Celebrate!! Happy 13th Birthday to a Wonderful Nephew!

Hi Again Stampers! 

I had a wonderful Sunday and wanted to take a moment to share one more card with you.  I created this one for my nephew’s 13^th Birthday- he is definitely growing up too fast!!

For this card, I chose a Western theme since he has decorated his bedroom in a Country/Western flair and I utilized The Friday Mashup FM93 Make A Wish Challenge along with the PPA151 Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge.

Again, I hope you will take the time to visit each site and check out their great Design Team projects as well as all of other Challenge entries.

To create this card:

Use the Big Shot™ with the Square Lattice and Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss two pieces of of Well Worn Designer Series Paper (DSP- retired).  Very lightly sand the Woodgrain embossed piece and adhere both to the Early Espresso card front.

Use the Big Shot™ and the 3 ½” Circle Originals™ Die to cut a circle from River Rock cardstock and another circle from Early Espresso cardstock.  Cut the Early Espresso cardstock circle in half and set aside. 

Stamp the cowboy image and the sentiment using Early Espresso Classic Ink onto River Rock.  Use The Aqua Painter and watercolor with Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist and Soft Suede Classic Ink.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool with the Soft Suede Stampin’ Write marker to “distress” the cardstock.   Sponge the edges using a Sponge Dauber with Soft Suede Classic Ink.

Punch out the sentiment using the XL Oval Punch Stamp and two other ovals from Early Espresso cardstock.  Layer the two Early Espresso cardstock ovals behind the sentiment oval to create the border.

Punch out four stars using the retired Small Star Punch – add the Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware Brads (retired) .   Attach three to the knotted Hemp Twine to create a “banner”.

Layer the pieces per the sketch using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Feeling Sentimental, Out West (retired)

Cardstock: Early Espresso, River Rock, Well Worn DSP (retired)

Ink:  Early Espresso, Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Square Lattice and Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, 3 ½” Originals™ Die, Color Spritzer Tool, Aqua Painter, XL Oval Punch, Small Star Punch (retired), Antique Copper Hodgepodge Hardware Brads (retired), Hemp Twine (retired)

Thanks again for visiting- my nephew seemed to enjoy this card and of course, the cash that was within made it a bit sweeter :-)

Have a great week stamping and creating- God Bless!!

Thank You for a Great Friend- Mixing Old and New!

Hi Stampers!!

This week has been hectic (as usual) but I needed to create a few cards for family and a dear friend.

I decided to use the bright cheerful colors of this week’s CQC172 ColourQ Challenge along with the Freshly Made FMS69 sketch to create a fun thank you card for a great friend of mine who loves pink and “cute” cards.

I know I have said it many times, but it is truly amazing how so many artists can use  one color combination (and/or a sketch)  and interpret it in so many different ways.  If you have not had a chance to stop by the ColourQ or the Freshly Made Sketches site yet, check them out and you will see so many different cards and samples -they are fabulous!!

This card is very easy Clean and Simple (CAS) card to create (a few punches, embossing and only one stamp):

Cut a piece of Summer Starfruit cardstock on the diagonal and emboss using the Big Shot™ and the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) Vine Street Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Also emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the new Needlepoint Border (cross-stitch) Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Trim a bit off the ends of the Summer Starfruit layer and adhere to the Whisper White layer per the sketch.

Add a strip of Basic Gray Designer Series Paper (DSP) – again trimming the edges to the angle needed to match the diagonal layer.

Use the 1” Circle Punch to cut the Summer Starfruit “medallions” from the Sycamore Street DSP (another SAB item) and mount onto 1 ¼” Circles punched from Basic Gray and 1 3/8” Circles punched from Poppy Parade cardstock.

Use the 1 ¾” Scallop Circle Punch and the Blossom Punch to punch out flowers from Melon Mambo cardstock – add the round “centers” created in the step above and add to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Stamp the sentiment and add pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  All Cheer I (retired)

Ink: Poppy Parade (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade, Scyamore Street DSP (SAB 2013), Basic Gray DSP (retired Hostess Level I Pack)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vine Street and Needlepoint Border (cross-stitch) Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders,  Punches-Circle- 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 3/8”, 1 ¾” Scallop Circle, Blossom, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- if you have the time to stop back again later, I will be posting another card shortly!

CQC171 Sympathy

Hi Again, Stampers!

I took some time to unwind this evening in my craft room to create a card and decided to use the colors from this week’s CQC171 ColourQ Challenge- if you have not had a chance to visit their site yet, take some time and check them out :-)!!    Each week they provide such inspiration from their talented Design Team and all of the entries- love their site!

This week’s colors were somewhat masculine but I decided to go with a Vintage theme featuring one of my favorite subjects in stamps, bees.  I am allergic to their sting but for some reason, my husband and I love the antique honey dishes and the bee images .

To create this card:

On Whisper White cardstock, use a sticky note to create a frame and with a Sponge Dauber, apply Daffodil Delight Classic Ink in a spiral motion.

Repeatedly stamp the bee image using Night of Navy Classic Ink and color the leaves with a Stampin’ Write Basic Gray and Crumb Cake marker.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool with the Crumb Cake marker to add a bit of distressing to the sponged image.  Remove the sticky notes and trim the white edge and mount onto Basic Gray cardstock.   

On a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, use the Color Spritzer Tool with the Night of Navy marker to add a bit of interest to the background layer and emboss using the Big Shot™ with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss (ink the interior of the Lacy Brocade EF with Crumb Cake Classic Ink to give a bit of dimension).

Emboss a small piece of Night of Navy cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Layer a small piece of the 18” Scalloped Lace from new Artisan’s Embellishment kit behind the embossed Night of Navy strip- adhere to the Crumb Cake background layer. 

Mount the entire background panel onto Basic Gray and add the 5/8” Basic Gray Satin Ribbon over the Night of Navy strip.  Add the focal panel with Stampin’ Dimensionals and mount entire card onto the Whisper White card base.

Stamp the sentiment using Night of Navy Classic Ink onto Vellum- trim and create the banner points with the 1 3/8” Square Punch.  Add to the card with Two-Way Glue and cover the interior points of the banner using pearls from the retired Pretties kit.

Stamp Sets:  Nature’s Pace, Blessings from Heaven

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Stampin’ Write marker- Basic Gray, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Night of Navy, Vellum

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade and Square Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Sponge Dauber, Color Spritzer Tool, 1 3/8” Square Punch, 18” Scalloped Lace (from Artisan Embellishments), Pearls (retired Pretties kit), 5/8” Basic Gray Satin Ribbon (retired)

Thanks again for your visit – I hope all of you have a wonderful week and are able to take some time to stamp and relax!  

Celebrate!! Three in One!

Hi Stampers! 

I hope all of you had a wonderful week!  I decided to create a card featuring some of the 2013 Spring/Summer Mini Catalog items along with a new stamp set from the upcoming 2013 Sale-A-Bration (SAB). Plus, I am so thankful that I was able to use scraps for all of the layers- love going "green"!!  

This card incorporates three Challenges- TheFriday Mashup FM92 Challenge, the SR158 Stampin’ Royalty Inspiration Photo and the Freshly Made FMS68 Sketch.

If you have the time, check out each site for wonderful inspiration and see how creative all of the Design Team members were this week!

To create this card:

Use the Big Shot™ with the Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of the Very Vanilla cardstock.  Mount this onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, add the Tangerine Tango DSP and s strip of Early Espresso cardstock to cover the cut edge.

Stamp the bicycle image from the new SAB Feeling Sentimental stamp set using Early Espresso Classic Ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock. Adhere to Early Espresso cardstock and again onto a “frame” created with Pool Party DSP (from retired Just Eat Cake) and Early Espresso cardstock.

Create the lower strip at the bottom of the card using another strip of DSP from Summer Smooches (featuring Island Indigo), scrap strip of the DSP from the lower half of the card, mount onto Early Espresso cardstock and add the 18” Scalloped Lace Trim from the new Spring/Summer Mini Artisan Embellishment kit (I cut the lace in half so I can use the other half for another card).

Add the banner sentiment (points created with the 1 3/8" Square Punch), the 5/16” Neutral Brads  along with Pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Feeling Sentimental

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, DSP from Summer Smooches and Just Eat Cake (retired)

Ink:  Early Espresso

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, 1 3/8” Square Punch, 18” Scalloped Lace Trim Lace , Pearls, 5/16” Neutrals Brads (retired)

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you find a chance to stamp and have fun this week- go ahead and celebrate in your craft room (I know I will)!! 

Happy Anniversary- 30 Years Together!

Hi Stampers! 

This week , my husband and I will be celebrating our 30^th Anniversary!!  It seems just like yesterday that we met, but then again, it seems like I have known him forever!  I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to be husband and wife here on earth and that we will spend eternity together in Heaven with the Lord!!  He is the best husband ever and very supportive of my stamping :-)

I decided to create another “bird” card in honor of one of our favorite hobbies, watching birds :-)  We have been blessed to see over 140 species of birds from our own sunroom and love to scan the tops of the trees with our binoculars in search of a new species or for the chance to see some of our favorites return each year. 

I decided to use the beautiful set, Nature Walk along with the CCCMC233 Sketch and the colors of this week’s Stampin’ Royalty SR157 Color Challenge (I completed the card too late to join in the SR157 Challenge but love the color palette).  If you have the time, check out their sites to see all of the amazing entries!

To create this card:

Using Soft Suede and Crumb Cake Classic Ink, stamp the images onto Very Vanilla cardstock and cut into panels.  

Sponge the edges and lightly in the center with Crumb Cake and Soft Suede to “distress” the images and add more distressing with the Color Spritzer Tool and a Soft Suede marker.  

Mount all of the panels onto Crumb Cake and Soft Suede cardstock and watercolor the egg images using an Aqua Painter with Not Quite Navy (NQN) Classic Ink.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (ink the interior of the folder first with Crumb Cake Classic Ink) to emboss a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  Adhere this background onto NQN and Crumb Cake cardstock and then onto the Very Vanilla cardbase. 

Add the banner created from NQN Designer Series Pack (do not look too close- I accidentally created the banner with the words upside down- oops! :-)) Add the panels using Stampin' Dimensionals.  

Add the ½” Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon Bow accented with an Antique Brad and the sentiment to finish off the card.

I hope my darling husband does not mind the bow- "real" men like bows, right?

Stamp Sets:  Nature Walk, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Stampin’ Write markers- Crumb Cake and Soft Suede

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy Designer Series Pack

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sponge Daubers, Color Spritzer Tool, Punches- 1 3/8” Square Punch (for banner points), Word Window and Modern Label;  ½” Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Antique Brad

Thanks again for stopping by- have a blessed week!

Oh, Happy Day!! 2013 Sale-A-Bration is Near!

Hi Stampers!!

I wanted to share with you a card that I designed using the bright colors from this week’s DD34Dynamic Duos and the FM91 Sketch from the Friday Mashup! 

 Again, if you have not had the time to visit their sites yet, you are in for a treat!  The Design Team's ideas are wonderful as well as all of the other entries - so much talent!!

This card incorporates one of the new Sale-A-Bration (SAB) sets that will be available after January 22^nd along with some of the new SAB Designer Paper and Ribbon- stay tuned for more details in January regarding how you can earn these items free!

To create this card:

Use Stampin’ Write markers in Island Indigo and Melon Mambo to color the leaves and flowers from Bloomin’ Marvelous and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock to create your focal image.  

"Stamp off" a few of the images to leave a lighter impression and ink the sentiment stamp the Stampin' Write Island Indigo marker as well :-)  

When you have the desired effect with the flowers and leaves, use a Sponge Dauber to lightly sponge Island Indigo around the edges.

Mount the focal image onto Island Indigo and again onto Melon Mambo (leaving a bit of Melon Mambo at the bottom for the Finishing Touches Edgelit™ border  and the new 1/4" Island Indigo Satin Ribbon). 

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and adhere this background to a layer of Island Indigo and Melon Mambo.

Create the banner using DSP mounted onto Melon Mambo cardstock - use a 1” Square Punch to create the banner “points” . 

Assemble the card per the sketch- add the banner, mount the focal image using Stampin’ Dimensionals, adhere the butterflies, leaves and rolled flowers (tutorial here) with Mini Glue Dots and finally the pearls to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets: Bloomin’ Marvelous

Ink:  Stampin’ Write Markers- Island Indigo, Melon Mambo

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Sycamore Street DSP (2013 SAB), Melon Mambo (Brights Designer Series Pack)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy BrocadeTextured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Finishing Touches Edgelit™ Die, Punches- 1" Square Punch, 1 3/8” and 1 ¼” Circle (for the rolled flowers), Bird Builder, Elegant Butterfly; Pearls, Sponge Dauber, ¼” Island Indigo Satin Ribbon (2013 SAB Bundle)

Thanks again for stopping by - I hope you have  a great time this week creating something fun with paper!! 

2013 January Christmas- Three Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers!!

I have been busy at work again this week and wanted to take time this weekend to create the remaining six cards for my January “commitment” for the SplitcoaststampersCCC13 Christmas Card Challenge ( I have committed to 20 per month:-)).

