Monkeyin' Around (with new stamps!)

Isn't Sock Monkey just absolutely AWESOME? I got my preorder of items from the new catalog last night, and there were four sets to order--I got all four. I purposefully restrained myself and put Sock Monkey together last, because I knew once I started in with him, I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off him for a while, and I wanted all my sets assembled before taking off on a tangent.

By the way, all of the sets that are new to the Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog (which debuts August 11th) are going to be die-cut!

So, accordingly, all four of my new stamp sets were die-cut, and they went together so fast...just pop, peel and place :-)

The card template above is the design I used to make Sock Monkey. You can alter your sizes if you want, but for reference, the red layer under the monkey is 2-3/4" by 3", and the white layer with the monkey on it is 2-1/2" by 2-3/4". The two horizontal strips under the monkey are both 4-1/4" wide by approximately 3/4" (for the larger one) and approximately 1/4" (for the smaller one). I used a new accessory from the upcoming catalog--the Scallop Border Punch--and it was sooooooo easy to use! I also used some of the upcoming In Colors to create this card. Below you will see a list and sample of all six of them:

I have a ton of specials for July, including a FREE Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog for you! If you spend at least $50 on catalog merchandise with me during July, get the new catalog absolutely FREE. If you spend at least $100 on catalog merchandise with me during July, you will get the new catalog FREE, plus your choice of one of the new In Color ink pads for FREE! Check out the Online Catalog, the Retiring Stamp Set lists, and email me today with your qualifying order! Don't forget, you can also order Décor Elements at the same time you get your stampin' supplies.

Stampin' Supplies: Sock Monkey stamp set, Sanded background stamp, Baja Breeze card stock & ink, Riding Hood Red card stock, Whisper White card stock, StazOn Jet Black ink pad, Real Red marker (to draw in the smile), Creamy Caramel marker & ink pad & card stock, Blush Blossom card stock & marker, Bordering Blue marker (to scribble in the texture over the monkey), Barely Banana marker, So Saffron marker, Close to Cocoa marker (dots and lines on banana peel), Stampin' Sponge® (in Creamy Caramel ink pad, then sponged on scallop border), Going Gray ink pad & blender pens, Real Red brads, So Saffron brad, Scallop Border Punch.

Cherry Pickin'

This card was made with a quick template you could use with most any image and color combination you'd like:

The card is a standard size 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" sheet of card stock folded to 5-1/2" x 4-1/4", in landscape orientation (meaning the long side is from left to right, and the fold is on the top). The light blue panel (on the template) is 2-3/4" wide by 4" tall. The white panel is 3" square, with a 2-3/4" x 1-1/2" piece of patterned paper on top. The medallion was made by layering a 1-3/8" Circle punched image onto a Scallop Circle punched piece. I used 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon on my card where the dark blue strip is shown on the template, but you could use 5/8" ribbon, or a 1/2" strip of coordinating card stock.

You could certainly take more time and add more embellishments, like eyelets or brads, or some paper piercing around the edges of the panels, but you can whip out 10 of these cards easily within an hour by keeping them simple. And limiting your 3-D embellishments will make these easier to mail without extra postage, or concern over "snagging" and damage in transit.

Stampin' Supplies: Tart & Tangy stamp set**; Jumbo So Swirly wheel; Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper**; Old Olive & Real Red card stock and ink; Bashful Blue card stock; Jumbo ink cartridge; and 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon; Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware Kit***.
**only available through June 30th ***only available through August 10th

Email me today to get all the supplies to make these notecards, before they are no longer available. Also check out these limited-time offerings and specials: Occasions Collection mini catalog (expires June 30th), eScape Day Bundle Offer , Fresh Cuts Sneak Peek Offer, Retiring Stamp sets list.

"L" is not always for "Loser"!

I intended for my card templates to be posted on Mondays, but since yesterday was a holiday, I held off posting until today! Last week's card template was a simple cross design. This week's template is somewhat similar--it's an 'L' shape. In the card above, the 'L' has actually been flipped vertically, as it goes up the left side of the card, and across the top. Balance is important in any card design, so I made sure to place a saying in a coordinating color at the bottom right, to ensure the card didn't seem top heavy. And if you're looking at that saying trying to figure out where it came from, I'll give you a hint--it's not in any of our catalogs. I'm giving you a little sneak peek at one of the stamp sets you can earn for FREE between February 1st and March 17th, during the annual Sale-A-Bration! (more on that to come at the end of the month...)

In the cards below, you'll see the 'L' again (this time right side up!) with a third element at the top right of each card for balance. Laying out a design with an odd number of elements is always pleasing to the eye. I used a triangular placement of 3 focal points on each card, which also helps the viewer to sweep across the entirety of the card at a glance.

I have to confess that, as awesome as they are, I did not come up with the color combinations for any of these cards on my own. I used a particular package of Designer Series Paper in the design of each one, and "borrowed" the combinations of colors from the package of paper I used! The coordinating colors are not listed in the catalog, but I can help you find coordinating supplies for each Designer Series Paper package when you contact me with your order.

Wanted Card Supplies: Wanted stamp set; Western Sky Designer Series Paper; Blue Bayou card stock and ink pad, River Rock, Soft Sky and Whisper White card stock; Star punch; 1-1/4" Square punch; Crop-A-Dile (3/16" hole punch); Jumbo Eyelets; Hemp Twine; Mini Glue Dots®; Stampin' Dimensionals®.

One of a Kind Card Supplies: One of a Kind stamp set; Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper; Taken with Teal, Rose Red and Old Olive card stock; Basic Black ink pad; Word Window punch; 3/16" Corner Rounder; 1/16" and 1/8" Circle hole punches; Build-A-Brad; Hodgepodge Hardware; Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Urban West Rub-Ons.

Sweet Shapes Card Supplies: Sweet Shapes stamp set; Berry Bliss Designer Series Paper; Purely Pomegranate and Close to Cocoa card stock and ink pads; Pretty in Pink card stock; 1" and 1-1/4" Circle Punch; Stampin' Dimensionals®.

Just another Manic Monday...

Today's card template features a simple cross pattern. Your main image, or focal point, will be the vertical bar of an imaginary cross. Behind that, you will place a horizontal bar of card stock, ribbon, or patterned paper, to stretch the eye across the width of the card.

On the 6" x 3" foldover Happy Heart Day card (above), white tafetta ribbon is used for the horizonal bar. The horizontal slot punch was used to hold the ribbon in place. On the Office Accoutrement card (below-left), a sheet of coordinating card stock was used, with some spiral punching down the left side to add interest. On the New Baby card (below-right), a sheet of card stock was used, and this time the punching is across the bottom of the strip. [As always, click on any image to see a larger view!]

Happy Heart Day Card Supplies: Happy Heart Day stamp set (special in January ONLY!); Rose Red Textured Card Stock, Prints Designer Series Paper, and ink; Pretty in Pink card stock; Versamarker (to color in heart), White Gel Pen, 1/2" Circle punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder punch (for corners, and with guide removed to make scallops--scroll down through this post to see tutorial), Horizontal Slot punch, White Tafetta ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals®.

Office Accoutrement Card Supplies: Office Accoutrement stamp set, Blue Bayou ink pad, River Rock card stock and ink pad, Wild Wasabi card stock and ink pad, More Mustard card stock and ink pad, Whisper White card stock, Hodgepodge Hardware, Spiral punch, 1/16" Circle punch (center of small flower), White 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (dyed Blue Bayou with ink pad and sponge).

New Baby Card Supplies: Jumbo Alphabet stamp set, Fundamental Phrases stamp set, Fun 'N Fast Phrases stamp set (baby carriage), Holiday Blitz (baby rattle), Pretty in Pink card stock, Pixie Pink ink pad (full strength for baby carriage, stamp off once for baby rattles in background), Blush Blossom card stock and ink pad, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Soft Subtles brads (Pretty in Pink), Word Window punch, Versamarker (to color in Jumbo letters), Pale Plum ink pad (to stamp words inside Jumbo letters).

Heartfelt Thanks

I am so grateful to be able to share what I love with you, and I want to thank you all for visiting my blog and offering your encouragement and compliments. I created the cards above and below from some remnants of a Simply Sent Card Kit from last year's catalog. The card stock in the Simply Sent Card Kits is precut and prescored, so it was really easy to just pull it out and stamp away! To ensure this would be something you could recreate, I used a current stamp set, Heartfelt Thanks.

Heartfelt Blue Card Stampin' Supplies: Brocade Blue card stock and ink, Basic Black card stock and ink, Whisper White card stock, Always Artichoke card stock and ink pad, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon (use your ink pad to dye the ribbon Brocade Blue).

• Brocade Blue card stock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored and folded to 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
• Basic Black layer 2-1/4" x 4-1/4"
• Always Artichoke layer 2-1/4" x 3"
• Whisper White layer 2" square

Heartfelt Plum Card Stampin' Supplies: Perfect Plum card stock and ink, Basic Black card stock and ink, Whisper White card stock, Always Artichoke card stock, Black Gingham Ribbon.

• Perfect Plum card stock 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored and folded to 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
• Basic Black layer 2-1/4" square
• Always Artichoke layer 2-1/8" square
• Whisper White layer 2" square

Foldover Card Template

Hey, another week has passed and it's time for another card template! Once again I'll be using a design from the Stampin' Up! Convention I attended in Denver this summer. The main card is actually a variation of the design, but I really love the color Blue Bayou so I wanted to feature it.

The original card is the first one on the left below, and it was a Convention Make & Take, done with the Wanted set. On that card, the foldover flap actually opens to show the inside of the card. The foldover card above, as well as the Happy Birthday foldover card below, both feature pull out cards (with tabs). The Happy Birthday pull out tab is shown separately below, so you can see how to fit a gift card in between two Slit Punch tabs.

When making vertical foldover cards, cut a sheet of card stock or designer paper to 4-1/4" x 11", then fold in half to 4-1/4" x 5-1/2". Score 1-1/4" from the open end of the front flap, and fold over. If you want to create a pull tab, you'll want it to be no bigger than 3.75" x 5".

When making horizontal foldover cards, cut a sheet of card stock or designer paper to 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", then fold in half to 5-1/2" x 4-1/4". Score 1-1/4" from the open end of the front flap and fold over. Again, your pull tab will fit best if it is no bigger than 3.75" x 5".

There are a few ways to keep your card closed if you want to do a pull tab. Two methods pictured here are tying ribbon around the card, and using a staple at each side of the card. You can also use eyelets or brads, but remember that you may have to adjust the size of your pull tab section to fit between the items you are using to hold the card (pocket) closed.

The scalloped edge under the main card was made by removing the plastic corner "guide" from the 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, and punching along the edge of a piece of Soft Sky card stock. The scalloped edge was placed under the edge of the fold before it was adhered.

Blue Bayou Thank You Card Supplies: Short & Sweet stamp set, Blue Bayou card stock, Soft Sky card stock, Blue Bayou Prints Designer Series Paper, Blue Bayou ink, Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Round Tab Punch, staples.

Wanted Thanks Card Supplies: Wanted stamp set, Fundamental Phrases stamp set, Naturals Ivory card stock, Really Rust card stock, Outlaw Designer Series Paper, Chocolate Chip ink pad, Really Rust ink pad, Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Crop-a-Dile, Scallop Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Fun & Fast Birthday Gift Card Supplies: Purely Pomegranate card stock, Groovy Guava card stock, Purely Pomegranate ink pad, Groovy Guava ink pad, Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon, Blender Pens, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Round Tab Punch, Slit Punch, staples.

My First Blog Card!

Just for kicks, here is a simple card I made to trade at Convention 2007, which I attended from July 25th-July 28th this summer.

This is an easy and quick card template anyone can use with success. The base card is standard size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), the squares are made from 1-1/4" punched pieces layered on 1-3/8" punched pieces.

The two strips on the left are 1/2" x 5-1/2" pieces. I found that I liked the look best when I placed one strip slightly overlapping the other. There are two regular office staples at the top of the strips, and one at the bottom.

Color coordination was made easy by use of the following current In Color ink pads and card stock: River Rock, Groovy Guava, Bayou Blue and Wild Wasabi. The smaller square images were stamped on Very Vanilla card stock.

You can use this template as is, or get a different look from varying different elements. For example, try alternate color combinations, turn the card horizontally, use layered circle punched pieces in lieu of the squares, and/or use alternate embellishments instead of staples, such as brads or eyelets.

Here are a few examples of cards which are a variation on this theme:

Bug Card Supplies: Cute As A Bug stamp set, Lovely Lilac ink and card stock, Ballet Blue ink and card stock, Real Red ink and card stock, Green Galore card stock, and Whisper White card stock, (the dragonfly in the background is stamped in Lovely Lilac ink on the Green Galore card stock), 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" square and circle punches.

Frog Card Supplies: Unfrogettable stamp set, Certainly Celery ink and card stock, Handsome Hunter ink and card stock, Always Artichoke ink and card stock, Very Vanilla card stock, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" square punches.

Celebrate Card Supplies: Circle of Friendship stamp set, Wonderful Words stamp set, Bashful Blue ink and card stock, Ballet Blue ink and card stock, Night of Navy ink and card stock, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" circle punches.