A Little Sunday Somethin' Somethin'

Just catching up on some cards that I have made the last few weeks! These are from the class I had a week or so ago.

This first one uses the Season of Friendship set from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I really really like this set. Couple of notes: The tree was stamped in Close to Cocoa Classic ink on Kraft paper and then cut out. The snowflakes were stamped in VersaMark on Bashful Blue cardstock, covered with Winter White embossing powder and heat set.

I also added a bit of sponging to the edges of the Bashful Blue layer and accented the card with brads and some satiny ribbon!

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Season of Friendship. Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Kraft. Ink: Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, VersaMark. Other: Winter White embossing powder, silver brads, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla satin ribbon, mat pack, paper piercer, sponge, dimensionals.

For the second card I used the Season of Joy stamp set and some Christmasy colors of paper and ink. Quick notes: the flowers were stamped in Ruby Red on Whisper White and cut out. Some Fine Cosmo glitter was adhered to the flower centers. On a piece of Certainly Celery cardstock the Christmas Chatter wheel was used with ink of the same color. On top of that the tree was stamped in Always Artichoke.

All images coyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Season of Joy, Christmas Chatter jumbo wheel. Paper: Confetti White, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White. Ink: Ruby Red, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip. Basic Black. Other: Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, Rich Regal brads, mat pack, paper piercer, dimensionals, sponge, Fine Cosmo glitter.

Pretties Thursday

I'm back with another card! I actually made this one a couple of weeks ago for the November Paper Pretties Pajama party. And guess what? There will be another Paper Pretties party on Monday! Woot! I hope you all join us in the forums for the chit chat, challenges and new releases! In the meantime you only have a couple of days to sign up for the Stamp of the Month Club and receive Sending You Love Sophia as the December stamp. She is so sweet and perfect for those Valentine cards. :)

Release party info:
Time: 6PM CDT (aka 7PM EST).
Where: Paper Pretties Forum
What: Challenges, Socializing, Samples, New Releases and more!

Also at the party we announce the winner of the Cutie Pie Contest! How do you play? All you have to do is make a card using your Paper Pretties stamps and upload it to the Cutie Pie Contest gallery on the Paper Pretties forum, and Christie will chose a winner from the entries. Besides being able to call yourself a Cutie Pie, you will also win the entire release! You have until November 30th at 8PM CDT to get your entries in! Good luck!

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: Sending You Love (Paper Pretties), Gratuitous Graffiti backgroun. Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, PTI White, Bella Rose Designer. Ink: black, Copic markers, Close To Cocoa Classic. Other: Stickles, ribbon (American Crafts), square clip (Making Memories), Spiral Edge punch, diamond brads, dimensionals.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to give a quick shout out and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Hope the family is fun (not creepy), the food is great (not soggy) and the weather is pefect (not freezingly cold... brr!). :)

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Thoroughly Thankful. Paper: Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Georgia Pacific white, Fall Flowers designer. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive Classic, Chocolate Chip Classic, copic markers. Other: Alpine Ribbon Originals, vintage brads, dimensionals.

And then a little treat box that I had my crafty peeps make at my last class. Yum... there is a little mini Kit Kat bar in there.

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Say it With Scallops. Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Ski Slope designer. Ink: Old Olive. Other: Certainly Celery wide grosgrain ribbon, scallop square punch, button, linen thread, dimensionals, Pillow Box BigZ die.

Pretties Wednesday: Break Out the Pearls

Two weeks ago Jessie challenged the Prettie Girls to use pearls... oh la la! I'm a little late posting my card today as I was traveling North (aka the Sault, aka Sault Ste. Marie, MI) for the great Turkey Day festivities that will commence tomorrow. Turkey... yum...

For more eye candy check out what the rest of the Prettie Girls have made for this week's challenge:
Charmaine Ikach
Jackie Pedro
Jackie Rakoski
Jessica Diedrich
Jessica Rone
Jillian Winters
Jodi Collins
Julie Masse

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: Sweets for the Sweet. Paper: Mellow Moss, Buckaroo Blue, Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Floral pattern (Anna Griffin). Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers. Other: Self-adhesive half pearls, Berry Sorbet Swiss Dots Satin, mat pack, paper piercer, dimensionals, Scalloped Edge punch.

BIC33: Looks Like Summer

Don't you just wish you were sitting at this table??? I do! Especially since there is snow on the ground here and it is so very cold. Brrr!

This week's Inspiration Challenge from Beate is the aforementioned patio scene from Martha Stewart. I just loved the rich earthy colors and used them on my card. My very wintry card. :)

To see more beautiful samples check out the blogs of fellow Inspiration Team members: Jennifer, Susan, Silke, Dawn and Charmaine. Make sure to visit Beate's blog for the full details and to see her sample!

For my card I used the Holiday Lineup stamp set from SU! and paired it with a sentiment from the Winter Schminter cling set from Whipper Snapper. Hee hee... these reindeer crack me up and I thought that sentiment added a bit of additional humor. That there is one bee-u-ti-ful deer with his bright spotlight of a nose! :)

Quickie notes: the reindeer were stamped in Black StazOn and watercolored with an AquaPainter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons. I then outlined the image with a W2 Copic marker and added some subtle shimmer to the red nose with a Clear Copic Spica pen.

Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Sanded background, Winter Schminter (Whipper Snapper). Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, So Saffron, Naturals Ivory. Ink: Black StazOn, W2 Copic marker, Clear Spica AtYou pen, Close To Cocoa Classic, So Saffron Classic. Other: mat pack, paper piercer, Ripe Avocado swiss dotted ribbon (PTI), dimensionals, gold brads, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, AquaPainter.

Snowman Sunday #4

I found time to stamp today! After my trip to Home Depot that is. Hee hee... that was a fun trip. I went to purchase a folding table for my mom but they were out of stock. However on the end cap of one of the aisles there was something that caught my eye. Oh baby... an Epson Stylus Photo 1400 Wide Format printer. It is mine... all mine! But I NEEDED it! Really! My old photo printer gave out a year ago and I've been relying on Shutterfly for my pictures but that is a pain in the patootie when you need a photo immediately (and are too lazy to drive to the store 15 minutes away and wait for them to print ya one). So I had been on a lookout for a new printer anyways. Plus it can print on 12" x 12" paper... seriously, how could I resist?

Once the printer was bought and the call was made to my mom to let her know I struck out on the table I sat down and made a card... just for you! It uses a cute Snow Kitty stamp from Whipper Snapper that was colored with Copic markers. I did add a touch or two of glitter for some extra oh-la-la. The sentiment was stamped in Whisper White Craft ink, coated with Winter White embossing powder and heat set. The sketch is the latest SFYTT from Jen del Muro. Yet another blog that I stalk for sketch ideas but rarely have time to actually do! Well, I'm off to do my chores and get ready for work tomorrow. Hope everyone had a great weekend! :)

All images copyright Whipper Snapper. Stamps: Snow Kitty, Winter Schminter Cling set. Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, PTI Select White, Ski Slope designer. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White craft ink, Close to Cocoa Classic. Other: 1" circle punch, mat pack, paper piercer, silver brad, Chocolate Chip wide satin ribbon, dimensionals, Dazzling diamonds glitter.


Oh... and now that I have a printer I can actually print some of the pictures I take. Like this one I took just before I left the house to run my errands (and impulse purchase that printer)... ironic isn't it? Btw, this is my cat Isa, aka Isa-Bean and Isa-Brat. She's taking a snooze on the couch.

Oopsie Daisy... Where Have I Been?

Yikes, this last week has been crazy! Tons of work at the 'real' job which is why there was no Snowman Sunday - I was working. Then even more work during the week but I did it all by Friday evening so I didn't need to go in again this weekend. Yay!!! And if that wasn't enough I scheduled a Stamp Camp at my house on Saturday! Yeesh, but it was a blast. Although I think my crafty peeps were about to rebel by the end of the day. I was in a paper piercing craze when I designed the cards for the class... heh heh heh.

Speaking of cards, here is one of the six cards that they made at the class. This one uses the A Flower For All Seasons stamp set and some the scrumptious Alpine Ribbon Originals. They also made this card and this one too. I'll share the rest of the cards over the next couple days (I still have to take pics).

Here is a closeup of the main image. It was colored with SU! markers and then a bit of shimmer was added with Pearlescent Watercolors.

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: A Flower for All Seasons, Hugs & Wishes. Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, PTI Select White, Chocolate Chip Patterns designer, Bella Rose designer. Ink: Black StazOn, SU! markers. Other: Pearlescent watercolors, AquaPainter, 1/4" circle punch, mat pack, paper piercer, Alpine Ribbon Originals, Scalloped Edge punch, vintage brads, On Board chipboard, dimensionals.

Something Has Gone Askew

This week's Paper Pretties Challenge should you choose to accept it is to make a card using the following sketch.

How does the Paper Pretties' challenge work? Make a card, scrapbook page, altered item or so forth using Paper Pretties stamps if you have them using the color combo provided. If you don't have Paper Pretties' stamps, still feel free to join in the fun... the more the merrier! :) Then visit the Paper Pretties' gallery and upload a picture of your project to the Weekly Challenges category (also use the keyword PWC29 - aids in searching). You have until the following Thursday to upload your picture to the gallery to be entered into the contest to earn a little something something from the Paper Pretties' Boutique.

Here is my sample made with the sketch. This one is not thrilling me at all - my stamping mojo was definitely turned off during the making of this card. I think it is the colors... way too much orange! I think I will steer clear of that color for a while. :)

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: Sending you Love Sophia, Sanded background (SU!). Paper: Basic Grey Mellow designer, PUmpkin Pie, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, PTI Select white. Ink: More Mustard Classic, Copic markers, black. Other: Diamond stickles, dimensionals, ribbon (retired SU!), Filigree Assortment brad, crystal brads mat pack, paper piercer.

Pretties Wednesday: Move it! Move it!

Two weeks ago Charmaine challenged the Prettie Girls to make an interactive card, in other words, something that moves! I decided to make a double slider card cause they are so neat! Pull on the top part and it slides out... AND... a panel pops out the bottom too!

Guess what? Now it is my turn to issue a challenge for the Prettie Girls. Hmm... whatever shall I make them do? Heh heh heh. Well since the weather outside is so cold I think we need to warm things up inside! I wanna see what they can do with a heat tool! Bring on the embossing, faux metal, polyshrink... whatever! As long as it involves using heat to make your card! And no, burning a picture of me in the fire doesn't count!!! :) Muhahaha!!!

In the meantime wanna see what the rest of the Prettie Girls are doing for this week's challenge? Take a look at their blogs at:
Charmaine Ikach
Jackie Pedro
Jackie Rakoski
Jessica Diedrich
Jessica Rone
Jillian Winters
Jodi Collins
Julie Masse

Here is a closeup of Angel Sophia - I added Fun Flock to her wings and after coloring painted a translucent layer of Pearlescent Watercolors over her dress for a shimmery effect. She is such a cutie!

Stamps: Angel Sophia (Paper Pretties), Best Yet, Sanded background. Paper: Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Bashful Blue, Kraft, PTI Select white, Be Merry Trim the Tree designer (My Mind's Eye). Ink: Black StazOn, Close To Cocoa classic, Copic markers. Other: Cotton Ball White Fun Flock, Pearlescent Watercolors, AquaPainter, sponge, mat pack, paper piercer, green buttons, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, cording, Antique Brass jumbo eyelet, linen thread.

BIC32: Trim the Tree

It's Tuesday which means it is time for another Inspiration Challenge brought to you by Beate! This time it is a cute little baby's room. Look at that flooring... it is amazing! I liked it so much that I just had to duplicate the look on my card!

Quick notes: I scored a piece of glossy cardstock at every half inch then brayered Baja Breeze Classic ink onto it. This left nifty white stripes where I scored! I then layered a piece of vellum cardstock that I ripped along the top edge. I stamped a sentiment ($1 stamp by Studio G) along the bottom with StazOn and layered ontop of the brayered background and then matted both on a piece of Basic Gray cardstock. Added some brads and satin ribbon to hold the vellum in place. This piece was then adhered to a River Rock cardbase with dimensionals

Next up I stamped the tree image from the Mr. Twigster set and colored with a Copic Marker. I then adhered some copper microbeads over the ornaments using Crystal Effect. They ended up looking a lot like pinecones rather than the blinged out ornaments I was trying to achieve. But I like 'em anyways! To finish I added a bit of Liquid Applique and heat set for a nice snowy ground!

To see more beautiful samples check out the blogs of fellow Inspiration Team members: Jennifer, Susan, Silke, Dawn and Charmaine. Make sure to visit Beate's blog for the full details and to see her sample!

