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Rejoice!

Rejoice! published on 14 Comments on Rejoice!

Yesterday was Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent.  Gaudete is taken from Phillipians 4:4,5 which says, “Gaudete in Domino semper” or “Rejoice in the Lord always”.  The third candle in the Advent Wreath is rose instead of purple to signify this attitude of joy.  I thought it appropriate, therefore, to make a card expressing this simple feeling.  I will post the card first but please continue on to see another wonderful reason for me to celebrate.

This uses the Mojo Monday 169 sketch.  It has been forever since I have done this challenge and the rounded corners really step up the layout!  I am also participating in The Paper Players Challenge 28 to use a favorite color combination.  I’m not sure how to really choose a favorite but I have to say that Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler have been my go-to colors as I make my Christmas cards this year.  Today I added in Crumb Cake but I also love Soft Suede with them.  I should be making “easy to duplicate” cards right now but this is what I was inspired to do this morning.  I cut the flowers from the Deck the Halls DSP and used more of it as the layers.  The Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding makes another appearance and may have a lot to do with my choosing Cherry Cobbler as a favorite!  Finally, I used the Splitcoaststamper TLC303 challenge to sponge.  I sponged around the flowers and the DSP layers to add some dimension.

Now for the rest of my reason to rejoice.  Last week, my oldest son was busy on something when I asked him what he was up to.  He said that he was making an Advent Wreath for his room and to wait until he was finished to look.  Candles in a little boy’s room concerned me but I waited.  Take a look at what he made:

As you can see, he tucked the “flame” behind the candle so that each one could be lit during the correct week.  Now why didn’t I think of that??!!  Yesterday morning, he came in to tell my husband and I that we needed to come to the lighting ceremony for the third candle in his room.  This is what he wrote for the ceremony:  “This week is the week of joy.  We want to have joy in our hearts.  And if you see someone that is lonely, play with them.  Why, because they will have joy.” (Printed with his permission)  So you see, in this season where it is easy to lose focus on why we celebrate, my son has given me reason to rejoice!!  I celebrate the kindness in his heart! 

Thanks for joining me today.  I’ll be back tomorrow with my first challenge as a design team member with SUO Challenges!  I hope that you, too, have many reasons to rejoice this week!

Card:  Stamp:  All Holidays; Paper:  Deck the Halls DSP, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White (inside); Ink:  Early Espresso; Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Neutrals Buttons, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Corner Punch, Sponges

Wreath:  Non-SU construction paper (yes, now I wish I had given him some of my good paper)

All products are Stampin’ Up unless otherwise indicated.

Thinking of Saffron and Suede

Thinking of Saffron and Suede published on 11 Comments on Thinking of Saffron and Suede

Oh yes, my friends, So Saffron and Soft Suede are gorgeous together!!  I wanted a change of pace from the Christmas card mania I have been living in and needed a “thinking of you” card.  Actually, my mom was here visiting and she asked to take some cards home.  Hmmm…an excuse to stamp with my mom…awesome!!  She did attend my Christmas card class too but this stamping was just for her.  I pulled up the inspiration challenge from Our Creative Corner this week and saw this lovely picture:

Beautiful, isn’t it?  I also used the Mojo Monday Sketch 163.  I haven’t done one of those in forever and this is a great one!  My new Deck the Halls paper was calling out to be used for a non-Christmas card and my Elements of Style set seemed perfect for the inspiration picture.  Take a look:

I stamped the “toile” image on Very Vanilla and did some light coloring with Saffron and Suede ink.  I sponged the DSP and the stamped pieces with Soft Suede and pulled the words from my Silhouette Sentiments Hostess set.  The Victoria Crochet Trim was a natural fit for this look and I used an Antique Brad to cinch the bow together.  This card is perfect for my mom!

Tomorrow I will post another card that we stamped.  Thanks for joining me today.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Elements of Style, Silhouette Sentiments; Paper:  Deck the Halls DSP, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Soft Suede, So Saffron; Accessories:  Victoria Crochet Trim, Antique Brad, Dimensionals, Sponges

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A little birthday Mojo

A little birthday Mojo published on No Comments on A little birthday Mojo

Having my company in town last week was so fun but of course that meant that stamping just didn’t happen.  I guess that is part of summer…and the visits are one of the best parts of this time of year.  Today I needed to get right to work, though, because I need a card for a birthday party tomorrow.  Where else to turn on a Monday when you are looking for inspiration but Mojo Monday??!!  Their sketch number 151 is another great one. 

