Monthly Archives: July 2011

VSN, Yee-Haw!

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Friday night there was a mini-VSN at SCS. The theme of the VSN is rodeo. Only 6 challenges – and I managed to do them all!

The first challenge was called “the grand opening” and we needed to use banners.

My kiddo’s friend will be turning 11 in a week so I thought that would be a perfect card for a banner.

Supplies:
Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes (PTI);
Colors: Rose Red, DSP (SU);
Extras: Banner die (MFTStamps); Number die (PTI); Baker’s Twine (SU);

 
 

The next challenge was called “the queen’s wave”. We could interpret “wave” any way we wanted.

I did it 3 ways: my scene is a HEAT WAVE at the beach (with waves in the background) and the card uses the Wiper Technique to create a little waving sun pop-up.

Supplies:
Stamps: Shore Thing (SU); alphabet ($bin); Birds – Light the Path (TAC);
Colors: Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake (SU); Brown (Palette);
Extras: Daffodil ribbon (SU); deco scissors; Jar Label die (PTI);

 
The third challenge was called “bring in the clowns” and we needed to use 4 bold/bright colors and have something pop-up.

Thankfully the pop-up could be completed with a simple dimensional, and that is the route I took – the bee is popped-up. The bright colors made me thing rainbows, so I chose a flower bunch to color.

Supplies:
Stamps: All About You (PTI);
Colors: Hibiscus (PTI); Gable Green (SU); Copics;
Extras: green ribbon (?); dimensionals; stickles (on bee);

 
The fourth challenge, “all that glitters”, required that we use sequins.

Oh my. I don’t have many sequins. The ones I do have are bright colors. I decided to make shaker balloons. I really don’t have a use for such a “young” card. I need to find some place to donate cards – any suggestions?

Supplies:
Stamps: Say it With Style (PTI);
Colors: Real Red, Brilliant blue (SU);
Extras: circle dies (Spellbinders); Black/White Baker’s Twine (?); Label die (MFT Stamps); sequins; acetate (SU);

 
The fifth challenge, “sunset on the plains”, required a brayered or sponged sunset.

I was a little stymied at first, so I had my hubby help – he decided the sunset should be orange and set in the African plains. I chose to do a giraffe because he likes them and with the “miss you” sentiment I can pop it in his suitcase for his next business trip.

Supplies:
Stamps: Wild Things (SU); Paper Tray (PTI);
Colors: Tangerine, Glossy, Black, Daffodil, Pacific Point, Night of Navy (SU);
Extras: white EP;

 
The final challenge was to be inspired by the lyrics of an 80’s song (Wild Wild West).

I don’t have any western stamps, but these mustaches paired with twine and a wood-grain paper make me think “cowboy”! And I’m getting double-duty out of this card – I took a picture before I adhered the sentiment and I can upload it as the index for the Many Mustaches gallery category, yee-haw 😉

Oh, and speaking of the sentiment – those letters are cut from different sentiments from the same PTI stamp set – Say it With Style. I’m feeling smart!

Supplies:
Stamps: Many Mustaches (SU); Say it With Style (PTI);
Colors: Early Espresso, Vanilla, Wood DSP (OLD! SU);
Extras: Twill, Twine, Brads (SU);

A Birthday Waltz

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It is the 17th of the month, which means it is time for a Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz (much more dignified than hopping, eh? 😉 ). The theme for this waltz is “birthday”.


 
 

My mother-in-law has a birthday coming up in August, so this is a perfect opportunity to make her card! I love the Asian Garden stamp set, so that was an easy choice. I wasn’t sure what I would do, but as I was doing my inspiration search, I found a past WMS sketch challenge (wmsc49). Since I wasn’t able to play the sketch challenge at the time, I thought it was a perfect time to do so!

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Wishes
All supplies Waltzingmouse Stamps unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Asian Gardens, Labels 10;
Colors: Kraft, White, Pink Pirouette (SU); Green Tea ink (Versacolor);
Other: White EP; White twine; Large Scallop punch (EK Success); SQ Lattice embossing folder (SU);

Baby Boy

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In early July a friend had her second child – this time a boy (very exciting for them)! I whipped up this card to send to the proud parents.

It may be hard to see in the photo, but I used PTI’s Canvas impression plate on the card base – it really is a perfect texture for a baby card. I taped the star strings to the back of the Mat Stack, which is adhere with foam tape, so the stars hang loose and can move about.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Baby
Stamps: I’m Here (SU); Alphabet (Studio G); Gingham (WMS);
Colors: Spring Rain, White, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, Enchanted Evening (PTI);
Other: Mat Stack 5 die, Button die (PTI); Star die (MFT); Word Window punch (SU); thread (DMC);

Not-so-Vintage Invitation

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I created this card for my mom to use. Thankfully she loves this card – she isn’t a big fan of the CAS style.

I have to make 20 of them so I kept it fairly simple. The hardest part will be cutting out all the flowers, but I think it will be worth it.

So, after getting this post practically ready, I realized that I could add a pen frame and it would give the card just that bit of “it” that it needed. It adds another step to the production line, but I think it is worth it!

Thanks for taking a peek!

You’re Invited
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Sincere Salutations;
Colors: Not Quite Navy, Vanilla, Old Olive, Calypso Coral;
Other: Pearls;

New Stampin’Up!

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Last month while I was visiting my mom (an SU Demo), I got to play with her new stamp sets. Now that the catalog is out I thought I would post my cards.

The first set I played with is Pennant Parade. This banner creating set has a coordinating punch. I used the punch to make this simple banner card. I used the new Lucky Limeade color and Daffodil Delight. I also found some white Baker’s Twine in her supplies and fell in love. Because it is twisted, it doesn’t come apart quite as easily as embroidery thread.

After seeing the samples in the new catalog, I realized the Pennant Parade set can be used to make Christmas trees too – that is cool! This card uses 3 different greens, but since they are all pretty close in color, it works. I am actually a little disappointed in the Limeade color – it isn’t quite yellow enough….it just looks a tiny shade lighter than Olive. *sigh, I miss Kiwi*

I used the eyelet scallop border punch to create the ruffle around the circle. After punching a long border piece, I ran my nail down the cardstock to help break down the fibers inside. Then I peeled it apart to make 2 pieces. Then I adhered it to the back of the circle making folds to help it follow the curve.

The next couple of cards use the set My Friend. The font in this set is wonderful.

For the first card I used my new favorite color – Pool Party. I added a border punch to the background to give some texture (and weight to that side of the card). A few butterflies and a large sprinkling of rhinestones finishes it off.

 

The next card is a little retro. I love the dangling baubles image in set and used it to create the top border. I filled in the baubles with the Smooch – Top Coal (love this stuff – had to order it for myself!). The sentiment was inked up with markers. I added the flower/pearl to help balance it all out.

This picture doesn’t show the smooch very well, so I took a detail shot. Click the picture to see it full size.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The final set I played with was Best of Everything.

On this card I used Wisteria – another new favorite color. I even got to use a bit of the new ribbon – love those little ruffles. To create the main panel I used the hyacinth image (well, that’s why I’m calling it anyway) and inked it with Wisteria and stamped a bunch, then went back and did the same image using Pool Party.

The butterflies are actually the single flower – I cut them out and tied ribbon and now they look like butterflies 🙂 The background is 2 lattice dies glued down to the card base.

 
The final card I want to share today was pretty fun to make. Unfortunately I used the now retired Spiral punch (why did they get rid of that??).

I won’t be doing my normal supply list, but everything is StampinUp and should be in the current catalog (except the Spiral punch on the last card). BUT if you have any questions, just leave (or send) a note and I’ll answer.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rainy Day

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I really have missed stamping! This is the second card I made today 🙂

This one was specifically created for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge (wmsc54). I flipped the sketch around. I added a bit of Stickles (Patina) to the larger rain drops.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thinking of You
Stamps: Asian Gardens & Asian Gardens Additions (WMS);
Colors: River Rock (SU); Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist (PTI);
Other: dimensionals; Stickles (Ranger);

Proud of You

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My nephew, a rising senior in high school, is currently at boot camp. He is joining the National Guard to become an MP. Obviously I have mixed emotions about this, but I am undoubtedly proud of him. He’s allowed to receive post, so I wanted to send him a card to remind him that we’re thinking about him.

I don’t have many “service” type stamps (guess I’ll need to remedy that 🙂 ), but this ribbon from CTMH certainly does work (I originally bought it to make cancer ribbons, so I don’t always remember it when thinking military). To do the two toned ribbon, I stamped the image twice – once in blue, once in red – and cut out the “front” piece from the red image and glued it onto the blue one.

I kept the card very simple – apparently any cards that are over the top (mushy or frou-frou) earn the receiver a few extra push-ups! I just used lots of dimensionals to give it depth. And the blue mat is textured paper.

I am entering this in the “Krafts-men” challenge at CAS-ual Fridays (cfc9). CAS-ual Fridays is a new challenge blog dedicated to clean and simple stamping. CAS is definitely the style I prefer. I heard about their challenge before they even started – because I was already following a few of their design team members – but this is the first challenge I’ve managed to complete. I still have a text flower I created for their first challenge!! Maybe I’ll get it on a card one of these days, lol.

Thanks for stopping by!

Proud of You
Stamps: Remember (CTMH); Fresh & Simple alphabets (PTI); Sanded background (SU);
Colors: Poppy, White, Kraft (PTI); Crumb Cake ink, Not Quite Navy (SU);
Other: dimensionals;

Blogging Again

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Wow, it has been over a month. It always seems the end of school and beginning of summer is such a busy time. Add into that a 3-week vacation and a computer crash, and that is why I haven’t been blogging. I actually have quite a few pictures saved to post.

Thanks to anyone who has hung in there. Hopefully I’ll be able to get my photos ready for posting in the next few days and get back into “routine” posting.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday.