For Allison...

This is a commissioned card for my friend, Allison. She asked me to make a wedding card and baby card for her. This, of course, is a wedding card. (Baby card will follow:))

I'm really happy with how this turned out. I actually cut into my ONE piece of Going Gray, and ONE piece of Shimmer White (thanks, Mimi!) that I have been hoarding for so long!

The flowers are from Happy Harmony, and are embossed with White Detail Powder. The Vellum on the Gray is embossed with my Cuttlebug (Textile Texture folder), and is held in place with the AWESOME new AC ribbon that I just got today! So perfect for a wedding card! I used my Cropadile to make sure that the holes were the same on both sides.

The sentiment says Happiness Always (remember, you can click on the image for a better/closer look-see:)), and is stamped on a transparency with Jet Black Stazon. It kind of "arcs" over the main image for more of a 3-D look.

Hope you like it, Allison! :)

ETA: This card was inspired by a card made by one of my all time favorite stampers, atomicbutterfly. I noted this in my SCS gallery, but inadvertently failed to mention it in my origianal post here. It was in no way CASED, but definitely inspired by hers. Here is the link to her gorgeous card.

Thanks to Jamie!

My friend and downline, Jamie, let me use her new Bunny Hugs (New Spring Mini!!!) set, and I am SO glad!!! I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't order it. It really is so cute! (And especially since I sold last year's Easter set - maybe I will get it??? We'll see...)
Anywho, I used Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Cool Caribbean, and WW paper. The tag and embossing is - of course - my Cuttlebug. Ribbon is both Flirty (Winter Mini) and White organdy. Flowers are primas (duh, right?!?).
I watercolored the main image with ink pads and my Aqua Painter (actually Jamie's because mine is all "frayed").
Hope you like it!!! :)

Card of the Week (2-26-07)

Good Morning! I "borrowed" this sketch from a Splitcoast sketch challenge, due to the fact that I have had my in-laws here since Wednesday, and haven't had much stamping time! :) This card is also one of my last Stamp-a-Stack cards, and I hope that you like it!!!

Here's the recipe...
Stamp Sets
Flannel
Like it a Latte
Paper
Taken with Teal - card base, 3 3/4x2 1/8
WW - 4x5 1/4 and 1 7/8x3 1/2
Close to Cocoa - 3x3 1/2
Loves Me Designer Paper (from Winter Mini) - 3 1/4x2 3/4
Ink
Regal Rose
Pretty in Pink
Close to Cocoa
Accessories
Ribbon - Pink Gingham
1 1/4 Circle Punch
Large Oval Punch
Ticket Corner Punch
2-Way Glue Stick
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
1/8 Circle Punch
Brayer
Dimensionals

Okay, I start out by marking where the Cocoa piece would be on the WW, and punching the 1 1/4 circle and oval there (paper-saving technique - I like to do this in Stamp-a-Stacks, to cut down on the cutting:)). Next, I ink up the brayer with the Pretty in Pink (PIP) ink pad and take it to the Flannel ink pad. I prefer to ink the (larger) WW piece ON the inked background stamp to get a more even coverage. Then I layer that piece onto the larger Teal, as well as the Cocoa and Loves Me pieces (as shown).

Next, I clip the corners of the smaller Teal and WW pieces. The cup and foam is stamped with Cocoa, and the "foam" is stamped with PIP. I, then, spread the glue over the "foam", and sprinkled the Glitter over it to give it some sparkle.

On the punched circle piece, I stamp the heart with Regal and cut it out. On the oval, I stamp the sentiment with Regal, "roll" it on the ink pad to give it a bit of definition, punch the end with the 1/8 circle punch, and tie it onto the main image with the gingham ribbon.

Lastly, I elevate both the tag and main image with Dimensionals. Now I'm done!

This is a very versatile sketch. I hope that you'll give it a try! Happy Stamping!

Stamp Night Make and Take

This is a layout that I totally CASEd from a very talented stamper, starofmay. She gave an awesome tutorial on her blog of how to make this adorable card. You MUST check out her work.
I used different paper, colors, and stamp, but the idea is the same. I'm going to use this card at tonight's Stamp Night with my downline. I hope that they like it!
We {my friend Mimi also made this with me:)} used So Saffron, Regal Rose, Taken with Teal, and the new {yummy} Spring Mini {sneak peak:)} paper. The stamp set is a Sell-a-Bration set - Very Punny, and it's super cute, and works great for a card like this.
Have a great weekend everyone!!! :)

So Addictabella!!!

No, I didn't coin the phrase "Addictabella", but I am going to borrow it for however long as it applies!!! {grin} How cute are these gals???

For the Grumpabella, I used Caribbean, Basic Black, and WW paper. The WW is the opening part of the card, and was embossed with my Cuttlebug Mosaic folder (thought it reminded me of tiles, as in a bathroom/kitchen floor, where it looks like she could be standing?!?), and brayered it with Caribbean. I LOVE her pink bunny slippers! Too cute. The coolio tag says "Get Well", and is double sided - just picked it up at Michaels yesterday.

My Javabellas are the coolest girls around, though! I used the "nothing's better than a good friend with chocolate" automatically, because I just KNOW that chocolate HAS GOT to be in that coffee! {Ever try that Chocolate Caramel Creamer??? Ahh, a taste of heaven, I say. I digress...} Anywho, the ribbon is AC, and I used that as my inspiration for the colors - Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Regal Rose, and Pretty in Pink. Love the combo. Also used my "bug" for the Swirls on the Pretty in Pink layer.

Both cards were colored with an Aqua Painter and ink pads. Hope you like 'em!

My Very First Bella!!!

For a closer look, simply click on any picture. :)

I only recently discovered this site, Stamping Bella, and they have some of the cutest stamps - I just HAD to have some!
I know what you're thinking..."why in the world is she telling us about another stamp company???" {enter confused look here}. Well, I am THOROUGHLY confident in the fact that you will never find a stamp company that fulfills every stampers need like Stampin' Up!, and with the quality that they offer. Like I said before, I will ALWAYS be my own best customer. You
can see that this card uses SU! cardstock, inks, and sentiment stamp. BUT NO COMPANY CAN HAVE EVERYTHING!!! {yes, I'm yelling!!!:)} So, shop away, you won't veer far from Stampin' Up! :)
Anywho...these are some lovely ladies, I tell ya! You're going to be seeing a lot of these Bellas from me in the near future, seeing as how I received 7 of them today {wohoo - happy dance:)}, and will get 3 more tomorrow!!! Emily (the creator of these highly addictable Bellas) is super talented, and she has created an Addictabella in me, for sure!
The ribbon is from M's, flowers are Primas, and embossing is my beloved Cuttlebug {of course!}.
Hope you like the first of many Bella cards - this one's Flowabella.
Happy Stamping!

ETA: Oh yeah, I used plain old ink pads and an aqua painter to color my little lady. :)

Card of the Week (2-19-07)

Oh how I love this set! This was one that when I first saw it in the Winter Mini, I said "that's not for me." I was so wrong! The prettiest cards can be made with this paper, background (French Flair - also in the Mini), and set! That is why I chose this card for the Card of the Week, to maybe change someone's mind on it! (This is also one of this month's Stamp-a-Stack cards, so if you were here today, this isn't new to you! :))

So, here is the recipe...
Stamp Sets
Carte Postale
French Flair
Paper
Enchante Designer Paper (2 3/4 x 2 1/4)
Very Vanilla (2 1/2 x 2 + scrap for bird)
Pale Plum (card base - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2)
Inks
Perfect Plum
Certainly Celery
Markers - Sage Shadow and Pale Plum
Accessories
Ribbon (Eggplant and Celery)
Scissors

This is a fairly straight-up card, but it shows how you can take a beautiful background stamp, like this one, and showcase it to make a nice and simple card without a ton of stamp sets!
I first stamped the background image onto the card base with the Perfect Plum ink pad. Next I stamped the bird in Celery, and cut him out. Then I inked up the main image with the markers, stamped "merci" across the bottom of the Very Vanilla, and used the dauber to "antique" the edge of the Vanilla piece. (This is a great way to add the interest of another layer, as well!)
Lastly, I added the ribbons and assembled! The bird and Vanilla layer are elevated with Dimensionals (don't think I could live without them!!!).
Well, I hope that you all have a great week - I hope that mine is much less busy!!! Happy Stamping!!! :)

Bloggers Only Swap - Open Now!!!

Just a few things...
First of all, I am signed up for my very first Bloggers Only Swap, and I'm so excited! My new blogger friend, Julie, told me to check it out, so I did! So, if any bloggers out there are interested, here's the link!

Also, I know that I haven't been posting much this week, but I have been super busy lately with MOMS Club, Stampin' Up!, and a sick puppy. After Sunday, it should slow down SLIGHTLY, being that my in-laws will be here Wednesday, and I have a downline meeting to prepare for, including a ATC swap (I just NEED to have a reason to own that other ATC book in the Mini, so I can alter it!!!)!

Most of this busy-ness is self-inflicted, but I'm having good time, too (except the puppy thing) - just getting a little antsy to get back to the REALLY FUN stuff - STAMPING!!!

Hope everyone is doing great, and Happy Stamping! :)

Card of the Week (2-12-07)

Happy Monday! I'm so glad that you're back to check out the Card of the Week! This one was a struggle for me, and I'm not sure that I'm completely happy with the end result, but I think it's a descent sketch.

Here's the recipe...
Stamp Set
Like it a Latte
Paper
Four Seasons
Old Olive
Bravo Burgandy
WW
Ink
Old Olive
Bravo Burgandy
White Stazon
Accessories
Earth Elements Brads
Ribbon (Wine Organdy and Ribbon Essentials)
Dimensionals
Spritzer

I started out with wrapping the ribbon around the multicolor Four Seasons paper (4x5 1/4), and adhering it down to the card base. Then I cut the snowflake Four Seasons paper (2 1/4x1 3/4), mounted it onto the Burgandy layer (2 3/8x1 7/8), added the brads, and secured with Dimensionals to the card.
Now here comes the stamping! I stamped the sentiment on the WW (2x3/4) with Olive, spritzed it with a Bashful Blue marker, stamped the Burgandy "beans", and mounted it onto the Burgandy layer (2 1/8x7/8). Then I stamped the "cup" with Burgandy and "heart" with Olive, and cut out. Lastly, I stamped the "steam" with White Stazon onto a transparency - you could also use White Craft directly onto the Olive paper - and cut to 1x4 (Olive is same measurement), and mounted onto the Burgandy (1 1/8x4).
After all of that, it's just assembly! I wrapped the Wine Ribbon around the Olive layer, and used the Dimensionals to adhere the "heart" and "cup" in place.
I hope that you'll try this sketch! Happy Stamping! :)

My Non-Traditional Valentine to my Wyatt

This is a cutey Valentine that I made for my little Jellybean! I'm really happy with how this turned out.
I started out by stamping the bag on a piece of transparency, and cut it out. Then I stamped some Jellybeans in Marigold, Pumpkin, Caribbean, and Violet, and cut them out. I mounted them onto the white cardstock that I had Ticket Corner punched, pierced, spritzed, and marked for placement so that they are *enclosed* in the bag. I, then, tied the ribbon (Basic Grey) around the top and secured with a glue dot - hidden by the ribbon.
The ribbon was a new yummy from the scrapbook store (American Crafts) - I couldn't wait to use it!
The bottom is wheeled with Spot On, and stamped with Karen Foster Snap Stamps and Rough Edges Alpha "my sweet jellybean".
The patterned paper is from the Dots and Dashes paper pack - I love that one!
I hope that he likes it - actually, he'll probably think it's real candy, so I'd better have some real stuff on hand!!!

Who Wants to Kiss?

No, not kiss me, but their stamps?!

These are the 3 cards that I created for my first Technique Class. This first one features 2 Sell-a-Bration sets, Happy Harmony and Big Blossom. It is using *negative kissing*.

The second card uses some cool kissing detail on the cake with the Looks Like Spring set. This card also features Eat Cake, All in a Row, and It's Your Birthday. I doodled a bit around the edge of the main image.

Lastly, the third card is a Valentine using *reverse kissing*, and the Letter Patters stamp set. Other stamp sets used are So Very (Sell-a-Bration), Wild about You, Simple Shapes, and Small Sayings. I liked this layout so well that I also used it on the Card of the Week.

For those of you who were able to make it, I had a lot of fun stamping with you. And for those of you who couldn't come - looking forward to seeing you next time!

Card of the Week (2-5-07)

Yeah, I get to repost this, since it's month in the lime-light is over! LOL It was published in the August issue of Cards '07, on pg 124.This was a fun card to make, and didn't really take me that long to design, but that's because I "borrowed" the layout from another one of my cards that will be posted later this week. :) This is a birthday card, seeing that I'm always in need of those, because I send out all of the MOMS Club birthday cards. Here is what you need to make this exact card (remember that you can always substitute colors and stamp sets to make it "your own".)...
Stamp sets
Happy Everything
Bodacious Bouquet
Paper
Blush Blossom - 4x5 1/4
Transparency - 3/4x1 1/2
Whisper White (WW) - 2 1/2 sq
Rose Red - 2 5/8 sq
Sage Shadow 1/4x4 1/4
Chocolate Chip (CC) - 2 7/8x3 1/2
Ink
White Stazon
Same as above, minus the Blush
Accessories
Tool Kit
Bodacious Bouquet Brass Embossing Plate
Silver Brads
White Embossing Powder
Color Spritzer
Chocolate Chip Marker
Sponge
2-Way Glue
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Okay, I know that that looks like a lot, but feel free to add or subtract when you go to make your card.
I first pierced the Chocolate layer with my Tool Kit, then I sponged and spritzed the Blush layer with CC, and adhered them together like shown.
Then I stamped my flower on a scrap piece of WW and cut out. I also added some sparkle with the Glue and Glitter to the center of the flower. I stamped the "stem" and leaves on the WW square, and adhered the flower on top, then pierced around the flower and leaves. Next I layered it with the Rose, and adhered to the card with dimensionals. Then I stamped on the transparency with the Stazon (used for non-porous surfaces) the sentiment, and tucked it into the main image.
Lastly, I "created" the white brads (per tutorial), and put them in the corner, added the strip of Sage, and all of that was placed onto a WW card.
I hope that you'll try this one! I think that you'll have just as much fun as I did!
Happy Stamping!!! :)

Quick and Easy Valentines

Ever have one of those moments where you're completely stuck, trying to figure out how to make the card/scrapbook page work and it just won't look how you want it to. Well, that's what I was doing last night - trying to come up with the 3rd card for my Technique Class - when I saw the Letter Patterns and had the idea for these Valentines.

I'm seeing more and more cards in this "one-layer style" on Splitcoast, but I've never tried it, till now! {It's more difficult than it looks - as I always say (well, I'm saying it just now...) - cardstock can cover up a multitude of stamping sins, so when there's only the one piece, you feel kind of vulnerable!!!}

Anywho, I used Wonderful Words, Love It, and the Letter Patterns stamp sets, Pixie Pink and Real Red markers, and Basic Black and Real Read in pads. The ribbon is non-SU! (not sure who?).

All I did was first stamp "love", then Rock and Rolled (possible next Technique Class?) the Letter Patterns rectangle stamp over the "love". Then I just inked up the hearts with the markers, and stamped it in the center of the rectangle, and tied some ribbon. The card with the velvet ribbon, I thought, needed something more, so I added a couple of black brads to the bottom corner.

I'm really happy with how these turned out. So I guess the moral of the story is

to follow where your creative juices are taking you... and to not procrastinate! :)

I hope that you enjoy these, and feel inspired to create you own quick and easy Valentines for your loved ones.

Happy Stamping!!!