Northwest Stamper

Blog

  • Wonderful Friend Vintage Card

    Today I thought I’d share another card I came up with while playing with ideas for the Valentine’s workshop.  I was figuring that not everyone would need four red and pink cards and so I was trying to come up with some more non-traditional cards.  That way they had something for a friend or husband that could be used for Valentine’s or really any time of the year.  In this case, I used one of my new favorite stamp sets – Wonderful Favorites.  I even won this stamp set which is even cooler!  Any who….this was my attempt at more neutral:

    Don’t you just love how, when you spread the tines of the Vintage Trinkets brad, it looks like leaves on the flower!  I kept the card simple with the muted colors and let the designer paper and embellishments do the work.  The only other extra touch I added was to sponge Soft Suede ink along the long edge of the Very Vanilla/Elegant Soiree paper.

    What do you think?  Would this work for a non-traditional Valentine?

    Wonderful Friend Recipe:
    Stamps:     Wonderful Favorites
    Ink: Soft Suede Classic
    Paper: River Rock CS, Perfect Plum CS, Very Vanilla CS, Elegant Soiree DSP
    Accessories: Punch Pack, Vintage Trinkets, Victoria Crochet Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Mini Glue Dots

  • Don’t Miss Out on Free Shipping

    Just a reminder that Monday is the last day for my free shipping offer.  Kick off Sale-a-Bration time with lots of free goodies and an even bigger savings with free shipping!

    Call or email me your Sale-a-Bration order by Monday night and I’ll hook you up with free shipping.  That’s at least a 10% savings on your order on top of all the free Sale-a-Bration products.  Plus, Stampin’ Up! is shipping things out super fast right now so you could even have your order as soon as the end of the week!

    Email me at jennifer@nwstamper.com or call 650-209-5964 to place your order.

  • Love You Much Valentine

    I’m so excited to be doing a Valentine’s themed workshop next week and so I’ve been busy getting the cards designed and ready to go.  I knew when we started talking Valentine’s Day, that I wanted to use this stamp set, Love You Much.  So, this is one of the first cards I created for the event.

    Because there is one stamp that stamps the three different hearts at the same time and the Heart to Heart punch will punch all three out at the same time, this card can come together pretty quickly.

    Heart-To-Heart Punch - by Stampin' Up!  image

    I stamped the Love You Much image in Cherry Cobbler and then went over the stem in Old Olive using a marker and then filled in the word Love with Pink Pirouette.  To add a little extra fun texture, I also cut an extra piece of Pink Pirouette CS and ran it through the BigShot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Then I just glued it straight onto the card base.  Kind of fun, no?

    I hope folks at the workshop have a lot of fun with this card. Smile  If you are in the Bay Area and would like to make this card yourself, I’d love to show you and your friends during your own free workshop!  Email me a jennifer@nwstamper.com to save your date.

    Love You Much Valentine Recipe:
    Stamps:      Love You Much
    Ink:  Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink pad, Whisper White Craft Ink pad, Pink Pirouette marker, Old Olive marker, Cherry Cobbler marker
    Paper:  Pink Pirouette CS, Cherry Cobbler, CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Whisper White CS
    Accessories:  Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, BigShot, Heart to Heart punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

  • Ice Cream Parlor Quick Accents Card and Card Purse

    In a flurry of excitement, Sale-a-Bration has officially begun!  Of course you can earn free stamps, but I love that you get options for other items like the Ice Cream Parlor Designer Paper and Quick Accents.  I had gotten this paper pack during the preorder and the more I use it, the more I’ve now decided that I NEED the matching Ice Cream Parlor buttons and ribbon pack!

    In the meantime, I thought I’d share a couple projects I’ve made using this paper and cardstock stickers.  First up, a super quick birthday card:

    For this card, the striped designer paper, the Daffodil Delight scalloped border cardstock sticker, and the Peach Parfeit designer paper – all come as part of the Ice Cream Parlor DSP And Quick Accents Sale-a-Bration pack.  I just added some Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, cardstock, and a staple to finish out the card.  Seriously, this is a 5 minute card!

    Next, I created a purse sized to hold a set of standard 4.25” x 5.5” cards and matching envelopes:

    If you are on my mailing list, you should have received the full tutorial for this purse in your inbox yesterday.  If you didn’t, let me know!

    Not on my mailing list yet? Sign up here.  I’ll even resend the copy of my email with this tutorial in it to folks who sign up in the next couple of days.

    Over the next week I’ll be sharing more Sale-a-Bration creations, so I hope you stop by again and check them out!  Until then, happy stamping!

    Make a Wish card recipe:
    Stamps:     Birthday Bliss
    Ink: Early Espresso Classic Ink, Marina Mist Classic Ink, Daffodil Delight Classic Ink
    Paper: Pacific Point CS, Whisper White CS, Daffodil Delight CS, Ice Cream Parlor DSP
    Accessories: Ice Cream Parlor Quick Accents, Early Espresso 1/8” taffeta ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Small Tag punch, Large Tag punch, Blender Pen, Crystal Effects, stapler

    Wonderful Friend card purse recipe:
    Stamps:     Wonderful Favorites
    Ink: Marina Mist Classic Ink, Early Espresso Classic Ink
    Paper: Marina Mist CS, Melon Mambo CS, Whisper White CS, Daffodil Delight CS, Ice Cream Parlor DSP
    Accessories: Ice Cream Parlor DSP, Ticket Corner Punch, Subtles Family brads, Round Tab punch, Paper Piercing tool, Mat Pack, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Bone Folder

  • It’s Sale-a-Bration Time!

    SAB_jan2011

    January 25th – March 31st

    Its here!  The 2011 Sale-a-Bration period has started and that means tons of cute stamp sets, designer series paper, ribbon, buttons, digital downloads, and even décor elements are ready to hop into your Stampin’ Up! order box and come home to you for free!

    So, whats the buzz?

    1. Ordering – Earn free Sale-a-Bration items for every $50 you spend.  There is no limit to how many you can earn, and with over 60 stamps sets from the main catalog also eligible to be earned during Sale-a-Bration, you have lots of options to choose from.
    2. Hosting –  Host a workshop or card party of $300 in sales or more and you’ll earn an extra free Sale-a-Bration item!
    3. Join My Team – Sign up to be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and not only will you be part of an awesome business and community, but you’ll also get one heck of a deal!  Get 15% off the cost of your starter kit – that’s less than $150 for over $330 worth of product!  AND you’ll also get a bonus bundle with and additional $50 worth of stamping products!  See what is all included here.

    Check out the 2011 Sale-a-Bration catalog

     

    Free Shipping Special!

    To help make it easier for you to get your free Sale-a-Bration items even sooner,  I am offering free shipping on all orders that qualify for Sale-a-Bration benefits through January 31st. 

    Orders must be placed through me so that I can credit you the shipping costs.  Call me at 650-209-5964 or email me at jennifer@nwstamper.com.

  • Last Chance for Filled With Love!

    filled with love pic

    That’s right! Today is the last day the Filled With Love stamp set and bundle will be available! So, if you were thinking of getting this bundle but hadn’t done it yet; don’t miss your chance. You can order now in the online store and until 11:59pm MST at which time it sails off to retirement.

    However, in the meantime I wanted to share with you some cards I made last night using Filled With Love. 

    This was the first card I made:

    I had the idea of stamping the row of heart flowers along the bottom and then embossing while watching tv with the hubby.  Unfortunately, that is where my inspiration seemed to stop.  So, I got through the stamping and embossing, added the ribbon, and then didn’t know what to do.  I put together the heart for the sentiment and added it; but I’m still not totally convinced.

    While trying to create the sentiment for that last card, I came up with the heart for this next card.  I didn’t like it on the first card, so I pulled it off and decided to create a card just for this sentiment.  And so I created this:

    I love the fact that I used “Christmas” paper – the Deck The Halls pack – for this Valentine’s Day card.  I also pulled out my Vintage Trinkets for the first time as well (the tiny safety pin).  It looks kind of like an arrow through the little heart don’t you think?

    Finally, I had one more sentiment that I had created during all this playing that I though needed a home as well.  I also wanted to use some of the other stamps in the set and so I created a “color-blocking” style card only instead of using different colored paper for the blocks, I used different stamp images from the set.

    Again, I think the jury is still out on this card but it sure was a lot of fun to make!

    Well, I hope you enjoyed this last day celebration of this stamp set.  I had a blast creating these cards and will miss this set!  If you haven’t seen the flyer or need a reminder of what is included in the Filled with Love bundle, here it is:

     

    Filled with Love Wood-Mount BundleLove Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
    Bitty Buttons - by Stampin' Up!Check it out in the online store!

    If you have any questions, just let me know and I’d be happy to help! 

    Until next time, Happy Stamping!

  • Bitty Button Friendship Card

    I recently wanted to make a card for a stamping friend so I could show her the new, fabulous seam binding ribbon (seriously, I can’t get enough of this stuff right now – I love how it is delicate and soft like silk yet more opaque than organza.)  So, I put together this sweet and simple card for her. 

    The bow is not tied and instead the loops are held together by a rhinestone brad, which is then punched through the Crumb Cake cardstock.  Had I been thinking before I added the bow, I would have loved to use my Color Spritzer and added some splattering of Soft Suede ink to the Crumb Cake cardstock first, but I guess I’ll have to save that for next time.  So, instead I added some Bitty Buttons covering the matching shapes punched out of the Botanical Gazette designer series paper.

    Tip: When you are using matching paper shapes with clear buttons, I find I get the best results by adding a light layer of Crystal Effects to the back of the button and then using that as the adhesive to stick the button to the paper.  You don’t need a lot of Crystal Effects, but you want just enough lightly cover the entire side of the button.  This gives you a perfectly clear adhesive with out those weird shadows you can get with glue dots or tapes and other adhesives.

    This card was centered around the pretty Rose Red Seam Binding ribbon.  But I bet it would be great with the other 6 colors of Seam Binding ribbon.  Which color is your favorite? 
    See all the Seam Binding colors here in the online store.

     

    Bitty Button Friend Card recipe:
    Stamps:      Curvy Verses
    Ink:  Soft Suede
    Paper:  Whisper White CS, Crumb Cake CS, Botanical Gazette DSP
    Accessories:  Bitty Buttons, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Rhinestone Brads, Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon, Scallop edge Punch, Crystal Effects

  • Heart Pressed and Filled with Love

    Today I thought I’d share with you one my first cards using the new Heart Pressed letterpress plate.  Most of the other letterpress dies are big, bold patterns that often are the focal point, so it was fun to play with a more subtle pattern.

    I used the Heart Pressed die as a textured patterned paper and wanted to let it provide a lot of the interest in the card.  Then I added a few, to me, vintage-y accents for a little extra flair.

    Filled with Love Wood-Mount BundleThis is also another example of why the Filled With Love stamp set is such a great set.  You look at the set and think Valentine’s Day, but I think this sentiment could really be used at any time.  Heck, even a birthday card for a loved one!  I really hope this set shows up in the next big catalog.

    Don’t forget, this stamp set bundle is only available for another week!  Plus, grab it now before its gone and you’ll get FREE Bitty Buttons too!  Check it out in the online store

    Hope you have a fabulous Monday!.

    Thoughts of You Recipe:
    Stamps:      Filled With Love
    Ink:  Old Olive marker, Melon Mambo marker
    Paper:  Old Olive CS, Crumb Cake CS, Melon Mambo CS, Very Vanilla CS
    Accessories:  Heart Pressed letterpress plate, Victoria crochet ribbon, Vintage Flower Adornments, Glue Dots, 1-3/4”x7/8” Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch

  • Birthday Butterflies and a Get Well Card

    Alright, so last time I shared with you the Love card we made at my card night.  So, today I wanted to share the other two cards we made that night.  Both are inspired by cards I found in an old Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalog.  Of course they turned out pretty different, and I wish it wasn’t against Stampin’ Up! copyright rules or I would show you a picture of the originals next to the version below.  Oh well, you just get to enjoy the version I made then. Smile 

    First was a clean and simple get well card.  I love this stamp from the Wellness Wishes set.  It just makes me want to hug the puppy and say,” Awwwww”.  So, we used watercolor pencils to color him in (and I’ll admit the girls that night did a much more artistic and cool version of watercoloring than I did).  We wrapped around some Black satin ribbon and then added a Circle brad.  The So Saffron cardstock was popped up using dimensionals and its as simple as that!

    Tip:  If you are going to use watercolor pencils on Whisper White paper, I recommend using a blender pen to moisten the pencil coloring.  You can use a water pen, but I find that it is too easy for there to be extra water, which causes your paper to wrinkle up a bit.

    Finally, we did a birthday card.  Well, really it was a neutral card and I put out the entire Sincere Salutations set so some people did birthday, some did thank you, while others did Thinking of You.  Got to love a sentiment set that has it all in interchangeable sizes.  We used a background stamp (Pretty Petals) to add a pattern to the base Crumb Cake layer.  Then, stamped the butterflies from the Dreams Du Jour set and sentiment on a Very Vanilla piece.  Tear off a corner of your Vanilla paper and add a Designer Button and you are ready to go.

    Tip:  Crumb Cake ink makes a great subtle color on your neutral papers like in this case.  You can get a great shadow effect by stamping your image on the paper in Crumb Cake and then stamping your image with a darker ink (in this case Concord Crush) on a piece of scrap paper and layering it over one of the Crumb Cake images.  Slightly offset your cutout and the base image will show enough to look like a shadow!

    Interested in making cards like these?

    If you like these cards and are in the San Francisco area, I’d love to have you join me at one of my upcoming events.  Check out my calendar or contact me to set up your own private event for free with you and your friends!  I’d love to show you how to make more fun cards and scrapbook layouts!

    Thanks for visiting!

  • Glittery Filled with Love Card

    Last night was another fun card night with the gals of my meetup group.  We made three cards and I thought I would share today one of the cards we did.  I knew I wanted to showcase the Filled with Love set and the Bitty Buttons you can get free with the bundle and so I started brainstorming ideas for a layout.  Then I saw a card created by Robin Merriman and thought it would be perfect to start from.  I changed it up a bit so that I could use the super fun new glimmer paper and add in the cute heart bitty button, plus simplify some of the layers to make it a bit faster for the class setting.

    I’ve had this stamp set for a while but have been so caught up with Christmas that I’ve been slow to start using it.  However, it is another stamp set that I am crossing my fingers will make it into the main catalog next year.  I love how versatile and modern it is!

    Tips for this Card –

    When stamping the big hearts on the left side of the card, start by stamping the heart in the middle.  Then you can more easily control how much is cut off on the top and bottom hearts as well as feel like you have reasonably centered layouts of your heart and layered love.

    Glue down all your layers before adding your heart Bitty Button.  It just makes it easier to get adhesive on your Love layers.

    Adhere your heart Bitty Button with Crystal Effects.  This clear lacquer also makes for excellent glue that actually dries super clear so you don’t get adhesive outlines or wiggly layers like you might with glue dots or double sided tape.  You don’t need very much, just a thin coating on the back of your button

    Oh, and the glimmer paper punches like a dream with your standard punches.

    So if you haven’t heard, this stamp set is only available until January 24th as part of a special bundle

    So, what is all included?

    • Filled With Love stamp set (only available until this promotion ends)
    • Love Patterns designer series paper pack – 12 sheets of 12×12 double sided paper.  6 of the sheets are patterns in Real Red and 6 of the sheets are Pretty in Pink
      This paper pack is exclusive to this promotion and is not in any of the catalogs
    • Free Bitty Buttons!

    Check out the flyer to see pictures of everything in the bundle

    Got to love free, right?  Especially when we are talking about something as cute as those bitty buttons. 🙂  Anyway, thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

    Filled With Love Card recipe:
    Stamps:     Filled with Love
    Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip
    Paper: Real Red Glimmer paper, Real Red CS, Whisper White CS, Chocolate Chip CS
    Accessories: Bitty Buttons, 3/4” Circle punch, Small Heart punch, Crystal Effects

  • Trying Out The Latest Embossing Folder–Framed Tulips!

    I’ve seen the different ways some folks have rigged their embossing folders to allow for texture around the edge of their card with a spotlight in the center.  It usually looks really cool and so I was excited to see a new embossing folder in the Occasion mini that takes all the work out of doing exactly that.  Plus, with the extra pop the texture gives your project, you can totally get away with a single layer card that looks fancy at the same time. Smile

    In this card, I embossed the Whisper White cardstock and then used a Pink Pirouette marker to add some color between the outer embossed frame and the bases of the embossed tulips.  Then I used that Pink Pirouette marker and an Old Olive marker to color in the Because I Care hostess stamp set.  I then took a Regal Rose marker and added some darker pink spots to the flower blossoms for some extra depth.  I used Early Espresso for the sentiment and then finished it off with some Rhinestone bling.

    This whole card can be created in 5 min but looks way prettier than one of those smiling monkey cards you find at the grocery store!

    Tip: If you are using a clear mount stamp set for this card, you can fit the sentiment and the flower stamp on one clear block.  This lets you get the image positioning just right before you stamp and so you don’t have to worry about stamping just right after you’ve already stamped one image and no need for extra tools like the Stamp-a-ma-jig!

    Love the Because I Care stamp set?  Get it free by hosting a fun night of stamping with your friends!  Plus, with Sale-a-bration starting January 25th, get even more free stamps at your workshop!

    Contact me to learn more and save your date.