Graduation cards & Shower cards Monday Mini May 10th

It's that time of the year when you need to have cards on hand for graduations and wedding showers. Here's the cards that my stampers made for the Monday mini class, May 10th.

This first card is a very quick and easy card:

This next card, I would call a fun funky fold. When I saw the spring fold cards, they reminded me of a graduation cap. I eliminated one of the folds from that pattern and switched around a couple other folds to make the gift pocket. What do you think?

Stampin' Up!s  ribbons only unravel from one direction. Therefore if you tie a knot on the one end and unravel the other, you'll have an easy tassel. Attach it to the top of the card/cap on the other side of the knot that is not unraveled, trim any excess ribbon. When the graduate lifts up the cap, it will reveal a pocket where you can place a gift card, cash and a small note letting them know it's from you.

I'm so loving the Big Shot embossing folders. Seems like my cards are missing something when I don't use at least one of the embossing folders. Here's the punchy shower card that was made, with just a little bit of stamping.

Isn't the crunchy punch flower just adorable? It's no secret I need to work on my photography skills, there really is 3 different pinks.


Punching Tip For Layering: For perfectly centered punches when doing multiple layers, start with the smallest punch, add adhesive and attach to the next layer, then center and punch.


Tip for Punching Corners: If you are having trouble with the new corner punches, curl the tip with your fingernail. Then when you slide the paper in, the tip will catch in the corner so you don't go to far.

Mother’s Day Pansys

OMG! These pansy's are so adorable. Here is the Mother's day card that stampers made at my Monday mini class on May 3rd.

Colors: Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Glorious Green, Shimmmer White

Punches: Bird, wing & branch; Butterfly, Wide oval, Scalloped oval

Big Shot: Manhattan Floral embossing folder, Top note die

Accessories: Fire & Ice brads, Curry Polka dot ribbon

Can you believe it's made from our butterfly punch - yeah sure you betcha' - look again - see. How cool is that?

Okay I know I'm not the best photographer, but those little specks on the flowers are actually the sparkles that are in the shimmer white paper. I'm so proud I was able to capture the shimmer. These are so spectacular in real life.

The larger leaves are the wings from the bird punch. At first the leaves looked so flat and out of place, therefore to add dimension to the leaves, I used the mat pack (pg 191) and Empressor stylus (pg 188). The stylus is like a ball point pen without ink, it rolls so smoothly.

DRY EMBOSSING TIP: Hold the leaves at the base, start pressing at the tip and pull towards you. If you start at the branch and push towards the tip of the leaf, the leaves have the tendency to rip and pull off the branch.

Dawn Olchefske is the very talented demo and creator from right here in Minnesota. Check out her "How to" video tutorial and make sure you leave her a comment. Thank you Dawn for sharing!

Easter Cards

I taught another class on Tues. afternoon (March 23rd) at "A Place to Belong". They were soooooo excited about their creations. They asked the coordinators if I could come back again so they could make Mother's Day and Father's Day cards. I'm booked for May 4th and I am planning to have alternate verses incase Mother's and Father cards are unneeded. You all know that I'm "easy challenged".  Therefore if you see some easy guy cards, I NEED to see them.

A Place to Belong is a social setting for people go to that are having mental difficulties. When demos coined the saying that Stamping is rubber therapy, I don't think this is what they had in mind, but it's right on the mark! Seeing their faces as they look with pride at their cards is priceless. The coordinator said they really look forward to me coming and it's all they talk about for days afterwards. Even though these classes result in no sales, the feeling that I've really made a difference in someone's day is so amazing and fulfilling. And that's therapy for me!

Bunny card details:
7 minutes, 35 seconds is all it took me to make my display card!!! Yeah!! I'm pretty proud of myself about that! When you say chocolate bunnies and baby chicks, it reminds everyone of Easter!

