Paper Piercing Tool

Happy First Birthday Mia

November 23, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Happy FIRST Birthday to my dear niece Mia.

Ah, this is a day late, but I was hard at work on my first ever Christmas Card Class. I set this to post for the wrong date. Oh well, it happens.

The star of this little show, other than the birthday girl herself, is the number ‘1’ on the card. In Libby fashion, it’s a sterling silver James Avery Charm. I started Mia a charm bracelet as a shower gift. And, you have to celebrate the ‘first’ birthday! This will be fabulous when she is 16!

I punched a Postage Stamp square and layered a 1″Square on top of that. My Paper Pierce Tool worked well to make tiny holes to thread White Baker’s Twine to attach the charm. It’s adorable!

From there I just layered patterned paper. I worked backwards, honestly. After I got my main piece ready, I had to decide what size card base to put it on. I knew I wanted to create a matching envelope, so I went with a retired 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 envelope, making my card 4 x 4.

The main image it offset a bit. To balance that, I added the 3/8″ Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon. Done. And done adorably!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Everything will be OK

August 5, 2013 · 10 Comments

Everything will be ok? Yes, even if we can’t see what OK is yet.

What a wonderful quote/greeting for a card. It’s from Really Good Greetings. It’s a new stamp set. I had the card sentiment in mind for a while now, just needed to find the right avenue to create it in.

Since returning from Convention, things have been rough, really rough. Each day brings something new. I am so missing the energy I received from my trip. It was zapped pretty quickly. An expression in a card should be a positive step in the right direction, correct? One can only hope! I need some positive mantra to grasp!

Ok, back to the card. My sketch design comes from an old favorite, Freshly Made Sketches. This is number 97, just getting it in under the wire! It’s a clean design to work with as always. It seemed perfect to showcase the sentiment I was feeling.

Now, the colors. I had originally played along with colors more somber. Then, I thought, heck no. I’m trying to feel better here. So, I was going to peruse other blogs for a color challenge. First one I came to, Dynamic Duos! That works. Strawberry Slush and Daffodil Delight. Perfect. Seems several of my cards lately have been these colors! You can add one neutral, so I went with black and the chalkboard technique. Which, I have not quite mastered as beautifully as others.

I am pleased with the outcome of this card. Simple. Clean. Makes a statement. Now, it goes visible to where I can see it. Sometimes card makers need a card too!

Leave a comment. Comments are nice. Comments make us feel good!

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Finally, a Day for You!

June 23, 2013 · 8 Comments

A day for you? Yes, a birth’day’ for you!

In other words Happy Birthday! I just think this set of stamps, Really Good Greetings is way cute. I know. I said it yesterday too. But, I like the casualness of it.

Today’s posting is a rather quick card. I love how it turned out though, quick or not. I created it for Hand Stamped Sentiments, Challenge 162. Not sure if I have played along with their sketches before or not, but this one appealed to me this morning.

I used a variety of techniques here. Heat embossing for the sentiment, which I outlined using the paper piercing technique. Dry embossing for the background. Flags or pennants, which are so in theses days – I made these by using the Fancy Flower Punch. Cool, huh? Yes, another easy way to create the end points.

Well, reviewing this card, it did take more work than I thought. Seemed shorter though. I guess because everything was pulled from my box of discards….love these type of cards! And, love to use up scraps!

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Born to Ride

June 4, 2013 · 10 Comments

Born to Ride? Who’s born to ride? Well, probably lots of you. But this is for Cheryl, a stampin’ friend of mine. She attends my classes and also comments on my blog. She wondered why I didn’t make a less masculine motorcycle card. Well, this one is for you, Cheryl!

And, it’s also for two others as well. Two card challenges. The layout is from Fab Friday, Sketch #19. Very nice layout! And, the colors of Raspberry Ripple and Wisteria Wonder are from Dynamic Duos, Challenge #55.

So, if you ask me, these qualify as more feminine colors, don’t you think?

I know, I should have showcased something new, but this stamp set, Born to Ride is new to me, doesn’t that count? And, I had fun playing around with it. Kind of odd to stamp with a wood block these days, it stamps a bit different. The tactile feel is more solid. Well, whatever it is, it stamped beautifully!

I started with Naturals White, yes, hard to see in the photo. Then went from there. I used the cool Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Tool and Mat. Created a different background this time. The Chevron Embossing Folder complimented to Raspberry Ripple well too.

All in all, it’s a great card. Cheryl, you like?

Happy Stampin’
Libby

Tuesday Tips

October 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Ok, these will most likely be random posts as I get back into the swing of posting. Stampin’ I’ve been doing- just not posting!

Sunday, I went to Carolyn’s stampin’ event (yay, I didn’t have to prep a thing!!!) and we made 3 really sweet projects. One of wich used the new Stampin’ Pierce Mat, Paper Piercing Tool and the new Festive Paper-Piercing Pack from the 2012 Holiday Mini Catalog.

I noticed that as I was piercing my Window Frame, the Piercing Template was sliding around a bit, thus making my ‘holes’ a little off. Can’t have that now can we? So, pulled out the painters tape- blue tape- purple tape- frog tape- whatever low tack tape you have and rolled it up and placed in between the framelit cut shape and the piercing template. Worked like a CHARM! No more sliding around and no more crooked pierces!

Try this next time. Simple, but effective!

Happy Piercin’

Libby