Encre, papier, ciseaux

Kisses Underneath the Mistletoe

This week's Stamping Bella challenge was "Anything Goes" so I had a look at my Stamping Bella images to get started. I pulled out a few that had not seen ink in a long time, but it turned out they were all retired, so I finally reverted to an Uptown Girl and picked Eve Under the Mistletoe because I thought she would look pretty paired with the Frosted papers from Kaiser Craft. It was also nice to give her a blue dress for a change instead of the usual red.

The other reason that I picked her was that my new Tin of Tags stamp set includes a sentiment that reads, "Warm Wishes and kisses underneath the mistletoe." Couldn't be more perfect to go with this image, so this sealed the deal.

As a pure coincidence, I had a Vanilla satin rose sitting on my desk. The last time I used those roses on a project, I was down to only one, so I left it on my desk in order to include it on a project when appropriate. Since today's card included vanilla undertones, I thought it could add a nice feminine touch to the card, and be a nice departure from the usual Holidays accents. I placed a large Silver metal button underneath to frame it.

Since this week's Retro Sketch challenge (#234) invites us to play with past sketches, I picked sketch #201 for this one.

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Eve Under the Mistletoe (Stamping Bella), Coffret d'étiquettes (Tin of Tags - Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Buckaroo Blue, Very Vanilla
Patterned Papers: Frosted (Kaiser Craft)
Ink: Buckaroo Blue, Tuxedo Black Memento
Accessories: Curvy Corners Trio Punch, Silver Cord, Dazzling Details, Prismacolor Pencils,
Vanilla Satin Rose, Silver Basic Metal Button, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Vanilla Square Envelope

 

Celebrate Love

This is another card I made during the DTGD challenge week. The challenge for this one was to add stitching to a project, so I used my heart Framelits and stitched on two of the hearts with metallic needlepoint floss. Aside from the stitching which takes a bit of time, the rest of the card was pretty straightforward and I think the beautiful papers and flower trim did most of the work. I'm happy with the elegant result.

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Médaillons séduction (A Round Array)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
Patterned Papers: Lost & Found (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Basic Grey
Accessories: Silver Needlepoint Floss, Flower Trim, Sweet & Sassy Framelits,
Stampin' Dimensionals, Envelope Punch Board, Pinking Squares Die-namics

 

Winter Gear

This card ended up being more intricate than my first idea for it. Drawing inspiration from the Sunday Stamps challenge #136, I pulled out the Warmth & Cheer Designer Series Paper Stack and the Cozy Critters hostess set (from the 2016 Holidays Catalogue). I was planning to simply add the fox over the DSP strips and a sentiment and be done.

But then the fox seemed a little small for a focal point, so I decided to put him on top of the big gift. And then to add the winter hat from the same stamp set on its head. As I was trying to punch out the hat with the Santa Hat punch from the catalogue, I realized you have to punch all three parts of the hat from separate images (the hat itself, the fur border and the pompon), otherwise you punch through other parts of the image. So I started with the border... and found it looked just like a little band! I couldn't help but try it on its own on the fox, and thought it was so cute, that I left it as is, and used the pompon as an accent on the front. By the way, is anybody else seeing Olivia Newton-John and hearing the "let's get physical" song when looking at the little fox with its headband? LOL!)

I found the sentiment "Surprise!" in the Tin of Tags stamp set, so I stamped it on my paper strip. Then I decided to add a few little gifts, and do a bit of paper piecing on the fox and the big gift. Then add a red mini jingle bell to the gift. And then the top seemed bare, so I decided to stamp and hang two of the ornaments from the same stamp set. And decorate them with rhinestones. (Isn't that the perfect accent for the center of those baubles?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Cozy Critters, Coffret d'étiquettes (Tin of Tags)
Cardstock: Garden Green, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper Stack: Warmth & Cheer
Ink: Real Red, Garden Green, Delightful Dijon, Basic Black
Accessories: Mini Jingle Bells, Stampin' Dimensionals, Rhinestone Basic Jewels,
Crumb Cake Medium Envelope, Santa Hat Punch

 

Spending Summer Poolside Z-Fold Card

This is one of my favorite card I created during DTGD and probably the one I received most compliments for. I will admit I was actually not that excited to make a Z-fold card, but once I spotted a leftover piece of patterned paper from another project, I thought I could use the cute summer-themed border to my advantage for this technique. While the images were so large that they got cut off a little bit when the card is folded shut, I think the card becomes really fun and pretty once it's opened up. It's hard to look at this card and not feel uplifted. In order to have room to write inside, I created a pocket with a tag insert using the Layering Squares Framelits from Stampin' Up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: #coucou (#hello)
Cardstock: Whisper White
Patterned Papers: Pebbles
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: Button, Gold Glimmer Paper, Circle Punches,
Crushed Curry Stampin' Emboss Powder, Layering Squares Framelits,
Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Chalk Talk Framelits, Curvy Corner Trio Punch

 

Something to Celebrate... With Cake!

