More Birthday Cards to Share

I have two more lovely hand-made birthday cards to share with you today! I love getting hand-stamped cards because they speak of the time and care someone took to make it so what a treat to receive these for my birthday!

These cards were made by two wonderful stampers, with whom I've gotten acquainted via on-line stampers groups. Both are Stampin' Up! demonstrators and we are in stamping groups that share ideas and information. What fun!

The first card on the right was made by Mary Jo Price-Williams. She is also known as Technostamper who does the Monday Sketch Challenges. MJ is a prolific, creative and adventurous stamper! She is fearless at combining colors, papers and stamps and they always turn out great! (At least the ones she shows us, LOL! Just kidding, MJ!) Thanks for the fun card using some gone but not forgotten and much-loved In Colors!

The card on the left was made by Angie Tieman. It looks like she tore the flower layers out but actually they are punched or cut-out circles which have been distressed by the Distressing Tool in the Cutter Kit. She stacked the circles, attached a button and laid them over a stem which is from the True Friend set. What a cute idea which I may just have to CASE!! : ) Angie has recently been chosen as one of the ten Artisan Award Winners for Stampin' Up! demonstrators for the second year out of three that it has been awarded! Fabulous!! And she is just as sweet as she is enormously creative! I've had the pleasure of meeting Angie in the Dallas area and also at Stampin' Up! Convention (coming up soon)!

Thanks ladies for the wonderful cards! You really brought joy and pleasure to my birthday!

Thanks for dropping by today everyone! Have a wonderful weekend and come back soon!

Margaret

Blogger's Challenge 107 and Technostamper Sketch Challenge #76!

CASE another Blogger's Challenge member is our challenge for today! We can use their layout, color scheme, or some other aspect of their card, or basically be inspired by it. The definition of "CASE" varies: Copy And Steal Everything, Copy And Share Everything or Copy and Stamp Exactly! The stampers in this group are tremendously talented so it was easy to be inspired but difficult to choose just one thing to "case"!!

I decided to case this beautiful card that Claudia Perry had done for Technostamper's Challenge on Monday. Since this was Mary Jo Price-Williams' layout sketch, it seems I cased Mary Jo also! (Plus I didn't get my Technostamper Monday Sketch Challenge #76 done Monday so this takes care of that too!) :)

I had recently purchased the Scalloped Oval Frame die for the Big Shot and even though I had wanted it a lot, I just hadn't had the opportunity to use it yet so this was a perfect time! I also have new In Colors, stamps and Designer Paper that I wanted to work with. Hence I came up with my card!

I used the very same stamp set that Claudia did; however, instead of the flower I used the stamp that looks like gingko leaves and stamped it once, then stamped it gently again twice without reinking. I love this stamp set and it has some great words included in it; you can earn this by booking a party with your demonstrator, and you'll be so glad you did!

Stamps: Kind and Caring Thoughts (Hostess Level 3 set), Great Friend (butterfly)
Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence
Paper: Cottage Wall Designer Paper; Vellum; Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry and Orchid Opulence card stocks
Tools: Big Shot, Scallop Oval die, 1 1/6" hole punch, Paper Snips, Distress Texturz Plate
Accessories: Ice Circle Brads, Stampin Sponge, Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (on butterfly)

Check out what the other members did with this challenge; click here to see a list of the stampers in the Blogger's Challenge group, then click on their individual name to view their blog.

Thanks for coming by today! Have a great weekend and try to stay cool. It is to be 103 degrees here today and continue through next week; we are under heat warnings! Me? I'll be inside today, hopefully stamping on my swaps for convention the first of August! lol!

Birthday Cards

I was so excited to receive some lovely handmade birthday cards for my June birthday! What a treat! I want to share a couple of them them with you today! (I finally got them photographed, etc.!)

The first one is a girly dress card made by Susan Timmerman. I adore these cards made with the Big Shot and Scallop Circle Die and cut into a dress shape! Love the belt and embellishment too! I haven't gotten around to making one yet and I'm so tickled to have one of my own now! Thank you so much, Susan!

The second is a Top Note Die card stamped by Jane Giggy with the wonderful Fifth Avenue Floral set! Do you have it yet? If not, you need it! It's so much more versatile than you can imagine! New 2009-10 In Colors were used for this card, and the background is gorgeous new Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper... doesn't that name just make your mouth water?! lol! This DP is in the new In Colors also Notice the gorgeous Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon....again new and in the In Colors!

Did you notice that both of these cards use die cuts made with the top die cutting machine, the Big Shot?! There are many new dies and folders for the Big Shot in the new 2009-10 Catalog and I'm eager to get some of them! The Big Shot and dies just exponentially increase your options when stamping, scrapping or crafting!

Thanks, ladies for the lovely cards! I've have more birthday cards to post soon.

Thanks for visiting today!

Margaret

Blogger's Challenge #106 The Red White & Blue!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Happy Birthday, U.S.A.!! And Happy Canada Day on July 1st to our Canadian neighbors!

This week's Blogger's Challenge is to Wave the Flag, the Red White & Blue!! Since I don't have any current patriotic sets, I chose to use the new Razzle Dazzle set out of the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog! I love using this block stamp that has all the cool pattern stripes as my background. I trimmed these blocks then attached them to a piece of Whisper White card stock in a rotating pattern then layered that onto Real Red card stock.

The large floral image of the set was stamped in Brilliant Blue ink onto the Brilliant Blue card stock then punched with the Large Star Punch. This was layered onto white cardstock, trimmed and accented with a Clear Rhinestone brad.

Brilliant Blue was used for the card base; this was stamped in Brilliant Blue with the same floral image as was the star. Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon was layered over White Organza Ribbon and attached off-center to the card then the red image block was attached with Dimensionals. Three white dots were added with the Signo White Gel Pen using the Mat Pack and Template.

Stamps: Razzle Dazzle

Inks: Brilliant Blue, Real Red

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Brilliant Blue

Accessories: Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, White Organza Ribbon, Dimensionals, Signo White Gel Pen, Mat Pack and Template, clear Rhinestone Brad

You can see what the other BC players did with this weeks challenge by going here, then clicking on their name.

I hope you have a fun and safe July Fourth!! Thanks for dropping by and have a great weekend!

Margaret

Soft Summer IV

This is the fourth in my series of saying goodbye to the beautiful Soft Summer set from the Occasions Mini Catalog, which ends tomorrow. There are so many great sets in this mini catalog... it's been a really fun one!

I used the retiring In Color Baja Breeze, which we will miss so much, but Stampin' Up! always has great new In Colors and products awaiting us! These will officially be unveiled on Wednesday, July 1st!

I stamped the soft flower line image in Basic Gray then came back with the second matching solid image in Baja Breeze. You will notice I didn't stamp it exactly on top of the lines; that was intentional. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the second stamp just where I wanted it so it would be offset and look somewhat like a shadow. Of course it can be stamped exactly on top of the line image if that is what you wish!

I colored a scalloped square frame from the On Board Essentials set of chipboard using Baja Breeze Classic ink and a Sponge Dauber. Those daubers are so easy to use and you don't get ink all over your fingers! While that was drying, I placed a layer of Baja Breeze card stock onto my Basic Gray card and added a patterned paper from the Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper to the lower 3/8ths of the card. The "seam" was covered with the coordinating Baja Breeze 5/8" Striped Grosgrain ribbon. A short piece of the ribbon was tied around the chipboard frame and then the stamped flower piece was adhered to the back.

The greeting from the Really Retro set was stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder. For the final step, the square frame was adhered to the card using Snail Adhesive. Pretty quick and easy!

Stamps: Soft Summer, greeting from Really Retro
Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, VersaMark
Paper: Walk in the Park Designer Paper; Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Baja Breeze Grosgrain ribbon, On Board Essentials (scallop frame), White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Many of these products are retiring and can only be ordered through tomorrow, June 30. Both the Spring-Summer Idea Book and Catalog and the Occasions Mini Catalog expire tomorrow so if there is anything on the retiring lists or mini catalog that you want, you must order now or it will be unavailable.

Sorry I've not posted more in the last week but I've had a funeral and then a family reunion in Houston so I've been away.

I always appreciate your visits! Take care, and have fun stampin'!

Soft Summer III

Today is the third in the Soft Summer sample series; this is a card we did as a Make and Take in a workshop last week. These dogwood blooms are so pretty but I didn't know for sure what color they are in real life (IRL) since I've never lived in the part of the country where they grow wild. I googled them and found that in the wild they are white but the cultivated plants can be red to pink. So I went with a pink for our Make N Take.

The Rose Red background layer was run through the Big Shot with the gorgeous Damask Texturz Plate
for quick and easy dry embossing, then this was adhered to the Celery card base. The image was stamped in Basic Brown on Whisper White then colored in with Blender Pens and ink from the lids of the pads. An additional flower was stamped on a scrap of white, colored then cut out and layered onto the like image using a Dimensional . This really emphasizes the main flower. The corners were snipped with the Scallop Circle Punch then this was layered onto Garden Green.

Another favorite but retiring-in-a-week set is Elegant Cheer which I used for the sentiment. This was punched with the Wide Oval Punch and a Scallop Circle in Garden Green was layered behind it.

This was another quick and simple yet one with visual and textural interest due to using the Big Shot, Texturz Plates and also a simple Paper Tole. I'm really going to miss Soft Summer!

Stamps: Soft Summer, sentiment from the retiring Elegant Cheer set
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Riding Hood Red, Creamy Caramel
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Garden Green, Whisper White

Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Scallop Circle Punch, Wide Oval

Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals

One more sample to come using the other flower image in the set! Tomorrow....

Thanks for dropping by. Hope you have a great day!

Margaret

Soft Summer II

Here's my next Soft Summer card...very simple and easy. This one uses the Two-Step Stamps: the outline image is stamped first then the second solid stamp which fills in the outline is stamped, hence the Two-Step name. Soft Summer is in the Occasions Mini which expires at the end of this month. :-(

This is a very simple card that can be made in a short period of time and yet it is very nice for a variety of occasions. The card base is Sahara Sand which is stamped in Basic Brown ink. A length of yummy 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon is tied around the cardfront and tied.

The outline image is stamped in Basic Brown on Whisper White cardstock. The second step is inking the solid image with markers; I used Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa, Artichoke and So Saffron. Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement (what a wonderful invention!!), I overstamped the color into the outline. I used some markers to fill in a few places like the lighter portions of the leaves. This was then layered onto a piece of Cameo Coral cardstock, adhered to the card and the sentiment stamped below.

Stamps: Soft Summer; sentiment from Hugs and Wishes (retiring)
Ink: Basic Brown pad; Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke So Saffron Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral and Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you've had a really good weekend!

Margaret

Good-bye, So Long, ...

Saying good-bye is hard when you've had so much fun... nevertheless good-bye soon to Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette and the Soft Summer stamp set. But we have still a little time yet to enjoy their presence and we'll make the best of it!

Pink and green is such a wonderful combination and this contemporary combo of delicate Pink Pirouette and kicky Kiwi Kiss is no exception! The lovely embossing on the Kiwi background is thanks to the Big Shot and SU's Tapestry Texturz Plates. Just one run through the Big Shot and you have the grandest embossed background! So quick and easy!! This is adhered to the Pink Pirouette card and a scalloped strip of Walk in the Park Designer Paper added on that. That lovely white organza ribbon with a pearly sheen tops it off.

The image is stamped in Basic Brown ink and colored with Stampin' Write Markers, Blender Pens and Classic inks. The flower centers are covered with micro beads from the Green Duo bead set which give them a nice dimension. One corner of the white piece is pierced for interest. On the opposite corner the sentiment is punched out with the Large Oval Punch and layered on a Pink-sponged-with -Riding-Hood-Red Scallop Oval Punch-out.

Soft Summer makes beautiful cards for so many occasions! Just choose your sentiment and you're set. It is in the Occasions Mini and is only available until June 30, then gone away, just like the Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette In Color products.

Stamps: Soft Summer

Ink: Basic Brown, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive
Paper: Walk in the Park Designer Paper; Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Accessories: White Organza Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Green Duo Beads, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, Big Shot, Texturz Plate

Thanks for visiting! I'll have more Soft Summer tomorrow!

Margaret

Blogger's Challenge 103 - Manly Cards

Just in time for Father's Day, the Blogger's Challenge this week is for manly cards.

I ordered this Happiness is a Journey set not long after it came out. I so like realistic train sets that I couldn't resist this one, and the sentiment that comes with it is great: "Happiness is a journey, not a destination." Sadly, it is now retiring so I wanted to use it once again before it was gone. It makes great "manly cards"; this was my opportunity!

My paternal grandfather was a railroad engineer of a diesel locomotive but any railroad engine brings back thoughts of him. I remember him as the strong quiet type but he was kind-hearted and generous. When we would go visit he and my grandmother across town in Ft. Worth almost every Sunday afternoon, as we were leaving he would always reach in his pocket for his little leather coin purse and pull out some coins for my brother and I. What a treat! We could ride our bicycles to the drugstore the next day and buy some candy! He worked for the Texas & Pacific Railway for over fifty years! He also loved working with his hands and doing woodwork in his workshop. Great memories!

We made a card almost exactly like this last night for the make and take at my workshop so I kept it rather simple. I was pretty happy with the result; hope you enjoy it.

Stamps: Happiness is a Journey; "Thinking of You" from Trendy Trees set; "Happy Father's Day" inside from All Holidays
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Cardstock: Taken with Teal, Ruby Red, Going Gray (how long since I used THAT!)
Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plate (on background), Word Window Punch, Small brad from Star Brads Asst.

You can see a list of the other Blogger's Challenge gals here; take some time to see what they came up with!

Hope you have a wonderful Father's Day with your loved ones and make some good memories!

Margaret

Summertime, Bloggers Challenge #102

I'm just a week or so late on the June 5th Blogger's Challenge #102, Summertime! Life happens and now I'm working to catch up! Eeek!

For my Summertime project I chose to do a butterfly "tree" using the Butterfly Sizzix Bigz Die. The die has four different sized butterflies on it; two of them are cut on a fold, so by folding a piece of Designer Paper into the size of the die and running it through the Big Shot, you actually get six butterflies with each pass! That sure makes it go faster! I stuck with my color scheme of predominately pink and brown and was really amazed at all my Designer Paper options within that scheme. I used both some retired DSP as well as currently available DSP in these colors.

I made my butterflies by putting together two sizes of butterflies with wire and twirling the tips with some little round tip jewelry pliers to make the antennae. I then ran some of the Mono Multi Liquid Glue along the wire and sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Let glue dry (it is white when applied but dries clear).

I had purchased some dried "salt cedar tips" ,as they were called, and put them in a vase with the acrylic marbles to stabilize them. I used Mini Glue Dots to adhere the butterflies to the branches. I actually plan to cover the glass vase with DSP, adding ribbon and embellies but that will come later.

Here are a few close-ups of some of the butterflies.

This was fun to make and I'm pretty happy with the end result. The ladies that were here this week for classes liked it too. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for dropping by! I'll see you soon with more projects!

Be sure to check out the projects the other bloggers did by clicking here!

Margaret