Let it Snow?

Hi Everyone,

Well, it may not be cold enough to snow, but the temperature here in Northglenn is about 20 degrees cooler today than yesterday.  This started me thinking about the fact that it is mid August and snow has a habit of showing up here in Colorado when you least expect it. Thankfully it is usually gone again as quickly as it arrived, but it got me thinking about snowmen and how much I love these cute little guys.
So I thought I would share with you a card that we created recently at my Christmas in July card class.  I love the color combination of Island Indigo with Pool Party, two of the 2011-2013 In Colors, and it seemed like the perfect combination for a snowman card.
This frosty card features one of the snowmen from the stamp set, Snow Much Fun, and I think that is a pretty accurate description of this stamp set.  You can't help but smile when you create with these stamps.

Our snow friend was "watercolored" with a blender pen and ink and I added some sparkle to him with Dazzling Diamonds. The Silver Glimmer paper border and Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled ribbon accent dress up this fun Christmas card.
I hope you enjoy this sweet snowman Christmas card and I hope it inspires you to create your own Christmas cards ready for the holidays.

Until Next Time.
Happy Stamping,
Tricia Butts
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net

Recipe: (products are all Stampin' Up!)
Stamp Set: Snow Much Fun (p15)
Inks: Stazon Jet Black (p157), Classic Pool Party (p152), Island Indigo (p152), Basic Grey  (p156) & Pumpkin Pie (p153)
Cardstock: Pool Party (p152), Island Indigo (p152), Naturals White (p160), Silver Glimmer Paper (p160)
Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot(p186), Argyle Embossing Folder (p189), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (p183), Blender Pen (p178), Dazzling Diamonds (p158), Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (p172), Snail Adhesive (p177), Stampin' Dimensionals (p177)

Christmas Card Share: Sparkling Peace

Hi Everyone,
Well it is just 3 days until Christmas and I thought I would share some of the card designs that I created this year for the holidays. This was one of the cards we created in this year's holiday cards classes and it was a big hit. I love the hint of sparkle the Dazzling Diamonds adds to the snowflake and the adhesive rhinestone jewel just finishes it off.
This card has a wonderful snowy winter feel to it and the great thing is that it can be changed to use beyond the holidays simply by varying the sentiment used. This would be a wonderful card design for a thank you card and would also work as a birthday, thinking of you, anniversary or a winter wedding card.

This card design can be changed by varying the colors used to give it a whole new look as well. This is the card design I used to create my husband's Christmas cards for his team at work. The only thing I altered was the sentiment, using instead Merry Christmas from the stamp set Four the Holidays.

Using the Big Shot to help you create your cards really does help to cut down on the amount of time it takes to create multiples of a card design. With this card I used the Big Shot to emboss the Whisper White cardstock background with the Northern Flurry Textured Embossing Folder (exclusive to Stampin' Up) and to die cut the snowflake using the Northern Frost Sizzix Decorative Strip (also a Stampin' Up Exclusive) from Marina Mist cardstock.

The great thing about the decorative strip is that there are 8 different snowflakes of varying sizes that you can choose from, so you can make each card a little more unique by varying the snowflake die cut that you use.

I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas card share and hope it helps to inspire you.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up unless otherwise indicated):

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Whisper White

Ink: Marina Mist

Stamp Set: Peaceful Season (Level 2 Hostess Set from Holiday Mini Catalog)*

Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder*, Northern Frost Sizzix Decorative Strip*, Dazzling Diamonds, Two Way Glue Pen, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Snail Adhesive.

* These products are available from the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog which ends January 3rd, 2011.

Holidays in July Card Share - Happy Halloween

Happy Friday Everyone,
I can't believe another week is over already. This summer really feels like it is flying by at lightning speed. This weekend I have to brave the stores to do my kids Back to School shopping. Who knows, maybe I will find some good deals for crafting while I am there, lol.
Today I thought I would share with you the cards that I created for last weekend's Holidays in July Creative Card class. It was so much fun to design these holiday cards and I am already coming up with new ideas for next month's classes. Stay tuned for details.
The first card share I have for you is a cute Halloween card made with one of my favorite stamp sets from Stampin' Up, Batty for You. This stamp set has 8 different stamps that will make creating Halloween projects so much fun. It works great with the 1 3/8" Circle punch and the Scallop Circle punch so that it is as simple as choosing your stamp, stamping it and then punching it out.
For this card I wanted to try out a new color combination for me using 2 of the new In Colors, Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz. They work so well with the Pumpkin Pie card base and the Basic Black really made the colors pop.

