Joyful Tidings

Another card for Stamp Camp Friday, this time using Retro Sketches #89.  

Lots of fun tools from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini.  I used the Envelope Punch Board for the rounded edges at the bottom of the card.  So much easier than using the circle punches!

Well, that's it for today, enjoy your day!

Truly Grateful take two

I am having a Stamp Camp Friday at a friends house and decided to focus a bit on Christmas and some gift giving ideas.  Since Thanksgiving is around the corner I decided to do one fall card as well.

I haven't been able to play along with the sketch challenges lately so I used a few challenges to design the cards for Stamp Camp.  It is so helpful to at least have a starting point.  What you do with the sketch can be your own, but having a sketch is so helpful in getting the creativity flowing again after a bit of a hectic week at the day job!

I decided to play along with Mojo Monday 318 for this card.

My card also fits the Stampin' Celebration Challenge #72.

I don't think I have used my chalk talk framelits yet so I decided to give them a try for this sketch!  I used the Truly Grateful stamp set with Early Espresso, Crushed Curry and a little Soft Sky thrown in.  The DSP is from Sweater Weather and I used the square lattice textured embossing folder.  I have to say, I am truly grateful I was able to design and cut supplies for Friday!  I suspect it will be another 55 hour week at work so best to prepare while I can ;0)!

Have a great day!

Truly Grateful

I love the chevron wood print in the Truly Grateful Stamp Set so I needed to make a card with this set.  This was my first Fall card of the year.  Guess the weather finally put me in the mood!

Stamp Sets: Truly Grateful, Gorgeous Grunge

Colors: Old Olive, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Naturals buttons, crushed curry ribbon, burlap ribbon, linen thread

A washi hi

A successful world card making day today!  I had 13 people over to make cards. Most of the ladies who attended were regular attendees at stamp camp, but I was happy to see a few new faces at stamp camp (new to stamp camp, but friends for a while).  A former neighbor, a colleague at work, a friend of a friend, my sister and my mother-in-law were all new faces at stamp camp!  Everyone seemed to have a great time and it was nice to see the mix of people who attended.  We caught up on life and just had a great time.  

Between sessions I took a peak at the retrosketches challenge and decided I had time to play along.  Might as, I had everything out and few minutes to spare after cleaning up from the afternoon session.

As soon as I saw the sketch I knew I needed to use washi tape!  I used the Epic Day Washi Tape and used the Label Card Thinlits Dies for the hi and arrow.

Hope everyone had a great World Card Making Day!  Now it's time for me to start focusing on the holidays!  

Never Too Happy SCIC 71

Another card for World Card Making Day!  And, unexpectedly, the colors match the color combo in the Stampin' Celebration inspiration challenge #71, what luck!

 

I love these colors, they are so pretty together!  My favorite colors are orange and brown.  Definitely love fall colors.

Stamps: Yippee Skippee, Gorgeous Grunge

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Soft Sky, Whisper White, chocolate chip, daffodil delight

Retro Hello There

World Card Making Day is Saturday and I am having a Stamp Camp to commemorate the day!  I love the idea of making handmade cards to send to family and friends.  Whenever I send a card that I made, people notice and comment.  It makes me feel really good that I took the extra time to send them something I made myself.  In my world of internet purchases for pretty much nearly everything but perishables, it's nice to have a special way to recognize the special people in our lives.

Designing 6 cards for the stamp camp took more energy than I can muster so I was grateful for a pretty and easy sketch from Retro Sketches this week.

I decided to move the greeting to the bottom since I felt the card needed something to offset the gray on the bottom half of the card.

Hello, You - clean and simple sketch

I guess I didn't realize there were so many different sketch challenges available! There are so many talented people out there!  I love the sketch challenges as they really do help get the ideas flowing.  I found the clean and simple stamping challenge site and decided to create an interpretation of one of her sketches (FTL257).

I didn't use the circle shape at the bottom in order to keep the card even simpler for a stamp camp I am having later this week.  There are a lot of new stampers so my goal was to make the cards as simple as possible.  

I wanted to use washi tape on at least one of the cards.  Washi tape is such an inexpensive way to add depth and color in the easiest way I have ever known!! Anyway, I hope to be able to participate in the sketch challenges at Simple and Clean Stamping.  Of course, my track record for any challenge has been pretty poor lately.  Something to strive for as we head into holiday season! 

