Stampin' Up! Nature Walk for Easter...

Easter is upon us!  Here's an Easter Card I made for the "Super Sketchy Sunday" challenge at 365 Cards.I am so inspired by the sketches there!

I love the earthy feel of the eggs from the Nature Walk set...

I used my Scallop Edge Border punch to create the border along the Marina Mist and that always produces a slim scrap.  You can see I added it behind the Round Tab punch with "Happy Easter."

The Scallop Trim Border punch adds further interest...

I've been busy enjoying my kids' Spring Break and sewing the girls' Easter dresses.  I'll be posting the rest of the week's projects soon!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Nature Walk (W121925, C121997), Teeny TIny Wishes (W115370)

Papers:  Crumb Cake (120953), Marina Mist (119682), Bashful Blue (105120) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stocks

Inks:  Marina Mist (119668), Bashful Blue (105209), and Crumb Cake (121030) Classics

Accessories:  Round Tab (119864), Scallop Trim Border (118402), Scallop Edge Border (119882) and Scallop Circle (119854) punches, and Paper Snips (103579)

{12 Weeks of Christmas}: Week 10 -- My Digital Studio Christmas Picture

One portion of our family Christmas card is the picture.  These beautiful shots were taken by Yuen Lui, a local photography studio which has photographed everything from our engagement photos to our wedding, to countless pictures of our children.  We've had sittings in their studio, at our home and on-location.  They're terrific!

I like to create a collage with captions in My Digital Studio, have it printed in 4 X 6-format and then trim it to fit into my Christmas card (which is 4 1/4 X 5 1/2-inches).  The images are from the Pines and Poinsettias brush set.  I fiddled with the opacity of my rectangular punches to make them translucent (you'll see that again in our Christmas Thank You note).  I left the big Chocolate Chip bottom border because I'll trim an inch from it.  So simple!

My next post shows you part of my process in creating our family Christmas card.  It's a big job, but it's manageable because I do it assembly line-style...

{12 Weeks of Christmas}: Week 2 -- Keep It Scrappy, Santa!

Hello, and welcome to Week 2 of my series, {12 Weeks of Christmas}, where I try to give some tips and inspiration (early) so that making goodies for celebrating the fabulous Winter holidays like Christmas is easier and less stressful!

Today's project was created using the Snow Swirled set, which is one of my favorites.  I've simply inked the tree image in Pear Pizzazz (In Color) and then bedazzled it with snowflakes punched from scraps of Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise card stock.

The snowflake is inked with VersaMark on the Rich Razzleberry and with Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink for the top of the tree.  I popped them up using Stampin' Dimensionals and then added a bit of sparkle with a Basic Rhinestone.

I used more scraps and my Scallop Edge Border punch to make the treatment along the bottom, above the sentiment.  I inked the sentiment with Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink and used my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to make it straight.  A Basic Rhinestone jazzes it up...

Placing all of these components on Whisper White card stock gives it simple, but effective, WOW.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Snow Swirled (#111690)

Papers:  Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White card stocks

Inks:  Pear Pizzazz and Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink and VersaMark

Accessories:  1 1/4-inch and 3/4-inch Circle and Scallop Edge Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Jewels, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Where to shop?  Click on the link in the upper left corner of this page to be taken directly to my Stampin' Up! website, where you can shop 24/7.  Have you got questions?  Please click further below on the left on the "Email Sara" button and I'll be happy to help!

{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!

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!

Heart Blossoms

Happy Valentine's Day, Studio Visitors!


Here's a fun card that would work as a valentine for someone special or as a card for any special occasion!



I took the bird image from Fun & Fast Notes and inked it with black Stazon ink. Since I knew I'd be placing a paper heart on the stem instead of the blossom, I inked everything *except* the blossom. That technique sounds like a good post of its own (stay tuned)!



Next, I used my Blender Pen and Classic ink pads to watercolor the birds and their stems. For the middle bird, I used a scrap of sueded card stock (but used the smooth side). I just stamped it with the bird, cut it out with my Paper Snips (which make precision cutting like this a breeze), and used a Stampin' Dimensional to pop it up. I did the same thing with a teensy piece of Summer Sun for its beak.
For the hearts, I used my Big Shot and the Hearts and Brackets Bigz die. For some reason, I've never purchased a heart punch, so that was my only option. ;) I was still able to use scraps, which has been a recent mission of mine...
I finished it off with the Scallop Edge punch and a length of White Satin Ribbon tied in a knot. I also stamped the sentiment (a freebie choice from my Sale-A-Bration order!) in Bravo Burgundy at the bottom. For the first time, Stampin' Up! is offering items from the Idea Book and Catalog as freebies in addition to the limited edition Sale-A-Bration items. You & Moi had been a set on my wish list and now it's mine... for free!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, You & Moi (SAB freebie)

Papers: Ruby Red, Apricot Appeal, Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Summer Sun and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Black Stazon, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss and Ruby Red Classics

Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts and Brackets Bigz die, Scallop Edge Punch, White Satin Ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank you for your visit! Hope you have a great day!

A Patch upon the Knee...

I've thoroughly enjoyed a relatively quiet weekend, which has afforded me some time to catch up on some 365 Cards challenges. This challenge was to create a card that included a patch. I need some gift tags for baby gifts, so I opted for some baby overalls with a flower patch on the knee:




Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps: Short and Sweet

Papers: Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst and Whisper White card stocks


Inks: Classic Black and white Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen


Accessories: Trio Flower and Scallop Edge Punches

Studio Suggestion: You can't see it from my photo, but I used the Scallop Edge Punch on the left side of the little piece of Almost Amethyst that greets the recipient on the inside of the tag. It ties together with the scalloped edge of the Apricot Appeal as well as with the scallops of the flower punch patch.

So glad you popped by!

Through the Window...

Here's a card I made for the 365 Cards challenge involving, among other things, window sheets...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Medallion Background and Circle Circus (new!) and Elegant Thank You

Papers: Bermuda Bay, Mambo Melon, Old Olive and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Elegant Eggplant and Mambo Melon Classics

Accessories: Window sheet, Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge, and 1/2-inch Circle Punches, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Thanks so much for visiting!

Another Lavendar Entry...

Oh, my gosh! I love this challenge!


Here's another one, based on an idea that literally woke me up in the middle of the night. How about a shaker card with some blossoms inside?! My Studio smells heavenly now (wish I could pipe that out to you somehow)...

Here it is:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Fundamental Phrases

Papers: Lovely Lilac and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Lovely Lilac and Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Window sheet, Stampin' Dimensionals, Linen Thread, Very Vanilla Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Sponges (to give the ribbon the color; I used both inks), Twill Tape, Silver Brads, 1/16-inch handheld and Scallop Edge punches, Paper Piercing Tool (from Crafters' Tool kit)

Thanks so much for looking!

Another 365 Cards Challenge: Bold Stripes!

For yesterday's challenge on 365 Cards, we were charged with creating a card featuring bold and bright stripes. Yesterday was the last day of my daughter's second-grade year, so here's what I created... Please forgive the fuzzy photo!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Holiday Blitz, Sincere Salutations

Inks: Basic Black Craft (on twill tape) and Riding Hood Red Classic

Papers: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie and Washington Apple Designer Series Paper (retired and no-longer-available, unfortunately)

Accessories: Spiral, Scallop Circle, 1/2-inch Circle, and Scallop Edge Punches, Twill Tape, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank you for looking!

Soft Summer and Scallops Birthday Card for Dear Sister

This final design for our card making class allowed us to get all of our pent-up scallops out (I CASE'd this; thank you for the inspiration, LeeAnn Graff!). I actually made this for my sister first, then thought the class members would enjoy it, too.

This pretty Soft Summer flower stamp is available until June 30 (it's from the Occasions Mini Catalog).

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Soft Summer and Oval All

Papers: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Whisper White

Inks: Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, and Basic Black

Accessories: Scallop Edge and Scallop Oval Punches, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

**The floral image is Two-Step Stamping; using the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig takes the guesswork (and stress!) out of lining up the insides of the flower with the outline. It's also easiest to color the flower with two Stampin' Write Markers, as opposed to using ink pads.**

Finally, when using the Scallop Edge Punch to do an entire side as I have here, punch first in the middle and then work your way out. Whenever I start at the tippy-top or bottom, I end up with a scalloped diagonal because I get off-course. Keeping one "bump" that you've already punched out in your "sites" as you punch helps keep you straight.

Happy Birthday, Mobes! I love you!

Thanks so much for looking!

My first challenge

So I've decided to take the plunge and enter in my first challenge. This challenge called for a card that followed a certain sketch:
Here's what I came up with...Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamp Sets: Best Wishes and More


Inks: Pumpkin Pie Classic


Papers: Whisper White, Bliss Blue, Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron Card Stock and Washington Apple Designer Series Paper


Accessories: Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle, Corner Rounder and 1/2-inch Circle punches, Button Latte, and So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon

I'm really excited about these challenges! They're so inspiring!

Thanks for looking!

Birthday Card for Mom

My mom's birthday was in April and I made this card back in mid-March. That's saying something, as I'm usually racing around at the last minute, sweating bullets because I can hear the postman's truck coming... The punchline is that *I LOST THE CARD* in my slovenly stamping area (I've been drooling over the pics of people's stamping areas, but that's another post). Back to Mom...

Here's the card I made (actually, re-made) to send for her birthday. Love you, Mom!Stampin' Up! Supplies:

• Stamp Sets: Fresh Cuts; Holiday Blitz
• Inks: Chocolate Chip; Bordering Blue; VersaMark
• Papers: Bordering Blue, So Saffron and Very Vanilla Card Stock; Bella Birds DSP
• Accessories: Chocolate chip 5/8-inch grosgrain; Linen Thread; Natural Hemp; Sizzix Big Shot; Petal Card Bigz Die; Distressing Tool from Cutter Kit; Scallop Edge punch; Button Latte

**A cute photo of my Crazy3 are inside of the Petal Card at the upper left**