May Sketch Inspiration from an old favourite.

A new month means a new sketch to inspire your creativity.  Check this one out:

May's inpiration sketch

Thank you card featuring French Foliage stamp set with sentiment from Day of Gratitude

I chose to use lots of my favourite products from the retirement list on this one.  I used French Foliage, Day of Gratitude and the Vintage Wallpaper TIEF, all of which will be leaving the catalogue at the end of the month.  I also incorporated More Mustard into the colour scheme, which is a retiring colour.  The focal image also uses both Log Cabin and Gold Glow Smooch...both of which are retiring.  Did you know that even the little brads I used are also going away?  With all this great stuff leaving, aren't you just dying to know what's coming to replace it?  It won't be long now...just 4 more weeks!  In the meantime enjoy your Saturday...hope the weather is as beautiful where you are as it is here!

The Cure for a Missing Mojo...

...CASE something!  Yesterday I told you about my creative drought and how frustrating it is when you have work to do but can't design anything that looks even half-way decent.  So I let someone else do my designing for me!  Today's project was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  It was a repin so I'm not sure who the original designer was, but  it sure did help me get over my mojo-less-ness!  Check it out:

Thinking of You card featuring the French Foliage and En Francais stamp sets with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

This is one of the cards I am doing at my techniques class this month.  It uses the Triple Time technique.  I chose one of my favourite Fall stamp sets (French Foliage) and one of my new favourite sentiment sets (Sweet Essentials).  My colour inspiration was the Orchard Harvest DSP, though I didn't actually use any of it here.  I just love that paper and the rich Fall hues it contains and decided to incorporate them into this design.  The colours I used were:  More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Island Indigo.  I quite like the hit of blue amid the otherwise warm earthy tones.  It really makes the focal panel stand out from the background. 
It's amazing what making a single decent card can do to get the ol' Mojo working again.  I have a few projects to show you this week that came about after CASE'ing this project!  Stay tuned!

Fall Collage

Sometimes I love challenging myself to create cards that keep to the basics of stamp, ink and paper.  Today's project is the result of one of  my attempts at keeping it simple (ish):

Simple card featuring the French Foliage  and Perfectly Penned stamp sets.

Pretty basic, huh?  I deviated from my usual fall colour choices and incorporated some equally fall'ish but less used colours:  Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Soft Suede and Cajun Craze.  I have to say that I think this was the first time in over a year that my Bravo Burgundy ink pad has seen the light of day!  Anyhow, I die cut one of the labels from the Apothecary Accents set from a post-it note and used it as a mask in the centre of the card to leave a space for my sentiment and then I went to town stamping the images from the French Foliage set and then sponging using Crumb Cake and Soft Suede inks.  When I removed the mask I stamped the sentiment in Soft Suede in the centre of the label shape.  I could have left it at that  but I just had to add a little something  else and cross-stiched the little "X"'s at the points of the label.  Just a little something extra by way of subtle embellishment.  I layered the panel on a piece of Bravo Burgundy card stock and then mounted it on a Very Vanilla card base.  Super simple and easy to do!

Fall Foliage

Today I get to show the project I designed this month for Craft Project Central.  I used one of my very favourite Fall stamp sets and some of my favourite colours.  Have a look:

French Foliage Any Occasion Cards and Portfolio featuring the French Foliage and Itty Bitty Banners stamp sets

 I am so pleased with the way this turned out.  It really captured the look I was going for.  The portfolio holds four cards and coordinating envelopes.  The sentiments are mounted  so that they can be removed and adhered to a card  as needed.  It is the perfect set to keep on-hand for those times when you need a last-minute card.  To access the tutorial for this project, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to September.  It is only $10 and you'll get 10 full-colour tutorials that you can access for a full year.  You can also earn your subscription FREE from me by hosting a stamping event in the month of September.  It can be in my home or yours and all it takes is a minimum of 3 guests.  Call or email today to schedule your Girls' Night Out and earn your FREE subscription!

