Happy New Year

I made this using My Digital Studio. This was super easy, using a template (Hoppy Moments) that came with the program.

I moved the Celebrate element and increased its size. I added texts, Happy New Year! and 2011. Then I added Baroque Motif stamp, lowered the opacity.

In any case, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! Be safe and see you next year!

Did you see?

Did you see, did you see? My card for Mary Fish made it onto her blog!!! Check it out here (have to scroll down a bit). Too bad there's no link back to my card. But still. It's almost like being mentioned in a national televised program or something! She's one of the top 10 demonstrators for Stampin' Up! I was so honored that she would even show my very elementary card.

OK, goshing over. :)

Gable Box

As a last minute thing, I made these Gable boxes for some neighbors, with little treats inside.
I used Versamark and stamped some snowflakes all over the box, then used Cricut's Create a Critter, to cut out this adorable reindeer. I should have either stamped a sentiment or cut out a "JOY" or something to put on the box too, but oh well. I was short on time. I really just missed playing with my CAC cartridge, so that's what I decided to do!

My Supplies List:

Stamp Set(s): snowflake wheel (retired)

Ink: Versamark

Papers: So Saffron, Lovely Lilac (retired)

Accessories: Cricut (non-SU), ribbon (my stash)

Happy Holidays!

This card was created using a template in My Digital Studio (you can get it HERE, just go to Digital Crafting). I created the picture collage in Photoshop Elements first, only because it's easier to me right now, as I learn how to operate MDS. Once I figure out how to use punches and put pictures in the punches and line them up, etc., I will share that with you.

In the meantime, have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend with your families and loved ones.

Holiday Ornament

Today's card is a total CASE from Gretchen Baron. I just loved how she was able to use pretty non-traditional holiday stamps, colors, etc. to create a holiday card.
I embossed the ornament using clear embossing powder. I also added a tiny rhinestone to the center of the ornament. A tip that I learned from browsing the internet. You can ink your stamp in Versamark first, then tamp on the Classic ink of choice, then stamp, and voila, you can now pour embossing powder on the image without it instantly drying up! What a great way to save $$$ by not having to also buy Craft ink (pigment) just for this.
I also stamped the inside with the swirls from Baroque Motifs. I stamped it off on scratch paper before stamping onto the cardstock here, so that the color is more subtle. The inside sentiment is from a long-ago retired set, but it's just so perfect.

My Supplies List:

Stamp Set(s): Baroque Motifs, Tags 'til Christmas, Sincere Salutations, Versatile Verses (retired)

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Papers: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Accessories: Big Shot, Embossing Folder (non-SU), Rhinestones, Pearl gelpen (non-SU), Ornament Punch, Clear Embossing Powder

Twins

Does this card look familiar?

I had made one previously. This time it's for twin boys.

I also tried something I've been seeing in cyberspace. It's the "faux inlaid" look. I punched out these little hearts, glued them onto the cardstock. Then put the whole thing through Big Shot using my embossing folder. The result looks like the hearts are inlaid in the cardstock. Pretty neat, eh?

My Supplies List:

Stamp Set(s): Build A Roo

Ink: Concord Crush

Papers: Bashful Blue, Concord Crush, Kraft (non-SU)

Accessories: Bashful Blue Stripe Ribbon (retired), Owl Punch (for the hearts)

New My Digital Studio Downloads

I just got My Digital Studio software last week. Boy, am I in love! I love digital scrapbooking anyways, and this just makes me so happy with Stampin' Up's colors, papers, stamps, punches, ribbons, brads..... the list goes on and on.

Here are some new digital downloads from today. You can go to MY WEBSITE or click on the SHOP button on the right to purchase these!

Item	Description	Image	Price
124215	Extreme Snowboard Stamp Brush		$0.95
124218	Extreme Surfboard Stamp Brush		$0.95
124217	Extreme Skateboard Stamp Brush		$0.95
124219	Extreme Dirt Bike Stamp Brush		$0.95
124216	Extreme Guitar Stamp Brush		$0.95
123991	Style Beautiful Stamp Brush Set		$3.95
123992	Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper		$4.95
123990	Elements of Style Stamp Brush Set		$3.95
123989	Teahouse Stamp Brush		$1.95
123988	Charming Stamp Brush Set		$3.95

Sweet Sunday

I just love these sketches from Sweet Sunday. Here's another awesome sketch this week.
Here's my card.
I just love using double-sided pattern papers. You know that they would match, and you get two different designs! I punched from Decorative Label Punch twice, once with Mellow Moss, and once with Very Vanilla. I cut the piece from Mellow Moss in half, trimmed it, and layered it behind the Very Vanilla piece. I pulled out one of my oldest hand-held punches and punched out a little slot on either side of the label, to thread the ribbon through.

I am loving how easy this card was to make (haha... after I had thought about it for a whole two days!). I think I will CASE this myself and make a few more!

My Supplies List:

Stamp Set(s): Great Greetings (retired)

Ink: Mellow Moss (retired), Versamark

Papers: Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss(retired), Wintergreen (retired)

Accessories: Ribbon from my stash, Scallop border punch, Decorative Label Punch

Holiday Ornament

Well, with today's card, I set out to do a challenge that I saw a couple of days ago. Wouldn't you know it, I can't find the darn sketch! Ugh. So sorry... I think it was from the SU demo website, Stampin' Connections. But I can't find it.

ETA: Found it!

Anyways, here's my card.
On my table, I happened to have Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Creamy Caramel papers lying on top of each other. I thought they look pretty good together. What do you think?

My Supplies List:

Stamp Set(s): Delightful Decorations, Tags 'til Christmas, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Papers: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel (retired), Tea and Crumpets DSP (retired)

Accessories: Chocolate Chip ribbon, Word Window punch, Ornament punch, Scallop Trim border punch, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Big Shot

Marina Mist Silhouette

I CASE'd this card from Laurie. Here's her card. Have I ever told you how much I LOVE the color, Marina Mist? It's awesome! It's like an elegant blue, not too bright, and not too soft.
I also {heart} this 1/8" ribbon. Gotta get more!

Thank You Holiday

Before I became a demo, I had once placed an order through Mary Fish's website. She sent me some samples of designer papers and this lovely snowflake from the snowflake punch. To put some of what she sent me to good use, I decided to make her a card for the season.
This card was super simple to put together. The sentiment was stamped in Versamark. I added a beautiful brad to the center of the snowflake.

DEMO!

I just signed up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! There was a huge promotion last month for 2 weeks, when the starter kit was 50% off. I couldn't resist, I decided to join the ranks. Hopefully you all will help support me in my new endeavor!

Color Throwdown... revised :)

Today's card was inspired by Jill Hilliard's Stinking Cute Aviary card. I also used colors from The Color Throwdown challenge.
Well, I cheated... I added So Saffron to the mix, because I just felt it needed a little pop of color.
I was especially proud of myself, because I used scraps for everything but the base. And of course I cannot make a card without using my Big Shot... the top portion is embossed. The bottom is done by using the trimmed scalloped edge punch. I just love how sweet it looks. Sentiment from retired Picture This.

Stationary Box Contents

As promised, here are the contents inside that stationary box I showed you yesterday. Three A2 size cards, using Aviary stamp set. I left them without sentiments, since I was giving these as gifts. I figured they could be used for all-occasion.
Three 3 1/2" square cards. All characters made with the owl punch. The penguin is made by cutting of the ears. The pig is made by cutting off the feet.
Three gift tags. I used the Tag Alongs stamp set here.

Stationary Box

I set out to make a very special gift for my sister-in-law's birthday. I landed on this stationary box. The tutorial can be found here.
The big flower is made with 2 scalloped circles. Score each petal, then make one cut half way to the center. Fold each score line, up down, up down. Then take the two halves of flowers together. Instead of hot glue to secure my button, I used crystal effects. My gosh, that thing is strong! I was very pleased.

Here's the inside, when the lid is removed.
Will show you the contents tomorrow.

Hugs

Someone close to me is going through a very rough patch. I wanted to make sure she knew that I am there, supporting her. I made this card, double-sided. This was done with my Cricut, which I haven't played with too much lately.

Sweet Sunday

I don't know how she does it, but Karen Giron at The Sweetest Thing just comes up with the best sketches. Here is this week's Sweet Sunday sketch challenge.
Here's what I came up with.
I wanted to use up this last bit of DSP. All the pieces were from the same piece. I just used both sides. And trimmed the sentiment from the paper. My circle element ended up being the ornament, and it's not as pronounced as the sketch, but I thought it's enough. I kept thinking what I could do to fill up more of the space. But then I remember, "less is more." So I stopped.

Clean and Simple

I just felt like tearing the paper! I wanted to try out the new stamp set I got, Upsy Daisy from Stampin Up. And I thought the torn edge would be nice.
This clean and simple layout was not CASE'd from anyone, nor did I use a sketch. This all came out of my little head. Impressed? :0)

Since this card is flat, I can send this in the mail with just one First class postage. Yeah.

MOJO Monday

In my efforts to create using sketch challenges, I found this week's Mojo Monday sketch quite interesting. I love that the main element is tilted.
This is the card I made. I used papers from Raspberry Lemonade DSP that I got off the SU! Clearance Rack. Guess you can't see from this angle. I popped up the birthday cake.

Stampin Addicts

I pulled this sketch from Stampin Addicts.
I thought the circle element seemed a little different. And as soon as I saw this sketch I knew how I was going to layer my card. Here it is.
OK, OK, I promise I will now stop using this color and paper combination for my future projects. :) I put my embellishment flower on the opposite side from the sketch, because I think it balances out with the image better.

Lord, Have Mercy!

I followed the sketch from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge.
Here's my card. I don't know.... I don't love it, nor do I hate it. I think I shouldn't have stamped the swirly circles AND used the swirls embossing folder. This is the first time I used the 1/8" ribbon. Gotta say I love it! :)
I think this ribbon is quite elegant looking, despite its smallness. I had to use some crystal effects as my glue to hold down the ribbon. It kept wanting to undo the knot.

Help a Girl Out!

Any of you reading my blog here, could you please do me a favor? Go to THIS blog by Holly of inkpaperstamps.com and make a comment on her post. Why? She's donating $0.44 for each comment left on her post to Operation Write Home. Very worthy cause. So please go check her out. Thank you.

SCSketches

Surprise! More challenges. Today's challenge comes from Splitcoast Stampers. Yet another simple looking enough sketch.
I changed the middle element from circle to scalloped circle. I love being able to use my Cricut to cut different sizes of these shapes. Same color scheme as yesterday, because I want to use up the papers.

Stamping411

More challenges! This one is from Stamping411. This one looks like it's easy enough that I could tackle.
And here's the card. The DSP is Crumpets and Tea from Stampin' Up's clearance rack when they had a huge blitz last month.
I don't know the colors that are in this pack, so I just used what I thought might be close match. I used So Saffron from SU, but I used a dark green and a really dark eggplant from non-SU.

Sweet Sunday and Color Round Up

With today's card, I used inspiration from two challenges: Color Round Up by Holly Krautkremer
and Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge by Karen Giron.
I didn't have Crumb Cake, so I just used what I had in my scrap box. And I don't have Early Espresso, so I used Chocolate Chip. And here's my card. I pulled out another set that I have had for years... Hedgehog Christmas (or something like that. I'm too lazy to go look right now.).
With my snowflake, I decided the size from my snowflake punch is a little large. So I cut out the spikes, discarded the star (well, not really discarded, I'm sure I'll try to use it on another card sometime later!), and glued them to the back of the circle. The embossed snowflake running down the side of my Marina Mist paper didn't actually achieve what I was trying to do. HOWEVER, I think it turned out so much better!!! If you really want to know how I did it (or can you tell???), let me know in the comments, and I'll try to describe it for you.

TESC 133

As promised (to myself, really), here's another card I made following a sketch challenge. This time it's from Taylored Expression. I confess, I don't have any of her stamp sets, but I do love her sketches. Here's the sketch.
Here's my card. I made this with a very old holiday set called "Christmas Peace." I tried to sell it on splitcoaststampers.com without any success. So I figured I might as well continue to use it myself.
I had placed an order with Mary Fish some time ago, and she sent me some sample holiday DSP's. I can't let those go to waste, so I put them to use.

I'm enjoying these challenges. I will continue to do some more.

MOJO Monday

Have been sort of in a funk lately, and not made a whole lot of cards. I decided I need to do some challenges to get me out of this. The first I am trying is Mojo Monday. This looked like a fun sketch. And in addition, I was inspired by Maria's card.

Here's the sketch.
And here's my card.

I actually came up with this color scheme all by myself, are you impressed? lol. I wanted to use Marina Mist. Then I pulled out these pattern papers. Picking up the colors in there, I used Rich Razzleberry, and a tiny bit of the Peach Parfait ink for the bird. I really liked making this card. Now I will go find another challenge to do!