FMS68 and Resolutions!

Note: The SUO Challenge will be delayed a week, because our fearless leader has been ill.

We should be back with a new challenge on the 15th!

One of my resolutions this year is to be more consistent in my blog posts, and to that end, one of my other resolutions is to participate in more challenges. Sometimes a sketch or color challenge is just the kick in the kiester I need to get creative.

So this week, I'm playing along with Freshly Made Sketches challenge #68. My friend, Jennifer Timko, is on the design team there, and I love seeing her take on the sketches! Here's the sketch for this week:

And here's my take on it:

I rotated it 90 degrees so the greeting would fit on the Everything Eleanor label. It's so soft and feminine looking IRL. I made one of Jennifer's magic bows, spritzed it with water and scrunched it up. Why is it the "messy" bows look so fabulous when someone else does them, and mine just looks sad?

Tomorrow, Mr. Brown is bringing more goodies from the Spring Catalog, woohoo! I had to exercise great restraint and wait to place my main order until after the first of the month. So now I'm anxiously waiting to see my favorite guy tomorrow (outside of immediate family members, lol)!

Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Vintage Verses (FREE Sale-A-Bration item, starts Jan. 27)

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory

Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Big Shot, Fancy Fan folder, Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon, Artisan Embellishment Kit (lace and button)

SU-Only Challenge #47

Now here is one challenge near and dear to my heart, for sure. The theme for this week's SUO Challenge #47 is Fancy Frills, and anything frilly, girly, or bling-y is right up my alley!

When I saw the new Finishing Touches Edgelits my heart sang, because there was a beautiful replacement for the retired Eyelet Border punch. I used the eyelet die on this card, layered with the new Large Scallop Edgelits.  Aren't they purdy together? They remind me of a little girl's dress!

The birds on the branch are from the Serene Silhouettes stamp set, which was at the top of my stamp wish list, too! Every one of the four images in that set will be put to good use in the coming months.


Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Itty Bitty Banners
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Large Scallop Edgelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Bring On The Cake

I first saw this style of card on Gina K's Stamp TV blog, and thought it would be a great card for a fancy folds class because it is quick and easy to do.

It's a fun gate-fold card with a twist - it has flaps on both sides!

Since I'm always in need of birthday cards, I made several to have on hand.  The patterned paper used was from the (now retired) Domestic Goddess DSP. The masculine version of the card, shown below, was the same sheet of paper, just the reverse side! Notice, no bling - just another strip of ribbon to balance the other side.

Stamps: Bring on the Cake (both the image & greeting)
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Domestic Goddess DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels

Happy Birthday, Sinister

That is what my sister and I call each other - I'm the big sinister, she's my little sinister. Today's the day she can order from the Senior menu at Denny's, lol!  (It's also National Margarita Day, but I digress....) Welcome to the senior club, seester!!!

This was the card that inspired her birthday card today. I loved the elegant simplicity of it, and the color as well, but my sini...I mean sister, being a red head, is more of an autumn-hues loving gal, so I grabbed the Cajun Craze and went from there.

And, in honor of her birthday, and N.M.D., and also in honor of my 'rita loving friend, Deb, I enjoyed a margarita tonight. Yes, just A margarita. It would have been two, but DH beat me to the leftovers in the pitcher.

Stamps: Elementary Elegance (Sale-A-Bration free set)

Cardstock: Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango

Ink: VersaMark, Soft Suede and Cajun Craze Classic

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Heat Tool, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Sponge Dauber, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Boho Blossoms Punch, Early Espresso 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, Early Espresso 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Fresh Favorites 1 Buttons (retired), waxed linen thread (non-SU)

Happy Birthday SUO Challenge #39

As some of you long-time visitors are aware, February is the month for an extraordinary number of birthdays in my family, so this SUO Challenge was really right up my alley!

The color inspiration for this card came by accident.....I had scraps of Blushing Bride paper laying on my very messy desk (left overs from the Birthday card class last week), when I accidentally knocked a dowel holding some spools of ribbon loose, and they all came crashing down on the desk and floor. The Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (retired) just happened to land on the Blushing Bride paper, and I really liked the combination, so I grabbed some cardstock and got to work. Since that ribbon is retired, and we're encouraged to use current items if we can, I opted for the pleated Blushing Bride ribbon. It's a lot easier to work with, anyway!

Stamps: Fresh Vintage, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Blushing Bride Textured, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Bravo Burgundy Classic Stampin' Pad, plus Bravo Burgundy, Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi, and Early Espresso Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, 1" Square Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Blushing Bride 1/2" Pleated Satin Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Swappin' Again

The swapping bug done bit me again, and I signed up for four groups in a birthday-theme swap at Stampin' Addicts. Originally it was only two groups, but FOMS (fear of missing something) took over, and somehow my name ended up in all four groups. I don't know how that happened, really.

I had to come up with a feminine, masculine, boy child, and general birthday design. This one is the feminine one. Could you tell? *grin*

This lovely image from the Bordering on Romance set is so much fun to color! The Shimmery White cardstock is a great alternative to the Watercolor Paper when using blender pens, and it looks awesome with it's shimmeriness (is that a word?).

Stamps: Bordering on Romance, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Shimmery White, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Pocketful of Posies DSP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, and Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pads
Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Blushing Bride pleated Satin Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, Blender Pens, Word Window Punch

Fresh Vintage Birthday

One of the new stamp sets from Sale-A-Bration (starts Jan. 24th!), is called Fresh Vintage, and is an absolutely lovely little set, all by itself. The fact that you can get it for FREE is icing on the cake! This card was inspired by another card I saw on Pinterest. I liked the way the frames were die cut into the layers, and knew it would be perfect for this birthday card.

Coloring is so much fun, whether it's coloring in a stamped image, or coloring on the stamp itself with markers, as was done here. The butterfly is made from Very Vanilla cardstock sprayed with Gold Smooch Spritz and cardstock weight vellum. The layer of vellum between the Very Vanilla layers gives it a somewhat ethereal look, but you can't really see it in the photo.

When using the Labels Collection Framelits dies, I cut both the DSP and the cardstock at the same time with the smaller frame (using Dotto to keep the layers from shifting). That made it easier to center the larger frame on just the DSP layer to make everything line up nicely. Both layers are popped up on dimensionals for extra depth.

Stamps: Fresh Vintage (SAB item), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Pool Party, Very Vanilla, White Vellum Cardstock, Attic Boutique DSP
Ink: Soft Suede Classic plus Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Gold Smooch Spritz, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Big Shot, Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

And yes, I know the DSP is upside down. Shhhhh, maybe no one will notice!

Much to be Thankful For!

Today I found out my Arizona grandkids will be here for Thanksgiving - WAHOOOO!  I haven't seen them in so long, I'll probably not recognize them. Just kidding, of course, but I'll bet my granddaughter is almost as tall as I am now. So, today I am thankful for getting to see the grands!

This is another card inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest. So, you see, I really don't spend all day on the computer looking at lovely schtuff. I do sometimes make schtuff, too!


Stamp: Party Time
Cardstock: Whisper White Textured, Elegant Eggplant, Concord Crush, Perfect Plum
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Elegant Lines embossing folder, Big Shot, Basic Pearls Jewels, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch, butterfly punch from Martha Stewart

I Love the Internet

I am sooooo appreciative of all the wonderful things that are available on the 'Net. (That's my gratitude for today, in case you missed it.)  I just discovered Pinterest, and a whole new world of wonderful ideas and creativity has been opened up for me! For instance, I found a tutorial for making these flowers, which inspired me to make this card.

Everything on this card is from Stampin' Up!, with the exception of two Nestabilities dies and a Martha Stewart punch.

Stamps: Perfectly Penned, En Francais
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Always Artichoke, Brushed Gold
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Big Shot, Birds and Blooms Sizzlits Die, Little Leaves Sizzlits Die, Gold Smooch Spritz, Basic Pearls Jewels, 5/8" Crochet Lace Trim, Champagne Shimmer spray

Happy Birthday!

 

Today is our beautiful, sweet, loving, daughter-in-law's birthday. We are so blessed that she is a part of our family!  I wanted to make a card that captures a bit of her sweet disposition, and hope this did so! This is a slight variation of the one we made in my upline's club last Saturday. Loved it so much, I had to CASE it!

Happy birthday, Kami!

Stamps: Simply Soft (Hostess), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, Beau Château Designer Series Paper
Ink: Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, Not Quite Navy and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Bug Shot Die-Cut Machine, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Marina Mist 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones Jewels

Is This Yours?

Heaven help me, I can't remember where I saw the card for this CASE. It was done in the lovely blue florals from the Springtime Vintage DSP, with Baja Breeze ribbon. If it's yours, please let me know so I can give proper credit! Edited to add:  It was Krystal's gorgeous card HERE that I copied. Thanks, Krystal, for the lovely inspiration!!!

There probably won't be any new posts for a couple of days - I have lots of projects I need to finish before Monday, including the 3x3 swaps for the demo swap over at Stampin' Addicts.