Store bought cards???

Soooo....I was going to make my bridal shower thank yous...and then I realized....I need over 30...like by this week. And with my lack of mojo and time lately...so NOT going to happen:-/

Stamping is fun, when I can stamp what I WANT to not what I HAVE to:-) So, I'm going to buy some cards *gasp*! I know, it was even hard to type the words BUT I'd rather get them done and out in a timely manner while still being pleasant and not stressed out. I figure 170+ invitation and reply cards more than makes up for it (although I did have help with those, bless my girls and mom!)

But, I did start to make a few thank yous the other day. I wanted to at least make one card with the new Blissful Bride set. It's very simple but this set is very simple. The watercoloring was done on watercolor paper and I HAD to use my SAMJ to line up that border. Excuse my fingers in the picture, I made the front of the card shorter so I couldn't stand it up and it would not lay flat! Hope you like it!

Supplies~
Paper: Pink pirouette, regal rose, watercolor
Ink: regal rose, staz on, pink pirouette, pretty in pink , certainly celery
Stamps: sprinkles, blissful bride
Accessories: PIP satin ribbon, aquapainter, dimensionals

jOURney

Here is a card I made for my fiance after I found out about the new color renovation. I was so excited to bring back wasabi! I found four or five packs that I had been hoarding, LOL. Sooo, at least I'll save some money by not having to buy ALL the colors (found at least one pack of almost all the in colors that are coming back, yay for hoarding right?). The color combo was inspired by a Christmas card I made way back when, when wasabi was an in color!

This set uses the In A Word set which is very clever! It also uses a set that I just HAD to have out of the Summer mini, Pedaling Past. I was drawn to this set right away. It's images of a bicycle, a tandem bike and tricycle. It reminds me of my dad since we had a bike for two and we used to ride it a lot, memories! And I loved my tricycle, I had one and home and one at my grandparents farm...I rode a lot of miles on those two trikes!

So the journey sentiment and the bikes go hand in hand! This is not a case, I actually came up with it on my own! It also used the gold smooch spritz. I sprayed it on the more mustard label. Also, the ribbon is retired but it was WW so I had to use it! Hope you enjoy it!


Supplies-
Paper: whisper white, wild wasabi, more mustard, bashful blue
Ink: Soft suede, wild wasabi (more mustard and soft suede markers)
Stamps: In A Word, Pedaling Past, Friends 24-7, Sanded
Accessories: Wild wasbai ribbon, Lots of Tags dies, linen thread, dimensionals

I haven't had a lot of time to play lately with work and family stuff and wedding planning! Hoping to have some time (fingers crossed) over the weekend! Hope you're all getting plenty of time to stamp! I hope to be back with some more pretties soon!

Color Rennovation

Just a quick post to share the swatches for the new colors that I've made. I REALLY like the way they put them together and they look great together. I think they are very fresh and modern color collections and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the brights family AND that wild wasabi is back! I've already re-organized all my stuff and am currently using only the colors we are keeping. And a big thanks to Betsy, a fellow demo, who heard I was one swatch short and sent me a nice swatch of river rock (the ONLY in color that is returning that I didn't have) and a cute handmade card to boot! So sweet! Anyway, I used my XL fancy flowers punch to make my collections. So here they are:

Neutrals


Subtles

Regals

Brights (this color collection has gone from my least fave to my new BFF, isn't it just fab???)

All of them together. Sorry the pic is oriented the wrong way, I can NOT get it to go the right way. But, you get the idea!

So there you go, the new color collections. The new sample papers we got are great. I knew I'd love the yellow but the other colors are awesome too, I really liked the red and the blue which I was skeptical about !

I'll try to post some creations soon! If only there were more hours in the day...I've been low on time and or mojo lately...here's to hoping it finds it's way home soon! I'm crabby when I can't stamp:-)

Eye Candy

Hi again stampers! So I have a minute before I go to bed and I wanted to show you a card I made with my new pre-order goodies that I got the other day. I splurged on next day air shipping so I could stamp before the Easter holiday...and I wonder why I don't make much money doing this....hahaha. SO, now with all the color renovation excitement I didn't want the new Summer Mini catalog to be forgotten! This card was based on a picture of a card made my Sheli herself that they showed at Leadership! I'm totally embracing the vintage look....changes all over the place for me...vintage, new colors...who am I????? :-) I hope you like it, I think it's pretty!

Stamp set: Elements of Style (summer mini)

Cardstock: Kraft, soft suede, rose red, bashful blue
Ink: various for watercoloring with an aquapainter
Accessories: bashful blue taffeta ribbon, hodgepodge hardware (vanilla), soft subtles brads, small oval punch, bigz beautiful butterflies die

This card uses a lot of elements but was really fun to make. I also used the new LOG CABIN SMOOCH SPRAY (totally love that name). Holy cow is it fun and comes in 4 colors. This one is brown and has just a hint of shimmer. I found I liked to spray it in the corner the best. There is also a lot of sponging and distressing going on. The butterfly is from the beautiful butterflies die (not the cute little embosslit) and the stamp set is the new ELEMENTS OF STYLE. It's amazing! Hope you liked it and if you're uneasy about the color change this card is guaranteed to make you feel a little better, no?

Happy Stamping!

Change is Good!

Hello stampers! Ok, I have some super exciting (I hope you find it super exciting anyway) news! SU has just announced that it will be doing a "color rennovation". Now, stick with me here, I was quite upset when I found out last night BUT I have changed my tune and drank that kool-aid!

Starting on July 1 with the new catalog and idea book, SU will no longer offer the 4 "color families". However, they have revamped the colors into 4 "color collections". They will also be retiring 25 of the current 48 standard colors, be bringing back some of the previous in-colors AND introduce some NEW colors! Again, I was kind of bummed but after seeing all the colors and seeing them together I am way excited and hope you are too! They are fun, modern, and fresh! The collections will be named Brights, Neutrals, Regals, and Subtles. No worries though, there ARE still earth element colors, they have just been relocated to regals!

In addition this year in July we will get 5 new in colors which will remain current for 2 whole years! Next year in 2011, 5 more colors will be introduced for a total of 10. In 2012 the first 5 will be retired and 5 more will be brought in! How exciting!

SU did not come to this decision lightly and has spent the past 2 years researching and putting this into place. I'm sure they will make it as smooth and painless as possible! I know there will be "kits" available to add the colors you are missing in cardstock, ink, pastels, watercolor wonder crayons and markers. So, you don't have to start all over! I'll try to post more details when I get them. Please contact me at any time if you have any questions or concerns.

Now, on to what's going (no worries, Old Olive is SAFE, whew). Here is a list of the colors that will retire come the end of June. Again, these colors will no longer be available for purchase when the new catalog begins...if you want them, stock up now!
pink passion
pixie pink
pale plum
orchid opulence
lovely lilac
lavender lace
almost amethyst
bordering blue
brocade blue
ballet blue
brilliant blue
taken with teal
glorious green
handsome hunter
sage shadow
mellow moss
green galore
gable green
barely banana (this one makes me a bit sad, but there is something to make up for it..)
summer sun
apricot appeal
only orange
really rust
ruby red
cameo coral
blush blossom (*you will still be able to buy the marker if you use this for coloring skin tones)
creamy caramel
close to cocoa (again, a bit sad)
going gray
yo-yo yellow (I hate this color so much I forgot it on the first go round...had to come in and edit, must have blocked it out completely, haha)

NOW, I know it seems like it's a lot and it is but there are some great new colors coming and in-colors coming back. Previous in-colors that will return in the CORE 40 colors are:
mambo melon
rich razzleberry
tangerine tango
river rock
soft suede
riding hood red
pink pirouette
baja breeze
wild wasabi

That make it a little better? Well there's more! Here is a list of the brand NEW colors that will be added to the core 40:
daffodil delight (my absolute fave)
early espresso
crumb cake (this is actually kraft but it's been renamed)
cajun craze
cherry cobbler
marina mist

Ok, there we have it! I think I got it all correct. Again, if you have questions let me know! I'll post more info and hopefully pictures as it becomes available.

Also the new summer mini catalog has arrived, let me know if you want one, it's GREAT!

happy stamping!

Bring on Spring!

So as I was sitting here looking at the snow coming down and swirling around out in the backyard I thought I'd bring you a little spring! I know I need some spring! ENOUGH with the cold and snow already! It's blowing and swirling off of the roof so hard that I can't even see the neighbors house now and then! UGH!

So here is a sweet little card guaranteed to bring some sunshine to your day! You all are getting the first peek at this card. It is a design that I came up with all on my own, which is rare for me AND it's my VERY FIRST ever swap. For those of you who don't know what a sawp is, it's where a bunch of stampers get together and come up with a theme and then everyone makes a certain amount of cards and then you mail them in and the "hostess" divvies them all up and you get different cards back! It's a great idea for demos especially because I may get cards using stamps that I don't have or get cards in a style that I wouldn't necessarily make. That way I can have even more samples to show you! It's been totally fun so far and I'm about to brave the weather to go send mine off before work this afternoon! This swap was Easter themed and I KNEW I HAD to use the new Chocolate Bunny stamp from the Occasions Mini...he is just the CUTEST and looks so yummy! It reminds me of the nosy neighbors I grew up next too, they gave me a choco bunny EVERY year for Easter!

Anyway here is my little bunny!



I made 6 of them and will get 5 different cards back (the hostess gets to keep one of all of them for being the hostess). I really like the colors and simple design here. I did emboss the bunny with choco chip craft ink and clear embossing powder to make him look nice and chocolat-ie. I also used some vanilla hodepodge hardware I had been hoarding, which I tend to do! I hope you like him and I hope the swapers do to!

And one last bit of springy cheer....now is the time to sign up for my "Spring Fever" class. For $10 you will make a variety of spring themed (think Easter and Mother's Day) projects. I promise you will love them and they will be super cute...you may even see this cute little bunny again!

When: March 6th (Saturday) from 1-4
Where: My house!
Please bring: Scissors and adhesive, oh and a friend!
Cost: $10 (Get half off with a $50 order and free with $100)
RSVP to me by Feb 27th! mightymouse5003@hotmail.com or 217-620-3994
Space is limited so sign up today!

And don't forget SAB lasts until March 31 so all orders over $50 will get SAB benefits!


Stay warm, drive safe, and happy stamping!

Very Vintage!

Hi stampers! So vintage...I'll be the first to admit it's not really my style...well it wasn't...until now! Vintage is very "in" right now and I'm loving it. SU's Vintage Vogue set makes it so easy to create vintage inspired projects. Something super easy to add vintage appeal to a project is my hands down all time favorite technique...SPONGING (did I spell that right?)! It adds depth and dimension to your project as well as that perfect aged look. AND it's suuuupppper easy. Just take a sponge (I use SU' sponges and cute each one into 4 wedges, can you say value?) and dab it onto your ink pad then sponge your paper. You can do just the edges or rub or dab it over the whole image. Using the same ink color as paper will add a subtle touch or using a darker color (usually a brown tone) will add a deeper more antiqued look.

Check out this card which was inspired by our demo magazine we get. It was actually a scrapbook layout but I used it as inspiration for a card (can't wiat to use the layout for my old black and white photos from my grandma).



So, I sponged the Bermuda bay card base around the edges in the same color ink. I sponged the edges of the soft suede butterflies in matching ink as well and brushed the ink over the whole thing few times. I created my own designer paper in the center of the oval by stamping and stamping off various colors and stamps then I spnged soft suede over the whole thing and edged it in old olive. Sponged the oval frame as well AND swiped soft suede ink over the embossed background image. WOW, that was a LOT of sponging. BUT it was fast and super easy!

Here is another vintage card made with Vintage Vogue. It was inspired by a fellow stamper on SCS!



This time I've incorporated sponging onto designer series paper. It also uses a sentiment from Messages from Mom, which shows how versatile our stamp sets are. They can easily be mixed and matched! The one detail I will point out on this card is that I took the inkpad directly to the paper and "swiped it" on around the edges a few times, you can see the "smears". This is also a quick and easy way to add that vintage charm That's it for today! Hope you enjoyed today's projects and tips. Try one today! Time to think about working on my very first swaps! So excited!

Happy stamping!