Peekaboo Embossing - how to!

I have had quite a few inquiries on just how I had been doing my Peekaboo Embossing cards this past week - a fun new variation on an embossing technique I have been playing with for January where a stamped image peeks out behind an embossed one.

So here is the 6x6 technique card that my customers received at this months Technique Tuesday class ... fits perfectly inside a 6x6 album to create a 'inspiration book' for stampers as the attend additional classes each month.

I hope the instructions are viewable on the close up here ... the back of the card has the 'traditional variation' directions for braying the recessed side on an embossing folder to give the two toned embossed look which was the spring board for this variation with 'stamping' instead.

Sharing also with the Stampin' Up Only Challenge blog whose New Years Challenge is to try new techniques to push out of the comfort 'go to' techniques we tend to fall back on ... I myself love trying new stuff which is why Technique Tuesday is one of my favorite classes to host each month - there are just so many awesome ways to paper craft out there!

Happy Stampin'

Margaret

Playing with Punches - Shoebox Swaps

This offering is from our Playing with Punches - shoebox card swap with my upline team! Nancy designed and shared her shoebox with us to get to make this card - it was so much fun!

This card used the Lattice Bigz Die with it handcut to create the Celtic knot look, the Butterfly punch, the Boho Blossoms Punch, the 2 Step Bird punch and the ribbon punch. It also features the 2011-12 In Colors and the Butterfly Prints stamp set!

Also wanted to share that I am able to invite a 'guest' to the Upline Team meetings so of you ever wanted to come out and see how supportive and fun being a Stampin' Up Demo can be - drop me a line!

Happy Stampin'

Day at the Beach

This is how I wish I could be spending the last stretch of my staycation .... on the beach watching the sun set.

I used the Color coach for inspiration here showcasing the new 2011-12 In Color of Pool Party with Chocolate Chip and Island Indigo accents.

This is another Playing with punches card ... for the Straw hat in So Saffron using the Large Oval punch, 1 3/4 circle punch run through the Square Lattice embossing folder and the Boho  Blossoms punch which a nice Basic pearl for the accent on the ribbon of the hat ... I used the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set in Island Indigo stamped on Pool Party cardstock to create the 'bathing suit' and the Full Heart punch for the neck and arms.

The sunset is created using the Stampin' Pastels collection and the sentiment is from the Happy Greetings sentiment set in the Summer mini ... available until August 31st!

Playing with Punches!

Playing with Punches is this months 'Team Challenge' with my upline Liz and our upcoming Team swap is going to also feature playing with punches - so I have been having some fun thinking of ways to use our lovely Stampin' Up punches in different ways.

I will admit that I cased the 'Lovely Lady' concept from the Stampin' Connection website, not sure who belonged to the original idea ... but it looked like so much fun I always wanted to try it out .... so figured why not use it for my Challenge card.

Punch art certainly makes use of lots of punches ... this card features:

Whisper White paper which was run through the Square Lattice emboss folder and punched with the Large Oval and a 1 3/4 circle to create the hat with the now retired Triple Flower punch for the accent on the hat ribbon which is a double punched 1 3/4 circle.

The Scallop Oval punch for the Early Espresso Hair.

The Wedding Dress is made with the Butterfly punch and Whisper White paper which was run through the Elegant Lines embossing folder and spritzed with the Vanilla Shimmer smooch spritz.

The neckline and arms are made with the Full Heart punch in the now retired Blush Blossom paper although we still carry the marker so you could create the blush colored using Whisper White and the marker to sponge the color on.

The gorgeous wedding bouquet also features the now retired Triple Flower punch - however the small flower from the Boho Blossom punch would work equally as well, the Build a Blossom punch for the greenery and is accented with Vanilla Shimmer smooch spritz and some basic pearls!

Finally I wanted a sentiment for the front of the card but did not want to take away from the elegance of the bride .... so used the Tiny Tags and Jewelery punch to create a sentiment 'train' from the back of the dress .... too cute!

Truly a gorgeous shimmery sparkly card in person ... so fun to make that I am going to try making some more and find one that is a little quicker for our swap cause we have to be able to make it in less than 5 minutes and while elegant this one took a wee bit longer to punch and put together than 5 minutes - definitely a labor of love for the Bride to Be!

Happy Stampin'

Butterfly prints

This is a card from last months swap that I thought I could share since I have not had time down in the craftroom this week :(


I believe this one was from Mair's and features the Level One Hostess set Punch Potpourri and the Butterfly Prints stamp set for the Idea Book and Catalogue which are layered together on the card and held in place with some Square Fire and Ice brads. The sentiment is mounted on the Lots of Tags sizzlits die that has been framed in Espresso with the sentiment for Because I Care stamped on Whisper White.

I just love the colour combination of Espresso and Pretty in Pink and all the little details that Mair combined into this very pretty card!

Bookmarks

A collection of hand stamped bookmarks for the Run for the Cure fundraiser.

I used the Table Setting Bigz Die for the bookmark. Bookmarks are featuring the stamp sets Priceless, Eastern Blooms, Inspired by Nature, Flight of the Butterfly and the 2 Step Bird Punch and Butterfly punch.

Stamp a Stack Samples

These are the cards we made at this months Stamp a Stack ... one of these months I am going to get ahead of the game to get them up and posted BEFORE the event ;)

This month we went with a Thank you card and Floral theme for the Stamp a Stack event making 10 cards 2 of each of the 5 designs.

A Medallion Thank you card featuring the rock and roll technique and a layered Fancy Flower punch.

A Fifth Avenue Floral generic all occasion card pairing our Oval punch with the new Decorative Label punch for the sentiment.

A quick and easy Upsy Daisy Vintage Thinking Of You card - with the classic colours of Red, Black and White.

An Elegant Lines paired with the Butterfly pansies for a nice Fall themed generic Just for You card.

Elements of Style water colouring card with a nice fall theme of pinks and yellows...guests had the option to colour one card with pink flowers and one with yellow or two the same.

Next months Stack a Stamp will be on Saturday October 16th 1 pm

Back to the Garden again

More fun with the Cottage Garden stamp set and the in colours! Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz with the Early Espresso ink for stamping and shading!

I love the butterfly fluttering off the page technique as well!