Pumpkin Monkey

I've been so busy preparing for classes and working on contest entries that I haven't been really stamped just for fun in a few days. So, yesterday I decided to work on Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. The color combo dictated what stamp set I used and even though Chocolate Chip is in the palate I decided it wasn't the color I wanted to make the monkey. I wanted a Pumpkin Pie monkey!

I stamped the ice cream cone and sock monkey in Jet Black StazOn on Whisper White using a mask. I colored the ice cream cone with my Chocolate Chip marker and So Saffron Classic Ink pad and Blender pen. I then stamped the monkey again on a piece of Always DSP and cut it out. I adhered the body, tail, and head piece to my Whisper White layer. I then layered it on a piece of Chocolate Chip. I took a piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock and punched it with my Scallop Edge punch. I dotted the scallops with my Signo White Gel Pen and added some Chocolate Chip Polytwill ribbon. I adhered it to a So Saffron card. I added my monkey image on top. I then punched a piece of Pumpkin Pie with my Scallop Square punch. I dotted the scallops with my Signo White Gel Pen. I adhered it to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I then stamped my sentiment in Chocolate Chip in So Saffron and punched it with the Small Oval punch. I then punched a piece of Chocolate Chip with my Large Oval punch. I layered my ovals and adhered them to my Scallop Square.

Card Class Reminder

Just a quick reminder that April's card class is taking place this Thursday at 7 pm. We will complete 5 cards for different occasions. The cost of the class is $12 or half price with a $30 purchase. We wll be using a new stamp set from the Occasions Mini catalog. Please RSVP by April 1.

Jake

This page is dedicated to Jake, the dog we had for 4 days before giving him to the neighbor because my stubborn, spoiled Oscar didn't like having a sibling. Jake was such a good dog, but we were already attached to our stinker, Oscar, so we had to find somewhere else for Jake. But don't worry, Jake went to a very loving (only dog) home.

I stamped Polka Dot background repeatedly down a strip of More Mustard cardstock and adhered it to a piece of Basic Black cardstock. I then adhered a full sheet of Pumpkin Pie. I added my pictures. I then added a strip of Basic Black to fit next to the upper picture and a strip of More Mustard stamped with the Polka dots again to fit in the space down the side of the first two rows. I then cut a piece of Whisper White to fit next to the bottom picture and I did my journaling there with my Basic Black Stampin' Write marker. I emphasized two words with some More Mustard cardstock. I punched some circles in random sizes from different colors of cardstock and adhered them to my page. Some were adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals. I then stamped my title in Cotton White StazOn Opaque using Big Deal Alphabet. Jake may not have ended up with a place in my family, but he will always have a place in my scrapbook.

Feeding the Ducks

I struggled with this page because I don't have any duck stamps. So it ended up being pretty simple. I started with a sheet of Bashful Blue cardstock. I ripped a piece of Creamy Caramel cardstock and sponged it with Creamy Caramel ink. I adhered it to the bottom of the page. I then did the same with a piece of Old Olive and Old Olive ink. I adhered my pictures to the page and started working on the title. I inked up a piece of On Board Chipboard with Old Olive ink. I then stamped part of my title with Simple Serif Mini Alphabet in Old Olive on Creamy Caramel and adhered it behind the piece of chipboard. I then added some Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain to either side of the piece of chipboard and adhered it all to my page using glue dots. I then stamped "ducks" in Creamy Caramel on WhisperWhite with Contempo Alphabet and cut the letters out and adhered them to my page. I thought about adding a tree up the side of the page, but my hubby thought it wouldn't make sense perspectively. He thought it would make the Bashful Blue area more "skylike" than "waterlike." Oh, well, sometimes you just end up with a really simple page.

Martha Stewart

So, I finally got around to scrapbooking my Martha Stewart pictures. I didn't scrapbook them when I was in Florida because I wanted to use the argyle stamp from Classic Backgrounds since Martha's sweater is argyle print. Unfortunately I didn't take that stamp set with me.

I started with a Creamy Caramel page and stamped the argyle print image up the side in Jet Black StazOn. I matted some of the images on Basic Black cardstock. I then took some 1 1/4" circles punched from Very Vanilla, folded them in half and attached them to my pictures. I then added black brads to each of them. I stamped my title in Jet Black StazOn with Short Order Alphabet, and the argyle print image in Creamy Caramel through the middle. I added some Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, tucked under the large picture and adhered the title block over the top.

