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).

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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Happy Birthday, Mom with Stampin' Up! Occasions Tea Shoppe

First of all, I want to wish my sweet mom a "Happy, happy birthday!"  Sending you hugs!!

This is the card I made for her birthday.  Mom and I love tea and all things British, so I knew this was the set for her!

I also entered this card a couple of weeks ago in a 365 Cards Challenge for stamping one's background.  You can see that I did that with the flower image from Tea Shoppe in both Regal Rose and Not Quite Navy.  That blossom is also stamped on the envelope (No Naked Envelopes!).

This sweet bow is made with the taffeta ribbon (I used my Paper Snips to trim around the tea cup and then I tied the ribbon around the handle).  You'll notice that I also ran the large piece of Not Quite Navy through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  It adds such a sophisticated texture to the project!  The big scalloped circle is Scallop Circle #2, a die that I used with my Big Shot, as well.

The sentiment was inked on Very Vanilla, using my Regal Rose and Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Markers and punched using the Scallop Oval.

Finally, I used the Modern Label punch and added a crinkled blossom to make the sentiment...  They're popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Tea Shoppe, found in the Occasions Mini Catalog, available until April 30, 2012 (W125545, C125547) 

Papers:  Regal Rose (105130), Not Quite Navy (101722) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stocks

Inks:  Regal Rose (105211) and Not Quite Navy (103008) Classic Ink Pads and Regal Rose (105108), Not Quite Navy (100059) Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Taffeta Ribbon (Very Vanilla is retired in this width, but it's available in 1/8-inch (119960), Big Shot (113439), Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (120175), Scallop Circle #2 die (113469), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Modern Label Punch (119849), Paper Snips (103579), and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

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

Oh, delicious Designer Series Paper!  I'm heartsick that our time together is limited (Sale-A-Bration ends on March 31!)...  The Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper, a Sale-A-Bration freebie with any $50 merchandise purchase, has a bevy of lovely patterns and colors.  I'm a sucker for vintage and I'm in love with this paper.

This card was created for a challenge in which I was to include the image of a phone or the phrase, "Call me."  I love this old-fashioned phone from the set, Taking Care of Business, which is great for demonstrators (and other business-minded folks!).  I inked just a bit of it so as to just get the telephone (it has a sentiment about placing an order). 

What excites me most about this card is the punch treatments.  I layered a circle upon the retired Designer Label Punch (this one keeps sneaking its way back into my "current" stash).  One could easily do something similar with the Decorative Label Punch.  The So Saffron 3/8-inch Taffeta Ribbon makes as tidy bow across the two.

The second punch treatment is at the bottom of the card.  I just snipped a bit of the Decorative Label Punch to fit the column of Whisper White card stock.  I finished it off with a  swipe across my Poppy Parade Classic ink pad.  Finally, I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch on the column of Whisper White card stock to finish the look.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Taking Care of Business, Pendant Park (W115456, C120012)

Papers:  Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper, *a Sale-A-Bration freebie!* (126154), Baja Breeze (111352), Poppy Parade (119793), So Saffron (105118) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Inks:  Early Espresso (119670), Baja Breeze (111833), and Poppy Parade (119782) Classic inks

Accessories: So Saffron 3/8-inch Taffeta (122982), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), Retired Designer Label Punch, 3/4-inch Circle Punch (119873)

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

Will go *LIVE* on Saturday: {KISS: Keep It Simple Saturday and Sale-A-Bration Countdown}: Kindness Matters in a Simple Sketch

{Sale-A-Bration Countdown}: Fresh Vintage

Happy March!

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

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

Happy March!

Things have been nuts (good "nuts") around here, as evidenced by the fact that I didn't post *once* in the entire month of February.  Whew!


I've been busy in the studio and I have lots to share.  Let's start with a couple of cards I made for a challenge in which I was to "scraplift" one of the designers (Hannah at 365 Cards).  I took her card (you can view it here) and just recreated it, using the delicious and *FREE* Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper ("FREE" as a Sale-a-Bration goodie).  When I finished, I worried that it was too much like Hannah's to be entered in a contest, so I changed up the color scheme.


Here's my first effort, which you'll agree is super-similar to Hannah's:

To be honest, I’m heartbroken that this DSP is only available as a freebie for Sale-a-Bration.  I love the colors and motifs.  I wasn’t sold on the piece that I used in the background of the Poppy Parade card, but once it’s cut down, the pattern isn’t too much.  It lends itself well to Hannah’s design.  I love pairing it with the Decorative Label Punch (I’ve punched two; one in Very Vanilla and one in Poppy Parade).  

The Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon and the Basic Rhinestones class it up just enough (without being gaudy).  This design makes a quick card to make for a gift set.  

One of the beauties of the Designer Series Papers is the color schemes.  I can use the colors in the palette of the DSP to guide my project.  I did *just that* when I realized that my design was too close to Hannah’s to be considered for a contest entry.  Using the DSP to guide me, I changed the color scheme of Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade and Pacific Point to Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade and Pool Party.  I also added So Saffron taffeta (because that’s just what I had) and it worked well.

We're in the final month of this year's Sale-a-Bration, so if you'd like some of this yummy Designer Series Paper, now's the time!  An order of $50 in merchandise and it's yours as a "Thank you!"

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Sincere Salutations (W 115068)


Papers:  Everyday Enchantment DSP (Sale-a-Bration:  126154), Lucky Limeade (122926), Poppy Parade (119793), Very Vanilla (101650), Pacific Point (111350)


Inks:  Lucky Limeade (122935) and Poppy Parade (119782) Classics


Accessories:  Decorative Label Punch (120907), Basic Rhinestones (119246), Very Vanilla (retired) and So Saffron (122982) taffeta, Paper Snips (103579)


Stay tuned; I cranked out all kinds of projects recently and I can't wait to share!

Happy November!

STUDIO SARA has a new look for fall!  I used My Digital Studio to create the banner and buttons.  I chose Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze and More Mustard (partly because they're fall colors, but also because they're found in the card I've spotlighted).

Here's the card that I included in my banner, up-close and personal...

It's simple to make (an easy one if you're in the market for a good number of "Thank You" notes, for example).  The card body is a half-sheet of Night of Navy, cut lengthwise and folded in half.  The Naturals Ivory card stock makes up the piece with the stamped leaves.  I used my corner-rounded to soften it.

The stamp set I used is French Foliage, which gives us this fun "button" in the lower left corner.  I inked it in Night of Navy Classic Ink and stamped it on Cajun Craze card stock.  Then I used my 3/4-inch Circle Punch...  Remember to stamp first then punch to make sure you've lined it up right!

So Saffron Taffeta Ribbon finishes the bottom edge...

Finally, here's the sentiment... I inked only the "thank you" part of this stamp from the With All My Heart set, stamped it on So Saffron and punched it with the Modern Label.  It's mounted on an oval punched from More Mustard and "popped up" with a Stampin' Dimensional.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  French Foliage, With All My Heart

Papers:  Night of Navy, Naturals Ivory, So Saffron, More Mustard and Cajun Craze card stocks

Inks:  Cajun Craze, More Mustard and Night of Navy Classics

Accessories:  3/4-inch Circle, Modern Label, Large Oval, and 3/16-inch Corner Punches, So Saffron Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips (makes cutting the ribbon so easy!)

Thanks for your visit!  I'm working on more {12 Week of Christmas} posts, so stay tuned!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} A Cardinal Christmas: Day 1

This card was made for a vintage-themed challenge a while back in which I was to include a stick pin. Unless I was sending it in a bubble envelope, I'd hand-deliver this baby...

The large image is the background stamp from A Cardinal Christmas, embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. It's layered on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock, as it helps the piece stand out from the stripes of the Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper.

A simple knot is tied through the loop in the top of the stick pin and then beads are added. I used Mini Glue Dots to adhere the whole thing in place (I didn't want the knot to spin).

The sentiment is one of my favorite punch treatments. I've layered the Modern Label over the Designer Label. They're both popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas

Papers: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stocks, Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper

Inks: VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler Classic

Accessories: Pretties Kit, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Modern Label and Designer Label punches, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Hope you are able to enjoy this fun, anticipation-filled time before Christmas! Thanks for your visit!

Taken with Cameo Coral

So I bought some of this SU! card stock (Cameo Coral) for Anna's adoption announcement (below).
I just wasn't fond of its bright orangeness (I can't wear orange, I don't decorate with orange, but I'm a Denver Broncos fan; go figure)... Anyhoo, with the Silhouette challenge, I decided to give a bold color scheme a try and found I really like it!

Here's the next card I came up with using Cameo Coral:

What I like about this card is its ease, but also its versatility. With this stamp set, I can easily change it up for the seasons. Among the images, there's a leaf for fall and a snowflake for winter. I'd probably keep the colors the same for the fall version, but I wonder what fun combo I can make for the winter snowflake?

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Anna's Adoption Announcement:

Stamp Sets: Embrace Life

Papers: Ginger Blossom DSP (Retired now), Cameo Coral, Ruby Red and (retired) River Rock card stocks, watercolor paper

Inks: Cameo Coral and River Rock Classics, Stazon Black

Accessories: Aquapainter, Distressing tool from Cutting Tools, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread

Second Card:

Stamp Sets: Best Wishes and More

Papers: Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, So Saffron and Cameo Coral card stocks

Inks: Cameo Coral, Mellow Moss and So Saffron Classics

Accessories: Natural Hemp Twine, Paper Snips

Thank you so much for looking!