Another RAK!

Look what I received in the mail today from Bethany Paull — an RAK congratulating me on becoming a member of the Dirty Dozen on Splitcoast!  There was a stack of mail in the mailbox, but I could see right away that this was a handmade card because Bethany stamped that lovely Champagne Girl image on the front of the envelope, too.  I wasn’t even inside my house before I had it open and let out an audible gasp.  😀  What a vibrant and fun card!  I love the bright reds and pinks, the beautifully colored Champagne Girl, the doodling and the scalloped circle.  Bethany does a fantastic job of coordinating different patterns and colors on her cards.  Click on her name in this post to see her blog, It’s Not All Black & White, and you’ll see more of the fabulous artwork she creates.

Thank you so much, Bethany, for thinking of me and sending such a wonderful card and note.  I will treasure it always!

Some images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

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Once Upon a Time…

I’ve been meaning to participate in last week’s Limited Supply Challenge on Splitcoast and finally had the time to put this card together this morning.  We were limited to one flower stamp (or a stamp that had a flower in it), one sentiment, one small background and accessories could include ribbons, brads or flower punches.  I stamped the cake in Black StazOn ink on Whisper White cardstock, watercolored it with an Aqua Painter and Reinkers, overstamped the image in VersaMark ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement).  The image was cut out with the CM Circle Cutting System.  The So Saffron piece was punched out with the Giga Scalloped Square Punch and attached to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  The background flowers were stamped in VersaMark ink as well and embossed with Winter White Embossing Powder — I love the soft, subtle effect this added to the card.  And that striped paper is from the Palette O’ Prints Designer Paper Pad.  I absolutely LOVE that paper! 😀

All other materials by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Fairy-tale Wedding.  Paper: Palette O’ Prints Designer Paper (So Saffron), So Saffron, Whisper White.  Ink: Black StazOn, So Saffron, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, VersaMark.  Accessories: Aqua Painter & Reinkers, Saffron Brads, Dimensionals, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Winter White & Iridescent Ice Embossing Powders, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

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Happy Birthday Kaylee!

I finally made a birthday card for my niece who turned 5 on Monday — I’m just a little bit late!  Over the last three years, I’ve made her birthday cards using kid-friendly sets like Pretty Princess, Unfrogettable and Fishy Friends.  I was pondering what set I could use for her card this year, and finally decided to use my On Board Simon Lower Chipboard that I’ve been hoarding for quite some time now.  🙂  The letter “K” was covered with a piece of the new Palette O’ Prints Designer Paper, pressed on a VersaMark ink pad and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  The corners of the letter were pierced with the Paper Piercing Tool & Mat and stitches were drawn with the White Signo Gel Pen.  The background on the Almost Amethyst card base was created with the Kindness Jumbo Wheel and VersaMark ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, too.  The photo doesn’t really show all the shimmer and sparkle this card has.  To get a better look at it, please click on the photo.  Thanks for stopping by today!

All materials by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Kindness Jumbo Wheel, Small Sayings.  Paper: Palette O’ Prints Designer Paper (Almost Amethyst & Certainly Celery), Almost Amethyst, Whisper White.  Ink: Basic Black, VersaMark.  Accessories: On Board Simon Lower Chipboard, Dimensionals, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Linen Thread, Certainly Celery Button, White Signo Gel Pen, Spring Bouquet Flower Punch.

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For Shane

The Color Challenge on Splitcoast this week called for Taken With Teal, Cool Caribbean and Marigold Morning.  There was also a special request with the challenge–make and send your card to Shane, a little boy with leukemia whose only wish is to receive 350,000 birthday cards by his birthday on May 30th.  I thought the pick-up truck from Loads of Love with the little guy stamped in the front seat would be an appropriate card for this special little boy.  The Houndstooth background was stamped in VersaMark ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  The little tab on the side was made with the Key Tag Punch and actually pulls out.  I made a track on the backside of the truck panel with several Stampin’ Dimensionals so that the tab would pull out straight.  I also secured some Linen Thread to the left side of the tab and then to the backside of the truck panel so that the tab wouldn’t pull out all the way, but stops where you see it depicted in the photo (please click on the photo to see the finer details).  I truly hope that Shane gets his wish!

All materials by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Houndstooth.  Paper: Taken With Teal, Cool Caribbean, Marigold Morning, Watercolor.  Ink: Black StazOn, Taken With Teal, Cool Caribbean, Marigold Morning, VersaMark.  Accessories: Aqua Painter & Reinkers, Dimensionals, Black Gingham Ribbon, Key Tag Punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat, Sewing Machine & Thread, Black Eyelet, More Mustard Brads, Clear Embossing Powder, Linen Thread.

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Tiers of Treats

I was finally able to participate in today’s Limited Supply Challenge over on Splitcoast.  We had a pretty detailed list to follow this week.  I ended up having to cheat on one thing–the red grosgrain ribbon.  The supply list called for hemp or fibers and I had red hemp, but it wasn’t the right shade of red.  I’ve also never owned a single strand of fancy fibers, but this card was positively screaming for some type of “fiber” on it, hence the addition of red ribbon.  It was hard deciding on which background stamp to use.  I always reach for Linen, Canvas or Paisley first.  I very rarely use the Aida Cloth background, so I forced myself to use it today.  It might not be the perfect “style” for this card, but it got me out of my comfort zone. 🙂  The red and turquoise dots on the Au Chocolat Designer Paper were colored in with markers.  I think the addition of the colored dots helped pull the whole card together.  The stamp, Tiers of Treats, is a true delight to watercolor!  I found it over at Eclectic Paperie.  They have fabulous stuff over there, so you might want to check it out!  Thanks so much for visiting today!

All other materials by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Aida Cloth, So Very.  Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla, Au Chocolat Designer Paper, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor.  Ink: Black StazOn, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Garden Green, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip.  Accessories: Aqua Painter & Reinkers, Sponge, Dimensionals, Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat.

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Bye Bye Balmy Breezes

I will definitely miss this wonderful stamp set!  It has been a great set for making masculine cards, which for me can be difficult to create.  I used the layout from this week’s Sketch Challenge over on Splitcoast.  The original layout is from a fabulous card done by Trudee.  To see more of her awe-inspiring work, click on the link “Follow Your Bliss” under my blogroll.  I very rarely do faux stitching on cards, but I was too lazy to lug out my sewing machine today, so I used my paper piercing tool and mat and a Chocolate Chip marker.  The image was watercolored with an Aqua Painter and Reinkers using Cool Caribbean for the sky, Sahara Sand for the sand :), Old Olive for the fronds and Chocolate Chip for the trunk.  Please click on the photo to see the finer details.  Thanks so much for visiting today!

All materials by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Balmy Breezes, Linen, Canvas, Take Three.  Paper: Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor.  Ink: Black StazOn, Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand.  Accessories: Aqua Painter & Reinkers, Sponge, Dimensionals, Twill, Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat.

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Butterfly Kisses

Right before I got sick, I had ordered the Butterfly Kisses set from PAPERTREYink.  It has been sitting on my kitchen counter for almost two weeks now gathering dust.  Today is the first day I actually got to play with it!  This is also the very first time I have used acrylic stamps so it took me awhile to get a “feel” for them.  I must admit it is nice to be able to see through the acrylic block for the exact placement of each stamp.  I stamped all the images in Stampin’ Up!’s Craft ink and then embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  I like how the smaller images on the bottom panel almost look like patterned paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

All other materials by Stampin’ Up!

Paper: Certainly Celery, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Ink: Craft Taken With Teal, Certainly Celery and Basic Black.  Accessories: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Ticket Corner Punch, Black Gingham Ribbon.

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