CAS Sympathy- Two Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers! 

What a whirlwind of a week for me!!   I had the opportunity to meet and make a new stamping friend, spaghetti dinner at a very nice restaurant with our 5^th and 6^th grade Awana book award winners and of course, my full-time accounting job but I managed to squeeze in a few moments to stamp (thanks to a very understanding hubby!)!!

This week my good friends at The PaperPlayers have the PP96 Challenge to use "Polka Dots in a Clean and Simple (CAS)" project.  CAS is not my normal style since I tend to “overwork” things but I do like the style and will keep trying!!  I decided to combine the PP96 Challenge with the Splitcoaststampers SC386 Sketch.

I thought that since we are headed into Memorial Day weekend that a sympathy card would be appropriate.  I know that many of us celebrate this weekend with family and friends and pray that we will remember those who lost their lives serving our country! 

This card is very quick and easy to create- stamp the image with Basic Black onto Whisper White cardstock (I love the new SU! pads- such a clean crisp image!!).  HINT- With this image I masked the flowers so the stem would not overlap the petals. 

Layer onto Basic Black cardstock.  Assemble the layers using Designer Series Paper (DSP), add the paper doily, bow and pearls- you are done!!  

Stamp Sets:  Field Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes

 Ink: Basic Black

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Designer Series Packs- Neutrals, Flirtatious DSP (retired)

Accessories:  Word Window and Modern Label Punch, Pearls, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon

There you go- my version of CAS- I hope you like it!!  Have a great weekend honoring the men and women who have died for our freedom- may the Lord richly bless their families and continue to bless our country!! 

One More Emboss Resist Card!

Hi Again Stampers!

I have one more card that I can share from this weekend and decided to create another card for the HSSTC118 Hand Stamped Sentiments Emboss Resist Challenge- I could not resist :-))  Emboss resist is one of my all time favorite techniques and if you have a chance, stop by and see the Design Team samples along with all of the other entries!

To create this card:

Use Versamark™ ink and stamp the tree image onto Whisper White cardstock.  Apply Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder and heat emboss with the Heat Tool.

Use Sponge Daubers to apply Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals and Basic Gray Classic Ink to the desired effect. 

Mount onto Whisper White and Basic Black.  Add the ½” Rose Red Seam binding, sentiment and pearls to the center panel and adhere to an embossed panel of Basic Gray to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Lovely As A Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes

 Ink: Versamark™, Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Basic Gray

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray

 Accessories:  Big Shot™, Herringbone Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Black EP, Sponge Daubers, Decorative Label Punch, ½” Regal Rose Seam Binding, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a wonderful week!

Two Cards- One Color Challenge!

Hi Stampers!

It has been another extremely busy week!  One of the reasons I have not been able to post as frequently to my blog is that I am currently on two Design Teams for Spliptcoaststampers- the Creative Crew (highlighting SU! products) and just announced this week, the Dirty Dozen!!  I am so honored to have been chosen for both of these teams!  

The Fan Club Gallery at Splitcoaststampers is one of the benefits you receive if you are a Fan Club member (you do not have to be a member to enjoy the resources but let me tell you, I have been a member for years and the Fan Club Gallery has so much to offer)!  Along with the current "Dirty Girls" I created six projects for the May gallery "Life is like a Box of Chocolates" - chocolate colors, chocolate, etc.  Come check out these exclusive to SCS Fan Club Members only designs out!! 

Today, I decided to spend some time today relaxing and creating cards for some of my favorite weekly challenges along with a few for the Creative Crew (stop back after June 1st to see the Creative Crew cards:-)).  

 I combined this week’s wonderful CQC137ColourQ colors and while I had the colors out, created two cards- the first card utilizes the heat emboss technique for the HSSTC118 Heat Emboss Challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments and the second card incorporates the SC302 Sketch Challenge from Splitcoaststampers. 

To create the first card:

Stamp the floral image using Basic Gray on Whisper White cardstock and color with the Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade Stampin’ Write markers.  Use the Versamarker™ to go over the flowers and leaves, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder and heat using the Heat Tool.

With a Sponge Dauber, apply Tempting Turquoise for the sky, add the 5/8” Basic Gray Satin bow and sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Herb Expressions (to be retired June 1^st), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise, Versamarker™,  Stampin’ Write Markers- Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray

Accessories:  Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Dauber, Modern Label and Word Window Punch, Pearls, 5/8” Basic Gray Satin Ribbon (retired)

To create the second card, using sticky notes mask off an area on Whisper White cardstock.  Apply Wisteria Wonder and Tempting Turquoise ink with Sponge Daubers.  Stamp the floral spray image with Basic Gray, trim and mount onto Basic Gray cardstock. 

Use the Big Shot™ with the Finial Press Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Tempting Turquoise and Lucky Limeade DSP (lightly sand both pieces with the Sanding Block). 

Mount the layers per the sketch (the Wisteria Wonder was a scrap piece that I had previously embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder. 

Add the 5/8” Organza Ribbon bow and sentiment panel to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Elements of Style, Blessings from Heaven

Ink: Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise, Wisteria Wonder

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Wisteria Wonder; Designer Series Paper- Tempting Turquoise, Lucky Limeade

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Finial Press and Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Sanding Block, Sponge Daubers, Pearls, 5/8” Organza Ribbon

Thanks again for stopping by to visit- it is such an encouragement to me! Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you find some time to stamp!

May12 Vintage Swap Card

Hi Stampers! 

I have been extremely busy the past few weeks with creating projects for the Creative Crew MayChallenge on Splitcoast Stampers and swap cards for our quarterly group meeting.  My upline, Cindy Fodor spends so much time preparing a great meeting for us- she is the best and we had such a wonderful time- thanks Cindy and family! 

Our swaps must have at least two layers and two embellishments.  I love to use ribbon and brads and lots of layers, so thankfully not a problem on that end....but for some reason I always seem to struggle with the design of my swap cards.  Not sure why my “mojo” seems to disappear and this year with the catalog transition (and the discontinuation of my favorite satin ribbon), I really had a tough time... which means that I am up to the wee hours of the morning the few nights leading up to the meeting trying to finish.  Who needs sleep anyway? :-) 

I finally decided to create a semi-vintage card using Nature’s Pace- love that little bee.    I am really allergic to bee stings so I do not like bees outside in the yard but I think that the images are so cool!

To create this card:

Stamp the bee image onto Whisper White cardstock using Basic Black Classic Ink.  Color the bee and flowers with Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils. 

Use the Big Shot™ with the Designer Oval Frame Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, cut out carefully around the oval and sponge a bit of Crumb Cake and Soft Suede to “antique” the paper.

Mount onto embossed Early Espresso (using the Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and Decorative Label Punch). 

Emboss a piece of Crumb Cake and Wild Wasabi with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (first ink the smooth interior of the embossing folder with Crumb Cake ink to add dimension). 

Add the Not Quite Navy layer (embossed with the Stripes Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch).  Adhere the ½” Crumb Cake Seam Binding ribbon with Antique Brad to finish off the card.

I did not add a sentiment so that an appropriate one could be added later.  Occasionally I like to have cards on hand that can be customized to the specific need at the time :-)

Stamp Sets:  Nature’s Pace

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy

Ink:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Decorative Frame (oval), Perfect Polka Dots, Square Lattice, Stripes, SU! Watercolor Pencils, Punches- Decorative Label, Scallop Trim, ½” Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Antique Brad, Sponge Daubers

Thanks again for stopping by!  I hope you like this little bee card- have a great week stamping and creating! 

CQC135 Antiqued Truck

Hi Stampers!

It has been another very busy week and I finally had a chance to relax and stamp a card.   I decided to use the colors from the CQC135 ColourQ Challenge (love this weekly challenge!)to create a CAS (Clean and Simple) masculine card.   If you have the time, visit their site to see all of the Design Team projects as well as all of the different entries- always an inspiration! 

To create this card:

On Whisper White cardstock, use sticky notes to create a mask.  Stamp the truck image with  Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Brown Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool.  

Once the embossing has cooled, color with Stampin’ Write markers (I used the challenge colors- Pool Party, Ruby Red, So Saffron) and apply Early Espresso ink with a Sponge Dauber to “antique” the image. 

 It was difficult to photograph this image- in real life it had a wonderful aged appearance - the background has a rich sepia tone to it :-)

Mount onto Early Espresso cardstock and again onto the embossed panel of Whisper White.  Add the sentiment with the Hemp Twine (retired) to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Countryside, Petite Pairs

Ink: Versamark™, Early Espresso, Stampin’ Write Markers- Pool Party, So Saffron, Ruby Red (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Finial Press Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (retired), Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Brown Embossing Powder (retired), Hemp Twine (retired), Antique Copper Hardware (retired)

Thanks again for stopping by to visit- I hope you have a wonderful week and find some time to play with paper! 

CCREW0512SF- CAS Scrapbook Layout

Hi Again Stampers!  

Did you know that May is National Scrapbooking month?  

CCREW0512SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -- Scrapbook focus: 

Create a scrapbook page or project that showcases someone you love.

I decided to create a quick easy layout using the retired In-Color Hostess DSP pack along with a few punches, embossing folders and of course, Pearls.

This one is so simple- just stamp the edges with the scroll image from Creative Elements on the 8x8 pages of Pear Pizzazz.  Add the panels, bow and flower- as a fellow demonstrator says, "Easy Peasy"..:-)

 

Stamp Sets:  Creative Elements

 Ink: Pear Pizzazz

Cardstock:  Pear Pizzazz, In-Color Hostess DSP Pack (retired)- Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride

I hope you like this layout and again, come join us for the fun! 

CCREw0512HF- Blessing My Life Pop-Up

CCREW0512HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday focus 

This challenge is for the girls! Make a free standing pop-up card for a special female in your life (your mom, your sister, an aunt, or a best friend)! 

The tutorial is here: Splitcoaststampers - Free Standing Pop-Up Card Tutorial by Mary JoAlbright .  Don’t forget- a great project to use the Simply Scored™ board and the new Simply Scored™ diagonal insert!

I used the tutorial to create the pop-up card- heat embossed the flowers on Whisper White. 

Stamp the En Francais background stamp using Basic Gray (stamp off first) and color the flowers using Stampin’ Write markers- Blushing Bride, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait. 

Emboss the outside panel with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (before assembling the card).  

Add the ribbon bow, rolled flower and sentiment to finish off the card.

Closed View 

Stamp Sets:  Elements of Style, Herb Expressions (soon to be retired), En Francais

 Ink: Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Stampin’ Write Markers- Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride

Cardstock:  Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Whisper White

Accessories:  Big Shot™,  Perfect Polka Dot Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Punches- 1 3/8” Circle (rolled flower), XL Oval, Decorative Label, Doily and Large Oval (under bow at the top of the tag), Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder, ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Antique Brad, Pearls

Thanks again for dropping by- I hope you enjoyed this card (it was my first but definitely not my last, freestanding pop-up card)!  Have a wonderful week- God Bless! 

CCREW0512CF- Triple Treat Love

Hi again Stampers!

Here is my card for submission for the CCREW0512CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -- Catalog focus:Time to Blossom! Think of May flowers. We have lots of flowers in the catalog: stamps, punches, paper flowers, Big Shot dies, buttons, etc.. Use any or all of these in a project.

Again, this card highlights all of the In-Colors on one card along with a few other retiring products…

To create this card: 

Use the Big Shot™ with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock. 

Stamp the Triple Treat Flower three separate times each time with a different ink- first time with Concord Crush, then with Peach Parfait and again with Poppy Parade Classic ink. Punch out the flower portions and assemble the flower. 

Layer the card using the doily from Flirtatious Specialty DSP, embossed panel using the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (this was a scrap piece I had from a previous project).

Add the flower with SU! Dimensionals , the ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Bow and the little tag sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Triple Treat Flower, Tiny Tags

 Ink: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade

Cardstock:  Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Concord Crush DSP (retired In-Color Hostess Pack), Flirtatious Specialty DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dot,  Punches- XL Fancy Flower, 5-Petal Flower, ½” Circle, Jewelry Tag, Handheld 1/16”; ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Pearls, Metallic Wire

Thanks again for visiting- I hope you enjoy this card and if you have the time to join us this month, please do!  Just create a card and upload to Splitcoast Stampers  using the keywords  CREW0512CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM.  Have a great week and have fun stamping!