Retro Autumn Thanks

In case you missed it, I love the Fall.  I think my favourite thing about this season is the vibrant and rich tapestry of colour nature provides.  Like it is the last hurrah before the dull grayness of winter.  Today's project a celebration of Fall colours.  I based the layout on this week's sketch over at Retro Sketches.  First, here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

Autumn Thank You card for RS27 featuring the French Foliage stamp set and Orchard Harvest DSP

I told you this card was all about colour!  I really love the Orchard Harvest DSP...there truly isn't a single pattern in that pack that I dislike...not something I can always say!  I used it as the basis for my colour scheme:  Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Island Indigo, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso.  I embossed the card base with my woodgrain TIEF...where has that one been all my life?!?  I added a couple of little Naturals Designer buttons and some quilted satin ribbon from last year's Holiday Mini.  Can you believe that is the only ribbon I own in Early Espresso??  Gonna have to do something about that with my next order.  in the meantime I hope you'll forgive the use of retired product :)

A New Spin

First off, I must apologize for my late post today...last night was a "campout" night for Max and I.  He has been wanting to campout in our backyard all summer and, after two previous failed attempts last night was the night.  I was out at a meeting until 9:30, came home and headed out to the tent.  Not an especially restful night, to say the least!  I miss camping in the wilderness with no noise but the crickets and the occasional loon from the lake.  Last night it was all about the trains, planes, automobiles and...garbage trucks.  Note to self:  DO NOT attempt to campout on garbage night!
Anyhow...on to some stamping!  Today's project is another one I designed for an upcoming class.  It is a new spin on the Faux Wax Seal and Faux Metal techniques.  I'm calling this a "Faux Fossil".  You'll see what I mean...

Masculine card featuring the French Foliage stamp set with sentiment from Tiny Tags

Cool, eh?  To create the leaf I began by pouring some gold embossing powder on a scrap of brushed gold card stock.  I then heated it from beneath until it melted into a pool.  I quickly laid the leaf stamp in the pool of melted powder and left it there until the pool hardened.  When I pulled off the stamp I was left with the imprint of the image.  I then tore the image out of the scrap paper and inked the edges with Early Espresso ink.  Quick and easy and pretty darned cool.  The background is the new Core'dinations card stock that I ran through my woodgrain TIEF and then sanded.  The rest of this card is pretty straightforward with the Always Artichoke mat and card base in Crumb Cake.  I left the inside blank, but I'm thinking I might do something like "Happy Birthday (you old fossil you!)" or something to that effect.  Of course I would have to be sure the recipient had a sense of humor!!
On another note, don't forget to enter my draw for a free month's subscription to Craft Project Central.  Just leave a comment on any (or every!) post dated August 5th - 12th.  I will draw one winner and announce it on the 13th.  Good luck!

Autumn Birthday

This week my monthly techniques group meets.  Today I want to show you one of the projects we'll be doing.  Have a look:

Fall Birthday card featuring the French Foliage stamp set with sentiment from Perfectly Penned.

Inside view with sentiment from Bring on the Cake.

I so love Fall colours!  This design was inspired by a bunch of negatives I had leftover from my cutting leaves using my new Autumn Accents die.  I thought it might be cool to use the negative shapes as stencils to sponge a background and so I went to work. I used my sponge daubers to apply ink inside the stencil.  For the maple leaf I used More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Cherry Cobbler.  For the oak leaf I used More Mustard and Soft Suede.  For those of you wondering how I did the layer behind the sentiment label, check out my Tutorials page for a quick how-to.  This card came together easily and I really like the result!  I hope my class participants do too!

Just a quick reminder to enter my giveaway for a free month's subscription to Craft Project Central by leaving a comment on any post dated August 5th - 12th.  The winner will be announced on the 13th...it could be you!

Something for dad

Sometimes it is nice to CASE oneself.  Today's card is a masculine version of the card I posted yesterday.  It uses DSP instead of fabric and is decidedly more manly...

Masculine card for Father's Day featuring the tried-and-true Lovely as a Tree stamp set as well as leaves from French Foliage and sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes

I don't know what it is about the Lovely as a Tree set...but it is one that I seem to gravitate to whenever I have to do a masculine card. Its not like I don't have other masculine sets but there is something about the images in that particular set that I really love.  I hope it never retires!
For this card I used DSP from two different packs:  Petals and Paisley and Well Worn.  I distressed the DSP and inked the edges with soft suede ink and then adhered them to an always artichoke card base that I embossed with my houndstooth embossing folder.  I stamped the image on very vanilla cardstock using soft suede ink and then sponged on always artichoke and marina mist ink for the grass and sky using my daubers.  Such a quick and easy way to add colour!  I again distressed the edges and then sponged them lightly with soft suede.  I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of very vanilla, punched it out with my decorative label punch and then adhered it along the bottom left edge of the focal image.  I wrapped a piece of linen thread around the stamped layer and then adhered it to the card base using dimensionals.  The final touch was two leaves from the French Foliage set that I stamped in bravo burgundy (I think that's the first time I've used that ink pad!!) and always artichoke and then fussy cut out.  I adhered them to the back of an always artichoke button that I had threaded with more linen thread and then stuck the whole thing to my card. 
I had originally intended for this card to be part of my Card Buffet line-up, but after putting it all together, decided it was a wee bit too involved for that particular event.  It may just end up in another class though!
Speaking of my card buffet, check out the samples under the Events tab at the top of the page to see the six designs available at that event.  In the meantime, have a great weekend...and happy stampin'!

Amour for the Monkey

I was asked to be a guest designer for this week's challenge over at A La Card Monkey.  The sketch is a simple one which allows for lots of creativity and plenty of room for interpretation.  Since my week was SOOO busy last week, I found myself throwing this card together after work on Friday, rushing to meet my deadline!  The result is not my favourite card ever, but it is a nice, understated Valentine that  would be perfect for just about anyone.

Vintage-inspired Valentine's card for this week's A La Card Monkey challenge.

Inside view

Ok, I used a bunch of different stamp sets for this card.  I pulled one or more images from each of the following sets:  French Foliage, Creative Elements, Artistic Etchings, and Take it to Heart.  My colour scheme was simple:  Poppy Parade, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.  I did manage to take my new Edgelits for a test drive, using the scalloped die to cut the bottom edge of my DSP layer.  I have to say they are as easy to use as the new Framelits...and they're a snap!  If you haven't already ordered yours, you'll want to do so soon...you'll wonder how you ever lived without them!
Now for other news...as some of you are aware, my master bathroom has been under renovation for more than a year and a half.  What started as a simple shower project turned into an almost complete remodel.  It has been a huge source of stress waiting for it to finally get done (yes, my husband was doing this project himself!).  Well, I am thrilled to say that my bathroom is DONE!!!!  My son is having a bath in there as I type this post...and when he's done it is SO my turn!  I am going to have the longest bath in history...I may not get out until I have to go to work tomorrow morning!  If you don't hear from me over the next couple of days...you'll know where I am...

Procrastination...a good thing sometimes...

ok, so maybe not.  I'm sitting at my computer with a PILE of work to do to get ready for the start of the school year next week and instead of getting started, I'm typing a blog post instead!  Can you tell I'm really not ready to let go of summer yet?  The good news for you is that I have another birthday card to show you.  Since I've covered the kids pretty well this week, I figure its time for a grown-up card.  This is another one I designed for my workshop tonight.  The hostess requested a masculine birthday card, so, given the season we are about to begin, I designed this with fall in mind...

Masculine birthday card using French Foliage set with sentiment from Bring on the Cake.

