Manhattan Roses Anniversary Card

This new Manhattan Textured Impressions Die is just an invitation to creativity! I've seen so many beautiful things done with it and have enjoyed using it for a number of projects myself. Today's card features an experiment. :) I saw all the beautiful watercolor roses (done like on my Mother's Day card here) but at the time I made this card about a month ago I didn't yet have the Fifth Avenue Floral set. I decided to use my Manhattan Impressions Die (it's an embossing folder rather than a die that cuts) and see what I could do with that.

I first ran a quarter sheet of Shimmery White cardstock through the Big Shot in the Manhattan Impressions die, then heavily misted that with water. With my AquaPainter dipped in dye reinker, I added color to the rose. I used several different colors of reinker, and actually I've done so many now that I'm not sure what I used, lol! However, I believe it was Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, and perhaps Tangerine Tango. The dyes blended somewhat and spread because the lines were not heat embossed. I really liked the effect, and several friends have said it looks like tie-day!

When it was dry, I trimmed out the background, leaving only the roses, and added a Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad to the center. Although I didn't use Apricot Appeal when coloring the rose, that color of cardstock really looked the best with it to use for the card itself. Who would have known! I stamped a background in VersaMark using the branch from Eastern Blooms and embossed the sentiment with VersaMark and White Embossing Powder then adhered the roses. I was happy with the way it turned out.

We're going to a 50th Anniversary reception today and will be giving this card to the celebratory couple.

Hope you have a great day and weekend!

Margaret

Golden Oldies

One of the fun new sets in the Occasions Mini Catalog is Golden Oldies which consists of three stamps featuring seniors, each with a humorous saying included.

The Card Games set tied right in with the sentiment that says "shuffle" so I used the image of the king card and stamped it in Real Red on the Real Red background layer. It's hard to see in the picture but it's there! The Jackpot Designer Paper was layered onto black to make it pop and two of the card suit images were stamped in black on the upper left of that. The image of the fellow was colored with Blender Pen and ink from the lid of the ink pad then emphasized with markers and softened with the Blender Pen.

The template and pad from the Mat Pack were used to do the paper piercing on the corners with the Piercing Tool from the Crafters Tool Kit.

The sentiment was stamped on So Saffron cardstock, punched out with the Large Oval Punch and layered on Real Red punched out with the Key Tag Punch. Retired diamond-shape silver brads accent this layer which was added with Dimensionals to emphasize it.

On the inside of the card I stamped twice the four card suit images, inking the stamp with red and black markers.

Stamps: Golden Oldies, #113712, set of 3, $16.95; Card Games, #113202, set of , p. 109, $19.95
Inks: Real Red, So Saffron, Basic Black, Blush Blossom; Real Red Marker
Papers: Jackpot Designer Series Paper; So Saffron, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Key Tag Punch, Large Oval Punch, Blender Pen, Black Gingham Ribbon, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, Silver Brads (retired), Dimensionals.

Remember that the "Buy Three, Get One Free Sale" on ALL Designer Series Paper and 12 x 12 Textured Card Stock packs ends the last day of this month!! You don't want to miss this great special! You may go to my Stampin' Up! website HERE to order, or email me to place your order quickly!

Thanks for visiting today! Hope your day is filled with blessings and you get some time to stamp a little also!

Margaret

Memorial Day & Patriotic Blogger's Challenge #100

Today is Memorial Day in the U.S.A., the day we remember and honor our patriots who have served our country in the military, some having made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend us and our freedoms. My thanks to and prayers for the brave men and women who have and who are currently serving our country in this manner. God Bless You.

Friday was the day for this week's Blogger's Challenge #100. I have been unable to post this weekend but now have mine ready.

I love this Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel! What a great look it has with such a variety of sizes and star designs! Another feature is that both of the Stampin' Up!'s Large Star and Star punches match up with the stamped stars to give you both sizes of perfectly stamped punch-outs! How clever is that? I've used only the smaller Star Punch on this card today but I notice in the picture you can't really see it, especially since I covered some of the design with our Silver Chunky Sprinkles Stampin' Glitter.

The background was wheeled with the Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel and layered onto Sahara Sand card stock. The letters are the Lovely Letters Alphabet punched with the 1 1/4" Square Punch and layered onto a Square Scallop punch-out. After a strip of Red 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon was adhered diagonally over the top two layers the letter blocks were added with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stamps: Lovely Letters Alphabet, #115030, p. 148, $42.95

Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel, #111254, p. 66, $8.50
Inks: Real Red, Brilliant Blue

Paper: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Star Punch, 1 1/4" and Scallop Square Punches, Silver Chunky Sprinkles Stampin' Glitter, Jumbo Wheel Handle, Two Way Glue Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

Any or all of these items may be purchased on my Stampin' Up! website here. If you have any questions about these or other SU products please contact me. You'll find my email address on that website also.

You can see the list of the other Blogger's Challenge participants here to check out what they have done for this week's Patriotic challenge.

Thank you for coming by today. I hope you enjoy the rest of this Memorial Day, and have a great week. I'll be back tomorrow with a fun card for a fellow.

Margaret

Manhattan Impressions Card

Have you gotten your Manhattan Impressions folder yet? Oh my, it is so fabulous you'll want to get yours right away if you haven't!! You just put your cardstock in it and give it a whirl through the Big Shot and you have the most GORGEOUS dry embossing and it's quick as a wink! You will receive big WOWs!! on your cards and projects!

On the card today, I used the wonderful Vellum Cardstock. It has a luxe heavy weight and performs beautifully in the impressions folder; the lightweight vellum would not be the recommended choice for this project as it might be cut in the process. I cut my Vellum sheet in quarters and placed one in the folder and ran it through the Big Shot. I then trimmed off the cardstock above the roses with my Paper Snips.

Emboss your greeting in the upper right-hand corner of the card. I used White Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder.

Place a line of Snail Adhesive down the left side of the cardstock (not vellum), starting when the vellum piece starts, and about 1/2" from the fold. Place a Mini Glue Dot on the back side in the center of the big rose. Carefully put this in place on your cardstock. Place the ribbon around the card and tie the bow; this will cover the adhesive. Place a Mini Glue Dot on a Halfback Pearl from the Pretties Kit and adhere it in the center of the rose where you already have the Mini Glue Dot under the cardstock. This will cover the glue dot in that location.

Viola! You have a beautiful card, quickly and easily, and it is totally "impressive" for any occasion!! We did this card in my last Stamp-A-Stack and it was the favorite, hands down. Not only that, it was the easiest! Can't help but love that!!

Stamps: All Holidays (sentiment)
Ink: White Craft Pad
Paper: Cardstock Vellum; Baja Breeze cardstock
Accessories: Manhattan Impressions Folder, Big Shot, White Organza Ribbon, Pearl from Pretties Kit, Mini Glue Dot, Snail Adhesive, Clear Embossing Powder

Any or all of these products can be ordered from me or you may order through my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Website HERE if you don't already have your own demonstrator.

Thanks for visiting; hope you will come back soon!

Margaret

TSSC #70 - One of a Kind

It's already Monday again and the day for Technostamper's Monday Sketch Challenge! And number 70 already?! Wow, time is flying by! Here's the sketch for today, a simple but interesting one:

From this sketch I made a pretty simple and quick card. I chose the Washington Apple DSP because it has bright and spring-y colors AND because it has a stripe, which I wanted to use on one of the front panels. The Bashful Blue print is a perfect foil for the stripe.

For the three round images on the front I chose a flower stamp from the One of a Kind stamp set. It just fit perfectly under a large round Clear Button which I've had out on my desk to remind me to use. I haven't for quite a while and they are a product with lots of versatility! You can emboss on them or place stamped images, solid colors or punchout from DSP behind them! Today I stamped the flower on white cardstock in a color from the stripe, Pumpkin Pie. This was punched out with the 1" Round Punch and placed behind the button. A So Saffron brad from the Rich Regals Brads assortment was placed in the two thread holes and laid aside.

On a card base of So Saffron two pieces of different designs from the Washington Apple DSP were layered. Three strips of So Saffron grosgrain ribbon were added for the horizontal design and then the three prepared Clear Buttons were added using Mini Glue Dots for a secure hold.

The sentiment"Happy Birthday Wishes" from Fast and Fun Notes stamp set was stamped on So Saffron card stock and punched out with the Word Window Punch then attachedf to the bottom ribbon.

Stamps: One of a Kind, Fast and Fun Notes
Inks: Pumpkin Pie Classic
Paper: Washington Apple Designer Series Paper; So Saffron, Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Clear Round Buttons, Rich Regals Brad asst., 1" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, So Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots

This was a fun card to make and to send. Try one yourself and see what you come up with! You can see Technostamper's blog here and also a list of those who are participating in the sketch this week!

I hope you'll check out all the Stampin' Up! Special Promotions available in May only (just two more weeks!) to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month!

1.Buy three (3) packs of Designer Series Papers (mix and match -- your choice), including not only Designer Series Paper but also Specialty DSP (like the Parisian Breeze Specialty heavier weight), or 12x12 Textured Cardstock and get one pack free. Wow! that's 25% off! You may mix prices and types of papers on sale in your four. No Limit!

2. Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for only $75 with the limited time Scrapbooking Starter Kit. For more information about signing up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, see the Information Page HERE. You receive over $83. worth of products in your kit (you may substitute your choices too), plus I have a free stamp set for the next person who joins up with me! You definitely get so much more than you spend on this deal!! Never before have you been able to join Stampin' Up! at this low entry fee! Wow!! My contact information is on my SU web site here so call or email me with any questions. You'll love the perks of being a demonstrator!

3. Buy the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set, a Sneak Peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog, at 20% off! This is a set of 52 stamps (double-mounted) on sale for just $35.16, reg. $42.95! Click HERE to see the stamp images.

Remember, these specials are for May only so take advantage of them quickly!

I appreciate you dropping by! Come back soon to visit!

Margaret

Friends 24-7, Blogger's Challenge 99 and Blog Tour Thanks

The Blog Tour is over. I hope you didn't miss it! Thanks to everyone who visited my blog and left a comment. You encourage me so much when you do! :) Check back often for announcements regarding future tours. Each blog on the tours showcases beautiful projects using Stampin' Up! products and may have a specific theme such as a mini catalog or the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog.

My set for today is Friends 24-7. It is one of first sets that attracted my attention when the new catalog came out. Each of my three cards features a different stamp from this set as its focal point to feature the versatility of this set.

This first card uses the bird in a vintage style card. The Blush Blossom layer is stamped with the damask image in Blush Blossom ink; the edges are sponged lightly with gray ink and the top corners punched with the Eyelet Border Punch. This is layered over Sahara Sand which has been wheeled with the Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel in celery and stamped with the damask in Bordering Blue.

The focal layer is stamped with Basic Gray and colored with a Blender Pen and ink from the lid of the ink pads. One edge is treated with the Spiral Punch and sponged then layered on a Bordering Blue layer. Finishing touches are the Little Leaves stems die cut with the Big Shot, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon and a blue button from Button Bouquet assortment.

Stamps: Friends 24-7, Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bordering Blue, Basic Gray, Blush Blossom
Paper: Basic Gray, Bordering Blue, Sahara Sand, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Spiral Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Button from Button Bouquet, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin' Sponge, Linen Thread, Big Shot, Little Leaves Sizzlet die

The ornate damask image is the focal point for my second card today. The card base is Baja Breeze layered with the simply stunning pearly white striped cardstock. This is "buried" (lol!) in the catalog in the Taste of Textiles Specialty Paper. This is a selection of unique papers unlike anything else SU carries, and they are fabulous! I regret it took me so long to come across them! Check them out yourself on pg. 156 of the catalog!

The damask image is stamped in Baja Breeze on Shimmery White cardstock (another often overlooked beauty!) A teal Ice Rhinestone Brad at the tip adds a touch of classy bling. The sentiment is from Hugs and Wishes set. This was placed on a Baja Breeze layer that has been treated to the Eyelet Border Punch. A bow of that gorgeous White Organza Ribbon
Stamps: Friends 24-7, Hugs and Wishes is the final touch.

Ink: Baja Breeze Classic
Papers: Baja Breeze, Shimmery White cardstock, Pearly Striped White from Taste of Textiles Specialty Paper asst.
Accessories: White Organdy Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Ice Square Rhinestone Brads, Corner Rounder

BLOGGERS CHALLENGE #99

This third card is doing double duty today as it is for Friday's Blogger's Challenge also, which was to "case" ourself and re-do a card we had previously done. I chose this card from Challenge 97 and used the lovely single flower stem and sentiment from Friends 24-7. The gorgeous colors of the Raspberry Tart DSP set the stage for this card.

Stamps: Friends 24-7
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Rosse Red
Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP; Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral cardstocks
Accessories: Blender Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, 1" Circle and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Pink Flower Brad

Click here to see the other BC participants this week.

Don't forget the May Special on all Designer Paper, Textured Cardstock and Specialty Papers this month from Stampin' Up! Buy three packages, get one FREE!! Order on my website, contact me to order, or for more information!

All products for the three cards are from Stampin' Up!

Thanks so much for dropping by! I really appreciate your comments about my cards or just say "Hi"!! Thanks! Come back soon for more Stampin' Up! samples and projects!

Margaret

Rock Star! TSSC69

I had my card made this morning but on the spur of the moment had to leave for all day and just got home! Here is the sketch #69 for this Monday's Technostamper's Challenge:

The star on the sketch reminded me of the "rock star" star image in the A Little Somethin' Hostess Level 2 set. I have been looking for just the time to use this and here's is my chance! The flourishes on the Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss cardstocks echo the small flourishes on the star.

The gorgeous black shiny stripe paper from the Rockabilly Designer package is the background and is layered on a Riding Hood Red card. The flourish from Baroque Motifs is stamped in black on the Baja Breeze and in VersaMark on the Kiwi Kiss. The "rock star" image is embossed in black on the red cardstock. The "favorite" sentiment is embossed in Silver embossing powder. Two silver jumbo brads are on the upper right side and echo the silver of the embossing.

Stamps: A Little Somethin', Baroque Motifs, Wonderful Favorites
Inks: Black Classic, VersaMark,
Paper: Rockabilly Designer Paper; Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red card stock
Accessories: Silver Embossing Power, Black Embossing Powder, 5/16" Jumbo Silver Brads

I hope you enjoy the card. Come back to visit soon, and especially this Friday and Saturday for another Blog Tour! This time it will be two days in length to give everyone more time to get around to see all the blogs featured. You can begin here on my blog and make it around to all twenty blogs in our blog hop tour!

You can see all the others who participated in Technostamper's Challenge by clicking here.

Thanks for visiting!

Margaret

Blogger's Challenge #98 - Mother's Day

This Friday's Blogger's Challenge is very timely: for Mother's Day!

I've been playing with the wonderful watercolor technique which began with the use of the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set and is spreading to the use of any appropriate line art set. When I say that, I mean the lines have to be unbroken and completely enclose an area so it can "corral" the water and colors into an enclosed space.

First using Stampin' Up!'s beautiful Shimmer White cardstock, emboss your image using VersaMark ink and White or Clear Embossing Powder. Heat set. Then spray with water in a mister until you have quite a bit of water on the image. Touch your moist Aqua Painter pen into a drop of ink refill in your chosen color then touch that to the water in one of the areas; the color will spread. Do the same in some other areas. Then clean your Aqua Painter and repeat the process with another color or two in other areas. You may have to re-mist with water occasionally as you go. Then let this dry; it will take awhile (you can gently use your heat tool to speed up the process). Cut out and use on your card or project. Enjoy!

Stamps: Fifth Ave. Floral, All Holidays (Happy Mother's Day)
Ink: So Saffron, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango ink refills; Old Olive Classic ink pad; Whisper White Craft Ink pad, VersaMark
Paper: Shimmer White cardstock; Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Old Olive; Apricot DSP from Pattern Pack II (Hostess Level 1)
Accessories: Lots of Tags Sizzlets die, Little Leaves Sizzlet die, Big Shot, White Organza Ribbon, Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad, AquaPainter pen, Eyelet Border Punch, Stampin' Sponge.

Here's wishing each of you a Happy Mother's Day, whether your family is celebrating you or you are celebrating your own mother or any woman who has been a nurturer to you. God bless.

You may check out the other member's work by clicking here or on the "Blogger's Challenge" banner on the left sidebar.

Thanks for dropping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Margaret

Fifth Avenue Floral and Top Note Die

Characterized by clean lines, smooth contours and classic textures, the Manhattan Style Watch collection is sophisticated, timeless and elegant. One of the wonderful and highly popular sets in the Spring-Summer Catalog and this group is Fifth Avenue Floral. Three line art flowers, a stem and a sentiment comprise the set of 5. Creative stampers have been coming up with so many ways to use these images, some of which are absolutely stunning!

Today's cards use the set in a palette of Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Not Quite Navy. I made one of the cards for my recent Stamp-A-Stack; they are both very similar but the second one is turned in a vertical orientation and a different ribbon treatment. Whisper White is diecut with the Top Note die in the Big Shot then stamped with the three flowers in the set, each in a different color. The edges were sponged then this was layered on Not Quite Navy and Kiwi Kiss.

The sentiment "Just for YOU" from the Oval All set is in Baja Breeze on white then punched out with the Large Oval Punch. This is then layered on a scallop oval which has been punched out with the fab new Scallop Oval punch from the Occasions Mini Catalog. This was layered onto a tag from the Sizzix Lots of Tags set of 4. What a gorgeous timesaver these dies are!! Not only are they quick and easy, BUT they cut perfectly! (unlike me! LOL!)

Using the Stampin' Up!'s Big Shot and dies, punches, coordinating sets and coordinating color products enable you to put your projects together much faster than ever! All products Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral (#113734, $24.95, p. 106), Oval All (set of 4, 113790, p. 4 Occasions Mini)
Inks: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Not Quite Navy
Paper: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Slit Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Laarge Oval Punch, Lots of Tags Sizzlets, Top Note Die, Big Shot Diecutting Machine, Baja Breeze Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Large Silver Filagree Flower Brad, Stampin' Sponge.

Hope you enjoyed! You are always welcome here!

Margaret

TSSC #68 with Eastern Blooms

I finally have my photo ready to post for this week's Technostamper's Monday Sketch Challenge and here's the sketch we have this week. Although the sketch is a square card, I did mine in a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card.

In looking at my stamps, I felt like the branch of blooms in the Eastern Blooms set would really work well in that focal image panel so I pulled that out. It also has three flower stamps all the same size... perfect for the three squares at the bottom of the design!

The card base is More Mustard with corners of Old Olive under the So Saffron layer which has been embossed with the Flourish Texturz Plates in the Big Shot. Layered on that is DSP of green leaves from Walk in the Park DSP layered on Old Olive.

For the focal image, I inked the branch of blooms with More Mustard then using the Close to Cocoa marker, I went over the branches to make them brown. Then I very lightly stamped some of the "sprinkles" from the Itty Bitty Backgrounds set in Kiwi Kiss to pull in some of the green. The largest flower in the set was stamped in So Saffron Craft Ink, the edges sponged with a bit of More Mustard Craft Ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. The color in the center was added with the Close to Cocoa Marker. This flower was cut out and attached to the layer with Dimensionals.

The three flowers were all stamped on So Saffron cardstock with More Mustard Classic Ink. Close to Cocoa was added to the centers with the marker and Crystal Effects then applied to enhance them. I let this dry overnight, hence the wait to photo and post.

Stamps: Eastern Blooms (#111626, set of 5, $21.95, p. 95), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (#114996, set of 4, $14.95, p. 119)
Inks: More Mustard, Kiwi Kiss Classic Inks; So Saffron, More Mustard Craft Inks; Close to Cocoa Marker
Paper: Walk in the Park Designer Paper; More Mustard, Old Olive, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Blender Pen, Crystal Effects, Paper Trimmer, Dimensionals

You may order any or all of these items directly from me or through my Stampin' Up! website. If you need any more item numbers or information, just email me from my website. Thanks!

I hope you enjoy my card. You can see the list of others who participated this week here.

Thanks for stopping by today. We are getting lots and lots of rain here in central Oklahoma. Hope everyone stays safe!

Margaret

Blogger Challenge #97 Sketch a la Big Shot!

Friday is the day for the Blogger's Challenge! Today the challenge is a sketch by our group "mom" Lisa. Just look at all those panels! A great opportunity for using a pack of coordinated Designer Series Paper! I chose the Sweet Always DSP probably because the colors just struck me today. I guess today is a rose and chocolate day for me, lol! Tomorrow will probably be something else, but isn't it hard to go wrong with pink and brown? Anyway, here's the sketch, although it was originally vertical with the grey panel across the top and I rotated it to horizontal:

On a card base of Chocolate Chip went a layer of the Sweet Always multicolored polka dot DSP. Then I "built" my panels of other papers in the package, layering them on either chocolate or rose card stock. "Warm Wishes" from the Hugs and Wishes set was stamped in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder on the lower right panel.

For the focal image, I used my Sizzix Embosslits "Simple Flower" in the Big Shot to both cut and emboss (all at the same time!) a flower out of Regal Rose card stock. The Kiwi Kiss leaves were cut with the Sizzlit "Little Leaves". How quick and easy is that! I love the look of the fine cutting but I'm not wild about doing it myself! That's why I love my Big Shot! I put a chocolate coloted Flower Brad in the center of the rose flower to complete it and added Dimensionals to adhere it. An additional chocolate Flower Brad was added on the lower vertical stripe to balance out the design.

Stamps: Hugs and Wishes, sentiment
Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft
Paper: Sweet Always DSP; Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss.
Accessories: Flower Brads, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Sizzix Embosslit "Simple Flower", Sizzlits "Little Leaves", Dimensionals

I'm happy with the way it turned out! Great sketch, Lisa! I'm so pleased to be a part of this talented group! You may check out the other member's work by clicking here or on the "Blogger's Challenge" banner on the left sidebar.

Thanks for visiting! Are you going to get to stamp this weekend? I hope you do!

Margaret