Worm wishes

Needing some inspiration, I decided to participate in another card sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

I took the sketch and turned it, making it into a vertical card. I wanted to use up some more designer series paper that will retire later this month and ended up with a bright color combo - one perfect for a kids' card. So I pulled out the Bugs & Kisses stamp set and went to town. Hope you like it!!


Stamps: Bugs & Kisses
Cardstock: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange
Accessories: Ghostly Greetings designer series paper (retiring 1/18/09), Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Real Red gingham ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Wish big

Sale-a-Bration is coming up real soon (starts February 1st), and I'm having lots of fun with this new set that you can earn. For my card, I started with one of the cards on the front cover of the Sale-a-Bration catalog, changed up the colors and made some other minor changes and ended up with a girly-girl, flowery masterpiece! Hope you like it!



Stamps: Polka Dot Punches (earn it during Sale-a-Bration 2/1-3/31), Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, Certainly Celery
Accessories: scallop circle punch, Pink Pirouette striped grosgrain ribbon, photo corner punch, tool kit, stampin' dimensionals

Non-traditional Valentine

One of the many perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is getting to pre-order stuff. I ordered a few of the products that will be part of the Sale-a-Bration event that runs February 1st through March 31st. With every $50 you spend (before shipping and tax), you earn a free Sale-a-Bration product. And this year, you'll get to choose from 4 stamp sets, a ribbon bundle or a pack of designer series paper! I chose to pre-order one of the stamp sets that features 4 images that coordinate with Stampin' Up! punches, the designer series paper and the ribbon. The colors in the designer series paper (Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand) are so soothing, so I used them as the inspiration for a non-traditional take on a Valentine.


It's very subtle, but the heart image is stamped with two colors - I inked the stamp with Certainly Celery and then took a sponge dauber and applied some Bashful Blue randomly on the image as well. I cut out the heart, layered it over a circle with stampin' dimensionals and then applied it to the designer series paper panel with dimensionals. It gives the heart a nice depth on the card.

I'll be playing some more with my new goodies, so be sure to check back for some more projects real soon!


Stamps: Polka Dot Punches (available 1/19/09), Holidays & Wishes
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Versamark
Accessories: Delicate Dots designer series paper (available 1/19/09), scallop circle punch, 1-3/4" circle punch, white gel pen, white embossing powder, heat tool, sponge daubers, stampin' dimensionals.

Mojo Monday challenge

While blog surfing, I came across some stampers who participate in a weekly sketch challenge on the Mojo Monday blog. I haven't participated in any challenges in a while, so I thought I'd accept this week's challenge. Here's the sketch:
And here's my interpretation:


Hope you like it!!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet (retiring 1/18/09)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, So Saffron
Accessories: Washington Apple designer series paper, large oval punch

Little birdie birthday

I'm working on replacing all the holiday cards on my sample display, so I dusted off this trusty stamp set, "A Little Birdie Told Me." I forgot how much I like this set and how versatile it is with so many options to go with the sentiment. I used the "it's your birthday" inside this one.


Instead of coloring in the bird images, I decided to paper piece them using some designer series paper. It adds more dimension and character to them! And despite buying them a few months back, I finally broke into the clips assortment. I love how I can use just a tiny bit of ribbon tied around the clip instead of wrapping it around the entire card or a panel. Hope you like it!!

Stamps: A Little Birdie Told Me
Cardstock: textured Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla
Ink: Stazon black
Accessories: Haiku designer series paper, More Mustard grosgrain ribbon, clips assortment, stampin dimensionals

Kind words

I'm still having fun playing with this fabulous new Level 1 hostess stamp set coming out in the new Spring-Summer catalog.

The flower images are so soft and delicate (there are three of them), and I just love this quote from Mother Teresa. After stamping with stazon, I colored in the flowers and traced the stem with markers. Stazon is perfect when you're coloring images because the ink won't run or pick up on your marker tips.

Stamps: Echoes of Kindness (available 1/19/09), So Swirly jumbo wheel
Cardstock: Always Amethyst, Mellow Moss, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon black, Pretty in Pink marker, Always Amethyst marker, Sage Shadow marker
Accessories: ticket corner punch, Mellow Moss tafetta ribbon, jumbo handle, glue dots

Flower Power II

Ok, humor me with one more card from the Flower Power simply sent kit... :-)


Stamps: Wow Flowers
Cardstock: Old Olive, Rose Red, Perfect Plum
Ink: More Mustard marker, Rose Red marker
Accessories: Flower Power simply sent kit, stampin' dimensionals, scallop edge punch, 1-1/4" circle punch

Flower Power

The list of retiring Stampin' Up! accessories is coming out on Monday, and I've got a feeling that the Simply Sent kits will be retired to make room for some new ones. So I'm trying to use up the rest of the pieces I have from the Flower Power kit. The colors are so nice and bright, and I love the funky adhesive die-cut shapes. Here's a simple card I made for a co-worker's birthday.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Cardstock: Old Olive, Rose Red, Perfect Plum
Ink: versamark
Accessories: Flower Power simply sent kit, stampin' dimensionals, large oval punch, white embossing powder, heat tool

New year, new technique

I hope 2009 is off to a great start for you! With the new year, I thought it would be great to try out a new technique - not new to the world of stamping, but new to me - the dryer sheet technique. I'm going to teach this technique at my stamp club meeting later this month. Before you see my first attempt, let me say that I just couldn't get a great shot that really shows off how sparkly this technique is. I love anything with glitter and this technique is perfect for glitter-lovers!

In addition to a new technique, I'm also using a new stamp set - a Level 1 hostess stamp set that can be earned when the Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog is released later this month - and new designer series paper that is so so yummy! Hope you like it...


Stamps: Echoes of Kindness (new Hostess set available 1/19/09)
Cardstock: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon black, Rose Red marker, Regal Rose marker, Old Olive marker
Accessories: Rich Regals brads, scallop edge punch, stampin' dimensionals, dryer sheet, xyron machine, dazzling diamonds, Raspberry Tart designer series paper (also available 1/19/09)

It's official!!

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2009!