In Stamping Mode

Saturday, November 29, 2008

A friend....

"... is what the heart needs all the time." This just couldn't be more true. I have been meaning to make a very special card, for this year has been extremely difficult for so many of my friends. Quite a few of them lost someone...too young...too soon. I thought the "a friend.." greeting was perfect from the stamp set Serene Spring and I really needed some layout inspiration, so I looked to the latest Splitcoast Challenge. Here's the sketch

and what I came up with

The inside of the card has the "a friend.." greeting. I finally got a chance to use some of my new "toys" that I mentioned a few weeks back. For the very first time, I used Copic markers to color in the image. My goodness those are addictive...AND expensive. I love the way the colors looks so rich. I'm going to need to be rich just to buy all of the colors! HAH! I'm still laughing.... I also used a Spica clear glitter pen to make that little butterfly shine...like he's that bird's little angelic friend. Here's a closeup so you can see it better...pictures just can't capture how striking it looks in person!

Most supplies Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Serene Spring
Ink: Vanilla craft, Blue Bayou, Mellow Moss, Copic markers, Spica clear glitter pen
Paper: Blue Bayou (retired), Urban Garden dsp, Neenah Solar White cs
Accessories: Vanilla wide grosgrain, Mellow Moss taffeta, Ornare corner, blue rhinestones

Thanks so much for visiting. I so appreciate you!

The 2nd day of Christmas challenge

Hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!! I, on the other hand, am very glad it is over! If anything bad could happen...oh, it did! In quick synopsis, I vomited all weekend, then lost my wallet on our trip to the in-laws to go to a funeral and spend Thanksgiving, had a small cyst on the back of my leg abscess and have to be cut and drained (I screamed...LOUD), had my son vomit all night last night, and finally my husband with the vomiting tonight. Is the bad over with? Please say it is!

Needless to say, I was DYING to get some stamp time in. So while my husband is worshipping the porcelain gods, I decided to play along with Paper Craft Planet's 12 Days of Christmas challenges and giveaways! All you have to do is make a card and upload to enter to win a prize...wooohoo! You should play along too. :) Anyway, the requirement for this 2nd day of Christmas is to make a card with a bird or turtle. I came up with this!


It has looooads of glitter. I needed that to get me out of the funk! I stamped the snowflakes with versamark and then heated with Heat and Stick ep then doused with the green glitter from the Cosmo glitter pack. The bird is from the Birds & Blooms sizzlets die and the snowflake is some random punch. The luscious ribbon is red satin ribbon I received as a thank you for my order from Ellen Hutson earlier in the month. I just love free stuff! Thanks so much for stopping by and I expect to be back "in stamping mode" ASAP!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The bundles are here!!!!!

WOWZA!!! The bundles have been released and get 'em while they're HAWT!! Oh my goodness!! You can view the bundle HERE!! There is something for everyone! The bundles are limited though, so once they're gone, they're gone!

Also remember, I am having a Black Friday/Mystery Hostess special beginning Friday at midnight and ending the same day at 11:59. You may wait for the Black Friday special or order now from my website (click "Shop Now" at the top right).

You may order these bundles NOW through December 1st, at any time, in your pj's, sippin your favorite drink of choice. :)

Hope you all have a very wonderful Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Taylor's Cupcake Challenge #43

Wow. I really feel like I've been MIA. I meant to have a post up last night (I do all my stamping/work at night when the kids go to bed) but this weekend just didn't start on the right foot at all. :( It started Friday morning when I went to get my 14 month old, Catie, out of her crib. Walked into her room and it WREAKED of vomit. OMG...she had thrown up all over her crib some time in the middle of the night...and slept in it!! UGH! My poor baby! She didn't even cry. I swear, that puke had covered every square inch of the crib and it was all dried up all over her sleeper and in her hair. I was literally fighting back spewing chunks myself...more on that later! Then, we got bad news early Saturday morning. My husband's sister passed away. I'll be MIA again. Now here's the icing on the cake. Guess who got to spend all of Saturday night into the early Sunday morning hours having it come out both ends? Yeah...that was me. I think I took 3 Phenergen in a span of 6 hours because I just kept vomiting it back up. Don't you hate it when that happens?! Needless to say, it took all of Sunday for me to recover. But we're over that...I don't want to think any more bad thoughts for a while...how about something pretty?

Taylor's Cupcake Challenge! Here's her sketch

And here's what I made


I got my inspiration for my card from Mary Jo Albright...an amazing stamper and 2-time Artisan Award winner at Stampin' Up! Ever since I saw that card, I HAD to have the stamp set and try it out myself. Stamping truly is therapy...I feel better already!

Stamps: Bella Rose, Bella Toille
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink marker (to color the pearls), Regal Rose, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Pearls from Pretties kit, Pink Taffeta ribbon, Scallop circle (from Birds and Blooms die), red glitter from Cosmo glitter pack, Fiskar's corner rounder/embosser

Thanks for stopping in!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Country Living kit Snowflake Card

Well, the title pretty much sums it up! One of the new "toys" that I got in the mail last week was Liquid Pearls. I saw it on someone else's blog and I HAD to have it. I mean..I NEEDED it. Here's a linky to where I got it. She also has a nice selection of Dew Drops...which are awesome fun to have around! Anyway...just had to play with my new toy and also play with the fantabulous stamp set included in the Country Living kit!


Here's a close-up of the snowflake with the Liquid Pearls and clear rhinestone in the middle.


Doesn't it look so cool?! It even dries with a little dimension. This was a very simple card to make...easy layout...easy stamping! Get your stamp-a-majig out though, for snowflake placement.

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Collection
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze (LOVE these two colors together!)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze
Accessories: retired SU chocolate twill ribbon, Liquid Pearls in Opal White, clear rhinestones

Thanks so much for stopping by and TGIF!!!!

Techniques Class tonight

The ladies came over early this evening and fun was had by all! At least, that's what they led me to believe. hehe They loved the projects and here is what they did.


Remember, you can always click on the image to get a better view! I've already posted two of the projects they did on that post below this one so I'll just post closer pictures of the remaining projects.

This one was cased from Diana Gibb's blog...I don't have the direct link but it's in there somewhere!


Oooh I wish you could see it in person...it's SOOO glittery! I think this one was a favorite after the Cracked Glass. This was the glitter window...emboss with heat and stick powder and then douse with dazzling diamonds. YUM!

This was stamping on tiles


Cute and simple! Stamped the image in Black Staz-on and then colored in with Stampin' Up! markers. Then sealed it with Patricia Nimlock acrylic sealant.

And finally the last was the box in a bag.


And now I'm spent and ready to crash! Can you hear that?? Hear that jiggling sound? That's the jello that are my legs. I went to a step class (haven't been to one in about a year or so) and I was blessed with squat and lunge a 2139084230984230 times today! I can barely get my rear on the toilet. :( Hopefully I'm not limping around too bad tomorrow.

Hope you have a good one and thanks for getting "in stamping mode!"

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

A Tin of Chocolates

Ok, I just can't resist posting this! I'm having a Techniques class on Thursday night, and really, it probably just qualifies more as an Advanced Stamping class. One of their projects is one of those rectangular tins you've probably seen around filled with chocolate nuggets. Well, I'm going to have them stamp on it with the white Staz On pad and embellish like so:

I think it's so cute!! Who wouldn't want this as a gift? The other project they're doing is the Cracked Glass technique. I COMPLETELY CASE'd this card from Jan Tink because she is just absolutely fabulous! Her posts always make me laugh and she is unbelievably talented. It should be illegal how many times I've CASEd her work, HAH! Anyway, here's my card but it looks EXACTLY like the one on her blog...just sayin! I'm excited to have my own copy in my hot little hands though!


....And I'm spent! Until tomorrow...thanks for getting "in stamping mode."

