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SUOC37 – Occasions Mini Favorites

SUOC37 – Occasions Mini Favorites published on 14 Comments on SUOC37 – Occasions Mini Favorites

Oh will you like the challenge this week at SUO Challenges!  We are asking you to show us your favorite products from the Occasions Mini.  The hardest part will be choosing, of course!  For me, I knew I was going to order Bordering on Romance as soon as I saw it.  And I knew I was stamping it on a butterfly.

The colors from the Twitterpated DSP are so beautiful that I wanted to add them here as well.  I stamped the image on a butterfly from my Beautiful Butterflies die in Basic Gray ink, then watercolored it with Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze and Basic Gray using a Blender Pen.  The little flowers were stamped and colored with the same inks.  I included at scalloped border made with the new Adorning Accents Edgelits…so fantastic!  You knew that I couldn’t avoid the call of a new ribbon and I have added it here (Pleated Satin Ribbon) and attached a Seam Binding bow.  The new big pearls are perfect for the center of a bow (or a flower) and I love them.  Some additional Basic Pearls were added to the butterfly.  So I guess I went a little overboard with my new products but when they are this pretty, how can you say no?!

So I have a little announcement and I have waited until posting this to tell you.  I am officially a Control Freak!!  Ok, I am a control freak on a lot of things but I was asked to join the Control Freak Swap Group (aka, some of my Stampin’ Up heroes).  This was my card for the first swap I did with them.  The cards I got back are amazing!!  Thanks to the whole group for such inspiration!

Well, this afternoon is a big test on my knowledge of aircraft systems.  Yep, I had one week to learn all the systems of the Airbus 319/320.    Lots of studying!  In fact, I need to get back to it now.  I hope you have a fantastic week and I can’t wait to see all you share with us from the mini!

Stamp:  Bordering on Romance; Paper:  Twitterpated DSP, Basic Gray Whisper White, Baja Breeze; Ink:  Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray; Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Baja Breeze Pleated Satin Ribbon, Large Basic Pearl, Basic Pearls, Adorning Accents Edgelits

SUOC36 – Try a new technique

SUOC36 – Try a new technique published on 5 Comments on SUOC36 – Try a new technique

I am so excited to share with you the SUO Challenge for this week.  It is perfect for the new year, I must say.  We are asking you to try a new (to you) technique.  Fun!  The hardest part will be choosing what to try.

I wanted to see what came of using a Faux Tile technique using my Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  I was inspired by the color challenge from Pals Paper Arts PPA126.  They chose Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla.  So that led me to making Faux Delft Tile.  I love this flower stamp from the Sale-a-bration (SAB) set Fresh Vintage and it seemed perfect for using with  this.  I took a Very Vanilla sheet that is 3″ x 4 1/2″ and scored it at 1 1/2″ increments.  Make sure you go over your score lines a couple of times to create nice deep indents.  Randomly stamp your image making sure you don’t press too hard.  This works particularly well with larger stamps but it was not too hard with this one.  Using a sticky note, mask the score line and sponge a bit around each square to mimic tile.  I stamped the images in Not Quite Navy and sponged with Baja Breeze.  Finally I added an oval embossed with Designer Frames and fussy cut.  The sentiment is from Day of Gratitude and punched with an Extra-Large Oval Punch.  The edges were sponged to match the tile panel.  A couple of Basic Pearls and done.

This is a fun technique.  And my husband said…hey, it really looks like tile.  Success!  I can’t wait to see what you will create for this challenge!

My first few days of training went well last week but it showed me how much I have to do to get ready for flying.  I’ll be busily working on some aircraft systems studying this week but there is definitely room for some stamping too.  I’m still trying to get ahead on all the upcoming challenges.  I will be back tomorrow with a new layout from Freshly Made Sketches.  See you then!

Stamps:  Fresh Vintage (SAB), Day of Gratitude; Paper:  Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Not Quite Navy; Accessories:  Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Big Shot, Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

All products are Stampin’ Up!

SUOC35

SUOC35 published on 2 Comments on SUOC35

After all the holiday preparation, the team at SUO Challenges is a little punchy this week!!  We are creating projects with our punches and can’t wait to see how you use yours.  Now I will freely admit that I am not a “punch art” talent but I know that many of you are.  I always love seeing what people create!

There is nothing quite like a punch to simplify your life and make a quick card so I went with that idea for my card.  This is a birthday card for a friend of my oldest son.  She loves orange so I figured a Pumpkin Pie flower was just the thing!  I punched out 9 Scallop Circles from some Brights Designer Paper and layered them alternating the patterns.  The background was the Old Olive dots pattern from the same DSP and plain Old Olive card stock.  The sentiment is from Inviting.  I got the sketch from a Fall-to Layout Challenge (171) from a couple of weeks ago.  Once you punch out the Scallop Circles, just crumple the papers to soften the fibers.  Then layer them (with a Basic Black scallop as a base) and re-fluff.  I sewed them together but you can use a brad too.

My mom is leaving today and we have been busy with all the holiday stuff.  I hope to be back a little later in the week with some new things.  I hope you are having a great week.  Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon!

Stamp:  Inviting; Paper:  Brights Designer Paper Pack, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Black; Ink:  Basic Black; Accessories:  Scallop Circle Punch, Neutrals Button, White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

SU Only Challenge 34 – Merry and Happy

SU Only Challenge 34 – Merry and Happy published on 11 Comments on SU Only Challenge 34 – Merry and Happy

For the next two weeks the team at SU Only Challenges is celebrating December holidays…all of them!  The challenge is “Merry and Happy” and we want to see the cards you make to share your joy.

This is the time of the season that I tend to lean on some favorites to make my remaining cards.  I am woefully behind on my Christmas cards and Dasher came to the rescue (again).  I combined him with one of the prints from Frostwood Lodge DSP.  The sketch comes from Inkspirations Challenges #99.  I love that I could use those little squares and get a pop of color.  The sentiment comes from Bright Hopes.  Early Espresso Baker’s Twine was used to tie up a Crumb Cake button.  I think I’ll be making a few more of these!

When you see what the rest of the team has made you will be so impressed.  It is clear that we love our December holidays!!  Can’t wait to see what you will make!

I’ll see you tomorrow with a Freshly Made Sketch!  Until then, thanks for dropping by and have a great day!

Stamps:  Dasher, Bright Hopes; Paper:  Frostwood Lodge DSP, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Whisper White; Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso; Accessories:  Early Espresso Baker’s Twine, Neutrals Buttons, Dimensionals

All products are Stampin’ Up!

 

SUOC33 – Holiday Colors

SUOC33 – Holiday Colors published on 9 Comments on SUOC33 – Holiday Colors

SU Only Challenges is back with another awesome theme – Holiday Colors.  We want you to show us the colors that inspire your holiday decorating, card making and crafting.  I have to say that it wasn’t a big stretch for me to commit to my color selection on this one.  The color of the season for me this year has been Always Artichoke.  I have been drawn to this color for many years but my use had faded a bit over the last couple of Christmas seasons.  Well, it has come back with full force this year.  I can tell you there is a direct correlation to my getting Bright Hopes and the resurgence!

I love the tree in Bright Hopes…love it.  The simple elegance lends itself to monochromatic cards and I have enjoyed making those all season.  It seemed appropriate that I make another for this challenge.  I started by inking the tree in Versamark Ink and then with my Always Artichoke Pad.  After stamping it on Naturals Ivory, I heat embossed it with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  I did the same for the sentiment.  Pictures can never capture how much the heat embossing adds  but the bit of texture and shine is pretty in person.  I added a little more holiday feel by scrunching up my Always Artichoke Seam Binding along the edge of the tree panel.  I just ran a little glue along the edge and created the pleats behind the panel.  This panel was popped up on Dimensionals.  I put the sentiment on a little banner to add a little more dimension.  Of course the tree isn’t complete without some Basic Pearls so I added one to the center and two little one on the sentiment banner.  Because it is a Christmas tree, this card also qualifies for the Our Creative Corner: O Christmas Tree Challenge.

I am so excited to see all the color variations you will show us this week.  Remember that you have 10 days to participate!  The team has provided some fantastic inspiration as always!

I will be back tomorrow with a new challenge from Freshly Made Sketches and Thursday will bring new Creative Crew projects.  Hope to see you back as the week goes on!  Have a great day!

Stamp:  Bright Hopes; Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Always Artichoke; Ink:  Always Artichoke, Versamark; Accessories:  Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Always Artichoke Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

All products are Stampin’ Up!

 

SUOC32 – Gratitude

SUOC32 – Gratitude published on 10 Comments on SUOC32 – Gratitude

I am continuing my trend of non-Christmas cards (although I do have some to show you soon) with the challenge from SU Only Challenges this week.  Our theme this week is “Thankful”.  Let’s face it, many of us have so much to be thankful for that it is nice to be able to share that gratitude with others.  A handmade card speaks volumes about how much someone means to you!

I knew I wanted to use my Day of Gratitude set again for this card.  The variety of projects you can make from this is seemingly endless!  This particular leaf is so great when it is cut out and even better when you have a bunch of them.  Fortunately, it is also very easy to cut out!!  I decided on a really clean presentation for this one and love the results!  The leaves are attached to the card with Mini Glue Dots.  I created a banner for the phrase (the one word inked with a Stampin’ Write marker).  A Basic Black button finishes it off with thread colored with a marker.

Color Coach-016The colors for today’s card are from Create with Connie and Mary.  Yes, that is SU Only Challenge’s very own Mary Brown.  These strong colors were perfect for my leaves!

I’ll be back tomorrow with another Freshly Made Sketches layout!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Stamp:  Day of Gratitude; Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black; Ink:  Basic Black, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories:  Neutrals Buttons, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

SUOC31 + Creative Crew Challenges

SUOC31 + Creative Crew Challenges published on 8 Comments on SUOC31 + Creative Crew Challenges

Happy November!!  I hope you have recovered from the sugar overdose of October!!  Today we have another SU Only Challenge that I know you will love – Thinking of You.  I love cards made with this sentiment because they can be used in a variety of ways.  When I don’t have anything specific in mind for a card, this is a lovely way to go!

When I need a pretty card, one of the first sets I turn to is Day of Gratitude (especially in the fall).  The images in the set are so wonderful!  As I was playing around with some paper to put in the background, I noticed how similar the design in the Spice Cake DSP is to this flower.  Well, that was all I needed to get going!!  I stayed with Spice Cake colors when I chose the Stampin’ Write Markers for the image.  I love them together!  All that was needed was a Scallop Edge strip and a button.  The thread in the button is also colored with the Espresso marker.

My second card today is for the Creative Crew Challenges (CCREW1111CF, CreativeCrew) over at Splitcoaststampers.  One of the challenges is to create a tall/long card (about 6 1/2″ x 3 1/4″).  We were given inspiration pages from the catalog and I chose pg. 167 (the Cheers card).  You can see that both of my cards today use the same layout but really feel like totally different cards (and are both different than the catalog sample).  This is a bit what I was talking about last Friday in my Christmas 101 post.  I am completely in love with the Holiday Mini set Always Thankful.  I chose the pear basket because it hadn’t seen ink yet (horrors!!).  I inked the image with Versamark Ink and then with my Early Espresso Classic Pad and stamped onto Watercolor Paper.  It was then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder and colored with my Blender Pens.  I finished it with the Color Spritzer Tool to give it a little more detail.  The beautiful paper from Well Worn DSP provided the perfect background!

I hope you have liked both of these.  I look forward to seeing you join both challenges!  You have about 10 days for the SUO Challenge and a whole month for the Creative Crew Challenge.  There are 3 more projects in my gallery for the Creative Crew and I will be giving more details on those as the month goes on.  Come back tomorrow for a new Freshly Made Sketches challenge!  You are going to like it!

Card 1:  Stamp:  Day of Gratitude, Silhouette Sentiments (hostess, retired); Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Pool Party, More Mustard, Early Espresso; Accessories:  Scallop Edge Punch, Regals Buttons, Dimensionals

Card 2:  Stamp:  Always Thankful; Paper:  Well Worn DSP, River Rock, Early Espresso, Watercolor; Ink:  Versamark, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Old Olive; Accessories:  Blender Pen, Color Spritzer Tool, Scallop Edge Punch, Regals Buttons, Linen Thread

All products are Stampin’ Up!

 

Treats (and no tricks!)

Treats (and no tricks!) published on 7 Comments on Treats (and no tricks!)

This week at SUO Challenges – SUOC30 we want to see how you create your treats!  Show us the packaging, the cards with surprises or anything else that includes a treat!  We can’t wait to see all the creative things you make!

One of the things that first drew me to Stampin’ Up was the ease with which you could make cute things.  Everything matches, products are meant to go together and it simply works!  That is how I feel about the new 1″x8″ Cellophane Bags from the Holiday Mini.  They are meant to make your life easier…and they succeed!  They are the perfect size for pencils, small candies and Pixy Stix!  I chose the Pixy Stix option since these can be so messy when given out individually.  Using the pumpkin from Button Buddies (another item meant to make cute, fast projects) I stamped two different versions.  I used a Basic Black base for the boys and a Rich Razzleberry base for the girls.  The nice Pixy Stix people are kind enough to make candy in Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry to coordinate!!!

I am one of the room moms for my youngest son’s class and these will be for their class party.  I know that many of you, like me, have a hard time spending hours on things that will be destroyed in a matter of seconds by little ones.  Well, these were done in a flash and are still cute enough to feel like a special treat!  Once I sealed the Pixy Stix in the bags with the self-sealing strip, I attached the bag to the back of the Scallop Circle with a little bit of Sticky Strip.  Cross one project off of the to-do list!!

I was a little late on one of my Creative Crew projects so this is my fourth for the month of October – Holiday Focus (create a holiday decoration or gift).

I hope that you have fun with this challenge.  Make sure you go check out the fabulous ideas from the rest of the design team!  There are lots of time-saving (and spectacular) projects!   See you again tomorrow with the next card for Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp:  Button Buddies; Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry; Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive; Accessories:  1″x8″ Cellophane Bags, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ and 1 3/8″ Circle Punches, Sticky Strip

All products are Stampin’ Up!

SUOC29 – Leaves everywhere

SUOC29 – Leaves everywhere published on 7 Comments on SUOC29 – Leaves everywhere

Over at SUO Challenges, we are challenging you to show us your leaves!  So many of Stampin’ Up’s stamps have beautiful leaves in them and we are making them the focus.  The hardest part for me was choosing WHICH of my sets to use!  I have so many that are some of my all time favorites!  In fact if you look at my cards for the last two SUO Challenges, they contained leaves.

For today I chose the hostess set Faith in Nature.  This set was was so high on my wish list when the catalog came out that it inspired me to become my own hostess!  *smile*  I used this really cool pattern from Well Worn DSP as the background and I thought the Square Lattice embossed Cajun Craze panel was a great match-up.  For the image, I inked the leaf in Versamark then inked with my Early Espresso Ink Pad.  After stamping, I embossed it with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  This allows for easy watercoloring and provides a beautiful texture to the image.  Sadly, the photograph just doesn’t translate the subtle shine.  I added a little Victoria Crochet Trim and cinched a bow using an Antique Brad (it has leaves on it too!).

I can’t wait to see all the Stampin’ Up leaves falling on your cards!  You have about 10 days so there is plenty of time to join us!  Don’t forget to go see the beautiful cards the rest of the design team created…amazing work!  I’ll be back tomorrow with my first project for a new adventure!  Can’t wait to share!

Stamp:  Faith in Nature (Hostess); Paper:  Well Worn DSP, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Versamark;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Victoria Crochet Trim, Antique Brad, Blender Pen

All products are Stampin’ Up!

 

 

SUOC28 – Fall Birthday

SUOC28 – Fall Birthday published on 7 Comments on SUOC28 – Fall Birthday

It’s time for the next SU Only Challenge and this is one for everyone!  We are falling for Fall Colors!  Browns, oranges, yellows and greens…or whatever combination speaks fall to you!  We can’t wait to see what you create!

For me, fall is when my Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and River Rock make an appearance.  This card started in a whole different direction but finally settled here.  Day of Gratitude is a set perfectly designed for fall and I love it.  I got it when I went to a Stampin’ Up Regional last year so it holds special memories, too.  I embossed the back panel with my new-again Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  My folder had gone missing (the horror!!) and I finally broke down and replaced it.  When I find the old one, should be any day now, I’ll have another to share!  The medallion is Early Espresso ink on Early Espresso paper and the leaves are inked in Early Espresso and Cajun Craze.  A little hint after you fussy cut the leaves:  Take your Stampin’ Write marker and color the edges of the leaves by coming from behind the paper.  This gets rid of the Very Vanilla edge and make the leaves pop a little more.  The sentiment from Inviting was the final touch for this masculine birthday card.

I can’t wait for you to see what the rest of the team has created so drop on over to  SUO Challenges to see.  You have about 10 days for this challenge and I look forward to seeing your work.  Thanks for stopping in today!

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude, Inviting; Paper:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze; Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Neutrals Buttons, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

 

 

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