Monochromatic Blue

This is the first time I have played along with Pals Paper Arts.  This week's challenge (PPA40) is a monochromatic challenge using blue.  I used Brocade Blue, and was inspired by Mary Fish's card featured on this week's challenge.

Guess what?  This card took less than 30 minutes to make.  I decided to make it right before my favorite show, The Mentalist.  I only had 30 minutes and I didn't want to miss Patrick Jane, so I was motivated to get it done.  If I had a little more time, I would have made the layers pop more.  Another secret....I made this card with My Digital Studio.  I printed it off and added a few embellishments.  All of the paper and stamps come on the original software.  I am so ready to purchase some downloads, but I wanted to wait until May (tomorrow).  Oh, the fun I will have shopping for digital downloads here.

Share in your Sorrow

I have seen so many single layer cards lately.  I love how quick they are to make, and the simple, clean designs.  One of the best things about "all" single layer cards....it doesn't cost extra postage to send them.  You know they won't get eaten in the postage sorter either.  One of the best things about his single layer card...I have it saved in my computer, so I can print them when I need them.  What?  I made this card with My Digital Studio software.

This is printed on my Canon printer at home.  I love how it looks.  I didn't add any embellishments to this one to keep it a single layer.  Every thing I used on this card comes on the original software.

This one I added chocolate chip 15/16" satin ribbon (retired) and doodle dots with my white gel pen.

If you don't have My Digital Studio, you really need to think about getting this wonderful program.  In fact, if you are thinking about it, email me with any questions.  

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: all scallops, thoughts & prayers, upsy daisy

Paper: kraft cardstock

Ink: canon printer

Accessories: white gel pen, 15/16" satin chocolate chip ribbon (retired)

Punches: none

Techniques: My Digital Studio

Fabulous Friend

This the last card for my May card class (stamp-a-stack).  I love this card I posted that was designed by Cindy Beach from Fayetteville, North Carolina.  It was the inspiration I used to make this similar card.

I don't want the cards I make for stamp-a-stack to take forever for the stampers to recreate; however, I want them to be cute.  This card can be used for so many occasions.  I have one in mind for the recipient of this card already.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: oval all, fast flowers wheel

Paper: whisper white, pale plum, cottage wall dsp

Ink: olive, light purple (other)

Accessories: white grosgrain ribbon (other), dimensionals, embossilits beautiful wings, stampin' around handle

Punches: large oval

Techniques: basic stamping

MASK

I don't have anything to share with you today that I made, because I don't like the card I made over the weekend.  I tried to post it today, but I had to delete it.  Yes, it is that bad.  No mojo over the weekend.

I do have something I love, and hung up in my craft room that my son, Tate made in art class at school.  I love the colors and textures.  I love seeing how he is improving in his art skills.  He doesn't like art, so I try to encourage him to be creative.  He is more athletic than artsy.  I think he knocked this one out of the park.

I  had to share this video with you too.  I love the song, Single Ladies by Beyonce`.  There is the Justin Timberlake video that is hilarious with her on SNL, and there is the baby dancing to her song that made me laugh so hard.  Well, here is another one I saw from Maria Bell's blog.  It is by Anita Renfroe, who is a great comedian.  This reminds me of the Weird Al videos, when I was younger.  Oh, I am dating myself...hee hee!  I was just talking to my DH this weekend about how our skin changes when we get older.  My bday is coming and it makes me realize I am not a young pup anymore even though I feel that way.  Hope this makes you smile!  I love it!

Thank You

This is the last of three cards we will be making at club in May.  I have been on the kick of using iridescent ice embossing powder lately.  I love it!  The peacock image is from the set Very Thankful.  This is the set that keeps on giving, because SU! donates $2.00 for each set sold to the Ronald McDonald House.  With the help of our demonstartors and customers, SU! have contributed nearly $800,000 to date.  Awesome!

I wish you could see the way the image sparkles with the iridescent ice embossing powder.  It is so pretty!

In addition, I created the background using the new stamp set, Elements of Style from the summer mini available May 1st.  

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: very thankful, elements of style

Paper: close to cocoa, sage shadow, very vanilla, to the nines dsp

Ink:sage shadow, cocoa (other)

Accessories: chocolate chip 15/16" satin ribbon (retired)

Punches: none

Techniques: embossing

Way To Go

This is the fourth card is the series we will be making at my May card class.  There are so many times when I need a card to tell someone "Way To Go" or "Good Job".  When I saw my cardstock sitting on my desk, the ballet blue and yo yo yellow screamed STARS to me.  I reached for my movers & shapers die and the creating began.  I love this die, because it has so many shapes to use on the front of the card that coordinates with the punches.  You could even use this for a graduation card.

