Tango with a Flourish

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers you've expressed for my daughter and my dad.  Both are not out of the woods yet; Dana is still in the hospital and is having a procedure today that will hopefully help the severe pain she is in.  She hasn't eaten for two days, either, and that would be enough to make anyone crabby!  So I haven't stamped a bit, but I did these cards a week or so ago and never posted them, so I thought today would be good.  These were for my downline top sellers for March--I am all caught up now and just in time for April! 

I like to make these cards using new images and products so they can display them at their own parties and events, and simple enough that they and their customers could easily duplicate them.  I tend to get in a rut, using the same color combinations, so I thought I would try to think a little outside the box, still using one of my fav sets, Friends 24-7, but by using a combo I don't normally use: Kraft and Tangerine Tango:

This has some Apricot Appeal accents as well, and glitter on the flowers.  I also used the eyelet punch on the envelope as well:

 

 

Cut the flap of the envelope so that it is straight across.

 

 

 

Using the eyelet scallop punch, punch the flap.  Seal with adhesive if necessary.

 

 

 

I also like to stamp on the front of the envelope as well!

 

Thanks for visiting--hopefully I can stamp sometime today!

• Stamps:  Friends 24-7, Oval All
• Paper:  Kraft, Tangerine Tango, Apricot Appeal, WW, Patterns DP
• Ink:  Stazon, Tangerine Tango, Apricot Appeal
• Acc:  Blender Pen, Glitter, Eyelet Scallop Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Still MIA

Hi everyone! I apologize for no Color Throwdown today....I was "thrown" another challenge this week, as now my daughter is in the hospital due to migraine problems!! I appreciate all your thoughts & prayers regarding my dad, who is hopefully on the mend, so now I am concentrating my efforts on getting her back home. So bear with me a tad bit longer--I am really missing my stamping time but this is most important right now!

MIA

Hi everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I am away from my computer as I am visiting my dad and helping him deal with some health issues. This was a little unexpected, but I am glad to be able to pick up and go to help him! So no posting for the next couple days--but I'll be back soon!

Stacey's Jewelery Inspiration #33

I have been wanting to do Stacey's Jewelry Inspiration challenge for a long time, but the week always got away from me---and almost did this week, too!   Isn't this pretty?

Here's what Stacey says: "The talented and creative, 3Fun, made this multi strand necklace called Tears of the Phoenix. The multi strand necklace was made of pure soft 100% Merino wool using the wet and needle felting techniques. Go check out 3Fun's etsy shop...she has some fabulous felt jewelry creations!"  So here is my (lame) creation:

I almost didn't post it; as much as I like the color Blush Blossom, whenever I go to actually use it, it just doesn't click for me.  The sentiment from Flight of the Butterfly is stamped in Real Red ink, but it photographed pink....I was just too lazy to re-photo it in better light!  I used various retired DPs for the flowers, cutting them with the Birds & Blooms diecuts; there is MS citron glitter on the centers and a little bling on the Real Red butterfly, which is two hearts from the 3-heart punch.  Yellow twill from Taylored Expressions finishes it off.   I think the beautiful summer-like weather we had today just has floated my stampin' desire right out the window!  Tomorrow we are going to get the boat "ship-shape", so no posting for me!  Have a lovely weekend!

Mojo Piped Ambrosia

Whew, that's a mouthful, isn't it!  I finally got around to doing this week's Mojo Monday #83 sketch--my mojo has been missing, to tell you the truth!  I hope it returns soon--must be something to do with the lovely spring weather we're having!

This is also for Sharon's No Time to Stamp Challenge #84--to use "piping" on your card.  I used  a small strip of black above my striped piece for my piping.  The DPs are all from Basic Grey's Ambrosia pack (thanks, Barbara!!) and are just so vivid in real life!   TFL and have a great Friday!

• Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, Essential Sentiments, MFT
• Paper:  Confetti White, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray Textured, Basic Black, Ambrosia, BG
• Ink:  Basic Gray, Palette Noir
• Acc:  Square Bling, Chloe's Closet; Tiny rhinestones, Michaels; Valet Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Square Punch, Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

Flower Pot Cards

I haven't been able to stamp much the last couple days, what with housework, clubs, workshops and life in general!  But I wanted to share with you some cards that my friend Beth made, using the Flower Pot tutorial found here on SCS.  I apologize for the photos--I took them on my kitchen table before our club meeting, but hopefully you'll see just how darling they are:

Aren't they something?  I just love all the detail she's put into each and every one!  Thanks Beth!  I am inspired to try one myself!

Acetate Cards

Last night my stamp club met and we made a simple card using the clear window (acetate) sheets available in the Occasions mini catalog.  Everybody says and now I know too, how difficult it is to photograph clear acetate!  So I apologize for these photos; just let me say that the finished product is much nicer than is represented here!

This particular card above uses Pacific Point textured cardstock; the image and sentiment were stamped with white Stazon ink.  It makes a nice clear impression and dries very quickly.  Some new SU satin ribbon (also in the Occasions mini) adds a simple but elegant finishing touch!  Nothing like getting a head start on Christmas cards!  This is also for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge, which is also to use acetate!

A couple side notes:  my CTD friend Barbara Anders has made it to round six of the MFT Idol competition!  You can see her creation here and vote here!  Go Barbara!

Also, Debbie has some incredible blog candy she is giving away!  My goodness!  You can check out here blog here!  You can't win if you don't try!

• Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Hugs & Wishes
• Paper:  Acetate, Pacific Point Textured
• Ink:  White Stazon
• Acc:  Satin Ribbon

Color Throwdown #39

Wow, Cathy really challenged me today with these CTD colors of Real Red, Basic Black and Barely Banana!:

The colors reminded me of the Scotch plaid cooler my parents had as a child....dating myself, I know!  So I inked up my little Scottie dog stamp and used a sketch from Jen DelMuro a few weeks ago:
 

Doesn't he look cute wearing his little red plaid coat? I used an assortment of DP from SU's retired Prints pack along with some Real Red and Basic Black on a Barely Banana square card.  Here's the inside:

Now let's see what these colors inspire you to create!  Post your creation on your blog, or on an online gallery, using the keyword CTD39.  Go back and link it to the CTD blog via Mr. Linky.  (Make sure you link your exact post, not your entire blog address--don't want it to get deleted!)  You may even be chosen as our Featured Stamper of the week!  Feel free to substitute colors if you don't have these exact ones!  Let's see what the others came up with:

• Broni - Splashes of Watercolor
• Tammy - Stamp Happy
• Cathy - Crafty Thoughts
• Barbara - Paper Pursuits
• Danielle – Wild Dragonfly Designs

• Stamps:  Dogs, Inkadinkado; Polka Dot Basics, PTI
• Paper:  Barely Banana, Real Red, Basic Black, Prints DP
• Ink:  Stazon, So Saffron
• Acc:  Styled Silver HPH, Red & Black Gingham, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Circle Fire Brad, Nesties

Sweet Always Friend

Just a quick post today as I have my stamp club meeting tonight!  I was playing around with some scraps from another project and came up with this card using Sweet Always DP and a piece of Chocolate Chip remaining from a Top Note die:

I stamped the sentiment in Pumpkin Pie and colored in the word "friend" right over top of the PP ink with a Chocolate Chip marker.  Then I cleaned and reinked it in Regal Rose and just cut out the "kind", and popped it on with a dimensional.  TFL!  Be sure to come back tomorrow for week 39 of the Color Throwdown!

• Stamps:  All Holidays, Enjoy Every Moment (small flower)
• Paper:  WW, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Sweet Always DP
• Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose
• Acc:  Big Shot & Top Notes die; Choc Chip marker, Felt Fusion Two, RR brad, Dimensionals

Green Diva Challenge

Another green card!  This one uses the other image from my "dissected" envelope (see this post), and uses the Diva Coffee Break Designs Sketch Challenge #123:

The card base is Kraft, and the DP is Bella Bleu; sentiment is from Whippersnapper's Winter Schminter, stamped in Close to Cocoa--just love this set and sentiment!  Ribbon is from Michael's, as is the Martha Stewart butterfly punch; Dew Drops are from Ellen Hutson.   Thanks for visiting today!

Sunny Daisies

I have so many things I want to share with you, but only so much time!  I made these little cards for the February top sellers in my downline, and although they probably haven't received them yet, I just could not wait to share them!  So forgive me, girls!

They are quick & easy cards, 4x4" textured black cardstock; the flower is a Big Shot Flower Embosslit die, cut twice from cardstock-weight vellum.  Sentiment is the hostess set, Sweet Little Sentiments and doesn't that big corduroy button brad just make the whole card!  The inside is lined with another piece of Whisper White and the corners have been rounded with my corner punch.  Thanks for visiting today!

Weekend Sketch, Recycled

Just a quick post today!  This very simple card uses Beate's Weekend Sketch, which is actually by Lori Craig, and Our Creative Corner's challenge for this week, which was to recycle something.

The image on my card is from an envelope I got from a paralyzed veterans group that periodically sends me notecards, address labels, etc.  They are usually very pretty, so this time, I "dissected" the envelope and  cut out two images; I'll save the other for another card.  It is mounted on Perfect Plum and Barely Banana mats, then mounted on a Mellow Moss card that has been stamped with the grasses from Inspired by Nature.  Two little CB tags, stamped with a sentiment from PTI's Mixed Messages and secured with a Latte button, finish it off.  This will be a good card to use for someone at my church!  TFL!

Baby Challenge

Ooh, another post for today!  I squeaked out a baby card for one of my customers' granddaughter, who had her baby last week. It was a girl, but the mom doesn't particularly like pink, so that gave me the opportunity to make a card for Stamp Something's Challenge - use the colors green, blue and yellow.  I also used Taylor's sketch:

 

 

 

So here's the card:

 

Thanks for looking!

• Stamps:  Darling Dots, Mixed Messages, PTI
• Paper:  WW, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery
• Ink:  Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery
• Acc:  CB Swiss Dots & Just My Type folders, Nesties, Eyelet Border Punch, Taylored Expressions Twill

Amazed by Clean & Simple

Well, it is a beautiful day in southeastern PA, although some of my computer programs are giving me fits!  But I am not letting it get me down!  I had a tiny bit of time to stamp, and I wanted to do the SCS Clean & Simple #10 challenge, which was to do a monochromatic card.  I am not sure this qualifies, as I did pop up a couple things, but I think it's okay:

I was even able to take the photo outside!  I love monochromatic!  Why don't you try one!?

• Stamps:  Darling Dots, Sweet Little Sentiments
• Paper:  Fresh Cut Notes, WW, Sweet Always DP
• Ink:  Regal Rose
• Acc:  1" circle punch

Gone Digital!

When I checked Mandy Sarver's blog (CTD's guest stamper this month) I found FREE digital stamps!  I have never tried these, although I have seen them on Tammy's and others' blogs, so I decided to try it--she has a challenge, too, and you could win some free digi images!  So be sure to go check it out!  So here is my first attempt at using digital stamps:

Here is her sketch, too:

The cool thing about these images is that you can make them any size you want!  I played around using the few Copics that I have, and although I would have liked to have used different greens, all in all, I think it turned out okay.  I used some retired SU Groovy Guava and DP,  but the sentiment, oval scallop and the luscious satin ribbon are all from the new Occasions mini!  I also accented it with some Kaiser pearls.

I also got some other free images (again, on Mandy's site) and made a fun birthday card:

This card uses some DCWV Glitter Stack Mat Pack, some retired SU DP, and other assorted SU papers.  Polka dots are from PTI; sentiment is a dollar stamp.  The image was colored with Copics and glitterized with some Dazzling Diamonds!  I was really just playing around and was not planning on using this for anything, but it turned out fairly well, and I can always use a birthday card!  This paper is all glittery IRL, too bad it doesn't show up here!  TFL!

Color Throwdown #38

Well, Broni has chosen some neat colors this week for our 38th challenge:  Ruby Red, Basic Gray and Baja Breeze. 

I just know there are going to be some beautiful cards made with these colors--the CTD designers knocked my socks off with their cards!  If you don't have these exact colors, just use the closest you've got.  Be sure to post your creations on your blog or online gallery and link them back to Mr Linky on the CTD blog.  (Make sure you use your exact post address when linking!)  Use the keyword "CTD38" if you use a gallery.  I can hardly wait to see what's coming!

I hadn't done a vintage card for a while, and I am trying to use some stamps that have been collecting dust on my shelf, so I pulled out Puns from the Past and that yummy new BG Marrakesh paper:

I also pulled out my 1972 Singer Touch N Sew that weighs about 100 pounds, but I just couldn't make a "sewing" card without doing some actual sewing!  The patterned pieces are from BG's Marrakesh and Stella Ruby.  I sewed them onto a Basic Gray card using a couple different styles of stitches.  I thought the felt heart was a sweet addition to the sentiment, which is from PTI's Quilter's Sampler Sentiments.  An assortment of vintage buttons and some tea-dyed lace finished the outside.    Here are a couple closeups:

I also finished the inside so the sewing wouldn't be visible:

Isn't this paper gorgeous?  I almost hoarded it and chose something plain, but it was calling me!  I added a couple strips down the left side and was tempted to sew them as well, but it was getting late!!!  I left the inside blank, as I haven't decided for what occasion I'll use this card.

 

Well, be sure to check out what the CTD designers have come up with this week!  You won't be disappointed!  And we have our Guest Designer for March featured this week too!

• Broni - Splashes of Watercolor
• Tammy - Stamp Happy
• Cathy - Crafty Thoughts
• Barbara - Paper Pursuits
• Danielle – Wild Dragonfly Designs
• Guest Designer Mandy Sarver - My Paper Playground

• Stamps:  Puns from the Past, Quilter's Sampler Sentiments, PTI
• Paper:  Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Marrakesh & Stella Ruby, BG
• Ink:  Basic Gray
• Acc:  Sewing Machine, lace, buttons, felt, Taffeta ribbon, mini glue dots, popup glue dots

Mojo Owl

I got some new stamps from My Cute Stamps--a little different style for me, but I had seen some cute things done with them, so I thought I would "branch out"!  I used this week's Mojo Monday 82 sketch--what do you think:

Here's the sketch:

I used some wonderful BG Marrakesh paper--aren't the colors so intense?  My card base is Tangerine Tango and I used a retired SU punch to make the bottom border.  Mr Owl is colored in with markers and matted on a piece of Pumpkin Pie.  This image is from Little Forest Friends, and the sentiment is MFT's Essential Sentiments.  Twill is from Taylored Expressions!

I also threw this little number together; the images and sentiment are again from Little Forest Friends.  They are colored with markers and mounted on PTI's Bitty Dots Basics and a Basic Black scalloped square.  Again, twill is from  Taylored Expressions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting today, and be sure to come back tomorrow for the Color Throwdown challenge!

Three Easy Pieces

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!  It was sunny here, but a tad chilly for spring.  I am ready for some consistently warmer weather!  I have three little simple cards for you today; the first one is a baby card for Sharon's No Time To Stamp challenge, which was to "Hang it Up!".  I confess, this little Lockhart stamp had never seen ink, so I thought this would be a good time:

It's a smaller card, about 4 1/2 x 3 1/2"; the card base is a folded piece of K&Co's Small Wonders Boy Designer Mat Pad.  The image is stamped in Stazon on watercolor paper; the safety pins are stamped in Gold Encore ink, then colored with a marker.  Here's the inside:

Isn't that plaid cute?

 

 

 

I also dug out my neglected Best Wishes and More and played a little with it:

As you can see, I was experimenting with my Texturz mat as well as some other Big Shot dies!  I was also experimenting with Heat & Stick powder and SU's glitter; that was not as successful; Mr Birdie looks better IRL than in this photo, but he is not real happy with his glittery look!  We'll continue to work on that technique!

Finally, a VERY simple card using some textured Pink Pirouette paper and the Billboard alphabet die by  Big Shot:

Now while I love this sweet simple card, I must confess (again) that I DO NOT like this alphabet die.  I love my SU products, but the letters are too small to get out of the die easily.  Anyone else have any issues with this, or is it just me?  The little dot on the "i" is so small, I gave up trying to pick it up!!  That being said, I still love this card!

Stop back tomorrow, when I will be share with you the Featured Stamper from all the Color Throwdown submissions for the past week.  This will be a difficult decision, as there were LOTS of wonderful creations!  I will be up late re-looking at everyone's!

• Stamps:  (card 1) Clothesline, Lockhart; Short & Sweet
• Paper:  Small Wonders Boy, K&Co; watercolor paper, Sage Shadow, Barely Banana, Very Vanilla
• Ink:  Stazon, Gold Encore
• Acc:  Markers, Grosgrain Ribbon, misc buttons, dimensionals
• Stamps:  (card 2) Best Wishes & More
• Paper:  WW, Sage Shadow, Pacific Point
• Ink:  Pacific Point, Versamark
• Acc:  Heat & Stick Powder, Glitter, Birds & Blooms Die, Swirls Scribbles Die, Texturz Plate Small Dots, Eyelet Border Punch, Bold Bright Brad, Big Shot
• Stamps: (card 3)  Best Wishes & More
• Paper:  WW, Pink Pirouette Textured, Regal Rose, Garden Green
• Ink:  Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Garden Green
• Acc:  Billboard Die, 3 Heart Punch, Big Shot, Dimensionals