Mojo Monday 179 and Colour Q Challenge

So the following card is inspired from the sketch layout over on Mojo Monday ...

and the Colour Q challenge this week - however I did not have those exact colours so substituted Pacific Blue and Tempting Turquoise for my two blues and Certainly Celery for the green.

And here is my inspired card! Featuring a 2 1/2 scallop circle punch flower in Rich Razzleberry paired with a Pear Pizazz Glitter brad. Created homemade designer series paper using the Elements of Style in Versamark on the Tempting Turquoise and Pear Pizazz on the Whisper White.

Behind layers featuring Pinking Hearts Border on the Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Blue DSP and a some Certainly Celery ribbon and finished off with a few pretty pearl accents and the Life is a matter of moments sentiment!

Hope you enjoy it ... making it tonight felt like a little bit of spring to me!

MDS Waterc oloring - Scrapbook page

I am so loving the 'water coloring' effect with My Digital Studio ... the Elements of Style just seems the perfect stamp set to use so after my first attempt to do this with a card I was inspired to try it with a scrapbook layout ... a great way to spend the kids nap times - SO RELAXING ... and I still had time left to spare to upload it to boot - gotta love the ease of digital scrapbooking!

So this layout features the Elements of Style combined with the new Bliss stamp set which is available both in Digital Download AND traditional clear or wood mount stamps during the Sale-a-bration event until the end of March ... and of course some pretty Half Back Pearls and Glitter brad bling and a Ribbon bow to complete the look!

February Technique card

This month we worked with Metal for our technique class ... this is the technique card that participants made to practice heat embossing on metal ... using the heat and stick powder and glitter!

Close up of the embossed metal butterfly! These butterflies are so pretty with some rubbed alchohol ink to color them, with some pearl or rhinestone bling added and so forth ... so much you can do with the metal flashing and paper crafting!

MDS Watercoloring WOW!

I was over on My Digital Studio on my lunch break today when I was so totally inspired by a post by Cheryl Adams where she shared the following card .... I have had the Elements of Style stamp set for months and used it several times to make my own Designer Series Paper as a tone on tone background ... however I did not think we could 'watercolor' in the MDS program until I saw Cheryl's card and had the 'ah ha why didn't I think of that' ... and so I just spent my lunch giving it a go with this weeks Colour Q #71 challenge.

So here is my MDS Elements of Style watercolour inspired card for today ... featuring Crumb Cake aka Kraft, blushing Bride, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette and White!

I am not sure how exactly Cheryl did her watercolor image as there were no instructions at the time - but my 'guess' was that the watercolor trick was to use the Extreme Elements 'splash' image as your watercolor tool and just adjust the size and coloring shadings of multiple stamps to get the fill that you desired - at least that is how I accomplished it in my attempt!

This was so much fun - I will definitely be attempting with some of the other similar 'black and white' images to see if you can 'colour' them in - I think it looks awesome! Thanks again Cheryl for the inspiration!

Technique Tuesday classes - Wonderful Wheels

This month I had a request to show the Stampin' Around Wheels ... which was wonderful timing because in September both my upline and the Regional Conference I attended had showcased some new ways to think about the wheels!

The technique card we will be practicing on gives participants a chance to practice the 'framing' with the wheel.

Card number 1 ... I could not resist a little Halloween sample to show off the framing of the Stampin' Around Spiderweb wheel paired with the Wicked Cool stamp set and featuring Peach Parfait, Concord Crush colours.

Card number 2 showcases the Stampin' Around Wheel Very Vintage paired with the punch mask technique. Sentiment pairs the Perfect Punch stamp set sentiment and the Elements of Style sentiment which fit together layering perfectly with the Extra large and large Scalloped circle punches and 1 1/4 circle punch. Faux ribbon created with the Eyelet border punch and crimper. Colour combo is River Rock, Cherry Cobbler and Marina Mist with some pearls for bling factor!

Wrapping up Run for the Cure

Thank you to everyone who supported me in the Run for the Cure this year. In total between cash donations and fund-raising efforts I raised $340 for our team this year - not bad for my first effort.

Last count our team collectively raised over $3000.00 in total although there were some cash donation this morning still coming in ~ awesome effort Bold and Boobiful!

The winners of the Raffle Fundraiser that I organized were drawn today and I am pleased to announce that the winners are:

Gift Basket Winner - Beth Coxen
Level One Hostess Gift - Emily Stoltz
$20 in Free Stampin' Up Products - Susan Sutton

I will be doing my best to contact the winners this week to arrange for either pick up of their prize or choosing of their prizes so that I can order them for them for pick up!

Now on to the cutest little project we did this past week ... a little picture frame accent for a table or desk. Background is our Newsprint Designer Series Paper and than a glittery Beautiful Butterfly stamped with Elements of Style and coloured with our blender pens and than embossed the entire butterfly with Iridescent Ice to add some sturdiness, shine and BLING to the pretty little accent ... the photo never seems to catch the glitter factor!

Marvelous Magnets

Here are some more 'think pink for the Cure' themed offerings for the Run the Gibraltar Fair this weekend!

Using the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Doe as well as the Big Heart Punch I created some pretty funky fridge magnets and pins for interested customers!

The Butterflies are stamped with a number of different images and have some Dazzling diamond and Pearl accents to give them some awesome flair and all are sponged around the edges with Melon Mambo for that think pink touch! The backs have the 'Hope Ribbon' stamped on so people getting them as a gift know they are a Breast Cancer support pin.

So here is the display board for them ...

Here is the Heart to Heart magnet the back layer is covered with Dazzling Diamonds and the front is stamped with the Heart from the Hostess Set Punch Potpourri and some jazzy Rhinestone gems for bling factor.

Butterfly magnet number one is stamped with the swirls from the Priceless stamp set and adorned with some pearls and sponged on the edge with Melon Mambo and her wings are trimmed with Dazzling Diamonds!

Butterfly number two is stamped with the Elements of Style, sponged with Melon Mambo and covered in glitter and some pearls to accent her!

Butterfly number three is stamped in Certainly Celery with the floral vines from Vintage Vogue and has her wings sponged with Melon Mambo just a tiny bit of glitter and some pearls.

Butterfly number four is stamped with the Priceless vines centered around the 'Hope Ribbon' for those wanting to make a tribute to the Breast Cancer fight ... two little pearls accentuate her wings!

And or fifth butterfly is stamped with the En Fracias background stamp, sponged with Melon Mambo and edged with Dazzling Diamonds glitter and some mini pearls to accent her!

All of the pieces were then covered in Chrystal Effects medium to give them both the shine factor and the sturdiness to hold up as a pin or magnet.

If you are interested in purchasing a pin to help raise funds for Breast Cancer research come on out to the Gibraltar Market this weekend!

Stamp a Stack Samples

These are the cards we made at this months Stamp a Stack ... one of these months I am going to get ahead of the game to get them up and posted BEFORE the event ;)

This month we went with a Thank you card and Floral theme for the Stamp a Stack event making 10 cards 2 of each of the 5 designs.

A Medallion Thank you card featuring the rock and roll technique and a layered Fancy Flower punch.

A Fifth Avenue Floral generic all occasion card pairing our Oval punch with the new Decorative Label punch for the sentiment.

A quick and easy Upsy Daisy Vintage Thinking Of You card - with the classic colours of Red, Black and White.

An Elegant Lines paired with the Butterfly pansies for a nice Fall themed generic Just for You card.

Elements of Style water colouring card with a nice fall theme of pinks and yellows...guests had the option to colour one card with pink flowers and one with yellow or two the same.

Next months Stack a Stamp will be on Saturday October 16th 1 pm

Faux Glass Etchings

Had lots of fun today with some faux glass etching in preparation for the Run for the Cure fundraiser!

Would love some feedback on how they look and how much to charge for them - keeping in mind I need to recoup the cost of the glassware plus make something to donate to the Run?

Etched a cookie jar with the Inspired by Nature stamp set ...

Large vase with Believe and a Fairy stamp set ...not from Stampin' Up! but one of my favorite fairy series so could not resist doing her up on a vase...

Medium size vase with the Elements of Style stamp set ...

Small vase with Elements Style stamp set ...


A Fish bowl with Eastern Blooms stamp set...

A medium size vase with the Eastern Bloom stamp set ...

A candle votive with the Upsy Daisy stamp set ...

Match Bamboo holders with the Inspired by Nature Stamp set ...

Cookie plate with the Medallion stamp set ...

Another cookie plate trying a twist with White craft ink and embossing powder and the Inspired by Nature stamp set ...

A Rose by any other name

This is my first attempt at the 'Ornament Rose' .... it uses the Stampin' Up ornament punch and each ornament shape is sponged around the edges and than curled to give it the 3D look and than glued onto a 1/34 circle to put it together.

Actually a quick and easy flower to make although it turned out a little larger than I had anticipated it would - the Stampin' Up! tutorial called for 18 punched ornaments and I think I ended up using almost 24 by the time I was done - typical of my style though - why use only 18 when 24 will do!

I used my favorite ticket corner punch as well and than for the first time I was inspired to try and use a paper piercer to give a little dimension to my paper layer - what a lot of fun that is - very therapeutic relaxation for any women who has stress in their life ... I am thinking the paper piercer will be making more appearances on my cards!

And what about those dainty half back pearls? Do they not just give it that subtle elegance?

I stamped an envelope out of habit - but in hindsight I am thinking that this card would work awesome as a 'bow / gift tag combo' on a gift for someone special!

I am planning on making up some of these to sell for the 'Run for the Cure' fund-raising for our Bold and Boobiful team! You can check out more about the Run for the Cure here!

Bare with me :)

But I just have to share one more Greeting Card Kid card sample ... this one is technically supposed to be a 'Valentine' inspired stamp set - however the one thing I LOVE about the creative license of stamping ....you can change up the colours and accents and make a stamp set do whatever you want it to!

So this is a Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive inspired sending warm greetings for Fall card I created ... cause I am just not ready to be thinking about Valentines yet :)

More Halloween Cards ...

I am just totally loving this card set .... so much I could not wait for October to start playing with it! I love the water colouring - it is so relaxing and reminds me of simple times of being a kid and turning something plain into something spectacular :)

The sentiment and spider web are from a clear mount stamp set from another company purchased before I was addicted to Stampin' Up products ;)

Halloween colour inspirations used in this card are Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery and Basic Black.

Used the Elements of Style vines to mimic pumpkin vines on the Razzleberry paper layer.

Thank you Cards for the Salsa Moms

I have had the wonderful opportunity to be asked to donate to the gift bags for some new mommies who are signed up to take the Salsa Babies classes here in London.

So I thought what better than some nice hand stamped thank you cards for a busy new mom - so she can thank everyone who has showered her and the new babe!

I opted for some Pear Pizazz as my colour theme - as the nice soft green is a neutral colour fun for both sexes!

My first card features the Medallion Stamp and the Think Happy Thoughts Stamp set punched out with a 1 1/4 circle punch.

The second card here is the Forest Friends stamp set sponged with some pumpkin pie sun and pear pizazz grass.

No card collection would be complete without an appearance from my favorite Upsy Daisy stamp set and the Teeny Tiny Wishes Thank you stamp.

Card number 4 features the Elements of Style stamp set and the little accompanying bird for the envelope - as no envelope should arrive to the party naked!

Last but not least the little Bird Punch came out to play with the Thank you stamp from Perfect Punches stamp set.

And all 5 thank you cards were wrapped up in a little plastic bag and topped off with the Big Shot Top Note stamped in Elements of Style and held together with a little brad!

Click the link for more information on Salsa Babies

My Open House - a 'business warming' party!

WOW ... I had an awesome busy weekend so my apologizes for not posting on the blog this weekend.

I had my first open house 'business warming party' and my thanks to everyone who was able to come out to support me I had an awesome time and hope everyone else did as well!

We made two cards this is the first one featuring the Because I Care hostess stamp and showcasing the corner punch and ornament punch and colour spritzer tool - which rocks for making a 'antiqued' looking paper depending on the colour choices!

Our second card features the Elements of Style stamp set and showcased the ease of the Big Shot and the Daisies 2 bigz die as well as the ticket corner punch.

I wasn't sure how I was going to fit everyone into my little living dining room while still creating an 'inviting space' but I hope I pulled it off!

Even carved out a little niche for a card and project display for people to peruse to get inspiration on how Stampin' Up! products can be used to create wonderful unique cards!

And well not social gathering will be complete without some yummy food for sharing over great conversation and card making .... thanks again to family and friends for making my open house a success ;-)