Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Crisp Autumn Thank You Gift

Pin It Now! For my latest workshop, I wanted to make a special thank-you for my hostess.  I made this box using the petal cone die (the instructions are on the packaging).  I used Spice Cake to cut a strip to use as trim, using pinking shears.


I made a pretty flower using the Big Shot, folded and layered them, secured with a button embellished with Build-A-Brad and Spice Cake DSP, and a vintage tag. 

Inside....new Spice Cake Designer Buttons, with a circle punch of Spice Cake DSP, topped off with various ribbons.  Each one is a magnet!  Dollar store round magnets are glued onto the back with Sticky Strip.  I saw this clever button idea done by fellow SU demonstrator Barb Mullikin.







To top it all off, I added a pin back to the fabric flower, no need to leave it stuck on the box!  I love the color so much, I'd definitely wear this!  How about you?

 
 

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net

Welcome Baby!!! Diaper Cake

Pin It Now! For my dear sister's baby shower, I wanted to try making a diaper cake.  It was SO fun and easy to make.  Three tiers of sweet smelling Pampers, 12 pairs of socks rolled into rosettes, 4 washcloths, 4 long-sleeved onesies, hair accessories.  It's all in there!!!








I made the topper with a new single stamp set from the Idea Book & Catalog, called Bringing Baby. It's such a sweet image, with a really retro looking baby (think Gerbers) and the stork!  I made a large medallion and backed it with a paper doily from the Flirtatious DSP.  Added mica flakes and dazzling diamonds to the edges to finish it off.








Here's how it looked at the party.  She loved it!





Here's the momma, and my baby sister :)
 

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Cheerful Cherries SSC218 & I {Heart} Ribbon Challenge #8

Pin It Now! I'm tackling a couple of challenges today, while getting warmed up to make 3 sets of cards for a demo swap for the new Holiday Mini Cat. It always helps to stretch your sketchy muscles before getting down & dirty!

My card is a bright and cheery "Thanks" from a new set "Cherish Friendship".
The embossing was done using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (#120175), swiped all over with a Daffodil Delight ink pad before placing Whisper White CS & running thru the Big Shot.  The frame - isn't it cool? - is a new 2-pc set from SU called Designer Frames (#123130), it has a rectangle and an oval folder.  I embossed in 2 colors, Daffodil Delight & Real Red.  Cut the yellow just around the embossed rectangle portion & cut the red all the way around the outside.  They layer quite nicely.  I stamped the image on watercolor paper with Basic Black, colored in with Stampin' Write Markers, added a little white gel pen for lighting on the cherries, and added Crystal Effects for dimension. 

Here's a close-up of the bowl of cherries...


The challenge sketch:

Then there's the current I {Heart}Ribbon Challenge From Nina Dee's blog, {USE YELLOW RIBBON}  My stash doesn't include any yellow ribbon :) so I made my own, with the Daffodil Delight Ink Pad & white Organza Ribbon.  I layered it with Real Red grosgrain ribbon to complement the layers on the card.

Further inspiration on the colors/composition from Pinterest

Can you see where I was coming from?!



Tuesday, August 16, 2011

DECK THE HALLS MINI ALBUM

Pin It Now! One of my awesome customers (and friend) is hosting a workshop soon, and she requested that we make the scrapbook seen on pg. 229 of the new Idea Book & Cat. I decided that, with a little alteration and improvisation, I could do this as a minibook with minimal supplies used and still offer it for free as a make-and-take. 

This is full of goodies from the new Holiday Mini Catalog! 

Four mini pages on each side of the album, one on each side showcases a *BLINGY* embellishment!
What do you think of the little stocking?

It's a new set with a matching multi-punch, called Stitched Stockings!
The punch is called Stocking Tag Punch.
There's also *new* mini jingle bells that REALLY jingle :)
...and silver Glimmer Paper that shines like starlight.  Beautiful!

So what do you think? Here's one more look...
This workshop is open to anyone, is FREE, and I can always make room for one more!  Check my calendar on my Stampin' Up! site.

