Stamping Spot Studio

I’m trying something new – and trying to clear out retired papers. Presenting, the do-it-yourself, pick-your-sentiment, handmade card kit!

You get everything you see in the photo above, including envelopes, and several different sentiments to customize your cards with. It uses the Lovely Labels stamp set from Stampin’ Up!

I love that Cuttlebug embossed cardstock. And that patterned paper. And that stamp set. Everything. I love it all.

This kit is now for sale in my Stamping Spot Etsy Shop. I’m hoping to post more kits and quilts soon.

And Mittens says,

“I like when you clean. Now you can store my beautiful shedding fur in these boxes.”

Recently, I had to go through a co-worker’s computer programming code to figure out how he did something. This is not always an easy task. All you other programmers out there know what I mean – other people’s code can be full of strange logic and disagreeable methods. But while going through the code, it suddenly came to me…this code is wonderful! It’s a pleasure to look at. It’s beautiful. It’s just like how I would have done it, therefore…it’s PERFECT.

I MUST tell him. And what better way to express perfection than giving a Godiva chocolate bar with a big tag?

All items from Close To My Heart unless stated otherwise:
Stamp sets: Checklist, You Rock, Solo P
Papers: Stardust level 2 paper pack
Inks: Moonstruck, Honey, Tulip marker
Other: Hemp, large grommet from Stampin’ Up!

And Mittens says,

“I write perfect code, too. I’m right on top of it!”

I made a whole bunch of these to give to my card club ladies and work friends. It is really small – the box is only 1.5 inches high! The squares that the monsters and stamped on are just one inch. Now I can say I’ve made inchies!

All items from Close To My Heart unless stated otherwise:
Stamp sets: Merry Monsters, Say It In Style
Inks: Black, Pansy Purple
Papers: Orange and White Daisy cardstock
Other: Olive ribbon, Sizzix Sizzlits tag die, Copic markers, Cuttlebug rounded square and frame dies

And Kit and Jax say,

“Make a design statement with live cat area rugs!”

I only just realized I never posted this – sorry! This pattern was cased from my friend Sue Laufer. A bunch of these were handed out to my co-workers:

Stamp sets: Playful Flourishes, Say It In Style by Close To My Heart
Inks: Cranberry
Papers: Autumn Terracotta, Sunflower, Colonial White cardstock, Background and Texture Combo Autumn paper pack
Other: Organdy ribbon, Nestabilites heart and scalloped heart dies, Coluzzle circle cutter

I made it orange to match the foiled chocolates. Why does Dove only use the pinks and reds on the milk chocolates? The dark chocolates always have some other color. No fair!

And Mittens says,

“I’m not moving until I get a kitty treat.”

Teri asked if I could show her how to make this, and I thought, “Well, I’ll just give her the one I made.” I had just cleaned up my desk, so guess what? I couldn’t FIND IT. Aaaaaugh! I searched everywhere. So then I thought, “It’s really easy, I’ll just make her another.” And here it is!

Stamp sets: So Many Scallops, Little Flowers by Stampin’ Up!
Papers: Sunkiss Yellow, Clover Meadow, White Daisy cardstock by Close To My Heart
Inks: Bubblegum, Sunny Yellow by Close To My Heart
Other: Slot and scalloped circle punches by Stampin’ Up!, Small white ric rac by Close To My Heart, circle punches by Marvy Uchida.
Chocolate by Ghirardelli!!

And Jax says,

“I love the smell of dirty laundry! MMmmmmm!!” * stretch *

My wonderful friend Sue Laufer showed me this cute little Ghirardelli treat holder. I altered it for Valentine’s day:

Stamp set: Sweet Love by Close To My Heart
Inks: Blush, Hollyhock
Papers: Hollyhock, Chocolate, and White Daisy cardstock
Other: small white ric rac, Prisma glitter by Close To My Heart, slot punch by Stampin’ Up!

And a closeup so you can see the glitter:

This is perfect for your friends on a diet – they only get one piece of chocolate, lol!

And Mittens says,

“I know I’m cute, but why are you staring at me so much?”

Jen’s challenge at Little C’s this week is to use this color combination, from ColorCombos.com:

I got this cute High Hopes “Snowlady Surprise” stamp from Little C’s online store:

Stamp sets: Snowlady Surprise by High Hopes, Christmas Melodies by Close To My Heart
Inks: Black, Clover Meadow, Cranberry by Close To My Heart, Copic markers
Papers: Hollydays level 2 paper pack by Close To My Heart, Chocolate cardstock
Other: Scalloped circle punch by Stampin’ Up!, circle punch by Marvy Uchida

Visit the other Little C’s Design Divas to see how they used the color combo:

• Risa West – Life’s Simple Pleasures
• Maria Bell – Stampin Inspirations
• Teri Suzuki – Big Ideas From A Little Girl
• Jen Young – Little C’s Blog
• Ellie Augustin – Adventures With Scrapbookmama

And Mittens says,

“I gotcha!!”

My friend Sue invited me to her house, and we made the cutest Christmas treat bags! It was so cute, I immediately went home and copied it (Thanks Sue!).

All items from Close To My Heart:
Stamp sets: Feathery Flakes, December Word Puzzle
Papers: Aspen Level 2 paper pack
Inks: Twilight, Honey
Other: Coluzzle circle cutter, Circle Window Charms, organdy ribbon

And Mittens says,

“OOoooo. Big box

I found candy on sale, and bought an entire box. Now I’m making these for Halloween:

All items from Close To My Heart:
Stamp set: October Word Puzzle
Inks: Black, Orange, Honey
Papers: Grey Flannel and Black cardstock
Other: Liquid Glass

And a close-up so you can see the Liquid Glass:

What candy did I put in here?

Dove dark chocolate!! MMmmmmm!!!!

And Kit says,

“Warm towels smell nice.”
Get out of there Kit! Shooo!

While trying to figure out Copic blending, I was directed to Marianne’s blog, I Like Markers. She recommends that you keep an example book that you can refer to. Great idea! I have been using up scraps trying out the same colors just so I could see what it looks like. Since I primarily use Close To My Heart’s White Daisy cardstock, I needed a sketchbook using that. Time to bust out my Bind It All! The Paper Garden level 1 kit paper (also by Close To My Heart) became the cover:

BUT, since I am left-handed, I need to write on the left side so that my hand doesn’t wobble over the spiral spine. And since Copic markers bleed through the paper, I can only use one side. So I needed to adopt the Japanese style of starting from the back in order for my sketchbook to stay neat. I also did this in school and it made one of my high school teachers just nuts!

The sketchbook is still pretty empty, but here’s a peek at what I have in there so far:

Close To My Heart’s My Legacy Writers do not bleed with Copic markers, so that’s what I used for the outlines and notes. As I continue to experiment and hone my blending skills, I hope to fill the pages up.

And Jax says,

“That marker smell….ugh.”