April Showers

Bring May flowers, right? Only here in sunny Southern California we have a pretty much year-round growing season, so there is always something in bloom. Which brings me to one of my favorite flowers, Forget-Me-Nots. I am besot by their beautiful blue blooms (like that alliteration, lol?), but for some reason, I've never grown them here. So I figured I could make my own.... et voila!

This was going to be the card for this week's challenge at SUO Challenges, until I read the guidelines for the theme more closely (always a good idea), and saw that we were to focus on the Occasions Mini.  Oops! There was some serious scrambling in the stamp cave to make up for my failure to pay attention. (Which seems to be happening a lot lately. Squirrel!)

Karen Barber's card on SCS was the inspiration - I thought the layers of embossing would really set off the blue flowers.


Stamp: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquiose, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Basic Black, Pacific Point, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Big Shot (bet you didn't see that coming, did you? lol), Vintage Wallpaper and Square Lattice embossing folders, Little Leaves Sizzlits die, Blossom Petals Builder Punch,  Boho Blossoms Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Scallop Trip Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, White Gel Pen, Stampin' Sponges, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Great Company!

Today I am thankful that I get to work with such a wonderful company -I looove being a Stampin' Up! demo so much! They are the best company to be partnered with, and they really look for ways to spoil their demos and customers. For instance, the BONUS free digital download they are offering for a limited time. And you don't even have to have My Digital Studio to use it; how cool is that?! If you'd like the opportunity to learn what I'm talking about, and get a FREE Big Shot Die-Cut Machine ($100 value), contact me by Nov 11th.

Here's a fun birthday card that I CASEd on Pinterest. What a brilliant idea, adding a real birthday candle as an embellishment! Wish I'd thought of that. Since I'm not brilliant (or even slightly bright), it's a good thing there are people much more clever than me on the web!

Stamp: Pennant Parade

Cardstock: Whisper White, Rose Red, Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink DSP

Ink: Early Espresso Classic

Accessories: Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, birthday candle, Mini Glue Dots

Many Thanks

Today I tried the new Melon Mambo Stampin' Emboss Powder, and really like the way it turned out! The zinnia blossom in Fabulous Florets was perfect for this.  The leaves can be stamped before or after you emboss the flowers.  I did both, because after it was embossed, I found it needed another leaf for balance. The Old Olive ink wiped right off the embossing!

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Pretty Postage
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Night & Day DSP (retired, but available as digital download)
Ink: VersaMark, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black
Accessories: Postage Stamp Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Black Glimmer Brads, Heat Tool, Melon Mambo Stampin' Emboss Powder

Rejoicing in Christmas

I am thankful today for the sights, and sounds, and smells of the holidays.  My CD player isn't working, otherwise I'd have Christmas music playing while I'm in my craft room.  Maybe I'll ask Santa for a CD player. :-)

Here's another CAS (clean and simple) card.  After doing a little straightening in the stamp cave, there were some bits and pieces that cried out to be used, and this was the result.

Stamp: Rejoicing in Christmas (W-120829, C-121139)
Cardstock: Baja Breeze111352), Night of Navy (100867), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Basic Black Classic (101179)
Accessories: Watercolor Pencils (101879), Blender Pens (102845), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), Scallop Trim Corner Punch (118870), Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder (117335), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (made into mist spray, 116806), scrap ribbon

A Wish for Peace

One of my stamping friends ordered this stamp set, and was looking for ideas for using it.  This is one that I came up with:

Stamp: A Wish for Peace
Cardstock: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist
Ink: Marina Mist, VersaMark
Accessories: White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Tinsel Trim, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Perfect Polka-Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

And the other one:

Stamp: A Wish for Peace
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Marina Mist
Ink: Night of Navy, Marina Mist, So Saffron marker
Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Basic Rhinestones, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Smooch Pearlized Top Coat (on church steeple), Frost White Shimmer Paint (used with Aqua Painter for snow in foreground), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (sponged lightly over all), sponges

Camera settings are still in the experimental stage, but getting better, I think.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Congratulations, Shawn!

This card was made in celebration of our daughter moving into her new apartment, and into a new chapter in her life.  It went with the KitchenAid stand mixer we gave her for a house-warming present.

To be perfectly honest, I kind of had an ulterior motive in giving that gift.  Shawn makes the best bagels, and has always had to knead them by hand.  I'm hoping the mixer will take some of the work out of them, and I'll be the lucky recipient of fresh bagels in the near future.

VALENTINE VOTIVE TUTORIAL

The Valentine Votive has been very popular with the people I've given it to, so far.  If you want to make them for yourself, or to give as gifts, here's how I did it (and learn how you can use the Movers and Shapers Punch Windows without the Movers & Shapers platform!).  A complete list of materials and tools used is at the end.

Click on photos to enlarge.

1- On back side of DSP, score at 2 7/8", 5 3/4", 8 5/8" and 11½" from short edge.
2- Turn paper and score at 1½" from long edge.

3- Use Scallop Trim Border punch along top edge. (Yes, I know the photos below don't show it - I figured out after that it's better to punch the border first.)

4- Using the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, cut the heart-shaped window (in the third panel from the fold-under tab) with the Heart Punch Window die.  Be sure to leave room at the top for the ribbon trim.  The sandwich I used is:

1. Texturz Impressions Pad on bottom
2. Clear cutting pad
3. DSP paper with design facing up
4. Punch window die facing down
5. Clear cutting pad on top. 
   

5- Punch heart in one piece of the smaller Real Red CS using Full Heart Punch, going in from short edge.
6- Using Real Red Craft ink, stamp "Love You Much" sentiment on Vellum CS; emboss with clear embossing powder.  (Hold the Heat Tool about 5" away to prevent vellum from warping.)

7- Place Sticky Strip around edge of heart window and remove backing.  Center the embossed sentiment and adhere. Trim excess vellum.

 8- On inside of DSP, place Sticky Strip around heart window and remove backing. With sentiment facing up on work surface, center in DSP heart window and adhere.

9- Using Scallop Trim Border Punch, punch both long edges of the remaining Real Red CS. Trim scalloped strips with Paper Cutter, aligning flat side of punched semi-circles with edge of metal plate, as shown. (The scallops should be just barely past the ¼" mark on the plate.)
10- Adhere scallops to bottom edge along score line using Tombow adhesive. You'll need to cut a short piece to complete it, so make sure it's on the back where it won't show.

11- Cut bottom flaps along short score lines and remove excess ½"x1½" tab. Place Sticky Strip along fold of remaining tab and assemble votive holder.  Adhere bottom flaps with Snail or Sticky Strip.

12- Stamp hearts using Real Red Classic Ink on Very Vanilla CS twice.  Using Small Heart Punch, punch out "Love" hearts.  Using Heart to Heart Punch, punch out remaining hearts.  Punch again (twice) from remaining small Real Red CS. Adhere as desired on sides using Tombow adhesive.

13- Use Snail to adhere 13" strip of ribbon to top of votive holder, with ends finishing on back. Trim so raw edges butt together. Tie loose knot in 6" ribbon and adhere to front with glue dots. Trims ends.

Materials:
Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper #117153, half sheet (6"x12")
Real Red Cardstock #102482, 2 pieces 2½"x3", and one piece 3"x11"
Very Vanilla Cardstock #101650, 3"x4"
White Vellum Cardstock #101856, 2¼"x4"
Real Red ¾" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon #115608, 13" and 6"
Accessories and tools:
I {Heart} Hearts Stamp Set #118571 (plus Clear Mount Block C #118486, if CM stamps used)
Well Scripted Stamp Set #118601 (plus Clear Mount Block C #118486, if CM stamps used)
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad #103133
Real Red Craft Stampin' Pad #101190 (I used a Spot, since that's all I had)
Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder #109130
Heat Tool #100005
Scallop Trim Border Punch #118402 free with qualifying purchase through Sale-A-Bration!
Heart to Heart Punch #113694
Full Heart Punch #113693
Small Heart Punch #117193
Paper Cutter #104152
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine #113439
Texturz Impressions Pad #114614
Heart Die from Punch Windows Movers & Shapers #115953
Snail Adhesive #104332 
Mini Glue Dots #103683
Sticky Strip #104294
Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive #110755