Supplies:
Crushed curry; paper & ink, Chocolate Chip ink, Gold brad, blender pen. The inside is stamped with God's Blessings in chocolate chip ink: Sharing with you the miracle of new hope and new life through the glorious gift of Christ the Lord. They also stamped the little chick and broken egg shell next to the verse. Obviously the yellow envelope is not SU, it's from my before SU stash because I only had enough white ones to give them 1 each. 

Stamping Tips: 

--- Stamp the bunny in the corner  on the whisper white layer before doing the embossing. --- Stamp the inside verse before assembling the card & if you muck it up refold the card so it becomes your front. You can cover up the mucking with your embossed whisper white bunny layer.

Supplies:

Pretty in Pink paper, retired stamp set: 1998 Easter Blessings, retired Raspberry Tart DSP 3"x4",  Mellon Mambo ink, the little flower is from Eastern Blooms, Crystal clear brad. The inside is stamped with God's Blessings in mellon mambo: Blessings brighten when we count them! THANK YOU for blessing my life in such a wonderful way!  White SU envelope. One of the things I so appreciate about doing these classes with "A Place to Belong" is they have provided me with an opportunity and have encouraged me to use retired products. 

To make the flowers: I had them put the punched pieces in the palm of their hand and then rub the petals with the bone folder to add curves. One of the members was worried about the wrinkles in the paper, and I said it made them look like the veins in real flowers. The edges of the flowers are sponged and then attached with dimensionals. My original sample didn't have sponging on the edge of the card, but a couple ladies asked if they could sponge the edges like last time. Then others asked what that meant, so I used my card to show them how it would look. Before long everyone had sponging all over - on every edge you can think of, even the envelopes and the flaps. 

I'm showing two different variations of the same card because one lady had trouble stamping on the inside of the card and smudged the verse. Tip: Stamp your inside verse before embossing the front of the card. This horizontal version of the card has the DSP in the middle to cover up the previously stamped and smudged image. I did this card to show them that there's no mistakes, just revisions in the layout. I think I may even like this one better. If I would have put the saying in the opposite corner it would have looked great vertically also.


Another tip: Never leave home without extra supplies for a couple additional cards.

Inspiration for my cards came from Lisa Reber and Debbie Currier cards on Stampin' Connection. It's an awesome website only for Stamping Up! demonstrators. I'd love to help you sign up to be a demonstrator so you can access to  all the wonderful ideas, examples, and discussions.

Special handicap class Valentine cards

I received a panicked phone call asking if I could help out the Community Education handicap class. They wanted me to prepare 2 different cards for 16 adults for that evening's at 5 pm class. 

Here's the two cards I designed for them:

I used retired DSP for these projects. There was a lot of pre-work involved in their projects. The cards were embossed and pre-punched. I also had the hearts already stamped, pre-punched, and stuck on glue dots so all they had to do was peal and stick. They also stamped matching envelopes. For the brocade blue card they stamped matching envelopes with the SAB polka dot hearts. I ended up giving my sample envelope to one of the students. (I'm always running out of the white envelopes.)

It was wonderful seeing them so proud of their projects. When they finished the cards, they sat and asked what card they could make next. Sadly, 2 cards were all I was asked to prepare for them.

Valentine Cards for "A Place to Belong"

I spent a delightful afternoon at "A Place to Belong" helping 10 women created these 2 valentine cards with matching envelopes. I think it is safe to say the highlight of the class was when they each took a turn at the Big Shot embossing their card fronts. It is now on their wish list for their organization to purchase once grant monies can be found.

The first card was designed by Mary Hophner, I received the card as a SAB swap. The second card used retired Raspberry Tart paper.

They were so excited about their projects that by the time I had left, they had convinced their coordinators to schedule another class to do Easter cards.

Community Education Classes

This fall I will be offering a series of monthly card classes through Community Education office. 

Each month you will be able to stamp 5 cards which will include each of the following themes: gal, guy, sympathy, seasonal, and just for fun.

I have also scheduled several project classes. Build-A-Bear magnetic paper doll with case and 6 outfits; stamp and decorate a picture frame; create a 6"x 6" mini flip album.

The above display shows examples of the various outfit choices available to make for the Build-A-Bear paper magnet; and the picture frame. I will also be offering a 6" x 6" mini flip album in October. A sample of the album will be posted later.

Dates and times for the classes are posted

on my Stampin' Up! website calendar.

Christmas in July

You're invited to my Christmas in July Open House. Come have fun learning about how to create handmade cards and projects. Plus, you'll get to make your own hand-stamped card (see below); try out the BigShot; sign-up for classes; see the new in-colors and some new stamps, learn about the Berry Pine Stampin’ Club. Club members can pick up your new FREE idea book & catalog. I'm looking forward to seeing you.

EVENT:  Christmas in July open house

DATES:   Wed. July 15; 5 - 7:30 pm
                  Thurs. July 16; 2 – 6:30 pm  
PLACE:   Berry Pine Stamping Pad

                  Fergus Falls, MN
RSVP:      meshalm8itjs4u@yahoo.com

Go to my website, Stampin' Up! is having weekly specials during July. 
Bring a friend that hasn't stamped with me, and you both can make a friend card.

Michelle Dawn

Mother’s Day Card Special

Do you need a Mother's Day card? You can make 

2 of these for 

only $5.

I'm offering two different classes: 

Thursday 

May 7th at 7 pm.

Friday 

May 8th at 3 pm.

Register by calling my message service: 736-4001

Ottertail County area Minnesota

Here's a close up showing the details of the punched flower images. Isn't it adorable?

If you bring a friend who also takes this class, as a thank you, both you and your friend will get to make one of these beautiful embossed tri-fold cards. 

There is no additional charge for the bonus card that was designed by Lynda in California.

I'm looking forward to helping you,

Michelle Dawn 

Supplies for MOM card:

Stamps: Lovely Letters, One of a Kind, Embrace Life

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Raspberry Tart DSP

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose

Accessories: Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, glue dot, Embosslit die Sweetest Stem

Punches: Eyelet Border, Snow Blossom, 1 1/4" Square, 1 3/8" Square, 1 1/4" Circle, 5 Petal flower, Tri-flower

Stamp-A-Stack of Wishes on Sat. Nov. 22 '08

Drum roll please - Ta dum dum dum!

It's been a while since my last Stamp-A-Stack (SAS) class. Even though it's a busy season coming up, I delighted to have requests for another. So grab your pen & mark your calendars on Sat. Nov. 22nd, 

1-4 pm. 

These cards will be in keeping with the theme of the season: fall, Christmas, and the soon approaching winter, but still versible enough to use for birthdays, thinking of you, or as sympathy cards. The class fee will be $10 for a set of 8 cards; 2 each of 4 designs. When you call/email to RSVP let me know how many sets you would like to make.

Stamp-A-Stack of Blessings Sat. March 8th

The above items are a sample of what you will be able to make at my next Stamp-A-Stack class, card clip not included. To be more precise this class is a 'Stamp Camp" because you will be making more than just a stack of cards. The bask-o-lope is a basket that is made from an envelope! Check my website, located in the right hand column, for more information on the class and current Stampin' Up! promotions.

Occasions Mini Collection starts March 1st

Wild Wasabi cardstock special starts March 1st

Sale-A-Bration promotion ends March 17th

You may view the mini catalogs by clicking on the links in the right hand column under "Stampin' Up! Information". Check back March 1st for more information on the new specials.

Stamp-A-Stack of Love

This is a preview of some of the items (card clips not included) that will be made in my SAS - make & take class.These favors would also be perfect in Easter baskets, as wedding favors, or personalize with a name for your dinner guests. Check my website for more information on the class and current Stampin’ Up! promotions. 

Sale-A-Bration starts Feb. 1st. 

You may view the mini catalog by clicking on the link in the right hand column under "Stampin' Up! Information"