Stamping 411: Saturday Sketch Challenge

Good day!  I think blogger is experiencing some technical difficulties today, so I'm gonna keep this short and sweet before it gives me the ol' boot! 

My card today is for Stamping 411's Saturday sketch. 

I broke out my much beloved, yet underused as of late, Crazy for Cupcakes.  Went with a new color scheme that I could fall head over heals for - Tempting Turq, Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red, and a titch of Always Artichoke (sponged on die cut).

I used the Herringbone Embossing Folder to add some texture.  And opted for some Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink to to the frosting instead of my go to Dazzling Diamonds - way less mess!!!

Oh - and how about that ever so sweet brad?  You can find that in the upcoming Sale-A-Bration catty!  If you didn't get one in the mail - contact me and I'll send one your way!

Cupcake Celebration!

Helloooo!! Is anybody there??? I think my comment button is broken? Did anybody read this post where I'm giving away blog candy for a correct answer...
or how about this post where I introduced my Monthly Card Kits....

For those of you that did order card kits, I'm in the process of packing them up, and will get them in the mail at the end of the week! Hope you'll love them, and would love to have you post pics back here to the ol' bloggo!

On with today's program....back to my fave stamp set - Crazy for Cupcakes....I heard on the Nate Berkus show the other day that cupcakes could get pushed out this winter by tarts. Seriously, tarts? I don't know that you could cute up tarts they way you can cupcakes. I'm just gonna pretend that lady didn't ever say that. Speaking of the Nate Berkus show....I don't watch a lot of TV - usually because I can't stand the excess noise anymore (there was a time when I'd have to have the TV on FOR noise, then I had 3 kids....)...I stumbled onto the Nate Berkus show one afternoon, and HOLY COW! This guy has some FAB ideas, seriously FAB! I am really tempted to take some pics of my house and send them to him to get a little bit of major help! I just don't know which room I'd start with. I wonder if he'd come and do a whole house makeover. Cuz I really need it. There was one time when I considered myself a good decorator. Then I had 3 kids. And they brought with them mountains of toys. And laundry. All I can say is, my poor house! Someday it will be glorious again! When the toys go away!

Back on track....Crazy for Cupcakes....it is one of my faves, and I love it colored brightly, I love it colored softly....here, I'm going for BRIGHT! I picked the colors up from a Moxie Fab Color Challenge over on the Moxie Fab Blog . I think I love the way Tangerine and Rose Red just go together so well. Bright, but not overly bright. Just fun.



I really like this card for the fact that I've paired some Jackie O houndstooth with the whimsical cupcake stand. Class and whimsy....ah, such joy!

So, let's celebrate folks. How about by using that little comment button below there. Yah, that one. Just click on it, type in a fun comment. It's not so hard. You'll feel so much better when you do!!!

Adios!

Surprised to see me again?

....and so soon??? I know, I KNOW! It is truly amazing....I have to tell you, it is one of my New Year's resolutions (along with a daily meeting with the treadmill!) - to blog MUCH more frequently. I may not always have a lot to say, but I'll try and get on here daily and give you little project to oogle at. And you may see more ideas other than just stamping. Take yesterday's post for instance. Not one ounce of stamping - but paper, yes, paper. I've been doing a few more crafty things here lately, so I hope that you won't mind seeing those little creations too. That's the thing about me - I like to just. craft. It doesn't really have to be any medium in particular - it just has to be crafty....it's that creative gene that is wired inside me. It doesn't ever turn off.

However, I do have a card to show you today.

The Crazy for Cupcakes set is one of my absolute faves - and really this is the stamp that I use the most out of the set. I do almost always use a little glitter for the frosting - it just seems perfect to me. You know, like the icing on the cake!

Don't you think this card is just too sweet? I used some of the Blushing Bride for the base - believe it or not - I haven't used this color at all yet, until now. The green is Pear Pizzazz - and that snazzy houndstooth pattern - from Love Letters DSP. I kind of swoon for anything houndstooth. It's such a classic pattern, like Audrey Hepburn meets paper crafting!

