Sheltering Sympathy for Sunday Stamps

Happy Sunday! I hope the weather where you are is nice than it is here.  It is a cold, wet, blustery weekend here in Southern Ontario!  Perfect weather for comfort food and stamping :)

Today marks the beginning of a new colour challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  Check it out:

Now, I'll admit, this one is a tough one! It took me a while and some playing with colour combinations and images to come up with my project for the Design Team:

Sympathy card featuring the Sheltering Tree stamp set

I'm actually fairly happy with the way this one turned out. I really like the serene neutral pallette, which is perfect for a sympathy card.  I used Crumb Cake ink to stamp the tree from the Sheltering Tree set on a piece of Whisper White card stock. I matted the stamped layer with Smoky Slate and Crumb Cake card stock and then adhered it to another piece of Smoky Slate card stock that I had embossed using the Woodland TIEF. The card is built on a Crumb Cake card base.

I brought in the lightest shade in the challenge with some 7/16" Natural Trim (retired) and a couple of leaves from the Into The Wood Elements. I like the texture they add while also adding the lighter neutral shade.

Inside view with sentiment from Petite Pairs

On the inside I stamped the tree again in Crumb Cake ink and then added a sentiment from the Petite Pairs set in Smoky Slate ink.

If you are looking for a way to stretch your creativity, be sure to give this challenge a try.  Check out the rest of the Design Team's projects and then give it a go.  We'd love to see your work!

Here are the products used to create this project:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Hello Baby!

Happy Monday!  It certainly is a busy one!  I have another inspiration project to share with you based on this week's sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  I also am honoured to participate in the Creative Blog Hop...my Q & A and nominations are at the bottom of this post.  Finally, today is my dear Dad's 70th birthday!  Unfortunately I won't get to see him today, as he lives 4 hours away, but I'll be thinking of him all day and look forward to chatting with him tonight.  So, let's get things rolling!  Firstly, here is another project I designed using this week's sketch from Sunday Stamps:

Baby card featuring the Crazy About You and Something For Baby stamp sets and coordinating Hello You Thinlits.

I am holding an all-occasions card buffet in a few weeks and this is one of the projects that will be on offer.  I love that this card is relatively gender neutral...perfect to have on-hand just-in-case.  I used Best Year Ever DSP (available FREE with a $60 order until March 31st) for the background panel, drawing my colour scheme from it.  Building up from there, I used half a Tea Lace Doily and some Crushed Curry Chevron ribbon.  The rubber ducky is from the Something For Baby stamp set and is stamped in Crushed Curry ink and die-cut using the Baby's First Framelits.  The word "hello" is die cut from Coastal Cabana card stock using the Hello You Thinlits.  Both are adhered to a heart cut from Sahara Sand card stock using the Hearts Collection Framelits and embossed using the Argyle TIEF. 

The word "baby" is from the Crazy About You stamp set and is stamped in Coastal Cabana ink on a scrap of Whisper White card stock, which I trimmed into a banner using the Banner punch.  I added a wee silver glimmer heart, also cut with the Hearts Collection Framelits, and embellished it with a Coastal Cabana button from the Best Year Ever SAB accessory pack and a bit of Crushed Curry baker's twine.   The entire card is built on a Sahara Sand card base.

Inside view with sentiment from the Petite Pairs stamp set.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment from the Petite Pairs stamp set in Coastal Cabana ink.  I also stamped the little rubber ducky again along the bottom using Crushed Curry ink and added a wee silver glimmer heart punched with the Hearts Border punch.

Now for the Creative Blog Hop Q & A...each question is listed below along with my answers:

What are you working on now?  
At the moment I am designing the rest of the samples for my all-occasions card buffet, along with the invitations for my son's upcoming 8th birthday party.

How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I'm not sure my work is all that different!  I do use exclusively Stampin' Up! products because I love the quality and the ease with which my projects come together, thanks to the fantastic colour-coordination.  I have tried other companies' products, but always come back to Stampin' Up!

Why do you create what you do?
I love having a creative outlet that is different from what I do all day in my "real" job.  I am a high school music teacher by day, which, although an outlet for creative expression, is loud and exhausting.  I love that in the evening I get to spend time in my craft room, enjoying peace and quiet, being creative in other ways.  I also love making others happy by sending them a handmade card.

How does your creative process work?
I typically start with a purpose...usually to create samples for upcoming classes or events.  Sometimes I work from a sketch, whether it is one I create or one I find elsewhere, others times I just let the stamps, paper and ink lead me where they want. It is those times I find my final product ends up looking nothing like I had originally envisioned it!  I am also the queen of hiding my mistakes.  Many an embellishment has been used to hide design flaws and inky fingerprints...there, now my secret is out!  The next time you look at one of my projects you'll be wondering what sins those embellishmenst are hiding!

Thanks for stopping by!  I am nominating the following bloggers for the next stop in the Creative Blog Hop.  Their posts should go up next Monday, March 9th:

Jenna Hampshire at The Card Chronicles

and

Wendy Johnson at Pink and Dotty

Jenna is a new blogger from my team who does such cute projects and Wendy is someone I discovered on Pinterest who also does fantastic work.  Be sure to check out each of their blogs when you get a chance.  Have a fantastic week!!

World of Dreams Birthday

Today I have a non-Christmas card that I CASE'd from one I saw on Pinterest.  It is another one of the projects we did at my techniques class this month.  I mentioned earlier this week that I wanted to showcase the off-set stamping technique and different effects that can be achieved with it.  Today I have a 3-D-looking image...

Masculine birthday card featuring the World of Dreams stamp set with sentiment from Petite Pairs

The focal image appears to be three dimensional.  I achieved this look by stamping the image, from the World of Dreams stamp set, first in Chocolate Chip ink on Typeset DSP.  I then stamped the image again with Versamark ink, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the image slightly higher and to the right of the original image.  I then heat embossed using white embossing powder.  To make the image really pop, I added sponging in Pool Party, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip inks.

The sentiment, from the Petite Pairs set,  is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink on Kraft card stock.  I used the Banners Framelits to die cut it.  The ribbon on the card is some (retired) 5/8" natural trim.  For the background layer, I simply stamped another of the images from the World of Dreams set using Mossy Meadow ink on Mossy Meadow card stock.  I also sponged the edges lightly in Mossy Meadow ink.  The card front is mounted on a Kraft card base.

  

 

On the inside I stamped the images from the front of the card again in Chocolate Chip and Mossy Meadow inks.  The sentiment, also from Petite Pairs, is stamped in Mossy Meadow.

Building Blocks for The Twist

So I think I am likely the last person on the planet to try making a building block card, but I finally took the plunge!  This week's challenge over at The Technique Twist is all about the building block card and, being the dutiful Design Team Member that I am, I not only learned how to make one of these funky cards, I also added my own little twist!  Check it out:

Building Block card featuring the Something For Baby, Good Greetings and Petite Pairs stamp sets.

Now I started out by reading Laura Lipe's wonderful tutorial over on Splitcoast Stampers.  Once I figured out how the measurements worked it was easy to add an extra inch and a quarter to the shorter dimension to give me enough space to add the extra block.  I really wanted enough room for the word SWEET, so the extra block was essential, thus my finished card measures 3-1/2"x 6-3/4" when closed.  Because of the odd size I had to make an envelope to fit it, which took less than a minute with my Envelope Punch Board.

On the front of my card I used some Gold Soiree Specialty DSP for the background.  I love that it doesn't scream baby.  I also used half a Tea Lace Doily, some Pool Party Baker's Twine, some little bitty glimmer hearts, punched with the Owl Builder punch, and some pearls I coloured with my Blendabilities.  The little onesie is from the new Something for Baby stamp set, is stamped in Calypso Coral, and is die cut using the Babies First framelits.  I wanted to girlie it up so I added some (retired) ruffled stretch ribbon in Crisp Cantaloupe around the bottom to look like a skirt. 

I also added a little glimmer flower, an In-colour sequin and a pearl as the little belt buckle.  I "hung" the whole thing from a (retired) Cute Clips hanger and adhered it to my card using a double layer of dimensionals (necessary because of all those ruffles).  The sentiment is from an upcoming Hostess promotion called Good Greetings...I LOVE this set!  The handwritten font is so trendy and fun!

On the inside, I used more of the same Gold Soiree paper on my blocks, matting each piece with Pool Party card stock.  I die cut the letters using the Little Letters Thinlits from Pool Party card stock.

The sentiments, from the Petite Pairs stamp set, are stamped in Pool Party, punched with the 1" circle and then layered on a 1-1/4" scalloped circle in Pool Party.

I added  a few more coloured pearls to highlight the sentiments...and because I love colouring them with my Blenda's ;)

So there you have it, my very first (but certainly not my last) building block card!  Whaddya think?  Wanna try one yourself?  Go ahead...it's the weekend...be adventurous!  Then be sure to link up over at The Technique Twist so we can all see your brilliance! 

World of Dreams Wishes

This is the time of year when we teachers meet to celebrate the various events in eachother's lives that we've been too busy to acknowledge all year.  Later this week, the ladies from our staff are gathering to honour several of our colleagues who are getting married or having babies and, naturally, I volunteered to make the cards for the guests of honour.  Yesterday I sat down to create 5 over-sized cards for 5 special ladies...today I have the first one to show you.  This one is for a colleague who is both getting married over the summer and leaving our staff for another school due to a drop in our enrollment.  It is never easy to say good-bye to colleagues who aren't leaving by choice, so I wanted to focus on the happy event, rather than the unhappy one, this is what I came up with...

Wedding card featuring the World of Dreams stamp set with sentiment from Petite Pairs.

Now, I had a bit of an inside edge in designing this one, as I helped the bride plan her invitations, so I pulled several of the elements from those into this card.  I used some of the recently retired (but still much beloved) Natural Compositions Specialty DSP for the card base, which is over-sized at 6" x 7".  I always find it a challenge to fill the larger canvas, so the texture and pattern provided by the DSP helped. 

The leaf images are stamped in Mossy Meadow and the birds are in Early Espresso.  I heat embossed a Tea Lace Doily in gold for some weddingy elegance and then added texture with burlap ribbon, crochet trim and a bit of seam binding ribbon.  I couldn't omit the bling, so I added a Vintage Faceted button, threaded with some Linen Thread.  The sentiment is heat embossed in gold and die cut using the Banners Collection Framelits.
Of course, making an over-sized card meant also making an envelope to fit it...thank goodness for my large collection of retired DSP and my envelope punch board!  Quick and easy to create a coordinating envelope, sized perfectly to this card.  I think the bride-to-be will love it!

A Simply Sketched Birthday

Whew...TGIF!!  We made it to Friday...wahoo!  Tonight is my All About Birthdays Card Buffet and I am very excited!  It is going to be a great evening!  Here is a card I designed for the event using the Simply Sketched hostess set from the Annual Catalogue:

Generic birthday card featuring the Simply Sketched hostess set.

I love coming up with card designs that are generic...perfect for both men and women and suitable for multiple occasions.  This particular design could work as a sympathy card or a thank you simply by using one of the other sentiments included in the stamp set.

I really like this colour scheme...that pop of yellow is rather unexpected, but really adds interest to the design.  I used some of the twine from the Sweet Sorbet Accessory pack available starting next Tuesday in the Sale-a-bration brochure.

Inside view with sentiment from Petite Pairs.

I carried that bit of yellow inside the card, matting the sentiment with a label cut from Summer Starfruit card stock, using the Chalk Talk Framelits.

Try your hand this weekend at creating a generic card.  They are great to have on-hand! Have a super weekend everyone!!

Merry Christmas, Deer

Holiday card featuring the Warmth and Wonder Hostess set with sentiment from Petite Pairs

Do you ever sit down to create something and have an idea in your mind and then end up with something entirely different?  That was the case with this card.  I don't mind the end result, but it certainly isn't what I was going for!  Here is a quick rundown on how I put it together:

• I embossed the bottom edge of the Soft Suede card base using the Delicate Designs TIEF (127023)
• The birch paper is from the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit (133463)...love that stuff!
• The DSP is from the Season of Style 12x12 DSP pack (132340).
• The deer image is from the Warmth and Wonder Hostess set (131883)and is heat embossed in gold.  The sentiment is stamped in Cherry Cobbler and is from the Petite Pairs set (122497).  The label is die cut using the Deco Labels framelits (130132).

Thanks for checking in...stop by tomorrow for another Faux Patina project!

The end of a Crazy Week!

TGIF!!  I am SOOO glad it is Friday!  This week has been nutso!  I've been out every night and worked during the day...which means no stamping fun and no projects to show you!  My new catty pre-order arrived last week and I've barely done more than take it out of the box!  I am so overdue for some stamping time. 
Today I want to show you a card I designed for a workshop I did last Sunday.  It features, once again, one of my favourite retiring stamp sets...have a look:

Any-occasion card featuring the Circle Circus and Papillon Potpouri stamp sets with sentiment from Petite Pairs

This is a super-simple card to put together...perfect for a workshop situation.  I started by embossing the scalloped edge pattern on the card base with my Needlepoint Border TIEF.  Then I stamped the various circles using the following colours:  Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight and Lucky Limeade.  On a scrap of Whisper White, I stamped the butterfly from Papillon Potpouri using Lucky Limeade ink and punched it out using the Bitty Butterfly punch.  I layered that on an Elegant Butterfly punch in Lucky Limeade.  On another bit of scrap I stamped the sentiment in Basic Black ink and punched it out with my 1-1/4" circle punch.  I layered it on a Melon Mambo 1-3/8" circle.  Both the sentiment and the butterfly are adhered to the card with dimensionals.  The last touch was to add some bling to the butterfly with a few rhinestone basic gems.  Easy-peasy but such a happy card! 
Here's a quick look at the inside:

Inside view

I hope you've got great plans for the weekend...and maybe something special in-store if you're a Mom or mom-to-be on Sunday.  Enjoy!

Blingy Minis

Today I have a fun ensemble for you that I designed for two different purposes!  The card was for a class I did last week and the tag was for my upcoming Tags...You're It! event.  Check it out:

Blinged out Holiday Ensemble featuring the Merry Minis punch pack and sentiment from Petite Pairs

Card

Gift tag

I don't quite know just what it is about the argyle TIEF in vanilla that seems so Christmasy to me?!  Maybe it reminds me of a cozy cable-knit sweater.  All I know is that I really love this combination for the holidays...add some bling and a little DSP from the Festival of Prints stack and this card is one of my fav's this season! 

A Winner and a Deer

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend...we were busy as always around here.  The To-Do list is gradually getting shorter in anticipation of our Austrian visitors next month.  Today, as promised, I have the winner of the free month's subscription to Craft Project Central.  So...without further ado...the winner is...

HOFKISSED

Congratulations!  I'll be in touch about how to access your free subscription.

Now for some stamping!  Today I have another Christmas card for you.  It uses one of the new sets from the Annual Catalogue as well as some new products from the Holiday catty.  Check it out:

Elegant Christmas card featuring the Christmas Deer stamp set with sentiment from Petite Pairs

Once again, I based the layout for this design on a sketch challenge but am too late to enter!  I used last week's sketch over at Stamping 411. The sketch is pretty simple and so is this card.  The background is the new Core'dinations card stock in Early Espresso, that I embossed with the new Lacy Brocade TIEF and then lightly sanded.  I also used a bit of the new Candlelight Christmas DSP...so pretty!  I added a bit of Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon and a glimmer brad for a bit of sparkle.  Quick and easy...made even easier because the design work was already done...gotta love working from a sketch! 

Soft and Pretty

Happy Saturday to you!  Today I have a soft and pretty card I created for my monthly techniques group.  It uses the Faux Silk technique...have a look:

Soft and pretty Birthday card featuring the Reason to Smile stamp set with greeting from Petite Pairs.

Inside view

I had great fun with my embossing folders on this one!  I used one of the Delicate Designs folders along the left edge to create that beautiful scalloped lace pattern and then used my Perfect Polka Dots folder on the rest of the card front.  The focal image is done using the Faux Silk technique.  Such a quick and easy way to add texture and interest to any project.  I used one of my favourite colour combos:  Calypso Coral and Pool Party against the Whisper White...so clean and fresh!  My techniques class enjoyed this project...I hope you did too!

Another Quiet Sunday...

...that's two in a row!  I feel spoiled.  Today marks the second Sunday in a row that I've been able to spend with my family.  We are heading to church and then this afternoon its all about the pumpkin carving!  Max is super excited about Halloween this year...a huge switch from the boy who wouldn't even put on a costume last year!  Of course, it helps that his pre-school has been hyping Halloween since the beginning of October.  He is dressing as Mario (appropriate since his life is all about Mario Galaxy for the  Wii these days) and he sure looks cute in that big black mustache!  I'll post photos of his big night on Tuesday. 
In the meantime I have another project I designed for the mega-Stamp-A-Stack  I did last weekend.  See what you think...

Cute, vintage-inspired Christmas card using the Snow Much Fun set with sentiment from Petite Pairs

Inside view

Now, I am not generally a "cute" Christmas kinda gal.  I love all things vintage and my home is decorated in a Victorian style during the holidays.  But I have to say that this set has really grown on me.  If I have to do a cutesy Christmas card this is my go-to choice.  I was faced with a challenge on this card, in that I couldn't have 12 ladies all colouring their snowmen at the same time, so I had to design a card that didn't require colouring!  I stamped the snowmen in early espresso on crumb cake cardstock...and I quite like the look!  With a bit of distressing and some sponging one of the ladies commented that it almost looked like leather!  The rest of the card is pretty straightforward.  The colours I used are always artichoke and riding hood red.  I used the snowburst embossing folder on the cardbase and added the little ribbon treatment with some of those cute little mini jingle bells to finish it off.  The ladies at my SAS really like this card and I do too...I surprised even myself!