I'm stamping again!

Not sure how long I'll be able to keep at it, but I'm loving that I'm finally taking some time to stamp for me, just for fun again!! I saw this fabulous video on Facebook this week by an SU! demo in Germany (Sina Mueller) and she linked to THIS YouTube video by Stampin' Sacha for even more instructions on how to make the cool new Pop-Up Fold card. I just had to try it!

Sitting in my stamp room (AKA the guest room!) I realized I wanted to use the Santa's Sleigh stamps and thinlet dies on the inside, and thought the detailed Santa thinly along with the Greetings from Santa stamp set would tie it all together nicely.

My family all indulged me as I worked over the weekend to make this card come together, first making samples of the mechanism (after watching the videos a few times and adjusting to US measurements) and then finally making this. Of course, after I got it together I realized the reindeer and sleigh should be against a Night of Navy background, so I pulled out my ink pads and watercolor brush to make it so. I think I like the watercolor background better than I would have a navy blue CS background anyway. :-)

Hope you all enjoy this card (and I'll try to get the good camera out this week, I just realized how bad these photos really are!) I'll try to start posting more of the ones I've been working on the last few weeks as time permits. Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful friend

Yesterday was my friend Michelle's birthday! I made her a pretty simple card, but the big bow and button made it special. I dry embossed the lower part of the crumb cake card with the fun Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, then tied the wide striped grosgrain ribbon around and made my nice poufy bow. I tied the button (from the Deck the Halls big designer buttons collection) onto the bow with some linen thread and tied that in a bow. I then stamped "congratulations" from an old SAB set with cherry cobbler ink (that's my new favorite red - it's just gorgeous!)

I finished off the inside as well with the second part of the sentiment, and a small strip of Deck the Halls dsp. I was quite happy with the result, and I think Michelle was too!

Halloween Greeting Card Kid

I just loved this set...and HAD to have it once I saw it in the new SU! catty!! Thankfully, my dealer...err...good friend and stamper in crime Michelle was able to help assuage that need.

I ran the black through with the spider web embossing folder, then used some moonlight smooch to make it sparkle. I layered that on a pumpkin pie card base, then added the scalloped bit across the top which was cut with the Tasteful Trim die. Then I added the narrow grosgrain ribbon.

I colored the main image with my aquapainter and watercolor wonder crayons. I had stamped her with stazon onto watercolor paper...so it was great for watercoloring! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

SU! Halloween card

My friend (and SU! demo) Michelle has a cool contest on her facebook page right now to upload your SU! creations for a chance to win a prize. I recently punched a bunch of bats for another friend, and had to use some myself...so this is what I came up with!

The old olive frame has been in my scraps folder for almost a year...I have many! They are from when I made pencil topers for Julia's classmates for Halloween LAST year. The dp is from this year's new Halloween paper, and the stamp is from the fun new Halloween set I just got.

Thanks Michelle for getting me using my SU! stuff too!!!

A very late Anniversary Card...

My DH and I spent our anniversary apart this year (it was while I was back in Maine) but we did celebrate a month later, when our dear Nanny Julia came and stayed with the kids overnight and we had a mini getaway! Of course, I had to make him a card, and so I went to SCS and searched on Anniversary cards, and found this amazing card by angelsparkly to case! Isn't it gorgeous?? I went through all my sunset photos and found a few to print out, and this was my favorite (I love the colors, and the seagrass off to the left!)

It was super simple, just stamp the outline image on the photo then color it in with a black sharpie to create the silhouette. It's an old SU! stamp, Summer by the Sea, along with a newer SU! set for the sentiment. He loved it (one of the few cards where he was like "how'd you do that?" love when that happens!!)

Hope you all have enjoyed your holiday weekend here in the US!

SU! Friday Watercoloring with Markers

I'm back with an SU! Friday project at long last. I made this card 2 weeks ago at the hostess club my friend, demonstrator (and former downline!) Michelle does with a group of us. I chose the technique this time since I was the hostess, and I really loved this card by Ilina Crouse - and thought watercoloring with markers would be something new for many of the ladies to learn. I love this technique, and was happy to be using it again!

Since Michelle and I both had the same set Ilina used, we went with that (Flower for all Seasons). Isn't it just adorable?? For the large white panel, we embossed with the new textile embossing folder - LOVE it!!

I just got my first order of stuff from the Summer Mini yesterday, so hopefullly I'll find some time to play soon and will have some more SU! Friday posts for you soon (or perhaps it will move to SU! Saturday since I'd love to start doing the Bellarific Friday challenges more!!)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

The need for speed....

I love things fast paced. I walk fast, I work fast, and I like to stamp fast. So for the final Winter Card Olympics challenge over on the I Dream of Stamping blog, we're doing a timed challenge. Create a card in 10 minutes (or 15 if you're handicapped with a sleeping baby on one shoulder or similar situation!) It's really fun to see what you can get done in such a short period of time. I was surprised!For my card I used the new Good Neighbor DSP from the Stampin' Up! SAB catalog along with the Trendy Trees stamp set and some gorgeous satin ribbon. I wanted the trees to represent 3 of the 4 seasons, so the cameo coral is like spring blossoms, then the summer green, and lastly the autumn leaves. For the leaves, I inked them first with More Mustard, then tapped around with my Ruby Red marker for some variation. I also used some punches to make it fast, and the wonderful Sketch for You to Try from this week - still gotta go back and do last week's...hmm!We'd love for you to play along with all our winter olympics challenges, so go check them out! You could win some fun prizes...and everyone who enters a card for ALL 5 challenges is qualified to win the grand prize!! OOOOoooooh!!

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!

Warm up with some heat embossing!

Our 2nd challenge over at the I Dream Of Stamping Winter Card Olympics is Heat Embossing! Be sure to go check that out and enter to win a fun stamp set!!For my card, I used my SU! I {heart} Hearts set, stamped on white cardstock with versamark ink and then embossed with some Judikins psychadelic ep. Then, I brayered some Melon Mambo ink all over the hearts. I layered this on some black before adding it to my Melon Mambo card. I added the additional bit of black cardtock and the flower according to Kazan's sketch #46 from the 2 Sketches 4 You blog.I hope you're enjoying these fun challenges, and we'll be back with another challenge for you all on Friday!

SU! Friday - CPS153

Happy Friday everyone. I don't know about you, but we have a 3 day weekend (which is the beginning of February break here!) and I know I'M looking forward to having some downtime while DH takes care of the kids for a few hours. Hopefully I can spend that time in my stamp room and finally finish getting it organized again!!I was so excited to finally get to play with another CPS sketch this week. After looking at it and thinking a great deal, I decided to pull out some of my new SU! stuff that I got last month. I just love this new Sweet Pea designer paper pad - there are so many amazing designs to choose from, and the colors are fabulous! I paired it up with the fun new I {heart} hearts set, and was good to go!I started with a kraft card base of 4.25 by 8.5 folded in half, with a layer of chocolate chip (4" square) and then bermuda bay (3.5" square) and finally the sweet pea designer paper layered on that. I sponged everything with chocolate chip ink, and wrapped the ribbon around the bermuda bay/sweet pea layer before adding the punched heart with some dimensionals. That whole piece was then added to the chocolate chip layer with another set of dimensionals. of course, I had to have a button too.....so I added this one with some white DMC floss.

I loved this card so much, I went back and made a few more to give to my friends for their valentine this year. I hope you enjoyed it as well! Have a very happy Valentine's day everyone! Oh...and be sure to keep coming back over the weekend...there's something BIG coming!

SU! Friday

So, I'm supposed to be in Southern California right now, but my flight got cancelled this afternoon because all the airports (except LAX) got closed down. So, I'm now flying out early Friday morning. Wish me luck!!Here's a card I made recently using my new SU! stuff. I love the new bird punch, and this paper (from the SAB catalog) I did lots of sponging on here and am starting to like Bermuda Bay more then ever before...hhmmm.Sorry so quick, but I'll try to post some CHA stuff from L.A. once I get there!!

Happy 2010!!!

wow, that was weird to type. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration ringing in the new year! We spent our New Year on an airplane flying home from our trip to Florida. It's nice to be home again!
This card is one we'll be making at my first hosting of an SU! workshop in over 6 years! This time, I'm having a workshop at home that I'm NOT the demonstrator for!! I'm quite excited about it. My friend (and former downline) Michelle and I created this card together for the make and take for my party before I left home, and I just love it!! So...if you live in the area and want to come, drop me a line!! ;-)This card uses some new designer paper and satin ribbon from the Occasions mini catalog, and the new punch from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. Oh...I just can't wait!!

Enjoy your

Merry Christmas Rudolph!

Merry Christmas! We're here in Florida enjoying a warm Christmas with my parents this year, but I wanted to share one last Christmas project with you all today. Here is a photo of the 24 little Reindeer I made using SU! sizzex dies and punches. Cute aren't they? I got the instructions for them from from Stamping Inspirations here. Look around her blog, she has some of the most inventive punch and die cut art I've seen, and she shares instructions!!!I made one of these for each of Julia's classmates (and her teachers) as well as 2 siblings of her classmates. I was actually surprised I got them all done!!

I've also officially resigned from Stampin' Up! so I won't be doing any more SU! Friday posts, but you'll certainly still see plenty of SU! stuff on my blog since I will always love their products, and now my former downline will be my supplier, er...demonstrator! :-D

Have a wonderful Christmas wherever you are, and I'll be back soon with more pretties to share!

SU! Friday - More Christmas Cards!

A few weeks back Michelle and I finally got to play with the double embossing technique everyone has been so excited about. This is where you use a template to leave an open space inside your embossed paper...and it looks REALLY cool!! The first place I saw this was on Patty Bennet's blog (she's amazing, isn't she?) And since then it's been everywhere!My white layer is shimmery white cardstock run through the big shot with the petals aplenty embossing folder. I then stamped the holy wreath in the center (leaves inked with old olive, berries with real red) then stamped Merry Christmas inside that. This is layered on Old Olive and a Real Red card with some old olive taffeta ribbon.

So, how are YOUR Christmas cards coming along??

SU Friday post

Hi everyone, hope you're having a wonderful Friday today. I'm back with an SU! card to share today, one that I made while playing at my friend Michelle's. I have to admit I've never really liked trying to use stencils (too much work) but this was quick, easy, and beautiful!I used Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive ink and a sponge to stencil the ornament and swirls...then I spnged a little champagne mist on for some shimmer. I inked up the sentiment stamp with True Thyme, adding a little red for the berries. I also sponged some Thyme around the edges and adhered the ribbon before mounting the 4 1/8" by 5 3/8" card onto a quarter sheet of true thyme.

SU! Friday

Happy Friday everyone! I'm finally back with an SU! Friday post (can you believe it Rachel?!) I have to admit, I was VERY upset about the recent changes Stampin' Up! has made to their policies regarding what demonstrators can and can not post on their blogs. Now that they have softened their stance a little bit, it is easier to understand and accept...although I am still not sure I will sign the new IDA and remain a demonstrator. I am sending a letter to demo support though, so we'll see! But, I'm not about to give up my Pretties!!!!
I made this card over at Michelle's house way back in July after we got our new catty stuff. I really love the simpleness of this card, and it would be SOO easy to crank out 100 of these. Of course, I like to send cards with the kids photos...so I won't be doing that - but someone out there might like to! I used the jumbo oval punch to punch out the image from Holiday Best level 1 hostess set, and then I layered it on the jumbo circle. The DSP is from the Merry Moments set, and I just love those boughs!! Overall, a nice, simple card. Enjoy!!

Oh...and be sure to go check out Michelle's new blog. We were playing with the new My Design Studio (she got hers, mine is coming TODAY!!!!) and I LOVE it! Be sure to leave her some love while you're there and tell her I sent ya! Next Friday I'll share the fun Build a Bear stuff we made today.

SU! Friday

Here's a card I made a few months ago back when this set was new. I had to get this fun Trendy Trees set when I first saw it...and I haven't had much time to play with it. I really loved using the Pink Pirouette (now retired) with chocolate chip and old olive. The eyelet lace punch worked great, and this fun ribbon trim was the perfect finishing touch! I'll probably miss next Friday's SU! post since I'm traveling home on Thursday, and I don't have any more cards ready...but I'll be back the following week with more SU! creations to share. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

SU! Friday

Another friday, another Stampin' Up! project. this time I used the Level 3 hostess bundle Lovely Flowers. this card is about as simple as they come...it's just Rich Razzleberry with a layer of Pale Plum and some dsp from the bundle along with the ribbon, and the sentiment (also from the bundle) stamped in Razzleberry ink. I made another version of this card using the rub-ons so the sentiment was white which also looked great.
I'll be back tomorrow with another Prettie Peek, and don't forget the SIYJ party tomorrow night!!!

SU! Friday

Another SU! Friday is upon us. This week I'm showcasing another of my pre-ordered sets, Lots of Bots. I really liked this cute little set, figuring it would work well for my more masculine needs. I used lots of in colors on this card, but tried to keep it simple with the basic watercoloring and some tone on tone stamping. The punched piece around the sentiment adds something whimsical to the whole thing!!I hope you've liked this week's card, and that you'll keep coming back to see what else I've been up to!

Thanks, and have a great day!!

SU! Friday

Another quick SU! card to share today...we're in the new house, but since I'm actually typing this early, I can't tell you if I've been in the pool yet!! :-)Today's card was created using the fun new level 3 hostess set The More the Merrier. It has these fun cupcakes, some pumpkins, snowmen and cute birds, along with some great greetings! I'm so happy my friend Michelle has it and lets me borrow her stamps!! :-)

I stamped the cupcakes with basic black on whisper white then colored them with the new in-color markers. I added some crystal effects to some of the cupcakes, and some beads as sprinkles. That is layered on crushed curry cardstock. The card base is the luscious new Melon Mambo, with some Razzleberry Lemonade dsp on top (scalloped the bottom with the scallop edge punch!) The greeting? The word window punch layered onto the new Modern Label punch. Cool, huh?? Of course to finish it off, I had to add some ribbon. Just LOVE this new polka dotted grosgrain in the in colors. YUMMM!I hope you have a wonderful weekend...hopefully we'll be all unpacked, and I can get out to see the new Harry Potter film! Gotta love to hate Snape! (I just finished re-reading book 6 in preparation for seeing the movie...so I"m full of Snape hate right now.)

SU! Friday

Wow...2 weeks in a row, maybe I can really pull this off!

Today's card was made with the level 2 hostess set Wings of Friendship and the poppin' pastels technique. I stamped the bird image on some whisper white cardstock with versamark, then gently tapped some pastel color onto the image using the little sponge applicators. Then...I gently brushed the excess off with a soft bristled paintbrush.I stamped the swirls on the Ballet Blue card base, layered the main image onto some Regal Rose, and then tied my certainly celery wide ribbon around the card before attaching the main image with dimensionals. It was a very quick and easy card...perfect for that special friend!Have a wonderful weekend everyone...I'll be busy here packing!!