Stamps, Paper, and Ink

O Christmas Tree

If I had known I'd be MIA from my blog for a couple or three weeks, I would have given you advance  notice. But it took me by surprise too.

Quite honestly, I was busy at first with work for my stamping club and classes, and just couldn't get time to make projects or blog. But that's only half of the story.

The main reason is that I've been discouraged by my stamping for my blog. Ever feel like maybe you're losing your MOJO? Have you felt as if you can never come up with another original creative idea? Or do you see all the fresh new stampers blogging and on design teams out there and wonder if you are crazy to try to keep up? I'm here to say that I'm not giving up yet and hopefully my little break has eased the burnout a bit. Just sayin' in case you'd want to know!

Now for today's card which I humbly share. Time to sing along..."O Christmas Tree.... how lovely are thy branches."

The focal image features the tree from the Christmas Lodge stamp set and is decorated with some die cut Little Leaves. The small flower from Fabulous Florets was stamped with Early Espresso ink on Real Red Textured card stock and cut out. Looks a bit like a poinsettia, do you think? I layered an embellishment of silver Glimmer Paper punched with the Triple Blossom punch, and added a button and Baker's Twine. Rhinestone jewels brighten the circle panel and the treetop for a bit of sparkle.

My choice of a Christmas tree was inspired by the challenge at Our Creative Corner. For sketch inspiration, I played along with the versatile and pretty layout from Freshly Made Sketches.

That's all from me today. If you have a moment, won't you pop in and let me know what you think of today's card? I'd love to hear from you!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Christmas Lodge, Fabulous Florets

Paper:  Real Red Textured, Berry Bouquet DSP, Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Garden Green

Ink:  Early Espresso, Garden Green

Accessories:  Button, Baker's Twine, Triple Blossom Punch, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Big Shot, Basic Jewels Rhinestones

Ready for Something New

Do you love the first day of a new month? Clean-like-new sheets on the bed? I am enjoying both of those simple pleasures today. Happy September!!

Today is the first day to shop with the Holiday Mini and I know I'll enjoy sharing my favorite products in the days to come. For today's card how about some Fabulous Florets?

I love this simple layout and the Cheerful Treat DP with happy colors. I did paper piece and layer two flowers and used a foam dot to pop it up. Wrapped up with a big bow of ruffled ribbon in Melon Mambo. Supplies are fairly straightforward, but let me know if you have any questions.

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Oh my, Mambo! Meet Fabulous Florets...

 I have a thing for pink and green together that started back in 7th grade when I first had my own bedroom to decorate. I chose a fabric with a large lime green gingham check and hot pink roses interspersed for the bedspread that my Mom and I sewed together. I could tell you about the white Pom pom trim but then that would really date me!  Hey, I hear pompom trim is back in (have a look at my header!) with everything else retro and I still love it.

I digress and my chattiness gives away the fact that I'm writing this at night when I should be sleeping.

About today's card: Fabulous Florets is my new very favorite set!

I began by stamping and embossing the flowers in black on watercolor paper. Using inks to color, I then snipped them out and layered them together. The leaves were stamped twice to provide a bit more of a backdrop for the flowers. The sketch is from the Sketch challenge at SCS and gave me a chance to use Antique brads on the side with a circle of Melon Mambo card stock behind them. Glitter brads adorn the corner of the focal image. 

Besides the bold hot pink, the layered flowers, brads and embossing add a balance of rich textures. THe card base is textured white card stock which is so elegant! I really like how this turned out, I can't get enough of this set. This card is going to be displayed on my piano for a few days where I'll see it often - because it makes me smile!

 

   

<p><span style="color: #00bf00;"><strong><span style="color: #111111;">Supplies</span></strong>~&nbsp; <em>all supplies by Stampin' Up!</em></span></p>

<p><span style="color: #00bf00;"><strong>Stamps: </strong></span><br /><span style="color: #00bf00;"><strong>Paper:</strong>&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="color: #00bf00;"><strong>and Ink:</strong> </span></p>

<p><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="color: #00bf00;"><strong>Accessories:&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong></span><strong><br /></strong></span></p>

<p><span style="color: #111111;"

 

 

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fabulous Florets
Paper:  Whisper White, Whisper WHite Textured, Basic Black, Wild Wasabi
and Ink:   Versamark, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi

Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing folder, Black EP, Glitter and Antique brads, 3/4" circle punch, dotted scallop ribbon border punch, ticket corner punch, Aqua Painter  

 

Vintage Poppy

 Happy Friday!

