Weekend Sketch #37

Hmm... Well I tried Beate's sketch for today. Its been one of those days, so I really NEEDED to stamp. This is not quite working out tho and I'll go ahead and blame my mood. haha! This first card I liked up until the point it was all put together. I tried to add an accessory but I couldn't find anything that worked. I was working with the plan of the Saffron full flowers as a background and that phrase as the focal point. I'm not sure where I went wrong, but I still don't think it really works. Anyway, I used the set Time Well Spent, with So Saffron, Whisper White, Ruby Red and Always Artichoke cardstocks, and Saffron, Ruby and Artichoke inks and colored with blender pens. Lets move on to Try #2...

Last year between April-October I had nine baby cards to give. I know of at least three coming relatively soon, so why not make a baby card? I think its at least unique! I just hope whoever I give it to likes the colors! (its not as harsh in real life...sorry about the photo!)

Since I picked the phrase first (from For A Friend) I wanted to go with a pinkish color for the flowers. I really like this Hand Prints wheel done in Chocolate Chip. It really looks like a mischievous child got into chocolate! (Soon I'll have to post my scrapbook page I made using the wheel for exactly that scenario!) So anyway, I used Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip with a touch of Whisper White. The Close to Cocoa button might be a stretch but I think a button is a soft touch to a baby card.

Well anyway, that's my effort for the weekend. Tomorrow will be better!

My Current Favorite...

You know, we try to eat healthy meals around here. We get on a kick and plan out a good, balanced menu and have good food in the house to cook and we do great. For a while. But then something hits- Daddy has meetings too many nights in a row, Mommy gets a headache...or visits the dentist, a child gets sick and we let them eat whatever they will, SOMETHING comes up! And then I end up going back to being a short-order cook and everyone gets to pick their own dinner and its a lot more work than its worth! These are times for super simple meals that at least three of the four of us will eat! Right now, that meal is these fantastic biscuit pizza-y things! Here's all you need:

• Canned biscuits -Pillsbury or store brand
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Jarred pasta/pizza sauce, or make your own!

This past summer the kids and I went to Yellowstone with my parents, in their camp trailer. One night we didn't make it back to the trailer til I think after 10pm. That's a little late to start dinner when 8 people also need to get showered and in bed, but we were hungry! So I suggested we modify one of our planned meals. We brought the fixin's for mini pizzas using those canned biscuits so that night we baked the biscuits with cheese sprinkled on top, then just dipped them in the pizza sauce! LOVE IT! No lie, we're having that at least once a week around here right now. Its perfectly healthy- bread, cheese, tomato sauce and apple slices on the side with a big old glass of milk! haha! And it is sooooo good! I'm sure it would be better as an afternoon or midnight snack but I just don't put that much effort into snacks. Plus, then what would we eat for dinner?

Quick card

You know a really quick way to make cards? Use pre-cut kits! This one is from a class a friend of mine held last summer that I was trying to attend and had to miss. She pre-cut everything and gave me the supplies. I thought I had used them already but in my tidy-ing up the other day came across a few I hadn't used! Since the paper was retired I used my favorite retired stamp set along with it! So its a Very Vanilla card base, a piece of the retired Spring Flowers designer paper, a square of Cameo Coral cardstock, a strip of retired Spring Moss grosgrain ribbon... I sponged Mellow Moss ink on the edges of the Vanilla square and used Chocolate Chip to ink the words, which come from the Daisy Crazy stamp set. This wasn't my friend's design but it's simple, cute and done in minutes!

Recent Mail

I'm sending in an order Wednesday evening. If you need any supplies right now or are interested in getting a Sale-A-Bration set free, call me before Wednesday night and I'll add your order too! This butterfly card is the one I gave my mom for her birthday. I posted this on my website in January, but she mentioned a couple times how much she liked it...so she got it! (see, that can happen to you too- tell me what you like and you just might find it in your mailbox on your birthday!)

Its a super simple card, the hard part was cutting out the butterflies. I hate cutting things out... Anyway, I used So Saffron cardstock and ink, Elegant Eggplant cardstock and ink, the white gel pen to make the butterfly flight paths and a fire Square Rhinestone Brad to have the greeting 'peek' out. I think the color combination is striking. This second card I sent to another stamper. It's also a simple card but again, all about the color combo! Groovy Guava and Not Quite Navy. I wish I could remember (or find again) whose blog pointed out how great they look together... They really do! Its hard to see, and I apologize but I used the flower image from another stamp in the For A Friend set. It's versamarkered (cool word, btw!) down the left side of the card. Then I used the Guava ink pad to watercolor the little heard. I love that spiral punch and I added a little white grosgrain ribbon for a simple accent. Cute and easy!

On the side bar I've added some new info. In March I have an in-home workshop coming up, plus a fun birthday card class. If you like to make and give cards this is one you'll really want to attend. Birthday cards for everyone! Plus we'll use new stamps, which is super exciting to me. Anyway, be sure and RSVP and I'll keep the reminders comin'!

Weekend Sketch Challenge #36!

Two posts in one day...! I should have started using challenges and sketches a long time ago! I think my cards are looking a lot nicer nowadays! I know there's always that evolution as you learn new things and trends change but still! Here's my card using Beate's sketch:

Just as I was finishing gluing it all down, my little boy came up with what he'd been building with Lego's and asked if I liked his newest creation. Of course I did, and I told him so, then I asked what he thought of my newest creation. Keep in mind this boy loves to stamp... he looked it over and finally said "Well, its fine, but its not a creation Mom." Whatever! It is totally a creation! And I'm very happy with it!

I used Sage Shadow as my base, then white layered onto Chocolate Chip cardstock. I used Rose Red for the flower to pop, and I really like how that worked out. I sponged Sage on the edges of the sentiment (which is one of my favorites!) and used some Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon, another favorite!

Onesie Card!

Did you ever see anything quite as cute as this?? Another demonstrator, Lauren Meader created this super easy and adorable onesie card. Its the same size as a standard card and you just use punches and simple cuts to make it! Love it!

I used Certainly Celery brads for the snaps at the bottom, and Certainly Celery designer paper for the trim. The stars come from a retired tiny ABC set.

You better believe I'm gonna be using this card for upcoming baby gifts! Not to mention how perfect this would be to demonstrate!

Something New

Isn't it great when you surprise yourself? I made this card becuase I have an empty spot on my display board. I got my new Pumpkin Pie ink pad for Christmas and have really tried to use my new colors more. I haven't had much luck with this stamp set becuase I don't like having the petals all random and detached, but lining them up is pretty difficult- and I'm not a perfectionist! So I was pleasantly surprised to find that this try worked and looks great! I used Real Red for the outline petal, which says Smile, then Old Olive was just the paper- punched the center and used for the card base.

Simple Scrapping

So, I printed off pictures, I got a new 12x12 album for my daughter's scrapbook and then realized I'm pretty much out of 12x12 bases! However, this So Saffron worked well with these photos from last autumn. My color combination, as well as the accents come from the Simply Scrappin' kit Stampin' Up! offered last year during Sale-A-Bration. I modified the green shade to match the actual stickers I used, so I went with So Saffron, Bashful Blue and Always Artichoke. I know, I'm bad and left off a title, but that empty blue rectangle will be for journaling and I'll include a header there, in place of my title. I'm still happy with how the spread turned out! (sorry the middle picture is so dark, I took three tries and went with this one!)

Details

I've been getting some questions so I thought maybe I would clarify here too. Until March 17, Stampin' Up! is running the best promotion of the year- Sale-A-Bration (SAB)! This year they are offering 5 stamps sets and a set of rub-on's, and the only way you can get these is to do one of two things:

• Place an order where for every $50 you spend (before tax & shipping) you choose an SAB set free.
• Or, you can host a fun workshop in your home and for every $300 your workshop sales total, you choose an SAB set free. (Now would be a great time to get those ABC sets you've been thinking...add in a couple ink pads or packages of cardstock and you've earned yourself a free set!)

On top of these fun free stamps there is an added promotion. If you want to join my group and become a demonstrator, the starter kit is 20% off during Sale-A-Bration!!! That means you can get $330 worth of stamping and buisness supplies for only $159! AND becuase its Sale-A-Bration, you also get to choose ANY free stamp set from the catalog! You definitely don't want to miss these opportunities! If you don't have a Sale-A-Bration brochure, check out my buisness site listed on the right to see a copy. Or give me a call and I'll bring a copy over!

Weekend Sketch Challenge #35!

Splitcoaststampers.com posts weekly tutorials on Wednesday's and Beate Johns is one person who posts many of these tutorials. Since she always does such great things I checked out her blog, where every Friday she posts a sketch for a weekend challenge. Sooo I thought I'd participate today!

I am a very simple stamper but I'm happy with how this turned out! Not only that, its my first time to use my new Level 1 Hostess set: "For a Friend"!

So here's the recipe:

Stamps: For A Friend. Inks: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose marker, Always Artichoke marker. Paper: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White. Accessories: Earth/Neutral Buttons, Pretty in Pink Gingham Ribbon, Stamping Sponges, Mini Glue Dots.

More Chocolate Valentines

Isn't this little guy cute?! He comes from my new Pun Fun stamp set too. So here's the hot cocoa holder from My Chocolate Valentine class. Such a cute little gift idea. Now that its finally warm enough not to need hot cocoa every single day...but it won't last! Plus I really love that new red striped ribbon! Red is a great color and Valentines is a great day! I've got my husband's valentine done but I need to think up something fun for my kids...you'd think they'd be the easy ones!

Valentine Candy

Here's a cute little candy holder! This is for my Chocolate Valentine class. It's supposed to be holding a small package of MnM's but I couldn't find that kind of package. I found Skittles instead! (have you tried the new chocolate Skittles?! Yum!) I couldn't remember how I'd seen the candy holder done before so I had to create something new. And this is what I came up with. It works!

I love the paper I used and Sienna liked it so much she didn't even notice the candy! haha!

Oh! And the heart? Stampin' Up! doesn't currently offer a heart punch, but if you take the Scallop Punch and cut it in half, you can cut hearts out of the halves! Hooray!