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    All content found at Stampin' by Genny is the sole responsibility of Genevieve Valdes, a Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator. Stampin’ Up! does not endorse, edit, or otherwise contribute to this website.

Sea of Love Valentine Card

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Genevieve Valdes

How these days in January make me long for the beach.  I guess I shouldn’t complain since the weather here has been sunny and in the 70’s but I just can’t help thinking of long summer days at the beach.  This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a beach theme but I still have Valentine’s day on the brain.  So when I began to think of what to create for this challenge I thought of the sea…love…Eureka!!…The Sea of Love!  So here’s my interpretation of this week’s beach theme challenge.

Sea of Love Fish Punch Art Valentine Card

click image to enlarge

I used the Lots of Love Letterpress plate for the background.  I inked it up with Versamark then ran it through the Big Shot and to add sparkle I heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  The sentiment is stamped in Indigo Blue and also heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.

Punch Art Fish Valentine Card

click image to enlarge

I hope you can see how the Sea of Love  shimmers with the Iridescent Ice.  The fish are made with various Stampin’ Up! heart punches.  I couldn’t resist the wiggle eyes.  The sand is Crumb Cake card stock sponged with Soft Suede ink.  This card would be perfect to give to your hubby or wife.  Either way love is in the air or rather the sea.

I hope you’re inspired to join us this week with your beach themed creation.  Hop on over to HSS for more inspiration from our very talented design team.

Sea of Love Valentine Card

Size:  4.25″ h x 5.50″ w

Stamp sets:  Short and Sweet

Paper: Card base:  Island Indigo, Card stock:  Pool Party, Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake

Ink: Island Indigo,  Soft Suede, Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Lots of Love Letterpress Plate, Full Heart Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, non-Stampin’ Up! branch punch, non-Stampin’ Up! wiggle eyes

Filed under: Big Shot, Feminine Valentine projects, Heart to Heart & Full Heart fish, Masculine Valentine projects, Short & Sweet, Theme Challenge, Valentine's | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Valentine Easel Shaker Card

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Genevieve Valdes

This week’s challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments is a technique challenge – Shaker Cards!  I’ve never made this type of card but since I have the Stampin’ Up! Heart Framelits it was easy to make using two different sizes of heart dies to make the red heart frame for the window.  For the easel base I used the large scallop heart framelit.  The cute stamped image is from the Take it to Heart stamp set featured in the new occasions mini.  Can you guess how I created the background?  I used the Lots of Love Letterpress plate.  The letter press embosses and can also ink at the same time.  For a more subtle background you don’t have to ink it up.  The shaker heart is filled with the scrap small hearts after using the Pinking Hearts border punch.  A bit of mica flakes is also mixed with the small hearts to add  some additional sparkle.

Valentine Easel Shaker Card

click image to enlarge

Shaker cards are fun to make but also fun for the recipient.   I hope you’re inspired to join us.  For more inspiration go to HSS and see more shaker cards created by our talented design team.

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Valentine Easel Shaker Card

Size:  5.00″ h x 5.00″ w

Stamp sets: Take it to Heart, With All My Heart

Paper: Card Stock:  Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Ink: Riding Hood Red,  Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Heart Framelits, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Lots of Love Letterpress, Oval punch, Pinking Hearts Border punch, Window Sheets, Iridescent Embossing Powder, Gold Embossing Powder, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Mica Flakes

Filed under: Easel Cards, Shaker Cards, Take it to Heart, With all my Heart | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Take it to Heart Forever & Always Valentine Card

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments the challenge is Pleats and Ruffles.  I’ve used lots of items from the new mini catalog to create this card.

Stampin Up Valentine Take it to heart card

click image to enlarge

I love the bird image from the Take it to Heart stamp set.  I used ink pads and blender pens to color the image.  To give the image a bit more sparkle I used the tiniest bit of Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to the flowers.  I also heat embossed the textured background with touches of gold embossing powder.  Since the challenge calls for pleats or ruffles, I ruffled a piece of Victoria Crochet ribbon on a hat pin.  The top of the pin also features small punched flowers.  This is my first Valentine card of the season.  Let me know what you think and also what your favorite items are from the new mini.

Hand Stamped Sentiment ruffles and pleats challenge 100

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Take it to Heart Valentine Card

Size:  5.00″ h x 5.00″ w

Stamp sets: Take it to Heart, Loving Thoughts

Paper: Card Stock:  Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Watercolor paper

Ink: StayzOn Brown, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press, Paper Doily Sizzlit, Heart Collection Framelits Dies, Hat Pin, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Gold Embossing Powder, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, Blender Pen

Filed under: Feminine Valentine projects, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, Loving Thoughts, Take it to Heart, Theme Challenge, Valentine's | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

HSS Inspiration Challenge

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week on HSS we have an Inspiration Challenge.  Cupcakes!  I’ve been wanting to make this cupcake box and this was the perfect time to do it.  I have a couple of gifts to make so these were perfect.  I got the tutorial for the box from Becky Roberts.

The actual cupcake box is made with the retired Table Setting die.  The instructions for making the box can be found on Patty Bennett’s blog.  So much fun to make!

Hop on over to HSS and be inspired by our talented design team and join us!

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Cupcake box

Box Size:  3.00”  h x 3.25” w x 3.00″ d

Cupcake:  approx. 2.25″ h x 3.00″ diameter

Stamp sets: Curly Cute

Paper: Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue

Ink: Real Red

Accessories:Big Shot, non- Stampin’ Up! Sizzix Texturz Starter kit Polka Daisies for lid of box, retired Perfect Setting die, retired Early Espresso Grosgrain striped ribbon, Very Vanilla Ribbon, Bashful Blue satin ribbon, Bright Button collection, 8 mm pearl, non- Stampin’ Up! cupcake insert.

Filed under: Big Shot, Boxes, Curly Cute, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, Inspiration Challenge | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Rocking Christmas Card

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a fun challenge – Fancy Fold Cards.   With only few more days left till Christmas I decided to make another Christmas card but with a rocking twist.  I had seen this type of card out in internet land and decided to make a rocking Christmas card.  You can view a tutorial for making this card here.  They’re so easy to create!  I cut an Early Espresso 5″ circle and a 4-1/2″ Soft Suede circle with my Circle Scissor Plus then folded them in half and glued them together.

Stampin Up Rocking Christmas Card front

click image to enlarge - front

Stampin Up Rocking Christmas Card back

click to enlarge - back

The Scallop Circle Cherry Cobbler layer is embossed with the Snow Burst embossing folder and heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  I used the Scallop Circle and Scallop Circle #2 dies to cut the Cherry Cobbler Scallop Circle and the Lucky Limeade Scallop Circle.  The Gift image is stamped on watercolor paper with brown StayzOn and colored with ink pads and a blender pen.  I used the Circle Scissor Plus to cut out this layer at 2-3/4″ .  To add some more sparkle I framed it with Champagne Glass glitter.  I added an Old Olive button and stamped ‘Merry Christmas’ in Early Espresso on Very Vanilla.

For the back of the card I stamped the bird and ornament image on water color paper then punched with the ornament punch.  I also used ink pads and a blender pen to color.  I stamped snowflakes and heat embossed them in gold along with the sentiment.

Hop on over to HSS for more inspiration from out very talented Design Team.

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Rocking Christmas Card

Size:  5.00”  w x 5.00” H

Stamp sets: Forest Festivities, Short and Sweet

Paper: Card Stock:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, Watercolor paper

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Brown StayzOn

Accessories: Big Shot, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Scallop Circle die, Scallop Circles die #2, Ornament punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Punch, Bright Designer Button Old Olive, Twine, Retired silver tinsel, Dazzling Details, Champagne Glass Glitter

Filed under: Fancy Fold, Forest Festivities, Rocking Card | Tagged: , , , , , | 5 Comments »

An Old Fashioned Vintage Christmas Card

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Stamped Sentiments we have a theme challenge.  Create any paper craft project with an old fashion Christmas theme.  Looking through my stash I found some gold heart doilies and since recently I received the Hearts Collection Framelits Dies I was inspired!  Perfect combo!

I used one of my favorite Christmas vintage stamp sets, Bells and Boughs.  I stamped the poinsettia image on Very Vanilla with Versamark and heat embossed it in gold.  I then die cut it using the heart die.  It was so easy!  The image is colored with a blender pen and ink pads and sponged with Soft Suede.  I cut holly leaves in Always Artichoke and Old Olive using the Large Oval punch and 3/4″ circle punch to cut the sides.  I used a stylus to score the leaf veins.

The berries are cut from Red Glimmer paper with the 1/2″ circle punch.  So sparkly!  I love this paper.  I definitely need to get some more for Valentine’s.   The small circles at the corners and on the sentiments were cut with the Owl Builder punch.

I hope you’re inspired to join us this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

HSS Old Fashion Theme Challenge

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Vintage Christmas Card

Size:  5.50”  w x 4.25” H

Stamp sets: Bells and Boughs, Comfort and Joy

Paper: Card Base:  Very Vanilla; Card Stock:  Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Red Glimmer paper

Ink: Versamark, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits die, Decorative Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1/2″ circle punch, Owl Builder Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Pinking Hearts Border punch, Olive Olive Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, non- Stampin’ Up! gold doily

Filed under: Bells & Boughs, Christmas, Theme Challenge | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Merry and Type Christmas Card

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a color challenge.  Create any project with the colors of  Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz and Real Red.  Since I’ve been  in the groove making Christmas cards with the Merry and Type stamp set and coordinating DSP I created a Christmas card with these non-traditional colors.

Merry and Type Christmas Card

click to enlarge

Do you recognize the Whisper White square shape?  It’s the Top Note Die.  I die cut the shape as you would normally then I turned the cut Top Note 90 degrees and centered it then ran it through the Big Shot again.  Very easy!

The ornament image is  stamped with Versamark and Real Red then heat embossed with Iridescent Embossing powder.  To color the ornaments I used a blender pen and ink pads.

To add some additional sparkle I embellished with light pink rhinestones.  I used a light colored pink  Sharpie to color them.

The sentiment is stamped with Pool Party and Versamark.  I then heat embossed it with Iridescent Embossing Powder to add some sparkle.  I used the the Decorative Label to punch it out then layered it over Real Red satin ribbon.

I hope you’re inspired to create a project with these colors.  Hop on over to HSS to be inspired by our talented design team.

Hand Stamped Sentiments Color challenge 96 - Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Real REd

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Merry and Type Christmas Card

Size:  5.50”  H x 4.25” W

Stamp sets: Merry and Type

Paper: Card Base:  Whisper White; Card Stock:  Pool Party, Blushing Bride; DSP retired Pear Pizzazz from Sale-a-bration 2010

Ink: Versamark, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Real Red, Blushing Bride

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Decorative Label punch, Basic Rhinestones, Real Red Satin Ribbon, Iridescent Embossing Powder, Blender Pens

Filed under: Christmas, Color Splash Challenges, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, Merry and Type | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Stampin’ Up! Vintage Skating Boot Gift Card Holder and Christmas ornament

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments the challenge is Anything Goes Christmas Ornaments.  I love the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Stocking and Stocking Accents dies.  Inspired by the many stockings and boots I’ve seen created with these dies I made this vintage gift card holder.  I used the Snow burst textured folder for the top of the boot and heat embossed it with Iridescent embossing powder.  For the boot part I cut two Old Olive card stock stockings and two of the green print Paisley Petals DSP.  To show the green print on the back you need to flip the paper so the print you want to show both sides are showing when stacked.  I then adhered the DSP to the stockings then embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and Big Shot.

The blades are die cut from the Silver shimmery paper using the candy canes from the Stocking Accents die.   You need to cut four, two sets facing one side and the other facing opposite for the back side.  Therefore you need to cut two sets with the glimmer paper up and two sets with the glimmer paper down.  Before I adhered both sides of the boot I sandwiched the blades between the sides of the boot and used Tombow adhesive glue.

I then used some lace trim on the boot and adhered both cuffs to the top of the boot (it would look better if it was SU crochet trim but I ran out) .  For the lacing I made four 3/16″ holes with my Crop-a-dile then used Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon to lace up the boot.  The loop at the top is hemp twine through a  1/8″ hole.  I installed an eyelet for this hole.  I didn’t have any 3/16″ eyelets for the lace holes but it would look even better if I did.

An easy project with so many options for colors.

hand stamped sentiments christmas ornament challengeHop on over to HSS for more inspiration from our design team!

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Vintage Skater Boot Gift Card holder and Christmas ornament

Size:  7.25”  H x 5.50” W

Stamp sets: Curly Cute

Paper: Card Base:  Old Olive, Very Vanilla; DSP Paisley Petals, Silver glimmer paper

Ink: Old Olive, Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Holiday Stocking Die, Stocking Accents die, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, hemp twine, Basic Pearls, 1/8″ metal eyelet, Crop-a-dile, non-Stampin’ Up! lace trim

Filed under: Anything but a Card, Big Shot, Christmas, Christmas ornaments, Gift card holder, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments »

Winter Wonderland Snowflake Wreath

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a Winter Wonderland inspiration challenge.  When I saw the inspiration photo it made me think immediately of snowflakes so I created this snowflake wreath card.

I’ve been stuck on wreath cards because of the simplicity and elegance.  I used my Northern Frost Snowflake strip and Snow burst embossing folder along with silver glimmer paper for the snowflake theme. The sentiment is stamped with Island Indigo and heat embossed with Iridescent Embossing powder.

Snowflake wreath card

click to enlarge

Let’s see what inspires you in the photo below.  Go to HSS for more inspiration from our talented design team.

Wnter Wonderland Inspiration photo

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Snowflake Wreath Card

Size:  5.00”  H x 5.00” W

Stamp sets: Four the Holidays

Paper: Card Base:  Shimmer White; Card Stock:  Shimmer White; Silver Glimmer Paper

Ink: Island Indigo, Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Northern Frost strip, 1-1/4″ square punch, basic rhinestones, White Satin Ribbon, Rhinestone brad

Filed under: Christmas, Four the Holidays, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, Inspiration Challenge | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Paris and Bargello Technique

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week on Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a technique challenge and the technique is Bargello.  Bargello is actually a  type of needlepoint embroidery.  It consists of upright flat stitches laid in a mathematical pattern to create motifs. The name originates from a series of chairs found in the Bargello palace in Florence, which have a “flame stitch” pattern.  Such interesting patterns can also be made with paper strips.

Bargello needlepoint examples

Bargello needlepoint examples taken from Wikipedia

I knew I wanted to use Bravo Burgundy and Old Olive so I came up with this card using the Artistic Etchings and Established Elegance stamp sets.  The paper strips are from the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.  Love all the pretty patterns.    I also used the oval frame from the Set Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die to frame the Eiffel tower image.  The image is stamped with Early Espresso, Versamark and heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  The rosette is finished with Dazzling Details to add some sparkle.  The bow is centered with an antique brad.

Bargello Paris card

click to enlarge

Are you inspired to try the Bargello technique?!  If you are then head on over to HSS to upload your project.  To find out how to do the Bargello technique there’s a great photo and video tutorial on SCS .

Bargello technique blog image

All Stampin’ Up! supplies below may be ordered from my website or email me to place your order.

All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.

Paris and Bargello technique Card

Size:  4.25”  H x 5.50” W

Stamp sets: Artistic Etchings, Established Elegance

Paper: Card Base:  Whisper White; Card Stock:  Bravo Burgundy; DSP:  Paisley Petals

Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Set Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die, Basic Pearls, Bird Punch, Antique Brad, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, 1-3/8″ circle punch, Versamark, Iridescent Ice Stampin’ Embossing Powder, Dazzling Details.

Filed under: Artistic Etchings, Bargello, Established Elegance, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, Shabby Chic | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

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