Clean & Simple Cards

I finally took a bit of time to work on some cards for the class I'm taking.  I did cheat a little as they aren't really one layer cards, but I kept messing up and had to go down to working on a panel that I could trim down after I finished.   It took a lot of attempts for me to get a plaid background that looked like this and it still needs a lot of work to look good.  Post It tape really helped out a lot and I think I'm on the right track!   It's definitely a process to do and if you aren't good at masking (like me), it will take some effort and practice.  I'm going to keep trying as I think it is a super fun look!

For my second card I tried graffiti stamping.  I didn't really have good stamps for this one, but I tried.  I did the inlaid die cutting again for my teacher die and then stamped around it.   Not my favorite card and again, more practice and some new stamps will be key! 

Peek-a-boo!

Cards, cards, CARDS!

Did you survive the time change?  It's rough when you have a little one in the house.  No extra hour of sleep here for sure!   We've had a busy day, but I found a bit of time to stamp and then blog tonight.   I have a few days worth of Hope You Can Cling To cards to share.  This first one is for Kathleen's challenge to honor our elders.  I tried to do a vintage card with gold... I don't like vintage OR gold, but I do like doilies and Fun Flowers.  :)

This simple shaker card was for Judy's challenge to use acetate.  I still love this snowman and am sad that he's retired.  He's too cute to not use! 

Joyce's challenge was a subway art one.  I used the So Many Thanks photopolymer set and some Gorgeous Grunge splashes for this one.  Simple, but we won't discuss how many times my tired self smeared it and had to start over.

This last one is for Holly's challenge to make a holiday card with glitter.  I used my old snowflake die and some silver glimmer paper to add some sparkly snowflakes mixed in with some Midnight Muse ones stamped with the Endless Wishes photopolymer set. 

Whew...that's a lot of cards.  

My little mischievous pumpkin.  

Stampin' Up! So Many Thanks

Another card for both Hope You Can Cling To and from my recent class.  I made it during my "not feeling inspired" phase and it is a total CASE of a card I found on Pinterest.   I LOVED it and wanted to make it using Stampin' Up! products.  I think it turned out alright, just not quite as good as the original.  Nothing ever is though, right?  :)  Here's Kathy's HYCCT challenge description:

It's so fun to design cards with our punches and die cuts to help us. Use either or both of them to design a card to encourage these patients and lift their spirits. That's it! Any sketch, any colors, just be sure to include a 'punch'. Let's hope we can truly 'punch out' breast cancer in our lifetime. In the meantime, the cards you make and send to them now provide so much support as they fight the fight. Thanks to all who can participate with us this month. 

Stamps:  So Many Thanks, Gorgeous Grunge, Positively Chevron

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Brights DSP stack

Accessories:  In Color Boutique Details, Linen Thread

Tools:  Big Shot, Square framelits, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Beautiful Butterflies die

I found Laila an owl costume for Halloween, but when we tried on the hood and cape, she quickly jerked it off.  We'll see how long she wears it.  lol  Hopefully long enough to maybe get a picture!  :)

FMS104 So Many Thanks

Linda S created a fabulous sketch for Freshly Made Sketches this week.   I totally didn't do it justice, but I'm pinning it to use again once my mojo is back.  This week is one of those that just makes me want to hide in bed with a book.  Toddlers make that impossible of course.  This too shall pass...  repeat, repeat, repeat!

Stamps: So Many Thanks (photopolymer)

Ink:  Tangerine Tango

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Sweater Weather DSP

Accessories: Tangerine Tango baker's twine, Tangerine Tango button (retired)

We finally managed to get Laila's Hope Calendar pictures made on Monday!  Yay! She woke up grumpy, but she did okay for the pictures.  Well, she didn't want to sit still but she wasn't crying at least. We got a sneak peek and now I can't wait to see our proofs!  

Football Thank Yous

One of my customers (Hi Andrea!) needed some red/white/blue football thank you cards last week and I was able to help her out and whip up a few.   I haven't made five cards in a week for a while now, so doing them in one day was a challenge!   Add in that they were manly cards, didn't get ribbon or pearls, AND I had one stamp set with sports and I was a bit stumped.   I hope she liked how they turned out!   

Now I figured I'd show you what I bought with the money from these.  :)  I have been trying really hard to buy things on sale or consignment.   Since this was a bit of surprise fun money, I let myself splurge a bit yesterday.  

I LOVE these shoes!    They remind me of the felt flowers we had in a mini catalog a few years back.   I hoard really love those flowers and have a few packs put back to smile at.  :)  Maybe I can make Laila a hair clip with them to match her shoes.   Now she just needs a matching outfit too!  

Saying Goodbye Class

Preparing for this class made me a bit sad. I hate to see products retire, but getting new things more than makes up for it. I think you'll love the new catalog, but don't forgot to pick up your favorite retiring sets before they are gone!   I will have one more project to share with you tomorrow, so stay tuned!   :)

Isn't this little box adorable? It is perfect for a little thank you gift! So Many Thanks stamp, Night of Navy ribbon, and the stylus are all retiring this month. 

Stamps: So Many Thanks

Ink: Night of Navy

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Night of Navy

Accessories: Night of Navy 1 1/4 striped ribbon, basic pearls, linen thread

Tools: Big Shot, Fancy Favor die, scallop circle punch, circle punch, textured lattice embossing folder, Itty Bitty punch pack, stylus

Here is another perfect little treat holder! It uses the two tags die and can be decorated for any theme or event. It makes a little tent that is perfect to stash a few Hershey Nuggets. :)

Bugs & Kisses and the gorgeous pumpkin pie ribbon are both retiring this month. 

Stamps: Bugs & Kisses

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Whisper White

Accessories: 1 1/4 Pumpkin Pie stripped ribbon, Brights Buttons, linen thread

Tools: Big Shot, Two Tags die, Fancy Favor die (for the grass)

Need an easy, but festive way to use up some of your retiring designer paper? Make giant candles! Isn't this a fun card? I love it!  Thanks to Carol for the inspiration!   

The hostess designer paper stack and All Holidays are on the retiring list. 

Stamps: All Holidays, Build a Blossom

Ink: Peach Parfait, Concord Crush

Paper: Hostess in-color dsp stack, Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Whisper White

Tools: Blossoms Petal punch

Accessories: In Color Glimmer brads, Dazzling Diamonds

Simple, yet sweet is how I'd describe this card. I adore this stamp set and will definitely be keeping it in my retired stash. The tree is one of my favorite stamps and the little owl is just too cute.   This card was inspired by Julie's beautiful card found here.  

Forest Friends and the Jolly Holiday designer paper are both retiring this month.

Stamps: Forest Friends, Something to Celebrate (retired)

Ink: Chocolate Chip Markers: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Jolly Holiday designer paper

Tools: paper snips, scallop border punch

Accessories: chocolate chip ribbon (retired)

Need a fun idea for a teen? The Extreme Elements stamps are perfect and definitely something I'd recommend getting before they are done. I LOVE playing with Extreme Guitar and am sad to see that it is retiring. 

I am going to go back and sponge some pink ink on the white circle. It is just standing out too much for me. :)

Stamps: Extreme Guitar, Grunge Rock

Ink: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, versamark, Basic Black 

Paper: Melon Mambo, Subtles Patterns Designer Paper stack, Glossy White, Basic Black 

Tools: Big Shot, Stars #2 die, circle punches, square punch, brayer