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SUOC38 – My little Valentine

SUOC38 – My little Valentine published on No Comments on SUOC38 – My little Valentine

This week at SUO Challenges we want to see your Valentine creations made with two main colors.  Of course neutrals can be added (because they usually just have to be)!

Now the design team has put together some stunning cards but my focus had to be Valentine’s for my boys’ classes.  I got to go home over the weekend but time for stamping was pretty limited as you can imagine.  The boys chose the candy they wanted to give (Sweethearts) and I designed this for the packaging.  It is very hard to see but I did sponge a sky with clouds behind the balloon.  I guess I’ll need to make it a little darker on the rest!  I love this phrase and it does seem pretty fitting for my house don’t you think??  You’ll be amused to know that I stamped all the balloons I need and brought them back to Denver to cut out this week.  Even fussy cutting seems better than studying!!  *smile*  The boys like the result and I guess that is the most important part!

Make sure you go look at the beautiful artwork from the rest of the design team.  Such elegant cards!!  You will surely be inspired to join us!

Back tomorrow with another Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  Thanks so much for stopping in today!  Have a great day!

Stamp:  Up, Up and Away; Paper:  Real Red, Basic Gray, Whisper White; Ink:  Real Red, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze; Accessories:  Simply Scored Scoring Tool, 1/8″ Hole Punch, White Taffeta Ribbon

Freshly Made Sketches #20

Freshly Made Sketches #20 published on 9 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #20

Here we are…Wednesday already!  So much for my promised post with a new card.  Well, maybe in the next few days.  This pesky studying is getting in the way of my blog work!  *smile*  Fortunately I have a great sketch for you from Freshly Made Sketches.  This one is courtesy of none other than Lesley Croghan from Always Playing with Paper (aka, the woman who cannot possibly ever sleep for all the amazing things she does!!).

I figured it was about time to show you a Valentine’s Day card seeing that it is February!  This is the card I have made for my husband this year (shhh, don’t tell him).  I hope the bow doesn’t make it too girly but, after all, it is from me and I LOVE a bow!  Rose Red and Basic Gray are great together and it seems like forever since I have used Rose Red.  The Adorning Accents Embossing Folder hearts were my starting place for this card.  I thought they worked perfectly in the sketch.  I dug out one of my favorite retired sentiments from a set called Well Scripted.  I created a scalloped border using the Adorning Accents Edgelit.  So easy to get those perfect scallops!  A bow from the Rose Red Seam Binding was all that I had left.  I created a “potato masher” bow and then added a Basic Gray button.

As usual, the Freshly Made Sketches design team has made fantastic examples for you!  We are welcoming Kim of Joyful Creations with Kim and Tracey of My Creative Side as our guest designers this month.  What talented stampers!  Hope you can join us in the challenge!

This week holds another test of sorts.  Now we get into different phases of flying check rides.  Our “validation” on Friday will be on procedural items.  Basic checklists (getting the aircraft ready to go, inflight checks, taxi and shut down procedures), instrument procedures and flying both missed approaches and landings.  Missed approaches are when you cannot land for weather, runway conditions or whatever and need to take the airplane back around for another runway or airport.  This is where the three years off shows most to me and I will be studying a lot this week.  If I am a bit remiss on commenting, I promise I will catch up after the check.

I hope your week is great and I very much appreciate you stopping by today!  See you soon!

Stamp:  Well Scripted; Paper:  Rose Red, Basic Gray, Whisper White; Ink:  Rose Red; Accessories:  Big Shot, Adorning Accents Embossing Folders and Edgelits, Rose Red Seam Binding, Neutrals Buttons, Thread

Freshly Made Sketches #19

Freshly Made Sketches #19 published on 16 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #19

Happy middle of the week, everyone!  I hope you are having a great one!  I have this week’s great sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for you and it is another winner!  This one comes from the super talented Jen Mitchell of I Create.  She is one of my favorite stampers.  Her clean lines are always striking.  Her tone on tone layering always makes me say wow!  Make sure you check out her card for this week’s sketch…it is fantastic.

I went with a decidedly spring palette for today’s card.  I just love Pear Pizzazz…not too olive, not too pale, just right!  This fun print from Twitterpated DSP just seemed to call out to me.  Of course, out came my new Bordering on Romance again.  This little flower is just the right size for the sketch!  I stamped it in Stazon Black, then watercolored with my Blender Pen using Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red and Pear Pizzazz.  The sentiment is from the hostess set Precious Butterflies…love this one!  I added a border created with the Adorning Accents Edgelit and some Basic pearls on the flowers and in the corner.  I have to say that this card just makes me happy!

So the test went really well (96%) and I am on to the next phase of training tomorrow.  We start flipping switches and running procedural checklists in a mock-up of a cockpit.  I always like it when I get to start doing more “pilot” stuff and less classroom stuff.  There is still classroom to go, of course, but the trainers are one step closer to the simulators.

I hope to be back early next week with a card I made before coming to training.  Until then, make sure you go enjoy the cards created by the whole design team.  As usual, they are incredible!  Thanks for stopping in today.  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Bordering on Romance, Precious Butterflies; Paper:  Twitterpated DSP, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink:  Stazon Black, Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red, Pear Pizzazz; Accessories:  Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Basic Pearls, Blender Pen

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

Freshly Made Sketches #18

Freshly Made Sketches #18 published on 19 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #18

Take a look at the fabulous sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week!  This sketch is courtesy of the amazing Linda Callahan of Stampin’ Seasons.  She makes the most lovely cards and you just have to go see her version of this layout!  Of course, the rest of the team has made some amazing projects too.

With such clean lines to the sketch, I chose to use the KISS (Keep It Simple Stamper) principle.  I pulled out my Fruit & Flowers stamp set and chose this pretty little flower.   The background paper is from the coordinating Berry Blossoms DSP and I let those colors be my guide.  Calypso Coral and Early Espresso are so fantastic together!  I attached some Early Espresso (retired) Satin Ribbon with one of the brads from the Sale-a-bration package and finished with a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I love the spring feel of this and it helps me with my continuing need for thank you cards from the holidays.

Well, yesterday was my first day of Airbus training and my brain is getting full of lots of numbers.  Not too bad so far but I know today will hold many more hours of classroom work.  I’m going to keep this one short so I can get back to the books.  Thank you so much for all the kind wishes on my training!

I’m so glad you were able to drop in today.  Make sure you take a look at the design team’s gorgeous work!  I’ll be back next Tuesday with a new SUO Challenge.  Until then, have a wonderful week!

Stamps:  Fruit & Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Berry Blossoms DSP, Early Espresso, Whisper White; Ink:  Calypso Coral, Early Espresso; Accessories:  Early Espresso Satin Ribbon (ret), Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brads Pack

Freshly Made Sketches #17

Freshly Made Sketches #17 published on 11 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #17

Now look at this fabulous sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week!!  This one is courtesy of the lovely Rita Wright from Rita’s Creations.  Rita is such a fabulous stamper…you will just love the card she has made with her own sketch!  Make sure you go take a look at her creation and those of the other designers on the team.

I decided take a masculine direction with this one.  I love this leaf from Faith in Nature (Hostess).  For this one, I inked with Versamark, then Early Espresso and stamper.  Then I heat embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  I only did a little light coloring to add some depth.  I embossed the background with the Big Show and my Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  For the crossing panels, I added some Early Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon (Holiday Mini).  I love how the ribbon looks with the embossed background.

I hope your week is going well.  I can’t wait to see everyone’s use of this sketch!  I’m certain the entries will be spectacular.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Faith in Nature, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso; Ink:  Early Espresso, Versamark; Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Quilted Ribbon, Heat Tool, Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Dimensionals

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!

Freshly Made Sketches #16

Freshly Made Sketches #16 published on 9 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #16

Welcome to a new year of challenges from Freshly Made Sketches!  This week’s sketch is courtesy of the amazing Tui Nathan of Stampin-Time.  Her style is always highlighted by the most lovely details and she has brought us a layout that lends itself to so many possibilities.

With the beginning of a new year it seemed appropriate to use this sketch for a baby card.  My husband works with the West Virginia Air National Guard and as you may imagine there are some serious West Virginia fans there.  This was my color motivation since this card is for some friends from work who had a baby boy.  I pulled out my Button Buddies set.  It is one of my favorites from the new catalog for the pure fun of it!  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I used a print from the Just Add Cake DSP against a Night of Navy background.  Some retired Night of Navy Satin Ribbon was used to add a little dimension across the card.  Of course the buttons make this…aren’t they fun??!!

You will be impressed with what the design team has done with this sketch and we can’t wait to see what you will show us!  Come along and join the fun!

Today is the first day back at United Airlines for me.  Wish me luck in going back to “school” (more here if you missed the announcement)!  Thanks for stopping in today.  See you soon!

Stamps  Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Just Add Cake DSP, Night of Navy, Whisper White; Ink:  So Saffron, Night of Navy; Accessories:  Night of Navy Satin Ribbon (retired), Subtles Buttons, Regals Buttons, Thread

Enchanted Flower

Enchanted Flower published on 15 Comments on Enchanted Flower

 

 

Can you believe it???  I have a new card to share!  After a break from stamping I always find it best to start with a nice sketch.  Leave it to the Operators at Stampin’ 411 to have the perfect layout.  Even better that it is open to a lot of interpretation with the little bow and button.  I decided it was time to show you a preview of some of the Sale-a-bration (SAB) offerings that will be coming on Jan. 24th.

 The paper in the Everyday Enchantment DSP is gorgeous!!  Just look at those lovely designs!  I felt like the prints could do all the work for me on this one and kept it fairly simple.  The flower is two layers cut from the Fun Flowers Die (one in the DSP and one in Poppy Parade).  I sponged a little Crumb Cake ink on the Very Vanilla panel to mimic the sponging in the DSP.  The Organdy ribbon (Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade) are also offered as a SAB choice along with the a package of brads (I used one of those in the center of the flower).  You can’t really see it here but I stamped a flower from the coordinating Fresh Vintage Stamp Set on the inside.  Guess what….if you host a $400 workshop during SAB, you will get all three of those items on top of your other hostess benefits!  Wow!!

I hope your new year is starting off right.  Don’t forget that the new Occasions Mini goes live tomorrow!  There are so many beautiful things to see in it!  I will see you tomorrow with the first Freshly Made Sketches challenge of the year.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps:  Fresh Vintage (SAB), Always Thankful (Holiday Mini); Paper:  Everyday Enchantment DSP(SAB),  Very Vanilla, Poppy Parade; Ink:  Poppy Parade (Lucky Limeade inside card); Accessories:  Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brad Pack, Big Shot, Fun Flowers Die, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

 

New Year, big changes!

New Year, big changes! published on 16 Comments on New Year, big changes!

Happy New Year to all of you!  I hope that the beginning of your 2012 is off to a great start.  I do not have a card for you today but wanted to share some exciting news.  Most of you know that I am a pilot for United Airlines.  I have been on leave for over three years.  This is partly because United Airlines has many pilots still laid off and my schedule would be less than wonderful.  It is partly because my husband is in the Air National Guard and flies long trips.  The time has come for United to ask me to return to flying.  As of today, I am back on the books at the company.  With three years off I have lots of training to do, of course, and some of that will start on Wednesday.  I will be flying the Airbus 319/320 (which I was flying when I took my leave of absence) with mostly domestic US flying (some Canadian, Mexican and Caribbean routes).

What does this mean for my stamping??  Not much really.  You haven’t seen much in the way of posting over the last couple of weeks.  Some of that is the typical holiday schedule with little time to post.  Much of it though is that I have been getting ahead.  I will continue my design team work with both SUO Challenges and Freshly Made Sketches.  I will continue to be a Stampin’ Up demonstrator as well.  I love the products from Stampin’ Up and my stamping customers are so supportive of my non-stamping work.  I have a one-month training period starting on Jan. 17th that will be academically intensive so you can expect to see nothing other than design team work during that time.  I hope to “sneak” in something here and there but it is hard to predict when.

Thanks for all the support you give me in my creative efforts.  I find that my stamping and  the people in this crafting community bring such joy to my life.  I look forward to continuing these “adventures in stamping” with you.

Oh, I almost forgot…I also got a brand new computer for Christmas…a MacBook Pro!!  I have always been a Windows user so my learning curve is steep.  Bear with me as I learn how to edit photos with my new toy!  Happy and safe new year to all of you!  I’m stamping today so with any luck, I’ll have a card to show you with some of Stampin’ Up’s latest products tomorrow!

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