Case-ing Myself . . .

Is that bad??? I really like the layout for the tulip card I did last week for SC173, so I flipped the direction, changed up the stamps and used the colors for this this week's color challenge to make this card (CC164).

This is a really ooooolllllddd stamp set, too! It is the very first stamp set I ever bought . . . EVER! It's from SU's 1997 catalog and is called "Wildflowers". It sat lonely for many years, with no other stamps for friends. I am happy to report that it now has TONS and friends and family members!! I've come a long way, baby!

Stamps: Wildflowers, Celebrate Everything, Tres Chic
Paper: Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black
Accessories: Large and small oval punches, horizontal slot punch, black gingham ribbon, pop-up glue dots

Another New Fold!

Anyone who has been around me or looked at my blog for any period of time knows that I LOVE funky folded cards! Today's challenge on SCS was TLC166 - a new and fun funky fold!

I changed the dimensions from the actual challenge. The base (pomegrante) is 5.25" x 5.25"; the second layer is 10" x 5" (apricot), folded at 5" along the 10" side (mounted on the card with the fold at the top); and the top layer (blue bayou) is 9.75" x 4.75" folded at 4.75" on the 9.75" side (mounted on the card with the fold on the side). You then cut the top layer on and angle to form a "triangle". I hope this make sense . . .

This makes card #36 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see the sidebar on the right for a linkwith more details).

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Curvy Verses
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Purely Pomegranate
Accessories: K and Company butterfly stickers, Cuttlebug swiss dots ef, purely pomegrante double stitched ribbon, scallop circle, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" and key tag punches, pop-up glue dots

Posies and Kindness

I'm not sure what I think of this card . . . I've been trying to do color schemes that are "out of the box" for me, but I'm not sure this one worked how I had hoped . . . I like the layout just fine, it's just that it would have worked better with different colors . . . hmmmmm . . . I guess that is how we learn!

This "z" fold card was for WT163 . . . to use scissors to create something on your card (besides trimming ribbon, which I also did!). I am always using my scissors to cut out images and then "pop" them off of my card. I think the last several cards I have made have utilized this technique, so this was a no-brainer for me!

To make a "z" fold . . . the base piece of cardstock is cut to measure 11" x 4 1/4". It is then scored along the 11" side at 2.75" and 5.5". Then you fold it like a "z" . . . I hope that makes sense to those of you who have not made one before.

Stamps: Polka Dot Posies, Define Your Life, Defining Alphabet, Polka Dot background, Twill background
Paper: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Ballet Blue, Shimmery White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Cameo Coral
Accessories: Nestabilities Ovals (Large, scallop and standard), 3/4" and 1" circle punches, chocolate chip taffeta ribbon, pop-up Glue Dots

SC174 - Hello Tulips!

I think I have mentioned before that the sketch challenges on SCS are my favorite challenge of the week . . . it's always fun to get new ideas for card layouts, as it is easy for me to repeat the same ol' thing time and again!

I just bought this "Terrific Tulips" set from a fellow SCS'er. It has been on my wishlist for quite a while, so I just decided to break down and buy it. It's a classic . . . I love almost every card I ever see made with it.

I have found that Garden Green is a darker version of Wild Wasabi, so I paired the two inks together for the greenery. I also paired Real Red and Purely Pomegranate for a fun duo. I wasn't sure it was going to work out, but I actually like them layered on one another.

Since the tulips are blooming in my yard, I thought today was as good a day as any to make some of my own. Spring is a-comin!

Stamps: Terrific Tulips, Fundamental Phrases, Houndstooth
Paper: Purely Pomegrante, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Shimmery White
Ink: Real Red, Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green
Accessories: Hodgepodge hardware, 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches, double stitched pomegranate ribbon, pop-up Glue Dots

WSC44 with Butterflies

So this puts me at two in a row for butterfly cards. I am now up to card #35 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see the link on the sidebar to the right for more details).

I did this for WSC44 on Beate's blog . . . this is a great little sketch. There are just so many possibilities with it!! I also stepped outside my box with colors again. Pixie Pink AND Pink Passion?? I hardly EVER use EITHER color, and here I have both of them TOGETHER!!

I also really like to utilize many stamps in the same set to make patterned paper for the background. This set, Live Your Dream, works very well in this regard.

I'm still freezing here in good ol' Salt Lake City and hoping for warmer weather. I am seriously contemplating a move to Hawaii . . . it NEVER snows there!!

Stamps: Live Your Dream, So Many Sayings
Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Pink Passion, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black
Accessories: Ticket corner punch, large and small oval punches, Soft Sky double stitched ribbon, pop-up Glue Dots

Butterflies . . . Disney Style!

The hardest part about going out of town for a few days is definitely coming back! Not only did I have to jump back into my normal routine, I ended up with a cold/sinus infection that kinda wiped me out. Between going to work (where I am part time) and trying to get my family back on track, I have been going a bit crazy this week.

I was falling behind on my butterfly challenge as well. I should have sent this card out by last Friday, but just couldn't seem to get there (for those of you not familiar with my butterfly challenge, see the "Follow the Butterflies" link on my sidebar for more details).

My son's favorite Disney character has always been Tigger, so I decided to cap off the trip I took to Anaheim with my second son's choir last week with a Disney-themed butterfly card for my first son, Devan. I used my Cricut "Pooh & Friends" cartridge to create the Tigger and the butterflies. I don't think I will EVER get tired of going to Disneyland (like Peter Pan, I refuse to grow up!!)

Stamps: Smarty Pants, Rough Texture jumbo wheel
Cardstock: So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Cricut "Pooh & Friends" cartridge, Spellbinders small and large rectangle Nestabilities (scallop and standard), Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers embossing folder, paper piercing tool, dimensionals

I'm Baa-aaack!

I feel like I've been run over by a train! After spending 5 days on buses with 62 teenagers, running around Disneyland, the beach and Hollywood, I am wiped out! Plus, my daughter had State History Fair competition yesterday (the day after we got back), so I have been running like a frog on a hot rock! (BTW, my daughter won FIRST PLACE!!)

This is a 5 1/4" square card that I made a little over a week ago and submitted for Guest Star Stamper on Papertrey Ink (I didn't win!) I love this little cupcake image! The squares on which the circles are mounted (I used a 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punch for those) are 2" on the base layer and 1 3/4" on the top layer.

It really is nice to be home! I just need a couple of days off to recover! (Like I'm really going to get THOSE!!)

Stamps: Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink), Polka Dots (background)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Rose Red, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl ef, single stitched brown ribbon (Making Memories), dimensionals

Where's My 'Net???

I have been out of town since last Thursday evening. I was shocking and sadly disappointed to learn that not ALL hotels have free internet. The one where I am currently staying has an internet "room," but since we have been on such a crazy schedule, I haven't been able to get a chance to post 'til now (and I got up at 5:30 a.m. to do it!!)

Isn't this little star box fun? I made it as part of my February projects for Spellbinders. Actually, my daughter asked me to buy the box for her so she could decorate it, and I kinda swiped it from her (don't worry, though, I eventually got her another one!!).

I love making fun little bags and boxes. I covered this one with some "Rob and Bob" patterned paper from Provo Craft ("Love in Bloom"). The most fun this to use on this, though, was my Stars 5 dies from Spellbinders. They are a set of "Nestabilities" of sorts . . . several sizes of dies that you can "nest" on top of one another! I kinda went a little crazy stacking these, but I liked the finished product.

I am off to three workshops with the choir kids today, then we will be doing a dinner cruise this evening, after which we will be boarding a bus for home (all-night bus rides are EVERYTHING they are cracked up to be . . . especially on a bus full of teenagers!!)

Spellbinders: Wizard, Stars 5 dies, Daisy Delight Dies
Accessories: Creative Impressions Olive Swirl Organdy Ribbon, Copic Sketch Marker (to fill in the stencil on the flower - B005 Blue Frost), Jewel stickers (Doodlebug) and of course my FAVE Pop-Up Glue Dots
Paper: Rob & Bob "Love in Bloom" designer paper by ProvoCraft

I hope to be back to regular posts by Wednesday! I'm sooo wiped out! I'm hoping that these kids keep me younger instead of wearing me out! We are having fun, though!! Talk to ya later!!

Little Hiatus . . .

I am currently in California (Anaheim, to be exact) with my son's high school a'cappella choir. I'll be out of town 'til Tuesday. I do have a couple of projects to post while I am gone, but the internet is kinda sketchy, so it's going to be hit and miss. I hope to have something coming to you in the next couple of days.

TTFN!! (We're going to Disneyland tomorrow!!)

One of a Kind Thanks

I am STILL having issues with my BoHo Blossoms punch! I know Stampin' Up did a mass replacement on the image from One of a Kind that did not line up with the punch, and I got that. I pulled it out to work with it this morning and punched it out at least 20 TIMES, and STILL couldn't get it to line up!! (I actually stamped with the OLD and the NEW stamp, and although the newer one was closer, I would still say that it is not a good fit!! I did call DS this morning to file a report about it. I hope that I just got a goofy one and that they really DO work!!

The sketch challenge on SCS today was hard for me . . . I have a difficult time with plain and simple. I spent waaayyy too much time playing around with this, but I just couldn't seem to get my mojo going!! At least I DID get a card completed!!

It's still cold and frosty here in SLC . . . supposed to get in the upper 70's by the end of the week! Here's hopin'!!!

Stamps: One of a Kind, Short and Sweet
Cardstock: Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White Afternoon Tea dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft
Accessories: Boho Blossoms punch, large regular and scallop oval Nestabilities, word window punch, 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain, wild wasabi double stitched ribbon, dimensionals

Fruit Salad

I kinda ran amok with the fruit on this card. I just started punching out fruity pieces with my 1 1/4" square punch, and just kept right on going!!

The panel in the middle (the black piece) is 3 1/8" x 3 1/8". Everything else was done with a punch! It's great when you don't have to do very much cutting!!

I was able to incorporate an extra layer of ribbon (the black organza) so that I could include this in SCS's TLC163 - to use layered ribbon. My friend called me and said that this card was kissable!! That made my day!!

Stamps: Tart and Tangy, Fundamental Phrases
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Summer Sun, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green
Ink: SU markers - Real Red, Summer Sun, Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black classic ink
Accessories: 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" square punches, 1 1/4" circle punch, horizontal slot punch, 7/8" black organza ribbon, May Arts red/white polka dot ribbon, dimensional, Designer Label punch

Blast Off!

Can you believe it is SNOWING in Salt Lake City this morning??? I HATE how Mother Nature is playing with my head . . . it starts getting warm then WHAM! More SNOW!! I am seriously considering a move to Hawaii . . .

I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE this little rocket ship from "Pun Fun". I have been designing this card in my head for weeks, and used Beate's WSC142 to put it onto paper (I actually only got this set a few days ago, so it was kinda hard to stamp without it!!)

A friend of mine came over a couple of days ago to get a couple of boy birthday cards. I realized I had a HUGE abundance of girly-girl cards, so I may have to switch gears for a while and represent the boys for a while!!

I had my Wizard out to do the circle Nestabilities, and just ran my Cuttlebug folder through it as well. I'm not sure how much you can see from the photo, but HOLY COW, does that baby ever emboss crisp and GAWgeous!! I thought it looked good after it came out of the Cuttlebug, but it looks even BETTER coming out of the Wizard!! Neat!

Stamps: Pun Fun, Classic Stars (jumbo)
Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Brocade Blue, Real Red, Certainly Celery, Shimmery White
Ink: Black Stazon, Brocade Blue, Various Copic markers
Accessories: Nestabilities (circle) large, Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl ef, MM red/white ribbon, white brads, large and small star punch

Two-fer One!

This week ended up being busier than I expected, so I haven't had as much time to play as I would have liked. Darn!

I combined two SCS challenges for this card: WT160 - to incorporate rub-ons into your finished product and LSC162 - to limit yourself to just ONE color and WHITE! ZOINKS! That was trickier than I thought it would be. It was fun, though, and I may be trying it again!

(Oh look! I've done TWO Cameo Coral cards this week - the last card I posted was predominantly CC too! I seem to be doing that a lot lately . . . )

Also, I believe this puts me up to card #33 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see the link on the sidebar for additional info). 71 to go . . .

Stamps: Polka Dot
Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Whisper White
Ink: Cameo Coral
Accessories: Taffeta ribbon, ticket corner punch, large and small oval punches, Love & Happiness rub-ons, Me & My Big Ideas rhinestone icons, dimensionals

Lovely

I'm still a little out of my routine this week. I hate it when life just doesn't go according to your pre-prescribed schedule!!

Anywho . . . I LOVED the sketch posted on SCS today (SC170). Simple, clean and open to all sorts of possibilites.

I realized I am just starting to rediscover coloring with my SU markers on my stamps, too! Since getting my Copics, my poor SU markers have been feeling neglected. I sure love using them!!

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Fabulous Flowers
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Cameo Coral, Garden Green, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: Garden Green, Summer Sun, Perfect Plum, Cameo Coral (markers)
Accessories: Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Offray fern microcheck ribbon, yellow jewel sticker (Doodlebug), Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles ef

What?? No Stamps???

Sorry for the two-day absence . . . I had out-of-town company and didn't get a chance to "play" as I would have liked. I DO have a fun little card to show you that I did for the gallery on Spellbinders' website (part of being on their Design Team is a monthly assignment to create fun, new projects using Spellbinders dies . . . FUN!!).

I posted a bunch of fun and funky folded cards last month. This card is a repeat of one of the folds, but definitely different in that I didn't use a single darn stamp (and here i go with some more "primary-type" colors!!). This card was really fun to make, and I can't wait to give it to someone for their birthday. It seems so bright and cheerful!! Start with a piece of cardstock that measures 4 1/4" x 11". Score at 1 1/2", 3", 5 1/2" and 8". (In this case, the black cardstock).

I used a Permapaque opaque marker to fill in the embossed areas on the cake and the "birthday" sentiment. The beauty of the Spellbinders dies is that you can leave the cardstock in the die once you have run it through your Wizard (or Cuttlebug or Sizzix or BigShot or whatever) and "stencil" the image with the ink of your choice. This includes coloring with markers (as I did here), sponging ink, airbrushing . . . any way you can get the ink to the paper works. It is one of my FAVORITE features of the Spellbinders dies! Stenciling just adds that wonderful little "extra" that makes the images "POP!"

I also sprayed a little bit of Paper Glide onto the cardstock before I ran it through my Wizard with the Fiskars texture plates to get a deeper emboss. I LOVE how it works!!

Spellbinders Dies: Birthday 1, Party Edgability
ColorMates Cardstock: Deep Sunshine Yellow, Medium Tempting Tanzanite, Light Berry Red, Deep Heritage Black, Light Heritage White (SU substitutes - YoYo Yellow, Ballet Blue, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White)
Ink: Permapaque Fine Point White Opaque Marker (you could use White craft ink and a sponge also).
Accessories: May Arts yellow organza polka dot ribbon, Fiskars texture plates (Party, Dots, and Vines)