Dreams Du Jour and a little DRS Designs

EEK!!!  This is the 2nd time I'm re-typing this post.  That's the ONLY thing I don't like about TypePad - it doesn't auto-save for you and we have a REALLY bad Internet connection here in OK (thank goodness I leave in 2 weeks!!) and I lose my data ALL THE TIME because if it happens while you're trying to post/save then it just clears all of the fields because it has nothing to revert to.  Stinks.

Anyway, to the right is the lovely SU! Scallop Edge punch. I LOVE IT.  I haven't figured out how to make squares/rectangles to specific sizes (I like the corner to be neat, not scallops punched over each other creating wonky shapes) but I'm sure someone will post directions so that I can see it done.  The punch is not meant for that though - it's meant to punch along an edge and create scallops, thus the name Scallop Edge punch.  Duh.  Here I am already trying to get it to do other things.  It was frustrating trying to create even edged squares/rectangles so I gave up and made this fun little "frame" that you see in the card below.  I wish I had made the WW CS layer mounted on top of the Riding Hood Red frame a little smaller to show more of the "frame" directly behind the popped up image.  Oh well.  The card is a little "heavy" for my tastes - not my style - but I was just playing around with about 15 min of time I got to stamp while the hubby occupied the kids.  Maybe I'll get some SERIOUS stamping time -  I hope so - to sit down with my new In Colors and other items that I ordered.  Several of my new items are featured on this card.  Now I'll tell you what they are.

The CS base is Pink Pirouette - one of the new In Colors.  The stamp set is Dreams Du Jour along with the sentiment (stamped in Riding Hood Red) being from a Level III hostess set that will be in the new Idea Book & Catalog.  The hostess set is called Happiness Always.  I also stamped my image from Dreams Du Jour in Riding Hood Red and used my blender pen to fill in the leaves with Kiwi Kiss (also a new In Color) and the flowers and bud with Pink Pirouette.  I layered my image and my "frame" on top of some DSP called Bella Rose that is going to be in the new IB&C.  I really really really like it!!!!  If you'll look for the little peek of the inside of the card in the photo, you'll notice that I put a strip of Scallop Edge punched DSP in there too to dress it up a tiny bit.  Oh, and see those yummy Riding Hood Red buttons??!?!  They come from what will be called a Button Bouquet in the new IB&C which is an assortment of buttons - some of which have flowers on them hence the name Button Bouquet - and they are just too fun!!!

That's about it with this card.  I'll leave out the recipe since I typed it all above.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear how much you love the new In Colors!!! :)

Now, for my DRS Designs card.  I just love this image - it makes me think of a nice, relaxing vacation.  I paired it with what is probably intended to be used as a Christmas greeting (Warmest Wishes) to make the recipient think of the same tranquil beach that I pictured in my mind.  It's a simple card, but I love the little touches of glitter and the image is just too cute and fun to color.  If you like the image, you can click on Postcard Beach Scene to see it and order it.  Definitely keep your eyes peeled for some other DRS Designs cards I have coming in future posts!!

On this card I colored with markers on watercolor paper (outlined inside the images) and then used my Aqua Painter to blend the image.  I added some Stickles for some sparkle, some wide black organdy ribbon from Go. Be Creative. and that's about it!

Baroque Thanks

So, I've been working on some more projects that will coordinate with the Bali Breeze DSP.  Eventually I will reveal to you just why these projects have to coordinate with the Bali Breeze DSP, but I don't want to ruin the surprise yet.  Tomorrow's sample will be using my NEW pre-order items that I got yesterday - I LOVE the new In Colors for 2008-2009!!!!

For this card, I took these colors from the Bali Breeze DSP collection: Taken with Teal, Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie.  I decided to do one of my new favorite techniques as the focal point.  I love to have a stamped image covered in Crystal Effects and then while it's still wet, sprinkle Dazzling Diamonds glitter on it.  Remember THIS card?  It's on of my favorite cards, and you will soon see a color variation of it - you'd better, because I HAVE to get it done because it's my WOW swap card for a group of friends at the SU! Convention at the end of July!!!!  I only have to make 35 or so of them - FULL cards - that's all....  ;)

I am SO glad that Baroque Motifs isn't retiring.  I have had this set since July of last year and only used it to make table-topper numbers for my sister's wedding reception.  You can see them here.  I am enjoying this set a lot, especially all the different ways you can layer the pieces to make a medallion.  It's a very elegant set, but if you use bright colors it can be a little more relaxed - as you can see with these past few cards I have made.

Anyway, I would love to hear what you think about it.  It was a fun card to make - LOTS of masking around that medallion.  There is a stamped envelope sitting underneath it the card.

I hope you have a great day!

Stamps:  Baroque Motifs
Paper:  Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and Taken with Teal Classic Ink
Accessories:  Fire circle rhinestone brads, paper piercing tool and template (from Ellen Hutson's store), Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Photo Corners punch, silver brads, post-it note for masking, dimensionals

3 x 3's in Baroque

So, these little babies are a part of a set I made.  They're sitting on top of their envelopes that I stamped a little bit on.  I am making them to go with the Bali Breeze DSP, so that's where the color choices came from.  I hope you like them!!!

Stamps:  Baroque Motifs, All Holidays
Paper:  Rose Red, Taken with Teal and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink
Accessories:  Fire circle rhinestone brad, paper piercing tool and template (from Ellen Hutson's store)

Still a few left...

There are still a few Coconut Mango kits left over at Go. Be Creative. and if check out this link, you can see some of the GORGEOUS projects made with the kit. Just click on the thumbnails to view them at their full and gorgeous size. There's a flower-button boquet, a 6 x 6 acrylic album, lots of 12 x 12 LO's, a Stationary Box, and much more!!! Have a great day!

RAK's are so fun!!! :)

So I felt super special when I came home from my holiday trip that went bad.  It's not often that I get RAKs and these two are so pretty.  The first one is from Annette.  She even included some ribbon inside.  What a sweetie!!!

This 2nd card is from Clara who won my boot loot about 2 Boot Loot's ago and this card was made using some of the papers and chipboard that she received.  Isn't it adorable!!!

Thanks ladies!!!

PS - I've been doing a whole lot of stamping that I can't show you yet.  BUT, I will be getting my SU! preview order items on the 10th so as soon as those babies get into my hand you will get to see some  of the items I make with them.  I CAN NOT wait to get the scalloped border punch!!!!!!!

July 2008 Challenge at Go. Be Creative.

This month's challenge over at GBC is a great one!  Each month, those who buy the kit get the chance to participate in a fun challenge and the chance to win $25 for purchasing whatever you want at the GBC store!  This challenge is only open, as I said, to those who are monthly kit club members so if you like what you see from me using GBC items, be sure to buy the kit and even better sign up to get future ones!!  The price decreases per kit the more months you sign up to buy.  Also, you can skip months if you already have the products in it, or for other reasons, you are just obligated to buy the number that you specified - not necessarily in consecutive months.

So, the challenge was to "Sand it, Tear it, and Antique it" because in this kit were some yummy Core'Dinations Card Stock colors that look really great when you do this to them.  So, I made this card with a future challenge of my own that I will be posting at GBC in mind - stay tuned for that - it's a challenge that's open to EVERYONE who has a username (free) at GBC, not just kit club members.

Hope you like the card, and everything but the brad is part of the July Coconut Mango kit.  I even used some of the clear transparency that was in the kit - too fun!!!

Little Diva 12 x 12 LO

Here's one of the LO's I made for my DT work for Go. Be Creative. using this month's Coconut Mango kit.  I did something fun though, that I don't think anyone else thought of.  At the bottom of one the GORGEOUS artsy.licious chocolate chipboard sticker letters in the package (there are 2, one is uppercase letters and the other is lowercase) there is this black and white scalloped border with scrolling designs on it.  Well, I cut them off cause who would want to waste the perfect border sticker?!?!  So, on the edge of each of the pictures is a piece of this scalloped edge.  I had three because as I mentioned in a previous post, I bought THREE sets of these chipboard letters 'cause they are so yummy!  Anyway, I used my new Janome Sew Mini to do some  zig-zag stitching around the pictures and I also used some of the soft, velvety flowers included in the kit.  I have a simple style and so I feel like I went a little overboard with the stitching, but I was having so much fun! :)  What do you think?

I hope you have a great rest of your weekend.  We'll see you back here on Monday!

PS - Yet again - more of my awful handwriting is featured.  Next time (with next month's kit and my DT work) I will be whipping out my stamps.  I guess we're allowed to use little extras like that. I was trying to NOT use anything that wasn't in the kit.  My artwork suffered for it - because of my hand-writing, that is!