BUT…it’s all about the present!

February and March are big birthday months in our family. I generally try to make several extra cards to have on hand so  this week I will share some birthday ideas for cards with you.
Today lets start with a small card you can tuck into a gift bag for a child. Even though we all [...]

Faux Magic Mesh

Do you have different colored rolls of Magic Mesh in your stamping stash but never have just the right color for that card you’re creating?  I have a solution for you to get that ‘just right’ color every time you want to include mesh on your card, without having to spend a  lot of money!  Sound interesting?  Come [...]

Back to Basics – Guest Designer

Hi I am Karyn. I reside in Ohio with my husband and daughter, and I have been crafting on and off for my entire life: different avenues such as counted cross stitch, poetry, drawing, crochet, decoupage, and any other thing I could get my hands on.
While away camping for a weekend my daughter and I [...]

January Map Master project

This year we have an addition to our monthly map offerings.  Our new Map Master, Ken Schneider, will take you hiking on the creative trail showing you how he takes the monthly map created by Regena from conceptualizing an idea to the finished card.  We hope you enjoy joining Ken in his Tree House (studio) each month as he interprets [...]

January 2010 Map

In keeping with our theme of quests, trails, hiking, scenic by-ways, we are changing the name of our sketches! 
To find our way during our journeys, we generally need a map to help guide us to our destination.  Sketches help guide us in our creative journey, beginning at the trailhead (a few stamps, ink, paper) and ending at our destination [...]

Gratitude Card for the Discoverer

Gratitude Card for the Discoverer
By: Stephanie Loomis, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: A2 (5.5” x 4.25”) 
Supplies:
Stamps: 
G is for Gratitude (The Angel Company)
Paper:                       
A2 note card: 5.5” x 4.25” (Georgia Pacific cardstock)
White cardstock: 2.5” x 2.875” (Georgia Pacific)
Patterned paper A: 3.25” x 3.5” (unknown source—pulled from scrap box)
Patterned paper B: 3.25” x 5.5” (unknown source—pulled from scrap box)
Patterned [...]

Thank You Card Set for the Adventurer

 
By: Stephanie Loomis, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: 5.5” x 4”
 When making multiples of the same card, it’s easier to set up an assembly line and do each step on each card at the same time. Pull together all the supplies and do all the cutting and stamping together. Then simply assemble and go!

 
 
Supplies:
Stamps:         
Box Words: “Thank [...]

Heritage Card for the Adventurer

By: Penny Yoder, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: 4.25″ x 5.50″
Supplies:
Stamps:
Flourish Image (The Angel Company)
Sentiments - handwritten by me
Paper:
Ivory Cardstock  (unknown)   
     5.50″ x 8.50″ , score at 4.25″ for base card
     2″ x 2.25″        For photo mat or to fit your photo
    .50″ x 2.50″    For small sentiment
Black (Bazzill) 
     3.75″ x 5.25″  For [...]

Many Thanks for the Discoverer

Finished card size: 4.25″ x 5.50″
 
Supplies:
Stamps:
Sentiment (The Angel Company)
Paper:
Chocolate Chip (Stampin’ Up!)   - Base card – cut to 5.50″ x 8.50″ and score at 4.25″
Orange (Die Cuts With A View) 
White (Georgia Pacific)                      
Ink:
Tuxedo Black Memento ink pad (Tsukineko)
 Burnt Umber Palette ink pad (Stewart Superior)
Other:
Silk Flowers
Brown Brads (Making Memories)
Cuttlebug (Provo Craft)
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provo Craft)
Sanding Block
Adhesive
1/16″ paper punch
Directions:

Emboss [...]

Pear Card for the Adventurer

By: Chris M Herrmann, Artistic Guide
Finished size card: 4.25″ x 5.50″  
Supplies:
Stamps:
Large Pear, Small Pear, Background Stamps (Another Stamp Company)
Paper:
1 green card measuring 4.25″ x 5.50″ 
1 piece white card stock,  ATC size (2.5″x 3.5″)
1 piece white card stock 2″ x .75″
2 pieces dark green card stock cut just slightly larger than the 2 white pieces  (to [...]

Tractor Card for the Discoverer

 
Deere John
By: Melanie Smith, Artistic Guide
Finished size: 6″ x 6″
Without seeds and soil there would be no harvest to celebrate – but what about the tools that we use to prepare the soil and transport the harvest?  This card celebrates these things.  On this card, I used preprinted designer paper with tractors all over, great [...]

Harvest Time for the Adventurer

Harvest Time
By Penny Yoder, Artistic Guide
Finished Card Size: 4.25″ x 5.5″
Supplies:
Stamps:
Large Apple Image (The Angel Company)
Words (mine and my computer: Lucida Handwriting Italic; size 14)
Paper:
5.5″ x 8.5″ green cardstock (JoAnn Stores)
3.5″ x 5.25″ black cardstock (Stampin’ Up!)
3.25″ x 3.25″ red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!)
3.25″ x 3.25″ black cardstock for the scallop circle
2.5″ x 2.5″ white cardstock [...]

Easy Collage Card for the Adventurer

By: Melanie Smith, Artistic Guide
Finished Size: 4.25″ x 5.5″
This card was inspired by the grapes that grow in the beautiful Hawkes Bay region where I live.  There are vineyards absolutely everywhere – even on the former site of our local 1/4 mile drag strip (much to my husband’s dismay).  But so many people get such [...]

Thanksgiving Card for the Adventurer

Polished Stone Bountiful Thanksgiving Card
By: Jennifer Willis, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: 5.5″ x 4.25″
Supplies:
Stamps:
Hope you have…Thanksgiving (MSE!)
Paper:
Gold Harvest Paper (Stampin’ Up!)
Cream Card Stock (Unknown)
Wax Paper (Reynolds)
Ink:
Brilliance – Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Alcohol Inks: (Ranger)
     Butterscotch
     Raisin
     Cranberry
     Gold Mixative
Other:
Collage Graphic (Memories in the Making)
Alcohol Blending Solution (Ranger)
Tissue Paper (Unknown)
Glue Stick (Scotch)
Paint Pen – Gold (Krylon)
Ribbon – Burgandy, [...]

Trail’s End for Piddix Feature

We are at our last day featuring the lovely artwork of our Artistic Guides using the Piddix collage images. 
Make sure you check out the Piddix store for all the beautiful collage sheets. Everything under the sun is offered!  And don’t forget, your 25% off coupon expires tonight at midnight!  Just type in “stampers” when checking [...]

Remember L’Amour Bookmark for the Adventurer

By: Maria Loomis, Artistic Guide
 Finished bookmark size: 7.25” x 3.75”
Supplies:
Stamps:         
Main image, Paris post and word stamps from “Paris” Plate (The Stampsmith)
Background stamps from “Medieval Ornaments #2” Plate (The Stampsmith)
Black flower image, from “The Great Wall of China” Plate (The Stampsmith)
Texture background stamp from Marble Cube TC01 (Stampendous)
Paper:                       
Cream Cardstock (Neenah Crest)
Light Mauve, Black and Red cardstock        
Ink:                
Versafine [...]

Earthtoned Asian Sympathy Card for the Adventurer

Earth-Toned Asian Sympathy Card
By: Janice Ellis, Artistic Guide
Finished Size 5.5″ x 4.25″
Supplies:
Stamps:
4 Single Asian Characters (Inkadinkado)
Double Gingko image (InkadinkadoSingle Gingko Leaf (Rubber Stampede)
Words (Onyxpressions)
Crackle cube (Creative Block)
Paper:
White Glossy, tan and green cardstock (Marco’s Paper)
A2 note card (unknown) 4.25″ x 5.5″
Ink:
Creamy Brown Chalk ink (Clearsnap)
Versamark ink (Tsukineko)
Lettuce Green Adirondack ink (Ranger)
Other:
White embossing powder (Stampendous)
Heat gun
Green and gold [...]

Scenic Winners!!!

Seven amazing artists will move onto the NEXT round of the Trail Master contest. More than 230 of you voted, and these are the cards that topped the votes:

Debbie

Karyn

Ken

Kim

Kris

Mary Jane

Sharon
Artists who created these magnificent scenic cards win a prize from Kevin Nakagawa at Stampscapes!! The next round for these seven artists is MASCULINE cards! You [...]

Ebony and Ivory Card for the Discoverer

By: Christine Candora-Hickey, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: 8.5″ x 5.5″ 
Supplies:
Stamps:
Mixed Bouquet stamp set (Stampin’ Up!)
Printer’s Alphabet, uppercase and lowercase (Hero Arts)
Paper:
Black cardstock (Stampin’ Up!)
White cardstock (Stampin’ Up!)
Black & white polka dot paper (Black Market Paper Society)
Handmade black mulberry paper
Ink:
Petal Point – Essential Shades pigment ink option pads (ColorBox)
Blanco dye ink pad (StampaRosa)
Memories black dye ink [...]

“Sand and Pebble” Backgrounds Tutorial

Featuring The Stampsmith’s
 ”The Great Wall of China” Rubber Art Images

By: Maria Loomis, Artistic Guide 
Finished card size: A2
Supplies:
Stamps:
The Great Wall of China Rubber Stamp Plate – Unmounted (The Stampsmith)
Paper:                       
4 sheets of 8.5” x 11” Glossy White Cardstock. (Kromekote)
Ink:                
Dye Ink Pad Re-Inkers (Ranger’s Adirondack)

Pool
Clover
Mountain Rose
Lettuce
Red Pepper
Butterscotch
Espresso

Dye Ink Pad Re-Inkers (Tsukineko Memento)

Rose Bud
Paris Dusk

Versa Mark Stamp Pad [...]