A Valentine Wreath

Ok, so I got this fabric during the last mini catalog but really nothing about it said Christmas to me so I saved it for this project. I had seen some of the kids at the elementary school make a wreath with fabric so I wanted to try one. I love working with fabrics but had not yet cut (or as in this case, ripped) my new fabrics open yet. I took a clothes hanger and shaped it into a heart. Then I took the whole package of Candy Cane Christmas designer fabric and split it in 2 longways. I then took it and ripped it into 1 1/2 - 2 " pieces. I did not measure just sort of guesstimated. I then just started tying the fabric on and mixed in ribbon at random. I think it turned it out great and it looks like Love to me! BTW, If you missed this fabric, you can check out more spring fabrics from Stampin' Up! Click here to see it and order!

Take a Spin

I got this set the other day and took a spin at making a card with it. I love the Celebrations DSP but have never found much use for it. Well, I think it looks great with this little card. I colored the stamp in with my markers to get the variety of colors you see on it. I got the idea from Inkspired Treasures but did change a few things. The sentiment is from a retired stamp set.

A Gift Card Card

Yes, I know I am repeating myself but that is what this is. A card for holding a gift card. Again I used the Artistic Etchings. I actually made this card months ago to submit for a contest but I did not win and I did not find where I had posted it so when I came upon it tonight I decided to show it to you all. It is like a matchbook card so that when you flip it open you have a place for the gift card.

Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder card

I was practicing one of my upcoming techniques and so this is one that I will be doing in the future. For this one I used the Manhattan Embossing folder and the brayer. I tried to make my roses look like the Princess Diana of Wales rose.

Natture Walk card

As promised, here is another installation in my Nature Walk file of cards. This one features the bird cage. I hand drew the chain so if it looks crooked, well it is! Don't you just love the Early Expresso?

Another Mini Case

Ok, I totally tried to CASE this one from the mini catalog. I did make a few changes though because although I have quite a lot of supplies, I did not have all the supplies the good folks at Stampin' Up! have! So, this is my version of the card seen on page 27 in the Occasions mini. Click here to download it and see for yourself.

Elements of Style

This card is much simpler than it looks. I used the embossing folder for the front and colored it with a spong. The florals were done with the heavy vellum and then colored from the reverse side. The card is done with Crumb Cake.

By the time you read this post, Sale-a-Bration (SAB) will have begun. Click here to see the mini catalog dedicated to SAB and see all the things you could get for FREE!

Sale-a-Bration Sneak Peek

I ordered this set right away because I love all the sets that have punches to match. How easy is that? So, I made this one trying to CASE one in the SAB catalog. I did not have the die cut so I made mine into a card. Now, to color the HB I had to stamp the stamp with Tempting Turquoise and then I re-stamped it using Versamark so I could emboss it. Then I used the Melon Mambo marker to color.

Nature Walk card

I hope you will not get tired of seeing cards with this set because after today I have 2 more to show you. This card features a piece of the designer paper that has the bird and measuring tape on it. I used that for my focal point and just went on from there. The lace is some antique lace I have laying around and thought it would do well on this card.

Masking Z-Fold Card

Ok, I got this card idea totally from a free tutorial and I liked it so much I copied it verbatim. Supplies used: Cajun Craze, More Mustard and Very Vanilla card stock. Inks-same + Early Expresso. Stamp sets: French Foliage, Elements of Style. I will show a couple of photos so that you might be able to see the Z-fold.

Valentine Treat

Ok, I got this idea from Kimberly Morris but I took it to the next level. This is made using 1/4th of a regular card envelope. That means you can make 4 for the cost of one envie! I love being miserly with my supplies. I used Real Red and the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set. I added the ribbon and a diamond to dress it up a little. Wouldn't this be quick and easy for a class of students? It is perfect sized to hold a mini candy bar.

One Piece Box

This little box is one piece of card stock cut, scored and folded so that the top and the box are all one piece. It lifts up so that you can fill it with goodies and would make a great table favor for any event. I again used the Bliss Sale-a-Bration set that will be available in only 5 more days! The colors are Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White.

