Baby Girl Thank You

This was my second card for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge (IC207). In my head the card started out square and WAY simpler, but this was where I landed. I really wanted to put together a sample card for a friend who asked me to make baby girl thank you cards, but I think this one is a little much to mass produce! I'll have to figure out how to make it a bit more simple!

I used my square and square scallop nestabilities for the main image, and ran them through my Big Shot. All of the creamy colored paper is SU! watercolor paper. I watercolored with my reinkers and blending pens in Pretty in Pink on the main image; I used my small star punch, my two-way glue pen, and dazzling diamonds on the star (as I'm sitting here...I'm COVERED in dazzling diamonds...lol). I then used some pink SU! taffeta ribbon and my oval punches to punch out the words. The stamp sets used in this card are Bundle of Joy and Short and Sweet.

Insipiration: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32692496

SCS Challenge: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469120

My SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=71689

Harvest Hi!

I wanted to make a Thanksgiving card for a friend of mine (and her family) who has been fairly ill lately. I love this stamp set, and I hope the cheerfulness of it brings a little extra comfort to her this Thanksgiving.

I participated in two SCS challenges with this card. First, I did today's Inspiration Challenge (IC207). My inspiration came from the photo below, and primarily it was the orange-Autumnal colors that were my inspiration. I also participated in this week's sketch challenge (SC255). It's kind of funny because I also cased one of my own cards in this design of this one (link below).

This card took me AWHILE to make...there was a lot of cutting and a lot of layering. I used the Loads of Love and the Loads of Love Accessories stamp sets my SU!. The main image was stamped in stazon ink and then water colored using reinkers and blender pens (my absolutely favorite technique). I hand-drew the stitching along the border, and sponged around the edge of the main image as well. The mesh in the background was created by using drywall tape that i smooshed into my copper stamp pad. I think the effect is super cute! What do you think?

Inspiration: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32692496

My Cased Card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1174602?&cat=500&ppuser=71689
SCS Inspiration Challenge: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469120

SCS Sketch Challenge: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468689

My SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=71689

Flaky Warm Wishes

This is my second card for Split Coast Stamper's Limited Supplies Challenge (LSC247). Both of my cards today were the smaller size (6 x 3.5), although I didn't plan it that way. For this card I started out with the larger size, and it just wasn't working out. As soon as I brought it down to the smaller scale, things came together!

The card was made with SU!'s current hostess set, The More the Merrier. I used my SU! markers to color in the snowmen details. I also used a Martha Stewart punch for the snowflakes, which I ran my two-way glue pen over, and finally covered with Irridescent Ice (which I think I will be wearing for days now). I'm quite please with the end result!

It's Twighlight Alfred Hitchcock Style

This card actually works for two challenges! I had to participate in Stampin' B's challenge to create a card with red, black, and a moon in it as it's an homage to the new move, New Moon! I am a HUGE fan of the Twighlight series, so I just couldn't resist. Also, my sister would have been so disappointed in my if I sat this one out; she keeps saying that she's going to get me a cut-out of Edward Cullen from Nordstrom! The card also qualifies for this week's Limited Supply Challenge on Split Coast Stampers (LSC247)! We had to create a long and narrow card.

Anyway, I created the card using the SU! Lovely as a Tree stamp set (awesome set). I also had a random bird stamp that I used to create the birds flying across the moon. The moon was made by using a circle punched out of a piece of scrap cardstock. I then held the circle down on the white cardstock and sponged all around it in gray. I think the card ends up looking very "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock. Too bad I didn't have this card at Halloween!

Sweet Dreams and I'm Back!

My first Split Coast Stamper's challenge since March of this year!!!! It really was a crazy Spring, Summer, and Autumn. My husband and I joke with people that this was the year we slept and worked, and we do quite literally mean that! There were weeks where one of us would cook dinner and the other person would work and we'd swap the next night! Finally, however, I'm putting my foot down. Our life has to be more balanced because let's face it...life's too darned short.

It felt soooo good to sit at my craft table today and get back into the stamping swing. I have missed it so much! Anyway, here is my card for the Clean and Simple Vera Bradley challenge. My inspiration came from the Blue Rhapsody pattern found below. I LOVE this Razzle Dazzle stamp set. I basically used my SU! markers to color on the stamp set (Brilliant Blue, Tempting Turquoise, and Garden Green). I then "huffed" on the stamp before stamping. I really like the effect, and I'm quite pleased with my first card in 7 months!

Insipiration:

http://www.verabradley.com/product/Category/Handbags/Vera/154766/defaultColor/Blue%20Rhapsody/pc/638/sc/641/c/0.uts

Flutterby Butterfly

Finally, a chance to stamp a card just for the sake of a challenge! I got to use two of my new items from the Stampin' Up! spring mini (which is fabulous this year!). I was able to use the new stamp set Great Friend and my new oval SCALLOP punch! Wahoo! It's about time they came out with an oval scallop punch, I say!

This card was inspired by the following image for today's SCS's inspiration challenge (IC172...link also below). I really love cards with butterflies and so I thought the butterfly dress was the perfect inspiration! I am also having a birthday stamp-a-stack next weekend, and I think I can modify this card for the stamp-a-stack by simply using only one butterfly and removing the pearls. Wahoo!

The card base is in chocolate chip with a pink pirouette layer. Then, I used the sweet always DSP to create the next layer. Chocolate chip ribbon is wrapped around the two layers, and the butterflies were stamped in chocolate chip and pink pirouette and then cut out by hand. I used non-SU pearls as added embellishment down the bodies of the butterflies. The butterflies were adhered with mini glue dots. The expression was stamped in chocolate chip and then layered on pink pirouette and chocolate chip oval and scallop oval papers. It was adhered with dimensionals.

Hope you enjoy this card!

Inspiration

Sketch Challenge

Baby Girl Bear

Two weeks in a row I've needed baby cards! (I must admit that while I'm excited for me friends...I'm ready to make any other type of card!) This one is for a friend who's due in May. It's her second, so some girlfriends and I are meeting up with her for dinner and a little surprise shower. It should be fun!

This card was for SCS's sketch challenge SC220. I really love the layout, but wish I had thought to alternate the background pieces. Oh well! I cut out the main section using my nestabilities and I used SU! punches for the word images. The SU! cute and cuddly set was used, and I watercolored the main bear image in creamy caramel, close to cocoa, and regal rose.

Thanks for looking!

Baby Elephant Sparkles

Hi All,

As you can see from my posts, I have reached that point in my life when people aren't getting married...they're have babies! I made this card for a good work friend of mine. I am so excited for her! The card is for her surprise work shower that another co-worker and I are putting on. So, the card had to be larger than the normal 5.5 x 4.25 size for all those well wishers to be able to have space to sign! The card is 5 x 7 (I had some envelopes left over from some wedding invites I did...so I thought...perfect). The card layout is from this weeks sketch challenge on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/. I've included a link to the challenge below. I think it also qualifies for today's inspiration challenge (also linked below along with my inspiration)! Woohoo! A two for one special!

All products are Stampin' Up! except for the designer series paper (that I got from Michaels) and the nesties. The card base is done in apricot appeal with a tempting turquoise layer. I used my nesties to cut out the square shapes, and my SU! punches to cut out the circles. I used my SU! eyelet punch to create the lace effect, and I used my satin organza ribbon to add extra punch to the card. The elephant image was water colored with tempting turquoise, appricot appeal, pretty in pink, going gray, and bashful blue. I also added some eyelets with my crop-a-dile (seriously...the best invention ever) to complete the main image. Both the nesties stack and the punch stack were adhered with dimensionals for an added pop!

I hope you like it!

Sketch challenge: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=425027

Inspiration challenge: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=425666

My Inspiration: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=138591&d=1236997279

One Sheet Wonder Headache!

Phew! I'm finally done preparing for my one sheet wonder stamp camp tomorrow, and I have a headache! I have to say, this took A LOT more time to prepare for than the stamp-a-stack's I normally do. The layout is derived from mae collins' layout in the link below and from the chicks with ink pad's version of mae's layout (also below). My set includes 12 cards and a coordinating carry case. I could have gotten 15 cards out of the one sheet of DSP, but I just didn't have it in me to come up with 3 more cards! I used the SU! Raspberry Tart designer series paper and my cards used the SU! colors Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, and Cameo Coral. Lots of different techniques were used on the cards!

Layout from: http://maecollins.blogspot.com/ and http://chickswithinkpads.blogspot.com/search/label/One%20Sheet%20Wonders

Cuddly Baby Bear

Hi All,

This card was made for one of my good highschool (and middle school!) friends. She and her husband are expecting their first, and you guessed it...it's a girl! This afternoon is their baby shower, so I had to make a card for them! I used the Cute and Cuddly set from the Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer catty. I think it's a super-cute set, and I'm pleased with the way the card came out. Most of the work was in cutting out the shapes with the nesties. I watercolored the bear in close to cocoa, creamy caramel, and regal rose. The bear was stamped in stazon brown on SU! watercolor paper. This card also qualifies for 2 scs challenges this week! Woohoo! It qualifies for the sketch challenge and the ways to use it challenge! (SC216 and WT206)

Case the Catty Pizzazz Wow!

This is my second (and last) card for the case the catty card swap. The goal was to case a card in the catty. I love Petal Pizazz, so I decided to turn the scrapbook page on 90-A into a card. I didn't have the DSP that was used in the catty, but I think my results are still pretty cool. I can tell you my hand hurt after cutting out all the flowers for 10 of these babies!

Case the Catty Pretty Pansies

Oh the irony! I just completed some cards for a card swap (case the catty), and then took a look at today's challenge on splitcoaststampers and realized my card would work for it! The point of the swap is to case a card from the new Spring/Summer catty.

One of my cards was page 85-A. You can see that I pretty much did the same layout, but I changed the colors and some of the accessories. I think it's hard to tell in the photo, but the pot for the flowers is actually completely cut out and adhered onto the stamped image.

Ironically, this is the only card I have with the cut out image. At first, I couldn't figure out how to get the words in the pot without making a mess of the stamped image. So, I was thinking I was going to have to stamp the flowers in the pot once on the main cardstock, and then stamp them a second time on scrap cardstock. Then, stamp the words on the scrap cardstock, cut the pot out, and adhere it to the main image.

I did that once and thankfully realized I could use the left overs from the cut out image as sort of a stencil. Thank heavens I figured that out early on!

I hope you like it!

Sparkles Everywhere!

Today, it's all about sparkle! Here is my submission for Splitcoaststamper's inspiration challenge - IC165. I tried another square card, and again I'm unhappy with the results. There's too much white space, which really stinks since the DSP underneath the squares is super cute, and you can barely see it! Oh well, at least I got to try my new heat and stick powder!

All I did was cut the squares with my nesties and big shot. Then, I stamped using the Darling Dots stamp set by Stampin' Up! in a versamark pad. Next, I sprinkled hit and stick powder over the versamark image. Then, I used my heat gun to melt the hit and stick powder. Sprinkle the glitter over the melted powder, and heat set with the gun!

Simple Sympathy

Hi - Here is my submission for Splitcoaststamper's LSC205. This is one of my favorite cards, and I'm pretty sure it's a CASE, but I apologize I do not know from whom anymore! The limited supply challenge was to create a card that was very simple. I don't think it gets that much more simple than this!

I just used my Elegant Eggplant SU! marker to color the grapes. Then, I used the always artichoke stamp to color the leaves. I "huffed" on the stamp (really this is just breathing hot air on the stamp to moisten the ink), and then I stamped on the base cardstock! Super simple, and super easy!

The Block is Banished!

This is the last card I did for my class on Saturday. I needed a sympathy card earlier this week, but before I even knew I needed it, I knew I wanted to do one for my class this week. I really wanted to use Thoughts and Prayers in my class, but it was on backorder. Grrrrrrrr. So, I put this card together, but inspired by the Thoughts and Prayers card in the new SU! catalog. I added the pearl beads to the side, so that people could see what a little extra bling with do for a card!

The main image was stamped once in Always Artichoke, and then again without reinking. I used the tearing edge tool for all the edges, and finally the eyelet border punch for the last layer. I used my linen background stamp in always artichoke on the kraft layer. Finally, I also sponged the edges of the main image lightly in always artichoke.

I'm pleased with the results, and I'm confident my ladies will like the card in the class!

Down with Stamper's Block!

You'll notice this card is awfully similar to my other truck one from today. I actually started with this card as a V-Day card for my husband, Frank. Once it was done, I thought..."Hey, this would be a great card for my stamping class!". So, there you have it!

It is my second submission as well for Splitcoaststamper's Wednesday sketch challenge! I wanted to make a slighly non-traditional valentine for Frank, and I like how it's still very obviously a Valentine's Day card, but the colors are slightly different!

I used stazon black to stamp the truck, and I used a blender pen and reinkers to color the main image. I thought it was a nice masculine touch to add the large eyelets in the corner. The word image is popped up with dimensionals, as is the main image. (Have I mentioned I might be obsessed with dimensionals?!)

Hope you like it!

Stamper's Block - HA!

Since I hate coming up with the card layout (well...maybe hate is too strong a word...but I do find it darned difficult) I decided to use today's sketch challenge to help me with a card for my class on Saturday.

I used the same layout as the one for DH, I just turned the card! I'm trying to get rid of some retired product, so I used old DSP and an old stamp set mingled with current product. I think it helps my customers see how well the two can mix together!

I used reinkers and a blender pen to color the truck image. That was really the most complicated part of the project. I'm hoping my customers will love watercoloring as much as I do!

Thanks for looking!

The Block Fails!

Today was much more productive than yesterday! I got over my case of stamper's block, and put together 4 cards! Woohoo! Two cards were quite similar, and three were for an upcoming class, but I still feel good that I got so much done.

This card was made for a class I'm teaching. I think it work well as a Wedding or Anniversary card. I cut the ovals and scalloped oval with my nesties. The white background piece was embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder. After I stamped the flowers on the white oval, I put a drop of crystal effects in the centers of the flowers. Then, I sprinkled chocolate fine super nova glitter over the dots. The effect is really cool and sparkly in realy life. Finally, I used the new satin-organza ribbon from SU!. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this ribbon. I think it is just so beautiful and elegant

Ack! I almost forgot to give credit where it's due! My card was cased from the following card:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1198895

Stamper's Block!

Hi,

Today was just not my stamping day. I'm trying to prepare for a stamp-a-stack on Saturday, and it felt like nothing came out right today. I even gave up in the middle of trying to participate in today's color challenge! Oh well, here is one card I did complete (although I'm still not 100 percent happy with it). It is one of the cards for my Saturday stamp-a-stack.

I used my oval nesties to cut out the two oval shapes. I then stamped the chick in stazon black. I used blender pens and my stamp pads to color the so saffron on the chick. The beak I just did with my SU! pumpkin pie marker. I then stamped the bottom half of the chick again on DSP, which I then cut out. I adhered the DSP with a stampin' dimensional.

This card was a total case from the one below:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...4516?cat=12510

Thanks for looking!

Sympathy Card

Today I decided not to do any challenges on splitcoaststampers. It was a bit of a rough day as our team got into work and found out that a co-workers teenage daughter died over the weekend. Our co-worker is really a very kind person, and I cannot imagine what a hard time this is for him and his family. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Tonight I came home to make him and his family a sympathy card from our team. I drew inspiration from the card below.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1200970?si=sympathy

I embossed the vanilla cardstock with a cuttlebug embossing folder. Then, I lightly sponged over the embossed cardstock in mellow moss. Next, I sponged the edges of the embossed carstock in perfect plum, and ran the edges through the plum stamp pad.

I used the Dreams du Jour stamp set to create the butterflies. I watercolored the butterflies in perfect plum and so saffron, cut each butterfly out, and added pearl beads down the body of the butterflies. They are adhered with a mini glue dot, and the wings are slightly popped off the page.

Again, please keep my co-worker in your thoughts and prayers.

The Second Card of the Day

Ok, so I don't want to toot my own horn, but I'm so in love with my own card! Even DH said, "Wow, that is really nice!" when I showed it to him!

This card was made for splitcoaststampers' Wednesday's sketch challenge, SC212. I didn't have time to participate earlier in the week, and it's one of my favorite challenges!

I used some non-SU! DSP for the background and layers. Then, I used my oval and square nesties for the image and word pieces. I then took my color spritzer tool to spritz all over both of those pieces as well. Eyelets added a little extra detail along with the ribbon. BUT, my favorite addition of all is the dazzling diamonds! I cut out the pieces of the little boat, punched out some stars, and ran my two-way glue pen all over the pieces. Then, I sprinkled dazzling diamonds over the boat pieces and stars. I think the result is marvelous!!! Finally, the pieces were adhered with dimensionals for a little added...well, dimension!

I hope you like it as I'll be wearing dazzling diamonds for days! LOL!

What do you think?!

The First of Two Cards Today!

Today's Splitcoaststampers' challenge was to take insiration from a Lang calendar. I just love the Lang designs, so this was a fun one for sure!

Here was my inspiration:



Clearly I'm done with winter and ready for spring, and January isn't even over yet! I used a cuttlebug embossing folder on the So Saffron cardstock background. Then, I used some nesties to cut out the cardstock for the main image. I used my reinkers to watercolor the main image along with a blender pen. For the word piece I used a couple of different corner punches, and both main pieces got some pearl beads for added bling. Finally, I adhered both of the primary images with some dimensionals for added pop!

I hope you like it!

Goody-Goody Sparkly Gumdrops

I'm finally getting back to stamping after a long weekend with my sister in town (she lives in Seattle). Her visit was sandwiched by a bout with the stomach flue and then a cold. Needless to say, I'm ready for things to get back to normal!

This card was created for a Splitcoaststampers challenge. The challenge was to create a card where black cardstock was used for the card base. This is actually one of my favorite card bases, so I was excited to give it a try! Here is the card I came up with, I love the bright colors against the black cardstock. I also lovely the sparkles on the gumdrops!

I stamped the gum drop images in black ink, and then colored them with my SU! markers. Then, I went over the colored images with my 2-way glue pen, and sprinkled dazzling diamonds over them. I think it makes the gumdrops look more realistic! (Although, I am wondering if it would have been better to use my chunky sprinkles?!)

It wasn't intentional, but I really like the way the large oval pixie pink piece is peaking (say that 3 times fast!) out from under the stylized silver hardware!

This card was made for Split Coast Stamper's sketch challenge!

Hello All!

Well, this is my first post on my blog, and it's my first card since I got back from a long weekend with my parents and husband in New York City. It was a great few days (our Christmas gift to each other), but I was definitely missing my stamps and ready to partipate in today's challenge. (My favorite, as the card layout is the most difficult part for me!)

I used Stampin! Up's "Close to Nature" for the stamped images. In fact, all supplies except for the Dew Drops are from Stampin' Up!. I watercolored the bird using my stamp pads and a blender pen. I then sponged the edges of the bird piece and the words piece in So Saffron and Blue Bayou.

I used my spritzer tool to speckle all over. Finally, I roughed-up the edges using the cutter kit. I also used hodgepodge in either corner along with ribbon scraps for embellishments.

Finally, I used some dew drops for added embellishments. These are the first I've gotten, and I really like them!

Thanks for looking!!!