Wednesday, February 27, 2013

SUOC65, Going Green!

I was so busy doing taxes, going to doctor's appointments, and getting ready making swaps to go to St. George for some stamping fun with Jill Olsen this weekend, that I totally forgot to post my card for the SUO Challenge this week! Oopsie!!!


The theme this week is Going Green, since March is right around the corner. So pull out your gorgeous greens, and make something spiffy that brings a bit of Spring, or the luck of the Irish to someone!

And if you're in St. George and see me hobbling around on a walking boot (aka Franken-foot), say hi!

Stamp: Got Treats?
Cardstock: Whisper White, Gumball Green, So Saffron (Subtles Paper Patterns Stack), Gumball Green (2012-2014 In Colors Paper Patterns Stack)
Ink: StazOn Jet Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts Framelits, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Extra Large Oval Punch, Large Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Monday, February 25, 2013

Treat Bag and a Thank You

Hello, stampers! Several people have asked about the scoring on the treat bag for the Control Freaks hop, so here are the (very easy) measurements:
4" x 11" cardstock, scored at 4", 5", 9", and 9-1/4"
I shaped the flap with the scalloped oval Framelits and cut the oval opening, made the score lines, then embossed just the front panel (with the oval opening) with the Perfect Polka-Dots folder, and the flap with the Fancy Fan folder.

And now, on to today's card.  I've needed to send several Thank You cards this week, so I made up several cards like this one, with minor variations.

Thank You Card, Paper Crafting, Stampin' Up, Card Making, Birds, Watercolor

These went together quickly, but look so cute, and the Real Red and Tempting Turquoise just really pop together!

Stamps: For the Birds
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Smooches DSP, Watercolor Paper
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Daffodil Delight (sponged edges), plus Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, and Daffodil Delight markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Delicate Designs embossing folder, Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponges

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tour de Freaks Spring Catalog Hop


Hellloooo, stampers! I am sooo glad to be back among the land of the living, and what better way to celebrate rebirth and renewal, than being part of the Control Freaks Spring Catalog tour?!  If you started at # 1 on the tour, that would be Barb Mullikin's blog, Barb Stamps. Weren't her projects fabulous? I love her classy style!

I'm stop # 2 on the tour. I was only able to get two projects done this time around, since I've been so sick the past couple of weeks, but gosh it felt good to get back into the stamp cave! Up first is a card using several lovely elements from the Spring Catalog.

Spring, Easter, Stampin' Up!, Card making, Paper crafting, Friendship
I am particularly fond of the 5/8" Flower Trim, because it's so easy to dye whatever color you want, plus it's soft enough that it'll flatten down in the envelope, making it easy to mail without extra postage. I used an Aqua Painter and with a drop of So Saffron ink refill to color the blossoms, and a sponge with Island Indigo to tint the doily.

Stamps: Oh, Hello
Cardstock: So Saffron, Island Indigo, Tea Time Designer Series Paper
Ink: Island Indigo, plus So Saffron Ink Refill
Accessories: Big Shot, Fancy Fan embossing folder, 5/8" Flower Trim, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, So Saffron 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Sponges

My second project is a little treat bag for Easter. The scalloped flap was made with with the new Oval Framelits - the largest oval is scalloped, so I just slipped the end of a 4" x 11" piece of cardstock into the oval, leaving the part I didn't want to cut on the outside of the oval.


The tag was made with the Hearts A Flutter Framelits, and that adorable Easter basket is in the Spring Sampler stamp set!

Stamps: Spring Sampler, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock: Pool Party
Ink: (Stampin' Write Markers) Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots and Fancy Fan embossing folders, Ovals Framelits, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, Pink Pirouette/Rose Red 1-1/4" Two Tone Ribbon, White Baker's Twine, 4" x 6" cello bags, Glue Dots

Thanks for stopping by! That's all from me today, but up next is Janine Tinklenberg at Stamps, Paper, Scissors. Pop on over and see what fun (and funny) Jan has in store for you!


Thursday, February 14, 2013

I'm Still Here, But....

Been sicker than a dog for over a week. Sick on my birthday, and my daughter's birthday, AND Valentine's Day, for cryin' out loud! I'm just starting to feel almost human, and not so Walking Dead-ish, so there should be some new stuff to look at in the next few days.

Thanks for hanging in there. I promise it will be worth it!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Easy Birthday Card

I can't count how many times I've discovered someone was about to have a birthday, and I had wished I'd had some easy birthday cards on hand. It happened again just this week! The Embellished Events stamp set made it simple to whip up three birthday cards, with slight variations, to add to my stash.

Easy Birthday Card, Embellished Events, Card Making, Paper Crafting

Using the marker-to-stamp technique, where you color directly on the stamp with a water-based marker, is a fun way to mix up the colors if you want to make several at a time.

Stamps: Embellished Events, Friendly Phrases
Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Floral District DSP
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, and Basic Gray Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Melon Mambo Scalloped Dots Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack

Here's one of the other cards. You can see how adding a mat behind the Daffodil Delight embossed panel really makes it pop, and the cluster of buttons adds a nice touch.

Easy Birthday Card, Embellished Events, Card Making, Paper Crafting

I think all three cards took less than 45 minutes to make. The most time-consuming part was coloring the stamp. If you just inked it up with an ink pad, it would be even faster. So, there you have some easy birthday cards you can add you your stash!

Stamps: Embellished Events, Pretty Postage
Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Floral District DSP
Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight,Early Espresso, and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Early Espresso 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Brights Button Collection, Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack

If you'd like more tips and ideas, with exclusive content not shown here, be sure to sign up for my mailing list (on the top left side bar)! 

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Groundhog Predicts Early Spring!


Woo-HOOO! I'm sure that's even more wonderful news for those of you who have to endure sub-freezing weather. Before you know it, you'll be basking in the sunshine, too....hang in there!
From Millan.Net
Somehow, pink and green always come to mind when I think Spring, so here's a cute (and quick!) little card with that color combination.


I needed some Thank You cards this week, and this was the result. Sooo cute, and sooo easy! The marker-to-stamp technique worked really well on this stamp from the Patterned Occasions set, which is a FREE Sale-A-Bration item! A little ink was sponged around the edges of the die-cut before it was removed from the Framelit die, to give it a narrow border.

So, Friends, happy Groundhog Day to you! Now go stamp something to celebrate the Spring's eminent arrival!
From Millan.Net

Stamps: Patterned Occasions
Cardstock: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints (retired)
Ink: Primrose Petals, Old Olive
Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals