Stepping in it up

Tonight I want to share 2 more cards that I did while playing around with my friend's "Delightful Decorations" stamp set and coordinating Ornament punch.  I wanted to show how one can take a really simple, yet pretty card and "step-it-up".

Here is the "plain" one:

And here is the "stepped up " one:

Can you spot the differences?  There are 3.  No, just kidding, I'll tell you!   For both cards, I based the colour scheme on Stampin' Up's "Be of Good Cheer" DSP; Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green.   For the first card I used the Scallop Edge Border punch on the Cherry Cobbler strip while on the 2nd I used the Scallop Trim Border punch.  I also embossed the Very Vanilla base with my Perfect Polka Dots TIEF (although it's quite difficult to see here).  Finally I added a little more colour and a bit of bling on the ornament by adding a 3/4" green punch out and a Basic Rhinestone jewel. 

Which one do you like better?

Happy Stamping!

Mickey Mouse Birthday

One of our neighbour's turned 1 this week!  His birthday party is today and the theme is Mickey Mouse.  I couldn't resist pulling out my circles and creating a little Mickey silhouette for his card!

Isn't it cute?!  I love the "Mickey" colours too....Real Red, Basic Black and Whisper White.   I really like the little party hat especially.  I used my Pennant punch and Red Glimmer paper to do it and topped it with the little "star" from the "Pennant Parade" stamp set.  Here's a look at the inside:

We're off to his party right now so I'll have to be quick with the details:

Ink: Real Red, Basic Black

Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Red glimmer paper

Stamp Sets: Friendly Phrases, Pennant Parade, Occasions Alphabet

Other:  Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Circles Bigz Die, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF, Pennant Punch, Real Red 1/8" Grosgrain ribbon

Happy Stamping!

Another Birthday Card

If you are a regular follower of mine you may be getting a little sick of all the birthday cards I've been posting....but there are I've got 4 birthday just in my immediate family within three weeks of eachother....and that does not include the extended family birthdays that occur within the same time frame : )

Here is a card that we sent to my husband's grandmother for her birthday last week.  I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.

Isn't it pretty?!  I used the "Mixed Bunch" stamp set, Blossom punch and 3/4' circle punch from Stampin' Up to create the Primrose Petals flower.  I paired the Primrose Petals with Baja Breeze and Whisper White to create a relatively simple, soft card.

The sentiment comes from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set.  I used the "Bitty Banners" Framelits die to cut it out and matte it.

Here are all the details:

Stamp Sets:  Mixed Bunch, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Whisper White and Baja Breeze card stock

Ink:  Primrose Petals

Punches:  Blossom and 3/4" circle.

Accessories:  Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder, Stripes Textured Embossing Folders, Bitty Banners Framelits dies, Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon, Silver Brad.

Happy Stamping!

"Saying goodbye..."

"...going away.  Seems like goodbye is such a hard thing to say."  (The Muppets Take Manhattan).   That's the first thing that came to mind when I was thinking of a title for this post : )

I'm always disappointed when the retired stamp list comes out from Stampin' Up!  This year many of my favourite stamps sets (in fact, most of my stamp sets) are being retired.  So, the next few posts, will feature some of these sets. 

Today's post features "For All you Do".  I got this set when I became a demonstrator as part of my kit.  I used it for my first few classes and workshops, so I am particularly attached to this set.  Here's what I came up with last night:

For All you Do...thanks

Really quite a simple card to put together.  I love this colour combination and wish that I had "discovered" Poppy Parade before a couple of months ago!  It just didn't "grab" me right away but now I don't want it to go!!! 

Here are the details:

Stamp sets:  "For All You Do", "Pocket Silhouettes"  (both retiring sets)

Ink:  Poppy Parade (retiring), Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze

Paper:  Poppy Parade, Whisper White and Baja Breeze card stock

Accessories, etc:  Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder, Poppy Parade 1/2" Stiched Poly-Ribbon (retiring), Silver Brads

Happy Stamping!

Hobby Horse Thanks....

....for the Monkey Challenge 85.  I have to admit, I really, really like A la Card Monkey's weekly challenges.  I find the sketches so inspiring and even if I don't get my card posted in time each week I usually complete the sketch.  This week is no different, and look, I'm even posting on a Wednesday!  I must be doing something right this week to be early : )

This week's sketch was for a "Thank You" card and I took that as my inspiration to do a long overdue thank you to a family friend.  Here's the sketch:



And here is my version:



Hobby Horse Thank You

About a month ago, a close family friend made up a bunch of sock hobby horses (like a sock monkey but a horse instead) for her granddaughter's 3rd birthday party and made an extra for my son.  I've been meaning to send her a thank you card and I finally got some inspiration this week with this sketch.


I really needed a break from Christmas cards and colours so I chose to use the "Just Add Cake" DSP colour scheme for this one.  I also decided to go with lots of texture for the backgrounds and had lots of fun with my Big Shot and new scallop circle punch.  Here is a close-up of the hobby horse



Isn't he cute?!!!

 To make him (or her) you need the Stocking Builder Punch and then just turn the stocking part upside down.  I used lots of toe bits from the punch to make the ears and mane.  The only stamp I used is the "thank you" sentiment from "Family Phrases" which, sadly, is now retired.

Here are the other details:

Paper:  Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Marina Mist, Whisper White and Early Espresso card stock.  Just Add Cake DSP

Ink:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso

Big Shot:  Circles #2 Bigz Die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

Punches:  2 3/8" scallop circle, Stocking Builder Punch

Embellishments: Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon, Dimensionals, googly eyes, Subtles brads, sponges

Before I sign off for the evening I want to brag a little bit....I've been waiting all week to do this and this seems like a fitting time to announce that I am a PRINCESS!!!!!   A "Monkey Princess" to be exact! 

I was SO thrilled to be chosen as last week's challenge winner.  Thanks to Shirley and Terry for choosing me and to DF for the great idea.  If you missed it check out my "Medallion for Monkey" post : )

Happy Stamping!!

Where has the time gone...

This summer is going by so quickly and I feel as though I've hardly had time to enjoy it yet!  It's been so busy....hence, my lack of posting...and it just keeps going!  I'm starting to understand that expression, "I need a vacation from my vacation" : )

I had a couple of events this week that went really well and thanks to the ladies over at Try Stamping on Tuesday I was able to pull out a project last minute for my Idea Book and Catalogue Launch Party on Tuesday.  Thank you!

Here's their sketch:

Try Stamping on Tuesday Challenge 23

Here's my version:

Occasions Alphabet card

Everthing about this card was last minute.  I had ordered the Occasions Alphabet stamp set as part of my Sale-a-bration reward and it didn't arrive until Tuesday, the same day as my party!  I absolutely LOVE that set wanted to use it right away.  I was also stuck for an idea for a layout....so again, thanks to CherylAnn and the other ladies for this template. 

The colour combination for this card is Baja Breeze, Rich Razzleberry, and Island Indigo.  So pretty!  I sponged Baja Breeze ink onto the card stock base to add a little texture to the background and then layered Pocketful of Posies DSP, Island Indigo (using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder) and Rich Razzleberry again. 

The sentiment is framed in Baja Breeze using one of the Four Frames stamps and punched using the Decorative Label punch.

I'm looking forward to some time off over the next couple of weeks but I'll be back in August.

Stars and Stripes Forever for the Monkey Challenge

I have to admit that before this challenge I didn't think I had a star or stripe in my body let alone the red, white and blue.  I enjoy vacationing in the US and have American family members but I am Canadian through and through!  But I pulled some out for this week's challenge at A La Card Monkey!  Aren't you proud of me?!

Now, to be fair, Terry and Shirley did not require that we use stars and stripes for our cards this week but I thought that I would stretch myself a little and see what I could come up with.  My son has a little friend who is turning four in a couple of weeks and I decided to get ahead of the game and make a card for him early.  I had a lot of fun with all of my star stamps (who knew I had so many!) and lots of Dazzling Diamonds glitter....my house is now all glittery!  Man, that stuff gets everywhere!

Here is the Monkey Challenge sketch:

Red, White and Blue Monkey Challenge 62 Sketch

Here's my version:

Let's Celebrate; Stars and Stripes Forever

The colour scheme is Pacific Point, Real Red, Bashful Blue and Whisper White with just a touch of Marina Mist.  I started off by sending the card base, in Pacific Point card stock, through the Big Shot in the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Then I added some Bashful Blue DSP from the Subtles DSP collection and added some trim using my Decorative Label punch.

The Real Red stars on the front are all heat embossed using Dazzling Diamonds.  Start by stamping your image using the VersaMark stamp pad.  Then add Stampin' Up's heat and stick powder and heat until "dissolved", then quickly pour on the Dazzling Diamonds embossing powder, shake off excess and heat just a little until set.  Be forewarned, the Dazzling Diamonds powder gets EVERYWHERE and will be a presence in your home for weeks (if not months) after using!

Happy Birthday sentiment on inside

For the inside of the card, I used another big star, this time in Whisper White and Dazzling Diamonds (although it doesn't show up well here) and then layered Real Red, Bashful Blue and Whisper White again.  Both sentiments on the card come from the "Family Phrases" stamp set (sad to see that one go!).

So, with the Stars and Stripes in mind, HAPPY 4th OF JULY to all my American friends and family, and HAPPY CANADA DAY on Friday, July 1st to all of you Canadians reading!!!  Enjoy the long weekend!

Love Pennants for Try Stamping on Tuesday

Well I seem to have found my stamping mojo again....whew!  I recently began a fan of the "Try Stamping on Tuesday" blog and have entered their challenge for the first time this week.  I usually post on Tuesdays, this week being an exception, so I thought it was fitting that I follow them : )

Here's the sketch for the week:



Try Stamping on Tuesday Challenge #20 Sketch



And here's what I came up with:

Love Pennant Parade

First, my apologies to Jenn, one of the designers, I didn't realize how much my card looked like yours until I went back to grab the image of the sketch.   I did have fun creating this card using some of the product from the forthcoming IB&C; Pennant Parade stamp set, the Pennant punch and Just Add Cake DSP.  The colour scheme I used was Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade and Wild Wasabi.  I had fun mixing and matching colours and papers to create the pennants which I strung up using Early Espresso Baker's twine and a needle.

Love Pennant Parade close-up

I love the versatility of the Pennant Parade stamp set and I think it will work well for a number of occasions, including the one I made this card for, the 39th wedding anniversary of my parents-in-law.  I added a little bling by using the little rhinestones just to jazz it up a little bit and also ran one triangle of Wild Wasabi card stock through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

Congrats close-up; Decorative label, 1' circle and Modern Label punches

An inside look

I hope they like the card and have a happy anniversary on the 29th!

Going around in circles

Here's another version of the sketch for this week's Monkey Challenge over at A La Card Monkey.

Play Date Flowers

I love the Play Date DSP and I'm really sad to see it go.  I'm having fun using it up though : )  I decided for this card to play up the flowers on the DSP and to not put a sentiment on the outside.  Sometimes we all need just an all purpose card, don't we?!

So I took the colour combo of two of the flowers on the DSP and recreated them using my Scallop Circle punch and various sizes of circle punches (1 1/2", 1 1/4" and 1/4").  I ran a couple of them through the Big Shot in the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder to change the texture of them.  Then a created stems by using Old Olive card stock and 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon.  I love the colours used on this DSP (Real Red, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive).