Button Wedding

I stamped a bit last night and this morning and here's what I came up with to show off Button Buddies.  I really am going to miss this set.   Well, miss using it in classes.  It's staying on my shelf for sure.   Those piggies are just too cute.  This card was inspired by the current catalog and a sample I saw in there.   I'ts a great place for inspiration!    Be sure you order this set before it's gone for good.  It's a great one!

Stamps:  Button Buddies, Sweet Essentials

Ink:  Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink

Paper:  Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink, Subtles DSP stack

Accessories:  Subtles and Neutrals buttons, Basic Pearls

Tools:  Big Shot, 3-inch circle die, Scallop Circles #2 die, Itty Bitty punch Pack, Fancy Fan embossing folder

Laila doing her supermodel pose!  Work it girl!  ;)   

One sketch, three cards!

If you are looking for my Friday Mashup post, please click here or scroll down.  

Yesterday I had a wonderful lunch with two of my club ladies and we came back and stamped a bit afterwards.  I wanted to show them the versatility of a sketch, so I made up three designs for us using this sketch from Papered with Love.  I knew one of them had recently purchased the Top Note die and thought this one would be a perfect way to show her how to use it.  :)  

Our first card was the feminine version!  I used the same colors from my Freshly Made Sketches card this week because I am really loving them!  (I know, PINK!)    I kept it fairly simple, just added a bit of stamping on the card base with a small stamp from Raining Flowers.  

Stamps:  Raining Flowers

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Pretty in Pink, Subtles DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note die, Tasteful Trim die, Fun Flowers die, circle punch, Blossom Builder punch, crimper, Neutrals glimmer brads

Our next project was the masculine version and of course I had to use The Open Sea!   The Color Coach gave me this gorgeous color combination; it has two of my favorites, Crumb Cake and Not Quite Navy.   For this one we used a background stamp on the card base, the Netting stamp.  It adds a bit of interest without taking away from the main image.   We also embossed the Top Note with the Houndstooth embossing folder. 

Stamps:  The Open Sea, Netting background

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Naturals White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Tasteful Trim die, Top Note die, houndstooth embossing folder, circle punch, Neutrals buttons, White Baker's Twine

Our final project was the child version!   For some reason I just love this one; it seems fun I guess?  We left the card base plain this time, but embossed the Top Note with the Stripes embossing folder.   Button Buddies was being neglected, so I thought it would be the perfect image for this one.   I used the pennant stamp set and punch to give Mr. Piggy a party hat with a bit of bling.    Isn't he cute?

Stamps:  Pennant Parade, Button Buddies
Ink:  Real Red, Pacific Point
Paper:  Pacific Point, Real Red, Whisper White
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note die, Tasteful Trim die, Stripes embossing folder, circle punch, Pennant punch, Itty Bitty Punch pack, Brights buttons

If you like this concept, we'll be doing it again next Friday night!   I'm having a Girls' Night Out stamping event where we'll take a sketch and do 3 cards each of 3 different designs.  It starts at 6:30pm and is only $20!   You can check out the details and RSVP on my website.  I hope to see you there.  :)

FMS meets HSS

Time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  The super funny Linda Callahan is our hostess and sketch designer this week.  She definitely challenged me with this one.  I made two cards and am still not loving either one of them.   I think the allergy/sinus headaches I've been battling have really done a number on my stampin' mojo.   I stocked up on some new medicines today, so fingers crossed that they work.   I've learned that headaches and pregnancy are not friends; the best (aka helpful) medicines are all off-limits!

Here's the card that I squeaked out tonight using the colors from this week's Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge:

PSE always does funky things with Soft Suede for some reason, but it doesn't look so green in person.  It isn't what I envisioned in my head, but I didn't feel like going back and redoing it tonight.   A hot shower and a decaf chai tea latte are calling my name instead.  Such dedication, huh?  :)

Stamps:  Button Buddies, Petite Pairs

Ink:  Real Red

Paper:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla, Neutral DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka dots and Stripes embossing folders, circle punches, scallop circle punch, Itty Bitty punch pack, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, Brights buttons, White Baker's Twine, basic pearls

I'll share the first card I made with the sketch on Thursday.  :)

February Stamp Club

Tonight was my monthly stamp club and we had some fun projects to make!  The first was another card inspired by my super duper creative friend Kathy.   I think this design is seriously one of my favorite cards ever and now I'm hooked on making them.   I wish I could hug her for sharing such a great idea!

Next we tried a new technique called the Grid Technique or Faux Tile.   I love showing off my Simply Scored tool and it is such a perfect way to do that.   This card also features a lot of the Sale-a-Bration products that are free with each $50 order right now!

Finally, with it being February, I just had to make a cute little treat holder!   I had pinned one by Jill Hilliard that I loved and I came up with a version using some of the supplies that I had.  

Finally, as it was the last month of this session of club, I made up some little treat boxes full of chocolate for each of the members.   They are such a fun group of ladies and bring so much joy with them each month.   I have been really blessed to have them as my customers.    We do have one spot open in the new club that will start next month, so contact me if you are interested in joining.  :)  We'd love to have you.  

(Ugh.  I had to take these pictures in a hurry because I needed to finish cleaning before everyone arrived tonight.  Sorry for how icky they are!)

Where is my mojo???

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you work on a card for a bit, but just can't seem to get it to work?   Or maybe you've made one that just wasn't really that great?   Yeah, that's the kind of week I'm having.  :)    I'm hoping my new order that  is arriving any minute now will help get my mojo up and running again!   

This card was made for the clean&simple stamping sketch and the Pals Paper Arts Halloween challenge.  The colors came from last week's Create with Connie & Mary challenge that I didn't get to do in time to submit.   I seem to be good at missing deadlines lately!

Stamps:  Wicked Cool
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie
Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Pumpkin Pie 1 1/4 striped ribbon (retired)
Tools:  Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, circle punches, scallop circle punch

This card made my head hurt a bit.  I started it last night but didn't like the way it was working out.   I picked it back up today and changed out some of the colors...and then changed out some of the colors...and then...  Yeah, it was one of those!   I normally don't use a lot of white on my cards, but it seemed to balance out some of the stronger colors on this card.  I think the flower centers could use some bling and a few pearls beside my sentiment would help, right?    This was for the Splitcoast Weekly Sketch Challenge.

Stamps:  Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder
Paper:  Whisper White, Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder
Tools:  Big Shot, Polka Dots embossing folder, scallop circle punch

I hope the next card is a bit less stressful and turns out much, much better!

Tutorial Time :)

During Convention, my awesome roommate, Jackie Topa, challenged me to work up a tutorial to add to my blog.   So...here it is!   Button Buddies is my favorite new stamp set, so I focused on it and the Brights collection.   The cards are designed to use for a stamp-a-stack or as a class.  Or if you just like the set, get it and make the cards for yourself!    The ink pads and markers are unique for each card so that you can easily set up stations.    All the measurements and directions are included.   But wait!  There's more!  Each of these cards also has a stepped up version and the measurements and instructions are included for those as well!   It's almost like getting two tutorials for the price of one.  :)  

So for $7.50 you get:
A picture of each card, both the simple and stepped up versions.
Measurements for each card.
A supply list for each card.

No materials are provided, just directions.  Please see my Stampin' Up! website to order.  :)

The .pdf will be sent out within 24 hours of purchase.   See my sidebar to get going!

Now that I'm finished, I can go stamp for fun!  This has been quite a bit of work.  :)

Button Buddies!

It's he cute?    I love this set!   In fact, I am going to have to buy more buttons because I've been using it so much! (Stay tuned for more information on why!)   This was one of my cards for the August Creative Crew challenge (still time to play along!) to use paper piercing on your card.   I used my paper piercing tool to create a little snail trail and then added some glitter to make it look a bit shiny and slimy just like a real snail trail!    :)    Gross, huh?   lol

Stamps:  Tiny Tags, Button Buddies
Ink:  Garden Green, Cajun Craze
Paper:  Cajun Craze, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, Neutrals designer paper stack, Whisper White
Accessories:  Regals buttons, Baker's Twine (white), Dazzling Diamonds
Tools:  Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Paper Piercing Tool

Now...if you really like this set as much as I do, then you need to come to my next class!   Here are the details:

Button Buddies Class

Sep 03 
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM  (Central)

Love buttons?   The new Button Buddies stamp set is perfect for combining the fun of stamping with the cuteness of buttons.   Come join me in some crafty time where we'll make 4 cards using this awesome set.

Cost for the class is $15 for projects only, $35 for the clear-mount stamp set and half a package of buttons, or $45 for the wood-mount set and half a package of buttons.  Please RSVP by August 25th if you'd like to order the stamps/buttons or 3 days in advance if just completing the projects.    As always, please bring along your favorite adhesive and scissors.  

Wish Pig

Isn't he cute?    This is one of my favorite color combinations and two challenge blogs asked us to use them together this week!   How cool is that?!    Our Creative Corner and The Friday Mashup! are both awesome, so go check them out and play along with these super fun colors.   If you like poking holes in your paper, try the Pals Paper Arts challenge to do some paper piercing on your card.  It's fun!  

Stamps:  Wish Big, Button Buddies
Ink:  Real Red, Tempting Turquoise
Paper  Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Brights Designer Paper stack
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones, Real Red taffeta ribbon
Tools:  paper piercing tool

Button Buddies take 2!

Be warned!  You will be seeing a lot of this set.  I haven't placed my order from the new catalog yet, so this is my only new set.   I got it for free, so I love it for many reasons.  :)   I can already tell that it will be one of my favorite sets; I'm adding more buttons to my order-in-progress.    I saw Jaydee's lovely combination of Marina Mist and Real Red and had to use them myself.   What a perfect pair!  


Stamps: Button Buddies
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Marina Mist, Real Red, First Edition DSP, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Marina Mist ribbon (retired), Brights Buttons
Tools: Framed Tulips embossing folder, Big Shot