This is the last card I created for the DTGD challenges. I was really close to having done them all, but I was running short on time to meet the deadline, so I had to keep it short and sweet. I think it's still cute, but it is definitely something that would not require a whole lot of time to reproduce. 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Faut fêter ça (Party with Cake)
Cardstock: Peekaboo Peach, So Saffron, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Fruit Stand
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes, Flirty Flamingo Ruffled Ribbon,
On Film Framelits Dies, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Gold Sequin Trm,
Gold Glimmer Tape (SAB), Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Cat Mermaid

This is another card that was born from the DTGD challenges. The fun cat mermaid image from The Cat's Pajamas was a nice match to the seaside-themed papers from Doodlebug Design. While making my DTGD challenge cards, I've been trying to use paper and carstock scraps, and I found this old shimmery purple paper in my stash. This actually dates back to when I first started scrapbooking and had to hunt down for supplies in local crafts stores (before scrapbooking supplies were added to their regular product lines). It added the perfect touch to this card, which a shimmery frame, and I used the rest of the sheet to make a matching envelope. The paper is translucent, so the person who'll receive the card will actually catch a glimpse of it through the envelope before opening it.

The sentiment was created using the Sunshine Sayings and Sunshine Wishes bundle (stamp set and Thilnlits) from Stampin' Up!, and the sentiment reads, "Sunny Wishes." I've cut out of the word out of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: By the Sea (The Cat's Pajamas), Souhaits et voeux (Sunshine Sayings - Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Shimmery purple Paper (Canson)
Patterned Papers: Under the Sea (Doodlebug Design)
Ink: Perfect Plum, Tuxedo Black Memento
Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Under the Sea Stickers (Doodlebug Design),
Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies, Layering Squares Framelits Dies, Stampin' Dimensionals, Markers

 

Around the World

This DTGD challenge card turned out better than I thought it would when I first started it. I used some Designer Series Paper from a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" promotion Stampin' Up! had a few years ago. I remember having only time to make one card with the papers and stamp set before it retired. I thought the traveling papers suited the "around the world" sentiment from the stamp well, and I got the idea to use the Labeler Alphabet to add "I would follow you." The little hearts on the plane paper supported the love theme as well.

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Autour du monde (Around the World), Labeler Alphabet
Cardstock: Thick Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Bons baisers
Ink: Island Indigo, Real Red, Markers
Accessories: Pool Party Baker's Twine, Envelope Punch Board,
Stampin' Dimensionals, 2-1/2" Circle Punch

 

Sending Flowers With Love

Another card made for the DTGD challenges on SCS. I used one of my oldest sets, earned during Sale-A-Bration years ago. I used Tango Tangerine trim on the card and to prevent the ends for fraying, I had the idea to wrap them with gold glimmer tape. I love how it turned out, but it should be noted the glimmer tape does not stick very well to itself, so I've noticed since making the card that the ends tend to come apart. I'll have to go back to the card and find a stronger adhesive to keep this part of the card assembled.

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Plaisir de vivre, Pensées à la plume (Feather Together)
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Watercolor Paper, Gold Foil Paper
Designer Series Paper Stack: Subtles
Ink: Night of Navy, VersaMark, Marina Mist, Tango Tangerine
Accessories: Gold Glimmer Tape, Tango Tangerine/White Trim, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder,
White Medium Envelope, Stampin' Dimensionals, Aqua Painter Brush

 

Sitting Pretty

Yet another DTGD challenge card. Because the stamp set I used includes an image of the front of the characters and of their backs, I was able to make a "hanging" image by cutting an opening out of the front of the card, and squeezing the swing ropes between the card and the glimmer black frame.

The polka dots were added by sponging red ink through a polka dot stencil. The sentiment, which was embossed with black powder, reads, "Love is born in an instant, grows over time and last an eternity."

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Just Let It Happen (The Cat's Pajamas), Notes de saison (Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Black Glimmer Paper
Ink: Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Square Stamp CutUp Die (TCP), Black Stampin' Emboss Powder,
Prismacolor Pencils, Polka Dot Stencil, Sponge Dauber

 

Keep Calm and Drink Coffee

I'm catching up on posting some of my DTGD challenge creations. This shaker card was created by combining quite a few stamp sets. The main image comes from the Puns from the Past stamp set (long retired but still a favorite), and I paired three stamp sets to create my sentiment, which reads, "Everyday is a crazy sprint - keep calm and drink coffee."

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: À fond!, Persévère (Keep Calm), Labeler Alphabet, Puns from the Past
Cardstock: Bazzill, Barely Banana
Patterned Papers: Cosmo Cricket
Ink: VersaMark, Early Espresso
Accessories: Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder, Sequins, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Window Sheet, Project Life Paper Clips Framelits, Burlap Ribbon, Circle Punch,
Envelope Punch Board, Ticket Corner Punch

 

My Little Birthday Pony

I made a lot of cards during the DTGD challenge week on Splitcoast Stampers and did not have time to share them all on my blog as it was happening. I'm doing a little bit of catching up now and sharing this simple card made with My Wings from The Greeting Farm. The pony was colored with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol, a technique I hadn't used in a while. I had this patterned paper with the rainbow that was perfect to add the pony to. I die-cut clouds out of white felt and Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper, and the sentiment was embossed in white at the bottom of the paper. The rest of the sheet was used to make a matching envelope. The result is simple but cheery!

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Jolies pensées (Curly Cute - Stampin' Up!), My Wings (The Greeting Farm)
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
Patterned Paper: Source unknown
Ink: VersaMark, Tuxedo Black Memento
Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, White Felt, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Puffy Clouds Die-namics, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Stumps

 

Festive Wishes

I needed a few birthday cards for downline members, so I paired the Retro Sketch #232 with the colour combo from Create with Connie and Mary #424. Since the colour combo included Emerald Envy, it was a great opportunity to use the Glitter Stampin' Emboss powder to make the card more special. (Even though they're sold in the Christmas section of the Holidays catalogue, they can certainly be used for non-Holidays projects.) I die-cut the sentiment with the Layering Squares Framelits and used Gold Foil Paper for the scalloped square, which paired nicely with the Delightful Dijon background (embossed with the Festive embossing folder).

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Une belle journée (Oh Happy Day Card Kit)
Cardstock: Delightful Dijon, Soft Suede, Emerald Envy, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: 2016-2018 In Color Envelope Paper, 2015-2017 In Color DSP Stack
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes, White Doilies, Envelope Punch Board,
Gold Foil Paper, Layering Squares Framelits Dies, Stampin' Dimensionals, Festive Embossing Folder,
Emerald Envy and Baked Brown Sugar Baker's Twine, Emerald Envy Glitter Stampin' Emboss Powder

 

Keep Calm and Eat

A friend and I will be going to London and I thought bringing her munchies for the trip could be a fun gift. I found some boxes Stampin' Up! used to carry that I got at a reduced price when the catalogue retired that were the perfect size. I filled one with nuts and trail mix, and the second one with candy. On the side of the box, I used a typewriter to add "the fun stuff" on the candy box and "the serious stuff" on the nuts one.

For the top of the box, I used a London stamp from Penny Black (that's going to come in handy later when I scrapbook my trip pictures) and remembered that we had the Carry On stamp set that had a sentiment that read, "Keep calm and eat a cupcake." Using markers, I shortened it to "Keep Calm and Eat." Those two stamps were just perfect for London!

I also found papers in my (vast) collection from Little Yellow Bicycle called The Escape, also centered around the travel theme. More perfect still, some of the vehicles on the papers are red double-deckered buses. I cut out the paper that had various stripes on it and kept the "I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list" sentiment.

I am adding this to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (Clean and Simple) because I kept my decorating of the boxes to just a bit of patterned papers and a touch of stamping, and to the Work It Wednesday SSS challenge (Stamp It)­.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: London (Penny Black), Carry On (Stampin' Up!)
Patterned Papers: The Escape (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Ink: Dapper Denim
Accessories: 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Project Life corner Punch,
Treat Boxes, Pumpkin Pie Chevron Ribbon, Typewriter

 

Sweet Stocking

I've used the Hang Your Stocking stamp set to stamp my main image, but I hadn't used the matching Christmas Stockings Thinlits dies yet to create the stocking, so I have it a try. The Mojo Monday sketch #465 looked like it would work to use this bundle, and for colours, I drew inspiration from Verve Colour September Challenge, which made for a beautiful, untraditional combo. To give myself more creative options when putting together the stocking, I added a second shade of plum and combined both Rich Razzleberry and the new Sweet Sugarplum in Color on the card. This is in turn gave me the option of using the beautiful Sweet Sugarplum glitter ribbon (sold in the Holidays Catalogue as a bundle with silver ribbon as well).

I used the "To:  From:" sentiment from the same stamp and will add my name and the recipient's with a Stampin' Writer marker when mailing the card. The striped patterned paper comes from a DSP pack from last year's Holidays catalogue; the polka dot card comes from the Hello Lovely Project Life Card Collection. The background cardstock was embossed with the Holly embossing folder (Annual Catalogue - don't forget this Holiday folder!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colour Combo: Soft Sky + Rich Razzleberry + Sweet Sugarplum + Pear Pizzazz + White

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Bas de Noël (Hang Your Stocking)
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Season of Cheer
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Sky
Accessories: 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes, Project Life Corner Punch,
Stampin' Dimensionals, Glitter Ribbon Combo, Circle Punch, Christmas Stockings Thinlits,
Pearl Basic Jewels, White Medium Envelope, Hello Lovely Project Life Card Collection

 

Santa's Fill

I had pulled out some retired single stamps that I have put together in an empty stamp case for some recent cards I put together and had spotted the Bearing Gifts stamp, which I've always been fond of. I put it aside to use on a card. I was debating whether to use it for a baby card or Christmas card, but finally landed on Christmas. The In[k]spire Me sketch #267 was perfect to use with it and I remembered that I had a sentiment somewhere with a line from a song that reminds Santa to not forget our stocking. Thought it would be great with it, and it happened to be just the right size and length to fit on a banner underneath the image. The pretty papers are from Bo Bunny's Candy Cane Lane collection, one of my favorite Holidays 6" x 6" paper stack. The colours just work so well together.

The main image was stamped and gold embossed on Shimmery White cardstock. I was curious to try out watercoloring on it since Stampin' Up! has been promoting it as a good watercoloring medium. I will say this: it's better than on Whisper White, but less effective than watercolor paper. I find that watercolor paper does not stain as quickly so I have more control to move the ink around with my paintbrush or blending pen, whereas the Shimmery White stains more quickly and it's harder to avoid lines or brushstrokes. Not impossible, but harder. I wouldn't use it for images with wide area, but for something with small areas to fill, like the image I used, it works well enough. And the fact that it's shimmery does add a little something to the finished look.

 

 

 

 

 

Color Combo: Bermuda Bay + Mint Macaron + Melon Mambo + Blushing Bride +
Hello Honey + Delightful Dijon + Basic grey + White

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Bearing Gifts, Chantons Noël (Bright Christmas)
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Shimmery White
Patterned Papers: candy Cane Lane (Bo Bunny)
Ink: VersaMark, Melon mambo, Bermuda Bay, Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride,
So Saffron, Delightful Dijon, Basic Grey
Accessories: Sequins, Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon, Banners Framelits, Banner Punch,
Circle Framelits, Hello Honey Satin Ribbon, White Medium Envelope, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Blending Pen

 

Trio of Wishes

This card was born of the combination of the MFT Sketch #298 and using paper scraps from an old DSP pack called Snow Festival. I've always loved the colours and patterns of those papers, but will say they are hard to pair together because every single page is very busy. I have to make sure to keep it easy with the paper to avoid design overload. Here, I decided to use the ornement pattern for the background and it inspired me to pull out the Something for Christmas single stamp because of the hanging ornements. I used Stampin' Write Markers to ink it in various colours.

My first idea based on the sketch was to use an ornement die-cut for the circle shape on the sketch but then when looking for something to add at the bottom of my main panel that wasn't too distracting (read: that didn't have patterns), I found a piece of Cherry Cobbler scallop tulle that was perfect, and figured that if I tied it in a pretty bow, the bow would fit in lieu of the circle on the sketch.

A few pearls and sequins were added as well, and a matching envelope was made with the Envelope Punch Board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Pour Noël (Something for Christmas)
Cardstock: Gumball Green, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Snow Festival
Stampin' Write Markers: Gumball Green, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Primrose Petals
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Scallop Tulle, Pearl Basic Jewels,
Envelope Punch Board, Stampin' Dimensionals, Metallic Sequins

 

Please Deliver To

I'll be visiting a friend soon and I wanted to bring a gift to her so I worked on packaging it nicely today. It happened that Stampin' Up! has added a video to its YouTube channel recently explaning how to make custom-sized boxes so I referred to it to make my box. On a whim, I decided to use gold-pattern vellum for the top of the box. The papers I used are from Simple Stories and the colours and floral pattern totally reminded me of my friend. I used the Alisha Lowercase Alphabet die to spell out her name. The paper includes an image of a globe, which I handcut and I found in the retired Sent with Love stamp set a little flying plane that I added over it. It spotted in the same stamp set the sentiment that reads, "Please deliver to," which was perfect to add over her name.

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Patterned Papers: Gold Fancy Foil Vellum Paper (Stampin' Up!), So Fancy (Simple Stories_
Cardstock: Island Indigo
Stamps: Sent with Love
Ink: Strawberry Slush
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Ribbon, 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes,
Alisha Lowercase Alphabet Die (Echo Park)

 

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

This simple retro card simply mixes patterned papers and die-cuts. It was inspired by Match the Sketch #141, and paired with the Retro Christmas papers from Authentique. I have the 6" x 6" pad and it includes little die-cut images that are adorable, so I picked the one that says "Meet me under the mistletoe" as my main image and sentiment. The background circle became a snowflake, die-cut out of Red Glimmer Paper. The sentiment inspired me to pull out the Pretty Pines Thinlits to create mistletoe hanging from my baker's twine. A few pearls were added to decorate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Cardstock: Garden Green, Pistachio Pudding, Mint Macaron, Red Glimmer Paper
Patterned Papers: Retro Christmas (Authentique)
Accessories: Snowflake #2 Die, Pistachio Pudding Thick Baker's Twine,
Pretty Pines Thinlits, Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Ticket Corner Punch,
Vanilla Medium Envelope

 

Boos and Brews Treat Pocket

Looking at the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge #189 made me think of the Spiderwebs doilies Stampin' Up! was carrying last year. I have recently pulled a few Halloween items out of my stash to start making some seasonal projects ready, and those doilies were part of the bunch. With that in mind, I decided to go for a treat bag instead of a card, so I pulled out some square vellum envelopes I have and embossed one with the Brick Wall embossing folder. I then embossed a sentiment from the Seasonal Sayings stamp set (retired) in black powder, and added Doodlebug die-cuts that were recently purchased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Mots de saison (Seasonal Sayings)
Patterned Papers: Boos and Brews (Doodlebug Design)
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Basic Black Baker's Twine,
Stampin' Dimensionals, Boos and Brews Odds and Ends (Doodlebug Design),
Square Vellum Envelope, Brick Wall Embossing Folder, Spiderweb Doilies,
Washi Tape

 

Ugly Sweater Season Is A-Coming

This week's Cat's Pyjamas challenge (#322) was embossing. I started looking through my TCP stamps and pulled out Bunny Christmas, since I hadn't used the bunny knitting the Christmas sweater image yet. As I pulled it out, I thought the Cable Knit Embossing Folder would be perfect to make a background! As I was pulling out what I needed to make the card, I spotted on my challenge sheet the colour combo from Stampin' Royalty #345 - Delightful Dijon + Cherry Cobbler + Always Artichoke and thought it would work well with the other items I had picked. (I have to say, I really like how this colour combo looks on a Christmas card - it brings a very nice vintage feel to it, which here suited the ugly sweater theme well). Still on my Prismacolor pencils kick, I used those to colour my bunny image and the two little holly images on each side of the sentiment.

The sentiment, which reads " 'Tis the Season- Ugly Sweater Season", was embossed in Platinum powder and the slight gold sheen works really well with the Dijon background. Each side was decorated with a line of cross stitches, using the Basic Stitch Lines Die-namics. I was looking for a piece of DSP with Cherry Cobbler on it and found was I was looking for in the retired Festival of Prints paper stack.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Bunny Christmas (The Cat's Pajamas)
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper Stack: Festival of Prints
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, VersaMark
Accessories: Basic Stitch Lines Die-namics, Prismacolor Pencils, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Project Life Corner Punch, Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder, Cable Knit Embossing Folder,
Vanilla Medium Envelope

 

Extreme Biking

This week's ColourQ combo (#358) is really eye-catching. It could have worked for various cards: something fresh and modern, a baby card, but I decided to go for a masculine card. I had put aside some single stamps we used to carry and the Extreme Dirt Bike stamp caught my eye. As much as I loved the Extreme Elements stamp collection, I don't think I had ever inked the biking image. If I remember correctly, I had gotten it for free during Sale-A-Bration right before it retired so mostly for lack of time, this one never got used. It was a great occasion to right this wrong, so I stamped the biker in Night of Navy twice (using the Stamp-a-ma-jig) to deepen the colour and leaving the SAMJ guide in place, I cleaned the stamp and reinked it in VersaMark, then overstamped the image in order to heat emboss it with clear powder. I sponge a bit of Cool Caribbean ink at the top to darken the sky, and used the same ink to stamp the cloud and the stars from the Extreme Elements stamp set.

The background cardstock was embossed with stars, and the poppy panel was stamped at the bottom with the wheel pattern from Rev Up the Fun!, then I embossed a dotty pattern at the bottom, and distressed the edges of the cardstock with my distressing tool. One of the sentiments from Rev Up the Fun! was used for the sentiment and embossed in navy powder on Brushed Silver cardstock. (I wouldn't be mad if Stampin' Up! ever brought those sheets of cardstock back - they were great!) A bit of twine and three eyelets were added as the finishing touch.

The design was inspired by the Viva la Verve September #2 Sketch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Extreme Elements, Extreme Dirt Bike, À fond! (Rev Up the Fun!)
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Cool Caribbean, Brushed Silver
Ink: Night of Navy, Cool Caribbean, So Saffron, Poppy Parade, VersaMark
Accessories: Baker's Twine, Eyelets, Sponge, White Medium Envelope,
Embossing Folders (Lots of Stars from Taylored Expressions and Distressed Dots from Tim Holtz),
Stitchable Dots Circles Die-namics (My Favorite Things), Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder,
Navy Embossing Powder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig

 

Thanksgiving Pie

Today's card was inspired by Mojo Monday #464, Naughty or Nice #31 (food or drinks), and Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge (stamp it). I paired Lawn Fawn's Cutie Pie stamp set with the Flea Market papers from Doodlebug, and the pie and autumn colours worked well for a Thanksgiving card, so I pulled out an old hostess set called Occasions Collection. (I noticed I had to really go back to find a French SU! sentiment that mentioned Thanksgiving. I think it's because this holiday is not really celebrated in France so the translated sets have included sentiments that focus more on thank yous than Thanksgiving. For that reason, I've been keeping this hostess set preciously because it includes Easter, Thanksgiving and St-Patrick's Day sentiments, which are hard to come by.)

 

 

 

   

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Cutie Pie (Lawn Fawn), En toutes occasions (Occasions Collection - Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Tango Tangerine, Whisper White
Patterned Papers: Flea Market (Doodlebug Design)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Baked Brown Sugar
Accessories: Decorative Doily Duo Die-namics and Chevron Stripes Die-namics (My Favorite Things),
Markers, It's My Birthday Enamel Dots, Burlap Ribbon, Crumb Cake Medium Envelope,
Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Festive Tags

Inspired by Merry Monday challenge #212, I pulled out some gold-foiled papers and thought it would be a good opportunity to play with the Cheerful Tags Thinlits and the matching Here's to Cheers stamp set (available as a bundle for 10% off in the Stampin' Up! 2016 Holidays Catalogue). I have a work colleague who's commissionned me to make gift tags for her in the past, and for her last order, I've made a bunch of wine tags from scratch. When I saw these dies, I knew they would be perfect to make more wine tags even more easily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Saison pétillante (Here's to Cheers)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Patterned Papers: Yes, Please (My Mind's Eye)
Accessories: Cheerful Tags Thinlits Dies, Gold Foil Paper, Circle Framelits,
Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/8" Gold Ribbon, Metal-Rimmed Pearls, Gold Bow Clips,
Black Satin Ribbon, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Gold Washi Tape

 

A Birthday Latte

This week's Stamping Bella challenge features an awesome sketch from Julee (#18). I went looking through my SB stamps to select one that would fit nicely with the sketch. The company has reissued some of the Bella stamps not long ago as Bellas 2.0, in a new, reworked look. Seeing some of the old images redesigned made me nostalgic for my old Bella stamps, which I totally loved then and still do now. Despite the fact that the weekly challenge calls for current SB stamps to be eligible to win, I still decided to use one of the retired images, because I think all of our stamps need love - whether they're current or retired. I've been rediscovering my Prismacolor pencils lately, so they're also what I used to color the image.

The bright papers are from Doodlebug Design's Fun in the Sun collection. The funky striped background just makes me smile with its bright colours and funky patterns.

The "Happy Birthday" sentiment was pulled from the Rose Wonder stamp set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Lattebella (Stampin' Bella), Essence de rose (Rose Wonder - Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Bazzill, Whisper White
Patterned Papers: Fun in the Sun (Doodlebug Design)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Cucumber Crush
Accessories: Nestabilities Dies, Prismacolor Pencils, It's My Birthday Enamel Dots,
White Medium Envelope, Stampin' Dimensionals, Ribbon

 

Key West Glamping

Glamper Greetings is a stamp set from the Holidays Catalogue that, just like Mountain Adventure, I found incredibly cute and really hesitated before getting. On the one hand, I was afraid I might not use it a whole lot because of all the coloring involved, but on the other end, I know a lot of people in my entourage and at work that have campers, so I thought the camper cards might sell really well. I finally caved and thought this is the kind of stamp set that is nice to add to your collection because even though you might not make 20 cards with it while the catalogue is current, you use a lot over time for people that appreciate camping. Or that retire. Anyway, I could see a lot of uses for it, so I finally splurged.

I wanted to get it inked so I looked at challenges to find a sketch that would accomodate a large image and I settled my choice on Sunday Stamps #134. For colours, I looked at past ColourQ challenges I had missed and #350 was ideal with its Key West-inspired colours.

The stamp set includes many images to decorate the camper and create a little scene. One of those is a little banner, so it was perfect that the sketch has pennants at the top to tie that detail in. I used the same trick I had on my strawberry card a couple weeks ago and pulled out the pennant banner die from the Home Sweet Home Thinlits set. I was looking through my stamp binder for a French sentiment that would be perfect (the stamp set has a bunch of great sentiments included, but unfortunately for me, all of them in English). I found "Enjoy, it's your day" in a past Sale-A-Bration set, that was big enough to fill in the space and funky enough to match the whimsical look of the card. I stamped the sentiment in Old Olive, watercolored it with a blending pen, and then I started gluing the banners at the top and embellishing them with Candy Dots. And that's when I saw the little fingerprints everywhere on my watercolor paper! Apparently, the ink was not fully dry so I got little olive marks everywhere around the sentiment. Not cute! I didn't want to start over since I was all done, so I pulled out my Dazzling Details bottle and started adding glitter here and there at the top of the card to try and mask my mistake. It's not perfect, but the card is still usable. I'll be more careful next time I'm stamping in a non-waterproof ink colour on watercolor paper, though!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Glamper Greetings, Il faut bien le dire (Outlined Occasions)
Cardstock: So Saffron, Watercolor Paper
Designer Series Paper: Subtles
Ink: Basic Black Archival, So Saffron, Old Olive, Blushing Bride,
Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Basic Grey
Accessories: Dazzling Details, White Medium Envelope,
Subtles Candy Dots

 

Here for You, Rain or Shine

I had a few more cards to make for my downline members, so I picked the CAS(E) This Sketch #188 challenge and paired it with the Weather Together stamp set and the Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper. The sky pattern and dots that look like falling rain seemed perfect to pair with this set. The little banner from the sketch became clouds die-cut out of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.

Sentiment reads, "I'm here for You."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Contre vents et marées (Weather Together)
Cardstock: Delightful Dijon, Old Olive, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Serene Scenery
Ink: Old Olive, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Umbrella Weather Framelits, Metal-Rimmed Pearls, Gold Bow Clips,
Delightful Dijon Striped Ribbon, Square White Envelopes

 

Blow out the Candles

I have some upcoming birthdays on my Stampin' Up! team in September, so I made sure to include some birthday cards in my stamping this weekend. I picked a favorite, the Sweet Cupcake stamp set and the matching Thinlits dies. The Match the Sketch challenge #140 was perfect for the design, and I picked the TGIF #70 colour combo, thinking a pinkish cupcake would be yummy.

The sentiment reads, "Blow out the candles" and I had to create the first part with the Labeler Alphabet stamp set in order to be able to use the word die-cut from the Cupcake Cutouts Thinlits dies. The Sweet Sugarplum glitter ribbon comes from the glitter ribbon pack sold in the Holidays catalogue. I just love those ribbons! They look great used flat on the card (here, glued on with Tear 'n Tape) of tied in a knot or bow. Speaking of items from the Holidays catalogue, the Sweet Sugarplum sequins also come from the Fancy Frost Sequins pack (HC, page 37).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Douceurs sucrées (Sweet Cupcake), Labeler Alphabet
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: Playful Palette
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Festive Embossing Folder, Cupcake Cutouts Thinlits Dies,
Vanilla Medium Envelope, Fancy Frost Sequins, Stampin' Dimensionals,
3/8" Glitter Ribbon Combo Pack

 

Topiary Birthday

When I saw the Mojo Monday sketch #463 showing a tall and skinny card, I couldn't help but pull out the Vertical Greetings stamp set, which is a new favorite of mine from the annual catalogue. I thought it would also look lovely paired with the colour combo from Create with Connie and Mary #422.

To mimick the leaves of the topiary, I sponge my Calypso Coral background with one of the stencils from the Seasonal Decorative Masks (2016 Holidays Catalogue, page 43). As I've mentioned in a previous post, those stencils are sized 6" x 6", which means they were a little shorter than my cardfront (my card is sized 3-1/4" x 6-1/2"). I solved the problem by sponging the edge above the stencil, creating a line at the bottom. It adds a pretty design element and it was one of those problems that result in a happy element on the finished card.

For the ribbon accent, the Flirty Flamingo ruched ribbon was a close enough match to Calypso Coral to make a great addition to my design. I also used the 2016-2018 In Color enamel shapes in Flirty Flamingo and Peekaboo Peach. The 2016-2018 Envelope Paper was used to make a matching envelope.

 

 

 Color Combo: Calypso Coral + Peekaboo Peach + Sahara Sand

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: À la verticale (Vertical Greetings)
Cardstock: Peekaboo Peach, Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper Stack: Neutrals
Envelope Paper: 2016-2018 In Color
Ink: Calypso Coral
Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers, 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes,
Envelope Punch Board, Stampin' Dimensionals, Project Life Corner Punch,
Seasonal Decorative Masks

 

Queen Bee

The Fab Friday challenge #95 inspired some sweet and simple cards to send out to my downline members. I picked the "Queen of the Day" sentiment from Pun Intended to go with the bee image. The bee was stamped on Whisper White cardstock in Night of Navy ink, then a second time on Crushed Curry cardstock to paper piece its body. Dazzling Details glitter was added to the wings.

The papers come from the Floral Boutique Designer Series Paper pack.

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Jeux de mots (Pun Intended)
Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Floral Boutique
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Two-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Details Glitter,
Sweet & Sassy Thinlits Dies, Stampin' Dimensionals, White Medium Envelopes,
Paper Piercer and Piercing Template, Project Life Corner Punch

 

Frosty Fairy Wonderland

I have a soft spot for my Fairy Friends stamp set, so when I saw images from the upcoming Lawn Fawn release and spotted the winter version, Frosty Fairy Friends, it was instant love. So I finally had time to get my new stamp set inked this weekend. Still using the City Sidewalks papers I had pulled out, I used the coral snowflakes paper for the sky and the soft blue snowflake paper for the snow landscape.

For the French sentiment, I picked one in the Christmas Pines stamp set (2016 Holidays catalogue). It reads, "Twinkles of happiness and joy."

This card was inspired by a July card sketch from Page Maps, Just Add Ink #327 (colours) and Simon Says Stamp Work It (Use Stamps).

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Frosty Fairy Friends (Lawn Fawn), Sapins de Noël (Christmas Pines - Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Dapper Denim, Whisper White
Patterned Papers: City Sidewalks (Pink Paislee)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Dapper Denim, VersaMark
Accessories: Frosty Fairy Friends Lawn Cuts (Lawn Fawn), Stampin' Dimensionals,
Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest), Crystal Effects,
Markers, Dazzling Details, Rhinestone and Pearl Basic Jewels, 1/8" White Taffeta Ribbon,
Envelope Punch Board, Pinking Edge Square Die-namics (My Favorite Things)