Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Metallic gold and white

 

Here's the Snow Swirled set take two!

This time I stamped the tree on metallic gold card stock and embossed it with white. The curved lines of this image seem delicate and perfect for a gold and white color combo. I used the Top Note die - again - having the idea this time to use only part of it on the card. The snowflakes are stamped in gold ink.

Don't you love the faux metal technique used on the tag? The tone on tone raised look is so elegant! I stamped the holiday sentiment from the Punches Three set on gold metallic card stock and embossed with gold. The square scallop punch works perfectly with two of the images in this set.The tree seemed to need grounding and the Designer Button does the trick! All wrapped up with riding hood red taffeta ribbon....

A Christmas Classic

 How about switching gears to the Christmas holidays? I love being able to make an assortment of cards ahead of the rush to send to a few special people. The tree from the Snow Swirled stamp set is elegant just by itself! I used a rhinestone and the Holiday Treasures dp to set it off.  One quick and classic card! I love the Riding Hood red, old olive and chocolate chip combo. 

Those of you who visit often know that I don't usually post on Monday - and now maybe you know the reason why - I'm having trouble coming up with even a few words to say! I'll go take my temperature to make sure I'm not coming down with anything LOL  :) My words and my energy will bounce back tomorrow, see you then!

Pumpkins All in a Row

I know it's a litle early to think of Thanksgiving but I had such a blast water-coloring this card for the challenge to Stamp Something for the Challenge this week!  I stamped the pumpkins in a row, colored them, cut them out and added them as a border at the bottom of the card. The card base is white, and the front has been cut shorter so the white you are seeing at the bottom is the inside of the card. I just can't get enough of my Autumn vines designer paper and the Happy Blessings set!  My spica pens add shimmer on the dotted lines leading to the leaves, the flower centers, and the bottom of the pumpkins all in a row.
I am thankful for each one of you who stops in today!

Beautiful Borders

I bought the Beautiful Borders set because I knew with its sentiments and the beautiful images in strips I could make some really pretty quick and simple cards. I didn't know how much simpler it could be using the Top Note die cut!  The Haiku designer papers add pzzazz to everything. *smile* Aren't they bright and happy colors? I stamped the border image with Tangerine Tango ink on white card stock, and the sentiment is on a piece punched with the new Curly Label punch. This card is 4 - 1/4" square.

Happy Blessings

As soon as I saw the Holiday Mini I knew I wanted the Happy Blessings set.  Even without seeing it, don't ya just know it's going to be cute from the title?  I love the images in this set and they have given me a very good reason to watercolor this week!

I paired this happy scarecrow with the new Autumn Vines designer paper and another new product, the Rope Twine.  I used an aqua painter and re-inkers to color, added a clear button with patterned paper behind it. 

What do you think?  I think he's one happy scarecrow. I'm one happy stamper too, getting to use my new stuff. :)

If you can't make out the sentiment, click on the photo to see the larger view. Every piece of paper or card stock is popped on a dimensional.

I cut his arms outside of the box which is a simple technique for accenting any part of the image in your layout. His arms are open wide to give you hugs today!

To the tune of Skater's Waltz

I couldn't wait to break into this set from the upcoming mini called Winter Post.  I fell in love with this image and isn't it  perfect for a Christmas gift tag?

The challenge at Stamp Something this week is Embellished Somethings.  It gave me a great reason to add glitter to my heart's content - on the girl's hat and cuffs, then I added a glitter-covered piece of sticky strip across the bottom because it reminded me of ice. The skates glisten with their coating of crystal effects. 

The Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon is my last embellishment. Don't you just love the designer series paper patterns in Baja Breeze? And the stripes are from ...sorry to do this to you again, the SKi Slope designer paper available for purchase in the Winter mini beginning October 1!

Embellish your day with kind words, smiles, and laughter and I'll do the same while I'm here making cards to show you!

edited add-in: just had to tell you one more embellishment that is rarely part of my style but so much fun on this card - I sponged all the image and tag edges with Baja Breeze. It felt great to be  doing something messy on a card, KWIM?

It's Thursday, Emily's day! Here she is...

Today I played with some new things...namely:

-Felt snowflakes. Most of the shapes I think can be used as generic medallions - they don't strictly have to be snowflakes. This is how I see the felt snowflake and the stamped snowflake on this card, so I will send it anytime, not just in the winter.

-That gorgeous striped ribbon. I love ribbon - this one is no exception. :)

-Stampin' Up!s exclusive top note die for the big shot machine - I used it to cut out the green felt that is sewed onto the card.

-Filigree designer brads. This worked quite nicely to anchor the middle of the felt medallion, and added a perfect accent.

-A "new" style - collage! I can seldom get this look to work for me, but today it did!

Thanks for looking...

Stamps: upsy daisy, winter post
Paper: kraft, old olive, very vanilla
Ink: creamy caramel, chocolate chip
Other: big shot, top note die, green felt, 3/4" and 1/4" circle punches, felt flurries, filigree brads, alpine ribbon originals, sewing machine

Gotta love this bird!

I just love this songbird from the Birds and Blooms die cut. Here he's perched on a card made with the Top Note die.  Are you getting tired of that yet? Not me!  This card was made with a transparency as one of the projects for the Seeing Clearly class I held this month. Also uses the Bella rose designer papers. I've almost used up the two packs I ordered in August, and now I can't wait to dip into the new designer papers that are just waiting for me!

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Sneak peeks!

Life is a bit busy at the moment, so bear with me! I have 5 new sets waiting for me to play, so there will be more cards to come soon!  In the meantime, I am getting things ready for our club meeting tonight.

Here are some sneak peeks of my upcoming Chipboard 101 class.Today is the last day to register if you'd like to join us on Saturday, October 7 to learn all the basics about using chipboard to add pzzazz and touchablilty to your projects. If you've got chipboard in your stash and don't know what to do with it, we'll cover several ways to color it, sparkle it, and embellish it with designer paper. If you'd like to come, send me an e-mail and I'll let you know how you can pay through Paypal.
  

Here's a card we made at my new catalog Open House using Eastern Blooms. The layout came directly out of the Fall/Winter Idea Book, see if you can find it. Send me a comment telling me which layout from the catalog is your favorite! It is a resource full of many great ideas, and I love that it is a great inspiration for my own projects.

Friday Cherry Inspirational challenge

Today the Inspiration challenge at Stamp Something is hosted by Melissa. Doesn't the photo she sent us get your creative gray matter perking?  (I need something perking, since I haven't had my cup of hot tea yet this morning!) I love the rich colors and bold lines of the bag, the shiny texture and the polka dots too!

Here's my Top Note Purse Card. I had been thinking this die cut would make a great card, so thanks Melissa, for the perfect opportunity to try it out! Can you tell I love the Top Note Die? I have other new ways I've incorporated it into a card, you'll be seeing much more of it in weeks to come. :)

 

I cut two circles, folded them in half, and then scored 1/4" from the fold so the top of the purse is flat. Btw, it stands up on its own, and it is straight! The angle of the photo makes it look lopsided.  The black circle is stamped and embossed white with the Polka Dot background stamp.  I just had to get those polka dots in, KWIM? Using two top notes, one for the front and one for the back,I stamped with the Brocade background and embossed with black. Believe, me this is shiny! I am sure you also will believe that my work area has been covered with bits of the fine black detail powder most all week! Add more flower die cuts, a filigree brad, and it's done. I think this project would be great with a gift card inside.

Have a great day, I'm off to get my cup of tea and check out the wonderful work of the design team. Join us in creating for the challenge and you'll be surprised and pleased to see what you come up with!