Flowers, Flowers, Flowers!

One of my co-workers mentioned it was her birthday 'tomorrow', and I just happened to have the embossed cloud background waiting for a card!  I saw a card like this, and made many changes to come up with this design.  I punched out the bird from vellum, the Happy Birthday is stamped on a tag, and I used DSP from Valentine's Day as the flower backgrounds with pink flowers in front for dimension.

Lots of people from work stopped by to sign it, and Ms. Clarice loved the card!

I saw this card originally as a "Thinking of You" card.  Since I already had the stamp set out and available, I used the sentiment and small butterfly.  The large butterfly image is punched from vellum and inked in pink. Before mounting the center oval, I made cuts in the pink scallop oval, inked them and separated them a little.  TIP:  Use sharpie on the rhinestones to give the flower centers some color.  This also works on the pearls.

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Stampin' Up Dallas Regional!

 I am SO SO SO SO SO excited!

There is a Stampin' Up Regional Meeting in Dallas, on February 16th.
Why am I so excited??  Because I'll be there, AND I'll be back in TEXAS!  WHOO HOOOOOOOO

Feels just like "Old Home Week!". :)

I'll be able to tell you more about this even when I return - since it's only the 2nd one I've attended, and this one is a full-day event.

At these huge events - I estimate there will be over a thousand demonstrators there, & swaps are 'encouraged'.  Basically, you come up with  a card design, make however many you want to, and use them as trades.  Give one, get one basically.

I made 3 designs, with a total of 50 of each card.
Now you know why I've been a little absent on the blog lately.  I've been at these for quite awhile, as you'll see.

 1st card:  Rainy-Day Inchies Thank You; Stamps:  Spring Sampler, Perfectly Penned.  Paper:  Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Whisper White.  Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Midnight Muse.  Punches:  Postage Stamp, Decorative Label.  Embossing Folder:  Cloudy Day.  Ribbon:  Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin.

 2nd Card:  Easter Inchies;  Stamp Sets:  Spring Sampler, Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Delightful Daffodil, Whisper White.  Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Wild Wasabi.  Markers:  Regal Rose, Gumball Green, and Tempting Turquoise.  Punches:  Postage Stamp, Word Window, Modern Label.  Embossing Folder:  Square Lattice.  Ribbon:  Gumball Green 3/8" ruffled ribbon.
***After this picture was taken, I changed the design on the jellybeans, and used the 3 marker colors listed above instead of the pink.

 This card took the most time, and I ended up with 52 of them.  Can anyone say assembly line?
3rd card:  Thank You Blossoms;  Stamp Sets:  Stippled Blossoms, Blooming with Kindness.  Paper:  Certainly Celery, Whisper White.  Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Primrose Petals, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, and Raspberry Ripple.  Die:  Top Note  Embossing Folder:  Square Lattice.

I'll have more to say about this even when we return...  and 150 card designs to play with!


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Valentine's Day 2013 - Explosion Heart Valentine

Is it Valentine's Day ALREADY!?
2013 certainly is flying by!!!

I made a total of 7 of these cards - and used so many stamp sets!  I'll have to update this post and make a list of all the stamp sets I used.

You can see the "How-To" video HERE that I watched to make the card initially, but I used lots of different things on this card, and some trial and error to make it nice.

 I used some of the retired stamp sets and retired Valentine paper - it's really too bad, because the papers were so pretty, and I wasn't very fond of what was available this year.  I don't call it making do, just using the GREAT stuff I already had!

The fun is when you untie the ribbon, and the card opens.  See below!

 Here you can see the heart opened - The embossed heart on the left is on designer paper, with glossy Cherry Cobbler powder because I know how much my sister likes the feel of that embossing. :)  Just for you, Gail!!

Just enough room under the Be My Valentine to write a short note.

I added the lace behind the card to make it nicer, and needed to come up with a new technique to solve the problem of the lace coming off of the TTT - It worked pretty well, and the lace is staying put.

I made a total of 7 of these - my first sample went to my husband, had orders for 5 from work colleagues, and gave one to someone I work very closely with for his new fiancee.  I got a text this morning saying that she LOVED it!  :)  NICE!


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Operation Write Home - Box 2

 Here are the cards I sent out with my 2nd Operation Write Home box.  The Easter themed cards are due the 7th, with Easter, Spring, and Graduation due later.  Since I made so many Mother's Day cards, I sent them early so they can be divided among units as per OWH's instructions.


 Click on any of the smaller images to make them appear larger for a better view.

  Here I used a retired Stampin' UP set called Easter Blossoms.  I love the image, so I try to use it often.  I used the Elegant Bouquet Flower embossing folder for the background flowers and chalks to color them with pastel colors.  I know I've said it before, but I REALLY love the new stamp pads!  Such nice coverage on the images!  I sent just 4 of these Easter Blessings cards.

 In the OWH box, I included 21 of the Mom cards-  I stamped them about a year ago while working on another project, and with the purchase of my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, I now feel I can do the stamp some justice!
These are the colors I used:
Mom:  PP2, PP4, LG4, LG5, HB2, HB3, and IB2, IB3.
Remaining stamp areas:  IB2, CT2, FS3, TB1, GT1, PP4, HB2, LG2, IG1

I also punched out vellum and Pretty in Pink cardstock butterflies.  This is the new butterfly punch for the Spring Stampin' Up catalog, and I also used SU rhinestones and pearls for the butterfly bodies.

 I really love daffodils.  When we moved into this house, I planted almost 75 daffodil bulbs that November, and each Spring we have a wonderful daffodil display in the front areas of the house.  They're so SO pretty!!
I made 10 of these daffodil cards, and used these Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.

Stems:  LG5, LG4, LG3, LG2
Flowers:  CT4, CT3, CT2, CT1, OR1
FS1, IG1 and BT1

 Aren't these little bees adorable?  I found this stamp recently at Hobby Lobby and just had to have it for Valentine's day - though it can be used for almost any occasion....
One of the big rules for sending cards to OWH is no glitter, so I used some of my glittered cardstock so it won't rub off.
Spectrum Noir Markers:
Bees:  CT 3 CT4, IG9, IG10
Bee outfit: GT1, GT2

Bees' wings:  BT1, BT2
Shadow:  IG1



 
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2013 Christmas Card Challenge - February, 2013

 Happy February!  Remember, Christmas is coming! 

January's passed, and we are all settling into 2013...  hopefully everyone's had some form of snow or other.  We haven't had much here yet, but I always hope!  If it's very bitter cold, I believe we need some snow just to make it pretty outside since we have to deal with the cold temps.  BUT that's my opinion!  I grew up with snow every winter, and have been missing it a lot of late.

So, first a big THANKS to the participants in the January challenge!  You'll be even happier with those cards when you get to November. :)

Our February theme is inspired by winter.... but not just white or something boring... it's inspired by winter's birds!  I just love seeing Blue Jays and Cardinals out in the snow, their colors so bright against the white background!

February's Challenge:  Winter Birds!  I've included a picture to get you started.  :)

 

Remember, follow the rules of 6 cards with the exception that if you need more than 66 cards to send, adjust your monthly totals.  Stamp the insides and envelopes as well!  Take your pictures and get them posted in the Linky at the bottom of this post by midnight Feb. 20th.

You can use any type of winter bird stamp for these cards, any company, any..... anything as long as it follows the winter birds theme!  Your imagination is your limitation!

Click HERE to view the entire post with all the rules, including small changes for 2013.

Here are my cards...  I used my Kitchen Sink Stamps to make the cards, and some of my Stampin' Up inks and papers to make it special.  Recipe for the inks follow at the bottom.

Here you can see the 6 cards for the set.

 This is the inside of the card - I used the other Cardinal image, and some darker inks, as well as one of my Stampin' Up sentiments.

 I do have the envelope done, but the photo I took was blurry, and I didn't want to post a blurry pic..... it is finished though, and matches the red Cardinal theme.

 Here is the recipe I used for the Cardinal on the front of the card:
Pine Branch:  1.  Certainly Celery  2.  Wild Wasabi   3.  Close to Cocoa (ret.)  4.  Early Espresso stamped off 1x.
Cardinal:  1.  Riding Hood Red stamped off 1x  2.  Riding Hood Red  3.  Cherry Cobbler   4.  Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Sentiment:  Stampin' Up - Riding Hood Red.

Recipe for the inside of the card:
Cardinal:  1.  Riding Hood Red  2.  Cherry Cobbler  3.  Bravo Burgundy  4.  Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Sentiment:  Stampin' Up - Riding Hood Red

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Stampin' Up Card Club - January, 2013

 As always, our Club leader Kathy has come up with some VERY nice cards!

This first card uses a new stamp set and punch available in the new catalog and Sale-A-Bration brochure.  I know I'll get lots of use out of these small punches - especially layering with the larger curly label punch!

 

This card is STUNNING!!!  I know I'll be making more of these - can you see it with Red, White, and Blue theme - Stars, banners, etc.  What about Red, Green, Gold/Silver for Christmas?  What about shades of greens and shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day?  OH!  Black, Orange, Yellow, with pumpkins/ghosts for Halloween?  Definitely an idea to play with!

 

 Once you've gotten the dovetail trick down, it goes pretty quickly!!!


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Counselor's Day

Today, February 4th we are celebrating Counselor's Day at school.

I made this card for my team to present to our wonderful counselor!  I work closely with her, getting advice and with one of our testing programs.

I really do appreciate her!

This is the card I came up with.  It's a little busier than my usual work, but in person, it's quite stunning if I do say so myself.

I already had the background stamped with the pink flowers for another purpose, but it didn't quite work for that project.  I took another look at it, and it was perfect for this card.  I stamped another pink rose, and fussy-cut it to make it stand out a little more.

The sentiment "Just For You" is from a retired set called Tagtastic.  It's too bad it's a retired set - I really like the detail on the stamp with the spaces for some extra coloring detail.


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