This week's LNS challenge

Our challenge this week was to make something using our chalk pastels. I made this card. I stamped my rooster with Basic Brown and then colored him in with chalks and a Blender Pen. I thought he turned out pretty. I added a bit of piercing in two of the corners for some interest and mounted that on Chocolate Chip. My nifty background paper is Creamy Carmel stamped with the Sweet Swirls wheel and Chocolate Chip ink. I added some gold brads, some Very Vanilla 1/4" ribbon and the sentiment from the same stamp set as the rooster, Country Morning, which is a level one hostess gift. I hope you like it. I was going for a rustic look. Let me know how I did and remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Trick or TREATS!

I wanted to share a quick and cute treat holder I made for a group of ladies to put together the other night.  They are newer stampers and just loved this idea.  I loved the treat holder on page 10 of the Holiday Mini, but do not own that die, so I improvised, changed the decorations and colors and VOILA!

We decorated with punch art rather than stamps as I am sadly lacking in Haloween stamps.  I thought they turned out cute.  I think a couple of the ladies liked them, too, since I overheard one tell the other that SHE was making them for the office.

We all had a great time.  I look forward to stamping with that group again soon!

Until next time, remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Sweet Medallion Cards

Sorry I've been MIA the past 9 days. I have just been so busy! I had my SU! Open House last Saturday and have been getting ready for my first "real" workshop that is on Tuesday.

I had ordered the Sweet Treat Cups and while I was waiting for the Man in Brown to bring them to me, I had a crazy idea. Why not put them in the center of the Medallion Stamp? I've seen a lot of Medallion projects and a lot of Sweet Treat Cup projects, but had yet to see the two combined. So...(Yes I did notice that the Medallion is off center on the first image...but not until I had everything glued into place...) What do you think? Crazy or ingenious?

Edited to add: Since the center of the Medallion was close to one edge, I was able to use the 1 3/4" Circle punch to make the cut out for my treat cups. The Christmas card has curling ribbon and a couple of jingle bells in the cup.

Later!

Tory

Pumpkin Basket

I've been meaning to try one of these cute pumpkin baskets made out of the pillow box die, and I finally found time today. I first saw this design on Gretchen's blog and she stated she found it on Lynn Putt's blog. It was a lot of fun to make. I changed the face to yellow as if it were lit from within and to work with bits and pieces of punches that I have. My DD oohed and ahhhed at it, so I guess I did alright. LOL Until next time!

Tory

3-D Project

Hello, Stampers. I hope you had a lovely Saturday. We were very busy around here, so I took some much needed R&R tonight and created a fun little project that's NOT a card. It is a holder for sticky notes and a cute little pen. How many times have you wished you had a sticky note with you. Well now they won't get all bent or come apart in your purse! Too easy, too!

I started with a piece of card stock 8 1/2" by 3" (my sticky notes were 3"x3"). I cut off a 3" by 1/2" slice (for the pen holder) scored at 2", 2 1/2", 5 1/2", and 6". I then stamped and embellished as desired, folded the 1/2" by 3" strip in half around the pen and used Sticky Strip to hold it together and to stick it to the inside body of the holder, used Sticky Strip to attach my note pad, added a stick-on a loop-and-hook closure dot (I had to trim one edge of it off so it didn't show) and there you have it. Easy Peasy! And cute to boot! I have lots more work to do around the house this weekend. I'm having an SU! open house next Saturday, so if you are in the OKC metro area and would like to drop by between 10 and noon, drop me an email for directions! I'd love to show you some of our fun new products and to let you see for yourself that if I can stamp, you can, too!

411's 114 with Dasher

Hello, Stampers! Here is my entry for Stamping 411's sketch challenge 114. I got this stamp recently and haven't had a chance to use it. I saw this challenge and thought it to be the perfect opportunity. I do see that I need to work on my photography skills as the whole top of the card looks crooked. I promise it really isn't! LOL

I stamped Dasher with Versa Mark on Night of Navy and heat set him with white EP. I then layered on a torn piece of SAB DSP that has always looked like snowflakes to me, added a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes (also white EP) and a Night of Navy faux bow. Quick and easy. Just the way I like them!

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #84

I decided to give the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge a try from over at TechnoStamper's blog. I don't know why I haven't ever done it before. It was a lot of fun. I did turn her sketch upside down, but I'm sure she won't mind.

Card stock: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Stamp Set: Circle Circus

Ink: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Texturz Plates, Scallop Circle Punch

You should head over to Mary Jo's blog and give it a whirl yourself. I'm pretty sure that if I can stamp, you can, too!

Finally!

Hi, stampers! I'm sorry about all the mess and changing blogs and everything, but it will all become clear in a moment. First, here is a sweet little something I cooked up just for you. It's not the best photo, but that is yet another story...

Any how- I got a BUNCH of new toys to play with as I received my new Stampin' Up! Demonstrator's Kit Friday afternoon! Is that exciting, or what! This stamp set (On a Pedestal) was in it! So were ALL the in-color ink pads and card stock! What a deal! Featured here is one of the in-colors, Soft Suede. I paired it with Pretty in Pink and a Sweet Swirl (wheel) of Choc. Chip, added a Real Red cherry, some pink pencil eraser polka-dots, and tied on a striped grosgrain bow, and there you have it.

If you'd like to have a bunch of new stamp sets, ink, and card stock, you might think about joining Stampin' Up! while they have this great special sign up promotion going. It ends August 31, but until then, you can either get the in-color ink pad and card stock and a stamp set for $85 or get the full kit and they throw in all the in-color ink and card stock! Besides, I'm pretty sure that "If I can stamp, you can, too!"

I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me a comment to let me know you found my new home. :) Thanks for stopping by to look.

LNS Challenge 32-For the Kids

Here is my take on this challenge. I guess I kind of took ideas from the pillow box on page 141 and the card on page 140, but ultimately, this is what I came up with. I hope it wasn't cheating to ask my 11 year old which paper colors she liked best....I'm sure if I'd had any Tempting Turquoise, she would have picked it over the Taken with Teal, but....we all have to work with what we have on hand.

Anyhow....all ingredients are current SU!

Card Stock: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, Whisper White Ink: Rose Red Accessories: 1 1/4 inch circle punch, Scallop Circle Punch, WW Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot, Pillow Box Die, candy.

I thought it turned out cute. It would make a great favor for a girl's birthday party. Let me know what you think and remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

monochromatic daisies

Is everyone ready for "back to school"? We spent all of yesterday shopping for school clothes. We had the supplies bought, but now there is the laundry, the labeling and all that fun stuff left to do. While I hate to see summer ending, it will be nice to get back into a regular schedule. It's really hard to get up early and get off to work with the kiddos getting to sleep in!

I know! I know! It's much more hectic in the mornings when they are up and about, but I think that they are looking forward to it, too.

Now...on to what you really came here for.

I decided to combine the Saturday Sketch Challenge over at Stamping 411 with the challenge at the LNS yahoo group this week. Here's what I came up with.(All ingredients are SU!)

I guess I'm on a daisy kick. It's just such a fun set to play with. For this card I used Regal Rose and Rose Red. Oh, and a touch of WW cardstock. The ribbon is the double stitched grosgrain (not the greatest bow, but I'm still working on making the larger ribbon into pretty bows), the stamp sets are Upsy Daisy and Great Friend, and I used a 1 1/4" circle punch and the scalloped border punch. If you want more detailed instructions, leave me a comment and let me know. Tell me what you think! And remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Stamping with my sis

Hello again. I told you I'd share what I was up to with my sister over the weekend, so, here we go. It's always more fun to stamp with another stamper, so my sister (and sometimes another friend) and I get together every so often and play with our stamps. Last weekend she came to my house (hmm...I bet she always wants to come to my house because I have a Big Shot...) and we had a GREAT time making cards and 3-D items. Here's what I made.

All SU! ingredients unless otherwise noted.

Daisy card: cardstock: WW, Brocade Blue,

ink: Summer Sun, Brocade Blue, Garden Green, other: paper snips, dimensionals, white satin ribbon (colored with summer sun marker), markers in Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie,

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Pillow Box: Card stock: Brocade Blue,

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Old Olive,

Stamps: Branch Out, Great Friend

Other: Big Shot, Pillow Box die, 2 Way Glue Pen, glitter

Mini Pizza Box: cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke

Ink: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy

Stamps: Yummy

Other: Scallop Circle Punch, 5 Petal Punch, non-SU! pearl stickers.

You may have noticed that one flower on the daisy card is popped up. Well, I have to confess that I am NOT a detailed cutting freak! It was just one of those "opportunities for creative embellishment." LOL I got carried away with my marker and "shading" that one flower. SO...out came the stamp and I re-tamped and cut out THAT flower and "fixed" it. No fatal mistakes. LOL

Until next time, remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Special bonus on this post

Hey, guys! I can now show you what I won from Lori's 3rd Anual Birthday Card Contest. It is the most awsome prize.
Yes. The Medallion Background stamp! If you have been thinking about this stamp from Stampin Up!, let me tell you, get it! It is fabulous! I have played with it and my sister, who came over today, wanted to take it home with her. She said it was going to the top of her wish list. Anyhow, I hadn't shown it to you because I sent this card to Lori to thank her for her generous prize and wanted to give it time to get there first. Check out her blog here.

Here's the bonus I promised you. My DD has been making cards and stuff with me and she made this card and wanted me to post it.















This one is her baby. I didn't help her at all. She chose the colors, designed her layout and even thought of decorating the insde all on her own. Let her know what a great job she did by leaving a comment.

I'll show you what my sister and I were up to today later this week. Remember, if I can stamp, you can, too.

I can't believe it!

I NEVER thought I'd use this template. I have to admit that I find it a bit on the vulgar side in it's original format. BUT my boss's birthday is coming up and she's fond of telling people to put ont their "big girl panties and deal with it." AND she's been complaining about her upcoming age for almost a year now. SOOOO......this seemed the most fitting card to make for her and my sister just insisted that I show it to you, so here it is.....

I hope I have not offended your sensibility. I altered the original template which I found a link for at SCS to create a more modest coverage. I also enlarged the whole thing quite a bit (as I needed it to be big enough for everyone at work to sign it). The tag and the sentiment are my own. I printed them on my ink jet. Anyhow.....let me know what you think.

Remember! If I can stamp, you can too!

I'm baaaa-aaack!

I didn't mean to be gone so long. After getting back to work last week, child number 2 decided to give us 3 days notice that he was taking a "working vacation" in another state leaving us 3 days to find another sitter for child number 4. ACCKKK!!! Then of course was the Royal Blog Tour which I HAD to view. If you haven't checked it out, you MUST!!! Just go to Royalblogtour.blogspot.com and climb aboard one of the carriages that await. There is some great talent out there!



Speaking of talent....here's my August birthday card for my BFF in Missouri. I stamped the Soft Summer (retired from the Occasions Mini) dogwood image in Pink Pirouette and the outline in Regal Rose, and it's been a few days, so I'm sorry that I think the leaves are Old Olive and Garden Green on Whisper White. I mounted that on some scrap turqoise cardstock from my stash and added some yummy 1 1/4 inch Pink Pirouette ribbon all on a whisper white card base. She loves dogwood, so I know she'll like this.

OH!!! I almost forgot to tell you! I won a birthday card contest and got the most amazing prize! Want to know what it is? Well, I'm working on a project and can't show you just yet, but head over to Lori's Stamping Spot and (first look at her Royal Blog Tour enties and then scroll down ) see what she sent me. It is SO cool! Her blog is great, too. She's a very talented lady.

Well, until next time, just remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Saturday Sketch Challenge 108

Here is the sketch for this week over at Stamping 411 and my interpretation of it. I had a LOT of "blank" space so I chose a "busier" DSP for my background. I took the liberty of enlarging my images by quite a bit and punched my image to attach it. I didn't have any Tempting Turquoise paper, so I sponged some Whisper White with the ink and punched it out with the scalloped circle punch. The flowers are stamped with Green Galore and the Polka Dot Punch stamp set from SAB 2009. The sentiment is from sweet Little Sentiments and the DSP is Sweet Slumber (both which retired 7/1/09). I thnk it looks better IRL. The camera really washed the color out of this one! Let me know what you think, and remember, If I can stamp, you can, too!

Late Night Stampers Challenge 28

All SU! materials

cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Taken With Teal, Regal Rose, Whisper White

ink: Regal Rose, Elegant Eggplant, Taken with Teal

stamps: Great Friend

accessories: scallop border punch, white organza ribbon, dimensionals

This is the card I made for the challenge over at Late Night Stampers. I just joined and the challenge looked like fun. We were to make a non A2 card. Mine is a 5 1/2" square. I stared with an Elegant Eggplant cardbase. The next layer is Taken with Teal and then Regal Rose. I stamped the teal layer with the leaves stamp in Taken with Teal, added the Regal Rose layer which had a small hole punched in it to accomodate the ribbon and stamped three butterflies

in Regal Rose. I used the Rock and Roll method with teal on 2 of them and eggplant on the other one. I layered the sentiment on eggplant cardstock after I stamped in in teal on white. Let me know what you think!

White flowers on a turquoise sea

I'm back with another card. I hope you guys like this one. There isn't even any stamping on it. Can you believe that!

I ran my turquoise cardstock through the Big Shot with the small dots texture plate. I punched both sides of my black cardstock strip with a Fiscars Rope border punch and stuck it on with snail. The flowers are punched from vellum and attached with black/silver brads. I attached all of this to a white card base that I used a Cuttlebug border embossing folder on across the bottom. I just love how the flowers look! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of it. I'm off to try to play along with the Late Night Stampers Yahoo Group challenge for this week. I hope you're having a great evening. And remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

411 Sketch Challenge 107

Here is my card for the Saturday Sketch Challenge this week at Stamping 411. You should check out the challenge and play along, too.

http://stamping411.blogspot.com/2009/07/saturday-sketch-challenge-107.html

This was the perfect inspiration for a birthday card for my DS1. He's 26 this month. I flipped the sketch on it's side for this card. I used the retired stamp set Penguin Paradise. I stamped the penguin on Whisper White card stock and colored him in with ink spots and a blender pen. I then stamped the Happy Birthday (Stampabilities) in black and all the musical notes in Kiwi Kiss both on Kiwi Kiss cardstock. I used my scallop border punch on Basic Black cardstock to make a "rope" which I used to separate my sentiment and the musical notes. Next I punched a scalloped circle from Pacific Point card stock, cut out my little penguin guy and attached him to that which I popped up on dimensionals. I attached the Kiwi Kiss layer to my Pacific Point layer and mounted the whole thing on a card base of Tangerine Tango. I started to put it all on a white card base, but it was lacking. I thought the orange gave it a more tropical feel. I hope you like it! Let me know.

Cool border punch technique

Hello, everyone! I hope you had a great week and are looking forward to an even better weekend. I've been home this week on vacation. You know, the kind that means you just don't go to work... We did have fun, though. We took the kids to see fireworks and to a theme park, cooked hot dogs on the grill, ate watermelon out in the backyard. You know, all the fun summertime stuff.

Here's a card I made this morning. My DD is always asking me if I "thought that up myself or did somebody else do it first?" so.....

I got a new border punch and I wasn't happy with the way it was punching. I was messing around with it and said to myself "Hey, self," I said. "That looks pretty cool. I wonder what you could do with that?" I'm sure I'm not the first person that has done this, but I can say that I hadn't seen it somewhere before I made this card. That made DD quite happy. She told me it was "WAY COOL, Mom!" Leave me a comment and let me know if you like it.

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Basic Black

Ink: Baja Breeze

Stamp: dollar bin at Michael's

Accessories: Big Shot, SU! Texture plates for the big shot, pearl stickers, scallop border punch

Father's Day Cards 2009

Here are the cards I made for Father's Day. The top one is what I made for my FIL. I know, I know. It's "supposed" to be a pitcher of lemonade. However, my FIL LOVES iced tea, so..... The yellow paper started out white and I used direct to paper with SU! Yoyo Yellow. I also used Pacific Point paper and ink. I stamped the image in black and colored it in with SU! pastels and a blendy pen.

The second card is what I made for my dad. He is a bit of a jokester, so I told him he was getting a tie for Father's Day just like he did umpteen years ago when I was a kid. I had seen folded ties on SCS, but had trouble finding a tutorial until I looked here http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/origami_tie.htm.

I folded the tie out of Manchester DSP and attatched it to a Sahara Sand Card. I sponged very heavily around the edges of the cardstock with my Chocolate Chip ink and around the scalloped circle punch with Baja Breeze. The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip with Jive Alphabet by All Night Media .

OK. Now it's your turn to stamp!