Sketch-Inspired Christmas Card

I know fall is just barely in the air, but there have been a lot of Christmas-themed challenges out there and I couldn't resist!

This card was inspired by the great sketch provided by Pam and the gals at 365 Cards for the Super Sketchy Sunday challenge.  

The fun challenge blog, Cute Card Thursday, challenged us to make this week's project Christmas-themed, so here we are!

I used my Scallop Trim Border punch to mimic the scalloped sides in the sketch.

**STUDIO SUGGESTION**:  I added a quarter-sheet of Very Vanilla Card stock to the inside of this card to make the scalloped border of the front half stand out more.  With darker card stocks (or recipients who might have trouble reading), it's often a good idea to use a lighter card stock inside on which to write your message.

Ribbon scraps are kept in a glass candy jar at my work station and I was thrilled to find this combination (I especially love the texture).

The pretty medallion in the upper right corner was created using the Hostess Set found in the 2012 Holiday Catalog, Mixed Medley. I stamped tone-on-tone with Cherry Cobbler for the big circle and again on Very Vanilla.

Paper Snips make cutting the flagged edges on my ribbon scraps super-easy.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Mixed Medley (W128054, C128057)

Papers:  Soft Suede (115318), Very Vanilla (101650), and Cherry Cobbler (119685)

Inks:  Cherry Cobbler Classic (126966)

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border (118402), Crochet Trim (118481), So Saffron 3/8-inch Taffeta (122982), and Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (120992), 1-1/4 (119861) and 3/4-inch (119873) Circle Punches, and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

Starburst for Fall-Themed and Sketch Challenges

With the beginning of fall just a few days away, I found that a lot of the challenges in which I've been participating are inspired by this change of seasons.  This card is based in part upon a theme and sketch challenge offered by the fine folks at The Friday Mashup.  With Friday Mashup, we get to choose to follow one of the challenge ideas or mash them both up and create a project using both.  In this case, we were offered this sketch:    

We could "mash" it up by adding a fall theme to our project.  Speaking of fall, the lovely challenge blog, 365 Cards, of which I so often write, challenged us to use five of something and to make it fall-themed in the Five for Fall challenge.  I chose five colors:  So Saffron, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and Early Espresso.

This card was thus inspired.  I *LOVE* the French script (it's very subtle in this picture), which I inked with So Saffron and stamped on So Saffron card stock.  

**STUDIO SUGGESTION**:  A dusting with my sponge and some Early Espresso makes the punched piece stand out a bit more.

I chose So Saffron Taffeta Ribbon to clean up my edges and I used my Paper Snips to carefully clip out the leaf that I'd inked in Cajun Craze.

**STUDIO SUGGESTION**:  Paper Snips have smaller blades that are super-sharp, so cutting with precision is a snip snap!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  French Foliage (W120845, C121166)

Papers:  So Saffron (105118), More Mustard (100946), Cajun Craze (119684), Soft Suede (115318) and Early Espresso (119686)

Inks:  So Saffron (126957), Cajun Craze (126965), and Early Espresso (126974) Classics

Accessories:  Decorative Label Punch (120907), So Saffron Taffeta Ribbon (122982), Stamping Sponges (101610), Paper Snips (103579), and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Take Care and a Little MOJO

This card was created for the Mojo Monday 248 and 365 CardsColor Scheme challenges.  I used my 2012-2013 Annual Catalog for my inspiration (page 90). 

I used my Paper Trimmer to make skinny strands of card stock.  I crumpled them up and used Glue Dots to adhere them down (plus the piece with the eggs helps to hold it down).

I ran the pieces of Whisper White and Pink Pirouette through the Big Shot using my Labels Collection Framelits. 

My Stamp-A-Ma-Jig helps me to accurately place my nest upon the branch.  I also used a sticky note (cut roughly in the shape of the nest) to keep the branch from running through my image of the nest (AKA “masking”). 

A snippet of Linen Thread helps to finish off the branch.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Take Care set (W126310, C126312)

Papers: Pink Pirouette (111351), Soft Suede (115318), Crumb Cake (120953), Sahara Sand (121043) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Inks: Pink Pirouette (127956), Soft Suede (126978), Crumb Cake (126975), Sahara Sand (126976) 

Accessories: Whisper White 3/8-inch Taffeta Ribbon (109070), Linen Thread (104199), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Scallop Edge Border punch (119882), paper snips (103579), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049)

I'm so glad you came by!  Hope your summer is treating you well!  "Take care"!  :)

A Spot of Tea for a Friend's Birthday

Hello, Studio Sara Visitor!  Welcome back...  For today's project, I started with a card for a good friend for her birthday (she is my BFF I made through stamping).   

Once the 365 Cards challenges were published last week, I realized that with a little tweaking, I could enter my friend's birthday card.  The challenge was "The 3 Cs" and we were asked to make it colorful, classy and add coffee.  

My friend once told me how much she liked how (on my Christmas card) I had threaded the Cherry Cobbler seam binding through the circle (cut with my Perfect Pennants Bigz L die).  I wanted to replicate that for her here.  

The teacup is from the A la Carte stamp, Tiny Teacup, which retires at the end of May.  It includes "hello" underneath, but I just inked the teacup.  

Since I was going to use my Cherry Cobbler again, I needed to find colors that would coordinate, but still *POP*.  I used my Color Coach and came up with the palette of Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip.  Colorful without being glaring...

Finally, I used the Scallop Edge Border punch and a sliver of card stock to make the border along the opening of the card.  Simple, but I think it finishes the card while drawing your eye back to the main elements.  

That sweet sentiment?  From the retiring hostess set, Happiest Birthday Wishes.  Place a merchandise order of $150 and you can choose this set with your shopping spree $$!  It'll also earn you the new Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Annual Catalog!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (W122615, C122617), Tiny Teacup (W118086)

Papers:  Baja Breeze (111352), Chocolate Chip (102128), Soft Suede (115318) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Inks:  Baja Breeze (111833) and Cherry Cobbler (119669) Classics

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335), Perfect Pennants Bigz L die (123126), Scallop Edge Border (119882), 1-3/8" Circle (119860) and Modern Label (119849) punches, and Cherry Cobbler 1/2-inch Seam Binding Ribbon (120992)

{Catalog Countdown: Day Four}

Hello, there! It's a busy week here in the Studio, as the current catalog retires on Wednesday, June 30 and the *NEW* catty goes live at noon (MDT) on Thursday, July 1! If you're going to place an order from the retiring catty, please do so as soon as you can to assure that your order goes in glitch-free! In honor of our retirees this year, here's another card...

• Best Wishes and More is the set used here (would you believe that I made the tag from the snowflake in that set?!). The images are versatile and fun and I love the sentiments!


• Bermuda Bay was one of this year's In Colors and sadly, it won't be stickin' around as part of the Color Renovation (I used card stock, and Classic ink in Bermuda Bay here)


• See that coordinating ribbon? Believe it or not, it's the polka dot grosgrain in Bermuda Bay. Flip over the ribbon and make a couple twists as you're tying and you can go dot-free, Baby!


• Cameo Coral is the juicy color that I used in the flower and on the paper charm. Sadly, that color is retiring, too.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Best Wishes and More

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Cameo Coral and Certainly Celery card stocks

Inks: Cameo Coral, Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede Classics

Accessories: 1 1/4-, 1-, 3/4-, and 1/16-inch Circle Punches, Modern Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Retirees: Best Wishes and More stamp set, Bermuda Bay (09-10 In Color), Cameo Coral

I'm so glad you popped by! Please contact me if I can be of further assistance!

Sunday Sketch

For this sketch challenge (always a sketch at 365 on Sundays), I opted for two of my favorite sets: Circle Circus and Baroque Motif. While the sketch suggests pompom trim, I don't have any of that (and I like to keep my cards to SUO, or Stampin' Up! Only materials). I chose to string baubles from Circle Circus and use half-circles in the middle instead of triangles.

I also thought I'd fiddle with the In Colors and so I enjoyed playing around with Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, and Soft Suede.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Baroque Motifs and Circle Circus

Papers: Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Soft Suede card stocks

Inks: Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Soft Suede Classics and VersaMark

Accessories: Natural Hemp Twine, 1 3/4-inch and 1/2-inch Circle Punches, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

I'm zipping off with the fam, so I have to keep this brief. Hope you had a great weekend and that your week starts off well! Stay tuned to the Studio this week; I'm hoping to post my first video and I'm teaching a class this coming weekend for an auction winner on basic card-making and I'll post our projects here...

Thanks for your visit!

Just Hanging Around with Vintage Vogue...

Welcome to the Studio! When I made this card, I was interested in creating a little "movement." I wanted the flower to be the focal point of the card, but I also wanted it to move a little. Here's how I did it:

• I stamped the large flower image from the Vintage Vogue set on Whisper White card stock, using Dusty Durango Classic ink. Then I used my Paper Snips (they have super-sharp tips) to cut right along the edge.

**Studio Suggestion: Be careful when you return your snips to their sheath (REALLY! They're *THAT* sharp!), as you can permanently bend the tip if it gets caught funny going back in...**

• Punch a small hole in the center of the flower and add the Chocolate Chip Jumbo Brad.

• Lay a piece of Linen Thread so that the middle of the thread is over the middle of the flower image (the piece I used was about five inches to start). The flower image was then attached to Dusty Durango card stock and the flower is once again cut out, using Paper Snips, along its very edge.

• For the "banner" at the top of the card, I inked the stamp in Soft Suede Classic ink and stamped it on Very Vanilla card stock. I also inked the edges of that piece of card stock with Night of Navy Classic ink. **Be sure to let that dry** and then distress it with the Distressing Tool from the Cutter Kit.

• Punch two tiny holes (with a 1/16-inch Punch) and thread the two ends of the linen thread through, making sure that the flower is centered and then knot.

• Adhere the Very Vanilla piece to a piece of Night of Navy card stock that has been sueded.

• Finally, for the textured Garden Green piece, run it through your Big Shot with the "Flourish" Texturz Plate from the Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I set.

• Attach the banner at the top of the Garden Green piece and then add to the Very Vanilla card body using Stampin' Dimensionals and you're finished!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Inks: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede and Night of Navy Classics

Papers: Dusty Durango, Night of Navy, Garden Green and Very Vanilla

Accessories: Big Shot, "Flourish" Texturz Plate from Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I set, Jumbo Brad, Distressing Tool, Linen Thread, Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank you so much for visiting! I hope you have a great end-of-the-week!

Coloring Page!

The challenge at 365 Cards for which I created this little guy was to color in a line image, using colored pencils or pastels. I used my Blender Pen to color with my Stampin' Pastels...

I had more fun adding little touches to this card. The stamps are from Snow Buddies, which is a Level 2 Hostess Set from the Holiday Mini Catalog. The flourish at the bottom of the card (and on the Bashful Blue oval) is supposed to be wind. I thought it would make fun ice skating tracks! I used my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to help me place that on both the Crushed Curry and Bashful Blue pieces. I used VersaMark ink on both for a subtle touch.

The snowflake hanging from the "Merry Christmas" is from the Snow Buddies set and I was tickled to discover that it fit the Boho Blossoms Punch perfectly! I added a punch of Bashful Blue to make it pop and adhered the silver elastic cord to each side of the card stock with a Stampin' Dimensional.

I used a Stampin' Up! resource to choose my colors. When the New In Color choices come out each year, Stampin' Up! provides us with a variety of options for other colors to use with them, be they In Color or from the basic Color Families. I use this resource a lot. Contact me if you'd like a copy!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Buddies and Many Merry Messages sets

Papers: Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede (see his hat), Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White

Inks: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, and Old Olive Classics and VersaMark

Accessories: Blender Pen, Stampin' Pastels, Silver Elastic Cord, Boho Blossoms, Ticket Corner and Small Oval punches, Circle Scissor Plus, Hobby Blade, Glass Mat, Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

I really appreciate the visit! Drop me a line; let me know you were here!