Nutz about Stamping

Card Map

The other day I saw a Card Map on a demonstrator art gallery and decided to give it a try. At first the map seemed quite simple:

 

But once I decided to use Calypso Coral as the card base and a piece of Sweet Shop designer series paper as the main layer, my plans became muddled. The Sweet Shop paper has quite a vivid pattern so I decided to keep the top layers simple. And then I got stuck. The top layer seemed so plain but it only took a few seconds until I decided that adding a Calypso Coral ribbon (using FREE ribbon through Sale-a-bration!) would be the perfect, final touch.

Here's my final product:

 

 

Do you have designer series paper at home that also has a large or bright pattern? Try my map to see what you can create.

 

Scrapbook Map

I love to scrapbook; actually it was how I got started paper crafting 12 years ago, did you know that? But over time I gravitated to card making because it was so much easier, so economical (have you seen the prices of cards in the stores lately!), and made me feel good when someone ooh's and ahh's over a card they received in the mail from me.

As I think back over the past couple of years and why I didn't scrap as many pages as I had hoped I realized that the main reason I slowed down on scrapbooking was the time it took to plan out my pages.

So this is the year of the Scrapbook Maps! I know when I make cards it really helps to have a card map for inspiration so I decided to dust off some of my yellowing catalogs and magazines and see about using ideas as maps for my own pages.

Here's a scrapbook map I created from a layout I saw yesterday:

 

 And here's a My Digital Studio page I created using the map above, with my own little twist of course!

And now it's your turn: try creating a digital or paper page following one of the two maps above. I bet you'll love it!

If you'd like to host a private scrapbooking class for you and your friends and you live in the Raleigh, NC and surrounding area, I'd love to show you how you can take an idea, create a scrapbook map, and end up with a page you'll be proud of - contact me at terri@nutzaboutstamping.com and we'll make it happen!

Bordering on Romance: One card, three ways!

Tomorrow one of my downline, and good friend, celebrates her birthday and I wanted to make her a special birthday card using Bordering on Romance. Although it may seem, by the title of this stamp set, that Bordering on Romance might be perfect for weddings or Valentine's Day, it can be used for so much more than just those occasions. I decided to use it for a birthday card:

I loved the card I created and the more I looked at it the more I wanted to use Bordering on Romance to make a second card but I struggled with coming up with a new idea. After some thought I decided that I didn't need to come up with a brand new idea - I would use the same layers and dimensions but change up the layout and "bump it up a notch". And here's the second card I created:

For this card I added a different element, a strip of 3/8" Blushing Bride Pleated Satin ribbon (have you seen my Pleated Ribbon Share offer?). And I used the same layout as a card map idea, but turned the card to a landscape layout instead.

But I didn't stop there! I created one more card and bumped it up another notch to make it a bit more complex. Sorry, but I can't post it today as I think the "birthday girl" checks out my blog every day and I don't want to spoil her birthday card by posting today. (If you want to see Vicki's birthday card, click here to go to my Facebook Business page. I've posted all three cards in my Photo Gallery.

If you love to watercolor, you should consider adding Bordering on Romance to your stamp set collection. Click here to go to my Online Store to place your order today!

Chat & Challenge Card Map

It is so nice being on vacation for a week! I haven't participated in a Chat & Challenge for months now and this week since I am home I got to participate during the daytime hours. There were five demonstrators participating and here's the map we were presented:

I haven't challenged myself with a card map for a while and it took me a few minutes to figure out what I wanted to use on my card. I spotted You are Loved on my stamping table and decided right away to use one of the images as the focal point:

You can see that I interpreted the card map in my own way and made the middle layer on the card map the top phrase layer on my card. Notice the designer series paper? Check it out when your brand new Occasions Mini catalog arrives in the mail and while you are browsing look for a new Big Shot product that helped me make the Riding Hood Red heart layer!

Now it's your turn. Try this card map using your stamp sets and supplies at home. You will love the results!

Card Maps, part three

Whew, time has flown by and I still have one more card map card to show you from my October team meeting. I have already shown you the original map that I created. And then last week I showed you the card that Tracie created using the same card map.

Well here's one more card from my team meeting that Drea created:

What you can't see in the photo is the beautiful sparkle the bird and ornament have using Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I love the colors Drea used on this card, don't you?

Now you have seen three different samples using the same card map so now it's your turn: pull out your favorite stamp set(s) and colors and see what you can create too!

Happy stampin'!

Card Maps

Last week I posted my October team meeting swap card using the Gift Givers stamp set and promised to share some cards my team members created using the same card map.

Here's Tracie's card, using the Owl Builder punch and the same Tasteful Trim die that I used on my card - we smiled over that identical element!

 

Tracie added some really nice touches to her card - see the Snow Burst embossed layer and Spice Cake designer fabric scallop layer at the bottom? The scallop circle layer under the owl pulls together the card layers and makes the owl a super cute focal point.

Have you tried using fabric on your cards yet? Contact me at terri@nutzaboutstamping.com to learn how!

Gift Givers

Yesterday was my October team meeting and as part of the meeting we participated in a card swap. At the September team meeting we decided to use a card map as our guide for the October meeting. The card map was published in a monthly publication that Stampin' Up! sends to demonstrators - a great support tool with useful articles and additional creative ideas.

Here's the card I created using the card map, using the Gift Givers stamp set:

As you can see this layout is very different than one I would normally create on my own which is what I love about using card maps - they help you see different ways to try when stamping. The colors I chose for my card are Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green and I also used the Frostwood Lodge designer series paper and some leftover Silver Glimmer paper.

Why not try using my card as a card map for you to try too? I would love to see what you create if you'd like to take the time to email me a photo to terri@nutzaboutstamping.com. And come on back to my blog soon as I will also post the cards that my team members created using the same map - you will LOVE what they made too!

Happy stampin'!

Gently Falling Thank You card

I love to make a special thank you card for each of my hostesses. And each time I make a thank you card I try something different - either a layout, color combination, a stamp set and/or accessories.

Here's a card I stamped to mail to Sherry to thank her for hosting a workshop. I used Gently Falling along with my Decorative Label Punch and brand new In Color Designer Printed brads.

 

Does this card seem familiar? At my September team meeting Tracie made a similar card (click here to check out Tracie's card). I really liked her layout and colors and used her card as a card map idea for this card. I am excited to see what Sherry of my new card creation.

Want to host a workshop and earn free product too? It's easy to do (as I do all the work) and you can even be a long distance hostess. Contact me at terri@nutzaboutstamping.com to learn how.

Raining Flowers Card Map

I have spent a lot of time in the past week preparing for upcoming Halloween and Fall workshops and that's been a lot of fun. But this weekend I had a little extra time so decided to stamp something completely different.

I found a card map that presented a different layout idea than what I usually use so I decided to give it a try:

I chose Raining Flowers and two colors: Marina Mist and Old Olive. Here's what I created:

Now it's your turn - try this Card Map and see what you can come up with that's completely different than what you are used to using. Stretch yourself and have fun!

Out on a Limb

Oh my gosh, this stamp set is the cutest ever! I have so many card ideas for this stamp set so be prepared to see many blog posts featuring all these fun images.

I have a Techniques Club starting this weekend - ten stampers who want to meet once a month to learn new stamping techniques and one of them gets hostess benefits every month. I decided to use Out on a Limb for one of the three cards they will create and here's the card they will make. Can you figure out the technique I used?

If you and your friends would be interested in joining a club in the coming months I have three different ideas for great clubs: Techniques, Scrapbook or Anything BUT a Card Club. If you are beginning stampers we could also do a basic Card Club where you'd learn the best products to use to create cards and how to cut and layer card stock for different layout ideas.

Contact me at: terri@nutzaboutstamping.com for more information!