Celebrate Monthly Sketch Inspiration

Ah....Saturday!  Love this day of the week the most!  Even better because this particular Saturday falls on a long weekend!!  Here's to extra time to get stuff done!
To start your weekend off right, I have another take on this month's sketch.  Wondering what I'm talking about?  Check out the Monthly Sketch Inspiration tab at the upper right of this page and see the sketch and a couple of samples I created with it.  Today I have another take on it...this time I've rotated the sketch to make a horizonatally oriented card.  Have a look:

Birthday card featuring the Pretty Petites, Collage Curios and Fabulous Phrases stamp sets.

One thing to remember when working with a sketch is that it is only a suggested starting point for your creativity...don't be afraid to play with it!  Here I turned the sketch on it's side and came up with a completely different look.  What do you think of that metal medallion encircling the sentiment?  Cool, eh?  It is one of the new Soda Pop Tops that I ran through my Big Shot and squished!  So easy and it doesn't hurt the Big Shot one bit!  Just open your platform up so you're using no tabs.  Put a cutting plate on the platform, lay the pop top on the plate so the open side is down, put the second cutting plate on top and run it through.  You'll feel very little resistance when rolling it through, but the result is a perfectly squished bottle cap that makes a lovely embellishment!  Try it for yourself...and while you're at it, try the sketch too! 
Have a happy Saturday!!

Thanks, Baby

Yesterday I mentioned that I've been working on designs for baby thank you cards for my Baby-Thank-You-Bonanaza that I am holding later this week.  The moms-to-be and I are getting together to make 80 thank you cards in one afternoon.  Impossible?  Maybe, but I think we'll get close.  As I've been designing I've been trying to keep the layouts as simple as possible while still keeping some of the "cute factor".  I'm using our fabulous little note cards...they're perfectly sized for thank you's...less room to write!  Here are a couple of the ones I've come up with that I like...

Baby Thank you card featuring the Aviary stamp set with sentiment from Fabulous Phrases.

Another option featuring the Baby Boutique and Lovely Little Labels stamp sets

Whaddya think?  My favourite is the little owls...love that little stamp!  I used the new Argyle embossing folder for the Pool Party panel...so love that pattern!  I added a little softness with a hint of ruffled ribbon peeking out from behind the panel.  The second card is a bit simpler in that there is less stamping involved.  I embossed the card base using the Stripes embossing folder and added a bit of babyness with the now-retired eyelet border punch.  I used the new Lovely Little Labels set and coordinating punch for the sentiment...kinda cute, no?  I got the idea for the placement of the label on the stamped bib from the catalogue...gotta love the inspiration in that wonderful book!  We'll see if my ladies like either of these designs.  I have a couple more girlie ones I'll show you tomorrow...in the meantime, stay cool....it is hot, hot, hot here in Cambridge!

Polka Dots and Flowers

That's the theme for today!  I designed this card as one of the make-n-takes for my New Catalogue launch event coming up on June 2nd.  I wanted something that would feature new products but also be quick and easy to make.  This card fits the bill perfectly!  It also fits this week's challenge over at The Paper Players, which is all about polka dots!  Have a look...

CAS Thank you card for PP96 featuring the Mixed Bunch stamp set with sentiment from Fabulous Phrases

Cute, eh?  This was SO quick and easy to make!  It uses some of my favourite new products:  the Mixed Bunch stamp set and coordinating Blossom punch and the new Floral district DSP.  LOVE the patterns and bright colours in that pack!  I've almost used up the entire pack and I've only had if for two weeks!  Can't wait till June 1st so I can order more!!

Feeling like Fall...

The weather this week has certainly started to feel like fall here in Southern Ontario.  Its almost like the first day of school was the first day of fall, with cooler temperatures, chilly nights and cloudy skies.  I'm not complaining because, quite frankly, I LIKE cool weather when I'm at work.  The lack of air conditioning makes my room unbearably hot when the mercury climbs.  Add to that a bunch of sweaty teenagers and it isn't a fun place to be!  So these cooler temps have been most appreciated by yours truly!  All this fall weather has me in the mood to create fall-themed cards (like I haven't done enough already!) and for today's post I pulled out the hostess set from the Holiday Mini.  We got this set free at convention and, sadly, it was forgotten as soon as I got home and saw all my goodies from the the new catty.  Well, since the new mini is now LIVE, I figured I should dust off this cute hostess set and give it some love.  Here is the card I made:

Thanksgiving'ish card using Warmest of Wishes hostess set from the new Holiday Mini with sentiment from Fabulous Phrases.

Inside of card using sentiment from Day of Gratitude

One of the things I like most about this set is the variety of images it contains.  There is something for fall, Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day all in one little set!  For this card I used the wreath of leaves, stamping it cajun craze and colouring it with my markers in more mustard and peach parfait.  The wreath was layered on one of the scalloped circles from the Perfect Pennants die cut from always artichoke cardstock.  The rest is pretty straightforward, though I will give you the colour palette as sometimes it is hard to tell from a photo:  cajun craze, peach parfait, more mustard, always artichoke.  On the inside of the card I stamped the wreath along the right edge only allowing half of the image on the page.  The result was a swirling line of leaves running down the edge of the card.  I think I'm going to play with this set some more...I see lots of possibilities.  Stay tuned!

Fall Demonstrator Event and fall card for the Monkey

If you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, have I got a deal for you!  Because there is no SU Regional in Southern Ontario this year, my upline, Jamilla Ivits, has decided to hold her own "mini regional"!  "Stampin' Sparks" promises to be a fabulous day of speakers, demos, make-n-takes, swapping and prizes and it is all right here in our own backyard!  The event will be held at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel, here in Cambridge on Saturday, September 24th, 2011 from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm.  The cost for the day, including lunch is just $55!!!  What a deal!  For more information or to register contact Jamilla at 519-622-9394 or email gerjam@golden.net.

Now on to today's card!  This week's challenge over at A La Card Monkey is an autumn sketch challenge.  Here is the sketch:

...and here is my interpretation:

Autumn card for Monkey71 using French Foliage, Studio Sketches and Fabulous Phrases sets.

Inside of card with sentiment from Pursuit of Happiness set.

This card was FUN to make!  I pulled out all the distressing stops for the background:  sponging, spritizing, crumpling...you name it!  After doing so many simple cards over the past few weeks in preparation for various classes and workshops, it was fun to really go to town and get my fingers inky for a change.  The sad thing is that this is the very first time my Studio Sketches set has seen ink...and I've had it for almost a year!!!  GASP!!  I know...bad, bad demonstrator (insert wrist-slap here).  I really love that set and there is absolutely NO excuse for the neglect it has received.  I promise to give it more attention this fall!
No time to give you the details on how I created this one...gotta go get Max ready for the birthday party this afternoon!  If you have questions drop me a line and I'll do my best to answer.