Backyard Basics Swap

Hello Everyone

I recently got back from a trip to the Stampin' Up! 25th anniversary convention in Salt Lake City.  While I was there I participated in an "Over The Top" swap and this is the card I made. 

To qualify as "over the top" the card had to have 5-7 layers and 2 embellishments.  My card was made with the Backyard Basics stamp set that has matching Framelits.  Don't you just love it when Stampin' Up! does that?  It makes it so easy to create a great card without a lot of extra free hand cutting.  I hope you enjoy my card.  Thanks for visiting.  

Lovely As A Tree

Held class today at Casa Maria and we had a full house.  Everyone had a wonderful time stamping, chatting with friends and having a fabulous lunch afterwards.  We made three cards and the card above was one of them.  I used the always popular Stampin’ Up! set Lovely As A Tree and can I just say I am so happy to report that it survived the retirement list again this year.  The background was stamped in Versamark using Flowering Flourishes on Lucky Limeade and Marina Mist cardstock.  The focal circle was stamped with Black Stazon and then the grass and sky were sponged in using Lucky Limeade and Marina Mist.  Sentiment is from Petite Pairs.

My next class at Casa Maria is on Saturday, June 29 at 11:30.  You might want to write it on your calendar to reserve the date.  We would love to have you join us.

Thanks for coming back here to visit. 

 

First Jacksonville STARZ Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!!!   Welcome to the First Blog Hop of the Jacksonville STARZ.  You have been directed here from Lee Conrey's Stampingleeyours blog. 

I'd like to share with you my current Stampin' Up! Family Tree. 

How would you like to join my family?  Stampin' Up! makes it so easy and affordable.  Look what a $99 investment can do for you.....

• $99 kit gives you $125 in Stampin' Up! product of your choice and all the Business Supplies you will need to set up your business
• The current sign up promotion from Stampin' Up! is a full set of 10 Ink Pads in your choice of color family (excluding Neutrals).  This is a $49.95 retail value and you don't even have to pay for shipping or tax

Stampin' Up! also has a Hostess Special right now that you can take advantage of.

• Sign up and be your own Hostess.  Hold a $450 Party/Workshop this month and you will receive another full set of 10 Ink Pads in your choice of color family (excluding Neutrals) for FREE.  Plus, this $450 Party/Workshop entitles you to $65 in free merchandise and 1 half-price item
• And if that isn't enough to entice you.....Lee has offered a "Signing Bonus".  She will provide you with either a Magic Bow Maker or a Set of 3 Card Stands (your choice) just for signing up with me

How amazing is all of that?????  The specials from Stampin' Up! make this an offer you can't pass up.  Join my Stampin' Up! family and let me show you how to do what I do...that is to run my own business, meet wonderful new friends, do what I love and have fun while doing it.

I know you also stopped by to see my card for today so here it is.

I used Tweet Leaves from the current Holiday Catalog.  My card base is Early Espresso and I used More Mustard and Cajun Craze for my mats.  The DSP is Orchard Harvest.  I colored my stamp using Stampin' Write Markers in various colors, huffed on the stamp to remoisten the ink and then stamped the image onto Very Vanilla.  The sentiment is from Just Believe.  I hope you like it!!!

I'm also giving away some blog candy....a brand new Fresh Vintage stamp set and a Holiday Frame embossing folder.  All you have to do is leave me a comment with your contact information and I will draw for the Winner on Sunday

In case you get lost on your journey following are all participants in today's First Blog Hop of the Jacksonville STARZ:

• Lee Conrey, Jacksonville, FL - www.stampingleeyours.blogspot.com
• Susan Best, Jacksonville, FL - www.stampinginferno.blogspot.com
• Rose Ann Marr, Lehigh Acres, FL - www.rosesstampinpad.blogspot.com
• Donna Thames, Jacksonville, FL - www.thymetostamp.wordpress.com
• Gina Little, Jacksonville, FL - www.redrosesstamper.blogspot.com
• Sheilah Neff, Corona, CA - www.stampwithus.com 
• Lisa Swett, Jacksonville, FL - www.inkydivastamper.wordpress.com
• Christina Cummings, Jacksonville, FL - www.christinasoriginals.blogspot.com
• Lisa Tyndall, Ponte Vedra, FL - www.lisatstamps.blogspot.com
• Zarogina Azocar, Roseville, CA - www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/gadget_gal.blog
• Joan Koeppel, Fernandina Beach, FL - www.stampinupontheisland.com

I certainly appreciate you taking time out of your day to stop in.  Before leaving, make sure to leave a comment to be entered into the blog candy drawing.  

Your next stop on the Blog Hop is Rose Ann Marr from Lehigh Acres, Florida.  Click HERE to go to her blog.  Have fun!
 

Hello Doily

Love this stamp! My mother told me this pattern was called a pineapple and I can remember her crocheting doilies just like it.

I stamped the image onto Whisper White cardstock with Versamark and then embossed with Clear EP. I used two images from the Delicate Doilies stamp set to stamp the small doilies in Wisteria Wonder. Once this was completed I sponged the edges, again using Wisteria Wonder, and then mounted on Elegant Eggplant. I added the Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon and mounted the whole thing on a Wisteria Wonder cardstock base.

I sometimes wish I could sit in on a Stampin' Up! planning meeting when they are throwing names around for their new ink colors. I really think it could be fun. I'd love to be there and join in, but I'm sure I would probably get into trouble with some of the names I might throw out there. LOL!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Delicate Doilies

The Delicate Doilies and Hello Doily stamps remind me of the beautiful doilies that my mother used to crochet. She always used a really fine thread to make the doilies and the hook on the crochet hook was almost invisible. I honestly don't know how she did all that extremely fine work. I had a few of the small accent pieces she made, but when she died my cousin gave me a tablecloth mother had crocheted for her. Jeannie, I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am to have it and how much I appreciate you giving it to me.

Mother has been gone for a little over 9 years now and I miss her. We had our difficulties over the years but I loved her and I'll miss her until we meet again. For those of you who still have your mothers, appreciate them and show them you love them because they will be gone way too soon.

We made this card in class earlier this month at the Jacksonville Beach Senior Center and the ladies each made it their own by coloring the doilies in different manners. I chose Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Basic Black for the colors on this Delicate Doilies birthday card. The doilies were colored with Stampin' Write Markers and I used the new Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon. Although you can't see them in the photo, the doilies each have a rhinestone in the center.

Don't you just love the new Petite Pairs stamp set from the 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalog? I think this set really filled a void in the Stampin' Up! sentiment area. I just wish there was a small "get well" pair as well. Keeping my fingers crossed!

See you soon.

Love & Care

Another card share today using the Love & Care level 2 hostess set. This time I used the aster type single blossom. The image was stamped into Daffodil Delight and then rock 'n' rolled into Pumpkin Pie. Once that step was completed I went over the center of the flower with a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker. The single leaf was stamped with Pear Pizzazz and scattered among the flowers. A double-loop bow completes the look. Hope you like it as much as I do.

Thanks for taking the time from your busy day to stop in.

Love & Care

The level 2 hostess set called Love & Care in the current Summer Mini catalog is a very versatile set especially if you love floral images (and I do). There are so many things you can do with these flowers.

The flower here was colored with Stampin' Write Markers in Rose Red and a little Bravo Burgundy was added for depth. The stem is Always Artichoke. Cardstock is Always Artichoke and Rose Red with a dash of Paisley Petals Designer Paper. I added three dark pink rhinestones from my stash and TA DA! the card is done.

See you soon.

Fabulous Florets Yet Again

See, I told you I love it. The greenery stamp was used again, but I changed it up with a different flower and, if it matters, it's turned on its side. I even changed the colors to Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade.

Just wanted to quickly stop in and share this card, but I gotta run now.

See you all again.

Fabulous Florets

Love, love, love the Fabulous Florets stamp set. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have used it. I'm sure my class attendees are thoroughly sick of it, or will be soon.

I embossed the greenery with Wild Wasabi embossing powder onto Basic Black cardstock and then embossed the flower with White embossing powder onto Daffodil Delight, cut it out and popped it onto the greenery. The Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder was used on Marina Mist cardstock and then it's all topped off with a Daffodil Delight satin bow.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Inspired by Nature

I recently returned from a visit to my hometown of Pittsburgh, was driving through West Virginia, and fell in love with all the wildflowers that were scattered along the highway. I know they were planted there on purpose to beautify the medians, but it looked like they were just growing there naturally. Such a wildly colorful display!

Today's card was inspired by those wildflowers and was done with the Inspired by Nature double-mounted stamp set. The sentiment is from a retired level 2 hostess set called Something to Celebrate. Little butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die are fluttering throughout the field of wildflowers. I used Tempting Turquoise and Concord Crush cardstock as the base for my garden.

I'm glad you came back for a visit. Please stop in again soon.

Happy Birthday With a Cherry on Top

This card was so easy to create using the Cupcake Builder and Petite Pennants Builder punches from Stampin' Up! I recently made this card at my senior class and all the ladies loved it.

I used one of the images from the Pennant Parade for my ice cream cone and punched it out with the Petite Pennant Builder punch. The ice cream scoops were made using the Cupcake Builder punch. The sentiment is from A Word For You. I was so happy to see that this stamp set was continued over into the new 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.

Thanks for stopping by again today!

On The Grow Mason Jar

I can just picture this mason jar sitting on my grandma's kitchen table with freshly cut flowers from her garden.

This image is from On The Grow in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog from which you can purchase until August 31, 2011.

