Carol Stamps

A Tale of Two Challenges...

12/6/2018

There was another gift wrap challenge over on Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, December 5, 2018: Wrap It Up!". SO it looked like another gift tag was in my future. Then I read the challenge for December 5, 2018 over at Frilly & Funky:

"This time of the year we find ourselves in the kitchen either preparing food for family and friends or just gathering around the kitchen table with family. Your challenge is to incorporate the kitchen somehow in your project. You can use an object from the kitchen in creating your project or you can use a sentiment or image that reflects the kitchen. You decide how to represent being in your kitchen in your art."

Now, it so happened when I was looking for "kitten-related" stamps, I found one that had a "To:/From" stamp in it as well. Hey, a tag for a kitchen related gift? Perfect!

I started by stamping and coloring six blank recipe cards from the Stamping' Up! set "What's For Dinner":

This satisfies the part of the project required for the Frilly & Funkie challenge.

Then I set about wrapping these cards as a gift for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge! First there was the tag, using the sentiments from "What's For Dinner" and the fruits form the Stamping' Up! set "Sun Ripened":

I packaged up the cards with a matching blue ribbon:

And attached the tag:

No idea who this might be a gift for --- I don't do recipe cards myself and I don't make up my ow recipes or have any heirloom recipes to hand down so these will be set aside until the occasion demands something like this as a hostess gift.

Products used in the making the recipe cards and tag were:

Stamps: Stamping Up! "What's for Dinner" and "Sun Ripened"
Inks: Superior India Ink Black; Archival "Shadow Grey"; Intense Pencils "Sun Yellow" (0200), "Madder Brown" (1920); "Sea Blue" (1200); FUschia "0700); "Apple Green" (114), "Tangerine" (103), "Poppy Red" (0900); "Baked earth" (1800) and "Leaf Green" (1600)
Papers: Parklane Paperie A2 cards "white" (cut in half and then trimmed (15919608)); The Paper Studio Large Blank Tags "white" (452946)
Embellishments: blue satin ribbon

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Challenge: B is for...

12/6/2018

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The challenge for December 3, 2018 over at Simon Says Stamp Monday was "'B' is for...". The design team wanted " to see anything beginning with ‘B’ Balloons, Bears, Blue, Baby, Birthday,..."

I started going through the stamps in my stash that might have anything to do with the later 'B': bats, balls, butterflies, bees, baseball, basketball,... And of course, there is the color "blue". And then I remembered my DarkRoom Door border stamp "Bookshelf"! Eureaka! A blue row of books...

Products used in the making of this card were:

Stamps: Darkroom Door Border Stamp "Bookshelf" (DDBR007)
Inks: Archival "Cobalt"; Versamark; Snowman Extra Fin marker "gold"
Embossing Powder: VIval Las Vegas Ultrahigh Gloss Clear (UHGHALF)
Papers: square blue card
Embellishments: Idea-ology "Chit Chat" (TH92998); JoAnn "chipboard Pack" (45327)
Adhesives: Wendy Vecchi "Prfect Card Adhesive (WVA62134)

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Challenge: Silver/Gold

12/1/2018

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The WOW! Embossing Powder Fans Facebook page has posted it's challenge for December 2018: "Silver/Gold".

I took that challenge and created this clean-and-simple card using WOW! Metallic Gold Rich Regular Embossing Powder, a Tim Holtz Layering Stencil, and Distress Oxide Ink:

Products used in the making of the card were:

Stamps: Waffle Flower "Peace on Earth" (221070)
Stencil: Stampers Anonymous Airing Stencil "Shifter Stars" (THS111)
Inks: Versamark; Distress Oxide Scattered Straw
Embossing Powders: WOW! "Metallic Gold Rich Regular" (WC04R)
Papers; Burgundy card base

I also entered this in the Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Challenge for November 2018: Ho Ho, Holiday!

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Gift Tag for two challenges

11/28/2018

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Two design teams have issued gift challenges this past week: Simon Says Stamp Monday, on November 26, 2018, said:

"Christmas will soon be here and we thought it would be nice to dedicate a challenge to think about gifts. Handmade gifts are always well received, so maybe you would like to make someone something special, or you can make something to be used for the wrapping, tag, bag, box, paper etc."

white Frilly & Funky, on November 21, 2018 said:

"I know at this time of the year, we are all VERY busy cooking and shopping. There's never a spare moment and we often neglect our crafting passion. However, if you are like me, crafting is so gratifying, and is a much needed activity that feeds and renews our soul.
"Because it's that time of the year when we're all thinking about the perfect gift for our friends and families, let's combine our crafting passion with our "to do" list by creating a vintage or shabby chic gift for a special someone in your life. Your gift could be as simple as a handmade card or tag, or an elaborate piece of home decor. Maybe you like to place your gifts in handmade boxes? Your imagination is the only limit on this challenge!"

As a general rule, I don't make gift packaging, tags, home decor tags for Christmas, and, as I said in the precious post, I am pretty much DONE with making Christmas cards! However, I was watching one of Tim Holtz' Holiday Hack videos where he made some tags using the latest Side-Order dies and I thought I'd tackle some of those.

Products used in the making of these tags were:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous "watercolor Trees' (CMS317)
Dies: Sizzix Side-Order "Noel" (663112)
Inks: Versamark; Pigma MIcron #1 Archival Pen "black"
Embossing Powders: UpTown "detail gold"; JoAnn CraftEssentials "black"; and "Stampendous "detail white" (47788)
Papers: 4" x 2.25" inch kraft tags in three shades; Marco's Place "ATC Blanks" in four colors; scrap of pink cardstock
Embellishments: red satin ribbon
Adhesives: Sizzix Adhesive Sheets (663051)

I'm also entering these tags in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, November 28, 2018: Anything Goes

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Christmas Card Project Finale: November 27, 2018

11/28/2018

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Click In this September 9, 2018 blog post, I described my "Christmas Card Project" where I tried to emulate the “The Best Things in Life Are Pink” You Tube Tutorial (one of her many tutorials on creating MANY cards cards from a single pad of 6x6 papers. I made 31 cards from a single pad of Whimsy Stamps “Christmas Cheer” 24 single-sided 6x6 paper pad (TWDP102) and a set of Ink Road Stamps “Fir Real”. I modeled my cards after some Operation Write Home sketches.

In October, I continued with the project, using A Penny Black 6x6 pad ("Holiday Trimmings") And a set of Avery Elle stamps "Quirky Christmas" and, by the end of the mont I had 63 cards in total.

By this time, I was tired of the entire process and decided to fill out the remainder of our card list with purchased cards. Hoe er, as my husband was address in envelopes, he was not aware that pre-packed card blanks usually provide more envelopes than cards and so we ended up with four envelopes with no cards so, on November 27, I made for more cards:

~~~~~
Card Set using OWH sketch #36

Products used in the making of this card set were:

Stamps: Avery Elle "Quirky Christmas" (ST-18-32); Personal Impressions 201J; Wiggins Stamp Art
Inks: Archival "Library Green" and "Jet Black"
Papers:Park Lane Paperie A2 notecards “white” (15919608); Penny Black 6x6 pad "Holiday Trimmings" (80-013); scraps of dark red and grass green 12 x 12 papers
Embellishments: K & Company Grand Adhesions "Christmas Cheer Ornament" (569331) and "Classic Metal Art" (558649)
Adhesives: Tombow Permanent adhesive.

I used my Fiskers paper trimmer, my MISTI stamp platform, and a 2" punch.

~~~~~

I also fixed the one card from the October batch (card set #10) which had the "made by" and "sentiment stamps switched! I simply removed the card front and attached it to a new notecard with the sentiment in the right location!

All cards are signed, stamped and mailed as of yesterday afternoon, although there are still several address labels in limbo that may require more cards. A few boxes of Unicef cards, however, will serve to deal with any unexpected card recipients!

