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.

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)

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!





 

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)

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)

It's Time for a Fab Friday Color Challenge!

I'm so bummed that I couldn't get my act together quick enough to play in last week's Fab Friday sketch challenge. I mean, the whole reason I started this blog was so that I could play along on the Fab Friday challenges. And then I started playing in other challenges (cuz I need inspiration every day) and then I had loads of projects, and well, the last Fab Friday challenge got away from me.

But that's not gonna happen this time. No siree!! I'm on it. On the day the challenge came out. If I'm fast enough I think I'm going to be the second person to post a project for the challenge. Perhaps if it wasn't almost midnight, I could have been the first person. But whatevs. I was instantly inspired by this challenge and knew immediately what I was going to do. How often does that happen?!

So here's the Fab Friday color challenge #36: 

 

And here's the design I came up with.

(Stamp Set: Six-Sided Sampler; Inks: Crush Curry, Strawberry Slush, Bermuda Bay; Card Stock: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White; DSP: Kaleidoscope; Accessories; Bermuda Bay and Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Hexagon Punch, Honeycomb Embossing Folder)

I think this turned out pretty spiffy. I like all the geometric designs in the DSP, the embossing folder and the hexagons. I originally had only the Bermuda Bay ribbon wrapped around the DSP, but it kind of got lost there. So, I added another piece of Basic Black Ribbon and tied the knots together.

Breaking News!! I'm TOP NACHO!!

Wowza! I was just over at the Nacho Average Challenge blog to see what they have in store for this week. Guess what I saw?? I was TOP NACHO for last week's challenge! Me! Little ol' me! I don't even have an acceptance speech ready!  Here's the card that won the challenge. And check out my TOP NACHO badge over there on the left!

Retro Tag

Over at Retro Sketches, this week's challenge is to create a tag. Here's the sketch:



When I saw the sketch, I had in mind that I wanted to do something a little shabby chic and a little grungy. I "cheated" a little because I had a spiral flower already made up. It was one I used at a demonstration--and I'd banged it on the table to rough up the leaves so that it was shabby. I used the Little Leaves Sizzlit to make some leaves. I LOVE that Sizzlit!! (I wonder why I don't use it more often.) For the grunge, I went straight to the Gorgeous Grunge set and used the splatter-dot stamp in Cherry Cobbler.  After I assembled everything, I thought the tag still needed a little something, so I grabbed a couple of rolls of washi tape. I finished the tag with Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding and Silver Baker's Twine.

(Stamp Set: Gorgeous Grunge; Ink: Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive; Accessories: Spiral Flower Die, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Watercolor Wonder and (retired) Washi Tape, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Gold Baker's Twine, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Basic Rhinestones)

Thanks BIG Time!

My wonderful neighbor, Mark, really helped me out during our biggest snow storm of the season. We had about 14 inches of the white stuff. It was beautiful. Contrary to what I keep hearing people say, I have NOT had enough snow and have NOT had enough winter. Bring it, Jack Frost! I love the stuff! But when I went out after the storm to shovel my driveway, the task looked pretty daunting. My two teenaged boys were there to help (DH was still deployed overseas), but we have one big driveway on about a 20 degree slope--so there's a lot of snow to move while trying not to slide back into the garage.

Mark to the rescue! He pushed his snow blower along the public sidewalk and then shooed us off our driveway while he blew the snow away like magic! It was awesome. My boys and I were so grateful. I wanted to make a card to thank Mark BIG time.

Here's the sketch for this week's challenge at Create with Connie and Mary (CCMC291):
 


I thought this sketch would be great for Mark's thank you card. I knew it had to be manly, so I chose The Open Sea set. He also collects lighthouses, so the seafaring motif of this set works well. I sponged some Early Espresso over the letters on the Alphabet Press Embossing Folder to "age" the card stock so it would match with the "aged" Soho Subway paper I chose. I also sponged the globe, sentiment, and Summer Starfruit piece.

(Stamp Sets: The Open Sea, Timeless Talk; Inks: Island Indigo, Early Espresso; Card Stock: Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Very Vanilla; DSP: Soho Subway: Accessories: Alphabet Press Embossing Folder, Circles Framelits, Small Oval Punch)

Lovely Pumpkins

If you've been thinking about signing up for the monthly Paper Pumpkin subscription, NOW is the time!! 

First, as you can see from my top-of-the-blog post, Stampin' Up has a fabulous incentive offer for NEW subscribers. From now through March 31, 2014 NEW Paper Pumpkin subscribers who sign up at My Paper Pumpkin will receive a FREE set of 2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers --a $14.95 value--with their Welcome Kit!! You can't beat that deal!

Second, Stampin' Up has really stepped up these kits so that you get your money's worth. Not only do you get a quick project to make every month, but you get "non-consumables" that you can use on other projects. The Paper Pumpkin kits always contain a mini stamp pad AND an exclusive stamp set.

Last month, the Paper Pumpkin kit included a full-size container (20 pieces) of In-Color Boutique Details embellishments--an $8.95 value!! You'll have to wait until next week to see this months project but, believe me, it's totes adorbs!! 

Here are last month's Paper Pumpkin cards. So cute!!

Nacho Average Birthday Card

I discovered a new (to me) sketch challenge at the Nacho Average Challenge blog. Here's this week's sketch challenge:






I wanted to try something a bit retro and I wanted to use some Soho Subway DSP paper. That's probably my favorite DSP is the annual catalog and I've been hording it. I don't know why, but I tend to horde DSP. (I don't think I'm alone in this!) Here's the card I came up with for this sketch challenge:

(Stamp Set: Perfectly Penned; Ink: Early Espresso; Card Stock: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla; DSP: Soho Subway; Accessories: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Hexagon Punch, 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon)

I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Perfectly Penned set in Early Espresso and mounted on it a piece of Early Espresso the bottom of which I embossed with one of the Delicate Designs folder and then fussy cut the large scallops. The Crisp Cantaloupe panel is embossed with the Fancy Fan folder. The flags are cut from Soho Subway DSP and the points are made using the Hexagon punch. I curled the ends with my bone folder for a bit more dimension and movement. I used thin piece of 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon as my second stripe to match the design.

Happy Card

My BFF bought me a stamping magazine for my birthday. It has loads of ideas on techniques and layouts. Just what I need for a little inspiration. I saw a card that was stamped onto a page from an old book. The colors were so vibrant and sweet, so I decided to create my own version of the card. I used stamps from three different stamp sets. I don't always do that...in fact, when I first started stamping, it never occurred to me to stamp outside the (stamp container) box. I never thought to use stamps from more than one set to create a card. Of course, I do that all the time now--but I think three sets might be new record for me!

(Stamp Sets: Yippee-Skippee!, Mixed Bunch, Papaya Collage; Inks: Melon Mambo, Midnight Muse, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi; Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Midnight Muse, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Bracket Label Punch, Linen Thread, Basic Pearl)

There are so many elements I like about this card. I like the "old book" sheet from the Modern Medley black and white DSP pack. I like the Midnight Muse panel paired with the Blushing Bride card base. I like the Linen Thread tied around the top. And I like all the vibrant colors in the floral "collage." I even pulled out my Melon Mambo ink pad! I used to use that color all the time, but I've switched allegiance to the 2013-2015 In Colors--at least for the time being. 

I used Yippee-Skippee! for the sentiment and punched it with the Label Bracket punch. I punched a piece of Melon Mambo with the same punch and cut it in half to back the sentiment so it didn't get lost on the page. I used the Mixed Bunch set in Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight--some stamped at full strength and some stamp as a "generation" (stamp again, without reinking). And I used the leaves from the Papaya Collage set in Wild Wasabi. Lots of elements, but easy-peasy to make, and pretty, too!

Colorful Birthday

Connie & Mary posted another color challenge for their spring collection (CCMCSPRING14-04). As usual, I never thought of putting these colors together--but now I really like this combination! I especially like the addition of black. I think it grounds the other colors without making them too garish--but it also makes them pop. 

The focal stamp is one from the See Ya, Later set you can get for FREE with a $50 order placed during Sale-a-Bration. It's probably my favorite SAB set. I used a panel of of Kaleidoscope DSP backed with a Basic Black panel. For some texture, I used the Scallops Textured Impressions Embossing Folder from the Occasions mini catalog. I cut the sentiment with one of the framelits from the Apothecary Accents set and used the same framelit to cut a piece of Crushed Curry, which I cut in half lengthwise to make a backing for the sentiment. I tied it all together (see what I did there?) with a piece of Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

(Stamp Set: See Ya Later; Ink: Basic Black; Card Stock: Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Whisper White; DSP: Kaleidoscope; Accessories: Scallops Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits, 1/8" Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon)