Spring...stepped up

Hi stampers!  I have something extra special for you today, not one but TWO cards.  I've been working on an Easter themed swap recently and this is one of the designs I was working on (don't worry if you're in my swap, this is not the card I settled on...and I'll post that one some time in April:-).  I started out with the more involved card as the final idea but in the process of making it, I realized that I really liked my card in it's "unfinished" state as well.  So, I left one more simple (since I almost always make my cards in pairs) and stepped the other one up to look more like the idea I had in mind all along.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms, Bella toile
Paper: very vanilla, baja breeze, marina mist
Ink:  Baja breeze, marina mist
Accessories:  Scallop oval die, crystal effects, baja breeze glass glitter

As soon as I saw this stamp set I just thought it was screaming out to be used with one of my favorite background stamps, Bela Toile!  And boy was I right!  That's one of the many reasons I love SU!  Not only do their fabulous colors coordinate so well but there are always tons of combinations with stamps and stamp sets that coordinate perfectly!  They make it so easy to create! 

I also love the combination and the simple color palate here.  It's hard to tell in the picture but the card base is marina mist and the background was stamped in baja breeze and then sponged as well.  The girl was stamped in marina mist so she would stand out and then the sentiment is also marina mist that I stamped off once to make a bit lighter shade.  I'm a bit surprised I really liked my half finished card so well (the one on the left of course)...I guess sometimes less really is more!  But I also like the stepped up version where I added the scalloped border (sponged and popped up for some dimension) and just a bit of the glass glitter on her flowers. The scallop border popped up also sort of reminds me of those old fashioned cameo charms, no? So, which one do you prefer?  Leave me a note and let me know, ok? 

Happy stamping!

Spring Fever Class

Hi stampers!  Just wanted to announce my upcoming class.

Spring Fever Class - March 26th from 1-4pm

Come and beat the dreary weather and catch some spring fever while we have fun and make four different projects, each with a spring time theme!  Cost is $10 and includes all supplies except for adhesive (please bring your favorite kind to use and pair of scissors or snips and a bone folder if you have them).  Please RSVP by March 28th so I can have everything ready for YOU!  Feel free to bring a friend or two as well!  There will also be a drawing for a FREE prize!  Space is limited so sign up today!

I need a do-over

Hi stampers.  I have a card for you today that didn't turn out quite like I wanted...hate when that happens.  I have a hard time with masculine cards so I was excited when I thought of this one.  I thought the hand image from the new birthday set "Bring On The Cake" (LOVE that set) would be perfect for the emerging color technique.  It's super easy, you just stamp what you want to "emerge through" on a light colored paper and then emboss a large solid image (I used the splash from Extreme Elements) over it in clear embossing powder.  And then for the magical part....you run your brayer over it with a darker colored ink and it looks all cool and you can see what you stamped underneath!  You can see where I tore a couple of edges so it looked like I used white core cardstock.  I rushed home from work or wherever I was to make it...and then ugh, I realized I made a mistake.  I like the overall idea of this card but can anyone tell me what I think is wrong with it????

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Bring on the cake, extreme elements, wonderfully worn
Paper: newsprint, very vanilla, whisper white, basic black, marina mist, soft suede
Ink:  marina mist, soft suede, basic black, versamark
Accessories:  clear embossing powder, linen thread, brayer

You probably don't really see it because we are all our own worst critics BUT I used whisper white for the main image and it just doesn't really go with the vintage look of the card...should have used very vanilla, DUH!  I was too far gone into the card to fix it so here it is.  I might make it over sometime using the vanilla but if you know me, you know I don't like to make repeat cards!  Again, I think as a manly card it does work very well aside from my small flub up...and really....does anyone think that a man would notice that it's white and not vanilla???  Hahahahaha!  Better luck to me next time I guess:-)

Happy stamping!

Butterfly...revisited

Hi stampers!  I have a card for you today that was inspired by one I posted long ago.  I really wanted to do something with the new first edition DSP (I'm really on a roll with it...I know..I'll move on someday I promise...maybe) and the elements of style stamp set.  I think they were made for each other and are both decidedly vintage.  So, I have a card hanging in my studio that I saw was made at an SU event last year and thought it was a good starting point.  The layout is much the same but I changed the colors up and added a few special elements.  I have to say I don't use a lot of purple in my stamping but thought it would go nicely with my theme here.  So, here is the card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Elements of style, clearly for you
Paper:  perfect plum, elegant eggplant, Sahara sand, first edition DSP
Ink:  perfect plum, elegant eggplant, sahara sand, basic black
Accessories:  framed tulips embossing folder, silver smooch spray, antique brads, vintage tags, butterfly bigz die, very vanilla satin ribbon (Whew, I think that's it, teehee)

There is a lot of stuff going on here, I just kept adding elements like a crazy woman:-)  The butterfly was stamped with stazon and then I colored it in with an aquapainter.  Once it was dry I crumpled it up and sponged the edges and whole thing with the tea stain ink from the distressing kit.  I also sponged the main panel of the DSP  The other panel is sahara sand and was a nice neutral color here.  I stamped on it also but stamped off each time before stamping and then distressed those edges as well.  I adhered all three of the main panels together and sprayed them with the silver smooch for a little shimmer and once it was dry I popped it on the card base over some very vanilla satin ribbon.  The finishing touches were the antique brad and the vintage tag (love love love those) which I stamped the small butterfly from clearly for you in perfect plum (hint: throw a glue dot on there so it stays put).  I really love the way this card turned out (although I <3 the original also) and I hope you do too.  Tell me what you think!