P.S. I added the picture to yesterday's post. Don't know how I missed it but I did! Go back and look!

Faux Silk card

While I was playing with the new techniques I also tried my hand at the Faux Silk technique. I am not sure it is right but I like and wanted to share it with you all. I won't tell you how I did it here but if you want the technique drop me a comment and I will send you to the right place.

For this card I used the Because I Care hostess set. The colors I got from my summer hydrangea garden. This year my flowers started out bright blue but faded as the summer waned on. This is what they looked like to me so I used Concord Crush, Marina Mist and Whisper White. I added the drops using the Color Spritzer Tool.

Carolina Wren card

I love watching my bird feeder off my deck. Every afternoon when I get home from work I try to take a few minutes to just sit in the bay window and watch the birds. (Boy, do I sound old!) Any way, we have a lot of Carolina Wrens that drop by and I decided to make a card I saw based on this photo.

Building a Card Brick by Brick

I have been playing around with new techniques, at least they are new to me. This one is a card that I did by stamping the image then drawing off bricks and cutting and putting it back together piece by piece. The image is from the Just Believe set. I like the way it came out but it did take a while to cut apart.

BTW, Happy Birthday to my daughter-in-law, Ashley!

Graduation Card

I made this little graduation card using the new Take a Spin set. I stamped the round image seen here and then cut it apart to make a banner. I used the Celebrations DSP and Real Red and Whisper White cardstocks. The inks are Real Red and Pacific Point. It was simple simon to make.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

I decided to quickly throw something together for the ABC challenge...Baby, It's Cold Outside! Well, it is and has been cold here in Hotlanta (Hot Atlanta) since the end of Autumn. We have just been iced in for a whole week, no school, no mail, no trash pick-ups etc...We need some warmer weather and/or some rain to melt the ice. We got almost 6.5 inches at our house and we are in the shade. This is my walkway and driveway 6 days after the big event. Needless to say, I can't get my car out of the garage!

So, I made this little Envelope Album to put some snow photo's in for this week. These books are so quick and easy to make. As you can see, I kept within my comfort zone and kept it "Clean and Simple.

You can see the challenge here.

Have You Seen...Blog Candy Attached

Have you seen the new Occasions Mini yet? If not, click here to download it for your viewing pleasure. Today I am featuring a little piece of acrylic ware that is in this little mini. It is the beveled window pane. They are so pretty and make the focal point of your card just pop! There is also a matching stamp set that has stamps that look great in the window panes. They come in 3 sizes, 12 to a pack for only 7.95.

Ok, now on to the card. I used the Soft Suede for the base of the card. I embossed it with the new tulip border folder also in the mini. Then I added a piece of the Brights DSP patterns and stamped the little butterflies on it. I stamped the focal point with the set that matches the window pane called - Clearly for You. Iused Old Olive ribbon and hemp to tie on the pane. Nice, huh?

Ok, now for the Blog Candy. I am offering the Silhouette Sentiments stamp set clear for you if you can tell me what page I was published on in the Winter 2011 take ten Stamper's Sampler magazine. I will give you a hint, I have 3 cards in there and they are not on the same page. You only have to find 1 of them to win. I will do a drawing of all who post a correct page number. Sorry, no international shipping.

Challenge CCMC133

I decided that since it is the 4th day off from work due to the snow/ice that I would play along with Create with Connie and Mary's challenge. It was a color challenge and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it as soon as I saw it (unusual for me). I made a Post-It holder card.

BTW, Create with Connie and Mary have a wonderful website that they are featuring their Occasions ...Well, this is a excerpt I took from their blog. Check it out!

You'll enjoy an 5 week subscription to exclusive samples each day featuring the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-bration brochures. We'll also have challenges, tutorials, techniques and best of all, PRIZES! Customers and demonstrators welcome!

Another "No School" Day

Well, we are officially snowed/iced in. Not too many people are venturing out in Atlanta. The interstates have been closed for 2 days due to so many jack-knifed semi's. I am not complaining because I get to stay home, the power is on and I have some "free" stamping time.

