Batty Wishes

Hi to all!  I am sure by now that you have figured out that I LOVE Halloween!  It is my very favourite holiday.  So when I came across the Project Tuesday Challenge to make a View Master card, I could not resist giving it a spooky theme.

To make this card, I used two stamp sets, Halloween Frights and  House of Haunts.  For the front, I brayered Pumpkin Pie, Brocade Blue and Elegant Eggplant on Glossy White cardstock and then used black Craft ink and clear embossing powder to do the house.

Because I thought it would be fun, I simply stamped the bat at several  angles to show different positions when the wheel is rotated.  I had to sacrifice part of the roof top to make the hole but I like it anyway.

This was the first time I have ever made a View Master card but I can guarantee it will not be the last. 
Hope your day is awesome and that this card brings you a smile.   Thank you for taking a look.   Until later, Happy Stamping!

Spooky Feet

Hi, today I have a card I made for the Cards and Things Sketch Challenge #46 .  This was so much fun to do.  I love how the eyes look like they are staring at me.  So cool!  The stamp set "Wicked Cool" is really fun to use and has endless possibilities.  My  friend, Kristen, gave me some hints the other day and I hope this card reflects some of them.

I have included a PDF instruction sheet in case anyone is interested in the measurements or how I did this card.

Well, for now, I bid you good-bye and Happy Stamping!

Creepy Mansion

Hi!  This card is one I thought I was doing for a challenge on  the Unscripted Sketches  website but I did not check the date and it was last week's challenge.  But I like the card so I thought I would post it anyway.

I love using my brayer.  To make the background for the house, I rolled strips of Elegant Eggplant, Brocade Blue  and Pumpkin Pie on Glossy cardstock and rolled them until they blended together.  I stamped the house in black craft and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.

Tonight I used two stamp sets.  The House and sentiment are from House of Haunts (my favourite of all stamp sets)  and the spider is out of Dark and Dreary.   The cardstock behind the spiders and sentiment is Pumpkin Pie.

The web is done with the Big Shot and Lavender Lace cardstock (need to use it up).  I sponged the edges and  lightly rubbed the Elegant Eggplant ink over the web.

If you like this card half as much as I do, I will be very pleased.
Until next time, Happy Stamping!

Funky Lunch Box

Good morning!  It's Funky Friday again and this is my example for the Funky Friday Challenge #72, this week a colour challenge.  The colours are Chocolate Chip, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum (but I did not have it so I used Lavender Lace) and Certainly Celery.  Once again, I used only one stamp set, Happy Together.  Even the sentiment came from that set this time.

I designed this little lunch box after looking at a Halloween one I purchased several years ago to use as an autumn purse.  My friend, Kristen, says I should perfect the instructions for this project and offer it for sale.  She is such a great designer that I take that as quite a compliment and she has me thinking.  I will think long and hard about that.

I hope you like this lunch pail and I also hope you check out the Funky Friday Challenge #72 and maybe even play along.  Thanks for visiting and Happy Stamping!

August Thank You's

Good afternoon, gang!  Just thought I would show you my August thank you cards.  They are very easy and simple, but that is because I have to make several.  I used the Level 3 Hostess set Playful Pieces to make the dragon flies and some of the new ink colours this year.  Note:  Without the Stamp-a-ma-jig I never could have lined up the wings.

Hope you like these little cards, and, anyone who places an order on my Stampin-Up site or takes a class from me this month will receiveone.

Until later, Happy Stamping!

Fifth Avenue Fun

Hi, Today I have a card that I made for a colour challenge for The Play Date Cafe Challenge #44.  The challenge was to use navy, mustard and hot pink in one card.  These are colours you do not usually find together.  Surprisingly, I think this card works pretty well.

Again I used only one stamp set (aside from the sentiment) - Fifth Avenue Floral.  I styamped the flowers on Melon Mambo and More Mustard and then cut them out and arranged them on Not Quite Navy cardstock.  The sentiment is from Well Scripted.

This card is a very simple one but I felt it should be so that these colours would work.  I hope you enjoy it.  Please let me know what you think.  Happy Stamping!

Soft Floral

Hi to all!  Good morning.  Hope your day is bright and sunny.

Today I have a card I made for Makeesha Byl's Inkspirations Challenge this week.  It is a colour challenge using Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White.  I had a little difficulty working the Choc. Chip into my design so I fell back on my favourite vellum butterflies inked with a sponge and I am happy with the result.

