Big Shot Bibs!

It's amazing what can be done with the Big Shot and dies! Christie Daugherty demo-ed these bibs at the San Antonio Regional and they were utterly adorable! Include the fact that one of my friends has a newborn baby granddaughter and I couldn't resist trying this myself to make her a bib card! Here is the result:

These are quite easy. The cardstock is folded, placed on the large scallop die with the fold below the cut line then run through the Big Shot. This leaves the top intact for a card that opens. The Wide Oval Punch is then pushed halfway in centered on the fold to punch out the scoop for the "neck." Stamp and decorate to your liking, add ribbon and bows and Viola! A Baby Bib!! Inside I'll stamp "Congratulations" and write a note before sending it off to my friend. I
hope she likes it!

I made a second bib also using Basic Gray ink on Pretty in Pink cardstock for my label. Both bibs are decorated with the bundle of joy stamp from Punches Three and punched out with the Wide Oval Punch.

Stamps: Punches Three (Level 1 Hostess), BoHo Backgrounds (background flowers)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Pretty In Pink
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix Scallop Circle Die, Wide Oval Punch, Trio Flower Punch, Three For You set (retired), Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Pink Pirouette striped grosgrain ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals. The tiny pearls were given me by my daughter. : )

Try these yourself and see what you come up with!

Thanks for dropping by! Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Margaret

BoHo Backgrounds Swap Card

This card was for an online stampers group shoebox swap on Friday night of Convention in SLC. Since we didn't have any current Designer Paper to use (it had all been announced as retiring) I made my own by stamping the flower background in Pacific Point blue on Vanilla cardstock. The lighter blue is the beautiful new Baja Breeze In Color and it is stamped with the paisley stamp from the Wanted set. Love these new In Colors!

The Spiral punch on the edges of the red layer gives it interest and visual texture. The floral stamped layer is then added and a Medallion of Real Red on Vanilla layered on a Scallop Circle punched from Pacific Point and anchored with a silver brad grounds the middle of the design. The sentiment is embossed in clear ep over Real Red Craft Ink.

The smaller picture is an alternate design and this sentiment is from the One of A Kind set.

Stamps: BoHo Backgrounds, Wanted, Heard from the Heart (sentiment), new set in catalog

Inks: Pacific Point, Real Red Classic and Craft, Baja Breeze.

Cardstock: Real Red, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point

Accessories: Spiral Punch, silver brad, Spiral Punch.

Hope you've had a good weekend!

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

Priceless in Plums

Seem we can always use Thank You cards! This card was inspired by one I received in a swap from a someone named Gwyn (no last name). It is sparkly in person as the swirlies are embossed in Iridescent Ice embossing powder. It is a pretty simple and straightforward card but conveys the message of gratitude nicely. And, it goes together rather quickly, which is nice when you are pressed for time.

Stamps: Priceless
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White
Inks: Perfect Plum, VersaMark
Accessories: Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Dimensionals, Paper Snips

I've used my Priceless set quite a bit since I got it and found it to be quite versatile...plus I love those swirlies, and the butterfly, and the dots and... : )

Thanks for dropping by! Happy stamping today!
Margaret

Technostamper Challenge #15

I'm trying to catch up on Mary Jo's Technostamper Lunchtime Sketch Challenges again! We've been out of town, preparing to go, or so totally busy for so many weekends recently that it has cut into my participation. Hopefully I can now get with the program again!

This sketch is #15, even though the posted sketch for today on Mary Jo's blog is #16.

For the first time I took the liberty of turning the sketch on it's side because I could just see the Bronc Buster in that center oval. The Sanded background stamp makes a great backdrop for the image which was cut out with the Coluzzle oval template, as was the layer of Chocolate Chip behind the image. I distressed all the layers with the distressing tool from the Cutter Kit. The Brocade Blue layer was stamped with the Paisley from the Wanted set, then sponged and the corners clipped with the Ticket Corner Punch. The edges of the Kraft card had the Close to Cocoa ink pad dragged across them to give an aged look.

The words are part of the "Genuine" stamp which is in the BB set; they were inked with a Chocolate Chip marker, punched out then layered. Silver brads throughout and Chocolate Chip grosgrain finish off the card.
I think I'll give this card to my DH (dear hubby) for Father's Day. : )
Stamps: Bronc Buster, Wanted
Cardstock: Kraft, Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Punches: Small Star, Word Window, Ticket Corner, 1/16" hole. Silver Brads, Cutter Kit Distressing Tool, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.
Now it's your turn to try the sketch and meet the challenge! You may post the url in a comment on this posting.
Thanks for stopping by. Happy Monday!
Margaret

Technostamper Challenge #10

Can it be TEN already??

Yes, it is...the tenth week of Technostamper Sketch Challenges!

Here's the sketch for week 10 (the butterfly isn't part of the sketch):

My card:

I used the "Genuine" stamp from Bronc Buster as my main image; the secondary image is Paisley stamped with Bayou Blue ink on River Rock cardstock. The Sanded background is stamped in Soft Sky on the Soft Sky layer and it is also sponged with Bayou Blue and distressed.

Sets: Bronc Buster, Sanded (background), Paisley (background)
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Ruby Red, River Rock, Brushed Silver. Western Sky DSP.
Inks: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Ruby Red, VersaMark. VersaMarker and Brocade Blue markers.
Accessories: Silver ep, sponge, Cutter Kit Distressing tool, Notched corner punch (retired SU), Arrow punch, Ruby Red Brads, Brushed Silver Hodgepodge Hardware Kit (brads), Paper-Piercing tool and Mat pack for piercing around inside of arrow.

Go to Mary Jo's website at http://technostamper.blogspot.com/ to see all the others who participated today (and the remainder of this week)!
Hope you enjoy! Thanks for dropping by!
Happy Monday everyone!

One of a Kind, BoHo Backgrounds TSSC #7

It's time for Technostamper's Monday Sketch Challenge! . I used a color scheme of Basic Black, River Rock and Whisper White, which was the Splitcoast Color Challenge CC155 for the week. I think this is a very striking combination, don't you? I really wanted to play with it so combined it with the TSSC #7.

Sets: One of a Kind (flower), BoHo Backgrounds (sentiment), Priceless (flourish)
Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White and River Rock cardstock; River Rock Prints Designer Paper
Inks: Basic Black Classic and Craft, River Rock
Accessories: Crimper, Pearl from Pretties Kit, Clear embossing powder, Blender Pen, White Signo Gel Pen, black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, gingham ribbon, black brads, Ticket Corner Punch, Dimensionals. All products Stampin' Up!

Here is the sketch Mary Jo sent us for this week:

I'm really enjoying these challenges. Join in and take the challenge yourself and put a link to yours in my comments section. Or if you don't make one, feel free to leave a comment anyway. Hope you enjoy.

Check out http://technostamper.blogspot.com/ to see the list of other stampers who participated.

Happy Monday everyone! : )

Margaret

Priceless

Here's one of the cards I did at my workshop last night featuring the Priceless set and coordinating wheel. I love it's whimsical feel and BoHo style, so, enough with this cold weather, let's have some butterflies and think spring!

I wanted to keep it simple but have some fun so came up with the color scheme of Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery and Purely Pomegranate, used only the one set and wheel and SEVERAL punches (some of my favorite toys, um, tools! lol!) I added the paper piercing on the Celery and also some Iridescent Ice embossing powder around the edge of the butterfly for sparkle.

Sets: Priceless, So Swirley jumbo wheel, So Many Scallops (free Sale-A-Bration set)
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White
Inks: Certainly Celery jumbo cartridge, Blue Bayou
Accessories: Punches: Scallop, 1 3/8", 1 1/4" circles, Key Tag, Large Oval. Purely Pomegranate stitched grosgrain ribbon, 2Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Crafters Tool Kit, VersaMark Pen, Iridescent Ice ep.

Have a good day and stamp some love for someone!
Margaret
Sale-A-Bration lasts until March 17! Free Stamps with every $50 order!

One of a Kind & Be Happy: TSSC #5

Whew! I just got back last night after having been out of town all week and I was eager to get my card made for Mary Jo's Technostamper's weekly Sketch Challenge!

I used two of the designs from the beautiful Ginger Blossoms Designer Paper over a base of Soft Sky cardstock (8x8" folded to 8x4"). I love the tall design on the paper on the right side but hadn't used it until now; I thought this sketch just called out for it! The colors in the papers are Cameo Coral, Groovy Guava and River Rock. I liked the River Rock with it but it just didn't offer much contrast so I went with the Soft Sky since blue is the complimentary color of orange (coral) and gave it more punch. It is, however, still a soft look.

To make the zig-zag edge, I adhered my two layers together using Dotto temporary adhesive, then using my 3/4" square punch, went down the edge punching half the square on the diagonal. I took them apart and readhesived them leaving a small border of the Soft Sky showing. It was VERY "easy-peasy" and gives quite a different look and use for the square punch. I just love my SU punches--they are so versatile!

Sets: One of a Kind, Be Happy (sentiment)
Papers: Soft Sky, Whisper White, Cameo Coral, and Very Vanilla cardstocks; Ginger Blossoms Designer papers
Inks: Cameo Coral, Blue Bayou, Real Red, Really Rust Classic
Accessories: 3/4" square, BoHo Blossoms punches, Dimensionals, Ice Square Rhinestone Brads, Silver mini brads, Soft Sky Stitched Grosgrain ribbon

Here's the sketch for this week (the butterfly is part of Mary Jo's watermark, not part of the sketch).

You can join the sketch challenge too! Just make your card using the sketch as your pattern, upload it on the web somewhere (your blog, Splitcoast (put TSSC5 in the title), Webshots, etc.) then leave a link to your card on either mine or Mary Jo's blog. Or if you don't want to do that, you can still take the challenge and make a card using the sketch as your guide! It's fun, motivating and non-fattening too! : )

Thanks for dropping by! Hope to "see" you again soon!

Margaret

BoHo Backgrounds

I took the Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge CC152 (here) yesterday to use Apricot Appeal, Real Red and Ballet Blue together in a card. I finally settled on using my BoHo Backgrounds set...it is so versatile. I really like that medallion stamp and thought it would work well for the focal point of the design. You might recognize the design... it is the TSSC sketch from week 2!

Actually this combination reminds me of the colors used on the textiles from the Provence area of France, as do the tiny designs. Interesting how this set can go from BoHo West to Provence! Cool and so versatile!

Sets: BoHo Backgrounds, Carte Postal (sentiment)
Inks: Real Red, Ballet Blue
Cardstock: Real Red, Apricot Appeal, Ballet Blue, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 3/8", 1/8" circle punches, BoHo Blossoms punch, Word Window punch, ticket corner punch, Red brad from Bold Brights, Ice Rhinestone brad, Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, compass to draw semi-circle.

Have a great day and stamp some love for someone!

Fabulous Flowers! SC161, WT144

This is the first time I've used my Fabulous Flowers set (catalog p. 84) and I really like it! It is part of the BoHo West Style Watch Collection, and the font style of the greetings in this set are of this BoHo West type. The Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge SC 161 this week called for a large flower image and this fit the bill perfectly. I stamped the flower in VersaMark on Lovely Lilac Designer Print paper, clear embossed, brayered it with Lovely Lilac ink, then cut it out. The other two papers are also from the same package of Designer Paper. The base cardstock is Lovely Lilac. "So Kind" sentiment is also from this same set. Embellishments are an Ice Rhinestone Brad (can you tell I love these bling things!) and white Taffeta ribbon. All products Stampin' Up!

SC161; WT144: Monochromatic designs challenge

That looks like all my stampin' fun for today. We're going to work on taxes now. ugh. Lol.

Have a great weekend!

Technostamper Sketch Challenge #2

It's time for the Technostamper Sketch Challenge #2! Here's the sketch Mary Jo sent us to use this week:



Here's my card:

Sets: True Friend, BoHo Backgrounds
Cardstocks: River Rock, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and Ruby Red.
Designer Paper: Western Sky (stripe)
Inks: Ruby Red Craft, Blue Bayou Classic
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Blue Bayou stitched grosgrain, Signo White Gel Pen, Ticket Corner Punch, Ruby Red button from Earth Elements asst., Dimensionals, Crafters Tool Kit, Silver brad, Paper Snips. All products Stampin' Up!

This sketch was more of a challenge than last week. I can't wait to see what the other stampers did with it! Check out http://technostamper.com/ at noon Monday to find out!

Margaret

True Friend

Ever in need of quick inspiration to make a card or project? Stampin' Up! previously called their catalog the "Catalog and Idea Book" and it truly is that! I saw a True Friend sample similar to this one on pg. 106 of the current 2008 Collection catalog which inspired me so I copied it (called a "case" for "copy and share [with] everyone"), changing the colors and tweaked it just a bit to give it my own interpretation.

I used the beautiful "In Color™" Purely Pomegranate and Soft Sky plus Handsome Hunter for my color scheme. The pattern on the Hunter layer is the BoHo Friend wheel rolled in Pomegranate; I really like how this wheel looks with the True Friend set! The focal flower is stamped on a Soft Sky layer and set off with a Fire Rhinestone brad center, the greeting stamped beneath and all tied up with the stitched Pomegranate grosgrain ribbon. I used the Ticket Corner Punch to add interest to the corners.

True Friend is a part of the BoHo West Style Watch Collection, and you know I love that whole group of designs and products! Hope you enjoy it too!

Thanks for dropping by! Happy Weekend!

One of a Kind

Woohoo! I got to use my new set One of a Kind last night to make a card! This set is part of the BoHo West Style Watch collection in the new 2008 Catalog and it coordinates with all the other stamps and products in that collection in such a wonderful fashion! (see pg. 13 in the 2008 catalog... my catalog kind of falls open to that place automatically as I've looked at it so much!) The gorgeous new Berry Bliss Designer Papers (Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink and Purely Pomegranate colors) are used for the backgrounds. I stamped the large pink flower in Pomegranate ink on Pretty in Pink cardstock then cut it out. I stamped it again on white cardstock, cut it out and layered it onto the larger one; then I stamped one of the small flowers in Chocolate Chip ink on Pink cardstock, punched it out and added one of the medium-size Fire Rhinestone Brads in pink for the final touch. A dimensional underneath gives emphasis (see the next picture for the detail).

The greeting was stamped then punched out with the smaller Oval Punch, then layered on Close to Cocoa punched with the larger Oval Punch. The surrounding flowers were stamped with Purely Pomegranate on Pretty in Pink cardstock and punched with the brand-new BoHo Blossoms punch! I love that punch and the coordinating stamp in this set! Perfect! This sure makes quick work of preparing all these little flowers for your artwork!

I used the SCS Sketch SC159 for this card. This is my first time to use one of these, but it is nice to have a pre-determined layout to follow, especially when you have "stampers block", need inspiration or maybe just have a limited amount of time to create a card.

If you want to get a new 2008 Catalog, just call or email me! Have a great day!

Margaret

Wanted!

I love this Wanted set and this Outlaw Designer Paper! When the new catalog came out last July, I saw this set but I had to wait until the end of of the month to get it... because it was one of the sets we were given for attending the Stampin' Up! Convention in Denver! Wanted is in the new Spring-Summer Catalog 2008 also, but sadly the Outlaw Designer Paper has been retired. HOWEVER, Stampin' Up! has two new Designer Papers in the "BoHo West" Style in the new catalog that are lucious, so I'm happy! : ) Yeah, Stampin' Up!

I made this card last month for a Friendship/Valentine swap with an online group. I used Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel and Sage Shadow cardstock, Outlaw Designer Paper, Cocoa grosgrain ribbon, Distresser tool from the Cutter kit, the Corner and Scallop Punches, the Sanded background stamp, Crafters Tool Kit (hole punching tools), sponge, large Pewter eyelet, Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, and Clear Embossing Powder.

The "Priceless" stamp is from the Priceless stamp set and "friend" is from Everyday Flexible Phrases.

Thanks for stopping by!

Baroque and BoHo

This is one of the swaps I posted in the "group" picture yesterday. Baroque Motifs is the gorgeous new stamp set (can you tell I love it?) combined with two new In Colors© Groovy Guava and Purely Pomegranate, as well as Taken with Teal. The new In Colors© are just beautiful! It's easy to make an elegant statement with a card made using the Baroque Motifs set which is a part of the Tapestry group in the new Style Watch section of the catalog.
WooHoo!! The Bronc Buster is making an appearance! This set is also part of the new Style Watch section of the Fall/Winter Collection 07 titled "BoHo West". It is basically western with some touches of bohemian added; it reminds me of the style elements of historic homes and clothing I've seen in the western part of the United States from the 1800's...western with a little Victorian vintage edge to it! I'm lovin' it! : ) On this card you'll see several new Stampin' Up!© products: new Photo Corner Punch; the Outlaw Designer papers (corner punch); new Star punch; Bronc Buster stamp set of course; and the NEW 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip (under the horseshoe/star emblem punched out with the Key punch). There is a nice selection of new colors in this wider grosgrain! The small star is from the set Starstruck which was new last year, and just fits in the Star punch perfectly!

We are going to have so much fun using all these new goodies!! : )

Wishing you a good weekend!