And you know - I gotta have buttons.

Well, that's it for today folks. I need to tackle this basket of laundry that's calling my name. Aubrie helped me out a bit today - she's on her FOURTH outfit today. Yeah - really - her fourth one! That just sums up the kind of day I've had!

My Wish....

Howdy folks....it's been a long time. And frankly, it's been a long week! I had 2 Stamp Clubs - which really were the highlight of the week. Some of those girls really can crack me up - you know who you are!!! Then, I taught Religious Ed, which is a new experience for me. Along with another parishioner, we had 5 - 3 and 4 graders. And honestly, it took both of us just to keep them involved and somewhat calm. I went in there thinking that 3 and 4 graders would be easy to handle.....yeah. right. Then, today, I did a vendor fair in a little bitty town nearby. I came home to mounds of hail piled up here and there. And 5 hours later, we still have hail on the ground. Don't worry peeps, I'll be posting some pics for you to see. It was crazy! And it's a cold one here in Iowa. Forty six degrees. Hello Mother Nature! It is, um, September!!! That is too cold. I even got out my favorite attire for the day - black turtleneck sweater! Oh, how I missed you!!!!
What's that? Oh, you wanna hear about today's card? Oh, well, why didn't you say so? It's kind of a card that was born on oops'. I sewed the little ruffly on there, but I didn't cut enough fabric to make it all the way across, and I didn't want to butt two together....so I went with it. Doesn't that fabric go great with a birthday theme??? It might be "Christmas" fabric, but it's not by any means! And check out the pic below.....that frosting - yah - on the cupcakes.....that is colored using the new Smooch in the big catty. It's sparkly, and the nail polish brush is stiff, making it really easy to control where the smooch goes....a little smooch here, a little there....isn't it super shiny? Even thru your computer screen, I think you should be able to see it's shining glory! Better getcha some.

Okey doke - that's all for now....Aubrie is waking up from her slumber, so I must go attend to her highness....!!!!

Hey there cupcake...

Really super quick post today - anyone notice what my new fave color is to work with?? Taken with Teal. Have no fear - Kraft is still one of my all time faves, but I'm needing some brightness in my life!
I CASED this card from the Stampin' Success mag that demonstrators get, except, I did change it up quite a bit. Their sample wasn't a card, and the pattern was on top, and no scallop trim punching....so I mixed it up, and I like to do that when I CASE something. I want it to be my own still.

I did watercolor the wrapper of the cupcake - stamped on watercolor paper and used Stazon. And I actually broke out my aqua painters for this cutie. I'm not real skilled with the aqua painters, and need a lot of practice.

Aren't those little beads adorable?

Inside says: Hope your day is the sweetest ever! Happy Birthday!

Alright - must go!

A birthday card???

Yes, a birthday card right smack in the middle of the Christmas season....don't fret my blog peeps - I'll have more Christmas stuff coming up for you. What I'd really like to show you is the awesome NEW SU! things that I've been playing with. But, unfortunately, they are items that I've submitted to Paper Crafts to *crossing fingers* try and get published. So, now I need to come up with some other items to show you some of the new and awesome things SU! has coming out in January. I will tell you that the clear mount system ROCKS!!! I can't tell you how much easier it is to stamp. I'm going to feel bad for my wood mount stamps, because I have a feeling they are going to get neglected...poor things!

Alrighty - you came here to see a creation right? Here you go:


I had fun developing this card - I took the background piece (Certainly Celery), ran it thru the Big Shot using the Polka Dot Texturz pad. Then, I used a small paintbrush and brushed some Frost White Shimmer Paint onto the raised polka dots. The cupcakes were stamped with Stazon (my favorite black ink), then colored with watercolor crayons. Again, I used the paintbrush and shimmer paint to do the frosting - which just turned out so cool - I loved it! FYI - the shimmer paints are only available until January 4th - you NEED this stuff, you really do. So, to order some - go to my SU! website and click on the shop now link at the top right corner. The cupcake image was cut out using the circle cutter, and the Melon Mambo scalloped circle was cut with the Big Shot and the large scalloped circle die.


I stamped the Wish Big stamp ( not SU) and layered it onto Chocolate Chip, then put a ribbon on it to make it appear to be a tag. I think that's it....it was really pretty quick to throw together. The Crazy for Cupcakes set is one of my favorite for birthdays - I just wish it was clear mount now, but I'll deal!

Okay - that's it for today....the baby is kicking, and I've got restless legs, so must move them.....

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen

Sweet Sunday Sketch 17!

Okay - this is going to be a very quick post, so I'll apologize up front! My contacts are on the fringe of driving me over the edge. That surely means it's past my bedtime, and they need a break! Well - I HAD to get Karen's Sweet Sunday sketch done, and I needed to come up with a card for a workshop, so I killed two birds with one stone. HEre is her sketch:

And this is my card:

The hostess wanted to learn how to use the wheels, so I thought this was a really cute way to put them to use! And I just love the cupcakes! She also wanted a lesson on watercolor crayons...so, put those to use too....I was just conquering all kinds of things with this card.

Thanks for checking it out!

Jen

Recipe:

Stamps: Crazy for cupcakes, cupcake wheel

Ink: Black, Stazon Jet Black

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Baha Breeze DSP; So Saffron, Whisper White

Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon

Birthday invites

I don't think that I have put this on my blog yet...at least I hope not! These were the invites that I had made for Alex's 1st birthday - back in November. So, if I put this on here back then, I apologize, and I didn't check beforehand....I still love this invite! I do recall that they were more time consuming that I had originally thought. I cut the cupcakes out by hand, watercolored them with the aqua painter and ink pads, used markers to color the confetti, then used some crystal effects to add some shine. The circle was cut using the coluzzle, as was the Old Olive ring. This was before Stampin' Up! decided to carry the Circle Cutter. I popped up the cupcake, the ring, and the sentiment. And how about that - just a glimpse of some ribbon! Can't do without it!

Parisian Cupcakes!

I just love the Stampin' Up! set - Crazy for Cupcakes! It's so stinkin' cute - and I use it for just about every birthday card I come up with. I can make it really girly, a little manly, and even childish. Here is a card I recently did for my Grandma Sally and my Aunt Marilyn. I love the way this turned out. Yeah - I am patting myself on the back right now! This is probably one of my favorite cards that I've made in a while....

Isn't it just adorable? I used some two way glue to adhere the glitter to the "frosting" - my glitter was Dazzling Diamonds - a must have for all of you glitter fanatics! I also dabbed a little Crystal Effects on the cherries for some gloss and dimension.

What is your favorite birthday stamp set?

Thanks for looking!

Jen

Recipe:

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Paper: Kraft, Baha Breeze, Parisian Breeze, watercolor

Ink: Stazon Jet Black

Accessories: SU! Markers, blender pen, two way glue, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Valet Ribbon Originals, Crystal Effects

Taylored Expessions Cupcake Challenge

I'm on a sketch challenge roll here! It sure helps the ceative juices flow a little more fluidly. Gives me something to go off of and just play. I've admired Taylor's blog for quite some time. She IS a fellow Iowan after all! I decided to give her challenge a whirl. Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

You'll notice I turned it kitty-whompass. I knew when I saw the sketch, that I wanted to use balloons to take the place of the flower. You know, I don't always do well with flowery type things! I like the colors, the brightness, the fun that this card evokes. What do you think?

Recipe:

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Ink: Stazon Jet Black

Paper: Pacific Point, Taste of Textiles (printed vellum), watercolor paper

Accessories: Stampin' Up! Markers, blender pen, Pig tails Ribbon

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #10 via Karen Giron!

I've wanted to do Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for a while now...and I finally had some time to do this one. Funny - this sketch is very similar to the cards that I have been doing at my workshops this month. I love it!

I did go out of my league tho and used Lovely Lilac paper. I NEVER use purple on anything...guess what! I really like this card - and I like the purple. Gives a good contrast with the other colors I used. I actually picked the Lilac paper and then was stuck. So I pulled out the Color Coach (aka life saver) and found that Summer Sun was a contrasting color - since it was so bright, I used it sparingly. I had pulled the other colors that coordinated according to the coach, but they just weren't going where I wanted to go. I had a scrap of Old Olive DSP sitting on top of my desk, and thought, wow - look at that. Looks pretty good. Oh, the evolution of a card can surprise me.

I used my water color paper to stamp the cupcake tower on. It makes for much easier coloring with markers, and you can actually blend your markers with a blender pen then too!

Recipe:

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Paper: Lovely Lilac, Summer Sun, Old Olive DSP

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Versamark

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Markers, Blender Pen, Fresh Favorites II Buttons

More Stamp Club Items

This month my Stamp Club group focused on the Wax Resist Technique. We had a ton of fun, and these are some of the creations we made:


This card uses the Crazy for Cupcakes Stamp Set (which I LOVE!!) and the brand new Texturz Plates from Stampin' Up! Aren't they just the coolest thing ever. Run you cardstock thru the Big Shot and presto! all embossed for you. And I really love the fact that you get 6 different textures for a very reasonable price. The other thing, these texture plates are quite a bit larger than your embossing folders from Cuttlebug. You can cover more area that way!

Here is the front of a gift bag that we made - isn't it just adorable??? I love the colors, the modern feel of the designer paper (Urban Oasis) and the added texture in this ( with the tearing and curling of the edge of the gray paper). It feels so fashion forward to me???? Photo #2 is a better one to drool over! :)

You know, you too could make projects just like this every month. Ask me how you can become a Stamp Club member. Some of the gals at one of my club meetings commented this month that she really needed the stamp time for herself. Another gal commented that Oprah is saying that you need to put yourself back in the picture - make time for you. And that is exactly what Stamp Club is all about. The gals get together every month - and it's their time. We have a lot of fun, and the great thing is that most of these gals didn't all know each other before we got started - it's a wonderful way to make new friends.... So put yourself back on your calendar - call me, we'll get you in the Club!!!

Here's a challenge for those that are in my Stamp Club - post a comment in this thread and tell us why YOU enjoy Stamp Club so much! There just might be something in it for you if you do!!!! :)

Stamp Club Sneak Peak....

Here's a card that my Stamp Club members will be making this month. We are focusing on the Wax Resist Technique - I think I got the hang of it, and came up with this card...whatcha think???

I was in a fog for a while while trying to come up with a layout, colors, etc....but you know - as soon as you pull out that Designer Paper - the light turns on, and things just seem to work! I love this new Parisan Breeze Specialty DSP!!! It's Special alright - textured, cover weight - it is GREAT to work with...I see more Specialty DSP in my future!

Recipe:

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Ink: Baha Breeze, Black Stazon

Paper: Baha Breeze, Choc. Chip, Parisian Breeze DSP

Accessories: Pixie Pink Ribbon

Hey Cupcake....

I'm going to focus on Birthday cards in the month of February (I know it's not February yet, but I'm just ready for this January cold to GO AWAY!!!) - February is when our son Will has a birthday (3 years already!) and it is the month of Presidents' Day, celebrating their birthdays...so I just thought it was fitting. Be sure to check back, as I will be offering a Birthday Card Blowout at the end of this month. Take the class and you won't be left without a birthday card when you are in dire need!

Here is a card I created using up some retired Stampin' Up! Designer paper. I LOVE this Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set. You can view the entire set here. There is a great coordinating wheel that goes along with the set too!





Recipe:
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Paper: Pixie Pink, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and Paisley DSP (retired)
Ink: Stazon Black, Close to Cocoa, Pixie Pink
Accessories: Aqua painter, Tempting Turquoise Marker, Rose Red Marker, Scallop Edge Punch, Photo Corners Punch, Tempting Turquiose 1/4 grosgrain ribbon.

Let me know what you think!