Vintage bird for HYCCT

Laila went to bed at seven last night, so I had some time to stamp and watch a little TV before bed.  I wasn't sure how the night would go with her crashing so early, but she was only up at three to eat and then back down until eight this morning!  She woke up smiling and happy too!   Anyway, I worked on another HYCCT challenge from Bridget.  We were to be inspired by this this verse from Emily Dickinson:  

Hope is the thing with feathers 

that perches in the soul
and sings the tune without the words
and never stops at all.

Thing with feathers = bird, sings the tune = music paper.  That works, right?  :)

Stamps:  Nature Walk, French Foliage

Ink:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede

Paper:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Natural Composition DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, sponges, Very Vanilla seam binding, Neutrals buttons

This was my first time making a "shabby bow" based on my friend LeAnne's tutorial.   I just needed a small one, but it still worked!  Yay!

What are these things? 

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!)

PPA120: Faux Linen Sketch

So lately I've been feeling pretty down and not really enjoying stamping as much as I usually do.  My cards are all feeling a bit plain and boring for me too.  Sad face, right?    Today I found myself a bit ahead of things, so I decided to sit down and do a challenge for fun.   I wanted to add a new technique into the mix as well.   I find that expanding my skills and trying new things a breath of fresh air, so I thought that might be just what I needed.   I decided to play along with the Pals Paper Arts sketch and to try the Faux Linen technique.   I haven't used my new Distressing Essentials kit very much yet, so it was a perfect time to put it to use!  

I used the Tea Stain ink on my image panel and I don't think it was quite dark enough to allow the linen texture to show up in my picture.  I know next time to go darker for that part, but I do like how the card turned out.  I seem to be drawn towards browns right now; maybe because of all the dead trees we have from the drought?   Or maybe cheery colors just aren't fitting my mood?   Either way, I do like mixing them up.  I never thought I'd be using Soft Suede as much as I have been!  It is a bit of an ugly color.  :)  All the panels are sponged to give them some depth and I pulled out my favorite retired ribbon, Early Espresso satin.  

Stamps:  Best Friends Forever, Nature Walk, En Francais

Ink:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Tea Stain distress ink

Paper:  Glossy White, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Neutrals Patterns DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Distressing Essentials kit, sponges, Early Espresso Satin ribbon

It's time for club!

Thursday is such an exciting day!  Not only do I get to spend time with some of my great customers, but it is also the first day of the Holiday Mini catalog!  Are you excited??!!   I'm excited to show off some of the new products that Stampin' Up! is featuring in this fun new catalog!

Aren't those score lines lovely?    How exciting is it that in just 2 days, you can order your very own Simply Scored and make this card!?!   Score lines can add so much detail to a card while allowing it to remain flat and easy to stick in the mail with a regular stamp.  I did some sponging and color spritzing on my card to give it a more vintage, distressed look; Nature Walk is such a perfect set to show off that style. 

Even though it is still over one hundred degrees every day here in Texas, I think it is time to get started on some ideas for fall and the holidays we have coming up.   I love this card by Connie Babbert and was inspired to make my own pumpkins and ghost.   CUTE!   My husband always comments that I gravitate towards "cute" Halloween things rather than scary ones, but I'm okay with that.  Who doesn't like cute?  :o)

Now for the hard one...  The card is not hard, but coming up with Christmas ideas while wiping sweat from my brow sure was!    If anyone has cooler weather, please send it this way.   Last night I was so excited to see 88 as a high for later this week but it was back up to 92 today.   *sigh*   Between the heat and water restrictions, I think this is the worst summer ever.  Anyway, back to Christmas.   This card shows off yet another new product from the Holiday Mini.  Who doesn't LOVE stockings?!  And did you see the mini jingle bell?   Love, love, LOVE it!   I'm not a big fan of gifts, but I love filling stockings and grabbing mine off the fireplace on Christmas morning to see what goodies Jason has picked out for me.   There's just something about sticking your hand down in there to see what is next!  

I hope my club ladies will enjoy making these projects this month.   I do have a few spots open in my clubs, so let me know if you are interested and would like more details.  

Techniques Class Cards

Embossing is fun, but double embossing is even more fun! Ink up your embossing folder with Versamark, emboss as normal in your Big Shot, and then add your embossing powder and heat. I want to redo this one and use plain card stock and a vintage brad for my flower as I think it would look better that way. 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black 
Paper: First Edition DSP, Brights Designer Paper stack, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: black embossing powder, Rich Razzleberry ribbon, neutrals jumbo brads
Tools: scallop circle punches, 1/2 inch circle punch, Blossom Petals punch, Big Shot, heat tool, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder

How about a different card fold? This is a pocket fold card and it is super easy to do. I decorated it with all the fun nautical items from the Summer Mini Catalog.

Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Naturals White, Not Quite Navy, Nautical Expedition DSP
Tools: circle punches, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, scallop edge border punch

Faux mother-of-pearl is one of my favorite new techniques. I love the aged look that it adds to a card.  Erica's lovely card was the inspiration for this card.   

Stamps: Nature Walk, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Staz on black
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, glossy white
Accessories: Frost White Shimmer Paint
Tools: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, sponges, plastic wrap


And just for fun:  

Here's a card using the fun new set, Button Buddies.   Pardon the crooked image; I was just too excited to get ink on my new toy!

Clean and Simple Mashup

This card is for the clean&simple sketch and the Friday Mashup challenge to use polka dots.   This week I received my copy of Stampin' Success, the magazine Stampin' Up! send out to demonstrators each month.  There was an article in there showing off the color combination of Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, and Old Olive.  I found the gray and yellow to be striking when paired together, so I decided to try them out on a card this week.   What do you think?   

Stamps:   Nature Walk, Strength and Hope

Ink:  Versamark, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight

Paper:  Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Neutrals designer paper stack, Whisper White

Accessories:  Clear embossing powder

Tools:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit, heat tool, sponges