Torrence Family Frame

Just a quick project I did the other day to show at my Stampin’ Up! Open House next week.

I’ve been dying to use the new All In The Family stamp set for a little project, didn’t have the time until now (well…I actually still don’t have the time, but the laundry can wait, right?).

I picked up several of these plain, magnetic frames at the Target Dollar Spot last year:

And was waiting for a project to use them. I thought they’d be so cute as a family frame to hang on the fridge (this would make a great gift for a neighbor or new family on the block).

I just covered the frame with paper and stamped a little family portrait to put inside. Oops – I forgot to put glasses on Mike – I’ll have to add that when I get a chance…

For this project, I used all the new In Colors for my color palette. I watercolored the images with ink from the pad and a blender pen. I also tried dying one of the ‘Pretties Kit’ white flowers for the first time. I used the Purely Pomegranate ink refill and an aquapainter – it was actually VERY easy and I had total control over how light or dark the flower turned out.

Kid Clipboard

I should be going to bed, but I was just dying to play with some of my new stuff from Stampin’ Up! that came yesterday.

I bought one of the triple clipboards since it’s a unique shape and I have three kids (it was made just for me!). I knew that I wanted to use the new Outlaw paper, some new ribbons, the Pretties kit and chipboard shapes…and here is what I came up with:

I just LOVE this new paper series! I used Sage Shadow ink directly on the clipboard to add some color and other colors directly on the chipboard pieces.

I also tried dying the Pretties Kit flowers with Stampin’ Pastels for the first time – very easy to do with just a Q-tip.

And…am I the only one who has trouble getting the darned glue dots off the roll and onto chipboard? Half the time (maybe even more than half the time) the back of the chipboard comes off with the dot.

Okay – it’s *way* past my bedtime – time to turn in. Even Daisy is barking at the bottom of the steps to go to bed…

Wedding Cigar Box

While I was away, I missed my neighbor’s son’s fiance’s bridal shower – can you follow all that? ;)  So I’m making a gift for the couple.  They are young and modern, but also like a little bit of vintage thrown in, so I thought I’d make them a custom box to hold small wedding mementos.

I started with a black, vintage cigar box and covered it with some paper by Basic Grey (that’s the modern).  Then I took a bride image from a 1940’s Ladies Home Journal and decoupaged it over the paper (that’s the vintage).  I added some glass glitter to her veil and cut out some letters using my Cricut.  I also added some felt flowers, some buttons and a rhinestone brad for a little bling.

I think I’m going to fill the box with a journal, pen and thank you cards made using the same Basic Grey paper.

Feeling Punchy

I saw these FANTASTIC punch ideas on SplitCoastStampers by Meredith Burnsed – here’s a link to some of her original work. I just had to give them a try (and add just a few of my own ideas too).

 Tab punches:

 

Circle and oval punches:

 

 

 

 

 

 I still have some more shapes to do using the Word Window punch when I get a chance.

I thought this would make a great class for kids and adults to do together, but I didn’t get much of a response.  Maybe I’ll try again next month…

Gift Frame

While we were away, my neighbor watched our cat and collected our newspaper and mail for us.  So I wanted to make something sweet for her – she has a new baby granddaughter and I thought a cute little frame would be something nice…

I bought a $3 MDF frame at Michaels and ModPodged some really pretty vintage-y paper from K&Co. with a nursery rhyme theme.  Then I added grosgrain ribbon around the outside edge and some pretty paper flowers with some buttons.  This looks so much cuter in person than it does in the photo – the colors are much more subtle than they appear in the picture.

The New Catalog is Here!!!!!!

Mr. Brown brought me a special package today – two boxes of new Stampin’ Up! catalogs!!!!

Of course, I didn’t really have time to sit and pour through it yesterday as much as I’d like – the kids had swim lessons, I was getting ready for my Stamp-A-Stack, I’m trying to deal with a few issues at church, I just had a whole bunch of eBay items close and I have to ship them out…

And of course my husband didn’t understand.  I told him how excited I was and that I needed to take some time to look at it – he said, “Why?  It’s just stamps and stuff!”.  STAMPS AND STUFF??!!??!!  He really doesn’t get it – but that’s okay.  I don’t understand his obsession with cigars, baseball or golf, either.  🙂

My first impressions of the new book?  I LOVE IT!

The thing that I think has improved the most are the samples!  Instead of just showing card after card with a scrapbook page thrown in here and there, they are showing other projects too – lunch tins, boxes, jars, bottles…it reads more like a magazine than a catalog.

I also think they improved the layout tremendously – especially the chart that lists all the inks, cardstock and markers.  They added some little images that make it much clearer what’s available.   The accessories are also much more organized and categorized.

The new stamp sets are great, of course.   And the new selection of patterned paper is FABULOUS!  I think it’s going to be wonderful to have a new catalog in 6 months, too – it keeps things fresh and interesting.

And I’ve started to compile my wish list…it may be a while until I can order everything I want, but I have to be patient, right?  I have a whole 6 months… 😉

Some More Stampin’ Projects

At my Stampin’ Up! retirement party last night, I had two make-and-take projects for my guests.

One was this scallop box:

Instructions can be found on SplitCoastStampers resources page (a link to SCS is on the right of this page). I used Roses in Winter – another great set that is retiring – what am I going to stamp with in July!?!?!

I also showed how to include a little three dimensional rose on the side of the box. You just stamp the three different size rose images (once each) onto white cardstock and cut out the images. Then you spritz them with water, roll the edges and adhere them to each other. You can also add in a few more layers if you want a fuller rose.

The other project was a little scrapbook/photo album made from Stampin’ Up!’s clear envelopes:

I used Sparkling Summer (need I say it again? RETIRING!) and A is for Adorable to stamp the cover and added a strip of Au Chocolate and some ribbons as a binding.

The inside is a stack of clear envelopes adhered to each other by the tabs and attached to the two covers with the ribbon bindings:

I just threw in some photos of my family at the beach, but I could change them out since the edge of the envelope is accessible.

This inspired me to create another little scrapbook for our church secretary who is retiring this week. My pastor gave me some notecards (just 3X5 index cards) on which parishioners had written down messages for the retiring secretary. She asked me to put them together into a book and I thought I would use the same basic idea.

I took 2 pieces of chipboard and adhered some patterned paper to the fronts and backs. I cut the chipboard pieces just slightly larger than the width of two sets of envelopes. I added a chipboard monogram colored with Chocolate Chip ink to the cover and used ribbons to keep it together. Here’s the cover:

The paper is from Scrapbook Walls, I think.

Then I took the notecards and matted them onto standard card-sized pieces of Cameo Coral and Old Olive cardstock. I added just a strip of patterned paper to each one to make it a bit more detailed, but still keep it simple.

I also stamped the notecards with Mixed Bouquet in Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip to make them pretty.

For those notecards with writing on the back as well, I folded the notecards about 1/4 inch from the left side and then adhered them as a ‘hinge’ inside the page so that the back is accessible.

I think this turned out really well – I hope she likes it!

Help Me Become the First A Muse Ambassador

Okay – so I’m entering yet another contest! For this one, I’ll need your help. 🙂

A Muse just launched the A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA 2007 website. Check it out to get the scoop and register to win prizes – make sure you mention that I (Kathy Torrence) referred you so that I can earn points for your registration.

Now before you say, “I’ll never win anything!”, let me add that *I*, myself, was a prize winner last year! Here’s me with my prize:

Their stamp images are very fresh, graphic and fun.

Also be sure to check out the blog where there will be games, challenges, prizes, and more as they count down the weeks to A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA 2007.

I will also be entering some of A Muse’s weekly challenges and posting my creations here, so keep an eye out for them.

Thanks for your help!

Who’s Reading My Blog? Plus, Challenge Idea…

Just wondering who’s reading this…I know my husband is NOT!

I told him I was going to give him a hard time here today, so here goes.

I asked him to read my entries yesterday to see the photos of the puppy and stuff. When he got home last night, I asked if he had read my blog. He said he looked at the pictures of the puppy, but didn’t read the words! I asked if he saw the entry with the photos of Emily’s birthday party and he said he didn’t scroll down that far! Hmmm….obviously he’s not a big fan of mine. 🙁

Since I don’t get many comments on my blog, I’m curious as to who’s out there (other than my husband who doesn’t read what I write anyway)….can I ask a favor? Could you please leave me a comment and let me know where you’re from and how you heard about my site?

Also, I’m thinking about starting a monthly or weekly challenge where I’ll give you a technique, theme, color combo or other idea to start with and then have you scan and email me a photo of your work. Then I can post the results and give out prizes (randomly, since art is subjective) to all who complete the challenge. Anyone interested? 😉

Been REALLY busy!

This has been some crazy week for me! After I finished putting the floor in, there was this one little piece that was not quite perfect and it was really bugging me. Of course, I can’t leave well enough alone, so I had to try to fix it – and that was when I cut my finger! I should have gotten stitches, I guess (it’s been bleeding now for almost 3 days), but I really don’t have time – here’s why…

First, my daughter Emily and I both have the flu and feel crummy.

And I think I’ve slightly overextended myself as far as stamping events go – in fact, I’ve done so much, I’m going to have to post my samples in at least 3 different posts today.

I have a workshop tonight (someone called last minute and in my sick delirium, I said I’d do it) and another tomorrow afternoon. Then I have a Pearl Ex Technique class on Sunday afternoon and a Stamp-A-Stack on Monday night. Am I crazy!?!?!

But…after focusing on everything today while my poor sick daughter was vegging out by the TV, I am now prepared for all the events.

Oh, and I got an email from one of my friends that several of my cards are in the Spring issue of Take Ten Stamper’s Sampler – but I didn’t get a comp copy and I can’t find it in any of the stores. I called them this morning and they said they had a mistake with my zip code, so they’ll be mailing it out shortly. I’ll post which pages I’m on as soon as I get it.

Meanwhile…I thought I’d first post the projects I’m going to be using at my workshops this weekend. I’m going to do the same projects at both workshops, and my focus is going to be ‘quick and easy’ cards and scrapbooking.

First, here’s a little box I made that I’m going to use as a door prize with an incentive stamp inside:

No adhesive required on this one -just score and fold. I used the GORGEOUS Enchante paper from the SU! Winter Mini – I’m really going to miss it when it’s gone next month!

Next, I’m going to show off our Simply Sent kits and show how easy it is to make the completed card for this kit:

I haven’t been selling many of these, and I think they’re a good deal for those who just want to make some quick and easy cards. Plus, this particular one gives me a chance to demo how to use the watercolor crayons.

Then, talk about easy, I’m going to make a simple card using the stuff from Accents and Elements:

This card goes together in about 2 minutes and is simple, but pretty. The size of this card is different – 3X6 – perfect for the small open-ended envelope.

Then for the make-and-takes, we’re going to make a small 6X6 scrapbook page:

Then I’m going to show how to easily convert it to an 8X8 page:

(Those doodles are the steam swirls from Like It a Latte) And then to a 12X12:

Then we’re also going to do beaded pens for a make-and-take:

These are so simple and so much fun! You stamp an address label and wrap it around the base of the pen then cover it with double sided tape and roll it into clear microbeads. These ladies have a demo every year and I thought I’d try to do something besides the normal card make-and-takes.

Hopefully, the workshops go well. Now I’m going to post some samples/tutorials for my Pearl Ex Technique class…