Travel Albums

My group of "Stamp Therapy" friends met about a week before Christmas for sharing friendship and projects, swapping gifts and cards and lunch! What a great time we had!



These are the booklets I made to give each friend which they can use when they go to Stampin' Up! Leadership in January. There are envelopes inside to hold receipts for travel expenses.

Each album front is the thin paperboard that comes inside the Designer Paper package covered with a different Designer Series Paper. The back covers are covered with coordinating cardstock. I used the Bind-It-All tool to put it together. The letters on the front are diecut with the Big Shot and the Go Go Boots Alphabet.

Stamps: various Stampin' Up! stamps
Paper: Washington Orchard, Parisian Summer, Sweet Always and Summer Picnic, plus coordinating cardstocks
Accessories: various punches, Glue Stick, SNAIL Adhesive, Mini Glue Dots, Bind-It-All.

All products from Stampin' Up! except Bind-It-All.

Thanks for visiting!
Margaret

Big Shot Money Holders

I am finally back somewhat. My computer was beyond repair so I am now using my laptop (thankfully I had one). I had to get some software loaded and some new drivers installed, etc. (it uses MS Vista instead of XP) in order to get my software to work properly but it finally seems to be working now. Thanks so much for hanging with me while I underwent this ordeal of losing my computer, files and software. I also now have new ways of backup! : )

I trust you have all have had a busy Christmas season and hopefully an enjoyable one! Next comes New Years, and here in Oklahoma, we have two bowl games to watch: Oklahoma State Univ. vs Oregon St. tomorrow night and the University of Oklahoma vs. Florida on Jan. 8 for the National Championship. Throw in the New Year's party and New Year's Day parade and looks like we'll still be busy awhile! : )

On to some more fun stuff: stamping! I needed some money/gift card holders for some of my gift-giving last week. I had seen something similar somewhere several weeks ago (and I've forgotten where!) so I whipped four of these out quickly on Christmas eve day. (If it was your blog, post in the comments so I can give you proper credit, please!).

I used the Big Shot with the largest Scalloped Circle Die to cut out the red cardstock with the stamped image strip and olive strip attached. The image was quickly colored in with markers and some highlights and swirlies were added with a glitter pen. A tab punch at the top provides a hanger for the silver cord. I cut out additional scalloped circles, cut them in half and adhered them to the back of the circles, forming a pocked to hold a gift card or gift of money. My granddaughters thought they were very cute and kept them to hang on their trees again in the future. : ) I had other ideas for decoration but my time was very limited so I went with these as you see them.

Stamps: Holiday Lineup
Inks: Black Staz-On; SU markers of various colors
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, lg. Scalloped Circle die, Round Tab Punch, brad, silver cord.

I have a number of new things to show you in the next few days... new stamps, paper and punch, so come back soon! Again, thanks for sticking with me and visiting again! I hope to post regularly again now!

Happy New Year (almost),
Margaret

Fall-Winter Sampler Promotions

Stampin' Up! Fall-Winter Sampler Promotions
A Sampling of the Best!

Until January 18, 2009, Stampin' Up! is providing you with great offers from the Fall-Winter Sampler!

From December 1, 2008-January18, 2009. In celebration of
Stampin' Up!'s Twentieth Anniversary
spend $20 on any Stampin' Up! product and get 20 percent off any stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler--no limit! Choose from any of the stamp sets below:

11564 Flight of the Butterfly $31.95 Special price: $25.56
112911 Vuelo de la mariposa (Spanish Flight of the Butterfly) $31.95-- $25.56
111676 Puns from the Past $27.95 -- $22.36
111660 Just Jawing $25.95 -- $20.76
111624 Dreams du Jour $18.95 -- $15.16

111700 Thank You Kindly $13.95 -- $11.16
111714 Wow Flowers $12.95 -- $10.36
112955 Flores llamativas (Spanish Wow Flowers) $12.95-- $10.36
111600 Bella's Bloom $12.95 -- $10.36

Check out the Stampin' Up! website for pictures of some of the stamp sets in this special offer. However, one of my favorites, Bella's Bloom (p. 101 in catalog) isn't pictured. Don't overlook this dainty little jewel and matching wheel! :)

Offers like these don't come around every day! Contact your demonstrator TODAY to place your order or order online at my website to take advantage of these great 20% off savings as well as the FREE SHIPPING SPECIAL* that is available until December 23!

*December 9-23, FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $70. or more!

Stay warm and keep the Christmas spirit in these hectic days!

Have fun stampin'!

Margaret

Out of Commission

Well, it happened. My computer is in the hospital. It wouldn't wake up (boot up) yesterday morning so I immediately took it in as soon as the service place opened. I don't know anything yet. : (

All my photos and photo editing software are on that computer so I may be MIA for a few days or unless I can figure something else out. In the meantime I'll be using my laptop to read email online, etc. so you can still email and I will read and respond if you need me to. I also hope to get some more stamping done! : )

Happy Thursday to you! Thanks for dropping by! You are always appreciated!
Margaret

Holiday Treasures Tag Booklet -- TSSC #44

Here's my project for Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #44! I wasn't able to get it done this weekend and when I did get started, it took me a little longer because I was learning how to use my Bind-It-All machine for the first time. What a cool tool!

The first time I saw the sketch I knew I wanted to make a little booklet with for this sketch. I have had this Sizzix Super Scallop Tag die for several years and knew it would be just the ticket for this project and now I could use my Big Shot die cutting machine! Yay!

The tag die is approximately 4 1/2" x 3 1/4". I cut two pieces from a stiff heavy large mailing envelope (recycled) to just a little larger than that, covered the outside with the Designer Paper and the inside of each with Kiwi Kiss cardstock and ran these through the Big Shot with the tag die. This makes a really firm cover! I then cut eight pages to go on the inside out of white cardstock. I used the reindeer design from the Deer Friends set for the front and embellished it with Chocolate Chip swirls cut with the Swirl Scribbles Sizzlet die in the Big Shot. The dots were added with the Signo White Gel Pen.

The holes in the tip of the cover were cut as part of the die so I finished them with the Jumbo Eyelets using the Crop-A-Dile. The entire booklet was then bound with the 1/2" wires in the Bind-It-All machine. A tie of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon holds it closed.

Here is Mary Jo's original sketch for us:

Stamps: Deer Friends (Level I Hostess set)
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Holiday Treasures DSP; Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White cardstock; miscellaneous heavy paperboard for base
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, SU Glue Stick, Jumbo Antique Brass Eyelets, Dimensionals, Signo Gel Pen
Tools: Big Shot, Crop-A-Dile, Bind-It-All, Sizzlits Swirls Scribbles die, Sizzix Super Scallop Tag die, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, 1/4", 1/2", 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches

I really enjoyed making this; I hope you enjoy it too!

Happy Tuesday! Have fun stampin'!

Margaret

Christmas Season of Friendship

Another Season of Friendship card (but obviously not the summer season, which is still to come)! This is one of the Make and Takes for a workshop I did this past week; the ladies all liked it! It was pretty fast and easy yet striking. The use of a some wonderful tools like the Big Shot, Top Note die and Curly Label Punch make it so!

The white frame is left after die-cutting the Top Note Bigz Die, but in this case, that is the part I intended to use so I still have all the large die cuts to use in another project. : ) I marked the edges on my die with tape so it was simple to repeat the process of accurately cutting enough white "frames" for my workshop guests. Next the tree trunk is stamped in Close to Cocoa on the Baja Breeze card. Brush over this with the Embossing Buddy to keep the embossing powder from sticking to the card then stamp the White Craft snowflakes around. Emboss with a mixture of White and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. The Iridescent Ice give those lil' snowflakes some sparkles!

Now adhere the white frame centered on your cardstock. The bird is stamped, cut out and adhered with a trimmed-down Dimensional to the tree limb and a simple knot of the Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon held with a Mini Glue Dot embraces the tree. The greeting was stamped in red and punched out with the coordinating punch! I love these punches that coordinate with stamps...they save so much time and tedious-ness (is that a word?) cutting things out (which is not my greatest enjoyment, lol!) Way to go, Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Cute and Curly (label bundle)

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa Classic Ink; White Craft Ink

Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Accessories: Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Curly Label Punch (bundle), Embossing Buddy, White embossing powder, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Heat Tool, Mini Glue Dots.

We have had our first major cold front sweep down the plains and arrive here today! Brr-rr, it's cold outside! Of course I know it is much colder in the states and Canada north of here but I'm still not ready for it. We have had such a plesant extended fall here that I'm really spoiled! lol! Stay warm, everyone!

Happy Saturday! Hope you have some fun stampin' this weekend!

Margaret

To You and Yours - Ski Slope

Instead of the Summer edition of Season of Friendship (which I haven't had time to make yet), today I'm posting a sample I made this week of To Your and Yours. I haven't forgotten and will post the summer version of SOF as soon as I can get it made!

This Ski Slope Designer Series Paper is just gorgeous! First off the designs are so pretty as are the color schemes in the papers of Baja Breeze, Real Red, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive! The paper I used for today's card uses Baja Breeze, red and white only; I think I'm hooked on that color scheme lately! lol!

For the focal image, I cut a 2 3/4" x 4" rectangle of Whisper White and punched the edges with the Scallop Edge punch which makes a pretty frame. I stamped the cabin scene from To You and Yours then added color to the windows and door.

The card itself is Baja Breeze layered with Real Red then the beautiful swirly snowflakes DSP from the Ski Slope package. I cut a width of the DSP stripe and threaded it horizontally through the scalloped frame of the cabin image and adhered it to the DSP. For the finishing touch, I added a red felt snowflake from the Little Felt Flurries assortment (#113697, p. 18, $13.95) found in the Holiday Mini DSP. You get a huge amount of these snowflakes in white, red and baja breeze and they add such a fun and dimensional touch to your projects!!

Stamps: To You and Yours, Snow Swirled Christmas (snowflake)
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze; Real Red and Barely Banana SU Markers
Paper: Ski Slope DSP; Baja Breeze, Real Red, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Little Flurries felt snowflake. Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Two Way Glue Pen, Blender Pen

Happy Friday! Hope you enjoyed my card... I think some portions of the country are getting some snow today! Brr-rr!

Thanks for visiting today! Have fun stampin'!
Margaret

Season of Friendship - Winter

As promised yesterday, here is my card for the winter season using the Season of Friendship set (#111776, set of 6) from the Holiday Mini Catalog. This mini catty is just chock full of great stamps and exciting products for the holiday season through Valentine's Day! I sure hope you have your copy of it! If not, contact your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator to get one ASAP! : ) You may also see it online by clicking on the small picture of the Holiday Mini in the left sidebar of my blog.


Baja Breeze and White with accents of Not Quite Navy form the color scheme for this winter scene. The background was made with the Snow Jumbo Wheel (love this!) in Baja Breeze. The tree was stamped with Not Quite Navy. Some Baja Breeze snowflakes were stamped then the same ink was added to the background. White snowflakes are embossed with white embossing powder. A piece of torn white cardstock goes across the bottom of the tree to resemble snow.

The sentiment is stamped with the Cute and Curly Bundle stamp in Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze inks, punched out, then stamped again in Real Red and the center oval portion cut out and layered on the first. A red bird perches on a tree branch, repeating the red in the ribbon and sentiment to tie it all together.

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Cute and Curly Bundle
Inks: Baja Breeze, Real Red, Not Quite Navy Classic Pads; White Craft Pad
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Photo Corner Punch, Curly Label punch (from Cute and Curly Bundle), Red Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Dauber

I'm really enjoying this set and hope you like the cards. What a fun stylized tree with accessory stamps that can be used for any season and for many occasions depending on the sentiment you add to it.

Next is summer!

Have fun stampin'!
Margaret

TSSC 43 Season of Friendship, Spring

It's Monday and time again for the Technostamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge!

Today's sketch is:

What a great sketch! Very versatile and useful!

I turned the sketch to a vertical orientation because I'm using my Season of Friendship set. My goal is to make a card for each season of the year using this set. Today I used the Parisian Summer Designer Series Paper and the color scheme of burgundy, pink, sand and saffron that it presents. Now I will have to say that my card looks more like spring than summer, what with the flowers, so I'm calling it spring, lol! (Artistic license? lol!)

Stamps: Season of Friendship
Inks: Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron pads; Bravo Burgundy Marker
Paper: Parisian Summer DSP; Sahara Sand, Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Trio Flower punch, Photo Corner punch, 1/8" circle punch, Mat Pack template, Dimensionals, Signo White Gel Pen

Join in by using this sketch to make a card yourself and post a link here or on Technostamper's blog here. Be sure to check out the other players today and this week also!

Thanks for visiting today. Hope you enjoy! Tomorrow I'll post my Winter card!
Have fun stampin'!

Margaret

Big Shot Baby Boy Bib in Blue

Can you say that fast six times? lol! Since I've already made a couple for girls, I just had to make one of these fun baby bib cards for a boy! They are so easy and cute!

Bashful Blue cardstock forms the base. I folded it in half, placed the fold about 1 1/4" below the top of the scallop and ran it through my Big Shot with the large Scallop Die so it would remain uncut at the top. I covered the front with a Bashful Blue argyle print paper scallop cut with the same die from the Prints Pack (Hostess Level 1 from the Spring/Summer catalog). Just perfect for a sweet baby boy!

I made dots with my Signo Gel Pen around the scallops and neck and put the Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, knotted at each end, around the neck. The ribbon is attached with Mini Glue Dots. Check my previous bibs posted here to find the directions and a video by Christie Daugherty.

The little sailboat from Nursery Necessities is the focal image. The stamp was colored with markers then stamped. The oval shape was cut with the Coluzzle Cutting System oval template then layered on Brocade Blue cardstock and trimmed to match the white layer with my Paper Snips. (These are wonderful detail paper cutters!! So sharp and cut so easily!) The little star is from the Starstruck set and is adhered with a Dimensional.

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Starstruck

Inks: Real Red, Brocade Blue, Bordering Blue Stampin' Write Markers

Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Brocade Blue cardstock; Bashful Blue argyle from Prints Pack (Spring/Summer Hostess Level 1 set; Bashful Blue Patterns DSP from Fall/Winter Catalog would substitute perfectly)

Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Die, Signo White Gel Pen, Coluzzle Cutting System, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue Stick

I love making these! They are so easy and fun and would be just perfect for baby announcements, new baby congratulations or gift enclosure cards!

Happy Friday! Have fun stampin'!

Margaret

Season of Friendship - Fall

I finally got to put ink on my Season of Friendship set today! I've seen so many attractive cards and projects with it but I've just had other things to do. I believe this set is going to be so versatile because a stamp is included for each season of the year! How cool! It's found in the Holiday Mini Catalog on page 6, #111776, set of 6, $23.95. Also from the mini catalog is the Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper which coordinates with this set and has this glorious fall color scheme!
On a chocolate card overlaid with mustard I put a strip of Autumn Vine DSP. The tree was stamped in chocolate with leaves coordinating with the DSP. Several additional leaves were stamped, cut out then applied with Dimensionals for height. There is the cutest little bird in this set; he was stamped in chocolate (stamped off once), cut out and placed on a branch. Sage Shadow grosgrain accents this layer. The sentiment is from Best Yet, a hostess set in the Fall/Winter Catalog, which is free with a $150. order or party. (I love this set; it has six wonderful sentiments!) It was stamped in chocolate, punched out then layered on a rust scallop square.

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Best Yet (#111604, pg. 18, Hostess Level 1, free)
Inks: More Mustard, Really Rust, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip
Papers: Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper; More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust and Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Sage Shadow 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals

Hope you enjoy! Have fun stampin'!
Margaret

Life is Good

Have you tried any of the Decor Elements yet? They are so easy to use it's amazing! I'm in the process of making another Decor Element project (not on a wall) right now but wanted to show you one that I have done recently. I applied this one over a little shelf in the hall bath. The lighting isn't the best for photos there so please overlook that. : ) I was somewhat apprehensive before starting the application but I had no problems and was happily surprised how easy it was to do!

This one, Life is Good, comes in either Chocolate or White, and in two sizes. I chose the smaller size, 6" x 13" for my space. It is part of the Phase I introduction of Decor Elements with Phase II being introduced at Convention and now available for order. Phase II added more variety of designs as well a quite a number of colors too! There are now designs for nursery or childrens' rooms and holiday decorating as well. The holiday decor can be applied to surfaces such as boards or canvas so they can be taken down and saved after the holidays. 

Decor Elements can be used on a wide variety of surfaces; my walls have some texture on them and yet it applied beautifully, making me happy! Another great feature is that when you wish to change decor, you just peel these off! This does not in any way harm your paint or walls either! Perfect!

Happy Tuesday and have fun stampin'!
Margaret

updated:  Decor Elements are no longer available from Stampin' Up!

Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit

Create a warm and inviting Christmas home for your family and friends with Stampin' Up!'s Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit. This kit has everything you need to enjoy creating beautiful handcrafted ornaments and great memories to last a lifetime.

The Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit includes the following products:

• Holiday Collection stamp set (six stamps)
• Four 12" x 12" sheets of die-cut chipboard
• Eight 12" x 12" sheets of die-cut Designer Series paper (2 ea. of 4 double-sided designs)
• Four 12" x 12" sheets of Designer Series paper (2 ea. of 2 double-sided designs)
• Two 12" x 12" sheets of Whisper White card stock
• 25 yds. Silver Metallic cord
• 10 yds. 3/8" Whisper White taffeta ribbon
• Pretties Kit brads (20)
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (1/2 oz.)
• Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive
• Riding Hood Red Classic Stampin' Spot
• Old Olive Craft Stampin' Spot
• Uninked Stampin' Spot
• Whisper White Craft Ink refill

You may order the Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit (#114447, $49.95) online here. Just click on "Shop Now" in the upper right-hand corner, use your credit card and it will be shipped directly to you via UPS.

Please feel free to email me with any questions here. Thanks!

Margaret

TSSC 42 Frosty Day Snowflakes

Happy Monday! Time for Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge, #42 already! Todays sketch is a fun and unusual one! Here it is:

I was drawn to use the new Frosty Day Designer Series Paper from the fabulous Holiday Mini Catalog; this mini has SO many new and cool products to use in stamping and scrapping, home decorating and crafting! The colors in this DSP are Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White and some of the papers also have Bashful Blue in them. These papers can be used not only for Christmas holidays but also throughout the winter, and the designs are all new!

I recently received the Snowflakes Set #2 Sizzix Dies for the Big Shot (#113449, set of 4 dies, $19.95) and have been looking for an excuse to use them, lol! I die cut them out of Whisper White and adhered one to the Close to Cocoa tag shape with a 2 Way Glue Pen as well as a green Rhinestone Ice Circle brad. Below that I stamped the "Merry & Bright" (from the To You and Yours set) in White Craft ink and embossed it in white embossing powder. The tag shape was then layered on Kiwi Kiss cardstock and adhered with Dimensionals for some lift. I "fudged" a little in that my tag is larger than the one in the sketch so it would accommodate the snowflake, but hey, we stampers are all about individual creativity aren't we? lol!

Stamps: To You and Yours
Inks: White Craft
Papers: Frosty Day DSP; Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss and Close to Cocoa card stock
Accessories: Snowflakes set #2 Sizzix dies, 2 Way Glue Pen, Tag Corner Punch, Rhinestone Ice Circle brad, White embossing powder, Paper Snips, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals

All products are from Stampin' Up! and can be ordered from your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator or if you don't have one, from me or my Stampin' Up! website.

You can check out Mary Jo's card at http://technostamper.blogspot.com/ and also see the list of other players. Try the sketch yourself and post a link to your card either in the Comments section for this post or Mary Jo's post!

