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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.

A tisket a tasket a Mother’s Day basket

This week we’re celebration mom at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  The challenge is to make any project – card, gift set, gift card holder, scrapbook page or any 3D project with mom in mind.  We’d love to see your creativity.

I’m so excited about my project this week because it is a sneak peek for the Strength & Hope Stamp set which donates $2 from every purchase of this set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  This set is so beautiful.  I also used the Four Frames set which is available through the end of April and it is a set that will next be available with new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.  I would love to see how you’re going to show mom how much you care.  I can’t wait to see your creation.

The basket is from a template I saw on Sassy Scrapper’s blog.  I embellished the basket with a rose I made using the Fancy Flower punch and the butterfly from the new Strength & Hope Stamp set which will be available on May 1st.  The card featured DSP from the Strength and Hope Digital Download.  If you’re wondering how I made the butterfly two-tone, I sponged the lighter color of Pear Pizzazz then Marina Mist on the outer edge, stamped then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  For great instructions on how to make the quilled rose.  Go to Tara Bilbao, she has a great instructional video on her blog on how to make them.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

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.

Mother’s Day Basket

Templates & Tutorials: click here for basket template.  Click here for rose tutorial.

Stamps: Strength & Hope, Four Frames, Three Little Words, Charming

Paper: Whisper White, Strength & Hope digital DSP download

Ink: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Versamark

Accessories: Whisper White Satin ribbon, Eyelet border punch, Decorative Label punch, Fancy Flower punch, Two-Step Bird punch, Basic pearls, non-SU white tulle

Technique: Stamping, Embossing

Mother’s Day Card

Quilled Rose tutorial:  Click here for video tutorial.

Stamps: Strength & Hope

Paper: Whisper White, Strength & Hope digital DSP download, Rose Red

Ink: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Versamark

Accessories: Whisper White Satin ribbon, Eyelet border punch, Two-Step Bird punch, 1″ circle punch, Basic pearls

Technique: Stamping, Embossing

Watermarks for Sale

Recently I’ve started making watermarks for my friends and I’ve had several inquiries about buying them.  So I’ve created a variety of watermarks to sell.  They are priced at $2 each.  Your order will be filled within 1-2 business days. I’ve created watermarks for SU demos with images from SU and with “© Stampin’ Up!” as well as watermarks for paper crafters.  Colors available for each watermark are listed below it.

Email me if you would like a custom watermark or with any questions.  Custom watermarks will be priced at $5.  I can also match very close to SU colors.

Custom Watermark: $5

  • Custom design
  • Fonts/Colors of your choice
  • Custom Text

To order your personalized watermark, please contact me with the following information:

  • Your name
  • Any text you want on your watermark (including capitals, spacing preferences, font type, copyright information)
  • Any images you want on your watermark (animals, symbols, designs, flowers, etc.)
  • Color choice (most popular: white, gray, black)

Edited Watermark (information/color change only): $2 each

  • Same design/layout/fonts as first watermark
  • Changes to color and/or information only

To order any of the watermarks below, please remember at checkout to provide your name and website/blog address.  If you would like “created by” or “designed by” just add it to the beginning of your name.

I may need to alter the design a little to accommodate length of names or websites.

Click here for how to use your watermark.

Watermarks for SU Demos

Bliss flourish watermark Cats watermark

Black with Gray flourish

Basic Black

White with Gray flourish

White

Chocolate Chip with Gray flourish

Chocolate Chip

Crown watermark

Frames with a Flourish - flourish 1 watermark

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Frame with flower border watermark Frames with a Flourish - frame 4 watermark

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Frames with a Flourish - frame 5 watermark Medallion watermark

Black

Black w/Grey Medallion

White

White w/Grey Medallion

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip w/Grey Medallion

Upsy Daisy watermark T&P Tree watermark

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Other Watermarks

Butterfly scroll Watermark Butterfly Watermark

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Created by ivy Damask Flower watermark

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Flower swag Watermark Heart made with Love

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Pattern butterfly Watermark Tree Blooming Watermark

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Valentineangelframe valentine-frame-clipart-graphicsfairy008bw

Red (as shown above)

Black (as shown above)

Chocolate Chip

Transparent Gray

Vintage scissors watermark Vintage Teapot watermark

Black

Black

White

White

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

How To Use Your New Watermark
The following instructions are for Photoshop applications since I use Photoshop CS2 as my photo editing software. Your new watermark has been saved as a PNG file which will allow you to use it with all photo editing software. If after following these instructions you are having problems using your watermark, please email me so I can help.