Have A Blessed and creative day!  Erika

A Simple Thanks Will Do...

Pin It Now!
This sample is also a submission in the I{Heart}Ribbon Challenge at Deesigns by Nina Dee.
The layout of this card is taken from one of her recent blog posts! 
Here's a simple Thank You card using Gently Falling, a sneak peek from Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini.





 

I love the variety of leaves in this 12-pc set.

Stamp a backdrop of all the leaves in Crumb Cake on Confetti White cardstock. For the main leaf, stamp it with Early Espresso on Whisper White, then sponge a variety of Autumny colors (Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, & a touch of Old Olive). Then cut it out. Tie a long strand of linen thread around the length, then a piece of Certainly Celery seam binding ribbon which is gathered & adhere with glue dots. Attach your leaf with a Stampin' Dimensional. Using the Tag Punch, stamp & punch Thanks from any variety of sets, along with a couple punched from  *new* Spice Cake DSP (available 9/1). Use Tombo Multipurpose adhesive to fan out the tags, punch a small hole in top & insert a mini brad. Adhere with glue dot. Finally, use some of the *new* Dazzling Details to set off the tips of the leaves. This little touch does so much for the card! Here's a closer look...






If you haven't seen the new Holiday Mini, you're missing out on a huge batch of loveliness! Email me at erika.stmichaelsrv@gmail.com if you'd like a copy.

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Clean and Simple Elegance

Pin It Now! I love the vintage feel of this card.



One of my first purchases from the new Idea Book & Catalog was this set, Established Elegance. I just know it's going to produce some beautiful cards!

This one starts with Crumb Cake base, and is embossed with SU's newest folders, Designer Frames. (they are amazing! 2 in the pack for $8.50, a rectangle & an oval #123130) The large oval punch fits this embossed oval perfectly, so I layered some stamping on a pc of Very Vanilla & adhered. Stamped the dress form on Very Vanilla with Early Espresso & colored in a few details with Pool Party Stampin' Write marker. Fussy cut & adhere with dimensionals. Added a little word art at the bottom & a torn strip of Beau Chateau Designer fabric.

The fabric is my new favorite detail to many cards. A lot of stamper friends of mine wonder what to do with the fabric. I think the possibilities are endless! Trim, a substitute for ribbon, fabric flowers, backdrop for photos in a layout, gift wrapping, and then all of the actual sewing options!




The final detail is a little flower punched with Itty Bitty Shapes from Beau Chateau DSP, with a Vintage Trinkets metal button in the center, adhered with s glue dot.

Hope you enjoy.

Do you need a Holiday Mini? Just email me your address (erika.stmichaelsrv@gmail.com) and I'll have one delivered to your doorstep. All these delicious papercrafty beauties are available Sept 1st. Don't wait!


Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net

Thank-U! Pretty pennant mini

Pin It Now! Here's a 3x3 card I made for my ladies that ordered from my Delicate Doilies workshop.



Basic Black with punched Itty Bitty Shapes to give it some added depth. I strung linen thread across the top with 3 small bits of Sticky Strip placed where the banner elements will be. I cut the side pennant from Crochet Lace, and punched the center with Pennant Punch, stamped with Pennant Parade. Backed with a scrap of Pocketful of Posies DSP. The final touch is a couple of flowers in Rich Razzleberry punched with Itty Bitty Shapes. I placed a Basic Rhinestone in the center and folded the petals in a bit, adhered with more Sticky Strip. It really holds everything in place.


Don't forget to take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s special this month on DSP. I know I'm stocking up!

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net

A Crisp Autumn Thank-You

Pin It Now! I've noticed that lately the winds are changing direction, the ivy is starting to turn its telltale crimson outside my window, and flocks of geese are stirred up and flying over. That can only mean one thing...Autumn is on its way! Oh, I can't wait! Cool mornings, blue jeans, cider, long school days to make cards....

Speaking of which-







I got my first preorder from the Holiday Mini yesterday, and it is divine! This is my first card made with the Spice Cake suite.





