Paper Sampler & Computer Woes

I apologize for the lack of postings lately. My laptop is being shipped away to receive a new motherboard, and thankfully it's still under warranty! My other computer is dreadfully slow so I'll post when I can!

Some of you have asked in the past if I would put together sample packs of Stampin' Ups Designer Series Papers....you asked and I'm listening! There are 20 different packs, each with 6 two-sided designs for a total of 120 samples. I will put these bundles together with labeled dividers for a cost of $25. I need atleast 7 people who are interested and I will be requiring pre-payment. Please let me know ASAP if you'd like a set!

If you need these samples mailed to you, please add $5 for shipping costs.

Jumping with joy...

I'm doing the happy dance since UPS dropped off the new Spring/Summer '09 catalogs....and I must say that I'm in serious trouble! This has got to be my favorite catalog in a long time and my wish list continues to grow.

If you'd like a copy of the catalog, feel free to stop by my studio and pick one up. They're just $7 which is cheaper than most of my favorite crafting magazines on the stands. What a deal!

Before the catalogs arrived I was working on the Mother/Daughter Valentine cards for the class next Saturday. I had prepped 5 cards and took pictures to show you, then discovered that my computer wouldn't read my camera. We'd been having trouble with the wireless mouse and thought the problem was with it, but apparently it's the computer's USB ports at fault. Soooo, no pictures until I call for tech help tomorrow.

So for now I'll just say "ta-ta", I'm off to drool over my new catalog. Happy stamping everyone!

Beautiful Flowers

Today is all about flowers because I'm longing for Spring. Yesterday was so nice and sunny after so many rainy days and it made me start dreaming of the nicer weather to come. I know, I know...it's only January! But a girl can start dreaming, right?

This card was made by my friend Marie who finally got her craft room set up. She was so excited to finally get a chance to sit down and stamp without having to come to my house! She used Stampin' Up's "Heartfelt Thanks" and some retired designer paper. Isn't it lovely?

Yesterday I made this card for my soon-to-be-born great-niece Brooklyn. Everything is Stampin' Up except the Cuttlebugged background.

Brooklyn's bedroom is decorated in green and brown so that's where my color inspiration came from and I hope her parents like it!

Cuttlebugging Tin Foil

Here's a quick and easy Valentine card that's packed with color & texture. My trick for Cuttlebug embossing tin foil is to first wrap the tin foil around a piece of cardstock. This will give the foil some stability so that it'll hold the embossing and keep it from tearing.

Here's what the backside of the foil/cardstock will look like once it's covered. I left one side unfolded so you could see the mitering, which makes the corners nice and tidy. Place the foiled panel in your choice of embossing folder. This one is Heart Blocks.

Next I chose two Adirondack Alcohol Inks, Eggplant and Cranberry. Place a patch of each color on the felt pad and dab it around until you like the look. If you haven't experienced alcohol inks before, well, you've gotta try them! They're so fun and the blending solution is like magic in a bottle. I could sit and play with these all day. Use them on any non-porous material...like tin foil!

Once the alcohol ink is dry, I place the foil on an Orchid Opulence panel then onto an Elegant Eggplant card. The stamps are from Stampin' Up, a set from the Holiday Mini Catalog called "A Happy Heart". The saying is stamped then punched out with the Curly Label punch and sponged with eggplant. I finished the card with some silver ribbon left over from Christmas.
While the card is quite simple, the embossed background adds quite a punch. Hope you like it!