Last of my SIM Cards

This final card from my last round of SIM is also a CASE from the Idea Book & Catalog.  You can find the original card on page 98.  It was a fun one to CASE because it got my customers coloring the image using their markers, and there's just something about coloring that even a grown woman (or man) can enjoy like a kid!  I think it's kind of magical to see the stamped image after you've done all that hard work coloring and not letting the markers bleed, and huffing before finally pressing it down on the card stock.  Almost like a surprise - seeing how your coloring turned out.  It was a pain folding that Daffodil Delight DSP though - I couldn't get it straight for anything, and don't like that it's not more parallel to the layer of Real Red CS.  Oh well, my OCD will have to just be quiet!!! ;)

Anyway, enjoy, and have a great weekend!  My final 3 cards (everything stamping-related is packed up and ready for our move now, so it will again be a while before I can post - FOLLOW ME so that you'll get updates without having to constantly check in!!) will be posted next week.  Have a GREAT weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your visits and your comments so much!  If you have any questions about what I used to make the card simply leave me a comment and I'll get back with you.

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Just Believe
Inks: Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Real Red and Pear Pizazz Stampin' Write Marker, Pumpkin Pie classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz Textured CS, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, 2-1/2" Circle Punch

Another favorite

This card is an Idea Book & Catalog CASE as well (see my last post for another). You can find the cute little giraffe inspiration card on page 94 of the IB&C.  I really love the use of vellum as an overlay on top of Designer Series Paper to create a more subtle, soft look. What do you think? I hope you're having a great week!!! Questions about the items used, just leave me a comment!!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Tiny Tags
Inks: Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers, Early Espresso classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Card Stock Vellum
Accessories: Jewelry Tag Medium punch, Scallop Edge punch, white thread, Stampin Dimensionals, mini glue dots

Catalog CASE

The card below is a CASE of the one found on page 98 of the Idea Book & Catalog.  I LOVE this card.  I have always enjoyed pocket cards, and especially ones where the pocket is vellum.  Adding in some sewing and it's just perfect!  Eventually I will get around to the cards I made last week, that are a play off of this card.  Anyway, enjoy, and again, sorry for no recipe but if you leave a comment with a question I will get back with you ASAP!  Have a lovely weekend!!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Baja Breeze and Cajun Craze classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze and Whisper White CS, Card Stock Vellum
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Janome Sew Mini, Stampin Dimensionals, 1-1/4" Circle Punch

Wow - Pigs are Flying!!!

I can't promise that I will post anything even remotely resembling regularly, but here is one post of several I hope to get done over the next couple of weeks.

An update on us, first.  We are packing up our house (family of 5, 2 cats, a dog and a VERY filled garage (tools, bikes, camping gear, etc.)) to move to Kentucky on February 1st.  My husband will be going to 3-4 months of training in Georgia and Mississippi followed by a 6 month (perhaps longer) deployment to Afghanistan.  I thought with him gone nearly a year it is a good time to take advantage of being able to move "home", where there are no Air Force bases and we have very little hope of ever living there while he is Active Duty in the Air Force.  Anyway....since we are choosing to move, the move is on us, so all I have been doing is packing and trying to clean a little in-between.  I'm also trying to be a good mom for once and give my kids some fun memories with friends so we've started making a point of having them over to play and spend the night.  Five kids running around hasn't been too helpful on the packing front, but I want my kids to remember the fun times.

I actually stamped yesterday because I pulled out some CS for the girls to make cards with their friends - it was a miracle!!!  I made 3 cards.  One for a beloved teacher we will be leaving behind, and 2 for my dear friends that I will also be leaving.  The two friend's cards are based on one I did for my last round of SIM (Stamps in the Mail) and so I will begin there with sharing with you one of the cards I made for SIM.  I apologize, but no recipes. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and I'll answer them.  If I get a chance, I will try to add the recipe later.  In looking at the photo - should have scooted that button and sentiment over to the right a little.  Oh well.  I made this card back in October.  :)  Have a GREAT day, and thanks for stopping by - if anyone even still checks in!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers, Basic Black classic ink
Papers: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Subtles (Baja Breeze) Designer Series Paper Stack
Accessories: Real Red Designer Button, Whisper White 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, mini glue dots

SIM #4

This is the last of my 4 scheduled posts.  I can't even guess at this moment with all that I have going on the next couple of weeks if I will have gotten some time to stamp between now and when this posts actually is published.  I hope so!  I guess you'll have to tune in on Tuesday to find out ;)  I post on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  Sometimes all three days, sometimes only one or two, but those are the days I publish posts.  It's fun to see that some of you are taking advantage of "following" me so that you don't have to guess as to whether I've posted or not.  You get a pretty little e-mail with my post every time I post :)

The card below is a CASE of Ilina Crouse.  Her card is HERE.  I changed the colors up a bit because I can't ever just totally copy someone else's card.  I'm curious how all of you are about that?  Can you just copy everything, or do you have to tweak even just one little thing to make it more your own?

Well, have a great weekend and hopefully I'll "see" you soon!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps:  Funky Four and Just Believe
Ink:  So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Real Red Stampin' Write markers, Chocolate Chip classic ink
Paper:  So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Real Red CS, Play Date DSP
Accessories:  Old Olive brads (Brights assortment), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (say that three times really fast!  LOL) punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, clear-mount blocks

Another One...

This card is another case of myself.  Here is the card that I cased.  I REALLY like this color combo and the use of the Rhinestone Brads.  What do you think?

I should be back from Kentucky now, maybe we have a house lined up - I sure hope we do.  When I get back to posting and it's not scheduled in advance, I'll let you know.  I'm sitting here writing this a week ago.  :)

Have a lovely day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps:  Funky Four, Just Believe
Ink:  Old Olive classic ink
Paper:  Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Whisper White CS
Accessories:  3/8" Crumb Cake Taffeta ribbon, Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads (in green), Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, clear-mount blocks, Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots

CASE'ing Myself

I CASE'd this card I made that won Shelli's Creative Challenge back in August to use in my Stamps-in-the-Mail (SIM) program.  I hope that they like it.  The change in colors was to go along with the Play Date Designer Series Paper color scheme that we used for this SIM kit.

I am still in Kentucky but hope you're having a great day wherever you are!! :)  Thanks in advance for your comments!!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps:  Funky Four, Just Believe
Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red, So Saffron and Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write Markers, Chocolate Chip classic ink
Paper:  Real Red, Crumb Cake and Whisper White CS
Accessories:  3/8" Old Olive Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots, clear-mount blocks, 1/4" Circle Punch (retired)

CASE'ing Jen

When I saw this card by Jen Timko, I just knew that I had to CASE it.  I changed the colors up a bit, added some of the FABULOUS new glimmer brads, and tried out something I've never done before - put a lighter CS behind a darker one, as a mat.  To be totally honest, I don't think I like the light behind the dark that much, but it was fun to try something different.  I hope you like my card, and if you check hers out you can see where the sketch came from (Stamping 411) and all of that.  Leave her some love - I am sure she appreciates your kind comments as much as I do :)

As for me - this post, and the next three, are all scheduled while I am out of state house-hunting.  My stamping has been sparse, and it doesn't look to get much better.  I will do my best though, and at least you've got 3 more posts coming!! :)

Have a great day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps:  Funky Four, Just Believe
Ink:  Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers, Black StazOn
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Play Date DSP
Accessories:  Real Red and Tempting Turquoise Glimmer Brads (Brights assortment), 3/8" Real Red Taffeta ribbon, Old Olive Designer Button (Brights assortment), Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, clear-mount blocks, Stampin' Dimensionals, white thread

Simple Card Box

I saw a box like this as one of the items made at a past SU! Convention - not even sure which one, I can't remember.  I saved a photo that I nabbed on the internet of the directions for it, since I'm not even sure if I went to that particular Convention (or if I did, I didn't have my own photo) and made this fun box for my August SIM kits to hold the cards that we made using the Just Believe Stamp set.  It was easy to make, and I love using my Big Shot and the Top Note Bigz die is one of my absolute favorites!!  Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you have a fabulous day!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps:  Just Believe
Ink:  Marina Mist classic ink
Paper:  Whisper White and Marina Mist CS
Accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Marina Mist 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Marina Mist brads (from Subtles assortment), Filigree Designer Brad, Clear-Mount Blocks

{Just Believe} in FTL 99

When I saw FTL-99 I tucked it away for future use.  I didn't actually see it when it was the current week's sketch challenge, because I was on a bit of a self-imposed blog-surfing hiatus, but my Google Reader helped me not miss a thing out there in blog-land when I made it back to my computer.  As I was coming up with the three cards in my August Stamps in the Mail, I just knew that this sketch would work lovely, and I envisioned a monochromatic card in my head.  I love the balance of the rounded corners in the sketch!  Without further ado...what do you think?

 
Thanks for stopping by, and I appreciate the time you take to leave comments on my blog.  Have a beautiful day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps:  Just Believe
Paper:  Certainly Celery and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Certainly Celery classic ink
Accessories:  Certainly Celery 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls, Corner Rounder punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

{just for you}

I made this card using the 100th sketch over at clean&simple stamping.  I had saved it for my Stamps in the Mail program because I had chosen to use the Just Believe stamp set, and when I saw this sketch, I knew it would be PERFECT for this stamp set.  It highlights one of the main images in the set well, and lets you use a sentiment too.  Plus, I was able to do a fun technique with this card, that I call the blender pen outline technique.  I use a blender pen to drag some of the color of the image around the outside of the image.  I'll post a picture "up close" of the image below the card for you to see.  If you click on it, you can see it in it's gigantic (but not perfect up that close!!!) glory ;)  It's a really fun technique though that adds some softness to your stamped image.  What do you think?  Have you ever done this before with a blender pen?  *****A note: sometimes your image may not allow the blender pen to pull as much color as you would like as you outline your shape, so you might have to just barely dab your blender pen in some of the appropriate ink color as you trace.****

So, up close, you can tell that it's not too exact, or perfect, but I didn't want it to be.  You have to know by now that I'm a perfectionist, so if I had really wanted each little leaf and stem outlined, I would have done it ;)

I would love to hear your thoughts, and appreciate each and every one of you for visiting my blog!!  Have a wonderful day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps:  Just Believe
Paper:  Whisper White and Certainly Celery CS
Ink:  Certainly Celery and Marina Mist classic ink
Accessories:  Scallop Edge Border punch, Certainly Celery 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Blender Pen

Stamps in the Mail...

...is coming to a mailbox near you! Don't miss out on this great program!

Stamps in the Mail (SIM) is something that I have been doing for several years (click HERE to see some of my past cards/projects), and this year I have established a price of $50 per kit ($35 in merchandise, and $15 for shipping from SU! to me, and me to you, and the cost of some of the consumables) for this round. The round will go from Aug-Nov.

You will need to sign up by e-mailing me, and I will send out all the details to those who join on August 2nd. Your check will need to be in my hands by August 15th. The kit will then arrive in your mailbox no later than the end of the first week in September (it all depends on how quickly the items get to me from SU!), and this will continue all the way through November (with November's kit arriving no later than the end of the first week of December).

I will include some pictures in the next couple of weeks of some cards I make using the stamp set we will be using for August's kit. They are NOT what will be in the kit, but will give you an idea of some of the ways we might use the stamp set. It is a STUNNING stamp set. What is it, you're wondering? Well, the stamp set is "Just Believe" (pg. 109, item # 120453, $25.95 for clear-mount) which is pictured below.

The contents of the kit are flexible. If you already have any of the items on the list for a particular month's kit, simply substitute for like-priced merchandise. You don't even have to go with the clear-mount stamps that I list and can add the difference to purchase the traditional wood-mount stamp set if you would prefer.

Build your supply of stamping items. Each month you will get approximately $35 (could be more) worth of stamps, inks, card stock, papers, and other embellishments and tools. It's a great way to slowly add to what you have.

Creativity at your fingertips! Are you ever stumped and need help getting inspired? Use the kit contents to create the 4 projects included for that month, and then take the provided sketches, directions, photographs, tutorials and tips to create even more projects with your new Stampin' Up! products!

Organized and ready to stamp! All of the items that you need to recreate the four projects are individually packaged and other than common supplies (certain ink colors, adhesives, cutting tools, etc.) you will be able to open up a bag, stamp and assemble the contents, and you're done!

The more, the merrier! Get your friends to join and have a girls' night of stamping fun. Not only will it make it more enjoyable to get together with your friends, but you will also get a FREE Classic ink pad of your choice for getting a friend to join (who is not on my SU! mailing list).

What are you waiting for?!?!? E-mail me today (mariemc01@gmail.com) and get on the list for the next round which begins in August. The checks will be due to me by August 15th and I will place the order that day. I expect the turn-around to you to be that you have your SIM kits no later than one week after I receive the order from SU! More instructions and kit contents will be e-mailed out to those that sign up on August 2nd.

I look forward to sharing the beauty of this and other stamp sets with you over the next 4 months!!

My Favorite Occasions Mini Catalog CASE

This is the last of four cards that I made based on cards in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  You will find this one on page 14 of the Mini.

I LOVED this card in the Mini, so I was excited to CASE it.  I used the Sweet Pea DSP as inspiration for the colors, and I think it turned out really cute!  I will say -  I had wanted to put the 3 hearts under the image panel on the right, but I couldn't fit them and two just didn't look right.  I had my Old Olive scalloped piece just a little too far to the right to allow the three hearts to fit.  Oh well...

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Whimsical Words   Paper: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CS, So Saffron Textured CS   Ink: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Rose Red and Pretty in Pink classic ink   Accessories: Small Heart punch, Linen Thread, Pretty in Pink Corduroy brad, Scallop Edge punch, Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Stampin' Dimensionals

Page 15 CASE

So, in line with my previous CASE posts, I thought I would share this CAS card. You can find the original on page 15 of the Occasions Mini catalog, as the title of this post indicates. I was still using the Sweet Pea DSP for my color combo, because that is the color inks my Stamps in the Mail participants would have (I base each SIM kit around a pack of DSP). This is not my typical color combo, but I think it turned out pretty cute.

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

My last card that I will be sharing in about 2 posts from now is my favorite though from my "CASE the Occasions Mini catalog" group of cards. :)

I hope you're having a fabulous day and if you haven't already, check out my inspiration challenge HERE!

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts Paper: Sweet Pea DSP, Rose Red, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CS Ink: Pretty in Pink classic ink Accessories: Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin ribbon, Full Heart punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Simple Card, Simple CASE

This card is from page 7 of the Occasions Mini catalog. I wish that I had had the little paper clips on hand to use to put the ribbon on in the same way, but I didn't. The things I did differently were that I changed the colors a tiny bit, used a different heart stamp from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set, used the new Scallop Trim border punch, and used a little Chocolate Chip Epoxy brad as an accent.

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts Paper: So Saffron and Whisper White CS, Taken with Teal Textured CS Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip and So Saffron classic ink Accessories: Scallop Trim border punch, Sending Love 1/4" Chocolate Chip Epoxy brad, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' dimensionals

PS - I would LOVE to have you join me on my Inspiration Challenge. You could win a free stamp set!!! Check it out here.

Page 35

If you check out page 35 in the Occasions Mini catalog, you will see where I got my inspiration for this card. The color combo is not one I would typically use, but I was trying to keep the color palette to the colors found in the Sweet Pea DSP pack because it is what my Stamps in the Mail customers were to use in their kits. This wasn't how I originally intended to make the card (the DSP/Chocolate base), but I found that I was having a hard time getting the DSP in the Sweet Pea DSP stack to match any of the SU! CS it was supposed to match. This Chocolate Chip sheet was still not an exact match, but it looked the least different. I LOVE this stack of paper, so I hope that everyone's isn't like this!!

I loved the ribbon treatment on the card so basically kept it the same, I just used a different ribbon and button.

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

Don't forget to join me for this week's inspiration challenge. You can read about it here.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Well Scripted Paper: Chocolate Chips Textured CS, Old Olive, Rose Red and Whisper White CS Inks: Rose Red and Chocolate Chip classic ink Accessories: On Board Essentials chipboard frame, Latte Designer Button in Whisper White, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Scallop Edge punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Know Life...Love Many Things

Third time's a charm!!  By the time I was done making this card - another CASE (original by Laura, aka scrapnextras @ SCS) - I was so inspired and motivated that I signed up for the Occasions Blog Tour over at Stampin' Addicts and had one day to make my projects before the Blog Tour began!!  If you missed out on the Tour, you can check it out by starting at my post HERE.

Stamps: Dreams du Jour  Paper: Whisper White Orchid Opulence and Old Olive CS, Cottage Wall DSP  Ink: Rich Razzleberry classic ink, Old Olive and Orchid Opulence markers  Accessories: Mini Library Clip (pewter), Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Do you like to stamp too?  Do you like to be inspired?  Do you like to play along in challenges?  Do you want to win a FREE stamp set?  Well, check out my blog post HERE about my Inspiration Challenge!!!  :)

Cottage Wall Squares

So this is another CASE'd card.  I changed up some of the details, but I loved the basic LO of the original, made by Stampin'_Kiwi over at SCS.  I've made many cards that have a central panel with four squares, but I liked the pop of having the stamped image right in the middle of them.  I added the detail of the brads and used a wider ribbon.  If you'll look at the picture to the right, you'll see that I added a touch of glitter to the flower.  It was a fun card to make!

Stamps: Dreams du Jour  Paper: Whisper White and Rich Razzleberry CS, Cottage Wall DSP  Ink: Basic Black classic ink, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry markers  Accessories: 1/2" Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Silver Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals

Sometimes....

it takes a little CASE'ing to get you going...or at least I have found that it is just what I need sometimes to get my creative juices flowing again.  I've been in a bit of  a creative slump lately.  Mostly because I have no time to stamp, but also because I am tired even if I do have the time.  I think it's just the cold, dreary weather.  Anyway....I had to come up with some items for my latest round of SIM, so I turned to trusty old SCS to find some cards that inspired me because I figured if I CASE'd them then they would hopefully inspire my participants as wel as myselfl.  I told them who made each original card and I created a basic sketch of the card for them to keep in My Digital Studio.  This was the first card I made and it was a CASE of Stacey's (slschaf771) card used the same stamp set but a different and very fabulous color combo.  I hope you like it!

Stamps:  Dreams du Jour
Paper:  Cottage Wall DSP, Old Olive CS (card base), Orchid Opulence and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black classic ink, Orchid Opulence and Old Olive markers
Accessories:  Scallop Edge punch, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Clear Rhinestone Brad, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Stampin Dimensionals

CAS Christmas.....

Yup....you guessed it, CAS Christmas CARDINAL ;)  He he he....  Hope that this CAS card inspires you.  I had fun trimming off the edge of the Whisper White CS Top Note die cut piece and then distressing it too.  Can you see that?  Enjoy!!!