SEW SAD!

Happy Saturday stampers!  I haz a sad today!!!!  It's the last day of the Occasions Mini Catalog!  Where did the time go????  Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the new Summer Mini Catalog that starts tomorrow but I always feel like I didn't have enough time from whatever mini is ending:-)  It's the same every time!  At least I had more time to create this year as I didn't have to put stamping on the back burner to my wedding!  BUT, I have been busy with work and life and still feel like I didn't get to put ALL the stuff I got to good use!  I think I'm going to try to be better at using some of my retired stuff but then I get new stuff and start creating with that!  It's a vicious cycle I tell ya!  Haha!  Anyway, I have a few fun card to share right now that all use things from the Occasions Mini (and I even worked in some more retired stuff....yay).  I really love the Sew Suite collection but have NOT used it near enough!  I sure do hope it re-appears in the IBC in July!  I also hope that the rosettes come back to us as well...and now here are three cards I made last night/today using these items. 

I used something old, something new, and something blue in this card, hehe.  I thought my favorite greeting from the Summer Mini would look cute on this card.  I also threw in some retired bashful blue ribbon as well.  Too cute!

 I'm not thrilled with this one but I do love that stitching DSP and the pattern pieces background stamp.
 

 And I knew I wanted to use the Hello Blossoms stamp set with the rosettes!  I colored these in using my markers, so easy!!!!  And then you have flower in any color you want!


I hope you enjoy! It's been a busy day so I'm not listing the supplies used but please let me know if you have questions.  I'm hoping I can get a few more minutes tonight to play with this stuff before it retires tomorrow!  Happy stamping!

Create with C & M Challenge

Hey stampers!  Busy day around here!  Work, work lunch, work, more work, and running...or attempting to anyway since I'm a bit sore from doing squats yesterday, haha.  Anyway I did find a few minutes to squeeze in some stamping tonight. 

I saw the color challenge on the Create with Connie and Mary website yesterday and have been itching to make a card with it!  You can find the challenge HERE.  Now, normally I find these colors a bit hard to work with.  I would say that perfect plum and saffron are in my least used colors and while I LOVE wild wasabi, I tend to not use it very much either....old olive is just my go to green!  Anyway this challenge was just the kick in the colors I needed!  I've been in a bit of a stamping slump as of late and there's nothing like a good challenge to get the juices flowing again.  I must say though I have a half finished card sitting on my desk that I've given up on for the night...I got two designs done this evening and the mojo ran out, lol!  But, enough of my yadda yadda...here's the card....

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Happy Greetings, Hello Blossoms (both summer mini)
Paper:  Perfect plum, wild wasabi, so saffron, subtles DSP stack
Ink:  wild wasabi, perfect plum (markers), so saffron
Accessories:  3inch circle die, scallop circles die, wild wasabi ribbon (retired), subtles glimmer brads, framed tulips embossing folder, paper piercer 

As soon as I saw the challenge, I just knew I had to use my very favorite stamp from the Summer Mini (which starts on Sunday) "Hello Blossoms".  I just LOVE those little flowers and I thought they would be adorable in these colors and with the glimmer brads too!  I sure hope those little gems show back up in the new catalog in July!  I've been thinking of stocking up on them before they retire tomorrow night but I'm trying to reign in my hoarding tendencies so we'll see which side of me wins, lol!  I do really really love them!  I also love the hello sentiment from Happy Greetings.  I think this is a fun and cheerful card! 

I do have to say that I didn't mean to use Connie's sketch in the beginning but that's exactly how it turned out when I looked up, hahaha.   So double thanks to Connie for the color and "sketch" challenge, hehe.  You'll also note that I used some retired ribbon here...I loved this wasabi stitched ribbon when we carried it and it's been sitting with my other ribbons looking all lonely so I just HAD to pull it out for this project...and yay for me not hoarding it anymore (and YES, I'm cutting into my paper stacks too...who the heck am I????...baby steps....baby steps...

Anyway, I hope you like my card for today!  I'll be back tomorrow with some more fun projects but I better be off to bed soon since I have to teach aerobics at the Y in the morning!  Happy stamping!

Strength & Hope

Hi stampers!  So I got up very early today because I was supposed to work at a different clinic that opens earlier....well I just got a call that I don't have to cover today so it's back to my normal clinic...and I totally could have slept for at least another half an hour today!!!!  Darn it!!  So here I am now that I have a little extra time on my hands:-)  I have a card for you that I cased from the SU demo website and it uses the Strength & Hope stamp set that can be found in the upcoming summer mini (starts May 1...can't you believe it's almost May?????).

What's cool about this set is that it's a benefit for the breast cancer research foundation!  For every set purchased, SU will donate $2 of the sale to the BCRF!  I tried to hold off ordering this set because luckily I have no "use" for it I just couldn't resist when I saw gorgeous stuff being made with it!  ANNNND it's for a good cause right??? ;-)  I didn't get around to using it for Easter but I thought that the "hope" image would be good for Easter as well, no?  Click on the shop 24/7 button on the right if you'd like to purchase this set for a great cause!!!!  (There is a digital kit for MDS as well!!!!)  So, here's my card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Strength & Hope
Paper:  Crumb cake, very vanilla, mambo melon, soft suede
Inks:  certainly celery classic and craft, soft suede (marker and ink pad), mambo melon
Accessories:  color spritzer, dotted scallop border punch, antique brads, certainly celery taffeta ribbon

Isn't it pretty?  I think that my inspiration used rose red but I didn't realize it until after I had already used some mambo melon...but it works!  The butterfly was stamped in certainly celery craft ink and then heat embossed with iridescent ice EP.  I also stamped it in classing ink and then cut the embossed butterfly out and layered it over with an antique brad.   I also used one of my favorite tools, the color spritzer.  It's so fun to put a marker in it and go to town!  It was a pretty simple card but I think it's really pretty! I HOPE you like it!  And I HOPE you'll buy this set for a great cause!!!! 

I've not been inspired to stamp much lately but I'm hoping I find my mojo and can come back with something purty soon!!!!  Happy stamping!

Happy Easter!

Hi Stampers!!!  Happy Easter (if you happen to celebrate)!  I hope you all enjoyed your day with family and food...I of course ate too much like always, haha! 

I have a pretty Easter card today, it will probably be the last one I share with you since time has gotten away from me (as always) and the holiday is over before I barely even get started it seems:-)  For this card, I used a Sweet Sunday sketch from a while back.  It's a very soft and pretty card.  Lookie:

Isn't it pretty?  It's actually much prettier in real life and has a lot of little details that don't photograph well.  After I embossed the main panel I sponged it with crumb cake and then sprayed it with my fave, vanilla smooch.  The eggs in the basket are also painted with the smooch paint and are all sparkly.  You can see it better here:

I also got around to coloring some of our satin rosettes with markers and boy did they turn out pretty (and so did my fingers, lol).  I just ran the marker all over it until it was covered and then let them dry for a bit.  I also love the three bits of ribbon!  Boy, I wish I had just a little more time to make some more Easter cards....but I guess it's time to move on again....Mother's day will be here before you know it!!!!  Happy Easter again and happy stamping!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms, Something to Celebrate
Paper:  Very vanilla, blushing bride, rose red, crumb cake
Ink:  crumb cake, blushing bride, markers (rose red, blushing bride)
Accessories:  Blushing bride ribbon, crochet trim, seam binding, scallop squares duo die, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, rosettes

Mason Jar

Hi stampers!  I have a cute card for you today and not a lot else.  I'm tired and didn't get anything done tonight except for running, which was good I guess.  At least I got a lot of stamping in over the weekend since I don't have much time this week for it...I hate when I waste my one free night I have to stamp like I did tonight!!!  And time is running out for me to make Easter cards....the holidays always sneak up on me!!!  Anyway, I made this card last week and finished it up over the weekend.  This is the other image from the set with the scooter which you saw the other night.  The fun detail here is that I colored my jar and then put crystal effects over the top of it once it was dry to make it look like a mason jar!  I just LOVE that!  I wanted to do that as soon as I saw the stamp image!  Other than that, I also cut into my subtles DSP stack...which is a big deal for me!  It only has 2 each of each of the designs in all the colors so I tend to hoard it:-)  BUT I'm determined to CUT IT UP AND USE IT, lol! 

Can you see the detail on the jar???  It looks real!  Just a couple of other quick tips:  I colored the flowers with baja breeze and then I went back with my concord crush marker (I have found my ink does NOT watercolor well...it turns pink) and added some highlights and blended away.  And the sentiment is from one of the new mini sets as well, is it bad that I bought that set for this ONE sentiment???  LOL!  Not that I don't like the others but I LOVED these little hellos.  Guess I'll go to bed since I can't seem to stamp tonight:-)

Happy stamping!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  On the Grow, Happy greetings
Paper:  watercolor, concord crush, pear pizzazz, baja breeze, subtles DSP stack, First edition DSP
Ink:  Staz-on, baja breeze, concord crush (marker), pear pizzazz
Accessories:  dotted scallop punch, crystal effects

Scooting by...

Hi stampers!  I've had a busy week but I finally got some time to sit and stamp last night and I have to say it was awesome!  I got a chance to play with some more of the upcoming summer mini stuff and I love it!  I got four whole cards done and I hope to have time to show you more of the over the weekend.  The one I have today is super cute and fun and uses my new fave color poppy parade (I'm on a roll with it, I know...I'll move on at some point, promise).  I tried to talk myself out of ordering this set as well because I didn't NEED it and the other image in it looks similar to a couple of sets that I have but I LOVED this scooter!  And I caved (as I always do...stamps, clothes, shoes...it doesn't matter, hehe) and got it anyway but I'm glad I did!  What do you think, was it worth it????

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  On the grow
Paper:  watercolor, peach parfait, poppy parade, daffodil delight, hostess pack DSP
Ink:  staz-on, various for watercoloring
Accessories:  Peach parfait ribbon, curly label punch, dotted scallop border punch

I watercolored the scooter on our watercolor paper and then matted it on some peach parfait and popped it up on some dimentionals.  The punched accents are daffodil delight.  I wanted something bright and fun so I used some of the hostess in color DSP as well!  Add a couple of punches and some ribbon and there ya go!  Was a super simple card!  See ya on Saturday....we have a wedding reception to go to tomorrow night:-)

Happy stamping!

Hello Blossoms

Hi stampers!  Want to see something fun from the upcoming Summer Mini Catalog???  I have a super cute card that matches the warm and sunny weather we have today!!!!  The UPS man left me a big box of goodies last night and after dinner I got to play a little...until I about fell asleep at my desk that is!  I was TIRED!!!!!  But I did get one card done and I'm going to share it right now!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Hello Blossoms (summer mini), tiny tags
Paper:  Poppy parade, pear pizazz, daffodil delight, whisper white, hostess pattern pack DSP
Ink:  Poppy parade, concord crush, marina mist, pear pizazz, daffodil delight markers
Accessories:  Corner rounder, jewelry tag punch, skinny taffeta ribbon (daffodil), crochet thread

How fun is this card????  Hello Blossoms is a single stamp in the summer mini and probably my most favorite in the whole thing!  I just had to have it!  I colored it with markers and used some of the FUN hostess pattern DSP in the in colors!  I'm really getting into poppy and concord!  I also broke out my corner rounder punch which I don't even know if I've used at all!!!  And it's hard to see but there is a little scalloped edge in marina mist over on the right hand side.  And that about does it for now...time to decide where we are going to go for dinner then laundry and stamping tonight, what a Saturday night:-)

Happy stamping!

Easter Swap Emobss Resist

Hi stampers!  The card I have for you today is from a demo swap that I recently did.  I used the emboss resist technique which is where you heat emboss an image and then rub over it with ink.  I sponged my ink on but if you wanted a bolder look you can use a brayer.  The real trick is to make sure you wipe it off after you are done with a tissue or paper towel.  That really makes your image pop!  Here is the card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms
Paper:  crumb cake, blushing bride, whisper white
Ink:  Versamark, early espresso, crumb cake, blushing bride
Accessories:  Top note die, decorative label punch, tulip frames embossing folder, linen embossing folder, clear EP, rosettes, vanilla smooch spray

There is a lot going on with this card so I also thought I'd do a video for you on how to make it.  I hope you enjoy it!


And I hope the swappers who got my cards were pleased!

Happy stamping!

A little birdy told me...

Hi stampers!  I have a fabulous card for you today!  This HAS to be one of my favorite cards I’ve made in a long while.  First, I need to point out that it was totally inspired by Kimberly Van Diepen.  I just LOVE her stuff and so when I saw this card, I ran with it.  Now, I don’t often to 3 x 3 cards so I turned it into a regular A2 sized card.  And of course this is another card using the Four Frames stamp set and the Paisley Patterns DSP which will be in the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.  You can get the chance to order this EARLY, NOW!  All you need to do is place an order of $20 or more and you can purchase one or both!  How exciting to get something this early from the new catalog!!!!

Anyway, I love this set and this paper, especially this piece of tangerine tango floral printed one!  I crumpled up a panel of the First Edition DSP then flattened it back out and then distressed it simply by rubbing my crumb cake ink pad directly on top of it.  Next, I wanted it to show through a little more so I ripped a corner off of the tangerine paper and then sponged the edges of everything!  This is especially important if using our DSP on a vintage project because it has a white core so when you rip it, it’s really white.  I just had to tone it down with the crumb cake ink or it would have been too stark!  Then, I roughed up some of the edges and started curling some of the corners.  I read a funny post on a website the other day about how someone’s customers think they are helping when she has shabby cards and tries to fold the corners back down and straighten things that may be crooked or roughed up on purpose, hahaha.  The vintage look is NOT for everyone!  And with my OCD, it’s taken me a while to warm up to it but I sure do love it now!!!  Plus, if you smudge your card or something it looks like you MEANT too, hahaha.  Ok, back to the stamping,  I stamped the main image on watercolor paper so I could use an aquapainter to color in the birdie.  He’s a robin so I used more mustard and then added a bit of tangerine tango to make his breast a bit orange.  I love him!!!!  I also used some seam binding and crochet trim with an antique brad in the corner there.  I just poked a hole and stuck the brad through all of it!

I used the gold smooch spray over the whole card and I am just in LOVE with what that gold does to that tangerine paper!!!!   Lookie....

Can you say SWOON!  It’s just so fab!!!!  It really makes it pop and is so pretty in real life.  I’m telling you, if you have NOT gotten these smooch sprays yet, GET ON IT!  They are terrific!  Anyway, that’s it for today, hope you liked it, and thanks for the inspiration Kimberly!

Happy stamping!

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Four frames, fabulous phrases

Paper: Paisley patterns DSP (promo), first edition DSP, crumb cake, watercolor

Ink:  Staz on, crumb cake, tangerine tango, more mustard

Accessories:  Decorative label punch, antique brads, seam binding, crochet trim, gold smooch spray