Letter-pressing some big wishes

I ordered the letterpress plate that are in the new mini catalog and completly forgot to use them.  I finally pulled them out and played around with them.  I love the debossed colored image, it is so pretty.  I pulled out all sorts of scraps and just played around with them for a while.  I decided to put on to use on a card. 

This card uses the northern trim letter press plate.   It was pretty easy to ink it up using the craft ink spots.  The scalloped border on the bottom edge was created using 3/4 inch circles.

Stamps:  Word Play

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie (craft), Night of Navy (craft), and Regal Rose (craft)

Paper:  Whisper White:  Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Regal Rose

Accessories:  Dimensionals, Navy Taffeta Ribbon, Bold Brights Buttons

Tools:  Big Shot, Northern Trim Letterpress plate, 2 3/8 inch scalloped circle punch, 1 3/4 inch circle punch

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Diva Coffee Break Designs Challenge #196

This week’s challenge is a pretty color combination for you.  I think that this weeks color swatch is pretty.

The colors are great, but they just seemed too much with most everything I tried.  I don't know what the problem was with my stamping last week when I worked on it but I was not happy.  I was going through the 4 samples I created and I just could not bring myself to posting them on here.  So what did I do, I took time I should have been folding the laundry and tried again.  This time I like what came out. 

It is fairly simple but I already have something in mind for it so it came together nicely.  I wanted to give my oldest a little something special for being a big helper this week.  I made a little set to stick in her lunch box.  She has been begging me more more of the silly bandz bracelets.  I have only bought the kids a few but thought that she earned them for her help, so I made one of the treat containers and a package fits in there perfectly.    

I hope that she will be excited and feel special when she opens her lunch. 

Now it is time to head over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs Blog to check out the samples that the other divas have made.  Then get out your supplies, show us what you can do with this week’s challenge and add a link to your creation for us to all see!

Stamps:  Wish Big

Ink: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz

Paper:  Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Regal Rose, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Brights Designer Series Paper Stack

Accessories:  Pear Pizzazz Poly Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Tools:  Big Shot, Two Tags Die, Perfect Polka Dot Impressions Folder, Treat Box Die, 1 3/4 inch scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, 1 1/4 inch circle punch, 3/4 inch circle punch, and small circle from the punch pack

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Just Believe Again!

I cannot seem to stop using the Just Believe stamp set no matter how hard I try.  I seem to pull it out almost every time I get a chance to sit down and stamp.  Today I used another fabulous color combination from the color coach.  The colors are Tempting, Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, and Pear Pizzazz.  It was late and the lighting was not the best which made the hand cutting hard.  My shadow just kept getting in my way no matter which way I turned.  It was a frustrating night.  I really like the look of the colored layer popped up on the same color card base, it really created a great frame.

Stamps:  Just Believe

Ink:   Tempting, Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, and Pear Pizzazz

Paper: Tempting, Turquoise, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, and Pear Pizzazz

Accessories:  Pear Pizzazz Poly Twill ribbon, stampin dimensionals

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Another Quick and Pretty Happy Birthday

Don’t you just love when you come up with inspiration when you are not thinking about it.  The other day I was cleaning scraps from several different cards off of my table at the time my color coach was open to the Poppy Parade card.  I was staring at the color during my stamping session the night before because I really wanted to use the color but was not liking what I was doing.  That's when one of my peach parfait scraps fell on top of the card, and my clean up was put on hold.  I only had a few minutes so it had to be a fun yet simple card.  Here is what I came up with.

I only put half of the peach layer in the embossing folder to get the Vintage Wallpaper image embossed on only the bottom half.  The ribbon that is in the bitty button is actually a super thin piece of cardstock tied in a knot.  I actually poked holes and fed it through the peach layer because I did not want to see a glue dot behind the button. 

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Craft Whisper White

Paper:  Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait and Whisper White

Accessories:  Bitty Buttons, Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon

Tools:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Bitty Punches Punch Pack

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Diva Coffee Break Designs #195

Its is another fabulous Wednesday.  It is a big day for DH, he is getting what he calls having his “eyes zapped”!  Really it is just Lasik surgery but he has been wanting it for years and things all of the sudden fell into place and we had an opportunity we couldn't pass up.  So today is the big day!

Last week was a fantastic color challenge so that means that today it is a sketch.  Man I really had a hard time with this one.  It just felt like there were so many elements to this sketch it really threw me for a loop.  This one card took about 4 days in the design process.  The colors and the stamps are completely different than what I started with and I even omitted the DSP that I thought I really wanted to use. 

Here is the sketch we have to work with:

See it really isn't that bad, the sketch is a nice one but it wanted to give me a difficult time.  It is a good thing I was ahead of the game when I was working on this one.  Here is what I came up with:

I do have to say that I am very pleased with how my card turned out.  I am glad that I kept trying this sketch instead of just completing one of my rejects.  Now I just need to get to some of those and see what I can salvage out of them to make into other cards.

Now it is time to head over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs Blog to check out the samples that the other divas have made.  Then you should get out your supplies, show me what you can do with this sketch and add a link to your creation for us to all see! 

Stamps: Just Believe

Ink:  Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze

Paper: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze and Whisper White

Accessories:  Brights Designer Buttons, Stampin Dimensionals

Tools:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Impressions Folder, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

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Diva Coffee Break Designs #194

Welcome back to another great challenge Wednesday.  I love the color combo that the Divas’ have in store for you today.  I love the Peach Parfait with the Cajun Craze, it is such a yummy combination. 

I have been working on an all occasion gift set to give away to a hostess.  These cards are square 4 1/4 inch cards, so that they will fit in a traditional a2 envelope with out having to pay for extra postage!  I used this combo for the “get better” card.

I used my homemade shimmer mist to help in the creation of the flowers (shimmer paint and rubbing alcohol).  It helps me to crumple and shape each punched flower as well as giving the flower a nice shimmer (the camera pick up a few shimmers as the little white dots on the photo).  Plus the alcohol dries quickly.  This was another great combo that I would have not been able to come up with on my own. 

Now it is time to head over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs Blog to check out the samples that the other divas have made.  Then you should get out your supplies, play along with us and add a link to your creation for us to all see!

 

Stamps:  Word Play, Vintage Vogue

Ink: Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Wild Wasabi and Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Champange Shimmer Paint (mixed with alcohol for mist), Dimensionals

Tools:  Fancy Flower Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch

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More Cute Owls

With the beginning of the new school year comes the need to buy all sorts of new supplies.  I also create several different bookmarks for each of my kids.  I make all sorts of bookmarks for them, ribbon ones, corner bookmarks, plain flat ones, some with ribbons on the top and currently their two favorite bookmarks are paper clip bookmarks.  The one on the left is for my son and the one on the right is for my daughter.  I find reading so important that I want to encourage it in every way possible.  When ever I find that they are losing their interest in reading I whip up a few more bookmarks and it rekindles the spark!  

Paper: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Brights Designer Series paper stack, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

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Its getting a little spooky

Well the stores are in full on Halloween mode and in fact I have even seen Christmas sprouting up!  This is a quick card I created using the new stamp set Wicked Cool.  It sure is a fun little stamp set to work with.

I sponged the edges of the whisper white layers as well as the card base to go along with the “spooky” feel.  I really like the way that this turned out for my first try using this stamp set. 

Stamps: Wicked Cool

Ink:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Basic Black, and Brights designer series paper stack

Accessories:  Stampin Dimensionals

Tools:  Sponge

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A little MDS

With everything that I have going on in life I have been keeping a binder to keep my life in order from kids activities, appointments, lessons etc, even what days to do which chores!  It was not perfect and I was telling a friend about it at the beginning of the summer.  Well last week my friend sent me a link to a website where a lady does the same thing.  I took some of her tips and combined it with my own and am liking the end result much better.  Now that I have the binder set up better I thought it needed a cover page. 

This was created in My Digital Studio.  Although I used it for a cover page, all you need to do is add in a picture in the frame and it would be a great scrapbook page.  Some of the elements (Well I guess most of them) are not from MDS but the “everything” stamp, the texture overlay stamp (early espresso on the top and left sides), and the alphabet are from MDS.  I love the versatility of MDS and how easy it is to use other products with it.  I have been collecting digital scrapbooking elements for almost 2 years, so it is great to finally start using them!

 

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DCBD Sketch Challenge #193

It is Wednesday already, can you believe it?!  This week is just speeding by.  Since it is Wednesday I have another fabulous Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge for you.  This week it is a great sketch. 
I usually struggle a bit with sketches.  When I create I usually pick my colors, then the stamp set and see where it takes me.  I have a hard time conforming my brain the other way around to work my planning out backwards.  But this time I rotated the general orientation of the sketch and “boom”  I knew exactly what colors and stamps I wanted to use.    Ok back by request I will start adding in my supplies lists.  I didn't know that people really checked them out and in my rush to get things done I have skipped that for a little bit, but it will be back now, sorry.
Don’t forget to head over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs Blog to check out the samples that the other divas have made and to play along with us!
Stamps:  Word Play, Pretty Petals
Ink:  Peach Parfait, Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz
Paper: Peach Parfait, Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White
Accessories:  Stampin Dimensionals, Pear Pizzazz Poly Twill Ribbon
Tools:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Circle Scissors Plus and Glass Cutting Mat
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Crazy meets Elegant

Today I have another one of the birthday cards that I made to replenish my stash.  I think that the little cupcake tower/stack is pretty cute.  This card uses two of the new in color from this years collection, Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz with a little bit of Early Espresso thrown in.  I have previously enjoyed a similar color combo of Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery.  While it is still a good combo, I really like this one too.  It is a little more richer and modern looking.  When I first made the card I had used the Elegant Lines Embossing folder on the actual card base, but it just did not feel right.  By cutting the embossed cardstock and creating it as a layer on the same color card base I was able to get the feel that I was going for.  I hope that you enjoy!

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Swap Card

I participate in a monthly swap.  This month’s theme was "I just LOVE ___________ from the new catalog!"  There were 3 stamp sets that I fell in love with and had to have.  One of them was the Word Play stamp set.  There are so many fun greetings in this set and they are all nice and big so they can be used as a focal point.  I also really liked the Newsprint Designer Series Paper especially for the sheet music page (I want to sit down and see if I can actually play it at some point).  I am really glad that Stampin’ Up! has continued to carry the satin ribbon because I just love that stuff.  I have had a lot of fun with this stamp set and really love this card. I hope that everyone has received their cards, because I have been sitting on this one for almost a month now and cannot wait any longer to share it. 

Oh and I forgot to add in the Elegant Lines Embossing folder as one of those things that I just had to get and fell in love with.  I like the elegance of it yet the lines aren't super thin and weak looking, they are nice and bold!  I think that this card is super simple to create for a workshop but will definitely create the WOW! effect, don’t you?

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A bright birthday

I realized I was seriously low on birthday cards this week.  I have quite a few friends that all have birthdays at the beginning of September so I have been madly making a bunch of cards.  I am happy to report that my stamping mojo is back!  I was able to crank out several cute cards befitting each recipient.  I will have to wait until their birthdays pass to show all of them but here is a simple one that is not yet ear-marked for a certain person.

I wanted to keep things crisp with this color combination, so there is not much extra going on in the card.  The colors are Melon Mambo, Old Olive and Basic Gray.  It is another color combo from the color coach.  I think I want to give them all a try, because I really did not like this combo at first but now am happy with it.  There are so many possibilities in the future with this handy – dandy tool. 

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My first try with Concord Crush

I am trying to design some simple cards to have a stamp a stack for world cardmaking day.  I was trying to keep them simple with a pop.  This card is super simple and the richness of the color really makes the card pop!  I really like the current In Color Concord Crush.  It is such a pretty purple, it really fills the gap of missing colors in our current core color collection.

I found this color combination in the new color coach.  I love just fanning it out and having one of the little girls pick a card for me.  I helps to challenge me as I do not think I would have come up with all 3 of these colors together but it turned out fantastic!

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Diva Coffee Break Design Challenge #192

Welcome back for another Diva Coffee Break Challenge.  Can you believe it is September already?  I am still wondering where June went.  Boy this summer was a challenge but is sure went fast.  Today also happens to be my birthday.  I always set a few goals for the year on my birthday, I pick a couple areas of things I want to try and improve on.  I actually set 8 goals this year and one of them is to be a better blogger both here and on my family blog.   Although I would like to be able to post at least on this blog every day Mon-Fri (I take a break from the blog on the weekends to be with my family) I have set a realistic goal to post at least 3 times a week.  OK, enough with the boring goal talk, on with this week’s challenge.  I really enjoyed this color combination. The only problem was that I wanted to use river rock as the base for my original card sketch and I went to pull some out and I have completely depleted my supply of river rock with out even know it.  I went to my scrap folder and only had one scrap left about 1/8 of a sheet of cardstock.  I was sure bummed but went a different direction and made do with what I had.

The Just Believe stamp set was one that I knew that I had to get when I looked through the catalog the first time.  Then shortly there after I received the monthly demonstrator magazine that Stampin’ Up! sends to us demos free of charge, and fell in love with the card.  I changed the colors but still like the card just as much and I was able to use my one piece of River Rock cardstock!  I created my own Baja Breeze satin ribbon by dragging the ribbon through my inkpad squishing it down with a sponge dauber.  Then I overheard a great tip at convention, a lady was telling her friend to use a baby wipe on the ribbon.  I have shied away from dying my own ribbon because even after drying it with the heat tool I would still get some ink transfer from the ribbon.  But if you wipe it with the baby wipe and then dry it, something in the wipe prevents the ink transfer, and by George it actually worked! 

Thanks for stopping by.  Please head on over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog to check out some fantastic samples using this color combination challenge, there are quite a few of them!

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