A Touch From the Heart

Has it Really Been a Month?

I've been a bad blogger.  It's been a month since I've last posted.  I apologize for that!!!!

First of all, I want to thank everyone who took the time to comment and/or email me about my weight loss and reaching goal.  It means the world to me that you did that!!!  I am 4 weeks into maintenance.  I'm still trying to find my magic number of points to eat each day where my weight stays steady.  My body still thinks it should be in losing mode.  I guess I shouldn't complain about having to eat more food!

Both kids are in college, and I am back to work.  It's been a bit of a transition planning healthy dinners, workouts, stamping time while still finding family time to enjoy each other's company and share our days.  

Let me share with you a card I made for my nephew's birthday.  He just turned 12.  It's such a hard age.  He's not a little boy, and he's not a grown up.  What do I do for this transition age?

This is what I came up with.......

Can I tell you how much this Blue Ribbon stamp set gets me out of a bind?  It's not too young!  It's not too mature for a 12 year old!  It's perfect for Matthew!!!!

I just used papers and ink in bright colors!  I added some paper piercing for texture and added "nephew" to personalize it.  

Happy 12th Birthday Matthew!  I hope you liked your "made just for you" card!!!!

If you've fallen in love with this card, I've included the card recipe with all the ingredients you need to make it.  If you need any supplies, I hope you'll swing by my ONLINE STORE.  Thanks for choosing me as your demonstrator!!!!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Blue Ribbon, Family Reunion
paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, World Treasures dsp
ink:  Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler
accessories:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, paper piercing pack, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch 

A Sunday Night Pretty

So, how was your weekend?  They go by way too quickly!!!!!  I was completely ready to show you another holiday card from today's "Christmas Card Bonanza" class, but it seems I didn't take a picture of the remaining three cards.  Oops!!!!  As I am way too lazy to go downstairs and set up the photo shoot area and take the picture, I will show you a card we made a few weeks ago.

Now, if you've been a frequent visitor to my blog, you know how much I love flourishes.  You also know that I was despondent about my favorite flourish (from Baroque Motifs) being retired.  Well, I am not that upset anymore because Stampin' Up! made some new flourishes for me to get passionate about.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh......the beauty of Flowering Flourishes.  There's three.....count them....1....2.....3.......amazing flourishes in this stamp set.    Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

I chose to pair it with a butterfly from Papillion Potpourri.  Pure stamping bliss!!!!!

I've also managed to sneak some Summer Starfruit in this card.  Don't be afraid of this color.  It's a great color to use as accents.  It's very chameleon-like.  It's color changes depending on what you pair it with.   Sometimes it looks more yellow.  Sometimes it looks more green.   I think it's just magnificent!!!!

I'll leave you with the card recipe in case you want to make it for yourself.  If you need any stamping supplies, I hope you'll shop in my ONLINE STORE!!!!  

Card Recipe

stamps:  Flowering Flourishes, Papillion Potpourri, A Fitting Occasion
paper:  Midnight Muse, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White
ink:  Midnight Muse, Baja Breeze
accessories:  Elegant Butterfly punch, 1" circle punch, Faceted Buttons, Basic Rhinestone, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Baja Breeze Seam Binding

Pinwheel Card

Happy Friday!!!  Are you as messed up with the days this week as I am?  Boy!  The holiday in the middle of the week totally screwed me up!!!  I almost forgot to post my Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge project.  

This week's sketch was totally fun!!!!  There are so many ways to interpret it!!!  

I chose to make a pinwheel card!  It's on my papercrafting bucket list, and was it ever easy to make!

To make a pinwheel, you start with a square piece of designer series paper.  My paper comes from the Summer Smooches dsp pack.   For my pinwheel, the square is 3 3/4" on each side.  Using my Simply Scored tool and the Diagonal Scoring Plate, I scored the paper from corner to corner (in other words, make score an "X" on your paper).  On each of the score lines, snip to within 1/2" of the center point.  Now, you need to poke holes to make the pinwheel.  You need to be consistent here.  If you're poking the left corner of one side, you MUST poke the left corner of every side.  Also, poke a hole in the center (where the "X" meets).  Now, take one of the corners with a hole and loop it over and thread a brad through it.  Repeat with the other three corners with a hole and thread the brad through the center hole.  Separate the brad on the back of the pinwheel.  

Note:  If you want the pinwheel to spin, you need to have the brad go through the stick too!  Mine doesn't spin since it sits on a card!  I just took a small strip of cardstock to simulate the stick!  

This card is bright and fun!!!!!  I just love how the Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit and Real Red play off of each other!!!!

Now, I am especially interested to see how the other Stamping 411 operators have used this sketch!  I am guessing that we all did something very different!!!!  Would you care to check it out with me?  I hope so!!!!

Color Inspiration Challenge

For all our readers in the United States, I hope you enjoyed your holiday.  It was VERY hot here, but a good time was had by all at Bafoon Lagoon (our nickname for our pool).  In fact, we need to add water to the pool because 1.  the water was way too warm and 2.  the kids sloshed so much out from doing their cannonballs off the diving board!

 

On the first Thursday of every month, I am honored to present you with a brand new color challenge.  Since the new catalog has been out for over a month now, I thought I would slowly introduce you to the new 2012-2014 In Colors.  Today, we are going to play with one of my favorite In Colors:  Midnight Muse!!!!  If Night of Navy and Not Quite Navy had a baby, they might call it Midnight Muse.  Oh, it's such a beautiful color!!!!!

 

 

 

This month's color combination is:  Midnight Muse, So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.  Of course, you can add any neutrals (white, vanilla, crumb cake) to make this combo work for you!!!

 

Now, I had to make a sample card for you!!!!  In fact, this is my mother-in-law's birthday card.  You see, my MIL loves the color red and she adores roses.  I grabbed my new stamp set called Stippled Blossoms and got right to work.  I do suggest using a Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the roses perfectly.

 

I used Crumb Cake (a neutral) as my base card.

 

For the next layer, I ran a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock through my Big Shot using the new Fancy Fan embossing folder.

 

Next comes my Midnight Muse banner element.  I simply took a strip of cardstock and cut the banner edge using one of my square punches!

 

For my newsprint layer, I ran a piece of First Edition Specialty dsp through my Big Shot using one of the Labels Framelits.  I dragged my Crumb Cake ink pad over this layer using the Direct-to-Paper technique.

 

My roses are stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock using Cherry Cobbler ink.  Stippled Blossoms is a two step stamp set.  That means that it takes more than one stamp to build the image.  First I stamp the more solid layer.  I ink up this image with Cherry Cobbler ink, stamp off once onto scrap paper and then stamp onto my Very Vanilla cardstock.  Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I ink up the more detailed image with Cherry Cobbler ink and stamp it full strength.  The result is a very beautiful rose.  Each of the roses are cut out.

 

The leaves are also two step.  They are stamped just like the roses but using Old Olive ink.

 

Lastly, is the sentiment.  I inked up the "Mom" stamp (from the Family Reunion stamp set) using Basic Black ink.  I punched it out with the Large Oval punch and inked the edges with Crumb Cake ink.

 

All that's left are some Basic Pearls on the left banner edge!

 

I hope she loves her card.  Her birthday is tomorrow!!!!!

If you want to recreate this card and need to purchase supplies, I hope you'll stop by my ONLINE STORE.  Thanks for choosing me as your demonstrator!

 

 

Oh My Goodness!

Yup....you are not hallucinating!  Patti posted twice in one day.  Oh my!!!!

This evening I am posting my Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.  I had a fun time making this card.  I got to play with some new catty goodies!!!!

My base card is Pool Party.  Isn't this color amazing!!!!!  I've paired it with some fun, brighter colors.

Layer #2 is a strip of Primrose Petals cardstock.  I used the new Daydream jumbo wheel and some Primrose Petals ink to add some flair to this layer.  Isn't it pretty?

Now, it's time to add my ribbon.  I am using the new Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin ribbon.  I love how pretty the pop of color is against the Primrose Petals layer.

For my focal image, I used the "Summer Silhouettes" stamp set.  The images are inked with Old Olive, Summer Starfruit, Rich Razzleberry and Primrose Petals ink.   I am not really fond of stems sticking haphazard everywhere.  So, I chose to take a 3/4" piece of Old Olive cardstock and used the Finishing Touches Edgelits to create the pinking edge.  It looks like grass, doesn't it?

I grabbed my sponge and Pool Party ink to create a softened sky.  Ah, it's so calming!!!!

All that's left is adding some Basic Rhinestones to the little yellow flowers and adding my sentiment.  I used the brand new Itty Bitty Banners stamp set with some Black StazOn ink.  I love how these images coordinate with the Bitty Banners Framelits.  

That's it.....my second card of the day is done!  I promise you, I am not posting any more projects today!!!!

If you are looking for more inspiration, I encourage you to check out the Stamping 411 blog.  Each of the operators use the sketch as a starting points for their weekly projects.  We all manage to come up with something unique!!!  

I'll be back over the weekend with some more projects......see you then!

Swapping with the Girls

One of my Stamp Club members moved, and I'm taking over her spot until we can find a new stamper.  My Stamp Club members swap cards with each other at our meetings.  First of all, it forces them to play with their stamps in between club meeting.  But, it also shows everyone's signature stamping style.  They always amaze me with their work.

At our last Stamp Club meeting, this is the card I swapped with the group.

This card showcases a few new products including the Betsy's Blossom stamp set, Betsy's Blooms wheel, Daffodil Delight 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon, Bitty Banners framelits, the new In Color inkpads and Floral District dsp.

Of course, adding in some old faves makes this card even more special.  How could I live without Teeny Tiny Wishes and my Basic Rhinestones?

If you would like to make this card, all of the items used to make it can be purchased from my ONLINE STORE.  Thanks for choosing me as your demonstrator! 

Stippled Blossoms

This is a weird analogy, but here goes nothing.  Do you know how bugs are attracted to the light in a bug zapper?  Yeah, I'm pretty much the same way with flower stamps.  As soon as a new flower stamp comes out, I start drooling until I have it in my hot little hands!

The first flower stamp set that HAD to be in mine from the new catalog is called Stippled Blossoms.  It's a two step stamp set, and it is GORGEOUS!!!

Are you ready to see my first creation using it?

Can you spot all the new goodies on this card?

My base card is Pink Pirouette.  

Layer #2 is also Pink Pirouette.  I ran it through the Big Shot using the new Fancy Fan embossing folder.  This one is a beauty, isn't it?

Layer #3 is a strip of Crumb Cake cardstock.  I cut both edges using the Finishing Touches Edgelits.  I added a length of Regal Rose 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon before adding this layer to the card.  

My focal image all begins with a piece of Whisper White cardstock that's been cut using the Layered Labels Framelits.

Now, for the stamping.  I did experiment before stamping this card, and I found that stamping the more detailed image first is the easiest way to use this stamp set.  The more detailed images are stamped using darker or full strength ink (in the case of using the same color ink for both images).  Then you ink up the solid stamp with the lighter ink or stamped off color (in the case of using the same color ink for both images).

My large blossom uses Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette inks.  The smaller blossom uses Wisteria Wonder ink (stamp off for the solid image and use it full strength for the detailed image).  The leaves are stamped using Lucky Limeade.  The edges of the focal image are sponged using Crumb Cake ink.  

For the sentiment I used the brand new single stamp called Beautiful Birthday.  I stamped it twice.  First on the focal image and then once again on a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I then punched out the second image using the Wide Oval punch.  Why did I do this?  Because I smudged the original, and I wasn't about to start over!  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!!!!!  

The top left corner needed some balance.....so I added a Regal Rose 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon bow.   Much, much better!!!!!

Now, here's a question for you!!!  What theme of stamps are you most attracted to?  Leave me a comment and let me know!!!!!  I love how we all love different things!!!!

If you've fallen in love with today's card and would like to make it, I will leave you with the card recipe.  If you need to purchase any supplies, I hope you'll visit my ONLINE STORE.

Until next time.........

Card Recipe

stamps:  Stippled Blossoms, Beuatiful Birthday
paper:  Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
ink:  Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Crumb Cake
accessories:  Finishing Touches edgelists, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Basic Pearls, Regal Rose 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Layered Labels Framelits, Wide Oval Punch 

 

While I (impatiently) Wait

As a gift to myself (I'm within 8 lbs from my goal weight), I 2nd-day aired my first order from the new catalog.  Every once in a while I buy myself something that reminds me how far I've come on my weight loss journey.  Right now, I've lost 69 lbs.  This last 8 lbs is coming off VERY slowly!!!!  

Anyhoo, the big 'ol box of goodies should be delivered sometime tomorrow.  Until then, I need to play with a few of the goodies I already have.  

This card is the make-n-take from my New Catalog Open House held this past weekend!  

Isn't this stamp set awesome?  It's called Everything Eleanor, and it makes me happy!!!  First of all, it has this big 'ol flourish.  I just love flourishes.  When Baroque Motifs retired, I was upset that my favorite flourish is going away.  I was relieved to see this brand new beauty!!!!  I think it's going to be a well-inked favorite!!!

Normally, I would've watercolored this flower image.  But, make-n-takes should be quick and not overly complicated.  I think this card fits that bill.  It shows how versatile this stamp set can me!!!  

I'll leave you with the card recipe in case you want to make it for yourself!  Of course, if you need to purchase Stampin' Up! supplies, I hope you visit my ONLINE STORE.  As always, thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!!!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Everything Eleanor, Petite Pairs
paper:  Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals, Whisper White
ink:  Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals
accessories:  Crumb Cake Seam Binding, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, sponge

 

This Card Takes the Cake

Happy Friday!  Wow!  This week has gone by fast!  It feels like I just posted last week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.  I know I haven't been posting as much over the past few months, and I really hope to correct that once the summer arrives.  Thank you for still checking back here to see when I do post.

I did spend more time in the Stampin' Studio this week.  My favorite UPS man delivered a big 'ol box containing my pre-order goodies!  The new catalog was also in that box.  Oh my word!  Wait until you see it folks!  It'll blow your mind!!!! 

This week I am holding a "Birthday Bash" class....that's right......all birthday cards!!!! 

One of the cards we are making uses this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge sketch.

While it does have lots of layers, it's not overly busy.  Using demure patterns helps make this card a success.  I tend to shy away from bold patterns anyway.  It's just part of my signature style. 

While I shy away from bold patterns, I am not afraid of color.  I think a big 'ol "pop" of color is a beautiful thing.  

The colors on this card are Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz.  The Basic Black helps define all that color and pull it all together. 

Once again, I am playing with a retiring stamp set.  Crazy for Cupcakes has been a beloved stamp set for a number of years.  I had a feeling it would be on the retired list, but it's still never going to leave my Stampin' Studio because I truly love, love, love it to pieces!!!

 

 

Everything Eleanor

I am such a self-confessed Stampin' Up! geek!  As soon as I hear that Stampin' Up! releases a new catalog in another country, I rush right over to the SU website to check out all the fun things they have.

Upon browsing the United Kingdom's latest catalog, I immediately fell in love with a stamp set called Everything Eleanor.  It has flowers that I can watercolor, a fabulous new flourish and a shabby chic plaque.  So, so pretty!

Well, when I attended Leadership in January, guess what stamp set they surprised all the attendees with?  You guessed it!  Everything Eleanor!  Whoopee!  It's going to be in the next big catty!

As soon as I saw this week's Stamping 411 sketch, I knew Everything Eleanor was the perfect stamp set to play with.  

My square card all starts with Early Espresso cardstock.  The cardstock measures 5" x 10".....scored and folded in half.

Layer #2 is some lined dsp from the Beau Chateau dsp pack.  I sponged the edges with some Crumb Cake ink.

Layer #3 is a strip of Soft Suede cardstock.  The left edge has been punched with the Scallop Trim border punch.  I wrapped a length of Soft Suede Taffeta ribbon before adhering this layer to my base card.  

Layer #4 is a 3 1/2" Crumb Cake circle (cut with my Big Shot).  I stamped the flourish and sponged the edges using Crumb Cake ink.

The plaque stamp is inked with Blushing Bride ink and stamped onto Blushing Bride cardstock.  I cut out this image and lightly sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink.  For my sentiment, I grabbed my Bring on the Cake stamp set.  I inked up the greeting with Early Espresso ink and stamped it onto some Blushing Bride cardstock.  I punched it with the Wide Oval punch and lightly sponged with Early Espresso ink.  Two pearls adorn each side of the plaque.  

The flowers are inked with Jet Black StazOn and stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I watercolored the flowers using my Aquapainter and my Blushing Bride ink pad and reinker.  After allowing the flowers to dry, I carefully cut them out and added some pearl centers.  They are nestled upon some leaves cut with the Little Leaves Sizzlit.   

Ahhhhhh......this card is a perfect little piece of vintage prettiness and that makes me happy!

Well this Stampin' Up! geek is off to check out what the other Stamping 411 operators have made!   I bet there's some more pretties on there!

I'm not sure if I'll be checking back before Easter....so I want to wish everyone a wonderful weekend!!!!  

Card Recipe

stamps:  Everything Eleanor (available 6/1/12), Bring on the Cake
paper:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Beau Chateau dsp
ink:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
accessories:  3 1/2" circle Bigz die, Basic Pearls, Soft Suede Taffeta ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Wide Oval punch