Please take my poll!

I really want to make this blog a place you will look forward to visiting. 
A place that will give you ideas and inspiration to create things that give you joy. 
In order to do that I need to know what you would like to see here... and so I've created a poll. 
But it's on the column on the right    --->
so you'll have to jump over there to use it. 
Please do! I'm really looking forward to your responses!
If you would like to suggest something that isn't listed in the poll please leave a comment below. 
Thanks!

Happy Stamping
Carol

Marina Mist Shop Around

This is another set of cards inspired by Carolyn King. I really like her style - lots of layering and texture!

The colours are Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Whisper White and Basic Black.
The background paper is heat embossed with whisper white (Shop Around wheel) on Marina Mist cardstock and then sponged with Early Espresso.

I've also used the Petite Petals bundle, and the Itty Bitty Banners bundle, along with the Post Card stamp and Fancy Fan Embossing Folder to complete the cards.

I normally wouldn't use cards like this in classes as they are intermediate to high on the complicated scale and take quite some time to put together - but so satisfying once done!

I hope you liked these cards, and are inspired to try some of your own!

Happy Stamping
Carol

Papery Weekly Deals

It's Tuesday again! And here are the specials that Stampin' Up has for you!

If you would like to place an order please contact me or shop at my online store.

Happy Stamping
Carol

Butterfly Birthdays

The last time Maree was here to visit we cased these cards from Carolyn King. I love the colours and the design, and as usual, they look so much better in real life!

The first one uses the Post Card stamp on p. 102 of the annual catalogue. This background style stamp gives so many options for design. The butterfly is from the Backyard Basics stamp set.

 

The next one uses the wheel Shop Around on p. 98. My wheel has been unmounted and I use it flat with an acrylic block - it was stamped three times for this background.

Carolyn had used the Postage Due stamp for the background of the third card but I don't have it so Maree and I combined a retired Sale-a-bration stamp (the bicycle), leaves from the Secret Garden stamp set and the number is from the Memorable Moments stamp set. I think they look as those they belong together!

The cardstock colours are So Saffron, Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Very Vanilla.

I hope you enjoyed your visit and come back soon!

Happy Stamping
Carol

Punch Art Swap

This month's swap theme is Punch Art/Die Cut Art. Punch Art is always one of my stampers favourite classes and it's always fun to find new designs.

Last time I showed you the Noah's Ark which was very cute but labour intensive and for a swap you need something a little more stream lined.

So here is my Punch Art Card:

Well, to be honest, that was my first card. I liked the bunny but the rest of the card was 'meh'...

So I decided to warm it up a bit - I changed the bunny from Crumb Cake to Baked Brown Sugar. Then because I simply love the new Hardwood background stamp I stamped it in Baked Brown Sugar and stamped it on Baked Brown Sugar cardstock and cut it up to use as tree trunks!

And here is the finished product:

Which card style do you like the best?

Thanks for stopping by!
Carol

The Short and the Long of it!

The Short
Well, sometimes you just put off trying things until new things are old news! That was me with the masking tape technique. Then Lynn brought it to our last meeting and I've been going nuts with it ever since!! :) (Thanks Lynn!)

For instance - the following card took five minutes to put together! Now I'm sure you could have done it better, but even so it would have only taken you six minutes!

I used the Too Kind Stamp set and the colours are Strawberry Slush, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, and Black Stazon.

The Long

This card, on the other hand, took me most of an afternoon! But when you see it in real life it is adorable (if I do say so myself!!) I can't take credit for the design - you can thank Sharon White for that!

I love the waves and they are made with the 'leftovers' from the Tasteful Trim die scallop edge. Just offset them and adhere with dimensionals - almost makes you seasick!! :) Some of the punches used are retired (for instance the elephant tusks are made from the cutouts of the triple flower punch - SO creative Sharon!!)

So thanks for stopping by! Hope you come back soon!

Happy Stamping
Carol

East Coast Stampin' Summer 2014 Update

Do you live on the East Coast of North America? Then you're invited to join us for a day of fun and inspiration. Even if you don't live on the east coast you'll be a welcome addition to the group! 

Maree and Linda and I have been getting together and brainstorming to make this a super event. We've included things that we know you'll love - an Inspiration Station full of ideas and samples; Make and Takes that are fun and beautiful; Prize Patrols & Goodie Bags speak for themselves!; and meeting old and new friends is (as the commercial says) PRICELESS!

But we're also working on adding some new surprises... that you won't discover unless you attend...

Visit the East Coast Stampin Blog for more details and to register!

Happy Stamping!

Carol

It's All About The Packaging!

(apologies to Maree for using her title!)

Here are a few ideas for packaging gifts for Easter or spring:

This basket is big enough for a generous amount of treat or as a table centrepiece! You can find the directions for the basket here:http://wenchespapirverden.blogspot.de/2013/05/tutorial.html

 

 Lynn made this extra large carrot filled with lots of yummies using the sour cream holder tutorial!

And Sandi made this delightful package for small wrapped candies or  chocolate.

Take a few minutes to dress up your treats - it makes them super special!

Happy Stamping!
Carol

Stampin' Up!'s Deals this week

Here are this week's specials! They are on sale until next Monday evening!

Happy Stamping!
Carol

Beautiful Sympathy

These are the final cards of our Sympathy Swap, each one is beautiful in its own way yet they are all so different!

From the traditional black and gray, with a glittery butterfly signifying new life...

To nature with a lovely soft green ... created by Sandi.

To beautiful pastels... created by Lynn.

The masking tape technique is so easy, but so very effective!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping
Carol

A Different Kind of Birthday Journal

When I was asked to create projects for Scrapbook & Cards Today using the Life On The Go Bundle some things came to mind quickly. Others I had to let 'percolate'. That's when I think about it before bedtime and go to sleep and let my subconscious figure it out overnight.That's what happened with the Birthday Journal.

Yes, it's about friends and family and their birthday date, but I also decided to add details about them at this one point in time. You'll see what I mean when you see the pages! I thought it would be fun to look back in a few years (or decades!).

I hope you like this idea, and perhaps create a 2014 Birthday Book of your own! I'd love to see it.

Happy Stamping
Carol

Stampin' Up!'s Weekly Deals & More!

Here's another chance to save on items on your Wish List! 

See what Stampin' Up has for you this week:

And there are also new photopolymer stamps, 

aren't they ADORABLE!!!

These are not just a one week special!

Sweetie Pie $16.95 #136849

 AND Sweetie Pie Frames $16.95 #137121

 And as if you didn't already have ideas of how to use them, 

here are some more:

You can visit my on-line store for more details, or simply email me!

Happy Stamping
Carol

Inside the Journals

Have you ever wanted to read someone's diary... well when I was creating the projects for Scrapbooks & Cards today I 'made up' some info to put inside. But it will still give you some ideas of how you can use them.

Have a peek inside the personal journal:

The pages include collections of things that are important in this person's life. What a treasure for future generations to see!

Next time we'll take a peek inside the Birthday Journal!

Happy Stamping
Carol

Decorated Desk Set

I promised to show you more of the Life On The Go Bundle (found on page 8 of the Sale-a-bration brochure) projects, however the only ones I can show you are the ones that did not appear on the Scrapbook and Cards Today site. So here we go!

The first is the Decorated Desk Set Including a Super Duper note pad, a sticky note pad, and a container for clips:

The clip container is so easy - simply an empty embellishment container decorated with Retro Fresh Washi Tape and a couple of Essentials Wooden Elements.

 

The sticky note pad uses one of the Retro Fresh Designer Journalling Tags for the cover with another smaller one attached with space to write your name (you know how hard it is to keep those from other people at work, or in your family!) It's decorated with a Retro Fresh This and That Designer Sticker and clip. All bound with coordinating Retro Fresh Washi Tape.

The Super Duper note pad also uses tags from the Journalling Tag set, along with stickers from the Designer Stickers, with Coastal Cabana card stock for a cover and coordinating Washi Tape to bind it together.

It's a fun, happy set to have on your desk, and if it's at your 'day job', a great way to advertise your crafting business!

Next time I'll show you inside the journals!!!

Happy Stamping!
Carol

Life On The Go Bundle and some exciting news!

I've been so excited about this, but I couldn't tell anyone until it was posted... I was chosen to create projects for the Scrapbooking and Cards Today blog on Stampin' Up! Saturday!!! (Picture me doing the happy dance!!)

Cindy Major of Laval, Quebec and I were each asked to make 8 projects from the "Life On The Go Bundle" in the Sale-a-bration brochure. Then they chose four from each of us to show on the blog.

Here are the eight projects I created

Which four do you think they chose?

Well, you can go to the Scrapbooking and Cards Today blog and find out! While you are there you can leave a comment and have a chance to win your own Life On The Go Bundle!

Then during the next few days I'll tell you about each of my projects. Thanks for visiting, and Good Luck winning a bundle!

Happy Stamping!
Carol