  

After I had already created my first two Christmas cards for the Splitcoaststampers CCC13 Challenge, I realized that the theme for January is to use non-traditional colors.  With that in mind for my last set for January, I decided to use the colors from this week’s Pals Paper Arts PPA150 Color Challenge long with the Freshly Made FMS67 Sketch Challenge.  I love both of these challenge sites and the Design Team Samples along with all of the other submissions show how many interpretations can be made with a specified challenge

.

To create this card:

Print the images from Beautiful Season and More Merry Messages using My Digital Studio (MDS) onto Whisper White cardstock (I mirrored the image to reverse the chickadee).  I love using MDS to create "hybrid" cards :-)

Color the berries using a Stampin’ Write Melon Mambo marker and the chickadee and leaves using the Gray Watercolor Pencil.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Oval Framelits™ to cut out the chickadee image and also cut an oval from Basic Black and Melon Mambo cardstock (cutting these two in half lengthwise to layer behind the focal image).

Use the Big Shot™ with the Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™  Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Basic Gray cardstock .  Also with the Big Shot™, cut pieces of Whisper White cardstock with the Large Scallop Edgelit™  and Northern Frost Decorative Strip.   Emboss the scalloped pieces with the Delicate Designs Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (2 pieces per card) and “pop” out two snowflakes per card.

Added a third snowflake to cover up the sentiment "error" :-)

Layer the embossed Basic Gray with a strip of Melon Mambo Designer Series Paper (from the DSP Stack) along with the two lace borders onto Basic Black cardstock. 

** HINT** I cut the ovals from the Basic Black background layer and covered it with Basic Gray, Melon Mambo and embossed lace panels (no one will be the wiser plus it helps eliminate some of the weight of the card).

Add the two strips of 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon.  Adhere the Oval focal image and sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals. 

Stamp Sets:  None- MDS Beautiful Season, MDS More Merry Messages

Ink: Printer Ink-Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Melon Mambo,  Watercolor Pencil- Gray

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Melon Mambo DSP from the Brights Designer Series Pack

Accessories:  Big Shot™,  Fancy Fan and Delicate Designs (Lace)Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders,  Oval  Framelits™, Northern Frost Decorative Trim, Large Scallop Edgelit™, 1” Square Punch (for banner points), Pearls, 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon (retired)

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you like this non-traditional color Christmas card! 

Have a wonderful Monday and stop back soon- I will be posting another card using an upcoming Sale-A-Bration set!

2013 Christmas- Card #2

Hi Stampers!

Happy New Year!!  I hope all of you had a wonderful, safe New Year!!

 I had a chance to create a few more Christmas Cards for the CCC13Splitcoaststampers Christmas Card Challenge using the colors from this week’s The Friday Mashup FM90 Challenge.  I was able to create eight of these cards and now with my previous post,  am off to a good start towards my goal of twenty per month :-)  The first card, I distressed a bit and sponged to "age" the paper and the other seven were "clean"- I decided with the time that it took to distress , I preferred the "clean" look  :-)

This card is another “hybrid” card- the images are digital but the coloring and other elements are “traditional” :-)

To create this card:

Using My Digital Studio (MDS), print out the skater image from Winter Post and the sentiment from Wishes and Greetings using Black Printer Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color the images with a Stampin’ Write marker in Pool Party and Midnight Muse.  Punch the image out using a 2 ½” XL Circle Punch.  Punch out another circle using Midnight Muse cardstock and cut in half to layer behind the focal image.

Adhere the focal image onto a Whisper White Tea Lace Doily and attach the ½” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon bow.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Folder to emboss a piece of Pool Party and Midnight Muse Cardstock.  Cut both pieces in half and adhere to a piece of Whisper White cardstock.   Add a piece of the ½” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon to hide the seam and adhere the doily focal image to the front of the card.

With the Big Shot™ and the Northern Frost Decorative Strip die cut out the snowflakes from Whisper White cardstock.

Punch out the sentiment using the XL Oval Punch and also punch two pieces from Midnight Muse cardstock to layer behind the sentiment.  Mount to the card front along with the snowflakes using Mini Glue Dots.  Add the Rhinestones to the center of the snowflakes to finish off the card.

First card- created with distressing, sponging 

Stamp Sets:  None- My Digital Studio- Winter Post, Wishes and Greetings  

 Ink: None- Printer Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Midnight Muse, Pool Party

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pool Party, Midnight Muse

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Folder, Northern Frost Decorative Strip, Whisper White Tea Lace Doily, ½” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, XL Oval Punch, 2 ½” Circle Punch, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week!