{12 Weeks of Christmas} Week 8 -- Woven Ribbon Wreath Tutorial Video

Hooray!  I've finally mastered my first Apple video!  My iPhone captured the video (nice and crisp, if I do say so) and I've uploaded and edited it on my Mac.  Whew!  For a PC girl, this was quite a learning curve.  Still at it, but I'm thrilled with my first video (in *way* too long).

Pour yourself a cuppa, get comfy and enjoy the video (and please let me know what you think!)!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Beautiful Season (W122680, C122682)

Papers:  Basic Gray (121044), More Mustard (100946), Cherry Cobbler (119685), and Very Vanilla (124301) card stocks

Inks:  Basic Gray Classic Ink (126981)

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots TIEF (117335), Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die (123126), 1-1/4" Circle Punch (119861), Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon (122988), Linen Thread (104199), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Paper Snips (103579)

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"!  :)

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)

*Final day for the Stampin' Up! 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalog!*

Today is the final day to order from the retiring 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalog.  Some things from the Accessories List are already unavailable, but there are still great finds and bargains to be discovered!  Any stamp on the Retiring Stamps List is available until the end of today.

The following projects were made with one of my favorite sets, Herb Expressions:

The Decorative Label punch is an easy tool to use to add visual interest to both the image and the sentiment.  I punched the image and sentiment after I stamped them on the card stock.

My Blender Pen makes coloring the rosemary leaves and blossoms a breeze; I used the Lucky Limeade and Wisteria Wonder Classic ink.

Taffeta ribbon gives the card a soft finish...

I wanted a touch of texture without overwhelming the design of the card, so the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder was just the thing.

This card's color palette includes Pear Pizzazz, which retires with the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.  It's made on a Cajun Craze base and includes Riding Hood Red.  The color combo is courtesy of my Color Coach! 

The cute edging along my Pear Pizzazz piece is from the soon-to-be-seen (again) Adorning Accents Edgelits (you might remember them from the last Occasions Mini Catalog).  The other piece of Pear Pizzazz is "sueded."  Click *here* for a video tutorial on distressing...

See the faint texture in the Riding Hood Red piece?  That's created using the Backgrounds I Texturz Plates with my Big Shot (the Backgrounds 1 plates retire with the 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalog!).

Once again, I turned to my Blender Pen to color in the image of the basil.  Whisper White Organza Ribbon finishes off the project.

Stampin' Supplies:


Stamps:  Herb Expressions (W113224) *retiring!*

Paper:  Project 1:  Elegant Eggplant (105126), Wisteria Wonder (122922), Pink Pirouette (111351), Lucky Limeade (122926); Project #2:  Cajun Craze (119684), Riding Hood Red (111348) and Pear Pizzazz (119795 -- *retiring!*)

Ink:  Project 1:  Basic Black (101179), Elegant Eggplant (105210), Wisteria Wonder (122936), and Lucky Limeade (122935) Classics; Project #2:  Basic Black (101179) and Pear Pizzazz (119784 -- *retiring!*) Classics

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Blender Pen (102845)  Project 1:  Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809), 3/8-inch Taffeta, Decorative Label Punch (120907), Project #2: Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates (114512 -- *retiring!*), Adorning Accents Edgelits (TBA in 2012-2013 Annual Catalog), Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319)

Today is also your last day to receive your Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Annual Catalog for free with a $50 order!  You can also purchase it for a mere $5 (which includes shipping)!

{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...