A Touch From the Heart

A New Pretty and an Update

First of all, thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers on Dennis' surgery.  Dennis' surgeon was able to do a partial knee replacement.  Dennis is thrilled!!!  With a partial, he won't be as restricted with his activity after he heals.  He hopes to be able to do Taekwondo again with Christopher!

Dennis is home and resting as comfortably as he can.  We set up his sleeping area for the next couple of weeks in the living room.  We recently converted the guest room into a workout room.  So, the bed now has a (temporary) home in the living room.  That way Dennis has access to a larger shower, the kitchen and his office.  It seems to be working out great so far!

Anyhoo, I did mention a new pretty in the title of this post!  As I haven't stamped in over a week, I am going to share a card we made in my last class.  It uses the "You're My Type" stamp set which I completely adore!!!!  It's my new "go to" stamp set for guy cards!!!!  You can make it as masculine or as feminine as you want!

I used Lee Conrey's tutorial on the Stamping 411 blog to create the black mat.  I love how I can make a mat as narrow as I want to using my Framelits!

I'll leave you with the card recipe in case you want to recreate this card!

Of course, all the supplies used to make this card are from Stampin' Up!  If you need to place an order, just click here to go to my ONLINE STAMPIN' STORE.  

Card Recipe

stamps:  You're My Type, Netting
paper:  Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, First Edition dsp
ink:  Crumb Cake, Jet Black StazOn, Cherry Cobbler
accessories:  Labels Framelits, Word Window Punch, Silver Brads 

Look Who's Four

Hey everyone!  This weekend is definitely the calm before the storm at our house.   My husband is having his knee replaced on Monday afternoon, and the weeks following will be filled with his recovery and physical therapy appts.  He should heal quicker than most patients as he is young for this type of surgery.  It's amazing how track and football from his high school and college days have taken their toll on his body.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!!!

Anyhoo.....you didn't come here to hear about Dennis' knee.  You came to look at something pretty, didn't you?

For this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge, we were dealing with angled elements.  They are definitely not my favorite, but it's fun to take a challenge.  So, here's what I came up with.......

This card is perfect for anyone who is celebrating their 4th birthday.  Do I know anyone who is turning four?  Nope!  It just happened that the number 4 was in the best place on the patterned paper.  LOL!!!

My base card is Early Espresso.

Layer #2 is a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of striped patterned paper from the Just Add Cake collection.  The stripe just reminds me of a pattern that might be on an awning of an old-fashioned ice cream shoppe. 

Layer #3 is a piece of Wild Wasabi cardstock.  I used the Direct-to-Paper technique on this layer using my Wild Wasabi ink pad.  I just love how dragging an ink pad adds so much to a simple layer!

For my angled layers, let's chit chat about the back one first.  I thought the dsp pattern with the numbers would make a fun and different way to include the birthday girl's age on the card.  I colored in the "4" with my Wild Wasabi marker.  I then outlined the 4 with the fine tip of my Early Espresso marker.   To accentuate the "4", I created a frame using my circle punches.  First punch a 1 1/4" circle from a scrap piece of cardstock.  Then line up the 1 3/8" punch so that it's centered and squeeze.  It's an easy peasy way to make a frame!  The entire layer is matted on Soft Suede cardstock.

For the front-most angled layer, I used my Mouthwatering stamp set.   I am just a sucker for ice cream cone images, and this one is downright yummy!  I inked up my image using my Stampin' Write markers (Regal Rose (with some squiggles of Rose Red)  for the ice cream, Crumb Cake for the cone, Real Red for the cherry and Lucky Limeade for the stem).   This layer is matted with Daffodil Delight cardstock.

Now, if I did some chalking on the cone (with my Soft Suede stampin pastel) to darken it up a bit.  If I made this card again, I think I would use Soft Suede for the cone rather than Crumb Cake. 

To add a touch of whimsy, I did some handdrawn linework.  It's amazing what a cute little dash, dot, dot can add to a card? 

As per the sketch, my sentiment balances the two angled layers in the bottom right corner.  My birthday greeting (from Petite Pairs) is inked with Early Espresso ink and stamped on Regal Rose cardstock.  It's punched with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  I matted this with a 1 3/8" circle punched from Soft Suede cardstock.  Finally, this nestles on a scallop circle that's been embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder. 

To complete my card, I added a cute Rose Red Seam Binding bow! 

So cute!!!  Now, I need to find a four year old to give it to!!!

 

 

Lumpy and Bumpy with a Touch of Vanilla

Whew!  We made it through another work week.  By Tuesday I was ready for the weekend to get here already.  Now that it's Friday, I am just itchin' to get it started. 

My weekend always begins with my project for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.  This week's card will not fit in an envelope.  Nope...no way!!!  It's too lumpy and bumpy.  This is a card that needs to be hand-delivered. 

Besides being lumpy and bumpy, it also smells DELICIOUS.  I used some of the new Vanilla scented embossing powder on the cupcake.  Some vanilla scented items can be icky smelling (i.e. cheapie candles that smell like gross vanilla play-doh), but this embossing powder actually smells yummy! 

This card also features the new Designer Rosette Bigz XL die.  Making rosettes has never been easier because the die does all the cutting and scoring for me.  I just fold on those score lines (in an accordian fashion) and attach the ends with Sticky Strip. 

My base card is Chocolate Chip.......the perfect color for this confection card!!!!

Layer #2 is Peach Parfait.  It's a color that I've really come to appreciate and use a lot more over the past six months.  It's a shame that it's retiring on May 31st (along with Poppy Parade, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Blushing Bride), but there will be five new colors introduced in it's place.

Layer #2 has been embossed with my most used embossing folder:  Square Lattice.  Before adding this layer to the base card, I wrapped two layers of ribbon around it.  I used Whisper White Satin Ribbon and Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain. 

The rosette is cut from Real Red polka dot paper (found in the Brights Patterns stack).

The focal image comes from the Sweet Cake stamp set.  I inked up the image two times.....first in Chocolate Chip (adding in some Real Red and Old Olive to the cherry) which is stamped onto Whisper White cardstock.  The cupcake image is cut out of this image.  Secondly, I cleaned the stamp and inked it with Tempting Turquoise ink.  Before stamping, I cleaned the heart off with a cotton swab and colored it in with my Real Red marker.  A quick huff is needed to re-moisten the ink and then stamp it onto some Whisper White cardstock.

The frosting on the cut out cupcake is colored with my Peach Parfait marker.  I then colored over the entire image using my Versamarker.  Once I sprinkle on the Vanilla scented embossing powder and heat it til melted, this confection transforms into complete yumminess!

All that's needed are the finishing touches:  popping the cupcake up on dimensionals, adding the layered buttons with the Whisper White Baker's Twine and adding the sentiment!

That's all there is to it......a yummy confection card without all the calories!!!!  With weigh-in tomorrow, the sniffing of yummies is much better on the scale than tasting them!!!! 

I'll be back soon with another project using scented embossing powder.  I played with the Melon scent, and it reminds me of my Maybelline rollerball lip gloss I loved in high school.   I wonder if there will eventually be a bubble-gum flavor?  That was my favorite Bonne Bell lip gloss!!!  Ahhhhh....the memories!!!!!

Have a great weekend!!!!!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Sweet Cake
paper:  Chocolate Chip, Peach Parfait, Whisper White, Brights Patterns dsp stack
ink:  Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise
accessories:  Stampin' Write Markers (Real Red, Old Olive), Brights Designer Buttons, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Vanilla Scented Embossing Powder, Versamarker, Designer Rosette Bigz XL die

Shabby Chic

While at Leadership, I was drawn to a card made by one of the display stampers.  I drew inspiration from that card and tweaked it a bit to make it my own!!!!

I just love the shabby-chic feel and all the texture!!!!!  I've played with lots of product on this card and made a mess of my stamp desk while doing it!!!  So much fun!!!!

Order your favorite Stampin' Up! products from Patti's Online Store

Card Recipe

stamps:  Fresh Vintage, Netting, Petite Pairs
paper:  Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Everyday Enchantment dsp
ink:  Soft Suede, Versamark
accessories:  Elegant Lines embossing folder, Blushing Bride pleated ribbon, Bigz Butterfly die, White embossing powder, circle punches, Basic Pearls 

Tequila Sunrise

Today, I am SO excited.  You see, I am in San Antonio, TX with my stamping friends at Stampin' Up's annual Leadership Conference.  This is the event I look forward to every year.  I am taught over a series of two days how to be a better demonstrator, given new ideas to share with my customers, inspiration to give to my team members and so much more!

Now, I didn't name today's post after the margaritas I will be drinking with my roommate and Stamping BFF, Jenn Turoff!  She and I have had a rough couple of weeks, and we look forward to catching up over some fabulous Tex-Mex food and a margarita or two!

The name of the post came from the color combination used on today's card.  It's Calypso Coral and Poppy Parade.  I just love how they work together!!!!

If you've fallen in love with today's card, all of the items used to make it can be purchased from my ONLINE STORE.  Thanks so much for choosing me as your demonstrator.  

Card Recipe

stamps:  Apothecary Art
paper:  Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
ink:  Basic Black, Calypso Coral
accessories:  Labels Framelits, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, White Gel Pen, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder 

 

Wanna SAB Sneak Peek?

Pssssttttt........I've got a secret.  Well, it's not really a secret, but it's a sneak peek of some of the FAB-U-LOUS items you can choose with your qualifying Sale-a-bration order.  

See the fun stamp set?  Well, it can be yours with a $50 order during Sale-a-bration.

Do you love that patterned paper?  Oh my word.....I do too!!!  I think it's one of the prettiest paper packs Stampin' Up! has ever come out with.    Guess what?  It can be yours with a $50 order during Sale-a-bration.

Isn't that narrow organdy ribbon luscious?  This color is Calypso Coral, but if you choose the ribbon/brad pack as your Sale-a-bration freebie, you'll also get a roll of Lucky Limeade narrow organdy ribbon and a designer brad pack too!!!  Oh, it's wonderful!!!!

Now, that I've got you all excited about Sale-a-bration, let me share the details!  

Sale-a-bration runs from January 24th through March 31st.  

For every $50 of your order, you get to choose ONE Sale-a-bration item.  There's stamp sets, paper packs, Simply Sent kits, Big Shot items, Decor Elements, embellishments and so much more!!!!  I can't post the Sale-a-bration brochure yet.....so you're going to have to trust me until January 24th!

Happy Birthday Cupcake!

Happy Friday everyone!  Does the concept of Friday the 13th freak you out?  One of the best things in my life happened on the 13th day.....that would be the birth of my son, Christopher.  What a blessing that boy is!!!!  Although, at the age of 19, he's not really a boy anymore, but he's still my baby!

Well, even if the whole Friday the 13th thing freaks you out, I can guarantee that a cupcake can make it better.  Aren't they just the yummiest little things?  It's amazing how the cupcake craze has taken over.  There are little bakeries all over serving only cupcakes on their menu.  The flavors and combinations are getting wilder and wilder every day too!!!

Let's try to figure out what flavor my cupcake is!  The cake part is definitely chocolate, but the frosting can't be lemon.  I'm just thinking that's going to taste nasty when paired with chocolate.   I'm perfectly happy with a good buttercream....and that can be colored yellow.  Then all you have to do is shake on a few sprinkles, and you have perfect cupcake bliss!

What I like best about this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge card is that it really is unisex.  Isn't that the best kind of card to have in your stash? 

My base card is Island Indigo.  It measures 4 1/4" x 11", scored at 5 1/2" and folded in half.

Layer #2 is patterned paper from the Twitterpated dsp pack.  I love how subdued it is.  I don't do well with busy dsp patterns.  It distracts me from the rest of the card.

Before adhering Layer #2 to the base card.  I tore a 1/2" wide strip of the Twitterpated fabric and tied it into a classic knot.  I don't use a lot of fabric, but I really like how it adds to the card.

Let's start building the focal layers.  I started with the Real Red cardstock piece.  I matted this on a 1/8" larger piece of Basic Black cardstock.  I then cut some Certainly Celery cardstock using the new Labels Framelits.  I did sponge the edges with Certainly Celery ink to add some depth.

The cupcake comes from the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set.  It's one of my treasured stamp sets.  I inked the image with Black StazOn ink and stamped it onto Whisper White cardstock.  I then dusted off my Watercolor Pencils and a blender pen to make my watercolor magic!  The sprinkles were colored with the new Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, and the flame was enhanced with of the original Dazzling Details. 

The cupcake is carefully cut out and placed onto the label using dimensionals. 

I added some Basic Rhinestones to finish off the card. 

Note:  After photographing this card, I did decide to add onto it as I felt the left side of the card needed some balance.   I grabbed my beloved (and retired) Photo Corner Punch and punched the smaller one out of Real Red cardstock.  This now sits in the upper left corner of my patterned paper layer.  I also added the sentiment (from the same stamp set) and punched it with the Large Oval punch.   I really like how these two elements finished off the card. 

Well, that's about it for this cupcake card!  I'm teaching a stamp class tonight, and one of the cards we're making is the revised version of this one.  I sure hope they like it!!!!

 

Birthday Balloons

Has it really been a full week since I've blogged?  Wow!  I am SO sorry about that, but I am just overwhelmed at the moment.   I've been decorating the house for the holidays, holiday shopping, designing projects for this week's class and then add in all the normal activities (working, exercising, Mom's taxi, grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry) and I just need another two hours added to my day.  

I promise to be back blogging regularly again as soon as possible.  

I was able to make a card for this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.   The diagonal element adds such a fun twist to this sketch.  

This week, I decided to make a birthday card.  It's crazy birthday week here at our house.  We've got my brother's, son's and niece's birthday all within 7 days of each other.  Wowza!   That's a lot of celebrating!!!  I'll be working out extra hard to work off all that cake!!!

My card starts with a So Saffron base.

Layer #2 is Marina Mist cardstock that's been "texturized" with the Direct-to-Paper technique using Marina Mist ink.  

To build my card, I started with the patterned paper.  This fun pattern is from the Just Add Cake dsp pack.  I just adore these colors.  They work for both males and females alike.

Next, I stamped my greeting onto a strip of Whisper White cardstock.  I matted this onto some Basic Black cardstock.  Make sure that these strips are longer than needed for the diagonal.  Lay them on the diagonal and attach to the dsp.  Using your paper trimmer, trim off the excess.  The dsp is then matted on some Tangerine Tango cardstock.  

Every birthday boy or girl loves a bunch of balloons to celebrate the day.  I made mine using the balloon image from the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set.  I inked the stamp with Versamark ink and stamped onto Real Red and Tangerine Tango cardstock.  I carefully cut out the images and added some White Baker's Twine to the back.  The balloons are placed on the card with dimensionals.  

I'm not sure who's going to get this card, but I sure hope they like it!!!!

I bet you'll also like the projects all the other Stamping 411 operators have made this week.  They are a great source of inspiration.  

 

Happy Birthday Andrea!

'Tis the birthday season in the Chesky household.  It seems like we are celebrating one every week.  Some weeks, we are celebrating multiple birthdays.

My sister-in-law has the only November birthday in the family.  We just celebrated her special day at Famous Dave's BBQ.  I save my Weight Watcher's weekly points for Famous Dave's.  They have the yummiest baby back ribs and corn muffins.  Ooooohhh....so delish!

For her birthday, I made this card.  Andrea loves polka dots....so it's a no brainer that they have to be placed somewhere on the card.  For this year's card, I made an accordian flower using Rich Razzleberry polka-dotted paper.

Have you tried making an accordian flower yet?  If not, let me teach you how!

1.  cut a 12" strip of cardstock.  The width of the cardstock determines how big the accordian flower is.  My strip is 2" x 12".  This will give me an accordian flower 4" in diameter.

2.  using the Simply Scored tool score every 1/2" along the strip  

3.  flip the strip over and score every 1/4" along the strip

4.  fold the strip accordian style using the score marks as your guide

5.  attach a piece of Sticky Strip to the end and adhere the strip's other end around to form a circle. 

6.  punch a 1 3/8" circle from scrap cardstock.  Place Sticky Strip all over this circle.

7.  Place the accordian circle on the table.  Using both hands, push the center of the accordian folded circle down towards the table.  It should form an accordian flower.  Place the sticky stripped circle on the back side of the accordian flower.  Rub gently to secure it. 

8.  Flip the flower over and voila.....you have a gorgeous accordian flower.

I have really fallen in love with the leaf images from Gently Falling.  I chose to use a mix of traditional and non-traditional colors for her birthday card.  I love how the Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake and More Mustard play off each other!  Once again, I used my Netting background stamp to soften the intensity of the Very Vanilla.  I just ink it up with Crumb Cake ink and dance my fingers over it to give a sporadic stamped effect.  So pretty!

My sentiment (from the Petite Pairs stamp set) nestles perfectly on the accordian flower.  I also used Sticky Strip on this circle to make sure it wasn't going anywhere.

Can you spot the second trendy element I've used?  The first is the accordian flower.  The second is the banner tucked under the accordian flower.  Banners are hot, hot, hot!  I just hand cut mine.  I marked the center point on my cardstock strip and cut it with my paper trimmer on a diagonal placing the marked dot and the edge of the cardstock on the cutting channel of the trimmer!  Easy peasy!!!! 

Andrea loved her card.  It was lumpy and bumpy due to that flower, but it still fit in the envelope!!!!  I don't think a mailed accordian flower card would fare so well in a regular envelope.  So, keep this in mind if you are mailing this card out to someone!!! 

All of the supplies used to make this card are available to purchase at my ONLINE STORE.   I love that I can purchase my Stampin' Up! products safely and securely without leaving the comfort of my home.  

Card Recipe

stamps:  Gently Falling, Petite Pairs, Netting
paper:  Rich Razzleberry, More Mustard, Whisper White, Brights Patterns dsp stack
ink:  Rich Razzleberry, More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz 
accessories:  Simply Scored tool, circle punches (1 1/4", 1 3/8"), sponge

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Last week, I told you that I used several of the Stamping 411 sketches for my personal birthday card needs.  The last of the October birthdays belongs to my Mom.  My mom is awesome!!!!  She's there to listen to me, give me advice and be my BFF.  I'd show you a photo of her, but one....she hates to have her picture taken and two....she's yell at me for posting it on my blog.  So.....to keep the peace....you're going to have to trust me when I tell you that she is a beautiful person....both inside and out!

Here is this week's sketch........

And, here is my interpretation of it.......

I really wanted to make this card "pop".  So, rather than grab my usual purples or pinks for a feminine card, I went for yellow and poppy.  These two colors are so striking together!

My base card is Early Espresso.  It's a wonderful neutral that pairs nicely with the So Saffron and Poppy Parade.  Too much color is not always a good thing.

Layer #2 is So Saffron.  Of course, I couldn't leave this layer just plain.  So, I used my Direct-to-Paper technique to give the plain cardstock some "texture".  

Layer #3 is a strip of Poppy Parade cardstock that's also been texturized with the Direct-to-Paper technique.  Along the bottom edge I placed a strip of Whisper White that's been punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.  I love how it resembles subtle eyelet trims.  

Layer #4 is larger on my card than what is called for on the sketch, but I needed to make it bigger to work with the cut out flowers.  This layer is Crumb Cake cardstock that's been stamped with the En Francais background stamp.  I also sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink before matting it on some Early Espresso cardstock.  

Can I just say how much I love these flowers?  The Field Flowers stamp set was one of the first stamp purchases I made from this year's Idea Book and Catalog.  It's just my style.  This is the first time I've cut them out.  I was expecting it to be quite frustrating, but it really wasn't!  Yay for that!  

I stamp the stems first using Old Olive ink.  I then ink the more solid image with So Saffron ink.  The more detailed image is inked with Poppy Parade ink.   I just love how the two step process makes this flower spray look so lifelike.  

My mom is going to kill me for saying this, but she HATES to be called "mother".  I mean.....really hates it.  So, sentiments for her cards were always general.....until Stampin' Up! came out with this stamp set that has "Mom" in it.  Thank you Stampin' Up!  I bought this stamp set just for the "mom".  

Isn't the punched shape fun?  Well, I made it using my Decorative Label punch.  Here's how to make it:

1. stamp your sentiment
2. turn the punch so the short side surrounds the sentiment and punch
3. turn the punched out sentiment upside down and attach it to 1/2" x 4" strip of cardstock.
4. place the shape back in the punch using the strip to help guide it in and hold it, once again using the short side of the punch shape and punch

The result is this cute little shape!!!!  Try this method with the longer side of the punch too for a different effect!  I love how I can get more bang for my buck with my punches!!!!

I will say that Mom loved her card.  I don't think she expected the yellow from me as I'm not really a yellow girl.  But, sometimes surprising your BFF with something different is fun!

Do you need more inspiration?  I encourage you to check out what the other Stamping 411 operators have been up to!!!  Your creative mojo will be bursting with inspiration!!!