Pumpkin Thanksgiving

Thanks for all the comments and pep talks from yesterday's post.  Today was a better day.  Jack didn't sleep much but he talked to me a lot.  Always with a big smile on his face.  Those are the rewards of babies.  I am so blessed!

Last week I had the Papercrafters group in the studio for some card making fun.  This is one of the cards I  made for a sample.

The round pumpkin is made from 3 circles punched in Pumpkin Pie with the 1 3/8" circle punch and the small oval punch (which has been discontinued, sorry).  The tall pumpkin is made from 3 ovals punched from Tangerine Tango with the large oval punch.  I have sponged the edges with the same color inks.  The stems are cut from scraps of Handsome Hunter (also discontinued) and the vines with the Big Shot and the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit die.

The background piece is Very Vanilla embossed with my favorite Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  The beautiful sentiment (I wish I could write like that) is stamped with Handsome Hunter on a scrap of Vanilla. I used Handsome Huter as a mat and card base.

This next card was made from some ovals and circles that were left on the table.

This time I used Chocolate Chip for the stems and sentiment.  The "ground" was sponged with Crumb Cake and overstamped in Old Olive with the filigree from the Vintage Vogue set.

I used my new Simply Scored to make a border around the sentiment.  All this is on a Naturals White card base.

Here are some pictures of some of the activity that day.

This is a great group of ladies and I love getting together with them.  They always manage to inspire me.

Card Recipe (Hunter Thanksgiving)

Stamps:  Hand Penned Holidays

Ink:  Handsome Hunter

Paper:  Handsome Hunter, Very Vanilla

Other:  1 3/8" Circle, Large Oval, Small Oval & Corner Rounder Punches, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit die

Card Recipe (Pumpkins in the Field)

Stamps:  Hand Penned Holidays, Vintage Vogue

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Paper:  Naturals White

Other:  Punches as above, Stampin' Sponge, Color Spritzer Tool and markers, Simply Scored

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Thinking Spring

I woke up this morning thinking of Dogwood blooms.  They're one of the first signs of spring here in North Carolina.  I had bought the Floral Fusion Sizzlit last year thinking it would work for Dogwood flowers.  So I pulled it out and played with it a bit.

The challenge at Just Add Ink this week is a color challenge so I decided to go with pink Dogwood.   Here are the colors...

I punched the flowers out of Whisper White and punched the ends of the petals with my generic paper punch.  Then I creased each petal with my thumbnail and pressed a giant stylus in the center.  I sponged Regal Rose on the flowers and used a Rose Red marker to color the ends of the petals.

The stems are from the Great Friend set.  I inked just the stem with my Early Espresso marker.

The vase is punched with the Wide Oval Punch and flattened on each end.  I used the filigree stamp from Vintage Vogue to stamp a design on the vase.

When I was finished, I wasn't sure that I liked it.  Have you ever worked way too long on a card and then thought, ugh?

I had one flower left sitting on my table and a swirl was laying there and they kind of landed together and I really liked the look.  So I made this card....

I like the simplicity of this one better.  I'll be interested in which one you like best.



Card (1) Recipe

Stamps:  Great Friend, Vintage Vogue

Ink:  Early Espresso, Regal Rose, SU Marker (Rose Red)

Paper:  Early Espresso, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot, Floral Fusion Sizzlit, Square Lattice EF, Wide Oval Punch, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, seed beads, Color Spritzer Tool

Card (2) Recipe

Stamps:  Filigree Background (retired)

Ink:  Early Espresso, Regal Rose, SU Marker (Rose Red)

Paper:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Big Shot, Floral Fusion & Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits, Ovals Die, Square Lattice EF, Paper Piercer, seed beads

I don't think we're close to Spring and Dogwood blooms no matter what the groundhog says.  But I know the beauty will be well worth the wait!

Enjoy,

Bonnie

One Layer, Two Hearts

This week's One Layer Wednesday challenge over at Simplicity is 1. stamp a border, 2. stamp an image, 3. Add some bling.

Here is what I came up with.....

I think maybe I overdid it.  Oops!  I used one image twice and a sentiment. Does that count?

 It is a one layer card.  (A one-layer card is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half. No other layers of cardstock allowed!)

It also works for the Ways to Use It challenge on SCS which is to put a heart on our card.

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig again today.  My border still didn't land where I intended, but I'm getting closer.  At least the two stampings matched up!

