Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper

I just love this Designer Series Paper!  While it's perfect for Fall projects, it can be used year round.  I'm also starting to appreciate Summer Starfruit...it has been a bit of a challenge (smile).  The greeting is from Seasonal Sayings from the Holiday catalog, and the Summer Starfruit card stock was embossed with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, also from the Holiday catalog.

Baby Shower Cards

I have two baby showers this month so thought I would share the card design I came up with!  This card uses the Baby Bundle stamp set stamped with Black Stazon and water colored with our Classic Ink.  This design can be adapted to so many different occasions!  

Happy Stamping!

BOOOO!

We made this card at a recent party.  I like the gate fold and haven't done it in awhile.  The background on the front of the card uses the Netting background stamp in black ink.  The witch has adhesive on one side only and the mummy has adhesive on the opposite side so that the card opens to reveal the spider and BOOO!

Halloween Banner

This was a fun banner to make.  The banner pieces are Tangerine Tango, embossed with various embossing folders and the letters are Basic Black.  I pounced the letters with the new Illuminate ink to give it a shimmery, mottled look.  The images are from Ghoulish Googlies.  The O's in the "BOOOO" are embellished with Rhinestones.

Displays from Holiday Catalog Open House

Last Friday I held an Open House for the new Holiday Catalog.  I made up several projects for display and will post them over the next several days.  This first project is from the Ghoulish Googlies Bundle.  Each person who came received this decorated bag full of goodies!  I think what really makes this project is embossing the bags with various embossing folders. 

Flowers Galore!

I was looking at some of my photos from Convention and came across this one that was on one of the display boards. I love paper crafting flowers and am always looking for new ideas. This one is absolutely amazing!! I love the colors, the variety of flowers, the big butterfly...pretty much everything! As summer comes to a close, I know my flower beds will be wilting away along with the warm weather....I'll have to make one of these to keep me thinking summery thoughts!

Fancy Favor Box

It's so easy making this little favor box for events or to put a little something in as a gift.  After die cutting the box with the Fancy Favor Box XL Bigz die, cut a strip of a coordinating card stock and adhere to the inside along the edge.  It really makes the edge design pop!  This box is embellished with a shaker flower using the Blossom Punch, Shaker Frames, Glass Glitter and Mixed Bunch stamp set

Making an Old Idea New...

I cannot remember who is the creator of this card layout but it has been CASE'd by hundreds of demonstrators in the past several weeks - including me! Apparently the demonstrator who designed this did so several years ago and resurrected it recently. Regardless, it is a hit! It can be adapted to just about any stamp set and color scheme! So have fun!!

Snow Much Fun!

 We made this card in a Christmas in July class a few weeks ago.  For those of us who make our Christmas cards, it's not too early to get started!  

It's hard to tell with the black background, but the card base is Midnight Muse.  We used the Northern Flurry embossing folder on the Whisper White layer.  The scalloped circle is embellished with Silver Glass Glitter

Christmas Ornaments

 

When I first saw the cover of the Holiday Catalog, I thought to myself that I would not be making these ornaments anytime soon!  But when a recent party hostess asked if I could demonstrate this at her party last week, I said "Sure, no problem!"  So I spent an afternoon creating ornaments!  I have to admit, they are pretty easy!  Time consuming, but once you get the hang of them, they come together really well!  The secret is using the new silicone mat to help line up the petals and lots of hot glue!

  You can stamp whatever image you want or use designer series paper and die cut them with the new Holiday Ornaments Framelits.  To make sure you get a good fold in the petals, use the Simply Scored tool as well.  How great is it that Stampin' Up! is offering the Ornament Keepsakes stamps and the Holiday Ornaments Framelits as a bundle? 

To order, go to my website www.susanlacroix.stampinup.net

Simply Scored Scoring Tool & Diagonal Plate

This was a Hostess Club project from a few months ago.  We made an envelope using the Simply Scored system out of Wisteria Wonder card stock and embellished it with some punched flowers, Labels Framelits and Polka Dot Prints DSP.   The insert card was stamped with Apothecary Art stamp set and water colored using Watercolor Wonder crayons.

