Make Mine Stamps

LOVE YOU MUCH!

It's Friday!  And by now, you know that means Blogger's Challenge and Sketch Frenzy Friday!  Blogger's challenge was to use Red, White and Blue and here's the sketch I had to use.

  This was an easy template to use and I had such good ideas!  However, life got in the way and I ended up not having time to put any of them into motion.  As a matter of fact, I actually created my card in less than 10 minutes and...IT LOOKS LIKE IT TOO!  Sorry, but I've got to admit I weenied out big time.

I used the Love U Stencils from the Decor Elements Line.  There are seven stencils in this collection and the cost is only $14.95.  I love each of them and decided I had to use something very easy in order to get this challenge done. 

The colors are Brilliant Blue, Real Red and Whisper White.  I intended to use the punch from the sketch; however, I loaned it to a customer and don't have it to use!  

I stenciled the hearts in Real Red and then used my markers in Brilliant Blue and Real Red with the air tool to blow on some color.  No, I didn't intend for it to splotch like it did and as a  result, I decided to stamp the sentiment from Family Phrases so it looked like a child had made this card.

Now I must also admit that part of the reason I didn't get a better card made is that my son had his graduation awards ceremony today.  It took longer than I anticipated and the best part is that he won more awards than either of us anticipated!  He received more scholarships than we knew about and he received the only award voted upon by his class, as well as the only one awarded by the school faculty.  You can imagine how proud I am! 

And to top it off, after that ceremony, we went to my mom's and I got to see my nephew, Braydon, whom I haven't seen in 3 years and his new brother Caleb, whom I've never met and he just turned one.  My baby toe fetish is in overdrive!  How I've missed my sister but you know what?  When she leaves?  I won't be missing her but those precious little boys!

Okay, I'm off to finish the graduation weekend stuff and get my boards finished for the graduation party.  I promise better participation next week.  I truly hope you have an awesome Memorial Day weekend!  Hugs to you!

SUNGLASS ALERT! Happy Birthday!

I've joined a new group -- VC Rocks -- that is active May through August only.  It's a group of stampers who cannot attend convention so we swap, send RAKs, converse, stay in a virtual hotel with a virtual roomate, etc.  Thus far, it has been a fun group and I anticipate more to come.  One of my swaps is a "Birthday" swap and here is the card that I put together. 

Warning:  Viewing this card may require the use of sunglasses!

The basecard is Crushed Curry.  I used a panel of Rich Razzleberry in the Big Shot with the Elegant Details Texturz Plate and then swiped the embossing with my Crushed Curry pad.  I wanted the embossing to really pop out when you looked at the card.  I used the Lots of Dots folder to emboss a strip of Crushed Curry, added some Rich Razzleberry ribbon, and adhered this strip to the panel.

On a piece of the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, I used my Versamark Inkpad to stamp my image from Friends 24/7 and then I used clear embossing powder to emboss the image. 

The next step was to brayer Rich Razzleberry ink all over the image, and then wipe the actual image itself off with a papertowel to pop it up.  The technique is called Jenny's Coat and I love it!  Here's a confession:  I DETEST this DSP!  This is one method I've found to use it and since I don't like the paper, it was a fabulous find when I originally did this technique -- cover that stuff up!  Using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I stamped Happy Birthday from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set in Whisper White Craft Ink.

I matted the image on Crushed Curry and Pixie Pink, and adhered this to my card with dimensionals.  As a final embellishment, I added the So Saffron Brads in the upper right corner.  I like this card, even though it is a bit bright.  There is a lot to see, as well as much texture.

I have quite a bit left to do for graduation and it is rapidly approaching.  Although I want to say I'll be glad when it is over, that isn't quite true.  It is hard to realize that when it is done, Andy then has to start preparing for college.  He has promised me that I get to go shopping with him for the miscellaneous items he will need, but that will take all of 20 minutes -- HE ISN'T A SHOPPER!  I guess I'll take what I can get!

And I can't post today without a shout out for Crystal Bowersox on American Idol.  I have really enjoyed both she and Lee DeWyze all season, but my heart wants the win for Crystal.  If her performance is the meter, she blew Lee away last night!  I voted my 100 times for her and am hopeful most of the rest of America did as well.  We know that no matter who wins, the top Two will both have fabulous career opportunities and I look forward to hearing more from both of these performers.

Have a fabulous day and God Bless You!

WELCOME BACK!

With the Color Renovation, several of my favorite colors are returning and I am happy!  Here's a card I made with Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point and Melon Mambo.

I created the background Whisper White panel by using plastic wrap on the ink pads and then pouncing on the panel.  Once I had enough color, I added gold encore ink to marbles and let them roll around on the panel as well. 

In essence, I "marbled it". Next, I used one of my new favorite tools -- the stencil -- from Decor Elements -- and stippled on Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, and Pacific Point ink.  I love it!  The gals in my Card Club loved doing it as well -- simple technique and a big WOW! (You do need to heat set the Encore Ink!)

I wrapped the Melon Mambo ribbon around the seam and stamped my sentiment from the Heard from the Heart set in Whisper White craft ink.  Easy, but I enjoyed making this card and I love the bright colors.

Andy called me yesterday to let me know that that they have finalized grades and he is NOT salutatorian.  I told him that was okay -- he still earned many honors and scholarships, and that he should be proud.  That is when he dropped the bomb that he is CO-VALEDICTORIAN!  WHOO-HO0OO!  Congratulations Andy!  Your hard work and perseverance has paid off!

Got a bunch to get done today and need to get working so have a fabulous Tuesday!  God Bless!

Don't you hate it when...

you need a sympathy card?  It may sound morbid, but I try to make them up BEFORE I need them because when I do need them, I don't want to make them.  I'm fairly certain more people are like that than those who can whip them up at a moment's notice.  Here's my latest version.

I started with a base of Crumb Cake (renamed from Kraft during the Color Renovation!).  I used a panel of Soft Suede and stamped the swirl from Wedding Sweet around the corners in Very Vanilla Craft Ink.  I think that particular stamp is so very versatile and I love the different looks you can get.

Next, I used an old sketch from Stamping 411 that I absolutely adore.  I used scraps of different patterns from the Thoroughly Modern DSP package of papers in Crumb Cake and Soft Suede to put these pieces together, along with a piece of the gorgeous Crumb Cake Tafetta Ribbon.  In the center, I punched a 1 1/4" square and then used the 3 Heart punch to angle punch the smallest of the hearts.  The final touch was to stamp the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Messages. I also shimmered the Soft Suede panel but left everything else as it was.  This is one really pretty card in person and I'm proud of it.

This is my busy week with all the graduation festitivities and family coming in.  Andy told me yesterday that he received another scholarship -- this one from the Rotary.  Congratulations to him and my wallet is thankful!  I'm so proud of that child!

I'm off to get some work done.  I have card club tonight and I haven't packed thing one, but at least I know what cards we are making.  I'll show those to you later in the week!

Have a fabulous week and remember that this is a three day weekend for most of us!  Hip Hip Hooray!

God Bless You!

Blogger's Challenge and Sketch Frenzy Friday -- IT'S A TWOFER!

It's Friday and that means Blogger's Challenge, as well as a new challenge for me:  Sketch Frenzy Friday.  I joined a group that will start creating cards based upon a sketch that someone in the group has "thrown down".  Because I love sketch challenges (although sometime they don't love me back!), I think this is a great way to grow my creativity.

Here's my Blogger's Challenge sketch and card.

This is the sketch we were given.

As you can see, this is one of THOSE sketches that got the best of me.  I created this card on Monday and had high hopes of returning to the sketch to "try again."  Not so -- didn't happen!

The card base is Bermuda Bay and all the layers are from the Bermuda Bay Pattern Pack.  I used the Upsy Daisy set to stamp in Whisper White craft ink on the patterned paper.  Then, it is just a matter of layers and ribbon.  And no, this isn't the picture that I gave to my hands.  My hands and my head just flat did not communicate on this one -- but I did finally open up my Hodgepodge Hardware and use a piece.  Did I ever share that I hoard these pieces as well?  I have whole kits that have retired -- what is up with that?

Here's the sketch for the Sketch Frenzy Friday group:

  I think I've kind of skewed the sketch getting it in, but you get the idea.  Here's my card and this one came to me EASY!

I started with a base of Crushed Curry.  The next layer is Soft Suede and I've run it through the Big Shot with the new embossing folder in the Occasions Mini.  This one is awesome because it looks different on each side and I really think you could use either side!  I think this looks like a rug you would put out at your front door to scrape the mud off your boots -- how romantic is that?  But, I really like it!

I stamped the image from A Flower for All Occasions in Chocolate Chip Ink and colored the image using my markers.  I colored the can with Sahara Sand, the frog in Old Olive and the flowers in Crushed Curry and Soft Suede.  I finished it off with the Crushed Curry polka dot ribbon (opposite side) and added some bling brads for a hint of sparkle.  Although you can't see it, before I embossed the Soft Suede, I shimmered it with my homemade shimmer spray and it really looks cool.  You gotta love the shimmer!

If you are interested in seeing what everyone else in the group did with the sketch, check my sidebar and click on their names for their challenge entries.

Off to check everyone else's work -- I love how stampers share and encourage one another -- it just feels good!  God Bless!

WHO KNEW? Home Decor and More!

If you haven't paid any attention to the Decor Elements line from Stampin' Up!, you are truly missing an opportunity!  If you live in an apartment or can't put things on your walls for one reason or another, this is the most inexpensive fix in the world!  Here's a project I did this afternoon in less than one hour and it was so easy!

I waited until I found a frame I liked that was on sale at 50% off.  Brought it home and cut a piece of regular 12 x 12 cardstock down to 9 x 12.  I splotched on some River Rock, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla ink with the plastic wrap the frame was covered in (I'm cheap and I'm trying to be green!).  Next, I rolled some marbles in the Gold Encore ink, tossed my cardstock in a box and rolled those marbles all over it to get that marbled effect.  LOVE IT!  I heat set the gold ink (you must ALWAYS heat set this ink!).

Next, I applied the Decor Elements to the cardstock and here is the result!

The background paper is So Saffron -- in my excitement, I forgot to mention that part!  I love this verse and now I can hang this in my craft room, my house, my office or wherever I need to see it!  Here's a close up of the background I created -- I wanted something a bit special.

Click it and it will get larger.  We have faux painted our walls at home and that was my inspiration.  When I originally decided upon the walls, I wanted to see movement and I think you get that with this background.  I'm very pleased with it.  Yes, I do realize I could have managed to place this exactly in the middle if I had taken the time to measure.  Did you read that it didn't take me very long to create this?  For crying out loud, it's handmade!  And I did it (placing emphasis on the "I"!) -- Anyone who knows me will be grateful to get it and if they squawk about the fact that it isn't exactly centered -- I'LL TAKE IT BACK and give it to someone who will appreciate my effort!

Why is Decor Elements so special?  It's a post-it note for the walls!  Goes on super slick and easy and comes off clean -- no marks, no discoloration and no guilt!  You truly need to take a look at the catalogs and see what inspires you -- then amaze your friends and family with your creative decor!

I received two more RAKS this week and they are both special!

This one is so gorgeous!  This is from Gloria Washek in Oregon.  I just love getting mail from all over the world!  I don't own this set and wish I did.  She embossed on the portion underneath the vellum, as well as on the vellum and then colored the backside of the vellum -- IT IS AWESOME!  I love the embossing on the first layer as well -- this card took some effort and if I had made it, I doubt I would ever have sent it -- it's too pretty to send to someone else!

This would be a great technique card for embossing and the use of vellum -- very effective.

The next card was sent to me by Sue-Lynn Bock from East Greenville, Pennsylvania.  I especially loved how creative she was in using these cards.  These are the Fresh Cut Notes from page 168 in the Idea Book and Catalog.  I've done something similar to what you are about to see, but mine absolutely pale in comparison!

Sue-Lynn scalloped the bottom, added the colored cardstock backing so it fills both the center and shows through the scallop.  In addition, she punched a smaller flower and added the bling brad -- who doesn't love a bling brad -- if you have followed by blog, you know I am a bling brad ho!  Love those beauties!

Okay, so if that isn't enough, she stamped on the card itself and added ribbon!  It's beautiful and I love it.  You know the best part about RAKS?  They are unexpected and these gals never write in them so I can use them to send to someone I want to send some love -- I ask you, "How Awesome Is That?" 

I was even more impressed with how she mailed this.  She flipped the card around so the brad was on the inside and then she used a crimper to crimp a piece of cardstock to put over the card.  It mailed for regular postage with the bling brad and that is quite an achievement!  I may be trying this myself -- I seriously thought it was genius!

Thanks, ladies for making my week!

