Play the Color Challenge

Remember how we loved to play games when we were kids? We still can.....they are called stamping challenges over at Splitcoast. Tuesday's challenge is always the Color Challenge, and boy, today's was a bright one. The challenge is to make a card using Tempting Turquoise, Real Red and So Saffron.

I decided to make a "guy" card with these colors. The basecard is stamped with my Sanded background stamp. I used my "Just Baseball" set to stamp the cap and ball images on the So Saffron layer with So Saffron ink. I sponged around the edges with some Creamy Caramel to soften it up a bit.

This layer is then mounted on some Real Red. I added some 5/8" Real Red grosgrain ribbon and the sentiment from "Hugs & Wishes". I set some red eyelets with my Cropodile, drew some doodled linework and tied some 1/4" real red grosgrain.

I hope this inspires you to make a card inspired by Superman's costume..........LOL!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Happy Birthday Honey!!

It's rare for me to use something other than Stampin' Up!, but this Changito Safari monkey was just calling my name. I {heart} monkeys!!! So, I ordered him from a local stamp store.

I made this card for my husband's 40th birthday because he still drives me bananas after all these years.

The card measures 5"x5", and it is made out of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The monkey is stamped in the center of Whisper White cardstock. I just started layering fronds all over the edges of my cardstock using my Wild Wasabi ink pad. The monkey is colored in with SU markers (Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa). I used a sponge and my Wild Wasabi ink pad to tone down all the white.

The band is made with Barely Banana sponged with Close to Cocoa ink. I added some linework with my Close to Cocoa marker. The finishing touches were the use of my Ticket Corner punch and some copper brads.

I got this sentiment from a Hero Arts class I took at CKU Boston in 2004. I'm not even sure if they still make it anymore, but it was the perfect sentiment because my hubby makes me happy EVERY day!!!

I'll have a new project tomorrow.....Stampin' Up! products this time.....I promise!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Did You Hear the News?

Stampin' Up! surprised everyone with a great limited time only special. From now until November 3rd, the fabulous Wishing You Cheer stamp set is now 20% off. If you are interested in purchasing this adorable snowman stamp set, send me an email. I would love to help you out!!!!!

Today is the third birthday celebration this week. My loving husband turned 40 on Wednesday, a family friend turned 7 yesterday, and today is my wonderful mom's b'day. Can you believe she is only 29? Wow, I don't know how she does it.....LOL!!!! We are going out to lunch at Olive Garden (Mom loves it there) then back to my parents' house for cake and watching football games.

It's another beautiful Fall day here in MN......the air is crisp, the sun is shining!!!! DH is so sweet....he is busily working on my kitchen tile backsplash. I will post a pic when it is done. It is looking SO amazing!!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday. Happy Stamping everyone!!!

A Funky Tree!

Remember the other day when I mentioned that I borrowed "Jolliest Time of the Year" from Mom. Well, here is another card I made with that set.

The tree is stamped with Black StazOn ink on watercolor paper. The tree is colored using my aquapainter and reinkers: Certainly Celery, Summer Sun, Real Red, Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel. I then sponged around the edges with some Creamy Caramel to make it less bright, and I doodled some with my Real Red marker.

The basecard measures 4 1/4"x 4 1/4". It is made with Certainly Celery cardstock stamped with Certainly Celery ink using my Flannel Plaid background stamp.

The sentiment is stamped with Wild Wasabi, sponged with Creamy Caramel, doodled with Real Red marker, and punched with my ribbon slot punch. I threaded Real Red through the back of the sentiment and attached to the card with mini-glue dots and gold brads.

Of course, I added some Dazzling Diamonds after the fact to completely "glitterize" it. It's so pretty in person!!!!!!

Well, we have a busy day here planned. DH is working on my tile backsplash, and we have a birthday party this afternoon. It looks like another gorgeous day here near the Twin Cities....definitely no Minnesota gray today!!!

Enjoy your weekend....Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

October Technique Class

Tonight is the night for my monthly Technique Class. This class is so much fun!!! I love just chit-chattin with the girls while I inspire them to try new things. Tonight we will be learning reverse masking and reflection techniques. We always make a reminder card for each technique so they can easily recreate the same results at home.

At the end of class, we make a card that uses both techniques learned that night. This is the card that we will be making tonight. I really debated about adding a sentiment, but in the end, decided that it was serene enough to stand alone.

If you would like to attend tonight's class, I will not be prepping until about 1:00pm this afternoon. I have to babysit my baby niece all morning. Just send me an email if you live in the Twin Cities area and want to attend. My class fee for this one is a bargain.....just $7.00 for a girl's night out!!!!!

Card Details:
Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree
Paper: Whisper White, Bordering Blue, Night of Navy
Ink: Bordering Blue, Night of Navy
Accessories: Coluzzle, Stipple Brushes, sponges, white gel pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Navy grosgrain ribbon, Ticket Corner punch

Happy Stamping everyone!!

Oh So Jolly!!

My mom bought a new stamp set, "Jolliest Time of the Year". She's letting me borrow it so I can make some samples. This is the first card I made with this set. Anyone who "knows" me on this blog knows that adore watercoloring. This set is PERFECT for watercoloring. I used a variety of watercoloring methods on this card. The red on Santa's jacket, pants and hat are colored with my aquapainter and reinkers. His face and buckle are watercolored using my aquapainter and SU markers. The black is all watercolored with my aquapainter (see a trend here?) and my watercolor crayons.

This card is intended to hold a family photo in the center panel. I really like to design a photo card each year. I love getting Christmas cards with updated pictures. I save all the old ones to see how the kids have grown over the years.

The inspiration for the card's design was from Santa's belt. The black band represents his belt and it "buckles" under the focal image.

Anyhow, the base card is Real Red. I did use my Christmas Chatter wheel with Real Red ink (which should've been reinked before I rolled because you can hardly see it). The 1 1/2" strip of Basic Black is sponged with Whisper White craft ink to soften the edges. I added some white gel pen doodled linework for added visual interest.

How I colored Santa is mentioned above, but I didn't mention that he was colored on watercolor paper. That step is very important!!!! I used my Corner Rounder punch on each of the corners of the focal image and also on the Summer Sun buckle piece. I formed the buckle by using my Word Window punch to make a slot for the belt to hook in to.

I did use something non-Stampin' Up! SU used to carry Liquid Applique a few years ago. I wish they would bring it back because it really "made" this card. I know you can still purchase it at your local craft store though.

The sentiment comes from the "Many Merry Messages" stamp set. I embossed it with my Gold embossing powder.

I think I babbled long enough about this card.......I hope you like it!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Tutorial - Thanksgiving Placecard Holder

Sorry this took so long. We've had a sick household and some medical scares. My camera battery is charging so I am going to talk you through the measurements and how I made the placecard holder rather than show through photos.

Cut a piece of Always Artichoke cardstock to 3"x6"

Score the cardstock at 1/2", 2.5", 3 7/8".

Hold your cardstock with the 1/2" score line on the left side. Use your slit punch to make a slit in the center of the right end of the cardstock.

The 1/2" section will tuck under the slit tab you just made.

Your placecard base is now ready to decorate. Mine is stamped with the Canvas background stamp.

The placecard portion of the holder (mine is made with More Mustard) measures 2.5"x3". The Very Vanilla piece is 2 3/8"x 2 7/8".


I hope this makes sense. Make sure to post a link to your creation!!! I would love to see them!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!

The Most Gorgeous Hostess Set.....Garden Silhouettes

Rarely do I completely fall in love with a Hostess set. Well, this year's Level 2 hostess set, Garden Silhouettes, has changed my thinking. This one is a keeper for sure.

