Sunday, June 29, 2008
School Picture Frame
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Oh, Summer Where Art Thou???
With that, here's a card that I made awhile ago but haven't shared here yet. I was playing with some of the new toys that came out with the 2008 Spring/Summer book. Build-a-Brads actually came out in the fall, but they weren't available during most of that time (quality control issues). I have to say that I LOVE them! I hope they stick around for the new IB&C. I also love the Flower Fusion felt flowers. I would love to see SU! bring more of those in different colors.
Stamps: A Beautiful Thing
Ink: Old Olive, Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: PTI white, Bali Breeze DSP
Accessories: Build-a-Brad, Flower Fusion, 5/8" Olive grosgrain ribbon
Tonight we're headed to an Earth, Wind, and Fire concert at a winery. It's a great venue for a concert. Everyone just plops up their beach/lawn chairs and hangs out drinking wine. I personally don't benefit from the wine part (not a wine drinker), but I love the relaxing way to enjoy a concert. Also not so crazy about the Earth, Wind, and Fire part either. That's all Keith (my hubby). Don't get me wrong, I like the music. We've been to see one of their shows before, and we actually had a lot of fun. Once would have been good enough for me.
I guess I shouldn't complain too much. Guess who he's making me go see in September! The Backstreet Boys! That's right, you read it correctly. His love of boybands, although preferred, is not limited to the UK variety!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
An award and a tag!
While I was away, LeAnne from Wee Inklings gave me another Arte y Pico Award. Thanks, LeAnne!Monday, June 23, 2008
School's Out!
I was desperate to stamp after being gone and then busy with report cards, so last night I decided to make some quick cards to give to a few of my fellow teachers. I chose this new Karen Lockhart image, which I think is just adorable. It says summer to me! The coloring though is a bit time consuming on this one though. Not sure what I was thinking. I needed FAST! Stayed up way too late, but at least I finally stamped!!!
Stamps: Karen Lockhart
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: SU! Markers, silver brads, stardust stickles
I missed all of you, my stamping and blogging friends! Glad to be back. I have some upcoming Stampin' Up! classes that I need to prepare for, so hopefully I'll have some cute projects to post in the next couple of weeks.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
More Sparkle
On to the card...I made this for one of Lauren's Saturday Sketches. It's a funky pop-up, pull-out type of card. I really like this card I made with all the sparkles, so I continued that theme here. This time instead of using dazzling diamonds, I used Iridescent Ice embossing powder. It was time consuming because I had to stamp over each flower with Versamark, but the technique itself was very simple. I also tried to use bright colors that I don't normally use!
This is a view of the card standing up:
Stamps: Ginormous Flowers, It's Your Birthday, Short & Sweet, Hugs & Wishes
Ink: Pixie Pink, Tempting Turqoise, Lovely Lilac, Green Galore, Basic Black, Versamark
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Rhinestone brads, Iridescent Ice embossing powder
Okay, kids, I'm outta here! "Don't forget me when I'm gone...my heart would break!" (name that tune...)
Friday, June 6, 2008
June Stamp Club
This first card uses the Voila stamp set. This was my first time using the set even though I bought it some time last year. One of my customers made the most adorable card with this set, so I rushed out and bought it. So many stamps, so little time!!!!
Stamps: Voila
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Summer Sun, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop punch, two-way glue, Dazzling Diamonds, SU! markers in Real Red, Summer Sun, Lovely Lilac, Close to Cocoa, Sahara Sand, and Only Orange
I really like how this next card turned out. I was looking for a way to add texture to the card without using any cuttlebug folders. I used my bone folder and paper trimmer to score vertical and horizontal lines on my brilliant blue paper for a checkerboard type pattern. I love the texture. Everything else is just punched or cut out and layered on dimensionals. I thought this card would look so good with colored glitter (there's that sparkle thing I'm hooked on right now), but I wanted to keep it simpler for stamp club. The gals have to make three cards in a short period of time. I think next year, I'll go back to two cards.
{Happy 4th recipe}
Stamps: Independence Day
Ink: Real Red, Brilliant Blue
Paper: Conqueror White (Paper Zone), Brilliant Blue, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: circle punches, brilliant blue brad, 5/8" red grosgrain ribbon, bone folder, paper trimmer
I don't usually make a lot of masculine types of cards, so the last couple of months I've tried to make cards that could be used for Father's Day. Last month we used the puppy image (LOVE it) from the For Father set. This month we used the apple image. This would be a good card for a fall birthday too.{Happiness recipe}
Stamps: For Father
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Brown, Creamy Caramel
Paper: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Vintage brass brad, hemp twine, 1/16" hole-punch, sponge, SU! markers in Ruby Red, More Mustard, Old Olive, Bordering Blue, Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Summer Sun, Creamy Caramel
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
When life gives you limes...make margaritas!
Natasha Trupp has started a new website called Clean and Simple Stamping. Just like the name says, it will be focused on clean and simple stamping. I'm so excited about this new site. You should go check it out! She plans to post a variety of clean and simple techniques. One of her ideas is to post some fall to sketches. You know, those quick, simple sketches you return to time and again. Last week she posted this sketch, and I finally had a few minutes to play along. I've been wanting to find a way to use these new A Muse stamps, that I bought a couple of months ago, and I thought her sketch fit the bill. I love the sentiment! I have another one that says {got margaritas?}. How cute is that? Here's a close-up that shows I added Crystal Effects to the inside and outside of the glass to look like there's liquid inside and Stickles for the salted rim.
Stamps: A Muse
Ink: Gable Green, Certainly Celery, Green Galore, Wild Wasabi
Paper: Gable Green, Certainly Celery, Green Galore, Wild Wasabi, PTI white
Accessories: green apple grosgrain ribbon (retired), SU! brads, crystal effects, stardust stickles
Monday, June 2, 2008
Three Challenges, Two Cards
Stamps: Bookwormabella by StampingBella, sentiment by Verve Visual
Ink: Palette Noir, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White, Tres Jolie DP
Accessories: SU! markers, Nestabilities, Brown brads by American Crafts
This next card is for last week's sketch (SC178) and color challenges (CC168) on Splitcoast. The sketch was hard to work with, but I like the end result. Except for the sentiment, which ended up a bit crooked and small. It was, however, the last thing I added and there was no way I was redoing it! The French Flair background was stamped on very vanilla. It was kind of harsh, so I layered the vellum over the top to soften the look. Both the sentiment and the medallion are stamped with chocolate chip craft ink and embossed.
Stamps: French Flair, Carte Postale
Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft, Versamark
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla, Vellum
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, SU! wide chocolate satin ribbon, Brown brads by American Crafts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Two Challenges

These cards combine of this week's challenges. I used Jen Del Muro's Sketch for You to Try, which included the use of any Bella stamps, and I also used Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #10. Stamps: Huggybellas
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: So Saffron, Not Quite Navy, Spring Break DSP
Accessories: Blue Bayou double-stitched ribbon, Flower Fusion, Not Quite Navy brads, Stardust Stickles, Aqua Painter, Stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet, SU! Markers in Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, So Saffron, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink
{Beachabella recipe}
Stamps: Beachabella, Polka Dot Background
Ink: Basic Black, So Saffron
Paper: So Saffron, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Old Olive twill ribbon, Flower Fusion, So Saffron button, Stardust Stickles, Aqua Painter, Stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet, SU! Markers in Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, So Saffron, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink
June Inspiration Class
Stamps: Blossoms Abound, Short & Sweet
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
Paper: PTI White
Accessories: none
Stamps: Blossoms Abound, Wonderful Words, It's Your Birthday, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
Paper: Confetti Cream, Rose Red
Accessories: Word Window punch, Slot punch
Stamps: Blossoms Abound
Ink: Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Basic Black
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Accessories: Black brads, 1/4" black grosgrain ribbon
Stamps: Blossoms Abound
Ink: Gold Pigment, Bravo Burgandy, Always Artichoke
Paper: Bravo Burgandy, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: gold brads, clear embossing powder
Stamps: Blossoms Abound, Short & Sweet
Ink: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Bayou Blue
Paper: Soft Sky, Bayou Blue, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Accessories: slot punch, Bayou Blue double-stitched ribbon
Stamps: Blossoms Abound, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Certainly Celery
Paper: Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Accessories: 1/4" celery grosgrain ribbon, Stardust Stickles
Stamps: Blossoms Abound
Ink: So Saffron, Barely Banana, Always Artichoke
Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White
Accessories: 1/4" artichoke grosgrain ribbon
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Occasions Mini Sketch Challenge
Thursday, May 29, 2008
I'm a Great Swaps Girl!!!
To add to all that excitement, I even have a card to share with you! Remember all those dog stamps I told you about? Here's one of the first. This image is from Whipper Snapper Designs. It's called Sorry Pup. It's such a large image that I couldn't really fit much else on the card. That made this one really easy. It's a fun one to color too. I used my Copic markers and tried to practice shading and blending. I still have a long way to go with that, and I'll keep trying!
My favorite part of this card is the sign above the dog. The original stamped image says "I'm sorry." I decided to change it up a bit. I used a scrap of creamy caramel paper, cut the ends with my deckle scissors, added SU!'s Weathered background stamp in creamy caramel, stamped "good dog!" with a sentiment from a Whipper Snapper set called Good Dog, hung it up with some wire, and called it good to go!
This isn't the best photo here, but it allows you to see how the image is popped up off the card. I curled the wire with needle nose pliers and used a brad for the nail.
