Inspired By...

Can you guess what inspired me to create these cards?  The answer is going up in my StampNation classroom, Heather Creates, as soon as the video finishes processing on youtube.  I'll not only share the inspiration and give you ideas on finding more, I'll also share a neat trick I learned for doing the rock-n-roll technique with the newer style Stampin' UP! ink pads.  

  

If you want to learn how to do rock and roll check out the Technique Toolbox: Creative Uses for Dye Inks class in the Creativity Grows Here Classroom.

If you would like to see my post on StampNation for today's cards: Clicky

If you're not yet a member of StampNation and want to learn more: Clicky

Encouraging Friends

It must be friend day on my blog because I have a second card to show you made especially for one of my friends.  She is going through a difficult time and sees no end in sight.  Sometimes waiting for answers and not knowing when it will be over are the hardest things.  Here is the card I made for her to let her know I understand.

Inspiration for this card came from the Dazzling Diva challenge.  Check out this gorgeous rose!  As soon as I saw it I wanted to try making my own blue & purple flower.  Monica has such an eye for the beautiful.

DD#7

Making the flower was the easy part.  I embossed the metal sheet with Iridescent Ice embossing powder and punched it out.  Then I punched out a second flower from my purple metal sheet.  I layered them together and used a paper piercer to pierce the center of both flowers and stuck an antique brad through both of them.  

Now came the tricky part for me.  How do I make this into a card?  So, I did what I usually do and went searching for a sketch. Retro Sketches was PERFECT!  It's like they designed the sketch just for me and my friend.

rs#97

Thank you Retro Sketches and Dazzling Divas for helping me to make a quick card that will help me encourage my dear friend.

Creative Blessings,

Heather North

P.S.  The sun poked out for about an hour today so I was able to take a picture in the window!  :)

Stamps: From the Heart, Mixed Bunch

Ink: Pacific Point, Versamark

Paper: Watercolor Wonder DSP, Pacific Point, Smoky Slate

Misc: Antique Brads (SU), Blossom Punch (SU), Pool Party Baker's Twine, Polished Purple Metal Sheet (Add A Little Dazzle), Baby Blue Metal Sheet (Add A Little Dazzle)

Trellis Card

I'm back!   I'll do a recap on my Sunday Share with all that has gone on in the past 3 weeks, along with pictures, but for now I can tell you I was in...

Rochester, WA
Olympia, WA
Redding, CA
Lacey, WA
Oakville, WA
Astoria, OR
Seaside, OR
Cannon Beach, OR
Chehalis, WA
Centralia, WA
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
Corning, CA
Chico, CA
Biggs, CA
Yuba City, CA


Yep, 3 states in less than 3 weeks.  Actually I was in each state at least twice!  Wow!!!  No wonder I'm tired.  Here is one of only 2 cards I managed to make in that time period.  It was for a SN challenge.

Basically I used the diagonal plate on my scoring board to make a trellis background for my flowers.  Then I sponged over the paper using Wild Wasabi ink to make the score lines show up a bit better.

The flowers are from the Mixed Bunch stamp set.  When I made the card I was wishing for Spring to arrive so I made a bright fun card.   The sentiment was stamped onto Whisper White then punched out using my ticket duo punch.

I'm getting back in the groove.  Today I made my first card in 12 days.  I'm a bit rusty and it took me forever, but I'm pleased with the end result.  I'll show you that card tomorrow.  :)  Hopefully I'll be able to get back into the swing of posting daily for you.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:
Paper: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi
Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Bloomin' Marvelous (SAB)
Misc.: Blossom Punch, Ticket Duo Punch, Brads, Circle Punch, Bojo Blossoms Punch, Scoring Board, Diagonal Scoring Plate



Mixed Bunch



Blossom Punch



Diagonal Scoring Plate



Glittery Snowflake Card

Have you ever seen the way sunlight hits snow and ice?  It's a beautiful sparkly, glittery thing.   Lately we have had a lot of ice around here.  I love to see how it makes everything sparkle like it's been sprinkled with dazzling diamonds.  (I'm not so fond of driving in it though.)

This snowy card reminds me of the way my balcony looks on a frosty morning.  I just love it!  It's a good thing I do, because I am covered in glitter after making this card.  :) 

Can you spot the sneak peek at a Sale-A-Bration item?  Oh Happy Day!  It's almost SAB time!!!

It's hard to capture the sparkle in a picture.  You can see it bit better in the video below.  I made the card weeks ago, but I filmed the video late last night.  Sorry if I sound a bit sleepy...  I am.  :)

***Note- if you are not on my blog right now, you may need to go to my blog to watch the video.

Let me know if you try this technique.  It really gives a nice result.  You can use it for smaller punches of paper too.  That's what I have done in the past.  This is my first time covering the entire backdrop.  It won't be my last though.   Thank you, Kristie for reminding me of this technique and for letting me know how to do it using SU products.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North




Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets



 



Northern Flurries Embossing Folder



Dazzling Diamonds



You're a Gem of a Mom ~ Try Stamping...

On Mother's Day is nice to remember some of the moms in your life who inspire and encourage you.  Do you have friends that are awesome moms, is there a co-worker you look up to for advice, is there a lady in your church that offers a comforting hug each time you see her?  Perhaps you could give these ladies in your life a card.  It doesn't even have to be on Mother's Day.  Think about your friend's mom that has been like a mother to your.  Remember your aunts and grandmas.  Perhaps you could give a card to your daughter or daughter in law letting them know how proud you are of the mothers they have become. 

I found a new challenge blog... Try Stamping on Tuesday.  I thought this week's challenge would be perfect for a Mother's Day card for my friend.  <3  Turns out, I like this better than both of the cards I already sent out to my mom and mother in law. 

Try Stamping on Tuesday

One of the things I love about this card is that the background paper takes center stage.  Even if you don't do stamping, you can make this card.  Leave the bottom blank, like the sample or use title stickers, abc stickers or even hand write a sentiment if you choose.

To get a wider ribbon, I just did 2 rows of the ruffled ribbon.  The Marina Mist ribbon you see running down the center was an afterthought.  I had finished the card and was attempting to clean off my craft space when I saw that piece of ribbon and decided to lay it across the Blushing Bride ribbons.  I love how it looks! 

Even the inside is decorated.  Originally I was going to take the You're A Gem sentiment and have it hanging from the ribbon like a tag, but I changed my mind and decided to put it on the inside of the card.  The background flower was stamped from Mixed Bunch with Blushing Bride ink.

I hope my friend likes this card.  If not she can send it back to me and I'll keep it.  :) 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  Do you want to have the new 2012-2013 Stampin' UP! catalog sent to your door for FREE?  Simply place an order, of at least $25,  through my Stampin' UP store by the end of the month and I'll send you a catalog as soon as they are released.  :)

Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Beau Chateau DSP

Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

You're A Gem
Retiring

Mixed Bunch

Teeny Tiny Wishes

Basic Pearls

Hello, Calypso Coral

When the new "In-Colors" were released I instantly liked most of them, but there was one color I wasn't sure about.  It's not that I didn't like it, I just didn't have an opinion on it.  Several people have posted pictures using the color, and it didn't speak to me.  That is, until I got the set of markers and decided to pull out Calypso Coral and start playing with.  Now, I REALLY like it!

The problem is, the lucious color doesn't show up well on camera.  In the pictures it looks burnt orangy red, but in person it is more of a pink orange coral red. 

The colors feels like summer or spring to me, with a tropical flair.  This is the actually the first card I made with a focus on that color.  As you can see when you look at the snow outside my window, I needed a touch of summer warmth.

The little heart in the bottom right corner was punched out of the same paper I used in the panel on the front of the card.  :) 

2011 In Color Markers

Mixed Bunch Stamp Set

Blossom Punch

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Love Helps Blossom Butterfly

Sometimes the worst in life happens.  At times like that it is so important to know that others care.  This card was for a special someone in my life going through a difficult period.  Life Happens. Love Helps.

Here is a video showing how to make the butterfly.   It's a slight variation from the butterfly I made for the Scallop Square card a couple of weeks ago.

The second video today is short, but it gives you a better look at the card.  The song is Healer by Kari Jobe, although others sing it as well.  If you would like to hear the full song you can buy it on iTunes.

The inside of my card is decorated too. 

It almost looks like this butterfly is taking flight.  This is one of my favorite cards.  I've already sent it to my loved one.  Perhaps I will make another one to keep on my desk and remind me to pray for them.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North
My Stampin' UP! Store: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cr8tvblessings/

Attic Boutique DSP

Blossom Punch

Mixed Bunch

Vintage Vogue

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Vintage Vogue
Paper: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper (DSP), Basic Gray, Whisper White, and Wisteria Wonder Cardstock
Ink: Wisteria Wonder
Misc.: Blossom Punch, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Scallop Trim Border Punch

U Rock

We are blessed to have some wonderful youth leaders in our church.  They take time out of their busy lives to minister to the children in our community.  As a mom I think it's important that my children thank these people, and tell them they are doing a good job.  My goal is to make up a dozen "thank you" and appreciation cards so we can all easily write a note to those people in our lives who have blessed us in some way.

Here is a card I recently made for our youth leaders to let them know I appreciate them.  They took a couple of vans full of teens and tweens up to the mountains for a day of sledding, tubing and snow fun!  That is why this thank you card has a wintry feel to it :) 

Items used on today's card:

Perfect Words (Hostess Set)



Mixed Bunch



Island Indigo Bakers Twine



Curly Label Punch





Modern Label Punch



Classic Ink-
Pool Party
Marina Mist
Baja Breeze

Misc.: Marina Mist * Baja Breeze * Whisper White * Cardstock, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Creative Blessings,

Heather North

My SU! Store: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cr8tvblessings/