Stampin' Addicts Birthday Blog Hop

 Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Birthday Blog Hop weekend!  

If you're following the Stampin' Addicts Birthday Blog Hop in order, then you just arrived from Melissa's fabulous blog, Stamping With Melissa where she had some really great cupcake themed projects to share with you and inspire you in your paper crafting.  I just loved her little cupcake treat holder - wasn't it adorable!?!?

My projects fall under the theme of a little girl's birthday.  I am trying to decide just how I want to do everything for my oldest daughter's seventh birthday which is coming up.  She doesn't really like pink, but every one of her little friends does, so I won't completely do her party without pink.  The Sweet Pea DSP paper stack came in really handy for making these projects.  I think that each little girl will have a different colored hat, door-hanger and wand, so these are just one version of them.  The door-hanger will be hanging on the back of each girl's chair to designate her seat at the table with her very own monogram on it, and then she can take it home and hang it on her bedroom door.

Without further ado, here are my projects:

 Birthday Party Hat

Paper:  Sweet Pea DSP, So Saffron and Old Olive CS, Taken with Teal Textured CS   Accessories:  Scallop Edge punch, Trio Flower Punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Big Shot, SU! Timeless Type medium Sizzlets die, "chipboard" from inside SU! Pennant Bigz die packaging, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, Pink Bead Duo beads, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon (shredded), Silver Elastic Cord, Silver string  

Door-Hanger

 

Paper:  Sweet Pea DSP, So Saffron, Old Olive and Rose Red CS   Accessories:  Scallop Edge punch, Trio Flower Punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Big Shot, SU! Timeless Type medium Sizzlets die, SU! Pennant Bigz die, "chipboard" from inside SU! Pennant Bigz die packaging, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin ribbon, thread, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Fine Cosmo Glitter (green), 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon

Wand

 

Paper:  Sweet Pea DSP   Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle 3-D Ornament Bigz die, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 1/4" Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red Grosgrain ribbon, Whisper White 5/8" Satin ribbon, wooden skewer


Now, on to the next stop of the Birthday Blog Hop.  That is Holly's blog, InkPaperStamps where you will get to see some great projects to inspire you with all of those masculine birthdays in your life.  Her card with the little punch art grill is a fantastic card to give to a special guy in your life! 

Enjoy the hop, and thanks for stopping by!!  I appreciate each and every one of you and the kind comments that you leave :)  Have a fabulous weekend!

My Boots to Stamps weekly Inspiration challenge will be skipped this week due to the blog hop.  Enjoy touring the 24 other stops instead ;)



FYI:  Stampin' Addicts is a free website dedicated to supporting Stampin' Up! stampers and demonstrators alike and it is the first birthday of this fantastic site. The Stampin' Addicts motto is "Positively Creative! Positively Stampin' Up!"  If you have not been to Stampin' Addicts, you should check them out as soon as you finish the Birthday Blog Hop!  My screen name there is mariemc and I happen to know that there will be a STAMP JAM going on this weekend at Stampin' Addicts with Challenges and Stampin' and lots of Inspiration!  If you're not already a member of this FABULOUS community dedicated to all things Stampin’ Up!, then click HERE to sign up (remember, it’s free!!) to get a username.  You can always visit as a guest without a username as well.  I hope to see you there! 

Details, details, details....

As I promised you, here are some of the tips/details/photos/etc. on the projects I made for the Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Tour. If you haven't checked it out yet, you can check it out by starting either with my post here and completing the circuit, or going to Stampin' Addicts here. Oh, and if you join Stampin' Addicts (it's free, and if you love stamping then it's the perfect site for you!!) come back to this post and follow this link so they know I referred ya! I don't get anything for it other than warm fuzzies, but who doesn't like warm fuzzies?!?! ;)

On the Blog Tour, it's appreciated if we don't get too wordy or show more than a certain number of pictures, so here is Part II of all of my projects.

Now, on to Part II of my Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Tour posts....

You probably remember this card. This card has a nice detail of a shorter front so that the sentiment peeks out from the inside. I was going to add some paper piercing to the bottom below the sentiment and stretching across to the left side of the card. BUT - I've gotten better at knowing when enough is enough. It is a talent I have yet to master, but in this case, I do think that the paper piercing would have been too much. I just love paper piercing though and can hardly keep myself from doing it all over!! :) I did do it around the butterfly, but that's it.

It has one of the darling new Chocolate Chip 1/4" Sending Love Epoxy Brads on the ribbon treatment. I don't know if it was very noticeable in the shot, but being that I had to stand the card up a funny way to get it to stand up since the bottom doesn't touch - it was taken at an odd angle.

So - maybe the details make you see the card a little differently? The color combo of a pink and a brown are a fave of mine for Valentine's day, so I think I had it stuck in my head when I made this card - even though it's totally unrelated to Valentine's day and I've yet to make any Valentine's cards. I guess I've just been seeing them everywhere :)

Now...on to the pictures I think you've anticipated seeing the most. The butterfly framed art (which is shown above at a fun angle). I must say, I am always looking for low-priced items to alter. I love to look at the frames on clearance at my local stores with thoughts and dreams for what they might hold, or what they might look like altered completely from top to bottom someday in the future. When I came up with the idea of the butterflies, I must admit that I looked through my small stash in hopes that I had a shadowbox type of frame, but I didn't have one. So - something I've done in the past so that I don't have to make my project more 2-D than 3-D, is to take the glass out of the frame and put it back in behind the stamped/hand-crafted art that I'm putting inside. That way it's still thick enough for the back to go on correctly, and it gives the cardstock art some support from behind since it doesn't have it from the front.

But, on to what I did. I recommend having some Dotto on hand - or some other re-positionable, non-permanent adhesive on hand. Mine was held with my fingers, and it got old - it slipped every now and then and I had to make sure to re-position it.

Tah-dah!! I used my Stampin' Up! Light Table, some SU! Grid Paper, and that's it! I've heard of people using windows, or glass coffee tables with lights beneath them instead of a light table, but for the times that I have needed it to emboss or now to line something up, it has been so much better than trying to make-do. That's just my opinion. Anyway - as I mentioned in my original Blog Tour post, you have to be using Whisper White CS because I don't think any other CS (except for Vellum CS, of course) will allow light to pass through both the grid paper AND the CS.

I centered my CS base on the grid paper and because it was 8" x 10" to fit my frame, it went from 3" to 13" from left to right, and 2" to 10" from bottom to top on the grid paper. If you have a piece in front of you, it will make more sense. I would suggest just using the center of your grid paper (it has an x and y "axis" that are more bold that run right through the grid paper in the middle of it both ways) to center your project, whatever the size (as long as it's not bigger than the grid paper of course). This is how I was able to evenly space my butterflies. I didn't even make marks on the CS! I placed the middle of the butterflies on the grid lines that I had chosen for the spacing that I desired in-between each butterfly. Every butterfly's wings touched the same line on the top and bottom of the wings as the butterfly next to it. They also were centered in the same column of squares going vertically down the page. My butterflies had a half an inch between them from the bottom of one butterfly to the top of the one below it, and a quarter of an inch between them (this was a little harder since my 1/4" consisted of two halves of two squares (2 - 1/8" segments). You can see this the best with the Melon Mambo Polka Dot (Patterns DSP) butterfly 2 down from the top right, the one to it's left (Bermuda Bay Stripes from Patterns DSP), and the one immediately below that one (Melon Mambo also from Patterns DSP). I used a little piece of Stampin' Dimensional under each wing to pop them up. I started mounting them at the top left and went to the right and then down to the 2nd row and went from left to right again, and so on.

I hope that this answers any and all questions you might have had about my projects. My third card, the one you see above, was fairly simple and really doesn't have much to it. I used my Tabletop Trimmer to cut 1-1/2" squares out of the Sweet Pea DSP and then just eye-balled placing them on my card. That's about it!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you'll keep visiting me. I appreciate each and every visit, and especially each and every comment. I'm getting ready to start working on my Master's Degree, so I don't have time like I used to to reply to every comment, but know that each one makes my day a little brighter. Thank you!! :)

I Promised

Here are the close-ups I promised in my post for the Occasions Mini Blog Tour that you can find HERE.  Did you check out the Tour?  There were some really beautiful projects featured by the ladies, and even some blog candy giveaways.  I hope you all enjoyed it, and if you missed it, it's never too late to go through the stops!

Here's the close-up of me card that had a small detail from the images in the Tiny Tags stamp set in the bottom-right corner of the card:

This next picture is another view of my masked-heart card.  It is with the card completely shut as the recipient will see it, and then there is a view of the inside of the card where the heart is sponged/stamped.

Well, that's all for today.  I just wanted you to see some more details on my cards but we were only to have 4 pictures in our Blog Tour post so I couldn't squeeze these in ;)

Occasions Mini Catalog Blog Tour - Stop #16

Hi there!  If you've been making your way around the Stampin' Addicts Occasions Mini Catalog Tour, then you might have just come to my blog from Joyce's blog Stampin' Central, where she used the FABULOUS new stamp set Vintage Vogue.  If you didn't come from the previous stop, click HERE to see Joyce's creations at stop #15.  I just love this stamp set - it was one of the ones that I made sure to pre-order (a demonstrator perk!!) and I have really enjoyed using it so far.  Don't you just love her projects?!?!?  You can order your very own Mini Occasions Catalog products beginning January 5th - so get crackin' on your Wish List!! :)

Well, I'm excited to share mine with you now.  I signed up a little late for this Tour (hush, hush).  Actually, I signed up on Wednesday afternoon, but I was super happy to see that no one had reserved the new stamp set Tiny Tags for use in the Tour.  It is a super cute stamp set and I am a sentiment hoarder, so I love it!  What I am most excited about is that on all three of my projects I think that the alignment of the sentiments turned out pretty darn good, and I DIDN'T use my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig!!!  I am very OCD about my stamping being even and lined up, and while it's not 100% perfect (I'm not telling you where!! ;)  LOL) it's pretty close and it's good enough for me!  I really like these new clear-mount stamps.  It's the same BEST IN THE INDUSTRY deeply etched rubber images with the ease of a clear block to help see where you're stamping and to really save on storage space needed.  I hope you enjoy my projects!!

Occasions Mini Catalog item featured on this stop:  TINY TAGS stamp set

This card was made using my Movers & Shapers Bigz die along with the Heart movable die you can purchase separately.  I reverse masked my heart on the inside of the card and sponged some Rose Red in there, along with stamping the little damask image from Tiny Tags inside the heart as well.  I paper pierced all the way around the heart and you can't see it, but underneath the ribbon too.  I used my scalloped edge punch to add a layer of Pretty in Pink CS beneath the distressed layer of Sweet Pea DSP STACK (in the Occasions Mini!!).  The sentiment is from the Tiny Tags stamp set, and the ribbon is the 5/8" Whisper White Satin ribbon.  Have you seen that in the Occasions Mini there are NINE new colors of this GORGEOUS satin ribbon?!?!?

This second card was made using some more of the yummy Sweet Pea DSP Stack but I gave the DSP a totally different twist with my color combo.  In a few days I will share some up-close images of today's projects so you can see the little image I stamped on this card a little more closely, but if you click on the picture it should give you a nice HUGE picture to look at ;)  It's hard to tell but I did use my Scallop Edge punch again on the DSP, and that is another small layer of Pumpkin Pie colored DSP beneath that 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon.  I did some more paper piercing along the bottom right corner near the stamped image, and again I stamped my image without a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig!

This last project once again features the stamp set Tiny Tags and some scallops.  I'm loving scallops right now.  The envelope is made with the Scallop Envelope Bigz die, and I made a little flower using some of my smaller circle punches and then crinkling the CS and tearing around the edge of the circles.  Layered on top of one another, the circles are held together nicely with one of the Whisper White 5/16" Jumbo brads.  That beautiful ribbon is the Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon.  Again, the DSP used is some of the Sweet Pea DSP Stack paper - isn't it so pretty?!?!  Well, open up this cute little envelope, and this is what you get:

More paper piercing, some stamped images from Tiny Tags, and did you notice that the paper piercing is "reversed"?  I had the rough side of the holes on the top and I even did it right through my image.  I thought it made it more "interesting".  What do you think?

Well, I hope you enjoyed my samples, and I hope that you'll continue on your way to discover some really fabulous creations made with the fantastic new stamps and accessories available in the Occasions Mini Catalog!!!   I haven't even told you my FAVORITE part about this Tiny Tags stamp set.....IT HAS A COORDINATING PUNCH!!!  I just didn't use it on any of my projects because I always try to use my Blog Tour items in a way rather than the most expected.  The punch is called the Medium Jewelry Tag punch, and it's ADORABLE!!!  You'll have to check it out in the Mini Catalog, or check back here for some samples using it in the near future ;)

Moving on....please click HERE to go to stop #17 on the Tour - Lyssa's blog, Song of My Heart Stampers where she is going to show you the set everyone will want to have - Messages for Mom.  We've all got a mom or someone who is in our life that fills that motherly role, and we all love to stamp, so it's a must have!!! :) 

Thanks so much for joining me on this Stampin' Addicts Occasions Mini Catalog Blog Tour!!!!!!!  Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

PS - Some of the participants on the Tour will have some Blog Candy for you to win!!! :)

Week #2 Deals are HERE!!!

Contact me (mariemc01@gmail.com) before the deal ends to order these dies, or simply go to my website (www.mariemcclellan.stampinup.net) and click on "Shop Now" at the top right of your screen.  From there you can place your order from the comfort of your own home, and it will ship right to your doorstep!!!

