Technostamper Challenge #24

Another Monday, another Technostamper Sketch Challenge, #24 already! So much fun!

We have a great sketch this week to work from! There are many ways this can be applied and I think I'll use this one again and again! Thanks for the super sketch, Mary Jo!

This being Fourth of July week when we celebrate the USA's Independence Day, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use the good ole' Red, White and Blue! Instead of the circle I chose instead a Chipboard star that has an open center. I used our Multi Adhesive to apply this fabulous red Chunky Essentials Glitter to the chipboard then I applied the silver to a piece of white cardstock and adhered it to the back of the star with Dimensionals. The red paper layer is from the Prints Pack Designer Paper, a Level I Hostess gift (and a great one!).

Stamps: Stitched background (on bottom blue layer), Background Basics (stars behind lg. star)
Inks: Brilliant Blue
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Prints Pack Designer Paper
Accessories: Chipboard star, Chunky Essentials Glitter, Dimensionals, Multi Adhesive, Silver Brads, Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Red/White/Blue grosgrain (retired), Silver ribbon (retired). All products Stampin' Up!

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July as we celebrate our country's freedom. God Bless America and may America bless God and be a blessing to the world.
Margaret

Birthday Challenge Cards

One of the stamper's groups I'm in posts a weekly challenge in which members may opt to participate. This particular challenge was for a birthday card, which we make and send to our assigned person. I posted mine here and here is the card I received from Pat Huntoon, a beautiful two pocket card done with the Always set and the Porcelain Prints Designer Paper. I do like this paper! Funniest thing, this is the same paper I used for my challenge card I sent to Amy! LOL!

Pat is the founder and publisher of the Technique Junkie Newsletter, a newletter with online tutorials for paper techniques for rubberstamping and scrapbooking. The pattern for this particular fold can be found in the Oct/Nov 2007 Technique Junkies newsletter (the Online Bonus). If you're not a subscriber, go to http://www.techniquejunkies.com/ for more information about subscribing and tell Pat I sent you. I am in not affiliated with Technique Junkies except that I am a charter subscriber and I've known Pat in a small online group for about ten years. She's a very talented and fun lady.

One cool thing about this fold is the fact that you can put two tags in it with designs and messages too. The card is folded from one sheet of paper (can you believe it?!) which allows you to see and appreciate both sides of the double-sided paper. The flowers and pearl are from the Pretties Kit. Isn't this gorgeous?!

Thanks Pat, for a wonderful card!

Happy weekend everyone!

Margaret

Occasions Mini Catalog '08

Wow! We have so enjoyed this Occasions Mini Catalog! So many of my friends/customers have gotten some of these sets and made beautiful things with them. Once the mini expires on June 30, some of these sets will never be available again; we won't know if any of them will be in the new Fall/Winter Catalog until it comes out on August 11.

Today I have two cards I received in swaps that are made with Occasions Mini sets to share with you. The first one on the left is made with Live Your Dream and Afternoon Tea Designer Paper. The sentiment is from Stem Sayings. I like how the corner of the Afternoon Tea paper and cardstock is turned up, revealing a bit of the reverse side of the dp, then held in place by a brad from the Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (also in the Occasions Mini). A chocolate taffeta ribbon bow on the bottom of the flower is the finishing accent! Thanks Pam for a great swap!

Connie used Time for You to make this fresh fun summertime card! This set has the bicycle image plus a park bench, an alarm clock and this sentiment! So cute and useful! I've needed an alarm clock stamp; guess I better buy this set too! : )


Colors of So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and the Cutie Pie Designer Paper come together to make a cheery card! The Twill background is stamped in saffron on saffron cardstock for the background. Isn't it cute how she used the Three for You Punch Box to stamp and punch out the three saffron flowers on the left of the image? They carry out the idea of flowers that are blowing out of the bicycle basket. Great idea and card, Connie!

To my customers: I am putting in an order this weekend so if you want to add something, please contact me soon. You can view the Occasions Mini Catalog here .
Happy Friday, everyone!
Margaret

Circle of Friendship and Wild About You

Just one more card using Circle of Friendship before time runs out on the special!

I received this happy card made by Nancy Kuhfuss in a swap awhile back. Isn't it just too cute?! I love the color combination of Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate and Wild Wasabi In Colors. I'm sure going to miss them when they are retired in early August. Have you stocked up on In Color cardstock and reinkers for those inkpads because once they're retired you won't be able to get them.

The background was stamped with the Paisley background stamp which gives it great visual texture and interest. The image was stamped in Soft Sky on Whisper White and then stamped again on a scrap so the ear could be cut out and popped up on Dimensionals for height. The sentiment from Circle of Friendship is punched out and layered on Purely Pomegranate. Thanks, Nancy, for a cute card!

Stamps: Circle of Friendship, Wild About You
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White
Accessories: 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches; Pomegranate Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Margaret

Circle of Friendship Notes

Have you ordered your eScape bundle yet? This special only lasts until June 30th. It consists of the Circle of Friendship set, a pkg. of Love Notes (envelopes included too), a Rose Red Classic ink pad and a spool of 5/8" Vanilla grosgrain ribbon complete with a savings of 25% off regular price of these products when you purchase the bundle. See the left sidebar for details.

To celebrate the Stampin' Up! special this month, I made several samples for my customers to see. I'm so much a visual person; I like to see things in person. : ) Are you this way?

These two note cards are made with the Circle of Friendship set, the beautiful Porcelain Prints Designer Paper and the Blue Bayou Stitched grosgrain ribbon. They were designed so the punched out and layered sentiment from Circle of Friendship is attached to the inside of the card but it shows from the outside because of a punch-out on the front. See the smaller sample below that shows the card partially open.

These are so quick and easy to make and the use of Designer Paper makes them look so special! You can whip out a bunch in a short time! I only used the one stamp set and one ink pad! They are 4" square and will fit in the standard quarter-sheet card envelope (A-2) for regular postage.












Stamps: Circle of Friendship
Inks: Blue Bayou
Paper: Porcelain Prints Designer Paper; Blue Bayou, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery cardstock.
Accessories: 1/2", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches; Blue Bayou Stitched grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals

Most of these supplies will be retiring August 10: Circle of Friendship, all Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, River Rock cardstock, inks and accessories, and the Porcelain Prints Designer Paper. If you haven't ordered yours yet, contact me or your local Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

Happy Wednesday! Stamp a little love for someone today!
Margaret

Technostamper Challenge #23

Here's the sketch for this week's Technostamper's Sketch Challenge (#23). It's a pretty simple sketch with scallops and the focal point in the lower portion of a somewhat taller card so I think it will be quite versatile.

For my card I chose to use the Le Jardine Designer Paper and accompanying colors of Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue and Bordering Blue. I wanted to use the bird and flourish design paper so I put it on the right side of my cardfront then used another pattern with the fleur de lis symbol on it. The scallops were made with the Round Tab Punch. Ribbon is Bashful Blue Taffeta (it photographed with a kind of pattern in it but that's because of the taffeta weave).

The focal point was first stamped in Bashful Blue on Bordering Blue with the flourish from the Carte Postal set. I came back with the sentiment in Always Artichoke Craft ink and embossed that with clear ep. Two square Ice Rhinestone brads in blue and then a bird stamped in Bashful Blue adorn this layer.

Stamps: Carte Postale, Wonderful Words (sentiment)
Ink: Bashful Blue Classic, Always Artichoke Craft

Paper: Le Jardin DP; Bordering Blue, Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue cardstock.

Accessories: Ice Rhinestone brads, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, 1/16" hole punch, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder punch, Clear EP

All products ©Stampin' Up!

I plan to send this card to some friends for their anniversary celebration. Hope they like it.

Join in the fun! Make a card by the sketch and post it on your blog or somewhere on the web and put a link in the Comments to this post so we can all see what you made! Also, go to http://www.technostamper.blogspot.com/ and see what the other stampers have made using this sketch! I hated to be late with mine but I've been out of town in Houston/Katy for a family reunion.

Happy Tuesday and Happy Stampin'!

Margaret

Live Your Dream with Circle of Friendship

Today I have a card for you done with the Circle of Friendship and Live Your Dream sets that I designed for a recent party. I really seem to be reaching for greens and blues cardstock quite a bit lately (there's still more greens/blues after this card, lol!) but I do love them either together or separately. : ) Perhaps it has something to do with the heat of summer and they look cool!

To begin, a Garden Green card is stamped with the Sanded background then small flowers and the butterfly from Live Your Dream are stamped on that, all in Wasabi ink. A piece of Afternoon Tea Designer Paper is stamped with the large Live Your Dream flower in Always Artichoke; this is layered on white and Groovy Guava then tied with Groovy Guava stitched grosgrain ribbon (love all these stitched ribbons that will only be around until the new catalog comes our in August!).

