Seriously....Seriously!

Howdy folks - I have a fun little card to share with you today.  This is one of the cards that we made at this month's Stamp Clubs - and it's about the shine!  I tried something a little different for the top portion of the card - and think I may have overdone it slightly....I used my Versamark pad around the edges of the cardstock - much like if you were distressing the edges with an ink pad.  Then I sprinkled on the Silver Embossing Powder and heated away.  I just think I should have used a bit less ink/powder.  It's a little much.   I did use the Silver EP to stamp the 'seriously' stamp too.  The arrows and hearts come from the Show & Tell Photopolymer stamps.
Oh - and I'm sure you are wondering where the 'seriously' comes from.  It was in last month's My Paper Pumpkin kit.  I am loving these kits - and I'm always so pleased when my kit shows up in the mail.  You can join the Paper Pumpkin craze by subscribing HERE.  Want to simply try the program?  You can do that too!  Simply click here for more information!  What do I love about Paper Pumpkin?  Well - for starters - everything is cut for you and ready to go, instructions included.  Secondly, all you need is some adhesive to glue things together. (and guess what?  I'll send you a complimentary tape runner just for signing up!)  Also - the kits are small enough - they don't take up any room.  Likely you will make your project up (it takes about a half hour to complete the projects) and display it, or send the cards off, or gift your project.  Each kit is different - they won't always be cards!  What's stopping you from having a little creative bliss delivered to your door each month?

Are you now wondering where those shiny chevrons are from.  Guess what - it's one household item that about everyone has....Aluminum foil!  Simply glue it to a scrap piece of cardstock, and run thru your Big Shot Embossing folder!  

Be sure to stop back tomorrow and I'll show you how you can color the foil!!!  

More Blue Ribbon Graduation! And a challenge for you!

Howdy folks!  I've got another graduation card to share with you today!  This one is clean and simple, and bold and graphic.  Sure to please a teen graduate - right??

This one has a card base of Smokey Slate - have I mentioned that I really like this shade of gray?  (no pun intended there peeps!)

To make this card, I simply used our largest square punch, 1 3/8" and marked the center - which is 3/4" - I think...Heck....I'm no mathematician!  I was just saying the other day that I don't know why Algebra is a required course.  After all....when was the last time I used Algebra - 1992???  

Anyway....mark the center of your square so that you can punch the center out with a circle.  I use the mark as a guide to make sure that I'm not going to end up with my punched circle off to one side or the other.  It's not going to be perfect, but it'll be darn close.  

THEN - I laid out my four circle-squares and decided how much space I needed between them, which determined how big my white square would be.  In other words - I kind of worked backwards.

The numbers were a die I used from my stash, but I did use our Adhesive Sheets on the back of the cardstock before I die cut them - and that was a LIFESAVER!  No Two Way Glue, No Tombow - just peel and stick!  SWEET!   

And once again - I splattered the card all up - for that teen appeal!  Well. And because I like it!

I hope you'll use this as inspiration for some graduation cards yourself - but what else could it be?  An Anniversary card?  Soften the colors, and it could be a Baby card with the year the baby was born.  Shall we try a little challenge?

Use this card as inspiration for your own - and link up your creation back here.  You can use the color combo, the sketch, whatever inspires YOU!  You don't need to stick with just Stampin' Up! products. Post your creation on your blog, an online gallery, Flickr - just be sure to link it back here!  I'll leave this challenge open for one week, and next Tuesday I'll pick a winner that will receive a prize package of lots and lots of goodies - embellishments, cardstock, designer paper...  So - go have some fun, would ya!

Congrats Grads! --- Blue Ribbon

It was a weekend filled with Graduation Parties!  Which also meant that I needed to create some cards.  One of my girlfriends also needed several cards - so I went to town.

This one was super easy to duplicate, and I liked it because I could change the colors to coordinate with the school colors of the graduate!  I even got to try out our new Smoky Slate cardstock - and I really like the color.  It's not too dark, it's not too light, and it gives a bit of a silver tone to your crafts.  The cards we needed were all for boys, so to grunge the card up a bit, I used the Color Spritzer Tool to spritz on some red color.  Then I used a mix of Platinum Shimmer paint and rubbing alcohol mixed in one of our spray bottles, but instead of spraying, I unscrewed the tube and flicked the hose portion, creating some splatters instead.  You can really see them here:

Like I said before, this card was easy to switch out the colors to coordinate with the school colors:

I also used a different embossing folder - I think I like the chevron one better, but this lent a masculine touch also.

Hope you like!  Let me know by leaving me a comment!

Happy Mother's Day! A Noteable Gingham Garden Gift

Hi there everyone!  I hope you are having a wonderful Mother's Day today!

I've got a fun little gift to share with you.  We created these notepads at my most recent Crafts and Cocktails event.  I made a couple - one for my mom, one for my mother in law, one to give away (keep reading!) and one for ME!   They are so cute and pretty easy to whip up - especially the way all of the papers in the Gingham Garden DSP Pack coordinate with each other.  And I've got a little bit of a crush on these papers!

 I layered up several patterns of paper and topped them off with some washi tape, a doily, and some die cut letters.

I added some washi tape to the top corner, and topped it off with our new Vintage buttons!  These are really  cute, and I love that they have a flat back, making it easy to glue onto projects.

I created a pocket on the front of the notepad, with a pull-out tag.  I can write a message on the tag if I want to!  And of course, I embellished it a bit.  The washi tape is so easy to work with, if you don't like where you've put it, it lift back up easily so you can move it around til you're content.

I also duded up a pad of sticky notes.  Aren't these just stinkin' adorable???  It just seems so flirty and fun.

Now - I wanted to gift this - so needed some cute packaging!  No prob....I whipped up a matching gift bag:

And to hold the bag closed - I created a magnetic clip!  Multi purpose there!

Let's hear it - would you love this little gift?  How about a give away!  Leave me a comment, and one lucky person will get this package mailed to them!  You have until Thursday, May 16th to comment, and this will ship out on Friday!

I love Sneak Peeks!

I'm just gonna throw this out there right away - Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper ROCKS!  Be prepared to see a lot of upcoming projects from me that use this paper.  There are so many great designs in this pack!

At first I was a little leary of using this bold blue design - but loved it when I paired it with the Strawberry Slush Cardstock!  Throw in some Gingham print, and I think I really like the blue print....

Only wishing I'd done some stitching along the bottom of the gingham where it meets the Daffodil Delight Scallop.....maybe I could add a few random buttons......I mean, c'mon - I've finally used some DSP, but no buttons and no ribbon.....Something must be seriously wrong with me!  Do ya s'pose I could use all three on a project for tomorrow?

Celebrate Today - Perfectly Penned

I've got a little sneak peek for you today!  Just a teeny one tho!

This past Sunday we had the opportunity to help a great couple celebrate their 45th Wedding Anniversary!  Forty Five!  That's quite an accomplishment.

I made them this card, and used the new Strawberry Slush cardstock and ink to help me out.  Plus some adorable new vintage buttons!!!!

To create this look - I started with the Hello, Doily stamp, and inked it up with Versamark, then heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder.  I let it cool completely.  Then I grabbed my Crumb Cake ink pad and a sponge dauber.  Using a very light hand, and a very little amount of ink, I started in the center of the doily and began to swirl the ink outward.  If I need to add ink to the sponge dauber, I do it ever so lightly and again, start in the center and work outward, swirling the dauber the entire time.  Once, I have the entire doily sponged, I may need to wipe some ink off the embossed area - I just use a kleenex.  Next, I inked up the En Francois stamp with Strawberry Slush, stamped it off once on a piece of scratch paper, then stamped it over the top of the doily image.  Again, you'll need to wipe the ink off the embossed area - and I'd say rather quickly, as I've noticed that the White Embossing powder can absorb some ink if you let it set too long.

 I used White Embossing powder again to emboss the sentiment.  This strip of cardstock was edged with two pieces of Crumb Cake Cardstock that were punched with the Dotted Scallop Border Punch.  Once I adhered that, I glued on those super adorable buttons.

This is really a pretty easy card to create - and so elegant at the same time.  It was almost a flat card - but those buttons were a must!  I mean really, how long did you think I could go without buttons, DSP or ribbon? One outta three ain't bad - right??

Out with the Old and in with the NEW!

Let's do that phrase in reverse today tho, ok.....In with the new and out with the OLD!

I always get terribly excited when a new catalog comes out.  Whether it's the annual catalog, or a Seasonal Catalog!  It's all good.  And there is plenty to be excited about with the release of the 2013-2014 Annual Stampin' Up! Catalog.

A  lot of times it takes me a while to "get on board" with the In Color selection - but not this year!  These are colors that I love.  Strawberry Slush!  Doesn't that just scream SPRING??  (and we are still in major need of some spring here in Iowa!)  I really like how it pairs with Coastal Cabana and Crisp Cantaloupe, as I used it in this card.  Throw in some "goes with everything" Old Olive, and we've got a winner folks!

Using the new Mosaic Madness stamps, and the "Gee, thanks" sentiment from Really Good Greetings, and we've got a super easy - ONE LAYER!!!  card!  Aren't those quatrefoils fun???  Using the clear mount stamps, it was really easy to create the pattern.  No Stamp-A-Ma-Jig needed!

Let me say something quick about the sentiment - I love it for two reasons - it's sincere....but it can also be snarky~!!!  And sometimes. Well.  I need to be snarky!   The Really Good Greetings set is full of great ones!


Now it's time to say ta-ta to a great stamp set.  Kindness Matters.  I've had this set for quite a while, and unfortunately it hasn't had a lot of ink time!  I do like this set, but then again, I like the other 70+ sets that are vying for attention on my shelf!!!  YIKES!

I decided to stamp these butterflies twice.  Once on the main panel, and then again on an extra scrap that I could color and cut out.  When out and about in nature, I love it when I see a butterfly, and as it flits it's wings, another color appears.  So, that was the look I was going for here.  I really am pleased with the way that it turned out.

Talk about a clean and simple card!  And it's another one that would mail super easy!  The kicker today - two cards - no buttons, no designer paper, and no ribbon.  Somebody please call 911~!!!~

Inquiring minds want to know - do you like these simple cards without all of the embellishments, or do you like a little more?  Leave me a message in the comments!

Tie a Yellow Ribbon....Blooming with Kindness

We recently made a card very similar to this one at a recent workshop I did.  I'll show that next week.  After so many gloomy days around here, I knew the gals would love this one that just screamed sunny days!  Plus it was simple enough for all of the newbie stampers that were there.

Are you ready for a new catalog to drool over?  OMGoodness - I've seen it, and I've drooled!  There are so many fun new products, I just am too anxious for it to go live on May 31st so I can have some new fun things to play with!!!

Until then, tho - you better be sure to grab up those things that you want before they are gone!

Click here to see a list of retired stamps.

Click here to see a list of retiring accessories (only available while supplies last).

You do have until June 3rd to purchase from the retired list - however, keep in mind that the accessories are only available while they last.  When they are gone....they are GONE!

What's the one thing that you MUST have before it retires?  Leave me a comment - I'd love to hear!

Papillion Potpourri - a one layer card!

So the other day, I created this card.  I had this great idea in my head.  I decided I should execute the idea while it was still fresh.  I got to work, stamped the butterflies and colored them.  Except - then I wasn't so sure I liked it!  Ahhhhh!!!  Dang it!  I stamped the sentiment in hopes of selling myself on it.  That didn't work either.  Hmmm....I thought and thought.  It was really the coloring that didn't look good.  How could I make it look better?  Or softer?  

Ding. Dong.  The bell rang.  Glitter!  Glitter is my solution.  I broke out the Two Way Glue Pen and added some Dazzling Diamonds to the butterflies.  Voila!  That did it!  I'm sold.  I'm very sold!!!  And what I love about this - it's so easy to "mass produce" for a package gift.

It just so happens that this week, the crew over at The Paper Players have a one layer card challenge.  I would guess that this fits the bill!!!



Supply List:

InLinkz.com

Stamp Case storage....a makeover!

So....my hubby recently went to a household auction with his buddy.  He bought several gardening items and a grease gun, and tooly type things for his farmer shop.  At the sale, they just threw all of the small goodies into a used, old drawer.  The drawer laid inside the garage for a few days, and I'd notice it everytime that I loaded up Aubrie into the van.  

Finally, one day I asked Andy what he was going to do with that drawer.....his response - "Oh, just put it out in the burn pile."  (remember we live on a large acreage, and in the back pasture, we have a brush pile where we throw all of our branches, and things like this drawer that will burn)  I asked him if I could salvage it for a shelf....and well, yeah, why wouldn't he let me???  I had already tested it to see if my stamp cases would fit in it, and they certainly did!!!

So, he and his buddy spray painted it for me.  I knew that they grease spot on the back wouldn't probably take the paint, and that was quite alright.  I had plans for that part anyway.  Turns out, after they painted and painted, it wouldn't really take paint anywhere - which I was completely fine with - I'm a antique lover - so things that are dinged up a bit, I'm good with!!!

But, next came the hard part - which paper to line the back with???

After some input from friends, I went with the blue pattern.  Since it was going on a red wall, I thought that it would POP a bit more.  Turns out, you won't see much of it anyway!!!

I used some Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets, and the DSP comes from the Afternoon Daydream Simply Scrappin' kit (love this kit!)  I also used some of the stickers in that kit on the divider shelf.  I thought it jazzed it up a bit!
And I must add, those Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets made this task a BREEZE!

Here it is hung and ready to fill!!!

It didn't take me long to fill it - and it still didn't hold all of my stamp collection!  UGH!  I need another drawer!!!

Here's how it works into my craft room - and this is real life - a mess!  Yet, cleaner than normal.....maybe someday I'll have the ultimate craft room!  Maybe.