Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a project I made for The Shabby Tea Room (TSTR251) and Mojo Monday (MOJO396) challenges this week.

Sending love to my own lovely mother and to all of those who've mothered me or helped me do my mothering. You are loved, especially today and very much appreciated!

I used the Postage Due stamp set, which retires at the end of this catalog.

Click {HERE} to shop and {HERE} for more information about the Retiring Items List and details about the products' availability.

My color palette is Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, Perfect Plum, Sahara Sand and Whisper White. 

Simple {Summer Afternoon} Card for Challenges

This card was created for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #38 and the 365 Cards ABCs & 123s Challenge.  Summer Afternoon is a fun new Hostess Set.  I inked it in Early Espresso Classic Ink and then used my Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum and Cherry Cobbler inks and my Blender Pen to color in the design.

Tiny Tags provides quick and easy sentiments to personalize your projects.  I *LOVE* this set...  I punched the tag with the Jewelry Tag punch and sponged it with Cherry Cobbler Classic ink.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Afternoon (W126425, C126427), Tiny Tags (W118901, C118592)

Papers:  Crumb Cake (120953), Cherry Cobbler (119685), and Very Vanilla (101650) card stocks

Inks:  Crumb Cake (126975), Cherry Cobbler (126966), Perfect Plum (126963) and Early Espresso (126974) Classic Inks

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Jewelry Tag (117190) and 1/16-inch Handheld (101227) punches, Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon (122987), Linen Thread (104199), Blender Pen (102845), Stamping Sponges (101610) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

{Resource Thursday}: Color Coach from Stampin' Up!

I'd like to start a new feature, which I will reserve for Thursdays.  I'll call it {Resource Thursday} and my intent is to offer projects which share a variety of resources available to inspire and/or assist.

Today's project was aided by the Color Coach.

As you can see by this picture, each of Stampin' Up!'s colors (including In Colors) is given its own card.  The card shows a "Dynamic Duo," which is typically a lighter or darker version of that color.  Those two colors alone make a lovely combination.  The best part, though, is the combinations offered in two sets of three colors. 

Using my Color Coach, I combined Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango, Perfect Plum and Always Artichoke.   

While my use of the taffeta bow on the Modern Label Punch lends a feminine feel to the project, this color scheme would be great for masculine cards.  Perhaps I'll recreate this card with natural hemp twine or linen thread in the taffeta's place for the men in my life...

We have more retirees in today's project:  Crazy for Cupcakes and the Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die for the Big Shot.  The stamps are available until May 31.  The Bigz die is considered an accessory and available while supplies last or until May 31 (whichever happens first).

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes (W111618)

Paper:  Always Artichoke (102584), Cajun Craze (119684), Perfect Plum (101889), Tangerine Tango (111349), and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Ink:  Basic Black (101179), Always Artichoke (105219), Cajun Craze (119671), Perfect Plum (101437), and Tangerine Tango (111834) Classics

Accessories:  Color Coach (120148), Color Coach 2010-12 In Color cards (121048), Color Coach 2011-13 In Color cards (124886), Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335), Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die (113468), Modern Label Punch (119849), 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), Whisper White 3/8-inch Taffeta (109070), Blender Pens (102845) and Paper Snips (103579)

Got the new 2012-2013 Annual Stampin' Up! Catalog yet?!  Earn it for *FREE* or purchase it for only  $5, including Priority Shipping...

{12 Weeks of Christmas}: Week 8 -- Resource Thursday: Inspired by the Catty

"Resource Thursday" means that I'll be creating a project and writing about its inspiration.  For this post, I used my favorite "Resource" as a demonstrator and that is the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog.  When I first got my hands on this behemoth (over 10 years ago), I was totally overwhelmed.  Then I decided to focus my attention on one single aspect of a card.  I might look for particular features (like a punched accent) or color combinations.  For this card, I was focusing my search on layout...  Here's my take on the card:

I used the tree and sentiment from the Contempo Christmas set (#118734 W, 120594 C).  The large scalloped circle is from the Bigz Scallop Circle #2 die.  The More Mustard circle was punched using the 2-1/2-inch Circle Punch.  I punched holes in each of the scallops using my Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack.

The circle was mounted on a piece of Elegant Eggplant that I'd run through my Big Shot and the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  What isn't readily visible in my photos is that I've trimmed about 3/4-inch from the edge of the front of the card and allowed the scalloped circle to go to the edge of the card body...

I created the sentiment, on a piece of Whisper White card stock, using my Stampin' Write Markers.  I used Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard and Garden Green.  I sponged the edge of the Whisper White with More Mustard Classic Ink.  It's mounted over two scalloped circles from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, using Stampin' Dimensionals.  

For finishing touches, I've added Basic Rhinestones to the sentiment and the top of the tree (they come with self-adhesive).  I've also used a strip of (retired) Elegant Eggplant rick rack.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Contempo Christmas (#118734 W, #120594 C)


Papers:  Elegant Eggplant (#105126), Perfect Plum (#101889), More Mustard (#100946), and Whisper White (#100730) card stocks


Inks:  Elegant Eggplant (#105210) and Garden Green (#102272) Classic Inks, Elegant Eggplant (#105110), More Mustard (#100076) and Garden Green (#100080) Stampin' Write Markers


Accessories:  Big Shot (#113439), Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die (#113469), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#117335), 2-1/2-inch Circle Punch (#120906), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (#118309), Extra-Large Oval Punch (#119859), Paper Piercing Tool (#116631), Mat Pack (#105826), Basic Rhinestones (#119246), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

Thank you for joining me for another {12 Weeks of Christmas} Post!  We're getting closer!  Hope you get a chance to catch your breath and enjoy the joys of the season...

Wake Up and SMELL the Coffee!

Good mornin'! This card was created for a challenge that was to be inspired by something we enjoyed smelling. As I type this, coffee's brewing...

I've used this stamp so much that the rubber is just about worn off! This cute cup comes from the Pun Fun set, which is a versatile set of images and sentiments. The sentiments are on the bottom of each image, but using the masked inking technique that I demonstrated in this video, you can choose whether to include them or not.

I thought I'd "turn up the volume a little" (to borrow a phrase from one of my faves, the Barefoot Contessa) and use some funky colors suggested by my new Color Coach. I'm having more fun with that tool! The Wild Wasabi paper (from the Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper) is beautifully offset by the Perfect Plum and So Saffron card stocks. I added polka dots using my Big Shot to coordinate with the dots on the DSP. Finally, I wanted to coordinate the ribbon with the project, but there's no Perfect Plum grosgrain. In a flash, I used my Classic Ink Pad to dye the Very Vanilla ribbon to match. Be on the look-out for a quickie video demonstrating this simple solution...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Pun Fun

Papers: Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper (DSP), Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum and So Saffron card stocks

Inks: Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi Classics

Accessories: Very Vanilla narrow grosgrain ribbon, Blender pen, Scallop Edge Punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for your visit! Hope your day gets off to a great start!

Because of You and a new punch idea...

The theme from "Welcome Back, Cotter" is playing in my head right now... Thank you for being so patient as we travelled about this summer, went camping, and then got back into the swing of school. While I was able to carve out a wee bit of time for stamping projects, posting about them has fallen by the wayside... Happy to say, as Jack would (but in a much less scary context), "I'm baaaack!" (Interesting side note: Stephen King wrote The Shining about a hotel in my hometown. While the Jack Nicholson/Shelley Duvall movie wasn't filmed there, a TV version was, as was "Dumb and Dumber".)

Anyhoo, on with the show...

This card was created for a 365 Cards challenge for which we were to use our favorite tool for adding color and our favorite technique for adding dimension. One of my favorite tools (as I have a couple) is my Blender Pen. I love to use them for watercoloring, as I did here. They're super easy to use, a tremendous value (not only do you get three for $9.95, but they last for a VERY long time) and they're quite versatile... Perhaps I'll write a future post as "An Ode to the Blender Pen"...

I simply squeezed my ink pad (Classic) with the lid closed to get some ink on the inside of the lid and then picked up that ink with my Blender Pen. To be sure my stamped image didn't run, I inked it in Jet Black StazOn first. I usually don't have trouble, but I wanted to be safe.

The technique I love that adds dimension and texture to every project is one I've used a lot here... It's what I call "Sueded Card Stock." I crumple a dry piece of card stock until the fibers are good and broken down and then I peel apart the two layers. I can then use the soft, "sueded" side of the card stock, or the outside of the card stock, which just shows the wrinkles. I chose the outside this time. I love the effect! Not only is it a "free" way to use what you've already got, but you get twice the mileage out of a piece of card stock. Your pieces can also be punched post-crumple, too! I have a card for which I did that and I'll post that soon...

Finally, I wanted to describe the embellishment in the upper left corner. I simply used the Modern Label Extra-Large Punch on a scrap of Perfect Plum, gently folded it around the corner of my bigger piece (be careful -- that Always Artichoke was pretty malleable), fed a piece of Linen Thread through two small holes (1/16-inch punch) and tied a bow. Voila! So easy and so cute! Love those versatile punches! I'll definitely be using that technique as I scrap -- talk about fun photo corners!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Because I Care (A Hostess Freebie with any $150 merchandise order)

Papers: Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum and Always Artichoke Classic Inks, Jet Black StazOn

Accessories: Modern Label Extra-Large punch, Blender Pen, 1/16-inch handheld punch, Linen Thread

It's so good to be back! Hope you've enjoyed today's project!

Always pocket card

I've combined two of my favorite things in this card: pocket cards and the Always stamp set. I like both because they're very versatile. I've used the pocket card for a birthday invitation and thank you note (I've still got one thank you note on my desk; maybe I'll post it, too), as well as for note cards like this or occasion cards (birthday, anniversary).

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Set: Always

Inks: Perfect and Pale Plum Classic

Papers: Whisper White, Perfect Plum and Pale Plum Card Stock

Accessories: ½-inch circle punch, 1/8-inch punch, Corner Rounder punch, Ticket Corner punch, Word Slot punch, Crop-a-Dile, Stampin’ Dimensional, Whisper White Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge, Linen Thread

Thank you so much for looking!