Still Thankful

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Since I started this blog posting adventure with some Halloween cards, I thought it only appropriate to continue the fall holiday season schedule with a Thanksgiving card.

Stamps:  Gift Givers, Falling Leaves

Paper:  Sahara Sand, More Mustard, Bravo Burgandy, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Stripes Embossing Folder, Chocolate Dotted Ribbon, Square Scallop die, Curly Label Punch

Isn't that little turkey just the cutest?!  This card uses a fun technique.  You ink up the Stripes Embossing Folder (in this case with More Mustard), run it through the Big Shot.  Then ink it up again and turn you paper 90 degrees and run it through again.  It makes that adorable gingham pattern.  I did find out one thing while doing this with my club.  THere is a certain side of your embossing folder that you must ink up.  I inked up the wrong side and could not figure out why the ink was not transferring to the cardstock.  Decided to ink up the opposite side of the folder and... Voila!  Perfect!

And here is a bonus card for today.  Simply because it is fall looking and I don't know when else to post it.  :)

Stamps:  Lovely As A Tree, Woodgrain BG, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Sponge Daubers, Hemp Twine

The wood background technique was created by the ever amazing Jan Tink.  Check out her blog for details.  She explains it way better than I ever could.  In a nutshell, you stamp the Woodgrain BG stamp on Very Vanilla cardstock.  Then you rub the cardstaock with various color inks.  In this case, More Mustard and Chocolate Chip.  Then you stamp the Woodgrain BG in Very Vanilla, to make it all "pop".  I think I needed to add a little bit more color to my wood.  It's an awful pale looking shade of oak.

Wednesday I plan on starting "The 12 Days of Christmas" here at the old bloggo.  I'll show 12 different Christmas projects leading right up to Christmas day.  Although I really think the 12 Days of Christmas are supposed to start the day AFTER Christmas.  But I'm not a Christmas historian, nor do I want to find out the tradition behind the song.  It just makes for a good reason to blog for 12 days in a row.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Stamping!



Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #23

Hi Stamping Freinds!!

Fall has finally arrived in the Central Valley!!!  I actually could wear jeans this week.  And today I even wore "shoes" (that is anything with a closed toe, a.k.a., not flip flops!).  I love fall, so I was super excited to see the fabulous inspiration pics form the the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge.  My 5yo DS keeps asking when we are going to get out our "pumpkin patch" decorations.  After seeing these photos, I may have to do that this weekend.  If I can squeeze it in.  I was able to squeeze in a little stamping today, and actually made a card for the challenge (a little late, but it's least I got it in before the end of the day!).

FALLING LEAVES

Seems like every other card I'm making these days has a daisy or sunflower on it.  I love the daisy die for that.  I love the colors in the pics.  I chose to use Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, and Very Vanilla.  I added a few "falling leaves" with dimensionals.  I had to.  I stamped a little to aggresively on the top PP leaf and stmaped the edge.  I don't like messy stamping, so I had to figure a way to cover it up.  Remember, there are no mistakes in stamping... only reasons for extra creativity!  This fabulous sketch comes from my favorite online Stampin' Up! community... Stampin' Addicts.  Every Thursday they have a new sketch challenge.  This is last weeks sketch.  Come stop by and say hi.  It's a super friendly place.

I hope you are enjoying the start of the fall season in your neck of the woods.  Celebrate with me and play along with us this week at the Stampin' Celelbration Inspiration Challenge.  We would love to see your fabulous creations!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

How To Tuesday #3 Faux Marble

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well today is another "how-to" post.  This technique is called Faux Marble or the shaving cream technique.  I showed you this card last week:

I took some "how-to" photos while I tested out this technique.  I would have never done this technique myself, except I was challenged to over at my favorite online Stampin' Up! hangout, STAMPIN' ADDICTS.  They have different challenges posted each day of the week, and Tuesday is technique day.  I actually made two cards with this technique, since you can get two prints out of the shaving cream, before it turns into a big colorful mess.  Here's the second card I made, using the same colors and layout:

And here's the "how-to" photo (I know, I'm so old school, but video ain't happenin'!) tutorial:

Gather your supplies:

SU! Glossy Cardstock

SU! Reinkers

Shaving Cream

Pan

Skewer

Paper Towels

Spray shaving cream into your pan.  At least an inch thick.  I may have gone a little overboard.  You know what they say... if a little is good, alot is even better!  :)

Smooth out your shaving cream.  I just used a scrap of cardstock to smooth it.

Drop ink onto the shaving cream.  Again, not sure if you need this much.  You'd probably get a totally different look if you used less ink.

Using the skewer, swirl your ink around.  Again, I think I may have swirled a little too much, as the colors started to get kind of muddied.  I kept thinking that the entire shaving cream surface needed to be covered in ink, but I think some white shaving cream showing would have been just fine.

Once you have the desired look, press your glossy cardstock onto the shaving cream surface.

Your cardstock will look kind of yucky at this point.  I thought I had ruined it for sure! 

Now use your paper towels to dab off the excess shaving cream.  Be sure that you do not rub it off, as you will only smear your ink and loose the marble effect.  Just dabbing up and down will work.  You may use quite a few paper towels for this step.

And here is the finished product, ready for you to use on your creation!  I will definitely try this technique again.  I plan to experiment a little more with different colors of reinkers.

Again, here are the two cards I made:

On the Trendy Trees card, you may notice some dots amongst all that swirl.  I thought it would be fun to first emboss the Glossy Cardstock with the Polka Dot background stamp.  I just used Versamark ink and Clear Embossing Powder.  Its fun to see how two cards using the same layout and colors can look so different. 

Yesterday I forgot to post what I was thankful for, since it is Thanksgiving week here in the U.S..  So today I get to say two things... I am so grateful for my wonderful hubby (yea I am blinded by your awesomeness and attractiveness!) and my three fabulous kids.  My life would be incomplete without them.  Each of their unique qualities makes our family what it is.  I am so thankful that God has given me the gift of being your wife and mom.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Keepin' It Simple!

Hi Stamping Friends!

My double challenge card today falls into the Clean and Simple category, also known as CAS.  This means it is not super fancy, doesn't have a ton of layers, and doesn't require twelve million tools to accomplish.  This is just simple stamping.  The sketch comes from the gals over at Stamping 411 SSC123 and the color combo is from the divas over at Diva Coffee Break Designs DCBD152.  Here's the details of the challenges:

And here's my card:

The card base is Creamy Caramel layered with Always Artichoke.  The stamp set is Falling Leaves, which I think makes wonderful CAS cards.  The design is very clean and modern.  The leaves are stamped in Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel and Always Artichoke.  The sentiment is stamped in Bravo Burgandy. The grograin ribbon is Bravo Burgandy.  After looking at this card again, I wish I would have stamped the middle leaf in Ruby Red and the other leaf in Creamy Caramel.  I think it would have had a little bit more draw to it.  Oh well!  It's still good enough to send to our Music Ministry Director and tell him how much he is appreciated!

Falling Leaves  #115368  $21.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Quadruple the Challenge...

Quadruple the fun!

Hi Stamping Friends!
Yes, you read that right!  Today I have card for you that consists of FOUR challenges!  I don't think I've ever been able to combine that many challenges into one card before.  I combined a sketch, color, technique and style of card challenge.  Here's where I got all my inspiration:  The sketch came from the Diva Coffe Break Design blog DCBD151.  The color challenge came from the ColourQ blog CQ4 (which I just realized I'm late in posting to, bummer!).  The technique is called Polished Stone and comes from the Tuesday Technique Challenge Tech31 at my favorite online hangout, Stampin' Addicts.  And finally, the challenge this week over at the Yahoo Group, Late Night Stampers, is to make a masculine card.  Here's the sketch and color challenge images:

I had a difficult time with this sketch.  There are so many elements to it.  I loved this color combo, but again, there are quite a few to work with.  I FINALLY got the Trendy Trees set (yes, I know I'm completely behind on this one!), so I just had to use it, even though it's not the most masculine thing out there.  I think it works though.  Here's my card:

I really had fun trying the Polished Stone technique and was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out.  I did end up with extremely inky fingers, since I soaked my cotton pad in too much alcohol.  I do think I will try this with my club gals though.  It's one of those techniques that sound messy, until you try it.  The card base is Bravo Burgandy layered with Old Olive that is embossed with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate.  The trees are stamped with Really Rust, Taken With Teal and the middle one is Old Olive with touches of Burgandy, Rust, and Teal.  The Hemp Twine helps to give it a more masculine look.

Trendy Trees  #113258  $17.95

Perfect Details Texturz Plate  #115962  $3.95

Remember to stop by my online STAMPIN' UP! store for all your crafting and gift-giving needs!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Late Night Sketch Challenge

Hi Stamping Friends!

I have another card for you today.  And yes, it's another double challenge card.  Aren't they all?!  :)  This sketch layout comes from my favorite online stamping social hangout: Stamping Addicts.  This sketch is Sketch Challenge 32 SASC32.  I love it because it is clean and simple and I don't do enough of those kinds of cards.  The color challenge is from a stamping Yahoo Group called LateNightStampers.  Here's the challenges:

Here's my card using the Falling Leaves set:

Like I said, clean and simple!  Wasn't sure what to do with the bow.  I attached it using Glue Dots, but I usually like to tie it on somehow.  Maybe I should have punched some holes and threaded it through.  But that's what you get when you are trying to finish up two challenges late at night!

Check out this week's deals from Stampin' Up!  Contact me if you want to place an order.

Pirate Party Kit  reg. $15.95  SALE 9.99

Princess Party Kit  reg. $15.95  SALE $9.99

Falling Leaves  #115368  $21.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

(p.s.this post was for Monday, but my interenet has been out.  Sorry!)

Deal Of The Week and Hostess Club Fun!

Hi Stamping Friends!

It's time for another Deal of the Week from Stampin' Up!  Here's what they are offering this week:

Basic Jumbo Grommets
#114348
reg. $6.95
SALE $4.49

Mini Library Clips
#109857
reg. $12.95
SALE $8.99

Circle Designer Brads
#122571
reg. 5.95
SALE $3.99

1/2" Library Clips
#112581
reg. 6.95
SALE $3.99

SHOP 24/7 AT MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE

I will be placing an order on Friday if you are interested in taking advantage of these great bargains.  Contact me today!

I had so much fun with my Mystery Hostess Club on Sunday.  I thought I would show you the three fabulous projects that we made.

First up the card that set the stage for the other two projects.  We learned the Faux Silk technique which is really easy and a lot of fun.

I used the samples in the October Stampin' Success (a demo only mag from SU! another great reason to become a demo!) as my inspiration, as well as a card from JosannaP that I saw on SCS.  The colors are Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango.  The stamp set we used is called Falling Leaves. The panel is embossed using the Weave Texturz Plates.  I used the Hemp Twine as embellishment, because I think it looks rustic and fall-ish.

Here's the matching candle:

We used the Bright Blessings Jumbo wheel and the Falling Leaves stamp set for this project.  I picked up the pillar candles from our local Dollar Tree Store.  The wrap is made using Crushed Curry cardstock.

The final project is a little box using the Matchbox die:

The box is made with Chocolate Chip Textured cardstock.  The tag is punched with the Curly Label Punch.  The sentiment is from the Falling Leaves set.  See the little Mini Library Clip?  Isn't it cute?!  Don't forget to get them on sale this week!  The ribbon is our Polka Dot Grosgrain in Crushed Curry.  I think this would make an adorable place card for Thanksgiving.  You could replace the Grateful sentiment with each name of your guest.  The best part is that it fits four Hershey's Nuggets inside.  And who doesn't need a little chocolate after eating all that fowl?!

Falling Leaves  #115368  $21.95

Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel  #115626  $8.50

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!