A Sweet Birthday...and Important Announcements!

This birthday card is for one of the most special people in my life, my stepmother. She is a wonderful person so I had to try and step up my usual simple style to make her something extra special.

 

The sentiment and cupcakes are from The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 set (want this set, have a workshop and earn it for free!) I watercolored the cupcakes with my blender pen and ink pads. I added a little "bling" to the middle cupcake with a clear rhinestone brad. (This stamp actually has five cupcakes lined up, I only wanted three so I used some regular old tape to cover the cupcakes I didn't want while inking my stamp, then removed the tape and stamped my cupcakes!)

My background paper is the Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper-which is sooooooo pretty, I love it! I matted all my layers on Rich Razzleberry Cardstock and rounded all the corners using my corner rounder punch-a must have!

I love the way the card turned out but I needed to make it even more special so here's what I added inside:

 

That's right! I just got my brand new 3D Pop Up Cake Die for my Big Shot and this was my first attempt at it...I don't think it turned out too bad! My Happy Birthday sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and fits perfectly with my Modern Label Punch. (Hint: I punched out three extra Modern Label Punches out of Orchid Opulence and used them to make "mat" for my Whisper White Punch.)

 

Now, thanks for sticking with me this far down the post...I have some VERY important announcements!

First, My Digital Studio is available for order today!!!! Normally priced at $79.95, order this week and I'll give you 10% off!!

Second, Stampin' Up! will be offering "Deals of the Week" this entire month, and the first ones are awesome! You can get the Trio Flower Punch (109183) and 5-Petal Flower Punch (109041) for only $10.99 (regularly $15.95) and the My Way Punch (110709)for $11.99. You can see all our punches on page 186-187 of the Idea Book and Catalog. (Need a Catalog? Email me to get your copy!)


Now, the last announcement, and its a doozy! A New Starter Kiot Special that INCLUDES My Digital Studio!!! This starter kit is only $185 and contains over $295 worth of products and best of all, it includes the awesome My Digital Studio Digital Scarpbooking and Cardmaking Software! I've listed the kit contents below, don't forget you can substitute your stamp sets, ink, and cardstock for different items of equal or lesser value to customize your kit to fit you perfectly!



My Digital Studio software
Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
Button Latte Designer buttons
Stampin' Dimensionals
Mini Glue Dots
SNAIL Adhesive
Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

This kit is awesome because you get markers, ribbon, and buttons; which aren't included in the normal kit. This way not only can you make cards, but you can design scrapbook pages with My Digital Studio, print them out, and then embellish them more to make awesome "hybrid" pages! Visit my Stampin' Up! website and click "Join Now" to order your starter kit and join my team! My password is Saucystamper!

Mojo Sketch Challenge

I have to admit I have been slacking on my Mojo Monday Challenges lately. For some reason I have been having a creative block with some of the more complicated sketch challenges. I was determined to make something for it this week however and I finally came to the realization that these challenges are inspiration-I didn't have to do exactly the same layout, but rather use it as a jumping off point. I was so glad I forced myself outside of my comfort zone a bit because I just love how this card turned out!

 

My card base is Garden Green scored on the top. I used Merry Moments Designer Series Paper matted on Very Vanilla. A Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon accents my "tag" on the left side of the card. My sentiment is from Many Merry Messages, stamped in Real Red on Very Vanilla. The snowflake is from the Patterned Pines Hostess Level 1 set from the Holiday Mini Catalog, and it is also stamped in Real Red.

What do you think?

Don't forget my two specials-today is the last day for my birthday special-a chance to win one of four stamp sets with every $30 ordered, and my My Digital Studio 10% off special running through the end of the week!

My Digital Studio Available October 1st!

Check out these digital scrapbook pages from Stampin' Up's new My Digital Studio software!