I've had a couple of requests for the supply list so here's what I used:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Spice Cake DSP
Fabric: Spice Cake cut with pinking shears
Stamps: Gently Falling, sponged with More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Read Red, and Daffodil Delight
Glitter used is Galaxy Glitter in Gold
Metal Embellishment: Mini Brad
Ribbon: Early Espresso Quilted Ribbon, Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon, Linen Thread
Tag Punch, stamped with TY from Day of Gratitude

I combined all sorts of textures to put this card together.
-fabric
-ribbon
-glitter
-metal
-linen thread







It would make a great masculine birthday card, too.

SUPPLIES:
Paper: Spice Cake DSP, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Gently Falling, Day of Gratitude
Ink: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, More Mustard
Embellies: Spice Cake Designer Fabric, mini brads, superfine gold glitter, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, Early Espresso quilted ribbon, linen thread.

All of these new supplies are available to order Sept 1. Please email me if you'd like to get in on my expedited order for your new goodies.

Yay for the Holidays!!!

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Baseball Card for the Birthday Boy

Pin It Now! One of my DS's best friends is ALL about baseball, as are many 10-year old guys.  Is it just me, or do you also wake up from a dead sleep with a card idea just bopping around in your brain?  Then, as is usual for me, it turned out nothing like what I envisioned, but I like it just the same.  (as usual!) 

Supplies:
Paper:  Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (pumpkin pie stripe), Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, scrap
Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes
Embellishments: Glimmer Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals,Square Lattice Embossing Folder
Ink: Basic Black, Craft White, Pumpkin Pie
  His team colors are orange and black, and so is my home team, the Baltimore Orioles.  I did poke around on the web and saw a similar card by Debbie Henderson.  I formed the cap the same way I did pumpkins last year, only cut off the bottom at a slight angle.  Hand cut a bill from basic black, and ran it through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder, adding a little white craft ink around the edges to set it off.  I layered some Stampin' Dimensionals in the center of the baseball cap to give it a rounded look, using adhesive on the outer edges.  Punched a round circle out of a scrap of baseball themed paper.  Then for the sentiment, I stamped the Birthday wish on Pumpkin Pie, matting it with Basic Black, and punched all the edges with the Ticket Corner Punch.  I thought the ticket was a nice touch! 

Monday, August 8, 2011

Beau Birthday Cards

Pin It Now! Today was a great day...I got to (1) make cards (2) with a dear, sweet friend (3) at home, huddled up in my cozy little craft room. We made birthday cards for another mutual friend.  Here's what JoAnn came up with:


Paper: Beau Chateau DSP, Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, Confetti White
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Punch: Curly Label
Embellies: Dotted Scallop ribbon in Early Espresso, Build-A-Brad, Pink Pirouette 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals
Stamp Set: Tagtastic


Isn't it pretty, pretty, pretty?  We saw a similar sample on Splitcoast, changed up the DSP and added a few embellishments.  I love repetitive shapes, and I love mulitple patterns.  This one turned out very nicely.

Here was my birthday card:
Paper: Beau Chateau, Whisper White
Punches: Decorative label, misc scallop punch, Modern Label, Round Tab
Embellishments: Antique Brads, Basic Rhinestones
Ink: Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake

This one is a dresser sidestep card, and I learned how to form the card on Jackie Topa's website.  There are a lot of super cute punch-cut dress designs out there, and I love how the scallop punch makes a feminine, swingy dress.  I used the flip side of the pink and white DSP to add a wide sash to the waist, and made a flower sprayed with smooch spritz and reinker.  I will definitely be making more of these!  Easier than they look.

Hope you enjoyed my pink & blue cards!  If you'l like to order any of these supplies, head on over to my Stampin' Up! Store!

*TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL ON STAMPIN' UP! PAPER PACKS!
Mix and match any of Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous Designer Series Paper
Buy three and get a pack of your choice FREE!  Yay!
I recommend checking out all of the wonderful holiday packs...
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and then a pack to tickle your fancy on us.

Have a Blessed and creative day!  Erika