TWO Great Swaps Girls challenges coming right up!

So I'm a bit behind since last week was crazy, but I've finally managed to participate in the first two GSG challenges... (look here to find them and join in yourself- anyone can and you are welcome to!)


The first card was for Color Challenge (GSGC01): Regal Rose, Certainly Celery & So Saffron. I also combined this color challenge with the SCS Limited Supply Challenge from Friday (LSC165) which gave us a list of requirements for the card... namely:

1. Make a square card. (Any size)

2. Use only scrap pieces of paper. (The base card doesn't have to be a scrap.)


3. Use ribbon or fiber scraps.

4. Use only ONE other embellishment.

5. Use any colors, stamps, and tools.

For this card I also used my brand spankin' new Stitched background. I thought I could live without it, but alas, I could not!

Supplies (All Stampin' UP!)

Stamps: For a Friend, Stitched background
Paper: Certainly Celery, So Saffron
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Style Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, ribbon scraps in rose, saffron, celery, metallic art pencils, clear EP, sponge, Crafter's Tool Kit

This card was for Wednesday's Featured Swapper Challenge on GSG. Jackie Pedro (strappystamper) was chosen as the first honored member. She is a fabulous stamper and her gallery is amazing! Here is the card of hers that strongly inspired this one!

I used the same colors, and layout just changed the stamp set and greeting. I also eliminated the ribbon (mostly because I didn't see hers until it was too late) and I used dew drops instead of brads.

(enabler alert!!) The Style Silver Hodgepodge is beautiful in any setting- if you don't already have it I highly advise it! TFL!!

Supply List (almost entirely SU)

Stamps: Friendship Blooms, All Holidays, Stitched background
Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Soft Sky
Ink: Basic Gray, Soft sky, Whisper White
Accessories: white EP, Swiss Dots Embossing folder (Cuttlebug), dimensionals, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, dew drops (unsure of brand), label punch, small & large oval punches, distressing tool

PS- I know my spacing is going to be all boogered up in this post and I am just not sure how to avoid it, and running late so no time to fix now... sorry!

A Sweet Set!

So I've been playing around with Tart & Tangy for an upcoming stamp camp I'm having for a hostess. Here are the things I've come up with, some of which we'll be making. I'm pretty excited about it- the cards are all 3x3 and fit neatly in the tiny tote with a pumpkin ribbon handle! There are three marble magnets, 1 jumbo paperclip bookmark and a little paper strawberry. Hmmm, I'm starting to think about teacher gifts now that I've got this designed! Anyway, everything here is Stampin' Up! with the exception of the paperclip and marbles. The designer paper that coordinates with Tart & Tangy is called Summer Picnic and is in the current mini catalog available until the end of May.

This next card is from my on-line buddy, Jackie Pedro! It is just stunning- I hope the picture I've taken does it justice. Not only did Jackie spend valuable time making this card for me, she also sent me a Swiss Dots embossing folder that I've been eyeing! Such a sweetie and we've never even met IRL! Thanks Jackie!! Can't wait to use it!

More Birthday- RAKs

I just have to share these as well! These came yesterday- my BFF took me to lunch for my birthday and gave me the turquoise and brown sparklin' flower- it is beautiful! The Happy Bird Day card came from a sweet Great Swap pal, Jimmi Mayo! I love her colors and the wheeled background- she even coordinated the envelope with the wheel! Thanks Nicky and Jimmi!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I started posting this yesterday (on my actual birthday) but life got in the way... I really wanted to show you this birthday card Lisa sent me Saturday with all the goodies- it is so beautiful! I just love the colors and stamps and the dew drops- aren't they lovely?!!

I am also going to add several other B-RAKS (Birthday random acts of kindness) that I've gotten- I LOVE having stampin' pals! Thanks for making my birthday so special everyone!! These are from Deb Albright (crafty Turtle), Vera Schoeters (Vera) & Becky Carafa (Beccabatgirl). Aren't they awesome?!!


I'll be back later with more hopefully (crossing fingers)!

Lisa Henke: My On-line Pal!

{OMG, I just found this post in DRAFT that I never published, I have no idea why! DUH! Anyway, here's one from back on April 21!}

I have made a dear on-line friend, Lisa Henke, via Splitcoast Stampers and our Great Swaps group and she surprised me with an early birthday surprise on Saturday!! My birthday isn't until tomorrow but she sent me a package full of wonderful stamped images, gorgeous dew drops, a variety of ribbon and even some paper embossed with my favorite embossing folder (Swiss Dots)! She knows I rarely to never use Non-SU products so is doing her best to enable me! Anyway, I was gone much of the day Saturday but managed to make these two cards with all her wonderful stuff before I got tired Saturday night. Thanks so much Lisa!! I love it all... Oh, and the best part is, the card she made for me! WOWzers. I will run and take a picture of it to upload tomorrow!

PS- Check out the link to Great Swaps- there is a new color challenge on there today! Try it out and be sure to link your card!

SU supplies are:

Cardstock- Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, Berry Bliss, Basic Gray, Soft Sky, Watercolor Paper

Accessories: Watercolor Crayons, Aqua Painters, oval punches, square punch, Eastern Elegance Rub-ons

Non-SU supplies are:

Stamps: Bellas

Ribbon: May Arts

Accessories: Dew Drops (not sure of brand??), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

A Beautiful Sunny Day!

Sorry about the last few days of being MIA! I had every intention of uploading something, but I have kept very busy doing other blog related stuff and hadn't really been stamping. I even got a new stamp set on Wednesday that I haven't mounted yet... NO, that's NOT NORMAL for me! Maybe I'll get around to using it today... but it's supposed to be in the mid 70's... decisions decisions.

So the card I did make yesterday is long-overdo for a friend that had triplets about a month ago... I wanted it to be just perfect, full of thoughtful and meaningful details..

Well, I didn't quite get there, but this is what did finally surface: So my story is this, I wanted to symbolize having three babies but also acknowledge that they are individuals (if that makes sense)... so I went in search of a variety of baby stamps and happened to find three (in all different sets) that are all round in nature! Now we're talkin'! I kept the colors all the same but in different order of layers. This card was inspired by Sunday's Featured Stamper, Kharmagirl (her card here). I love her work. Check out her gallery and this challenge here.

Thanks for checking in... for anyone who might have been checking my gallery for more samples of the Build-a-Flower class cards I have posted a few more pictures now. You can go check them out!

Supplies are all SU!

Stamps: Cause for Celebration (current hostess), Riveting (retired hostess), So Many Scallops ('08 Saleabration set)
Paper: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Very vanilla, Close to Cocoa prints
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Vanilla EP, circle punches, scallop punch, Style Silver hodgepodge ribbon slide and brads, chocolate twill ribbon, Crafter's Tool Kit

Sneak Peek at my up-coming Stamp-a-Stack

I have a Build-a-Flower SAS coming up at the end of April so I've been designing cards that my guests will make (4 each of 5 designs using the Build-a-Flower tin and SU Note Cards). I designed 15 different cards then chose my favorites for my guests to recreate!

These will all be made in Bashful Blue (as shown), Wild Wasabi, Rose Red and Lovely Lilac! I just realized that I only have 4 in the picture- the 5th one is to be determined. Also, these are subject to change so if you are one of my registered guests, don't be surprised if I've changed my mind... but you can always come back here for ideas on how to use your remaining dic-cut flowers! I will also post on my SCS gallery pictures of all the others I designed if you want to take a look! (this will take a while, so be patient).

PS- Sorry about the pic quality- hard to believe, but it's so sunny I was having trouble getting a good picture today. (Gotta Love that SUNSHINE though- not complaining!!)

Let's see, what can I show you today?!?

First of all, if you haven't noticed already, check out my new widget (on the left). My Great Swap Pals now have a logo and our own blog to share with you (Thanks to Denise and Becky!). Click on it and check us out! We are considering posting our swap pictures there for you to view our work and share our excitement!

OK, well I dug up this card to show you... actually, I just did it last week. It was for last Tuesday's color challenge on SCS (that links to all color challenges so you can try any of them). Can I just say UGH!! Night of Navy, Real Red and Glorious Green... whoever said it was glorious? Well, I struggled and struggled and was a day or two late posting this one but it is done and I actually kind of like it. I CASED a layout from mytime (Lauren Meader) but I'm sorry to say I can't find her card anywhere other than my PC so I may not be able to show it to you. Just trust me, it is lovely with much softer colors than these!

Well, the main reason I'm not crazy about this is because I felt like the dots on the red paper weren't exactly white so I used Naturals ivory as my neutral instead and that's where I went wrong. The rub-on (Happy Day sentiment) is white as well as the dots I added with the white gel pen, but the mat and center flower are both natural.

Anway, the green flower is actually just a punched scallop which I then cut in at each scallop- I love that look and completely copied that from Lauren's card. Everything on this card is from Stampin' Up! with the exception of the two large red snaps- those are Making Memories and I've had them for years. The retired items that are no longer available are: The red polka dot paper (Cerise) and the Happy Day rub-on which was in the pack of Sale-a-Bration rub-ons called Love & Happiness (you might have them!). Everything else is current stuff. TFL! And stay tuned tomorrow- I hope to post a picture of the 20!! cards we'll be making at my next Stamp-a-Stack at the end of this month... using the Build-a-Flower tin and Note Cards from SU!

All Supplies Stampin' Up! (unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Seeing Spots
Paper: Night of Navy, Glorious Green, Real Red, Naturals Ivory, Cerise DP
Ink: Night of Navy craft
Accessories: Scallop punch, circle punch, red brad, red gingham ribbon, red snaps Making Memories, Love & Happiness, white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensional

Is it Friday again?! Yippee!

I'm not sure why I look forward to Friday's- they just indicate the end of a peaceful week with children in school and bring on a loud and chaotic weekend full of... noise and uh, chaos. LOL! Can you tell I've had a headache this week? That noise and chaos stuff really gets to me on headache days... I tell ya, as much as I look forward to spring and warm weather you'd think I'd dread the allergies that come with it! Gotta love Loratadine!


OK, enough chit chat, on to something worth viewing... well, at least I hope it's worth viewing. The other day I was checking out all the blogs of my on-line Great Swap pals and ran across Kristina Werner's Inspiration Challenge #4. The inspiration piece was just so stunning to me and peaceful and just "Ahhh" that I had to participate even if I was late for her deadline for something... so check out the picture and after you ooh and ahh like I did, come back to look at this card that it inspired in me. It took like a ton of thinking because I wanted just the perfect feeling to come out... I got close, maybe not exactly what I was going for, but I like it just the same. I got the texture in there and the tropical feel with the colors and leaves, but also the fun and sophisticated aspects as well I think. So enough blah blah blah, on to the recipe:

Supplies are all Stampin' Up! (except the one prima flower)

Stamps: Stem Silhouettes (retired)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Tempting Turquoise, naturals Ivory
Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate chip, Very Vanilla
Accessories: 1 1/4" circle punch, square rhinestone brad, prima flower, Rough Texture Jumbo Wheel, Distressing tool

No Peeking Great Swap Girls...

Well, our swaps were due yesterday so I feel like I can post these now (plus I've already seen some of the other swaps posted on blogs so it must be OK). Unfortunately, I may have to end up re-doing this one... You see, the sparkly brad I used to dot the i in happiness is actually a plain old brad that I inked with versamark, then dipped in heat'n'stick powder, heated until sticky then dipped in the Fine Cosmo glitter. I did this process a few times until it was fully covered. However, I was concerned this would rub off in the mail so I layered tissues between each card totally not thinking that they might stick to the sticky 'H'!! DUH! Well, our wonderful hostess Becky Carafa emailed to let me know she was able to pick off most of the offending kleenex... "Most" is the word troubling me. I was so excited about how these turned out too! That rose colored fine glitter just looks so neat IRL, I hope they aren't disgusting now!

Anyway, here is the second card I did for a Fancy Folds swap. It's probably no surprise that it is a shadow box card since I've posted a few lately. The only things I did on this one that weren't on the swaps were the silver brads and the piercing on the label at the bottom. The whole process was so time consuming and I was so short on time that I cut both of those steps. (Sorry Great Swaps pals!) I think they turned out nice and I'm glad they are done. I can't tell you how tired my forearm was after using the Crop-o-Dile for all those embossed dots on each edge of 12 cards! Well, thanks for stopping by and checking out my stuff!

Supplies for both cards are all by Stampin' Up

H is for Happiness Card

Stamps: Define Your life, Warm Words

Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock Textured, Basic Black, River Rock Prints

Accessories: Sticky Cut Letters, Fine Cosmo Glitter, Black Gingham and Pomegranate double stitched ribbons, brad, Heat 'n Stick powder, Versamark, Horizontal Slot punch, Dimensionals

Butterfly Shadow Box Card

Stamps: Pretty Petals Background, Cause for Celebration (hostess set), Warm Words

Cardstock: Kraft, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Crop-o-Dile, Designer Label punch, small oval punch, silver brads, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, white ink and sponge, Crafter's Tool Kit for piercing

Recycled Flowers

My swaps finally got finished and mailed out yesterday- whew! What a job- 12 shadow box cards was a big committment for me... well, maybe it was the many various steps I added that complicated things. I will post them in a few days.

For today... have you ever made something for a card, say a decorative element, then it just didn't work so you set it aside. After doing this numerous times you may end up like me, with an entire jar full of discarded/rejected elements. Well, this card I made for yesterday's Technique challenge started with these three flowers I had made out of glossy paper "smooshed" with reinkers then never used. Here is a link to the original card I did with this technique. So Monday's TLC was not to use a rejected card element, but to stack ribbons. Sounds easy and fun, right?? It was! I can't wait to try this again. My ribbons aren't exactly layered the way I had intended at the on-set but this is what evolved and I really like how it turned out.

The bottom half of this card was stamped first with Canvas in cameo coral (stamped off first) then with Pretty Petals background in Coral (not stamped off). Then the ribbon layers were added and the flowers after that. The center flower is raised on a pop dot for dimension. The 4 corners of hte kraft cardstock are punched with the ticket corner punch, then the entire piece is sponged with white to help with contrast. I really had fun using the Designer Label punch this way, folding it in half and only stamping on one side, then attching with three Vintage Brads.

If you have not already been convinced from past posts that kraft cardstock is the best neutral ever, then maybe this will do it! Not that it takes the place of white or vanilla, but it looks good with almost every color out there (except maybe sahara sand, river rock and creamy caramel- all great by their own rights!). Well, thanks for stopping by again- and I'd love to have you sign my new guestbook up at the top left corner! Have a beautiful day!

All SU Supplies
Stamps: Embrace Life, Pretty Petals background, Fancy Flexible Phrases, Canvas
Paper: Groovy Guava, Kraft, Glossy White, Blush Blossom
Ink: Apricot appeal, close to cocoa
Accessories: Vintage brads, aqua painters, water color crayons, Flirty Ribbon Originals, Kraft Tafetta, Designer Label punch, ticket corner punch

More shadows...

Shadow box cards that is. I just love these! I've been experimenting lately for a swap that is due on Wednesday. I love the last one I did but didn't want to use it since my swap gals have likely seen it already.

Anyway, I really like this one too, but it is far too time consuming to do 12 of by Monday so it's been rejected. These are tough to get good pictures of so bear with me. The flowers and leaves on the inside and outside are mostly all raised on dimensionals (pop dots) for added dimension.

The kraft front panel was wheeled in Sahara sand ink with the Rough Texture jumbo wheel (I wish there was a kraft colored ink!). The eggplant grosgrain is unfortunately a retired color from a few years ago, but one of my favorites and I only have a tiny bit left. I hope you like it.

Next week I'll post the two cards that I did send for my swap... by the way, the colors may appear a bit more yellow in this pic. I had to take it at night so no natural daylight to help out. I've adjusted it tremendously from the original, but this is the extent of my software capabilities.

All Supplies are SU!

Stamps: Blossoms Abound, Warm Words
Paper: Kraft, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Pale Plum, Almost Amethyst, sahara sand, Whisper white, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Rough texture jumbo wheel, crop-o-dile, dimensionals, small oval punch, designer label punch, eggplant grosgrain, crafter's tool kit

Happy Friday!

I hear there is good weather right around the corner... cross your fingers! (I'm in Ohio by the way, for those of you already enjoying nice weather... good for you... not intended to sound snarky... or was it?! LOL)



So, finally got to play with the Splitcoast Challenges today. Here is one for today's Limited Supplies challenge: What's your color? Use white and only one other color (not a neutral). Fun! My color is Blue Bayou! And crazy as it sounds, I also used TULLE on my card (had to look that word up for spelling purposes)- if you know me I am SO NOT a tulle girl, but found it in my stash (I have no idea where it came from!) and decided to use it. It actually looks pretty cool IRL. Not sure the pictures shows it real well.

This card was also for the Featured Stamper challenge from Sunday featuring Laura (stampnesxtras). No, she didn't use Tulle, but she did use this Pretty Petals background stamp as a focal point- very pretty!

OK, back to work on my swaps... I've taken all morning (and some of the afternoon) off!
TFL!

Supplies are Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Pretty Petals background, Priceless, Warm Words
Paper: Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Glossy White
Ink: Whisper white, blue bayou
Accessories: Styled Silver hodgepodge, Diamond stickles, tulle, white gel pen, DS blue bayou ribbon

CASING Pickletree!

So a few weeks ago the Featured Stamper for Sunday's challenge was Amy Sheffer (Pickletree). I love Amy's work and chose this card to inspire me. I used her general layout and color scheme. I also added some hodgepodge and felt flowers like Amy did on hers, and the three rows of ribbons. I started out loving this, but I'm afraid something at the bottom doesn't work for me. Maybe the Felt Flowers are a bit over the top?!?

Anyway, I was just thinking last week that I'm not sure if I've EVER used Not Quite Navy, and it really is a nice color... so Amy talked me into it! I used Rose Red craft ink on my chipboard flower and it was too dark for the pomegranate felt flowers so I couldn't use those. The ribbon was a tough decision, but once I decided on Bashful Blue, I found three styles in that shade and went with them all! The Build-a-Brad in the center of the chipboard is using Little Pieces stamp set. The background stamp is the retired By Definition which is basically the same as a current stamp except a different definition...

sorry I didn't post this earlier- it must have slipped through the cracks... besides, the card I made yesterday I would love to post but am with-holding it for a few reasons: 1- it is for a swap that is due next week and don't want to ruin and anticipation and 2- I am highly considering sending it to SU for a contest cause I like it so much. So, nah nah nah nah nah. Just kidding, I'll post it once my Great Swap pals have it (if I can wait that long).

All Supplies are Stampin' Up

Stamps: Little Pieces, By Definition BG, All Holidays
Paper: Old olive, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Rose Red Craft
Accessories: Pewter Build-a-Brad, Pewter Hodgepodge, Felt Fusion Flowers, Chipboard, 1/2" circle punch, 1" square punch, Bashful Blue: gingham, striped and grosgrain ribbons, distressing tool

**Scrapbook Marathon plus Monday's TLC challenge**

Sunday marked the last day of March, or so I thought, so I busted my tail and completed six scrapbook pages to meet (actually surpass) my March scrapbook goal. It wasn't until the next day that I realized I had one day left! Geesh! Anyway, if you are interested in those or other scrapbook pages I've done click this link. It is to my gallery of scrapbook pages on SCS. I won't post them all here (unless, of course, I run out of good cards to upload!).





Anyway, in the midst of doing taxes yesterday (actually, it was after I was nearly cross-eyed from doing them) I managed to complete a card for yesterday's Technique Lover's Challenge. Now, normally this challenge exhausts me just reading it so I'm not very faithful... however, I was determined to make a card and this sounded fun! Paper Tole! And no flowers allowed- UGH! That's the first thing that came to mind, of course! I hadn't used this cute little space ship rocket thingy yet, so whipped it out. It was very fun! When I showed my DH, however, his response was this word for word "is that for a kid?". Well, maybe, does he mean that an adult couldn't possibly appreciate it's inner beauty?!? My response "WHY?"... he says "well, it's kind of busy". What does he know anyway?!

Well, now I'm off to try today's color challenge and get something to snack on.. then maybe I'll finalize those taxes and get them submitted (I dread that- what if I've messed up?!). Thanks for stopping by!! Give me a shout so I know you're here... and I'll come check you out!

All Supplies SU

Paper: Jersey Shore DSP, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Stamps: Pun Fun!

Accessories: markers (Pumpkin Pite, Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Garden Green), Styled Silver Hodgepodge, Striped pumpkin ribbon, 1/2" circle punch, sponge, lots of dimensionals!