For a Friend #1

I just have one quick card to show you today.  This is one of the cards we will be making in my For A Friend class tomorrow.

This is the most "girly" of the cards for tomorrow's class.  It was perfect for the sketch and color challenges listed below.  

Stamps: Flower Shop, Sweet Essentials

Ink: Smokey Slate, Blushing Bride, Pistachio Pudding

Paper:  Smokey Slate, Blushing Bride, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White

Accessories: Simply Pressed Clay and Buttons and Blossoms Mold, Blender Pens, Aqua Painter, Big Shot, Beautifully Baroque EF, Pansy Punch

Challenge Links:

http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/

http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com/create-with-connie-and-mary/

I'll be back later this weekend to show you the other two cards.  Happy Stamping!

Pin It Now!

Happy Thursday Part 2

I'm back and children are no longer complaining of grumbling tummies. Here's a few more I've been working on.

This is another card that didn't quite come together how I had it in my mind but I still love it!  I think it could be used for a variety of occasions. I was going for clean and simple but it ended up more colorful and complicated.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Pixie Pink (retired), Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Pacific Point marker

Accessories: Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Word Window Punch, Bitty Banners framelits, Big Shot, Petals-A-Plenty EF, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Glue Dots - LOTS OF THEM!

Challenge Link:

http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/

Another cute Christmas Card!  I think this will be perfect for my grandma as she loves to wear Cardinals in the winter time.
Stamps: Warmth and Wonder, More Merry Messages
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Season of Style DSP stack
Accessories: Oval Framelits, Big Shot, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Hexagon punch(to flag the ends of the banner), Stylish Stripes EF, Perfect Polka Dots EF

Challenge Link:
http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.com/

 

Last, but not least, I wanted a card with a spiritually encouraging message.  I love the paper doilies - they add such a soft touch to a card.
Stamps: Trust God
Paper: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray, Raspberry Ripple, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Paper Doilies, Stripes EF, Big Shot, Pretty Print EF, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Decorative Label Punch, Circles #2 Originals Die, Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels

I was very happy with how my bow turned out!  Hope you've enjoyed my selections for today.  See you soon!

Challenge Links:
http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/


http://colourq.blogspot.com/
Pin It Now!

Happy Thursday!

Hello.  I have another collection to share with you.  It seems when the crafting bug bites me, it bites hard!  Hope you enjoy :)

 For this card, I made myself pull out some products I hadn't used in a while.  Sometimes I get so caught up in some of my "new" products I forget about all the good stuff sitting on the shelf crying to be used again!
Stamps: Hello Doily, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Blushing Bride, Whisper White
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Big Shot, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Floral Fusion Sizzlet, Large Basic Pearls, Basic Pearls Jewels, Bitty Banner Framelits, Pistachio Pudding 3/8" Stretch Ruffle Ribbon, Sponges

Challenge Link:
http://thedynamicduoschallenge.blogspot.com/

 I'm having lots of fun making all these Christmas cards early - its giving me tons of ideas for upcoming classes!  This is a new set out of the Holiday Catalog - and one I just had to have.  Its so simple and yet speaks volumes.
Stamps: O Holy Night
Ink: Island Indigo, Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana
Paper: Island Indigo, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Winter Frost DSP Stack
Accessories: 1/2" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Silver 1/8" Ribbon

Challenge Link:
http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/

I do like the end result of this card but I sure was frustrated in the process!  I wanted to make a ribbon flower behind the acorns but all I succeeded in doing was massively burning my fingers with hot glue!  The piece behind the ribbon is actually Very Vanilla but I dropped it in the Pear Pizzazz ink...so it has some deeply colored Pear edges.

Stamps: Truly Grateful

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Simply Pressed Clay, Simply Pressed Buttons and Blossoms Clay Molds, Early Espresso 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Woodgrain EF, Crystal Effects, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits

 Just a closer view - the acorns and buttons are covered in Crystal Effects.

Challenge Links:
http://www.handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/


http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/

I'll be back a little later to add some more creations - the little ones are demanding lunch now!

Pin It Now!

July Club

Hello again!  I just realized I had not shared with you the things we made at my July Stamp Club.   So, here we go..

This was our first card.  I just love the star/sunburst technique and had to give it a try.  This is using the Polka Dot Parade DSP.  Really cute and happy!

Stamps: Sassy Salutations

Ink: (markers) Real Red, Marina Mist

Paper: Marina Mist, Real Red, Whisper White, Dafodil Delight, Polka Dot Parade DSP

Accessories: Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, 1 3/4" Circle punch

 Next we made this special card.  I cased it from a card I saw on Pinterest (sorry - I forget who!  Claim it if its your idea) I just loved the tag with the flower at the top.  And I love making the blossoms (buttons too) from the simply pressed clay and molds.
Stamps: Chalk Talk
Paper: Calypso Coral, Basic Gray, Pool Party, Whisper White, Epic Day DSP
Ink:Calypso Coral, Basic Gray, Pool Party
Accessories: Chalk Talk Framelits, Big Shot, Delicate Doilies Sizzlet L, Pansy punch, Hexagon EF, Simply Pressed Clay and Buttons and Blossoms Molds, Aqua Painter

This blossom was colored with an aqua painter which allowed for a little deeper saturation in certain spots.

And finally, we used the negative of the Chalk Talk framelit cut out to swipe the tab part for this tag!  The flowers were punched out with our scraps left from out Doily cut outs too.  I love getting two projects out of one set of papers!
Stamps: Morning Meadow
Ink: Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Whisper White
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Epic Day DSP
Accessories: Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine (retired)

Challenge Link:
http://www.fridaymashup.com/
The Friday Mashup is:

1. Create a project with a "Tag (as an embellishment on you project or as the project itself )."
2. Create a project using the colors "Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Sky, Primrose Petals & Bermuda Bay".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project "with a Tag using the color combo above".

Pin It Now!

Feeling Loved

Do you know how I know my husband loves me?  He let me get up and do nothing but stamp my heart out for 6 hours! Considering we have 4 children and he kept them entertained I am feeling very loved right now. Here's what I worked on.  (Its a lot again, but I did have 6 whole hours.)

First card:

 When I saw the sketch for this one it screamed "Santa Suit!" at me.  So that is what I made.
Stamps: Very Merry Tags
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Silver Glimmer paper
Ink: Versamark, Real Red Marker
Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Petite Curly Label punch, Curly Label punch, Square Lattice EF, Big Shot

 A close up of the Stamp.  After I had embossed it I used the Real Red marker to color in the heart.
Challenge Link:
http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.com/



Second card:

 I was very torn with the new Holiday catalog as to which Halloween stamp set to get. I knew my budget only allowed for one but each was such a different style and I wasn't sure what I would get the most use out of.  Then, the August Best of set came out and I had no problem making my decision!
Stamp Set: Best of Halloween
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Smoky Slate
Accessories: Oval Framelits, Big Shot, Word Window punch, Candy Dots, 1" Circle punch, 3/4" circle Punch

Challenge Link:
http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/


Third card:

This card was a sketch and color challenge combined.  I wanted it to be pretty and feminine.  I can see in my photos that the butterfly is a little askew but I will fix it before it goes out to anyone.
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Six Sided Sampler
Paper: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantelope, Pistachio Pudding
Ink:  Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantelope, Pistachio Pudding
Accessories: Elegant Butterfly punch, Bitty Butterfly punch, Pearls Basic Jewels, Big Shot, Beautifully Baroque EF, Designer Frames EF, Labels Framelits

I close up of the Butterfly.  I used my Crisp Cantelope marker to color the pearls.

Challenge Links:

http://cascoloursandsketches.blogspot.com/

http://www.palspaperarts.com/

Fourth card: 

 I did get out my color coach for some inspiration for this card.  It is so helpful when I've go an idea stuck in my head but no color scheme.
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky
Accessories: Paper Snips, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle punch, Bitty Banners Framelits, Big Shot, Large Pearl Basic Jewels, Crumb Cake 3/8" Tafetta Ribbon

Challenge Link:
http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com/create-with-connie-and-mary/


Fifth card:

 This layout yelled at me too.  WASHI TAPE!  WASHI TAPE!  So, I complied.
Stamps: Best of Halloween
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Basic Black
Paper: Very Vanilla
Accessories: Big Shot, Window Frames Framelits, Witches Brew Designer Washi Tape

Challenge Link:
http://seizethesketch.blogspot.ca/


Sixth card:

 Out of all the stamp sets in the Holiday Catalog this is the one that my heart fell in love with at first sight! Its a hostess set, so let me know if you would like to set up a workshop to earn this set for yourself.
Stamps: Warmth and Wonder
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White, Season of Style DSP stack
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Naturals Designer Buttons, Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Dimensionals, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

 So very, very cute!

Challenge Link:
http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/


Seventh (and last) card:

 This card, I will admit, took me a while to come up with.  This was a photo challenge, which I had never done before, and I was determined to be inspired.  I made a list of all the colors I thought I saw in the photo, all the things it made me think of, all the textures, memories, and anything else that came to mind.  This was my final product.  It made me think of being a young girl and walking to school - seeing stop lights and stop signs and trees.  How does the photo below inspire you?
Stamps: Six Sided Sampler
Ink: Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Basic Black, Versamark
Paper: Summer Starfruit, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Woodgrain EF, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Hexagon punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Challenge link:
http://www.handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/


I'll be gone for a few days to play with the kids before school starts.  Happy Stamping! Pin It Now!

A lot to look at...

I hope you aren't overwhelmed looking at my page today.  I'm going to be posting a lot of samples to catch myself up with all the blog challenges I want to participate in.  But first I need to show you a card that my daughter made.

 Its so fun to see a future Stampin' Up Demonstrator be born!  I love what she did with the hexagon embossing folder to make the soccer ball! This proud mama just had to brag a little.

On to my creations...

 I bought this set last year and never got a chance to play with it before it retired!  I love snowmen though so I'm keeping it for a while to use for my own enjoyment.  I kept this card pretty simple.  I can see lots of ways that I could step it up to a wow card, but liked the easiness of it.
Stamp Sets: Snow Much Fun
Ink: Night of Navy, Basic Gray,Soft Sky, Calypso Coral
Paper: Soft Sky, Night of Navy, Calypso Coral
Accessories: Sticky Strip, Dimensionals, Paper Snips

Challenge links:
http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/


http://colourq.blogspot.com/



Next we have...

 Another simple card.  I love the Field Flowers set and am finally getting the hang of putting the flowers together using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.  I used a little Crystal Effects on the flower stem and bud too to give it some depth.  The banner isn't actually curved.  Its a straight piece stamped in the middle and then I folded the flagged ends under and then back out and glue dotted them in place and it gives it the curved dimensional look.

Stamp Sets: Field Flowers, Sweet Essentials
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake
Ink: Old Olive, Pool Party, Pacific Point
Accessories: Crystal Effects

Challenge Links:
http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/



Yes, there's more (smile)

I just love the Venetian Romance DSP!  I could be that green is my favorite color and the soft green of Pistachio Pudding just makes me melt.  This card turned out even prettier than I imagined it would.
Stamp Sets: Chalk talk
Ink: Island Indigo
Paper: Very Vanilla, Island Indigo, Venetian Romance DSP
Accessories: Extra Large Oval Punch, Pistachio Pudding 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim, Sticky Strip, Big Shot, Pretty Print EF

 It was very easy to put the ruffle trim around the punched oval using a little bit of Sticky Strip!

Challenge Links:
http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/



And finally...

 Can you tell I finally received some of my Holiday catalog goodies?  I was so excited to play with them!  I know there have been several variations on this card with this set but it seems so perfect.  So this is my interpretation.
Stamp set: Truly Grateful
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Sweater Weather DSP
Accessories: Early Espresso 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain, Big Shot, Autumn Accents Bigz die, sponges

Just a close up of the leaf and acorn.  I stamped the tree ring on both with Sahara Sand and sponged Chocolate Chip around the edges of the leaf.  So pretty!

Challenge Links:
http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/


Okay, I'm done for right now.  Stop back soon! Pin It Now!