Faux Alligator Technique

A big thank you to all of you who visited during the Bon Voyage Blog Hop. There were some really fantastic projects out there during this hop. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. The wheels are already churning for the next one in a few months so stay tuned.

I promised I would tell you how to do the Faux Alligator Technique that I used on the Wild Wall Hanging.
First off though, I need to practice my good Stamping manners and tell you that I learned this technique from my good friend and fellow demonstrator Amy Bell over at A New Song. She learned the technique from Jackie Topa at Addicted to Stamping. Here's a closer look at the "Alligator" skin:

Supplies: card stock, VersaMark or Craft ink pad, clear embossing powder, bone folder or stylus, heat gun. It also works better if the card stock your are working with is bigger than what your finished project will be so you have something to hold on to while completing all the steps.

Step 1: Cover a piece of card stock with VersaMark or Craft ink. I used Old Olive card stock and VersaMark for mine.

Step 2: Sprinkle clear embossing powder over the entire section. To do an area as big as I did (approx 10" x 2-1/4") it took about a third of a bottle.

Step 3: Using the bone folder or stylus, draw lines through the embossing powder horizontally and vertically, cleaning the extra powder off you tool occassionally. To look more alligatorish, vary the width of the lines and don't worry about getting them straight.

Step 4: Heat set the powder with the heat gun. Voila!

I'd love to see what you come up with for this technique too. So if you try it out, post a link here so we can all see what you made.

Bon Voyage Blog Hop Stop #20

Welcome to stop #20 on Stampin' Addicts Bon Voyage Blog Hop. It doesn't matter if you came here from Holly's Stampin' Mania (love ya Holly!) or if you are just joining the hop because each blog is linked in a chain to make one continuous loop. I hope you are enjoying this look at some of the stamps on the Last Chance List and all the fabulous talent you'll see along the way! Remember, the links will be removed Tuesday at midnight so be sure the bookmark your favorites so you can visit again.

Maybe I should have started my post with "Welcome to the Jungle" because I get to show you some projects made with an old favorite: Wild About You. (Do you have a little Guns N' Roses in your head now? Sorry, I'll fix that in a minute). This is one of the first stamp sets I ever bought when I was first introduced to Stampin' Up! I loved it then and now because it is perfect for scrapbooking, giftables and of course, cards. It's a set I reach for over and over and it is definitely staying in my personal stash even though it is only available from Stampin' Up! until June 30. Don't forget, you can click on any of the pictures to get a closer look.

I bought this set orginally with scrapbooking in mind. After all, who isn't "Wild About the Zoo" and who doesn't have Zoo pictures to scrapbook?

Recipe:
Stamps: Wild About You and Schoolbook Alphabet
Colors: Kraft, More Mustard, Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Tab Punch, Brads, Marker.

Here I used the set to make a wall hanging with a fun "Faux Alligator" technique. (Come back on Wednesday, and I'll tell you how to do it.) These animals are perfect for adding accents to a decor project for a jungle or zoo-themed room like my boys' bathroom or my neighbor's little boy's room.

Recipe:
Stamps: Wild About You
Colors: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, and Sahara Sand
Big Shot: Serif Essentials Alphabet
Accessories: chipboard, jumbo eyelets, clear embossing powder, heat gun, Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon

Remember "Pink Elephants on Parade" from Dumbo? (Told you I'd fix that other song in your head.) This last project is to show you that even though this sets screams EARTH ELEMENTS to me, you can go less traditional and make a really fun girl card with it too. I love pink and gray together, especially Pink Pirouette (may she shortly RIP).

Recipe:
Stamps: Wild About You
Colors: Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose
Accessories: Scalloped Edge punch, markers, Pink Pirouette stripped grosgrain, mat pack and paper piercer.

I promised a little BLOG CANDY so here it is: a brand new roll of yummy 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon. To win: leave a comment here during the tour letting me know which of the three project you liked best AND come back later this week and leave another comment (I promise to show you the Faux Alligator technique on Wednesday and a sneak peak at the brand new In Colors on Thursday). You must have a US mailing address to be eligible. I will pick a winner on the afternoon of Friday, June 19.

I hope you enjoyed this detour to the jungle. Thanks for stopping by. Next stop on the Bon Voyage Tour: Beth's Stamp Me a Rainbow and a real oldie but goodie: Heartfelt Thanks. Be sure to check out Stampin' Addicts too. It's a great place for Stampin' Up! lovers. (And if you still have Guns N' Roses or Dumbo in your head, try singing It's a Small World. That fixes it for me every time.)

June Scrapbook Class/Hostess Club

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Red Robin Restaurant, 316 E. Winchester Dr. Murray Utah (south east of Fashion Place Mall)

COST: $7 for the scrapbook layout and card. $3 with a $25 purchase or free with a $30 purchase.

RSVP: By noon on Friday, June 12

All of my classes this month feature products on the last chance list. Get them before they are gone. You can see the lists by clicking on the Last Chance icon on the right side.


The 2 page, 12x12 scrapbook layout features retiring In Colors Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point and Baja Breeze textured card stock, jumbo grommets and the striped In Color ribbon. The stamps are from the Sweet Celebration set and the Lazy Days Wheel. The pictures are all 4x6 in size. If you bring them with you, you can finish the entire layout in one night! (3 pictures are portrait and 2 are landscape).

The card features more retiring In Colors: Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze and pairs them with an old favorite Close to Cocoa. The stamps, Doodle This and Say it With Scallops are both on the last chance list and won't be available after June 30.

June Technique Class/Hostess Club

WHEN: Tuesday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Paula's House (call for directions)

COST: $6 includes the two projects plus recipe cards for the techniques. Or free with a $25 purchase

RSVP: By Monday, June 15 at noon (no need for hostess club members to RSVP)

This month I am featuring retiring products in all my class projects. It's always an exciting time when we get to say good bye to old favorites because that means there will be new stamps, papers, and accessories to play with very soon!

Our technique for the class is masking. This card features both regular masking and reverse masking. It also features one of the very first stamp sets I ever bought that is on the last chance list and soon won't be available to purchase, Wild About You, and two of the retiring In Colors. (You can see the complete list by clicking the Last Chance icon on the right side of the screen.)

And since I showed both kinds of masking on that card, I decided to shake things up a bit and show you a fun fold for the other project. It also features retiring Designer Series Paper and Riding Hood Red textured card stock as well as the Curly Label Punch Bundle that will be going away soon too:
Hope to see you there!

Busy Week

Man, it's been a busy week. It was my older son's last week of Kindergarten and my in laws have been in town. Hasn't left much time for creating. But I did take the chance to use some retiring Washington Apple Designer Series Paper to make a few cute creations.

This was for Stampin' Addict's sketch challenge 14. The sketch was inspired by a card in the 2008 Spring Summer Collection book. I used the square punches too which was part of the accessory challenge over there too. (Love it when I make something that fits more than one category.)



Then on Thursday, I set out to make my son's teacher an end of the school year gift. Nothing like the last minute since Friday was the last day of school. I modified Becky Roberts' Milk Carton holder to make it a bit wider and taller. I filled it with things that might help her enjoy her summer vacation a little more: a water bottle with a Crystal Light Drink Mix; sunscreen, bug spray, lotion, a blockbuster gift card, and a little fan. I also modified the milk carton pattern to make it taller so I could fit in more of the teacher's favorite candies: Reese Peanut Butter Cups. I hope she liked how it turned out.

Card Recipe (all Stampin' Up!):
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue
Designer Series Paper: Washington Apple
Stamps: Say it with Scallops
Accessories: Ribbon, Clips, Flower Brads

Teacher Gift Recipe (all Stampin' Up except for contents):
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue
Designer Series Paper: Washington Apple
Stamps: Lazy Days Wheel (Occasions Mini Catalog)
Big Shot: Flowers, Daisy #2 Bigz Die
Accessories: Ribbon and button

SA Sketch Challenge #13

All is not totally lost. I got the idea for this sketch from page 116 of last year's Stampin' Up! Spring Summer Idea Book. And I actually turned it into something and over came my fear of embellishments at the same time. Whew! What a relief!

I will really miss Pink Pirouette when it retires next month. I'm not a big pink fan in general, but this has become a new neutral for me. And in comparison, Pretty in Pink is so garish. And I love Basic Gray too. And even better when they are paired together.

If you'd like to play along in the sketch challenge, you can find them it here: Stampin Addict's Sketch Challenge #13.

Recipe:
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Colors: Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Pink Pirouette Patterns
Tools: Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, White Gel Pen
Embellishments: Pink Pirouette Grosgrain Ribbon, Brads

Just not feeling it . . .

I love holiday weekends. It usually means I get some guilt-free stamp time. So yesterday afternoon I set out to get some challenges and all my class projects done for June. First, I had to dig out my craft table. I have a horrible habit of leaving my stamps out and scraps spread everywhere. So I spent some time putting things away and discovering that yes, there really is a table under there and it's not just a big pile of paper scraps.

Then it was time to get stamping!!!! I just sat there. Tried a few things, and they just weren't working. Tried my scrapbook layout for next month, but I'm missing something I need that is coming in an order this week. My other class? Nothing! Sketch challenges? Nada. (Insert big sigh here.) A whole craft day wasted!

Or almost anyway. I did make this card with the Fifth Avenue Floral set. It's the best I could come up with yesterday:

Maybe I was just suffering from a fear of embellisments yesterday? Even the picture is a bit off. Couldn't get it straight to save my life. I hope the cure is right around the corner: the retirement list and new catalog preview are released next Monday. That is sure to inspire some great creations.

In the abscence of stamping mojo, I did give my blog a make over last night. Notice now that it has three columns instead of two. I really wanted to share my SA sisters blogs but I didn't want to hide the list at the bottom of my one side column. I also found this site that has really cute backgrounds and headers for free! Check it out if you are in the market for a blog makeover: www.shabbyblogs.com. Let me know what you think.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
Colors: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Whisper White

No More Hoarding

How many of you are guilty of hoarding supplies? Here's the thought that pops into my head every time I consider using something consumable: what if this project turns out lame and then I really, really need (insert your favorite hoarded item) for a spectacularly awesome special project in the future? I've had this conversation with myself many times.

But one of my New Year's Resolution was to actually use product instead of hoard it. I've made some great progress too. I used some Hodge Podge Hardware for a class! (GASP- I know.) And guess what. You can order more! Really. I did it already.

So that brings me to this project. I realized the Thursday before Mother's Day that I had not made anything for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day. She really appreciates my handcrafted items and oohs and aahs over them and makes me feel like I am the most amazingly crafty woman on the planet. (Don't you just love making things for people like that?)

I needed something quick since it had to go in the mail -- that day! So I grabbed two things I had been hoarding: an empty Accents and Elements Tin and the retired Winter Retreat Simple Scrapbook Kit and whipped this up in a couple of hours:

The pictures are of my kids and their cousins on our recent visit to Grandma's. And she did love it and I love that she loved it.

So the moral of the story: use something that you are hoarding. You can always order more. Leave a comment here and tell me your hoarding stories, or even better how you over came the hoarding instinct.

Happy stamping!

Peaks and Valley Card

These cards are lighting up the blogosphere this week. The first one I saw was from my fellow Swapper's Anon/Stampin' Addict Sistah Rhonda over at The Stampin' Bunny. They are so clever I knew I had to make one too. And this week is my good friend and neighbor Jen's birthday so I whipped it up for her. It is much easier than it looks, especially if you can find all the right tools. (I got bogged down looking for my old paper cutter, but once I found it, it was smooth sailing.)

The quick and dirty instructions:

• Take a piece of 5 1/2" x 12" card stock.
• Score it vertically at 2", 4", 8" and 10"
• Cut it horizontally 1 1/2" from the top and bottom from the 2" score line to the 10" score line.
• Fold the top and bottom row peak, valley, peak, valley
• Fold the middle row valley, peak, valley, peak so that it is opposite of the top
• Embellish as desired

Here is what it looks like closed:


And here's what it looks like from the top (so you can get a good view of the folds):


This card is a great way to use up some scraps of fabulous Designer Series Paper (don't forget it's on sale this month.) And while I was at it, I used up some more on this gift bag too:


Recipes:
Card Stock: Textured Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Bella Rose
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Stamps: All Holidays
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Rhinestone brads, Kiwi Kiss stripped grosgrain ribbon

Best Ever Card Class

I'm bumping this back to the top since signups are quickly coming to a close.

Do you always need a birthday card? Then this is a great class for you! We will be using half of a Best Ever Simple Scrapbook Kit (plus a few extra sheets of card stock) to make 20 cards and a box to store them in. You will be surprised just how fast and easy it is to make cards with the kit. Cards are 3x6 and fit in the Small Open Ended Envelopes. The cards can be used for birthdays or other times you want to say congratulations, celebrate, or happy for you.

WHEN: Thursday, May 28 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: My House (call for directions)
COST: $15 for the 20 cards and the box. Add another $8.75 if you would like to include a package of 20 Small Open Ended Envelopes (includes shipping and tax)
RSVP: By Thursday, May 21 (so I can order the kits and envelopes) to paula24@comcast.net or 801-967-3210