I am actually working to get ahead because I am supposed to go to San Antonio next week for a church conference. I just hope the airlines are open on Saturday when we fly out.

Today I am showcasing a stamp set that is going to be available during Sale-a-Bration starting January 25th. This card uses the Bliss set. I love this set because I am just drawn to these kind of images. This card uses Elegant Eggplant for the base, also used is Whisper White and card stock vellum. The inks are Elegant Eggplant and Crumb Cake. I was able to use the regular ink and emboss the Bliss on the front of the vellum because the ink stays wet long enough to have the embossing powder stick to it. Who knew?

Good Morning Atlanta

Well, we have awakened to snow/ice yesterday for the 3rd time this winter. We were predicted to have a "mild" winter this year! I think it just goes to show that we are not in control but our creator has the whole world in His Hands. For that I am eternally thankful. I am going to attempt to show a few photos that I ventured out to take the morning. For obvious reasons (if you live in the South) there is no school today. I have not heard the official report, but at my house we have 6 inches of fresh powder today. Can you guess where my inspiration came from!

Nature Walk Class Preview

I have just gotten the new set Nature Walk and the matching DSP from the new Occasions mini and I am loving this set. I am checking my calendar to see when I can do a class with it. So mark your calendars for Saturday, Jan 30th at 10 a.m. We will be doing 6 cards with a matching box and envelopes for $25. Please RSVP so I can hold your spot.

P.S. If you pre-order the set and the matching DSP from me, your class fee will be only $20!

Fox and Friends Valentines

I saw that a chain store is offering a class of 3x3 Valentines and so I was inspired to make this one for my stamp club. I did get the idea from someone else but it is a changed a little to make it more simple. Enjoy!

A Work of Heart

I found this tray at a craft store and knew I wanted to do something with it. I have been looking at it for some time now and finally did it. I used photos and tickets etc from our Christmas trip to decorate it. We love to travel so it is our travel board. Now to find a great place to hang it! The lighting is BAD tonight so the photos look blurry but I think you get the idea. Don't you just love paper crafting and how you can express your own uniqueness in so many ways?!

Anniversary or Valentines card

I made this card with my stamp club this week. I actually used pieces from a Christmas card I did last year, at least the base and the top layers were leftovers! The DSP is called Love Notes and it is in the current 10-11 catalog. The colors are Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla. The hearts are from the I (Heart) Hearts set and the sentiment is from the Seasonal Sentiments set. One of my friends (Hi Sharon) came out on her anniversary to make cards. She said her hubby wanted to watch football so she wanted to make cards! This was going to be her anniversary card.

A Card Box

I made this quite a while ago but failed to share it with you all. I have been cleaning my "playroom" again and actually just found it again. This is a tin box that I found at a craft store. I used a Simply Scrappin' kit to decorate it. Then my hubby designed lined cards for me to use for the dividers. It is great to fill with cards and give to a good friend.

3” x 3” Note Card Tote

This was a fun gift to make. They will make nice "Thank You" notes for friends/co-workers who left you little goodies for the holidays. First I made the tote using Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla. I used a flower from the Just Believe set. The handle was made using the Eyelet Border punch. After I finished the tote I quickly stamped out 4 matching 3x3 note cards.

Imagine...3-D stamping

Ok, while I was in Bonaire and Curacao on Christmas it snowed here in Atlanta. It was reported to be the first White Christmas for Atlanta since 1882! I was basking in 84 degree air while it was freezing at home. We did travel home on the 26th and yes, there was still snow and freezing weather. So, the snow inspired me to make this card. The technique is called Shadow stamping or 3-D stamping.

What I did was stamp the trees in white and then again just a little off with the Early Expresso to give them a look of snow on the branches.

Acetate Card

I finally made my first acetate card and it was easy! I used some retired rub-ons to decorate the acetate. I then stamped the "frame" from the stamp set Just Believe. The sentiment is from Teen Tiny Wishes. I kept it simple. I have a friend who just retired from 30 1/2 years of teaching on December 22. This card is for her. She is moving now to Grand Cayman. I am seeing visiting possibilities!