Note Cards...

I am on a note card kick. We have lots of relatives that have everything they could possibly want and need. Getting cards for people like this can be a pain. However, I know they would get a kick out of note cards. This one is has that added UMPH! I used Crystal Effects on the heart after coloring it with a Real Red marker... this card makes me happy! hehehe.

Recipe:
Vases in Vogue stamp set; Elegant Eggplant ink pad; Very Vanilla card stock; Real Red Stampin' Write Marker. Accessories: Crystal Effects.

So simple... so elegant... love it!

We've Moved

No, No, We are not moving yet!!! hehehe... Although, anything is possible. We are due to leave at some point. We don't want to but you go where the military sends you!

Anyway, here is that color combo again! I like this layout though! There is just something about it. Anyway, I have created "packs" of cards. I have put 5 of these together, painting the chair different colors. I think if I make these again, I may do something to the corners - ticket corner them, maybe.

Recipe:
Right at Home, Sanded, Cross Hatch Stamp sets; Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and Stazon Jet Black ink pads; Marigold Morning, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive and Confetti White card stock; Watercolor Crayons and Aqua Painter. Accessories: Word Window punch and More Mustard Brads

Male Birthday

I have been trying to make more masculine cards. I have a brother's birthday coming up soon. Words by Wilson is a great set. The wit is right up my alley!

I purchased the Make and Take Doodle This Thanks Card Kit. It came complete with pre-scored cards, thre other colors in various sizes, brads, ribbon, etc. I still have a few of these so if the colors are repeated often, it's because I am determined to use everything I have purchased! hehe

Recipe:
Words by Wilson Stamp set; Stazon Jet Black and Old Olive ink pads; Marigold Morning, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock; Watercolor Crayons and Aquapainter. Accessories: Ticket Corner punch, Crafter's Tool Kit, More Mustard Brads and Crystal Effects.

Here Comes the Bride!

Here is the other Wedding card. I tried a technique called Spotlighting. I also made the white of the card, the card. The black background is in the back. Does that make sense? To open the card, you open the white portion of the card...

Recipe:
Happily Ever After stamp set; Basic Black, Whisper White and Lavender Lace card stock; Stazon Black Ink; Watercolor Crayons and Aquapainter; Accessories: Black Organdy Ribbon, Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Crafter's Tool Kit and 1" circle punch.

Thanks for looking!

Lots to share

I have lots to share over that two week hiatus that I didn't mean to take. I was stamping up a storm... LOL... I am cranky if I don't stamp... Anyway, here is a wedding card that I made.

Recipe:
Happily Ever After Stamp set; Stazon Black ink; Lavender Lace, Basic Black and Shimmery White Card stock; Watercolor Crayons and Aqua painter; Accessories: Crafter's Tool Kit, Giant Scalloped Circle Punch (Marvy), CM CCS, White Organdy Ribbon, Sponges and Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads.

I like how striking it is... Something is missing... Not sure what it is...

So Simple... So Elegant

Remember from an earlier post, I needed a fabulous birthday card for my niece? Well, this is what it started out like. I used the French Flair. I looked at it... i looked at it... and i said, "I can't stamp over this!!!" Then, I thought, "well, if i can't stamp over it, maybe i can put something in the upper corner." I looked at it, i tried covering up part of it... i rearranged things, i moved things... finally... defeated... i said, "fine! If I can't cover it, I am just going to stamp next to it!"

Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever felt like: This is way to pretty to cover, stamp on, etc? I don't know how i am ever going to use this stamp set! LOL!!! I may add glitter or rhinestone brads later on but I really like the way it looks right now.

Recipe:
French Flair and Hugs and Wishes Stamp Sets; Bordering Blue ink pad; Whisper White card stock; Accessories: none

Priceless Birthday....

I needed a fabulous birthday card for my niece. I love her so much and the card had to be outstanding... so... I totally admit that this card is NOT my design! hehe. I CASEd this card from a Stamp-a-stack I went to - I'm pretty sure that Kimberly Van Diepen was the originator of this card but not positive (it's her style though for sure!). However, I changed the colors and (most) stamp sets used.

Wow, that card is crooked... LOL! My full intention was to emboss the butterfly in white... well, it only works when you have white embossing powder; clear embossing powder doesn't work as well... however, popped up like this worked pretty well!

Recipe: Priceless, Hugs and Wishes, French Script and Floral Stamp sets; Whisper White and Lavender Lace card stock; Lavender Lace Ink pad; Accessories: Ice Circle Rhinestone brads, White gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, White Narrow Organdy Ribbon

Since I have posted...

Wow! It doesn't seem real! I haven't posted in nearly two weeks. I want to keep you posted on what's been going on. First, I was working on cards for a craft show. Then, I took a bunch of classes. Finally, I worked on swaps for Convention. No, I am not going... I am totally bummed about it too! I have been stamping up a storm though!! WOO HOO!!

Anyway, here's an invite I created for a Labor Day party we are going to have. It figures I grabbed the prototype! I actually cut down on the number of ants, put eyes on the ants and generally made the right side of this card less busy.

Recipe:
Backyard BBQ and Bugs & Kisses Stamp set; Black Stazon, Cranberry Crisp, Chocolate Chip, Going Grey, Creamy Caramel and Basic Black ink pads; blender pen and Basic Black marker; Creamy Caramel, Whisper White and non-SU! pattern paper (CM paper - Cottage Grove- NLA); Accessories; 1 1/4" & 1" Circle Punch, Stickles (glitter glue - crystal effects and dazzling diamonds can be used instead) and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Happy Halloween!

Yes, I know it's a bit early on this card. I made it for a swap coming up here next week. I really wanted to use the Year After Year Stamp set. This was a fun one to watercolor. I am really loving the watercolor crayons, too!

Recipe:
Year After Year, Everyday Flexible Phrases, and Flannel Plaid stamp sets; Rough Texture Jumbo Wheel; Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie and Shimmery White card stock; Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi and Black Stazon ink pads; Watercolor Crayons (Earth Elements) and aqua painter; Accessories: Crafter's Tool Kit, Sponges, Black Grosgain, Round Tab Punch, and Cutter Kit.

Double Trouble

Hi All,

I know it's been a while since I have posted. I do have lots of things I could share... but... I can't. They were part of classes that I have taken... However, I do have some originals to show.

This is another lesson in color changes... AND... a lesson in chalks vs. markers. I personally like the look of the chalks. Although, at second glance, this is not chalks entirely. My 3 year old tried to be like mommy when mommy wasn't around. He used my blender pen and wrote all over a copy of this stamped image. So... how do you fix a partially ruined image? Easy!

Cut the image apart and lay it over the original image. Use Dimensionals to pop the image up off the card. (See Blue Bayou card to see what I mean) I just love the way it looks. It gives the card an added UMPH!

Recipe (River Rock):
Right At Home and Soft Swirls stamp sets; River Rock, Wild Wasabi and Confetti White card stock; Stazon and River Rock ink; Earth Elements Markers; Accessories: Non-SU! Heart Punches, Non-SU! White Brads; Crafter's Tool Kit; Cutter Kit and White Organdy Ribbon.

Recipe (Blue Bayou):
Right at Home & Pick a Petal Stamp sets; Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and Stazon Ink pads; Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and White Confetti Card stock; Earth Elements Watercolor Crayons and Aqua Pen; Accessories: Non-SU! Heart Punches, Non-SU! heart brads, sponges and White Organdy Ribbon.

Birthday Funny...

Afternoon!

Last night, I found out it was one of my Karate Instructor's birthday. I knew my son would be going to Karate today... it had to be a funny card! I LOVE THIS SET! Ok, it was the first time I had ever used it, of course. But the humor is right up my alley. I love anything that is smartass-ishness... Hahahaha! I just made up a new word! Anyway, I had my husband help me make this card... hehe

Recipe:
Words by Wilson and Itty Bitty Backgrounds Stamp Sets; See you around Jumbo Wheel; Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and River Rock card stock; Stazon, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and River Rock ink pads, Stampin' Pastels and Blender Pen; Accessories: Earth Elements Brads (Navy?), Crafter's Tool Kit and Sponges.

Eeeewwwww!

Have you ever come across this situation? You have a card that you had so carefully planned in your head. You can see it, you can feel it, and you know it will be so stinkin' cute. Then you do it and you are less than thrilled with it.

Well, here it is! I can tell you want I don't like about it. I don't like how thick the grass is. I should have made it thinner. Then I could have moved everything down and the dragonfly would be in the "sky" instead of flying low to the ground...

Now, I tried to turn around and make 3 x 3 cards with this set... and I am less than thrilled with them as well... I don't think it's the set, I think it's me! LOL When I redo this card, i will post the recipe to go with it. I really like that the grass has Crystal Effects on it to give it a dewy effect! I even put a drip on a couple of the blades...

I have been stamping up a storm but because someone posted on her blog that she needs her stamp set back *giggles uncontrollably* I stamped all the images I could so I could return the sets to her today! *looks up and whistles as if she were trying to look innocent* I have only had them less than a week! Sheesh!! LOL!!!

I am working on "moving", "Welcome to the neighborhood", and "Thank you for your hospitality" cards. Being a military wife, you tend to need these cards a lot. Since we are NOT moving for a while (hopefully a long while - hubby only has 5 years to go before he retires!!!!), these cards are being made for a craft fair on a military base at the end of the month!

Ok, enough rambling... i gotta return these stamps. hehe

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

As I said in an earlier post, I am determined to use the stamps I have and the products I have bought. Not really sure if these cards work or not but hey... I am still a novice.

When Stampin' Up! offered the Make 'n Take Kit, I bought two, thinking I would make lots of cards with it. Well, I made the first set of Thank You cards. Now I have one pack left. So the first card is my version of what I did to change things up a bit. Besides, I bought the Notched Corner punch and just had to use it too! I have them products... I need to use them! Right? hehe. I am in a chatty modd today. Hmmm... must be all the sleep I got last night. I actually got 8 hours! Whoo Hooo!!!! LOL!

The second card is my precious Hedgehogs. I realized just how cute these little darlings are and couldn't resist them. Stampin' Pastels give them that warm and fuzzy look without even trying too hard. Love me some Hedgehogs... ahhhhhh! I have the stinkin' stamps I have GOT to use them!! On the Hedgehog cards that I did make this past weekend, I cut the watercolor paper in half and had all this extra on one side. Perfect place for a ribbon! I also used some scraps that I had. I punched those squares for something, I never used them. They look pretty good on the card, I think!

The final card was just me playing. I used some of the products that I got in the Make 'n Take Kit...

Recipe (Marigold):
Petals 'N Paisley, Fancy Flexible Phrases and Wonderful Words Stamp sets. Tempting Turquoise, Stazon and Marigold Morning Ink Pad; Marigold Morning, Confetti White, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive Card stock; Accessories: Mustard Brads, Moss Grosgain (should have been Olive), Non-SU! Hodgepodge type circle clip, Non-SU! glitter glue (Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds could be used), Notched Corner Punch.

Recipe (Hedgehog):
Hedgehog Happiness stamp set; Regal Rose, Rose Red & watercolor card stock; Stazon and Versamark ink pads; Stampin' Pastels and Blender pen; Accessories: Rose Grosgain, Rhinestone Square Brads, Non-SU! Hodgepodge type circle clip.

Recipe (Turquoise):
Petals and Paisley, Fancy Flexible Phrases, and Itty Bitty Backgrounds Stamp sets; Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and Confetti White Card Stock; Stazon, Versamark, Elegant Eggplant and Marigold Morning Stamp pads; Accessories: Bold Bright Brads (Turquoise), Spiral and Round Tab Punches, Crafter's Tool Kit, White gel pen and Non-SU! glitter glue.

More to come later!

Prego cards

I did about 15 cards this weekend! These cards are pregnancy cards. There are 4 here. I sit back and look at these and even though it's the same stamp, changing the hair, skin and clothes colors really makes the cards look different. Having the tools rather than the stamp sets is so much more important. You can take a really great stamp set and make them look completely different with the right tools!

When I decide to build my business (not yet, I am having way to much fun and the timing just isn't right for me), I will definitely show my customers just what I discovered. Tools are where it's at! With all the great tools in the Stampin' Up! arsenal, you can make such beautiful things with few stamp sets.

Recipe (Blonde):
Swell News stamp set; Pretty in Pink and Stazon ink pads, Stampin' Pastels and blender pen; Pretty in Pink marker and Color Spritzer tool; Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Confetti White Card stock: Corner Rounder punch (with guard taken off to achieve the scalloped edge), 1/16" punch; Accessories: Rhinestone brads, Crafter's Tool Kit, White Organdy (Narrow) and sponges.

Recipe (Brunette): Swell News and Fancy Flexible Phrases Stamp sets, Petals Jumbo Wheel; Marigold Morning, Old Olive and White Confetti Card Stock; Marigold Morning, Tempting Turquoise and Stazon ink pads; Stampin' Pastels and Blender Pen; Accessories: Turquoise Grosgain, Linen Thread, a Tag from Purse Boxes & Tags, sponges and white gel pen.

Recipe (Black hair):
Swell News Stamp set; Pretty In Pink, Confetti White and Lovely Lilac Card stock; Versamark, Stazon and Pretty in Pink stamp pads; Stampin' Pastels and Blender Pen; CM 12" Decorative Trimmer; Accessories: Word Window punch, Sponge Daubers, Sponges, Rhinestone brads (pink)

Recipe (Red Head):
Swell News and All Year Cheer II stamp sets; Close to Cocoa, White Confetti and Sahara Sand card stock; Stazon, Versamark and Close to Cocoa stamp pads; Stampin' Pastels and Blender pen. Accessories: Chocolate Grosgain, Hodgepodge circle clip (pewter), Crafter's Tool Kit, Sponges and double Rectangle Punch.

Isn't it amazing. Yes, all the cards are similar but they are all different! I have even more cards to post... holy cow! I was a busy girl. I am not sure if I will post more today or not... probably later on tonight, will be the next time I will get to post. I am working on 4 hours of sleep so who knows when I will wake up... LOL

Stampin' like crazy...

I know I haven't posted in a few days but that doesn't mean I haven't been stamping! I sure have! My purpose was to dig out some old sets that I haven't used in a while. The hedgehogs are my absolute favorite old set I have. I bought these quite a few years ago because they were so stinkin' cute. I never even used them! My plan until the end of the month is to use all the sets I currently own! Ummm... maybe that's an unrealistic goal.

So, I am trying to make some very simple, fun cards that go the extra mile. I think both of these fit that mold. I stink at making holes... LOL. On my red card the brads are a little crooked.

I even tried using pearl ex on the blue card. I LOVE IT on the Hedgehog holding the balloon but don't care for it much on the background balloons.

Recipe (Red):
Hedgehog Happiness stamp set; All About Birthdays Jumbo wheel; Real Red & watercolor card stock; Real Red & Stazon ink pad; Stampin' Pastels & blender pen. Accessories: Red grosgain ribbon, silver brads, corner rounder punch & 1/16" hole punch, non-SU! Hodgepodge type circle clip silver.

Recipe (Blue):
Hedgehog Happiness & Birthday Best Stamp sets; Tempting Turquoise & Brilliant Blue card stock; Stazon and Versamark; Stampin' Pastels and blender pen. Accessories: Pearl Ex & Future Floor wax in the aqua painter, Ticket Corner punch, Turquoise Grosgain, non-SU! Hodgepodge type buckle (trying to get rid of the old before I use the new) and Bold Bright Brads (Brilliant Blue)

More cards to come soon!