I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to become an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. After running in to my friend Sandy and seeing all of the beautiful cards that she makes I was intrigued about the products. After attending her workshop I was impressed. The quality of the stamps, inks, markers and other accessories was better than anything I had seen before. I stopped by her house and spoke to her about what joining entailed and signed up when I got home that night. I have been patiently waiting for my starter kit to arrive and after much package stalking it will be here today. I can’t wait to get it and start creating new cards with all of the great stuff. Hopefully I will be able to post something later on today. Wish me luck! And a special thanks to Sandy, for being a great and talented friend! 🙂
Cool Seasons Greetings
And by cool I mean color wise! This is a nice simple card that has a wintry feel about it. I used the new EK Tools Snowflake Layering Punch. I really like the layering punches, they give you a great look with minimal effort. I also used another one of my favorites, the CuttleBug Snowflake Embossing Folder for the background. The stamp I actually found in a box from years ago, still in great shape and very nice. For a final subtle touch, a nice thin natural string bow. I’m looking forward to making many more holiday  cards!
Happy Anniversary
Today is my parent’s wedding anniversary. I think they have been together for 43 years! I like to make cards specific to a persons taste. My mom loves the color purple and butterflies. That made designing this card simple. I used my Butterfly Layering Punch from EK Tools and punched out two different shades of purple. I also used the CuttleBug Swirls Embossing Folder for the background. The stamps are from studio g. Unfortunately I didn’t have a happy anniversary stamp so I used two different ones that convey the same message. My mom loved the card and the fact that I used her favorite color and that I used butterflies which she commented on as soon as she opened it! I hope that they have many more happy years together!
Mojo Monday 207
It seems like forever since the last Mojo Monday, but it’s only been two weeks. I’m glad that they are back and hope they all had a nice vacation! This weeks sketch challenge is a nice one. I love all of the pieces that are on the card. I have been trying to get into the Christmas spirit early this year so I can start making my Christmas cards now. This sketch was a perfect one for a holiday card. I used the CuttleBug Snow Embossing Folder for the background and the red rectangle. I also used the CuttleBug Dots Embossing Folder for the oval. The homemade “designer” paper was made using a Martha Stewart Holiday stamp set that I got from Michael’s in March for $.01! It has bout 14 stamps in it. I also used it for the Season’s Greetings. The Holly and Snowflakes are Mini EK Tools punches. I love all of the texture on the card. I think it gives it a nice warm feeling. Thanks for looking!
Nautical Thinking of You
I made this card a while ago but I didn’t want to post it until I knew the person I sent it to had received it. I think that she reads my blog from time to time! The stamp set if from the Stampin’ Up! Summer Mini Catalog. I love all of the stamps that came with this set but I am particularly fond of the world map. There is so much detail in the stamp it’s amazing! This card is nice and simple, I used the compass stamp from the set to make a nice background paper. The card stock is a nice beep blue, fitting with the theme. The thinking of you stamp is from studio g. It had a flower on it that I did’t want but thanks to my techniques class (given by the talented Sandy!) and a stamp marker I was able to eliminate the flower and just use the part of the stamp that I wanted. I hope that you like the card as much as my friend did.
Some More Flowers
It was my Birthday last week and while I love getting cards (like the beautiful one from my friend Sandy!) I love making them and sending them out even more. I sent out some thank you cards to friends and family but I had to make a special simple card for my grandmother. She’s in her 90’s and lives in Pennsylvania. I’ll always remember all of the flowers that she used to plant in her garden every spring. There was every kind imaginable. She doesn’t get to do that anymore so I thought she might like some on her card. I used the Polka Dots Embossing Folder from CuttleBug for the background. The stamp is from the Stampin’ Up! retired Terrific Tags set along with the Tag Punch. I used EK Tools Flower and Retro Flower Two Piece Punch set to punch out the flowers and the GingerBread Man Builder Punch to punch out the centers for the flowers. A little bit of jute string finishes off the tag.
Celebration Maple Leaf
The cooler temperatures are making me think of warm clothes, hot chocolate and falling leaves which makes me think of the EK Tools Maple Leaf Layering Punch. It creates a very nice dimensional effect with minimal effort. I used my “new” retired host(ess) Stampin’ Up! set Afterthoughts for the greeting. I got it from Etsy from this really nice lady that included all kinds of presents with it. I love it when you buy something on-line and you think I’d be friends with that person because they were so great! I also used the Tim Holtz Tree Trunk Embossing Folder by Sizzix for a nice additional texture. They would make great invitations to a Thanksgiving celebration or a fall apple picking outing!
CR84FN Color Challenge
I’m a big fan of Sunday mornings. I try to make sure that I have nothing to do so I can craft for a bit, read the paper with my coffee and play with my dog Winston. I have been looking at the CR84FN blog for a while and I decided to enter this week. The challenge colors remind me of Good ‘n Plenty candies! As soon as I saw the challenge I knew what I wanted to do. The background is the Tim Holtz by Sizzix Brick Wall Embossing Folder. I love it because I think it looks quite realistic! I used one of my Phrase Stamps from studio g, I really like the script and typewriter font together. The Flower Punched are from EK Tools and I finished them off with some silver mirrored circle that I have had for years. The 3D dots give it some depth and the abstract flower pot is a nice finishing touch. Thanks for looking!
Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge 191
It’s been really cold the past few days so it’s making think about saying goodbye to summer and getting ready for the holidays. I’m not really a big fan of the winter, especially not the snow. The holidays however are one of my favorite times of the year. This weeks Techo Stamper layout is quite nice. I’m starting to make a few more holiday cards and I really love my little GingerBread Man Punch from EK Tools. He’s such a happy little guy. I used the CuttleBug Snowflake Embossing Folder and I stamped the “ribbon” with an Inkadinkado snowflake stamp. The Scalloped Circle Punch from EK Tools was the perfect size for the right side background. I finished it off with the 1 inch Scalloped Circle Punch and Snowflake punch from EK Tools. I can almost smell the gingerbread when I look at him!
Pals Paper Arts 111
The challenge for this weeks Pals Paper Arts was a really nice layout. I felt inspired by the sea shell stamp that I have from Inkadinkado. It’s also a kind of farewell to summer seeing as it’s been a little chilly these past few days. The blue and beige conjure up the sea and sand. I used the Martha Stewart Crafts Deco Shell Edge Punch from EK Tools for the divider and the Sand Dollar Punch across the top. The Embossing Folder from CuttleBug has a wave like look and the thank you stamp is from studio g. I also used the Postage Stamp Edger from EK Tools. Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy. 🙂
