I consider my stamping craft mistakes opportunities to learn and improve my stamping capabilities. This card does have a mistake and I will tell you about it and how I will improve on the next stamping project.

I created a shaker card using the Jar of Love stamp set and the matching Everyday Jars Framelits.  This stamp set has very cute sayings and the one I chose is “Best Fishes”, so of course I there is a  fish inside the jar and the blue beads depict the water.

First, let me give you some highlights of this card. The stamps and matching framelits really lend themselves to making shaker cards.  I love to create shaker cards as it adds an element of surprise for the person who receives it.

The blue shakers inside the card are beads that Stampin’ Up! carried in years gone by.  So you just never know when supplies that you have had for a long time will come in handy.  As you notice, the beads are lying up the side of the jar instead of resting in the bottom as the other beads.

Opportunity to Learn

So why did this happen? Foam Adhesives Strips were a new catalogue product this year. They can be used for 3-D items or where you need to pop- up a product like the Window Sheets.

Unfortunately, some of the sticky from the adhesive was exposed which caused the beads to float to the side of the jar when I shook the card.

Therefore, this is what I learned because of this mistake.  After applying the Foam Adhesive Strips around the outline of a framelit, take a Q-tip, pounce it on the Embossing Buddy and swipe the inside of the adhesive strips.  Be careful not to get any of the powder from the Embossing Buddy on the side that will be stuck to the Window Sheets or cardstock.  If you do, then the layers will not stick together.

Recipe

Stamps: Jar of Love.

Ink/Markers: Flirty Flamingo.

Paper: Whisper White, Dapper Denim, 2016-18 In Color DSP Stack, Window Sheets.

Accessories: Big Shot, Everyday Jars Framelits, Flirty Flamingo 3/8” Ruched Ribbon ,Foam Adhesive Strips,  Blue Beads.

To see another post using the Jar of Love Stamp set and coordinating framelits, use this LINK.

So, you make stamping craft mistakes, think of it as opportunities to learn and improve.

Good luck!

Product List

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You can make beautiful handmade Christmas cards for your friends and family.  All you need is some imagination and card making products.  While you do need some imagination, there is a word that we use in the crafting world to make our life easier.  That word is CASE.

CASE is an acronym for “copy and share everything” , which tends to be a mantra for a lot of crafters.  When I first get a new stamp set, sometimes I don’t have a clue what to do with it.  For me, it’s getting to know your stamp.  Where do I go?  To the catalogue.  Sometimes, I will copy the card exactly and sometimes I will use some of the same elements but mix up the colours and thinlits.  No matter what, it’s your card.

Recipe

Stamps: Holly Berry Happiness.

Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive,

Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Champagne Glimmer, This Christmas Specialty DSP.

Accessories: Big Shot, Lots of Labels, Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies, 5/8” Burlap Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Christmas Trinkets Embellishments, Holly Berry Builder Punch.

This card is similar to the one in the catalogue, however, there are some elements that I chose not to use.

For example, the holly is stamped on Crumb Cake card stock with Old Olive ink.  One of the pinecones is die cut using Crumb Cake cardstock and the other pine cone is die cut from Very Vanilla and sponged with Crumb Cake ink to bring out the texture of the pine cone.

So, if you don’t know where to start to make beautiful handmade Christmas cards, the catalogue will help you out.

Product List

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Gift Tag punches are just not for gifts. You can add interest to a card when you use them as your focal art piece.

This card came together very easily, once I decided which stamps from the Painted Petals stamp set to use on the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.

Recipe

Stamps: Pained Petals, Butterfly Basics.

Ink/Markers: Wisteria Wonder, Wild Wasabi, Red Rose, Pink Pirouette.

Paper: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Irresistibly Yours DSP, Silver Glimmer.

Accessories: Big Shot, Spring Flowers Embossing Folder, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Wisteria Wonder Seam Binding Ribbon, Silver 1/8” Ribbon, Subtle Candy Dots – Wisteria Wonder, Handheld Stapler.

Once I had settled on the set of flowers that were not roses, I got to work.  The 3 lines were stamped 2 times on the bottom of the tag, one set of flowers were stamped in the Wisteria Wonder and the other set in Rose Red ink.

Because this is a Photopolymar stamp, the stems and leaves were simple to stamp.  I didn’t worry that the leaves overlapped some of the flowers.

The gift tag was off-set on a tag punch from the Sliver Glimmer paper. Isn’t it great that the glimmer papers can be used any time of the year?  The Wisteria Wonder and the Silver Ribbons were added to the tag and stapled with the Handheld Stapler.

Of course, what could be better than some butterflies hovering over the side of the gift tag.

Last but not least is the Irresistibly Yours DSP that can be yours for free when you order $60.00 (not including tax or shipping) worth of product.

I am in love with this paper.  Check my blog frequently as I am going to show you a technique with this paper that will blow you away.

So in the meantime, keep on stamping and creating and try the Gift Tag punch for your art piece.

Painted Petals Wood Stamp Set – 138819

Price: $40.95

Painted Petals Clear Stamp Set – 138822

Price: $30.95

Painted Petals Photopolymer Stamp Set – 137146

Price: $29.95

Spring Flowers Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – 137365

Price: $9.95

Bitty Butterfly Punch – 129406

Price: $21.95

Tag Topper Scalloped Punch – 133324

Price: $31.95

Silver Glimmer Paper – 135314

Price: $5.95

Silver 1/8″ Ribbon – 132137

Price: $6.95

Wild Wasabi 1/2″ Seam Binding Ribbon – 134570

Price: $9.50

Handheld Stapler – 139083

Price: $12.50

Silver Mini Staples – 135847

Price: $4.95

Subtles Candy Dots – 130933

Price: $7.95

Supply List

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This year, Blue Monday is January 19th.  Blue Monday is said to be the most bluest of days  for many people. It occurs on the first Monday of the last full week in January. There is even a mathematical equation that helps decide the day.

So why is their a Blue Monday

• The Christmas and New Year festivities are over and the bills start flowing in.
• We have started to loose focus on our New Year Resolutions and we get upset with ourselves.
• In the northern Hemisphere, we are waiting for more daylight – that in itself can lead to depression.

So what can you do to combat this feeling?

• Get out and enjoy some winter activities…skiing, ice skating
• Surround yourself with positive friends…maybe there a some who aren’t affected by Blue Monday.
• If you suffer from SAD, get yourself a light which can help combat that sad feeling.
• Look forward and stay positive…the days are indeed getting longer with more daylight…just maybe not as fast as we want.
• Go stamp some cards and get into the Sale-A-Bration feeling

So what goes better with Blue Monday than a Blue Lotus Flower from the SAB catalogue.  This flower will make you smile.

Because what is better than 2-step stamping?  Why, it’s 3-step stamping.

Recipe:

Stamps: Lotus Blossom, Butterfly Basics.

Ink/Markers: Crushed Curry, Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, Pistachio Pudding.

Paper: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Painted Blooms DSP.

Accessories: Big Shot, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Whisper White Seam Binding, Bitty Butterfly Punch.

If you are using the wood mount or clear mount stamps, use the Stamp-a-ma-Jig to line up your flowers.  If you use the photopolymer stamps, then you can see right through the stamps to line them up.

THe stamps are number 1, 2 and 3 so you know which order to use the stamps.

For these blue lotuses, I stamped #1 with Pacific Point (the darkest colour), #2 stamp – Marina Mist and #3 – Marina Mist stamped off 2xs.

This style of stamping gives beautiful definition to the images.

The butterflies are from the Basic Butterfly stamp set.  They are stamped 3 times and punched out with the Bitty Butterfly punch.

You can earn this stamp set for free by purchasing $60.00 in products – it’s Sale-a-Bration time.

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Stamp Set – 137154

Price: $29.95

Butterfly Basics Clear Stamp Set – 138816

Price: $43.95

Butterfly Basics Wood Stamp Set – 138813

Price: $58.95

Bitty Butterfly Punch – 129406

Price: $21.95

Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – 133520

Price: $9.50

Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper – 137784

Price: $13.50

Whisper White 1/2″ Seam Binding Ribbon – 134573

Price: $9.50

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The not so beautiful caterpillars morph into Beautiful Butterflies. Who would think that those creepy crawly caterpillars could turn out to be so beautiful.  In life there are many things that start off not so beautiful and to our surprise turn into Beautiful Butterflies.

The card uses the Butterfly Basics stamp set from the 2015 Occasions catalogue. The stamp set has 11 stamps that you can mix and match to create beautiful cards, scrapbook pages and/or home decor items.  Combine the stamp set with the Butterflies Thinlits Dies and the Painted Blooms DSP and you have a winning combination.

Purchase the stamp set and the thinlits as a bundle and save 15%.  Purchasing either the wood set or the clear set,will earn you a Free Product from the Sale-a-Bration catalogue.  The Butterfly Basics stamp set is also available in photopolymer, however, you would need to purchase another item to reach the $60.00 threshold.

You can purchase the Artisan Embellishment Kit along with the photopolymer stamp to reach the $60.00.  This kit is packed with beautiful embellishments to go along with your beautiful butterflies.

Recipe

Stamps: Butterfly Basics.

Ink/Markers: Tuxedo Black, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi Blendabilities: Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi.

Paper: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, Vellum, Painted Blooms DSP.

Accessories: Big Shot, Butterflies Thinlits, Artisan Embellishment Kit.

Using the Butterflies Thinlits Dies:

These thinlits are intricate dies and have many little pieces that are cut from the main image.  As such, you need to be prepared to poke out a few of these tiny pieces when you release the die from the paper.

The method that I use is to put a piece of wax paper between the thinlit and the paper.  The wax paper helps the die release from the thinlit.  I also run the sandwich back and forth in the Big Shot about 3 times.

Butterfly:

The Beautiful Butterflies can be cut from Vellum to give them a translucent and delicate feel.  Before attaching to the card front, lightly sponge ink onto the vellum  Be careful though, so you don’t tear the butterfly.

Butterfly Basics Wood Bundle – 139322

Butterfly Basics Clear Bundle – 139323

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Bundle – 138865

Artisan Embellishment Kit – 137909

Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper – 137784

Pink Pirouette Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers – 133625

Wild Wasabi Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers – 133624

Supply List

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A special birthday is today for a very special lady.  And that lady is 90 Years young today.  Can you just imagine the changes in the world  that she has witnessed over the past 90 years?  The speed a which the world changes just seems to get faster.  Technology has made that possible but are we missing things because of way the time passes so quickly?  Sometimes I think we are!

That special lady is my Mom whom I love dearly and we as a family as so lucky to have her here.  We celebrated with a dinner and the family has grown over the years, so I was very hard pressed to get 13 people in my house for dinner.  But we made it.

One of the best parts is that my Mom is still full of life and very with it.  Albeit, a little more grey, a little tinier and a few more wrinkles but in our hearts she has not changed.

 Recipe

Stamps: You’re Wonderful, Skinny Mini Alphabet.

Ink/Markers: Tuxedo Black Memento, Calypso Coral Blendabilities, Night of Navy Blendabilities, Daffodil Delight Blendabilities, Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities, Old Olive Blendabilities.

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Gold Soiree DSP.

Accessories: Big Shot, Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder, Gold Sequin Trim, Gold Baker’s Twine, Pearl Jewels.

For this special birthday card, I decided to create my own background.  Various flower stamps from the You’re Wonderful stamp set were randomly stamped around the outside of the card in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  The flowers were coloured and shaded using various Blendabilities.

The gold sequins were removed from the tread and placed randomly throughout and then a pearl jewel place on to of each one.

This is a special birthday card for my Mom and I so enjoyed creating it and giving it to her.  She is very much loved.

You’re Wonderful Photopolymer Stamp Set

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Gold Soiree Specialty Designer Series Paper – 133697

Price: $15.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Calypso Coral Assortment – 130996

Price: $15.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Daffodil Delight Assortment – 130998

Price: $15.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Night Of Navy Assortment – 131001

Price: $15.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Old Olive Assortment – 130999

Price: $15.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Rich Razzleberry Assortment – 131003

Price: $15.95

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad – 132708

Price: $7.95

Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – 132174

Price: $9.95

Supply List

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Are you on my email list?  If not, you need to sign up because I will be sending out a “Free” gift on June 19th at 1:00 pm PT to everyone on my email list.  You must be a confirmed subscriber to receive this gift.

Signing up is so easy!  Click on this link EMAIL LIST, fill out the form with your name and email address, click SUBMIT and you will receive a message asking you to confirm that you actually signed up.  Respond to that email and that’s it.  It takes about 1 minute of your time and for that you will be rewarded with the FREE Gift.

What better week than to make a handmade birthday card with a soccer ball on it.  For the next few weeks soccer fanatics around the world will be watching the World Cup Soccer Games taking place in Brazil.

The event takes place from June 12 – July 13, that’s like a month.  However, I suppose that the event only takes place every 4 years and there are so many countries competing for the World Cup. 31 countries are represented and there will be 64 games played…I am sure that the best team will win.

One of the hot topics this year is “why do so many Brazilian players only have 1 name”?  There is nothing ominous about the tradition.  It is simply a nickname for their traditional name.

My 6 year old grandson plays soccer and so I created this card for his birthday.

Card Inside

Recipe

Stamps: Something To Say (c-134180, w- 134177, p104 2014/15 Annual Catalogue), Project Life Day To Day (Photopolymer 135785, p26 2014/15 Annual Catalogue), Hardwood (c-133035, w- 133032, p175 2014/15 Annual Catalogue), Game Day Soccer Stamp Brush Set – Digital Download (MDS 132684), May Paper Pumpkin, Off the Grid (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake

Ink: Smokey Slate, Mossy Meadow, Lost Lagoon, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Big Shot, Hexagon Hive Framelits, Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits, Word Bubbles Framelits, 1/3-4” Circle Punch.

The soccer ball was created by punching a circle in Whisper White card stock and then punching the same sized circle from the design created by the Hexagon Hive Framelit and layering over top of the Whisper White circle.

The shadow under the soccer ball was created by sponging with Smokey Slate ink.

The grass was created by using the Directly to Paper technique.  What you do is take the ink pad and drag it across your card stock.  In this case I did a vertical dragging to give the illusion of grass.

Lastly the goal posts were created by stamping on Smokey Slate card stock using Crumb Cake ink and the Hardwood stamp and then cutting posts and adhering together.

The inside of the card was created using MDS and I printed the sentiment on Whisper White card stock

Have some fun and create your Brazilian nickname.

My nickname would be Karson.  Find out your name by going to this LIN K

Happy Stamping

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Do you love to scrapbook?  Do you have pictures sitting in boxes, old albums, and your computer?  Would you like to organize and scrapbook your pictures easily?

Well, I have the answer to your questions.

Project Life – Create Your Story!!

Stampin’ Up! has partnered with Becky Higgins to bring her unique scrapbooking method to us.  Yes, Project Life is now available from me and Stampin’ Up!.  There are pocket page protectors, card pages, journaling tags, stamp sets, framelits, journaling pens, a corner rounder punch, stickers, embellishments, with more to come in the 2014/15 Stampin’ Up! Annual catalogue.

I have never used the Project Life method to scrapbook and I was amazed at how easy peasy it really is.

Here is a sample of my first try.

Because I hadn’t used the Project Life products before, it took me a little longer that it should have.  I did this page in about 40 minutes and as I get better at it, like I can cut that time in half.  Of course the fancier you get, the longer it takes, so you have to decide whether it’s fancy or fast

Project Life Products Are Now Available

Visit my ONLINE store to view the products up close and personal.

Watch the video for more information

Contact me for more information karen@simplysaidwithkaren.com

Happy Stamping or maybe I need to say Happy Scrapping

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Photopolymer stamps were introduced to Stampin’ Up! line of stamps during March of this year.  These stamps are not your normal acrylic stamps but they are clear, see through stamps.

I created a birthday card with the new stamp set and I will offer up my opinions on the stamps.  But first, here is my card that I created using these photopolymar stamps, a birthday card for my SIL

Supplies:

Stamps: Designer Type Set Photopolymer (c – 132956 – online), Make a Cake (c – 126742 w- 126740 p44 2012/13 Annual Catalogue), Birthday Wishes (retired hostess set)

Paper: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Naturals White, Print Poetry DSP, Patio Party DSP

Ink: Midnight Muse

Accessories: Big Shot, Chevron Embossing Folder, Markers: Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Pool Party, Chocolate Chip,   Blender Pen, Gold Brad, Decorative Label Punch

Designer Type Set

These stamps are fairly new to Stampin Up so I can tell you what I know now about the Photopolymer stamps.

• the stamps are very sticky and cling to the clear block instantly.
• the stamps are bendable, ie, for the banner stamp was curved a bit on the block and then stamp
• the stamped images are very clear
• the price is reasonable
• to clean the stamps, you can use soap and water, Stampin’ Scrub and Stampin’ Mist, and if you use Stazon ink, you can clean with Stazon cleaner (use sparingly)
• the stamps come in a cello bag, between two sheets of acetate and can be stored in the clear cases – do not leave in sunlight
• the stamps are made in the US, however, the photopolymar comes from the UK
• multiple images can be stamped at the same time by positioning on the clear block

Some of the downsides are:

• the stamps have a smell when you first open them, but that dissipates after they are left exposed for a while
• some of the darker inks will stain the stamps however to prevent the staining clean immediately.
• some of the stamps in this set are very small and can be easily lost – return them to their packaging when you have finished using them

• 

  Show and Tell (133450); Show and Tell 2 (133481), Bombs Away Birthday (133411)

Would I purchase these stamps again.  Definitely yes, there are some fun images that will appeal to all sorts of age groups.

Happy Stamping

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Here’s a video to watch on the new stamps

Photopolymer Stamps

 What makes them so great?

• They’re entirely transparent for perfect placement every time!
• They are durable. The photopolymer material is designed to last.
• Can you say sticky? (Don’t worry; in a good way.) These stamps stick amazingly well to our clear blocks.
• They’re age tested. They won’t yellow or cloud up over time.
• They use FDA, food-safe material. How far can you stretch your stamping creativity?
• We could go on, but we’ll let you try them for yourself.

They are clearly a great choice.

Some additional information:

• This  “Designer Typeset Photopolymer Stamp Set” is not available as a clear mount or a wood mount stamp set

• 132956 Includes 57 pieces. (Don’t faint! This is a good overwhelming feeling.) Can be used on the Clear Mount Blocks

  $16.95

• Stampin’ Up hopes to release more of this type of stamp in the future
• Works well with the new foam ink pads

Got questions? Email me at karen@simplysaidwithkaren.com

 Happy Stamping!

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