These were so easy to make, anyone that wants to make family keepsakes needs this software! I was actually introduced to Stampin' Up! through a gift of a Simply Scrappin' kit when my oldest son was born. I had never scrapbooked before and the kit made it super easy to make a keepsake scrapbook when my son was small. However, since the birth of my younger son, I just don't have a ton of time to scrapbook. (That's why I like cards, they're quick and easy-instant gratification!) Plus, all my pictures are taken digitally and before you can even work on your scrapbook I would have to decide which pictures I wanted to use, what size I wanted them, then print them out.

That is why this software is so awesome, I can just upload some pictures from my camera or hard drive and either use their professionally designed templates or create my own pages! You can also make cards, calendars, and other gifts! Last year I made calendars for family gifts with pictures of my boys and am planning to do the same this year, but I can design my own!

I'm so excited about this software that I'm offering 10% off through the end of the week (making it $71.96 instead of $79.95) Or you can gather orders with friends or hostess a workshop and earn it half price with a $400 workshop! Email me to reserve your copy today!

Must...Shimmer.....Everything!

I got the new shimmer paints from page 27 of the Holiday Mini Catalog over the weekend and oh-my-goodness! I L-O-V-E them! I have an uncontraollable urge to shimmer everything in sight. The only thing I don't absolutely love about them is it seems pretty impossible to capture how gorgeous they are with my camera!

 

So you understand-this card is breathtaking in person. It is literally one the best cards I have ever made....I mean, so much so that this baby is staying right here in the craft room, just for me! I turn 30 today so I guess I'll consider it my birthday card to me, right!?!

 

I used the Little Leaves Sizzlet and some scrap paper to make a stencil. Holding the stencil down on my card stock I first sponged Old Olive, then the shimmer paint to create two fronds in the background. I then used Old Olive Textured Cardstock and cut out a third little frond using my Big Shot. The contrast of textures is awesome!

I matted my little leaves on Soft Suede and then a Pale Plum card base scored at the top. A Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon and sentiment from Of the Earth finished it off!

Sorry to gush, but this is my favorite card ever. If you don't like it, I don't know if we can be friends. (Okay, maybe we can be friends, but we might require therapy to get past this.)

Leave me a birthday comment please!!!!!

More Patterned Pines

When I saw the new Holiday Mini Catalog and the hostess sets in it I knew I had to have the Patterned Pines Level one Hostess set. You can't go wrong with this set, no matter what color you stamp it (or in this case, emboss with!) it's gorgeous.

 

How simple but elegant is this card? Simply Night of Navy and Whisper White with some embossing with Stampin' Emboss powder. (Not sure how to emboss? Check out my You tube tutorial here.) And if you liked yesterday's Pop Up Christmas Tree card, see this tutorial on how easy-peasy it was to assemble!

This set can be yours FREE with a minimum $150 order. Can't spend $150 right now? Contact me about having a catalog party, or if you're local to the Kansas City area, an in person workshop to earn this set FREE!

Wow! Pop Up Christmas Tree!

So yesterday afternoon I was visited by the "Big Brown Truck" as my son likes to call it; and he brought me a box filled with glorious goodies to play with in my craft room. Among them was the NEW My Digital Studio Digital Scrapbooking Software (available October 1st!) and my new Pop Up Christmas Tree Die from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

Did you know that with our current Hostess promotion, when you hostess a workshop over $250 you can get any item in the Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10 (not including hostess sets or My Digital Studio)? That means you can get this awesome die for only $10! AND after October 1st if you hostess a workshop over $400 you can get My Digital Studio for half price!!

 

Anyways, using some of my new goodies I made this lovely Christmas card. It is 5 by 5" card scored on the side. My card base is Whisper White, followed by a 4 7/8" square of Real Red. My Center square is Old Olive matted on Whisper White and using my Big Shot, I cut out the "Joy" from the "Joyful" sizzlet. (Awesome buy-only $5.50!) My trees are from the Level 1 hostess set from the Holiday Mini Catalog-Patterned Pines, inked in Real Red and Old Olive and snipped out with my Paper Snips. Some Stampin' Dimensionals give them some "pop."

But the real "pop" is inside the card!

