Purseonally

Boy, this was a challenge! This card is for week 4 of Theresa's Designer Handbag Inspiration Challenge.

I have black glossy paper in my stash, so I decided to use the details of the Ralph Lauren handbag as my inspiration. This photo doesn't capture the glossy paper...ugh!

Earlier this Summer, I bought some Making Memories felt pieces. Included were sunglasses. I tried turning them from turquoise to black, but it didn't work. I traced them on glossy paper instead and cut the shape out.

Card Ingredients

Stamps: A Little Love

Paper: Basic Black, yellow scrap paper, Black Glossy (Only the Best), Gold Foil (Only the Best)

Ink: StazOn Jet Black

Punches: yellow ribbon (Taylored Expressions), corner rounder, slit punch, small and large tag punches, 3/4" circle punch

Other: gold eyelet & large rhinestone brad (Making Memories), foam tape, Stickles, Sakura gold gel pen, gold thread, oval Coluzzle, paper piercer, paper piercing template

Dreams du Jour

I got to play with new SU stamps, scallop edge punch, and In Colors at Peggy's house on Saturday. She had everything nice an pre-cut for us. We just had to stamp and assemble. This was the make-n-take she gave us. The new In Colors are growing on me. I also got to see my good friend, Rebecca.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Dreams du Jour
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red
Other: SNAIL, dimensionals

Thanks Dr. Chen

My son has an appointment tomorrow with his Pediatrician, Dr. Chen, because of his allergies. Seems like the poor kid's been sneezing on and off since March. His pediatrician is leaving her practice in a few days. I made this card to thank her for 5 years of care. She's been Kalino's doctor since the beginning and he was sad when I told him today that tomorrow will be his last appointment with Dr. Chen.

This card was made using the colors for Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge #20. Good choices, Kristina! I love pinks with chocolate chip. I don't have Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette inks/cardstock, so I used Rose Romance and Pretty in Pink.

Card Ingredients

Stamps: Jazzy Punctuation (Inque Boutique)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Rose Romance, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, SU DSP

Ink: VersaMark

Other: chipboard (Heidi Swapp), Chocolate Chip Polytwill ribbon, Prima flower, Making Memories rhinestone brad, dimensionals, foam tape, clear embossing powder

For a Friend - WSC54

This is the first time I've done one of Beate's weekend sketches (WSC54). I'm glad she's back. I love this type of sketch. I had to create a card.

This was not a relaxing evening. It took forever to get Kalino to fall asleep. Tomorrow is his first day of Kindergarten. I think we are all a little nervous.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: For a Friend
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, DSP (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Making Memories rhinestone brad, Martha Stewart circle cutter, dimensionals, silver mini beads (Michael's)

Thinking of You

We'll I barely made the deadline, but here's my card for week 3 of Theresa's Designer Handbag Inspiration Challenge. This was a tough one for me. I created a card that I didn't like. I had to start all over. I was trying to capture the texture of the woven rattan. It didn't work. Here's version 2.0.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Memoirs (Inque Boutique), Little Hellos (SU)
Paper: confetti kraft, white
Ink: VersaMark, Close to Cocoa, Brilliant Blue
Other: corner rounder, clear embossing powder, Prima flowers, mini pearls (Michael's), foam tape, dark blue ribbon (Taylored Expressions), Sakura white gel pen

Congrats!

Happy Friday, everyone! Kristina gave us a great challenge. We got to choose the 4th color. I chose a tangerine-type color.

I loved the inspiration photo of a bedroom belonging to a designer that works for Nate Berkus. Love his style and hers! The wall and bedding were my biggest inspiration. I finally had a chance to play with my new sewing machine. I've only owned heavy, metal, 30-year old hand-me-down sewing machines that only had a straight stitch. This is my first time playing with other stitches. Fun! My biggest challenge was sewing in a straight line. If anyone has any tips about sewing on cardstock, I'd like to hear them.
For the butterfly, I used my Martha Stewart butterfly punch to punch our a shape from my SU rub-ons. I applied the rub-on to cardstock and then repunched out the image.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Petals (Inque Boutique)
Paper: Basic Gray, white textured, tangerine scrap (very old piece of paper)
Ink: VersaMark
Other: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Making Memories Sticker Shimmer Metro Alpha Black, ribbon, Making Memories leather label holder, Singer sewing machine, black thread, dimensionals, SU Eastern Elegance rub-ons, slit punch, clear embossing powder, Tombo glue

Celebrate the Season - AVS12

I NEVER, Never, never, make Christmas cards in the Summer. I can't get into the spirit of the holidays when it's 90+ degrees outside. This is the first time I've ever made a Christmas card at this time of year. I loved Julee's sketch #12 for the Anni-VERVE-sary.

I used an embossed resist on the layer with the background stamp. I stamped the large background stamp with white pigment ink on white cardstock. I embossed it with clear embossing powder. I used a brayer to apply Cranberry Crisp ink on top of the image. I wiped away the excess ink with a paper towel.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Background (JudiKins), So Many Scallops
Paper: Cranberry Crisp, white
Ink: ColorBox Silver, Cranberry Crisp, ColorBox Frost White
Other: Silver beads (Michael's), Scallop punch, clear embossing powder, foam tape, circle punches

Happy Birthday - AVS11

Of the 12 cards I uploaded to Splitcoaststampers, this card has gotten more hits and comments than the other 11 cards. This card was for sketch #11 of the Anni-VERVE-sary. I love the Birthday Whimsy set, and I haven't used it enough.

I stamped the birthday cake on 3 different papers: white, certainly celery, and Spring Silhouettes DSP. Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I restamped the cake on the DSP using VersaMark ink. I embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I rubbed the Close to Cocoa pad on top of the stamped image. I used paper towel to remove the excess ink. I paper pieced all the image on the white cardstock. On the flames of the candles, I added gold gel pen and Stickles.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Birthday Whimsy
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Spring Silhouettes DSP, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Ink: Close to Cocoa, VersaMark
Other: foam tape, Gold Sakura gel pen, Clear embossing powder, Stickles, River Rock ribbon, 1" circle punch

Wishing You Love - AVS10

I like this card. This card uses sketch #10 from the Anni-VERVE-sary. The heart-shaped BasicGrey chipboard fit perfectly on top of the "v". I stamped the Wishing you Love stamp in dye ink and then with VersarMark ink so I could emboss it with clear embossing powder. There is something I just love about kraft cardstock. I love it. When I see you all use it too, it just looks great.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: For a Friend
Paper: Very Vanilla, DSP (My Mind's Eye), Blue textured cardstock (don't know who makes it), Kraft confetti (CA Paper Goods)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, VersaMark
Other: Clear embossing powder, BasicGrey chipboard (thanks, Ericka!), Crayola pencil, River Rock ribbon, 1" circle punch, foam tape

Thank You - AVS09

Sorry, I'm still posting cards I did over a week ago for the Anni-VERVE-sary. This one was for sketch #9. I used embossed resist for the layer with the larger Fresh Cuts stamp.

I don't know about you, but I never have all the cardstock colors for Stampin' Up. I usually get some glossy Kromekote paper and I use a brayer to apply ink to the paper. In this case I made a layer of Rose Red paper using that technique.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Paper: white glossy Kromekote, white
Ink: Rose Red, ColorBox Frost White
Other: corner rounder, white embossing powder, foam tape, pearl stickers (Michael's)

Have a Safe Trip!

I've missed at least 2 of Taylor's Cupcake Challenges. I finally had time tonight to complete a card for her latest sketch (Cupcake Challenge #29). I love circles!

This card involved no stamping and no ink pads...I created the sentiment on my computer with Microsoft Word and the images are all BasicGrey rub-ons. I also used the some printer compliant Stampin' Up Codes to get my printer to print a Blue Bayou color on white cardstock.

Card Ingredients
Paper: Kraft confetti (CA Paper Goods), Blue Bayou, white
Other: Wholy Cow! rub-ons (BasicGrey), foam tape, 1" & 1 1/16" circle punches, white ribbon (Taylored Expressions)

Simply the Best

This is my favorite of all the 12 cards I made for the Anni-VERVE-sary, so I guess it's fitting that I used the phrase "Simply the best." This was Julee's sketch #8.

When Ericka was here last week for a day of stamping, we went to lunch and then next door to Michael's. Can you believe this Martha Stewart butterfly punch was reduced to $5? Had to buy it...Ericka bought one as well.

I stamped the Verve butterfly stamp on cardstock and then used the Martha butterfly punch. I like the effect of a butterfly within a butterfly. I love the look of the mini pearls on each butterfly.

I love the clean lines of a faux bow.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Feeling Groovy & Asian Flair (Verve)
Paper: Groovy Guava, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, SU DSP (thanks, Ericka!)
Ink: Groovy Guava, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Other: Bashful Blue ribbon, corner rounder, foam tape, mini pearls (Michael's), Martha Stewart butterfly punch, 1/2" circle punch, Coluzzle oval cutter, Tombo glue

Mama Said - AVS07

I created this card for Anni-VERVE-sary (sketch #7). It's again using one of my favorite Verve sentiment stamps. I love the Crayon resist technique, so here's another card. I love Crayons! When Shari Carroll from Hero Arts had a YouTube video in May reminding me of the technique, I had to to take Kalino's Crayons to my studio.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Feeling Groovy (Verve), Priceless (SU)
Paper: white glossy Kromekote, white textured paper (from Peru), Basic Black, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Memories Black, Pretty in Pink
Other: ribbon (Costco), dimensionals, 1/2" circle punch, foam tape, rhinestones (Michael's), white Crayola Crayon

Very Nice News Today!

Oh my goodness, how could I forget to mention a very nice email I received this morning! Susanna Boyd (Card of the Week.com) said this card I created for the Anni-VERVE-sary was 2nd a runner up this week for Card of the Week. That made my day for sure! Thanks, Susanna!

You Make Everything Groovy - AVS06

Happy Friday everyone! It's very warm here today again. I love all the latest Verve stamps! Their sentiments are so cool. I even like the font on this stamp. This card was for Anni-VERVE-sary (sketch#6).

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Feeling Groovy (Verve)
Paper: Die-cut Blooms, Pumpkin Pie, SU DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Felt Fusion, Making Memories rhinestone brad, mini rhinestones (Me & My Big Ideas), 1 3/8" square punch, foam tape

Happy Birthday - AVS05

I'm continuing to post entries I did a few days ago for the Anni-VERVE-sary. This was sketch #5. This was the first card of 12 cards I stamped in a short time. I love this pebble-textured paper I found at Craft-It (my local scrapbooking store). Craft-It is so cool. They also have a coffee, food, and dessert place inside the store! I paper pieced the image.

I had a little ink mistake near the exclamation point. Oh, well, I took this picture before fixing the problem.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Humourous Birthday (Inkadinkado)
Paper: Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, white, textured paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, StazOn Jet Black
Other: 1/2" circle punch, dimensionals, corner rounder, American Crafts ribbon, Zots

My #1 Robot - AVS04

This stamp is great. Kalino loves it! I love the Inque Boutique stamps. I created this card for Anni-VERVE-sary #4 sketch. In this photo you can't really see the stamping I did on the Going Gray piece.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Out of this World (Inque Boutique)
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Brilliant Blue, Going Gray, white
Ink: Memories Black, Brilliance Platinum Planet
Other: Making Memories brads, Crayola pencils, foam tape, 1 3/8" square punch, metal edge tag, silver gel pen

Felicidades Siempre - AVS03

I'm a bit of a hoarder (OK...more than a bit) when it comes to supplies. I've had this Making Memories metal tag for a couple of years. I finally used it for Julee's Anni-VERVE-sary sketch #3.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Felicidades Siempre
Paper: Sage Shadow, Certainly Celery, white, Spring Fling DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Wedding Cake charm (Making Memories), white ribbon (Taylored Expressions), foam tape, Fiskars scissors, 15/16" & 1 3/8" circle punches, Prima flowers, Making Memories brads, Zots

Congratulations - AVS02

I love the Verve Asian Flair stamps. I'm embarrased to say I've had them for a month and this was the first time I inked them up. This card was for Julee's Anni-VERVE-sary sketch #2. The card started with the dotted chipboard tag from the $ bin at Target. I messed up some stamping, so I added a butterfly to cover up my mistake.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Asian Flair (Verve)
Paper: Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla
Ink: VersaMark, Soft Sky
Other: Clear EP, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, chipboard tag (Target), metal tag (Making Memories), scallop square punch, American Crafts ribbon, mini pearls (Michael's), dimensionals

Thank You - AVS01

I finally finished the 12 cards for the Julee's Anni-VERVE-sary sketch challenge! I completed all 12 cards in less than 48 hours. That's a record for me. I was up till almost 3 AM and I was up again by 7 AM. It's after 2 PM and I haven't showered yet.

This was also the first time I uploaded anything to Splitcoaststampers (my gallery). I messed up the categories a few times. I was in such a rush, I forgot to select the SU stamp set names. Sorry, Splitcoaststampers!!

Julee's first sketch was the hardest for me to complete. I created this card last.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: For a Friend
Paper: Confetti Kraft (CA Paper Goods), Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Pumkin Pie, SU DSP
Ink: Memories Black
Other: Felt Fusion, Martha Stewart marker, Certainly Celery Polytwill ribbon, foam tape, 15/16" square punch, Making Memories rhinestone brad, Fiskars scallop scissors

Picked up New Catalogs!

My demo, Peggy, is quick. She had the SU catalogs since Wednesday! I picked mine up today. She also gave me the Celebrando Creatividad supplement catalog. Thanks, Peggy! Wow, I love that Stampin' Up created so many new Spanish sets. Love it!!!

Thinking of You

We just got back last night from vacation in New Mexico. Perfect timing for Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge #18. My best stamping buddy, Ericka, was here today for a girlies day of shopping and stamping. She's visiting from Seattle. Very nice day.

This week's color challenge had the following colors:

Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, and I choose Green Galore instead of Summer Sun.

There was no stamping involved on this card. I had this Prima felt strip for a while and I hadn't used it. I thought it was perfect for this challenge. I haven't used my paper crimper in ages, so I used it on the Rose Red paper. I tried to use more Pumpkin Pie on this card, but it looked very Halloween-esque and I didn't like it. Oops, Kristina's deadline is fast approaching...I better post this quick.

Thanks for looking!

Card Ingredients

Paper: white textured paper from Peru, white glossy Kromekote that I brayered with Green Galore and Rose Red ink pads

Other: SU rub-on, Prima die cut art strip, Felt Fusion flowers, Making Memories brad, dimensionals

Happy Birthday Target Gift Card

Here's another card with the gift card on the front of the card. This card is for my niece, Krista. She's turning 12. They grow so fast.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Birthday Whimsy (stamped ...and many more! inside the flap)
Paper: Parchment paper (CA Paper Goods), BasicGrey Oh Baby! Girl Matchbook Kit
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Making Memories brads, BasicGrey ribbon, corner rounder

Happy Birthday, Cutie!

Kalino turns 5 years old today. My how he has grown quickly. He will start Kindergarten next month. I feel bad because I didn't make him a card. When we check the mailbox, he complains no one sends him mail. I reassured him that he will get mail for his birthday.

I'm on vacation. Have a good Friday everyone!