More Christmas Celebrations

Only 3 more weekdays before I return to work.  I have really enjoyed spending this time with my mother.  We have had lots of laughs and a few tears.  She has had time to relax , catch up on her rest, and even read.   We had a great dinner tonight of 16-bean soup simmered for hours with the Thanksgiving ham bone – yummy!  Well, let’s look at the last of the projects for the Christmas Celebrations.  Deb was over today and has cut all the paper that can be precut.  We will be available to cut the paper you choose to use for the gift box and the telescoping card. 

“Pines and Poinsettias” is a very simple card with a Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White color scheme.  We colored the stamp with Chocolate Chip, Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler markers and used scallop circle punches to highlight this simple stamp.  I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the pine cone and used “home brew” on the cobble scallop circle, but this added sparkle is really not needed.  The beautiful “Hand Penned Holidays” message is elegant and adds to the simplicity of the card.  Finally, a bit of Cherry Cobbler ribbon provides extra soft color. 

I love this next card – perfect for the young at heart.  I cas’d this from a swap with my demonstrator stamp group, but made slight changes.  I added more red ribbon, a bow, and used different patterns of designer paper for the squares.  The snowman and left reindeer are from an old retired set that I cannot bear to part with.  The reindeer in the center is from Clip Art and has been sized to fit in the scallop square.  I have 2 reindeer from Clip Art that I have printed up so you will have a choice of 4 holiday features as well as you choice of designer paper.  Punches are used for the scallop squares and the designer paper.  Red stickles adds a bit of sparkle.

Now for a bit of telescoping fun.  These are 3-part circular cards with 3 different sized pages held together by brads which allow them to rotate.  I have 2 samples to share below and a 3rd drying.  Give some thought to your telescoping card and feel free to bring a special stamp of paper if  you have something you would like to use.

 

The view to the left is a top view of the card which features a lolly, and the view above is a side view. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the card telescopes, we can see the 2nd page rotate out above, and the full 3-page card to the right.   I featured snowflakes on the lolly, punched snowflakes added to the designer paper on the 2nd  page, and a stamped snowflake with rhinestone on the 3rd part of the card.  I love how it telescopes up to one circular design. 

The next card features ornaments.  I find it easier to work with a theme, but that is my personal preference and it not necessary.  You can see my red and white Lolly featuring an ornament on top.  You can also see the second page (brown designer paper) and the third page – a red scallop with tiny rhinestones.

The view on the left shows the card as it starts to telescope out.  The view on the right shows the card fully opened.  If you look closely, you will see that the designer paper I used on the second page is upside down.  When you attach a top page to a bottom page, the top page must lay over the bottom page upside down.  I guess I didn’t read my own directions for this card!  I stamped ornaments that matched my designer paper on the third page and added several small rhinestones for some sparkle.  Telescoping cards are very different but are perfect for a hostess gift or for that special friend.  6-year old Granddaughter Jailyn was over tonight examining the cards and commented that these cards could hang from a tree, from the Christmas stocking hooks, or even from a tablecloth.  She gave a demonstration on how the cards would look hanging in these places.  So perhaps a bit of cording added to the top card would be useful.  

Deb and I are looking forward to seeing you this weekend at the Christmas Celebrations Stamp Camp.  We will have the designer paper out for the gift boxes and telescoping cards and will cut the paper you choose.  We will have fun and I promise not to sing Christmas carols and the CD player is broken.  Even the CD player on my computer is not working!  BUMMER!  No Christmas music!  Oh well, we can laugh and share our holiday woes and triumphs. 

If you think you will be coming to Christmas Celebrations, it would be helpful if you drop a note as this helps us in cutting paper and preparing packets.  Friday Dec 2nd, 3 PM to 9 PM, and Saturday Dec 3rd, 9 AM to 4 PM.  Let me know if you need to come earlier on Friday Dec 2nd.  The cost is $11 and all paper and supplies are provided.  Give me a call if you have any questions.  Rosemary – 630-759-3089 or paperrose01@aol.com.

p.s. Mark your calendars now for our first 2012 stamp camp – January 6 and 7.  This will be low key, easy peasy, only 1 new technique and will feature winter!  We will only do 3 or 4 cards, but we have to keep our creative forces in gear after the holidays!

Christmas Celebrations Stamp Camp is almost here

Were you wondering if the Christmas Celebrations Stamp Camp was really going to happen?  Did my creative juices start flowing to come up with some cool ideas?  Well, the answer is yes and yes.  The projects are 99.9% complete.  I’m waiting for my red Stickles holly berries to dry to finish my last box and we will be ready. 

“The Sounding Joy” is one of the projects we will be completing at our Dec 2 & 3rd Christmas Celebrations Stamp Camp.  The color combination of red, white and brushed silver with pewter embossing  is absolutely stunning.  However, I must admit there will be a slight change from the picture.  When I reached for the red satin ribbon this evening, I discovered it was red grosgrain and the red satin is empty.  We will improvise! 

We will each be accessorizing a Stampin Up Kraft gift box as one of our projects.  I have completed 3 samples, but you can create yours however you wish.  We will use 5 pieces of decorator paper – your choice.  I added a top accessory – some simple and some not so simple.  The red and white gift box below needed a third color so I chose to work chocolate chip into my design.  As you can see, the top is just a die with several punches and a red rhinestone brad.  The sides are embellished with the 3-way snowflake punch in Chocolate Chip, Real Red, and Very Vanilla.  A tiny rhinestone adds a bit of bling to the center of each snowflake. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

This next gift box I titled my Christmas Box.  Although you can’t tell, I sprayed the designer paper with home brew to add sparkle.  This was where I discovered there was no more red satin!  You can see the red satin ribbon on the top and red grosgrain on the front panel  I embellished this box with a lolly (aka medallion) made from the opposite side of the paper used to cover the box.  I have stamped some little holly leaves from the “Pines and Poinsettias: stamp set, and used Stickles to brighten the holly berries.  When they are dry, I will cut them out and use them to accessorize the sides and back of my Christmas Box.

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These gift boxes are perfect for candy, several cookies, or other small gift or home made treat.  The box measures 3 1/2” X 3 1/2” X 2 1/2”.  This last sample is my snowflake box.  I created a 3” lolly using the same paper I covered the box with and using a red corduroy button in the center.  I embellished the sides with snowflakes in Garden Green, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip.  Tiny rhinestones are in the center of each snowflake 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what else will we be doing at the Christmas Celebrations Stamp Camp?  The remaining 3 projects will be posted tomorrow.  We will be making a cherry cobbler and white card featuring the “Pines and Poinsettias” stamp set.  This is a simple card but quite stunning in its simplicity.  We will also be doing a fun card in Old Olive, Real Red and Early Espresso featuring your choice of a reindeer with a sparkly nose or a snowman with a sparkly hat .  Our final project is a telescoping card with a lolly on the front.  Andrea, a Saturday stamper, recently brought a telescoping card she had made at a craft fair,  If you have never made a lolly (aka medallion) before, this is a great time to learn.  Judy, a Friday stamper, demonstrated lolly-making several months ago, but I don’t remember who was in attendance at the time.  Basically, you take a strip of 12” paper and score the long side every 1/4”.  This is where a scoring board comes in handy although you can use the scoring tool on your paper cutter.  I’ve tried scoring every 1/4” going down the length of the paper; I’ve also tried scoring every 1/2”, then flipping the paper and scoring every 1/2” but starting at 1/4”, 3/4”, 1 1/4”, 1 3/4”, etc.  The latter actually goes faster for me.  I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it goes quickly and is really a lot of fun, especially when you see the finished result.  You can also create a lolly from a large circle by scoring around the circle, but I haven’t tackled that method yet. 

Hope to see you on Friday Dec 2nd, 3 PM – 9 PM, or Saturday Dec 3rd, 9 AM – 4 PM.  If you have a time crunch and need to come earlier on Friday, let me know as we should be able to accommodate you.  The cost for December will be $11.00.  As always, all you need to bring is YOU!  We will have all the card stock and supplies you will need.  You may want to check out the Online Extravaganza with some items at 60% off at http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx .  Remember to check the blog tomorrow night (probably late) for the remaining 3 Christmas Celebrations projects.  Give me a call or drop me an E-mail if you have any questions!                      Rosemary – 630-759-3089   paperrose01@aol.com

More Christmas Creations

Simplicity in gold and white!  That’s what this card says to me.  Deb created this card using brushed gold and Whisper White card stock.  She embossed the “Medallion” stamp image with gold embossing powder, added a simple gold embossed “Merry Christmas tag and a white bow.  Simplicity!

This is my “Peace” stocking.  Granddaughter Jailyn says she likes the stocking but doesn’t like the color.  I, on the other hand, find the silver glimmer paper very striking with the burgundy.  I added a scallop border to this simple stocking along with 3 die cut snowflakes that feature rhinestones centers.  The embossing folder used with this stocking is the new Snow Burst folder (Holiday Mini, p.33).  The embossing impression is deep and really changes the texture of the paper. 

