Inspire. Create. Share
I’m all registered for my very first OnStage event!! I am so excited. I am really looking forward to connecting with other demonstrators, learning new techniques and hearing the latest update on products.
Mostly, I am looking forward to meeting my other Pacific Northwest demonstrators who have become “online” friends.
I hope you have some happy plans in the works! Happy Crafting…Colleen
Remember when “thank you” cards were a thing? I know that I am trying to get in the habit of sending them again. Personally, I love when I get one in the mail.
Today’s card features the Mosaic Mood Suite and it is so easy to put together.
The base of this card is from the 2019-2021 In Color Collection. I used Terracotta Tile cut at 5 1/2” x 8 1/2” and scored at 4 1/4”. The second layer is a piece of 5 1/4” x 4” Very Vanilla. I ran this piece through the Big Shot using the Mosaic 3D Embossing Folder. I love to use the Mosaic Mood Specialty Designer Series Paper. It has Mosaic tile designs, floral imagery and has shiny accents. It is beautiful. For the final layer, I cut a piece of that designer paper @ 2 3/4” x 5 1/4”. Glue all three pieces together. Use whatever glue you have on hand. I like Tombow liquid glue.
I attached a piece of Mint Macaron textile ribbon around these layers prior to glueing to the base of my card. Next for the tag! A simple “thank you” stamped with the Memorable Mosaic stamp set (Terracotta Tile ink) popped out with the Timeless Label Punch. I like the shadowing effect of using a bit of that designer paper behind the sentiment. Pop up on some dimensionals, add a gem and this card is done!
I hope you enjoyed today’s card. As always, happy crafting! Colleen
Isn’t this card lovely? In full disclosure, I did not create this one. I took it off of the Stampin’ Up! Website. There are so many fabulous examples of how to create beautiful designs there.
I love this Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper. You can add a little “extra” (don’t we all love extra???) by using a Stampin’ Spritzer to add a touch of custom color to the paper. A little ribbon and a few embellishments will complete your project.
If you live in the United States, please consider me for your demonstrator. Of course, even better than being your demonstrator would be to have you as a member of my team. The promotion sale continues until August 31, 2019. You will pay $99 to sign up and choose $155 worth of product. What happens if you decide “not for me”…..nothing. You get to keep all of the product and enjoy creating!
Happy Crafting!! Colleen
I like when things are conveniently identified for me. I just purchased the Shammy (I’ll let you know how I like it). Next on my list are the Gold Mini Pizza Boxes and the Wrapped In Plaid designer series paper. Oh…and maybe the Blends Cherry Cobbler Combo Pack. I think those will come in handy for my holiday cards.
I am hoping to share some cards with you soon. This summer seems to have gotten away from me. Don’t all summers seem to do that?!!?
Happy Crafting~~~Colleen
I save notes, cards and letters. That’s right…I have bins full of all those thoughtful notes, cards and letters. I have been saving these since I was a small child. I have Communion cards from relatives long gone, old “love” letters, birthday greetings, get well cards…well, the list goes on and on.
My favorites are the handwritten letters. Remember when that used to be a thing? Letters of first loves, new babies and life events. Some just chatty…
I started making cards as my own form of occupational therapy. What I gained was the joy of sharing what I love with friends and family. And, a few new pen pals.
Send a card to someone you care about today. What a great way to reconnect with cousins, old friends, etc! It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. Because, really, don’t we all love to get mail that isn’t a bill or “junk mail”?
Happy Crafting~~Colleen
For those of you (like myself) that have to over plan and organize everything, this is the perfect time of year to start working on those holiday cards and crafts.
This catalog isn’t just about Christmas. It also includes Halloween and Thanksgiving. I know that one of the Halloween suites is on my “must have” list!! Well, pretty much everything is on that list, but there is the budget to consider…
Let me know if you are interested in looking at the Holiday catalog. It will also be available to view online September 4, 2019.
