Simply INKredible Stamping

November 20, 2008

  The other day we had snow flurries in Raleigh.  The kids at East Wake Academy were so excited.  It did not amount to much, but it was fun watching it snow. 

I decided to make a Snowman Soup holder.  It contains a packet of hot chocolate and a hershey kiss in a cello bag.  I tied it closed with Stampin' Up!s striped grosgrain ribbon and a candy cane for stirring the hot chocolate.

The card is made with a 6 X 12' piece of Bashful Blue cardstock.  I scored it at 5 3/4", 6" and 6 1/4" and folded it mountain,valley, mountain.  I stamped it with snowflakes from Stampin' Up!'s Best Wishes and More (111602) page 55 of the 2008 Fall/Winter Catalog and Idea Book. I used Old Olive as the background for the snowman.  I punched a 1 3/4" circle in Basic Black and the same size in Whisper White.  I used the 1/4" square punch and punched 4 squares for the mouth.  I used the 1/8" circle punch for the eyes.  I cut a triangle for the nose in Only Orange.  The hat is the 1 1/4" square puncy and the brim is our word window punch.  The flower is punched with the TRio Flower punch and a brad was inserted in the middle and adhered with a glue dot.  This is fast and easy to make.  It is a great gift for children, your friends who are unable to get out or are in the hospital.  Make several and then spread some joy in someone's life that may not experience  love and kindness or are lonely.  My email address is on this blog.  Come to my stamp room in Zebulon, near Raleigh, and make some of the Snowman Soup projects.  Spread the joy of the season.  Blessings, Martha

November 19, 2008

  The weather is cold today in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Usually it is still mild but we are freezing today.

I learned a new techinque with my brayer.  I inked up the very edge of my brayer and rolled it once across my card stock.  I used Real Red, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip ink.  I used Stampin' Up!'s A Christmas Cardinal(111760) for the entire card.  I love cardinals so this card was especially nice to make.  My friend Faith taught me the technique.  She made her card to fit in a frame.  She used this technique on lots of framed items.  I would love to teach you this technique if you live near Raleigh.  Just send me a email and I will set a time for you to learn the technique. 

I have classes coming up for Christmas. The next class is a Stamp-A-Stack of Christmas cards.  We will be making 12 cards with 3 designs and 4 of each design.  I have a technique class on Monday, Nov 24 in my stamp room in Zebulon, NC and I will be teaching the above brayer technique.  Sign up today to attend the class.  Thank you so much for visiting my blog.  Blessings, Martha

November 18, 2008

  Christmas is coming.  I am making cards.  This is a technique I learned from Melissa.  She made a beautiful card.  It involves masking.  I seem to be doing a lot of that lately.   I punched a 1 3/4" circle out of a post it note and attached it to the card.  I used Summer Sun and More Mustard to color the sun.  I removed the mask and used the 1 3/4" circle to mask the sun.  I tore a piece of paper and put it across the bottom of the card to mask the snow.  I sponged the sky with Baja Breeze Classic Ink.  I added glitter to the snow and put a ribbon and punched a stamped item from curly verses.  How do you like it?  I hope you will make this card.  Thanks for looking.  Martha

November 15, 2008

  This was a project Linda Hansen of Stampin' Up! showed at the regional.  All images are Stampin' Up! copyrighted.  This project is our Decor Elements on a 8 X 8" tile she purchased at Home Depot.  This is a 10 minute project.  If you would like to make one for yourself, please email your order to me.  You can see the sizes and colors in the Decor Elements catalog.

Here is a wood shelf that was purchased in a craft store and decorated with our stamps.  It is basically a chore chart.  Linda said each child in her home is responsible for the chore that their name is hanging on.  The names are decor elements alphabets spelled into her children names on a tumbled tile with ribbon around the edges and tied into a bow for hanging on the chore shelf.  What a creative idea. 

If you would like to be involved in seeing all the wonderful ideas that Stampin' Up! has to offer, you might think about becoming a demonstrator with my group.  You can purchase product at a discount, earn extra cash in these hard times and have a lot of fun along the way.  It is so easy to join.  Just go to my website at Stampin' Up! and click the join button.  When it asks for the password simply enter the word  sister.  I hope you will try this wonderful opportunity to be your own boss.