Black & White...Simple but Elegant

I've done a few black and white cards lately. They are striking, don't you think? This particular card is really easy! The card base is Whisper White with a layer of Basic Black. The top Whisper White piece was embossed with the Polka Dot embossing folder and Sizzix Big Shot ( I think it's my favorite embossing folder!). The Paper Daisies are layered and put together with a black Glimmer Brad. The greeting was stamped using the Layered Labels stamp set and die cut with the Apothecary Accents Framelits & Sizzix Big Shot. The Basic Black Polka Dot Ribbon just finishes it off!

Christmas Vintage Swap

The second organized swap I participated in at Convention was a Christmas Vintage Swap.  The strip of card stock along the left edge is our new Core'dinations card stock introduced in the Holiday catalog.  It was embossed and then sanded.  I really like how a lighter shade of the card stock pops with the sanding.  It comes in three colors - Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green and Early Espresso.

 

The Poinsettia was embossed in gold, then watercolored with Cherry Cobbler re-inker and an Aquapaiter.  It's hard to see but the card was also spritzed with Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler markers and the Spritzing tool.

Supplies:  Watercolor Winter and Heart of Christmas stamp sets; Brushed Gold, Garden Green, Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations card stock; Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler markers; Scallop Trim Border punch; Spritzing tool; Delicate Designs embossing folder, Labels Framelits and Sizzix Big Shot; Vintage Faceted Designer buttons.

My love for Vintage continues...

I participated in two organized swaps this year at Convention.  Both were Vintage swaps. This is the first swap.

 I love 2-step stamping and Stippled Blossoms is perfect for Vintage cards!  For this card, I used Primrose Petal ink and stamped off twice for the first flower image.  I stamped the same color, full strength, over it with the second flower image. 

The frame is from Papaya Collage (page 75 in the Annual Catalog).  I didn't want a "shiny" frame so I mixed Gold & Pewter embossing powders to give it a more "tarnished" look.  I tucked some Very Vanilla seam binding and then spritzed the whole card with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.  The large pearl in the center of the flower finishes it off.

Convention 2012

 I know, I know....it's been a l-o-n-g time since I have posted!  I keep taking photos of the projects I have been working on, so I have a lot to share!!  So get ready!!!

I have posted the images of the new Annual Catalog as well as the 2012 Holiday Catalog.  Both are fabulous!!!  So many great products and project ideas!!!

But first, let me back up a few weeks.  I attended our annual Convention in Salt Lake City and what a great Convention it was!!  We had a blast! I was blessed to have several of my downline with me this year!   We started out by taking a bus trip to the home office in Riverton.  It is absolutely stunning!  The views of the mountains are beautiful as is the facility itself!

From left to right:  Gloria, Nancy, Carmen, Me and Freddie

 

I always love attending with my daughter, Julie!  This was a fabulous year for her!  She celebrated her 10th anniversary as a demonstrator, reached the career sales milestone of $200,00 AND achieved Founder's Circle, meaning she is one of the top 100 demonstrators in the company!!  I am so proud of her!

  

OK, finally a project!  This year I made some altered bags and filled them with snacks for our larger group of about 25 demonstrators.  It's easy to dye the flowers with our re-inkers and I used some of our new Polka Dot Designer Series Paper and matching 1/8" taffeta ribbon!

Faux Alligator

This was one of the techniques learned at last month's Technique Class - Faux Alligator.  It's an easy technique and works well for masculine cards.  The bottom of the card front is embossed with the Striped Embossing Folder.  The card base, ribbon and Classis Ink is Early Espresso. 

Lovely as a Tree

 This was one of the very first stamp sets I bought - 10 years ago!! I keep thinking it's going to retire but it's still a very popular set! .I still like to pull it out and  use it.  It can be used for every season and with so many different techniques. 

And speaking of stamps that are going to retire - every year I hold a "Which Stamps Are Going to Retire?" Contest.  Send me a list of ten stamps you think are going to retire.  The person with the most correct number will win a $30 gift certicficate to spend when the new catalog comes out!  Here are the rules:

• Send me your list by e-mail to susan@la-croix.net by 11:00 pm (EDT) on April 13th.
• Hostess Only sets and the Ronald McDonald Set (Turtle & Co.) cannot be used as guesses since all of these sets will retire!
• If there is more than one person with the most correct, the person who submitted their guesses first will win!
• Contest is only in the United States (sorry!)

Supplies:  Lovely as a Tree and Family Reunion stamp sets; Always Artichoke, Cake Crumb & Very Vanilla card stock; Always Artichoke, Pear Pizzazz, Lucky Limeade and Cake Crumb markers (Thumping Technique used on tree); Always Artichoke seam binding.

