Elegant Orchids

Have I ever mentioned that purple is my favorite color? Well, it is!!! I'm not fanatical about it, but my eye does tend to gravitate towards purple.

When my Embrace Life stamp set arrived on my doorstep, I knew that I wanted make a purple card. The large orchid-ish (new word) flower is stamped with Black StazOn on watercolor paper. I used my watercolor crayons (Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Barely Banana and Elegant Eggplant) to apply lots of color and blend, blend, blend. I made sure to use some white gel pen to highlight the flower center and to dot the petails.

I dragged my perfect plum ink pad across the entire flower image (called Direct to Paper technique) in all different directions. The focal image is then mounted on a mat of Elegant Eggplant.

I used my Scor Pal to make a pattern on my Barely Banana layer. I used my Ticket Corner punch on all four corners and sponged with Elegant Eggplant ink. I matted this layer onto Perfect Plum and added 4 brushed pewter brads.

The Elegant Eggplant base card measures 4.25x4.25". I stamped the flower spray image all over the base card using Elegant Eggplant ink. Before attaching the flower image, I tied a length or ribbon of Eggplant grosgrain ribbon into a simple flat knot.

I think this card is simply GOJUS (as JanTink would say). The photo does not do it justice......it is just so rich and vibrant in real life.

Some new stamps are in the house..........I'm planning on making something really cute with them today. So check back in tomorrow.......til then.....

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Firsts

This card is the first project I have made with goodies from the Spring and Summer 2008 catalog.

The stamp set is called "Embrace Life", and it is gorgeous. I have so many stamp sets, yet this one called to me. I don't have any "eastern" inspired stamps in my collection, and this particular image bowled me over.

I have seen such beautiful samples made with this stamp set. A lot of them are made with one of this year's In Color, Groovy Guava. I really HATE anything to do with peach (I wonder if it has to do with my getting drunk on Fuzzy Navels in college??......still can't stand the smell of anything peachy to this day.....UGH). Back on track.......I don't like peach.....but I do like coral. So, the flowers were watercolored with my Cameo Coral ink pad and an aquapainter on watercolor paper. I went over the stems with a wash of Mellow Moss. I highlighted the flowers with a touch of my Stardust Gellyroll pen.

More new catty goodies are coming tomorrow.....yeah!!!!! I ordered some really cute stuff......can't wait to play!!!!

stamp sets: Embrace Life

paper: Mellow Moss, Barely Banana, Cameo Coral, watercolor paper

ink: Black StazOn, Cameo Coral, Mellow Moss

accessories: aquapainter, Crafter's Tool Kit, sponges, moss gingham ribbon

Until tomorrow....happy stamping everyone!!!

Inspiration

There are many things in life that inspire your design or colors of your projects. In this case, a favorite Valentine candy was the inspiration for my color choices: a chocolate covered cherry.

This valentine card measures 4.25"x4.25". I used a combination of designer paper (retired Au Chocolat), Real Red, Choc Chip and Sahara Sand cardstock for this card.

It's hard to see in the picture, but the Real Red base card is stamped with the heart stamp from Time Well Spent. The "from the heart" sentiment comes from Holidays & Wishes. The little heart on the tag is from Unfrogettable.

So, how do you like my little chocolate covered cherry-inspired card?

Wanna hint of tomorrow's project? One of my new stamp sets finally arrived, and I made a gorgeous card with it. I hope to see you tomorrow...........

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Sending You My Love

If you read my last post, it explained how my stamping mojo was compromised by watching too much Project Runway yesterday. See kids, even background noise can affect your work!!

I have envisoned this background for a long time. In fact, I used it on DH's valentine last year. I would have completely copied his valentine, but some of the other card elements hit the chopping block during the June retirement. So, I needed to regroup and rethink. My first inkling (and a complete failure) was to use the "from the heart" sentiment from Holidays & Wishes. The result was just too busy of a card. After turning off Project Runway and making dinner, the card FINALLY came together.

I love using acetate and White StazOn to create a cool background for a card. You should definitely try it!!!!! This card will be my WOW card for next week's Stamp Camp!! Wanna be part of the fun? If you live near the Twin Cities, send me an email. I'd love to have you attend!!!

stamps: French Flair, Circle of Friendship

paper: Sahara Sand, Choc Chip, Real Red, Whisper White

ink: White StazOn, Choc Chip, Close to Cocoa

accessories: circle punches, gold eyelets, acetate, choc chip 5/8" grosgrain

Until tomorrow.....happy stamping everyone!!!

I'm Still Here

Wow! What a day!!! The worst part is that I did stamp today, but I TRULY hated the result and refused to post it!!!! I think the problem lies here. While stamping, I was compelled to watch episodes of the first season of Project Runway. WHAT A MISTAKE!!!! All that complaining and backstabbing killed my stamping mojo. Who needs that kind of drama when stamping is how I relax?????

So, what did I do? I put the disaster card down and made dinner. After cleaning the kitchen with DH, I went downstairs and pulled the card apart. I decided that the separate pieces would be perfect for 2 different cards. So, I made two GORGEOUS cards instead of one!!!! I am very happy with the results. Do you want to see them? You'll have to wait until tomorrow. By the time I finished the cards, it was too dark to photograph. Sorry!!! I promise I will post them tomorrow!!!!

More good news......I got some new rubbah today!!! They are all cut and ready to use tomorrow!!! My first "big" order from the new catty arrives on Monday. Now, that will be a GREAT day!!!!

I hope you had a better stamping day than I did......until tomorrow.......

Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Way to Score!!!

Now I am not talking about football or baseball. Heck, I am not even thinking about THAT.....get your mind out of the gutter....LOL!!!!

I am talking about using your favorite scoring tool, of course! Did you know that you could use your scoring tool for other things besides making the folds your project? I used my Scor-Pal to make grid marks on my card. It gave enough visual interest so that I didn't need to use my patterned paper or my background stamps. Cool, huh?

So, I know what you're thinking!!! How did I figure out my pattern? I figured out how much room I needed for the focal image and then worked around it until my grid was even on all sides. How's that for an answer? I answered that like a politician, huh? If you want the exact measurements, leave me a comment (but please leave me your email address as I can't do return comments with Blogger.....hate that part of Blogger) or send me an email!!

The focal image is from "Beautiful Life". This is a two step stamp. The more solid flower image is stamped with So Saffron, and the line image is stamped with Summer Sun. The stem in stamped in Certainly Celery. After punching the corners with the Ticket Corner Punch, I sponged with Soft Sky ink. I then matted it on a slighly larger scrap of Basic Black cardstock.

The focal image was mounted on the gridded piece of Soft Sky cardstock (which was also heavily sponged with Soft Sky ink). This layer was mounted on a layer of Whisper White. I added 4 So Saffron brads to each of the four corners prior to mounting on my Certainly Celery base card.

So, what do you think? Did I make you think more of your favorite scoring tool? I hope so!!! Give it a try and tell me what you think!!!!

Until tomorrow....Happy Stamping everyone!!

A Valentine For Boys

Now that the holidays are over, have you noticed how fast the stores switched over to Valentine's Day? I swear I went into Target the day after Christmas (towards the DVDs and greeting cards), and they had all the little kiddie Valentine books out. The greeting card section even had all the Valentine cards out too!!!!

Stampin' Up! has also jumped on the Valentine's bandwagon with their January special (the Valentine Bundle). My stamp set is still on it's way so I can't post any samples using "Happy Heart Day" yet, but I did want to show a valentine that is perfect for any special guy in your life.

I opted away from the traditional valentine colors. I chose to use Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi and Barely Banana for my little guy's valentine (ok, he's 15 but he's still my baby). This card measures 4.25"x4.25". The basecard is stamped with my Flannel Plaid BG stamp. I rounded the two outside corners with my Corner Rounder Punch and sponged heavily with Blue Bayou ink.

The Wild Wasabi layer is easy. I just embossed the "wild about you" using Versamark ink and White embossing powder. I stamped the little bird and sponged all edged with Wild Wasabi ink. The Barely Banana layer is stamped with the Polka Dot BG in Barely Banana ink. I also used the direct to paper technique to add more color to the edges of the layer.

The croc is stamped with Wild Wasabi ink on Whisper White. I punched it out with the 1 3/8" circle punch and mounted it on a scallop circle punched out of Certainly Celery (that was heavily sponged with Wild Wasabi). I pierced each of the scallops with my piercing tool from the Crafter's Tool Kit. I added a piece of Blue Bayou double-stitched ribbon, googlie eyes and some white eyelets to complete the card.

I think it came out pretty adorable if I do say so myself. Let's hope my son likes it too!!!

Until tomorrow....Happy Stamping everyone!!!