Hazzard County Card Challenge

Oh my, the other Hazzard County girls are going to be so surprised when they see I have joined in this months challenge.

Let's say I killed two birds with one stone.  Saturday I went to a Megameeting (for demonstrators) in Burlington with Kathy and we had a great time.   It has been a few months since I joined in any swaps, so when I saw Jacqueline Cameron was hosting a Sale-A-Bration Mini and an Occasions Mini swap I joined both. 

Each swap had to use products from their respective Mini Catalogue so for the Occasions Mini I decided to use Create-a-Cupcake.  Well wouldn't you know it but I incorporated the elements required for the HCCC challenge this month.  PERFECT! LOL

My cupcake has the most detail but still came together quickly.  I punched out a piece of Real Red cardstock using the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, I cut out a Baja Breeze circle (2 1/4") using the Circle Scissor Plus and then a Whisper White Circle (2") using the Circle Scissor plus.  I layered these three together.

Next I punched out my cupcake top from Baja Breeze cardstock using the Create-a-Cupcake punch.  I covered the piece in Tombow Multipurpose Glue and covered with Baja Breeze Glass Glitter (soooo pretty).

The cupcake bottom was made by inked up (using a marker) in Pear Pizzaz ink from the Create-a-Cupcake stamp set and stamped on Pear Pizzaz cardstock.  I used the punch to then punch it out.  I glued this to the White cardstock circle.  I also added Tombow double sided adhesive to my glittery cupcake top and added that to the white circle as well.  Then using the oh so bold Red Glitter paper from the Occasions Mini I punched out my cherry and used a glue dot to hold that in place.

Next I ran a piece of Whisper White cardstock through the Big Shot using the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  I wrapped Pear Pizzaz seam binding (also from the Occasions Mini) around and tied in a bow.  Wow is this stuff shimmery and light, you can barely feel it between your fingers.  I can't believe how gorgeous it is though and can't wait to order more.

I added my White embossed layer to my 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Real Red card base and finally popped up my layers of circles and cupcake to the front of my card.

I love the bold bright colours of this card and how yummy that cupcake is.

Warmth and Love

How about a quick and simple card for a Friday?  I need to do quick and simple because I have a cold and it is dragging me down. 

The base is Very Vanilla with a bit of Jolly Holiday designer paper layered over top.  One edge of the Jolly Holiday paper is punched with the Scallop border punch.  Before I attached this to my base though I wrapped my Old Olive Satin ribbon around it and tied it in a bow.

The sentiment is another Merry & Bright silver rub-on. (retired)

Dry Heat is So Sweet

I was teaching a card class last week and wanted to showcase both dry and heat embossing all on the same card.  I wanted my image to really stand out so we used Versamark and then black embossing powder.  The flowers were then coloured in using Stampin' Write Markers. 

I wanted to also show how you can dress up the inside of the card so we repeated the process on Whisper White cardstock for the inside flap.

They loved this card and how easy it is to do both heat and dry embossing.

Whoo's Anniversary?

I love the new Sale-A-Bration set, Punch Bunch.  It has so many simple and sweet images and sentiments and the cute little owl used on this card is no exception.  The really wonderful thing about this is that once the owl is stamped, you simply use the 2-step Owl punch to punch them out.

I wanted a bright and vibrant card with texture and the owls seemed a great fit.  Don't you love that one has a green 'belly' and the other a 'pink' belly?  So easy to do with markers.

I also learned that using the bone folder to curl even small strips of paper works great to add depth and appeal to a card, so that is what I did with my little sentiment.

To earn your free Sale-A-Bration set(s), contact me today at margaret@stamphaven.ca   (Canadian residents only please)

Nature's Smile

Tuesday already?  That long weekend sure flew by and now we are back to work.  C'est la vie!

Since I have had so many classes over the past few weeks I do have some new card creations to share with you as soon as I photograph them but for right now I will share an old card with you.

The layout and colours are quite simple yet I love the saying and the simple effect that paper piecing can create.  Oh and don't forget a bit of glitter to glam up those lovely flowers. :)

Blog Award

Wow, it has been a long time since I have been blessed with a blog award.  I was delighted when I received a note from Suze Bain who's blog I discovered while participating in the Less is More blog challenge and I am thrilled to accept this award.

These are the conditions of accepting the award:


1) You have been tagged, do you want to accept? YES! then create a post on your blog and post the love blog photo.

2) Link back to the person who gave you the award and say if you accept.

3) Choose 3-5 of your favourite blogs to tag, link these in your post too and tell the lucky people they have been tagged. As the aim of this award is to bring unknown good blogs to light, please don't tag somebody with 3000 followers.

