Saying Good Bye to Sale-a-Bration, 2011!

It's that time again...time to say a fond farewell to the beautiful sets of this year's Sale-a-Bration event. As I mentioned in a recent post, Sweet Summer is new for me....and it really is so versatile and just plain old adorable....and I don't usually do cute! So, here's my good-bye Sweet Summer card....you may see creations in the future made with this wonderful set, but it will no longer be available for you to earn. I saw this basic idea somewhere out there in cyberland (Sorry...didn't keep the source. So, if this is your idea, please be sure to let me know so that I can give you proper credit!) However, this has been changed up a bit from the original....I turned it into a "tent card." All that black you see in the background is just that....background...NOT a part of the card.

This is one of the cards I made with my Stamp Group ladies last week; and they all loved it. It's bright and cheery and just so fun. One little note, though, that little band of stripped DSP along the lower edge has been retired....you see, I have a ton of DSP, but very little of it is current!! But, I'm sure that you can easily use something you have on hand instead. The base of the card, is simply 8 1/2" x 4 1/4" and folded in half. The Top Note is mounted on top of the fold...if you use the SU Grid Paper, you can easily line it up so that it will fit in a Medium Size Envelope....how easy is that?!! Those cute little "flowers" are simply from the Sweet Buttons Sizzlet, double layered and then mounted on Dimensionals...and, of course, topped off with a sweet little Basic Pearl. Cute, don't you think? (Sooo, NOT my idea!!) Oh, the rick rack across the base is from my "new" Tasteful Trim Bigz Die...I'm loving it!

Stamps: Sweet Summer, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Inks: Basic Black, Old Olive

CS: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive

Misc: Certainly Celery Marker, Dimensionals, Basic Pearls, Top Note Die, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Sweet Buttons Sizzlet, Big Shot, DSP (retired)

Thanks so much for stopping by today....hope you enjoyed your stay!

REMEMBER...there's still a bit of time to earn your FREE Sale-a-Bration sets, but don't wait too long....because after tomorrow (3/31/11) they will be G-O-N-E!!!  Be sure to contact me TODAY so that you can earn yours before it's too late.

Bloggers' Challenge -- It's a Sketch

This week's Challenge was an easy one....a fairly simple layout, or sketch. The only thing that gave me trouble is that there are a lot of layers (see center of the card) and the section above and below the center for brads, buttons, bows, or whatever else we could think of. I almost left them off and then decided on the largest of the Basic Pearls. For a simple layout, I kinda felt there was a lot going on, but by going with softer colors, and keeping everything relatively simple, it worked for me.....hope you'll agree!

Last Friday, the weather was almost Summer-like...it was a beautiful day and the temperature hit the low 70s. Well, fast forward to this week, and we've had snow 3 times!! I'm so ready for Spring (I think I've said that before, haven't I?!!)....so this sweet little image with the bird and basket of tulips just cried Spring to me. Maybe this will help a bit!!

Everything on this card is from SU, except for the coloring part....I used my Copics. After coloring in this image, I then decided on the background colors. The pink background is Pink Pirouette....which really softened the overall look....I'm loving it paired with Certainly Celery.

To create the central circles and scallops I used.....

1 3/4" Round Punch and layered that onto a circle from the Circles Die. This is all layered onto 2 of the 2 3/8" Scallop punched layers. Then it's all popped up on Dimensionals.

So, there you have it....simple, right?!! Thanks for stopping by today.

Stamps: A Flower For All Seasons
Inks: Jet Black StazOn
CS: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery
Misc: 1 3/4" Round Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Punch, Circles Die, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Finial Press EF, Big Shot, Certainly Celery Twill (retired), Basic Pearls, Copics

Just a little FYI....

If you are a Copic fan...and I know many are!...you'll be happy to know (according to my "local" stamp/scrapbook store...which is an hour away!!) that "everyone who works for the company is safe and the offices and production facilities survived the earthquake and aftershocks with minimal to no damage."  You see, the company that makes Copics is located just outside of Tokyo. It's nice to hear some good news coming out of Japan for a change!

Spring has Sprung!

......well, almost! Today was a cold one, but there are definitely signs that Spring is trying to push its way in......the trees have buds, the crocuses have popped, the days are definitely getting warmer (even if they begin cold)! Spring time officially arrived this weekend...at least on the calendar. So, last week's theme for our Challenge was very appropriately Spring Flowers!

My card for this Challenge is really not my original idea, but really a compilation of ideas that I've seen out there in cyberspace. This cute little Sale a Bration set, Sweet Summer, just arrived on my doorstep a few days ago.....I just couldn't resist it any longer!.....and I so wanted to use it while it is still current. And if you've been visiting my blog for any length of time, you'll know that one of my favorite color combinations is Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze. Although this is not bright like Spring cards can be, I hope it still qualifies....what do you think of this sample?

As you can see, I used Crumb Cake as my card base and impressed it with the Terrific Tulips Embossing Folder. That sweet little image was simply stamped on Whisper White CS in Basic Black ink and colored with markers. To dress it up a bit, the flowers were cut and popped up on Dimensionals....after being colored with a Blender Pen and a bit of ink off the lid; and some Basic Pearls (another of my favorite things!) were added in. Isn't this just so sweet?!!

Stamps: Sweet Summer, Tiny Tags
Inks: Basic Black, Baja Breeze
CS: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Baja Breeze
Misc: DS Paper Pack (retired) in Kraft, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Linen Thread, Baja Breeze Button (retired), Linen Thread, Basic Pearls, Blender Pen, Certainly Celery Marker, Baja Breeze Marker

Thanks so much for stopping by today and spending a little time here! And if you are loving this fun little stamp set, don't wait to long....it's such a versatile set and there's not much more time left to Sale a Brate and earn you own!! Be sure to contact me today to find out how you can earn it!

MaryJo's Monday Challenge #165

This is my version of Mary Jo's sketch this week....a little different, definitely a variation. But, although it's very simple....and has almost no stamping, I love it and really wanted to share!

I'm trying to decide if this is Spring-y or Summer-y...what do you think? Those daisies from the Daisy Die....I used the smallest....are just so dang cute. And I thought they'd be perfect for this week's Challenge. Everything on this card is from SU, but, the centers of the flowers are the now-retired Chocolate Chip buttons. I still have a lot of those....and still love them....wish they were still in the SU line....and thought they were perfect for the flower centers.

The Chocolate Chip rick-rack-shaped strip across the card was created with the new Tasteful Trim die....well, it's new for me. It was released in the Holiday Mini, and is still available. Isn't it fun?!! As you can see, I added it to the Whisper White background and then impressed it all in the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.

Then the flowers were simply added in on Glue Dots (I still have some of the larger glue dots in my stash....and these worked great. However; I'm certain you could use a few Mini Glue Dots or Dimensionals.) I just added in a little greeting, in keeping with the simplicity of the overall card.

So, that's my submission for Mary Jo's Challenge this week.  It's good to join in.....not sure what my problem was, but for the last few weeks, every time I tried to create a card with her sketch of the week, it just went so very wrong!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Stamps:  Short & Sweet

Inks:  Chocolate Chip

CS:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Chocolate Chip

Misc:  Daisy Die, Tasteful Trim Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Word Window Punch, Pop-Up Glue Dots*, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons*

Bloggers' Challenge -- Happy Birthday!

This week's theme, as you may have already guessed, is a birthday theme. Lisa is our list mom (she puts out the Challenges to us) has a birthday coming up....so, this is kind of like a mini birthday party for her! Happy Birthday, Lisa!! (Hope it's a great one!)

This card was a fun one to make...one I made about a month ago for the birthday of a very good friend.  I took my colors for the card from this DSP, Sweet & Sour Specialty paper.  The DSP was layered onto a base of Rose Red CS.  Then there's that scallop square created by the Scallop Square Duo Die and my Big Shot, topped with a couple of layers of CS...can you see them?  A bit of Pink Pirouette shows through under the Whisper White layer, but on top of the Pumpkin Pie. 

And how cute is that cupcake?  It's from the fun little set in the Occasions Mini, Create a Cupcake and the matching punch.  I was so happy with the way this card came out...but, it definitely was inspired by this one here.  Now, if you've clicked on that link and you are a SU Demonstrator, you should be able to click right over, but, if you are not, you cannot view the inspiration sample (so sorry!), as it is located on a demo-only site.  (Another reason you NEED to become a SU demo!!)

Oh, and that bow...made with the luscious Whisper White Satin ribbon....was created with the Bow Easy (a non-SU item)....something I received as a gift and makes the best, most perfect bows!  Well, that's it for today.  Thank you so much for stopping by today...hope you enjoyed today's share.