 

By the way, I want you to know that we will be finishing the backs of all our stockings.  You might wonder why as the back is not seen when a stocking is hanging on the wall or fireplace.  However, to me it is simply a good practice to always totally finish a project.  This is the view of several of the stockings:

When we cut a stocking, we will cut two so that we have a front as well as a back.  If we are embossing, we will make sure each side is embossed in the correct direction.  This gives a finished appearance!

 

 

The final stocking for today is one I created for my 93-year old Mother who is visiting from California.  Note that I used a real red stocking embossed in Vintage Wallpaper.  The trim is Holly Berry Bouquet.  The stocking is decorated simply with pearls and in the upper right hand corner, a stitched felt holly cluster.  This is my Victorian stocking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One more post is coming before the Holiday Happening Stamp Camp this coming weekend, Nov 4th and 5th.  Stay tuned, and hope to see you this weekend!  Rosemary

Happy Howl-A-Ween!

Beware the creepy creatures that may show up at your door tonight, and have your treats ready so there are no TRICKS!  Hubby and I were so pleased to see some of you at our Halloween Open House yesterday.  Hope everyone can come next year for the THIRD Annual Przybylski Halloween festivities.  AND I have a gut feeling it might fall on my birthday in 2012. 

I used the Stampin’ Up Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamp and made 4 batches of shortbread cookies for our open house.  The set is $16.95 and includes a solid wood handle with three interchangeable stamp images, two recipes, and tips for use.  We have enough cookies left for the Holiday Happenings Stamp Camp, so you can try this tasty treat!  The cookies were easy to make and very popular!  I have had to promise to make them for all our family gatherings.  I plan on repeating the pumpkins for Thanksgiving, using the snowflake image for Christmas and the heart image for Valentine’s Day.  This is the pumpkin image result:

Now let’s look at another Christmas stocking.  Everyone will do their own Christmas stocking at the Holiday Happenings Stamp Camp on Nov 4th and 5th, so be thinking about what color/embossing/DSP you would like to use. 

This is the stocking I did with granddaughter Angela in mind.  I used the Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper for the actual stocking, and the red glimmer paper for the trim.  Green felt was used for the holly and the rick rack, and the glimmer paper for holly berries.  This stocking is not as sturdy as some of the others as there is not a double layer of 80# cs, but it is perfect for hanging in front of the fireplace.

 

 

 

 

This is the “P is for Przybylski” stocking using Brilliant Blue (retired) and the marvelous silver glimmer paper.  I encourage you to purchase this glimmer paper.  The cost is $4.95 for 2 sheets of either red or silver.  However, if you want 1 sheet of each, I will do a swap so that you can purchase 1 sheet red and 1 sheet silver for $4.95.  These sheets are 12 X 12 and very sturdy card stock.  The P stocking is done very simply with only a bow and felt snowflake (Stitched Felt, p. 30 in the Holiday Mini) added.  Well, there is a silver center and rhinestone in to the center of the snowflake, but that’s it!  Less is more!

But wait, here we are talking about Christmas and it is not even Thanksgiving!  We need one more fall/Thanksgiving card, so we are going to do an easel card.  I don’t know if you are familiar with easel cards, so I am going to show you 4 views.  I must be truthful – this was my FIRST easel card and it took me 3 tries to adhere the correct portion of the card to the correct part of the easel.  However, the finished product is definitely worth the effort:

This easel card uses Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Cajun Craze cs, and the “Leaves of a Tree” image found on page 43 of the Holiday Mini.  This stamp image is perfect for fall.  There are many leaves that are just outlined and can be colored in with Stampin’ Write Markers.  You start with cs 4 1/4” X 11” scored at 2” and 5 1/2”.  After scoring and folding into a triangle shape, you will have this:

 

The greeting cs measures measures 3-3/4 X 1-1/2” and is attached to the 2” section of the folded card base.  Use the raised greeting piece to hold up the vertical part of the card.  Note the color coordinated button with linen thread I adhered to the greeting piece.  Below is the card view from the back, and also the view lying flat and ready to slip into the envelope. The flat view looks crooked but that is because the card refused to lay perfectly flat due to the layers of paper.  Notice how the tree image decorates the envelope so nicely.  This is a perfect card for a loved one for Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well that’s all for today!  We still have 2 more Christmas cards to post, and 5 more stocking ideas, so make sure you keep checking the blog.  Better yet, fill out the subscribe area so you are notified when there is a post.  There is no cost and your name and URL are not shared with anyone.  I hope you can attend our Holiday Happenings Stamp Camp this coming weekend:  Friday November 4th from 3 to 9 PM and Saturday November 5th from 9 AM – 4 PM.  The cost will be $10.  Talk to you soon!  Rosemary

Christmas Treats

Paper crafting is so much fun!  This stocking is for little Willow – my great  granddaughter.  As you can see, it is filled with Christmas treats – a candy cane, holiday ornament, tree, and gingerbread man.   I cut 2 stockings with my trusty Big Shot and the Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die (Holiday Mini, p 24) – one of holiday green felt, and one of Old Olive card stock.  I used the Square Lattice embossing folder to provide a finished look to the back of the stocking and glued the green felt to the front of the olive stocking.  I die cut the trim from the wonderful red glimmer paper (Holiday Mini, p. 41) and adhered it to the stocking .  I attached the stitched felt wreath (Holiday Mini, p. 30) to the center of the stocking and added a red grosgrain bow and red glimmer “berries.”   Finally, I die cut red and white candy canes, a tree, and a holiday ornament (Holiday Mini, p. 24) and also a gingerbread man from a Sizzix die I purchased from Sizzix.com.   I cut the white candy cane apart and adhered pieces to the red cane, and embossed the ornament and the tree.  A silver glimmer top was added to the ornament, and Stickles to the tree.   The gingerbread man was decorated with Stickles and a die cut bow tie.  These treats were placed in the stocking and held in place with a bit of liquid adhesive.  A small piece of copper cording made an excellent hanger.  To mark this stocking just for Willow, I stamped a Stitched Stocking in Real Red , punched it out with the Stocking Building Punch (Holiday Mini, p. 34), added Willow’s name and attached it to the stocking with a snowflake and glue dots.  This may sound labor intensive, but it was really so much fun.  I cut out 8 stockings in one sitting as well as all the trim, etc.  We will be creating a stocking very similar to this at our Nov 4th and 5th Holiday Happenings Stamp Camp.   You can even personalize a stocking with die cut letters.  Just think of the stockings you can create – keepsakes for years to come!  More stockings to come – so stay tuned!

Hope to see you at the Halloween Open House on October 30th – 2 to 7 PM.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting!  Rosemary

I’m beginning to sparkle a lot like Christmas…

Just like “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go…,” I’m beginning to sparkle a lot like Christmas!  I have glitter in my hair, on my face, on my clothes, on the floor – just everywhere.  Poor 6-year old granddaughter Jailyn was over visiting,  she gave me a hug and suddenly her face was sparkling with glitter too!  Deb was over working on cards and she also began to sparkle.  I will forewarn those attending the November 4th and 5th Holiday Happenings Stamp Camp that you too will glimmer and sparkle!

Reason #1 why you will sparkle is the “Christmas Lodge” Stamp Set.  I loved this set the second I saw it in the holiday mini catalog (of course I loved most of what I saw).  So Christmas Lodge with a bit of Frostwood Lodge designer series paper and some glitter led to this:

Isn’t this card stunning?  It’s hard to make out the Dazzling Diamonds glitter, but I added the glimmer to give the sparkle of fresh fallen snow.  A small strip of the Cherry Cobbler DSP and the Cherry Cobbler cs layered under the tree panel add just enough color.  We’ve used an embossing folder, a border punch, a Teeny Tiny Wishes image, and the Garden Green and Chocolate Chip or Early Espresso markers.  Even the envelope shown in the background gives you the impression of a beautiful Christmas tree. 

So you’ve seen the first reason you will sparkle at the November Stamp Camp.  I will shared reason #2 in a day or 2.  Then it will be time for Christmas Stockings – card stock Christmas stockings!  I made 8 last weekend – each one different.  I love each and every one although granddaughter Jailyn states she doesn’t like the burgundy one.  I will be displaying these treasures on the blog before November 4th, so make sure you check back on the blog.

