Butternut Sage Designs....

ACCESSORY to my PAPER CUTS CARD!

2009-11-09T12:22:00.004-05:00

If you got a minute to view today's PAPER CUTS then this card is very familiar to you! However, you didn't get to see the box that went with it. This year my sister is hosting Thanksgiving and I made this little hostess box just for her. It is sort of has a shabby chic feel with this one color combo! I didn't think I would make another polygon box after the first one I previewed last week, but I am hooked! Every color combination changes the feel of the box. I learned that, when Debbie Pamment sent me her version of my polygon box! PLEASE send me pictures of what you have made too, so I can drool over them! I can't wait to see what you have done with the template! Thanks for stopping in!~Donna

Silhouette PAPER CUTS #42 for Just You Girls Challenge

2009-11-09T02:56:00.002-05:00

Hey everybody! How was your weekend?

Mine was great and very productive. I made TWO awesome projects that will be coming up on my blog soon. I wanted to post them today because I love them sooooooo much, but I am restraining myself. I am like a kid at Christmas, wanting to open presents, I can never wait for it to get here. I will actually post one of the projects this week because it is for Thanksgiving and it will give you time to make it! (ooooooooo special secret project) and then the other will be in a couple of weeks.

So for today I decided to do a challenge and make it my Paper Cuts card too. Autumn is the most colorful of the seasons I think, so I decided to take inspiration from Nie Nie's blog banner and do a silhouette with NO COLOR! I used the sketch for the challenge over at Just Us Girls and adapted it for my Paper Cuts with all the instructions and sizes. So ENJOY! ~Donna

STAMPIN' UP! ORNAMENT POP UP CARD

2009-11-07T11:20:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a card is .....
just too much fun to make and this is that card! I had a smile on my face from beginning to end and it was as easy as it was fun. I think even your children would like doing this style. So, why not take a minute to make a "memory maker" with your little or big kids this afternoon!

I used the inspiration from Jayne Mercer's pumpkin card and scored some lines on the card background. I then used my ornament punch and punched two images. First stamp an image in silver ink on your punched ornament, then ink it up with versamark and heat set it. Next, re ink it with versamark and add Glassy Glaze Enamel to it. Heat this with your heat gun, it makes for a very shiny ornament! Take your second punched shape and score it in half, fold it on the crease and adhere it to the back of your stamped and punched image. You now have an awesome "pop-up" for your card! Easy peasy and so much WOW!!!! Enjoy~Donna ..........................score................... ...fold.....................tape.......... ..adhere

POLYGON BOX ~Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!

2009-11-06T08:53:00.004-05:00

WOW you are all unbelievable.

Thanks so much for purchasing the tutorial for the Polygon Christmas Box! The demand was unexpected but so appreciated, and I have received some lovely notes as well. Here is just a peek from my blog friend Debbie Pamments version. She really put me to shame with this little treasure! It is just luscious don't you think? She'd love for you to stop by and say hello, so go on now! I hope you'll share the ones you make with me as well, so send me a picture. I cannot wait to see them all! ENJOY! ~Donna

Stampin Up's Pendant Park Christmas Card Set

2009-11-05T00:30:00.001-05:00

Last week I started my Christmas Card Classes for 2009,
it seems like just yesterday we were doing the twelve weeks of Christmas in 2008! WOW!
I have decided to scale way back this year!
Take a peek at the samples we made, you can scroll below this post to see an up close photo of each card. Every layout is simple to replicate so you can easily make a quick stack of cards in one evening. The designs consist of basic stamping, but here we used an unusual stamp set for Christmas with "Pendant Park" for the wreath, and of course glitter on the ornament. The embossing folder really adds some punch for a wow factor. If you'd like just change up the look by using Whisper White card stock instead of Very Vanilla, and it will create a crisper card! Enjoy~and thanks for stopping by, and please come back again! ~Donna

Stampin Up Snowflake Punch Border!

2009-11-04T17:30:00.003-05:00

Well, as I said in my last post
I love this season because I am stampin' stampin' and stampin' some more. Preparing for classes is the best, and we have already had two Christmas classes so far. In fact I have so much to show you, but I haven't gotten a chance to post the projects yet. The girls did 12 cards last week for $10 and they loved them so much they said over and over "I am going to use this layout for my cards this year!" That was until last night when they made some more, and got to use some new ribbon. Then I heard....."ohhhh I am going to use this for my card this year!" LOL I will be hearing that from now until Thanksgiving! Anyway, today I made a card that they will see but will not make. I was playing a bit with my snowflake punch and saw this idea on my scrap paper area. It reminds me of the mittens my mom used to make us for Christmas. So, this is to honor her. Now read on to see how to make the little border on this card.

Punch out some snowflakes and it will leave a negative image. That image can be opened up to make a neat little border. Just adhere it under some ribbon or designer paper and you have another versatile way to use a Christmas Punch all year long! ENJOY!~Donna

Christmas Polygon Gift Box

2009-11-03T12:00:00.001-05:00

Okay this time of year

is the MOST fun for me, becaue I get to create lots of different things for the Holidays, so let the merriment begin! Here is a cute little polygon gift box that you can make for a special gift. It's relatively easy to put together and makes a wonderful presentation for a simple little candy gift or gift card. Hope you'll find lots of things here on my blog in the upcoming weeks that will inspire you this season. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you next time. Enjoy~ Donna

Want directions on how to make this?

PAPER CUTS # 41

2009-11-01T11:41:00.001-05:00

I made this card
for the Color Throw Down challenge using Elegant Eggplant, Bordering Blue and Rich Razzleberry. Plus, it was a super fast card that you can make in a pinch so here is your Paper Cuts card for this week too! It works perfectly well for a holiday cards especially for a business, or for a stamp a stack of quick cards. Just take a stamp pad, here I used the Encore Gold pad and randomly stamped it on a piece of cardstock. Add a few snowflakes and a sentiment and you are done! Hope you enjoy it!

PPA and breast cancer awerness

2009-10-29T16:40:00.004-04:00

Today I wanted to remember

my hilarious friend Jane Rampi. She was one of those once in a lifetime friends who brought lots of women together with her antics, great sense of humor and unstoppable stamina. I miss you dear Jane but I'll never forget. Jane died almost 16 years ago from breast cancer, yet I still feel her presence and laughter. Today I honor her with this card. PPA Paper Pals Arts is doing a "pink" challenge for breast cancer awareness month. Hop on over to play because they have some awesome SU prizes in store. Don't forget to do you self exam this evening...stay healthy!~Donna

WHAT? A Halloween/Christmas connection?

2009-10-29T03:12:00.001-04:00

So did the question
yesterday get you thinking about a Halloween/Christmas connection? Well, it did me....so I got to thinking about what I could do to increase the usability of my halloween stamp sets. I decided I'd use my set From the Crypt just a bit longer to make this Seasonal Card! I love trying to figure out ways to approach things meant for one application for an entirely different idea. Go ahead I dare you!!!!!! Show me what you can come up with! Use something different to create something WONDERFUL! Enjoy~Donna

DO Christmas Cards and Halloween mix?

2009-10-28T00:28:00.004-04:00

Why not make one of these pouches for those extra special goblins

that will be coming to your door. Jen Mabardy concocted this little goody so I thought I'd try it. When I saw them I knew I just had to make them for my class participants. Although we were making a set of Christmas cards in class tonight, halloween is just around the corner so I decorated the girls treats in a halloween theme. Here's how you can make them. Take a 6" x 6" piece of designer paper and put some sticky strip on one side and a 2" piece of tape in the center of each end. Wrap the paper around some candy bars or candy cups and the sticky strip will adhere the edge of the paper together. Next, use the crimping tool to crimp the taped ends closed. What a great little something for a sweet little someone. Hope it inspires you! Enjoy!~Donna

PAPER CUTS #40

2009-10-26T01:56:00.002-04:00

Hubby says I need a new camera. He was a sweetie and took lots of pictures in different lighting and they all came out with a blue hue even in bright daylight....yuck! The worst thing is I love this camera, and now I will have to learn a new model. Not my strong suit! I tried adjusting this picture and it is a bit better, but hopefully I will have great ones for you next post. But, for now....

I did a very simple Paper Cuts
for a quick and easy card layout. There are just three graduated layers that can be cut in minutes and stamped for any occassion! All you need to do is use Pastel Chalks to create a colored background and stamp the pine tree from Lovely As A Tree horizontally to make a large evergreen tree off to the side. Then highlight the branches with Uni Glo Pen to create some snow and dimension! Finally, stamp a sentiment on a piece of CS and tear the edges to make it look worn. Add a bow and you are good to go! You can get the measurements over at Paper Cuts and view some of my other quick and easy cards there as well! ENJOY!~Donna

ORNAMENT CARD 2009

2009-10-23T09:12:00.005-04:00

I am so disappointed in my camera or lighting lately.
Last year, I made an ornament card (you can see it here,) and the picture was devine if I may say so myslef. So, this year I decided to continue with that idea and I made an ornament card for 2009. It is luscious! HOWEVER, my photography is not showing that beauty to it's full potential. NOW my hubby owns a camera shop and has had cameras in his hands for over 45 years, wouldn't you think I could get some advice! LOL, I am hoping that maybe this weekend in between football games, pizza and male bonding I will be able to tap into his expertise!!!!!
For now, I will tell you a secret about the card and ornament topper. Last, year I used the real thing but this year I took the 5 petal punch from SU and some aluminum foil and made my own! Cool, huh? I also made a mask with the ornament punch and used Stampin' Pastels to shade the interior of the ornament, then I embossed an image from the stamp set PRICELESS. I decorated the card and even dyed the ribbon with my markers and voila! Enjoy your weekend, see you Monday for PAPER CUTS! ~Donna

Halloween Mummy Pail

2009-10-21T22:15:00.000-04:00

Tonight I had a workshop
where we made the two cards I have posted this past week and this cute candy pail that I have seen floating around in blogland. This is Dori's finished project and we made it from an empty paint can that you can get at Lowe's. Next, get dad's old tee shirt and tear it into long strips. You can take some cotton batten to puff up a nose,and add some funky veined eyes. When all done you end up with the cutest pail for your children to collect their loot in , or you can fill it with candy to give out at your door! Enjoy~Donna

HALLOWEEN SHABBY CHIC

2009-10-19T07:20:00.003-04:00

HALLOWEEN......

is such a fleeting holiday squeezed in just before Thanksgiving and Christmas that you hardly have time to take in the images. The stores have already decorated for the rest of the season, and if you do not get to them in September while you are school shopping, you'll hardly know there were decorations for Halloween. Now, I myself do not go all out decorating except for a little pumpkin here and there, but I happen to love the two new sets from Stampin' UP! this year, and want to use them as much as I can before it is time to move on to Thanksgiving. SO! I decided to make this "Gothic Chic" card for my favorite skull so he'd be ready to party with the ghosts at the uptown soiree! I hope you enjoy the result and skip on over to PAPER CUTS for all of the quick measurements! Have a ghoud Monday and thanks for stopping by!~Donna

Scary Halloween Card

2009-10-14T12:27:00.003-04:00

Hey there!
I hope you are enjoying your day! It is a typical bright sunnny, warm colored day here in the northeast albeit a bit more chilly than I like, but beautiful all the same. There are more pinecones and acorns then I can remember in recent years. I hope that isn't a sign of a rough winter, because I cannot handle a lot of snow! AGH....let's not think about it today.
Yesterday I was helping to do some detective work at my son's new "old" house and we had to take up some flooring. It was the old linoleum rug patterns from the 50's! So cool and retro, I am sure I could have sold it on ebay for megabucks but, I have NO patience. However, when we lifted up the floor we found it had all been lined with newspapers from back in the day. Well, you know the day stopped there and I was reading for the next hour LOL! Anyhow, the date was May 17th 1953.....I realized I was just 11 days old when the floor was put down! No wonder the house sags, and creeks and just plain looks like it needs a re do! Oh if my body could be transformed that easily! LOL....enough laughing now.......let's move along and I'll explain this card instead!
Here I used a watercolor wash that I found in a great tutorial from Andrea Walford. Next, I used several stamp sets to create this scene. First I used House of Haunts and stamped it in versa mark on the bottom edge of my paper and embossed it in black. Then I used Embrace Life to make branches for my cute or scary rub on crows to sit on. I added a few sentiments, and now I have a great card to demonstrate at my next card class. I hope you like it too! See you soon!~Donna

OCTOBER PAPER CUTS KIT

2009-10-10T11:14:00.003-04:00

Here is this months Paper Cuts Kit.

Once a month I offer my Paper Cuts in a kit so all you need to do is stamp the image and assemble the cards! NO MEASURING OR CUTTING!!!! It is a quick and easier way to make these cards when you just do not have time! Click HERE for all the details and ordering info. Did you see that just by orienting the card horizontally, you can have two different looks! Enjoy!~Donna

Stamp Something Random! BROWN

2009-10-09T10:01:00.004-04:00

Simplicity sometimes makes the biggest impact don't you think? Today I am making an anniversary card for my son and "daughter". I hate the diminishing feeling "daughter in law" invokes so I am calling Katie my"daughter". They have been married for two years this weekend and this is the card I made and will submit to Stamp Something Random! I used the Satin Ribbon from last year that I absolutely loved, and now Stampin' Up has it back in inventory for a short time while supplies last! Yippeeeee...! I also used a technique so eloquently explained on my down line Jeanette Mitchell's blog for shadowing the wheat! She does beautiful work so be sure to check her out! She had a great teacher teeheeheee and has a genuine talent and style all her own! Enjoy your weekend!~Donna

Stampin' Up Pretties Pumpkin

2009-10-08T06:25:00.008-04:00

GOODMORNING!!!!!!!!

it is still dark here this morning so my picture is dark too but I couldn't wait for the sun to come up to post this entry. For this project I used the Stampin' Up Pretties petals and corduroy buttons to make these Black Eyed Susans. My inspiration came from my son's home this weekend when I saw his fall garden all in bloom with beautiful colors. I do not have Black Eyed Susans but I know where I can get some for next year teeehheeeeheeee! I used a styrofaom ball and a branch from my yard altered with paper mache, added the flowers with common pins, then added a curl of Creamy Caramel Card Stock and here I have a cute decoration for the entire fall season. You can use smaller styrofoam balls to make individual place card holders for Thanksgiving too!!!! Enjoy!~Donna

Stampin'Up goodies for challenges and Nie on Oprah!

2009-10-07T13:19:00.006-04:00

Hi everyone, how is your day going?
Can't you just feel the texture on this card!

I hope you are finding some time to make one or two of your own, and have some fun in the process. Today's card is being made for two challenges. One is Color Throw Down using olive green, dark yellow, dark brown and kraft for the colors. The second is MoJo Monday which is featuring this sketch. When you are finding it difficult to come up with something fresh and new combine some favorite elements of your own with some challenges on the web and you might be surprised at how easy it is to come up with a pretty card. Enjoy! I'll have the 3d pumkin project for you tomorrow so stop by then. ALSO! for any of you wishing to see NieNie make sure to watch Oprah this afternoon! Have a good afternoon!~Donna

Stampin'Up Punch Halloween Lantern

2009-10-05T01:39:00.002-04:00

Okay! October is here, so that means it is time to get into the swing of Halloween and Fall decorations.
There is no segment for PAPER CUTS today, but I am going to show you how to make this cool Luminarie to line your walkway on Halloween Night! Just add a votive candle or battery operated light pack and you have a really fun decoration!!!! So, scroll down for all the instructions, and think Christmas Lantern too...! Stop by soon to see the cute 3D pumkin project I'll be showing! ENJOY!!!~Donna

you will need 4 pieces of basic black cardstock cut 5 1/2" x 3 1/4"

Take two of the pieces of card stock along with your Designer Label Punch and punch the top right and left side. Line your punch up so it is even with the top edge of the paper and half way in the middle of the punch opening like shown.

