Monday, May 31, 2010

Trying Something New...

I've been wanting to try a new technique called "Black Magic".  These two cards are my first attempts at this awesome technique!  I stamped the solid image from the Level 2 hostess set Wings of Friendship using Whisper White craft ink on Basic Black cardstock.  Once the ink had dried I got out my Stampin' Up Watercolor Pencils and colored in all of the white areas I had stamped.  The result is a vibrant, eye-popping image on a black canvas.  As you can see I couldn't decide which background color I liked best:  Green Galore or Apricot Appeal.  Which one do you like the best?

Supplies
Stamps:  Wings of Friendship
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Lovely Lilac, Green Galore
Ink:  Whisper White Craft
Accessories:  Watercolor Pencils, Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder


Supplies
Stamps:  Wings of Friendship
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Lovely Lilac, Apricot Appeal
Ink:  Whisper White Craft
Accessories:  Watercolor Pencils, Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder


 

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Happy Anniversary to my Mom & Dad!  They will be celebrating 51 years of wedded bliss on Sunday!  How awesome is that!?!  I wanted to make a "fun" card for them and thought, why not use my "Build-a-Bear" set?  I did some watercoloring using the Aqua Painter and my stamp pads.  Then I used the "Grid Technique" on the background of the card using the scoring blade on my paper trimmer.  I tore the edges of the Close to Cocoa layer to frame the bears.  I think it turned out cute and will give them a chuckle!

Supplies
Stamps:  Beary Best Friends, Beary Best Times
Cardstock:  Brocade Blue, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa
Ink:  Basic Brown, Brocade Blue, Regal Rose, Real Red, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Basic Gray
Accessories:  Scoring Blade and Paper Trimmer, Stampin' Dimensionals, Aqua Painter

Remember that Close to Cocoa and Brocade Blue will be retiring the end of June!  Let me know if you'd like to order any of the retiring colors before they're gone forever!!!  (Unfortunately Sage Shadow is no longer available.)

Friday, May 28, 2010

Out of the Box Part 2

As I'm sure you'll notice, this card is the same layout as yesterday's card... I just reversed it and used the flower image instead of the heart.  This will be a great "Thinking of You" card for a friend!

Supplies
Stamps:  Out of the Box
Cardstock:  Melon Mambo, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay
Accessories:  Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals


 

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Out of the Box Part 1

Here is a quick and easy card I made using the Level 1 Hostess Set Out of the Box.  This little stamp set is so cute!  Today I used the heart image as I made this card for my cousin who is fighting cancer and wanted to convey the feelings of love that I'm sending her along with prayers and well wishes!

Supplies
Stamps:  Out of the Box
Cardstock:  Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay
Ink:  Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Basic Gray
Accessories:  Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals
Check back tomorrow for another card featuring this same stamp set and layout!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

This is how I'll feel as soon as school is out... ready to relax!  Ahhhhhhhhhh!  I am enjoying playing with the new stamp set Tropical Party from the Summer Mini Catalog and it really lends itself to the "In" colors!

Supplies
Stamps:  Tropical Party, Rough Type
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Summer Sun, Melon Mambo
Ink:  Melom Mambo, Old Olive, Soft Suede Classic Ink; Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories:  Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Friday, May 21, 2010

Ears Wishing You...

This little bunny from the Animal Crackers set is sure to bring a smile to the face of it's recipient, don't you think?  I used the "In" Colors Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo to frame the little fellow.  I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch on each side and let the Bermuda Bay layer show through and hang out the sides of the card front.  
Supplies
Stamps:  Animal Crackers
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay
Ink:  Close to Cocoa Classic Ink; Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories:  Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Aqua Painter

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sweet Baby Girl

As promised, here is the baby girl card I made for a co-worker.  This is a pocket card, similar in design to one of my Easter cards.  Since the baby is going to be a little girl I had to use Pretty in Pink!  I also decided to dig into my stash of buttons, using a courdoroy button as the "tab" to pull the card out of the pocket and one of the new tiny clear buttons (from the Summer Mini Catalog) as decoration on the bottom corner of the pocket.  I used my Big Shot to add texture using the Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder to the pocket.

Supplies
Stamps:  Tiny Tags, Little Angel, Welcome Baby, Puns From the Past
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Ink:  Pretty in Pink
Accessories:  Big Shot, Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Medium Jewelry Tag Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Bitty Buttons, Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon, White Embroidery Floss

And here is the inside card pulled out of the pocket:


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Happy Journey

The janitor at my school will be retiring in two weeks so I wanted to make a special card for him.  He was awesome and took such good care of us.  I'm going to miss him!  The card features another new stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog, Pedaling Past.  I like how it turned out and think it definitely fits the bill for a masculine retirement card!

Supplies
Stamps:  Pedaling Past
Cardstock:  Basic Gray, Taken With Teal, Confetti White
Ink:  Basic Gray Classic Ink; Taken With Teal Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories:  Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A Bouncing Baby Boy is Coming...