I have made a few other cards with the new Play Date DSP from Stampin’ Up but making birthday cards was my reason for getting it.  The first time I saw this paper, I envisioned playing with the numbers to highlight a specific birthday year.  The best part…it actually worked as I had it in my brain.  Usually, I have to move paper around and see it together to make it work so this was quite a happy thing for me!  As I am sure you can tell, the birthday boy is turning 7.  I used the single-tone Chocolate Chip number sheet for the focal image and then cut the number 7 square out of the multi-colored number sheet.  The DSP really does all the work here.  I used the words from my Teeny Tiny Wishes set, stamped it on the Tempting Turquoise sheet and punched it out with the Large Word Window punch.  I added the Modern Label underneath the Word Window and punched out another to split in half as the “border” beneath the Turquoise panel.  I kind of like how that turned out and that it gives a continuity.  It seemed like something was missing so I added my new favorite accessory…well, my second favorite because SU ribbon is like an addiction for me…the new Designer Buttons.  Done, done, and done…love it when that happens! 

The best part about this paper is that the number sequences guarantee that I can make other variations of this card for other birthdays.  While I know that most of this will be lost on a 7 year old boy, his mother is one of my club members who will surely appreciate it!  I hope you find this card as fun as I do.  Have a great week!

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Play Date DSP, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (inside);  Ink:  Chocolate Chip; Accessories:  Brights Designer Buttons, Real Red Wide Grosgrain, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Dimensionals, Thread (dyed with Tempting Turquoise ink)

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Mojo 137 – Bella Thank You

Mojo 137 – Bella Thank You published on 1 Comment on Mojo 137 – Bella Thank You

I have been doing some lobbying to prevent outsourcing of pilot jobs.  Yes, even pilot jobs are at risk, if you can believe it!!  The details of this are for another post but if you want to know more about the bill I am working for, it is H.R.4788 “Aviation Jobs Outsourcing Prevention Act”.  In any case, I have been heading to Capitol Hill about once a week and helping with scheduling (this explains the lack of cards!).  Tomorrow I am going to the office of Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from FL.  Back in my March posts, I told the story of my Aunt Frances and her Congressional Gold Medal.  Well, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen was one of the people instrumental in getting the legislation passed to honor the WASP.  While I will be in her office on other business for a while, I asked the staff if it was okay to share my thank-yous with all those who worked on the WASP ceremony.  I’m not a very political person usually so this may be my one opportunity to give my appreciation.  As I step outside my pilot role and into my family role, it seems appropriate to bring a few pictures with me.  And of course, what is a thank you without a card??!!  So, off to work I went today trying to make something appropriate.  I saw the Mojo Monday sketch and decided to give it a go.

I loved the idea of the vertical piece with different papers.  In my continuing effort to clean out my retiring colors, I pulled out some retired Bella Birds DSP.  I mixed up the sets a bit, too.  The swirl comes from the new Elements of Style (Summer Mini), the flower comes from Vintage Vogue (still available…yea!!) and the word from Baroque Motifs.  I added some Chocolate corduroy buttons and the Chocolate satin ribbon as the finishing touches!

I love how the swirl turns into a stem for the Vogue flower!!  This was another fun sketch and I recommend you give it a try this week.  Thanks for taking a look and I look foward to your thoughts! 

Stamps:  Elements of Style, Vintage Vogue, Baroque Motifs; Paper:  Bella Birds DSP (ret), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, So Saffron; Accessories:  Chocolate satin ribbon, Chocolate corduroy buttons, dimensionals

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Ribbons and Bows

Ribbons and Bows published on 9 Comments on Ribbons and Bows

As promised, today I’m going to do a tutorial on one of the bows I use a lot and a corner treatment.  The theme of today’s tying lesson is non-square knots!  As you know, square knots (left over right, then right over left or vice versa) lead to such pretty cards.  Today, however, we will make ugly knots!  They have a purpose, though, and the ugly part get covered up.  So grab some ribbon and let’s get started!!

Single or double bow 

First decide the size of your bow.  Wind the ribbon back and forth:  three times for a single bow, five time for a double.

Bow 1Bow 2

 

The first picture shows the single, the second shows the double.  Click on any picture to see it larger (sorry they are a bit blurry…still learning how to take good tutorial pics).  Cut your ribbon and set aside (you’ll have to fold it again in a minute).  Cut a second length a bit longer than the paper layer you want the bow to tie around.  Put the second layer down flat on your work surface, refold the “bow” and place it face down on your straight piece (the bottom becomes the front of the bow).

Bow 3

 

Now, start tying your knot except it will NOT be square.  In my case I tied it left over right then left over right again.  You’ll see that the knot is not pretty to look at. 

Bow 4

 

The reason you do this is to get the tying section to run parallel to the bow.  If you do a square knot, it will be perpendicular (that can have its uses, too).  If it doesn’t lay just like you want, you can turn one of the long pieces over to see if that helps. 

Now flip the ribbon over and you have your bow.  Use your bone folder to “fluff” up the bow as desired and put it on your card!!

Bow 5Bow 6

 

 

Of course, now that I have this bow I had to make a card for it!!  I used the Mojo Monday sketch challenge 127 again to make this fun little card.  I really do love this layout!!  Since the ribbon is Old Olive, the rest of the colors were inspired by the Color Throwdown challenge CTD81.  They chose Olive, Brown and Pink/White this week.  So pretty together!

