{Challenge! Ad Inspiration}: Easter Basket

Happy spring!

Over at 365 Cards, we were asked to create a card inspired by this ad:Here's my card: I sueded a piece of Bliss Blue card stock (did you catch my video this week about Distressing techniques?) and then tore strips of Creamy Caramel to make the basket. I scored along another strip of Creamy Caramel for the handle.

For the eggs, I stamped Eastern Blooms flowers in and then used my Large Oval punch to make the eggs.

The Modern Label punch and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set give me my sentiment...
Another video is on its way... bow-tying!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Eastern blooms, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Papers: Whisper White, Bliss Blue, Old Olive and Creamy Caramel card stocks

Inks: Brilliant Blue, Bliss Blue and Old Olive Classics

Accessories: Large Oval and Modern Label punches, Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade, Whisper White Narrow Grosgrain ribbon, 1/16-inch Punch, Linen Thread

Have a great weekend! Thanks for your visit!

{Tuesday: Technique Video (Distressing)}

Today's topic is distressing. I mean to say that the technique we'll be discussing is the practice of distressing, not that the very discussion of it will be distressing...

I've got another video for you! No jammies, promise! Below the link you'll find pictures of each of the projects I discussed in the video. Unfortunately, the video camera's resolution isn't that great, so the best way to see them is here, in still-life...

Here are some of the cards I shared...

Herb Expressions with Torn Edges:

Fruit and Nut Catalog Inspiration Challenge with Sueded and Crumpled Card Stock:

Dreams Du Jour with Sueded Paper and Distressed Edges:

Sense of Time with Crumpled Paper (or the smooth side of a Sueded piece):

and up close:

Wanted with Mellow Moss Sueded piece:

Wings of Friendship with a flower stamped on the smooth side of Sueded Paper:

Baroque Motifs with a Sueded piece of Barely Banana:

Deets on the first card (created in the video):

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Garden from the Heart and Thank You Kindly sets

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Basic Brown Classic, Whisper White Craft and VersaMark (Not Quite Navy and Ruby Red Classic Inks for watercoloring)

Accessories: Distressing tool from Cutters Kit, Wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Modern Label Punch, Blender Pen

Thanks again for your visit! The teacher in me thrills at the idea of making these tutorials. Please let me know if there's something specific you'd like me to cover! Have a great day!

Stop! Thief! Scraplifted...

Hello and Happy Saturday! Today's project was created for the final week of 365 Cards' first year's challenges. All week long, we've been focussing on each 365 Card designer, examining her style and then scraplifting an element of a card she's shared. This card was created by scraplifting a bit of Gloria's vintage style.

Here's her card:

Here are the elements of Gloria's style that I chose to include in my project:

• ephemera,
• lots of layers and
• a more masculine color palette.

I love Gloria's use of ephemera! I love to include items like ticket stubs, newspaper or other media in my scrapbook pages. I found it a bit of a challenge to find items that meshed together for a card, however. I searched through my stamp sets and decided that I'd start with the Sense of Time set (I used the clock face and the gears). I also love the look of the oak tree (or is that an elm?) from Lovely as a Tree. To mimic Gloria's ephemeral look, I masked the clock face and sponged So Saffron Classic ink around the outside. I also crumpled the piece of card stock stamped with the gears (I stamped the gears in So Saffron Classic ink).

**Studio Suggestion: Creamy Caramel Classic Ink is among my go-to tools when I'm looking for a vintage look. After stamping the gears in So Saffron, I crumpled the piece of Whisper White card stock and then sponged over it with the Creamy Caramel. That color brings out the wrinkles in a subtle, worn way.**

Gloria's included lots of fun touches and I sought to mimic that with my Build-a-Brad. I stamped the gear image in Not Quite Navy on Sage Shadow card stock and punched a gear out using my 1/2-inch Circle Punch.

I also used a bit of Very Vanilla Wide Grosgrain ribbon (which I colored using my Creamy Caramel and Bordering Blue Classic Inks) and a paper clip to add to the ephemeral feel.

Finally, since I am Color Challenged, I relied on my Color Coach to help me pick a palette of colors that would support my fave for vintage projects, Bordering Blue. In the end, I think the palette is one for both men and women. I used Sage Shadow, So Saffron and Not Quite Navy to complement the Bordering Blue. I also used Whisper White (for a "clean", crisp look) and paired it with the Very Vanilla grosgrain to further stress the idea of vintage...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Sense of Time and Lovely as a Tree

Papers: Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Bordering Blue, So Saffron and Not Quite Navy

Inks: Not Quite Navy, So Saffron and Creamy Caramel Classics

Accessories: 1/2-inch Circle, 1/16-inch Handheld and Corner Rounder Punch, Build-a-Brad, and Very Vanilla Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Thanks so much for visiting me today! I hope you have a restful and fun weekend!

Sweet Treats

Hello, Studio Visitors! It's so nice to be back (in the studio and online)! Whew! What a week!

The good ladies over at 365 Cards posted a challenge in which we're to create a card that is inspired by this ad:

I have just received a fun order of things from the Occasions Mini Catalog and by ordering after January 5, I got to pick from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog (the sentiment here is from among my freebies!)... Among the order was the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper, which is what I used along with the card stocks to mimic the patchwork feel of this treat basket.

One of the things I find most appealing about this picture is the texture. While the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper has glittered designs on one side of each page (which added lovely texture to a couple of "patches"), I sueded and crumpled card stocks to add more texture.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Vintage Labels (Sale-A-Bration)


Papers: Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper and Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel and Whisper White card stocks


Ink: Real Red Classic


Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Wide Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon


Hope your Valentine's Day is sweet! Our family looks forward to celebrating our "Gotcha! Day", which is the celebration of the day we officially took custody of Dear Anna...


Thanks for your visit!

Rustic Dreams du Jour

I was enjoying a quiet moment (kids were napping), listening to "Lake Woebegone" from Garrison Keillor. The "country" feel of his stories (esp. the one where he beams his sister with a rotten tomato) inspired this card...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Set: Dreams du Jour

Papers: Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow, Bordering Blue and Night of Navy card stocks

Inks: Creamy Caramel, Bordering Blue, and Night of Navy Classics

Accessories: Distressing Tool, Very Vanilla 5/8-inch Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Sponges

I started with a sponge and inked over the Very Vanilla card stock with the Creamy Caramel (to give it the aged look). The butterflies were stamped in Creamy Caramel and Bordering Blue, but I stamped the ink off each time first. Finally, the ribbon was colored using my Creamy Caramel and Bordering Blue ink pads (Classic). I drug the ribbon between the pad and a Stampin' Sponge (to keep my hands clean). It gives the ribbon an uneven color, which was the effect I was trying to achieve.

Thanks so much for the visit!

I Heart Lists and Teeny Tiny Wishes

I've only *just* received these two new sets from the 2009-10 IB & C and I absolutely love the possibilities! I'm a fan of office ephemera and I look forward to using I Heart Lists for that reason. The Teeny Tiny Wishes set is one that I'll own and use forever. Talk about a ton of useful phrases!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: I Heart Lists and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Papers: Kraft, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla and Apricot Appeal card stocks

Inks: Handsome Hunter, Bravo Burgundy and Creamy Caramel Classics; Bravo Burgundy Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories: 1/16-inch Handheld, Spiral, 1/2-inch Circle, and Word Slot Punches, Stampin' Sponge, Very Vanilla Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig and Linen Thread

Thanks so much for stopping by!