Last but not least!!

Finally, here is the 3rd project I offered at this month's stamp camp. This card was doubly inspired! I found Maren's card that I loved and realized that she was participating in the Featured Stamper challenge last Sunday so her's was inspired by Amy (Pickletree's) card here. Isn't it fun to see how something can evolve?? If you'd like, use mine as an inspiration point and then send me a link to your creation! (Sort of like playing that old game as kids- what was it called, "telephone"??, where you see how much a message changes as it is whispered down the line of children!)

Anyway, I love the overall layout (obviously) of the large panel taking up the majority of the card. I left out some layers that Maren and Amy used, but overall I think it works. I will for sure be trying this one again in the future! Thanks ladies!

All Supplies are SU!

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP

Ink: Old Olive and markers: Old Olive, Real Red

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, For a Friend (level one hostess set)

Accessories: Wide Real Red Grosgrain, White gel pen, scallop punch, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circle punches, small corner rounder for scallops, 1/8" hole punch

I will post a few scrapbook pages soon that I completed yesterday just so I could accomplish my March scrappin' goal. First, I have to go work on my taxes (yikes, I haven't started yet!) and I've got a big swap due soon... three cheers for Procrastinators-Are-Us!

Yippee for Metallic Art Pencils!

What, you don't have metallic art pencils? Well, I whipped mine out for stamp camp this past weekend and decided I love how they look on darker cardstock. My ladies enjoyed making this card Friday...

The stamped images and greeting are all from the same set called Embrace Life. They were stamped in basic gray (same as the paper) then colored in with the metallic art pencils. I just tried to choose shades that matched the barely banana and basic gray paper. Here the basic gray panel is two layers of the same color, with the top layer being outlined in a hand-drawn line with the pencils. The greeting is embossed in gold. The banana card is stamped with the Floral Background stamp in So Saffron.

Very simple, yet sophisitcated looking. The ribbon, sadly, is the retired wide organdy in ivory. Love that stuff! Thanks for looking!!

Supplies are all SU!

Stamps: Embrace Life, Floral Background

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Basic Gray

Ink: Basic Gray, So Saffron

Accessories: Metallic Art Pencils, Wide Organdy Ribbon (ivory) and gold EP.

TGIF! But where is the sunshine?

Another cold dreary day today- but I think the forecast may include something in the low 60's possibly in the next 7 days or so... (fingers crossed!). Tonight I'm having a Stamp Camp at my house and this is one of the cards we'll be doing. I really wanted to use the stamps from my favorite Simply Scrappin' Kit, Sending Happy Thoughts. I've gone on and on in the past about these stamps, so I won't drone again... the inspiration for this card was a pair of my daughter's jeans (embroidered with lots of pretty flowers). The sentiment is embossed in clear EP on Night of Navy craft ink. It is also raised on pop dots for dimension and edged with white dots from the gel pen. The torn edge of the white paper is sponged with a hint of Bordering Blue ink too. Hope you like it... I'll post the other camp cards in the coming days.

All Supplies are SU

Stamps: Sending Happy Thoughts, Sanded background

Cardstock and Ink colors: Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, Purely Pomegranate (also some whisper white paper in there)

Accessories: Pomegranate double-stitched grosgrain, large oval punch, white gel pen, sponge, Clear EP

Polka Polka Polka Dots!

That was my goal on this Sketch Challenge card I did yesterday! I wanted to stick to all current Stampin' Up Supplies so I do own a few more polka dot items, but didn't use those. Anyway, I linked to the sketch challenge in yesterday's post if you'd like to see it.

For my card I was messing around with different color schemes and settled on Barely Banana, Basic Gray (a new favorite, can you tell?!) and Almost Amethyst with white as my netural and some black accents. I like how it turned out, even though I'm sure there are a few little things I would do different in retrospect.

The background on the banana piece says Happy Birthday over and over due to a new jumbo wheel appropriately called "Happy Happy Birthday"- I wheeled it in So Saffron since I don't have Barely Banana in a large ink pad (I don't use cartridges for the most part, just ink pads). The White piece was also done with a jumbo wheel called Lots Of Dots from the new Occasions mini in Almost Amethyst. The gray dots on the Basic Gray are a background stamp called Polka Dot- and I used Basic Gray ink for that. The 5-petal flower was punched, then a rub-on applied directly to it! Gotta love rub-ons- and if you don't yet, stick around, you'll be sure to get hooked on them eventually! Hope you like it, TFL!

PS-I've been working on the size of my uploads so when you click on an image they don't explode on the screen. Thanks for your patience, but I think I have fixed most of the recent ones. I didn't have the energy to go back and fix them all in the archives...

All Supplies SUO

Stamps: It's Your Birthday, Polka Dot Background,

Jumbo Wheels: Lots of Dots & Happy Happy Birthday

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Basic Gray, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Basic Gray, Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Cream grosgrain, 5-petal flower punch, black brads, lable punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, distressing tool, A Perfect Party Rub-ons

Good Morning!

I hope it is sunny for you today like it is here in Ohio! Geez, I don't recall ever longing for warm weather as much as I have this winter! It can't get here soon enough... once it is here please remind me to not sit inside on the computer blogging, but get outside and ENJOY it!

Anyway, thought I'd post another card I did for yesterday's color challenge, then I'll be off working on today's Sketch Challenge! Then I'll be designing for my Stamp Camp on Friday (I don't like to do it too early or else I'm bored with the designs before it's time to have camp- at least that's my only plausible excuse for procrastinating!)

Without further adu (ado, adue- how is that word spelled?)... here it is...

All Stampin' Up! Supplies

Cardstock: Soft Sky, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Stamps: Cause for Celebration, Blossoms Abound

Accessories: Silver Brads, corner rounder (for scallops), ticket corner punch, distressing tool, White craft ink, ric rack ribbon from a retired Ribbon Originals set called Flirty.

I challenge YOU!

I LOVE today's color challenge (CC159). Soft Sky, Basic Gray and Whisper white- you can't go wrong! SO, I challenge you to try it out and let me know you have. Hope you like my vision for this color scheme...

I'm playing around with some fancy folds for my next swap so hence the Shadow Box card. If you'd like directions for this card, look no further. It is simple. Choose the colors you want for the inside and outside of your shadow box (they can be the same) then cut a 1/4 sheet of cardstock in each color. At each end of those two pieces you need to score a 1/2" in then 1" in- in other words, 2 score lines at each of the short ends of the 1/4 sheet. Tape the two sheets together (after you've done your stamping and decorating) at the edges. Voila! Fun and such a neat look. The best part: they can be mailed! When flattened these are still the standard size of a card so will fit in a standard envelope. The recipient can then push the edges in a bit and it pops back out! (Not that I've ever mailed one- I enjoy looking at them so much I have every one I've ever made I think. For more samples visit my SCS gallery and search on Shadow Box).

The banner on the front was made by stamping on a strip of white cardstock then using the 3/4" square punch to make even cuts on the ends to mimic a banner. Also, the embossed "dots" on the edges were made with the Crop-o-dile (basically pretend you are setting an eyelet, but no eyelet). Thanks for checking in!!

All Supplies SU

Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Basic Gray

Stamps: Cause For Celebration, Pretty Petals Background, Blossoms Abound (for greeting)

Accessories: 3/4" square punch, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, Crop-o-Dile

Ink: Basic Gray, Going Gray, Whisper White, Soft Sky

Sally's Sketch!

I'm sharing a scrapbook page with you today that I did this weekend. I haven't had a chance to stamp today- with cleaning and catching up from a hectic weekend. This page features a sketch from Sally's Sketches - she posts a new scrapbook sketch every Friday I believe, and then challenges anyone to use it and post their creations. It's a fun way to get started when staring at a blank page! Anyway, when my DD turned 3 she got this new bike from Grandma & Grandpa which was a surprise. I loved how cute the pictures turned out so I didn't want to crop any of them. Everything I've used here is from Stampin' Up with the exception of the cute pastel rub-on flowers I got from a friend a few months ago (thanks Erin!). Hope you had a great Easter, and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Whimsical Alpha Lower, Be Happy

Ink: Basic Black, Rose Red

Accessories: Spring Fling DSP, rhinestone brad, circle punch

Happy Good Friday!

Happy Good Friday everyone! I'm not sure how much stampin' I'll get done this Easter weekend so I'm posting two today... besides, I'm pretty happy with them and can't wait to show you anyway!

So, this card is full of fun new stuff for me! Well, actually just the neat Lots of Dots wheel on the background and the fabulous Summer Picnic designer paper- but the striped ribbon and Tart & Tangy stamp set are still so much fun and somewhat new to me. If you haven't checked out the Occasions mini catalog yet, do it! Lots of neat stuff. (Link is at the left- just click on the catalog). Hope you like it- thanks for looking!

All Supplies are SU!

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Lexicon of Love (blast from the past, eh? Like 2005)

Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP

Accessories: Large chipboard flower, scallop punch, Lots of Dots jumbo wheel, Wasabi striped ribbon, Crafter's Tool Kit (for paper piercing)

This card I did for the sketch challenge on Splitcoast on Wednesday. If you haven't tried this challenge I highly recommend it! A very fun and easy way to get your creative juices flowing!

For the three background panels I used the So Saffron Prints papers which are double sided. To get the bird's belly pieced, I first stamped him on the patterned paper and cut out just that section. Then restamped him and glued on the belly piece. I love wide grosgrain- so chose the colors around that ribbon since I was determined to use it.

The faux stitching on the edges of the main panel are done with the stamp set All In A Row- I learned this trick from Beate! She's a pro at it- it was scary since it has to be done after the panels are put together, but I'm so glad I took a chance! I will be doing this more often! The bottom edge I cut with my favorite Fiskar deco scissor called Sunflower... then sponged it with white so it would stand out more when the card is closed. The tag is popped up on stampin' dimensionals. I hope you like this color combo- it is one of my favorites! Thanks for looking!

All Supplies SU! (except scissor)

Stamps: Pun Fun, All in a Row

Paper: Kraft, So Saffron Prints, Whisper White

Accessories: Large tag punch, Wide Brocade Grosgrain, Aqua Painter, Watercolor Wonder Crayons

Ink: Brocade Blue, Basic Black

Tag I'm It!

Monique tagged me, so you're stuck reading 7 random facts about me (or you can skip it if you'd rather not know). LOL

1. I took 8 years of piano lessons and played for our school choir and show choir... problem is, when I'm nervous my hands SHAKE like crazy- uh, not good!

2. When I was a kid I had pneumonia 6 years in a row... the 7th year I had mono so bad that I missed something like 2 months of school, but I never had pneumonia again!

3. I've fainted more time in one day than many do in a lifetime. Yes, I'm a fainter. On a tour of the local hospital when I was in high school... it was something like 5 times before they finally decided I should probably not complete the tour.

4. Fear of needles (see #3 above).

5. My DH and I used to play rollerblade hockey- and LOVED it. He insisted I wear a full face mask though, and glad I did, or surely I'd have a few false teeth by now.

6. My first child was born by C-section, second was not. Rare these days I guess.

7. When I was younger I LOVED blue cheese salad dressing... now, not so much!

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged if you'd like to play along! Then post a comment here so I can come read your fun facts!

Double Whammy Thursday... and Fun News!

So, I still haven't learned how to budget my time so I can not only scan my favorite blogs and Splitcoast , but also have time to stamp something and actually get it posted in a timely manner so any blog readers I might have actually have something new to view! I'll get better at it.

This first card is one I did for the Featured Stamper Challenge which occurs every Sunday. The goal is to find something from the FS's gallery and let it inspire you. The FS on Sunday was BeckyTE. Here is her card that I "borrowed". Actually, I really only used her layout. Hers is so soft and pretty, but I didn't have the same stamps or paper, so this is what I came up with. I tried to get the same look. This is a lot of layers for me, but it was fun!

The other card I'm posting here is the color challenge for Tuesday (one of my favorite challenges) using Kraft, Sage shadow and Orchid Opulence. It is also a sketch from the Fan Club Challenges I've mentioned. Anyway, since one of the new fine Cosmo Glitters from SU is an orchid color I let that be my starting point. The flower is from the set of Sticky Cut letters- quite fun to use! I feel like this is still missing something- not sure what. Square cards are a bit hard for me... Thanks for stopping by to check things out! PS- I like how Amy Sheffer does her supply list so I'm trying something new for you today (thanks Amy!)

Supplies: All SU.

Thinking of You

Stamps: Spring Solitude hostess set

Paper: Wintergreen (retired), always artichoke, soft sky & Naturals ivory

Accessories: Celery grosgrain, Love & Happiness Rub-on, certainly celery, chocolate chip and always artichoke markers

Ink: Blue Bayou (06-07 In Color)

Happy Sparkly Birthday

Stamps: Lovely Letters, Priceless, Happy Everything

Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Orchid Opulence

Accessories: Sticky Cut Letters, Fine Cosmo Glitter, 1" circle punch, scallop punch, white gel pen, kraft taffeta ribbon, white EP.

Ink: Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Orchid Opulence

OOH, and I almost forgot the Fun News! I found out this week that one of my cards will be published in the August issue of Cards Idea Book Series. I'm not sure which card yet, but I'm so excited! This will be my first time being published, and the first time I've ever submitted anything. Might be beginners luck, but I'm willing to try again! And even more exciting, three of my Great Swap pals will also be in the same issue!! Give it up for Krystie Lee, Dawn and Becky!

Last Day to Sale-a-Brate!

OK, One last card using the SAB sets. Actually, this is a remake of a previously posted card but with a different SAB set, rub-ons and it also features a ribbon slide from the new Styled Silver Hodgepodge in the Occasions mini. The flowers are from So Many Scallops, which includes four images that can be punched with the scallop punch (as shown here). The centers of each of these flowers is a rub-on from the Love & Happiness set that is one of the SAB selections! Here I've used the ribbon slide to bundle the flowers together and create leaves as well. The 'Thank you' sentiment is from the hostess set Spring Solitude, patterned paper is Spring Fling collection.

This card is another for the Splitcoast Fan Club challenges (that I mentioned yesterday). They showed an inspiration picture (of a gorgeous room) and asked us to let it inspire us. This is what I came up with. You can see the picture here but this link might only work for Fan Club Members, I'm honestly not sure. Anyway, hope you like it! It is entirely SU supplies with the exception of the bit of bling in the center of the flower (which is Diamond Stickles, but could easily be done with our Dazzling Diamonds). The cardstock colors are: Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla. Ink: Sahara sand (stamped off once), Staz-on Black, Very Vanilla. The flower was watercolored with a Night of Navy Watercolor Wonder Crayon as well as an aquapainter. A white gel pen was also used. The stamps are Embrace Life, Looks Like Spring (retired- used the diamond patterns) and Carte Postale (for Bonjour). I also added two square green rhinestone brads which match the celery very well I think! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out- casual yet sophisticated. Thanks for looking!

Coffe Shop- Latte Love!

I know I haven't posted as much as I had planned this week-SORRY! I have lots of excuses, but mostly just been busy and lost my MOJO. You know how that is?! Anyway, finally got it back yesterday (just before running out of the house again- of course). Yesterday was the March release of Splitcoaststampers.com's monthly Fan Club Gallery. If you are not a Fan Club member, I highly recommend it. Not only do they showcase the most talented fabulous members and their exclusive work, but there are other benefits as well. The most important, to me, is being able to post creations on Sundays (non-members cannot) and not having to have your uploads approved so they post immediately.

Anyway, each month when they release the theme, new artists (called Dirty Girls) and fabulous art they also offer challenges for the rest of us to join in. It is so fun! The theme this month was The Daily Grind so they suggested using either a coffee theme, or office theme, office prodducts etc. Well, that's what got my MOJO back... I love this Pun Fun stamp set and knew it is the only coffee cup stamp I own so this is what I came up with!

I hope you like it- it was so much fun! All supplies are SU. The card is not at all what I initially pictured, but when I got these papers out (Recollections, of which I have a second unopened pack still) the stripes immediately made me think of an awning at a cute little coffee shop. The card base is not one sheet folded in half, but a 1/4 sheet of naturals ivory with a 1/4 sheet of mellow moss over it (actually 4 x 5.25) and attached at the top side with the row of eyelets. The Mellow moss piece is actually scored right where the brown stripes are attached under the chocolate ribbon. Anyway, the cup is embossed and watercolored. Awning is only attached at the top edge so the bottom side naturally lifts away from the card. The scallops were created using the SU corner rounder without the guard on it. If you're not sure what I mean just ask and i'll try to explain or find a tutorial for you to view. For more details on products used, click here. Thanks for looking!

So I had a workshop last night (first one in a while!) and wanted to make an extra special gift for my hostess Rosalie. My buddy Lisa Henke gave me an idea to check out this neato bag on Beate's blog. So I did and this is my version. Basically, take a paper bag (use a better quality than I did) and cut it down to the desired size, then decorate however you want. The sky is the limit!! I had so much fun doing this- feels good to do something dimensional sometimes! No, I didn't give her an empty bag. She got to keep the 4 samples I had that coordinated with it, plus the other samples and things she made. See my SCS gallery for these other projects.

Here is the backside just in case you are curious! :)

All Supplies are SU! Stamps: Boho Backgrounds & "Thank You" is from Spring Solitude; Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Berry Bliss; Accessories: Square, circle, 1/8" circle, slit and scallop punches. The handles are made with chocolate chip satin ribbon that is in the Theater Ribbon Originals collection and the strip of pomegranate polka dotted ribbon from the Sherbet Ribibon Originals. If you have any questions feel free to ask away!

SNOWED IN... so Sale-a-Brate in Style!

Anyone else snowed in like I am?? We've gotten 14" of snow in 24 hours so I've been stampin' like crazy (and even cleaning some too)! Anyway, I really wanted to catch up with some things I've made with a few of the SAB stamp sets. These are FREE with a $50 Stampin' Up! order through March 17th. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies for this first card: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Barely Banana and Whisper white cardstock. Wide Cream Grosgrain, and 2 awesome star brads from the new Styled Silver Hodgpodge! The patterned paper is from a Simply Scrappin' Kit from last year called Creative License. The stamp set used is So Many Scallops, which includes 4 images that all fit in our scallop punch! Last but not least, the top edge is paper pierced for a bit more detail.

All supplies used are from Stampin' Up! This card is a simple one layer card using the new Spring Fling patterned paper and the Sale-a-Bration set Friendship Blooms. The flower is stamped in Regal Rose, cut out then raised on dimensionals. The stem was made by piercing the paper free-hand. Very simple!

This card used the SAB sets Friendship Blooms & Lots of Thoughts. The squares were punched easily from the Spring Fling papers and the spiral punch was used on the edge of the Whisper white cardstock. The card base is textured Sage Shadow.

Imastamper is the BEST!! Check out this RAK!

That's Random Act of Kindness, in case you are wondering what on earth I'm talking about! A sweet sweet lady from Splitcoast that calls herself Imastamper sent this to me the other day. I had noticed it in her gallery and was completely blown away by her talent and how lovely it is... and now I have it in person. Isn't that so sweet of her?!! Thought I'd post it here for your viewing pleasure.

Tart & Tangy- Sweet!

Here's a fun card I did recently using my new Tart & Tangy stamp set. I have lots of plans for this set... just haven't found the time to put them on paper. To do the stem for the strawberry in Wild Wasabi I just stamped it twice (real red and Wild Wasabi) then cut out the stem and apply it with a Stampin' Dimensional.

The sentiment is from the new Full of Life set in the Occasions mini which is now available (see sidebar). I wanted to emphasize the "happy" so I inked it separately with my versamark, applied heat & stick powder then poured a red fine glitter to it and cut it out. This piece is also raised on a dimensional.

The scallop punch with the holes punched in each scallop is my new favorite look. It is fun and easy, just punch the scallop then punch an 1/8" hole in each scallop!

The scalloped edge here was done with the slit punch. In order to do this the piece of paper can only be approximately an inch wide so I cut a strip from the bottom of this red dotted paper then punched it over and over, then hid the seam with the ribbon (now you know my trick!). Thanks for looking and I'll be back with more from this sweet set!

Supplies: SUO. Accessories- Wild Wasabi double stitched grosgrain, heat 'n stick powder, Romantic Red glitter (retired), Scallop punch, 1/8" hole punch, slit punch; Stamps- Full of Life, Tart & Tangy; Ink- Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Versamark; cardstock- Going Gray, Cerise (retired), Whisper White.

Warning, I am TWO!

OK, well those of you who know me in person know that DD is actually 6 now and that I'm obviously 4 years behind in scrapbooking.... well, I'm OK with that. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I plan to pursue this hobby well into my nursing home years (yeah right?!) so I've got plenty of time and am thoroughly enjoying the journey!

Anyway, I completed this page over the weekend. The sketch was provided by Splitcoast as part of their frequent VSBN (Virtual ScrapBook night). Actually it's an entire weekend full of provided challenges to get your pages complete (and there is a lot of virtual "chatting" going on as well). Despite my best intentions this is the only page I got done this weekend.

Supplies: this is entirely SUO (Stampin' Up Only) except the stickers which make the title (not sure what they are) and the circle cutting system. It's the first time I've really played around with the new stamp set called It's a Sign. This page is Brocade Blue with accents in More Mustard and Night of Navy. I've also used a chipboard 2 which is stamped on with the road sign stamps, more mustard brads, the new My Way punch (for the mustard arrows) and I used the large square punch to make the navy arrow head (cut in half). Thanks for looking!