Apothecary Art Birthday

This card took some extra time to make — why you might ask? Because I made the mistake of stamping the sentiment last and messing it up after all the watercoloring had been done! Yikes! I’ve always said in stamping and cardmaking that there’s usually a way to fix a “mistake” without starting completely over. In this case, I stamped the ribboned center again, stamped the sentiment, and then cut it out and attached it to the watercolored flower piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I actually like the banner popped up so it all worked out (fortunately). 🙂 One other technique I included on this card is to overstamp the image in VersaMark ink using a Stamp-a-ma-jig, apply Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, and emboss. It not only creates a glittery, sparkly image, but it makes the stamped image POP.

Stamps: Apothecary Art

Paper: Blushing Bride (Textured), Pear Pizzazz, Pear Pizzazz DSP, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP

Ink: Black StazOn, Blushing Bride, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green, VersaMark

Accessories: Scallop Edge Border Punch, Whisper White 5/8″ Organza Ribbon, Sewing Machine and Thread, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Aqua Painter and Reinker Inks, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Twitterpated Designer Buttons, Rhinestones, Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits Die

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Watercolored Romance

I had a little time this afternoon to try out the new Bordering on Romance stamp set — it’s perfect for watercoloring! The central image is watercolored with an Aqua Painter and Reinker Inks (Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive).

Stamps: Bordering on Romance, Fabulous Phrases, En Francais

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Watercolor Paper, Attic Boutique DSP

Ink: Black StazOn, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Adorning Accents Edgelits Die, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat, Cherry Cobbler 3/8″ Quilted Satin Ribbon, Silver Mini Brads, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Small Oval Punch, Big Shot

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Elementary Elegance Monogram

I needed to make some monogram thank you cards for a friend who likes subdued, neutral colors. The “S” is computer generated in Word and the font is Baskerville Old Face, with a font size of 84. I found the RGB code for Early Espresso online (R=80, G=57, B=49) and punched the “S” out with the Curly Label Punch.

Stamps: Elementary Elegance (SAB)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Mocha Morning Specialty DSP

Ink: Early Espresso

Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Big Shot

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Control Freaks Blog Tour – Occasions Mini and SAB Sneak Peek!

Welcome to the Control Freaks Blog Tour! We’re showcasing products from the new Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration Catalogs. You’ve just come from Wendy Weixler’s blog — weren’t her projects WONDERFUL??!!

PROJECT #1 – ALTERED NOTEBOOK AND PEN

My first project is an altered notebook and pen. The notebook measures 10-1/8 x 7-1/4″ and is covered with Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper. Out of all the new scrapbook papers offered in the new Occasions Mini and the Sale-A-Bration Catalogs, the Everyday Enchantment paper is my FAVORITE! The colors and patterns are so soft, pretty and elegant — it makes creating projects that much easier to design because they are so inspiring! And the new Elegant Bird Bigz Die — gorgeous! I took a piece of the Lucky Limeade 1/8″ Organdy Ribbon found in the SAB catalog, curled it with the edge of a pair of scissors, attached it to the beak and then secured the ends with a small amount of Tombow Adhesive. The pen is a Pentel RSVP pen with a piece of Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (measuring 1″ x 3-1/4″) rolled up and placed in the barrel of the pen. Just screw off the end of the pen, pull the ink tube out, wrap the paper tightly around it and reinsert into the barrel.

Stamps: None

Paper: Everyday Enchantment DSP, Very Vanilla, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Pool Party (Textured), Neutrals Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (Vanilla stripe)

Ink: Crumb Cake

Accessories: Lucky Limeade 1/8″ Organdy Ribbon, 3/8″ Printed Designer Brads, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Elegant Bird Bigz Die, Pearl, Sponge, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Computer Generated Sentiment, Big Shot

PROJECT #2 – ALTERED PHOTO FRAME

My next project is an altered photo frame. I found the frame at Michael’s in a pack of four for $10.00 (after using a 50% off coupon). The frame measures 8 inches square. Once again, I was drawn to using the Everyday Enchantment paper for the background. 🙂 I love how the sentiments from the Sprinkled Expressions SAB stamp set fit perfectly in the Curly Label Punch.

Stamps: Elementary Elegance (SAB), Sprinkled Expressions (SAB)

Paper: Everyday Enchantment DSP, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Pool Party

Ink: Soft Suede, Poppy Parade

Accessories: Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die, Eyelet Border Punch, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Big Shot

PROJECT #3 – THANK YOU CARD

My third and final project is a card using the Fresh Vintage SAB stamp set, as well as several accessories from the Occasions Mini catalog. The main image was created by coloring directly on the stamp with markers and then stamping on Very Vanilla Textured cardstock — I love how it gives that vintage, scritch-scratch pattern.

Stamps: Fresh Vintage (SAB), Tiny Tags

Paper: Calypso Coral (Textured), Soft Suede, Very Vanilla (Textured and Smooth), Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait

Ink: Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Peach Parfait, Lucky Limeade

Accessories: Calypso Coral 1/8″ Organdy Ribbon, Jewelry Tag Punch, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Dies, Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, Pearl, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Big Shot

To see the next blog, click the link below. It’ll take you to Gretchen Barron’s awesome projects! Thanks for taking the tour!

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Merry Christmas in Brilliant Blue

My boss is a big UK fan and I was given a UK scarf to use for inspiration in creating a Christmas card for her. It’s a good thing I’m such a pack rat when it comes to SU! retired items; I still have a generous stash of Brilliant Blue cardstock and inks to work with. 🙂 I do wish SU! would come up with a poinsettia die — my “poinsettia” is made by punching several petals with the Blossom Petals Builder Punch and then I used the Simply Scored Scoring Tool to score each petal down the center. To assemble the flower, I punched a 1-1/4″ circle out of scrap cardstock and used a hot glue gun to attach each petal to the circle, working around and around until the flower seemed full enough. The antique brad in the center provided a nice, elegant finish to the flower.

Stamps: Come to Bethlehem

Paper: Brilliant Blue DSP (retired), Bride DSP (retired), Brilliant Blue (retired), Whisper White

Ink: Brilliant Blue (retired), VersaMark

Accessories: White Brads, Lots of Tags Sizzlits Die, Blossom Petals Builder Punch, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Antique Brad, Whisper White 5/8″ Organza Ribbon, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Big Shot

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Angelic Inspiration

All images copyright Stampin’ Up!

This is one of the cards I created as a member of the Splitcoast Dirty Dozen. A Starbucks paper bag was used as my inspiration. It’s hard to see in the photo, but the Baroque Motifs background (stamped in white craft ink) and the angel were embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. It’s all very sparkly in real life!

Stamps: Holy Triptych, Baroque Motifs, En Francais

Paper: Wild Wasabi, Kraft, Certainly Celery, Watercolor

Ink: White Craft, Wild Wasabi, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, River Rock

Accessories: Aqua Painter & Reinkers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Sewing Machine & Thread, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Pretties Kit, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Theater Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge

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Christmas Lodge in Pink

One of my dear friends asked me to design a Christmas card for her using pink and this is what I came up with, from inspiration found here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2082650?&si=lovely. I’ve found it hard to use this tree on a standard-sized card — it’s so large. I think the layout works well here, though, and I’m pleased with how this pink Christmas card turned out. 🙂 The mica flakes were applied using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. The flakes are a little large, so a little bit goes a long way.

Stamps: Christmas Lodge

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Pretty in Pink 5/8″ Satin Ribbon, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Mica Flakes, Stampin’ Dimensionals

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