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A True Friend…

April 28, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

I am lucky to have a number of amazing, true friends in my life and this is for one of them. I guess there is double meaning since I am starting my fond farewell to some other “true” friends…one of which is Sage Shadow. I must admit that I was a latecomer to the Sage Shadow fan club. I could never make it work. Then this lovely Nouveau Chic paper came out and I am happy with every card!! But, I already have a sample of the newest colors that will be arriving in the Color Renovation (a wonderful perk of being a demo!) and I am sure that I will have new friends in no time. Until the new catalog, though, I will happily use my lovely retiring colors with reckless abandon! Yes, you’ll be happy to know that I am not at all that fickle when it comes to my real friends. They are rocks in my life and I don’t know what I would do without them!! So to my dear friend (she knows who she is), thank you for being a wonderful person!

The card uses the Splitcoast sketch challenge 278 which is a wonderful square card layout. This is another of those sketches that will become a go-to for me, I think. I used the retired SAB ’09 Botanical Blooms for the image and the words from Lovely Flowers (Hostess). While it isn’t a part of the promotion, I convinced myself that the two-step stamp was in the spirit of the Two-Step into Spring promotion (details on my side bar). The ribbon and the button just kind of came to me at the end when it didn’t look quite finished. That really seemed to put the right touch on the card.

The colors look a little washed out in the picture to me compared to the card but you get the idea. I’m so happy you dropped by. Have a great day!!

Stamps: Lovely Flowers (hostess), Botanical Blooms (SAB’09 Ret); Paper: Nouveau Chic DSP, Sage Shadow, Basic Gray, Watercolor; Ink: Going Gray, Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal; Accessories: Gray Taffeta ribbon, Gray Corduroy button

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Ribbon of Hope in Pink and Cocoa

April 27, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

My card for today has a more CAS (Clean and Simple) look than some I have done lately. A wonderful woman who works at my older son’s school is putting together a “Pink Ribbon” donation basket to auction off later this year. Knowing how time can get away from me, I figured I better get to work on some cards for her basket. When I purchased this Ribbon of Hope stamp, I knew it would be something I would want to have on hand. This is my first card with it. I must confess that this isn’t my favorite card but I think that is because a card for such a great cause should be amazing. When I saw the Our Creative Corner Sketch for this week, it seemed like the perfect way to focus on the ribbon stamp. I pulled out some retired Pink Pirouette DSP and paired it with Close to Cocoa. Out came the Big Shot and popped out some ovals, tied on the beautiful Organza ribbon and here it is:

Hopefully I’ll be back to posting a bit more often. Thanks for stopping by today. Let me know what you think!

Sunshine and Window panes

April 23, 2010 Jentimko 10 Comments

First of all, I want to share with you a nice award sent to me by both Holly at Rubber Redneck and Heidi at RunningwScissorsStamper. If you haven’t been to their blogs, please stop by because their work is fantastic!! This is so nice of both of them and it really has made my day. The award is the Sunshine Award:

1. Put the Sunshine Award on your blog and/or within your post.
2. Pass the award to other bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award. The hardest part, of course, is narrowing it down!!

In no particular order, here are some of the blogs I love:

1. Margaret Moody – Margaret Moody

2. Ann Schach – The Stampin’ Schach

3. Monica – Monica’s Blog

4. Krystal – Krystals Cards and More

5. Julie – Paper Pleasing Ideas

6. Kristin – Sunshine, Smiles & Stamps

Please go take a look at these to see where I get so much of my inspiration!!

I do have a card today. It is another card using the new Presto Patterns DSP from the upcoming Summer Mini. I am in love with this paper!!! I used the window pane technique to make the card but the paper really did most of the work. I sponged Old Olive over this grid-style paper and then stamped the cone flowers from Inspired by Nature with Chocolate Chip. The ink comes right off of the “embossed” section of the DSP and you are left with this cool look. I cut the image apart, tied on some wide grosgrain ribbon and look at what I have!!

