Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Cupcake Treat

You must have figured out by now that I "stalk" a bunch of stamping challenge blogs. I also subscribe to the blogs of some of my favorite--and inspiring--stampers. We have a great community of stampers who share and encourage each other. Looking at others' work can be a real inspiration--as I hope that I'm inspiring YOUR creativity!

Not only to Connie Babbert and Mary Brown run the Create with Connie & Mary challenge blog, but they also run a for-purchase quarterly tutorial. But being the wonderful gals that they are, on Saturdays they share one project for FREE!! This quarter's tutorial is all about favors. (You can still purchase the tutorials and get the daily projects and projects you've missed on their challenge blog.)

A couple of Saturday's ago, Mary posted a really cute favor--and the instructions. I knew I wanted to CASE it. Check out Mary's "Zoo Babies" favor here and you'll see where the inspiration for my favor came from.
(Stamp Set: Another Great Year; Ink: Real Red; Card Stock: Real Red, Very Vanilla; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Perfect Pennants Framelits Dies, 1" and 1-1/4" Circle Punches, Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Details)

These cute treat bags would be great favors at any kind of party: baby shower, wedding shower, birthday parties. So sweet!

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

You & Me

The ampersand & is really trending now & the Perfect Pennants set uses the & in a cute way to say "You and Me."  I don't think I've inked up that particular stamp yet, so this week's Create With Connie & Mary Color Challenge #300 inspired me to use the stamp.

I have to admit: this color combination had me stymied for a minute. I usually look at the colors & then pull out sheets of cardstock & lay them out to see what "hits" me. When I did that, I realized that these are the colors in my favorite (but retiring, sniff) piece of DSP for the current catalog from the Epic Day This & That collection. Here are the colors

 CCMC300
& here's my card:

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Ink: Basic Gray; Cardstock: Basic Gray, Crumb Cake; DSP: Epic Day This & That; Accessories: Angled Top Tag Punch, Starburst Framelits Dies, Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Circle Card Framelits Dies (for the hearts), Epic Day This & That Washi Tape, Basic Gray Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Basic Rhinestones)
I couldn't really figure out what do do with the Crumb Cake element until I latched on to the idea of using a tag. Once I had that idea, then I thought of using a circle to fill in the rest of the space. I searched through my stash of embossing folders until I hit on the Honeycomb EF &said, "Bingo!" I like how all the diverse elements come together on this card. & I love it when a plan comes together...quickly.

Monday, April 28, 2014

New Stampin' Up Catalog

Stampin' Up corporate has said we can show the front of the catalog. To get a peek at the inside, you're going to have to wait to see me in person. I might be carrying it with me at all times. I love it!!!


And there are some exciting NEW things in there that I can't wait to get my hands on and to show you!! Contact me NOW to schedule a workshop or "event."

Fresh Flower

I'm posting a little early today because I don't want to miss out on this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge. The sketch this week is simple, but versatile. Just take a look at all the great cards that were made based on this sketch


As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to use my new Starburst Framelits and my new "Stippled Blossoms" set. (You'll be seeing more Stippled Blossoms soon!!!)

(Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms, Perfect Pennants; Inks: Calypso Coral, Basic Gray; Card Stock: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Whisper White; DSP: Epic Day This & That; Accessories: Sunburst and Banners Framelits Dies, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Basic Gray Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Pearls)

For this card I fussy cut the "hello" banner and mounted it onto a Calypso Coral banner cut with the smallest banner framelit. I like the way the starburst looks like the sun. How fun!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Shelli Wasn't Kidding!!!

Stampin' Up Founder and CEO Shelli Gardner used the "Lovely As A Tree" stamp set last year during convention and mused (I paraphrase), "When is this set going to retire? It's been around forever." Whereupon everyone at convention moaned and booed and shed a tear or two (I exaggerate). And Shelli said, "Oh that set is never going to retire." 

Shelli wasn't kidding!! "Lovely As A Tree" is NOT on the list of retiring stamp sets. Yay!! 

Everyone loves this set--it's so versatile. It can be used in the fall, for Christmas, and in the spring. It's manly, yes, but I like it, too. (If you remember that, well...) 

I was in a "big box craft store" the other day looking for 4x4 frames so I could make more of the sweet Paper Pumpkin frames--I couldn't find them, by the way, so if YOU know where I can get them, please tell me! I went past several framed pictures that used background paper the looked like it was from an old book, with either a penny farthing or a mustache printed on top. It was simple. It was elegant. And I said, as I sometimes do, "I can stamp that!" Also our "Many Mustaches" stamp is retired and, seriously, how many times can I use the penny farthing from the "Timeless Talk" set? So I searched my stash of stamp sets and realized that I haven't used "Lovely As A Tree" in quite a while. Here's my recreation of the framed prints I saw in the store.

(Stamp Sets: Lovely As A Tree, Six-Sided Sampler: Inks: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse; Card Stock: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon)
I stamped the tree using the "generations" technique. It's very simple: You ink the stamp once and make your impression, then do another--without reinking--and then another. Each successive impression is a lighter "generation" than the original. There are actually four generations on this card. Can you find them all? I fussy cut the stamped hexagon along the lines and then punched a Gumball Green hexagon with the punch.

REMINDER: The Stampin' Up catalog reveal event is this Monday. I'll be there--and I'll be tweeting what I'm allowed to tweet. I already know that we can show pictures of the catalog front page and pictures of demonstrators holding the new catalog. So if you want to be one of the first to see the catalog--and to find out whatever I'm allowed to tell you--then follow me on Twitter @kkstamps.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Paper Pumpkin Mother's Day Card

So, 'member when I said there were a TON of leftovers in this month's Paper Pumpkin kit? Well, I wasn't kidding. I had an idea for a quick Mother's Day card using a few extra supplies and accessories, but mostly just Paper Pumpkin leftovers. Here's what I came up with--and there are STILL leftovers!!

(April 2014 Paper Pumpkin set Framed Love; Inks: Coastal Cabana, Pear Pizzazz; Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz, Coastal Cabana, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White; Accessories: Stripes Embossing Folder and Paper Pumpkin "leftovers")


I used the Stripes embossing folder for the background panel to give the card some texture. I also used the open heart and 3 little hearts that were left over from the Paper Pumpkin kit. I think this turned out nicely, if I do say so myself!

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

April's Paper Pumpkin is Adorbs!!!

My, oh my! The April Paper Pumpkin is simply adorable!! I'm not kidding: I literally squealed when I opened it and saw what was inside. I love the photopolymer stamp set, "Framed Love"--I will use it often because it's so versatile. And I love the project. It really did take less than 30 minutes to put together and it's so cute!

Here's the project with the gift-wrap belly band on.



And here's the project.



Isn't it wonderful?! What a great gift this would be.

Not only that, but there are so many things left over that you can use on other projects. Besides getting to keep the great stamp set, you get TWO Stampin' Spot--Pear Pizzazz and Coastal Cabana. Just these items--and the completed project--alone are worth the $19.95 (including shipping!) subscription fee. But here at the leftovers from this kit:

(All images (c) Stampin' Up!--11 tags, 11 glue dots, linen thread, 1 vintage button, 12 foam mounting strips, 1 negative image heart, 1 heart, 1 open heart, 13 mini hearts, one banner sticker, Framed Love photopolymer stamp set, Pear Pizzazz and Coastal Cabana Stampin' Spots)

I've been saying it every month--Stampin' Up has really listened to the "early adopter" subscribers and they've stepped up the kits. Paper Pumpkin is a wonderful 30 minute creative escape. If you're ready to try it, click on the Paper Pumpkin icon over on the left and subscribe TODAY. Don't forget to put me down as your Stampin' Up demonstrator so you can get my personal help and advice!!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Hooray--A Fab Sketch!

When I saw the sketch for this week's Fab Friday challenge, I knew I wanted to try out my new Starburst Framelits Dies. I didn't order them initially because I wasn't "sold" on them, but I've seen so many cool cards using them, that they quickly got added to my wish list. I thought the "Hip Hip Hooray" stamp would fit nicely inside starburst and it sure does! Here's the Fab Friday sketch



and here's my card. 

(Stamp Set: Hip, Hip Hooray; Ink: Basic Gray; Card Stock: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Real Red; DSP: Kaleidoscope; Accessories: Banner Framelits, Starburst Framelits, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Real Red and Basic Gray Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon)

Back in the 80's I used to wear a lot of black&white&gray with a pop of red. This reminds me of my new wave/punk rock days. (Yes, I'm that old. Deal.)

Monday, April 21, 2014

Fresh Flowers

There's an awesome sketch challenge on the Freshly Made Sketches challenge blog this week. I'm squeaking in just under the wire to enter--that's the way I roll! Oops, I missed the deadline by a couple of hours. Oh well. Here's the sketch



And here's my creation.

(Stamp Sets: Petite Petals, Sweet Essentials; Ink: Primrose Petals; Card Stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Primrose Petals; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Petite Petals Punch, Banners Framelits, Vanilla Seam Binding, Envelope Punch Board (to round the corners), Basic Pearls)

I started with two coordinating sheets of Modern Medley DSP and added some Primrose Petals flowers stamped with the Petite Petals set and punched with the matching punch. I love to scatter the punched flower randomly. I hope (I hope I hope) this set and punch carry over. We won't know what's going to carry over from the Occasions mini until the new catalog is revealed--next Monday! SQUEEE!!

If you want to know everything that I'm permitted to tell you about the new catalog, follow me on Twitter @kkstamps. I'll be tweeting LIVE from the new catalog reveal next Monday, April 28, 2014!

Friday, April 18, 2014

It's Time for a Color Challenge!!!

Oh my goodness! There are so many wonderful photos and color pallets on the Design Seeds website. I just love looking at the photos everyday. They've inspired my biweekly color challenges. Sometimes the "challenge" is to find a Design See photo that I like AND then find the current Stampin' Up colors (or reasonable substitutes). Another "challenge" is that when I view the colors on my tablet they look like one SU color, but then I view them on the laptop and they look like another color. That happened this week. 

Here's the Design Seeds inspiration

rustic bouquet
http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/rustic-bouquet

Based on how my tablet displayed them, the Stampin' Up colors I chose (from top to bottom) are: Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Summer Starfruit, Soft Suede, Perfect Plum, and Smoky Slate. These are the colors I used for my card. But my laptop says the colors are Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Summer Starfruit, Soft Suede Basic Gray, Perfect Plum, and Smoky Slate Wisteria Wonder

You can use any combination  of colors. The photo and my card here to inspire YOU! Don't feel like you have to use all the colors, either. Just be creative.

(Stamp Sets: Creative Elements, Everything Eleanor, Papillon Potpourri; Inks: Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit, Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette; Card Stock: Perfect Plum, Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride; Accessories: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Circle Card Framelit (for banner), Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Blender Pen, Soft Suede and Pink Pirouette Taffeta Ribbon, Dazzling Details)

I'd be thrilled if you would play along with my challenge. Just post a link to your card at 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!!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Sweet Thanks

Pistachio Pudding, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White--these colors are so sweet together. Throw in a touch of Coastal Cabana for a little pop and the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and some Ruffle Stretch Trim for texture and you have a sweet and quick Thank You card. Wouldn't this card be great to mass produce for baby shower thank yous?

This week's Nacho Average Challenge blog had a simple, but elegant sketch. (And thank goodness, too, because I didn't start working on this card until 10:30 at night--long story that involves moving my old bones on the volleyball court in a parents vs U15 club volleyball team game and then having to search the neighborhood for my errant son who thought he was just going to sleep over at a friend's house. Oy.) Here's the sketch.



And here's my sweet thank you card.
(Stamp Set: Petite Pairs; Ink: Coastal Cabana; Card Stock: Pistachio Pudding, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White; Accessories: Pistachio Green and Coastal Cabana Ruffle Stretch Trim, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Small Oval and 1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punches)
 I hope you enjoy it--I have to go take some "vitamin M" and head off to bed!!

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Quick Easter Basket Tutorial

Just in time for Easter--the first Faithful INKspirations tutorial! I learned how to make this basket last year from Lyssa Zwolanek. It's really simple and you probably have all the supplies you need. Here's the step-by-step tutorial.

Start with an 8.5" x 11" piece of card stock. I used Wisteria Wonder. On the 11" side, score at 1", 2", 3", 4", 7", 8", 9", and 10".



Rotate the card stock one quarter turn. Score at 3" and 5.5".



Cut the one inch scores on each side, stopping at the 3" and 5.5" score lines.

Fold the 1" strips and center square.


Gather four strips toward the center square to start forming the basket.
 


Punch through all 5 layers and attach with a brad.


Cut an 11" x 2.25" strip of card stock. Adhere to inside of basket, covering brad backs. Decorate.

(Stamp Sets: Label Love, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink: Wisteria Wonder; Card Stock: Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White; Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Silver Ribbon, Mini Brads, Artisan Label, Modern Label, Word Window Punches)
I hope you liked my first tutorial. I hope to add more in the future. Let me know what you think!!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Far Away and CAS

This week's code word over at Addicted to CAS is "Far Away." Hmm, what do I have that I can use for this theme? I thought about something that said "Miss You," but I don't have any stamps that say that. I used the bicycle from Timeless Talk for the last ATCAS challenge. Oh! I know! I can use "The Open Sea!"