ALSO - CHECK OUT MY STAMPS IN THE MAIL PROGRAM BY CLICKING ON THE  LOGO FOR IT IN MY RIGHT-HAND SIDEBAR.  GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE 4 FABULOUS PROJECTS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EACH MONTH FOR 3 MONTHS.  STAMP SETS INCLUDED!!!!

 

The second deals of the week are from October 12, 10 AM (MT) through October 19, 9:50 AM (MT).

 

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
115961	200	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$42.95	$25.99
114515	195	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$11.95	$5.99
116760	201	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$39.95	$25.49

 

 

Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die

 

Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL Die

 

Flower Burst Embosslits Die

Holiday Card Swap

I was recently in a Holiday Mini card swap and all of the ladies have received theirs by now, so I thought I would share mine.  I'm sorry if you don't like CAS because that's what the bulk of my cards are.  I venture into more layered/embellished card-making realms every now and then, but as you'll see, this one is not too fancy.  I really like it and could easily make it as my Christmas cards as it was pretty easy to duplicate quickly 10 times for the swap.  That's the beauty of the new Ornament punch and the Big Shot (for the Top Note die layers).

Enjoy!

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations (Holiday Mini Catalog), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Kraft and Whisper White CS, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP (Holiday Mini Catalog)
Ink:  Real Red classic ink
Accessories:  Ornament Punch (Holiday Mini Catalog), SU! Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Silver Elastic Cord (Holiday Mini Catalog), 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals



Delightful Decorations   #116517   $21.95

Make the holidays a little brighter with cards, gifts, tags and decorations made with the Delightful Decorations stamp set! No matter what you want to make, this set can help you make it.

 

 

 

WOW!!!

So, have you gotten a chance to see what is inside this FABULOUS Mini Catalog?!?!?  Are you going to place your order right now using my Ordering Button to the right?  Well, in addition to the amazing seasonal stamps, papers, and accessories, Build-a-Bear die cuts, necklaces and more, is ‘My Digital Studio’–an amazing digital scrapbooking software.  This software is for so much more than just scrapbooking.  You can make greeting cards, calendars, flyers, photobooks, story books for your children, hybrid projects and even blog headers and backgrounds!!  The possiblities are vast.  It will be available on October 1st for customers to order, but one of the perks of being a demonstrator for SU! is that I already ordered it so that I can play with it before I open my home to let YOU come check it out!!! 

One other note, the Simply Adorned Charms are currently unavailable to order. There were some quality issues and Stampin' Up! only accepts the very best for us. I will keep you posted when they become available.

I want to mention the fantastic special going on NOW for hostessing a workshop which will make you want to schedule one with me right away!  From September 1st – November 30th, host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10! 

After My Digital Studio is released on October 1st… host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50% off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97)!

Has it been a while since you’ve hosted a workshop in your home?  I would love to WOW you and your friends with some holiday projects!  I live in Delaware, but am willing to drive a bit for a workshop… ask me about where you live!  There are (almost) no bounds for me when I'm asked to help get some creative juices flowing!!

 

*This offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

It's HERE.

It's GREAT.  Check it out.

Just click on the picture to download and view the BRAND NEW Holiday Mini Catalog or find it located in my right side-bar when you come back and visit in the future.

Enjoy.  Contact me to order.  Have it shipped straight to your door by clicking on the "Order SU! Online" button to the right.

Happy Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to stop #6 on the Stampin' Addicts Happy Holidays Blog Hop!  The Happy Holidays Blog Hop will feature sneak peaks of the different stamp sets and accessories available in the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog.   This catalog is available to purchase from on September 1st, and the ladies in this hop are going to make you want to buy everything in it!!  There are 40 jam packed pages of the Holiday Mini Catalog that will fit any of your fall/winter holiday needs; from jewelry to Halloween treats, Christmas gifts and Fall cards, this Mini Catalog has just what you need! 

If you have been following the blog hop in order you've just seen Sarah's fabulous creations at Lily's Ink Pad featuring the new "Haunting Hill" Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel.  Aren't the images on that wheel just perfect for everything spooky?!?!  This hop is a continuous circle, so no matter whether you start here with my blog, or are following the links to the next blog on each person's post, you'll be able to see it all.  Let's get started!!!

Well, here is a non-Halloween use for the GORGEOUS new Night & Day Specialty Designer Series Paper, that can be found on page 11 of the Holiday Mini Catalog.  I have been begging Stampin' Up! for black and white Designer Series Paper (DSP) FOREVER, and boy did they make me happy!!!  This paper is SO versatile, and does not have any Halloween specific images on it, so it works fabulously for just about anything shabby chic, elegant, traditional, or _______ - fill in the blank with your style of stamping.  My projects are all a Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Gray and Melon Mambo palette and these colors were just what I wanted for this little gift set for my daughter's new 1st grade teacher. 

You will see that I used the YUMMY new Shimmer Paint, in Frost White (pg 27), on top of the DSP or the Melon Mambo CS on two of the projects.  When you paint it (using a sponge) on top of the Basic Black patterned DSP (this is the pattern I kept in each of the four projects to tie them all together), it turned it a lovely shade of Basic Gray.  Be sure to click on any photographs that you wish to see close-up and personal - it really shows you the shine of that Shimmer Paint.   A little bit of this Shimmer Paint goes a LONG way.  I used about four drops to completely cover each of the 3 flowers on the little matchbox candy box (front center in the above picture) and to sponge the edges of the Melon Mambo flower on the pencil/pen holder.

 

Speaking of the pencil/pen holder....  I used some sticky strip to adhere the DSP to the clean and de-labeled vegetable can.  I then used my Scallop Edge punch to punch the Whisper White border for the top, along with my Paper Piercing Tool (which you can now buy SEPARATELY - YEAH!!) and Paper Piercing Mat.  I adhered it using more Sticky Strip.  I then used my lovely Big Shot to run some Melon Mambo CS and the Night & Day Specialty DSP through with the Flower Layers Originals Die.  I then misted the two flowers and crumpled them up and then flattened them back out and dried them using my Heat Tool.  I followed the drying with some sponging of the Frost White Shimmer Paint on both of the flower layers, just along their edges.  Next, I stamped the lovely "B" using the Lovely Letters Alphabet and some Black StazOn ink on Whisper White CS.  I punched the "B" out using my 1-1/4" Circle Punch.  All of these were stuck together using mini glue dots and dimensionals (to attach the "B" to the flowers) and some dimensionals to adhere the flower to the can.  Lastly, I ran my Sticky Strip around the bottom of the can and tied some yummy 1/2" Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon as the final touch.  Behind the can, you'll see the bag that I altered to match my gift set.  I used some of the Specialty DSP along with my Baroque Motifs stamp set to color coordinate my little white gift bag.  I stamped onto some Whisper White CS cut to fit the front of the bag since it's easy to stamp on a bag and get areas that don't stamp due to the creases in the bag. 

This card was a fun one to make.  I used my trusty Big Shot and a new Sizzlet die from the Mini Catalog (pg 21) called Merry Details.  I once again found a use rather than the intended for the product in the Mini Catalog.  This die has some absolutely adorable Christmas trees and a snowflake on it, but I chose to use the little birdie.  I paired it with running some of the Night & Day Specialty DSP through my Big Shot using the Go Go Boots Alphabet dies to create the word "hello".  Where, you might ask, did I find an epoxy button to match the DSP perfectly?!?!  I made it!!  I used my Crystal Effects to cover a little corner of the DSP and let that dry (overnight - I'm too impatient to sit there and watch it dry for hours) and used my 1" Circle punch to punch out the "button".  I attached some Whisper White grosgrain to my button, added it to my 1/2" Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon treatment that was already already tied onto my Scallop Edge punched Specialty DSP that was adhered to a paper pierced and distressed layer of Whisper White CS for an easy and eye-catching element on my card.  The background of my card is also a piece of the Night & Day Specialty DSP.  Aren't you just loving it?!?!?

This last little creation is my favorite.  It's the first time I used my Matchbox Bigz XL die, and I love this little box.  Did you know that in addition to 10 absolutely fabulous sheets of Designer Series Paper in the Night & Day Specialty DSP pack, you also get TWO sheets of printed window sheets?!?!?  That's right!!  That's why they added the word "Specialty" to this gorgeous pack of papers.  As you should be able to see, the clear window sheet in the paper pack was used to make the sleeve for my little matchbox so that my daughter's teacher could see the sweet little m&m's waiting for her inside.  I used my Scallop Edge punch on the DSP, and my Eyelet Border punch on the Melon Mambo CS.  Some Whisper White and Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon was also used, in addition to a 5/16" Jumbo Brad in Whisper White.  The most fun I had though, was creating my layers of flowers.  I used my Big Shot to use 2 of the dies from the Sizzlits 4-Pack of dies called Birds & Blooms.  It is yet another SU! exclusive die.  I also used a sponge and some of that beautiful Frost White Shimmer Paint on each flower that used the Night & Day Specialty DSP.  It turned it a beautiful shade of shimmery Basic Gray.  I just love it and hope her teacher does too!!!  What do you think?