Stamps: Mr Twigster, Merry Little Christmas (Studio G). Paper: River Rock, Basic Gray, Glossy White, PTI Select White, vellum cardstock. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers, Black StazOn, Baja Breeze Classic. Other: Copper microbeads (Martha Stewart), Ripe Avocado Swiss Dots satin ribbon (PTI), Liquid Applique, Crystal Effects, bone folder, dimensionals.

Birthday Blog Hop!

Hey peeps! Today is an extra special post - it's my fellow Prettie Girl Jillian's birthday and we are showing her some birthday goodness Prettie style by having a blog hop with each of us bringing a goodie to the party! My contribution is some yummy Limeade with Mint drinks (found on the Martha Stewart website). Happy Birthday Jillian!!!

The birthday hop started at The Paper Clip so if you haven't visited there yet... well you are missing out on some of the fun. *For those of you unfamiliar with a blog hop here is how it works: start at Blog A, read the post and follow the included link to Blog B... repeat until the last blog (aka Blob Z) is reached! Easy peasy, right?

And a birthday party isn't a party without cards and stuff right? Using the drinks as an inspiration I made a treat box for Jillian! I used the colors from the picture: Kiwi Kiss, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip and orange as well as the theme of drinks! The finished box is actually quite big: 3 1/2" tall, 4" wide and 4" deep, which doesn't include the decorations.


Here is a picture of the top. I used one of the cups from Look Who's Perky and colored with markers adding a bit of glitter with the Clear Copic Spica pen. I also added a button as decoration for the cup. What do you think of that color combo? It's oddly appealing to me and I'm not normally a fan of orange (especially when it is not on a Halloween card!).

So what is in the box? A bunch of mini Kit Kat bars which are way tastier than normal sized Kit Kat bars. I think it is the ratio of chocolate to wafer. Nom nom nom... I better mail this gift soon or there will be no chocolate left for Jillian. :)

You've reached the end of my post which means it is time to hop to the next blog! Who is the next stop on the Jillan Birthday Blog Hop? The uber-talented Jackie P! Continue the hop by visiting her blog!

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: Look Who's Perky. Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White. Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Copic markers, Clear Copic Spica pen, Certainly Celery Classic. Other: So Saffron Polytwill ribbon, linen thread, Tangerine buttons (Doodlebug), 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, mat pack, paper piercer, Scalloped edge punch, Chit Chat rubons, dimensionals.

Oh Christmas Tree!

First off I have to apologize for the pictures! This was not the easiest project to photograph! By clicking on the pictures you can see a larger version. :)

I made this ornament for my Christmas Tree from a bunch of leftover 1 3/8" squares of chipboard. I couldn't figure out what to do with them when I finally had a brainstorm and came up with this! Yay!

Notes on assembly: A length of Taffeta ribbon was folded in half and a knot placed near the top to create a hanger (this will fit on a branch and even over a doorknob). The ribbon was then aligned one side on top of the other and five squares were glued to the top layer. Then the whole piece was flipped over and the remaining five squares adhered to the back of the second piece of ribbon, making sure to align with the first five squares (five little sandwiches). The sqaures were then secured together with dimensionals.

The two sides of the ornament have slightly different color schemes. The first side uses a snowflake designer paper, Sage Shadow/Chocolate Chip 1" circles, Whisper White embossed snowflakes and Dazzling Diamonds snowflakes. The second side uses stripped designer paper, Sage Shadow/Naturals Ivory 1" circles, Silvery Glittered snowflakes and Chocolate Chip birds. All snowflakes have a silver brad through the center.

I also added a sentiment on each side using a saying from the Chit Chat set of rubons. Just applied to Chocolate Chip cardstock, cut, added a brad and adhered to the panel with a strip of dimensional foam.

To finish the hanging ornamnet I added a bead to both ribbon ends and knotted to keep it from falling off.

Other variations: instead of shapes on each panel use a letter to spell out a name or saying! Instead of squares use a different chipboard shape or shapes such as stars or circles.

Hope you have enjoyed the project! I'll definitely be making more of these for myself and probably as gifts to give! :)

All images Copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Season of Friendship. Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Naturals Ivory, Wintergreen designer (retired). Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic, VersaMark, Close To Cocoa Craft. Other: Heat 'n Stick powder, Clear embossing powder, Winter White embossing powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Silver glitter, Pretties kit (clear beads), Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, chipboard squares, 1 3/8" square punch, 1" circle punch, dimensionals, silver brads, Perfect Paper Adhesive, Chit Chat rubons.