 

Wooo-weeeee! I have never used a 3-D die before but it was surprisingly easy! I just used my Big Shot to cut out the pieces and using the very clear instructions and diagrams on the packaging, assembled the tree (all the while fending off my two year old son who was entranced by Mommy's Paper Tree!)

 

My sentiment on the inside is from the very useful Christmas set Many Merry Messages, stamped in Old Olive and matted on Real Red.

I'd love to hear what you think of my first 3-D card! Oh, and don't forget my birthday special on the right sidebar...Monday is the big day! I'm sure my thirties will bring much more creativity, what do you think?

Pal Paper Arts Inspiration Challenge

This week's Pals Paper Arts Inspiration Challenge instantly brought to mind a Fall themed card for me. I used Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive.

 

My card base is Soft Suede, followed by a layer of Old Olive run through my Big Shot with the Texturz Backgrounds 1 (don't you just love adding texture to your cardstock?) A snippet of Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon floats under my sentiment, from the Hostess Level 1 set Holiday Best (inked in Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Soft Suede of course!) To finish it off I added two More Mustard buttons tied with faux thread made from Soft Suede cardstock. (See my tutorial here.)

 

Don't forget to check out my New Recruit Special here and time is quickly running out for my Birthday Special as well!

Diva Coffee Break Color Challenge

A great way to step outside the box and find inspiration is to participate in one of the many challenges out there. Today I used this week's Diva's Coffee Break Challenge, which was a color challenge to use Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay, Real Red, and Soft Suede.

When I work with a color challenge I first like to gather my supplies in those colors so that I can get an idea of how the colros work together and figure out how I want to design my card, what stamp set I want to use, etc. When I first looked at these colors it took a few minutes to see how they really did work together in a very unique and pleasing way and for me at least, they immediately took on a mod Christmas feel, so I grabbed my handy Dasher stamp and got to work!

 

Unfortunately I didn't have Very Vanilla so I had to use Whisper White instead. I stamped my Dasher stamp in Soft Suede on Whisper White. (Dasher is one of my top 3 Must-Have stamps-you can get him FREE when you sign up to be on my Team by the end of the month, see this post.)I matted my image on Bermuda Bay cardstock cut 1/8" larger on each side than my White cardstock. My card base is again Whisper White, topped with Real Red. A Bermuda Bay Polks Dot Grosgrain Ribbon lines the bottom edge of the Red Cardstock for a sharp contrast. I used the "Noel" stamp from Many Merry Messages to add my sentiment to the bottom of the card in Real Red.

 

Bold and Bright

Many times, while looking for inspiration I browse online galleries to look at the work of others. I came across this card, which I thought was adorable and used as inspiration for today's card.

 

I rarely use my Bold Brights color family but I love the bright, cheerful look of this card! I started with a Whisper White card base, topped with Pixie Pink and then another layer of Whisper White. My image from Its a Stretch was stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White and colored using a blender pen and my ink pads. (See my tutorial here.)

I ran some scraps of Pixie Pink, Only Orange, and Yoyo Yellow through my Big Shot with the Small Dots Texturz Plate from Backgrounds 1. I then punched our circle with my 1 3/8" and 1/2" circle punches and glued them to my Whisper White to create a fun pattern. (I tried my best to show the texture of the circles but had difficulty getting it to show up in the pictures, sorry!)

 

Super cute, right?

Don't forget to check out my YouTube channel for three brand spankin' new tutorials! Want personal lessons in cardmaking? Email me to set up an in person lesson or personlized video tutorial!

New Recruit Special!

Do you love Stamping? Want to earn some extra money for the holidays? Want at least a 20% discount on all your papercrafting supplies? How about getting to preorder cool stuff before everyone else? Then join my team!

If you sign up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator by September 30th I'll throw in a FREE Dasher stamp and FREE pack of paper of your choice to help you get started making gorgeous cards like this:



As a member of my team you will have my personal support as you build your business. Not interested in building a business? That's okay too! (What kind of demonstrator are you?) In addition to my personal support you also join the team of my fabulous upline Lisa Freeman, one of the top 10 demonstrators in the country!

Stampin' Up! Starter Kit
SAVE 40% ($335 value) on supplies with the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit for $199 and get FREE Shipping.


Here's what is included in the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit:



Stamp Sets

• Fun & Fast Notes (p. 56) or your choice up to $33.95
• On a Pedestal (p.71) or your choice up to $19.95
• Eastern Blooms (p. 108) or your choice up to $21.95
• Elegant Thank-You (p. 144) or your choice up to $8.95
• Teeny Tiny Wishes (p. 145) or your choice up to $36.95

Stampin' Around Wheel (Fast Flowers, p. 56) or your choice of a regular sized wheel
Stampin Around Wheel Handle (regular size)
Stampin' Around Ink Cartridge (Pixie Pink or your color choice/uninked)
Stampin' Pastels (51 Stampin' Up! colors, 6 applicators, 1 eraser)
2 Packages Bold Brights Assorted Color Card Stock (8.5 x 11") or any color family (including In Colors). Both packs must be identical.
Whisper White Card Stock (8.5 x 11") or your choice up to $7.50
SNAIL Adhesive
Décor Elements Medium Chocolate Eastern Blooms (or other Decor Elements Choice of the same or lower price)
Décor Elements Applicator Tool
Stampin' Scrub
Stampin' Mist
VersaMark Pad
Blender Pens
5 Classic Stampin' Pads (Basic Black, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Green Galore, Pixie Pink or your choice of any five Stampin' Up! Classic ink colors)
8 Catalogs, Business Forms and Tools to Help You Get Started
SHIPPING IS INCLUDED!!! (Sales tax is additional)

OPTIONAL STAMPIN' MEMORIES SCRAPBOOKING ADD-ON: $50 (Valued at $80+)



1 Package Bold Brights or Your Choice Assorted 12 x 12 Colored Card Stock (p. 156)
Schoolbook Serif (p. 151) or your choice of Alphabet Stamp Set Up to $43.95
Simply Scrappin’ Petal Party (p. 166) or your choice of Kit
Craft Stampin’ Ink Pad. Whisper White or your choice of Craft Stampin' Pad
Stampin’ Write Journaler (p. 190). Basic Black or your choice of color.
SHIPPING IS INCLUDED!!! (Sales tax is additional)

NOTE: Stampin’ Memories Add-On must be ordered in conjunction with the starter kit

Click here to see some of the many demonstrator benefits. Ready to take the plunge? Click here and hit the "Join Now" button on the left sidebar to order your starter kit! My password is saucystamper!

Design Inspiration

Do you ever get those mojo-less days? The days where you sit at your stamping table and start creation after creation but nothing looks "right?" That was me yesterday, all-day-long.

Luckily for me, hubby needed a quick run to the hardware store and the kids were getting stir crazy so we made a family trip of it. While pushing my cart up and down the aisles I passed the paint section and grabbed a couple inspiration pamphlets, thinking I could get some color combo inspiration, and boy did I get inspired once I got home and got those babies to my craft area! I whipped this card up in 5 minutes flat!

 

Such a simple color combination and design concept! I love the way this card turned out! Here you can see the card with my inspiration picture:

 

My card baseis Whisper White, topeed with Real Red. I tied a 1/4" black grosgrain ribbon along the bottom edge of my Red cardstock. My image and sentiment are from my much beloved but often forgotten set Fifth Avenue Floral.

I'd love to hear your comments on my card! Let me know what you think! And don't forget-I've just entered the last week in my twenties and to celebrate my upcoming thirtieth birthday I'm giving away FOUR FREE stamp sets! See the right sidebar for details!

Simple Sunday Card

Here is a simple and easy card I made for someone special's birthday.

 

My card base is Orchid Opulence, followed by layers of Rich Razzleberry and Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper. The sentiment comes from Herb Expressions and is matted on Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive. A Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon finished it off!

