Sunday, February 26, 2012

Going Over the Edge at Our Creative Corner

Hello there! Hope you are having a fantastic Sunday out there! I'm back again today with my belated Design Team card for this week's Our Creative Corner challenge. Better late then never, right? Sheesh! This week our hostess is the fabulously talented Tui Nathan and here is what she has to say about our "Over the Edge" challenge:
"This week the challenge I have for you is "Over the Edge" - create a card, or paper craft item with a design element that is not restricted to the boundaries of the card edges, and continues to flow off the edge of the card, for instance this could be a die cut element, a sentiment banner, a fussy cut image, ribbon etc. 
Push your design to the edge .... and have fun!"

My inspiration for the card came from this image of printed fabric on Pinterest (where else, right?). Click HERE for more info. I am seriously loving this color combo right now.
It was time to bust out one of my all-time favorite stamp sets for this one: Avairy. That chubby little owl always makes me smile. It's tough to see in the photos but the birdcage and the sentiment are heat embossed in Basic Gray for a little added shine. The striped ribbon is my "over the edge" element. It adds a fun pop but still allows the card to squeeze into an envelope...well sort of, all of the popped up layers make this card "chunky" like that sweet little owl. All of the supplies I used are listed at the end of the post. 
Here is a quick shot of the inside of the card with the sentiment continued from the front and one more chubby owl, just for fun: 
Thanks for visiting today! I sure hope you can play along with us and go "Over the Edge" this week at Our Creative Corner. Please stop by and see what the rest of the gals on the Design Team have created for inspiration:


Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie
Vicki Burdick- It's a Stamp Thing
Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch
Anita Houston- The Artful Maven Haven
Anne Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne
Wendy Janson-  It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts
Holly Kean- Kean On Paper 
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu- Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan- Stampin Time
Lori Rider- The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney- Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet- Designs by Sharon

Have a great rest of your day! Speaking of Pinterest...I'm off to whip up a batch of Peanut Butter and Nutella cookies that I "pinned" earlier this week. Mmmm! I rarely bake so this should be interesting. :) 

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Stampin' Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Aviary and Petite Pairs (sentiments)
Paper: Basic Gray patterned DSP (from ret. hostess paper pad), Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White card stock
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight Classic ink 
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder,  Daffodil Delight 1- 1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Basic Rhinestones (colored with a yellow marker), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder, White Baker's Twine, Basic Gray button and a ton of Stampin' Dimensionals
Non SU! accessories: gray bling, circle and scallop circle die cuts

Have a Seat for Paper Players #84

Hello there! I know it has been a while since my last post. I'm not really sure how this past week got away from me, but somehow it did. *sigh* Here it is, Sunday (again) and time for another fun challenge over at the Paper Players! This week, LeAnne is our hostess with a fantastic sketch. 
Who loves things in "3's"? *raising my hand in the air...and waving it like I just don't care!* LeAnne also loves crafty trio's and that is why her sketch is SO much fun to try. Although, I have to say that getting my mojo working for this one was a bit of a slow start. I'm trying this new thing where I am determined to actually USE the supplies I collect ok, stockpile. I have had the Have a Seat stamp set for...oh, I don't know...maybe a year now and have never inked it up. Shameful, right?  

My card is an "odd shape"- 4- 1/4" x 6- 3-4", so I am just going to cheat and slip it in a 5" x 7" envelope to mail. 
I also pulled out some Mocha Morning Specialty DSP which I haven't used since Christmas. I mistakenly stamped and embossed the chairs on River Rock card stock, instead of Crumb Cake (because I was too busy rocking out to some tunes in my stamp studio, while making this card). After I realized my mistake, I tried to camouflage my error by sponging the edges and giving it a healthy "spritzing" with a Crumb Cake marker using the Color Spritzer Tool. It almost looks like Crumb Cake, right? Maybe? Hey, I stamped those images straight on the first try, so I wasn't going to risk wasting them! That's a rare thing...haha! I also added one teeny, tiny, sparkly heart because it was perfect with the "miss you" sentiment. 

Here is the inside of the card, ready for a handwritten note for my sweet friend:

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit today! I sure hope you will join us this week at the Paper Players and play along with LeAnne's fabby sketch. Please stop by and visit the rest of the Design Team and see what they have whipped up for some inspiration: 

The Paper Players Design Team


I will be back a bit later today with my (really late) card for this week's Our Creative Corner challenge. Stay tuned! :) 

Enjoy your day, 

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Stampin' Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Have a Seat and FYI (ret. for sentiment)
Paper: Mocha Morning Specialty DSP, Red Glimmer paper, Basic Black, River Rock (should have been Crumb Cake, though) and Soft Suede card stock
Ink: Basic Black Craft ink, Soft Suede Classic ink 
Punches: Owl Builder punch (tiny heart), Small Oval (ret.) and Large Oval 
Accessories: Stamping Sponges, Clear Embossing Powder, Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker, Color Spritzer Tool and Stampin' Dimensionals
Non SU! Accessories: black hemp twine

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Using the 'Stache for Paper Players #83

Well hello there! It's Sunday and time for a new Paper Players challenge. 

This week, I am hosting our CAS (clean and simple) challenge and it's all about the guys this week. I don't know about you, but I never seem to have nearly enough "man" cards in my supply. Every time an occasion comes up, I'm always scrambling to put something together. When I think of cards for the guys, I always tend to think that less is more. My usual fixation on shades of pink and sparkly goodness just seem to be...well, a little over-the-top.  
So, I started attempting to whip up ideas for a "man" cards and kept gravitating toward really dark, earthy colors. Ugh! That was NOT helping my mojo, so I decided to dip into my huge "stache" (hmmm, perhaps that is a blatantly obvious pun) of DSP to find a color combo that inspired me. I stopped on the Big Top Birthday DSP. I HAD to have this paper, when I saw it months ago, yet I've only used it once...until today. *sigh*
Talk about keeping it simple. I decided to use the patterns in the DSP to create my card, with a few easy accents. This super-strong, moustached dude just says "look at me", so I cut around him to make him the main image for my card. The pennant paper made a festive background, along with a sentiment from the Happiest Birthday Wishes set. I added some texture with the embossed circles, metal brads and Crystal Effects (to the big man's weight and belt buckle) for a little added pop. I know these are some bright colors for a guy card but this one got "two thumbs up and a laugh out loud" from my husband and one of his friends last night. I suppose it could also be used as a kid's card, too. I added one more GIANT moustache to the inside of the card, for good measure. (Sorry that photo is not all that great...I ran out of daylight!) 
Thanks for stopping by today! I sure hope you can join us this week at the Paper Players. We are also having an Design Team Call. CLICK HERE for more details. Please stop by and visit the rest of the gals on the Design Team to check out their fantastic creations for the guys: 
The Paper Players Design Team

Have a HAPPY day! :) 


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Stampin Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (sentiments, hostess set) and Many Moustaches (inside 'stache)
Paper: Big Top Birthday DSP, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White card stock
Ink: Versa-Mark and Tempting Turquoise Classic ink
Punches: 1- 1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle punches
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Silver brads and Stampin' Dimensionals
Non-SU Accessories: rectangle scalloped die

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Color Splash for Our Creative Corner

Hello there! Well after a busy week, here it is Saturday and it's time for a new weekly challenge at Our Creative Corner. This week, the lovely Tui Nathan is our fabulous hostess and she has a fun challenge for us. 

