Baby Mojo

Well I'm late again!  Today's project was designed using LAST WEEK'S sketch over at Mojo Monday.  I quite liked the sketch, but alas I am too late to enter the challenge.  Ah well...maybe next time!  Here is my project:

Baby card featuring the Zoo Babies, Hearts A-flutter and Sweet Essentials stamp sets.

Would you believe this is the first time I've inked up my Zoo Babies stamp set??  I've had it for nearly a year and it just finally saw ink this past weekend!  Sad or what??  Thankfully it is back in the new 2014/15 Annual Catalogue so I'll have another year to play with it.

Here are some tips in case you want to recreate this one:

• The colour in the top photo is really off...the bottom one is more accurate!  My colour scheme was Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Crumb Cake and Whisper White.
• The DSP is from the Fresh Prints DSP stack.
• I used the Adorning Accents TIEF to add this little embossed hearts along the bottom of the card base.  (psst...if you like those little hearts get those folders now...they're retiring soon!)
• The rear panel is stamped using the soon-to-be-retired Hearts A-Flutter stamp set and was then run through the Big Shot with the also-soon-to-be-retired Square Lattice TIEF.  I trimmed the left edge of the panel with a bit of Stretch ruffled trim (also retiring!)
• The sentiment is from the Sweet Essentials stamp set (it's retiring too...are you sensing a theme here?)
• The ribbon is 3/8" taffeta in Crumb Cake, which is...wait for it...also retiring!

Yup, I'm losing a ton of supplies to retirement this year!  There is going to be one heck of a Yard Sale come June...stay tuned for more about that!

Speaking of retirement, there are some great soon-to-be-retired items on this week's Weekly Deals.  Check 'em out:

Alhambra Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel Reg. Price: $10.50 Sale Price: $7.88	Card Base Pop' N Cuts Reg. Price: $48.95 Sale Price: $36.71	Hearts A Flutter Clear-Mount Stamp Set Reg. Price: $22.95 Sale Price: $17.21	Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies Reg. Price: $30.95 Sale Price: $23.21
I Am Me Designer Series Paper Reg. Price: $13.50 Sale Price: $10.13	Pacific Point 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Reg. Price: $12.50 Sale Price: $9.38	Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Reg. Price: $6.75 Sale Price: $5.06	The Man, The Myth Board Book Designer Template - Digital Download Reg. Price: $16.50 Sale Price: $9.90

Card for Baby

Today I have the card I made to go with my gift at the shower last Friday.  It was pretty last-minute, as I was so busy making all of the decor stuff I kind of forgot about a card!  I threw this together the night before the shower...not my best work, but it's ok...

Baby card featuring the Banner Blast, Sweet Essentials and Itty Bitties (retired) stamp sets.

I'm not exactly thrilled with this card, but I was under a time crunch, which always tends to stifle my creativity.  I started with a piece of DSP from the Fresh Prints pack and then layered half of a doily, some pennants stamped with the Banner Blast set and punched with the coordinating punch and some stitched grosgrain ribbon.  The teeny little feet are from the Itty Bitties stamp set, which was in last year's Occasions catalogue.  Sadly it is no longer available, but I kept it just for this one image...aren't they adorable??

The sentiment is from the Sweet Essentials set and is die cut using the Bitty Banners framelits.  I added a small Vintage Faceted button and a bit of twine from the Sweet Sorbet Accessory pack.  Like I said, not my best work, but not bad for last minute ;)

Now, here are this week's Weekly Deals...some great items here!  I'm ordering a  few myself!

We hope you enjoy this week's Weekly Deals!

	Backyard Basics Framelits Dies Item # 129380 Regular Price: 30.95  Discounted Price: 23.21
	Gold Metallic Encore Pad Item # 132141 Regular Price: 12.95 Discounted Price: 9.71
	Basics Glimmer Brads Item # 121003 Regular Price: 6.95 Discounted Price: 4.88
	Paper Doily Sizzlits Die Item # 125592 Regular Price: 26.95 Discounted Price: 20.21
	Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon Item # 126844 Regular Price: 12.25 Discounted Price: 9.19
	Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon Item # 126846 Regular Price: 12.25  Discounted Price:  /9.19
	Season By Season Kit - Digital Download Item # 130060 Regular Price:  10.95  Discounted Price:  6.57

A Versatile design

Today I have a card whose design I can't take credit for.  There have been a zillion variations on this layout floating around on Pinterest over the past couple of weeks, but I think this particular one most resembles one by Dawn Griffith.  I was pressed for time last week as I was prepping for a mini Stamp-a-Stack and needed a simple Thinking of You card.  I remembered this one and viola:

Thinking of you card featuring the Sweet Essentials and Banner Blast stamp sets.

What I love about this project is how very easy it would be to adapt it for another occasion simply by changing the sentiment.  It could be a birthday, baby or even a Valentine's card!  Gotta love versatility!  The ladies at my SAS loved it.

Here are some quick tips:

• I used both the Bitty Banners and the Banners Collection framelits to cut the cardstock banners in the background.
• I used the Adorning Accents TIEF to emboss the hearts.
• The colour scheme is Crisp Cantaloupe and Pool Party.
• The twine is from the Sweet Sorbet Accessory pack.  I've almost gone through two full packs of that stuff...love it!!
• The stamped banners are from the Banner Blast stamp set and are punched with the coordinating Banner punch - both available FREE during Sale-a-bration. 

I left the inside fairly plain, simply stamping a row of banners across the top.

 

What's not to love about a simply card that works for just about any occasion?? 

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday...we are getting walloped with snow here again!  Will winter ever end?  *sigh*  The good news is that I think I've finally licked this sinus thing...just in time for my Sale-a-bration Open House this weekend...yippee!!

Hello Baby

 A colleague of mine is expecting her first baby at the end of March and I am hosting a shower for her in a couple of weeks.  I put together some invitations for the shower based on her nursery colour scheme...

Baby card featuring the Baby We've Grown stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

Isn't that little bunny the cutest thing?? I just adore him...he reminds me of The Velveteen Rabbit.  I stamped him in Staz on and coloured him in using a blender pen and Smokey Slate, Summer Starfruit and Crisp Cantaloupe markers.  The tag the bunny is stamped on was punched with the new Scalloped Tag Topper punch...love that thing!  So easy to make tags of any size...I'm also using it to make the favours for the shower...more on those later ;)

I made 19 of these, so I got lots of watercolouring practice ;)  Since the mommy-to-be doesn't know whether she's having a boy or a girl I kept it as gender-neutral as I could but couldn't resist adding a bit of lace and some bling for mommy (who is a real girlie-girl).  She loved it!

On the actual invitations I replaced the Hello Baby sentiment with You're Invited and then printed the shower details on the inside of the card.  I figured you wouldn't really be interested in where this gal is registered and what time her shower is at, so I changed up the inside for you...

Inside view with sentiment from Cuddles and Kisses.

I'm excited about this shower!  I have some fun ideas for decor that I'll show you when I get it made.  In the meantime, it's back to bed for me as I work on getting rid of this yucky sinus thing.  Have a great day, everyone!

More Sketchy goodness

Happy Friday!!  TGIF!!!  It's time for another project inspired by this month's inspiration sketch.  First, here is the sketch...

...and here is my festive project...

Holiday card featuring the Festive Flurry Bundle, the Northern Frost TIEF and Winter Frost DSP stack with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

This card was my way of using up scraps...gotta love it when you can clean up your desk AND make something pretty at the same time!

Here is a quick rundown of how I put this one together:

• the snowflake is heat embossed in silver on Vellum and then die cut with the Festive Flurry Framelits.
• The DSP is from the Winter Frost stack.  That stuff lasts FOREVER!
• The Whisper White background is embossed using the Northern Frost TIEF.
• The sentiment is from the Sweet Essentials stamp set and is stamped in Basic Gray ink.

This is another quick and easy take on this sketch.  Give it a try and see what you come up with!  Have a great, crafty, weekend!!

Monday...ugh!

Why is it that weekends go by so quickly??  I'm not ready for it to be Monday yet...I still have more stamping to do!!  To kick the week off I have a pretty CAS sympathy card for you that I designed for The Friday Mashup using this month's inspiration sketch...

Sympathy card featuring the Flowering Flourishes, Flower Shop and Sweet Essentials stamp sets.

In case you've forgotten, here is my sketch for this month:

As you can see, I took a few  liberties with the sketch, but I think the basic layout is still there.  I wanted the design to be very clean, so I omitted a few layers.

I stamped the flower on vellum and heat embossed it in white.  Then I coloured the back side of the vellum with Wisteria Wonder and Blushing Bride markers before punching it out with the Pansy Punch.  Colouring on the back of the vellum gives a very soft, muted look.  Kinda pretty, no?  I skipped the ribbon and settled for just a single pearl by way of embellishment.  Not an easy feat for me, as you well know. 
If you haven't give this sketch a try yet, give it a shot.  There are tons of possibilities.  I'll be back later in the week with another take on it...in the meantime, here's hoping the week passes as quickly as the weekend did!!

Bridal Congrats

Now that I've finally inked up my Fabulous You stamp set, I'm on a bit of a roll with it!  Today I have a card I designed for a private class I held last night.  Check it out:

Bridal Congrats card featuring the Fabulous You stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials

Inside view with image from Creative Elements and sentiment from Love & Laughter.

Have I mentioned how much I love this shoe image?  It is especially yummy embossed in peweter and blinged up with a strip of rhinestones.  I added some gorgeous embossing with the Elegant Lines TIEF (get this one NOW...it is on the Retiring List!) and made it even more bridal with some organza ribbon.  So pretty and elegant!
Just a reminder that today is the last day to sign up for my Scrapbook in a Day class coming up on May 4th.  There is A LOT of prep involved on my end for this one, so I need the extra lead time.  If you want to attend haven't yet confirmed your spot please do so ASAP so I have the weekend to prep the materials.

More Sketch Inspiration

Happy Hump Day!  I always feel such a sense of relief when Wednesday hits, knowing there are only two more days till the weekend!  I am super excited today because I just booked my trip to Salt Lake City for Stampin' Up's 25th Anniversay Convention happening in July.  The best part?  My registration was FREE (one of the many perks I've earned as a demonstrator) and my flight was FREE too (I booked using Airmiles!!).  Can't wait till July!

Today I have another card I designed using this month's Sketch Inspiration.  In case you missed it, here is the sketch:

 And here is another, very different take on it:

Any-occasion card featuring the Circle Circus stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

For this card I turned the sketch sideways and moved the sentiment so that it balanced.  I used some of the Sent With Love DSP for the background and stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed it in  Pool Party.  I changed the colour of the Designer Builder Brad by embossing it also with Pool Party...it makes for a lovely focal point paired with a couple of images from the Circle Circus stamp set.  I added lots of bling with Rhinestone Basic Jewels.  Stay tuned next week for another project using this sketch.  To view past sketchs and samples click the Monthly Sketch Inspiration tab at the top of this page.

Embossed Builder Brads

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend!  Today I have a card I designed for my monthly techniques group.  Unfortunately the weather last week was most uncooperative and I had to cancel my class due to a major ice storm!  One of the techniques we were going to learn was how to change the colour of brads using embossing powder.  Check this out:

Birthday card featuring the Circle Circus, Itty Bitties and Sweet Essentials stamp sets

Notice the brad?  It is one of the gorgeous Builder Brads from the Spring Catalogue that I recoloured using Tempting Turquoise embossing powder.  Cool, huh?  The rest of this note card is pretty simple...I wanted the brad to shine!  I do so love the Circle Circus stamp set...sure hope that one makes it into the new Annual Catalogue...I will miss it if it retires!  The colours I used here were Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Lucky Limeade.  I embossed the backgound layer with my Argyle TIEF and added some bling with some Rhinestone Basic Jewels.
The only upside to having to cancel this month's techniques class is that I have next month's all planned and ready to go!!  Be sure to stop by tomorrow...I'll have another card I did using this same technique and I'll announce the winner of the free month subscription to Craft Project Central!  Don't forget to leave a comment on this or any other posed dated since April 1st, 2013.  Good luck in the draw!