Cool, huh??!! Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to leave a comment…it really makes my day! Have a great weekend!

Stamp: Inspired by Nature; Paper: Presto Patterns DSP, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip; Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Sponges, Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon

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Vogue, in a Cameo performance

April 17, 2010 Jentimko 12 Comments

The wonderful team at Diva Coffee Break Designs chose me as their Featured Artist for this challenge. Thank you so much for the complement!!

Happy weekend, everyone! I hope you are enjoying spring as much as I am. My boys are playing soccer and today is going to be a perfect day to be a soccer mom. Before I’m off to the excitement, I wanted to post this card I made yesterday. Margaret Moody over at Pals Paper Arts has come up with yet another fantastic layout.

I knew this would be the perfect place to pull out my new Presto Patterns DSP and give you a sneak peek. This paper is white with embossed patterns. You get to customize it for whatever colors you want!! How much do you love that??!! The team over at Diva Coffee Break Designs came up with a beautiful color challenge this week and I wanted to give it a try.

Cameo Coral is one of the retiring colors in this year’s Color Renovation so I’m working on using up my extra paper. I started with a base of the Presto Pattern DSP and sponged it with So Saffron. I then sponged the edges in Chocolate Chip and, as a final touch, sprayed on a bit of the Log Cabin Smooch Spritz (also new to the Summer Mini). I thought that Rock-n-Roll would be the perfect technique to use on the Vintage Vogue flowers. First I inked up the flower in So Saffron, then I did a “heavy” roll in the Cameo Coral and finally a “light” roll in the Chocolate Chip. I stamped all three flowers and Spritzed them, too. I cut them out and stitched on the buttons from Button Latte. After a bit more sponging on the flowers and the Cameo Coral squares, I put on the Chocolate Satin Ribbon. These colors are really pretty together and I love the effect of the Spritz.

I can’t wait to hear what you think about the new products! Hope you have a great weekend!

Stamp: Vintage Vogue (Occasions Mini); Paper: Presto Patterns DSP, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Cameo Coral; Ink: So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Button Latte, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Sponges, Thread, Dimensional

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Elements with a Smooch

April 14, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

Have you ever had a card that was almost right? I mean, you like it but it just needs a little something. Well, that is how I felt about my last post. I really like the card but it was just missing that special something. I am teaching a Watercolor 101 class this week and really wanted to use this preview of the new set Elements of Style as an example. So, back to the drawing (or coloring) board I went. I reworked the colors and used Kraft (soon to become Crumb Cake) and Chocolate Chip. Really, who doesn’t like cake with chocolate chips, after all??!! I brightened up the colors a little bit to match the richer feel of the Chocolate Chip. As a final touch, after distressing and sponging the edges, I used my new Smooch Spritz that will be available in the new Summer Mini. This one is Log Cabin and has a bronze look to it. I thought the satin ribbon with the linen thread finished this card off right. It is, of course, another take on the Our Creative Corner Sketch 10, except this time I stayed with the sketch orientation.

Thanks for dropping by to see the new version! You comments are always appreciated.

Stamp: Elements of Style (Summer Mini); Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor; Ink: StazOn, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Sponges, Dimensionals, Blender Pen

The return of River Rock

April 8, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

Well, if you haven’t heard by now, let me be the one to share the great news!! Stampin’ Up is having a Color Revolution and there is quite a shake-up going on. Some of my favorite old In Colors are returning, namely RIVER ROCK!!! Sorry to yell, but I am really, really, really happy about that! I have resisted using River Rock with my Soft Suede (even though they are amazing together) because I had to hoard my River Rock. Well, no more! I can use it with reckless abandon knowing I can get more. Yea! I just received my pre-order for the upcoming Summer Mini (be on the lookout, it starts on May 1st). The first set that simply had to be ordered was Elements of Style. I love it!! There were a couple of challenges that I wanted to try today and the first is the Pals Paper Arts challenge 37, Flowers. Well, Elements of Style is all about flowers so that was easy enough! Now to the layout. I headed on over to the Our Creative Corner Sketch blog for their OCCSC10.

This seemed to have plenty of room for the big flower stamp! I (sadly) don’t have any River Rock ribbon left, so I just did a little piercing in place of the ribbon. I stamped the image with Soft Suede ink on Whisper White and colored in the flowers (using a blender pen) with So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Night of Navy, and River Rock. These are all part of the core colors that are remaining. I distressed the paper and sponged with Soft Suede. The small rectangle was created with the swirl and sponging with Soft Suede. I popped the image panel up on dimensionals then created a matching inside. I did find that flipping the layout worked better for me (it didn’t start that way though!).

I hope you like this as much as I do. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp: Elements of Style (Summer Mini); Paper: Soft Suede, River Rock, Whisper White; Ink: Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Rose Red, Night of Navy, River Rock, Soft Suede; Accessories: Piercing tool, Mat Pack, Dimensionals

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Two for one

April 5, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

Happy Monday to you all! I hope you had a beautiful weekend. I know my family had a wonderful Easter…what a blessing! I actually have two cards for you today. The first is a birthday card for a 7 year old boy who is a friend of one of my sons. The second was a card for a swap that I did with Stampin’ Addicts. I received my swaps on Saturday, so I feel safe in finally posting my card.

The first card uses a sketch from Stampin’ 411, their sketch challenge 145. I also followed this week’s Our Creative Corner challenge to “Break out the buttons”. The sketch seems to lean towards using a button so this was an easy combination.

I had some left over DSP from the Hand Drawn hostess bundle that has been retired. It is such a kid-friendly paper so I seem to always use it on cards where I need something quick and easy. This sketch is perfect for that Happy Birthday paper in the bundle! I used the lined paper to stamp the hat and words from Party Hearty. The celery ribbon is from the ribbon bundle in last year’s Sale-a-bration. Sometimes it is nice to use up some of those oldies but goodies!! The button is from the Sherbet button set.

My card for the swap uses a variation of a sketch from Taylored Expressions. Her sketches are always wonderful. This swap was for thank you cards and the cards I got back are just super. For swap cards (especially a demonstrator swap), I like to stick to one stamp set and one DSP. In this case, the stamp and the paper are all from the Lovely Flowers level 3 hostess bundle. I hope they are as happy with this card as I am with theirs!!

Easter break has begun with the kids and the weather remains perfect in Northern VA. My garden is sprouting with spinach, peas and sugar snap peas! Yea, yea, and yea!! Hope you have a great day. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Card 1: Stamp: Party Hearty; Paper: Hand Drawn DSP, Certainly Celery; Ink: Ruby Red, Certainly Celery; Accessories: Sherbet button, Celery ribbon (SAB ’09), Dimensionals

Card2: Stamp: Lovely Flowers; Paper: Lovely Flowers DSP, Chocolate Chip; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry; Accessories: Chocolate satin ribbon

That Oh, So Lovely Nouveau Chic!

April 1, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

I had so much fun with my last Nouveau Chic card, I wanted to make another one. This time, I used a sketch from Our Creative Corner chosen by the very talented Silke Ledlow. I love the big scallops in this layout!

I tried to stay true to those scallops by using my 1 1/4″ and 1 3/8″ circle punches. The stamps are all retired SU stamps but they remain some of my favorites! I just planted some poppy seeds (along with loads of other flowers) so I was reminded of this set. This is another anniversary card for another special couple in my family. I used the same ribbon treatment as this card, and all the details on it are there. Without further discussion, here is my take on this sketch:

It is a glorious day here in Northern VA and I am off to play outside with the kids! Hope you are having spring weather too!!

Stamps: Oh, So Lovely, Happy Harmony (both retired); Paper: Nouveau Chic DSP, Basic Gray, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla; Ink: Basic Gray, Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal; Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon, blender pen

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It's a Nouveau day!

March 31, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

Nouveau Chic, that is! I felt like moving away from the pinks and spring greens for something a little different. One of my dear sisters-in-law and her husband have an anniversary coming up and I need a card for them. She has beautiful taste with gray being a popular color for her decorating. Nouveau Chic was an obvious choice, don’t you think? I have to admit that when I bought this DSP, I thought I was going out of my box for colors. I quickly found out that this paper easily lends itself to beautiful cards. Watercoloring seems to be my technique of choice when I am using these colors. I pulled out my Fifth Avenue Floral set again today. Starting tomorrow, Stampin’ Up begins its Two-Step into Spring promotion and this set (along with some others) will be 20% off retail price. This set has been a favorite of mine since the day I opened it. If you don’t already have it, this price it too good to be true! Here are all the sets that have the discount:

Item	Page	Description	Discount Price
113824	94	Greenhouse Garden	$20.76
113734	98	Fifth Avenue Floral	$19.96
111578	101	Flower Fancy	$29.56
113258	112	Trendy Trees	$14.36

Now back to the card… I used the sketch from Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge 274. This is another great one with loads of possibilities. I almost turned it on its side for a different look but the original sketch worked better for this particular card (maybe I’ll get another chance at it tomorrow!). The Technique Lover’s Challenge 266 at Splitcoast this week is an Inside Out challenge. In other words, decorate the inside to coordinate with the outside. I am so happy I took the extra step inside!!

And here is the inside:

I bet you are wondering about the ribbon, aren’t you??!! Well, it doesn’t take too long looking at my blog to realize that I am a ribbon addict, hoarder, collector! I love SU ribbon, I can’t stop with it! Why…because it is so easy to work with and the textures are so beautiful! Today I am working with the Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon. This one is easy!! Cut a piece about 50% longer than you need and make each end a straight cut (vs. on the angle). Unravel one end just a little until you can see the individual threads that go lengthwise through the ribbon. Find a middle thread and start to pull. The ribbon will start to smush together and you just work it down the piece until you have what you need. I attached the ends at the back with mini glue dots. On the piece inside the card, I used a couple extra glue dots to make sure such a long piece stays secure. I love the texture it provides for not very much actual effort!

I used my watercolor blender pen with Sage Shadow and Going Gray ink to color the flowers, then used the fine tip end of an Apricot Appeal marker to color the centers. The “Love” word is from Well-Scripted (still available for another month). I inked it using a Going Gray marker being careful at the connection point between “love” and “you”. The fine tip of the marker fixed the tiny break in the script.

Thank for dropping by today. I really appreciate your comments!! Off to work in the yard on a lovely day in VA!! Have a great day!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Well-Scripted, Of the Earth (inside); Paper: Nouveau Chic DSP, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Watercolor (for flowers); Ink: Going Gray, Basic Gray, Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal; Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon, Dimesionals, Blender Pen

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Happy card for a happy friend!

March 26, 2010 Jentimko No Comments

I have a dear friend who has gotten some good news and this card is for her. I just love it when I get to make a card like that…don’t you??!! This week’s challenge over at Diva Coffee Break Design is a color challenge.

Hmm…pretty, pretty spring colors! Love them! Then I went over to see what Makeesha came up with for her challenge this week. Yea…a great layout posted on her blog, Inkspirations. I love how much you can do with this one!

I went back to my Tea Party paper for this one…still just loving the fresh look of it for spring. I cut out some of the flowers that fit the bill for the color challenge. Maybe that is why I love this paper so much. There is so much you can do with it! I added the beautiful word from Well Scripted and tied on some Celery satin ribbon with a Button Latte button to finish. I hope this brings a smile to my friend’s face!!

Click on the picture to enlarge if you want to see it closer. I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp: Well Scripted; Paper: Tea Party DSP, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White; Ink: Close to Cocoa; Accessories: Celery Satin Ribbon, Button Latte, Thread, Dimensionals

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