Monday, March 31, 2014

Sale-a-Bration Pop-Up Box Card

Today is the last day of Sale-a-Bration. You can STILL order on my online store and get a FREE SAB item with every $50 you spend. You also have time to subscribe to My Paper Pumpkin and get a FREE set of In Color Marks. Time runs out for both deals at midnight (MT) tonight (March 31, 2014). 

I'm always a little sad when SAB is over. I fall in love with the products and then they have to be put away. I always hope a couple of items will carry over to the new catalog, but we have to wait to see. Personally, I'm hoping the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder and the Banner Punch carry over. (Oh please, oh please!)

So for my last SAB hurrah, I created one of those pop-up box cards, AKA explosion box cards. Our office is going to give our administrative secretary a gift card for Secretary's Day later this month. I said I'd make a card--and I made a doozy! I've seen lots of these pop-up box cards and wanted to learn how to make one myself. I went to a number of websites and watched a number of You Tube videos and used a hybrid of instructions to make my card. I think it turned out pretty well, don't you?

(Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Layered Labels, Petite Petals, Papillion  Potpourri; Inks: Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit; Card Stock: Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit; DSP: Sweet Sorbet; Accessories: Blossom, Elegant Butterfly, Petite Petals, Oval, 3/4" Circle Punches, Apothecary Accents Framelit Dies, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Basic Pearls)

I used SAB Sweet Sorbet DSP because I love, love, love that paper. The colors are so Spring-y and, well, sweet. And I thought adding flowers from the Mixed Bunch and Petite Petals sets would make a lasting flower arrangement for our administrator. I showed the card to my work group today--and even the "boys" were impressed--I'm guessing that's because it looks like it's an engineering marvel! Little do they know--it's all about the tools!

Friday, March 28, 2014

Pretty in Pink

I'm a sucker for pink. Now, I'd never wear pink, well, only occasionally. I'm not really a girlie-girl. But there's something about pink that makes me happy when I stamp. I particularly like to pair pink with a darker color--especially black. This week's Nacho Average Challenge combines three colors of pink, including one that I rarely use--Rich Razzleberry. Lookie:

 

Aren't they pretty together?! I love this combo. As I was driving the girls to volleyball practice last night, I was thinking how I could use the colors without getting too garish. I knew I wanted to use a neutral. The Rich Razzleberry is dark enough not to have to fall back to my fave neutral, Basic Black. So I went to Bizarro World and used Whisper White!

So here's what I made for the challenge. I had the Layered Labels set out for another project (that you'll see next week if I can pull it together). I went with a polka dot theme:  Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and the polka dotted flowers from the Petite Petals set. Even the "for you" medallion from the Layered Labels set has polka dots! I only wish the Rich Razzleberry ribbon were dotted. Oh well. I added some small Basic Pearls to the flower centers. I started off with only one pearl in the center, but they were too small, so I settled on three per flower. I curled the ends of the flowers a bit, to give them some dimension and movement. I stamped the medallion in Rose Red and again in Blushing Bride. I cut out the "for you" sentiment with the Oval Punch and layered it together.

(Stamp Sets: Layered Labels, Petite Petals; Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Rose Red, Blushing Bride; Card Stock: Rose Red, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White; Accessories: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Oval Punch, Petite Petals Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls, Rich Razzleberry Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon)

Thursday, March 27, 2014

"Ugly Paper" Challenge

One of my fave stampers, Lyssa Zwolnek, has an entry on her blog today called "What To Do With Ugly Paper."  One of the sheets of the Sale-a-Bration Sweet Sorbet is not like the others. I can see why some would call it "ugly," but I actually like it. I've seen some great samples using that particular sheet of Sweet Sorbet. Lyssa has some wonderful examples, too!

This week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge is a sketch challenge. I decided I'd follow Lyssa's lead and see what I could do with that "ugly" paper for the PCCCS #86. Here's the sketch.

Card Sketch

I used the "ugly" paper as my accent piece and built the rest of the card from there. The banners are pieces of the other Sweet Sorbet sheets. The Champagne Glimmer Paper circles are from this month's Paper Pumpkin! I think they add a nice bit of bling.

(Stamp Sets: Label Love, Timeless Talk; Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White; DSP: Sweet Sorbet. Accessories: Artisan Label and Banner Punches, In Color Boutique Details)



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Another Challenging Challenge

I always try to play along with the Fab Friday challenges, but this week's challenge almost stymied me. I was thrilled, thrilled, I tell ya, to see that Minders announced the sex of her baby via this challenge. What a sweet idea! Congratulations, Mindy! I'm sooo excited for you. New baby. New home. So fun!!

But the sketch. Hmm, I had almost decided not to play along this week even though we were given loads of latitude with the sketch. It just wasn't coming to me. I had kernels of ideas, but I never seemed to get them to pop! (See what I did there?) I finally got an idea by starting with my color pallet first. I choose the Retro Fresh DSP for my background and went from there. I think I may have pulled it off. What do you think?

Here's the sketch:


And here's what I came up with:

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Inks: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana; Card Stock: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana; DSP: Retro Fresh; Accessories: Banners Framelits Dies, Retro Fresh Washi Tape)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

A New Challenge!

I'm a member of a Yahoo group called "Late Night Stampers"--an appropriate name, if ever there was one! The members post their creations for all of us to ooh and aah over.  This morning, Diana Eichfeld posted a gorgeous card and I knew I wanted to CASE it right away! I went to Diana's blog, Stampin' Fun with Diana, and left her a comment on her card. (You should check it out and leave a comment, too!) Then I saw that she had created her card based on a new (to me) challenge group:  the Paper Craft Crew.

As luck would have it, I had to take the day off while the plumber replaced our water heater AND sump pump, so I had plenty of time to stamp today!! So I played along with the Paper Craft Crew! This week's challenge is a sketch: 

Card Sketch #85

I had an idea, but it took waaaaay longer to actually pull off than I thought it would. I used This & That DSP as my panel and thought it would go great with The Open Sea Stamp set, but I couldn't get the colors and proportions the way I wanted them. Once I got the colors and proportions right, I went looking for a stamp that fit. Backwards, am I. Fortunately, I was going for a "travel" feel and the hot air balloon from You're Amazing fits that theme! I sponged a little Smoky Slate onto the Pool Party piece that the balloon is stamped on to tone it down a bit. And I sponged a little pool party on the sentiment, too. For some reason, I'm compelled to flip up the ends of any banners I use. I had the Gumball Green banner down flat, but couldn't stand it. I had to flip up the ends! I finished off the design with three Jumbo Rhinestones.

(Stamp Sets: You're Amazing, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Pool Party: Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Pool Party, DSP: This & That DSP; Gumball Green Core'Dinaton Specialty Paper; Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder, Banners Framelits Dies, Jumbo Rhinestones)

Monday, March 24, 2014

Not Missing the Train This Time!



So, last week I was a day late and a dollar short for the Create with Connie and Mary Color Challenge. This week, I'm not missing that train!! Connie and Mary have great challenges every week and I love playing along. It really stokes my creative juices.

This week's challenge is a sketch. When I first saw it, I thought, "Meh, I'm not going to be able to come up with something for this." Then I set it aside for a couple of days and had a piano moment. What's a piano moment, you ask? Well, I play a brain teaser game at work and when someone gets the answer all of a sudden, they say it's a "piano." Like when the piano falls on Wile E. Coyote--the idea comes to them instantly. The idea for this card hit me like a ton of bricks grand piano!


Here's Connie and Mary's sketch for the week.
 CCMC295

I've seen others use the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder with the See Ya Later stamp set. I think it's adorbs the way the dots mimic an aligator's skin. I used the Envelope Punch Board to round the corners on the tag. I think that makes the tag spiffier (and the corner rounder may be the reason I purchased the punch board. Crazy? IKR?!). Here's my piano creation.

(Stamp Set: See Ya Later; Ink: Gumball Green; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Pistachio Pudding; DSP: Sweet Sorbet; Accessories: Scallop Tag Topper Punch, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Pistachio Ruffled Stretch Trim, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Envelope Punch Board)





Friday, March 21, 2014

My Very Own Color Challenge!!

So, I've been playing along in a bunch of challenges. It's been fun and inspiring--and it's really what keeps this blog going. I think it's about time that I host my own color challenge!! Whee!!

Somehow I stumbled upon a site called Design Seeds (For All Who Love Color).  Every day there are two new photos and color combinations. The photos and colors are simply gorgeous! I've been drooling over the site every day for a couple of months now, wondering if I have the chutzpah to actually host my own challenge. (Well, hosting the first one is easy...keeping up the momentum is what's going to be hard.)

Let's try a fortnightly challenge--every two weeks. Every other Friday. How's that work for you?

Ready for the first challenge? Here's your inspiration.

color school
(Website: http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/color-school)
Approximate Stampin' Up Colors from top to bottom: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit, Smoky Slate. If you want to play along, post your card to the InLinkz link at the bottom of this post. You can also email me a photo of your creation and I'll post it for you!!

Here's my creation. I used two Framelits from the Apothecary Accents set. I cut the Soft Sky medallion in half to use behind the Whisper White Medallion. I used one of the hole punching thingies from the Chalk Talk Framelit set on the "ears" of the rectangular Apothecary Accent piece so I could tie on the ribbon.

(Stamp Set: See Ya Later; Ink: Bermuda Bay; Card Stock: Summer Starfruit, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Soft Sky, Whisper White; Accessories: Apothecary Accents and Chalk Talk Framelits, Decorative Dots and Square Lattice Embossing Folders, Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon)




Thursday, March 20, 2014

It's here! It's here!

That's what I always say when I open my mailbox and see my monthly Paper Pumpkin box. (I'm easily excited.) I get a tantalizing email a few days before it arrives to tell me that it's on the way and then I start stalking my mailbox.

This month's Paper Pumpkin has enough supplies to create 8 cards--Paper Pumpkin formerly only created 4 cards--but now you get TWICE as many for the SAME price! Not only that you get Stampin' Up's exclusive photopolymer stamps that are only available through Paper Pumpkin. I'm really liking the photopolymer stamps. They stick so well to the blocks! And this month I got not one, but TWO Stampin' Spots inkpads--one in Island Indigo and one in Calypso Coral. Wowza! Again this month, the envelopes come with gold foil liners. I think that really makes the card extra special.

The featured item this month are wood cut-outs: one says "Congrats" and the other says "Thank You." I used my stamp pad to color the one of the wood pieces. Check out the photo. I've got some ideas for stepping up this set, but alas, it's bedtime and I'm dog-tired, so I just followed the directions...except for coloring the wood piece.

After you OOO and AHHH over the two card samples in the picture below, keep scrolling down and see an awesome video from Stampin' Up showing ALL the goodies that came with this month's Paper Pumpkin.  I think they've really done a great job giving PP subscribers real value for the monthly subscription cost! 

Don't forget: If you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin by the end of this month, you'll get a set of In Color Stampin' Write Markers--FREE!!!! Just click on the link over there on the left--don't forget to put me down as your demonstrator!


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

For some reason I'm always a day late to actually participate in the weekly Create with Connie and Mary challenges. The challenge that just ended was a color challenge. The colors really speak to me--I love anything with pink and green and  black. You should go ahead and check out the entries and the winners--they're fabulous!! Maybe I can get my card posted before the challenge closes next week. You'll just have to wait and see.

CCMC294

I totally CASEd Lyssa's Petite Petals "Blossom Grid" card. I thought it was so soft and pretty. With the challenge colors, the card is more bold and dynamic. After I'd assembled the card, I wished I had embossed the Primrose Petals panel, but I think it works without the embossing. Let's just say it's clean, but not so simple.

(Stamp Sets: Petite Petals, Perfect Pennants; Inks: Primrose Petals, Old Olive, Basic Black; Card Stock: Old Olive, Basic Black, Primrose Petals, Whisper White; Accessories: Petite Petals and Small Oval Punches, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stripes Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls)

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Quick & Easy Retro Birthday



This week's challenge over at Retro Sketches looked easy enough, but everything I came up with (in my head) was reminiscent of a previous card I made from a similar sketch. So I thought I'd challenge myself to come up with something out of my box by using one of my least favorite sheets from the Sweet Sorbet DSP.  Once I chose the striped DSP, it seemed to overwhelm the design, but I persevered and think I came up with something workable.  The design process stymied me for a bit, but once I got my design mojo on, the card was quick and easy to make. 




For my take on the sketch layered a panel of Crisp Cantaloupe onto the Smoky Gray card base.  I used the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch in Smoky Gray and Whisper White for the focus piece--I cut the tag to about a 2" by 2.5" piece--and stamped the birthday greeting from Petite Pairs in Pool Party. I tied a piece of Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon around the tag. I was almost finished, but I thought the card still needed a little somethin'-somethin'. So I went through my basket of embellishments and found a Summer Starfruit Dahlia. Yep! That hit the spot!

(Stamp Set: Petite Pairs; Ink: Pool Party; Card Stock: Smoky Slate, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White; DSP: Sweet Sorbet; Accessories: Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, Summer Starfruit Dahlia)

Monday, March 17, 2014

Lucky Clean & Simple


I'm back from my business trip and so glad to have had a snow day today. I know. I know. Everyone is sick of winter and snow. Not me! I'm still thrilled every time it snows and I love the bonus of a snow day!   

Today I'm playing along with the Addicted to CAS crew. The codeword for the challenge is LUCK. Well, it is St. Patrick's Day, but I don't really celebrate it and I don't have any St. Paddy's day stamps. I wanted to go for something that was less obvious that green leprechauns and pots of gold. I was having trouble coming up with something, so I looked up the word "luck" on the online dictionary. I found that a synonym for "luck" is "blessing" and I do have the "Blessings from Heaven" set that I love, but rarely use.

I went way off the obvious and used Blushing Bride, Whisper White, and Basic Black. I think this color combination lends itself to clean and simple. Of course, I can't leave the blank background blank, so I embossed the Blushing Bride panel with one of my favorite embossing folders: Perfect Polka Dots. I also thought the Whisper White Organza Ribbon was a little lost, so I tied on a piece of Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.


(Stamp Set: Blessings From Heaven; Ink: Basic Black; Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Blushing Bride; Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Deco Labels Collection Framelits, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon)

Friday, March 14, 2014

Guest Artist Series: Just Because SAB Floral Card

I'm sad that today is the last day of my guest artist series. Lynn has made some beautiful projects, hasn't she? I hope that you're leaving comments on this blog if you like Lynn's work. I'll be sure to pass on your compliments!!

Today's card is made with a number of Sale-a-Bration items that can be earned for FREE with a $50 order. Lynn started with a card base in Whisper White. She added a strip of Sweet Sorbet DSP (SAB item), a strip of Crisp Cantaloupe embossed with the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (SAB item), and trimmed with some Pool Party Ruffle Stretch Trim. That whole ensemble is wrapped with a piece of Pool Party Baker's Twine from the Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack. 

The focal point of the card stamped in Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, and Crisp Cantaloupe using the Petal Parade set from the SAB  catalog. Lynn also added some splotches in Basic Black from the Gorgeous Grunge set. The fabulous script sentiment is from the A Dozen Thoughts stamp set. The stamped piece was cut with one of the Label Collection Framelits and mounted to the card with dimensionals. And what card is complete without a little bling? The finishing touch is a Basic Pearl at the top.  The matching envelope is picture  behind the card. What a beautiful card!

Thanks Lynn and Jane for letting me share your stampin' creations while I'm away!!

(Stamp Sets: Petal Parade, A Dozen Thoughts, Gorgeous Grunge; Inks: Pistachio Pudding, Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Basic Black; Card Stock: Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe; DSP: Sweet Sorbet; Accessories: Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Label Collection Framelits, Pool Party Ruffle Stretch Trim, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Basic Pearls)

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Guest Artist Series: Sending Good Thoughts

Today, guest artist and BFF Lynn, has created a card using several items from the Occasions mini catalog. She created this card for a mini stamp camp we held a few weeks ago. The gals loved making this card!

Lynn used the fabulous Scallop Tag Topper punch to make the tag that's the focal point of the card. She added a panel of the Fresh Prints DSP Pack backed by a panel of Pool Party card stock. Lynn embossed a panel of Crumb Cake with the Argyle Embossing Folder and mounted it to a Crumb Cake card base using Stampin' Dimensionals. The Tea Lace Paper Doily behind the tag is such a great touch! She used the Perfect Pennants stamp set in Real Read and Crumb Cake. See that teeny, tiny stripe of Real Red at the bottom of the tag? That's a teeny, tiny strip of the Fresh Prints DSP! Awesome!

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Inks: Real Red, Crumb Cake; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Very Vanilla; DSP: Fresh Prints DSP Pack; Accessories: Scallop Tag Topper Punch, Argyle Embossing Folder, Tea Lace Doily, Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Guest Artist Series: Good as Gold Take Two

A while back, in mid-January, I showed you one of the cards made from the Sale-a-Bration Good as Gold Simply Sent Card Kit. You can get this awesome kit for FREE with a $50 order during SAB. There are enough supplies (sans adhesive) to make 8 cards, including the fabulous gold liners!!

Our guest artist, my BFF Lynn, wasn't satisfied with just a Good as Gold card. Oh no! Her creativity couldn't settle for following the instructions that come with the kit. She had to go outside the box and make something completely different. Lookie here:

The card a mini gift box are perfect together. Who wouldn't like getting a little surprise in the box with the accompanying card?!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Guest Artist Series: Watercolor Treat Bags

My BFF Lynn is the next artist in my guest artist series. Lynn is my stamping inspiration--she got me into this mess in the first place (no wait, I think it was Jane....) Anyway, Lynn is a phenomenal crafter and stamper and she inspires me all the time. (She inspires me in spiritual things, too, which is another reason Lynn is my BFF!!)

Lynn made these super cool treat bags for a stamp camp she held during Sale-a-Bration (which is STILL GOING ON TO THE END OF MARCH). I helped out and was nervous because the treat bags are made using the Envelope Punch Board which I haven't played with much. But they are actually super easy to make. They'd be great favors for any occasion--a baby shower, a wedding shower, classroom treats.

Here's how to make them: Start with a 5"x5" piece of DSP. Line the left side of the paper with the 2" mark on the Envelope Punch board and punch and score. Rotate your paper counter-clockwise until the score line is lined up with the pointer on the Punch Board. Punch & score. Rotate your paper counter-clockwise again until the score line is lined up with the pointer on the Punch Board. Punch & score. Rotate your paper counter-clockwise once again until the score line is lined up with the pointer and punch, but do not score. Use the corner rounder on the Punch Board to round all your corners. Fold the sides in and adhere. Then fold the bottom up and adhere. Done! 

Lynn tied some ribbon around her treat bags and added a label from the Label Love stamp set tied on with Gold Baker's Twine. Super Cool! Super Easy!

(Stamp Sets: Label Love, Fabulous Phrases; Inks: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight; DSP: Watercolor Wonder; Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Summer Starfruit and Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon, Gold Baker's Twine, Artisan Label Punch)

Monday, March 10, 2014

Guest Artist Series: Look What Jane Made!

I'm kicking off a week of guest artist creations while I'm away on a business trip. I hope you enjoy the projects my friends have made!

One of my besties in all the world, Jane, asked me to help her make a crafty project as a gift for her niece, Phoebe, who is about to turn 13. Jane had purchased three frames and she wanted to put her niece's initials in the frames. Fortunately, my BFF Lynn had some leftover banner panels from the Build A Banner Simply Created Kit from the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini Catalog. (I sure hope they bring these banners back because they are really nice canvas--perfect for stenciling!!)

Phoebe's room is purple and turquoise, so we stencilled Perfect Plum and Island Indigo inks on the banners. I had some retired DSP in these colors that were perfect for the background. I think this project turned out wonderfully and I hope Phoebe likes her aunt's handiwork. Jane and I had a great time crafting together. We don't get to spend much quality time together since we're both running here and there with our families, but the evening we spent together was splendid!!



Friday, March 7, 2014

Another CASE from Stampin' Success

I told you that Stampin' Success is FULL of ideas. This month's issue was no except. I saw two cards that I immediately wanted to CASE. I shared the first one with you yesterday. Here's the second card CASEd from Stampin' Success.

(Stamp Set: Yippee-Skippee!; Ink: Basic Black; Card Stock: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Basic Black; DSP: Kaleidoscope; Accessories: Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Metal Button, Silver Baker's Twine)
I made a boo-boo when I cut the DSP and the triangles were facing the wrong way. Doh! But as we always say, "There are no mistakes in stamping, only stamping opportunities!" So I mounted my DSP on a Basic Black panel and then on a Crushed Curry panel so it would be facing the right direction. I cut a tiny strip of the same DSP, but flipped it over to get the dotted Island Indigo strip on the top.

These colors are so bold and the black really makes the whole card POP! I used the Silver Baker's Twine because it matched the Basic Metal Button. PROTIP: If you look really closely, you'll see that I knotted the end of the Baker's Twine so that the silver doesn't unravel.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

CASEing Stampin' Success

Every other month we Stampin' Up demonstrators start stalking our mailboxes because the demonstrator-only Stampin' Success magazine comes. The magazine is full of great ideas for projects and workshops and shows us how to feature and use new product. It's a great resource for demonstrators.

One of the features is called "Copy and Share Everything (CASE)" (You might have seen me call it "copy and steal everything"...Whatevs.) In that article, they take a project from the Annual Catalog and CASE the design. It's a fun article--especially when they take a scrapbook page and turn it into a card, or vice versa. It's fun to see how they translate the layouts from one project to the next.

Today I'm CASEing a project from Stampin' Success. I saw the card and loved it and said, "Hey! I can make that!" And then I realized I didn't have everything that was featured, so I used a few different accessories--and that's what CASEing is all about!

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Ink: Night of Navy; Card Stock: Pool Party, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Calypso Coral; Accessories: Scallops Embossing Folder, Pistachio Pudding Ruffled Stretch Trim, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Basic Rhinestones)

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Thanks, Paper Pumpkin!

Last week I told you how AWESOME Paper Pumpkin is now that Stampin' Up has really stepped up the kits.  This month's project is gorgeous--and versatile--and useful!! It's gift bags. The kit comes with die cut medallions and die cut alphabet letters--enough to spell out just about everything. And the kit makes FIVE gift bags! 

Not only that, but Stampin' Up has switched to photopolymer stamps in the Paper Pumpkin kits. Photopolymer stamps are completely clear and super easy to use! They stick really well to your clear blocks, and because the stamps are clear, you get perfect image placement every time. I hadn't used Stampin' Up's photopolymer stamps before this, but I think I could get hooked. They're a pretty AWESOME addition to the Paper Pumpkin kits!

Speaking of AWESOME, check out this gift bag I made with the kit. AWESOMESAUCE!!! Now's the time to start a Paper Pumpkin subscription. Just click on the link over there on the left. When you subscribe by March 31st, you'll get a FREE package of In-Color Markers! Don't forget to put me down as your demonstrator!





 



Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Hello Baby CAS

When I saw this week's code word over at Addicted to CAS, I knew what roller I was going to use. The code word is BABY.  I don't have very many baby stamps, but I do have the ever so precious Baby Tees roller. I like to use this roller along with paper piecing. I think that makes the design pop. I haven't used a roller in oh, I don't know how long, but I do like how quickly you can get a crisp image. I rolled Basic Black across my Whisper White panel and framed it with some Pool Party Ruffled Stretch Trim. Then I rolled again on a piece of Sweet Sorbet DSP. I fussy cut one of the tees and adhered it to the rolled panel. I was lucky enough to get a diamond from the DSP design smack dab in the center of a star from one of the Baby Tees, so I fussy cut that and added it to the other Baby Tee. So, so cute! I finished the card by adding the "hello baby" phrase from Teeny, Tiny Wishes.



(Stamp Sets: Baby Tees Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink: Basic Black; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White; Accessories: Pool Party Ruffled Stretch Trim, Word Window and Modern Label Punches)

Sunday, March 2, 2014

A Nacho Color Challenge

This week's challenge over at Nacho Average Challenges was a color challenge. I originally thought about using the Petite Petals stamp set, but I had my Mixed Bunch stamp set on my desk so instead of going petite, I went LARGE, baby! Here's the Nacho challenge:

 

Now wouldn't that be sweet with Petite Petals? IKR?! But I think it's pretty sweet with the bolder flowers from Mixed Bunch. What do you think?
(Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Hello Lovely; Inks: Primrose Petals, Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz; Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate,Whisper White; Accessories: Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon, Blossom, Decorative Label, and 3/4" Punches, Basic Rhinestones)