Snow Post Number 4

I think this is the final one for today.  Back to kid-wrangling, dinner prep and taxi-cab driving.  But it was a fun day.  All the samples posted this week will be available next Thursday to stamp.   This particular card I went to the Color Coach for inspiration.  Wanted to use something I hadn't used in a while, so I hit on River Rock.  It's a neutral with a hint of green (at least in the dye-lot I have) and it goes very well with the Not Quite Navy and Rose Red.  My flower need some leaves, so the best green turned out to be Always Artichoke.  Once a gain, it's pretty minimal in stamping and technique, but sometimes that is all you need.   Hope you've enjoyed the "Cyber Stamp with Me Day."  Have a great weekend.

Stamps: So Happy For You (Sale-a-bration), Build a Blossom
Ink: Always Artichoke
Paper: Naturals White (card base), River Rock, Not Quite Navy, Rose Red, Always Artichoke,  Designer Series Paper Patterns Pack Regals
Accessories: Designer Fabric Brads Sweet Stitches, Punches: 1-1/4 inch Circle, Blossom Petals, Eyelet Border, Textured Impressions Folder Perfect Polka Dots, Stampin' Up! Bigz L Die Fun flowers, Big Shot, Dimensionals

Snow Post Number 3

Punch Bunch again.  This time it's a single circle stamp the fits the 1 inch and 1/2 inch circle punches to make the center of the flower.  Embossed background is a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Elegant Bouquet.  Fun Flower Bigz L Die for the paper flowers.  Add some vanilla satin ribbon and there you are.
Stamps: Punch Bunch (Sale-a-bration)
Ink: Rose Red
Paper: Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions Folder Elegant Bouquet, Stampin' Up! Bigz L Die Fun Flowers, Punches: 1-inch and 1/2-inch circles, 5/8" Satin Ribbon Very Vanilla, dimensionals

Snow Post Number 2

I'm enjoying this Sale-a-bration set called So Happy For You.  Here's a take with the flowers and butterfly using the In-Colors and Designer Paper Patterns.  It's a pretty simple layout with some patterns to make it lively.
Stamps: So Happy For You (Sale-a-bration Clear mount)
Ink: Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz, Blushing Bride, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Designer Series Paper Pack In-Color, Designer Series Paper Patterns Pack In-Color (Level I Hostess)
Accessories: 1-1/4 inch Square Punch, 3/4-inch Square Punch (retired), 1/2"Stitched Poly Ribbon in Pear Pizzaz, Dimensionals

Snowed In and Loving It!

Well, maybe not loving it, but...  Had to cancel Stamp With Me day because our pocket of the Mid-Atlantic got about 8 inches of heavy white stuff and our street still hasn't been plowed.  So here's the first of my "cabin-fever sanity check."  This one uses the Punch Bunch again as well as the new Build-a-cupcake Punch and matching Create a Cupcake set.  More to come today so keep watching this space...
Stamps: Create a Cupcake, Punch Bunch, Confetti (all clear mount)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Punches: Scallop Square, Build-a-Cupcake, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Jewels Rhinestones, Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die, Big Shot, Dimensionals

The Owls Have It!

They're cute, aren't they?  They're also saying Happy Anniversary to my parents who are celebrating 48 years together today.  So, naturally, I had to post an anniversary card.  This pair of owls are also featured in yet another Sale-a-bration Stamp Set!  It's called Punch Bunch.  Each of the stamps in this cute set lines up with a punch.  Very convenient.  Makes for quick and easy card making.  Have a good day.
Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Punch Bunch (Sale-a-bration, clear mount)
Ink: Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango
Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Poppy Parade, Designer Series Paper Patterns Pack Regals.
Accessories: Punches: Two Step Owl, Two Step Bird, Scallop Oval, 2 x 1-3/8" Oval, 1-3/4 x 7/8" Oval, Dimensionals

Time to Sale-a-Brate

Yes, it's that time of year again.  Sale-a-bration is Stampin' Up!'s big sale time of the year.  For details see my Stampin' Up! website at http://mypaperworld.stampinup.net This also means fun new stamps and goodies to play with. Which also means Blog Samples!  Here's the first.  A bright sunny card to shine light on your day.  The flower is really fun to make.  I cut it from that Fun Flowers Bigz L die I used last week.  Then I mangled it and smashed it enough to break down the paper fibers.  Great stress relief, let me tell you.  At this point, you can pull the layers apart and you have not one, but two flowers to layer and add a new Fabric Brad center.  The sentiment and the cute little Peach Parfait butterfly are from the Sale-a-bration stamp set So Happy For You.  It's a great combination of sentiments and tiny images.  Plus it's free when you spend $50 (see link above.)  Anyway, hope you enjoy the card and your Tuesday.
Stamps: So Happy For You (Sale-a-bration, clear mount), Butterfly Bliss (builder wheel, from Occasions Mini)
Ink: Pear Pizzaz, Peach Parfait
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz, Daffodil Delight, Designer Series Paper Sunny Garden
Accessories: Big Shot machine, Stampin' Up! Bigz L die Fun Flowers, Stampin' Up! Bigz L die Petal Cone, Fabric Designer Brads Sweet Stitches, Paper Snips, Dimensionals

Monday Technique

I learned this vellum cardstock technique as "stained glass."  That may not be the exact name for it, but I liked it.  This butterfly stamp from Nature Walk really called out for the technique.  Stamp your image in Staz-On jet black ink on your vellum.  I used cardstock because it was what I had, you can use the thinner vellum, if you prefer.  After it dries, flip the image over and color on the reverse side.  Here I used Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight markers.  I cut the butterfly out with my Paper Snips and then added him to the card.  The circle of Daffodil Delight card stock adds third element.  The back ground strip is from the Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper collection.  Happy Monday to all.
Stamps:  Nature Walk, Silhouette Sentiments (Hostess Level I)
Ink: Staz On Jet Black, Early Espresso (for the sentiment), Markers: Pear Pizzaz, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Pear Pizzaz, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Vellum Cardstock, Designer Series Paper Botanical Gazette
Accessories: Punch 1-3/4 inch circle, Jewels Basic Pearls, Paper Snips, Dimensionals

Elegance in a Flower

This card is simple and elegant.  I think that a set of these would make a lovely gift for newlyweds.  The color scheme is Very Vanilla and Brushed Gold.  The sentiment is in Jet Black Staz On since it's stamped directly on the Brushed Gold paper.  The flower is made in two parts.  The base is cut from Very Vanilla using the Stampin' Up! Bigz L die "Fun Flowers" that just came out in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  The petals are punched from the new Extra Large Blossom Petals Punch, also found in the Mini, and curled with a stylus.  I attached them with mini glue dots and used my paper piercer to put a hole in the center for the Antique Brad.  The embossed border is the new Textured Impressions Folder Framed Tulips.  Enjoy the card and your weekend.
Stamps: Because I Care (Hostess Level I, clear mount)
Ink: Jet Black Staz On
Paper: Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold
Accessories: Big Shot, Textured Impressions Folder Framed Tulips, Bigz L Die Fun Flowers, Punch Extra Large Blossom Petals, Paper Piercer, Antique Brads, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Another Valentine

If it's January, it's Valentine time with the Sassy 6 Stamping Group.  Tonight's meeting focuses on Valentines and here's another of the ones we're doing (you saw the blue one earlier.)  This is another resolution of mine for the New Year.  Along with using scraps (see that earlier January post), I'm trying to give all my stamp sets equal time.  The "Always" stamp set is a beautiful set that, I'm ashamed to admit, I rarely use.  However, I grabbed the heart when searching for Valentine inspiration and off it went.  The Love Letters Designer Series Paper provided the Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Very Vanilla color scheme and off I went from there.  Happy Tuesday.
Stamps: Always, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Paper: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Designer Series Paper Love Letters
Accessories: Punches: Ticket Corner, Designer Label, Modern Label, Curly Label, Satin Ribbon in Very Vanilla, Black Jewels (using up leftovers from the Holiday Mini, but black brads would work just as well!), Dimensionals

Cheers for a Birthday!

This is a quick and easy birthday card for the Martini crowd.  The Cheers to You set is a fun set full of cool beverages.  The Beer/Root Beer mug also fits on this tag.  So does the Margarita (barely), so if you wanted a different look/drink you could make it work.  The triangle patterned paper is from Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper.  I used the Bigz XL die Tasteful Trim to get the Crumb Cake border.  I love that it matches the pattern on the paper.  And guess what?  You can use scraps to make these!  If you're cutting down a 8.5x11 sheet of paper to get trimmed-down 1/4 sheets (5.25 x 4), use the 1/2" scraps and cut some triangle trim! There's the fun scrap tip of the day.  Enjoy.
Stamps: Cheers to You, Curly Cute
Ink: Early Espresso (ink pad), Real Red and Old Olive Markers
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Designer Series Paper Greenhouse Gala
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Bigz XL Die Tasteful Trim, Small and Large Tag Punches, Neutrals Brads, 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Daffodil Delight, 1/16" hole punch, Dimmensionals

What's this? A Blue Valentine?

Now who would think that Baja Breeze would make a cute Valentine card?  I was inspired by the samples in the last Holiday Mini Catalog that used the Filled With Love set in blues.  What a nice twist on the Valentine.  Here, I paired Baja Breeze with Cherry Cobbler.  I used the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit and the Full Heart punch to create this fun quartet.  The border of tiny hearts on the right hand side are from the Confetti clear mount stamp set, just for a bit of background.  For depth, I punched one heart out of the background and popped the red one out.  Enjoy!
Stamps: Filled With Love, Confetti
Ink: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler (pad and marker)
Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Full Heart Extra Large Punch, Stampin' Up! Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Big Shot Machine, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, dimensionals

Valentine for Thursday

This card uses the Filled With Love set from the Holiday Mini and continuing into the Filled with Love bundle available until Jan. 24.  I actually won this set as a door prize at the Stampin' Up! Baltimore Regionals back in October.  Pretty cool and free, too! It's a sweet little card using Pretty In Pink, Real Red and some matching Designer Series Paper.  The "you" is from the stamp set Fabulous Phrases.  I really like the font in that set.  Just graceful enough to be elegant and cute at the same time.  Lots of polka dots in this one, too.  Textured Impressions and Designer Paper along with the cute heart stamp from the set.  Have a happy Thursday.
Stamps: Filled With Love, Fabulous Phrases
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Pretty In Pink, Love Patterns Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions Folder Lots of Dots, 3/4-inch Circle Punch, Small Heart Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Dimensionals

That great butterfly again...

I really like this butterfly from the new Thanks for Caring stamp set.  It has a good flow, I guess.  In any case, here's my take with some Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Pear Pizzaz and Early Espresso.  The wings are decorated with dots of the Smooch Pearlized accent ink in Gold Lame.  I used this at Holiday time on stars and I really like the hint of pearl and bling it adds to cards without adding bulk.  A flower brad added something for the butterfly to focus on.  Enjoy.
Stamps: French Filigree, Thanks for Caring (clear mount)
Ink: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso
Paper: Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, So Saffron, Pear Pizzaz
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions Folder Finial Press, Big Shot, Ticket Corner Punch, Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink (gold lame), Flower Brads (subtles), Blender Pens, Paper Snips, Dimensionals.

Never Too Many Cupcakes!

While cupcakes might be on the way "out,"  I still love them.  I'm also enjoying the new Create A Cupcake stamp set and matching punch from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  This card was fun to make yesterday at Stamp With Me Day. (Thanks Cindy, Cheryl, and Jenny for encouraging the design process.  You're the best!)  I kept to the Brights collection with the added help of Early Espresso for the color palette.  The sentiment, which got a bit covered by ribbon in the picture, says "It's not how many candles you blow out, it's how many cupcakes you get!"  Have a great weekend.

Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso
Accessories: Build a Cupcake Extra Large Punch, 3/8" taffeta ribbon in Daffodil Delight, crimper, Dimensionals.

Have to Share

I don't usually post twice in one day, but I was so tickled by how this card came out, I had to share it.  This uses one of the beautiful new sets from the Mini Catalog, Nature Walk.  Gorgeous.  I'm not usually confident with my collage technique, but this worked.  I used a trio of In-Colors plus Early Espresso and Crumb Cake inks.  The combo worked really well.  Some of you know that I love birds on anything (china, paintings, in my garden...).  So this set is perfect.  Can't wait to keep playing.  Meantime, enjoy!
Stamps: Nature Walk, Create a Cupcake (the sentiment only)
Ink: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzaz, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Paper: Very Vanilla, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzaz, Concord Crush
Accessories: Curly Label punch, Large Oval punch, Crochet Trim Victoria, dimensionals

More Mini Catalog Fun

Here's another card using some fun new stuff from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  The first is the new Framed Tulips Textured Impressions folder.  Next is the lovely stamp set Thanks for Caring.  I really like that Butterfly.  Can't wait to heat-emboss it.  Here it's stamped in Rose Red and I used a blender pen to add some Pink Pirouette to the wings and inside the flowers as well.  I think they're orchids, or at least orchid-esque, if you will.  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Stamps:  Thanks for Caring, Curly Cute
Paper: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Early Espresso (marker and stamp pad), Rose Red (marker and stamp pad) Wild Wasabi marker and Pink Pirouette marker
Accessories:  Punches: 2-1/2- inch circle, 1-3/4 inch circle, 2-3/8 inch scalloped circle, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Folder, Big Shot, paper snips, Dimensionals, blender pen

Occasions Mini is Here!

This year, the Occasions Mini Catalog is full of fun stuff, so I had to share.  This is the first card I made using the new Blossom Petals Punch (great for punching scraps!!) and it's coordinating Build a Blossom set.  I went for the bright because I'm too sleepy this time of year.  Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango, a nice "wake-up" combination!  Enjoy your Tuesday.
Stamps: Build a Blossom (clear mount), For All You Do (sentiment), Cottage Garden (clear mount, background flowers)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive
Accessories:  Blossom Petals Extra Large Punch,   3/4-in circle punch, 1/2-in circle punch, Mini Glue Dots

Happy New Year! Have you used your scraps today?

A very Happy 2011 to everyone.  One of my goals for the New Year is to find a good way to keep working on the over-flowing box of scrap paper that sits in the middle of my stamping room.  Yowee!  It's out of control.  So, that said, I'm going to try to post a card a week made from scraps from the box!  Here's the first one...I found a small piece of Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper from last year's catalog.  Loved this!  They reconfigured it color-wise for this year (called Sunny Garden, it's on order!)  Each piece of card stock in this card (except for the white card base) was in the scrap box.  Even the die cut olive shape from the Lots of Tags Sizzlit set.  Amazing,..Thanks for joining me in the New Year!
Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments (Level I hostess set), Cottage Garden (clear mount)
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, Designer Series Paper Cottage Wall (retired)
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, 3/4-in x 15/16-in Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Stampin' up! Sizzlits Dies Lots of Tags, Jewels: Rhinestones