Thursday, July 31, 2014

Clean and Simple Bling

The day before the #InspireCreateShare2014 Stampin' Up Convention began, Lydia Fiedler (of Splitcoast Stampers fame) hosted a "Unwind Retreat"--stamping classes intended to inform and relax us after our long journey. Sometimes the Stampin' Up! convention can seem like a frenzy, but Lydia's classes were relaxing and FUN! I'm definitely going to come a day early to convention so I can attend Lydia's "Unwind Retreat" next year, too!

One of the classes was on creating clean and simple cards. Lydia taught us that one of the most important things about the clean and simple style is that the design must be perfectly executed. You can have any wonky mistakes (my words) because there's only a little bit of stamping on the card.

Here's one of the cards we made during the class. I call it, "clean and simple with bling"!

(Stamp Set: Project Life Remember This; Ink: Stazon Black; Card Stock: Crumb Cake; Accessories: Sticky Strip, 2013-2015 In Color Sequins, Gold Glitter)


Lydia provided the card with the sentiment already stamped (no stressing over getting it in just the right spot) and with the sticky strip already applied. All we had to do was choose and arrange our sequins, peel the backing off the sticky strip, and place the sequins. That was cool. But what made it AWESOME was that we then sprinkled gold glitter on top, which stuck to the sticky strip in between the sequins. Stunning!!

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

I Can Haz Color?

One of the LOL Cat memes is "I can haz"--you've seen it right? Look at this cute little kitty.  Reminds me of my Bo.



But I digress. You may have read on my blog that I don't like to color because I'm not very good at it and I'm never satisfied with the way my coloring looks. But coloring is growing on me now that Stampin' Up! has introduced Blendabilities alcohol-based markers!! I had a couple of opportunities to play with Blendabilities during the #InspireCreateShare2014 Stampin' Up! convention. Here's a little something I made.

(Stamp Set: Today and Everyday; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Card Stock: Coastal Cabana, Basic Black, Whisper White; Accessories: Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine; Blendabilities: Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight)

The Stampin' Up! helper stamped the image from the "Today and Everyday" stamp set for me and then coached me as I colored the lanterns. I think it turned out pretty well. I brought my little work of art home and I layered it on a panel of Basic Black and then onto a Coastal Cabana card base. I added some Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine and I was done. Easy-peasy and I think I can haz color!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Blackberry Bliss--Paper Pumpkin July 2014

Wowza! The Paper Pumpkin kit for July is AWESOMESAUCE! Really. It comes with enough materials to make 8 cards and matching boxes with tags. The cute set has 10 photopolymer stamps that you can combine to make all kinds of greetings. There's enough Whisper White Baker's Twine AND Satin Ribbon to hang your laundry--plus wonderful self-adhesive embellishments. And the kit comes with a Blackberry Bliss Stampin' Spot. The dark colors in the photo are really Blackberry Bliss, but I can never get the lighting right, sorry JT!)

Here's the basic card and box that I made following the illustrated instructions that are included in the kit. The only extra supplies I needed was a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon and a ruler. Really. It's that easy!

(July 2014 Paper Pumpkin kit)

Here's the Stampin' Up! video "reveal" for the July 2014 Paper Pumpkin. You can see all the goodies that come with it, all the finished products that you can make with it, and you can see how truly simple it it to make.




Now that you've seen Paper Pumpkin, I know you're going to want to subscribe. Now is the perfect time because NEW subscribers can get their first two months at 50% off (ONLY through September 10)! If you'd like to give a gift subscription--or if you'd like to subscribe yourself--click on the Paper Pumpkin button over there on the left side of my blog and that will take you right to my Paper Pumpkin website. Enter the Promo Code, "HALFOFF2" when you sign up.



Check out the Pinterest page to see some awesome projects people have made with the July 2014 Paper Pumpkin. There are always alternate projects on the Pinterest page each month. So, you can follow the instructions, or you can step up your Paper Pumpkin every month. AWESOMESAUCE!!

Monday, July 28, 2014

Watercolor Thank You

This evening, I'm part of a "Christmas in July" event in Annapolis, Maryland. Several of my friends who also have DSA* businesses are holding the event at Harry Browne's and have invited their customers to attend. I'm so glad they asked me along. It's fun to meet new people who could become new friends and new customers.

I'm going to be selling stamped cards and home decor items and I'm going to be telling everyone about the great Stampin' Up! products that I sell.  I'm going to have a Paper Pumpkin display--a Paper Pumpkin subscription would make a wonderful Christmas gift for the crafty person on your list! In fact, right now, through September 10th, when you subscribe you get 50% off your first two months! If you'd like to give a gift subscription--or if you'd like to subscribe yourself--click on the Paper Pumpkin button over there on the left side of my blog and that will take you right to my Paper Pumpkin website. Enter the Promo Code, "HALFOFF2" when you sign up.





Anyway, I wanted to share with you the stepped up version of the make and take the guests at the "Christmas in July" will be making tonight. The guests will make a simpler version--just the watercolor wash, the "Watercolor Thank You" stamp, and the washi tape on Whisper White card stock. I wanted to show them how to go from simple to stepped up with a few extra layers and accessories.

(Stamp Set: Watercolor Thank You; Ink: Pool Party; Card Stock: Pool Party, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White; Accessories: Aqua Painter, Beach House Washi Tape, Basic Rhinestones)

Friday, July 25, 2014

Another Convention Quality Swap Card

I participated in four organized swaps at #InspireCreateShare2014 convention this year. I also attended a pre-convention Unwind Retreat hosted by Splitcoast Stampers Community Manager, Lydia Fiedler. The Unwind Retreat was followed by a happy hour where SCS members could meet up with each other. I met a lovely woman named Patti McDermott. I recognized her name from, oh, somewhere, but I couldn't place it.

I showed up at my first swap--the Very Vintage swap--and there was Patti! I said, "Oh now, I know why I recognize your name!" I showed up at my second swap--Lyssa's Convention Quality swap--and there was Patti! We both laughed. I showed up at my third swap--Over the Top Tags--and, you guessed it--there was Patti! Kind of funny that we'd signed up for all the best swaps together.

When I got home and really had a chance to take a look at my swaps, I chose my favorite swap from each group to share with you here on my blog. I chose this card, and when I flipped it over to see the artist--there was Patti!!! Too funny! Here's Patty's amazing card.

(Stamp Sets: A Dozen Thoughts, Pictogram Punches, Chalklines; Inks: Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist, Mossy Meadow; Card Stock: Lost Lagoon, Whisper White; Accessories: Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Mossy Meadow Stampin' Write Marker (to color in the Chalklines image), Basic Rhinestones)

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Lyssa's Convention Quality Card

As promised, for the next few days, I'm going to share some cards I got in Lyssa Zwolanek's "convention quality swap." I received some awesome cards from some awesome artists, but one of my favorite cards came from Lyssa herself!! How fun is that?! Lyssa always organizes the swap, takes care of the administrivia prior to the swap, makes sure the swap runs smoothly--AND participates in the swap. (Some swap hosts do a "plus-one" which means you make an extra item for the host as their "gift" for all the organizing. I think that's fair 'cause it's a LOT of work.)

I was one of the "swap captains" for one of the SIX swap groups--an easy job because Lyssa really does all the work. I just checked people in and made sure everyone got all 15 cards. Somehow I ended up with an extra card that Lyssa had made and she let me keep it! Yay! It's one of the cards she designed for the display board and it's awesome. I love the gold circlet. I'm going to have to CASE that. I think it would be a great addition to a Christmas card, don't you?

(Stamp Set: Kinda Eclectic; Ink: Coastal Cabana; Card Stock: Pool Party, Coastal Cabana; Accessories: Gold Foil Sheet, Circles Framelits Collection, Elegant and Bitty Butterfly Punches, Basic Pearls)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Over the Top Tag: Blooming Birthday

I love all the over the top tags I received at the Stampin' Up convention. But the one I'm sharing with you today is my absolute favorite. It was made by Charlene Becker from Sacramento, CA. She was at convention with her sweet 6-month old daughter! Here's the wonderful tag she made (how'd she have time for that?).


(Stamp Set: Flower Patch: Inks: So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Old Olive, Early Espresso; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay; Accessories: Flower Fair Framelits, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, Tea Lace Paper Doily, Basic Rhinestones, Burlap Ribbon, Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine, Crush Curry Embossing Powder, In Color Sequins)

Totes adorbs, right? Tomorrow I'll have a swap from Lyssa Zwolanek's "convention quality swap."

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Very Vintage: Sweet Baby

Wow! Stampin' Up Convention was awesome--as always. I learned so many new techniques, came home with so much new product, got some great ideas for upcoming classes! 

But first, let me share with you a few of the swaps I received. I've already shared the swaps I took to convention--now you get to see some of the great cards I got in return.  For the next few days I'm going to be sharing some of my favorite swap cards. You'll love them. And don't worry: I'll be back in the stamping studio designing my own stuff very soon.

I received this ever so sweet baby card in the "very vintage" swap. The card was made by Wendy Carpenter from Sacramento, California. 

(Stamp Sets: I Love Lace (background), Something for Baby, Itty Bitty Banners; Card Stock: Soft Suede, Blushing Bride, Whisper White; Inks: Stazon White, Soft Suede; Accessories: Baby's First and Bitty Banners Framelits, Lovely Lace Embossing Folder, Venetian Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Tea Lace Paper Doily)
Isn't this amazing?! I love it so much!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's offering!!

Monday, July 21, 2014

My Convention Swaps: Very Vintage

I'm home from the Stampin' Up convention. It was a whirlwind of activity and I fell into my very comfy hotel bed exhausted and happy every night! I can't wait to go next year. 

Today I'm sharing the last of my swap cards. I think this is the third time I've joined the "Very Vintage" card swap. It's hosted by the lovely Barbara Welch from Phoenix, Arizona. I know she's lovely because Barbara and I waited in line for a loooong time to get into the make-and-take area one year. She and I sat at the same table and she took charge of making sure everyone got their projects completed and everyone shared the supplies. She was very sweet.

I also love Barbara's vintage style. I guess I'm kind of a vintage girl myself. I find that style comfortable. I like the soft colors and layers and embellishments that are used for a vintage look. I struggled with my design this year because none of our current designer series papers are vintage-y--which surprises me because Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up Co-Founder and CEO, is a very vintage type of girl. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some vintage style Christmas DSP!

Enough gabbing. Here's the card I made for the "Very Vintage" card swap.

(Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms, Six-Sided Sampler; Inks: Soft Sky, Soft Suede; Card Stock: Soft Suede, Soft Sky,Very Vanilla; Accessories: Scallop Topper Label Punch, Modern Label Punch, Envelope Punch Board (to round tag and card corners), Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Soft Sky and Soft Suede Seam Binding, Linen Thread, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Basic Pearls)

I used my brayer to color the Tea Lace Paper Doilies Soft Sky and the Stamp-a-ma-Jig to line up the layers on the flowers. I love the Soft Suede and Soft Sky color combo!


I can't wait to share some of my favorite swaps from convention over the next few weeks!

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Creation Station Blog Hop--In the Garden



Welcome to another edition of Creation Station! This time our theme is "in the garden" and we're featuring the new photopolyer stamp set, "Flower Patch." We're also using the Decorative Masks in some of our creations. Let's get started.

My first project is a gift bag. I used the heart pattern from the Decorative Masks. (The other pattern is stars.) I used a sponge dauber and dabbed Melon Mambo ink along the side of the bag. 

(Ink: Melon Mambo; Card Stock: Melon Mambo; Accessories: Decorative Mask, Banner Framelits Collection, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Gold Fancy Foil Vellum, Spiral Flower Original Die, Melon Mambo 1/8" Cotton Ribbon, Gold Sequin Trim)


Then I made a coordinating tag used the Banners Framelits collection and lots of bling! I used Champagne Glimmer Paper, Gold Fancy Foil Vellum, and Gold Sequin Trim. I mounted the vellum onto a Melon Mambo banner using snail adhesive that I covered with two strips of Melon Mambo 1/8" Cotton Ribbon. Since the theme is "in the garden," I added a Melon Mambo flower using the Spiral Flower Original Die. If you look closely: I added a few gold sequins in the center of the flower.

(Ink: Melon Mambo; Card Stock: Melon Mambo; Accessories: Decorative Mask, Banner Framelits Collection, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Gold Fancy Foil Vellum, Spiral Flower Original Die, Melon Mambo 1/8" Cotton Ribbon, Gold Sequin Trim)

My next project is a card using the "Flower Patch" stamp set. It doesn't look like it in the photo, but the card is mounted on a Melon Mambo base. The flowers are stamped in Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, and Daffodil Delight. I mounted the stamped piece on a layer of Basic Black just to give a little more pop!

(Stamp Set: Flower Patch; Inks: Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight; Black Stazon; Card Stock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White; Accessories: Apothecary Accents Framelits Collection, Whisper White 1/8" Cotton Ribbon)

I hope you enjoyed my creations. Next up is Cindy Beach.  You should be able to follow the blog hop all the way around by clicking the "back" and "next" buttons. Some of us are traveling home from the Stampin' Up convention, so we may have to fix our links on Monday.

http://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/2014/07/creation-station-blog-hop-forever-always.htmlhttp://stampspaperandink.typepad.com/stamps_paper_and_ink/2014/07/creation-station-blog-hop-.html

Saturday, July 19, 2014

#InspireCreateShare2014 (Stampin' Up Convention)

I'm going to leave this post at the top of my blog for the next week as I gear up for and attend the Stampin' Up convention!!

I'll be tweeting LIVE from the Stampin' Up Convention next week using the official #InspireCreateShare2014 hashtag. If you want to follow me, I'm @kkstamps.

Friday, July 18, 2014

My Convention Swaps: Now This is Convention Quality--Angel Style

In the run-up to the Stampin' Up convention, most of the organized swaps fill up FAST! Sometimes the host will open another group--but the more groups, the more unwieldy the swap becomes (and the more nightmarish the whole things becomes for the host). Sometimes hosts will open a waiting list where the late-comers wait in hopes some other swapper has bitten off more than he or she can chew and have to drop out. (You know, like signing up for too dang many swaps!) The wait listers know a bit prior to the event whether they will or will not need to make cards for the swap.

And sometimes, the host asks for "angel swappers." These are swappers who make the full contingent of cards and wait at the swap site in case someone "flakes"--forgets the time/place, decides they didn't want to participate, missed their flight into Salt Lake City (hey, it happens). The angels may or may not get to swap, even though they've done all the work. Awww!

I volunteered to be an angel swapper for Lyssa Zwolanek's convention quality swap. I've made up a set of cards just in case someone in another group "flakes" and can't fulfill the obligation to make all the cards. I might or might not get to swap these cards in the CQS swap. I can use them as "general" swaps in that case.

Anyway....

(Stamp Sets: Traveler, Perfect Pennants; Ink: Basic Gray; Card Stock: Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla; DSP: Typeset; Accessories: Argyle Embossing Folder; Window Frames and Banners Framelits Collections, Epic Day Washi Tape, Festive Piercing Template, Basic Rhinestones)
You may recognize this card. It's based on this one. I liked that design so much, I CASE'd myself! But this time I added the globe from the Traveler set and the "hello" banner from the Perfect Pennants set.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

My Convention Swaps: Now This Is Convention Quality!!

One of my stamping heroes, Lyssa Zwolanek, hosts a "convention quality" swap every year. The rules are quite strict, but that ensures that you get high quality swaps in return. I perseverate a little over whether my swaps are "convention quality." They must be at least three layers (check), have at least one embellishment (check), and be nicely stamped (check). What Lyssa doesn't say--and the "rule" I put on myself is that the design needs to be on par with the other stampers. Yikes!

Here's the card I came up with for the CQS. Tomorrow I'll share the angel CQS swap card.

(Stamp Set: Pictogram Punches; Inks: Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight; Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White; DSP: Park Lane; Accessories: Zig Zag Embossing Folder, Banners Framelits Collection, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Fringe Scissors, Whisper White 1/8" Cotton Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones)
I used my fringe scissors to add some interest on the Basic Black mat. I stamped a star from the Pictogram Punches set in Daffodil Delight and mounted it on the greeting. Kinda cute if I do say so myself (and I do).

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

My Convention Swaps: Sweet Treats

You know, sometimes, I just bite off a bit more than I can chew....but then I keep chewing and I get there. (If you've seen my not so svelte shape, you'll understand). 

I saw a swap pop up in one of the Stampin' Up Yahoo groups that I subscribe to. It's a swap of treat containers. I thought I could some envelope punch board pouches for the swap. Yeah, only 26 of these!! Yikes! But since I've made these coolio pouches a number of times, I didn't have to do much designing. And the Sweet Taffy DSP is so yummy! Like a treat!

Here are examples of the four types of treat pouches.

(Stamp Set: Label Love; Ink: Tempting Turquoise; Card Stock: Whisper White; DSP: Sweet Taffy; Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Artisan Label Punch, Melon Mambo 1/8" Cotton Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine)
Here's a close up ('cause it looks artsy).

(Stamp Set: Label Love; Ink: Tempting Turquoise; Card Stock: Whisper White; DSP: Sweet Taffy; Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Artisan Label Punch, Melon Mambo 1/8" Cotton Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine)

I hope I can lug home 26 treat containers, along with my other swaps. Yikes again! What was I thinking?!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

My Convention Swaps: Over the Top Tags

I'm sitting in the lobby sipping a Cosmo in the beautiful and funky Monaco Hotel in the center of the stamping universe: Salt Lake City, Utah!

This week I'll be sharing the swaps I've made for convention. I'm in 4 organized swaps--that means there is a hostess and rules to follow for the creation. Mostly the rules are: make it "convention quality." That means do your very best work.

I saw a call for the "Over the Top Tags" swap and thought that would be fun so I signed up right away. And then the panic set in! The rules said that the tag had to be at least 3-1/2" by 6" (including ribbon). That's one whopper of a tag! I had an idea but it just didn't pan out. So....off to Pinterest! I found a bunch of ideas there and came up with a bling-y, vintage-y design.

(Stamp Sets: Everything Eleanor, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink: Black Stazon; Card Stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla; Specialty Papers: Typeset and Champagne Glimmer Paper; Accessories: Banners Framelits Collection, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Antique Brads)
The Champagne Glimmer banner is the largest in the Banners Framelits Collection, so I had to make my own ginormous Basic Black tag base, Very Vanilla tag layer, and Typeset Specialty Paper tag layer. 

Can't wait to share the tags I get in return!!

Monday, July 14, 2014

I Miss You Already

I'm leaving on a jet plane tomorrow morning at o-dark-thirty. I don't know why I booked a flight that leaves at 5:59 AM. Oh yeah, 'cause it was cheaper. I'm heading for the (cue sounds of heavenly choirs) Stampin' Up convention!!! I can't wait. I'm all packed. My swaps are bagged and tagged (they're in their cello envelopes and have my Stampin' Up business cards tucked inside.) All my family chores are done. I could go to bed as soon as I post this, but nope. I want to make some "general" swaps. I'm still aiming for a midnight bedtime!

Anyway, I made this card based on a sketch over at the Paper Craft Crew Challenge blog. Here's the sketch.

PCCC 71-100-011

Here's my card.

(Stamp Set: Really Good Greetings; Ink: Calypso Coral; Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Calypso Coral; DSP: Park Lane; Accessories: Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Circles and Starburst Framelit Collections, Banner Punch, Whisper White 1/8" Cotton Ribbon)
I'm going to leave this card for my DH because he's staying home with the kids and doing all the chores while I'm off gallivanting with my SU peeps!! (The only difference is that I'll be away. DH does everything around here already! He's a keeper!)

Friday, July 11, 2014

Happy Birthday, Bro

So, my brother's birthday is tomorrow. I've been meaning to make a card for him all week. But I'm buried in convention swap "card parts." And tonight I attended my BFF's new catalog open house. (My BFF is also my downline.) I knew I'd be there for a while this evening, but I also knew she had planned a really cute make and take card. And I knew that I could convert that make and take into a birthday card for my bro! And I knew I could use that card on my blog tonight. Winning!

Here's the ever-so-cute card my BFF, Lynn Birus, designed (based on a design she saw on Pintrest).

(Stamp Sets: Sea Street, Four Wishes; Inks: Real Red, Night of Navy, Pool Party; Card Stock: Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White; DSP: Maritime; Accessories: Banner Punch, Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine, Stampin' Spritzer, Piercing Tool)
The "sea" behind the octopus is made by stamping a clear block directly into the Pool Party ink pad and spritzing it with alcohol from a Stampin' Spritzer. The little crabbie flag is attached to the octopus by using a Piercing Tool and punching just above and below one tentacle and threading a toothpick through. So cute!!

Thursday, July 10, 2014

When I Need A Friend

The "Choose Happiness" set is becoming one of my favorites. It's got a lot of different elements to it. I originally spotted the woodgrain banner stamp that matches our Banners Collection Framelits...but I haven't even mounted that stamp yet. I've been having so much fun playing with the other stamps in this set.

This week's Nacho Average challenge is a clean and simple sketch challenge. I grabbed a piece of Lullaby DSP as my starting point and picked up the "Choose Happiness" set which I'd "filed" on the floor next to my desk and got to work.

Here's the sketch.



Here's my card.

(Stamp Set: Choose Happiness; Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White; DSP: Lullaby; Accessories: Blender Pens)

I thought the stamped flower was a bit, um, sparse, so I got out my blender pen and colored in the flower. As you might remember, I hate to color because I'm not very good at it. But I think it turned out pretty well.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Everything Will Be OK

What a wonderful sentiment! And for those of us who are followers of Christ, we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those that love the God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Today's card is based on a sketch on CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge blog. I haven't visited this blog for a while, but I need to do so more often. I love the clean and simple sketch challenges the design team comes up with. Here's this week's sketch:



Here's the card I created.

(Stamp Sets: Really Good Greetings, Petite Petals; Ink: Soft Suede; Card Stock: Very Vanilla,Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette; Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Deco Labels Framelit Collection, Petite Petals Punch, Pink Pirouette Seam Binding, Basic Pearls)

Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, and Pink Pirouette is one of my favorite color combinations. I especially love the Pink Pirouette Seam Binding. It's so sweet!

I have to run off now. Those swap cards aren't going to make themselves.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

You're A Star!

Even though I should be working on my swap cards for convention, I can't neglect my blog and my goal to post every week day. So that means taking time to create a new card each day. Today I'm playing along with the Create with Connie and Mary color challenge. I fell in love with this color combo as soon as I saw it! You should check out what the C&M design team has created--their cards are fabulous!!

This week's color challenge is

Week 2

Aren't these colors great?!! Here's my card.

(Stamp Set: Pictogram Punches; Inks: Coastal Cabana, Hello Honey; Card Stock: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Hello Honey, Baked Brown Sugar; DSP: Lullaby; Accessories: Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Ovals and Deco Labels Framelit Collections, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones)
I really like how this card turned out. If I have time (bwhahaha!) I might make a few extras for swap cards for convention.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Shabby Chic Happiness

I've been furiously designing and cutting paper for my Stampin' Up Convention swap cards. I leave next Tuesday and I'm not ready at all. But the hardest part is done: I've designed all my projects. I'm in 3 organized swaps--those are swaps with theme and rules. I'm an angel swapper for one of the organized swaps--that means if someone doesn't show up, I have a set of extra cards ready to swap so that all the participants go home with a full set of swaps. And I want to make some general swap cards, because it's so much fun to swap. Like I said, everything is designed; one project is finished; one project is cut and ready to stamp and assemble; and two projects, well, they're still waiting....I haven't started my general swaps, but I have an idea of what I want to do.

In the meantime, this is one of my swap "rejects." I like it all right, but I'm not sure it's exactly "convention quality." The idea and the execution just didn't turn out. I'm going to try this again when I'm not pressed for time. I like the color combo. I like the layout. It's just missing that je ne sais quoi. If you sais quoi, please, let me know. I'd be happy to accept any and all ideas on improving this card!

(Stamp Set: Choose Happiness; Ink: Mossy Meadow; Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Blackberry Bliss, Crumb Cake; Accessories: Blackberry Bliss and Mossy Meadow Stampin' Write Markers, Bracket Label Punch, Mossy Meadow Stitched Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread)


Sunday, July 6, 2014

Creation Station Blog Hop--Confetti!!


Hello and welcome to this installment of the Creation Station blog hop! This time we're featuring the new set "Dotty Angles" and the theme for our hop is CONFETTI! We just celebrated the 4th of July and saw some amazing fireworks--which are like confetti in the sky. Let's kick off the summer by keeping the confetti theme going for a few more days!


If you're following the blog around, you'll have just come from Jen's wonderful creations. If you started here, you can use the "next" and "back" buttons below to follow the blog all the way around.

Let's take a look at what I've created. First up, is a clean and simple card using one of my favorite color combinations: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, and Whisper White. I used the dotted stamp from the "Dotty Angles" set to make a border on the bottom of the card. I tied on a piece of Melon Mambo 1/8" Cotton Ribbon and stamped the sentiment from the "Choose Happiness" set on top of the ribbon, using my stamp-a-ma-jig to get it positioned just right.

(Stamp Sets: Dotty Angles, Choose Happiness; Inks: Melon Mambo, Stazon Basic Black; Card Stock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White; Accessories: Melon Mambo Cotton Ribbon)

Next, I've made a card and an envelope. Here's the card inside the envelope. (Directions for making this envelop can be found here on a previous blog post.) It was a pleasant "accident" that the card I'd made fit into the same size envelope I've used as a treat holder! I used a piece of dotty Melon Mambo DSP from the Sweet Taffy DSP pack.

(Card Stock: Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo; DSP: Sweet Taffy; Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Angled Tag Topper Punch, Window Punch, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Melon Mambo Cotton Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine)

The tag card is made starting with a 4-1/4" x 6" piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock that I'd stamped the dots onto. Next, I scored the cardstock at 2" and then flipped it over and scored at 2"--forming a peak and valley. I folded the cardstock into thirds and punched the top with the Angled Tag Topper punch and then flattened it out to run it through the Big Shot with the Decorative Dots Embossing folder.

I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock and punched it out with the Label Bracket Punch. I punched apiece of Melon Mambo with the same punch and cut it in half to mount behind, giving the sentiment a pop of color. I mounted the sentiment using Stampin' Dimensionals.


(Stamp Sets: Dotty Angles, Yippee-Skippee!; Card Stock: Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo; DSP: Sweet Taffy; Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Angled Tag Topper Punch, Window Punch, Label Bracket Punch, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Melon Mambo Cotton Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine)

My final project is a card made with the new Confetti DSP. I choose a sheet with triangles so that I could use the triangles stamp from the "Dotty Angles" set. I stamped the triangles in Versamark on a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock. I forgot that you should use the foam piercing pad underneath your cardstock with photopolymer stamps, but I had another lucky "accident" because the triangles are different saturations, which I think is a cool look. It was really easy to line them up for the subsequent rows because you can see right through the clear photopolymer stamp.

 
(Stamp Sets: Dotty Angles, Really Good Greetings; Inks: Versamark, Basic Gray; Card Stock: Basic Gray, Crush Curry, Bermuda Bay; DSP: Confetti; Accessories: Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Bermuda Bay Candy Dots)


I hope you enjoyed my projects made with the "Dotty Angles" stamp set and enjoyed the confetti theme. Keep the fun going by clicking on the "next" button to see Cindy Beach's marvelous work.


http://stampspaperandink.typepad.com/stamps_paper_and_ink/2014/07/creation-station-blog-hop-confetti.htmlhttp://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/2014/07/creation-station-blog-hop-confetti.html



Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy Fourth of July!

When I got the June Paper Pumpkin kit and finished my "Paper Pumpkin Happy Dance" I immediately followed the directions (I'm a firstborn and and ISTJ--it's what we do) and made the pinwheels and plopped them into a mason jar. So cute! If you missed it, you can see it here on my previous blog post.

Since the new and improved Paper Pumpkin kits are jam-packed with supplies, I knew I wanted to make a patriotic banner for the Fourth of July (and face it, the banner may stay up until Christmas...). Here's the banner hanging on my mantel. You can see the mason jar with the pinwheels on the right (next to my handsome son's high school graduation picture--that's him in 5th grade on the left of the clock!)

© Stampin’ Up!


Here's a closer shot of the pinwheels (and you can see all three of my kids in their middle school portraits):

© Stampin’ Up!


and a closer view so you can see how I attached the pinwheels to the Basic Gray Baker's Twine and decorative paper clip embellishments that came with the kit.

© Stampin’ Up!


And after both projects, I still have supplies leftover: 3 pinwheels, 3 paper clips, 3 big silver brads, several yards of Basic Gray Baker's Twine, 24 4"x6" cello bags, 21 striped paper straws (which my DD claimed because "they're so cool and I always wanted to use straws like this"), and 21 Whisper White pre-cut banners. Of course, I still have the "Pinwheel Party" photopolymer stamp set and the Night of Navy Stampin' Spot.

I hope you and your family enjoy celebrating our nation's birthday and that you take some time to remember the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform--and those who went before the--who defend our nation.

Oh! And don't forget to check back here on Sunday for another Creation Station blog hop!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

I Choose Happiness

Seems like I'm giving out a lot of advice lately: my kids, my coworkers, my friends. My underlying theme for my life and what I like to pass on to others is that happiness is a choice. I choose to be happy--even when things aren't really going my way. I try to stop wallowing in my own whatever and give my problem to God. I choose to let Him take care of my concerns (sometimes it's hard to let go, but I get there eventually). I choose to be happy.

When I saw Stampin' Up's new set, "Choose Happiness," I knew I had to have it! And it's a collage-type stamp set, too, which I love to play around with. The set just arrived today along with some other goodies that I'll be using to make my Stampin' Up Convention swap cards. I know I'll be using it over and over!

Today's card is based on a sketch on the Paper Craft Crew Challenge blog. Here's the sketch:

Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch #100

Here's my card:

(Stamp Sets: Choose Happiness, Petite Petals; Ink: Blackberry Bliss; Card Stock: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Whisper White; DSP: Park Lane; Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Starburst and Chalk Talk Framelit Collections, Whisper White Cotton Ribbon, Petite Petals Punch, Old Olive Candy Dots)
I'm liking these bright colors together. I really went with the polka dot theme--Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, the multi-colored polka dot DSP from the Park Lane collection, the polka dot flower from the Petite Petals set, and even the Old Olive Candy Dots!