After stamping the hearts with Basic Black and letting them dry awhile, I used markers and a blender pen to color the flowers.  NOTE:  Be sure to let the black ink dry or it will smudge and make your flowers black.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Vintage Vogue, Punch Potpourri, Short and Sweet
Ink:  Basic Black, Su Markers (Real Red, Olive Green)
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Blender Pen, Real Red Narrow Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Bird on the Nest

After that last post and making you think you're eyesight is failing, I though I owed you something else.

Today's color challenge on SCS was to use Peach Parfait, Early Espresso & Cajun Craze.  We could use rick rack for dessert, but I still don't have any.  I'm also going to send it over to SU Only Challenges to use punch art.

I hadn't played with my Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch lately and I had recently received the Punch Potpourri Hostess Level 1 stamp set.  These colors worked perfectly with the stamp and punch.

I stamped the bird on Peach Parfait with Cajun Craze.  They make a beautiful contrast! I used the filigree from the Vintage Vogue set to stamp Cajun on Peach and punched the wings.  The nest is punched from Early Espresso.

I had a piece of Very Vanilla that had been embossed with the BIG GUY and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  I used that to determine the size.  That piece is 3 3/8" square. The mat is Peach Parfait and it's 3 1/2" square.  The final mat is Early Espresso and it's 3 5/8" square.  All of that is on a Very Vanilla 4 1/4" square card.

I'll add a sentiment when I decide what to use it for.  I think something from Teeny, Tiny Wishes or Short & Sweet punched with the Word Window punch will work well, don't you?

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Vintage Vogue
Ink:  Cajun Craze
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Peach Parfait
Accessories:  Extra Large 2-step Bird Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Basic Pearl

Colleen Dietrich made this card that inspired me to make a nest out of the branch punch. While you're there, take a look at her blog.  You'll find lots of inspiration!

Thank you for visiting today.  I hope you have found some inspiration here.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Perfectly Thanks

Hello Stamping Friends.  I know some of you took full advantage of the Clearance Blitz at Stampin' Up!  I did too.  I just can't pass up a good sale and this was the best!

I'm still busily cutting and assembling kits for the Stamp Stack on Saturday.  I just had to take a quick break and share something with you.  Unfortunately, I haven't had time to do much stamping for fun and challenges this week.  There have been some really good challenges too.  I hate to have to miss them, but I also would hate to show up at the Stamp Stack and not be prepared.  Especially since it's 90 miles away.  I can't just run in the back and get what we need.  I've got to take it with me.  I am so looking forward to meeting with these ladies.  Some are dear friends and some are new friends.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Elements of Style, Vintage Vogue, Perfect Punches
Ink:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Tempting Turquoise
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Oval, & Wide Oval Punches, Big Shot, Ovals Die, Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon

Back to the stamping room.

Enjoy your blessings.
Bonnie

Vintage Vogue Color Challenge

I did a quick card for today's Color Challenge on SCS to use Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze & Wild Wasabi.  Dessert was to say it in squares.  As you can see, I didn't say anything in squares or not.  I think that is a neat idea and I loved what I saw in the gallery, but I just didn't get to that.  Think I can lose weight by skipping dessert?  I wish!

I really didn't have any idea what I was going to do when I sat down at my work table.  Do you ever do that?

Vintage Vogue was sitting there so I inked it with the Wild Wasabi & Baja Breeze SU Markers and stamped it twice on a scrap of Whisper White.  I liked that so now what?

I embossed the edge with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  I've got to tell you that these embossing folders were a real hit in my classes this month.  They add so much with just a little bit of work!

I matted it with Wild Wasabi.  Still looking ok.

Now for the Cajun Craze!  I love this color but I wasn't too sure of it with the subtle colors!  Well, more looked better to me.  I was amazed at how these colors looked together!  Betty has repeatedly surprised and delighted me with her color combinations!

A bit of Wild Wasabi ribbon from a couple of years ago and a few of the SU pearls that I LOVE, and the card was done.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Vintage Vogue

Ink:  Wild Wasabi & Baja Breeze SU Markers

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Acc.:  Wild Wasabi Ribbon (retired), Pearls, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF

What do you think?  Want to try this color combination?

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Vintage Season's Greetings

I know it's Thursday, but this is for Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday Challenge. I did one like this yesterday and learned a lesson. You can't paint the rhinestones with markers. Well, you can, but the color rubs off on the card! I wish Stampin' Up! had Cherry Cobbler rhinestones or pearls.

One layer cards are a challenge because they can look so flat and plain. It's amazing though, what some lines or scoring can do to finish off the cards. Susan, aka lateblossom of Simplicity fame, often adds good advice to help with making a one layer card look as elegant and finished as a layered card. She has really inspired me and I have learned a lot from her through her blog.

This week's challenge was to use a border stamp. I used the border stamp from the Vintage Vogue set. It wasn't hard to get it straight since I have the clear mount set. I don't know about you, but I love being able to see where I'm stamping! Of course you do have to position the label straight. There's the challenge there! Anyway, I inked the stamp with markers and stamped it along the side.

After stamping the sentiment, I used a ruler and, holding my breath, drew lines around the sentiment to give it some dimension so it wouldn't look like it was just plopped down.

Instead of the colored rhinestones, I used some gold gems to dress up a couple of corners.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Naturals White
Acc.: Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive SU Markers, Ruler, Gold Gems

It was quick and easy. It's a good thing since I had to make two. Remember the first one smeared.

Now go on over to Simplicity to see lots of other One Layer cards. There's lots of inspiration there.

Hope you found some inspiration here too.
Bonnie

Vintage Silhouette Punches

Hello again stampin' friends. I really pulled out the stamp sets for this one. It's for the CAS challenge this week to use Crumb Cake (or Kraft), Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White.

I love using Whisper White ink on Crumb Cake so I stamped the little filigree from Vintage Vogue randomly all over the card front.


Then, since I already had the Silhouette Sentiments set out, I used the tip of the branch (without the bird) and stamped Crumb Cake on a piece of 1 1/4" x 4 1/4" Whisper White. I used a marker to ink the stamp. It gives better control when you want to stamp a portion and not the whole thing. I punched the end of this piece and wrapped a piece of Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon around the edge.


I just got the Perfect Punches set and I LOVE IT! I can see that I am going to use it lots. I stamped it with Turquoise ink and punched it out. I put a little brad on there to add a little extra interest, then cut another oval just a tad bigger with the Ovals die from a scrap of TT cardstock to put behind.

I think this could be used for a guy card. What do you think?


Card Recipe
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Silhouette Sentiments, Perfect Punches
Ink: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Acc.: Scallop Trim Border & Extra Large Oval Punches, Big Shot, Ovals die, Brad, Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon


Go on over to SCS and try this challenge out. It's a lot of fun to play along.


Thanks for all your wonderful comments both here and at SCS. Y'all really make me feel good.
Bonnie

Band of Flowers

Hi folks. Just a quick post tonight. Still haven't been able to get to my stamping stuff so here's a card that I made a while back.

I saw a picture of a flower arrangement in a magazine last spring. The vase was a beautiful painted pottery jug. These were the colors of the jug. I'm really not good at taking something like this and using it as inspiration for a card. I guess I just need to do it more often.

The card base was Yo Yo Yellow. Now I would use Daffodil Delight. I ran it through the BIG GUY with the Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate to emboss it.

The punched band is 2 3/8" x 5 1/2" and punched on each side with the Scallop Trim Border Punch. The design piece is 1 3/4" x 5 1/2". The center image is from Wings of Friendship (a hostess set from last year). The filigrees, from the Vintage Vogue set, were inked with markers.

It didn't look much like the vase. But it is clean and bright.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Wings of Friendship
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Garden Green & Summer Sun SU Markers
Paper: Yo Yo Yellow, Whisper White
Acc.: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate

I hope you had a day as bright as this card.
Bonnie

Two for a Color Challenge

I could say that I got carried away. Well that happens every day. Actually, I started with this card and didn't like it so I made another. Then I came back and finished this one.

I used the same colors, Soft Suede, Apricot Appeal & Almost Amethyst, on both cards. It's amazing how different they are!
I love Almost Amethyst so I used it as the main card here. I used the Perfect Dots Embossing Folder with the BIG GUY to dress it up a bit. I inked the stamp with markers and stamped on Whisper White. I stamped the sentiment off on scrap before stamping on the design. I wanted a softer look. Itty bitty pearls finish it off.

The design is matted with Apricot Appeal DSP & Soft Suede.

I was hunting in the drawer for a piece of Soft Suede and found a piece that I had stamped on and didn't use. It seemed to be a good fit, so I decided to use it for this card. I had used the flourish stamp from Vintage Vogue and stamped it in Soft Suede on the edges of Soft Suede.

The design piece is Very Vanilla that I spritzed with Almost Amethyst & Apricot Appeal. I inked the flower with markers. I love the Apricot and Soft Suede together! The butterfly was inked in Almost Amethyst. I used the marker to draw some highlights on him and the black marker to do the body & antennae. The design piece has a very narrow mat of Early Expresso (a new core color).

Dessert for this challenge was to use a clip of some sort. I used one of the ribbon slides from the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge hardware with Very Vanilla narrow grosgrain ribbon.

I'm still not sure whether I really like this card or not. I hope you like one or the other of them, or maybeboth.

Only 1 more week to order from the Last Chance list. And then, the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog will be live. My list is growing each time I look at it! So many pretty things in there.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Vintage Color Challenge

Here is the card I did for the Color Challenge this week to use Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise and Soft Suede. Many of you know that Soft Suede is not a favorite of mine. Why I ended up using it as the main card, I still don't understand! Sometimes these cards seem to come together with a mind of their own! All I know is, I tried several combinations and this one seemed the most pleasing to my eye. I stamped the Suede with VersaMark and the Sanded stamp to jazz that Suede up a bit.

I inked the swirly stamp from the Vintage Vogue with markers so I could use 2 colors. The big flower is stamped on a Sending Love Notes; Kisses label with Tempting Turquoise and the small flower in the center was inked with Certainly Celery and thumped with the Turquoise. (I actually thumped with a cotton swab to get a softer blend.) The mat behind the Love Note is a piece of Celery cut just a little bigger.

The ribbon doesn't show up very well but I just knotted each piece and wrapped them around the panel.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Whimsical Words, Sanded
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: VersaMark, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede, Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise Markers
Acc.: Sending Love Notes; Kisses, Certainly Celery narrow grosgrain ribbon, Circle Ice Rhinestone Brad, Corner Rounder Punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

I hope you have had a wonderful day and got to play a little.
Bonnie

Spring Flowers

We were traveling over the weekend and I'm still trying to catch up! I enjoyed the ride and seeing buds in the trees. Spring can't be far behind. While driving, I listened to "The Da Vinci Code". I listened to it when it first came out. (I can read/listen to a book several times and it's still like the first time.) If I can't stamp, at least I can "read". When I stamp, I can "read" too. I love audio books!

I had a great time getting together and stamping with my Roanoke Rapids friends on Saturday. They always have such good ideas and make beautiful cards.

This card was put together with discards from preparations for classes this month. I love the Vintage Vogue and especially love the big flower in Crushed Curry. The main flower was stamped, then clear embossed, cut out and popped up with dimensionals. I used the vine stamp from the set to stamp on the background of both the card base and the design. I'll add a sentiment when I'm ready to send it.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Vintage Vogue
Paper: So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Ink: Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery, So Saffron
Acc: Scallop Trim Border Punch (free with a $50.00 purchase during Sale-a-Bration), Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad

Oh, I finished really reading a book over the weekend too. It was "Wild Swan" by Celeste De Blasis. It's one of my youngest daughter's favorite books. It was a good read but very long. It was published in the 80's. (If it was published now it would have been at least 3 books in a series.) It was an awesome book reminding me in some ways of Gone With the Wind. It had a lot about horse racing and history of England & America in the 1800's. It's the first book in a trilogy. I'm not sure when I'll read the next one, but I definitely will read it.

God bless,

Bonnie

Welcome Spring

I've had an idea floating around in my mind ever since a Cyber-friend had mentioned that she had a daffodil blooming. I had lots of daffodils in my old house and since they were sheltered and on the south side of the house, they bloomed very early. I always loved taking a bouquet to the library to remind everyone that Spring was almost here. I wonder if they are blooming yet?

I love the Vintage Vogue stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog. (I especially love that it is a clear mount stamp.) When I started thinking daffodils, I could see one in this Vintage flower.

