Wedding Card - Take off of Monochromatic

This weekend I needed a card for a wedding celebration. I love the formality of the black and white monochromatic card I created earlier and wanted to use that layout. I have had the idea of the glittered bird in my head for a while and thought I would apply it to this card. I used heat and stick powder to glitter the bird as well as a jumbo brad.  I was also very happy with the sentiment and may use that on the outside of a future card.

Paper - Love Letter DSP, very vanilla basic black card stock

Ink - basic black

Stamps - Notable Ornate, Artistic Etchings, Full of Life

Accessories - Heat and Stick Powder, black satin ribbon, silver glitter, dimensionals, silver glitter

Country Kitchen Inspired Card

Here is a card using the new Studio Sketches stamp set. I wanted it to look like something from a vintage country kitchen complete with peeling wallpaper.

Stamps - Studio Sketches, Tiny Tags
Paper - Love Letter DSP, chocolate chip and riding hood red card stock, watercolor paper
Ink ( Stampin' Write Markers) old olive, more mustard, riding hood red, stazon black, chocolate chip, crumb cake ink pads
Accessories - aqua painter, linen thread, vintage wallpaper texture plate, victoria crochet trim, jewelry tag punch, mini clothes pin

OK I am giving in - Halloween Card

I have been reticent to admit that summer is almost over especially when I see fall and holiday themed cards on blogs. I AM NOT READY!! Well with my kids starting school on Monday, I have to admit fall is coming wether I like it or not.  In addition I had this idea for a Halloween card in my head and had to get it out on paper. So I am giving in and here is my little Boo Halloween card.

Stamps - Aviary
Ink - basic black
Paper - pumpkin pie, elegant eggplant, old olive, basic black, whisper white card stock
Accessories - circle punches, black satin ribbon, dimensionals, square punch

Stampin' Royalty - Monochromatic Challenge Guest Designer

I was honored to be the guest designer for this week's Stampin' Royalty Challenge. This is a fabulous weekly challenge with talented designers to inspire your stamping and papercrafting projects. Click the link to visit this fantastic challenge and play along!

For this card, I wanted something sophisticated and used another new favorite DSP -  Love Letter. Love Letter is a monochromatic series with riding hood red and basic black paired with very vanilla. Although not apparent in the photo, the Lovely Letter Monogram stamp is embossed with clear embossing powder to give a bit of dimension. A vintage brad, also another new item, works beautifully with the style of this paper for a sophisticated, vintage look.

Stamps - Notably Ornate, Lovely Letters Alphabet
Paper - Love Letter DSP, very vanilla, basic black card stock
Ink - basic black
Accessories - clear embossing powder, circle punches, vintage brad, basic black satin ribbon, dimensionals, sticky strip

PPA55 Color Challenge

This week's PPA color challenge was definitely that challenging us to use Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight. These are quite bright colors so I wanted to add a lot of white space. I used one of my favorite backgrounds Bella Toile and paired it with the new Basic Pearl Jewels for a quick thank you card.

Paper - whisper white and melon mambo card stock
Stamps - Bella Toile, Just Believe
Ink - daffodil delight, melon mambo and tempting turquoise
Accessories - Basic Jewels Pearls

Paper Crafts Layouts

Often times when I have a creative block, I turn to Paper Crafts Magazine. It never fails to inspire me with layouts, color combinations and creativity. I made this card and the one below from layouts featured in this month's issue. Even though it has Halloween and Fall inspired cards on the cover, I REFUSE to make any fall or holiday cards yet. IT'S STILL SUMMER, I'M NOT READY FOR FALL!!

Paper - Play Date DSP, real red, chocolate chip and whisper white card stock
Ink - real red
Stamp - Just Believe
Accessories - real red satin ribbon, real red button, scallop punch, scallop trim border punch

This card was very quick to make. I made a few within minutes.

Paper - Greenhouse Gala, baja breeze, chocolate chip and crumb cake card stock
Ink - chocolate chip
Stamps - Pedaling Past, Just Believe
Accessories - chocolate chip taffeta ribbon (discontinued)

Now for the Feminine Card

I have many cards to make this month among them are lots of birthday cards. I wanted a very feminine card for a girl friends birthday and turned to the new elegant Soiree DSP. I love the beautiful lines and muted colors of this paper.

Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper - Elegant Soiree, baja breeze and very vanilla card stock
Ink - early espresso
Accessories - Beautiful wings embosslit die, Pretties pin and pearls, button latte,  baja breeze stiched  ribbon ( discontinued), scallop trim border punch

Card for a Gun Slinger

I made this card to thank a friend of the family's for taking my son shooting. In the process Jake killed a skillet which he was very proud of. Again, once I saw this Engraved Greetings stamp set, I knew I would get much use from it especially for masculine cards.

Paper - marina mist, early espresso card stock
Stamp - engraved Greetings, Woodgrain
Ink - early espresso
Accessories - dimensionals

The dead skillet.

I'm Baaacckk - PPA54 - A Masculine Kiss

I am finally back after my many travels in July. I think I was in the airport more than I was home for the month. The first of the month, I traveled to Washington state to see my family and celebrate my Mom's 75th birthday. As always we have so much fun with the family and laugh a lot. I was home for a week then off to the Stampin' Up! convention in Salt lake City. I had a fabulous time and can't tell you how excited I am about all the new products and information I learned. Upon my return, I had two days to get ready for a 10 day trip to Spain. Then it was off to Madrid followed by the Basque Country. I think our motto for the trip should be " We drove, We saw, We ate."

Anywhoo, it is so good to be back home - m m must s s st st stamp! and what a perfect way to start stamping again than with the PPA challenge. This week is a double challenge a masculine KISS ( keep it simple sweetie). When I first went through the new Idea Book and Catalog, I nearly missed the Engraved Greetings stamp set ( it is in the Simply Sent section), but once I saw it, I had to have these sentiments for my masculine cards. To keep it simple I used a straight forward layout with a few of my new favorite colors Marina Mist, Peach Parfait and Early Espresso. 

Stamps - Engraved Greetings, Woodgrain

Ink - Early Espresso

Paper - early espresso, marina mist, peach parfait, whisper white card stock

Accessories - brads, color spritzer tool, dimensionals

Exciting August Hostess Promotion

Now is the perfect time to host a Stampin' Up! workshop. During the month of August when you host a workshop of $350 or more you can earn an extra $25 of free products in addition to the regular hostess benefits. You can earn a free hostess stamp set plus $65 of free merchandise from the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog or the Summer Mini-Catalog. Don't want to clean your house? Host the workshop in my home. You provide the guests and I'll provide the space. You can earn even more free items if one of your guests books her own workshop.

Each workshop will include:

• Stamping demonstration
• Hostess gift
• Door prize for guests
• A fun "hands on" make and take project
• Stamping and paper crafting tips
• A fun evening with your friends

Contact me today to schedule your August workshop.