Again I used only one stamp set (other than the sentiment), Watercolor Trio.  The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I used the Lattice Square embossing folder, Nestabilities scalloped ovals and my Big Shot for the card front.
Since the rest of the card is "busy", I decided to use a very simple Word Window sentiment with no embellishment.
Also, since this is a sympathy card, I wanted to keep everything a bit subdued.

I hope to do at least one more post today as I missed yesterday - very busy at work.  I will talk to you later.
Happy Stamping!

Golden Snow Swirls

Good evening, everyone!

This evening's card is one I did for The Stampin Addicts Sketch Challenge 64.  Once again, I used only one stamp set (aside from the sentiment) - Snow Swirled.  I stamped the images with Versa Mark on Garden Green cardstock.  I then used Gold embossing powder and embossed the images. After cutting the sections apart and mounting them on Kraft cardstock, I used tiny clear stick on rhinestones and a large clear star for the tree top.Simple but elegant.  All that was left was to stamp Merry Christmas from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Versa as well and emboss with gold.

Hint:  Remember to stamp some of the snowflakes off of the edge of your cardstock.

Until tomorrow,  enjoy this card and Happy Stamping!

Quick and Easy Purse

Just a quick post right now, will come back later with a card.

A friend of mine has a birthday and I have some little goodies for her so I made this purse-box to put them in.  The pattern is from Cricut cartridge Plantin Schoolbook.  Everything else is Stampin Up.

The purse body is Apricot Appeal (still using it up) as well as retired DSP. The bird and flowers are Brocade Blue.  I used the 2-step Bird Punch and the flowers are from Vintage Vogue( stamped Brocade Blue on Brocade Blue cardstock).  Besides sponging, the only other step was to use my gel pen and draw stitching lines around the outside.

This is a simple little gift container but one I am sure anyone (female) would love.

Until later, Happy Stamping!

Plaid Effect Tutorial

Hi!  Some of you have contacted me to explain the Plaid Effects technique I have used on some of my cards of late.  As aq result, I am attempting my very first tutorial.  So, if you have any comments, please pass them on.  I hope that with practice I will be able to bring more of them to you.

Before I start, let me thank Joan Ervin.  I learned this technique from her blog and her challenge on Splitcoast Stampers.  Thank you a huge bunch, Joan.

Plaid Effects - How to Do It

Here is a step-by-step explanation:
For this example, I have chosen Pink Pirouette and Taken with Teal inks.  It is important to use a light and a darker color to creat this effect.  Also, a stamp that has a large surface area works best.

1.  With light color ink, ink your stamp all over.  Make sure you ink it well.  A good coverage is essential to give a great final result.

2.  When stamp is well inked with main color, take dark color and , using just the edge of your ink pad, apply ink to the inked stamp at 1/4" to 1/2" intervals all the way down the stamp.  This is best done at an agle.

3.  As a result you have an inked stamp with stripes all the way down it.  Notice on the photo that the stripes look very dark as compared to the light background.

4.  Rotate stamp 90 degrees and repeat the last step.  Be sure to use only the edge of the stamp pad to do the last two steps.

5.  This is the resulting inked stamp.  It looks like a stamp with a checkerboard or "plaid" pattern on it.  Now, stamp this stamp on to your paper.

6.  Here is your final result, a stamped image that looks remarkably like plaid.  You can try using 3 colours aand either alternating the stripes each way or by using one dark color one way and the other after you rotate the stamp.

I hope this helps anyone who is new to this technique or not familiar with how it is done.

As always, Happy Stamping.

P.S.  Please let me know how I can improve my tutorials.  Thanks a bunch.

For the Last Time

Hi, I promise this will be the last time you see these boxes on my blog.  But I promised that I would do a PDF for anyone who may want to see it.  So HERE IT IS!  Hope you enjoy.  This is a very simple project, thank goodness, as I have 50 of them to make.  Oh, by the way, the spider won so I better get cutting.

And the Winner Is...................

Hi again.  It's 10:00p.m. and I promised a winner in my comment contest.  I asked for comments on my treat boxes and 24 of you responded.  Using a random generator, the winner was number 13, Sandi.  I will email Sandi to get her snail mail address so I can send her prize.  Congrats!!!!  Also, the winning box is the spider one.  Thanks to all who played.

P.S.  I will post the PDF tomorrow morning.

Mr. Bones

Evening All!.  I just finished this card to enter in Mary Jo Price Williams' Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #135.  As you already know, I love Halloween and everything which goes along with it.  This cute little skeleton comes from the  Scary Skeleton stamp set (again I used only one set).  I highlighted him by stamping him with black on white and then white on black.  I then used a 1/2" punch to punch out a black hand and a foot and a 3/4" punch to punch a torso.  These I matched up and adhered to the body to give some zip to him.

