A Possible Oops???

I saw this great sketch at Create with Connie and Mary and I fell in LOVE with it!

I got some new goodies from last week's sale so I dug into them and made this bright and cheery card.  It's raining and yucky here today, so I needed something to lift my mood!

After I finished my card I went back to get the challenge link and I noticed that it says Winter Collection.  Hmmmm...this is clearly not a winter card so I don't know if it fits the challenge or not. I just used the sketch!  I couldn't find anywhere where it said that it HAD to be a winter card and I saw that at least one other person enter a non-winter card, so maybe I am okay. Or surely somewhere has a nice and flowery winter like this, right? haha

Stamp Sets: Gifts of Kindness, Happy Day
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo, Melon Mambo
Tools: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Chalk Talk Framelits
Accessories: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Bestie Birthday

This weekend I am going to Chicago for a girls' weekend to celebrate my bestie Steph's 30th birthday.  I am SOOOO excited to get away and to have some quality girl time. It's been awhile! Steph loves little handmade trinkets so I set out to find something perfect to create for her.  I searched and searched and couldn't find exactly what I wanted.  Then yesterday I opened my email and found the perfect tutorial from Splitcoaststampers, a Tea Bag Dispenser Box.  Perfect, because my dear Stephie LOVES tea!

Now, normally I wouldn't even attempt a project like this.  3D items are just not my forte!  But my Stephie is SOOO worth all of the work that went into this. It was a lot of cutting little tiny pieces of DSP, and the measurements are in eighths and sixteenths, so my eyes were crossed several times, trying to make sure I was cutting at the right spot.  Oh, and did I mention that I worked on the majority of this project in my bed because Easton wanted me to lay with him? lol Not the best working conditions for a project with so many tiny pieces!  Each piece of DSP is also sponged with Soft Suede ink to antique the edges a bit, so that took some time, too!  Overall, I am really pleased with how it turned out and I can't wait to give it to her!

I would like to enter my Tea Bag Dispenser Box in the Anything Goes challenge at Stampin' Royalty.

Stamp Set: Apothecary Art
Cardstock: Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Blushing Blossom, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red, Soft Suede
Tools: Label Framelits, Simply Scored, Glue Gun, sponge
Accessories: Retired SAB DSP, Retired Floral Trim

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

I have been completely frozen for the past two weeks, so that MUST mean that Christmas is any day now, right? lol I have been snuggled up with my heating pad and electric blanket every single night. I don't know how I am going to survive when it actually decides to snow for real! Since it feels like winter, I decided to make a winter card for the challenge at The Paper Players.

I really liked this sketch and thought it would look great with the Winter Frost DSP stack. Maybe because that is the colors that were in the sketch! lol

I wanted my snowflake to really stand out so I put Tombow Multi Glue on the tips and dipped them in silver glitter. It looks so much better in real life!  It has so much sparkle...as does my entire stamping studio because I am TERRIBLE with this stuff. lol I actually spilled some of the black glitter inside my junk drawer in my studio. Not quite sure how I am going to get it cleaned up...probably gonna have to get out the vacuum and empty it out. That's gonna be a job. :( Anyway...my sentiment is embossed with Silver Embossing Powder. I couldn't get the three little banners to look right on my card, so I substituted with some more rhinestones. :) 

Stamp Set: More Merry Messages

Cardstock: Brushed Silver

Ink: Versamark

Tools: Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Snow Flurry Bigz Die

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Silver Glitter, Silver Glimmer Paper...That's a lot of silver! :) Rhinestones, Winter Frost DSP Stack

Addicted to Stamps CAS

Yay, it's time for one of my favorite challenges at Addicted to Stamps...Clean and Simple!  I have used the challenges at Dynamic Duos and CAS(E) this Sketch!

I started out making a birthday card but I think this would also make a cute wedding or anniversary card as well. I think this sentiment is really versatile and could really go a variety of different ways!

I first stamped the label and the sentiment. Then I stamped the label again on scrap and cut it out to make a mask and stamped the flourish over the top of it.  I added the little hearts from Snow Day and some rhinestones because every purple card needs some bling, right? :) 

Stamp Sets: Everything Eleanor, Perfectly Penned, Snow Day

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder

Accessories: Rhinestones

Creating with Twine

I have a quick card to share with you before I leave for the day.  I made it for the challenge at Less is More, which is to make a project with string or twine.

The hardest part of this card was wrapping a piece of scrap paper with the Baker's Twine. It wasn't even difficult, just took a few minutes. :) I had a scrap from Season of Style DSP stack that had the colors in it I was using, so I threw it in there for a little extra color.  Oh, and doesn't the Mosaic Embossing Folder look like ornaments!  I never thought of it that way before!

Stamp Set: More Merry Messages
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Tools: Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Mosaic Embossing Folder
Accessories: Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Season of Style DSP Stack

One Layer

It's time for another challenge at Addicted to CAS!

This is a fun one!  There are so many possibilities for one layer cards!  I did four of them before I made one that I was actually happy with though! :)  I took my colors from the picture inspiration at Stampin' Celebration. I know it's too late to enter my card there, but I thought I would link it up to share it with you anyway!

I had this card running around in my head all night last night!  I could not fall asleep. I kept thinking about it and telling myself to just get up and make it, that it would probably only take me 10 minutes to complete...but I just couldn't get out of bed to do it! lol As soon as I did get up this morning, I ran to my stamping studio to make it though. It was as easy as I thought, too! 

I punched out three circles and then glued them to a scrap of cardstock in a row. I then punched those circles out, so they were perfectly straight. That's my trick for getting them evenly spaced. I then used that as my stencil to sponge in. I first sponged the entire circles with Crushed Curry, then about halfway each with Tangerine Tango, and a quarter each with Cherry Cobbler.  I then stamped the leaves and sentiment in Cherry Cobbler. I thought about adding some scored lines somewhere, but then decided against it because I didn't want to ruin it in any way. :)

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Perfectly Penned
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango
Tools: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Sponges

Addicted to Colors...and Burnished Glitter!

Yay, it's time for one of my favorite challenges at Addicted to Stamps and More, Addicted to Colors!

Two of these are retired colors, but luckily I still have my More Mustard ink pad and marker, and Pear Pizzazz is very close to Certainly Celery.  I also used the challenges at The Paper Players and CAS(E) this Sketch!

I came across a Youtube video that showed how to do burnished glitter. I had never heard of such a thing but it is an awesome way to get a little bit of texture and sparkle on your card without sending a glittery mess to someone!  

I am so glad I had ordered some of this fabulous Super Fine Black Glitter to try out this technique. First I stamped my card and then rubbed the Embossing Buddy over the entire card front.  I then used the 2 1/2" Circle Punch to punch out a circle from the Adhesive Sheets. I then burnished it with my Bone Folder to ensure that all of the adhesive was transferred to one side.  I removed the backing and pressed it onto my stamped card. I used the bone folder again to transfer all of the adhesive to the card base. I then removed the second backing and covered it with the black glitter. The last step is to use your finger to press the glitter into the adhesive. Rub it around and press the glitter into the adhesive until you have an even layer of glitter on the adhesive. WARNING: This is VERY messy! lol I had to take my card outside to wipe off all of the excess glitter. Here is a closer look at the glitter. It's nice because it adds some texture, but it's not TOO glittery, more of a shine.

Stamp Sets: Seasonal Sayings, Gorgeous Grunge

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Shimmer White, Whisper White

Ink: Black StazOn, More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz

Tools: Finishing Touches Edgelits, Embossing Buddy, 2 1/2" Circle Punch

Accessories: Black Glitter, Adhesive Sheets, Dimensionals

Mail Me Monday

I have a really easy card to share with you today for Mail Me Monday. This one is just two layers and has NO embellishments so it's SUPER easy to make AND mail!  I used these beautiful colors at colourQ:

I love these bright colors!  I thought they would be great for a pick-me-up for a friend.  I had my stencils from my Build a Banner Simply Created kit out on my table and thought they would make a cute card too!

I was originally just going to do the stenciling but I thought it looked a bit clean, so I just had to add some Gorgeous Grunge on there! :) I ALMOST made the mistake of using my Black StazOn ink pad since my new black ink pad does not ink up AT ALL, but fortunately I realized that would stain my stencil. Talk about a close call!  I still have all of my old-style ink pads, and that one worked perfectly.  

Stamp Set: Gorgeous Grunge

Cardstock: Strawberry Slush, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Strawberry Slush, Basic Black

Accessories: Build a Banner Simply Created kit

Thankful Note Set

My Mama Sheila, who happens to be one of my downline, is having her first ever Stampin' Up! Workshop tomorrow and she has asked me to assist her. I'm really excited for her!  She wanted to demonstrate the Envelope Punch Board but does not have it, so I told her I would help her out and come up with a few things. I did an file folder card a few weeks ago that she loved, so we redid it into a fall make-n-take. I wish I had thought to take pictures!  I will try to remember to take my camera tomorrow so you can see what we came up with!  I am also going to demonstrate how to do an envelope and a card box to go along with this cute little set of cards that I came up with for the challenges at Fab Friday and The Friday Mashup!

The challenge at The Friday Mashup! is to create a project with leaves or a tree and the color orange.  I started by making a set of 4 note cards that are 4"x4.5"

I used the baby wipe technique to stamp my leaf, using Tangerine Tango, Cherry Cobbler and So Saffron ink. The background DSP comes from the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit.  I then created envelopes for each card and the box. For the box, I used an 8.5" square sheet of Crumb Cake, scored the first time on the Envelope Punch Board at 3.5" and 4.5" The envelopes are made from the retired Neutrals Paper Stack. I'm glad I still have these sitting around. I have been making lots of envelopes using it and don't feel as bad "wasting" a whole sheet since it is retired. :) I also used it for the belly band of my box.

I think these will make great teacher gifts!  

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Notable Alphabet, Truly Grateful
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Ink: Calypso Coral, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango
Tools: Expressions Thinlits, 1" Circle Punch, Chevron Border Punch
Accessories: Neutrals Paper Stack (retired), Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit

Make Your Mark!

It's time for another Make Your Mark challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This means get out your markers, crayons, colored pencils, pastels...any medium you can color with and get to work!  I also used the challenges at Hand Stamped Sentiments and Sketch Saturday for my card.

I started by making my own DSP for the background. I stamped my leaves in Black StazOn and then used my markers to color them in.  It was a little too clean for my liking so I colored on my Off the Grid stamp with Tangerine Tango and Garden Green a few times, and then added some Elegant Eggplant Splotches.  Much better! :)

I wanted the two leaves that I cut out to really pop so I added some Crystal Effects to them, let them dry, cut them out and popped them up on Dimensionals.

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid, Really Good Greetings
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Black StazOn
Tools: Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder
Accessories: Crystal Effects, Dimensionals

Ten-Minute Tuesday

I have a super quick Christmas card to share with you today. This one would be very easy to recreate if you are planning on doing lots of fast and simple Christmas cards.  I used the colors at The Paper Players for my card.

For my background, I used the Smackin' Acetate technique.  I used markers to color on a piece of acetate and then stamped some of the blotches from Gorgeous Grunge on it. I spritzed it with water and rubbed it onto my cardstock.

I stamped the tree twice, once by inking it up in Pool Party and thumping it with my Island Indigo marker, and then once in Island Indigo. After I stamped the snowflakes, I added bits of Tombow Multi Glue here and there and sprinkled on Dazzling Diamonds.

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, More Merry Messages, Snow Day

Cardstock: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds

Mail Me Monday

I have a SUPER easy card to share with you today!  My kids have been running fevers off and on for about three weeks now, so they now want Easton to have a chest x-ray done.  I'm glad I got all of my daily chores done early so I could whip up this card really quick to share!  I used the colors at Create with Connie and Mary for this one.

I actually did another card first and ended up getting some ink smudges on it so this is completely different from my first vision!

Brett is going to be traveling for work so I thought I would make him a little card before he left. I have been wanting to use this new photopolymer set, Map It Out. I just love it!  I tried REALLY hard not to use any embellishments, but those little rhinestones were just screaming at me. :)

Stamp Sets: Map It Out, Really Good Greetings
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron
Accessories: Rhinestones

Addicted to CAS

It's time for another challenge at Addicted to CAS!

I knew right away that I wanted to do a shaker card!  I love making them using our fabulous chunky glitter.

Shaker cards are SOOO easy and you don't even really have to have shaker frames to do them, just some dimensionals work just fine!  I die cut my Marian Mist cardstock with the ornament framelit, then glued the Window Sheet to the back. Then I lined the edges of the ornament with dimensionals and filled the inside with chunky glitter. I THEN peeled off the liners so I didn't get glitter stuck on the dimensionals when I poured it in, and adhered a scrap of Whisper White Cardstock that I had stamped the snowflakes on. 

Stamp Sets: More Merry Messages, Snow Day

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Whisper White

Ink: Marina Mist, Night of Navy

Tools: Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, Top Note Die, Holiday Ornaments Framelits

Accessories: Window Sheets, Silver Chunky Glitter, Dimensionals

Decluttering my Life

I haven't done much cardmaking or blogging lately because I have been busy decluttering my life!  If you are familiar with the Fly Lady, you will know what I mean when I say that I am a 2-week old Fly Baby! I am loving every minute of it and look forward to each day now because I know that I will be doing something to simplify my life.  It's so nice to finally feel like I am accomplishing getting a clean, clutter-free house.  If you aren't familiar with the Fly Lady, I encourage you to visit her website at www.flylady.net!

Since I have had less time to craft, I have been making cards that are on the simple side more often. I'm loving that too!  It's much more relaxing for me.  Today's card uses the sketch at Splitcoaststampers and the color combination at Stampin' Royalty.

I turned the sketch sideways and used the bicycle stamp from one of the My Paper Pumpkin kits.

For my background, I sponged the colors to make a kind of sunset sky and a road for the bikes.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy! The sentiment is from the last My Paper Pumpkin Kit, Wahoo.  :) 

Stamp Sets: My Paper Pumpkin kits

Cardstock: Basic Gray, Marina Mist, Whisper White

Ink: Black StazOn, Basic Gray, Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie

Tools: Sponges

Accessories: Rhinestones

Perfect Blend

It's been a while since I've used this set so I thought the colourQ challenge would be the perfect chance!  I also used the challenge at The Friday Mashup! which is to fussy cut or rip some paper. I did some fussy cutting on my pair of coffee cups.

I, of course, had to use Gorgeous Grunge for my background. It makes the perfect coffee splatters!

I stamped the coffee cup on four different colors of cardstock and then cut them all apart and pieced them together. I wanted some texture on the koozies so I ran them through the Chevron Embossing folder after I stamped them.  I thought they paired nicely with the Chevron Border Punch so I added that little embellishment at the bottom.

Stamp Set: Gorgeous Grunge, Perfect Blend

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Black StazOn

Tools: Chevron Border Punch, Chevron Embossing Folder

Accessories: Dimensionals 

Workshop Wow Wednesday

When I started out on this card I had every intention to showcase water stamping.  But alas, I didn't follow the directions correctly and it didn't work! haha So instead, my workshop wow for the day is making your own designer paper. There are so many different ways to do it, but I will show you how I made mine!  I started by drawing color inspiration from Stampin' Celebration Inspiration and the sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday.

For my DSP background, I started with a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. I sponged Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red all over it and then Soft Suede on the outside edges.  I then stamped my leaf, acorn and helicopter images in various colors.  I wanted my DSP to shine so I sponged some Illuminate ink over the top of the leaves. Easy peasy!

My sentiment is kind of hard to read but it says "One who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure." It is from World Treasure. I hardly ever use this stamp set, but saw this sentiment and thought it was so nice.  I liked the swirlies that were framing it for something extra, too. :) I'm going to give this card to my dear best friend Steph, who is SUCH a loving and faithful friend to me. I love you, Stephie!

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, World Treasure

Cardstock: Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Soft Suede, Illuminate

Tools: Circles Collection Framelits, sponges

Accessories: Pearls, Dimensionals, Burlap Ribbon

Halloween Happiness!

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! and this week our challenge is ANYTHING GOES!  That means you can do any kind of a project (a card, a scrapbook page, a 3D item...anything!), use any color scheme, any layout, etc. etc. etc.  No rules!  It reminds me of this Little Caesar's commercial. Cracks me up every time I see it! I decided to use these awesome colors from Fab Friday:

Great halloween colors, don't you think? I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do though, because I don't have very many halloween stamps. It's just not my thing! I started by sponging a background to see what that would look like and it ended up looking like a spooky sky.  I didn't have anything to put in my sky though, so I decided to browse pinterest for some punch art bats. I used a combination of some of the bats that I saw people making and came up with this adorable little guy:

I just love him!  I had to remove several punches from my punch drawer to be able to get to my owl punch though. It was the very last punch because I NEVER use it!  The wings were made with an oval punch and then I hand cut the scallops for the bottoms of the wings.  This would have made a great Thursday Throwback for me because I also used the branch from my rarely-used Take Care. :) I wanted a little frame, so I made that with some Washi Tape. Love that stuff!

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Halloween Happiness, Take Care

Cardstock: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Ink: Black StazOn, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango

Tools: Owl Punch, Oval Punch, sponges

Accessories: Dimensionals, Washi Tape

Ten-Minute Tuesday

Today is my favorite day of the week...Ten-Minute Tuesday!  I used the colors from Just Add Ink and did my favorite technique for the background.

 

I inked up my largest clear block with Sahara Sand and then stamped some splotches from Gorgeous Grunge in Coastal Cabana and Off the Grid in Sahara Sand right on the block. I gently spritzed the block with water and then stamped it onto Very Vanilla cardstock for the background effect. 

I used five of the photopolymer stamps from Another Thank You and stuck them on one clear block. I love that they are clear and I can do that!  Looking at this card, I think this would make a great easy Christmas card, just replace the thanks sentiments with a Christmas sentiment and an ornament, and possibly replace the splotches with some snowflakes??? Hmmm...I think I am going to try that and see how it turns out! :)

Stamp Sets: Another Thank You, Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid

Cardstock: Coastal Cabana, Raspberry Ripple, Very Vanilla

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Raspberry Ripple, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Rhinestones

Mail Me Monday

Today I have a quick and easy halloween card that could easily be mailed. I used the challenges at The Paper Players and retro sketches.

Halloween isn't exactly my favorite holiday, but I got this Washi Tape free at Convention, so I thought this was the perfect sketch to use some of it up!

I wanted to use two colors for my pumpkins so I used both Tangerine Tango and Pumpkin Pie. They look better together than I thought they would!  I still don't have the punch that coordinates with the Tags 4 You but it's not too difficult to cut out.  The pumpkins crack me up with those toothy grins so I fussy cut two of them.  The Candy Dots are just an extra added touch. I love using them to fill in empty spaces!

Stamp Sets: Halloween Happiness, Tags 4 You
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Black StazOn, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Washi Tape, Brights Candy Dots, Dimensionals

Throw Back Thursday...A Day Late!

I know, I know, it's Friday!  Woo hoo for that!  However, I spent a good part of yesterday cleaning and organizing my house, so I didn't have time to get to my Throw Back Thursday!  I finished it up today though. I HAD to finish it today because it is for my mother-in-law's birthday and we are celebrating it tonight!  I used the challenges at Pals Paper Arts and Create with Connie and Mary.

There are two parts to the Throw Back for me...the first part was the stamp set that I chose, Apothecary Art. This poor stamp set has been neglected almost from the time that I purchased it!  I just HAD to have it because it matched the Label Framelits. I just find it so hard to use though!  It worked perfect for this sketch AND my Throw Back Thursday though, so I decided to give it a shot.  The other part that is a Throw Back for me is the Pumpkin Pie. Back when it was first introduced, I was a beginning customer and fell in love with it.  It was a must color in my stamping and scrapping. I loved using it with blues for Talan's scrapbook pages. But then Tangerine Tango, a darker and more vibrant orange came into the Stampin' Up! family.  Ever since then, I have hardly touched Pumpkin Pie. I am down to two sheets of cardstock and I don't think I have purchase a whole pack in 2 years!  So it was time to resurrect poor old Pumpkin Pie!

I stamped the entire image in Baked Brown Sugar and then colored it in with my Aqua Painter and ink from the lid of my ink pads.  I was afraid the color would run and thought about using Black StazOn for the outline of the image so the color wouldn't bleed, but I thought that would be too dark. I wanted more of a rustic look, and that's exactly what I got!  Both panels are on Dimensionals to add some depth. I love having the paper stacks in each of the color families, just to add some subtle pattern to the card.  I thought this one looked kind of like trellis so I stamped some vines on it to kind of tie the whole thing together.  I think these are great fall colors. I can't wait to give this card to my mother-in-law.  She loves receiving my handmade cards and keeps them all. That makes me feel good!

Stamp Sets: Apothecary Art, Flowering Flourishes
Cardstock: Baked Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie
Tools: Piercing tool, mat and guide, Label Framelits
Accessories: Subtles Paper Stack, Pearls, Dimensionals