Not "new" but fun!

Still no stamping time for me but I do have a couple of cards to share. My sister's 40th birthday was this week and so I can now share the cards I made for her.

When I saw this Penny Black stamp (Chicks night out), I knew it was just perfect for the card!!



Stamps - Penny Black Chicks night out, SU! Congrats (SAB set)


Cardstock & Paper - Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, So SAffron, Old Olive textured, Chocolate Chip. Haiku DP (love this pattern!)


Inks - Stazon Black, SU! markers in LOTS of colors


Accessories - Scallop edge punch, Tangerine Tango ribbon, Dimensionals, Crystal effects (on wine glasses) and gold pen.


The floor was done by coloring with a marker (Creamy Caramel I think) and then using a Chocolate Chip marker to draw in floorboards.



I am a Sophie/Riley (Hanna stamps) addict and adore Spa Sophie. Since my sister loves a little Spa pampering, I made this card for my girls to send to their favorite Auntie!




Stamps - Spa Sophie (Hanna stamps), SU! Absolutely Fabulous


Cardstock & DP- Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue. Delicate Dots DP


Inks - Brown Stazon, Chocolate Chip, SU! markers


Accessories - Blue fun flock (for bathrobe and towel), Prima Flowers, Pastel brads, SU! Scallop edge punch, Scallop circle punch, circle punch, crystal effects (on foot spa)


While it is fun to make things that appeal only to me, one of the things I love most about making cards is that I can usually find stamps etc. that "fit" with a person. For example, this Super Moose Riley card I made for a friend of Anwyn's who turns 4 this weekend. He is having a Superhero party and I know this will make him smile.




Then we have the super-girlie cards made using Stamping Bella Chichiboulie fairies for some friends of Rhiannon. They are twins who turned 6 a few weeks ago and they are real girlie-girls (notice the use of my favorite Tea Party DP in the first card. I will be stocking up on this whether it is retiring or not!).

Frustration!

If I don't get some stamping time very soon, I am going to combust!! Each time this week that I have tried to spend a little time feeding my addiction, something else has come up. I have all these thoughts and plans and want to actually get something done. Since I can't, I am going to share what I plan to do to make myself feel better!

First is the idea I had for the matchbox die. My daughter will turn 6 in July and just loves arts & crafts. My neighbor makes fused glass items and so we have booked her to come and do Rhiannon's party (BTW, her stuff is just gorgeous so check out her website if you have a chance, www.artisanglasscreations.com). Each guest will make two items and then my neighbor will take them home, fire them, and return them to me a week later to hand out. I have decided that it would be cool to put the pendants they make into the matchboxes. I had already planned to make "purse" invitations using the top note die (thanks Buffy!!) and will use the Tea Party DP. I want to make scallop bags accented with the same DP for each guest as a favor bag and these little matchboxes will be made to match. What I want to do is use textured cardstock for the base in Almost Amethyst, So Saffron etc. and then make the lids using Vellum. I want to stamp and emboss one of the flowers from the Playful Petals set onto the Vellum where the top will be and then color using markers to give a stained glass effect. I am really hoping that the reality looks as good as the idea does in my head - not always a given!!

I have also decided, after seeing all the wonderful projects by my fellow demos and folks on SCS, to try my hand at scrapbooking. I am going to start small by doing a book of baby photos for each of my girls and see how I like them. This will be an ideal chance to use more of my huge stash of patterned paper.

Hope to be back tomorrow with some prototypes!!

My first demo meeting!

I went to Nancy's house yesterday evening for her demo meeting and it was so much fun. All the ladies there are just so very talented and I hope I can grow up to be just like them!!



We did a make and take, swapped cards and then chatted. Nancy had everyone introduce themselves for my benefit and then we talked about the mini-convention they plan in August evey year. That sounds like a lot of fun and I am thrilled to be able to take part.


I just wanted to share some of the wonderful cards from the evening. The first was the make & take and the others were swaps. I still haven't learned everyone's name and so I can't remember which card was made by each person to give them full credit. Hope you love them as much as I do!

I'm hoping to get some time to play this weekend again so maybe I can try out the matchbow die!

A choice at last

After much back and forth, I decided to combine the elements from my two favorite card samples (posted last time) into one.

I would have preferred the top note shape to have been one DP pattern but I didn't have enough for 16 cards so improvised. So, having decided on this, I spent the evening cutting, stamping, sponging etc. I got everything prepped so all I have to do is put the remaining 15 cards together tomorrow evening.

I did finally get to make some boxes and bags with the Big Shot. No photos as I was just playing around to figure out the closures etc. and so used plain white cardstock. I love the pillow box and bag with scalloped top and the dies are certain to get plenty of use. Once I have my swap cards done, I'll attempt the matchbox.

Decisions, decisions...

I have my first demo meeting on Thursday with my Upline and her group. I have met most of them before at Nancy's stamp camps etc. but this will be my first time "playing" as a demo. I need to make 16 swap cards and spent today making some samples. I am still dithering but I am leaning towards the first card. I made two of each sample to get a feel for how much time it would take and they were all pretty similar. I have to make my mind up and get moving on them tomorrow as I am not exactly speedy!

Stamp Set - Ocean Commotion, Fresh cut (Thank You)

Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Ink - Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze. River Rock for sponging sea bed and Baja Breeze sponged background

Accessories - Pewter brads, word window punch, top note die, Texturz plate, Dazzling Diamonds

This second card was my first made with Great Friend from the mini. I embossed the butterfly in silver onto basic grey card and it looks pretty cool but I don't think you can really see it in the photo.

Stamp Set - Great Friend

Cardstock & DP - Going Grey, Basic Grey, Baja Breeze. DP - Urban garden

Ink - Baja Breeze, Basic Grey, Versamark

Accessories - Basic Grey taffeta ribbon, Silver embossing powder, Dimensionals

This third card was another first time play with a set from the mini, Soft Summer. I am so glad I finally got the hang of my stamp-a-ma-jig!

Stamp Set - Soft Summer

Cardstock & DP - Kraft, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Watercolor paper. DP - Parisian Breeze

Ink - Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip.

Accessories - Eyelet border punch, Word window punch, paper piercing (mat pack), Dimensionals

The last card was made with another new set from the mini, Just Beachy. I love the combo of this set with the Sweet Slumber DP.

Stamp Set - Just Beachy

Cardstock & DP - So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Ruby Red, Whisper White. DP - Sweet slumber

Ink - Stazon Black, Ruby Red, Bashful Blue (sponging on background) and SU! markers (to color the fish)

Accessories - So Saffron Ribbon, Dimensionals, Texturz plate

I really want to use this set in making invitations for my daughter's 4th birthday party in June. I would love to make a bucket with a pull-out spade card (kind of like the flower pot card idea I learned at Nancy's stamp camp). Need to give that some more thought.

OK - I'm off to dither some more about the swap.

Lots and lots of goodies

I got my first monster order today and I feel like a kid!! I have so many goodies, I don't know what to play with first. I am itching to crank up the Big Shot and make some boxes.

Tonight though, I got a couple of cards finished up using the Pun Fun set. The first is for my daughter, Rhiannon, who is having her tonsils and adenoids removed tomorrow. She has moved out of the pink phase and into purple, hence the lilac whale!! Hopefully it will cheer her up a little.

Stamp Set - Pun Fun

Cardstock and DP - Whisper White, Lovely Lilac, Tempting Turquoise. Flowers for You DP (retired)

Ink - Stazon Black. Image colored with SU! markers.

Accessories - Non-SU ribbon, punches (Marvy), Silver eyelets (done with Crop-a-dile)

This second one is for my nephew, Finlay. He will turn one in May and I wanted a cute little card for my girls to send to him. Not sure about the colors but I wanted it to be bright.




Stamp Set - Pun Fun, Cute and Curly, On your birthday, Serif numbers

Cardstock and DP - Whisper White, Pacific Point, Summer Sun. Good Morning Sunshine DP

Ink - Stazon Black, Tangerine Tango, Brilliant Blue, Summer Sun. Image colored with SU! markers.

Accesories - Non-SU! ribbon, punches (Marvy), Curly label punch, dimensionals, Dazzling diamonds on the number 1.

A flower for all seasons

I really loved the Tree For All Seasons set and made many cards with it so I had to have the Flower For All Seasons set. I have to confess that I haven't used it as much (maybe because I had fewer stamp sets back then........) but I really do like it. This is a set of notelets made for a friend. Do you think maybe I like green??

All cards used A Flower For All Seasons, images were stamped with Stazon black ink and all coloring was done with Stampin' Up! markers. A scallop square punch (marvy) and ticket corner punch (SU!) were used on all cards.


Cardstock, DP & Ribbon - Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Flowers for you DP. Ribbon - Certainly Celery


Cardstock, DP & Ribbon - Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue DP (from hostess pack). Ribbon non-SU!

Cardstock, DP & Ribbon - Whisper White, Old Olive, Haiku DP. Ribbon non-SU!

Cardstock, DP & Ribbon - Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red DP. Ribbon from Theater collection (retired SU!)

Top secret cards

I made some very fun cards today but they are top secret for a few weeks. They are for my sister's birthday at the end of the month and I don't want to spoil the surprise as she sometimes visits this blog.



I did manage to squeeze in another card using Bird on a Branch. Ginger Blossom is one of my favorite DPs and, even though it is retired, I love using it wherever I can.

I do have a question for my fellow stampers. Do you have a set that you bought thinking it would be wonderful only to find that you get some kind of mental block when you try to use it? My "problem" set is Cheers to you. Whenever I try to use it, the cards are just truly boring. I browse the SCS gallery but still can't seem to translate the ideas I get into anything great.

