Sharing Creativity...

I think everyone should have received their swaps back by now, so this is ok to post.  This was my swap for the Holiday Mini Catalog Swap for Control Freaks Swappers.  We get the BEST swaps from this group!  I love getting my package back in the mail…it is just like Christmas!

I used Winter Post for my card.  I did something similar to a Joy Fold, but turned it so the card could stand up on its own.  The second picture shows this better.  I used Baja Breeze as my base card, then layered Whisper White stamped with Baja Breeze snowflakes.  I used a narrow piece of Holiday Treasures Designer Paper and my Scallop Edge punch to punch an edge of scallops above the designer paper.  I stamped the December 25 image and punched it with the Designer Label punch.  Then I folded a small piece of Riding Hood Stripe ribbon in half and tucked it under the Label punch.  The skaters were stamped in Basic Brown on Whisper White.  I decided to leave them uncolored since it made a quicker card.  I didn’t think to make an "ice rink" under their skates until I’d already shipped it off.  The Columbus Day holiday made my time a little shorter than I thought.

So…I’m pleased with how it turned out!  And I love the swaps I received in return. 

I put a good dent in packing for the Retreat this weekend.  Just need to grab a suitcase full of stamp sets and I’ll be good to go!  Hope everything fits in the car (along with my two friends!)  Woohoo!  Everyone is arriving today!  Yeah!

Tags: Control Freaks swaps, Winter Post

After spending almost two hours in line this morning (and getting there at 6:30 AM so I could vote with my husband and son), I was inspired to come home and create this card.  Thank you to all of you who go out and brave the LONG lines to vote today.  We are blessed to live in a country where our voice is heard!

My Season of Friendship Card Kit purchasers will be happy that here is another sample using the Season of Friendship stamp set!  I stamped the tree in Basic Black on Whisper White, towards the right edge.  Then I added three 1/4" strips of Real Red cardstock along the left side.  I punched the stars with the Small Star punch from Pacific Point and adhered them with mini glue dots to the limbs of the tree.  I stamped the words Thank You from Family Accessories in Basic Black on Whisper White and punched with the small oval punch.  Then a border of Pacific Point with the Large Oval.  I punched a small hole next to the bottom of the tree and wrapped the 5/8 Real Red ribbon around and thru the hole to tie it. I’m happy that it turned out how I pictured it in my head!

Today I am spending the day packing up my craft items to take to the weekend stamping retreat.  I have a couple girlfriends coming into town Wednesday evening to spend the night and visit…then we leave right after lunch on Thursday to go to the retreat!  Woohoo!  We’ve been planning this so long, I can’t believe it is finally here.  There are about 50 ladies going…should be a great time!  It is held twice a year and I’ve been going since it started in 2005.  I’m working on getting some posts ready to publish while I’m gone.  Hopefully I won’t run into any server issues like last time!

Now…GO VOTE!

Tags: patriotic, Season of Friendship

Here are some tag cello packages that I made for the craft fairs this year.  The tag stamp images are from TAC and are adorable!  The scallop image is from Stampin’ Up!’s Sale-A-Bration set, So Many Scallops.  The "Celebrate the Season" snowflake  image is perfect for the holidays and using on all kinds of packaging!  I stamped it twice, once in Glorious Green and once in Real Red, then punched the center snowflake with the 3/4 circle and layered it onto the green scallop.  Then I punched it all out with the Scallop punch.

The cello bag top is made with the Top Note die, folded lengthwise.  I stapled it shut and added the grosgrain ribbon to hide the staples…then placed the Scallop over it to hold in place.

The Tags, I stamped the images in Basic Black and colored them with Stampin’ Up! markers in Real Red, Glorious Green, Yo Yo Yellow, Only Orange, Blush Blossom, Creamy Caramel, and Close to Cocoa.  I layered them on either Real Red or Glorious Green and used my tag corner punch on the ends.  There are 12 tags to a bag.  Each tag has a ribbon at the top so you can tie it on a package.  YES!  I still have some left…price is $3.95 each plus $1 shipping (US only, please)  SOLD OUT

BLOG SPECIAL:  I also have two Stampin’ Up! So Many Scallops stamps sets, new and unmounted.  The first two $50 or more (before tax and shipping) Stampin’ Up! orders placed either online with me or emailed to me will get one of the sets FREE!  (US residents only, please.)  Offer expires 11/24/08.

Tags: Christmas tags

I had to sneak in one last Halloween card!  I sent these out to a few people this year.  Hopefully they have received them by now and I won’t ruin the surprise. 

