2011 Christmas Cards

 Hello Friends! It's once again been a while since I have posted. I haven't been crafting as much lately and am really trying to get back to it. So, I made myself make my Christmas cards again this year, though I had almost talked myself out of it. 10 minutes into the process I was so glad I decided to do it! I am not me without creating! It felt great, I am definitely moving things around in my time to fit crafting back in!


This year I cut back the number of cards I mailed. I waited a little late to start...they just mailed this past week! To keep them simple, I designed a very clean and uncluttered layout. The base of this card is my  beloved Cherry Cobbler. I embossed the Baja Breeze layer with the Northern Flurry folder from SU! It looks so elegant, and took just seconds. A short piece of Cherry Cobbler ribbon wrapped around that layer added just enough decoration. 

          I used the New Silver Glitter paper and the Scallop Border punch to line the side of the card. Dasher is stamped in Crumb Cake, the edges of that piece sponged. Added Clear Rhinestones to his antlers, and it's done. The inside is decorated pretty much the same. The Silver Glitter paper on the top is the piece leftover after running it through the punch for the front scallop piece...I was about to throw them away when this hit me! The Baja Breeze swirls on the inside sentiment are the antlers of the deer (Dasher) stamp being used in a different way. 

So, I am back. It feels great! I can't wait to post more! I am working on Teacher Gifts this weekend, so I will get those posted when they are done!

Merry Christmas!!!

The Theme is Summer Picnic...

Hey, friends! I am playing with a new swap group on Yahoo called JustCards. I love it! The theme for one of the swaps last month was Summer Picnic. I do not know why, but this theme freaked me out. I stressed  about it for days. I don't have many summery sets, and certainly nothing that screams 'picnic'. After wrestling with the idea of weaving red and white ribbon to create a blanket and punching out a sun and ants...Ding...lightbulb! I remembered this old SU set called Ladybug Picnic. I hadn't used it in years, it is a set my kids use in their crafts. Well, I pulled it right out and this card was made in minutes! It's clean and simple, but it works. The grass is Old Olive DSP cut along the top and roughed up a bit. The sky is done on a small layer instead of the background and I love the simpicity that lends to this design. I went down the side with a few matching buttons. The ants are stamped in Jet Black Staz-On and colored with SU Markers. It was fun...I don't know why I was so stressed! Hope ya'll like it!

Sorry about the low quality pic...it was shot at midnight as soon as the glue dried:)

All supplies are SU!

It's been a while...I am still alive;)

 Sorry friends! I have been crafting a lot less lately, but my poor blog has been completely neglected. I am trying to get back on track. I recently started a new business, so I had to put some of my stamping aside for a couple months. This card was a fun one to make! It was a sketch for a swap group I play in. If you like making and swapping cards, you should really check out JustCards on yahoo! It's a great group! I cut out the three circles, did the faux suede technique, then balled them up and smoothed them back out. They're layered to created a fun, textured flower. The white background is speckled with blue ink using the Color Spritzer tool from SU! A little tear in one corner, and she's done! I have many more projects to blog, so I hope you guys haven't given up on me;) Supplies are all SU!

Happy Stampin'!

It's a HeAtWaVe!

 Whew ya'll. It's hot in NC this week! Temps in the 90's with horrible humidity! This month's theme for a month long swap I play in is 'SUMMER', so every Monday, I mail a summer themed card to my assigned partner for the month. Here are two that I have sent to her! The first card was SO MUCH FUN! Nothing but punches used to create this fun flamingo! I saw a card VERY similar on a demo site, and tweaked it a little, and it's one of my favorites! The flamingo is made completely out of the 2-Step Bird Punch! It's all in the details....the sand is sprayed, everything is sponged, the water is crimped, the birds are doodled. It took a while, but it was worth it! I will be making a couple more! These would be fun summer birthday cards!

This one is a whole lot more simple. It uses Awash with Flowers stamp set, and the sentiment is printed using My Digital Studio from SU, which amazingly...my new printer produces the exact SU colors! Bonus!!!!

Hope you guys like these! Supplies are all SU, like always! I will see you soon!

Happy Stampin'

A couple recent Masculine Swaps....

 I have been a little absent from my blogging lately and I apologize! But...I HAVE been stamping away! These are two masculine cards that I made for a month long swap last month. I sent 4, but really liked these two! The top card uses my all-time favorite, and go-to masculine set...Lovely As A Tree. This card features the thumping technique and I love how it looks like a tree in Fall! A bit (well...a LOT) of twine finish this card off!

This card was made using River Rock DSP, stamped with VersaMark, clear heat embossed, then heavily sponged for the scene. You only vaguely see the striped detailing in the background. Effective for adding depth with my usual massive amounts of layers;) I left it sentiment-free, as it's a great all-occasion 'man card' and I thought she could add one later.

Hope you like these! If you want more detailed instructions, just contact me! I will be catching up here. On to other news....I am now a Miche Representative and will be focusing much of my stamping time to this new business venture! I am THRILLED to be able to offer such an amazing product line...I just might post some pics here soon;) No worries...I will always stamp!

Gettin' Sketchy with it...

 I have been making this size card for a while now, and it's probably my favorite size! They are perfect to hold money, gift certificates and notes folded up inside. It measures 4"x8" and has a 2" pocket inside. I start with an 8" x 10" sheet of cardstock and score the long side at 2" and 6". This gives you three sections, and the short one gets glued in the corners to make the pocket. So easy! I used Early Edition DSP by SU as the background paper on this card. I LOVE this paper! This particular sheet happens to be an encyclopedia type page all about Cherry Blossoms, facts and info about them, what they represent, where they grow, etc. It was so fitting for the image! The black 1/2 pearls in the bottom right corner are SU Basic Pearls colored a few times with a Black Sharpie. I never need more than one coat for other colors, but black is really purple, so it takes a few times to get it dark. I LOVE coloring on both the Pearls and the Rhinestones! The shape in the left is a Labels Die from Nestabilities. It's cut, then embossing and sponged in the center, leaving the outside ridge uninked. Love it!

 Here's a shot of the inside. I added a pull out message card inside the pocket and stamped the corners to match. Another strip of DSP finishes off the inside. This worn look is just small tears in the paper (and roughing up all edges), and folding them a little, then sponging them heavily with River Rock ink.

This is the sketch I designed for a fun group I swap with. I design these monthly for the group, and still enjoy it very much. I thought for a while that blog design would be my new addiction, but nope, it's sketches! I do all my sketches exclusively in My Digital Studio.

***Most supplies are SU!***

Stamp: Embrace Life

Paper: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla & First Edition DSP

Ink: Basic Black, River Rock, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red

A fancy little flourish card...

This weekend I have really been getting caught up on the crafting 'To Do List'. This is one of the cards I made last night. It's for a special friend, and I mail it tomorrow, so I hope she doesn't see this before then;) We have had a lot going on in my little family lately, and I haven't been taking any time for myself. It feels really nice to devote some time to doing what I love...stamping and sharing it with all of you! Here's a little about this card.

The base is Certainly Celery. I haven't used this color in a while, and I forgot how much I like it! When it's paired with other colors, it tends to get 'lost' since it is so subtle. However, on its' own against neutrals...it's beautiful! I'll definitely be reaching for it more often! The background is Whisper White run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Textures Embossing Folder, then brayed over the raised portions with Early Expresso ink. The Certainly Celery ribbon goes around that and over the smaller Certainly Celery layer. And that beautiful flourish stamp is called 'Fine Flourish' and I got it FREE by spending so much during SAB this year....shhhhh! I had never really noticed it before. Now that I have it...WOW! It's inexpensive and it's gorgeous! The green stone in the center is one of our Basic Rhinestones colored with a green Sharpie before putting it on the card. That's it...Voila!

I just love when such a simple card comes together like this! I hope the special friend I made it for will love it!

Until next time....Happy Stampin'!

BuStEd!!!

I have been called out by a great friend for letting my blog get so far behind....OUCH! She was RIGHT! So...you aren't getting my usual picture quality and I haven't had time to edit the pics or watermark them...but here they are!!! I really HAVE been stamping...just not updating my poor blog regularly...LOL! Below is a card I designed for my club last month. The tulip is made with the Owl Punch, and some ovals. Isn't it great?

 And here's a really simple one I threw together for a swap! Super quick!

 Here's another swappie! I used the Inlaid Embossing technique for the striped background. The lantern is made by running a circle through the crimper...you know the tool collecting dust that you haven't thought about it eons! Pull it out! These lanterns are so much fun!

So...(ahem...KELLI) I have been stamping;) I am REALLY behind on my online life, but for once my real life is just about in order. LOL! I will be back regularly....promise (the pinky kind).

Till next time....Happy Stampin'

Flowers For You...

Here's a card I designed and my club made this past weekend. It's a fun card to make! AND, it only takes ONE stamp, which is FREE when you earn it through SAB! I usually stay away from such bright layers, but hey, it's warming up a little and I am willing Spring to move in! In the end, I loved the simple, bright color combo. I paired Pumpkin Pie with Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White. The white layer is run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. The large yellow scallop is cut with Scallop Circles #2. I cut this big, beautiful flower out of the Greenhouse Gala DSP, and loved the effect! The scallop in the top corner is one stamp, stamped once in Pumpkin Pie, and punched with the Scallop Circle. Then, I inked the same stamp in Daffodil Delight, used a Blender Pen to remove the ink from the flower center and stem, and used markers to add color to those areas. I then punched the center portion out with the 1 3/8" circle Punch, and popped it up over the scallop with a Dimensional. It's finished off by setting three Pumpkin Pie brads in the bottom corner using the Mat Pack. I hope you all like it! I LOVE when DSP has more uses, big bold designs (like this flower) are amazing cut out and used as focal points! NEVER be afraid to hack your paper up...great things sometimes happen;)

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight Stampin' Pads, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers, White Signo Gel Pen
Stamps: Punch Bunch (SAB)
Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle
Big Shot - Square Lattice Folder, Scallop Circles #2
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Brads (Brights Collection), Mat Pack, Dimensionals, Blender Pen

***Note::: The FOR YOU on the small scallop was done on my next card and club cards in Pumpkin Pie. We removed the Daffodil Delight ink with a blender pen and colored the words with a Pumpkin Pie marker. It made it stand out SO much more, and made the card look amazing. I didn't have one of those on hand to use in the picture.

A Blast-y Sketch!

 Here's a card I made for a sketch challenge. It's for a swap group, and I do the sketch designs for the group. When I designed the sketch, I had a flowery card in mind. Needless to say, when I sat down with the sketch, I ended up with something completely different! I really like this fun, bright card! It would make a GREAT birthday card for a little boy (or a grown-up boy;). I hope you guys like it, too. All supplies are SU (except the ribbon, no clue who makes it). I will do a supply list at the end of the post. Below is the sketch, and I would love to have you use it!

Paper: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Basic Black Stampin' Pad, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze Stampin' Write Markers
Stamps: Pun Fun
Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Big Shot, Stars Die, Dot Impressions Folder, Dimensionals, Ribbon

Sketch is designed in My Digital Studio

Love Bug Valentine!

Here's the card I made for my hubby for V-Day!!! I LOVE it! I saw a card in a gallery with a VW Bug made with punches and added to it. I created the landscape with a retired pack of DSP from last years SAB. I have tons of it left and am really trying to use it up. I wish the picture really showed the hood of the car better, but I waited until nighttime to shoot it. There's a lot of little details added to this card, and it was SO much fun. I LOVE Punch Art and do it all the time, but this was the most fun I have had with punches in a while!

As a teen, I was addicted to VW Beetles. I bought my first one with my own money when I was 15. My Dad and I worked on it together. When I graduated from High School in 99, my Dad surprised me by driving up to my cookout/party in the most beautiful shiny white 72' bug!!! Fully restored to be exact as it was new, perfect condition and ran like a dream. There's no more uncomfortable car in the summer, so we installed a fan in the floor and I loved this car for years! I just recently sold it, *sigh*. I haven't driven it since I had kids, so it sat for 6 years. I miss her very much. My hubby (whom I didn't know till I was 18) grew up driving bugs, too. So, I thought this card would be perfect!

The list of punches is long, and I may accidentally leave one or two out, but here's my best shot without my notes:

Word Window
Horizontal Slot
Modern Label
1 3/8" Circle
3/4" Circle
1/2" Circle
2 x 1 3/8" Oval
1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval
1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval

And the top body part of the car is a 2 3/4" circle from a cutting system.

Zig Zag Birthday!

Dear Friends,
Please forgive me for my tardiness in posting! My blog has been so neglected! I hope you're still visiting! Things have been a little hectic lately, I just noticed I didn't even take the time to watermark this picture. I will work at returning to my regularly blogging self ASAP!

Here's a super simple card I made for my hubby for his birthday last month. The blues aren't quite right in the pic since I am taking this inside at night, but you get the point, it makes IRL! If you look closely at the background paper, you will see it doesn't perfectly line up. I cut it into tiny strips and layered it on Whisper White cardstock, slightly overlapping each piece. I love how it slightly breaks up the design and adds tons of dimension to the card! It reminds me a little of siding on a house, but more busy...LOL! The # and 1 were created in MDS and printed, cut out, and popped up on dimensionals. The only other embellishment are the 3 black brads up the left side, which were placed using the Mat Pack. Easy Peasy!

NO STAMPS or INK (aside from printer ink from my Epson 1400 Stylus)
Greenhouse Gala DSP
Real Red and Whisper White CS
My Digital Studio
Stampin' Dimensionals
SU Black Brads

I ♥ YOU Valentine!

Here is a No-Stamping Valentine's card I made for a swap consisting of super talented SU Demos! It's not often that I create a card without ever inking a stamp, so this is kind of a big deal;) The clouds, balloon and sentiment are rub-ons called Love Impressions. They are AWESOME! The DSP is the Whisper White pattern (with light gray words) from the Neutrals DSP Stack. All around the DSP, curving with the pink circle, I used a Mat Pack and Paper Piercer to pierce the edges. I work quicker without the guide, so I pierce free hand, using a ruler to keep me in line, but not for spacing. This only took a few seconds. If you're scared of a mistake, I suggest the Guide that comes with the Mat Pack. I use it for brad placement, and when I need a strip of exactly spaced pierces. I lived on the edge for this one;)

Supplies:
Paper, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Real Red cardstock. Pink Pirouette Textured CS, Neutrals DSP, Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: NONE
Punches: Small Heart, Eyelet Border, Modern Label
Accessories: Love Impressions Rub-Ons, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, SNAIL, Dimensionals

Hope you like it and will visit soon for more!

Two Sketches...

Above is my December Sketch and the card I made from it. All of my sketches are done in MDS, and I really enjoy designing them! I create them as a monthly challenge for a Yahoo Group I play and swap with. The card I made turned out very masculine, and had I not had to send it to my partner, my hubby would have gotten it for his birthday a couple days ago;) I will be blogging his really cool card tomorrow. I am not listing supplies for this post. Most are SU, but the pattern paper and texture green in this one is not, it's American Crafts and DCWV.

  And here is my January Sketch and the card I created using it as my guide. Bella Rose remaines my favorite DSP, and as much as I want to hoard it and never let it go, I LOVE using it on cards. The coral/green textured CS is DCWV, everything else is SU. I have resolved this year to use up or give away the stuff I don't use, so I am trying to at least use up some of the papers.

I hope you like these cards! I will be back tomorrow with my hubbys birthday card with a cool technique I stumbled upon on my own, though it's really to simple to call it a technique;) Till next time...Happy Stampin'!

                                     

Digi Snowman - Winter Wishes

Here is a fun card I made for a Winter Snowman swap. It's not a Christmas card, and that is usually all I make for winter, so this was a lot of fun. I didn't feel like using any of my snowmen stamps, and was in the mood for Punch Art;) However, my craft area was so messy (couldn't be...LOL!) that I didn't want to clean it up just to make a huge mess, which is what always happens when I get punchy! So...I sat down in my pj's (the only way to craft) and pulled up My Digital Studio. Punch Art in MDS is much tougher than IRL, but I finally was pleased with it! His body is circle punches, his arms are from a bird stamp set, they are bird legs. His buttons are brads, and his nose is a heart stretched out long and thin. His hat is an upside down birthday present stamp. So, this is completely digital, no stamping at all. I trimmed the cardfront and attached to Night of Navy cardstock, and created the inside piece to match. What is so cool is that I now have this project saved in MDS and can print it anytime! Whoohooo!

It's a digital thing, you might not understand;)

Every year after Thanksgiving, my Mom sets up an elaborate little Christmas Village. It's a tradition that has become very special to her over the past several years. I don't know why I have never before thought to take pictures of it for her. This year, I think partly because I got a DSLR for Christmas, I decided to get some good pictures of this tradition that our whole family has come to enjoy. I turned the pictures into a 2 page spread, 8 1/2 x 11. I don't know if I will put them in some sort of folder or frame them for her to hang at Christmas. I am printing them today, and I cannot wait to give these to her! I know she is going to love them, and it will be very meaningful to her!

Supplies:
Pictures
Me Digital Studio
...that's it!

The Occasions Mini is HERE!

It's HERE!!! The New Occasions Mini catalog is here and ready to go!!! I know you will love the products in here as much as I do!!! Where to start? There's so many awesome things in here. Embossing Folders, GLITTER PAPER, great stamp sets, new ribbons! Oh my!!! Below are some helpful links, check them out! As always you can order from my WEBSITE.

Click to see the Occassions Mini
Occasions Mini Stampin' Supplies
Occasions Mini Spanish Sets

Happy Stampin' Friends!

Love You Much

First of all...LOVING my brand new Nikon D3000 from the wonderful hubby for Christmas. I have a LONG way to go to really learn to use this camera, but I actually took this shot with all manual settings, so I am learning, slowly but surely.

I am a member of an awesome SU Demo group for demos who live in the great state of North Carolina, and we do lots of swaps. For the month of January, I get to send one card every Monday to a fellow demo. It's called Monday Mailers, and it's a lot of fun. The theme for this month is Valentines, red and pink. So, I am trying to keep the theme while using some traditional and some non-traditional stamps for this theme. This one is non-traditional, in that I didn't use hearts, etc. The deets are below, I hope you like it, it was a lot of fun to make, and I hope Martinette will love it!

Stamps: Friends 24-7, Well-Scripted

Paper: Naturals White, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette

Wide Oval Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Vintage Wallpaper Texture Folder, Big Shot

Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Tombow Multi, SNAIL