a wedding rose!

I must be out of my watercolor paper because I cannot find it anywhere. Since I was so sure I had some I didn't order any, and since this was for my class I had to come up with a new plan, last minute. So I decided to bleach the rose, rather than watercolor it! Same idea, just in reverse!

Supplies:
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Curvy Verses
Ink: Basic Black Craft
Paper: Cherry Cobbler & Very Vanilla card stocks, Timeless Portrait DP
Accessories: Basic Black grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, dried out Blender Pen, bleach

You can learn more about bleaching HERE. I embossed the rose on Cherry Cobbler card stock, and then bleached most of the petals. I was hoping for a variegated kind of rose look, but didn't like the way it turned out...I thought the "streaks" were too wide to look natural, and therefore didn't quite work. I just added more bleach til I thought I would like it!

Also, see that awesome bit of black and white paper I used on the card? That is part of the Timeless Portrait DP package- which you could choose for free if you purchase three other packages of DP today!!

Last Chances!

Here is a layout I did this week. Its quick and simple, but bright (irl) and fun, which is the point! *grin
I used the Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' kit from the Summer Mini- which ends TOMORROW! I have quite a few projects on my blog using this kit so if you love the fun, bright colors and patterns, you'll want to place your order Wednesday!

Supplies:
Stamps: Just Perfect Alphabet
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke marker
Paper: Whisper White & Daffodil Delight card stocks, Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' Kit DP & label

Baby Boy!

After a pretty great weekend, including a much-needed date night with my husband, its back to school and work for another week!
This card uses the Clean & Simple sketch 155, and will definitely be one of the cards we make at my class tomorrow! (last minute sign-ups, anyone??) One thing about using sketches in classes is it helps new card makers understand the value of sketches. If you have a starting point, there's less to think about {and worry about!} when creating a card!
I LOVE this cute baby elephant image and these colors for a baby boy! I will color the stamped image during the class, but I gotta say, I kinda like him in black and white!

Supplies:
Stamps: Elebration, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Brights Buttons

Summer pages

Here's a layout I got done this week. I am pretty sure this is going to be part of my September scrapbook class. Just a cute, simple page for anything summery, or even springy that you need to have in your scrapbook! Click on it to better see the stamped details...those are from the Lean On Me stamp set, and if you use a bit of scotch tape to hide the words, or are careful while inking the stamp, the kids just look happy and playful, perfect for summer!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lean on Me, Just Perfect ABC
Ink: Basic Black, Early Espresso
Paper: Daffodil Delight card stock, Just Add Cake DP
Accessories: Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, Bitty Buttons, Mini Glue Dots

I got this fun Just Add Cake DP with the buy-3-get-1-free promotion! (the bit of lined paper on the second page is part of it!) That promotion is still available for another week or so! Let me know if you want to stock up!

And for those dying to know- I DID go pick raspberries for two hours, and we got 14 jars of jam made! And yes, it was very, very hot.

masculine birthday

I think today is the hottest forecasted day of the year so far. I think I'll spend it picking fruit and canning jam...or maybe I'll just go hide in my craft area and make things...LOL!

This Nautical set is about to go forever too....if you love it as much as I do, place your order before next Wednesday! In the meantime, here's a card I put together the other day, for my Dad's birthday actually. I used THIS sketch, and the retiring coordinating DP. And by the way, that Buy-3-Get-1-Free designer paper promotion is still running until Wednesday too! That's a great time to stock up...!

Supplies:
Stamps: The Open Sea, Upsy Daisy
Ink: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Sahara Sand, Early Espresso card stocks, Nautical Expedition DP
Accessories: Silver Brads, Dimensionals, 1 3/8 inch circle punch

Pretty page!

I did it! I said I'd spend this week scrapbooking, so here it is, Wednesday, and I completed a whole page! LOL! I am seriously in love with this page actually!

Supplies:
Stamps: Strength & Hope, Vintage Vogue
Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip marker
Paper: So Saffron, Baja Breeze card stocks
Accessories: Paper Daisies, Subtles Buttons, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

and a detail shot...

I used the butterfly from the Strength & Hope set, which is almost gone- you only have til the 30th to order it, AND donate $2 to the Breast Cancer Research Fund!

Also, for inspiration, I have a tale: I have been trying to clean out my office/craft space. In so doing, I decided it was probably time to go thru my boxes of Stampin' Success magazines...since I've been getting them since 2004. (the magazine Stampin' Up! demonstrators get every month with ideas, techniques and tips!) I literally went thru every issue from the first few years, keeping only pages of projects I would like to recreate. So this page is based on the scrapbook page on this cover:
(and yes, in the top corner it says November 2005!!!)


What have you made today?!

So Busy!!

It feels like its been a while since I managed to post anything, but apparently its only been a few days. My kids went back to school this week so last week we were busy enjoying the last week of summer! Now I'm busy figuring out exactly how to fit all my plans into a day or week, LOL!

I did clean up my craft space a little today, and put this card together. I had stamped both pieces thinking of a sketch I'd seen, except that neither piece actually fit, lol. So this is what I made out of the stamped bits...!
The colors came out weird again...maybe I need to photo these things earlier in the day or something.... Anyway, There you go! Happy Birthday to someone, happy school year to me!

Supplies:
Stamps: Patterned Party
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Indigo Island, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade markers
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Brights Buttons

weird lighting

The card is actually certainly celery....but it doesn't look like it...LOL! I was trying a different color combination based off THIS card, and liked it so much I had to use it. Now its a birthday card, going to be mailed out Monday morning!

Supplies:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Upsy Daisy
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
Paper: Certainly Celery, textured Daffodil Delight, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Brights Buttons, Mini Glue Dot

I am on my way to a card class and can feature those cards next week! Have a great weekend!

That's right....

another sympathy card. Next week school starts, and I will actually make a stack, and hey, work on some scrapbooking too! Until then, this will have to do.
I used the current Mojo Monday sketch for this one. I added a bit of glitter to make it a little more special...oh, and the plaid dp on the side is long retired.

Supplies:
Stamps: Lean on Me
Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue
Paper: Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Whisper White card stocks, Banbury DP (LONG retired)
Accessories: Silver brads, Stamping Sponge, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Non-Specific Baby!

This card is also for my upcoming baby/wedding class. I am doing a pink, a blue and a yellow/green baby card. I don't know about you but it seems to me more and more people are waiting to be surprised with the arrival of their baby. * I * do not have that kind of patience and am the type of person to need to know as soon as possible what I need to prepare for! LOL! So, for baby gifts when the parents have chosen not to find out, or maybe you just didn't hear what the baby was, a neutral baby card is nice.

so I used markers on this and then thought it might look better with crayons..... I usually prefer crayons...but I will offer the choice to the people who attend. The thing to note is that both bears are colored with Soft Suede, and the hearts on the rattles are Rose Red!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bear Hugs
Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede marker, Pear Pizazz marker, So Saffron marker, Rose Red marker
Paper: So Saffron, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White
Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, Bitty Buttons

a wedding card!

I have been asked to hold a wedding & baby themed card class, so that's what I've been working on creating the past couple days. Here is a wedding card, that is actually totally based on THIS card I created a month ago! However, this one uses Jen's SFYTT that I used yesterday! I don't know if you're allowed to enter twice...but I used it twice anyway!

 Here's a closeup of the details...

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, More Mustard
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Whisper White card stocks, Well Worn DP
Accessories: Crochet Lace, Basic Pearls

Another Sympathy...

Today I got a little time to craft but am now feeling quite subdued. I tell myself all the time that I should just make a stack of sympathy cards so I don't have to when I need one...and I don't ever do it. I hate sympathy cards. But, I needed one today so this is what I put together.

I used the August SFYTT Jen posted and went for softer, muted kind of colors. I don't know if a butterfly is quite...what I wanted here, but its a pretty and peaceful image sooo I suppose it works. also, I only used one retired product on the card so there you go.

 I even added a touch to the inside...because I do not know what I am going to say....

Supplies:
Stamps: Strength & Hope, Thoughts & Prayers
Ink: Baja Breeze, basic Gray
Paper: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, retired ribbon

In other news, don't forget that you only have until the 31st to buy this lovely butterfly set and send $2 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Baby Boy!

My friend is having a baby boy and a few of us gathered for a lunch/shower. This is the card I made for her...using THIS sketch:
This Nautical Expedition DP goes at the end of this month!! See how versatile it is, masculine no matter the age!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bear Hugs
Ink: Basic Black, Night of Navy
Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy card stocks, Nautical Expedition
Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, Whisper White grosgrain ribbon

New set, old paper!

I am sure that one day I will quit using retired product...but for now, this is what I have made. The DP on the whole face of the card is very long retired, but perfect for the occasion. A friend of mine is moving away. I brought her dinner so that she didn't have to worry about that, and had to include a card! This is the first time I got to use this set, but I have fun plans coming!
I used the latest Stamping 411 sketch and here's what I made!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lean On Me
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White, Welcome Neighbor DP (very retired)
Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, Brights Brads, Scallop Edge Punch

a little scrapbooking!

I have hardly done any scrapbooking this summer and I miss it! A friend of mine posted a link to a snapfish coupon last week on facebook and I just got A TON of photos. I am hoping to get a bunch of pages done in the next few days, so I should have lots to share!

Last night, I got these three done!
The first set is just my own design combined with a page the K teacher gave my daughter when she moved on. I thought it was neat to have a shot of the first week of school next to the last week of school.

Supplies:
Paper: Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Whisper White card stocks, unknown page, computer generated journaling
Accessories: Bouquet Blossom triple punch, SAB buttons (retired)

This one uses retired DP and accessories, but the stamps and card stock are current... I found the sketch HERE and she links it back further.

Supplies:
Stamps: Just Perfect ABC
Ink: Early Espresso & Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso card stocks, Banbury DP (retired!), computer generated journaling
Accessories: Linen Thread, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, So Saffron wide ribbon (retired), 3 retired random buttons