Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Sympathy Card

I have to be honest....when I looked at the new SU catalog, I wasn't really that impressed. I was actually pretty disappointed....but when I flipped through this was definitely one of the few sets that caught my eye. I didn't love the bird at first, but then it kind of grew on me.

I had to make a sympathy card for a friend who just lost her baby at 33 weeks. This is what I came up with. I used Always from SU and Mixed Messages from PTI. The color combo is Perfect Plum and Barely Banana. Before I started stamping I used my wizard nestabilities to cut a window out of the barely banana to make a frame. I used the largest rectangle from the classic set. Then I used the next to the largest scalloped rectangle to cut out the center portion and also embossed it (that is such a cool feature! - I hope you can see the embossing). Then I stamped my border of vine and berries in mellow moss and my sympathy wish in perfect plum. The bird is stamped on tracing paper and then attached with brads. Then I added the ribbon in moss to finish it off. I didn't photograph the inside (because, well, I had already written out my message - doy!) But, I stamped this saying "Someone remembers, someone cares. Your name is whispered in someone's prayers" from Everyday Blessings in the inside. (Have I talked you into that set yet? *wink*) =) That's all for today. Happy Stamping!

Monday, February 25, 2008

Life is just a bowl of cherries....

I have been coveting this stamp for months...many many months. Let me first say that I love Ellen Hutson. She is the sweetest most wonderful lady and we as stampers are so lucky to have her. She spends hours researching things like, which copics match the SU color line and then designs products to fit our needs. She is always on the cutting edge and get this...she always...always....sends a personalized little stamped thank you note with your purchase. How can you not love that? Am I gushing yet? Anyway, if you haven't checked out her store or her blog, you should take a couple minutes and do that. This darling cherry stamp is from her. As Em would say - "Do you lovey?"

I definitely lovey! I stamped the cherries in Palette black ink (PTI) and then watercolored them using real red and certainly celery for the leaves. I watercolored the colander using sahara sand and basic grey on watercolor paper. I punched the image out using my mega scalloped punch from Marvy Uchida and then backed it with a giga punch in real red. (You can buy these from PTI) The ribbon is from Jody's ribbon share awhile back. (I am sure she will have another one! While you're over there, check out that stinkin' cute basket. Get outta town. Love her!) Then I used my slit punch and repeated punching along a strip of paper to create a scalloped piece. I dotted it with my galaxy pen in white and then added the dashed ribbon (again from Jody). I am not sure you can see the embossing in the photo. But, I tried something new. I had a set of circle cuttlebug folders (set of 4) and I took one and embossed it several times to create a background. I liked the way it turned out....so I will probably try it again. I jsut realized my watermark is over the saying which is from Mixed Messages and says "Enjoy the moment" in case you can't see it, stamped in certainly celery. Hope you enjoy!

Happy stamping!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

I have been stamping....really I have....

So, I know I drift off into la-la land once in awhile, but I have been stamping....really. Last weekend I had a crop and between the gum smackin' I actually got almost one page done. HA! Until I found out that apparently ultra sound pictures fade if you just glue them in. CRAP! So that led to internet searches on how to preserve your ultrasound pictures which led to mulit-lingual cursing (yes I can curse in several languages....what a gift...I know!) but this is the answer I found. For those of you wanting to scrapbook your ultra sound photos (sadly I am doing mine from over 3 years ago....better late than never right?) this is what I learned. You must scan your photos into your computer and then print them out on photo paper. Sounds simple right? Unless you have your studio and computer setup on two different floors and three children attached to your legs during most hours you are functioning. Did I mention that the twins are weaning themselves from their nap. Great news....NOT! So, I am not sure how much stamping that will be recognized as actual "stamping" will be happening in the very near future. Anyway, I digress. I hope that some of you read this blog for my witty banter....if not...you must be really bored. =) So, last week....I got my new Paper Trey. If you haven't heard of PTI, where have you been? Under a rock or something? I have been told that I am a very good enabler....so if you haven't mosied on over there yet....I recommend that you go right after you read the rest of this post. =) They have recently come out with some glorious stamp sets and added several designers to their team. They just celebrated their one year anniversary - I can't believe it's only been a year.

So....I have in my hot little hands....new paper, new ink, new ribbons and two new stamp sets. I have made a couple of cards, let me know what you think. This is with the new Everyday Blessings set. I fell in love with this set the minute I saw it. I think it is just perfect for Easter, weddings, sympathy and the sayings you could use any time. I have used the new aqua mist color combination for the paper, ink and the polka dot ribbon. The ribbon is awesome (says the addict). I just want to lay with it and feel the love. (okay maybe that's taking it a little far?!?!?!) I embossed the swirly whirs in the corners and the saying in gold. Stamped another swirly whir square on the background in the aqua mist ink. Added stickles to the cross and voile...done. The bow was kind of fun on this one. I tied it in a not and then took the two ends and taped them to the back before I attached the ivory to the aqua mist. Stay tuned for more cards this week. I am meeting with my stamping friends tomorrow....so that should be fun. However, I still need to figure out what I am taking. YIKES! Procrastinator, procrastinator....I know. Happy Stamping!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

One more quick thing....

Two posts in one day...can you believe it? I nearly fell off my chair myself....ha! I whipped out these cute little bags for the teachers and aides for the boys. We will deliver them tomorrow. Thought I would share. The bags are from Paper Trey Ink (you can stop rolling your eyes now!) I used the Love Matters set (retired SU) and stamped little hearts in Real Red, Regal Rose and Pink Passion. I stamped the "love" in black stazon and colored it with my Pink Passion marker. I punched it out with my mega rectangle scalloped punch and then mounted it on a piece of pretty in pink punched out with the giga scalloped punch. The punches are by Marvy Uchida and you can buy them lots of places, I bought most of mine at....guess where...Paper Trey Ink. It took less than 30 minutes to whip up four of them. The ribbon is glued on under the word. Saves ribbon and easy fix. If you're out there and reading this....do me a favor and leave a comment. Let me know if you would like to see more or less of something or if you have any ideas for tutorials or things you would like to see.

Happy Stamping!

You still have a few days before Valentine's Day....

So, as you may know by now....I am a procrastinator. Not normally by choice, but usually because I have multiple speed bumps on my way to the bunker (in the name of small children living in this house). Adorable as they may be....they often lead to me running around at the last minute to get things done. So....here are some remaining valentine cards. I finally got them in the mail from Loveland (big deal if you live or have lived in Colorado) because the DH had a job up there this morning. Lucky break. =) Maybe you haven't mailed or made your valentine's yet (hoping I am not alone) and these will give you some inspiration.

First up is the gift the twins gave to their classmates yesterday for their valentine exchange. They don't have school tomorrow because of Parent Teacher conferences. (for 3-year-olds, really? maybe I will save this for another post.) Needless to say I was whippin' these suckers out (at the count of 10) on Sunday night. Totally missed Brothers and Sisters, but thank God for tivo. Anyway, I hate to give out a bunch of candy because everyone else does and because I really really really don't like paying the dentist a bunch of money to fix holes in my kids teeth which are bound to fall out anyway. (sorry Dr. B!) So, I made up these little matching games and packaged them in the takeout boxes. I love these little boxes, but Stampin' Up! in their infinite wisdom, decided to discontinue all the boxes - but I'm not bitter or anything. =) I am sure if you did a search you could find them elsewhere on the web or find the pattern at least. They have the pattern here and I bet you could whip them out in a jiffy with a Scor-Pal (really really want one). Sorry, most of this is retired, but it was all I had that was the right size. I used Very Punny from Sell-a-bration last year. I stamped the images in stazon and colored them with my SU markers and did a little watercoloring on the fish because the Turquois looked too dark. I then punched them out with my 1 3/8" circle and backed them with the coordinating color punched out with the SU scallop punch. Sounds quick until you multiply by ten. Background/marker colors are as follows: Orchid Oppluence, Green Galore, Close to Cocoa, Pretty In Pink, Tempting Turquois, Summer Sun and Real Red. I typed the note out for the box on the computer and attached it with a red brad using my cropodile. (Mine's pink because I like pink better, but they also come in green.)

I think I was getting burned out on Valentine's by the time I got to the boys' cards....I just couldn't get my brain going. Anyway, this is what I came up with. The love bug is from Olive You (retired) and the background heart is from All Through The Year (current). Stamped on Paper Trey Ink white paper (they're coming out with new colors did you here?) Then I added the plaid strip to the side (unknown) and stamped the bug again in Stazon. I use stazon because it doesn't tend to run if I watercolor or use my markers. I punched him out with my Giga Scallop punch from marvy uchida and then backed him in real red and gable green. I added the googlie eyes....because let's face it....kids love googlie eyes. *chuckle*


This little cuties was simple and fast. I used some of the Heidi Grace paper that I received from my contest winnings (love free stuff) and it is actually raised which you can't really see in the picture. Very cute. I added a piece of wide grosgrain ribbon and then punched a heart out with my smallest heart punch and stamped it with "be mine" from Fancy Flexible Phrases in black. I used my pink stickles to dot the edges. (Note....do this after the whole card is assembled...trust me on that one.) I also added a little blingy heart to the hanging heart which I found at Michael's on clearance in the jewelry department. The base of the card is sahara sand which I stamped with Simply Said in real red and regal rose. I used my galaxy glitter pen in pink to add some dots and texture and my white galaxy pen to outline the heart in the middle with dots.


I used Paper Trey's set Green Thumb to make this card. (I bought this set because of the boot...ridiculous I know...but I have grown to love all of it!) I stamped the strawberries in real red and the tops are glorious green on PTI white cardstock (it's my favorite). The "love you" is from the set SU sold last year for the American Heart Association A Light Heart again in real red. I used the "thank you berry much" stamp from the Green Thumb set and colored only the "berry much" with my marker and stamped it. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. The chipboard "L" is from Joann and I covered it in Glorious Green Craft and embossed it in irridescent ice. The whole thing is mounted on real red. Voile!

My favorite valentine card that I made. For the DH. I used the Wild About You set. The card base is wild wasabi. The heart is created out of two leaf petals from the Blossoms and Basics chipboard set. I sponged them with Purely Pomegranate ink and then glued them together with a glue stick to make a heart. I don't know about you....but I am always looking for new ways to use the massive amounts of chipboard I have accumulated. I again used my small heart punch and punched out a scalloped heart in Pretty In Pink and added Be Mine in Pomegranate. I used my pink stickles around the edge. The rectangle was cut out using my new spellbinders nestablities(insert giddy here) and embossed the same way. Not sure if you can see the embossing but if you click on it you should be able to see it. The ribbon below that is the satin pomegranate from the last mini catalog. I added a little bow in the pink gingham that I adhered with a glue dot. The alligator is from Wild About You. I stamped him in Wasabi and then cut him out. I added a little prima flower to his mouth with a jewel in it and wire for the stem. The head in the corner is partially covering my prima flower with a heart jewel in the middle (again from Michael's). The head is courtesy of my helper. How can you be mad at that? Here's a picture with no head in it. Not as fun huh?

That's all for now. Thanks for reading and happy stamping!

Monday, February 4, 2008

Have I mentioned....

....my severe love of Paper Trey Ink? Well, if I have and you don't want to hear about the ULTRA SUPER FANTASTIC EXCITING things going on over there....stop reading now. (please don't) =)

You will never believe it (insert me peeing my pants) they are bringing on 5 new designers to release stamps along with Nichole every month. These ultra talented ladies are going to blow us away....I have that much faith in them.

The first designer, Melissa Bickford, unveiled her very first stamp set sample today. Take a mosie on over and check it out and look at Nicholes Sample Here.....(but then come right back k?)

Do you not LOOOOVVVVVEEEE it? Those swirly wirly flowers and the cute stems and and and.....I think I am in Love. And this is just day one. Get outta town....I am sooooo in trouble.

That's all for now....just had to plug my friends over there at PTI. Hope you will enjoy what's coming out and can't wait to get my hands on some of those stamps and show you girls some purty stuff. Hope you are well and warm.

Happy Stamping!
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