Geneva's Stamping Designs

Last Valentine!

I know yesterday was Valentine's Day, but that Heart Tree took me so long, I didn't get to finish these.  This is one of four cards that was part of an Andrea Walford class that I earned as a gift from my upline.  She sent the materials and the instructions.  I didn't have a couple of the elements, so had to order those and then didn't get them.....blah, blah, blah, but I finally got them all done.  They are all very similar to this one, and use embossing on the top layer. If I were to do it over, I'd make a few changes, but all in all, I think they're pretty - probably prettier in real life than in this picture!

In the box with the elements I needed to finish these were things from Stampin' Up!'s new Occasions Mini Catalog.  Watch this site for the next few days to see lots of new projects with these new punches, papers, ribbons, buttons and STAMPS!  Oh My!

Happy Stamping!

Heart Tree

Friday I posted the fastest Valentine's card/gift ever.  Today we have the slowest.  I worked on this card much of the day Saturday and much of today.  I'm still not sure it's "enough," but today's the day and it needed to be given!  I know you're thinking, "What's so hard about this?"  Here's the inside of the card.

I saw this last fall at a workshop.  It's built on the O Christmas Tree Pop Up Bigz XL Die for the Big Shot.  This die is one that is available exclusively from Stampin' Up!  You cover the tree with hearts, and then cut out - by hand - all the little slots to put it together.  Sounds simple, doesn't it?  Frankly, it's a lot of work, but maybe the next one will go faster since I learned a few things along the way (nothing like hands on trial and error, is there?)

The "skirt" or "rug" at the bottom is the Medallion Stamp.  I used it on the My Digital Studio program.  BTW - check out the new My Digital Studio "button" on this page.  I'll write more about it later.  I have to go finish MY daughters' valentines - they got put aside because of this one for my husband - after all - he came first and this is truly a "labor of love!"

Hope everyone has a great V-day!

Happy Stamping!

Super Quick Valentine's

This is about the fastest Valentine you can make.  I used Stampin' Up!'s Scallop Envelope DIe with the Big Shot, Whisper White Textured card stock and the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel to create the envelope.  The hearts are punched from the Large Heart Punch and the words are from the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp set.  It's all put together with Mini Glue Dots.  The cookie is just a Sugar Cookie I made.

I made a few of these and my granddaughter gave them to her classmates.  The rest I sent to the rest of my grandchildren.  I don't need that sugar in my life, but one won't hurt......

If you want to know more or to order the products for this easy project, contact me by leaving a comment below.

Have a great weekend getting ready for Valentine's Day.

Happy Stamping!

Boy Scouts' Day 2011

Today is Boy Scouts' Day.  Boy Scouts have have been an active part of my family's life.  With a father who was Scout Leader, to 3 brothers who were all Eagle Scouts to 3 nephews involved in Scouts, and one of them already an Eagle Scout also, I was surrounded by "scout things and activities."  Being the only daughter among all this, I hung out some and listened a lot and developed a respect for all things "scout."

This year, my grandson joined the Cub Scouts.  This picture was taken last month when his troop made tool kits.  The leader put in a lot of time to get these ready for boys to finish up.  Thanks to all the leaders who lovingly spend the time to help these boys grow and learn!  My husband was able to attend the meeting and help.  Both grandfather and grandson had a great time - although I think grandson was more excited to "build!" something!  I see more woodworking projects in our garage this summer when the weather warms up!

Take the time this week to thank a scout leader - current or past.  These men and women put in a lot of time to help the next generation be the best they can be.  Encourage the boys involved and help out when asked.  Thanks!

What's YOUR Boy Scouting experience?  Leave a comment and let me know! 

Happy Stamping!

Tri-fold card

Today's card is a little different.  I used Pretty in Pink card stock for the base, and ran it through the Big Shot with the Textured Plate Background I set with the flower pattern.  I used 2 strips of Cherry Cobbler card stock, punched with the Scallop Punch Border punch.  The bow is Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon with a Flower Brad on top (I took the brad part off and used Mini Glue Dots to hold the flower on top of the bow!)  I think it compliments the little flower in the stamped image.

The stamp is the LOVE image from the Love You Much stamp set, stamped in Basic Brown Classic Ink on Very Vanilla card stock and colored with Water Colored Pencils and a Blender Pen.  (When using products to water color your images, you should use a permanent based ink such as Stampin' Up!'s Basic Black and Basic Brown.)

To finish this card off, I sponged Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink around the edges of the Very Vanilla piece and on the embossed flowers of the Pretty in Pink card base.  Sponging like this adds subtle color and finishes off the look of the project. 

All products used are available in Stampin' Up!'s 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog - click on the icon to the right to order what you need to create your own - or call me an you can make one at a workshop this month!

Here's the opened card:

Depending on what you stamped on the inside, this card could be used for many occasions, Valentine's Day, Anniversary, Just Because, Birthday, Mother's Day, you get the idea!  Love is something we should do ALL year around! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! - best kind of love for me is knowing what you think of my designs!

Happy Stamping!

Super Bowl

Sunday, February 6, 2011 is Super Bowl Sunday. 

People all over the US will have Super Bowl Parties.  This is a way decorate your table for very little money!  I used the Milk Carton Sizziz die for the Big Shot and filled it with scraps of paper and "footballs" cut with the Medium Oval Punch.  The markings are done with the 1 3/8" circle punch and the Gel Pen.  The placecard from the Table Setting die makes a perfect name tag for the foods you desire to serve!

