2014 Paper Pumpkin???!!!

I've been on a Paper Pumpkin kick lately.  I had lots of pieces of previous Paper Pumpkins left over that I had stuck in a box.  So I pulled them out and tried to use them all up by making alternative cards with them.  The Pinwheel Party Paper Pumpkin came out in June 2014!  Yes, I was surprised too that I had so much left over from 3 years ago!  But this particular kit was to make pinwheels and we got a lot of materials to make them with.  I made a few pinwheels back in 2014 but that was it.  But now, I have all these cool cards made with the parts and pieces!  I tried to make most of them as birthday cards because how many 4th of July cards do you send????  Not many I bet!

Football season is here so that's where I'll be on Sundays .... watching my Steelers play!  They won today by the way!

NC Demos Blog Hop for August

It's the end of the month and time for another NC Demos Blog Hop!  Since the end of August is all about going back to school, we thought that would be a good theme for the month.

Since I don't have a small one going back to school, I decided to go "old school" and revisit an old technique that was popular when I started out with Stampin' Up way back in 2005.  Garden Collage was one of the first stamps that I bought and I still have it.  I don't know that I will ever get rid of it - I think it is rather timeless.  Here is the card I made back in 2005 using Garden Collage and the Crayon Resist technique.

I decided to use this retired stamp again and create a newer version of the card but still using the Crayon Resist technique.

Next I did the Crayon Resist technique on a current stamp in the catalog - Oh So Eclectic.  This highlights the technique better.

Have you tried the Crayon Resist technique lately?  If you've forgotten how (like I had!) here is a quick tutorial for you.

*  Stamp the image (flowers from Oh So Eclectic) randomly on Whisper White cardstock and use a marker to color them.  I just colored the centers leaving the edges white.
*  Use a white crayon to color any areas you want to remain white (the edges of the flowers).
*  Also use the crayon to color over the parts you colored with the markers to keep the ink off.
*  Next sponge all over your image with ink (Melon Mambo and Flirty Flamingo).
*  Take a paper towel and buff the image, removing the crayon marks.
*  Finish your card - I used the Cable Knit embossing folder for the Melon Mambo strip across the card.

Now follow along to Frances Wagner's blog and see what she has done this month.  I am sure it will be special!!  Here are members participating in the blog hop this month:

Tamra Davis
Jo Anne Hewins
Tracie Evans Langley
Sharon Maranich - you are here!
Frances Wagner
Christina Walker

August Paper Pumpkin, Giftable Greetings

I really love the August Paper Pumpkin!  I have been playing with it this week and made the following cards with it - some using the instructions provided and many more using the supplies to make alternative cards.

For those of you who don't know what Paper Pumpkin is .... it is a really fun project kit that comes to your house with all the supplies you need to make the project inside.  You can either make the project as it was intended (by following the instructions provided) or you can get some inspiration and make a few alternative projects.

Now is a great time to join Paper Pumpkin with the amazing introductory rate that is being offered during the Fall into Savings promotion.  If you subscribe from August 11 - September 10, Stampin' Up will deliver September's (gorgeous) Paper Pumpkin kit straight to your door, complete with everything you need to make the project - all for 50% off!  Just sign up using promo code HALFOFF0917.  You can use the link above to sign up by September 10.

I die cut Happy Birthday and adhered small strips of Calypso Coral and Peekaboo Peach cardstock to the bottom of the card.  Sponging the flower makes a big difference - so does Wink of Stella!

This card uses the instructions that came in the kit.  The only difference is that I stamped Happy Birthday from Happy Birthday Gorgeous.

Lots of sponged flower on this one.  I love the new crinkled ribbon in Peach!  Happy Birthday, stamped in Calypso Coral is from a retired  SAB stamp set, Perfect Pairings.

This is the box that the cards and envelopes go in.  Makes a great gift!

Another card using the instructions in the kit.  I just added the little marks around the Congrats with a Sharpie.

These are the envelopes that came in the kit.  You could cut them up and use the stripes on a card.  I choose to make my own stripes from card stock and save my envelopes.

I punched out a bunch of stars (retired heart punch) from Peach cardstock and sponged the tips with Calypso Coral ink.  Also just a touch of Wink of Stella on the larger heart.

For this card, I used the negative part of the paper that I punched out flowers and stamped lightly with Soft Sky so I had a guide.  I used markers to then color in the flowers.  HUGS comes from Lovely Inside and Out (with Wink of Stella!)  The white card is matted onto the Lemon Lime Twist card.

I masked off 1/2" all around the white cardstock and sponged ink randomly - Pool Party, Peek-a-boo Peach, and Flirty Flamingo.  The sentiment is from Ribbon of Courage.

This is a very simple card but I think that is what is needed for a sympathy card.  The little dandelions come in the kit - they are the centers of flowers and the "tail" is from just the end of one of the stamps in the kit.  All stamped in Night of Navy.

Another card following the kit instructions.

I tied the crinkle seam binding ribbon around the card and tied the little tag on the ribbon.  Then just tuck flowers and foliage around the ribbon.

These tags came with the kit.  I cut apart the "thinking of you" stamp to make it easier to divide up the words.

I think this is my favorite!  I stamped the Navy flower all over the card and added the sticker centers.  I matted the Congrats oval onto a large scalloped die cut Oval.

This card is very similar to the card in the instructions.  I just stamped a few flowers and added them and the foliage all around the oval.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my samples!  The only drawback to this kit to me was I would have like to had more of the punch out flowers and more of the navy thread.  But I had some navy embroidery floss from my cross stitching days and used some of it on one of the cards.

Stamp Club Technique Pics

While driving home from church this morning, it dawned on me that I didn't share the final card we made in Club this week.  The gals loved it even if it was a bit on the messy side!  I CASE'd the idea from Patty Bennett.

You need to use glossy paper with this technique.  I temporarily adhered the piece of glossy card stock to my grid paper with washi tape so it wouldn't slide around when I was doing this technique. You will start out by just randomly tearing a piece of scrap computer paper.  Lay your torn paper on the right edge of the glossy paper leaving a little of the white showing and drag your ink pad (the darkest color) over the white area.  When you are satisfied with that, move the torn paper over a bit and repeat dragging the next darkest color right over the white area and the dark inked color.  Next repeat with your lightest ink color.  Now finish the card with embellishments and sentiments.  Voila! A cool looking card!

Dapper Denim, Marina Mist, Pool Party

Calypso Coral, Peekaboo Peach, Daffodil Delight

Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizazz, Lemon Lime Twist

Rich Razzleberry, Berry Burst, Flirty Flamingo

Fresh Fig, Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder

What a fun weekend!  Friday I went to my first concert in many years!  My sister and another friend of mine went to see Luke Bryan!!  Oh is he sexy!  It was hot and humid but we survived - singing along to every song!   We got to the venue around 6 and wandered around people watching until the sun was not beating down on our seats even though we did have cover.  There was a girl sitting 4 seats down from us who partied too much in the parking lot I think!  We had spotted her earlier and she was zoned out.  It didn't take security long to spot her and radio for medics.  This was an hour BEFORE Luke took the stage!  Medics and police got her in a wheelchair and carted her out since she couldn't even stand up - but not before she threw up!  They put some kind of Vomit Absorber Powder to soak it up.  Ugh - it was a strong deodorizer smell.  We were able to move to another row behind so that made it a little better. We saw a couple of other people being carted off on stretchers and wheelchairs too - either from the heat or partying too much.  One guy was carted off in a wheelchair with handcuffs!  You pay a lot of money for concert tickets to blow it all being stupid!  I give the security guards, medics, and police a lot of credit.  I'm sure working concerts on a hot summer night is not their favorite duty!

August Stamp Club

This week was my August stamp club and we made a variety of cards.  I had two ladies today and will have six on Thursday.

I love daisies!  My bridesmaids carried them in my wedding back in 1973 so I guess I have loved daisies for a long time!  My husband used to give me daisies for our anniversary each year with a rose for each year we were married.  Needless to say, he stopped that after about a dozen years!!
This card is stamped with So Saffron, a color I don't use much but I don't know why - I love it on this card!  The Daisy Punch was on backorder for a while but it is now back in stock and one of the most popular punches Stampin' Up has had!

This card was totally CASE-d!  It is called a Wiper Card.  When you pull the side panels, the pig (This Little Piggy) pops up from the inside.  The back of the card (which I didn't take a picture of!) is a circle that has another pig on it and the sentiment "says thanks!"   It was a fun card to make and not as difficult as it looks!

Another fun card using a new set from the catalog - Pocketful of Sunshine.  This card is great for slipping a little of money in the pocket for a special someone in your life.

I hope you enjoyed these projects.  If you have any questions, please contact me.

CLEARANCE!!

Stampin' Up! updated the CLEARANCE Rack today with lots of goodies!  Quite a few are perfect to incorporate with Holiday products .....

Gold Wink of Stella
Red and Green Silky Ribbon
Gold Sequin Trim
Classy Designer Buttons
Crushed Curry Bakers Twine
Emerald Envy Taffeta
Gold and Silver Satin Ribbons
White Gift Boxes

These items are only available while supplies last.

There is also this Cheerful Tags Framelits which would be great for Christmas tags!



And another one - Merry Tags Framelits -


AND what a deal on this Designer Tin of Cards for $10.80!




There are a lot more great deals so head on over and check them all out HERE.

Positively Picturesque

I spent today playing with the latest Paper Pumpkin kit - Positively Picturesque.  It is a really cute one.  I just love getting my surprise box of fun each month.  It is so easy to travel with, easy to share and just plain fun!  Where else can you get a kit to make several cards, an ink spot or two and a stamp st for $19.95 delivered to your door??

I made a few alternative cards with the pieces.  I made at least one card (of each design) using the Paper Pumpkin directions and switched things around with the rest of the cards.  I ended up making 13 cards total and I still have a few things left so I can probably make 2-3 more.

The card on the right is the Paper Pumpkin direction one.  I just moved the washi tape up and stamped Happy Birthday on the other one.  (2 rolls of washi tape were included in the kit!)

For this card I used the Daisy Punch for the flower and Embossing Paste for the center.  The leaves are die cut from Flourishing Phrases.

I stamped the Pool Party piece with Tranquil Tide ink using the Hardwood background stamp.  Next I ran it through the Bricks embossing folder and rubbed White Craft Ink over the whole thing to soften the color.  The edges of the card are covered with strips of washi tape.

The flowers on this card are little wooden flowers that came in the kit.  I used a dauber to ink them with Berry Burst ink.

The Lemon Lime wash in the background is made with Work of Art.

This is one of the Paper Pumpkin instruction cards.  The circle is covered with washi tape.

This is another of the cards just following the directions.

I love how this one turned out.  I randomly put strips of washi tape in the background.  The wooden "love" is inked (with dauber) using Powder Pink, Flirty Flamingo and Berry Burst.

I used the Pretty Label Punch and cut the pink label in half.  

This is the card just following the directions in the kit.  The card below is just a tad different.

How do like the plaid background?  I used the Brushstrokes Background stamp and stamped it vertical and horizontal to create the plaid.  

I hope these cards give you some inspiration to make your own Paper Pumpkin cards!