I really love "The Open Sea" set. I remember it was in an Occasions mini catalog and I was thrilled when it carried over to the annual catalog...and then carried over for a couple more years. I wonder if it will be on the "Retiring List" that comes out on April 21st. I hope it stays around some more....but if it retires, that only means room for MORE NEW STAMPS!!!

I wanted to do something out of the "ordinary" with this set, and last week I had an idea for using a few out-of-the-box colors. But I can't remember what they were now. (Does that ever happen to you??) Anyway, I decided I'd use Blushing Bride and Early Espresso. Those colors combined with the sailing ship say "vintage" to me--which usually means "more is MORE." But since this is supposed to be a clean and simple challenge, I had to "embrace the space." I'm learning to like CAS, but I still feel like the card stock is "naked" if I don't emboss it or stamp on it.

Here's my entry for this fortnight's challenge:

(Stamp Set: The Open Sea; Ink: Early Espresso; Card Stock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride; Early Espresso Core'Dinations Specialty Paper; Accessories: Deco Framelits, Arrows Embossing Folder, Natural Trim)

I matted the imagine on Early Espresso Core'dinations paper that I roughed up with the sanding block. I thought the Arrows Embossing Folder added to the "far away" theme.

For my bow, I wanted to have something a little less frou-frou and a little more nautical, so I looped a piece of the natural trim over the horizontal piece and pulled it through. I frayed the edges a little, because, well I think vintage can be CAS, too.

Introducing Project Life by Stampin' Up!

I am totally stoked about Stampin' Up's new partnership with Project Life. THIS is a scrapbooking system I can get behind! I can't wait to get my hands on it and show it to you. Contact me to book your Project Life workshop!!

Stampin' Up! has partnered with the amazing Becky Higgins to bring you the real deal—authentic Project Life products, now in exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors and designs. If you’ve somehow missed the Project Life craze and are wondering what it’s all about, it’s a super simple, totally affordable way to get your photos into albums: you just slip your photos into Photo Pocket Pages and add designed cards. It’s a back-to-basics approach to documenting your life. In a nutshell, it’s all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.

You’ll be able to order a selection of Project Life products starting May 1! And with the launch of the new Stampin' Up annual catalog on June 2, you’ll be able to buy from the complete line of Project Life products.

Here are the items you’ll be able to purchase on May 1:



Monday, April 14, 2014

Spring has sprung! (momentarily)

We've had a gorgeous few days here in central Maryland. Bright. Sunny. Warm (but not too warm). Simply lovely weather. But we have a saying here in Maryland--Don't Like the weather? Wait a few days. Apparently, we're getting a nasty, cold rain coming through and instead of being near 80 degrees, we're going to be lucky to get out of the 40s on Wednesday. Brr!

I was so happy to see the colors Connie and Mary have chosen for this week's color challenge. They're Bright and Sunny colors. So I'll be able to look at my card and remember what our fleeting spring felt like--at least for a few days!

Here are the colors:

CCMC298

And here's my card.

 
(Stamp Sets: Pleasant Poppies, Petite Pairs; Ink: Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight; Card Stock: Tangerine Tango, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White; Accessories: Blender Pen, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Curly Label and Small Oval Punches, Essentials Piercing Pack, Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon)

I used my Blender Pen to color the flowers and the stems. I thought the greeting in the oval was "lost" on the Curly Label Punch--and then I remembered that the Essentials Piercing Pack has a template for that punch, so I pierced around the perimeter of the label.

 

Friday, April 11, 2014

Springtime Butterfly

I'm playing along with a new (to me) challenge blog today: Freshly Made Sketches. I had originally planned to do another challenge, but the card I made for that challenge, well, it was a hot mess. I was not satisfied with it. I re-made it several times and I still don't like the finished product. So, my dear blog readers, you will never see that card fail. Fortunately, I found this new challenge blog and almost instantly had an idea for it.

Here's the sketch.