PWC28 and Everything but the Kitchen Sink

This week's Paper Pretties Challenge should you choose to accept it is to use the following color combo: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron and Baja Breeze. Kind of colorful but oh so fun!

How does the Paper Pretties' challenge work? Make a card, scrapbook page, altered item or so forth using Paper Pretties stamps if you have them using the color combo provided. If you don't have Paper Pretties' stamps, still feel free to join in the fun... the more the merrier! :) Then visit the Paper Pretties' gallery and upload a picture of your project to the Weekly Challenges category (also use the keyword PWC28 - aids in searching). You have until the following Thursday to upload your picture to the gallery to be entered into the contest to earn a little something something from the Paper Pretties' Boutique.

Card details: After yesterday's layer diet I kind of binged on using layering on today's card. I may have even gone a bit overboard. And of course I couldn't just do a bunch of layering I had to throw everything in my craft room onto the card too!

Fun Flock on the Bunny Slippers? - check!
Glitter? - here and there and everywhere!
Rhinestones? - oh yeah!
Sizzix Snowflake Die? - definitely!
Paper Piercing? - I just couldn't resist!
Sponging? - please and thank you!
Scallops? - why not? :)
Ribbon? - couldn't do without!
Brads? - oops, I forgot those!

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: Bunny Slippers Sophia. Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, PTI Select White, Just Dreamy 2 Totally Dotty designer (My Mind's Eye). Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Close to Cocoa Classic, Chocolate Chip Classic, Copic Markers. Other: Cotton Ball White Fun Flock (Stampendous), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Adhesive Rhinestones (K & Co.), Alpine Ribbon Originals, Nestabilities Rectangle and Scalloped Rectange dies, Snowflake #2 Die (by Sizzix, availiable from SU!), mat pack, paper piercer, distressing tool, dimensionals.

Pretties Wednesday: On a Layer Diet

Two weeks ago Julie challenged the Prettie Girls to make a one layer card with scoring. I'm betting she sat back and laughed after issuing that one - talk about having to go on an extreme layer diet! And next thing you know she'll probably issue a no ribbon challenge! :) Needless to say without be able to use mulitple layers I kept my card simple and sweet!

Wanna see what the rest of the Prettie Girls did with their limited layers? Take a look at their blogs at:
Charmaine Ikach
Jackie Pedro
Jackie Rakoski
Jessica Diedrich
Jessica Rone
Jillian Winters
Jodi Collins
Julie Masse

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: Falling for You Sophia, Giving Thanks sentiment. Paper: PTI Select white. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Riding Hood Red Classic, Copic markers. Other: Pure Poppy Polytwill ribbon (PTI), Little Felt Flurries, Felt Flower Fusion Too, red crystal brads (Making Memories), Nestabilities rectangle die.

BIC31: Who Let the Birdies Out?

This week's inspiration piece is a little bird mobile from Gifts Define. Isn't it the sweetest thing? Of course I immediately thought of the A Little Birdie Told Me stamp set from Stampin' Up! and based my card on those cute birds! Cheep, cheep - are we ready for Spring yet? I usually love Winter but I just can't get into it this year. He he... so I'm thinking warm thoughts. :)

To see more beautiful samples check out the blogs of fellow Inspiration Team members: Jennifer, Susan, Silke, Dawn and Charmaine. Make sure to visit Beate's blog for the full details and to see her sample!

Quick notes: the birds were stamped on Cameo Coral to create a scene and then stamped a second time on patterned paper, cut out and adhered over the Plain Jane ones stamped previously. I did adhere the So Saffron bird before stamping the little birdie so that they overlapped (then I glued the purple tiny birdie into place)! To finish I added a couple of sentiment circles, some pretty dotted ribbon, brads, scallop edge and paper piercing... oh and a bit of sponging! :)

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: A Little Birdie Told Me. Paper: Cameo Coral, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, PaperTrey Ink Select White, Prints Designer 6"x6" paper pad (Spring/Summer '08 Hostess Level 1). Ink: Black StazOn, Cameo Coral Classic, Pretty in Pink marker, Pumpkin Pie marker. Other: Scalloped Edge punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, mat pack, paper piercer, Berry Sorbet Swiss Dots Satin ribbon (PaperTrey Ink), white brads (DoodleBug I think), dimensionals.

A Vervish Tree

Just a fun card for this cool Monday morning... nice and Fallish! I'm pretending it is still Fall even though there was snow on Sunday. I should never have looked out the window. Luckily none of it stuck on the ground!

The sketch is from the Verve Stamps Holiday Release Sketch Blitz Day #4. They were posting a bunch of really neat sketches this last week and I used one of them for this card.

Other notes: stamped the tree on white cardstock and trimmed so that some of the branches were chopped off. Then stamped a bunch of leaves on some scraps of white cardstock, trimmed and adhered to the tree branches with dimensionals. I then sponged the edges of the cardstock with Baja Breeze Classic ink and matted the image on Close to Cocoa cardstock. The sentiment is a rubon from the Chit Chat set that I affixed to a scrap of Old Olive cardstock. The designer paper is from a Basic Grey 6"x6" pad called Mellow.

Before I forget I wanted to share some Paper Pretties news: Paper Pretties has a new blog called the Paper Clip! Each month you can visit this blog to find out all the SUPER awesome details on upcoming releases, Stampin' In Your Jammies Parties, the Stamp of the Month Club and so much more!

Have a great day! Hopefully nice and warm without a snowflake in sight!

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Season of Friendship. Paper: Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, PaperTrey Ink Select white, Mellow 6"x6" designer pad (Basic Grey). Ink: Close To Cocoa Classic, Old Olive Classic, Ruby Red Classic, Pumpkin Pie Classic, Baja Breeze Classic. Other: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla satin ribbon, 1/4" circle punch, silver brads, sponge, dimensionals, Chit Chat rubons, mat pack, paper piercer.

Snowman Sunday #3

It's Sunday which means it is my day to create another card using a cute snowman stamp. Yay! This week I am using a sweet little snowman by Studio G that I picked up at M's yesterday (one of those little dollar stamps!). There was also a cute one of a snoman in a snowglobe that I just had to have too! :)

Quick notes: main image was stamped on white cardstock twice, both images were colored with Copic markers and the second was cut out. Two pieces of Baja Breeze cardstock were torn on one side, sponged with Whisper White Craft ink and heat set. I then layered the snowmen and the Baja Breeze cardstock in the following order: first snoman, larger piece of Baja Breeze cardstock, second trimmed snowman (with dimensionals, second torn piece of cardstock (more dimensionals. A piece of Old Olive poly-twill ribbon was wrapped around all of the layers and knotted. Too finish the main image was matted on Not Quite Navy cardtock and a sentiment was stamped in black ink.

Other notes: As far as stamping goes the Sahara Sand mat was stamped with Gratuitous Graffiti in Whisper White Craft and heat set (speeds up drying time). All layers except the main image were sponged with a corresponding ink and a couple of them were also paper pierced. I think the rest is self-explanatory but as usual if you have a question just ask!

Stamps: Snowman (Studio G), Gratuitous Graffiti background, Fundamental Phrases. Paper: Buckaroo Blue, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, PaperTrey Ink Select white, Wintergreen designer (retired). Ink: Whisper White Craft, Old Olive Classic, Buckaroo Blue Classic, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers. Other: Old Olive poly-twill ribbon, Ripe Avocado Swiss Dots satin ribbon (PaperTrey Ink), 1/4" circle punch, silver brads, mat pack, paper piercer, Little Felt Flurries, clear crystal brads, dimensionals.

Functional Friday

I thought I would share something functional today - a card organizer. You could also use it to organize monthly payments/bills but really we wouldn't want to do that to something so pretty, would we? :)

I purchased a bunch of these paper-mache card organizers this summer at a US Art Quest yard sale and I just finally decorated the first one! I have five more in my stash* of things to alter. *Stash - otherwise known as a whole corner of my craft room filled with tins, coasters, boxes and various other objects that I purchased intending to decorate. The stash has been known to overwhelm and devour the unwary. Approach with extreme caution!

I covered the card organizer with Maine Blueberry designer paper, adhering it in place with Perfect Paper Adhesive (like Mod Podge just not as aromatic). Once dry I used a sanding file to remove the extra paper from the edges and to add a bit of distressing. I then sponged Chocolate Chip Classic ink on all of the corners and edges.

