When in Doubt...Circle Circus!

  I fully intended to post this card during the week but the boys and I were in Connecticut visiting family and we were so busy that I didn't have much chance to be on the computer.  We get run ragged when we're up there that by the time it's quiet at night I'm ready for bed!

  I made this card earlier this month as a thank you to friends of ours who house sat while we were in Disney in May.  They made sure the dog and cats were taken care of as well as my outside plants.  We were very grateful to them as we knew everything was in good hands while we enjoyed our family vacation. 

  I had a hard time deciding on what stamp set to use....all my retired sets had been priced and boxed up in anticipation of my New Catalog Party & Buy One Get One Sale this coming week.  And all I had so far from the new catalog were Betsy's Blossoms and Eat Cake, neither of which really fit the "Thanks for walking my dog, scooping the litter box, and watering the geraniums" occasion.  So when in doubt I went with Circle Circus and a brand new color combination using new In Colors straight from the Color Coach (love that thing!).

  I used the new Gumball Green and Midnight Muse along with what I thought was Marina Mist but in this photo looks a lot like Baja Breeze.  I can't double check the card since it's long gone out of my house but either color combination rocks!

  I stamped various circles on the Whisper White circle that I had left from another project that didn't pan out.  I stamped more of those circles on my background color blocks.  Then I made 3 banners by stamping the thank you sentiment (from Delightful Dozen) in Midnight Muse ink.  The main circle and banners are popped up with dimensionals.  And I highlighted the corners and the attached the banners with white brads.

  Have a great weekend!  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Circle Circus, Delightful Dozen

Ink: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Marina Mist/Baja Breeze???

Paper: Midnight Muse, Gumball Green Marina Mist/Baja Breeze???, Whisper White

Accessories: dimensionals, brads

Betsey's Blossoms Teacher Thank You

I made this card last week for Ryan to give to his teacher on the last day of school.  It was fun to use these bright colors together!

  This was one of those cards that evolved with each element.  I thought I knew what kind of layout I wanted to do and then as I started arranging things it just wasn't working out.  I changed several things out but kept the large flower as that was a lot of fussy cutting and I didn't want it all to go to waste!

  The base is Baja Breeze and then a layer of Floral District DSP.  I cut out one of the new Apothecary Accents Framelits for my sentiment.  I used the retired Thank You Kindly set as I still have to order a few new sentiment sets to fill in where I had retirements.  I used the new paper piercing templates to paper pierce around the whole label.  I LOVE these new templates....it's so easy to get a nice even pattern now!  No more getting to the end of the shape and either having the holes too close together or a random gap.

  I added a Daffoldil Delight button (retired Sale-a-Bration) with a rhinestone in the center to the lower part of the label. 

  For the flower I stamped it 3 different time; once in Rich Razzleberry, once in Baja Breeze and a final time in Daffodil Delight.  I used my paper snips and cut out them out making each top layer smaller than the one before to get a cool stacked look.  Each layer is popped with dimensionals and then another rhinestone added to the center.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Betsey's Blossoms, Thank You Kindly (retired)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Floral District DSP

Accessories: paper piercing templates, button, rhinestones, Apothecary Accents Framelits, dimensionals

Balloon Teacher Thank You

  It's the last day of school here in our county.  This last week has seemed like one big party for the kids and Ryan has enjoyed all the fun.  Today is some kind of beach party theme hence the swimsuit!  Take a look at first day of school vs. last day of school.....any difference?

First Day

Last Day

 I definitely think he looks older....at least first grade right?  =)

  Anyway since it's the last week of school of course I had to do some gifts for the teachers.  I had already sent in a few of the Clear Case Stationery Sets for teacher appreciation week so I couldn't do that again.  I went with a good old gift card to a local mall so they can pick out something they want/need.  But I did make cards (of course) and matching giftbags (which I didn't get a photo of but they coordinate with the cards).

  I used my markers to color the balloon stamps and then cut them out with my paper snips.  I took my color combination from the new Designer Series Paper Floral District; Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze and Rose Red.  I really like these colors together and want to make some other cards using it.

