Happy Pink Flower

I am so happy and a little less stressed tonight.  On the day before I have to have my card ready using this stamp set and punch, I finally got one to turn out that I'm happy with. I combined a few of my previous ideas and came up with this one. I think it is lovely and I hope the ladies enjoy it as well. 

Stamps: All Holidays, Build a Blossom
Ink: Melon Mambo
Paper: Confetti White, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Old Olive
Accessories: Brights Glimmer Brads
Tools: Framed Tulips embossing folder, Blossoms Petal Punch, Big Shot, circle punches

Elegant Butterflies

Glitter is tough to photograph! I hope you can at least get an idea of what this one looks like. :o) I wanted to do a simple, yet elegant thank you card. Our embossing folders make it really easy to put together a card without having to do too much work. 

Stamps: Thank You Kindly (Sale-a-bration freebie!)

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Basic Black, Real Red

Accessories: Basic Pearls, Basic Black satin ribbon

Tools: Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder, Beautiful Butterflies die, heat tool, heat and stick powder, glitter, black embossing powder

Mojo Monday, March 28th

I hate taking pictures at night because my cards never look as good as they do in real life and with some sunlight. Anyway, this is for the Mojo Monday sketch that you can find here.

I think I'm going to need an intervention soon. I can't stop using pink and making flowers!

Stamps: All Holidays

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso

Paper: Greenhouse Gala Designer paper, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Tools: Scallop Circle punch, Scalloped Edge punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Accessories: In Color Glimmer Brads, Pear Pizzazz ribbon, Early Espresso taffeta ribbon

Eureka!

I think I finally got it! I have been playing around with this stamp set and punch trying to get a card I liked for my upcoming workshop. I believe I'm going to go with this one. What do you think? 

I had to sneak in a technique to make it fun. I used the Poppin' Pastels technique on the edges of the embossing folder. You can find the directions here.

Stamps: Build a Blossom, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Melon Mambo

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Whisper White Melon Mambo

Accessories: Brights Glimmer brads

Tools: Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Blossoms Petal Punch, Stampin' Pastels, sponge daubers, circle punches

Friday Mashup...a day late. :)

I almost took the day off from stamping, but I decided that I just couldn't break my streak. :) This card is for the Friday Mashup challenge to make a zoo themed card. Fox & Friends is PERFECT for that, so I inked up my favorite little monkey and started stamping!

You can find the challenge here: http://fridaymashup.blogspot.com/2011/03/come-to-zoo-with-us-mashup-37.html

Stamps: Fox & Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pacific Point, Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Pacific Point, Brights Designer Paper stack
Tools: circle punches

Keeping it Simple

Since I've been a little tired today (and Kentucky plays in the NCAA tournament tonight), I decided to keep it simple and focus on a technique tonight. I used the Stampin' Up! markers and my Aquapainter to color in this adorable dog. I wanted it to stand as the focal point for my card, so I left the rest very simple. It is also flat enough to mail easily!  Inspired by Ilina's card.  

Stamps: Friends Fur-ever, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Real Red, Crumb Cake, Old Olive
Paper: Greenhouse Gala Designer Paper, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Real Red, watercolor paper
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Aquapainter

Thursday Challenge: Pals Paper Arts

The Pals Paper Arts challenge this week is to emboss.   I pulled out my embossing folder and got to work.   I had an idea in my head that I had been wanting to do for a while, so I started working on it and found that my mental image was much prettier than the actual end product.   I scrapped the first card and tried again using pinks.   I've been in a mood for pinks lately, so I had hopes that I would be happier with my second attempt.   While I do like it better than the first, I'm a bit let down by it.    I wanted to post it anyway just so you know that you won't always love every card, nor will they always turn out perfect.    You can, however, keep working and improving on an idea and you will be a better result with time.   I'm going to keep this one rolling around in my head and try it one more time next month.   Stay tuned...


Stamps: Inspired by Nature
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Confetti White
Tools: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder
Accessories: Old Olive satin ribbon, linen thread, retired button

Thumping? Huh?

Confused? No, it's not fall again, but I wanted to try out a fun technique and it works great with fall colors. It is called thumping and uses the awesome Stampin' Up! markers. You can see a closer shot of the thumped tree in the next picture.    I was inspired by Leonie's card that you can find here.  

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Thank You Kindly

Ink: Early Espresso, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze

Paper: More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Confetti White

Tools: Paper Snips (edges are great for distressing!), sponges

Accessories: Early Espresso satin ribbon

Here is a close-up of the thumped tree. Isn't it neat? 

You can find the technique here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/thumping/

Technique Tuesday: Just Believe

Did you see that? Somebody tore my paper! :) 

I haven't been feeling well today, so I did a simple card today using a couple of different easy techniques. First, I tore my card stock. For me, this technique is VERY stressful because I do not like tearing up stuff. *shudder* I think I got a little carried away, but anyway... I then colored my stamp with markers. After it was colored, I lightly spritzed it with water and then stamped it. This gives it a slight watercolor effect without actually watercoloring. Cool, huh?

This card is similar to one made for a make-and-take at the Stampin' Up! convention last year, so you can find several examples of it online. I changed up the colors from the examples because I wanted to use some pinks tonight. 

Stamps: Just Believe

Ink: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive markers

Paper: Confetti White, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo

Tools: color spritzer

Accessories: Old Olive satin ribbon, linen thread, Brights buttons

Spring Flowers!

 I wish I could average the two pictures.  Black cards are a pain to photograph. 

Okay! I redid my card for the sketch from The Paper Players today. I like this one much better! With spring here, I can't stop looking at all the flowers. For this card, I pulled out my scallop circle punches and made a beautiful 3-D flower. I LOVE making them. In fact, my Spring Flowers class next month will include a card using them.

The sketch is here: http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/2011/03/challenge-39-clean-and-simple.html

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler (can you figure out where I used this?)
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Basic Gray, Neutrals Designer Paper stack
Tools: Scallop Circle punches, paper piercer, Decorative Label punch
Accessories: Neutrals glimmer brads, Real Red Satin Ribbon

Upsy Not So Much

Well, this was one of those cards that I thought about and had an idea for before I stepped into my room. My idea was using the Paper Players sketch that you can find here.  When I started putting together the card I had in my head, it didn't turn out quite the same on paper. The colors I wanted to use just didn't work together like I wanted them to, so I changed up things and decided to finish it up and try the sketch again tomorrow. 

Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Gray
Paper: Melon Mambo, Basic Gray, Neutrals Designer Series stack
Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon (retired), Dazzling Diamonds

My sweet boy sleeping last night.   I love that kitty.

Winner? Say What?

I opened my inbox today and found that someone actually liked one of my cards enough to pick it as a winner!   Awesome!    You can see my card and the other winners over at The Paper Players .  This means so very much to me as I doubt myself and my creations so much at times.  I had a really rough day this past week and have had such much support from my fellow demos to bring my spirits back up.   Getting that email today just made my heart SING!  

What do you think of my challenge card for today?   I love the owl punch and I find myself wanting to use it all the time! He is just so darn cute! This card is a combination of two challenges, The Friday Mashup Challenge and a Stampin' Up! demo led challenge (Creative Crew) on Splitcoast Stampers that focuses on using the Woodland Walk Designer Paper and/or the colors associated with it. 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Woodland Walk Designer Paper
Tools: Owl punch, Designer Label Punch, Big Shot, Little Leaves Sizzlit
Accessories: Chocolate Chip ribbon (retired), Regals buttons, linen thread

Simply Sweet

Love free stuff? This card was made with the beautiful Sweet Summer stamp set. You can get for free right now during Sale-a-bration by placing a $50 order! I love it and I think it makes the most adorable cards.

This card combines two different challenges:
Just Add Ink's color challenge: http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2011/03/jai-60-colour-combo.html
and the Clean & Simple Sketch: http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com/2011/03/early-132.html

Stamps: Sweet Summer (SAB), Watercolor Trio (retired)
Ink: Staz-on; Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Rich Razzleberry markers
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Brights Designer Series stack
Tools: Scallop Border punch
Accessories: Basic Pearls

Try It Thursday: Bargello & Rolling Marbles

For my Thursday challenge, I decided to try out a couple of new techniques. The first one is called bargello and you can find a tutorial for it here.   

Stamps: All Holidays, Fox & Friends

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Greenhouse Gala designer paper

Acccessories: Pear Pizzazz ribbon

Another technique I tried today was the rolling marble background. Gotta love the messy techniques. :) 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Fox & Friends
Ink: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy
Paper: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Bashful Blue taffeta ribbon (ribbon)

Tools: Empty stamp container, marbles

Sketchy Butterflies

This card is made for today's sketch challenge on Splitcoast Stampers.

You can find it at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/card-sketches-f41/sketch-challenge-324-3-16-11-a-t523013.html

Stamps: Four Frames (sneak peek!)
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Paisley Petals designer paper (another sneak peek!)
Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Designer Label Punch
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

We got out of the house today and went to the local arboretum.   Here are a few pictures that I took while we were walking around.   I love playing with my camera almost as much as I love stamping.  :)

Brights, brights, BRIGHTS

I decided to do a non-card item today for a 3-D Tuesday challenge. (I made that up by the way; I needed a day to do some non-items, so why not Tuesday?) I wanted to do something fun and bright and I think I got it. I love the brights collection and according to the all-powerful Color Coach, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, and Pumpkin Pie go great together. 

Did you see the sneak peek? Another one of the Four Frames set! Isn't it awesome?!

Stamps: All Holidays, Four Frames
Ink: Tangerine Tango (that was an oops; I thought I had Melon Mambo), Pacific Point
Paper: Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Brights Designer Series Paper stack
Accessories: Brights brads, 1 1/4 pumpkin pie striped grosgrain ribbon, linen thread
Tools: Scallop circle punches, circle punches, Designer Label Punch, paper piercer, Big Shot, Fancy Favor Die

Manly MDS Monday

Today I combined two of my ideas for challenges into one card. :) I used My Digital Studio to print the motorcycle stamp and of course it is totally a manly card. 

