Star Cupcake

Our group DZ Doodles at Paper Craft Planet is having a sketch challenge this week. You could win a free image of your choice at DZ Doodles online store. With the latest releases, you will have a hard time picking just one. In addition, if you join our group there are three (3) free images celebrating our new member contest. Check it out!

The sketch for this week was created by our Doodles Dozen, Valerie Urtiaga. Thanks, Valerie!

I chose the Star Cupcake image to play with this week. I love cupcakes, so it was fun coloring. This time I chose my paper and then found copics to match. The paper is from the Key to My Heart promotion CTMH had earlier this year. It is not available now, but could be a future paper pack. Now, I want to buy some cupcakes!

Materials used:

Paper - Key to My Heart paper (CTMH)

Stamps - Star Cupcake (digital image by DZ Doodles), Happy Birthday (CTMH)

Ink - tulip (CTMH), Copics

Accessories - sorbet designer ribbon (CTMH), classic and scallop circle nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Take time to create!

happy birthday

I didn't plan on making a birthday card today, but my DH asked me to make a birthday card for one of his employees.  Yippee!  What could be better than your DH telling you to play with your stamps?  

I am totally out of birthday cards in my stash, so I am going to need to create some to get a supply.  Maybe I will try a 10 from one again.  Hey, Terese want to help?  LOL!  My friend, Terese, hates 10 from ones.

If you don't have a cupcake stamp, it is a must buy.  This one is Cupcake Sprinkles by CTMH.  One of my favorite sets from the spring catalog.  I put glitter on the cupcake and you can't see it that well in the pic.  It looks a lot better in person.  You can click to enlarge it.  The sentiment inside reads "CELEBRATE".

Materials used: All products CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Emporium Level 2 set; Stamp sets - Happy Birthday, Cupcake Sprinkles, It's A Party; Ink - crystal blue, sweet leaf, buttercup; Accessories - sparkles, prisma glitter, round tab punch (SU), pop dots (unknown), concave punch (EK Success), heavenly blue brads

Happy Stamping!

Relax Riley

Here is another image I got from my friend, Barb.  This is the first Riley I have ever colored and I love this moose!

This is the inside of the card.  I got some ink by the sentiment, so I improvised and added the little red flowers to cover my mistake.  Oh I forgot...there are no mistakes, just a chance to add an embellishment.  That is what Chris, my upline, has always says.

Mom cam

Materials used: All products CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Perfect Day Level 2, tulip cs, cocoa cs; Stamp sets - Riley (Hanna Stamps), Happy Day, Happy Birthday, Solo R; Ink - black (Memento), copics, cocoa, tulip; Accessories - Labels Two (Nestabilities), arch lattice (Martha Stewart punch), chocolate bigger brads, chocolate designer ribbon, framed fun dimensional elements, red flowers (unknown)

I used the frame from the tulip colored label on the front to frame my sentiment inside the card.  I try to use the negative and positive of my nesabilities.  

I did keep track of the colors I used for the chair on this card.  I wanted to be able to use these color combo again.  I used BG72, BG13, BG45, and B00.  I am going to have to experiment with my copics to find the color combo I used for the foot stool.  Now, I am going to carry my copics notebook with me to mark my favorite color combos.  I good lesson learned.

Happy Stamping!

For You

I can't believe I have this week's sketch challenge that Tammy is hosting at Paper Craft Planet created already.  I turned the sketch vertically and used a 3 1/2 x 8 card base.

When I was I cleaning my stamp room, I found the bottom of my stamped image (leaves, stem and For You) already stamped and matted on olive cardstock.  I decided to work with this instead of throwing it away.  These images are from the From Me To You stamp set by CTMH.  

I am still going to my pattern paper scraps before cutting a new sheet and I had enough of the Creative Basics Boom-Di-Ada paper to make this card.  In fact, all the paper except for the card base is from my scraps bin.  Woo Hoo!

