{Studio Spotlight}: Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper, Project #3

We're in the final week of Sale-a-Bration (the last day to place an order to receive those freebies is a week from TODAY)!  Here's another of my projects made with the yummy Sycamore Street DSP...

This project was made for the Runway Inspired Challenge, Erdem Pre-Fall:

If you haven't visited this challenge blog yet, I *highly* recommend it!

Here are some close-ups:

I used the Vine Street TIEF (Textured Impressions Embossing Folder) with my Big Shot and then cut it apart to mimic the dress on the right.  

I thought the rainbow of colors offered in the DSP represented the dress on the left beautifully!

And since we're talking about fashion here, I thought a little bling was in order with the Basic Rhinestones.  

This project was made with two fabulous freebies:  Sycamore Street DSP (127540) and the Vine Street TIEF (130942).  They're only available during Sale-a-Bration (they won't show up in a later catalog, sadly), so don't delay!  You can click on the "Shop" button in the upper left corner, 24/7...

Dynamic Duo Entry with Bling {Summer Silhouettes}

Happy Summer!  Here's my card for the Dynamic Duo Color Challenge for this week (I entered it in the 365 Super Sketchy Sunday sketch challenge last week, too).  I'm loving the new Summer Silhouettes set and I'm really happy with how this turned out...

I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line up the background for the Old Olive piece.  I love that stamp!

To create two "colors" of blossoms, but still remain within in the parameters of the Dynamic Duos challenge, I stamped off the Rich Razzleberry once on scratch paper before stamping the large bloom.

Rhinestones Basic Jewels add a fun center to my bloom and a classy touch to the bottom corner of the pattern...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes

Papers:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand, Whisper White

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Classics

Accessories:  Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon 

Here Comes Summer! {Mixed Bunch}

As I write this, summer seems to have finally arrived...  The sun is out, the birds are singing and the sky is blue!  This card was created for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge, in which we were to use "Here Comes Summer" to inspire our projects.   

I started with Mixed Bunch and inked it in Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry.  The flowers were punched using the Blossom punch and the centers were punched using the one-inch and 1-1/4-inch Circle punches. 

Next, I fed a piece of Island Indigo through my Big Shot, using the Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Finally, Basic Rhinestones were added to give the project a dash of bling...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Mixed Bunch (W125535, C125537)

Papers:  Island Indigo (122923), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Baja Breeze (111352) and Whisper White card stocks (100730)

Inks:  Island Indigo (126986), Rich Razzleberry (126950), Baja Breeze (126960)

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119277), Blossom punch (125603), 1" Circle punch (119868), 1-1/4" Circle punch (119861), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Happy Birthday, Dear Sister! Inspired by {Stevie Nicks' Rhiannon}

"She takes to the sky like a bird in flight, 

and who will be her lover?"

Happy Birthday today to my dear "baby" sister...  Our soundtrack growing up was filled with Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, so when a challenge came up recently from 365 Cards to create a card inspired by music, I knew who would be the inspiration (musically) and who would be the recipient (an inspiration herself).

The card base is Stampin' Up!'s new In Color, Summer Starfruit and it's combined with Elegant Eggplant and Baja Breeze.  The lovely bird and the background stamp I used are retired, but I had to share anyway...  The flowers are made with the Bojo Blossoms punch and the shapes are cut out using the Labels Collection Framelits.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Fabulous Phrases (W117002, C120501), Vintage Vogue and Notably Ornate (retired)

Papers:  Summer Starfruit (126839), Elegant Eggplant (105126), Baja Breeze (111352), and Whisper White (100730)

Inks:  Elegant Eggplant (126969), Basic Black (126980)

Accessories:  Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Big Shot (113439), Boho Blossoms (119858) and Modern Label (119849) punches, Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)

Need the new 2012-2013 Annual Catalog?  Click here to learn how to get it for $5, shipping included (no additional
purchase necessary).

"Hello!" and a Birthday with a Bit of Bling and Sparkle

How 'bout a little bling on this fine Wednesday?  I created two of these cards this weekend...  One was a birthday card for my dear sister-in-law and then I made another with the "hello" sentiment from Tiny Teacup because I knew I could use another card of this design in the future.  The birthday card used the sweet sentiment from the Hostess set, Happiest Birthday Wishes that says "happy birthday dear you!"  I love that...

Anyhoo, I was enjoying my Color Coach this weekend and it helped me select the palette for these bright cards.  Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, and Pacific Point.  Bright and fun!

The background on the Real Red piece was achieved with the Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and my Big Shot (as was the polka-dotted piece in the lower left corner).  I punched out the Pacific Point piece using my Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (soon to be retired, by the by) and then ran it through my Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The Pumpkin Pie piece layered over it is also from the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch.  I'll be sad to see that one go...

The sentiment, "hello" is inked in Pumpkin Pie and then punched with the Modern Label Punch.  I used a Stamping Sponge and my Pacific Point Classic ink to make it stand out a bit more.  White Organza Ribbon adds a touch more class.  Finally, for the bling, I added the Basic Rhinestones.

*HERE* is another look at Tiny Teacup and THIS ONE, as well.  Oh, and THIS POST, too!

Do you still need the {2012-2013 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog}?  Here's how to earn one for FREE...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Tiny Teacup (W118086)

Paper:  Pacific Point (111350), Real Red (102482), Pumpkin Pie (105117) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Ink:  Pacific Point (111837), Real Red (103133), and Pumpkin Pie (105216) Classics

Accessories:  Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119277), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335), Modern Label Punch (119849), Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (122464), White Organza Ribbon (114319), Basic Rhinestones (119246), Stamping Sponges (101610)

Happy March!

Things have been nuts (good "nuts") around here, as evidenced by the fact that I didn't post *once* in the entire month of February.  Whew!


I've been busy in the studio and I have lots to share.  Let's start with a couple of cards I made for a challenge in which I was to "scraplift" one of the designers (Hannah at 365 Cards).  I took her card (you can view it here) and just recreated it, using the delicious and *FREE* Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper ("FREE" as a Sale-a-Bration goodie).  When I finished, I worried that it was too much like Hannah's to be entered in a contest, so I changed up the color scheme.


Here's my first effort, which you'll agree is super-similar to Hannah's:

To be honest, I’m heartbroken that this DSP is only available as a freebie for Sale-a-Bration.  I love the colors and motifs.  I wasn’t sold on the piece that I used in the background of the Poppy Parade card, but once it’s cut down, the pattern isn’t too much.  It lends itself well to Hannah’s design.  I love pairing it with the Decorative Label Punch (I’ve punched two; one in Very Vanilla and one in Poppy Parade).  

The Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon and the Basic Rhinestones class it up just enough (without being gaudy).  This design makes a quick card to make for a gift set.  

One of the beauties of the Designer Series Papers is the color schemes.  I can use the colors in the palette of the DSP to guide my project.  I did *just that* when I realized that my design was too close to Hannah’s to be considered for a contest entry.  Using the DSP to guide me, I changed the color scheme of Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade and Pacific Point to Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade and Pool Party.  I also added So Saffron taffeta (because that’s just what I had) and it worked well.

We're in the final month of this year's Sale-a-Bration, so if you'd like some of this yummy Designer Series Paper, now's the time!  An order of $50 in merchandise and it's yours as a "Thank you!"

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Sincere Salutations (W 115068)


Papers:  Everyday Enchantment DSP (Sale-a-Bration:  126154), Lucky Limeade (122926), Poppy Parade (119793), Very Vanilla (101650), Pacific Point (111350)


Inks:  Lucky Limeade (122935) and Poppy Parade (119782) Classics


Accessories:  Decorative Label Punch (120907), Basic Rhinestones (119246), Very Vanilla (retired) and So Saffron (122982) taffeta, Paper Snips (103579)


Stay tuned; I cranked out all kinds of projects recently and I can't wait to share!

{12 Weeks of Christmas}: Week 12 -- Smeby Family Thank You Note

Once again, I've had fun using My Digital Studio to create a card for our family.  MDS is my go-to program for photo Thank You notes.  For example, I like to use a photo from each of my kid's birthdays as the backdrop for their Thank You note for friends and family.


This is our Christmas Thank You picture.  I'll trim it (which is why there's so much blue space below the photo) on the right side and bottom to fit a 4 1/4 by 5 1/2-inch card base.

The background color is one the I chose using the Color Picker function (I wanted it to coordinate with the kids' outfits); I simply guided my mouse over the photo and chose my color.  The snowflakes are from the Season of Cheer stamp set and the pinecone arrangement is from Pines and Poinsettias.  The Modern Label Punch is Always Artichoke and I lowered the opacity to make it translucent (one of my favorite effects to use!).  I've also added a silver brad to the Modern Label punch, as I would to a "hard copy" version.  The "Thank You" comes from one of my favorite sets, Thank You Kindly.  Finally, the photo has a small black mat and as well, I used the "Drop Shadow" effect on it.

Our Christmas Thank You notes turn out to be "hybrid" (which is often the case).  I usually add buttons, ribbon or some other embellishment as well as sometimes mounting it upon two different pieces of card stock for visual interest.  Here, I've simply trimmed the picture and mounted it on a Very Vanilla card base.  I've added a length of Whisper White Narrow Grosgrain and made a Faux Bow and added a rhinestone to the center of the small snowflake on the right.  So simple and just enough "Wow!"

Here are some past Thank You notes I've made with My Digital Studio:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Very Vanilla card stock (#101650)

Ink:  None

Accessories:  My Digital Studio (#118108), Whisper White Narrow Grosgrain ribbon (#109025), and Basic Rhinestones (#119246)

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 1

This is a simple gift box that was made from one sheet of card stock. It's called a 2-5-7-10 Box and it's super-easy to make! Here are the instructions. The first thing to do is stamp all over your card stock (I used the snowflakes from Snow Swirled in Old Olive for some tone-on-tone detail). Once you're done stamping, just follow the instructions for cutting and folding and you're set! If you're new to the 2-5-7-10 Box, may I suggest that you try it first with a piece of scratch paper, so that you don't wreck something precious...

Some details that I added to this box to give it extra interest include:

• Basic Rhinestones (119246, page 188, $4.95 for 150!)
• Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper (117159, page 174, $9.95 for 12 double-sided sheets)
• Distressed Edge (on the Cherry Cobbler piece), using the Cutter Kit, 106958, page 199, $16.95)
• Scallop Edge Border Punch along top (119882, page 200, $15.95)

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled (111690), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Papers: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler Classics

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Cutter Kit, Basic Rhinestones, Paper Trimmer (with Scoring Blade), Modern Label Punch, Designer Label Punch, Stampin' Sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals, Narrow Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon

Thanks for visiting!