Spring Hummingbird Note Cards for a Colour Me, Stampin' Royalty and Mojo Challenge

Welcome, Spring! It's been a gorgeous spring in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) so far and I've seen a lot of our sweet resident hummingbirds.  We've got one sweet fellow (a year-round Anna's Hummingbird I've written about before {HERE}) who dips at feeders both here and at my neighbor's house and is always fun to watch.  He came RIGHT. UP. TO. ME. the other day when I was working on the deck and had (next to me) my water bottle with the bright pink lid.  He thought it was a flower! I don't know who was more surprised that it wasn't...

This card was created for the Colour Me Card Challenge (#64).  We were to use Coastal Cabana (my base), Cherry Cobbler (circular frame), Early Espresso, Real Red (strips on right) and Bermuda Bay (ink color of sentiment).

The layout was also entered in and inspired by the Mojo Monday MOJO390 sketch. So fun to make!

You're not seeing double; I had almost the same colors with which to work for the Stampin' Royalty Challenge (#272), so I created the same card, but with fewer colors than the Colour Me entry. We were to use Coastal Cabana, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake.

Fun Fact:  This challenge is hosted by another Stampin' Up! demonstrator whom I met at my very first Stampin' Up! convention.  I went all by myself and she took me under her wing, introducing me to her friends and making me feel like we'd been old friends.  Super kind!

The only other notable difference between these two cards was the way in which I colored in the hummer.  In the first card, I used my Blender Pen with my ink pads (aforementioned colors) and in the second one, I used my Aqua Painter (which I prefer). Both images were first inked in Memento Ink to insure colorfastness.

Burlap Ribbon tied with Linen Thread finish out the layout. Burlap is on-trend and makes for an easy way to add real texture to your project!

This sweet hummer (available in the set, A Happy Thing,) is only available through tomorrow, as I received him for *FREE* with a $50 merchandise order during Sale-a-Bration.  Click {HERE} and {HERE} to read more.

Click {HERE} to shop!

So nice to see you here!

New Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up! and a {12 Weeks of Christmas} Sneak Peek!

More deals to report! I'm definitely going to make good use of the DSPs and stamp sets available in this digital download for MDS...

12 Days of Christmas Digital Download MDS, #130985, originally $12.95, and on sale for $7.77!

Bermuda Bay Celebration Add-On Kit, #133432, originally $9.95, on sale for $7.46!

Bermuda Bay Striped Grosgrain, #134551, originally $8.95, on sale for $6.71!

Calypso Coral Celebration Add-On Kit, #133431, originally $9.95, on sale for $7.46!

Day of Celebration WOOD stamp set, #134099, originally $25.95, on sale for $19.46!

Wildflower Meadow TIEF, #129376, originally $7.95, on sale for $5.96!

That's the Ticket WOOD stamp set, #131946, originally $22.95, on sale for $17.21!

Vanilla Coaster Board, #129392, originally $5.95, on sale for $4.46!

And here's an icy close-up to one of the many gift boxes I'm making from Designer Series Paper using my Gift Box Punch Board. Be on the look-out for a new {12 Weeks of Christmas} post about this great tool!

I popped out in the afternoon to take this picture, but it was late and the winter sun was fast disappearing...  That tag is Whisper White!  :)

A View from My Current Studio and new Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!

Every summer, my husband and I take our children on a Great American Wild West Roadtrip.  My family lives in Colorado and Wyoming, so we normally include a visit to a new-to-us national park with our visits with them.  In years past, we've enjoyed Dinosaur, Mesa Verde National Park, Yellowstone and this year we spent some time with my husband's parents, fly fishing on the Blackfoot River in Montana.  

As we enjoy our time in Rocky Mountain National Park (where my mom lives), this is my current "studio."  Love it?!  While I'm not able to stamp right now, you'd better believe I've picked up one of this week's Deals (guess which below).  I'm able to take questions, though, and I'm currently filling my fall schedule with classes and private workshops.  Drop me an email -- the reception is spotty, depending on where I am, but I will get back to you ASAP when I'm in coverage.

And now for this week's Weekly Deals...  Shop {HERE} for some great inky and TIEF bargains (among others!).

Alphabet Press TIEF (130916), Originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Bermuda Bay Classic Ink (131171), Originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

Delicate Designs TIEF (127023), Originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

Hearts A Flutter (130159), Originally $24.95, but on sale this week for $18.71!

Oh Baby Photobook Digital Kit MDS (129350), Originally $17.95, but on sale this week for $10.77!

Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink (131180), Originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

Smoky Slate Classic Ink (131179), Originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

Travel Log Digital Kit MDS (126022), Originally $9.95, but on sale this week for $5.97!

Wisteria Wonder Chevron Ribbon (130017), Originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

Oh, and when I get home, I'll be getting my 2014 Holiday Catalogs ready to send.  Are you a Studio-Sara Select Customer?  If not, drop me an email and I'll get you on my list...

{Video Tutorial} Watercolor Tulips in a Spring-y Shaped Card

Hello, Studio Visitors!  While spring has sprung, the April showers have returned to my neck of the woods.  We've got tulips and hyacinth blooming (and the raindrops on them are so pretty!).  The trees are finishing their bloom and leaves are starting to emerge.

This card was inspired by nature and the fine folks at the Colour Me Card Challenge, who put forth the challenge of using Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay.  I enjoyed making a shaped card, using my Labels Collection Framelits.  What a simple way to make fun, shaped cards! Click below to watch a tutorial outlining this simple process:

The Square Lattice TIEF added Easter basket-like texture to the Daffodil Delight piece and is mirrored by the Burlap Ribbon (also fed through my Big Shot with the Labels Collection Framelit).  

This beautiful image comes from a single stamp in the Occasions Catalog called Blessed Easter.  It includes the sentiment, "Wishes for a Blessed Easter," but I want to use this card all spring long, so I omitted the sentiment in my inking.  

I watercolored my blooms using the Aqua Painter and my Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay Classic Inks.  Since I was limited to those two colors, I had to lay down Daffodil Delight first in the stem and go over it with the Bermuda Bay to achieve something close to green.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Blessed Easter (OC, W133212)

Papers:  Bermuda Bay (131197), Daffodil Delight (119683) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Inks:  Jet Black StazOn (101406) and Daffodil Delight (126944) and Bermuda Bay (131171) Classic Ink Pads

Artist's Flair:  Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Magnetic Platform (130658), Square Lattice TIEF (119976), Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126872), Burlap Ribbon (OC, 132140), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Making a {Stylish} Point for a Runway and Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

Today's project is inspired by the picture below, offered by {Runway Inspired Challenges}.  It's Challenge #57, inspired by Markus Lupfer's Fall 2014 collection.

I replicated the dress' bright colors and patterns with the Kaleidoscope DSP.  I added speech bubbles, also in the dress, from the Word Bubbles Framelits.

The layout for this card was inspired by the sketch at {Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge}.  Her sketches always turn into projects that I love!

The earbuds and sentiment come from the Making a Point set, a Hostess Benefit found in the Occasions Catalog.  I inked up the stamp in Basic Gray Classic Ink and stamped it on the Whisper White.  When I inked it for the Bermuda Bay pieces, I used Basic Black Classic Ink (I used my Paper Snips to cut out just the buds and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals).

The Chevron Border Punch was used in the Strawberry Slush card stock piece that runs across the top of the card.

I wanted to try making bigger "Candy Dots" using the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and Crystal Effects.  I like it!  I let them dry overnight so that they were thoroughly dry.  They're popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals, too.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Making a Point (OC 39, W133056, C133059)

Paper:  Kaleidoscope DSP (OC 27, 1321995), Basic Gray (AC 145, 121044), Strawberry Slush (AC 141, 131295), Bermuda Bay (AC 143, 131197) and Whisper White (AC 145, 100730)

Ink: Basic Gray Classic (OC 145, 126981), Basic Black (126980)

Artist's Flair: Chevron Border Punch (132154), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (AC 180, 118309), Word Bubbles Framelits (OC 36, 132968), Big Shot (AC 184, 113439), Paper Snips (AC 177, 103579), Stampin' Dimensionals (AC 175, 104430), Crystal Effects (AC174, 101055).

{Starburst} for a Mojo Sketch Challenge!

