Another Inspiring Swap

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend!!  Today I want to show you a project inpired by another swap I received at convention.  Gotta love swapping!  Check it out...

Birthday card designed by Jayne Stenstrom featuring the Blue Ribbon stamp set

Here is my Gift-card-holder version of Jayne's beautiful card:

Gift card holder featuring the Chalk Talk stamp set

Inside view with stamped image from the Best of Birthdays stamp set

I just loved Jayne's design and so I kept many of the same elements from her original card.  Since I don't own the Blue Ribbon stamp set Jayne used, I opted to use images from  the Chalk Talk set instead.  Because I wanted to create a gift card holder, I changed the way the card opened by scoring at 2" and 3-1/2", instead of  at 5-1/2".  This allowed me to adhere the edges of the 3-1/2" panel to create a pocket for my gift card.  The top flap opens up to reveal the pocket and the birthday wishes inside.  Here is a list of the products I used:

Chalk Talk stamp set

Best of Birthdays stamp set

This and That Epic Day DSP

Chalk Talk Framelits

Deco Labels Framelits

Circles Collection Framelits

Beautifully Baroque TIEF

Perfect Polka Dots TIEF

XL Oval Punch

1-3/8" Circle Punch

Scallop Trim Border Punch

Silver Glimmer Paper

Naturals White card stock

Basic Gray card stock

Pool Party card stock

Smoky Slate card stock

Smoky Slate ink

Versamark ink

Silver embossing powder

Smoky Slate Chevron Ribbon

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Although this looks like a long list, this project came together quickly and easily, thanks to Jayne's inspirational design and lots of coordinating products from Stampin'  Up!

A New Take

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Last week at my monthly techniques group we did a card that was a remake of one I designed a while back.  I wanted to show them the Puzzle Piece Emboss Resist technique so this is the card I designed to do it:

Birthday card featuring the Puzzle Piece Resist technique with the Creative Elements and Best of Birthdays stamp sets.

I essentially CASE'd myself from this card.  I changed up the colour scheme for a more dramatic look.  Isn't it amazing how just changing the colours can completely alter the look of a project?  For this version I used Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo and Basic Black.  I really love the way the pink pops against the neutral tones.  Next time you're stuck for an idea, try reworking something you've already done...you might just surprise yourself!

Fashionably Late Sketch Inspiration

Well, there goes another weekend!  How is it that they just seem to fly by?!?  I had a To-do List a mile long and barely got through any of it.  Ah, well, there's always next weekend...
Check out this  card I made for a colleague who recently celebrated a birthday.  I was late getting it to her...what else is new??  I used this month's sketch for my layout.

The Sketch

Birthday card featuring the Best of Birthdays stamp set.

I have to say I really like this card!  I sure hope I get something similar on my big day in a few weeks.  I started with some texture Pool Party card stock I had sitting in my stash.  I paper-pierced the label shape using my piercing template...love those things!  I die cut the dress form from Early Espresso card stock and then stamped and heat embossed the flourish from the Creative Elements stamp set in Pool Party.  I used both Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon and some Victoria Lace Trim in behind the dress form to add a bit of a girlie touch (my colleague is definitely a girlie-girl).  I stamped the greeting in Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla card stock and then punched it out using my XL oval punch.  I stamped the same image again using Pool Party ink and then fussy cut out the banner, which I layered on the Crumb Cake image using dimensionals.  I added some bling and a flower from the Vanilla Flower trim (which I cut down to a smaller size) to the dress form.  I think this design will find it's way into a class in the not-to-distant future.  I love it!
On another note...there are just four more days until the brand new 2013-14 Annual Catalogue goes live!!  I am so excited to get my hands on all the fabulous new products in that amazing new book.  To celebrate I am holding my 3rd Annual New Catalogue Open House coming up this Saturday.  If you haven't already, be sure to confirm your attendance by Thursday.
Have a great week!!

Chalkboard Secret

Happy Friday!!  Gotta love these short weeks!  Today I have a card I designed for my techniques class last night to learn the Chalkboard technique.  Have a look:

Birthday ensemble featuring the From My Heart and Best of Birthdays stamp sets.

Birthday Card

Gift tag

This technique is SO popular right now I just had to teach it to my techies this month.  We made both items so they got lots of practice at it, plus they got to take home a techniques card with quick instructions so that they can recreate the look at home.  Lots of fun! 
Have a great weekend...hope its filled with stamping fun!!