Artistic Etchings

This is a fun new set from the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog. I ordered it right away because this style just appeals to me. I love the vintage look and especially the old key(not seen on this card). My mother-in-law's house still locks with a skeleton key.

I wanted to keep this one simple, I used Night of Navy, Real Red and Whisper White (very patriotic for the last day of July). I cut the card using the scalloped square. Enjoy!

Animal Stories

My next 2 cards are the same except for the colors. I wanted to make a couple of baby cards and so ...here they are. I used Animal Stories (starts with A) and the colors I used are: Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Bashful Blue. I used retired ribbons at the bottom of the cards.

Another Always card

As promised, here is my next Always card. This one features the bird from the set. I used Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, and Very Vanilla. I added a little piece of grosgrain chocolate ribbon and a brad to set it all off. Very simple, yet very nice!

Always Card

I was playing around with some of my stamps and trying to work them in alphabetical order! Why? Why not! So, I got out my Always stamp set and made 2 quick cards. The first one uses Whisper White, Real Red and Basic Gray, plus a touch of Basic Black. I used the heart from the Always set and then cut it using the heart punch. Take a look and come back tomorrow for the next one.

Thank You cards

Sunday at our church we celebrated my hubby's 25 year anniversary with this same church. Yes, he has been a minister there for 25 years. We have literally grown up and raised our family with this special church family! What a blessing. They gave us a pot luck dinner and a beautiful wall clock with an engraving. They also showered us with cards! In return, I am sending this thank you note.

Stamps For All You Do set

Paper
Early Espresso card stock
Marina Mist card stock
Old Olive card stock
Whisper White card stock

Ink
Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
VersaMark pad

Accessories & Tools
Whisper White 5/8" satin ribbon
Stampin' Dimensionals

Instructions

1. Stamp flowers repeatedly in VersaMark ink on Early Espresso card.
2. Adhere Whisper White 5/8" satin ribbon around front of card.
3. Stamp "Thank you" repeatedly on Whisper White card stock. Stamp polka-dot image in Old Olive ink below greeting on Whisper White card stock. Stamp stem image in Old Olive ink over polka-dot image. Stamp one small flower in Marina Mist ink at top of stem.
4. Layer stamped Whisper White card stock on Old Olive card stock. Tear right edge of Old Olive card stock. Layer on Marina Mist card stock, and adhere to card.
5. Stamp small, medium, and large flowers in Marina Mist ink on separate piece of Whisper White card stock. Cut out, and adhere small flower to card next to stem. Adhere medium and large flowers to card at top of stems using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Tag...Your It!

Another magazine submittal, this one is for luggage tags. I did several but here is one I am showing you today. The others you will just have to wait to see them in the magazine (when I get them published). Again, who knows what the publishers will like but I had fun making them!

A Bargello Christmas card

It is July and was 99 degrees when I made this card. I am already thinking about my annual Christmas card stamp-a-stack. This Bargello technique was in the most recent Stampin' Success and so I had to try it. I pretty much CASE'd their card except I made my card have a Christmas feel. This is a really easy technique that I can teach you. Just ask me how!

P.S. Only 5 months until Christmas!!!

Uspy Daisy meets Hanky Panky

Ok, not really. This is just another card that I used a handkerchief for the background piece. I used my brayer to color the hanky. Then I stamped the Upsy Daisy on it in Basic Black. The For You is from the Elements of Style set. I am sending this to a magazine for publication (I hope). Thanks for looking!

Sponge Bob Square Pants

Who...lives in a pineapple under the sea?? Yep, you got it...Sponge Bob Square Pants! I had to make a card for one of my special students and I used a Sesame Street design but thought about Sponge Bob, so I made 4 of them! They are all the same. I just decided it would be as easy to make 4 as 1. He is made of punches with a little free handing for the mouth. If you have any questions, you leave me a comment and I will get back to you. Isn't he cute?

Fun Flower card

I made this card using my big Shot for the big flower. After I cut the flower I ran it through and embossing folder to add some interest. The card itself is Old Olive and since I don't have the Woodgrain background stamp I hand drew all the lines with my Old Olive marker. The flower colors are Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose and Melon Mambo. The sentiment is from the Great Friend set. What do you think?

Mojo Monday Challenge

What is Mojo?? It is what inspires you or gets you going. We all hit walls of creativity and just get stuck. This blog is there to inspire and challenge you with ideas for making cards. This week's sketch was a little challenging for me. I need more circles for my Big Shot! I used some retired DSP because, alas, I don't have any of the new ones yet!!!

For You Elemental Card

I have done another card using the new set Elements of Style. I just love the beauty and simplicity of that set. You can color it in or leave it uncolored like I did on this card. It still makes a beautiful statement.

For this card I used Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler and Soft Suede. I used one of the new embossing folders on the Cherry Cobbler, Square Lattice. I used the Big Shot to cut the Top Note then I stamped it with the Soft Suede. I added the little splatters with the Color Spritzer Tool. Of course I used hand punches to layer up the sentiment. It was really a quick and simple card.

Stamping 411 Sketch 160

I am playing along with the Stamping 411 Sketch again this week. I had been stamping on old handkerchiefs for another challenge and had an extra piece. So, I used it for my card. It is so hot that I am starting to think of (do I dare say it...) Fall! I stamped the leaves from Autumn Splendor and the little leaf was from Autumn Harvest. The sentiment came from the Priceless stamp set.

Sentimental Journey

I was up for most of the night when I made this card. I am starting to think that I do pretty good work after midnight. I used the Sentimental Journey set from the summer mini, along with the matching DSP for this one. It is a 3x6 card that will fit into a standard drug-store envelope.

Masculine Birthday Card

I am also working on my dates for upcoming stamping events. I have been doing a birthday card stamp-a-stack for the past few years during August (since it is my birthday month) and this year will be no exception. I am always challenged with the "manly man" cards. So, I tried to keep this one simple. I used Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and retired DSP.

A Medallion Card

I was playing with the Medallion stamp for the Neutral card and decided to use it again for this lovely. I used Basic Black, Real Red and Whisper White for this card. I also used a piece of DSP (retired). I added glitter again because I love it! This will make a great wedding card.

A Neutral Colored Card

As promised, here is my neutral colored card. I think it turned out lovely. I followed a format I had used for a quick and simple card for my ladies at church to make. The card is River Rock with River Rock and Soft Suede ink. I had to stamp the medallion twice and punch out the center that is glittered. I used the Soft Suede and Very Vanilla Ribbons together to give it the 2 colors. Of course, the pearl is from the Pretties kit.

Earning Disney Incentive Trip

Stampin' Up!'s Home Office said:

"Experience magic with us in 2012. We've reserved the entire hotel--Disney's BoardWalk Resort--a deluxe hotel that captures the charm and elegance of Atlantic City in the 1940's. Tucked along a boardwalk full of amusement, you'll enjoy the glittering view of Crescent Lake. Entertainment abounds with live performances, day passes to the parks, and retreats to great spas and restaurants."

Anyone can earn this enchanting vacation by holding consistent workshops. Plan now to indulge the kid in you!

Sign up to start earning your FREE Trip today! And by signing up, you help me earn the trip too. Won't that be fun!

To sign up, simply click on my link here to my website and remember my password is
SPARKLES.

New In Colors

Since it is a new year, Stampin' Up! has introduced new In Colors, but only 5 this time. I think the plan is to bring 5 more next year and then retire 5 every other year. That way all the colors will last 2 years instead of one!

I usually try to do a card using all the colors so this is my attempt this year. I used the butterfly stamp from For All You Do to make this one. I kept it very simple. The new colors are called:
Peach Parfait, Concord Crush, Poppy Parade, Blushing Bride and Pear Pizazz.

How about a Regal card?

Since I am showing all the families, I might as well show a regal example as well. This card base is Cajun Craze. The little flowers are inked with More Mustard. The butterfly was inked using Cherry Cobbler. The stamp set is For All You Do. I have had this set for a while and just put it together this week! Be on the look out for a Neutral card in future postings.

Playing with Stamping 411 - SSC159

Well, it was Saturday and I was playing with the Stamping 411 - Saturday Sketch. Sketches are pretty easy because all you have to do is come up with stamps, inks and backgrounds/DSP to play. The sketch is laid out and anyone can play. There are no right or wrongs.

I seem to have just discovered my Sentimental Journey stamp set from the Summer mini and I am loving it. I love the retro/vintage feel to it. I used the matching DSP and that determined my colors for me. This was quick an simple...my favorite kind of cards. It also has a manly feel to it, something that we all struggle with from time to time.

A Mini Card

I love to make the little mini cards. They are 3 x 3 and fit perfectly in the little mini envelopes Stampin' Up! sells. Or, you can make them and mount them to the front of a standard card for an eye catching focal point. This one is going as is to be added to a birthday gift as an enclosure.

The card is Melon Mambo (glad that color stayed), the circles are Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise. (Did you ever think Old Olive would become a Bright??!!) Again, the stamp is from the Birthday Bliss set. I stamped, cut and layered it to make the cute cake. I added the holes using the paper-piercing tool. Too Cute!

A New Subtle Collection

Since Stampin' Up! has rearranged and changed so many colors this year, I have been slowly cleaning out my cardstock and inks. Then I had to rearrange my cardstock and inks into new family's. So, I am now showing a card that I CASEd from Stampin' Success, a magazine that is sent monthly to demonstrators. This one uses Marina Mist for the card base. The flowers were stamped and hand cut. I used the stamp set Petal Pizazz. The colors are all subtles and they are: Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron and Certainly Celery.

Haunting You

I decided to play along with Mojo 146 again this week. They gave us a sketch and we can do whatever with it. I was feeling "spooky" today so I made a Halloween card. First I will show the sketch then you will see my card. Feel free to play along by clicking here.

Fourth of July Fireworks

I had this idea for a while but I finally got it made for my new catalog party. It is a Smartie that I wrapped with a a piece of cardstock that had different savings on the inside. I used them as a "prize" when they answered the Scavenger Hunt questions correctly. One said, "$5 off your order today." Others had Free shipping on today's order, or free tax on today's order. Now, I usually don't get orders on the first day of the catalog, but I did this time. It was a minimal order but I got to the $150 mark! I was happy with it.

I rolled the Jumbo stars on the whisper white cardstock and printed the words on the inside then cut them apart at 3" to fit around the smarties. I taped the smarties to a straw that had the tinsel on it and voila! A Firecracker.

A Catalog CASE

Yes, I was flipping through my new catalog for the upteenth time and decided to CASE a card. For those of you who don't know the lingo...to CASE means to copy and steal everything! Of course, it is legal and fun! So, I used the new set called Studio Sketches seen on page 29 to make this card. I loved all the elements and just went for it. One of the things I love about this set is that it makes everyone feel like an artist!

Now, the colors I used are: Old Olive, Whisper White, Soft Suede and a new color called Pear Pizazz.

Stamping 411 Sketch

I decided to play along with the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch #158 this week. I actually made this on Saturday night but did not get a chance to post it until now.

I used: Very Vanilla, Real Red and Basic Black cardstock, ink and ribbon. The stamp sets used were Defining Alphabet and Define Your Life (both earned FREE with SAB sales!) I also used Three Little Words for the you, you, you. The little note pad sheet was made using Newsprint DSP and the Spiral Border Punch.

Happy 4th!

Well, it is the 4th of July and that is of course, our country's official Independence Day. I am feeling very patriotic this year and so I made a few extra projects. I will share them here today.

The first is a 4th montage of Vintage images. I downloaded them from google and had to cut and paste and edit them to the size I needed. I mounted them on Ruby Red and then on Pacific Point.

The next 3 are basically done the same. I googled them and then mounted and framed them to a 5 x 7 size. I have them on my mantel.

Uncle Sam strikes again!

I got this idea from stamper Dawn Olchefske at Do Stamping with Dawn. She used a different roller but I did not have it so I had to improvise. I loved her little Uncle Sam so I just had to CASE him. I used the Stars jumbo wheel with Real Red on More Mustard. The top piece is Night of Navy with a Real Red strip. The dots were made with the white gel pen. This was our 2nd Make 'n Take at my recent new catalog event. Everyone loved him!

Make 'n Take #1

As promised, here is our Make 'n Take #1. Everyone had a great time and I got lots of orders. What a great way to start a new Stampin' Up! year. The incentive trip this year is Disney. Who wouldn't want to win an all expense paid trip to the Most Magical place on earth! Thanks for being great customers and friends.

New Catalog Revealed Today!

Yes, the much anticipated new Stampin' Up! catalog is available today. I had a great open house event and we made some fun things. I did it all on a patriotic theme since the 4th is only a couple of days away.

Remember where I was this time last year? I was in Kennestone Hospital with atrial fibrillation of the heart. My good friend Millie had to step in for me to do my Open House. I am so thankful that that has not happened to me again. I follow up with the cardiologist again tomorrow. I still think it was a fluke!

Anyway, if you could not get by today for your catalog, call me or email me and lets find a time to get together. The catalog is great and I will still let you play the Scavenger Hunt for great prizes.
I am showing the cake I made for this event today. Check back over the next few days to see the things we made and some 4th of July artwork that I have done.