Charming

One day on her online class Heather Summers featured some of the products in the Summer Mini Catalogue.  She used the Log Cabin Smooch Spritz Spray and the Mini Vintage Tags.  I had the spray but not the tags so I had to improvise a little bit.  I made my own tags!  I punched out a 3/4" circle from Brushed Silver cardstock and a 5/8" circle from Confetti White cardstock.  I punched a small hole and threaded some linen thread and voila I had my own version of the tags!

I think I used a bit too much of the spray - I think it will take some time to get to using it.   The stamp set Heather featured is one that was available in the last Holiday Mini Catalogue and it is being carried over to the new Idea Book and Catalogue that comes into effect on July 1.  All of the images from the card are from that stamp set.

This is my card

I made a second card and am much happier with it - it is not as dark.  I also used a different stamp set for the greeeting so that I could use it as a birthday card.

Supplies

Stamp Set - Charming, A Little Birthday Cheer

Card Stock - Kraft (soon to be known as Crumb Cake), Confetti White, Brushed Silver

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Real Red (Craft)

Other - Log Cabin Smooch Spritz Spray, Dimensionals, Linen Thread

Heather Summers' Simply Sunday Sketch Challenge

I couldn't believe it when I realized that it is already Sunday again.  Where is the time going?  Once again I am participating in Heather's Sunday Sketch Challenge - this is week 14!

Here is this week's sketch

You can check Heather's blog to see both the sketch and Heather's sample card. 

I have been wanting to use the Tropical Party stamp set and the coordinating Island Oasis DSP so I decided now was the time.  Here is my card - I even stamped the inside!

Supplies

Stamp Set - Tropical Party, Let the Fun Begin

Card Stock - Rose Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Island Oasis DSP

Ink - Old Olive Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise

Other - Old Olive Striped Ribbon, Linen thread, Modern Label, Word Window and Ticket Corner punches, dimensionals

Colour Challenge - Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Whisper White

On her Simply Stamping 2 online class Heather gave us a challenge to use Pumpkin Pie, Real Red and Whisper White all on the same card.  Are you kidding me was my first reaction!  I don't think I have ever used Pumpkin Pie with Real Red.  I decided that I had to stretch myself so took up the challenge.

This is the card I made.  It follows the same layout as a card I have previously posted.  I have to say I really like it.  I used My Digital Studio to create the background on the Whisper White layer.  The colours are not quite true - I think I need to change my ink cartridge - but overall I am pleased with the results.

Supplies

Stamp Set - Extreme Skateboard, A Little Birthday Cheer

Card Stock - Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink - Basic Black (both Classic and Craft)

Other - Square Lattice Embossing folder, Star Punches, Top Note die, Basic Black brad, Dimensionals, Clear Embossing powder, My Digital Studio (Extreme Elements 'stamp', Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and YoYo yellow 'ink')

More My Digital Studio

On the first day of her latest online class, in addition to posting the project for the day, Heather Summers posted a Bonus.  It was a sketch for a a 12 x12 scrapbook page using My Digital Studio.  I have been spending a lot of time recently "playing" with that software and it has been a lot of fun just trying to see what I could do.  I must say it certainly helps a lot when someone has already taken the time to do the layout.  All I had to do was figure out was which pictures I wanted to use and go from there.

I decided to use some pictures from an outing I had with two of my neices and their three year old sons.  I have so far only "scrapped" a page for one of the boys, but I will surely do another one soon.

This is my page

If you want more information on Heather's class you can click HERE to check out her blog.

Fun with MDS

I am participating in Heather Summers' most recent online class - Simply Stamping Two.  Although the class has started, it is not to late to join in the fun.  Check out Heather's blog HERE for all the details.

One of the projects was a thank you card to be given at year end to a child's teacher.  Heather used a variety of punches to create her card.  Although I have no school age childred I couldn't resist trying to re-create the card using My Digital Studio.  I think I was successful. 

This is my "card".

I also decided to try it as a 12 x 12 scrapbook page. 

Video - Tying Knots and Bows

Awash with Flowers - Gretchen Barron

Recently Gretchen Barron posted a card on her blog using the Awash with Flowers stamp set.  Judy and I both took note of it, so that is the card I have chosen for our project this week.   We haven't made it yet - I was not able to keep our usual Monday "date".  Hopefully we'll be able to get together tomorrow or Thursday.

You can find Gretchen's card by following THIS LINK.

This is my card:

Supplies

Stamp Set - Awash with Flowers, Whimsical Words

Card Stock - Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry

Ink - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Crushed Curry

Other - Scallop Trim Border Punch, Rich Razzleberry and Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon, Square Fire Rhinestone Brad

It's Sunday!

It is Sunday and Heather Summers has posted her Simply Sunday Sketch Challenge for this week.  Check out her post and play along.

This is the sketch

I love doing these challenges!  Usually I see a card and CASE it with little to no changes.  I try not to do that with the sketch challenges even when there is a sample posted like Heather has done today.  I love her card and was tempted to use the Sweet Scoops stamp set, but I resisted.  I decided that I would use my favourite Awash with Flowers stamp set.  This is what I came up with.

Supplies

Stamp Set - Awash with Flowers, Watercolour Trio

Card Stock - Rich Razzzleberry, Pale Plum, Confetti White, Old Olive, Cottage Wall DSP

Ink - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Basic Black

Other - Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Square Ice Rhinestone Brad, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Monogram Note Cards

As a subscriber to Andrea Walford's Class Planners for Demonstrators, I received  a bonus (exclusive) planner a short time ago.  The planner was for monogrammed note cards and a holder.  This is the photo that was included with my planner.

I decided to make the set for my sister-in-law for her birthday.  I don't have the flower die for the Big Shot that Andrea used so I had to made a small adjustment to the holder.   Instead of using a flower to embellish the top of the card holder, I simply made an extra monogram panel and used that.  I am very pleased with the result.  Andrea's instructions were for 8 cards, however I made 12 and they fit into the holder perfectly.

Supplies

Stamp Set - Vintage Labels (SAB)

Ink - Basic Black

Card Stock - Whisper White, Basic Grey, Nouveau Chic DSP

Other - Wide Oval Punch, Lots of 'Tags Sizzlit Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch, My Digital Studio (to create the monogram), Basic Grey Satin Ribbon

My Digital Studio

I was playing with My Digital Studio today and created a card that follows this week's Simply Sunday Sketch on Heather Summers' blog.  I had done one card and although I was happy with it, I did find it to be a little dark. 

This card is by no means dark.  I decided to use colours I saw as a colour challenge on someone's blog - unfortunately I can't remember where I saw it.  The colours to be used were Bashful Blue, Barely Banana and Melon Mambo.  These are not colours I would normally use together but I decided to give it a try.

Here is my card -

I even decorated the inside!

Colours - Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo, Barely Banana, Whisper White

Stamps - For All You Do, Presto Patterns Overlay

Wedding Cards

I don't really have an immediate need for a wedding card, but over the past few months I have seen a lot of postings with cards featuring "brides and grooms" made with the SU Full Heart punch and the Scalloped Heart embosslit.

I decided to give it a try after seeing a post that particularly caught my attention.  It was posted on a site only for Stampin' Up! demonstrators, but there was a link to a blog.  You can see the original HERE.  I pretty much copied it exactly.  I used rhinestone from the Eggscellent Eggs kit (instead of the clear rhinestone brads in the original).

Here is my card

Supplies

Stamp Set - Heard From the Heart

Card Stock - Whisper White, Shimmery White, Basic Black

Ink - Basic Black

Other - Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, 1/4" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Black Brads, Rhinestones

Video - Dying Fleurettes

Heather Summers' Simply Sunday Sketch Challenge #12

Heather has posted this week's challenge and after trying to create something with different colours I kept going back to the colours she used.  I loved the vintage like look of her card.  I don't have the stamp set Heather used so I searched through my stamp sets and found some that I thought would work.  I don't have that fantastic Presto Patterns DSP from the summer mini that Heather used in her sample, but I had a package of the Bride DSP so I used that and sponged on the soft suede ink.  You can click HERE to see the card Heather made.

This is the sketch

This is my card:

It is not quite so dark in real life - I will however probably remake it and not sponge on quite so much ink.  I might use the flourish from the Baroque Motifs stamp set instead of the image from Razzle Dazzle.  I did not have the cute little tags that Heather used and didn't have anything similar so I left off the little embellishment.

Supplies -

Stamp Set - All Holidays, Razzle Dazzle

Card Stock - Soft Suede, Confetti White, Early Espresso (one of the NEW colours that will be available in the new catalogue), Bride Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink - Soft Suede

Other - Colour Spritzer Tool, Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber

Christmas in May?

Last December Heather Summers posted a picture of a 3D Advent Calendar she had received from a friend.  I located a supplier for the actual calendar - Karen Foster 3D Countdown Calendar - and ordered some.  Unfortunately, due to unforseen circumstances I only received them a few weeks ago.  Although Judy and I will be making them together - I couldn't help myself and have made one of mine already.  I had ordered 3.  I want to give one to my mother and keep one for myself so I ordered 2 for me and 1 for Judy.

I love how it turned out and am so looking forward to making the second one.  I am thinking they would make a great gift so I may order some more.

Here it is - I used the same Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' Kit as Heather's friend.  I also used a few little bits from the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit.  The numbers are stickers that were included with the calendar.  Each of the little drawers will hold a little treat - I tried it and I know they will hold a Lindor Truffle!

Supplies (all SU exept 3D Countdown Calendar)

Card Stock - Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit, I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit

Other - Karen Foster 3D Countdown Calendar, Read Red Brads, Circle Fire Brads, Filigree Brads, Silver Brads, Read Red and Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Real Red Double stitched ribbon, Real Red Epoxy Brad, Real Red Corduroy Buttons, Playground Designer Buttons

Awash with Flowers

I really can't get enough of this stamp set.  It is so very versatile!  I saw THIS card and knew that I would have to CASE it.  I also knew that it's clean and simple style would be easily adaptable to many occasions and that it would be a perfect project for Judy and I to do together.

I am pleased with how my cards turned out - I will however place the two brads a little closer together when I make more - and I will make more!  I will also be making some without the brads.  I plan to make several of the image panels and emboss the card bases but not finish them until needed.  I'll add the sentiment and then finish the assembly of the card.  The image panel is adhered to the card with dimensionals.

I made a Get Well Card - the base card is embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  The sentiment is stamped with one of the sentiments from Curvy Verses.

I also made a Sympathy card - I am so pleased with it.  Clean and Simple.  The base card was embossed with Stampin' Up!'s new Square Lattice embossing folder from the Summer Mini catalogue that came into effect on May 1.  The sentiment is from Close as a Memory.

Supplies
Stamp Set - Awash with Flowers, Curvy Verses, Close as a Memory
Card Stock - Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink - Basic Black, Summer Sun and Certainly Celery Markers
Other - SU Embossing Folders - Perfect Polka Dots, Square Lattice, Basic Black brads, dimensionals

Makeover Monday - Awash with Flowers - Almost Amethyst (version 2)

I have said it before and I will say it again - I love this stamp set!  I had previously posted a card I had made using Almost Amethyst card stock and the Awash with Flowers stamp set.  I was happy with the card, but kept thinking there was something missing.  You can see that card HERE.

I decided to remake it a little bit.  In this version I added a black layer behind the image panel and left off the ribbon.  I am so pleased with it!  I think it showcases the images without the distraction of the ribbon.

Supplies
Stamp Set - Awash with Flowers, Heard from the Heart
Card Stock - Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink - Basic Black, Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery

Happy Mother's Day!

This is one of the cards I made for Mother's Day - I decided this one would be for my mother-in-law.  She really likes birds and has her garden planted to attract butterflies so I thought it would be great for her.

Supplies

Stamp Set - Well Scripted

Card Stock - Rose Red, Whisper White, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Sweet Pea DSP

Ink - Rose Red

Other - Circle Scissors, 2 Step Bird Punch, Pretty in Pink 5/8" satin ribbon

This is the card I have decided to give to my mother.  When I added the crystal effects to the letters the Chocolate Chip ink ran a little, but I like the look of it.  The Fleurette I used looked like it had two layers - I used my Pretty in Pink marker to add a little colour to the inside "layer" and used one of the pink epoxy brads in the centre. 

Supplies

Stamp Set - Messages for Mom

Card Stock - Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Sending Love Specialty Designer Paper

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink Marker

Other - Scallop Trim Border Punch, Full Heart Punch, Scalloped Heart of Heart Embosslit, Fleurette, Pretty in Pink Epoxy Brad, Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon

Video - Faux Suede

Note Pad Portfolio

Last summer Patty Bennett posted a tutorial on her blog showing how to convert Stampin' Up!'s Thoroughly Modern File Folders into portfolios to hold 5" x 8" mini legal pads.  You can see Patty's tutorial HERE.  Judy and I had both ordered the file folders but neither of us had done anything with them.  We decided that the portfolios would be one of our projects for this week.

The only change we made was to use craft magnets for the closure rather than the velcro that Patty used.

This is the portfolio closed

Here is a view of the inside

Supplies
Thoroughly Modern File Folders
5 x 8 Mini Legal Note Pad (we got ours at Staples); Craft Magnet or Velcro; Sticky Strip; SNAIL
Tools - Paper Cutter, Scoring Tool

We also made two cards this week - both of which I had previously posted.  You can them  HERE and HERE.

Watch the video to see Stampin' Up!'s Carrie and Shannon talk about some of the exciting new products in the summer mini catalogue.

Video - Shimmer Paint

Makeover Monday

Andrea Walford recently introduced her Makeover Monday.  She will take a card she has seen in a magazine or on the internet and then make it over using Stampin' Up! products.  I decided to give it a try when I saw THIS CARD on Nicole Heady's blog.

Here is my card -

Supplies:

Stamp Sets - God's Beauty, Sweet Little Sentiments

Card Stock - Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Thoroughly Modern DSP

Other - Veryy Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Ovals die for the Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Fundraiser - Parkinson's (Final Card)

This is the last of the six cards from the fundraiser for the Parkinson's Foundation hosted by Marlayne Hardy in April.  You can visit Marlayne's blog by clicking HERE.

The tulips are made with the wing from the 2 Step Bird punch.  The 'vase' is made from the Ornnament punch.
Stamp Set - En Francais, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink - Old Olive
Other - XL 2 Step Bird Punch, Ornament Punch, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Square Die for the Big Shot, Perfect Polka embossing folder, sponge daubers

Heather Summers' Simply Sunday Sketch Challenge #11

You can see the details of Heather Summers' Simply Sunday Sketch Challenge by clicking  HERE.  It is quite a fun sketch with a lot of possibilities for interpretation.  Here is the sketch

This is my take on the sketch. 

I knew I wanted to use some of the Sending Love DSP, but most of it got covered by the Top Note die. Overall though I am very pleased with the card and now have a baby girl card ready when I need it in July. I think I may make one using Bashful Blue so that I have a baby boy card on hand - I think perhaps I will do it as a square card so more of the DSP shows.

Supplies

Stamp Set - Something Sweet, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock - Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Sending Love DSP

Ink - Pretty in Pink

Others - Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Sweet Treats cups, Pretty in Pink Brads, Top Note Die, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Dimensionals, Designer Buttons - Sherbet and Button Latte

Fundraiser - Parkinson's

This is the fifth of the cards I made from the kit I received from Marlayne Hardy.

Stamp Sets - Oval All, Butterfly Accent (no longer available)
Card Stock - Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Ink - Barely Banana, Certainly Celery
Other - Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Barely Banana Brads, Eyelet border punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, dimensionals

Fundraiser - Parkinson's

This is the fourth of the six cards from Marlayne Hardy's fundraiser.

Stamp Set - Butterfly Accent (retired), Whimsical Words (SAB), Dot, Dot (Retired)

Card Stock - Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink - Melon Mambo (should have been Regal Rose), Chocolate Chip

Other - Beautiful Wings Embosslit