Last post of 2009

 

As we say goodbye to 2009, here is my last card of the year. I used my new Paisley panel. I embossed the image onto purple cardstock with gold embossing powder, punched holes in all the right places and mounted it with dimensional tape onto a piece of bright raspberry cardstock. The holes let the color show through and make a nice shadow effect.

Paisleys are Groovy!

 

Paisley Birds

 

Today is the first chance I've had to play with my new Paisley stamp set. As you can see the smallest Paisley makes a pretty cute little bird. After I put the card together I realized I could have given them little wire legs, maybe next time. I embossed the birds onto metallic copper cardstock with a cream colored embossing powder. As I cut them out, I left a little triangle for their beaks. I'll post some more cards tomorrow.

Blog Candy

 

We're getting close to adding our 500th member to the EnjoyMichaelStrongstamps yahoo group. To honor this milestone, I'm giving away three sets of my just released Paisley stamps. All you have to do add a comment to this blog entry. As soon as we reach our 500th member, we'll pick three names at random and send out the stamps. Good luck!

Mother-In-Law Tongue

 

A stamper requested that I show how to make the plant on my home page. Some people affectionately call them Mother-In-Law Tongue. They are also know as Sansevieria. Here's how to make them from cardstock.
Supplies:
MSRS Cloisonne Pot
green cardstock
brown cardstock
copper embossing powder
heat tool
scissors
tape
white or cream colored pencil
yellow colored pencil
brown or terra cotta dye inkpad
stipple brush
paper cutter

Steps:
Cut the green cardstock into several 4 1/4" x 1 1/2" pieces and fold them in half lenghtwise.
Using a scissors, cut each leaf as shown in the picture. Start at the middle of the bottom of the folded cardstock and cut straight up approximately 1/4" before you move the scissors cutting closer to the fold. Now cut back toward the center and up the length of the piece slowly coming closer to the fold again making a sharp point at the end. This will give you the leaf and a "handle" at the bottom. Make several of these.
Open up the folded leaves and lay them flat. Using a white or cream colored pencil make lines across the leaf as shown. Try to make them random for a more natural look. Border each leaf with yellow pencil as shown. Do the pencil work on each side.
Stamp and emboss the pot onto the brown cardstock. Stipple on some brown ink for a shadow effect. Cut the pot as shown in the picture. Turn the pot over and tape the leaves to the pot. Pinch the leaves for a three dimensional look. Attach the pot and leaves to a card. Enjoy!

Mother-In-Law Tongue supplies

 

Mother-In-Law Tongue steps

 

 

 

 

Mother-In-Law Tongue steps

 

 

 

 

Mother-In-Law Tongue steps

 

 

Inge's Card

 

Inge Postma was kind enough to send me her winning entry in our last card making challenge. Here it is on our Christmas tree. Thanks Inge for the perfect ornament!

Christmas Party

 

Every year my family gets together for our annual "tacky" dinner party. We share a lovely meal and then exchange the worst gifts imaginable. We have a $10.00 limit and everyone gets to go home with a new "treasure". We've been doing this since our kids were little. As you can see, they have grow up a bit. Left to right, my son Colin and his wife Kerry, my daughter Amanda, her beau Max and Chompy, the giant nutcracker behind them.

Snowy Paper Candles

 

Here's a fun project creating something from (almost) nothing. All you need is a sheet of white computer paper, a hole punch and glue. To make the paper column cut a sheet of 8 1/2" x 11 white paper in half and fold it over and over until you have a tube measuring 5 1/2" x 1 1/4" (approximate). Don't crease the folds to tightly. Using a hole punch, start at one end and punch holes through the folded paper. Punch lots of holes close together at the "top" and gradually decrease the number of holes as you work your way down to the "bottom" of the candle. Make sure to punch randomly unless you want a formal pattern. Unroll the tube of paper and flatten out the creases ( I used an iron because I creased some of the folds too tightly!). Put glue along one edge and attached it to the other side to form a column. Make several in different heights and group them together with battery powered tea lights inside. DO NOT USE REAL CANDLES! Enjoy.

Snowy Candle steps

 

 

 

 

Christmas Candy!

 

Sunday was Christmas candy making day at our house. Carla gave early Christmas presents to the girls. From left, Elizabeth has a wild animal apron because she went on an African Safari this year, Kerry has a Tinkerbell apron because of her love for all things Disney and Amanda has movie props because she is a movie buff and a fantastic actress! Thanks to our friend Donna Rose for making the aprons and thanks to Elizabeth, Kerry, Amanda & Carla for the treats!

Easy Poinsettias

Here's an easy way to make dramatic paper Poinsettias to decorate cards, napkin rings or your Christmas tree. If you are ambitious, a garland of them would look amazing!

Materials

Red cardstock
MSRS Leaf stamps
Bleach
Dye inkpad (dark red or similar)
Dye inkpad or marker (yellow)
Dye inkpad (black)
White glue
Paper towels
Scissors

Steps

Use the fall leaf bleaching method to make a random bleach marks on the red cardstock.
Rub some dark red ink directly from the pad in several spots over the bleached paper.
Turn the cardstock over and stamp the non-bleached side with the leaf stamps.
Cut out the leaves and arrange six of them on a punched out circle of cardstock (I used a flower punch) as shown.
Turn the six-petal flower over and glue six more leaves to the back between the front leaves.
Ink a small piece of paper towel with the yellow pad or marker. Pinch off seven fingernail size pieces and put a small dab of white glue on each one. Roll them in the palm of your hand until you have seven tiny balls. Arrange them in a circle in the middle of the flower as shown.
Enjoy!

Easy Poinsettia

 

Poinsettia steps

 

 

 

 

Poinsettia steps