Nichol Spohr LLC

Happy Anniversary Card

 Hello!

Today I have a card share featuring a die and stamp from the Simon Says Stamp 2014 Valentine's Release.

This is one of those projects that is a great way to use up all those tiny tiny scraps of patterned paper that you couldn't part with because they might be good for something! 

I first used the SSS Heart Parade Die to die cut three heart borders from some smooth white cardstock. The border actually stretches all 5 1/2" across a horizontal landscape card, however I was creating a colorful heart collage and didn't want my hearts extending from edge to edge. I wanted them to be more "clustered" in the middle of the card. I simply trimmed one heart from the end (or beginning) of each heart border to shorten them a bit!

Next I took small scraps of patterned paper (or trimmed it down if it was still too big), placed the scraps behind a heart on the die and ran it through my die cutting machine. This way I didn't die cut the whole border and have a bunch of waste!

I stamped the sentiment in SSS Black Ink in the lower right corner of the card using a greeting from the new SSS Perfect Love Stamp Set.

I lightly added liquid adhesive to the backs of the white outline die cut borders using the Fiskars Two Way Glue Pen. Then I adhered the die cut patterned paper inside each "opening". Where some of the hearts overlapped, I didn't want there to be too much bulk so carefully trimmed away the outline die cut.

To finish my card I added a scattering of enamel dots.

I love the pop of color on the white background with a crisp, black stamped greeting! So easy and fun to create! 

InLinkz.com

• American Crafts Amy Tangerine Plus One 6x6 Paper Pad

The whole Valentine's release.... love, love, LOVE. 

InLinkz.com

• You Make My Heart Sing Card + How To Video
• How Sweet It Is Card
• Everyday With You is Amazing Card + How To Video

Thanks for stopping by!

Studio Calico Mama Elephant Blog Hop

Welcome to the Studio Calico Mama Elephant Blog Hop!

All the projects shared on the hop today showcase the awesome new exclusive Mama Elephant stamp set from the Studio Calico Taffy Add On Kit! (This kit is showing sold out now. It was still available last time I checked!). Don't forget to pick up the cooridinating dies HERE, too!

First up I created a card using the balloons from the stamp set (because even though I detest balloons in real life I LOVE them for cardmaking!).

I created the background of my card using the hexagon border stamp in the set, alternating between blues and yellow and green (one of my most favorite color combo's ever!).

 

I stamped the balloons with SSS Island Blue Ink and Hero Arts Lime Green Ink and then stamped the coordinating outline stamp with SSS Black Ink. I colored in the confetti in the balloons with the Wink of Stella Gold Glitter Marker and colored the rest of the balloon in with the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Marker.

I tied a bit of Hemptique Thread onto each balloon and popped them up with foam adhesive after stamping the balloon strings onto the background.

The greeting was stamped on another strip of white cardstock using SSS Black Ink and adhered to the top of the card. Enamel dots from the kit finish the look.

InLinkz.com

 

For my second card share today I used some of MFT banner dies to cut banners from the cardstock andv vellum in the kit.

I stamped the greeting onto the white banner and colored in some of the words with Wink of Stella Gold Glitter Marker.

I stamped the balloon in Versamark ink and used gold embossing powder. I masked off the greeting and stamped the balloon string above and below the greeting.

I used the small solid star from the stamp set with gold ink to add interest to the background of the card then I layered on the die cut vellum banner, gold ribbon and stamped banner.

 

InLinkz.com

This was the last stop on the blog hop!

To start from the beginning, please go HERE to the Studio Calico Blog.

Thanks for blog hopping with me today!

 

KBS | XOXO Cards

Good morning crafty friends!

I'm excited to be sharing two new cards today showcasing Kerri Bradford's cut files. Be sure to check out Kerri's BLOG and SHOP for lots of inspiration and digi cut files/kits!

I originally had intended on creating just one "xo" card but after cutting the glittered silver outline for the aqua/white card I realized I had all these amazing glittered "xo's" leftover and what better way to get the most from your crafting time and supplies then to use those to make another card! Whoot!

I am loving the look of white on white anything with small pops of color. I thought it would be fun to create a layered Valentine's card using Kerri's files. I love the graphic look of text backgorunds with a sentiment layered on top. The "XO" file from Kerri's February Fourteen Kit makes for an interesting background for the die cut banner with the stamped greeting. 

I am loving the look of white on white anything with small pops of color. I thought it would be fun to create a layered Valentine's card using Kerri's files. I love the graphic look of text backgorunds with a sentiment layered on top. The "XO" file from Kerri's February Fourteen Kit makes for an interesting background for the die cut banner with the stamped and embossed greeting (from Kelly Purkey's I'm Sorry Stamp Set).

To add even more interest to the card I die cut the rectangle and the postage frame from the Life Additions #1 Kit for subtle white on white (embossed white cardstock and vellum) layers. Instead of cutting the frame "as is" I instead cut each layer (the rectangle from white cardstock and the postage border from vellum). 

I embossed the solid white rectangle using the Polka Dot Basics II Papertrey Ink Impression Plate.

Foam adhesive behind the postage frame mats and the banner give subtle dimension which adds interest to this mostly white card!

With those leftover silver "xo's" I created a similar card in style (with the same frame and basic design) but this one is a bit more on the "simple" side and I switched up the matting by stamping the solid rectangle with my favorite MFT Text Background Stamp and layered the vellum over the top.

I added color and interest by stamping the greeting (again from Kelly Purkey's I'm Sorry Stamp Set) with Versamark and embossing with a red embossing powder. Some red heart enamel dots tie it all together!

InLinkz.com

InLinkz.com

• Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana Cardstock
• Ribbon

I have a couple of GIVEAWAY WINNERS to annouce:

The winner of the Stella & Dot earrings from THIS post is Tracey!

The winner of the February SSS Card Kit is Karen K!

I've contacted you both! Enjoy your prizes!!!!

Thanks for spending some time with me today! More soon....

 

Super Saturday Sale | Selling More Papertrey Ink Stamps & Dies

Today I'm selling the rest of my Papertrey Inks Stamps & Dies. Have a great Saturday!

Many, many of the stamps and dies have never been used. Some only 1-2 times. These are like new items. I will be grouping like products together (i.e. stamps and coordinating dies and in some instances several stamp sets that coordinate with a particular die). Some of the stamps are in clear CD cases (this is the system PTI uses), some are not. I had begun switching them over to clear storage pockets but didn't get very far with that. ;)  Not all sets will come with CD cases. Some will be in clear storage pockets. So, you get what you get. :)

The fine print.

• USA shipping ONLY.
• Paypal Payments ONLY
• Once the item/lot has been sold it will disappear from this post forever. I do this because I have received emails from people who are reading posts from 1-2 years ago and want to buy stuff that is long gone. ;) I do have to remove these manually, this isn't an automated ordering system or an online store.
• It is first come, first served. Whoever clicks the Paypal button first and sends payment through gets the item.
• I will ship these first class for FREE. If you would rather have them shipped Priority Mail the cost is $5.60. Please indicate when you pay for your order that you prefer Priority Shipping and I will send you a seperate invoice for the shipping cost. I can ship multiple sets in one package. :)
• I will mail purchases the next business morning after payment is received. You pay today, I ship first thing tomorrow (or the first business day after payment is received).
• Please note that while some items are brand new and have never been used, they are still considered "used". These are things cleaned out from my personal craft stash. All items are "as is". No returns.

 

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PAPERTREY INK | TINY TREATS HALLOWEEN STAMP SET, MAT STACK #4 DIE, MAT STACK 4 COLLECTION STAMP SET, MODERN WOOD MATS STAMP SET, MAT STACK 4 LAYERZ DIE, MAT STACK 4 MEGA DIE $85

Retails for $99 (for all)

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PAPERTREY INK | EVERYDAY TREATS STAMP SET, TINY TREATS CHRISTMAS STAMP SET, TREMENDOUS TREATS CHRISTMAS STAMP SET, MAT STACK 1 DIE, MAT STACK 1 LAYERZ DIE, MAT STACK 1 MEGA DIE $85

Retails for $102 (for all)

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PAPERTREY INK | TINY TAGS STAMP SET, TINY TAGS DIES, LABEL BASICS STAMP SET, ANGLED LABELS DIE SET, RECTANGULAR LABELS DIE SET, FRAMED STAMP SET $85

Retails for $98 (for all)

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PAPERTREY INK | FRUIT FUSION APPLE STAMP SET & DIE,  FRUIT FUSION GRAPES STAMP SET & DIE, FRUIT FUSION MELON STAMP SET & DIE, FRUIT FUSION STRAWBERRY STAMP SET & DIE, FRUIT FUSION PEAR & DIE $30

Retails for $40 (for all)

 

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PAPERTREY INK | BIG BIRTHDAY WISHES STAMP SET, BY THE NUMBERS DIE COLLECTION, SHAPE UP SERIES CUPCAKE DIES, BANNER BORDERS DIES, BASIC BANNERS DIES, BOXY BANNERS DIES $100

Retails for $118 (for all)

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Simple Stories | Valentine's Card, Be You Layout + Video

Today I'm blogging over on the Simple Stories Blog HERE sharing a couple of my favorite ideas on using 3x4 Sn@p! Cards for a traditional 12x12 scrapbook page and a card.

I absolutely love the 3x4 Sn@p Cards (and the 4x6 Sn@p! Cards, too!) but I have come to the realization that the Life Documented/Project Life system I was currently using might not be for me. However, I am a huge fan of the 3x4 cards and love using them on non pocket page projects! These awesome little cards can be used in all kinds of fun, inventive ways!

One of the quickest and easiest ways to use the 3x4 Sn@p! Cards? Simply adhere a 3x4 card to the center of a standard 5.5 x 4.25" card, embellish and you have a great handmade card! 

  

For this Valentine's Day card I took it a bit further and actually used 4 3x4 cards from the Love Sn@p Set. I used one 3x4 card as the center of my card (and pop of color on this otherwise black and white card) and die cut three others using the heart cut file (sn@p! plane, star, heart by Simple Stories) available in the Silhouette Online Store. Using the grid on the Silhouette cutting mat I was able to arrange the heart in the Silhouette Software so that the red text on the largest heart would cut and be part of my design.

Here's a look at the cards after I die cut them. Notice that I used the "B" sides or back sides of most of these, even the red one used as the center of my card. I seem to gravitate towards "B" sides of most patterned papers so it's no surprise I like the back sides of the Sn@p! Cards as well!

To make the die cuts stand out a bit, I die cut each of the hearts from solid black cardstock, slightly offset each and adhered them to my card with foam adhesive.

I customized the banner sticker by cutting part of the design off as well since the colors didn't match the design of my card. 

I love that the background 3x4 red card is a subtle tone on tone "xoxo" and doesn't overpower the heart embellishments!

 

I coordinated the background of my card to the text die cut heart by using my newest favorite background stamp, MFT Text Background, stamped with Hero Arts Soft Granite Ink. I layerd some vellum over the stamped text to help "mute" it a bit before adhering the 3x4 card and die cut embellishments.

InLinkz.com

InLinkz.com

• Freckled Fawn glitter clip

Next, I have a brand new layout share where I used eight 3x4 Sn@p! Cards to create the collage effect on this page about my youngest son.

I am currently addicted to creating, what I like to refer to as "mini canvases", on my 12x12 traditional scrapbook page layouts! In this instance, I took the 3x4 cards and added photos, embellishments, trimmed some smaller, etc. to create a collage look that is on trend and oh so fun! Breaking down the layout into smaller "pieces" makes it easy to implement any number of 3x4 cards into one space creating an overall large design! 

I also included a couple of die cuts into my page. The awesome frame (awesome, sn@pshot & good stuff polariods by Simple Stories) available from the Silhouette Online Store and the open circles 3x4 card (I trimmed mine down to fit the design) from www.kerribradford.com.

InLinkz.com

InLinkz.com

• Freckled Fawn smiley face sticker

I hope that these ideas have inspired you to try using your 3x4 Sn@p! Cards in new and fun ways. 

I appreciate you stopping by!

Creative Retreat Winter 2014 with May Flaum & Friends | My Sneak Peeks

May Flaum's Creative Retreat Online Workshop started today but there is still time to sign up!

The Winter 2014 Creative Retreat will be an online learning environment where you can learn from a wide variety of amazingly creative instructors, learn at your own pace, and do so from the comfort of your own home. From mixed media to card making, scrapbooking ideas to fun techniques we’ve got you covered! 

Who will be teaching at this event?

Anna-Karin Evaldsson
Janna Werner
Lisa Dickinson
Nichol Magouirk
Riikka Kovasin
Shari Carroll
Tammy Tutterow
Wanda Guess

May Flaum will also be joining in the fun with four brand new project tutorials as well.

Class is ONLY $24 and you can register HERE.

The classroom will be active (meaning, new content being added and all of the lessons being posted) between January 20-31. Students will not be limited or cut off from access after this time- the classroom will remain open and available for you to enjoy the materials at your own pace.

Included in class:

* Twelve separate lessons delivered between January 20-31st featuring projects and techniques ranging from scrapbook layouts to mixed media canvases

* Videos, photos, tutorials, and loads of ideas will be shared within these lessons!

* Unlimited access to the classroom to re-visit these materials and work at your own pace

* E-mail access to lead instructor May Flaum

* E-mails notifying you of new materials being added to classroom, as well as additional inspiration and ideas

note: not every lesson will have a video component, but there will be at least six video lessons

For more information about the instructors, click here!

My class features using embossing paste for cards and layouts and has a video to accompany the class! Here's some sneak peeks:

Click HERE to join in on the fun!

More soon...
 

 

 

Super Saturday Sale | Selling Papertrey Ink Stamps & Dies

***Everything has SOLD at this time. Thank you all for your interest and be sure to tune in next Saturday, January 25, 2014 for all new offers starting at 11:59 a.m. CST. Lots and lots of Papertrey Ink Stamps + coordinating dies will be for sale! Thanks again!***

The fine print.

• USA shipping ONLY.
• Paypal Payments ONLY
• Once the item/lot has been sold it will disappear from this post forever. I do this because I have received emails from people who are reading posts from 1-2 years ago and want to buy stuff that is long gone. ;) I do have to remove these manually, this isn't an automated ordering system or an online store.
• It is first come, first served. Whoever clicks the Paypal button first and sends payment through gets the item.
• I will ship these first class for FREE. If you would rather have them shipped Priority Mail the cost is $5.60. Please indicate when you pay for your order that you prefer Priority Shipping and I will send you a seperate invoice for the shipping cost. I can ship multiple sets in one package. :)
• I will mail purchases the next business morning after payment is received. You pay today, I ship first thing tomorrow (or the first business day after payment is received).
• Please note that while some items are brand new and have never been used, they are still considered "used". These are things cleaned out from my personal craft stash. All items are "as is". No returns.

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You Make My Heart Feel Funny Card feat. Simon Says Stamp Valentine's Exclusives

Happy Friday!

I'm excited to share a brand new Valentine's Day card today with a more "masculine" or non-traditional colors theme. This card features lots and lots of the brand new, exclusive Simon Says Stamp 2014 Valentine's Release products that I love so much!

I created the tone on tone textured background by die cutting the XOXO Border Die from the same SSS Sea Glass Paper as the card base.

I used my favorite dimensional Folded Banner Die and the hearts, greetings and dies from Spoonfuls of Love Stamp & Die Set to embellish my card. Ranger Silver Embossing Powder add sparkle and shine and a nice contrast to the soft aqua and whites used on the card.

InLinkz.com

InLinkz.com

• "How Sweet It Is" Floating Hearts Die Card
• "Everyday with you" Typewriter Valentine's Card
• Happy Valentine's Day Card feat. January SSS Card Kit
• "Love You" Monster w/ Balloons Card feat. January SSS Card Kit

Have a great weekend!

p.s. Tomorrow at 11:59 a.m. CST I will be sharing a blog post with "for sale" items that I'm purging from my craft studio. Lots and lots of Papertrey Ink Stamps & dies will be for sale tomorrow. :)

Simon Says Stamp February 2014 Card Kit | Thinking of You Card + Video

Hello all!

Today, I have another new card showcasing the February 2014 Card Kit, Floral Fun.

You can pick up the February 2014 card kit HERE for just $24.95 + shipping. Or if you’d like to receive this kit and future kits for only $19.95 + shipping per month, you can SUBSCRIBE HERE. When you subscribe you will receive kits delivered to your door automatically!

InLinkz.com

• Hello Card feat. February 2014 Card Kit

Be sure to leave a comment on THIS blog post for a chance to win this kit!

Have a great day!

Simon Says Stamp February 2014 Card Kit | Hello Card + GIVEAWAY

Good morning!

The February 2014 Card Kit, Floral Fun is now available at Simon Says Stamp!

You can pick up the February 2014 card kit HERE for just $24.95 + shipping. Or if you’d like to receive this kit and future kits for only $19.95 + shipping per month, you can SUBSCRIBE HERE. When you subscribe you will receive kits delivered to your door automatically!

The floral patterned papers and stamps in this kit make me long for Spring. The colors are so vibrant and fun!

 

I wanted to showcase one of the gorgeous floral 6x6 patterned papers in this kit by using it as my card base. For my greeting I die cut some of the cardstock in the kit using my very favorite MFT Fishtail Flags Dies. I die cut the Small Hello Craft Die 3 times from the teal cardstock and layered them one on top of the other to give the "hello" a "chipboard" type of look and dimension. To help soften the background and add to the romantic feeling of the card, I die cut some of the vellum in the kit using the Clustered Leaves Craft Die, cut it apart and tucked it under the banner.

I wanted to add additional florals to my card so I stamped one of the flowers from the stamp set in 3 shades to compliment the patterned paper and stamped the coordinating outline flower stamp in a darker shade before cutting each flower out and adhering it to my card with foam adhesive. I added a touch of sparkle using the Wink of Stella Glitter Pen and finished each flower with a pearl gemstone. I also stamped a few leaves, cut them out and tucked them around the flowers.

A scattering of gemstones and enamel dots finished this card. :)

InLinkz.com

FYI: The entire new Lawn Fawn line which debuted at CHA is available for PRE-order at Simon Says Stamp HERE.

InLinkz.com

Here are some projects I created with just a few of the new products. More examples will be coming showcasing all of the release in the coming weeks.

• Wish You Were Here Card
• #awesome Card
• Hello Sunshine (plus Let's Polka) Paper Collections
• Critters From the Past Card
• Penelope's Blossoms Card

 

Simon Says Stamp has generously offered me the opportunity to give a February 2013 Card Kit away to one lucky recipient!

Please leave a comment on this blog post in the "Comments" section below today's post by Thursday, January 21, 2013, 11:59 p.m. CST for a chance to win this amazing kit! 

Thanks for stopping by!