Traveling Birthday!

Did you have a happy 4th of July weekend? Ours was busy, happy and good. And hot... 

Today I have a late post, and a happy card!

I almost never use four stamp sets on one project, but here we are! I needed Neuschwanstein Castle (been there!) and the Arc de Triomphe, and thought this Eiffel Tower looked like a good enough match in style (not really, but it's close enough). Then the images fit perfectly for this color blocked look using the latest from TGIF Challenges! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Chase Your Dreams, Artistic Etchings, Lets Get Away, Special Moments (all long retired!)

Ink: Memento Black

Paper: Basic White, Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, Lemon Lime Twist

Accessories: Classic Matte Dots  

And it's going out in the mail in the morning! 

Prom!

More scrapbooking today!

I took the "official" (ha!) pictures, so I have them, which is the best part, haha! This was the last dance from my daughter's time in high school, so I included all the candid selfies (friends!) she got while on the date too.  

Supplies: 

Stamps: Alphabest (retiring!), Artistic Etchings (retired)

Ink: Island Indigo (retired), Tempting Turquoise (retired)

Paper: Basic White & Tahitian Tide card stock (retiring!), Bali Breeze DP (retired)

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin blue dots (retired), Paper Pumpkin sequins (retired)

This DP was actually purchased by my MIL, but I have had it for at least five years now. It is from 2007, haha, but it goes so well with her dress!! The inks do not match, and neither does the bit of added card stock, but I think it still worked very well. 

The boys in her group were most of her closest friends, which is why I included the pic of the boys on the bridge and not the girls. In fact we had to look up two of the girls names! She laughed at a few photos I chose to print, but she already hasn't seen some of these people since graduation, so it mattered then, didn't it? 

Purple Paris Birthday!

It isn't very often I show cards here with retired product, but this one turned out really pretty and I used a sketch, so I'm sharing it. 

I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch, and two retired sets, retired DP, retired ribbon, and the only thing you can still purchase is the card stock and ink!

Supplies:
Stamps Artistic Etchings (2010), Special Moments (Jan 22 SAB)
Ink: Blackberry Bliss
Paper: Blackberry Bliss & Very Vanilla card stocks, First Edition DP (old enough that SU! still had copyright info printed on the paper)
Accessories: Blackberry Bliss striped ribbon (retired), Dimensionals

Mojo Thursday

Today I got some time to stamp! I played with a few sketches and this is the first one I'm going to share.

I used the Mojo Monday sketch and wanted to use the Eiffel Tower stamp for the focal image. But, I wanted to throw a new color in to this set- every time I use this I use shades of black/gray and crumb/espresso/suede, and occasionally a shade of burgundy/cherry cobbler! So even tho there's plenty of Crumb Cake in this card, the white and the Midnight Muse make a difference. And I love the difference!

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Ink: Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse
Accessories: Neutral Buttons, White Organza Ribbon, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots

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

What style is this?

Vintage? Shabby Chic? those are the words that come to my mind. I love the style that I see so many demos use, with lots of fun, beautiful little details and products. This is mostly a product of the DP I used, but I also did the crumpling of the ribbon and stuff. Anyway, I really like it, and it totally stretched me out of my comfort zone.

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, More Mustard
Paper: Soft Suede & Whisper White card stocks, Well Worn DP
Accessories: Mini Vintage Tags, Vintage Trinkets, Victoria Crochet Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Stamping Sponge

Purples & reds...

Apparently I'm on a kick. Isn't it funny how we do that?

This first card uses a sketch from Stamping 411. I made it pretty simply and combines several stamp sets, which is not exactly normal for me.

Supplies:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Artistic Etchings, Priceless
Ink: Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum, Real Red
Paper: Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Red Taffeta Ribbon, Brights Buttons
This one is just sort of random.

Supplies:
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Paper: Perfect Plum, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Red Taffeta Ribbon

Beautiful Love

I LOVE this card. Its about the same design as, oh, every card I make with this Eiffel Tower stamp, but this one is distressed and I used lace and different accessories. I may use this card in an upcoming class, but this exact card was put with a stack of wedding cards that was ordered.

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla & Basic Black card stocks, Newsprint DP
Accessories: Victoria Lace, Mini Vintage Tags, Vintage Trinkets

A french flair

Today was a pretty good Saturday...cleaning, kid activity, playtime and two members of my family even got a nap! Since it was quiet for a little while, I decided to go make some birthday cards for my January birthday list. ahem. I missed..... LOL!

so insteeead...I made these cards with Jen's January SFYTT sketch:

Why are there two? Well...the sketch is square so I was going to do that. In my head I thought 4x4 but when I cut the card stock decided that was too small...and made a 5x5. But then...I wondered, what am I going to do with that sheet of burgundy? Ehh, I decided to just use it too! So you get a two-fer!

Supplies:

Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla card stocks

Accessories: Paper Daisies, Neutral Buttons, Victoria crochet lace 

Pride & Prejudice for Christmas!

Doesn't that sound lovely?
The Cinema Challenge (from at least two weeks ago...) was to make a card based on the movie Pride & Prejudice - a favorite movie around here. I need Christmas cards right now, so here is a happy combined theme! altho, looking at it, it doesn't so much say CHRISTMAS... but that's ok. I am very happy with it.

This card was a quick one, thanks to the magic of DP- designer paper. I wanted something elegant and period-looking and my new Deck the Halls DP was perfect...it even had this awesome focal image I snipped out from another sheet!

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Deck the Halls DP
Accessories: Victoria crochet lace, Mini Vintage Tags, Neutral Buttons

A gift!!

Every once in a great while I realize someone's birthday is coming, rather than looking at the date and thinking "oh, its ___ birthday today!" And, even more rare is being inspired to come up with some kind of cute gift or at least packaging... So looky what I made for my friend this week!!

Fun, huh? The card was already made, and I'd bought her a candy bar, but wasn't sure if she'd be home when I stopped by. So I decorated this little bag to sort of coordinate. Meaning I used the same stamp set... and the card uses Crumb Cake card stock which is similar to the brown paper bag.

I put some crinkled, shredded, red paper in the bottom of the bag, stuck the candy bar in, and put the card in an envelope also inside the bag... and closed it like this:

I thought it turned out pretty nice, and she was happy. and that's the point. *grin*

Card Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Basic Black card stocks, Newsprint DP
Accessories: Paper Daisies, Black grosgrain ribbon, Neutral Buttons,

Sack Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler
Accessoriess: Scallop Edge Punch, retired Cranberry Crisp ribbon

Note Cards

Thanksgiving is coming. Last November our family did a Thankful Can where we drew out something to be thankful for each day. My kids have already asked when we're going to start that again! Yeay! So here are four quick note cards I put together (in Becky's style) last night for them to use when they need to send a thank you to someone this month. I loved the rich autumny colors. And its nice and chilly here to remind us that autumn has arrived!

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Grunge Rock
Ink: More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Perfect Plum
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories: Always Artichoke seam binding

Great ideas...

You know, every time Stampin' Up! offers a new bonus for signing up to be a demonstrator someone asks me to give them reasons. This time, with the super cute tote as a free gift, I've had two ask. So here's a fun perk: Ideas. Unlimited ideas. See this card?

It is completely based on a card I found on the demonstrator site as a possible workshop idea! My only modification was putting on a vanilla base, and making it full card size, instead of the cute 3x3 they designed. I love it!

Stampin' Up! has monthly workshop suggestions with a full list of what you need to make the projects, and it often has a time frame, like, "this card will take under ten minutes", "this page under 15", so that you can plan your workshop accordingly.

Want more reasons to join? Here's what I think...

- Having this as a business MAKES me craft. It MAKES me take time out for myself to do something I truly enjoy. As a mom I tend to forget that. I'm lucky enough to have a supportive husband who lets me spend some time crafting, and I justify it by calling it business.

- Classes and workshops give me a chance to teach people a fun and fairly quick way to be creative. I get to hang out with grown ups for a while and enjoy some fun girl time!

- I already addressed unlimited ideas, but I'm not kidding. Stampin' Up! offers all kinds of ideas online and in our monthly magazine. There is also a demonstrator website bursting with stamp ideas.

- Training. Stampin' Up! spotlights techniques and tools (both online and in the magazine) so that you actually knwo what you're doing with that cool new product you just bought. Stampin' Up! offers business training on all aspects of the home business. Plus, Stampin' Up! offers awesome group training with a yearly Convention and regular, smaller Regional trainings. I have attended one of each and wish I was able to do more. They are so. much. fun. and so inspiring, for all levels of your life.

- I get a discount on my crafting supplies and am able to spend "my" money on scrapbooking instead of "family" money. Its also taught me to be pretty good at keeping to a budget and keeping track of where I am financially. I have been fortunate enough to not need this income, but its a wonderful thing to know that I could do more if I choose, or if I do need to.

So. If you are ready to have these fun perks in your life, and have the chance to run your own business, and get this super cute craft tote bag,

let me know and we'll complete your paperwork before October 18th!

New toys!

Ok, so I realized over a month passed between stamping. Let's see if I still have it....

This card uses Julee's Mojo Monday sketch, and is full of some of those new goodies that arrived Thursday...! *LOVE*

Supplies:

Stamps: Artistic Etchings

Ink: Crumb Cake, Basic Black

Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Basic Black card stocks, Newsprint DP

Accessories: Paper Daisies, Black grosgrain ribbon, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread