Groovy Love Z-Fold Card

Ok, ONE more Valentine card!

LOL! 

Here's a fun z-fold card that uses - Christmas themed paper! 

Shocker, right? 

I used the fun Real Red and Smoky Slate pinstripe paper from the Merry Moments pack of Designer Series Paper. 

Ya' know, it pays to take a second look at what seems to be supplies for only a singular holiday.

The fold on this card is easy. 

• Cut your card base at 4 1/4" x 11".
• Score in half at 5 1/2". 
• Score one more time at 2 3/4". 
• Fold as shown to make the z-fold.

Here's a complete supply list of products I used to make this fun card:

As always, you can simply click on any of the thumbnail photos above to Shop in my Online Store. It's open 24/7!

While you're there, be sure to check out the Pre-Paid Paper Pumpkin Subscriptions. 

These are a FABULOUS gift for ANY Crafter, beginner to expert!

Place an order for ANY Pre-Paid Subscription and I'll send you an e-gift card that you can tuck in a stocking or card to give in time for Christmas.

They will be thanking you all year long! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today - now, go create something fun!

Don't forget about the Weekly Deals! 

Great prices on some Spring-y crafting supplies!

Shop Online at www.trinitydesignstudio.stampinup.net

Is it Too Early for Valentine's Cards?

I sure hope it's not too early for Valentine's Day ideas - because that's what I've been working on! 

Here's another card I created with the Groovy Love stamp set: 

This would be a great card for any special guy or gal, plus it was super quick to put together. 

Here's a supply list for you: 

As always, simply click on any of the thumbnail photos to shop in my Online Store. 

I'm pretty sure you're not stamping Valentine's cards today, but you can tuck this away for when you need an idea! 

Don't forget the Weekly Deals!~

Visit my website to shop in my Online Store!

www.trinitydesignstudio.stampinup.net

NEW Sneak Peek - Going Global Meets World Map

I hope ya'll are ready for some fabulous NEW crafting toys and tools in January - lemme tell ya', there's a LOT to LOVE about the NEW Occasions Catalog. 

Like this GORGEOUS Blooming' Hearts Thinlits Die for example:

Isn't that cut out heart STUNNING?!?!

The Die set comes with the heart die and two flower dies that match the sizes of the flowers on the heart itself. You are going to LOVE it! 

And the new Bloomin' Love stamp set coordinates perfectly - and even better, it's in a bundle with the dies. :)

You'll be able to purchase all the new products in January, including that gorgeous Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper. ;)

Here's the supply list of items that are currently available: (I can't post the ones that are part of the sneak peek just yet!)

Glad you stopped by to visit today! 

I hope you have time to create something pretty before the day is over - crafting therapy from the crazy holiday season.... 

Don't miss the Weekly Deals! 

Shop in my Online Store at this link: 

www.trinitydesignstudio.stampinup.net

Sweethearts Topiary - Evidence of Pinterest Addiction!

First, one of my downline (who dropped to have a baby of all things!) encouraged me to start a blog to share my artwork. I thought "why not"? and have been blogging ever since.
Then, someone dragged me kicking and screaming onto Facebook - and now I really enjoy posting to it.
Next, at a friends encouragement, I got a Twitter account - and sadly, I still don't really get it. Does that make me a 'Twit'? A social media 'fail'?

But NOW, there's this new, addictive time waster called Pinterest! Aiyiyi!
I'm not sure, but this could turn out to be the biggest hit to my time management skills in my entire life! Don't know if you've discovered the joys of pinning and repinning on Pinterest yet, but lemme tell ya - think long and hard before you take the plunge. Like a friend on Facebook said she's "found the rabbit hole called Pinterest."

All that being said, I have found some REALLY cool stuff on Pinterest and one of them was an awesome Sweethearts Candy Heart Topiary Tree. It's probably the best thing you can do with that candy - hot glue it all over something instead of eating it - and it sure looks pretty when you do.
I knew as soon as I saw - and Repinned the photo, I'd be making one of my own. Are you ready for it?
Ok, here goes:

Now honestly, how FUN is that??
I bought a white styrofoam cone at a local craft store and got busy hot glueing those little hearts in neat rows all over it.
The ceramic pot came from the same store - they were on clearance 3 for $1! Score! And the best part is that when I glued the bottom row of hearts on, I was able to drop them down a bit to cover the edge of the cone meeting the pot.

I purchased three regular sized bags of the candy and ended up opening all of them to get the colors and decent word prints I needed. There's probably a full bag worth left over, so I'm gonna try something else with them.
The entire project took about 3 hours from start to finish - yes, really! It's not rocket science people, just some tedious gluing. There's a couple of spots - 3 I think - that I had to use a kitchen knife to trim a heart to make it fit in place, but it's almost impossible to tell where they are. Just know that in advance if you do this with your kids.

Here's the topper I created for my topiary:

I used the Large Scallop Punch for the base and glued two of them back to back around an extra long toothpick. They were edged with Dazzling Diamonds glitter before I added the hearts. The large heart was punched out of the Sweet Shop Designer Series Paper with my Large Heart punch and glittered before gluing down. All the rest of the hearts were cut out with my Fashionable Hearts Embosslit Die and my Big Shot. I used Wisteria Wonder, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight and Pretty in Pink.
After attaching all of the hearts, I tied some Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon and Pretty in Pink Scalloped Polka Dot Ribbon around the toothpick at the base of the scallops and inserted the whole thing into the top of the topiary.

