Our theme this week over at SUO Challenges is Anything Sizzix from Stampin’ Up.  Wow…where does one start??  Well I needed a design for swaps at the Regionals in Baltimore and I knew I wanted to use the new Epic Day DSP so I went from there.

I think the papers in that set are so beautiful and I love this Daffodil Delight design.  For some reason it said “butterfly” to me so I used my Beautiful Butterflies Die to create this fellow.  I used another lined print to add a smaller layer.  The Flower Trim is so pretty as centers on the butterflies so I dyed some with Daffodil Delight to match the Seam Binding.  To add a little dimension to the card, I chose this zigzag pattern for a crossing panel.  I scored on either side of it then used my Piercing Tool with the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack.  The bow is a shabby bow made from the beautiful Daffodil Delight Seam Binding.  Funny, I don’t normally think of this sunny yellow for a vintage card but I think it works well here.  As you can see, I made a few of these for my swaps and I received some fabulous cards in return.

I have a small announcement to make with regards to SUO Challenges.  This will be my last challenge with them as a design team member.  I have had such an amazing time being on a team with such awesome talent.  Truly, these stampers are some of the best!  I am grateful for the opportunity they have provided to be in their company and look forward to continued inspiration from them (and their new team members!).

I am so glad you dropped by today.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my Epic Butterflies!  Hope your day is wonderful!

Stamp:  Made for You; Paper:  Epic Day DSP, Crumb Cake; Ink:  Crumb Cake; Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, 7/8″ Flower Trim, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, Paper Piercing Tool, Essentials Paper Piercing  Pack, Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Our theme this week at SUO Challenges is Monochomatic Cards so I thought that it was the perfect excuse to show you a card that is all about Baja Breeze.  Yes, it is retiring…sigh….and I know I will have a new favorite in no time but for now, here it is.

I started with the beautiful hydrangea from the Best of Flowers set (Best of March).  I love this flower!  The background paper is from Storytime DSP.  Both the notebook paper design and the Baja Breeze design are from that set.  Yes, I know that it is technically supposed to be Pool Party but it really looks like Baja Breeze to me.  I wrapped the blue layer with some Naturals Ribbon (held over from the Holiday Catalog) and then tied on a shabby bow made from the Baja Breeze Seam Binding.  Some Basic Pearls are the finishing touch.

I can’t wait to see what you create this week.  Also, I would like to bid a fond farewell from the SUO Challenges team to my friend Heidi Baks.  She is so incredibly talented and I have loved being inspired by her!!

Thanks so much for stopping in today.  See you again soon!

We have a wonderful theme this week over at SUO Challenges!  We are celebrating Easter.  Be it religious or fun little bunnies and baskets, we want to see it!

I thought it would be fun to create an Easter basket complete with little eggs.  I started with the Floral District DSP (yes, I know…I really do love it).  The bright colors are just like the colors I love on our family eggs.  I started by punching out the Rose Red design with the Petite Purse Die and cut off the front panel to create the basket.  I then found the oval in the Oval Framelits that was just a tad smaller than the width of the basket.  I cut that oval and then cut it again with the next smaller oval to form the handle.  The eggs are made with the Large Oval Punch.  I put part of a little doily at the basket edge and attached a little bow made from Baja Breeze Seam Binding.  After playing around with the sketch for a while, I accidentally knocked the Daffodil Delight panel askew…and I liked it so it stayed that way permanently.  I have to admit that this little basket makes me really happy!!  I hope you like it too!

I am looking forward to the Easter entries in the gallery!  Thanks for dropping in to visit today.  I’ll be back tomorrow with the latest from Freshly Made Sketches (it is my sketch this week)!  Hope your day is great!

Stamp:  Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Floral District DSP, Baja Breeze, Whisper White; Ink:  Baja Breeze; Accessories:  Big Shot, Petite Purse Die, Ovals Framelits, Large Oval Punch, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Neutrals Buttons, Baja Breeze Seam Binding

I hope that your week is going well!!  We have a great new theme for you at SUO Challenges this week – Everything Blue.  Let’s face it, blue is the favorite color of so many people and it is fun to focus on one color!

I could not hold off any longer.  I just had to pull out more new things from the Spring Catalog.  My “something blue” this week is a sneak peek at some new designer paper called Tea for Two.  All the paper prints on this card are from that set.  The little doily is such a fun way to add texture without bulk and they come in sets of 24.  I cut this one in half then wrapped the edges around the DSP.  Fun, huh??!  A little Linen Thread and a Vintage Faceted Button added just the right vintage touch.  Finally, I stamped a sentiment from Day of Gratitude onto the DSP (the strip and the stamped pieces are front and back side).  I hope you like this quick and sweet little thank you card!  We are now entering the season of the thank you card and I should be able to make a set of these pretty easily for timely mailing!

Thank you, too, to all my readers.  As we approach the end of the year I want you to know that your comments are such a gift to me!!  I appreciate be able to share my love of stamping with you!

Stamp:  Day of Gratitude; Paper:  Tea for Two DSP, Crumb Cake; Ink:  Soft Suede; Accessories:  Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Linen Thread, Vintage Faceted Buttons

…must be from Stampin’ Up!!  Ok, maybe not EVERYTHING that glitters but there sure are a lot of things from SU that do!!  So it seems like the perfect time for SUO Challenges to do this theme – Glitter Galore.

What better to use for a sparkly theme than the Glimmer Paper??!!  I love this paper!  It is so amazing in person!  I cut out some snowflakes using the Snow Flurry Die.  Then I simply mixed a couple drop of Not Quite Navy reinker and a few drops of water, using that to color the bigger snowflakes.  You can play around with the color until it is what you like (I used a small scrap first).  After it dried, I layered a “plain” silver snowflake on top (not really very plain, after all).  I love the effect!  A Basic Rhinestone was the perfect thing to add to the centers.  Now for the sentiment.  With all the sparkle I couldn’t just use any old thing to stamp the sentiment.  I pulled out my Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  To get a little color behind the sparkle, stamp your sentiment onto a Versamark Pad and then onto a Basic Gray pad.  This will make your ink sticky and the embossing powder will stick perfectly (don’t forget to use your Embossing Buddy first).

The team has made some spectacular projects…you might consider some sunglasses for all the sparkle!  *smile*  We can’t wait for you to show us your glitter and glam!!

So glad you dropped by today.  I am still madly working on my Christmas cards but will be back tomorrow with another Freshly Made Sketches card.  Until then, have a great day!

Stamp:  More Merry Messages; Paper:  Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White; Ink:  Versamark, Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy Reinker;  Accessories: Big Shot, Snow Flurry Die, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Basic Rhinestones, Heat Tool, Dimensionals