In your photo editing software after editing (cropping, adjusting brightness, etc) your photo, open your watermark file. The checkerboard background indicates a transparent background which may be difficult to see but once you place it on your photo you should see it.

In Photoshop, select your watermark, copy and paste in the window that contains your photo. You can also simply drag the watermark over to your photo. You now should be able to see the watermark. To re-size your watermark, make sure the watermark layer is highlighted on the layer display, click on Free Transform, located under Edit, which is located at the top of the page. To re-size your watermark place your mouse over one of the corner handles while pressing the shift key then re-size using your mouse. By pressing the shift key while re-sizing keeps the proportions of the watermark. After re-sizing your watermark press enter. The handles should disappear. Now you should be able to move the watermark to where you would like by clicking over the watermark and dragging it over the photo. Release the mouse to place the watermark.

You can now save your photo as a JPG image. Your photo is now ready to be used on your blog or gallery. If you don’t have a photo editing program that allows you to layer photos, you can download a free program called GIMP.

Click here for a tutorial using GIMP to add your watermark to your photo.

For the Graduate

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we’re celebrating graduates.  Create any project – card, gift set, card holder, money holder, scrapbook page, or any 3D item with a graduation theme.  For my project I wanted to make a gift set using my Top Not die.  I used Basic Black, Silver and Whisper White card stock.  After die cutting the Basic Black Top Notes I textured them with the Texture Plates Kit #4 Distressed plate.  I die cut two more Top Notes in Silver to outline the black ones.  Cut along he perforated line on the Basic Black Top Note then adhere the silver Top Note behind the Basic Black one. The graduation cap silhouette is one I created.  See below for template.  I rolled some Whisper White paper for the diploma and tied with Basic Black Satin ribbon.  I then stamped the sentiment (Curly Cute) and created the banner.

I created the card to hold a gift card.  I used the Two-step owl punch and created the cap from silver card stock.  The diploma is a strip of Whisper White then wrapped with retired silver cording.  I then adhered the owl to circle layers with dimensionals.

I hope you’re inspired to make your own graduation gift sets.  Hop over to Hand Stamped Sentiments, be inspired, create and upload your project.

Here’s my project.  Click the images to enlarge.

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Top Note box and gift card holder Top Note box
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Top Note box side view Gift card holder inside Top Note box
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Outside of gift card holder Gift card holder inside

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.

Top Note Box

Templates: click here for box template; click here for grad cap template

Size: 3-1/2” L x 2-1/2″ W x 1” D

Stamps: Curly Cute

Paper: Basic Black , Silver, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Very Black Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Texture Plates Kit #4 Distressed plate

Technique: Stamping, Die Cutting, Embossing

Congrats Gift Card holder

Size: 3-1/2” W x 2-5/8”H

Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments

Paper: Basic Black , Silver, Whisper White, Digital DSP Night and Day houndstooth pattern

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: 1-3/4” circle punch, 1-3/8” circle punch, Two-Step Owl punch, retired Slit punch, Very Black Satin Ribbon, retired silver cording, dimensionals, MIni-glue dots

Technique: Stamping, Die Cutting, Embossing

Nature Walk Gift Set

I recently discovered that I had purchased the Botanical Gazette DSP and had not used it so I created this box and cards gift set based on Nancy Gabbert’s project featured in the January Success magazine.  Since the DSP and stamp set will retire at the end of the month I created this project to feature at my next workshop this month as a final push for my customers to buy this beautiful paper and stamp set.  If you’re a SU demonstrator making the box at your next workshop would be a great demo along with showing the completed cards.  I have created the template, instructions for making the box, card photos and recipes with dimensions and instructions for making the cards.  This is not a step-by-step tutorial.  You can purchase these instructions for $2.99.  I hope this inspires you to have ONE more workshop this month for a final push on the occasions mini products and to give a sneak peek of the summer or if you’re a hobby stamper I hope this set inspires you to purchase the paper and stamp set.  The stamp set is one I’ll never part with.  It’s a keeper.

Nature Walk Box and Cards Instructions - $2.99

Easter Favors to dress up your party

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have an Easter theme challenge. Create any Easter project – cards, 3D projects, party favors, baskets, gift sets…you get the idea. There are so many projects you can create to dress up this holiday.

For this challenge I created a small bunny basket perfect for Easter candy. I printed the chocolate bunny, Spring Vintage DSP and sentiment from My Digital Studio. I dressed him up with ivory grosgrain ribbon and adhered him to the front of the box. I punched the sentiment with the oval punch and layered it over a Regal Rose Scallop oval. I modified this box template by cutting off the back and made a handle from Regal Rose CS with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch.

My other project is the carrot box made with Stampin’ Up’s Petal Cone die.  Love this die.  I textured the Pumpkin Pie CS with Texture Plates Kit #4.  The carrot top was created by cutting two Old Olive banners in half length-wise and curling them around a paper piercing tool.  I adhered them with mini glue dots to the inside of the flaps so the flaps could still be folded under each other to close the box.  The bunny was stamped and clear embossed then punched with 1-3/8 circle punch then layers on Peach Parfait DSP from the Hostess level 1 paper pack.  For the larger scallop I used Old Olive Polka dot DSP from Jolly Holiday.

Bunny and Carrot Box

Click image to enlarge

I hope you’re inspired to create hand made Easter favors and gifts.  Hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to be inspired by 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.

Bunny Box

Template: click here for template

Size: approx. size 2-3/16″ H x 2-5/16″ W

Stamps: Chocolate Bunny Digital Stamp, Sentiment Text printed using My Digital Studio

Paper: Digital Download Spring Vintage, CS:  Rose Red, Photo Paper

Ink: Digital ink:  Rose Red, Early Espresso

Accessories: Basic Pearls, 1/4 ” Very Vanilla Grosgrain, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch

Technique: Stamping, Digital crafting

Petal Cone Carrot Box

Size: approx. size 4″ H x 2-3/4″ W

Stamps: Forest Friends, Sentiment printed using My Digital Studio

Paper: Digital Download Spring Vintage, CS: Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, DSP: Jolly Holiday Old Olive dotted paper, Peach Parfait Hostess level 1 paper pack

Ink: Digital ink:  Early Espresso, Versamark, Early Espresso

Accessories: Basic Pearls, 1-3/8 circle punch, Scallop Oval punch, 2-3/8 Scallop Oval Punch, Big Shot, Petal Cone die, non-SU satin ribbon

Technique: Stamping, Digital crafting, Die cutting

I’m in the PINK!

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a fun color splash challenge with PINK!  Create any project with all the shades of pink.

Pinkalicious challenge 62-001

Since pink is such a feminine color I decided to create a teapot shaped card and candle for mother’s day.  The template for the teapot can be found here.   I enjoyed creating this project with the help of My Digital Studio.  I printed the DSP from the Spring Vintage DSP download.  To embellish the teapot I used the Blossom Petal punch and coordinating stamp set.  The butterflies were die cut from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits.  Take the challenge and show us your pink-a-licious projects.

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Teapot Card and Candle for Mom

Size: approx. size 7.75″ H x 6.5″ W

Stamps: Build a Blossom, All Holidays Digital Brush Set

Paper: Digital Download Spring Vintage, Rose Red CS, Pretty in Pink CS, Pear Pizzazz CS

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Sponged edges with Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslits,  Blossom Petal Punch, 1/2 circle punch, Big Shot, Decorative Label Digital Punch

Technique: Stamping, Die Cutting

Candle:  purchased from craft store and wrapped in DSP, embellished with ribbon, flowers cut-out from DSP, Butterflies, Basic rhinestones

Shadow Box Card for Mom

This week’s challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments is a shadow box technique challenge.  There are a couple of ways to create these cards and the possibilities are endless for both.  See below for video tutorials on both shadow box techniques.

I wanted to create a card that would open like a gift so I went with the second technique.  I had a great time making my mother’s day card.  I have a printer that will print to the edge of the paper so I printed my DSP using My Digital Studio.  I used the Elegant Soiree digital DSP and printed on both sides of the paper.  I did use the rubber stamp set Nature Walk for the images and used a blender pen with Marina Mist classic ink pad to color the flowers on the image.  The layers for the inside of my card were created with Sizzix dies and SU punches.  The sentiments are from the retired stamp sets Vintage Labels and Fancy Flexible Phrases.  Hop on over and get inspired by our very talented design team and show us your shadow box technique.

 

click image to enlarge

Shadow Box Video tutorials:

htp://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/shadow_box_card/

http://www.stampingvideos.com/2008/12/i-call-this-a-pull-out-shadow-box-card—-this-is-a-really-unique-card-to-give-someone-especially-at-christmas-as-you-ca.html

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.

Shadow Box Card for Mom

Video Tutorial: Click here for video tutorial.

Size: approx. size 4.25″ H x 4.25″ W

Stamps: Nature Walk, retired Sale-A-Bration Vintage Labels, retired Fancy Flexible Phrases

Paper: Elegant Soirée Designer Series Paper – Digital Download, CS:  Whisper White, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Ink: Early Espresso, Marina Mist

Accessories: Basic Pearls, Scallop Circle Punch, 1″ Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 2-1/2 Circle Punch, 2-3/8 Scallop Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Word Punch, Big Shot, Sizzlits Scribbles Swirls die, Circles Scallop #2 die, Sticky tape, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Technique: Stamping, Die Cutting

Blooming Blossom Birdhouse

With spring finally here Hand Stamped Sentiments has a Blooming Blossoms Challenge.  Make any project with flowers.  Now how can you pass this up!  There are so many possibilities and endless ideas for this challenge.  I moved my craft area to a room in my house where I have a window and I can see and hear birds chirping.  It’s such a wonderful sound.  Recently I had a cardinal right outside my window.  I happen to love these birds with their bright colored red feathers. You can’t miss them.  This week my project is celebrating flowers and Cardinals.

I wanted to use bright happy colors so I went with Stampin’ Up! In Colors – Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride and Poppy Parade.  Love, Love, Love these colors.  At first I wasn’t sure I liked them together but as I was creating my project it all came together.  My birdhouse card features a large Blushing Bride flower punched with the Blossoms Petal Punch.  I also used the retired Trio Punch for the small flowers.  I was sad to see this punch retire but a good substitute is the flower punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.  I also used the Fancy Flower Punch to frame the opening of the birdhouse.  For the branch and the Cardinal I used the Two-Step Bird Punch.

I’ve seen the Cardinal on many blogs so I made mine with the Two-Step Bird Punch.  I punched two wings and used one for the crest and colored the face with a Black Stampin’ Write Marker, sponged the edges for depth and added a Basic Clear Rhinestone for the eye.

click image to enlarge
click image to enlarge

I hope you’re inspired to join us on Hand Stamped Sentiments.  We’d love to see your Blooming Blossom projects.

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.

Birdhouse Card

Birdhouse Template: Click here to obtain birdhouse pattern.  I did a scalloped roof instead of the roof offered with the pattern,.

Size: approx. size 4.25″ H x 5.50″ W

Stamps: Tiny Tags, With All My Heart

Paper: CS: Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade, Blushing Bride; DSP:  In Color Hostess Level 1 Paper Pack

Ink: Poppy Parade, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Blossom Petal Punch, retired Trio Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Two-Step Bird Punch, Jewelry Tag Medium, Fancy Flower Punch, 1″ Circle Punch

Technique: Stamping and Punch Art

Inspired by Nature

My card this week is inspired by Hand Stamped Sentiments inspirational challenge.  The photo below has so many wonderful images.  My project for this week is dedicated to Minnie Cieslak , Anne Marie Hile and Amy Lazzell.  These wonderful SU demos took time out of their day this past Saturday to come to my workshop.  They were great support in helping my guests with their make ‘n takes and providing lots of tips and ideas.  It was a fun and inspirational afternoon.  I’m so lucky to have them as friends and also as fellow design team members.  So hop on over to HHS and be inspired and also take a look at the wonderful inspiration provided by the design team.

I created this hybrid card and round box with My Digital Studio.  I used the digital Botanical Gazette DSP and the digital Nature Walk stamp set.  I love how easy it is to create beautiful cards.   I also love that almost every Tuesday there are new downloads.  Tuesdays now have become a favorite day.

click image to enlarge

inside of card - click image to enlarge

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.

Nature Walk card

Size: 4.25″ H x 5.50″ W

Stamps: Digital stamp set – Nature Stamp Brush Set, Friends 24/7 Brush Set

Paper: CS: Very Vanilla, Digital Botanical Gazette

Ink: Inkjet printer

Accessories: Victoria crochet trim, basic pearls

Technique: Digital crafting

Nature Walk box

Template: The template for the round box was obtained from czPaperCrafts

Size: 2.75″ H x 3.00″ W

Paper: CS: Very Vanilla, Digital Botanical Gazette

Ink: Inkjet printer

Accessories: Victoria crochet trim, basic pearls, Eyelet border punch

Technique: Digital crafting

Lucky Four Leaf Clover

This week I’m going for the green!  Hand Stamped Sentiments has a fun challenge this week to create any project inspired by St. Patrick’s Day.

Hand Stamped Sentiments

My idea for this challenge was inspired by the flourish in the Always Elegant stamp set by Stampin’ Up!  I knew instantly I wanted to create a lucky four leaf clover jewelry pin gift set that featured this beautiful flourish.   Since I had not played with my Crystal Effects this was perfect for the pin I had in my mind.  I first stamped the flourish from the Always Elegant stamp set and heat embossed it with gold then punch four hearts with the small heart punch.  I punched a 1/2″ circle and adhered the hearts to the circle with a mini glue dot then adhered the stem to the back.  I covered the front of the clover pin with Crystal Effects then let dry overnight.   I embellished with pearls and adhered a 3/4 inch silver safety catch pin back with hot glue gun.

The box and tag for the pin were created with the Sizzix Matchbox Bigz XL die.  I first ran the CS through with this die then embossed the top of the box with the Elegant Lines embossing folder before putting it together.  I wrapped the box with Very Vanilla satin ribbon.  The green tag is stamped with gold ink with the oval from the Vintage labels then stamped the ‘FOR YOU’ also from this set and punched it out with the 3/4″ circle.  I adhered the circle to the tag with dimensionals then tied it to the ribbon with gold cording.

The card base was cut with the Sizzix Bigz Large Scallop Square die and then embossed with the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  I used the Scallop Circles #2 die for the second layer. I stamped it with the flourish from the Always Elegant stamp and heat embossed it with gold then used Champagne Glass Glitter on the edges of the scalloped circle.  I made another four leaf clover and adhered it to the flourish with a dimensional.  The sentiment is from the Hostess Level 1 Aftherthoughts stamp set punched out with the large oval punch then outlined with Champagne Glass Glitter. I then layered on a scallop oval and adhered with dimensionals.

Lucky Four Leaf clover pin gift set

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

I hope you’re inspired to create some St. Patrick’s day projects.  Hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and see more inspiration from 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.

Lucky Four Leaf Clover pin

Approx. Size: 1.75″ H x 1″ W

Stamps: Always Elegant

Paper: CS: Garden Green

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Small Heart Punch, Gold embossing powder, Heat Tool, Basic Pearls, Crystal Effects, non-SU safety clasp pin back, mini glue dots

Technique: Stamping, Heat embossing

Lucky Four Leaf Clover pin gift box

Approx. Size: 2″ x 2-1/2″

Stamps: Always Elegant, retired Vintage Labels

Paper: CS: Garden Green, Very Vanilla

Ink: Encore Gold ink pad

Accessories: Sizzix Matchbox Bigz XL die, Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder, Basic Pearls, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, gold cording

Technique: Stamping, Dry embossing

Lucky Four Leaf Clover card

Size: 4″ x 4″

Stamps: Always Elegant, Afterthoughts

Paper: CS: Garden Green, Very Vanilla

Ink: Encore Gold ink pad, Versamark

Card Accessories: Small Heart Punch, Gold embossing powder, Heat Tool, Basic Pearls, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Crystal Effects, Champagne Glass Glitter non-SU safety clasp pin back, mini glue dots

Technique: Stamping, Heat embossing, Die cutting