Make Mine Stamps

For the birds...

I'm combining a bunch of challenges today!   When I saw that our Blogger's Challenge was "birds," I thought to myself, "Self, can we do a quick and easy bird card or are we sitting this one out?"  I pulled out a sketch from a couple of years ago and here is the result.  See if you can follow my thought process.

The basecard is Whisper White.  I pulled out some Real Red Patterned Paper from a Real Red stack pack and thought, "This looks like a tablecloth." I added Black Satin Ribbon top and bottom and just tied it around the front panel of the card.  I added the 1/4" circles to simulate brads because I like the size of these circles better than the size of brads. 

On the focal panel, I stamped my rooster image from Countryside (he's a bird, right?) in Black Staz-On ink.  Then I created a mask and stamped the well image from the same set.  I like these two together.  After all, gotta have water to cook chicken to serve up some chicken soup, right?  Are roosters chickens?  Or are they different?.....City girl, here....

I matted the focal image on Basic Black cardstock and then used dimensionals to add this to the card.  My final step was to stamp my sentiment from Hello Again and mat it on Basic Black as well.  I had to double up the dimensionals on the left side and glue the right hand side for this one to stick to the card correctly.

Basic...easy...red, black and white.  Overall, looks like Chicken Soup to me!

I'm off to braces yet again and am going to be using some homeopathic methods this weekend to see if I can get some relief from my carpal tunnel.  Hope to see you on Monday with something new....anything at this point would be great!

Enjoy your weekend and God Bless!

 

Blogger's Challenge: Sketch Challenge - Springtime Vintage

I'm still reeling from the fact that I just couldn't wrap my mind around the sketch from yesterday.  Did you see the rest of the Creative-Sketches Design Team cards?  No one else struggled like I did!  However, the sketch from Blogger's Challenge was right up my alley and as soon as I saw it, I knew exactly where I wanted to go and what stamp set and paper was coming with me.

I followed the sketch exactly and here is what I came up with.

This paper is from the Springtime Vintage paper pack and I absolutely adore the Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy combination.  I have been waiting for a sketch to use this particular paper and have also been waiting to try this ribbon treatment.  My hands are really unhappy with me today for one reason or another so this was my first and only attempt thus far at this ribbon.  It was okay, but I know I can do better next time.

The focal image is from Fast and Fabulous and I was trying to imitate the flowers in the paper.  I used Not Quite Navy to stamp the image but used a blender pen and my Baja Breeze inkpad to color the inside -- I was going for subtle color...I think if I were to create this card again, I might use the Vanilla satin ribbon so it would show up more against the backdrop of that beautiful paper.  I really do like that Baja Breeze seam binding though so it was a toss up what to work with this time.

I used the pearls as accents and colored them with my Not Quite Navy marker.  You can't see it but this card has been liberally shimmered with home-made shimmer spray.  A word to the wise:  Shimmer before placing colored pearls -- it takes the color right off.  Been there, done that.....no t-shirt offered.

And you get a twofer today because I received another tag from my tagging group.  This cute little card is from Julie Wick who is also in Ohio -- she's in a town my son played ball in several times.  Julie's card is absolutely adorable and uses the inlaid embossing technique -- love the colors!  The flowers are stamped and the cupcakes are punched and inlaid.  Thanks Julie!

I've got a full weekend planned since this is actually the weekend prior to my birthday.  Yep, the older you get, the more often and for longer periods of time you get to celebrate.  Looking forward to more family time and some downtime to relax.  My hubs Buckeyes play again on Friday night and I really hope they win -- or my celebration won't be nearly as much fun because my dad will be bummed too.  The Bucks have a chance of going all the way to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament and were actually ceded (is that the word?) as the number 1 team.  Puts a target on their backs if you ask me -- I would personally prefer to be the longshot!

At any rate, thanks for checking out today's share and have an awesome weekend.  We might be in for some snow -- you just never know with Ohio weather! 

 

Blogger's Challenge: Spring Flowers

You know when you learn something new how you want to use it immediately?  And I know I've stated before that Stampin' Up! Demos are the best -- sharing their ideas and creativity!  The incredibly talented Kirsteen Gill shared her version of Flower Soft and I couldn't believe how easily she created her own brand of faux flower soft.  When I saw the Blogger's Challenge topic, I knew immediately what I wanted to do with this awesome new technique.

The basecard is Pretty In Pink and I've also used Pink Pirouette and Rose Red.  The stamp set is Pocket Silhouettes and when I saw Kirsteen's Faux Flower Soft, I immediately knew this set would work well with this technique.  How do you do it?  Simple....so why didn't I figure this out?

I used a pair of open scissors and just went back and forth along the edges of my three colored cardstocks and let the "fluff" fall in front of me.  After I had stamped the image to create the stems, I ran a skeeeeeeeny line of Tombow glue along the flower lines, just a few at a time.  Then I carefully picked up the fluff with my craft knife and gently placed it on the card.  Now, here's the learning point I can share -- just keep the fluff as fluff -- don't try to ball it up.  I started working right to left and you can see that my "fluff" is thicker on the right hand -- I made the mistake of balling it up thinking I could work it that way and that wasn't a good move.  Because I'm still struggling with my Carpal Tunnel this week (what gives anyway?), this is my one and only attempt at this card.  I know I'll do more with this technique, but I just couldn't muster up any more stamping activity.  As a result, this card had to work.  Honestly, though, it isn't awful and for a first attempt, I was really pleased. 

I scalloped the bottom of the Whisper White panel of flowers and used the Rose Red Seam Binding across.  Note the three pearls on the upper left.  These were colored with my Rose Red marker while they were on the sheet and I let them dry before adding them to my card.  I'm a very kinesthetic person anyway and I know that if I pulled this card out of the envelope, it would be a WOW! for me and I'd have to run my hands over those flowers.  Texture, texture, texture -- for me, it's color first as the attractor, but I have to TOUCH everything in order to bond with it.  Yep, that's me -- touchy/feely!

A big shout out to Melinda Couden from my tagging group.  Check out this beautiful Birthday Card she sent me -- isn't it gorgeous!  So clean and simple and so my style.  Even Thom, my personal card critic, loved this one!

I love the Marina Mist color anyway but the image with the flowers and the bling are a match made in heaven.  In real life, this card just sparkles and winks in the light -- and I don't own the Marina Mist taffetta ribbon...YET!  However, after seeing this card, I intend to fill up my collection with the rest of the ribbons this size.  I just love them!

Although my week started very rocky, by Wednesday, it had started to improve.  Francie, whom I've written about often and who is a FAB FRIEND, dropped by the office on Wednesday with these:

These are Rotary Roses and if there is a good cause going on, Francie is supporting it wholeheartedly.  They aren't yellow, but an absolutely gorgeous Deep Peach and anyone who knows me knows that orange in any shade is my favorite color!  Thom cut and arranged them for me as he used to work for a florist when he was a youngster...and that doesn't mean he is old now.  They look fabulous in our kitchen and they smell divine!  I feel so fortunate to know Francie, let alone call her "Friend."  Thom has always said that she, and the rest of her family, are "Good People", and I know exactly what he means.

This weekend is going to be grand as we are getting together with family to celebrate my birthday with my favorite meal.  My mom is one terrific cook and I'm looking forward to beef stew, cole slaw, rolls, cherry pie and German Chocolate Cake -- all homemade and all her own recipe.  YUM!  Am I the most fortunate of women?  You Betcha!

Have a terrific weekend of your own and God Bless!   See you on Monday -- thanks so much for stopping!

 

Blogger's Challenge: Happy Birthday!

This week, Blogger's Challenge has a birthday theme.  We could make anything we wanted as long as it was for a birthday.  I had all kinds of visions of things I wanted to make and then I received a call that my baby was coming home for Spring Break!  All that other stuff went by the wayside and I got to spend three glorious days with my son -- who is rapidly growing into a man.  But! -- I got real hugs this time!  It seems that we have outgrown the "turn your face away from mom as she is hugging you" phase and we are back to full hugs -- GOD IS SO GOOD!

Okay, back to the birthday theme.  Have you ever noticed that when you don't stamp for a while, it is hard to get back into the flow?  Well, the inspiration fairy hasn't shown her face around here in a week and this is all I have to offer you today.  Bear with me -- it's certain to get better next week!

We are supposed to be getting 8 to 10 inches of snow so I pulled out some bright colors to warm me.  You're looking at Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Totally Turquoise and Chocolate Chip.  I love yellow cake AS LONG AS IT IS FROSTED IN CHOCOLATE.  In fact, I love dessert, but if it isn't chocolate, why bother chewing?

This image is from Fun and Fast Notes and I colored it with markers, blender pens and ink pads, depending upon what I felt like.  The heart flames are More Mustard, the cake is Daffodil Delight (blender pens) and the chocolate frosting is blender pens as well.  The plate is Pumpkin Pie and the candles, of course, are turquoise.  I punched the hearts after wrapping the ribbon because they mirror the flames from the candles.  The sentiment is from So Happy For You.

It's bright, it's cheerful and I love the font in the sentiment.  I'm hopeful there are good things coming next week, but the elusive Inspiration Fairy had better make a visit -- a good long one!

Have a fabulous weekend!  Stay dry, stay warm and be blessed!

 

Blogger's Color Challenge: Peach, White and Green

I was really happy when I saw this color challenge -- it immediately made me think flowers.  And this time of year, I'm ready to see some sprouts!  The skies were gorgeous all week but the weatherman wasn't very promising today -- no matter -- because I made my own sprouts to admire!

This was an old Mojo Monday sketch from 2009 -- I'm not lying when I say I have my own sketch portfolios that I wade through when I'm looking for inspiration.  The basecard is Peach Parfait and the other colors I used are Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Cajun Craze. 

My DSP is from Sunny Garden and this image is from the Hostess Set, Fast and Fabulous.  I mounted the DSP on a piece of Very Vanilla after using the Scallop Trim Border to scallop the bottom edge. 

My image was colored with the Cajun Craze and Old Olive markers, then stamped onto Very Vanilla.  I inked up the two-step portion of the flowers in Peach Parfait and stamped over the markered image.  Once the focal image was mounted on Peach Parfait, I added it to the DSP panel with adhesive on the bottom and put a pop dot on the top so it would be anchored to the basecard when I added it.  I knotted a piece of the Old Olive Satin Ribbon and wrapped it around the DSP Panel, which was then adhered to the basecard.  My final step was to stamp my sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Cajun Craze ink.  Overall, I'm happy with this one and know already where it is going.

The weekend is upon us and I've got plans to stamp all day on Sunday.  My hubs is taking my dad to the OSU/Wisconsin game on Sunday so I'll have all day after church to do my own thing -- BRING IT ON!  I hope you have a fabulous weekend as well and will look forward to seeing you on Monday!  God Bless and thanks for stopping!

 

Blogger's Challenge: Sketch Challenge.....AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH!

What can  I say?  It's been a week and I think you get my drift.  Sometimes you get the alligators and sometimes....they get you.  I've had chunks missing out of my anatomy all week!

So here is the final card and I pretty much followed the sketch with just a slight change.  This is card #3 and it really isn't something I'm going to be proud to send.  Suffice it to say that the gift card that is inside this card will thrill my neice and she won't care about the card.

It was the semi-circle that got me...truly, I just couldn't get that to work for me.  I used Designer Series Papers from Nursery Suite which included Regal Rose, So Saffron, Whisper White and Early Espresso.  Love the colors together and thought this would come together easily.  It really should have as it was my third attempt!

I'm not going to wax eloquent about this card because I really don't like it.  The hearts were punched with the Trio Heart Punch.  The Early Espresso strip was pierced top and bottom and I used a White Gel Pen to add the stitches.  The sentiment comes from Create a Cupcake from the new Occasions Mini.  I colored the Chipboard 4 with Regal Rose craft ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I used Itty Bitty Bits (retired) to put some color on that very white semi-circle.  And that is all I'm saying about this horrible card!

Just so you can see that at least it did get better (isn't that too funny!), here are rejects 1 and 2.

 

 

 

I'm really feeling much better, which is such a relief.  I've got to share something with you that totally made my week:  I was treated to a Stylish Blogger Award by Kris McIntosh, a stamper from Australia who is so talented I drool over her creations!  She does amazing scrapbooks and is very talented at card-making as well....just plain all around creative!  Not to mention she has some of the most darling grandchildren walking!  Thanks, Kris, for making my day and now...here I am with three YUCK cards.  Like I said, some days you get the alligators and some days, they win the battle.

Never one to give up, I've already got some cards in my head.  Just need to find some creative time this weekend and make them a reality.  I know there are some better things coming and will ask you to trust me on this!

Have an awesome weekend!  Say some prayers for those who are in New Zealand where the earthquake hit -- many are without power, water and communication means to let their loved ones know they are okay.  My heart is with you all!  God Bless!

 

I'm Here For You - 24/7/365, 366 In The Case of a Leap Year...

Sorry!  Couldn't resist.  I'm the oldest child, but the oldest of my two brothers, Chris, is a Leap Year Baby so I always have to remember to add that little tidbit!

Today is Blogger's Challenge and our challenge was to emboss.  I decided to heat emboss and went scrounging through the paper closet.  I have paper I haven't even cracked open yet and decided to grab some of that for my inspiration.  The Designer Series Paper I grabbed is from the new Occasion Mini and is called Springtime Vintage.  Now many of you probably adore this paper for the flowers, but today I was inspired by one of the prints -- fell head over heels in love!  Once I saw this print, I knew which set was calling my name and I grabbed Friends 24/7.  I would never have predicted how much I reach for this set, but it is truly one of my all time faves.

The color is supposed to be Rose Red, but to me, it read more Blushing Bride so I decided to go with the print, Blushing Bride and Very Vanilla.  I love this combination -- very soft, elegant and subtle.  Here's my finished card.

This sketch is the Sweet Shop Sketch 95 and I knew I wanted to use it somewhere.  This sketch will definitely make it to my sketch book.

My base card is Blushing Bride. I matted the DSP on Very Vanilla and adhered the panel to the card.  I cut a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock and embossed the fleur di lis (or whatever the heck that thing is that I love so much!).  I wanted to try embossing with regular ink and Versamark and it wasn't difficult at all.  I stamped the image in Blushing Bride.  Then I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to stamp over the image in Versamark Ink.  The image was embossed with clear embossing powder and I love how it darkened the image a bit.  I know it doesn't seem so from the picture, but the color looks awesome with the background.  You'll have to trust me on this one, but truly...why would I lie?

I tied knots in the 1/8" Very Vanilla taffetta ribbon and added it to the focal image, then mounted this in Very Vanilla as well.  I added it to the card and decided to finish with my embossing since my placement was secure.  Both the Here for You and the 24-7 are embossed using Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder and you can see they aren't nearly as dark because the Blushing Bride ink isn't underneath the embossing -- I knew this would happen and liked the look.  My circle is added to the card with dimensionals and of course, I couldn't get away without adding some pearls -- I have so many and I don't want to hoard so I decided to use my precious stash.

I've got just the person to send this card to and know it will be perfectly received.  I'm hopeful I'll have tons of time to stamp this weekend.  Thom and I have both been fighting the ick (still!) and last night, we went to bed at 8 p.m. and slept through until 4 a.m. this morning.  I'm telling you this stuff is hard to kick, but we are working at it. 

I hope your weekend is blessed and that you will also find time to stamp!  See you Monday!  God Bless!

 

Blogger's Challenge: Love Theme

You know, now that I started using that Pun Fun set, I'm getting all kinds of ideas on how to use those stamps that have been stumping me.  Today's Blogger's Challenge is to use a Love Theme and, although this may be reaching, I made it work.  This was a sketch from somewhere, but forgive me -- I can't find the sketch again!  I generally print them out, but my stamping desk is a mess (who am I kidding?  My Stamping Room is a Sty!) and it is nowhere to be found.

I have fallen hard for Basic Gray because I pulled out the Lap of Luxury DSP.  I don't know how it happened, but it has and I started this card with a base of Basic Gray.  I cut layers of Very Vanilla and  a piece of the DSP that has a bit of a Very Vanilla pattern printed on it.  It just struck me as very elegant...

I set all of these pieces aside and stamped my focal image from Pun Fun on Very Vanilla cardstock in Basic Gray ink.  Yes, the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig was used because I am an expert at not stamping straight.  I mounted my image on Basic Gray and decided to use ribbon to follow the sketch.  I used the very scrumptious Very Vanilla tafetta ribbon and tied knots at different places in the ribbon.

I pulled all my pieces together and adhered the DSP to the Very Vanilla, added the ribbons and adhered this to the base card.  Next, I mounted the focal image with dimensionals.  Here's the inside of this card.

I used a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and embossed it with the new Tulip Embossing Folder -- isn't that pretty?  The sentiment is from the hostess set Occasional Quotes -- I love the font and thought this would make a perfect wedding card.  One more of those Pun Fun stamps has been conquered.  Current score:  Tami: 6; Stamp Set: 2.  At least I can say I'm coming out ahead here.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend on tap.  We are celebrating Valentine's Day on Saturday in the frigid Ohio temperatures.  I'd really rather hibernate but I'll give it a go and take one for the team. 

Enjoy your weekend!  Stay dry, safe and warm!

 

Blogger's Challenge Color Challenge: Red, White and Black

Well, these colors are just perfect for me.  I can go any direction because Thom, my darling husband, loves any combination of red, white and black.  When I sat down to stamp last Saturday, I fell in love with the Stampin' 411 sketch pictured here:

This is a great sketch and I immediately went to the closet, grabbed the Happy Grad Ala Carte stamp and went to work.  There is a school in our town with the colors Black and Red and someone I know is sure to need a graduation card for someone graduating from that school.  Did you follow that?

Truth be told, I didn't even know that the Blogger's Challenge was a color challenge when I created this card so I was doubly glad that I checked the challenge before I posted this card.  Perfect!

The basecard is Real Red.  I grabbed a piece of Basic Black and used the Scalloped Edge Trim Punch on the bottom to make it pretty.  To set this off a bit, I adhered a piece of Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon around the bottom, above the scallop.  Before I went any further, I wanted to stamp the focal image so I set this aside.

Using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I stamped Happy Graduation in Black Staz On ink onto Whisper White.  If this stamp is off a bit, it really looks yuck so for me, it is important that I use the SAMJ in order to make certain the image is perfectly straight.  And yes, it took me two tries to get this right.  Once I had the focal image stamped, I matted it onto Real Red cardstock and added it to my Basic Black piece with dimensionals so it would have some additional presence.

Using the mat pack and the piercer, I added the three Real Red brads above the focal image.  I knew exactly what I wanted to add to this piece to balance the focal image.  I went to my die cuts (non-SU) and pulled out the pretty numerals I have.  I love the font with the Happy Grad font so I cut the 2011 in Real Red and added them to this card with Tombow glue.  I wasn't smart enough to run the strip through my Xyron machine first so they would just stick.  Doesn't matter -- Tombow glue is awesome so I just had to be patient and allow it to dry.  No small task if you don't know me...

The final step was to add the Congratulations from Teeny Tiny Wishes above the Basic Black panel which I adhered to the basecard with adhesive.  Using the SAMJ once again, I stamped my sentiment and was really happy with this card.  I think these fonts all work so well together!  And I love it when I create a card and it works for a challenge...unbeknownst to me!  The stampin' Gods were smiling on me last Saturday!

This is the last day to leave me a comment for the Blog Candy I'm offering.  I'll be choosing the winner this weekend and posting on Monday so be sure to check back and see if it is YOU!  God Bless!  Have an awesome weekend!

 

Blogger's Challenge: Birthday Theme

I have grown to love birthday cards and when I saw that Blogger's Challenge was a Birthday Theme, I immediately knew what paper, what sketch and what direction to go!  I chose a sketch from Clean and Simple Sketches and grabbed my Celebrations paper -- Pacific Point, Pear Pizzazz and Real Red are all such happy colors anyway, but especially fabulous for a child's card!

My nephew, Jameson, is a star in his own right.  That child is so smart that from the day he was born, we all continually told his parents he should be tested because...well, because we think he is genius!  He is so darned cute and smart, and he talks like an adult.  He never talked baby talk and his conversation not only scared me, but never ceased to amaze me.  When he was two, I was talking with a little adult -- but he is certainly a bundle of fun and he makes Thom and I smile all the time!

I started with a basecard of Pear Pizzazz and layered on a piece of Celebrations DSP.  I love those dots because they allow me to go with tons of color.  I cut a strip of Pacific Point using the Tasteful Trims Die and the Big Shot and added my rick-rack strip.  Next, I grabbed my huge collection of Chipboard pieces.  I found my funky star and inked it up with Real Red Craft ink and then heat embossed it with Glassy Glaze embossing powder.  I love that it looks wet -- which was totally my intention.  I layered this on my card with fat glue dots to give it additional dimension and reached for more chipboard.  I had to cover they numeral 8 in Pacific Point cardstock because I don't have the craft ink...yet.  It's on order as you read this....  At any rate, after trimming the cardstock, I inked this up in Versamark Ink and embossed it with Glassy Glaze embossing powder.  I added it to the Real Red star with dimensionals and know that I will have to put this card in a much larger envelope.  Such is life...totally worth the extra cost!  The kid owns major real estate in my heart -- you'd think he was our grandchild, but that's a totally different story!

The final touch was to ink and emboss the three smaller stars and add them to the card as well.  I needed a sentiment that looked happy and would fit, but I didn't want something that didn't look "kid-like" so I used a non-SU sentiment.  This one is perfect in my opinion and at this point, my opinion is all that matters.

So, the real problem?  Where do I keep this card so I'll have it in December when I need to send it to Jameson?  Oh, did I forget to mention that his birthday isn't until December?  Color me PREPARED! 

I'm off to check out all the other Blogger's Challenge cards.  This is a fabulously talented group and I thank my lucky stars they let me participate.  See you on Monday!  Have an awesome, God-filled weekend!