Think Pink

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

As promised, I tried out my Cuttlebug after all this time, and it's time to announce: I LOVE IT!!

This card is my first creation using the new D'Vine Swirl A2 embossing folder I just got - and I love love love doing this! I think I'm in a whole new level of stamping heaven with this thing. The perky colors sorta reflect the mood I'm in right now - sparkling and happy!

Stamp set: Sparkling Summer
Colors: Pixie Pink, Gable Green
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, 2-way glue pen, Grosgrain ribbon in black and Celery, 1 3/8" punch, 1 1/2" punch (CM), and of course, the Cuttlebug!

Now it's time for me to go and get some pink lemonade for myself!

Howdy!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

This was an altered CD that I did just for fun. This cowboy just screamed "give me a lasso!" so I had to do it. This one made a great magnet for the fridge - kinda like artwork for your kitchen or anywhere that you can magnetize or stick it to, especially if you're into the country theme.

It also makes a great "howdy" card for a unique way to surprise a friend.

All the supplies are SU!, as usual - except for the CD!

Swap Spoiler!

For those of you that are in my group and are in the "Bringing Them Back" swap, you'll be getting one of these in your mailboxes soon!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

This card was for a swap with the theme "bringing them back," meaning taking a set that is relatively old but not retired yet and giving it a fresh makeover and new look. SO, I chose Little Hellos for my set to bring back. It's an appropriate card for me, too, because my sister and two of my friends are about to have baby boys!!! SO, I may just make a couple of extras for them!

Here's the details:

Sets: Little Hellos, Polka Dots & Paisleys, Label Classics
Paper: Sarah (SU!)
Colors: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana
Accessories: Slit punch, 1/8" hole punch, SU! markers, Bluebird grosgrain ribbon, Barely Banana brads, dimensionals

It's easy to put together and is a fresh and clean-as-a-baby look to send to any new mother. Enjoy!

7 Things About Myself (the second Tag I got!)

Jana has tagged me - this time to list 7 things about myself. Then I have to tag 7 others - but I don't know 7 people to tag so I'll tag who I can.... lol

1. I do accounting as my job but I HATE it.

2. I have always had a dream... and I remember it clearly the day I actually announced it to myself at the ripe old age of 3... I want to be a famous singer and actress when I grow up! Okay, so I suppose I'm grown up but I'm not there yet. Oddly enough, I haven't given up hope.

3. My mother is a very talented artist. She has been paid to do portrait paintings and other oils over the years, but she never made a profession out of it. She can even paint an entire nature scene on a THIMBLE! Talk about a steady hand!!

4. I'm addicted to reality TV. Seriously. My DVR is littered with all the shows I just can't miss... and I even visit a couple of them online to see what other scenes and interviews I've missed!! lol

5. I almost auditioned for the first American Idol. Okay, so I chickened out, but that was before this show was even on the air yet and I had no idea what I would have been up against. Now I wish I would have done it, but I haven't given up yet! You just may see me out there someday!

6. I met my husband 7 years before I ever dated him, and back then I thought I would never be able to hold a conversation with him because he all but refused to talk to me! I thought he thought he was too cool for me, which is a big laugh for us now.

7. My older brothers are identical twins, and people used to ask me if I could tell them apart. DUH! One is an Optometrist and the other is a priest. Who knew!

Okay, I have to tag someone now? Hmmmm..... okay, Jenny and Kaye!

Oh my, I've been tagged twice!

Okay, so I got tagged for saying seven things about myself (which I'll get to), but here's one I got tagged by Jenny! Here's my answers:

FOUR JOBS I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE: (working from most recent on back)
1) Accounting Department (yes, I'm the whole department) for Delta Mobile Software
2) Accounting Department (yep, again) for iPilot, Inc.
3) Accounting Department (yes a 3rd time) for First International Digital
4) Administrative Assistant at Motorola
(I'll summarize by saying, Not Too Boring, Boring, Boring and Boring)

FOUR MOVIES I'VE WATCHED OVER AND OVER:
1) 10 Ways to Lose a Guy
2) Just Like Heaven
3) The Incredibles
4) Monster House

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1) Loves Park, IL
2) Carpentersville, IL
3) St. Petersburg, FL
4) Algonquin, IL

Ugh, I'm so sick of Illinois. I miss Florida!

FOUR TV SHOWS I LIKE TO WATCH:
1) American Idol
2) Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?
3) The Bad Girls Club
4) The Real World

FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION:
1) Florida
2) Hawaii
3) Jamaica
4) Mexico

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1) Pizza
2) Pork Roast
3) Pozole (a Mexican soup)
4) Chocolate-chocolate cake

FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1) Hawaii
2) Hollywood
3) Getting a full-service Spa treatment
4) At the bank cashing a $1,000,000 check!


Now it's my turn, so I will tag Kaye!!!!

Wild About You!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

This one is what I came up with for the SCS Sketch challenge #120. It was sooo much fun since I just got this stamp set, the punch, and the paper today in my beautiful brown box! lol I have been wanting this set, and so it was great to give it a whirl.

The scan sort of distorted the colors a bit, but here's a list of what I used:

Set: Wild About You
Colors: Cool Carribbean, Almost Apricot, Certainly Celery
Paper: SU!
Accessories: Tab Punch from SU!, Apricot grosgrain from SU!

This card whips up in a snap, and was tons of fun!

Keep your eyes peeled...

I got my first embossing folders for the Cuttlebug I purchased almost two months ago. WOO HOO!! SO, keep your eyes open, cuz I plan on getting into my stamping space and will be trying them out for sure! Samples will be posted here as soon as I can get them completed.

Stay tuned!

Aloha!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Since I like it so much, here's another card based on the sketch challenge from SCS. I picked some tropical colors and my favorite tropical set, and away I went!

Sets: Do the Hula, Canvas BG

Colors: Cameo Coral, Cool Carribean, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White

Accessories: Aged Copper brad, hemp twine, dimensionals (for surfboard)

The mat size on this card is much smaller than the normal 1/4", so precise cutting is even more important when doing the mat of 1/8" like I've done here.

Other than that, I had a great time making this one and hope that it brings a bit of the "island spirit" to you when you see it, too.

Bright Birthday Balloons

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Say that ten times fast! lol

So this one was using SCS Sketch Challenge #105, and it's what I came up with. It was a gray day and I needed some cheer, so what better way to perk up than using Only Orange and YoYo Yellow together! Can I get a "woo hoo"?!

The scan doesn't show it, but there's Crystal Effects on the scooter at the wheels, the back fender, and the little headlight. It does add something to the look in person.

For the half-oval, use the Coluzzle cutting system, and cut the oval in half.

Sets used (all SU!): The Wheel Thing, Soft Swirls BG, Mini Messages, Everyday Flexible Phrases

I hope this brings cheer to your day!

Coupon Card

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

So we've all given cards that include gift cards, but have you ever made a card that WAS the gift card? Well, that's exactly what this card is!

Night of Navy and Rose Red make up the color scheme. Aged copper hardware and navy grosgrain ribbon accent the piece.

The gift is proudly displayed in the front, doubling as the design art, but here's the best part - the coupon is a tear-off! Just using the perforating blade from SU!s Cutter Kit along the left edge of the coupon makes it easy to tear off after reading the inside of card. By lifting the coupon at the ribbon and using the perforated edge as the "fold," you reveal the inside message that completes the sentiment. Basically, the layered Navy/Rose Red piece is the stationary base, and the only moving piece is the coupon.

Comment with any questions. I'll be happy to clarify. lol

By keeping this design simple, you don't overwhelm the men in your life, and you make it easy to re-create anytime. Enjoy!

French Flair

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

This was one that was an experiment with hardware again. The scan doesn't show it well, but the word inside the oval was stamped and attached to the hardware with the brads, then I filled it with Crystal Effects (SU!) and let it dry for a day or two until it was fully dry. It's important to let this stuff dry completely because if you touch it too soon, it will leave your fingerprint and make it harder to see through to the word clearly.

The French Flair background stamp (SU!) was embossed with Winter White embossing powder.

Cardstock used was Vintage Violet and Confetti White (SU!)

It was an interesting experiment, and while it's worth the effort to create that filled hardware piece, you certainly couldn't make this for a quick card, even though it's simple in its design.

Using that Hardware!

I have that Hodgepodge Hardware kit and like many of us, I have pieces that I have not been able to find a use for until I challenged myself to find a way to use them.... and came up with this simple and demonstratable card.

Stamp Set: All the Best
Colors: Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise
Hardware in Aged Copper

Be sure to use GLUE DOTS on this one, or the hardware won't stick!

On the leaf stamp, I used markers to color the stamp to get the two-toned image. Then it's just a matter of cutting around the leaf stem and feeding it into the buckle before sticking it down.

Celery and Turquoise grosgrain ribbon make a fun accessory to draw your eye to the buckle so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle. I used Gable Green to stamp a border along the edge to bring the top and bottom together.

It's fun and simple, and it gave me a reason to use that hardware, so go dig up your miscellaneous buckles and other pieces and see what YOU can do with them!

Happy Stamping!

Bleached Beauty

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

For this card, I was trying my hand at the bleach that hasn't touched my cardstock in a long time. I love this Artfully Asian set, and it cemented itself into my favorite list after playing with it a few times.

I first embossed the cherry blossom branches with Versamark and clear embossing powder. Then it was a small watercolor brush dipped in chlorine bleach that did the magic. The more bleach, the lighter the color. I used different amounts to create depth in the flowers. Then I painted the torn edge of the Elegant Eggplant cardstock with bleach to complete the look.

All products are Stampin' Up!, and the images are copyrighted by SU!, so please do not copy without permission.

I hope you like it.