My mom has some really old ornaments that I’m fairly certain were from when she was a kid. They are those glass ornaments with colored foil on the inside and sunken areas that were silver or gold. Anyway, that is what inspired me here.

The ornament was made by gold embossing the ornament stamp onto red cardstock and punching it out. Then punching another from plain cardstock. I then punched a circle from the center of the plain ornament and trimmed the topper from it. Finally I glued that bit over top the embossed version. The ‘window’ isn’t too obvious in the photo, but that is how I did it. I’m really happy with the result.

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I have too many stamps! Yes, I said it. I really need to do some purging. I think I haven’t yet because I unmount my stamps (completely – down to bare rubber) and I don’t know if that will keep people from wanting them – and I don’t want to deal with something like ebay. Anyway, I’m trying to use some of my older sets to help me decide what should go.

This card is made with two old Stampin Up sets – Simply Sweet (vases) and Alphabet Soup. I think I got Alphabet Soup free (because I can’t believe I spent money on it, it really isn’t my style). I got Simply Sweet when it retired. I really love border-like stamps but always have a hard time using them.

The layout is using the SCS Dirty Dozen July sketch. I thought it would be a perfect way to use the row of vases. Now if I could have colored the water better (i.e., chosen a better color) I would be much happier. Oh well.

The PTI Senior Design Team challenge this month was to use the old Spiral Bouquet set. I bought that set when it came out and have used it a few times – but not in a long time, so I thought I would play along.

I stamped the solid flowers directly on the card base. Then I used the spiral images over top and heat embossed glitter powder. For something different (at least from my normal), I used the Mat Stack 2 die for the sentiment.

I tried my hand at ruffled ribbon and um, it is harder than it looks, lol. I’m hoping it is just because my ribbon is so wide. I think I’ll have to try again with thinner stuff.

Yesterday Betsy, a PTI Design Team Member, showed us how to make your own doily (read her post). That was pretty inspiring, so I had to give it a go.

Here is my final card. Since the point was the doily, I wanted it to be pretty visible. I always think victorian tea when I think doily, so I tried to recreate that a bit on the card. I stamped the doily on white, I’m wishing I had done cream as all my lace bits are old and not white, but this one wasn’t too bad. I used the Linen impression plate on the card base.

Here is a shot of just the doily. I used quite a few sets, but the base was actually the frame from the most recent anniversary set – Round and Round. I stamped it once then inked just the flourishy sides and went around the circle. The petals of the doily are made with an frame from Boxes Bags & Tags! The other little bits came from Borders & Corners sets. I finished off the doily with an image from the first anniversary set – Simple Little Things – and a button.

Hmmm…that title makes me think friend with measles. Oh well, I’m sure you see what I mean, right?

This week’s CAS challenge at SCS was using polka dots (cas78). I immediately thought about my Polka Dot Posies set – one I don’t use often.

To do the background, I cut the sentiment stamp into individual pieces. The layout is from a Fall-To-Layout sketch (ftl101). The sketch shows a different paper at the top and bottom of the background panel. Originally I stamped the background leaving a space, but that didn’t seem to be good enough, so I decided I would stitch. Of course my intention was for the stitching to hang over onto the green layer, but alas, I’m not to handy with this machine yet. But I still like it.

I know the button isn’t the best match, but in real life, it isn’t as obvious.

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I made this card for the latest CAS challenge on SCS (cas77). I have a few fish images, but I opted for PTI’s Pond Life because it is a set I don’t use often (it intimidates me). I had a bunch of sketches on my scrap paper and when I saw the one from Sketch This (101), I knew it would work.

The card finished a bit less CAS than I usually do, but I think it still feels clean and simple.

Thanks for taking a peek!

This is another card for mom’s camp. I kept the card simple, but the texture in the background really makes the card feel richer. The camp’s theme is fall, so that is how I chose my colors.

I made this card to be used by my mom for an upcoming stamp camp. Mom’s clients have been wanting to see more cards without embellishment. Oh, I can do that! And a bonus, this is a masculine card. [Actually, I might have to make another for my hubby's birthday!]

I used craft ink to stamp the leaves. I was hoping for more opaque coverage, but I’m kinda liking it this the way.

I’m catching up on missed CAS challenges. Last week’s challenge was dry embossing (cas75). You’d never catch me with a stylus (too hard), but I love embossing folders and impression plates – quick and easy. The butterflies are also embossed (the die does it at the same time that it cuts – very cool).

So this card really did start out for a CAS challenge (cas76), but I just don’t think this qualifies for CAS any more. What it does qualify for is the DTGD challenge – red, yellow, green.

I love cardinals. There are cardinals here in Hawaii (not something I thought I would see), but they aren’t the all red ones I’m used to in Virginia. They have a read head and black & white body – very striking (see – not my photo).