Cracked Glass

Last night, we learned how to do the "Cracked Glass" Technique. In the card pictured, the clock appears to have a broken glass face and this was created using this really simple technique. You could use this same process to create flowers behind a "window" or an ornament. Here's how to recreate the cracked glass look:

1. Stamp your image onto card stock.
2. Cover the entire surface with VersaMark ink using a brayer or by applying the ink directly to the surface with the pad.
3. Sprinkle Glassy Glaze Stampin Emboss Enamel liberally onto surface and tap excess off.
4. Using a heat tool, heat the surface until the crystals are completey melted and appear shiny. At this point the surface will probably not be smooth.
5. Repeat the process of VersaMark and then Embossing up to three more times until the surface is smooth and shiny - - like glass.
6. Allow the piece to completely cool. Place it in the freezer for a minute or two to save time.
7. Bend the piece as desired to create cracks. To further accent the cracks, sponge ink into them as well.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see what you create using this technique!

Stamps: Sense of Time
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, VersaMark Ink
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Sage Shadow Card Stock, To The Nines DSP
Embellishment: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon

J Crew Inspired Note

Today's post was inspired by one of my favorite stores' ad: J. Crew. I just got the new catalog in the mail and my daughter, Emily, and I have already gone through it several times and planning our trip to the store! I especially liked this picture with the Red and Blush colored tones together paired up with denim, another HUGE favorite of mine.


The card design was cased from a card in the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book/Catalog so I can honestly say no personal creativity was required to make today's card! I used different stamps and different colors but used the same card sketch. Enjoy!


Stamps: Petal Pizzaz
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Blush Blossom, Brocade Blue
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Blush Blossom, Brocade Blue, Whisper White Card Stock
Embellishments: Sage Shadow 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Cool Tools: The Tearing Edge

Graduate Already!

ONE MORE graduation card. This one was made using my son's school colors. Edward is graduating this year and I'm so sad! My little one, Maci Ellen just graduated from preschool so she will be starting kindergarten in the fall and Edward will be leaving us for college. All the changes....Sigh. But aren't they all so cute???



Stamps: Great Grads
Paper: Pacific Point DSP, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White CS
Ink: Pacific Point Classic Ink
Accessories: Black Brads
Cool Tools: Corner Rounder Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Big Shot & Go Go Boots Sizzlits Alphabet Die Set

Girly Grad

I'm STILL trying to come up with graduation cards and today is the latest. I love the Stampin' Up In-Colors set that will retire the end of June so I keep going back to them. My favorites have to be the Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze which are featured on this card and in the Designer Series Paper, Sweet Slumber.


Stamps: Great Grads
Ink: Riding Hood Red Classic Ink
Paper: Baja Breeze, So Saffron Card Stock, Sweet Slumber DSP
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Button Bouquet
Cool Tools: Corner Rounder and Ticket Corner Punches

Buy Three, Get One Free
Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month with Stampin' Up! From May 1-31, buy three packs of Designer Series paper and/or 12" x 12" textured card stock, and get one pack free! Mix and match your papers to meet all your scrapbooking and paper crafting needs. Take advantage now before In Colors are gone!

Spending some time with the girls!

My sixteen year old daughter and two of her friends came home this afternoon and headed to the "stamping garage" to play with stuff. I couldn't stand it and kept peeking in on them to see what they were up to and before I knew it had pulled up my chair and made a card. So, here it is! The sentiment is a rubon and the star was made by punching out three stars and a 3/4" circle and layering them together with a corduroy brad. The line of dots at the top right of the card were done using the Uniball white gel pen. Thanks for dropping by!

My Love to Luv 2 Stamp!

Today's post is my swap offering to my stamping sisters in the Luv-2-Stamp Group from Patty Bennett's California bunch. She's the demo I signed up under and is fabulous! The meeting to learn new stuff and trade cards is today which is why I waited to post my swap card so I wouldn't spoil the surprise! I'm a little jealous that I can't just scoot on over there and have fun with them! So, ladies, know that I'm there in spirit. Wishing I was there which I hope counts too.

This card shows the super cute Bella Birds designer paper which I absolutely adore but was wondering why in the world I designed a card with a hundred pieces when I was assembling THIRTY cards! Hope you like it...

Stamps: Great Friend

Ink: Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink

Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip CS, Bella Birds DSP

Cool Tools: Big Shot & Pennant Die (Scallop Circle), 1-3/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle Punches, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker, Uniball Gel Pen

Manly Birthday!

Not that I happen to know a man having a birthday today - - Ha Ha! Today's card is an easy one to make. Have you noticed I'm always saying that? Wonder why? Oh yeah, I remember, it's because I LIKE easy! I cased this card from one I saw from Basic Grey. It was sponged on the edges which is kinda hard to see in the picture but really gives it dimension in person. The middle circle was run through the Big Shot using the Texturz plate, then sanded and sponged again. The bottom circle is accented with a really cool designer hardware brad. You have no idea how hard it is for me to let those go!

Ink: Night of Navy
Papers: Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red CS, Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Embellishments: Hidden Garden Rub-ons, Soho Designer Hardware
Cool Tools: Corner Rounder, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Crop-A-Dile

Birds of a feather

This card is a really simple card I sent for yet another swap! It highlights the really cool Designer paper "Flock Together" that combines colors in a really cool way I think. I cut the square using the 1-1/4" square punch and then adhered them to a contrasting piece of card stock before attaching it to the card base with dimensionals. Can you say "simple"?

Stamps: One of a Kind

Ink: Garden Green, So Saffron

Papers: Very Vanilla, Garden Green CS, Flock Together DSP

Embellishments: Rich Regals Brads (So Saffron)

Cool Tools: Trio Flower & 1-1/4" Square Punch

Didn't make the cut!

Okay, I'm not dead. I admit I've been asleep--alright, maybe in a deep coma but I'm BACK! It's been a crazy few days and now I'm getting back to having some time to play and share some with you. Today's post is a card I made while playing the other night trying to come up with an acceptable submission to swap with thirty other girls! This one was not it...I'll post the one I did make and send soon. I stamped some of the images using the bleach technique which was really fun on this particular card stock. I was trying to get a more batik look but as you can see I only got the look I was going for once or twice which by the way is the "incorrect" way to do the bleach stamping! LOL!

To get the "runnier" look, the bleach needs to be puddled up on the stamp. This is what you usually DON'T want when you are stamping with bleach. I could type and type away about how to stamp with bleach but Patty Bennett has already done a great tutorial on her blog HERE so check it out! Please do share your creations!

Stamps: Seeing Spots, Petal PizzazInk: Rose Red Classic Ink
Papers: Rose Red, So Saffron, Whisper White CS, Sweet Always DSP
Cool Tools: Bleach, Uniball Gel Pen, Big Shot & Top Note Die

Mark your spot with Happy thoughts

Today's post is a picture of some bookmarks I made for some party favors for a tennis team party. These are really fun to make and the possibilities are endless! The jumbo paper clips come from Wal-Mart. To make the bookmark, the pieces are sandwiched around the paper clip. For this particular one, I used the Scallop punch and various circle punches to layer. LOVE EM~

Ballerina Bag Tags

Maci Ellen's first Ballet Recital was last Saturday night at Furman. She dances at International Ballet and we were so impressed with how much she's learned!!! She is five years old and is the cutie pie in the front of the picture! I wanted to make something cute for all the little ballerinas in her class since I was the designated "Backstage Mom" so here it is.....

These are Ballerina Bag tags cut out of chipboard and covered with designer paper. The original "dress design" was Patty Bennett's, I think, and was cut using the Scallop Circle Die then cut again on the sides. I think they turned out really cute! I would love to hear what you think!