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.



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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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?!

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)

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!!

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)