Stamp Sets: Regarding Dahlias, Gorgeous Grunge

Colors: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Garden Gingham Washi Tape, Pansy punch, Very Vintage Designer buttons, linen thread

Gently Falling Thanks

I found a great card on Pinterest that I wanted to case and thought it would be a great way to start off my fall stamping!  The card was posted on Cristina's "My Paper Secret" blog.

I loved the design and decided to make it using Stampin' Up! products using the Sweater Weather DSP color pallette.  A great way to ease into fall!

Stamp Sets: Harvest of Thanks; Gently Falling

Colors: Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Big Shot: Apothecary framelits
Accessories: Soft Sky seam binding, 7/16" Natural Trim

Celebration Thanks

Wow, so much for trying to be more active as a blogger.  I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post.  Anyway, I have been wanting to play along with the Stamping Celebration September challenge #70.  Everything finally came together and I was able to finish the card just in time to post before the deadline.  I really enjoyed the colors and shapes of this challenge.  Love the calypso coral with pool party (at least that is my take on the color scheme).  Very pretty!



Here is my take on the challenge.  Hoping to be able to play along with more challenges, unfortunately the day job has it's own challenges!

Stamp Set: Harvest of Thanks
Colors: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party
Accessories: circle punches, pansy punch, in color ribbon and buttons

Elegant Birthday

This card was inspired by Stampin' Celebration sketch challenge #69.  I didn't really have a plan when I started to pull supplies to make this card.  The only thing I knew was that I wanted to use the ruffled ribbon for the stitching.  As I flipped through my stack of designer series paper the Modern Medley DSP caught my eye. I just ordered and received the Neutrals Coredination Paper and it clicked!  Black and vanilla with a hint of color.  

I made two cards using two different embossing folders. After I sanded the coredinations cardstock, I sprayed it with the vanilla shimmer smooch spritz. Guess I could have changed it up the DSP too but I had already cut the paper with the fancy fan design so I went with it.

Stamp Sets: Everything Eleanor, Four You

Colors: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe

Big Shot: Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 

Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Accessories: Modern Medley DSP, Basic Black Coredinations Cardstock, 

Versamark, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 

Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz

Mosaic Thank You

Whew, it's Friday.  After a long week thinking about all of the things I wanted to make I finally got a chance to make some cards.  Kids started school and the day job is busy, so I have to really make the time to play.  Luckily the kids are pretty independent when it comes to homework, so hopefully I will have a little time during the week to de-stress with my stamps!  Just had to get through the first week.  I think we went to Target 3 times as the kids learned (or remembered) what else they needed for school supplies.

Anyway, I wanted to try the retro sketches sketch challenge #77 and thought I would try it with the mosaic punch.  I really like the modern mosaic textured impressions, it really looks nice with simple elements.

Here is my card.  I made it landscape and portrait just to see the difference.

Stamp Sets: Mosaic Madness, Regarding Dalias

Colors: Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, Whisper White

Big Shot: Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Folder

Accessories: Whisper White Baker's Twine, Mosaic Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Quatrefancy Designer Series Paper 

Flippin for Raspberry

I do love raspberries, but Rich Razzleberry isn't a color I use too often.  Not sure why, it's a beautiful color.  Anyway, when I saw the challenge on Stampin Celebration, I just had to pull out the Rich Razzleberry.  Mainly because it is one of the colors in Polka Dot Parade DSP.  I know the purple in the challenge is more Elegant Eggplant, but since others used Rich Razzleberry I took the liberty as well. 



So here is my take on the challenge.  I love the flip card thinlits!!  I just had to use this for this challenge.

Stamps: Best of Greetings, Betsy's Blossoms

Colors: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Whisper White

Big Shot: Circle Card Thinlits Die, Circles Collection Framelits Dies

Accessories: Old Olive 1/8" tafetta ribbon, basic rhinestones, polka dot parade DSP

Gorgeous Grunge

When I received the new Stampin Up catalog in May, one of the first stamp sets that I couldn't wait to purchase was Gorgeous Grunge!  Since I have 3 teen/pre-teens, I knew this stamp set would come in handy!  Then, when I found out that this was one of the stamp sets we would get if we attended Convention I was even more excited, except, it meant that I had to wait another 3 weeks to get the set!  I couldn't wait to come home after convention and create with this stamp set!

I created this card for stamp camp last week.  The ladies that attended Stamp Camp really liked the card, although they said they would not have bought the stamp set if they didn't actually get to see the set in action.  They really enjoyed making this card and two of the ladies bought the stamp set!

The color combination was inspired by a scarf my co-worker wore to work.  I was busy sketching this card during a meeting, multi-tasking if you will ;0). Luckily, sketches don't take too long, just needed enough time to capture my thoughts so I wouldn't forget.

Stamp sets: Gorgeous Gunge, Yippee Skippee

Colors: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, 

Pear Pizzazz

Big Shot: Chalk Talk framelit dies

Accessories: 1/8" melon mambo taffeta ribbon, 3/8" old olive taffeta ribbon, Vintage faceted designer button, whisper white bakers twine

Vintage Birthday Card

I created a few cards for stamp camp last week and decided to try a vintage card.  I was inspired by a card Shelli Gardner created, CEO and co-founder of Stampin Up!. 

  

Here is my take on her card.  I didn't have all of the same stamps, so I improvised.  I forgot about the ink sprays, would have looked even better with the ink spray.

Stamp Sets: Creative Elements, Fabuluos Phrases

Colors: Pistachio Pudding, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede on Very Vanilla

Acccessories: Burlap ribbon, 3/8" Pistachio pudding ruffled stretch trim ribbon, 

Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Basic pearl 

Hello Lovely Vintage Card

Playing along with Mojo Monday sketch #305 with a vintage card.  I took inspiration from the Etcetera designer series paper and went with a vintage look.  Hope you enjoy the card.

Stamp sets: Hello, Lovely, Everything Eleanor

Colors: Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, 

Night of Navy

Big Shot: Alphabet Press Embossing Folder

Accessories: 3/8" Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, 5/8" Victoria Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls

A Retro Sketches Birthday, a bit late

I always have great intentions on sending out birthday cards.  Many times I make the card in time but don't actually get around to mailing it in time or I mail it last minute.  I don't usually procrastinate, but there is something about that last step in the process...

Anyway, I did play along with Retrosketches #73, just never posted it to the blog.  So, I thought I would share it with you today.  Another "late" birthday card of mine ;0).  No intended receiver yet, but good to have on hand!

Stamp Sets: Tape It and Banner Greetings

Colors: Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral and Smoky Slate 

Accessories: 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon in whisper white and basic gray, calypso coral 3/4" chevron ribbon (cut in half so only one side of the chevron is used), 3/8" ruffle stretch trim in coastal cabana, 

1-3/4" circle punch, Basic rhinestones , 2013-2015 In-color designer series paper

Retro Sketches #74 a Two For

I had a few ideas for Retro Sketches #74 so I thought I would post both of them today.

The first card uses Flower Shop stamp set and the pansy punch and the Best of Shelli stamp set.  Color combination is Coastal Cabana, Rich Razzleberry and Pumpkin Pie.  The Greeting is from Lots of Thanks.

  

The second card I made for my niece who is on her way back from the National Youth Jr Olympics after placing 4th int he 100m hurdles and  5th in the 400 m hurdles.  We are very proud of her accomplishments so I thought I would make her a card.  I used the Blue Ribbon stamp set, the That's the Ticket Stamp Set and Delightful Dozen stamp set.  Colors are Island Indigo, Pool Party and Raspberry Ripple.

Convention gift

I made a few gifts for my roommates for the Stampin Up! Convention.  We had a blast this past week in Salt Lake Cit, Utah.  It was fun getting to know them better.  It was a low drama week with a lot of laughter and inspiring talks.  I was glad I went to convention this year and very glad to have shared it with such wonderful ladies!

This was one of the gifts I made them.  Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the other gifts (or the pictures turned out REALLY bad).  I do understand that that these pictures are also not so good, but they were better than the others, you will just have to trust me on this one ;0)  They enjoyed the gifts nonetheless, so I guess that is all that matters.

These are notepads that I decorated with a cardstock cover in collage style.  Cover is Crushed Curry stamped with Off the Grid, butterfly is from Papillion Parade on Bermuda Bay (embossed with black embossing powder), ticket is That's the Ticket on Tangerine Tango cardstock and Early Espresso ink, Tape It using Bermuda Bay ink, and words are from Loving Thoughts using Early Espresso ink.  I used the clay molds and died the clay with Crisp Cantaloupe reinker.  I also used Epic Day This and That Washi Tape, basic pearls and doilies from the Delicate Doilies sizzlet die which were sponged with crumb cake ink.

A Collage Style Wedding

This year we have had a higher number of weddings to attend than usual (for us).  We haven't been to a wedding in a few years and this year we had 3 of them!  Of course, I had to make the cards for each wedding (and shower).  This is one of the wedding cards I made.  Most of this card is made from retired items, so I apologize for that.  Perhaps the layout will spark a few ideas.  There are certainly enough new Stampin Up! items which can be used in place of the items I used for this particular card ;0).

Stamp sets: Mr. & Mrs. stamp set

Colors: Baja Breeze (retired), Crumb Cake, Night of Navy Whisper White

Simple Baby Card

We met some friends for dinner a few weeks ago.  They are expecting their first baby so it was exciting for me to be able to create a baby card to go along with the a few gifts we bought for them.  I don't have many friends who are having babies anymore.  Our kids are starting high school and college!  Anyway, while they knew they were having a girl, I decided to not overwhelm the card with pink (which is usually my first inclination).  I also used a retired stamp set for the greeting, but I know Stampin' Up! is offering current stamp sets which could be used instead.  Hope you enjoy your day! 

Stamp Set: Tiny Tags (retired)

Colors: Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Accessories: Blossom Punch, Pansy Punch, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle punch, Jewelry Tag punch, large rhinestones, Calypso Coral bakers twine, In-Color 2013-2015 Designer Series Paper 

Wonder Sneak Peak

Okay, after another hiatus, I am trying to crawl my way back to blogging more regularly.  I just got back from the Stampin Up convention (along with 6000 other demonstrators).  It was exciting, fun and inspiring!  I am hoping the invigoration will last and I will be able to keep up with my creative streak.  It will be a busy week at the day job, so here is hoping I don't lose the excitement with a good dose of reality!

What better way to re-initiate (yet again) my mojo with the latest Mojo Monday challenge #302!  Just in the knick of time!  I spent a few hours in my stamping "room" cleaning, organizing and stamping (one card).  But, it's a start, and now with my desk cleaned off and the new stuff put away, let the mojo begin!

Here is my card.  I used several items which will be available August 1st in the Holiday catalog (items listed in italics below)!  I know it's a little early for winter cards, but with the humid summer we have had so far, I thought a few thoughts of snow would help cool me off.  Have a great night!

Stamp sets: Festive Flurry, Loving Thoughts

Colors: Marina Mist, Wisteria Wonder, Night of Navy, Whisper White

Big Shot: Festive Flurry Framelit Dies, 

Northern Flurry Textured Embossing Folder

Accessories: Silver glitter paper, Night of Navy 1/4" stitched ribbon, 

silver 1/8" ribbon

Bright and cheery

Inspired by the sunshine (and I won't lie, trying to keep with the color scheme in the new Gingham Garden Washi Tape from Stampin Up!), I made a card to celebrate a good friend.  Again, inspired by others, this time by Kimberley van Diepen, but using the brighter shades from gingham garden.  Here is my version of her card, enjoy!

Stamp set(s): Flower Shop (BUNDLE), Express yourself (hostess set)

Big Shot: Hexagon Embossing Folder

Colors: Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Whisper White

Accessories: Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Pansy punch (BUNDLE), rhinestones

Off the Grid!

I am trying to stay "on the grid" by making more regular posts to my blog.  This is a card I designed for stamp camp this week.  I am so excited to be getting my regulars together again!  We haven't seen each other in 3 months and I can't wait to see what is going on with them!

This card was inspired by a card a saw on the Stampin' Up! blog.  Hope you enjoy!

Stamp set(s):Six-sided sampler (BUNDLE), Off The Grid

Colors: Soft Sky, Island Indigo, Pistachio Pudding, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Soho Subway DSP, Hexagon punch (BUNDLE), Epic day washi tape, Pistachio pudding 3/8” ruffled stretch ribbon

Yellow and Gray, describing our summer so far!

As many have posted either in blogs or on facebook, this summer has been more gray than sunny and not too warm.  So I decided to make something that is more cheerful than our weather!  I mashed up the Mojo Monday 296 sketch challenge along with the Stampin' Celebration Celebration Challenge! 


The end result was a cheerful card I would love to send to someone to brighten their day!

Stamp Set: Chalk Talk, Tape It, Mixed Bunch

Colors: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate

Accessories: 2-1/2" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, blossom punch, 3/4" circle punch, 7/8" scallop circle punch, 1/8" mini brad, Epic Day Designer Series Paper.