The Thank You from Circle of Friendship is stamped in Artichoke on white then again on a scrap of guava then punched out and layered on punched circles of Wild Wasabi and Groovy Guava. This "stack" is then applied with Dimensionals to the lower right of the image layer. Viola, done! An easy Thank You card ready to send! Don't forget to stamp your envelopes... it makes your recipient anticipate opening the envelope even more! : )

Stamps: Live Your Dream, Circle of Friendship
Inks: Always Artichoke, Wild Wasabi
Paper: Garden Green, Groovy Guava, Whisper White
Accessories: Groovy Guava stitched grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals, Punches: Tag Corner, 1/2", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8".

I hope to get my card for the Technostamper Monday Sketch Challenge done and posted tomorrow. We've been gone to a family reunion since Thursday and arrived home really late last night after a two hour flight delay from Houston, then up early this a.m. to fix breakfast for my hubby. I think I'm ready for a nap! lol

Happy Monday everyone!

Just one more Fresh Cuts!

Okay, I have yet one more sample of Fresh Cuts : ) Yes, I love this set!

Remember you may purchase this brand new "sneak peek" set until the end of this month. It will reappear in the NEW Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog in August and can be ordered again beginning August 11. But if you want to play with yours this summer, you'll need to order it soon!

A color scheme of greens and chocolate is the basis for this card; touches of Celery, Blush Blossom and Regal Rose draw the eye to the flowers in the collage. The card itself is Wild Wasabi cardstock which has been stamped with the vine stamp in celery to give a subtle background. The image was stamped on Vanilla in Chocolate then layered on Celery then Chocolate cardstock which has been punched with the Spiral Punch. Stampin' Up!'s silky Chocolate Twill Ribbon (from the current Mini Catalog which expires June 30) is the finishing touch.

Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery; Markers: Blush Blossom, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Spiral Punch, 1/4" Chocolate Twill Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by to visit! Feel free to leave a comment
Happy Thursday to you all!
Margaret

Fresh Cuts in Chocolate and Sage

Another card in Fresh Cuts! Yes, I'm really enjoying this set and some of the various ways to use it. This one is done in Chocolate Chip, Vanilla and Sage Shadow; it reminds me of the shadows in the woods, cool and dark.

First the collage stamp was inked with chocolate and stamped on vanilla, then layered on sage. The vanilla card base has been layered with chocolate and sage, stamped with the vine in chocolate, and a strip of Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon added. The image was then layered over that and embellished with a Photo Corner stamped with the sentiment. A small flower and half-back pearl were added for embellishment. I'm really lovin' the chocolate and sage together! Yummy!

Stamps: Fresh Cuts

Inks: Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Sage Shadow

Accessories: Pretties Kit, Photo Corner Punch, Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon from "Theatre Ribbon Originals".

This is an easy card with dramatic punch. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Wednesday and Happy Stampin'!

Margaret

Fresh Cuts in Apricot

This card looks so cheery in Apricot Appeal! It's probably obvious that I'm enjoying stamping with my sneak peek Fresh Cuts set! I've always liked collage and collage-type stamps so this new set that will be in the Stampin' Up! Fall & Winter Idea Book and Catalog was a must-have for me, and on special to boot! Perfect! There are so many techniques one can use with this type of stamp; can't wait to try some more of them. This card uses sponge daubers and markers to add color to the image, which is then layered on celery cardstock.

The sentiment from the set is punched out, layered and adhered over the black and white gingham ribbon which adds punch to this color scheme. I used my 1/4" square punch to notch the sides of the card to allow the ribbon to go inside and also keeps it in place.

Stamps: Fresh Cut
Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery. Markers: Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral
Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal
Accessories: 1/4" square, small Oval, Large Oval punches; 1/4" b&w gingham ribbon

This is a simple and quick card to make, and with the light and bright colors, should bring some sparkle to the recipients day.

Happy Saturday! Have a great weekend, and have fun stampin'!
Margaret

Fresh Cuts in Purely Pomegranate

I've been playing with my Fresh Cuts set, making samples and cards to use. Here's one of my latest and it's done in Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black and Whisper White. I'm really enjoying this set and the laser-cut notes that come with it in the Special this month; however, I didn't use the notes on this card today.

Scallops done on the black are with the corner rounder punch; the Photo Corner and Oval punches were also used. Love that stitched Pomegranate Grosgrain Ribbon!

Stamps: Fresh Cuts

Ink: Purely Pomegranate

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate

Accessories: Pomegranate stitched grosgrain ribbon, small oval punch, Photo Corner punch, Corner Rounder.
All products from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for dropping by. Happy Friday!
Margaret

Fresh Cuts in Wasabi & Rose

I've been making some samples with my new Fresh Cuts "sneak peek" set (from the new Fall & Winter Catalog!) and the lazer-cut note cards. These are so much fun to play with and so easy to come up with some impressive projects!


The note on the left is stamped with Wild Wasabi and has Wild Wasabi Designer polka dot paper behind the cut-out. I stamped the small flower from the set also in wasabi, cut it out and layered it in the center of the flower, added a pearl from the Pretties Kit, tied the note with the stitched grosgrain and it was done! A stamped border vine on the accompanying envelope dresses it up a bit too. I love to stamped envelopes as it heightens the anticipation of the recipient...at least it does for me!

The note on the right has a Regal Rose flower behind the cut outs then a piece of white cardstock stamped with the large Fresh Cuts stamp set in Regal Rose behind that. The small flower is stamped in rose, cut out then attached to the center with an Ice circle Rhinestone brad. Since there isn't a Regal Rose taffeta ribbon, I just took a length of the pink taffeta ribbon and dyed it with a sponge dauber and my ink pad. Viola! Matching ribbon! And matching envelope stamped too.

These are quick and enjoyable projects and the lazer cut notecards? ...fabulous!

Thanks for dropping by! Have fun stampin'!!
Margaret

Another Sketch Challenge!

Here is a card sketch for an online group of Stampin' Up! stampers I belong to. We sign up for the challenge then we make and send our completed card to another stamper on the list.

This particular sheet of Bali Breeze Designer Paper with these large flowers on it has always been impressive to me but this is the first time I have actually cut into one! I knew I needed a large image for this sketch so that gave me the opportunity to pull this paper out and really use it, instead of just admiring it, lol!

The color scheme of Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise is of course taken from the paper. The turquoise paper with the stitched swirls is another design of paper in this same package. The stitching theme is carried a little further by lines of paper piercing on each side of the Pumpkin Pie layer and also in the two outside corners. I cut the flower out of the paper, punched out another flower and added it to the center and layered it with a small turquoise circle, topped with a turquoise brad. I love these bright colors which look so summery.

I used the Word Window punch to punch out the sentiment and added the other layers of color with the same punch. The sentiment is the only stamp used on the outside of this card. With gorgeous Designer Papers like these, you can make a smashing card quite quickly when you need to!

Stamps: Fresh Cuts (sentiment)
Inks: Tempting Turquoise
Papers: Bali Breeze Designer Paper. Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise cardstock
Accessories: Mat Pack and Paper Piercer, Paper Snips, 1/4" and 3/4" circle punches, Word Window Punch.

This is the second card this week using these gorgeous Bali Breeze Designer Papers. I have another one for you another day, too! : )

Thanks for stopping by! Have fun stampin'!

Margaret

Technostamper Challenge #21 - True Friend

Monday's Sketch Challenge from Technostamper.blogspot.com is up! Today's sketch #21 is another good one from Mary Jo; this is a good sketch to showcase your Designer Paper and perhaps use up some of the smaller pieces left from other projects.

It's really overcast and rainy here today so it took me a little while to get a photo. I ended up by a big window and also using my Ott-Lite to try get to the colors as true as possible. But I'm thankful for the rain.

Strips of Bali Breeze Designer Paper form the background and the color scheme. The focal image is the thank you from True Friend and the small flowers stamp is from A Beautiful Thing. I wheeled the background with Tempting Turquoise and the Rough Texture wheel, one of my favorite ways to get some visual texture and quickly fill in a background that doesn't really compete with your main images.

Stamps: True Friend, A Beautiful Thing, Rough Texture (jumbo wheel)

Inks: Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise

Paper: Bali Breeze DP; Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Groovy Guava, Whisper White cs.

Accessories: Corner Rounder punch, Groovy Guava stitched grosgrain ribbon, Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Dimensionals, Jumbo wheel handle, Vintage silver diamond-shaped brad (retired)

Be sure and check out http://technostamper.blogspot.com for Mary Jo's card and links to other participating stampers! Try the sketch yourself also and put a link in your comments on my or Mary Jo's blog. Have fun stampin'!

Thanks for dropping by! Happy Monday everyone!

Margaret

Fresh Cuts & Circle of Friendship

Love that new Fresh Cuts set! On this card I used the large collage-type stamp from Fresh Cuts and inked it with the various colors using Sponge Daubers (those are SO handy), then I "rock and rolled" it on Not Quite Navy for a little darker edge. Next I stamped it on the River Rock floral Designer Paper from the Porcelain Prints collection, (tip: this gives depth and color variation in the background), cut it out and distressed the edges with the tool from the Cutter Kit. This was layered on Groovy Guava. For the card itself, Wild Wasabi is the base with a wide vertical strip of Blue Bayou and horizontal strip of River Rock that is stamped with Certainly Celery (which makes it match the Wild Wasabi color when stamped on River Rock). A strip of Blue Bayou cardstock underlays the Groovy Guava ribbon which makes it "pop".

The "rubberstamper" stamp from Circle of Friendship is stamped on Groovy Guava and again on River Rock. I punched out the inner circle of River Rock with the 1/2" punch (it just matches!) and layered it on the guava punched with the 1" circle (that just matches too!), then with Dimensionals layered that on a 1 1/4" then 1 3/8" punched circles of Blue Bayou. I added Crystal Effects to just the center to give it dimension. This was added to the lower left corner to balance and finish off the card.

Don't forget the June specials on both the Fresh Cuts and Circle of Friendship "bundles". I love specials so I can save money (for more stamps!). LOL! : )

Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Circle of Friendship
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou, River Rock, Groovy Guava cardstock; Porcelain Prints Designer Series Paper
Inks: Blue Bayou, Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Distresser Tool from Cutter Kit, Crystal Effects, Groovy Guava Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Sponge Daubers, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. 1/2”, 1”, 1 ¼” and 1 3/8” circle punches, Paper Snips, Dimensionals.

Happy Saturday everyone! Thanks for dropping by and have a great weekend!
Margaret

Technostamper Challenge #20 - Time Well Spent

Here is Technostamper's Monday Sketch Challenge; oops, it's Tuesday already? Yikes, time is flying by!

On the left is the sketch that Mary Jo sent, a nice simple square card with lots of possibilities. Very usable sketch, MJ!

Here's my card:

The delicious Summer Picnic Designer Paper is used on the background and the large flower from Time Well Spent is the focal point. The flower was stamped on Real Red cardstock then the border on the edge was colored with a Real Red Marker to darken it. I punched out all the circles on the flower with my 1/8" circle punch and adhered a Bashful Blue scallop punch behind it. I cut out one of the celery flowers from the paper and layered it on a 3/4" circle punched from blue and stacked this on the flower center with a Dimensional.

For the wavy design, the rolling cutter from the Cutter Kit was used to cut through my DP, then layered a piece of the stripe DP, which is the reverse side of the flower paper. Touches of Dazzling Diamonds glitter add a little zest to the card, as does the red grosgrain ribbon which has a touch of blue added with my Bashful Blue marker.

The Lots of Dots jumbo wheel was wheeled in Real Red across the bottom of the red card for some visual texture. Card size is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" square.

Stamps: Time Well Spent, Lots of Dots jumbo wheel
Inks: Real Red, Real Red Marker
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery cs
Accessories: Dimensionals, Red brad from Bold Brights Asst., 1/8" and 3/4" circle punches, Scallop punch, Red striped grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, glue pen.

Play along with us! Try your hand at this sketch, then paste a link to your card in the comments section for this card or on Mary Jo's blog here. Also see her blog for links to the sketch cards made by other sketch players!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a happy Tuesday!
Margaret

Welcome for a Cabin

And yet another name frame; are you tired of these yet? I hope not. : ) I made this one as a gift for a friend who has a cabin in the mountains. Her color scheme is this green and she really likes the bear theme also so that little bear just had to be in the picture. Pine cones are naturally a part of her decor so they were stamped on the background and also one was embossed and cut out. Buttons, ribbon, Antique HodgePodge Hardware and even a leather strip complete the look.

There is so much we can do with our stamping! It's fun to explore new ways to share our craft and also use it to show our love and appreciation for others.

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Margaret