Clean and Simple Saturday - Bright & Cheery Birthday Wishes

Hello there! It's been awhile since I last posted...my creative mojo took a back seat to some health issues but I'm feeling much better. I spent all of yesterday stamping, it felt wonderful!

A few weeks ago I posted a card that utilized the color scheme I saw on a package of napkins at the grocery store (that still cracks me up, never know when inspiration will strike!).

I fell in love with the layout that I created and thought it very flexible and easily modified to different occasions and recipients. The first one I create had a masculine tone to it so I decided to make a girly girl card:

Isn't it FUN!!! It's so bright and cheery! You'll laugh at my color inspiration this time...I knew I would need to emboss the cupcakes to make them stand out amongst all that white so I looked to see what color embossing powders I own. Tangerine Tango, check. Melon Mambo, check. Wild Wasabi, check. I'm glad they go together so well because those were the only bright colors I own, lol! Actually, I think it's probably Stampin' Up! doing it's job behind the scenes, quietly making it easier for stampers to be successful!

I kept the color order of the cupcakes and the banners the same to provide visual continuity and kept the green cardstock in the middle for the same reason. I put the Melon Mambo cardstock layer at the bottom as it is the visually stronger color and the card would be off balance if it were on top.

I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the cupcakes to give them some added pizzazz and two little Candy Dots...love, love, love them! Sooooo much easier than brads...if I don't get them placed perfectly I can quickly adjust their placement!

I've been working on some Halloween cards so please check back soon!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Best of Birthdays (132929)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Melon Mambo (115320), Wild Wasabi (108641), Tangerine Tango (111349) Cardstock; Brights (130134), Subtles (130135) Designer Series Paper Stacks

Ink: Versamark (102283) Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439); Chalk Talk Framelits Dies (129983); Heat Tool (129053); Melon Mambo (123223), Wild Wasabi (123224), Tangerine Tango (123106) Stampin' Emboss Powder; Stampin' Trimmer (126889); Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Brights (130931), Subtles (130933) Candy Dots

Thanks for stopping by!

Wedding Wishes

My niece called me up recently, quite unexpectedly, to ask if she could purchase some cards from me...to say I was surprised is an understatement! I am thrilled to pieces that she would think of my cards and of course am sending her a care package as we speak!

Her request inspired me to create a few pieces, one of which is featured today. I went searching for inspiration on Pinterest and found this card by Nadine Weiner that I just had to case (copy and share everything)!

Can you see the lovely shimmer? This is the first opportunity I have had to use the Foil Sheets available in the Holiday Catalog and I have a new love! Such a beautiful subtle finish for a wedding card, don't you think? And I haven't pulled out the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and matching dies in quite a while...they look superb here stamped in Metallic Silver. And this pattern from the Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper sets everything off wonderfully!

And of course, what would a wedding be without a few pearls? I'm adding a few other cards to my niece's care package and will share some of them with you over the next few weeks. I'm hoping she enjoys using them!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Hearts a Flutter (129252), Delightful Dozen (122652)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Smoky Slate (131202) Cardstock; Silver (132178) Foil Sheets; Eastern Elegance (130131) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Silver (132142) Metallic Encore Pad, Smoky Slate (131179) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Hearts a Flutter Framelit Dies, Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)

Thanks for stopping by!

Snowflake Season - Freshly Made Sketches #103

This sketch by the crew over at Freshly Made Sketches has me humming Christmas carols again with this sketch...

But this time I am "Dreaming of a White Christmas"...

Because as long as I live in Southern California, dreaming of a white Christmas is all I can do!

I digress...

This turned out to be a fun and fairly easy card to put together. I embossed the greeting in Smoky Slate to give it some dimension. I stamped the snowflake in Smoky Slate and then again with Versamark so I could emobss it with Clear embossing powder mixed with just a touch of Dazzling Diamonds for some shimmer.

A bit of the Silver 1/8" Ribbon and a Frosted Finishes Embellishment from the Holiday Catalog are the perfect shimmery finishing touches! I can't quite capture the sparkle of these embellishments, trust me, they are just fabulous...and the paper...well, I love paper but this particular one is just soooo pretty!

Are you humming Christmas carols yet? Lol. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Greeting of the Season (128033), Festive Flurry (131781)

Paper: Whisper White (101730), Smoky Slate (131202) Cardstock; Winter Frost (132341) Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Smoky Slate (131179) Classic Stampin' Pad, Versamark (102283) Ink Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Festive Flurry Framelits Dies (132193)

Embellishments: Silver 1/8" Ribbon (132137), Frosted Finishes Embellishments (132150)

Gently Falling in Fall - PPA170 Color Challenge

Hello there and Happy Fall to you! Officially anyway...in my neck of the woods it was over 100 today and fall weather is still months away! Still...when the kids go back to school my mind automatically turns to decorating for Fall and Halloween (when we finally have some leaves and cool weather) and preparing for Christmas, but shhhh...we won't go there right now :)

Today I used a wonderful color combination from the design team over at Pals Paper Arts.

I love, love, love this combination and immediately had a card in mind for it...

 

What do you think? Hmmm...that Crushed Curry looks awfully BRIGHT to me! Well, this is what I came up with:

What do you think now? I'm lovin' it! I took the colors of the challenge and put them on top of a Sahara Sand card base. I chose to highlight Early Expresso and just use small doses of Midnight Muse and Crushed Curry. I used the Autumn Accents Bigz Die to die cut my leaves and then stamped onto the die cuts using the Wonderfall Stamp Set (and my trusty Stamp-A-Ma-Jig).

Once I started layering my elements onto the card I HAD to add the Woodgrain Background Stamp Set. Then I HAD to use the Stampin' Distress Tool to rough up the edges of the cardstock. Then I thought...maybe I can distress the leaves too? So I picked up the distressing tool and just kept right on distressing! I was so happy with the result...but wait, I wonder what it would look like if I sponged the edges??? Loved that too! So I kept right on sponging everything that would stand still :) 

I added some twine, but still...something was missing! So I looked and looked and found the new 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon from the holiday catalog and knew that was the missing element! I snipped and tugged at the threads until it looked right...and then realized that it HAD to be sponged too...lol. Whew! I thought the Early Expresso button with a twine bow was the perfect final touch. 

I chose not to add a sentiment so that this card would be ready at hand for whatever the occasion calls for...

So what about you? Are YOU ready for fall? Have you decorated? I think, after this card, the juices are flowing and it's time to dig into those decorations!

I hope you have enjoyed my post...thank you so very much for stopping by!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Wonderfall (128087), Woodgrain Background Stamp (128763)

Paper: Sahara Sand (121043), Early Expresso (119686) Cardstock

Ink: Sahara Sand (126976), Early Expresso (126974), Crushed Curry (131173), Midnight Muse (126860) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Autumn Accents Bigz Die (127812), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Stampin' Distress Tool (127562), Glue Dots (103683), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Stamping Sponges (101610)

Embellishments: Linen Thread (104199), Neutrals Designer Buttons (130031), 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon (132140)

August Pals Blog Hop - Holiday Catalog Favorites

Thank you for joining us for the August Pals Blog Hop. Even though it's only August we want to provide some inspiration for your upcoming holiday projects. This month's blog hop will showcase new products from the 2013 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. We hope you enjoy seeing how we use the new stamps, new punches and other accessories! 

You should have just left stop number 12 on the Pals Hop - Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range. If so, you are in the right spot.  If you get off track, the full blog lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.

Today I have a simple Christmas card to share with you:

The products in the Holiday Catalog really make creating handmade cards quick and easy! This card features a wonderful dove image from the Calm Christmas stamp set. I admit, when I first went through the catalog I passed right over this set. Several weeks later, no kidding, I work up in the middle of the night with an image in my head of this card stamped using the silver glitter also found in the Holiday Catalog. I got up and ordered the set...who am I to argue with inspiration, right?

In the end, because of the beautiful details in the dove, I chose to go with the new Silver Metallic Encore Pad, also found in the Holiday Catalog. It has SUCH a beautiful and elegant finish to it, I really, really love it! I also sponged the edges of the Island Indigo cardstock using the Silver Metallic ink, it just softens it up and adds a nice touch! A simple rhinestone adds a nice detail too!

A bit of linen thread showcases the absolutely beautiful Frosted Finishes Embellishment. These embellishments are a must have!

Here's one more angle to show off the sparkle of these embellishments! And please look at the pattern in the dove and then look at the pattern in the Winter Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper that I used to line the envelope with...they coordinate! How awesome is THAT?!? I can't say it enough, the coordination of Stampin' Up! products continually amaze me!

I am loving getting my Christmas cards early...have YOU started yet?

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Calm Christmas (132739)

Paper: Island Indigo (122923), Smoky Slate (131202) Cardstock; Winter Frost Specialty (132341) Designer Series Paper 

Ink: Silver (132142) Metallic Encore Ink Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stampin Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments:  Frosted Finishes Embellishments (132150); Linen Thread (104199)

The next stop is Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat, stop number 14 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting – and I hope to see you next month!

1. Colleen Mollema at My Crafty Habit
2. Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
3. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
4. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
5. Debbie Mageed at Secret Stamper
6. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
7. Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping
8. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
9. Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
10. Laurie Chilton at Stampin' Ink
11. Penny Nichols at Sierra Stampin!
12. Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range
13. Shannon Jaramillo at Ezpeasycards
14. Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat
15. Nancy Gleason at MyStampinSpace
16. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
17. Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons
18. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
19. Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine
20. Kerry Willard Bray at Stampgoodness
21. Brian King at Stamp With Brian
22. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
23. Kim Czenszak at Live Love Stamp
24. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
25. Michelle Gleeson at Stampin Mojo
26. Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works
27. Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
28. Lynn Kolcun at Stampin with Avery's Owlery
29. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin'
30. Martie Pollard at The Crafty Bandit