Polka Dot Bow Builder Card

I placed an order yesterday around 2 p.m. ordering several items from the Occasions Catalog.  I  got an email from Stampin' Up later that my order has already been shipped (6 p.m.).  Wow!  Is that speedy!  Can't wait!!

In the meantime, I have a few other new toys to play with while I am waiting!  Today I used the new Bow Builder Punch along with several other new items to make this cute card:

For the polka-dot background, I used one of the cards from Project Life Seasonal Snapshot (a carry over item from the Holiday catalog).  The "happy" cut out is from the Hello You Thinlets (pg. 31 of Occasions) and "birthday" is from Crazy About You (also on pg 31).  I used Tangerine Tango, Basic Black and Hello Honey card stock to make the little bows.  They are so easy to do!!  After punching them out, I used a pencil eraser dipped in white ink to make polka dots on the bows.

Check out the video here -

Here's another card I made with a new stamp set - One Tag Fits All.  This set coordinates with the Note Tag Punch (pg 28 - Occasions) so it is easy to put together.

This is the card I made for the shoebox swap at Joanne's last Saturday.  I stamped the jewel with Staz-On ink onto gold paper and cut it out before popping it up with a dimensional.  The faux washi tape was made using the Tape It stamp set (pg 37 in big catalog).  I stamped on vellum paper with gold in and heat embossed it.  I finished it off with the gold sequin trim.

MDS Monday Chalkboard Sign

The new Stampin' Up spring / summer catalog 2015 is here and it is bursting with new and exciting products!  I think my credit card will be working over-time in the next few weeks.  Enjoy browsing online by clicking HERE.  If you would like a paper copy, please contact me. The good news is that you can start ordering from my online shop RIGHT AWAY!!  If you are one of my Club members, I will be using new products this month so get your "wish list" started.  I attended a Shoebox Swap last Saturday and came away with 14 cards using new product!!  I can't wait to share them with you.

Since this is Monday, MDS Monday has a new challenge for us My Digital Studio fans.  In the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog, there is Chalkboard Paper.  (I am dying to get some and give it a go.)  So the designers at MDS Monday thought it would be fun to show how we can use chalkboards on our digital papers.  There is not a sketch this week; this is an open challenge.  There are a few kits that have chalkboard downloads - Convention 2011 (I think that is the year); Back to School and Hello World.  I ended up finding a chalkboard paper on the internet and downloading it into MDS for my page.  You can also find some great chalkboard fonts to use HERE.

My sample is pretty simple.  When we were at one of the shops at the National Harbor in DC in December, Sonny found a sign with this saying.  He really liked it but it was pretty pricey.  I took a picture and told him I could made in in MDS for him.  (I haven't yet but .... the year is not over!)

I have a whole collection of Subway Art that I take pictures of when I see plaques and signs in stores - just for this purpose.  Don't you just love this one?

I have a new story about my crazy cat - actually 2 stories.  Last Tuesday (the day after Ashley and Bogart went home), I spent most of the day in my craft room cleaning up and making cards.  After a couple of hours, I went looking for Sammie - she is usually in the room with me or in my spare bedroom laying on the bed in front of the window soaking up the sunshine.  I couldn't find her in any of her usual spots.  A few hours later, I looked for her again with no luck.  So I decided to straighten out the blanket that she usually sleeps on top of in the spare room.  When I did, I discovered her completely under the blanket sleeping.  She stayed there all day.  When I showed her to Sonny late in the afternoon when he came home, he asked me if she was alive!  She was just worn out from dealing with Bogart for 4 months!

After Christmas, I bought her a new collar.  I have had her for almost 3 years and she has had the same collar all those years.  I just thought she could use a new sparkly one.  It has a bell just like the one she had - not much different in the two.  Well, every time I pick up the new collar, the bell rings and she runs away as fast as she can like a scalded rabbit.  I have tried now for a couple of weeks off and on to put the collar on her.  Tonight I finally got it on her but only by capturing her in a room with no exit.  But I can not get the old one off of her.  I tried to hold her and let Sonny get it off, but she hissed at us and tried to bite us.  I don't know why she is having such a fit about this collar.  But, for now she will be wearing both collars although she is trying like heck to get it off by herself!

Sneak Peek Thinlet

I got my pre-ordered goodies from the Occasions Catalog and the Sale-A-Bration catalog on Monday and had a little bit of time to play around with them.  You will be able to start ordering from the Occasions Catalog January 6th.  I am sharing a sneak peek of one of the new 15% off Bundles that will be available called Crazy About You and Hello You Thinlets.  The stamp set has 33 stamps (2 flowers that coordinate with punches - one of them is new), one leaf and 30 nice size greetings!!) The Thinlets are four dies - hello, thanks, happy, you.

I kept the card really simple.  Ashley needed some masculine thank you cards so I thought this was spot on using the Under the Tree DSP from the Holiday Catalog (one of my favorite DSPs).

Inside using the piece that was cut out from the thinlit.

Year End Close Out and Welcome New Occasions Catalog!

Make sure you check out Stampin'  Up's Clearance Rack.  It's time for year end deals.  Discounts will be up to 80% plus they are adding Christmas items.  Just remember these items are only while supplies last.  When ordering on-line, please use HOSTESS CODE N4KDHCAU

One of the stamp sets that is on Clearance is Spread the Joy.  This set was never in the catalog but was a special stamp designed by an employee at Stampin' Up.  I just love this set!  Here is a card Ashley made using the set last week.

Here is the saying close up -

Last night I attended the SU Occasions and SALE-a-bration Reveal in south Charlotte.  Marianne and I drove to Charlotte when she got off work and met a group of SU demonstrators for dinner before heading over to the theatre for the big Reveal.

The catalogs are awesome - lots of flower stamps which are my weakness it seems!  I think you will like the new products that are being offered.

While we were standing in line waiting to go in the theater, I met several ladies who recognized me from my blog!  I was flattered.  (Hi! Vicky!!)  Guess it's a good thing I just recently updated my picture!

I have several events next week that I am trying to make little goodies to take for Christmas.  I'm afraid I am running out of time!!  I also have a few calendars to make as well as a few secret projects on My Digital Studio!  I need a few of Santa's elves to help me!

I am also trying to finish up a Christmas banner to hang above my fireplace.  I loved the Thanksgiving banner that I made.  I made it using the Banner Kit (that was just recently on sale).  I sponged the letters and the background.  The pom-poms are from the November Paper Pumpkin Kit. For my Christmas banner, I am spelling out PEACE and I just did the letters on the reverse side of the GRATEFUL banner.  I have that part all done - I just need to make something to go in between the letters - ribbon, banners, etc. .... haven't decided yet.

Happy Watercoloring

I've been playing around with the Happy Watercolor set from the Occasions catalog.  It is such a great set.  There is also Designer Series Paper that is gorgeous.  I have not used any of it yet - just drooled over the papers!  You can create a beautiful card with this set that looks like you have watercolored it.  This is such an easy, yet elegant card that you can put together in 5-10 minutes.

Products used:
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding
Ink:  Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding, Crushed Curry, Momento Black Ink
Stamp:  Happy Watercolor

Following along the same layout, I created another watercolor card.  Using the watercolor "blob" stamp makes it easy to look like you have brushed paint on watercolor paper.  For this card I used different colors but the kept the card the same (Pistachio Pudding).  I also used a couple of floral stamp sets - Secret Garden stamp and framelits and Petal Parade stamp and punch.  I embossed the flowers in white and popped them up with dimensionals.

Supplies:

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Cantelope

Ink:  Pool Party, Cantelope, Pistachio Pudding, Versanark

Stamp:  Happy Watercolor, Secret Garden, Petal parade

A winter storm watch is in effect for my area this week.  It is supposed to start snowing tomorrow with not much accumulation but another front will be coming in tomorrow night and Charlotte is predicted to have about 3" by Wednesday.  I know, I know - 3" doesn't sound like much but believe me, it can cripple this area!  I am supposed to take my sister and my mom to the doctor tomorrow.  We are just going to "wait and see"!!  Wednesday I am supposed to go to the dentist and Thursday is my cataract surgery so not a good time for this winter storm!!

Stuck for Good Color Combos?

Do you ever get stumped as to what colors to combine for your cards?  What colors look good together?  Or you want to get out of a rut and use different colors?  I do sometimes and usually turn to Stampin' Up's Color Coach.  But another great site that I found for color combination ideas is HERE.  Check it out and see what colors you come up with!

Last week I received this great Monday Mailer from Pat.  She always does really good work and this one is a good one!  She used the flower stamp from Occasions Mini to make the butterfly - cool, huh?  And the strip across the middle of the card is the fabric from the Mini.  I haven't bought this material but this card might have sold me!

Startburst Card

Each week I receive a newsletter from Splitcoast Stampers with new techniques and ideas in card making.  It is free so if you are not signed up for it, you should!!  So one of today's "hot topics" was how to make a Starburst background.  It is great for using up scraps of DSP.  I just love how this card turned out using the Twitterpated DSP from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I even made a "lolly" medallion out of the DSP.  So what are you waiting for?  Gather up some of your scraps and make one yourself.  Here is the tutorial for the card - http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/06/tutorial-starburst.html

I attended the Newcomers Southern Living luncheon today.  We had so much food that I didn't have to eat any dinner!!  There were about 25 ladies there and each brought a dish from the Southern Living magazine.  We had 4 appetizers, 4 salads (all of them were a variation of spinach salad), 4 main dishes (all of them chicken!), 3-4 vegetables, 2 breads and 2 cakes, 1 pie, 1 cobbler, and pecan bars!  Wow!  I sampled a little of everything (except the carrots and asparagus) and it was all delicious.  But I am still stuffed!!  I have a friend who had a knee replacement last week and just came home from the hospital today.  So, I made her a plate - well, actually 3 plates!  That should tide her over for a couple of days!

I have been walking with a bit of spring in my step.  Some good things have been happening in my family and things are starting to look up for strained relationships.  I am hopeful! 

Totally Addicting .... Pinterest!

Have you discovered Pinterest?  Oh, so addictive!  I find myself "pinning" so many things.  Who knows if I'll ever go back and do anything with them - especially the recipes I've been pinning but it's a good creative outlet to look at what others like.  Here's a link to my fav's.

I saw a card on Pinterest which inspired this card I have made.  .I did  two versions of the card .  After I made the first one, I decided it would be cool to paper-piece the butterfly to match the DSP so that's what I did in the second card.  What do you think?

 I used a FREE stamp set from Sale-a-bration - Outlined Occasions and colored it in with my Pacific Point, Daffodil and Lucky Limeade markers.  I stamped the butterfly from Flight of the Butterfly with Pacific Point ink.   I used the Adorning Accents die and embossing folder for the various layers along with the DSP from Beyond the Garden.

This is the second version of the card with the butterfly paper-pieced with the Beyond the Garden DSP.

Here is the inside of the card - you can see a peek of the DSP when the card is closed - you just can't tell from above.

I have a great tip for you using the Framelits Dies from the mini catalog - specifically the Labels  but you could also do this with the Hearts.  You can emboss with them as well as cut the frames.  Here is what it looks like:

Here's how to do it:
Set your Big Shot Multipurpose platform so Tab 1 is on the bottom and add the following:
-Plastic Cutting Pad
-Rubber Flexible Crease Pad
-The card stock you are embossing
-Framelit with cutting edge facing upward (make sure it's facing UPWARD! if you place the cutting edge down it will cut through your card stock and maybe your crease pad)  Ask me how I know this??
-scrap cardstock or lightweight chipboard
-Standard cutting pad
-Shim or extra piece of copy paper

And here is another great idea -

What I did on this one was first emboss the cardstock with the Lattice Embossing Folder.  Then I took the two Labels Dies and inked them with Versamark.  Then I made the sandwich as outline above.  Isn't it cool?

Monday Mailers

Just a quick post before I head out to play cards today!

I haven't shared the Monday Mailers I have received this month.  They are great cards!  Our theme for February is to use any item in the Mini Catalog or SAB Catalog so I have been getting lots of good ideas from the cards!!

Did you notice the "I've Been Published" on my side post?  Well, I was approached by Papers and Pixels  (an onlinecrafting  magazine) last August to write an article or a tutorial for them.  With us being in Texas in August and again in December, I put it off until after the first of the year to give me time to come up with something.  I decided to do a calendar tutorial using My Digital Studio.  The magazine covers a wide range of crafting projects - digital, paper crafting, scrapbooking, etc.  Subscription rates are very reasonable at $12.00 per year, or $1.50 per issue.  The back editions, September 2010 through August 2011, are available for free, and you can purchase the September 2011 through January 2012 editions individually for only $1.50 each. Here’s the link to subscribe to Papers and Pixels Online Magazine: http://www.papersandpixels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=890   My article appears on page 97 if you decide to purchase a copy. 

Here are a few of the cards we are making this month during the February Club.



This card is a Wow and so easy.  It uses Mixed Bunch and the Blossom Punch from the Occasions Mini catalog.

This is another easy one.  It uses the Twitterpated DSP along with the Stripes Embossing Folder which you can get for FREE during Saleabration.  The colors are Blush Blossom and Island Indigo.

And here's another great one.  This uses several items from the Occasions catalog -  the Apothecary stamp,the Framelits Labels Die and the Adorning Accents Edgelits Die.  (The ribbon is retired.)

Hope you have a great week!

You're Just My Type

 It's been a while since I did any card challenges (other than the weekly Queen's sketches that I do).  So, I decided today to do one of my old stand-by challenges, Mojo Monday Challenge.  I know, I know .... it's not Monday!!  But I had until today (Sunday) to submit my card for their challenge.   I used a stamp set that at first did not appeal to me from the Occasions Mini.  I looked at it and said "nah - don't like it."  But, I have seen so many cute cards using this set and the more I looked at it, the better I like it.  Plus, typing is my "thing" - one thing I always knew I was good at.  I got good grades in typing in school (unlike Biology!!) and I've always been pretty fast with my typing.  My first real job after college was as a typist for Western Electric Corporation in Greensboro using (I think) an electric typewriter!  A big jump from the manual typewriters we used in school.  I quickly worked my way up (in about 3 months) to secretary for the department head and on up from there where I supervised and proof-read the work of the typists in my department.  When I worked for the school system in Texas, my job was Data Entry Secretary - this time on a computer instead of the IBM Selectric Typewriter that I had used at Western Electric.  We've come a long way, baby!!

I used a mixture of supplies for this card.

• Cardstock:  SU Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Basic Black and First Edition DSP; Lasting Impressions Swim Dock and Elementary Notebook
• Accessories:  Brown Pearls (unknown source); SU Scalloped Envelope Die, Soft Suede Dotted Grosgrain Ribbon
• Stamp:  SU You're My Type

Stampin' Up News:

Stampin' Up! announced last month that starting this year, they have eliminated the Summer Mini Catalog.  The future Holiday and Spring Minis will be bigger and last longer (5 months vs. 4).  The annual catalo with new In Colors, stamps, designer series paper will starta month earlier (June 1, 2012) and the Holiday Mini will start a month earlier as well (August 1, 2012  - better timing for Halloween and fall projects).  The simplified schedule should be easier for everyone.

In addition, the Simply Adorned and Décor Elements lines will be discontinued when the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog retires.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  THE CURRENT IDEA BOOK AND CATALOG WILL EXPIRE ON MAY 31, 2012 NOT JUNE 30, 2012.  Details regarding the retiring stamp and accessories timing will be released at a future date.

Super Sunday

I've been a busy girl!  I'm on a roll with making cards and trying to build up my stash while playing with my new goodies.  See all those cards above?  I've made all of them in the past 3-4 days!   I have several birthdays on my calendar for February plus I started the Monday Mailer program again so I need some cards.  I'll be sharing them with you over the next few days. 

You saw the baby card I made for my nephew yesterday in THIS post.  Well, I made another one for a friend whose grandson was born a few weeks ago - 3 1/2 months early. His weight has just gotten up to 2 pounds on Thursday.  Cathy was a good friend and in my Stamping Club until she moved to Georgia last month.  I got her started with card making and she was hooked from the very first class!  I miss her but she moved to be closer to her family and now with the new grandbaby, I'm happy for her.  Here is the card I made for her.

This one is a little different from the other one that I made.  I added a little placket down the front with Itty Bitty heart shaped buttons.  Either way, they are fun to make.

Most of the cards I have been making are CASE'd from some that I have seen on various websites from samples from SU's recent Leadership trip in San Antonio.  There were a lot of good ideas and I tweaked a few of them to come up with my own version.  Like this one:

 This card was made using the new Blossom Punch (pg 17 of mini catalog).  I punched the hole with the punch in the white cardstock and backed it with paper from Flirtatious DSP.  Next it was backed on Wisteria Wonder cardstock.  I punched a Melon Mambo circle (1") for the center and topped it with a button.  I punched a few flowers out with the Boho Blossoms Punch using Pretty in Pink and Wisteria.  The Wisteria circle at the top is from the Button Sizzix Die   The banner is from the Take It to Heart stamp set (pg 14, mini) an the saying is from Blessings from Heaven stamp set.  You can see a close up below.



close up of the flowers



Well, back to watching the Super Bowl. I'm pulling for the Giants.  No matter - at least it is a good game this year.  Nine minutes left - so anyone's game at this point with score 15-17.  I'm not a huge Madonna fan but thought the half time show was ok.  At least there wasn't any wardrobe malfunction - that I could tell anyway!  I much preferred Blake Shelton and Miranda at the beginning of the Super Bowl singing the National Anthem!  I'm enjoying most of the commercials though this year.  We were supposed to go to a Super Bowl party but ended up cancelling because Sonny was not feeling well.  He has had sinus "gunk" going on for several days.  I was disappointed but what can you do?  Hopefully he will be feeling good soon. 

Craft Project Central Sketch #7

I had fun today creating several cards using the Sale-a-Bration stamps. To create this card, I used the sketch found at Craft Project Central.  One of my fellow NC demos (Regina) posted her card this morning in an e-mail so I decided to check out the site.  I love this sketch - very easy.  Most of the time, if you have a sketch, the rest of the card just falls into place.  I also wanted to use some of the Mocha Morning DSP.  The piece I used is flocked and so pretty up close.  It is such a rich, gorgeous paper and worked great for this card.  What do you think?

A close up of the flower - I stamped the flower twice, cut them out and layered them.

I used the new Labels Framelits (from SU mini Catalog) and the Big Shot for the black label.  I put Versamark ink around the edges and then poured gold embossing powder on them and heated it with the heat gun.  Love the effect!  The flower is also embossed with gold.  I stamped the flower twice and cut it out - layering the 2 pieces with dimensionals.

Stampin' Up products used for this card are:

• Very Vanilla, Basic Black cardstock; Mocha Morning DSP
• Creative Elements stamp
• Black grosgrain ribbon, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Labels Framelets (from mini catty)
• Versamark Ink
• Rhinestone (in center of flower), Dimensionals

Have a great weekend!

January Club Cards

My Stamp Clubs met this week.  I had fun designing Valentines and a couple of birthday cards for them to work on.  One of the gals requested a birthday card for a friend who has a Leap Year birthday.  Wouldn't that be weird - to have a real birthday every four years?   If you are born on a Leap Year, do you get your driver's license on February 28th or March 1st?  I found out that it is decided by each state.  Anyway, I looked through my stamps trying to decide what would be an appropriate card for a Leap Year person.  I found the retired set that has clocks I could stamp for the background.  I made the card real vintage-y and distressed the edges.

This uses a set from Saleabration (starts next Tuesday!)  and was really easy and quick to make.  We embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder.  The scalloped edge uses the Edgelits Dies from the Occasions Mini (pg. 7).  The red ribbon is retired but I love it on this card.

This was a Shaker Valentine.  I used the Peekaboo Die and the Big Shot to make the shaker part.  When it is closed, there are two hearts on top. 



More new products!  The stamp set is found on pg. 14 of the Occasions Mini, Take It to Heart.  A great set!  the "Love" is from a retired set as is the strawberries (Tart & Tangy).  There is a new set in the mini catalog with a chocolate strawberry (pg. 8, P.S.I Love You) but I don't have that set an still had Tart & Tangy.  We used Crystal Effects and a brown marker to make the chocolate.  Also the hearts can be punched out either with the Heart Punch OR the new Hearts Framelits Die.

 

This is my favorite because of the DSP from Saleabration!  Love it!  The stamp set is Build A Cupcake and I used the Cupcake Punch to make it easy.  The frames that the cupcakes are on are the new Labels Framelits Die.  The card is Calyso Coral which I don't think I have ever used! 



Sketch Challenge 22

Every Tuesday I get excited to check the Stampin' Up website to see what the latest My Digital Studio releases are.  They usually don't disappoint me. Yesterday's selection included "Sweet Shop" design kit and the "Labels Collection" punches.  The punches coordinate with one of Stampin' Up's new Framelits collection of dies and I love them.   So of course, I had to download the new releases and while I was at it, looked back for a few weeks and found some other goodies that I had to have!  Of course, all this was done last night around 11 pm.  Then I set about to make my card for the Stamping Queens Challenge using some of my newest "toys".  I had the card done and was in bed by midnight!  That is how quick and easy My Digital Studio is!

This card uses the Designer Paper from the Saleabration catalog - Everyday Enchantment.  This is one of my favorite papers and I know I will be ordering several packets!   The stamp set is from the Mini Catalog - Tea Shoppe.  Don't you just love that saying by Louisa May Alcott???  Even though I created this card using MDS, you can easily recreate it yourself using paper and stamps.  Give it a try or come up with your own creation using this week's sketch.

Getting Organized is a Messy Business!

 Well, today was not such a great day for us Steeler fans.  Our football season is over.  We played Denver today (think, Tim Tebow praying) for the wildcard playoff game and lost in overtime.  The Steelers really didn't deserve to win considering the way they played today.  I really didn't think we'd go very far in the playoffs this season but was sure hoping we'd get at least one more game.  So, I have packed up all my Steeler gear until next year.  Now I will have to cheer on another team I suppose.

I guess now I will have more time to clean out my stamp room instead of watching football.  I started yesterday and it is so over-whelming, I find myself standing in the room and scratching my head!  Sonny keeps poking his head in and laughing at me.  He has offered to get his shovel for me so I can shovel a path (or maybe shovel some stuff in the garbage!)  I have filled up 2 garbage bags though!  It's hard to tell but I have made a little progress.  But I have a long way to go!  I can't even see my desk it is so covered with stuff.  Here are a few pictures I took tonight.  Hopefully, next week this time, I can post some pictures that look much better!

This is my desk!

I even have things stacked in the hall!

I can barely get to my chair much less find the tv controller!

I do have a card to share with you that I did last week before I started the reorganizing!  It uses goodies from the Occasions Mini Catalog - the stamp, Take It to Heart, pleated satin ribbon, some Twitterpated DSP and the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder (pg 7).

I stamped the heart with White ink and embossed it.  I love this stamp!

Hope your week is a good one!