The inside reads CELEBRATE TODAY.  I used the new impressions folder, square lattice on my yo yo yellow stars.  That folder is a must have!  

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: starring you

Paper: ballet blue, yo yo yellow

Ink: ballet blue, summer sun

Accessories: blue gingham ribbon (other), yellow brad (other), square lattice impressions folder, movers & shapers die, magnetic movers & shapers

Punches: star, large star

Techniques: big shot dies

Color Throwdown #89

Oh, I am having fun playing along with the Color Throwdown each week.  It is fun to use colors I would have never put together.  I thought this was going to be another hard week, but when I got creating I really liked these colors together.  So Soft!  The colors this week are Almost Amethyst, Sage Shadow and Bordering Blue.  I used Tammy Hershberger's card design too.  I hope you can play along this week.

This stamp set, Watercolor Trio is one of my favorites in the new occasions mini available May 1st.  To stamp the main image, I colored the image with markers and then sprayed the stamp with just a mist of water before stamping on water color paper.  I love my rubber stamps for direct marker coloring.  I have this set in the new clear mount.  We will be making this card at club in May.

The designer series paper I used is To the Nines.  Love this paper pack.  You will see more of this paper pack, because I just broke it open.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: watercolor trio

Paper: bordering blue, whisper white, water color, to the nines dsp

Ink: almost amethyst, sage shadow

Accessories: white organdy ribbon (other), button (other), thread (other)

Punches: none

Techniques: direct marker coloring

Three Little Words

Here is another card that will be in the series for my May card class.  I love, love, love the new impressions folder that is in the occasions mini available May 1st.  This folder is called Square Lattice.  You should put it at the top of your wish list, because the embossing it fantastic.  I used it on this card with the sage shadow cardstock for the background.  Love it!

I was inspired by the card in the SU! idea book & catalog on page 139 with the same stamp set, Three Little Words.  I have been trying to use my cardstock that will be retiring in July.  Out with the old to make room for the NEW.  YAY!  It is hard not to use my pretty pattern paper, but it is fun to spruce up the cardstock I have.  I love the soft colors of this one.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: three little words

Paper: sage shadow, brocade blue, whisper white, night of navy

Ink: brocade blue, sage shadow

Accessories: green brads (others), ribbon (other)

Punches: key tag (retired), scallop edge

Techniques: stamping, dry embossing

Note of Appreciation

This is the second card for my May card class.  I really like how these turned out.  I wanted to play with the iridescent ice embossing powder from SU!  I stamped the main image two different ways.

The first one I stamped the image, Extreme Guitarist in Brilliant Blue and colored over it with a Versamark marker.  Then I covered the image in iridescent ice embossing powder and embossed it.  It sparkles just enough to make him look like a Rock Star.

The second one I stamped the image in Versamark ink on Brilliant Blue cardstock and covered it in iridescent ice embossing powder.  Then I embossed it.  This one really sparkles.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: extreme guitarist, picture this (hostess set), texture jumbo wheel

Paper: black, brilliant blue, taken with teal, whisper white

Ink: versamark, brilliant blue, black, taken with teal

Accessories: black grosgrain ribbon (other), silver brads (other), iridescent ice embossing powder, versamark marker

Punches: word window, modern label

Techniques: embossing

Birthday Bliss

I have been working on cards for my May card class.  This is the first in a series of five.  I got this stamp set, Birthday Bliss, because I have a friend who orders double frosting when she orders her cake.  There is a sentiment is this set that reads, "May your layers be many & your frosting thick."....Love it!  It is perfect for her.

I was in the bright & cheery mood when I made this one.  It reminds me of lemonade and summer.  Oh, I hope we have a hot summer.  We are ready to be at the pool every day.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: birthday bliss, retired jumbo wheel

Paper: pink passion, barely banana, whisper white,

Ink: pink passion

Accessories: pink ribbon (other), white brads (other), dimensionals

Punches: wide oval

Techniques: stamping

Flower Pot

This is another card I made at my friend, Kim's house last week.  Oh, I have seen these on blogs, but have never taken the time to make one.  I love it!  I think this is going to be a club project for May.  I love how you can put any sentiment you want on this and it works.  Happy Mother's Day would be perfect too!

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: With all my heart, teeny tiny wishes

Paper: dusty durango, crushed curry, whisper white, rich razzleberry, certain celery DSP

Ink: rich razzleberry, crushed curry

Accessories: whisper white organza ribbon

Punches: fancy flower, trio flower, 5-petal flower, word window, modern label, scallop edge

Techniques: basic stamping

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MDS Slideshow Q & A

I had questions about the slideshow I posted yesterday, so I thought I would post the questions and answers.


1.  How long did it take you to make the slideshow?  It took less than 30 minutes to create the slideshow I posted.  I used a template Hoppy Days that comes with the software.  You can use templates or develop your own slideshow from scratch.  You can put as much time into a slideshow as you want.  I wanted to create a quick and easy one to show you one of the great features of My Digital Studio.

2.  What sizes are the slideshows?  You can create a 12 x 12, 8 1/2 x 11 landscape or 8 1/2 x 11 portrait.

3.  It is easy to add the pictures?  Yes, you just browse your computer and open your files up and then drop and drag to the photo box.

3.  Can I create my own slideshow from scratch?  Yes, you can.  You can make them as detailed as you wish or you can just have a picture slideshow.

4.  Can I burn the slideshow to a DVD?  Yes, you can.  You can burn a DVD, share it on the web or make a movie.  I chose make a movie and then I uploaded it to Vimeo.  YouTube would not take the format I saved it in, so I used my back up service.

5.  Will the slideshow loop?  Yes.  When I play the slideshow I posted yesterday on my computer it loops continuously until I press the ESC button.

6.  Can I add more than one song?  Yes.  You can add more songs.  In addition, you can even add narration.  When you add narration the song softens to allow the viewer to hear what you say.  Once your narration is over, the music goes back to the normal level.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me.

Summer Fun

Oh, I love, love, love My Digital Studio.  I threw this quick slideshow together in 30 minutes, so I could show you how easy it is to make a slideshow of pictures for your family and friends with music.  I could have added narration, but I didn't have time to play with that today.  This is my first slideshow and it was fun to put together. I used a template that is included in the program.  I just had to drop in my pictures, add some words and music...VIOLA!

My friend, Terese purchased on of these programs this month to create a slideshow for her stepson's graduation party.  See how easy it is, Terese.  My sister, Connie purchased this program to put slideshows for the blog she maintains for her church.  Connie, you are going to love it too.


Do you want to know more about My Digital Studio?  Click here!

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Color Challenge #88

This is the second week I have participated in the color challenges at Color Throwdown.  This week is challenge #88 and the colors are Tangerine Tango, So Saffron and Basic Gray.  Well, I don't have any Tangerine Tango, so I just used orange.  I did use the other colors.  I have to admit this one was a hard one.  I knew I wanted to use the set, A Flower for All Seasons again, because the sunflowers are perfect for the orange and yellow.

I used my aqua brush and ink pads to color my image that was stamped in Jet Black Staz On ink on Whisper White cardstock.

I wanted to use orange ribbon and I only had some from my stash that had some brown in it.  I decided the little bit of brown would be okay.  This is not one of my favorite cards, but at least I am challenging myself to use colors I would not use.  Hee hee!

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: A flower for all seasons, oval all, tiny tags

Paper: basic gray cardstock, whisper white cardstock, Orange (other), so saffron cardstock, yellow pattern paper (other)

Ink: so saffron, orange (other), real red, really rust, tempting turquoise, old olive

Accessories: white string, filigree designer brads, ribbon (other), dimensionals, petals-a-plenty impressions folder

Punches: scallop oval, wide oval, medium jewelry tag, 1 3/8" square

Techniques: watercoloring with aqua painter & ink pads

Happy as Happy Gets

I made this card last week at my friend, Kim's house.  I had this set on my wish list towards the middle and it just went to the top.  Now, I am going to order it in May.  I love this sentiment!  The butterfly has a matching punch...yes, a matching punch...LOVE IT!

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: Flight of the butterfly (#111564)

Paper:whisper white (#100730), melon mambo (#115320), gable green (#102795), bermuda bay (#115317)

Ink: bermuda bay (#115655)

Accessories: none

Punches: pinking hearts border (#117649), butterfly (#116629)

Techniques: stamping

Sketch Challenge - April 10, 2010 (sk041010)

I am the hostess this week for the sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet.  I used my card from the Stampin' Pastels tutorial.  I had fun making this sketch this week, because......I used My Digital Studio to design it.  It was so easy to add layers and use ribbon to create the sketch just like I wanted it.  Sketches are so popular these days with cards and scrapbooks.  If you design cards for other people, you can create a sketch or make a digital card for them to see first.  Another great reason to use My Digital Studio.

I hope you can play along with me this week at Paper Craft Planet.  When you upload your card, make sure you tag it sk041010.