Last Hurrah for Saleabration...

...yep...its almost over.  Sale-a-bration ends tomorrow at midnight *sigh*.  The good news is that you still have time to get in on the fabulous freebies available exclusively through this promotion.  Just visit my online store HERE and place your order...for every $60 you spend you'll get to choose a free item...but hurry.  The magic disappears tomorrow at midnight.
That brings me to today's post...one last card featuring Sale-a-bration product that celebrates the upcoming Easter season.  Actually, its two cards...same layout and design with two different colour schemes.  Have a look...

SAB Easter card #1 featuring the Fresh Vintage stamp set, Everyday Elegance DSP and cute butterfly brads, all of which I earned for FREE!  Sentiment is from the Delightful Dozen set.

SAB Easter card #2...same DSP...just the reverse side of the paper!  This one also uses the 1/8" organza ribbon.

So, I made the top card first and, not being entirely crazy about the peach parfait-pool party combo, decided to try the same card using the pattern on the reverse side of the DSP.  Now, I can't decide which one I like better...what do you think?  Leave me a comment indicating your preference and I'll add your name to a draw for a special SAB freebie of your own.  Comments must be received by midnight on Sunday, April 1st to be entered in the draw.  Then check back here to see if you've won.
In the meantime, I've got to get busy preparing for Max's big Angry Birds birthday bash next weekend...have a great weekend everyone!

Almost Normal...

Man, jet lag really SUCKS!  I've been home from Europe for five days now and I'm just now starting to feel like myself.  That 5 hour time difference really messes you up...especially when your body had just adjusted to a time difference the other way a week ago!  My first two days back at work last week were a wee bit foggy but a great 12 hours of sleep this weekend has me almost back to normal. 
Being away from my stamping corner for so long left my mojo in a fog as well!  Good thing I have some new goodies to play with to inspire my creativity!  Just before I left for Europe a box arrived from Stampin' Up filled with great new products that are part of the upcoming Summer Smooches promotion.  This promo, which begins April 1st, features a suite of coordinating products, some of which will be featured in the upcoming new Annual Catalogue.  Yesterday I cracked open that box and started playing with the fabulous DSP and Bright Blossoms stamp set.  See what you think...

Bright and cheerful birthday card featuring a sneak peek at the products from the Summer Smooches promotion.

Fun, huh?  I just love the bright colours in this DSP!  The simple, bold images combined with the great colour palette make this paper perfect for spring and summer projects.  What's even cooler is that the geometric quality of the patterns remind me so much of European design and decor...think IKEA.  It was so easy for me to put together this project after window shopping in Vienna and Munich...these patterns and colours were everywhere!
For those of you who are interested, here are a couple of photos from our trip...

The cathedral in Mondsee, Austria...better known as the scene of Maria's wedding to Captain Von Trapp in the Sound of Music.

One of the main streets in Mondsee...so picturesque...I so could live there!

My hubby and I at the Hohen-Salzburg fortress overlooking the city of Salzburg, Austria.  The fortress was built in the 1100's and still looks today pretty much as it did then.  We attended an evening concert featuring chamber music by Mozart here...what a great night!

I have about a million more photos but I won't bore you with them!  Suffice to say it was a busy, wonderful whirlwind of a trip and, while it was fun, it sure is good to be home!

Easter Elegance

Today is the day my band is performing with a community youth band in Austria.  It was lots of work to get ready for this performance but it will be worth it for the memories the kids will take away from it.  Today I have a pretty Easter card that I CASE'd from fellow demonstrator Karen Barber.  Have a look...

Pretty Easter card featuring sentiment from the Delightful Dozen set.

Nice, huh?  Karen is one talented lady!  The leaves were punched in wild wasabi with the bird builder punch.  The flowers are in pink pirouette and pretty in pink and are punched with the Itty Bitty punch pack flower.  The little scalloped border at the bottom is the dotted scalloped ribbon in pretty in pink.  The sentiment is stamped in wisteria wonder.  The embossing on the card base was done with the finial press folder. 
A simple yet pretty card for spring!

More Cuteness!

We're still in Austria but today I have an oh-so-adorable Easter project for you.  This is another design that I CASE'd from  fellow Canadian demonstrator Mariejosee Gagnon...it was just too sweet to pass up!

Chubby bunny easel card with sentiment from the Delightful Dozen set

Isn't she just so sweet?!?  Such a chubby little thing.  Here's a quick rundown of the punches used to create her:
Body - scalloped circle die - Big Shot
Feet - XL oval (white), small (retired) oval in pink, Itty Bitty circles for toes
Ears - XL oval (white), large oval (pink)
Paws - 1 1/4" circle (white) small (current) oval in pink
Cheeks - 1" circle
Nose - small heart
Eyes - owl builder - largest circle in white, med. circle in black

As with yesterday's card, all punched shapes need to be sponged before assembly.  Use crumb cake on the white pieces and pretty in pink on the pink ones.  I drew on the teeth with a basic grey marker and added freckles with a crumb cake maker.  The highlights in the eyes were added with a white gel pen.

Some Easter cuteness...

Here's another bit of inspiration for you while I'm traipsing around Europe.  When I saw this card design by Lori Heilig on our demonstrator forum I knew I just had to recreate it for one of my monthly clubs.  This month's theme was punch art and this little bunny was just too cute to pass up!

Easter card featuring the wood grain background stamp and sentiment from the Everybunny set.

Inside view

Cute, huh?  My club members LOVED it!  The only part they didn't love so much was all the sponging they had to do to give the bunny dimension...but the end result was SO worth the effort.  Here is a rundown of the various punches I used:
Front:
Body - 1 3/4" circle
Feet - Large Oval (white), retired Small Oval (pink pirouette)
Tail - Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty flower
Inside:
Head - Ornament, trimmed
Cheeks - 1/2" circle
Nose - heart from owl builder
Eyes - smallest circle from owl builder

To construct the card, stamp the woodgrain on a crumb cake card base using soft suede ink.  Punch a hole in the card front using the 1 3/4" circle.  Sponge all white punched shapes in sahara sand and the pink ones in pretty in pink.  Assemble the front first and then the inside.  Draw on toes, whiskers and eyebrows using a basic grey maker.  The sentiment is stamped in lucky limeade and punched out with the large oval and then layered on a modern label in the same green.  SO cute!

Soft and Simple for Easter

While I'm in Europe, have a few Easter projects to get you in a Spring state of mind.  Today's post is a card I designed for a private class I did a couple of weeks ago.  I chose colours from the subtles family...very Easter-ly...

Easter card featuring the Fresh Vintage SAB set and sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes

 

Lots of texture here...I used the finial press embossing folder on the card base and then the perfect polka dots on the bashful blue panel.  The colour scheme I used included bashful blue, pretty in pink and certainly celery...soft and spring-like.  For the inside I chose a sentiment from the Pursuit of Happiness set.  I also stamped the same medallion from the front along the right edge on the inside, though it doesn't show up all that well in the photo.

I'll have more Easter-themed projects over the next few days...and hopefully an update or two from our trip!  in the meantime...live in the sunshine and enjoy your week!

...and finally...one for the boys!

The final card in my buffet line-up is one for the boys.  I always struggle to create simple masculine cards.  I tend to find myself sponging and distressing like crazy in an attempt "man-up" my designs.  For this one I think I finally managed to create something that doesn't take an hour to create!  Have a look...

Boy-card suitable for a masculine birthday or Father's Day.

Inside view.

No sponging in sight!  I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself with this one.  It is, by far, one of the the most CAS guy-cards I've ever done.  I also like how the boat pops out of the wave (yay dimensionals!).
So there you have it...the six design options for my Card Buffet.  If you haven't already done so, be sure to register by next Friday...hope to see you on the 25th!
Now, on an unrelated front, I have had a few people asking where in Austria I'll be travelling with my music kids.  We fly into Vienna, spending 3 days there, and then head to Salzburg for two.  We are performing in a little town just outside of Innsbruck called Zirl.  It is my dad's hometown and I am, quite literally, related to half the town!  We are performing with their community youth band, under the direction of my second cousin.  My kids are really pumped, as am I.  It will be a whirlwind tour, but one I have longed to do since first visiting Austria years ago.  There is so much music history in that country...every musician should visit there at least once!  I can't wait to show my students Beethoven's piano and Mozart's childhood violin, not to mention the homes where those legendary men lived and worked.  The fact that I'll get to see some of my family while we're there is an added bonus.  So, for now, auf wiedersehen...bis spater!

Gettin' Funky

The fifth option for my upcoming Card Buffet is kinda funky.  I really like this card...its my favourite in the bunch!  I love the colour combo, drawn from the Cheerful Treat hostess DSP, and the layout, inspired by an old Mojo Monday sketch.  Have a look...

Bold and funky card suitable for Mother's Day, a birthday or just a thinking of you.

Gotta love that blossom punch!  Can you tell I'm in love with it?  I love the shape...it makes creating beautiful flowers so quick and easy.
Just a reminder that registration for my Card Buffet closes on Friday, March 16th.  Be sure to email to reserve your spot and let me know which designs you'd like to create, as well as how many of each. 
Enjoy your weekend!

Europe, here we come!

Today's post will be a quick one.  In just two short days I'll be heading off to Europe with 19 teenagers in tow!  I am taking several of my music students from school for a 10-day performing tour in Austria and Germany.  To say I have one or two things to get done before we leave is an understatement!  So, here is today's card...number four in my Card Buffet line-up.

Card Buffet option #4 suitable for a wedding, annversary or even birthday

I am going to do my best to pre-post a few samples for you while I am away as well as post once or twice about our adventures.  If I don't have time, have a great March Break, everyone!

Spring Card Buffet Preview #3

With Easter just a month away I thought it suitable to offer an Easter card as part of my buffet line-up.  I fell in love with the Everybunny stamp set when I first saw it in the catalogue last July, but waited to purchase it until closer to the Easter season.  I inked it up for the first time when I designed this card...

Cute card suitable for Easter or a new baby featuring the Everybunny stamp set.

I just love that little bunny...isn't he the sweetest?  The best part is that he's just-hatched, so he'll not only work for Easter but also to welcome a new baby.  Although the image was begging to be watercoloured, I reminded myself that this design needed to be one that could be put together quickly and easily and so I just coloured the bunny's little scarf and added a bit of pink to his nose and ears with my markers.  You can bet I'll be using this image again this Easter!
Guests at the Card Buffet will be able to customize their cards, so if someone would rather this be a welcome baby card they can easily switch out the sentiments to meet their needs.  For more details about this upcoming class please visit my website.

Spring Card Buffet Preview #2

Today's sample is one I CASE'd from a fellow demonstrator who posted her work on our demonstrator forum.  I can't recall exactly whose work this is, but I sure do like it! It is so clean and simple yet striking...have a look...

CAS birthday card suitable for just about anyone!

For this card I turned to the Sweet Shop DSP in the Occasions Mini.  I love the colours in that paper and thought they'd be perfect for a gender-neutral card.  I love the little punch-art presents and the sentiment from the Perfect Punches set is...well...perfect!
So, have I convinced you to join us for the Spring Card Buffet yet?  If so be sure to register by March 10th, as I am heading to Austria for March Break (with 19 teenagers in tow!) and won't be able to accept new registrations while I'm away. 

Spring Card Buffet Preview

All this week I am going to feature the projects I've designed for my Spring Card Buffet coming up at the end of the month.  I am really excited about this new class format and want to show you the fun and versatile designs I've come up with.  The first is a pretty card featuring one of my favourite new stamp sets...

Pretty, feminine card suitable for a birthday, Mother's Day or just a simple Hello

I think what I like most about this card is the colour scheme.  The soft suede provides such a strong contrast to the rich, poppy parade.  I also really like the way the DSP works so well with the images from two different stamp sets.  The antique brad, as always, provides the perfect finishing touch and the filigree design works well with the stamped images.  Gotta love the antique brads...I think I've gone through at least 3 dozen packages of them!

Loving my new Diagonal Plate!

I had a chance this afternoon to break open my brand new Simply Scored diagonal plate (SSDP).  This nifty addition to the Simply Scored line makes it SO easy to make diagonal score lines on just about any project.  I plan to feature it at my team meeting this month and so I spent some time creating the make-n-takes using the SSDP.  Here is what I came up with...

Centre-step Easter card and matching envelope made easy with my Simply Scored Diagonal Plate.  I used the Mixed Bunch and Delightful Dozen stamp sets.

Ok, so I went a little nuts with the scoring!  The centre panel on this card was scored every 1/4" in both directions...but isn't the result fabulous?!?  I added a little sponging to bring out the score lines even more...it reminds me a little of wicker...not sure why.  I also created an envelope for this card using the same DSP from the Sale-a-bration catalogue.  The SSDP comes with instructions for making standard envelope sizes; however my finished card measures 5 1/2" square, so it took a bit of experimenting to figure out the envelope.  I'm happy to say I made it work...if you want to replicate an envelope this size you'll need a 10" square piece of patterned paper and then score all four sides at 4 1/8".  Follow the rest of the instructions on the insert provided with the SSDP and you're on your way to creating beautiful coordinating envelopes for your creations.  Because I wanted to have a spot to address the envelope, I added a little label to the front  and another on the back for the return address.  I hope my team enjoys playing with this new tool as much as I did...guess I'll find out tomorrow night!

Another one for Dad

Happy March Everyone!!  Spring is only a few weeks away...yippee!  With the new month, Stampin' Up is offering a brand new product! 

This great addition to the  Simply Scored line makes it SO easy to created your own boxes, envelopes and more...plus it includes instructions for making standard-sized envelopes.  You'll never have to buy envelopes again!  Mine just arrived and I can't wait to play with it!  Stay tuned to see what I come up with...

I know Father's Day is a few months away yet, but I have been on a bit of a masculine-themed roll lately.  I like using darker colours and getting grungy with lots of sponging and distressing.  Have a look and you'll see what I mean...

Father's day card featuring the Tool Shed background stamp and sentiment from the Delightful Dozen set.

I pulled out all the distressing stops on this one!  I opened my as-yet-untouched blue distress ink from the Distressing Essentials kit and did lots of crumpling, tearing and general abusing of my cardstock.  I used a wee bit of Well Worn DSP for the bits of woodgrain in the corners and for the blue banner.  I added a bit of interest to my sentiment panel with my piercer (though I would have LOVED to add a bit of ribbon...didn't think the boys would appreciate a pretty little bow!) 
Nothing like taking out your stress on an innocent piece of cardstock!