The game is scheduled to be played in Dallas, Texas, but this last week Dallas schools have been closed for 4 days due to the biggest Snow Storm in the area in years.  So I had to add a few snow flakes - also cut with the Big Shot.  You could say this is really a Big Shot and Punches Super Bowl Party!

Have a great Super Bowl Day!

Happy Stamping!

SNOW Day!

We finally had a snow day  and the school district announced no school today!  So I slept late, read a book, and finally looked outside.  NO snow at my house!  Although it did take 30 minutes for the car to warm up enough to melt the ice on the front windshield - that's cold enough for me!  (total driving time - 10 minutes!) The local news has been on TV all day, with word of frozen overpasses - well, duh, moisture + 20 degree temperatures, what does one expect?  I'm glad I have a job where I get to stay home and not get on those overpasses!  Ask me how I do this, I'd be glad to share my job with you.

I haven't stamped anything today, though, that room's too cold!  I did finish the book - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society!  It's a great book.  My sister-in-law read it, gave it to my mother, and she gave it to me.  I probably wouldn't have picked it out, but I'm so glad I read it.  It's a collecetion of letters, written in post WWII days, which sounds boring, but it wasn't!  I feel like I made some friends - even if though don't exist!  (That's the way you should feel when you finish a good book, isn't it?)

I also made some changes to my website and my Facebook page.  I'll send a handmade card to anyone who can tell me what changes I made to either!  Leave me comment and have a great day!

Stay warm!

Happy Stamping!

Chinese New Year!

Happy (Chinese) New Year!

In honor of this day, I've made a red (traditional color) enclosure for holding money.  I used Red Riding Hood card stock for the base. 

I used the Round Tab Extra-Large punch for the tab on the top of the pull out piece.  There is plenty of room to paperclip some money and write a note on this piece.  This is the "year of the Rabbit" so I stamped the rabbit from the Forest Friends stamp set.  (My grandaughter says this is "Thumper," but it's still a rabbit!)  This is a set that can be chosen as a FREE set from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  That's how I got mine last year!  (love FREE stuff!)

If you'd like the full instructions on this money gift envelope, please leave me a message in the comment section below or email me at geneva@genevachapin.com.   Have a great New Year! (second chances are so nice, don't you think?)  We're "hunkering down" for some snow tonight! 

Stay Warm and Happy Stamping!

Love You Much

Happy Groundhog Day!  That little creature says Spring is on the way - early!  I sure hope he's right, this cold weather isn't for me!  I live in the South for a reason!

It also means Valentine's is coming!  Here's a really quick and easy card to make for someone special.

I used Blushing Bride card stock  (one of the 2010-2012 In-Colors) for the base. The brown is Early Expresso card stock run through the BIg Shot with the Polka Dot Impressions Folder.  The image is from the Love You Much stamp set and stamped on Very Vanilla card stock.  It's punched out with the Scallop Circle punch.  I punched a piece of Blushing Bride card stock also and backed the Very Vanilla piece, letting the scallops show between the other scallops.  I colored in the heart and circle with a Blushing Bride  Stamp 'n Write Marker.

The ribbon is the Blushing Bride striped ribbon in this year's catalog.  To make it "crinkled" I put down two strips of Sticky Strip and then "bunched" the ribbon as I lay it down on the strips.  It comes up fairly easily if you want to re-arrange it to your liking.  I then punched a hole in one spot of the ribbon and in the Very Vanilla-Blushing Bride Scallop circle and attached the two with a Sparkle Brad.  That's it - Fast and Simple.

All of these products are in this year's Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog.  It's a great time to order since it's Sale-a-Bration.  Order in the next few days and you'll have materials to make your own Valentine's cards.  I'll be showing you some in the next couple of weeks, or contact me and I'll help you design your own now in time to make them yourself.  Don't want to make them, but like handmade items? Contact me and I'll make them for you - for a reasonable price!

Happy Stamping!

 

I'm Back!

After a two month absence, I"m back.  I've been gone because I had a little surgery and "recovery" is taking longer than I planned - not longer than the doctor's said, just longer than I planned! lol!  I promised myself that I'd get back to blogging starting Feb. 1.  So here I am.  I've been released to "do things as I feel like doing them."  Trick is to separate physical feelings from mental feelings!  I'm getting there..... slowly.

I don't have a project to show you today because instead of being creative, I've been taking care of "pipes, pets, and plants" as the temperature here has dropped drastically and the wind has caused some fence damage.  It's all under control, but I'm pooped - sorry!  Look for something new tomorrow.

The BIG news on the Stampin' UP! front is that Sale-a-Bration has begun.   This is the time of year where for every $50.00 you spend you get to choose a FREE gift from the Sale-a-Bration catalog - stamp sets, paper, ribbon, buttons, MDS software downloads - the catalog is full of fun items that are ONLY available during Sale-a-Bration!  If you're a hostess of a $300.00 workshop (and that's the average workshop!) you get to choose something for that also.  I'm scheduling workshops for the last 2 weeks of Feb and all of March to help you get as much FREE as possible.  Just let me know!

Have a great February and Stay WARM!

Happy Stamping!