Tracey Stamps

So Fancy!

This is my fanciest card yet!  I saw that Beate Johns had made a snowflake using the Lattice Bigz die and I knew I had to try.  Just think of all the different ways you could make this snowflake... all the different materials you could use.  Fleece, felt, paper (of course), you could make them out of vinyl so they can be placed on your walls or glass... all the possibilities!  I LOVE crafting!  It also helps that SU! makes it sooo easy for me.

I know... enough talking.  Show the card already!

 

So fancy!  This card is 5.5x5.5 on Real Red textured paper.  I just wanted a bit more room than usual.  I cut the Lattice out of Bashful Blue and squished it into my Whisper White ink pad.  I sprinkled on Heat & Stick powder to hold the Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  If I were to do this card again I would take my piece of cardstock, color it with the Whisper White ink, let it dry, cover it with VersaMark, apply the Heat & Stick, apply the Dazzling Diamonds, then cut out the Lattice.  That way I would have better coverage with the glitter.  You live, you learn.  :-)

The vanilla looking layers on the card aren't vanilla at all, but Whisper White layered with all kinds of texture in every brown we have.  I stamped Gratuitous Graffiti very lightly in Creamy Caramel.  I rolled on Close to Cocoa with the Texture Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel, and I lightly stamped Sanded in Close to Cocoa.  Then, I sponged Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink around the edges.  How fabulous is that layer?!  The finishing touch is the two little rhinestone brads, just in case it wasn't sparkly enough for you.  Hehehe.

Yay!  Thanks for looking!  I love my fancy card!

Stamp Sets: Many Merry Messages, Sanded, Gratuitous Graffiti, Texture Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel  Ink: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Whisper White (Craft)  Paper: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Bashful Blue  Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, rhinestone brads, Lattice Bigz Big Shot Die

Woven Together Forever

Can I just say how much I LOVE the lattice die?  I LOVE the lattice die!  As soon as I saw it in the new IBC I put it on my list - and followed through by sticking it on my first order.  I just love how versitile it is.  It can be modern or vintage.  So many options!  I'm just beginning to play with it, so expect to see more of this Big Shot Bigz Die.

I made this card as the last of my Convention swaps.  I knew I wanted a few more to trade and I knew I needed something super simple.  A monochromatic card is about as simple as it comes!  Add a stamped sentiment (from the wedding set Together Forever), the tiniest embellishment of silver brads, and call it good.

Stamp Sets: Together Forever  Paper: Blush Blossom, Whisper White  Ink: Encore Silver  Accessories: SU! Lattice Bigz Die, silver brads

Aunt Daisy's Birthday

My great-aunt Daisy turned 90 on Friday.  A little over a week before, the call went out to all the family for cards.  Daisy loves cards and her daughter thought it would be an easy way to make her birthday even more special.  It was a hit!  In an email her daughter said, "It brought an overwhelming feeling of joy to me that she has a special memory that will be rekindled every time she looks at her cards."  That's just one of the reasons I love card making!

 

I used one of my favorite old layouts for this.  Baroque Motifs makes this card so elegant... and so quick and easy!  I also used On Your Birthday.  I thought it was appropriate.  :-D

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs, On Your Birthday  Ink: Not Quite Navy, Rich Razzleberry  Paper: Rich Razzlebery, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White  Accessories: Elementary Ribbon Originals

More Convention Coverage

Here's a link to the Paper Crafts blog... they had the pleasure of joining us at Convention this year.  There are a few pictures and it's a good basic overview from someone who isn't a demonstrator. 

Also,  a Salt Lake City local paper ran an article about the experience as well.  Don't forget to look at the pictures on the right.

Enjoy!

The Popular One

So this was my popular swap.  I love, when I swap, to offer a choice of what I have available.  I'm always amazed by what others pick... often my favorites are the least popular and sometimes the quick and easy swap is the most popular.

I began this swap way back in June once the retiring list was released.  Last year there were so many swaps with only In Colors and the sneak peek sets, that I knew this year I wanted to stick to sets and colors that weren't brand spanking new.  I also knew that the Big Shot must be involved.  And Build-a-Brad.  And Gratuitous Graffiti.  And... well... you can see that this card was born from all that!

I must stress that when you distress it can cause stress.  Hehe.  Mainly I am suggesting that, if you are making a number of distressed cards (that often have soooo many steps), you work on them in bits and pieces.  After I designed this card, I took my time constructing the 20+ copies I made.  First, I cut all the paper.  Then I stamped all the backgrounds (using a brayer, of course).  Then I cut all the flowers.  Then I... well you get the point.  Truth be told, I stuck the sentiments on in the hotel room the night before convention started!  But I enjoyed the process and never got stressed by the many steps.

So, I would encourage you to go after that big project - be it a fabulous scrapbook layout, a new 3D item, or your 50+ address long holiday card list.  Just have an early-ish start date and break the big job into smaller tasks.  Or you could be like me and just throw some cards together on the weekend before Christmas!  ~:-D

Stamp Sets: Gratuitous Graffiti, Dreams du Jour, Petal Pizzazz  Ink: Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow  Paper: Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow, Close to Cocoa  Accessories: Build-a-Brad, Big Shot SU! Birds & Blooms Sizzlits

Season of Swap... uh... Friendship

Convention Swaps... don't leave home without them.  ~:-)

This was one of my 4 swaps and actually the one I spent the least time working on.  That's because I designed this card way back when Season of Friendship was in the mini catalog.  It's really easy to throw together a few swaps when the card stock is sitting pre-cut on the side of your desk.  Anyway, I love this set and was so glad (and not really surprised) when it made the IBC (Idea Book & Catalog)!  It is great for making a card for any season... and I got a ton of ideas for it off of the boards at Convention.

Oh the boards!  Loveliness!  <---That's probably not a word, huh?  Throughout the year Stampin' Up! collects cards and other items to feature on the Convention boards... think of a 3x6 felt board filled with ideas and then multiply that by... uhm... 40?  So many ideas!  I'll be CASEing a few of those ideas over the next year (or more) and putting my own little twist on them.

Back to the card at hand... if you haven't paired Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive please do so TODAY!  So instantly classic looking!  Then just slap a few stamped images on the paper and call it a day!  Thanks for looking!

Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Thank You Kindly  Ink: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant  Paper: Whisper White, Kraft, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive  Accessories: Big Shot Texturz Plates Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1