So these are the blogs that I would like to pass on the award to (please pay them a visit - all have less than 20 followers)

Angela - http://angelasscrapyard.blogspot.com/
Melissa - http://laymans-views.blogspot.com/
Marnie - http://marniverse.blogspot.com/

Red and Silver Ornament

Shortly after Christmas I was speaking with my dear friend Angela who had been the recipient of today's card and she had a sweet little story for me about the card.  She will have to correct me if I get the details wrong but it was something along the line of the card being the perfect card for them.  It arrived in the mail and the kids sat and played with it for about 15 minutes pretending they were selling ornaments and showing off the different colour choices to select from.  (I hope that was right Ange ;~)

This card was so pretty and with the extra popping of the ornament and the pearls to give it a soft touch it turned out just right.

A CELEBRATION!!!

My blog hit count has hit 10,000 - WOO HOO!!!

2 years and 10 days and I finally hit it.

Okay I know lots of blogs get that in only a few months but hey I just haven't been discovered yet by the world.  LOL

I need to decide how to celebrate.  I'll get back to you on this.

Have a great evening and thanks to all those who visit me regularly and have helped me reach this milestone.
Margaret :)

Less Is More

Lately I have been browsing around some new blogs and I found one called Less Is More that has challenges focusing on simpler cards.  Well wouldn't you know it, their challenge this week was a one layer card with the theme of a flower or a tree and I just so happened to have a one layer card with a tree on it ready and waiting for me to photograph and post.

It was meant to be.   So todays card is another one of my sponged spotlight cards that I have grown to love because of how simple yet effective this technique it.

I used Wild Wasabi and Marina Mist ink to sponge my landscape and I used the tree from the set Forest Friends.

I hope you like my simple yet vibrant card and would love for you to give this technique a try as well.

Shaving Cream Fun

Oh my goodness... here is a card we made at a meeting at my former up-line's home.  Who knew that shaving cream could create this fantastic look? I seriously love it and yet, I have never tried it on my own since, but I will be soon. 

This card was so simple yet packs so much WOW.  First you follow the shaving cream technique on Whisper White cardstock, next stamp your image, then cut it out with the paper trimmer and trim cut out down a bit more so when you place it back in it's opening there is a mat around your image.

This will be one of the techniques we will be doing at my workshop on Monday February 28 at 7:30pm.  If you are in and around Fergus, Ontario and would like to attend my free workshop please feel free to contact me and reserve your spot.

Peace on Earth - Christmas Card of the Week

Well I am trying to get back to posting one Christmas card a week. 

Today's is a card that I, for the most part, CASE'd from Renee V at Stampin' For Sanity (her post was back in December)

I love the soft colours and that the card is not too busy with embellishments.

To My Sweet Valentine

For those of you who know me you likely know that I am truly, madly, deeply in love with my better half, my fiance, Chris.  Although I may moan and complain every so often, he really is good to me.  He respects me, cares for me, adores me and although his disability prevents him from doing a lot, those things he does do, mean so much.  I am a poor cook but that's okay because he does the majority of cooking, even though it may take him several hours.  Now how can you say that isn't love.

Our life together has changed dramatically since Chris' accident but we slowly are learning to make the most of what we can do together and just enjoy each other.

I tell you, since I have moved my stamp room he has barely seen me and yet he has been so supportive and encouraging.

I just had to make a special card for him, so after all my absolute must -do's were completed on my To Do list, I sat down and made this sweet creation for him.  I was inspired by my dear friend Melissa's card to her husband John.

I left it on the bedside table this morning for him when I left for work so that when he gets up he will see it (I hope LOL)

This 6 x 6 card was super easy to make and this was the first time I sponged clouds onto a card.  I have been really into sponging lately and so I got my fill creating my sky on this card.

The only stamp I used was the sentiment and it is from Artistic Etchings.  I really had to hold myself back from using ribbon on this card and I think the Pewter Hodgepodge frame was just right. 

I really didn't want to lose the ever classic colour of Valentines and therefore made sure I included red in this card.   I really like these colours together.  One thing I love about this card is that after sponging on the textured Vanilla cardstock, it now has the look of fabric/ linen. So cool!

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

Pink Hearts

Wow, what a week this has been.  Four nights of teaching and classes, it was SO much fun. There was so much laughing, especially last night, that I'm pretty sure I burned off all the calories from the cookies I ate.  LOL

Now to prepare for 3 nights of teaching/ classes next week. :)

I am sharing a quick post today of a card that we made at my up-line's home several years ago.  This set, Simply Said,  is still current which is fantastic.

I love the softness of this card and it is so feminine.  Very quick to make with very few colours.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll be back next week with more cards and projects to share.

Winter Memories

I don't know if you recall or not but shortly before Christmas I had mentioned that I still had some Christmas cards to share but was holding off so they could make it to the recipient before I posted.  Well, Christmas came and I took a week's hiatus and then what do you know, I never posted.

So I will slowly begin sharing some of these creations.

This was one of my absolute favorites that I created.  I began envisioning this card as I lay in bed one night and it slowly grew over the next couple days until I was able to sit down and make it.

I used the Jolly Bingo Bits set for my images and the oh so gorgeous Old Olive Satin Ribbon.  For quickness and ease I used the 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 square punches and I sponged ink around my layers.

