Lovely collage

Here's another male card! I really loved the look that stamping over and over each other gives. I call it collage - but I've got no idea if that is the right term or not.

I used all of the images in the Lovely as a Tree stamp set and used different greens on the leaves. Matting the different elements created some space around them and makes it really easy on the eyes!

I stamped all of the images on the same piece of card stock, and then cut the paper. I punched out the sentiment and then put in some brads - and Bob's your uncle!

If you want to learn how to create this sort of 'collage' give me a call - I'd love to show you.

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Creamy Caramel, Handsome Hunter
Accessories: Gold brads, Punches

Male birthday

Isn't this paper gorgeous? It's some of the new Designer Series Paper in the new catalog - Nouveau Chic. It has 6 different double-sided papers in the pack - and all of them are totally yummy. You want this paper. Seriously, you do!

Anyway - I realized that I hardly ever create male themed cards, so it's always a mad dash to get one made when I need one. So, here is the finished product. Very simple, but I think that the DSP really makes it!

The focal image is from one of the sets that is in limbo (oops- I mean dormant!) so it is not in the current catty, but might or might not make it into the next one. But you can buy it right now. It's called Lexicon of Leaves, and it is one of my favorites (I love leaves!)

The easiest way to match the colors on any DSP is to have a look at the catalog. Big Tip: If you look right beneath the pictures of the paper (pages 160 - 163) there is a guide with the colors that are used in the paper. it makes matching them so, so easy. you really can't go wrong!

If you don't have your catalog yet, give me a call on 303 805 2344 so I get one out to you right away!

While I had the supplies out for this card, I made another one here on my Facebook page. Have a look and tell me what you think.

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: Lexicon of Leaves, Sincere Salutations
Paper: Nouveau Chic DSP, Sage Shadow, Going Gray, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink: Sage Shadow, Going Gray
Accessories: Black Brads

Happy Birthday Renee!

Here's a card that I created for my sister-in-law's birthday.

Remember when I told you that as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I get great FREE stuff? Well, part of the great FREE stuff that I received this quarter was the fabulous Pretties Kit ($29.95, page 178 IBC) This was the first time that I had broken them out - and I'm a little mad at myself for not using them before! I LOVE them!! It's full of fabric flowers in differing sizes as well as some gorgeous little pearls and beads. Very fun.

On to the card! I used some of the In Colors - Crushed Curry and Rich Razzleberry. This may be my favourite colour combo to date! The stamped focal point image is the largest in the Razzle Dazzle stamp set, and I used the simple Rock and Roll technique.

This technique is so simple, but gives great results. You ink up the stamp in the regular manner (well - your style at least! I'm pretty firm with my stamps, so I give them a good smack down on the pad and then a bit of a twist! how do you ink up yours? I'd love to know!) Now comes the rock and roll part! You carefully roll the image so that the edges grab some of a darker colour. I think that it looks like you did something far harder than you actually did!

This is a great technique to show your friends at a workshop. I'd love to teach yours! Give me a call to book yours today on 303 805 2344.

The flower was inked using the same ink pads that I used to stamp the image. I used a sponge and coloured the outside of the petals and went around he flower two or three times until the colour seemed right to me. Then I went back with the Rich Razzleberry ink for the middle. A clear rhinestone brad from the Pretties kit finished off the flower. Big Tip: use a sponge to lightly place ink on the flowers and go back over them. The ink will dry in between the time it takes to get back around to the original petal, and you can use it immediately. If you put too much ink on at once (by placing the flower directly onto the ink pad, which is definitely an option) it will need to be placed aside and let to dry, and if you have a short attention span like me, you might move on and forget what you were doing with it!!

I'd love to see what you do with the flowers in the Pretties kit. What? You don't have any? You can order them from me or directly though my website here.

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: Razzle Dazzle, Curvy Verses
Paper: Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Black Versamark
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Spotted Ribbon, Pretties Kit - medium flower and rhinestone brad, Cutter Kit (to distress the edges of the focal point), Sponges

Sponged Tulipe

Isn't this stunning? I am falling in love with my "En Francais" Background stamp again this week! And I just LOVE how this card turned out.

I stamped the background image in Versamark and then embossed it with white embossing powder. Then after I had cut out the Tulipe design out of scrap paper with the Big Shot, I used the 'leftover' as a mask and sponged Creamy Caramel with a sponge dauber over the background. Big Tip: Use some removable adhesive to keep it in place while you sponge.

The Tulipe design is a Stampin' Up! exclusive - you can only get that one from me folks!!! (well, or another SU! consultant!! But I'm your fave, right?!)

It looks like the writing in the background is stamped over the Tulipe design - cool, huh? The ink wont stick to any of the embossed image and that's how you get such a cool look. I used the same technique here on this card over on my Facebook page, (it's exclusive content for my Facebook fans!)

Hope you enjoyed this - but if you'd like to learn how to do it for yourself, give me a call and I'll book you in for your own personal class with some of your friends!

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: En Francais Background Stamp
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Tulipe Big Shot Die, Gold Brads, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Medallion Sunset

Remember how I told you I loved this stamp? Well, this is another reason why!!!

I cased this from Michele Zindorff (who gives great tutorials on her blog), and this is the result. You can tell from the shine on the medallion that it is embossed, and that is how you can get such a great look.

The tree is embossed and then the back was rolled with the brayer, then the 'sun' is embossed with clear embossing powder over that. The rest of the card is sponged with different layers to get the sunset feel. isn't it gorgeous? And it's really not as hard as it looks - it just takes a little bit of practice (which I still need more of!)

