A Touch From the Heart

Please Join Me on a New Venture

 I am very excited to announce that I am now one of the design team members for Stamping 411.  Stamping 411 consists of a group of six designers whose job is to make your stamping time easier and more enjoyable. 

We will be sharing sketches, project ideas, techniques and tutorials.  So please check back often to get all the latest stamping gossip and goodies on Stamping 411.

The first design team challenge was a sketch challenge.  Here is what the sketch looks like:

 

Would you like to see my interpretation of this sketch?  Here it is:

I kept it very simple and true to the sketch.  The drama comes from all the "grunging up" I did (i.e. direct-to-paper, sponging, etc...).  It's very hard to see in the photo, but the Bravo Burgandy base card has been "grunged up" using the direct to paper technique.  What is that you ask?  Well, I just dragged a Bravo Burgandy ink pad across the cardstock until I got the depth of streaking that I desired.  It adds a real vintage look in a short amount of time.

The patterned paper comes from the Parisian Breeze designer series paper pack.  It's thick and textured.  Beautiful stuff!!  I sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa ink. 

P.S.  If you are new to my blog you will soon learn that I am BIG on sponging!!!!

Anyway, the patterned paper is wrapped with a length of Bravo Burgandy that is tied into a classic knot.  This layer is then matted on some Always Artichoke cardstock.

The focal image is so easy to create.  Stamp the image two times....once on Very Vanilla cardstock using Bravo Burgandy Craft Ink, sprinkle with Clear embossing powder, shake off excess, heat with heat gun and punch inner portion with the 1 3/8" circle punch. 

Clean your stamp well (I use baby wipes when using Craft ink so it doesn't gunk up my Stampin' Scrub).  Then ink the same stamp with Always Artichoke ink and stamp on Mellow Moss cardstock.  Punch the entire image with the 1 3/4" circle punch.

Layer the two punches on top of each other using a dimensional for a 3D effect.

Place the layered punches on a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock that has been sponged with Close to Cocoa ink and has some doodled linework around the edges.

Whew!!!  Another graduation card to add to my pile.  I think this is the first "guy" graduation card I have made this year.

I am SO excited about being part of the Stamping 411 crew.  I hope you check us out and tell us what you think!!!!

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!!

Blogger's Challenge: Graduation

 If you've been reading my blog lately, you know I've been working diligently on graduation cards.  When working on this challenge I wanted to steer away from my only graduation stamp set (P.S.  I was tired of using it all week on all my other cards).

So here is my non-traditional graduation card.

The base card is my all time favorite SU color.....Chocolate Chip.

The patterned paper comes from my favorite DSP pack from the current catty....Sweet Always.  I sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa ink to grunge it up a bit.

I tore a piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock, sponged the edges and adhered over the left side of the patterned paper. 

Before adhering the patterned paper layer onto the base card, I wrapped a length of Chocolate Chip double-stitched grosgrain with some Rose Red 1/4" grosgrain on top.

Now onto the daisy.......they are SO easy to make thanks to my Big Shot and the Daisy #2 die.  The die has three different size daisies on it.  I ran two pieces of Rose Red cardstock through my Big Shot.  Now here's how I layered the daisy:  large daisy, large daisy (make sure to place the petals in the empty space left by the first flower), medium daisy, medium daisy (same concept as above) and a small daisy.  I did use a little bit of SNAIL to keep the daisy from shifting during construction.  Finally, add a large Chocolate Chip corduroy brad for the center of the flower.  Don't forget to "fluff" the flower by gently pulling the petals from every other layer towards you.

Now onto the finishing touches.  Hey, I was wrong.....I did use Great Grads.  I inked up one of the "congratulations" on the stamp using a Chocolate Chip marker.  Stamp on a scrap of Rose Red cardstock and punch with the Word Window punch.  My final touch is a Photo Corner (punched from Rose Red cardstock) that has been lightly sponged with Close to Cocoa ink.

I am sorry this is posted later than usual.....I had a few doctor's appointments today and didn't get a chance to upload and publish my photos.

Don't forget to check out the other Blogger's Challenge projects.  Simply click on the Blogger's Challenge icon on the right sidebar of my blog.  Easy peasy!!!!

Also don't forget....there's only a few more days to take advantage of the Stampin' Up! May specials (patterned paper/textured cardstock sale and sneak peek of new alphabet stamp set).

Order Your Stampin' Up! Goodies from Patti

A Little Pick Me Up!!

 There are just those days when we need a little something to get you going in the morning.  For me.....it's a Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte.  I get one about once or twice a week.  It's so nice that our Target about a mile up the street has a Starbucks built into it.  Yes!!!!  Actually, sometimes it's hard to limit myself to once or twice a week knowing that it is so close to my house!!!

