5.31.2014

Sew Saturday ~ Modern Metallic Finish

May has been such a crazy, busy month.  We have been working hard on getting our yard ready for our son's graduation party next weekend, so there hasn't been much free time to work on my sewing.  Yesterday I made finishing my quilt a priority.  Thank you Melissa and Shanna for giving me ALYOF.  Without your monthly challenge this quilt would still be sitting on my design wall.


This quilt did not end up the way I planned it in my head.  There simply wasn't enough of the metallic fabric to achieve the look I was going for, so I had to improvise.  For the past 6 weeks I have played around with different designs until I came up with one I could live with.


I think I almost like it.  When this fabric line becomes available for sale, I just might purchase more so I can create what I envisioned.  The back was pieced together using the blocks I didn't use on the front.  I just couldn't get the brown to fit in with the greys with the little bit of grey fabric I had left.


As you can see it was quilted simply with angled lines.  All that is left is to decide on the binding, but that will have to wait until after graduation week, I think.

The great thing is that you can turn this one all different directions.  There is no top nor bottom.  :)   One more finish in the book.  Now I must go take advantage of the sun and work on repairing our fence.

ALYoF2014
ALYOF May

5.29.2014

Celebrate this Sketch

Today I managed to carve out some time to play in my stamp room.  My Stampin' UP! order with all the new InColors was calling my name.  I had so much fun playing with my new "Work of Art" stamp set and colors. 


Of course I had to grab Blackberry Bliss first.  I really love the way this color looks when stamped off!  It's pretty in all its shades.   My inspiration for this card comes from CAS(E) this Sketch.  

CTS#78

In fact the sketch is what prompted me to get up and go stamp.  I've been suffering with bad allergies all week, so I haven't felt very creative, but when I saw this sketch I was immediately inspired.

This was almost a one layer card, but the paint stripe wasn't long enough for me, and I wanted to add some embellishments.  It's still clean and simple with just a simple mat and some small star sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.


Thank you, CAS(E) this Sketch for getting me out of bed and down to my stamp room.  I actually feel a little better now.  

Supplies (Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted)
Color: BlackBerry Bliss (New), Whisper White
Stamps: Work of Art (New), Perfectly Penned (Retiring)
Misc: Star Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (New)

5.25.2014

OWH Blog Hop Video

This weekend I am joining Operation Write Home for a Memorial Day Weekend blog hop.  If you missed yesterday's post, and the start of the hop please clicky to check out all the deets.

Memorial Day is the day those of us in the USA honor our military men and women who have given their lives while serving in our nation's armed forces.  It is a special day of remembrance and gratitude.   In my own small way I am honoring the memory of those who have fallen by creating cards for our active duty military stationed overseas. Thank you OWH for giving me an outlet to give.


Yesterday I promised to show you I created these inlaid stars on my card.  Today I have that video for you.  Enjoy!

***Note*** If you are reading this post in an email or reader, you may need to go to my blog to view the video below.






Isn't that a fun way to add shapes to your cards?  If you are pressed for time you can always just add your stars on top of your card and skip the inlaid die cutting step like I have done with the card below.




Want to see more?  I have an exclusive video going up on StampNation today showing you how I added vellum to my "Miss You Already" card without any adhesive showing.


StampNation is a membership site dedicated to teaching, inspiring and sharing a love for cards.  At $9 a month it's better than a couple of trips to Starbucks.  :)



See you in the forums!
StampNation members can clicky to go directly to the Vellum Video.


Supplies:Inlaid Die Cutting Card
Paper: Aboard (Authentique), Basic Black, Very Vanilla
StampsHip Notes (Stampin' UP!)
MiscBanner Framelits (Stampin' UP!), Stitched Stars (Lil' Inker Designs), Versamark, White Embossing Powder

Take 2 Card
Stamp: Year Round Sentiments (HeroArts)


5.24.2014

Memorial Weekend Blog Hop with OWH



Is there a more fitting thing for an American cardmaker to do on her blog for Memorial Day weekend than to join with Operation Write Home for a blog hop?  I didn't think so.   That's why I'm joining others again this year for the OWH Memorial Day Bloghop.



I used OWH Sketch #225 to create this thank you card.


See how the stars are inlaid and then a couple of them are popped up?  Come back tomorrow to see a video on how I made this card, plus another card using the same sketch, but rotated and flipped.


Add your email to the follow me by email box to the right and you will get an email when my new post goes up. :)

Be sure to head over to the OWH blog to see what the others have created for this special event.  Clicky to go there now.


Supplies:
Paper: Aboard (Authentique), Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Hip Notes (Stampin' UP!)
Misc: Banner Framelits (Stampin' UP!), Stitched Stars (Lil' Inker Designs), Versamark, White Embossing Powder


UPDATE:  I have added more pictures and video in the next post.  Clicky to go there now, or scroll up to see the new post.  

5.22.2014

Surprise, Surpise

Yesterday I was busy in my craft room working on cards for upcoming challenges.  My son came in while I was working on my fourth card and said, "what happened mom?  Your room was clean." Yes, it was, but I find that while I am in the midst of a multiple card inspiration session the mess gets a bit out of control.   Here is picture proof that I do try to clean up once in awhile.


To be honest, I do my best creating when I walk into the room and my desk is cleared.  I've been struggling for about 6 months now to have a place to put everything away.  It's an ongoing struggle for me as I expand my creative supplies.  Now that I have a place for 85% of my items I am finding it much easier to clean up as soon as I finish a card or finish for the day.


If you have tips for storage of stamping supplies, I would love to hear them!  Do you create better with a messy or clean space?  I must admit that it does get super messy as I am creating.  I like to have everything within reach, and I don't want to stop the creative flow to put things away.


In Stampin' UP! news... it's getting very close to the current catalog retiring and the new catalog coming out.  If you are a customer of mine your 2014-2015 Stampin' UP! annual catalog should be hitting your mailbox in the next couple of weeks.  :)  To say goodbye with a bang, SU is having a blowout sale on some of its retiring items. Up to50% while supplies last.  Clicky to check it out, if you haven't already, and be sure to order before your favorite items sell out.  <gasp>



Last, but not least for today, is a sneak peek at the design team cards for the new StampNation Challenge that just went live.  It's a sketch challenge, but every last one of us ended up making a Clean & Simple card.  Even me!  I absolutely love the card I made.   Here is another peek.


Perhaps, I'm biased, but I think it turned out lovely.  <3   If you are a StampNation member be sure to head on over to the Challenge forum to see the full card and all the other cards created by the Dream Team.  Then enter your own creation in the challenge.  We love it when you share your work!

Not yet a member?  What in the world are you waiting for?  It's seriously addictive, clean fun.



5.20.2014

Merry Monday Meets Stampin' Celebration

Working "out of season" is difficult for me.  It's one of the reasons I haven't submitted my work to magazine calls.  They want you to work 6-9 months ahead.  My focus is on Springtime flowers not snowflakes.  ;)

Yesterday as I made this card I was grateful for the Merry Monday challenges.  Even though I don't participate every week, I know that every time I do accept there challenge I am helping my holiday season become less stressful.  It really is a great help to me to have a Christmas themed challenge to get my Holiday mojo flowing "out of season".


The challenge this week is to use flowers on your Christmas card.

MM#109

I pulled out some of my favorite retired Holly Berry DSP and then made my own flower to add to it.  The cardstock was die cut use CASual Fri Dies 4 Petal.  To get the leaves I just cut the flower petals apart.  After I assembled the flower I used Copics to add some shadows.


You may recognize the sketch I used from Stampin' Celebration.  I used it on another card last week and said that my original plan was to use a sentiment.  Clicky if you missed that post.  I like the way using a sentiment here makes the background shine.

SC#79
The inside has another one of the die cut flowers and a sentiment from More Merry Messages (SU).  Sorry I forgot to take a picture of that.  There is still plenty of time to enter both of these challenges.   ;)   I hope to see your creations soon.

Stampin' Supplies

Stamps: Joy to the World (SU)
Ink: Versamark, Copic R29, Copic YG63
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU), Holly Berry DSP (Retired-SU), Real Red, Very Vanilla
Misc: Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Nuetrals Candy Dots (SU), 4 Petal Die (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps),  Stitched Scallop Die (Lil' Inker Designs)








5.16.2014

Seeing Stars

Are you ready for my 3rd post for today?   It appears that cleaning my stamp room has really given me some creative energy.  I would wait for next week to post these, but I wanted to get in on time to enter the challenges I designed them for.  :)



The current challenge at Merry Monday is to create a Christmas card with stars.  It gave me the perfect opportunity to play with my adorable Stitched Stars dies from Lil' Inker Designs.

MM#108
Since I had everything out I decided to cut another star for the inside of my card.



I thought the star theme would be fabulous with the sketch from Mojo Monday.  What do you think?  It's a great layout for inlaid die cutting.

MM345
As I was applying glue to the back of one of the stars I saw the pattern on the opposite side and thought it would be super cute on a baby card for my friend who is going to be a Grandma soon.


Isn't it sweet?  She is going to love it!  There was one slight problem with this card and that was the vellum. I hid my adhesive behind the star on the left and the rhinestone on the right, but there were still a couple of spots that were not popped up enough.


My solution was to add more rhinestones under the vellum.  It was a great solution.  

Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog
Die Crazy
Third challenge for the third post of the day is over at Simon Says Stamp.  The challenge is to use a diecut on your card.  Seems fitting, doesn't it.

Supplies:

Merry Christmas Card

Stamps: More Merry Messages (SU)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Festival of Prints DSP Stack (SU)
Misc: Stitched Stars Die (Lil' Inker Designs), Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Washi Tape

Welcome Little One
Stamps: Big Day~Today (WaltzingMouseStamps)
Paper: Same as above + Vellum Cardstock
Misc: Stitched Stars Die (Lil' Inker Designs), Bashful Blue Satin Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Silver Embossing Powder, Clear Foam Tape

Penny Black Card Video

On Tuesday my card was featured on the Penny Black blog as part of a design team collaboration with StampNation.  Yesterday I was reading all the lovely comments left on their blog and realized that several people wanted to know how I created the background for my focal point.   So, I made a video for all of you showing you exactly how it was made.

***Note- If you are reading my blog in an email or blog reader you may need to click on the post title to go to my blog and watch it.



If you missed the first post with the link to P.B. clicky to go there now.




Supply List (Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Gathering Together (Penny Black), Special Wishes (Penny Black)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Canteloupe, Soft Lilac (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), Strawberry Slush, Versamark
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Basic Black
Misc: Interlocking Die (Penny Black), Black Satin Ribbon, Black Embossing Powder

Casual Friday ~ Poppy Sketches and Fri-Dies

I found another sketch challenge.  What can I say?  I love sketches.  They always get my mojo flowing.  This one comes with a built in color challenge too.  BONUS!  Sometimes I get stuck in a color rut and just keep choosing my favorite combos that I know work together. It's nice when someone gives me a new combo to try.


I was so inspired that I actually made two cards using similar supplies.  Did I mention the name of the challenge yet?  It's called Poppy Sketches and this week it is being sponsored by CAS-ual Fridays.  That means there is a chance to win PRIZES!

PS#4
The vellum strip on both cards was stamped with Love Notes in Pistachio Pudding and then the sentiment was stamped in Bermuda Bay.  It takes awhile for the ink to dry on vellum, so sprinkled it with clear embossing powder, then heat set it with my heat tool.


This led to a new challenge, the vellum strip now had a "wave" and  adhesive can be seen through the strip.  To solve that I did too things.  I adhered the vellum with washi tape and then used clear foam adhesive to make it look like I wanted the vellum to wave.  :)  It sort of reminds me of the way old sheet music looks.


The 4 petal set Fri-Dies were one of the giveaways I got at StampNation Live 2014, so I decided to pull them out and give them a try.  It was a nice surprise when the die cut and embossed at the same time.  I added some candy dots to the center of each petal on my first card.  As the petals were laying there I thought they looked like little butterflies, so on the next card I folded up the "wings" and added a body + antennae with a black fine tip pen.

Supplies:
Stamps: Love Notes (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper/Ink (all SU): Coastal Cabana, Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White
Misc: 4 Petal Fri-Die (CFS), Chevron Washi Tape, Score Board, Clear Foam Adhesive, Clear Embossing Powder, Brights Candy Dots (SU)

5.15.2014

Stampin' Celebration ~ Sketch

It's the 15th, and that means it is time for a new sketch over at Stampin' Celebration.  This one is sure to get your creative juices flowing.


As you can see I decided to rotate the sketch and flip the direction of the banners.  Sketches are designed to be starting places for our creativity.

My plan when I first saw this sketch was to make a sentiment be my focal point.  In the end I didn't even use a sentiment.  Instead, I decided to play with my Copics.

Now it's your turn.  I can hardly wait to see what you come up with.  Be sure to visit Stampin' Celebration to see what the rest of the design team came up with.  These creative ladies are sure to give your mojo a boost.

P.S.  There was a glitch in the plans (aka Catherine forgot) to have the early bird pricing for the Cards for Him online class end last week.  Today is your LAST day to get in on early bird pricing.  She will be closing down the discount price tonight.   Click HERE to learn more.

Supplies:
Stamp: Peaceful Petals (SU)
Paper: Whisper White, Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP (SU), Retire InColor DSP Stack
Copics: BG000, B0000,G21, YG67, Y11, Y08, BV04, BV01, BV00, BV000, BV0000
Misc.: Strawberry Slush Stretch Ruffled Ribbon

5.13.2014

StampNation Teams Up with Penny Black

UPDATE:  Video added to show how I created the focal point.  CLICKY to check it out. 



All week long the design team at StampNation will be joining with the crew of Penny Black.  Today is my day to be featured on their blog, and I cannot tell you how excited I am about it!!!


Penny Black is also the sponsor of the current challenge going on a StampNation.  Clicky to check out the sneak peek on my blog last week, and then go enter for your chance to win 3 stamp sets from the new release!

Not yet a member?  Click HERE for details.


Be sure to go to their blog and let them know I sent you.  They will be giving away 2 one month memberships from those who comment.  ;)


In honor of this special day I am showcasing a second card using my Penny Black stamps.  I chose this Cool Chicks stamp set a few months ago so that I could have a good set for practicing my Copic skills.

I have to say, the images in this set are great for those of us who love to color.   The spaces aren't too big, nor too small. The clear photo-polymer stamps gave me a crisp image every time.

Thank you Jill and the Penny Black team for allowing me to guest on your blog today.  I've fallen in love with your high quality products and awesome customer service!


Supply List (Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted)

Card 1: Gathering Together
Stamps: Gathering Together (Penny Black), Special Wishes (Penny Black)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Canteloupe, Soft Lilac (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), Strawberry Slush, Versamark
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Basic Black
Misc: Interlocking Die (Penny Black), Black Satin Ribbon, Black Embossing Powder

Card 2: Cool Chick
Stamps: Cool Chicks (Penny Black)
Patterned Paper: Fresh Prints DSP Stack (SU), Gingham Garden (SU)
Copics:  Sorry I don't have a list of Copics used. This was one of my earliest coloring sessions and I just kept pulling out colors to experiment.
Misc: Banner Punch (SU), Punch Pack (SU), Rhinestones, Circle Framelits (SU)

Be sure to CLICKY to see Fridays post with a video showing how to create the focal point on the first card.

5.12.2014

Masculine Monday

Mother's Day is over and that means we all need to shift our focus to Father's Day, Graduation, Weddings and birthdays in May & June.  For me that means I am going to need a boatload of masculine cards and a handful of feminine cards.  It's going to be a busy month in the stamp room.  ;)



One of the things I've learned about boys and men is that they like cards that move, pop up or have fun folds.  I was so excited to see several ideas for this type of card in the Cards 4 Him online class I took recently.  Catherine has an easy to follow video for this card, so I decided to give it a try.  What do you think?


I'll tell you this much, I never would have come up with this one on my own.  I have an idea for another card I want to make for one of the special occasions coming up, but I decided to give it a try on a birthday card first.  It was fairly easy to create.  I used my blender pen and SU ink to color in the image and finished it off with some silver stars from Pretty Pink Posh.


I may have gone a little overboard with the sequins.   Perhaps this one will go to my nephew who is turning 7 instead of my son's teenage friend, but I still think it would work for a guy of any age.

Want to see the video Catherine Pooler made showing how to create this fancy fold and other great masculine ideas?  Sign up for the Cards 4 Him class.




Stamps: You're Amazing (SU- WSL)
Paper: Birthday Basics (SU- WSL), Gumball Green, Pacific Point



Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper
Birthday Basics
On Retirement
List Available While Supplies Last
You're Amazing
You're Amazing  - Wood Mount
On Retirement List
Available While Supplies Last