Rubber Stamping & Card Making with Yapha

Wow! What could be better than great colours from ColourQ this week? Why, a fabulous Scrapbook Sketch from Stampin’ Addicts to go along with it!

Since my husband couldn’t go along to one of my friend’s wedding’s this summer, I took Eve as my date. (I asked if it was okay first, of course!) And how much more fun that Amy ended up being Eve’s third grade teacher this year!

I created this page with My Digital Studio, Stampin’ Up’s digital scrapbooking and card making software. Did you know that you can now download a free trial of the software? It’s the same fully-functional software, yours to try free for 30 days! Click here for all of the details.

After I made this card, with the typewriter and the hearts, I had an idea of making one with balloons coming out of it for a birthday. Unfotunately, this is one of those examples where it looked better in my head than on paper. I’m going to share it with you anyway.

Stamps: You’re My Type, Crazy for Cupcakes (balloon)
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper
Other: Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’m thinking that maybe the Cherry Cobbler background needs to be embossed. Maybe with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder? I might try it again.

I absolutely love the Valentine that Lee Conroy made with the silver glimmer hearts. When I sawthis week’s clean&simple sketch challenge, I knew I could merge the two and come up with something fantastic!

And once again I have made a card with no stamps. What is up with that? I think the dry embossing adds so much to it, that it doesn’t need anything more.

Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Other: Hearts Collection Framelits, Pinking Hearts Border Punch

I used the smallest heart from the Heart Framelits to cut those hearts. The framelit had no problem cutting through the Glimmer Paper, and they are just the perfect size and shape!

Eve has a double birthday party this weekend for two girls in her grade, both of whom are named Kate! I used today’s Stamping 411 sketch for the card.

I really like the colors Pool Party and Blushing Bride together. I used them on the card for the other Kate, also. I can’t show you that one yet, though, since I made it for a Stampin’ Addicts birthday card swap.

Stamps: Party This Way
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper, In Color 2010-12 Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
Other: Cupcake Punch, Blushing Bride Poly Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Movers & Shapers Punch Windows, Silver Mini Brads

Don’t you love how cute that “happy birthday” sentiment is? It is part of the Party This Way stamp set, which is one of your FREE choices during Sale-a-Bration!

Have you seen the adorable new typewriter stamp set, You’re My Type? It is too cute! It reminds me of my grandmother, who had one just like it. When I saw this card by Erin, I knew I had to make my own! I changed a couple of things — I omitted the score line around the edges, I used Red Glimmer Paper instead of cardstock, and I didn’t pop up the pieces on Stampin’ Dimensionals. Isn’t it the cutest ever? Makes me wish I could send it to my grandmother.

Stamps: You’re My Type
Ink: StazOn Jet Black
Paper: Island Indigo, Basic Black, Whisper White, Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper, Red Glimmer Paper
Other: Heart to Heart Punch

I used the smallest heart of the three in the Heart to Heart Punch. I liked the shape better for this than the Small Heart Punch.

The Valentine’s Day mailboxes are back at Target’s Dollar Spot! I picked some up to make with the after-school kid’s class this week. Because really, what is more fun than decorating a mailbox? I love these! Here’s the sample that I made up. I used Emily Giovanni’s tutorial. I am brought the girls a variety of DSP and heart punches, so they could customize their mailbox to suit their personalities.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Whisper White, Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper
Other: 1/2″ Circle Punch, Full Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon

I wouldn’t normally use Pretty in Pink with Calypso Coral, but the flag was light pink, and I really wanted to use that paper! That don’t look bad together, actually.

Today’s digital downloads from Stampin’ Up include three separate designer templates that coordinate together for one beautiful wedding ensemble! These downloads work with My Digital Studio and any other digital scrapbooking program that allows you to import PNG and JPG files, which is most graphics programs, and even Microsoft Word! (Clicking on the pictures will take you right to the store to purchase these downloads.)

Don’t have My Digital Studio? Starting on February 1st you will be able to download a free trial of My Digital Studio Express. Head over to my online store, add the free My Digital Studio Express trial (item 129600) to your online shopping cart. Once you check out, you will be able to download it and install it. You can see all of the artwork that is included with the Express version here. I will have some more information about this for you tomorrow.

129357 Loving Thoughts Stamp Brush Set $5.95

Download includes:
* 11-piece stamp brush set

129356 Meant to Be Designer Congratulations $1.95

Download includes:
* 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ greeting card designer template
* 6-piece stamp brush set
* 1 label punch

Features:
* Digital-exclusive.
* Congratulations greeting card.
* Classic black and vanilla design, or change the color of any piece to coordinate with your wedding colors; all images included as stamp brushes or punches, allowing for customization of colors or use on other projects.
* Pair with our Meant to Be Designer Invitation Template and Meant to Be Ensemble for complete wedding coordination. Meant to Be template and ensemble contain the label punch to customize with the wedding date.

Coordinating colors:
Basic Black, Very Vanilla

129354 Meant to Be Designer Invitation Templates $7.95

Download includes:
* 4 double-sided postcard designer templates (two 5″ x 3-1/2″, 3-1/2″ x 5″, 5″ x 7″)
* 24-piece stamp brush set
* 1 label punch

Features:
* Digital-exclusive.
* Portrait or horizontal postcard options.
* Coordinating save-the-date, invitation, and RSVP card options.
* Classic black and vanilla design, or change the color of any piece to coordinate with your wedding colors; all images included as stamp brushes or punches, allowing for customization of colors or use on other projects.
* Pair with our Meant to Be Ensemble and Meant to Be Designer Congratulations Template for complete wedding coordination. Meant to Be Congratulations template and ensemble contain the same 0-9 numbers and label punch to customize with the wedding date.

Coordinating colors:
Basic Black, Very Vanilla

129355 Meant to Be Ensemble $5.95

Download includes:
* 5″ x 3-1/2″ greeting card designer template
* 2 décor designer templates (one-page 11″ x 8-1/2″ and one-page 8-1/2″ x 11″)
* 16-piece stamp brush set
* 2 punches

Features:
* Digital-exclusive.
* Pillow-box favors, table tents, and thank you card.
* Classic black and vanilla design, or change the color of any piece to coordinate with your wedding colors; all images included as stamp brushes or punches, allowing for customization of colors or use on other projects.
* Pair with our Meant to Be Designer Invitation Templates and Meant to Be Designer Congratulations Template for complete wedding coordination. Meant to Be Invitation and Congratulations templates contain the same 0-9 numbers and label punch to customize with the wedding date.

Coordinating colors:
Basic Black, Very Vanilla

You can purchase these or any other digital downloads through my online store. (Clicking on the pictures above will take you there as well.) They great news is that they are available for immediate use, with no shipping charges! Just click on Digital Crafting, then Digital Downloads, then Newest Downloads to see all of the recent additions! If you registered your copy of My Digital Studio, you may also receive end-of-the month emails from Stampin’ Up featuring that month’s digital releases.

There is a My Digital Studio tab to the top right hand corner of this blog. It is a handy reference to a variety of My Digital Studio resources, including a list of all of the downloads and a break down of the printing costs. There is also a Resources page on MyDigitalStudio.net that includes an MDS Catalog. It shows all of the MDS software artwork (contained in the boxed-version) and downloads from the October 2009 launch through January 4, 2012! The catalog gives a snapshot of the entire product line with artwork thumbnails followed by product details, which includes the colors of the designer papers! Because MDS is regularly coming out with new artwork, the catalog will be updated every month.

Remember the fabulous Valentine’s Card that I showed you a last week, with Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler? Well, while my after school class and I were making the cards, we used up the roll of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to get more before the workshop where I wanted to make the same card. So I put my thinking cap on, and came up with this alternate version of the card. And it came out pretty cute, if I do say so myself!

Stamps: Take it to Heart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Other: Real Red Satin Ribbon, Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Hearts Collection Framelits, Big Shot

One nice thing about using Teeny Tiny Wishes for the sentiment on the card was that people were able to customize it. Some put on “Happy Anniversary,” or “Sweet Treats,” and one woman even chose to use “Happy Mother’s Day,” since her mom has a son and a daughter! That is one of the beautiful things about making your own cards — you can really make them fit your life.

Did you have fun on the Stampin’ Addicts blog hop? Wow! I am always so impressed with the amazing projects that my fellow demonstrators come up with! If you didn’t have a chance to join us this weekend, you can always see the full list of links on Stampin’ Addicts. It’s a great way to help you decide which Sale-a-Bration freebies you want to earn!

I have one card I made that didn’t end up making the cut for the blog hop. It’s cute, I just didn’t feel like it was “wow” enough, if you know what I mean. I do like it though, so I wanted to share it with you today.

Stamps: Sprinkled Expressions
Ink: Blushing Bride, Regal Rose, Rose Red
Paper: Regal Rose, Blushing Bride, Whisper White
Other: Bitty Buttons, Heart to Heart Punch

Can you see those faint lines above and below the hearts? I used my Simply Scored to make them, and to add a bit of texture to the card. Did you hear that a diagonal insert for the Simply Scored is coming in March? Oh yes! I can’t wait! I’ll keep you posted on the details.

Welcome to the Stampin’ Addict’s Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop! I am super excited to be featuring a Sale-a-Bration exclusive stamp set called Sprinkled Expressions. You may have arrived here from Tanya’s Blog, Tinkerin’ in Ink (Aren’t her projects spectacular?!) If you are just starting here, that’s fine too. All of the blogs link in a circle, so you can start wherever you like, and make your way around.

Sprinkled Expressions is a set of six stamps that work together in three pairs. I have a project for each of these pairs, so you’ll see what I mean. For your Sale-a-Bration freebie, you have the choice of either Wood Mount or Clear Mount. My first project is a simple card that can work as a Valentine or anytime someone needs a little extra love.

Stamps: Sprinkled Expressions
Ink: Poppy Parade, Soft Suede
Paper: Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment
Other: Poppy Parade Poly Ribbon

As soon as I saw the star stamp in this set, I knew I wanted to heat emboss it. I used gold embossing powder on black because it matched the amazing Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper. This could be a great graduation card!

Stamps: Sprinkled Expressions
Ink: VersaMark
Paper: Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Brushed Gold, Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper
Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Adorning Accents Edgelit Die, Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Scallop Square Duo Die

My final project is a Telescoping Card. You can find tutorials for these all over. People made some great snowmen out of these, and I think they work just as well for flowers, too. This is what the card looks like all closed up:

And here is what it looks like when you open it out:

Stamps: Sprinkled Expressions
Ink: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Paper: Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper
Other: Everyday Enchantment Brads, 1 3/4″ Circle Punch, 2 3/8″ Scallop Punch, 3 1/2″ Circle Die, Scallop Circle #2 Die, Clear Circle Die, Scallop Circle Die, Big Shot

Now that you have seen these, you can head on over to Twila’s Blog where she is also  featuring Sprinkled Expressions. Wait until you see her super cute projects!