Anyway, today's card is perfect to give to someone you love who needs a little "pick me up".

The base card is my absolute favorite SU color....Chocolate Chip.  The next layer is my favorite In Color (Pink Pirouette.....so sad this color is leaving in a little over a month....and yes, I have a large stash of it put away so I will never have to do without).  This Pink Pirouette layer is stamped with the large flourish (from Baroque Motifs) using Pink Pirouette ink.  The edges are lightly sponged with Close to Cocoa ink.

Now, the bottom of this card uses my favorite Designer Series Paper pack.....Sweet Always.  Are you starting to notice a "favorite" trend on this card?  On the top edge of the patterned paper I punched a strip of Regal Rose cardstock with my Eyelet Border punch.  The seam is hidden with a length of Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon.

Now onto the focal image.  I stamped the coffee cup on watercolor paper using Black StazOn ink.  I watercolored the image using my Aquapainter and reinkers.  The edges are sponged with Close to Cocoa ink.  The image is then matted on a 1/8" larger piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock.

My cards always have to have some kind of embellishment on it to give it the perfect finishing touch.  In this case, I used my small oval punch to punch a small tab.  The tab is sponged with Close to Cocoa ink and a Chocolate Chip 5/16" brad (from the Neutrals brads pack) is added to the center.

That's it.....easy peasy!!!!!

Now, if you haven't heard already, the end of the month is approaching.  That means there is only a few more days to take advantage of Stampin' Up!s sale on patterned paper and 12x12 Textured Cardstock.   That's right!!!  When you purchase 3 packs of Designer Series Paper and/or 12x12 Textured Cardstock, you get one pack FREE.  This is a FABULOUS deal!!!!

How do you take advantage of this fabulous deal?  You can either email me your order or you can place your order online via my demonstrator website.  Your choice!!!!

You would be so proud of me......I am cranking out lots and lots of graduation cards for all of Amanda's friends!!! 

I will show you one of them tomorrow.

Until then.....Happy Stamping everyone!!

Inspiration Comes from Anywhere

 This past weekend (actually Thursday through Monday) we were in Branson, Missouri with Amanda's dance team.  The girls performed at a local amusement park (Silver Dollar City) and at a Beatles tribute band show (called Liverpool Legends).  They did a fabulous job entertaining the audiences.

Silver Dollar City (the amusement park) was a delightful combination of rides and shops.  The shops were filled with oodles of fabulous items.  The best shops were the ones that had demonstrations going on such as glassblowing and blacksmithing.  It was so interesting to see the items in the stores were made.

Other shops had wonderful Americana items including tins.  These tins were the inspiration for this card. 

The base card is Basic Gray.

The next layer is my interpretation of the tin.  I took a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Going Gray cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the damask Texturz Plate (from the Backgrounds 1 kit).  I then dragged my Silver Encore pad across the texturized cardstock.  The metallic silver ink hugs to the raised portion of the embossing.  I let the ink dry and then sponged the edges with Basic Gray ink.

The next layer is Basic Black that has been stamped (stamped off once) with the damask image stamp from the Friends 24/7 stamp set using the same silver metallic ink.   A piece of a small oval punched from Pink Pirouette cardstock and a Vintage Brad has been added to the top left of the black cardstock. 

The focal image (also from Friends 24/7) is stamped on Going Gray cardstock using Basic Gray ink.  I colored in portions of the bird's belly and the branch with a Versamarker.  The edges have been distressed with the cutter kit and then sponged with Basic Gray ink.  I matted this on Pink Pirouette cardstock that has also been distressed.

The finishing touch on this card is a strip of Pink Pirouette cardstock that has a length of Basic Gray taffeta ribbon attached to it.  The sentiment is stamped with Basic Gray ink on a scrap of Pink Pirouette.  I punched it out with my 1 1/4" circle punch and adhered it to the card on a dimensional.

Voila.....my tribute to that adorable Americana shop is done.  I encourage you to take a look around you.  Inspiration surrounds you.....it's your job to find it and play!!!

I will be back tomorrow with a card SO different than this one!!!  Think brighter!!!

Until next time....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

A Patriotic Blogger's Challenge

 This week's Blogger's Challenge is all about being patriotic.  I do have a few retired stamp sets that I could've used, but I wanted to show you the versatility of this little bear (from Under the Stars stamp set).

I stamped the bear using Black StazOn ink and watercolor paper.  The bear is colored using my Stampin' Write markers and an Aquapainter.  I cut out the bear with my paper snips.  I added a length of twine and adhered it to the back of the paws using a mini glue dot.

I used my Rough Edges alphabet (retired) to create the USA banner.  The letters are stamped in Real Red ink and punched with my 1/2" circle punch.  The circles are adhered to the twine using a mini glue dot.

The bear is sitting on a 3 1/2" square of Bashful Blue (edges sponged with Ballet Blue ink).  I punched a variety of stars using both of the Stampin' Up! star punches using Summer Sun, Night of Navy, Real Red and Whisper White cardstock.  This layer sits on a 3 3/4" square of Ballet Blue.  I also added a little embellishment (made with a scrap of Real Red cardstock and the Small Oval Punch).  A silver brad finishes this embellishment off nicely.

The focal image and the bottom strips (Real Red, Ballet Blue adorned with White Satin and Real Red grosgrain ribbon) sit on a layer of Night of Navy.

I love the way this card turned out!!!  A patriotic card made with a camping stamp set.  Too funny!!!  I have so many more ideas with this bear.  I will get to those next week!!!!

I can't wait to see what the other Blogger's Challenge ladies have been up to.  You can see their creations by clicking on the Blogger's Challenge icon on the right sidebar of my blog.

I wish each and every one of you a FABULOUS Memorial Day weekend.  Be safe....Have fun!!!

Until next time....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Way to Go!!

 I'm still in graduation card design mode.   I told you I had a bunch of these to make.  This card was SO easy to make because the drama comes from the floral patterned paper (from the Sweet Always Designer Series Paper pack).

The base card is Old Olive followed by Regal Rose which is then followed by the patterned paper.

I stamped the butterfly (from Garden Whimsy) using Versamark ink, sprinkled with White Embossing powder and heated with my heat gun.  Using my paper snips, I carefully trimmed around the butterfly.  When cutting out images be sure to turn the paper NOT the scissors.  This will give you great results every time.

The butterfly is placed on a 3 1/2" Old Olive circle (cut so easily with my Circle Scissor Plus).  I added some dot work with my white gel pen.  The butterfly is popped up using dimensionals.  I also bent up the wings a bit to make it look even more 3D.

The finishing touch is some 5/8" wide grosgrain that has been tied into a classic knot.  I added a cute little rub on (retired) telling the graduate "way to go".  Any of the sayings in the "Chit Chat" rub ons would be perfect on this card!!!

Remember, all of Stampin' Up!s Designer Series Paper and 12x12 Textured Cardstock is on special......BUY 3 GET 1 FREE until May 31st.  Woo hoo!!!  I love papercrafting with my patterned paper.

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!!

If you've fallen in love with this project and would like to make a Stampin' Up! purchase, you can either email me your order or place an order through my demonstrator website.

Retired Stamp Sets & Accessories Announced June 1st

I just wanted to let you know that the retired stamp sets (now called the Last Chance list) and accessories will be announced on June 1st.  Once the items sell out they are gone FOREVER.

What does this mean for you?  Well, if you are a fan of this year's In Colors (Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango and Pink Pirouette), I strongly encourage you to place your order NOW for reinkers (for reinking your ink pads and watercolor techniques), ribbon and cardstock.

Please don't wait until the items are sold out.  I don't mind searching for these items for you from other demonstrators, but I will tell you that you will pay WAY too much money on reinkers, cardstock and ribbon if those items sell out!!!

Okay.....I am getting off my soapbox now!!!!

Here is the link to place an online order from my demonstrator website.

You can also email me your order......please include a phone number so I can call you to get your credit card information

Until next time....Happy Stamping everyone!!

Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades

 As you can see, you also need shades to help you look at this card.  LOL!!!

Yeah....I did it again.  I gave myself a color challenge.  Pixie Pink.  Me and Pixie Pink have this love/hate (definitely more hate) relationship going on.  So, if I had to use this color, why not grab other colors that are on my neglected list as well......Green Galore, Only Orange and Tempting Turquoise (although I do use this color the most out of all of these listed).

As I mentioned on Friday, Amanda has lots of graduation parties to go to this year.  So, I thought I would make another graduation card for one of her friends.

Once again, I used the Great Grads stamp set.  I stamped the focal image using Versamark ink on Pixie Pink cardstock.  I sprinkled on some White Embossing Powder (that has a little bit of Dazzling Diamongs glitter mixed in), shook off the excess and heated it with my heat gun.  I just love the subtle sparkles from the Dazzling Diamonds.  I sponged the edges of the cardstock with Pixie Pink ink, added some white gel pen doodle lines and placed two white brads (non SU) in the upper corners.  The focal image is matted on Tempting Turquoise.

The base card is Summer Sun that has both right corners rounded using the Corner Rounder punch.  The edges are also sponged with Summer Sun ink.

The Green Galore layer has been stamped with the background-ish stamp from Great Grads using Green Galore ink.  The edges are also sponged with Green Galore ink.  I added the photo corners (punched from Only Orange and Whisper White using the Photo Corner punch.......I did trim the diagonal on the white ones so it would only be slightly larger than the orange one).

The congratulations was stamped on Whisper White using Pixie Pink ink.   I punched it with the Keytag punch and sponged the edges with Pixie Pink ink.  The sentiment is layered on two pieces of Only Orange that have been punched with the KeyTag punch.  It's my first time playing with this punch for this layered look.  I think it was perfect to finish off this card!!!

I know exactly which graduate this card is going to.  This girl, like the card, is bold and bright.  She knows exactly what she wants out of life and has the gung-ho to go and get it. 

Tomorrow's card will be more tame....truer to the Patti style......it's just fun sometimes to challenge yourself and branch out.

What color has you in a love/hate relationship?  Leave a comment and let me know, okay?

Until tomorrow....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Need supplies?.......Click HERE to place your Stampin' Up! Order with Me

Blogger's Challenge

This week's Blogger's Challenge is to CASE myself.  The idea is to change it up a bit and see what you come up with!!  I LOVE this idea!!! 

Here is the card I decided to CASE.  This was a swap I made when Stampin' Up! was running the promotion on the Love You Much Bundle.

 

Now, I kept the general sketch and made a graduation card.  Amanda got invited to a BUNCH of graduation parties.  Even though she is only 14 she dances with a bunch of seniors.  So, her party schedule is pretty full in the next coming weeks.

Here is my graduation card:

Isn't it cute?  It uses one of my favorite Designer Series Paper packs......Sweet Always.  I know this one will retire because it has Pink Pirouette (I'll be so sad to see you go) in it. 

The base card is Chocolate Chip.  The next layer is Pink Pirouette that has the bottom edge punched with the Scallop Edge punch and is lightly sponged with Close to Cocoa ink. 

The patterned papers are punched with the 1 3/8" square punch.  The squares are laid out on a 3 1/4" square of Chocolate Chip.  This is then matted on a 3 3/8" square of Pumpkin Pie.

The focal image (from Great Grads) is stamped with Chocolate Chip Craft ink, sprinkled with Clear Embossing Powder and heated with my heat gun.  I punched the image with my 1 3/4" circle punch.  I created the crimped scallop edge in the same way as I did HERE.  You have to try this technique....it is so addicting!!!

I went away from my original design on the bottom strip of the card.  Rather than using a ribbon treatment, I stamped the Congratulations sentiment (also from Great Grads) and added two 5/16" Chocolate Chip brads.

Now I just need to make 6 more of these babies to get me through graduation season!!!

I can't wait to see what the other Blogger's Challenge stampers have been up to.  Simply click on the Blogger's Challenge icon on the right sidebar of my blog to get a list of blog links. 

Until tomorrow.....Happy Stamping everyone!!

Order Your Stampin' Up! Goodies from Patti's Demo Website

Celebrate....

 Since May is National Scrapbooking Month, and I needed to clean my stampin' desk.....I decided to make a scrapbook page with some of the leftover pieces of cardstock on my desk.  That totally counts as cleaning, right?  Well....that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

This cute little 6x6" scrapbook page come together very quickly last night while watching American Idol.  BTW....so excited Kris made it into the final.

The layout base is Rose Red.  The title (from the Celebrate Everything stamp set) is stamped on So Saffron cardstock with Rose Red ink.  I used the Scallop Edge punch on the bottom edge of the cardstock.  I took my Rose Red marker and added some dot work to the top edge and inside each scallop.  Some White Sating ribbon (from the Occasions Mini) adorns the top edge as well as half of a small oval (punched from scrap of Whisper White).  A cute little Rose Red brad sits in the center to set it off perfectly.

The photo mat is Certainly Celery which has been matted on some Whisper White.  Behind it sits a since Photo Corner (punched from So Saffron cardstock with the Photo Corner punch).

The cupcake and present images come from the Level 1 hostess set called Delicate Dots.  This stamp set is so adorable for both stamping and scrappin'.  Each of the images are colored with Stampin' Write markers and stamped on scraps of Whisper White cardstock.  I punched the images with the 1 1/4" circle punch, lightly sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa and matted on 1 3/8" So Saffron circles (thank you circle punches....you make my papercrafting SO easy)!!!

Easy peasy....scrapbook page.....DONE!!!  It's going to take me longer to find the pics of Amanda's birthday party than it did to create the page!!!

I will be back tomorrow with my Blogger's Challenge creation.....I just finished it, and if I do say so myself.....IT IS SO STINKIN' CUTE!!!!

Until then....Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Order Your Stampin' Up! Goodies from Patti's Demo Website