Botanical Inspired

I had some time with my family this past week to visit Dallas Blooms at our arboretum.  So beautiful to look at and enjoy with the other million people that were there during spring break!  *smile*  The flowers were all in bloom, but all the herbs were looking pretty sad.  Not sure when their blooming time is…but this card depicts the beautiful herbs at their peak. 

My card was inspired by this Pin at Pinterest as well as the Technique “crop your stamped image” at Splitcoaststampers. I figured I better start using what I’ve saved at Pinterest.  I don’t want to be just a collector.  *smile*

Of special interest, I added some concord crush ruler-lined frames around each of the cropped images.  I like it!

Stamps: Herb Expressions, You’re a Gem
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Stampin’ UP! Markers (Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush)
Accessories: Gemstones, Sponge
Tools: Ruler
Technique(s): sponging

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Everything is bigger in Texas

  If you know or follow me at all you have to know that I am not a gardener at all.  Over the past two years I have watched as the weeds that “we’ve put out a contract on” have not been killed.  I’ve been forced to take drastic action and go out and pull up the biggest weeds I’ve ever seen!  Over the last few days I’ve dug these weeds up by the roots…I think I’ve become an expert, but that remains to be seen at this point.  I hope not to see these lawn disgraces again after all the time I put into uprooting them!

This brings me to the inspiration for my card today – masking.  My card actually has a double meaning for masking today.  I masked the fact that this beautiful stamp reminds me of the weeds I’ve been desecrating in my lawn by adding a touch of dazzling details to all the tops.  Wouldn’t it be nice to see these beautiful “flowers” in your lawn?

The beautiful rolling hills have been created by masking the top portion of the layer with a piece of scratch paper and sponging.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Dazzling Details
Tools: n/a
Technique(s): Masking

I’m linking up to the Simply Less is More Masking challenge today. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Thank you all for your comments!  They make my day! Enjoy!

 

 

I had to share some other big things I’ve discovered here…

Now realize that we’ve been for what makes our third Spring in Texas and I have never seen these things before the last 4 weeks.  I had to actually get a picture of it with a ruler so you would know I wasn’t lying about how big they are.  They look like giant mosquitos. These are Crane flies or Skeeter Eaters.  How lucky am I to be pulling weeds when these things pop up out of the grass at me? LOL!

Easter Framelit Box

Incorporating Fabric as Texture in your Paper creations

Welcome back subscribers of Paper and Pixels! I’m thrilled to be able to share with you another project that uses the same technique outlined in this most recent edition. It’s also good to be back this year sharing with all of you again!

I’ve been experimenting with Stampin’ UP!’s newest product in the Occasions Mini Catalog, the Labels Framelits, as well as the Designer Series Fabric line, Flirtatious.  I enjoy trying new ideas and that is how I came to make this cute little box!  You may think that the box is covered in paper, but it is actually cardstock covered in fabric!  I wasn’t sure if the Framelit would cut through fabric, yet it cut through beautifully! 

A quick tip: Cut through the fabric side first when using Framelits. The Big Shot and dies make working with fabric and paper a breeze! The Stampinin’ Up! Paper cutter also works nice when cutting the cardstock already adhered to the fabric!  Its wonderful when your tools work together nicely, isn’t it?

If you haven’t tried working with Stampin’ UP!’s fabric and papers yet, this is a FABULOUS way to get started!  I love how touchable this project is and it is sure to elicit a WOW from your customers or recipients! I have to say it is more beautiful in person!!! Yeah, don’t you love it when a project comes together?!

All the beautiful fabric, paper, ink and embellishments can be purchased through my online store or directly through me! During Stampin’ UP!’s Sale-a-bration event (ends March 31) you can get the lovely Flirtatious Fabric for FREE with a minimum $50 product order, plus I’ll send directions for completing this box and the lovely embellishments when your Sale-a-bration order ships!!!

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

The technique used for covering cardstock with fabric can be found in the current edition of Paper and Pixels along with additional ideas.

Embossing Frames

It seems that I get on tangents when I start creating with something that I haven’t used in awhile.  Today, I created cards for two different challenges and I used the Designer Frames Embossing folder.  This card was inspired by the Script challenge over at Less Is More.  This is only a one layer card, but it had to include script in addition to any other sentiments. 

This frame is wonderful to use because the center oval matches the Extra Large Oval punch.  I created a mask with the punch and stamped my script background and floral image before embossing the frame.  I so LOVE the dimension created by the embossing folder for a one-layer card!

Stamps: You’re a Gem, Flores Suaves(Spanish Catalog - script), The Art of Life(Retired) 
Paper: Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Markers (Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive)
Accessories: n/a
Tools: Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Sponge, Extra Wide Oval Punch
Technique(s): Sponging, Marker to Stamp

 My second card, although not a one-layer card uses the same embossing folder.  I really like how the image extends past the frame just as it does in the first card.  You can barely make out the glimmer of the Dazzling details in this photo.  This challenge was the clean and simple (CAS161) over at Splitcoaststampers to use white and shades of blue. 

Stamps: Fresh Vintage (Sale-a-bration), Day of Gratitude. 
Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
Ink: Markers - (Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy,Basic Gray)
Accessories: Dazzling Details,  Whisper White Taffeta ribbon. 
Tools: Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Big Shot
Technique(s): Marker to stamp

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

The Designer embossing frames or the Fresh Vintage stamp set are available for FREE during Sale-a-bration with a $50 product order! 

Virtual Stamp Night

I remember when I first started stamping, I discovered Splitcoaststampers.  The site offers a wonderful group of talented stampers and some great stamping challenges that I always loved to take part in.  I have not been able to play along with many of the challenges anymore, but I do when I have a chance. 

I was thrilled to have time this past Friday evening to play in the Virtual Stamp Night challenges that were planned for this past weekend!  These are a couple of the cards that I was able to create based on the challenges outlined.

This card’s inspiration was to have an image using something that you see “up in the air”  I quickly thought of flags and the use of the hat pins!  I love how easy it was to create flags with the hat pins and Designer Series Paper!  So fun!

Stamps: Sprinkled Expression Stamp Set (Sale-a-bration) 
Paper: Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Hat Pins(Occassions Mini), Everyday Enchantment Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon (Sale-a-bration), Dimensionals
Tools: n/a
Technique(s): n/a

The inspiration for this next card was to create a project using something that you haven’t used in 6 months or more.  As I filtered through my stash, I came across the Concord Crush ribbon and knew I had to use it on a card. The card a bit flat so I added a some daisy diecuts to a few of the flowers for dimension as well as twisted the ribbon before adhering it to the front!  I really enjoy the card more with that bit of pop off the card!

  Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Sprinkled Expressions Stamp Set (Sale-a-bration)  
Paper: Very Vanilla, Concord Crush
Ink: Concord Crush
Accessories: Concord Crush Ribbon, Flower Daisies #2
Tools: Big Shot
Technique(s): Shadowing, Stamping off

I hope you enjoy my weekend creations!  Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Sale-a-bration Happiness

Have you looked through the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog yet?  If you haven’t, your missing out on some fun ideas and projects and FREE yummy goodies for your stamping and crafting projects! 

I have probably looked a zillion times already    through that catalog.  The last time I looked through the Sale-a-bration Mini catalog I saw something that hadn’t originally caught my eye…the Everyday Elegance Simply Sent card kit.  It sells for $11.95 in the Idea Book and Catalog, but during the Sale-a-bration event, you can get it for FREE with a $50 product purchase.  Now it might be more fun for you to create your own cards from scratch, but did you ever think about using the card and adhesive die cuts as elements on a project?  The polka dot cards are so beautifully die cut and embossed that it makes it a wonderful piece to cut up and use on your projects! I just love them!

The project utilizes the one envelope, card and an accompanying adhesive die cut plus some extras to create this wonderful quick gift card holder and card set! With banners being all the rage, I used the self-adhesive die cut to create a quick banner using the cherry cobbler baker’s twine and the adorable mini clothespins! The clothespins are the perfect way to keep the gift card safe inside!

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

The envelopes included in this set are extra sturdy and require a good scoring tool when creating the super quick gift card holder.  Consider using the Simply Scored Tool when making your selection for scoring tools!

This wonderful project will be created at my  Hostess Club in April.  If you are in or near the Allen, TX area and are interested in seeing what my Hostess Clubs are all about please contact me for more information.

Treat Cup Fun

These fun little cups make an ordinary project extraordinary. When we create something that appeals to more than one of our senses the recipient will be overjoyed!  This month I’ll be sharing at a technique class how I created this fun little box that holds an extra surprise. Perfect for shower favors, birthday party favors and more!

These adorable little cups can hold snacks such as candies, cookies, goldfish crackers as well as other small gift items.  I thought flower seeds would be perfect for your gardener friends or birdseed for your fair weathered friends?  What unique items can you think of to add to this gift item? 

Are you missing out on all the fun because you don’t live close to me?  This cute little box template with paper cutting guide can be yours for FREE if you place a $30 online order with me during the month of March! Place a $50 Sale-a-bration online order and you can get the Enchantment Designer Paper for FREE too!  Visit my website today to place your order! Do you live near the Allen, TX area?  Contact me to reserve your seat for the class!

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy!