Happy New Year's Eve and Happy New Year- 2015!!

Happy New Year's Eve Stampers! 

I hope all of you have a safe Happy New Year's Eve and wonderful 2015!  It has truly been a blessing to me to see how many of you visit my blog and I read and treasure each one of your comments :-)  

2014 has been a bit of a tough year for us since my husband was diagnosed with cancer in the fall, but Lord Willing, he is handling the chemo well so far and we are praying that he will be in remission once the chemo is finished in the spring :-)   We know that all things work together for good to those who love Him and we are resting in His Promises :-)

 

This card was the first one I originally created for the  SUO113 “Project Life by Stampin’ Up!®” Challengeand decided to hold it one extra day for the New Year :-)

I decided to incorporate a few of my favorite weekly challenges as well- the FMS167 Challenge at Freshly Made Sketches and the SC94 Inspiration Photo at Stampin’ Celebration.   

 

If you have not already done so, I hope you will find the time to check the rest of the Design Team projects at all of the challenge sites and come join in on the fun!

To create this card:

Mount a piece of Hello Honey Moonlight Designer Series Paper (DSP) to a piece of Basic Black cardstock, trim and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

Trim the Project Life® by Stampin’ Up!® Smoky Slate plaid card from the Everyday Adventure collection in half and punch along the bottom with the Spiral Border Punch.

Punch a piece of Basic Black cardstock with the Spiral Border Punch (I used a scrap strip wide enough for the vertical panel created above) and adhere behind the bottom portion of the PLxSU plaid panel, offset just a bit to create a shadow effect.

Add the vertical punched panel to the card front per the sketch.

Trim two additional Project Life® by Stampin’ Up!® cards from the Everyday Adventure collection (Smoky Slate Polka Dot and the Days of the Week), mount the Smoky Slate Polka Dot piece onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, trim and adhere onto the Days of the Week panel.   Mount this panel to the card front.

FYI- I had the globe image from The Open Sea already printed and ready to go from a previous My Digital Studio (MDS) card project (in my organized scrap bag)- you can also stamp the image onto Whisper White cardstock using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink.  

Punch out the globe with the 2 ½” Circle Punch and punch out another 2 ½” Circle from Basic Black cardstock (split the black circle in half and mount behind the globe image).

Create the Basic Black bow using the new Bow Builder Punch and add the Smoky Slate button to the center (use a small silver of Basic Black cardstock to mimic thread in the button).   Add the globe image to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Use the Big Shot™ with the retired GoGo Boots Sizzlits™ to cut out the numbers from Smoky Slate cardstock and add to the card front.

Stamp the sentiment from the 2015 Sale-A-Bration set, A Happy Thing, using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock and create the banner using the Hexagon Punch.   Mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock and create the banner points, again with the Hexagon Punch.

Add the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card

Stamp Sets:  The Open Sea (MDS version), A Happy Thing

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black; Printer Ink- Black

Paper/Cardstock:  Project Life® by Stampin’ Up!® Everyday Adventure, Basic Black, Whisper White, Smoky Slate

Accessories:  Big Shot™, retired GoGo Boots Sizzlits™, Punches- Bow Builder,  Hexagon and Spiral Border; Smoky Slate button,

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by – I sincerely hope that all of you have a fabulous and blessed 2015!   

SUO113 Feathers with Project Life® by Stampin’ Up!®

Hi Stampers! 

This card was created for the new SUO113 “Project Life byStampin’ Up!®” Challenge.   I hope you enjoy this card (I wanted to show how versatile the Project Life® by Stampin' Up!® collections can be)- they are not just for scrapbooking :-)   

FYI- I will be sharing another card created for this challenge later this week :-)

I hope you will find the time to check the rest of the DesignTeam projects and create your own project to join in on the fun!

To create this Clean and Simple (CAS) card:

Trim and mount the Project Life® by Stampin’ Up!® card from the Everyday Adventure collection to a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock, trim again and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Ink the Four Feathers images using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.   Use the Big Shot™ with the matching Feathers Framelits™ to cut out the feather images and mount onto the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Ink the sentiment from Happy Hooray with Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.  

Punch the sentiment out with the Hexagon Punch and mount onto another hexagon punched from Melon Mambo cardstock (split the Melon Mambo hexagon in half and mount behind the sentiment).   Add the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Using the new Bow Builder Punch, create the bow from Melon Mambo cardstock, add the Basic Black button to the center and mount the bow to the top of the feathers. 

Adhere the Rhinestones to the background to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Four Feathers, Happy Hooray

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black

Paper/Cardstock:  Project Life® by Stampin’ Up!® Everyday Adventure, Melon Mambo, Basic Black

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Feather Framelits™,  Bow Builder and Hexagon Punch, Rhinestones, Basic Black button

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by – I hope that you will join in on in on the fun with your Stampin’ Up! Only creations and create your own “Project Life® by Stampin’ Up!®”project!

Merry (Belated) Christmas!!!

Belated Merry Christmas! 

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior with your families.  

It has been 21 years since my mother went to be with the Lord and both of my husband’s parents are gone, so we understand the sadness that the holidays can bring… 

I know that some of you may have lost loved ones this year and their loss does make the holidays difficult…I am praying that you were able to recall the good memories with those loved ones and it brought some comfort during this time.

I did not have time to create another special Christmas card just for this belated Christmas post (procrastination is my middle name) so I thought I would share one of my favorite cards that I created this year.   

This card was created from my sister-in-law, nieces and nephew and in the haste of traveling to their home on Christmas day, the card was left behind at our home- duh!!

Since it is a bit bulky, I will most likely deliver by hand, late as usual…....

Maybe 2015 will be the year I get my act together- lol!!

PPA232 Come To Bethlehem- A Quick Card from Scraps :-)

Hi Stampers!

I have been working in the craft room preparing for Christmas and decided to take a quick break to create a card for this week’s Pals Paper Arts PPA232 Sketch Challenge. 

This sketch will be the last one from one of their designers, Margaret Moody- I will miss Margaret’s sketches- they are always so clean and intricate!  Thanks Margaret for all of your sketches in the past and your inspiration!!

If you have not had a chance to visit the Pals Paper Arts site yet, I would encourage you to do so- they have two fabulous design teams and wonderful galleries each week!

FYI- For this card, I pulled out my organized scraps (trust me, not all of my scraps are organized but I am working on it :-)).   I already had the sentiment and wise men image printed and ready to go from a previous digital hybrid card and the snowflake background panels were pieces left over from a "homemade designer paper" project years ago...this is why I keep my scraps around- it helps me create quick cards!!

To create this card:

Using a brayer, randomly and with quick strokes, apply Melon Mambo, Night of Navy and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink to a piece of Whisper White cardstock (use light strokes since all of these colors are very dark- make sure that you allow some of the white to remain).  Do not worry if there are some streaks since the next step will hide them :-)

Using the Embossing Buddy®, de-static the brayered panel that you just created above and stamp the images from the retired set, Serene Snowflakes using Versamark™ ink.   Apply Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool.  

Trim the pieces per the sketch and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.

Using My Digital Studio (MDS), position the sentiment and the focal image from the Come to Bethlehem digital stamp set onto a blank 8.5 x 11 document.  Re-size the focal image and print onto Whisper White cardstock.

Trim the images and mount onto Basic Black cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, trim and mount onto the Rich Razzleberry card base.

Mount the embossed strips and sentiment onto the card front.

Add the focal image panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

*** NOTE *** After assembling the card, I noticed a bit of “dirt” on my sentiment and focal image panels (most likely from storage since they were a few years old or from my work surface- lol!)  To salvage, I added some “stars” using the Silver Stampin’ Dazzle Pen.  Again, now you know all of my secrets :-)

Add the Rhinestone to the center of the star to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Come to Bethlehem (MDS version), Serene Snowflakes

Ink: Versamark™, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink; Printer Ink- Black; Stampin’ Dazzle Silver Pen

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Rhinestone

Thanks again for visiting- I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas week!!

SUO112 Christmas Wishes- Bow and Stars

Hi Stampers! 

This card was created for the new SUO112 “Merry and Happy” Challenge along with the AW31 Photo Inspiration Challenge.

I hope you will find the time to check the rest of the Design Team projects at both sites as well as the gallery submissions- great inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Stamp the large star from Bright & Beautiful with Mossy Meadow Classic Ink and stamp the medium star using Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

Using the Big Shot™ with the appropriate size Star Collections Framelits™,  cut out each star.  

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, trim and mount onto the Mossy Meadow card base.

Attach ½ of a White Tea Lace Paper Doily to the card base, adhere both the large and medium star using Stampin’ Dimensionals® ( large star overlapping the top of the doily a bit and medium star on an angle).

Use the new Bow Builder Punch to create a bow from Cherry Cobbler cardstock and adhere to the top of the Cherry Cobbler star.

Stamp the sentiment from Ornamental Pine with Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, trim and create the banner points using the Hexagon Punch.

Use a Bone Folder to curve the sentiment and add to the card front over the two stars.

Adhere the Pearls to the edges of the sentiment and center of the Cherry Cobbler star to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Bright & Beautiful, Ornamental Pine

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Star Collection Framelits™,  Beautiful Baroque Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Punches- Bow Builder and Hexagon, Pearls, ½ White Tea Lace Doily

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by – I hope that you will join in on in on the fun with your Stampin’ Up! Only creations and create your own “Merry and Happy” project!

SC93 Contempo Christmas Banners and Snowflakes :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I wanted to create a few masculine Christmas cards and decided to use some retired Designer Series Paper along with the Stampin’ Celebration SC93 Sketch Challenge :-)

Again, if you have not already visited the Stampin’ Celebration site, I hope you will find the time to do so- great Design Team samples! 

To create this Clean and Layered (CAL) card:

Cut strips from the retired Candlelight Christmas Designer Series Paper and use the Hexagon Punch to create the banner points. 

Adhere a square panel of Very Vanilla cardstock to a piece of Early Espresso cardstock.  Add the three banners to the panel along with the 5/8” Triple Early Espresso Satin Ribbon bow.

Stamp the sentiment from the retired Contempo Christmas set using Early Espresso Classic Ink onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  Trim the panel and mount onto the Early Espresso card front.

Add the banner panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to the card front.

Add the punched Early Espresso and Very Vanilla snowflakes along with the Pearls to finish off the card

Stamp Sets: Contempo Christmas

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, retired Candlelight Christmas DSP

Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), 5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a terrific Tuesday and stop by again soon for the new SU-Only Challenge!

CQC271 You're Absolutely Fabulous- Fun with the New Bow Builder Punch

Hi Stampers! 

I wanted to play around with some of my new toys from the upcoming Occasions Mini and decided to create a card using the bright colors from this week’s CQC271 ColourQ Challenge. 

Again, if you have not already visited the ColourQ site, I hope you will find the time to do so- wonderful Design Team samples as well as the gallery of entries! 

To create this Clean and Simple (CAS) card:

Using various washi tapes in the challenge colors, arrange the strips of tape onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock.

Ink the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Bermuda Bay Classic Ink and stamp onto the card front.

Ink the sentiment from the retired set, Absolutely Fabulous using Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink and stamp at the bottom of the card front.

Using the new Bow Builder Punch, punch out bows from Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler and Hello Honey cardstock and assemble the bows (I love this new punch- the bows are so cute!!) :-) 

Mount the washi tape panel onto a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, trim and mount onto the Cherry Cobbler card base.

Add the paper bows to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Absolutely Fabulous, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Hello Honey

Accessories: Bow Builder Punch, Washi Tape (Season of Style, Color Me Autumn, misc from my stash)

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a fantastic Sunday!!

Clean and Layered- A Color, Theme and Sketch Challenge!

Hi Stampers! 

I wanted to create another Christmas card this weekend and decided to play along with the Pals Paper Arts PPA230 Color Challenge and The Fusion {Merry Christmas} Challenge.

This card was also created for the Splitcoaststampers Fan Club December 2014 SCSCCDEC14 Christmas Card Challenge (not a Fan Club Member yet?  Check out the details here)...

Again, if you have not already visited the above sites, I hope you will find the time to do so- they both have fabulous Design Teams as well as inspirational galleries! 

I used quite a few of my scraps to create this Clean and Layered (CAL) card:

Ink the sentiment from Merry Little Christmas using Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink and stamp onto Very Vanilla cardstock. 

Use the Big Shot™ with the Banner Collection Framelits™ to cut the banner and cut another banner (the same size) from a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  Mount the Cherry Cobbler banner behind the sentiment allowing a bit of the Cherry Cobbler to show at the bottom.

Adhere a piece of Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper (DSP) to the top of the embossed Very Vanilla panel (I found this embossed piece in my scraps) and sponged a bit of Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink over the white plaid to tone it down a bit :-)

Mount the sentiment banner to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals® and adhere the layered background panel onto a piece of Baked Brown Sugar cardstock.

Trim the panel and add the 1” Cherry Cobbler Stitched Edge Grosgrain Double Ribbon Bow.   

Mount the entire card front onto the Cherry Cobbler card base.

Stamp the gingerbread men from Scentsational Season using Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock and cut each gingerbread man out using the Holiday Collection Framelits™.

Adhere the gingerbread men to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Using the Dark Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blendabilities™ marker, color the Pearls and once dried, add to the gingerbread to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Merry Little Christmas, Scentsational Season (both retired)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar; Dark Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Marker

Paper: Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar, Cherry Cobbler, Trim the Tree DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, retired Snowflake Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Banner Collection and Holiday Collection Framelits™, Pearls, 1” Cherry Cobbler Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

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