Heartfelt Sympathy

One of my friends lost her father last week after a long battle with cancer. When I went to my stash to get a card to send her I grabbed my very last sympathy card. I made a few of these to keep on hand. Hopefully I won't need them anytime soon!


The backgrounder is Victorian Leaves by Cornish Heritage Farms. The flowers and sentiment are from Stampin' Up, Close as a Memory, but I'm pretty sure it's retired. Thanks for stopping by.

Kristine

More Mass Stamping

Running out the door to yet another band concert tonight but wanted to get something posted before the day got away from me.

I made a bunch of these cards (8 of each) over the weekend. I don't hang on to too many retired Stampin' Up sets but this is one of them that I just can't get rid of! Quick and simple designs made with some old patterned paper I had laying around but my thank you stash is stalked up again and I can focus on some of my new rubber!

Thanks for stopping by! See you later!

Loads of Love

Loads of Love is one of those Stampin' Up! sets that I have looked at over the years, thought about buying and never have. I was just never sure if I would actually use it enough. When I was at Rochelle's house last week, I saw that she had it so I had a chance to play with it.

Every Christmas I give a set of misc. cards to each of the kids teachers, my sisters, MIL, and my friends. That's about 240 cards that I give away!!! I was checking out my stash of cards and saw that I didn't have many birthday cards so I have been trying to mass produce some so that I'll have enough for gifts in December.

I made 4 cards with Loads of Love while I was stamping with Rochelle and stamped another 12 images to put together later. I didn't color the image when I was at Rochelle's just put the card together. I wanted to use my copic markers when I got home.

When I was coloring the images I noticed something funny....do you see it?
When I mass produce cards I start with the same images and sentiments and the same color scheme but then I like to play around a little bit with the layout to keep it interesting. (I get bored making the same thing over and over). Do you see whats missing yet???

Here's two more:
Maybe you've guessed by now...these trucks are driving by with a birthday hi but there is no driver!!! I can't believe I didn't notice that until I got home. I had the lady out to stamp her and totally forgot. Well...hopefully, no one will care!

Have a great weekend!

What I made at Rochelle's House....

So, I told you that I got to spend some time stamping with my friend Rochelle this week. As typically happens when we get together...I stamped and she talked (hee, hee) but we had a great time!

I showed up totally empty handed as I was in town for business and didn't have room for any stamping supplies in my suitcase but luckily Rochelle is a very generous person and told to use whatever I wanted of hers!

I decided that I wanted to used some stamps of hers that I don't have. I stamped a lot of images to make into cards later on. She had made a card earlier this week that she had cased from a SU! workshop she attended. I liked it because it was quick and easy so I decided to case it so I could get some quick birthday cards!

I'm sorry that I don't know the name of the designer paper but I'm sure you SU! junkies do! It's from last year and uses last years in colors. I don't know the name of the stamps either but I think they are retired too. I love how these turned out and it was fun because I don't have any of those stamps or the SU scallop punch.

Here's a better picture of the actual cards. I made 4 of each.
I love this layout and will probably be making some more cards using it in the future. Hoping that I get a chance to stamp later today...hoping you do to!

More VSN Fun

One of the fun things about VSN for me is the way the hostesses stretch the theme. This weeks theme is fashion-so you would think you need to have dress, shoe, and purse stamps. I'm half way through and haven't needed any "fashionable" stamps yet.

This card was made for Markie's Mom's challenge. She talked about sketching clothing designs in a sketch book when she was growing up and then challenged us to made a card using a "sketch style" stamp. Here's the one I came up with. The sketch is a past Poetic Artistry sketch. I just love this SU set!

Stamps:
-Summer by the Sea by SU!
-Floral Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Script Essential Expressions by Cornish Heritage Farms

Paper:
-SU Burgundy, Brocade and white

Ink:
-New Canvas Hybrid Inkpad by Palette
-Faded Jeans distress ink by Ranger Inc.
-Brilliance Graphite Black by Tsukineko
-Adirondack Cranberry dye ink by Ranger inc.

Tools
Nestabilities by Spellbinder

Monday is CHF Challenge Chicks day. Tim Holtz Distress inks are on special this week and we are all sharing projects featuring these awesome inks so make sure you come back to check it out!

Trying a new technique

Monday's Try a New Technique challenge was one I have never tried. This technique is paper tole...the kind where the same image is stacked to provide dimension to the key features. I love this and will have to try it again soon!

Here's the card I made:

Stamps:

-Liberty for All by Stampin' Up!

-Sentiment by Printworks

Paper:

-SU's Real Red, Brilliant Blue, & white

Ink:

-Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink by Tsukineko

Tools:

-photo corner punch

-prismacolor pencils, blended with blending stumps and mineral oil

Accessories:

-Bazzil Brads

This is a close up view of the layers. I layered the hat and then the goggles and the jacket and arm. It's hard to show in a picture but it's very cool in person!

If you didn't get a chance to try it, you should. It's fun!

See you tomorrow with another project. Have a great day!

Merci Sketches

I have two cards to share with you that were made with the same DP and stamp set but with different sketches. The first one was for yesterday's SCS sketch Challenge. The second one was based on one of Julee Tillman's mojo sketches.

Stamps: Stampin' Up's Merci

Paper: Bravo burgundy, vanilla, So Saffron, Crate Paper, Basic Grey

Ink: Burgundy, black, copic markers

Tools: Nestabilities by Spellbinders, oval punches

Accessories: Rick Rack, pop dot

Stamps: Stampin' Up's Merci

Paper: Bravo burgundy, vanilla, So Saffron, Crate Paper, Basic Grey

Ink: Burgundy, black, copic markers

Tools: Nestabilities by Spellbinders, oval punches

Accessories: Rick Rack, pop dot

Liberty for All

It's Wednesday!!! The week is half over all ready! I hope you're having a good one.

Today's card is the first one I've made with my newest Stampin' Up set, "Liberty for All". I make cards for the soldiers whenever I can so I knew I had to get this set when I saw it.

Stamps: Liberty For All

Paper: Olive, brocade blue, white, burgundy

Ink: Black, brocade, Olive

Accessories: water color pencils, star button, nestabilities by Spellbinder

Many Thanks

It's been so long since I played with my SU stamps! I have been playing with them the last couple of days so I will be sharing those cards this week with you.

This card began as my card for yesterday's technique challenge on SCS. The challenge was to mix patterned papers. Not really a challlenge for me since I love mixing different designer papers on my cards. I use last weeks SCS sketch challenge for this card too.

Stamps: True Friend, Lot's of Thoughts

Paper: Rust, River Rock, Apple Cider Designer Paper

Ink: Rust

Accessories: Bella Baubles

Tools: Nestabilities by Spellbinder, paper piercer, corner rounder punch

I'll be back tomorrow with another SU card! See you then!

Fabulous Sketch

I LOVED yesterday's sketch challenge on SCS. As soon as I saw it I new that I wanted to use my Fabulous Flowers set.


I've been so busy working on projects for all the new releases for CHF lately that I haven't had time to play with my other stamps. I am going to try and make a point of doing that more.

Here's the sketch:




Here's what I came up with:

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers by Stampin' Up!

Paper: SU's Really Rust, Wild Wasabi, River Rock, and Apple Cider Designer Paper

Ink: Really Rust, Wild Wasabi, Versmark

Accessories: Embossing Powder, pop dots

Sunny and Gray

Yesterday's color challenge on SCS matched our California weather perfectly. Yellow and gray. We had a week of rain with sunshine the last two days and rain expected again by the weekend!

I struggled with this combo. I made two cards and really don't like either one of them but I thought I would share them anyway.

Stamps: Close as a Memory by Stampin' Up!

Paper: Prismatic white, Stormy Medium, Stormy Light, and Intense Yellow

Ink: yellow and grey markers

Accessories: offray ribbon, sponge

That was the first one I made. It's ok but I still wasn't happy with the color combo so I tried another one. I think this one would look great in other colors but not these....I guess that's why it's called a color challenge, huh?

Stamps: Time to Stamp (The Rummage Bin) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Paper: Prismatic white, Stormy Medium, Stormy Light, and Intense Yellow by Prism Papers

Ink: Weathered Wood Distress Ink by Ranger

Accessories: Nestabilities by Spellbinder, Ofray Ribbon

Monogram Challenge

Well the Prettie Girl's challenge this week was to use a Monogram to make something for one of the other design team members. I made this little monogram card set for Jillian. It was really simple but I love how it turned out. Hopefully, she likes it too!

The DP I used is by Scenic Paper. Joanne Basille sent me a package of it for my birthdy last week and I just love the colors. I used celery and pumpkin cardstock to compliment the DP. The monogram is from a retired Stampin' Up set and all the scallops were made with nestabilities by Spellbinders.

I have it on good authority that not all of the girls got their challenge completed and may be posting late today but head on over when you get a chance and check out the rest of the Prettie Girls creations. (Jillian, Charmaine, Alli, Joanne, Christie, Julie C, Julie M)

Kicked up Get Well Card

TGIF!!! I have been looking forward to Friday all week. There is just something about the week after Thanksgiving that is so hard to get through...maybe it was the four days off last week?

Well, since it's Friday, I must be kickin' up another card!

The card I have today was one I received in a swap a few months ago. As you can see it is a nice card to begin with. Nice layout, good color combination, and several layers. It just seemed like a card that could use a little something more.

The first thing I knew I wanted to add was real brads instead of the doodled brads. I also wanted some sort of embellishment and decided to add some primas to play up the flower background. Finally, I slipped an additional layer of paper which I ran through the cuttlebug to add some more texture and interest.

What do you think?

I'll be working on some more cards with Lisa's Strahls new background stamps today. You can check them out during her birthday celebration tomorrow. Stop by anytime between 10 and 10 EST. Hope to see you there!

Lisa's 30th Birthday Celebration

December 1, 2007

From 10 AM EST to 10 PM EST

Chipboard and Color Challenges

I made this card for our Paperpretties Design Team challenge which was to use chipboard on a card. I almost never use chipboard but I am usually pretty happy with the results when I do.


Stamps: SU's Riveting (retired)
Paper: brown, green, golden, Heidi Grace
Ink: close to cocoa
Accessories: chipboard, cuttlebug, nestabilities, brads





Check out the other girls blogs to see what they came up with! (Jillian, Charmaine, Alli, Joanne, Christie, Julie C, Julie M)

Christie challenged us to make business cards for this weeks challenge. We'd love you to play along too!







This was quick card I made last night for SCS's color challenge. The colors were Ruby Red, Wasabi, and Sky blue. I had this Bo Bunny Christmas paper which worked well with this challenge and of course I had to use this cute Stampendous stamp which I am officially in love with!

Stamps: Stampendous, CHF
Paper: Wasabi, ruby red, silver, Bo Bunny DP
Ink: Black Stazon
Accessories: Copics, snowflake, corner rounder, nestabilities


Thanks for stopping by today!

Another Monday Quick Card

This is a quick card to make. I didn't add a sentiment to it yet. I'll add it when I am ready to send it . The colors were inspired by this great ribbon that I got on clearance for 10 cents at Michael's. I love a great deal like that!

Stamps: SU's Silly Sealife
Paper: orchid, turquoise, green galore
Ink: black stazon, turquoise, orchid
Accessories: cuttlebug, scallop edged scissors, ribbon

Have a great Monday!!! The monthly Paperpretties Stamping in your jammies virtual stamp night is tonight! So, I should have some cute cards to share with you Tuesday. See you then!

Kicked up Wedding Card

Ok, I'm back with the camera.

A few years ago when I first started stamping I made this card. I loved it and made a bunch of them. Looking at it now though, it seems like it's missing something. So, it's time to try and kick it up!

All the stamps are retired from Stampin' Up!

I used everything that you see here on the card but added a few elements to improve it.

I started by taking the card apart. Luckily the adhesive I used to use is easy to take apart when it's been in a box for a couple of years. I used my Marvy square scallop punch to punch the silver cardstock and re-mounted the cake panel to it. I used the ribbon to hide the split where the two pieces come together to make the rectangle. Then I backed it on the pink cardstock again.
I trimmed the grey card down a 1/4 inch and tied the ribbon around it. The silver ribbon was a little thin so I added the thicker pink ribbon to give it a little substance. Lastly, I attached the whole card front to a pink card.

If I were starting from scratch I would color the cake with copics or watercolors so I wouldn't have the marker lines but that's what I used to use to color things. All in all I think it is much improved card. What do you think?

Quick Birthday Card

I didn't make today's quick card. I received this from Denise Miller who is in a monthly swap group with me. I thought it was such a great "quick card" that I wanted to share it with you.

The stamps are all Stampin' Up! I don't have this jumbo roller but I am going to try and make some more quick cards with some of the jumbo rollers I do have. I'll try to get those done to share for next Monday's "quick card" posting.

I didn't get any stamping done this weekend. Busy with band, soccer, and cleaning the house. It's really smoky here today from all the fires. I am heading to Colorado for a few days for work so I won't be posting again till Thursday. Hope you all have a great week and get some stamping time in!

Kickin' Swap

I am posting my Friday "kick up" card a little early because I have got a very full schedule tomorrow and don't know if I'll get a chance to post anything. I received this card in an H20 swap I did with one of my Yahoo groups. It was made by my friend Trish Cathey. I saved it because I loved how this image looked painted with the H20 paints and I liked her layout. I didn't choose to kick it up because it's a bad card. I think it's a really nice card! I just thought it would be fun to try and kick up a card I all ready like a lot.

Trish used Lovely Lilac and Glorious Green for this card. I wanted to try and soften it a little so I added some softer versions of the colors she used (Gable Green and Orchid) and of course I added another layer to the card.

This is the finished card. I moved the sentiment over a little to add some interest and changed the ribbon color. A couple of eyelets an viola! Same basic card a little kicked up! All stamps are Stampin' Up.

I'm gearing up for another busy weekend with the marching band! I hope you all have a great weekend doing whatever makes you happy!

Quick Halloween Cards

For quick card Monday I thought I'd share a couple more of the RAK's that I sent out to my friends this month.


Stamps: sentiment SU!, Jack is by Hero Arts
Paper: sun, orange, black, white
Ink: black
Accessories: ribbon, watercolor pencils, Dove Blender Pen, cuttlebug embossing folder, corner ticket punch









Stamps: sentiment SU!, Jack is by Hero Arts
Paper: orange, black, white
Ink: black, orange
Accessories: watercolor pencils, Dove Blender Pen, corner ticket punch, brads, sponge




REMINDER: Have you checked out the Copic Color Club ($36) and the Nestabilities Now Club ($30) over at Paperpretties yet?


Just think, the die sets are $29.95 each and the Copics are $5.95 each plus shipping cost.

These clubs INCLUDE the shipping cost with your items making this a really great deal.....you NEED to check these out. When you sign up, let Christie know I sent you and she'll waive your membership fee!

Friday Fix Up

The calendar says it's Friday so it must be time for my "Kick it up" feature! Today I chose a much loved card to kick up. This is a card that I originally CASED from the SU catty or SCS or somewhere...I don't actually remember but I know I didn't come up with the original design. I have used this card at many workshops. I do a lot of workshops for Girl Scout Troops and this card has always been a fun one for the girls! It doesn't show in the picture but the Happy Birthday sentiment is stamped randomly on the orange card. I still like the basic design and layout of this card but it looks a little plain to me so I decided to kick it up to this:

What did I do? Well, the main thing that is different is that I added layers to every element of the card. I changed the purple to pink because I think they look better together and I chose to color the images in marker instead of pencil which makes them pop a little more. I also dry embossed the orange front panel through with the Happy Birthday embossing folder. The embossing folders didn't even exist when I first made this card!

The stamps are a retired SU set. I used White, Summer Sun, Orange, and Pixie Pink card stock. I have fallen in love with this card all over again and need to make some more of these to have on hand!

Have a great weekend!