My hands are really bothering me today and my inner domestic goddess is really laying on the guilt.  As a result, no stamping the remainder of the day.  I've got to go launder work socks for Thom (I should just buy more!) and then iron the pants for this family.  Did I mention I hate to iron but I hate when my inner domestic goddess harangues me and makes me feel guilty even worse than I hate ironing?  So, I'm off to pursue the feel-good vibes that come with cleaning, ironing and fixing the evening meal!

Enjoy your day and make sure you come back tomorrow -- BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE AND SKETCH FRENZY FRIDAY -- I warned you -- It's a twoferone!

  

Happy New Baby!

I need to send a couple of congratulations cards for new babies and, as luck would have it, one of my Card Club gals asked for a new baby card as well.  And, if I'm correct, luck is with me all around -- they are all boys!  It doesn't happen that way very often either!

I started with a basecard of Kraft, which has just been renamed "Crumb Cake".  Okay, I can see that...I think!  At any rate, I love Kraft and am just glad it is sticking around in the Color Renovation.

I've had this color combo in my mind for awhile.  The carpets in the hotel we stayed at during the Rose Bowl had this combination and it wouldn't leave my mind.  I actually jotted it down once again on the bulletin at Church on Sunday.  Evidently, it was time to put it into action.

I punched four 1 1/4" squares -- one each in Barely Bana, Mellow Moss, Ballet Blue and Very Vanilla.  I stamped a heart for love on the Barely Banana square; a star on the Mellow Moss square (when they are born, all babies are the stars, right?); and a rattle on the Ballet Blue square.  I stamped the baby in Chocolate Chip ink on the Very Vanilla square and used my inkpads and blender pens from the colors above to color the baby, using Blush Blossom for his face.

It needed something, so I used an Apricot ribbon to wrap around the card and tie the knot.  When I decided to adhere the squares, I wanted something a bit different so I rounded opposite corners and placed the squares so the rounded corners met in the center.  I rounded the bottom corners of the card as well.  To finish it off, I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip ink.

I like it!  Simple and not fussy -- unlike newborns, who CAN BE very fussy and not very simple.  That is not a slam against new babies either -- they are all worth the wait and any "trouble" they may be.  How I miss the baby days!  My baby will be 19 on the 23rd and he will be graduating High School on the 30th.  He is graduating with high honors, great scholarships and second in his class.  His classic, over-protective mother wouldn't let him start school when he was 5 even though he knew his 1,2,3's and his A,B,C's -- one of his pre-school teachers said he wasn't ready emotionally due to his very shy nature.  Well, let me tell ya...THAT HAS ALL CHANGED!  How I love that child and I'm hopeful that someday he will "get it!"  Right now, I don't think I know very much in his world, but little does he know....

Have an awesome day -- please say a prayer that Jack's test results give his doctors something they can work with.  He's such a fabulous guy and he's facing some tests tomorrow that we hope will give his doctors a plan of action for treatment.  He is a Christian and I can tell you this -- our God is the Great Physician, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End and He can heal Jack of all sickness and disease.  That is what I'm praying for and that is what I'm believing God for Jack!  God Bless You!

Bargello - Not Just for Fabric Anymore!

In this month's issue of Stampin' Success, they showed us a technique that was new to me.  I'm certain it isn't new to everyone, but since I'm not a fabric artist, I was completely WOW'D!  I immediately loved the look and decided to give it a whirl.

The background is Ballet Blue and the DSP is from the Happy Birthday Simply Scrappin' kit. This techniques works well with stripes and you just cut several different widths of your patterned paper and adhere them together on a sheet of cardstock.  Next, trim your cardstock and determine how you want to use it.  Honestly, the technique looks great even when the pattern is adhered randomly and not with colors touching as I've done it here.

This is a simple card and I'm not happy with the card itself, but I love how the DSP looks in the pattern.  The ribbon is Crushed Curry and the sentiment was stamped in Ballet Blue on Certainly Celery.  I don't often use my Hodgepodge Hardware and decided I'd better quit hoarding!

I've got more ideas for this technique in my head and hopefully I'll have time to experiment sometime this week.

Have an awesome day -- play in the ink!

RAKS - Random Acts of Kindness

You're in for a treat today!  It's no secret that I belong to several different demo groups and each group serves a different purpose in my stamping world.  It's one of the things I love about stamping in general, and about Stampin' Up Demos overall.  Stampers are among the most sharing and caring folks in this world, but Stampin' Up! Demos do so much sharing and giving -- it's a fabulous group of women (and a few men!) and I'm grateful to belong -- hobby demos, business demos, discount demos -- you name it -- we are all blessed to be a part of the family!

Last week, I was super-stressed -- just a whole lot going on in my life.  I'm still trying to get ready for Andy's graduation, my mom is having some tests run to determine what is going on with her health, we have a wedding this weekend, and blah, blah, blah.  I'm sure you are all in similar situations. The stress doesn't really bother me, but sometimes I need to take time for me and I need to do something that relaxes me.  Stamping does that, but sometimes, I'm dry of ideas and I need to read!  Yep, you read that right -- I just need to center myself and pick up a book (or a few books!).  Did that, feel much better now!

However, I received two delightful surprises at work last week - unexpected and very welcome RAKS!  RAK stands for Random Act of Kindness  and they both came from gals who belong to a new group I've just joined since I am not attending convention this year.  When the dates changed from August to July, it becamevirtually impossible for me to attend due to our fiscal year end at work.

This card arrived from Kimber Dunn and I adore it! This is a set I don't own, but really love, called Music Expressions.

I love the colors she used, as well as the fact that she used Shimmery White Paper.  If you have never used this paper, you need to try it.  It's shimmery, thick and gorgeous --you can't help but notice the shimmer and no spray is required!  And, it is perfect for techniques that require a bit heavier cardstick if you want white and not the ivory that Water Color paper seems to be.  The musical instrument (I would screw this up and call it something it isn't, so I'm not calling it anything!) was embossed, colored, cut out, and then mounted with dimensionals.  It's a fabulous card and it absolutely made my day!  Thanks, Kimber!

Then, to beat all, I received another RAK on Friday!  Perfect timing!  This one is completely different and it is from Patrice Herrera.  I love the colors she used, as well as the simplicity of this card.

The bright and happy colors were a perfect end to my work week!  This is the Butterfly Embosslit which I own and have rarely used.  I love the embosslit because it embosses and cuts at the same time, but I tend to think of it more for accent versus focal image.  I'll have to CASE this and use it as a focal image simply because I love the look and the way you can incorporate many colors...plus, it really makes me smile!  Thanks so much Patrice!

The real kicker is that I'm not even active in this group yet and didn't intend to get involved until all of these May activities are over.  I thought I would jump in during June and fill my summer months.  Let me tell you -- this is one active group and I'm going to have to get moving or they'll probably kick me out!

I did get to stamp yesterday and it helped a bunch.  I've gotten everything ready for posting this week, including my Blogger's Challenge for Friday, as well as a new group I've joined, Sketch Frenzy Friday, for sketch challenges.  As luck would have it, Blogger's Challene is a sketch this week as well, so you'll get a twofer!

Enjoy your Monday and make it God-filled!  See you on Tuesday!

Blogger's Challenge - Crushed Curry, Taken with Teal and Real Red

So who would have thought these would be great colors together?  When I got the notice that these were the colors, I kind of cringed, but then I thought, "I'll worry about that later."  When I sat down to create, the polished stone background just came to me and from there, it was on.

I used vellum, alcohol and re-inkers to create the background.  Super easy and lots of fun, but my carpal tunnel challenged self found the pouncing a bit difficult.

Once I created the background, I stamped the sentiment in Taken with Teal on Whisper White.  Next, I cut the Crushed Curry layer and added the Red Corduroy Buttons -- YUMMY!  I love those darned corduroy buttons!

I liked the idea of ribbon, but decided instead to use a strip of Real Red carstock and to get that ribbon look, I pierced both edges and used my gel pen to give it that stitched look.  My stitches would certainly not look this good -- they would be all over, but I love the look.

I put this all together and already know who will be receiving this card.  It's going out in the mail today.

I used the Krista-Kris Challenge Sketch for this card and really like this sketch.  I use it over and over and over again already -- it's a favorite "go-to" sketch of mine.

I'm hopeful you have a fabulous weekend planned.  I've got to scrap for graduation and I'm well on my way, but as soon as I think I have it all done, I'll be wrong.  I'm so stressed about this that I actually posted the same card twice to my blog and didn't realize I had done it.  So much for that!

I'll be stamping on Sunday and will have something new for you on Monday.  In the meantime, enjoy your weekend and stamp something!  God Bless!