The Stamp Workshop

French Flower

Here is one of the last cards I did for SoCal Stamp Mania.  To give this card a little dimension, I stamped the flower and then cut it out.  Then I stamped the flower again.  I curled the petals of the flower upward and then adhered the cut out flower with a pop dot.  The center part of the flower was made with the Build-A-Brad brads.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: One of  a Kind, En Francais, Carte Postale
Cardstock: Rose Red, Basic Black, Shimmery White
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Versamark
Accessories: Pewter Build-A-Brad
Tools: Paper Snips

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Bonjour!

Springy Celebration

Here is card number 4 out of the 6 swaps I did for SoCal Stamp Mania.  I don't usually use "Spring" colors, but I thought this paper was just so pretty!

I like to recycle layouts.  Why no reuse what you like??  If you take a peek at a couple days back, this layout is the same as my Happy Silhouettes card.  It is just flipped 180 degrees.

I consider myself to be pretty uncreative so I get my ideas from SplitCoastStampers and Stampin' Up!.  I took this layout from one of the sketch challenges on SCS.  I don't know that I've ever really come out with a layout that was all my own.  The closest I've done to making my own layout is mixing up certain elements of several card sketches.  Good thing I have SplitCoast and Stampin' Up!  SU makes it easy to coordinate my colors and SCS helps me to layout my cards.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Celebrate Everything
Cardstock: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Designer Series Paper: Spring Fling
Ribbon: Certainly Celery Grosgrain
Accessories: Gold Brads
Tools: Paper Piercer, Distresser Tool

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Have a Springy Day!

Preppy Birthday

If you are one of my regular viewers, you know how much I love using Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper.  No matter which DSP you use, it always makes for an easy card that doesn't necessarily look easy.

This was another swap card I made for SoCal Stamp Mania.  The East Coast Prep DSP makes for some very festive birthday cards and scrapbook pages.  How could I not pair up this paper with the upcoming set Party Hearty?

You can't really tell in this picture, but the present in the center of the "b" is raised to give the card some dimension.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Party Hearty (from the upcoming Fall Winter 08 Collection)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi
Designer Series Paper: East Coast Prep
Ribbon: Real Red Striped Grosgrain
Accessories: Pop Dots
Tools: Distresser Tool

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Have a Preppy Day!

Happy Silhouettes

Here's a look at another swap I did for SoCal Stamp Mania.  BTW, if you are in SoCal consider going next year!  Meet your stampin' neighbors!

I love making cards with Designer Series paper.  The color combos are flawless and it makes for a quick card!

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Happy Everything
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Sky
Designer Series Paper: Spring Silhouettes
Ribbon: Soft Sky Double Stitched Grosgrain
Accessories: Half Pearl from Pretties Kit 

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Me!

In my last post, I had said that I was going to be posting my swaps for SoCal Stamp Mania.  Well, I had good intentions of posting all week, but we got a touch of the stomach flu here and it put me out for most of last week.  I did manage to get better and finish all my swaps - the day before Stamp Mania!  Anyway, here is the first of my swap cards.

I saw a card with woven ribbon on Kristina's blog.  I thought it was SO neat!  Of course I had to try weaving and put it on one of my swap cards!  Kristina has a great video tutorial on how do weave the ribbon.  When you have a chance take a peek at Kristina's blog.  Great stuff!

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: StazOn Jet Black
Designer Series Paper: Spring Silhouettes
Ribbon: 5/8" Certainly Celery Grosgrain
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Ice Round Rhinestone Brad
Tools: Distresser Tool, Paper Piercing Tool

As always, contact me if you have any questions on how to make this card.

As you can see, it is Marketplace Monday!  Here's a recap of the two great promos Stampin' Up! is having through April 30.

• Earn a free Jumbo wheel!
• Earn $25 in free hostess benefits!

Click here for all the details.

Nah nah nah nah.  You say it's your birthday!  Well, it's my birthday too!  (That was supposed to be me singing)  Yup!  It's my birthday!  I'm 38 today!  Yeah, I just said my age.  No big deal.  *wink*

So, in honor of my birthday, I am spreading the love!  Place any order today through the end of the week (Friday, April 25) and get 20% off your merchandise total.   (Here's the small print... the 20% is off the merchandise total only.  Sales tax and S&H are not included in the discount.  This offer is good in the US only.)

Use the form on the right hand side to place your order or email me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Have a GREAT day!

I Missed You Guys!

Wow, it's been a really fast three weeks!  All the birthday parties are officially over and the kids are back in school as of Monday morning.  We ended up not camping at the beach because the weekend we were going to go, SoCal had a cold spell.  But, we did have lots of spring break fun and did manage a trip to the beach when the weather warmed up.  It's been warming up and hasn't stopped.  Can you believe it was in the low 90s today?  Stop already with the heat!

Anyway, now I am back in stamping mode.  I have to get ready for SoCal Stamp Mania.  Can you say swaps???  I organized an unofficial SoCal Stamp Mania swap with six groups of ten swappers each.  Did I join each group???  Is SoCal Stamp Mania on Saturday???  Have I started my swaps yet???  Nothing like adding another jewel to my Queen of Procrastination Crown.

The good news is, with all these swaps I have to prepare, I'll have a lot of new cards to post for you!  So, stay tuned!  You don't want to miss it! *wink*

Glad to be back!

New In Colors!

Some of Stampin' Up's top demos are currently sailing in the Bahamas.  The cruise is an incentive trip and all the demonstrators on board worked very hard to earn their free cruises!

One of the perks of being on the Cruise is being among the first to hear about the latest products that Stampin' Up! will offer in the upcoming catalog.

Here is a list of the new Fall Winter 08 Collection In Colors (debuting 08/11/08):

• Pink Pirouette
• Riding Hood Red
• Tangerine Tango
• Kiwi Kiss
• Baja Breeze
• Pacific Point

This information and the picture to the right were provided courtesy http://inkingaround.typepad.com.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Card #8 - Chocolate Joy

Hope you've been enjoying my trip down memory lane!  Here is the last card...

This is another set that I just had to have once I saw it.  This bear is SO cute!  He's cut out and raised up on pop dots.  This Au Chocolat DSP was so hot when it first came out.  I was very bummed when it didn't make the cut!

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Bundle of Joy
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Nautrals Ivory
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Designer Series Paper: Au Chocolat
Ribbon: Light Brown Gingham Ribbon
Accessories: Pop Dots
Tools: Paper Piercer, Coluzzle (for circles), Oval Punches, Distresser Tool, Pastels

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Have a great day!

Card #7 - Stitched Paisley

This card was really really simple to make.  It's basically just a background stamp!  I like this background stamp.  It has a Western feel to it and the stitched grosgrain and faux stitching really helps to draw out that feel.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Paisley, Warm Words
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Ink: Blue Bayou, Basic Black
 Ribbon: Double Stitched Blue Bayou Grosgrain
Accessories: Vintage Brads
Tools: Photo Corner Punch, Paper Piercer, White Gel Pen
Technique: Faux Stitching

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Yeehaw!

Card #6 - Simply Rose

Here's a fun little card that has all kinds of little details to pull the card together.  I put dots where all the diamonds came together and stamped a little flower in every other diamond.  It's hard to see, but there is a little dab of glitter in the middle of each flower in the main image.  I had fun making this card.  I don't usually put in fine details like that when I make a card.  This was a swap card that I made for SoCal Stamp Mania IV.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Simply Said, So Very, Print Pattern
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Rose Red
Ink: Basic Black, Rose Red
 Ribbon: Black Gingham
Accessories: 2-way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Tools: White Gel Pen, Distresser Tool, Crop-A-Dile

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Sweet!

Card #5 - One Flower

Did you notice something different about this card when you compare it to all my others?  It is a SIP card.  Stamps, Ink, Paper.  There is nothing else.  No DSP, no ribbon, no distressing, no embellishments.  Just stamps, ink and paper.

I used reserve masking to make the yellow rectangle.  I sponged on Yoyo Yellow ink.  Then I stamped the flower using Pick a Petal.  I colored in some of the spaces on the petal.  Then I sponged around the outer edge of the card.

I posted this card for my daughter Michaela who is turning six today.  She really likes this card.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Pick a Petal, Simply Said
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black
 Tools: Sponges

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Have a Bright Day!

Card #4 - Cherished Baroque

When this stamp set appeared in the preorder for the FW07 Collection, I knew I had to have this set.  It is one of my favorite sets.  I like the flourishes in this set as they are not too frilly.

The Faux Embossing technique was used here, although it looks more like shadowing than embossing!

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Baroque Motif
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Ink: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
 Accessories: Brads
Tools: White Gel Pen, Ticket Corner Punch, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig
Technique: Faux Embossing

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Card #3 - Holy Family

Easter is this weekend.  Unfortunately, I have no Easter stamps.  I thought I'd post this card that I made with the Holy Family and His birth to honor the Resurrection.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Holy Triptych, Sanded, Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Confetti Ivory, Brushed Gold
Ink: Night of Navy, Gold Metallic
 Ribbon: Night of Navy Grosgrain
Accessories: Gold Brads, Gold Detail Embossing Powder
Tools: Heat Tool, Corner Rounder
Technique: Heat Embossing

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Happy Easter!

Card #2 - Bashful Flowers

Here's a springy card to ring in the first day of Spring!  The Yellow flowers are punched straight from the Cutie Pie Designer Series paper.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Three for You, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Rose Red, Whisper White
Ink: Rose Red, Bashful Blue
Designer Series Paper: Cutie Pie
Ribbon: Bashful Blue Grosgrain, Whisper White Grosgrain
Accessories: On Board Blossoms & Blooms, Bashful Blue Brads, So Saffron Brad
Tools: Paper Piercer, Flower Punch, Word Window Punch

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Happy Spring!

While I'm Away...

So blogs have this handy feature in which you can "postdate" your posts.  Well, since I didn't want to go for days and weeks without posting anything, I decided to dig up some older cards and prep them to post automatically.  I have about 8 cards that I've picked out to post keep you all from forgetting all about me while I take care of the kids' birthday parties.

Since SAB just ended, I thought I'd post this card I made for SAB 2007.  This is one of my favorite cards.  I loved the DSP on this and was sad when it retired.  I got the layout form one of the sketch challenges on SCS.  If you can believe it, I made this for a swap.  If I am recalling right, I made 20 of these.  Yeah, call me crazy!  Check out the layering on this card for each rectangle.  There are 13 pieces.  Two of the pieces have distressing.  Then I had to lay all these pieces out with perfect alignment.  Not to mention the ribbon I tied on there!  Yeah, I know, poor me!  *wink*

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: So Very
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Naturals White
Ink: Brocade Blue
Designer Series Paper: Rebecca
Ribbon: Certainly Celery Grosgrain
Accessories: Pop Dot
Tools: Distresser Tool, Circle Punches, Crop-A-Dile

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!