Erin, this one's for YOU!

A friend of mine asked me for an idea for an invite for a 2-year-old's birthday party, using Crab & Company as the stamp set. Here's one I came up with for using limited supplies, a short amount of time, and with extra cuteness for the little one! Here's the card, Erin - I hope it's what you are looking for!

This one is a square size, 4.25" x 4.25"

Sets: Crab & Company, Sincere Salutations

Colors: Bashful Blue, Tempting Turqoise

Other: turquoise ribbon, dimensional (on the present only)

Marker Coloring Details: Shrimp-Cameo Coral, Crab-Real Red, Sand-Sahara Sand and Creamy Caramel, Shell on cake clam-Sahara Sand, Flame on candle-YoYo Yellow, Hats-Tempting Turqoise and Bashful Blue puff, Present-Turquoise ribbon

Erin, email me if you have any questions about this one. Everyone else, I hope you like it!

Turkey Day card.... SUPER late!

Well I promised I'd post this card, and unfortunately I have not been on in a while... but here's the card I did. I figure it's worth posting it anyway, even if the holiday is long gone:Quick explanation for the martini glass - when I was growing up, my grandmother on my mom's side hosted Thanksgiving at her house. There was lots of good food, family, and great memories. My grandparents were not big drinkers, but they did enjoy their martinis. So, I have fond memories of them making their gin/vermouth martinis with 2 or 3 olives... and that became as much a part of my memories as the veggie trays and lumpy mashed potatoes. Now my grandparents are long gone, but this year I had them just as much in my heart as always, so I had to include an homage to them in this years card which was only sent to those who remember them too - my family. I hope you enjoy it!

Sets: Voila to Go, Houndstooth (BG), Cheers!
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Other: mesh tape, dimensionals

I stamped yesterday!

Thanks to my lovely 7 year old, I got down and stamped some Thanksgiving cards. I just didn't have time to post them yet. I'll try to get them up for you tonight, or maybe tomorrow. Mondays are crazy for me now... ahh!!! Just wanted you to know I'm still here and trying to get my stamping mojo back!

Everyone loves Cupcakes... especially for their Birthday

My sister's birthday is Wednesday, and this is the card. Wanna know how old she is? 10? 15? Nope, she's hitting 40. Bet you'd never guess it with this cutsey card, but she's about as girlie as anyone I know, so oddly enough, this fits her. I can't wait to see if she likes it.
I had fun making this cupcake. First, I masked the words out of the big birthday cupcake so that the cupcake was blank. Then I cut out the bottom from Kraft cs and ran it through the crimper. FUN! The tag was done by coloring it in with a SU! marker and stamped, then using iridescent ice embossing powder to give it some sparkle.

I got a handful of thank you notes done, and I did them using a coloring source that I have been neglecting for FAR too long - my watercolor crayons! I did the classic method - I colored directly on the stamp, spritzed it lightly with water, and then stamped on watercolor paper. What an easy and cool way to watercolor!

Sets: Inspired by Nature, Wonderful Words
CS colors: Orchid Opulence, Watercolor paper
Watercolor Crayon Colors: Orchid Opulence, Summer Sun, Garden Green
Other: Stazon Black, sliit punch, gold eyelets

Hey, I'm one of the Undead....

Boo!! Happy Halloween!! And yes, I'm really not dead. lol I have not had the mojo the last few weeks, but I had one little tidbit to share with you today - and since today is Halloween, I'll share our pumpkin carvings instead of cards. I hope you enjoy them - it's the first time I ever did "fancy" carvings using those stencil books.... however I was pretty excited at the results. Here they are - both are lit up, but one is in the dark and one is in the light... just for the effect of both.

Have a Spooktacular Day!!

I'm on a roll....

Yep, it's ANOTHER Christmas card. I promise to change things up again soon, but I just couldn't resist. Honestly, I'm one of those ladies who is first to complain when I see Christmas displays in stores in September. lol I hate thinking about winter before I absolutely HAVE to. However, when it comes to making those Christmas cards, I just have to get started early i fI can becaus ethe shopping season and the chaos involved in planning and get togethers and all that, I always seem to run out of time to get those cards going. So humor me if you can, and keep checking back to see if I make anything else! lol
And don't underestimate the usefulness of the personalized stamps SU! makes... I had this "blessings" stamp made a few years ago and I LOVE having it, so I just have to hand write our first names and I'm all set. And this sentiment works for all occassions, not just Christmas. Keep it in mind for your cards this year!

Sets: Circle of Friendship, Riveting (retired), Season of Friendship (snowflake on bottom)

Colors: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou

Other: Cuttlebug snowflake EF, sponge brayer, scalloped circle and 1 3/8" circle punch

Notes: After embossing the snowflakes on the white layer, I used my sponge brayer to add Soft Sky ink to highlight the snowflakes. They show better and it adds character, too.