I'm really glad I waited to use the argyle print image for this page. I love how it ties in with the pictures.

Time is Running Out!!!

There are only a few days left of Sale-a-bration. If you haven't taken advantage of this great promo you still have time. Also, if youp lace your order online through my website you can get a free Idea Book & Catalog with your purchase.

Have a great day, everyone!

Rose Summer

This card was made with one of the new stamp sets from the upcoming mini catalog, Soft Summer. It is a beautiful two step stamp set. You can see another sample of it here. So, I was preparing cards for my class next week and I decided I wanted to use this stamp set for the class. The class will be 5 quick, simple, but pretty cards. This card has a Rose Red base that was punched with the Ticket Corner Punch. I then added a strip of Basic Black card stock across the card. I stamped the solid image from Soft Summer in Rose Red, then the outline image over it in Basic Black on Very Vanilla. I punched the corners with the Ticket Corner Punch and adhered it to the card. Lastly I stamped my sentiment in Basic Black.

If you are interested in coming to my class, check out my calendar for the details.

Stripes & Tree

I just got some of the beautiful Always Designer Series Paper and although I don't use DSP very often I had to play with this gorgeous paper! I cut some of the striped paper and adhered it to the bottom of a Chocolate Chip card and tied a piece of Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon around the upper edge of the DSP. I then stamped the tree trunk from Trendy Trees in Chocolate Chip and the tree top in Pumpkin Pie on Whisper White. I punched it out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch and layered it on a 1 3/8" Circle. I then layered a Pretty in Pink Scallop Circle behind it. I adhered my tree to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

So Simple

Sometimes I really love a card with just one layer. And that's what I'm sharing with you today. I realized the other day that I have had a white StazOn pad for several months and I've never used it. So I thought I'd give it a go! I started with an Old Olive card and I stamped the daisy image from Upsy Daisy along the bottom of the card with the Cotton White StazOn. I then stamped my sentiment in Jet Black StazOn. I tied a little Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon around the edge and voila!

Pastel Dogwood

This card is a little more frilly then my usual style, but I love the dogwood branch from the new set Soft Summer. This stamp set is in the Occasions Mini catalog that will debut on April 1st. It is a two step stamp set. I stamped the solid image in Versamark on Very Vanilla and added color with my Stampin' Pastels. I then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the outline image in Chocolate Chip over the pastel image. I punched the corners with the Ticket Corner punch. I then took a strip of Pretty in Pink and punched down both edges with the Scallop Edge punch and adhered a strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock over it. I added some Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon and adhered it to my card. I adhered my dogwood image over it. I then found a scrap of Very Vanilla and stamped my sentiment in Chocolate Chip. I punched it out with the Word Window punch and adhered it to my card. I trimmed off the excess and I was done. I love how it turned out and I'm excited to play with this new stamp set a little more.

Spiral Pop Up Card

I love this card! The outside is cute, but the inside is even cuter! I made it a spiral pop up card. If you want to learn how to make a spiral pop up card then watch the video. It's so easy.

For the outside of the card I used a Taken with Teal card base. I stamped a piece of Old Olive with the star image from Classic Backgrounds and wrapped a piece of So Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon and attached it to my card. I then stamped the sentiment from Hugs & Wishes in Taken with Teal on Whisper White and adhered it to my card. I then punched a Large Star from So Saffron and attached it with a Stampin' Dimensional. Fun! Now watch the video to see the inside!

Woo Hoo!

New stamps!! Mounting mini alphabets = not fun.

Stalking UPS

I'm getting new stamps today!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blue Bird

I absolutely love the images in the Always stamp set, but for some reason I find myself having a hard time coming up with designs with it. I don't know what it is about it that I find so challenging, but I was determined to make a card with it. So, I stamped the bird in Bashful Blue on Whisper White. I then layered it on Basic Black. I stamped the leaf image repeatedly along the bottom of my Mellow Moss card. I then cut a small slit in the side of the card to slip my Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon through. I tied it in a knot. I then adhered the bird image to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I stamped the "always" stamp in Basic Black on Bashful Blue and punched it with my 1 1/4" Circle Punch. I layered it on a piece of Basic Black that was punched with my 1 3/8" Circle Punch. I adhered it to the bird layer. I was thinking I needed a little more Mellow Moss in the card, so I stamped the small flower in Mellow Moss on a scrap of Whisper White and punched it out with my 3/4" Circle Punch. I then adhered it with Stampin' Dimensionals. And I don't know if you can tell in the photo, but I covered my blue bird with Crystal Effects. All in all I'm pleased with the way this one turned out. I hope you like it, too.

Happy St. Patty's Day

I didn't do any St. Patrick's Day stamping, but I did do some baking! I made these yummy Hi Hat cupcakes! I used the recipe from the book Cupcakes! by Elinor Klivans but I modified it to make mini cupcakes. It's hard to tell in the picture, but I dyed the cream frosting green for St. Patty's Day! I took these to my bowling potluck last night. I had to wait until yesterday to make them, otherwise I would've eaten them all before the potluck! Chocolate cupcakes with marshmallow creme frosting, dipped in chocolate! They're so yummy!

Pink Butterfly

Butterflies also remind me of spring. So, again, with Shelli's Creative Challenge in mind I had to play with Flight of the Butterfly. I stamped the solid butterfly image in Pretty in Pink on Whisper White. I then stamped the body and dotted wings in Rose Red (lining it up with my Stamp-a-ma-jig). I then layered it on a piece of Rose Red, which was sponged on the edges, using Stampin' Dimensionals. I sponged the edges of my Certainly Celery card and sponged a strip of Pretty in Pink, which had been punched with the Scallop Edge punch. I adhered the Pretty in Pink strip to my card and tied a piece of 5/8" Certainly Celery ribbon from the Sale-a-bration ribbon bundle. I adhered the butterfly image over my ribbon. I couldn't decide on a sentiment, so I just left the front blank and will add a sentiment when I decide on a purpose for the card. Thanks for looking!

Spring Tree

One of my favorite things about spring is watching all the flowering trees bloom. I have a tree in my front yard that flowers and it makes me so happy when it is in full bloom. So, when I saw Shelli's Creative Challenge theme for the month I immediately thought of Season of Friendship. I love this stamp set. It was in the 2008 Holiday Mini and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will appear in the next Stampin' Up! IB&C.

I stamped the tree trunk in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White. I then stamped the Mellow Moss leaves. On a scrap piece of Whisper White I stamped some flowers in Pretty in Pink and Perfect Plum. I then painstakingly cut them all out and adhered them to my tree. I took a strip of Perfect Plum cardstock and punched it with the Scallop Edge Punch. I adhered it behind my Whisper White layer. I then attached it to a piece of Pretty in Pink. I adhered some Chocolate Chip Polytwill Ribbon around it and adhered it to my Mellow Moss card. I then stamped my sentiment from Warm Words in Mellow Moss and punched it out with my 1 1/4" Circle Punch. I then stamped the flower in Pretty in Pink. I layered it on a 1 3/8" Circle and then on a Scallop Circle punched from Chocolate Chip. Lastly I adhered it to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

This card is a little more labor intensive than most cards I make, but it was fun! I might have to try to get fancy more often. :o)

3 Easy Payments

Have you been thinking about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, but are hesitant due to the up-front cost? Well, it's just been announced that you can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator by purchasing your starter kit with 3 easy payments. And this includes the Sale-a-bration promotion price of $169 if you sign up before March 31st. This offer is not available online, so contact me to get the paper work started!

Here's how it works:

Promotional price

Starter Kit Payment	Payment Charged*	Payment with Stampin' Memories Add-On*
Payment 1 (charged at time kit is entered)	$56.34 (+ sales tax)	$106.34 (+ sales tax)
Payment 2 (charged around April 15th)	$56.33	$56.33
Payment 3 (charged around May 15th)	$56.33	$56.33
Total Payment	$169.00	$219.00

April price

Starter Kit Payment	Payment Charged*	Payment with Stampin' Memories Add-On*
Payment 1 (charged at time kit is entered)	$66.34 (+ sales tax)	$116.34 (+ sales tax)
Payment 2 (charged around May 15th)	$66.33	$66.33
Payment 3 (charged around June 15th)	$66.33	$66.33
Total Payment	$199.00	$249.00

This offer is only good through April 30th, so don't delay!

Monochromatic Again

So, again, I made two cards for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration challenge. Here's number 2. This time I started with a Basic Gray card. I stamped the image from Upsy Daisy in Versamark twice along the bottom. I embossed it with black embossing powder. I then tied a piece of Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon around the card. I stamped my sentiment from Short & Sweet on Whisper White in Basic Black. I then punched it out with my Word Window punch. I layered it on a Large Scallop that was punched from Basic Black. I adhered it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

And there you have it. Two thank you cards, two days in a row, using the same monochromatic color scheme. Next time I promise more color.....and a different theme.

Here I am again!

I told you tomorrow, but how about today? Kristina Werner posted her Color Inspiration for the week, so I thought I'd play. I'm hiding in the basement from all the racket of the construction crew, so there will be lots of stamping going on. So I decided to dig through my stamps for a set that doesn't get any love. I pulled out Wow Flowers. I think I've only used it twice before. I started with a Basic Black card base. I stamped the flower in Versamark and heat embossed it in black. I then added a strip of Basic Gray across the card and tied some Ric Rac ribbon around it. The ribbon is from the retired Beachfront Ribbon Originals. I stamped my sentiment in Basic Gray on Whisper White and punched it out with my 1 1/4" Circle Punch. I then layered it on a piece of Basic Black that I punched with my 1 3/8" Circle Punch. I then adhered it to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I think the monochromatic color combo is perfect for this stamp set. I just need to use it more!

Where am I?

I've been slacking on the blog. I don't mean to, but it's my second week back from Florida and the first week of my hubby being gone, so I've really been trying to get stuff done. I've been spending a lot of time working out and hanging out with my bestie, who I missed like crazy while I was gone. I've also had bowling league, my network group meeeting, and my sorority alum chapter meeting 3 consecutive nights, so that's been a little overwhelming. I did stamp the other day, though. I just haven't taken any pictures. Some of it was for contest entries so I can't share and other is business stuff so you probably wouldn't be interested. I will try my darndest to share tomorrow. I'm stuck in the house all day today and tomorrow because I'll have contractors coming in and out (finally finishing up the work from the damage we suffered back in Sept.).

For now, allow me to make a few public service announcements. Sale-a-bration is almost over! You only have about 2 weeks left to get your freebies! I can still squeeze some workshops in if you'd like to earn a Sale-a-bration item for free with a $300 show. But if you'd rather wait, I can book your workshop in April, where you can pick an item from p. 208 in the IB&C for free with a $150 show. Let me know ASAP so I can reserve your date!

Winner!!!!!

We have a winner! A blog candy winner!! I used random.org to draw a random number last night after the entries were due. Drum roll please...............











Linda Wise!!!! You are lucky #7!!! Please send me an email with your address, so I can send those goodies to you!

Thanks for all the comments. Hopefully I can offer some candy again soon!

Scallop Tree

I am having a Sale-a-bration Spectacular event today and this is the make & take. I wanted to give my guests the opportunity to play with a new stamp set, so of course I picked Trendy Trees!

The card is Certainly Celery and I scalloped the bottom front of the card with the Scallop Edge punch. I then stamped the tree trunk in Chocolate Chip and the top of the tree with Certainly Celery on Whisper White. I then punched it out with my 1 3/8" Circle Punch. The tree was then adhered to a So Saffron Scallop Circle. I then added a strip of Chocolate Chip across the card and adhered the scallop on top. Lastly I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip. I hope the guests love their card!!!

Border Punch Tutorial

Here is a quick tutorial that shows how to use a border punch.

How Much is that Scotty in the Window?

This is another card I made using the Recessed Window technique. Actually this is the first one I made. It was my practice run. I started by making the recessed window in the piece of Basic Black cardstock. I then stamped the dog in Jet Black StazOn on Whisper White. I masked him to stamp the fire hydrant in Real Red. I then colored in the dog's color with my Real Red marker. Also using the Real Red marker I stamped the sentiment in the top corner of the Whisper White. I then placed that piece inside my window. I took a strip of Basic Gray and added it across a Real Red card. I adhered my Basic Black window to it and then added a pewter brad underneath. It's hard to see in the picture, but I love the dimension of the card. I think I need to make more recessed window cards!!!!!

Sale-a-Bration Spectacular

I am hostessing a Sale-a-bration Spectacular event this Sunday, March 8th at 2 pm. So if you are in the Dayton or Cincinnati area send me an email and I'll give you directions. There will be product demonstrations, a make & take, door prizes, and snacks! And when I say snacks I mean I will bake something. And everyone loves when I bake. Please RSVP to the event by sending me an email. If you haven't gotten the chance to look through the Spring/Summer IB&C now is the time!!! And you will receive a copy of the Sale-a-bration brochure. There is only a few weeks left of SAB, so take advantage of the offer before it's gone!

Color Inspiration #44

I actually have two cards for Kristina Werner's color inspiration challenge this week because I loved the color combo!!! I did change it up to use Pretty in Pink instead of Pink Pirouette.

My first thought when I saw the colors was that I wanted to use a butterfly, so I reached for Flight of the Butterfly. I stamped the solid butterfly wings in Pretty in Pink on Whisper White, then the polka dot wings over it in Chocolate Chip. I stamped the sentiment in Close to Cocoa. I layered it on a piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock. I then tied a piece of Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around it. Then I took a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock and punched it with the Scallop Edge punch and layered it behind the Pretty in Pink. I adhered this to a Close to Cocoa card.

My second card is Easter inspired. I stamped Sock Monkey on a piece of Whisper White with Jet Black StazOn. And then stamped the bunny ears from the accessories set over his head. I colored the ears and his mouth with Pretty in Pink and a blender pen. I then colored the monkey with Close to Cocoa and a blender pen and a Chocolate Chip marker. I then used my Signo White Gel pen to color his eye, because they tend to disappear under the Chocolate Chip marker. I then used my Basic Black Stampin' Write marker over the white of the eyes. I adhered a strip of Pretty in Pink along the bottom of a Close to Cocoa card and adhered my monkey bunny on top. I then stamped the sentiment from Loads of Love Accessories in Close to Cocoa. On a scrap of Whisper White I stamped the basket from Sock Monkey Accessories in Jet Black StazOn and again colored with Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa and a blender pen and a Chocolate Chip marker. I punched it out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch and layered it on a piece of Chocolate Chip that was punched out with a 1 3/8" Circle Punch. I then adhered it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I easily could've made 10 more cards using this color combination, but I refrained. I look forward to seeing what everyone else did for the challenge.

p.s. Don't forget to check out the post below for a chance at some blog candy!

Do you like candy?

How about some blog candy? It has been a long time since I have given away blog candy and now that I'm back home in Ohio I want to get back into more frequent blogging and more interactive blogging. So, I'm starting with some candy!

Here is what is up for grabs. Approx. 9 yards of Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon, a Chocolate flower Decor Elements, and approx. 180 Soft Subtles flower eyelets.

So what do you have to do? Just leave a comment, of course. Comments must be left before 8 pm on Sunday, March 8th. At that time I will draw a winner by using random.org. I will post the winner on Monday. US residents only, please. And please make sure I have a way of contacting you in case you are the winner.

Happy to be Friends

I made a friend while down in Florida. With one of my husband's co-workers. She lived in the same place as us and also had a dog. She was on her own, so we invited her along to a lot of the places we went. We spent a good amount of time together. She's the sentimental type and likes Valentine's Day, so I wanted to give her a Valentine. Unfortunately I didn't have any Valentine stamps, but I did have Man's Best Friend. So I stamped the large dog in Jet Black StazOn (she has a larger black and white dog) on Whisper White and the fire hydrant in Real Red. I layered it on a piece of Basic Black. I then punched the bottom of a Tempting Turquoise card with my Scallop Border punch and adhered a Real Red layer above it. I adhered my stamped images. I then stamped my sentiment in Tempting Turquoise on Whisper White and punched it out with my 1 3/8" Circle punch and layered it on a Real Red Scallop circle. I then pierced the scallops and adhered it to my card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Sneak Peek

Starting today you can order a few items out of the Occasions Mini Catalog! The catalog doesn't begin until April 1st, but starting today you can order a the stamp sets that have an Easter theme. To view the stamp sets click here. And don't forget that Sale-a-bration is still going on. You can even earn SAB items with a $50 purchase through my demonstrator website.