Iris Twist Tutorial

I have been delayed in posting the Iris Folding tutorial because I haven't been able to scan the pattern. I still plan to have it posted, perhaps by the end of the week. In the meantime, there is a similar tutorial available on Split Coast Stampers, called Iris Twist. It is a lot simpler and less bulky than the Iris Fold technique. Check it out...

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/iristwist.php

Iris Fold Technique - Card Sample

I created this card this morning. I wanted to try the Iris Fold technique that they profiled in a recent publication for SU! demonstrators. The folding turned out very nice, but thick. I don't know if I like the way I blended the different colors. It still needs something but I haven't figured out what, yet. Anyway, I will post a tutorial for this technique tomorrow.

Update on My Postings

I have been posting like mad the last couple of days. I have finally had time to clean house in terms of my stamping supplies. I have posted pictures on many, many used and new retired stamp sets that I am selling.

However, I have also posted a few card samples as well as a tutorial for faux wood. To find specific topics, scroll to the bottom of the menu on the left and choose a topic under the "Browse Blog by Topic" menu heading.

For Sale: Very Punny, The World Over

Very Punny $14 ------------The World Over $14

Stamp Set Condition: All Sets NEW

FOR SALE: Small Script, Around the Block

Small Script $8 (2 available) ---------- Around the Block $10

Stamp Set Condition: All Sets NEW

FOR SALE: Snowflake, Send a Celebration, Alphabet Soup

Snowflake $5 -------------------- Send a Celebration $12 -------------- Alphabet Soup $12

Stamp Set Condition: Snowflak - WELL USED; Send a Celebration - NEW (3 available), Alphabet Soup - NEW (2 available)

FOR SALE - Packages of 8 1/2 x 11 Cardstock

These are the same packages sold by Stampin' Up! so the assortments are by color family. These packs were purchased prior to the 2006 Idea Book in which they changed some of the colors. Some of the colors will be different than what is currently in the catalog.

Earth Elements $7 - 1 package available
Bold Brights $7 - 1 package available

FOR SALE: Tags So Much, Too Terrific Tags, Painted Posies

Tags So Much $7 --- Too Terrific Tags $6 used, $12 new --- Painted Posies $14

Stamp Set Condition: Tags So Much - LIKE NEW; Too Terrific Tags - SLIGHTLY USED (1 available), NEW (2 available); Painted Posies - NEW (2 available)

FOR SALE: Tag Alongs

Tag Alongs $8

Stamp Set Condition: LIKE NEW

Create a Faux Wood Look for your Projects

This was another card that we made at our May Stamp Club meeting. I found this design in another gallery at Split Coast Stampers and decided we had to make it. Thanks to Diana Gibbs for the idea and the tutorial. Diana has some great samples and ideas on her blog. She also includes everyday chit-chat. Just check out the "Categories" in the right column of her blog to be taken directly to card samples, tutorials, etc.

Diana's blog: http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/stampin_with_di/

Faux Wood Tutorial - by Diana Gibbs

"Wood" you like to know... how to add a faux wood finish to your cards or scrapbook pages?
It's pretty easy to do.

You will need a Vanilla and Close to Cocoa Craft Pad, and a piece of More Mustard card stock . You want to make sure the craft pads are juicy and not dry.

Drag your Vanilla inkpad on the piece of More Mustard cardstock so it leaves streaks, next drag the Close to Cocoa Pad, the same way and in the same direction. (it is important to do the Close to Cocoa pad second, if you do it first then your Vanilla pad will be a mess with Close to Cocoa ink in it - ya think I am talking from experience eh?). You will see the More Mustard card stock showing through in areas in between the Vanilla and Close to Cocoa streaks. Let it dry. You can be working on the rest of your card while it dries.

Once it is dry, cut your More Mustard paper into strips about 3/4" wide, you want the grain to be going length ways, just like a wood floor. Glue the strips to a piece of card stock, it does not matter what color because you won't see it anyway, it is just the base for your strips.

