A Fan for Four Frames!

Hi Stampers!
I received a text this morning that looked like this:

I think someone is hooked on stamping- don't you?  Heather is a lovely friend of my daughter and these are for the consolation gifts favors for her wedding next month.  If she sends me a photo of the finished project I will post that as well!  (We, meaning I, have always called party favors consolation gifts because when the girls were very little it seemed like small children sat and watched the birthday child open wonderous gifts while they received (or gave) a small token in exchange.  I am grateful that my children learned quickly to be gracious guests and appreciative of, and not expectant of, anything that came their way, but really, isn't it heart wrenching to watch 3 and 4 year olds at a party during "gift opening" time, trying to contain their inner demons, not able to grab and play with the delightful offerings?  Is it me?  I one time lost the word for favor in my mind and replaced it with consolation gifts in my mouth where it has inappropriately remained!)

Back to Heather.  If she's texting me stamping first thing in the morning she needs to seriously start looking at the Demonstrator kit!  If you are like Heather please go HERE!

The funny thing about this text leads back to today's posting.  Guess what stamp set I used (prior to said text)?  Four Frames of course!  I couldn't of asked for a better lead in:

I loosely cased a layout of a card on page 156 of the catalog.  You may laugh trying to find the card, loosely being a key word in the phrase, but I want to give credit where it is due.  The catalog is such a vast and wonderful resource of ideas I love browsing and looking at the designs and ideas to use in my own work.  Let me tell you about this card.  I distressed all the background elements using the tool in the Cutter kit.  I especially like the way the scallop punch looks distressed- not quite so girly I guess.  I sponged and sprayed with the spritzer tool to further age the elements.  To give the bird a little more weight and impact I stamped and cut out the image and layered it on to the tag.  I finished with some seam binding and linen thread- I like the idea of making the label into a tag.
Thanks for stopping by!
Four frames stamp set#123440w 123442c
Family Reunion stamp set #122860w 122862c
First Edition specialty Designer Series Paper #121878
Garden green card stock # 102584
Garden green stampin' pad #102272
More mustard card stock #100946
More mustard stampin' pad #103162
Stazon jet black stamp pad #101406
Daffodil delight stampin' pad #119667
Chocolate Chip stampin' pad #100908
Chocolate Chip stampin' write marker #100071
1/2"  Crumb cake seam binding #122332
Linen Thread #104199
Blender Pen #102845
Color Spritzer tool #107066
Stampin' dimensionals #104430
Crop-a-dile #108362
Decorative Label punch #120907
Scallop punch #119882 
Cutter kit #106958
Snail adhesive #104332
 
 

Last chance for Elementary Elegance!

Hi Stampers!
The end of the month approaches quickly which means that Sale-a-bration is ending!  That's right, March 31st is the last day to place your order to qualify for all those free goodies!  In honor of Sale-a-bration I wanted to use one of the FREE sets that I earned- Elementary Elegance.  I also wanted to join the color challenge at Create with Connie and Mary, ccmc195, so here is what I came up with:

The colors of the challenge are Poppy Parade, Basic Grey, and So Saffron.  They feel more masculine to me so I went a little understated in this simple card, and I think you could give it to a man or a woman.  If you look closely you will see that I stamped the frame stamp like wallpaper on the diagonal in the background.  This was a subtle way to create a little more interest without all the fancy tools.  Sizzix is my friend, of course, but not invited to every event!
Thanks for stopping by!
Elementary Elegance # 125120w 125122c
Poppy Parade card stock #119793
Poppy Parade stampin' pad #119782
Basic grey card stock #121044
So Saffron card stock #105118
So Saffron stampin' pad #105213
Basic Black stampin' pad #101179
Oval Punch #119859
Decorative Label punch #120907
Metallic Brads # 119741
 
 

Swine and Pearls?

Hi Stampers!
I can't remember where the "pearls before swine" reference comes from, do you?  Shakespeare maybe?  I don't know but today I'm using both!

I just ADORE this little pig in the Button Buddies stamp set!  I'm sure there is another color to stamp pigs that isn't pink, but I can't think of what that would be, so pink it is.  Pink on Pink.  Monochromatic.  Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink.  Yep, it's pink! 
Let me show you a side view:

I found this clever idea at Dawn Griffiths blog and decided to case it.  I couldn't help but use the sizzix machine just for a little texture on the flap, but overall this is a straightforward card- try it yourself and link your project to my comment section- I'd love to see it!
Thanks for stopping by!
Button buddies stamp set #122735w 122737c
Easy Events stamp set #116958w 123225c
It's your day stamp set #123682
Whisper White card stock # 100730
Pretty in Pink card stock #100459
Pretty in Pink stampin pad #101301
Melon Mambo card stock #115320
Melon Mambo stampin pad #115656
Melon Mambo stampin' write marker #121074
Basic Black stampin' write marker #100082
Scallop Oval punch #119856
Large oval punch #119855
1/2 inch circle punch #119869
Sizzix texturz plate backgrounds 1 #114512
Basic Pearls #119247

 
 

Raining rain, Raining Flowers

Hi Stampers!
It seems like it's been raining FOREVER here in the rainforest, and the forecast is for more rain all week.  There is only one thing to be done- make it rain flowers.  Yep, the stamp kind.  I know, I told you we won't have the profusion of flowers most of you are experiencing until June, but here in my workshop I can have anything I want.  Within reason.  And aren't flower stamps reasonable?
To make it more fun, I'm joining a challenge.  Makes me think I'm stamping with all my new friends out there ;O).  That's you, of course!  I found this Mojo Monday challenge here- and I'm supposed to label this MOJO 234.

This is the last week of Sale-a-bration so I want to use my Everyday Enchantment collection products while they are still available.  The way my DSP fit together made me think of a quilt so I punched some holes with my mat pack (#105826) and paper piercing tool (#116631) and then inked with the uni-ball signo gel pen (#105021) to make it look like I actually pulled out my sewing machine.
I hope it's raining flowers in your world today!
Thanks for stopping by!
Raining Flowers stamp set #122765w 122767c
Teeny tiny wishes # 115370
Poppy Parade card stock #119793
Poppy Parade stampin pad #119782
Everyday Enchantment DSP
Everyday Enchantment ribbon
Calypso Coral card stock #122925
Calypso Coral stampin pd #122939
Pool Party card stock #122924
Pool Party stampin pad #122938
Whisper White card stock #100730
Lucky Limeade stamp pad #122935
Blender Pen#102845
Bold Brights brad #119740
Dimensionals#104430
 

Bookmark

Hi Stampers!
I sent my daughter a congratulations card that you saw last week, but I wanted to let my other daughter know that I'm proud of her and thinking of her as well.  She is traveling through snow and sleet to give a Stampin' Up Demonstration for a friend of hers!  That's my girl!  The postal service has nothing on us SU demos!

We got the directions for this cute bookmark in our Stampin' Success magazine (that demonstrators receive monthly), and KD is a real bookworm, so it was the perfect project.  The orientation my be a little difficult for you to see- it fits over the corner of the page you are trying to save.  I used the Color Coach to choose my palette, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, and Pumpkin Pie- I like this combo!  I'm sure this bookmark will get some use!
Thanks for stopping by!
Tempting turquoise card stock and stamp pad #
Rich Razzleberry card stock #
Pumpkin Pie card stock #
Basic Black stampin' pad #
Whisper White card stock#
Scallop Circle Punch #
1 3/8 and 1 1/4 " circle punches #
Linen Thread #
Creative elements stamp set #
Lace scallop punch #
Boho Blossoms Punch #
Rhinestone #
Serif die #

Hello

Hi Stampers!
I'm in a time crunch today and I still wanted to post so I made up this cute card for you all:

Okay, so maybe watercoloring wasn't the fastest way to a "quick" card, but really, it's so small it took no more than a minute or two!  I'm hoping the Falling Leaves sizzix die is still in the catalog, it added the right touch to accessorize this card.
Thanks for stopping by!
Easy Events #
Crumb Cake card stock #
Early Espresso card stock #
Pear Pizzaz card stock #
Bashful Blue card stock #
whisper White card stock #
Early Espresso stampin' write marker #
Pear Pizzazz stampin' write marker #
Bashful Blue stampin' write marker#
Aquapainters #
Stazon jet black ink #
Pear Pizzazz ribbon #
Scallop punch #
Falling leaves die #
 

Congratulations!

My Precious Daughter just got her first "Professional" job 2 months before completing her Master's degree.  Are we proud?  I'd tell you where she will be working but you might not be able to pronounce it and you could embarrass yourself, so I'll spare you.  We embarrass ourselves regularly, we're that proud, so we don't mind tripping our tongues over her new place of employment.  Nuf said.
I made her a card that I'm going to send (spoiler alert LJ, if you're reading, STOP).

This is a clean and simple card, no gadgets or geegaws, just the word I want to convey to my daughter.
Thanks for stopping by!
Raining flowers stamp set #
Curly cute stamp set # 
Pear Pizzazz card stock #
Pear Pizzazz stampin' pad #
Concord Crush card stock #
Concord Crush stampin' pad #
Basic Black stampin' pad #
Basic Black card stock #
Whisper White card stock #
 

the Easter Bunny!

Hi Stampers!
I was going to totally CASE a cute easter bunny card I saw on another blog, it was the cutest little thing ever, BUT it turns out I didn't have all the punches I needed.  This tends to be a common theme for me when I'm going to copy something so I have learned not to be thwarted.  It turns out I was a PRO at make circle bunnies in elementary and high school- I drew them in the margins of my notebooks, on the covers of my textbooks (yes, they had brown paper covers on them!  I wouldn't deface a book!), everywhere.  I know the basic concept so I thought I'd work out the circle bunny with the punches I did have and it turned out to be easier than I thought!  Isn't that the way it often is?  A little daubing, a few marker lines, and this is what I came up with:

Thanks for stopping by!
Teeny tiny wishes
Everyday enchantment DSP, Brads, and ribbon
Pool Party card stock
Calypso Coral card stock
Basic Black card stock
Whisper White card stock
1 3/4" , 1 1/4", and 3/4" circle punches
large oval punch
oval punch
Heart punch
Cupcake punch
word window punch
 

Less is more

Hi Stampers!
I'm joining another challenge today that I'm excited about- the SUO challenge #41.  The theme is spring.  Pretty broad, don't you think?  It most places spring is an explosion of color and flowers and sun.  Here in the Redwood forest, spring is more subtle.  Everything under the forest canopy has to fight for purchase, and let me tell you, the redwoods are mighty!  Sun can also be a problem, and we celebrate every inch as the earth tilts on it's axis and the sun moves higher in the sky, over the tops of said redwoods, and brings in the light.  We won't get that vast profusion of color before June, but there is still a bit of excitement right now when the first of the native violets peek out under the ferns.  That calm, gentle presence of spring is what I was going for with this card.  Take a look:

Do you ever have the problem where you keep trying to add more layers/texture/embellishments and they just don't work?  This is where less IS more, for me.  Happy Spring!
Thanks for stopping by!
Growing green stamp set #118758w #120624c
Wild Wasabi card stock #108641
Wild Wasabi stampin pad #109014
Perfect Plum card stock #101889
Perfect Plum stampin' pad #101437
So Safron stampin' pad #105213
Certainly Celery stampin' pad #105217
Watercolor Paper #122959
Basic Pearls #119247
Aqua Painter #103954

New Color Challenge

I had such a good time working with a color challenge last week that I joined a new one this week!  The colors are- Peach Parfait (REALLY hard for me to like), Lucky Limeade, and Pool Party (Connie & Mary Challenge ccmc193).  I like this challenge because it gets me out of my comfort zone to try something I wouldn't otherwise use.  Here is what I came up with:

