Quick Tip: Perfect Banner Tails - Every Time!

Today I am sharing a quick video tip for you on making a perfect banner tail every time.  Check it out and let me know what you think!

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Merry Christmas to You!

 Here is a card that we made at my recent Christmas card class.  This card was inspired by a tag that Sharon Cheng made.  I am having so much fun using the Santas from the Home for Christmas Designer Series Paper.  Having the Brother Scan N Cut makes cutting out a whole sheet of them at a time so easy!Six

To see how to make the Christmas Tree for this card using the Scalloped Circle punches, watch this video:

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Product List

Six Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139852]	Embellished Ornaments Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139759]	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949]	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482]
Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133676]	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686]
Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper [135315]	Season Of Cheer Designer Series Paper [139590]	Home For Christmas Designer Series Paper [139592]	7/8" Circle Scallop Punch [129404]
1-1/4" Circle Scallop Punch [127811]	1-3/4" Circle Scallop Punch [119854]	Sleigh Ride Edgelits Dies [139670]	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672]
Home For Christmas Designer Buttons [139639]	Silver Cording Trim [139620]

Festive Flower Punch & Reason for the Season....

Today's video shows you how to make a template for use with the Festive Flower Punch and the Reason for the Season stamp set so you can stamp all the petals at the same time and punch them out together.

The video will also show you how to assemble the beautiful poinsettia shown here.  Enjoy!

My apologies for those that could not watch the video.  It should be fixed now.  Please let me know if you cannot access it.

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Always in Search of a Great Masculine Card?

 

I am! My wonderful customers are often asking for masculine cards. Here is one that we recently made using punches. I came across this punch art on Jessica Lewis' blog. I am always amazed by the vision of some people. I had some colored metal sheets that I picked up at a stamping convention years ago and thought it would work perfectly for this card. We embossed the red metal using the Woodgrain folder and then sanded it to reveal the silver. The black Cardstock was embossed just at the bottom using the Chevron embossing folder and the sentiment was taken from the Delightful Dozen stamp set. The stamp had additional sentiments on it so we used a marker to ink just the portion we wanted.

Have you ever done that and ended up catching another portion of the stamp so you get a "shadow" on your card? I do - often enough and on this card too! How did I fix it. Like that piece of Washi tape from the Epic Day This &That Washi Tapes? Well, it is hiding my goof!

The wrenches were made using the silver foil paper. The head was made using the Word Window punch which I punched alone the edge of the silver paper. I then came back and punched it using the 1" circle punch. The base was made using the flower from the Itty Bitty Shapes punches and then again using a 3/4" circle punch. The stem was just a cut strip of the paper. We also sponged the edges in Basic Black before assembly.

The inside sentiment is from the Remembering Your Birthday stamp set and has a strip of Washi tape along the bottom.

 

Posted with Blogsy

All Those Leftover Ribbon Scraps.....

Do you have a bunch of ribbon scraps that you just can't seem to get rid of? Here is a great way to use those up. I have seen this idea on SplitcoastStampers and other blogs and I just think it is a great way to use up all those little pieces.

Just take a piece of paper and put some adhesive down in the center of the paper. I used the multipurpose adhesive sheets which retired but we have new ones which I am sure will work just as well - if not better! Lay your ribbons down on the diagonal and punch a shape out of the Cardstock you are placing on top. Super easy and super cute!

Here is the inside of our card. The stamp set was one of the Sale-a-Bration sets but Remembering your birthday has some stamps that will work. Also, in the new catalog there is a new set called Age Awareness that would be perfect too!

 

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Adorable Punch Art

I have several customers who love punch art and I am so grateful to the incredibly creative people on SplitcoastStampers who see how to take a few punched shapes and turn them into something like this adorable cat!

The punches you will need are:

• XL Oval
• Small Oval
• 1 3/4" Circle
• Build a Blossom
• Owl Builder
• Small Heart
• Word Window

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Here Fishy, Fishy....

Here is a cute card that I case'd for a workshop for a child's birthday.  What little kid wouldn't love to get this card? 

It had been a long time since I had used the Sweet Treat cups and I thought this was a very cute way of using them.  The worst part of making this card is punching and attaching all those little toes!  Remember that tip I gave you about using the multipurpose adhesive sheets before you punch, here is where that comes in super handy!

The sentiment comes from the Bring on the Cake set.  But we took a black marker and wrote "Fish" on a piece of Marina Mist card stock and covered the word "Cake".  A quick look into his tummy shows that he already found some!  The "Happy Birthday" comes from the same set.

Now, you are looking at those cute little fish at the bottom of the card and thinking "I don't remember seeing a little fish like that in the catalog".  Well, you didn't miss it - it is not there.  I carved it myself using the Undefined kit.  I have seen some beautiful carvings done by other artists but I must admit mine look like something a third grader would do - okay, maybe I have offended a few third graders!

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:      Bring on the Cake
Inks:          Marina Mist, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Paper:     Marina Mist, Whisper White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist Color Collection
                 DSP, Pumpkin Pie
Other:       Extra Large Oval, Owl Builder, Small Heart, Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches,
                  Circles Collection Framelits, Undefined Kit                  

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Punches, Part III

Here is an adorable Halloween card from the punches class. 

I love this little bat that was made using the Owl Builder punch.  Even his wings were made using the owl's chest piece placed upside down!  A little sponging with Whisper White craft ink, a couple of eyes made using the owl punch and a goofy smile made using a Signo Gel Pen finish this little guy off.  Hang him upside down from the branch from the Bird Builder punch and use the Circle Collections framelits for a big, bright moon.   The sentiment from the Seasonal Sayings stamp set and some Washi tape finish off the inside.

Here's a tip for you:  When punching little items like the eyes from the Owl Builder punch, use Stampin' Up!'s Multipurpose Adhesive on the back of your paper BEFORE you punch.  This way your adhesive is already there and those little pieces are so much easier to attach to each other!

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:      Seasonal Sayings, Tags 4 You
Inks:           Tangerine Tango, Black Stazon, Basic Black (sponging) & White craft
Paper:        Night of Navy, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Early Espresso
Other:       Witches Brew Washi Tape from Holiday catalog, Chevron embossing folder, Signo
                   Gel Pen, Multipurpose Adhesive sheet

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Punches, Part II

Here is another card we made at the Punches class.  I received the design for this card at a punches swap at convention last summer.  I thought it was so sweet!

The body of the little lamb is made using the Scallop Circle punch embossed using the Polka Dot folder.  His head is from the Owl Builder punch for his head and eyes.  Two flowers from the Itty Bitty Shapes punches make the tuft at the top and his legs are from the Word Window punch.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:      Sweet Essentials
Inks:          Basic Black
Paper:     Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Basic Black, Old Olive
Other:       Scallop Border punch, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Old Olive 1/8" ribbon

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Punches, Punches, Punches...

Last fall I had a Punches class which seems to be one of everyone's favorite classes.  Here is one of the cards that we made.  I cased it from a very talented person on SplitCoastStampers - my favorite place for inspiration!

Her dress is made using the Artisan Label punch in two colors.  The bodice is punched using the Small Oval punch to give her a waistline.  Her hat is made using the Extra Large Oval and the Small Oval which were run through the Big Shot using an embossing folder.  Her arms are made using the Word Window punch and her hair is the Scallop Oval punch.  Her purse is made using the Ticket Duo Builder, Itty Bitty Shapes and 1/2" & 3/4" Circle punches.  The mirror is made using the Ovals Collection framelits with the frame embossed using the Woodgrain folder.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:     None! 
Inks:         Calypso Coral & Early Espresso (for sponging edges)
Paper:     Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso
Other:       Silver Foil; Modern Mosaic, Woodgrain and Lacy Brocade (retired) embossing folders

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s Punches...

Here is another card from my recent Punches class.  This is one of the wonderful reasons for attending Stampin' Up!'s Convention every year - swaps!  This year's punch swap gave me such great ideas.  The creative artist for this punched beauty is Laura Haffke.  Thank you Laura!

Instead of making it a normal size card, I cut off the bottom of the front and made it a flap card.  My one "tip" on this card if you want to recreate it is to take that leftover piece and place it along the bottom edge of the flap and run them through together using the Honeycomb embossing folder.  This way, you can hid the backing of the scalloped border and your honeycombs will line up on the back side.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Chalk Talk
Inks:          Early Espresso
Paper:      Crumb Cake, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Epic Day DSP
Other:        Linen Thread, Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Signo Gel Pen,
                   Ovals Framelits
Punches:   2 1/2" Circle, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle, Small Heart, Owl Builder, Extra Large Oval, Scallop Border

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Rocky Raccoon....

Here is a card that we made last month at my punches class.  I have to give full credit to the creative artists who figure out that they can make something like this adorable raccoon from punches!  In this case, Trudy Freas swapped a card using the raccoon at a Punches Swap at Convention.

My twist?  I added a tree made from the scalloped circle from the Circles Collection framelits.  The trunk of the tree was made by cutting off the sides using the Ovals Collection framelits.  I then embossed it using the woodgrain embossing folder.  The paper was the Early Espresso Core'dinations paper so we were able to get the two tone look on the trunk.

 

Since this was a Punches class and just constructing these little beauties took a long time, the cards were not "finished" on the inside.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Banner Greetings
Inks:          Garden Green
Paper:      Early Espresso Core'dinations, Garden Green, Soft Sky, Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Gray
Other:        Fancy Fan, Cloudy Day (retired)  & Woodgrain embossing folders, Linen Thread, Black Pen
Punches:   Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly, Full Heart, Bird Builder, Modern Label, Extra Large Oval,
                   Large Oval, 1 3/4" Circle

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Pet Sympathy Card....

One of my hostesses recently asked for a pet sympathy card.  So the challenge came to create a card while Stampin' Up! doesn't have a dog or cat stamp that isn't frolicking (Storybook Friends).  I came across a video by Mary Fish showing how to make a cute paw print and I thought that would be perfect!  Here's my interpretation...

 The paw is made by punching the second from the smallest framelit from the Hearts Collection and then the Small Oval Punch.  The size of your cardstock cannot be any wider than 3 1/8" or your toe pads won't fit correctly.  TIP:  Use some scrap DSP and temporary adhesive to place your toe pads where you want them while punching them out.

The inside of my card was stamped using the dog from the Every Little Bit (retired) stamp set and a puppy paws stamp I had laying around.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Thoughts & Prayers, Every Little Bit (retired)
Inks:           Midnight Muse, Soft Suede
Paper:      Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse
Other:        Linen Thread, Antique Brad, Hearts Collection framelits, Small Oval punch, Modern Mosaic embossing
                   folder, Lattice embossing folder

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Pelican Using Stampin' Up!'s Punches....

Here is a card that we made at a workshop back in June using punches.  A very clever SplitcoastStampers member signed this and I just CASE'd it for the workshop.

 

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       The Open Sea, Remembering Your Birthday, Woodgrain
Inks:            Midnight Muse, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Pool Party, More Mustard (retired)
Paper:       Midnight Muse, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil
                  Delight, Basic Black
Other:       Cloudy Day embossing folder (retired), sponges, Large Scallop Edgelit, Alphabet dies (retired)
Punches:   Extra Large Oval, Large Oval, Full Heart, Boho Blossoms, Small Oval, Owl Builder

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Punch Art Card Swap at Stampin' Up! Convention

My final organized swap was a Punch Art Card swap.  Here we actually made a full card with punch art.  I came across this little ladybug on Pinterest but it was holding a glitter heart.  I decided to give her a bunch of flowers instead which worked perfectly with the "Just for You" sentiment.  I mean really, who wouldn't love to receive a bunch of flowers from this adorable little ladybug????

Finally, what do you call a male Ladybug?  A Manbug????  Hummmm.......
Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Paper:       Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black, Summer Starfruit, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red, Daffodil Delight,
                   Primrose Petals, Pool Party, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Inks:           Pool Party, Basic Black, Wisteria Wonder
Stamps:      Label Love, Daydreams Wheel
Punches:     Artisan Label, Small Oval, Large Oval, Extra Large Oval, Owl Builder, Itty Bitty Shapes,
                    1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, 1-3/4" Circle
Folders:      Fancy Fan
Other:   Chevron Ribbon, Signo Gel Pen, Glue Pen & Lots of Patience!

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

6 x 6 Punch Art Instructions Swap at Stampin' Up! Convention

I also signed up for a swap where you made a 6x6 card showing how to put together some punch art.  I chose to do the fire hydrant.  I think it is so cute!

Here's what you will need to make a fire hydrant:
Stamps:       None
Inks:            Basic Black (sponged edges)
Paper:         Real Red
Punches:     1" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, Word Window, XL Oval, 1 3/8" Circle, Butterfly, 1 3/4" Circle,
                     2 3/8" Scallop Circle
Other:    Stripes Embossing Folder


Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up! - Happy Hour Beer Mug...

 Here's the beer mug card that we made using punches - super cute card and perfect timing now that the 7/8" Scallop Circle punch is available as well as the 1 1/4" Scallop Circle punch.  I finally got around to using the Happy Hour stamp set and now I have used it on several occasions!  Keep coming back in the next few weeks and you will see more made with this set.


Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Happy Hour
Inks:           More Mustard & Basic Gray
Paper:        Basic Gray, So Saffron & Whisper White
Other:        7/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle punch, corner
                   rounder punch, 1 3/4" circle punch & 2 1/2" circle punch

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up! - Thoughts and Prayers

I CASE'd this sympathy card for a recent workshop.  My hostess loves punches and we had fun making cards focusing on punches.  Keep an eye out for a upcoming posts showing a fire hydrant and a beer mug.  We did those cards that same day.  Lots of punching and sponging on this card but otherwise a prett simple card.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Thoughts & Prayers & symatphy sentiment (I used a retired set - Warmest Wishes)
Inks:           Basic Gray
Paper:       Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Lucky Limeade & Whisper White
Other:        Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Finishing Touches edgelit, Boho Blossom
                   punch, Blossom Petals Builder punch, Organza ribbon & Pearls

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams