The birds in this project are from the Halloween Stampin’ Up Set “Graveyard Gala”.    I try very hard not to categorize my stamps by season, holiday etc. because so many stamps in the sets can be used all through the year.  It helps me think outside of the box to have a reference sheet for each set in a binder so I can easily flip through the binder to find an image I would like to use in a scene.  For instance, I knew I wanted to put birds on the ground in this scene so I flipped through the binder to find some birds that were the right size.  When I put them in this scene they don’t look scary at all, but instead look like they are just soaking up the morning rays. 

Here is a link to a an earlier post I did on my stamp storage:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/03/14/my-stampin-up-stamp-storage-a-glimps-into-my-world-part-ii/

Let’s get started on the tutorial:

Supplies:

Want a free 39 page, Stampin’ Up Mini catalog?  If you are a resident of the United States,  just e-mail your mailing address to me and I will get one in the mail to you.  Are you inspired by this Blog?  One way you can help support this blog is by ordering your Stampin’ Up products through me.   You can order from me 24-7 from this link:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com.  If you are within the United States.  Want a copy of the brand new 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team.  Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions

Started out with a 3.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock and sponged So Saffron ink all over it.

Punched a 1 1/4″ circle from the sticky part of a post it note and added to the card stock.  Sponged More Mustard ink around the edge of the post it note to define the sun.  Also sponged More Mustard ink at the top and bottom of the card stock.

Sponged Creamy Caramel ink on the bottom of the card stock, not covering the More Mustard ink entirely.

Stamped the two birds using Basic Black ink.  Removed the sun mask.

Stamped the plant stamp a few times using Basic Black ink.

Using just the very edge of the ink Basic Black pad and a half of a “C” motion, (that would be the top half of the “C”) I direct to papered some grasses in the scene.  Practice this on scrap paper before trying it on your card stock.  :)  Also leave some of the background colors showing through on the ground. 

Sponged Black ink around the edge of the card stock.

Added some White gel pen highlights to the plants, tops of the birds and the grasses.

Adhered a torn piece of Stampin’ Up Designer paper to a piece of More Mustard card stock and then ran both of them through my Big Shot Die Cut machine using the Damask Texture Plate.

Brayered More Mustard ink over the top of the card stock to define the texture more and to add a bit of grunge.

Grunged the card stock up more by sponging Basic Black ink around the edges.

Assembled the card front and added small black photo corners, brads and white ribbon.

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

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to look at your holiday stamps in a different light.

May your day be golden.

Until my next post. . . . . . . .  .

Hugs,

Michelle

  Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Moore, Oklahoma

Nashville, Indiana

Portland, Michigan

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Rockville, Maryland

North Chili, New York (near Rochester)

New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Kenova, West Virginia

Helena, Montana

Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Venice, Florida

Grinnell, Iowa

Piedmont, Alabama

Auburn, Washington (near Seattle)

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Here is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar 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.netFrequently asked questions answers:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/ 

It’s that time of year when my friend Claire shows up wanting to make Christmas cards.  Claire is my Dear, Evil, Friend that got me into stamping, but does not stamp, lol.  But that is a whole different story.  

A couple of weekends ago we got together and mass produced 40 of these cards in a day, less the time it took us to go out to lunch, gab, harass each other, tease my husband etc, etc.  :)  I always tailor the card we make each year to what Claire likes and so it varies a bit from my usual style.  Claire likes layers and do-dads.  Things she can feel on a card.  Me, I tend to not care about the do-dads, lol. 

Anyway, here is a tutorial on this years card.  The tutorial may be missing a couple of pictures.  Hard to remember to pick up the camera when you are having a tremendous amount of fun with a friend.

Supplies:

Want a free 39 page, Stampin’ Up Mini catalog?  If you are a resident of the United States,  just e-mail your mailing address to me and I will get one in the mail to you.  Are you inspired by this Blog?  One way you can help support this blog is by ordering your Stampin’ Up products through me.   You can order from me 24-7 from this link:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com  If you are within the United States.  Want a copy of the brand new 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team.  Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions

Started out using my Big Shot Die Cut Machine and Top Note Die.  Cut one Whisper White Top Note and one Bashful Blue Top Note.

Stamped the Greeting from the Stampin’ Up Set Snow Swirled with Real Red ink on the White Top Note.

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the Bashful Blue Top Note.

Ran the Bashful Blue Top Note through the Big Shot Machine using the Flourish Texture Plate.

Tore the top and the bottom off of the Whisper White Top Note, discarding the middle portion.  Stacked the two tore pieces at the bottom of the Bashful Blue Top Note to create the snow.

Used a Heat Gun to dry the brayered on ink and stamped the snowflake stamp from the Stampin’ Up set Serene Snowflakes in the sky area of the Bashful Blue Top Note.

Note:  If you stamp the snowflakes before the Brayered on ink is dry your snowflakes will disappear.  Learned this the hard way, lol.

Stamped the Tree stamp from the Stampin’ Up set Patterned Pines with Old Olive ink on Whisper White Card stock.

Cut two of the trees out and adhered them to the front of the card.

Assembled Bashful Blue, Old Olive and Not Quite Navy layers, added Real Red Gingham ribbon, Not Quite Navy Photo Corner Punches and Gold Brads.  Also added three Real Red brads to each tree.   It is hard to see, but there is Dazzling Diamonds Glitter on the top of each layer of the snow.

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

Now for a giggle, I was going through a card stash I have.  You know the card stash, we all have one.  Don’t deny it, lol.

Anyhow, found this old card I created back in 2006.  I had to look way back in my Split Coast Stampers gallery to see when it was created.  Poor Santa!  The Stampin’ Up stamp set used for this is a retired set, Star Santa.  Don’t you just love looking at your old stuff.  It always makes me laugh.

May your day be filled with fond memories.

Huge Hugs,

Michelle

  Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Moore, Oklahoma

Nashville, Indiana

Portland, Michigan

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Rockville, Maryland

North Chili, New York (near Rochester)

New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Kenova, West Virginia

Helena, Montana

Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Venice, Florida

Grinnell, Iowa

Piedmont, Alabama

Auburn, Washington (near Seattle)

Elk Grove Village, IllinoisHere is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar 

 Happy Sunday!  I am hiding out in my stamp room this morning while my husband assembles the treadmill that we purchased yesterday.  The sales person told us that it is very easy to assemble, but when the box was opened up when we got it home we are finding it has a bunch of parts.  Hence I am hiding, lol.  This may sound mean but couples can get divorced over putting together projects such as this.  :) 

Anyhow, enough with my ramblings.  Today’s tutorial shows how you can color and stamp just one part of a stamp image to omit parts that you do not want in your scene. 

Let’s get started. . . .

Supplies:

Want a free 39 page, Stampin’ Up Mini catalog?  If you are a resident of the United States,  just e-mail your mailing address to me and I will get one in the mail to you.  Are you inspired by this Blog?  One way you can help support this blog is by ordering your Stampin’ Up products through me.   You can order from me 24-7 from this link:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com  If you are within the United States.  Want a copy of the brand new 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team.  Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions

On a 4.5″ x 3.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock, stamped the flourish stamp from the Stampin’ Up set “Friends 24-7″ by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then with Crushed Curry ink before stamping it.  Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored just the bird on the Bird stamp from the Stampin’ Up set “Friends 24-7″ in with a Versamark marker and then with a Basic Black marker.  Huffed my breath on the stamp to moisten and then stamped it on the card stock.    I then heat embossed the bird using clear embossing powder and a heat gun. 

I repeated this process 3 times.

Drew a line for the birds to be sitting on with a ruler and a Versamark marker.  Heat embossed the line with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Added Creamy Caramel marker to the birds.

Colored over all three birds with a Versamark marker and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  All of the images are now heat embossed entirely.

Sponged Crushed Curry in the upper left corner of the card stock.

Sponge Bermuda Bay ink on the card stock working from the right side in.

