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.

Santa's Sleigh...

 As unbelievable as it is, Christmas is really sneaking up on us this year! Stores are already shelving Christmas goodies, and I have yet to begin my 'mass produced' family card that will go to our family list. I know, I better get on it! I did get in the spirit a little bit for one of the projects that my Hostess Club made this month! I created (saw a basic sample online) this sleigh from the Top Note Die from SU'! I just cut, freehand, the swoop, and it made a perfect sleigh! The runner and legs are Brushed Silver CS, and the legs are cut with the Scribbles & Swirls Sizzlet, with the Big Shot for SU!. We used some scrap DSP, Ski Slope and cut different size packages to fill the sleigh with. This is a wonderful card for using up those scraps!!! The bows are made with the Beary Girl Essentials Sizzlet. Just goes to show, the Build A Bear line can be used for many things! I created a tiny wreath to decorate the sleigh with the tiny scallop from Itty Bitty Punch pack and the 1/4" Circle punch. Made tiny berries with the pen tip of my Real Red marker. The white background is spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch and shows up VERY well when the light hits it, the pic below shows some of that. Hope you like it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Whisper White CS - Ski Slope DSP
Ink: Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad and Stampin' Write Marker
Tools: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Beary Girls Sizzlet, Scribbles/Swirls Sizzlet; Work Window, Modern Label, 1/4" Circle, Itty Bitty Punch Pack
Accessories: Dimensionals, SNAIL, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi, Silver Cording, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz

A quick and easy one here...

I made this card for a fellow SU Demo here in NC that I am swapping with all Fall. We send each other one card per week, well, she does;) I stay a week behind and end up sending her two at a time. I am trying to do better! She didn't like this embossing folder, Elegant Lines, and I found that so surprising since it is one of my favorites. So, I have been bombarding her with samples and pictures using this folder. She likes it now...Mission Accomplished...LOL! She and I have never met, but have so much in common! I hope she likes this card. It's simple and clean, but I think it kind of pops regardless! It's super easy to duplicate, so if you like it, feel free to CASE!

Supplies:
Stamps: Whimsical Words (SAB 2009 - retired)
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry CS
Ink: Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad
Tools: Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Big Shot for SU!, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, SU Anywhere Glue Stick (I had run out of SNAIL...that will never happen again, though our Glue Sticks are phenomenal!)

Patterned Owl...

Well, so far, I have been making solid color owls with the new Owl Punch from SU! However, I just got in my new Greenhouse Gala DSP and decided the owl would look great patterned. Definitely not your everyday barn owl:) This card was made for 2 Fall swaps. One was for SU Demos in NC, so I could only use current SU product. So that card was minus the button and ribbon, which are both retired. This card is for another swap group. I loved making this! Hope you don't mind looking at it =)

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Supplies are all SU!

Baja Breeze Textured CS, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP

NO stamps, NO ink (that's a big deal for me!)

Big Shot and dies: Scallop Circles #2, Little Leaves, Perfect Dots Embossing Folder

2-Step Owl Punch

Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Baja Breeze Corduroy buttons, Dimensionals

Hoo Loves You???

Hey, everyone!!! I made this card for a Fall swap, I actually made two of these for two separate Fall swaps. I usually do reds, browns, and oranges for Fall. But, Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry felt Fall-ish to me this time! I think most of us think of owls at Fall, and I definitely wanted to use my brand new 2 Step Owl Punch! Isn't it AWESOME??? I am a punch addict, and this one is a new fave!

So many elements go into making a card work. Colors, textures, layers, focal points, embellishments, and many more. This card makes full use of many of those, whereas I generally keep things a little simpler.

I started with the Rich Razzleberry base as a rectangle A2 card. I decided it needed some UMPH, so I ran it through the Big Shot with SU's Scalloped Square Bigz Clear die! Perfect. I used a Signo Gel Pen (also sold by SU), to make dots on each scallop so the base didn't seem plain and forgotten. The layers are Whisper White and Soft Suede. The Whisper White layer is also run though the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing folder. The Razzleberry part of the owls is also embossed with the same folder. Pulling those textures together makes so much difference. The owl punch includes the tiny heart I put on their chests. The edges of the owls are sponged, and the base of the eyes is run across the ink pad.

I then simply ran ribbon and taped it to the front and back of the layer (saves so much ribbon as opposed to bulky bows that don't mail well anyway!), and used a heart Bitty Button tied with crochet thread around it. The stamp is from Cute by the Inch, a new Level 2 Hostess Set. It's on a 1" white square, layered on Rich Razzleberry punched with SU's Scallop Square and popped up over the ribbon on Dimensionals. For the image, I used SU markers to color the word LOVE with Rich Razzleberry and the rest with Soft Suede.

I know it seems I went into way more detail for this post than I usually do, and you're right, I did. Lately, I have had a lot of messages asking how I put something together, or how I obtained a specific effect, or to share my tips for layering and tying things together. For cards with more detail, I will make an effort to go into more detail for those who want to know. If you have more questions, please feel free to contact me through my profile, or leave a comment here!

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you like my take on a Fall card!

*Owl see you next time!*

Teacher Appreciation Gift...

My oldest daughter is in Preschool and has the most wonderful teachers! So, for Teacher Appreciation Day, I whipped them each up a small Thank You gift. (Both were the same, just different letters on the front). The box is made with the Scallop Envelope Die from SU, it's basically two of them glued together with sides added. Easy. Below are pictures of the notecards I filled these with, and I also included envelopes. I hope they liked them today! I also cooked dinner for each of them, which I am sure they will appreciate!

And, here are the notecards I stuck in the box. They're quick and easy, and time was of the essence this week!

To the gift bags, I tied this card that I made for them as well.

These are some amazing women, I am glad that God graced my daughters life with them this year.

It's a Swap Thing...

So, I recently joined a group run by a wonderful friend of mine. The group is a mix of all kinds of stampers who participate in themed swaps. I thought it would be fun to give it a try, as I have never been much of a swapper. I have signed up for several different swaps, and one of them was to make a card using only Black, White and Purple. I hope my 'loose' interpretation of purple is ok. But this card just screamed for Rich Razzleberry, and who am I to deny a card what it wants?

There's a lot on this card that you cannot really see in the pic. The Razz oval is run lightly through a texture plate, and there's tons of sparkle on this card. I used some corners cut with the Big Shot using a set of Sizzlets called Architectual Elements. The flowers are from Embrace Life, two stamped on Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, and the middle one on Watercolor Paper. The middle one is colored with reinker and AquaPainter, blended much lighter in the center. Stickles are on all flowers, and it's showing gold in the pic, but it's truly Diamond Stickles. My Signo Gel Pen got a great workout on this card, and I love how that turned out! A new pen made all the difference, my old one was gloppy.

I hope you all like it. This is one of my faves in a while, and I haven't mailed it yet. I don't think the recipient checks my blog☺ Well, I hope not...LOL!

***Aside from the Sizzlets set and the Stickles, this card is SUO!

Beautiful Wings...

This was a really quick card, it took 5 minutes or less to throw together! I simply folded some Kraft cardstock, and glued a black layer in the center. Then I ran some of the In Colors through my Big Shot with the NEW Beautiful Wings Embosslit and stick those on some Whisper White cardstock. I added a loop of matching In Color, Polka Dot ribbon behind the coordinating butterfly and stuck that layer over the black with Dimensionals. Stamped (friend to friend) in Basic Black and pierced the corners using the Mat Pack and a Paper Piercer.

CS -- Kraft, Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay.
Ink -- Basic Black
Stamps -- Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories -- Big Shot, Embosslit, Ribbon, Mat Pack/Piercer

This card (like most) are SUO. Sorry about the dark pic, I tend to remember to take pics at night, when lighting is horrible. As part of my New Years Resolution, I will work on that!

See you all soon! Happy Stampin'!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I am LOVIN' the Delightful Decorations stamp set and the Ornament Punch so much this Holiday Season. Almost all of my Christmas cards are made using these this year! This one is a color combo I haven't use before, and I LOVE it now! I chose to pair Real Red, Whisper White and Soft Suede for this one. This is one of the cards I created for my Nov Hostess Club meeting. I 'accidentally' discovered that I really like the Top Note Die in more than one color. It's always the blunders that teach you something new! I ran the beautiful White Organza ribbon under the Top Note, and the red ornaments are stuck on with Glue Dots, the suede one is popped up on Dimensionals. The Silver Elastic cording is going fast, I use it on everything! It works beautifully for 'hanging' these ornaments. I finished off the JOY ornament with a small Clear Rhinestone brad. This is an easy card, very quick to make and I think it packs a big WOW for it's simplicity!

***To the ladies in the Blog Group...please forgive me for my recent absence! I will get to your blogs this week, I PROMISE! We have had a busy month, a death in the family, a huge pay cut, and we haven't shopped for one single Christmas gift yet. It's been one of those months...I am finally starting to catch up, and can't wait to visit all of you. And, over this week, I will catch my blog up as well. Many of my recent projects have been for my Club Christmas Party, which was Sat, and I can't wait to post pics of those now that the party is over!***

Decor Elements Catalog Inspiration...

I recently challenged my customers to create a card using the Decor Elements catalog (on the left) as their inspiration. Inspiration comes differently to every person, so I really look forward to seeing what they all come up with! This catalog cover is so beautiful, there is tons of inspiration to reach out and grab you! The main inspiration points to me are pretty obvious, the framed butterflies on the wall and the pillow with the pretty button on the bed.

Colors are Bermuda Bay, Green Galore, and Yoyo Yellow. Bermuda Bay ribbon and DSP. Many punches here. The small butterflies are the smallest flower from the Boho Blossoms punch, with two petals cut off in a 'v', and the big butterfly is the 5 Petal Flower punch, with one petal cut off in a 'v'. So many new punches ideas are coming to me right now! Several other punches, all SU, were used. I will be happy to answer any questions about what I used, but due to the late hour, won't list it all out like I normally do. Which do you like best? The first card or the second?

Bella Rose Tri-Fold Shutter...

Well, I gave this Tri-Fold Shutter card another try. This one still took a while, but not as long as my Christmas one I posted earlier. I like this one a lot! This card is so thick that I cannot get a picture of it closed without me holding it together, so please pardon my hand in the pic below.

My Big Shot really got a workout on this card! I used several dies on here, SU Little Leaves, SU Birds & Blooms, SU Top Note Die, Architectural Elements. The only stamp set used is Friends 24-7 and the word WISH from Small Script. DSP is Bella Rose, Cardstock is Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette (textured), Kiwi Kiss (textured), a touch of Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. All buttons are SU from Button Bouquet (retired), flowers are Kaiser and unknown. Pearl is Mark Richards, and red crystal is from Hero Arts.

I need to buy a Scor-Pal, then this fold would be easier. Hope you like this one!

I stepped out of my comfort zone...

This card is nothing of my normal style, but I love how it turned out. I decided when I sat down last night that I wanted to try something I have never done before. This is the busiest card I have ever made, with a lot of patterns and colors. I made this for a little girl who turns 4 this weekend, and I hope she likes it!!! All of the bling on this card is from a package my friend, Siobhan sent to me. I have no idea of the brand, as the entire packages are in Japanese, but I like using them!

Cardstock: SU Orchid Opulence, Gable Green, Whisper White

Pattern Paper: K&Company Specialty

Punches: SU 1/2, 3/4" circles, Photo Corners, Scallop Edge

Creative Memories Cutting System, Big Shot with Wingo Zingo Alphabet

Ink: SU Basic Gray, various SU Markers

Stamps: SU All Scallops, and cupcakes are from Studio G

I think that's about it, I am trying to use up hoarded embellishments, and paper!!!

Joy Ornament Christmas Card

You know those days when you sit down to craft and are bombarded with these incredible ideas, and even the most mundane of objects becomes enlightening inspiration? Well, last night was NOT one of those for me. In fact, I couldn't think of one single original idea. So, I was looking through SCS (A God-send for stampers block), and came across THIS amazing card by Stampersandee. I was totally impressed with her beautiful card, and decided since I need to start on Christmas cards, I would give it a try. I hope I did her justice! This card is 5x5.

I LOVE my Stamp A Ma Jig! The sentiment stamp in the picture is the stamp I used, however I used SU Markers to color each word separately, then used my SAMJ to align them closer together to fit into the Large Oval Punch.

Stamps: Lovely Letters Alphabet, Holidays & Wishes
Ink/Paper: Metallic Gold paper, Bravo Burgundy/Handsome Hunter ink and CS
Punches/Bog Shot: Damask Texture Plate by SU, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circles, Scallop Circle, Large Oval, Scallop Oval.
Accessories: Sponges, Mini Glue Dots, Gold Cording

Fabulous Friend Flower Pot

So, I sat down last night determined to get some much needed stamp time in. I began by making my coffee, and straightening my craft area just enough to have room to work. Then my craft light fell off of it's stand, crashed into my coffee cup, which poured everywhere! It soaked through 2 brand new packs of cardstock that I just got in, and was getting ready to file, ruining almost every piece! I was livid, yelling at the coffee cup, trying to kill the lamp, and screaming for Jim to bring me some paper towels. You would have thought it was a 'real' emergency with how angry I was! So, that's how my night of stamping began. However, it ended on a much better note. I finally made the Flower Pot card, which is currently a featured tutorial on SCS. I may never make another one, but I love this one! It took me well over an hour, and after all my ruined paper, I was just not feeling it anymore. Maybe if I tried again, I could pull one together much quicker. Below is a shot of the insert pulled out.

Paper: Melon Mambo CS, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, and Rich Razzleberry CS

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Oval All, and The More the Merrier (new Level 3 Hostess)

Punches: 5-Petal Flower, Scalloped Oval, 1" Circle, Boho Blossom, Eyelet Border, Large Oval

Die Cuts: Big Shot by Sizzix for SU, Little Leaves SU die, Birds&Blooms SU die

Accessories: Sq Fire Rhinestone Brad, Melon Mambo Ribbon, Frosted Lace Stickles, Sponges

Sunflower Get Well Wishes

I sat down for some much needed stamp time a couple nights ago, this is what I came up with. After seeing someone on SCS make sunflowers out of the Boho Blossom Punch, I knew I wanted to play with that. I am a punch-addict (who probably could use detox...LOL!), and anything cool with punches, I am all for! I found out that Crushed Curry must have been made for sunflowers, isn't it perfect? The new set, Teeny Tiny Wishes is the most perfect sentiment set EVER, I have said before and will again, if you don't have it, GET IT!!! I have used almost no other word set since this one showed up in the brown truck...Hope you all have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend. I will be updating more soon, I plan to stamp a lot this weekend!

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: SU Only, Kraft, Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Crushed Curry, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip
Dies/Punches: Top Note Die for BS, 1 1/4 circle for masked sun, Boho Blossom, 3/4" circle, Corner Rounder (CM), Modern Label, and Word Window
Accessories: Chocolate Gingham (non SU), Mellow Moss Grosgrain, Mellow Moss Eyelets, Crystal Effects, MicroBeads

Sweet Baby Boy...

A friend of mine just gave birth to her 3rd baby boy, and this is the card I made her earlier today to send to her. Base is Chocolate Chip, and sponged around sides. The Top Note die is made with Bashful Blue DSP from a past hostess pack, sponged on the edges with Chocolate Chip. Chipboard shapes are Making Memories, covered in Barely Banana craft ink, Encore silver, and embossed with clear powder, set on with Dimensionals. The star is suspended from the moon with light blue thread. The sentiment is from a set called Congrats this past SAB period. I love it! I made the parenthesis with the Round Tab punch. The gingham ribbon is from my stash, no idea of it's origin, but I thought it worked well on here.

Myself having two girls, I do not make much for boys, but with my friends popping boys out left and right, I feel I am getting a little better on baby boy cards...LOL!!!

I made 20 Mother's Day cards this year...

And here are a few of my favorites. This year I decided to make a point to send Mother's Day cards to the important moms in my life. I really wanted them to all know how special I think they are! I am happy with how they turned out. Only the card on the top left was made more than one of, all the other 20 cards were original, with no two alike. I did these in 2 nights!!!

After deciding that I must get some DSP out of my stash, I realized I had barely touched the SAB paper from this year. So, it's not pink and girly, but I LOVE the combos on these cards. I allowed myself ONLY this DSP, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and Kraft cardstock. The only stamp set I allowed myself to use is the SAB set, Polka Dot punches. I used the ribbon bundle from SAB (opened it when making these, it hadn't even been touched, I am a hoarder), and only allowed myself Whisper White grosgrain besides the bundle. Styled Silver HPH is the only embellishment I used, besides epoxy bubble stickers that I uncovered that must be 2 years old and never opened! Here are some close-ups of my faves....

Don't know why I love this one (above), it's simple. I scalloped down the open edge, lined the inside with a strip of DSP, and stapled the ribbon on. The circles are on Dimensionals atop Kraft circles. Small epoxy stickers are in the center to spotlight the center of the flowers.

And this one is for my sister (above), there is one other like it, just a different brad, I forgot about that earlier. This is a quilted Top Note with the Big Shot. Horizontal Slot Punch used for my ribbon holes. 5-Petal Flower punch made the flower in the bottom corner.

And this one for some reason is my absolute favorite!!! It's a simple concept, one I have never done. I lined the bottom of my card with the blue pattern in the DSP. Used the stripes with the Scallop Edge punch and adhered just above. Took my So Saffron Grosgrain (this is the most yummy ribbon EVER!), and pleated and sewed as I went down the card. I punched various size circles from scrap DSP and decorated the top portion. A couple are on Dimensionals to stand up a little, and the middle yellow piece is covered with a clear epoxy bubble sticker to shine and look nice. A very special friend is getting this one, and it was made with her in mind. I hope she loves it!

So, this year, more than ever, I hope the women in my life who are mother's know how much I love and appreciate them. We often don't hear how great of a job we are doing, and that's a shame! Motherhood is the best thing to ever happen to me, but it's also the hardest job I have ever had. I know other's feel the same way! So, to my 'invisible' friends who I couldn't add to my list or I would have been stamping forever, I want to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day, too!!!

Woven Bunny Basket

This is a basket I made from the Top Note Die with the Big Shot. I cut CS, then wove on top of it, gluing down, then ran through with the die. I used the Scallop Edge Punch on the handle, attached with a Rhinestone Brad, and made the bunny out of scrap CS and many SU punches. I really like how this turned out. The picture below just shows how I secured these together and created the inside. This will hold my Mom's Easter treat this year.

PS...If you look closely, I even made teeth for him with the Handheld Rectangle Punch!

I think I will make a few more of these, in more than one color, say yellow and pink weave??? I really like how this turned out and it's easy!

Baby Girl Carriage...

This is a baby carriage I created from the Sizzix Scallops #2 die, it's the larger one of the two. This measures about 4.75 inches, and is too big for an A2 card, I will either use it on a 5.25 card or on a scrapbook page for my youngest daughter. The paper is a shiny textuted by Archivers, the silver and white are SU. I used various punches for the lace, wheels, and handle. I just cut a notch out of the scallop to get the carriage shape. It's really pretty IRL, this sparkly paper will not photograph for me for some reason. I am trying to work on that. This is something I doodled around with until I liked it, but I think I will be making more. I love the look of things like this on my LO's, but buying similar items from Jolees is just outrageously expensive, so part of my New Years thrifty crafting resolution is to be more creative with things like this.

Another Crimped Envelope

After teaching this technique in my club for Feb, my monthly challenge was for everyone to create one on their own, and bring it in March to show everyone what they came up with. This was mine. The stamp set is Embrace Life, and I watercolored, covered with Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds the flowers, then cut them out. One is stuck on with Glue Dots, the upper one with Dimensionals. The corners are Sizzlets called Architectural Elements, and are a set of 4 photo corners which I love, I ran those through the Big Shot. Colors are Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy, and Old Olive. I left the inside piece sentiment free since I don't know what I want to use this for yet!