First I stamped both the large and small flower on YoYo Yellow with Crushed Curry ink and cut both out. I fastened the small flower over the center of the large flower with a brad and snipped the small flower a few times so it would make a cup. I cut the leaves and stem freehand out of a retired In Color, Wild Wasabi. It was just the shade I was looking for. (Glorious Green would probably work ok too.) I used the Crushed Curry marker to do squiggles next to the border. I finished it off with the Welcome stamped in Always Artichoke and punched with the Large Oval Punch. I inked the edges with the Artichoke so it would stand out a little better.





Card Recipe

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Warm Words
Paper: Whisper White Textured, YoYo Yellow, Crushed Curry Textured, Wild Wasabi Textured
Ink: Crushed Curry, Always Artichoke
Acc: Large Oval Punch, Earth Elements Brad, Scallop Trim Border Punch (free with $50.00 order), Crushed Curry Marker

I wish you a daffodil kind of day. Spring is just around the corner.
Bonnie

Hearts or Flowers

This is one of the cards that I did with the Cary Newcomers Club Creative Arts Group on Tuesday. They had so much fun with it! They could do either hearts or flowers and they had such a good time punching and sticking. Everybody's card was different! I wish I had a picture of them all. What a talented group of ladies!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Paper: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Rose Red, Raspberry Tart DSP, Summer Sun

Ink: Mellow Moss, Rose Red

Acc.: Eyelet Border Punch, Boho Blossom Punch, (Heart to Heart Punch), Tiny Scallop Punch (non SU)

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Bonnie

Yummy Bird

This weeks CAS challenge is to visit a Candy Crate's Retro Candy Store and make a card representing the candy of our choice. The soft brown of this card looks like chocolate Necco Wafers to me. Almost makes my mouth water, and the memories..... I remember going to the movies and having a nickel left for candy. (Does that date me or what? LOL) I loved to get the Necco Wafers because they lasted through the whole movie, unless my brother convinced me to share. My favorite ones were the chocolate and I can remember looking at all the packages to check for the one that had the most chocolate. I liked the yellow and pink too, but not as much as the chocolate. OK, enough down memory lane.

We did a card very similar in the Stamp A Stack on Saturday. I jazzed this one up a bit by adding some color instead of just the neutrals. I like the neutrals too, especially for sympathy cards. (You can see the other one further down on my blog in the Stamp A Stack post.) I love the little scalloped pieces called Hugs. I especially love that they come already scalloped so I don't have to punch them out! They and the ribbon are in the Occasions Mini Catalog on p. 19 & 27.

Recipe for this card

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Whimsical Words

Paper: Kraft, Hugs Notes, Old Olive, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Summer Sun

Ink: Whisper White Craft, Chocolate Chip

Acc.: Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Ancient Scallop Mini from ?, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, 5/8" Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon

Thanks for coming to see me. Have a sweet evening.

Bonnie

Creative Arts Class

Since we are new to the area, I joined the Cary Newcomers Club. It's a great club with lots of interest group meetings throughout the month. One of the interest groups is Creative Arts and I jumped into that one. I have really enjoyed meeting these creative ladies and look forward to seeing lots of them in the future. I am hosting the group this month and this is what we are going to do....

I hope they like them. I've got to start cutting them out so I will have to share the details with you later. Remind me if I forget.

I had a great time at the Stamp A Stack yesterday and I hope the participants enjoyed themselves as much as I did. You can scroll down to see what we did.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Bonnie

Bashful, Suede Rubies

This weeks colors are Bashful Blue, Soft Suede and Ruby Red with stripes for dessert. Again this is a color combo I would have never thought of. It amazes me how the ladies at Splitcoast Stampers can come up with these ideas every week. I am thankful that they share their ideas, because they are a never ending source of inspiration to me.

I used the Movers and Shapers again to punch a heart out of the Very Vanilla and the Bashful Blue Decorative Paper. (The stripes don't show up on the heart, but believe me they are there.) I used punches for the other hearts. The stamping is done with the floral vine from the Vintage Vogue stamp set in the Occasions Mini catalog. I stamped it randomly to make my decorative background. The hearts are all popped up on dimensionals.

I had some trouble getting the stamps to cling to my blocks last Saturday. I have since cleaned the blocks and the stamps cling much better now. Lesson learned....clean works better! Sorry ladies that I didn't think of that before I tried to show you how wonderful they are.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Paper: Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red Textured, Bashful Blue DSP

Ink: Soft Suede

Acc.: Big Shot, Movers & Shapers, Full Heart & Small Heart punches, Pearl from the Pretties Kit, Dimensionals.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Bonnie