Tip: When you are gluing your strips down, don't be skimpy on the adhesive, (MJ's suggestion: Use a heavy duty adhesive instead of your regular adhesive. I used Tombo Mono Adhesive Power Bond. You could also use Sticky Strip.) you want those strips to stay put. Make sure to alternate them so there are seams in different places, and so that you have different pieces next to others. (MJ's suggestion: Place the seams towards the sides of the card, not all in the middle. I started out with most of the the seams in the middle and then realized they were covered up when I added the stamped toolbox image.) For example put a piece that has a darker streak next to a lighter streak, it will look more natural, and emphasize the seams.

Then you want to trim your card stock with all the strips glued on it, to the size you need for the card, this is why gluing the strips really well is important otherwise you will have little pieces of faux wood all over your table once you start to cut the card stock.

I used a Basic Black Stampin' Write marker and added some nail holes. If you did this as a scrapbook page and used larger strips you could actually use brads for the nail holes, but for a card the marker works best.

Stamp and color your image that you want on the card. Here I used the stamp set "For Father", I love it! It goes perfect with the faux wood because of the wooden tool box in the set.

I also used a piece of left over "wood", and made a plank to put the greeting on the card. I just cut the edges with scissors to make it look jagged, I glued it to a piece of Basic Black card stock to emphasize the slices on the end, and glue dotted it to the front of the image.

June 10 for $10

I will be holding the next 10 for $10 on Tuesday, June 17th at 6:00 p.m. As always, we will make 10 cards for a cost of $10. You are responsible for bringing your own adhesive. I do have Tombo Mono adhesive cartridges ($3.75) and refills ($2.25) for purchase. Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 11th.

May Stamp Club Card Samples

These are just two of the cards that we created in Stamp Club this week. The "spring" one was very simple but I love the way it turned out. I used a flower and pearl from SU!'s Pretties Kit for the pink card. It was the first time I had used the kit. It was very easy to dye the flower the color that I wanted. The flowers are very versatile and by dyeing them yourself, you get to decide how dark or light you want it. I'm going to play around with the dyeing aspect a little more, maybe try using two ink colors instead of one or stamping on the flower instead of dyeing it.

FOR SALE - Close to Nature, Gently Falling, Shapes

Close to Nature $4 --Gently Falling $7 used, $12 new -- (No Name) Shapes $5

Stamp Set Condition: Close to Nature - SLIGHTLY USED; Gently Falling - SLIGHTLY USED (1 available), NEW (1 available); (No Name) Shapes - LIKE NEW

FOR SALE - Fun Filled, Fresh Flowers, Smorgasborders, Paint Prints

Fun Filled $7 -------- Fresh Flowers $10 --------Smorgasborders $6 -----Paint Prints $14

Stamp Set Condition: Fun Filled - SLIGHTLY USED; Fresh Flowers - LIKE NEW; Smorgasborders - SLIGHTLY USED; Paint Prints - NEW

FOR SALE: A is for Adorable, A Little Love, Best Blossoms, Mini Messages

A is for Adorable $8 -- A Little Love $6 -- Best Blossoms $7 used, $12 new -- Mini Messages $7

Stamp Set Condition: All are SLIGHTLY USED, except for the NEW sets (1 available) of Best Blossoms

FOR SALE - Rose in Winter, Oh My Word

Rose in Winter $10 ---------------- Oh My Word $10

Stamp Set Condition: Rose in Winter - LIKE NEW; Oh My Word - LIKE NEW

FOR SALE - Retired Simply Scrappin' Kits

Island Blossoms $10 ---------- She's Too Cool $10 ---------- Vintage Keepsakes $10

The Simply Scrappin' kits contain 3 sheets of each of the solid cardstock, 2 sheets of each designer paper and 2 each of 3 sets of embellishing images.

10 for $10 News

For those of you waiting for me to post the cards from April's 10 for $10, I apologize for the delay. I was having computer issues on the day that I was working on it. I have just now managed to get back to the computer. Anyway, all ten cards are now posted in my gallery at SplitCoast Stampers.

I am tentatively scheduling a 10 for $10 in June. I am planning for Tuesday, June 17th and also possibly Wednesday, June 18th, depending on the demand. I will send out further information at the beginning of June.