Change of technique

I dont' know why I always do this, but I changed my technique at the last minute.  Not literally the last minute, but I stayed up until 2 in the morning on Thursday to see if I could find something else that I really, really liked.  The grid technique was nice, and it does add something to a card, but I just didn't really love either card.  I always want my club gals to come and really like if not love the card that they are going to make.  So with all of this, I changed my technique at the last minute.  Here is the card (s) that we ended up doing.  I let them choose which one of the first two they would like to do,.

The colors on this card are Marina mist, Cajun craze, Old olive, and bashful blue.

 These colors are, Certainly celery, Pretty in pink, and Regal rose.

 Same  colors as above, just added Marina mist.

This card was awesome with all of the different things you did to make it.  A brayer, circle punches, different inks, just tons of fun to make!  All of the inspiration comes from none other than Dawn.  I should say these cards are totally cased from Dawn.  I used different stamps, and on the one card different colors, but it's all her.  I LOVE everything I see from her, and she's so good about having measurements written on her video's as it goes for the slower people like me who read better than I listen.  Anyhow, find her video right here.  Thanks to EVERYONE who shares their ideas so freely, I really really appreciate it all! 

Valentines cards using the Grid technique.

My technique group is getting together this Friday, so I have been doing some research and found a pretty simple technique.  It gives a great background look though.  It's as the Title says, The Grid technique.  I've never tried it before, so this was a first for me.   I found the technique here.  I loved the look of her cards, so I decided that I would case hers.  I just changed the colors on the first card and left out a layer, and used a different stamp set.  On my second card, I also cased her lay out, but again changed it up.  I don't like the second card I made as much as the first one, but I still think it was a fun technique to try, and I'll probably be doing it again.

 I used Elegant Eggplant ink (105210)paper (105126), Old Olive, ink(102277) paper(100702), and Melon Mambo ink(115656) and paper(115320).  I also used the scallop edge border punch,( 119882)the scallop circle punch,1-3/4" (119854) the 1-3/8' circle punch,(119860) and my wonderful Simply Scored Scoring tool.(122334)  LOVE IT!  The ribbon is melon mambo, (retired.)

Here's the inside of my card.  On this I used all the above colors, but used the Stampin write markers.  Elegant Eggplant (105110), Old Olive (100079), and Melon Mambo (121074).  Also, this is a sneak peak of a stamp set that is coming out in the new mini starting January 4th.  It's called Candy Conversations.  (125560)




Now for my next card, not my favorite, but also using the Grid technique.  As you can see, I'm really getting into the Valentines Day cards.  I got really tired of Christmas cards, so it's nice to be moving on.  I've got a couple more cards to share, but these two are the ones I made using the grid technique. 

I'd love to see what you guys come up with and also know what you think.  All comments are appreciated.  If you would like to order any of the supplies I used, please click the "Order now" button on the very top right and it will take you to my demonstrator website where you can order whatever you would like, or you can contact me on my demonstrator website if you would like to be the hostess and hold your own workshop, and learn this technique.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          demonstrated.                                                                                                                                                   

Lean on me...Mojo Monday challenge

In 8 days I will be having my technique night!  That means that I am working really hard now to find a "wow" technique and make a card using that technique.  Today I started looking around my craft room for ideas, and decided that I would use my new "Lean on me," stamp set and my new circle die.  I fell into a bit of a stump and thought I would look at some challenge blogs.   I decided that the challenge at  Mojo Monday would do very nicely.  I quickly set to work and this is what I came up with.

 Now, when I say I quickly went to work, I mean that, however, this card did not "quickly" come together.  I spent several hours trying to come up with the right combo of paper, stamp set, ink, colors, brads, ribbons.  It was a very hard card for me to do.  I have never done a scallop circle card, and really struggled with this one. 

As I was putting it together, I decided that I would just do the card and let it be what ever it became.  It ended up being a perfect card, but not for what I had initially set out to do.  I now still have to figure out a technique and a card to do for my Friday class, but as this card was coming together, I was thinking about my mom and my aunt who very suddenly passed away just days before Christmas.  (my aunt, not my mom).  I am very sad at our loss, but also worry about my mom, my aunt Janet was my moms younger sister, and one of her best friends.  She was always looking after my aunt, never letting go of the big sister role.   As I was trying to figure out which of my new stamp sets to use, I felt drawn to this "lean on me" stamp set, and as I  let everything come together, a beautiful card just emerged.  I will be sending this card to my mom tomorrow.  This stamp set reminds me of a picture I saw of my mom and my aunt when they were both very young.  I think it will be a perfect card to send to my mom just to let her know she's very loved.  Here's a closer picture of it.

I used the scallop circle die 113468 (IBC), the lean on me stamp set 122285 (C) and the 1 3/4 scallop circle punch (119854). (All in the IBC, Idea Book and Catalog.)  Then as a sneak peak for any of you who are not Stampin Up! demonstrators, I used several goodies from the sale-a-brations catalog.  I LOVE all of the FREE goodies Stampin Up! is offering this year during sale-a-brations.  If you don't know what that is please contact me, I would love to let you in on all the amazing details and goodies, and if you do, now is the time to sign up.  I've still got some open dates for workshops! 

As always thanks for stopping by!  I really love all of the kind words and support!  Thanks all!!

Christmas Journal

This month has been crazy busy!  I wish I had thought to take pictures of everything I made, but as usual I was running behind on everything and barely got the last of the gifts handed out on Christmas Eve.   So here's the pictures I did take.

These are the poinsettias that I made for the cover of the Christmas journals.  For these I used all 3 of my different sized oval punches, (the large, small and scalloped).  I used real red cardstock punched out the different sizes, and then used some scissors to add shape to the petals, (except the scalloped edged ones).  I then painted them with the cherry cobbler dazzling details, and let them dry.  Then I glued them to a circle, added the brad in the center and whalla.  It looked awesome!  You can't see it in the picture, but they are sparkly and very pretty.

I used the new Cherry Cobbler dazzling details.  (coming out January 4) to add some sparkle, and the Antique brads from the main catalog.  (117273)  They are on pg. 198 and are $5.95 for 4 each of 5 designs.  Gorgeous brads!

 On the inside front cover the poem said, "The tree comes down, Christmas is past, Use this book, To make Memories last, Record special moments, maybe a picture or two, unpack it each year, and remember a new.

I found this idea on accident while looking for something else, but loved it and had to do it for some Christmas gifts.  You can find the tutorial and all the details here.  In her search bar type in Christmas journal and it should take you right to it. 

I'm sorry for the delay in getting this posted.  I thought I had set it to automatically post, but it didnt' work.  So this might be one of those amazing ideas you tweak for another occasion such as a baby's arrival, or a wedding, or just save it for Christmas to roll around again.  Either way, I thought it was too good not to share.   Thanks as always for stopping by!


Okay, here's the direct link to the instuctions for this project.  Sorry, I thought the above one would be easy to find, but it turns out you'd have to hunt for it.  Any other questions, please let me know and I'll get to them as soon as possible. 

Packed for Dad

I have ordered a TON of stuff this month from Stampin' Up!  TONS!  So I decided that I have to try to make something using everything I have just gotten.  (not all at once though.)  I surfed the Internet today looking for blogs with challenges on them to help me get going.   I found a ton of them, but decided I would try the one at Pals Paper Art, you can find them by clicking this link.   http://www.palspaperarts.com/.  

I really struggle with masculine cards, so to really challenge myself I decided that I would use the sketch challenge and come up with a masculine card.

 Here's what I've used.  The "Packed for Dad stamp set. 125452 (It will be coming out in the new mini January 4.) 
Chocolate Chip paper 102128
 Island Indigo 122923
 More Mustard 100946
I used my brand new water color pencils 101879
the 1 3/4 circle punch, 119850
and the 1-3/4scallop circle punch. 119854

I of course had to use my big shot (113439) and add a little somethin to the Island indigo strip, so I used my square lattice embossing folder(119976).  I also used staz-on ink (101406), and the Island Indigo ink (122937). 

Oh, and almost forgot, I also used the  "Sprinkled Expressions"(125130) stamp set.  (It's also a sneak peak, this one from the Sale-A-Bration's catalog.)  In case you don't know what Sale-A-Brations is, with every $50 you spend, you get to pick something for FREE out of the sale-a-brations catalog.  (Going on January 24th-March 31st).  Great time to book your own show!  On top of all the great hostess perks, you get even more FREE goodies! (If your interested in booking a workshop, just scroll to the top of my blog, click on the "order stampin' up" button located on the right hand side and it will take you to my demo website where you can contact me, and get more info.

Stampin' Up! demonstrator site and online store

You've got to check out the Clearance Rack from Stampin' Up!  It's amazing.  Right now they have punches that are up to 80% off.  Remember, it's only while supplies last!   

Stampin' Up! demonstrator site and online store

Stampin' Up! demonstrator site and online store

I am very excited to say that I now have my own web site where you can order right on line, see what events are coming up, and get ideas!  Stop on by and take a look!  Stampin' Up! demonstrator site and online store