Stamp a Stack Coming Up

I'll be doing a Stamp a Stack in Roanoke Rapids on March 10 and in Cary on March 24.  If you're in the area, I'd love for you to join us.  These are the cards we will be working on.

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Scrappy Bloom

My friend Barb makes beautiful paper flowers.  I shared this card  she gave me earlier in the month.  She was at our stamping session on Saturday and shared some of her beautiful creations.  I tried to copy a flower that she made from some scraps in my DSP bin.

Edited to add:  This is much too bulky to mail.  I'll clip it to a gift bag.  It's my favorite way of decorating bags!

It was made by punching 9 circles.  I used 1 1/2".  Fold 8 of those circles in half, in half again, and in half again.  Adhere them to the last circle.  I was using glue dots and my folded circles weren't laying quite right.  I fiddled and fiddled with it and finally got it looking OK.  Not as pretty and neat as Barb's but OK for a first try.

She also brought the rose leaf punch and I punched a bunch of leaves while she was here.  We scored the leaves with a stylus to make them look more realistic.

The sentiment is from Heard from the Heart and stamped in Old Olive.  Papers are Stampin' Up!

Since it was made from scraps, I think I'll send it to the Less is More challenge DON'T SCRAP IT!

We've had the most beautiful day here.  The temps were in the 60s and the sun was shining all day.  I got to run a few errands this afternoon and it was wonderful to ride with the windows open.  Spring isn't far away.

I'm happy that you were able to stop by today.  I hope you come back soon.

Enjoy!

Getting Scrappy

The Less is More challenge this week was

DON'T SCRAP IT

This week's recipe is to use some of those left over bits and pieces we all tend to keep

I have my cardstock scraps organized in plastic bags according to color.  Then I have another smaller box of decorative paper.  I also have what I call my UFO (UnFinished Objects) box where stamped images that don't get used end up.  This Robin from Nature Walk was in there.  All I had to do was trim off the edges and  mount it.  I tore the bottom edge.  I also tore the bottom edge of the DP and used a distressing tool on the other edges.  I left the brown layer clean cut.  The design piece was mounted on a Very Vanilla card and the sentiment is from the Three Little Words set.

This card was inspired by a card in Paper Crafts this month.  You can see it on page 45.

I cut some 1" x 1" squares from some scraps, adhered them to a 5" x 3 3/4" scrap of textured white cardstock.  I scored on either side of the pieced strip and stamped the sentiment.  I punched 2 holes with my 1/8" circle punch to weave a piece of ribbon through and mounted it on a Sahara Sand card.

Here's another almost exactly like the one in the magazine.

We had the nicest weekend.  I got to stamp with some friends on Saturday afternoon.  Then our oldest daughter and sweet Emmy spent the night with us.  We had a lot of fun.  Not much sleep, but lots of fun.  I hope they can do that again soon.

I'm so glad you took the time to stop by.  I really appreciated it.

Enjoy!

Always Creative Wishes

The One Layer Wednesday challenge this week really made me think.  Susan said to use two colors, two images, and masking.  Sentiments are optional but must be in one of the two colors.  After scratching my head a bit, this is what I came up with.

It took a lot longer to decide which stamp and sentiment to use than it did to actually make the card.

First I stamped the butterfly from the Creative Elements set trying to hit slightly above the middle of the card.  I stamped again on a scrap of thin vellum and cut out the butterfly.  After applying a little removable adhesive to the top of the wings, I masked the butterfly and stamped over with the flourshy stamp from the Always Elegant set.  It wasn't a perfect line up, but these days I'm letting go of some of the perfection needs.  Babies will do that to you.

I used my Simply Scored to score 3 lines 1/4" apart and rounded the bottom corners.

