MDS Monday 100!

Today a quick break from Valentine cards because I really wanted to participate in MDS Monday's 100th challenge!
I have truly enjoyed the MDS Monday challenge blog, and like them, I can hardly believe they're already up to their 100th challenge! There are lots of weeks I haven't gotten to play, so the 100th challenge is perfect for that- we're supposed to pick any previous sketch and play with it! Done! I chose #66 for this page of my son's first band concert!
I kept the page mostly monochromatic. I decided that was both nicely masculine for a teenage boy, and also lets the photos shine. And, it works really well with my newest download- the music notes! (why yes, I did buy that download just for this page! MDS is super handy like that..!)

Supplies:
MDS: So Happy For You (stars), Music Notes, Flag punch, Vintage Overlays

Valentine Week #4

Today's card was one that was thrown together as soon as I decided to do a Valentine class rather than a typical workshop! *grin It is very simple but still fun, happy and I think perfect for Valentines! We used two ink pads, and just stamped off on our scratch paper to get the paler shades of pink!

Supplies:
Stamps: Work of Art
Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Gray
Paper: Melon Mambo, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Melon Mambo taffeta ribbon

Valentine Week #3

Today's cards are the ones I designed for the Make & Take on Saturday!
This one had options- which I hardly ever do, but I thought there just might be a preference...and there was! I saw the idea on Susan's blog and absolutely had to try it!
I started by cutting the heart out of the white card stock (...funny how the light caught it in this photo, because in the card you can't see the outline of the die!). I stamped this long heart image coming from the heart hole, to past the edge of the paper, and added the strip of Stacked With Love Washi Tape. Then I chose a sheet from the super cute Stacked With Love DP, and cut it in half. I laid it on the inside of the card, covering the heart so that one of the prints showed thru! I added the gold button and called it done!

 Here's the inside...and since I cut the page in half, it doesn't cover like Susan's did...

So I thought I'd try matting it, in case people preferred that...and of those who came, they all picked this one! haha! So, same idea, different stamp in the set, and this is the flip side of the same DP, annd I forgot the Washi Tape...

But there are two more Valentine ideas for you!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hello Life
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red card stocks, Stacked With Love DP
Accessories: Stacked With Love Washi Tape, Gold Buttons, White Baker's Twine, Big Shot, Hearts Die, Glue Dots

Valentine Week #2

Today I have the second card from my impromptu Valentine class! This is a card I made to display, and it's really very simple, but I like it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hello Life
Ink: Real Red, Calypso Coral, Crisp Canteloupe
Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Paper Doilies, White Jute Ribbon, Dimensionals

Valentine Week #1

So, Saturday I had a Sale-A-Bration workshop. I invited a bunch of people but the only ones able to come already have a decent stamp stash of their own, haha! I had been disappointed I didn't have time to schedule a Valentine card class, so 15 minutes into the workshop I started prepping other cards and we turned it into a card class instead, haha!! That means I have several cards to showcase this week, in case you're looking for some Valentine's inspiration!

Today I'm starting with the card that was originally the card to demonstrate! This card uses the photopolymer stamp set Snuggles and Smooches, which is not in the catalog, but can be viewed HERE. Yep, Stampin' Up! is still releasing a new photopolymer stamp set each month, and this one is so cute! I used the Banners die for the pennant with the LOVE stamped on it, but I used the Hexagon Punch to make the other strips pennant shaped. We used the Calypso Coral Blendabilities to color the LOVE in an ombre' style (which totally shows up better IRL), and to color one of the pearls. And the strips come from the cute Stacked With Love paper stack!

Supplies:
Stamps: Snuggles & Smooches
Ink: Memento Black, Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral Blendabilities
Paper: Calypso Coral & Whisper White card stocks, Stacked With Love DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Banners Die, Hexagon Punch, Pearls

Other Flowers...

haha...I've used Lotus Blossom so many times lately, I thought I'd mix it up with a different flower! This is a birthday card I made a friend this week. I have a few February birthday's and it strikes me that most of them love purple...I wonder if there's a connection to their amethyst birthstone...? Anyway, here's the first purple birthday card this year, and I used the current Retro Sketch!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bloom with Hope (hostess), Hardwood
Ink: Soft Suede, Memento Black, Wisteria Wonder, Wisteria Blendabilities
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Accessories: Old Olive Baker's Twine, White Organza ribbon, Rhinestones

...and I think I've only done this flower in shades of purple...I'll have to mix that up soon! *grin

Calling All Heroes 2

I love that daughter of mine! A friend came to school on crutches yesterday, and then fell down stairs...! We don't know if the girl broke something or made the problem worse, or what happened, but my daughter came home and asked if she could take a "get well" card to her friend! ...I don't have any of those...I don't give them...so I put one together just perfect for this non-frilly-girl friend!
I used the Freshly Made Sketch, and I also used the Color Throwdown...mostly...I swapped the green shade for Soft Suede on the hair....But I really love how this card turned out!! The two white pieces are popped up on Dimensionals for a little something.

Supplies:
Stamps: Calling All Heroes
Ink: Island Indigo, Soft Sky, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Basic Black
Paper: Soft Sky, Island Indigo, Cajun Craze & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Extra Large Oval punch, Dimensionals

Cards in the Mail!

I looove this idea so much! I seriously love getting beautiful cards in the mail, instead of just ads and bills. I feel bad that I haven't had a chance to mail off mine yet (or um...create them...darn January!) but I have received four super cute cards in the mail so I'm ready to share these! :) The creators are noted on the picture for credit.

These three feature the Sale-A-Bration products...

And this one features Occasions Mini products!

Aren't they all so pretty and fun?!

Paper Pumpkin Valentines!

Today I have some alternate cards made with the January Paper Pumpkin kit. The sketches this week worked so well with the kit, it was irresistible! I had to use it!

First I used the kit with the Mojo Monday sketch and with some card stock I had on hand- how easy is that?!

Supplies:
Stamps: January Paper Pumpkin
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Blushing Bride, Real Red & Whisper White card stock
Accessories: January Paper Pumpkin

Second, I used the Nacho Average Challenge sketch, and the same supplies! ...too bad you can't see the shiny gold hearts on the paper...but that's one of the topper strips I cut in half and laid next to itself!

Supplies:
Stamps: January Paper Pumpkin
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White card stock, January Paper Pumpkin
Accessories: January Paper Pumpkin

What do you think? Aren't these kits awesome?! haha! I am sure loving them!

Blog Hop: Let's Sale-A-Brate!

As I hope you already know, Sale-A-Bration is in full swing! This year it runs until March 31, so you still have plenty of time to place orders and earn your free product! Today we are all featuring this new product, and how fun is it to see new toys in action!

So far, I only have the Lotus Blossom stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration products (altho I did get a set of Blendabilities too!) so that's what I have to share today!

First up, this very autumny card...I used the layout from CAS(E) This Sketch, and kept it quite clean and simple. I have pinned dozens of Lotus Blossom cards and seen even more and I really love using two colors of ink to make the flowers.

Supplies:
Stamps: Lotus Blossom
Ink: Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow
Paper: Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist card stocks
Accessories: Chevron Ribbon, Dimensionals

Next up, I have this pretty card, altho masking off the doily edge was a liiiittle tricky, haha! I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch, and yes, I turned the card base the other direction.

Supplies:
Stamps: Lotus Blossom
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive
Paper: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss card stocks, Park Lane DP, Gold Glimmer DP, Paper Doily
Accessories: Big Shot, Banners Die

That's all for me, but go see what Cheryl has created with her Sale-A-Bration stash! Then hop on thru everyone's blogs, and be sure and leave comments! *grin! And don't forget- you can earn all of this for FREE!!!

Love Is Kindness

Today's is another simple card. This time I used the Mojo Monday sketch but turned it to the side...and I moved the ribbon almost entirely. Hmm...okay, nevermind, this card was inspired by the Mojo Monday sketch, haha! And I have actually already participated in this week's sketch, so that's fine. Just a little funny...
Anyway, this time I colored the tulips with my Crisp Cantaloupe marker and the Calypso Coral Blendabilities! I like the even lighter shade on there!

Supplies:
Stamps: Love Is Kindness
Ink: Memento Black, Calypso Coral Blendabilities, Crisp Cantaloupe marker
Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso card stocks, Paper Doilies
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon

Another Lotus Blossom!

So I was playing around with colors to use with this stamp set and came up with some of these...

and then I saw Patty's post HERE about how you could do the flower with just one ink pad...so that's how the last few went. Some colors obviously work better than others, but I gotta say, it seems to turn out lovely no matter how you do it!

And then I decided to make this! I used the Paper Players sketch and maybe the bright turquoise is a little weird...but hey! It was fun and it works so nicely with the DP! haha! And I dunno...it's kind of got a soft quality that makes it work!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lotus Blossom
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point
Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy card stocks, Sweet Taffy DP