Be Merry

I took today's stamping challenge and made a few changes to fit the stamps that I used. The ornaments just didn't quite work well within a circle and my snowman certainly couldn't take a rectangle. Of course the colors don't usually go with the holidays but I think they work well together. I am anxious to hear what you think.

Stamp Sets: Delightful Decorations, Christmas Punch, and Warm Words

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, and Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock

Accessories: Pumpkin Pie 1/4" ribbon, Crystal effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Tools: Punches

Getting in the holiday mood

I got up this morning, after an enlightening chat with my 5 & 6 year old grand daughters, and decided to think "Christmas". As I have mentioned before, I am really enjoying the Medallion stamp. I had the idea to make it into a holiday ornament. And it worked! Of course I had to stamp quite of few of them and then emboss them, but the finished product worked out really well.

I do realize it is only August (well, almost September), but I feel I need to start early as I never know what will slow me down as the holidays approach. There are always so many fun things to do.

The trickiest part of this was to cut the scallop after stamping the design, but almost every time it has worked perfectly. Here's how I mastered that:

1. Cut out the scallop using the Circle die and the Big Shot using a single piece of paper

2. Lay the paper scallop over the stamped Medallion design and line up edges

3.Keeping the 2 pieces together, turn them over and bring close to the Circle die

4. Slightly peel back the scallop paper and align the edges with the die.

5. Be sure to keep the scallop paper and stamped image together on other sides

6. Lay both pieces on the die and cut.

I would love to hear if this works for you as well.

Sparkling Medallion

The card today was done as part of the Stamping 411 weekly Saturday challenge. I recently to this Medallion stamp and been trying to use it in a variety of ways. To just use the center portion allows it to be seen in an entirely perspective. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Stamps used: Medallion and Warm Words

Ink: Crushed Curry and Soft Suede

Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade & Crushed Curry DSP, Soft Suede and Whisper White cardstok

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Crystal Effects, and 1/2" Soft Suede Ribbon

Seasons

I guess I've just been in a stamping mood today. I've been playing around with different designs but this I really like this card. It was made the other night during my monthly stamp class. I just wanted to give a picture of different seasons. I think I did a fairly good idea of it. I'd like to hear what you think.

Stamps Used: Trendy Trees

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Green Galore. and Hunter Green

Paper: Hunter Green, Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White

Tools: Stamp Positioner

Friend to Friend

I'm sorry that I haven't been posting too many cards lately. I guess now that I have to go back to work I'll have to schedule my time more wisely.

Today's card was done by another stamper but I decided that different colors worked better for me. With fall in the air, along with all our rain, the leaves are changing and I needed to start using autumn colors. I hope you enjoy it.

Stamps: Circle Circus and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Soft Suede

Paper: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede and Whisper White cardstock

Accessories: Soft Suede ribbon

Tools: Big Shot with Scallop Square die, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" punches

Monday Stamp Challenge

Each Monday there is a new stamping challenge. They give me a design sketch and I create a card using basically that design. It can be altered somewhat according to sizes and styles that I select. This card is another really simple one to put together and doesn't have any extra accessories with the exception of some crystal effects. I hope you enjoy it.

Stamp Set: Warm Words and True Friend

Ink: Old Olive

Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Whisper White C/S and Lovely Lilac C/S

Accessories: Crystal effects over marker dots

Tools: Scallop Punch

Simply Happiness

I did a really simple card today for an online challenge. There are no accessories or tools involved. And don't you just love this designer paper. It's called Cottage Wall and I think I'll be using it a lot. It coordinates so well with the inks that Stampin'Up! has. This is an easy pattern so I hope to hear from all of you if you try it.

Stamps used: Fifth Avenue Floral and Warm Words

Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive

Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Whisper White & Orchid Opulence Cardstock

Kind Dear Friend

Today's card is another challenge. In fact, I'm in a different challenge each day this week. It gives me a different perspective to look at all my stamps and papers. I hope you enjoy the cards I'm designing. I really like hearing your comments.

Stamps: Kind and Caring Thoughts

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Paper: Cottage Wall DSP and Whisper White Cardstock

Accessories: Brads

Tools: Eyelet punch and Corner Rounder

Another Early Christmas Card

I told you how much I like this new Christmas ornament stamp set. So, on this Monday morning stamp challenge I am using it again. I think I'm just trying out all these cards to decide which one I'll really use for holiday cards. Today's card displays a few more accessories and tools but continues to be an easily assembled card.

Stamp set: Delightful Decorations and Warm Words

Ink: Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo

Paper: Bermuda Bay and Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and Whisper White cardstock

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter & Crushed Curry ribbon

Tools: Big Shot with Circle #2 die and Scallop, Large & Small Oval punches

An Early Christmas Card

As you can see, today's cards deal with Christmas. It is never too early to begin planning the cards that you need to make for the holidays. I just received this set as it is a new set, Delightful Decorations, available as of September 1st. Isn't it beautiful. And the best part is that I didn't have to cut them out individually. There is a new punch that does it for me. It will make finishing cards so much faster and easier.

You probably also noticed that I used traditional colors on one card but with the other one I experimented with some of the In-Colors that Stampin'Up! has to offer this year. Actually, I think I like the non-traditional look the best. Let me know what you think.

Saturday Challenge

Hello, Stampers! I hope you're having a great weekend. We've gone from sunny to rain and now lots of clouds. It's a great afternoon for stamping.

Today's card was designed for the Stamping411 Challenge. I got to use my new stamp set, Fun & Fast Notes. This is a great set since each of the stamps is a great individual design and can be used for any number of cards. I look forward to hearing what you think of this design.

Stamps used: Fun & Fast Notes and Short & Sweet

Ink: Melon mambo and Basic black

Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper and Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo & Whisper White Cardstock

Accessories: Flower brads, Aqua painter and variety of markers

Inspiration Challenge

Today's card was done as part of an Inspiration Challenge to simply use the provided photo from Pottery Barn Kids. I'd love to hear and see your own designs from this photo.

Stamp Sets: Think Happy Thoughts and Matchbox Messages

Ink: Night of Navy, Almost Artichoke

Paper: Almost Artichoke, NIght of Navy, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, & Ruby Red Cardstock

Accessories: 5/8" Brochade Blue Ribbon

Tools: Eyelet punch

A variety of colors

I hope you enjoy the colors used in the card...black, crushed curry, melon mambo and kraft. This was part of the Color Throwdown Challenge this week. These certainly aren't colors I would normally put together, but they seem to work. Well, except for the melon mambo bird...what do you think?

Stamp set: Autumn Days

Ink: Melon mambo and Crushed curry

Paper: Black, Crushed curry, Melon mambo and Kraft cardstock

Accessories: 1/4" black ribbon and Crystal effects

Tools: Scallop oval, large oval and small oval punches

Medallion Card

Sorry it's been so long between posts. I've been on vacation with my daughter and her family. Between hikes, camping and all the tourist areas, we've been very busy.

Today's card brings back the monochromatic theme using a new stamp, the Medallion. Only one stamp was used to create this beautiful design and you're not even seeing all of it. The stamp is big enough to cover the entire front of a card. I'm sure you'll be seeing many more samples in the future.

Stamp used: Medallion

Ink: Basic black

Paper: Whisper white and Basic black cardstock

Accessories: 1/4" black ribbon

Tools: Eyelet punch

A Simple Joy

I just love this design! It was so simple and still, it appears to really catch your eye. Do you agree? I have to admit that I copied the idea from another stamper called "Simplicity". She creates some really nice and simple designed cards. The alphabet set I used is one that Stampin'Up! has retired but it worked in this case. I put little rhinestones to separate the letters. Then, with some Real Red cardstock on the inside of the card and a scallop punched edge, it was finished.

Sometimes the simplest things are the most eye catching. Again, I'd love to hear your comments.