I made this card Sunday morning. I should've been getting ready for a family gathering at my brother and sister-in-law's house, but Garden Silhouettes was calling me "stamp me, stamp me". Of course, I had to oblige.

I am in an embossing mood lately. I decided to stamp the focal image with a combination of classic and craft ink. I first stamped the focal image with my Linen background stamp (well-loved in my stamping studio) using Creamy Caramel ink. I then stamped a few of the flowers also using the Creamy Caramel ink. I then pulled out my Close to Cocoa craft ink and inked that stamp up again. I then embossed it with Irridescent Ice embossing powder to give that final flower stalk some sparkle. It is simply GORGEOUS in real life. I punched my corners with the ticket corner punch and sponged with Close to Cocoa ink. I matted it on Choc Chip cardstock, and two eyelets from the Vintage Brad pack finish the focal image.

The base card is Blue Bayou (my favorite of all the new In Colors.....I will weep when this color retires). This base card is sponged on all the edges with Blue Bayou ink. I added a strip of Creamy Caramel cardstock (sponged with Close to Cocoa ink) with a length of 5/8" Choc Chip grosgrain. The sentiment (from Baroque Motifs) is stamped in Blue Bayou ink.

This card is truly lovely.......I'm so glad I resisted getting ready in order to finish it.

Happy Stamping everyone!!

My 100th Post......cool!

First of all, I want to thank all my readers who come here everyday!!! Thank you for taking the time to comment on my latest project....it TRULY means a lot to me!!!

Today's featured project is another from this Friday's Spooktacular Stamp Camp. It is a candy holder. This tote bag will be holding a cello bag filled with candy corn (personally I think this stuff tastes yucky but I love the colors.....DH on the other hand inhales the stuff).

This tote bag uses the Batty jumbo wheel and Batty for You stamp set. The tote bag itself is made with Pumpkin Pie cardstock. The band across the top is Summer Sun stamped with the Canvas background stamp using Pumpkin Pie ink. I used my Cropodile to add four black eyelets in each corner of this panel before attaching it to the tote bag.

The bat was stamped with Basic Black craft ink, sprinkled with Hologram Highlights embossing powder and heat set. I punched him out with the 1" circle punch. I then cleaned my stamp and restamped him using Basic Black classic ink on a piece of Pumpkin Pie scrap. This was punched out with the 1 3/8" circle punch. This was all finally mounted on a black circle scallop punch.

The handle for the tote bag was created using the Word Window punch. This punch is just so versatile. Finish the project with a black grosgrain bow, and the project is complete!!!

These make a wonderful and inexpensive treat for those special little trick-or-treaters in your life.

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

What a Happy Jack-o-lantern!!

Someone else besides me is excited about Halloween.....it's gotta be this little jack-o-lanern. I love his grin!!!

This is one of the two cards we will me making this Friday at my Spooktacular Stamp Camp (the other card was showcased on my blog yesterday). This card features the Autumn Harvest stamp set. I used my watercolor crayons and watercolor paper to color him in (after stamping him in Timber Brown StazOn).

The base card is Old Olive stamped 2/3 of the way up with my Print Pattern background stamp. I used a paper pierced strip of More Mustard to blend the card together. The finishing touches were some 5/8' chocolate grosgrain ribbon and the sentiment placed in an area punched with the awesome Word Window punch.

Tomorrow, I will start showcasing the two remaining projects. One is a piece of framed art and the other is an adorable candy holder. Until then.......

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Spooktacular Stamp Camp

Looking for a spooktacular good evening of fun with the girls? Come to my Halloween Stamp Camp this Friday at 7pm. Here is one of the projects we will be making. It's one of those ultra-cool criss cross cards. The outside of the card is decorated with that incredible Creepy Crawly designer paper. I am especially proud of the belly band of this card. It's punched and highlighted to look like the uneven edges of a spider web or even bat wings.

The inside of the card is a haunted house vignette......complete with a witch flying across the moon.

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Bada-Bada Bling

I'm planning some of my holiday events, and for some reason, I REALLY want to hold a class on BLING. That's right.....nothing but glitter, sparkle and glitz.

At Convention, they told us how we can use some of our adhesives (in ways other than intended) to add some bling to our cards. I used two different adhesives to add my Romantic Red glitter. The stripes were made with Sticky Strip and the center of the poinsettia was adorned using mini glue dots. Cool, huh?

I used my Dashing designer paper to dictate the colors for my card. The base card is River Rock. I stamped the flourishes and the sentiment (both from Season of Joy stamp set) with River Rock ink. If you do not own that stamp set, YOU NEED TO ORDER IT. It has SO many possibilities. So call your demonstrator now? What, you don't have a demonstrator? I just happen to be a demonstrator. Email me.....I would love to be your demonstrator!!!

Anyway, the poinsettia (also from Season of Joy......see why I told you to buy it??????) was stamped twice in Real Red ink on Very Vanilla cardstock. I cut them out using my way sharp paper snips and used a dimensional to offset the flowers. The top flower has three mini glue dots placed in the center, and then I sprinkled on some Romantic Red glitter to add even more bling!!! The entire flower was then mounted on the designer paper strip with a dimensional for even more height.

So what do you think about the bling? I thinks it gives a pretty nice WOW factor!!!

It's cold and rainy.....again....here in MN today. A perfect day for laundry and stamping!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!

Tootin' My Own Horn

Toot! Toot! Okay, enough already. I am SO excited!!! One of my SU Convention swaps is on Stamper's Showcase today!!

If you are not a SU demonstrator, Stamper's Showcase is a daily updated webpage showing three fellow demonstrator's submitted work. I usually only submit work when I go to SU events. As that is few and far between, I was completely excited to see this baseball card here today.

I wanted one of my swaps to be male-oriented. It's rare to get "guy cards". Since my son is such a baseball freak (meant in the nicest possible way, of course), this card was easy to design. Even though the tones are off, the colors even match our local team. GO TWINS!!!!!

Thanks for letting me TOOT! (my son would have way too much fun with that comment, huh? Ugh....boys and their potty humor).

Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Oooops! Real Link to Julie Buhler's Tutorial

Sorry everyone! I didn't realize that my link was sending you to the wrong place. Have I mentioned how many problems I've been having with this laptop? Subtle hints to DH aren't working......what should I do next?

Anyway, here is the correct link to Julie Buhler's FABULOUS tutorial on how to color with SU markers.....Copic style......

http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/no-copics-no-pr.html

Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Simulated Copics!!

One of my customers let me borrow her Holy Triptych set. Thanks Gabby! I knew this wasn't a set that I wanted to purchase for myself, but I was intrigued by how I could watercolor it. Watercoloring is my absolute favorite technique.

This is the first card I made with the images that I stamped. All of the latest hub-bub is about the Copic markers. The effects made with them are stunning, but I really want to use as many Stampin' Up! products as I can. Besides, they are P-R-I-C-E-Y. Julie Buhler posted a tutorial on her blog on how to get the "Copic look" using Stampin' Up!'s markers. I decided to give it a shot!! It's A LOT of work to add and remove (this is where a lot of the time is spent) color. You remove color to gain all your highlights. I absolutely love the effect. I wouldn't want to make 80 of these babies for all my Christmas cards, but it's definitely for the special people in my life. This card will be going to my twin aunts (also my godmothers).

Now, here's the deets.....

The card base is Night of Navy. I followed the sketch challenge on SCS (#145) for the card design. The other layer is Bordering Blue stamped with the Linen background stamp using Night of Navy ink. I used the Ticket Corner punch and sponged the edges. I added three pewter brads. The edges of the base card are torn or distressed and sponged with my Whisper White craft ink. I added some Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon to add some visual interest to the right side of my card.

I hope you get a chance to check out Julie's tutorial. It really is fun. Post any cards you make to this one....I'd love to see them!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!

Easy and Elegant

This card was inspired by Jen, a fellow stamper on SCS. She has a great blog....click on her name to check it out.

I love how Jen used the same stamp set (in this case Peaceful Wishes) in each of the three panels on the card. The mistletoe was stamped with Mellow Moss on Very Vanilla cardstock. The berries were then colored in with the Bravo Burgandy marker. I then lightly sponged Bravo Burgandy ink on each of the three panels. The middle panel is tied with a simple gold elastic cord knot. The three panels are mounted on Bravo Burgandy cardstock.

The base card is Mellow Moss, stamped with the Linen background stamp also in Mellow Moss ink. The Peaceful Wishes sentiment is very understated as I also stamped that in Mellow Moss ink.

I kept my card very demure, but you could definitely add some Dazzling Diamonds to the berries to give it some more "oomph".

It's quite chilly here today in MN. The weather change has been dramatic within a coupld of days.....85 degrees to now barely in the 50s. BBBBBBBbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

I'm going to try to stamp some more, but both kids have Parent/Teacher conferences this afternoon!!! My kids are both really great students, so it should be quick!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!

Thanksgiving Table Ensemble Class

I am holding a Thanksgiving Table Ensemble class this Friday. The projects shown are a placecard holder and a napkin ring. Each class attendee will be making 6 of each. They will also be making a candle for the center of the table.

I will post a tutorial for the place card holder early next week. Although my stomach is better, my head is still pretty much pounding.

If you live near Chaska, MN and would like to attend this class on Friday night, please send me an email. There is an email link a little under my picture.

This picture shows a side view of the placecard holder. There are two Hershey nuggets tucked inside for an after-dinner treat!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!

Sick Today!!!

I apologize....I don't have a project to post today. I am not feeling so well today.....stomach, head, who knows what it is?

Anyway, I'm resting up so I can get busy with some stamping tomorrow!!!

Hope all is well with all my readers!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

I just love the concept of us cardmakers having a day dedicated to our hobby (addiction)!! As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, my biggest thrill is to see someone's face after they create a card. They all credit me for designing the card, but you know what? They are the one making THEIR card!! They put the stamp image to the paper!! It's their card. That's why I love what I do SO much.

The cards above are from this weekend's Holiday Stamp-a-Stack. I had one session this morning, and the other session is tomorrow afternoon. The attendees from this morning loved the cards they made! That's the part that makes me happiest!!

I hope you find time to stamp today!! I know I will. I have some Holy Triptych images just calling my name!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!

Happy Birthday Chickie!!

This birthday card is for DD's friend, Lisa. Each of the girls have a nickname based on an animal name. You guessed it....Lisa's nickname is "Chickie". Well, Lisa is having her sleepover party tonight, and Amanda asked me to make her a chickie card. She made the stipulation that it HAD to be a spinner card!!!

This is the card that I came up with. The focal image is from the retired set "Best of Cluck". I masked off the saying so that I would only have the image of all the chicks. They were stamped in Black Staz-On on watercolor paper. The image was watercolored with watercolor crayons. I then mounted it on Bashful Blue.

The base card is Marigold Morning. The next layer is Brocade Blue sponged with Brocade Blue on the edges and stamped with the chicken feet.

I used my word window punch to make the channel for the spinner. The spinning chick is cut out and mounted with a dimensional on a Bashful Blue 1 3/8" circle (sponged with Brocade Blue). The spinner is made with 2 pennies. Put a dimensional between the two pennies. Add the now constructed spinner to the chick on a circle. Place the spinner in the channel and tilt the card. The cute little chickie goes spinning away!!!!

I know I already posted this morning, but I had to share this adorable card!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Sneak Peek - Day 3

Here is the latest sneak peek.....the gift card holder....from this coming weekend's Holiday Stamp-a-Stack.

I try to keep the designs on the simpler side now. When I held my first Stamp-a-Stack 3 years ago, the guests wanted to strangle me for making the cards too labor-intensive. I now save those beauties for my Stamp Camps and focus on quick but beautiful for a SAS.

This card uses the Peaceful Wishes stamp set. The mistletoe image is stamped with Always Artichoke ink on Kraft cardstock. The berries are colored in (after it's stamped) with a Ruby Red marker. The berries look darker because the Ruby Red is placed on top of Always Artichoke. That is why I chose to mat the focal image with Bravo Burgandy. The "noel" sentiment comes from Many Merry Messages. It is stamped with Always Artichoke ink on More Mustard cardstock. I used my Always Artichoke marker for the linework. The base of the card is Always Artichoke (4x6). The gift card is held in place using the slit punch. The final touches are the sponging (yeah, I know....I have it on every card I make) and the little gold cord bow.

All I can say is TGIF......it stormed ALL night here in MN. Needless to say, we're all a little tired!!!! I think I need a Starbucks before I cut for the Stamp-a-Stack. I really do not want to be messing up all those cuts.

Anyone doing anything exciting this weekend? If yes, leave a comment and let me know about it!!! We're gonna finish up the painting in the kitchen and get that all back in order!!!! Not too exciting, huh?

Happy Stamping Everyone!!!

Sneak Peek - Day 2

As promised, today is Day 2 of my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack Sneak Peek Week.

This is the simplest card from the class. I want to show how easy it can be to quickly make beautiful holiday cards without all the fuss. The only embellishment on the card is the grosgrain ribbon. The "oooohhhh-aaaahhh" factor really comes from the Dashing designer paper. This stuff truly is so much fun to work with.

stamp sets: Season of Joy
paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Dashing designer paper
ink: Old Olive
accessories: markers, celery grosgrain, dazzling diamonds, sponges
Happy Stamping everyone!

Sneak Peek....All Week!!

I am going to give you sneak peeks of the cards from this weekend's Holiday Stamp-a-Stack all the rest of this week.

Here is the first card we are making. It is a photo card, and it was inspired by my upline, Donna. She made a card similar to this one for a wonderful Holiday WOW swap I participated in last month. Have I ever told you how much I LOVE this little snowman from Holiday Tag Team? He is so stinkin' adorable....I just can't stand it!!!

The card uses those beautiful new In Color blues: Blue Bayou and Soft Sky.

Here are the "deets" about my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack if you would like to attend......

Sat. October 6th (10am-1pm) - my Chaska home
OR
Sun. October 7th (1pm-4pm) - my Chaska home

The fee for this class is $25. We will be making 12 cards (4 designs, 3 of each design).

As the month of October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am donating $2 from each class fee and 50% of my proceeds from any order placed this weekend to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund.

If you would like to attend this class and support this very worthwhile cause, please send me an email via the email link below my picture.

Happy Stamping everyone!

Life Lesson Learned!!

Okay, I do not have a stamping project to post today. I just finished making one, but it is so dark out now that the lighting on the picture won't be right. So, I will take a picture and post it in the morning.

So what's the life lesson learned? You know back in the days before digital photography when we actually had our film developed. You remember, right? Oh my!!! For the past two days I have been sorting and filing pictures that were thrown in big Sterilite tubs before we moved last year. I know, if I labeled all my envelopes and put them in photo boxes as they were developed, I would not be in such a predicament. I have one big box done. The other box has been labeled but yet to be filed in the photo boxes. I guess I can now start scrappin' some of these older pictures!!!

Well, I definitely learned my lesson.

Happy October 1st. Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? If you are due for your mammogram, please call and schedule your appointment today!!!

I am holding a Holiday Stamp-a-Stack this weekend. Part of the class fee and 50% of my proceeds from any order placed this weekend will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund. If you wish to attend, please click on the "email me" button below my picture. The spaces are filling up quickly!!! I hope to see you there!!!

Happy Stamping Everyone!!!