This will make the top of your lantern. Make sue you only do this to two of the pieces of CS

Next take your square punch, either the 1 1/4" or the 1 3/8" and punch out the center of your lantern like shown.

Use reinkers to color a piece of 3" x 3 1/2" vellum and then stamp a halloween image on the backside of the vellum. Adhere it to the punched lantern pieces with snail as shown.

Take the last two pieces of CS and score at 1/4" on both long sides. Trim them so they are only as high as the straight edge of the front and back of the lantern, as shown, fold scored edges as shown.

Adhere all four pieces of cardstock together to make and open bottom box/lantern

Add a wire handle and you are done!!!! I hope you enjoy the project.....please think of leaving a link for these instructions if you make one for yourself! Thanks for stopping by to visit!~Donna

Stampin' Up Corduroy and Christmas Embossing

2009-10-01T03:51:00.000-04:00

I think Christmas Cards are my favorite
type of cards to make. Last year I couldn't get enough and started making them October first and did not finish until December 23rd! Maybe I won't have as many this year but I am certainly in the beginning of the marathon long Christmas Card making season. I made this one for the ABC CHALLENGE "E" is for embossing. You all know green and all the shades of green are my favorite colors so I could not resist! PLUS! How pretty is green and vanilla and sahara sand together. Add a little corduroy button for texture and satin ribbon and you are good to go, oh and don't forget some pearls! Yummmmmmmmy! Have a great day, and try a challenge! ~Donna

Stampin' Up and Color Throw Down #62

2009-09-30T11:01:00.002-04:00

I just love to do the color throw down, it reminds me of the Color Inspiration that Kwerner used to do. Anyway, today I used Stampin' Up colors Razzleberry, Old Olive, Basic Gray, Really Rust and neurtrals ,very vanilla and basic black to create the eerie halloween colors in this card. I like the look of the sponged Basic Gray on the edges too! I am enjoying my set From the Crypt but know it will only be used for a short time during this month, so why not order yours too! Get a move on now and make some Halloween Cards!~ Donna

Stampin Up sets and Mojo Monday 106

2009-09-28T17:50:00.003-04:00

Mojo Monday

usually gets me inspired for the new week but today, the card just didn't come easily for me. So, see not everyday is fun and fancy! LOL!!!!! I had Night of Navy and Certainly Celery in my head for this card, but it didn't come together as I planned. Maybe you will get an idea from this to try yourself and improve on the color scheme...if you do let me know so I can come and visit you and see what you made!

Stampin' Up! Ideas for Papercuts!

2009-09-27T22:58:00.000-04:00

PaperCuts #37

This week, I am going to a quilt show because...
one of my older (in time only) friends has one of her quilts entered and on display! Therfore, I thought it would be a good jumping off pointfor me to use a quilt motif for this week's Paper Cuts! For today's card I used simple blocked areas and some ribbon and buttons. I learned a new trick on someone's blog about tying a ribbon easily by using a button and running some twine through the holes and around the ribbon. It is such a good idea for anyone who is intimidated by tying a bow!
I want to thank all of you who visit and support my blog ideas. I enjoy and appreciate all of your comments too! So, I am going to send one of you some traffic okay! I visit Ms. Samantha over at Penrith Crafts from time to time and she has some great sketches! If you have nothing to do today why not jump over and say hello! Tell her I sent you, and see what fun things you can find there. Enjoy your week! ~Donna