Stamps:  Create a Cupcake

Inks:  Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Pirouette

CS:  Whisper White, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Pirouette

Misc:  Build a Cupcake Punch, Word Window Punch, Big Shot, Scallop Square Duo Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Sweet & Sour Specialty DSP, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots (for holding the bow on), 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds (on the frosting)

Bloggers' Challenge -- Peach/Green/White

OK...your screen is NOT off....your eyes are NOT deceiving you!  I goofed....so, just imagine that the So Saffron color is Peach Parfait instead.  (I don't know where my head is at these days!!)   I was thinking peach when I created this card this morning, but I reached for So Saffron instead. I'm really having a "dumb blonde day" today.....hope the other Bloggers' don't mind my mistake!!

Anyway, I'm in love with Wild Wasabi these days (did you notice?!!...I've used it in a few recent postings), so this is presently my "go to" green color.  IMHO, it's just such a lovely, Spring-like green.  And to think I wasn't very impressed a couple of years ago when this was an In-Color!  Hmm....guess we all evolve with time, right?!!

Anyway, I wanted to keep this card kind of simple...it began with an entirely different layout in mind!  (That process of evolving!)  There's actually quite a bit going on here, but since the backgrounds are color-on-color, it doesn't really look too busy. 

Can you see the die cut Lattice background?  Well, originally, I thought that it would be perfect for the Inlaid Embossing technique.  And quite possibly, it would be....IF it wasn't the same color as the background.  Since the die cut piece is the same color as the card background, it simply disappeared!  Even in real life, I could barely see it....and that simply will not do!!  You see, with all those tiny sections, adhering the cut piece to the embossed background is a bit tricky, so I figured the inlaid process would take care of that....but, NOPE, that didn't work at all!  Guess, it needed to be a contrasting color. 

So, once the background was fixed, a circle was die cut from the Circles #2 die (it's the 3rd largest size)...but, if you are lucky enough to own the new 2 1/2" Circle Punch, that would work as well.  (Mine has been on backorder!)  Then the circle was simply stamped in Wild Wasabi and the flowers were added in.  Aren't those dimensional flowers....created with the Flower Fusion Sizzlet...just adorable?!!  The centers are  Bitty Buttons tied with a bit of Linen Thread. 

All in all, when I worked out the kinks, it was a very fun card to create....and even if I used the wrong color scheme, I love the fresh, Spring-like look!!  (Oh!  I hope Spring comes soon...don't you?)

Stamps:  For All You Do, Because I Care (greeting)

Inks:  Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Basic Gray

CS:  Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron

Misc:  Big Shot, Lattice Die, Square Lattice EF, Circle #2 Die, Flower Fusion Sizzlet, Bitty Buttons, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots, Modern Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1 1/4" Round Punch, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Daffodil Delight

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

UhOh! Missed the Mark Again!

Well, with all the "time off" from stamping lately, I seem to be a bit rusty. Oh, I'm not unhappy with this card, but you see it was supposed to be for MaryJo's sketch from a week ago Monday. Problem is, that stamped focal point ended up way too large for the layout. Since I liked the way the images came out, I didn't want it to go to waste and that's how this card was created!

The stamped image was created by using markers and double stamping along the bottom....in other words, there's second generation stamping along the base. The way the greens all work together is really pretty, don't you think?...so nice and soft....AND Spring-y! Those little pearls are just like the "icing on the cake....you know I love them!

Although I like the stamped panel, when I was putting this card together, it just seemed to need a little something extra. So, that's how the 1/2 circle and flower came to be used. The 1/2 circle is really a 1 1/4" circle punched, folded in 1/2 and wrapped around the layers. Then a little Fleurette was added....can you see it's the double Fleurette? So cute...and it looked perfect in this plain, white, original color....no need to dye it or anything. Truthfully, I haven't used many of these cutties, but now that I have used one on this card I may crack out these babies any use them everywhere! OK....just kidding...but I do love how it looks on this card!

The Fleurette was topped with an Antique Brad and....can you see it?...another mini Basic Pearl! This, of course, is all set against my very favorite impressed background.....Mellon Mambo impressed with the Square Lattice EF. The simple little oval with the greeting (which is an older, now-retired SU set) is simply unframed, but on Dimensionals.

What do you think? A bit bright, but, I'm loving it. Can Spring hear us calling? March is upon us....Spring can't be far behind!

Stamps: Just Believe, Warmest Regards*

Inks: Mellon Mambo, Wild Wasabi

CS: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzaz, Mellon Mambo

Markers: Pear Pizzaz, Mellon Mambo

Misc: Large Oval Punch, 1 1/4" Round Punch, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Fleurette, Antique Brad

Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Simple Thanks

This card is really a simple one (much more my style than my previous post, which you can see here)......and one I made recently for a thank you card. (Yes, I really did send it!) I'm loving the Poppy Parade and Old Olive color combination. Paired with a bit of black it really pops. AND this one uses my very favorite stamp set, Friends 24-7.

Although I adore this stamp set, I actually have rarely used this particular stamp. My favorite stamp in the set is the flourish...that's one I use most often!! Anyway, the image was stamped in StazOn Jet Black, then colored in with markers and a Blender Pen. This was stamped and colored on Whisper White CS. I really tried to be careful, but to get the intensity of color, the paper kind of pulled and roughed up. So, to counter-act this, I then colored over the entire image with the Versamarker and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.....but, I know that you cannot see that. It really kind of makes this card more special.

As you can see, there are a few layers to really set off the embossed floral image and raised on Dimensionals. This is all set against the Poppy Parade background that was impressed with the wonderful new (it's in the Occasions Mini) Framed Tulips EF.

Stamps: Friends 24-7, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: StazOn Jet Black
CS: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Old Olive
Markers: Poppy Parade, Old Olive
Misc: Blender Pen, Versamarker, Wide Basic Black Grosgrain, White Button from the Neutrals Designer Pack, Linen Thread, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Big Shot, Framed Tulips EF

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Spring is Coming.....Really!

This began as my submission to MaryJo's Techno Lunchtime Sketch Challenge for last week. Well, I'm too late for that Challenge, but it turns out that I really didn't follow the sketch. You see, the stamped floral image portion turned out too large for the layout. MJ's sketch was actually a square card....but, I find them difficult to store and they cost more to send, so I generally stay away from making them. Since I didn't use the square size for this, it really didn't layout as I had hoped, and I came up with this instead.

I'm actually not sure how I feel about this card....it's a bit busier than my usual style, but it is kind of Spring-y. Since it snowed AGAIN today and I'm really looking forward to Spring, maybe this will bring it on a little sooner!

Truthfully, I always seem to have trouble building a "garden" look, so the stamped portion was inspired by a card I saw somewhere by Carol Taggert, although it is somewhat different. As you can see, the set used is Awash with Flowers, a 2-step set. I believe Carol stamped the outline images and watercolored them in....her card is truly beautiful. Since I used stamps for the inside image, the panel seemed a bit stark when done. So, to soften it a bit and blend the greens at the base, I sponged around the edges and brought the color in a bit around the flowers. I paired Wild Wasabi and Pear Pizzaz together, and I'm really happy with that combo....I'm definitely going to use that together again.

Oh, and not sure if you can tell, but the stamped insides of the flowers features the Rock 'n Roll technique. If you click on the photo of the card, it will open larger and you can see more detail....and you may notice that the flowers are 2-toned.

Stamps: Awash with Flowers

Inks: Basic Gray, Pear Pizzaz, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Peach Parfait, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red

CS: Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz, So Saffron, Paper Pack DSP*

Misc: Pretty in Pink Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Neutral Button from Designer Button Pack, Framed Tulips EF, Big Shot, Martha Stewart Punch, Mini Glue Dots

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting today!

Bakery Window

My birthday was early this month....but since I was not feeling well for much of the last few weeks, I'm kind of calling it my un-birthday. Unfortunately, the calendar still shows I'm another year older...oh, well!

Well, I happen to share the same birth date with my good friend, June, a sister demo. So, of course, she gave me a really great WOW card to commemorate my un-birthday! It's such a fabulous card, that I just had to share with you!! Check out all the detail.....don't you just love that awning? It was created by adding punch outs created with the Word Window Punch and creasing the CS. It showcases a now-retired stamp set, The More the Merrier, a Hostess set from last year's catalog.

As you can see, the bottom portion was impressed with my still-favorite embossing folder, Square Lattice. The greeting is from Occasional Quotes, a hostess offering from the current catalog. So....how cute is this card?!!

Stamps: The More the Merrier, Occasional Quotes
Inks: Basic Black (cupcakes), Early Espresso
CS: Pretty in Pink,Shimmery White
Misc: Word Window Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Square Lattic EF, Big Shot, Pretty in Pink Marker

Thanks so much for stopping by today...hope you enjoyed your stay!