Faux Linen

Here is the card we made at the last Technique Class using Faux Linen. If you want to learn more about my Technique Class, please feel free to e-mail me at susan@la-croix.net. I would be happy to help you!

Supplies used: Pear Pizzazz, Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso and Glossy card stock; Teeny Tiny Wishes, Best Friends Forever & For All You Do stamp sets; Chantilly Lace; Antique Brads; Sanding Blocks, Sponges

Faux SilkTechnique

At my last Technique Class, we learned Faux Silk and Faux Linen. In addition to making Technique cards, we make a card using the technique. I really like how this card came together! I'm sure going to miss Pear Pizazz when it retires at the end of May! Tomorrow I will post the Faux Linen card!

Supplies used: Concord Crush, Pear Pizazz card stock and markers; Whisper White card stock; Modern Label and Word Window punches; Teeny Tiny Wishes and Nature's Pace stamp sets; Polka Dot embossing folder and the Big Shot; Concord Crush Poly Twill Ribbon; 2-Way Glue and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter; tissue paper and Glue Sticks.

Party Favor

I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day yesterday! It was fun seeing everyone in green (which is my favorite color!)

Today's post features a project from a recent issue of Stampin' Success. This is a magazine that is exclusive to Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and there are lots of great ideas and project ideas presented. The great thing about this project is that you can make it any size you want! Just score is every 5/8".to get the five sides. It's best to adhere the ends together with Sticky Tape. The top and bottom of this particular tube is made with the Fancy Flower Punch. I found it best to use Mini Glue Dots to hold down each petal.

Edgelits

This was one of our Hostess Club projects this month. I really like layering the Edgelit. One tip to make lining them up easier - cut your layering pieces a little longer than needed and then trim to fit. This make lining them up much easier! We also used the coordinating Embosslit on the Calypso Coral piece. It's best to use the Embosslit after you have used the Edgelit so your embossed image doesn't get flattened!

Supplies: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral card stock; Bordering on Romance stamp set; Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder; Pear Pizzazz and Calypso Coral Markers; Pearls.

Up in the Air

I really like the Hostess set in the Occasions Mini. This may end up in my "keep" cupboard!

Supplies: Up in the Air and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets; Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Melon Mambo and Peach Parfait card stock; Wild Wasabi, Melon, Daffodil Delight and Peach Parfait markers; Beyond the Garden DSP; Peach Parfait Stitched Poly Ribbon; Word Window, Modern Label, Scallop Border Edge and 2 1/2" Circle punches; Stampin' Dimensionals; Dazzling Details (the centers of the flowers).

One More Bird Project....

OK....One last bird project...I promise....at least for awhile!

Supplies: Scallop Circle and Elegant Bird Dies; Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder; Lucy Limeade, Very Vanilla, Pool Party card stock; Everyday Enchantment designer series paper; Twitterpated buttons, Victoria Crochet Trim; Jewelry Tag Punch; Linen Thread; Lucky Limeade & Pool Party Ink; Tiny Tags stamp set.

More Birds....

I put together this birdcage for the Occasions Mini Open House. I really like the way it turned out even though the photo really doesn't do it justice! I used Beau Chateau designer series paper for the birds and embellished their wings a bit.

Leadership GIft

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this Bird Die. I didn't even order it right away. But it started to grow on me. One of the first projects I made were these altered pads of paper as Leadership gifts. I used the Everyday Enchantment designer series paper from Sale-A-Bration (love, love, love it!!) that features Poppy Parade and Very Vanilla card stock. While it may not seem so at first glance, there are really lots of ways to use this die! Stay tuned for more!

Mixed Bunch and Blossom Punch

Wow...what a crazy month. We returned from San Antonio and the conference was great!! My 90 year old mother-in-law had a cardiac ablation and pacemaker insertion and is doing well. And then I caught the "crud".... it has been a long 2 weeks and am finishing up my second antibiotic. Needless to say, I haven't been able to post for awhile! But I do have a lot of projects to share! I'll start with one of my favorite stamp sets from the Occasions Mini....Mixed Bunch. And I love the coordinating Blossom Punch!

Supplies used: Mixed Bunch stamp set; Beau Chateau dsp; Blushing Bride, Soft Suede Classic Ink; Blushing Bride and Very Vanilla card stock; Antique Brads; Vanilla Seam Binding, Blossom Punch