I chose to use just one stamp, Batty for You, stamped in Basic Black Classic ink, to create my card but when we had the class I told my students to have fun and choose their own stamps and color combinations. They did a fabulous job and gave me so many great ideas to try. No two cards looked the same and I loved when they used the coordinating classic inks to stamp their images.

Everyone was amazed at how quick and simple this card was to put together and it is a perfect design for making multiple cards at the same time without taking a lot of time.

I hope you enjoy this card and hope it gets you inspired to start creating your own Halloween cards and projects. Batty for You is a great stamp set that works great for cards, scrapbooking and gift ideas. It is quick and simple to use and great for kids to create their own Halloween Treats. So why not get started today? Contact me to place your order or visit my Stampin' Up website and click Shop Now to place your order through my Online Store.

After all, Halloween will be here before you know it.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets: 

Teeny Tiny Wishes 114968  Price $36.95  Set Quantity: 24

Batty For You 116576 Price: $23.95

Create crazy tags or accents for cards or scrapbook pages with the adorable images from the Batty for You set. This set also coordinates with the Batty wheel and our Ghostly Greetings Designer Series paper for a monstrously fun combination.
Set Quantity: 8

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Basic Black, Whisper White
Inks: Basic Black (optional - Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush)
Accessories: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail adhesive

Creative Card Buffet: Day 2 Card Share

Hi Everyone,

As promised, I have returned with another card share showcasing this Saturday's Card Buffet. Today I have decided to share two of the card designs that will be available to help show you the variety of cards that I provide with my classes.

With Father's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share a card design that is perfect for the men in our lives. This card is created with the Motorcycle stamp from the new Summer Mini catalog and the textured background is created with the new Lattice Square Textured Impressions Embossing folder. You can personalize this card with the sentiment of your choice to suit the occasion.

The second card I want to share with you today is as feminine as the first card is masculine. This pretty pink card is created using the new Watercolor Trio stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog. The tone on tone look gives the card a soft and pretty look. This card design works well for many occasions whether it is a birthday, Friendship or even a Get Well card. The choice is yours.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Card Buffet card shares and would love to have you join me this Saturday for a fun and relaxed class. Visit here to for details. Please contact me today to reserve your spot. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

P.S. Don't forget to visit tomorrow to see more card designs available at this month's Creative Card Buffet.

Motorcycle 117657 Price: $8.95

Set Quantity: 1

Watercolor Trio -
Clear-Mount Stamp 120084

Price: $16.95
Wood Mount Stamp 117050

Price: $22.95
Set Quantity: 7

Join Me for April's Creative Card Class - Saturday, April 10th

Hi Everyone,
Well, in all the excitement I almost forgot to tell you about this month's Creative Card Class. We will be making 5 High Quality cards that you can use for the wonderful ladies in your life. You can choose to create cards for Mother's Day, Birthday, Thinking of You, Thank You etc. The choice is yours. 
This is a great opportunity to play with some of the colors that will soon retire, to see if you like them enough for your own collection.
Once again, there will be two class times available:
Morning: 10am - 12noon
Afternoon: 1pm - 3pm
This is a fun and relaxing class. No stress allowed! We will also be trying out some Two Step Stamping as part of April's special promotion, so it really is a great opportunity to come and play and learn something new. Plus, you get to take home 5 fabulous cards that you made yourself.
Tomorrow I will post sneak peeks of the card designs we will be making, just to tempt you (I hope, lol).
Please contact me to reserve your spot and don't forget to bring a friend to share the fun with you.
Until Next Time.
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Easter Blessings

Hello Everyone,
It's a beautiful, sunny day here in Colorado and the flowers are bravely starting to poke their heads above the earth's surface in search of the sun.
Today's card is a reminder that Easter is only a few weeks away and now is a good time to get started on your Easter cards for friends and family. I chose the stamp set, Abundant Hope, which can be found in Stampin' Up's Occasions Mini catalog (p24). I love the elegance of this stamp set and while it is technically meant for Easter, I think it would also be perfect all year round for birthdays, Anniversary, Thinking of You, Get Well and Sympathy cards. The flower image can be colored using a wide range of techniques including watercoloring with watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, chalk pastels, and inks. It would also make a lovely tone on tone image.

For my card, I decided that I wanted my flowers to be the main focus of my card design. I wanted the colors to capture your attention, so I chose to color the image with my Stampin' Write Markers.

Using Stazon Jet Black ink, I stamped the floral image onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. Next, I colored the image using Old Olive for the stems and leaves, Crushed Curry for the flowers and added detail with the fine tip of the Dusty Durango marker.
I then matted the image onto a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock. My card base I created from Very Vanilla cardstock and I added a piece of Dusty Durango cardstock that I had embossed with the Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder using my Big Shot.
I wrapped a piece of Very Vanilla Satin ribbon (also available from the Occasions Mini Catalog) around the middle of the Dusty Durango cardstock and adhered the ends to the back and adhered the Dusty Durango cardstock to the Very Vanilla card base.
For the sentiment, I once again chose Jet Black Stazon ink and stamped it on a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock. I then punched it out using the Modern Label punch and matted with an oval cut from Crushed Curry cardstock using the Large Oval punch before attaching it to the card.
Simple, but classically elegant and perfect for the occasion. You could use this card design to create a set of Thank You cards for someone as a lovely gift. Change the colors of the cardstock and flowers for a new look for a different occasion. There are so many possibilities that would make this a wonderful stamp set to add to your collection.
I hope you enjoyed today's card. Please contact me if you have any questions or you would like to place an order.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts
P.S. This was the final card from Saturday's card class. Stay tuned for new card shares.

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):
Stamp Set:  Abundant Hope - Clear Mount Stamp   118547  Price: $13.95
                                                      Wood Mount Stamp  117054 Price: $17.95

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango

Ink: Jet Black Stazon ink

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder, Stampin' Write Markers Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango (from the In Colors set of 6 Markers) & Old Olive, Modern Label punch, Large Oval punch, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Snail adhesive.

Blissful Birthday in Blue

Happy Monday Everyone,
Well, the morning has been pure chaos but I finally have a moment to sit down and add today's card share. This card was another card from Saturday's card class and I like to have at least one of my cards for my classes have a masculine theme, because, let's face it, males have birthdays too.
Most people, myself included, struggle with what to create when it comes to a card for the men in their lives. So, I took the challenge when creating this card, hoping to come up with a design that not only would work as a masculine card but that would also work for various age groups.
Now, besides being my favorite color, blue tends to be a safe bet when it comes to guys. After all, aren't we told "blue for boys, pink for girls". So with that in mind, I chose my new favorite combination from Stampin' Up's Bold Brights color family, Brilliant Blue and Tempting Turquoise to create my card.

I also decided to incorporate two of Stampin' Up's birthday stamp sets that can also be found on the Sale-a-bration free product list that expires March 31st, Starring You and Birthday Bliss.

I created the card base from a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2" to create a top fold card. Next, I took a piece of Brilliant Blue cardstock and stamped the image from the Starring You stamp set randomly over it with Brilliant Blue Classic ink to create a tone on tone pattern.

Then I decided to add a little texture using the faux suede technique. I punched out two circles in Tempting Turquoise cardstock, one 1"and one 3/4", and then did the same from Brilliant Blue cardstock. I then used my bone folder to break down the fibers in the cardstock by rubbing the bone folder across the cardstock on both sides of the circles until the cardstock begins to separate around the edges.

Next, I carefully peel the two layers apart until I have two circles, with each circle having a smooth side and a rough or faux suede side. Repeat this for all your circles and you will have a total of 8 circle. Taking the 3/4" circles, scrunch them up and then flatten them out again. Then apply ink to them with a sponge dauber or lightly rub them accross the ink pad  of the corresponding color (i.e. Tempting Turquoise Classic ink on Tempting Turquoise cardstock).

Using glue dots to attach the smaller circles to the larger circles, I paired up the Tempting Turquoise circles with the corresponding Brilliant Blue circles. I arranged them on the front of my card until I was happy with how it looked (making sure to leave a space large enough to fit my sentiment). I applied a small amount of adhesive to the back of each of the large circles and adhered them to the card front.

To complete the card, I stamped the sentiment using the Birthday Bliss stamp (from the stamp set of the same name) in Tempting Turquoise Classic ink onto Whisper White cardstock and then punched it out using the Wide Oval punch. I attached it to the card using dimensionals.

So there you have it. A male birthday card that works for most age groups and comes together relatively quickly so that you could make several at a time to have on hand for birthdays through out the year. Change the colors for variety (I think this card would look great in varying shades of brown or combine shades of red and orange for a bold look).

I hope you have enjoyed today's card and please, don't forget to take advantage of Sale-a-bration and the opportunity to earn free Sale-a-bration products. Contact me today learn mor or to place your order. Plus, you can place your order online through my Stampin' Up Online Store by clicking Shop Now.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin,

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets: 

Birthday Bliss 115442   Price: $15.95  Set Quantity: 4 *

Starring You  111696    Price: $13.95  Set Quantity: 4  *

* Earn either Stamp Set Free during Sale-a-bration with the purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products. Purchase $100 in Stampin' Up products and earn both sets free. (Excludes S&H and Taxes) 

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue

Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Bone Folder, mini Glue dots, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Spring Fever Card Class

Happy Monday Everyone,
I hope you all had a great weekend. The weather here in Northglenn was beautiful and very Spring like, which has me in the mood to make cards with pretty pastels and Spring themes.
Today's card share is another card from my Creative Card Class - Spring Fever that I am holding this Saturday, March 13th, in my home studio. Just click Events details about this class.

This butterfly card just makes you think of warm Spring days when the flowers are just starting to bloom and the butterflies return to our gardens.

I hope you will join me this Saturday for a fun and relaxing class making 5 pretty Spring cards that will be perfect for any occasion.

Contact me today to save your spot.

Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):
Stamp Set: Well Scripted (p19 Occasions Mini Catalog)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Sizzix SU Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-bration Free Product with purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products), Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, sponge daubers, dimensionals, snail adhesive.

WCMD - World Card Making Day is coming!

Can you believe it is almost that time of year? No, not the holidays although they are getting closer everyday. I'm talking about World Card Making Day which this year will be on Saturday, October 3rd. Now you are probably wondering why I would be excited about this particular day, after all it's not a major holiday or anything.
Well, each year I use this day to kick start my cardmaking for the holiday season and this year is even more special because I am planning on sharing it with as many people as I can who would love to make cards with me.
This year I am holding an All Occasions Card Class at my house from 10am to 2pm and I am inviting you to come and join in the fun. We will be creating 5 fabulous cards for just $10 and because I know how busy your Saturdays can be, I am having an open house style class so that you can come and go any time during 10am and 2pm to create your cards. (I recommend that you arrive no later than 1:30pm so that you have time to create your cards). I will provide a variety of sentiment stamps for you to use so that you will have the freedom to create the kind of cards you like to give.
I am also excited to be able to share with you Stampin' Up's wonderful new digital software program, My Digital Studio, which goes on sale October 1st. Come and see all the wonderful digital cards, scrapbooks, calendars and so much more that you can create with this incredible new program. I love that I am now able to find time to scrapbook without the clutter and I can still use Stampin' Up's wonderful colors, stamps and embellishments to create my pages.
I will be demonstrating how to put together a simple scrapbook page as well as design a card using the many features of this great new program.
Need ideas for the upcoming holidays? I will have displays with cards and gift ideas for the holidays as well as details of my new classes to help you get prepared. There will be door prizes and fun incentives.
So if you live in the Northglenn, Colorado area and would like to have some creative fun, please contact me to sign up to save your spot by clicking here to email me or go to my website link for contact information. I am happy to answer any questions you might have about this class or anything about Stampin' Up!. Registration closes Wednesday, September 30th so sign up today to join in the fun.
I will be sharing sneak peeks of the cards that we will be creating at this card class over the new few days, so don't forget to come back and visit. In addition, I will be posting ideas to help you to jump start you preparations for the holidays.
With Halloween (October 31st), Thanksgiving Day (November 26th), Hannukkah (begins December 11th) and Christmas Day (December 25th) just weeks apart, there is no time like the present to make a start and avoid the last minute headaches so you can enjoy the holidays with your family.

Hope you have a great day.
Stamping Smiles,

Tricia