Everything- Color Challenge!

The color combination for this card was inspired by SCS CC210: Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, and Kraft (or other neutral). I chose to go with Chocolate Chip as my neutral. I wasn't liking the results I was getting with Summer Sun- it contrasted too much for the look I was going for. So I opted for So Saffron instead.

The showcase product with this project would have to be the Texturz Plates. I used 3 total (using my Big Shot). Unlike other products out there, these plates cover much larger surfaces like a standard card front. Maybe I got a little carried away with using 3 different patterns, but they are just so easy to use with instant results!

I used the damask side of one of the plates (3 double-sided plates come in a set) with Riding Hood Red. This was then layered onto Chocolate Chip and then a Very Vanilla base.

A small strip of Chocolate Chip was embossed with the small dots Texturz plate, and punched with the scallop edge punch. A slightly larger piece of So Saffron was embossed with the flowers and dots plate. A strip of Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon was adhered next with 3 small Filigree Brads to give it a little interest.

The heart is from the stamp set Always. It is inked in Chocolate Chip, stamped onto Very Vanilla and snipped out. A So Saffron Marker was used to randomly fill in the heart. Using a sponge and more Chocolate Chip ink, I was able to give the heart a distressed look. This is adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals. The sentiment is also from Always and is inked in Chocolate Chip and Stamped onto So Saffron.


Do you have a Stampin' Up! wishlist? Would you like to earn products from that list for free? If you live in the Spokane area, I would love to come and do a workshop for you and your friends! If you are not in the Spokane WA area, you can still take advantage of all the hostess benefits by hosting a catalog party! If you are interested in becoming a hostess, email me!

Carrie

Forest Friends

Aren't these little guys cute? The set (4 stamps) will be available April 1st from the Occasions Mini Catalog. One of the awesome things about being a demonstrator is that I had the opportunity to get the set before it officially went on sale. Would you like to learn more about becoming a demo? Ask me how you can get the starter kit at a discounted price PLUS learn how you can take advantage of a 3 payment option!

The card starts out with a base of Not Quite Navy trimmed to create a square of 5.5". A scalloped piece of Baja Breeze (using my new scallop border punch!) was layered next and given a little added detail with some dots using my crafter's tool kit. A strip of White Taffeta ribbon finishes off the piece.

Using my Big Shot and Scallop Circle die, I was able to create a base for my Forest Friends out of Kiwi Kiss. Two circles, one out of Baja Breeze, and a slightly smaller one from Whisper White, were cut out using the Circle Scissors Plus.

Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, and Close to Cocoa markers were used to create the tree and animals. The deer and tree were stamped directly onto the circle, while the owl was stamped onto a separate piece of Whisper White, snipped out and adhered using dimensionals. By dabbing a sponge into Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze, I was able to create the "grass" and "sky".

The sentiment is a rub-on in Whisper White from last year's Sale-a-bration (no longer offered, however the current rub-ons offer very similar results). Don't forget that this year's Sale-a-bration is only going for 2 more weeks! The stamp sets offered will never be offered again!

As promised, I posted some pictures of our guest room that I am in the midst of redecorating. I still have some wall decor to put up, and I would like to get a small scale chair and console table when our budget allows. Enjoy!

Carrie

Reach for the Stars

Today I have 2 projects to share!! I felt like I needed to get busy since I spent all weekend reading. I read Twilight in 2 days- that says a lot considering it is 500 pages long and I have a 1 year old! It made for some very late nights. I have to say that is not my normal read- I'm not usually into the whole Sci-fi scene. I decided to give it a go anyway, and I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to see it on DVD.

Enough rambling for me. On to today's projects... The first one is a birthday card for an adorable little guy who is turning 1 on Saturday. I got the layout from this weeks Mojo Monday Sketch (#78).

I stamped the giraffe onto a piece of Whisper White (which I rounded at the bottom simply by tracing part of a ribbon spool and snipping it out). The giraffe was isolated from the sentiment by using the marker directly on the stamp. I did the reverse by coloring just the sentiment and I flipped the stamp to place it at the bottom. A strip of Only Orange was embellished by putting 3 Brilliant Blue eyelets in a row (I don't think I have even touched my eyelets in over a year!). This was adhered underneath my giraffe and the entire piece was matted onto Pacific Point.

The card base is Kiwi Kiss, with a strip of Good Morning Sunshine DSP (dots). The two stars are from On Board Essentials. They were first covered in So Saffron, and then bright yellow glitter was glued on top. A small piece of So Saffron give it the final touch.

My next project was just something small that I wanted for our guest room. I found this frame at Kohl's for $5.99 on clearance and couldn't pass it up.

Instead of a photo, a piece of 4X4 Urban Oasis paper makes up the background. Another smaller piece is layered at the bottom. To create the flowers, I took a piece of Tangerine Tango and Baja Breeze, and zipped them through my Big Shot using the Cherry Blossom Embosslit folder. The sentiment (from Fifth Avenue Floral) is stamped onto Very Vanilla using Kiwi Kiss ink. Once the room is finished, I will post some photos!

Don't Forget!!! Sale-a-bration is ending on March 31st!!! Don't miss your chance to earn free products. The Sale-a-bration stamps are exclusive to this promotion and will never be offered again!

You Only Live Once...

You only live once, right? Well one of the things that I absolutely love is making cards .That is why I couldn't pass up the opportunity to become a demonstrator, and right now is the perfect time to sign up! For a limited time only, Stampin' Up is offering the option to purchase the Starter Kit (already an awesome value!) in 3 easy payments. That would be 3 payments of around $55! This is an amazing deal, so if you have ever been thinking about joining (even if it is just to get all the items on your wish list) this is the time. If you would like to take advantage of this limited time offer contact me.

On that note... today's card was inspired by the layout from Card Positioning Systems (CPS106).
My stamping pals put a twist on the challenge- use pastels!

As you might already be able to tell, I absolutely love my new Big Shot. I used it on this card to die cut the butterflies using the Beautiful Butterflies die. I punched out two-one in Bashful Blue, and one in Barely Banana textured card stock. The edges of the butterflies are glittered to give them a little more pop. I also used half pearl stickers (non-SU) for the bodies.

A square of Pale Plum was embossed using my Big Shot and one of the Texturz Plates (swirls). This is mounted onto whisper white, and serves as a back drop to the butterflies and sentiment. TIP: The Texturz plates create a soft impression onto card stock. If a deeper impression is preffered, spritz the card stock with water before embossing.

The sentiment is from Fifth Avenue Floral (this is probably my absolute favorite set right now!). This is inked in Bashful Blue and stamped onto Whisper White.

So I am pretty much in love with my new Big Shot- I already have a wish list full of all the exclusive Stampin' Up! dies!! Don't be surprised if I use it on just about every project; at least for a little while :)

Carrie

P.S. I only have about 15 retired sets left for sale (see original post here). I reduced prices, so they are a great deal!! If you, or anyone you know, are interested let me know!!

Sooo Tweet!

Woo hoo!!!! That is all I have to say about receiving my big Stampin' Up order!!! I seriously had to hold myself back today. There are so many fun things that I can't wait to show off!!

Included in my order was the Sizzix Big Shot and Scallop Circle Die which was used to make this card. The layout is from Mojo Monday challenge #77. I just flipped the sketch to create more room for my bird.

The bird is from the On Board So Tweet package. I covered it in one of the papers from Delicate Dots DSP. The colors in the paper are Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Sahara Sand. (You can get this paper for FREE with any $50 purchase- but hurry, sale-a-bration ends March 31st!) TIP: to create a smooth finish use a sanding block on the edges of the covered chipboard.

The brad detail on the bottom was enhanced by first punching out 3 So Saffron circles with a 1/2" punch, and then putting the brad through the center.

There are no stamps or sentiments used on this card, but there is a reason for not having a sentiment. I am actually planning on matting the card into a shadow box and using it in my freshly redecorated laundry room. The colors go perfectly!

Always...

I have a confession... I really struggled with this card! My giant order still has yet to arrive and so I am trying to "make-do" with what I already have. :) Stampin' Up has been really busy with Sale-A-Bration, and they are taking a bit longer than the usual shipping time. I have been known to be a bit impatient, though. Especially when I am so excited about something!

Today's card was inspired by a color scheme that was used for the credit union I used to work for. Pretty trendy for a credit union, huh? The colors used are Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, and Very Vanilla.

I used my very cool Circle Scissors Plus (New!) and Glass cutting mat to create both circles. The Baja Breeze circle was stamped in the same color ink using the big flower from Doodle This. TIP: Perfect placement was easy using a stamp-a-majig. Next I stamped the same flower onto Very Vanilla and cut it out using paper snips.

The flourish on the left was created using the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlets Die and my Sizzix. My big shot is included in the order that I haven't received yet, so I am using my old machine for the time being. For some reason, I still thought that even though the die specifically said "For use in roller machines only" that I could make it work. Not so much. I don't recommend it. I am lucky that I didn't ruin the die. I ended up having to cut out much of the design with a hobby blade because it didn't go all the way through. I can't wait for my big shot!!!!

The sentiment- Always- was inked in Kiwi Kiss and stamped onto Very Vanilla. It is popped out with a 1 3/8" circle punch and layered onto a Kiwi Kiss scalloped circle (using the punch). This was then popped up using dimensionals.

To finish the card off, I added two clear rhinestone brads from the Pretties Kit.

In the next week or so, I plan to take some pictures of my new stamp room. It isn't anything spectacular, by any means. But at least I can show off what I have been up to and maybe give a few organization tips!

New Creations coming soon!

Sorry I have been MIA... I have been super busy reorganizing and setting up my new stamp room. Well, it isn't really new. Recently, my husband and I flipped my stamp room and our guest room. Needless to say, the stamp room was a bit of a mess. Okay a really big mess. One that took me all weekend to clean an organize! Don't worry though- I will have something very fun to share tomorrow!! Stay tuned...