Botanical Gazette Birthday

I'm finally got my card made for Technostamper's Monday Sketch Challenge 162;  it's a good sketch and I have been wanting to do a card using it all week.

 

I used the lower left of the page with the "Botanical Gazette" words for my background; I thought those drawings were so pretty and like the color scheme used.  I sponged a little more So Saffron around the edges of the BG Designer Paper.  This was adhered to an Olive Green card which I scored all around the front with my scoring tool. 

  For the focal area, I used a piece of Early Espresso embossed with the Big Shot and the Lattice Embossing Folder layered over Cherry Cobbler.  I cut the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die in So Saffron for the flower, centered it with a 3/4" punch of Espresso and added a So Saffron Button tied with Linen Thread.  The "Birthday Wishes" sentiment is from the Occasional Quotes Hostess Set.

Here is the sketch for this week:

 

Enjoy these cards by the challenge participants!  It's a blog hop!

Thanks for coming by!  I always appreciate hearing a shout-out from you!

Margaret

Edited to add:  Wow, Mary Jo picked my card as one of her top three cards for this week's sketch!  Thank you, Mary Jo!  I'm so appreciative. .  and tickled pink!

Simple Bliss Make 'n Take

Do you like the Bliss stamp set as I much as I do?  I love it!  Even better, it is FREE right now with a $50 order during Sale-A-Bration!  This is one of my Make 'n Take cards from my current workshops; it is quick and easy to make yet elegant.

The beautiful flourish was stamped in Soft Suede ink onto the center of the Baja Breeze cardstock layer, then partially in each corner.  This was layered onto Very Vanilla then a Crumb Cake card. 

 The "Bliss" was stamped in Soft Suede onto Natural Ivory cardstock then punched out with the Scalloped Oval Punch.  I colored the inside of the letters with a Baja Breeze Stampin' Write Marker.  This was adhered over the center flourish with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The butterfly is Baja Breeze ink stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock then cut out with my trusty, ever sharp Paper Snips; this was adhered with a Mini Glue Dot.  The smallest of the Basic Pearls were adhered to both the sentiment and butterfly.

I'm so glad the Baja Breeze color was brought back by Stampin' Up!  And it also looks so great with Soft Suede!

Thanks for visiting today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Margaret

Take A Spin with the Ice Cream Parlor! CCM-OM4

This weeks sketch challenge on Create with Connie and Mary is a fun one.  I used my new Take a Spin set from the Occasions Mini for the first time and combined it with a couple of the products from the FREE Sale-A-Bration Ice Cream Parlor Designer Paper and Ribbon Packs!

The yummy colors in the Ice Cream Parlor DSP  & Quick Accents Pack and the Ribbon and Buttons Pack are Peach Parfait, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Pacific Point!  These are just perfect for a bright fun birthday card! 

The square birthday spin card was just the right size for this sketch. I stamped it on Very Vanilla in Not Quite Navy which is in the same tone as Pacific Point, only darker, which I thought would be more readable.  I used the spinner hands and instead of the brad included in the package, I used a 5/16" Old Olive brad from the Glimmer Brights assortment.

Other items used:  Daffodil Delight 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Ice Cream Parlor 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot.

Thanks for visiting today!  Your comments are always appreciated!

Margaret

Nature's Walk in Saffron, Black & White

Have you seen the Nature's Walk set that is new in the current Occasions Mini Catalog.  Its seven stamps in line-art style are so nice to work with bringing thoughts of spring and outdoors, and who isn't ready for that after a cold winter?

The card base is So Saffron overlaid with a layer of Very Vanilla cardstock which has been embossed with the Framed Tulips Embossing Folders.  A rectangle of First Edition Designer Series Paper is stamped lightly with the plant stem in So Saffron and then the black bee.

That is such a lovely birdcage; I stamped it in Basic Black, layered it on black then added a loop of lucious Black Satin Ribbon under the right side before adhering it to the card.  The "no. 147" stamp was added in black on the lower left.

This was one of the Make & Takes for a workshop I did this week.  It is easy, quick and showcases several stamps from this lovely set.

The Nature's Walk set is available in both Wood Mount (#121925) and Clear Mount (#121997) and can be ordered from your Stampin' Up! demonstrator or through my online Stampin' Up! website here.

Although I didn't use it on this card, there is a coordinating package of Designer Series Paper for the Nature's Walk set titled Botanical Gazette;  check it out...it is delightful!

Thanks for visiting today!  Have a great weekend!

Margaret

Fun Flowers in Melon & Black

Wow!  Gotta' love this new FUN FLOWER DIE from Stampin' Up!  It makes the most gorgeous flowers and they couldn't be easier!  Just run it through the Big Shot with your cardstock, a few swipes with your Bone Folder for shaping (not necessary but gives it dimension), and you have a beautiful flower for any papercrafting project!

The Melon Mambo color is one of my favorites and combined with Black and Vanilla (or White), it packs a visual punch!  This paper if from the Love Letters Designer Paper Pack, again one of my favorites this year!  I combined two of the great DSP prints for the background, added a bit of Melon Mambo done with the Scallop Trim Border Punch and some elegant Black Satin ribbon .  A small butterfly cut and embossed in one trip through the Big Shot in the Beautiful Wings Embosslit rests on the black satin, with two tiny Pearls on his body.

Above is a side view of the flower.  I used Black for the leaves to stay with the color scheme.  For the center of the flower, I didn't have any of the black Glimmer Brads (which I do love!) so I improvised and used a chocolate 5/16" brad, covered it lightly with Crystal Effects, dipped it in Chunky Black Glitter from the Chunky Essentials (pk of 4, #108797).  I let it dry before inserting it in the middle of my flower layers and I am very happy with the way it looks!  : )

 On the inside, I put a narrow strip of the same DSP as on the front, added two more Melon Mambo tiny butterflies that were also cut out with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.   The birthday greeting is from a wonderful greeting stamp set called Curly Cute which is in the main catalog page 149.

One more side view:

All products are from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for visiting today!  Have a great weekend!

Margaret

Scallop Cookie Card

What inspires you to create?  Seems that inspiration can be found anywhere, even in acookie!  Using Stampin' Up!'s large Scallop Circle Die (4-3/8") and the new 3-1/2" Circle Die found in the Occasions Mini Catalog, I've made a couple of cards inspired by an "O..." cookie.  : )

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes; inside:  Something Sweet
Ink:  VersaMark, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Whisper White cardstock
Other:  Big Shot, Damask Texturz Plate, Scallop Circle Die (4-3/8"), new 3-1/2" Circle Die, White Embossing Powder, 5/16" Brads, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Small Oval and Large Oval Punches

The front and back of the card is held together by a brad; the card swings open to reveal a circle of Whisper White cardstock stamped with "that was so sweet of you" from the Something Sweet set. I like that I found a verse that fit the contour of the card for this one.

Here's the second card

On the front is a circle image of a gift from the Party Hearty set, layered on Chocolate Chip cardstock.  Otherwise it is the same as the first one.

The front swings open to reveal the inside.

(The brad is at the top of this card).  

Inside the verse, again from the Something Sweet set , and the large birthday greeting from my newly acquired set, Curly Cute, which has five really nice greetings and is very attractive!  Couldn't wait to get it!  Across the bottom, I stamped three of the party hats from the Party Hearty set, colored with Pink Pirouette, Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight. 

I've had fun playing with the inspiration.  How about trying one yourself and posting a link to it in the comments section of this post, so we can all see it!

Thanks for dropping by today!  Hope you have a good day!

Margaret

p.s.  All products used on these cards are from Stampin' Up! and can be purchased through my demonstrator website here!  Thanks!  Contact me with any questions about online shopping with me!

Eat Chocolate Chocolate Holder

The new Occasions Mini Catalog holds new stamps and products to delight and inspire us.  One set that has wide appeal is the new Eat Chocolate set (of 4) which features... chocolate, of course!

It's fun to stamp with and also to give cards and gifts which feature this set.  This project today is a little bar of real chocolate wrapped in a Two Tag Die-cut of Crumb Cake cardstock which has been embellished to make it a special little gift. First, the large flourish from the FREE Sale-A-Bration set Bliss was stamped on the tab underneath the ribbon and the sentiment label in Rose Red ink.

The image and words were stamped in Early Espresso, punched out with the Decorative Label Punch then Crystal Effects was added to the candy image and the Rose Pink Fine Supernova Glitter was immediately sprinkled on.  After the Crystal Effects dried, the edges were sponged with Rose Red ink.

I used the new Sweet Buttons Embosslit to cut and emboss (at the same time!) buttons from Rose Red cardstock.  Linen Thread was tied around Marina Mist Striped Wide Grosgrain ribbon then threaded through the button and tied.  On the back the remainder of this saying ("I am that friend") was stamped and punched out with the Word Window Punch and adhered.

This version of the holder uses a different stamp.  The chocolate portion was stamped a second time, the "bar" cut out and added directly over the first stamping with Dimensionals to accent it.

 Thanks for dropping by!  I have more for you tomorrow!