To decorate the box I inked the label image from Sweet Celebrations with Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue ink and stamped on Kraft paper. I trimmed the label with my scissors and sponged the edges with more Chocolate Chip Classic ink. "Warm Wishes" was stamped in Not Quite Navy along the bottom dotted line. I sewed a button and felt flurry onto the label with some linen thread. This was then adhered to the organizer with dimensionals after knotting a piece of Alpine felt ribbon around the box.


Here is a picture of the organizer filled with some stamping goodness. Hmm... I think I need to decorate a few more of these, fill with cards and give out as Christmas gifts. :)

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Hugs & Wishes, Sweet Celebrations. Paper: Kraft, Maine Blueberry designer. Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic, Not Quite Navy Classic, Bashful Blue marker. Other: Little Felt Flurries, Neutral Buttons, Alpine Originals ribbon, linen thread, dimensionals, sponge, sanding file, Perfect Paper Adhesive (USArtQuest), paper mache.

PWC27: Peace & Goodwill

This week's Paper Pretties' challenge is a sketchy one! That star can be any shape that you like. :)

How does the Paper Pretties' challenge work? Make a card, scrapbook page, altered item or so forth using Paper Pretties stamps if you have them using the sketch provided. If you don't have Paper Pretties' stamps, still feel free to join in the fun... the more the merrier! :) Then visit the Paper Pretties' gallery and upload a picture of your project to the Weekly Challenges category (also use the keyword PWC27 - aids in searching). You have until the following Thursday to upload your picture to the gallery to be entered into the contest to earn a little something something from the Paper Pretties' Boutique.

For my sketch sample I used another new stamp from the set The Nativity (same set I used in my last post). The sentiment is a new single stamp that you can also purchase from Paper Pretties.

Quick notes: the pretty dotted paper is by Heidi Grace and I used it as the starting point for the color scheme of the card. Sophia was colored with Copic markers and the edges of the cardstock were sponged with Riding Hood Red Classic ink.

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: The Nativity, Peace & Goodwill (Sentiment). Paper: Kraft, Bravo Burgundy, Riding Hood Red, Certainly Celery, Tiny dots designer (Heidi Grace), PaperTrey Select white. Ink: black, Copic Markers, Riding Hood Red Classic. Other: 1/4" circle punch, Stylized Silver Hodgepodge hardware, Certainly Celery wide grosgrain ribbon, Little Felt Flurries, Scalloped Edge punch, dimensionals.

Just thought I would post a reminder about the HUGE SALE going on at Paper Pretties! Almost all items in the Boutique are 75% off! Wowza!!! The exceptions are the Pretties Stamps and the Swarovski crystals - everything else is being cleared out! The prices have already been changed for you so you won't need a coupon code!

Pretties Wednesday: Score!

Two weeks ago Jackie P. (aka 'the fuzz') challenged the Prettie Girls to incorporate scoring into our projects. I broke out my scoring blade for my Friskars paper cutter and added several scored lines to the bottom edge of a piece of Marigold Morning cardstock. I wanted to create one of those cool diamond patterned backgrounds but well that didn't go so well! To accent my scored lines I added paper piercing between them and a scalloped edge on the bottom! I kept the rest of the card pretty simple just adding a few brads, sewing on a couple buttons with linen thread and adding some scrumptious 7/8" So Saffron Poly-Twill ribbon.

Oh and the little shepard? That is a new Cooper stamp from the all new Paper Pretties The Nativity set. Such a cutie!

I wonder what the rest of the Prettie Girls added scoring too! If you would like to see too, scoot on over to there wonderful blogs: Charmaine Ikach, Jackie Pedro, Jackie Rakoski, Jessica Rone, Jillian Winters, Jodi Collins and Julie Masse.

All images copyright Paper Pretties. Stamps: The Nativity. Paper: Bashful Blue, Marigold Morning (retired), PaperTrey Ink Select White, Kraft Patterns designer. Ink: black, Copic markers. Other: mat pack, paper piercer, Friskars cutting tool w/scoring blade, scalloped edge punch, gold brads, Chit Chat rubons, 7/8" So Saffron Poly-Twill ribbon, clear buttons, needle, linen thread.

