Punkin Row

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE Halloween. It's my favorite holiday. Everyone gets to be a kid on Halloween. Fun! So I always enjoy working with cute Halloween images. This image comes from the level 3 hostess set The More the Merrier.

I stamped it in Stazon Black on Watercolor Paper and watercolored the image with ink pads and an aqua painter. The colors I used were Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip.

The card is Pumpkin Pie with a layer of Chocolate Chip behind it. For the background I added a piece of scrunched up Chocolate Chip cardstock on the left and a piece of Old Olive cardstock along the bottom Then I added some paper piercing along the left side and some narrow olive grosgrain ribbon for texture. The greeting was stamped in Chocolate Chip.

I hope you enjoy these happy pumpkins as much as I do.

Set: The More the Merrier
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Soft Suede
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Watercolor Paper
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Narrow Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercer

Circus Flowers

Another very easy card here. I used the Circle Circus set and stamped the four images on Whisper White cardstock. The colors used are Tempting Turquoise, Lovely Lilac, Summer Sun and Melon Mambo. Then I punched them out with the appropriate circle punch.

The card is Gable Green with a layer of Tempting Turquoise on top. I put each circle on with dimensionals and added a thin Gable Green stem. I added the simple tag, which I just cut out of Whisper White cardstock, with a greeting from the Really Retro set.

Sets: Really Retro, Circle Circus
Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Lovely Lilac, Summer Sun and Melon Mambo
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Whisper White
Accessories: Circle Punches, Melon Mambo ribbon

Mini Notes

I created this set of little mini 3x3 gift cards using images from the level 3 hostess set The More the Merrier. This is a really cute hostess set and I hope it makes you all want to host a workshop to get it.

The first card uses the row of cupcakes from the set and I just inked up one and stamped it on Whisper White cardstock, watercolored it in with the aqua painter and then layered it on Mambo Melon and then Chocolate Chip Cardstock. The card itself is Mambo Melon and has been run through the Big Shot with the little dot texture plate. The ribbon adds a little texture at the top.

The second card uses the row of pumpkins and again, I just inked up one and stamped it on Whisper White cardstock and watercolored it with the aqua painter. It was then layered on Only Orange and Basic Black circles. I added the white dots around the black layer with the White Gel Pen. The card is Only Orange with a strip of Basic Black on top and a layer on the back. The greeting is stamped in Basic Black and the ribbon is the gingham black ribbon.

The next card uses the fall/acorn stamp and is stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White cardstock and once again is watercolored with the Aqua Painter. The acorn is layered on a rust and then chocolate chip layer. The card is Really Rust and I stamped an image from the Sprinkles set in Versamark on the back. The designer paper comes from one of last year's sets of paper and is ripped before adding it to the card. The back layer of the card is Chocolate Chip cardstock.

The final card is the simplest of the bunch. It uses the row of birdies stamp from the set and again I just inked up one with Basic Black and stamped it on Whisper White cardstock. The image is watercolored with an Aqua Painter and then the circle is layered on a layer of Crushed Curry and a Real Red scallop circle. The card is Whisper White with a bottom layer of Crushed Curry that has been run through the Big Shot with the texture plate. The greeting was stamped in Basic Black.

This is a really versatile set with lots of different images that make it easy to make a set of cards like this.

Class Project #6

I found this cute little purse idea on someone's blog a while ago but I have no idea where. So I apologize for not giving credit.We made this little purse using the BigShot at the class also. We used Melon Mambo and Chocolate Chip cardstock as well as the Razzleberry Lemonade designer paper.

The front and back are made using the Top Note Die and then the small polka-dot texture plate. The top is made with the Scallop die and I cut the circle of the designer paper using the Creative Memories cutting kit. There is a little box on the inside that you can add stuff too. It's a 4 x 6 piece of Melon Mambo scored at 2 1/2 inch from each of the long sides and 1 inch from each other short sides. Fold together and use sticky strip to adhere it together.

