Amy's Addiction

Taking a Break

2010-07-09T14:41:00.000-04:00

I've been absent for quite a while again... I apologize. I am going to take an official break from blogging for a while. I guess I've already been doing that, just without formally mentioning it. life has gotten pretty busy, and I just haven't been stamping as much lately. I hope to be back. Until then... happy stamping!

Five Scoops Please

2010-06-09T07:31:00.000-04:00

This card is for all of you who just love ice cream, and never can make up your mind about what flavor to get... chocolate, or strawberry, or mint, or banana. Just get them all! Here I have created a huge quadruple scoop +1 (I don't know what you call 5 scoops) ice cream cone.

This is not a difficult card but does take a lot of patience. I stamped the ice cream from Sweet Scoops in five different colors on Whisper White and then covered each scoop with Crystal Effects. While it is drying, I created the rest of the card-- it is a Whisper White base, with a layer of Close to Cocoa and Tropical Oasis DSP (from the mini) on top. Once the scoops were dry, I cut each of them out using the paper snips. Then I stacked them on the Close to Cocoa cone using dimensionals. The greeting is part of a larger greeting that I just used a marker to stamp alongside the cone.

I layered the Whisper White focal point on close to cocoa and added a white tafetta ribbon. And, there you go. Be sure that the crystal effects is completely hard before you begin handlin the scoops of ice cream. If it's still tacky, you will get weird bumps in the ice cream. Not so scrumptious!

Set: Sweet Scoops

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and old olive

Cardstock: Whisper White and Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Tropical Oasis DSP, Crystal Effects, White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

Watercolor Trio

2010-06-07T05:34:00.000-04:00

I've been traveling a lot lately. In San Diego a couple of weeks ago and now in Portland... not much time for stamping lately. But, I had to play with my new mini sets when I got them. Watercolor Trio is one of the sets I really like in the mini. My other inspiration for this card is Almost Amethyst. I'm very excited about the new colors, but am sad to see many of the old ones go. My most favorite color-- and one of the first ones I ever got-- is Almost Amethyst. I've felt inspired to use it while I can.

This card is made with Shimmery White, with layers of Elegant Eggplant and Almost Amethyst. The focal point has the Watercolor Trio images stamped in Almost Amethyst and Elegant Eggplant. In the middle of each of the Eggplant flowers I added one of the half pearls from the Pretties Kit (also retiring). One of the things I love about this set is the gorgeous greetings. This greeting is stamped in Eggplant on a handmade tag. The tag is added to the card with the White Satin Ribbon on the left side of the card. Another simple, yet elegant card.

Stamps: Watercolor Trio

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst

Cardstock: Shimmery White, Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Pretties Kit, White Satin Ribbon, 1/8" Punch

Sweet Pea Sympathy

2010-06-02T14:43:00.000-04:00

You are in for a rare treat today. I make it a point to not post non-SU stuff on my blog. Since I sell SU, I don't really like to sell other products. But, I've been spending a lot of time learning to color with Copic markers. Papertrey Ink has some beautiful floral stamps that are open which makes them perfect for coloring. This is the Sweet Pea Year of Flowers set.

Unfortunately, several of my friends have recently lost a parent or close family member. It's been a really rough couple of month for my circle. This is a sympathy card I created for a very close friend who lost her father to a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

The card itself is Certainly Celery with a layer of Pretty in Pink that has the polka dot texture from the Big Shot. The bottom edge is scalloped with this year's free SAB punch. The focal point is stamped in Ranger black ink and is colored in several copic colors. I will post a picture of the colors I used later. It is mounted on layers of Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose and sewn together on the sewing machine and added to the card using dimensionals. I also used the white satin/organdy ribbon and a pink button to finish it off.

I hope you like.

I Scream, You Scream....

2010-05-27T22:24:00.000-04:00

Here is a really cute new set from the Summer Mini catalog. In fact, it is my favorite set in the mini-- Sweet Scoops. Not only do I love me some ice cream, but I love what it stand for for me. When we were really young, growing up in the middle of nowhere, we used to ride our bikes to this fabulous ice cream shop- New Baltimore- where they made homemade ice cream. I can almost take my favorite-- Banana. Then once I was older, in college, I used to walk my dog down to another ice cream shop, Bobs, where we would share a cone. Small town joys. Those type of memories make me very fond of this set.

This is a card that I did for my clubs this month. Very simple, but fun. I used Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise, all found in the Tropical Oasis DSP used on the top of the card. This gave me the inspiration for the ice cream colors. Add a little scalloping on the DSP and the focal point as well as a little bling bling and you've got a yummy card.

Set: Sweet Scoops

Ink: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, 1/16" punch, Tropical Oasis DSP, Dimensionals

I'm alive... really

2010-05-24T03:21:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been extremely busy lately... between work, school, stamping, volunteering and helping mom with the cookies... no time for stamping. But I do still have my monthly clubs, so I have had to create a bit lately. This project is one of the projects we did for my club last month... an old creation now, but I still love it enough to share. I admit that the flowers aren't exactly easy to do, but soooo worth it.

I got this idea from someone else's blog. As soon as I find it, I will post the link. The colors I used here are my beloved (and soon to be discontinued) Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery and Whisper White.

I'm not going to go through all the details of how to do this since the link will take you to a tutorial. I will tell you though that some of the key steps in this are patience, destroying the fibers in the cardstock before you start, and patience. Once you do it once, you'll be a pro.

This was made in time for Mother's Day, but I'm sure anybody would be thrilled to receive this lovely tag atop their gift.

I'm going to try to be better about blogging.... and stamping. Really I am. Thanks for your patience.

No stamping--- No fun

2010-04-13T14:16:00.000-04:00

I have had NO TIME lately to do any stamping! I'm hoping to be able to spend a little time in the stamp room this week. I hope to have some new samples for you then.

In the meantime check out our new Scrumptious Celebrations website at http://www.scrumptiouscelebrations.yolasite.com. There are so many new designs to choose from and new ones every week. I'd love to get feedback on what other designs you might be interested in.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T22:54:00.000-04:00

I sure hope you had as wonderful an Easter Sunday as I did. I hope you are rejoicing in the joy of the Lord today. What a special day. One of the things I still love to do for Easter is color eggs. After coloring my eggs, I did my decorating this year using the Egg-cellent Eggs kit from the Occasions Mini. Here are the results!

Mystery Card Class- Part 5

2010-04-01T09:43:00.000-04:00

I just realized that I never did post the fifth and final card from the Mystery Card Class... so here goes. If you remember, I gave people all of the supplies including stamped images, etc and let them create a card-- without seeing my sample first. The cards above are what those in the class created! Very very creative!

This is my sample. The card is Very Vanilla on a background of Elegant Eggplant. I stamped the Medallion stamp in Almost Amethyst on the side of the card and the greeting from Well Scripted on the bottom in Elegant Eggplant. The focal point is a the flower from Happy Moments (a sale-a-bration set). I stamped it in Basic Black on Very Vanilla and colored it in with markers- Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst, Lavender Lace and Certainly Celery. I punched the image out with the Scallop Circle punch and then added 1/16" punches in each scallop. I layered it on a 1 3/8" punch out of Almost Amethyst and then a larger circle of Elegant Eggplant that I cut out with the Creative Memories circle cutter. I added the image to the card using dimensionals.

The border in the middle is Elegant Eggplant with the Eyelet Border punch and a sliver of Almost Amethyst cardstock along the top. Lastly I added a bow around the middle using Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon.

I hope you enjoyed this series. It was a really fun class. I'm planning on doing it again with Christmas cards.

Sets: Well Scripted, Happy Moments

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Almost Emethyst

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla, Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Eyelet Border, Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" circle punches, Creative Memories Circle Cutter

Easter Greetings

2010-03-26T11:08:00.000-04:00

I love this little set. It is sooo cute. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of it right now.

This card is a 4 1/4" square of So Saffron with a layer of Chocolate chip and then a layer of designer paper from the Sweet Pea set. The top layer is Chocolate Chip, then Bashful Blue, then a sliver of Sweet Pea DSP. For the focal point I stamped the cute chick in Stazon Black on Whisper White and colored her in with So Saffron ink and a Blender Pen. I stamped the egg part of the image again on the designer paper (to match the bottom layer) and cut it out an put it over the image. The entire piece is added with dimmensionals with a bit of chocolate chip satin ribbon and a word window tag with Happy Easter stamped in Basic Black. The top layer is adhered to the bottom layer using sticky strip and the entire card is the perfect size for our regular medium envelopes.

Sets: ??

Ink: Basic Black

Cardstock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Accessories: Sweet Pea DSP, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Dimmensionals, Sticky Strip

Scrumptious Celebrations

2010-03-24T15:53:00.002-04:00

My mom and I have started a new venture. We are making cupcakes and cookies- homemade, hand decorated-- for your special occasion.

Make sure your next celebration SCRUMPTIOUS with our homemade cookies and cupcakes! Delicious desserts for the most discriminate sweet tooth! We can make treats for any holiday or occasion.

Birthdays
Showers
Weddings
Baptism/Communion
Valentines
Easter
St. Patrick's Day
Fourth of July
Back to School
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Years
Another occasion? Just ask.

Pictures represent possible designs. However, we can create designs for almost any occasion, just ask.

Now taking Easter orders. Must have 48 hours notice.

For ordering and pricing information go to http://www.scrumptiouscelebrations.yolasite.com.

Mystery Card Class-- Part 4

2010-03-16T10:33:00.000-04:00

So, this is the fourth card from the mystery card class... sorry it's taken me a while to get them all posted.This card is sweet yet ever so simple. The card itself is So Saffron and it has an layer of Old Olive colored designer paper from the Sweet Pea DSP. The layer about that is also So Saffron with a different piece of Sweet Pea designer paper.

I punched the bird out of the same Old Olive designer paper and the wing out of the same striped designer paper below. The bird is mounted on the Very Vanilla Cardstock using dimensionals. I used a tiny rhinestone from the Eggcelent Egg Decorating Kit for the eye. Then I stamped the greeting from Sale-a-bration set Well Scripted in Basic Black ink. I mounted the Very Vanilla on a layer of Old Olive and put it on the card using Dimensionals. Lastly I added some vanilla satin ribbon to finish it off.

Here are the cards that the girls created without seeing mine first. So creative!

Set: Well Scripted
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Eggcelent Egg Kit, X-lg Bird Punch, Corner Rounder, Sweet Pea DSP, Dimensionals

Mystery Card Class-- Part 3

2010-03-10T16:12:00.000-05:00

Here we go with card number 3 from the Mystery Card Class. This card very simple and most cards came out similar to mine-- as you can see below. The girls really liked this one-- but then who doesn't love that cute little owl?

So, my card was Taken with Teal on a Chocolate Chip back. I used Sweet Pea designer paper for the strip across the middle as well as the extra large flower punch. I layered the designer paper flower on another chocolate chip flower and added a small piece of chocolate chip ribbon, with the ends sticking out, under neath. On top, I stamped the owl from Fox and Friends in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White and punched it out with the 1 3/8" circle punch and then layered it on a 1 1/4" circle in Chocolate Chip. Lastly I created a banner out of Whisper White cardstock and stamped the greeting from the Picture This set. Simple but fun card.

Sets: Fox and Friends, Picture This
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Accessories: X-large Flower Punch, 1 3/8 and 1 1/4" circle punches, Dimensionals, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Sweet Pea DSP, Taken with Teal Marker

Mystery Card Class-- Part 2

2010-03-09T20:02:00.002-05:00

So, here is card number two at my mystery card class. If you are just checking in, go here, to learn about what the Mystery Card Class is.

So, here is my card to the left. It is a 3x6" card that is textured Chocolate Chip cardstock, layered on a piece of Kraft cardstock. On the front of the card is a small piece of Kraft cardstock with the "simply thanks" stamp stamped on it in Chocolate Chip ink. I then layered three small butterflies from the Butterfly Embosslit in Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay and Vellum cardstock. I added a silver brad and some of the Melon Mambo polka-dot ribbon at the top left. And lastly, I added a small piece of the Scallop Border punch in Chocolate Chip on the left side of the card.

You demonstrators may recognize this card as it was one of the samples in the last Stampin' Discuss magazine.

Now, on to the cards that the girls made using all of these pieces parts. I was so impressed with the creativity and the fact that everyone's cards came out so different.

Set: Simply Thanks
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip textured, Kraft, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay and Vellum Cardstock
Accessories: Butterfly Embosslit, Scallop Border Punch, Silver Brad, Melon Mambo ribbon

Mystery Card Class-- Part 1

2010-03-05T10:31:00.016-05:00

I held a fun class the other night-- unlike any class I've ever held. It was a Mystery Card Class. A customer of mine found this idea from another demonstrator on a blog and I thought it was fabulous. We made 10 cards today- 5 designs- 2 of each. I gave them all the supplies for the card including stamped and punched images. Then they created a card with it without my sample. Then I showed them my sample and on the second version they could copy mine, theirs or someone elses at the table. It was really fun! Everyone had a great time. So for the next few days I'm going to show you their first cards and the sample.
First, here are the girls:

And here are their cards for the first project:
The sample card that I made is a 4 1/4" Whisper White square. It has a layer of Pretty in Pink on top with a layer of Certainly Celery that I ran through the Big Shot using the Elegant Bouquet Impression Folder and scalloped the right edge. This card has several elements of the new Eggcelent Eggs Kit from the Occasions Mini. The strip across the middle and the flowers and leaves are all from that kit (as are the rhinestones used on the girls cards.) The flowers were layered with three parts and leaves and added to the card with gold brads. Lastly I stamped the words "For You" from the All Holidays set and added some White Taffeta Ribbon around the middle. I think this is a perfect spring/Easter card. I can't wait to show you the other cards from the class.

Sets: All Holidays
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Eggcelent Eggs Kit, Gold Brads, White Taffeta Ribbon, 1/16" punch, Scallop Edge Punch (SAB), Elegant Bouquet Impression Folder and BigShot

Another flower

2010-03-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

Look at this cutie! This is a really simple flower. I punched out some of the Sending Love DSP using the 1 3/8, 1 3/4, 1 1/4 and 1" punches-- one of each. Then I cut the edges on each circle, curled them up using a skewer and put them all together using a clear rhinestone brad. The leaves come from the Sweet Pea felt flowers set.

This 4 1/4" square card is make with textured Chocolate Chip Cardstock with a layer of Whisper White and then a layer of the Sending Love DSP and another layer of textured Chocolate Chip. The flower was added using glue dots. And then a soft pink taffeta bow was added.

Cardstock: Textured Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Sending Love DSP, Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Sweet Pea Felt Flowers, Corner Rounder punch, 1 3/8, 1 3/4, 1 1/4 and 1 inch punches

Flowers Flowers Everywhere

2010-02-27T16:07:00.001-05:00

Have you noticed on all the blogs that everyone is making paper flowers... all kinds of paper flowers? Well, I have to and here is one of mine.The paper on this card is from one of last year's designer paper sets called Taste of Texture. I always loved this paper and luckily hoarded most of it, so I could make this very simple card that I absolutely love. I added some Black Grosgrain Ribbon around the card and the greeting from Whimsical Words was stamped in Basic Black

The flower is made from old dictionary pages. I punched out 6 scallop circles punches of the dictionary page and scrunched them all up, one at a time in my hand. Then I flatted them out and layered them so they weren't all aligned and put a brad right in the middle to keep them together. Next I took one layer at a time and wrinkled it up towards the middle until all but the bottom layer was scrunched up. Then I just played with it, pulling pieces down or re-scrunching until I got it to look the way I liked it. I removed the black brad and put it through the holes of the of the small red buttons from the Playground set and used a glue dot to adhere the button to the center of the flower. The flower was adhered to the card using glue dots as well.

That's it. I hope the flower instructions are clear enough. I'm sorry, I don't do tutorials. I've seen several on people's blogs, but I cannot remember where. If you do a quick search you can probably find a visual.

Set: Whimsical Words
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Textured Basic Black and striped Kraft from Taste of Texture DSP (retired)
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Black Brad, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Playground Buttons, Taste of Texture DSP

Foxy Friend

2010-02-24T12:58:00.002-05:00

Can you tell I'm enjoying this Fox and Friend set? I never have cards for the little people in my life and now I have a great set to make them.

This is a really easy card. The card is Very Vanilla with a layer of Chocolate Chip in the back. The designer paper is from the Sweet Pea DSP set and there are two different designs here. The edge of the top layer is roughed up using the key ring tool kit. I added some retired chocolate twill from last year.

The focal point is the fox stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and cut out, added to a small square punch of Old Olive cardstock layered on a Scallop Square punch out in Chocolate chip ink. The fox is mounted with dimensionals as is the scallop square. The greeting is from A Little Birthday Cheer-- one of the Sale-a-Bration set options-- stamped in Chocolate Chip. Lastly I added some googlie eyes to the fox to make him more fun.

Sets: Fox and Friends, A Little Birthday Cheer
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Dimesionals, Small Square and Scallop Square punches, Key Ring Tool Kit, Chocolate Twill ribbon (retired) and googlie eyes

For my Little Friends

2010-02-23T11:42:00.003-05:00

It's been a rough winter for everyone. About a month ago, we had about 3 inches of snow here in NC. Crazy! But, I got to spend the entire day in the house, stamping! Good times. I knew that my best friend's kids were out loving the snow, playing like crazy. I made them this card, which they loved!It's probably difficult to see all the detail, but I'll describe it. I ripped textured Whisper White cardstock and layered it along the bottom. I added a small layer of Old Olive on the bottom of the card to be the grass. Then I stamped the tree from the Thoughts and Prayers set in Chocolate Chip and added Old Olive using the blender pen on the leaves. I added clouds using the classic cloud stencil and Bashful Blue ink. The greeting is stamped in Chocolate Chip and is from a retired word set (that I cannot remember the name of.) The monkeys, one is Asha and one is Devak, come from the Fox and Friends set and are cut out and put on the card with dimensionals. Lastly, I added "snow" everywhere. I used white Flower Soft for the snow on the ground and tree and on the monkey's heads. I adhered it with a two-way glue pen. Lastly I added some "snowballs" by using some small white pom poms. Each of the monkeys have a snowball because I know that's what the kids were doing that day-- throwing snowballs at each other.

The kids loved the card... and I guess some of the "snow" fell off the card, so when they opened it they got "snowed" on which they really enjoyed.

I hope you enjoy it too!

Butterflies Everywhere

2010-02-19T14:39:00.002-05:00

I have another cute card for you today. This is a card that we did this week at stamp club. It is basically a BigShot card... using the new Butterfly Emosslit and the Polka Dot Impression Folder.

The card is made with Kraft cardstock as is the upper layer. There is layer of Whisper White in the middle. The upper Kraft layer was run though the BigShot using the Polka Dots Impression Folder. The card's focal point includes butterflies using the new Butterfly Embosslit in the mini catalog. I created one butterfly in each of these colors- Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay and Old Olive butterflies. I also created three butterflies using Vellum cardstock. I layered the cardstock and vellum butterflies using Crystal Effects and then added them to the layer of Kraft on White. Under the white I added a small strip of Melon Mambo punched with the Scallop Edge punch.

Lastly I added a greeting using the Happy Moments Sale-a-bration set and Basic Black Ink on Kraft cardstock. I punched it out using the Word Window punch and added a 1/16" hole on the end where I could thread through some of the Linen Thread.

Actually a pretty easy card, except for having to run the BigShot six times to get the butterflies.

Set: Happy Moments
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Vellum
Accessories: Butterfly Embosslit, Polka Do Impression Folder, Scallop Edge punch, 1/16" punch, Word Window Punch, Linen Thread

New Baby Girl

2010-02-17T09:58:00.003-05:00

Had my stamp club last night... good times! Love those ladies. I have my other club this weekend. Club days are some of my favorite days each month.

I'm also getting ready to do the cleanse again. We are starting later this week. If you remember, I did this 21 day cleanse, recommended by my chiropractor, back in October. I squeaked through the first 10 days not being able to eat my favorite-- chicken! The last 11 days weren't that bad, but once it was over, I jumped back into the carbs and gained all the weight I lost back... in record time. So, this time, I feel much more at ease about it since I know what to expect. And, I know better what NOT to do once it is over. I'm gonna have to ease different foods back into my diet and stay completely away from other-- SWEETS-- which I have NO control over. So wish me luck... I'll keep you posted.

On to today's card... a cute new baby card using Fox and Friends. Club ladies swapped baby/kid cards last night and since I seem to continuously have new babies popping up, I decided to swap with them. This was my card.The card itself is Whisper White and is layered on a piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock. The designer paper is from the Sweet Pea DSP set and I used the Eyelet Border punch to scallop the edge, along with a strip of Pretty in Pink underneath.

The image is the giraffe from Fox and Friends and is stamped in Close to Cocoa and the dots are filled in with the Pretty in Pink marker. I punched the giraffe out with the scallop oval and added small pink dots on each of the scallops with the Pretty in Pink marker. I layered the giraffe on a Close to Cocoa and Pretty in Pink Scallop Oval and adhered it to the card using dimensionals. I added the words "Small Wonder" in Close to Cocoa from the Sale-a-bration Whimsical Words set. Lastly I added a soft bow in the Pretty in Pink satin ribbon. If I haven't mentioned it, I absolutely love this ribbon. It is yummy enough to eat!

Sets: Whimsical Words, Fox and Friends
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Accessories: Sweet Pea DSP, Scallop Punch, Pretty in Pink Marker, Eyelet Border Punch, Dimensionals, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon

Thanks for Owl You Do

2010-02-16T16:14:00.003-05:00

Here we are with another Fox and Friends sample. I'm really enjoying this set. This time I combined the set with a new hostess set in the Occasions Mini called Picture This.

The card is Old Olive and the corners are rounded just on the bottom. I ran the top Olive layer through the BigShot using the Polka Dot Impression Folder. There is a layer of Chocolate Chip on the back. The brown layer on top of the green is designer paper from the Sweet Pea DSP. The tree layer on top is from that paper set also. I stitched the sides of the narrow strip with the sewing machine.

I stamped the owl in Chocolate Chip and punched it out with the 1 1/4" circle. That is layered on a 1 1/2" Chocolate Chip circle and then on a 1 3/4" Old Olive circle. I used the Chocolate Chip marker to add dots along the olive circle. The entire image was adhered to the card using dimensionals.

The greeting is from Picture This and is stamped in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White cardstock and layered on Old Olive cardstock. The ends are cut at a V on both layers.

Sets: Fox and Friends, Picture This
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Circle Punches, Dimensionals, Sweet Pea DSP, Sewing Machine

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-11T15:16:00.003-05:00

I spent last Sunday afternoon making sugar cookies for Valentine's day. My little sister Jayla (I volunteer for Big Brothers and Sisters) was suppose to come over to I made up a batch of sugar cookies and thought that it would be fun for us to make them and decorate them. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to come, but I still had to make the cookies. So I spent half the afternoon making these. It was a fun, relaxing, enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I gave a bunch to Jayla, took a bunch to work, and ate a few myself.

Hope you have a special Valentine's Day!

Fox and Friends Valentines

2010-02-11T14:57:00.003-05:00

Valentines for my best friend's kids featuring Fox and Friends. They will love them.

The pink one is for Asha and features the fox from Fox and Friends. The card is a 4 1/4" Whisper White square with a layer of Pretty in Pink cardstock on top. Then I added a strip of Sending Love DSP with a Scalloped Edge on the left side. The Pretty in Pink heart was created with the Heart Embosslit and the Big Shot and it was layered on a Chocolate Chip embossed heart. The fox was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and I colored in her tail with Asha's favorite color Pink and I added eye lashes to her eyes to make her a girly fox with a Basic Black marker. The fox was added to the heart and the hearts were added to the card using dimmensionals. Lastly I stamped "Happy Valentine's Day" from A Happy Heart in Chocolate Chip ink and added some of the lovely pink satin ribbon.

The second card is for Devak and features the lion from Fox and Friends. Devak is 2 1/2 and loves lions-- ROAR! The card is a 4 1/4" Whisper White square with a layer of Good Neighbor DSP in More Mustard. There is a layer of chocolate polka dot DSP from the Sweet Pea DSP collection with a ripped edge on the left side. The Chocolate Chip heart is made with the Heart Embosslit and the Big Shot and is put on the card using dimmensionals. The lion was stamped in More Mustard on Whisper White cardstock and cut out. Then I stamped the lion's mane on a post-it note and cut it out. I stuck the post-it note (with the stamped mane) on another piece of More Mustard Good Neighbor DSP and cut out the mane and layered it on the lion using a dimmensional. I stamped the face again with More Mustard on Whisper White cardstock and cut it out and layered it on the mane using a dimmensional. I highlighted the eyes and mouth using a Basic Black marker and stamped "Happy Valentine's Day" from A Happy Heart using Chocolate Chip ink. Lastly, I added some of the yummy chocolate satin ribbon on the side.

Cute Valentines for some cute kids! Will you be my Valentine?

Sets: Fox and Friends, A Happy Heart
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Sending Love, Good Neighbor and Sweet Pea DSP, Scallop Edge Punch, Chocolate and Pink satin ribbons, Heart Embosslit, Dimmensionals, Pretty in Pink and Basic Black markers, Corner Rounder

Tess Returns

2010-02-10T14:28:00.002-05:00

I'm liking Tess and liking paper piecing Tess.

This card is 3x6 and Chocolate Chip (again). The two pieces of designer paper both on the card, and the two I used to paper piece Tess' clothes are from the Sweet Pea DSP. The top piece on the card is scalloped using the scallop border punch.

Tess is stamped in Basic Black on a Very Vanilla carstock tag made using the Big Shot and the Two Tags SU Bigz Die. I colored Tess's hair in with the So Saffron ink pad and an aqua painter. And her skin is done with Creamy Caramel ink. I stamped the Celebrate You greeting (from A Little Birthday Cheer set) on the left side in Chocolate Chip ink. Lastly I added a chocolate button with a glue dot and some Mellow Moss Grosgrain ribbon on the top.

Simple, but cute.

Sets: A Little Birthday Cheer, Totally Tess
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, So Saffron, Creamy Caramel
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Sweet Pea DSP, Button, Glue Dot, Aqua Painter, Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch

Happy Moments

2010-02-09T10:04:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I know, I use a lot of pink and chocolate. Don't you just love it though?

This card uses a couple of Sale-a-bration stamp sets. The first is the cake from Happy Moments. I stamped the cake on Shimmery White cardstock in Stazon Black ink and watercolored the cake with ink pads and an aqua painter. The second stamp is from Whimsical Words and is stamped in Craft White ink.

The card itself is Chocolate Chip. I added a layer of my favorite paper from the Sending Love DPS on the left side and then a layer of Pretty In Pink cardstock in the middle. I stitched the pink onto the Chocolate cardstock using my sewing machine. (I also added a piece of Whisper White cardstock on the inside to cover up the stitching.)

For the main image, I rounded the corners of the Shimmery White cardstock and then added a layer of Pretty in Pink and then Chocolate Chip. I adhered the cake to the card using dimmensionals. Lastly, I added the gorgeous pink satin ribbon the side. This ribbon is soooo yummy-- in fact the cake looks yummy too!

Sets: Whimsical Words, Happy Moments
Ink: Craft White, Stazon Black
Cardstock: Shimmery White, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Sending Love DSP, Pink Satin Ribbon, Aqua Painter, Corner Rounder, Dimmensionals, Sewing Machine

Tess in Razzleberry

2010-02-08T15:52:00.004-05:00

Here's another Tess sample using my favorite in-color Razzleberry. This is a Whisper White card with a layer of Rich Razzleberry behind. I ran the front of the white card through the BigShot with the polka dot impression folder to give it the embossed polka dots.
I used my Creative Memories circle cutter to cut the white and Razzleberry circles or the main image. I stamped Tess in Stazon Black on the white circle and colored her in with ink pads and an aqua painter. I paper pieced some Razzleberry Lemonade DSP to make her shirt. I adhered her to the card using dimmensionals.

The designer paper layer is also from the Razzlebery Lemonade series and I layered the DSP on a piece of Rich Razzleberry with a little sliver of Scalloped Whisper White cardstock in between. In each scallop I punched a 1/16" punch. Then I tied the polka dot Razzleberry ribbon around the entire piece and adhered it to the white card.

I stamped "The best things in life are made, not bought" in basic black on Whisper White, mounted it on a piece of Rich Razzleberry, cut the notch in the end of the tag and added it to the card. Lastly I added the button with linen thread to the end with a glue dot.

Sets: Totally Tess
Ink: Stazon Black, Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip and Creamy Caramel to watercolor
Cardstock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Polka Dot Razzleberry ribbon, Scallop Edge and 1/16" punches, dimmensionals, button, linen thread

Trendy Trees

2010-02-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

Today I have another new sample to share. It uses an old set Trendy Trees. The card itself is Chocolate Chip (what a surprise huh?) Then I added a layer of Old Olive and some of the new Sweet Pea designer paper. I scalloped the edge of the top layer of designer paper using the Scallop Edge punch. I sewed around the designer paper using the sewing machine.

For the main image, I stamped three of the Trendy Trees on Whisper White. I used the spritzer tool and rounded the top two corners and layered it on Chocolate Chip. It's put on the card with dimmensionals. Happy Birthday is stamped in Chocolate Chip on Whisper with two gold brads added for texture. A great card for a man or woman!

Sets: Trendy Trees
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Really Rust and Old Olive
Carstock: Chocolate chip, Whisper White, Old Olive
Accessories: Sweet Pea DSP, Gold Brads, Spritzer Tool, Markers, Dimmensionals, Corner Rounder

Turtle Times Three

2010-02-05T10:32:00.004-05:00

Another Fox and Friends card today.... this card features the turtle.

This card is Old Olive with a layer of So Saffron on the back. On the front, I added a piece of designer paper from the Sweet Pea set and folded the top over then zig zag stitched it down.

I stamped the turtle in Old Olive on three small pieces of Very Vanilla cardstock, layered it on Old Olive and So Saffron. I rounded the right top corner of each and adhered them to the card using dimmensionals. I also colored the spots on the turtle with the So Saffron marker and added some Crystal Effects. On the fourth piece, I stamped "Celebrate You" from A Little Birthday Cheer in Basic Black and added an olive button with linen thread.

Lastly I used some of the Apricot grosgrain ribbon to tie a knot on the side.

Set: Fox and Friends, A Little Birthday Cheer
Ink: Old Olive, Basic Black
Cardstock: Old Olive, So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Apricot Ribbon, Crystal Effects, So Saffron marker, Dimmensionals, Corner Rounder punch, Playground Button, Linen Thread

Silly Monkeys

2010-02-04T09:54:00.006-05:00

I just got the Fox and Friends set from the Occasions Mini. I struggled with whether to get this set or not at first, but I'm really glad I did. I had a lot of fun with these cute little guys last weekend.

This is a Chocolate Chip card and the two pieces of designer paper come from the Sweet Pea set in the Mini. This pad of designer paper has 48 double sided sheets and they are FABULOUS! I used the Scallop Edge punch on the pumpkin pie polka dot piece and then punched a 1/16" punch in the middle of each scallop.

For the focal point, I stamped the monkey flipping around in Chocolate Chip and colored in his belly with Pumpkin Pie to match the designer paper. Then I added some paper piercing at the bottom of the monkeys. I mounted this strip on another piece of the pumpkin pie designer paper and then a layer of chocolate chip cardstock. I put this entire piece on the card with dimmensionals.