Sponged Taken with Teal ink on the right side of the card stock, not covering the Bermuda Bay ink entirely.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink on the right side of the card stock, not covering the Taken with Teal ink entirely.

Sponged Basic Black ink on the bottom right corner of the card stock and all around the edges.

Wiped off my embossed images with a clean cotton towel.

Added a black outline to the right sides of the Crushed Curry flourish and bottom of the wire the birds are sitting on to add a shadow.

Added White gel pen highlights to the tops of the birds, bellies of the birds and flourish.

Added Chocolate chip small corner punches to the left side of the main image panel.  Chocolate Chip ribbon and gold brads.  My Design paper panel is from the Stampin’ Up Design Series Paper Pack “Autumn Meadows”.

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

May you have a day free of assembly. 

Hugs,

Michelle

  Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Moore, Oklahoma

Nashville, Indiana

Portland, Michigan

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Rockville, Maryland

North Chili, New York (near Rochester)New Johnsonville, TennesseeKenova, West VirginiaHelena, MontanaMiddleburg Heights, OhioVenice, Florida

Well, I finally made it home yesterday evening after being snowed in the last couple of days in Colorado.  If I am going to be snowed in any where, I prefer it be in Colorado.  Let me say, it was breath ta-kingly beautiful!  The first photo below is a shot of my Sister’s deck furniture after just a half a day of the two day Winter Storm. 

I had such a wonderful time meeting all of my students in Broomfield, Colorado.  Brayer on ladies!  I am so jealous that you get to be inspired by such stunning scenes everyday.

This is a couple of quick photos taken from my Sister’s front yard in the early morning right before I had to get in the car to come home.  Hello!  Early morning light hitting the mountains and tree tops with snow everywhere.  It was sooooo very hard to make myself head to the airport.

Although it was hard to come home, once I got off of the plane in Ohio to 80 degree temperatures and the full spectrum of Fall colors surrounding me, I was at peace again and glad to be home. 

I do have a tutorial for you today, but first I have a blog candy winner to announce.  Although I use a Random number generator to select the winner, I had the best time reading through your snowman comments.  If you haven’t read through them, you should.  Some are are heart wrenching, some are hysterical and most just warm your heart.  Thanks to everyone who played along.  Now for the winner.

  The winner of the Stampin’ Up, Snow Buddies Stamp Set is. . . .#487 . . .. .. . . . .

Karen who wrote “Hi, My most memorable and most interesting experience with snowmen was when we were snowed in in North Lake Tahoe. We had gone there to go skiing, but it was snowing so much that we never got to go skiing. Our car was stuck in the driveway, snowed in, since the night before it was literally a couple of inches of snow around it. My father was on top of the car shoveling down to get snow away. My sister and I, I guess, were too little to help, so we played in the snow. We went around the unfamiliar house/cabin and found a place to do our snowmen. Of course, during it not all snow we picked up went on the snowmen, some went on each other. By the time we had our snowmen there were 4 of us there - 2 full-blown and snow-blown snowmen and 2 people snowgirls. We had such fun, especially since we were from Southern California and we didn’t get to build snowmen!!! Karen B.

Congratulations!  Karen B. , please e-mail your mailing address to mzindorf@aim.com within the next 30 days to claim your new Snow Buddies Stamp Set.

Now a bit about today’s tutorial.  This card was created while I was in Colorado using my Sister’s stamping supplies.  She is a brand new stamper and inherits my supplies that are no longer Stampin’ Up current.  I used a couple of retired items, but I will give you the current items that you could substitute for them as I go through this tutorial. 

Let’s get started. . . . .

Supplies:  (Sorry no picture of the supplies today)

Want a free 39 page, Stampin’ Up Mini catalog?  If you are a resident of the United States,  just e-mail your mailing address to me and I will get one in the mail to you.  Are you inspired by this Blog?  One way you can help support this blog is by ordering your Stampin’ Up products through me.   You can order from me 24-7 from this link:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com  If you are within the United States.  Want a copy of the brand new 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team.  Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions

Started out with a 3.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock and masked the bottom of it with a post it note, torn at the top edge.

Brayered Soft Sky ink (you can substitute this ink for the current color Bashful Blue) at the top of the card stock.

Sponged Soft Sky ink (you can substitute Bashful Blue ink) at the post it note mask edge to darken the horizon line.

Stamped the French Script stamp with Soft Sky ink (you can substitute Bashful Blue ink and the current background stamp “En Francais”).

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock.

Ripped a post it note in the shape of a mountain and sponged Not Quite Navy ink at the post it note edge to create a mountain on the card stock.

Stamped the Deer from the Stampin’ Up set “Winter Post” with Stazon Jet Black ink (Basic Black ink would work here too).

Added some white gel pen to the top of the mountain to look like snow.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink around the edges of the card stock.

Layered the main image panel with a Designer paper and Whisper White card stock.

Here is the finished card measuring 5.25″ square.

May your day be overflowing with warm fuzzies, lol.  

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

  Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Moore, Oklahoma

Nashville, Indiana

Portland, Michigan

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota Rockville, MarylandNorth Chili, New York (near Rochester)New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Just when you think you have me pegged, I go and make something a little off the wall, lol.   This is my attempt at a fossil rock with fall leaves on it.  My leaves are stamped, colored, cut out, heat embossed and glued on.  I know, gasp!  I actually cut them out and glued them on, lol.

Anyway, I had fun creating this and hope you enjoy seeing the process.  The leaf images in this project are in the Stampin’ Up! set “Autumn Splendor”, Item number 116503, $20.95.  The set is in the current Holiday Mini Catalog and available until January 4, 2010. 

Let’s get started.. . . .  . .

Supplies:

Want a free 39 page, Stampin’ Up Mini catalog?  If you are a resident of the United States,  just e-mail your mailing address to me and I will get one in the mail to you.  Are you inspired by this Blog?  One way you can help support this blog is by ordering your Stampin’ Up products through me.   You can order from me 24-7 from this link:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com  If you are within the United States.  Want a copy of the brand new 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team.  Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions

Stamped large and small leaf stamps on Whisper White card stock, loading my stamp first with Versamark and then with Basic Black ink before stamping.  Loaded and stamped them multiple times and then heat embossed all of them at the same time using clear embossing powder and a heat gun. 

Note:  I will be using these leaves in other projects.  That is why I stamped so many. 

Colored the center of the leaf with an Old Olive Stampin’ Up Watercolor Crayon.

Added More Mustard Watercolor Crayon.

Added Real Red Water Color Crayon around the edges.

Used a Stampin’ Up Aqua Painter brush filled with water and brushed over the image from the center outward to blend the colors.   Note:  I cleaned my Aqua Painter brush on my scrap paper frequently so the red did not take over the lighter colors.

Cut out the leaf using my paper snips.  Love these little super sharp, pointy scissors. 

Pressed the Versamark pad all over the cut out leaf and then heat embossed the cut out with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  Repeated this process to create a small leaf cut out also.

Sponged Going Gray ink, using a pouncing motion, all over a 4.5″ square piece of Whisper White card stock.

Stamped small and large leaves using Going Gray ink all on the card stock.

Sponged Basic Gray ink on the card stock, making sure to leave some light areas.

Added a bit of Basic Black ink with the sponge and also sponged Basic Black ink around the edges of the card stock.

Layed out my design and stamped my sentiment before gluing it all together. 

Note:  I stamp my sentiment before gluing the card together just in case I stamp it crooked. 

Out lined parts of the Going Gray leaves with the fine end of a Basic Black marker.  This helps them stand out a bit more and gives them a bit of depth.

Assembled my card and added an Old Olive Ribbon.

Here it is finished measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

May you put on paper whatever comes to your mind today.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . .

Huge Hugs,

Michelle

  Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Broomfield, Colorado

Moore, Oklahoma

Nashville, Indiana

Portland, Michigan

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon Wheaton, Illinois