toil & Trouble and the Santa’s Workshop Suites. I just didn’t care for the illustrations, and try as I might, I just can’t get too enthused about them. Santa’s Workshop in particular. I love Halloween sets but the only one I got is the Spooky Sweets stamp set and the coordinating Spooky Bats punch. I’ve got a few more Christmas stamps to add to my collection, as well. I restrained myself with Designer Series Paper; I only ordered one set. This order. There are more. Yikes!

The first stamp set I inked up is the Country Home photopolymer set from the Country Lane Suite. There are some really fun items in this suite:

Designer Series Paper
Chicken Wire Elements
Galvanized Metallic Paper
Tin Tile Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

and some new colors of the Stampin’ Blends, Blackberry Bliss and Cajun Craze.

** When I first went through the catalog I didn’t realize that the Stampin’ Blends in the 2018 Holiday Catalog are all new colors, so if you want them, you might want to think about making them a priority. **

Check out that beautiful new embossing folder. I brushed a bit of the Silver Glimmer over the embossed card stock after I ran it through the Big Shot. I decided to make this my first project because my daughter’s mother-in-law(step) was recently diagnosed with Acute Neuroblastoma Leukemia and is having a rough time of it. So I try to send her a card every couple of weeks just so she knows we’re thinking about her.

Don’t forget that if you use the Stampin’ Blends you want to be sure to use the correct ink color for stamping your images. You want to use the Memento ink for alcohol markers like the Stampin’ Blends, Copics, Spectrum Noir, etc. These markers will bleed, so you need to use a really heavy card stock.

Okay, that’s it for me today. It’s cold and rainy here so I’m going to go make a nice cup of tea! And please, do something creative today!

Designer Series Paper Front and Center

Posted on October 24, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Garden Impressions Designer Series Paper

You know, you really don’t need to spend a lot of time on stamping to produce a project that is much simpler to make but still a thing of beauty. That’s one of the many things I love about the Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up! You can, of course, make your stamping the focal point of your project, but if you want to put something together in a relatively short amount of time, just go with the paper.

This is my last in a series of posts about the Abstract Impressions stamp set and, today, the Garden Impressions 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper. Here is my project:

For this card the Garden Impressions DSP (Designer Series Paper) takes center stage. I absolutely adore this paper and this combination of colors. Don’t you agree that it’s elegant? And it was very easy to put together, too.

I used Night of Navy card stock for a regular sized A2 card base
I put a panel of So Saffron card at 3 ¾” x 5″
I cut a piece of the DSP at 3 ½” x 4 ¾”
When you assemble the card adhere the DSP to the So Saffron first, then tie the Night of Navy Baker’s Twine around the panel. Once that’s done go ahead and attach it to the card base.
For the banner, I stamped the sentiment multiple times (using my Stamparatus) in Night of Navy on a scrap piece of So Saffron card stock, trimmed it, and then punched the left side using the Triple Banner Punch.

** What you can’t see is that on the inside of the card I attached a 4″ x 5¼” piece of So Saffron and then ran a small piece of the DSP (4″ x ¼”) horizontally across the bottom (I placed it about a ¼” up from the bottom of the So Saffron panel). **

Simple, easy, and yet still elegant. Next time you need a card in a hurry just grab some of that DSP and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be finished!

Now go see if you can do something creative today!

Distracted by Abstract Impressions

Posted on October 22, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Back in June I promised to show you some samples of cards made with the Abstract Impressions stamp set. Or as I like to call it, Distracted Impressions. Just because I am. Distracted. All the time.

Abstract Impressions in Red and Yellow

I have a tutorial for this one, and the link to it is below the card.

I used two of the new ink colors here for the red flowers, Poppy Parade and Lovely Lipstick
to which I added Real Red for the three-step stamping.
Dude, if you don’t have a Stamparatus you really need to get one!
I used Granny Apple Green for the leaves. I love how bright these new colors are; there’s no dark overcast to them.
That’s one of the new embossing colors in Lovely Lipstick that I used for the “thank you.”
I stamped the floral images on a separate white panel on purpose – that way I could trim the piece to give it that “off the edge” look that is pleasing to the eye. Plus I could make a mistake and not ruin the whole card. Been there, done that. Lots.
Click here for the tutorial. (It’s a PDF file)

Until next time, stay crafty my friends!

Quick Easy Birthday Cards for Kids

Posted on May 30, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Do you struggle with quick easy birthday cards for kids? Are you a last minute card-sender or present-giver? Raise your hand! Mine are both raised, natch!

One of the many reasons to love Designer Series Paper and coordinating accessories, including stamps, is that it makes the creation of beautiful,fun, hand-made cards super easy. Here is one I made recently, using the Birthday Memories Suite (OMG, I adore that paper):

Super cute, right? Well, it’s also super easy!

The card base is Whisper White A2
Add a background color of Real Red paper, 4″ x 5¼”
Cover that with a piece of the Birthday Memories Designer Series Paper, 3⅞” 5⅛”
Die cut the largest circle from the Stitched Shapes framelits in Whisper White
Die cut the fox and the banner from the Designer Series Paper, and then fussy cut the bunny.
Stamp the sentiments in Real Red on the circle and the banner using the Birthday Delivery stamp set

That’s it! You’re done! I mean, how easy was that? Now that you know how to do it, you can whip up your own card in a flash.

Until next time, my friend. Now go do something creative! Especially quick and easy cards for kids!

Amy

Click here for some other fun ideas for kids!

Birthday Fun with a Sweet Soirée

Posted on May 19, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

What’s a birthday without cake? A family meeting? And what’s a birthday without presents? Not full of surprises, that’s what!

Enter the Sweet Soirée Suite

I’m so happy that one of my favorite sets from the 2018 Occasions catalog has made it into the newest Annual Catalog that goes live on June 1. The only bummer is that the gorgeous Designer Series Paper that compliments the stamps will be retiring on May 31.

Here’s my project using a few of the goodies from this sweet suite:

This is a truly quick and easy card to make, and if you leave off some of the layers it becomes even easier!

I used a Berry Burst card base of 4¼″ x 5½″
I cut a piece of the Designer Series Paper to 4″ x 5″ which I then cut in to three more or less equal pieces (about 1¾″ x 4″) and adhered to the card front
I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock to 3″ x 4¼” and stamped the cake image and the sentiment in Berry Burst.
The Whisper White piece was mounted onto a piece of Bermuda Bay card stock just a teeny bit larger.
I finished my card off by mounting the sentiment onto the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals, adding a couple of the pre-cut flower bouquets from the embellishment kit, and blinging it all up with a few Pearls Basic Jewels. Done!

Now I’d say that was pretty quick! Now that you know how to do it, go get creative!

Here are my supplies

Become a Stampasaurus with Stamparatus

Posted on May 17, 2018September 25, 2020 by Craft Carnivore

Have your heard about the Stamparatus? It’s the newest stamping platform on the block and, in signature Stampin’ Up! style, it leaves the others behind in the dust!
Plus, you know I love my dinos (ahem) and what Jurassic Crafter worth their salt wouldn’t want to become a Stampasaurus? 😉

Here is a card I made using the Stamparatus:

I used the Watercolor Wings set, which has 4 steps to it
Cardstock used: Basic Black and Lemon Lime Twist
The Butterfly was cut with the Bold Butterfly framelits

Here’s the inside of the card:

Using the Bold Butterfly framelits I die cut eight butterflies
One is on the card front, the other six are stamped and glued together at the wings, the blank one I used for the card message
(This was my Mother’s Day card for my daugher)

Here’s a little gif (choosy mothers chose gif) that shows the process:

Until next time, Crafters! Now go do something creative today!