Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Greeting Card Favorite

Hi, and happy Friday!

Greeting Card Kids is one of my very favorite sets, and the card I'll share today is one of my all-time favorite cards that I've made. Of course, I began with a great sketch (SSSC151) and the gorgeous Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper.

I LOVE this card sketch! I played a long time with the paper patterns and chose these airy floral patterns for a soft look. Watercoloring is an absolute delight to me, one of the most relaxing parts of my crafting. I began with Stampin' Up's Watercolor Paper, stamped the image in Black StazOn, and then ran it through the Big Shot using the Framelits Labels Collection die.

To color I used a Blender Pen and inks from my stamp pads. I also scribbled a bit of marker on a clear block and picked that up with the pen to color her skin. I used the following colors for little Ruby Mae (don't you think she needs a name, lol?): Pool Party, Indigo Island, Calypso Coral, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, So Saffron and Melon Mambo.

The sentiment (from the Tiny Tags set) is stamped in Poppy Parade ink and punched with the Tiny Tag punch. All tied up with a bow of Pool Party Seam Binding.

This wraps up nine projects I've posted in the last two weeks, and I can't wait to make some more!

If my projects have inspired you to stamp or craft, I'm glad. If you've gotten ideas or just enjoyed seeing what I've made, I'm glad. If you have time to leave a comment, I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Candy Conversations

Here's a quick card to brighten someone's day!

Using an A La Carte stamp called Candy Conversations I stamped the rows of hearts in Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade and Melon Mambo inks. I wanted a vibrant look and I'm pleased that I got it!

The card base of Sahara Sand allows these colors to pop! I did some fussy cutting on the hearts and layered them on a die cut with the Labels Collection Framelits. The sentiment is embossed in white.

I really enjoyed making this fun card that came together in 30 minutes, after I had played with a few color options. I made this for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge but missed the deadline to post it. Hate when that happens! I hope it's a winner in your book, thanks for stopping in to my blog today.

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Candy Conversations, A Light Heart

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Patterned Paper Packs (Brights)

Ink:  Poppy Parade, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, White Craft

Accessories:  Scallop Border and Triple Heart punches, White EP

Sale-A-Bration Sampler

Sale-A-Bration is here! Today marks the first day of the terrific yearly event from Stampin' Up! where you earn FREE products for every $50 you spend on merchandise. If you'd like to learn more, just click HERE.

You can easily earn exclusive products designed just for this promotion. My absolute favorite is the beautiful Designer Series Paper called Everyday Enchantment that's featured on today's card. This paper is so sweet and has some slight distressing and shading for a ready-made shabby look.

 

I also used the Brads and Ribbon pack that coordinates. Aren't these delightful colors?

The other options for Sale-A-Bration rewards include items from the current main catalog. One of those is the Designer Frames embossing folder that I stamped with the sentiment from the Friendly Phrases stamp set. You're the best!

Hope you're getting in some crafting time today.

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases

Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment DSP

Ink:  Calypso Coral

Accessories:  Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brad pack, Designer Fames Embossing Folder

Occasions to stamp!

I'm settling down after all the holidays, how about you? The days show hopeful signs of settling into some routine again. That means time to take walks with Josie, try to get the house back in order, and stamp! The Occasions Mini catalog goes live today with wonderful new products and I can't wait to show them to you. So settle back, I've got some cards in the lineup for the next couple of days.

  My favorite new product is the Attic Boutique DSP! I love the vintage patterns and color combos. My Valentine began wtih the sentiment from the Loving Thoughts stamp set, and I scored the panel for extra detail. That pretty little border underneath is made with the Adorning Accents Edgelits Die.

The heart images are from the Take It to Heart set. I stamped and cut the two larger hearts by hand. The little one was die cut with the new Fashionable Hearts Embosslit. I added pearls and a few spritzes of ink, just to make me happy!

This card is my entry for the contest this month at  Mojo Monday - it's a gorgeous sketch, don't you think?

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Loving Thoughts, Take It to Heart

Paper:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Attic Boutique DSP, Pretty in Pink

Ink:  Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink

Accessories:  Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Color Spritzer Tool, Basic Pearls, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, marker

Here's a glimpse!

Here's a glimpse of a work in progress. Not a card!

Yesterday my dear friend Donna and I came up with this for my dining room...

We were shopping together in October when I saw the gorgeous display featuring the silver reindeer and an array of products in silver and aqua/turquoise. I had not updated my Christmas decorations in  quite some time  years, and with Donna's help, the vision came to life yesterday after I had whipped up the table runner.

Here's a close-up of the sideboard display.

The twinkling lights under the snow are my favorite part.

Now I'm wondering if my dining room is too pretty to eat in, lol!

Hope you enjoyed this personal glimpse of my other-things-in-life besides stamping. <g>I really am in the mood to get my Christmas shopping and other holiday stuff done so there may not be much stamping over the next day or two. I do hope to dig into my box of Occasions Mini goodies soon!

Enjoy!

Spice Cake Thankful Banner

Good morning!

One of the best perks about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is getting to buy porducts at great discounts! When I received my Spice Cake Bundle of Designer Paper, the Big Buttons, and fabric to match I was determined to design a project that used all three.

I did it with the help of the Perfect Pennant Die. Lookie!

One way to see the details is to come to the class I'm having on this next Monday if you live in the area of Fayetteville, NC.

The letters H, N, and F are decorated with die cut leaves. I did use the fabric on a rolled flower on the U, and tied a strp of fabric into the button on the T.

These are so much fun to make I couldn't stop at just one. Here's a wedding banner!

  

  I made this in about an hour! At each end is a doily from the Flirtatious Specialty paper. The sentiments stamped are "Happy I do day!"  and  "Happiness Always."

If you have this die, I want to encourage you to try a banner or two. If you don't have the Perfect Pennant die, contact me to order yours!

I only wish there was a better way for me to photgraph them. I've been editing and fiddling with re-edits until my eyes are crossed. Hope you can catch the idea. I'd love to hear from you about how you like my projects today.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

 

It's Raining Flowers!

It's a new week and I am posting kind of late this morning - so I'll keep this short!

When I saw the great sketch Karen has this week at the Sweetest Sunday Sketch Challenge, I decided right away to pull out the never-inked-yet-set called Raining Flowers that we received at convention. It has 13 stamps for two step stamping of gorgeous flowers and leaves that are textured.

I snipped and popped up both flowers and stamped the leaves behind them with the image from the Best Friends Forever set. Doesn't this regal color combo from the challenge at The Paper Players make an elegant wedding card?

The elegance of pearls adorns the punched scalloped trim, and I used glitter brads for a bit more bling.

I love the Petite Pairs stamp set! It has sentiments in twos that you can use as suggested or mix up to make your own combinations. The inside sentiment reads, "Best Wishes."

And that ends my post for today. See you tomorrow!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Raining Flowers, Best Freinds Forever, Petite Pairs

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink:  Basic Gray, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Accessories:  Basic Pearls, Glitter Brads, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Wishes

Happy Monday! I have something special for you today, it's a Birthday Blog Hop for Lesley Croghan, of The Paper Players!

 

I am happy to join in the chorus with those wishing Lesley the happiest of birthdays today! The sentiment from the Petite Pairs stamp set sums up how I feel about Lesley. It says, " Happy Birthday Wishes ... to someone who makes others so happy!" Lesley spreads cheer through her beautiful creations, and the time she takes to encourage others. Thanks, Lesley, enjoy your day!

Here's the card I made just for this occasion.

The color combo of Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, and Basic Gray came from the Color Coach. The Creative Elements set is one that I love, and I think it will soon become my go-to set.  I stamped the floral background and used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig for positioning the images.

I hope you'll keep hopping to see all the Birthday projects made by the talented stampers below! You can find Lesley at her fabulous blog, Playing with Paper. I know you'll be inpsired!

Anne Marie Hile - Stampin’ Anne
Carrie Gaskin - Artistic Avenger
  me- Stamps, Paper and Ink
Jaydee - Stampin’ with Jaydee
Jen Mitchell - I Create
Joan Jeffery - JJ Creations
Lauri Ingram - Paperville
Laurie - Hiding in My Craft Room
LeAnne Pugliese - wee Inklings
Nance Leedy - Canopy Crafts
Rita Wright - Cards by Rita
Sandra Azzopardi - Sandra’s Stamping Spot
Tui Nathan - Stampin’ Time

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up! except as noted *

Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes, Creative Elements

Paper:  Calypso Coral, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Gray, Riding Hood Red, Calypso Coral

Accessories:  Square Lattice EF, Basic Pearls, WHite Taffeta Ribbon, Antique Brads, Ticket Corner Punch, *Nestabilities

Hello, my friends!

If you've been wondering where I've been, I am here to tell you all about it today! I've been in a whirlwind of traveling, and I just got in late last night from my second trip this month. Except for 3 days to regroup, I've been gone since July 12th!

This time my husband and I went together to attend the beautiful wedding of my nephew and his sweet bride. He is such a great guy - I wish we didn't live so far away. The celebration was lovely and I'm so glad I was able to be there to spend wonderful times visiting with my family. We were in such a gorgeous setting, surrounded by the beauties of nature on every side. Here are a few pics and I'm sure by the end you will guess the location!

Rocks, hills, and woodlands...

water on every side,

rocky beaches, boats everywhere! We sailed on a schooner almost out to the open sea!

Mount Desert Island, Maine is one of the prettiest places I've ever been!  Now you know what I've been up to. If you can take one more non-card related photo, can I say how happy my family was to have us back?  And look who's not wanted to leave my side....

JOSIE!

As promised, I do have a card for you in keeping with a natural beauty theme.

This card was inspired by the GROW theme at Convention, and the beautiful stage set up. It changed colors and when I saw this calming combo, I got the idea for this card using the My Friend set. The silhouette was stamped and embossed in white. I preferred keeping the layers simple so that this card could be made in minutes! Hope you'll give it a try.

Hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse of my summer. Thanks so much for spending a few minutes here today, I love being able to share with you!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  My Friend

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Versamark

Accessories:  White EP, Jumbo brad, Decorative Label and Corner Rounder punches

 

Happiness Shared

The Happiness Shared stamp set is new to me. I've admired it for so long and finally decided to order it. The sentiments are perfect for wedding or anniversary cards. Of course, I love to watercolor so the flower image contains potential for a variety of creations.

I love to choose my colors based on the colors favored by the bride and groom, so I began with Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade. I added lots of texture embossing with the Vintage Wallpaper and Square Lattice folders.

The sketch is lovely and classic! I'm playing along with this week's Sweetest Sunday Sketch Challenge.

I am keeping my posts a bit shorter lately, figuring that it's better to get something up. Writing a little less about it takes me less time and it's the card you want to see, right? You may have noticed that it's either feast or famine with my posting and stamping lately. This seems to happen every year about this time!

I would like to pose a question to you blog hoppers out there. Do you prefer frequent posts, or is it worth it to have a couple REALLY good projects posted weekly? (I know there are people out there who can make something new every day and everything they make is beautiful! Unfortunately I don't think I'm one of them....)  What do you appreciate most about a good blog? Do you miss the supply list if I leave it off?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these questions, if you'd take a minute or two to share them it would be great! Of course, if you'd like to comment on the card, that is always most welcome.

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!