I thought this sketch would be great with the springtime colors in the Quatrefancy Specialty Paper. And I'm sort of on a butterfly kick. (Well, in the mess that is my stamping desk, the Papillion Potpourri set was still out, sooo....) Here's what I came up with:

(Stamp Sets: Papillion Potpourri, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink: Strawberry Slush; Card Stock: Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight; Specialty Series Paper: Quatrefancy; Accessories: Word Window, Modern Label, and Elegant Butterfly Punches, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones)
I almost didn't add any stamping at all to the card. I kind of liked the simplicity of the color blocks with the embossed panel. But I decided to add one lone butterfly, a sentiment, and a little bling.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. It's going to be gorgeous here in central Maryland!!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Friends

Making friends for the world to see
Let the people know you got what you need
With a friend at hand you will see the light
If your friends are there then every thing's all right


OK. I know. You have to be a diehard Elton John fan to know those lyrics. So, I am. (Such a fan, in fact, that I had my firstborn on Elton's birthday. Just sayin')

I made this sweet card for this week's retro sketches challenge. Here's the sketch:
 

And here's my card.
 
(Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Sweet Essentials; Inks: Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush; Card Stock: Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Very Vanilla; Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Blossom Punch, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Burlap Trim, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls)
I used the Envelope Punch Board to round the corners on the card, the tag, and the Very Vanilla panel.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

CASEing Minders!

At last year's Stampin' Up convention, I stalked met one of my fave stampers, the famous Minders (aka Mindy Backes)! She makes awesome art, which you can see at her blog Bada-Bing! Paper-Crafting! I was thrilled that Mindy had one of her cards leftover and that she swapped with me. I've had her card on my own throw-back Pinterest board (an actual ribbon board) ever since. I look at it quite often and think I ought to CASE it. Well, I finally did!

This week's Fab Friday Color Challenge (38) was the perfect opportunity to CASE Mindy's card. 
 

Mindy's card used different colors, but I love the design elements she used. Here's Mindy's card.

All images copyright Stampin' Up Artwork by Mindy Backes




Here's my not-as-wonderful CASE of Mindy's card, using the Fab Friday colors.

 
(Stamp Sets: Six-Sided Sampler, Yippee-Skippee!, Papillion Potpourri; Inks: Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding; Card Stock: Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding, Sahara Sand; Accessories: Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Pistachio Pudding Ruffle Stretch Trim, Tea Lace Paper Doily, Chalk Talk Framelits, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding Stampin' Write Markers, Basic Pearls, Basic Rhinestones)

I used the Six-Sided Sampler set and the Honeycomb Embossing folder. I colored the Yippee-Skippee! stamp with Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding markers and then stamped onto Sahara Sand. The tag is cut from the Chalk Talk Framelits. I liked the way Mindy added some bling to her card, so I followed suit.

Thanks for the inspiration Mindy!!


Exciting News! #SUConvention2014

I'm so excited!! I'm all registered for the 2014 Stampin' Up convention in July. I can't wait! I have my room reserved at the funky Kimpton Hotel. I'm signed up for a Splitcoast Stampers all-day UNWIND stamping event the day before convention starts. All I have left to do is make my flight reservations--and I have a $500 voucher from last year when I volunteered to get bumped from my flight home because the plane was too heavy to take off in the 110+ degrees. (No, I wasn't the only one who got bumped. It wasn't ME,personally, that made the flight overweight. They actually took half the passengers off!)

I'm also registered for the new Stampin' Up catalog reveal party on April 28th. They're revealing the new catalog--to Stampin' Up demonstrators--at movie theaters all over the country. I think that's a cool idea and I know Stampin' Up will do it right! My BFF Lynn and I are going together.

I'll be tweeting live from both the new catalog reveal party (what they will let us reveal; I'm sure there will be some secrets) and I'll be tweeting live from the convention in July, too. I'm starting to use Twitter for SU news. And if you follow me by the end of this week (Saturday April 12 at midnight EDT) and I get 20 followers this week, I'll enter your name in a random drawing. The prize is 5 hand-stamped cards of your choice from my blog!!

Follow me on Twitter at @kkstamps.

Oh, and I have another bit of exciting news to share....but I can't just yet. You'll have to keep reading the blog to find out what that might be!!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Monochromatic Bird

Anyone who knows me know that my favorite color is black (it's so slimming!) Actually, I like black because it goes with everything. It can be elegant (think: little black dress) and it can be grungy (think: punk). Black also enhances any color with which it is paired and really makes the color pop. After the next spring rain, take a look and see what I mean. The rain will make the tree trunks darker and the leaves will seem so much more vivid.

For this week's Paper Craft Crew Sketch challenge, I grabbed a stamp set that I love, but never know how to use: Papaya Collage. The set has so many cool elements.  I've never inked up the bird and I thought it would look great in Basic Black on Very Vanilla.  I got out the Modern Medley DSP and discovered a piece I'd never used that had birds on it! That was enough to get me going on my creation.

Here's the Paper Craft Crew Sketch (PCCS #87) for the week

http://www.papercraftcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/PCCCS072-102-006.jpg

And here's my card.

(Stamp Sets: Papaya Collage, Sweet Essentials; Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Ovals and Banners Framelits; Oval and Hexagon Punches; Antique Brads)


I wanted to use Basic Black to mat the main image and I knew I had a 1/4 piece laying around on my mess of a desk--when I realized I was using it for one of the layers. So I cut the Basic Black oval out of the layer since all you see is the very edge!

For the  banners, I used another sheet of Modern Medley DSP.  I thought using the Oval Punch for the sentiment would echo the Oval Framelits used for the bird image. The Antique Brads are my favorite embellishments, ever! I've been hoarding them--I can't believe I used two on this card!!!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Yikes! Where does the time go?

Ever had one of those days, weeks, months....lives where time seems to go so fast you can't catch your breath? Yeah, you say. Welcome to my world. I think we all have those days. I usually "catch up" on my stamping over the weekend, but I spent Saturday with my darling daughter at a volleyball tournament, squeezed in a family movie night watching "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (spoiler alert: AWESOME!!). Then Sunday was an inspiring worship service with Keith Lancaster leading our singing and our preach returning to the pulpit for the first time since starting cancer treatments. Followed by a soccer game, finishing up my Stampin' Up taxes (ugh!), and an evening Bible study. By the time I got home, I was too pooped to stamp.Well, Monday was a full day of work, followed by a volleyball club board meeting, then I had to run some errands and I didn't get home until 9:30. I'm still too pooped to stamp, but I made quick card any way because I made a commitment that I'm going to blog every weekday this year. So here it is, almost 11:00 and I'm keeping my commitment.

This card was made for another of the Create with Connie and Mary challenges. It's sketch challenge this week. Thank goodness it's a simple sketch.  Here's the sketch...

CCMC297


....and here's my too pooped to stamp card. My DD deemed it "really cute" without prompting. I hope you enjoy it. And I hope I have a little more time to stamp tomorrow night so I can make a few things in "reserve" for the rest of the week's blog entries.

(Stamp Set: Birthday Cake; Ink: Pacific Point; Card Stock: Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Pacific Point; Accessories: Chevron Embossing Folder, Modern Label and Word Window Punches; Pacific Point Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Pacific Point 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Pacific Point Candy Dots)
 Nighty-night!



Friday, April 4, 2014

It's a Faithful INKspirations Color Challenge!

Woot! I have some great colors for you in this fortnight's color challenge. I hope you'll play along with me.

As usual my inspiration comes from the great website Design Seeds, which shows two color pallets every single day. My inspiration for this challenge comes from the pallet posted on March 29, 2014, called Chi Tones.

chi tones
(Website http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/chi-tones3)


Isn't that puppy cute? Approximate Stampin' Up Colors from left to right: Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum, Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, and Crumb Cake. If you want to play along, post a link to your card at 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 totally CASEd a wonderful card made by Connie Babbert. It's such a wonderful layout that Connie even CASEd herself! I realized I haven't used Pear Pizzazz or Perfect Plum in quite a while. These are two of my favorite "standard colors" and I really like them together. I think using Very Vanilla on this card makes it so soft and sweet. And it's got polka dots galore, so that makes me happy.

I hope you'll play along!!

(Stamp Sets: Yippee-Skippee! Petite Petals; Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride; Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Ovals Framelits, Hexagon, Petite Petals, Itty Bitty Shapes Punches, Basic Pearls)
 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Hip, Hip, Hooray!







I'm so jazzed about Stampin' Up's new Hip, Hip Hooray Card Kit. For a mere $19.95 (plus shipping and tax, of course), you get ALL the supplies you need to make 20 super cute note cards!! My BFF and Stampin' Up downline, Lynn, bought the kit for me as a thank you for helping her with a stamp camp. What a wonderful gift! (Hint, hint!) Who wouldn't want to make quick and easy hand-made cards to give to friends and family? The only thing you need is a pair of scissors. Everything else is in the kit...including instructions (which you won't really need, but, hey.)

Look at what you get.

Here's a close-up of the stamps and Basic Gray Stampin' Spot and the acrylic block that also comes in the kit.


And here are two cards I put together in less than 10 minutes. Cute as a button, aren't they? Remember, you can order the Hip, Hip Hooray Card Kit (item number 134998) from my online store any time--or contact me to host a workshop and you and your guests can make and take your own Hip, Hip Hooray cards--and more!!