Control Freaks Mothers & Friends

It's time once again for the Tour de Freaks, and this month we are focusing on Moms, or friends, or moms of friends, or friends who are like a mom.... any of them! We have a small group today, only five of us on the tour. Did you just land here from Wendy's blog? Weren't her projects just the sweetest?! If you click the link at the bottom of each blog, you'll go full circle and end up back here.

My Mom loves succulents, so of course I had to make a card with succulents for her for Mother's Day. The Oh So Succulent stamp set and matching dies are retiring, but I just checked and they are still available *as of the time of this post*. And here's a tip: Normally, purchasing a bundle is the better bargain, but right now the stamp set and die are deeply discounted and a MUCH better deal separately! Just sayin'.

Up next is a sneak peek at the Eastern Palace Suite that will be available for customers to preorder starting May 1st. It's a great way to get an exciting little taste of what is coming in the new annual catalog!

I love the combination of Tranquil Tide with a bit of Lemon Lime Twist. The yellow green looks really good beside the blue green. Surprisingly, Mr. Big didn't have anything to do with this card. I liked the simplicity of the stamping (with a little accent from the Eastern Gold Vinyl Stickers and Metallic Enamel Shapes) so much that I didn't want to use the Eastern Medallions Thinlits Dies. Shocking, I know!

Up next is Melissa Davies' blog, RubberFUNatics. You don't want to miss what she has to share!

Mom

I've seen several cards lately that have large letter die cuts, with just the bottom portion stamped. I thought it was a cool look, so I made this Mother's Day card using the same technique. It really couldn't get much easier.....just stamp along the bottom of some white cardstock, use the Large Letters Framelits to cut out the greeting, pop it up on dimensionals for some visual interest, and boom - you're done!

You can use DSP for the background, or emboss it, as I did here. You could even leave it plain, so the greeting would really pop!

Product List

Oh So Succulent Photopolymer Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad

Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin' Pad

Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad

Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad

Big Shot

Large Letters Framelits Dies

Lovely Lace Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes

Stampin' Dimensionals

Mother's Day One Percent

I love Stampin' Up! products, and 99% of the time that's all I use. But sometimes I stray and commit what my friend JanTink calls "rubbadultery." This is one of those times. This is the one percent.

I was just dying to play with a Penny Black stamp I ordered last month, and with Mother's Day right round the corner I figured this was the perfect opportunity. Mom had just been here visiting a couple weeks ago, and we colored a bunch of dog and cat images for me to use on some cards that will be donated to our local animal shelter. The coloring got me going with my Copic markers again, and that is what I used to color the flowers for this card. Thanks, Mom!

Here's the "How To"
Image panel: Whisper White 3" x 4"
Mat behind image: Watermelon Wonder 3-1/4" x 4-1/4"
DSP: Everyday Chic 4" x 5-1/4" and 2-1/4" x 4"
Card base: Watermelon Wonder 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded

1. Stamp flowers on Whisper White and color with your choice of coloring media. (Copics used are noted below.) Use a mask over the larger blooms (cut from a sticky note) when stamping the smaller flowers.
2. Adhere image to Watermelon Wonder mat.
3. Adhere smaller DSP panel to bottom of larger DSP panel, then adhere both to card base.
4. Use Tear & Tape adhesive to fasten lace behind bottom of image and trim edges even with mat.
5. Adhere image to card base with Stampin' Dimensionals.
6. Add Pearls Basic Jewels to centers of smaller flowers.

STAMPS: Blooming Garden (from Penny Black), Crazy About You (greeting)
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder, Everyday Chic DSP
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics R08, R24, R46, Y19, Y35, YR09, YG17, YG67, YG99, E99, W3
ACCESSORIES: Watermelon Wonder Dotted Lace Trim, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Tear & Tape adhesive

Happy Mother's Day!

I am so excited that, for the first time in YEARS, I get to spend Mother's Day with my mom. Last July she moved down here to Southern Cali to be nearer her girls, so this is a great day to celebrate together! My two kids will be coming over today, along with Mom and my sister and brother-in-law, for BBQ chicken. The chicken has been marinating all night, the potato salad and deviled eggs are waiting in the fridge, the beer is in the cooler on ice, and everyone is bringing a side dish or dessert.

Today is a good day!

The only thing that didn't happen today was, I didn't get breakfast in bed! I waited and waited, until finally I had to get up to let the dog out to potty. Sheesh, sometimes I get no respect.

This was one of the cards we made in the Second Saturday Stampers Club yesterday, and I let everyone customize the greeting the way they wanted. I wanted to make it for Mom, so I pulled out Delightful Dozen (retiring) to use that greeting.

I hope you all are having a wonderful day today, whether you are a mother, want to be a mother, are a mother-like figure to someone, or have a mother yourself (heehee)! Blessing to you all!

STAMPS: Regarding Dahlias, Delightful Dozen
CARDSTOCK: Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Venetian Romance DSP
INK: VersaMark, Basic Black, Calypso Coral
ACCESSORIES: White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers, Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

SUOC68, Monochrome!

Our challenge this week at SUO Challenges is monochrome! Now, monochromatic cards don't have to be monotonous (har har). Using several shades of the same color, and then adding a deeper shade of the same family as an accent can really add visual interest to your project.  Here I used Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose, but added Melon Mambo to make it pop!

STAMPS: Summer Silhouettes, Delightful Dozen  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, plus Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, and Melon Mambo DSP  INK: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo   ACCESSORIES: Regal Rose 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Tea Lace Paper Doily, Designer Builder Brad, Owl Punch (heart), Punch Pack

Two of these colors (Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose) have been discontinued by Stampin' Up! in anticipation of the Color Refresh coming in the new annual catalog June 1st. If these, or any of the other retiring colors are your faves, better stock up while you can, because everything is "while supplies last". That means cardstock, ribbon, ink pads, ink refills, markers, etc.  I know some things are already sold out!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will play along with our color challenge this week!

SUOC44 - MOTHER'S DAY!

What better excuse does one need to get out the stamps and ink, than to create a card that Mother is sure to treasure? That's the challenge this week at SUO Challenges - create a card (or gift) for dear ol' Mom!

My momma's favorite color is red, so I grabbed Cherry Cobbler, since it most closely resembles the rubies she adores. Since the card needs to be mailable, the gorgeous 3D flower originally created as an embellishment had to be left off.  But that's okay - it can be used for another project that doesn't have to be mailed. :-)  I'm sure you'll see it in the not-too-distant future!

This technique of coloring the stamp with markers and then stamping on the First Edition DSP was demonstrated at the SU Retirement Party last Friday. Since the Inspired by Nature set is another one getting the old heave-ho to make room for new stamps, we used this for one of the make & takes, bidding it a fond adieu.

Now, let's see your beautiful tribute to Mom! If you want to share it at SUO Challenges, please be sure that ONLY Stampin' Up! products are used. That includes punches and dies, as well as stamps and cardstock. If SU didn't make it, please don't use it on your submission!

And, if you need inspiration to participate, SUO Challenges is going to start periodically inviting contributors to a special edition Guest Designer Challenge!!! Every so often, a select group from our regular contributors will be invited to be Guest Designers. Even if you've never been chosen as one of the top three in any of the challenges, you can still be invited if you participate fairly regularly!

Note: Retiring items are in red.

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Broadsheet Alphabet, Just Perfect Alphabet, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, First Edition DSP, White Vellum Cardstock
Ink: Cherry Cobbler Classic, and Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose, and Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Elegant Lines embossing folder, Pearls Basic Jewels, Chantilly Crochet Trim, Stampin' Dimensionals

Still Here!

Life has been a wild ride the past 2-3 weeks. First with my friend Cindy passing away unexpectedly, and last weekend, my eight year old cousin Rayanna lost her battle with leukemia. Then Wednesday my Dad decided he's going to forgo further treatment, and checked himself out of the hospital, and immediately after that sobering news, I found out the floral arrangement for Rayanna's funeral wasn't delivered. Geez, can I just hit rewind, and start this month over?

The highlights of the month were the times I got to spend stamping, especially when it involved stamping friends! This is one of the cards we made in last week's Fancy Folds class. It's a Swinging Z-Fold and was inspired by LeeAnn Greff's tutorial HERE.

With Mother's Day rapidly approaching, I wanted to incorporate something that could be used for just such a purpose, and this was the result. Actually, it could be used for just about anything, by stamping the appropriate message for the occasion inside on the left, and then writing a personal note on the right.

Tomorrow the much dreaded much anticipated (I'm so conflicted!) Stamp Retirement List will be announced, so stay tuned! 

Stamps: Apothecary Art, Loving Thoughts
Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Whisper White, Flirtatious DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, and Lucky Limeade Classic
Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Blender Pens, Dazzling Details, Lucky Limeade 1/8" organza ribbon (retired)

Another for Mother

This card was made with similar materials as in this card, but I mixed it up just a little.  The color combination of Very Vanilla with Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy just pleases my eye, for some reason.  (Prolly 'cuz blue is my favorite color, huh?)

Note the flowers, cut from Springtime Vintage DSP, cover the Easter Eggs in her basket, so it becomes a Spring or Mother's Day card, not an Easter card!

Stamps: Easter Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: Not Quite Navy Accessories: Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls,Framed Tulips embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

No Mo Jo

My mojo seems to have up and left me as soon as this darn cold started. I guess there isn't room for creativity in your head when it's all stuffed up with a head cold. This is all I could manage today.

Stamps: Easter Blossoms, All Holidays
Cardstock: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Happy Mother's Day 2009

This is the card I made for my mom this year. I was going to wax rhapsodic about what a wonderful mother she is, but I'm getting a lump in my throat and can't see through the tears, so I won't. I miss her so much! She lives about a 10 hour drive away, so we don't get to spend as much time together as we would like. She has to take care of her husband, who has many mental health problems. *sigh*

Anywho, I used Whiff of Joy's Confirmand Melinda for the image, because I wanted to link it to the sentiment inside. I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on SU Very Vanilla cardstock. She was colored with Copic markers, her wings painted with Shimmerz Blingz Pixie Dust, then cut with the Nestabilities Petite Oval die. The mat behind her is SU Baja Breeze (I'm lovin' that color lately!), cut with the Nesties Scalloped Petite Oval, and run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.

I think the textured ivory background paper (Paper Company Ivory Weave) matched the Very Vanilla really well, and the ecru lace was a nice contrast. The ribbon is SU Very Vanilla Taffeta.

I didn't have any gemstone brads that matched the colors, so I took some clear ones and colored them with a Copic Sketch BG72 Ice Ocean marker. The same marker was used to line the inside of the SU Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware and color the brads over the sentiment.

The Prima Flowers matched everything perfectly, but I needed some smaller ones for filler, so I grabbed my little flower punches (EK Success) and made my own. Some of them got colored with the Copics, too. ;-) And Sally's Pearls added just the right touch to them all.

The cover and inside sentiments were printed on my printer. The Little hearts adorning the inside were Nesties Classic Hearts and Classic Scalloped Hearts run through the Cuttlebug.

Copic Colors used>>>>>



Cardstock: SU Very Vanilla and Baja Breeze, Paper Co, Ivory Weave
Stamp: WoJ Confirmand Melinda
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Mother's Day

I'm baaa-aack. Didja miss me, LOL? It looks like my temporary, part-time job is already over (boohoo), so I should have more time for card making (woohoo!).

This card is a variation on the card I did for this month's stampin' club swap. I had thought about doing Mother's Day cards for the swap, but then I figured everyone would be making their own card for their own mom. So, for the swap I made get well cards, and then for this Mother's Day card, I added a few more details, like the pearls and some Cotton Candy Stickles.

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, which is absolutely the BEST for using with Copic Markers. NO SMEARING!

I used Bev's card HERE, somewhat, as inspiration. I just adore her coloring, and her use of colors and color combinations are amazing!

I even carried the cover theme over to the inside of the card, ala Bev, using some of the scraps.




Copic colors used>>>

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip
DP: pink- Stampin' Up! (can't remember the name), stripe- Kelly Panacci for Sany Lion
Stamps: Image- Stampin' Up! Dear Friend, Outside sentiment- Hero Arts C2962, Inside sentiment- Great Impressions F198
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Chocolate Chip
Embellies: pink grosgrain ribbon and heart charms (JoAnn's), Stampin' Up! Scallop Circle punch, Martha Stewart border punch, Sally's pearls, Stickles