So - if you would like to learn some great sponging tricks, book in a workshop with me and I'd be happy to teach you and your friends. And September is a Fabulous time to book one - Stampin' Up! is giving a sensational offer to their Hostesses in addition to the fabulous gift program they already have - you wont want to miss it! I look forward to your workshop soon!

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: Branch Out, Medallion Background stamp
Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Basic Black
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black, Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Brads

Coral Medallion

I LOVE this new Medallion Background stamp! isn't it adorable?

I wanted a pretty plain background to see how the Texture Plates looked over stamping - and this is what happened! Cameo Coral is not my favourite colour at the best of times, but when I looked in my cupboard to see what colour had the most in it's little space, I realized I needed to use it. With some sponging to 'grunge' it up a bit, it doesn't look too bad!

So, I sponged the Medallion image on the Coral layer and then ran it through the Big Shot with the Stampin' Up! exclusive Texture plate, Perfect Details. Love that thing!(Feeling the love today??!!) After sponging the edges, that layer was pretty much done with.

The sentiment part just kept evolving! I love the sense of creating when those things happen. I wasn't liking it just layered, and didn't like it with the ribbon behind it, so i decided to use some brads to hold the ribbon around the edges of the large oval. The coral oval actually has the centre cut out. Big Tip: Punch out the smaller oval first and then you can centre the larger oval over the top of it so that it is perfectly centred.
Big Big Tip (actually probably the biggest when it comes to punches!): ALWAYS, always, always stamp your image before you punch it out! You really should trust me on this one - it is very hard to get those stamps centred on a punched out bit, even with the Stamp-a-ma-jig!

I threaded the ribbon through it and secured it with the brads before I adhered it to the Gray oval. And there it is! Now if you would like to learn some cool tricks with ribbons, give me a call to book your workshop today! 303 805 2344 Now that the kiddos are all back in school, you've got all the time in the world, right??? LOL!

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: Medallion Background Stamp, Elegant Thank You
Paper: Cameo Coral, Going Gray
Ink: Going Gray
Accessories: Small and Large Oval Punches, basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Brads, Big Shot Perfect Details Texture Plate

New Rubber!

One of the best things about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is the FREE stamps! This week I received this new set called "Thoughts and Prayers". I love it, and I think you will too!

I went pink with my first go round with it! Pretty in Pink to be exact! This card uses the branch image in the set, but this card over on my Facebook page, uses the really cool tree image. (And I used that really fun sponging technique I taught at my Fabulous Friday class on it as well!)

So, if you would like some of your own FREE rubber, why not become a demonstrator? SU! is having a SENSATIONAL deal at the minute, and you can start your won paper crafting business for only $85! Give me a call and we'll have coffee while you fill in the paperwork!

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: Thoughts And Prayers
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty In Pink
Ink: Pretty In Pink
Accessories: Big Shot Scallop Oval, Large and Wide Oval Punches, Sponges, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot Perfect Details Texturz Plate

It's a bit hot for Christmas, but...

...I couldn't resist re-creating a card that I had seen on my web wanderings. (Again, if this is your original idea, I would love to give you credit, but I don't remember where I saw it, so give me a reminder!!)

It's a fantastically simple technique called reverse masking, and the results are stunning. I happened upon a delicious color combo also - Rich Razzleberry and Bermuda Bay. Aren't they gorgeous together? They are 2 of the new In Colors and if you haven't seen them yet, make plans to son!

So, you cut out the circle from some scrap paper (I used the now retired Coluzzle system, but any cutting system will do!) and tossed the circle! Use the remaining paper as a stencil and hold it firm while you stamp over it.
Big Hint: You may want to use some Dotto (or other removable adhesive) to keep it in place.
Another Big Hint: Make sure that the piece of scrap paper is big enough to cover all of your 'good' layer, in case the stamp you are using is big, it wont go over the edges and get on your working piece.

Leave the mask on after you have stamped so that you can sponge on some color around the edge of the circle. When you are happy with the look you have achieved, remove the ask and you have a sensational circle. After you add on a punch you have a fantastic Christmas ball. Love it!

If you would like to give this technique a try, it's a great one to make at your own Hostess Workshop. Give me a call and we'll book a time! 303 805 2344 I can't wait to show you and your friends more fantastic techniques!

Hugs
Megan

Recipe:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay (ink pad and marker)
Accessories: Round Tab Punch, Bermuda Bay Spotted Ribbon, Sponge

How easy do our Simply Scrappin' kits make scrapbooking?

This is just a really quick post. We spent the day today learning about adoption so that we could support some great friends through their adoption process. I can't wait to see who God placed in their family!

This is a page I made with a retired simply scrappin' kit. They make it sooooooo easy-peasy to put a page or 2 (or 3 or 4) together. All of the elements match with the paper in the kit, and the 'stickers' are really "self-adhesive die-cuts" - really heavy weight and very forgiving. You can gently move them around until you find the right placement and then put it down permanently.

So what do you get in each kit?

• 6 sheets double sided 12"x12" papers (3 each of 2 designs)
• 8 sheets 12"x12" solid textured cardstock (2 sheets of 4 colors)
• 6 sheets 12"x6" self-adhesive die cuts(2 each of 3 designs)

That is a lot of co-ordinating supplies. Enough for more than a dozen 12"x12" scrapbook pages, or heaps of cards and 6"x6" pages.

So -if you've been waiting to start scrapbooking because you have been a little intimidated, this is the easiest way to get a start on all of those photos you have hidden away in all sorts of places.

Give me a call and book your workshop now so that you can learn this easy approach to scrapbooking! I can't wait to show you all of the great Simply Scrappin' kits that Stampin' Up! carry - I just know that there will be one for your scrapbooking needs!

Hugs
Megan