Stamps: Motorcycle (digital)
Ink: real red marker
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, aluminum foil
Tools: Big Shot, Texturz Plates (backgrounds #1)

Paper Players Color Challenge 3/13

Since today is my anniversary, I just did a quick card with almost no stamping. It is for a color challenge to use Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, and Very Vanilla. You can see the challenge here: http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/2011/03/challenge-38-anns-color-challenge.html

Stamps: Apple Blossoms (hostess)
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, In-Color Designer Series paper pack (hostess), Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper
Tools: Big Shot, Scallop Square die, Owl Punch

Simply Adorned meets Brights Buttons

Confused? Believe it or not, this was made with products from Stampin' Up! The buttons are the Brights Designer buttons featured on page 186 of the big catalog, while the bracelet is from the Simply Adorned line on page 189. Isn't it adorable? 

I saw one of these on another demonstrator's blog and had to have one. Big thanks to my friend Deanna for guiding me to the products I needed to assemble it and to my friend Rebecca who did the actual assembly! I now know that beading and jewelry making are not in my future. I'll stick to stamping! :)

APB: Beautiful Wings is MISSING!

This is for this week's clean and simple challenge.

I had a bit of an emergency tonight; I couldn't find my butterfly embosslit. It is still MIA, but I found enough leftover ones to put my card together. I think I want to do this one again and work on my layering. :)   Well, AFTER I tear my room apart and find my butterflies!

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, All Holidays
Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso
Paper: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Neutrals Designer Series Paper stack
Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, heat tool
Accessories: basic pearls, clear embossing powder

Just Add New Stuff!

Two benefits of being a demonstrator are getting sneak peeks and preordering merchandise from upcoming catalogs. There is going to be a new promotion coming up next month and here is just a little preview of what you have to look forward to. 

This is my take on the Just Add Ink sketch of today. 

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Four Frames (promotion set!)

Ink: Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz

Paper: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Paisley Petals Designer Paper (promotion paper!)

Tools: Designer Label Punch

Accessories: In Color Glimmer Brads, Regals brads, Early Espresso satin ribbon

Sorry about the bad picture yet again. The only issue with stamping at night is the lack of sunlight for good photos.

Try It Thursday

Let's Try It Thursday!

Today I picked a tutorial that I had looked at several times, but never attempted. I have never been sold on these onesie cards, but I know I need baby shower cards so why not try them? 

If you want to try it for yourself, check out Becky Jensen's tutorial here:http://www.stampthat.com/blog/tutorial-for-the-baby-onesie/

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, So Many Scallops
Ink: Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip
Tools: Scallop Edge Border punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 3/4 scallop circle punch, mat pack, paper piercer, bone folder, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit
Accessories: silver brads

The Color Dare 3/9/11 Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray

I needed to make up some baby shower cards for my on-going fundraiser for our foundation, so I used today's challenge to do a couple.   I loved the card that I made for my friend, so I used the same layout and changed the colors for today's challenge.

The Color Dare 3/9/11
http://colordare.blogspot.com/2011/03/cd99-basic-cherry-mists.html

Stamps:  Baby Steps
Ink:  Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler
Paper:   Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray
Tools:  Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder
Accessories:  Marina Mist 3/8 taffeta ribbon

Today's Challenge: My Digital Studio

For today's challenge, I used the Sale-a-Bration My Digital Studio CD to make a digital page of my kitties! I started with a completely blank page and added in elements from the CD until I was happy with the results. 

MDS is such a fun program to use. I love playing around with my digital pictures and seeing them come to life on the pages.

Manly Monday 3/7/11

I know, I know! Can you believe that I made this one? It is totally outside of my comfort zone! I recently made an off-the-wall Sale-a-bration choice by choosing the Extreme Guitar stamp. I wanted to challenge myself to do something different and I think this qualifies! I tried out the bouncing brayer technique and while it is super fun, I need to practice! :)   This card was inspired by Kelly's card that you can see in the video for the bouncing brayer technique.  

Monday Challenge: 3/7/11
Manly Monday

Stamps: Extreme Guitar, Teeny Tiny Wishes, July Fourth (retired)
Ink: Staz-on, Pacific Point
Paper: Basic Black, Pacific Point, Glossy White, Whisper White
Tools: brayer, Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Stars #2 die, color spritzer tool

3/6/11 Challenge: Spring!

Sunday Challenge 3/6/11
Paper Players: Spring has Sprung!
http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/2011/03/paper-players-theme-challenge-37-spring.html

My new goal is to do a card challenge each day, so today I decided to try out a few new products. This was my first attempt at assembling the blossoms punch and I think it turned out okay. It was one of the requests for my next hostess workshop, so you might be seeing it a lot as I figure out the best way to demonstrate it. :)

Stamps: Build a Blossom
Ink: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight
Tools: Blossom Petals Punch, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 3/4 inch circle punch
Accessories: Very Vanilla ribbon (I colored it with the Daffodil Delight marker!)