Stampin' Up! is going to be selling a diagonal board for the Simply Scored.  I think it goes on sale in March.  I can't wait!  I love to score the diagonal lines, but I find that I don't always get them where I want them.  It will also come with instructions for making envelopes.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Always Elegant, Creative Elements, Teeny, Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Simply Scored, Basic Pearls, Corner Rounder Punch

I'm looking for a new printer.  I need to be able to print on card stock and I want a printer that prints great colors.  I'd also like to be able to print good quality photos. What kind of printers do you like?

It makes me happy that you stop by especially when you leave me a message. 

Enjoy!

Merry Messages

Another Christmas card for the stash.

This is the sketch for Merry Monday challenge this week.

I used one of the new Framelit Labels dies to cut the design.  After I cut it, I left it in the die and traced around the edge with my red marker.  To make the narrow mat, I cut 2 pieces of green with the same die.  I cut both in half; one the long way and the other the short way and pieced them to the back of the design.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Many Merry Messages, Bells and Boughs
Ink:  Garden Green, SU Markers (Garden Green, Real Red, Crumb Cake)
Paper:  Whisper White, Garden Green
Other:  Labels Framelits, Square Lattice EF, Blender Pen, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon


I'm glad you stopped to visit.

Enjoy!

Birthday Happiness

I really love watercoloring on a card.

I still struggle with it, but I know that practice will make perfect.  And this is a wonderful set to practice on.

The Stampin' Up Only challenge this week is to do a Birthday Card.  Something I'm always needing.

And when I was checking out the challenge, I saw that this card made it into the top 3 in the last challenge.  Whoot!!  That made my day!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Happiness Shared, Watercolor Trio (retired)
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, Rich Razzleberry
Paper:  Shimmery White, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Other:  Re-inkers, Aqua Painter, Big Shot, Elegant Lines EF, Large Oval Punch

What interesting weather.  Yesterday morning we woke up to snow.  Today it got to 58°.  Thursday it's supposed to be in the 70s.  I love North Carolina winters!

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Dies and Punches

This week's Less is More challenge is to use

Punches or Die Cuts

Hearts aren't just for Valentine's Day are they?  This stamp is just too precious to use once a year.

The lovely scene is stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with black.  I used a Framelits Heart die to cut it out and the Pinking Hearts punch for the strip.

I had so much fun making Valentines with this color combination, that I made an any occasion card using the layout and colors.  I had just received the Triple Treat Flower A la Carte stamp free (with a $50.00 order during Sale-a-bration). The beautiful brad, ribbon and Designer Series Paper are also Sale-a-bration choices. 

I spy a glaring mistake.  I'll have to put something on the inside about a friend overlooking our mistakes and loving us anyway.

I used one of the Adorning Accents Edgelit Dies to cut the fancy edge and the matching Embossing Folder. I also used  the Fancy Flower and Five-Petal Flower punches.

I bought this window die Saturday when my friend and I went to visit The Enchanted Cottage in Lewisville, NC.  We had such a good time and I think they thought we were never going to leave!  I need to play some more with this die.  I stamped the scene and put it behind because of the flowering tree we can see from our window (with snow on it this morning).  Then I realized I couldn't use the window box I'd die cut because this was definitely a scene looking out.  I can't wait to get time to play some more with this and hopefully you'll be seeing something with a little more pizzazz.


As I said earlier, we got the snow I'd been wishing for.  It all fell after dark but we spent lots of time looking out the window and seeing it covering the ground and falling under the street light.  And as NC snow usually is, it didn't last long.  It was sunny today and nearly all, if not all of it has melted.  It was pretty though when the sun came up this morning.


I hope you found some beauty today.


Thanks for the visit.  And thanks for all the comments on yesterday's card.  I'm so glad you liked it.


Enjoy!

How Many Stamps?

Last week's One Layer Wednesday card was to make a one layer card using as many different stamps as you can.  You must use at least three; more is better!

The flowers are two step stamping so I used 2 for each flower and 2 for each stem.  Is that over counting?  Then I used the large stamp from the Just Believe, the butterflies from Clearly for You and the Sentiment.  That's seven stamps.

I stamped the tall flowers first using Blushing Bride for the base color and Peach Parfait for the overstamping. The stems are Pear Pizzazz (both the base and overstamp). I masked the pink flowers and inked the large stamp from Just Believe with markers, using Old Olive and Daffodil Delight.  The butterflies were stamped in Calypso Coral and I drew in traced the antennae and body with my Basic Black marker.  I added some dots of More Mustard to the center of the big flowers and Peach Parfait to the smaller ones.

I used the Stamp-a-majig a lot for this card!  I've used it so much, I'm even beginning to feel comfortable with it.

I rounded the bottom right corner.  Then I covered it up with my watermark.  Not smart!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Greenhouse Garden, Just Believe, Clearly for You, Thoughts and Prayers
Ink:  Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral, Basic Black, SU Markers (Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Basic Black)
Other:  Stamp-a-majg, Corner Rounder Punch

Can you tell I'm thinking of Spring?  And we may get a little snow tonight.  Finally!  I hope, I hope!

I just noticed that in the picture, the sentiment looks crooked.  IRL it looks straight.  Ah, the miracles of photography.  Usually it's the other way around!

I'm so glad you stopped by to visit.  Your visits make me happy.

Enjoy!

Cards from Some Friends

I wanted to share some of the cards I received from friends last week.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

My friend and kindred spirit, Ruthann, used one of my favorite embossing folders that matches the swirls in this beautiful heart. I love the elegant simplicity of it.

Doris, a special blogging friend of The Stamping Tower,  sent me this card made with some of my favorite peg stamps.  I love these tiny flowers and the embossed wreath and sponging really showcases them beautifully.  Be sure to visit her blog.  She makes lovely CAS cards.

My friend and neighbor, Macie, brought us this Valentine.  What didn't make it into the photo was the sleeve of delicious cookies that it was tied around.  The cookies didn't last long enough for a photo shoot.  Mmm! They were as wonderful as the card!

The last card was in a package of blog candy from Lesley at Always Playing with Paper.  I wasn't expecting a darling card with all those goodies.  Aren't stamping friends the best!?!

 

I intended to get this posted Friday evening but I've had some computer trouble the past couple of days!  I hoping to get caught up and post some more later today.

I'm glad you stopped in.  See you later.

Enjoy!

Merry Monday Early

My Merry Monday card is late again this week, but earlier than usual.

I tore some Whisper White to resemble drifts.  I've seen this idea several time on the Internet and love the look.  Dazzling Details on the edges gives them a frosty look.

I used my new Labels Collection Framelits for the trees.  (They're not SU.  I found them on clearance at a craft store.)  I cut the label in Whisper White and Bashful Blue and used my Stamp-a-majig to stamp the trees on both.  Then I measured with the drifts to cut the top off the white label before adhering it to the blue one.

The sentiment is from the Four the Holidays set and white embossed on Bashful Blue.  I used my Scallop Trim Corner Punch on the ends to give it a tag look.

The next card was easy peasy thanks to Leslie!

I won the blog candy on the Merry Monday site last week and this sweet snowman was in the package all mounted and everything.  Thanks for the help Lesley.  It was perfect for this week's challenge!

The sentiment on the little sign is from a retired set and the bird is from Itty Bitty Bits by Stampin' Up!

By the way, here's the sketch Lesley gave us to work with.

My first card veered from the sketch just a bit.

Two more Christmas cards down.

I'm so glad you popped in today.

Enjoy!

From a Special Friend

My dear friend Barb brought me this card last week.  Isn't it gorgeous?

Barb makes these beautiful flowers.  This time she added one to this lovely bargello pattern.  I love the patterns of paper.

I got several handmade Valentines yesterday.  I'll try to get some pictures tonight so I can share them with you.

I'm glad you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

Here's a fun Valentine for you.  Actually, it could be used for an occasion other than a Valentine too.

The Less is More challenge this week is to make a ONE LAYER CARD using STRIPES.

I love these striped hot air balloons!


All supplies are Stampin' Up!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Up, Up and Away
Ink:  Real Red, Basic Black, SU Markers (Basic Black, Real Red, Sahara Sand)
Paper:  Whisper White


And here's something else I'd like to share.

My friend and neighbor, Macie, shared these stamps with me.  I believe she said her aunt got them in the 30's.      I had fun playing with them and made a Valentine for her with them.  Don't you love the expression on that "Betty Boop" face?  (I straightened the sentiment before I gave it to her. Oops!)  Luke just asked me if that was me and Pop?

The frame was cut with the new Labels Framelits Dies in the Occasions Mini Catalog and the colors are Cherry Cobbler and white.

I hope you are having a wonderful Valentine's Day full of love and smiles.

Thanks for stopping in.

Enjoy!

Circles, Circles, Circles

Susan's One Layer Challenge last Wednesday was to use at least FIVE circles on our one layer card.  None of these circles could be punched or die cut.

Man, I wish I bought those Delicate Doilies or Circle Circus stamp sets.  But I didn't and as usual, my mind went blank.

But my eyes lit on the Clearly for You set and guess what I saw?  Circles.  Lots and lots of circles.  Circle berries with circle seeds.

Then I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about this card.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  About 3:00 am, I realized what was niggling my mind.  There are 4 berry bushes.  It's an even number. The rule is uneven numbers.  It's probably going to drive Susan crazy!   Sorry, but after 4 tries to get to this point, it's staying like this.

I masked off he area to be stamped with sticky notes, inked the stamp with markers and stamped using my Stamp-a-majig.  Then I went back and stamped some extra leaves.  I dipped my sponge in the Pool Party ink pad to sponge around the berries, scored 1/8" above and below the image and stamped the sentiment.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Clearly for you, (Sentiment is a stamp available to demonstrators only)

Ink:  Pool Party, SU Markers (Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive)

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Stamp-a-majig, Stampin' Sponge, Simply Scored, Corner Rounder

I had such a good time stamping with my friends on Saturday.  They are such inspirations to me and so much fun to be with.

I'm happy that you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Sending Holiday Peace

Another Christmas card for the stash.

The Merry Monday challenge this week was to use this sketch....

I'm really struggling with these sketches.  So many layers, so little time.  LOL, I'm spoiled with the Less is More and One Layer Wednesday challenges.  It's hard for me to get my brain to concentrate on more than a couple of layers.  I'm always happy with the results of Lesley's sketches though.

I have a new embossing folder.  Did you notice?  It's the Houndstooth.  I didn't think I liked it at first, but I think it will be just the thing for masculine cards.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, To You and Yours (retired)
Ink:  Always Artichoke, SU Marker (Soft Suede)
Paper:  Naturals White, Always Artichoke
Other:  Big Shot, Houndstooth EF, Dazzling Details (yes you can still order these), 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches

I spent some stampin' time with my Roanoke Rapids friends today.  That's always a lot of fun.  We've been stamping together for several years now and they're like family.

It was great that you could stop by today.

Enjoy!

Prime Adaptive

Second post of the day. No card in this post, but I wanted to share something with you. (Scroll down for cards)

I have a great, great nephew, Noah, who was born with Lowes Syndrome.  He is such a sweet child with physical, visual and other disabilities.  His dad (my great nephew) is incredibly crafty and has developed a line of  educational and therapeutic toys.  Not only can Noah benefit from his daddy's creations, but they are available for purchase online now at Prime Adaptive.


If you have a child with special needs or know of someone who does, take a look and see if there is something that can enhance the life of that child.


And if you have a child in your life and would like some top quality wooden toys, this is the site for you.


Thanks for letting me share this with you today.

Aqua

This week's  Less is More challenge was....

For our first Anniversary we are back to a repeat of our inaugural challenge which for the first

Saturday of the month is colour...and this time we have chosen

AQUA

Here's the first card I did.

When I first read the challenge, I thought butterflies and this is my go to butterfly right now.  It's also a Sale-a-bration selection (free with a $50.00 order).

I colored 2 of the largest butterflies so I could cut one out and have him fluttering.  All of the butterflies were colored by swiping the marker on a clear block and picking up the color with a blender pen.

The next card will look familiar.  It's the same layout as yesterday's card.  I love this versatile layout.

I thought about adding a flower, but the "Less is More" stopped me.

Did you notice the edges on the white band?  I used another of the Adorning Accents Edgelits and the embossing folder that goes with it.  It's the first time I used it and it won't be my last. I love those scallops!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Kindness Matters, Short and Sweet

Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, SU Marker (Baja Breeze)

Paper:  Naturals White, Baja Breeze

Other:  Blender Pen, Simply Scored

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Curly Cute

Ink:  Baja Breeze

Paper:  Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Other:  Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelit, Adorning Accents and Finial Press EF, Baja Breeze Seam Binding

Whew!  I almost didn't make the entry time for this challenge.

I'm glad I could post it in time and glad  you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Versatile Valentine

Here's another project that the Papercrafting Group did yesterday.

It's a CASE of a card by Sandi MacIver.  When I saw her card in December, I knew I would be using it for a lot of occasions.

It's gorgeous with Cherry Cobbler too.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Hand Penned Holidays
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Whisper White, Rose Red
Other:  Big Shot, Victorian Wallpaper & Square Lattice EF Scallop Heart of Heart Embosslit, Pinking Hearts Border and Full Heart Punches, Rose Red Seam Binding, Basic Pearl


You'll be seeing more of this layout.  I hope you won't get sick of it.

I'm thinking Christmas card.  Maybe I can get one made for the Merry Monday challenge.

It makes me happy that you stopped in.

Enjoy!

Hearts with Friends

This is one of the cards we did in our Papercrafting class this morning.

We had so much fun!  Wish you could have joined us.

I used my new Adorning Accents Edgelit Die.  Isn't that curve sweet?  And everyone got to emboss with the Adorning Accents Embossing Folders.  The big heart was embossed and cut with my Scalloped Heart of Heart Embosslit and the little hearts with the Fashionable Hearts Embosslit from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  That Big Shot was smokin!

The ribbon and decorative paper are free gifts from Sale-a-bration.

I didn't do any stamping on this card.  My friends stamped the inside.

I think I'll send this over to the SUO challenge to use two colors for hearts.  I hope it's ok to enter more than once.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe

Paper:  Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Everyday Enchantment DSP, Calypso Coral
Other:  Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelit, Adorning Accents EF, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Fashionable Hearts Embosslit, Everyday Enchantment Ribbon


I hope you got to have some fun today too.  I'm glad you stopped by even if you couldn't stamp with us.

Enjoy!

Hearts in Two Colors

Do you have a tendency to make monochromatic Valentines?  The other day, I realized that everything I was making was either red and white, pink and white, or black and white.

So on this one, I added a panel of Regal Rose and a black check bow.

I love this long narrow size for a card.  It's a bit different but still mailable at the regular rate.  The finished card  measures 3 1/4" x 6 1/4".  Stampin' Up!'s open end envelope is a perfect fit.

And then today I saw the Stampin' Up! Only challenge and, hot dog! they were thinking along the same lines.

 YOUR challenge this time around at SUO Challenges – make a Valentine Card with two main colors (and you can add a neutral or two) and share it with us at the SUO Challenge Design Team!

Imagine that!

And adding that Regal Rose panel made such a big difference in the look of the card.  I'm so glad I added it.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  I {Love} Love Jumbo Wheel (cut apart)
Ink:  Real Red
Paper:  Real Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Other:  Big Shot, Fashionable Hearts Embosslit, Adorning Accents EF, Gingham Ribbon (retired), Basic Pearls


Tomorrow I'll probably be back to monochromatic.  But that's ok.  I love monochromatic.

I'm so glad you popped in.

Enjoy!