Another Holiday card idea

Not my best photography, truly. But, another holiday card idea is just the ticket for this time of year (though I LOVE making Halloween cards, which I should probably do soon!), if you want to get started early. I had the coolest idea - to run a transparency (acetate) sheet through my Cuttlebug for some clear snowflakes! It looks cute in person, but I am not too sure about the photo (due to the glare). Anyway, with some color coordination and the right snowflake stamp, this background compliments these cute little snowmen, don't ya think? it's a simple design, but when you're making many multiples of one style, you gotta have something that's easy to reproduce... so this is one that whips up quickly. Here it is:
Sets: Circle of Friendship, Season of Friendship (snowflake), Season by Season ("christmas")
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss
Other: Red grosgrain, acetate, CB snowflake EF, glue dots, dimensionals, blender pen

Holiday Greetings

So I finally decided to get things started with my holiday cards this year, and I made up this dozen or so cards using some of last year's InColor products I had. Soft Sky is featured, along with the Soft Sky DSP. It's a bit hard to tell, but there are snowflakes all over the panel with the tree, but they are also in Soft Sky so they got washed out in the photo. Sorry 'bout that. Anyway, I really like the softness of these cards. I may just make a few more of these. ; )
Some of them I mixed patterns and some I matched them. It just depended on what I felt like at the moment. I'm unpredictable that way. : )

Sets: Season of Friendship, Sincere Salutations
Colors: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
Other: scalloped edge punch, white eyelets

Shellabrate!

In my quest to be ahead of the game for holiday cards this year, I made a handful of them with my favorite theme - beach!! A few years ago I wanted to get my hands on a set of SU!s called Sunny Seasons Greetings, and I never got it. I have wanted it ever since. So this year when I saw a beachy theme for the holidays, I wasted NO time in purchasing that set! So this is the first one I came up with, but there will definitely be more to come! It's also using the SCS sketch SC196 (sortof). Here's the card:Sets: Shellabrate, Totally Tabs
Colors: Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom, Barely Banana, Kraft
Other: tab punch, SU markers, paper piercing tools, clear EP, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, hemp twine, CB swirl and Swiss Dots embossing folders

To get the sentiment shiny, it's my Close to Cocoa craft pad and clear EP over the top. The shell "tree" is super glittery all over, but you only see highlights in the photo, as usual. I hope you like it anyway!

Recipe Fun!

I love love love swapping 6x6 recipe cards with my stamping friends! Not only do you get great page and stamping ideas, but you get great recipes for your kitchen! (If you're in my swap and don't want to spoil the surprise, don't read or look on!).

I almost always tend to make my pages using earth tones, just because earthy colors say "food" to me more than other color families (although bright colors say fru-fru drinks better than any others)... and this page is no exception. Here's what I did for my italian sausage recipe (my mom's italian sausage is incredible!):
Tee hee, I bet you just spent time trying to read the recpie now, didn't you?? BUSTED!! If you can read it, more power to you (and be sure to tell me how much you like it once you make it), if not, you had to be in the swap to get the goods! ; )

Sets: Sock Monkey, Voila to Go
Colors: Garden Green, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red
Other: Cuttlebug Mesh EF (embossing folder), Weathered DP (SU!), blender pen, Real Red eyelets (SU!), paper peircing tools, white gel pen (SU!), dimensionals

Yum Yum... enjoy!

In Color Birthday Wishes

So I decided today to make a handful of birthday cards for some friends who are having birthdays this month, and I also wanted to use more of my InColors since they haven't gotten a whole lot of wear so far... and this card ended up being not only easy and fun to make, but it would work for both men and women - you can't get more versatile than that, right? So to create this one, I stamped the grass in the background with Versamark to not overpower when I stamped the sentiment over it in black. I then stamped the leaves in black Staz On on Confetti Vanilla cs. Then using stipple brushes, I pounced some color over the leaves to make them pop. Gold brads and coordinating brad washers with a bit of piercing complete the look.

Sets: Inspired by Nature, Upsy Daisy (sentiment), Organic Grace (hostess L1)
Colors: Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Confetti Vanilla
Other: Piercing tools, gold brads, 1/4" circle punch, dimensionals, stipple brushes

Have a beautiful day, everyone~

You're On My Mind

Ahhh, new stamps. The beautiful clean rubber and wood... the excitement of creating something completely new using something you have never used before - the feeling is something magical to me. So I played with colors that are Earthy and warm since the weather is finally getting cooler and Fall is officially in the air now, and here's what I came up with: To create depth in the flowers, I used my SU! markers directly on the rubber, in both Summer Sun and More Mustard. Then I went over a few areas in Summer Sun directly to the cardstock to blend, and I am really happy with the results! I also dug out my old Hodgepodge hardware kit and used a couple of the pieces I've been hoarding for a couple of years. Ahh, to use what I have is a beautiful thing!

