Sometimes Less is More...

Sometimes I tend to over think when I'm working on a project. I wanted to keep adding and adding embellishments and before I knew it, I had a mess of a project! So I started over and stopped when the phone rang. When I went back and looked at the card, I thought "OK! I't's done!"

Supplies used: Pretty In Pink and Whisper White card stock, Chocolate Chip Prints designer series paper; Scallop Trim Corner and Large Oval punches; Pretty In Pink & Old Olive Markers; Black Stazon Ink

Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper

A stamping friend of mine had surgery last week and thankfully, all is well and she seems to be making a great recovery! I know she will up and stamping soon! I tucked this card in with her order and delivered it to her yesterday. Feel better soon, Caroline!

Supplies used: Rose Red & Whisper White card stock, Thoroughly Modern designer series paper (love it!), Whisper White craft ink . White embossing powder, Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Trim Border and Ticket Corner punches, Filigree designer brads.

I Can't Decide....

The snow is falling again this afternoon (although we are told we will only get an inch or so this time). I pulled out the Leaf Lines stamp set and embossed the shamrocks on Mellow Moss card stock with Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder. I partnered it with Always Artichoke card stock,ribbon and Classic Ink. I would love your comments! Let me know which one you like best!

Haitian Fundraiser Update!

Stampin' Up! posted an update earlier today - almost 12,000 I {Heart} Heart stamp sets have been ordered!! There are still 5 more days to order yours!

Make & Take

One of the Sparklers, Angie Cleveland designed this card we made at our meeting last week. Isn't it cute? I know you can't see it but the Whisper White piece was embossed using one of the Sizzix Embossing plates. Thanks, Angie!

Supplies used: Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke and Whisper White card stock; Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink; Two-Step Bird and Eyelet order punches; Well Scripted stamp set; Cottage Wall designer series paper; Stampin' Dimensionals; Perfect Details Impression Plate & Sizzix Big Shot

Spring is in the Air....NOT!

Well, the snow is coming down...again...

But in my stamp room, I am focusing on Spring! I was "playing" at my workshop yesterday, demonstrating how to brayer color on the Bride Specialty Paper and came up with a card very similar to this. I gave it to my hostess (Thanks again, Wanda!!) so re-created it this morning.



Supplies used: Apricot Appeal, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Whisper White & Regal Rose card stock; Certainly Celery Classic Ink; Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon; Eyelet Border, Large Oval, and Designer Label punches; Beautiful Wings Embosslit; Brayer; Bride Specialty Paper

40 Shades of Green...

It has been said that Ireland has 40 shades of green. I have to agree! We visited there 11 years ago and it is beautiful! I cant wait to go back! And of course, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!!




Supplies used: Whisper White and Certainly Celery card stock; Shades of Spring designer series paper; Basic Black Classic Ink; Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die; Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Oval and Large Oval punches.

I {Heart} Hearts - Relief for Haiti

Thank you to those of you who have ordered this stamp set to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti! Stampin' Up! posted a note that as of last week, well over 9,400 sets have been purchased! I was preparing some more packets of the cards for those who have purchased the I {Heart} Heart stamp set from me and thought I would post a reminder about it. The fund raising period for this stamp set ends on February 28th so there is still time to order your set! The item numbers are 117010 for the wood mount ($26.95) and 118571 for the clear mount ($18.95). Acrylic Block "D" (item number 118485, $8.50) is recommended if you need a block. You can call or e-mail me to place your order, or go to my on-line store.

Happy Stamping!

Create a Flower!

At the Phoenix Regional Seminar last month, one of the presenters demonstrated how to make this cute flower out of designer series paper. I have created a tutorial to show you how to make one. It does take some practice but once you get the hang of it, you'll have lots of fun embellishing cards, scrap book pages, gift bags, etc. Have fun!

Elegant Trio Stampin' Stencils

Every few months at our Susan's Sparkler's meetings we swap card fronts. I thought I would share my swap card. This card uses another stencil from the Elegant Trio set from the Definitely Decorative catalog. The image is stenciled in Soft Suede. Inside the Very Vanilla HodgePodge Hardware frame are images from the Sale-A-Bration set, Vintage Labels. I used the Soft Suede Marker and the Spritzer tool to add a little dimension as well.

I Wish I Had a "Nanny Cam!

My husband surprised me this morning with a Valentine Card he made me! While I was at my workshop yesterday, he made this card AND cleaned everything up! If only I had a "Nanny Cam" in my stamping area to see him hard at work! He designed it himself! Isn't it great?? He is a supporting demonstrator...maybe he should teach a class for husbands!! What do you think?

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Valentine's Day with your special someone! I haven't posted in a few days but I have been busy stamping! I realized the other day that I hadn't made Valentine's Day cards for my husband, his mother and my parents so I spent yesterday afternoon making cards!

I opened up the Welcome Neighbor designer series pack from the Sale-A-Bration brochure and found several sheets with tiny hearts in different colors. The paper inspired me to use non traditional Valentine's Day colors with a couple of the cards.

This first card is for my husband. I punched hearts with the large heart punch (the center heart is actually the reverse side of the sheet with the hearts). I stamped the Happy Valentine's Day greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes a couple of times and cut it apart to adhere one word on each heart.

The card for my Mother-In-Law uses a different sheet of designer series paper with the same tiny hearts on it, but in different colors. I used the Stampin' Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder and the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

And last, but certainly not least, is the card I made for my parents.

Need a Card in a Hurry?

When you are in a hurry and need to make a quick card, Stampin' Up!'s designer series paper is just what you need! This card uses the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (with the bling built in!), the new Scallop Trim Border Punch (FREE with a $50 purchase), the new Fancy Flower punch and With All My Heart stamp set from the Occasions Mini catalog!

Elegant Trio Stampin' Stencils

Many years ago, when our kids were little, I used to stencil. These new stencils are perfect for cards and scrapbook pages! They can be seen on page 11 of the newest Definitely Decorative catalog.

Vintage Vogue

One of the presentations we saw at Leadership featured the Vintage look. The presentation was done by Shelli Gardner. It's always fun to see Shelli's creations! So I brought out my Vintage Vogue stamp set and Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel and came up with this card.

One of the fun things with the clear mounted stamps is that you can place several stamps on a large acrylic block and create a collage effect. I also filled in some of "white" spaces with stamped images and brought out my Pretties Kit for some pearls. The Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon is a great embellishment for the Vintage look, and of course, some glitter. I sprayed some adhesive spray on the Very Vanilla piece after it was stamped and very lightly sprinkled on the Dazzling Diamonds.

What's Up, Doc?

Wouldn't these look great on your table this Easter? Die cut the carrot out of Pumpkin Pie card stock with the Scallop Circle die and your Big Shot.( I stamped the card stock with the Sanded Background Stamp and Pumpkin Pie Classic ink.) Fold the ends together and adhere with a little Sticky Strip. Punch out 3 leaves with the Scallop Oval Punch using Old Olive card stock. The tags were stamped with Eggcoutrements Stamp set from the Occasions Mini. The ribbon is from the Elementary Ribbon Originals pack. Our small cello bags are perfect to hold some treats for the inside of the carrots!

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Pack

I just love this designer series paper! It really goes with a lot of stamps and accessories (like these stitched felt flowers!) This is also one of the cards we are going to make at the Stamp-A-Stack on March 20th! We will make 12 cards for $20 (2 each of 6 designs).

Valentine Heart Card

Do you remember cutting hearts out of construction paper when you were a young child? We saw this project at Leadership and it brought back memories of making Valentine's Day cards many years ago. I am sending these to my grandchildren this year. To make this card:

• Fold a 12" x 12" sheet of card stock in half. Cut out a large heart.

• Place a medium envelope in the center of the heart.
• This will be the "card" portion. (I folded the envelope in half first to create a center line). See first photo.
  

• Make dots at the corners and connect the dots with light pencil lines. These lines will be the score lines.

• Score along the pencil lines from the top to bottom and side to side, all the way to the edges of the heart. These will be your fold lines.
  

• When folded, you can address them and mail them without needing an envelope!
• The inside of the heart can then be decorated as desired.

I had fun making these this morning! Hope you will, too!