Sunday, February 28, 2010

Super Sweet Notecard Set

Need a super sweet gift idea? How about making one of these:

I've posted a similar type box in the past. It's made with two scallop envelope diecuts and two 2-1/4" x 1-1/2" strips of card stock for the sides. The notecards are 3" x 3" (3" x 6" card stock folded in half).

Stamps: Fox & Friends & Tiny Tags (both from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog)
Accessories: Sweet Pea Designer Paper PAD, Corduroy button, Linen Thread, Jewelry Tag Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Die.
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If you live in the San Antonio area and would like to get a few of your friends together to make this super sweet gift set, give me a call to schedule your own private class (at your house or mine).
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Happy Stampin!
Brenda Bromen
210.451.8731

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Baby Boy Blue Knit Hat & Coordinating Card

It's been awhile since I've shared a knitted project with you. So I'll show you a super quick knitted hat that I made for a friend who just had her 7th child. It's a simple 2x2 rib pattern--if you knit, you know what that means. Of course, I couldn't just give her the hat without a coordinating handmade card now could I?!
While I was at it, I thought, Hey! This card is turning out super cute! Why don't I make another one for a sample? So, I DID! I changed the second one up a bit... can you see the differences?

These cards were just as quick and easy to make as the hat. Here's a list of all the punches I used: 1 1/4" & scallop squares, the modern label, word window and scallop edge. I dusted off my Nursery Necessities stamp set to use the cute elephant & saying. There are little dots around the edge of the elephant image--kind of like stitching. After stamping him in Bashful Blue, I used the fine tip on the black stampin' write journaler (marker) to highlight that stitching.

I love the 4 square card layout. It's great for highlighting pretty papers or using up scraps. Here's another version of this layout:
We made this card at my last class. I actually CASE'd it from another demo's card idea, but changed it up by adding the little Jewelry Tag hanging from the ribbon. It's hard to see, but it says {love} on the tag.
If you ever get stumped when sitting down to make a card, consider using this basic layout. If you don't have square or heart punches, consider using flowers, stars or circles...
Happy Stampin!
Brenda

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Our Hero's Homecoming...

Like I said in my last post, my husband recently came home from a deployment in the middle east. You might not have guessed, but I made a sign for his homecoming! Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of my son holding it as we were waiting for my hubby to come off the plane. So you'll get to see it as it sits to this day on our mantle instead:

The letters were cut out with my handy Big Shot and the Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies, the stars were punched out using the Large Star punch and the bottom border was stamped with, fittingly, the Hero jumbo wheel.

As we were standing there waiting for the first glimpse of Our Hero, a few other passengers walked by and my son (13 yrs old) was a bit embarrassed to hold up the sign. I encouraged him to hold it up so that his dad would see it as soon as he came around the corner. At that moment, a woman walked by and said "Tell him thanks from me!" As I type this, I'm getting choked up. I have to say that those were common sentiments I heard throughout the entire time my husband was deployed. Even though many of them came from strangers, like the passing lady, I felt the love and appreciation from each and every one of those people. It truly made me proud to be an American and, of course, proud to be married to my wonderful husband!

Happy Stampin!
Brenda