Here's a look at the little banner:

I just used the Candy Conversations A La' Carte stamp with Stampin' Write Markers in the same colors I'd used for the hearts and stamped it on Whisper White. It's cut at 1" wide and I used the 1" Square Punch to trim the ends. After curling it a bit, I added some Dazzling Diamonds around the edges, a small piece of Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon and some hearts, then hot glued it to the topiary.

This was really a fun project to make and not so hard that I wouldn't make another one someday. And for me, the lazy crafter, that's sayin' something!

Hope you enjoy my topiary - let me know if you make one too and if you make it different!
Stamped joy,
~~Robin

Twitterpated Meets Waffle Paper! Results in Happy Dance!!

And it was love at first sight!

Two things before I start yammering on about this project - 1) If you are signing up for my Very Valentine's Class on January 14th - THIS is one of the projects you will be making! And spaces are already filling up. Better get a move on if you want to come!
2) Laura (Petunia) - We are using Waffle Paper!!
(That's an inside thing - but she knows........heehee!)

Ok, so last night I was spending quality time in the studio working on projects for the Valentine's class while Mark was finally putting the chicken wire in my painted antique frames. Love that man! Anyway, I'm surprised you didn't hear the whoops and hollers as I was doing the Stamper's Happy Dance after finishing up this banner!

Wanna see??
Ok, enough chatter, here you go -

I am in love, love, LOVE with this banner!
Honestly, I started with the idea that I had to find a way to use the New Dresden Designs Big Shot Die other than with fabric. You guys know I don't sew!
So I looked at the die and thought "Hey, I could use those layers to make a banner." So, I pulled out a few things, co-ordinated a few designer papers and colors and off to the races I went.

This banner uses the New Twitterpated Designer Series Paper combined with Island Indigo, Riding Hood Red and Blushing Bride cardstock. I took those colors directly from the DSP - love how SU! makes it easy to co-ordinate everything!

All the pieces are cut out using Big Shot Dies - Perfect Pennants for the scalloped circles, Serif Essentials Alphabet and of course, Dresden Designs.
Here are close ups of each panel:

It's hard to see in these photos, but each letter is stamped with the floral spray from the New stamp set Bordering on Romance. I used Riding Hood Red ink for a tone on tone effect.

All the cardstock and DSP pieces are also sponged with Crumb Cake ink to give it a bit of depth. The unintended effect was to make each piece look like a vintage apron. Don't you love it when something cool happens like that??

I used Tombow Multi-Adhesive to adhere all the pieces together, but each letter is popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals. This is a great use for those edges of the dimensional sheets. Just cut them apart to give you long dimensionals! Perfect for these letters!

I used 1" wide strips of Waffle Paper and adhered them to the back of each banner piece with SNAIL. Worked like a charm!
The ribbon bows on each end are Baja Breeze Seam Binding and are attached with Mini Glue Dots. I used the 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon for my banner string. About a yard I guess. I didn't measure it last night.

I'm thinking I may add some Twitterpated Buttons to it today, but both Mark and Emma voted for NO glitter! They liked the vintage apron look of it just like it is.

So, there you have it - the project that rocked my world last night! I can't wait to make it in class on the 14th with all my stampers! Are you coming??
I guess I can add another class if I need to. Let's see how quickly this one fills up.
The banner isn't going to be the only project we do. There will be something with chocolate; something with glitter and a couple of great cards!

I'm also posting in another post today the info on my Product Shares from the Occasions Mini. Be sure to check that out! It's a great deal for those of you who want a little sampling of lots of fun accessories!

Happy stampin'!
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to start shopping!

Glimmer Valentine Card

Don't tell me! I KNOW what you're thinking!
It's not even Christmas yet and here I am showing you a Valentine!

Well, yes.
Yes, I am.
Mainly because this week has been especially full of fun and craziness and even though I have MANY stamped projects to show you, this is the only one that I had photographed and ready to go this morning. Ha!
BUT, Valentine's IS just around the corner and this is a pretty easy card, so it'd be simple for you to recreate it if you need a lot of them.

My upline, Jan Wakeland, came to Virginia to hold a meeting the weekend before Thanksgiving and the swap theme was Valentines. So this was my swap card.
Do you likey?

I likey it a lot!
It's so my style - clean and simple, but just enough bling to make it pop.
I used Real Red and Pool Party as my color scheme - love those two colors together!

The Pool Party layer was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots folder to give it texture. What ever did we do without those embossing folders?
I stamped the hearts in Pool Party ink from the I Heart Hearts stamp set on Whisper White, then tied a bit of Real Red Satin Ribbon around the panel.
The sparkly red heart was punched out with the Large Heart Punch from Red Glimmer Paper and I added the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes. It's punched out with the Modern Label Punch and attached with Tombow. You do have to let it dry completely though - it doesn't like to stick to the glimmer paper.

So, there you have it - a completely simple, good for guy or girl, Valentine card.

Thanks to all of you who wished Mark and I well on our Anniversary - we were overwhelmed with all the sweet comments from so many.
We had a wonderful afternoon and evening - I promise to blog about it, with photos, but I was waiting so I could include our evening out tonight as well. He not only surprised me on Wednesday with wonderful things, but tonight, he is taking me to the Kennedy Center to the symphony and to enjoy a meal at their Terrace Restaurant. I'm so excited!

Have a wonderful day friends, see you tomorrow!
~~Robin