Carrots and pearls

Hi stampers!  Quick post tonight...I had a slight headache this morning and by the end of the work day it was a full blown migraine...one of the worst ones I've had in a while.  Sooo, I got very little done tonight including the laundry and my workout which were two things at the top of my list and then of course I didn't do any stamping.  And now I have to go sit out in the cold (and possibly rain and eeek even snow) at work tomorrow night!!!  There's never enough time is there???  Anyway, enough whining...of course I'm feeling better now, when it's time for bed:-) 

Anyway I thought I'd take a minute to share a cute little project with you.  This is one of the things we made at my Spring Fever class and I think it's just adorable!  It's super simple to make and just so cute!  I think I'll make a bunch as little gifts for my family at Easter!  It's a carrot made with the petal cone die!  As a side note, is it strange that I love raw carrots but I really don't like them cooked???  And when I first got my glasses in first grade, I knew carrots were good for your eyes so I thought if I ate a ton of them I wouldn't need my glasses anymore...I'm really surprised I didn't turn orange...and it didn't work...my vision is around a -8 these days, yikes:-)  Anyway, here is the little cutie:

 Isn't it so cute!?!?  And it went together like THAT!  I'll try to do a video maybe!  Now, I could have went all crazy detailed with it but I didn't want to overwhelm my stampers and sometimes less is more! (although I plan on playing around with it later and making a "fancier" carrot;-)  And the cool part is that the die cuts out that little banner so you don't have to worry about making the perfect little "v" on the ends!

And this is the detail of the top.  All I did was use my crop-a-dile to punch a couple of holes in two of the "petals" and thread an old olive satin ribbon through the top to close it.  I'll probably fill these up with M&M's and it's going to hold a lot of them!!!  I don't have any now because they never last at my house and never make it into the treats between me and the hubby...I'm going to put MOST of the blame on him *wink wink*.  I tell ya, I never used to like chocolate AT ALL...and as I get older, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!  Anyway, I hope you like today's little treat!  Now I gotta go find some chocolate.... ;-)

Happy stamping!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Peach parfait
Ink: basic black, peach parfait
Accessories:  Old olive satin ribbon, crop-a-dile, pearls, petal cone die

Sew obsessed....

Sew, I guess I seem to be obsessed with the sew suite stuff from the occasions mini catalog:-)  I entered (and won, ohmygosh) an Inkspirations challenge a few weeks ago with a card made from the Sew Suite stuff and then I loved the sketch challenge over there this week...and guess what I used:-)  But really, this sketch just SCREAMED sew suite to me!!!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Sew Suite, Pattern Pieces, So Happy for You (SAB)
Paper:  So saffron, tangerine tango, wild wasabi, Sweet stitches
Ink:  Stazon, so saffron, tangerine tango
Accessories:  Glimmer brads (subtles, )dimensionals, pom pom trim

As most of my cards go, it didn't turn out exactly how I had pictured it in my head but I still like it!  I think the background it a bit flat and I needed to add some more dimension to it somehow (maybe some more sponging and I should have done some actual sewing but it was too late to fiddle with my machine and get it all threaded and the bobbin to work right, haha) but I can usually find something I want to improve on all my cards...we are our own worst critics, right?  And how have I been itching to cut up that pattern background stamp!!!!  It took a while to do but I loved the results!  I also love the colors of this suite, they are so funky and retro, which is usually not my style but I like how SU! comes up with stuff that works together so well...so I don't have to do all the work of figuring out what colors go...it's built in!  My final touch was the glimmer brad which I think looks like the little grommet in the end of a measuring tape...I'm so clever (LOL, not really but it was a pretty good idea for lil old me!).  Now, hop on over the the Inkspirations site while I go to the gym and then get ready for my stamping class today and have a go at the challenge for yourself...I dare ya!  Happy stamping!

Multi-part-punches Video

Hi stampers!  Here is the video I promised about our new multi-part punches.  This video uses the blossom punch that I used in the daffodil card from yesterday but the method is the same for all of them like the cute owl punch and the awesome cupcake one!  I hope this helps you see how to use the punches more efficiently! I thought they might be a pain but they've been fairly easy to use and make super cute projects!  And I didn't realize until I was done filming that you can see my reflection when I turn the punch right side up...so just pretend you don't see me in my grubby old stamping sweatshirt:-)  At least I had done my hair, lol! 


Until next time...happy stamping!

Daffodil Delight

Hi stampers!  I have a card for you that's doing double duty so to speak.  First off, we'll be making it at my Spring Fever class on Saturday and I'm also entering it at the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge that you can find HERE.  It actually kind of looks similar to a card I entered over there a few weeks ago...but it's all I got for now as I haven't had much time to stamp this week and HAD to get these cards designed for the class (nothing like waiting until the last moment right?).  Anyway, daffodils are one of my all time favorite flowers and a couple have even started blooming in our yard!!!  Nevermind the fact that it was close to 80 degrees a few days ago and is now a nippy 32!!!  I hope the flowers handle the cold snap ok!  But here's one that won't wilt away:

 

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Build-a-blossom, Easter Blossoms

Paper: So saffron, whisper white, daffodil delight

Ink:  Daffodil delight

Accessories:  Blossom punch, fun flowers die, daffodil delight taffeta ribbon, polka dot embossing folder, oval punch, scallop oval punch. basic pearls

Isn't it cute!  I thought that the build a blossom punch would work good for the outer petals and then I took the smaller flower from the fun flower die to make the "cup" since I wanted something that would stand up!  All I did was bend the petals up and pop on some pearls in all different sizes.  Now, I know that a lot of daffodils are white with yellow cups but really there are all kinds and I like the yellow ones with white cups the best:-)  I kept the rest of the card simple since all of my class participants will be new-bies:-)  If I get time, I'll try to post a video about how to best use the blossom punch as it can be a bit tricky! Hope you like it!  Happy stamping!

Easter Wishes

Hi stampers!  Sorry it's been a few days but I had a busy long weekend (which of course wasn't long enough...that always happens doesn't it?) and then I haven't been feeling very well and then work is very busy for me this week so all that adds up to very little stamping!!!!  Quick bit of chit chat first though!  On Friday I took the day off an then went with my BFF and her sis to see Sugarland and it was AWESOME!  We had terrific seats and didn't know that Little Big Town was opening so that was fun!  The show was so much fun and we danced almost the whole time (my poor feet hurt in my cute shoes so I had to take a break and sit now and then, hehe).  Then she had a 31 gifts party on Saturday and I spent way too much money (hehe) but got some cute stuff and it was great to see some of my girly friends from back in the day!  But the Saturday night and Sunday my tummy was not happy so I didn't get much done...not even the laundry.  Guess that means I'll have to stamp extra this weekend right???  And speaking of this weekend it's my Spring Fever class so if you're in the area and would like to attend and make 4 projects for $10 let me know!!!  Ok, enough of the blah blah blah...here is the card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms, Something to Celebrate (hostess exclusive)
Paper:  Whisper white, river rock, baja breeze, marina mist
Ink:  River rock, marina mist
Accessories:  Marina mist striped grosgrain and taffeta ribbon, scallop square duo die, white gel pen, finial press embossing folder, basic pearls

This card was pretty straight forward and I used an old Mojo Monday sketch to get my mojo going!  I've been wanting to do something with this egg since I got the set.  It went together quick and I really like the river rock with the blues and the white.  And using an old sketch is a great way to kick start your creativity if you need a little kick in the behind!  Hope you like it and hopefully I can stamp soon so I can come back with more fun projects!

Happy stamping!

Fabulous Friday

Hi stampers!  To day I have a fabulous card and today is a fabulous day!  I have the day off and I get to sleep in, go to the gym, go shopping and then go with my BFF to see Sugarland!!!!  I hope to fit some stamping in there too but I'm not sure it's going to happen.  Now, that would make for a super fabulous Friday for sure!

 So, today's card pretty much sums up my day:-)  It again features the sneak peek stamp set Four Frames.  I've been on a roll with that set since I got it and I'm also on a roll with the in-colors and the hostess pattern paper pack.  So I thought this polka dot frame stamp would work really well with the funky flower and polka dot DSP!  And I was right!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Fabulous phrases, Four Frames (sneak peek)
Paper:  Whisper white, poppy parade, concord crush, peach parfait, hostess DSP pack
Ink:  Concord crush
Accessories:  Scallop squares sizzix die, decorative label punch, punch pack, dotted scallop border punch, peach parfait ribbon, rhinestones

I have not used much concord crush or poppy parade and I think I'll have to order me some more...sometimes I'm just a little late to the party!  And I'm very happy that I'll have a whole 'nother year to use them since our in colors are available for two years now!  Did you know that?  AND we are getting 5 NEW colors come July!  How exciting!  Anyway, I love the poppy on this card because it just adds a little POP, especially the little flower and rhinestone!  I also think this card is very Mary Fish-ish and I love her stuff so I'm happy it turned out well.  Well I'm off for my fa-boo friday, hope you have a fabulous Friday as well.  Happy stamping!

Tutorial Time

Hi stampers!  Today I have a quick video tutorial for you on using the Tulip Frame embossing folder that can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  This folder is a bit different since it's a border and not an all over pattern.  And while it's fairly easy to emboss a whole card base it can be a bit tricky to emboss a card front because you can't just stick it in the folder and run it through.  You need to cut the card front to 4" x 5.25" and that will give you a nice card front and a nice border on your card base.  You can see this on a few of the cards I have posted here and I'll show you one on the video.  Hope you find it helpful!



And it's that easy!  Eventually you'll get to see the whole card that uses my blushing bride paper.  It's a super cute card so make sure you stop back in often to see if it's up!  Hope you found the video helpful!

Happy stamping!