2 Quick & Easy Valentines

I am teaching a valentine class at my Mom's Assisted Living Community and these are two of the cards they will be doing.

Thinking of You Valentine Card

by Sue Lorang (Sue4stampin)

I saw this idea on the internet somewhere, but don't remember where. It can be used for any occasion, just change the colors and images.

1. Fold a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 piece of white cardstock to make your card.

2. Stamp a flower toward the top right side.

3. Stamp a sentiment under the flower.

4. Tie a ribbon around the card front with the bow in the front.

Tulip Hearts Card

by Sue Lorang (Sue4stampin)

I think I got this idea from a stamp company.

1. Stamp your flower image on white cardstock.

2. Punch two hearts from red sticky backed vellum and place over the flowers.

3. Layer onto coordinating cardstock and adhere to your card.

A Time to Relax

I took a little time to relax on Sunday and went to a movie. We went and saw The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I'm so glad we chose that movie as it was really good. I don't think I have laughed that hard or had tears in my eyes at a movie for such a long time and I really needed a good laugh. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. There are a couple of words, used just occasionally, that you might have to overlook, but it rates as the best movie I have seen in a long time.

Dreaming of Spring

Here is a fun easy card with a 3D Bonnet that I saw on the web. If anyone knows who credit should go to for the punched bonnet idea, please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Bonnet Card Made with Circle Punches
By Sue Lorang (Sue4stampin)

Supplies:
Image & Sentiment of choice
Green, White & Cream Cardstock
Markers
1” Punch
2” Punch
Ribbon
Pop Dot
Adhesive

Directions:
Stamp your image, color it in and layer it onto your card.
Punch a 2” circle for the hat brim.
Punch a 1” circle for the top of the hat.
Adhere the hat brim circle onto your card. Add a Pop Dot to the center and add the top of the hat
Tie the ribbon into a small bow and adhere to the bonnet.

Merry Christmas to Me

I know, Christmas has been over for awhile now, but I just got my Christmas present. Our local Daniel Smith store was out of them at Christmas time so Gary ordered the airbrush and the basic set of 12 Copic markers for me. They arrived yesterday, so now all I have to do is find the time to play.

A Punched Self Portrait

A self portrait By Steven Nicholson

This is a very clever use of punches also very artistic. Created with 10 sizes of single hole punches (this is the coolest thing ever!)See more pictures of his punched self portrait here:

http://www.notcot.com/archives/2007/08/hole_punched.php

I found this punched self portrait on this blog http://stampdetails.blogspot.com/2008/01/punch-art-links-to-inspire-you.html and I found that blog here. http://stampinwhenican.blogspot.com/ I read Allison’s ‘tutorials of note’ on her blog every day. It is a great place to find new ideas and get inspiration.

Sue

Technique for Beaded Moon Card

Beaded Moon
by Sue Lorang (Sue4stampin)

Supplies:
Stamps: Trees by Northwoods (or any tree stamp will work) & Mirror Image by Rubber Stampede (if you are using a multiple treed stamp)
Black or Dark Blue Embossing Ink
Cobalt Blue Opaque Embossing Powder by Stampendous (you can use any dk. Blue or black). Mix with glitter.
Fine dark Blue (or black glitter), use 1/4 glitter with 3/4 embossing powder.
Dark Blue or Black Dye Ink Pad
Cardstock: Dk Blue or Black 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 & Pearle Blue 4 X 5 ¼ (any dark blue will work, but all papers bleach out different so bleach a small area on the back first).
Fun Foam (it needs to be thin enough to fit in your punch).
Circle Punch (I used a Marvy 2” ) (Note: be sure to spray your punch with silicone & punch off the residue first)
Double Sticky Tape, Paper Backed ( It has to be the paper backed to work in your punch)
Glass Micro Beads in Clear
Poster Tape (or what ever you use to stick unmounteds on your acrylic block)
Bleach
Vinegar (mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with water)
Bowl & Paper towel for the bleach
Paint brush

Directions:
1. Punch a circle from Fun Foam and attach it to an acrylic block to stamp with.

2. Pour bleach on a paper towel in a flat container and make sure the BLEACH is FRESH.

3. Put the fun foam circle gently onto the bleach paper towel (you don’t want it dripping) and stamp on your blue paper where you want your moon to be. Take a paint brush (or water brush) with bleach in it and wipe it across the bottom of the blue paper to bleach some of the ground. Set aside for the bleach to work.

4. Wipe your bleached areas with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar & 1/2 water to neutralize the bleach on your card, pat with paper towel and set aside to dry.

5. Stamp & emboss the trees with the embossing powder mixed with fine glitter

6. Cover your embossed trees with scrap paper then stamp with dye ink onto the mirror image stamp and stamp this below the trees (you could use Eclipse tape or plumbers gasket material from the hardware store). Be sure your trees are pointed down this time as a reflection. ( I wiped the lines off the Northwoods stamp for this step)

7. Punch a circle from the double sticky tape. Peel the backing off and stick it on your moon. Peel the top paper off and dunk it in your clear beads. Use an old brayer to push the beads into the tape.

8. Layer onto the darker blue (or black) and mount onto an A2 card

I've been Tagged

7 Random Facts about Me.

1. I was very shy in school and that is hard to believe for the people I know today.
2. I crushed a lower vertebra about 8 years ago. It only hurts once in a while.
3. I collect kitchen gadgets. I think I'm going to use them one of these days.
4. I had cancer, but it was successfully removed.
5. I took piano lessons when I was a kid. The teacher told my Mom it was a waste of her time and my Mom's money.
6. I have a collection of elephants.
7. I prefer to be organized, but life always gets in my way and I run out of time to get everything put away. Also, since I started stamping, I am buying more than I have room for.

I haven't figured out how to tag people, so if you see this and want to play, you can consider yourself tagged.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone and here is a technique to start the year off with a little fun.

Colorwash Technique
by Sue Lorang (Sue4stampin)

Supplies:
Adirondack Colorwash Sprays in Lettuce & Eggplant
BlackEmbossing Ink & Powder
White & Violet Cardstock
Stampin' Up Flower Stamp
Sentiment stamp by A Stamp In The Hand

Instructions:
1. Stamp the reverse image stamp onto a scrap of white cardstock with black and emboss.
2. Mask the flower and spray the leaves with the Lettuce.
3. Cover the leaves and spray the flower with Eggplant.
4. Cut out the stamped image.
5. Prop a piece of 4 x 5 1/4 white cardstock up a little and spray the bottom with Eggplant. Turn it around and spray with Lettuce.
6. When dry, stamp and emboss the sentiment in black.
7. Adhere the image piece to the sprayed cardstock, then mount onto violet cardstock.