Hearts for a Friend

We've got more snow....again! It snowed all day yesterday and all night long as well. (Seems to be a weekly event in this area of the country lately!) Since I was house bound yesterday, I was able to get a lot done in my stamp studio. No, not stamping, unfortunately.....remember this post where I told you that the ceiling in my studio needed to be taken down? Well, turns out it wasn't too bad and the clean up has begun....it won't be long until I'm back in there stamping my little heart out. In fact, my hope is to finish up today. My, some of the things I have found! A number of things have gotten dumped....and I found so many things that I had forgotten that I had.

In the meantime, I wanted to share this sample with you. This was also made awhile back and given away. Check out the Inlaid Embossed hearts in the upper portion of the card. See? Hearts don't need to be for just Valentine's Day!! Fun! Just a touch of stamping....the greeting and the main heart. Looking at this card again, I wish I had added in a little rhinestone to dot the "I" in Friend. But, I didn't think of that when this was made....it would make a cute little addition, though...maybe next time! Oh, and this heart was set up on Dimensionals. And then there's the "ribbon" created with that all, important Dotted Ribbon Scallop Border Punch.

Stamps: I (Heart) Hearts, Occasional Quotes
Inks: Rose Red
CS: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Regal Rose
Misc: Small Heart Punch, Large Heart Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Dimensionals, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Stamping Bliss

So, tomorrow is the big day! Are you ready? You DO remember what tomorrow is, right?!! The beginning of Sale a Bration....it's a blissful day!! WooHoo! To prepare you, I'm sharing this card that I recently made for a swap....theme: Sale a Bration, of course!

Although this card looks simple and easy (and it is), there are a few tricks to share......
That lovely flourish is a beauty, isn't it? It's from Bliss, one of this year's Sale a Bration offerings that you can earn for FREE! It was inked first in Baja Breeze ink and then just touched lightly around all the outside edges with the matching marker. That gives it a subtle shaded effect, which is what I wanted so that the words showed up well.

Can you see the tiny, little seed pearls just above and below the greeting? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the Basic Pearls!!!! There are a variety of sizes included in each package and each and every one of them has a sticky back. So, no, your eyes are NOT deceiving you....the pearls are different sizes.

And the outer edges of the Natural Ivory cardstock have all been sponged with Crumb Cake to give it an aged look. And last, but not least, is the ribbon finish.....it's really Early Espresso (as is the cardstock background and stamped greeting), but on my screen it looks black. The Early Espresso is just a bit softer and I'm loving it with the Baja Breeze....it's a terrific color combo!

As for the button, well, it's actually a paper button created with the Buttons #5 Sizzlet...cute, huh?!! I used a paper button because this was a swap card and I didn't have enough of any one button in my collection to use instead. So, the paper button worked!

Stamps: Thank You Kindly, Bliss
Inks: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso
CS: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Natural Ivory
Misc: Baja Breeze Marker, Basic Pearls, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Linen Thread, 1 1/4" Stripped Grosgrain in Early Espresso, Buttons #5 Sizzlet, Big Shot

So glad you were able to stop by today and visit....thanks so much for coming by!

PLEASE NOTE: During Sale a Bration, you can earn a FREE set from the Sale a Bration catalog for every $50 (in merchandise) you spend! So, don't miss out....be sure to contact me soon for more info or to earn your free sets!

Oh, No! Under Constuction

No, this blog is not under construction....my home is! So, I don't have access right now to my stamp studio.....

You see, we're in the middle of a dining room re-do. No big deal, right? Well, we found that the outer wall was never insulated....so all the plaster and lathe came down. (We're in an older home and somehow these "little" jobs are never little....they always seem to grow!!) Then we found that one of the heating ducts was disconnected, which explains why my bedroom is always so cold in the winter and warm in the summer! So, that means, the ceiling in my stamp studio must come down to access the duct work and make the needed repairs.

So, right now, half my stamp studio is packed up in boxes and sitting in my family room....the other half is draped with plastic to keep the sheet rock dust out! YUK! BUT, in many ways, this is a very, very good thing! Of course, my heating and electric bills should go down....that's definitely a good thing! (Maybe I'll have more $$$s for stamps and supplies?) AND, as I unpack and put everything away after the work is complete, I'll definitely see what I've got and will come up with some new projects and purge some of those many unnecessary items!

Hopefully, I'll be back to normal in about a week and a half or two, so I won't be able to participate in the Challenges for a bit. But, before I packed up, I made a few things that I can share, so please come back and visit!

Bloggers' Challenge -- Designer Series Paper

This week, Lisa challenged us to work with Designer Series Paper in a creative way....kind of like DSP with a twist! Well, it just so happens that I had not had a chance to share this with you before and it works perfectly for today's Challange!

Back in November, I needed a small gift package and this is what I came up with....it really was simple and quick to make! Can you tell what this was originally? It's a simple, every-day brown paper lunch bag....something most of us have around in our cabinets. For this package, I cut the bag down to 6" (keep it folded) and then added DSP to the front and back, covering completely. (The pleated sides are still exposed, but that's OK!) The stamped portion was created using just markers to get all the different colors for the flower (it's one stamp). However, the greeting was stamped in ink, using Fabulous Phrases....so the Stamp a ma jig was definitely in order so that the words lined up exactly. The word stamps in this set are all individual, giving you the versatility of making your own phrases and greetings.....definitely a great idea and bargain!

For the topper, I'm sorry, but I cannot remember the dimensions....but I can tell you that it's as wide as the bag. I believe there's about a 1" flap on the back of the bag, which was adhered really well using Sticky Strip. The fold over for the front was not a special measurement....it was just something that I thought was eye pleasing. Can you see the edge was punched with the Pinking Hearts Punch and then just a tiny little strip of Daffodil Delight CS was added over top. Oh, and the last thing was the Certainly Celery Wide Grosgrain added (which matches the Pear Pizzazz color of the DSP!) around the bottom of the stamped image and then for the handle. What a fun way to package up a gift!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Fabulous Phrases
Inks: Early Espresso
CS: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight
Markers: Pear Pizzazz, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso
Misc: Pinking Hearts Punch, Crop-a-dile (for handle), Sticky Strip, Certainly Celery Wide Grosgrain

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

MaryJo's Sketch #157

I'm in this week....yipee!! It's such fun to play along again with MaryJo's sketch...and a fun one it is. Simple, too! BUT, I turned the sketch on its side.

You can see the original sketch here. As you can see, the sketch was originally a vertical one, but this cute little owl just didn't fit that way...but horizontally, it does....and perfectly, too, don't you think? I used the cute little new Sale-a-Bration set, Punch Bunch and the 2-Step Owl Punch. Each owl was stamped twice and punched twice as well.....the second time so that the belly color could be changed out. (I needed to trim slightly with a pair of snips.)

The biggest dilemma I seemed to have with this card was the background....or the partial background. I used the Solid Stripe background stamp (also going to be a Sale-a-Bration offering.) stamped in Old Olive ink. But it looked kinda plain to me, so I decided to run it through my Big Shot using the Finial Press Embossing Folder. Truthfully, I think I should have used the Square Lattice Folder instead, but figured you were probably tired of looking at samples where I used with that....you must know it's my favorite! (No, haven't worn it out, yet!! LOL)

So, here it is....my simple and easy submission for this week's Challenge. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite color combos with the new color line....Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Rich Razzelberry. The Whisper White seems to mellow it out.

Stamps: Thank You Kindly, Punch Bunch, Solid Stripe
Inks: Old Olive, Rich Razzelberry, Pumpkin Pie
CS: Whisper White, Old Olive, Rich Razzelberry
Misc: 2-Step Owl Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, White Mini Brads, Paper Piercer & Template, Big Shot, Finial Press EF, White Taffeta Ribbon

Check out the longer than usual Word Window and Modern Label Punched greeting. To achieve this look, I stamped the greeting and folded the stamped cardstock in half. This was then inserted into the Modern Label Punch just past the half way point. Using the Bone Folder, I flattend out the fold line. The Modern Label Punched background was created in the same way. Cool.....huh?!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope to see you here again soon.

Create a Cupcake

Stampin'Up! has done it again! In the new Occasions Mini, there's a fun new punch that creates a cupcake....and a matching stamp set. How fun! Since cupcakes are EVERYWHERE lately, I just couldn't resist this new combo!!

I recently joined in a swap and this is what I submitted. I love Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake together....almost makes you hungry just talking about that color combo, doesn't it?!! And it just seemed perfect for this card.

As you can see, the cupcake is in the center of the square...it was first stamped, punched, and then assembled inside the oval. This was all layered onto the stamped, striped square (Solid Stripes) and then the scalloped square from the Scallop Squares Duo Die....which is, yes, still available! The Crumb Cake background was created by stamping that little cherry all around and then partially embossed with my very favorite embossing folder....the Square Lattice EF. All the new seam binding in the SU line is just so luscious and in this case, I used Cherry Cobbler.

So, what do you think? A cupcake for a grownup look!

Stamps: Create a Cupcake,
Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake (icing), Soft Suede (cake base, saying)
CS: Natural Ivory, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Misc: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Square Lattice EF, Scallop Square Duo Die, Build a Cupcake Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Word Window Punch

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Chocolate is my Favorite Food Group!

.....and now there's even a chocolate stamp set! It's called Eat Chocolate...and I LOVE chocolate....and I'm thrilled that there is now a stamp set to match my passion for this food "group!" How fun! It's in the new Occasions Mini and will be available till April 30. (Did you get your mini yet?)

This is a sample I quickly made for a recent swap. Of course, the chocolate bonbon was stamped in Chocolate Chip, those little hearts were colored in with my Pretty in Pink marker and then I used my Versamarker over top of the entire image, embossed with Clear EP, cut out and mounted on a Dimensional. This was then layered over top of the stamped image on the punched tag. Oh, and to get that layered, two tone effect for the tag, I punched a second from Chocolate Chip and then cut it apart in a "X" formation. See each of the indentations at each of the "corners?" Well, I cut from "corner" to "corner" and then carefully adhere each section behind the white tag.

Since SU no longer has any Chocolate Chip colored ribbon, I punched my ribbon (now they have a few choices in Early Espresso, just not Chocolate Chip!). Simple, and pretty easy, don't you think?

Stamps: Eat Chocolate
Inks: Chocolate Chip
CS: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Punches: Designer Label Punch, Dotted Ribbon Scallop Border, Corner Rounder
Misc: Vintage Wallpaper EF, Big Shot, Dimensional, Pretty in Pink Marker, Versamarker, Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Bloggers' Challenge -- It's a Sketch!

It's been awhile since I've been able to join in the fun with the Bloggers' Challenges. This week, Lisa, our list Mom, gave us a sketch. I kept pretty true to the original sketch and this is what I came up with.....although I have to admit to beginning with a completely different idea! Somehow this cute little guy just kept calling me....he needed to be inked!

That sweet little lamb is from Pun Fun, a set I haven't used in some time....not sure why, 'cause I really do enjoy working with each of the images. The face and heart were water colored in using markers and a blender pen....used the "marker off the lid" technique, an old standby. The heart (not sure you can tell) was glittered, as were the hearts on the impressed squarish panel background.

Not quite sure yet, but this may be one of my Valentine's cards this year ...I'm really happy with the way this came out....kinda sweet, don't you think?

Stamps: Pun Fun, Fabulous Phrases, Create a Cupcake (heart)
Inks: Basic Black Craft, Real Red Classic
CS: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Real Red
Misc: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Big Shot, Heart EF (non-SU), Perfect Polka Dots EF, Circles #2 Die (for red circle layer), Scallop Duo Die (still available!), Clear Embossing Powder, Real Red Mini Brads, Paper Piercer & Template, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Dimensionals (under scallop circle), Real Red Satin Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig (couldn't live without it!!) , Blender Pen

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting! Can't wait to see what the others have been up to....won't you join me? (See thumbnails below.)

On a Roll......

Don't you just love this card? OK, I'm excited. It was so easy and if you really look at it, there's almost no stamping, but it's just so dang cute.....don't you agree?

This card features Sweet & Sour Specialty DSP....I'm thinking that it's a specialty paper because it is so textured. Most of the patterns feel like they've been embossed. And the colors are to die for! Gotta love Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red together....it's kind of like an updated version of one of my favorite pink and orange color combos....just more sophisticated!

Check out that adorable flower in the center.....created using Old Olive and that little stem/leaf stamp from Cheep Talk and then the flower brad was added. See the little pearl in the center.....now doesn't that just make it?!!

I do have a confession to make, though....the "welcome" is from a retired set, Warmest Wishes (but you can substitute any saying that you have) that has been gone for a bit. I tend to keep my word sets, so every once in awhile, they pop up here. Everything else is current in the SU catalog.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by. See? I told you I've been stamping while I was MIA! (And there's more to come!) See you soon....please come back and visit soon.

Stamps: Cheep Talk, Warmest Wishes*
Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
CS: Whisper White, Rose Red
Misc: Square Scallop Punch, Scallop Border Punch, White Taffeta Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Flower Brad (Brights Collection), Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Sweet & Sour DSP

*Retired

I'm Back!

Happy New Year.....Happy 2011! (A lot late!) Hopefully, you had a great holiday season filled with love of family and friends. Mine were fun but hectic....something many of you can probably relate to? Which is part of the reason I have been MIA for so long....along with computer problems AGAIN!!

But here I am....I'm back. Computer is fixed...some programs needed updating, so I can see there is going to be a learning curve. Life has settled down just a bit. And winter is here with a vengeance! I'm sorry if you've been stopping by and looking for new posts this past month....now it's time to post some goodies for you! (I may have been "gone," but I've definitely been stamping!)

This card was fun to make and a simple one, as well....and one I made for a new recruit. I pulled out my Elegant Trio stencils for the very first time. If you've ever stenciled....or even if you haven't....you really need to try this fun little technique! I simply adhered my stencil with a bit of Dotto (which is not permanent, and of course, removable) and sponged away using Crumb Cake ink and a sponge dauber. Then I stamped that sweet little frame from Charming, over top, added in a couple of Basic Pearls (LOVE these!), and then added that little saying, which is from Elements of Style, over top on a Dimensional. The bottom of the card features the beautiful Love Letters DSP, which I finally opened just for this card....don't know WHAT I was waiting for! Tied this all up with that cute, narrow ribbon, 1/8" Taffeta in Basic Black.

Fun to make....easy....and I used "new" stuff! Thanks so much for your past patience. I'm planning to post much more regularly, so I do hope you'll come back and visit! Thanks for stopping by today.

Stamps: Charming, Elements of Style

Inks: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red

CS: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Misc: 1/8" Narrow Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Black, Elegant Trio Stencils, Basic Pearls, 1" Round Punch, Dimensional, Sponge Dauber, Love Letters DSP, Corner Rounder, Dotto