I stamped the image onto watercolor paper and colored it using Melon Mambo & Garden Green reinkers and an Aqua Painter. I used a very light touch of Bashful Blue on the mason jar and then covered it with Crystal Effects. I was very happy when I saw that my photo actually shows the glassiness (is that a word?) LOL! that I was looking for.

The papers used are Melon Mambo, Garden Green, Whisper White and Melon Mambo from the Patterns Designer Series Brights Paper Stack.

Fabulous Florets Greenery

I was inspired to make this card by one on another artist's blog, but can't locate their website again to give them credit. I'll have to be better about keeping that information.

I used the greenery from the Fabulous Florets stamp set. The greenery was stamped in Pear Pizzazz and then rock 'n' rolled in Soft Suede. I did this twice on my background and then stamped another on a scrap piece of white and cut it out and mounted onto the center of the other two images with dimensionals. I also used the leaf image from Fabulous Florets and stamped in Versamark onto the Pear Pizzazz card to add a little interest to the plain background. The Scallop Edge Border punch was used to punch the Soft Suede cardstock and then a Pear Pizzazz strip was added using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.

Happy Independence Day

I recently went to a weekend scrapbooking crop with several friends. Just like me, one of these friends was working on cards. She was making a terrific quilted card and I asked her to share the technique with me. I used Stampin' Up! Woodland Walk DP, Crumb Cake cardstock and the bonsai tree from the Plant Hope stamp set. Thank you Vickie for sharing this technique with me. I can't wait to try some of the new 2011/2012 DP using this fabulous technique.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today.

I'm Back!!!

I honestly don't know where the last month and a half have gone. It seems the older I get the faster it goes. My husband had surgery again at the beginning of February so that explains part of my absence but not all of it. I guess you can put the other part down to plain old blog neglect and I apologize for that. I hope you don't hold it against me.

I am sharing a card today that was done with the Build a Blossom set from Stampin' Up!. I used Pretty in Pink as the flower base and stamped the petals in Rose Red. I absolutely love this set because it makes such pretty flowers so easily. Don't forget this set is in the current mini catalog and will only be available until April 30th so if you want it you better place your order soon.

I promise I'll be posting again soon and hope that you check back in with me. Thanks so much for visiting.

It's Not Another Holiday Card

Since I have been making nothing but Thanksgiving and Christmas cards at my classes lately, I thought I would take a break today and post a card using the Just Believe stamp set. The cardstock colors are Whisper White, Marina Mist and Night of Navy. I used Stampin' Write markers and colored directly onto the stamp, huffed to reactive the ink and then stamped. The circular stamp was stamped using the rock 'n' roll technique.

I'm happy with today's card not just because it isn't a holiday card, but because I like the end result. Hope you like it too.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the holiday with your families and are looking forward to a yummy meal. My family is going to my nephew's for dinner and the only thing that my nephew requested is my famous pumpkin pie. I baked 8 pies last night and am just about to sit down to watch the Macy parade on television. After the parade I plan to get to work on making a couple of vegetable dishes to go along with the smoked turkey and ham my nephew is making. I can't wait because I'm making myself hungry already.

Thanks for spending a little of your day with me.

Come to Bethlehem

Night of Navy is such a rich color and was the perfect choice for the Come to Bethlehem stamp set. I embossed the wisemen image in gold and kept the card very simple using only Night of Navy and Brushed Gold Cardstock. I added the Night of Navy satin ribbon to soften the card somewhat and am pleased with the results.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Not Quite Sure About This One

This card is giving me absolute fits. I'm not happy with the card and wanted to post it to get some honest feedback. I typed up my post, attempted to post it and then accidentally deleted it. I started the post again and then somehow went ahead and posted it before it was finished. So......I'm going to try this again.

I used the Tags Til Christmas stamp set, Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler cardstock and Deck the Halls Designer Paper. I punched out small circles, adhered them on the triangular line and then covered them in Crystal Effects. I also added Crystal Effects to the pinecone.

I think the thing I don't like about the card is the lack of interest on the Always Artichoke card base. It needs some texture or a little somethin' somethin', but I'm not sure what. Any input would be appreciated because I'm always up for some constructive criticism.

Thanks for stopping by and for any suggestions you might have.

Just Believe in Sunshine

Wow! Can't you just feel the warmth coming from this beautiful sunshine card? I made the sunbeams by sponging in Daffodil Delight ink. The Old Olive greenery and Concord Crush flowers were colored with the Stampin' Write Markers directly to rubber and then stamped after huffing to reactivate the ink. To add a little interest to my background paper I used one of the Texturz Plates, brayered on Old Olive ink and ran it through my Big Shot. This gave me a tone on tone woodlike look.

We made this card at my class last month at Cha Cha's Mexican Restaurant and it was well received by all the attendees. My next class at Cha Cha's will be on Saturday, November 27. Please contact me if you would like to attend. As always, we will be making 3 new card designs. Hope to see you there.