Chalkboard Technique

You can make this card using the Merry Medley stamp set and the technique featured below.

Happy Stamping!

Online Extravaganza!!

Hi everyone!

Today is the last day to take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s Online Extravaganza Sale!  There are some wonderful specials today.  The Flurry of Wishes and Snow Flurry Punch Bundle is 20% off.  The Big Shot Magnetic Platform is only $26.00 and the Bell Punch is just $10.80!!  Happy Shopping!

Visit my website for the flyer!  The link is on the right!  Kathy  

Build-A-House For Charity

One of the great things about Stampin' Up! is how easy it is to use your creative abilities to give back to your community. Back in October, I was asked to help LifeQuest, a group that provides mentoring relationships for youth in the juvenile justice system,  to make centerpieces for their Fall fundraiser banquet. The theme was "Building a Pathway Home" and I decided to use the, sadly retired, Build-A-House kits for the centerpieces. Many houses were submitted, but volunteers and I used this product to made 14 houses for the event.  Today, I want to share the houses that I made with you.

First up is the Thanksgiving House!

So many details to love in this one. From the Scarecrow at the door, to the crows lurking in the leaves, to the garden of pumpkins and corn in the side yard.

And how about the two horses hiding around the back!

Second is the elegant Christmas house!

 The outside of this house is covered in retired StampinUp! fabric, and the eaves are lined with foam backed ribbon to give it that beautiful sparkle.

The trees are made with the current Santa's Sleigh Photopolymer Bundle, and this house also has one more surprise. The whole house lifts off the base so that you can access the hidden tea lights inside. The tea lights look beautiful through the vellum backed windows.

Third is the adorable Penguin house!

The scintillating roof is covered in Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper and roof is adorned with retired wood and felt snowflakes.   

The walls of the house are sponged with Marina Mist ink and stamped with Ghoulish Grunge and then sponged again with Whisper White ink to give the illusion of snow dusted brick. The shutters are designer paper cut out with the current Decorative Label Punch.

Fourth is the Festive Fiesta House!

This house was one of the easiest to make because almost all of the elements come directly from the Birthday Fiesta Bundle and the Festive Birthday DSP.  Can you believe the "twisted ribbons" are actually just paper cut with one of the Birthday Fiesta framelits. So Easy! 

 I sponged the walls with Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Whisper White to make them look stuccoed. Then I added the banners and all of the other little details. I love the llama and the cacti!


There you have it! Four different houses, and four very different looks, all representing the theme "Building a Pathway Home." Projects like these are a great way to use retired products to help groups in your community. I hope this inspires you to look for opportunities to use your creative talents to benefit your community!

Happy Stamping!

Thanksgiving Z-fold card

Hi Everyone! With Thanksgiving just around the corner I'd like to share this delightful Thanksgiving Z-fold card. 

The stamp sets used for this card are: Vintage Leaves (main catalog), Paisleys and Posies (pg. 47), and Peaceful Pines (main catalog). The cable knit embossing folder gives the card a warm background texture, and the leaves in Crushed Curry, Garden Green, and Cajun Craze add beautiful decoration. 

If you would like to make this card, this is how you do it: 

       

o   The base card is 4 ¼” x 11” and scored at 2 ¾” and 5 ½”.  This will make a Z fold card. 

o   The bottom strip is 1 ½” x 11”, scored at 2 ¾” and 5 ½”.  The layers are 1 ¼” 5 ¼” and 1 ¼” x 2 ½” (Designer Paper) and 1” x 5” and 1” x 2 ¼” (Very Vanilla).   

o   The front layer of the Z is 2 ½” x 4” (Early Espresso) and the next layer is 2 ¼” x 3 ¾” (Very Vanilla).

o   The inside pieces are: 4” x 5 ¼” (Early Espresso) and 3 ¾” x 5”(Very Vanilla)

o   Stamp sentiment using Early Espresso ink on the 1” x 5” Very Vanilla cs.  Stamp off center – towards the right side.

o   Stamp the smallest piece of Very Vanilla c/s using Early Espresso ink and the inside sentiment. 

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If you're interested in a full set of directions, drop me a line in the comments section! If you would like to purchase any of the products used in this card you can Shop StampinUp Now! 

       Happy Stamping!