My Stampin' Up! order was delivered today and I was so excited to try out the "To the Nines" Specialty paper - I know, it's about time. And I'm so glad I ordered it. These specialty papers (see page 158 of the Idea Book & Catalogue) are heavier weight and also many are textured which gives them such a WOW quality.

My husband needed a sympathy card for a business friend so I used a sheet from the "To the Nines" package and the "Close as a Memory" and "Inspired by Nature" Stamp Sets to create the following card. Because the Specialty Designer Paper is two sided, the inside of the card presented a beautiful design as well, and was definitely a heavy enough weight to use for the card base. The colours of the ink and DSP include Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow.

And I must confess the reason I ordered more DSP is because of SU's May special. If you're interested you still have until May 30th to order!

Buy three packs of Designer Series paper

(including our Specialty Designer Series paper)

or 12" x 12" textured card stock,

and get one FREE!

Still More Challenge Cards

What a great way to start the week - completing two challenges in one day!
The first is the Mojo Monday challenge at http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/. I don't know how Julee does it every week, but she always comes up with a new and interesting sketch.

Since my photography is so bad I thought I would try and scan the card instead. Guess I need to look for a third option...

The colours are Kiwi Kiss and So Saffron. Designer Paper is Walk in the Park from the new Occasions Mini. The flower image is from Eastern Influences, the butterfly from Dreams du Jour, and the sentiment is from Thank You Kindly. Punch is Eyelet Border, ribbon is So Saffron, and I coloured the images with Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Summer Sun, and Apricot Appeal.

The second challenge was from the Late Night Stampers Convention 09 group and it was a sketch this week as well. Since I had these colours on my desk, I thought I'd give them another opportunity to shine.
This time the image is a Level One Hostess set, Dear Friend. The DSP is another pattern from Walk in the Park, and the extra ribbon is Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin ribbon.

Hope you like them!
Cheers
Carol

Feathered Friends - Retired Set

I loved this set from the first time I saw it, unfortunately that's what I did with it the most - look at it. This week I decided I was going to use up some DSP from retired 6 x 6 packs to make up a set of cards - appropriate for a retired set n'est-ce pas?

Again the poor photography has altered somewhat the true colours of the cardstock and DSP. You can click on the photos to enlarge them. The first is 'Welcome Baby' using Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink. The next is 'To Someone Special' with Kraft and Tempting Turquoise, the third is 'Thinking of You' in Real Red and Kraft, along with one of SU's adorable Fleurettes.

Then I went on a real Tempting Turquoise kick! The card on the left is 'Happy Birthday' in Pretty in Pink and Tempting Turquoise, in the middle is 'Best Wishes' in TT and Pretty in Pink. I made the background by inking one of the Texture Plates in TT and running it through the Big Shot making a print and an impression on TT cardstock. The card on the right was done the same way, except the impression was made on Whisper White. (Sorry - those beads are not SU)

Finally, the card on the left is done in Pretty in Pink and Lavender Lace (it looks much better IRL!), and the one on the right is in Real Red and Kraft. I should mention I used about 20 different markers and blender pens for the artwork, and all artwork and DSP is matted with Basic Black.

Although this set is retired, the idea can be used with any of our smaller stamps to create a set.

Hope you like it!

Cheers, Carol

Play Date Project

I was joined by my best stamping friend on Friday and Saturday for a 'play date'. (I mean what else can we call it - it's pure fun!) And while I apologize for the photography (suggestions are welcomed!) I think you can still get a pretty good idea of what an awesome project this is! I purchased the design and directions from Becky Roberts, and it is called "Becky's Totally Awesome Tote Tutorial".

Here is the other side of the holder (which went together very easily thanks to Becky's directions). I love all the pockets.

Inside are two pockets which hold four cards using the Blooming Beautiful stamp set - one of my favourites. The coordinating DSP is Parisian Breeze - beautiful as well as sturdy for a project like this.

This shows a better picture of the pen, bookmark, and post-it note holder that are all part of the tutorial.

Even though I had all of the paper cut for this project, it still took us about four hours to complete. Of course there was a lot of chatter and laughter included in those four hours!

Cheers

Carol

Home at last!

Well folks, in case you didn't notice, I haven't been around for a while - been visiting daughters and friends and Cuba. But now I'm back and itching to be stamping.

I did spend a few days stamping with a friend and we had a ball.

The first card designs are from Andrea Walford, using the Upsy Daisy set:

And this one is for the Mojo Monday challenge on the Mojo Monday blog. I must confess I added a few extra ruffles at the bottom... I used the SU Tea Party DSP, cardstock is Almost Amythest, Pretty in Pink, and Certainly Celery. I love these colours for spring.

I've mentioned before how challenges get me motivated and the next card is for the Late Night Stampers Convention 09 challenge to use flowers on your card. So since I had the Tea Party DSP on my desk, I used the same colour palate along with SU punches for flowers and eyelet borders, and the Big Shot for leaves.

Finally, I love to visit Sharon Johnson's blog for inspiration and I CASEd a lovely card from her collection. This is a tri-fold card using the Bella Rose DSP from Stampin' Up!, along with SU flower brads topped with half pearls from the Pretties kit, the flowers are also from the Pretties kit sponged with Pretty in Pink. The sentiment is from All Occasions stamp set. The border punch is Martha Stewart.

Hope you enjoyed these - I'll be back soon with more.

Cheers, Carol

U Stamp Card set

Isn't this a cute set! I signed up for the U Stamp Sale-A-Bration session and this is one of the projects. It uses the 'Raspberry Tart' DSP and the 'Pocket Silhouettes' stamp set. I especially like the card sized magazine holder with the delightful handle on the back. In fact you could make a whole series of sets for different occasions and they would look amazing filed on a shelf!
There's a new session coming up with U Stamp, you can scroll down my blog and look on the right hand side for their link. Check it out!
Cheers
Carol

I'm back!

I've been visiting my daughter and her family and had the joy of celebrating my youngest granddaughter's baptism! But now I'm back and ready to share... This card uses the new "Music Expressions" stamp set, Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate Chip cardstock and watercolour paper. The DSP is from the Parisian Breeze Specialty collection - yum! I coloured in the design with SU markers and then used my Versamark pen and Clear Embossing powder to give the violin a shiny finish (hard to tell I know!) I'll be trying different designs and colour schemes with this stamp in the future.

Cheers

Carol
113718 Music Expressions, set of 2, $19.95 p. 116 2009 Spring & Summer IB&C

New Stuff!!

My new catalogue order arrived at last! And I couldn't wait to try things out, so here are three cards that almost made themselves. Honestly - participating in challenges really gets your Mojo working!

This card is a combination of Backwoods and Nature Silhouettes stamp sets and the sentiment is from Celebrate Everything. I embossed the images in black in three different stages. I had to mask the cabin to make the fir trees grow 'behind' it, and I had to extend the grass. The background is done with pastels and while it's not exactly how I would like it, it looks better than plain white. The cardstock is Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron, and Whisper White. The hardware is from the silver Hodgepodge Hardware set, and attached to the natural Hemp Twine. Tying those knots was the hardest part of the whole card!

This next card is made for the SUDSOL Design Challeng #39. SUDSOL (Simply Unique Demonstrators Sharing Online) is a great place for ideas and inspiration. Demos can obtain a two week trail membership to find out for themselves (http://www.sudsol.org/). I really enjoy being a member.

Anyway, the challenge is 'Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue'

The old (but current) products are the cardstock in Kaft, Wisper White, and Chocolate Chip. The new is the Parisian Breeze DSP, the Friends 24-7 stamp set, and the Eyelet Border punch was used to fancy up the corners of the front cover. I borrowed the card sketch from Andrea Walford, and the Blue is the ribbon, DSP, and coloured flowers.

Last is this little girl birthday card. I tried to use as many new things as I could! (Does 'kid in a candy shop' come to mind?

The cardstock is Almost Amethyst and Pretty in Pink, the DSP is Tea Party (LOVE it!), the stamp set is A Kind Word, and the brad is one of the new Designer Brads Flower Assortment. Plus I used the Eyelet Border punch. (My new favourite punch)

So, now I'm going back to play some more!

Cheers

Carol

Sale-A-Bration!

It's Sale-A-Bration time again at Stampin' Up!, and free product is what it's all about! Every year Stampin' Up! gives customers, hostesses and new demonstrators the opportunity to earn fantastic, FREE, limited-edition products they'll enjoy for years to come.

Here's how Sale-A-Bration works:

~Customers: When you spend $60 on Stampin' Up! merchandise, you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward. There's no limit-for every $60 you spend, you can select another free Sale-A-Bration reward.

~Hostesses: When you host a workshop of at least $350 (before tax and shipping), you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits!

~Recruits: During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose any stamp set-a value of up to $56.95-from our current Idea Book and Catalog. Plus, for a limited time, get 15% off the price of the Starter Kit!

The Sale-A-Bration promotion starts today and runs through March 31st, so don't miss your chance to earn free products! Contact me today to book your workshop or learn more about this promotion.

Did I mention I'm on a 'Card Set' binge?

Here's another Andrea Walford inspired set. The cardstock colours are Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, and Kiwi Kiss. The DSP is Bella Rose, the stamp set is Dreams du Jour.

Again the layouts are straight-forward and crisp, and the finished cards are very satisfying.

I'll be back soon with some of my very own designs!

Cheers

Carol

And still more card sets

I don't know what it is with me this month, but everything seems to be coming in sets! This is a set of 8 cards that I've made for my daughter (two of each design). She requested 'birthday cards' please and I was just looking for an excuse to use this DSP (unfortunately it has been retired, however there are ones just as beautiful in the new catalogue)



The cardstock is Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue, and Chocolate Chip (same as in the DSP with the addition of Certainly Celery). The layout of the cards is taken from one of Andrea Walford's Demo to Demo class kits. (Thanks Andrea!) The stamp set used is Bloomin' Beautiful.

Here are close-ups of each card:

These layouts are so easy yet give you a polished finished look! And I love water colouring so this was downright fun.

Hope this gave you some ideas for cards of your own.

Cheers

Carol

More Challenge Cards

Wow - I haven't meant to be away so long! Life does get busy...

These two cards are from the Latenightstampersconvention2008 colour challenge. The colours we had to use were Tempting Turquoise, Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink, and Tangerine Tango. Not a collection of colours that immediately come to mind... but they pack a powerful image.



This first card uses the Stamp set "Pocket Silhouettes" and Bella Rose Designer Paper.

And here is old faithful "Heartfelt Thanks" stamp set, along with Tempting Turquoise brads.

I'll have more to post this weekend after I receive my latest order!!

Cheers

Carol

Another (Easy) Card set

Oh I love these snowy Sundays when all I need to do is spend time in my stamping studio. Here's what I came up with:



It's a set of ten cards using the colours Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White. I started by choosing the 'Autumn Vine' Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! (unfortunately it's retiring on January 18th) and added some coordinating cardstock, plus a sheet of DSP from the Baja Breeze collection.

The holder uses only one sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" Baja Breeze cardstock, scored on the 11" side at 5" and 6". On the 8 1/2" side score it at 2" and 1 1/2". Fold on all score lines. In the centre of your paper (between the scored 5" and 6") cut from the bottom to the 2 1/2" score. Fold this small piece up and glue.


You will see on the back of the folder/holder I've cut two slits with my craft knife to allow the ribbon to pass through. Also punch a hole on the front cover (see above) 3 inches from the top and 1/4" in from the side (a 1/4" punch works for 1/4 " grosgrain, use another punch to match larger ribbon) Do the same on the back cover.

Now thread your ribbon from the outside of the back cover into the first centre slot, thread it to the outside and then back in the slot beside and out through the punch on the cover. This will help to hold your cards in place and allow you to tie the folder closed.

This holds ten cards and envelopes and I chose to make six Thank You cards and four Sympathy. (two of each style)

On this card I used the 'Eastern Influences' bird stamp and the sentiment from the 'Fresh Cuts' set. Brads are from the Soft Subtles - Apricot Appeal (not quite More Mustard to match the DSP but it works!)




'Pocket Silhouettes' is the stamp set I used for this card:



The sentiment on this one is from 'Elegant Cheer':


The sentiment on these Sympathy cards is from 'Close as a Memory'.









As you can see - the cards and folder are very simple to make and the whole thing was done in an afternoon. Hope you like it!
Cheers
Carol

Challenges make me produce!

I'm really enjoying working on a Design team because it makes me produce! Which I love to do but I used to put off my 'play time' until everything else was done. Now my 'play' is 'work' and I love to get at it!

This card is a fun non-traditional Valentine. Tart & Tangy is such a fun stamp set and I thought I'd see what I could come up with.

I used Only Orange Classic Ink pad to stamp the oranges, and the 1" circle punch to punch out the solid oranges. The heart is from the Sweet Celebrations set, and the sentiment is from the One Smart Cookie set. The background of the sentiment is punched with the Designer Label punch. Cardstock is Whisper White and Only Orange.

The second card is for the Masculine Valentine challenge. I haven't used Serene Sage in a while and I really like it so here it is to punch up the Chocolate Chip cardstock.

The stamp set is Lovely as a Tree, and the heart is from A Happy Heart Day (I masked the little mouse face to make the heart shape complete.) The ribbon is Very Vanilla, along with the base of the card and stamping backgrounds.

I have some colour challenges to complete and you'll see them early next week.

Cheers, Carol

Masculine Valentine Card

When my husband saw the 'Happiness is a Journey' train he insisted that I get the set. So since he likes it so much I've made his Valentine card with it. (Shhh! Don't tell)

I used Real Red, Whisper White, and Basic Black cardstock, and embossed both the train and the sentiment in black. I masked the 'Happiness' in the sentiment and replaced it with 'Love' from the 'All Holidays' stamp set. (The Peace Love Joy stamp) The little heart is from the 'Sweet Celebrations' stamp set. Plus there are four black brads.

Inside I used the Font CD to write the sentiment.
I'm enjoying this as much as making the Christmas cards! I'll post more soon.

Cheers

Carol