Here's How to Do Digital Right!

I know the world of digital seems a bit scary for those who are used to traditional ways of scrapping and stamping, but there are so many fun ways to cross the bridge and try using digital on your projects. My fabulously talented friend, Susan Stringfellow, put my new Sodalicious set to use on this great layout of her son Chris eating an icecream sundae. Don't you just love how she printed the image onto the patterned papers and layered the sundae to make it oh so yummy! You can alos just hand color the graphics if you don't feel so skilled with using a knife to cut out the paper pieces.

She also made the title from the artwork in the set into a wonderful 3-D element using her cricket diecutter. To see more of her work, click the link under Other Creative Chicas on 

the right to visit her blog. She always amazes me with her fabulous 

handling of titles and the most creative use of embellishments.

Trust me you will be inspired!

Here is a close up shot of the sundae.

If you love her work as much as I do, nominate her on Cosmo Cricket's blog to 

be a guest designer and help her win their latest paper collection. 

Vote for her by simply leaving a comment on Cosmo’s blog raving about Susan Stringfellow.

To see the Sodalicious set, click here to view it in my shop at mygrafico.com

Out of the stash pile

Have you ever started punching a border or die cutting a design and ended up changing your mind on a color or layout? What about those times when you find the right combination of inks and stamps and decide to make a whole bunch for later....thus the creation of the infinite stash pile[zzzzz]! Some times I just can't help it when I have a certain die out, I just feel compelled to punch the design from a variety of papers to use for later. Well, I just had to prove to ya’ll that I really do use these stashed items. Hmmm, or is it that I am trying to convince myself that I really do! You figure it out! For this fast, adorable birthday card for my cousin’s daughter, I went to the stash for the patterned flower diecuts and the textured scallop heart. It is always nice to grab and go, and knock out a card in a hurry, especially when it is already late! LOL. You may recognize the paper set, a retired SU designer series set. The heart is a current Embosslits die from Stampin’ Up!® And the verse is also an SU stamp.

This next card was a belated Birthday card for a friend's special birthday, sent a wee bit late. I used some more of the stashed diecut patterned papers along with a crinkled paper border strip and a punched border to match. The verses are from the current SU set called On Your Birthday.

So if you don't already have a stash pile, get building one today and save time. Go to it for immediate inspiration on your next project and be sure to report back on your creation!

Getting Crafty with Paper and a Knife

With a craft knife, cutting mat and some designer patterned paper, you can craft cool card designs. This is just one example showing you how you can make the most of your papers and jumpstart the cardmaking process. This card also uses one of my favorite new Stampin’ Up!® sets called Great Friend. 

If you love the look of this card, you're running out of time to order some of the accessories used to make this. These last chance accessories  from Stampin' Up!® will only be available until June 30th, or while supplies last. The Bella Birds designer series paper, button bouquet designer buttons and pink striped ribbon are retiring. To view my video demonstration of this card, check the Glue Arts website. It is scheduled to be posted by the end of July!