I hope you like this card just as much as I do.

Pure Bliss

I was inspired to create today's card after seeing a post on Heather Summers blog.  I simply changed the patterned paper but I believe everything else bears a striking resemblence to her card LOL

For the designer paper on this card I used the Clearance Rack DP - Sending Love.  You can order this by clicking HERE.  (I know I've said this about a million times already but if you wish to receive the preferred price you will need to set up an account before you add items to your shopping cart)  You should feel the texture on this cardstock, absolutely fun and amazing.

The image is from our Sale-A-Bration mini - Bliss stamp set.  Isn't that image beautiful?  I absolutely love it.

If you would like to earn Sale-A-Bration products free simply place an order for $60.00 on-line through My Store or e-mail me.  You will earn a free item from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue for EVERY $60.00 you purchase.  (before s/h and tax)  You must be a Canadian resident to order from me.

New Stampin' Up! Video using SAB set - Bliss

Well I had a great weekend, it was super busy and lots of work was accomplished but unfortunately I was shy on time to put up a post yesterday.

This week is a bit insane for me.  Last night I taught a cardmaking class at the local library.  I had such a great time.  The women who joined the class were absolutely fantastic.  Tonight I'm off to teach cardmaking at a local school, then tomorrow night scrapbooking at the local school, then Thursday night my Valentine's card class at my home and if more people sign up then again on Friday night.  Whew - yep a bit insane.  So bear with me as I look for time to get posts up on the blog-o this week.

Today instead of a card (seeing as they are all on my laptop at the moment and I don't have my laptop with me) I am sharing a video that Stampin' Up! has posted using one of our beautiful Sale-A-Bration sets - Bliss.



If you would like to earn this set free, simply go to my on-line store HERE and place a $60.00 order (before s/h and tax) and you will be able to add a Sale-a-Bration item to your cart. (one free item from the SAB catalogue for EVERY $60.00, so if you place a $120.00 order you get to pick TWO products)  Oh and remember to set up an account before you start adding items to your shopping cart so you get the preferred price.

Thank You's

Quite some time ago I had a client commission me to make thank you cards for their wedding.  They provided me with some cardstock that was used to create their invitations and colour matching from that I created several cards for them to select from.

Here are the designs I created:

And my personal favorite:

Valentines Card Class - RE-POSTED - offering class on two nights - scroll down for new posts

Today I am sharing the card designs for my Valentines Card Class on Wednesday February 2nd  -  7:30pm - 9pm.  We will be making 6 cards (2 each of 3 designs)  There is still space in the class and the fee is $12.00 per person.

Can't make it?  I am offering this class as a class kit to go - all of these cards cut out and ready for you to stamp at home for $10.  I will do the punching, and texturing the card stock as needed for each card.  If you're long distance just add $7 for postage.
Due to the Angel Policy I am unable to pre-stamp the images, therefore you will need to use your own stamp sets and inks.

Reserve your spot today.  margaret@stamphaven.ca



Sense of Time

I was working on masucline cards to prepare one for Monday nights class at the Library and this was a card I came up with, although not the card picked for the class.  I am not sure if the stampers will be beginners or not so I had to be careful about how much work they had to put into it and although this card may not look like much, there were several things I did to get it the way it looks.

This was also the first time I pulled out my Distressing Kit since I bought it back in August.  It is a lot of fun and I hope to use it more often. 

The reason this card did not meet the final approval, other than all the little details and techniques used to make it look the way it does, was the ribbon.  Men aren't so much into ribbon....LOL

It's still a great card and I am happy with the outcome.

A Card for Me...

I LOVE Chris.  He is the most wonderful fiance in the world.  His disability may prevent him from doing a lot of things but sitting down to make a card for me is not one of them.

I couldn't stop laughing when I found this 12 x 12 in my stamping room that he made for me and at the same time my heart swelled with love and fondness.

Chris has a great imagination and he knows how thrilled I am to have a large new stamping room where I can have so many more people at my events in one room. 

The front is Chris and I'll be honest, I couldn't figure out the initials on his shirt.  The word "Whaat?" should have been a big clue.  The movie Despicable Me has become a huge favorite for us and we all settled on which character we were.  Well Chris is Dr. Gru, hence the DG on his shirt. 

The inside of the card - AMAZING.  So cute and the woman is his depiction of moi.  LOL - I just love this card. He obviously spent quite a bit of time to cut out our outfits, hair (okay,my hair because he keeps his head shaved) and even down to eyebrows made from cardstock.  Seriously!!!

Sunset Spotlight

I know I posted a Valentine's themed card already using this technique but I couldn't resist doing one where it looks like the sun is setting.  I copied this colour combo and the design from another demo.  I changed up my stamp set from what she had used.

This card uses the image and sentiment from Just Believe.  Such a pretty one layer card and quite easy to complete.

This will be one of the cards that we will be making at the card class next Monday at the Aboyne Library.