Glimmer Poinsettia - A WOW Design

Question: What do Shimmer White Cardstock, Red Glimmer Paper and Gold Embossing have in common?
Answer: They are all prepped and packaged and ready to be used this weekend at my WOW! Christmas Cards classes.
Oh yes, AND they are simply gorgeous! Especially when combined to make one crisp, clean yet WOW Christmas card.

I said I wasn't going to show any of the cards I've made for this weekends classes before the stampers got to see them, but I just can't STAND it! I have to share!

AND the best part for you is that I've created a downloadable photo tutorial for making this fabulous poinsettia. Can I get an "Oh Yeah!!"?

Here's a photo of the Glimmer Poinsetta card:

My inspiration for this card came from one I'd seen on the Stampin' Up! private art gallery known as Stampin' Connection. It's for demonstrators only and is chock full of fantastic ideas. I'd seen a card made with Very Vanilla cardstock and Silver Glimmer Paper by Debbie Henderson and I knew right away that I had to make it my own using the Red Glimmer Paper and Shimmer White cardstock. In fact, I created my prototype for this card within 10 minutes of seeing her silver one. Sometimes, you just know, ya' know?

Anyway, I used the Shimmer White cardstock for both the card base and the layer - that cardstock is so rich and elegant, it has such a weighty feel to it and is infused with beautiful pearly shimmer. Stunning on it's own, to be sure, and a favorite of mine for holiday cards.
The greeting is from the Contempo Christmas stamp set and was the perfect font for the contemporary look of this card. I stamped in Versamark and embossed it with Gold embossing powder and my Heat Tool.

I popped up the layer on Stampin' Dimensionals to give it more impact and then added my Red Glimmer Poinsettia flower.
Here's a close up:

I know you're wondering how I created that flower. Well, I kind of made up my own after seeing Debbie's silver one and figured out a way that worked well for me.
Would you like to know how to make it? Great!
Because I've created a FREE PDF Tutorial that you can download from this link here: Robin's Poinsettia Tutorial.

So now, even though you can't come to the WOW classes this weekend, you can still make your own Poinsettias at home!

Here's a few of the supplies I used to create this card:

#121808 - Blossom Petals XL Punch $16.95

#120594 - Contempo Christmas stamp set (clear-mount) $11.95

#121790 - Red Glimmer Paper $4.95 (2 - 12" x 12" sheets)

If you aren't currently working with a local Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to fill that need for you! My Online Stampin' Store is open 24/7 for your convenience and your orders will ship straight to your door! Everyone who orders online in my store receives a beautiful handmade card from me in the mail with a special Stampin' Up! treat inside.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you enjoy the FREE tutorial! Have fun making your Poinsettias!
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

Holly Berry Merry and Type

Well stampers, it's felt like Christmas around here for the past few days since all I've done is work on projects for my WOW Christmas Cards classes this weekend. The glitter has been flyin'! Funny thing is though that I can't get Christmas music on my music channels - I turn it on the "Sounds of the Season" channel and they are playing halloween music. I didn't know that halloween had music except maybe for Monster Mash, but that's not enough to play 24/7 on a music channel for how many days?
Shows what I know, eh?

Guess I'd better get iTunes working again on the studio computer so I can play Christmas music this weekend. Wouldn't be the same without it. Gotta get in the spirit of the season, right?

Anyway, I've got a Christmas card to show you today - it's not one of my WOW cards for this weekend, I'll show those next week, but it's the card I created last month for my GoDivas private swap group.

Once again I turned to the Inverted Z-Fold layout that I used for this card here: (Pinetree Z-fold)
But this time, I used the beautiful retro designed Holly Berry Designer Paper as an accent. It's layered on a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock which is adhered to the front flap of Crumb Cake. It's hard to tell in the photos, but I ran that section through the Big Shot with my Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder to texturize it and give it the look of an old quilt.
That section was finished off with 22" of Real Red Satin Ribbon wrapped around the flap and tied in a pretty bow. Love it!

Here's the inside opened up:

The stamping was done using Wild Wasabi and Real Red ink on Whisper White cardstock. I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the ornaments with my 2 Way Glue pen.
This is such an easy card to make - the card base is cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored lengthwise at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2". Just fold it in a Z fashion and let your creativity take over!
One of my WOW Christmas cards for this weekend uses this fold, but with a fun twist! I can't wait to show you!!!

Here's a few of the products I used to create this card:

#124004 - Holly Berry Specialty Designer Series Paper $12.95 (12 sheets - 4 glittered)

#122334 - Simply Scored Scoring Tool $29.95

#122552 - Merry and Type Stamp Set (clear-mount) $18.95

If you only purchase one Christmas stamp set this year, get this one. It's beautiful and versatile and the price point is superb. Plus it's one of my favorites too! HA!
You know my Online Stampin' Store is open 24/7 for your convenience so all you have to do is click to shop!

Have a great day everyone! I'll be back tomorrow with a new project for you, so stop by and say hi!
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! Supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

More from my Talented Team!

Hey ya'll!
I know you think I've fallen off the face of the mountain I was on this past weekend, but no, I'm back home safe and sound - but OH, SO, BUSY!!!

My two WOW! Christmas Card Classes are coming up on Friday and Saturday and I have two FULL classes of stampers that are expecting WOW projects, so I've been working my little fingers to the bone to make it happen for them!

So, this is the perfect time to show some Fall and halloween themed cards from my TDS Team Meeting swap in September.
My downline members are fantastic stampers and I know you'll love their cards!
None of these cards are mine, however, I've added my watermark to some to protect their artwork.

Here you go!
Cute monster card by Lynda Barnes:


Nice halloween card by April Sinclair:


Another cute halloween by Nancy Clark:


Beautiful Spice Cake card by Cathy Pendley:


Clean and simple design by Rose-Ellen Eastman (one of my adoptees!):

And more clean and simple by Shannon Angel:

Aren't they fabulous ideas? Very cute and caseable!

Well, I'm headed back to the cardstock cutting - I'll have something ORIGINAL to share tomorrow, so c'mon back, ok?

Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

My Talented Team!

I love my downline team!
Not only are they wonderful ladies, but they are great stampers!!

Last weekend, we got together to make the Pleated Paper Wreath project and a few of them swapped card projects as well.
Here are photos of their lovely cards:

Card by Shannon Angel:
Card by Michelle Suit:

Card by April Sinclair:

Card by Carol Arnold:
Card by Cathy Pendley:

See! I told you they were talented!
Hope you found some inspiration for your holiday stamping today!

Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

Another Friendship Friday!!

RAK's are in da' house!!

But I am not!
As you read this, I am either on my way or already arrived at my first ever Female First Cousins Reunion. FFRC for short.

Back in April when my Dad died, ALL but one of my cousins was able to come up for the funeral - and that's saying a LOT. My Dad had 6 sisters and that's a plethora of cousins -male and female!
Our family used to have a big family reunion each year at the beach mostly, but over the last few years, with our parents aging and such, we've not done it. Frankly, I miss it.
It was a blessing to have such a large extended family, especially with me being the ONLY in our family. I had the benefit of brothers and sisters without having to share a house with them. That's pretty awesome in my book.

So, long story short, my cousin Peggy e-mailed all of us a while after the funeral and had a fantastic idea of all the female first cousins getting together. She found us a gorgeous cabin in the mountains of Southwest Virginia and I'm headed there tomorrow! Not only is the perfect time of year to be headed to that area - the leaves are going to be gorgeous - but it will be so special to spend the weekend with my cousins again. I'll take lots of pictures and I'm sure I'll be on Facebook with pictures too so Mark and Emma can keep up from here.

For now, I've got some more beautiful cards from some wonderful stampin' friends to show you. None of these projects was done by me, even though my watermark is on them. I did that just to protect the artist's work. Ready to see?
Ok, let's go!

This card is by my dear friend Tara Bazata. Tara and I served together on the Advisory Board during my first term and my friendship with her was one of the greatest gifts I got that year. She lives in Colorado, so we don't get to see each other much, but she has the uncanny ability to know just when I'm getting out of the shower in the morning and calls me to talk! Hey, guess everyone needs a talent! HA! As you can see, she's a talented stamper as well. She sent me this beauty in her swap package last month:

Next is a card from Susie Wood. Susie and I met on my first Founder's Circle trip and hit it off right away. She's such a sweet, lovely person and has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. She's also the youngest looking Grandmother I know too! Beautiful inside and out!
This was her swap card for Founder's Circle this year and she sent me one too - see what I mean? Just so sweet!!

Another great friendship I've been privileged to make is with Stella Mackay. Stella and I have known each other for several years, we met on the Bermuda cruise, but we really got to know each other while serving on the Advisory Board together last year. Stella lives in Califorinia so again, we don't get to see each other except at SU! events, but the e-mails fly fast and furious!
This card was Stella's Founder's Circle swap card as well and you guessed it - she sent me one! Love it Stella!

Now, this next set of projects deserves a round of applause. They were made by Michelle VanWiggeren - also from California. I read her blog because she has great ideas and she reads mine too, which is fun to know! Well, we trade e-mails and comments from time to time and I consider her a friend even though we've never met in person. Someday!! Anyway, I think it was last month, she was showing these Kusudama paper balls on her blog. Well, she was offering one up as Blog Candy and you know me - I'm not likely to do that project any time soon (actually never!) I'm too lazy a stamper - but it was so beautiful, I had to try to win the Blog Candy!
So I left her a comment, never expecting to actually get it!

Well, on Tuesday, September 29th, I got a Priority Box from Michelle in the mail and inside was the Kusudama Ball and this gorgeous card! I have to tell you, I was going through a pretty stinky time in my life and that Tuesday was very bad. So when her package arrived in the mail - and it was special, just for me, I cried. Lots.
See how a handstamped card and a handmade project can really make someone's day? Yep, never underestimate the power of some paper, glue and glitter and a big heart behind it. Michelle has a huge heart!

Ok, now that you've sniffled a little bit, that's it! No more for today, although I have many more things to show you! I'll do another Friendship Friday soon, so be looking for it! In the meantime, be sure to stop by tomorrow. I'm posting some fantastic Christmas cards that my downline members made for our October team swap. You're going to love them!

Happy Friday!
~~Robin

Simply Stampin' Up - Edition 14 A Lollie Christmas

Lollies, Rosettes, whatever. Call them what you like, but they are so pretty!!
I know, most of you thought after the Wreath that Ate Manassas project, I'd be cutting way back on the Lollie making. Like, way, way back to ZERO! But NO.........just couldn't step away from the Lollies.

For my weekly Simply Stampin' Up! feature - where I take a published Non-SU! project and re-create it with ALL SU! products - I found a beautiful card in a recent holiday issue of a paper crafting magazine. I HAD to recreate it - it was calling my name.
I'm sure you've heard the call of the card before: "Robin, pick me! Pick ME!! Pick MEEE!!! I'll look beautiful in ALL SU!"
So, there you have it - how could I ignore that voice?

Here's my version of the card:

And here's my card next to the magazine photo:

(disclaimer - the magazine photo does have designer paper that is BLUE, but my camera didn't pick it up well. Also, I know you are going to say that I didn't border punch my center, vellum layer. I know! I got ahead of myself and FORGOT. And believe me, I didn't want to start over with the folding....)

Anyway, it's really a pretty simple card to put together - ready?

Layer 1 - Crumb Cake cardstock cut at 5" x 10", folded to make a 5" square card

Layer 2 - Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper cut at 4 7/8" square. I used the greeting from Contempo Christmas inked up in Basic Gray Classic Ink for the greeting here. Awesome how it was exactly the same greeting!

Layer 3 - Lollie base - Crumb Cake cardstock cut in 4 strips - 1 3/4" x 5 1/2". Each strip was scored at every 1/4" using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool. After folding, the ends were glued together with Tombow and after letting it set up, I added a cardstock 2 1/2" circle to the back with more Tombow. I weighted it down with my 2 1/2" Circle Punch (yes, they are a multi-tasker!)

Layer 3 - Middle Lollie - Vellum CARDSTOCK (not paper, the cardstock is thicker) cut in 4 strips - 1 1/2" x 5 1/2". Each strip was assembled as described above, circle attached to the back as well.

Layer 4 - Brushed Silver cardstock - punched a 2 3/8" Scallop Circle with the punch then ran it through my Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.

Layer 5 - Top Lollie - Beau Chateau Designer Paper cut in 2 strips - 1 1/4" x 6". Use the Eyelet Border Punch along one edge of both strips, then score and assemble as described above. For the backer circle on this one, I used a 1 3/8" Circle of cardstock.

I used my Paper Piercer and my Mat Pack to add a hole to the center of the Designer Paper Lollie and inserted my Antique Brad in the middle. It's glued to the Silver cardstock circle.

Once all the glue on the lollies was completely dry, I glued them all together with more Tombow, and glued the whole piece to the card.
Another option would be to adhere it with a few Mini Glue Dots and attach a hanging string so it could be removed from the card and used as a tree ornament. If you do this, be sure to use something pretty for the backing!

In all honesty, even with the cutting and scoring, this card only took me about 1/2 hour to complete. So if I were making a lot of these, they would probably only take about 20 minutes each. Not bad if you are making them for some special people on your list!

Here's a few of the products I used on this card:

#122357 - Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper $10.95 (12 sheet pack)

#120594 - Contempo Christmas $11.95 (clear mount)

#110755 - Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue $3.95

#122334 - Simply Scored Scoring Tool $29.95

So, now that you've seen what I did to re-create this project, you can make one too! For all the supplies you need to complete it, just visit my Online Stampin' Store! It's open 24/7 just for you.

Thanks for stopping by today, back tomorrow with some more Friendship Friday RAK's!
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

Place your Stampin' Up! Supply order at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right of the page!

Spice Cake Collage

I've been holding out on you.
I made today's card about a month ago especially for my Stampin' Fools group and I've neglected to share it with you! Hopefully, it's worth the wait - Ha!

I'm not even sure what style to call this one, Shabby Chic? I dunno, but I do know that when I was making it, I just couldn't stop and each new addition seemed perfect to me. Guess you'll be the judge, huh?
The Stampin' Fools loved it though!

Here's the card:

I took the colors of the Spice Cake products in the Holiday Mini and kind of did my own thing here. My favorite part is the Very Vanilla Velvet Ribbon. It kind of elevates the card from shabby to chic! Ha!

This one has More Mustard for the card base and Pool Party for the layer. I stamped it in Pool Party ink with the Triple Treat Flower stamp and ran it through my Big Shot with the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder then added Crumb Cake ink for some distressing.

The First Edition Designer Paper was torn, then crumpled and sponged with more Crumb Cake ink before adhering to the card front.
I cut a Spice Cake Fabric circle from the Perfect Pennants Die and that's crumpled a little bit and adhered with SNAIL.

The Triple Treat Flower stamp was colored with Sponge Daubers using More Mustard, Pool Party and Early Espresso. They blended together beautifully on the stamp and once I stamped it on Very Vanilla cardstock, I punched it out with my Fancy Flower Punch. It's adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals to the card front.
The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped in Early Espresso and punched out with the Modern Label Punch. I added a few Basic Pearl self adhesive jewels and finished it off with the velvet ribbon.

Yep, there's a lot going on with this card, but I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I have to say that it does look much prettier in real life, the photo isn't doing it any favors!

So, I've got a busy, busy day ahead of me. I'm finalizing designs for my WOW! Christmas Cards classes over the next two days - and they are gonna be some fabulous cards. I love doing this class each year and the two sessions I offer always fill to capacity. It's awful fun to have happy stampers in the studio!

I'm also working on my Christmas Scrapbook in a Day class later this week. I'll be offering that in November so you have a complete album ready for all your holiday photos before Christmas even gets here! More details on that class coming up soon! I will most likely be offering that as a kit as well, so watch for an announcement.

AND, last but not least, my Holiday Helper newsletters begin soon to all my newsletter subscribers! If you're not on my mailing list, you won't be getting them, so be sure to sign up so you don't miss an issue! The link is in the sidebar of my blog. The Holiday Helper is chock full of fantastic project ideas to help make your holiday season crafty and handmade. There are full tutorials with each project and you'll be able to order the supplies you need right from my website!

Speaking of, here's a few of the products I used today:

#121809 - Framed Tulips Embossing Folder $7.95

#125637 - Very Vanilla Velvet Ribbon $7.95

#122909 - Triple Treat Flower $8.95

#124066 - Spice Cake Designer Fabric $9.95

#123126 - Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die $32.95

You know, as always, these product and all Stampin' Up! has to offer can be ordered from my Online Stampin' Store, anytime, 24/7!
The Big Shot was used twice on this project and if you don't yet own yours - well - you can get it FREE this month only! Check out the link in my sidebar for all the details of this AWESOME offer!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner!

The Wreath that Ate Manassas

At least you'd think so looking at these two "Stampin' Fools"!

That's Laura and Betty - two of my favorite stampers - clowning around after finishing their Pleated Paper Wreath project.

This project was awesome, and everyone had a great time making them!
I held my class for my clients on Saturday and my downline team had the chance to make it on Sunday afternoon.
They worked hard at it for the whole class time - it's honestly never been so quiet during a class in my studio - ever! I think they were ALL really glad to finish and go home!
Thank goodness though, the final result was truly worth all their effort.
Here, take a look at my sample wreath:

and the full on front view:

One side close up:

And some more closer detail:

And here's the REAL Laura and Betty - all smiles!

Ok, so here's a few things I did to create my version of this wreath. Most of you who have seen the Holiday Mini Catalog know that it's the featured project in the front of the catalog and it's been duplicated many, many times by demos all over the place. This was just what I did to make it work for me. It's by no means a comprehensive tutorial, but in reality, it's a pretty easy project even if it's a bit tedious.

I used printed 12" cardboard Cake Circles for my backer board that I found at a local big box craft store. I used my Craft and Rubber Scissors to cut out the middle circle - worked like a charm! The remaining border was the perfect size for my wreath base. There are sawtooth picture hangers hot glued to the back of the board for a hanging mechanism. These will fit either over a nail in the wall or on one of those over the door wreath hangers like in my photos.

My cardstock and dsp strips were cut in 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 1 3/4" and 2" wide x 6" long strips.
For the 1 1/2", 1 3/4" and 2" strips, I cut 4 pieces making 24" total.
For the 1" and 1 1/4" strips, I cut 2 pieces making 12" total.

I cut my strips in 6" long pieces because for me, folding all those little score lines along a 12" piece was difficult. I got frustrated after trying to deal with that length and just cut them down. It made it much easier for me. Since the time I've finished my wreath, I had a demo friend tell me to just cut 6" square pieces, score them, then trim to the width I need. THAT would have been handy to know ahead of time and I think would have saved a little cutting time, but not necessarily FOLDING time. There's just no way to avoid that.

I attached all the edges with Tombow and let them dry before adding a backer cardstock circle with more Tombow. I just used my circle punches to make the backers in sizes that would fit and not show. That was a great way to use up scraps of retired cardstock.

Everything is glued together with Tombow. I did find it easier to assemble one rosette at a time - fold and glue the strips together, flatten out and glue on the backer circle and then decorate the top by gluing on the pieces for it. The Tombow dries pretty quickly, but I did need to hold everything place while it set for about 30 -45 seconds. My downline got creative on Sunday and started using all my drink coasters in the studio to hold the rosettes in place while they dried. Brilliant!

I used Mini-Glue Dots to attach the buttons, pearls and leaves.
The leaves were cut from 3 pieces of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" cardstock that I smooched ahead of time with Gold Smooch. Hard to see in the photo, but it's really pretty in real life.
I also embossed them with the Vintage Wallpaper folder before cutting them with the Leaves Die. It made 12 leaves and I used all of them.

You can see that I made 5 of the large, 2" strip circles. They took up more space and helped me to finish it faster. That's my only reasoning behind it. I've seen some of these wreaths with upwards of 20 rosettes - I couldn't do it, I just couldn't.......
All the scoring on all the rosettes was done at 1/4" increments. All the rosette pieces were hot glued to the base and to each other so it would hold up well.

The ribbons are 1 yard each, tied in separate bows and tied to the button with Linen Thread. I hot glued them to the rosette and that was THE END!

Here are Linda and Lin showing off their finished wreaths:

Amy with hers:

Val and Marcie (who I have to thank for cutting cake circles when they arrived early! They were so kind to volunteer to help!):

Here's a few of my downline.
This is Mary:

And the photo of her entry display in her home:

and last but not least, Nancy and Michelle:

That's not everyone who made the wreaths, but some just didn't get finished during the 4 hour class, so they took theirs home and have promised me that they are finishing it!!

If you are brave enough to tackle one of these beauties on your own, please let me know. I'd love to see your finished ones and hear your experiences!

Have a great evening everyone,
~~Robin