It's a Sketchy Challenge!

Today marks the 100th edition of Sunday Stamps!  We are celebrating with a fabulous new sketch challenge...check it out:

Here is my project for the Design Team:

Any-occasion card featuring the Regarding Dahlias and Perfect Pennants stamp sets.

This project was inspired by a recent order from a customer.  She ordered several packages of Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White card stock, which got me to thinking about that yummy colour palette.  So, I decided to give it a go for this week's challenge.  I began by heat embossing the dahlia from the Regarding Dahlias stamp set (this one is on the Retirement List...get it before it's gone) using Blushing Bride embossing powder (this is retiring too!) on a panel of Chocolate Chip card stock.  I then coloured in the entire dahlia image using an aquapainter and Whisper White craft ink.  Once that had dried I went back and added a subtle hint of colour using my Blushing Bride Stampin' Write marker and a blender pen.  I love the soft look this technique produces! 

I die-cut the silver glimmer pennant using the Itty Bitty Banners Framelits, and the Blushing Bride pennant using the Banners Framelits.  The sentiment, from the Perfect Pennants stamp set, is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and then die-cut using the Banners Framelits.  I added some long-retired Blushing Bride stitched grosgrain ribbon and a few random rhinestones for some added bling.  The final touch was a wee butterfly, punched from vellum with the Bitty Butterfly punch.

On the inside of the card I stamped the dahlia image again, this time using Chocolate Chip ink.  I lightly sponged the image using a dauber and Blushing Bride ink.

We would love to have you join us for our 100th challenge...why not give this sketch a try?  In case you need more inspiration, I'll be back with a couple of other takes on the sketch! 

Lest We Forget

Today is a solemn day of remembrance.  It is the day on which we honour and thank those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we often take for granted.  In honour of this special day, I designed this card:

Thank you card featuring the Pleasant Poppies background stamp with sentiment from Regarding Dahlias.

The poppy is the international symbol of remembrance, so I thought it only appropriate to use the Pleasant Poppies background stamp. I coloured the lone poppy using the Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Blendabilities sets.

I created the gold frame around the shaded poppy by punching a 1-3/8" circle from Gold Foil paper and then die cutting around the negative using the Circles Framelits.   The sentiment, from the Regarding Dahlias stamp set, is heat embossed in gold and punched with the Decorative Label punch.  I used Basic Black card stock to mat the stamped image and Real Red for my card base.

On the inside I simply stamped a portin of the Pleasant Poppies image again in black. 

I plan to send this card to the family of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, the unarmed soldier who was gunned down in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago.  This Remembrance Day I would encourage you to thank a veteran and pause to remember that freedom is never free.

Thank you Dahlia

Happy Monday :)  I hope you had a fantastic weekend!  We certainly did...the weather was simply gorgeous and we had some fun family time together.  We had family photos done by the ever-so-talented Zelia Bester of Zelia Bester Studios...here is one of the shots from our shoot...the morning light is just fabulous (as are my two handsome men!):

Now for some stamping!  Today I have a project I designed for the October projects for my Blendabilities Club.  This month club members are receiving the Old Olive set, so here is one of the projects I designed for them:

Thank you card featuring the Regarding Dahlias stamp set, coloured with the Old Olive Blendabilities.

I love the dahlia image in this set!  It is beautiful as it is (which is what I stamped the background of the card with) but coloured with Blendabilities it is simply stunning.  I paired the Old Olive with Blackberry Bliss ink, card stock and ribbon and loved the result.  The card base is Mossy Meadow, which is just a shade darker than the darkest shade in the Blenda's set. 

Stay tuned tomorrow...I'll have another of this month's project to show you.  Not a Blendabilities Club member yet?  What are you waiting for??  Click HERE to learn more and register today!

Blended Dahlia Wedding

Big News!!

For a limited time (until the end of June) you can purchase a reduced-priced Starter Kit at the low price of $60 ($65 product value) and join my team of Tri-City Stampers!  This reduced-price kit still offers all the fantastic Demonstrator benefits of the full-price kit, including $65 worth of products of your choice as well as catalogues and business supplies.  This is the perfect time to join Stampin' Up! as we launch a brand new Annual Catalogue - you'll get a 30% discount on your first order!  What a great way to get the items on your new catty Wish List!  To learn more about the demonstrator opportunity click the Join My Team tab above.

Now for some stamping!  This is another project I made a couple of weeks ago while I was playing with my new Blendabilities...

Wedding card featuring the Regarding Dahlias and Label Love stamp sets.

 I love this image coloured with Blendabilities!  So rich and luxurious looking...I couldn't help but make a wedding card with it!

I used the Cherry Cobbler set to colour the image, which is stamped in Memento black ink.  I used the (retired) Pretty Print TIEF on the background and added some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon (more colours of that stuff coming in the new catty-woohoo!) with an Antique Brad and some bling.  The label is from the Label Love set and is punched using the Artisan Label punch.

Inside view with sentiments from One in a Million.

On the inside I just stamped two sentiments from the retiring One In a Million stamp set in Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black ink.  Aside from the colouring this was a snap to put together!

Birthday Buffet Sneak Peek

Later this month I am hosting an All About Birthdays Card Buffet and today I have one of the projects that will be available to make at that event.  It was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest by Cindy Brumbaugh and uses a stamp set I have had for quite some time, but only now inked up!  Check it out:

Birthday card featuring the Regaring Dahlias stamp set with sentiment from Bring on the Cake.

The DSP I used in this project determined my colour scheme.  It is from the fabulous new Sweet Sorbet DSP which is part of the offerings for this year's edition of Sale-a-bration.  It will be available starting January 28th!

The dahlia image is heat embossed in Pool Party embossing powder on Basic Black card stock, which is then layered on Pool Party and Whisper White.  The background piece of Basic Black card stock is embossed using the Pretty Print TIEF from the Holiday Catalogue.  Today is the last day you can get it, so hurry if you don't already own it!

Inside sentiment is from the Bring on the Cake set.

There are just three seats remaining for my All About Birthdays Card Buffet.  Click HERE for details and RSVP to register soon so that you aren't disappointed!

Now I have a bit of business to take care of.  I need to give away some free stuff!  Here is the bundle of goodies:

And the winner is...

Brenda in IN

Brenda is a faithful reader of my blog and always leaves such encouraging comments.  I so appreciate her kind words.  She was the only one who came close to guessing which elements from my card design were from the Christmas Simply Created Kit, so I am very happy to send this little bundle of goodies her way.  Thanks to all who participated!  Stay tuned for more give-aways soon...I have a BIG box of goodies to send to new homes!