  I stamped the clouds on the top layer of DSP and then popped my balloons up.  I used the new Itty Bitty Banners set for the thank you flag which I stamped using Early Espresso ink.

  Off to get something accomplished today before we have to get up to the bus stop....1/2 days really throw me off!

  Thanks for looking! Have a great weekend!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Up, Up and Away, Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Rose Red, Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White, Floral District DSP

Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/8" tafetta ribbon, paper snips

Birthday Banner

  I feel like I'm on a roll this week with making cards.  I think I may have found the secret to my sanity this summer.  It's called "Quiet Time" and the boys have actually been pretty good at it.  Since we haven't had naps here in 2 years (my boys are only almost 4 and almost 6 but they kicked the nap habit a long long time ago) my quiet afternoons of stamping have been long gone.  And now that preschool has been out for 3 weeks and elementary school is finished on Friday we needed a solution to the afternoon crazies (are my kids the only ones who get the afternoon crazies??).  I tried "Quiet Time" previously but it just didn't take...all I did was spend "Quiet Time" telling one little boy or another that "no, time isn't up yet" or "stay in your room" or "stop yelling to your brother through the walls" or "yes, it's OK to come out of your room to use the bathroom".  I think the boys may have misinterpreted the "Quiet" for "Nap"!  Needless to say there wasn't much stamping going on.  They've actually seemed to enjoy a bit of "Quiet Time" to play or read on their own and are very proud to show off whatever structure/vehicle/mess they've built in their rooms during the 30 minutes.  But mommy is happy to get some time to at least start on a card or work on a new idea in relative quiet!

  Here is one that I made yesterday for a little girl who's 6th birthday is almost here.  I had fun with the girlie colors and a bit of sparkle.  I used the Clean and Simple Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers for my jumping off point.  The challenge is to use a white layer on a white card base.

  I haven't used the Pennant Parade set nearly as much as I should and this was a perfect occasion to bust it out.  This one is pretty self-explanatory but a few things I want to point out are that I partially embossed the top panel to leave a nice smooth area for my sentiment on the bottom.  Also, I used one of the new In Colors, Raspberry Ripple.  The colors came straight from the Color Coach...Raspberry Ripple, Old Olive and Pretty in Pink.  Last detail of note: I used the edge of my Raspberry Ripple marker to highlight the edge of the top layer of Whisper White.  I got that neat idea from my blogging buddy Allison Ohran at Sweet Impressions and a card she did the other day.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Pennant Parade, Bring on the Cake

Ink: Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Raspberry Ripple

Paper: Whisper White


Accessories: Pennant Punch, rhinestones, corner rounder, taffeta ribbon, Dazzling Details (on the candle flame!)
 

Bright Boy Birthday

  I am trying to catch up on cards that need to be made by the end of this week.  I hope I can make it!  Nothing like a little pressure right?  =)

  This card is for a little boy who turned 4 back in March (I know super late right!??) but we'll be seeing him next week and I wanted to make sure I had his birthday card all made.  In my defense I bought a gift for him in plenty of time for his birthday I just never got it in the mail....best intentions huh?

  I love Dinoroar and I'm so glad these little guys made it back for the new catalog. 

 I used the colors at ColourQ this week; Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo.  The layout is a very loose interpretation of last week's Mojo Monday sketch.  I just couldn't get a square to look right behind the T. Rex panel so I just did another circle peeking out instead.

  The base is Island Indigo with a layer of Whisper White on top.  Then I cut a few strips from the retired Big Top Birthday DSP to make my banners.  I wrapped some Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine around the card and added a printed In Color brad.

  The T. Rex is stamped in Stazon onto a Whisper White circle.  I colored him in with Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo ink and a blender pen.  I cut a second circle out of Island Indigo and put it behind the dinosaur panel.  I added some brads on the right side of the circle because that bit of empty space was kind of bothering me.  And since I can't seem to make a card without dimensionals the dino panel is popped up.

  The final touch is the "happy birthday" from Up, Up and Away stamped in Stazon.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Dinoroar, Up, Up and Away

Ink: Stazon, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo

Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Big Top Birthday DSP (retired)


Accessories: Brads, Circles #2 die, Printed brad, Baker's Twine, dimensionals

Gotta Love Splitcoaststampers!

 

  I'm sure many of you know about Splitcoaststampers.com and their fabulous gallery and wonderful forums for sharing ideas.  In addition to posting my cards here on my blog Did You Stamp Today? I also upload them to the gallery on Splitcoaststampers.  I figure that I get so many great ideas over there that the least I can do is share my cards and maybe inspire someone else. 

  There are some fun weekly "favorites" threads where people share cards they've favorited throughout the week.  I was lucky enough to have a card that someone thought was worthy enough to share in the CAS (Clean & Simple) favorites thread.  How fun is that?  I really appreciate this small recognition and I urge anyone who checks out the galleries over on SCS to leave comments for those cards you like and favorite.  It might really brighten the day of another stamper and really only takes a few seconds.

  To see the card check out this post Last Loads of Love card.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Last Loads of Love

  I will certainly miss this little truck and all the fun stuff it can haul around.  But there are some great new sets in the brand new catalog to take its place and I am excited to take those for a spin!  For now here is another card that we did at my last stamp club where we said good-bye to our old favorites!

  On this card we not only said good-bye to Loads of Love but also textured cardstock and 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.

  The base is Bashful Blue with a strip of Pumpkin Pie textured cardstock with a knot of Whisper White grosgrain ribbon tied around it.  Then we have a strip of Wild Wasabi that is embossed with the Adorning Accents hearts embossing folder. 

  The truck and pile of flowers are stamped on watercolor paper with Stazon.  It was then cut out with a Labels Framelit and colored in with markers.  Using markers on watercolor paper is great since the marker ink blends in so nicely...none of those overlap lines you tend to get with regular paper.

  The final touch is a Pumpkin Pie button tied with Baker's Twine.

  I have been pricing away for my big sale at the end of the month so my stamp room is in complete disarray.  You should see the piles of stuff!  I did get 2 birthday cards made this week so I'll be showing those soon.  I know you're probably tired of all this old stuff huh?  =)  I even placed my first big order from the new catalog so I'll have those goodies early next week.  Slowly but surely I'll get back to regularly posting new projects!

  Have a great weekend!  Thanks for looking! Did you stamp today?


  Stamps: Loads of Love (retired)

 Ink: Stazon markers- Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie

 Paper: watercolor paper, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie textured (retired), Wild Wasabi

 Accessories: grosgrain ribbon (retired), Labels Framelits, Adorning Accents e.f, button, Baker's Twine

 

Painted Tools

  All right, so I know this set is retired as off June 1 but we used it last week at stamp club so we could say good-bye to some old favorites.  And I thought you all might want to see it anyway!

  I think this is a cool color combination as well...More Mustard, Early Espresso & Pool Party.  Nice and masculine!

  The base is More Mustard and then a panel of Early Espresso.  The Early Espresso is run through the Big Shot with the Stripes embossing folder and accented with silver brads in the corners.  There is also a length of "man ribbon" a.k.a Baker's Twine wrapped around that panel as well.

  Now for the fun part!  The tools were all stamped in Early Espresso and then punched out with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  Then they were colored a little with markers.  The "metal" parts of the tools were painted with the Silver Shimmer Paint and a fine tipped paint brush.

  Neat huh?  I've used Shimmer Paint mostly to make Shimmer Mist so it was fun to actually use it as paint.  It really gives the tool panels some pop.

  I hope to get some time in the stamp room (I know I keep saying that) but with preschool finished for the summer there isn't a lot of peace at my house these days.  I imagine the peace will be even more elusive when #1 is out of school as well.  Please bear with me as I try to get into some kind of summer stamping schedule!

  I have the new 2012-2012 Stampin' Up! catalog available for pick up for my local ladies!  Just let me know when you'll be by.  I also have the link to the catalog PDF on my sidebar ------> if you'd like to download it.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

 Stamps: Totally Tool (retired)

 Ink: Early Espresso, Pool Party & More Mustard markers

 Paper: More Mustard, Early Espresso, Pool Party

 Accessories: Stripes e.f., Pool Party Baker's Twine, circle punches, Silver Shimmer Paint, silver brads