Greetings!
In preparation for the holiday season, this is the second in a series of newletters intended to get your creative juices flowing as well as provide you with an outlet for that creativity. Each week until December 25, I'll provide the basic instructions for making a special card, small gift, or other handcrafted item for the holidays.
With each newsletter will be the opportunity to purchase a full kit for making the project. You will also have the option of purchasing pieces of each kit, if, for example, you already have the stamp set, and only want to purchase the supplies and pre-cut cardstock. AND, if you have good intentions, but there simply are not enough hours in the day, you'll also have the choice to buy the finished product.
This week's project is another card called: "Magic Snowflake". And while I really do think snowflakes are magical, the name refers to the technique used. Read on to learn more!
Keep creating!
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Magic Snowflake Instructions
"The Snowflake Spot" used here is a lovely stamp set with a great deal of versatility. The snowflake images can be used for terrific cards like this, for backgrounds, and even on winter-themed scrabook pages. It comes with the words "Joy" and "Cheer" to help you create very festive greetings.
The "Seasons Greeting" stamp comes from the set " Many Merry Messages", which is indeed just that. There are multiple one-line sentiments, and also messages to use on the interior of your cards. This is a set you'll get use out of for many years to come.
This card makes use of embossing as well as a variation on the "Polished Stone" technique. Unlike the Polished Stone method, however, you do not need alcohol-based inks. Instead you use Stampin' Up! Classic Ink Refills, together with rubbing alchohol. The ink and the alcohol mix enough to create a blended, water-color look in the background. And of course you can use this technique with any combination of compatible ink colors- colors close to each other on the color wheel work best. You will need to purchase Rubbing Alcohol and cotton balls from your local pharmacy for this project.
Start with a piece of Glossy white cardstock. This type of cardstock has a finish to it which prevents the ink from penetrating the surface, and thus allows the ink to flow and mix before drying. Using the Versamark ink pad, ink up the large snowflake and stamp it on your cardstock. (The finished piece is 2-7/8" x 2-7/8", so make sure you leave enough room around the image to cut it out later.) Dust with clear embossing powder, shake off the excess onto a scrap of paper or your Powder Pal, and emboss the snowflake using your heat gun. It will be slightly difficult to see since it will be white-on-white, but if you tilt the paper a little while you are embossing, you will be able to see the progress. Ink up "Seasons Greetings" with Versamark and repeat the embossing process on another part of the Glossy cardstock.
 Take a cotton ball, and saturate it with rubbing alcohol. (You might want to put on a latex glove for this part, too! I ended up with blue under my fingernails for a couple of days because I did not remember to put on a glove! LOL) Take your two Classic Ink refills (I used Tempting Turquoise and Brilliant Blue) and generously dot the surface of the cotton ball with each color. The colors should be right next to each other on the cotton ball. Now, pounce the cotton ball on the glossy cardstock, turning it slightly with each pounce to vary the position of each color. Poune, pounce, pounce, all over the snowflake and the greeting, and all around them, until you are happy with how it looks. You can refill the cotton ball with alcohol and ink if you need to.  (There will be lots more pictures and description in the kit!)
Here comes the "magic" part: Take your heat gun and aim it at the embossed snowflake- you will see any remaining ink "magically" disappear from the embossed surface, leaving a sharp contrast between the white of the snowflake and the blues of the background. Once it's cooled, you can also take a baby wipe and wipe off any last remaining tidbits of ink from the embossed images.
Trim the snowflake image to 2-7/8" x 2-7/8", and mount using SNAIL adhesive to a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock. Trim the Turquoise to 3-1/8'' x 3-1/8". Trim the greeting to 1-1/8" x 4-1/4", and adhere to another piece of Tempting Turquoise. Trim this entire piece to 1-3/8" X 4-1/4". If you like, you can edge the snowflake and the greeting using the Krylon Silver Leafing Pen (one of my favorite tools!) before you mount them on the Turquoise cardstock. (It will look equally beautiful if you skip this step.)
Cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock down the center so you have two pieces that are 4-1/4" x 11". Fold in half to make a card that is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" with the fold at the top. Mount the snowflake image in the center, about 1/4" from the folded edge, and adhere the greeting about 1/4" from the bottom edge.
Voila- you have a beautiful Magic Snowflake greeting card!
To order kits for this project, see below. You can order the full project kit (stamps, supplies, embellishments, and pre-cut cardstock) or you can order partial kits according to your needs. You can also order a set of 10 finished cards if you like! See below for more details on how to order. |
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Order a Kit
Rest assured that when you order kit from me, you are not left high and dry! You can feel free to contact me at any time if you have trouble with your order, or need a reminder on how to use something. I want you to have fun, so I will work hard to guarantee your satisfaction!
You can order the stamp set and any or all supplies by going to my Stampin' Up! Website and ordering directly online. A list of everything you need is below. You will receive your order 7-10 days from when you place it, directly from Stampin' Up!
To order a kit of Pre-Cut Cardstock, use the "Add to Cart" button, below.
In order to complete your project you will also need to purchse Rubbing Alcohol and cotton balls from your local pharmacy.
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Pre-Cut Cardstock & Embellishments Only
Includes enough envelopes and pre-cut cardstock for you to complete 10 cards. There is an extra piece of Glossy cardstock(in case of boo-boos!), as well as an extra envelope.
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Magic Snowflake Complete Project Kit
Go to www.SaraMcKenzie.StampinUp.net and click on the SHOP NOW button in the upper right-hand corner. From there you can easily purchase any or all of the supplies listed below. Unfortunately the "Snowflake Spot" stamp set is retired. You will need to supply your own, large snowflake stamp.
Catalog#
107121 Many Merry Messages stamp set $33.95
102283 Versamark ink pad $7.50
109130 Clear Embossing Powder $4.75
101041 Tempting Turquoise Classic ink refill $2.75
100763 Brilliant Blue ink refill $2.75
Other items you might need:
Catalog #
104152 Paper cutter $24.95
104332 SNAIL adhesive $6.50
104331 SNAIL refill $4.50
100005 Heat Tool $26.95
103083 Embossing Buddy $4.95
102197 Powder Pals $19.95
Shipping, handling and appropriate sales tax will be added at checkout. |
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Order a Set of Finished Cards If you love the look of hand-crafted cards, but just don't have the time or inclinication, you can order Magic Snowflake from me. I will take as much care with your cards as if they were my own- and probably more!
Set of 10 Finished cards
Includes 11 envelopes (just in case!)
Cost: $42.00 (tax added at check-out)
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Forward this Email and Win! Dont' forget to forward this email to a friend to be eligible to win one of three great prizes:
- Rubber stamp(s) valued at $10
- A $10 Gift Certificate for Stampin' Up! products
- Four hand-made cards, ready to sent to your friends.
In order to enter my monthly drawing, simply Forward This E-mail to a friend using the link below. At the end of each month, I'll draw the name of the winner, and you"ll be mentioned in my newsletter.
The September winner was Susanne O of Hopkinton. Thanks to those of you who did not win- please keep trying! You can forward my newsletters as many times as you want. Every month is a new drawing!
The fine print: Your name will be entered once for each time that your forward my email. You must redeem your prize in the next calendar month. ie if you win in September, you must redeem your prize in October. The Gift Certificate can be used with orders totalling $50 or more. | |
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Sara Jane's Studio Specials!!
50 for $50
Order $50 in Stampin' Up! product from me, and you can pick a number from 1-50. Once all numbers are taken, I'll randomly select the number for the winner of a $50 gift certificate towards Stampin' Up! products.
Referral Rewards
$10 Gift Certificate for any friend who orders
$15 Gift Certificate for any friend who hosts a party or orders $150+
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FREE
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508-479-5260
Don't have a catalog? You can view it on line here, pick one up for free at one of my classes, or contact me and I'll drop one in the mail to you for $5 to cover postage. |
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