Make A Wish CASE

Sometimes when I'm in a rush for a design I find myself CASE'ing the work of my fellow demonstrators on our online forum.  Today's card was originally designed by Deena Boos.  You can view her original design here.  This is my take on it:

Birthday card featuring the Summer Silhouettes and Papillon Potpourri stamp sets with sentiment from Sweet Essentials

As you can see, I pretty much CASE'd Deena's design exactly with the exception of the addition of the DSP layer behind the card front and the use of the larger butterfly.  I love the monochromatic look of this design and the vellum butterflies are just so pretty and delicate.  The next time you're stuck for an idea, start by CASE'ing something you like.  You'll be amazed at how it can spark your own creativity!

March Sketch Inspiration...a little late!

I have to admit I am a wee bit behind posting my samples for this month's sketch inspiration!  Here it is the third week of March and I've only shown you one lonely sample!  Well this week will be a two-fer!  Here is another project using this month's sketch:

This is the sketch, in case you missed it!

Birthday card featuring the Summer Silhouettes stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials

For this example I turned the sketch on it's side!  I still kept all of the elements, but instead of putting my sentiment where it is in the sketch, I put it where the embellishments were...I even kept it to three words!  I moved my embellishment to where the sentiment was in the sketch.  And what an awesome embellishment those Designer Builder Brads are!!  I also added a little butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri set that I punched out with the new Bitty Buttefly punch...did you know the small butterfly images in that set fit the punch?  Love it!  The butterfly is stamped on Vellum to give it a different texture and add interest.
This card just happens to be one of the designs that will be available at my Spring Fling Card Buffet next weekend.  If you haven't registered yet it's not too late!  There are still spots available for both the Friday and the Sunday sessions.  Call or email to reserve your seat today!

Baby Bitties

I'm still fighting this sinus infection, but I do want to quickly show you this cute card I designed a while back.

Baby card featuring the Itty Bitties stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

I just love the Itty Bitties stamp set!  It has such cute images and is so versatile!  Yes, the images are small, but that just means you can use them with some fun embellishments!  Here I've layered the stamped images on some of the Sycamore Street buttons, available for free during Sale-a-bration, to frame them and give them more presence on the card.  The DSP I've used is from the More Amore pack...not just for Valentine's Day!  The sentiment, from the Sweet Essentials set is perfect on a little banner to welcome a new addition.  With many of my friends expecting little ones in the coming months, I'm sure I'll be able to put this card to good use!

More Crafty Watercolouring

Today I want to show you the card I designed for my techniques class this week to learn the Crafty Watercolouring technique.  I used this week's Retro Sketches challenge as my starting point.  Here is the sketch:

Check out my version, which also happens to work for this week's marker/texture challenge over at Friday Mash-up

Any-Occasion card for RS51 and FM97

I can't tell you how much I love this technique!  The results are gorgeous and so easy to achieve!  I know my class members are going to love it!  I'm sure you'll see more of this look from me in the future!

Happy 2013!!

Happy New Year!!  I hope 2013 brings health, happiness and, of course lots of rubber!!  I am celebrating with my family at Disney World, but I do have this project to show you that showcases lots of new products from the upcoming Spring Catalogue, which goes live on January 3rd.  I thought it rather appropriate to create a baby card for this brand new year!  Have a look:

Sweet Baby card featuring the Itty Bitties stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

Not your typical baby card, but I think it works!  I used the new Hearts A-flutter DSP...so many great patterns in there for many occasions, not just Valentine's Day...and drew my colour scheme from that.  I settled on Pool Party, Real Red, Primrose Petals and Very Vanilla.  I also finally got to use some of the fun new Soda Pop tops to highlight the Itty Bitties images...so many possibilities with these!  The gorgeous satin ribbon is from the Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button pack available as one of this year's Sale-a-bration offerings.  This ribbon is so pretty and very easy to work with...the bows practically tie themselves!  I added texture with the Argyle and Delicate Designs TIEFs, which I think are perfect for a baby themed card.

I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Eve and are spending today doing what you love with the people who matter most to you!

Blingy Cheer

I've discovered a new favourite colour combo for Christmas:  Real Red and Early Espresso with a little Champagne Glimmer Paper thrown in for good measure.  Check out this card I designed with all of these elements:

Simple holiday card featuring the Scentsational Season stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

This is another candidate for my Christmas Card buffet.  I love how quick and easy it is to stamp and cut out the mug and steam using my Holiday Collection Framelits.  The sentiment from Sweet Essentials works perfectly with the image and the stitched grosgrain ribbon adds a homey feel.  Then there's the bling!  I so love the new Champagne glimmer paper!  I am praying it comes back in a future catalogue to join the red and silver paper...they make such a happy little family!   Want more information about my upcoming Christmas Card Buffet?  Click the Upcoming Events tab at the top of the page and scroll down, but hurry, time is running out to register!

One Card, Two Looks

My monthly techniques group meets this week and one of the gals asked if we could do a baby congrats card.  I am always happy to oblige requests when I can and wanted to come up with something that didn't scream "baby" so that the other members of the group could alter the greeting in the event they weren't in need of a baby card.  So, here is what I came up with...one card, two looks:

Baby Card featuring the Baby Bundle and Sweet Essentials stamp sets and using the Faux Quilting technique.

Birthday card featuring the Pretty Postage and Sweet Essentials stamp sets.

I think both cards work!  I switched up the birthday card a little by using a different TIEF for the Faux Quilting and changing the ribbon colour.  Both are easy subsitutions in a class situation, so I think this design should work for everyone.  Sure hope they all like it!

Cracked Ice for Christmas

What  a crazy-busy weekend that was!  We worked through our To-Do List in preparation for the arrival of two of my uncles and aunts from Austria in September.  When you have family that live so far away a visit is a BIG deal, so we want our home in ship-shape.  We're not quite there yet, but things certainly are looking better! 
I spent a wee bit of time prepping for my monthly techniques class last week and came up with a look that I really like.  I'm calling it Cracked Ice...check it out and you'll see why...

Frosty Christmas card featuring the Snowflake Serenad stamp set with sentiment from Sweet Essentials.

A closer look

Isn't that a cool background??  Here is a quick explanation of how I did it:
Stamp the snowflakes on a 4"x 5-1/4" piece of clear acetate (I used Stampin' Up window sheets) using white Staz On.  Once the ink has dried, flip the stamped acetate over and apply a thin coat of Crystal Effects all over the back side.  Add several drops of Baja Breeze reinker and, using a paint brush, spread it out across the Crystal Effects, allowing it to swirl a little.  Take a piece of white tissue paper, cut slightly larger than the acetate, and crumple it up.  Uncrumple the tissue, leaving lots of wrinkles in it.  Lay it over the inked Crystal Effects and lightly tap the tissue down into it.  You want to make sure the tissue is pressed right into the glue and is even.  Layer the whole thing on a 4-1/8" x 5-3/8" piece of Baja Breeze card stock and set it aside to dry. You can make up several background pieces at a time and allow them to dry so you have some ready to go for when inspiration strikes.  I really love this technique...I hope my class participants do too!

Now for another project from this month's offerings at Craft Project Central. This adorable little ensemble comes to you from Monkia Davis.  Check it out:

Ladybug Treat Box and Card designed by Monika Davis

Isn't that too cute?!?  Almost makes me wish I had a little girl to make this for, although I'm sure my son would love it too!  To access the tutorial for this project subscribe to August over at Craft Project Central.  You'll get 10 fabulous projects for just $10!! 

This is also a quick reminder that I'm giving away a month's subscription to one of my lucky blog readers.  To be entered in the draw simply leave a comment on any post dated between August 5th and 12th.  I will post the winner on the 13th.  It's that easy!  Good luck!!