Love Kites

The weather in San Diego has been bright, warm and sunny lately - perfect weather for kite flying. Though I didn't have time to actually bring myself to the park or beach to fly a kite, I did the next best thing I could think of and created a card using the Send Me Soaring Stamp Set (2012 Sale-a-bration)

Card Recipe
Paper: Island Indigo CS; Pool Party CS; Whisper White CS; Lucky Limeade CS; Bights Patterns DSP Pack (old Olive); Everyday Enchantment DSP (2012 Sale-a-Bration [SAB])
Stamps: Send me Soaring (2012 SAB)
Ink: Calypso Corral; Basic Black
Accessories/Tools: Calypso Corral and Lucky Limeade 1/8" taffeta ribbon (2012 SAB); Large Oval Punch; Scallop Oval Punch; Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder; Big Shot

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Sweet & Simple Sunday - Pinwheels

I may be "behind the times" with the latest and greatest in stamping, but I feel like Pinwheels are the the newest trend these days. I wanted to experiment with some retired DSP I have and used one of the new SU background stamps to add some quick and easy texture and embellishment.



Card Recipe
Paper: Confetti Cream CS; Early Espresso CS; Blueberry Crisp DSP;
Stamps: Netting background stamp; Bring on the cake Stamp set
Ink: Early Espresso; Not Quite Navy
Accessories/Tools: Night of Navy 1/4" grossgrain ribbon (retired); Antique brads; 3/16" neutrals brads; Designer Label Punch






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wedding card

This card is one I made over the weekend to celebrate a friend recently getting married. I uses some SU and non-SU supplies to make this card. I really love how the Pear Pizzaz and Peach Parfait look again the Soft Suede cardstock - elegant and beautiful at the same time!

C
ard Recipe

Paper: Soft Suede, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzaz (retired), WhisperWhite; Everyday Enchantment DSP (retired)

Stamps: Everything Nice (retired), Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Soft Suede, Peach Parfait

Extras: More Msutard grossgrain ribbon (retired), Bitty Banners framelits, Big Shot, extra large oval punch, SU pearls

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Working on getting my mojo back

It has been way to long since my last blog post. I sincerely apologize - work has kept me busy pretty much every weekend of June. Luckily, I am crossing my fingers that with the 4th of July holiday right around the corner, I will have a few days where I won't be working so late so I can focus on projects featuring some new items in the recently released catalog.

Today's card project features the new 2012-2014 In-Colors and coordinating accessories - the new dahlia assortment and satin stitched ribbon.

Card Recipe

Paper: Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White
Stamps: Button buddies, netting background stamp, teeny tiny wishes
ink: Primrose Petals, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake
Accessories: 2012-2014 in-color Dahlia assortment; Summer Starfruit 3/8" satin stitched ribbon, stripes embossing folder

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Itty Bitty Banners & Bitty Banner Framelits

This weekend we celebrated Father's Day, and I suddenly realized I need to have more masculine greeting cards on hand! So I have decided that my the theme for my next couple of greeting cards will be to make "masculine" and/or gender neutral cards. 

Tonight's card project features a mix of retired and current stamp sets. I used the Well Worn DSP and Have a Seat Stamp Set retired from last year's catalog. I wish I had bought this stamp set sooner just because I think it is perfect for making masculine cards.

To make this card perfect for any occasion, I used the new Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and new Bitty Banners Framelits.

Other supplies used to make this card include Extreme Elements Stamp set; Not Quite Navy classic ink; Early Espresso classic ink; and Night of Navy 1/4" grossgrain ribbon.

Itty Bitty Banners Stamp Set

Bitty Banners Framelits

Summer Afternoon

It's official...the new 2012-2013 Stampin Up Annual Catalog is out!!!! Here is my first card featuring a stamp set from the new catalog. The stamp set I used is called Summer Afternoon and is actually a Hostess Set in the new catalog.  I have been aching to use my watercolor paper lately, and this stamp set gave me a perfect opportunity to do just that! Check it out!

Stampin Up's Watercolor Paper (#122959) allows you to watercolor like a pro! It absorbs water to help keep the paper flat.  The photo image is not the best, but if you look closely, you will see that, with my aqua painter, I colored the bicycle with Pool Party and Island Indigo. the tires were colored with Basic Gray. With my Lucky Limeade, I was able to paint in the grass area. and tried to create some depth and shadow.

The new catalog is also filled lots of beautiful and fun new Designer Series Paper, but I still have lots of the DSP from the 2011-2012 catalog handy that I don't want to go to waste. So I used various pieces of my Paisley Petals DSP (retired) to add some more color and embellishment.  Stay tuned for more card projects and don't forget to take a look at the new catalog through the link on the right side of my blog!

Card Recipe

Paper: Marina Mist CS; Paisley Petals DSP (retired); watercolor paper

Stamps: Summer Afternoon (hostess set)

Tools: 1 3/4" circle punch; 1 1/4" circle punch; scallop trim punch; Aqua painter

Ink: StazOn; Pool Party; Lucky Limeade; Island Indigo; Basic Gray; Calypso Corral

Accessories: Designer Buttons - regals collection

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Friendship Card

This week was a very productive week for my as far as work goes, but as far as stamping...not as productive as I would have liked. I have definitely been slacking in the blog posting department. Here is a card I made earlier in the week, but just didn't have time to post on my blog. With the new SU catalog coming out in only a few weeks, I was determined to have fun with all the awesome things I currently have been hoarding...I mean saving =)



Card Recipe

Paper: Basic Gray CS; Pool Party CS; Everyday Enchantment DSP

Ink: Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight

Stamps: Language of Friendship

Tools: 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, bird builder punch, rounded corner punch, boho blossoms punch

Accessories: Luck Limeade and Calypso Corral 1/8" organdy ribbon

I love the sentiment that comes with the "Language of Friendship" stamp set...

"The language of Friendship is not words but meanings..."

Sweet & Simple Sunday -Create a Cupcake

One can never have enough birthday cards on hand I say. For this week's sweet & simple Sunday card project, I pulled out a stamp set I hadn't used in awhile - Create a Cupcake.  To make the colors stand out, I put it all against a Whisper White background.

Card Recipe

Paper: Whisper White CS; Just Add Cake DSP

Stamps: Create a Cupcake

Ink: Marina Mist; Lucky Limeade; Island Indigo; Poppy Parade

Tools: Cupcake Builder Punch

Accessories: Poppy Parade Poly stitched ribbon; Everyday Enchantment Brads

 

 

 

Have a great week everyone! Don't forget - the retired stamps list is out and the new catalog will be released on June 1st!

 

Card Project NightCap

I can't believe I spent pretty much 11 hours at the office today! Call me crazy, though, but I didn't really mind since I am enjoying my new job. Once I got home, I realized I needed to do something to help me unwind before going to bed. So I decided to make a quick card to help my mind settle down.

Considering the late hour, I wanted to keep it simple so focused on using one stamp set, and turned to the current 2011-2013 in-colors (Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Pool Party) for inspiration. I took one image and repeated it accross the page in different colors. I just love how the colors come off so well on the Whisper White cardstock. To help me keep the image straight, I used my handy-dandy Stamp-a-ma-jig. For some added color and texture, I used my color spritzer tool and sponged the edges.

Card Recipe

Paper: Wisteria Wonder; Whisper White

Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral

Stamps: Just Believe

Tools: Color spritzer tool; stamp-a-ma-jig

Accessories: Island Indigo ruffled ribbon,

2011-2013 designer printed brads

Happy Wednesday!

Sweet & Simple Sunday - Upsy Daisy (Retiring Stamp Set)

The release of the 2012-2013 catalog is only one more month away. So I decided to dis up one of the first Stamp Up stamp sets I ever purchased (back in 2009) - the Upsy Daisy stamp set. I regret not having done more with this simple and delightful stamp set. I am sad to say that is one of the stamp sets retiring this year.

Card Recipe

Paper: Basic Gray CS; So Saffron CS; Whisper White CS

Ink: Early Espresso; More Mustard; Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Baja Breeze pleated satin ribbon; Glimmer brads - subtles

Tools: Big Shot; Square Lattice embossing folder





If you're wondering how I created the main image - I just took opened up my More Mustard classic ink pad and stamped the pad onto the paper directly to get this "spongy" background. I did the same with my Daffodil Delight ink pad. However, I recommend starting with the lighter colors first. Then I inked me image with a dark color (here I used Early Espresso) and simply stamped on top.  I think it creates a beautiful effect.

Enjoy! Happy Stamping

Just for some fun

As the release of the new Stampin Up catalog quickly approaches, I decided it was about time for me to take a quick inventory of my stash of supplies so that I figure out where I am going to store the new stuff I just know I am going to want to buy! As I was doing this I came across some retired DSP called Morning Sunshine that I had found in the SU Clearance Rack, and had yet to use. Even though this DSP uses some retired colors, many of the current colors make a great, if not, perfect substitute.

Here is my card.

I just love the bright colors of this retired DSP. Some of retired colors used here included Summer Sun and Kiwi Kiss. However, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive make great substitutions. This retired DSP also featured a recently reintroduced color as well - Pacific Point!

Card Recipe

Paper: Old Olive CS; Brights Paper Pack DSP; Morning Sunshine DSP (retired)

Stamps: Language of Friendship; Send me Soaring

Ink: Pacific Point; Bashful Blue

Tools: 2-3/8" and 1-3/4" scallop circle punch, bird builder punch, build a cupcake punch, 1" circle punch; 1 3/4" circle punch

Accesories: chocolate chip scallop polka dot ribbon

 

This sketch was inspired by a card I made at fellow SU demonstator Cindy Elam's card class a few months ago. We made a card creating a similar tree and a I just had to recreate it here! =) She also posts great stuff on her Heart's Delight Cards Blog.

Hope you like it!

Sweet & Simple Sunday

Hi Everyone, I apologize for having skipped last weekend's Sweet & Simple Sunday post, and for not having posted much over the last week or so. I have been feeling a little under the weather, and the new job has had me working longer more than before =) All positive changes, but definitely still getting used to not being able to stamp every night like I used to.

Anyhow, here is this week's Sweet & Simple Sunday Card Project. One can never have enough birthday cards on hand if you ask me!

I recently acquired the Petite Penants punch, which is quickly becoming another favorite of mine! Oh who am I kidding....I love it all! hahah. I was able to use a lot of DSP scraps also to make this card, which is great!

Card Recipe:

Paper: Pacific Point CS; Whisper White CS; Just Add Cake DSP

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise

Stamps: Party This Way; Bring on the Cake

Accessories: Island Indigo bakers twine

Tools: Petite Penants punch

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Happy Stamping!

Celebrate - It's a Boy!

Here is a card I made for my friend's baby shower. What boy does not enjoy playing with trucks and such things! When I found out she was having a boy, I immediately knew I wanted to make something using the "I Dig You" Stamp Set. The "celebrate" sentiment is from a retired stamp set, and the "it's a boy" sentiment is from the dollar bin at Micheals =)

Card Recipe

Paper: Daffodil Delight; Whisper White CS; Just Add Cake DSP

Stamps: I Dig You, Something to Celebrate (retired), miscellaneous stamp

Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Basic Gray

Tools: Create a Cupcake punch (for clouds)

Happy Stamping!

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Sweet & Simple Sunday - Card Project

Despite all the cards I like to make, sometimes I feel I never have enough simple blank note cards on hand whenever I want to send a quick thank you or hello to someone. Then after digging around in my "miscellaneous" items drawer in my craft room, I found some unused plain blank note cards that I had gotten from Michaels a few years back. I decided these would make a perfect base to create some quick and simple thank you and "hello" note cards.

The card base is made from card stock that is very similar to SU's Confetti White card stock and measures 3x5" when folded.

I used the Just Believe stamp set here, and I used the "stamp off" technique for the image. This technique is very simple and creates a nice almost shadow type of effect. First, I inked the image with Early Espresso ink (making sure the stamp is well inked). Then I stamped the image onto my paper to create the darkest version of the image. Next, without re-inking the stamp, I just stamped the image again on the card front and slight off of the first image I stamped.

I stamped "thank you" onto this one card, but left the rest blank. Since this card is so simple, I can easily stamp pretty much any sentiment I like once the need arises.

Happy Stamping!

You Send Me Soaring

I recently treated myself to another new stamp set from the current 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog (reminder - 2012 Occasions mini catalog expires on April 30, 2012). As a kid (an even as an adult), I always enjoyed flying kites whenever my parents would take us to the park. So the Send Me Soaring was absolutely calling out to me when I discovered it.

Card Recipe

Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White; Brights DSP pack

Stamps: Send me Soaring

Ink: Island Indigo, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black

Accessories: Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon

I used the basic kite image and stamped it onto a piece of Tempting Turquoise DSP from the Brights DSP Paper stack. With my paper snips, I cut out the kite image and popped it up on my card front with dimensionals. I love the little kite tails also! Use your imagination and see what else you can do with this stamp set...I know I will!

Happy Stamping!
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Elebrations - Bring on the Cake

We celebrated my cousin's first birthday over the weekend so I wanted to create a special ittle card for her. Using one of my circle punches, I made this peek-a-boo birthday card embellishd with Just Add Cake DSP.

 

Card Recipe

Paper: Daffodil Delight CS; Confetti White DSP; Wild Wasabi CS; Just Add Cake DSP

Stamps: Elebration; Bring on the Cake

Ink: Stazon Ink; Bashful Blue; Chocolate Chip

Tools: 1 3/4" circle punch; 2 3/8" scallop circle punchl Aquapainter

fun flowers with punches

Lately, I've been somewhat in a "flowery" mood. When I think of flowers, I think if springtime, and of Mothers Day. Even though it is only March, I am already brainstorming some simple cards to make for Mother's Day. So here is another one I created using the 5 petal flower punch and Boho Blossoms punch

To create the flower seen here, I used my 5-petal flower punch to cut two flowers from Just Add Cake DSP, then layered them on top of each other. I bent the petals a little so it wouldn't be so flat. Then, with the Boho Blossoms punch, I puched 3 of the largest flower - 1 was used as the center for the 5 petal flowers, and the remaining 2 I also layered on top of each other to create a smaller flower.

With the larger flower, I then put a button from the itty bitty buttons pack as firthre embellisment. On the smaller flower, I used on of SU's basic rhinestones.

Card Recipe

Paper: Blushing Bride CS; Confetti White CS; Early Espresso CS; Letters to Santa DSP; Just Add Case DSP; Poppy Parade CS

Stamps: En Francais background stamp; For Frames; Teeny Tiny Wishes; For all you do

Ink: Poppy Parade; Crumb Cake; Early Espresso

Tool: 5 Petal flower punch, Boho Blossoms Punch; Decorative label punch

Accessories: Early Espresso bakers twine; itty bitty buttons, rhinestones



Sweet & Simple Sunday - another button buddies card

It has been raining here in San Diego the last couple days. As much as I love warm, sunny weather, I do also appreciate the occasional rainy day. It gets me in the mood to stay home where it is nice, dry and warm, and play with my stamps! So here is my Sweet & Simple Sunday card project for this week.

Card Recipe

Paper: Tangerine Tango CS; Paisley Petals DSP

Stamps: Button Buddies, Loved Ones

Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy, Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Early Espresso bakers twine, designer buttons - regal collections, basic pearls

I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but I just love how the Button Buddies stamp set is designed to coordinate perfectly with SU's designer buttons! As you can see here, I just placed the flower shaped designer buttons over the stamped image to add some dimension to the image. For added embellishment, I used SU's basic pearls as the flower center. I also stamped directly onto the piece of Paisley Petals DSP I used.

Happy Stampin Everyone! Have a wonderful week!



Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Looking in my closet today, I realized I don't have much in green, so I just had to make a card to celebrate today's festivities!

Card Recipe

Paper: More Mustard CS; Garden Green CS; Confetti White CS

Stamps: Got Treats, Sanded background stamp

Ink: Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie

Tools: 1 3/4" circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, Big shot, Stripes embossing folder, paper piercing tool and mat pack

Accessories: Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral 1/8" organdy ribbon, mini clothespin



Perfect for just saying hello

Sometimes you just need that perfect card to write a little note to a friend to say hello. I used the "You're my type" stamp set from the current Occasions Mini catalog to create this darling little notecard.

Card Recipe

Paper: Confetti Cream CS; Basic Black CS; Newsprint DSP (retired)
Ink: Basic Black
Stamps: You're My Type
Accessories: 1/8" basic black taffeta ribbon; brads - neutrals
Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit die, paper piercing tool & mat pack

Happy Stampin!

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