Yay - Starter kit arrived

There is nothing more fabulous than arriving home to find that UPS have delivered a box of goodies. In this case, my demo starter kit. I am now in possession of:



Eastern Blooms
Nursery Necessities
Pun Fun
Heard from the Heart
Thoughts and Prayers
Bella's border wheel


I kept one pack of the Bold Bright card but I'm not a huge fan of most of those colors so swapped out the other pack and most of the ink pads for those I was still missing from the other color families. I can't wait to get playing. Best of all, my first demo order arrives next week with my Big Shot (and about a billion other things....). I took full advantage of the 30% off!


No cards this evening but, just for Diane, a special segment about the pup!



Introducing The Nutty Pup - Dougal


Dougal (aka Northwinds Magic Roundabout) is an almost 6 month old tri-color belton English Setter. He is completely crazy and thinks that everything is for eating (typical male). I am very biased but I think he is truly gorgeous and am more than happy to share a few pics of him and blame Diane!



This is one of the cutest pics ever - Dougal at 8 weeks old. He nows weighs around 40lbs and will hit around 70 when fully grown!!

Dougal with his biggest fans, my girls Rhiannon and Anwyn.

Just look at this face!!

Hope you don't mind the non-stamping theme but, like I said, Diane made me do it ;-)

Loving trendy trees!

Is there any color combo that will not work with this set? I had a vacation day today and managed to have some play time before taking Rhiannon to her Dr appointment. So, here is what I came up with. My DH loves the third card and I like the first but really want to make it with Haiku DP and matching colors.



Stamp set - Trendy Trees
Cardstock - Whisper White, Night of Navy
DP - Prestwick
Inks - Garden Green, Chocolate Chip
Accessories - Night of Navy ribbon, square punches


Stamp Set - Trendy Trees
Cardstock - Not quite Navy, Barely Banana (plain and textured), Whisper White
Inks - Ruby Red, Not quite Navy, Chocolate Chip
Accessories - Dimensionals, Ribbon (not SU!), paper piercing done using mat pack


Stamp Set - Trendy Trees
Cardstock - Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun
DP - Good Morning Sunshine
Inks - Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip
Accessories - Curly label punch (love this!), corner rounder punch

Before my use of Trendy Trees bordered on addiction, I made a couple of other cards with something different!

Stamp Set - Embrace Life

Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, close to Cocoa

Inks - Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla (craft)

Accessories - self adhesive pearls - I added these and wished I hadn't as they don't add anything at all.

This last one was made for my Nephew's first birthday which is coming up in May.

Stamp Set - Animal Crakers and Serif numbers

Cardstock - Whisper White, Rose Red, Bashful Blue (textured), Certainly Celery

DP - Cutie Pie (retired)

Inks - Rose Red, Basic Black. Image colored with SU! markers

Accessories - Certainly Celery ribbon, Star punch, Dimensionals

Crazy for Cupcakes and a cute bunny!

OK - I love this set but get stuck in a "rut" color-wise and always hit the pinks. This was an attempt to try and move away, well, at least a little.

Stamp set - Crazy for cupcakes

Cardstock - Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red

Patterned Paper - Bella Rose

Accessories - Riding Hood Red ribbon, word window punch, ticket corner punch, nestie

Here are some of my previous pink versions.

Finally, an Easter card made with Serene Spring. Isn't this bunny so cute?

Stamp Set - Serene Spring (image was colored with watercolor pencils)

Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, watercolor paper

Patterned Paper - Cutie pie

Accessories - Certainly celery and So Saffron ribbons, cuttlebug embossing folder, ticket corner punch

Some favorites

A friend asked me if I could post more cards that I have made so here are a few of my favorites. Sorry for only giving the stamp set names but it would take forever to remember the info. for all the inks etc. That, plus the fact that I am a lazy moo!


This was made for my first swap using the Upsy Daisy set (SU)

This used the butterfly from the Just celebrate set (SU)

Stampendous Bee Happy collection

Whippersnapper Poodle stamp

Embrace Life set (SU)

Gardening Riley Moose (Hanna stamps)

Pirate Riley (Hanna Stamps)

Unfrogettable with some added extras for Christmas (SU)

House Mouse "Dear Santa I ate your cookies"

Moose You, again with some added extras (SU)

I dream of Hanna set (Hanna stamps)

Another Riley Moose (Hanna Stamps)

This was made at my Upline demo's stamp camp. The flowers are attached to a little card that pulls out of the flower pot.

Pocket Silhouettes

Pocket Silhouettes

Another Riley (can you tell I love these!!)

Bloomin Beautiful set (SU)

Serene Spring (SU)

Upsy Daisy (SU)

Bloomin Beautiful (SU)