card making night - April

Last Thursday I held my monthly card making night! I really enjoy the opportunities each month for me to host these events, so that I am always using my products by creating cards. Some months the attendance is higher than others, but I love a big group and I love a small group, so I'll take either!

As many of you know already, the retiring list came out on April 15th. (Visit HERE to take a peek of what stamp sets will be retiring on May 31st and click HERE to take a peek of what accessories will be retiring). Not only will there be many, many stamp sets retiring, but we are saying goodbye to the 2010-2012 In-Colors, as well. Because of this, I wanted to get some extra play time in with some of the retiring products. So, with my first card I did just that by using the retiring colors Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, and Peach Parfait. I also used the retiring stamp set Pocket Silhouettes. This is a simple design, but a classic!

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes (retiring)
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Whisper White
Ink: markers - Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush
Accessories: Dimensionals, Pearl Accents, 1/2" Pear Pizzazz Poly-Stitched ribbon (retiring)
Tools: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

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The second card we made was a CASE by the wonderfully talented Jen Sannes of Simple & Sincere. This is not the first time I have cased one of Jen's cards. I love, love, love her clean and simple style so much! I changed a couple of things in an attempt to add my own personal flair by snipping some banners at the bottom of each of the strips of paper. I also added a brad in the middle of the flower instead of a button. Thanks, Jen, for the inspiration! This card uses the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper that Stampin' Up! is offering right now (through April 30th) as a promotion for upcoming products in the new catalog.

 

Stamp Set: Bold Blossom
Paper: Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Dimensionals, Island Indigo polka-dotted brad
Tools: Triple Layer Bouquet punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat, Paper Snips

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The final card was something I saw on Pinterest created by Lorraine. I pinned it 9 weeks ago, but it wasn't until I saw Karen Graff-Povis's take on the same card that I remembered I had pinned it. I felt like this month was the right month to go for it and so I did, adding my own choice of colors and DSP. The candle flames are made using the Two-Step bird punch. How clever is that?!

{a little Dazzling Details for some sparkle on the flames}

 

Stamp Set: Happiest Birthday Wishes 
Paper: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Just Add Cake DSP 
Ink: markers - Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, Peach Parfait 
Accessories: Dimensionals, red brads, Wild Wasabi striped ribbon (retired)
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat, Two-Step Bird punch

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Stampin' Up! just announced the Retired Accessories list TODAY!!

Some accessories are discounted up to 60% off, but don't wait too long to order since all accessories and Decor Elements are available only while supplies last! Click on the picture below to order straight from my website.

card for a friend

I wanted to make a card for a friend who needed a little encouragement and I needed a little inspiration to make just the right one, so I headed over to A La Card Monkey to play along with their sketch, and for some color inspiration I used the colors at Create with Connie & Mary.



I kept it fairly simple because I wanted it to be a card I could easily mail...

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes, Pursuit of Happiness(available in clear or wood mount)
Paper: Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade DSP (polka dots)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, markers - Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Pearl Accents, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: Adorning Accents Edgelits, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

I finally made cards!

Surprise, surprise...I actually made some cards! Tuesday night was my first 3 for $6 card night since June! I took a break this summer from my monthly card nights knowing that it was going to be super busy for our family. However, I still kept on the calendar the card nights that I have been doing at my mother-in-law's house with her and her friends every other month. It was a great turn out and I saw many new faces! I hope to start up my monthly card nights at my home again in September.

I just love the new Petite Pennants Builder Punch!


Now I don't have to hand cut out all those triangles to make cute banners like these...

{card inspired by Barb Mann}

Stamp Set: Happy Everything (retired)

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Whisper White, Bold Brights DSP

Ink: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Dimensionals, White Gel Pen

Tools: Petite Pennants Builder punch, Punch Pack (flower)

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I recently purchased a pack of the Berry Blossoms Designer Series Paper and love it! It uses a lot of the new in-colors...Coral Calypso, Wisteria Wonder, & Lucky Limeade. Right now Stampin' Up! is having a promotion during the month of August...buy 3 packs of DSP and get 1 free! Read all about it and take a look at some of the designs HERE!


Stamp Set: Fruit & Flowers (matches the Berry Blossoms DSP), On Your Birthday (one of my most favorite sets for birthday sentiments!!)

Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Berry Blossoms DSP

Ink: markers - Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Coral Calypso

Accessories: Coral Calypso 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (love this new ribbon!!)

Tools: N/A

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When using a dark colored card base, add a piece of 4" x 5-1/4" Whisper White card stock to the inside for a place to write your handwritten message. As you can "kind of" see I added a flower image on the bottom right on the inside to go with the flow of the card.

{card inspired by Wendy Randall}

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes, Delightful Dozen (Get Well Soon sentiment)

Paper: Soft Suede, So Saffron, Regal Rose

Ink: Soft Suede, So Saffron, Regal Rose

Accessories: Dimensionals, Pearl Accents

Tools: Eyelet Border punch, 1/2" Circle punch, Punch Pack (mini circle), Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

And in conclusion ~ how adorable is this card that my 5 1/2-year old daughter made for her great grandma who just had surgery. She found my "reject" of the flowered stamping in the recycling and went to work on re-creating the card I had made (above). She sure does love to craft with her momma...and I am so proud of her! (Before you think she's a punching genius, I did punch out the eyelet border for her!)

a cut above!

I came home from a weekend away to find out that I was 1 of 6 cards chosen as a "Cut Above" at The Paper Players! A couple of weeks ago, I participated in a color challenge at The Paper Players using Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, and Early Espresso. Most of the cards created were masculine, but because I don't own any masculine style stamps, I went with something I thought might still work with the colors we were asked to use.

Here is the card I created...

Thanks to Rita, this month's guest designer, for choosing my card!!

Head on over to The Paper Players to participate in this week's sketch challenge...I hope to find some time to play along!

color challenges!!

I had some extra time yesterday to play in my stamp room. There was absolutely NOTHING on the calendar, so I knew I could play a little. Of course, this meant avoiding some housework...but playing in my stamp room sounded much more fun, and housework can ALWAYS wait! *wink*

I played with two different color challenges this week and ironically they both used Not Quite Navy as one of their colors. I'll have to admit I haven't been playing much with the Regals or Neutrals. I'm more of a Brights or Subtles fan, so it's nice to be "encouraged" to use other color collections.

The first challenge was over at Create with Connie & Mary.

This card reminds me of myself (the "momma" bird) with my two kiddos behind me just chatting away with each other. I have a 5 year-old girl and 3 1/2-year old boy and they are the best of friends!


Stamp Set: Happy Together, Tiny Tags ("friends" sentiment)

Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Poppy Parade, Poppy Parade DSP (hostess pack)

Ink: Night of Navy, Poppy Parade

Accessories: 5/8" Poppy Parade Poly-Stitched ribbon, Dimensionals

Tools: Jewelry Tag punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, 1 3/4" Circle punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch

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The other color challenge comes from The Paper Players, which I just found this week!!


These colors would be so perfect for a masculine card, but looking at my collection...I don't have much (if anything) to choose from. Looks like I need to find something in the new catalog coming up in July!


Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes, Thank You Kindly

Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler seam binding (from 2010 Holiday Mini), mini library clip, Dimensionals,

Tools: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

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I had a great time playing along with these challenges...
I look forward to the next one!

pocket silhouettes

A month or so ago, I received a new stamp set called Pocket Silhouettes and figured it was about time to ink it up! I found a couple of cards online that I really liked and decided to use these for some inspiration and start my motivation of using this stamp set by CASEing these cards.

Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set

CASE from Shannon at Shannon's Crop Stop

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes, Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)

Paper: Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: markers ~ Concord Crush, Wild Wasabi

Accessories: Dimensionals, Rhinestone Jewel Accents

Tools: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch

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CASE from Kylie

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes

Paper: Old Olive, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive, Really Rust (retired), Early Espresso

Accessories: Dimensionals, Old Olive brads

Tools: Modern Label punch

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This one is an HB Original {*wink*}
I wanted something Clean & Simple...so this is what I came up with.

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes, Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)

Paper: Whisper White

Ink: markers - Old Olive, Rose Red, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Dimensionals, Pearls Jewel Accents

Tools: flower from the Punch Pack

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Do you own the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set? I would LOVE to see what you have made using it...leave me a comment with a link to your site!