Oh yes – don’t forget our Halloween Open House on Sunday, October 30th from 2 – 7 PM.  Come and have a frightfully good time.  Happy crafting, Rosemary

Treat Bags

These are the little treat bags I mentioned in my last blog. They are simply too cute and so simple to make.  Stampin’ Up sells 50 -1” X 8” Cellophane Bags for $2.50 (page 11 in the Holiday Mini)!  We used M&M’s in these bags as they are so colorful and because Granddaughter Jailyn says EVERYONE likes M&M’s.  Granddaughter Kristen designed these using 2” Whisper White circles and 2 3/8” scallop circles.  You can color the treat toppers with markers or use watercolor pencils.  I recommend using Confetti White cs as the fibers in Confetti White can handle a blender pen easier than Whisper White.  These can be done for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or for any reason at all!

I love the Halloween Owl from “Warmest of Wishes” and of course the “Howl-o-ween” Creeps, but they are ALL cute.  The cellophane bags have a small strip of adhesive to close the bags.  I stapled the scallop circle on to the bag, and used glue dots to hold the circle topper in place.  Really easy to make and perfect for the upcoming holidays and children’s birthday parties!

This is a full length view of the treat bags.  Aren’t they colorful with the assorted M&M’s.  I’ve seen some with alternating orange and brown M&M’s, but I don’t have the patience for that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hope you can attend our Fall Festival Stamp Camp this weekend so that YOU can make a colorful treat bag with the topper of your choosing!  $10 for 5 projects and we provide all paper, tools and accessories.  Friday, Oct 7th from 3 – 9 PM and Saturday Oct 8th from 9 AM – 4 PM.  533 Emerson Circle, Bolingbrook – 630-759-3089.

Don’t forget to check out the Clearance Rack in the Stampin’ Up store.  Some great deals are showing there.  Plan now to save the date for our Holiday Happenings Stamp Camp on November 4th and 5th.  One of our projects will be the Holiday Stocking shown on the cover of the Holiday Mini Catalog.  We have the Holiday Stocking Die shown on page 24 of the mini, as well as the Stocking Accents.  I’m sure there will be candy canes available to put in your stocking!  See you on Friday or Saturday!

 

 

It’s Fall Festival time

I forgot to mention that I purchased MDS (My Digital System) from Stampin’ Up last month.  I placed a $400 order which qualified for 1 item at 50% off.  Son Larry came over and walked me through our Halloween Open House invitation.  I had ordered the MDS Poison download to design the invitation.  It was so odd to design a card using this method.  However, it was a much faster way to do 60+ cards!!!

So let’s look at more projects for the October Fall Festival Stamp Camp this weekend!  This first card is a “do the one you want!”  You can choose either the wreath or the Halloween owl!  The basic card is the same and we will cut the DSP after you have decided which card you choose to do.  Both cards use images from “Warmest of Wishes” stamp set on page 5 of the Holiday Mini.   Will you go fall or Halloween?  I’ve shown 2 versions of the Fall Wreath card – one with the center cut out and one without.

       

Our fourth card is very fall and I think very striking.  I CAS’d the idea of the pears and the green checked paper, but changed the other cs colors, ribbon, and layering.  I used this image from the “Always Thankful” set on page 19 in the Holiday Mini.  I thought we might do the wheelbarrow with pumpkins next month.  Water coloring the pears and basket goes very quickly.  The DSP comes from the Frostwood Lodge set. 

So what’s left?  I promised 5 projects, but I still need to put #5 together.  We will each be doing a cellophane treat bag similar to the samples shown on page 11 of the Holiday Mini.  My Granddaughter Kristin designed bag toppers today for these little cuties.  We will use M&M’s or licorice to fill the treat bags.  I was discussing which candy to use with 6 year-old Granddaughter Jailyn and she informed me that “Gram, EVERYONE likes M&M’s.  As soon as Hubby Norb can load the bags with the little candies, we will take a picture and post it on this blog. 

Debbie and I hope to see you this weekend:  Friday October 7th, 3 PM to 11 PM – and – Saturday October 8th, 9 AM – 4 PM.  As always, all paper will be cut and scored, and all accessories will be supplied. 

Don’t forget to check out the Clearance Rack on Stampin’ UP – www.stampinup.com.  I received several orders today, but want to batch them together so no one gets stuck with the full postage.  So let me know if there is something you want.  Finally, several specials Stampin’ Up has right now.  Let me know if you are interested!

Join Stampin’ Up as a demonstrator and you will receive a FREE Big Shot – or $100 in free product!  If you have ever given any thought, please talk to me.  This is an excellent opportunity.  Even if you have a Big Shot, $100 in free product is a wonderful incentive. 

 

 

Is this not just the coolest thing?  My goal (now don’t laugh) is to make cookies for our Halloween Open House stamped with the pumpkin face!  Just make your favorite shortbread cookie dough (or one of the two included recipes) and stamp away! Create beautiful, hand-stamped cookies in a flash. The stamp images are completely food-safe and child-friendly.  Item #12512 – includes solid wood handle with three interchangeable stamp images, two recipes, and tips for use – $16.95.

Buy Two Simply Sent Kits-Get a Free Stamp     

Buy two Simply Sent Kits and get a FREE coordinating stamp set! Our Simply Sent Kits are the ideal choice for the beginning crafter. The card kits offer a variety of basic themes, so it’s easy to create cards for any occasion.  Check out the Simply Sent Kits on pages 192 & 193 of the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog

Brrrrrrrr…Fall is Here

Happy October crafters!  Have you noticed the leaves changing color?  Last  year I was fortunate to travel up to Door County during this time period and the colors were absolutely gorgeous!  This year I will be content to watch the local trees as they give us their red and oranges hues.  We have a few fall cards for the October and November Stamps Camps as well as a bit of Halloween and of course, Christmas.  Here’s a quick preview on cards 1 and 2.  I’m not going to add much color commentary as it is 11 PM and I am brain dead!

I love the 2-step stamping “Gently Falling” set in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Deb designed this card using the maple leaf in (I think) Cajun Craze and More Mustard.  She was experimenting with several color combinations.  She has added Spice Cake DSP and Pool Party that has been embossed with the Stripes embossing folder.  This is a bi-fold card and it would not lay flat for the picture.  It is much more attractive than the picture! 

 

 

 

 

I love this Christmas card done in Wild Wasabi, Garden Green and Real Red.  I used a few inches of Holly Berry Bouquet DSP and the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder on the red card stock .  I just love the lace doily which came from the Flirtatious Specialty DSP.  The doilies are colored on one side and white on the reverse.  I created the stocking using the “Stitched Stockings” stamp set in the new Holiday Mini, and punched the stocking out with the Stocking Builder Punch.  I re-punched the toe, heel and top of the stocking in the red glimmer paper.  I thought this gave the stocking some added glimmer.  Of course a rhinestone in the center of this little snowflake provides the perfect finish!

Make sure you check out the Clearance Rack on www.stampin’up.com.  They have added some new items of which I ordered a bunch myself!  There is some nice ribbon, punches, and several of my favorite embosslits dies on clearance!  Let me know if you want to order any of these items, or you can order them yourself online.

I hope you can make it to the October Fall Festival Stamp Camp!  We will be doing 5 projects – 2 fall, 2 Christmas and 2 that you can do either for fall or Halloween.  The cost will be $10 which is a bargain for what you will be making!  Several of you have already notified me of which day you will be attending.  It is always a help if I know ahead of time – but not required.  Friday October 7th will be from 3 PM to 9 PM and Saturday October 8th will be from 9 AM to 4 PM.  Hope you can make it!

Embossing Brads

I promised to share the results Debbi and I had embossing antique brads.  The results were interesting.  Deb used VersaMark on her brads, dipped the brads in the embossing powder, and then applied heat.  I, on the other hand, did not use VersaMark.  I heat the brad, dip it in the embossing powder, and try to shake off the excess.  The heat gun will actually heat the embossing powder to the point that excess powder drips off.  I use higher heat than Deb does and this tends to take out much of the color.  Needless to say, you need a sturdy tweezers to hold your brad during the process.  I tried embossing some inexpensive tree brads and discovered that by holding my heat gun 8 – 12” away from the brad, I had satisfactory results.  However, the trees were not the shiny smooth metallic look I was seeking.   You can see below that the poinsettia antique brads clearly show the impression.  My favorites are the Melon Mambo antique brad and the copper embossed antique brad.

The bottom line is that embossing brads is rather messy and time consuming.  However, if you have a special card or project and need 1 – 3 brads in a special color, this is the way to give you the perfect shade.  And don’t do what I did – place the brads on Styrofoam for the heating process because guess what – the Styrofoam melts.

Hope to see you Friday September 9th from 4 – 9 PM or Saturday September 10th from 9 AM – 4 PM.  We’re looking forward to several crafters who are new to our stamping group.  In order to impress the new folks, I will again promise NOT to sing!

October Fall Festival Stamp Camp is Oct 7-8, November Holiday Happenings is Nov 4-5 and December Christmas Celebrations Camp is Dec 2 – 3.  Mark your calendars now.  Give me a call if you have any questions – about ANYTHING!  In the meantime, HAPPY CRAFTING!  Rosemary