Nursery Art

 I haven't been able to share anything with you recently as my laptop went on a business trip with the hubby.  But I've got it back and I have some art work to share with you!  I bought these frames from IKEA to make some sort of art work for the nursery.  I knew I wanted to use Fox & Friends, but wasn't sure how I was going to make them.  One afternoon I sat down and just got to work.  I like the idea of the uppercase and lowercase alphabet like in Defining Alphabet, but since I don't own it I'm improvised.  I used Short Order Alphabet and my Stamp-a-ma-jig.  The theme of the nursery is brown and white, so the monkey and owl tie in with that.  I'm planning on hanging the giraffe picture in the middle since it's got some color on it.  I'm so excited about how they turned out.  Now I just need to get them on the wall.

Supplies
Stamps: Fox & Friends, Short Order Alphabet, Cheap Talk, Season of Friendship, Trendy Trees
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, So Saffron
Paper: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Tag Corner Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Beerthday Invites

Today is my husband's birthday!!  Happy birthday, hubby!!!  We're having a get together at his favorite beer drinking place tonight and these are the invites I sent out for it.  I made more than just 4 so you can imagine how tired my hand was after punching out all of those beer mugs!!  

Supplies

Stamps: Cheers to You, Hugs & Wishes

Ink: Jet Black StazOn

Paper: More Mustard, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder

Thank You Friends

I guess I should get started on mass producing thank you cards for when gifts start coming in.  They may not be this detailed, though.  This thank you card is for the first baby gift we have received.  Can you believe I've had the Scallop Square Bigz die for 2 weeks and this is the first time I used it!?!?  What was I thinking!?!?  It's so cute..........I'm definitely going to put it to better use from here on out.  

Supplies

Stamps: Fox & Friends, Short & Sweet

Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip

Paper: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Scallop Square Clear Bigz die, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Glass Etching

I originally had a glass etching class scheduled for last Saturday, but due to a winter storm the class was rescheduled for Thursday.  Luckily the weather held out this time around.  We've still got a lot of snow on the ground, but the roads are clear.  

These are the two projects we made.  The dessert plate was made with embossing.  We stamped on the back of the plate with I {heart} Hearts, embossed them, and then put the etching cream on.  When you wash the etching cream off the embossing comes off, too.  Sometimes you have to scrub a bit, but it will eventually come off completely.

We also etched a candle holder.  This one was done with the Big Shot.  We ran some contact paper through the Big Shot with the Little Leaves die.  After removing the leaf, we stuck the "frame" down on the the candle holder and put the etching cream in the negative image.  This is a much cleaner (and less time consuming) method of etching. 

3 Beers to You!!

Earlier this week I needed a birthday card for a beer drinker.  This is what he got.  I wanted to add some dimension to the foam on this card, so I colored the "foam" in with my Versamarker and embossed with white embossing powder.  I like the effect!!  

Supplies

Stamps: Cheers to You

Ink: Jet Black StazOn, More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker, Versamarker

Paper: So Saffron, More Mustard, Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Accessories: So Saffron Striped Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, White Embossing Powderc

Elephant Out of the Box

This week's Clean and Simple Challenge on SCS was to get some inspiration from a candy store website.  I chose this candy for my inspiration.  I loved the black stripes.  I decided to use two new stamp sets on my card because you know how fun it is to play with new stamps!!  Now I don't often use hostess stamp sets (not sure why), but I just think this one is soooo cute!!  I'm surprised I waited so long to get it for myself!  I chose the 'happy' definition because this little elephant is so cute and smiley.  How could you not be happy just looking at him?!?!

Supplies

Stamps: Out of the Box, Define Your Life

Ink: Bravo Burgundy

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy

Accessories: Black Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals

Virgin Daiquiri

I needed a card for a non-drinking bride to be, so I made her a virgin daiquiri!!  I busted out my old trusty watercolor pencils for this one.  The watercolor pencils are one of my favorite ways to color in line art images (especially when I don't have the right marker colors).

Supplies
Stamps: Cheers to You
Ink: Jet Black StazOn
Paper: Pink Passion, Gable Green, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Scallop Trim Edge and Border punches, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Haitian Relief Update

Stampin′ Up! demonstrators are working hard to make a difference in the lives of those who continue to be affected by the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. In just fifteen days, demonstrators around the world have already sold 7524 of the I {heart} Hearts stamp sets. From each of these sets, Stampin′ Up! will donate $2 to the Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

This offer lasts until February 28, 2010, so you still have time to lend a helping hand to those who are so much in need.

Kind Bird

Last week's Clean and Simple Challenge on SCS was to use Designer Paper.  So, I dug out some retired DSP and got punching.  I had to use my new 2 Step Bird Punch again!!  I punched the bird with 2 sides of the paper so the wing would contrast.  I stamped the sentiment and then placed the bird over top.  That's it!  Clean and Simple!  And quick!!

Supplies

Stamps: Whimsical Words

Ink: Taken with Teal

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Retired DSP

Accessories: 2 Step Bird Punchc

Silly Monkeys

I finally had a chance to play with Fox & Friends and I had to start with the stinkin' cute monkey!  Well, and it gave me an excuse to use another new product, the 2 Step Bird Punch.  I also used my new Sale-a-bration set, Whimsical Words.  I'm pretty sure this card layout was a sketch challenge from SCS, but I can't seem to find what sketch number it is.  Any way, aren't these monkeys cute??  They are perfect for hanging off a branch!

Supplies

Stamps: Fox & Friends, Whimsical Words

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Large Oval, Scallop Oval, and 2 Step Bird Punches, Hemp Twine, So Saffron Striped Ribbon

Bridal Shower

I'm going to a bridal shower today and this is the card for the beautiful bride to be!  Her wedding colors are orange, yellow, burgundy, and ivory.  So I used Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, and Bravo Burgundy for my flowers to go with the color scheme.  The cake is made with 3 pieces of Very Vanilla, which were run through the Big Shot Perfect Details Texturz plates (hard to see in the picture).  There is actually no stamping on the front of this card!  But I did stamp on the inside.  I made this after receiving an order earlier this week and strangely the only thing from the new order that I used was Whimsical Words.

Supplies
Stamps: Whimsical Words
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz, Floral Fusion Sizzlet, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brads, Corner Rounderc

Scallop Trim Punches

As soon as my Scallop Trim Corner Punch arrived on Monday I had to give it a go with the border punch.  So, I punched one corner and then I punched the other corner on the short end.  Then I went all the way down the long end with the border punch.  When I got to the end I lined up the corner punch and punched it out.  It all lined up!!  I didn't even have to measure the piece of cardstock!  The corner punch doesn't have the guides like the old punches that "force" you into the corner.  You have a little more room to move around, so you can line everything up very easily.  These two punches combined easily create a scalloped edge piece of cardstock!!  You have to try it!

Disappointed.....

......but only for a minute!  My disappointment stems from the outside of my box.  I've heard reports of Sale-a-bration boxes that say "Caution: opening box may cause extreme excitement."  And this is the second box I've received during Sale-a-bration that does not say that.  But even without the warning opening the box caused excitement.  And it wasn't even all for me!!!  I love going through a box of goodies and seeing what everyone else ordered.  But the best part is after sorting everyone else's goodies the rest are for me!!! 

Masculine Party Hearty

I think I will give this card to my nephew for his birthday.  I had a masculine birthday card in mind when I started it (knowing the next birthday on the list was his) and I think he'll like it.  Don't you just love those polka dots?  I do!  They are from the new Polka Dot Embossing Folder.   Look how crisp they are?  I was loving my Texturz plates, but I think I have a new love!!!

Supplies
Stamps: Party Hearty
Ink: Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing folder, My Way punch

Shaving Cream Scrapbook Pages

Today is scrapbook class day!! These are the pages we are making!! We will be using the shaving cream technique to make the swirly accent pieces. We will be using the I {heart} Hearts stamp set (yes, again!) and this gender neutral color scheme. Not all Valentine's Day or love themed projects need to be Red!

Supplies
Stamps: I {heart} Hearts
Ink: Ruby Red, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Ruby Red, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Accessories: Silver Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Small Heart Punch, Paper Snips

Haitian Disaster Relief

Top Note Pincushions

There's no stamping here, only sewing, but I wanted to show you these pincushions because I made them using the SU! Top Note die and Big Shot.  I saw the tutorial on Angie Juda's blog and had to give them a try myself.  I am a sewer after all!  These are way cuter than my tomato pin cushion!  I just used some scrap fabric I had laying around.  The only thing I did differently than Angie was to use fleece in the middle, since I didn't have any flannel on hand.  They are so cute I want to make a bajillion of them!!  Too bad I really only need one!

M&T Version 2

Here is a stamped version of the sour cream container. This is a great option if you don't have any Designer Series Paper or a Big Shot on hand to make your container.

Supplies
Stamps: I {heart} Hearts
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Crimper, Sticky Strip, Small Heart Punch, Hemp Twine

Open House Make & Take

Today I am having an Open House. This is the Make & Take we'll be making. Sour cream containers are such a quick and easy favor and I thought they'd be a great thing to show my gals how to make for Valentine's Day. This is the first variation, which has been embossed. The Real Red heart was cut out and a hole punched in it with the Crop-a-dile. The small heart with punched out with the new Small Heart Punch.

p.s. There are some Reese's Peanut Butter Cup hearts hiding inside the container. :o)

Supplies
Stamps: I {heart} Hearts
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Crop-a-dile, Small Heart Punch, Sticky Strip, Crimper

Love, Love, Love

Get ready for the season of love!  And can I tell you that I love the new clear mount rubber stamps that Stampin' Up! is offering!?!?  I put in a small order on the first day of Sale-a-bration and the Occasions Mini catalog so I could try out the new clear mount rubber stamps and get my hands on the SAB punch.  I only got one stamp set, so I could give the clear mount a try and I have to say that I may be a convert!  I think I may prefer the clear mount over wood mount now!  I like how you can see through the block to get a better idea of where you are stamping and putting the images on the block, stamping, cleaning, and removing really isn't more time consuming than using the wood mounts.  So, I would suggest when you put your SAB and Occasions Mini catalog order in you give the clear mount rubber stamps a try!

Supplies
Stamps: I {heart} Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Old Olive, Taken with Teal
Paper: Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals