ONE SHEET WONDER - Part One

Have you ever made or use a template for a "ONE SHEET WONDER"? I never had until yesterday. I've heard the term and seen some cards created with them but had never really been interested in trying my hand at it. THEN one of the SU! demos in my side-line issued a challenge to those of us participating in an upcoming stamping event to create a template and 8 cards using the template. It was actually quite fun and quicker than I imagined it would be.

This is the template I created. It is an 8.5"x11" sheet of paper. (The outside border lines are missing.) I added the measurements for those of you who might like to try it and lettered it so that you can match it to the corresponding layouts (shown below). I'm sorry the drawings are so light - they are pencil renderings and I forgot to darken the lines with marker before scanning - and since I'm in a hurry (as usual) I didn't have time to redo them for today's post. If you click on the image it will enlarge it so that you should be able to see the dimensions clearly.

The second image is a diagram of the 8 different layouts I created for this template. The letters are placed on each card so that when it is at the right angle the card is also at the correct angle - either a vertical or horizontal layout.

As you will see by the template there is a letter 'I'. There are 4 small, unused pieces left when you cut up the 8.5" x 11" sheet. I have an idea for a 9th layout using 3 of them - but since I haven't actually created it I didn't want to add the layout to the sketch. Sometimes what looks good in my head doesn't look so good on paper. Know what I mean?????

Come back tomorrow to check out the Fall cards I made using this template. Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Rich Razzleberry are the "In-colors" I used and they are beautiful - if I do say so myself. LOL!

Until tomorrow -

Have a great day and happy stamping!

Jill

WEDDINGS, BIRTHDAYS AND OTHER STUFF

WOW! I just checked the date of my last blog post and it was more than 2 weeks ago!
Where did that time go - and why wasn't I in my studio happily stamping??? Looking back at my calendar I realized why - I had a wedding and wedding rehearsal dinner to help prepare (my nephew), photos to edit, 2 technique's classes to prepare for and a birthday lunch and shopping (my 50th!). Life has been a whirlwind the past couple of weeks but I am all caught up now and looking forward to a week of playtime before getting down to the business of preparing for a workshop at the end of the month.



The 2 cards I'm sharing today are samples from one of my technique's classes. I love the scraps of fabric, the frayed edges and the country feel of the first one. I used SU! Real Red and Mellow Moss markers to color the stamp then stamped directly onto the fabric. I used the writing point of the markers to add "shading" and definition to the stamped image.

The second card is made using the "WRINKLE FREE DISTRESS" technique made "famous" by Sherry Cheever. This was my first attempt at it so it's not up to Sherry's standard - but I still like the way it turned out. I used Cameo Coral and Mellow Moss Inks to create the background then once it was dry, overstamped the image in Not Quite Navy. Isn't the stamp adorable? It's from Great Impressions. I have two older sisters and this reminded me of us as children so it was a "must have".

Not much to chatter about today but I did want to let all of you know about the Peoria Area Stamp Fest that several of us SU! demos are hosting in September. If you will be in the area on the 19th and would like information just leave a message and I'll get back to you with the registration info.

That's it for today. Have a great one and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

SNEAK PEEKS FROM CHA

Of course I'm not actually AT CHA - but I've been collecting sneak peeks from the various blogs I visit and wanted to share a few items I'm very excited about. The first one is a gadget. I LOVE gadgets - they just seem to make things so much easier don't they.

Welcome the "i-Top" tool from IMAGINISCE. This handy little gadget makes covered button-brads in three different sizes from a variety of materials - e.g. paper, fabric, felt, lace, velour, velvet, etc. I'm sure it will be much more economical to make my own than buying the premades. I have a covered button maker from the sewing shop but this makes the buttons into brads - making placement a breeze! Lovin' it.

WooHoo! and look at these adorable storage units from DOODLEBUG DESIGN INC. There's a 9-drawer cabinet that you can customize with papers, fabric, etc., cute little scalloped shelves and coordinating white shadow boxes in two different sizes. I can see these things in my stamp room - of course a few things would have to go out before these things could come in!

The last item I want to share with you was voted the most innovative scrapbooking & paper arts product at the show. It is THE ULTIMATE TOOL by CRAFTER'S COMPANION. Make sure to click on the link to see what you can do with this little case of goodies. The all-in-one, compact carry-case allows you to score, measure, trim, embellish, create boxes, shaped cards, envelopes, bows and so much more. It includes a 24 full page instruction booklet and a 2 1/2 Hour Project & Instructional DVD which takes you step by step through 12 differenct projects and detailed instructions.

Don't forget Stampin'Up! is having a Deal of the Week promotion through the month of July. This week's deal is the HEART TO HEART punch for $10.99. That's almost a 30% savings. If you need this one - order fast. This promotion ends tomorrow - July 31st.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget to take a peek at the manufacturer's websites. They each have some phenomenal products and information.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!
Jill

RYLEIGH'S COMIN' (sung to the tune of "Eli's Comin"

Probably dating myself with the reference to the tune - but oh well. I am almost officially OLD! Just a little over a week away to the half century mark. I can't believe it!

Anyhoo - who is Ryleigh? My great-niece who is due to arrive in our world on December 2, 2009. Of course don't hold me to the name because mom and dad can't seem to agree yet. One of the other choices is EVELYN - which reminds me NOT of a sweet little baby but of an older, adult woman. (No offense to those of you with that name - I realize that at some point you were all sweet little babies!) but Aunt Jill is hoping for Ryleigh!

My sis that lives in South Africa (until October) and I are planning the baby shower and I was allowed to be in charge of the invitations - because - well THAT'S what I do! LOL! I saw a cute diaper made from cardstock a while back on Splitcoaststampers and tucked the idea away for future use. Mine is made a little differently than the others - but the idea is the same. The baby is a Jill Haddad original because I couldn't find a stamp that was cute and fat cheeked enough to suit. On most of the invitations the baby is just in a diaper - but for this one I put her in a footed jammies set. The "fabric" matches the nursery bedding and decor - so this invitation was made special for my niece (but since it was stamped crooked this was my "sample".) And of course since we're having a girl, there HAD to be a floral headband! The flower is from a length of ribbon from Hobby Lobby (where else????) and the "band" is colored in with an SU!Old Olive Marker. I've also decided that I am not making diapers for all the invitations. Just for a special few that I know will keep the cards. Katie and Alanna you know I mean you!!!!!

Lots going on in my life recently that has kept me very busy and away from my beloved computer. I'm hoping to remedy that in August so be prepared for more posts.

Have a great rest of your day -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

PINK POINSETTIA & VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS

I'm a big fan of the color pink - I like it in nature, I like it in clothing, I even like it in accessories. For example my daily planner is pink and I have a pink hammer & screwdriver set. But when it comes to Christmas, I'm a pretty traditional kind of girl. Give me the Forest Greens and the deep rich reds with a touch of mettallic golds and silvers for a bit of bling.

SO WHAT HAPPENED HERE?????

I was trying out another new technique - new in that I hadn't tried it yet not new to the stamping world - and I was in a pastel kind of mood so I chose Mellow Moss and Regal Rose reinkers to create a baby wipe background. On my first attempt I simply dragged the wipe in a straight line across the glossy paper and the striping reminded me of candy stripes - DON'T ASK ME WHY? I was probably feeling sugar deprived at the time - and then from there my mind began wandering. Striped candy, peppermint, candy canes . . . can you see where I'm going here??? So I pulled out my Christmas stamps and found this beautiful little poinsettia which I thought would be a nice little corner accent for my background piece - but it needed some glitz. So out came the gold embossing powder and watercolor crayons. I stamped two images, heat embossed and colored both then cut away the outer petals on one so that I could create a dimensional image.

Once I did that I couldn't very well cover up the background with some other image so the only thing for it was to make the greeting my focal point. (NOTE: I did not like the stripes so had to remake my background). Had I known I was going to emboss on the background I would have done the embossing FIRST because as you can see the background wasn't quite dry and some of the powder stuck where I didn't want it - but I didn't have a plan and the embossed greeting was an afterthought.

A little gold matting on a Pretty in Pink card base, a pink and mettallic ribbon (which looks a little less silver IRL) and some tiny amber gemstones to the center of the poinsettia almost finish the card. Now that I've walked away for a while I think it needs three little amber gemstones on the ribbon directly under the corner of the greeting on the right hand side. What do you think???? (This is my BEST attempt at painting gemstones - please don't be TOO critical. The ACTUAL gemstones are at home where there is no computer because it caught a NASTY cold and had to go to the doctor!)

That's it for the pink Christmas - I think anyway. Who know - I actually like it well enough it might become this years Christmas card.

Have a great rest of your day

and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

HYDRANGEAS UNDER GLASS

Have you tried the cracked glass technique yet? I love the look - like something from another era- and found the perfect stamp to use with it at Hobby Lobby.

To create the main image of this piece I stamped the collage image on SU! Very Vanilla using a Memento Brown ink. Then lightly colored the image with Koh-I-Noor pencils. These pencils are fairly bright colors so I toned them down using a brown pencil to lightly color over areas of the image. I used SU! Creamy Caramel to sponge around the edges and very lightly in and around the image then applied 3 coats of UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel). The trick to getting the cracked glass effect is to put the finished piece in the freezer for about 5 minutes then CARFULLY bend areas of the cardstock so that it cracks. I dotted 3 drops of Close to Cocoa refill on the piece then smeared it over the entire surface with a sponge dauber so that it would permeate the cracks then I wiped the excess off with a paper towel. A mat of Perfect Plum, some piercing and sponging, and a simple greeting finish off the vintage feel.

If you haven't tried this technique yet - give it a go. I'd love to see what you "see" as you're being creative.

Don't forget the Stampin'Up! Deal of the Week.

The Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware kit for just $18.99. It's a great deal and the pieces look so beautiful on cards.

I'm off to work now and then later off to the car dealership to purchase ANOTHER vehicle. Remember this post: I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU from May? It was the starting point of my "new van" saga. They STILL can't diagnose and correct the problem and after being stranded roadside 4 times in 21 days they are making me a "deal" on a different vehicle. I'm actually GETTING $300 MORE than what I originally paid for the defective vehicle but of course the vehicle we're purchasing is about $900 more than the one we purchased in April and THIS time we are getting a 2 year - 24,000 mile extended warranty! but I am still gun-shy. When you say your prayers today say one for me that this vehicle will run until we get her paid for (and then some) and that she won't be in and out of the shop with "nickel and dime" repairs. This is the "new" new vehicle!

Thanks so much for stopping by -

Have a great day and

Until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

DEAL OF THE WEEK: HODGE PODGE HARDWARE

Good morning everyone!!! I'm sorry I don't have a project to share with you today - but I do have some wonderful product information to share.

Stampin'Up! has been offering a Deal of the Week throughout the month of July and this weeks deal is FANTASTIC!!!

CURRENT STAMPIN'UP! DEAL OF THE WEEK

112454
Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware
Sale Price:$18.99 Regular Price: $29.95



This is a GREAT deal on this product - over 200 pieces of hardware for $18.99! That's a savings of almost $11.



There are some other newsworthy products being released this month from other companies as well. Check out the new line of CUTTLEBUG Embossing Folders. I love the Victoria and Fleur de Lisa which coordinate so well with the new SPELLBINDERS pendants and borderabilities line. I have a feeling they will be arriving soon at my house. :)


Make sure to check out the Spellbinders Blog for a chance to win some great new Nestabilities sets. It's a progressive prize - e.g. day 8 winner wins the set from day one, day two, day three etc clear through the day 8 prize. All you have to do is start at the spellbinders blog, click the link to view the guest designer's project and find out what set is being featured then click the email link and enter the die set name in the subject line. VERY easy!



Thanks for visiting today -
and until next time -

Happy Stamping!
Jill
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