Here is a card I made for a baby shower.  Obviously the mama knows that her little one is going to be a little boy.  I pulled out my Choo Choo stamp set and the coordinating Right on Track wheel. 

Supplies
Stamps:  Choo Choo, Right on Track Wheel, Little Angel
Cardstock:  Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Naturals White
Ink:  Basic Black, Basic Gray
Accessories:  Stampin' Around Handle, Basic Black Brads, Ticket Corner Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Now I just have to make a baby girl card for another co-worker who is expecting this summer.  Stay tuned...

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Happy Retirement for a Friend

A colleague of mine will be retiring this month and I wanted to make a special card for her.  She has worked hard for many years and deserves only the best as she starts this next chapter in her life.  I tried to make this card representative of a place I would like to go to relax and retire myself.  I used the Tropical Party stamp set from the Summer Mini catalog.  For the varigated background, I sponged layers of color across Whisper White cardstock.  I framed it with the negative image left over when using the Top Note die in my Big Shot.  The palms on the trees are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals and the flower was made with 3 punches from the Boho Blossoms flower punch. 


Here is a close-up of the card:

Supplies
Stamps:  Tropical Party, Rough Type
Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Summer Sun
Ink:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink; Old Olive, Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories:  Linen Thread, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Dimensionals, Boho Blossom Punch, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Stampin' Sponges

And here is the inside featuring a sentiment stamp that is now retired (how ironic is that!?):


Thursday, May 13, 2010

Thank You!

Here is a "Thank You" card I made for the P.T.O. at school.  This is the first time to use the new Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and I love how it turned out!  It is a very cool texture!  This is one of the new products featured in the Summer Mini Catalog.  Click on the link to the right to see what other awesome new products Stampin' Up is featuring!

Supplies
Stamps:  First Day, Very Thankful
Cardstock:  Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Basic Gray
Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red Classic Ink; Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Blush Blossom Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories:  Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

 

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sunshine Award!

Guess what!?!?!  I received an award!  My friend Betty sent me a Sunshine Award.  You can see Betty's blog here.   She is a very talented lady who also features tutorials on using Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio on her blog.  Thanks Betty!!!


Part of the award is to then pass it along to other bloggers that you enjoy visiting.  Here are some more friends I've met through UStamp who have blogs for you to check out: 
Pauline who just happens to live "in the land down under",
Angie who has some beautiful creations on her blog, and
Bella who has to be the hardest working assistant at UStamp!

Be sure and check out my friends and see what creative adventures they've been up to!


 

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there, especially my mom!   Here is a layout I created using Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio:


 

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

1 Stamp, 3 Cards

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I needed to make cards for my two aunts.  All of these cards feature the same image from the Level 1 Hostess Stamp Set Country Morning.  I stamped the image using Basic Brown and used my Summer Sun and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers for the daisies.  I used my Stampin' Pastels to color in the rest of the flowers.  The pastels really lend themselves to easy color blending.

Supplies
Stamps:  Country Morning, Tiny Tags
Cardstock:  Summer Sun, Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue
Ink:  Basic Brown Classic Ink; Summer Sun, Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories:  Stampin' Pastels, Big Shot, Stampin' Up Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates, Medium Jewelry Tag Punch, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

For this next card, I decided to use my Big Shot to cut out the card using the Stampin' Up Top Note Die.

Supplies
Stamps:  Counry Morning, Tiny Tags
Cardstock:  Orchid Oppulence, Old Olive, Vey Vanilla
Ink:  Orchid Opulence, Basic Brown Classic Ink; Summer Sun, Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note Die, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Medium Jewelry Tag Punch, Stampin Dimensionals, Linen Thread

Supplies
Stamps:  Country Morning, Tiny Tags
Cardstock:  Summer Sun, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Orchid Opulence
Ink:  Basic Brown, Summer Sun and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories:  Big Shot, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Medium Jewelry Tag Punch, Linen Thread, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Which version is your favorite???

Sunday, May 2, 2010

A Cute Roo or Two

Isn't this one of the cutest stamp sets you've ever seen!?  The Build-a-Roo set is very versatile as it contains interchangable images for the kangaroo's pouch so you can make a "Thinking of You" card like this one or a "Welcome Baby" card like the blue one I've featured further down in this post.  I decided to stamp the kangaroo on Soft Suede and cut it out rather than watercolor the image.  I made both cards a type of tri-fold card and the tied ribbon holds each card closed.

Supplies
Stamps:  Build-a-Roo
Cardstock:  Kraft, Melon Mambo, Naturals Ivory, Old Olive, Soft Suede
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Basic Brown
Accessories:  Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Supplies
Stamps:  Build-a-Roo
Cardstock:  Kraft, Naturals Ivory, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede
Ink:  Basic Brown, Bashful Blue
Accessories:  3/16" Blue Gingham Ribbon (retired), Ticket Corner Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals