Close up on the details

These are close ups on the centerpieces of the scrapbooks. I stamed the large flower from Looks Like Spring and then masked it, after that I stamped the fourishes from Priceless for a background. The great part is that I only had to cut out one mask. The name plates background is from Priceless.

Stamp Sets: Priceless, Looks like Spring, Letterpress Alphabet, Rough edges Alphabet
Cardstock & Paper: Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Spring Flowers and Spring Showers Double sides paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana
Accessories: Spring Bouquet punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

These are some 8 x8 scrapbooks I altered for my sister's young women's group in Switzerland. They are some gifts that she will be giving them when she leaves. I personalized them but left off the name plates so she can match up the books to the girl's personal stlye.

Finished the Bracelets!

Here is the latest and greatest of the bracelet collection. I'm sad to see
themgo so far away, but alas I hope the recipients will love them too. Which color combo do you like best?

Green and Pink
B&W
Green and Blue
Red and Yellow (and turquoise)
Greens
Rainbow
Turquoise and Brown
Sunny Yellow

I got the Loot!

I won blog candy from The Pink Stamper and I just got it yesterday. When it's all laid out there is so much there! I'm excited to break some of it out and use it. (I'm posting a picture when I get home.) Thanks so much Robyn!! The card is so beautiful can I say more?

Priceless a la Double Vanilla

Last week I got my first order from the new catalog. Some of the things I ordered were things I've been meaning to order for a long time. I got the Priceless classy brass template and the empressor stylus (for dry embossing). I already had the other stylus. So I was playing around with it last week. I have some customers that want to learn this technique and I am practicing. So you will probably see a lot of dry embossing for the next month. The Dry embossed part in this card is the silver flower. First I stamped it with the Silver Encore ink and then matched it up with the template, then embossed it. The silver ink tends to rub off a bit so I used my Painty pen to fill in the spots that weren't totally shiny.

The background was made with the "Double Vanilla" technique from Technique Junkies. I can't print the directions but if you are in one of my groups I can teach it in a class.

I also just have to mention that I love the new ribbons that Stampin' Up came up with for this catalog! The textures are wonderful.

Stamp Set: Priceless
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Ink: Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Encore Silver
Accessories: River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon, Priceless Classy Brass Template, Empressor Stylus, Stampin Dimensionals, Painty Pen

This is the other necklace going to Switzerland. I tried to make them "different" since the ladies are in church together. I used greenish hued beads that complemented the darker areas of the turquoise. The funny thing about this is that since I put the magnetic clasp on these necklaces, I just attached them to my fridge for the pictures.

Another convention Swap

This is the other version of the card I did last week. I decided to go for a more subtle polka dot by dry embossing the background CS and also adding a scallop at the bottom with the edge of my Priceless brass template that part is a little hard to see. I used regular water with the aquapainter and two shades of yellow: so saffron and barely banana for the background. I used the almost amethyst and ballet blue crayons for the elephant and added a little pink for the cheek. I just love this little elephant!!

Stamp Set: Year After Year
Card Stock: Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter,
Priceless Classy Brass Template, Empressor Stylus, Dimensionals

Jewelery for my Sister

My sister asked me to make
a couple of necklaces that had the southwestern flavor. This usually isn't my style but I guess in Switzerland that style is unusual. So two very lucky Swiss ladies will receive these limited edition necklaces made by yours truly.

Convention Swaps

If you're going to convention look for these swaps I'm sending with my friend and fellow demonstrator Monica. I got the idea from Kari on Splitcoast Stampers. This idea was just really fresh for this set and I just had to use it. Good job. I ran out of my Soft Sky card stock and so I made a couple in Pretty in pink and I just love the combo with the Kraft. The ribbon is hand dyed since I didn't have anything that coordinated yet.

Stamp Sets: Pick a Petal, Hugs & Wishes
Card stock: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink, Kraft, Shimmery white (with the flowers)
Ink: White craft, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red
Accessories: Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Horizontal Slot Punch, Cutter Kit, Spring Flower Bouquet punch, Micro beads (Center of flowers), mini glue dots

Baby Elephant

Another case of mine from this weekend. This time it was from the Fall preview guide. I changed the bottom of the card to be scallops made from my slit punch. I colored in the image with my watercolor wonder crayons and painted with the aquapainter filled with Future. I'm making this for a swap for convention using a different color scheme. I think I will try watercoloring with just water on my next try.

Stamps: Year After Year
Card Stock: Orchid Opulence, Only Orange, Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black, Watercolor wonder crayons
Accessories: Slit Punch, Stampin Dimensionals, 1/2" circle punch, aquapainter

I've been casing

How could I pass up the opportunity to case this beautiful card? I found the inspiration on Splitcoast Stampers of course. The original was made by Lindsi. I just had to have one of my own. It was just such a good example of spotlighting. I couldn't find my Coluzzel cutting tool so I had to make the circles all by myself. Gasp. But really, there is something to be said for having a template and being able to use it.

Stamp set: Pick a Petal
Card stock: Whisper White, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black
Ink: Stazon Black, Orchid Opulence watercolor wonder crayon, Neutral water wonder crayons
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Designer Brad, Corner Rounder


So next I took the idea of the flower card and thought it would work great with the pumpkin in Year After Year. Actually any of the images in that set would be compatible with this idea.