PS. If you are attending my Techniques class, be sure to act totally shocked and "OOOH and AHHH" at the fantastic projects! :D

Monday, November 17, 2008

A Late Challenge

Man...I just can't get in on these challenges on time! Oh well, it was fun playing. Here's Taylor's Cupcake Challenge #42


Here's what I came up with


I had totally forgotten that I had the Snow Blossom punch and just HAD to use it. I also got some new toys in the mail that I just can't wait to play with! One of them was the Ornare corner piercing template that I got at Ellen Hutson's. You'll probably be seeing a lot more of this in the future..just love the way it turned out!

I also recently bought one of those Reed Diffuser's from Yankee Candle. It came with little plastic snowflakes that you could attach to the reeds. Well, I just couldn't leave those on. My Felt Flurries wanted that position, so I added a little glitter and bling from the Pretties kit and here's my version!


I think the fragrance is Christmas Cookie but it smells oooooooh so good! I'm totally in the Christmas mood now! Hope you have a great day!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sneaking in

I'm sneaking in to make a quick post! I've been busy with my big holiday Stamp a Stack Sunday evening, club meet Monday evening, and then a Technique's class Thursday evening. I'll come up for air one of these days!

One of my very good friends just let me know that she is pregnant...YAY!! I SOO wanted to get out my "Swell News" stamps set but I can't seem to find it *cough* I tend to loan things out and forget where they go. Anywhoo...I made do with what I had and this is what I made.


I used the baby from the All in the Family stamp set because he/she is just so cute! The designer paper is from a retired Stampin' Kit that was actually a Sell a Bration "set" but I can't remember the name! It was a couple years ago, I believe. Now, I'm not the best at shadowing here...the baby looks like it piddled through it's diaper! hehe

Now, the other thing I wanted to share with you is this FABULOUS little gem! My very good friend (and downline) Valeria Sequeira made it. When this girl stamps, sparks fly, I swear! She's such a talented stamper. Everything she makes is always spectacular. This was no exception and it was SO EASY!! Here's a close-up.


Can you guess what it is?? It's a....



..gift bag! She used the rub-ons, ribbon, and twine all from the Winter mini. What a great way to package a gift!! Love it! Thanks Valeria for letting me borrow it.

I'm still on Cloud 9 from being picked for these blogging awards!!

Stacey, over at Stacey's Stamping Stage was sooo sweet to nominate me for this award:


and Lynn over at The Queen's Scene was sweet enough to nominate me for this:



HUGE thanks to BOTH of you for making my day!! So I need to nominate 5 others to pass it on to so I chose:

Donna over at Serenity in Stamping
Kelly over at Stamp Pink!
Natasha over at Clean & Simple
Donna over at Butternut Sage Designs
Sam over at A Latte Stampin

Hope you've gotten "In Stamping Mode"

Friday, November 14, 2008

Do-it-yourself dry embossing

Bear with me folks...this post's gonna be a long one! I haven't posted in a day and I, literally, feel the need to write a novel, tehee. :)

First, remember my color challenge post with my frog in the post below this one? Well, I happened to notice that Kristina Werner had an update...she had listed her top 20 favorite submissions...out of 172. OMG!!! My beloved frog made it in the top 20! I was ecstatic! I ran, squealing with glee, to tell my husband, who just looked at me with a blank stare. Nevermind the fact that it was late and he was about to fall asleep. :P Where are girlfriends when you need them at midnight?! :) Really, this was just what I needed to keep things going. You see, I've only been blogging for a little over a month and I had just begun to question if people (besides my good friends and customers) enjoyed any of my work/postings. Sometimes you just need a little pat on the back every now and then and this was that. :) Ok, enough of that! Here's what I've been up to!


I made this set (it's only 2 though, so is that more a coupling??) of cards with a particular virtual blogger friend in mind. These cards are for Lynn over at The Queen's Scene. I love her work, and she is just the sweetest person. I even noticed that she nominated me for an award! Two pats on the back in one day?? Seriously! So Lynn, if you are reading this, I would love to mail these to you! I hope it makes your day, as you have made mine. :)

On these cards, I did a couple little neat tricks. I'll start with the Kindness card.


I wanted a bit of bling in the middle of all the flowers but I didn't want to use glitter *gasp* I haven't used microbeads in well, FOREVER. So I put a little dab of Crystal Effects in the center of each flower and then poured the microbeads on. Once they stuck, I used a toothpick to pack them more tightly into the circle. Didn't stop there though! I wanted the beads to have a teeny bit of color...to match the color of the flower. My flowers were stamped off in So Saffron so I took my So Saffron marker and used the brush tip right on the beads. They took on the color beautifully. :)


And here's a side view


Whattaya think? :)

Here's the butterflies card to go with it


Did you notice that the little 'pillows' that the butterflies are resting on are dry embossed? Want to see how I did that? :)

Well whip out your Curly Label punch (with coordinating stamp set) and stamp the "Thank You" greeting onto a nice, thick cardstock...I used retired River Rock. Cut that out along the border and then punch a piece of white cardstock with your Curly Label punch. Use temporary hermafix to layer your stamped piece onto of your white punched piece as shown here:


Flip that piece over and then, with your stylus, go around the edge of the white punched piece. What's that you say? Did I use a light table? Nope! You don't have to use ANYTHING! My stylus went smoothly around the cardstock leaving behind this nice border as shown here


I then sponged coordinating color on top of each little "pillow" and rested my butterflies atop. :)
Here's a closer look


Wondering how, at all, I did the butterflies? Well let me just tell you! I used the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set (which you can get FREE with a $350 party right now!!) I took the solid butterfly image and got it all nice and inked and then "kissed" it to my Paisley background stamp...like so


I then took the same background stamp and stamped the image onto Vellum Cardstock. Since ink doesn't really like to dry well on vellum, I embossed with Iridescent Ice. I think they came out cute! The little gems in the middle you can get simply from popping the rhinestones out of the rhinestone brads and applying with Crystal Effects.

All Supplies Stampin' Up (except the Cuttlebug Swiss dots folder)
Stamps: Heard from the Heart, Flight of the Butterfly
Inks: So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Washington Apple dsp
Accessories: Top Note die with the Big Shot, White taffeta ribbon, Bashful blue 1/4" grosgrain, microbeads (from pink duo beads), Curly Label punch, Iridescent Ice ep

Well, I thank you kindly for hanging in there to make it this far! Has it been a great wall of text and pictures or what? Are you "in stamping mode" now? :)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

A Color Challenge with my Frog!

Oh I'm so excited! Yesterday I mentioned stamping with my Frog from the set, that I found out, is named Jolly Christmas, and Kristina Werner just happened to post her new Color Challenge for this week. It was a TOTAL match! Here's her inspiration


And here's what I came up with

ISN'T HE ADORABLE?!?! I would definitely kiss this frog! :)
And the full size


You know, I kept thinking that it needed more, but every time I would add something else, I didn't like the outcome. I also didn't like that Old Olive scalloped piece on the side just leaving a straight line between it and the Sahara Sand cs, so I took the little dots from the Anchored rub-ons (which are 20% off!!!) and rubbed those right smack in the middle where the two met. Oh my gosh I loved how that looked! Everything else is pretty self-explanatory.

Thanks for getting "in stamping mode!" :)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Taylor's Cupcake Challenge #41

Wow, the past couple days, I really felt like I was losing my mojo! Sometimes, venturing beyond the realm of Stampin' Up! only supplies is just what you need to get it back...at least for me! I've been wanting to participate in Taylor's latest cupcake challenge and this awesome sketch was just what I needed!


Here's what I came up with.


I rotated the layout on it's side so that you could see a more solid background behind the punched snowflakes. Now this card was FUN! You see, I have been slowly making little on-the-fly purchases of papercrafting goodies that catch my eye. The first was this stamp set from Hero Arts. I have no clue the name of it, but I just fell in love with the cute little images. It has the most adorable frog...I may have to make something with him tomorrow. :) The second purchase was these new border punch thingies from Tonic. What a neat concept! I wrestled with it for a good half hour though...anti-fun! Either way, I am really pleased with the outcome. :) Of course, I didn't venture too far from my beloved Stampin' Up supplies. All the cardstock, inks, and ribbon are SU...albeit retired. These were all the In Colors from 2 years ago! Remember that designer paper? I think it was called Christmas Thyme or something. I bought GOBS of it! haha! Ok, signing off for the night. It's almost 3 AM and my son just quietly walked in to ask for more milk and nearly scared me right out of my skin.

Thanks for getting "in stamping mode!"

Monday, November 10, 2008

Rub-ons Promotion and a Challenge

This month is Stampin' Up!'s 2nd of the "buy $20 get 20% off" promotion. ALL rub-ons are regularly $10.95 and you can now get them for $8.76 per package!!! What a deal! I just love using the rub-ons for the beautiful images AND the greetings! Here are just a few ideas on what you can put them on:
  • Ceramic canisters
  • Photo frames
  • Appliances
  • Candles
  • Album covers
  • Book covers
  • Photo boxes
  • Keepsakes
  • Invitations
  • Notecards
  • Envelopes
  • Photos
  • Cards
  • Glass doors
  • Windows
  • Mirrors
  • Tile
  • Computers
  • Pencil pouches
  • Lunch sacks
  • Magnets
The list is just endless!! You can download the flier at the sidebar on the right ------->

I recently was introduced to a new Papercrafting site called Paper Craft Planet. Wow is this site neat! You can post your cards, visit forums, AND have an interface very similar to Facebook to share with friends! I'm really impressed with it. Be sure to stop by and check it out, and if you join, add me as a friend! :)
So they are having a Sketch Challenge and I just HAD to play...nevermind that there are prizes involved!! Here is the sketch:

And here is what I came up with


I'm not entirely thrilled with how it came out...it's just...meh. :)
Remember my homemade stickles I made here? I used that same batch on the Snow Flurry (flake) next to my snowman. I just can't leave those flurries without a bit of bling!

Most supplies Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Punch Pals, Holiday Collection (from the Country Living kit)
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Snowflake Cuttlebug die with Big Shot, Felt Flurries, Crystal Effects, Cosmo glitter, Nestabilities dies, blue gingham ribbon, Navy 1/4" grosgrain

Thanks so much for getting "in stamping mode!" :)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

November club projects

Ahhh...I just love weekends! I'm starting to get sad that it's already almost over though. :( But check this out. Did you know there is only a little over 6 weeks left until Christmas?!?!? Holy crap does that statement really put things in perspective! I really need to get it in gear and really start planning what this year's Christmas cards will be. I want to incorporate a photo of the children so I better get on that like YESTERDAY!

Anywho, my monthly hostess clubs are meeting this coming Sunday and here are 2 of the 3 projects they will be making. You can see the other one here.


I've done this card before and more details on how it's made can be seen here. It's so cool! You use the small pennants from the SU Pennant die to make the criss-crosses. Here's another with the insert pulled out.


It would be so easy to just adhere a picture to that insert and be done...I'm really tempted to make these this years cards. :)


This card is their 3D item. It is a card that holds gift cards! I totally cased this from the Stamping Moments blog. She was nice enough to include directions on how to make it so be sure to stop by her site and give her a "holllaaaa." LOL! (That LOL is dedicated to my friend Anitra's, husband btw) :D
So when you open it up it has a middle compartment for the gift card as shown here


Just to get this out of the way now...gift card not included in the club!! And this is the other side of gift card.

See that large "Enjoy" circle stamp? Does it look familiar? Well, it may not because it's NOT in the catalog nor the mini-catalog. It is an exclusive set part of an EXCLUSIVE KIT!! I am SOOO excited about this kit, that I will be holding a Stamp Camp at my house dedicated to this project!! Now, I've been busy making all the projects, and here's a little teaser of what I've come up with.


See those little tags under the picture of my daughter? I made those to be little wine glass taggies!

If you are still with me...please join me at my home for the Holiday Stampin' Extravaganza!!
You'll want to block your calendar for Sunday, November 23rd beginning at 2 PM! The fee for the class is $60 and will include LOTS of Festive fun...including lots of snacks!
RSVP no later than November 14th!

More details to follow in a future posting. :)

Have a great rest of the weekend!


Thursday, November 6, 2008

O Pennant Tree

Something from the tree look familiar at all?


Why yes...yes indeed that tree was made from Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Pennant die! I saw an idea similar to this in a magazine and just thought I had to try it out for myself! Really, I had good intentions of this just looking GOJUS, but it really kind of makes me giggle, LOL! I guess I'm just in a mood. :) I was going to make 2 of these...a green tree and a red tree and it would probably make for a better picture, but I'm tired! I stayed up too late last night watching shows and perusing the web. Sooo yeah, I don't know what I'm telling you that, like you are dying to know!

All Supplies Stampin' Up! (except the felt, dowel, and pot!)
There are buttons from the Button Bouquet, clear buttons backed with real red punched designer paper, various SU ribbon, and the star punched on Whisper White cardstock with the large star punch and doused with dazzling diamonds. Yes...I know I need the Stars die so that the star at the top could have been a nice chipboard!

My goal for today is to show how versatile the pennant die is...make it to use a Christmas tree! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Highway to the Blogging Zone

Yeah...I couldn't think of a title and Danger Zone from the Top Gun soundtrack just came on so here we are! It sort of fits...this post is going to feel like a highway! LOL I have lots of pictures to post so just bear with me! I want to get this out fast so I'll come back and edit all of the details in later.

Have you ever visited Kristina Werner's blog? She's an employee at Stampin' Up!...SUPER creative, and just seems like a fantastic person overall. I really wanted to meet her at Convention this year but I never saw her. :( Anyway, she always hosts these color challenges and I'm about to participate in my first! Here is the swatch of colors we are to use:

And this is the card I came up with:


You know when you emboss with Iridescent ice, you automatically get some blue hues from the glitter so I decided to use it on my card since it was part of the color scheme! I stamped the large flowers in Elegant Eggplant and then stamped the small flowers in Versamark and embossed. Here's a close-up of the flower using Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds in the middle. :)


I love those colors but boy, I thought that it was a challenging challenge! kekeke Fun stuff though. :)

All Supplies Stampin' Up! (except the dew drops which you could achieve with Crystal Effects)
Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Short & Sweet
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Taken with Teal, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Taken with Teal
Accessories: Crystal Effects, Iridescent Ice ep, Dazzling Diamonds, Eggplant grosgrain

The layout I used met another challenge from the Verve forums. Here's what the layout looked like:

This layout is just AWESOME!! Makes simple cards that look just striking! Here are the cards I made today with this sketch!


When I showed my husband this card he asked, "why does that have swimmers on it?" Don't ask..... ;) This is a card my clubs will do this Sunday and Monday.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Winter Post, Short & Sweet
Ink: Real Red, White craft, Baja Breeze, So Saffron
Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Real Red
Accessories: 1 1/4" square punch, 1 3/8" square punch, red grosgrain


For this one, I used the rub-ons from the Level 3 hostess set and put the dots on the ribbon and as the greeting. Rub-ons on ribbon....coooool. :) The snowflakes were all embossed with Iridescent Ice ep
All Supplies Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Merry & Bright
Ink: Bashful Blue, White craft, Chocolate Chip craft, So Saffron
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Accessories: Holiday Happenings rub-ons, Bashful Blue grosgrain, Dazzling Diamonds, Iridescent Ice ep, Square scallop punch

And finally...


All Supplies Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Christmas Classics
Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Paper: Old Olive, Ski Slope dsp, Real Red dsp, Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories: Scallop edge punch, Red 1/4" grosgrain

Thanks for bearing with me through this long journey of a post. LOL! I'll come back after catching up on some shows *cough* Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, CSI, and provide more details. :)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...