May
30
2008
I didn’t realize I was so limited on the stamp sets I owned that have Animals! Florals…yes…TONS…but very little sets that contain animals. I haven’t used this Wanted set we got at Convention last year in quite a while, so pulled it out. The horse is subtle, but it IS there!
I started with Western Sky designer paper (I’ve really been LOVIN’ this paper lately!) and pulled the colors Soft Sky, River Rock and Blue Bayou (REALLY going to miss these In-Colors when they go away!). Behind the Blue Bayou WANTED, I stamped off several horses in River Rock to look like they were running. The horse at the bottom follows along the paper pierced track. I used my distressing tool around all of the layers for some added texture. Finally, I added 3 Antique Brass brads along the bottom.
This would be a great card to use for Father’s Day! Have a great weekend everyone!
May
29
2008
When I sat down yesterday to do Poetic Artistry’s Mojo #38 sketch challenge with Mary and Lisa, I had my tin of Die-Cut Blooms sitting out for my class tonight. I thought I would build the card around them. I matched the blooms to some of the Summer Picnic paper, added a Build A Brad for some bling and used my white gel pen around the flower. Getting into the card, I realized that the finish card was deviating too much from the original sketch. I had moved the words, I didn’t use the rectangle focal point or the oval…so I set it aside to use as a sample at my class tonight.
OK…start over.
I already had the blue Bloomin’ Beautiful flower done and sitting in my leftover pile from a previous Ink Wash Technique Class. This technique is in the April/May 2007 issue of Technique Junkies Newsletter! I decided to build the card around that rectangle piece. I love how Night of Navy turns into Almost Amethyst when watercolored, so I matched those two colors together, along with a touch of Always Artichoke green. I also used an oval piece from my Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware and the Almost Amethyst designer prints, along with some white Taffeta ribbon. Cool…happy with how it turned out. Looked at the sketch again to see if I missed anything and saw that a part of the challenge was to use specific colors! Grrrr….
So…now I use the Verve Visual Summertime colors that we were SUPPOSED to use on the challenge (Soft Sky, Cameo Coral or Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive or Certainly Celery). OK…at this point I should be working on my class samples, so I quickly made up the same card using these Summertime colors. I again used the Ink Wash technique from Technique Junkies Newsletter. I started with the background of Soft Sky. On white I stamped the flower, the Pumpkin Pie watercolored to the So Saffron color. Yeah! Just a hint of the Cameo Coral behind the So Saffron designer prints makes the layers POP! I used the Soft Sky double-stitch ribbon and Antique Brass hardware since those tones seemed to match a little better.
And the best thing? I have 3 birthday cards done! Woohoo!
Canton folks, we are doing this technique next week at our Technique Class, so if you haven’t signed up…it isn’t too late!!!
May
28
2008
I’ve been hoarding the flowers on my Bali Breeze designer paper. I love how big they are, unfortunately you only get 3-4 full ones per sheet…but I know I can use the half ones, too.
I decided to pull out my saved flowers when Mary, Lisa and I worked on a few challenges over the past weekend. This was one of the cards I did using a past MoJo Monday sketch from Poetic Artistry and BLING. Only a small amount of stamping on it. Those designer papers make it EASY to make cards!
The Tempting Turquoise background is stamped with the Twill background stamp (still my favorite!) in Tempting Turquoise and used the ticket corner punch. I cut out the large Bali flower and added an Old Olive and Purely Pomegranate felt flower (Flower Fushion) with yellow Rhinestone brad in the center. The entire flower is popped up with Dimensionals. I first crimped my Old Olive paper, then punched out the leaves with the small oval and placed them under the flower. I also added 3 small pink Rhinestone brads on the left side.
Enjoy! (Anyone have their days mixed up because of the holiday? I feel like it is just Tuesday!)
May
26
2008
I just sold this set this past week to someone who has been looking for it for a long time. I was very undecided whether or not I wanted to let it go. But, I hadn’t used it for a couple years, so I decided to sell it so someone else could get some joy from using it.
Sometimes I take cards that I’ve received in swaps that I especially like and put them with the sets when they retire. This gives me some ideas if I ever pull out that set to use. So, this collage card with the Statue of Liberty was in the case with the set. There is no name on the back, so I’m not really sure who made it (maybe someone on Creative Stamping Friends??) If it is you, let me know…I’d like to give you credit.
The second one I decided to make up quickly to include with the set. I used Ann Clemmer’s creative background, but paired it with the Eagle stamp from this set instead of the stars that she used. I also changed up the colors to Night of Navy on Whisper White, instead of Craft White on Night of Navy. I loved how hers looked and I think this turned out pretty nice, too! The larger star is from Sweet Celebrations set and the swirl from Stitched Exotics.
I just want to take the opportunity to thank the men and women who defend our Country and make it a great place to live. Your sacrifices humble me. And, to those family members who are left behind, I can’t imagine how hard it is, but I’m very thankful to you, too.
Have a Blessed Memorial Day!
May
23
2008
This week’s challenge was to use Red, White and Blue. Now…if I was thinking correctly, I should have waited and posted LAST week’s card today! It fit the criteria perfectly! However, during my challenges with Lisa and Mary over the past couple days, I made one that fits both the traditional patriotic holidays AND a necessary “man” card! Lisa and Mary will see that I “tweaked” the sketch a little. I thought the upper left corner was a little empty, so I added the half moon greeting “happy day”. My father’s birthday is coming up on June 2nd, so I’ll save this card for him!
The ONLY stamping on this card is the greeting, the rest are combination designer papers from the Western Sky pack. I also used Ruby Red and Blue Bayou to punch the stars, and added a red Rhinestone brad to the center. Tied some Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon around it (I HOPE they bring back the ribbon in more colors next catalog!)
Enjoy your holiday weekend. We have plans to go to the lake house at least on Sunday…maybe Monday, too. A couple graduation parties to attend, too!
May
22
2008
Last night, before American Idol, Lisa, Mary and I decided to work on some challenges! It had been a LONG while since we’d played! This sketch was one of the challenges, along with the color scheme of Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Mellow Moss and/or River Rock. It was a pretty simple sketch for me…this idea came together pretty easy. Amazingly enough, though, Lisa used the same set and her idea was similar! I can’t believe how many times that happens with us…a couple of us will come up with similar end results.
For this one, I used the Twill background stamp with Perfect Plum on the Perfect Plum layer. I watercolored the large flower with markers and the AquaPainter on Watercolor paper. I layered it on two scallop circle punches from River Rock. The center is a 1/2 pearl from the Pretties Kit. I tied River Rock double stitched ribbon around the Perfect Plum layer, too. It has a simple elegance to it, I think!
Well, they challenged some more while I was watching Idol, but I caught up afterwards. So…more coming in the next few days!
May
21
2008
Here is another of the cards I made for Leadership Display Samples. I used the large flower from Stitched Exotics in Purely Pomegranate on Glossy White cardstock. I cut it out, added a Build a Brad using the stripe paper from Cutie Pie in the center. Then used my Cutter Kit to make the curve of the Cutie Pie paper and punched Three for You flowers to cover the seam. I added a touch of White Gel pen to the centers. I wrapped Wild Wasabi Double Stitch ribbon around and tied. Finally, I used “Unique” from Define Your Life. If you don’t have that set yet, it really is worth getting. For about $1.83 per stamp, it has a TON of useful sayings.
SO……………..who do you think will win tonight? I voted MANY times for David A. I like David Cook, so I wouldn’t be REAL disappointed, but I love the pureness of David A’s voice. Can you believe he is only 17? Oh my. His life will never be the same, cause you know he’ll get a record deal either way. I know I’ll buy his CDs. Should be an interesting night! Now…what am I going to watch on Tuesday/Wednesday nights? lol!
May
20
2008
This was one of the cards that I was going to use in my Tart & Tangy stamp camp last month, but then decided against it. I didn’t feel it sat in the box as well as a regular sized card. I do like the way it opens up. The bottom, you could adhere a gift card. The ribbon around it keeps the card closed, and you remove the ribbon to open it up.
I colored the cherries with Old Olive and Real Red markers, then added a little tie of red gingham ribbon. I punched it out with the 1 1/4" inch circle punch, then the 1 3/8" circle of Real Red and the Old Olive Scallop Circle Punch. Under the flap is the cherry designer paper from Summer Picnic…just a great package of designer paper! The greeting on the inside is from the Full of Life set in the Spring mini catalog. I find those greetings to be SO timely and use them all the time. The stripe Bashful Blue ribbon goes all the way around. (I still have Ribbon shares left! Get a 3 yard sampling of each color ribbon…Stripe, Double Stitch, Grosgrain, 5/8 Grosgrain, or Taffeta…Email me for details.) 
Whew…I just finished a big project that is going in for submission. I actually finished it yesterday and let it sit…went back today and tore a few things apart so that it flowed a little better. I like it now. The bad thing is that I hate to give it away! lol!
Have a great day!
May
19
2008
Oh my! Remember this gift card holder that I made for the any new catalog swap with Control Freak Swappers? It made it online to Stamper’s Showcase today! For those that don’t know…Stamper’s Showcase is a place on the Demonstrator Only side where Stampin’ Up! features 4-6 cards every day that demos can use for inspiration in their classes and workshops. These are items people send in for the monthly contests or groups (like Control Freaks) submit one of each of the swap cards and Stampin’ Up! picks and chooses which ones they want to use. Control Freaks have CONTROLLED the Stamper’s Showcase board for the past couple days…having 3 and 4 each day of the cards chosen from that last swap or from members of our Group!!! Way to go, girls!
My second piece of news is that on Friday I went to my mailbox and had an issue of the new summer Take Ten magazine in my mailbox! I knew that meant that I had a card in that issue! Woohoo! My card is shown at the bottom of page 48! (They spelled my last name as Babert instead of Babbert…but, hey, I know it is me!) I started dancing right in the street! I’m SO excited!
Have a wonderful week! Mine is starting off great!!!
May
16
2008
This week’s challenge was to use the layout on page 21 of the Spring Mini catalog…the puppy dog card! I don’t think I even really looked at the layout until this challenge, but it was fun to do!
Don’t ask me how I came up with this card. Looking at the layout, it just popped into my head that I wanted to use Big Birthday Candle (page 43 of the Spring Collection book). When I first purchased this set, I thought it would make cool firecrackers. And, the Snow Blossom punch (page 181) has always looked like fireworks to me. Voila! I combined them both to make my patriotic 4th of July card. I had to dig deep in my stash to find a Happy 4th of July greeting…it is in the set, More Great Greetings, that retired MANY years ago. I’m happy I kept it.
The bar code lines on the base card are from the background stamp Happiness (page 122) and stamped with Craft White ink. (I totally cut up my background stamp into the different segments, so I can use them separately.) The firecrackers were stamped in Basic Black ink on Real Red, Whisper White and Brilliant Blue cardstock, then the design circles and lines stamped with White Craft ink. On the white firecracker, I used my markers to color the Real Red and Brilliant Blue lines. I’ve had the red/white/blue stripe ribbon from back with Stampin’ Up! carried it in their catalog. The Snow Blossom is punched from Yo Yo Yellow Faux Diamond Dust paper, so they really sparkle! Oh, and I wanted a strip of red/white/blue paper along the left side, so I made up some “faux designer paper” by inking the line stamp with my Real Red and Brilliant Blue markers again and stamping it down the strip of Whisper White cardstock.
I had LOTS of fun making this card and it came together very easy…actually looking a lot like I had pictured in my head! I wish all cards came together that easily!
Have a great weekend!
