Side Swiped!

No, I didn't have an automobile accident. Today's Free for All on SCS is to do a side swipe.

This is salvaged from some discarded pieces the other day.

For the side treatment, I punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch and attached a piece of Whisper White that I embossed with the Whacked Embossing Folder. You can find a link to the whacking here. I punched the other side of the Whisper White, that overlaps on the inside, with the Scallop Trim punch too. It gives it a more finished look instead of looking like an afterthought. If you notice that the end scallops are missing, it's because the top one tore off so I had to trim the other side to match. I thought maybe it would become a new style! LOL! I always wanted to be a style setter!

The stamp was inked with SU Markers and stamped on scrap pieces. I like doing a little bit more of the branch in the corners and I embossed the corners of the sentiment piece too. I used the Clearlit Rectangle with the BIG GUY to create the mat out of Daffodil Delight. The ribbon is Bashful Blue Taffeta.

This is a card that can be mailed without any extra postage. I like that. I had a card returned in one of the clear envelopes last week needing extra postage. I've been sending cards in those envelopes for a long time. Maybe the machines are getting more sensitive!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede SU Markers
Acc.: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Big Shot, Whacked Finial Press Embossing Folder, Clearlit, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon

Are you guys as glad that it's Friday as I am? Seems like it's been a long week that went by fast. Does that make any sense? I get to stamp with friends tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to that!

Have a great weekend and I hope you get time to stamp.
Bonnie

Butterfly on the House

I didn't think I could do it. I thought, "Oh man, I should have bought that woodgrain background stamp". But, you know what? It was really easy.

I watched the tutorials for faux woodgrain that are listed here on SCS for the Ways to Use it Challenge today. And I thought about it.

A couple of hours later, I decided to give it a try, but I wanted a lighter background than the tutorials showed. It looks like white washed siding doesn't it?

All I did was take a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White and score it on my cutting board. I use a stylus and just pull it down the cutting line. That Score Pal thing-a-ma-jig looks really cool, but unfortunately I don't have one. Anyway, I put the first score line at 1/2" and then 1" apart across the sheet.

After it was scored, I used the Going Gray ink pad and dragged it down the card using the direct to paper technique. It didn't work very well. I thought I'd use it the wide way and it made a real smeary mess. But not to be deterred, I turned the card over and tried it again holding the pad the long way and pulling down twice. There is a bit of overlap in the center, but it makes it look a little more shabby chic.

I had this butterfly in the UFO box. I had stamped and painted it a couple of years ago from the Wonderful Wings set. It's dated 2001 but it is a classic. I cut the butterfly out and adhered him to the wall, stamped a sentiment in Basic Black and put it on a black card base.

I love it, a new, easy technique and another UFO finds a home. Whoo hoo!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Wonderful Wings, Sincere Salutations
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Watercolor
Ink: Black StazOn, Going Gray, Basic Black, Always Apricot, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust
Acc.: Stylus, Blender Pen

Go ahead and give it a try if you haven't already.

God bless.
Bonnie

Lavender in Grape

Here's a card for Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday Challenge. This week's challenge is to make a square card and use an outline stamp.

I got this set a while back. It has such nice sentiments and I love the simple herb blossoms. I really haven't done much with it. This was a good opportunity to use my favorite stamp of the set. I love lavender, the sent and the flower.

I inked the flower portion with a Concord Crush SU Marker. I keep wanting to call it Grape because it is such a beautiful grapey purple color. The leaves were inked in Always Artichoke. I huffed and stamped it on a piece of Confetti White folded into a 4 1/2" square card. Then I used the Concord Crush marker to draw some lines around the edge to ground the design.

It's a very simple card. I'm thinking I should use the other stamps in this set and make some note cards.

If you want to go to Simplicity and check out all the one layer cards this week, click here.

That's my One Layer Wednesday on Thursday. Hope you enjoy.
Bonnie

More New Toys

I have another new stamp set to share with you today. This is another Level 1 Hostess Gift. Did you notice that there are 6 superduperLevel 1 Hostess gifts this year? Usually there is at least one that I'm not too crazy about but not this year! It was hard to decide which one to get. I settled on the Silhouette Sentiments, and I'm really glad I did.

This didn't turn out quite like I envisioned it. (I envision, not sketch. I'm not good at sketching!) I wanted to use the new Clearlit. It's on p. 210 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog. I used it to make that adorable 1 1/2" x 2" scalloped rectangle. It has a clear top so you can see where your design is and you use it with the BIG GUY. Actually, I punched this one out and then stamped.

I used markers to ink the tall flower and stamped once, then the little flower (it looks like a lily to me) twice with one stamp off. After it was matted, I wrapped with a piece of Daffodil Delight 1/8" taffeta ribbon.

I inked the bird & branch with markers too. Then I inked just the end of the branch several times to fill up some of the white space. Usually I love white space but today it was just glaring at me! I stamped the tip of the branch a couple of times in the corners of the sentiment too. I really love the clear mount stamps because I can see exactly where I'm stamping.

I used my whacked Finial Press Embossing Folder. (I cut it up with scissors so I have 4 strips.) to put a little texture on the top & bottom of the largest design piece and two of the corners of the flower piece.

All the pieces were matted with Daffodil Delight. The card base is Marina Mist.

You can see the sketch layout here. It's a great sketch and perfect for this stamp set.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments
Paper: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, & Marina Mist SU Markers
Acc.: Daffodil Delight Ribbon, Whacked Embossing Folder, Big Shot

That's all for tonight. Thanks for stopping by and I really, really appreciate all the nice comments. Stampers are the nicest people!

Enjoy,
Bonnie

I Have New Toys

I love my old toys, but it's so much more exciting to play with new toys don't ya think?

I used the Friends Never Fade stamp set that opened today. It's on p. 99 of the new Idea Book & Catalog. I just love this little flower! It's a clear mount set. I really love being able to see where I am stamping.

The embossing folder is new too. Mr. Brown brought it today. I love how it has such a deep embossing! It's called Elegant Lines and it's on p. 214.

I also used new colors. The base card is Pear Pizzazz. I used the Daffodil Delight ink pad and made direct to paper squiggles on a 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of Whisper White. I laid a piece of Daffodil Delight 1/4" grosgrain ribbon over that and matted it on a piece of 1 3/4" x 5 1/2" piece of Concord Crush.

I inked the flower with Concord Crush and stamped off, then inked the stems & leaves in Pear Pizzazz. This was stamped on the medium oval from the Ovals Original Dies. I cut two large ovals, one from Daffodil & one from Concord. I had to trim the Daffodil one down a bit to get the look I wanted.

I finished off the card with 3 dew drops (non SU).

These are the colors for the SCS Color Challenge this week. Dew Drops were the dessert.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight
Acc.: Concord Crush & Pear Pizzazz SU Markers, Big Shot, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Ovals Originals die, Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon, Dew Drops

This was quick and easy and one of my favorite layouts. I'm sure you recognize it. I love it on this new embossing folder and stamp set! What fun!

Hope you had fun today.
Bonnie

So Simple

As if my poor brain isn't already boggled from so many challenges, I decided to try another one this week. It is a blog hop in honor of the 100th sketch challenge on the Clean & Simple blog.


I've been following this blog for a while now and love the clean & simple lines of all their cards and I thought it would be fun to play along this time.

My sentiment didn't work out. I don't know if it is because of the paper or the stamper, probably the latter, but I just couldn't get a good embossed image and hated to toss it in the trash. I just happened to have a butterfly cut & embossed with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and it fit over the messy sentiment. A few little rhinestones from my stash decorated the little critter and tied in the Melon Mambo.


Card Recipe

Paper: Melon Mambo Textured, Bride Specialty DSP

Acc.: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Rhinestones, White Satin Ribbon

It took a lot longer to figure out what I wanted to do than to actually do it.

Go on over and take a look at all the wonderful entries for this Blog Hop. What fun.

Bonnie

Preslee

I just read a very moving blog that I would like to share with you instead of posting another card. This is the story of one family's struggle with the unimaginable. Read their story here. I'll warn you, it will move you to tears. Their faith is an inspiration to us all.

Life is so fragile. Don't forget to say "I love you".

God bless.
Bonnie

DSP times 3

I love Designer Series Paper. I love it so much that I hoard it and rarely use it. It always looks so pretty in the case and I think I'll use it, but then it looks a bit too busy for my Simple taste. Well this time, I went all out!

On SCS the Dirty Dozen had all kinds of challenges last week. It was mind boggling. After Wednesday, I was so full of challenges, that I had to stop. I am definitely not the Queen of Challenges! But this one, to use two or even 3 different Decorative Papers, was a challenge I had to try my hand at. I wasn't sure I could do it.

But ta dah! I DID IT!

This moose is from the Pines stamp set. He's been retired a couple of years now. He was hiding in the BOX and I just happened to have 3 different papers in brown. I used Tangerine Tango (now that's new) behind all the pieces except the back piece. All that brown needed a little brightening up. I don't know what sets the paper came from but it is all Stampin' Up!

Here's a closeup of the Happy Birthday circle with the Neutrals small, jumbo brad in the center. The stamp is from the Wow Flowers set. Sorry, it's retired too.

Seeing all that DSP in my case seeing all that pretty new DSP in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog got me to thinking. I will have to have a DSP party and offer some layouts and just let everyone go creative with all that paper. Sound like fun? I've got retired accessories that need to be used up too. We'll just have ourselves a Retirement Party! Now all I have to do is find a day to do it. I'll let you know.

I'm going to take a quick break and then post another challenge card.

I'll be back.

Bonnie

Something's Fishy

Something's Fishy with the SCS CAS challenge today. When I saw Red Fish, Blue Fish, my first thought was, "I don't have anything fishy". I was thinking I'd have to usespunches, or find something digital. Then I realized that I could just use red & blue. That I have plenty of.

I found this ship in my UFO box. I'm beginning to think that box is bottomless! Anyway, Nell brought this stamp to Scrap & Share last year. I don't know if it's Stampin' Up! or not. I really don't remember.

I had stamped it with Not Quite Navy ink on Whisper White card stock. I used the Cherry Cobbler for my red and put it on the last piece of Not Quite Navy card stock I had. Guess it's time to reorder!

The birthday wishes sentiment is from the Wow Flowers set that retired last month. I punched it with the Word Window punch and popped it up a bit on a piece punched from Cherry Cobbler with the Modern Label punch. I repeated the sentiment on the side of the card in Not Quite Navy to balance the card a bit.

I used Not Quite Navy brads that I see have been discontinued now. They were in the Earth Elements brad set. I'm sorry that I keep using all this retired stuff. Just because it's retired doesn't mean it's no longer usuable.

Back to the card. I used hemp twine wrapped around twice and tied to finish it off. I can always use some masculine cards. I'll show you another one for the guys in a bit.

Happy Stampin',

Bonnie

Double Play

Surprise! I don't usually post on Saturday & Sunday, but since I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, I had to make an exception.

This is a card I made yesterday for the SCS Free For All Challenge, Cool Summers (green, blue & purple) or Warm Winters (Red, Orange, Yellow).

This is the Cool Card.
I had this leaf in my UFO (UnFinished Objects) box. It had been stamped with the leaves from a 2008 Hostess set called Happiness Always with Kiwi Kiss ink (an In Color that year).

I found a scrap of Bashful Blue Textured card stock and a small piece of blue DSP to punch the bird with the Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch.

I matted this on Lavender Lace which is matted on the new In Color, Concord Crush. I used a Corner Rounder Punch on all the bottom corners and added some left over sequins that were hiding in my stash. I used one of the little beads for the bird's eye too.

All of this is on a Whisper White card base embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots EF.

Then, since I had this flower from the Watercolor Trio already stamped in red in the UFO box, I decided to make a warm card too.

This was stamped with Real Red & Soft Suede. I used markers to ink the stamp. It is matted on Peach Parfait (a new In Color) and Cajun Craze (a new Regal Color). I really like them together.

I punched a hole through all the design pieces with my Paper Piercer, wrapped the prongs of a Pumpkin Pie Brad around one end of a 3 1/2" piece of Real Red grosgrain ribbon, put the prongs through the hole and wrapped the ribbon around the back of the design element. A couple of little butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit in the upper right corner balanced the design.

The card base is the new Daffodil Delight run through the BIG GUY with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

As hot as it's been here, I am really loving the cool card. I think I'll stash the warm one away til the weather cools!

Hope you are having a great weekend and getting those fingers inky!
Bonnie

Christmas in this Heat?

It's hard to think of Christmas when it's soooo HOT outside. Thank God we have AC and it's working!

Susan chose Christmas for her One Layer Wednesday Challenge this week. You can visit her blog and see what's showing up there by clicking here.

I did two. This is the second one. It took about 10 minutes if you don't count the 45 minutes it took to do the other one that I didn't like.

This was so simple and I liked the way it turned out.

The pine bough is from the Autumn Days set. I inked it with Soft Suede & Garden Green SU Markers and stamped on a Naturals White card. I did use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement for this as well as the sentiment. I can still manage to stamped crooked when I use that thing! This time I did pretty good. BTW, the Merry Christmas is from A Cardinal Christmas set.

The bow is from a piece of Christmas wrapping cord tied in a bow and attached with a glue dot.


Now for the one that took so long.

I traced a 1" circle on the Naturals White card with a pencil and stamped the pine spray from the Pines set. This is a retired set that I still use from time to time.

The pine needles are stamped with Garden Green. The berries are from the Autumn Days set and I used a Real Red Marker to ink a few berries and stamped around.

I didn't do a very good job on leaving an opening on the inside and I felt like it needed a little something else, so I pulled out the Extra Large Bird Punch and punched the bird & wing out of scraps of leftover Christmas paper. The sentiment is from the Warm Words set (also retired) and stamped in Real Red. I used one of the tiny pearls that SU offers now for the eye.

Now that I'm finished, the wreath doesn't look so bad but I still like the single spray better.

I've got to go and post this on Susan's blog.

Christmas is right around the corner! Hopefully it will cool off a lot by then!

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Sketching Heartfelt

Hello out there. Today's card is for the SCS Sketch Challenge this week. I just happened to have a sheet with 4 of these flowers already stamped in the UFO box. Hot dog! Another one finds a home! These flowers are from Heartfelt Thanks, my all time favorite stamp set.


They were stamped in Rose Red (I'm pretty sure. It's been a while.) The centers were stamped in a yellow. I'm not sure which shade. It looked like Daffodil Delight but I just got that color so I know that's not it. But we'll call it Daffodil Delight, ok?

I cut the flowers pieces into squares and matted them with Daffodil Delight that is cut just 1/8" larger. I didn't have any Rose Red card stock and decided to try the Cherry Cobbler. I love this color! It is so rich!

I cut the middle panel out of the Cherry Cobbler, punched the corners with the Scallop Trim Corner punch and matted it on Daffodil Delight.

I found a piece of DSP from the Welcome Neighbor DSP pack left over from Sale A Bration that looked pretty good with the Cherry Cobbler. I matted that in the Daffodil Delight and put it all on a Cherry Cobbler card base.

I took some creative license with the design squares and tipped them. I also put the middle one in the front. I hope that's not taking too much creative license!

I added some gold seed beads to the center of the flowers and a piece of my new Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon. I'm so glad they are offering that. I had wanted some yellow ribbon for quite a while.

I had a flower left over and I really didn't want to put it back in the box. This is what I came up with.

I found a scrap of Daffodil Delight that I had embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder andI used it to mat the design. Can you tell that I used the Color Spritzer Tool with Daffodil Delight & Cherry Cobbler SU Markers to add a little interest to the background of the design? I also used the ticket corner punch on both pieces. It is finished off with a piece of the new Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon. I wished for yellow ribbon and, how 'bout that, I got two!

The sentiment is from Watercolor Trio, my second all time favorite stamp set. It is stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink, spritzed, and punched with the smaller of the Large Oval punches. I used the Designer Label punch on some of the embossed Daffodil Delight for a background.

I wish the color showed up better in the picture. It really isn't that orangish looking.

These are a bit brighter than I usually make, but sometimes we need a little brighter. I hope you enjoy it.
Bonnie

Don't Look Kelli

Hello fellow stampers. Today's card uses all Stampin' Up! products but most of them are retired! There are challenges everyday this week for SCS fan club members. One of the challenges is to take out something old and show it some love. I've had this stamp set for at least 3 years and I am ashamed to say I had never used it! I wouldn't sell it, because I love it. I'm so glad I had a good reason to pull it out! By the way, it's called In Full Bloom.

When I finished this card, I wanted to use it more. But that UFO box is still sitting there and it needs attention really bad. Oh my, what's a girl to do?

I used the colors for today's SCS Color Challenge to use Regal Rose, Old Olive & Peach Parfait. Dessert was to pop something up. I was afraid that these colors would be too BRIGHT! Actually, I love them together.

I made my own faux DSP (another challenge) by stamping the border stamp in this set in all 3 colors. That piece is 5 1/4" x 4". The Regal Rose behind it is 5 3/8" x 4 1/8". The card is Old Olive cut in half the long way to make a tent card. Then I turned it on it's side. (Am I the only one that has problems with the landscape cards not standing up?)

For the design piece, I stamped the middle flower first in Peach Parfait (new In Color) and made a mask on a sticky note. I laid the mask on the stamped flower and stamped the other two in Regal Rose then I used a blender pen and the ink pads to paint them. The leaves & stems are stamped and painted in Old Olive.

The little dots around the flowers are part of the stamp. That's one of the things I really like about this stamp set.

I tried to dot the path of the bee in the top right hand corner. I wish I hadn't. I think I will try to cover it up with the White Gel Pen!

The bees are stamped with Black StazOn and painted with Peach Parfait & Basic Black. I did little dots with the gel pen for eyes. They're in a weird place! I think I'll have to fix them too. I used Diamond Dust on the wings and put a bit in the center of the flowers. One of the challenges was to use glitter. I'm not usually a glittery kind of gal but once in a while a little sparkle is fun!

Kelli's Birthday is coming up. This will be her Birthday card, after I fix all the annoying little problems. I hope she will like it.

I hope you like it too. Thank you for stopping by and for all the wonderful comments and tips you have been leaving. I so enjoy sharing with you and checking out all your blogs too. You can see a list of all the blogs I subscribe to under my profile. It seems like every week I add a couple more. There are some very talented people out there!

Happy Stampin',
Bonnie

Another Touch of Nature

Hello again. I hope I'm not overdoing it today. I'll probably get behind again tomorrow. Oh, well! That's life!

I did this card today for the CAS challenge this week. It is a sketch challenge of a card by ravengirl. You can see the card here.

I used the Top Note Die and the BIG GUY for the white layer then used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder to add the texture.

The flower is another from my UFO box that I had stamped ages ago. I think I used Brilliant Blue ink to stamp it so I used a Brilliant Blue scallop circle and card base.

The sentiment is stamped on a 1" strip of Whisper White layered on a 1 1/4" strip of Brilliant Blue. I stamped the sentiment in Brilliant Blue and used the Scallop Trim Corner punch on the ends. The flower is popped up on a dimensional.

I love this stamp set. Even though it is retired, I keep it. Now that I've used all the elements I had stamped from it, I may need to get it out and stamp some more. But not until I clean out my box!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Touch of Nature, Watercolor Trio
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Brilliant Blue
Acc.: Scallop Trim Corner & 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punches, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Square Lattice EF, Yellow Brad

This is really all for today. Maybe I'll go see what else I can find in my box.

Happy Stampin',
Bonnie

Chalk it Up

Here I am again. Still trying to catch up posts from last week's SCS challenges. Both of these are for the Ways to Use It challenge to use chalks.

This first card was a stamp from my UFO (UnFinished Objects) box. It had been stamped with black StazOn on watercolor paper. I used some makeup (eyeshadow I think) applicators to rub the chalk on. I think I used Real Red, Summer Sun & Garden Green. I can't be sure because I opened my chalks upside down once and they all fell out! Gasp! I had to guess at the colors when I put them back. Believe me, I am careful when I open it now. Hint...Make sure the picture is on top.

After I colored the flower(from the retired Touch of Nature set), I mounted it on Basic Black then adhered it to a Confetti White card base. I stamped the happiness (from Warm Words, also retired) with Basic Black.



For this next card, I did the Poppin' Pastels technique. I stamped the flourish from the Elements of Style set with VersaMark and used makeup applicators to apply the chalk to the stamped image. I did the same for the hummingbird on a scrap piece and cut him out. He is popped up on a dimensional. I used tiny pearls in the center of the flowers to carry on the soft look of this technique.

The design is mounted on Basic Black and the sentiment, from the Short & Sweet set, is stamped in Basic Black.

I think Poppin' Pastels is one of my favorite techniques.

Stay cool and try to get inky!
Bonnie

Catching Up

Hello, I hope you had a nice weekend. I got to spend time with my family celebrating my birthday. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful (if noisy) family.

I did this card last week but never had time to post it. Dessert for the SCS Color Challenge was to make a card for a young man who is facing 2 years of treatment for cancer. Can you imagine?

I have 3 grandsons and no boy stamps! I think I need to remedy that! The problem is, that they all are so different...ages, likes, personalities, etc.. It's hard to know what to get and I really hate buying a stamp to use once.

Maybe I need to check into Digital Stamps. Any suggestions of where to start? My old computer is so full that I hate to download much more and haven't done the SU Digital because I have 3 old card programs that I just have to have. New technology doesn't agree with me as much as it used to! Oh well!

I punched out a couple of stars with my BIG GUY and stuck them behind a leftover Printed Window Sheet from last year's Idea Book & Catalog. I used stickers and rhinestones from my stash to finish it off. Mothermark's Teapot challenge was to do a manly card for Mark. I don't know how manly this is, but he is a shooting star in my book!

I was still stuck on Baja Breeze instead of Marina Mist. I hope I can do better remembering the colors from here to there tomorrow when Betty posts another Color Challenge.

Card Recipe
Paper: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi
Acc.: Big Shot, Movers & Shapers, Punch Windows, Printed Window Sheet, Stickers, Bling

I hope Mark liked the card and pray that he breezes through his treatments.

I"ll be right back.
Bonnie

Wonderful Present

Remember when I blogged about the Creative Arts group meeting the other day? My friend Cathy, who was the hostess, makes jewelry. When I told her my turquoise earring broke and asked her if she could make me a pair, she said yes.

A couple of hours later this is what she brought! Aren't they gorgeous? I have worn them every day since then!


You should see all the beautiful jewelry she has made! She specializes in remaking old pieces by taking off the broken and junk parts and makes a work of art out of what's left. She has a website where you can see some of what she has made. I hope you will take a look.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Stay cool!

Hugs,

Bonnie

Christmas in July

Hello Stampin' Folks. Here is card for the SCS Sketch Challenge this week.

I had been using the Wild Wasabi & Cherry Cobbler for the color challenge and wondered how they would work for a Christmas card. I stamped one of the ornaments from the Tree Trimmings set in Cherry Cobbler, then clear embossed it. It needed something behind it, so I pulled out my Autumn Days set and inked the pine branch with markers. I stamped several times on the 1 3/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Naturals White. The ornament is attached with dimensionals.

The 2 5/8" x 4" piece of Wild Wasabi was stamped with the same pine branch using the Wild Wasabi ink.

The Merry Christmas is from A Cardinal Christmas and stamped with Cherry Cobbler.

All pieces are matted with Cherry Cobbler on a Naturals White 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card base.

I like these colors together and will use them again for Christmas cards.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Autumn Days, A Cardinal Christmas
Paper: Naturals White, Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler
Acc.: Chocolate Chip & Wild Wasabi SU Markers, Rhinestone, Dimensionals

I really like these colors together for Christmas cards. Bet you'll be seeing these colors a lot!

Happy Stampin',
Bonnie

Another Post

You can see that I have been busy making cards this week. Seems like I have trouble getting them photographed and ready to load.

This is for the SCS Color Challenge this week to use Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi & Marina Mist. Oops! I just realized that I was supposed to use Marina Mist not Baja Breeze. Oh well, they are similar.

The stamp set, Because I Care, is a Level 1 Hostess gift. It's already a favorite of mine. If you would like to earn this set, let me know and we can schedule a workshop. If you are too far away, I can do a Worshop in a Box so you and your friends can make some cards, you can send me their orders, and earn this set.

Back to the card....I stamped the flower head in Baja Breeze around the edges of a Whisper White 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card.

I inked the Hydrangea image with SU Markers in the Baja Breeze & Wild Wasabi and stamped it on a 3 1/4" x 4 5/8" Whisper White Scrap then used a Blender pen to smooth the colors out a bit. The small tip of the marker worked great for the flower centers.

Then I used a sponge dauber dipped in the Baja Breeze inkpad to sponge some color around the edges.

The sentiment was stamped with Cherry Cobbler.

The design is mounted on Cherry Cobbler, then Wild Wasabi.

I think this card is one of my favorites. Hope you like it too.

I have more....Hopefully I'll have time to post some of them tomorrow.
Bonnie

Awash in Razzleberry

This is a week for embossing! On Monday, Splicoaststampers has two challenges; The Technique Lovers and Clean & Simple. This weeks Clean & Simple (CAS) challenge is to use dry embossing on a card and the Technique Lovers (TLC) is to emboss on embossing.

This card is for the TLC but will work for the CAS too.

I stamped the outline for the large flower from the Awash With Flowers set with VersaMark on Whisper White Card Stock. Then I heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder. I used a sponge dauber and applied Rich Razzleberry ink. (I used Wild Wasabi on the stem using one of those pointed cotton swabs.)

Then, I put the whole thing through the BIG GUY and used that Square Lattice Embossing Folder. (It worked pretty good at disguising my outside the lines coloring don't ya think?)

I punched the corners with the Scallop Trim Corner Punch. I had a bit of trouble keeping the corner scallops intact. The dry embossing weakens the paper so it is very delicate.

It's hard to get a clear stamped image on the embossed background, so I stamped the sentiment on a scrap piece of Whisper White with the Rich Razzleberry and punched it with the Small Oval Punch which is now one of the Large Oval Punches in the new catalog (item 119863).

I'm still not too sure about the embossing on embossing but it was an interesting technique.

It amazes me how these ladies can come up with new challenges week after week. I am addicted to them now and really look forward to them. I find that I am more apt to try new things and have made some cards that I would never have thought of without the help of a challenge. If you are interested in trying one, go to Splitcoaststampers, scroll down to the bottom right and just click on a challenge. It will take you to the forum that tells what the challenges are. It's real easy to link a card to them.

You can see how far I am behind in my posting. This was for a Monday challenge and it's already Thursday. What a week!

See you again soon.
Bonnie

Watercolor Stamp-Off

Just a really quick post this morning. This is the stamp-off from yesterday's One Layer Wednesday card.

Susan suggested remisting and stamping again. So I did. This time I stamped on a scrap of Whisper White (in case it didn't work out). I think it worked out fine!

A hint on this spritzing technique. I have found that it works best to spritz in the air and pass the stamp quickly through the mist. Otherwise it is way too wet. I have made some real messes by spritzing the stamp directly. A mister bottle works better than a spray bottle too.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Inspired by Nature
Paper: Crumb Cake (Kraft), Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Acc.: Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi & Early Expresso SU Markers, Whacked Embossing Folder (see July 12 post), Scallop Trim Corner Punch

Hope you get to stamp today. For that matter, I hope I get to stamp today!
Bonnie

Inspired Expressions

I've had a hard time getting back in the swing of things since vacation. I guess my brain (and body) liked the vacation mode. My mojo seemed to have taken a vacation too! I have stamped and discarded, stamped and just plain trashed and finally got things working again.

This is a card for Susan's One Layer Wednesday Challenge . This week the challenge is to watercolor the image. I inked the small flower from the Inspired by Nature stamp with Cherry Cobbler, Early Expresso & Wild Wasabi SU Markers. Then I held it out and misted it just a bit, let it sit for about 30 seconds and stamped on watercolor paper.

I like watercolor paper for the card because it's heavy and has a little bit of texture. I think one layer cards need to be on a heavier than usual card.

I inked the saying with Early Expresso, one of the new colors. The saying is from the Herb Expressions set that I received as a Demonstrator Bonus during Sale A Bration. That's just one of the benefits that I love about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

I really enjoy doing the one layer cards. I think they are the most challenging. How 'bout giving it a try?

Happy Stampin',

Bonnie

Embossed Elements

Good evening. I have had a bit of trouble getting into my stamping since vacation. I need to get rolling again. Today I met with the Creative Arts group and did a bit of stamping, but we mostly just gabbed. The project for the day was Chat & Dabble. We did more chatting than dabbling, but it was so much fun.

This weeks CAS challenge is to use dry embossing. The ever ready BIG GUY put some lovely embossed dots on the stamped image. This card uses Mellow Moss, which has been discontinued, but would be lovely in River Rock or the In Color, Pear Pizzazz.

Super quick and easy.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Elements of Style, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Mellow Moss, Basic Black, Whisper White, Black StazOn
Ink: Mellow Moss, Basic Black
Acc.: Big Shot, Perfect Dots Embossing Folder, Ballet Blue SU Marker, Black Satin Ribbon, Small Oval & Large Oval Punches

Hope you got to do some stamping today...some chatting too.

Enjoy the day,

Bonnie

Whacked A Flutter

Hello Stampin' Friends. I hope you haven't given up on me. We had a wonderful vacation and I was able to see a lot of family that I hadn't seen in so long. I spent lots of time with my Dad who is 89 yrs. old today. The weather was as hot in VT as it was here in NC but Dad lives on a beautiful spring fed natural lake that never gets very warm. It's great for cooling off!

This is a card I made a while back. In fact I CASEd myself! I love this layout and the whacked embossing folder is perfect with this.

I have had some questions about directions for whacking folders. I have a link for it here. You will need to scroll down to the Sept. 17, 2009 post. Sandi MacIver, one extremely creative lady, put these directions on her blog. I whacked the Finial Press Embossing Folder and I have used the pieces lots.

On this card, I sanded the embossing a bit so it would stand out a little more.

Card Recipe

Stamps: All a Flutter, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Brocade Blue, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Ink: Black Stazon

Acc.: Brocade Blue SU Marker, Big Shot, Whacked Finial Press EF, Scallop Trim Corner, Scallop Trim Border, Large Oval & Scallop Oval Punches

I have missed stamping and sharing with you. Hopefully I will get a chance to get to my table and do some stamping.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Wild Rose

Happy New Stampin' Up! Year. You would think I would be showing you something out of the new catalog wouldn't you? Today though I have something from the UFO box that fit for the Sketch Challenge on SCS this week.

I used some scraps of leftover paper too, so I don't know how accurate my description will be.
I think the rose was stamped with Ruby Red ink and the leaves in Mellow Moss, both retired now. I sponged a little Mellow Moss ink on the edges of the design.

The paper on the other 2 sections is some handmade paper that was a gift a while back. Behind that was a scrap that looks very close to the new SU color Cherry Cobbler. I stamped the sentiment in Cherry Cobbler and it looks like a perfect match.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Wild Rose, Watercolor Trio
Paper: Mellow Moss, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Mellow Moss, Ruby Red, Cherry Cobbler
Acc.: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Pearls

I won't be blogging for the next week. We will be visiting family who don't have any Internet (gasp). I'm hoping I don't have some kind of breakdown not being able to make any cards or blog! I have packed my new catalog though, so I can create in my mind.

I wish you all a safe and happy Independence Day and inky fingers.
Bonnie

One Layer Celebration

I have been enjoying the One Layer Wednesday challenge on lateblossoms blog, Simplicity. This weeks challenge is to do Patriotic cards.

I'm ashamed to say but I don't have any patriotic stamps. Isn't that awful? But I really wanted to play so I thought and thought and the only thing I could think of was the star shape die to use with the Movers & Shapers and the BIG GUY.
Wanting to stick to one layer, although you can attach an embellishment, I opted to punch the star out of a piece of window sheet to use as a stencil.

I used a piece of sponge to apply Brilliant Blue ink in the star shape on a Naturals White card. (I smeared the first one and learned that I should leave more space around the cutout.)

I hand drew the square around the star with a Real Red marker. Then I stamped the Celebrate, from an old stamp set called Warm Words, in Brilliant Blue.

I finished it off with some silver stickies in the star to give it a little sparkle.

I'm going over to Susan't blog and post it for the challenge. I'm sure she would like to see yours too.

Happy Stampin' & Happy Independence Day.
Bonnie

At the Beach

Hello and welcome.

I am not an artist as you can see, but I love trying new techniques and think that just maybe, with trial and practice, I can come as close to an artist as God wants me to be.

After watercoloring 3 pieces to look like the beach, I decided to try sponging. I have admired so many sponged cards but have never used the technique much. I love the soft pastel look of it.

I used Naturals Ivory for the base card and cut a piece from scrap computer paper to give the shape of the beach. I laid it down and used 1/6 of a sponge (p. 195; 2010-2011 SU catalog) to dip in the Bermuda Bay (you can use Marina Mist instead) ink pad and sponged on the card. Oh, I also laid the straight edge of the rest of the scrap paper to leave room for the sky.

I like how the sponging has many shades of blue. It just kind of happens that way.

Then I punched a 1" circle from the sky mask and sponged Crushed Curry for the sun. (You can use Daffodil Delight if you don't have the Curry.)

Then I laid the circle down over the sun and sponged some Dusty Durango very lightly around the horizon to look like the sky at sunrise. Finally, I lightly sponged Bermuda Bay on the rest of the sky. (These 3 colors were the Color Challenge this week on SCS.)

To finish the scene off, I sponged a little Crumb Cake on the beach to give it some depth. I used an eye shadow sponge to add some Crumb Cake at the edge of the shore and a little whisper white on the ocean.

The shells, from Nature's Nest, were stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. When they cooled, I colored them with a Dusty Durango marker. They were a little dark so I painted them with some Frost White Shimmer Paint. The photo doesn't show how well they shine. They are a little big for the scene but they will have to do.


I hope you enjoy this little trip to the beach. I'll be back with another post later.
Bonnie