Circles and Presents

Have you ordered from the Online Extravaganza yet?  I just LOVE some of the sets that are 50% off!!!  I have to admit that I was a little bummed that I just ordered a couple of the sets, like less a month before they were on sale, but I guess I've gotten some enjoyment out of them in that time.  Okay, confession, one of the sets has not even been used yet, but at least I took advantage of some of the others that I didn't already have.  My order should come on Monday so I'll have some new rubber to stamp with.

I made this card a couple weeks ago, before I knew about the sale.  I used one of my favorite birthday stamp sets--Patterned Party, which just happens to be on sale right now.  If you don't already have it, you should get it while it is HALF PRICE!  You can't beat that.  I came across some pre-cut card stock from one of my 2011 classes and decided that I ought to use it up.  I started out with the supplies from this card and then got busy stamping.  I stamped my presents in Marina Mist and layered them on the same colored card stock.  I added a strip of Marina Mist card stock to the inside edge of the card so that it would highlight my scalloped edge.  The patterns in the presents inspired me to add more patterns to my card, so I stamped a panel with stamps from the Circle Circus set in Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, and Basic Gray.  I mounted everything on my card base that I textured with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Finally, I finished it of with a bit of seam binding ribbon.
 

Saffron & Mustard Circles

I could have days like today almost everyday!  We had some snow last week and it was sad to think about how our pleasant fall days may soon draw to an end.  However, yesterday and today the sun was out, the jackets came off, and the kids and I played outside.  The weather seems to go perfectly with the color combo over at Dynamic Duos right now--More Mustard and So Saffron.  The shades of yellow are warm but not too bright, just like the warmer (but not too hot) fall days.  I used the Circle Circus stamp set and stamped three of the circles in the challenge colors (plus Basic Black).  I layered that panel on More Mustard and Basic Black card stock.  The polka dot strip is from the Regals Patterns DSP and is layered on Basic Black card stock that I cut with the large scallop edgelits die.  The greeting comes from Sweet Essentials and is stamped on a hand-cut banner and layered on More Mustard card stock.  Everything is mounted on a So Saffron card base that I textured with the perfect polka dot embossing folder. 

In Color Circle Circus

Last night I offered a stamping class at my home and the theme was tools and techniques.  I wanted to give my customers a chance to try out some of the fun new products in Stampin' Up!'s catalog.  This card is a simple card to make and it showcases the new paper piercing templates.  It is a little hard to see, but around the thank you decorative label punch is a pierced border the same shape as the punch.  I used the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack which has templates for piercing circles, shapes (several that match punches), borders, etc.  The stamped layer uses the Circle Circus set--an oldie but a goodie.  I opted to use this set and this color palette so that this card can be used for both women and men.  The colors are all this year's In Colors: Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, and Midnight Muse.  I love how these four colors go together for a bright and fun combination.

Circle Four Square

I love the Circle Circus stamp set. It is so versatile and can be used for almost any occasion depending on what color scheme you use. It's also one of those stamp sets that can be used on more manly cards (as opposed to my many flower sets). This card uses a few retired colors of card stock and ribbon, but I wanted to share it anyway for the layout idea (since you can easily adapt it with other colors). I used the 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" square punch.

Variety Class Project #4

Here is another 3x3 gift card with matching envelope that we made at my class on Thursday. I used the circle circus stamp set to make this. The card is Gable Green and has Bermuda Bay polka-dot ribbon tied around it. The large circle is stamped in Bermuda Bay and is punched with the scalloped circle punch. The smaller circle is stamped in Gable Green and is punched with the 1" circle punch. The "happiness" stamp is from the Warm Words stamp set.

Variety Class Project #1

Here is one of the projects that we made at my Variety Stamp Class tonight. We had a lot of fun and had a good turn out. If you missed this class, we hope you can join us in September for the Holiday Mini class.

I used the Box #2 die for my Big Shot (my new favorite toy). I cut 2 boxes out and glued them back to back to make this basket. Instead of folding down the lid, I kept it up and punched a hole with my oval punch to make the handle. I wrapped an 1"x12" piece of the Cottage Wall designer series paper around it--there was a little gap in the front, so that is where I put my flower. I used the 5-petal flower punch to make the flower out of white and Rich Razzleberry card stock. The center of the flower is stamped with one of the circles in the Circle Circus stamp set. The leaf is old olive punched with the small oval punch and stamped with the Thank You from the Short and Sweet stamp set. I tied old olive grosgrain ribbon around the handle to finish it off.

Circle Circus Flowers

I came up with this card for another Clean & Simple challenge. This challenge was to make a card that was inspired by another. The sample was very similar, just used different stamps. I couldn't think of any 2-Step Stamps that were current, so I turned the circle circus stamps into flowers.

I used Teeny Tiny Wishes for the greeting and Circle Circus for the flowers. Colors are Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, and Basic Black. The card measures 4-3/4" square.

Bermuda Circles

Here's another card with the new Circle Circus stamp set and new In Colors. These colors remind me of warm days in the Caribbean--is it time to cruise again yet? I use Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry along with Creamy Caramel. The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and is punched out with the modern label punch.

Melon Curry Circles

I just opened some of my new "sneak peek" Stampin' Up! goodies. I LOVE the new 2009-2010 In Colors. Featured here are Mambo Melon, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, and Crushed Curry. SU! came out with matching polka dot ribbon in all 6 In Colors!!! I've used the new Circle Circus stamp set along with the new Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp set. I've also used the scallop edge punch and the new modern label punch (made a window in the front--the greeting is actually mounted inside the card.