CCREW0512DF- A Vintage Career

Hi Stampers!

Here is one of the challenges for the Splitcoast Creative Crew May Challenges- 

CCREW0512DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - DSP/Color Focus

A Vintage Career! This is the last month for the 2010-2012 In Colors (Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush).   Showcase the color you'll miss the most in a project….I used all of the colors since I love them all!

Using Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade to stamp collage images from Established Elegance onto a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock.  

De-static the cardstock, stamp the dress form with Versamark™ ink and then again into Concord Crush Classic Ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool. 

Emboss with the Big Shot™ with the Decorative Oval Frame Textured Impressions™ Folder, tear the edges around the edges by hand and lightly sponge Concord Crush over the embossing and around the edges.

Layer the cardstock panels, add the ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon, add the bow with the rolled flower center, sentiment and pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Established Elegance, Elements of Style

 Ink: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade

Cardstock:  Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Concord Crush DSP (retired In-Color Hostess Pack)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Vintage Wallpaper and Decorative Frame- Oval, Punches- 1 3/8” Circle (rolled flower), 1” Circle and Modern Label (sentiment), Sponge Daubers, Sanding Block,  ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- have fun creating this week and if you have the time, come join us! 

May 2012 Creative Crew Challenge

Hi Stampers! 

I am so excited- May is my first month as part of the Splitcoast Stampers SU! Creative Crew Design Team and what an honor!  I will be participating on the Design Team for four months and we are hoping that you will join us this month!  If you have the time to participate, just create a project from one of the challenge categories and upload it to the Splitcoast Gallery- it is that easy and a lot of fun!  When you upload, make sure that you use the keywords that are highlighted in bold so we can all see your projects and comment (SUO- Stampin’ Up! Only and SUM= SU! Mostly)-

May’s Challenge Details-   Retiring In-Style! 

CCREW0512DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -- DSP/Color Focus: 
A Vintage Career! This is the last month for the 2010-2012 In Colors (Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush).   Showcase the color you'll miss the most in a project. 

CCREW0512CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -- Catalog focus: 
Time to Blossom! Think of May flowers. We have lots of flowers in the catalog: stamps, punches, paper flowers, Big Shot dies, buttons, etc.. Use any or all of these in a project.

CCREW0512HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -- Holiday focus: 
This one's for the girls! Make a free standing pop-up card for a special female in your life (your mom, your sister, an aunt, or a best friend)! The tutorial is here: Splitcoaststampers - Free Standing Pop-Up Card Tutorial by Mary Jo Albright .  Don’t forget- a great project to use the Simply Scored™ board and the new diagonal insert!

CCREW0512SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -- Scrapbook focus: 
Did you know that May is National Scrapbooking month?  Create a scrapbook page or project that showcases someone you love.

I will post each of my projects in a separate blog entry- I hope you enjoy this challenge and join us!   Have fun and stop by to visit us :-)

Antique Buffalo Birthday- Faux Burning

Hi Stampers! 

Boy, it has been another busy week at work but I wanted to take a moment to share a card that I created for this week’s PP92 Paper Player’sSketch Challenge.  I love this sketch- it has a clean and simple layout yet you can "dress it up" if you like as well.  If you have not already visited their site, check out all of the Design Team entries as well as the other submissions (they are amazing!)…

I have had this stamp set on my wish list for a while and just received it (it will be retiring).  I wanted to create a very aged, antique looking card with the buffalo image- I know it may not be your style, but I find taking pristine white (or in this case vanilla) cardstock and aging it is very therapeutic :-)  

To create this card:

De-static a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock with the Embossing Buddy® and ink the buffalo with Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Brown Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool.  Once cooled, color with the Aqua Painter and Early Espresso ink (directly from the pad). 

Tear the edges by hand and use Sponge Daubers to apply Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso ink until you reach the desired "antique" or "faux burned" effect.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool with the Early Espresso Stampin’ Write marker to further distress the image.

Mount onto a piece of Well Worn DSP (embossed with the Big Shot™ and Herringbone Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder).  Adhere this entire panel onto Very Vanilla (again, sponging the edges to “antique”) and attach the panel onto another piece of the Well Worn DSP (this piece looks like a barn panel and has been embossed with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ folder).

Tear the layers of Very Vanilla cardstock and crumple the paper by hand.  Apply the Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso ink in the same manner as above until you achieve the look that you desire. Use the Crimper Tool to achieve further distressing and mount onto the buffalo panel.

Add the embossed strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock with a scrap piece of the Well Worn DSP (same as the panel behind the focal image).  Add the Hemp Twine, Antique Brad and tag detail.  Adhere all onto an embossed panel of Chocolate Chip to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  In Wilderness, Petite Pairs

 Ink: Versamark™, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Well Worn DSP (retiring)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Herringbone and Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sponge Daubers, Color Spritzer Tool, Crimper Tool,  Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Brown Embossing Powder (retired), Aqua Painter, XL and Large Tag Punch, Antique Brad , Hemp Twine (retiring)

Thanks again for stopping by!  I hope you like this card- I never seem to have enough masculine cards on hand :-).  Enjoy the remainder of the week and have fun stamping and creating- God Bless! 

Peace Within- Three Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers!

I had a few minutes to stamp this evening and decided to create a card using a few of the soon to be retired stamp sets, Plant Hope and Peace Within.  I just received the Plant Hope set and love the tree images and wanted to participate with The Paper Players PP91 Watercolor CAS Challenge.  

I decided to incorporate the CQC133ColourQ Colors and the FM31 Freshly Made Sketch.  Again, all of these sites have wonderful weekly challenges and their  Design Team samples and entries are fabulous!  

  

To create the watercolor background paper, use the Aqua Painter to lift ink from the inside of the ink pad from More Mustard and Dusty Durango.  Create strokes onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock (or you could use Watercolor paper) and use the Heat Tool to lightly dry the paper.

 

Ink the background stamp, En Francais with Basic Gray and stamp over the lightly damp paper.  Continue to dry the paper with the Heat Tool (being careful not to scorch the paper:-)).

Once dry, stamp the tree image with Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder and emboss with the Heat Tool.

Cut the image with the Framelits™ Die and layer with another die cut from Basic Black. Adhere the focus image to the Basic Gray panel (embossed with the Herringbone Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder) and finish off with the 5/8” Black Satin Bow and sentiment. 

Stamp Sets:  Plant Hope, En Francais, Peace Within

Ink: Basic Black, Basic Gray, More Mustard, Dusty Durango (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Dusty Durango (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Framelits™ Label Collection Die, Herringbone Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder, Punches- Large Oval and Curly Label,  5/8”  Black Satin Ribbon

Thanks again for taking the time to visit and all of your encouraging comments- I read each and every one and feel that all of you are my friends!  Thank you for your "friendship" and I hope you have a great time creating and sharing the love of stamping! 

Retired Soon- Color Challenge with an Old Friend

Hi Again Stampers!

I wanted to create a card using one of the soon to be retired stamp sets and In-Colors and this week's  CCMC197 Create with Connieand Mary Color Challenge was perfect!  If you have not done so already, check out the Design Team samples as well as the other entries- gorgeous! 

Friends Never Fade will only be available until the end of May and I love the floral scroll and sentiment on the main floral stamp (fyi-Concord Crush will also be retiring along with the In-Colors for 2010-2012).

This card is fairly simple and combines quite a few techniques- heat embossing, dry embossing, crimping, rolled flowers and of course, pearls  :-)   I will have to come back and post more details tomorrow since it is so late…

Stamp Sets: Friends Never Fade

Cardstock:  Crushed Concord, Marina Mist, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark™, Concord Crush

Accessories: Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder- Snow Burst and Perfect Polka Dot, Designer Frame (rectangular),  Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, 1 3/8” and 1 ¾” Circle Punches, Crimper Tool, Pearls

Thanks again for visiting!  I hope you like this card and if you have the time let me know- will you be sad to see Friends Never Fade retire?  

Have a great week stamping- God Bless! 

Retired 2012 Stamp List

Here is the just released 2012 Stampin’ Up! Retired stamps list (the retired Accessories will be released on April 21^st. 

SU! Retired Stamp List

SU! has just recently updated their Clearance Rack as well- if you do not already have a demonstrator, you can purchase directly from me and have the items shipped to you.  Click on my SU! Website to the left or go to www.juliegearinger.stampinup.net to shop online.  


Order your favorite sets while you can!  Thanks again for stopping by and have fun stamping!

Parisian Sketch and Color Challenge- Two in One!

Hi Stampers!

I hope all of you had a wonderful week!  I wanted to create a card using the CQC132 ColourQ Challenge colors and decided to incorporate the RS7 Sketch from Retro Sketches as well.  Both sites are wonderful sources of inspiration, if you have the time, see for yourself!

I added one more layer to the sketch and mirrored the cut panels behind the focal point.  I had a difficult time incorporating the horizontal strip below the tower so I thought that the Lucky Limeade panel would suffice as the "horizontal strip".  That is what I like about sketch challenges- they are a starting point for your own creativity :-)! 

To create this card:

On Whisper White cardstock, use Sponge Daubers to apply Pumpkin Pie and Poppy Parade Classic Ink.  Create the collage using stamps from Artistic Etchings and Established Elegance with Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade ink. 

Stamp the Eiffel Tower as well as the Final Image using Versamark™ ink, heat emboss using Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder. 

Mount onto Basic Black and again onto Lucky Limeade/Basic Black following the sketch.

Use the Big Shot and emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock (ink the interior of the embossing folder with Lucky Limeade ink prior to placing the WW cardstock inside). Cut into two and mount onto Basic Black cardstock.

Close-Up of Collage

Assemble the remainder of the card- attach the tags with a brad and wire, adhere the Satin Bow and you are finished!

Stamp Sets:  Artistic Etchings, Established Elegance, Tiny Tags  

Ink: Versamark™, Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Lucky Limeade cardstock and Designer Series Paper

Accessories:  Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers, Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Jewelry Tag Punch, Copper Brad, Wire Works (retired), 5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon

Thanks again for taking the time to visit and all of your encouragement!  Have a great week creating and sharing the love of stamping- God Bless! 

Love You- CAS with the Paper Players!

Hi Stampers! 

Another weekend is almost here and I wanted to at least stamp one card during the week so I decided to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) card using the beautiful PP90 Paper Player colors.  I love these colors together and the Design Team did a fabulous job- if you have the time, check them out!

To create this card:

On Whisper White cardstock, use sticky notes to mask off the focal image area.  Using a Sponge Dauber with Pool Party ink, sponge the open rectangular area.  Stamp the images with Night of Navy ink and once finished stamping the images, lightly sponge additional Pool Party over the entire area again.  

Use the Color Spritzer Tool with Stampin’ Write markers in Certainly Celery and Night of Navy.  Remove the mask, stamp the sentiment and layer onto Pool Party and Not Quite Navy cardstock.  

With the Big Shot™ with the Snow Burst Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss another piece of Whisper White.  Layer the background and add the Certainly Celery bow to finish off the card. 

Close-Up of Masked Area 

Quick and simple :-) !

Stamp Sets:  Creative Elements, Short and Sweet

 Ink: Pool Party, Not Quite Navy, Stampin’ Write markers- Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, Pool Party

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Snow Burst Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sponge Dauber, Color Spritzer Tool, Certainly Celery Twill Tape Ribbon (from a retired SAB Ribbon bundle)

Thanks again for stopping by and have a Happy Friday! 

Color and a Sketch- Another Two in One!

Hi Again Stampers!

I have one more card to share that I created this weekend using the colors from the HSSCC112Hand Stamped Sentiments Color Challenge along with the FMS29 Freshly MadeSketch Challenge. If you have a chance, stop by and see the Design Team samples along with all of the other entries!

I decided to flip the sketch and the card was fairly quick and easy card (since I primarily used scraps :-)):

Color the large floral stamp from Just Believe using Stampin’ Write Markers in Rich Razzleberry and Early Espresso- stamp onto Very Vanilla cardstock.

Mount onto Early Espresso cardstock and again onto Pretty In Pink cardstock- add the punched corners (scraps from Herringbone embossed piece of Early Espresso and punched using the retired Photo Corner Punch).  Create the focal panel from a piece of Early Espresso (embossed with the Square Lattice EF- from my scrap bag) along with layers in Rich Razzleberry (again a scrap piece embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper EF) and Very Vanilla (embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots EF- another scrap).  Punch the edges with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.

Adhere the 5/8” Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon bow (retired) and mount the entire panel onto a piece of Pretty In Pink and again onto Early Espresso cardstock.  Add the pearls and sentiment to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets:  Just Believe, Short and Sweet

 Ink: Early Espresso, Stampin’ Write markers- Rich Razzleberry and Early Espresso

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry

 Accessories:  Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Square Lattice, Perfect Polka Dots, Herringbone, Vintage Wallpaper; Punches- Scallop Trim Border, Word Window, Photo Corner (retired) 5/8” Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon (retired), Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a wonderful week stamping and creating!  

CQC131- Two Cards- One Color Challenge!

Happy Easter!! 

This morning, we had a wonderful celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior!   Alleluia, He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

I decided to relax this afternoon and finish up a few cards that I started yesterday.  Two of the cards were for this week’s CQC131 ColourQ Challenge – the soft spring-like colors Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron and Whisper White.  I love these colors but they did pose a bit of a challenge for me (I struggle with pink and yellow together).

For the first card, I used the Sunflower background stamp.  Ink with the background stamp with Versamark™ , stamp onto So Saffron cardstock and heat emboss with Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder.  Once cooled, overstamp with the En Francais background stamp (inked with Peach Parfait) and using Sponge Daubers, apply Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz.  Wipe off the excess ink from the embossed image and reapply ink as needed (I ended up adding a bit of Early Espresso to the center to bring out some more of the details).

Layer the panel onto Whisper White, Peach Parfait and Blushing Bride.  Add the Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Bow, Hemp Twine with the Tiny Tag sentiments and the Antique Brad flower, mount into one more layer of Pear Pizzazz to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Sunflower and En Francais (background), Nature’s Pace

Ink: Versamark™, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, So Saffron

Accessories:  Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers, ½” Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Hemp Twine, Punches- Jewelry Tag and Boho Blossom, Antique Brad

The second card has the same color scheme but utilizes more texture with just a bit of stamping.

Ink the En Francais background stamp with Peach Parfait and stamp onto a piece of glossy Designer Series Paper (I used a piece from the retired Bridal Specialty DSP- see below if you do not have glossy DSP).

Use a Sponge Dauber with Blushing Bride and Peach Parfait to tone down the stamped white glossy DSP.  Before the next step of embossing with the Big Shot, punch out the large flower using the Blossom Punch and set aside.

Emboss the remainder of the DSP (from the step above)  with the Big Shot™ and the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (I inked the interior smooth side of the folder with Pear Pizzazz ink before inserting the paper and embossing).

If you do not have a glossy Designer Series Paper, you could do the same steps above on Whisper White. After punching out the flower and embossing the background, lightly spray with Frost White Shimmer Paint (mixed with 70% alcohol :-)).

Punch out one more large flower using the Blossom Punch from Peach Parfait cardstock and with your paper snips, cut the petals apart (I generally cut across towards the center for each petal and end up with six petals that have a point on the end). 

Take each of these little petals and adhere behind the blossoms of the stamped flower (punched in step 1 above).  

 Punch the center of the flower out of a piece of Peach Parfait using the Boho Blossom punch (large flower from the Boho Blossom Punch).  Align the center in the middle of the large flower, punch a hole for the brad using the 1/16" Hand Held Punch or Piercing Tool and add the Antique Brad.

Layer with the 5/8” White Satin Ribbon bow, Whisper White border (this was a scrap that I had previously embossed with Snow Burst EF- I punched along the edge with the Eyelet Border Punch and then ran thru the Crimper Tool to soften the fibers and it almost looks like fabric :-)). 

Add the little tags, leaves and layer to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  En Francais, Tiny Tags

Ink:  Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait

Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Bride Specialty Designer Series Paper 

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper and Snow Burst Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Punches- Boho Blossom, Blossom, Eyelet Border, Jewelry Tag, 5-Petal Flower, 1/16” Handheld, Sponge Daubers, 5/8”  White Satin Ribbon, Metallic Brad, Crimper Tool

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter- may the Lord richly bless you this week!