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My November Progress in my 2018 Organization Resolution

11/28/2018

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Back at the end of December, 2017, I blogged about the mess my craft space was in, and how I hoped that, in 2018, I would make some progress in getting it all put back together and neatened up. I posted my January progress here. My February progress report on that organization is here. My March organization efforts can be found here. My April report is here. May report is here; my June report is here; and my August report is here.

(It's not that I totally bailed in September or October; I merely tried to keep putting things away as I used them and generally tidied my workspace. - nothing photo-worthy).

On November 5, II finally got back to organizing with the purchase of a new cart , this one intended for my 12 x 12 paper “collections” which I had previously stored in 12 x 12 paper keepers from Totally TIffany. The cart held all the 12 x 12 collections and some additional smaller items (6x6 pads and 8x8 pads in a handlers, and assorted chipboard).

It looks like I could use a second similar cart for all my 12 x 12 single sheet paper which now resides on the floor.

I also came back to the cart I bought in August and used the top tray to hold all my Distress Oxide Ink pads. I even went so far as to label them and arrange by color family!

I’m thinking/hoping that the other two basket/shelves in this cart might hold all my Tim Holtz mini-ink storage tins that now live on my table top (Hero Arts, Ranger Archival, Altenew and Distress Inks are all in tins, as are several other smaller ink cubes form different manufacturers.), but I haven't tried that out yet.

Next up… the newest two sets of Distress Oxide reinkers! I have the reinker storage box — just need to resurrect it from under neath a lot of stuff.

I was running out of space in one of my stamp storage trays so I pulled all the wide clear stamp sets and repackaged them in Altenew and (when I ran out of Altenew) Avery Elle storage envelopes. All these larger stamps sets were divided into two trays: one stamps only and one stamps with dies. New dividers are needed for both trays. All clear stamps (except those from magazine covers) are now in the same location. (Luckily, cling rubber stamps storage papers to be sufficient for now, so I don't have to arrange for a different storage location because of additional bins.)

After I finished this repackaging, I put away all the stamps, dies and most of the stencils that were waiting for a place to live (although the dies and stencils need a better solution than two Iris card drawers…). 3-D embossing folders need a home, and I could use yet a third paper cart to hold all my Tim Holtz stamps storage boxes… (this card obsession could become pricey!)

So, at the end of November, I had freed up significant desk space and even a little floor space and access to my 8.5 x 11 papers is much improved.

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Challenge: Baby, It's Cold Outside!

11/25/2018

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It sure IS cold outside here in NW Ohio (and in some rooms of our house, inside as well ---we had furnace issues this week) so this challenge for Simon says Stamp Wednesday, November 21, 2018 is very appropriate. Also, since we have had at least five independent snowfalls this month (with another one possible in the coming week), the challenge "Let It Snow" by the Simon Says Stamp Monday design team on November 19, 2018 is also spot on, meteorologically!

Because I was time-challenged this week: trying to deal prep for family Thanksgiving festivities (husband made pies), getting the holiday cards ready to address and mail (ready but not addresses or mailed),hauling the tree up from the basement (BIL helped husband today --- that darned thing is HEAVY) and other holiday seasonal chores took up a lot of time, to say nothing of the usual mundane weekly stuff (waiting for the furnace repairman, the tree surgeon and the housecleaner and getting my haircut), I decided to combine these two challenges in one sparkly card.

I die-cut some small snowflakes in a corner of white card, layered it on a mat of metallic glitter paper and added a die-cut snowflake from the same glitter paper, before adding an Idea-ology sticker to finish up:

Products used in the making of this card were:

Dies: Sizzix Thinlits “Flurry 3” (663114) and “Paper Snowflakes mini” (661599)
Papers: Scrap of Neena Solar White; Simon Says Stamp “Metallics Glitter 6x6 Pack” (sssme18); scrap of pale blue yardstick; pale blue square card blank
Embellishments: Idea-ology “Small Talk - Occasions” (TH93245)
Adhesives: Tombow permanent adhesive; Wendy vecchi “Perfect Card djesive” (WVA62134)

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Challenge: Shine

11/25/2018

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The mini-challenge for November 2018 over at More Than Words is to create a postcard, card, tag or ATC which features the word "Shine".

I elected to go with an ATC and, using navy cardstaock, white embossing powder and glittery paper, I created this nativity scene:

Products used in the making of this ATC:

Stamps: PSX nativity (D209)
Dies: Sizzix Thinlits “Snowy Stars” (663117)
Inks: Versamark
Embossing Powders: WOW! “Opaque Bright White Super Fine” (WL01SF)
Papers: scrap of navy cardstock; Simon Says Stamp “Metallic Glitter 6x6 Pack” (sssme18)
EMbelilshemnts: Idea-ology “Big Chat” (TH93192)
Adhesives: Wendy Vecchi “Perfect Card Adhesive” (WVA62134)

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Challenge: Thanks/Thanksgiving

11/17/2018

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The November 12, 2018 challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday was "Thanks/Thanksgiving". Having just done a few "that-you" cards for other challenges, I was hard-pressed for an idea so I started with my file of cling stamps and started through them, alphabetically by manufacturer. I stumble upon a set called "Mod" by Avery Elle which I had never opened and which featured a large block-print "Thank You". OK, let's do clean-and-simple, using heat embossing!

The only thing "not" simple about this card was the stamping --- each stamped part of the card was a separate action when I could have simplified it a lot by dry-running the stamps before I started. Oh well, it worked...

Products used in the making of this card were:

Stamps: Avery Elle “Mod” (ST-18-14) and Altenew “Bejeweled”
Inks: Versamark; Altenew Crisp Dye Ik “Moss”
Embossing Powders: Anita’s “Copper” (25106); Comotion Clear top “Holly Berry Haze” (161368); and Personal Stamp Exchange “Claret Tapestry” (S 118)
Papers: The Paper studio notecard “ivory” (225219)

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Challenge: All That Glitters is Gold

11/16/2018

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That's right... in the case of the November 14, 2018 challenge from the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Design Team, all that glitters IS gold. We are to add some "gold sparkle" to our projects!

Well, My "sparkle" is more like "shine" but it is gold!

I started with an old envelope (saved from a stamp shipment, origin lost in the mists of time) that was white-and-gold foil striped:

Since I don't have a laser printer or a hot laminator, this seems the best way to get foiling into my piece.

I cut the envelope up, avoiding creases and wrinkles, and the end result determined my card size.

Next, I cut a piece of Neena Solar white and heat-embossed it with WOW! "Metallic Gold Rich" embossing powder to create my own gold card:

I trimmed the embossed card so it would function as a mat for my striped piece and mounted both on an ivory notecard:

I took a small scrap of Neena Solar White card, stamped and heat embossed a sentiment (also in gold) and die cut with one of the smaller archway dies from Sizzix's "stacked archway" set. I then edged the sentiment with a gold marker and mounted it with foam squares on the card:

Products used in the making of this card were:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous “Mini-Doodle Greetings) (CMS287)
Dies: Sizzix Thinlits “Stacked Archway” (662692)
Inks: Versamark; Marvy Uchida “gold” marker
Embossing Powders: WOW! “Metallic Gold Rich regular” (WC04R)
Papers: gold foil-striped envelope; Neena Solar white; The Paper Studio notecard “ivory” (225219)
Adhesives: Tombow permanent adhesive; EK Tools 3-D foam dots

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Author

Born in New Jersey, I grew up in Southeastern Ohio. Attended university at Bowling Green State University (B.Sci in biological science, 1964), University of Southern California (M. Sci in biological science, 1967) and University of Florida (Ph. D in zoology, 1971).
Worked in environmental consulting for a little more than a decade and then seven years as an instructor in biological science at various community colleges in California and Texas. Moved to London in 1992, then Beijing (1996) and Saudi Arabia (1998), before returning to NW Ohio in 2002. I am currently living in NW Ohio with my husband and three Bombay cats. I love to read (mystery, science fiction, history) and stitch (have done crewel, currently experimenting with free embroidery and needlepoint but blackwork and cross stitch are my main genres); have been known to knit; and now I'm heavily into papercrafting!
Retired upon the return to the US so lots of time for our hobbies...