Sets: Inspired by Nature, Upsy Daisy

Colors: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Garden Green

Other: Hodgepodge in Aged Copper, Mustard and Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon

WSCC6 - Floral

So I finally participated in my own color challenge (see a couple of posts below for details), and here's the card I came up with using the three colors in the challenge. This was another chance for me to use my new stamp sets, as well as my new embossing folder (swirls and birds) from Cuttlebug. Here it is: Set: Eastern Blooms
Colors: Elegant Eggplant, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette
Other: CB Birds & blooms, pink rhinestone brad, 1/2" circle punch, dimensionals

You Rock!

Well, I finally got to stamp for a bit today! I'm still feeling tired and dizzy, but at least I can sit without the room spinning. WHEW! Anyway, a quick story: A couple of weeks ago, my mom bought this shirt for me that has the little skull & crossbones on it (perfect for this season!), and I am wearing it today for the first time. AND, I just got my new Just Jawing set last week so I'm excited to play with it - so I took the color scheme from the shirt and put it into this card. Here's the card:
I heat embossed the skull and then cut out the cameo coral hearts and glued them into the heart eyes. I thought it was kinda fun! I hope you like it!

Set: Just Jawing
Colors: Black, Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral
Other: Silver brad, silver swirl slips, silver cord, white embossing powder, dimensionals

I'm sick!

Sorry I haven't posted in the last 5 days... I have been busy with life the last couple of days and then yesterday I had a massive headache, then today I woke up feeling weak and dizzy. It's been icky all day, so I have missed 3 good stamping days - boo hoo!!! I miss it! I'll try to get something posted in the next day or two, but thanks for your patience, friends. I miss you!
Okay, it's back to bed for me for now....

Hugz~

Blog Challenge

Hi friends! I have a new color challenge posted on my MSN group, but before I make my own project later this week I wanted to pose the challenge to you bloggers, too! Here's the color scheme: Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette and Elegant Eggplant. SO, if you are up for a challenge, simply create your own project using that color scheme and then post a comment here with a link/URL to your blog post.

If you are checking the comments, be sure to check out others' projects as well. You will LOVE seeing what other people do, and they will love getting your comments, too!

Happy stamping!!

Paper Piecing...

I finally tried to do paper piecing. I had always liked the way it looked, but I was always too lazy to try it. Well, the concept is simple, and the execution is not as difficult as I thought (click here to see the SCS tutorial). So, I plan to do more of this when I have good images to try it on. Meanwhile, I was so into the whole thing that I decided to do some out-of-the-box stuff and stippling and piercing too! I kinda liked how it looked, too. So without further ado, here's the card:
Isn't he just so fun?? His jacket uses the DP, as you can see, and I think it really adds to the appeal of this card. And though I did the paper piercing in the corner, it just didnt' have enough emphasis, so I went in with a Stampin' Write marker (FINE tip end) and touched each hole so that it was more black. It totally made the difference.

Set: Voila!
Colors: Tangerine Tango, Certainly Celery
Paper: SU! DP series "Sarah"
Other: Stipple brush, dimensionals

I hope you like it!

CC182 Monochromatic!

I haven't done a monochromatic card in a long time, so this SCS color challenge was fun! Here's the card:

Set: Heartfelt Thanks

Colors: Black, White, Going Gray

Stuff: Paper piercing tools, dimensionals, black organdy ribbon, silver cord

Masculine Birthday

I actually enjoy doing masculine cards. It's a nice change of pace from the normal frilly dilly stuff we usually do. This one is the one I made for my dad's birthday. You have already seen the one I did for my brother to use, this is MINE: This one I did using a tip I saw on someone else's blog (please forgive me, I've forgotten who it was already or I'd link to it here. If you are that person, please contact me and I'll edit this post!), by stamping the tree in one color, then using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to add another layer with a different color of splotches, and then a third and fourth layer of colors. This tree is seriously multi-layered! I finished it up by stamping in Versamark and then giving it a layer of clear EP over it for shine (which you can't see in this photo). The word stamp is stamped in Chocolate Chip craft ink and then clear embossed as well. It's much classier in person. Here's the deets:

Sets: Canvas, Lovely As a Tree, It's Your Birthday
Colors: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Really Rust, Old Olive
Other: clear embossing powder (EP), distressing tool, more mustard eyelet, wide twill tape, hemp twine, dimensionals

Jackpot Birthday!!

THIS is an interesting story - my dad's birthday is coming up in a couple of days, and my dad is VERY difficult to shop for. He doesn't really "need" anything. My parents like to spend some time going to casinos, though (when he's not playing golf).... and my brother decided to give him money to gamble with. So he wanted to express the casino theme in a card for the money, and he asked ME to make the card for him to use! Well, SU! doesn't have any GAMBLING sets, and I don't have any off-brand sets either with that theme. I also don't have time or money to go out on the search for the images, so I decided to improvise and find images online and print them on cardstock to use instead. My mom gave me that tip once and I have never done it until today! Anyway, I took the printed images, added some stamping and embossing and markers and.... well, here's the result:What do you think?? Does this say "gambling" or what?? I can't wait to see what my brother and dad think of it!

Set: Stars jumbo wheel (jackpot and card/die images printed, not stamped)
Colors: Black, Green Galore
Other: Hologram Highlights embossing powder, markers, dimensionals, paper snips

Inspiration Challenge

Hi! I had posted a new challenge on my MSN group, called an Inspiration Challenge. I chose an image I found online, and used it as an inspiration to create a new card. Here's the pic I used as inspiration:

Then I created this:

I had also gotten these new Halloween stamps from the $1 section at my local Target! I was shocked to find them, but happy as can be!! Then I drew in the spider web by hand since I don't have a web stamp. The total dimension of this card is 4.5"x4.5". Square was perfect for this card, and it will still fit in the regular invitation sized envies!

I hope you like it~ NOW, if you're not on my group and want to play in this challenge, just make something, post it on your blog and then come to this post and leave a comment with the URL of your creation so I can see what you did. This will be fun!! Now, get out there and stamp!!

Have a great day~

Sets: Linograph BG (SU! retired), Halloween set ($1 section at Target)

Colors: Black, Orchid Opulence, Only Orange

Other: Black SU! marker, 2way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, dimensionals, scalloped edge punch, scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch.

The Winner of the Candy is....

Hi everyone! I am posting late in the day because my internet connection has been down most of the day (grr!), but now that it's back up it's time to announce the winner of the blog candy!

After my very scientific method of choosing (I asked my daughter to pick a number between 1 and 18 [the number of entries] and she didn't know why I was asking but humored me anyway and picked the number 8)....and the #8 entry is - STAMPIN' MEG!!

Congrats, Meg, please get me your email address so I can contact you for your address to send this stuff to!

Thanks to everyone else for entering!!

I will have more cards to post later in the week - I have some cards to make for sure, so I'll be back to regular programming soon! ; )

Word Verification

Hi friends - quick note this morning.... since I know so many people hate having to do that funky word verification thingy when making comments, I've decided to temporarily disable that on my blog. If I start getting spam, I'll probably put it back on, but for now, commenting on this blog should be one step easier! Thanks for visiting!

SCS192 and Card Challenge

I made this card yesterday for SCS Sketch challenge SC192, but it's more than that! A friend of mine had sent a bunch of us loose pieces from a card she never finished to see what we could come up with. She sent the base, a full Saffron layer already embossed and distressed, and the white piece with the flowers and canvas details on it. I cut the saffron piece to use it for the SC192 challenge, added the brocade blue piece, added glitter to the flower centers (you can see it better in person, it really adds something to the look), made a tab, matted it on a cocoa piece and added the ribbon. Whadya think?

Sets: Watercolor Garden II, Totally Tabs, Fancy Flexible Phrases, Canvas
Colors: Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Brocade Blue
Other: Tab punch, wide chocolate grosgrain ribbon, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, dimensionals, paper piercing tool

WSCC5 - Amazing

Hi stampers! I have a color challenge posted on my MSN group to use at least 3 of 5 colors, and the 4 I chose were Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Bordering Blue, and Vanilla. This is a color combo I have been LOVING and have been wanting to work with, so today is the day!! lol Here's the card:

created by Gina Pacheco

images (c) Stampin' Up!

I think the flow of thiscard really works for me, and it uses lots of layers, which is also fun! I hope you like it, too~

Set: Amazing
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Kraft, Vanilla
Other: French blue and chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, antique copper brads, blender pen, dimensionals

Celebrating 20K!!

Hi everyone! I logged on this morning to see that I've reached the 20k hit mark on my blog! WOO HOO!!!! I have to take a moment to thank you all for visiting me. I love to have visitors, and I read all the comments, and I do my best to visit all of you who do comment because I think it's a great thing to return the favor.... so for all of the visits, comments, and other support, I say THANK YOU to each and every one of you. NOW, I have decided to celebrate by offering a little blog candy for you!

Since we're all crafters, what better than to give you some items you can craft with?? Here's what you get:

1 - 8x10 frame (holds a 5x7 photo)

1 - full sheet of On Board Accents from SU!

2 - 6x9 board puzzles

1 - mini photo album (see my Christmas in July post for project idea!)

ALSO, I will include a card from this blog so you can see it in person. You never know what you're gonna get, either! Do you like surprises? I do!!

SO, here's how you can get in on the fun:

1. post a comment on this post. NO annonymous entries. One entry per person.

2. share this opportunity with those on your blog, your friends, whatever. Just spread the word! I'll check your blog out too (fun!). And if you're looking at the comment list, be sure to check out other people's blogs that post here. I'm sure everyone loves to have visitors!

3. Either include your email address on your entry or check back here to find out if you've won, and you can email me then. Then I send you the goodies!

So, does that sound like fun? COOL! I'll pick a winner on Tuesday, September 9, so keep coming back to find out if you've won!

Happy Birthday Smoosh

Hi Stampers!! I finally broke out my Spectrum pads to do a technique I haven't tried before - Cuttlebug Smoosh! When I took the photo, the super light band is not as glaring as it is in the photo, but the flash really made it bright. Anyway, I also used some scraps for this card, too . The white layer was a scrap, the pink sunburst (actually it's the flower from Amazing [SU! set], can you believe it?)! Another unique feature to this card is that it uses two stamp sets you wouldn't think to put together, and it also uses them in ways you wouldn't expect.

I used this glue pad to stamp the flower and apply dazzling diamonds glitter to make the cupcake really pop. I had purchased this Martha Stewart glue pad a couple of weeks ago, and I was initially excited about the fact that it came with a glue refill, and then I noticed that the glue pad was dry to begin with, and the glue is super wet.... it was odd. I have the Palette glue pad and like it much better, but I don't know where to get refills. Hmm. So anyone that knows, please post a comment and let me know, kay? lol Okay, okay, so here's the card:
Sets: Sock Monkey, Amazing
Colors: Pink Passion, Black
Other: Happy Birthday CB folder, glue pad, dazzling diamonds, black grosgrain, pink gingham ribbon (non SU!), Spectrum pad in Parfait, dimensionals, sponge brayer

5 Minute Card

First, I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend in the USA! If you're outside the USA, I hope you're having a wonderful weekend anyway!!

So yesterday I had a baptism party to go to, and my husband announced to me that he needed me to make a card and I had about 10 minutes to do it! Men!! lol Anyway, so I had limited time and limited options because I had to make the card in Spanish and I only have one set with Spanish sentiments, and it's Saludos (SU! retired forever ago). SO, here's the quickie card. It's super simple, but it's the best I could come up with on such short notice: The baptism was for a boy who's about 2 years old, so it was an interesting challenge. I hope you like it!!

Sets: Inspirational Images (SU! Retired), Saludos (inside)

Colors: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana

Other: Swiss Dots embossing folder (CB), white ric rac (unknown brand), dimensionals

Better With Two

My sister's anniversary is coming up this week (notice the flower of the month is September - Aster), so I decided to use that as the subject for this card. I also wanted to do a SCS challenge since I haven't done one in a while, so I combined both and came up with this:

The challenge combines Black, Rose Red and Kraft. Interesting challenge! And, I did my absolute BEST at not coloring in these images, because I almost NEVER leave them undone. But if I'm honest, I tried coloring in the bike first, but it actually cheapened the look of this particular card. So, there you have it!

Sets: Floral BG, Life Cycles (retired), Flower of the Month (retired), Hand Stitched (Technique Tuesday stamps)

Colors: Black, Rose Red, Kraft

Other: Black organdy ribbon, dimensionals

psssst....

A little heads up for those of you who listen to my music playlist... I had a LOT to fix on there (I guess the links change from time to time and cause errors) and added a few new ones in there today... if you can find them, post here and tell me which ones they are and I'll send you a card from this blog in the mail!

Have fun searching!

ps - there's about 6 or 7 new songs... you only have to name 3.

First day of school yesterday!!

I had to post this morning and let you all know that usually I get to stamp on Tuesdays, but yesterday was the first day of school for my daughter, so I didn't get the chance to stamp. It was a non-uniform day because it was the first day, but today is back to uniforms! Oh my, she's in 2nd grade this year, but I'm just as excited and proud as I was her first day of kindergarten. *sniff*
I am also excited because yesterday I signed up to join the YMCA! Whoot whoot! I have always wanted to try an aqua exercise class and to do some lap swimming, so now I can give it a try when I have time. I also signed up my DD for swim lessons! She is like a little fish out of water, so I'm hoping that lessons will really help her get some skills. Who knows - maybe this is her "thing"?? (watch out Michael Phelps!) Hey, if nothing else it will help us get through the cold winter by having a nice warm indoor pool to go to whenever we want! YAY!

And, will this be the year I finally lose weight???? Wish me luck~~

My I have the envelope please....

I got an award! Woohoo!!
I was surprised and happy to receive this award from JustJudy and I'm excited to be sharing it here for 7 people that I choose! It's going to be hard to pick just 7 blogs since there are SOOO many that I like, but I'll take a whack at it anyway!

Here are the rules for accepting this wonderful blog award:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from (see the link above)
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

So this is who I am awarding this "I (heart) Your Blog" to:

1. Lyn at The Queen's Scene
2. Velta and her blog
3. Debbie Olson at Thinking Inking
4. Lori T at Lori's Addiction-playing with Adhesive!
5. Mary at Beauty Lies Within
6. Emily at Stamping and Stuff
7. Jess at My Sanity Depends on Stamping

All you have to do is visit these ladies' blogs to see why I chose them. Their work is amazing, they are fresh and totally my style! Like I said, there are many more I love, but these are the ones I found today in my searching that didn't already have the award, and were people that I don't always nominate for tags or awards. Ladies, you all rock! Be sure to spread the love now!

Thanks again Judy for my award!

Amazing-ly Feminine

I love the Pink Pirouette color in this year's InColors, but I had to kinda think about what color combo I wanted to use it with... and though I have many resources available to me to decide, I was far too lazy to come to the computer to make use of them, so I ventured into my cardstock files alone and on a quest.... and I came up with a combo that I kinda like. Perfect Plum, Sage Shadow and Pink Pirouette. Yum....

Then I wanted to make it pretty, too. I also wanted to make it interesting. My goodness, I love to challenge myself, eh? Anyway, I made this one a tri-fold kind of thing - it opens like french doors once you untie the ribbon. Here's how it turned out:
This card turns out to be 4.25" square at the base, so it easily fits into a standard card-sized envelope, just with space in the width.

Set: Amazing
Colors: Perfect Plum, Sage Shadow, Pink Pirouette
Other: Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, White 7/8" wide organdy ribbon, dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I swear, looking at this card just makes me want to have tea with a good friend in an English garden, how about you?

Have a beautiful day, everyone~

Two Sassy Monkeys!

My birthday monkeys decided that though the glittery frosting on the cupcakes looked tasty, the party hats made them feel silly...so to make the look a bit more "edgy", they decided to wear their hats cocked to one side. Now they're sassy monkeys. : )

Well, obviously I got a chance to stamp today, so I made two versions of the same card with just a couple of subtle color changes. Here they are! The first card uses Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss...

...and the second card uses Basic Black, Tempting Turqoise and Green Galore.Do you like my sassy monkeys??

Sets: Sock Monkey, Hot to Dot (retired SU! standard wheel)

Monkey Colors: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel and Riding Hood Red

Other: Spiral punch, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, blender pen

Baby Boy Birthday

So I have a birthday party to go to next week for my nephew's first birthday. Granted, he won't know what his card looks like (it would end up in his mouth anyway - lol), but his mommy will! SO, I came up with this fun one that could work for either a birthday or even a baby card.

Sets: Wild About You, Quick Thinking
Colors/Paper: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, DP "Sarah" (SU! retired)
Other: pastel brads from SU, scallop edge punch

You Make Me Smile!

New colors and paper and stamps - how sweet it is!! I had fun playing with this stuff today. I'll have to also make a tutorial on how I did the little notch in the middle to keep the flap closed. It's super easy, but easier to show than explain. Here's the card:


Set: Window Dressing
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss (Baja Breeze, Royal Rose, Creamy Caramel on window/flowers)
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Bella Rose DP
Other: scallop edge, 1" circle, flower bouquet punches, fire red rhinestone brad, glue dots, blender pen

It's NEW CATTY TIME!!!!

Woo hoo!! The new SU! catalog is available and online for your viewing pleasure! I finally got my demo copy yesterday and I have been devouring every page. From new sets to new accessories and some amazing designer papers, this is one to enjoy! I have included an easy link on the right for you to see it for yourself. Just click on the picture of our new catalog and you'll get there.

ENJOY!

Soft Butterfly

Here's the other card I made using some stamps I haven't pulled out in years... during my seclusion on the couch with my sick kid.... I used limited supplies, so if it looks simple, that's why.

The stitches are sloppy, but my stamping conditions were not really the most comfortable. I just wanted to play with my new colors from SU!. I hope you like it anyway.

Stamps: old sets from TAC

Colors: Pink Pirouette, Pacific Point

Other: 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter

Finally stamped!

Well I've been at home with a sick kid, and not only unable to work but to stamp! But after days of sitting on the couch and nursing my child, I grabbed some stuff from my basement and stamped a super simple card or two, just to keep my hands busy. Here's one of them, using my NEW stamps from Starving Artist Stamps!
It also uses some cute clear stamps my mom got for me from somewhere...they're the stitches that I have been wanting!! yippee!!!

Sets: Doodles - Tropical, Tropical Sentiments (both from Starving Artists)
Colors: Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss from SU! (also Tangerine Tango and Riding Hood Red on tiki mask), Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa markers
Other: paper piercing tool, blending pen

I'm a slacker!

I have been so busy the last few weeks that I know my posting has been sort of sporadic. I have actually been packing in the activities at home to utilize the last of the summer, so that my daughter won't go back to school and say she did "nothing." lol That of course has kept me away from my stamping table here and there, which I am sure you'll forgive.

Since I don't have anything to post today, I wanted to at least share with you a card that uses a COOL technique that is easy and fun to do.... it comes from Pat Huntoon herself, the Technique Junkie goddess. I am still waiting for my newsletter to come so I can be sure I do that technique right, but click HERE to see the sample she has posted that I think is pretty cute!

Have a wonderful Monday!!

Christmas Memories- in July

It's Christmas in July - or at least we're pretending it is! Yep, some of those ambitious folks out there (and you know who you are) get ready for this holiday early!! No, I'm not one of them, but this year I have at least an idea or two to share with those who are. lol Here's a quick and fun goody you can make and give to your friends or family - Christmas photo albums! All you have to do is pick up a little 4x6 album and use a craft knife to gently create a slit towards the inside top of the covers so you can slide out the pre-printed inserts. Then make your own inserts, put them in place, and seal the flaps with glue dots. Done! Here's my sample:

Now you or your friends can share your Christmas memories and you'll know exactly what's in the album just from looking at the front cover! YAY!

Have a wonderful day!

Sets: Baroque Motifs, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Expressive Flexible Favorites, Snow Flurries
Colors: Purely Pomegranite, Wild Wasabi
Other: Scalloped edge, 1 3/8"circle, scalloped flower punches, white grosgrain, silver cord, iridescent ice EP, dimensionals, glue dots

Busy Weekend!

I've been super busy since Thursday, and haven't even had time to stamp, but I didn't want you all to think I was blog-slackin'. SOOOO, since I don't have any projects to share today, I will put a challenge out to all of you - why not take a moment today to send a card out to someone for no reason other than to brighten their day? Random Acts of Kindness are a wonderful way to make the world a better place. If you're part of a RAK list, send a card to someone you don't know - because sometimes the kindness of strangers means that much more!

Now, put some good energy out in the universe today. It will come back to you!

Voila! - Bon Appetit!!

Today we have a 6x6 recipe card! Yep, I have a whole album going thanks to my MSN group members, because we swap every once in a while to exchange not only recipes, but ADORABLE 6x6 pages too! In fact, my recipe album is my most favorite cookbook in my cabinet. If you haven't started one of these, I highly recommend them!

Okay, so first you have to print out your recipe onto cardstock, which I did here. Sometimes you can design the page around the recipe, and sometimes you have to fit the recipe to the page. The method is up to you.

This page is done using my blender pen with reinkers to highlight the chef, and then special papers and punches and ribbons and some heat embossing finish this off. Here's the deets:

Sets: Voila!, Baroque Motifs (see swirl on recipe section), Totally Tabs (on tab)
Colors: Soft Sky DP, Apricot Appeal, Black
Other: Clear embossing powder, embossing pen, blender pen, tab punch, rhinestone brad (SU! fire collection), scallop edge punch (SU! - NEW!), black grosgrain, sticky strip (to hold the sky paper down for easy sliding of recipe card)

Ready to tackle a project like this and add fun to your cooking time? Then get some friends together and swap - you'll be glad you did!

Sneaky Peek, Monkey Style!

Okay, so I saw a challenge the other day (I think it was called a hannah challenge or something like that, saw it via someone's blog, can't remember who) which used a sketch and told you to make a Christmas in July card with it. Well, I liked the sketch, but didn't want to make a Christmas card for it because I got my new stamps from SU! and couldn't WAIT to use them!! SOOOO, I tweaked the sketch a bit, added my own touches and came up with this fun card:
I also LOVE watercoloring with my SU! markers!!! Just making a few lines with markers on watercolor paper and then blending with an aquapainter makes watercoloring so EASY and FUN! I may just have to play with this technique more soon.... Okay, here's the deets on the card:

Sets: Sock Monkey (coming soon!), Trimtastic (retiring soon)
Colors: Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral, Creamy Caramel
Other: Aquapainter, Wide twill tape, dimensionals, flower punch (SU!), copper brads (non-SU!), 1/4"circle punch

Have a great day, my friends in stamping!

Faux...oops!

This is a quick card that was supposed to look like faux cloissone, but unfortunately I didn't read the fact that I needed a shiny paper to make that happen. SO, what we have here instead is designer paper that has been stamped and embossed in GOLD (photo looks like brown, not shiny gold, figures), but I don't believe in wasting anything whenever possible, so here is the card that didn't turn out too bad anyway:

Set: Time Well Spent
Colors: Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Other: French Blue grosgrain, gold embossing powder, Versamark, dimensionals

WSCC3 - Window Smiles

It's a sneaky peek! The new catty is coming VERY soon, and this set is one that you'll see in the hostess section this year.

The card used a color combo from a color challenge I presented on my MSN group. Sahara Sand, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral and Certainly Celery. Here's the result of that challenge:
Set: Window Dressing
Colors: Sahara Sand, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, DP Festive Finery (retired)
Other: Scallop Edge punch (new!), scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, corner rounder, SU Markers, 7/8" wide Celery organdy ribbon

Hey, if you out there in blogland care to participate, post a comment with a URL to your card that uses this challenge combo, and I'll be sure to visit yours to see what you did! So, you've now been "challenged..." what will you do??

It's Christmas in July

Well Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was relatively uneventful, but thankfully I have a new card to share today. It's a Christmas-in-July theme, and before you look, I'll explain just one part - the white background (two-tone) is done on glossy white cardstock and was brayered with Soft Sky on top and Creamy Caramel on the bottom. The Sky color didn't photograph very strongly and the little starfish background on the pomegranite layer is hard to see, but the dimension and color is always richer in person, right??

Sets: Do the Hula (palm tree), Crab & Company (everything else)
Colors: Purely Pomegranite, Wild Wasabi, Black, Soft Sky, Creamy Caramel, Blush Blossom (shell and clam)
Other: brayer, dimensionals, blender pens

Late 4th Card

So I had to make a late 4th of July card (I know, sounds strange), and there were stipulations - red,white, blue and glitter. This is what I came up with:
I highlighted the coat and hat using a blender pen and the Night of Navy inkpad, but the key here was to make the blender show a very light version of color. After adding color and glitter, I had to add some paper piercing and ribbon to complete the picture. Whadya think?

Sets: Voila, Voila to Go, Stars jumbo wheel

Colors: Purely Pomegranite, Night of Navy

Other: 2way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, paper piercing tools, navy grosgrain, dimensionals

10 Years Together!

Today is my 10-year wedding anniversary! Yippee! So we've made it through good and bad times, and today we're not making a big "to-do" about the day, but I'm still happy. AND, it called for stamping. I had to make an anniversary card for him, and I wanted to make a card for the SC184 sketch challenge on SCS, so I decided to use the two ideas together. Here's the result:

Set: Baroque Motifs

Colors: Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Basic Black

The funny thing is, I saw the sketch and thought I'd be using a unique set choice by using Baroque Motifs, and then after I posted my card I saw that there were several cards using this set that used the same sketch! Great minds think alike, I guess! lol Well, my interpretation is also flipped a bit, which I also blame on the left-handedness and the fact that my brain is just a little bit "off" today. I hope you enjoy looking anyway. ; )

RGB Codes for NEW InColors

Have you ever tried to match your computer colors with SU! colors? Well, there are lists of those computer color codes (RGBs) for the Classic colors, but here's the latest codes for the new InColors coming soon:

Riding Hood Red: R-189 G-73 B-89
Tangerine Tango: R-235 G-110 B-82
Baja Breeze: R-150 G-201 B-201
Kiwi Kiss: R-190 G-182 B-83
Pacific Point: R-0 G-129 B-181
Pink Pirouette: R-253 G-213 B-222

Have fun, stampers!!

Memory Lane #7

Well, this should be the final Memory Lane card for a bit. I am REALLY hoping to get in some stamping time after this. I hope you have enjoyed taking this trip with me. Some of you may have seen these cards before (and you know who you are!) and some of you may be new to them, but either way, I hope you are inspired. Here's the last entry: This card is fun to do - it's just Crayon Resist.
HOW TO DO IT: Using glossy cardstock, I stamped the images in StazOn. Then I highlighted the flowers where I wanted with a white Crayola crayon. Then using sponge daubers, I dabbed color over the images. After the ink dried, I used a paper towel to buff the images clean of the waxy crayon. The crayon resists the ink and then you're left with white highlights! How fun!

Set: Both Way Blossoms

Colors: Orchid Opulence, Gable Green

Other: Sponge Daubers, white crayon, paper piercing tool, black journaling pen, paper towel

Memory Lane #5

This one was fun fun fun.... and there's lots of little pieces all popped up, but it's sorta hard to tell on this old scan. I hope this card makes you smile the way it did to me while I made it.

Set: Treat Yourself
Colors: Black, Real Red, YoYo Yellow
Other: Red Staples, dimensionals

Memory Lane #4

I love Faux Silk! This technique is easy and turns out great if you do it right. This was one of the first cards I ever made with this technique, a few years ago. I can't even remember the set the background images is from. The front piece is Kanji, but the other one is an Asian theme set whose name still escapes me. Maybe I'll look through my archived sets and edit this post later with the name, if you are interested. This card even uses the Baroque Burgundy SU! retired a while back.... bummer. That was a good one.

HOW TO DO IT: Stamp and color images as desired on background. Then paint a very thin layer of white school glue on the entire piece, and while it's still wet, take a piece of wrapping tissue larger than the size of your cs, ball it up, then GENTLY open it (DO NOT SMOOTH OUT) and lay it on top of cardstock. Gently pat it down to make contact with glue, leaving wrinkles. Let dry. Then trim the edges and layer as desired. That's it! I learned this from a friend and loved it. Maybe I need to pull this stuff out again, eh?

Anyway, I hope you like this trip down my memory lane!

Memory Lane #3

Ahh, Rubber Cement. This technique is one I enjoyed but haven't used enough. I really loved making this card. HOW TO DO IT: First I painted rubber cement on glossy white cardstock in wavy stripes, then brayered color over it. Then I painted rubber cement over the color where I wanted to keep it, and then brayered over it all with the second color. TIP: always use lightest color first.

Set: In Full Bloom
Colors: Blush Blossom, Sahara Sand
Other: Rubber Brayer, Rubber Cement, dimensionals

Memory Lane #2

This card was so much fun - I first used my brayer and a Kalidecolor pad with blues to create a smooth background color. Then I stamped the coral in chalk hybrid inks and embossed it with clear embossing powder. The mermaid was FUN....coloring her in with blender pen/inkpads and then I just glittered her all over the place. Popped her up on some dimensionals and that was that!

Set: Fintastic
Colors: Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore
Other: 2way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, dimensionals, heat gun