Mojo Monday 176/ Button Curve

Okay, so it appears that I'm addicted to both my Sweet Buttons Embosslit as well as the Vanilla Satin Ribbon. Although both are true, it isn't quite as bad as it seems. Since my last post (which also uses both of these) I actually designed seven other cards--- none of which have buttons or satin ribbon. You just don't get to see them yet. :) Saturday was my first Quarterly Quarter event and I had such fun. Thanks to all who turned out. There was an incredible amount of card making going on by all. I brought down all of my SU toys and we just went to town. I can't wait for the next event! However, I'm saving my new creations to post while I'm on vacation in April. It's going to be hard to wait! Meanwhile...today's little number is simple and fun. It's just a little 41/4 x 4 1/4" square and there is nothing complicated about the design or execution. I really like it though. Today's Mojo Monday sketch called for a curve which I so rarely do on my cards & it's a "round or square" day so the shape is a bit different too. Oh, and I've also made it a goal to use more of my designer paper (today's is Springtime Vintage). Getting out of the box is a great way to start off a Monday...especially a cold an snowy one!

Button Button/ PPC #46

For the PPC Color Challenge this week, I decided I wanted to use the Cute By the Inch Hostess set and create little mini cards for my card front. I haven't done this style of card before, but really like the effect. I also really wanted to use my new Sweet Buttons Embosslit some more. I really like how it all came together. Of course, I felt a button card wouldn't be complete without an actual button. I added one of the Itty Bitty Buttons with a punched bit of Marina Mist behind it. Using the punch pack and coordinating buttons together makes things so easy! I know the color combo of Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, and Cherry Cobbler was kind of close to the one I used yesterday. However, I still wanted to take the opportunity to put these colors together in a totally different way. Thanks to PPC for the suggestion!

Love Impressions Fancy Favor

Here's another quick and easy Valentine treat holder. This time, I just ran a half sheet of textured 12 x 12 cardstock through the Big Shot with my Fancy Favors Die. I decided that Marina Mist would make a great sky. Before I assembled the bag, I used my Love Impressions Rub-ons on the bag front. That's it. I didn't ink a single stamp for this one. Everything is done using rub ons. They give enough of a finished look to the project that I didn't even do layers of cardstock! You may want to add these little Rub-ons to your Sale-a-Bration wish list. Remember, everyone who Sale-a-Brates with me in January will be entered into a drawing for $15 in free SU goodies. Contact me today if your wish list is all ready. Check in tomorrow for my take on the PPC color challenge of the week!

Love Impressions Matchbox

Welcome to Sale-a-Bration! We've entered the time of year where you can actually get free SU products for buying, hosting, and joining. Sorry that today's project doesn't feature SAB goodies yet, but I'll place my first order this afternoon. :) Today's little matchbox was something I put together as a door prize for Sunday's Valentine Theme Class. I think it would make a great favor for a classroom Valentine too. It's so easy! I ran a couple of pieces of cardstock through my Big Shot with the Matchbox Die, folded it together, added a little stripe & an oval with a Rub-On. That's it! Oh, and I filled up the box with peanut M&Ms too, of course. Check in tomorrow for another quick and easy Valentine using the Love Impressions Rub-ons.

Hat Pin Hello/ Mojo Monday #175

Such a happy little card, don't you think? When I saw the hat pin element on the Mojo Monday sketch this morning it made me a little nervous. I've never made a card with anything like that before! But, I remembered bits and pieces left over from a holiday ornament project that would work perfectly. I'm not sure how the post office deals with these, so it may be more of a hand off/ deliver in person sort of card. I'll work on that end of things. I broke out some colors that I haven't used in a while for this one, especially Sahara Sand. I've always used it in sort of muted cards, but I think it fits right in this cheery combo. I'm getting so attached to this card that I may draft up some directions and use it in Lakewood classes on Thursday and then next month in Longmont. Let me know if you would like for it to make a class appearance. Happy Monday!

A Flower for All Seasons Twine Lace/ Color Throwdown #125

When I took a look at the colors for Color Throwdown's 125th Challenge on Wednesday, the first thing that came to mind was "twine laces". I'm not sure why, but I try not to argue when this just pop into my head that way. It did make me flash back to a card a made a good while back which totally frustrated folks in class. Lacing twine was not their favorite! So, my goal was to create "no fuss" lacing with twine & I managed it! First, I created the holes using my Paper Piercer and the guide from the Mat Pack. This gave me perfectly spaced holes without any bother. Then, I cut my twine at an angle and, most importantly, added just a little glue. This kept the twine from unraveling or getting stuck as I went through the holes. At that point the lacing was a cinch. So, keep an open mind when this little guy appears at class. Give lacing another, much easier, shot!

For All You Do Little Leaves

Ah, a set I haven't had the chance to play with yet. That's always fun. I've seen TONS of great cards using the For All You Do stamp set and really wanted to make something with it. Of course, I had to make it a little different. I stamped the main images a few days ago while playing with my friend, Marge, and just put them together as a card today. I was clearly missing something with just the Poppy Parade and Basic Gray but it was so close... So, I added the Pear Pizzazz strip and then the idea of little leaves came to me. Out came my Build-A-Blossom set and the Blossom Petals Punch. While I was at it, I added a center to the large flower too. The colors all play well together and I like the random pattern of little flowers & little leaf groups. I didn't see a need to stamp the bottom leaf in each pair, so they are just plain. Now, the card is ready to fit any occasion!

