Apothecary Art {Clean and Simple}

Ah, summer has arrived!  While we're in the throes of enjoying a softball All-Star tournament and swim lessons, we've finally arrived at the end of the school year.  It was a terrific one and now we're ready for a fun and restful summer.

This card was made for two challenges.  First, I entered it in the 365 Cards "Word of the Day:  Round" challenge and the Freshly Made Sketches (#40) challenge.  The 365 Cards challenge asked us to include round things (I love the new Labels Collection Framelits and thought they were just "round" enough).

The pearl and the mini silver brads "rounded out" the project...

Once again, I used the corner of my square punch to make the pennant flag shape in the sentiment (from Fabulous Phrases).

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Apothecary Art (W125525, C125527), Fabulous Phrases (W117002, C120501)

Papers:  Sahara Sand (121043), Not Quite Navy (101722), Rose Red (102544)

Inks:  Rose Red (126954) and Not Quite Navy (126971) Classics

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Whisper White Taffeta (109070),   Mini Silver Brads (122941), Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577), Glue Dots (103683)

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{KISS: Keep It Simple Saturday and Sale-A-Bration Countdown}: Kindness Matters in a Simple Sketch

I love the good folks at 365 Cards and their Super Sketchy Sunday sketch challenges.  Their awesome sketch led me to this clean and simple card...

Kindness Matters, a 2012 Sale-A-Bration freebie (with any $50 merchandise order), provides us with the three butterflies.  I inked them using my Stampin' Write Markers, as they're all part of one stamp.  The markers allow me to color each one separately.  I stamped them first and then punched each out with a circle punch that fits.

The Doily Triple Layer punch is a snap to use...  I punched the So Saffron piece using the solid setting and then chose the most detailed setting (you get to choose from three settings!) to punch the Wild Wasabi piece.  Finally, a 1/2-inch Circle punch is what I used for the Rose Red center.

The doily stamp is inked in Rose Red Classic Ink and stamped along the bottom of the Rose Red piece for some subtle detail.  A length of Whisper White Satin Ribbon gives a clean, fresh bow along the bottom.

To give the circles more visual interest, I rolled each circle across my So Saffron Classic Ink Pad to give it some color along the edge.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Kindness Matters (Sale-A-Bration freebie with a $50 merchandise order!) (W127723, C127724)

Papers:  So Saffron (105118), Rose Red (102544), Wild Wasabi (108641), and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Inks:  So Saffron (105114), Rose Red (100063), and Wild Wasabi (120975) Stampin' Write Markers, So Saffron Classic Ink (105213)

Accessories:  3/4-inch (119873), 1-inch (119868), and 1-1/4-inch (119861) Circle Punches, Doily Triple Layer Punch (122465), Whisper White Satin Ribbon (114616)

Looking for more Sale-A-Bration inspiration?  Check these posts:

{Sale-A-Bration Countdown}: Call Me!

{Sale-A-Bration Countdown}: Fresh Vintage

Happy March!

Sale-A-Bration! Why am I sale-a-brating?!

Oh, {Pennant}, how do I love thee!

Whew! Done!

Happy New Year and a NEW LOOK!

Whew! I don't have the new My Digital Studio (MDS) downloads well, downloaded, yet. Instead, I used the Winter Post snowflake which I love so much. I used a card I'd made before Christmas (I gave packets of them to friends and the kids' teachers). November may be the season of Thanksgiving, but January is the season of "Thank You!"

I used Baja Breeze, Elegant Eggplant and Rose Red. The card was made with Serene Snowflakes (I'll do a separate Stamp Set Spotlight for that one soon).

Oh, and I nearly forgot! A new MINI greets us now! It's the Occasions Mini! Check the link on the right and enjoy; there are some fun new things in there! Also, be on the look-out for Sale-a-Bration info! Email me with your snail mail specifics and I'll send a copy of each to you (unless, of course, you've got yourself a demonstrator already, in which case, I'd advise you to ask her/him).

Thanks for the visit!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} A Cardinal Christmas: Day 2

This card includes another image which was embossed in clear embossing powder for a subtle, yet clear image. The berries were likewise embossed in clear embossing powder (on Cherry Cobbler card stock), snipped out and adhered to the cardinal image.

The cardinal image was fed through the Big Shot, using the Top Note die, which gives it that shape. Quick and easy!

Our sentiment also comes from A Cardinal Christmas and was inked in Cherry Cobbler and then the Crumb Cake piece was punched using the Modern Label punch. Cherry Cobbler was used to sponge some ink along the Very Vanilla tag. Some time soon, I'll post a video showing how I achieved that extra-long tag (using my normal tag punch!). Simple and easy and a great way to sssttttrrrreeeettttttcccchhhh your supplies... I love the homey look of the Victoria Crochet Trim, which I used here with my stand-by, Linen Thread (I must order miles of that every year!). Finally, used my Color Coach to guide me in my color choice. Rose Red is a companion color for Cherry Cobbler. Phew!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Rose Red and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Cherry Cobbler Classic, VersaMark

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz die, Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Victoria Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Stampin' Sponge, Modern Label, 1/16-inch circle and Tag punches.

Hope you're able to enjoy some of the magic of this season!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Season of Joy: Day 4

"JOY!" is right! I have been meaning to write and publish this post for a few days now, but as luck would have it, I've been busy out with the kids, playing in the *snow*! It's a rare treat for us in the Pacific Northwest to get enough snow to sled and play in... With two snow days from school, this feels like a mini Christmas Vacation!

This card was made for another sketch challenge... I used my Color Coach for the color guidance; not a traditional combination of colors, but I really like it! We've got Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze and Rose Red at work here...An easy way to add oomph to a card is with a bit of texture. I used the Perfect Details Texturz Plate with my Big Shot on the Baja Breeze here...To achieve the two-tone stamping here, you can use the masked inking technique that I demonstrated in this post: http://www.studio-sara.com/2010/04/technique-video-masked-inking.html .

The sparkly brad comes from the Holiday Mini Catalog. It and four other colors can be found in the Glimmer Subtles pack.
Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Season of Joy

Papers: Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red, Baja Breeze, and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red and Baja Breeze Classics

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Scallop Circle and Scallop Edge punches, Rose Red stitched ribbon (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank you for visiting!

{Technique Video: Masked Inking}

Here's another video for your viewing pleasure! I hope you find it useful!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: With All My Heart

Papers: Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and So Saffron card stocks

Inks: Chocolate Chip Classic

Accessories: Large Oval, Scalloped Oval and Scallop Edge punches, Rose Red Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips

Thanks for your visit!

{Challenge! "Taggies"}: A Little Birdie Told Me...

Hello and welcome to the Studio! Before I go any farther, I would like to wish my dear mom "Happy Birthday!". I love you, Mom, and I hope your day is great!

Today's card is one I submitted for a challenge last week at 365 Cards. The challenge was inspired by those baby toys that have the ribbon tags along the edge.

I have been really enjoying using my Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch. I am *LOVING* the new punch design! I can't get over how easy they are to store...

Anyhoo, I simply punched my bird's wing on the flipside of the floral of the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper so that I'd get the houndstooth design. The houndstooth design is opposite the floral, but one has to punch the bird's wing on the side you want, or else the wing points up when it's flipped over to show the other pattern.

Next, I punched the branch using the Old Olive piece (it's the flipside of the striped piece I used in last week's Technique Video). Then I punched it again in the Sahara Sand part of that same piece to get the leaves. I used a little Two Way Glue and the tweezers from my Crafters Tool Kit to put it all together (it did feel like a little neurosurgery, I gotta say, but it's worth it).

The ribbons are (in order of appearance) Rose Red 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain, Bashful Blue 1/4-inch Grosgrain, Chocolate Chip 5/8-inch Grosgrain and Whisper White 1/4-inch Grosgrain.

I also used my Scallop Edge Punch to make the little borders at the bottom.

This was a very easy card to make, aside from the gluing and will be a versatile design I'll replicate for lots of purposes. We've only got a couple of weeks left for the Occasions Mini Catalog, which brought us a lot of these materials. I'm lovin' the Sweet Pea Paper and since it contains Taken with Teal (one of the Retiring Colors), I'm not expecting it to appear in the new 2010-11 Idea Book and Catalog in July. I'll be purchasing more before the Occasions Mini ordering deadline, which is April 30. Refer to my earlier post about the Color Renovation for more info on the exciting new changes with the colors...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: None this time!

Papers: Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper (Occasions Mini Catalog, available until April 30), and So Saffron and Chocolate Chip Card Stocks

Inks: None this time!

Accessories: Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Rose Red 1-inch Double-Stitched, 5/8-inch Chocolate Chip and 1/4-inch Whisper White and Bashful Blue Grosgrain Ribbons, Paper Snips, Two-Way Glue

{Tuesday: Technique Video (New Camera!)}

Hey, there! I've shot a new video (a tutorial on ribbon-tying), but the camera is giving me fits when it comes to uploading my video. As I type this, I'm downloading software updates and new drivers, so hopefully (today?!), I'll have something to show you!

In the meantime, I'll show you the card I'll be discussing:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Papers: Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper, Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip

Inks: Chocolate Chip and Rose Red Classics

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Word Slot and Modern Label Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

A Negative Snowflake

It's been a while since I was able to participate in a card recipe challenge, so when this one arose and I had the time to participate, I was really excited!

The recipe was as follows: 4x4 card, red background, snowflakes (pattern, embellishments, any #, and any variety), one ribbon, and one stamped sentiment.

I had fun first embossing the Rose Red card stock using my Texturz Plates (Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1). Then I used the Jumbo Snowflake Punch on Brushed Silver card stock. I love the color and feel of this card stock, but I also love that the color is throughout, so that a punched design (in this case) is silver through and through. I thought it would be fun to use the negative image, rather than the punch. Simple, simple and twice the fun! Now I've stashed the snowflake to use in another project (or I could adhere it inside this card). Hmmm...

To finish it off, I attached a piece of Basic Black Wide Grosgrain and tied a simple knot. I want it to look like an ornament!

"Very merry" from the Short and Sweet set is the "one stamped sentiment" that I was allowed. The snowflakes I stamped on the envelope are from this set, as well.What a fun, quick and easy card! A pack of four of these would make the perfect gift for a hostess, teacher, hairdresser, mail carrier, etc!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Paper: Rose Red and Brushed Silver card stocks

Ink: Encore Silver

Accessories: Jumbo Snowflake and Horizontal Slot punches, Basic Black Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Sizzix Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Mini Glue Dots


Thanks for the visit!

Wanted

Happy Friday! Here's a card I made for a sketch challenge, using the Stampin' Up! set, Wanted. I used my Color Coach to come up with the color combination (my biggest challenge in papercrafting is coordinating colors)...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Wanted

Papers: Rose Red, Certainly Celery and So Saffron card stocks and So Saffron and Rose Red Designer Series Paper (from a retired Hostess Patterns Pack)

Inks: Rose Red Classic and So Saffron Craft

Accessories: Scallop Circle, 1-inch, and 1/2-inch Circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks so much for looking! Have a great weekend!

Sketch Challenge Entry

Whew! Is it ever good to be back stamping! The yard is much better; I'll upload pics soon... I was so anxious to start stamping again that I've left the laundry that I'd mentioned in my previous post in baskets in my bedroom. I promise I'll get it put away today! :)

Here's the sketch I followed and the card I made for the Sunday Sketch on 365 Cards:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Set: Warm Words

Papers: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Rose Red and Almost Amethyst (from a retired Pattern Pack Hostess item)

Ink: Certainly Celery Classic

Accessories: Certainly Celery twill (retired from '09 Sell-A-Bration), Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4-inch and 1/2-inch Circle Punches, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensional

It's such a pleasure to be back in the Studio! Thanks so much for looking!

Baroque Motifs in a Slew of Layers

I designed this card for the card class I donated to my son's preschool. The lucky bidder actually bought the class for her sister as a birthday gift and it was fun to be with them (they made me miss my sister, who lives out-of-state!).

I CASEd the awesome layout of this card from Wendy Weixler. I really loved the layers (especially the one on the top right -- love how it's flush at the top with the body of the card!). I used my own color scheme, stamp set and embellishments. I can't wait to see what else I can do to this terrific layout. I made a few of this card to give to graduates in my life...Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Baroque Motifs and Short and Sweet sets

Papers: Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Paper, Elegant Eggplant, Barely Banana, Very Vanilla, Rose Red

Inks: Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Big Shot, Backgrounds I Texturz Plate, Very Vanilla Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Very Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, and Designer Label and 1/16-inch handheld punches

**Note** It's hard to see in my picture, but I fed the Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Paper through the Sizzix Big Shot, using the Texturz Plate (Flourish) to give it an embossed look that coordinates with the flourish stamped on the Very Vanilla piece in the middle. I also crumpled my poor Barely Banana card stock until it started to peel apart (one piece will come apart into two "sueded" pieces).

Formal (First Communion) Projects

One of the reasons April was such an insanely busy month for us was that Jordan received her First Communion. What follows is the invitation, favor, and "Thank You" note.

Invitation:

Jordan was anxious to choose her color scheme; I got to design the rest...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Special Blessing, Simple Salutations

Inks: Whisper White Craft; VersaMark

Papers: Brocade Blue, Rose Red and Whisper White Card Stock

Accessories: Pretties Kit; Sizzix Big Shot; Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate; Round Tab punch

Favor Box:

Supplies:

Papers: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana and Whisper White Card Stock

Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot; Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate

*I word-processed the text and adhered the Whisper White to a tag cut out with my Cricut (Christmas Cheer cartridge). Then I ran the tags through with the Texturz Plate mentioned above.

"Thank You" note

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Set: Sincere Salutations and Elegant Thank You

Ink: VersaMark

Paper: Whisper White Card Stock

Accessories: Pretties Kit; 5/8-inch Whisper White satin ribbon; Sizzix Big Shot; Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate; Sizzlits 4-pack die: Stampin' Up! Birds and Blooms; Stampin' Dimensionals; Clear Detail Embossing Powder; Heat Tool; Designer Label punch

**This card was inspired by a white-only challenge posted on Splitcoast. I'll find the thread and give credit to the challenge creator (JuliaS?).

Thank you for looking!