I added a velcro dot to hold it shut and used the 5 Petal Leaf Punch times 2 with a Jumbo Eyelet in the middle for the embellishment on the front. Lastly, I punched two large holes on the top and threaded wide Chocolate Chip grograin ribbon through for the handle.

Class Project #5

A new favorite set of mine is the background stamp Medallion. This is one of Shelley's designs.

For this card, I stamped the medallion in Versamark and did the poppin' pastels technique. I sponged the red Stampin' Pastel over the Versamark ink with a cotton ball and the chalk sticks to the Versamark.

Then I stamped the middle of the medallion again in Versamark and sponged it with red pastel and put black pastel around the edge. I punched the middle out with the 1 3/4" circle punch and added a 1/2 bead from the Pretties set in the middle with a glue dot. Then I added the middle to card with dimensionals.

Lastly, I made 3 swirlies with the Swirls and Scribbles Sizzlet die and the Big Shot. These were adhered to the card below the middle piece.

The greeting comes from the Fresh cuts set and was stamped in Basic Black and the edges were rounded with the Corner Rounder punch.

Sets: Medallion, Fresh Cuts
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, Swirls & Scribbles Sizzlet die, Pretties Kit, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, 1 3/4" circle punch

Class Project #4

Love this card that we did at the new catalog class last week. I really like this combination-- Almost Amethyst and Elegant Eggplant.

The top layer of this card was run through the Big Shot with the Elegant Bouquet texture plate. Then we scalloped the edge, and added another scalloped edge in Eggplant.

The card is Elegant Eggplant with a layer of Almost Amethyst on top. The greeting is from the Oval All set, stamped in Basic Black and punched out with the Large Oval Punch and layered on an Elegant Eggplant scallop oval. The ovals are added to the card with White Taffeta ribbon.

I hope you enjoy this card. It's elegant and could be used for any occasion really.

Set: Oval All
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Elegant Bouquet Texture Plate, White Taffeta Ribbon, Large Oval and Scallop Oval Punches, 1/8" punch, Scallop Edge punch, Almost Amethyst and Elegant Eggplant Markers

Class Project #3

Cute new set called On a Pedestal is featured here. Using the new Melon Mambo color, along with Certainly Celery and Chocolate chip, this was a favorite at the new catalog class last week.

First, I stamped the pedestal in Chocolate chip, then stacked the words on top in Basic Black. I stamped the cupcake in both Certainly Celery and Melon Mambo on scrap white cardstock and cut them out, layering the Melon on the Celery and adding a little dazzling diamonds. I stamped the candle right where the cupcake would end and then added the cupcake with dimensionals. This focal point was mounted Melon Mambo and I added the scallop on the bottom to mimic the scallop on the pedestal.

The card itself is Melon Mambo with a layer of Chocolate Chip on top. I added a strip of Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and some Celery twill ribbon across the middle. Cute set, cute card. Hope you enjoy.

Set: On a Pedestal
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Scallop Edge Punch, 1/16" Punch, Dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds, Two-Way Glue Pen, Basic Black and Summer Sun markers, Celery Twill (from Sale-a-bration)

Specials

Wow, Stampin' Up! is on it these days. You'd think the great new catalog and fabulous mini coming up would be enough. But they are also offering a couple of great specials.

First is the special of the week. The Vanilla Hodgepodge kit is on sale for 30% off. It's only $18.99. Visit my website or contact me to order today.


If you've ever considered becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator-- the time is now. Through the end of August you can sign up to be a demonstrator for only $85 and receive all of the kit materials below. What I love about this kit is that it has all of the new In-Color pads and cardstock along with one of my favorite new sets For All You Do. The product in this kit alone is valued at over $80-- and you essentially get all of the business supplies for free. If you are interested, contact me today and we'll get you signed up.

Razzleberry Crazy

Simple Razzle Dazzle card in the new Razzleberry in-color. I'm really diggin' this color as purple is my second favorite color. This was a simple card. Just stamped the Razzle Dazzle flower and greeting in Razzleberry on Whisper White and then layered it on Razzleberry and the more Whisper White. I wrapped a bit of the new Razzleberry polka-dot ribbon around the right corner and topped with a Latte white button with a small clear rhinestone brad through the holes. The background is textured Razzleberry cardstock with Razzleberry Lemonade DSP on the bottom half. The card itself if Whisper White.

Set: Razzle Dazzle
Ink: Razzleberry
Cardstock: Razzleberry, Whisper White
Accessories: Razzleberry polkda dot ribbon, Latte button, Rhinestone brad, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP

Class project #1

I'm going to share with you over the next week or so, the projects we did at the new catalog class last night. I had 10 great stampers join me and we had a really good time using new product-- sets, colors and accessories.
I'm really enjoying the Circle Circus set. I wasn't sold on this set originally, but it's really grown on me and I'm glad I got it during the pre-order. This card was relatively easy. The colors are Whisper White, Basic Black and Bermuda Bay- which I love! We stamped the circles in versamark and embossed with black embossing powder. Then colored in the flowers with the Bemuda Bay marker to add highlights. Added the Bermuda Bay polka-dot ribbon with a touch of black ribbon and the greeting. Very simple, but striking card.

Set: Circle Circus, Razzle Dazzle
Ink: Versmark, Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Bermuda Bay marker, Bermuda Bay ribbon, Black grosgrain ribbon, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

The More the Merrier

This set- The More the Merrier- is my favorite new hostess set. I love this card in Melon Mambo and Chocolate Chip. The cupcakes are stamped in black Stazon ink on Shimmery White and then I used a blender pen and a variety of ink colors to color them in. I added a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the cupcake tops to make them dazzle.

The card is textured Melon mambo and has a layer of Chocolate Chip cardstock behind it. The strip on the left is Chocolate Chip that has been run through the Big Shot with the tiny dot texture plate. I layered a strip from the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP set over the chocolate cardstock and stapled it to the card. There is also a small strip of wide chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon stapled to the cupcake image. The greeting (which is hard to see here) is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink.

This is a very sweet set and can only be earned by hosting a workshop/catalog party/club meeting, etc. It is not available for purchase. If you would like this set to create amazing cards with, e-mail me (amyward@rocketmail.com) and we'll set up a workshop date for you.

A few more circles and NEW colors

This very simple card also features the Circle Circus set and some of the new In Colors. What I love about this set is that all of the stamped images fit in our punches. No trimming necessary. This card features the colors Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay as well as Rose Red. Some images were mounted on Soft Suede circles. For some dimension and texture I also added the Rose Red stitched grosgrain ribbon, a pewter brad and a pewter build a brad. The greeting comes from the Thank You Kindly stamp set.

Sets: Circle Circus, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Rose Red
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Soft Suede
Accessories: Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Pewter Brad, Pewter Build a Brad, Circle Punches

Free Big Shot Die Set

Not sure if you've ever looked at the website "Stampin' Addicts" but it's a great place to get ideas using the Stampin' Up! Big Shot. They are also giving away a Big Shot Die pack with 5 of the new exclusive SU dies. Make sure to check it out.

New Catalog Launch

Yeah... it's here. The new catalog. I got busy stamping with the new stamps and colors last night and got carried away. I'm going to share my favorite sample with you today. This sample uses the set Circle Circus and the new in-color Melon Mambo.The other color I used was Certainly Celery. First I embossed the circles in black on both Melon and Celery cardstock. Then I punched them out with the appropriate circle punch. I backed the smallest ones on black to make them POP. For the largest circle, I cut out two of the celery flowers and adhered them to the melon circle.

I mounted everything on the Whisper White, with a layer of Certainly Celery and Basic Black Below and stamped the greeting in black. I also did some paper piercing in the top right corner. The card itself is Textured Melon Mambo layered on a Basic Black card. I got the idea from a sample on SCS, but changed it up to be my own. Hope it wets your whistle for the new catalog.

Sets: Circle Circus, Razzle Dazzle
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black
Cardstock: Textured Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Paper Piercer, Black Embossing Powder, black brad, 1 3/4", 1", 3/4" circle punches