Mojo127 - Flowers and bows

 

Corner Treatment

This one is even easier.  First, cut a generous piece of ribbon for your corner.

Corner treatment 1

 

Cut a second, larger piece (mine was about 9 inches).  Using the larger piece to tie, make another “ugly” knot.  Both ends will easily go one direction (see the next pictures).

Corner treatment 2Corner treatment 3

 

Just flip the ribbon over and the other side is pretty!!  Yea!!

Corner treatment 4

 

Using Mini Glue Dots, attach the knot to where you want it to be on your card, then tuck the ends under and secure with additional Mini Glue Dots.  You may have to pull and adjust the ribbon a bit to get it just like you want it (this is true with the bow, as well).  Once it is on your card, trim the ends.  Easy peasy!!!

Corner treatment 5Corner treatment 6

 

Corner treatment 7

If you have any questions, let me know and I’ll try to clarify them!  Thanks for dropping by to visit!!  Oh, and don’t forget to let me know if you try it.  I’d love to see your cards!

Card 1  Stamps:  A Flower for All Seasons, Short & Sweet; Paper:  Sweet Pea DSP (Occasions Mini), Old Olive, Pink Pirouette (ret), Chocolate Chip; Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, So Saffron; Accessories:  Olive Taffeta ribbon (Holiday mini, ret), Blender Pen

Card 2  See Where, Oh Where, Is Spring

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Bella Bleu to the Rescue

Bella Bleu to the Rescue published on 3 Comments on Bella Bleu to the Rescue

I needed a special card for one of my aunts who is a bit under the weather.  My aunt has an unbelievable sense of style and I can’t just send her any old card, you see.  Of course, I turned to some of the weekly challenges for inspiration.  First, I saw this really cool layout over at Mojo Monday.

Mojo127RoundorSquare

I chose the square option and started playing with my stamps.  Things still weren’t coming together so I opted for a color challenge.  I saw the colors over at the Curtain Call Color Challenge:  Act 18.

act18[1]

Navy, check, Old Olive, check, Kraft, check, Brocade Blue….hmm.  Oh wait, I still have some left over Bella Bleu DSP!!!  While the colors in it are Not Quite Navy in the catalog, some of the coordinating blue looks like Brocade Blue.  And, I am pretty sure that using Bella Bleu paper insures a pretty card every time!!  Now, as you look at the picture, you’ll see that her color challenge really called for Ballet Blue (and also Whisper White).  I obviously missed those details and went stamping!  Only when I came to give credit did I notice my mistake.  So, Stacy, I am still linking this to your challenge since the colors were intended to be your idea! 

Mojo127, CurtainCall 18 - Thinking of my auntAlso, you can see I flipped the Mojo Monday sketch since it seemed to work better for me.  I used the Inspired by Nature set with a faux watercolor technique.  I applied ink with the Stampin’ Write markers and then spritzed the stamp with water to get the images to blur a bit.

I hope you like this one and, most importantly, I hope it provides my aunt with a little lift!  Thanks for stopping by…please let me know you visited.  Your comments are most welcome!

Stamp:  Inspired by Nature; Paper:  Bella Bleu DSP, Night of Navy, Kraft, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Night of Navy, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue; Accessory:  Kraft Taffeta ribbon

Stampin' Up! gives me a Happy Heart!

Stampin' Up! gives me a Happy Heart! published on No Comments on Stampin' Up! gives me a Happy Heart!

I used the Mojo Monday sketch challenge (Mojo122) for this card.  The sketch was created by the wonderful Mary Fish who is an amazing stamper!  I also wanted to participate in a challenge from Shelli Gardner, the CEO of Stampin’ Up!  She challenged us to make a Valentine’s Day project.  I used the set “A Happy Heart”.  When I saw the circles in this new Sweet Pea paper pack, I immediately thought of the dandelion stamp.  They are a natural combination.  Of course, I also just had to use the Sale-a-bration punch too!  The phrase from this stamp really fits how I feel about Stampin’ Up as a company right now. 

You have seen the devastation in Haiti and I know you, like me, want to help in any way you can.  Stampin’ Up has committed to donating $2 from every “I {Heart} Hearts” set sold from now until Feb. 28th to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund.  Wow, what can I say??!!  The spirit of giving at Stampin’ Up is a corporate philosophy that starts with the CEO and continues throughout the entire company.  You can see pictures on Shelli’s blog, So Shelli, of employees packing up supplies for 5,000 hygeine kits with supplies purchased by the company.  You see, now Stampin’ Up gives you a Happy Heart, too!!

Take a look at the flyer for this promotion for more details!!        I {Heart} Hearts promotion for Haiti

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!!

Mojo122 - Sweet Pea and Happy Heart

 

Stamp:  A Happy Heart

Paper:  Sweet Pea Paper Pack (Occasions Mini), Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Scallop Trim border punch (SAB), White Organza Ribbon

Layout:  Mary Fish, Mojo122

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