Supplies used: All products are CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Creative Basics Boom-Di-Ada Collection, buttercup cs, olive cs, white daisy cs, bubblegum cs; Stamp set - From Me To You; Ink - black, olive, bubblegum, buttercup marker; Embellishments - bubblegum organdy ribbon, floral lace border punch (Martha Stewart), pop dots (unknown)

Happy Stamping!

Tutorial Time - Spinner Card

This is another long one...slightly over 10 mintues.  I had to edit parts out, so I could get it under 11 minutes.  That seems to be the magic number for me to upload it to You Tube.  It is long, because I show you three things in this video.  I know...I was energetic on this one!  I show you:

• Spinner Card
• Masking Technique
• Tissue Stamping

I have been wanting to make this spinner card tutorial for a while, but I had to find a 1/2" circle punch.  I found mine at Archivers.  I like the punches where you use your thumb to push it down or squeeze it together.  I really don't like the ones you have to push down in the middle with your palm.

This is a long one, but it should be worth it...ENJOY!

Here are the measurements:

Topiary card base - 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 score at 4 1/4

Dutch Blue cs - 4 x 5 1/4

White Daisy cs - 4 x 5 1/4

Lines to draw: Landscape - 1/2" from top and 1" from top; Portrait - 3/4" on each side

Happy Staming!

Tutorial Time - Surprise Pop-up Card

These are cute little cards to make. Interactive cards are so fun! I needed to make a birthday card for my son, Tanner, so I decided to make him one of these. ENJOY!

Measurements:

Ocean cs - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Cranberry cs - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, 2 5/8 x 2 5/8

Black cs - 3 x 4 3/4 (I told you incorrectly on the video, but the overlay is correct. Sorry!)

White Daisy cs - 2 1/2 x 2 1/2

Stamp sets - Flyin' High, Rustic Numbers, Happy Birthday

Ink - Cranberry, Ocean, Black, White Daisy

Embellisments - Cranberry grosgrain ribbon, black brads, silver staple

Happy Stamping!

Best Fishes

Here is a card I made for the color challenge on Mommy Scraps. I took her theme and "awesome" birthday sentiment and made one of my own. In addition, I had inspiration from Jeanne's front flip card she made using the D'Vine Swirl cuttlebug and fish theme. This one is a little different than the usual card I make. It took me a little out of my comfort zone, which (I guess) is a good thing.

I mainly used the following CTMH colors: breeze, ocean, orange, citrus leaf. I sponged the bottom part of the card in cocoa, chocolate and desert sand to make the bottom of the ocean or aquarium (whichever you prefer). I used the June stamp of the month, With Love, for the ocean plants, etc. I love how other CTMH consultants use this flower set for other themes. In addition, I sponged the breeze cardstock with breeze and ocean ink for the water. After using the cuttlebug folder, I highlighted some of the waves with my white gel pen. I hope you like this one!

I finished this card with eyelets and orange sassy strands. Wow! I hardly ever use eyelets any more. I had the perfect color to go with the ocean cardstock in my never-ending stash. LOL! AND I got to use my crop-a-dile. YAY!


Happy Stamping!

Tutorial Time - Money Holder Card

This is an awesome card to give someone, if you are giving them money or a check. It can be used for graduation, birthdays, Christmas....the possibilities are endless. I got the instructions from Lisa Somerville. She is a very talented lady! Thanks, Lisa!

I forgot to include the music information on my video...music - Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield.



Happy Birthday closed


Happy Birthday card open

Here is the graduation card I gave my niece, Caitlin, for her his school graduation.


Jeanne, I am not sure if Vicki W. has a blog. I got her name from Jenn. If I find it, I will let you know.

Happy Stamping!

Enchanted Series - Happy Birthday

I am going to show you a series of six cards this week that you should be able to reproduce in one hour or less. These cards are simple and do not take long to create. Sometimes I just don't have a lot of time to get a bunch of cards done. We are giving this set of cards to the Administrative Assistant at Tate's school for Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday. I hope she likes them! I do, because they can be sent to both men or women.


I used the Enchanted Level 2 paper pack, coordinating cardstock and ribbon (Barn Red, Garden Green, Sunflower). In addition, I used the Happy Birthday stamp set on both cards, which I highly recommend if you make cards.

I stamped Celebrate on the ribbon in Smokey Plum ink. I used pop dots underneath the scalloped punch.



I stamped Happy Birthday on the ribbon in Smokey Plum ink.


I almost forgot to mention....I added a link to my sidebar under Custom Created Pages and Gifts. It is a link to my friend, Debbie's blog. She started a new business designing scrapbook pages and gifts. Check it out! She creates great layouts!


Happy Stamping!

Happy Birthday All Star

I am still on the masculine theme. This card just evolved while I sat at my scrap table. I had this card with It's A Guy Thing pattern paper sitting on my desk, so I decided I would start with it. I had two little holes pierced towards the bottom, so I decided to cover them up with a piece of New England Ivy cardstock that I distressed with Cocoa ink. Hmmm! What do I do next?

I cut a piece of Barn Red cardstock and decided I would use my Cuttlebug embossing folders. I chose Tiny Bubbles to match the circles on the pattern paper. After I embossed it, I distressed it by rubbing the Cocoa pad over the embossed bubbles. Wow! All I could think of were basketballs, so I took my Let's Play Ball stamp set and stamped a basketball over the bubbles and cut them out. Now, I needed to make a sports card, so I decided to make a Birthday sports card.

I pulled out my SPORTS stamp set and saw the "all star" sentiment. I stamped it with Cocoa ink on Bamboo cardstock and anchored it with edge anchors. I used Bamboo brads instead of using the same color as the anchor. Okay, now how could I get Happy Birthday on the card without it looking like two sentiments sitting on top of each other. Hello! I could use my solo letters and the Happy Birthday stamp set.

I stamped the "h" and "b" in Bamboo ink on Bamboo cardstock, so the sentiment "HAPPY" and "BIRTHDAY" would show up in Barn Red. As I had said before, I don't like light colors without a border, so I ran my New England Ivy marker along the edge of both the solo letters. The letters looked bare on the card, so I added New England Ivy designer ribbon to the 'h" and placed the basketballs around the card on pop-dots. This made the balls jump off the card.

I didn't think I liked the card at first, but now I do. It is fun to start from scratch and just keep adding to a card until you feel it is done. It is scarier to do this, because you don't have a pattern or format to follow. It does get your creative juices flowing. Hope you like!


Have a great weekend and Happy Stamping!

Technique Tuesday - inking over embossing

After some badgering from my sister, I finally decided to take a crack at a video tutorial. Please let me know what you think of it and if you would like to see these in the future or the original way I posted my tutorials. Thanks!






Now, it is your turn!

Happy Stamping!

Sillhouette Card Class

I am ready for the card class I am offering in March. I can't believe it, but I felt like creating some cards and thought I might as well make them for the next class. I used the new Silhouette paper from the current 2008 CTMH Idea Book. This is a very popular paper pack and is one of my favorites too! It is so versatile for making cards and layouts!

I used various stamp sets and will list them under the card.

Thoughtful Scripts stamp set (retired)

Vintage Snowflake and Comforting Thoughts (retired) stamp sets

Simple Blossoms and Heartfelt Sayings (retired) stamp sets

Vintage Snowflake and From Me To You (2007 special offer) stamp sets

Simple Blossoms stamp set

Thanks for stopping by!

Technique Tuesday - Faux Suede

Okay, I got a little tired just doing liquid glass techniques. I took a break from liquid glass this week and tried a new one for me....faux suede. This technique is really cool, because the paper really feels like suede. You won't get the full effect from the picture. Hopefully, you will be able to see that the paper is soft.

This 6 x 6 layout was created by Joanne Coleman, CTMH Independent Consultant. She did a great job! Her instructions are so easy to follow. I used the same color she did for my card. I think you could use any three similar colors for this technique. Suede comes in all colors now. A pretty pink would be nice.

Faux Suede

Supplies:

• White Daisy cardstock
• Desert Sand stamp pad
• Chocolate stamp pad
• Cocoa stamp pad
• Sponge
• Spray bottle with water
• Bone Folder

Step 1: Crumple and fold up a piece of White Daisy cardstock. Smooth it out; crumble and smooth again. Lightly misting with water will help prevent the edges from tearing, but allow to dry before proceeding. Place it on a soft surface (a mouse pad works great) and rub all over with a bone folder or the rounded side of scissors.

Step 2: Find a corner that is coming lose and VERY CAREFULLY pull the layers apart, working around the edges to avoid tearing. You will now have two pieces of a rough side.

Step 3: Lightly dampen a sponge. With the rough side of the cardstock up, randomly sponge all over with Desert Sand ink, then Chocolate ink, then Cocoa ink. Be careful to not over ink.



For this card, I used Free Spirit paper and Happy Birthday stamp set.


Now, it is your turn!

Happy Stamping!

Happy Birthday to U

Last week, I found myself out of masculine birthday cards, when my husband needed one for a friend. I decided to make a simple one, so I could mass produce it. I ended up with 16 of these in various colors. I am ready for any birthday now!

My inspiration came from Chris Shouse who gave me a thank you card with this design and paper paper. Thanks, Chris!


I started working on my Fun in the Sun theme last night. Hopefully, I will have some things to show you. My boys had a snow day from school today, so I didn't get much stamping done. We had to play outside in the fresh powder. We were supposed to get ice like the south did, but it never hit us.

Happy Stamping!

Little Boy Theme Party

Here is one of the new projects I am starting next year...themed parties. This is one of the suggestions I took home from convention. I am going to offer hostesses a choice of a themed party. They will pick a theme and then choose what they want their guests to make from one of the following:

• A 12 x 12 layout or
  
• A card and gift tag or
  
• A gift bag and gift tag

This is the first one I made. I got this design from Tiffany Cheney, a very talented Independent CTMH consultant. She had this layout, gift bag and card listed on our consultant bulletin board. I just added the gift tag to match the collection. I printed her pictures and made a set for examples to show my hostesses. I hope they like them. The layout features chalk popping. The main stamp set featured is Little Boys.



I would love to hear from you about any ideas you have for themed parties. Please leave your suggestions in the comments. Here are others I am working on:

• Vintage Christmas
• Outdoors/Camping
• Easter
• Birthday
• Girls Night Out
• 4th of July
• School Days

Thanks for stopping by!

Technique Tuesday - Sanding Stamped Images

Hello! As you know, I took the weekend off. My mom kept telling me she didn't receive my blog and wondered why. I told her I was taking the weekend off to be with my family. She was just worried she was missing it. Thanks, Mom!

Friday night, I had a DATE with my hubby! Our boys stayed all night at Grandma and Grandpa's house, so we didn't have to worry about how late we stayed out. We went out to eat, went to a movie and went to listen to a band. All the things we like to do in one night. AND I got to sleep in, which I love to do. This weekend I found out that I like to take that time for my family, so I have decided not to stamp over the weekends. You will not hear from me Saturdays and Sundays for sure and maybe Mondays. I will definitely be back for Technique Tuesdays every week.

This week I decided to use one from the summer CTMH idea book - Sanding Stamped Images. This one is so great, because you can do this with every stamp set you own. I used From Me to You for the main image and Sensational Seals on the tag. Here are directions straight from page 31 from the summer catalog:

Sanding Stamped Images

1. Stamp an image on cardstock of your choice.
2. Lay the stamped image on the foam pad included in the My Acrylix packaging. Cover with wax paper to prevent tearing, then trace over the entire image using an embossing stylus. (I did not use wax paper, but I have heard to rub wax paper over your image to emboss easier.)
3. Turn the stamped image over and sand the raised image with sandpaper.

Here is my card using this technique. I wish I wouldn't have started with amethyst cardstock, but I did the best with the color I chose. For the background I used my Fancy Pants, From the Garden stamp set. Here is the recipe:

Stamp sets - From Me to You, Sensational Seals, From the Garden

Paper - white daisy, amethyst, bubblegum

Ink - bubblegum, sweet leaf, baby pink, hydrangea

Embellishments - light purple gingham ribbon, white daisy photo hanger, bright pink baby pin and large spiral, clear sparkles (bling), dimensional element

Now, it is your turn!


Happy Stamping!

Open House Create-N-Take

Does this card design look familiar? Well, it is from the Legendary Goodness card my upline, Chris, designed for us at one of our team meetings. I used this design, because I was pressed for time to make something for my Open House/Crop Friday night. I didn't start this one until 2:30 p.m. Friday and the Open House started at 7:00 p.m. and still had cleaning to do. My sister didn't help by saying, "You don't have that done yet!".

I wanted to make a birthday card, because everyone uses those, and I wanted to use a new paper pack. I like it, because it could be used for men and women. You should click on the card to see the details. Here is the recipe:

Paper - Enchanted Level 2 paper pack; smokey plum, autumn terracotta, and colonial white cardstock.

Stamp sets - It's a Party and Happy Birthday

Ink - smokey plum, cranberry and autumn terracotta

Accessories - sanding block, foundry plates (sanded), natural twill ribbon, cranberry edge anchor, autumn terracotta photo clips, sponge daubers, black stubble tool

Happy Stamping!

RAK from Jeanne

Boy, what a great trip I had to the mailbox today! I opened it up expecting junk mail and bills and I got a little package from my good friend, Jeanne. We email each other almost every day and she has surprised me with this beautiful card and a Cuttlebug embossing folder tiny bubbles. Jeanne is a master at digital scrapbooking and if you haven't visited her blog lately, she has been working hard on some layouts...you should visit Creative Bliss.

Thanks, Jeanne for the gorgeous card and little surprise! You are too kind!

eat cake

This is the first time I completed a Splitcoaststampers challenge. Every Wednesday, they have a sketch challenge and I am going to try to complete them...but no promises. This was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I am so used to just sitting down and designing when I create that following a specific pattern and designing around it was foreign to me.

I am still on the bright colored kick. I completed two cards with a little variation, because I had the scraps sitting on my desk and had to use them. Maybe I should change my name to Scrap Lady.

I like how the "eat cake" sentiment on top of the cake plate turned out. I saw these two stamps side by side in my scrap rack and the sentiment looked like a cake to me, so I put them together.

At first, I wasn't sure if I liked this card, but it has grown on me. The sketch challenge did not call for embellishments in the upper right corner, but I couldn't resist. I used Flower Power paper pack, which is retired. I couldn't believe how the American Crafts popsicle ribbon had the same color combination.

As you can see...my Cuttlebug strikes again! I am so glad I got my bug for Mother's Day. This is a must in my book. If it is on your wish list, make sure you use your 40% off coupon at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Another tool I seem to use a lot is my Tim Holtz distressing tool. CTMH has one in there new fall idea book. It seems to distress paper better than my Tim Holtz one, but it wasn't as close to my work station as the Tim Holtz one was...can you say lazy? I need to put my CTMH one in my Totetally Cool bag. I used the following stamp sets: Happy Birthday(sentiment) , Birthday Bash (cake plate), Happy Day (eat cake, retired). If you would like a stamp set that has Happy Birthday and Celebrate in different fonts Happy Birthday is the one to get. I use it on many projects.

I can't decide if I am going to post a layout or another card tomorrow. I have a Zoo layout I am working on presently. It depends on if I get the time to print pictures.

I almost forgot to show you my embellishment center from Making Memories. It is up and almost filled. I am waiting for some little jars my sister has for me. The jars on it now are plastic. They are awesome! I like the fact they are light and don't weigh down the shelf. It has been fun filling with all the products I have hidden in cupboards.

Happy Stamping!

Rest of the Kit

I finished the final four cards of the card kit available in September. This kit was easy to work with and the really like the colors.


Sorry about the lighting on this one. It seems that when the card is mainly white my camera doesn't want to use the flash.



Another one that can be used for any occasion.



I used my empressor guide and tool on this one.



The instructions had love you on this card, but I always need more thank you cards.

Have a great day!