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Blog Candy winner

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

Thanks to everyone who visited in 2010.

The winner of the Out of the Box Stampin’ Up! stamp set  is . . . .  . .drum roll, ……..

Andrea who wrote”

“LOVE those corset cards! Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got up you sleeve!!”

Andrea thanks for visiting.  I selected you using a random number generator.  Congratulations!

Andrea, please e-mail your address to me using my Contact form and I will put these in the mail to you ASAP.

To see this week’s post and challenge click here.

Filed under: Blog Candy winner | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

Owl Love

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a Punch Theme Challenge.  I was so excited about this challenge because one of my favorite punches is the Two-Step Owl punch.   So I decided to create my project around this punch.

I’ve been wanting to make an owl box to store 3″x3″ cards and I’ve succeeded.  The 3″ x 3″ cards and envelopes fit nicely into this box.  I’m finishing up the tutorial along with the dress tutorial.  I promise to post them by the end of the week.

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.

Owl Box and 3″ x 3″ cards

Finished Box Size: Approx. 5.50″ w x 7.00″h

Cards, Finished Size: 3″ x 3″

Stamp Sets: Tiny Tags

Paper: Digital paper Play Date, CS:  Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Tempting Teal, Real Red, Crumb Cake

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Decorative Label Punch, Two-Step Owl Punch, Two-Step Bird Punch, Scallop Trim Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Basic pearls, 5/8″ Real Red grosgrain ribbon,

Techniques: Stamping, Paper Punching

 

Filed under: 3D projects, Boxes, Owl box tutorial | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

2010 in review

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

Thanks to all of you my 2010 blogging was a success.  I appreciate you stopping by to see my projects and to comment.  The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

Healthy blog!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

Featured image

About 3 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. My blog was viewed about 27,000 times in 2010. If it were the Taj Mahal, it would take about 3 days for that many people to see it.

In 2010, there were 101 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 132 posts. There were 277 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 199mb. That’s about 5 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was February 9th with 518 views. The most popular post that day was Sexy and Sweet Valentine corsets.  I plan on doing more of these corsets with different materials.  Look for these in the coming weeks.  Don’t forget you may purchase these little corset invitation/cards on my Etsy shop.  I can also make these in any color you request.

Where did all my visitors come from?

Thank you to these top referring sites in 2010.  They were splitcoaststampers.com, stampinconnection.com, demosites.blogspot.com, palspaperarts.com, and handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com.

My blog Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Sexy and Sweet Valentine corsets February 2010
7 comments

2

More Vintage Christmas Cards with Deck the Halls DSP November 2010
6 comments

3

Fancy Easter Basket March 2010
9 comments

4

Wicked Halloween August 2010
11 comments

5

Another Graduation Gift Set June 2010
3 comments

Again, a big THANKS to all of you for visiting and in celebration of a great blogging year I have some blog candy.  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me to enter you.  If you are getting this post via e-mail, please CLICK HERE and then leave a comment.  I will use the random generator to pick a name and announce it on Monday, January 10.

SU Out of the Box stamp set - To enter to win leave me a comment.

Filed under: 2010 Blog Summary, Yearly Blog Summary | Tagged: , , , , | 6 Comments »

A Parisian Birthday

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

I’ve been wanting to use the Love Letter DSP with the Artistic Etchings Stamp Set.  The patterns are beautiful and as usual I always have a problem deciding which side to use.  I made this box with three cards and stamped the envelopes to match for a friend’s birthday.  This project came together very easy.  I first made the box with the chip board that comes with the DSP. You can also use Stampin’ Up!’s cardstock but if you want to use DSP you need to adhere it to a thicker stock therefore I used the chip board.   SCS has a great tutorial on how to make this box.

I first cut the chip board to size then adhered a slightly larger piece of  DSP over the chip board and trimmed to the size of the chip board.  I then scored as instructed and assembled the box as instructed on the SCS A2 box tutorial.

I decorated the top of the box with a strip of the Love Letter DSP red medallion DSP.  I was dying to use the frame for the Notably Ornate stamp set which I stamped on a Very Vanilla layer with Basic Black ink then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I rounded the corners then sponged with Basic Black and Riding Hood Red.  I stamped the crown on Very Vanilla and used my paper snips to cut out then sponged with Riding Hood Red.  The Eiffel Tower is stamped with Basic Black then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Paper snips and a hobby blade were used to cut the Eiffel tower.  The crown and the tower are adhered with Dimensionals and embellished the frame with the Basic Pearls.  I love the Basic Pearls.  They’re perfect for embellishing any card because they come in three sizes.  The knotted ribbon is adhered with a mini glue dot.  I punched a border out of a strip of DSP and adhered to the back of the frame layer then adhered the completed layer to the box.

I created the three cards with different DSP from the Love Letter group and used the Artistic Etchings stamp set.  The fan fold instructions can be found on SCS.

Parisian box with cards

click 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.

Parisian Box

Finished Box Size to Fit A2 cards

Cards, Finished Size: 4.25″ x 5.50″

Stamp Sets: Artistic Etchings, Notably Ornate

Paper: Love Letter DSP, Very Vanilla CS, Basic Black CS

Ink: Basic Black, Ridinghood Red

Accessories: Decorative Label Punch, Small Heart Punch, 1-3/4″ Circle Punch, Antique Brads, Black Satin Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Basic Pearls, EK Success Fleur De Lis Edge Punch

Techniques: Stamping, Heat Embosssing

Filed under: 3D projects, Boxes, Feminine Valentine projects, Valentine's, Valentine's | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Winter blues

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we are celebrating the color blue.  Select any shade of blue or different shades of blue and create a project.  I have been so inspired by the upcoming digital downloads in the spring mini and by MDS I decided to make two projects for this challenge.  Also the spring 2011 mini goes into effect today!  Download your copy or email me and I will mail you one.  You may also visit my website to see all the new items in the occasions mini.

winter blues

click image to enlarge

I made an 8″ x 8″ scrapbook page of our furry children.  Like everyone who scrapbooks I’m so behind.  This is one of the many pages I’m creating for them.  I used the Blueberry Crisp digital DSP for the background.  I love the Not Quite Navy and Night of Navy colors which were perfect for photos of my sleepy dreaming pets.  I had so much fun creating this page.

Blue pet scrapbook page

click image to enlarge

The next project I created is a thank you card I’m sending to my brother and sister-in-law for a wonderful Christmas dinner complete with Yorkshire pudding.  So yummy!  I used the new  Nature Walk digital stamp set to create this card.  The background paper is Blueberry Crisp #5 DSP and I used the birdcage from the Nature Walk digital stamp set all over to create the background.  Being able to create your own DSP is another wonderful feature of MDS.  I love the Blueberry Crisp DSP digital download.  For $4.95 you get twelve different digital paper designs and they’re all gorgeous.  The branch, bird and nest are also from the Nature Walk digital stamp set which will be featured in the spring mini which goes into effect today!  I love the digital downloads because you can order them online and you can download them instantly after you process your transaction.

thank you nature 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.  To see all the new downloads and products in the occasions mini visit my website.

Pet scrap book page

Finished Size: 8″ w x 8″ h

Digital Stamp Sets: Baroque Motif, Man’s Best Friend, Cute Cats

Digital Paper: Blueberry Crisp #1

Color used for sentiments: Bashful Blue, White, Black

Accessories: Modern Label digital punch, Bashful Blue brads

Techniques: Digital crafting

 

Thank you card

Finished Size: 5.50″ w x 4.25″ h

Digital Stamp Sets: Nature Walk, Thank You Kindly

Digital Paper: Blueberry Crisp #5

Color used for sentiments: Night of Navy

Digital Accessories: Vintage brad, Very Vanilla Seam Binding ribbon, Decorative label punch, Photo corner punch

Techniques: Digital crafting

 

Filed under: Color Splash Challenges, Feminine Thank you cards, My Digital Studio, New Downloads, Scrap book Projects, Spring 2011 Occasions mini, Thank you cards | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Bring on the Bling!

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a fun challenge – Bring on the Bling!  Hop on over and take the challenge.  I’d love to see your shiny creation.

This time of year always makes me think of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and her iconic little black dress. With New Year’s Eve coming up I know we’ll all have some sort of get-together and the little black dress is perfect for your cocktail or dinner party.  Looking elegant is only a little black dress away.  Inspired and in celebration of Audrey I made this dress card with rhinestones, silver paper and ribbon.  I made a template, traced it in on Basic Black CS, cut it out with paper snips then ran it through my Big Shot with the Perfect Details swirl Texturz plate.  I hope you can see the texture in the photo.  I made the side ruffles out of vellum paper.  I used Very Vanilla satin ribbon for the waist sash and made a rose also from the Very Vanilla satin ribbon and embellished the rose with a clear rhinestone.  I’ll post a tutorial for the dress later this week.

I cut a Basic Black and silver paper layer.  There is another Basic Black layer I punched the edge with the Scallop border punch.  I also embellished with Very Vanilla and Black satin ribbon.  I stamped the frame and sentiment with Versamark then embossed with silver embossing powder.  The card is finished with three sizes of rhinestones.

Bring on the Bling dress 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.

Happy Birthday Dress Card

Audrey Dress template and tutorial: click here

Finished Size: 4.25″ w x 5.50″ h

Stamp Sets: 2010 Sale-a-bration Vintage Labels

Paper: Card stock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Vellum, Brushed Silver

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Details swirl Texturz Plate, Scallop Edge Punch, Oval Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat tool, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Basic Black satin ribbon

Techniques: Stamping, Heat embossing, Dry embossing

Filed under: Audrey Hepburns long dress tutorial, Big Shot, Birthday, Feminine Birthday, Templates, Tutorials and Instructions, Theme Challenge | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Another Vintage Christmas Card with My Digital Studio

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a sketch challenge.  The sketch is featured in the December Success SU demonstrator magazine.  It’s an interesting sketch and since I had recently downloaded the vintage brads and crochet ribbon for My Digital Studio software, I had to use them for this project.  I created this card on MDS using my new downloads and Deck the Halls digital DSP.  I love the vintage suite which is available until January 3rd, 2011.  I also added a Soft Suede Vintage Overlay Texture on the Holly DSP to look like sponging.  It’s very subtle but it adds some darkening on the edges.  You’ll need to enlarge the card to see it.  I also used the Tearing Edge stamp set on the Cherry Cobbler layer.  I hope you get inspired to create with My Digital Studio.

December Sketch challenge
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.

Digital Vintage Christmas Card – This card was created with Stampin’ Up!’s My Digital Studio

Digital Stamp Sets: A Cardinal Christmas (sentiment), Old Saint Nick, Vintage Overlay Texture, Torn Edges

Digital Paper: Card stock:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler; DSP:  Deck The Halls Photocard Digital Kit

Digital Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Digital Accessories: Vintage brads, Eyelet border punch, Modern Label punch, Crochet Ribbon

Techniques: Digital Crafting

Filed under: Christmas, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, My Digital Studio, Sketch Challenge | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Birthday Bakery

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Genevieve Valdes

Now that I’ve given my friend her birthday card I can post it.  I CASED this card from Diana Gibbs.  She has a wonderful video tutorial on her blog.  I’ve been wanting to use the Birthday Bakery stamp set and this was the perfect opportunity.  This stamp set is so cute and is a hostess level 1 stamp set that can be earned with a $150 workshop.  If you’d like to earn this stamp set call me to book your workshop.

I was trying to use colors that would look like a little shop in Paris.  The photo was difficult to photograph but I also used Dazzling Diamonds and Moonlighting Smooch on the baked goods which worked perfectly for this card.   I used a blender pen and ink pads to water color the images.  If you haven’t tried  water coloring it’s a lot of fun and it takes me back to my childhood.  So relaxing.  It’s like I always say to my friends that think they are ordering way too much Stampin’ up products – “It’s cheaper than therapy.  You need this for your mental health”.  LOL  Here’s my card.

Awning 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.

Awning card

Finished Size: 4.25″ w x 5.50″ h

Stamp Sets: Birthday Bakery

Paper: Card stock:  Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Soft Suede

Ink: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing folder, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch, Word Punch, Blender Pens, Moonlight Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, Dazzling Diamonds

Techniques: Stamping, Dry Embossing

Filed under: Awning Card, Birthday, Feminine Birthday, Techniques, Water coloring | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Snowflakes in San Antonio

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Genevieve Valdes

I hope all of you have mailed your Christmas cards and have your shopping done.  As for me all my cards are done.  I’m just in the process of addressing.  I hope to get these in the mail by Wednesday.  Finally the weather here has turned cold.  It’s not so motivating to get Christmas activities completed when it’s warm outside.  Now it feels like Christmas.  Although it doesn’t normally snow here in San Antonio I can still wish for a white Christmas or at least on my Christmas cards.  So here at my craft table there are snowflakes in San Antonio.  This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a snowflake theme challenge.  Create any project with snowflakes.  You’re welcome to use any brand products.  I look forward to seeing your projects.  So hop on over to HSS and take the challenge.

I’ve been wanting to use the Shimmery White paper from SU and my snowflake die and this challenge was perfect.  I love the elegance of the Shimmery White paper.  So beautiful!  I hope you can see how the paper shimmers in my card below.  This card was very easy to create.  I embossed the front of my card with the Northern Flurry embossing folder and used SU Dazzling Diamonds on the embossed and the die cut snowflakes.  I also embellished them with the self-adhesive Basic Pearls.   These are the perfect embellishment for your Christmas cards.  I adhered the die cut snowflake with Dimensionals and added a Very Vanilla satin bow.  The embellishment is from the Snow Swirled stamp set and is embossed in silver.  I hope your inspired to create your snowflake project.   See you at HSS.

snowflake backgroundq

HSS Snowflake Theme Challenge #46

snowflake theme 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.

Snowflake card

Finished Size: 5.25″ w x 5.25″ h

Stamp Sets: Snow Swirled (sentiment)

Paper: Card stock:  Shimmery White

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Snowflake #2 Original Die, 1-1/4 square punch for ends of banner, Silver embossing powder, Heat tool, Basic Pearls, Dazzling Diamonds, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon

Techniques: Stamping, Heat Embossing, Dry Embossing

Filed under: Big Shot, Christmas, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, Theme Challenge | Tagged: , , , , | 6 Comments »

My Digital Studio Vintage Christmas Card

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Genevieve Valdes

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a color splash challenge. The colors Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Early Espresso are perfect for this time of year.

Since I’ve purchased many of the new Christmas digital stamps I was excited to create a Vintage Christmas Card with My Digital Studio. It was so easy and fun! I used the Christmas Collage stamp over Very Vanilla Textured card stock and colored it Cherry Cobbler but brought down the opacity to 20%.  I also used the Early Espresso Wallpaper DSP for the bottom of the card.  The ribbon is from the digital seam binding collection in Cherry Cobbler.  For a fuller bow I put two bows.  Under the ribbon I added two Eyelet border strips in Old Olive and Very Vanilla.  I love the digital Eyelet punch it’s perfect for the vintage look.  I also embellished with pearls from the pearls and rhinestones digital collection.  The tag is the Decorative Label digital punch in Very Vanilla and I outlined it in Cherry Cobbler.  The sentiment is from the digital stamp set Bells and Boughs.  Although the card was created entirely on MDS I think it still has the warmth and feel of a vintage Christmas Card.   Let me know what you think.  I hope you hop over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and take the Color Splash Challenge.  I’d love to see your projects.

Vintage Christmas Card created with My Digital Studio - click 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.

Digital Vintage Christmas Card – This card was created with Stampin’ Up!’s My Digital Studio

Digital Stamp Sets: Christmas Collage, Bells and Boughs

Digital Paper: Card stock:  Very Vanilla Textured, Early Espresso Wallpaper

Digital Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Digital Accessories: Decorative Label Punch, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Pearls, Eyelet Border Punch

Techniques: Digital Crafting

Filed under: Christmas, Color Splash Challenges, Hand Stamped Sentiments Creative Challenge, My Digital Studio | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

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