Libby Fens, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Libby Fens offering original and creative paper crafting projects. I host monthly Card Buffets, specialty classes and weekly inspiration for card making.

Copper Foil

Happy Birthday, Pumpkin

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Lol! Even people who have fall birthdays love pumpkins!

libbystamps, Stampin' Up!, Perennial Birthday, Toil & Trouble DSP, Copper Foil, ctd514

This card is perfect for those people!

Believe it not, the pattern paper is from a Halloween pack of paper! It’s the Toil & Trouble Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up! It works perfectly here for this fall birthday!

It also works perfectly for The Color Throwdown newest color challenge –

And, I’ll be featuring this card in the October Card Buffet too! Come out and join us!

Stampin’ Up Supplies –

  • Stamp Set – Perennial Birthday
  • Card Stock – Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Copper Foil
  • Ink – Early Espresso
  • DSP – Toil & Trouble

JOY for CCMC

· 6 Comments

I’m not sure about you, but I’m needing to find a little ‘joy’ lately!

It’s Thursday and that usually does it. It’s Create with Connie and Mary challenge time!

This week we’ve got a color challenge to get your creative energies flowing –

ccmc432

Elegant colors I must say!

I couldn’t decide how I wanted to use the colors: birthday, Thanksgiving or Christmas……….well, I decided on Christmas –

libbystamps, stampin up, CCMC432, Copper Foil , Large Letters Framelits, Balloon Framelits, Softly Falling EF

I liked the idea of the bold letters in copper!

libbystamps, stampin up, CCMC432, Copper Foil , Large Letters Framelits, Balloon Framelits, Softly Falling EF

By itself, the card was a little plain. Adding the thin strips of navy, plus the little ‘tassels’ were just the addition this card needed!

libbystamps, stampin up, CCMC432, Copper Foil , Large Letters Framelits, Balloon Framelits, Softly Falling EF

The embossed background added to the wintry feel of the card too!

This color combination is gorgeous! Check out how the other wonderful design team members used these colors. Play along with us at Create with Connie and Mary!

Supplies –

  • Stamp Set – none
  • Card Stock – Mint Macaron, Whisper White, Night of Navy
  • Big Shot – Large Letters Framelits, Balloon Framelits, Softly Falling EF
  • Ink – none
  • Other – Copper Foil
Happy Stampin’
Libby

November Blogging Friends Blog Hop

· 10 Comments

Hello November!!!! Hope you Halloween was fun, festive and safe!

Welcome to another Blogging Friends Blog Hop!

Our theme this month is the stamp set, Lovely as a Tree! You know it, a classic that’s been around Stampin Up forever!

Blogging Friends Icon

Here is my first card –

libbystamps, stampin up, Lovely as a Tree, Christmas Pines, Layering Ovals Framelits, BFBH

I decided to mix way old (Lovely as a Tree) with way new (colors and stamp set) and go with a Christmas card.

libbystamps, stampin up, Lovely as a Tree, Christmas Pines, Layering Ovals Framelits, BFBH

I love these colors together too! I’m a true red and green gal when it comes to decor and personal style, but I love expanding the Christmas color pallet and trying new combinations. This. I. Love.

Of course, when you hear the name, Lovely as a Tree, the image in this card is what come to mind. I’m most certain –

libbystamps, stampin up, Lovely as a Tree, Christmas Pines, Real red 3/4 Stitched Edge Ribbon, BFBH

It’s the classic image!

libbystamps, stampin up, Lovely as a Tree, Christmas Pines, Real red 3/4 Stitched Edge Ribbon, BFBH

I just had to create something using it. I once again mixed way old and way new using the same stamp set. The addition of the glimmer paper and ribbon is very elegant.

As I put these two clean stamps away, I noticed a tiny leaf stamp in the box. Sure enough, it’s part of the set too. I just had to use it because I can’t say I really have ever seen it used before!

libbystamps, stampin up, Lovely as a Tree, Acorny Thank You, Layering Ovals Framelits, Copper Foil, Copper Metallic Thread, BFBH

Mixed with the Copper Foil – a WINNER!

libbystamps, stampin up, Lovely as a Tree, Acorny Thank You, Layering Ovals Framelits, Copper Foil, Copper Metallic Thread, BFBH

The Copper Metallic Thread helped too! This turned out to be a very fall-like card. But, oh so lovely!

libbystamps, stampin up, Lovely as a Tree, Christmas Pines, Acorny Thanks You, BFBH

I hope you enjoyed my spread of Lovely as a Tree cards! Please leave some happy reading! Bloggers love to read comments!

Head on over to Anne Power to see what she has done with this stamp set!

Continue on Blog Hop Icon

Happy Stampin’
Libby
First Card Supplies
Second Card Supplies

Supply List

Third Card Supplies
You can check the others on the hop here –

Wacky Watercooler October Blog Hop

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Finally made time to join this wonderful blog hop again, the Wacky Watercooler!

2016-october-banner

Our theme is fall, of course!

I created a nice little array of items.

The first is a simple, elegant card –

libbystamps, stampin up, Suite Seasons, Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate, Gold Foil, Thanksgiving card

Love these colors together! Very elegant and classy!

The third is a wonderful interactive card –

libbystamps, stampin up, slider card, Kraft Rope Trim, Layering Ovals Framelits, Halloween Night Specialty DSP, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Cookie Cutter Halloween

Pull up on the viewable area to see this –

libbystamps, stampin up, slider card, Kraft Rope Trim, Layering Ovals Framelits, Halloween Night Specialty DSP, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Cookie Cutter Halloween

…and did you see that the adorable main focal image moved up to?

Lastly, I always make some sort of Gratitude Journal for myself and as a Card Buffet item around this time. Here is the one for this year –

libbystamps, stampin up, Seasonal Frame Thinlits, Copper Foil, Kraft Tag A Bag Gift Bags, Vintage Leaves, Leaflets Framelits, Season Frame Thinlits

Inside it has 10 sheets of paper to notate what you are ‘grateful’ for. This is one of our Tag A Bag Gift Bags folded over and decorated.

I would love to read what you think about my Blog Hop projects before moving on to the next blog! And, if you attend my Card Buffet this weekend, you may or may not see these projects again, just sayin’!

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In case you needed to see the previous one, Christine, again.

2123e-nextwatercoolercrockbutton

To continue on to Heidi’s blog.

wwc home

In case you need to see who you missed!

Thanks for joining us this month! Card supplies listed below.

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Give Thanks

  • Suite Seasons stamp set
  • Very Vanilla, Island Indigo card stocks
  • Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate
  • Gold Foil
  • Island Indigo Ink
  • Tear & Tape Adhesive
Slider Thankful Card
  • Cookie Cutter Halloween stamp set, Acorny Thank You
  • Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch
  • Halloween Night Specialty DSP
  • Layering Ovals Framelits
  • Kraft Rope Trim
  • Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Shimmer White card stocks
  • StazOn  Black Ink, Early Espresso Ink
Grateful Journal
  • Vintage Leaves stamp set
  • Leaflets Framelits, Season Frame Thinlits (currently on Clearance Rack!!)
  • Kraft Tag A Bag Gift Bags
  • Copper Foil Sheets
  • Seasonal Frame Thinlits
  • Cajun Craze, Garden Green, Crushed Curry card stocks
  • Layering Ovals Framelits
  • Cajun Craze and Garden Green Inks

Cozy Season of Joy for CCMC427

· 12 Comments

That’s right! It’s time for a Create with Connie and Mary sketch. Happens every Thursday!

Here is the sketch we are challenged with this week –

ccmc427

And , since our temperatures have gone from a sweltering 98 degrees to a brisk 85 degrees, it’s time to pull out the sweaters!!!

Well, I pulled out my Cable Knit Dynamic Embossing Folder that is! I created this cozy little number –

libbystamps, stampin up, CCMC, Create with Connie and Mary, Pretty Pines Thinlits, Christmas Pines, Cable Knit Dynamic EF, Copper Foil

How about this? Cozy right?

And, quite fitting for the temperature drop you’d say?

libbystamps, stampin up, CCMC, Create with Connie and Mary, Pretty Pines Thinlits, Christmas Pines, Cable Knit Dynamic EF, Copper Foil

I knew immediately when I saw this sketch just what I was going to do with it. I really loved the idea of the angled piece of sweater with the new Copper Foil.

I played with several different adornments for the focal area. Ultimately, I decided on a button and bow!

libbystamps, stampin up, CCMC, Create with Connie and Mary, Pretty Pines Thinlits, Christmas Pines, Cable Knit Dynamic EF, Copper Foil

I know. According to the sketch, I should have had the sentiment on the sweater – it just didn’t look right. It’s stunning here off to the side.

I love this card so much that it might make the Card Buffet later on in the month! Don’t you think it’d be great for a class?

TIP – when using this dynamic folder (it’s very hard and really thick) spray/spritz a little water onto your card stock or paper before you emboss it. It will soften the paper fibers a bit to make it malleable to take on the intricate details of the folder. Let it dry before you adhere it to your project. I forgot to do that this time and my card stock is a little rough-looking. 

I’ve had a chance to have a sneak peek at the other designers take on this sketch! You should see them for yourself at Create with Connie and Mary. I hope we inspire you enough to play along with us!

Supplies –

  • Stamp Set – Christmas Pines
  • Dies – Pretty Pines Thinlits
  • Punches – 1 1/4″ Circle, 1″ Circle
  • Card Stock – Very Vanilla, Basic Black
  • Ink – Tuxedo Black Memento (just freshly re-inked!!)
  • Big Shot – Cable Knit Dynamic EF
  • Other – Copper Foil
Happy Stampin’
Libby

October Catalog Favorites, Blogging Friends Blog Hop

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Welcome fall! Cooler temps. Pumpkins. Rustling leaves.

……and the first of three posts! This is for Blogging Friends Blog Hop!

Blogging Friends Icon

You might have came from Anna Masciovecchio to visit me.

Our theme this month is Mini Catalog favorites. As many of you have seen the Stampin’ Up Holiday mini catalog, it’s probably the whole book, right? Well, I had to narrow it down a bit.

My favorites would have to be some stamp sets, a punch, some of the DSP, the trims and the new foil.

I created a little holiday treat bag ensemble to show them off –

libbystamps, stampin up, Tag A Bag Gift Bags, treat bag, Blogging Friends Blog Hop, Cookie Cutter Christmas, Cookie Cutter Halloween, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Layering Circles Framelits

Can you say,  A D O R A B L E ????

I made four bags that would be appropriate to use over the next few months for treats, small gifts or even a gift card!

They all have the same size wrap around band and a velcro closure. I also placed a firm piece of cardboard in the bottom to give the bag more stability. Measurements are at the end.

This first bag is really a fall/winter treat bag. It never really get that cold here for cable knit sweaters……..but, I love this Cable Knit Dynamic embossing folder to create the look of one!

libbystamps, stampin up, Tag A Bag Gift Bags, treat bag, Blogging Friends Blog Hop, Cookie Cutter Christmas, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Cable Knit Dynamic EF, Layering Circles Framelits, Copper Foil

I paired it with the new Copper Foil. It’s such a much have! Here a made a ‘button’ to show it off. Couldn’t you image hot chocolate or s’mores treats in this?? So so cozy!

The Halloween bag is pretty simple. So great for spooky treats!

libbystamps, stampin up, Tag A Bag Gift Bags, treat bag, Blogging Friends Blog Hop, Cookie Cutter Halloween, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Halloween Night Specialty, Layering Circles Framelits

I used the Cookie Cutter Halloween stamp set in and the Cookie Cutter Builder punch. Because I used a blender pen to add some detail to the mummy, I stamped him in Staz On first then onto Shimmery White Card Stock. This paper works nicely with the blender pen.

For fall/thanksgiving, I went with this little detailed scarecrow on the bag –

libbystamps, stampin up, Tag A Bag Gift Bags, treat bag, Blogging Friends Blog Hop, Cookie Cutter Halloween, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Serene Scenery, DSP, Layering Circles Framelits, Kraft Rope Trim

I used Serene Scenery DSP for this one. (It’s in the larger catalog.) I also used my blender pen and a few ink pads to color him in on Shimmery White Card Stock. He’s sooo cute! The new Kraft Rope trim helped to add lots of detail to his arms and legs. Looks like real straw, right?

The Christmas bag finishes off the ensemble

libbystamps, stampin up, Tag A Bag Gift Bags, treat bag, Blogging Friends Blog Hop, Cookie Cutter Christmas, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Candy Cane Lane DSP, Layering Circles Framelits

It’s nothing too fussy. By the time Christmas rolls around, no one has much time or energy to craft! It’s a simple stamped image detailed with a piece ribbon on the side.

Now that you’ve seen my treat bags, here’s how I created them.

Treat Bag Basic –

  • start with Kraft Tag a Bag Gift bags
  • remove 1/8th off the bottom to open bag up
  • on the bottom, score at 1 1/2, parallel to bottom
  • rotate twice, score 1 1/2 from top (the outer most part of the serrated curve)
  • parallel to the outer edge, cut 1″ up to score line
  • repeat for other side
  • fold ‘bottom’ score lines inward creating bottom
  • sides remain puffy to flat towards the top
  • fold down top score line
  • inside piece for the sturdy cardboard bottom 2 5/8 x 2

Bag Band –

  • 2 x 8 1/2 strip of card stock
  • 2 DSP pieces, 2 x 1 3/4 and 2 3/4 x 1 3/4
  • adhere to outside flaps

libbystamps, stampin up, Tag A Bag Gift Bags, Blogging Friends Blog Hop

Pretty simple? Please email me if you have any questions!

Now that you’ve seen a sampling of some of my favorites, head on over to Anne Power to see what her favorites are!

Continue on Blog Hop Icon

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Peace Leaves, WWC85

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Whoa. This week is flying by!

It’s Wednesday. Already.

You know what means. Watercooler Wednesday time.

WWC logo

This week we have a color challenge from Jean. It’s a beautiful one –

14045861_188165648270502_7839242423610252437_n

Don’t you agree?

I got really excited to work with these colors because Stampin’ Up! now has foil sheets! And, I got to play with theme again!

Here is my design –

libbystamps, stampin up, Beautiful Branches, Christmas Thinlits, WWC, Copper Foil

Nice, huh?

libbystamps, stampin up, Beautiful Branches, Christmas Thinlits, WWC, Copper Foil

All copper foil. So shiny and interesting to photograph!

I wasn’t sure what sentiment to go with. This one looks nice. This could be a Christmas card or a sympathy card.

libbystamps, stampin up, Beautiful Branches, Christmas Thinlits, WWC, Copper Foil

These leaves are from the Beautiful Branches Thinlits that are limited edition. They coordinate with the Thoughtful Branches stamp set too, also limited edition. Such a beautiful set!

So. Have I inspired you to pull out the copper stuff and play? If so, let me know. Comments are so nice to read!

Show us your creation over at Watercooler Wednesday! Stop by to see the other Design team creations and we’d love it for you join us!

Supplies used –

  • DSP – Pop of Pink Specialty DSP
  • Card Stock – Basic Black
  • Big Shot – Beautiful Branches (Limited Edition), Christmas Greetings Thinlits
  • Other – Copper Foil
Happy Stampin’
Libby

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