This design was heavily inspired by Kimberly Van Diepen.  I loved how she did a white fence in front of the Season of Friendship tree.  I added the crow in the limb and the Happy Halloween at the top with a couple black brads.  I also used Dazzling Diamonds mixed with Black Embossing Powder to make the tree and cat sparkle!  The base card is Whisper White, with a layer of Basic Black and then Kraft.  Both the Basic Black and Kraft I used my distressing tool to rough up the edges.  I also used a sponge dauber with Black ink around the edges of the Kraft and the punched oval for Happy Halloween.  The cat is actually from Batty for You.  I stamped and embossed her on Kraft, then cut her out.  She is popped up on dimensionals.  Oh…in the background I used the stars from Classic Backgrounds in Versamark.

So…those of you who purchased my Season of Friendship Kit, here is one more idea for you to use that set!

Tags: Halloween, Season of Friendship

Today’s Blogger’s Challenge was to make a card that celebrates Halloween!  I must admit, I have more Halloween stamp sets that I really need, but something about them calls my name when I see them.  I usually end up buying at least one each year.

I wanted to show you that you can use this set, Crazy for Cupcakes, for more than just birthdays!  Isn’t it cute decorated for Halloween?  The fun Halloween colored cupcakes, and that little spider from Eat, Drink & Be Scary…you just know he’s had a taste of that yummy icing!  Of course, I had to add some Drippy Goo to the faux window awning (made with the Drippy Goo punch that Barbara was so kind to send me!)

The gray bat and pumpkin swirl designer papers are from Ghostly Greetings by Stampin’ Up!  I’m happy to say that I almost used up a full pack of this paper!  The cupcakes were colored with Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust and Basic Black markers.  The stand with a Going Grey marker.  I used a Black marker to omit and color only the spider, then hand drew his web hanging down.  I stamped Happy Halloween from All Holidays in Basic Black on Whisper White, then added an orange eyelet and gold elastic thread to tie around the black and orange satin ribbon.  Overall, I think this is a FUN card!

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!  Beggar’s Night was last night for our city.  Fun to see the little ones all dressed up!

Today is also the LAST day you can take advantage of Stampin’ Up!’s birthday celebration!  Click here to see what sets are 20% off and then click here to ORDER ONLINE!

Tags: Crazy for Cupcakes, Drippy Goo

I’ve glanced at this set, Seasonal Whimsy, several times in the Catalog, but never purchased it.  Then an awesome online demo, Regina Aldrine, sent me a package of felt Flower Fushion flowers to help me out and she enclosed this card!  I love it!  Thanks, Regina, for both the card and helping me…you are too kind.  I’m sending off a little care package to you today.  Hope you enjoy the goodies!

This card is very sparkly in person!  She used Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the leaves.  And I love how she layered the focal point with THREE extra layers of cardstock (Really Rust, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie)…it just makes it pop!  In the background, she used the individual leaf in that set and a speckle stamp to make a random wave of stamped images…sort of like a wheel.  I never thought of using a stamp like that.  And, the greeting is perfect!  I do believe she has SOLD me on this set!

Again, thanks, Regina…you are awesome!  I am always surprised at the generosity of online stamping friends…those I’ve never met in person who go out of their way to help.

Trick or Treat (Beggar’s Night) is tonight at our house.  We only get about 30 here.  It is fun to see all the costumes.  Poor Bleach…I’ll have to lock her up in her room.  I know she wouldn’t like all the noise and confusion of the kids.

Tags: Seasonal Whimsy

I’m embarrassed to mention that I received a full Build a Flower tin at Convention 2007.  We used a couple of the items on a scrapbook page and decorated the front of the tin, but I never did anything with them after that.  I had full intentions of doing a class, but didn’t…then they retired them this year.  Does anyone else buy stuff and then not use it right away…come on…I KNOW you do!

So, when I was thinking of things to make for the craft fair, I pulled out the tin of die cut adhesive flowers.  They really are VERY nice to work with…the same quality as the ones in the Scrappin’ Kits.  (We have Roof Garden in the current catalog.  You can easily overlook them on page 182.  But, I’ve purchased them and WILL be having a class using them.)

But, back to this project.  I remember someone did a similar class or project with them a LONG time ago.  There are four color flower sets in the tin…pink, purple, green and blue.  I used the same color theme for each bag.  I decorated the front of a small Kraft Handle bag with the larger flower, added a scallop circle and more build-a-flowers, then added some white shredded paper inside.  The four cards are fairly simple.  I used a Whisper White base card, layered it with the matching color…in this case Certainly Celery…then layered an polka dot embossed background on top of that.  Then a strip of coordinating Designer Prints pattern and finally the Build A Flower Die Cuts.  I also used colored mini brads in the centers of the flowers.  Even the envelopes are decorated with the die cuts.  I tied up the four note cards with some colored wide organdy ribbon (boy…I miss Stampin’ Up! carrying these ribbons!) and also tied a small bow around the handle of the bag.  Very simple, but I think it makes a nice gift.

I’m making a dent in the things I need to finish this week, so that makes me happy.  I need to start thinking about what I’m taking on my stamping retreat the following weekend!  It will be here before I know it.  Plus, I’m in charge of the Make & Take this time…I need to sort out the Scrappin’ Kits and prepare the directions for them to follow.  Almost 4 full days of stamping fun…I can’t wait.  Plus, several of my friends are coming into town that live around the country.  We’ll have a big reunion!

Tags: Build a Flower, Note cards

I know…I’m addicted to this Halloween stamp set, Eat, Drink & Be Scary.  I truly LOVE that witches hat!  This is one holiday that I like to send out cards.  I have about 10 done, but need to make a few more if I get time!  I have SO many Halloween stamps and wheels…they are just so fun.

This card was a challenge card with Mary last week.  We used a sketch with any theme.  Many of you know that I also love Snowmen.  One of the home decor items I’ve purchased over the years is a Snowman Pumpkin for Halloween decorations.  I decided to replicate my decor piece onto a card. 

I used 3 sizes of circle punches (1-3/4, 1-3/8, 1-1/4) from some leftover Pumpkin Designer Paper.  The arms and crow are from Season of Friendship, I just cut off a couple of the twigs.  The spider and the hat are from Eat, Drink & Be Scary.  For the spider, I used my black marker to color in the body, stamped and then used the fine tip to draw the web coming down to him.  The background designer paper is from Ghostly Greetings.    I used the new Old Olive grosgrain ribbon to tie around the background.  And, I added a couple leaves from Autumn Harvest to "ground" the pumpkin snowman a little.  Oh, his face is from Autumn Harvest, too.  So, yes, I used three different stamp sets…but I just couldn’t resist!  What do you think?

Another start to a brand new week.  It is busy one for me…lots of deadlines.  It is supposed to be COLD today with a chance of the "s" word…  I’m not ready!

Tags: Autumn Harvest, Eat Drink & Be Scary, halloween snowman, Season of Friendship

This week’s Blogger’s Challenge was Gift Giving projects.  Perfect!  I love 3D items and giving little stamped gifts.  I can’t wait to see what everyone has done.  But I decided to tackle this project instead.

I’ve been wanting to do this project since Trees Three was in the mini catalog a couple years ago.  I bought the frame WAY back then!  I’m glad I waited, however, since I love the Season of Friendship stamp set even more.  I knew the minute I saw that set, that I could use it for this frame.  Wish I’d have bought more so I could make up a few more of these.

Some of the details.  I did use Craft inks so I got a more intense color.  And I used the retired Soft Sky cardstock for the background only because it matches my bathroom (yes…I know…I’m supposed to GIVE this away), but you could use Bali Breeze or Bashful Blue instead.  The little birds are all clear embossed…can you see the robin in the spring even has a rust belly?  And I love the cardinal in the winter, crow in autumn and bluebird in summer!  Fun!  The seasonal greetings are from a retired set, Season by Season.  Another set I’ll never part with…we don’t have anything like it now.  I added some glitter to the cherry blossom centers and the snowflakes and ground.

I decided to leave the glass off so it looks more 3D and I can enjoy the ribbon a little more.  I’m SO happy with how this turned out.  The photo really doesn’t do it justice.

Enjoy the weekend!!!

Stamps:  Season of Friendship, Season by Season (retired)
C/S:  Soft Sky, More Mustard, Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Old Olive
Inks:  CRAFT Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Old Olive, More Mustard, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Gable Green, Whisper White
CLASSIC:  Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Ballet Blue, Basic Black, Real Red
Other:  Versamark, Clear EP, 5/8 Grosgrain Ribbon (Rose, Olive, Choc Chip), Baja Breeze Striped Ribbon, Dimensionals, Multipurpose glue & Dazzling Diamonds, Large Oval Punch, White Gel Pen

Want this set?  ORDER it from me today ONLINE!

Tags: Season of Friendship, Seasons frame

Sorry I didn’t post earlier…I’ve been fighting a headache all day.  It comes and goes.  Probably weather related as it is supposed to get COLD this weekend…they are saying the "S" word.  NOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I’m not ready!

I made this card a couple weeks ago and was going to use it for one of my Technique Classes.  I ended up doing something else, but you may see this technique, Spectrum Roll, at a future class…just not the card!  I think it looks really cool and very vibrant!  Spectrum Roll is a August 2005 Technique Junkies Newsletter technique.  I really can’t believe it has been that long since I first learned this technique!  Oh my…  Colors I used were Glorious Green and Not Quite Navy.  I also used the new Designer Label punch and On Your Birthday set.

Don’t forget…tomorrow is Blogger’s Challenge day.  I’m better get working on my project!

Tags: Spectrum Roll, Techniques