Monthly Archives: July 2012

Pretty Peacock – Tutorial #525

Posted on July 30, 2012 by zindorf| 10 Comments

Hi There,

Let’s get really colorful today.

I pulled out quite a few colors for this card. You really have to when you have a peacock as your focal point. This card features the Stampin’ Up! sets World Treasures (item number 126767) and Take Care (item number 126312). I think they work perfect together. I created my own background paper. Check it out below.

Here are a few Stampin’ Up Reminders before I start the project. During the month of July, with any $50 purchase, you can get this beautiful stamp set for $5.

Don’t miss out on my Customer free stamp set program. Check it out! Along with a handmade thank you card from me for your order you will receive a token for each $50 in product you ordered using me as your demonstrator. After you have collected 10 tokens you will receive a free current stamp set of your choosing, a value of $39 or less. Here is a link to my online shopping page that you can shop at 24/7 (from the comfort of your home, even in your pj’s) and the products will be shipped directly to your door step from Stampin’ Up: CLICK HERE TO SHOP. My free stamp set program will be an on going program.

Want a new annual catalog shipped to you? I will be happy to send you one. The catalog is free, but there is a $5 shipping charge. Note, I will only sell or ship within the United States do to Stampin’ Up! policies. Please contact me at mzindorf@aim.com. Payment can be sent via Paypal or check.

You can join my Stampin’ Up! team and become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator now for the great new price of $99, CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT. Contact me whether you want to start your own business or just enjoy the 20% discount on products.

Want to purchase one of my original cards or some Stampin’ Up! retired sets CLICK HERE.

Now on with today’s tutorial. . . . . . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! World Treasures, Take Care and En Francais

Card Stock: Stampin’ Up! Whisper White, Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo

Ink: Stampin’ Up! Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard and Island Indigo

Accessories: Stampin’ Up! Sponges, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Island Indigo Ribbon, In Color Printed Designer Brads, Copper Smooch Spritz, Stampin’ Write Markers (Not Quite Navy, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Tempting Turquoise, River Rock and More Mustard).

Are you getting inspiration from this blog? One way you can help support it is to order your Stampin’ Up products through me. Click HERE to place an order and have your order delivered directly to your door step from Stampin’ Up!

Started with a 4.25″ x 5.25″ piece of Whisper White card stock. Sprayed Cooper Smooch Spritz on the card stock.

Stamped the En Francais stamp using Soft Suede ink.

Sponged Soft Suede ink around the edge of the card stock.

Distressed the very edge of the card stock using Early Espresso ink.

Stamped the Take Care Limb by coloring the branch with a Soft Suede Marker and the leaves with an Old Olive marker and then stamped it on a scrap piece of Whisper White card stock. You will need two of these.

Colored the bottom of the branches using the Soft Suede Marker to create a shadow.

Cut the two branches out and adhered them to the card stock using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Stamped the Peacock using Island Indigo ink on a scrap piece of Whisper White card stock.

Colored over the body of the peacock using a Pacific Point marker, the diamonds using a Tempting Turquoise marker and the middle of the feather using a Pool Party marker.

Added River Rock marker to the tips and center.

Added More Mustard marker.

I cut the image out and then added a bit more color.

Added Tempting Turquoise marker to the bottom of the Pool Party area and blended it in with the Pool Party marker. Added Not Quite Navy marker to the bottom of the Island Indigo areas and the bottom of the birds body.

Added Certainly Celery marker to the bottom of the River Rock area.

Adhered the Peacock to the main image panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To create the Sun I made a dot using Pumpkin Pie and then sponged More Mustard ink around it.

Added a 5″ x 6.5″ panel of Island Indigo and a 4.75″ x 6.25″ panel of Lucky Limeade. Distressed the Lucky Limeade panel edges using a sponge and Early Espresso ink before assembling.

Added Island Indigo ribbon and Lucky Limeade brads.

Here is the finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

May your day include all of the colors of the rainbow.

Until my next post. . . . .

Hugs,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops! I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California (Sold Out)

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012. I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

→ 10 Comments

Posted in Tutorials

Tagged card making, Card tutorial, Handmade Greeting card, Michelle Zindorf, Rubber Stamping Tutorial, Stamped Art, Stampin' Up, Zindorf, Zindorf Tutorials

Quilted Coasters – Tutorial #524

Posted on July 26, 2012 by zindorf| 10 Comments

Single quilted coaster

Hey There,

Today’s tutorial on quilted coasters involved getting out the sewing machine, but know if you can sew a straight line you will have no problem making these quick quilted coasters. They are super yummy looking using Stampin’ Up! fabrics, some of which are a sneak peek of what is to come in the new Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini Catalog that starts on August 1, 2012. But for now, know you will want everything in the mini. It is so filled with fresh new stamps and embellishments, watch out!

Below is a sample of some of my Stampin’ Up! fabrics that can be found in the annual catalog. I love the way the fabric matches all the great Stampin’ Up! colors we have come to love in the paper, ink, markers etc., etc.

Here are a few Stampin’ Up Reminders before I start the project. During the month of July, with any $50 purchase, you can get this beautiful stamp set for $5.

Want to purchase one of my original cards or some Stampin’ Up! retired sets CLICK HERE.

Now on with today’s tutorial. . . . . . .

Start by cutting a piece of fabric 4.5″ x 10″. You will need one of these for each coaster you make.

Cut a piece of batting 4″ square. You will need one of these for each coaster.

Fold the fabric in half, front sides facing each other, and stitch the right and left sides closed using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Now you have a pocket.

Now here is just a little tip if you are going to make a bunch of these. Sew one side on each coaster, running them through your machine one right after each other without cutting the thread. Flip them over and sew the other sides together and then cut them apart. (clear as mud?)

Clip your bottom corners.

Turn the piece right side out and use your bone folder or a crochet hook to get the corners to be square.

Tuck the 4″ square batting smoothly in the pocket.

Turn the top edges under having one edge cover the batting.

Sew the open end closed using a 1/4″ seam allowance to 1/4″ of the end of the fabric. With your needle down, turn the fabric so you are sewing down the next side, keep sewing around and around having a 1/4″ allowance from the previous row of stitches.

End your sewing in the middle and make a few back stitches.

I put together stacks of 6 coasters using ribbon and adding a tag for each stack.

Here is a couple of sneak peeks for you. This set of coasters uses Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini Catalog Orchard Harvest Designer Fabric and Perfectly Preserved Stamp set.

Another Mini Catalog Sneak Peak:

This set show cases the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini products, Candlelight Christmas Designer Fabric and Scentsational Season Stamp set.

The other 3 coaster sets I made today showcase the Comfort Cafe fabric from the Annual Catalog and Affection Collection Stamp Set from the Holiday Mini.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and find yourself dusting off that sewing machine to make some of these as quick house warming gifts or just some for yourself. I think you will be surprised at how fast they whip up.

May your day be overflowing with all the people you love.

Until my next post. . . . ..

Hugs,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops! I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California (SoldOut)

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012. I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

→ 10 Comments

Posted in Sneak Peeks, Tutorials

Tagged Michelle Zindorf, rubber stamp art, Sewing, Stampin' Up, Stampin' Up! Fabric

Birdie in the Window – Tutorial #523

Posted on July 24, 2012 by zindorf| 6 Comments

Hey There,

Boy it feels good to be in my craft room creating today. It has been dark and gloomy and storming all day here so how about a card that has blue skies. This cheered me up and kept me from crawling back in bed.

The Stampin’ Up! set Cottage Window made quick work of this card. The set can be used for any season, very versatile. Item number 127282.

I got my new Stampin’ Up! ink pads in. Stamping and brayering with these pads are a dream, they are fabulous! If you would like some info on the new pads just watch this video from Shannon West at Stampin’ Up’s Corporate Office. Shannon does an excellent job at explaining what the new ink pads are like so I will not waste the time to re-hash it here. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO.

Since I’m still on my high from convention how about checking out this Stampin’ Up! convention highlights video. Yes, being a Stampin’ Up! demo really is this fun! CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS

Here are a few Stampin’ Up Reminders before I start the project. During the month of July, with any $50 purchase, you can get this beautiful stamp set for $5.

Want to purchase one of my original cards or some Stampin’ Up! retired sets CLICK HERE.

Now on with today’s tutorial. . . . . . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! Cottage Window and Tiny Tags

Card Stock: Stampin’ Up! Whisper White, Early Espesso, Soft Suede

Ink: Stampin’ Up! Stazon Jet Black, Old Olive, Pink Pirouette, Not Quite Navy and Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Stampin’ Up! Sponge, Markers (More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive), Jewelry Tag Punch, Scallop Punch, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Mini Silver Brads, Brayer, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Argyle Embossing Folder and Paper Snips

Started with a 3.5″ x 4″ piece of Whisper White card stock. Brayered Tempting Turquoise at the top of the card stock.

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Tempting Turquoise entirely.

Stamped the Bird and Branch using Stazon Jet Black ink.

Colored the top of the bird and the branch using a Crumb Cake marker.

Colored the belly of the bird using a More Mustard Marker.

Colored the leaves using an Old Olive marker.

Stamped the Window on a separate piece of Whisper White card stock using Stazon Jet Black ink.

Colored the window using a Crumb Cake marker.

Added Soft Suede marker to the window to add depth. See the difference it makes to add the darker color.

Colored the windows using a Sahara Sand Marker.

Cut out the window using paper snips (love these scissors). Poke a hold in the middle of the window so you can cut out the center.

Hold the window over the branch and then cut out the back ground.

Added a 5.5″ x 4.25″ Early Espresso Panel, 5.25″ x 4″ Soft Suede panel, 3 5/8″ x 4 1/8″ Early Espresso panel and a 3.5″ x 4″ Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, Twitterpated.

Sponged Pink Pirouette ink around the edge of the DSP panel.

Glued the branch scene down on the DSP, popped the Window up over it using Stampin’ Dimensionals and then added the smallest Early Espresso panel.

Scallop punched a piece of Early Espresso card stock, cut the scallop edge off and to the length of 3 5/8″.

Add the scallop strip to the DSP with two mini silver brads.

Dry embossed the Soft Suede panel using the Big Shot machine and the Argyle Embossing Folder.

Stamped the tag and sentiment on Crumb Cake card stock.

Lined the Jewelry tag punch up with the card stock tag and punched it out.

Punched another tag from Crumb Cake card stock and stamp the flourish using Old Olive. Colored over the flowers with a Cherry Cobbler marker.

Added the tags using a Mini Silver Brad.

Added the Embossed panel, Early Espresso Panel and a 4.25″ x 11″ (folded in half) card base. Also added Crumb Cake ribbon.

Here is the finished card measuring 4.25″ x 5.5″.

May your day be one of peace and harmony.

Until my next post. . . . .

Hugs,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops! I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012. I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

→ 6 Comments

Posted in Tutorials

This and That

Posted on July 23, 2012 by zindorf| 11 Comments

Hey There,

Well I am back from the Stampin’ Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, UT where I had such a fabulous time! I swear if I were not already a demonstrator I would sign up this minute just to go to the next convention.

The above photo is me at the Stampin’ Up! headquarters. (I did not try to match my clothing up with the sign, lol). I got to take a tour and see where it all happens. I have had many a package delivered to my home that came from this place.

The most exciting part of convention for me was awards night. Guess what! I made Founder’s Circle for the second time! What an honor to be one of the top 100 Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators.

I have evil eyes in the photo, but I’m sharing it anyway, lol.

Here I am after the awards and after party. I just didn’t want to set my Founder’s Circle bag down. The bag isn’t the best thing that you are given for Founder’s Circle, you are treated to an all expense paid trip to St. George, UT to be pampered and to hang out with Shelli Gardner and the other top demonstrators. I cannot wait!

Here is a link to this years theme song and video. CLICK HERE Love it! Check out Stampin’ Up!

NOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS OF THE DAY!

See this beautiful, beautiful girl. This is my Granddaughter, Hailie Jade and she turned 9 today! Holy Mackerel. I swear she was just born yesterday. Where oh where does the time go.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET BUGGIE! May all of your birthday wishes come true.

Since I just arrived home last night after being gone for 9 days, I’ve been getting my home and garden straightened out. Russ does a wonderful job taking care of the zoo (parakeets, dog and chickens). He also waters my garden and tells me that he picks the veggies every day. But, I wonder. . . . . today I picked some zucchini that were the size of my arm, no kidding! LOL I think someone forgot to pick the veggies the last few days. Anyhow, after giving fresh veggies to the neighbors there were still more than Russ and I could eat in the next few days so I had to freeze some.

Thank goodness for the food saver.

I still have some eggplant and peppers to do something with. Don’t you just love a vegetable garden? I do have one problem, my freezer is almost full already this summer. I may have to go purchase another to keep up with all that is being harvested.

Well sorry folks, no stamping today. I have had one of those days. . . . . . . .You know when you walk in the room to feed the dog and you spot that you need to clean the dog snarf off of the windows so you get the Windex out and clean the windows and every other surface in the house and then you go to throw the paper towels away and the trash can is full so you gather up all the trash and take it out to the garage where you then proceed to straighten out your freezer and then gather the veggies that need picked and then you clean them and put them up in the freezer and then water and weed the garden, give the chickens the weeds to peck through, inspect the chickens, straighten their coop, oh yeah! the dog still hasn’t been fed!. . .. . . . . . LOL

May your day be productive.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a project for you.

Huge Hugs and love,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops! I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012. I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

→ 11 Comments

Posted in Putting Food Up/Recipes, Uncategorized

Shaving Cream Hummingbird – Tutorial #522

Posted on July 12, 2012 by zindorf| 15 Comments

Hi There,

Today’s card was made using the Shaving Cream Technique. This technique is an oldie but goodie! It makes such wonderful backgrounds and no two are a like. So grab that shaving cream and your re-inkers and follow the tutorial below.

Also, there are 3 sneak peek Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini Catalog products used on this card. The holiday mini catalog will be out August 1, 2012. Woohoo! So write these products down because you will definitely want to add them to your list of must haves.

Here are a few Stampin’ Up Reminders before I start the project. During the month of July, with any $50 purchase, you can get this beautiful stamp set for $5.

Want to purchase one of my original cards or some Stampin’ Up! retired sets CLICK HERE.

Now on with today’s tutorial. . . . . . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! Elements of Style

Card Stock: Stampin’ Up! Whisper White, Calypso Coral and Old Olive

Ink: Stampin’ Up! Re-inkers (Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Tangerine Tango), Stazon Jet Black

Accessories: Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Dazzle Silver Marker, Framelits – Window Frames Collection, Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Lacy Brocade, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Shaving Cream, paper plate or plastic container and paper towels.

Put shaving cream in a plastic container or on a paper plate.

Drop a few dots of re-inkers in the shaving cream. I used Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango and Lucky Limeade.

I used the wood end of a paint brush to swirl the colors around. Be sure not to mix to much or the colors will muddy.

Put your Whisper White card stock down into the shaving cream and press just a bit so that the paper comes in contact with the color. Lift the card stock out. It will look like this, YIKES!

If you want another background, but lighter in color put another piece of card stock over the first one so the shaving cream is sandwiched in between the two pieces of card stock.

Pull them apart and wipe the shaving cream off of the card stock with a paper towel.

The light piece on the far left is the piece I put on top of the 1st one. See how much lighter it is.

If you continue to use the shaving cream with additional pieces of card stock the colors will mix more and more (like the ones on the far right).

Cut the card stock using the big shot machine and the NEW FRAMLITS WINDOW FRAMES COLLECTION die cut. Also cut the next size up using Lucky Limeade card stock.

Stamped the humming bird and the flourish using Stazon Jet Black ink.

Used the NEW STAMPIN’ DAZZLE Silver marker around the edge of the two die cuts.

Used the NEW LACY BROCADE Embossing Folder on a 4.25″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Added a 5.5″ square Lucky Limeade card base and a 4 3/8″ square Calypso Coral panel.

Added some Whisper White Organza Ribbon and popped the die cuts up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Here is the finished card measuring 5.5″ square.

I’m a little late posting today. I was busy in the kitchen putting up some mashed potatoes.

When I find bags of potatoes on sale really cheap, I cannot resist buying them in order to freeze mashed potatoes. All you have to do is peel, boil and make your regular mashed potato recipe and then freeze either in quart bags or food saver bags. I can’t live without my food saver.

If you didn’t know, I love to make at least 4 of something that I am cooking. That way we get to freeze 3.

I got 8 batches of mashed potatoes out of 10 lbs of potatoes with only a little more time than it would have took me to make one batch. Great side to be able to pull out of the freezer and quickly heat.

Also, when you make your own dishes to freeze you know just what went into them. No preservatives!!!

Well I’m going to be on the road for over a week. I’m heading to Lawrence, Kansas tomorrow to teach this weekend and then I’m off to Stampin’ Up’s convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hang tight and check out some of my past tutorials while I’m gone. Better yet, how about making some cards using the tutorials. Either way, thank you for hanging out with me here on my blog. I hope you find yourself inspired.

Until my next post. . . . . . .

Hugs,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops! I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Lawrence, Kansas

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012. I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

→ 15 Comments

Posted in Putting Food Up/Recipes, Technique Swap Tutorials, Tutorials

Tagged Big Shot Die, card making, Card tutorial, Handmade Greeting card, Stamped Art, Stampin' Up, Zindorf

Blog Candy Winner

Posted on July 11, 2012 by zindorf| Comments Off

The winner of this Halloween card is. . . . . . . . . .

Mary Beth Connell who wrote “Thank you this is a very Beautiful card. Hope everything is going good with your husband. Mary Beth”

Mary Beth Connell, Congratulations! Please e-mail your mailing address to mzindorf@aim.com and I will get this card right out to you. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Thank you to all of you that played along.

Huge Hugs!

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops! I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Lawrence, Kansas

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012. I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Chick Update

Posted on July 7, 2012 by zindorf| 41 Comments

Hey There,

Well a little update on my husband Russ. His heart surgery went very well and he is now home recovering. Woohoo! We will know more about it’s success in a couple of weeks. Keep your fingers and eyes crossed for us, lol. Thank you for all of your well wishes and prayers!

Another update, how about these chicks. Let me introduce them again to you since they have changed so very much in the past 7 weeks.

This is Red at week 1 and at week 7 with the same stamps so you can check out how much she has grown. . . . . . . . . . .

Hello, tap, tap, tap, are you out there. . . . . .

How about a back view . . . . . These stamps make great perches.

Here I am doing my model pose. This is my good side, right?

********************************************************************************

My name is Buffy, I don’t slay vampires, just spiders. Buffy at week 1 and 7.

My feathers are sooooo soft and I love to be held.

These are my very big chicken feet.

**************************************************************************

I’m Sophie the black beauty! I’m very hard to photograph since I’m all black now. Here I am at week 1 and 7.

See how long and sleek I can make my neck look. This is a trick so you don’t see any double chins, lol.

***************************************************************************

I’m the most exotic looking chick. My name is Bunny. That’s right, don’t laugh. I’m an Easter Egger so that is why my name is Bunny. I’ll lay either green or blue eggs when I’m all grown up. Which color won’t be known until the first egg is laid.

Bunny at week 1 and 7.