I know that I've done quite a bit of creating and posting lately but I have one more to share with you and it feels almost like I saved the best for last. I've been nosing around different challenges out there and the CASE Study Challenge invites us to make a card inspired by the featured card of other artists. The muse for this month is Silke Ledlowe. I've been a big fan of her bold and crisp, beautifully elegant style for a long time! So you see, I had to play!

 

 For the bold colors, I paired Daffodil Delight with Poppy Parade, leaving lots of white space. The Fabulous Florets images are bold all by themselves, but I added a pop of contrast by embossing the flower outlines in black.

The cut out flowers and leaves are grouped with white flowers. These were made with the new Flower Garden Embossing Folder and cut out. Here's the detail close up.

 

My layout is Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 112. Now it's your turn to tell me what you think. (Did I save the best for last?) See you next week!

   

 all supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Happy Greetings
Paper:  Brights Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack, Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black
and Ink: Basic Black, Versamark, Garden Green

Accessories:   Basic Jewels pearls, Black Embossing Powder, Antique Brad, Daffodil Delight Satin Ribbon, Flower Garden Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Visit my online store  HERE if you need supplies or to see our specials

Do you have any questions about our products, my projects/classes, or being a demonstrator? I am happy to answer them, just send me an e-mail, you'll find it HERE

It's a Celebration! Sneak peeks and more...

Well, my weekend truly was wonderful as we had a trip to see my mother and had a fabulous visit. She is 91, has her own cell phone and knows how to use it, and except for a catnap now and then, she's fully alert and fun to be with! That in itself is worth celebrating and I am grateful, every day. Even the days when I get three or four phone calls.<G> I guess I should say, especially then. We shared some precious moments, some of them over cups of tea.

It didn't take me long yesterday to get back to stamping, and when I saw that the talented ladies at Our Creative Corner were hosting a tea party theme, I  knew I'd be watercoloring the lovely teacup bouquet from the Fun & Fast Notes set to make an invitaion.

 

Choosing colors was easy, I pulled out the vivid hues from the Beyond the Garden DSP which will be available in the new catalog which unveils in July. I used my Aqua Painter and ink pads to color. I went over the outlines and added shading with markers as well.

Stamping on Monday means the MOJO Monday sketch which I've used for the layout.

I LOVE the bold, large flowers of this designer paper. Here's a tip or two for working with the large pattern.

• Use the pattern to draw your attention. Notice how using the large pattern at the top of my layout draws your eye across and downward towards the stamped image. 
• Use the large pattern as the whole background, or sparingly in the layout.
• Break up the pattern. Here I softened it with the wrapped threads, and the tucked in Top Note as a border.
• Choose elements of the pattern to repeat in the card to build unity, as I did with the large cut out flower and leaf.

The flower was stamped with the Fabulous Florets set and embossed with Melon Mambo Embossing Powder, then cut out. How fun is that? Those are my two favorite products from the Summer Mini, coming May 1. The sentiment comes from the hostess set, Afterthoughts. I really love those sayings and the variety of fonts they use.

I'd love to hear what you think of today's card and post. As laways I hope you've been inspired and encouraged to stamp. Any and all comments are most welcome. Have a great day!

   

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Afterthoughts, Fun & Fast Notes, Fabulous Florets
Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Beyond the Garden DSP, Whisper WHite, Melon Mambo textured, Pretty in Pink
and Ink: Basic Black, Jetblack StazOn, Garden Green, Versamark

Accessories:   Stampin' Write markers, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Daffodil Delight Satin Ribbon, Designer Buttons (Subtles), Aqua Painter, Melon Mambo Embossing Powder, cotton thread, Top Note die, Big Shot

Visit my online store  HERE if you need supplies or to see our specials

Do you have any questions about our products, my projects/classes, or being a demonstrator? I am happy to answer them, just send me an e-mail, you'll find it HERE