{Good Dog recipe}
Stamps: Sorry Pup and Good Dog by Whipper Snapper Designs
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White
Accessories: Copic markers, craft wire, 5/8" red grosgrain ribbon, deckle scissors
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Featured Stamper 68
{Happy Birthday recipe}
Stamps: SU!'s Bodacioius Bouquet, sentiment by A Muse
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Groovy Guava, Cool Caribbean, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Versamark
Paper: PTI White, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Crate Paper
Accessories: Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Rhinestone Brads, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Slit Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, random gemstones/dew drops
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Lighthouse Sketch
Truth be told, I've also decided to collect dog stamps, and spent my weekend ordering several of those too. I also love anything related to tea and coffee, although I don't drink the latter. So, I ordered some of those too. Then, while I was at it, I decided owls would be good too, being a teacher and all. So, I spent my weekend ordering a couple of those. And since I was on such a roll, I decided I really like butterflies. And, yes, I ordered a couple of those too. I confessed this recent purchasing to my husband, and he was very supportive. Well, I confessed most of it anyway. Now if I could just find time to stamp...
Stamps: Light of the World by Our Daily Bread Designs, Taggers Dozen by SU!
Ink: Basic Black, Ruby Red
Paper: PTI White, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Accessories: Natural hemp twine, Sizzix die cut tag, Copic markers
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Late Mojo Challenge
I used the color scheme for Verve Visual's May 2008 Project Parade. I love the summery feel of the colors. I was inspired to use my Sweet Shapes stamp set when I saw Valerie Stangle's recent post. Now I know it appears that I didn't use pumpkin pie, but I have to tell ya that just ain't so! Do you see the soft sky butterfly at the bottom of the main panel? Well just below that was little miss pumpkin pie butterfly. She got cut off when my main panel was too long. 
If you look really closely, you can see the dazzling diamonds that make the butterflies sparkle.
{Hello recipe}
Stamps: Sweet Shapes Ink: Basic Black, Soft Sky, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, and yes, Pumpkin Pie Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Soft Sky, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Certainly Celery Accessories: Heat & Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Versamarker, Black marker, So Saffron Brads, Oval Punches
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Celebrate Cupcake
This is late, but here's my entry for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #47. I really like this color combination, which I pulled directly from the patterned paper.
{Celebrate Cupcake recipe}
Stamps: Birthday Cupcake clear stamp set by Inkadinkadoo
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Basic Gray, Going Gray, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Crate paper
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, stardust stickles, markers in pumpkin pie, going gray, bashful blue, certainly celery, almost amethyst, and close to cocoa
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wedding Wishes

{Happy Couple recipe}
Stamps: Gettin' Hitched from Lizzie Anne Designs
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Soft Sky, Crate paper
Accessories: gemstones from $1 bin at Jo-Ann, stardust stickles, soft sky double-stitched ribbon, Copic Markers
Sunday, May 11, 2008
May Technique
Stamps: Like It A Latte
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Pretty In Pink Prints DSP
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Versamark
Accessories: clear embossing powder, sugar-free hot cocoa, flower punch, mini white brad, white fun flock
May Inspiration Class
{Pomegranate Thinking of You recipe}
Stamps: Essence of Love
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White Craft
Accessories: Ribbon and epoxy stickers from Michael's, Martha Stewart butterfly punch
This card was inspired by all of the brayered sunset creations in the SCS gallery for this set. I didn't want to pull the brayer out for this particular class, so I took a shortcut and used cardstock to create the sunset look. This card is a 4x4 and the black ink is embossed.
{Sunset Thinking of You recipe}
Stamps: Essence of Love
Paper: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black Craft
Accessories: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, clear embossing powder
{CASEing Sharon recipe}
Stamps: Essence of Love
Paper: River Rock, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, iridescent Ice embossing powder, wide black organdy ribbon, half-back pearls
I was really happy with how this card turned out. Simple, yet bold. I think this is the first time I've ever used Yo Yo Yellow.
{Kindess recipe}
Stamps: Essence of Love
Paper: Tempting, Turquoise, Basic Black, PTI's Stamper's Select White
Ink: Basic Black, Yo Yo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Ribbon and epoxy stickers from Michael's
I love the layout and colors in this card that I cased from Silke Ledlow.
{CASEing Silke recipe}
Stamps: Essence of Love
Paper: Basic Black, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue
Ink: Basic Black Accessories: black brads, epoxy sticker from Michael's
I CASED this card from TreasureOiler on Splitcoaststampers.
{CASEing TreasureOiler recipe} Stamps: Essence of Love Paper: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip Ink: Chocolate Chip Accessories: 5/8" chocolate grosgrain ribbon
I just love the crisp, clean style of Krystie Lee. I CASEd her card found here. I really liked the metal-edged tag, but all of mine were too big to fit nicely on the card.
{CASEing Krystie recipe}
Stamps: Essence of Love
Paper: PTI's Stamper's Select White, Mellow Moss, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark Accessories: silver diamond-shaped brads, clear embossing powder