PPA #1: Happy Birthday Princess

Mary Fish and the Pals Paper Arts design team have started a new stamping challenge.  I couldn’t resist playing along.  For their first challenge, they chose the colors Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, and Chocolate Chip.

I immediately thought of my new Princess Time stamp set (Item #116720).  Did you know this stamp set has a matching Princess Party Kit, complete with invitations, envelopes, purse boxes, crowns, food toppers & picks, pennants, and ribbon for just $15.95 (supplies for 8, Item #116214)?

My Princess Time stamp set just arrived yesterday, along with our new Two Tags Bigz Die & Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die, so I just couldn’t wait to use them. To add some bling to my crown, I punched circles from Bermuda Bay cardstock using a hole punch, then added Dazzling Diamonds Glitter with our awesome 2-Way Glue Pen.  I finished off the card by tying my polka-dot ribbon so that the plain side was facing up.

Note: the Two Tags Bigz Die (Item #115954) & Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die (Item #115950) are exclusive to Stampin’ Up! 

• Stamps: princess time
• Inks: melon mambo, bermuda bay, chocolate chip
• Cardstock: melon mambo, bermuda bay, chocolate chip, razzleberry lemondate DSP
• Embellishments: melon mambo 1/2” polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, dazzling diamonds glitter
• Tools: big shot, standard cutting pads, two tags bigz die, scallop square clear bigz die, 2-Way Glue Pen, hole punch

Acadia Overlooks 12x12

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days.  I've been enjoying a little kid-free time each evening while the kids are at VBS.  Between dinner with a potential recruit one evening and a double date with my husband the next, I just didn't get around to posting.  I've also been trying to get to bed at a decent hour each night.

Here are some additional pages from my Maine vacation scrapbook with photos of some of Acadia National Park's gorgeous overlooks.  These pages were created from products in my July Scrappin' Whimsy Kit (I'll be posting my August kit within the next week or so....stay tuned!).  I used the new Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper, Razzle Dazzle stamp set, Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon, and Modern Label Punch.  I also added a Corduroy Brad & title cut from our Go Go Boots Alphabet Sizzix Dies for the Big Shot.

Stamp set: razzle dazzle; Inks: melon mambo, pumpkin pie, rich razzleberry, versamark; Cardstock: melon mambo, pumpkin pie, whisper white, razzleberry lemonade DSP; Embellishments: pumpkin pie corduroy buttons, melon mambo polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, silver brads, on board batch of blooms chipboard; Tools: big shot, go go boots alphabet sizzix dies, modern label punch

Ocean Frolic 12x12

I just have to share my excitement with you....I recently completed the scrapbook pages from our vacation to Maine last year!  Since I don't scrapbook in any particular order and thus, never have a finished product, this is a big deal for me.  And it's even better because I gave myself the deadline of finishing by the time we leave for Maine again this year in September and got it done 2 months early.

If you've been following my blog for awhile, then you've seen most of the 40 pages from my Maine 2008 scrapbook.  But there are a few pages left to share with you.  Since we spent the day at the beach today, I'm choosing to share a beach-themed page with you first.  Though the beach at Clinton Lake in Illinois doesn't begin to compare with the gorgeous Sand Beach in Acadia National Park, Maine.

For this page, I was striving for a whimsical look to fit my title.  I kept the elements to a minimum to bring the focus to my photos & doodling.  I used the new Jumble alphabet stamp set for my title and cut brackets using my Big Shot & new Hearts & Brackets Originals Die created exclusively for Stampin' Up! 

The Hearts & Brackets die includes a small & a large heart shape as well as 2 different sets of brackets.  Perfect for scrapbooking!  You won't find this die in stores, so contact me to get it.....just $17.95. 

Stamp sets: jumble alphabet; Inks: basic black, sage shadow; Cardstock: kraft, whisper white, sage shadow, basic black; Tools: big shot, standard cutting pads, stampin' up! hearts & brackets originals die

Vitalized Vellum Technique: Your Friendship

Our third and final technique for my class in July was this Vitalized Vellum technique.  The results are beautiful but allow plenty of time for your vellum to dry before mounting to your cardstock....perhaps overnight.  I tried heat-setting the ink on my vellum but it still wasn't completely dry.

1. Begin with a piece of vellum cardstock.

2. Starting with the lightest color first, use the edge of your classic ink pad and rub ink in various spots on the vellum.

3.  Repeat step #2 using darker-colored ink pads on areas that are uninked.  Continue until all areas of vellum are covered.  Use a stampin' sponge to feather the edges of the inked areas together.

4.  While your ink is still wet, take a solid image stamp and press it onto the inked vellum.  This will remove ink from that area creating a ghost-like effect.

5.  Repeat step #4 until you get the desired look, making sure to clean your stamp each time you stamp with it.

6.  Allow to dry completely and then decorate your card.

Whimsical Tip: This technique works great with our small Stampin' Spots ink pads.

For this card, we used the large flower image from the Eastern Bloooms stamp set to remove ink from our vellum.  The greeting is from the new Wings of Friendship hostess stamp set as is the line art flower image just barely noticeable on top of the left side of the greeting.  Ask me how you can earn this stamp set for FREE!

Stamp sets: eastern blooms, wings of friendship; Inks: pink passion, only orange; Cardstock: pink passion, only orange, whisper white, vellum; Embellishments: only orange 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; Tools: large oval punch, scallop oval punch

Chalk Grid Lines Technique

Sorry for being AWOL the last few days.  I've been busy prepping for my stamp club and making swaps for my upline's Jubilant Stampers meeting.  But now I'm back with a fun technique.  This one is called Chalk Grid Lines and it's simple.

1) Starting with the darkest color first, rub chalk (Stampin' Pastels) on portions of your cardstock using a sponge dauber, applicator, or Q-tip. 

2) Repeat Step #1 with one or two additional colors on bare areas of cardstock until the cardstock is completely covered with chalk.

3) Using a chalk eraser and a ruler, erase the chalk in straight lines.  Experiment with panels like I did, or try a grid pattern.

For this July Technique Class card, we used various size circle punches to create a wave pattern at the top of our Taken With Teal cardstock.  We stamped the whale on white cardstock. It's hard to see in the photos, but we applied Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the water spout on the whale using a 2-way Glue Pen.  That cute whale image is from our new Animal Stories stamp set and the greeting is from the On Your Birthday stamp set.

Whimsical Tip: Because our whale image was punched with our largest circle punch, we needed a way to create a slightly larger frame.  This was accomplished by using the Round Tab Punch and Taken With Teal cardstock.  Simply punch 2 round tab shapes with the punch and adhere those together flat one on top of the other so the pieces are at right angles, forming a circle.  You could also use the Circle Scissors Plus tool to cut a larger circle for the frame.

Stamp sets: animal stories, on your birthday; Inks: gable green, taken with teal, tempting turquoise; Cardstock: gable green, taken with teal, whisper white; Embellishments: dazzling diamonds glitter; Tools: circle punches, round tab punch, stampin' pastels

Cute as a Bug

I've been wanting to do Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge ever since I found it, but just now got a chance to play  This week's colors are fabulous!  I chose to use Stampin' Up!'s mellow moss, very vanilla, melon mambo, and bravo burgandy colors for my 3-1/2 x 5-1/2" card.  This cute little image is from the new Love Bug hostess stamp set.  I used the new Stampin' Up! Perfect Details texturz plate in my Big Shot to add texture to my moss cardstock.  I finished it off with some photo corners and some yummy melon mambo 1/2" polka-dot grosgrain ribbon. 

Stamp set: love bug; Inks: melon mambo, mellow moss, bravo burgandy; Cardstock: melon mambo, mellow moss, bravo burgandy, very vanilla; Embellishments: melon mambo 1/2" polka-dot grosgrain ribbon; Tools: photo corners punch, scallop edge punch, big shot, stampin' up! perfect details texturz plate, impressions pad, silicone rubber pad, multipurpose platform

Faux Paper Lantern Technique

I learned an awesome new technique from flowerbugnd1 over at SplitCoastStampers: faux paper lantern.  It's easy peasy.... 

1. Stamp your image on white or vanilla cardstock and color in if needed.

2. Run your cardstock through a paper crimper. 

3. Lay your crimped paper flat on a piece of scrap paper.

4. While holding the pad flat, dab your black ink pad on top of the cardstock, leaving ink on the top of the crimped edges.  

5. Add stitch lines to the sides of the cardstock using a black marker.

If you try this technique, I'd love to see it.  Just leave a link to your creation in the comment section below. 

My card, which was inspired by a card made by flowerbugnd1, was one of the cards we stamped in my technique class this month.  We used the new Kind & Caring Thoughts hostess stamp set.  We inked the large flower image in Rich Razzleberry ink and then used the rock and roll technique to add Basic Black ink to the edges.  For background interest, we wheeled the new Texture wheel to the top of our card base.  I just love this new razzleberry color....so pretty.

Stamp set: kind & caring thoughts, texture wheel; Inks: basic black, rich razzleberry; Cardstock: basic black, rich razzleberry, always artichoke, whisper white; Embellishments: vintage brads; Tools: paper crimper, stampin' around jumbo handle 

On a Pedestal Challenge Card

I was in the mood for challenges again tonight so I started with Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #26 for my card layout.  This one was simple and definitely sweet!  I did change the sketch a bit, choosing to flip mine on the side.

For colors, I turned to SplitCoastStampers Color Challenge #227.  I must admit that I was a little scared of this color combo: lavendar lace, barely banana, going gray, basic black, and whisper white.  But, I worried for nothing.  This actually turned out to be one of my favorite cards ever!

I used my new On a Pedestal stamp set on this 5x5 card.  Love, love, love this set, but the stamp-a-ma-jig is a must for getting the stamp images lined up straight.  I popped up the word sweet in the word image and then added 3 brads to the scallops on the cupcake image. 

 Stamp set: on a pedestal; Inks: lavendar lace, barely banana, basic black; Cardstock: lavendar lace, barely banana, basic black, going gray, whisper white; Embellishments: vintage brads, basic black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; Tools: small oval punch, paper-piercing tool, mat pack, stamp-a-ma-jig

Happy 90th Birthday, Grandpa

My grandpa recently celebrated his 90th birthday, so this called for the making of a special card.  I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #24 for the layout and then chose coordinating colors using my Color Coach wheel.

Rather than use one large circular embellishment, I created one by using smaller circles in a circular pattern.  This card features the new Circle Circus & Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets.  I added some paper piercing to my card using our new Paper-Piercing Tool (sold separately now rather than as part of the crafter's tool kit) and paper-piercing template from our Mat Pack. 

Stamp sets: circle circus, teeny tiny wishes, taffy numbers; Inks: elegant eggplant, really rust, always artichoke; Cardstock: elegant eggplant, really rust, always artichoke, whisper white; Tools: circle punches, paper piercer, mat pack

We Grow Great By Dreams 12x12

My upline challenged us to case a project from the new 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.  I chose to case the scrapbook page at the top of pg 88.  And since I'm trying to finish scrapbooking the last few photos from our vacation to Maine last year, it was easy to pick the subject.  I let the colors in the photo drive the colors on my page.  The rest came together so quickly because I had already determined a layout.  Next time you're stuck or need to put together a card or scrapbook page in record time, turn to our catalog! 

I used the speckled image from our Branch Out stamp set (it's not in the catalog but it is on our Dormant List, so you can purchase it now).  Stamped in several colors (brocade blue, certainly celery, and sahara sand), it makes great patterned paper and you can make it with any colors you desire.  The main title is an image from our Dreams Du Jour stamp set.  The word "Dream" in my journaling was stamped with our Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set. 

Stamp sets: dreams du jour, branch out, calendar alphabet & numbers; Inks: brocade blue, sahara sand, certainly celery, chocolate chip; Cardstock: brocade blue, certainly celery, whisper white, kraft, night of navy; Embellishments: soft subtles brads, staple; Tools: circle punches, circle scissors plus, glass mat

For You Flowers

I finally got a chance to play Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration Challenge.  This week's colors were very earthy and so I choose a floral stamp set.  The flowers from our new Kind & Caring Thoughts hostess stamp set are so pretty.   

For the card layout, I used SCS's Clean and Simple Cards challenge #22. This week's challenge was to create a clean and simple birthday card.  So, here's my card...

Stamp sets: teeny tiny wishes, kind & caring thoughts; Inks: perfect plum, really rust, more mustard; Cardstock: perfect plum, really rust, more mustard, very vanilla; Embellishment: very vanilla 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; Tools: word window punch

Fishing Friends are the Best Friends 12x12s

This layout features several retired products as I was trying to showcase them before the end of the catalog.  I created the wavy water-like edge on the bottom of the page by freehanding it with the cutter tool.  Then I wheeled it with the So Swirly jumbo wheel to mimic waves.  You'll also notice the basic gray frame around the "F" embellishment.  This was created with the Circle Scissors Plus.

Stamp sets: abc lower alphabet, big deal alphabet, so swirly wheel; Inks: baja breeze, garden green; Cardstock: baja breeze, garden green, basic gray, whisper white, baja breeze patterns DSP; Embellishments: vintage brads, whisper white 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; Tools: circle scissors plus, glass mat, stampin' around jumbo handle, cutter tool

Absolutely Fabulous Criss Cross Card

Our third and final card for the cardmakers in my June stamp club was this fun & fabulous Criss Cross card.  We used the now retired Absolutely Fabulous and Stitched Exotic stamp sets and Candy Lane designer series paper as well as the pink pirouette & riding hood red In Colors.  For a tutorial on how to make your own criss cross card, click here.

 Stamp sets: absolutely fabulous, stitched exotics; Inks: close to cocoa, riding hood red; Cardstock: close to cocoa, riding hood red, pink pirouette, very vanilla, candy lane DSP; Embellishment: vanilla halfback pearl (from Pretties Kit); Tools: round tab punch, paper snips; Other: sticky strip

This is the 2nd project the card-makers did in stamp club last month.  We used the now-retired Walk in the Park designer paper and Say it With Scallop stamp set.  The remaining products are all current. 

Whimsical Tip: The large oval punch is not wide enough to fit behind the scallop square punch....we simply cut our oval in half on the longest side and adhered one to the back of each side of the scallop.

Stamp Set: say it with scallops; Inks: regal rose; Cardstock: regal rose, basic gray, whisper white, walk in the park DSP; Embellishments: silver brads; Tools: scallop square punch, scallop edge punch, large oval punch

Love Bug 12x12

Here's one of the 12x12 pages that my scrapbookers did in Stamp Club last month.  We used images from the retired hostess stamp set Darling Dots create a patterned background paper using several colors of ink.  The title was created 2 ways: "Love" was die-cut with our Naturally Serif Sizzlet Decorative Strip die in the Big Shot (I let everyone cut a full strip so they could use it to make their own title & take the extras home for future pages) and "Bug" was stamped with our retired Big Deal alphabet.  I used tag punches to create a cute little tag for the corner of the page to offset the upper photos.  Two styles of ribbon & some journaling completed the page.

Whimsical Tip: When you don't have patterned paper handy that coordinates with your scrapbook page, use stamps to create your own patterned paper in the style & colors you need. 

Stamp set: darling dots; Inks: kiwi kiss, tangerine tango, riding hood red; Cardstock: riding hood red, tangerine tango, kiwi kiss, whisper white; Embellishments: pumpkin pie 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, tangerine tango 1/2" double-striped ribbon, staple; Tools: tag punch, small tag punch, big shot, naturally serif sizzlet decorative strip die, decorative strip spacer platform, decorative strip cutting pads

Happy Birthday Robot Card

Well today marks the first day of the new Idea Book & Catalog so I thought it only fitting to showcase a new stamp set.  This one is called Lots of Bots and it features 3 cute little robot images, lines of computer "code", and some nuts & bolts.  I just love it!

This 3x6 card was created for a new catalog swap I was part of with the ImPeckable Stampers demonstrator group.  I used the gorgeous new Bermuda Bay In Color cardstock (& marker!) along with some old favorites: basic gray & not quite navy.  I shaded part of the robot in with a blender pen & the gray ink pad.  I knew the card wasn't quite complete so I added a silver jumbo brad to the bottom corner (though some in the swap got a white jumbo brad instead).

 Stamp set: lots of bots; Inks: bermuda bay, basic gray, not quite navy, versamark, basic black; Cardstock: bermuda bay, basic gray, not quite navy, whisper white; Embellishments: 5/15" jumbo brad; Tools: blender pen