Well, I hope that you enjoyed my projects and were able to follow along with how I made each of them. As usual I would love to hear what you think, and don't forget to use one of the links to the right to subscribe to my blog for e-mail notification of my new posts.  I have a BIG Boot Loot (aka Blog Candy) contest coming up and subscribers will be the first to know about it! :)  Also, don't forget to start your wish list now to order these fabulous new goodies on September 1st and make sure you check out what Holly has in store for you at Ink Paper Stamps for the next stop on the Hop. Please click on the arrows below to help you find the previous or next participants on the Blog Hop. 

Enjoy!!!

 

for you

I made this card for a dear friend who is moving, and wanted to post it after I had given it to her.  We went out to celebrate our friendship with her last night at Olive Garden - to let her know she will be missed, and it was a blast!  I will miss her very much and hope that our paths cross again in the future.  It's a small world, so you never know....

I actually decorated the inside of this card, as you can see in the picture, but it's nothing phenomenal.  I thought I'd share it with you though. 

I hope you're having a great week!

 

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Great Friend
Paper:  Rich Razzleberry Textured CS, Whisper White CS, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink:  Crushed Curry and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink and Stampin' Write markers
Accessories:  Silver Brads, Scallop Edge punch, 1/2" Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Matchbox Bigz XL die, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Stampin' Dimensionals

Last Card Patterns DT Card

Today is a sad day for me.  I have LOVED every minute of being on the Card Patterns Design Team, and wish that my husband wasn't deployed so that I could have stayed on for another term as Michelle so graciously offered.  Well, I guess I wish he weren't deployed for other reasons too ;)  I have to bring a little humor to a long, not fun, time without him.....

This is my take on the sketch this week from Card Patterns, which you can see HERE on the CP blog.  The Digi Shack is still the sponsor of the prizes for the winner of the drawing too, so don't miss out on that!

I hope you like my card and please continue to check out the CP sketches each week, I know I will!  I hope to be able to play along still, as time permits, I'll just have to wait like the rest of you to see the lovely sketches as they are posted instead of before-hand.

Don't forget that each week you can enter (by posting a link to your card using that weeks sketch) via Mr. Linky (or by leaving the link in the comments section if Mr. Linky is "down" as it has been very often of late) for a chance not only to win a great prize, but also a spot as a Guest Designer over at CP on a future sketch.

See you over there!

All items used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Digital Image (Sentiment) from The Digi Shack
Paper:  Riding Hood Red and Whisper White DSP, Rockabilly Specialty Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Riding Hood Red Designer Buttons (Button Bouquet), Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, Sizzlets "Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags", Big Shot, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Clear Adhesive Rhinestones (Icon - at Michael's), White Twill (Papertrey Ink), Stampin' Dimensionals, Janome Sew Mini (stitching across white twill)

Beautiful Butterfly CP Sketch #9

This week's Card Patterns sketch can be found HERE and CP is pleased to let you know that we are being sponsored by Created with Paper who is offering a SUPER prize that you can check out by following the link to the Card Patterns blog I listed above referencing the sketch.  At Created with Paper you can find all kinds of items that you would use in paper crafting, so go check them out!!

Above is my take on the sketch.  I must say that this is the most loosely I have used a CP sketch so far.  Usually my "take" is very similar to the sketch.  This time I kept the element of having 3 strips of paper on the bottom, but I overlapped them and extended them the entire width of the card. 

I had fun using my SU! Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die.  It's on the 2nd time I've pulled it out to use it and I need to do so more often.  The Walk in the Park DSP that's in the current Occasions Mini Catalog from SU! is just such pretty paper!!!  I love the combo of Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Basic Gray and Whisper White.  Don't you?!?!?

I made the scalloped circle the "old fashioned" way.  I used my Circle ScissorPlus and Glass Cutting mat that SU! sells to cut two circles - one smaller in Whisper White and one larger in Cameo Coral.  Next, I took off the guard on my slit punch (from SU!) and punched around the edges creating scallops on my circle.  The bulk of the DSP is from the Walk in the Park DSP pack as I mentioned above, but the Baja Breeze DSP making up the butterfly is actually from the Urban Garden DSP pack.

Have a lovely weekend!!!

All supplies used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes
Paper:  Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze and Whisper White CS, Walk in the Park and Urban Garden DSP
Ink:  Baja Breeze classic ink
Accessories:  Blue Twinkle stickers (by Amuse), Clear Rhinestone stickers (by Me & My Big Ideas, from Michael's), Basic Gray and Whisper White taffeta ribbons, Scallop Edge punch, Beautiful Butterflies Bigzdie, Big Shot, paper piercing tool and guide, Stampin' Dimensionals

2nd Swap Card

Can you tell which two sets are my favorites from the new catalog?  It would have to be Trendy Trees, and this one.  Friends 24-7 is such a versatile stamp set - you don't have to just use it for "friend" cards.  I was super happy with how this card turned out.  My only regret was that I didn't have any Very Vanilla or Chocolate Chip buttons from the Designer Button assortment called Latte.  The reason I regret it is that after assembling my card, I realized I used RETIRED buttons!!  I told you I didn't pay much attention to the retiring list this last time around.  I prefer the Pale Plum buttons, but a Very Vanilla or Chocolate Chip larger round buttons would have looked great too.  Oh well, the ladies in the Great Swaps Girls group were very understanding and I'm so thankful that they didn't mind my oops.  It's hare dot tell, but the die-cut tag and ribbon are both Very Vanilla - not Whisper White.

I hope you like it!

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Friends 24-7, A Little Birthday Cheer
Paper:  Pale Plum, Basic Black, Kraft and Very Vanilla CS
Ink:  Basic Black classic ink
Accessories:  Big Shot, SU! "Lots of Tags" sizzlit die, Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, Pale Plum button (retired), Linen Thread, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Great Swaps Girls swap

Well, I can't show you this card without telling you what I had wanted to do with it.  It was an evolution in progress as I made it.  I started out running the Basic Gray CS through my Big Shot using the Top Note die, and then I was going to stamp on it using the BG stamp called Polka Dot, but saw that it wasn't in the Catalog and figured since it's not a "seasonal" stamp in any way, that surely it wasn't on the Dormant List.  I hadn't been as good at paying attention to retiring sets this last go-around so I figured I must have not noticed it.  So...my plan to stamp the Polka Dots in VersaMark and then emboss them with clear embossing powder didn't work.  I was sad.  Then I thought, "well, I can use the polka dot Texturz platethat I have."  I pulled it out and decided to go with the larger polka dots in the Texturz plates set.  Then, I had to cut all of the Kiwi Kiss Top Notes in half and layer them on top of the Basic Gray ones.  After doing that, I was going to tie a ribbon around the "seam" where the Kiwi Kiss layer ended, but discovered that, unfortunately when you try and tie ribbon around this part of the Top Note, especially when you're dumb and cut the Top Note exactly in half, it just doesn't work.  So...plan B was to paper pierce to add a little horizontal element at the "joint" to draw the focus away at least a little from the "seam".  The rest of the card should be self-explanatory and went as planned.  I did later discover, much to my dismay, that the Polka Dot BG stamp is in fact DORMANT, not RETIRED!!!  Oh well....It think it's a cute card - it is very much "my style".  After getting the other gals' swap cards though, I really wish I could be more of a Shabby Chic/lots of layers/lots of textures kind of stamper, but I'm just not....

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Trendy Trees
Paper:  Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Kraft and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip classic ink
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, SU! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate, Wide Oval punch, Clear Button, Linen Thread, needle, 5/8" Striped Kiwi Kiss Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool and Template

Sketch #5, Paper Popsicles and a Sneak Peek

Are you wondering what Paper Popsicles is?  If you click on their name, you can see their website and it's the company that's sponsoring this week's sketch over at Card Patterns, which you can check out HERE and also see the cards of the rest of the DT.  Paper Popsicles is giving away the goodies you see to the left to one lucky (random) winner who submits their take via Mr. Linky over on the Card Patterns blog for sketch #5.  As always, another winner will be chosen (not randomly, but rather by the DT) as the winner of this week's sketch and will get to be a Guest Designer for Sketch #7.  So...who doesn't want to win the goodies you see here, and who wouldn't want to be a Guest Designer for Card Patterns?!?!  Make sure you let me know if you play along, and be sure to leave a link via Mr. Linky on the CP blog that takes us to the post/gallery containing your card (straight to the card if it's not in a post that you can link to).  I would love to come and leave some love by commenting on your cards!!!

Here's mine for this week:

You can't tell, but I did run the Basic Gray layer through my Big Shot with the SU! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate with the big polka dots on it.  It looks nice in real life.  This was a really fun sketch to work with and I even dusted off my trusty Janome Sew-Mini and did some sewing!!  I also used a stamp set and punch that will be available in the Occasions Mini Catalog from SU! on April 1st.  I love them both - hope you like the sneak peek!!  I'm excited to see you over at CP this week!

All supplies used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Friends 24-7, Oval All (Occasions Mini '09)
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Basic Black and Whisper White CS, Basic Gray Textured CS
Ink: Basic Black and Baja Breeze Classic Ink
Accessories:  Big Shot, SU! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate, Scallop Oval Punch (Occasions Mini '09), Designer Brads (Filigree), Clear Rhinestone Brads, 1" Double Stitched Baja Breeze ribbon,  Basic Black ribbon from Valet Ribbon Originals pkg, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Paper Piercing Tool and Template, Blending Pen (to color flowers), Sewing Machine (Janome Sew-Mini) and white thread

MIA for a little while

I have to make this quick - my life has been absolutely crazy the past couple of weeks, and it doesn't stand to get any better over the next week or so.  I'll try my best to pre-schedule a post or two (to include my reveal for sketch #4 over at Card Patterns), but I can't promise much more than that for now.  Yet another plug to subscribe to my blog to get e-mails when I update via Feedburner using the link in the left-hand sidebar.

This is a card I made for my husband's squadron to give to families who have baby girls in the near future (I made 6 of them).  It uses the Congrats stamp set that you can get for free during Sale-a-Bration.  I really like it - it has a lot of great sentiments for all sorts of occasions.  Sale-a-Bration ends March 31st, so don't miss out on it!  Check out the mini catalog for it in my right-hand side-bar.  I used the challenge from the Great Swaps Girls blog (monochromatic) to come up with my color combo.  Check out the challenge HERE.

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Congrats
Paper:  Pink Pirouette and Very Vanilla CS, Parisian Summer DSP (retired)
Ink:  Pink Pirouette classic ink
Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

More Mojo....

After I made THIS card, I knew I would be using the Mojo 68 sketch again.  I LOVE it and I know that my stampers will love it when they make their cards using it.  It's such a great sketch and really features stamp sets really well.  If you haven't checked out Julee's sketches, you SHOULD!  I hope you like the card, and have a great day!

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Friends 24-7
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Whisper White CS, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip classic ink
Accessories:  Big Shot, SU! "Lots of Tags" sizzlits die, Round Tab punch, 1/4" circle punch (retired), silver brads, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon

Card Patterns Sketch #3 and a Giveaway!

I just LOVE Michelle's sketches because they are not so complicated that you can't take them and run with them creatively and really turn it into something individual and special.  I'm having so much fun with Card Patterns! 

Below is my card.  Check out the Card Pattern's blog here to see the other amazing cards by the rest of the DT and the Guest Designer AND to check out the PRIZE  you can win by playing along with us this week.  I {Heart} Papers has graciously offered a prize to the winner of this week's sketch challenge. 

Speaking of being selected as a Guest Designer....Hanneke Van Dalen was selected as the Guest Designer to play along with us for this week's sketch.  You can check out her AMAZING talent HERE on her blog.

Make sure you play along this week for YOUR chance to be selected as a Guest Designer and also for a chance to win the prize from I {Heart} Papers.  It is two separate contests, one for your card to be selected as winner and a spot as a Guest Designer and one through a random drawing to win the prize bein offered.  I would really love for one of my readers to earn this opportunity.  That would be so fun!!  I know you all have lots of talent, so let's see it!!!!  :)

 

I made this card fairly quickly.  The Pink Flamingo DSP that is new from SU! made choosing the colors easy.  I stamped the En Francais background stamp onto a large Paper Pretties kit flower in Real Red.  I have seen smaller flowers with script writing on them in craft stores and thought I would make my own.  Hope you like it!!!!

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Thank You Kindly, En Francais BG
Ink:  Real Red
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral and Whisper White CS, Real Red Textured CS, Pink Flamingo DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Lots of Tags sizzlet dies, Paper Pretties Kit, Filigree Designer Brads, Red Gingham ribbon, Ribbon Originals Dress Up ribbons, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scor-Tape (by Scor-Pal), paper piercing tool and template

Mojo Monday #73

Well, I loved this sketch by Julee (Mojo73) and finally got around to making a card with it.  I actually will be using this sketch with some customers and I know they're going to love it and will be followers of Mojo Monday now, if they aren't already!! :)  Julee always has such amazing sketches, and this one is no exception!  Hope you like it!!!

All supplies used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Friends 24-7
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Kraft and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze classic ink
Accessories:  Big Shot, SU! "Lots of Tags" sizzlits die, SU! Backgrounds I Texturz plates, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Filigree Designer Brads

Simple Basket

This is a little basket that the ladies I worked with the other night that I mentioned in yesterday's post made.  It was pretty straight forward - all of the pieces come from the SU! Bigz XL die "Baskets & Blooms".  They enjoyed making it.  I used the retired stamp set Best Yet for the greeting.  I can't stop using this stamp set!!! :)

Don't forget to stop by Card Patterns and play along in the sketch!  I would love to see what you make inspired by this fun LO!

All supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Best Yet
Paper:  Riding Hood Red Patterns DSP, Chocolate Chip Textured CS
Ink:  Chocolate Chip classic ink
Accessories:  silver brad, Big Shot, Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL Die, Tombow Mono Multi Adhesive, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon