Friday, December 16, 2011

Winter Grass

Winter Grasses I have to admit that I am okay that our lawn is dry and brown right now…it is way better than having green grass underneath snow.  I think the birds do fly south for the winter because I still do see birds and I hear them every morning.  The ducks have been happy swimming in the pond near our home.  This card was is another card that will go into my MIL’s box of cards.  It was inspired not only by what I see out my front window (Dried Grasses), but my overall card was inspired by a card over at Splitcoaststampers that I really like.

Can you see the sparklies? I’m really enjoying how the bird’s tail is extended by the use of the stencil.  I know it is hard to tell in the photo, but the bird and the tail are sparkly with shimmer mist.  So fun when the light captures it!

Winter Grass Close Up Stamps: Established Elegance, Happy Harmony(Retired) 
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Ink: Marina Mist, Early Esspresso
Accessories: Hemp Twine, Seam Binding – Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso 1/8” Taffeta, Vicotria Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls
Tools: Paper Piercer, Mat, Vintage Ornaments Decor Stencil, Sponge, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive, 1” Circle Punch, 1-1/4” Circle Punch, Crimper, Shimmer Mist, Spritzing Tool, Distressing Tool, Bird Builder Punch, Corner Rounder
Technique(s): Direct to Paper, Sponging, Seam Binding Rosette, Shimmer Mist

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Stampin’ Up! Stamp Set Flashback

I’m still working on that box of cards for my MIL.  It is nice to have sketches to follow when you are making a box of individual cards. I have two cards to share with you today.

I spent some time cleaning up my stamp room yesterday.  As I only had a 4 inch square of usable space left to create I figured it was about time to get busy cleaning. As I was cleaning I came across some of my Stampin’ UP! fabrics and some of my favorite retired stamp sets.  It’s amazing the things that you find when you’re better organized!  *smile*

Close Up Thank You This first card uses the Mojo Monday 219 sketch from this week.  I’ve been wanting to incorporate fabric on a card and this card does just that!  I decided to add various textures to the card, so you’ll notice the fabric is bunched in places rather than simply laying flat like paper.   I was able to create that texture, by using the Stampin’ Up! multipurpose adhesive sheets.  It makes you want to touch it, doesn’t it? 

Full Card Thank You Stamps: Circle of Friendship (Retired)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Newsprint Designer Series Paper(retired)
Ink: Jet Black Stazon 
Accessories: Timeless Portrait Designer Series Fabric, Hemp Twine, Vintage Brads
Tools: 1-3/8” Circle Punch, 1” Circle Punch,Decorative Label Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Cropadile, Dimensionals, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets 
Technique(s): Frayed Twine

Close Up Wishes This second card uses the sketch challenge for the week from Splitcoaststampers. This card is a non-standard 3.25” x 5.5” card.  It was fun creating with some of my well loved images from the past years.  I know my MIL will love both of these!

Full View Wishes Stamps: Well Worn Words (Retired), Echos of Kindness(Retired), Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Red Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Red Riding Hood Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware (Retired), Crumb Cake Seam Binding
Tools: Aqua Painter, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder Punch, Small Oval Punch (Retired), sponge
Technique(s): Sponging, Big Shot Embossing

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Flowers of Best Wishes

I’m still working on a box of cards for my Mother-in-Law.  I’ve become grateful for her December birthday because I have the ability to switch up her birthday and Christmas gift.  That will give me some extra time in getting all the cards done!

I’m sharing with you today, one of the cards that  will be going in her box for Christmas! Front View This card was inspired by rectangles that I saw stamped on cards.  Amazing how your mind moves when you are creating!

How did I do that?

The top layer was created by adhering various rectangles that were sponged and distressed along the edges to a plain piece of Very Vanilla. This layer was then popped up with dimensionals.

Side AngleThe flower was created by crumpling 5 stamped scallop circles, sponging them and snipping between each scallop almost to the center.  A beautiful neutral glitter brad was inserted in the center

Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Established Elegance
Paper: Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler 
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Quilted Ribbon
Tools: Distressing Tool, Sponges, Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals
Technique(s): Sponging

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Something old, Something new

Do you remember when you first started stamping and all you could do was beam/scream with excitement when you created your first cards? Okay, I have to admit that that still happens to me when I create something new…not as often as it should, but it still happens.  

I remember how cool I thought the direct to paper technique was when I first began experimenting with altering the blank edges of my cards with an ink pad.  You would have thought that I just won the lottery or something just as cool!  I would be starring at my card, oohing and ahhing, turning it every which way to capture the awesomeness.  You do that too, right?  I became giddy with excitement.  If I know me, and I do, I was probably doing some funky dancing because the happiness was just oozing from my very being.  Okay…I know that may sound extreme…but if you haven’t experienced that before…that is what it is like. And how exciting that I just had one of these moments when I was experimenting again with the Direct to Paper technique! 

Direct to Paper has been around for as long as I have been stamping and probably even longer.  The most I ever did with the technique was run the ink pad over the edges of my paper. Have you ever done that? I’m sure many of you have done the same…loved it and then moved on to another technique.  Well, that technique went by the wayside when I discovered the other fabulous technique of sponging.

Here is a card, that I created with my new found vision of direct to paper.  This card is the first of many cards that my MIL will be getting for her December birthday this year.  I have 15 10 days left to begin creating.  I probably should give it 5 days to ship, huh?

Simply Soft Hostess SetStamps: Simply Soft (hostess), French Foliage
Paper: So Saffron, Red Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Ink: So Saffron, Red Riding Hood Red, Tempting Turquoise, More Mustard, Jet Black Stazon 
Accessories: Rhinestone, Dimensionals 
Tools: Crimping Tool
Technique(s): Direct to Paper

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

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Poppy Field - Sneak Peak Class SampleThis technique is my next featured Technique Series class in December.  If you live in or around the Allen, TX area contact me to sign up or visit my website for other events.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Christmas is in the Air

I’ve been busy holding Christmas Card classes. Although I don’t typically post my cards from these classes, I thought it would fun to share the class favorites and my favorites to celebrate the coming of the holiday season!

Jolliest Time of Year 116584

Class I Favorite

 

 

 

 

Holiday Lineup 111648

Class I – My Favorite

Gotta love those jingle bells. 

 

 

Snow Much Fun 122560 or 122562

 

 

Class II Favorite

 

 

 

 

Winter Post 111780

 

 

Class II My Favorite

Love the simple elegance.

 

 

Do you have a favorite?

Enjoy!

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