Moving blogs

Hi everyone!

I have decided to move my stamping blog over to wordpress. The link is below so you can follow my stamping stuff if you are still interested.

See you soon!

http://catestamps.com

Birthday gift for Teacher

I was trying to come up with something new (well, for me) to give Anwyn's teacher for her birthday so decided on a little post-it-note holder and matching pen. Of course, it will be completely eclipsed by the chocolate covered fruit Anwyn insisted she needed, but it's the thought that counts ;-)

I cut some chip board using the Big Shot Top Note die and then cut two pieces of Parisian Breeze DSP to cover the front and back. I then adhered a length of Chocolate Chip ribbon around the board and made a loop by sticking the tape back on itself with tacky tape. I stuck the mini post-it note pad on the front and stamped one of the floral images from Fifth Avenue Floral on each side of the pas in Chocolate Chip ink. The same image was stamped onto Parisian Breeze DSP, cut out and stuck onto the top of the board. The letters (notes - the "s" is hidden by the pen) were cut out of Parisian Breeze DSP using the Big Shot GoGo Boots alphabet dies.

Parisian Breeze paper was put into the pen barrel to match the post-it holder.

Before I forget - this is the card I made for Anwyn to give her big sister for her birthday. Bling-tastic!

Stamps - Fairy from WhipperSnapper, sentiment from the Happy Everything set (SU!)

Cardstock & DP - Pink Pirouette, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Gold and Silver. Fairest of them All DP by Imaginisce.

Inks - Black Stazon. Image was colored using Prisma pencils blended with Gamsol. The sentiment was stamped in Versamark and embossed in white.

Accessories - where do I start??? Silver organza ribbon, glittery white yarn, clear adhesive gemstones, silver gift charm, dazzling diamonds (on wings), oval and scallop oval punches.

The little "flaps" down the right hand side which are decorated with the star gemstones open and "Happy" is revealed. Just thought it would add a cute touch but was a pain in the rear so may be a one off.

Nouveau Chic is sooooo pretty

This really is the most stunning paper I have seen. I didn't want to draw the attention away from it by stamping an image so stuck with the sentiment. I was even dithering about whether to add the sage embossed piece as the paper would truly stand on it's own. I may have to make a set of these cards as a gift so I can have some with just the paper.

Stamp Set - Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock & DP - Sage Shadow, Basic grey. Nouveau Chic DP

Inks - Basic grey

Accessories - Basic Grey taffeta ribbon, Styled silver HPH, Big Shot Elegant Bouquet embossing folder.

I spent around an hour and half last night making a card for Rhiannon's birthday from her sister. It has lots of glitter and bling, plus my first attempt at cutting lift flaps onto a card. I was too lazy to take a pic after I finished it so will post one tomorrow.

Goodies Galore!!

I really wanted to get hold of one of the new stamp sets from the Stampin' up! 2009/2010 catalog in time to make some things for my daughter's birthday so decided to expedite my order. Of course, no point in just ordering one thing when there are level 2 hostess sets to acquire, so I added a few more "must haves". Included was the new Nouveau Chic DP which is just too pretty to cut!! I love the Art Nouveau/Art Deco style and this is so elegant, I just want to frame it.

Anyway, I managed to get a little playtime yesterday so that I could make a card for Steve's aunt Viv and got a few others made as well (no pic of that card until after her birthday which, by coincidence, is shared by her great niece Rhiannon).



First, the reason for the expedited order - Pony Party!! Is this not just the perfect set for little girls?? I know that Rhiannon will love it. I am also really loving the new Kaleidoscope paper (used below). I know it isn't everyone's taste but, if you have little girls, it is just fabulous!

Stamp Sets - Pony Party

Cardstock & DP - Pixie Pink, Pink Passion, Only Orange, Whisper White. Kaleidoscope DP

Inks - Black Stazon, Pixie Pink & Pink Passion markers

Accessories - Lots and lots of Dazzling Diamonds!! Modern Label punch, Slot punch, Scallop Edge punch, Dimensionals.

This is also a new 2-step stamping set from the new catalog called Greenhouse Garden. I think it is now a firm favorite and works beautifully for using the stamping off technique.

I loved the card idea from the new catalog that used this set so decided to CASE it

Stamp Sets - Greenhouse Garden, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock & DP - Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Whisper White. Bashful Blue DP (from a retired hostess pack)

Inks - Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Brocade Blue, Mellow Moss.

Accessories - Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals, Word label punch

The same set but using a different color scheme. I can't stop using this new In Color, Rich Razzleberry.

Stamp Sets - Greenhouse Garden, Hugs & Wishes (retired)

Cardstock & DP - Rich Razzleberry textured, Whisper White, Old Olive. Razzleberry Lemonade DP.

Inks - Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Dusty Durango

Accessories - Old Olive satin ribbon (retired), Scallop Oval punch, Dimensionals


Finally, another favorite of mine, Bird on a Branch, with some new colors

Stamp Sets - Bird on a Branch, Short & Sweet.

Cardstock & DP - Bermuda Bay textured, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla. Thoroughly Modern DP

Inks - Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede.

Accessories - Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay polka dot ribbons, Filigree brad, Dimensionals

That's all for now. I'm off to see if I can come up with some more ideas for these fun goodies.

Mish Mash

Sorry for the lack of updates but I've spent a lot of time over the past week trying to figure out what to make for a couple of swaps I have coming up plus a demo get together make & take. After many, many trials (and too many errors to admit to), I have come up with some ideas that I am happy with but I don't want to share the final versions ahead of the swaps. Instead, I wanted to share some of the "rejects" that I liked but decided against for one reason or another.




The first was using the Thoughts and Prayers set. I had no intention of buying this set until I made some cards with it at Nancy's stamp camp and fell in love. It is one of those sets that works for so many things and in so many color schemes. Here I used one of my all time favorite color combos of Mellow Moss and Perfect Plum.




Stamp Set - Thoughts & Prayers
Cardstock & DP - Mellow Moss, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum (textured), Very Vanilla. Perfect Plum DP
Inks - Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Accessories - Dimensionals, Flower brad



Nancy mentioned this color combo and I thought I would try it out. It also gave me a chance to use some more of the retired Green tea DP that I have been hoarding.

Stamp Sets - Embrace Life

Cardstock & DP - Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Whisper White. Green Tea DP

Inks - Baja Breeze

Accessories - Baja breeze satin ribbon, ribbon slider from a retired HPH set, Dimensionals, Scallop Square punch (Marvy), Big Shot Texturz plate (Flourishes)

Another attempt at playing with the Cheers to You set. This is a very masculine card and I love the fun effect given by using the liquid applique for the head on the beer.

Stamp Set - Cheers to You
Cardstock & DP - Going Grey, Basic Grey, Night of Navy, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White. Prestwick DP (?)
Inks - Black Stazon, Night of Navy, Creamy Caramel marker.
Accessories - Big Shot Texturz plate (Harlequin), Silver brads, Modern Label punch, Dimensionals, Scallop Square punch, Crystal effects, Liquid applique.

And finally, another card made with the fabulous new DP, Razzleberry Lemonade. I think I am officially in love with all the current in colors but this DP is going to be an all time favorite. Thankfully I have at least a whole year to play around with it. All of these wonderful goodies will be available when the new catalog starts tomorrow, July 1st.

Stamp Sets - Sentiment from Fresh Cuts, Matchbox Messages (frame)
Cardstock & DP - Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry. Razzleberry lemonade DP and Vellum.
Inks - Rich Razzleberry, Versamark and Copper embossing powder.
Accessories - Rich razzleberry ribbon, Filigree brad.

Autumn in summer

I had a chance to try out my Autumn days set, one of the sneak peek sets from the new catalog. I love the way it works with the new in colors and it is great for making masculine cards. It is the first card my husband has complimented me on in quite a while so it must be a good "guy" set ;-)

Stamp Sets - Autumn Days, Kind & Caring thoughts (sentiment)

Cardstock & DP - Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Ink - Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla craft.

Accessories - Antique brass brads, glue dots.

The pheasant was stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Soft Suede ink and then cut out and mounted on glue dots over the same image stamped onto the Crushed Curry card layer.

Missed one!

I thought I had posted this card in my blog but realized that I had only posted it on SCS so thought I would share it here too. I have tried this design before with other colors and DP but these new in colors work perfectly and I love the way it turned out.

The flowers were stamped onto whisper white paper and then cut out and mounted on dimensionals around the border of the top note. I used Rich Razzleberry ink to sponge around the edge. The sentiment is from the new Kind & Caring thoughts set.

Stamp sets - Eastern Blooms, Kind & Caring thoughts

Cardstock & DP - Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White. Razzleberry lemonade DP

Inks - Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry

Accessories - Rich Razzleberry ribbon, Dimensionals, Big Shot top note die