Hello, Studio Visitors!  This project is a card I made a couple of weeks ago for Mojo Monday Challenge #332.  I thoroughly enjoyed using my Starburst Sayings stamps (W133182, C133185) and coordinating Starburst Framelits dies (132967), {see them on page 34 of the Occasions catalog}. 

Another fun find in the Occasions Catalog has been the two new Tag Topper Punches found on page 35.  The one I used in this project is the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch (133324) and there's also the Angled Tag Topper Punch (133323).  

Oh, and that glimmery little wisp of gold at the top?  That's from the Gold Baker's Twine (132975), found on page 24; it's also available in silver (132976)!

Don't you love that DSP {StamperSpeak for "Designer Series Paper"}?  It's the Kaleidoscope DSP (132955), found on page 27 of the Occasions catalog.  I used it to help me choose other colors in my card, such as the bright and sunny Strawberry Slush in the "oh, HAPPY DAY" sentiment, as well as the starbursts and banner below.

Guess where that delicious Burlap Ribbon (132140) came from?  You guessed it -- the Occasions catalog!  It's 1.25 inches wide and it's found on page 37.

I backed the Bermuda Bay starburst on a bit of Basic Black card stock and popped it up with a Stampin' Dimensional (104430).

{Studio} Suggestions:

• I used a tone-on-tone layer of Bermuda Bay card stock over the Bermuda Bay card body to add subtle dimension {see it best in Pic #1}; to make it stand out more, I used Stampin' Dimensionals for my adhesive layer.

• A Rhinestone Basic Jewel (119246) adds bling and mimics the circles {and starbursts!} found throughout the card.

Happy New Year!

I hope 2013 was a good year for you and that it ended well.  We had a lovely Christmas, followed by a jam-packed visit with family from out-of-state.  They're on their way home as I type...

First to report is the new 2014 Occasions Catalog!  Need a hard copy?  Drop me a line and I'll get one to you ASAP.  Can't wait?  Click on the image of the cover to the right and enjoy!

In the craziness of my sister's visit, I forgot to let you know of the current Weekly Deals. Click {here} to shop.  Lots of things on my list, so I'm excited.

Good through Monday:

Year in Review Photobook Template, My Digital Studio; Regularly $24.95, on sale for $14.97, #125743

Bermuda Bay Classic Ink Pad; Regularly $5.95, on sale for $4.46, #131171

Blue 3/8 Inch Denim Jean Ribbon; Regularly $6.95, on sale for $5.21, #125053

Circles Collection Framelits Dies; Regularly $26.95, on sale for $20.21, #130911

Fancy Fans TIEF; Regularly $7.95, on sale for $5.96, #125751

Regals Core'dinations; Regularly $23.95, on sale for $17.96, #129955

Silver Glimmer Paper; Regularly $4.95, on sale for $3.71, #124005

Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details; Regularly $2.50, on sale for $1.88, #127845

Sale-a-Bration begins on January 27 and I'm booking workshops and planning Stamp-a-Stacks now.  Get yours on the calendar!  

{Catalog Countdown: Day Four}

Hello, there! It's a busy week here in the Studio, as the current catalog retires on Wednesday, June 30 and the *NEW* catty goes live at noon (MDT) on Thursday, July 1! If you're going to place an order from the retiring catty, please do so as soon as you can to assure that your order goes in glitch-free! In honor of our retirees this year, here's another card...

• Best Wishes and More is the set used here (would you believe that I made the tag from the snowflake in that set?!). The images are versatile and fun and I love the sentiments!


• Bermuda Bay was one of this year's In Colors and sadly, it won't be stickin' around as part of the Color Renovation (I used card stock, and Classic ink in Bermuda Bay here)


• See that coordinating ribbon? Believe it or not, it's the polka dot grosgrain in Bermuda Bay. Flip over the ribbon and make a couple twists as you're tying and you can go dot-free, Baby!


• Cameo Coral is the juicy color that I used in the flower and on the paper charm. Sadly, that color is retiring, too.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Best Wishes and More

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Cameo Coral and Certainly Celery card stocks

Inks: Cameo Coral, Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede Classics

Accessories: 1 1/4-, 1-, 3/4-, and 1/16-inch Circle Punches, Modern Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Retirees: Best Wishes and More stamp set, Bermuda Bay (09-10 In Color), Cameo Coral

I'm so glad you popped by! Please contact me if I can be of further assistance!