Feel free to leave a comment on any post; I appreciate them and read them all! Thank you!

Thanks for visiting! Have fun stampin' today!
Margaret

Halloween RAK (Random Act of Kindness)

I received this cute Halloween card in the mail from an online friend and fellow Stampin' Up! demo, Jane Giggy. Thanks Jane, for thinking of me and sending me one of your cute cards! Jane used the fabulous Big Shot die cutting machine and the Top Note Bigz© die for the black background and the Sizzix pumpkin die, which cuts and scores at the same time, for the pumpkin.

It's always so enjoyable to receive fun mail! Thanks so much, Jane! You brightened my day!

Margaret

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

TSSC 41 Eastern Blooms Haiku

Whoa! It's already Monday again and time for Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge. Today we have another great sketch from Mary Jo (Technostamper) that looks user-friendly and versatile!

So here's the sketch on the left:

I used the Eastern Blooms set and the beautiful Haiku DSP for today's card. The card base is So Saffron with an overlay of the olive chrysanthemums paper with a Tangerine Tango lining. The Eastern Blooms branch is stamped in So Saffron on the same color card stock then overstamped with the Canvas background stamp, also in So Saffron to mute it. This layer was wrapped with a length of olive grosgrain ribbon through a metal hardware buckle.

For the circle element used the large bloom in the set. I stamped it twice in Tangerine Tango on So Saffron card stock then cut them out. I also stamped the small bloom for the center the same way and cut it out. I shaped the petals with the blade of my paper snips and layered the two blossoms with double Dimensionals. A green circle rhinestone brad was added to the center flower which is then placed in the center of the flower. I punched a scallop circle from Old Olive, layered in onto the card and adhered the flower on top of that.The sentiment is from Wonderful Favorites is stamped in Artichoke CRAFT ink and heat embossed in clear ep.


Stamps: Eastern Blooms (#111626, p. 91), Canvas (#104421, p. 35), Wonderful Favorites (#109461, pg. 144)
Inks: Always Artichoke Craft ink; So Saffron, Tangerine Tango Classic Inks
Paper: Haiku Designer Series Paper; So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive
Accessories: Ice Circle Rhinestone brad (green), Scallop Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Paper Snips, Hodgepodge Hardware Antique Pewter buckle (retired), Dimensionals

Thanks for visiting! Check out Mary Jo's card at http://technostamper.blogspot.com/ along with the other team members who are participating today! Try out this sketch for yourself too, and post a link to your card in the comments section here or on Mary Jo's blog!

Happy Monday! Have fun stampin'!
Margaret

To You and Yours

To You and Yours is such lovely set! I love the look of this inviting cabin in the snowy landscape of a winter wonderland. Also included in the set is a beautiful dove stamp and four sentiment stamps! What beautiful Christmas cards as well as other winter occasions this set can be used for. Okay, enough about that... lol! Oh, yes, one more thing, it coordinates with the Handmade Holiday Card Elements kit on page 177 of the catalog, which includes the instructions, photos and elements you need to create quick and numerous Christmas cards! Talk about easy handmade cards, this is it! Now... on to today's card. : )


First I stamped the cabin onto vanilla cardstock with Baja Breeze ink. I made a "mask" by stamping the same image onto a sticky note and cutting out the cabin above the ground line and angled the ground lines out to the sides. I put the mask on the stamped image then sponged Baja Breeze ink lightly all around for the sky. I then used my Signo White gel pen to enhance the snow on the roof and ground. This was layered onto Kiwi Kiss and a silver brad that had been coated with the 2 Way Glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter was added to the left.

The card base of Kiwi Kiss is layered with Baja Breeze that had been stamped in White Craft ink with the snowflakes from the Snow Swirled set. Over this is a panel of Muirfield DSP, Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip. A length of Chocolate Chip Stitched grosgrain ribbon goes from the right edge of the card onto this Muirfield panel then the image panel is adhered over that with Dimensionals.

For the single large snowflake, I stamped White Craft ink onto Kiwi Kiss cardstock then embossed with an equal mix of White and Iridescent Ice embossing powders. This was punched out with the matching Snow Blossom punch and adhered with a Dimensional for emphasis. The final touch is the sentiment stamped in White Craft and punched with the Word Window Punch.

Two things I challenged myself to do (and enjoyed doing) when making this card was to (1) use non-traditional colors and (2) use non-holiday designer paper and make it look holiday-ish. (is that a word? lol!) I am good with how it turned out. What do you think?

Stamps: To You and Yours (#111706, pg. 45, set of 6, $18.95), Snow Swirled (snowflakes)

Inks: Baja Breeze Classic; White Craft pad

Paper: Muirfield Designer Series Paper; Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla cardstock

Accessories: Word Window Punch, Snow Blossom Punch, Chocolate Chip stitched grosgrain ribbon, Silver brad, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, White Embossing powder, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, White Signo Gel Pen, Stampin' Sponge.

Thanks for visiting today! Have a great weekend!

Margaret

TSSC40 Crazy for Cupcakes (pt. 3)

It's Monday again so it's time for Technostamper's Monday Sketch Challenge #40! Here is the sketch for today:

This looks pretty simple and straightforward but I did have a little time of it making it feel balanced to me. I wanted to use the cupcake from the Crazy for Cupcakes set (#111618, p. 64) since I hadn't used it on any of my cards yet. I also thought the "Celebrate You" circular stamp from Party Hearty would work for the circle. I paired these with a pink and brown color scheme and the floral paper from the Sweet Always Designer Series Paper.

I stamped the icing and candle part of the stamp onto Pink Pirouette card stock in Basic Brown, used the blender pen for some shading (which isn't very visible in the picture), and colored in the candle with cocoa and the sprinkles with chocolate. I then coated the flame and entire "icing" with my 2 Way Glue pen and applied Dazzling Diamonds glitter. This was overlaid on a cupcake stamped on Close to Cocoa and shaded with cocoa and chocolate markers.

The "Celebrate You" was stamped on white with Chocolate Chip Craft ink and embossed with clear ep. The gift image from Party Hearty was stamped in Regal Rose, the gift colored in with a Chocolate Chip marker, then covered with VersaMark and embossed with clear ep. This was punched out and layered onto the scallop with a Dimensional then layered on another scallop circle of Chocolate Chip and attached with Dimensionals.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes, Party Hearty
Inks: Chocolate Chip Craft; Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette Classic pads; VersaMark; Basic Brown Ink; YoYo Yellow (flame), Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip markers.
Paper: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White card stock; Sweet Always DSP

Accessories: 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Stampin' Sponge, Blender Pen, Scallop Circle Punch, 3/4" circle punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

You can see Technostamper's card and a list of the other players this week at http://www.technostamper.blogspot.com/. Join in the challenge and post a link to your card either here or on Technostamper's blog.

Thanks for visiting! Happy Monday and have fun stampin'!

Margaret

Crazy for Cupcakes, um, Balloons!

Here's another card made with the Crazy for Cupcakes set that is on the Birthday Special this month. This time I used the balloon image and paper pieced them for a crisp and colorful look. To do that, you simply stamp the image on your cardstock, then stamp the same image onto the Designer Paper and cut it out. Adhere these cut outs to the stamped image for bold and easy colors!
There's very little stamping on this card and it goes together quickly. The key is the Designer Papers; what a great boon they are when you need a quick card! You could stamp an appropriate sentiment and add it to the front of the card before sending it away!

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Inks: Basic Brown
Paper: Patterns Pack DSP (Level 1 Hostess), Real Red, Whisper White, Kraft card stock
Accessories: Paper Snips, narrow Red Gingham Ribbon

I really like the look of this kraft, red and white color combination! It has a certain sophistication yet liveliness too and is great for cards for both males and females! Most everyone likes red, don't they? Also, I was inspired for the layout of this card by a couple of cards I had seen on Splitcoaststampers.

Thanks for dropping by. Have fun stampin' this weekend!

Margaret

Crazy for Cupcakes!

What a delightful new set this is that came out in the Fall/Winter Catalog! I was taken with it when I saw it at convention and just ordered it recently; it's ON SALE this month!! Gotta love that! Crazy for Cupcakes is one of the eight birthday sets that is currently on sale celebrating Stampin' Up!'s Twentieth Birthday! Click the picture denoting the Birthday Special on the top left sidebar for details!

The polka dot paper from Sweet Always DSP provides the color scheme of Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip. The bottom of the DSP was edged with the Scallop Edge punch. I cut the Pumpkin Pie cardstock Scallop Circle out with the Big Shot then cut a coordinating circle layer out of Pink Pirouette with the Colozzle cutting system. The cupcakes were stamped with Basic Brown then colored in with markers, ink and blender pens. The cupcake icing was then coated with glue with the 2 Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter was added for super sparkle! I added dots around both circles with the Signo white gel pen.

The card base is Regal Rose, then a layer of Chocolate Chip was added before the DSP was added. I stamped the balloon from the set on the right side then added Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and a small pink button from the Button Bouquet assortment.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Inks: Basic Brown, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette ink refill; Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Real Red markers
Paper: Sweet Autumn DSP; Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Pink Pirouette
Accessories: 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Button Bouquet Asst., Big Shot, Scallop Circle die, Coluzzle, Scallop Edge punch, Signo White Gel Pen, Tabletop Paper Cutter to cut a sliver of chocolate cardstock to go through the button.

If you haven't tried Stampin' Up!'s Tabletop Paper Cutter, (#106959, p. 192), you need to! I finally bought one and I really really like it! Wish I hadn't waited so long! It cuts straight!! And the blade is self-sharpening (how cool is that?!) And you can't cut yourself with it! Plus it's portable but still a great size with a 12" bed for cutting paper and cardstock. I highly recommend it!

Happy Friday everyone! Thanks for dropping by. Have a fun stampin' weekend!
Margaret

Holiday Scallop Envelope Die Box

I looove these little boxes. They are so much fun to make and to give! I gave my first box away almost immediately and wanted to do the next one in a Christmas theme. The Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper is so very pretty and the Kiwi Kiss looks so festive with this poinsettia print that I just had to use this combination!

First I cut my four Scallop Envelope die cuts in Kiwi Kiss, constructed my box then wrapped a band of the poinsettia paper around it. The Stampin' Up! Gluestick works perfectly for this task; it even gives a little more body to the box! Over this came a piece of the lucious double-sided Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla Satin Ribbon. This stuff is GORGEOUS! Yum!

I cut a background of Chocolate Chip for the front center, rounded the corners then stamped the striped label with red onto pink cardstock and punched it out with the Curly Label Punch. I also stamped in chocolate and cut out the oval stamp with the greeting on it and edged the oval with the 2 Way Glue Pen and glitter for sparkle. Another Curly Label was punched out of red for layering.

I punched out two pointy flowers, covered them with glue from the 2 Way Glue pen and dipped them in glitter. I did the same with a snowflake done with the Snow Blossom punch of pink cardstock, which was then centered with a Fire Rhinestone Brad in pink. These were arranged around the label and ribbon on the front for some holiday dazzle! The front of this is so sparkly IRL. For the inside, I filled a gusset cello bag with Hugs©, chocolate striped silver kisses which complement the box, then tied that with a Chocolate Chip grosgrain bow!

Stamps: Cute and Curly
Inks: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Holiday Treasures DSP; Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Scallop Envelope Die, Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Curly Label Punch, Snow Blossom Punch, 1/8" hole punch, BoHo Blossom flower punch, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, double-sided Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, pink Fire Rhinestone Brad. All products ©Stampin' Up!

My previous Scallop Die box plus a link to the directions is here.

Thanks for visiting and have fun stampin'! Sorry I was so slow in posting but I have been sick.
Margaret

The Softer Side of Party Hearty

Here's another card I made at our SSUS online group Shoebox Swap at SU Convention 08. What a wonderful and talented group of ladies! We had quite a group and made lots of cards that evening! It was such fun to meet these ladies in person that I "see" online frequently!

This card designed by Amy Combs uses the same stamps as yesterday's card but the elements are arranged a little bit differently and of course the colors make a big difference also. The colors of Baja Breeze and Pink Pirouette are soft but are kicked up by the punch of Kiwi Kiss. These colors look great together!

A Build-A-Brad featuring the gift from the set centers the "Celebrate You" scallop. The icing from the cupcake is stamped a second time, cut out and mounted with Dimensionals. When I got home from Convention, I added the little silver beads from SU's Silver Beads assortment for the "sprinkles".

Stamps: Party Hearty

Inks: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette

Papers: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette; Designer Paper

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Build-A-Brad, Baja grosgrain ribbon, Silver Beads Asst.

Thanks for visiting! Happy Saturday/weekend and Happy Stampin' too!

Margaret

Party Hearty in Pacific and Chocolate!

Party Hearty is such a good set for fun cards! A number of the stamps in this set (#111532, set of 11 stamps) can be used on projects with themes other than birthdays too, making it even more versatile.

The card today is one I made at the SSUS (an online group of stampers) Shoebox Swap 2008 at the Stampin' Up! Convention in July/Aug. It was designed by Rose Kerry who chose such a great layout and color scheme. Rose chose two new In Colors, Kiwi Kiss and Pacific Point, to highlight and combined them with the adorable Chocolate Chip and Kiwi Kiss dots patterns from the Bella Rose Designer Paper. At the time of Convention, we didn't have the new InColor ribbons, so I replaced the original white grosgrain with this coordinating Pacific Point grosgrain.

I love the big "Celebrate You" round image which can be punched out with the Scallop Circle punch! So quick and easy. On this card, it is stamped with White Craft and embossed with White embossing powder.. The gift was done the same way then punched out and layered in the center with a Dimensional. TIP: Remember to use your Embossing Buddy on the cardstock before you stamp your image; this reduces the static electricity which makes those annoying little out-of-place specks of embossing powder stick to your cardstock in unwanted places!

The top part of this cupcake, the icing you might say, is also embossed. TIP: Since there are no Craft Inks in the In Colors, the trick for embossing with them is to ink your stamp well with the VersaMark pad then ink it with the colored ink pad by tapping, not rubbing (or you could rub off the VersaMark) on a well-inked pad. Stamp then emboss with clear ep. Another way to do this is to stamp your image with the Classic Ink, let it dry well for a minute, go over the image with a VersaMark pen then emboss; you would probably only want to do this on small images, because this dries fairly fast and must be embossed immediately. The icing is then cut out and layered on with a Dimensional. Love the shine the embossing provides!

Cupcakes are so cute and so popular now! Combined with some of the other images in the set, you can make a wide range of fun and appealing projects! This set is one of eight birthday sets on pages 62 through 65 in the Fall - Winter Catalog that you may purchase at 20% off with a $20 purchase during this month of October to celebrate Stampin' Up!'s 20th Birthday! How cool is that?! We get the presents! lol!

Stamps: Party Hearty
Inks: Pacific Point, VersaMark, White Craft
Paper: Bella Rose DSP; Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point cardstock
Accessories: Clear EP, White EP, Close to Cocoa and Yo Yo Yellow Markers, Pacific Point grosgrain, brads from Earth Elements pack, Ticket Corner Punch, Embossing Buddy, heat tool.

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you get to stamp this weekend!

Margaret

Party Hearty Birthday!

Stampin' Up! is celebrating twenty years in business this October! To celebrate, they are offering twenty percent off! the price of a number of birthday sets (pgs. 62-65) with a twenty dollar purchase! Click the top link on the left sidebar of my blog for details. Birthday cards are by far the most popular cards sent, say the experts, so these sets are sure to be useful additions to your stampin' arsenal!

One of these sets is Party Hearty, (#111532, set of 11 stamps), a fun set with lots of images, terrifically versatile, for young and older, males and females!

This card was a swap made by Gina M. that I received in an organized swap at the Stampin' Up! Convention in August. It has a bold layout and I really like the diagonal lines on it. Another eye catcher is the Build-A-Brad in the center of the "b"! Very cute! Gina chose an attractive color scheme of turquoise, orchid, green and pink passion. This set has a great cupcake stamp in it also, and that is used on the background of the orchid layer.

Stamps: Party Hearty
Card stock: Whisper White, Orchid Opulence, Gable Green, Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise
Inks: Orchid Opulence, Gable Green, Pixie Pink, Tempting Turquoise, VersaMark
Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, 3/4" square punch, 1/8" circle punch, Build A Brad, Mini Glue Dots, Snail Adhesive

I previously posted another Party Hearty card that I received for my June birthday here, and I plan to post some more Party Hearty cards in the next couple of days. Thanks for dropping by! ☺

Have fun stampin'!
Margaret

Technostamper Challenge #38

What a good sketch Mary Jo aka Technostamper gave us to work with this week ! Easy peasey but can be used with intricate stamp designs and papers as well.

I wanted to use this new Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper because I love the patterns and textures in it. There's very little stamping here because the Sketch Design and DSP carries the card.

The sentiment was stamped in Riding Hood Red onto Pink Pirouette cardstock then punched out with the Square Scallop punch. I used the 2 Way Glue Pen to go over the upper and lower areas of this square (where the red swirls are) then dunked it in Dazzling Diamonds glitter for a holiday sparkle. (You can see this a little bitttty bit if you click on the image to see the larger version). I then used the Scallop Edge punch to make a larger red scalloped layer on which to layer the sentiment. I used a sponge to add a little white craft ink to the edges then added dots with the Signo White Gel Pen.

The corners of the other layers were all treated to the Ticket Corner Punch for interest. A tie of Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon is added for an even more festive look. (love that ribbon!) Now that the card is finished, it has somewhat of a Victorian Christmas look. I love that!

Here is the original sketch for the challenge:

Stamps: Punches Three (Hostess Level I)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, White Craft
Paper: Holiday Treasures Designer; Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip cardstock
Accessories: Square Scallop punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Ticket Corner punch, Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Signo Gel Pen, Stampin' Sponge

You can check out the sketch for today and Mary Jo's card here as well as the list of other team members who are posting today!

Happy Stampin'!
Margaret

Upsy Daisy Haiku

Today's card uses the colorful new Haiku Designer Paper which is so gorgeous! Combining it with one of my current favorite sets, Upsy Daisy, yeilds a lovely card, looking fresh yet sophisticated!

Once again (see previous posts) I used my sponge daubers to add another color of ink to an already inked stamp which gives a variation to the coloration of the flowers. Another sponge dauber adds some soft color to the base of the flowers to ground them to the paper. This stamped layer was then added to layers of black and Tangerine Tango.

The card base of So Saffron is layered with Tangerine Tango then the Haiku Designer paper next. The flower layers were added then the Birthday greeting which was stamped in Black, punched out with the Key Tag punch and layered over a circle of Black. I added Black grosgrain across the card then before tying the knot, a piece of Tangerine Tango grosgrain was added and a Filigree flower (which has a hole in the center for a brad to go through) was threaded onto the black ribbon.

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Paper: Haiku Designer Paper; Basic Black, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango

Inks: Basic Black, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango Classic

Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Key Tag Punch, Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain ribbon, Black 1/4" grosgrain, Filigree Designer Brads, Sponge Daubers

Hope you enjoy! Thanks for dropping by!

Happy stamping!

Margaret

Pocket Silhouettes in Scallops

What a great little set these Pocket Silhouettes! With its four organic images and two sentiment stamps, it offers such a variety of uses!

Today's card I made as a top fold so I could use my Scallop Edge Punch on the lower edge. I added a strip of rust cardstock to the back of the card to highlight the scallops. I also made two score lines above the scallops for visual texture and interest.

The central image stamp was inked with markers in rust and artichoke then stamped on white. This was punched out with the new Square Scallop Punch and layered on rust. A 2 3/4" square of artichoke was punched with the Scallop Edge Punch once in the center of each of the four edges resulting in this design. This was layered onto white to tie the focal point together and make it visually pop.

The artichoke layer was adhered to a Blush Blossom cardstock base. Artichoke grosgrain ribbon between this layer and the scored lines finishes off the card.

I love our scallop punches!!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Cardstock: Blush Blossom, Really Rust, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Inks: Always Artichoke and Really Rust Markers
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Artichoke grosgrain ribbon, Personal Trimmer with Scoring Blade (or bone folder and ruler).

Thanks for dropping by. Hope you've had a good weekend!
Margaret

Big Shot Scalloped Envelope Box

Oh my! I'm really having fun trying out projects with my new Big Shot Die Cutting Machine! Stampin' Up! revealed this new-to-us product at Convention in August and we've all been totally excited about it ever since! This addition brings another dimension to our projects, from card-making, scrapbooking to all kinds of 3-D projects! What fun!

One of the dies available that comes with the purchase of the Starter Kit (Holiday mini catalog, pg. 26) is the Stampin' Up! Exclusive Bigz© Scallop Envelope Die. Today's project uses four of these envelope die cuts to make the cutest lil' box to hold a gift, remembrance or treasure! The directions for making this box are on this blog. Thanks, Jane, for the inspiration! Can't you just see using these boxes for a surprise gift on someone's desk, as a hostess gift, or to take a gift to someone in the hospital? That would certainly brighten up their day! (edited to add: I have since made a holiday scalloped envelope box and posted it here. I love how it turned out!)

I used Riding Hood Red cardstock for the envelopes and wrapped the box with the chocolate polka dot Designer Paper. I then die cut the flower strip from Baja Breeze and finished the front with the True Blue Friends punch from Punches Three set. I filled the cello bag with chocolate kisses and tied it with the lucious coordinating Baja Breeze grosgrain.

Stamps: Punches Three (Level 1 Hostess Set, p. 17)
Dies: Bigz© Scallop Envelope die, Flowers Decorative Strip die
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze; Holiday Treasures Designer Paper
Inks: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Big Shot, Baja Breeze grosgrain ribbon, Square Scallop Punch, Sticky Strip Adhesive
The Big Shot and all the current dies are listed in the Holiday Mini Catalog, effective Oct. 1 to Jan. 18. There is a special Starter Kit which includes the Big Shot, dies and cutting platforms; there is also the cutest "Doctor's Bag" which holds the machine, dies and cutting platforms for convenient storage and transport. For any of my customers who purchase the Starter Kit from me, I will give you one of the single Sizzlets© dies ($4.95) of your choice on your order which will qualify you for a Level 1 Hostess Set and $20. worth of free merchandise! Contact me for details.

Have a fun stampin' day!
Margaret

Snow Swirled Christmas!

My first Christmas card of the season! I'm so glad I ordered this Snow Swirled set while it was on sale at 15% off this month ! (It's still on sale until Sept. 30th from your Stampin' Up! demonstrator). I'm really enjoying it; it's easy to work with. The images could also be embossed in silver or gold for a rich and elegant look.

This is a Make and Take card I designed for a party last night. The tree is stamped in Always Artichoke on vanilla cardstock. I stamped the smallest snowflake in the set onto the tree in red and added the sentiment below in the same red. A simple tie of red taffeta ribbon on top of the tree adds to the festive air.

The snowflake was stamped with VersaMark on red cardstock and embossed with a mixture of white and hologram embossing powder. I used the perfectly matched (!) Snow Blossom Punch to punch it out then applied it with a Dimensional. The hologram ep is retired but Iridescent Ice could be used instead.

The card base is artichoke and stamped with the largest snowflake in VersaMark for a subtle background. The main image is layered on Riding Hood Red. I really like this color combination! The verse that is included in the set is stamped inside to complete the card!

Stamp set: Snow Swirled
Inks: Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, VersaMark
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Snow Blossom Punch, White and Hologram (retired) Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon.

Thanks for dropping by! Come back again soon!
Margaret

TSSC36 Pocket Silhouettes

Here it is the beginning of a new week again and time for Technostamper's Monday Sketch Challenge! I'm so glad to get to participate this week. These are good stampin' "exercise"! : )

Here is this week's sketch from Mary Jo (aka Technostamper):

I turned the sketch on it's side this week in order to use my new Pocket Silhouettes stamp set for the first time. I really like this set and its organic images. They are rather dainty and can be used on small cards, as backgrounds, singley or in groupings as in my card below. AND this is one of the stamp sets that is 15% off it's regular price until September 30! I hope you've purchased yours already so you don't miss out! There are some wonderfully versatile and useful sets on that list!

My card base is Elegant Eggplant stamped with the Stitched background in Eggplant ink. It shows up in person but not so much here because of the lighting (sorry I had to take this picture at night). The lower layer is Lavendar stamped with the Canvas stamp in VersaMark, layered on Vanilla then the sentiment was stamped with Eggplant Craft ink and embossed with Clear EP. A length of olive grosgrain with a tie encircles this layer.

I stamped two of the pussy willow images in olive and then used markers to ink up the flower stamp for the center. I love that new Wide Oval punch and it is just right for these images. After punching them out, I sponged olive ink around the edges of each oval and layered them over the Lavendar layer with Stampin' Dimensionals..

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Heard from the Heart (sentiment); Stitched and Canvas Background stamps
Ink: VersaMark, Eggplant Elegance Classic and Craft, Old Olive
Markers: Eggplant Elegance, Old Olive
Cardstock: Eggplant Elegance, Lavendar Lace, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Sponge, Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder. All products from Stampin' Up!

This is a really a nice sketch; it is just great for this stamp set! I'll be using this one again!

You can see Technostampers blog and card here as well as the listing of other team members who participated today. Join in by making a card of your own using this sketch and then posting a link in a comment here or on Technostamper's blog.

Thanks for dropping by today! Happy First Day of Fall!!
Margaret

Another Upsy Daisy card!

Yes, another card made with this wonderful set! I am really enjoying it and it has really been a hit with my customers too! This is a card we did for the Make 'n Take at a recent Stampin' Up! party.

I inked up the flowers as I did with some of the previous cards I've posted. First, ink the stamp with the lightest color, in this case, Pink Pirouette. Second, add your darker ink color to the stamp with a sponge dauber to selected places on the stamp to add depth and contrast, then stamp it on your cardstock. I then used a different sponge dauber to add some Kiwi Kiss to the layer and added some speckles with my Color Spritzing Tool and a coordinating marker.

The sentiment is from the All Holidays set, stamped in red on white cardstock, then layered on Kiwi Kiss. The corners of each layer were treated with the Ticket Corner Punch for interest. A length of the new Riding Hood Red grosgrain ribbon was tied with a knot then adhered around the completed card.

Stamps: All Holidays, Upsy Daisy

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Inks: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Sponge Daubers, Riding Hood Red grosgrain ribbon

Thanks for dropping by today! Have fun stampin'!

Margaret

p.s. Feel free to leave a comment or just say "Hi" and where you're from! ☺

Silhouette Challenge Card

I've mentioned before about the challenges we have on one of my online groups. Well, I recently received this beautiful card from Janet Hindman for the Silhouette Challenge which was to use a silhouette stamp set from the Silhouette Style Watch in the Stampin' Up! catalog.

Janet used Upsy Daisy, which is hugely popular, probably because #1, it's daisies, #2, it's so versatile and can be used with SO many techniques to get completely different looks, and #3, it's on sale but only until Sept. 30! If you haven't purchased yours yet, don't delay any longer or you'll miss out on 20% off this terrific set!

Janet used a crisp color scheme of Bravo Burgundy and Whisper White. The unique look of this card is achieved by stamping the daisies image with white Staz-On ink on a sheet of clear acetate (such as a clear transparency) and layering this over colored paper, in this case the plaid from Parisian Summer DSP. I really like how she used the large script word at the top and the daisies at the bottom. It's all set off with a tie of the 1/4" Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon.

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Wonderful Words
Ink: Staz-On White, Bravo Burgundy Classic ink
Paper: Parisian Summer DSP; Bravo Burgundy and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Burgundy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, clear acetate sheet

Thanks, Janet, for such a lovely card and technique!

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

Inspired by Nature TSC #35

It's Monday again so it's time for Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge! I had to miss last week so I'm glad to get to participate again today!

Here's the sketch for this week:

As I looked at this sketch, I was excited that I could use my new Sizzix Scalloped Circles die for my Big Shot for the round design! I chose to use the Sweet Always Designer Paper which I thought would work well with the Inspired by Nature stamp set. The base card is Regal Rose, layered with one of the stripes from the DSP. The additional layer is the chocolate chip dotted paper, layered on Pumpkin Pie. I die cut the scallop circle from Regal Rose cardstock.


I stamped the flower on white then cut out the circle with my Coluzzle, sponging around the edges with Regal Rose then adding faint speckles with my Color Spritzer Tool (p. 193 of catalog). This is a COOL tool for adding specks of color to your projects plus giving some depth also!

For the bottom horizontal element of the design, I used the 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Pumpkin Pie to make a bow of sorts using a silver flower slide from the Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

This was a fun sketch. Join the team by making your own version, putting it on the web and posting a link to it in the comments section of either my blog or Mary Jo's at www.technostamper.com

Stamps: Inspired by Nature
Paper: Sweet Always DSP; Regal Rose, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Earth Elements brads, Ticket Corner Punch, Coluzzle, Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, Sponge Daubers, Stampin' Sponge.

Tools: Big Shot die cutting machine, Scalloped Circles die, Color Spritzer Tool, Coluzzle.

Thanks for dropping by! Try to stamp a little love for someone today!
Margaret

Parisian Summer Upsie Daisy

Here's another Upsy Daisy Birthday card but this time using a totally different color scheme and look. Obviously I'm enjoying this new Silhouette Style Watch set (which is still on sale until the end of this month!)

I stamped the daisy image three times on white cardstock, beginning with the lightest (pink) to the darkest ink. The sentiment was stamped in burgundy and again on saffron; the saffron "Birthday" was punched out with the Word Window Punch and layered exactly over the white "Birthday". The daisy image was layered on pink (both layers had their corners rounded) then on burgundy. I punched a place for the ribbon to thread through the left side of this layer with the Horizontal Slot Punch then tied a knot and added another knot of ribbon.

The card base is burgundy, a pink layer over that, then a layer of a burgundy plaid from the Parisian Summer Designer Paper. (I love that paper!) The plaid makes a perfect foil for the free breezy daisies. The final touch was added with one of the new Felt Fushion flowers in pink layered on a punched saffron flower and centered with a yellow rhinestone brad (gotta have at least a little bling!) ☺

Stamps: Upsy Daisy!
Papers: Parisian Summer Designer Paper; Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Whisper White cardstock
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron
Accessories: Corner Rounder, New Felt Fusion, Fire Round Rhinestone Brad, BoHo Blossoms Punch, Word Window Punch, Apricot 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Horizontal Slot Punch

Thanks for dropping by. Hope you have a safe weekend and our friends and family impacted by the hurricane on the Texas coast will be safe and free from harm.

Margaret

Upsy Daisy Birthday

Here's another Upsy Daisy card--I really am enjoying this set. It comes with three different sentiment stamps which make it quite versatile; today I'm using the birthday one.

I inked the daisy silhouette stamp in Baja Breeze then, using a sponge dauber, added the darker Pacific Point ink. Baja Breeze ink was sponged around the outside edge, then Banana ink was applied to the center with another sponge dauber.

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Stitched (background)

Inks: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Barely Banana

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Barely Banana, Whisper White

Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Stampin' Sponge, Scallop Edge Punch, Pacific Point Grosgrain ribbon, Ice Round Rhinestone Brads, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals.

Hope you have a stampin' good day!

Margaret

Eastern Blooms TSSC #33

I've finally gotten to participate again in Mary Jo's Technostamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge! It's already sketch #33!! What a busy summer it has been! Do you feel that way too?

Today's sketch is a clean and simple design; I like it and found it easy to work with.

I purchased the gorgeous Urban Garden Designer Series Paper on my very first order from the new 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog. It immediately caught my eye (I love blues and greens together!).

The stripe from the package makes a great basis for the color scheme of the card: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray and Not Quite Navy.

I stamped the flower from Eastern Blossoms in Not Quite Navy Craft ink and heat embossed it with clear ep then cut it out and mounted it with Dimensionals on Kiwi Kiss and NQN. This was layered onto the striped piece which was also layered on NQN. The fab new Grosgrain Ribbon in Kiwi Kiss was used for the horizontal element in the design. The card base is Kiwi Kiss with a layer of NQN then Baja Breeze, which has been stamped with a delicate line flower from the set. The sentiment from Pocket Silhouettes (on sale this month) is stamped in NQN.

Stamps: Eastern Blossoms, Pocket Silhouettes (sentiment)

Ink: Not Quite Navy Craft; Not Quite Navy, Bali Breeze Classic

Paper: Urban Garden DSP; Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy cardstock

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals, Clear embossing powder, Paper Snips, Green Bead Duo (center of flower), Crystal Effects (to glue beads on)

I'm glad to be back doing Technostamper's challenges again!

Thanks for dropping by today!

Margaret