RS #7 - Creative Elements

RS #7 - Creative Elements

The vintage colors of Beau Chateau DSP seemed to be the perfect fit for this week's RetroSketch #7.  I created the flourish background with the large swirly stamp, using Crump Cake ink and added a few of the smaller Basic Pears.  The fleur de lis banner and the dahlia flower are also from the Creative Elements stamp set .... from vintage to elegant to delicate designs for weddings or showers - this set lends such an artistic flair!

Here's the sketch we were to follow for this week's challenge:

RetroSketch #7

What I used include:

Naturals White for the card base

Cardstocks:  Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride & Very Vanilla + 2 small strips of Beau Chateau DSP.

Stamps:  Creative Elements, #122647-C

Inks:  Soft Suede & Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Scallop Border Punch and Basic Pearls

Here is a close-up of the floral/dahlia element:

and from the other side, so you can see the dimension created by adding Stampin' Dimensionals to the 2nd layer of the floral center:

Sorry I wasn't able to share a card or craft creation with you Monday and Tuesday ... Allen (my DH) has been out of town on business, followed by a 2-week personal trip to Africa.  He finally made his way home late yesterday evening after being gone 3-1/2 weeks.  I'll have to take a photo of my laundry basket after he unpacked!  OMG .... I need a laundry elf to come help out!

Thanks for taking time to look at my blog.  Leave a comment if you like what you see or to let me know other creative things you would like to see.  Have a great rest of the week.

Going, Going, Gone!

The Retirement List has been announced!

Retirement List is here

Hundreds of Stamps are retiring.  This is the BIGGEST list that Stampin Up has ever put out.


Why, because with the catalog transition, Stampin' Up decided to do an entire "refresh" of the product lines as well, so dig in and get your favorites before they are gone!….and hold on to your hat for the new exciting lines to be delivered in the new catalog.


Don't wait - if there are stamp sets on your Wish List, the Retirement List is only available from April 15th - May 31st, 2012.  (Select items are available while supplies last.) 


This is just the stamps list - the accessories list that will be retiring will be announced April 25th.  If you've been thinking about buying any of the sets on the list, I recommend you do it sooner rather than later, as supplies may be limited.


Here is a link to online shopping with me:  Shop Online With Karen

Blushing Bride Blossom

Blushing Bride Blossom

I love the  grey satin ribbon teamed up with the yummy colors of the Twitterpated DSP papers.  I've been working on my bow-making skills and find that it is a work in progress and that my results vary greatly depending on the ribbon I work with.  This double bow is tied with linen thread and capped off with a Blushing Bride button from the Twitterpated Designer Buttons collection, #125579 in the Mini Occasions Catalog.

You'll be surprised - but I used 5 punches to create this simple card!  Yes ma'am --- 5.  Here's a photo of two of the punches I used:

The Power of Punches 

The main embellishment is a flower, created by stamping a blossom from the Mixed Bunch stamp set, #125535-wood or #125537-clear, using Blushing Bride ink on Very Vanilla cardstock.  The center of the flower is created using the 1" flower center, inked with my Island Indigo Stampin' Write marker, then punched with the 1" Circle Punch, #119868.  I added a solid circle of Blushing Bride using the 1-3/8" Circle Punch, #119860 as a mat.  The Blushing Bride petals behind the stamped blossom were created using the Modern Label Punch, #119849.  I punched 3 labels, cut them in half and worked each "blossom" with my bone folder, then attached them in between the stamped blossom petals.  I added a Basic Pearl to the center of the flower, which is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals, #104430.

To create the tiny and delicate scallop edge along the center embossed strip of Blushing Bride cardstock, I used  the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, then split that down the middle (cutting length wise between the 2 rows of tiny dots).  I added my Snail adhesive to the back of the embossed paper, then placed the scallop edges --- they were so narrow, I couldn't put the adhesive directly on them.

I will add a sentiment banner when I'm ready to use the card, but for now, I really like using up some of my Twitterpated scraps.

Summer Smooches Collection is only available during April.  You can shop with me online 24 hours a day.  Don't miss your chance to order the fun Bright Blossoms Stamp Set, the brightly colored Summer Smooches DSP and embellishments.  Fun Things come in small packages and this stamp set is filled with fun!

Bright Blossoms - Wood-Mount Stamp	125495
Preferred Price: $16.95
This sassy set is perfect for spring and summer projects. Create young and fun cards, scrapbook pages, tags, and more! Available now only for a limited time in both wood- and clear-mount. or Bright Blossoms - Clear-Mount Stamp 125497 Preferred Price: $12.95

Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper	125409
Price: $10.95
Perfect for all your sassy summer projects! Includes 12 sheets: 2 ea. of 6 double-sided designs. 12" x 12". Acid- and lignin-free. * Daffodil Delight * Island Indigo * Lucky Limeade * Real Red * Rich Razzleberry * Tangerine Tango * Tempting Turquoise Available now only for a limited time!

There have been 55 new items added to the Clearance List this week ---- if you like punches,  and who doesn't, you need to check out this list!

Clearance Rack

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy some creative time.  Let me hear from you with any Stampin' questions.  

Faith in Nature - retrosketch #6

Faith in Nature - retrosketch #6

I created this card using a new (to me) die --- the Bigz Clear Scallop Square die as my foundation layer for this week's retrosketch #6.  The quote and floral cluster are images from the Faith in Nature hostess stamp set.  They remind me of day lilies, so that's what inspired the colors I chose.  I colored the images with the aqua painter and fussy cut them so I could arrange me on top of the sentiment banner.  Cardstock colors are Peach Parfait, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight & Naturals White.  There is a hint of the orange patterned paper from the new Summer Smooches DSP for the sentiment mat.  The finished card is 5" square.

floral cluster close-up

Bigz Clear Dies are on page 223 of the IB&C Catalog.  Scallop Square - #115950
Faith in Nature stamps is a hostess set - #122490-wood, #122492-clear

Grunge Rock Birthday

Grunge Rock Stamp Set - #117080-Wood, #120555-Clear

This card is CASE'd from the IB&C Catalog, Page 90.  I left off the Vintage Brad, and used the Twill Tape ribbon, because that's what I had on hand.  But I think this is such a fun stamp set.  The base is Lucky Limeade and the purple is Concorde Crush, that I stamped the distressed diamond pattern in the same color ink to create the center banner.  The striped tan paper beneath the Concorde Crush is Sahara Sand stripes from the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, Neutrals Collection, #117157.  I love these Patterns Stacks.  The sentiment is stamped on Naturals White card stock, #102316.  Look at the basics papers shown on Page 181 of the IB&C Catalog - they are great "basics" to add to your card stock collection.  I used the Decorative Label Punch, #120907, to punch out the sentiment after stamping.  Easy Peasy!!!

Sentiment Close-up

I used mini glue dots to create the tucks in the twill tape ribbon, then added a strip of Sticky Strip on the back to secure it to the card front.

Even without 2 cups of coffee in me this morning, I created this card from start to finish, including cleaning my stamps and putting all supplies back in their place in 30 minutes.  So if you are ever in a pinch for time and need a card, don't stress over not having what you need.  There are great cards and projects in the catalog that are wonderful inspiration.

Happy Stampin'!



Dare to Dream

Dare to Dream

I saved a very similar card to my favorites on Splitcoaststampers over a year ago and I can't begin to tell you have many times I've gone back to study that particular card.  My mind goes back to the day-dreaming days I spent on the farm, spending summers with my Grandma and Grandpa.  It would be my Grandma's 117th birthday on April 26th.  She was 89 when she earned her wings into Heaven and even though its been 26 years since we sat together and cut out pieces for a quilt project or crocheted together, I think of her every time I complete a card or craft project.

She raised 7 kids and always cooked 3 square meals a day, kept a clean house and read her Bible every single day.  Even though I was one of the younger of the 13 grandkids, I always had a special place in her heart and we spent lots of time together.  Fun times, eating a freshly picked yellow-meated Black Diamond watermelon on the front porch with a bunch of cousins all around - I wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world.   This card is one in a series I'm making for our upcoming Family Reunion Auction.

Sentiment Bannerfrom Loving Thoughts stamp set - #125845

For my base, I used Early Espresso, then added a layer of Crumb Cake cardstock that I added my artwork to.  First I added several impressions of the No. 5 stamp from Clearly for You - #121976, clear, using Soft Suede ink.  I "stamped off" before each impression in order to get a lighter image.  I hand-inked the floral berries stamp from Clearly for You, using Old Olive on the stem and leaves and Riding Hood Red & Cherry Cobbler for the berries.  The tall stem is from Nature Walk - #121997, clear.  I used the same colors of ink on this stamp, too.  The sentiment banner is a piece of lined paper from the Beau Chateau DSP paper pack which is distressed using Soft Suede ink and a sponge.  To add to the vintage feel of the card, I tore the edges of the vertical strips of paper, then distressed the edges with ink before adding the strip of crocheted trim.  To secure my mini bow, I tied the Early Espresso 1/8" grosgrain ribbon with linen thread, then wrapped a vintage elements brad around the center to conceal the thread.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog.  If you like my work, please leave me a comment.

Happy Stampin'!

Dotted Butterflies

Dotted Butterflies

As I began to clear my work table of the Everyday Enchantment DSP scraps, I saw Monarch butterflies fluttering around the shrubs out my scrap room window, which prompted me to pull out my Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die and the Embosslits Beautiful Wings to make good use of what would have been unused scraps. I cut several sizes of butterflies and began moving them around the front of a card base until I had an idea of where things would fit.

This card is very flat - just 1 mat and no dimensionals.  To add a shabby chic effect to the layer, I used my newest background stamp - Distressed Dots - #122815.  I inked it up with the Craft White  Stampin' Pad #101731.  I hand inked my sentiment stamp from Word Play - #120308, wood, #120651, clear., using Poppy Parade and Island Indigo markers.  To give the butterflies their antlers, I used scraps of Linen Thread - #104199, wrapped it around the body of each butterfly and secured the thread with a thin line of Tombow Multi liquid glue - #110755.  The butterflies are attached to the card front with Mini Glue Dots, #103683.

I have several sentiments that I've really wanted to use lately and I am also working on making card sets to place in my Family Reunion's auction in June.  So before I began cleaning up the large background stamp, I made several more cards.

Here is a close-up of the embossed butterfly:

Here's another card using a sentiment from Blessings from Heaven, #123050-wood or #123052-clear.  You will want to use your Stamp-a-ma-jig, #101049, to place your sentiment.  I rounded the bottom corners of the card base and the dotted mat using Corner Rounder Punch, #119871:

• Papers I used:  Everyday Enchantment DSP, Pool Party & Crumb Cake
• Inks:  Soft Suede, Poppy Parade, Island Indigo, Craft White Stampin' Pad
• Stamps:  Word Play, Blessings From Heaven and Distressed Dots

Happy Stampin!

Love & Laughter - Congratulations!

Love & Laughter - Congratulations!

The flowing shape of this bride's dress is captivating!  My mind immediately recalled the details of my daughter's wedding gown and as the words flow across the dress, the creative thoughts for such pretty uses of this beautiful stamp set begin to flood in.  This is a CASE'd card from the card Mary Fish shared yesterday on her blog.  I've had this stamp set on my work table all week, in preparation of making a personalized card for a co-worker who recently became engaged.  As soon as I saw Mary's creation, I knew it would be perfect for the upcoming shower.

The card base and base mat are both Very Vanilla.  The base mat is raised with dimensionals.  From the overstated wide ribbon to the tiny delicate pearls on the floral cluster, this card perfectly conveys my sentiment - Congratulations!

Here is a close-up of the dress:

and the wide striped ribbon is like icing on a cake:

to get the perfect dove-tail on the sentiment banner, I used my 1" square punch.  

The dress image and sentiment are stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and the floral cluster is stamped in Pretty in Pink ink.  

I will be posting updates to my class calendar tomorrow - check your schedule, then sign up for one of the upcoming workshops.  Mother's Day is just around the corner along with graduation.  If you have special needs for cards - please let me know.

Happy Stampin!

Colorful Bunnies...

I've put together three cards with the same basic sketch - using a different color scheme for each card.  I'm going to miss these cute little bunnies from the Everybunny stamp set!  They make me smile.  

The bunnies were stamped on Watercolor paper using Stazon black ink, then olored with Stampin' Up Watercolor Pencils and blended with the Aqua Painter.  The clouds were sponged on using a Dauber and Pale Blue ink.  The scalloped circle below the bunny was cut using the Bigz L Perfect Pennants die and the large scallop borders were cut using the Bigz L Perfect Trim die.  I LOVE the Perfect Trim die!  You'll be seeing me use trim cut from this die over the next few days.  

Here is my little Pool Party Bunny.  The orange/red cardstock is Poppy Parade.

The green scallop mat is Certainly Celery. The white Bakers Twine and flower button finish the trim for this card.

When you are ready to color images, don't forget to use your Watercolor Pencils.  They provide such a soft, watercolor effect and they are so easy to work with.  Give them a try.

Happy Stampin'!

Happy Easter, Everybunny!

Happy Easter!

This cute little Easter Bunny makes me smile!  A quick touch of color with the Aqua painter and you have a spring wardrobe.  I wish it was that easy to fill my closet with the light and fresh colors of spring.  The medallion was cut using the Apothecary Labels Collection - Framelits Dies, #125598.  Everybunny stamp set is on Page 48 of the IB&C Catalog - #122705-wood, #122707-clear.  Super Cute and easy to bring to life.

Here are a couple close-up views of Miss Bunny:

For a pretty little favor or party treat - look at this little Petite Purse!  This was created using the newest Bigz Die - Petite Purse Video.  The paper is from the Summer Smooches DSP Collection.  I added just a touch of White Gel Pen faux stitching around the front of my little purse and trimmed my flap with small hearts to create the "ruffle" edge.  My clasp is a quick punch from the Boho Blossom Punch & a brad from Sale-a-Bration brads.  Sign up for a workshop during April and learn to make your own cute little purse!

Have a great Thursday - Happy Stampin!

Almost Easter

Happy Easter!

This card is based on a recent MOJO Sketch and inspired by a similar "bunny" creation shared by Mary Fish.  

The card is 5" x 5" overall.  The patterned paper is from Twitterpated DSP and the solid green is Lucky Limeade. The pink mats are Blushing Bride cardstock.  The cute little bunny was created using a variety of punches, beginning with Small Oval punch - #120908, 3/4" circle punch #119873 & the little ears were created using the smallest petal from the Blossom Petals Punch #121808.  The button is from the Twitterpated Buttons collection and dressed up with a Basic Pearl.   I used my bone folder to add a little curve to the ears.  Don't you just love the font used in this swirly "happy easter" sentiment!  It is from Delightful Dozen - #122650, wood - #122652 - clear.   This is a "Must Have" stamp set!

The Summer Smooches Collection is available now, but for the month of April only.  Get your creative juices flowing with this cheerful collection!

  

Item	Description	Price	Preorder Limit
125495	Bright Blossoms Wood-Mount Set	$16.95	1
125497	Bright Blossoms Clear-Mount Set	$12.95	1
125409	Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper	$10.95	3
125583	Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	$10.95	3
125411	Summer Smooches Designer Fabric	$9.95	3
125589	Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brads*	$6.95	3
125626	Summer Smooches Décor Stencil*	$7.95	1
125606	Petite Purse Bigz L Die	$32.95	1
129919	Summer Smooches Photobook Template	$17.95	1
129601	Summer Smooches Digital Kit	$9.95	1

Item

 Description

Price

Preorder
Limit

 125495

 Bright Blossoms Wood-Mount Set

$16.95

1

 125497

 Bright Blossoms Clear-Mount Set

$12.95

1

 125409

 Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper

$10.95

3

 125583

 Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon

$10.95

3

 125411

 Summer Smooches Designer Fabric

$9.95

3

 125589

 Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brads*

$6.95

3

 125626

 Summer Smooches Décor Stencil*

$7.95

1

 125606

 Petite Purse Bigz L Die

$32.95

1

 129919

 Summer Smooches Photobook Template

$17.95

1

 129601

 Summer Smooches Digital Kit

$9.95

1