Sending Love and Sympathy for the Loss of a Great Uncle

Hi Stampers!

I am so thankful that I had a chance to stamp another card this week but am saddened for the reason.  One of my uncles (my father’s oldest brother) lost his battle with cancer and left behind his wife of over 60 years (as well as six adult children and many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren).  He was a wonderful man, a terrific uncle and will be missed terribly by all who had the privilege to know and love him.

I wanted to create a new card to send to my aunt and I decided to try this week’s challenging CQC142 ColourQ colors.  While I have many sympathy cards “in stock”, when the person I am creating the card for is a close friend or family member, I prefer to pray for them and think about them as I design the card.  Unfortunately my aunt lives so far away that I do not get to see her that often (in fact it has probably been five years or so since we have seen one another).  I hope that this card will bring some comfort to her and let her know that I care.

To create this card:

Stamp the floral image using Island Indigo onto Crushed Curry (I know, this is a retired cardstock but it was one of the colors for this week and I have a ton of it in stock since I took advantage of the clearance pricing :-)).  Carefully cut out the flowers and set aside.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Apothecary Accents Framelits™ and cut a piece of Soft sky cardstock (another retired color).  Stamp the swirl image from Creative Elements using Island Indigo and using the new Piercing Mat with the Piercing Tool, piece holes around the edge.  Draw a line between the holes to mimic stitching with the Island Indigo Stampin’ Write marker.

While you have the Apothecary Accents Framelits™ out, cut a piece from Cameo Coral and Island Indigo for the sentiment.  Color the stamp using the Cameo Coral and Island Indgio Stampin' Write markers and punch out with the Extra Large Oval Punch.  Layer with the Adorning Apothecary layers (trimming and cutting the Cameo Coral in half to layer). 

Also emboss a piece of Whisper White with the new Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.

Stamp the butterfly with Island Indigo onto Cameo Coral (retired as well) cardstock and punch out using the new Elegant Butterfly Punch. 

Add the sentiment layer, pearls and satin ribbon to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Creative Elements, Papillon Potpourri,  Love and Sympathy

Ink: Island Indigo, Stampin’ Write Markers- Island Indigo and Cameo Coral (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, retired colors- Soft Sky, Cameo Coral and Crushed Curry

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelit™ Dies, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Paper-Piercing Mat, Paper-Piercing Tool, Extra Large Oval Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Pearls, Satin Ribbon (from my stash)

Do you like my take on this retro color combination using new products?  If you have the time, let me know what you think:-))  

Thanks again for stopping by to visit- I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and I find some time to "de-stress" with stamping- God Bless!  

The " Eyes" Have It :-)

Hi Again Stampers!

I just love the CCMC207 sketch at Create with Connie and Mary this week!  As soon as I saw it, I knew that I wanted to create my own panel with stamps as one of the layers and of course, even though I wanted to create a bit of a masculine card, I ended up with paper lace, satin ribbon and a few pearls:-)

To create this card:

Mask the diagonal lines on a piece of Whisper White card and using Basic Black Classic Ink, repeatedly stamp the peacock feather from Fine Feathers.  Using a Sponge Dauber, lightly sponge Bashful Blue Classic Ink over the entire panel. 

Use an Aqua Painter with ink from the pads and watercolor the Pacific Point, Soft Suede and Gumball Green to create the layers of the feather.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool with a Pacific Point marker to add the splatter effect.

Lightly spray the entire panel with Frost White Shimmer Paint spray...FYI- I was a bit too heavy on the shimmer but since the real peacock feathers have a shine...:-)

Cut the panel and mount onto Basic Black cardstock.  

***NOTE***You possibly could just stamp the images in a row but originally I was going to try to make a one layer card and decided against it at the last minute…

Use the Big Shot™ with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss the DSP background (from Comfort Café) and lightly sand with the Sanding Block.

