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Stamping 411 – Flower Fest

Yep…what else!  Stampin' Up!'s Flower Fest is still out on my desk and I couldn't resist using it again on Stamping 411's sketch challenge this week!  It's a fun one this week!  Hope you play along! 

So, you can see why Flower Fest was perfect for the sketch, right?  Here is my card:

I used the textured cardstock and designer paper from Playful Polka Dots Scrappin' Kit that I had left over from another project to make this card.  I LOVE the patterns in the kit!  The base of the card is Old Olive.  I layered on textured Daffodil Delight that I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch along the bottom.  I also added small Rhinestone Jewels in between each scallop.  Love that bling!  On top of the Daffodil Delight I used the Polka Dot DSP.  Then, for the accent piece on the sketch, I used some of the stripe paper in that kit.  Aren't those colors great?

I stamped the large flower from Flower Fest in Rose Red on the Textured Rose Red cardstock and used the Fancy Flower Punch.  I used a Pumpkin Pie large designer button in the center and tied a bow with the White Bakers Twine.  I stamped the 5 Petal flower with Pumpkin Pie on Daffodil Delight and used the 5 petal punch.  I added an Old Olive flower button tied with Bakers Twine in the center.  Then I stamped the leaves with Old Olive on the textured Old Olive and cut it out.  The large flower is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

For my greeting, I stamped Just For You from Oval All Stamp Set in Pumpkin Pie on Whisper White and punched with the Large Oval.  Then I stamped it again on Pumpkin Pie and punched with the Scallop Oval punch.  I layered the White on top and added a couple more Rhinestone Jewels.

Make sure to check out what the rest of the fabulous Operators did this time over on Stamping 411!  I can't wait to see their cards each week!

Stamping 411 – On the Grow

Yes, I am loving this new stamp set in the Summer Mini, On the Grow!  I've used it again today for the Stamping 411 sketch challenge SSC201!  We are SO happy that you enjoyed our little "game" last week!  We had fun playing along ourselves!

And here is my card…I knew immediately that I would use Stampin' Up!'s On the Grow set and that the scooter would fit perfectly in the focal element spot!

I started with a base of Real Red cardstock.  I layered on Bashful Blue that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I took my colors from the Celebrations Designer Paper…I love this polka dot pattern!  I  layered the DSP on Pacific Point cardstock.  I stamped the scooter in Black Stazon on Whisper White and used my Stampin' Write Markers in Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pearl Pizzazz, Basic Black and Bashful Blue, plus used the AquaPainter to watercolor it.  I layered the Whisper White on more Pacific Point.  I wrapped two lengths of 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon around to the back and adhered.  I added an Old Olive button, tied with more 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon and adhered with Mini Glue Dots.

Finally, I stamped Celebrate from Fundamental Phrases in Black Stazon on Real Red and punched with the Curly Label Punch, cut it in half and placed it under the scooter focal piece.  I think it is a fun card!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operators did this week!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Stamping 411 Reveal

Wow…that was a tough contest, wasn't it?  The Stamping 411 Operators really changed things up.  I thought I had a pretty good handle on whose card was whose…ended up that I only had THREE right!  Not even the one that I had posted on MY blog!  lol!  Oh well!

So…HERE is the card that I posted last Friday…did you guess right?  If you guessed GRETCHEN…you would be correct!  I didn't…I thought for sure it was Kerin's card! 

Anyway…here is MINE:

Since the Stampin' Up! Alaska cruise I'm taking in a few weeks has been on my mind lately, I thought of doing a "port hole" for my nautical card!  Stampin' Up! has a wonderful new set called, The Open Seas, in the Summer Mini.  I stamped the anchor from this set in Cherry Cobbler on Sahara Sand and punched with the 1 3/4 Circle punch.  Then I punched the 2 1/2 Circle from Early Espresso.  I measured top to bottom and side to side and pierced holes for the Vintage Brads to go around the circle. 

