Oh My Gosh . . . Again?!?

I know I keep joking about using primary colors a lot lately, but this time it is NOT my fault!! LSC161 - this limited supply challenge asked us to use some embellishment that we own that had remained unloved since we got it. Now, while I didn't actually BUY this ribbon myself (a friend sent it to me - I can't remember who exactly, but I think it may have been Sandy, from SUDTTF, a Yahoo group I've been a member of for a while, but have NOT visited forEVUH - HEY GIRLS!! - but I digress . . .)

Anyhow, this ribbon is really super cute, but I have never been able to figure out exactly WHAT to do with it. This challenge pushed me into action . . . so there ya go! These little buggies have been sitting in their box feeling neglected as well. I was happy that I was able to pair them up with the ribbon. This also took me outside the box again. I love how the SCS challenges help me create things that I NEVER would have thought up if not for the challenge!

Stamps: Bugs and Kisses
Cardstock: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Green Galore, Whisper White
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Green Galore, Real Red
Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, paper piercing tool, crazy polka dot ribbon (unknown), dimensional, Spots & Dots and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folders

Hope your weekend is productive, or at least fun!!!

Marker Misting?

How come I can NEVER seem to get this right???? I mist it too much and it's totally washed out . . . I don't mist it enough and you can't tell I even did it! Believe it or not, I sprayed my stamp TWICE before stamping this. I just can't seem to get it!! I DO love this "Essence of Love" set, however . . . it's so purdy!!!

This was for WT159 over on good ol' SCS - the challenge was to spray SOMEthing on your card - Glimmer Mist, airbrushing, marker misting - I guess I'm going to have to keep trying (but if I do it with this stamp again, it'll all have to be one color, 'cause I ain't inking it up with FOUR again for a while!! It takes a looooonnnngg time!!)

Stamps: Essence of Love
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Garden Green, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: Garden Green, Perfect Plum, Summer Sun, Pale Plum
Accessories: Designer label punch, 1" circle punch, large oval punch, Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon, paper piercing tool, dimensionals

For those counting, I am up to #32 in my butterfly challenge. See the link on the sidebar to your right if you wanna read more about THAT!!

Bold & Bright

Here i come with those primary colors again!! This is so unusual for me, as I seem to have been stuck in the same color scheme for soooo long (love, love, LOVE Chocolate Chip!!). I must be feeling the change of seasons coming on!

I did this card for SCS SC169 - I think I have mentioned before that the sketch challenges are my very favorite! Sometimes it feels like we do the same old layout over and over! These sketch challenges make me do something different, which is always good!!

It's hard to see in this photo, but there is an additional row of double piercing down the left side of the card, on the Garden Green cardstock. I couldn't imagine not having that little tool in my arsenal . . . I use it all the time!!

Stamps: Garden Whimsy, Tres Chic
Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Garden Green, Basic Black, Real Red, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Garden Green
Accessories: Paper piercing tool, 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches, red rhinestone brad, black gingham ribbon, dimensional

Have a wonderful day!!

Loving Papertrey

I have always kind of been a Stampin' Up purist. That is, 'til I discovered Papertrey Ink last year. They are the only other company for which I own multiple stamp sets . . . there is a lot of variety, and the designs are fun, clean, and sometimes elegant (as is the case for the set I used today - Wedding Day).

I used my largest Nestabilities circle dies to create this round card. Fold your cardstock over and lay it on top of the die before you run it through your Wizard (or Cuttlebug, Sizzix, or whatever machine you have). Just make sure to move your cardstock down just a little (slightly more than 1/4"), so that there is a gap at the top of the die . . . this is were you place the fold for the top of your card.

The inspiration for this card came directly from Nichole Heady, one of the founders of Papertrey. She has an AWESOME blog! Lots of great ideas. I cased her medallion/band idea for this card. Here is her card that gave me the inspiration for this card. I love it!!

Nichole's Card

The color challenge on SCS yesterday, CC159, was to use Basic Gray, Soft Sky and Whisper White (in this case, I used Shimmery White - love how elegant it looks!). I think this would be the perfect card to put on top of a wedding gift (which I would probably have to wrap in white paper, since I'd never be able to find a perfect match for this card!)

Stamps: Wedding Day (Papertrey)
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Soft Sky, Shimmery White
Ink: Soft Sky
Accessories: Nestabilities (circle), large and small oval punch, silver cord, self-adhesive pearls (Kaiser)

Now, I just gotta find my craft room under the piles I created yesterday! TTFN!!

SCS Challenge - Flap Fold

For those of you who have been hangin' out on my blog for a while, you KNOW I absolutely LOVE fun and funky folds! The technique challenge on SCS yesterday featured a really fun one! AND I got to try to do a dahlia fold as well (a previous challenge that I never got around to). I incorporated both into this card! Love 'em! The dahlia does take a little extra time, but it wasn't bad and sooo worth it!!

Here is Rose Ann's tutorial on the flap fold:

Flap Fold

And HERE is Donna's dahlia fold tutorial on SCS:

Dahlia Fold

I figured I wouldn't "reinvent the wheel," since both of these gals do such a fabulous job with their instructions!

Have fun with it!!

Stamps: Twill, Amazing to Zany
Cardstock: Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Shimmery White, Afternoon Tea dsp
Ink: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Circle Nestabilites die (large), 1 1/4" and 1/2" circle punches, orange rhinestone sticker (Doodlebug), corner rounder punch, CM circle cutter, hodgepodge hardware, Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes ef

Spring Butterfly

I am hoping that by making cards with a spring theme that I can WILL spring into coming (it's still cold here in SLC - the sun is shining, but it's being deceptive!).

I made this card as part of Beate's WSC40 - she always comes up with the most wonderful sketches for us to play with!!

Check out her blog here:

Fresh & Fun

I am now up to card #31 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge, and am proud to say that I haven't reused a single butterfly (yet)!! You can see the link on the sidebar for more details . . .

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Cute Converse, Watercolor Minis
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Pretty in Pink, Shimmery White
Ink: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Barely Banana
Accessories: Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers ef, Scallop circle, 1 3/8 and 1 1/4" circle punches, Seaside Ribbon Originals (SU), dimensional

C'mon, Spring!!!

Why Aren't I Cleaning?

It's Saturday, the day before Easter . . . I have company coming for Easter Dinner tomorrow, my house needs attention and so does my laundry . . . so why am I stamping???? EASY answer . . . 'cause it's waaayyyy more fun!!

The LSC challenge on SCS yesterday has been swimming in my head for over a day and I needed to let it out so I could get busy with what I really SHOULD be doing! Here is what I came up with for LSC160 - the challenge was to use white or vanilla cardstock, up to two additional colors of cardstock and three or four of the same stamps on two or more different cards. It's amazing how you can come up with ideas that look soooo different using the same basic supplies. LOVE IT!!

Stamps: Time for You, Polka Dots
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Rose Red, Whisper White, Cutie Pie DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Rose Red (ink and marker), Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue (ink and marker) and So Saffron markers
Accessories: Rose Red single stitched ribbon, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, corner rounder punch, paper piercing tool, dimensionsal, red rhinestone brad

Now, I am off to get to my REAL work!! Happy Easter to all!!

Fun Challenge!

I totally LOVED the sketch challenge on SCS yesterday (SC168)!! Initially, I wasn't sure I could come up with a combo that would incorporate so many different colors/patterns of paper, but I had just received a new order (hooray!), and I couldn't WAIT to ink up my new "Tart & Tangy" stamp set. I think it is sooooo darn cute!!!

I also LOVE adding a sentiment by hanging it from a piece of ribbon and a piece of hodgepodge hardware . . . I have done it with squares, ovals and circles and I always love how fun it looks! (And who doesn't LOVE polka dot ribbon???) This card seemed to just make itself . . . every once in a while the idea just seems to jump from head (but not very often!!)

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, So Very
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green
Ink: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green
Accessories: Hodgepodge hardware, May Arts polka dot organza ribbon, large and small oval punch, paper piercing tool, dimensionals

Can you believe it?? Three days in a row! I even surprise myself!! Hope y'all get a chance to do something FUN today!!

Daily It Is!

Okay, not a SINGLE person who responded to yesterday said they wanted weekly posts, so I am vowing here and now to try to post daily (or at least as often as I make something!!).

I will make a concerted effort to post things as I do them so that there is less to wade through!

I think we all have color combos that we like. In fact, I try to stir it up and do different things, only to find I am back to the same ol' combos, just in different shades! Yesterday's color challenge on SCS kinda took me waaaaayyyy out of my comfort zone. The challenge (CC158) was to use Orchid Opulence (and I had to open a package of that that I have owned for at least three years!), Sage Shadow (which is also neglected in my pile!) and Kraft. I had almost finished this card when I realized that I had grabbed Mellow Moss instead of Sage! So I had to readjust my thinking all over again! That is why they call these challenges! Really puts me outside my box!!

After I started making "butterfly" cards as part of my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see link on sidebar), several of my SCS friends sent me stamped images and embellishments featuring butterflies! How awesome! My son is getting butterflies from all over the world! It truly is amazing. My good friend, Christine (chrisations.ink on SCS) sent me this little organza butterfly. I finally found a place to use him! Isn't he cute??

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Elegant Greetings, Weathered, Twill
Cardstock: Orchid Opulence, Sage Shadow, Kraft, Shimmery White
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Family Treasures Daisy punch, 1/2" circle punch, Organza Butterfly, paper piercing tool

I think I like this daily post thing! I sure takes a lot less time to just do one (or maybe two occasionally) things at a time! Have a happy day!!

Viewer Participation Required!!

First of all, today’s post is going to require some audience participation!! I’m taking an informal poll . . . do you guys prefer to read blogs that post daily (or more frequently), or those, like mine, that only post once a week or so (although I have been posting more than that the last couple of weeks)?? Would it be better if I loaded each project as I did it, or do you like having a bunch lumped together? Just curious!! Please leave a comment on this post and let me know!!

I’m doing my best and trying to think spring-like thoughts (it snowed again here last weekend!). I have a few more cards to share with you. The first two are ones that I submitted for Papertrey Ink’s monthly Guest Star Stamper contest (I didn’t get chosen - insert sad face here!).

I love this set – Women of Life. I made this card for my mother for Mother’s Day. It describes her to a "T" . . . Grandmother, Mother, Aunt, Sister, but most importantly, friend!

Here are some basic instructions:

Base layer (Pumpkin Pie): 5 3/8" x 4 1/4"
Bottom folded card layer (Elegant Eggplant w/Shimmery White panel): 9 3/8" x 4", scored at 2 1/8" and 4 1/4"
Top folded card layer (Garden Green): 8 3/4" x 3 1/4"; score at 4" (the larger "half" is taped to the dsp layer).
Shimmery White (Women of Life image) layer: 3" x 3 3/4"

Fold the Elegant Eggplant cs on score lines. Tape the outer 2 1/8" flap toward inside. Make a panel and stamp images to place on flap (dimensions 1 7/8" x 3 3/4"). Tape ribbon under this layer on left-hand side. Don't forget to use a slot punch to punch a hole for the ribbon to go through on the top layer!!

Stamps: Women of Life (Papertrey)
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green, Shimmery White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Whisper White craft
Accessories: Doodlebug jewels, horizontal slot punch, purple and orange gingham ribbon, small oval punch, dimensionals

This card was made using Papertrey’s “Everyday Blessings” set. I used the cross stamp from "Everyday Blessings" to create a patterned background paper of sorts. I then put a layer of acetate on top of this image. It is kind of hard to see in the picture, but it reminds me of a stained glass window.

Guess I'll have to try again next month!!

Stamps: Everyday Blessings and Beautiful Blooms (both from Papertrey)
Cardstock: Rose Red, Old Olive, Soft Sky, Shimmery White
Ink: Old Olive, Rose Red, Soft Sky
Accessories, Soft Sky double-stitched ribbon, pearl sticker embellishments, acetate, dimensionals, tag die (Spellbinders – Tags 5), paper piercing tool, Crop-o-dile

This was created for TLC160 – a reverse Cuttlebugging technique. If you ink up the inside of your Cuttlebug folder (the negative side – the one that says “Cuttlebug” on it), then place your paper inside and emboss, it gives it a whole new look. I took it one step further. I was having a little bit of an issue with ink sticking in the “positive” space, so I tried to wipe it off. I didn’t do very well, and ended up wiping down the entire piece of cardstock (I used a baby wipe). I really like the effect, so I kept it! Since I used glossy white cardstock, the baby wipe worked really well.

Stamps: Wanted, Just Jeans (bg)
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Glossy White Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Bordering Blue
Ink: Real Red (craft), Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Build a Brad, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8”, ½” circle punches, jumbo eyelet, red gingham ribbon, navy organza ribbon, Cuttlebug Paisley embossing folder

I have recently discovered the “Weekend Sketch Challenge” that Beate Johns posts on her blog . . . http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ . . . she has always been such an amazing inspiration and I appreciate the chance to play with some of her ideas. This card was for WSC39. I really liked this layout, although the card didn’t turn out quite how I envisioned it. It was fun to make, though, and I used my beloved “Crosshatch” background stamp, which is one of my all-time faves . . . hated to see SU retire it!!

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Print Pattern (bg), Crosshatch (bg), Lots of Thoughts
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Nestabilities (rectangle), photo corner punch, artichoke single-stitched ribbon, square rhinestone brad, Stickles (on the flowers), paper piercing tool

Don’t forget to let me know how you feel about the frequency of blog posts!! Have a terrific day!!

Moving Right Along!

Can you believe I’m posting again already? I’m even surprising myself! I have been taking some “me” time and just been doing some stamping therapy . . . something I have been seriously in need of the last little while. So . . . here I am again!

I’m starting off today with this little “Boatloads” butterfly card. I’ve honestly had this set since it came out, only this is the first time I have used it. It is so darn cute! I coupled it with some of my favorite things . . . “Basket Full of Fun”, which in my opinion should never have been a hostess set, but rather one offered to everyone, AND my new Copic markers and airbrush system. This was really fun to make.

I cut a little cloud shape out of some paper and laid it down to airbrush the sky behind the little boat. I am soooo loving this tool! Great fun to play with. Plus, I fulfilled card #29 in my “Follow the Butterflies” challenge (see link on sidebar for details). I just discovered this week that I was off on my card count . . . somehow, a card I did last November was either not posted to my SCS gallery at all, or it was deleted. Not sure which. But, I have always used the gallery to help me count. For some reason I remembered that card the other day and realized I hadn’t seen it in my gallery. So I went and added it a couple of days ago. It’s not really my favorite, as I was doing it in a hurry, but I had to add it so I could keep track of what I have done!!

Stamps: Boatloads of Love, Basket Full of Fun
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Brocade Blue, Real Red, Shimmery White
Ink: Black StazOn, Whisper White craft,Various Copic Markers
Accessories: Red stitched grosgrain ribbon, brads (inked with Whisper White and then embossed with WW embossing powder), silver cord, dimensionals

I did this one for CC157 – and I goofed! The challenge was to use Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate and Basic Gray. I must’ve been zonin’, ‘cause I ended us thinking it was Going Gray, which is what I used. I haven’t done a criss-cross card in a while (see TLC104 on SCS for details), so I really wanted to take a stab at this challenge again. I also love it when I can contain myself to one stamp set on a card, as I have been known to use up to SEVEN on the same card! I must be NUTS!!

Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Basic Black, Going Gray, Purely Pomegranate, Shimmery White
Ink: Going Gray, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black craft
Accessories: Scallop circle, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle, horizontal slot punch, May Arts black swiss dot organza ribbon, smoky gray rhinestone sticker (Doodlebug)

Finally, this card was done when I was having a brain freeze. The whole time I was making this for SC167 I kept thinking, “Where in the heck am I GOING with this??” I still think it is kinda funky, but I have received a lot of comments on it, so I must be in a funk or something, ‘cause I’m still not quite sure about it. I used a blender pen and reinker to color around the outside edge of the large flower.

Stamps: Office Accoutrement
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, Happy Me SS dsp
Ink: Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate
Accessories: Polka dot pomegranate satin ribbon, rhinestone stickers (Doodlebug), dimensionals, Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss embossing folder

I’m listening to the rain outside my window as it hits the street. A very spring-y sound, if you ask me. At least it’s not SNOWING!! Have a great day!!

Lotsa Cards!

Here we are again! I think I’m going to have to admit that I need to update my blog more often . . . I have been making a lot of cards lately, and it would just be easier to upload them as I make ‘em!

I had sooo much fun putting this card together as part SCS SC166. It made me giggle as it was very similar to the challenge layout I did the day before, put out there by none-other than the amazing Beate from SCS. So I made two cards in a row with a very similar layout! Oh well, I DO like it!!

I used the jumbo “Classic Stars” wheel from SU to create all the stars. I rolled them out on a variety of cardstock colors (in this case, Real Red, Barely Banana, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy), using a variety of inks (again, Real Red, Barely Banana, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy AND Whisper White craft). I was happy to find out that both star punches from SU can be used with the images on this wheel. From that point it was just a matter of sticking the stars down on the card. I am also still loving the “Swiss Dots” embossing folder from the Cuttlebug people (Provo Craft). It is really fun.

Stamps: Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Real Red, Barely Banana, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy
Ink: Real Red craft, Barely Banana, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White craft
Accessories: Making Memories red/white striped grosgrain, rhinestone brad, paper piercing tool, dimensionals, Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss ef, large and small star punches

Next, this is the card I made for WSC37 – Beate’s weekend sketch challenge. See how close it is to the sketch challenge?? Crazy weird that they got posted back to back like that!! I also incorporated CC156 – Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate and So Saffron. I really like these colors together! AND I used all FIVE stamps in my new Friendship Blooms stamp set! Hooray for me!!

Stamps: Friendship Blooms
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, So Saffron, Whisper White, French Lace Light paper from Making Memories
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron
Accessories: Build a brad, pomegrante double-stitched ribbon, dimensionals

Moving on . . . I am not sure that I LOVE this card, although it did stretch my imagination. The whole idea behind LSC158 was to make a quick and easy LITTLE card. The actual production of this card was pretty quick . . . getting it out of my head, however, was a slower process! Once again, I used the fun “Swiss Dots” embossing folder. I also used the scallop circle punch, rotated the punched image and then punched it again, giving it a more “flowery” look. All in all, pretty simple, which is actually a challenge for me, as I tend to be a more complicated kind of gal! The finished card measures 3”x3”.

Stamps: Big Flowers, Little Flowers, Many Happy Returns
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Ruby Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop circle, 1" circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle, 1/2" circle punches, word window, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots ef, Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon

Next, I did this card for my husband, Ron, as we celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary last Saturday – March 8. It is sooo hard for me to believe that I have been married more than half my life! On the other hand, when you marry your best friend, the years just fly by! I consider myself very blessed! This was for Beate’s WSC38. I was so excited to discover her weekend sketch challenges. She is so creative and always comes up with some fantastic ideas!! Using sets from SU and Papertrey Ink, I came up with something that I hope was not too girly (although, all my cards tend to be girly anyway!!) So, there ya go!

Stamps: Print Pattern, Crosshatch, Sweet Love (Papertrey) and Out on a Limb (sentiment, also Papertrey)
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Going Gray, Real Red, Shimmery White
Diecuts: Spellbinders Nestabilities Ovals (Small)
Accessories: Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware, rhinestone stickers, Dazzling Diamonds ep, dimensionals, Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy ef

Ya still hangin’ with me? This is the last one for today. I recently broke down and bought myself some lovely Copic markers (which I swore I would NEVER do, but had to backpedal once I became Copic certified!!). I can’t believe I did a PASTEL colored card! This is DEFINITELY out of my box! This was card #28 for my personal “Follow the Butterflies” challenge (see the link on the sidebar for more deets). I colored the butterfly panel THREE times! This was my first attempt, as I really didn’t like what I came up with the other two times (trying to do something NOT pastel!). The layout is also kinda funky, as I was trying to do something a little different there, as well. I even dragged out my trusty sewing machine. Nothing too complicated. I DO like the look of real stitching on a project, though.

Stamps: A Little Bit of Happiness
Cardstock: Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Pretty in Pink, Shimmery White (which I am reaching for more and more often!)
Ink: Black Brilliance, Assorted Copic Markers
Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain, ticket corner punch, flower brads (Paper Accentz), sewing machine

I have already started working on a couple new things, so I think I should be posting again soon. That way, you won’t have to read a marathon-length entry next time!!

March Already??

Okay, I'm not quite sure what happened to January and February - they seem to be sort of a blur. I think I must be losing my mind, as time seems to be just whipping right past me!!! I guess I'm too busy!! My schedule seems to be starting to clear out, though. With all of the running around I've done as part of the Spellbinders design team (our retreat in January and CHA in February), I have had to keep on my toes! I think I'm staying put for a few weeks now, though!

This is one of those cards that seemed almost effortless to me. The idea just popped right onto the paper! This was for last weeks color challenge on SCS - CC155 - to use Basic Black, Whisper White and River Rock. I also decided it was time to make a pocket card again, as I hadn't made one in a while. You start with the same size piece of paper as a standard card, you just make a "flap" by folding down the longest edge on the "open" side of your card. In this case, I folded it down by 1 1/2". I trimmed the flap a little, as I wanted to add the scallops and it just looked to bit to me somehow. The actual flap on this is just under 1 1/4". The inserted card needs to be scaled down a bit so that it will it in the pocket once the pocket has been taped or glued shut. The base for the insert is 5" x 4".

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, River Rock
Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Out on a Limb (Papertrey - for sentiment, which I LOVE!)
Ink: Basic Black, River Rock, Real Red
Accessories: Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder, smokey gray rhinestone jewels (Doodlebug), Liquid Pearls, Kraft taffeta ribbon, paper piercing tool, dimensionals, corner rounder punch

I was slow getting my butterfly card done last week, so I am sending it out today. Which means, I'll have to send another one Friday. Two in one week! It's a good think the mail to Germany/Austria is kinda uneven - I don't think my son will even notice!! This makes card #27 in my own personal "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see the link on the sidebar of this blog for more details). I made this in conjunction with TLC158 - debossing. I haven't done this technique in the longest time!! Basically, stamp an image on some vellum (vellum cardstock works a little better, as it is a heavier weight; I also like to use StazOn ink so that the ink will not smear, and line images work better than solid ones). Then, flip the image over. From the back side, use an embossing stylus to outline or fill in any of the details from the image that you want to "pop" off the front. Make sure to put a mouse pad or polymer mat under the vellum so that it will have a little give as you use the stylus on it. That way it will be less likely to tear.

I trimmed the right front edge of my card back 3/4" of an inch so that the designer series paper (Palette of Prints) underneath would be visible. Sometimes it's fun to do something even a LITTLE different!

I haven't used my "plums" for quite a while, either. I love both shades of plum offered by SU, I just feel that I neglect them far too often!! I can't ever seem to get away from either a shade of green or Chocolate Chip, though. I am proud that there is NO brown in this one anywhere!!

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Palette of Prints (celery), Vellum
Stamps: Time Well Spent
Ink: Black StazOn, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities (love 'em!!), corner rounder punch, paper piercing tool, stylus, rhinestone brads

I'm still hopeful that SPRING will be making a real appearance some time soon. It snowed again last Saturday. Maybe the sun will come out today, but I'm not holding my breath!!