Aren't these cards soft and sweet? It's a perfect pairing of two Sale-A-Bration free items: Aspen Tree Dies and Silver & Gold 6X6" Designer Series Paper. The background is lightly sponged using the Blending Brushes #153611 with Crushed Curry, Flirty Flamingo and Gorgeous Grape ink pads. 

This sentiment is simply laid across the card and attached with dimensionals. Easy!

This sentiment is tucked under the oval edge of the die cut for a different look.

Sale-A-Bration Promo runs till August 31st. Select a FREE item with each and every $50 or $100 purchase! WOO HOO!!

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 My North Star Stampers from the Midwest area, recently met for TEAM TIME!! We had  recognitions, a great swap and lots of fun demonstrations!! There is 211 years of demonstrator experience in this picture!! Thank you all for coming! It was a pleasure to spend the afternoon together!! (I'm not in the picture, b/c I was taking it.)

Our swap winner, by popular vote, was Dena Rasmussen who created the lovely card below! Congrats, Dena!

Perched in a Tree Bundle #159799

Distressed Gold 12 X12" Specialty Paper

Texture Chic 12 X 12" Specialty Paper

Look at this cute, plump little bird! This Perched in a Tree Bundle #159799 took my eye!! He is stamped on Shimmery White card stock #101910 and colored with Stampin' Blends Alcohol Markers.

Click this picture to enlarge it and see the Leaf Fall 3D Embossing Folder #159847, a perfect pairing for these birch trees! This is a lovely fall and winter bundle!

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Joyful and shiny! Gab some Red & Green 12 X 12" Foil Paper #153510 for impact!! Foil paper is so pretty when embossed, and this is the Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder #153576. The red layer is Red Velvet 12 X 12" Paper #153490.

These doily layers were cut with the versatile Encircled in Beauty Dies #155546.

The inside features a red foil snowflake cut with the So Many Snowflakes Dies #153560.  MAKE SURE TO USE ADHESIVE SHEETS #152334 on delicate dies for a clean, easy application of your die cuts!!

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Here is a colorful, festive Christmas card idea!! This is the  Evergreen Elegance Stamp Set #153313 from the Annual Catalog. What a statement of colors: Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade, Petal Pink, Bumble Bee, Garden Green, Coastal Cabana, Pacific Point inks were used for the trees.  The base card is Coastal Cabana and measures 8-1/2" x 3-1/2". Make your holiday COLORFUL!! 

Item #153313

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The Welcoming Woods Stamp Set #156550 is perfect for the SUNSET TECHNIQUE!

Here is my YouTube video for creating the SUNSET TECHNIQUE! Try it!

Don't throw away your sunset "trimmings." Use the strips inside for added interest!

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This wonderful Beauty of the Earth 12 X 12" Designer Series Paper #155841 is on special this month! It adds so much color and interest to this card.

It's paired with the very interesting Stitched Leaves Dies #153567. The leaf is die cut from Merry Merlot card stock and mounted onto Layering Circles Dies #151770. Stock up on beautiful papers while they are on special this month!

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One of my favorite easy fancy folds is this TAB CARD! It's fast and impressive! Cut your standard portrait card. Then cut 1 inch off the front right side. Use this 1 inch strip to create the TAB. Score the strip at about 1 inch from the end to attach behind the card.

This TAB will swing to the right so you can access the card. I bet you can think of lots of way to embellish the TAB!!

This stamp set is the lovely Beauty of Friendship #154983 that I will use often during the holiday season! The colors are Soft Suede, Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen.

TODAY is the final day to order from the Jan-June Catalog!

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Foil papers are very impressive, especially when embossed!! This is the Brushed Metallic Cardstock #153524 embossed with the Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder #153576! It's a WOW!

Liquid glue shows thru the foil and can leave a ridge on the front side of the foil. I prefer a strong dry adhesive like Tear & Tape #138995 when using foil papers. When using Tear & Tape, apply it and then rub firmly before peeling off the backing. This strong adhesive is a must for using Foil papers, building 3D projects and cards with motion.

This is a simple card with BIG IMPACT because of the Brushed Metallic finish!! Try it!!

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You must try this STRIKING, eye-catching sunrise/sunset technique!! It's actually easy using my tips! Use the Life is Beautiful Stamp Set #154871 from the August - December Holiday Catalog.

Selecting colors is very important! This is a list of these colors in order:
Use SHIMMERY WHITE CARD STOCK #101910, for it's finish. Collect the ink from the ink pad using a SPONGE DAUBER #133773. Saturate the card stock by scrubbing with the inked daubers all the way across the card stock. Blend the sky colors where they meet. Do not blend the green for the earth. Trim and add the little trimmed strip to the inside of the card for color.

For interest, BEND the photopolymer tree image and mount to block. Stamp images in Tuxedo Black Momento ink pad #132708. Mount onto basic Black Card Stock. Impress yourself!! Try it!!

Did you see my VIDEO on this Stamp Set?

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Life is Beautiful #154871

Four-season VERSATILITY!!

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TIPS for an exquisite sunrise or sunset on hand stamped cards:

   *Use Shimmery White Card Stock #101910 and Sponge Daubers #133773

   *Add saturated color to the card stock by collecting water based ink from an ink pad and SCRUBBING the ink all the way across the card with a dauber.

   *For blended colors for the sky, OVERLAP the colors.

   *Stamp silhouetted images on the finished base with BLACK ink

   *Color in any open areas that should be silhouetted using a water based BLACK marker

   *Layer onto a BLACK card base to pop colors

   *PRACTICE & EXPERIMENT

Use plenty of ink, loading your dauber multiple times!

Any highlights, like on this gazebo roof, can be filled in with a black marker to create a true silhouette.

The NEW My Meadow Stamp Set #151650 is perfect for this technique!

These sentiments are from the NEW Peaceful Moments Stamp Set #151595.

Try it!

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Build your own landscape scene with Snow Front Stamp Set of 17 photopolymer images #150483. It's FUN!!

Shimmery Crystal Effects #150892 makes the pond look frozen!

This Snow Front Stamp Set coordinates with the Waterfront Stamp Set #146386 which has mountains. They are GREAT together!

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 A Moose at twilight! The new Moose Punch #150652 pairs perfectly with the new Pine Tree Punch #149521! I used a sponge brayer to create twilight shading.

Add a few Rhinestone stars and you are finished! This can be a winter card, a masculine birthday or Holiday card depending on the sentiment you add inside.

Try it!!

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Kathy Johnson of Forest Hill, MD is the creator of this crisp, pretty swap card! It features Serene Garden Bundle of 8 stamps and 6 dies #148395.

Kathy used Stampin' Blends Alcohol Markers for the color. Very nice, Kathy!

This is a nice, simple holiday card I received as a swap, but don't have a name to give credit. This stamp set is the versatile Sheltering Tree #137163.

Wink of Stella #141897 adds frosty shimmer to the wintery tree! Lovely!

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Halloween is next month! Get your "SPOOKY" on by combining some exciting NEW products with your current ones!! The Winter Woods Stamp Set #147661 is a GREAT addition to your stash!! LOVE these bare trees!!

This BUFFALO CHECK background stamp #147797 works for EVERYTHING...just change colors and it's sweet gingham!! Start stamping for Halloween TODAY!!

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GET READY FOR THE AMAZING 2018 HOLIDAY CATALOG...

beginning September 5th!! You are going to love it!! If you order from me regularly, you have received your free copy so start your WISH LIST!! If you'd like to order through me and live in the USA, just email me your mailing info: [email protected]

This brand new stamp set is WINTER WOODS!! Start with Shimmery White Cardstock and sponge on colors with Sponge Daubers: Old Olive, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Poppy Parade, Rich Razzleberry. Stamp the winter trees on top of your sunset using Jet Black Momento Pad. LOVE this sunset look. TRY IT!! Be sure to put Winter Woods on your Wish List!

Lovely as a Tree Stamp Set has been in the Stampin' Up! Catalog for a longggg time because it is a true CLASSIC. Today, I used it to try the BLACK ICE TECHNIQUE: Lightly drag an Archival Black Ink Pad over metallic foil paper. Then stamp your image in black ink. Dry completely with a heat tool. Heat emboss the entire layer using Versamark Ink and Clear Embossing Powder. I personally would have named this technique "tintype," because it looks so much like early photography!!

This one uses Gold Foil. SECRET: I got a big blob of black ink on this foil and didn't like it. So...I punched out the trees and threw away the blob!! LOL I actually like this layout!

Don't these look old fashioned??

And here is a quick SPRING card that uses a touch of sponging!

This is a MUST HAVE stamp set, available in my online store now.

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Lovely As A Tree Stamp Set has been around for over ten years because it's a CLASSIC!!! Are you wondering: How you do get color on black cardstock??

The secret: heat emboss the tree onto Basic Black Cardstock using White Embossing Powder. Then color the tree with Stampin' Up! BLENDABILITIES markers! So simply!! Try it!!

This is the inside of a special Birthday card for my Brother-in-Law, Gary. I made plenty of space for hubby, and daughters to write their messages. Gary had a Liver transplant 3+ years ago...a huge physical struggle. Now Gary is healthy with TWO additional granddaughters - SMILE!

I combined the versatile LOVELY AS A TREE Stamp Set with BRAND NEW items from the Occasions Catalog: Hardwood Background Stamp, Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon, and Basic Metal Buttons.

The perfect card for a guy who loves the "woods!"

Such a CLASSIC! This card is ALWAYS a hit...year after year! The art copyright date is 2001 - it's been around a longggg time!! The secret is Craft White Ink (#101731) to create the snow. Use a sponge dauber to "scrub" on the ground snow. Use the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set (#130514 wood or #130517 clear) for the snowflakes.

Try this CLASSIC card!!

Lovely as a Tree

#128655 wood OR #127793 clear

This classic stamp set, LOVELY AS A TREE, must be the longest running set in the current catalog! I have used it hundreds of time because it's SOOO traditional. It's a great go-to-set for masculine cards!

I used two shades of each, green and brown markers to achieve the shading. This is another card from my Get Well/Sympathy Card Class.

Supplies List:

• Stamps: Lovely as a Tree #115026 Wood or #127793 Clear, Curly Cute #117014 Wood or #120510
• Cardstock: Very Vanilla #101650, Sahara Sand #121043
• Ink: Always Artichoke #126972
• Accessories: Regals Designer Series Paper Stack #117154, 3/16" Metallic Brads #119741, Many Marvelous Markers #119806

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Sale-A-Bration starts TOMORROW!

Paper Quilting

Sunshine Card

Nancy's Holiday Special is coming Monday!!
The lovely Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set of 9 images is featured on the cover of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. Here I've heat embossed one image in Gold.
It's such a CLASSIC Holiday card to send your friends!

Supplies List:

• Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes BUNDLE: SAVES 15% #129949 Wood mount or #129950 Clear mount, Lovely as a Tree #115026 Wood mount or #127793 Clear mount
• Cardstock: Whisper White #100730, Brushed Gold #102935, Cherry Cobbler #126119685
• Ink: Always Artichoke #126972, Versamark #102283
• Accessories: Cherry Cobbler 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon #127841, Emboss Buddy #103083, Heat Tool #129053, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder #109129, Big Shot Die Cutting Machine #113474, Dimensionals #104430

This stamp set is LOVELY AS A TREE, a true classic and it will NOT retire this year. This ancient oak is sooo detailed and a perfect guy card!

This is a GATE card that swings open from the middle. The Grosgrain ribbon adds texture without a bow!

I used Stampin' Write Markers in two shades of green for the foliage. This tree looks amazing in autumn colors, too! I hope you have enjoyed this week's blogs of guy cards! Now give these ideas a try!

 
As promised, here is another very simple card appropriate for many occasions. Lovely as a Tree stamp set has been in the catalog for TEN years because of it's versatility! I colored the rubber with two shades of green and two shades of brown, then stamped. A strip of Always Atrichoke cardstock was run through the BIG SHOT with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder to add texture.
The mighty oak! This also makes a great guy card.