Watercolor Sky Fab Friday Challenge

  After weeks of anticipation today is the day!!  It is the first Fab Friday Challenge!  I'm thrilled to be a part of this awesome group and I'm looking forward to creating projects using Mindy's great challenges.   We hope you'll join in on the fun with us over at Fab Friday Challenge.

  For our very first challenge Mindy has given us this great sketch to work with. 

  I think this layout could be used for so many different cards.  The large panel definitely gives a lot of room to work with.  And I've been very partial to the little banner flags for a while now so of course I love that element as well.

  I was inspired by Bonnie's card (and great tutorial!).  What a fun technique and a wonderful look using the Shimmery White cardstock and reinkers.  It's kind of like the re-inker spread technique used on this card from a long time ago!  I love how rich the colors look and the bit of sparkle from the cardstock is kind of an unexpected surprise.  I kept the rest of the card very clean and simple to not take away from the main panel.

  After using the reinkers and Aquapainter and drying my "sky" with my heat tool I stamped the branch from Serene Silhouettes in Stazon.  I added a scalloped piece that was cut with the large scallop edgelit.   It's hard to see in the photo but I pierced the scallops using the coordinating piercing template.

  And never one to shy away from ribbon I added a length of organza to cover the seam between the top panel and the scallop piece.  Following the sketch, I stamped the thank you on a little banner with Midnight Muse and then embellished it with a faceted button with a rhinestone in its center.

  Thanks for a great sketch Mindy!  Head on over to Fab Friday and play along with us!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Just Believe (sentiment)

Ink: Pool Party, Midnight Muse, Rich Razzleberry, Stazon

Paper: Whisper White, Shimmery White

Accessories: large scallop edgelit, organza ribbon, faceted button, rhinestone, paper piercing template

Merry Christmas Bird

  This has been a busy and exciting week in my stamping world.  On Tuesday I had my first Craft & Chat night where some of my customers brought over projects (stamping and scrapbooking) that they were currently working on and we just sat around and ate and chatted while we worked.  I must admit that I didn't get a whole lot done....I guess I'm more of a chatter!  But it was fun to get to sit down and stamp alongside my customers since during my regular classes I'm usually running around to the 3 project tables helping. 

  Then I was notified that I had won a stamping contest!  Shelli Gardner the co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! posts stamping challenges to her blog and then picks several winners for each challenge.  She chose one of my cards for her "New to You" challenge.  The card that I submitted was one we did at my new catalog party Serene Gumball Trees.  I used a ton of new products on this card and I guess Shelli liked it!  I'm totally honored...I think there were over 100 entries!  Now I just have to decide on my prize...any stamp set!  Is there one I haven't already bought!  =)

  And the final thing that is making this week exciting is that I am part of a brand new stamping challenge design team!  You all know that I love challenges!  Tomorrow will be the first challenge so check back here to see my project and for all the details so you can play along.  This is an awesome group of stampers and I know you'll be seeing lots of great projects!

  After all that you're probably thankful that I'm finally getting around to card huh!?  This is for the CAS-ual Friday Challenge to use flags or banners on our Clean and Simple (CAS) project. 

   I know it's still August and I really should be thinking more about fall and Halloween but I just can't resist these cute birds in the For the Birds set.  It's a great all occasion set that covers a lot of events but the images can be used separately from the greetings making it even more versatile!

  The base is Crumb Cake with rounded corners at the bottom.  The image was stamped in Stazon onto Watercolor paper.  I used the Windows Framelits to cut it out and then colored it with markers.  I also used the edge of the Not Quite Navy marker brush tip to color the edge of the watercolor paper.  I made my little flags out of various scraps of DSP (great way to use up those narrow strips you just can't bear to throw away!).  Before adding the brad I positioned my die cut where I wanted it and then used the matching paper piercing template to pierce all the way around skipping where the fags were.  Then I added my antique brad and popped the whole thing up with dimensionals.

   
 I very much wanted to add some other embellishments but held back since this is for a CAS challenge after all.

  Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the challenge!!  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: For the Birds

Ink: Stazon Markers- Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Paper: Crumb Cake, watercolor paper, Summer Smooches DSP, First Ed. Specialty DSP, Twitterpated DSP

Accessories: Windows Framelits, Antique brad, dimensionals, paper piercing template

Happy Mail

  Don't you just love to get happy mail?  A pretty card, a sweet note or a beautiful photo?  I send out more cards than I get but I guess that's to be expected since I make a ton of cards but when I do receive a handmade card I prop it up on my desk for a few weeks and continue to enjoy the warm fuzzies.  Over the last several months I've received a few cards from customers and friends and I wanted to share them with you.

Made by Kristen

  I think the Blossom punch is only one I don't own!  Kristen's card is making me re-think that!  Love these colors and how she used the satin ribbon layered over another piece of DSP.

Made by Marie

  Again with this punch and Mixed Bunch stamp set!  Love the Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade together.  And the half embossed top panel divided by the ribbon is really cool too!

Made by Jenn

 Who doesn't love a baby hippo??  The sentiment stamped over the flower stem gives a nice layered look.  A perfect thank you card from a busy mom!

Made by Beth

 This is great use of this year's Sale-a-Bration Designer Series paper Everyday Enchantment.  Love the rounded corners and the top squares are popped up to give great dimension!  I'm still hoarding a whole pack of this paper!

  I know you all have a few cards sitting there waiting to be sent out...go ahead and get them in the mail today and let someone know you're thinking about them!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Snowman Catalog CASE

  Wow!  Where have I been right?  Did You Stamp Today? has been a wasteland for the last week!  I was away on vacation at the beach with our families.  I had fully intended to schedule some posts since I had plenty of projects to share but the time before vacation just got away from me so I thought I would post a few times while away....Nope!  It just didn't happen.  I had plenty of time and opportunity but my brain was on total vacation mode so anything besides food, drink and covering the boys in sunblock just didn't happen.  But thanks for checking back in with me! 

  My card today is one I made 10 of to go in my Christmas card stash.  I'm getting closer to my goal but need to get going or I'm going to run out of time!

    I didn't get to make any Christmas cards with the Snow Much Fun set last year since I didn't get it until after Christmas (I choose it as my free stamp set after winning a contest) so I wanted to make sure it got a little love this year.

  My inspiration for this card is a combination of the samples on page 14 of the catalog.  I liked the layout for the Greeting Card Kids sample and I like the embossed snowman and colors in the Snow Much Fun sample. 

  The base of the card is Cherry Cobbler, then a layer of Lucky Limeade.  Next I embossed a piece of Naturals White with the Northern Flurry embossing folder.  Then I stamped the snowman in Versamark and embossed him with the awesome Pewter embossing powder.  It's a great in between color...not as shiny as silver and not as dark as black.

  I colored the snowman in with markers and then added the sponged sentiment banner at the top.  The final touches are the Glimmer Brad and Pool Party baker's twine. 

  I'm off to continue the great vacation clean up and try to get myself organized for my Craft & Chat session tonight!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Snow Much Fun

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobler (sponging) Markers- Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Naturals White

Accessories: Northern Flurry e.f., Pool Party Baker's twine, Glimmer Brad, Pewter e.p.

Sailing the Ocean Blue

  Just a quick post today to share this card that I made for the CAS-ual Friday challenge which is to make a card with something you would see in or at the ocean.  This was a tough one for me...I don't have many beach or ocean themed stamps but I carried on and got something made.



  Once again I went with the Moving Forward stamp set.  It was really my only choice...I don't see many flowers, dinosaurs or Christmas ornaments at the beach!

 I was inspired by a layout in the catalog that had a nice clean layout which works perfectly for this challenge.  The sailboat was stamped in Lucky Limeade and then I stamped it again in Pool Party and Island Indigo.  I cut out the other pieces and adhered them to the mail boat panel.  A mini silver brad finishes off the details on the boat.

  I was able to use up a few strips of scraps (don't you love to do that!?) to embellish the edge of the boat panel.  First a tiny bit of Chocolate Chip, then a strip of Pool Party run through the Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim Die and finally some Island Indigo also run through the Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim die.

  Other embellishments are the Itty Bitty button threaded with Island Indigo baker's twine and the "hello" tag stamped with Chocolate Chip.  The top panel of Very Vanilla also has scoring around all four sides to frame the sailboat panel which is hard to see but is a nice detail.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Moving Forward

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Tasteful Trim die, Itty Bitty button, Baker's Twine, mini brad, Simple Scored, dimensionals

Rainbow Get Well

  I have gotten a ton of use out of my pack of Summer Smooches DSP since it was released earlier this year prior to the new catalog coming out.  I made a whole stationery set as well as various cards and most recently a whole lot of tags to put on my stamping ladies order bags from last month.  Now I'm just down to smaller sized scraps.  Somewhere out in blogland I saw a card that had a shape cut out and had Designer Series Paper backing the shape.  I thought that it looked pretty neat and wanted to try it out.  I used my Summer Smooches DSP and matching colors to give it a go.

 The rainbow colors in this pattern are so bright and cheerful I thought I would make a Get Well card to brighten someone's day.  I used the Windows Framelits to make my opening in the top panel of Island Indigo and then added my piece of Summer Smooches.  I stamped the sentiment in Island Indigo on Whisper White and then cut that out with a smaller framelit.  I attached the sentiment with dimensionals.

  I punched out flowers with my Itty Bitty punch pack, curled up the petals slightly by pressing my Simply Scored stylus into each center while it was on top of the foam piercing mat.  I added a rhinestone to each flower center and then adhered them to the sentiment panel.  I used my Simply Scored to score 3 lines at the top.  And to balance out the bottom I added a stitched grosgrain ribbon and bow.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Delightful Dozen

Ink: Island Indigo

Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Windows Framelits, rhinestones, Itty Bitty punch pack, dimensionals, stitched grosgrain ribbon, Simply Scored

Square Moving Forward Birthday

 We've had quite the busy week!  My cousin and her two kids came down from CT for their annual summer visit which we've named "Richmond Fun Week".  We do all sorts of fun stuff with the kids and are super busy while they are here so there just wasn't enough time to get any projects posted.  They left this morning and now I'm trying to get back on track.

 


  I wanted to get this card posted in time to be able to share it over at CAS ual Friday challenge which was to make a square card.  I hadn't inked up my Moving Forward set yet but it is super cute.  This is the annual Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp set that Stampin' Up! creates.  Stampin' Up! donates $3 to RMHC for each stamp set sold.  How generous!!  It's wonderful to "work" (how can stamping be work right?) for such an awesome company that gives back to the community any chance it has.

  I stamped and hand cut the blimp/balloon and the basket and propeller and adhered them to die cut circle.  The background is the Chevron e.f.  I threaded 3 lengths of Island Indigo baker's twine through the Real Red button before adhering the ends behind the Chevron panel.  My other last detail is the mini silver brad in the center of the propeller.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Moving Forward

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, black

Paper: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Accessories: Chevron e.f., button, baker's twine, mini brad, Circles #2 die

Water Stamping Sympathy

  I tried a fun technique yesterday that I saw on Splitcoaststampers this past week:  Water Stamping!  It's pretty cool and I want to try it with some other colors and stamps to see how it turns out.  Just sponge your colors onto cardstock and then "ink" up your stamp with water by tapping it on a wet paper towel.  Pretty cool!  I combined the water stamping with the colors from Colour Q this week.

 It seems that I've been using Midnight Muse a lot lately!  I don't know if it's because I love it (which I do!) or because I just haven't put the paper back in my drawer and it's handy on my desk!  I haven't used Certainly Celery in a long time and it was nice to get that old favorite out.  The Certainly Celery ink pad was the first full sized pad that I bought way back when it was a newer color!  That seems like a long time ago!

 
  First I inked my background with Certainly Celery and Gumball Green in a random way.  Then I stamped the large flower stamp from Just Believe several times across my sponging using the Water Stamping technique.  I dried it with my heat tool and rounded the edges.  Next, I stamped the large flower stamp again this time right on my background with Midnight Muse ink.  I really like how you can see the faint images of the stamp and it gives a neat depth to the background.  Almost like a shadow or ghost.

  I cut some butterflies from the Beautiful Wings embosslit using another one of the challenge colors Summer Starfruit.  I dressed them up a bit with pearls.  To anchor the sympathy sentiment I used a length Midnight Muse stitched ribbon.  The sentiment from Petite Pairs was stamped and then cut with one of the Apothecary Accents framelits.  I snipped off the extra from the shape and adhered it under the ribbon.  Another butterfly on the sentiment balances out the rest of the card.

  Thankfully I don't have a need for a sympathy card right now but I so much prefer to have one already made just because I was stamping than to have to sit down and make one.  I find it hard to find inspiration at times like those.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Just Believe, Petite Pairs

Ink: Gumball Green, Certainly Celery, Midnight Muse

Paper: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit

Accessories: corner rounder, Midnight Muse stitched ribbon, Beautiful Wings embosslit, adhesive pearls, Apothecary Accents framelits