Happy Crafting! Colleen
Can you believe July is almost over? I am beginning to wonder where the summer has gone. I guess it’s true that time flies when you are having a good time.
Just a quick reminder: Bonus Days is coming to an end this month. This is a great opportunity to pick up some coupon codes to use in the month of August.
On a side note…I plan to start doing some instructional videos in the next couple of months. Wish me luck!!!
Happy Crafting~~
Today was spent at a local bakery making cards and looking through the Stampin’ Up catalog with @ StampinTammy (you can catch up with her blog here on WordPress or check out her Facebook page). We had such a fun morning.
To begin, the Vanilla Coconut Scones at Cake Happy (downtown Camas, Washington) were amazing. The owner of that shop was gracious enough to let us set up all of our supplies at one of the tables and hang out there for about 3 hours (time really does fly when you are having fun!).
***Quick note: if you are clumsy (and I am), move the Whisper White cardstock BEFORE you uncover the very hot tea***
Today we stamped with the Above The Clouds set. Our cards turned out fabulous. I wish I had a good picture to share with you. Unfortunately, I was so busy chatting, I did not get as good of a picture as I thought.
I wrote a brief note inside of the card I made thanking the owner of Cake Happy for her hospitality. It really is wonderful to be able to share what we love.
There are some fabulous examples of cards made with this stamp set/ bundle on the internet. Of course, if you are in the United States and are interested in placing an order, I would be happy to assist you. Check out my online store (follow link below) or send an email.
Happy Crafting and may your days be filled with friendship!
Today is one of those drizzly days in Washington State. Yes, I know it is summer everywhere else. But, here, it is 68 degrees, overcast with light rain…on July 17th!! So, instead of complaining about the lack of sunshine (at least not much), it was the perfect day to get together with a dear friend and do Paper Pumpkin projects.
Between yummy muffins, great conversation and a precut card making kit, we forgot all about our lack of warmth and sunshine and enjoyed the morning.
Are you an experienced crafter or a beginning crafter? If you want an easy, inexpensive way to dip your toe in the crafting waters, Paper Pumpkin might be for you. The kit we used does coordinate with three of our stamp sets.
If you would like more information, please email me or follow the link below to my online store.
Happy Crafting and I hope your day is filled with warmth and sunshine!!
It’s a beautiful summer day today! I love the warmer weather. It makes my mood happy and bright.
I wanted to share this promotion with all of you. I love a sale…Stampin’ Up! Is offering TWO bonuses when you join as a Stamp-in’ Up! Demo. $155 custom kit for only $99. YOU get to chose what you want. You will also get a coupon code for the month after you join for $10.
There is no catch here or fine print. If you decide not to continue on as a demonstrator, you get to enjoy the discount for a few months and keep all of the product you ordered.
This special runs from July 1- August 31, 2019.
Ask me for more details and Happy Crafting,
Colleen
Hi all! I CASE’d (copied) this design from our catalog. Isn’t it cute? This stamp set is is all about Hot Air Balloons and letting our dreams soar.
I started by cutting the card base 4 1/4” x 11”. Score at 5 1/2”. I chose Seaside Spray from this year’s In Color Collection. I wanted the base of the card to match the ink I was using for the clouds.
I used a 4” x 5 1/4” piece of Whisper White cardstock. This is a great time to get those clouds stamped (Seaside Spray ink). To make the lighter clouds, I did not re-ink every time. I just kept going so I would get those different shades (I did cut away one of my clouds from the stamp set…only do that if you are confident in your cutting abilities). Stamp sentiment and attach to cardbase.
On to the balloons~~the balloon on the left really showcases the Terracotta Tile ink. This is a two step process. Using Terracotta Tile, stamp off the base of the balloon at least once for a lighter shade then stamp. Follow with the top layer of ink. For the second balloon, I used Daffodil Delight for the base and Terracotta Tile for the overlay. Isn’t that a pretty combination? Crumb Cake ink was used for the baskets.
Glue one of your balloons/ baskets to the stamped, Whisper White base. Pop up the second balloon with dimensionals. Add some twine and a few sequins. I like the Iridescent Sequin Assortment.
All of these items can be found in my on-line store. Stampin’ Up is offering some wonderful incentives now: Bonus Days has started!! Also, if you live in the United States and would like to become a member of my team, extra product is now being offered for the same start up price.
This featured Stamp Set and Hot Air Balloon Punch can be found on page 89 in the catalog.
Have a wonderful day and happy crafting!
Did you know that this is the first time stamp sets have been in the clearance rack?! This is pretty exciting news! All clearance rack items are “while supplies last”. If you are interested, purchase early to make sure you get what you like.
There are some lovely Holiday sets available. I know I like to start on all things Christmas early (including gift shopping). It decreases the stress of the holiday season for me. Maybe that’s why “Christmas in July” is a saying…hahaha.
If you are ready to either look around or make a purchase, please shop my on-line store: cardsbycoco.stampinup.net. There is also a link towards the bottom of this page.
As always, happy crafting!!
Today’s card features the Royal Peacock. I regularly attend a card class taught by Diane Banwarth Sullivan (also a demonstrator). This is one of the cards we made during that class. It’s so much fun to get out and create with other crafty people!
Every demonstrator brings a little something extra. Often, a different technique or style. I always learn a little something new and I get to play around with stamp sets I may not have. Like this Royal Peacock Bundle. Isn’t this a pretty set? You’ll notice I did not stamp the sentiment yet. I generally wait until I am ready to send the card out. Will this be a “thinking of you” card, a “happy birthday” or a “just because” card?
The card base is done in white cardstock. Cut 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 and score at 4 1/4. The Beads & Baubles Embossing Folder was used on the front of the card base and again on the Granny Apple Green layer (Old Olive comes in the bundle). The Noble Peacock Designer series paper is stunning. You’ll notice a small piece of the Blueberry Bushel was also used as a layer.
On to the Peacock: Inking this was a two step process using the Stamparatus. I then used my Watercolor pencils (Granny Apple Green) to color in the body of the bird. Thankfully, this set comes in a bundle, and the Peacock was cut out using the Detailed Peacock Dies. Some bling was added to the eyes and flowers. I placed small drops of glue onto the feathers and used some glitter to give just a little extra sparkle.
There are a few different ways to order this. The Royal Peacock stamp set alone, the Royal Peacock Bundle (stamp set and detailed dies) or the Noble Peacock suite (stamp set, detailed dies, embossing folder, designer series paper, foil sheets, reversible ribbon and rhinestones—see above photo). Of course, everything can be purchased individually, but the suite makes it so easy!
If you are interested in learning more about these products, please leave me a message. Or, you can visit my on-line store: cardsbycoco.stampinup.net. (Follow link below).
I hope you enjoyed today’s card. I sure had fun making it! Happy crafting!!
Creating cards is fun! Adding a little Wink of Stella for that extra sparkle, a few embellishments, twine or ribbon. And, to be honest, it is nice to a have card ready to go when you realize you have almost forgotten to acknowledge someone’s special day. But, this post really is not about selling product, etc. It’s more about the joy of sharing.
Let me share a conversation I recently had with one of my many daughters. We were chit-chatting about Father’s Day, and she was telling me about looking for a card for her Dad (my husband). “Mom, I can not believe how much cards cost. They are expensive. And, they are not even that nice”. Now, if this daughter lived closer to me, she could just raid my stash. But, she doesn’t….
So, I’ve started something new. I now send blank cards to my girls. I jot a note on a piece of scrap paper (you know, the “Mom” note…haha), enclose a stamped, folded envelope and send it off. I send the stamped envelope to save them a trip to the post office.
This is a win-win for everyone! I get the joy of sending my girls a little , inexpensive something and a quick note and they get to have a few cards on hand to pass along. After all, our motto at Stampin’ Up! is “Inspire. Create. Share”.
Happy Crafting!!
How cute is this stamp set?? I’m sure it was made for all of those people in our lives that enjoy cuteness! As I have mentioned before, I have many grandchildren, and one of them enjoys all things purple. This is where the Purple Posy In Color cardstock and Designer Series paper came into play.
The dimensions for the card base are: 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”. Score at 4 1/4”. For the Designer series paper: 4” x 5 1/4”. I cut a scrap of Whisper White at 3” x 3 1/2“. The tag is 1” X 3” in Purple Posy and 3/4” x 2 3/4” Whisper White. I always say those scraps of paper will come in handy.
Once my image was stamped, I colored in the image using our markers. I am thinking the Blends might have worked better here, but I was already on a roll. And, to be honest, my people know I never color between the lines..haha. A few Woven Thread Sequins (I do like my bling) and some twine completed this card.
It is easy to look at product lists and think “cha-ching…that’s a lot of money”. What I always suggest is to start out small. Try a card kit. Or, find a set you just have to have and shop around that. You will be amazed at how many different cards you can design with one stamp set, a few ink pads and matching cardstock/ designer paper. If new to stamping, look to our New Stamper brochure. You can get creative with just a few items. If you are interested in looking at the catalog, please visit my online store: cardsbycoco.stampinup.net. You will find wonderful card examples in the catalog to help you plan your project.
Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!
Father’s Day is definitely a day to be celebrated in our home. Not only did I marry a fabulous guy who brought two amazing children with him, but he has also been a kind, loving and generous stepfather (I really dislike saying “stepfather”, because he has been so much more). All of our girls are grown women now, but Kevin’s positive influence continues.
This card, though, is for my Dad. I grew up in a beach community in Brooklyn, New York. I have so many wonderful memories of fishing in and around the ocean with my father. As you can see, his birthday and Father’s Day often fall together.
It was much easier to make this card than it looks. Again, for me, it’s always a little of this and a little of that. I LOVE Stampin’ Ups! Watercolor paper and this card showcases that paper so well. I started by using the Sale-A-Bration stamp set “By the Bay” (the Sailing Home Bundle in the new catalog would work beautifully here and it comes in a bundle!). I inked my image with Stazon, and then began the watercoloring process with our watercolor pencils and an aqua painter. I did want to add a little color to the background, so Stampin’ Write markers to the rescue again. This is such an easy process: take the “fat” end of the marker and rub it across one of your blocks. Pick up the color with the aqua painter and lightly “paint” your background. I felt it was the subtle touch needed for this beachy background.
I completed the card with some twine and a starfish embellishment from a Paper Pumpkin kit. Use what you have in the house. Craft supplies are meant to be fun!
Always save your scraps of paper to make your expression tags with. Nobody likes to cut into a 12×12 piece of cardstock for a 1” tag (haha).
Happy crafting and enjoy the special Dads in your life!
The card I am sharing today is a quilling card. I only make these for special occasions because they take me a long time to make. (For those of you who do not know, I suffered an injury 3 years ago and have limited neck mobility and limited fine motor coordination in my left hand, etc.). I started making cards as my own form of occupational therapy (once a nurse, always a nurse).
My husband and I have a large, blended, crazy fun, extended family. Between us, we have happily blended six girls together (alright, adult women now, but forever my girls). The card I am sharing is for a 31st birthday that is coming up soon. The years sure pass quickly, don’t they?
I have taken a few classes from a master quiller (her work is amazing). You can find her card kits at her Etsy shop @HeirloomQuilling (Heidi Theon). If you find yourself in the Longview, Washington or the Portland, Oregon area, I suggest you take a peek at her card class schedule. You can also access a few good beginner videos on YouTube.
Of course, I am always happy I have my stash of Stampin’ Up supplies. Dimensionals, a small banner, pearls, ink, Wink of Stella and a few other supplies allowed me to modify the design of the card and make it my own.
Birthdays should always be celebrated! Now to find the perfect gift…
