Mother's Day Friend

Friends Never Fade is one of the beautiful sets that Stampin' Up! will be retiring.  

Oh, how I've enjoyed this set!

The SUO (Stampin' Up! Only) challenge this week is...

MAY IS FOR MOTHERS!

Robin challenges us to make Mother's Day cards for the special mothers in our life.  This challenge last 2 weeks and participants have to use only Stampin' Up! products.

Speaking of this challenge, I was so excited to be asked to be a Guest Designer there later this month.  It will be the end of May so I have plenty of time to get a project done.

All supplies are Stamin' Up!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Friends Never Fade, Teeny, Tiny Wishes

Ink:  SU Markers (Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, More Mustard)

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Other:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Scallop Trim Corner Punch

There's still time to order this set.  It's available until May 31st.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you come back soon.

Enjoy!

For the Queen

The Queen for the Day at SCS last Friday was Anne, aka jdmommy.  Anne likes red, so put your sunglasses on...

I used this card as inspiration.  I changed the colors, used a rectangle instead of the Nesties die that I wish I had, and used a different stamp.

This is another image done with the Emboss and color technique.  You can see other cards done with the technique here and here.

And here's a closer look at the design image...

I hope Anne has enjoyed her royal week!  It sure was fun looking through her gallery and creating a card to honor her!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Friends Never Fade
Ink:  VersaMark, SU Markers (Poppy Parade, More Mustard)
Paper: Poppy Parade, Whisper White
Accessories:  Black EP, White Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Off Center

This week's Less is More challene is OFF CENTRE


To do cards with little or no symmetry but perfect balance, which doesn't necessarily mean gems in all four corners, or any corners for that matter.

I've been playing around with a technique that was described to me at a local craft store.  They were holding classes but the classes were all full.  I got a good look at the cards they were doing and the attendent gave me a quick rundown of the technique.  It's really quite simple.

I used this stamp from the Friends Never Fade set.  It stamps the background and leaves the images unstamped.  I stamped it with VersaMark, sprinkled with white embossing powder and heat embossed it.  Then I colored the images with markers.  Actually she said to watercolor, but the watercolor was lighter than what I wanted.  After I was finished, I wiped the embossing with a paper towel to remove any unwanted ink.  (I love that it's ok to color outside the lines.)

I used Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight & Old Olive SU Markers to color.

Here's a closer look....

Since the design already had a sentiment, I chose to add a ribbon with the bow to balance the card.  I hope ribbons are allowed in this challenge.

And the Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS this week is Freshn'Sassy aka Shelly.  This is card I CASEd.  You can see Shelly's amazing gallery here.  There's lots of inspiration there!

And speaking of challenges.  This card was chosen by  Leslie at Paper Players as a Cut Above.

I'm so honored and you can believe that I have a big smile on my face.

Thanks so much for the visit.

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Another CASE

The CAS challenge at SCS this week is an inspiration challenge.  This is the card we are to use for inspiration.  I hope you go take a look.  Maureen (aka mamamostamps) created a beautiful card.  It's a good thing I don't have that stamp set because I would have been so tempted to make it exactly like hers!

This is what I did.....

I flipped the layout on it's side to better fit these stamps and used different stamps and colors.  Instead of a  button, I used a pearl from the Pretties Kit and "painted" it black with my permanent marker.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Friends Never Fade, Elizabeth
Ink:  Basic Black, SU Markers (Poppy Parade, Basic Black)
Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories:  Poppy Parade Ribbon, Pearl

Thanks for stopping to visit.

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Less is More goes Sketchy

This week's Less is More Challenge  is a sketch....

I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to do.  I tried several things and decided I was making it too hard.

My first instinct was to put texture on the bottom instead of a pattern.  So after a couple false starts, I went in that direction.

This is what I came up with....



I stamped 2 of the flower and cut both out.  On one, I cut out some of the petals and slightly rolled it with my bone folder and attached it to the other with a dimensional.

I used the Blossom Petals Punch to punch some leaves.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Friends Never Fade, Because I Care

Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, SU Markers (Marina Mist, More Mustard)

Paper:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon

I'm so glad you stopped by today and I really appreciate all the kind comments you have been leaving. They make me happy. 

Enjoy!

Bonnie

What the Hex?

Jennifer Styles is hosting the One Layer Wednesday Challenge this week.  She just got back from a trip to the Pennsylvania Dutch country and she really liked all the hex signs on the barns and houses.  So this week's challenge is to do a hex sign on a one layer card.

A One Layer Card is defined as one piece of cardstock folded in half.  No layers.

This is the hex sign I was inspired by.

I had to use several stamp sets and the Stamp-a-ma-jig to make it work.

I thought it would be neat to place it on the barn.  So I scored the card around the circle, masked the design, then dragged the Cherry Cobbler ink pad over the card front.

I was pretty tickled with the results.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Friends Never Fade, Silhouette Sentiments, Warm Words (retired)
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, SU Markers (More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze)
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Extra Large 2 1/2" Circle Punch (for mask and to draw circle), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stylus

Now that was a challenge!

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy!
Bonnie

Friends for You

This is the first time I have inked this stamp.  I don't know what took so long because I really like how it stamps!

It was a good fit for the Sketch Challenge at SCS this week.

And the colors are from the Color Dare Challenge 95 to use Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist and Basic Black.  I just knew I was going to have to do something in those colors!

I inked the flower with my SU Markers and stamped on a scrap piece of Whisper White.  Then I inked the other flower from this stamp set, stamped off and stamped along the edges and in the corners.

The card itself is embossed with the new Framed Tulips Embossing Folder from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I sponged the edges with Marina Mist.

The sentiment is from the Clearly for You set also in the Mini catalog.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Friends Never Fade, Clearly For You
Ink:  Basic Black, Marina Mist, SU Markers (Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight)
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories:  Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot, Framed Tulips & Square Lattice EF, Stamping Sponge

This card really made me happy.  I hope it does the same for you.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Bright!

Hello Stampin' Friends.  Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  The day just got away from me and, although I had cards to post, I didn't get time to post them.  So I'll be busy posting this weekend!

I mentioned earlier in the week that I was trying some new challenges.  It's a way to stretch my imagination a bit.  This is the card I did for the Mojo Monday 162 challenge earlier in the week.  It needed something.  Then when I saw the Just Add Ink41 to do a birthday card, I had an eureka moment!  I added the Birthday wishes and it looked much better to me.

I used the direct to paper technique on the background design.  I just dragged the ink spot over the piece of Whisper White.  It leaves a really neat marbled effect.  The other layers are all embossed and matted in the Real Red.  The single flower was stamped and punched with the Extra Large Scallop Circle Punch.  Then I stamped again on a piece of scrap and cut it out.  when I cut it, I cut out a couple of the petals to give it a little more of a 3D effect.  Instead of brads, I punched 3 flowers from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and put a tiny pearl in the center of each.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Friends Never Fade, Watercolor Trio
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Real Red
Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories:  Scallop Edge, Extra Large Scallop Circle, 2 1/2" Circle, Large Oval & Itty Bitty Shapes Punches, Real Red narrow Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls

I'll be back with some more in a bit.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Friends Sketch

Now that I have my days straight, I got the sketch challenge done on the day! I haven't done that in a long time. You can see the sketch here. C'mon and play along!

I inked this little flower from the Friends Never Fade set with SU Markers and stamped then punched the corners. It was looking a little bare, (I think it was a bit small for the size of the square) so I used a clear mount block to guide in drawing a line all around. This always makes me nervous. You can probably see where I got the wobblies!

I used lots of Real Red here. I have some fall birthday girls who like red. I'll save this for one of them.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Short & Sweet
Ink: SU Markers, Real Red, More Mustard, Always Artichoke
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red
Acc.: Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Narrow Daffodil Delight ribbon

I'll be back with a card for the One Layer Wednesday challenge. I'm on a roll.

Later,
Bonnie

Daffodil Friend

I didn't get a chance to make a card today (gasp!!!). We had to go car shopping today with Luke. He had a bad week last week and had been really, really good this week. He needed a reward to (hopefully) let him know that being good has it's rewards. It's really hard for a 2 yr. old. Fortunately for us, the little cars that he loves are only $1.00 each or less. Wish we could be as easily satisfied. He slept with his cars at nap time. I think it was a happy day for all of us.

So, this is a card I made last week and never got posted. I used the colors from the color challenge of Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight & Pear Pizzazz. I even took on dessert with a little dew drop rhinestone.
I used the BIG GUY to emboss the main card with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and used the texture plate on the 3" x 4 1/4" middle piece. I cut ovals with the Sizzix Original Ovals die. The large one is Pear Pizzazz and the Medium one is Whisper White.

I used Daffodil Delight & Pear Pizzazz SU Markers to ink the stamp from the Friends Never Fade set. This was stamped on the white oval. The Pear Pizzazz marker inked the sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes which was then punched with the Word Window punch. I inked the edges of the main card with Concord Crush to add some balance with the Concord mat. to do this, I held the ink pad at a 45° angle and brushed it across all the edges. Hint, be careful not to get the ink on your fingers. It will smudge and make you think negative thoughts, believe me! I used the same technique with Pear Pizzazz ink on the word window too.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight & Pear Pizzazz SU Markers
Paper: Whisper White, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz
Acc.: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Original Ovals die, Word Window Punch, Rhinestone

I hope to get a card made tomorrow with a stick in it. Does that sound intriguing? I have no idea what I'm going to do for that! Hopefully, I'll think of something.

'Til then,
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