Mini Calendar Stand

As far as I'm concerned we can keep wishing everyone a happy new year for the full month of January! One great way to do this is with a mini-calendar. This one used to grace a magnet passed out by a local business. I think it's much more fun on a little cardstock stand designed just for it! It's a great way to remind ourselves of the promises each new year holds. Resolutions are all well and good, but this little guy will last through the full year. It can make us mindful of what we've promised ourselves for 2011. I'm looking forward to lots of stamping! I want to have a Quarterly Quarter party each quarter, attend Stampin' Up Convention in the summer, and play more through out the year. I hope you plan to join me in some, if not all, of these adventures! Here's to a great 2011. :)

Circle Circus Mojo

My Mojo Monday comes a day late, but I'm a big fan of "better late than never"! I had a chance to play with the Circle Circus set for the first time in a while and was struck by how well the Cherry Blossom Embosslit went with this set. Therefore, I had to pair them together on a card. :) I may have gone a little flower crazy on this one, but I'll blame that on being a little bleary headed after spending WAY too long in traffic on the way home tonight (best to do a post in the evening when you work early in the morning). No complaints though, as it appears that the traffic was caused by an accident. I much rather take 30 mins to move 1 mile than be involved in anything that nasty! I tried something new with my ribbon this time around and I think it worked out pretty well. What do you think of this make-shift "bow"?

Birthday Bakery Meets the Cupcake Punch

Nope, it's not a Mojo Monday card. :) Sorry about that, but I had this one started and really wanted to see what it would look like in the end. I'll put together a Mojo Monday when I get home tonight... Meanwhile, isn't this one cute? During my Saturday class I had the chance to do a little coloring, so I broke out my much underused Birthday Bakery set & got to work. Thanks to all who made it Saturday! I had a great time and hope you all did too. One of the most wonderful things about stamping is meeting other stampers. Such lovely people! The stamp set for this one is a Level One Hostess Set which means you could qualify for it if you host your own stamping event! Remember February & March are the BEST times to host since everyone can benefit from Sale-a-Bration. You can get extra hostess goodies and all of your friends can qualify for SAB goodies for their purchases too. What a win/win situation! After I started coloring in all the confections on this stamp, I knew that the Cupcake Punch was required for this card. While I don't yet have the coordinating stamp set (notice I used the word yet), I think the punch stands on its own--- especially if you texture parts of it in the Big Shot. It's an image that looks great in a super frilly little pink number like this one, but I think it will work in a "manly" card too. I'll have to make that my next cupcake punch mission: Manly Cupcakes!

Springtine Vintage Butterflies

I must really be ready for spring because I find myself making more and more cards that feature butterflies. My very favorites are those from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit. They are just so easy to make and give an elegance to each card that features them. This time, I added a little something extra to the big butterfly. It's coated with Dazzling Diamonds glitter thanks to some Heat & Stick Powder. I cut my Always Artichoke layer using my Circle Cutter. We've finally made friends. :) I've found the secret to this tool is to use LOTS of temporary adhesive on the piece of paper you are trying to cut. Then, you get a lovely circle each and every time. Not enough adhesive & you'll only make a big mess. Trust me, I've made several of those. My frugal tendencies have to be curbed when I use the Circle Cutter. It's worth it in the end! This card makes me think of tea parties and luncheons in the garden sun. Perhaps I've read too much Austen? Or maybe it's just thoughts of my upcoming British adventure sneaking into my card making.

A Little Modification on a Long Lost Card

Months ago, I stamped the bits of this card at a team meeting with my upline & fellow demonstrators. Imagine my surprise when it surfaced during the new year's clean of my stamping studio! It was totally assembled, but otherwise ready to go. So, I brought it along with me to work on during my prep period as a substitute. Not much to prep for as a sub, but lots to stamp! I changed around the orientation of the card & added a little Jewelry Tag label. Isn't it cute? The "love" comes from a much larger sentiment in the Cottage Wall set, but I think it gives this card potential as a nontraditional Valentine. The use of both Certainly Celery and Old Olive makes the greens pop & the satin ribbon lends an element of elegance. I am so pleased I found this forgotten treasure and really wanted to share it with you!

Rocketship Mojo/ Mojo Monday 173

Another one of those "it looks more fun in person" cards. :) I know that the stars on the card could have been any shape, but I don't use my Stars die nearly often enough. So, I took out my Heat & Stick powder and glittered some up. My little rocket (from Pun Fun) is embossed using Glassy Glaze to give it a sheen that is sort of lost in this photo. Sorry! I made up a whole list of things I want to try while substituting a free draw day in art class. Today I checked one off by utilizing one of the tags from my Matchbox die. There three fun shapes that I never use unless I'm making a box. I think it's just because I don't think of them and they are on such a large die. As if running a big die through the machine is any more difficult than a small one! Sometimes I'm just plain silly.

Certainly Celery Priceless Emboss

My goal for today was to use Certainly Celery. Not a complicated goal, I'll admit. However, I keep almost reaching for this color and then going with Pear Pizazz or Wild Wasabi. Today I succeeded in finding a color combo with my challenge color that I really do like. Too often I find our friend, Celery, paired with Pretty in Pink or the like. I find I like it much better with Night of Navy and So Saffron. Then, I went details CRAZY. Perhaps I did too much? After embossing with white I decided I needed little Celery flowers. Then, the flowers "needed" Night of Navy centers. Oh, and my large flower required a brad and the embossed background was lacking some color contrast. So I added all that too. :) Sometimes I can't leave well enough alone. What do you think?

Elephant Valentine

He's simple, but sweet. :) I started playing around with my Love Impressions Rub-ons yesterday. I got as far as creating the Word Window with the cute little sentiment, added a heart, and then I was stuck. No idea what I wanted to do with it! I punched a bunch of hearts, made all sorts of layouts, and just didn't like any of it. It's kind of like writers' block for the stamper. So, I just left it on my desk and went about the rest of my evening. Then, this morning, it hit me. (The shower is often the best place for things to come together for me. No idea why, but that's how it works.) The color pallet of Pink Pirouette, Real Red, Whisper White, and Basic Gray made for a great pachyderm Valentine. Out came Animal Stories and the rest was easy. Whew!
I have a news flash for you all too. The Accidental Stamper is now on Facebook! If you're already part of Facebook, search for "The Accidental Stamper" and it will take you to the page. Stop on by and become a "fan". If you aren't part of FB yet, I've found that it's way too easy to join. Did you see that I added little share buttons at the bottom of the posts? That way it's super easy for you to share your favorites with all your friends.

Color Throwdown #123/ Itty Bitty Bits Build-a-Brad

This week's Color Throwdown threw me for a loop! One of the chosen colors is Cameo Coral which went away during the Color Renovation. I sold all of my Cameo Coral goods in my retired sale, so I had to substitute in Blushing Bride. Along with Baja Breeze & Always artichoke, they make a very sweet combination. After looking through the new Occasions Mini again yesterday, I was inspired to do more with the cluster of heart flowers from Valentine Defined. This set is turning out to be such a gem! I added little flowers from Itty Bitty Bits & punched them out with the coordinating Punch Pack. My other goal for today was to use a Build-a-Brad. I haven't done one in a long time, but I really like the look they create. The polka dots on my butterfly are very high tech...a pencil eraser served as a stamp! Of all the toys I have, it was just the right choice here. :)

PPC #44/ 5th Ave Floral Color Challenge

Okay, I have to admit that I wasn't so sure about the colors for PPC Color Challenge #44. Always Artichoke, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, and Chocolate Chip all together in one card? But, that's the point of a color challenge! So, I gave it a shot and decided to go with a sort of stream of consciousness stamping. Whatever came into my mind as I was going, I tried. Once I placed samples of each color in front of myself, Fifth Ave Floral was the stamp set that came to mind. So I tried it. I knew I wanted to use Tempting Turquoise ink and color in the centers using Tangerine Tango, but then it needed something more. My much neglected Crystal Effects came to mind. After a battle with the bottle (hint: don't use a paper clip inside to keep the opening clear...it rusts!) and some serious dry time I was pleased with the results. I followed the same method for the rest of the card down to the little pearl & circle accents. It was a fun time stamping! Flow stamping... I like it. :)

Night of Navy Magic

I decided to try out a fun new technique to get my Tuesday rolling this morning. It's called "back magic", but, since I've used Night of Navy on this card and because of the odd places this post could appear with a google search for those words, I've renamed it slightly. :) Of course, there is a tutorial over on Splitcoast. It's pretty simple though. Just stamp on dark cardstock using White Craft ink. Then heat set. Next, you color over your stamped image using colored pencils (I used my Watercolor Pencils) and add some flourishes with a White Gel Pen. Nothing to it! I had more trouble with my photography skills than the card! I think you can still get the idea from this pic though. Try it yourself and let me know how it goes! I'm off to make the most of the last day of winter break for the school district. I could be back in the substitute game tomorrow. One never can tell!

Mojo Monday 172

Welcome to 2011! It's excellent to start the year off with a sketch from the ladies over at Mojo Monday. My goal for today was to use some of my very favorite colors to create a card for my Hearts Theme class that could work for any occasion. So, here are Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron together in a heart card for all seasons. I thought about using Daffodil Delight in this one, but it was a bit too much. So Saffron really mutes the other colors to create a softer feel. I used my Color Spritzer Tool to add a little extra flare to the Wild Wasabi and Marina Mist cardstock pieces. I just love that toy, but find that it's not the favorite for everyone. You'll have to play with it at class to decide if it's right for you. It spices up the basic cardstock pieces without making too much of a jumble. I tried embossing them with the same folder as the back ground first. YIKES! Not a good plan! :) This one is a retirement card simply because that sentiment shows just how versatile a card it is. It could work just as nicely as a Valentine, sympathy, birthday, or get well card. Take your pick because Teeny Tiny Wishes has all those options!