Glittery Birthday Gift

  It seems that even though the boys have been in school for almost a full month now I'm still having trouble getting organized enough to post projects regularly.  My house is clean, we have groceries, I've even done some organizing of drawers, closets and cabinets but the blogging just isn't happening as much as I'd like it too.  But I do have a card to share today so that's something right?   Maybe I'll keep my blogging clean and simple like the card??

  I made this card using the just ended Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I am a few hours late getting it posted but it's a fun sketch nonetheless.

  The 4 background panels are embossed with the Stripes embossing folder.  I just turned the squares on an angle when I sent them through the Big Shot.  I thought it gave kind of cool look that echoes the stripes on the gift.

  Do you recognize this image?  It's from the Color Me Christmas set!  Not just for Christmas apparently.  I stamped it with Stazon on watercolor paper.  I colored it with markers and then used an Aquapainter and Sahara Sand ink pad to make a very light shadow around the gift.  I covered the bow/ribbon with Dazzling Details and then popped it up with dimensionals.  Rhinestones in the four corners finish off this birthday card.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Color Me Christmas

Ink: Stazon, Sahara Sand, Wisteria Wonder & Soft Sky (markers)

Paper: Sahara Sand, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky, watercolor paper

Accessories: Stripes e.f., rhinestones, Dazzling Details, dimensionals

Washi Grunge

Happy Wednesday!  I had a great day yesterday stamping with my stamping ladies.  I hope they had a good time too.  It's always fun to catch up and visit with everyone.  If you're in the Richmond, VA area and would like to join us sometime just give me a shout!

Here is one of the cards we made yesterday.  It's a really fun one and is perfect for those preteen/teen birthdays.  Several ladies commented last night that they needed a card for that age group!  The Gorgeous Grunge set makes quick cards with all the fun splatters and streaks. And if you get some ink smudges on it by accident it's totally OK….it blends right in!

The card base is Calypso Coral and then a layer of Basic Gray.  A piece of Whisper White is stamped with Basic Gray splatters and a Calypso Coral streak.  The Epic Day washi tape is just adhered to the cardstock.  Super easy to reposition too!

The "Happy Birthday" from the Blue Ribbon set is stamped in Basic Gray onto Calypso Coral and then punched out with the large oval punch.  To jazz it up we made chevrons using the hexagon punch!  A very cool different use for that punch!  I love it when you can use a tool for more than one purpose.  The chevrons are adhered to the oval and then a few rhinestones to bring the eye in.  All that is popped with dimensionals.

See…..Easy right?

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, Blue Ribbon

Ink: Basic Gray, Calypso Coral

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Calypso Coral

Accessories: oval punch, hexagon punch (chevrons), rhinestones, Epic Day washi tape, dimensionals, rhinestones

Sweet Christmas Stocking

  I used the great sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week to do up a quick Christmas card to continue to build my stash.  I used the colors from Hand Stamped Sentiments since they seemed perfect for Christmas!

  The base is Baked Brown Sugar and then a layer of Gumball Green Core'dinations embossed with the Snow Flurry embossing folder and lightly sanded.  The DSP is the retired Orchard Harvest pack from last fall.  Luckily I have just enough left to make a few more cards for my stash.  I embossed the "merry" in Early Espresso embossing powder.   

  I had some strips of watercolor paper leftover from a club project that are just the right size for the banner element of the sketch.  I stamped the stocking in Stazon and then used an Aquapainter and ink pads to watercolor.  I added Gumball Green ribbon and 2 retired metallic brads and then popped the banner up with dimensionals.

  The final touch for this card is the Dazzling Details on the white parts of the stocking design.  

  Thanks to both challenges for helping me get going on my Christmas cards!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Color Me Christmas, Pennant Parade (merry)

Ink: Stazon, Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Baked Brown Sugar, Versamark

Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Gumball Green Core'dinations, Orchard Harvest DSP (retired), watercolor paper

Accessories: Snow Flurry e.f., Dazzling Details, brads, stitched ribbon, Early Espresso e.p., aquapainter

Mini Polaroid Frames - Fab Friday 27

Oh my goodness do we have a fun sketch for you today at Fab Friday!  There are sooooo many possibilities with those 4 squares….keep the squares, use a different shape instead of the squares, flip it, lots of layers, CAS….It might be hard to narrow it down!

  I stuck with the squares and made some cute little mini polaroid type frames for the adorable animals of the Zoo Babies set.  I kind of took my inspiration from this large scale polaroid frame card that I made over the summer.  I thought it would be cute to use some of the smaller animal stamps from this set and put them in mini frames.

 I used the awesome square framelits to cut out the centers and then stamped the animals on another smaller piece of Whisper White and then popped the frame on top with dimensionals.  I defined the edges of the frames by lightly sponging some Baked Brown Sugar ink on the outside and also using the matching marker to lightly run along the inside of the frame edge.

  Using a marker I inked up just the "smile" portion of the "so many smiles" stamp from Petite Pairs and stamped it directly onto the Sweater Weather DSP and added an Old Olive candy dot.  Don't you love this Sweater Weather DSP pattern??  When Crushed Curry came out as an In Color years ago I wasn't a big fan but I think this paper is turning that around.  And when was the last time I used Old Olive??  Like 2 years ago before Lucky Limeaid?  OO is still a great color and totally rocks with these other 2 colors.

  I hope you'll head over to Fab Friday and check out the other Design Team samples and then play along with us.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Zoo Babies, Petite Pairs

Ink: Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar

Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Old Olive, Sweater Weather DSP, Whisper White

Accessories: markers, Square Framelits, candy dot, dimensionals

Hexagon Congratulations

Here's a quick card that with just a change of sentiment can be used for just about any occasion!  The hexagon punch and Six Sided Sampler stamp set make this one really easy!

 My stamping ladies made this one last month at my stamp-a-stack.  Don't you love these colors together?  If you can't get enough of this combo check out the Eastern Elegance DSP on page 154 of the catalog.  Great patterns huh?

  Anyway, back to the card.  The base is Coastal Cabana with the hexagon outline stamp stamped in the same color ink.  This is an easy stamp to line up in a pattern using the clear mount version.  A word of wisdom (cause I learned the hard way!), if you keep getting extra ink inside this outline stamp no matter how gently you ink up (remember with the new firm foam pads it's tap tap tap, not mash mash mash!) just trim out the extra rubber inside the design.  I used a craft knife to just trim it out….now no more ink shadows in my hexagons!  Don't be afraid to trim sentiments from images, cut the edges of the rubber off or alter your stamps to make them work for you!  You're not going to reach for a cool image if you always get an ink shadow or you hate masking off the sentiment.  Just remember to trim your clear mount stamps looking at the rubber side and not the label side…sometimes they aren't lined up exactly and you might trim your image by mistake!

  We used Crushed Curry, Smoky Slate for the other hexagons and then punched them out.  To get the circle in the center of just stamp your image then line up a small circle punch inside the hexagon…pretty easy to eyeball, and then punch out the hexagon.

  A little baker's twine knot tied right around the hole and a candy dot brad with rhinestone (and popped up) finish this one off.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps:  Six Sided Sampler, Sweet Essentials

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry

Paper: Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Smoky Slate

Accessories: Hexagon punch, circle punch, brad base, rhinestone, baker's twine, dimensionals

Butterfly Sympathy

Last month I held a stamp-a-stack for my customers and it was requested that one of the card designs be a sympathy card.  No one ever wants to sit down and make one of those.  It's always easier just to have one ready to go.  I know I never have much creativity in me when I have to sit down and make one.  I'd much rather have it designed and stamped before I need it.

 Each person made 4 of these and I also has some get well and generic thinking of you sentiments out that they could use instead of sympathy.

  The base is Naturals White and then a layer of Pear Pizzazz.  Another layer of Naturals White with a an embossed strip of Early Espresso Core'dinations tied with a Whisper White taffeta ribbon.  We used the Modern Mosaic embossing folder and then lightly sanded the raised pattern.

  Before adhering the top layer of Naturals White we used the small butterfly punch and punched through the edge of the Early Espresso layer so the Pear Pizzazz shows through the negative space.  We added some pearls for the body and then a few more punch Pear Pizzazz butterflies.  To make the butterflies have some dimension just adhere the centers and bend up the wings a bit.  For the flight paths of the butterflies just use a paper piercer and free hand the the pattern.  Trust me it's easy!

  I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend.  Don't forget to have some stamping time too!  =)

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Naturals White, Early Espresso Core'dinations, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: small butterfly punch, Modern Mosaic e.f., pearls, paper piercer, taffeta ribbon

 

Clean and Simple Christmas

  I know you're thinking,  "really Amanda?? Christmas?  It's barely September and the temps are still 90 here in Virginia this week…."  I know I know!  I should be working on fall cards and getting birthday cards ready but this Christmas card idea just came about and I had to go with it.  I even have all the stuff cut and stamped to put together 10 more of this design so I can start whittling away at the 100+ cards I need for Christmas this year.

  I used 2 challenges for this card. The layout is from CAS(e) this Sketch and the colors are from The Paper Players.

  I went very CAS but with a few little details…I used black embossing powder for the sentiment.  Heat embossing always adds a wow factor and it give a little bit of shine that looks great against the Whisper White background.

I stamped the ornament in Rich Razzleberry, cut it out with the framelits and then added Dazzling Details to the little dots in the pattern.  I popped it up with dimensionals and then dressed it up with a Pool Party bakers twine bow and "hung" it with a rhinestone.

 I rounded the corners of my Whisper White panel to soften the lines a bit.

  I want to apologize for the poor photos lately.  There is something inside of the lens of my camera that is making a dark smug along the left side.  You can't see it on the camera lens but it shows in all the photos when I use the macro lens.  It's like a little fuzz or something and the focus is off because of it.  Added to the camera problem one of the boys knocked one of my lightbox lights on the floor.  It seemed to be OK at first and then it stopped working yesterday.  I tried changing the lightbulb but still nothing.  So now I've got a camera issue and an uneven lighting issue.  If anyone has a good cheap camera suggestion I'm all ears!  I just need something that will take good up close photos of cards.

  Thanks for bearing with me during these technical difficulties!  Who knew it would be so hard to share some papercrafting huh?

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Delightful Dozen, Gorgeous Grunge, Ornament Keepsakes

Ink: Versamark, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry

Paper: Pool Party, Basic Black, Whisper White

Accessories: corner rounder punch, Ornament framelits, Dazzling Details, black embossing powder, dimensionals, baker's twine, rhinestone

Mr. & Mrs!

On Saturday I mentioned that I needed to get some stamping time in to make a wedding card for a wedding we were going to on Sunday.  Well I found a few minutes to get a card together and was able to take a subpar photo before we had to shove it in the envelope and get to the wedding!  

 Before I sat down to make this card I had a different one in my mind that just wasn't going to work out due to the size of the die cut letters.  I regrouped and made this one instead.  It's a bit larger than I normally make.  It is 5 x 7 and seemed huge while I was working on it.

  I used the Just Add Ink challenge which is to use Bermuda Bay, Black and Silver on your project.  I thought these colors worked wonderfully for a wedding card.  I especially like the layer of Silver Glimmer paper and the shadow layer of glimmer paper on the ampersand.  

  I did goof a bit in lining up my characters and found after everything was glued down that the ampersand was over too far to the right.  I tried to correct that by adding some rhinestones to balance out my oops.  Hope the bride and groom can't tell!

  I did stamp some embellishment and the sentiment on the inside of the card if you're wondering!

  Hopefully all of you had a wonderful weekend and are refreshed and ready to tackle another week!  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: none

Ink: none 

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Silver Glimmer paper, Whisper White

Accessories: Typeset Alphabet die, candy dots, rhinestones

Thank You Rhino

Does everyone have some stamping time planned for today?  I hope to get a wedding card made….I need it for tomorrow so the clock is ticking!  But for now I'm sharing a quick thank you card that I made.  I needed a few thank yous to send out to customers so this is what I came up with.  How cute is this rhino?  The Zoo Babies set is so cute and I don't think you have to use it just for kid/baby cards!

 I used the ever fabulous color challenge ColourQ for this set of colors.  I think I sold my Regal Rose paper and ink pad, that or it's packed deep in a box for my next retired item sale!  So instead of trying to find it I substituted Blushing Bride.  I used just a tiny little candy dot for that color so it's OK right?  Love those Chalk Talk framelits for some fun new shapes to play with.

  Nothing crazy going on for this card so see below for all the supplies used.  If you still have questions about something just leave a comment and I'll be sure to get back to you!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Zoo Babies, Lots of Thanks

Ink: Basic Gray, Island Indigo

Paper:  Whisper White, Island Indigo, Basic Gray, Orchard Harvest DSP (retired- but the 2012-2014 In Color Paper stack or the Birthday Basics DSP would work too!)

Accessories: Chalk Talk framelits, Island Indigo satin ribbon (SAB- retired), Needlepoint Border e.f., Blushing Bride candy dot, dimensionals

Fall Sweater - Fab Friday 26

Happy Friday stampers!  We have another great challenge for you over at Fab Friday!  This time around it's a color challenge!

  This one really stretched me...They are wonderful colors and appear in the new Sweater Weather DSP but I just couldn't get a card that I'm completely happy with; something with the Crushed Curry and Tangerine Tango being color bullies with the other colors.  Everyone wasn't playing well together!  I know you all won't have that problem and will get these colors to behave!  I think my mojo is still in hiding after not stamping much this summer!

 

I used the current challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches for my layout.  A few of my demo buddies are on the design team so it's always fun to see what they are making.

Just a few details on my card to take note of; the Soft Sky strip was embossed with the Woodgrain embossing folder for some fun texture.  My big oak leaf was inked up in Sahara Sand and then sponged a bit with Crushed Curry along the edges before stamping and cutting out with the Oval Framelits.  The large Chocolate Chip oval is also paper pierced along the edge.

I sponged the bit of Whisper White ribbon with Chocolate Chip ink to keep it from being too bright. The acorn was inked with marker and then I layered a bit of frayed linen thread behind it and then topped with a faceted button and pearl.  I also balance the heavy top left with a sprinkling of a few more pearls down on the bottom right.

 Head on over to see the awesome creations my fellow designers came up with for Fab Friday 26.  Don't forget to play along; you have almost 2 weeks!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Wonderfall

Ink: Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Sweater Weather DSP, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Soft Sky

Accessories: Oval Framelits, paper piercer and template, Autumn Accents die, faceted button, pearls, linen thread, dimensionals

Happy Back to School!

After a whirlwind of a summer the boys started back to school yesterday.  I am the proud mother of a kindergartener and second grader!  They were super cute and seemed to have a good day at school except for being super tired and one misplaced lunchbox!

  Love those reflective strips on the back packs don't you?

  I always try to make a quick little gift for the boys teachers for the first day of school to wish them luck (I think maybe I should have made 2 for Alex's teacher!!).  This year I made some covered mini legal pads with a matching pen.  Easy peasy!  I had a stack of these mini notepads leftover from this project and and this class.

 

 
 I used up some old textured Chocolate Chip 12x12 cardstock that I had been hoarding  saving for the perfect project.  The new color collection packs of Core'dinations cardstock is a great substitute if you need cardstock with a subtle texture.  I also used up some of the retired metallic brads that seem to breed in my accessories drawer!

  The old supplies were paired up with some new.  I love the new Sweater Weather DSP (in the Holiday Catalog).  There are great patterns in this pack and I think many of them are perfect for guy cards as well as autumn.  Nice rich, fall colors that will translate to many different projects.

I was thankful that the Wonderfall stamp set and coordinating Autumn Accents Bigz die carried over to the new catalog.  I didn't play with them nearly enough last fall so I'm glad I get a second chance with them.

Here are the cutting and scoring instructions to cover a mini notepad that measures 5 x 7.  I got mine at Office Max but I'm sure you can find something similar at other office supply stores.  Just measure the notepad before cutting your cardstock!  Here's what I did for mine:

  -Cut cardstock 5" x 8"
  -Score cardstock at 3/4" and 1" across the short side.  This makes a little flap to wrap over the binding and adhere to the back of the notepad.  I used some sticky strip and it holds great!

  Told you it was easy!  Now decorate the front any way you'd like.  For reference my strip of Sweater Weather DSP on the cover is 2 1/4" wide and 5" across.  And the DSP strip on the inside to cover up the "Office Max" on the binding of the notepad is about 1 1/4" x 5".

  I made matching RSVP pens by slipping a small tube of matching DSP into the barrel and then wrapping a length of hemp twine around the cap (to coordinate with the hemp twine in the buttons).

  Now that we are back to a routine I hope to blog much more regularly!  I have some summer class projects to share and of course we're coming up on the next Fab Friday challenge.  I've missed sharing with you all this summer!  Thanks for sticking around and checking out what I have shared even though it's been few and far between!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Wonderfall, So Happy For You (retired Sale-a-Bration)

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand

Paper: Textured Chocolate Chip (retired), Very Vanilla, Sweater Weather DSP

Accessories: metallic brads, buttons, hemp twine, Autumn Accents die, mini notepads (non-SU), Pentel RSVP pens (non-SU)