For some texture, I added some White Taffeta ribbon and a Pumpkin Pie Courdoroy button. The greeting comes from A Little Birthday Cheer set and I stamped it in Whisper White craft ink.

Sets: Fox and Friends, A Little Birthday Cheer
Ink: Whisper White Craft, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Cordouroy Button, Dimmensionals, Scallop Edge Punch, 1/16" Punch, Paper Piercer and grid.

Pretty Bird

2010-02-03T10:22:00.002-05:00

We had a bunch of nasty snowy weather last weekend in NC so I spent a great deal of time in my craft room and came up with some really great samples. I hope you enjoy them over the next few days.

This is a Very Vanilla Card, with a layer of Chocolate Chip behind. First, I stamped the Medallion stamp in Pretty in Pink in the bottom left corner. Then I added some of the gorgeous DSP from the Sending Love set and added a layer of Pretty in Pink cardstock on top. Before adding to the card, I pleated some of the pink satin ribbon and sewed it on the bottom of the designer paper. Isn't that just a gorgeous touch!

For the focal point I used the Large Bird punch and punched out the bird in Pretty in Pink, the wing from a piece of the Sending Love DSP and the branch from Certainly Celery. I added it to the card using dimmensionals. I also added the Happy Birthday greeting in Chocolate Chip in the top left corner. Hope you enjoy.

Set: Medallion
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Pink Satin ribbon, Large Bird punch, Sending Love DSP, Dimmensionals

Dandelion Wishes

2010-01-29T09:56:00.002-05:00

Another quick and easy Valentines card today. This card base is Whisper White. It has two layers of DSP at the top and they are both from the Welcome Neighbor set in the Sale-a-bration mini. (This has 24 double sided 6x6 sheets and is a free gift with any $50 purchase!) Both layers were punched with the Scallop Edge Punch (another free gift!) Lastly I added a bow in the Pink Satin Ribbon (from the Occasions Mini).

The stamps are from A Happy Heart set and the dandelion is done with Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Chocolate Chip markers. The words are stamped in Chocolate Chip ink. Very easy but elegant card.

Set: A Happy Heart
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Whisper White
Accessories: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Chocolate Chip markers, Good Neighbor DSP, Scallop Edge Punch, Pink Satin Ribbon

Heart-felt Greetings

2010-01-28T10:28:00.004-05:00

Despite my indifference about Valentine's Day, I do like to make cards for V-day. I also LOVE this gorgeous designer paper called Sending Love (from the Occasion Mini). It is sooo pretty.

This is another 4 1/4 square Whisper White card, with a layer of the designer paper stitched on. The heart is made using the same designer paper and run through the Big Shot using the Heart Embosslit. Then I stitched the heart on the white block. The white block was run through the Big Shot as well with the Polka Dot Embossing Folder.

For some texture I added a Satin White bow and a White button (from the Latte button set) with a pink brad in the middle. It's put on with glue dots. The greeting comes from the A Hapy Heart set and is stamped in Basic Black ink.

Set: A Happy Heart
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White
Accessories: Sending Love DSP, Heart Embosslit, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, White Satin Ribbon, Latte Button, Subtle Brads, sewing machine

Something Sweet

2010-01-27T11:35:00.005-05:00

I held a gift giving class a couple of weeks ago and participants made 5 projects that could be given as a gift. I was suppose to originally hold this class before Christmas but was sick and had to postpone. I ended up having to change up a couple of projects that were Christmas-y but this one was my favorite, and the favorite of several in the group.
This is a recipe book that they could fill with their favorite sweet recipes. I used a small pink photo album and we covered it with an 8 1/2 x 12" piece of designer paper. The front was made with the On a Pedestal set and an old Sale-a-bration set called So Very. The images were stamped on Whisper White cardstock with a scallop edge and mounted on a layer of Melon Mambo. The cupcake was stamped twice and the pink layer was lifted with dimmensionals. I added a small chocolate library clip to add some texture. In addition, we wrapped the Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon around the entire book and pulled it up through two rectangle punched holes to make a bow.

I created recipe cards for each participant that say "Something Sweet from ---'s Kitchen" and below is a sample. There are 12 cards that fill the sleeves. Just fill out the cards and give as a sweet gift to someone special.

Sets: On the Pedestal, So Very
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Retired Close to Cocoa DSP, 1/16", Rectangle and Scallop Edge punches, Dimmensionals, Chocolate Library Clip, Sticky Strip, Melon Mambo ribbon

Butterflies Everwhere

2010-01-26T10:18:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite products in the new Occasions Mini is the Butterflies embosslit for the Big Shot. It makes the most gorgeous butterflies ever. If you haven't had a chance to play with this, be sure that you do.

This is another 4 1/4" square card... I'm finding myself doing a lot of these lately. The card is white with a layer of Taken with Teal and a layer of DSP from the Sweet Pea collection in the new mini.

The scalloped circle was made with the Big Shot and was run through a second time with the Polka Dot embossing folder. I punched a 1/16" circle in each of the scallops. The butterflies were done with the new embosslit and done in 4 different colors. I added them along the side of the circle using glue dots. I also added some tiny little rhinestones that are found in the Eggcellent Eggs Kit (also in the mini). BTW, this is the cutest little kit to decorate Easter eggs and has a good amount of rhinestones included.

The greeting for this card comes from the Thoughts and Prayers set and is stamped in Basic Black.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle die, Polka Dot embossing folder, Butterflies embosslit, Eggcellent Egg Kit, 1/16" punch, Sweet Pea DSP

A Little Birdie Told Me

2010-01-25T09:38:00.003-05:00

Isn't this birdie cute? She is one of the newly designed punches available in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The new punches are very easy to use and close up so they take less room.

This is a very simple card. It's a 4 1/4" Vanilla square with a layer of Really Red cardstock on top. Then I added a layer of the gorgeous Sending Love specialty designer paper. I punched out the three parts of the bird with three different papers- Really Red for the body, a piece of the Sending Love DSP for the wing and Chocolate Chip for the branch. Then I simply stamped "Grateful" from the Falling Leaves set in Chocolate Chip.

Lastly, I zig zag stitched the focal point onto the Really Red layer with the sewing machine. I've been enjoying sewing on cards again lately. I hope you enjoy what will likely the first of many cards using this fabulous bird punch.

Set: Falling Leaves
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Really Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Bird punch, sewing machine, Sending Love specialty designer paper, Dimmensionals, Chocolate Chip Marker

Tess

2010-01-22T09:52:00.002-05:00

I'm back and I'm really gonna try hard to keep this thing updated now. Especially since we have a whole new line of awesome products to play with.

First, I will start out with a cute new set called Totally Tess. Tess is a stamper, cardmaker and scrapbooker. Gotta love that. For this card, I made Tess into a Valentine's greeting by using the little heart stamp that comes with it.

The card here is Chocolate Chip and has a layer of Real Red and a layer of the Sending Love specialty designer paper. Both layers have been edged using the new Scallop Edge punch in the Sale-a-bration mini-- free with a $50 purchase.

The focal point here is Tess stamped in Basic Black. I watercolored the top of her and then paper pieced a pair of pants out of the same designer paper as above. It's very easy since her pants are a simple shape. I added the heart stamp in her hand and the Happy Valentine's Day greeting from the A Happy Heart stamp set. Then I layered the focal point on a layer of Real Red and corner rounded two opposite corners.

To add a little texture I added some of the new red satin ribbon (in the Occasions Mini) and a red button from the Playground designer series buttons and one of the adorable little Chocolate Epoxy Brads from the new Occasions Mini.

I love this card. It's very rich in color and fun!

Stamps: Totally Tess, A Happy Heart
Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip and Real Red, Creamy Caramel to watercolor
Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Accessories: Sending Love Specialty DSP, Scallop Edge Punch, Red Satin Ribbon, Playground Buttons, Epoxy Brads, Blender Pen

A couple of gifts for friends

2009-12-30T20:47:00.005-05:00

These are a couple of sets of monogrammed cards I made for my Pastor and his wife for Christmas. I always like to give them a little something and figured that they probably never get done writing out notes to folks in the church. I used the Just-Right monogramming system to do the monogram and used a variety of Stampin' Up! and non-Stampin' Up! related paper, cardstock and embelishments to finish them off.

Christmas in NC

2009-12-27T21:53:00.005-05:00

While I'm working on/updating my blog I thought I'd share with those of you still following me, what we've been up to here during the holiday season. I did some digital scrapbooking both of my new house during the holidays and the cookie exchange I held early in the month. Both were done with the My Digital Scrapbooking software from Stampin' Up! I'm really enjoying archiving these pictures like this. Enjoy!

Blog Redo/Update

2009-12-12T21:23:00.003-05:00

Sorry I've been gone for so long... I've been working on an update for the blog. I promise I'll be back when I'm updated. Great samples to share. See you in 2010.
Amy

Simple Falling Leaves

2009-11-10T09:58:00.008-05:00

The foliage is at it's peak here in NC. The colors are radiant and plentiful. It's a gorgeous time of year. So in honor of that, I'm posting a couple of simple cards using the Falling Leaves set. I really like this set because of the images and it has a Thanksgiving greeting in it and I don't have anything for Thanksgiving.

The first card, on the left is done in Really Rust and Chocolate Chip. It has a piece of the Autumn Meadows DSP and some wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon. From the ribbon I hung a tag. The tag is made with a series of punches. First the image is punched out with the 3/4" circle punch and then layered on the 1 1/4" circle of Really Rust and then on a Chocolate Chip scallop circle. Lastly I stamped the tiny little acorn from the set in Really Rust and cut it out and mounted it in the middle of the tag with a dimensional. I hung the tag with copper cord.

The second card, on the right, is even simpler. Is is a Chocolate Chip card with a layer of Taken with Teal and then a layer of the Autumn Meadows DSP. I stamped two of the leaves from the set- one in Chocolate Chip and one in Taken with Teal and cut them out. Then I stamped the greeting in Chocolate Chip at an angle across the front and added the leaves with dimensions at the end of the greeting.

These are both 4 1/4" square cards and are perfect for quick fall greetings for friends and family.

Stamps: Falling Leaves
Ink: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal
Cardstock: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Punches, Copper Cord, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Dimensionals

Convention Digi-Scrap

2009-11-06T13:49:00.003-05:00

Here we go with another digital scrapbook page using My Digital Scrapbook. Have I mentioned how much I really like this program? Yes, I guess so.

So this page has pictures from several of the Stampin' Up! conventions I've gone to with my great demonstrator friends. On this page, I've taken six pictures and put them in circle frames with the seventh picture being the spotlight in the middle-- with a little title added over top. Then I added a tag to each picture with embedded text. I added a few flowers and buttons on the right using a digital simply scrappin' kit and lastly, I used some designer paper for the background.

I'm sending these to the printer this afternoon and plan on having them "live" to show my club members this week.

I realize that it's hard to imagine how this works, but if you'd like a demo, just let me know. You'll be amazed how easy it is to make fabulous pages.

New Promotion

2009-11-04T16:18:00.000-05:00

Holiday Gift-Giving Guide

Dates: November 1, 2009-January 4, 2010

Details: You'll love the convenience of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Gift-Giving Guide! With gift ideas for kids, teens, neighbors, and more, it's your one-stop shop for all your holiday needs.

Plus, when you spend $50 on products in the guide, you'll get a Décor Elements for FREE (up to a $16.95 value)!

Holiday Card Class-- Pt 4

2009-11-04T16:06:00.004-05:00

I hope you've gotten some ideas from looking at the cards I did for the holiday card class. This is the fourth out of five. This card has a lot of BigShot items on it. The card itself is a 4 1/4" square made of Kraft cardstock. It has a layer of Real Red that I ran through the BigShot with the Plenty of Petals embossing folder after punching the edge with the scallop eyelet punch. There is also a strip of Soft Suede cardstock above the red piece and narrow ivory grosgrain ribbon around.

The tag is made from the Christmas Cocoa DSP and is made with the Merry Embosslit-- both from the Holiday Mini. After the tag is popped out with the BigShot I took a buffer to it which rubbed the brown paper off the top and the white middle shows. The trees come from the Merry Details embosslit in the mini and are in Real Red and Old Olive. Lastly, I stamped the word "Christmas" from the retired Everyday Flexible Phrases set and added it at the bottom of the tag. The tag was added to the card with dimensionals.

Set: Everyday Flexible Phrases
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Kraft, Soft Suede, Real Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Christmas Cocoa DSP, Red Brad, Merry and Merry Details embosslits, Plenty of Petals Embossing Folder, BigShot, Buffer, Scallop Eyelet punch, Ivory Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

Holiday Card Class-- Pt 3

2009-11-02T16:27:00.003-05:00

This is the third of 5 cards we did last week at the Holiday Card Class. This card uses the Patterned Pines hostess set and the greeting comes from the Four the Holidays set.

For this card, I first stamped the red tree on Very Vanilla cardstock. then I masked it and stamped the other two smaller trees in Old Olive. I rounded two of the edges and layered on Chocolate Chip cardstock. Lastly I added the gold brads on top the trees. While I was at it, I stamped the Merry Christmas greeting at the bottom of the Old Olive card in Chocolate Chip.

Across the middle I added a corrugated strip of designer paper from the Merry Moments set and added a narrow red grosgrain ribbon on top. I layered the Old Olive card on a Chocolate Chip layer and that's it! Classic and pretty card.

Sets: Patterned Pines, Four the Holidays
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Merry Moments DSP, Gold Brads, Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Corner Rounder

Holiday Card Class-- Pt 2

2009-10-29T10:22:00.002-04:00

This is the 2nd card we did at the Holiday Card class. I apologize that the picture is a little dark. There's a lot going on on this card, but folks really liked it.

The card itself is Elegant Eggplant--gorgeous-- with snowflakes from the Serene Snowflakes set stamped on the background in Elegant Eggplant. I added the greeting on a piece of Very Vanilla, cut like a ribbon, with the "Peace, Love and Joy" greeting.

The focal point is Very Vanilla cardstock with the small snowflakes from Serene Snowflakes stamped in Versamark layered on Old Olive. You can't really see this in the picture, but if you haven't tried using Versamark and Vanilla or White, try it. I really like the subtle effect.

The tree is made from one of the Scallop Circle BigShot dies and is Old Olive. It takes 1/2 of the scallop circle to make the tree. You cut two of the scallops out, cutting it to a triangle at the top. Then cut three of the scallops out. Then four.... then five. Layer it all together to make the tree. Add a trunk out of Chocolate Chip cardstock and a star using the Star punch and the Shimmering Gold cardstock. Then I added the Eggplant bird using the Merry Details embosslit die from the Holiday Mini. I put the entire tree on the Vanilla cardstock using dimensionals.

Let me know what you think. I really like this card.

Sets: Serene Snowflakes, All Occasion Greetings
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Large Circle Scallop die, Merry Details embosslit die, White Gel Pen, Star Punch, Dimensionals

Holiday Card Class

2009-10-28T13:49:00.002-04:00

I held my holiday stamp-a-stack class on Monday night and it was a big success. Everyone completed 15 cards-- 3 each of 5 designs. They have a big jump start on their cards this year.

This is the first card... so simple. It's basically just a Whisper White card on a layer of Real Red. I used the Ornament Punch to punch out an ornament from the top layer of the white card. I also punched an ornament out of the Christmas Cocoa specialty designer paper. This set of paper from the Holiday Mini is awesome. There are 4 sheets of double sided paper and then two sheets of white flocked paper (including the red bulb paper on my card). It is just gorgeous and the mini catalog does not do it justice.

I adhered the red designer paper bulb into the punch out. Then I stamped in Basic Black the greeting which is from the Two Cool Dudes stamp set. Then I wrapped the Silver Cord around the card twice and tied a bow. It's a very simple, but elegant card that I really like.

Set: Two Cool Dudes
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories: Christmas Cocoa DSP, Ornament Punch, Silver Elastic Cord,

Cleanse Update

2009-10-24T23:38:00.005-04:00

Remember, I never ever thought I could do this. I thought I would crack immediately and eat a Reece Cup... but tomorrow is the last day-- Day 21-- and except for a very few minor slips, I DID IT! A few things that have happened over the last three weeks...

1. I realized that I can eat healthier. It didn't kill me. I'm still alive... and I actually like a lot more veggies than I thought.
2. I'm still craving a bit, but nothing like I did before. I went to an event last night and didn't even really want the chocolate cupcakes. I ate vegies and hummus and was happy.
3. I do feel like I've broken some bad habits... I hope I can keep them broken. I'm the type of person who could easily fall back into them.

So, everyone wants to know two things. First, was it worth it? Yes, definitely. In terms of outcomes, my sleeping is definitely improved... a huge plus! This was an initial goal. I think my stomach is feeling better. I have a lot of times when I feel like there is nothing but acid in there, just eating through-- nice visual I know. I haven't really felt that way for a couple weeks. Yeah! Seems like my allergies have been completely missing this fall and it may be attributable to this. And, the bonus is I've lost about 8-9 lbs and several inches in my hips and waist. It's not exactly how much I hoped to lose, but yeah for me! It's a start!

So, if you're thinking of doing the Standard Process cleanse, I would totally recommend it. A couple of recommendations:
1. Remember that it's a cleanse first and can lead to weight loss secondly. If you are thinking about it as a weight loss tool only, I think it can be misleading.
2. It helps to have a partner to do this with. It would have been nearly impossible for me without the support. Thanks Lisa and Mom.
3. Clean our your refrigerator, freezer and pantry before starting. If there is a temptation, you may fall for it. If not, you'll eat what's there-- fruit.
4. Avoid social events as much as possible during the three weeks. It just brings about temptation and if you have NO will power like me, that's all it takes and you're off the wagon.

My goal is to keep this up. I plan to continue drinking my yummy protein shakes with banana and pineapple for breakfast and eating fresh fruit and veggies every day. No more soda buts lots and lots of water. And, last, but surely not least, sweets in moderation. This is my downfall! But I'm committed.

The second thing that people keep asking is what have I missed the most and what will I eat on Monday. Three things that I've really missed and want-- an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese from Brueggers, a piece of pizza-- just plain cheese please-- and a piece of chocolate cake-- with or without icing is fine, I like the cake. So, I don't know for sure yet what I'll eat Monday. Certainly not all of that. But I do plan on going out with my cleanse partner for a girlie drink and a shared piece of chocolate cake to celebrate our success.

Halloween Page using MDS

2009-10-22T18:01:00.000-04:00

Here's another cute page, using My Digital Studio. I really like this page. Every year I go trick or treating with my best friend's kids and this page documents some of my fun Halloweens. This page uses designer paper from the Night and Day DSP and also includes the Sans Serif Alphabet and stamps from the Eat, Drink and Be Scary set. I also added some black grosgrain ribbon and a Pumpkin Pie button on the witch hat. I like the way these elements compliment such fun pictures.

In Honor of Jasmine

2009-10-20T12:21:00.000-04:00

In honor of my girl-dog Jasmine who has been very sick lately, I'm posting my third and final MDS page featuring here. She is having surgery today for a herniated/ruptured disc in her neck. We tried to first treat it with meds, but she's been miserable. They just weren't helping much so I took the plunge with the surgery. But, it's totally worth it, especially if she's all better now... which the vet expects.

This is a more simple page with a designer paper background and some stamps. You can use your favorite stamped images on your pages, without any ink...just with the click of the mouse. Contact me if you'd like more information.

Jasmine is about to pounce

2009-10-19T11:37:00.001-04:00

Here is another scrapbook page, using My Digital Studio. I'm gonna do a few posts in a row of my crazy beagle... hope you don't mind.

This page features her in a trip to Ohio. We were at my dad's place which is in the middle of nowhere in Southern Ohio. He had just gotten a new kitten and Jasmine was taunting it. She loves to chase and tease cats.... so this one was no exception. I love the main photo-- her eyes and her stance. She's ready to pounce.

This page uses several elements. It has a Going Grey cardstock background. It has black grosgrain ribbon and a silver decorator brad. The heart is from one of the Simply Scrappin' kits and I just added her name. As you can see, when you create these pages digitally, you are using the same Stampin' Up! projects you would use if you were creating a 3-dimmensional version of it. It's very fun! Once I print this out, I'll probably add the silver brad on top of the image to give some texture. It's a very simple page, but I love it.

Digital Jasmine

2009-10-16T08:47:00.002-04:00

Here is another digital scrapbook page... this one of my sweet girl Jasmine. This page has a lot of different elements that are available in the My Digital Scrapbook software. I used a cardstock background (rather than designer paper), I used a punch below the word "sweetness", ribbon and brad embellishments and the dog stamp from the "Man's Best Friend" set. The possibilities are endless with this program.

MDS at the Beach

2009-10-15T21:34:00.005-04:00

Another digital scrapbooking page using My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up! This page highlights a beach trip to Emerald Isle with my best friends and their kids. I'm having so much fun using this software, organizing photos that have sat around for years. I'm excited to print these pages out and then add some real embelishments to finish them up. If you want to know more about this fun project or the MDS software, let me know.

My Digital Studio

2009-10-14T18:51:00.004-04:00

I've been playing around withe new digital scrapbooking software from Stampin' Up! called My Digital studio. I'm having a blast! This is a great package... lots of options, colors, images and it's pretty user friendly.
I love playing on the computer, designing and creating so this is a fabulous fit for me. The worry is that I will become all consumed and forget about stamping!

If you'd like more information on this great new product, just let me know.

What I'm up to

2009-10-13T14:53:00.005-04:00

I wanted to share a little about my latest endeavor. My mom, friend and I are all doing a 21 cleanse called Standard Process. It was recommended to me by my fabulous chiropractors who have done it several times with great results. My main goal was to improve my sleeping and try to find a little relief from joint pain due to fibromyalgia. The secondary goal was to lose some weight. This particular cleanse is not only known to improve chronic health issues, but also jump start your metabolism, curb cravings and lose weight.

We looked into several cleanses and decided on this one for the following reasons. First, it was recommended and my chiropractors are resources if I need anything or have problems. Actually there is a group of about 8 of us from the practice who are all doing it together. Second, some of the others I looked at involved liquefying everything you eat and I know myself and I need to chew! Lastly, many of the others involved colonics and enemas and although I was committed to doing this, let's just say... I wasn't that committed.

With this cleanse, you eat only fresh fruits and veggies, brown rice and lentils, for the first 10 days. Then you add in lean protein-- chicken, fish and eggs. You also take supplements and drink two protein shakes a day. And, you drink tons, and I mean TONS of water.

So we all started a week later than the others because I had the H1N1 flu and I didn't want to do this on top of the weakness of the flu. To be honest I wasn't 100% sure I'd be able to do this... but we're on day 9 now and doing great. I had some serious cravings days 2-4. Day 2 I would have died for chocolate cake and I could have hurt someone for a bagel on day 4! Carbs, carbs, carbs! But since then it's gotten much better and the cravings aren't as bad. However, I will tell you that I'm dreaming about chicken and cannot wait until Thursday when I can have it!

So what have I learned?
1- I am completely obsessed with food-- and my booty shows it! I think about it all the time. It's really ridiculous. And, since I can't eat anything I want now, I've not been thinking about it so much.
2- There really are very few veggie only recipes. Everything I've made has had a different name and different process, but ended up being veggies over rice.
3- It all works better if you exercise.
4- I come from a long line of food lovers-- dang genes.
5- I have a very very very tiny bladder!

And what are my goals?
1- I want to lose as much weight as possible. 5 lbs so far. YEAH ME!
2- Everyone has their weakness and mine is sweets... I tend to eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I want to start thinking of sweets as a treat and eat cake for birthdays-- not lunch!
3- Continue to drink more water and exercise.
4- I plan to continue to eat a large portion of veggies every single day. They are actually quite good and fill you up.

They say that it takes 21 days to break habits, so I'm hoping that I can start looking at food as sustenance, rather than a hobby. I'll keep you posted!

Now on to the card-- a simple card today with a cute little masked chickie!
This is called a Criss-Cross card and you can find the directions here. For this card I used Summer Sun cardstock and layered designer paper from the Night and Day series on top. I made a belly band out of Summer Sun and did a scallop along the bottom with the Scallop Edge punch and added some narrow black grosgrain ribbon. For the insert I created a Whisper White card, layered on Basic Black. Then I stamped the little chick in Basic Black and colored it in with markers. The tab was punched out of Summer Sun cardstock and the greeting "Twick or Tweet" was stamped in Basic Black. I added three black brads on top of the tab and was finished. Enjoy!

Trick or Treat

2009-10-12T12:37:00.002-04:00

Isn't this the cutest thing! This is the second card that I did for last month's clubs. It's a perfect Halloween treat and uses the Pumpkin Patch stamp set and the Sweet Treat cup in the middle.

The best way to make this card is to stamp the grass in Old Olive ink on textured Old Olive cardstock and adhere it to the bottom of the white piece. Then punch a 1 3/4" circle in the very middle, just above the grass. Then stamp your pumpkins in Only Orange, Basic Black and Old Olive.

Next, put a little adhesive on the back, around your punched out circle and insert your Sweet Treat cup. With the piece upside down, add candy corn (or whatever you want) into the cup and pull the sticky off the rim of the back of the cup. Put a small piece of cardstock over the circle to cover it up so the candy won't fall out. Next adhere the entire thing to the layer of Basic Black cardstock.

The card is Only Orange cardstock, layered on a piece of Basic Black. Add a small piece of torn polka dot paper from the Day and Night DSP set on the left side. Also add some narrow black grossgrain ribbon and threat the tag through it before tying it. Then add your pumpkin piece and you are done.

Thanksgiving Leaves

2009-10-08T15:58:00.003-04:00

Today I have another sample using the Autumn DSP and the Falling Leaves set. This is a card I did for my clubs last month and they really liked it.

First, I added the two papers from the Autumn Meadows DSP pack. Then I stamped three of the leaves from the set in Really Rust, Taken with Teal and Chocolate Chip and punched them out with the large oval punch. I punched out three oval scallops in Chocolate Chip and backed the leaves on them. Then for texture I added the gold brads at the top of each leaf and put them on the card with dimensionals. Lastly I added the greeting and the wide grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip. These will be my Thanksgiving cards this year.

Falling Leaves Quilt

2009-10-06T13:37:00.002-04:00

I really like this card. It's simple in design, but time consuming in that it involved sewing.

This simple quilt design has three components; pieces from the Autumn Meadows DSP, leaves from the Falling Leaves set stamped in a variety of colors on Very Vanilla cardstock, and colored squares with leaves from the same set stamped in Versamark. I used the small square punch to punch out 12 squares using these three designs. I adhered them down on a Chocolate Chip card and then sewed a zig zag stitch all the way around, to make it look quilted.

The greeting is also from the Falling Leaves set and is stamped in Chocolate Chip, punched out with the small oval punch and layered on a chocolate chip scallop oval. The last element, to add some texture, is the narrow chocolate chip ribbon.

Hope you like!

Enjoy Every Bite...

2009-10-05T13:57:00.004-04:00

I bet you wondered if I fell off the face of the earth? Well, I'm still here. I got slammed with the swine flu and was down for the count for almost 2 weeks. I hope none of my stampin' friends gets this nasty bug. It's not fun. But, I'm back... and have lots of new samples from the Holiday Mini to share with you. Let's start with Halloween samples... my favorite holiday!
I love this skeleton. I think the dog hanging off him is too funny. This set is called Twick or Tweet. We did this card at a recent new-mini catalog class I held and it was a hit.

This card is Old Olive, with a layer of Elegant Eggplant. Corners are all rounded, to go along with the circle focal point. The designer paper is from Cast a Spell DPS and the is just folded randomly accordion style. The Eggplant rick-rack (ribbon) is from one of the designer ribbon sets.

I cut out the Kraft and Basic Black circles prior to the class. We stamped the skeleton in Black on the Kraft circle. This skeleton has some spooky looking eyes, so I added the googlie-eyes to make it more fun, and less scary. Then we stamped the dog again on Whisper White cardstock and colored him in with Really Rust ink with the Aqua Painter. We added him to the skeleton with a dimensional. Then I added three black brads on the left of the circle. The words "It's Halloween, Enjoy Every Bite" are stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White cardstock and added to the left side of the circle.

Fun card. I love this set and this card. Happy Halloween.

New Mini Available and New Card

2009-09-01T14:12:00.004-04:00

I'm so excited. The new winter mini is now available for purchases. There are so many great things in this mini-- including the new digital scrapbooking software. This is going to be so awesome for me. I've told you before that I don't scrapbook enough because I'm a little OCD and a perfectionist so each page can take me 2+ hours... which gets me nowhere. I do like to do computer design so I think this is going to be perfect for me. The digital software is not available to order until October 1st, so as my grams would say, hold your taters for just a little longer.

On another note, I have not been stamping at all and I've vowed to get in the craft room and play tonight. So, hopefully, I'll have something fun and new from the mini to show you tomorrow. But in the meantime, here is another sample from the For All You Do set.
This is a 5x5" Whisper White card that features the Square Scallop BigShot die in Elegant Eggplant. Above that is a layer of Certainly Celery and then a layer of white, both of which are corner rounded. The images are from the For All You Do Set and are stamped in Certainly Celery and Elegant Eggplant. The butterfly is two stamps, one is the butterfly, stamped in Almost Amethyst, and the second is the dots, stamped in Elegant Eggplant. I then cut the butterfly out, folded up the wings, and mounted it on the card. The ribbon, added for some texture, is the wide grosgrain in Celery. It probably could use a greeting, but I put it inside instead of gaudy-ing up the front.

Set: For All You Do
Ink: Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst
Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Square Scallop Die, Corner Rounder, Celery Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Tree of Life

2009-08-30T21:47:00.003-04:00

Check out the latest edition to my new house. This is the Thoughts and Prayers Tree and the Milestones and Moments saying from Stampin' Up!'s Decor Elements/Definitely Decorative vinyl line. Once I decided on my house the first thing I thought of doing was putting this tree up in my stairway. It took me a couple of weeks to get it done, but with a little help from my friends Kate and Susie, I got it up last night. It was actually quite easy. I'm so happy with it. Love the way it looks. It's perfect for that stairway wall.

For all you do

2009-08-27T11:41:00.003-04:00

I'm back. Quick card today. This is another from the pink and brown series. The cardstock used for this card is Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. The polka dots are from the Dots and Delicates rub on set. The flowers are from the For All You Do set and are stamped in Melon Mambo and the ribbon is the Melon Mambo polka dot grosgrain ribbon. Easy breazy!

New House Hiatus

2009-08-17T19:14:00.003-04:00

I'm gonna be a non-blogger for a week or so... don't miss me too bad! I just moved into my first house and took the week off work... so I won't be able to post much. I will be back with some new samples next week though. Happy Stampin' !

2009-08-12T13:26:00.002-04:00

Really love this Melon Mambo color with the Chocolate Chip. This is a Chocolate Chip card with a layer of Whisper White with Melon Mambo on top. I used a Rub-on from the Dots and Designs pack- that runs down the middle of the Melon Mambo strip. And then I added some paper piercing and 4 silver brads in the corners. I also stamped the greeting from Thank You Kindly in Chocolate Chip ink.

Lastly the butterfly... from the For All You Do set. In order to get this butterfly I stamped one and cut it out. Then I traced around it with a pencil on Whisper White cardstock and stamped the dotted block in Chocolate Chip ink on top and then cut it out. I put it on the card with a glue dot and bent the wings up. Hope you like it.

Stamps: For All You Do, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Silver Brads, Paper Piercer, pad and guide, Dots and Designs Rub-ons, Glue Dot

2009-08-11T15:38:00.002-04:00

I got some of the window sheets, the seasonal set, and have been playing with them a bit. This is a 4 1/4 square card and the card s Very Vanilla with a layer of Chocolate Chip and Old Olive underneath. The stripe down the left side is actually a rub-on and I added some narrow olive grosgrain over top.

The focal point is a piece of the Seasonal Window sheet layered over Chocolate Chip and Old Olive cardstock. I added it with dimensionals but added a small olive library clip for some added pizazz. The only stamping this card has it the greeting in Chocolate Chip down the side.

Sets: Thank You
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Narrow Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Seasonal Window Sheet, Library Clip. Dimensionals

Lovely Medallion

2009-08-10T13:31:00.002-04:00

This is a card that I did with my club last month. It's a relatively simple but elegant card. It uses the new color Crushed Curry, which unfortunately does not come out great in the photo. the color really isn't as bright yellow as it looks here.

For this card, I stamped the Medallion background stamp in Crushed Curry on the left side of the White cardstock. Then I restamped just the middle of the stamp in Chocolate Chip ink on White cardstock and punched it out with the 1 3/4" circle punch. Layered on top is a flower from the Prettie's kit and a Latte button. This circle is put on with Dimensionals with some Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon threaded through and tied in a knot. The greeting is from the Thank You set and is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink.

The card is Chocolate Chip, with a layer of Crushed Curry between the Chocolate and White.

Sets: Medallion, Thank You
Ink: Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Accessories: 1 3/4" circle punch, Pretties Kit, Latte Button, Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

Punkin Row

2009-07-31T15:50:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-29T12:00:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-28T11:38:00.014-04:00

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

2009-07-27T15:16:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-24T15:42:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-23T12:40:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-22T13:30:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-21T15:27:00.007-04:00

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

2009-07-21T15:18:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-16T13:17:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-10T10:13:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-08T15:16:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-08T10:56:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-01T16:20:00.002-04:00

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

Manhattan in Not Quite Navy

2009-06-30T15:00:00.003-04:00

I have a last hurrah from the current catalog today! I'm going to miss my Kiwi Kiss enormously, but am excited about the new colors too. If you haven't seen the new catalog yet, drop me an e-mail and I'll get you a catalog.

This is a card we did at one of my clubs on Sat. I ran the Urban Gard an paper through the BigShot using the Manhattan Flower textured impression die. Then I buffed the image with a nail buffer to expose the white part of the paper. This is only doable with designer paper because it is white in the middle. Our cardstock is dyed all the way through so you cannot get the white look.

The card is Kiwi Kiss cardstock and the textured image is mounted on Whisper White cardstock and then on the Kiwi card. I added a tiny piece of Urban Oasis cardstock in the top right corner, with a Kiwi corduroy button with white taffeta ribbon. The greeting comes from the Fresh Cuts set and is stamped in Not Quite Navy on Whisper White and layered on ovals in Not Quite Navy and Kiwi Kiss.

Set: Fresh Cuts
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Cardstock: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Manhattan Textured Impression Die, Urban Oasis and Urban Garden DSP, Small, Large and Scallop Oval Punches, Kiwi Corduroy Button, White Taffeta Ribbon, Buffer

Another Wonderful Watercolor

2009-06-19T14:04:00.002-04:00

This set was originally on the "Last Chance List" but was taken off and put on the dormant list and I'm really glad. I just got this set as part of my free Sale-a-bration rewards and really like it. I think it's one of those sets that was lost in the last catalog-- not even noticeable. But it really is a gorgeous set.
This is the second card that we did at the club this week. I uses Elegant Eggplant and Basic Black and paper from the DSP set Urban Garden. I think this is my favorite piece of designer paper right now.

This is a two-step-stampin' set and I inked up both layers with markers, using Elegant Eggplant and Certainly Celery and stamped it on Whisper White. The layer behind this is Eggplant and Black with some paper piercing around three sides. The greeting is from the same set and is stamped in Basic Black. The large white grommet is currently in the Mini-catalog and to use it you just punch a 1/2 inch hole and slide the grommet in, then bend down the back prongs. It could be used for many things, but I used it to thread this gorgeous white satin ribbon through. That's about it. Another simple card... simply devine!

Set: Wonderful Watercolors
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black
Accessories: Eggplant and Celery Markers, Large White Grommet, White Satin Ribbon, Urban Garden DSP, Paper Piercer and guide

No place like NC

2009-06-18T13:48:00.004-04:00

I can tell you what... I love to travel, but I really like Chapel Hill, NC. Glad to be back.

I have a special card for you today. This is a card we did this week at my stamp club. We used a bunch of items from the Last Chance list to create this card.First, we used the retiring set Time to Party. Love cupcakes so this stamp is perfect for me. We colored it in with markers and added some dazzling diamonds on top. The cupcake was punched out with the 1 3/8" circle punch and layered on a 1 3/4" chocolate circle.

Te Scallop Border Medallion background was made using the Scallop Edge punch and and two layers were created with Regal Rose and the shimmery chocolate from the Taste of Textiles DSP set. Directions for making the medallion are here.

The rest of the card is quite easy. The card itself is Regal Rose, layered on Chocolate Chip. I used the polka dot Sweet Always DSP and layered a piece of the double stitched chocolate grosgrain ribbon across the middle with a silver brad on each side.

Hope you like.

Set: Time to Party
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Taste of Textiles shimmery chocolate
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Chocolate, Summer Sun and Regal Rose markers, Two Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Double Stitched Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brads, 1/16" punch, Sweet Always DSP

Traveling

2009-06-09T07:27:00.001-04:00

Been traveling the last couple of weeks... Atlanta last week and in Buffalo this week. Sorry I don't have anything to share. But I promise to get stamping with my new sneak peek supplies when I get back and will post.

Have a good week.
Amy

Pocket Silhouettes

2009-06-05T15:11:00.000-04:00

This is the last of my Stamp Out Alheimers challenge cards. No, I didn't win any of the challenges, but at least it got me stamping which I haven't been doing much of lately.

This was a design challenge. The set I used was Pocket Silhouettes which I like because of the versatility. The card is Basic Grey and uses designer paper from Urban Oasis and Taste of Textiles. The image is inked up with Baha Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. I just used a blender pen since we didn't have In-Color markers this year. Then I took a wet aqua painter and brushed some Sahara Sand around the image to shadow it a little. The greeting is stamped in Basic Grey.

The rest is pretty easy. I added some paper piercing around the two kraft pieces and some silver brads and grey taffeta ribbon to finish it off. Hope you've enjoyed the challenge cards.

Set: Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Basic Grey, Sahara Sand, Baha Breeze, Kiwi Kiss
Cardstock: Basic Grey, Whisper White
Accessories: Urban Oasis and Taste of Textiles DSP, Grey Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Brads, Paper Piercer and guide, Dimensionals, Aqua Painter

Dutiful Dog

2009-06-04T20:40:00.000-04:00

Just back from Atlanta and have another challenge card to show you from the Stamp Out Alzheimers event.

This card is Basic Gray with a back layer of Basic Black. The designer paper is from the hostess Print Packs set and the Walk in the Park DSP set.

The focal point as well as the words on the card are from the Man's Best Friend set. I stamped the dog in Stazon Black and colored the nose red. Then added some shadow wiht a veyr light gray copic marker. I cut out the circles using the Creative Memories circle cutter and added it to the card with Dimensionals.

I added three red eyelets which were part of the original sketch design. Also added two silver brads to the greeting in red on the word window punch.

Set: Man's Best Friend
Ink: Stazon Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray
Accessories: Silver Brads, Dimensionals, Hostess Print Patterns, Walk in the Park DSP

Tree Challenge Card

2009-06-01T16:33:00.003-04:00

Here is another card that I created for a challenge in the Stamp Out Alzheimer's week. I really like this one. It is the tree... that tree... the tree I keep using on everything. I'm going to put that tree, the Decor Element Tree, in Chocolate Chip going up my steps in my new house. I LOVE that tree.

Anyway, here the tree is stamped in Chocolate and outlined in Kiwi Kiss with a blender pen. The greeting is from the Pocket Silhouettes set... also stamped in Chocolate Chip.

The paper on the bottom is from the Walk In the Park series in the current mini catalog. I added the narrow Chocolate grosgrain ribbon and three large pewter eyelets then layered the entire thing on Chocolate Chip and then Kiwi Kiss cardstock and then mounted the entire thing on the Chocolate Chip card. Simple and elegant I think.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers, Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Large Pewter Eyelets, Narrow Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Blender Pen

Winged Thing

2009-05-30T21:54:00.003-04:00

I made this card for another challenge called Winged Things in the Stamp Out Alzheimers challenge. This card features the gorgeous butterfly and greeting from the Great Friend set. The butterfly is stamped three times in Baha Breeze on Shimmery White cardstock. An additional one is stamped out and placed over the middle one. The leaves in the butterfly are colored in with Kiwi Kiss ink and a couple of half beads are added in the middle of the body.

The Shimmery White cardstock is layered on Baha Breeze and then Kiwi Kiss cardstock. The card is Baha Breeze carstock and then the bottom layer is my favorite piece from the Urban Oasis designer paper series. The greeting is stamped in Basic Gray.

A fairly simple, but very elegant (I think) card.

Set: Great Friend
Ink: Baha Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray
Carstock: Baha Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Shimmery White
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Blender Pen

2 and 2

2009-05-29T14:51:00.002-04:00

This is another project that I created for one of the Stamp Out Alheimers challenges. The challenge was to use two colors (specifically brown and pink) and 2 embellishments. So, I chose to use the Flight of the Butterfly-- a set I love but rarely use. Along with that set, for the colors I used Pink Pirouette and Chocolate chip and my favorite designer paper-- Sweet Always. For the two embellishments, I chose to use chocolate grosgrain ribbon and the Flower Fusion Too flowers. I can't get enough of that Color Spritzer Tool--- I can't believe I waited 12 years to buy it-- and used it to break up the white on the butterfly piece. More challenge ideas this weekend.

Set: Flight of the Butterfly
Ink: Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Textured Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Color Spritzer Tool, Chocolate Chip Marker, Chocolate Grosgrain, Flower Fusion Too, Sweet Always

Stamp Out Alheimers

2009-05-28T12:07:00.006-04:00

I am taking part in this cool event called Stamp Out Alzheimers that Jen Tapler has organized. It's a great week long event that you pay a small fee to join and then there is a great Ning site with challenges and great prizes. There are also free downloads and great conversations. Very fun. Anyway, this is one of my challenge cards. The challenge was to create a card following a layout design.

This card is done in Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant. I don't use Eggplant often, but it is actually one of my favorite colors. It's very rich and "elegant" I think. This card uses the single stamp Flowers in Silhouette, from the last page of the catalog, and the greeting is from Thank You Kindly.

I inked up the flower with Eggplant and Olive markers and then spritzed gently and stamped on Whisper White cardstock. Then I spritzed the paper using the Color Spritzer tool and the Old Olive marker. Love this effect. This image is layers on Olive and Eggplant cardstock which is ripped at the bottom and added to the card with dimensionals.

The background is hard to see, but I ran the Eggplant cardstock through the BigShot using one of the texture plates and stamped "Thank You" in the bottom right hand corner. The designer paper is from the Walk In the Park series in the current mini. The gold brads and olive grosgrain ribbon were in the original design and add some texture.

Sets: Thank You Kindly, Flowers in Silhouettes
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Walk in the Park DSP, Paper Piercer, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant markers, Color Spritzer Tool, Gold Brads, Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, BigShot and Texture Plate set I

Happy Birthday to Susan and Susie

2009-05-26T14:34:00.003-04:00

This is a card I made for a couple of friend's birthday's in the last couple weeks. I hope they liked them. I really like this Inspired by Nature set. I don't have any idea why I waited to long to get it. I guess because I have so many flowers and always say I'm not going to buy any more flowers... but I always do.

This card is done in Regal Rose, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip. I inked the stamp sing markers and then spritzed the stamp a few times to make it watercolor-like. The Happy Birthday is from the All Holidays set and is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink. I used the Color Spritzer Tool with the Chocolate Chip marker to add the soft faded splatter background.

The designer paper on the background layer is from the Walk In the Park collection and the green layer is punched with the Scallop Edge punch. Lastly I tied some narrow grosgrain Chocolate Chip ribbon around the bottom half and added a Chocolate Chip corduroy button with some linen thread tied on.

Sets: Inspired by Nature, All Holidays
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Shimmery White
Accessories: Walk in the Park DSP, Color Spritzer Tool, Regal Rose, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip markers, Scallop Edge punch, Narrow Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread and Chocolate Corduroy Button

Flower Pot Card

2009-05-22T11:09:00.006-04:00

I found this really cute idea on Stephanie Sluman's blog and came up with my own version to teach at Stamp Club Tuesday night. Everyone really enjoyed it... although it can be a bit tedious.

The pot is made with Chocolate Chip cardstock 4 inches by9 1/2 inches and scored long way at 1 1/2 and 5 1/2 inches. Fold the small flap over and punch with the Scallop Edge punch and pierce holes in each scallop. Then I tied the wide Olive grosgrain ribbon around the pot and added the tag made with the BigShot Lots of Tags die and stamped "For You" from the Great Friend set. The pot is only held together with the ribbon... there is no sticky strip or other adhesive along the sides.The card part that inserts into the pot is made with Ivory Naturals carstock, cut at 3 3/4 inches and then the sides are cut to fit the pot. The flowers come from the Die Cut Blooms set and the leaves are made with the Five Petal Punch. I just arranged the flowers until I was happy and then added some olive flower middles using the 1/2" and 3/4 " circle punches and added a few gold brads to bling it up a bit. I hope you like it.

Set: Great Friend
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Ivory Naturals
Accessories: Die Cut Blooms, Gold Brads, Scallop Edge, 1/2", 3/4", 5 Petal Flower, 1/8" punches, Paper Piercer and mat, Big Shot and Lots of Tags Die, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain ribbon

Wallet for Dad

2009-05-21T11:59:00.014-04:00

This is the final project we did at the Masculine Card Class. We did one other card, but posted it earlier here.

I found this project on one of my favorite blogs "Thinking Inking" by Debbie Olson. She does the most amazing work. Her blog has a link to PDF handouts that give you the complete instructions as well as a page of gift certificates to put in the wallet. I amended hers a bit to include Stampin' Up! products.

For my project I used Chocolate Chip and Creamy Caramel cardstock and used a sponge and the same color ink to distress the paper and make it look leathery. I used the paper piercer and piercing guide with a Chocolate Chip marker to create a stitched look on the outside. The entire wallet, including pockets is put together with sticky strip which I always use for 3-dimensional projects. The coupons are printed on Ivory Naturals cardstock, corner rounded and sponged around the edges. I added the Happy Father's Day image from All Holidays on the front in Real Red and attached it with some Red grosgrain ribbon.

If you have additional questions after reading Debbie's directions, please let me know.

Set: All Holidays
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Real Red
Carstock: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Carmel, Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, Real Red
Accessories: Corner Rounder, Stampin' Sponge, Sticky Strip, Paper Piercer and Piercing Guide, Chocolate Chip Marker

Sharing in Your Sorrow

2009-05-20T15:59:00.003-04:00

Here is card number 4 from the Masculine Card Class. This card uses my absolute favorite set-- Thoughts and Prayers... another tree-- I like trees.

This card is made with Kiwi Kiss textured cardstock and also has Basic Black and Sahara Sand cardstock. It is a 3x6 card.

The tree is stamped in Basic Black and then I took a blender pen and added some Kiwi Kiss around each leaf. I corner rounded two of the corners and then mounted it on Kiwi and then Black. The top right edge of the Kiwi card is cut back about 3/4" and the greeting is stamped in Basic Black. The designer paper is from the Urban Oasis collection. The black ribbon is from the Valet Ribbon Originals set.

Tomorrow I'll show you the cute Father's Day project we made at the class.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Ink: Basic Black and Kiwi Kiss
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black and Sahara San
Accessories: Corner Rounder, Urban Oasis DSP, Valet Ribbon

A Love of Trendy Trees

2009-05-19T13:59:00.002-04:00

Masculine class card #3--

This card uses one of my favorite new sets-- Trendy Trees. I'm a big tree person. Love all of the new tree sets. The colors on this card come from the Manchester Designer Paper series and include Always Artichoke, Kraft and Baha Breeze as well as Very Vanilla and a little Chocolate Chip.

I stamped the tree in Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip and the Greeting in Chocolate Chip. Both were layered on Chocolate Chip cardstock and the tree was mounted again on Always Artichoke and put on with Dimensionals. I used the Spiral Punch to do the left side of the card and then added a Kraft Corduroy button on the side. Nice, simple, clean. Just the way I like it.

Sets: Trendy Trees
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Kraft, Baha Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla
Accessories: Spiral Punch, Corduroy Button

Happy Father's Day

2009-05-18T14:42:00.002-04:00

This is the 2nd of five cards we did at the Masculine Card Class. Again a very simple design.

This card uses the Classic Sketches set and Chocolate Chip and Kraft cardstock. All I did was ink up the stamp ink Chocolate Chip and spritz it with a couple sprays of water and stamp on the Kraft cardstock three times. The greeting was printed out on the computer and layered. I added a little bit of paper piercing and some of the old Chocolate Twill Ribbon for added texture. Very easy but elegant card for the special dad in your life.

Set: Classic Sketches
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kraft
Accessories: Paper Piercer and mat, Dimensionals, Chocolate Twill

Maculine Card Class

2009-05-15T09:47:00.003-04:00

I held a card class last night where we made all masculine cards and a cute little father's day gift. I'll share these projects with you over the next week.

I tend to make pretty complicated cards... but it's hard to do that for men's cards. The more you add, the more fru-fru it gets and that's not manly. So these cards ended up quite simple. In fact we ended the class in record time.
This first card uses one of my favorite In-colors-- Pacific Point along with Kiwi Kiss and Basic Grey. The polka-dot velum comes from the Taste of Textiles set on page 156 of the catalog. It's totally hidden in there and one of the most gorgeous sets of paper. Anyway, the stamped image is from the Four Square set and is stamped in Pacific Point, mounted on a block of Kiwi Kiss and then Basic Grey punched with the Scallop Square punch. I did a little paper piercing along the bottom and added some Grey Taffeta ribbon to finish it off. Hope you like.

Set: Four Square
Ink: Pacific Point
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Accessories: Paper Piercer, Square Scallop punch, Grey Taffeta Ribbon

Wonderful Watercolors

2009-05-14T13:18:00.004-04:00

This is a card that I made for mom for Mother's Day last week. It uses the set Wonderful Watercolors. I never really noticed this set, but this is another set I got free and think it's gorgeous.

This card is Eggplant Envy and Always Artichoke. The main image is a two-step stamper. The bottom image is done in Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery. The top layer is Elegant Eggplant and Always Artichoke. I added a little Bashful Blue brushstroke around the edge with the aqua painter. On the background I stamped the small flower image in Eggplant. I corner rounded the main image only on two sides.

For dimension and texture I added the Organdy White ribbon with one of the large white grommets from the Occasions Mini Catalog. To use the grommet, I punched out a 1/2 inch circle, popped the grommet in and then bent back the prongs on the inside. Then I threaded the white ribbon through. Inside is greeting Happy Mother's Day.

Classic Sketches

2009-05-05T12:57:00.002-04:00

I've been wanting this set- Classic Sketches- since the catalog came out. I thought it would be good for masculine cards. So, I finally got it, free for my Sale-a-bration sales.
This is a very simple card that I created for an art show I did last weekend called MOMArt. Lots of amazing artists there and I thought they might enjoy some artsy cards with this set. This card uses Kraft carstock and one of my favorite underused colors Elegant Eggplant.

I basically just inked up the main image in Elegant Eggplant and then spritzed it with a water bottle and stamped it on Kraft cardstock. I felt like it needed a little more color so I colored the left side with the eggplant watercolor crayon and blended with the aquapainter. The greeting from the Trendy Trees set is stamped in Basic Black. For a little added texture, I added some Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon.

Sets: Classic Sketches, Trendy Trees
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black
Cardstock: Kraft, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Eggplant Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Watercolor Crayons, Aquapainter

May is National Scrapbooking Month

2009-05-04T10:09:00.003-04:00

I've admitted before that I'm not the best scrapbooker. I love to do it, but I'm one of those OCD perfectionist type people who literally take 2 hours to do a page. Therefore, I don't get much done and get frustrated. I am working on a special scrapbook of my niece's wedding as a gift to my sister. Maybe I'll post a few pages when I get it done.

In honor of May being National Scrapbooking Month- Stampin' Up! has come up with some fabulous promotions.

1- order three packs of designer paper and get one FREE!
2- order the new preview alphabet-- Jumble-- at 20% off. This set will be in the new catalog in July.
3- join my team as a SU demonstrator for only $75 with the scrapbook starter kit.

If you are interested in any of these promotions, please contact me today.