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 Sequin Trim

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

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

Shakin’ It Up a Bit

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So, I got inspired by a magazine article about organizing a craft space. I’ve been so wrapped it cleaning and purging that I haven’t spent a lot of time paper crafting – and, yikes I have a Card Buffet next weekend.

I’m all over the map. I’ve halted the purge – sad face – and started working on cards for next weekend.

I had a few requests this month. One for a shaker card. I am really great at designing these, it’s just my execution or something. They shake for a while and then…..then no more shakin’. The pieces don’t want to move about. Sad face.

In an attempt to try a new way, I created this –

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, shaker card, Leaflets Framelits, Square Pillow Box Thinlits, Six Sayings, Gold Sequin Trim, Gold Foil Paper,

It’s flat because when I stood it up, all the pieces fell and you couldn’t tell it was a shaker card. Yes, it probably needs more pieces. 

My pieces are sequins removed from the string and tiny die cut leaves from the Square Pillow Box Thinlit.

Another request was fall themed cards. My favorite. I’m all about fall.

I will keep tweaking…….got to get it right by next weekend.

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Purse-nly, It’s in the Bag

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Have you seen these little purse bags in the crafting world?

They are so much fun to make with tutorials are everywhere.

I made this one for two challenges. The first was the color inspiration from ColorQ –

The second is the layout from Freshly Made Sketches –

Combining the two sketches, this is what I came up with –

libbystamps, Stampin' Up, stampinup, purse bag, box bag, box purse, FSM 191, colorQ challenge 295, Tin of Cards Stamp Set, Washi Label Punch, Fun Flower Punch, Pansy Punch, Petite Petals Punch, Gold Sequin Trim, Gold Fancy Designer Vellum

The design of the bag really fit the Freshly Made Sketches simple layout. I loved the addition of the flower for an offset focal point. And, can’t forget the sentiment either!  I used the new Washi Label Punch and the new Tin of Cards stamp set here!

The bag will hold Stampin’ Up’s Note Card sized cards and envelopes upright.

BONUS for you………

Most of the tutorials on-line are made using any 12×12 DSP and 12 x 12 card stock. I am out of a card stock that coordinated here, so I modified my instructions to use what most of us have, 8 1/2 x 11 sized card stock. Here is a quick tutorial for a smaller styled purse bag –

(1) 4 x 12 DSP sheet (Tear & Tape Adhesive the long bottom and one end)

(1) 2 1/2 x 5 1/4 piece of card stock, scored at 1/2 on all four sides (make a tray by slitting the ends and using Tear & Tape Adhesive on all 4 corners)

(4) 6 1/2 x 1/2 strips of coordinating card stock(Tear & Tape Adhesive the whole strip, all 4)

(1) 1/2 x 11 (Tear & Tape Adhesive just the ends a very small piece)

1. Wrap the DSP around the outside of the tray made starting in the center and ending in an overlap at the center. Secure the overlap with the Tear & Tape Adhesive that was applied.

2. Take one if the 1/2 x 7 strips, starting a little past the middle point on the short side of the bottom edge, wrap it over the DSP along the bottom all the way around. It will only be half way around. Repeat to cover the entire bottom edge.

3. Pretty much repeat the same for the top of the DSP purse bag.

4. The handle secure with the little amount of Tear & Tape Adhesive covering the side seams. I used a brad for extra sturdiness.

5. Decorate.

Please try my directions and let me know how it works out for you.

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Look Who’s Turning……

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25. That’s right. Guess who has a special birthday today? It’s Crystal!

Happy Birthday Crystal!!

I went to my trusty pins to find something that appealed to me. I liked these two as a starting point.

One is from Paper Pals Arts, a color challenge –

 PPA242

And the other is the layout from Try Stampin’ On Tuesday –

Both are way cool. And, together – totally awesome.

After some thought and rummaging through all my papers I came up with this –

libbystamps, Hooray It's Your Day, Circles Collection Framelits, Stacked With Love DSP, Gold Glimmer Paper, Gold Sequin Trim, Typeset Alphabet I must say, I love how it turned out! Don’t you agree? See it opened –

libbystamps, Hooray It's Your Day, Circles Collection Framelits, Stacked With Love DSP, Gold Glimmer Paper, Gold Sequin Trim, Typeset Alphabet

I had the layout all together with all the colors set. The tricky part was using the Circle Framelits to cut the circle out. It was a bit thick. But flipping it over and cutting it out again, I made it work.

The 2 and 5 are from the retired die, Bigz Alphabet Typeset. A tad bit larger than I liked, but it worked nonetheless.

So, the whole point of this card and this post, is to wish you, Crystal, a very Happy 25th Birthday!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Bursting with Thanks

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Just a quick share today. A Thank You card. You can make this in no time as well. See for yourself –

libbystamps, Starburst Framelits, Fabulous Four, All Abloom DSP, Sequins

I started with Garden Green as a base. I stamped my sentiment from Fabulous Four, a must have fabulous set, in Garden Green on Pistachio Pudding card stock.

I used the Starburst Framelits to cut out the image carefully leaving it towards the upper portion of the framelit. After placing it to the left on the card, I added a strip of DSP from the new All Abloom paper pack.

The random placement of the sequins were just the last addition this card needed to be complete, don’t you think?

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Golden Happiness

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I’ve been flippin’ to share this card with you. It’s a pretty one from my February Card Buffet.

Since the Occasions Mini has come out, several of our favorites have fallen out of site. For example, these Circle Card Thinlits. I combined this card style with a new stamp set in the Occasions Mini, Happy Watercolor. And, two other nifty products, Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape and Gold Sequin Trim. Take a look –

libbystamps

And, as it flips open…….wait for it…..

libbystampslibbystamps

Despite the yellowish photographs, isn’t this lovely?

The Gold Encore Pad really helped to do this card justice. A simple added touch? The Gold Sequin Trim. It comes off the string rather easy. I just adhered them with Tombow Liquid Glue.

As I am preparing for the March Buffet, I do not think this one will be on it. I just have too many things to show.

Comments are always greatly appreciated.

Happy Stampin’
Libby

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