Teacups Triangle Fold

Ready for yet another tutorial from our friends over at Splitcoast stampers? Today's tutorial is on a Triangle Trifold card. It's super fun and easy. After Friday's project I really wanted to make another card using my Morning Cup set. It's such fun! And I need to use my Springtime Vintage paper while I still can. All of the Occasions Mini items will be no longer available after Saturday, so make sure to get your order for these great products in ASAP. Okay, I must cut this one short because I'm off to work. Happy Stamping!

Tea Bag Holder

I have been itching to use my Morning Cup set, but didn't have a chance before I left on vacation. Then, I came across a great little tutorial yesterday on Splitcoast that taught how to make a tea bag holder. How could I resist that combination? So, I set to work. I tried to make sure the front of my holder will work nicely with any of the Springtime Vintage designer paper incase I decide to use this one in class. Next week will be the last time I can use that great pack of paper since the Occasions Mini catalog ends April 30th! The only challenge is that the insert that holds the tea bags requires a 6 1/2 x 7 piece of designer paper. It's a pretty big piece, but well worth it. If you're not into tea, you could always stuff the little side pockets with chocolate squares, folded up money, or whatever suits your occasion!

Bargello Woodland Walk

I'm back! We had a lovely trip and now it's time to get into the swing of things back home. In some ways, that's harder than I thought. This morning I had a big case of "stampers block". Usually there are all sorts of card ideas bouncing around in my head, but I drew a total blank today. Yesterday, I tried to stamp a bit but ended up just cleaning up the studio. Nothing would come! So, when my pseudo jet lag had me up at 5:30am this morning I decided to take a look at Splitcoast Stampers for some inspiration. There I found a tutorial on the bargello technique. It's a great way to use strips of designer paper in a whole new way. This is my first attempt. I decided to go with a simple zig-zag using my strips of Woodland Walk designer paper. Honestly, it looked even more impressive before I used the Big Shot, but I wanted a slightly smaller piece for this card rather than a full card front of bargello. Do you recognise the texture on the Garden Green piece? It's from one of SU's Texturz Plates & makes a great wood grain effect. Whew! I think I'm almost back in the groove now. :)

Ginkgo Leaves

I had lots of fun with this one. I've coveted the Leaf Lines set for a long time now. It's probably time for me to break down and buy it, but I'll admit that I stamped this little guy while at a friend's house (thanks, Marge!). I decided to try out the ginkgo leaf using Always Artichoke & Wild Wasabi ink. They make for a nice & natural feel, especially when paired with the hemp twine. I wanted a little more elegance for this one though, so the first layer of background cardstock is brushed gold. It goes to show you can be natural & elegant at the same time! The Always Artichoke layer is given a little something extra by adding the Sanded Background Stamp. Simple, but lovely.

Shimmer Butterflies from Scrap

Ah, we've reached the end of my creations from January's Quarterly Quarter party. This one doesn't photograph as well as I would like, so you're going to have to trust me on it. The whole card base is sprayed with gold Smooch Spritz which makes it all shimmer. Unfortunately, all that really shows up here are the larger blobs. In reality, it brings out the shimmer from the brushed gold circle behind the heart. The whole focal image is from my jar of unused bits. I did add texture to the Always Artichoke circle, but everything else is straight from the left overs bin. :) I almost decided against pairing the So Saffron heart with the Brushed Gold circle, but some of the other ladies convinced me that it is a good match. It's ever so nice to have other opinions when your designing a project! My husband does the best he can, but I think even he grows weary of me asking if "this looks okay".

Paisley Scrap Birthday

Back in the fall, I was experimenting with inking the Texturz Plates for my Big Shot. The results were pretty fun. So, I was pleased to find this scrap of textured Very Vanilla inked with Chocolate Chip. It reminded me a lot of the retired Wanted stamp set. So, I set to work creating a masculine birthday card. I distressed all the edges of my Always Artichoke layer to give the card a bit of a weathered look. The same trick really didn't work with the strip of Artichoke though (another one of those little 1/2" left overs). Instead I used the faux suede technique instead to make it nice and fuzzy. The Chocolate on Vanilla wasn't quite enough, but all of my circle punches were a bit too big. I was stuck until I remembered that the new Cupcake Punch makes tiny circles too. So I used it to create the Cherry Cobbler accents. My little circle with the sentiment felt a bit empty. I already had my distressing tool out and I decided to give another tool on that chain a try. It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but I perforated a line right above and right below the sentiment to help it stand out. It's the first time I've used that tool & I found it to be pretty handy! Finally I added a brad to fill up a bit more of my Vanilla circle. I find it hard to come up with "manly" cards, so I was pleased when this one surfaced from the scraps!

Simple Stripes Birthday

Those who know my paper addiction well will tell you I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to scraps. It's not as if I'll be on a tv show about it or anything, but I do like to keep little pieces I think are still worth something. So, each time I cut cardstock and have 1/2" strips left over, I keep them. I have a little bag of colored ones and another for neutrals. You see them make appearances on my cards pretty often. I also put them out at the Quarterly Quarter party so other folks can put them to use too. I wanted to make a card with them as the central focus, so I ran a few through the Big Shot using my Elegant Lines folder and paired them up with non-textured strips. It's the same folder as yesterday's card, but I think it gives a totally different feel. Breaking up the texture and then switching colors makes for a whole new attitude to the card. That's the great thing about the embossing folders--- we can use them all sorts of ways? Have you seen this folder used to create cupcake frosting? It's awesome!

Elegance Bird

It's time for more leftovers turned into a card! I know that you'll miss Mojo Monday as much as I do, but it can't be helped. I promise a return to "normal" as soon as I'm back in the states. This little black & white card was ever so simple to make. I reached into the jar of goodies again (it kind of reminds me of the island of misfit toys from Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer) & pulled out the embossed bird as well as the Tempting Turquoise circle. One of my stamping buddies had just used the Elegant Lines folder on Basic Gray with terrific results, so I thought I would try the same on Basic Black. That's one of the best parts of the Quarterly Quarter party: we all get to learn from each other. It's not like grade school when folks put up folders to keep others from copying! Instead, we get to use each other as spring boards in the creative process. It's great fun!

Butterfly on Grass Sympathy

Time for another of my random creations from the Quarterly Quarter event. This time, I reached into my jar of saved punched bits & pulled out the scallop circle (already stamped) and the Crumb Cake butterfly. Then it was time to create! I love using the strings of pearls from my Basic Pearls sheets to create butterfly bodies. It adds just the right touch. The serenity of the colors and images made me think "sympathy". So, I wanted a blue background for a sky effect, but I didn't want things too perky. To solve this problem, I put together the Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry layers for the bottom of the card. It keeps things subdued yet hopeful. That's the goal at any rate. On a personal note, I should have already been to Stonehenge by the time you read this. Tee hee... :)

Lattice Framed Butterflies

This time around, the frame I had to work with was left over from using the Lattice Die. It leaves behind an interesting shape that I have used before, but not quite like this. I was really surprised how well the Cajun Craze cardstock worked with the Concord Crush. It's not a color combo I would have put together normally, but I am so glad they came together on this one. After adding in the butterflies in Concord Crush and Perfect Plum (Regal Rose was one option I tried to disastrous effect!), I felt like the corners really needed something. So, I took out my Blossom Petals punch and made a few little leaves. Just the ticket! It's great to know I can use that punch even when I'm not making a full flower. The more versatile a tool, the more I like it. I left a sentiment off of this one because I wasn't sure it needed one. That, and it's just such a multi-purpose card that I wanted to leave it easy to switch for any occasion.

Giraffe Baby Card

Okay, assuming all went well, I'm off on my European adventure. Never fear though...I have saved up a bunch of cards to share with you while I'm away. Perhaps I'll even check in now and then with some travel stories. :) Today's card is the first of those I'll share with you from my Quarterly Quarter party back in January. It's a fun event where I bring all my SU supplies downstairs and folks just play. We make cards with scraps & leftover bits and pieces. Much fun is had by all. That's a requirement! For this card, I grabbed a frame left over from making a Top Note (I save EVERYTHING) and used it as my starting point. The giraffe selection came next and it all just came together from there. I wanted a card that would work for either gender and I think the little flowers (bless my Itty Bitty Shapes punches) make that happen. A fun surprise card for me. That's what happens when I decide to start with one random piece--- I rarely know where it will take me!

Tweet Tweet

Isn't he just super cute? This morning the birds were tweeting away outside (even thought it was still dark out) and I felt inspired to make something with a set I have on loan. (Thanks, Cindy!) He is just so cheerful and I love the little curvy branch. Such fun! I kept everything super simple today. I didn't even use any embossing folders on the back ground. While that may be because I darn near lost my mind searching for a missing one last night, I like to think not. :) Incidentally, if I loaned anyone my Square Lattice Folder please grant me back my sanity and remind me of that. :) Heck, my studio is even clean and it's still no where to be found. Don't you hate those moments? Anywho, back to my little bird friend... I think Pacific Point is definitely his color, don't you? I branched out a little bit (excuse the pun) and used Soft Suede today for my brown. It's one of my "little used" colors, but I really like it here. My extra bits of color come from a strip of Sunny Garden DSP. That pack is so bright and cheerful! So, this is my salute to spring! It sure feels like it out there. Now, I'm off to enjoy it!