A batch of birthday cards...

Don't you just love to match things up? I'm a matchy, matchy girl. That means when I find scrapbook paper, I have to get the ribbon, the rub-ons, the embellishments and all the great stuff that matches! One day I really needed to make a batch of birthday cards, so I gathered all of my SEI Winnie's Walls product line and some coordinating textured cardstock to work with. What fun! I think I made about 10 projects that day ~ here are a few of them.

Sorry for the bad pictures ~ I had to scan them vs. using my camera
so they don't look nearly as nice as they could have.

And guess what? I didn't stamp one bit on any of the projects! All the words and images were rub-on transfers from SEI and Making Memories.

So go dig out all the old paper and embellishments you have sitting in a drawer
and get a stack of cards made!

New Life...Sketch Challenge

I was asked to come up with a sketch challenge a while back and I really liked how the scrapbook layout turned out. It's a super simple design, but does what it's supposed to do ~ brings the focus to the photograph.

I love working on sketch challenges when I have the opportunity, because it's such a blast to see the different perspectives people have on the same sketch.

So.... will you take this challenge and make something? Give it a shot & don't forget to post here with your link. Who knows, I may even have a prize for my favorite layout or project!

Post your link by Tuesday, August 19th.

Hi & Hello...

So this is the card that I was going to have for my Stamp-A-Stack & then I thought the stamp set was retired. However, I just found out that this stamp set is on the dormant list ~ so I am going to use it after all! The set is called Hi and Hello & I'm using all new colors on this card (Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Baja Blue & Pacific Point).

Stamp-A-Stack ~ part 2...

Here is the 3rd card for my upcoming Stamp-A-Stack. This is a gift card holder and they will make four of them. I decided to have them use a different stamp for each card they create so that's why there are 3 strips of paper in this picture. I was so pleased that this Tart & Tangy Stamp set and the Summer Picnic paper made it to the new catalog ~ super fun colors!

My 4th card will have to wait until my first order arrives. I had one all done with a bunch of new colors and a stamp set for the last catalog. What I forgot to check was that the stamp set actually RETIRED! ACK!!! So, I'll share that card here another time, but it won't be for my class.

Getting Ready for my Stamp~A~Stack...

In a few weeks, I will be having my first Stamp-A-Stack with the new Stampin' Up! catalog. I searched around online a few days ago to try and get me going with some ideas. When I found the thank you version of this card on Splitcoast, it was so perfect that I CASE'd is completely. Then I decided to make a birthday version too so that my customers would have a choice to make either one. Thanks to imamuttnut for the FABULOUS card idea!

My next card is a soft, pretty little card. I decided to use my Cuttlebug embossing folders with ~ just because they are fun. My customers enjoy a little mix of things now and then.

Tune in tomorrow for the next two cards that we will make...

Mahalo..

Isn't she fun? I think this new set from Lizzie Anne Designs is so cute. Have you been over there to check out all the fun new stuff that came out in July. Talk about a stampers paradise!!! I've ordered tons of them ~ so you'll be seeing LOTS of samples with all the new stuff ~ I think there are only 2 sets in the new collection that I didn't order...yet!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Garden Isle); Cardstock ~ Stampin' Up! & Papertrey Ink; Pattern Paper ~ October Afternoon; Ink ~ Palette & Copic Markers; Cuddlebug Embossing Plates; brads and ribbon ~ Stampin' Up!

Fun Times...

I was looking through some scrapbooking files on my computer today and thought I would share a few of my favorites from our trip to San Diego back in June 2005. The page above was of a wonderful dinner I had with Val & Joy. We had such a good time that night!

Tim and Matt had a great time on all the water rides at Sea World. Megan and I went on rides too, we just didn't go on them over and over again.

This page always makes me laugh. We have been out to San Diego many times and Tim really wanted to do something different. So we decided to take a drive to the desert & see what was out there. There was a State Park we thought we would visit. We drove and drove and drove some more just to show up to NOTHING! The state park was closed and there was literally nothing around. We kept driving because we thought for sure we would come upon something. The kids were board out of their minds and finally just fell asleep. We just had to laugh about the whole thing.

Dotted Flower...

Believe it or not, this is the same set I used on my scrapbook page yesterday (Beautiful Girl post). That's what I love about stamping ~ you can get such a different look with the exact same image.

Have a great day & thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Inque Boutique, Stampin' Up!; Cardstock ~ Papertrey Ink, Stampin' Up!; Ink ~ Stampin' Up! & Palette; Pearl ~ Stampin' Up!.

Beautiful Girl...

I love all the different looks my daughter has ~ some days she is sweet and innocent, other days she is totally goofy & then there are the days (or moments) when she is so grown up. The other day, I asked her if I could take a few pictures of her. Lately, she has been enjoying all of the modeling shows on TV, so she had a good time posing for the camera. After a few silly shots, I was able to capture some stunning photos of her. My favorite is on this layout I created last night.



The concept for this layout came from the book Page Maps by Becky Fleck {however, it really doesn't look anything like the one in the book ~ LOL}. This book is a great resource for page sketches & fabulous samples. You can check out the link to her site on my side bar ~ she has fabulous card sketches too & she has updates every month.

Make a wish...

I've been loving this new pattern paper I found at my local scrapbook store. It's by Imaginice and it's so colorful and playful. As I was putting the finishing touches on my card, I was having a hard time finding the right ribbon. I ended up using some of my Stampin' Up! double stitched ribbon; however, the stitching was white and my cardstock was vanilla. So...I took my rose color Copic marker and changed the color of the stitching ~ it worked perfectly!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Cupcake, Sketched Sayings); Cardstock ~ Stampin' Up!, Papertrey Ink; Pattern Paper ~ Imaginice; Ribbon & Brads ~ Stampin' Up!; Ink ~ Copic, Palette; Nestabilities by Spellbinders.

Inspiration from a card...

Matt was invited to his best friend's birthday party yesterday & this was the invitation that arrived. I immediately thought that the bottom looked like my Happy Birthday Cuttlebug Embossing plate. Of course I had to try and make a version of the card!

So where does your inspiration come from? I'd love to hear from you and find out what types of things inspire your projects. Let me know...

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Happy Birthday, In the Background); Cardstock ~ Papertrey Ink & SU; Ink ~ SU; Button ~ Doodlebug; Embossing Plate ~ Cuttlebug; Circle punches ~ Martha Stewart & SU; Ribbon ~ May Arts.

So here's how they work...

Yesterday I showed you a project I made using my new Inque Boutique stamps. Here's another one I made with a cute little spring set. I was just about finished with this card and realized I really wanted one of those Sugar Coated Brads from Doodlebug. I knew I had some and searched high and low for them. I couldn't let it go because I knew it would be perfect on the card. Ahhhhhhh... I finally found them under something ~ but I liked the little touch it added.

Anyway, I told you how easy these stamps are to use so today I thought I would show you what they look like. First of all, they are only the rubber part of the stamp ~ there is no foam attached. Instead, a black foam mat comes with each set (the size of the mat depends on the size of the set). Just place your paper on top of the foam mat and place your stamp on your acrylic block. The picture of the stamp in on the back so you can see where you are stamping ~ very cool. They are a very nice quality, deeply etched rubber.

Without thinking, the first image I stamped without the foam mat and I messed it up ~ so the foam mat is really a key piece. But no worries since the sets come with the foam.

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Inque Boutique; Cardstock ~ Bazzill, Papertrey Ink; Pattern Paper & Brad ~ Doodlebug; Ink ~ Stampin' Up!, Palette & Copics; Stickles by Ranger; Nestabilities by Spellbinders.

Fun New Stuff ...

I'm in love with these new stamps that my friends Mish and Lana introduced me to. They are called Inque Boutique ~ and they are available over at The Purple Turtle. I spent lots of time at their booth during CHA looking at the tons of sets they have and was able to play with them for a while. THEN, they had this basket of little sets there, so I picked up this cute birthday cake set. TOO FUN!!!!

These stamps are so amazingly easy to use, but I'll have more on that tomorrow with another project I have to show you. Right now I want to show you this super fun card I came up with ~ it's probably not a new idea, but I've never done a layout like this before. If you notice the top picture, there is a brad holding the card flap down. There is a better shot below on how the card opens.

The beveled edge paper was actually super easy to do ~ I just put a stripe piece of pattern paper on the card base and then cut a strip going the opposite direction and cut the corners of the 2nd piece. Then to cover it up, just put cardstock over the top. Hmmmm...that probably wasn't too clear. Tell ya what... I'll take some pictures & post them later on.

There are only 3 stamps in this sweet little set, but I used them to the fullest!!!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Inque Boutique; Cardstock ~ Papertrey Ink; Pattern Paper & Brad ~ Imaginice; Ink ~ Copics & Palette; Pinking Sheers ~ Fiskers; Nestabilities by Spellbinders.

Saving the Best for Last...

I love this new set from Hanna Stamps ~ in fact, it my favorite of this release! She's so hip and cool! There are also lots of great supporting images in this set too. All the new sets are available today over at Hanna Stamps.

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Hanna Stamps (Teacher); Cardstock ~ Prism, Stampin' Up & Papertrey Ink; Ink ~ Palette, Stampin' Up! & Copics; Pattern Paper ~ Stampin' Up!; Punches ~ Stampin' Up!; Ribbon ~ May Arts; Apple ~ Unknown (I found it on the sidewalk ~ what a find).

Masking Technique Tutorial ~

I'm sure most of know how to do the masking technique. However, on the off chance that you don't, I thought I would put some pictures together on how I added the oval under Hanna's stool.

Step #1: Select the image that you want to see in it's entirity. Then stamp it on your cardstock. In my case, I wanted to see the entire image of Hanna and her stool.


Step #2: Stamp the image again on a Post-it note or they have special Masking tape called Eclipse Masking Paper just for this purpose. Cut the image out and place it over your stamped image. Now in my case, it was pretty easy because they were just stool legs. Therefore, I just cut strips of paper from a Post-It note and attached them to the 3 legs of the stool.

Step #3: Ink up the image you want to stamp over the masking and stamp it. You will stamp on your masking & that's what is supposed to happen.



Step #4: Remove the stamp and your masking and you have a beautifully layered image.

Like I said, I'm sure most of you already know how to do this, but if you don't, I hope it helped. It always helps me to see pictures.