GulfcoastStamper

Ice Dragons for Silhouette Sunday

I am an addict.  Along with the rest of the free folk.  The season 7 Game of Thrones finale is tonight and I am already having some serious withdrawal issues.  How long do we have to wait for season 8?  No word just yet but since they just started filming within the past week it is going to be a very long winter indeed.  

Two of my three sons are also GOT junkies.   My middle son Thomas and I "reserve' the TV for 8:00 every Sunday night while we recap last weeks episode and then hunker down for the new one.  Meanwhile my oldest son Ben is texting me throughout the episode with OMG and ARE YOU WATCHING THIS?  My youngest son Christopher shakes his head and doesn't understand why we are so enthralled with zombies and dragons.  He doesn't get it and he has no desire to even though I have offered to start all the way back at the beginning with him.  (the things we do for our kids!) 

Since Benjamin lives 3+ hours away in Orlando, I though it would be fun to send him a card to commemorate the final episode.  Since I do not own any dragon stamps (something I am going to have to remedy very soon) I went searching for an alternative and my Silhouette came through for me once again.  Here is the card that hopefully made it to Orlando yesterday:

I had originally made an A2 card but the dragon got a little lost.  I bumped it up a bit and the finished card was actually quite a bit larger at 7.5 x 5.5. The dragon is cut from some textured pebble card stock that I found in my stash and it turned out to be perfect to replicate dragon scales.  

Since this is a shadowbox card there are several layers and I reinforced the dragon with a few pieces of dimensional tape stacked together to help him stand tall.  The blue rhinestone gem for his eye is a tribute to last Sunday's episode.  If you are a GOT fan you will understand.  

I downloaded the Game of Thrones Font HERE to create the inside of my card.  This was super fun to make and one that I think Ben will get a kick out of.  SO, are you a GOT fan too?  I'd love to hear what you think of my Ice Dragon!  

Thanks for spending part of your Sunday with me and thanks for stoppin' by!  

 

Coffee Cafe

I am seriously addicted to the Coffee Cafe Bundle in the annual catalog and I am super excited that there is a fall/winter themed companion set in the soon-to-be-released Holiday catalog.  (Pumpkin Spice Lattes anyone?)  The funny thing is I LOVE this bundle but I HATE coffee!  And all things coffee flavored.  Including coffee ice cream, which is saying something.  I never had any morning sickness when I was pregnant will all three of my boys but the smell of a cup of coffee with cream in it would send me running.  BUT, I know I am certainly not the norm and I have a bunch of friends and family members who can't get through the day without it.  And it's just too stinkin' cute to not jump on the Coffee Cafe band wagon and let all you coffee lovers have all the fun.  

 

Recently, a group of crafty friends and I got together for a "Christmas in July" girls weekend.  Typically when the group of us gets together we each make little table gifts for everyone in attendance.  This coffee-themed card and and Coffee Nut M&M's-filled box were my contribution.  (although my box was filled with crispy M&M's not Coffee Nut, lol!)   

I am also loving the Early Espresso and Lemon Lime Twist color combo.  The Lemon Lime Twist is so bright and fun and really adds a pop of color to the dark richness of the Early Espresso.  

You can see it a little better in this photo, I colored the Coffee Cafe Designer Series Paper with my Lemon Lime Twist Stampin' Write Marker for some added color and to help tie in the Lemon Lime Twist.  (the centers of my little coffee beans were colored too!) 

The box was made with a single piece of Early Espresso Card Stock and finished off with the new Ombre Ribbon in Lemon Lime Twist. One of the things I love most about Stampin' Up! is how all of our products are color coordinated to work together...makes my job so much easier!  

The one piece fold-over box will fit any flavor of the shareable size M&M package.  What is your favorite M&M flavor?  

Please click on any of the pictures below to be taken directly to my online store where you can purchase all of the products used in today's project.  Thanks for stoppin' by!  

 

Coffee Café Photopolymer Stamp Set

$21.00

Coffee Break Designer Series Paper

$11.00

Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.00

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

2017-2019 In Color Stampin' Write Markers

$15.00

Lemon Lime Twist 1/4" Ombre Ribbon

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

$4.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Stampin' Trimmer

$30.00

Stampin' Trimmer Cutting Blades

$6.00

Big Shot

$110.00

Magnetic Platform

$40.00

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

New Clearance Rack Items!

The Clearance Rack has been updated today! Great dales up to 60% off!

Please use Hostess Code N6TTYRKF when placing your order online!

 

Carols Of Christmas

It is HOT here in Naples this week with temps in the 90's and 85%+ humidity. It's sticky.  And rainy.  And did I mention HOT?  I am jealous of my New England friends who are enjoying 70 degree days and 60 degree nights right now.  So, I am hanging in my craft room with my AC cranked down to 72 and trying to keep the hot flashes at bay by making Christmas cards, lol!  It's not really working but I'm having fun! Here is my latest creation using the Carols of Christmas stamp set and dies...

 

Although I was not a huge fan of this stamp set when I first saw it, I was immediately drawn to the dies.  I love the clean lines of the border die and there are so many possibilities with the trees, deer, ornaments and poinsettia.  However, for this card the large greeting takes center stage.  

 

It's been awhile since I used the pleated Designer Series Paper fold on a card and this Be Merry DSP was the perfect combination of prints to re-visit it.  (you can see a few other cards I have made with this fold HERE and HERE)  The little stamped and die cut ornaments were the perfect finish and are popped up with our new Mini Stampin' Dimensionals.   They are the perfect size for these small stamped elements and a much needed addition to your tool kit!  

 Although the Holiday catalog will not be released until September 1st you can get your hands on the Carols of Christmas set right now! Just click on the links below to be taken to my online store and thanks for stoppin' by today!  

 

Carols Of Christmas Clear-Mount Bundle

$45.00

Be Merry Designer Series Paper

$11.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.00

Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Regals Stampin' Write Markers

$29.00

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Stampin' Trimmer Cutting Blades

$6.00

Stampin' Trimmer

$30.00

Magnetic Platform

$40.00

Big Shot

$110.00

Fine-Tip Glue Pen

$7.00

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

Detailed Gate Card

I usually try to hold off on showing you projects made with items from an upcoming catalog that you can't get your hands on yet.  Cuz that's just mean. But today I'm making an exception because I am so excited about this new Halloween die and my first Halloween card of the season.  I really couldn't wait to share...

Eeeeek!  How awesome is that gate?  The Detailed Gate is a Thinlits die that is in the new Holiday Catalog. (there is also a companion graveyard stamp set that is offered as a bundle)  I was able to place my pre-order this week and this is the first thing that came out of the box and on to my craft table.  

 The Detailed Gate die comes as one piece but I cut mine up the middle so my gate would open as my card front.  My gate is held closed by the little padlock which is also included in the die set.  I cut three of the padlocks and stacked them together for added stability and cut the lock so I was able to loop it through the spindles in my gate.  

Did you notice all those shiny black rhinestones?  They are also a new item in the Holiday Catalog.  I may have gotten a little carried away...there are 26 rhinestones on the front of this card!  

The moon and stars on the top were cut with a die from the Carols of Christmas set.  This is also a Holiday item but one that Stampin' Up! released early so you can get that one RIGHT  NOW!  How cool is it that it works so well for Halloween too?  The Happy Halloween die is one that I had in my collection as was the spooky eye brad.  

The Holiday catalog goes live on September 1st so unfortunately you will have to wait until then to add the Detailed Gate die to your stampin' collection.  Can't wait another minute?  Join my GulfcoastStampers team and you can include this die (and any of the other awesome items from the Holiday Catalog) as part of your starter kit. (feel free to contact me for all the details!) 

Have a great week and thanks for stoppin' by!

 

Detailed Gate Thinlits Dies

$30.00

Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies

$30.00

Black Rhinestone Jewels

$5.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Rich Razzleberry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

$4.00

Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets

$10.00

Stampin' Trimmer

$30.00

Stampin' Trimmer Cutting Blades

$6.00

Paper Snips

$10.00

Bone Folder

$7.00

Paper-Piercing Tool

$4.00

Precision Base Plate

$25.00

Magnetic Platform

$40.00

Big Shot Die Brush - New Configuration

$12.50

Big Shot

$110.00

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

A Fabulous Work of Art

Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together?  Today's card is for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge over at The Paper Players Blog and I love the way it turned out! Here is this weeks challenge board that inspired my card:

I chose the diagonal combination of a die cut, enamel dots and a circle for my card design.  Except a circle didn't work.  I substituted an oval instead to make my painters pallet. (an oval is really just a stretched out circle, right?)  I'm not sure how literal the directions are for this challenge but it was close enough for me, lol! Here is my card:  

I came across this paint swash and paint brush die when I was surfing around a new-to-me paper-crafting site called Kat Scrapiness. It had to become part of my die collection.  It really wasn't an option.  The die is from Poppy Stamps and you can find it HERE if you need to add it to your collection too.  

The sentiment is from the retired Stampin' Up! set Work of Art. I colored each line of the sentiment with my Stampin Write Markers using Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Emerald Envy and Pacific Point.  I used the same color enamel dots on my stitched oval pallet.  

This was such a fun card to make, I hope you like it as much as I do!  Thanks for stoppin' by today!  

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Tangerine Tango 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Emerald Envy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Pacific Point 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.00

Brights Stampin' Write Markers

$29.00

2016-2018 In Color Stampin' Write Markers

$15.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

$30.00

Magnetic Platform

$40.00

Big Shot

$110.00

Brights Enamel Shapes

$9.00

Stampin' Trimmer Cutting Blades

$6.00

Stampin' Trimmer

$30.00

Snail Adhesive Refill

$4.50

Snail Adhesive

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

$4.00

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

Carols of Christmas for the GDP

It's been a long time since I played along with an on-line challenge and the first time I have played along with the Global Design Project. The Global Design Project was created by a very talented group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrator from all around the globe.  This weeks challenge is to create a card using this sketch...

I had finally received my Carols of Christmas bundle after a debacle with my UPS man delivering to the wrong address and my package going MIA for a few days. (Grrrr!)  Needless to say I was anxious to break it in once it finally arrived!  

I deviated from the sketch just a bit.  Instead of my metallic thread going all the way around the front of my card I used the lines in the die as my horizontal focal point instead.  If you look closely you can see that my banners are woven through the lines in the die to keep the horizontal line going all the way across my card front.  

I also stamped the sentiment (from the retired Tin of Tags stamp set) directly on the card front instead of on one of the banners.  (I never was very good at following the rules!)

Our Holiday catalog is not available until September 1st but Stampin' Up! has released this Bundle early.  You can get your inky little fingers  on it TODAY!  The Be Merry Designer Series Paper in the Annual Catalog is the perfect companion to get a jump start on all those Christmas Cards you will be making!  Don't forget to use your Bonus coupons from July when placing your order!  

Have a great Wednesday - Hump Day and thanks for stoppin' by!  

Carols Of Christmas Clear-Mount Bundle

$45.00

Carols Of Christmas Wood-Mount Bundle

$52.00

Be Merry Designer Series Paper

$11.00

Be Merry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock Pack

$8.00

Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Snail Adhesive

$7.00

Snail Adhesive Refill

$4.50

Stampin' Trimmer

$30.00

Stampin' Trimmer Cutting Blades

$6.00

Magnetic Platform

$40.00

Big Shot

$110.00

Bone Folder

$7.00

Banner Triple Punch

$23.00

Clear Block D

$8.50

Stampin' Mist

$4.50

Stampin' Scrub

$17.00

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

Blogging Friends Blog Hop - My Favorite Things!

It's time for yet another Blogging Friends Blog Hop!  (Seriously, where did this month go?) For our August Hop we are each featuring our current favorite from the new catalog, be it stamps, dies, new colors, new embellishments or all of the above!  But how do you choose a favorite from all of the awesome new products that have landed in my craft room the last few months?  It wasn't easy but I went with the first set that caught my eye in the new catty....Magical Mermaid.  

I'm a beach girl.  I live near the beach and the walls of my craft room are covered with Seahorses and Mermaids.  So the addition of this set to my craft stash was a no-brainer.  Here is my card...

the waves were created from my favorite piece of Designer Series Paper from the Delightful Daisy pack.  (I also used this same paper for another Mermaid card you can see HERE) The waves were cut from the scallop edge die from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits.  My mermaid was heat embossed in white on white cardstock and colored with sponge daubers and our classic ink pads.  

Those awesome sequins were a gift from another beach/water obsessed friend and are from 28 Lilac Lane.  This set is full of beautiful pinks, blues and greens and even has stars and shells for the perfect beachy mermaid blend.  I can't wait to make some shaker cards with these!  

Please be sure to visit the rest of my Blogging Friends today, I know you will not be disappointed!  If you get lost along the way, links to every Blog in the Hop are below.  Happy August (gasp!) have a great week, and thanks for stoppin' by today!  

 

Libby Fens	Libby Stamps
Mary Blocher	Mary Blocher Stamping
Danica Ferrante	My Beauty Scraps
Jessica Mink	Crazy Chaotic House
Jodi Horsley	A Mom Having Fun
Leanne Dillon Johnson	Literally My Joy
Michele Clarke	Stampin’ Up!
Lorene Yoshimura-Tanigawa	Stampin' Up!
Mary Ann Kay Rossiter	Stampin Mak
Tammy Hibbit Gill	Stamp Inkspired
Rick Adkins	Rickinsmon Studio
Lisa Harvey-Reber	That's ME!