Add the embossed lace panel, black satin ribbon bow, sentiment and pearls to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets: Fine Feathers, Blessings from Heaven

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Comfort Café DSP

Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Soft Suede, Gumball Green , Pacific Point SU! Marker

Accessories: Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Vintage Wallpaper  and Delicate Designs (Lace), Large Scallop Edgelit™, Extra- Large Oval Punch, Color Spritzer Tool, Sanding Block, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Pearls, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon (retired)

Thanks again for stopping by!  I hope you like this card and if you have the time let me know... at first my husband thought that the main panel had "eyes" on it- then he put his glasses on- lol!!   Have a great weekend and have fun stamping! 

My 300th Post and Happy 100th Challenge to the Paper Players- Two In One!!

Hi Stampers!                           

                                                                                    

Wow- I have been busy with work and with stamping (I promise :-)) the last few weeks!! 

I am stamping but since I am currently on the two Design Teams for Splitcoaststampers (the SU! Creative Crew and the Dirty Dozen), I can only share those creations at certain times. 

Once a month, the SU! Creative Crew gallery goes live to the public as well as the Dirty Dozen Fan Club Gallery. I can post the cards that I create for the SU! Creative Crew to my blog at the same time as the gallery goes live (check back at the first of the month :-))   but the cards for the Dirty Dozen Fan Club are posted to an exclusive gallery that you can only see if you are a Splitcoaststampers (SCS) Fan Club Member.

 

How do you become a SCS Fan Club Member? You do not have to be a member to access their website but for only $25.00 per year, you can become one- these dues go towards the extensive IT fees, servers, etc. that it takes to maintain a site as large as SCS plus as a Fan Club Member you have additional "perks" like the Fan Club Gallery.  I do not know about you, but I have been visiting SCS for years and the resource forum alone is worth the fee not to mention all of the inspiration!  I do not get any commission or anything for saying this :-)- I am just one of their biggest fans!! 

Enough said about where I have been…. today I wanted to post my 300th post and play along with this week’s PP100 Challenge at The Paper Players!  This week celebrates The Paper Players  100^th challenge and in addition to a blog hop with blog candy, they are inviting you to play along with one of your favorites from their past 99 challenges (with the exception of their “Anything Goes” challenges).

I opened the link to the past challenges and wrote them all down in my stamping notebook…..told you I love their challenges:-)    I decided to choose one of my favorite color combination challenges and combine it with another one of their challenges that I had missed before -a "Two for One"…

I chose the PP46 Color Challenge of Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy and Early Espresso and combined it with their PP83 Masculine Challenge....

Here is the original card that I had submitted for the PP46 Challenge (thanks again, Ladies, for choosing this card for the "Headliner" for the PP46 Challenge):   

and here is my card using the PP46 Colors for the PP100 Challenge in addition to the PP83 Masculine Challenge- I told you- "Two for One" is my theme today :-)): 

When I first saw the set, Postage Due, I knew that it would be at the top of my list and I also loved the new set, Clockworks so I decided to combine the two and create an “antique looking” collage effect.. "Two in One" :-)  This may look complicated but it is very simple to do...

To create this card:

With the Big Shot and the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, emboss a piece of Wellworn DSP (retired)- lightly sand the DSP to allow the white core to show. 

On Whisper White cardstock, stamp the Postage Due background image using Early Espresso ink.   Tear the edges, distress with the Distressing Tool and use a Sponge Dauber to lightly apply Crumb Cake ink over the image and on the edges to “antique” the paper.  Add Early Espresso sparingly to give the edges a "burnt" look.

Close-up of Distressing 

Stamp the background stamp from Clockworks using Not Quite Navy on Whisper White and “antique” in the same manner above.

Heat emboss the clock image on Whisper White using Versamark™ ink and Stampin’ Emboss Gold Powder (don’t forget to de-static with the Embossing Buddy®- yea! he is back!!).  Assemble the clock layers, add the Parisian stamp from the Postage Due set, the sentiment and the Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Postage Due, Clockworks, Teeny Tiny Wishes

 Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Versamark™

Paper:  Whisper White, Early Espresso, Wellworn DSP (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sponge Daubers, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Gold Embossing Powder, Punches- Postage Stamp, Word Window, Modern Label, 1 ¼” Circle, 1/16” Handheld,  Antique Brass Hardware Brad (retired) , Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Sanding Block

Thanks again for stopping by for my 300th post!  All of your visits are so encouraging to me and I do read each and every comment!! I hope all is well with you and your families and that you are finding some time to stamp and create treasures of your own- God Bless!

June 2012 Creative Crew Challenge Entries

Hi Stampers! 

June is here and another month with the Splitcoaststamper’s Creative Crew! 

Again, we are hoping that you will join us this month by creating a project from one of the challenges (or all of the challenges) and upload it to the Splitcoast Gallery- it is a lot of fun!  When you upload, make sure that you use the keywords that are highlighted in bold so we can all see your projects and comment (SUO- Stampin’ Up! Only and SUM= SU! Mostly)-

The theme for June is:

"Something old, 
And something new,
Up on a cloud with the latest treat,
But old friends still can’t be beat!"

CCREW0612DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -DSP/Color Focus: Use three colors: Basic Gray, White, and one of the new 2012-2014 In-Colors. You can pick any new color you want, but your project can only have three colors, no more, no less.

CCREW0612CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Catalog focus: Use one "new" item in combination with one "old" item.   Not “old” as in age or vintage, something that has been in the Stampin’ Up! catalog for a while. This can be a new embellishment with an old embellishment, a new set with an old background, an old die cut with a new set….

CCREW0612HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday focus: Manly Men – It’s time to take some inspiration from Brad Paisley and create something a man in your life. Tell us what line from the song inspired your project, now “sing it Brad” (I will insert a link to the words once the gallery is open to the public).

CCREW0612SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Scrapbook focus: How about a “recipe” on how to build a fun page?   June is national strawberry shortcake month, so your recipe for will be based on the Classic Strawberry Shortcake.   Use the following components based on this recipe- remember  your page does not have to be a recipe page or about Strawberry Shortcake (your subject can be anything) but it needs the components based on the following recipe:

Your page needs to have:
*The colors of Real Red, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla
*There must be at least one group of three (three layers, three pictures, three punches, etc.)
*Something soft (the whipped cream) EX: a torn edge, a ribbon or lace, a fabric element, etc.    

The rest is up to you, see where this takes you!

Here are the projects that I created this month:

CCREW0612DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - DSP/Color Focus and CCREW0612CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Catalog focus

Something “old” and “new- This card has the new Designer Series Paper, Patio Party and a new In-Color, Summer Starfruit (so it also qualifies for the DSP/Color Focus challenge) .  

I have to admit, I was not sure about this color at first but it has grown on me and I love it with Basic Gray and Whisper White!

Stamp the images with Basic Gray ink on Whisper White cardstock. Color the bee and the flowers with a SU! Summer Starfruit marker.  Distress the edges of the cardstock with the Distressing Tool and sponge the edges with Basic Gray ink. 

Ink the interior of the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder with Basic Gray Classic Ink and emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the Big Shot™. 

Create the banner using the Big Shot™ with the Bitty Banners Framelits™ die.  Attach the 5/8” Basic Gray Satin Ribbon, Antique Brad and Pearls to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets:  Nature Walk, Itty Bitty Banners

 Ink: Basic Gray, Stampin’ Write marker- Summer Starfruit

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Patio Party Designer Series Paper

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder,  Bitty Banners Framelits™, Punches- 1 3/8” Circle , 1 3/4” Circle, Sponge Daubers, Distressing Tool, Antique Brad, 5/8” Basic Gray Satin Ribbon, Pearls

CCREW0612DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - DSP/Color

I love the new In-Colors so I decided to create two more cards using the DSP/Color Focus Challenge.  

Also, the new foam base ink pads are amazing and I wanted to see what type of detail I could achieve using the new ink on the same color cardstock  (especially with the Sunflower background stamp).   

This card also qualifies for the Clean and Simple CAS170 Challenge…

Stamp the image using Summer Starfruit Classic Ink onto Summer Starfruit cardstock.  Cut the paper into three strips and mount onto Whisper White cardstock and again onto Basic Gray.

Add the 3/8” Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon bow, pearls and sentiment. 

Stamp Sets:  Sunflower (background), Blessings from Heaven

 Ink: Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit

Accessories:  3/8” Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Pearls

For the second card:

Use the same stamp set, ink the Sunflower using Midnight Muse Classic Ink onto Whisper White.  Cut into three strips and mount onto Whisper White cardstock with Stampin’ Dimensionals. 

Stamp the sentiment using Midnight Muse Classic Ink, add the 5/8” White Organza Ribbon and mount onto Midnight Muse and Basic Gray cardstock.  Clean and Simple and very quick!

Stamp Sets:  Sunflower (background), Blessings from Heaven

 Ink: Midnight Muse

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Midnight Muse

Accessories:  5/8” Organza Ribbon

CCREW0612CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Catalog focus

Another card using “Something old, something new”-

Stamp the background stamp, Parlor Prints (carried over from the “old” catalog) using Versamark™ ink and heat emboss with Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder.  

Once the embossing powder cools, use a Sponge Dauber with Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse Classic Ink.  Wipe off the excess ink, use the 1 ¼” Square Punch and line six squares onto Midnight Muse cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss the panel with Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, adhere to Whisper White Cardstock. 

Add the 5/8” Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon and Midnight Muse Rolled Flowers, Pearls, sentiment with the Bitty Banner Framelits™ die to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Parlor Prints (background), Teeny Tiny Wishes

 Ink: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse, Versamark™

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Bitty Banners Framelits™ Die, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Crimper Tool, Sponge Daubers , 5/8” Rose Red Seam Binding, 1 3/8” Circle Punch, Pearls

CCREW0612CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Catalog focus-

Another card using “Something old, something new”- 

Stamp the medallion from Day of Gratitude (carried over from the “old” catalog) using Versamark™ ink and heat emboss with Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder.  

Once the embossing powder cools, use a Sponge Dauber with Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse Classic Ink (the something "new").  Wipe off the excess ink and carefully cut out the medallion. 

Using the same emboss resist steps above with the background stamp, En Francais .  Trim the background stamp image in half and mount onto Whisper White cardstock.  

Ink the interior of the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder with Primrose Petals Classic Ink and emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock and cut with te Framelits™ Labels Collection die.  Mount onto another label cut from Midnight Muse cardstock.

Layer the Midnight Muse cardstock strip, Raspberry Ripple embossed panel (using the Vintage Wallpaper EF).  Add the medallion, taffeta ribbon and sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Day of Gratitude, Blessings from Heaven, En Francais

 Ink: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse, Versamark™

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, 3/8” Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Large Oval Punch, Sponge Daubers, Pearls

CCREW0612CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Catalog focus

One more for the “Something old, something new”- I can't stop! :-)

Stamp the image from Nature’s Pace with Midnight Muse Classic ink and color using the image with Stampin’ Write markers- Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple. 

Cut the image using the Big Shot™ with the Decorative Oval Frame Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder- carefully trim around the oval.  

Cut a label using Midnight Muse cardstock using the Big Shot™ and the Labels Framelits™ Die.

Use the scraps from the previous project (the Parlor Prints emboss resist panel), and layer with the embossed panel of Whisper White cardstock.

Add the Labels layer, stamp the sentiment and add the pearls.

Stamp Sets:  Day of Gratitude, Blessings from Heaven

 Ink: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse, Versamark™

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Floral District DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper and Decorative Oval Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits™ Dies, 3/8” Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Large Oval Punch, Sanding Block, Sponge Daubers, Pearls

CCREW0612SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Scrapbook focus-

I wanted to try a page using My Digital Studio and highlight my stamping “girls” Victoria and Angel.

The Real Red DSP, Very Vanilla butterflies, and Crumb Cake punched layer and background on the label satisfy the colors for the “recipe”. 

Three photos, punches, buttons satisfy the “threes” needed and the punched edge on the crumb cake layer adds the soft element (not to mention their soft fur :-))…

Since we do not have children, we tend to spoil our "babies"- they are such great companions, wonderful “friends” and I am very lucky indeed…

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope that you will join us for one (or all) of the challenges this month!