Here are the challenge details from Tui: 
"Black and White with a splash of Colour" - create a card or paper craft item with the colours black and white, and then add a splash of colour of your choosing! Which way will you go .... classic and elegant, modern and contemporary, clean and simple or shabby chic ... the choice is yours so have fun and be creative!
For my card, I turned to my trusty Owl Builder Punch. I have seen SO many cards on Pinterest lately featuring this little guy, I was itching to get punchy with him again. I have always loved the sentiments from the Perfect Words stamp set (SU! Hostess set) and once I selected RED as my choice for a "splash" of color, I decided that one of these tiny owls needed to take center stage. What better way, then with some sparkle and shine...while his little owl friends look on in admiration. Haha! The sentiment and those little eyes say it all for this "superstar  owl", eh? He really stands out in a crowd! All of the supplies I used are listed at the end of this post. 
Thanks for stopping by today. I sure hope you can join us this week at Our Creative Corner and have some fun making a "splash" with this fun challenge. Please stop by and see what the rest of the gals on the Design Team have created for inspiration this week:


Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie
Vicki Burdick- It's a Stamp Thing
Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch
Anita Houston- The Artful Maven Haven
Anne Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne
Wendy Janson-  It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts
Holly Kean- Kean On Paper 
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu- Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan- Stampin Time
Lori Rider- The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney- Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet- Designs by Sharon

Have a very HAPPY day! :) 


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Stampin' Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Perfect Words (Hostess set)
Paper: Night and Day DSP (ret.), Silver Glimmer Paper, Red Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Basic Black and Real Red card stock
Ink: Basic Black and Real Red Classic ink
Punches: Owl Builder Punch and Itty Bitty Punch Pack (for the sentiment)
Accessories: Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones (colored with a red marker), Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Tombow glue and Stampin' Dimensionals

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Fresh Vintage with Fresh Colors- {PP#82}

Hello and Happy Sunday to you! Can you believe that it is almost Valentine's day? This year  is sure flying by, isn't it? It's time for another fun challenge over at the Paper Players
Whoo-hoo!! The lovely Ann Schach is our hostess this week and she has a fantastic color challenge to try out. I really like all of these colors independently, but when you add them together in a combo...they really ROCK! Thanks for the inspiration this week, Ann! :) 
I used the sketch from Mojo Monday for my card design. I generally do not like like design elements that are "tilted", but have to admit that this sketch is pretty awesome! I think it has something to do with all of those fantastic layers. *grin* It's going into the book of favorites, for sure! :) 
I featured the Fresh Vintage stamp set and the Everyday Enchantment DSP from the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration catalog on this card. If you would like more info about the Sale-A-Bration promo, jplease contact me! (...or check out my sidebar to view the catalog.) I distressed all of the layers with Soft Suede sponged ink, for  a slightly "dirty" look. I'm still trying to get into the groove of "shabby-chic-ness". A complete supply list is available at the end of this post, if you are interested.  
Thanks for stopping by today! Please pop by and visit the rest of the PP Design Team (along with the Mojo Monday challenge) to view some fantastic creative inspiration. I hope you have a chance to join us at the Paper Players, this week. The challenge ends Friday, February 17th at Noon (PST).
Have a HAPPY day, 


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Stampin' Up Supply List: 
Stamps: Fresh Vintage (SAB) and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Everyday Enchantment DSP, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Poppy Parade and Soft Suede Classic ink
Punches: Word Window and Scallop Border punch
Accessories: Soft Suede polka-dot ribbon (ret.), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder, Square Lattice embossing folder. Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals and Stamping Sponges
Non-SU Accessories: oval and scallop oval die

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Best Friend for OCC

Hello there, stamping friends! I'm so sorry about my blogging absence over the past week. Lots going on in my world, but I am happy to finally be back in creative action. I was seriously missing my stamp studio! It's Saturday (already!) and that means it is time for another fun challenge over at Our Creative Corner. This week, the super-sweet, Sharon Wheet (hey, that rhymes!) is our hostess and she has a great challenge for us.
'Best Friend' is the title and theme. 
Make a paper craft item (card, scrapbook page layout, a 3-D item, an altered item) for a Best Friend! It can be for a birthday, a thank you, or to just let her know she is your best friend!  The only other requirement, is to include a flower!  The flower can be hand-made, an embellishment, or a stamp.  It's your best friend, you decide what works best for your paper craft item.
No, your eyes do not deceive you...those really ARE fussy-cut flowers on my card. 5 of them to be exact...and one on the inside. (For those that have never visited before...I'm NOT the biggest fan of fussy-cutting) But after inking up the Array of Sunshine stamp set for the first time today, I knew I wanted to layer these pretty flowers. I got my inspiration from my fellow OCC Design Team Member, Vicki Burdick and her gorgeous designs with this set. All of the layers are popped up for added dimension and finished off with a spot of sparkly bling. The inside of the card is dressed up, but left blank, for a sweet note to my BFF. The card is pink and it sparkles, so I'm pretty sure she will love it. *grin* I listed all of the supplies used to make the card at the end of this post. 

My colors for this card were inspired by this week's Colour Q challenge. 
Love, love, LOVE this color combo, so much! 
I added a tiny pop of Pear Pizzazz for the leaves, I hope that is ok, ladies.
The layout was inspired by the Scrapbook Essentials sketch challenge. Check out both sites for some awesome creative inspiration! 
Before I go, I wanted to extend a big welcome to our new Design Team Members over at Our Creative Corner, as I was absent last week. Please welcome the following lovely ladies to the team. Their creativity is amazing, so please stop by their blogs and say hello:  
Sue Butler - Scrumplescrunch
Anita Houston - The Artful Maven Haven
Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu - Simply Paper Crafts

Thanks for stopping by today! 


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Stampin' Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Array of Sunshine (hostess set) and Friendly Phrases  (sentiment)
Paper: In Color DSP pack (ret. Hostess item), Regal Rose, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade and Whisper White card stock
Ink: Regal Rose, Peach Parfait and Poppy Parade Classic ink
Punches: Bird Builder punch (leaves), Scallop Trim Border punch and Large Oval punch
Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder, Whisper White 5/8" Organza ribbon, Basic Rhinestones and Stampin' Dimensionals
Non-SU! Accessories: circle and scallop circle die

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Flowers for The Paper Players #81

Hello and Happy Super Bowl Sunday to you! Are you planning to watch the big game today? Or are you just planning to watch for the commercials? 

Well, before the Super Bowl begins, why not check out this week's challenge over at the Paper Players? This week, the lovely Nance Leedy is our challenge hostess and she has a fun theme challenge to play along with. We've got Spring Fever this week at the Paper Players and having fun with FLOWERS. 
For my card, I pulled out a few products I haven't used in a while. I started with the colors in the Paisley Petals DSP and then decided to do a punched flower for the main image. This is not the flower I had planned on using originally. I had a different plan with the Blossom Petal Builder punch but just couldn't get it to work the way I wanted it to. THAT flower is currently sitting in "time-out" on my desk. I'm going to attempt to make friends with it again this week. We will see how it goes. In the mean time, I needed a card for a friend who just had surgery, so that is who this card will be on it's way to. I hope she likes it. :)

I distressed the edges of the card with some sponged ink and broke out the Color Spritzer Tool to "dirty" it up a little more. I'm pretty sure this is the second time I have ever used that Elegant Lines embossing folder, too. I forgot I had it...whoops! The layered flower was made from the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch and the stem was created from the branch of the Bird Builder punch. All of the supplies used are listed at the end of the post, too. 
Thanks for visiting today. Please stop by and visit the rest of the gals on the Design Team. If you are ready to get some crafty "flower power" on, it would be great if you would join in the fun this week at the Paper Players. You have until Friday, February 10th at *noon* (PST) to link up to the challenge.
The Paper Players Design Team
Have a SUPER day! :) 

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Stampin' Up! Supply List: 
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Paisley Petals DSP, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Bravo Burgundy and Crumb Cake Classic ink
Punches: Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch and Bird Builder punch (flower stem)
Accessories: Stamping Sponges, Color Spritzer Tool, Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker, Chantilly 1/2" Crochet trim, Elegant Lines Embossing folder, Basic Pearls and Stampin' Dimensionals
Non-SU! Accessories: green marker (to color pearl), oval and scalloped oval die