Inside of card

Can you tell I am in love with the French Foliage set?  I was SOOOOO thrilled when it came back in the main catty this year!  It is my go-to fall set...love the realistic looking leaves!  Here is how I put this together:
Starting with a 3 1/2" square of very vanilla cardstock, I randomly stamped the leaves in cajun craze, more mustard and early espresso, stamping off at times to give depth.  I then spritzed the whole thing using my spritzer tool and early espresso marker.  I layered the stamped piece on a 3 5/8" square of always artichoke and then adhered it to an early espresso card base.  Setting that aside, I took a 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of more mustard cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the houndstooth embossing  folder.  I then tore off about 1/4" of an inch along one of the long sides and added some early espresso distressing with the mahogany ink and solid stamp from the distressing kit.  I wrapped and tied a piece of early espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon around the left side and tied a knot.  This was then glued on to the bottom of the cardfront.  The sentiment is heat embossed using pewter embossing powder, punched out with the decorative label and then layered on a second decorative label in always artichoke.  I adhered it using dimensionals.
The inside of the card is simply more randomly stamped leaves and the sentiment stamped in early espresso. 
Easy peasy and effective.  Hope my hostess and her guests like it!  Now I guess I'd better get going on my school work!!

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.

Feels like fall

With the start of the school year and cool nights it really is starting to feel like fall.  Gone are the long, sultry nights of summer...I'm sad to see it go but I love the cool, crispness  in the air.  Today's post is a Thanksgiving card.  We here in Canada will be celebrating in just 4 short weeks!  It is always a very special time of year for our family; made even more-so by our wedding anniversary on October 9th.  I made this card, not really knowing where I was going with it other than that I wanted to make something with a fall flavour.  This is what I ended up with:

I used some of my favourite Stampin' Up products on this card!  First of all, one of the new colours, Cajun Craze, is a rich, saturated burnt-orange that I am quickly falling in love with. The Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder creates absolutely gorgeous texture.  Before running it through my Big Shot I brayered it with Cajun Craze ink.  That created the two-tone effect.  The text behind the torn corner comes from our Presto Patterns specialty paper.  The image appears when you apply ink, either by misting it on or with a sponge or brayer.  The effect is a kind-of emboss resist...very pretty.  For the focal image I used the French Foliage stamp set from the Holiday Mini.  I also used some Chantilly lace ribbon.  This is a beautiful and easy way to  add a touch of vintage elegance to any project.  I finished it off with on of the Antique Brads...another new product I just can't seem to get enough of!

Nothing better on a chilly autumn night than...

...sitting by a cozy fire with a glass of wine.  Today's post is a wine bottle tag designed with autumn leaves in mind. 

This tag was really quite easy to make and is part of my September card class line-up.  It uses two different resist techniques.  The colour in the photo is a bit off...all of the oranges look like different shades...but they are all Cajun Craze...a beautiful, rich burnt orange.  I again used the French Foliage stamp set from the Holiday Mini as well as Tiny Tags from the catalogue for the sentiment.  If you like this and yesterday's post you NEED to be at my September class!  You also need to make sure you have a copy of the Holiday Mini in time for it to begin on September 1st...call or email to request your free copy today!

Fall is in the air...

The grim reality is that summer is almost over.  Those of us in the teaching profession are acutely aware that our freedom is about to come to an end with that first bell on September 7th.  While I mourn the end of my holidays and unlimited time to create, I do look forward to the crisp air and glorious colours of autumn.  I have always loved the fall (so much so that I got married in October!) and the chance to break out the cozy sweaters and jackets and head out for a walk in the changing leaves.   Today's post captures the beauty of autumn perfectly!

 The stamp set I used is from the new Holiday Mini and is called "French Foliage".  It is perfectly suited to collage-style stamping, which is what I did in this card.  I am featuring this set in my September card class.  We will make 3 projects that all use this beautiful set.  I will post the other items later this week.  Stay tuned...and if you like what you see call or email to register for the class.