This layout is basic but my "go-to" layout when I don't have a lot of time or creative energy.

What you need:

Stamps
Herb Expressions 113224

Ink
Rich Razzleberry 115658

Paper
Orchid Opulence 100969
Rich Razzleberry 115316
Old Olive 100702
Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper 115671

Etc
Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon 115613

Don't forget my Thirtieth Birthday Special-for every $30 you spend with me you are entered to win one of FOUR FREE stamp sets!

A Masculine Birthday Card

My stepbrother, whom I do not know terribly well, has a birthday next week. He's much younger than me (still in high school) and all I really know about him is he likes to hunt and is very outdoor-sy. I wanted to make his birthday card but knew most of my normal cards were probably not so much his style! Here is a masculine card I did manage to come up with for him:

 

My card base is 4.25 by 5.5" Chocolate Chip scored at the top. I layered a 4 by 5.25" piece of Tall Tales Designer Series Paper over top. My senitment is from the Crazy for Cupcakes set and the tiny pile of presents came from my Loads of Love Accessories set. I used my blender pens and Old Olive and Crushed Curry inkpads to watercolor the presents. (See my tutorial here.) I tied my Birthday tag to my card with Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon and my card was complete. Overall I was very pleased with how the card turned out. I'd love to hear your feedback!

What I used:
Stamps
Loads of Love Accessories 115024
Crazy for Cupcakes 111618

Ink
Old Olive 102277
Crushed Curry 115659
Chocolate Chip 100908

Paper
Chocolate Chip 102128
Whisper White 100730
Tall Tales Designer Series Paper 115678

Etc
Blender Pens 102845
Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon 115612

More Wreaths...

Remember this post where I made fall and winter wreaths using the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set? Well here's another version of the same wreath except this time I used Trendy Trees. I love these little cards and they are so easy to make! Just punch a circle out of a sticky note, put it on your cardstock and stamp away! When you are finished creating your wreath, remove the sticky and add a bow! Voila!

 

What I used:
Stamps
Trendy Trees 113258

Ink
Old Olive 102277
Pumpkin Pie 105216
Crushed Curry 115659
Dusty Durango 115654

Paper
Whisper White 100730
Old Olive 100702
Chocolate Chip 102128

Etc
Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon 111367
Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon 109030
Mini Glue Dots 103683
Real Red Stampin' Write Marker 100052
Sticky Note

Two Hostess Sets

 

It's always difficult for me not to layer on my cards but this card needed a minimalist approach. I heat embossed my little bird from the Level 1 hostess set "Of the Earth" onto Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, and Old Olive. (The stamp-a-ma-jig was again my best friend for perfectly centering my image on my little squares!)

I spaced the images evenly across the upper portion of my card and then used the "Give Thanks" sentiment from another Level 1 hostess set-Holiday Best. Normally I would use markers to color the stamp to schieve a multi-colored image but wouldn't you know it, I didn't have these colors! I instead did a bit of a convoluted multi-step process. I first stamped my image in Rich Razzleberry and then used normal tape to cover everything other than the "Give" portion of the sentiment. A "huff" of air on the stamp after taping it ensured the ink was still moist beofre stamping. I repeated the process with the Crushed Curry and Old Olive portions, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure I lined the stamp up each time.

Don't forget to place your minimum $30 order soon to be entered in my contest to win one of four FREE stamp sets! Details here. Today is also the last day to place your order for the Card Kit of the Month.

*I have to add, after posting this I mosied on over to PalsPaperArts and realized today's card was a perfect fit for their current Challenge! Do you play at PPA?*

Look Ma! No Stamps!

What kind of "stamper" would dare post to her blog with project that contain nary a stamp in sight? This one! Here are two fun projects I made yesterday without stamps!

 

This first project I made for my older son. I mad e astair-step card base and then simply cut out images from the Tall Tales Designer Series Paper to create a diorama of sorts. Easy-peasy!

 

 

This second project is a cute little pumpkin card made with the Top Note Die and some scraps I had left over from my diorama...a perfect little fall card!

 

Herb Expressions and Birthday Promotion!

On a recent trip to the Farmer's Market I got into a conversation with a woman selling various herbs about the gorgeous Stampin' Up! stamp set Herb Expressions. I told her I'd be back the following week (tomorrow!) with a little something for her because I just know she'll love these stamps. So last night I whipped up these tags for her to use on her bundles of herbs.

 

 

Now for the big news....I am turning Thirty at the end of this month. I'm coming to terms with it (or at least I am trying to, it'd be easier if my husband stopped teasing me by telling me I'm over the hill!) In celebration of the big 3-0 I'm offering an awesome Birthday special for the rest of the month. For every $30 you purchase through my online store or through me directly I will enter you for a drawing to win stamps! I'll be giving away 4 retired Stamp Sets!

Remember, its for each $30 you spend, so a $60 order is two entries, a $150 order is 5 entries (plus free merchadise and a level 1 hostess set!)

Pocket Silhouettes Wreath

I'm a huge fan of Clean and Simple (CAS) designs and this one was inspired by this awesome card by Ali Watson. The moment I saw it I knew I had to make one of my own, so here is my take:

 

This card uses a technique called Masking. I punched a 1 3/8" circle from a PostIt pad and stuck it on my Whisper White cardstock. I then used the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set and Real Read to stamp around the PostIt. When I was finished I removed the center circle to reveal my perfect wreath! A Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon finished it off.

I was so pleased with the results I decided to make a fall wreath using a different stamp from the same set!

 

What do you think? Are these adorable or what!

What I used:

Stamps
Pocket Silhouettes 111672

Ink
Real Red 103133
Pumpkin Pie 105216
Crushed Curry115659
Dusty Durango 115654

Paper
Whisper White 100730
Real Red 102482
Crushed Curry 115319
Pumpkin Pie 105117

Etc
Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon 109034
Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon 109030
Stamp-a-ma-jig 101049

Blog Candy Winner!!!!

Woooooo-hoooooo! Ready to win some blog candy? I used Random.org to select the winner and the lucky number was 36! Congratulations Brittany who said:

Brittany said...
Wow you got a lot of comments on this! :)

September 12, 2009 9:30 PM

Brittany is the soon-to-be recipient of one of my Party-in-a-Box long distance hostessing kits, so I'll be adding your blog candy to your shipment going out tomorrow!

Would you like to hostess a party but aren't in the Leavenworth/Kansas City area? Email me to find out how you can get a "Party in a Box" too!

Don't forget to check out my new YouTube video on watercoloring with Blender Pens!

New Tutorial-Watercoloring with Blender Pens

Check out my newest tutorial on my YouTube Channel!

Stretchin' it out!

Today was supposed to be my Open House so while I was sitting around feeling sorry for myself for having to cancel it due to my children having the flu, I decided to use it as inspiration and create this cute Get Well Card using the "Its a Stretch" set.

 

I wanted a Clean and Simple (CAS) design and I thought "spotlighting" one of my flowers would be a cute way to get an impact with minimal embellishments or layers. I used Brocade Blue as my cardbase and stamped my flower image directly onto the base with Old Olive. I then stamped it onto Whisper White Cardstock and colored it using Blender Pens and my ink pads. I framed it with Ruby Red and added it to the card base. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped on Whipser White and matted on Ruby Red. (Hint: I think Teeny Tiny Wishes set is the must-have sentiment set from the new catalog-the 24 sentiments cover every occassion!)

What you need:
Stamps
Its a Stretch 111586
Teeny Tiny Wishes 115370

Ink
Old Olive 102277
Basic Black 101179

Paper
Brocade Blue 101166
Whisper White 100730
Ruby Red 102030

Etc
Blender Pens 102845

Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge

I'd like to give another big thanks to Lee Conrey for volunteering to be my guest stamper yesterday, man did I need some help! Luckily I got my boys to the doctor and some medicines which had the delightful side effect of knocking them out for an extra long naptime, and you know what that means! Extra long STAMPIN' time!!! I was finally able to get my craft area organized (it was a wreck) so that I could concentrate and make some goodies.

Here is my card for this week's Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge. I really liked this Clean and Simple Sketch.

 

My card is an odd shape today, to accomodate the three scalloped circles. I started with a 7.5 by 6" piece of Whisper White Cardstock and folded in half on the long side to make my final dimensions 3.75 by 6. I covered this with Pumpkin Pie Cardstock in the same dimension and then Tall Tales Designer Series Paper. A Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon adds some minimalistic flair.

My three little owls from Animal Stories were stamped in Crushed Curry, Old Olive, and Pumpkin Pie and mounted on matching scallop circles. I lined them up and my card was done.

 

For a little extra interest I stamped the Very Thankful sentiment from the turtle stamp in the Very Thankful set and punched it out with my Large Oval Punch. A crushed Curry owl pops his head in for a little hello! I mounted it on an Old Olive Scallop Oval and added it inside the card.

Hop on over to PPA and try your hand at the sketch challenge too! Challenges are a great way to help expand your creativity!

Once again, don't forget about my blog candy (winner will be chosen Sunday!), my Open House tomorrow, and the current Card Kit of the Month

Update: Unfortunately due to my children's illness I have to cancel tomorrow's Open House. You are more than welcome to swing by and pick up an Open House package containing your catalogs, free project, and small gift. Just let me know when you'd like to pick up and I'll have it ready! The Open House will be rescheduled for a later date.

Here's what I used to make today's card:

Stamps
Animal Stories 116716
Very Thankful 115338

Ink
Old Olive 102277
Crushed Curry 115659
Pumpkin Pie 105216

Paper
Crushed Curry 115319
Old Olive 100702
Pumpkin Pie 105117
Tall Tales Designer Series Paper 115678
Whisper White 100730

Etc
Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon 109030
1 3/8" Circle Punch 104401
Scallop Circle Punch 109043
Large Oval Punch 107305
Scallop Oval Punch 114889

Guest Stamper Lee Conrey!

I'm frantically trying to get ready for my Open House this weekend on top of my two boys (ages 1 and 2!) having the flu so my awesome fellow demos over at Late Night Stampers came to my rescue when I asked for a Guest Stamper.



Today I'm featuring Lee Conrey and her awesome "Sparkly and Bright" gift card tin. Check out her blog for more of her wonderful creations!

Oh, and don't forget to enter for my blog candy if you haven't already!

Open House this Saturday!

If you're in the Leavenworth/Kansas City area please join me this Saturday from 10am-12pm for an Open House! Come on over and look through the new catalog and Holiday Mini Catalog, see upcoming classes, make a FREE fun project, and enter to win some fun door prizes! Just email me for my address and directions.

Update:Due to the illness of my children I need to reschedule the Open House for a later date. I apologize for any inconvenience. Please email me if you would like to come by and pick up the new catalogs, your free project, and a small gift.

An easy card with tutorial

On of my favorite customers Lisa is new to stamping (and far away!) and asked me to make her a tutorial for how to put together a card that is simple to assemble but still looks great!

 

This card was made with the Bugs and Kisses set, which is quickly becoming one of my favorites! My card base is Whisper White, followed by a layer of Dusty Durango, then a patterned layer I made by stamping my little buggies on Whisper White cardstock with Old Olive, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, and Pumpkin Pie. (I think these colors go together beautifully!) I then added a little Dusty Durango Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon and punched out a quick sentiment framed by a scallop circle and my easy-peasy card was ready to go!

 

(Hint: Ninety-nine percent of the time I use Stampin' Dimensionals to "pop" my punches and sentiments up from the card layers...this is a very easy way to add some pizazz to your card!)


Here is the YouTube video with an easy tutorial for beginning stampers on how I created this card:



Don't forget to enter for my blog candy by leaving a comment on yesterday's post, the winner will be drawn Sunday!

Here's what I used:

Stamps
Bugs and Kisses 116580

Ink
Old Olive 102277
Dusty Durango 115654
Crushed Curry 115659
Pumpkin Pie 105216

Paper
Whisper White 100730
Dusty Durango 115321

Etc
Scallop Circle Punch 109043
1 3/8" Circle Punch 104401
Dusty Durango Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon 115609
Stampin' Dimensionals 104430

Blog Candy Time!!!

As I promised, I'm giving away some super-fab Blog Candy to celebrate my one month Blog-o-versary this week! And what a month it has been: we're just shy of 3,500 visits (can you believe it?!), I just launched my new YouTube Channel, offered my first Card Kit of the Month, and there is so much more to come!

 

Up for grabs is a selection of Delightful Dots Designer Series Paper (cut down to 6 by 6), So Saffron and Certainly Celery Ribbon Bundle, and the Botanical Blooms Two Step Stampin' Set, all from last year's Sale-a-bration. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment! The winner will be chosen at random next Sunday, September 13th! Good luck!

Meet my Best Friend....the Stamp-a-ma-jig

Do you have a Stamp-a-ma-jig? No? You need one. This is probably the most essential stamping tool I have. (Big statement, huh!) I use it for almost every card, it make sure my sentiments are placed just right, and is non-negotiable for my Two Step Stampin' sets like the one in this card, Trendy Trees.

 

I saw Mary Ann McKay's card with this layout and thought it was very unique.

I started my card with an Orchid Opulence cardbase. I topped this with a layer of Old Olive and a sheet of Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper, punching the corners of both with my Ticket Corner Punch. My Trendy Trees were stamped on three different Whisper White diamonds in Old Olive and Soft Suede. They were then mounted on more Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper.

 

I stamped my sentiment from Great Friend in Rich Razzleberry on a slightly larger diamond. This large diamond was matted on Rich Razzleberry and then Orchid Opulence and Old Olive, skewing off to the side. I arranged them all in a diamond pattern and that finished it off. I really like the way this card turned out.

I would not have been able to make this card without my Stamp-a-ma-jig. I realize some people don't have one, or have one and don't know how to use it so I made this video tutorial to help explain. Once you get the hang of it, it is fast and easy and for myself, it improved the finished products of my stamping ten fold. Here is my tutorial, which you can also find on my new YouTube channel.



Don't forget, blog candy coming up this week to celebrate my one month Blog-o-versary!

Here's what I used:

Stamps
Trendy Trees 113258
Great Friend 113792

Ink
Soft Suede 115657
Old Olive 102277
Rich Razzleberry 115658

Paper
Whisper White 100730
Rich Razzleberry 115316
Orchid Opulence 100969
Old Olive 100702
Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper 115671

Etc
Ticket Corner Punch 107214
Stamp-a-ma-jig 101049

Cute and Easy Anniversary card!

How cute of an idea is this?? The idea for these His-and-Hers towels came from Lorri Heiling. When I saw it I just knew I'd have to make my own version!

 

I started with two rectangles of Whisper White carstock to act as my "towels." I embossed them using my Big Shot and the Flourishes Texturz Plate from Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1. I then added an Always Artichoke Scallop Border and band on each towel.

 

My towel rod is made of a strip of Brocade Blue and two silver brads from the Filigree Designer Brads. This was all mounted on Whisper White over an Always Artichoke card base. My sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped in Old Olive.

 

This was literally a 5 minute card, and I think the results are awesome!

Here's what I used:

Stamps
Teeny Tiny Wishes 115370

Ink
Old Olive 102277

Paper
Always Artichoke 105119
Whisper White 100730
Brocade Blue 101166

Etc
Filigree Designer Brads 112577
Big Shot Die Cutting Machine 113439
Stampin' Up! Texturz Backgrounds 1 114512

Don't forget to check out my September Card Kit of the Month...get started on those Christmas Cards now!