Congratulations

Wow! this week is flying by!  But, I hope you have a chance to join us @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, for another creative blog hop!  The talented, Tammy F. has a fabulous sketch for you to try, so won't you play along?

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

This card was actually quite fun to create.  I really needed to isolate myself in my craft room, and just play with different items and various products.

I started with a plain, blank piece of very vanilla cardstock.  I stamped the two smallest doilies in pool party and pear pizzazz.  Then I stamped the Hello, Dolly doily stamp in Versa Mark and added white embossing powder.  I wanted a simple, yet feminine design on part of the card.

I made my blossoms from different papers: pattern, tetured, stamped, and plain solid.  I created the middle blossom larger, and the two supporting blossoms a bit smaller.  I sponged frost white shimmer paint on all the edges of the different layers of petals and then dunked them into some dazzling diamond glitter.  I thought the added shimmer would give them a 'candied' look.   I added a scrap piece of vanilla velvet ribbon to help keep this card soft and feminine.

I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey classic ink.  I thought black was too harsh, and a beige was too blah.

After the card was assembled, I sprayed it with vanilla smooch, then I used the spritzer with first a crumb cake marker and then the pool party marker. 

Thank you for stopping by, I do appreciate the company, and your comments really do make my day.  But, before you leave, don't forget to stop by Tammy F.'s blog, to continue on with this blog hop!

Design Happiness #46

WOW! can you believe that it is already Friday!  Well, I'm having a fun time working with these different challenges, and learning a few things to help my stampin' business.  The wonderful Tina from Sketch Frenzy Friday has designed a wonderfully creative sketch for us and YOU to work with.  The thing that I love the most about these great sketches, is that they allow you some creative freedom and use the wonderful Stampin' Up! products.  I mean how much more great can it be?  So, if you are a super fan of these products, but are either looking for a great challenge, or some inspiration, I encourage you to play along with us and take on the challenge.  We would love to see what you create!

Here is the sketch:

At first when I saw this sketch, I thought, ugh, I'm not a big fan of partial circles on cards.  But, then, I just let the sketch lay around for a few days, and then it occured to me, 'I don't have to make the half circle a piece of paper.  I can make it an image (medallion stamp, or a ring of butterflies, or...)  The rectangle could be a sentiment, or a label, or ...    So, don't be limited by just what you see, but what you 'see'.  Then I was looking for some inspiration, so I headed over to one of my favorite challenge sites, that I find a lot of inspiration; CR84FN color challenge.  This week, the colors are light pink, yellow, and a neutral.  It just sounds pretty and feminine, so that was the look that I was going for.

Here is their inspirational photo and quote:

Here is my card:

For this card I used So Saffron as my 'yellow'. and Pink Pirouette as my 'light pink'.  For the 'neutral' I used both black and white.  I first stamped the floral image in so saffron classic ink, onto so saffron card stock, randomly, and the very vanilla tag.  Then I stamped the 'hello doily' background stamp in versa mark and then poured white embossing powder on it.  Heated this gorgeously detailed image with my heat gun.  I created a flower with pink pirouette and first edition dsp with the bird & bloom die.  I created a tag with the lots of tags die and cut it out of very vanilla cardstock.  I stamped 'for you' in basic black classic ink  Then I a string of half faux pearls along one edge and a silver glitter butterfly to the other side.  I matted this whole piece onto a piece of basic black cardstock.  The card base is Very Vanilla cardstock.

I'm really happy with how this card turned out.  And I hope that you join this Sketch Frenzy Friday blog hop and see what Tammy F. has created.  And join us for a challenge.

Memories

Happy Friday, to you all.  This has been a crazy week, but arriving to Friday feels pretty good.  It feels good to have another week in the rear view mirror, so to speak.  

To talented group, @ Sketch Frenzy Friday have another creative sketch for you to play with.  Robbie R. is the designer of the sketch this week.  She did a fabulous a fabulous job.  This week was a challenge for me.  And this sketch really made me think, play, and try a new technique.  So, thank you Robbie, for making me stretch my creative wings.  :)

Here is Robbie's sketch:

 

Here is the card I created:

Yeah, I still have some Beau Chateau DSP left.  I just love this DSP!  It has to be my all-time favorite DSP.  I have been using Stampin' Up! products for over 7 years.  I have seen Stampin' Up! make changes both in their red rubber images, as well as, their business end.  I am very happy with their new style of red rubber images, and with the support/help I receive as a SU! demonstrator.

I used one new stamp set, and one background stamp.  I used only 2 colors of classic ink.  I stamped the frame in chocolate chip craft ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I used my craft knife to cut out the frame.  I adhered a scrap piece of Beau Chateau DSP with dimensionals behind the cut-out frame.  I used the First Edition DSP to create the flower.  I used the Birds & Bloom die to get the flower shape.  I added a vintage trinket (button brad) to the center of the flower.  I added two small scraps with prominant patterns above and below the frame.  

My faux-half pearls were created with a new technique.  At the SU! convention this year, we were given a crafting idea, by adding crystal affects to an empty re-inker bottle.  The ink that is inside the bottle actually 'dye' the crystal affects, and the crystal affects adheres to whatever you add it to.  So, your rhinestones, and faux half-pearls can be colored!  I added a few sprays of Vanilla Smooch to give my card some glimmer and pizzazz!

Thank you for stopping by.  Now, don't forget to visit Tammy B. blog and she what she is up to!

Belated Birthday Wishes

Happy Thursday!  I like working with sketches, and making something pretty and beautiful.  And, as long as I'm not interupted.  So, I was given that creative freedom last night.  My husband plays ice hockey a few nights a week, so those are my 'golden' crafting times.  

The talented ladies over @ Creative Sketches, has a new sketch for us to work with this week.  I encourage you to play along with us.  

Here is the sketch:

Here is my interputation of this sketch:

My first thought when I saw the sketch, was to make flowers and line them up.  But, that seems too obvious.  So, I quit browsing through my craft room and changed my focus.  And the perfect pennant punch came to mind.  Then, I needed a color(s) to get this card going.  While eating dinner, I had a blue and vanilla color combo running through my mind.  So, that was my platform to start.  I have been on a tangent to use my scraps.  (oh my, if you only knew the extensive collection.)  So, I knew I wanted 'blue' and that was my start.  I used a variation of 'green' and 'pink' based on the colored polka dots in the pattern paper.  

Most of the products used, are from Stampin' Up!, except the colored polka dot pattern paper, the pink plaid pattern paper, the stamped 'blue' pattern paper, and the buttons.

Thank you for looking, and I hope your Thursday is fantastic!

Paper Cone

Well, it's time for another challenge over @ Our Creative Corner. Vicki, is our hostess this month. If you have a moment, you really ought to check out her blog: It's a Stamp Thing. She is pretty talented!

Our challenge is to make an Easter project, but NO cards. I made a paper cone filled with May flowers. It has a spring theme, but no Easter type images: chicks, bunnies, eggs. Just in case someone doesn't celebrate Easter, but would like to play along, I guess.

So, here are some photos of my paper cone. The image on the far right, is the one that is posted on the Our Creative Corner blog site. The other three I wanted to add. The image on the far left, shows the paper cone suspended, so you can see how it hangs. The next image (moving left to right) shows a closer view of my hand-made medallion. And the last image, is a closer look at my hand-made paper flowers. I used as much of Stampin' Up! products as I could. There are three pieces that aren't: the floral trim at the top on the pink ribbon, the layered pattern paper, and the fabric rosette at the bottom. All other materials used, are Stampin' Up! If you have any questions about specific product used, or how I did something, please contact me.

Thank you for stopping by. Post a comment, they really do make my day! And play along with our fun 3-D Easter/Spring themed challenge over @ Our Creative Corner! We'd love to see what you create!

CS Color Challenge

We are having a color challenge over @ Creative Sketches. The colors: Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, and Elegant Eggplant. And here is my card! I used all Stampin' Up! products.

Here is how I made my card: The card itself is Very Vanilla cardstock. I added a top panel of Bashful Blue. I first stamped it with the Sanded background stamp, in Bashful Blue classic ink. I then ran it through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. (I wanted the panel to have some depth.) I used Whisper White cardstock to create my flower. It is actually cut with the Birds & Bloom die. I sprayed the flower with my Frost White Shimmer Mist and crinkled the flower. I added a Daffodil Delight brad to hold the flower together. I added a scrap piece of cream colored tulle behind the flower to soften it a bit. I used First Edition DSP and my leaves die to create the sprigs of leaves poking out behind the flower. I stamped the butterfly, from Clearly for You stamp set, in Elegant Eggplant classic ink and fussy cut it out. I had a scrap piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, so I cut this cute little tag, and stamped 'A NOTE OF THANKS', from the Thank You Kindly stamp set, in Bashful Blue classic ink.

If you have a chance, come play with us over @ Creative Sketches, and give this color challenge a try. You just might surprise yourself, on how easy these colors come together. Upload your creation and insert a hyper link back to your blog! Its just that easy!

Girl Power!

Good Morning! First, I have to tell you that I am the hostess this week over @ Our Creative Corner blog! Yahoo! It's super exciting! So, since I'm the hostess, I get to design the challenge. Doesn't that sound like sooo much fun? Well, I'm pretty happy! So, before we get to my card, let me first say that I work with some of the most fabulously talented ladies the paper crafting world has seen! They took the challenge and created some of the most beautiful things! Everything from an A2 card, to a wreath. How wonderful is that? So, pop on over and take a look. Then, grab your most girly, feminine paper crafting supplies and play along! The requirements: a hand-made paper flower, ribbon, and some bling! Super sweet, and pretty! I can't wait to see what you create!

Ok, now on to my card. My oldest granddaughter was my inspiration. Yes, she is a girly girl. She loves anything pink, princess, and glamorous! So, I used my girly supplies to create this card. The stamp is a wonderfully playful likeness of her. And the pink says it all!

Ok, this is another million product paper craft. I used paper from three different companies: Stampin' Up!, Basic Grey, and Wild Asparagus. The ribbon came from two different companies: Stampin' Up! and Paper Trey Ink. The bling came from one company: Stampin' Up! (glitter and rhinestones). I used the Birds & Blooms die to create the flowers. The pearl swirl was already formed. I just cut-off the larger half pearl, and substituted a medium Stampin' Up! rhinestone in its place. I used Stampin' Up! markers to color my stamped image: Pretty in Pink and Rose Red for her dress and shoes, and So Saffron for her hair. The buttons came from my Paper Trey Ink stash.

Thank you for visiting. Let me know what inspires you.

Sketch Challenge Thank You

My most wonderful daughter threw me a surprise birthday party this past Saturday! And, yes she pulled it off! It was a surprise! (my birthday is this coming weekend.) She took care of the food, inviting my friends, and even had everyone make my birthday cards! (those will be posted later) Isn't she just the Greatest?! So, I wanted to make her a very special Thank You card. Thank You, for being so wonderful, thoughtful, and special. I came across Stamping 411 sketch challenge, and it seems the perfect layout for such a card. (click here, to see their sketch.)

The stamp set I used, is called Find Your Style. The pattern paper I used is from the Pink Plum collection. The solid card stock is from Stampin' Up!, as well as the butterfly embosslit. The ribbon is from Paper Trey Ink, and the buttons are from a mixed stash I have.

I stamped 'Beautiful' instead of 'Thank You', because my daughter is a beautiful person inside and out, and I really wanted to focus on that. She does alot of great things for people, and so I just wanted to let her know how truly special she is.

So, if you have gone to the Stamping 411 site and seen the sketch, you can tell that I did add a few things. In the sketch there is no 'ribbon' or 'flower' on the sketch. Those I added to jazz it up a bit. So, I'm not sure if I qualify for being selected as a 'winner'. But, I really do like their sketch. Its pretty versatile and easy to work with.

To make the flower, I just cut out the floral shapes with my Birds & Blooms die from Stampin' Up! I used blushing bride, pumpkin pie, and very vanilla card stock. I added some crochet trim from Stampin' Up! in the flower to give it some added texture. I used a rose red brad from Stampin' Up! to hold the flower together. The butterflies were made with very vanilla card stock and the Butterfly Wings embosslit from Stampin' Up! I sponged the butterflies and my stamped card stock with river rock classic ink. I also hand sewed the buttons onto the card stock, so I didn't use any glue dots. I thought that the linen thread would give the buttons some added interest.

Thank you for looking. And get your mojo moving and enter the sketch challenge over @ Stamping 411. Have a great week!

Feminine Pretty

I wanted to create something pretty this weekend. My husband has been out of town for several days, and so I had the time to work on my paper crafting. As I browsed the Internet for a challenge, I came across Dawn's blog (color cue 11). She has a color challenge, that fit the bill: Aqua, Pink, White + any neutral. That sounded girl-y. But, I needed a little more push. So, I started looking at some of my favorite challenge blogs, and looked at JUGs . I haven't played in their challenges for a while, and this was my perfect opportunity. Their challenge is a to create a 3-D flower (JUGs69); Perfect!

So, like I said, my husband has been out of town. This translates to: I can craft all-day/all-night, in any space, and leave my stuff anywhere. Come on crafters, you know what I mean.

Ok, back to my entry. PTI has a wonderful Aqua (Aqua Mist) and a super pretty pink (Sweet Blush). SU! has wonderful stamps, crochet trim, great Crumb Cake card stock, pretty half peals, and this new DSP First Edition. So, I got all my favorite products out, and started to play. I didn't want to just make a card, so I altered a notebook, and made a card. (The notebook I'll show you today, the card I'll post tomorrow.) Without further ado, here is my entry:

Now, you tell me, wasn't it worth the wait? This is one of those works, that isn't completed in a hour, or even an afternoon. I tinkered with this literally all weekend. I'd move something, add something, and it still didn't look right. So, I'd leave it, and come back to it, in a few hours, or the next day. I'm really proud of my creation, I love it, and I hope you do to.

I used several different products from many different manufactures. So, if you have a question, or you need information on a product, or you want to know how I did something, let me know @ sharon_wheet@yahoo.com

Please post me a comment. Let me know what you think, and also, your process of creating.