Hardwood Heart

I was perusing a few of my favorite shopping websites and saw this cute sign.

I immediately thought about the new background stamp called Hardwood from the 2014 Occasions mini so I thought I would try to make a valentines card using this sign as inspiration.

I didn't have greeting stamps to suit my need so I just used the Love you stamp from the Seasonal Sayings Stamp Set.  I inked the stamp with VersaMark and covered the image with cherry cobbler embossing powder.  Then I fussy-cut just the "Love" portion and used dimensionals to adhere the greeting to card front.  I wanted the greeting to pop out of the card.  

The doily heart was stamped using Rose Red ink onto Blushing Bride cardstock.

Another card to add to my set of valentines for family and friends!  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Sets: Seasonal Sayings, Hearts a Flutter, Hardwood
Big Shot: Hearts Framelits, Hearts a Flutter Framelits
Colors: Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Rose Red
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Paper-Piercing Tool, Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, VersaMark, Heat tool

Sending Good Thoughts Flip Card

Just a quick post today.  While I was making the card for my Friend on Film post, I thought I would try making a card using the circle thinlits flip card die.  I pretty much used the same paper and color scheme, just switched out the greeting from the Perfect Pennants stamp set from the 2014 Occasions Mini.  I used markers to color in the greeting stamp so that I could split the greeting.  I like how the arrows compliment the "your way" part of the greeting.

Stamp set: Perfect Pennants, Peachy Keen
Big Shot: On Film Framelits, Circle thinlit die
Colors: Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, chevron border punch

Clean and Simple Birthday

I found another sketch to provide inspiration for a card design for my stamp camp this week.  This sketch is from Clean and Simple stamping sketch #277. 

I wanted to use the banner stamp set and punch from the Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration catalog which started today!  The colors are from the retro sketches designer series paper.  Great color pallet!  And I was so excited to incorporate the hung up cute clips (the arrow clip)!  I have to be honest, this is only the second time I have used these clips on a card.  Not sure why, they are so simple to use and really add a bit of fun to the card!  I used the word bubble clip on a birthday card I made for a colleague at work. 

Hope I have inspired you as much as this sketch challenge inspired me.  Have a wonderful day and stay warm!

Stamp Set: Banner Blast (SAB), Express Yourself (Hostess set)

Colors: Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, So Saffron, 

Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Banner punch (SAB), Sweet Sorbet accessory pack (SAB), 

Hung Up Cute Clips, Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper 

Hey There Fun

I was playing around with some of the products from the upcoming Sale-a-Bration catalog from Stampin' Up!  I am so excited about this sale!  Such great items this year.  Sale-a-Bration starts in a few days so I will be very excited to show all of the great products you can earn for free!!

This card uses the designer series paper from Sale-a-bration as well as the twine.  The stamp set is from the 2014 Occasions catalog, called Just Sayin'.  This was another product I couldn't wait to get my hands on when the Occasions catalog went live!  These stamps along with the Word Bubble framelits provide an endless array of cards for any occasion!

Hope you enjoyed the card!

Stamp Set: Just Sayin'

Big Shot: Word Bubbles Framelit Dies

Friend on Film

I am doing a stamp camp on Friday for a good friend and great customer so I needed to make a few cards for her event.  We generally stick to birthday cards, although I always bring extra sayings so the creators can create the type of cards they need.

For these types of events I like to look to challenges to help spark creativity and inspiration!  I liked the sketch challenge #329 Mojo Monday this week.

I have been itching to us ethe new On Film framelit dies in the Stampin' Up! 2014 Occasions catalog!  I love this trend and and the whole retro fresh product suite!  The colors are great together and there is a variety of looks which makes this suite perfect for any taste!     

Here is my card using this sketch.  Now while I really like the colors in the retro sketch suite, for this card I decided to use the kaleidoscope designer series paper instead.  Also great color combinations!  I especially like the black and white prints.  There are a lot of cards out there using this paper and each time the black and white striped paper is used the color in the cards is really rich and vibrant.  I love the look!  

This card was easy to put together and used just a few products.  A great way for the stampers to warm up into the projects I am preparing for them for next week ;0).

Have a great day!

Stamp set: Peachy keen

Big Shot: On Film Framelits

Colors: Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

Love You

On my way to producing Valentine's Day Cards.  My goal is to send them to my family this year.  We shall see how far I get.  I usually tend to make cards but not mail them.  Hopefully that trend will not continue.

Anyway, I was inspired by the Retro Sketches sketch challenge #97. 

  

Using the Follow My Heart valentine stamp set from Stampin' Up! and the color challenge from Sunday Stamps color challenge 67 I came up the following card.

The combination of Night of Navy and silver with Strawberry Slush is a great combination for Valentine's Day!  I used VersaMark and the silver embossing powder for the Eiffel Tower.  The detail onthe tower really came through nicely using this technique and the added texture really added to the look of the card.  The "Love You" sentiment is from the Geometrical stamp set in the 2014 Occasions catalog.  It has another sentiment "Cheer Up Buttercup".  Every time I see that sentiment I can't help sing Build Me Up Buttercup by the Temptations ;0).

Enjoy your day!  It's snowing here in Chicago-land.  Great day to spend some time warming my heart with more valentine's day cards for my family and friends!

Stamp Sets: Follow My Heart and Geometrical Stamp sets

Big Shot: Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (from 2013 Holiday Catalog, not currently available).

Colors: Strawberry Slush, Night of Navy, silver, Whisper White

Accessories: In Color 2013-2015 Designer Series Paper, Night of Navy /4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver 1/8" ribbon, Strawberry Slush 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Ribbon

Follow Your Heart

I started making Valentine's Day cards.  I can't believe it is less than a month away!  January is flying by.  I wanted to use the valentine stamp set Follow Your Heart from Stampin' Up!.  I love the images in this stamp set.  I decided to use the Freshly Made Sketches sketch challenge #119 to make a card for my hubby.

Here is my card.  I used the color combination from the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper from the Stampin' Up! 2014 Occasions Catalog.  The black and white background really makes the colors pop! And the sentiment really nicely sums up how I feel about my husband.  The embossed dots is a sneak peak from the Sale-a-bration items which will be available beginning January 28th!  Sale-a-bration is a great time of year for Stampin' Up!  Great exclusive products to add to anyone's collection!!

Hope you enjoyed the card!  I have to up my valentine card making production if I am going to get them in the mail in time!  

Stamp set: Follow My Heart

Big Shot: Hearts Collection Framelits Dies, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Decorative Dots textured embossing folder (SAB sneak peak)

Colors: Whisper White, Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Strawberry Slush, Bermuda Bay 

Accessories and Tools:  Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper, Chevron punch, basic rhinestones

A Golden Day for my Niece

One of my niece's turned 11 on January 11th, her golden birthday!  So I decided to go all out and make her a special card.  I wanted to make her day even more special so my daughter and I bought 11 items which we could wrap individually with matching tags.

Here is her birthday card:

product list posted at end of post

I decided to use a banner effect for this card.  It was a great way to break out the gorgeous new gold bakers twine from the 2014 Occasions Catalog!  The products from this catalog just went for sale on January 3rd!  I have to say, when I first got a look at this catalog I fell in love with nearly EVERYTHING in it!  Not an unusual event for me, but the excitement definitely rose!!  I couldn't wait to get my hands on the products!!

Anyway, I digress.  For the tags, I decided to use the Chalk Talk framelits and the Watercolor Wonder Washi tape.  It was so fun to use all of the coordinating gold products.  Only wish I had bought the gold vellum to use on this project! Definitely in my shopping cart now!!

I embossed very vanilla Core'dinations Cardstock using the arrows textured impressions embossing folder and then sanded the outlines.  I then cut strips of the arrows and used them as embellishments on each of the tags.

And here is how I wrapped the gifts:

Gold Bakers Twine wrapped a few times around the bags and tied to the tag.

The gift bags are just plain kraft bags from a local craft and hobby store.  To keep the theme on the gift bags, I cut up a tag a bag gift bag and glued the strip to the gift bags.
 I did the same on the bigger bags.  Each chevron tag a bag provided three 2" strips!

Now, I didn't get pictures of gifts 9-11 packaged all nicely by themselves.  I did not have the larger kraft bags at home so after trying 2 stores near home we ended up having to stop to purchase them at a craft and hobby store on the way to the party (added to our tardiness - oh boy!).  Luckily there is a craft and hobby store at the exit for my sister's house ;0).  

So, here is a picture of the birthday girl with all of her goodies!

She really enjoyed the idea of opening 11 gifts which made it even more rewarding for me!  Gifts #2 through #4 were underwear so I think for a while she was a little concerned, but there were no other embarrassing surprises ;0).

Another niece turns 18 on March 18th!  She asked if I would do the same for her birthday ;0).  Guess I better start preparing now!!

Stamp set: Banner Greetings (Hostess set)

Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter Framelits Dies; Chalk Talk Framelit Dies; Arrows Textured impressions embossing folder; Typeset Alphabets Bigz Die

Colors: Very Vanilla; Gold; Core'dinations cardstock in Very Vanilla and sanding block; gold stamp pad

Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi Tape; Gold Baker's Twine; Champagne Glimmer Paper; Tag a Bag Gift Bags

Sweet 16

My Nephew turned 16 in December and we recently celebrated with him!  I decided to make a movement card similar to what Shelli Gardner, CEO and Cofounder of Stampin' Up!, displayed at Convention this past year.  I loved the idea of this card for someone who turned 16!

Shelli's card

I wanted to change it up a bit so I decided to add two cars.  I had to make the card a little bigger (6x6) so the two cars would not crash!  Here is my card:

Stamp sets: Rev Up the Fun; Gorgeous Grunge

Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit

Accessories: Word Window Punch; 1" circle punch; VersaMark; silver embossing powder; Heat tool; lots of dimensionals!

Close up of summer starfruit car - I stamped the car image using versamark and heat embossed with silver embossing powder.  Then I fussy-cut parts of the car out and glued them on the original car to add some depth and dimension.

Cherry cobbler car

I also gave him a wallet (something to put his license in) and of course I had to fill it with some cash (what 16 year old doesn't need money??).  I found a wallet on one of my trips to The Netherlands.  It had a picture from Vincent Van Gogh I thought would suit a 16 year old.  I didn't like the smoking so much, but the artwork was gorgeous ;0).

I had to make a box to go with it.  I decided to make my own box and try to put the car on front.  Instead of using the stamp I turned to MDS and decided to use the combination of MDS and my ecutter to make the car!  Here is the final product.  

I wanted to do more but we were already an hour late for the party because I wanted to make this car!!  Anyway, it inspired me with a few new ideas so I will work on those over the next few weeks!!

Make a Wish

I had three birthday cards to make for my nieces and nephew today so I spent most of the day today making cards.  Just got back from a party for two of the birthdays so decide to post before I forgot what I did!!

I will show the first one today and then the others over the next few days.  Here is a sneak peak of the other two cards ;0)

Sweet 16

Golden Birthday

Onto the card for today's post, niece #1 who turns 10 in February.  I needed to mail her card to Switzerland so I had to be proactive on this one.  I was up pretty early this morning so I needed some inspiration before starting (and time to let the coffee do it's thing).  I hopped on over to Freshly Made Sketches and found the card sketch #118 so I decided to use this sketch.  Keeping it simple at an early hour (for a Saturday!).

I didn't know what color combinations I wanted to use so I hopped next to colourQ to see if I could get some inspiration.  I liked the combination in colourQ challenge #223 so I decided to use this combination.

Now, I wanted to stay with current colors and both Bravo Burgundy and Poppy Parade are not active colors at Stampin' Up! so I changed them to Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals.

I must confess, I was a little disappointed when I got to my stamp room because I thought I had a stamp set I was going to use for the cards but it turned out I didn't buy it yet.  I guess I decided to get Starburst Sayings (from the new 2014 Occasions Catalog) with my next order.  Anyway, it didn't take me long to revamp. Here is my card.  I hope she enjoys it!  Come back later this week to see the other cards in more detail!

Stamp set: Perfect Pennants (Occasions Catalog 2014)

Big Shot: Window Frames Framelits; Hexagon Hive Thinlits Die (Occasions Catalog 2014)

Colors: Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, Primerose Petals, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Accessories: Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Festive Paper Piercing Pack

Sending Kisses

I had to make a card for a friend who lost her mother to alzheimers this weekend.  Such an awful disease!  It was sad for her to lose her Mom, but she really lost her a while ago.

Anyway, I wanted to play along with retro sketches #96 so I thought I would use this sketch for the card.

Here is my take on the sketch.

I pulled out the Retro Fresh DSP and decided to build off of this paper and color scheme.  I didn't want to make an actual sympathy card so I decided to use Petite pairs to show her how much I care.  The "Xs" from the punch pack (actually flowers to match the floral fusion sizzlit) fit the theme perfectly!  I used summer starfruit ribbon and cardstock for the Xs.  Really like how this turned out!

I hope it helps to brighten her day a little.

Another two-for, navy and gold style

I have been watching all of the sketch challenges just waiting for time to get my hands on cardstock and stamps.  A bit overwhelming at first, but I was able to find a few challenges to start the new year off!

First, the color scheme from Stampin' Celebration #74!  

And then the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches was also very intriguing so I just had to meld the two together!

Here is my design.

I used a few new products and a "sneak peak" of a saleabration product!  Love the sequins, but still trying to figure out how best to adhere them to a project.  One at a time is fun, but I like the grouped look too!  Hope you enjoyed the card.  Gold is not a favorite of mine, but I really enjoyed making this card.  So maybe gold will move up on my list?!?  We shall see...

Reorganized and ready to go!

I had two weeks off from work, and other than the time spent planning, preparing and recovering from the holidays, I was able to relocate my crafting space to a different area in the basement.  Here are pictures of my new space.  I can't wait to actually use it! 

We have cabinets in the area I took over.  I had to relocate all of the entertaining items to another area and moved my crafting supplies in!  The drawers are great for organizing miscellaneous items.  The thinlits and embossing folders fit great in one of the drawers!

 All my Big Shot stuff in one place!

The storage cabinet on the right is on wheels and has a table top that pops up for extra work space.  

Saw this organizing caddy on pinterest.  It's from a car parts store!  Who would have thought!  May have to spray it white some day.

First thing I made in my crafting home was tags for gifts for my coworkers.  Used mostly brand new items from the Occasions mini!!

Well, that's it for now.  Stay warm everyone in the mid-west and north!