The base of the card is Sahara Sand and I textured the front with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I placed a section of the Nautical Expedition Designer Paper (anchor print) on the front and the coordinating stripe print across the top.  I used the Curly Label punch and made a row of scallops along the bottom, and placed one for the greeting above the Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine that was wrapped around three times.  The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and stamped in Early Espresso Classic Ink.

I had a lot of fun making my card.  I hope you all had lots of fun playing along with the Operators this week!  If you want to see whose cards were whose, you can see them all over on Stamping 411.

And…the winner of my Blog Candy is…………………

Stamping 411 – Mystery Artist

That's right!  This is NOT my card!  Why am I posting it then?  Well, this week is Stamping 411's 100th Sketch!  Isn't that amazing?  What started out as a place for our customers to go for basic information and a challenge to play along each week, is now celebrating our 100th sketch!  So, here is the sketch we were given.  In return, we were given someone else's card to post on our blog.  If you leave a comment on my blog (and each of the Operator's blogs) with your GUESS, you get a chance to win some BLOG CANDY to help us celebrate!

And…here is my Mystery Artist's card!  Can you GUESS whose card it is?

OK…first the measurements of her card:

Base card – 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, folded to 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 size.

1st layer – 5 1/4 x 4

Strip layer – 5 1/4 x 2

Eyelet Border Punch layer – 5 1/4 x 1

1 3/4 Circle punch layered with the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle

She used some of the products coming out in the Summer Mini!  Love the nice, bright colors!  The Beyond the Garden Designer Paper and the stamp set, Fabulous Florets will be in there.  And, the fabulous new Impressions Folder, Flower Garden.  The phrase is from Happy Greetings!  Ohhh, isn't it hard to wait?

Second…my guess is that this is Kerin Sylvester's card!  Why?  I know she does her bows like that…and she likes to add pearls and such.  But…this is HARD!  lol!

So…for BLOG CANDY…leave a comment on MY blog on which Stamping 411 Operator's card you think this is.  Then go check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operator's creations this week.  Follow the links to the other chances for Blog Candy, too!  Winners and matching the creators will be announced on Wednesday, April 28th.

Stamping 411 – Nature Walk

Wow…another week has flown by!  It is time for the Stamping 411 sketch challenge for the week!  I had fun with this one!  Although…all week I've been running behind, thinking it was a day earlier than it actually is! 

Here is my card using Stampin' Up!'s Nature Walk.  I am really going to miss the Occasions Mini when it goes away at the end of the month!  So many great sets in there!

I did manage to use the new Paisley Petals Designer Paper on this card…that is the DSP that is on Sneak Peek this month and will appear in the big catalog in July!  I love the rich tones in this Bravo Burgundy leaf print.  I started with a base of Always Artichoke and layered on Very Vanilla and then the Paisley Petals DSP.  I wrapped the Early Espresso Striped Ribbon on a diagonal across the front of the card and secured it to the back.  I took another piece and trimmed and distressed the extra ribbon to make the bow…I love how that looks!

For the focal element, I stamped the Nature Walk flower design several times with Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Markers on Very Vanilla.  I stamped the bird, used an AquaPainter to blur the Early Espresso color for the body, added a little Pumpkin Pie to the beak and then cut it out.  It is placed with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front of the flowers.  That is my favorite way to use the bird and flowers in this set!  The Very Vanilla cardstock was layered on more Always Artichoke.  I stamped the greeting from You're A Gem in Bravo Burgundy on Always Artichoke and punched with the little Oval punch…then placed it under the knot of the bow.

I like how it turned out!  Make sure to check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operators did this week over on Stamping 411!  Enjoy!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Fun Flower Bookmarks FREE Tutorial

Today is my monthly post for Thrifty 3D Wednesday over on Stamping 411!  Over there, I have a FREE TUTORIAL for you on how to make these gorgeous Fun Flower Bookmarks yourself!  Our SAMS gave us one at Leadership this year and I just fell in love with it!  Wouldn't it look great on your coffee table book?  Or, of course, your Stampin' Up! catalog! 

The yellow one above is the one that my Stamp Clubs learned last month using Stampin' Up!'s Fun Flower Bigz Large Die.  I love Peace Roses and tried to replicate how they look!  I used Melon Mambo around the edges, but it actually looked more Tangerine Tango when dry…so I used that color Big Designer Button in the center with a Key Trinket and "for you" from Clearly for You stamp set!  It is all tied with a Linen Thread bow!

I made the Melon Mambo (with Rose Red sponging) as a prototype for my son's wedding in their colors of Melon Mambo and Night of Navy.  They have several people reading scriptures in the wedding and I thought the Fun Flowers Bookmark would look very pretty in the bible to hold their place.  We'll see if it is a go…the bride-to-be hasn't seen them yet!

Make sure to check out the FREE TUTORIAL over on Stamping 411!  Leave me a comment and let me know if you make one for yourself!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Stamping 411 – Thanks for Caring

Well!  We've had some excitement this week over on Stamping 411.  If you haven't read about the announcement, Stamping 411 has gone Stampin' Up! Only!  The Design Operators have always used Stampin' Up! only products…but now that means that those playing along with the challenge must also use Stampin' Up! only products when they upload their creations!  We feel this aligns us more closely with the Stampin' Up! contract we've signed AND will give you even more ideas on how to use the Stampin' Up! products you've purchased!

So…on to my card!  I've had Stampin' Up!'s Thanks for Caring set for a while, but this is the first time I've used it.  I pulled it out to use with the Stamping 411 sketch this week!

I love the upcoming Designer Paper, Paisley Petals that will be in the new catalog.  As you know, Stampin' Up! has a special Sneak Peek Special going on this month and it features this Designer Paper that you can get early, too!  I cut into mine for the first time!

I started with a base of Pear Pizzazz cardstock.  I added a layer of Peach Parfait that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder.  Then I added a piece of the Paisley Petals Designer Paper…that is how I picked my colors!   For the stamped image from Thanks for Caring stamp set,  I used my Bravo Burgundy and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Markers and colored the image and stamped it on Whisper White.  I used an AquaPainter and the Peach Parfait Stampin' Write Marker to color in the floral portion.  I used a little Sahara Sand marker to "ground" the image.  Then I stamped the "With Love and Caring" stamp in Peach Parfait.  The Whisper White piece was layered onto Bravo Burgundy cardstock and I used the Scallop Edge Punch on the right side.

Along the right, I saved room for some ribbon…but not quite enough room for the entire 1 1/4 width of the Certainly Celery Striped Grosgrain.  I cut down each side, then pulled the threads on the sides to give it a distressed look.  I used Sticky Strip to ruffle it, then added a Vintage Brad in the center.  I think that turned out pretty neat and I'll be using that little trick again!  Oh…I should mention that I used the Distressing Tool on all the edges to rough them up a little bit!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Operators have made this week over on Stamping 411.  Then grab your Stampin' Up! products and play along!  We love to see your work!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Stamping 411 – Build A Blossom Iris

We have another fun sketch for you to try this week over on Stamping 411!  OK…I'll admit…this is my second try…the first one bothered me…so I started over!  I think I was just trying to rush too much to get it done.  I let the card sit for a couple hours, came back and tore it apart to start over.  Anyone else ever done that???  lol!

OK…here is my finished card.  The iris was heavily inspired by a MDS card that I saw Sue Erickson do.  I just knew I could use the Build a Blossom stamp set and punch to do mine.

I love Irises…I think they are my favorite flower…or tied with hydrangeas and lilacs.  My grandmother gave me several starts from her garden when I was VERY young.  I dug them up and moved them with us each time…but somewhere along the line I dropped the ball and don't have them any longer.  Actually, I think the movers thought they were just a bag of dirt and threw them away during a winter move.  I gave a neighbor some of my bulbs one year…maybe one day I'll knock on the door of the people who moved into their house and ask if I could dig up a couple!  lol!

Anyway…onto my card.  As you can see, I flipped the sketch and let the Iris be the scalloped half circle (I think that is what bugged me with my last card.)  I used Concord Crush with the Build A Blossom stamp and stamped it 5 times, then punched them with the Petal Blossoms Punch.  I used the small "leaf" for the Daffodil Delight tongues of the irises and added a Designer Button to the center.  I curled the petals back with my fingers to make them more dimensional.  The base of the card is Whisper White and I layered on Concord Crush and then the Hostess Level 1 In Color Designer Paper in Pear Pizzazz.  I  added a strip of Daffodil Delight cardstock and used the Scallop Edge Punch along one side.  

To hide the seam, I cut a stem from Pear Pizzazz and hand-cut some leaves.  I inked and textured them with Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink.  Finally, I stamped You're a Gem in Concord Crush and punched with the Small Oval and layered on the Concord Crush Large Oval punch.

Now THIS card turned out the way I wanted!  Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operators to see what they have done this week!  Then play along with us!  Have a GREAT weekend!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Stamping 411 – Baby Blossoms

We have a NICE and easy sketch for you today over on Stamping 411!  So, grab your stamps and play along!  We love to see what you do!

And my card!  I used Stampin' Up!'s Baby Blossoms stamp set in the Occasions Mini!  It really is a NICE set to do quick and easy cards using the two-step stamping!

The longest part of doing this card, was figuring out which Designer Paper to use for the "ruffles".  I finally settled on Springtime Vintage since I had a lot of scraps the size I needed to run thru the Big Shot with Tasteful Trim XL Die!  Isn't that a FUN technique?

I started with a base of Always Artichoke cardstock, then added a layer of Very Vanilla.  I wrapped the Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon with the BOW around to the back to secure.  I cut the different Springtime Vintage Designer Papers with the scallop on the Tasteful Trim Die, then just adhered the top of each scallop piece, starting at the bottom, to the Not Quite Navy strip of cardstock.  I slightly bent up the scallops on each row to make them look "ruffled".  Once again, Stampin' Up!'s coordinating designer paper made it SO easy!

To finish, I stamped the word Thanks from Stampin' Up!'s Fabulous Phrases in Not Quite Navy Classic Ink above the ruffles.  Then I added the two step floral bouquet from Stampin' Up!'s Baby Blossoms in Always Artichoke, and Not Quite Navy.  (I did the stamp-off trick to get two different shades of each color!)

I added a little Beautiful Wings Embosslit Butterfly in River Rock cardstock above the greeting, with a tiny Pearl Jewel on his body.  Then added three more Pearl Jewels to the top right corner.

I think it turned out pretty cool!  Check out what the rest of the Operators did on Stamping 411!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Stampin’ Up! Just Believe

We have a fun sketch for you this week over on Stamping 411!  I love the angled layer on this sketch!

And here is my interpretation using Stampin' Up!'s Just Believe stamp set.

My color combination is Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi and Sahara Sand…I love how it turned out!  I inked up the Just Believe floral stamp with Rich Razzleberry and Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Markers and stamped on Whisper White cardstock.  I layered that on Rich Razzleberry.  The base of the card is Wild Wasabi and a layer of Sahara Sand cardstock over top.  I wrapped the Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon around and tied a knot.

I stamped the greeting "Some things…" in Basic Black on Rich Razzleberry and punched with the 1 3/8 circle.  it is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I also stamped the circle medallion in Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink on Whisper White and punched with the 1" Circle.  There is a bit of bling with the Rhinestone jewel in the center of the flower.  The diagonal layer is the green stripe in Pawsitively Prints II Designer Paper, layered on Wild Wasabi cardstock…although it didn't photograph well at all!  lol!

Again, I loved the sketch!  Check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operators did this week!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!