Thank You and Birthday Cards for Shabby and MOJO Challenges

This is a quick post, as I'm off to our Relay for Life today and I need to finish packing...  These cards were created, inspired by the Mojo Monday MOJO353 and The Shabby Tea Room TSTR226 challenges.  Here are the sketch and inspiration photo.

Here's the scoop:

• I used the Large Polka Dot TIEF to mirror the boots' big dots in the photo.  

• The inspiration for the color palette comes from the photo, as well.  We've got Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Pistachio Pudding and Crisp Cantaloupe.  

• Pearl Basic Jewels add a fun touch to the left edge (also my super-sneaky way of adhering my vellum -- I just snuck some Two-Way Glue in small dots beneath the pearls on the vellum), flower centers and on the sentiment.

• My Label Bracket punch gave the sentiments that extra touch on the sides.

• The Four You stamp set has really useful and fun sentiments.  Both of my cards' sentiments come from this set...

• I made simple tissue paper flowers by punching plain tissue paper with my 1-1/4" Scallop Circle punch and then sponged Pink Pirouette ink on them.  

These were fun and easy to make.  I love the shape of the Labels Collection Framelits.

Stampin' Up! 2014 Sale-A-Bration {Studio-Sara} Countdown: You're Lovely

This lovely stamp set is You're Lovely, a Sale-a-Bration (SAB2014) freebie (page 14, W133575 C133578) with a $50 merchandise purchase until March 31.

Rhinestone Basic Jewels (AC page 171, 119246) add a fun and sparkly touch of class to this lovely stamp.  I also love how the Square Lattice TIEF (AC page 191, 119976) mimics the background of the stamp.

I used the same TIEF in this project, created for challenges with The Shabby Tea Room and CASology.

I created this card for a Mojo Monday MOJO334 and Cute Card Thursday 310 challenge.

The DSP is a Sale-A-Bration freebie, Sweet Sorbet (SAB page 11, 133521).  The Pool Party pieces were run through my Big Shot (AC page 184, 113439) with the Fancy Fan TIEF (AC page 191, 127751).  The little piece was punched using the Little Labels Punch Pack (AC page 181, 126881).  The Basic Black flower on top came from the Itty Bitty Shapes page (AC page 180, 118309) and the center for the flower is from the Cupcake Builder Punch (AC page 181, 121807).

There are more Sale-A-Bration projects to come, but time is running out.  The deadline to order is Monday, March 31.  Click {HERE} to order.

Hexagons and Sweet Sorbet DSP for Challenge Entries

Welcome, Studio Visitors!  This project was created for a couple of challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #126, The Shabby Tea Room #208 and Cute Card Thursday 311.

We were to use polka dots for the Shabby Tea Room challenge and a gem for Cute Card Thursday.

The Hexagon Hive Thinlit Die from the Occasions Catalog, page 26 (132965), takes center stage, offset with the Sweet Sorbet DSP from the Sale-a-Bration freebies behind it (133521), page 11.  {Here's} a recent post with a video providing some tips and hacks. 

I *SO* love this sketch -- I'll be using it in future projects for sure!

A Large Rhinestone Basic Jewel (129324), from page 171 in the AC (Annual Catalog), makes up the center of my flower {WEEKLY DEAL this week!}.  Click {HERE} to purchase.

I created it from my Blossom (125603) and Pansy (130698) punches, both on page 183 AC), with the Itty Bitty Shape (118309 from page 180 AC).  I distressed and sueded the card stocks for different texture (the distressed blossoms are underneath the sueded ones).  Click {HERE} for an oldie (but a goodie) post about distressing.

{Studio} Suggestions:

• My color palette was guided by the DSP (one of my favorite shortcuts to use), so I included Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Basic Black and Sahara Sand with my clean Whisper White. 

• Alternate distressed pieces between smooth side and sueded side for added texture.

Time for Sale-a-Bration and New Weekly Deals!

Wow!  It's a busy day in the Studio today, because it's the first day of the annual promotion from Stampin' Up! when one earns free product with each $50 merchandise purchase!  See what's available for freebies in the Sale-a-Bration catalog {link to the right} or you can click {HERE}.  Want a hard copy?  Shoot me an email and I'll drop one in the mail...

Here are some ready-made bundles to bring you to the $50 threshold (with the freebie mixed in!).  Click {HERE} to find descriptions of each one.

And there are new Weekly Deals!

Click {HERE} to shop...

Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon 125583, Regularly $6.95, on sale for $5.21

Flower Garden TIEF 123113, Regularly $7.95, on sale for $5.96

Labels Collection Framelits 125598, Regularly $26.95, on sale for $20.21

Pear Pizazz Chevron Ribbon 130011, Regularly $8.95, on sale for $6.71

Pool Party Classic Ink 126982, Regularly $5.95, on sale for $4.46

Wisteria Wonder Classic Ink 126985, Regularly $5.95, on sale for $4.46

Winter Wonders Digital Download Kit MDS 132567, Regularly $9.95, on sale for $5.97

Whew!  That's quite a post!  Stay tuned for tomorrow's unveiling of my latest Studio Video!  Hope your week is off to a great start!

{12 Weeks of Christmas 2013: Week Two}: Same Card, Five Ways

This post starts with a simple Christmas card.  Real Red Classic Ink is used with Brushed Silver, Whisper White, and Real Red card stocks.  The Chalk Talk Framelits make a quick and easy project of cutting out the Christmas stamp and my Scallop Circle punch takes care of the Brushed Silver piece.  A snip of Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain finishes the simple look.  Overall, I am happy with this quick and sweet Christmas greeting.

But what if I wanted to step it up a notch (or five)?  Here are some variations on the same card.

First, I used Pool Party Classic Ink to add an unexpected contrast of color to the card.  Not your "typical" Christmas color, but that's part of why I think it is so effective.

In addition, I inked the Santa image in Real Red and snipped him out using my Paper Snips and mounted this piece with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Quick and easy way to add contrast to the stamped image (Stampin' Write Markers would work here, too).

How about a little piercing?  Here's a quick and inexpensive way to add texture and interest to your project.  I used the Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack (126199) (as an added bonus, until October 14 at 11:59 PM, this pack is available as one of the Weekly Deals and is 25% off!).

This next project uses the negative space created by the Chalk Talk Framelit.  I used the Framelit on the Real Red piece and snipped closely around the stamped Whisper White piece.  The Real Red piece is bumped up with Stampin' Dimensionals and the piece of grosgrain is fed through the negative opening.

This tweak didn't cost a thing, but added another twist to this project...

Here's another way in which to utilize your Big Shot.  I love the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.  Here I used the Perfect Polka Dots to pick up on the dots in the Pool Party portion of the image.  Quick and highly effective for a bit of texture...

{Studio Spotlight}: Sale-a-Bration's Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper, Project #6

A couple of weeks ago, I got to sponsor one of my favorite challenge blogs out there, 365 Cards.  I've been playing for years and really feel that the team there has stretched me and made me a better stamper.  Super sketches, awesome color schemes and lots of creative challenges have provided immeasurable inspiration.  I have a gift certificate for the winner of the sketch challenge for the week I was sponsoring and here's what it comes in...

The fabulous Sycamore Street DSP (Sale-a-Bration *FREEBIE*) comes in handy with my Scallop Envelope Bigz die.  It also makes a fun backdrop for the "4 you" tag.  That Summer Starfruit contrasts beautifully with the Rich Razzleberry and Pool Party.

Another fun Sale-a-Bration freebie is the Patterned Occasions stamp set (I used the blue jeans and sentiment here).  So fun and versatile!

{Here} is another Sale-a-Bration freebie post, all about the stamp set Bloomin' Marvelous.  If you're interested in Sycamore Street and the fun DSP and ribbons and buttons, click for {Project #5}, {Project #4}, {Project #3}, {Project #2}, and {Project #1}.

Sale-a-Bration ends at 11:59 PM  on March 22, so get your order in by then if you're wishing for one of these freebies!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Patterned Occasions SALE-A-BRATION (129621), Tiny Tags (W118091, C118592)

Papers:  Sycamore Street DSP SALE-A-BRATION (127540), Sahara Sand (121043), Summer Starfruit (126839), Rich Razzleberry (115316), and Whisper White (100730) Card Stocks

Inks:  Pool Party (126982), Tangerine Tango (126946) and Rich Razzleberry (126950) Classics

Accessories:  Decorative Label (120907), Jewelry Tag (117190), XL Oval (119859), and 7/8-inch Scallop Circle (129404) Punches, Scallop Envelope Bigz die (113462), Big Shot (113439), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) and Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)  

Ode to Medallion...

Medallion, one of my *favorite* Stampin' Up! stamps, retires at the end of this month.  I thought I'd dedicate my banner and buttons to this forgotten favorite (I haven't used it in a while)...

Be sure to click *HERE* to read about my FREE ANNUAL CATALOG offer.  You can expect to get yours around the third week in May (but it's first come, first served!).

And now, a word about our banner...  I created this card for a challenge a few years ago, back when Bermuda Bay was one of the In Colors.  It's not available anymore, but one could achieve a similar look with Tempting Turquoise or maybe in a softer version, with Pool Party.

Speaking of In Colors, the stock of retiring 2010-2012 In Colors is quickly depleting, so don't delay in ordering if there's something you still need.  Remember, Retiring Accessories are available only as supplies last.

Medallion and all of its Retiring Stamps friends will be available until May 31.