Color Throwdown #277

And, here's another contender for class next Sunday.  I went over to the Color Throwdown to see what they were up to this week.  As always, they had an excellent color pallet for me to put to use.  This time around it was Regal Rose, Baked Brown Sugar, and Soft Sky.  I didn't know what I wanted to create, but the Regal Rose made me itch to use my new Spiral Flower die.  There's no way this 3D beauty will make it through the mail on its own, but it is perfect to deliver in person or add to a gift box/bag.  I seem to be using a ton of my framelets this month too.  Each card seems to feature at least one if not more!  My guess is it's the ease that my Magnetic Platform gives me in using them now.  I'm afraid they used to collect a lot of dust because it just wasn't as easy to use them as my punches.  The certainty I get when using my Magnetic Platform changed all that though. It's easy as pie!  Ok, time to remember that this Sunday is focused on more than just crafting.  I think there's a football game of some sort I'm supposed to watch. ;)

Ribbon Framelits Case

Ah, it's Christmas card time again!  I saw a version of this card at Stampin' Up Regionals in Denver and knew I just had to make it.  All of the fillings for each framelit come from ribbon.  It was such fun to use ribbon in a brand new way.  It creates unexpected texture and is super easy to do.  I resisted buying the Holiday Framelits Collection and the  Scentsational Season set that goes with it, but since SU offers it as a bundle, how could I go wrong?  Of course, the stamps aren't featured in this card. They are super cute though and will make fun additions to the liner & envelope.  I hope folks like it at my Fancy Xmas Card Class tomorrow!

Jerry's Core'dinations Birthday

Welcome to August and the start of the Holiday Mini Catalog season!  Today is also my father-in-law's birthday.  So, to kick off both events in style I created a birthday card for Jerry with some of my new toys from the Holiday Mini.  I started out with the super exciting Core'dinations cardstock. This cardstock comes in three colors (Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, & Gumball Green) and has a slightly lighter shade hidden in its core.  Hence the name.  The hidden layer comes out when you texturize &/or sand the paper.  I did both here to bring out the sort of Crumb Cake layer beneath.  For sanding I Used the new Stampin' Sanding System you can also find in the Holiday mini.  I also used a few new Big Shot toys on this card. The Wood grain embossing folder was simply a must as was the Lacy Brocade (used on the large leaf).  Speaking of the large leaf, that lovely maple leaf is part of the Autumn Accents Die you'll find on pg 33 of the mini catalog.  Never fear, there is a coordinating stamp set for that die.  Stampin' Up makes things so easy!  Visit my website to view the new holiday mini catalog or contact me today to get your own copy!

Happy Birthday Wishes/ Pentagon Treat Box

Yes, I do know that it's Valentine's Day, but it's also my friend's birthday. So, while it may seem crazy to not post a Valentine today, I wanted to share this great little box with you instead. I made it as a wrapper for a tiny birthday gift. Isn't it fun? As a Stampin' Up demonstrator one of my many perks is a monthly magazine. SU has just done an overhaul of this magazine and filled it up with all sorts of ideas I can't wait to try. This little box was one of them. With just a 5 x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock & my Simply Scored it was a cinch to make. The ends are closed using two Simple Flower punches. Ever so simple and yet very functional. It would make a great container for little Valentine treats as well! Too bad I didn't learn how to make them until it was too late for this year. Oh well, there's always next time!

A Recycling Challenge

A few weeks ago, one of my stampers gave me a bit of a recycling challenge. She has a whole bunch of little bitty tins and wanted to know if I could do something crafty with them. I think my mind has been chewing on this challenge ever since. Today I decided to experiment. I've created a mini magnetic shadow box with the tin and it was super fun. It's a tribute to Sale-a-Bration too! I used some of the Everyday Enchantment paper along with the butterfly brad from the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack. The Everyday Enchantment line is available only though SAB and I'm very taken with it. Before the promotion ends in March I know I'm going to get my hands on more of both! When something this lovely comes as my free bonus, I know I'm dealing with the right company. :) If you want to make sure you get your Everyday Enchantment paper or accessories contact me today to place an order, or pop on over to my website and click on "shop now".

Thanks, Cindy!/ Owl Punch Turned Penguin

My dear upline, Cindy, held a holiday team party just a couple of weeks ago. It was a great time to get everyone together and craft. We made a couple excellent make and takes that inspired me to have a Christmas Crafts class after all. This little guy is simply too cute. I've made a penguin from the Owl Punch before, but I love the idea of adding a little extra show with the Peppermint Bark square. The package for the candy acts like designer paper. Do you recognise the little guy's beak? It's one of the flower centers from my Triple Layer Punch. Clever, huh? Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone. I added the little "merry" tag as well as the button/jingle bell combo. Ever since I saw the tiny little bells in the Holiday Mini catalog I feel like no winter project is complete without at least one! Tonight we'll make this little fellow along with other projects perfect for gifting. I can't wait & I'm so excited to be back to blogging. Winter break will be a great chance for me to create a back log of projects to share with you. Just two more school days left...

Button Buddies Flower Tent

Last one! This is the fifth project for the Buttons, Ribbon, & Paper Oh My classes. Simple and cute. It shows off two of the new In Colors: Pool Party & Island Indigo as well as the new Ruffled Ribbon that I fell in love with at Convention. Never fear, I have a ribbon share available for this one too. :) The little flower button is part of the Brights button assortment. The fun part for class will be that all the colors of the flower will work great on this card. That way there are plenty of buttons to go around. Since the card is so nice and cheery, it could work well as a "get well" or just a friendly little "hello". We haven't made a tent card in class since the Build a Roo Valentine and I thought it was time to switch things up a bit. An easel & tent card all in the same class, do you think we can handle it? It just struck me that this is the THIRD card for this class that uses Bakers Twine. I guess that's another thing I discovered at Convention, huh? It's just so versatile for adding a little accent! I can't wait for classes. :) The first one is in Longmont tomorrow--- such fun we will have!

Doily Kissed Flower

I just can't seem to get enough of the new Delicate Doilies set! When my sister-in-law (and fellow stamper) saw the set she said it just shouted out "kissing technique". Huh...I hadn't thought of that. So, of course, I had to try it out. My little Awashwith Flowers bloom looks great with doily details, don't you think? This card also features my favorite new In Color, Wisteria Wonder. It's lovely & coordinates so well with the stamped images in the classic Elegant Eggplant.

Now, if I can just shake the feeling that today is Monday, this work week will be off to a great start. :)

Convention Swap

We're quickly approaching my first ever SU convention. It's less than a month away and I know how fast that month will go! So, I sat down and tried to plan out a fun, yet simple swap project. I know my work schedule isn't going to leave me with much time for swap creation, so I thought I would stick to a bookmark rather than a full card or card front. I also wanted to make something that was really for my fellow demonstrators. My upline, Cindy, was kind enough to bring home a Statement of the Heart stamp from a past convention. That's what I used to create this little guy. I also took my triple layer blossom punch to several of my Occasion Mini Catalogs to make the frames for each flower. The end result is a little keepsake that I hope others will enjoy. Now, if I can just find the time to make them...

A Flower for All Seasons Farewell

When I talk about the Last Chance List, I tend to focus on just the stamps. However, there are other things that disappear at the end of the month too. For example, the Photo Corners Punch & Build a Brads will both "retire" come July 1st. Also, there are a whole bunch of Stampin' Around Wheels. The one used on this card, Whimsy, was my very first wheel & makes such a fun & versatile background. So this card is really a farewell to much more than just A Flower for All Seasons! It uses four different products that are on the list. Whew! That's a lot of goodbyes. Yesterday I finally got my copy of the new catalog & I can assure you we're in for a whole bunch of fun hellos soon! No worries.

Color Throwdown 142/ Strength & Hope Wedding

It's been a while since I've participated in the Color Throwdown & I would like to get back in the habit. This week's colors include Basic Black, Basic Gray, & Lime Green. For my green selection, I picked Certainly Celery. I knew I wanted to use the elegant butterfly from Strength & Hope & then the rest of the card just sort of flowed. :) Remember that for every Strength & Hope set SU sells they will donate $2 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Also, I'm going to enter everyone who buys one from me in May into a drawing for one of my unmounted stamp sets. It's really hard for me to create a wedding card, but the season is upon us! I wanted this one to be simple, but elegant. With fewer pearls, I think it could easily become a sympathy card as well. Odd, how those two can pair so well. I inked up my Texturz Plate with Basic Gray to form the background & sponged both the Certainly Celery pieces with Basic Gray after I embossed them. A little sticky strip let me play with my ribbon to create a fun layered look. I'm sure it wouldn't go through the mail well, but most of my wedding cards are put in packages or at least delivered by hand. Then I don't have to worry about mailing issues!

Mojo Monday 191/Printed Petals Leaves & Dots

Welcome to a brand new week! As usual, I get to start my week off with a great sketch from the ladies over at Mojo Monday. Today, I decided to keep things simple. No crazy new techniques or experiments for this one. I also decided at the start that I wanted to use Certainly Celery as one of my colors. So, with that & the sketch in mind, I started. Thinking about the lovely light green of Certainly Celery, I remembered the great leaf scallop from my Printed Petals set. I'm such a sucker for a great deal, so when SU put this set on sale for May (30% off!) I just couldn't resist. Now, I'm glad that I didn't show more willpower! It's very versatile. I also had some Certainly Celery ribbon from a ribbon bundle I snagged off the Clearance Rack. I guess the real theme for today's card is "what a bargain"! The designer paper is one of the more subtle sides of Sunny Garden. My leaf is the Little Leaves Sizzlit. Some days I have a bit of trouble getting that one off the die, but today it decided to cooperate. Perhaps it's a good omen for the week! It just went so well with the stamp that I had to give it a try.

Recycle Vintage Style

Okay, I'm really excited about this one. Of course, it doesn't photograph as well as I would like, but that happens. I created it Thursday night during card class, but blogger wasn't working yesterday morning so I had to wait to share. Imagine my frustration! :) This card started because I wanted to play around with my new Triple Layer Punch. I'd only experimented once before and didn't have the results I wanted. Then I discovered that was because I tried holding the punch while using it just like I do with all my other SU punches. Once I put it down on a table top, all was well! I've also been trying to find a creative way to use up catalogs once their sales period is over. So, I took out an Occasions Mini and went to work. I kind of wish I would have photographed this card in stages. I assembled everything with curled up corners, the two brads, & the torn paper so I was well on my way to the vintage look. Then I added the two stamped images from Tiny Tags. We were getting closer. Next, out came my Color Spritzer Tool & I added the black splashes. Almost there. Then, I got really brave, and took out my Smooch Spritz. I spritzed the whole card, ribbons and all (thanks to encouragement from the folks at class!). I was so afraid it would ruin the whole card, but I love the effect it creates. You'll have to see it in person. My ribbon is so shinny & the whole card really feels complete. Mission accomplished! I think I'll play more with punching bits from my old catalogs this afternoon. Stay tuned to see how that experiment turns out. :)

It's Summer! (Almost)

Wow! Doesn't this one just about shout "Summer"? I've been spending lots of time in schools the last couple of weeks and you can just feel the almost summer vibe. Perhaps that's where this card came from. I really wanted to experiment more with the new colored embossing powders from the Summer Mini Catalog & saw a great technique that showcases them inside our demonstrator magazine. It's how I made the multicolored central flower. You just mask parts of the flower while you add the different colors of powder. Super simple, but such a "wow" effect when you're finished. This set is a brand new one for me. I couldn't resist when I saw it was 30% off for the month of May. Little did I know at the time that it would be just a great fit for this new technique. :) My biggest challenge on this card was finding the finishing touch that told me the card was done. I had it all almost assembled before I realized it needed a Jumbo Brad in the center of the flower. That was it! It's always such a relief to find that last little bit that makes my design complete. I hope this one adds a little summer sunshine to your day!

Mojo Of Hope/ Mojo Monday 189

I'm back! Sorry I've been MIA lately. I'm afraid that the sniffles hit me with a vengeance. Last week, I was down for the count for most of the time. However, I'm back in the swing of things now. At least I hope so! What better way to get things started than with a Mojo Monday sketch?

I knew my design for today would center around the Strength & Hope set from the new Summer Mini. I'm excited about this set, not only because it's lovely, but because it's a set with a cause. For every one of these sets SU sells, they will donate $2 to Breast Cancer Research. Perfect for the month of may, don't you think? It's why I'm centering my May drawing around this set. Everyone who purchases Strength & Hope from me will be entered into a drawing to win a set from my hostess set grab bag. So, let's stamp and make a difference all at the same time!

Fishes 4 You

Where have I been? Well it wasn't jet-setting, I promise. Nope, I have my posts all lined up for when I'll actually be out of town. Life just got in the way of stamping this week! Or, stamping got in the way of stamping, really. I had some great classes & I've been making cards for the Horseshoe Market in May. However, most of my Horseshoe cards are made from retired goodies or are cards you all have seen before. This one is no exception. You guys have seen my favorite little Ornament Punch fish, but there are a few things I wanted to share about this one. First off, the Bermuda Bay & Crushed Curry textured cardstock come from the Clearance Rack. It's such fun to hop over to shop SU online and find bargains! Just visit my SU site & click on "shop now". I recommend it for getting in your last minute Sale-a-Bration orders. Remember: SAB ends TOMORROW! On Friday it will all be over. Another bit I wanted to point out are the larger Tempting Turquoise circles. They are left over from the great Cheers to You Glitter Window cards we made in class. Using up our left over bits will be the focus of my Quarterly Quarter Party on Sunday. Let me know if you can stop in to make some cards!

Simply Adorned Charm

Here's something a little different...stamped art you can wear! I finally broke down and got myself a Simply Adorned Charm & Chain. I love the idea that I can change the image inside whenever I want. That way I can have a necklace for all seasons & I get the fun of making it happen. For the first time around, I decided to keep it simple. I inked this lovely little image from Tiny Tags using my makers & just added a tiny accent with a small circle (love my Punch Pack) and a pearl. It was so fast and easy! I've already gotten compliments on this one. It makes me excited to try again. The charm is 1" x 1" so I'm looking forward to challenging myself with a tiny canvas. I'll wear this one at classes this month so you can check it out up close & in person!

Tiny Butterfly Bliss Thanks

I find myself in need of little cards all the time. Perhaps I want to leave one on the teacher's desk after I substitute or I want to stick one into a bag of stamping goodies or I want to just leave one around to be unexpectedly found. They're super fun to make because they are so small. Don't let this fool you though, they can be some of the best cards! This little guy is just 3"x3" but it's full of goodies from three stamp sets! It all started with a scrap So Saffron Circle that I found in my collection of punched left overs. (That's how many of my tiny cards start out.) Everything else just fell into place. I'm particularly pleased with my use of the large background image from the Bliss Sale-a-Bration set. It works nicely with this smaller format. So, brighten some one's day and leave a little TGIF card for them tomorrow. It will leave you both smiling!

Sweet Summer Watercolor

In my last order, I finally got my very own Watercolor Crayons. I decided to start with the Brights collection since water coloring tends to lighten colors anyway. I'm so glad I'm switching over to the crayons! My Watercolor Pencils were okay, but these were a real pleasure to use. I love that they come in all the colors...not just a few general ones. Out came my water color paper & my Stazon ink so I could make the most of my new toys. I colored in the little butterfly using Daffodil Delight & Pumpkin Pie, but the end result looked so much like Peach Parfait that I decided to use that as the card base & accent color. I don't think I would have normally thought to pair it up with Rich Razzleberry, but they really seem to work together. My sentiment is courtesy of Tiny Tags while the background is my new big stamp obsession, Sanded. It's just so versatile that I find myself using it all the time on different types of cards. I can't believe I waited this long to add it to my collection!

Ornate Blossom Kissed Mojo/ Mojo Monday 180

A Mojo Monday creation with all new toys! I've been wanted to make the "kissing technique" work for a very long time. I just didn't have the right stamps to make it work. Well, I received both the Ornate Blossom & Fine Flourish free via Sale-a-Bration & they make a perfect pair for this technique. I inked up the blossom with Blushing Bride first & then I inked up Fine Flourish with Early Espresso. Next, I stamped the Fine Flourish image on to the blossom. Ta dah! Now I had a flower with two colors and a fun pattern as well. Of course, its size made my Mojo Monday sketch a little off but I think it works none the less. My sentiment comes from another new to me set: Tiny Tags. They are such tiny gems!