Margaret

Color Challenge Bliss

Today I coordinated a Color Challenge with one of my online groups using the colors of Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Pacific Point plus any neutral color.  These are always fun and it also gave me the opportunity to use my new free set from Sale-A-Bration:  Bliss!

I made a simple card of Whisper White cardstock, embossed it with the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder then stamped the large flourish from the Bliss set in Pacific Point.  

I cut butterflies from Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight cardstock with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit; that Embosslit is such a cool tool because it both cuts and embosses as it passes through the Big Shot!  I then attached them around the flourish with Mini Glue Dots. 

Several small adhesive-backed Pearls were added to accessorize the flourish (you know how we girls are about our accessories! lol!) The final step was to stamp the "for you" greeting from the All Holidays set in the lower right and it was done!

The Big Shot and Stampin' Up!'s great stamps and accessories make it even easier and quicker to achieve great results in our papercrafting pursuits than ever!

Don't forget SALE-A-BRATION where you can receive FREE stamps and products for every $50. order of Stampin' Up! merchandise!  Contact your demonstrator today for information or feel free to contact me if you don't have a demonstrator.  You may also order from my online Stampin' Up! store here, receive preferred pricing and your order will be delivered right to your door!

Thanks for visiting today!  Hope to see you again soon!

Margaret

Springtime Vintage Friend Card

I'm enjoying the new Springtime Vintage Designer Papers from the Occasions Mini Catalog with its charming patterns and fresh colors!  And don't you just love the new Framed Tulips Embossing Folder?!  It's a great addition to our collection!

 

The color scheme of Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke and Rose Red is from the designer paper.  Love the Seam Binding Ribbon... it is so easy to work with and ties such nice bows and knots!  It looks soft but it has some body and isn't slippery to handle. You'll enjoy using it on your projects!  A layer of Always Artichoke under the designer paper accents the green in the paper and nestles nicely inside the frame.

The Rose Red accessories really draw the attention to the focal point; love those new Adornment Vintage Flowers! (they come in a selection of Rose Red, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla).  The sentiment is from the Friends 24/7 set and the leaves are from Just Believe; they are punched out with the Decorative Label Punch and layered onto additional Rose Red Decorative Labels for accent.  You need this punch!  It's such a nice size to punch out greetings as well as images for your projects!

I hope you enjoyed the card!  Thanks for dropping by; I appreciate your visit and your comments!  Stay warm!

 Margaret

Be My Valentine, First Edition

Whoa, I've been quite busy around here so I'm glad to get back to posting today!  We are currently in the midst of the colossal winter storm that goes all the way from North Texas to Chicago and beyond.  Fortunately we are safe and warm inside, and plan to stay here until Thursday or Friday! (or maybe spring...) The possible ice storm didn't develop here in Oklahoma City as it could have, so hopefully we won't have the power outages that accompany ice on power lines and high winds.  But enough on the weather!

Today's card showcases wonderful new products from the Occasions Mini Catalog:  Be My Valentine single stamp, #122045, First Edition Designer Series Paper, #121878 and the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, #121809.

 

I love the color scheme of Real Red, Basic Black and Very Vanilla!  The red layer was dry embossed with the Big Shot and Framed Tulips Embossing Folder then adhered to the Very Vanilla card front.  Next the First Edition Designer Series Paper was cut, distressed and sponged with Black ink and adhered inside the frame.  

The Be My Valentine stamp is a single stamp found on the inside back page of the Occasions Mini, and is only $8.95!!  I stamped it in Black onto Very Vanilla cardstock, cut it out, sponged it then adhered it with Dimensionals.  I stamped the center banner portion again, this time onto Real Red cardstock, cut it out and layered it onto the first heart with Dimensionals.  I added SU's Rhinestones to several flowers on the heart.

TIP:  You can color your Stampin' Up! Rhinestones with Sharpie Markers!!  I colored the red ones with my red Sharpie.  Any alcohol-based marker will work.  Now you can coordinate the colors of your Rhinestones with your card!!

A ribbon was cut from Black cardstock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border.  With the Boho Blossoms XL Punch, I punched three of the large flower and one of the smaller flowers from the First Edition text-weight Designer Paper; it's such a wonderful weight paper to make paper flowers and a bit lighter weight than regular designer paper!!  I sponged the edges with Black and put them together with a mini brad.  The brad center was topped with a 1/4" circle of Red Glimmer Paper for a pop of bling!!  (love that stuff!!)

                  

Thanks for visiting today!  I hope to get some stamping done tomorrow (with the temperature and wind chill, I'm definitely staying in!!

  Margaret