This challenge is made easier because the Everyday Enchantment DSP has those three colors together already so I used this as my jumping board.  This card is HEAVY on the sizzix- I had some new products I haven't used much so today was the day.  To make the ribbon all wrinkly I used my heat tool to melt it just a bit- I love this shaggy effect.  There is just a little stamping on this card- I love the Creative Elements stamp set these days, and the greeting is from Perfectly Penned.
Creative Elements stamp set #
Perfectly Penned stamp set #122890w 122892c
Adorning Accents edgelit die #125595
Adorning Accents Embossing folder #125601
Background 1 texturz plate #114512
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder # 119335
Beautiful Butterflies bigz die #114507
Whisper White card stock #100730
Lucky Limeade card stock #122926
Pool Party card stock #122924
Peach Parfait card stock #119794
Everyday Enchantment DSP #126154 SAB
Everyday Enchantment ribbon and brad pack #127279 SAB
Versamark stamp pad #102283
Basic Black stamp pad #101179
Pool party stamp pad #122938
 

Guest Stamper!

Hi Stampers!
Today I had a guest stamper with me- my daughter Laurel.  She has many cards she wants to make while she is here, but the most important card is for her program director at school who is having a baby next month.  The students in her graduate program (7) want to give her a gift basket and Laurel wanted to provide a card for all of them to sign.
She had a clear idea of what she wanted to make- she planned on pennants spanning across the front of the card, and well, why not look at it and see what she had in mind!

Didn't she do a fantastic job?  She used a lot of retired products for this card so I won't list them out for you today. I will tell you that this card measures 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches so it is big! I think her program director will be very please to receive this card- don't you?  Thanks Laurel!
And thank you for stopping by!

Clean and Simple

Hi Stampers!
My Daughter is visiting from out of town, and although stamping is one of the things on her "to do" list this week we haven't gotten to it yet.  Of course I want to spend the maximum amount of time with her, yet I still want to post here, so my challenge for myself today is a clean and simple card.  This means the minimum amount of layers and embellishments, lots of white space, and a clean design that makes a statement without too much fussiness.  It sounds easy doesn't it?  Let me tell you, simple can be hard!  But not today!  Here is what I came up with:

I wanted to use the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set because I don't feel I've really put it through it's paces yet-AND it will only be around until May 30th!  Yes, as a hostess set, they retire at the end of the catalog year!  I will miss this stamp set!
I did the ol' close my eyes and pick a color from the Color Coach and I picked Basic Grey.  I used the Old Olive, Melon Mambo creative combination from the card, and I used  Creative Elements stamp set to fill up the card!
Creative Elements #122645w #122647c
Happiest of Birthday Hostess set
Basic Grey card stock #121044
whisper White card stock#100730
Melon Mambo card stock #115320
Basic Grey stamp pad #109120
Old Olive stamp pad #102277
Basic Black stamp pad #101179
Scallop circle punch #119854
1 1/4" circle punch119861
1 " circle punch #119868
Rhinestones #119246
Dimensionals # 104430


Thanks for stopping by!
 

Have or have not?

Hi Stampers!
I have a busy schedule the next couple of days but I wanted to get a posting up for you so I went to my trusty "Stampin' Success" magazine with the hopes of copying a project.  "Stampin' Success" is the magazine the Demonstrators get monthly that is full of ideas and business tips.  If you would like your own subscription to this wonderful magazine  you just need to take advantage of the best deal in the Stampin' Up catalog, and  right now even a better value during Sale-a-bration, and order your Demonstrator Kit!

Now back to my posting!  I found a great little project that SU recommends that I can put together in a little box to take with me, and if I find someone interested in what I do I can quickly show them a project!  I love it!  Only I didn't have any of the products that they used in their little project, starting with the die cut.  Not to worry, however, because I can copy and steal "CASE" with the best of 'em and I came up with my own project loosely based on the original.  Here it is:

So Cute!  This little pocket card measures 4 1/4" by 2 1/4 inches, just like the original.  Instead of using the Sizzix "Pocket" die, I made the pocket myself cutting the naturals ivory card stock to 4 1/4" x 4 3/4" and using my Simply Scored tool to score at 2 1/4" and at 4/1/2".  I used the 1 3/4" punch in the middle panel to the the finger grip area.  Here is what it looks like with the card pulled up:

You could probably tuck a gift card in this little pocket as well, but I'll stick with a nice note to someone special!
Do you wonder what I do with all these cards I make?  Sometimes they go to someone special for an event (ie my father-in-law's bday card), some of them get sent to customers that order from me through my website, and others I would be happy to sell to you if you were interested!
Naturals ivory card stock #101849
So Saffron card stock #105118
Basic Black card stock #121045
Garden Green stampin' write marker #100080
Regal Rose stampin' write marker #105108
So Saffron Stamp pad #105213
Bashful Blue stamp pad #105209
Blender pen #102845
Stazon jet black ink pad #101406
5/8" satin ribbon, black #117285
1 3/4" circle punch #119850
1 1/4 " circle punch #119861
1 3/8" circle punch #119860
Simply Scored tool #122334
Nature Walk stamp set #121925w #121997c
Linen thread #104199
Color spritzer tool #107066
Stampin sponges #101610 

Thanks for stopping by!

D is for Dog

Hi Stampers!
I've been seeing this card on a lot of blogs like it's a new thing, however, this is a card we actually made at one of my first "stampcamps" back in 1998.  Just goes to show that good things don't go out of style!

Of course I didn't mean the actual card- just this particular fold.  I guess I would call it a carton fold, like you are securing a carton or a box, each flap folding down in a clockwise fashion with the last flap tucked under the first.  Of course it doesn't make for great photos with the shadows and all, but trust me when I say it's a pretty stinkin' cute card!  Wait a minute, that might be a bit boastful so I take it back!

My friend Jan is bringing home her new puppy this weekend.  Jan trained her last beautiful yellow lab as a search and rescue dog, and Jan and Bama volunteered many hours, days, and weeks in the service of rescuing those in need.  Her new baby still has a smooshy face and it's hard to imagine she'll be anything but cute, but Jan is committed to another service dog, although something not quite as rigorous as search and rescue, and I know they will do great things together.
I made this card for Jan for a "baby shower" for her new bundle of joy.  I haven't selected the perfect gift yet, but I hope this card makes her smile!

D is for Dog stamp set #115784
Raining Flowers stamp set #122765
Always Artichoke card stock #105119
Pink Piroutte card stock #100459
Sahara Sand card stock #121043
whisper white card stock #100730
Always Artichoke stamp pad #103008
Pink Pirouette stamp pad #111838
Sahara sand Stampin' write marker #105105
Spritzer tool #107066
Scallop Square punch #119884
1 1/4" Circle punch # 119861
Rhinestone brad #109110

Thanks for stopping by!
 

3-D Thursday

Hi Stampers!
Today I thought I'd do a 3-D project so I bought some Kit Kat bars.  Not to eat, well, yet anyway. Without a specific project in mind I decided to do some randomness- I closed my eyes and selected a color from my Color Coach, and then I did the same in my stack of stamps.

So here is what I have to work with- Early Espresso with the Creative Combo of Marina Mist and Tangerine Tango, and the Best Friends Forever stamp set.  No Problem!  Although if I make a candy holder for any of my BFF's, clearly the candy would be gone so quickly you'd never know it had been there!

Isn't this cute?  I thought it could make a nice place marker at your table when your friends come over, or a pick me up for a coworker to find on his/her desk!  Here is a side view:

That nice little Kit Kat bar tucks right inside.  With a little tweaking you could make it hold gum, or a different candy bar, or ?
For this project I used the Simply Scored tool to make my scores.  I measured the candy bar and made my scores appropriately, working from the middle out.
The rest is just stamping and punching.
Thanks for stopping by!

Best Friends Forever stamp set #122805
Early Espresso Stamp Pad #119670
Marina mist Stamp Pad #119668
Tangerine Tango Stamp pad #111834
Early Espresso card stock #119686
Marina Mist card stock#119682
Tangerine Tango card stock #111349
Very Vanilla Card stock #101650
Crumb cake seam binding #122332
Sticky Strip #104294
Oval Punch #119859
Decorative label punch #120907
Simply Scored tool # 122334

Blooming!

Hi Stampers!
Today looks like spring, although the temp outside with the cold north wind says otherwise.  My daffodils are blooming and I'm stamping- flowers!

Do you know those fluffy little Narcissus flowers that smell so good?  I LOVE those flowers and that's what I was going for here.  I got the fluffy, but not as much trumpet shape as the narcissus, but I like how they look anyway.  How did I get fluffy flowers you may ask?
Well, it was a process, but not to difficult, so I'll tell you.  For each flower I punched a scallop circle and two- five petal flowers.  I wadded up one of the 5 petal flowers and the scallop circle several times breaking up the fibers in the paper.  I then ran them over the edge of the table in several directions many more times to continue breaking down the fibers.  When they are very tired and limp you can divide the layers of paper into 2  very soft pieces (they call this the suede technique I think because the inside layer looks like suede).  I like how it gives my petals a softer, more flowery look than the full thickness of card stock.  I offset my layers this way: sueded scallop circle, sueded scallop circle, 5 petal flower, sueded 5 petal flower, sueded 5 petal flower, sponge daub with Daffodil delight ink, and hold together with orange flower brad.  Of course I fluffed up the flowers to make them softer and more ruffly.
The stems are just 1/8 slices of Lucky Limeade card stock with hand cut leaves.
I found this layout here as part of a blog hop (tssc2111). I'm going to try to link up to this blog hop so wish me luck!
Here is where I put the link for the blog hop- if I did it right!

It's your Day stamp set #123682
Daffodil Delight card stock # 119683
Whisper White Card Stock #100730
Beyond the Garden DSP #122342
Lucky Limeade card stock #122926
Stazon jet black ink #101406
Flower brads #119734
1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch #119854
5-Petal punch #119880
Square punch #119865
Corner Rounder #119871
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335
Daffodil Delight stamp pad #119667 
Sponge Daubers #102892
Stampin' Dimensionals #104430

Slowwwww to load...

Hi Stampers!
I've been having a bit of trouble loading my photo over the last 24 hours, which is funny when you see what I'm trying to upload!

Isn't he cute?  I found a color challenge on another blog, Paper Pal Arts, (PPA130) so when I was sitting in my stamp room I thought of it and decided to try it out.  The color challenge was Always Artichoke, Lucky Limeade, and your choice of a third color.  Living in the redwood forest, as I do, my life outside my windows IS Always Artichoke (redwood "leaves"), Lucky Limeade (ferns), with some red and brown (bark).  I chose Cherry Cobbler and Soft Suede just from looking out the window.  If I'd of had a banana slug stamp I really would have been set, but barring that, I remembered this cute snail in the Button Buddies stamp set and went to work.  The swirl of the Texturz plate makes me think of the movement of snails, and I used Dazzling Diamonds glitter to mark my snail's trail!  Other details you may not notice- for the background, to make it look like wood, I drug the Soft Suede stamp pad across the Artichoke card stock.  The other detail is distressing the edges of the "belly band".  I used the distressing tool in the Cutter kit.  You could use your fingernail but I don't sell that! LOL! Now, who should I send this to?
Button Buddies stamp set w #122735 
It's your day stamp set w #123682 (you may never find this stamp set because it's tucked away on page 192 of the catalog with the Simply Sent kits! Check it out!).
Always Artichoke card stock #105119
Lucky Limeade card stock #122926
Cherry Cobbler card stock 119685
Soft Suede card stock #115318
Whisper white card stock #100730
Soft Suede stamp pad #115657
Stazon Black ink pad #104406
Metallic brads #119741
Round Tab punch #19864
3/4 inch Circle Punch #119873
Handheld 1/16" circle punch #101227
Everyday Enchantment Ribbon (FREE with $50 purchase, Sale-a-bration catalog)
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter #102023
Two way glue pen #100425
Sizzix Texturz Plate Backgrounds 1 #114512
Cutter Kit #106958

Happy Birthday

Hi Stampers!
Today is my Father-in-law's birthday.  I don't think he reads my blog, but Glen, if you do, stop reading now!  That's 'cause your card is going to be late!

Actually, my husband always writes the cards to his family, hence the "to my dad" part.  With the Family Reunion stamp set (#122860) I could've added "in-law" but I didn't feel the need but it's nice to have the choice!  The Happy Birthday is from Happiest Birthday Wishes- a hostess only stamp set.  This is a great reason to host a workshop- I LOVE this set!
To be honest, I CASEd this card from a friend, and she may have CASEd it from someone else.  I changed it up, of course, but it was so cute I couldn't resist.  To make it manly I used my favorite DSP Well Worn (#122359).  I'm excited that I finally found a good use for the denim ribbon (#125053) I had to have.  I also used the nice antique brad (#117273).  I used River Rock, Chocolate Chip, and Naturals Ivory Card stock, Pacific Point and Marina Mist Stamp pad, and 1/8" Vanilla Taffeta ribbon (#119960).
Thanks for stopping by!

Photo improvement!

Hi Stampers,
I did a little research because I was unhappy with the quality of my photos.  I found out that some people have really fancy cameras, some people have really fancy light boxes, some have both, some only take outside photos (or in the daylight coming in through the window), and everything in between.  Well, I have a NICE camera, not fancy, but nice, and I figured I could work out something that would pep up my photos a bit.  I did not want to spend a great amount, or even a little amount of money at this point, and as crowded as my stamp room is right now I didn't want to store anything else.  I did find someone had posted a tutorial on how to make my own light box using a big box and white fabric, but again I didn't want to store anything that large (and quite frankly, not very pretty).  The price was right however so I started thinking about what I already had that I could use.  Hmmm.  I decided that whatever "box" I used had to be white- could I make one?  Well, I found a material that most of us already have on hand, or you do if you are like me and can't really throw anything away.  There is a nice piece of 12x12 lightweight cardboard in every pack of Designer Series Paper to keep the paper nice in the packaging- and it is white!  I decided that instead of a whole box I would just make a  3-sided "surround".  This worked very well, and with my OTT light right over the top the lighting was very good!  The nicest part is that it folds up flat and stores in the file with the rest of my DSP until I need it again!  This is what my set up looks like:

It's not very fancy, but it is very functional!
Here is the photo of today's project:

I can hear you oohing and aahing over this photo!  Okay, maybe not, but I know it's a noted improvement.  Next lesson: editing!
So let me tell you about this project.  I found the sketch on another blog and I liked the simplicity of it so I had to try it for myself!  I've wanted to try out the Basic Grey/Daffodil Delight color combo and this project called to it- the flowers I tried to make look like daffodils by cutting out the centers and elevating them.  The stamp set is Raining flowers.  I didn't like the one short stem they had included in the set so I used a Pear Stampin' Write marker to draw in the stem.  I cut the leaf off of another stamp so I could stamp it more easily.  I may be sorry later for cutting up the stamp but it worked well for this project!  I used the crimper for the bottom layer to give it some texture. I used the small oval and scallop oval punches and some Daffodil delight ribbon.  The final touch is the pearls in the flower centers.  It always costs me an additional .20 cents to mail my cards but it is so worth it!
Thanks for stopping by!