BIC 30: Green Trees and Blue Snowflakes

It's Tuesday and time for another Inspiration Challenge from Beate! This week's is a bright and cheery purse. Don't you just want this purse?! I do!

*The purse is by Belle Bags and you can find them at www.shysiren.com!

For me the colors immediately caught my eye: Old Olive, Black and a shade of Turquoise... pretty! Of course there is also some light yellow and a Not Quite Navy but we are pretending that we don't see them since I did not use them in my sample. :)

I used the Merry & Bright stamp set for the focal points and to create texture on the background cardstock layers. There is a snowman in this set, but I'm saving him for another Snowman Sunday.

Quick notes: I stamped the trees four times and colored all of them with markers, however I cut two of them out and adhered them over the other two with dimensionals. Just a little extra pop. I added a touch of Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the branches. Each layer of the card was distressed with its matching Classic ink (except the Black layers, cause that would be overkill and you wouldn't see it anyways). I used some gingham ribbon, a Little Felt Flurry and a crystal brad to accent the card. Cute enough, dontcha' think?

For more great samples check out the rest of the Inspiration Team: Jennifer, Susan, Silke, Dawn and Charmaine. Make sure to visit Beate's blog for the full details and to see sample!

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Merry & Bright, Fundamental Phrases. Paper: Certainly Celery, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, PaperTrey Ink Select white. Ink: Baja Breeze Classic, Old Olive Classic, Certainly Celery marker, Old Olive marker, Black StazOn. Other: Word Window punch, mat pack, paper piercer, sponge, Dazzling Diamond glitter, clear crystal brad, Little Felt Flurries, black gingham ribbon, dimensionals.

Recycling Made Pretty

A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning out my fridge and decided it was time to toss a jar of maraschino cheeries that had been in there a really long time. Were talking years here - can you tell I'm not fond of them? LOL! I'm pretty sure I bought them for some event or another and then stuck them in a far corner of the fridge to be forgotten except on the random occasions that I decide to actually organize the condiment shelf. Oddly enough there was no expiration date on the jar and they seemed perfectly fine - which makes you kind of wonder doesn't it? :)

I was about to throw the whole jar in the garbage when I realized the jar is kind of neat. So I drained the juice out, tossed the cherries into the garbage and stuck the jar in my dishwasher for a washing. The dishwashing even took care of peeling the label off the jar. Although I then had to pick that up from the bottom of my dishwasher - kinda gross! Only problem is that the jar still smells a bit like cherries - anyone know how to get rid of that scent? Not that it is horrible and the smell of the Tootsie Roll candies more than compensates!

This last weekend I actually spent a bit of time decorating the glass jar. I went with a Chocolate Chip, Kraft and Riding Hood Red color theme. Hmmm... methinks the cherry smell might have been an influencing factor!

A 3" x 8 1/2" strip of Chocolate Chip Patters designer paper was adhered to the outside of the jar. A piece of grosgrain wide ribbon was knotted around the bottom (nice lip there that keeps the ribbon from sliding off). To accent the snowflake from Season of Friendship was stamped in VersaMark on Kraft and then heat embossed with Winter White embossing powder. I then punched it out (1" circle punch) and adhered above the ribbon knot with dimensionals. Along the base of the jar I applied a rubon from the Season of Cheer set.

To finish the jar I decorated the top. Used a Nestabilitie die to cut and emboss the Kraft circle (my coluzzle template was just not the right size). I then added paper piercing and adhered to the lid. Next I applied another rubon from the same set as above to Riding Hood Red cardstock and punched out (1 3/8" circle punch). This was then adhered (more dimensionals) to a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock that had been cut with the Scallop Circle punch. Through both of these layers I punch a hole and added a red crystal brad. More dimensionals were sacrificed in the adhering of this final piece to the jar. Oh forgot to mention - I did add a piece of Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon around the outside edge of the lid to cover up some text.

I think it turned out cute! I think someone will enjoy receiving this despite the lingering cherry smell! :)

All images copyright Stampin' Up!. Stamps: Season of Friendship (Holiday Mini Catalog). Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip Patterns designer. Ink: VersaMark. Other: Winter White embossing powder, Season of Cheer rubons (Holiday Mini Catalog), scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1" circle punch, Nestabilities circles (SpellBinder), red crystal brad (Making Memories), mat pack, paper piercer, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla striped grosgrain ribbon, jar, dimensionals.