Thursday, May 26, 2011

Kitchen reno continues

My apologies for not posting anything recently - the kitchen reno has been rather draining and sucking my creative juices out as well :(

Hoping it is finished soon and I can get back to a normal life and back in my craft room creating!

In meantime ...

Happy Stampin'
Margaret

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Kitchen reno offering

So sorry for going so long without a blog post - we are currently undergoing some home renovations that are consuming all my time and energy ... this is a card we made at our team meeting a few weeks ago ... I added some pearl and extra greenery at home to cover up some ink boo-boos - need to practice some more of that two step stamping technique - but gotta love embellishments cause they cover a world of misplaced ink!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Sketch Thursday 5.5 and Creative Scrappers 155

These are MDS creations for National Scrapbooking Month ... trying to get my album done before the end of the month to take advantage of the 30% off of printing through Stampin' Up and My Digital Studio Printing!

This first page was inspired by Creative Scrappers Challenge 155

I combined a couple of different features here to tie both pages together ... I used the Strength and Hope DSP on both and combined with the Beautiful Butterfly punch download which I than filled with multiple overlapping textured papers to create a sponged look to them and finished them off with the pearls!

On this page I also used the paper daisy download layered with drop shadows to give it the 'gold look' ... and I used a photo of one of their napkins that my Aunts made as my 'journaling'


This page is inspired from the Sketchy Thursday 5.5 Challenge...

I opted for three photos instead of two on my inspiration and used more of the paper to coordinate with the other sketch ... I just LOVE the many butterflies and how they turned out here ... so much I did not leave any room for journal area but well the photos speak for themselves here and I can add to the back the names of everyone once I print it out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stampin'
Margaret

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Sail Away

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Mother's out there in Stampin' blog world! Hope that you are all finding time to enjoy the wonderful sunshine and warm spring day we are finally having!

Here is another awesome offering from our recent team meeting swap - love this Sail Away stamp set in the new Summer Mini ... we this card we brayered the 'background sea scape' and than stamped the image with Staz-on and added some fine silver glitter to the waves with the two way glue pen - tip to anyone wanting to create this - make sure your brayerd layer is totally dry - cause I ended up with glitter stuck everywhere initially and it would not tap off until later!



Loving the new Bakers Twine as well - so pretty in real life and while it is awesome with the Nautical Themed products - great in so many other projects as well!

Happy Stampin'
Margaret

Saturday, May 7, 2011

May Swap Cards

This is one of the cards from our May Swap this month ... love the way the swirl from the Strength and Hope can be used as a border - I added a few more pearls and some paper piercing to the design Sheri has shared - just to give it a little bit of a unique me flare!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Happy Stampin'

Margaret

Friday, May 6, 2011

Cracked Frame

Card design number two from our Cracked Glass technique class.


This one used the En Francis Stamp set on the Certainly Celery background stamped with Versamark and Embossed with clear to add texture and distressed the edges with the Cutter tool.

Than using the Large Oval Bigz die we cut out the Watercolor paper and stamped the Because I care image with Staz On and than used our Watercolor Wonder Crayons to color in the Hydrangea and sponged around the edge using Soft Suede for a antique look.


Than we covered with Versamark and the Glassy Glaze emboss powder - now when I did it I only needed 3 coats - however the ladies in the class seemed to need 4 coats to get the 'cracking effect' so it must depend on how thick you can get your powder to stick to the Versamark and how much blows off?


To finish up the card we sponged Cherry Cobbler on the outer portion of the frame and adorned half back pearls to the frame portion and than added the Thank you sentiment with a few more coordinating pearls .... it really turned out to be a striking card and this technique was a huge hit with the group!
If you are looking for a fun night out - the Totallyawake4 Technique Tuesdays are a blast with some great company around the stampin table and lots of new and unique ways to use Stampin' products!

So come on out and join the fun - we would love to add another chair to the group ;)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Shattered Glass

This card was absolutely so much fun to make ... it is one of the ones from last nights 'shattered glass' technique class ... color combo of Marina Mist and So Saffron with some Beyond the Garden DSP.

Than using the large and extra large tag punches to frame out the Fabulous Floret stamp which was water colored with our Watercolor crayons and than had the shattered glass technique applied over top off all three.


Finally I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set with Basic Black ink on the Whisper White which I stamped with the Fabulous Floret image in So Saffron as a 'negative' to the DSP behind it and punched it out with the Designer Label punch and accented with the Hodgepodge Hardware - and of course some half back pearls for the bling factor!


I think it turned out really great ... also allowed me to use some products that I have not used in a long time - such as the Hodgepodge Hardware and the Tag punches!

Oh and I see SUN in these hear parts - we have had so much rain the past few weeks I am so excited to get outside with my kiddies and spend the morning at the park basking in the sun :)

Happy Stampin'
Margaret

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Fabulous Florets - Joy Fold

Just LOVING playing with this new Summer Mini set ... Fabulous Florets - which coordinate so nicely with many of our other sets as well to make endless possibilities for card designs!

If you are wanting to earn this set FREE now is the time to book a workshop to host in your home or mine with a few of your friends who love stampin or scrapping too!


Love the Whimsical Words sentiment set from last years Sale-abration ... fit in perfectly with this layout!

Only a few more days until Mother's Day - time to get those cards in the mail if you are not able to see your mother in person to celebrate!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Pretty Postage

Just a reminder that the Summer Mini Catalogue is now live - if you have not received yours in the mail and are wanting a peek click on the link on the right hand side of my blog and it will take you to the Summer Mini catalogue for you.

If you want to see some of the products in use I have my Summer Mini Stamp a Stack kick off being held on Friday May 13th from 6:30 - 9ish where we will be making 10 cards with 5 card different card designs.

If you are looking to earn free products and would like to host a workshop party in your home or mine just drop me a line I have a few spaces open on my calendar.



On to the card sharing .... this little set is so cute .... just love the simple elegance it can create ... this was a less than 5 minute card featuring the new Pretty Postage Stamp set and the Postage Stamp punch with the Small square punch done up in Night of Navy, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue inks and cardstock....the camera did not pick it up but there is scoring up the right side and on either side of the ribbon for some subtle texture.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your encouraging comments :)

Happy Stampin'
Margaret

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Fabulous Friend

This card was inspired by last Sundays - Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge ....

Although I did not get it uploaded to the blog in time to participate ... figured I would share it today cause it is a nice cheery card!

Featuring the Fabulous Florets stamp set which I tried out the new Wild Wasabi embossing powder on the leafy stamp - so pretty! I paired this with the Beyond the Garden DSP and the All Holidays Stamp 'My Kind & Wonderful Friend' for the Sentiment .... just love the way this turned out!


I also tried my hand at the 'double bow' to get the two toned blue and white bow and than finished it off with a nice big button - although I wish we had Pacific Point buttons cause I had to choose a Tempting Turquoise one which is not 'quite' the right shade!