The bone on the ribbon is a lampworked bead (which I made).  For those of you who are not familiar with lampworking, it is heating glass on a mandrel and shaping it into beads or knobs, etc.

The DSP came from last fall's mini but is retired now.  I just love the polka dots and the contrast of the 2 papers.

Hope this card brings a smile to your face.  It does mine!  Happy Stamping!

Reminder

Just a quick reminder that you have until this evening to vote on my Halloween treat container and to get in on the draw,  Good luck to all who vote!

It's Funky Friday

Hi.  It's Funky Friday again!  I am hoping you will come and join in.  This week, we are having a sketch challenge and can be found at Funky Friday Craft Challenges.  I love sketches and this one offers a wealth of opportunities and I really reccommend that you give it a try.  If you have never entered a challenge, why not start here?  If you don't want to play, then visit and check out the offerings from the rest of the design team.  Abi has an AWESOME scrapbook layout from this sketch.

My card uses Joan Ervin's plaid technique in Taken with Teal and Daffodil Delight.  For the butterflies, I used the Big Shot and Wings a Flutter cut from vellum, inked and then spritzed with Smooch.  Then I just had to add bling for a bit of contrast to the rustic plaid.   The stamp set is Inspired By Nature. Hope you like it.!

Football Congrats!

Good morning!

First let me thank all of you who have taken the time to vote for your favourite gift box from yesterday's post and I remind you that if you have not yet, voting is open until Saturday evening.  There will be a random drawing for some SU goodies.

Now to today's card........

My grandson won an award at his football banquet last night so I wanted to come up with a card of congratulations for him.  Here it is.  As I was trying to think of something, I ran across this challenge at Cards and Things Challenges by Krista Driessen.  This is sketch challenge #45.  As you can see, mine is a direct result of the challenge.

I chose this stamp way back a few months as part of a promotion because I knew I would need it someday.  Thank goodness I did.  For the background paper, I had nothing in my stash that quite fit the bill so I googled "football defense", found this article and just downloaded it on copy paper. (It is not acid free but did I really think that makes a difference to a 9 year old - no).  For the stars, I borrowed an idea I saw by Betty Traciak about using Stampin Wheels and versa mark.  I rolled the stars, embossed with silver embossing powder and then cut out  the ones I wanted.  Thank you so much, Betty.

Well, enough for now, the little man has just come to visit gramma so I need to give a hug.

Thanks again for stopping by and Happy Stamping!

Halloween Vote!!!

Hi, this is just a quick post and plea for your help.  I have to make treat boxes for a special event (50 of them) and these are two simple and quick designs I came up with.  I only want to make one design though as it will go much more quickly. 

The trouble is --- I don't know which I like better.  So I am asking you to decide.  Please leave a comment and let me know your choice.  On Saturday evening at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time I will tally the votes and see which wins.  Also, I will randomly select one comment to receive a prize of some Stampin Up goodies.  So please play along.

Both are very easy for you to complete and, after Saturday's tally, I will incluse a PDF for them.
Until later, Happy Stamping!

Monday MDS

Hello!

It is Monday MDS time (be it a little late in the day).
Today I decided to create a page about Jordan's first triathlon experience.  It was awesome.  He raced his heart out and finished very strongly in his age group.

For a few weeks prior, he trained with his mom so that he could be ready, and he was.  We were all so proud of him and his efforts and, most importantly, he was proud of himself.

He truly is a KID OF STEEL!

This page is a busy one but I could not decide on any photos to eliminate.  When in doubt, keep everything!  It has so many elements that I could not do much embellishment or the page would be too cluttered.Well, I hope you like it. 

Until next time, Happy Stamping!

Have a Cup!

Hi!  Just wanted to show you this card I made for the Diva Coffee Break Designs Sketch Challenge #189 .  This is just a fun all occasion card ready to send to any coffee lover you know.

Lately I have tried to use one stamp set per card.  This time it took the stamp set " Morning Cup" and the Stampin Wheel "Take a Sip".  I used the wheel on Very Vanilla cardstock to create a background paper which co-ordinates with the theme of the card.  The percolator, mug and saying are from the stamp set.

All stamping is done in Early Espresso and I used blender pens and Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler inks to colour in the perk and mug.  The background cardstocks are Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler.

The only embellishments are Cherry Cobbler buttons which I threaded with orange jute. 

Hope you have a great day tomorrow.  If you are back to work, may your work week go well. If possible, make some time for Happy Stamping!

Awash With Plaid

Hello, Hope you had a great day.  Jordan was in a Kids of Steel Triathlon so we spent our day cheering him on and just enjoying his experience.

Today's card is one I did for the Stampin Addicts Sketch challenge #63.  This is a very simple card which uses the stamp set Awash With Flowers (a two-step stamp set).  The only colours I used were Daffodil Delight and Cherry Cobbler.  The technique used is  plaid effects which I learned on Splitcoast Stampers from Joan Ervin.  Thank you again, Joan, for a technique I LOVE!!!

I have been trying to use only one stamp set on a card so that it can be easily copied or replicated without great expense to anyone who wants to try.  I accomplished this , except for the sentiment which comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes, without any kind of difficulty.  I hope you enjoy the results.!

Until tomorrow, Happy Stamping!

Concord Floral

Good morning!  Hope you are enjoying your Saturday.

Let me start by saying that I not only did this card for the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge 164 but as a challenge to myself.  Purple is NOT my favourite colour and Because I Care is NOT my favourite stamp set.  In fact, I have owned it for two months and this is the very first time I used it.  Also, this is the first time I made a 5"X7" card.  I usually do either 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" or 6" square.  But I needed a larger card to fit the central medallion on.  I tried the smaller size and it was way too crowded.

The only colours I used were Concord Crush and Wild Wasabi ink and Concord Crush and White papers and cardstock.

To give the flower dimension, I stamped it on WW cardstock 3 times, cut various sections out and glued them in layers.  Then I stamped 3 of the individual petals out and adhered them in place on top.  I masked off the flower part and stamped the stem only on a piece of WW and then glued the entire flower on it.

I am pretty happy with the card but much happier that I made myself use a stamp that was collecting dust.  Why don't you try stepping outside your comfort zone, dust off a stamp set or paper you do not particularly love and give it your best shot.  Happy Stamping!

Pumpkin Fun

Hi, sorry I have been remiss in my posting this week.  There has been a lot going on and I have been swamped.  Hopefully, things are back on track now and I promise daily offerings for you.

Today's card is for Mary Jo Price Williams' Monday Lunchtime Challenge #134.  The pumpkins are from The Pumpkin Patch, the bats from Halloween Frights and the background is the Haunting Hill wheel.  The patterned DSP is an old, retired one I have had for a long time. Cardstock I used is Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Concord and Old Olive.

I hope you get a smile from this card and maybe even give this challenge a try.  Until leter, Happy Stamping!

Funky Friday Reminder

Good Morning, everyone!  Just a friendly reminder this morning to check out and possibly enter the Funky Friday Challenge.  This week your task is to create a project in black and white.  Take a look.  And Happy Stamping!

Caffeine Birthday Wishes

Hello again!  Today's card is a fun birthday card I made for a co-worker who claims that I am responsible for him drinking coffee.  He says he never drank the stuff before I came along.  LOL

The card is a 6" X 3" one so that I could make the stack of cups REALLY tall.  I used the new stamp set Morning Cup and the wheel Take a Sip.  For the background, I inked the wheel with Early Espresso and ran it over the card front in stripes.  I was going to colour the wheeled images in but I decided I really liked it as outlines.

With my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the cup image 3 times to make a tall stack of cups.  I then coloured them with blender pens and Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Crumb cake and Early Espresso.  I do nor have the pens in these colours yet so I just dipped the blender pens on the ink pads.  TIP:  After each colour, stroke the blender pen on a scrap paper until no more colour comes off.

The cardstocks are Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.  I stamped the sentiment, punched it out with the Word Window (it just fits) and then backed it with the Modern Label in CC.  To tie it to the cups, I then cut a rectangle from EE to back this. 

I am sure Gene will get a kick out the card and that is what cards are all about - bringing a smile to someone's face.

Well, have a great day and I hope you have time to work in some creativity.  Happy Stamping!

MDS Angel

It's Monday MDS and I put together this really quick page of our Annie when she was 2.  I made it so it can be printed and put into a frame for mom.
It is a very dainty page done all in pink (her favourite colour). 
I have always loved this photo and am glad I took the opportunity to do something with it.

If you own MDS, why don't you try something similar to this layout?  Create a project that can be framed or mounted - as long as it stands alone.

Happy Stamping!

Oak leaf Wishes

Good evening to everyone.  I hope you are having a great night.

I wanted to show you this card  using the oak leaf from the Autumn Splendor stamp set.  I love how the leaves turned out.  I first inked the leaf up with Daffodil Delight.  Then using a blender pen,  drew the centre veins(over top of the yellow) with Cherry Cobbler and using Early Espresso went round the outside edges (again over the yellow).  I then breathed on the inked stamp to moisten it and stamped onto Very Vanilla.  I repeated it again for a second leaf.  For the acorns, I stamped with Early Espresso and then filled them in with the blender pen and EE ink.
The sentiment is from Watercolor Trio.  I did not have a Stampin Up button so I used an old one off of a skirt.  The cardstock is Cherry Cobbler and the card body is Very Vanilla.  To soften the edges, I ripped them and then sponged with EE.
I hope you like this as much as I do and I suggest you try this "colouring over" technique  sometime soon.
Happy Stamping!

Head Over Heels

Hi, sorry I am late today but it was just one of those days!  My card is one I did for the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #133 on Mary Jo Price-Williams' blog. 

I had a hard time with this sketch and I don't have the faintest idea why.  It did not appear to be particularly hard but I sat and stared at it for about two hours before I came up with any ideas.  And, can you believe, this is version number 3 - two ended up in the recycle bin.

The colours I used are Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush.  I just love this combination.  The monkey is from Fox and Friends and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  In the end I am happy with this cardf and it would make a perfect child's birthday card or a get well card for a friend.

I would like to thank Mary Jo for all her great sketch challenges.  I really, really enjoy them.

Well gang, until tomorrow let me again apologize for the delay and wish you Happy Stamping!

Upsy Daisy Times Three

Happy weekend!  Today I would like to show you a card I made for the Stampin Addicts Sketch Challenge #62 (SASC62).  I decided to use a repeat of the same theme in each of the squares.  My colours are Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Early Espresso and the stamp set I used is Upsy Daisy .  The sentiment comes from Watercolor Trio and I used one of the tag cutouts which is part of the Match Box die and the Big Shot. DSP is Blushing Bride.

All stamping was done with Early Espresso ink and I just stamped the same image on each rectangle.  You cannot see it very well but the brown on brown is awesome.

I hope you have a great day.  I myself have to work so there will be no time to play until this evening and then I have to start to get everything together for my 10/10 on Tuesday.  If you have time, do a little stamping today and think of me while you do.  Happy Stamping!

Funky Skeletons

Hi all!  It is FUNKY FRIDAY again and the challenge is to create a project black and white.  These little skeletons were dancing around in my head for days just waiting for a reason to pop out - and now I have it!

 I am very happy to be on the design team for the FUNKY FRIDAY challenge blog and I encourage everyone to visit and maybe give Challenge #69 a try.  You could really have fun!

There is no secret to the colours used but I will give a hint about the skeletons.  I stamped two in black ink on white,  and one in white ink on black.  I then sliced the black cardstock skeleton right down the middle and lined the two halves up on the white ones and glued them down.  See, very easy.

The skeletons are from Scarey Skeleton and the sentiment from House of Haunts.

I hope you enjoy today's card and that you will visit FUNKY FRIDAY ! Who knows, you could be the winner.  Happy Stamping!

DSP Dresser with Mirror

Hello again.  This afternoon, I have a cute little dresser to share with you.  It is created from three stacked matchboxes made with the Big Shot.  The stack is covered, glued and a mirror back is added.  This would make a great gift for someone filled with candy or earrings or any other small objects you may want to share.

There are several versions of this kind of box on the internet and this is my interpretation of the project.

The cardstock is Cherry Cobbler, the DSP is Raspberry Lemonade (retired but I have a ton) and the mirror is auto body metal.  I have included an instruction sheet for you to duplicate the project if you like.  I could not get my scanner to work so I hope you understand the directions.  If not, please let me know and I will redo them.

I hope you enjoy this little dresser and that you can come up with one of your own.  Until tomorrow, Happy Stamping!

Circle Medallion

My card today is one I did for the Latenight  Stampers Weekly Challenge #81.  The challenge is to use circles -  any number, any kind, any size - on a card front.  I chose to use the Medallion background stamp and I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock 3 times.  Once in Concord Crush (for the main body of the card) and once each in Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz.  I then randomly used the 1" punch to make circles from these two accent colours.  With dimensionals, I placed these circles on the main medallion so they lined up.  For the center, I used the 1 3/4" circle punch and the 1" circle punch (the center Concord Crush circle was created by only inking the medallion center so as not to be more wasteful).  A Pear Pizzazz brad rounded out the design.
The sentiment is from Elements of Style punched with the 1" circle.
To view other cards in the challenge, visit the Gallery for Challenge #81.
I really, really love this card.  The idea came to me sooooo quickly and the entire project took maybe half an hour.  You have to love when everything just clicks!
I have errands to run so I am going to leave you for now but will be back later.  Until then  Happy Stamping!!