Happy stamping!

Busy Stampin' Saturday

Hi stampers!  I finally had a weekend off...although I did teach at the Y both days but that's fun and kills two birds with one stone since I get paid AND I get my workout in all at the same time!  Anyway I was able to get some stamping done finally!  AND I designed all 4 cards I got done from scratch...quite the big deal for me!!!  Anyway I was very inspired by the color challenge over on Hand Stamped Senitments.  This might be the first time I've used Poppy Parade!  I don't even have a full pack of it...and I just placed an order yesterday morning and BOY do I wish I had added one!  I'm rationing the few sheets I do have now, hahaha.  I also broke out the in color hostess pad of patterned paper!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Build a blossom, tiny tags
Paper:  Poppy parade, pear pizzazz, blushing bride, DSP patterns pack in color (hostess item)
Ink:  same
Accessories:  Blossom petals punch, in color glimmer brads, circle punch, jewelry tag punch, pear ribbon

 I'm loving the poppy, pear, and blushing bride together!  The new flower punch and stamp set from the Mini is also awesome, I just LOVE how that flower looks!  And the poppy glimmer brad is just the right pop too!  Hope you like it!

And here's a bonus...I was so inspired by this color combo I went on to make another card using the apple blossom hostess set since I think it just SCREAMS out for poppy parade!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Apple blossom
Paper:  Whisper white, blushing bride, pear pizzazz, in color patterns pack
Ink:  same
Accessories:  top note die, pear ribbon, large oval and decorative label punches, dotted scallop border punch, polka dots embossing folder

Hope you like them and since it's dreary, cold, and cloudy here I hope they brightened your day!  Happy stamping and thanks for stopping by!  Don't forget to say HI!

Clearly for you!

Hi stampers!  I have a quick little card for you today that looks much like my last card.  I really liked the look of the stamping on the First Edition DSP so I thought I’d do something else with it.  So, I stamped the berry image from the Clearly For You stamp set (found in the occasion’s mini) over the botanical themed DSP in pear pizzazz.  I also stamped the main focal image in pear, I just love that flourished background.  And then I added my birds from the same set in soft suede.  Now, I don’t LOVE this card but I do like it and it also has a couple of fun little details on it, let me show you:

I added the crochet trim which I love and then I added the little vintage tag which I stamped with the You’re A Gem set….that I didn’t think I needed…turns out I didJ  That ever happen to you?  And here’s a little behind the scenes tip:  I put a glue dot on the back of the tag after I tied it on to make sure it stays just where I want it.  Finally, I tied it all together with that cute little rosette!  Isn’t it just adorable?  They are great, they come in a pack with three different sizes and the BEST part is that you can color them with a marker or dye them with an ink refill to match any color you want!  To keep things simple here though, I just left it in it’s natural vanilla color.  I think it adds just the right touch!  Hope you like today’s card, thanks for stopping by and make sure to say hi in the comments before you click away!

Happy stamping!

Stampin’ Supplies:

Stamps:  Clearly for you, you’re a gem

Ink:  Pear pizzazz, soft suede

Paper:  very vanilla, soft suede, pear pizzazz, First edition DSP

Accessories:  Vintage tags,  rosettes,  crochet trim

Another one:-(

So I needed another sympathy card this past week:(.  So here is a card that I whipped up last Friday night.  I hope that it brings my friend a bit of comfort. 

I wanted something simple and understated (as well as mailable ie. flat) and thought the new First Edition DSP would work well.  It's very cool paper that looks like it's come from books.  I also like that some of it has a botanical theme so I stamped the orchid stamp from the set Thanks For Caring in crumb cake on the paper.  I also sprayed the DSP with a little bit of the vanilla smooch spritz for a little more dimension.  You can't really see it in the picture but I think it softens the paper up just a bit.  Otherwise, the card is pretty simple and I like the muted color combo of the crumb cake, vanilla, and black.  I think it turned out pretty well.  Please take a minute to tell me what you think of it....and to say a little prayer for my two friends who have lost their best friends.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamp sets:  Thanks for caring
Paper:  crumb cake, very vanilla, first edition DSP
Ink:  basic black, crumb cake
Accessories:  vanilla smooch spritz, 2.5 inch circle punch, scallop border punch, very vanilla seam binding