November 14, 2008

  Here is Donna.  She works for Stampin' Up! and she is the one that called me to demo a WOW card.  She made a darling draft stopper for her door.  She made it out of felt and glued our felt snowflakes all over it.  She tied it with Shelli's red striped grosgrain ribbon.  It makes me want to make one.

November 13, 2008

I finally got my pictures from Regionals downloaded.  Here I am with Shelli Gardner, owner of Stampin' Up! , Sheryl  and Susan.  Aren't we a great crew?  I was so happy Shelli came to the regional.  She always gives me a lift.  When she demonstrates, her projects are lovely.

Susan is my friend that lives in Charlotte and Raleigh.  She is a world traveler and I don't get to see alot of her.  When we get together she really inspires me in my stamping.  

Sheryl lives around the corned and is a hobby demo.  She has little time for stamping because she is taking care of husband and elderly father. She is a great downline and gives me great ideas when we see each other.   I have a great time with all my sisters.( the Simply INKredible Sisters group).  Thanks for visiting my blog.  Blessings,  Martha

November 11, 2008

  Hello again,

Here is another card I showed at the regional in Virginia Beach.  This one uses one of my favorite sets - Holiday Line Up and Shimmer card stock.  The snowmen are darling.  The set also has a line up of reindeer and elves.  All three stamps are so cute.  I stamped the snowmen and then masked the stamped area.  I then used the technique retiform to color the frame around the picture.  To do retiform, you cut strips of paper and layer them on the card stock.  I sponged the open areas with Tempting Turquoise and Ballet Blue.  I also layered those colors on the card.  I removed the strips one at a time and sponged the areas that were uncovered until the whole frame was covered.  I added a punched showflake and a rhinestone brad for bling.  I used my ink pads and aqua painter to color the snowmen.  I love this technique.  Enjoy,  Have a blessed day.  Martha

November 10, 2008

Here I am at Stampin' Up!'s Virginia Beach Regional.  On stage - WOW.  I was so nervous but everything went well.  I had a great time and I think everyone enjoyed my demonstration of masking.

I hope you will try masking because you can make some wonderful cards and scrapbook pages using the technique.  If you need some instruction, just ask.  If you live nearby, email me for a appointment to stamp.  Have a beautiful day.  Thanks for visiting my site.  Martha

November 9, 2008

  Hello,

I just returned from Virginia Beach where Stampin' Up! had a regional meeting.  I was a presenter of WOW cards.  I decided to demo masking.   Masking is when you want something to appear behind the front stamped image.  To make your mask, you will need vellum paper and clear contact paper.  Masks are also made out of post-it notes, printer paper or masking paper you can purchase at the office supply store.  I like vellum paper because it is so thin.  You can stamp your image(s) on the vellum and cover the image with clear contact paper on the front and the back.  Cut the image out on the inside of the image line so that when you stamp there is less chance of a halo or blank area around your image.  The clear contact paper allows you to clean your mask when finished and store in your box with your stamps.

To mask simply put some dotto (temporary glue) on the back of the mask and stick it on the image.  Stamp over the mask partially and remove the mask.  Now you have a image behind your first stamped image.  The box on the left is a example of masking.  I stamped the rose image with Stampin' Up! 2-step stamp, placed a rose mask over the rose and stamped the leaves.  When I removed the mask, the leaves were behind the rose.  It is very easy and so much fun to do.

The box is made with the Stampin' Up! exclusive die Top Note in Pink Pirouette card stock.  You will need to cut four top notes.  Adhere the sides to each other to form a box and then adhere the bottom together. Now that you have your box made, you will need to fill it with something.  I chose to use our scallop circle punch and a small flower from the rose set.  I used Peppermint Patties for the candy and adhered the scallop punched card stock to each side, added the rose which I put a rhinestone brad in the center for bling.  I made 3 for each box.  Enjoy.  I hope you love the box.  You can order supplies from me to make your box.  Simply email me the items that you need.  Thanks you for visiting with me today.  Martha

November 5, 2008

 Hi Everyone,

Here is my little Christmas tree in my stamp room.  Stampin' Up! has a package of stars that are diecut from our designer paper.  I used the stars on the tree.  I have the Sizzix Big Shot and I cut out several of our exclusive die "Pleace & Love & Joy & Cheer" in Riding Hood Red and put it on the tree.  I have more handmade ornaments to put on the tree as soon as I get them finished. 

I will be happy to order the stars kit (several other ornaments included) for you.  Just email me to place your order.  Have a beautiful day.  Thanks for looking.  Martha