Stamp Set: Year after Year
Card stock: Whisper White, Only Orange, Basic Black
Ink: Stazon Black, Only Orange, Pumpkin Pie, More mustard watercolor wonder crayons, Neutral water wonder crayons
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Tangerine Grosgrain, Decorative Scissors

My Husband calls. Stay tuned for more casing I did on tomorrow's post.

Blessed

This is one of the pages I made with my scrapbooking
club back in February. It's hard to see on the lettering but
we used the kissing technique on the title.
The swirls are embossed with the now discontinued
Old Olive ep. And the flowers are embossed with the
discontinued copper ep. (Sniff) We also made our own
Old Olive brads by embossing them.

Stamp Sets: Doodle This, Office Accoutrement
Card stock: Not Quite Navy, True thyme, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Versa Mark, True Thyme, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery

Closer look

I tried uploading this with the other post but for some reason
it wouldn't let me. Here is a close up of the dress stamped with the
glossy white card stock with apricot appeal sponged around the outside.

Bridal Card

I saw this idea a while back and loved it, so I just had to case it.
I found I got more contrast by stamping and embossing on Apricot Appeal
then sponging in the white ink than stamping on the white glossy and sponging on
the Apricot Appeal. What do you think?

Close Up

This is the close up of the card.

Challenge

I did this card for Beate's card challenge for the Joy Fold card. I've seen this card before but I forgot that it existed!
I needed one more card for a make and take and this was created.

Stamps: Zoofari, Double line Doodles
Inks: River Rock, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Card stock: River Rock, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Groovy Guava

Sweet Girls

I made this page a couple of months ago. The hostess wanted new ideas for ribbon. It's hard to tell in the picture but
the pink "card" is inside of a cello bag that is trimmed to fit.
Card stock: creamy caramel, regal rose, tempting turquoise, and cool carribean.
Ink: Close to Cocoa, regal rose and cool carribean.

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Busy Busy Busy

This week has been crazy! I've had a lot to do but I've also accomplished a lot as well. I am currently working on make and takes for my retired stamp sale and also concocting some fun door prizes as well. When it's down to the wire though I work the best.

Sculpted Metal

Another jewelry creation. This uses copper wire and a lot of beads.
This particular color combo is very popular. Out of all of the bracelets I have sold this one
sold the most by far.

My First Tag

So I guess I'm "IT". I was tagged by StampOwl, a very talented lady from Down Under. Definitely check out her blog there are so many great ideas posted.

List Seven Random things about yourself:


1. I have a tendency to carry on an internal conversation aloud, but usually in the middle of a thought. (My husband loves this about me.)


2. I get the urge to clean at completely inappropriate times. ie 11 PM or when I should be leaving somewhere.

3. I didn't want to get into stamping because I knew I'd like it too much.

4. I am a sucker for buying my kids "just one thing" at the store.

5. I collect hobbies. Someone could probably stay busy for a solid year on the supplies I have stashed in my office.

6. I concentrate better if I sit on the floor. I stamp, cut, organize, bead, paint all of it while sitting.

7. I love trying new things, they never scare me.

Choose Seven people to Tag:

1. Allison

2. Stampin' Fun

3. Stamping Therapy

4. Twisted Chick Creations

5. Misti Stamps 4 Fun

6. Alli Stamps

7. Oceans of Love

Post Rules & the bloggers I tagged here

Leave tagged bloggers comments on their web sites so that they know they have been tagged

Looks Like Candy

This is my latest jewelry creation. I just love it! When I wear it I just feel cheerful.

Libray Card Pocket Book

click on individual photos for more detail

I made this book this weekend, it doesn't have all the pictures added or the inserts but I am really happy with the way it turned out. I used my new Baroque Motifs stamp set, whisper white, chocolate chip, and Sahara Sand ink, white embossing powder, Kraft, very vanilla, and chocolate chip card stock. The cover is made with the Au Chocolate paper (which is unfortunately unavailable now but it comes in Cerise and Charbon). There are inside pockets designed after the pockets in library books, that you can see in the upper right hand corner. With this element you can put pictures inside or use them for journaling slots or keep ephemera inside as well.

The New Catalog Year

Today is the first day of the new Stampin' Up catalog!! There are so many of the old things we will miss but I am so excited for all of the new accessories and stamps featured in the new catalog.

We have a new In Color set, and plenty of patterned papers that will keep us all busy through the end of the year.
Here are pictures from my most recent swap.


These first two are by yours truley, the layout was inspired by someone on Splitcoast Stampers and slightly modified. The first one features Double line Doodle stamp set, Rose Red and chocolate chip classic ink and Very Vanilla and Rose Red card stock. The second one uses kraft card stock as the background color.




















This card is by Karen who I am always amazed at her eye for design. The stamp set is Baroque Motifs and the colors are River Rock, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip and white glossy card stock. She used the stamp and write markers to stamp the image in two tone.








This card also features the Baroque Motifs stamp set and the letter C is from the chipboard Simon Lower. She used So Saffron, Soft Sky and Groovy Guava. A great idea here is Jenn used her chipboard negative space as a stencil to make multiple copies of the same letter. card by Jenn.















This set is Year after Year and the paisley is from Double line Doodle, by Monica. I love her use of color, the black outlines make the colors pop.