Colour Me Challenged!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there...I hope you are being suitably spoiled today!

It is time for a new colour challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  I LOVE the rich combination of shades in this challenge:

Here is my take on it:

Thank you card featuring the Choose Happiness stamp set with sentiment from Painted Petals.

I began with a piece of Basic Black card stock on which I heat embossed the leaf image from the Choose Happiness stamp set using clear embossing powder.  (It doesn't show up well in this photo...check out the one below!).  To create the patterned blue panel, I began with a piece of Tempting Turquoise card stock, on which I heat embossed the flower image from the Choose Happiness set using clear embossing powder.  Then I sponged the entire surface with Island Indigo and Smoky Slate ink.  I love the depth that combination gives the images.  I wanted a silver accent, so I heat embossed a Tea Lace Doily using silver embossing powder.  

The focal image is a 2-1/2" circle stamped with the border, bird and flower images from the Choose Happiness set.  The sentiment, from the Painted Petals stamp set, is heat embossed in silver.  I also sponged the edges of the circle in Smokey Slate ink before adhering it to the card front.  I added some long-retired black lace trim, a Vintage Faceted Button and some rhinestones coloured with my beloved Blendabilities (not ever gonna give those up!) by way of embellishment.  The entire panel is adhered to a card base in Island Indigo.

On the inside I stamped the leaves in Smoky Slate ink and the flowers in Island Indigo.  I added a bit of colour by sponging the flowers with Tempting Turquoise ink.
This colour challenge is a great one to get your creative juices flowing.  Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's samples and then give it a go!  Have a happy Sunday!

Watercoloured Sunshine

I am SOOOO excited!  My new catalogue pre-order is scheduled for delivery today...yippee!!  So many fabulous new toys to play with this weekend!  I can't wait!
For today, I have another sneak peek at a project I'll be doing with my techniques class next week.  We're going to try faux watercolour using the Painted Petals stamp set.  Check this out:

Any occasion card featuring the Painted Petals and Crazy About You stamp sets and using the faux watercolour technique.

I began with a 3" x 5-1/4" piece of watercolour paper which I spritzed with water so that it was fairly wet. Then I stamped the blossom images from the Painted Petals stamp set using Blackberry Bliss ink. The water on the paper caused the ink to run.  I stamped the leaves using  Mossy Meadow ink and again, the ink ran, but not quite as much as I had wanted, so I spritzed with a bit more water.  Then I took an aquapainter and added a bit of Crushed Curry ink in the centres of the flowers for just a hint of colour.  The faux watercoloured panel is adhered to a piece of Mossy Meadow card stock that is embossed using the Spring Flowers TIEF and sponged used Mossy Meadow ink. 

The die-cut "hello" is done with the Hello You Thinlits from gold foil card stock.  The sentiment is from the Crazy About You set and is stamped in Mossy Meadow ink.  I added some stitched satin riboon in Hello Honey to make the little hints of yellow in the watercolouring pop. I really love this look and can't wait to play with it some more!

It's Coming...

The new 2015/16 Annual Catalogue is coming, and to make way for all of the fantastic new products it will offer, we must say good-bye to lots of current favourites.  The Retirement List will be released tomorrow and will include all of the products that will be leaving the Stampin' Up! offerings.  Some items listed will be offered at a discount, which means there will be some great deals to be had.  All items listed will be available only while supplies last, so you'll want to order your must-haves early to avoid missing out.

Now for some stamping!  It has been a crazy few weeks around here, which means I haven't had much time to stamp :(  Thankfully, I still have several projects I made a while back that I haven't yet shown you yet, like this one that features the Painted Petals stamp set:

Thank you card featuring the Painted Petals stamp set and coordinating Painted Blooms DSP

My background layer is cut from the Painted Blooms DSP pack...so many gorgeous patterns and colours in that one!  I die cut the focal layer from Whisper White card stock using the Party Pennants Bigz L die.  Using the Painted Petals stamp set, I stamped the stems in Wiild Wasabi ink and the blossoms in Rich Razzleberry.  Then I used a blender pen and some Old Olive ink to add shadows to the stems and leaves.  I  added the darker shadows to the blossoms in the same manner using Blackberry Bliss ink, add added the yellow centres to the flowers using Crushed Curry.

The sentiment is stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink and punched with the 1-3/8" circle punch.  I layered it on a 1-3/4" scalloped circle punched from Wild Wasabi card stock.  I added some Painted Blooms cotton twine in Wild Wasabi and a little flower punched using the Itty Bitty Accents pack from Rich Razzleberry card stock.  A single little pearl adorns the centre of the flower.

On the inside I stamped the stems and flowers again, as I did on the front.  I added the sentiment from the Painted Petals set, stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to check out the Retirement List and the new Weekly Deals!

Spring has Sprung at Sunday Stamps!

Happy Sunday...and happy spring!  The weather here is FINALLY warming up and there is a definite feeling of spring in the air.  The new colour challenge over at Sunday Stamps is perfect to welcome the new season...

Here is my Design Team project:

Thank you card featuring the Butterflies Thinlits and the Embossed Embossing technique, with sentiment from Itty Bitty Banners

I actually designed this project to do double duty!  Not only is it for this week's challenge, we also made it at my montly techniques class last week.  I used the Embossed Embossing technique to create the background.  I embossed a piece of Whisper White card stock using the Spring Flowers TIEF.  Then, after rubbing the Embossing Buddy all over it, I inked a brayer with Versamark and lightly ran it over the raised pattern.  I sprinkled it with Blushing Bride embossing powder, shook off the excess and then heated it.  I love the result!

The butterflies are die cut from Wisteria Wonder and Blushing Bride card stock using the Butterflies Thinlits.  The little vines are punched from Pear Pizzazz card stock using the Bird Builder punch.  I anchored them to the design using half of a Tea Lace doily.  The sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Banners set and is stamped in Wisteria Wonder ink and then die cut using the Bitty Banners Framelits.  I added a Vintage Faceted button and a bit of Wisteria Wonder (retired) baker's twine.  The card front is matted on a piece of Wisteria Wonder card stock and adhered to a Pear Pizzazz card base.

Inside view with sentiment from Painted Petals.

On the inside I stamped the large and small floral butterflies from the Papillon Potpourri set in Blushing Bride and Wisteria Wonder ink, respectively.  The sentiment is from the Painted Petals set and is stamped in Pear Pizzazz ink.
Be sure to check out the rest of the design team's sample projects and the new, fresh look over at Sunday Stamps.  Then give this challenge a go and play along!

Get Well Petals

Happy Friday!  Normally I'd be celebrating the end of another week, but today marks the end of my March Break, so forgive me if I'm a little less enthusiastic than normal ;)
Today I have another project that uses one of my new favourite sets...

Get well card featuring the Painted Petals stamp set, with sentiment from Delightful Dozen (retired)

I hope you're not tired of the Painted Petals set yet...I am just starting to explore its possibilities!  For this card I first stamped the stems and blossoms using Whisper White craft ink on Crumb Cake card stock.  Once that had dried, I stamped right over top of the white images using Old Olive ink for the stems and Rose Red ink for the blossoms.  I then used a blender pen to soften the images and blended them a little with the white ink.  I added some shadows on the stems with a hint of Mossy Meadow ink.  I love the soft, almost pastel-like result!

The rest of the card is pretty straightforward.  I stamped the sentiment, from the long-retired Delightful Dozen stamp set, in Mossy Meadow ink and then punched it with the Artisan Label punch.  I added some white Painted Blooms cotton twine and some little flowers I punched with the Itty Bitty Accents punch pack and embellished with some pearls.  The leaves on the flowers are punched with the Bird Builder punch from Wild Wasabi card stock.  The card is built on a Rose Red card base.

Inside view with sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers.

On the inside of the card I stamped the sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers in Mossy Meadow ink and added another little punched flower.
I have so many friends who are unwell for various reasons...I'm sure this find its way to someone's hands soon!
Have a fabulous weekend!

Painted Petals for Easter

Today our high temperature is forecast to be +8 degrees celsius...that is postively balmy after the frigid winter we've endured!  I am so excited to get out and enjoy the sunshine.  We had a bout of the stomach flu in our house yesterday so I want to open the windows and let in some fresh, germ free air!

Today I have a very spring-like Easter card for you...

Easter card featuring the Painted Petals stamp set with sentiment from the Delightful Dozen (retired) stamp set.

This one features the Painted Petals stamp set once again...I just love the soft images this set offers.  I stamped the leaves in Pistachio Pudding ink and the flowers in Pink Pirouette.  The focal panel is matted on a piece of Pistachio Pudding card stock.  I added some vellum butterflies punched with the Elegant Butterfly and Bitty Butterfly punches.  By way of embellishment I used some Whisper White organza ribbon and some self-adhesive pearls.  

The background layer is a piece of Irrestibly Yours Specialty paper from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  I sponged on Pink Pirouette ink to make the floral pattern pop, which works perfectly with the stamped images.  I layered everything on a Pistachio Pudding card base.

On the inside I stamped more leaves and blossoms, as I did on the front.  This is a quick and pretty way to reach out to loved ones at Easter!

Now, here are your new Weekly Deals.  Remember, prices are good until Monday at midnight :)

All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack Price: $8.50   Sale: $6.38	Gold Stampin' Glitter Price: $4.95  Sale:  $3.71	Marina Mist 1/4" Cotton Ribbon Price: $7.25   Sale: $5.44	Old Olive Baker's Twine Price: $3.95  Sale:  $2.96
Tangerine Tango Baker's Twine Price: $3.95   Sale: $2.96	Wildflower Meadow Clear-Mount Stamp Set Price: $16.95  Sale: $12.71	Wildflower Meadow Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $9.95   Sale: $7.46

Hello Spring?

Well, here it is March 1st...just a couple more weeks until Spring officially arrives and we're buried in snow and freezing temperatures!  So I decided to make Spring happen in my craft room when designing my project for the new sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps:

Here is my project:

Spring card featuring the Painted Petals stamp set with sentiment from the Crazy About You set.

I've already blogged about just how much I love the Painted Petals stamp set, so it likely is no surprise I pulled it out again for this project.  I stamped the stems in Wild Wasabi ink and the blooms in Rose Red, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry and Crushed Curry, drawing inspiration from the piece of Painted Blooms DSP I used for the background panel.  The tulips are stamped on a Whisper White circle punched with the 2-1/2" circle punch.  I layered it on a 2-3/4" circle cut with the Circles Collection Framelits from Pool Party card stock.

The die cut "hello" is cut from Rich Razzleberry card stock using the Hello You Thinlits.  The word "spring" is from the Crazy About You set and is stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink.  I added a Rich Razzleberry button from my stash, tied with Crushed Curry Baker's twine.  I also used a piece of Crushed Curry Chevron ribbon for the vertical element in the sketch.  The entire card is built on a Rich Razzleberry card base.

Inside view with sentiment from Petite Pairs.

On the inside I stamped more tulips and added a sentiment from the Petite Pairs stamp set, stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink.

Give this sketch a try...I really had fun with it.  Check out the rest of the Design Team's projects and then be sure to post your project so we can all share in your creative brilliance!

Thank You Petals

Happy Friday...wahoo!  It's the weekend!  I am SO glad to see this week come to an end...it has been nuts!  On top of that I think my sinus infection is coming back :(  I'm starting to feel like I did before I started my antibiotics...and I just finished them three days ago!  Argh!

Today I have another project I made last weekend whilst playing with the Painted Petals stamp set.

Painted Petals Photopolymer stamp set (137146)  $29.95

Thank you card featuring the Painted Petals stamp set and coordinating Painted Blooms DSP.

I have always been partial to the combination of blue, white and yellow.  It is such a clean, crisp colour pallette.  My kitchen in my very first apartment was decorated in this colour scheme...I still love it!  For this card I took my inspiration from the gorgeous patterned paper in the Painted Blooms pack.  I used Pacific Point, Crushed Curry and Whisper White, with Wild Wasabi for the leaves and stems.  Using the Painted Petals stamp set, I stamped the leaves first and then stamped the flowers; I find it is much easier to line up the images that way. The sentiment is stamped in Pacific Point.  I punched the stamped images using the 2-1/2" circle punch and layered it on a Pacific Point circle die-cut using the Circles Collection framelits.  The background Whisper White panel is embossed using the Spring Flowers TIEF.  I used a 2" strip of DSP from the Painted Blooms pack and embellished it using some of the Sale-a-bration Best Year Ever Ribbon. The entire card is constructed on a Pacific Point card base.

This is a really quick and easy card...the perfect project for a weekend stamping session!  Enjoy!  Be sure to stop by on Sunday for a new sketch challenge from Sunday Stamps for even more inspiration!  Have a great weekend!!

Amazing You and Amazing News!

Happy Tuesday!  I hope your week is off to a good start.  Things here are still frigid...sure hope Spring makes an appearance soon!
Today I have a card that will turn your thoughts to Spring.  I played with my Painted Petals stamp set last weekend...

Any-occasion card featuring the Painted Petals stamp set

I absolutely LOVE the Painted Petals stamp set!  When I first saw it in the catalogue I thought "The last thing I need is another flower stamp set!"...boy, was I wrong!  This set is so versatile and yields gorgeous results with very little effort. It also doesn't hurt that I get images that look watercoloured...I love that look...so soft and pretty.  On this card I stamped the stems in Wild Wasabi ink and the blossoms in Rich Razzleberry ink.  Then I took a blender pen and added shading to the leaves and stems with Mossy Meadow ink and to the flowers with Blackberry Bliss.  I also added Crushed Curry centres to the flowers.

The sentiment is stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink and punched with the Decorative Label punch.  I layered it on two more Decorative Labels punched from Rich Razzleberry card stock.  I added a bit of Painted Blooms Cotton Twine in Wild Wasabi and mounted the whole thing on a Rich Razzleberry card base.

On the inside I stamped the stems and blossoms again, adding shading as I did on the front, and stamped the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry.  Such a soft, pretty card...perfect for Spring!

Now I have some exciting news!  Stampin' Up just announced four brand new product offerings that are being added to the Sale-a-bration line-up!  That's four fabulous new freebies you can earn!  Check out the flyer below to see the new products as well as some sample projects.  These new, exclusive items will be available from March 1st to 31st only and my only be earned by placing a Sale-a-bration-qualifying order.

Click the flyer to view.

Don't miss out on your chance to get your hands on these awesome new products! 

Now here are this week's Weekly Deals.  Prices are good until Monday at midnight :)

2013-2015 In Color Sequin Assortment Price: $6.50  Sale:  $4.88	Basic Black Baker's Twine Price: $3.95   Sale: $2.96	Celebrate Easter Ensemble - Digital Download Price: $13.95   Sale: $8.37	Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Baker's Twine Price: $4.95   Sale: $3.71
Night Of Navy 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon Price: $9.50  Sale:  $7.13	Simply Created Banner Price: $11.95  Sale:  $8.96	Tangerine Tango Baker's Twine Price: $3.95  Sale:  $2.96	Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon Price: $9.50   Sale: $7.13