Believe it or not, I just bought my first pack of Good Morning Sunshine designer series paper! I know, I know, what the heck is wrong with me?! I finally saw way too many fabulous projects with this quirky and colorful DSP and had to take the plunge. But surprisingly, for my first card with this paper, I chose one of the more subtle patterns as my background. My goal was a clean and simple design and think I succeeded! Hope you like it too!
Stamps: Starring YouCardstock: Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip, Whisper WhiteInk: Summer Sun, Chocolate ChipAccessories: Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, flower brads, 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, stampin' dimensionals
I demonstrated the dryer sheet technique at my upline's group meeting tonight and used this card from my stamp club as the sample. But I also wanted to show an alternate way to use the technique. Instead of stamping and then covering the image with the dryer sheet, I used a plain piece of Pacific Point cardstock and used the turquoise Fine Cosmo glitter and came up with this:
I wish you could see just how sparkly this card is in real life! I love the background it creates for the butterfly image. Enjoy!
Stamps: Dreams du Jour, Trendy TreesCardstock: Pacific Point, Basic Black, Whisper WhiteInk: Basic BlackAccessories: Fine Cosmo glitter, 1-1/4" square punch, scallop square punch, aquapainter, stampin' dimensionals, brayer, dryer sheet, Xyron machine
After a week-long hiatus, I'm back! I'm coordinating a Mother's Day/Father's Day swap for a local group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators and kept flip-flopping on which holiday to do. But once the Beautiful Butterfly die for my Big Shot machine arrived, I knew that I just HAD to do Mother's Day! :-)
Once again looking to the beautiful Bella Rose designer series paper for inspiration, I ended up with this Cameo Coral/Kiwi Kiss color combination. My first few attempts to free-hand the placement of the sentiment didn't turn out too well so I pulled out my trusty stamp-a-ma-jig.
Hope you like it!
Stamps: Wonderful FavoritesCardstock: Cameo Coral, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper WhiteInk: Cameo Coral, Kiwi KissAccessories: Bella Rose DSP, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterfly die, silver brad, stamp-a-ma-jig, stampin' dimensionals
Sorry for my lack of posting this week. My husband has been home all week with a viral infection so I've been handling all of my son's evening activities (scouts, piano lessons, school skating party) and had stamp club last night. So I haven't had an opportunity to do any stamping for fun. I don't have any projects to share with you at the moment, but hopefully this weekend I'll be back with some new ones!
In the meantime, enjoy this, one of my favorite "Far Side" comics:
I was so excited to pre-order the new window sheets (p. 10 in the Occasions Mini Catalog) last month, and yet the package still sat on my craft table unopened. Until today! Using white Stazon ink, I stamped the floral image from "Upsy Daisy" so that I could layer it over some cardstock. 
I think the trickiest part of using these window sheets is finding inconspicuous ways to adhere them! I placed a glue dot on the back of one of the flowers and one behind the ribbon to hold the window sheet to the cardstock beneath.
And if you're wondering, yes, that is a reflection of my camera to the right of the flowers! ;-)
Stamps: Upsy DaisyCardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Close to CocoaInk: Stazon WhiteAccessories: window sheets, kraft taffeta ribbon, glue dots, stampin' dimensionals
My son and I got back last night from a trip down to Cape Coral, Florida to visit my dad over Spring Break. The weather here in Ohio is quite beautiful today, but I sure do miss the palm trees, the pools and beaches, and the key lime pies that my dad makes. I was feeling a bit of withdrawal while I was gone - no stamping for 5 days!! So I spent this morning cutting all the materials for my stamp club project based on this prototype and then started playing for fun. I love the Daisies #2 die for the Big Shot machine so I made this cute sunflower:
The Whisper White layer was embossed with the texturz plates that I love so much, although it's a little hard to tell from the photo. It was made to mimic the flower center that was made from the polka dot side of Bella Rose DSP.
Have a fabulous weekend!! :-)Stamps: Garden GreetingsCardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Whisper WhiteInk: Chocolate ChipAccessories: Bella Rose designer series paper, Big Shot machine, Daisies #2 die, large dots texturz plate, 1" circle punch, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, word window punch, stampin' dimensionals
This is a card I made a few months ago, but never posted. I was trying for a clean, basic layout and think this card's simplicity worked perfectly. I used the template from the tool kit to line up the brads. I just LOVE the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set - it's so versatile and elegant.
Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers, Pocket SilhouettesCardstock: Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Very VanillaInk: Chocolate Chip, Garden GreenAccessories: silver brads, tool kit, stampin' dimensionals
I'm not sure where the inspiration for this card came from, but once I started playing with the image, it took on a life of its own! I stamped the image on Kiwi Kiss, Barely Banana and Tangerine Tango. Then I cut out the cake from Barely Banana and Tangerine Tango and pieced them onto the Kiwi Kiss image. I colored in the cake plate and candle flame with a Versamarker. Using the middle daisy from the Daisies #2 die, I created a burst behind the image and mounted with stampin' dimensionals. I added just a bit of ribbon and two green rhinestone brads to the top corners to finish it off. I hope you enjoy it!!
Stamps: Eight Great GreetingsCardstock: Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Barely BananaInk: Stazon Black, VersamarkerAccessories: Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain, Big Shot machine, Daisies #2 die, 1-3/4" circle punch, Ice rhinestone brads, stampin dimensionals
Remember the fabulous card purse project I CASEd from Julie Buhler? Well, I'm doing an alternate version for my stamp club this month. Instead of holding full cards, I wanted to convert it to a smaller size to hold 3x3 cards and envelopes. So before I tapped into the Parisian Breeze designer series paper I'm using for the club project, I gave it a whirl with Urban Oasis so I could work out the kinks. I also changed it up so it only had one pocket inside. Hope you like my prototype!!
Stamps: Fresh CutsCardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Whisper WhiteInk: Kiwi KissAccessories: Urban Oasis designer series paper, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, word window punch, silver brads, sticky strip, stampin' dimensionals
I have seen so many terrific cards based on this week's Mojo Monday sketch floating around in cyberspace. I guess the peer pressure got to me, and I decided to give it a try as well. Here's the sketch:
And here's my interpretation:
Sorry for the blurry picture, but I was trying to capture the polka dot texture on the Riding Hood Red panel. This sketch was a little hard for me because of all the elements, but I think it turned out pretty cute!Stamps: Garden Greetings, Darling DotsCardstock: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper WhiteInk: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood RedAccessories: Bella Rose designer series paper, Big Shot machine, texturz plates, white taffeta ribbon, silver brads, 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, corner rounder, stampin' dimensionals
One of my stamp club members ordered the beautiful "Tree, Thoughts & Prayers" decor element for her daughter's nursery and asked me to help her install it. So a friend of hers came to assist and boy, am I glad she did! The tree was the large one (measures 52-1/8" x 36-1/8") and comes in 6 sections. We did a dry run by adhering it to the wall with painter's tape to make sure the placement was where she wanted it. Then we went to work assembling the tree, and it was great to have an extra set of hands! The tree grew right before our eyes and it turned out beautiful.
She has it in a corner of the room next to the crib, and it will be such a wonderful place for making special memories with her new little one when she arrives!
Thanks Jill for letting me take a picture and share your lovely nursery!
Time for another challenge! This time, I participated in a past "Clean and Simple" challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The challenge was to create a card using punches and not much else. So I started by using the negative space created by using the trio flower punch. 
Ok, so I might not have followed the challenge exactly (I ended up adding brads and ribbon), but I just couldn't help myself!
I made this card last night and couldn't get a good picture of it even using my light box. So I waited until today so I could use some natural light instead. But no matter what I did, the cardbase still doesn't look as purple as it should using Almost Amethyst. So use your imagination and you'll see the very Easter-y color combo I intended!! ;-)
Stamps: Heard from the Heart
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana
Ink: Almost Amethyst
Accessories: trio flower punch, white satin ribbon, silver brads, stampin' dimensionals
I'm continually amazed at the fabulous creativity I find while blog-surfing. Today was certainly no exception. Kerin Sylvester's blog had this adorable gift project, perfect for Mother's Day. With her video tutorial, it was so easy to pull this together.
Now just to find some goodies to fill it with and it's ready to give! Thanks for the inspiration Kerin!!
Stamps: Holidays & WishesCardstock: Chocolate Chip, Apricot Appeal, Pale Plum, Whisper WhiteInk: Pale PlumAccessories: Bella Rose designer series paper, white organza ribbon, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, Big Shot machine, Daisies #2 die, scallop circle die, stampin' dimensionals
On Monday, I showed you a sneak peek of my thank you stamp-a-stack cards from last weekend, but here are some close-ups with details. Two of the cards were already featured on my blog, so I'm not going to repeat them.
This first one was CASEd from a fellow demonstrator Gretchen (hey girl!!). She created a beautiful card for a group swap, and I only made some minor changes.
The second one was CASEd from a Stampin' Up! demonstrator magazine (Stampin' Success). The magazine gives us lots of great business tips and some awesome project ideas.
And this one was a last-minute creation (just a few hours before class time!!). It featured a cute little bird that is part of the Birds & Blooms sizzlit 4-pack. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the bird's wing is popped up with a dimensional.
{{Blue/Brown}}Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Fresh CutsCardstock: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Whisper WhiteInk: Close to Cocoa, Baja BreezeAccessories: eyelet border punch, Parisian Breeze designer series paper, stampin' dimensionals{{Green/Brown/Pink}}Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Enjoy Every MomentCardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Whisper WhiteInk: White craft ink, Regal RoseAccessories: wide oval punch, Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals{{Pink/Blue/Black}}Stamps: Short & Sweet, Forever Flowers wheelCardstock: Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Very VanillaInk: Basic Black, Bashful BlueAccessories: Big Shot Machine, Birds & Blooms sizzlit, 1-3/4" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals
While designing cards for my next class, this card didn't make the final cut. Still, I thought it was cute enough to share on my blog. It's another bright color combo, which is typically out of my comfort zone. We're expecting another cold blast next week, so I thought it was a perfect way to keep me thinking of warmer weather. 
I used my tool kit to pierce above the Old Olive strip and then used a Summer Sun marker to connect the dots, resulting in a subtle faux stitching. Enjoy!
Stamps: Say it With Scallops, Starring YouCardstock: Summer Sun, Old Olive, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Ink: Summer Sun, Old Olive, Pink Passion
Accessories: square scallop punch, tool kit, corner rounder, stampin' dimensionals
I wish you could see just how sparkly this card is in real life! I love the background it creates for the butterfly image. Enjoy!
Once again looking to the beautiful Bella Rose designer series paper for inspiration, I ended up with this Cameo Coral/Kiwi Kiss color combination. My first few attempts to free-hand the placement of the sentiment didn't turn out too well so I pulled out my trusty stamp-a-ma-jig.
I think the trickiest part of using these window sheets is finding inconspicuous ways to adhere them! I placed a glue dot on the back of one of the flowers and one behind the ribbon to hold the window sheet to the cardstock beneath. 
The Whisper White layer was embossed with the texturz plates that I love so much, although it's a little hard to tell from the photo. It was made to mimic the flower center that was made from the polka dot side of Bella Rose DSP.
She has it in a corner of the room next to the crib, and it will be such a wonderful place for making special memories with her new little one when she arrives!
Ok, so I might not have followed the challenge exactly (I ended up adding brads and ribbon), but I just couldn't help myself!
And this one was a last-minute creation (just a few hours before class time!!). It featured a cute little bird that is part of the Birds & Blooms sizzlit 4-pack. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the bird's wing is popped up with a dimensional.
