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.

Gold Foil Sheets

Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop – All That Glistens

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Welcome stampers!

Thank for joining us for our weekly Create with Connie and Mary Saturday blog hop!

Our theme today is : All That Glistens

I had soo much fun creating this –

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, Decorated with Happiness Bundle, Decorated with Happiness, Decorated Pine Dies, Gold Foil Sheets, Simply Elegant Trim, CCM, Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop

I created a wreath using the Decorated Pine Dies. Initially, I used two of the main branches to create the partial circle. After adding the ornaments, I felt it needed a few more. I die cut some of the smaller leaves and stuck them where they were needed.

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, Decorated with Happiness Bundle, Decorated with Happiness, Decorated Pine Dies, Gold Foil Sheets, Simply Elegant Trim, CCM, Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop

These ornaments are simply gorgeous wouldn’t you say? They are nice, bold, and shiny! Making them all silver made them pop!

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, Decorated with Happiness Bundle, Decorated with Happiness, Decorated Pine Dies, Gold Foil Sheets, Simply Elegant Trim, CCM, Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop

I stamped a simple greeting from the coordinating Decorated with Happiness stamp set.

Quite beautiful, don’t you think?

Go forward to check out Debbie Henderson, and back to Cindy Elam. I know they’ll have some great ideas for us!

We will see you next week!

Shop any of the products for this fabulous card by clicking on any of the icons below. I appreciate your support of my small, home based business. Thank you in advance!


Shamrockin’ Good Luck

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Top ‘o the Friday to ya! Happy March 17th – Saint Patrick’s Day – Friday – whatever it is to you!

I did made little treats for my coworkers. I also decided to create a card to go with them. A dear coworker and friend is leaving and I wanted to wish her well.

Color Throwdown also had great colors that just fit my needs perfectly too! Here are there challenge colors –

Very festive I’d say.

And, from the looks of my card, their picture inspired me too!

libbystamps, stampin up, Custom Tee, Fresh Fruit, Pop of Pink Specialty DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, kisses, shamrock, clover

I like how fun my card is!

libbystamps, stampin up, Custom Tee, Fresh Fruit, Pop of Pink Specialty DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, kisses, shamrock, clover

These are the treats I made too!

libbystamps, stampin up, Custom Tee, Fresh Fruit, Pop of Pink Specialty DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, kisses, shamrock, clover

Fun and festive!

I followed a tutorial here for the shamrock/clovers. It was pretty easy once I got started.

The card, of course was my own design! I used two greens that really clash, Cucumber Crush and Emerald Envy. I liked how the gold and black offset them in this card.

What do you think? Fun? Festive? I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Christmas Sparkle for TSOT

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It’s been two week since my last Try Stampin’ or not on Tuesday post! Time flies!

But it’s time for another challenge! Here is next sketch to create from –

Challenge #293

Optional Technique : A Touch of Fabric

I really loved this layout. It took me no time at all to come up with this –

libbystamps, stampin up, Christmas Pines, Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate, Gold Foil Sheets, TSOT293, Try Stampin' on Tuesday

Simply stunning, right? I love it!

libbystamps, stampin up, Christmas Pines, Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate, Gold Foil Sheets, TSOT293, Try Stampin' on Tuesday

It follows the sketch to a T!

libbystamps, stampin up, Christmas Pines, Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate, Gold Foil Sheets, TSOT293, Try Stampin' on Tuesday

These clear acetate sheets are sort of overlooked I believe. I had them out because I was designing for another card. They were THE perfect starting point for this holiday card. Of course, no fabric. That’s ok though.

So. What do you think? You like it? I’d love to read you comments.

I suggest heading over to Try Stampin’ or not on Tuesday and see just whats going on over there. Besides terrific card ideas, we have games and prizes too. You can find us on Facebook as well.

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Six Balloon Hip Hip Hooray

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It’s Friday. No four cards. No five cards. One card. Six balloons.

You see, I had something else in mind. I saw this sketch over at Try Stampin’ or not On Tuesday –

…..and I decided to run with it. This is a wonderful sketch, after a flipped it for my design.

I had a thought of this combination. The Balloon Bouquet Punch and the Party Pop-Up Thinlits –

libbystamps, Stampin Up, Party Pop-Up Thinlits, Balloon Bouquet Punch, Schoolhouse DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Big Shot Die Brush, Right? It’s quite fun, isn’t it? Very party-like!

libbystamps, Stampin Up, Party Pop-Up Thinlits, Balloon Bouquet Punch, Schoolhouse DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Big Shot Die Brush,

This Gold Foil is always a problem to photograph. I think you get the picture here though!

I decided to make the words stand out more by putting solid colored card stock behind them. It works really nice to make the point.

libbystamps, Stampin Up, Party Pop-Up Thinlits, Balloon Bouquet Punch, Schoolhouse DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Big Shot Die Brush,  That whole panel, I popped up for a more dramatic effect. Even the balloons get to go a little ‘higher’. I painstakingly tied Baker’s Twine around each balloon on the next. The look is great. It’s just a challenge to do that, especially with the flatter ones!

libbystamps, Stampin Up, Party Pop-Up Thinlits, Balloon Bouquet Punch, Schoolhouse DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Big Shot Die Brush,

The overall card is totally fun. A party on a card!

Although the card design was inspired by a sketch, the meaning was driven from an important milestone. My husband got another clean bill of health, six years out. Reason to celebrate. Reason to have a party on a card. Reason to feel blessed.

So. Now you have a sketch, a card and a reason. I’d love to read what you think of my card share today!

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Watercooler Wednesday, Challenge #54

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I am happy to be working with the wonderful designers over at Watercooler Wednesday. I am looking forward to getting to know these talented designers and playing around with their challenges. Thanks for having me!

The challenge this week is from Marsha, the Bouncing Brayer Technique –

WWC54

Well, when is the last time you used your brayer? Sadly, I could not even find my brayer…..but, I still managed to create a wonderful cards with a brayered effect –

libbystamps, Stampin Up, WWC54, Sunburst Sayings, Clear Block I, Bouncing Block Technique

Cool, isn’t it? I bet you’re wondering how I did it to?

Here’s what I did. I started with a card front, 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. Grabbed some scratch paper, my Stampin’ Pierce Mat, two yellow ink pads and Clear Block I.

libbystamps, Stampin Up, WWC54, Sunburst Sayings, Clear Block I, Bouncing Block Technique

I inked up the edge of the block. On one edge, So Saffron at the top, Hello Honey along the bottom. I then proceeded to tap the block around the card keeping the end in the same place. It sort of has a burst out look to it.

libbystamps, Stampin Up, WWC54, Sunburst Sayings, Clear Block I, Bouncing Block Technique

I did this just randomly. Re-inking ever so often. (Yes, I rotated my card stock too. I did that frequently.)

libbystamps, Stampin Up, WWC54, Sunburst Sayings, Clear Block I, Bouncing Block Technique

You can see the ink on the edge here.

libbystamps, Stampin Up, WWC54, Sunburst Sayings, Clear Block I, Bouncing Block Technique

I just kept going around and filling in. No rhyme, reason, or pattern.

libbystamps, Stampin Up, WWC54, Sunburst Sayings, Clear Block I, Bouncing Block Technique

Sometimes I did a bit of rolling. Sometimes a little dragging with the inked up block edge. When I was happy with the look. I stopped.

libbystamps, Stampin Up, WWC54, Sunburst Sayings, Clear Block I, Bouncing Block Technique

I trimmed it down and inked all the way around the edge of the panel. I added a sentiment and finished the card off with some Gold Foil corners and sequins.

Isn’t it pretty? Doesn’t this card just shine and brighten your day?

Hop on over and join us in the challenge – it’s fun!

I’d love to read what you think about my Bouncing Brayer Block Technique!

Happy Stampin’
Libby

A Corny Give Thanks

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What do you think of my new look?? Refreshing, isn’t it?

My monthly Card Buffets are packed with ideas, techniques, products and creative use of supplies. It’s more than making a few cards. I like people to go home inspired and excited to create, or recreate, projects from the class.

Last month, we had this nifty corner flip fold fall themed card on the Buffet –

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, Thankful Forest Friends, Acorn Builder Punch, Into the Woods DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Gold Glimmer Paper, Kraft and White Corrugated Paper, corner flip fold card

A little background. I have loved this idea. I have seen many done. I have many pinned. No, it’s not my original idea. I was quite frustrated that all the tutorials never worked quite right. The fold was crooked.  The cut didn’t work out right.

I ran across a tutorial (of course, I can not find it now to give credit) that used a ‘post it’ note to get the cut just right. And, it worked beautifully! It made sense to me and every card flipped perfectly.

This is what the back of the inside looks like –

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, Thankful Forest Friends, Acorn Builder Punch, Into the Woods DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Gold Glimmer Paper, Kraft and White Corrugated Paper, corner flip fold card

So nice. So crisp. It’s very nifty.

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, Thankful Forest Friends, Acorn Builder Punch, Into the Woods DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Gold Glimmer Paper, Kraft and White Corrugated Paper, corner flip fold card

Simply decorated. And, the sparkly acorns, can’t go wrong with those either.

Go make a card and make someones day!

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Shakin’ It Up for a Birthday

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Taking a little time away from class prep to share this terrific shaker card.

A customer asked me to have a shaker card on the Card Buffet last month because she too was having trouble making them work.

I’ve tried lots of different ways. This, by far, has got to be the best.

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, shaker card, Big News Stamp Set, Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Gold Fancy Designer Vellum, Banner Punch, Gold Foil Sheets, Gold Sequin Trim, Window Sheets,

I thinks this is just simply fun.

I did a different style of card last month at my class. This was me just testing the process.

If you’re interested in how I did this, leave me a comment.

Happy Stampin’
Libby

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