One Sketch, Many Cards!

Well, as I said, I had some time to stamp.... I saw the Retro Sketches latest and kinda ran with it! Immediately I saw different ideas that would work really well, and I guess I needed to try them all!

This one worked out perfectly the first time. I love when it looks as good on paper as it does in my head!

Supplies:

Stamps: Joyful Nativity

Ink: Dapper Denim

Paper: Dapper Denim, Whisper White card stocks, Silver Glimmer Paper

Accessories: Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbon

This next idea was one that was much better in my head than how it worked out...and I did it two different ways! But, Mom to the rescue and after some fiddling, it worked out! Phew! (Tho I do have a favorite...!)

Supplies:

Stamps: Christmas Magic

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White card stocks, Copper Foil DP

Accessories: Copper Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

And honestly, I had another couple ideas, but I ran out of time! haha...! Maybe I'll play with it again later...

Christmas Is Coming!

Happy Tuesday to you! I hope my American readers had a lovely long weekend! Mine was not exactly relaxing, but I did steal a few naps! Also, it has stopped being quite so hot, so that part was great, haha! And yesterday I got a decent amount of stamping in, and the table is still covered so I guess I'll just have to stamp some more today...!

If you've been reading my blog much this year, you know I'm expecting a baby very soon, and building a house that should be done about a month later...! So I am prepping for Christmas much earlier than usual! (For the record, that's not a bad thing, haha!) And this year I have both a mailed class planned, and am hoping, hoping, hoping for a live class very soon...!!! Which means I really need to play with my fun new Holiday Mini order! And of course that is what I did!

However, today's sample will not be featured in a class. Perhaps another variation, if I come up with something, but die cutting the stars one by one is too time consuming for a class setting. I might make a few more, because I love how it turned out, and this is definitely inspiration so that YOU can make it yourself too! *grin
I got the idea from last week's blog hop. Julie designed a wreath for one of her samples, in case you missed it.

Enough chatter- on with the card! I used two different die sets for the wreath, the greeting and the stars come from one stamp set, and then the bow comes from a set of Baker's Twine found in the Holiday Mini! The wreath itself is actually the large die, cut twice and layered. And I thought the little stars looked like poinsettias used this way.

Supplies:
Stamps: Star of Light
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Garden Green card stocks
Accessories: Baker's Twine Trio Pack (Gold & Cherry Cobbler), Swirly Scribbles Thinlit Dies, Starlight Thinlit Dies, Big Shot, Glue Dots

Expect more Christmas samples in the next few weeks! And of course I'll throw in some other events too...! haha!

Blog Hop: Stepped "over"!

Happy September to you, and welcome to our monthly Blog Hop!

Lately with our Blog Hops we've been showing you a basic card and then a Stepped Up version....Today, at least some of us are sharing a "stepped over" version- using an every day card and a holiday card to show different supplies used in basically the same way!

One reason we wanted to share a holiday themed card is that the brand new Holiday Mini goes live today and YOU can order from it!!! (and trust me, you'll fall in love with something! I placed a huge order and the customers who have talked to me about their catalog also have long wish lists!)

First of all, I used a recent TGIF Challenge to CASE (copy and share everything) a favorite something that has been shared in the month of August. I picked the third project in THIS post- the chalkboard card that I found so striking. And I used it for both of my card designs.
And I'm just going to apologize now for the quality of photos before the sun is up here today...it was so much one of those months and I didn't get these projects done til after 11pm last night!

So starting with the everyday card, I used the exact same layout Krista did. The color scheme came from some curtains I recently saw- mint curtains trimmed in a shade very similar to our Tip Top Taupe! The cute DP and the ribbon come from the Holiday Mini!

Supplies:

Stamps: Butterfly Basics

Ink: Tip Top Taupe, Mint Macaron

Paper: Mint Macaron, Tip Top Taupe, Very Vanilla card stocks, Petals & Paisleys DP

Accessories: Ribbon Trio Pack, Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Then I used the exact same design for this Christmas card, other than I turned it on its side! You, well, *I can never have enough Christmas cards and this stamp set is found in the regular catalog but I ordered it with my Holiday Mini order and have been anxiously awaiting using it. The gold twine comes from the Holiday Mini! 

And the DP? That's the Pop of Pink that is mostly pink and black in the regular catalog! haha...! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Joyful Nativity

Ink: Real Red, Memento Black

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red card stocks, Pop Of Pink DP

Accessories: Bakers Twine Trio Pack, Dimensionals

I kept my projects fairly simple, but the layers seem to add a lot. Isn't it cool how the very same card can be used in so many ways and have a completely different feel? It is a simple concept, but I'm the first to admit that when I signed up to be a demonstrator, it took me a long while to figure out how to swap out images to make completely different cards from the same design. haha.... So don't feel bad if something trips you up too!

Now, hop on over to Jeanna's blog and continue on to see what everyone else has created for your inspiration! Also, leave us your thoughts! We all love comments!

Cards In The Mail!

Here are the latest cards I have received from my Cards In The Mail swap!
I love getting these beautiful pieces of inspiration!
Have you sent a card in the mail recently?

Card Swap!

Quick post today!
I just have a stack of identical cards to share. This is my swap for July/August, which I am excited to say I got out in time! It's been a really weird year..! I've never been late for so many things in my life!

I really like this set and I ended up really liking the colors in the DP with it! Handy! haha... I also used the latest from Retro Sketches for the layout. I heat embossed the globe stand with Copper Embossing powder, which coordinates with the DP, and it looks fantastic with the Cajun Craze color too!

Supplies:
Stamps: Places You'll Go
Ink: Versamark, Mint Macaron, Cajun Craze
Paper: Mint Macaron, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla card stocks, Petals & Paisleys DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Banners Die Cuts, Dimensionals, Copper Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Masculine Birthday

Two blog posts in one week, and it's only Wednesday! Hooray for stamp time!
Once again, I had an assignment....I needed a specific card that I was definitely lacking- a birthday card for a man!
I started out using the Mojo Monday sketch...but I ended up leaving off a piece, because I wanted more of the background to show and I made the two front panels smaller. I made the background by using the Big Shot to emboss the card front, then I used the Brayer and white ink to make it look like aspen trees. Then each panel is popped up on layers of Dimensionals.

Supplies:

Stamps: In The Meadow

Ink: Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Whisper White

Paper: Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla card stocks

Accessories: Big Shot, Woodland Embossing Folder, Crushed Curry Bakers Twine, Brayer, Dimensionals 

That's all for today, but I'm hoping to get more stamping done and post again soon! *grin

Places You'll Go!

I don't typically post on a Sunday, but I wanted to participate in the challenge and there's a deadline... that I am barely making!!
Also, maybe YOU are looking for a late night fun idea for your kids back-to-school tomorrow, and if you are, here's something...

I just got this stamp set this past week, but we had lots of family staying so I didn't get to play til this evening. My kids are starting in a new school for the first time oh, ever, and they are extra nervous. We'll only be here a couple months, but still...you hope your child has someone nice to eat lunch with! So I thought it was extra important I include something happy and hopefully a little confidence-boosting for them on their first day. At the last second at the grocery store the other day I thought Hershey's "kisses from home" might be fun, and I literally sent my son running back to the candy to grab a bag, haha! So yes, I'll be tossing a few in their lunch tomorrow, along with these cards!

I used the Nacho Average Challenge sketch for the layout, and I think this qualifies for the Back to School challenge on the TGIF Challenge blog too! And here's hoping for a great day tomorrow!!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Places You'll Go

Ink: Basic Gray, Flirty Flamingo, Cucumber Crush

Paper: Cucumber Crush, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Flirty Flamingo

Accessories: Sweetheart Punch 

Supplies:

Stamps: Places You'll Go

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede

Accessories: Decorative Label Punch 

Thoughtful Branches- Limited Time!

I apologize for the late notice on this super cool stamp set and dies... But you do have a little over two weeks left to make up your mind and place your order! 

This is the Thoughtful Branches stamp set, and just in case you can't see the possibilities with a glance, try the Stampin' Up! Pinterest board HERE! It is a photopolymer set, and you get all of this for only $27.00! (US)

However, if you have the Big Shot, getting the Bundle (the only way to get the dies) is definitely the way to go! The Bundle saves you 10%! And it is super useful! I have seen SO many different ways to use these products!

So the catch is, that it is only available until Aug 31! That means you'll want to place your orders very soon!

*There is a chance it may show up in a future catalog, if the demand is high!

Plenty of Paper Pumpkin!

Today there is some exciting news for those of you who have been thinking about signing up to join Paper Pumpkin! If you don't follow me on facebook, here's what you missed yesterday: 

For the FIRST time ever, FIRST-time subscribers can buy their FIRST month and get their second month FREE!

When you use promo code “BOGO” at PaperPumpkin.com, you’ll pay the regular price of $19.95 USD/$26.95 CAD and get your second month for FREE! 
Offer runs August 11–October 10, 2016. Visit my blog, click the Paper Pumpkin button to subscribe, and your first kit will be on it's way!

In honor of this...or maybe because I seriously needed some creative time without using any actual brain power....and because I am quite certain I will need thank you cards in the coming weeks.... oh anyway, I got 15 cards made today using past Paper Pumpkin kits!! 

(Sorry about the photo quality...it was just windy enough that outside didn't work and this worked well looking thru the lens, even if it didn't turn out nicely...)

It didn't take me very long...I think possibly two hours, which included searching thru the boxes for what I felt like making. And that is exactly what I love most about Paper Pumpkin! 

I started with these two, using a very old kit that I just keep using... You can see another Paper Pumpkin day HERE where I focused on this kit, and the original is HERE. 

Supplies: December 2014 Paper Pumpkin, Whisper White card stock, Dimensionals

Then I remembered I wanted thank you cards, and those are not...so even tho there is more product left from that kit, I moved on. haha! So I pulled out this next kit, and you can see the previous post HERE. The first 6 were made according to the kit. Zero think-time! 

Then I had enough stickers that I wanted to keep going. I cut a sheet of card stock in half and used Gorgeous Grunge and Soft Sky ink to do my own splattery look for the background. Then I added the stickers, just like before!

And for this one, I did splatters in Tangerine Tango (my best guess for the big orangey flower), and finished off the stickers!

Supplies: February 2016 Paper Pumpkin, Whisper White card stock, Tangerine Twist, Soft Sky & Blackberry Bliss inks, Dimensionals

And! This is all that is left from this whole kit! YEAY! 

Finally, I pulled out this kit, which again, you can view HERE and HERE. I did make my own card base for the two horizontal cards, but the rest is from the kit! 

Supplies: October 2015 Paper Pumpkin, Crushed Curry card stock

And this is all that is left from that kit!! Wahoo!!!

You wanna know what else? If you like this third one, the refill is still available!! And if you're a subscriber, you can order it right HERE! 

I'd definitely call that a stampingly productive day! 

There are currently eight refill kits that are available to subscribers. You can view them all HERE. And actually one is the original kit...which means it comes with the ink and stamps. If you have been considering it, now is the best time I've seen to sign up! Just click the pumpkin icon on my sidebar and you're set! Kits begin to ship out on the 10th of each month, so you can enjoy some quick crafting time with zero prep from you! 

July 2016 Paper Pumpkin

Happy Monday, once again! I had some time to play with July's Paper Pumpkin (which I got late...darn moving! Don't do it!) and I thought I'd show you what I did!

Usually when we get treat pouches and or gift boxes, I use them for the ladies I visit thru church. This is especially handy since I just moved and I don't know the people I'm supposed to visit. Crafts and chocolate is a great ice-breaker! I made a few boxes up and put 3-4 Hersheys Nuggets inside. They all have the same stamp because it is the most 'everyday' option.

Then I tried to think of a card I could make, to use up the other supplies. The printed paper the boxes are made from is fun...I'm just out of a use for treat boxes! I ended up using THIS sketch as inspiration for the layout, and I only used one of the triangle panels from a box to make the pennants at the bottom. I added some Flirty Flamingo card stock for the base, and a little stamping, and there's a cute card! 

Have you gotten your July Paper Pumpkin? If so, what have you made with it? Who do you give treat boxes to?? Inquiring minds need to know!

Blog Hop: Simply Stepping It Up!

Hello again, and welcome to yet another month!! Our summer has been jam packed and yet flown by! Now summer is nearly over and school is starting soon!
And a new month means a new Blog Hop, so read on!

In this Blog Hop, we try to inspire you with ways to step up your paper creations. This time I started suuuper simple! For the layout, I used the latest from the Freshly Made Sketches blog. I wanted to try out the kite part of the Swirly Bird stamp set. And I promise there is a greeting on that card, but wow, Soft Sky is a very faint shade of blue, isn't it??

Supplies:
Stamps: Swirly Bird, Here For You
Ink: Peekaboo Peach, Soft Suede, Soft Sky
Paper: Whisper White

Then I added just a bit to step it up more. For one thing, I used an Aquapainter to color on a Soft Sky circle, to better follow the sketch and to anchor the kite in the sky, instead of just randomly thrown on the card. After it dried, I stamped the specks from the Swirly Bird set with Soft Sky ink, just onto the painted blob, to add a bit more dimension. Then I cut out the kite and popped it up on Dimensionals. This makes it qualify for last week's TGIF Challenge! I made the "Hang in there" a darker shade so you can see it, haha, and I added some Enamel Shapes to the kite string!

Supplies:
Stamps: Swirly Bird, Here For You
Ink: Peekaboo Peach, Soft Suede, Soft Sky
Paper: Whisper White
Accessories: Aquapainter, Enamel Shapes, Dimensionals

Still very simple, but definitely stepped up! And I think it turned out really cute!

Now hop on over to Cheryl's blog and see what she has to inspire you! Then hop on thru everyone else's and leave us your thoughts! We all love comments!!

Cards In The Mail

I do have a few other things ready to share with you, but today I'm going to show off the latest things I've gotten in the mail!