Quilting toward the 4th

Hi Stampers!
Handstamped sentiments  (#123) has a challenge this week that works perfectly with a card I wanted to make so I'll send this over to them after I post it here.  It is inspired by the season (if you can call the 4th of July a season) (and yes, I do, actually) and it kind of goes back to my pillow post.  I haven't actually made said pillows as of yet, but I did tear some ideas out of a magazine.  Maybe next year I'll get to making pillows.

The Challenge is inspired by quilting so I pieced together a sort of star using 1" squares (and triangles cut from same squares) to make a traditional pattern.  The hardest thing about assembling a card like this, and I've noticed this in the past as well, is getting it all square so here is a little tip.  Use your grid paper.  You know the grid paper (#102787) you use as scratch paper to stamp on?  I put my snail on that and laid my squares down on that then trimmed the edges away, voila!  I used the new Midnight Muse card stock with Real Red and Whisper White cardstock.  The buttons are from the Sweet buttons embosslit, and the only stamping is with, wait for it, Teeny Tiny wishes. Can you believe it?  I think it's been a week since I pulled out this old trusty stamp set!  Some dimensionals add depth and there you go.  Happy 4th.
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Hooray! Another Color Challenge!

Hello Stampers!

I'm joining another color challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary (ccmc208) with
colors I rarely use:

They look so cute together with the little suns don't they?  Well, I didn't make little suns but I did pull out one of my new sets for this challenge:

Just seeing the little images from Storybook Friends stamp set brings me back to when my girls were little.  We are all voracious readers and they started from a very young age- maybe from all the books I read to them.  Read to your children!  It's fun!
I stamped the fox with my Jet Black Stazon Pad (#101406) and colored in with my Aquapainters (#103954) and my ink pads (Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Old Olive, and Bashful Blue), and cut out with the Labels collection Framelit. Have you water colored with your stamp pads before?  If you haven't all you need to do is squish your pad before you open them to get ink on the lid of the pad.  You can then pick up this ink with your aquapainter, watercolor paint brush, or blender pen to happily color away!  Just a tip- when painting a larger area, like the fox, get the ink really wet so it  spreads evenly.  You can add more color over the top as you need it but you'll have better coverage to start.  Let me show you what I mean:

Here is the lid with the ink squished on the top.  On the left is how it looks when you open up the case.  On the right I've mixed the ink with the water in my aquapainter to make a "wash".  When I paint on my first coat it looks like this:

It is a light, even coat.  I can then add more color and detailing as I like:

I'm not really very talented at water-coloring but I really don't have to be- the images are so cute they stand up on their own! 
Okay, so I used Basic Gray for the background card stock, and Pumpkin Pie for the belly band, after embossing it with the new Argyle Embossing folder.  I made a banner in Real Red cardstock and embellished it with a Basic Grey button (using the Button, button Sizzlit die).
I guess the last thing I should tell you about is omitting.  The Hooray actually is part of the stamp with the fox.  To stamp the fox with out the words I carefully applied the pad to the stamp without getting the ink on the words.  I then cleaned the stamp carefully, let it dry, then inked up the words with the Black Stampin' marker and stamped just the words on the Real Red cardstock.
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Channeling the white

Hi Stampers!
Today I used my White pad.  I have to confess- I had my craft white pad on hand and was too lazy to dig my Stazon white pad out of the drawer.  The difference is that the Stazon would dry much faster and is useful on more mediums, so an all around better pad, but I went with what I had on hand.  Here is my card:

I took the photo at this unusual angle so you could see the white flowers (in my world Queen Ann's lace is white)(and that's what I'm calling this flower, so there!).  I also used white on the Gumball Green background, and again on the Rose Red "belly band".  The stamp set is a new one called Summer Silhouettes (w #126445, c #126447).  I used Gumball Green ink and card stock, Rose Red ink and card stock, Bashful Blue and Whisper White card stock, and Basic black in with my lovely new words- Made for you!
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the Wedding Proposal...

Hi Stampers!
My eldest is getting married!  She loves to say "fiance" over and over. "Fiance, fiance, fiance".  Can't say I blame her- he is pretty darn cute, rugged and manly and stuff.  She is marrying the "boy next door"  (Technically, down the street, but in this world these days that's pretty close!), has been "dating" him on and off since high school, and we're close to his parents so it doesn't seem like a big change, but I suspect it will be a good party!  I wanted to make her an organizer to write down thoughts, ideas, action lists, etc, all in one place so I took a composition book and gave it a makeover in roughly her wedding colors:

I haven't seen her actual colors yet so for purple and green I used the new Polka Dot Parade (#126902) DSP in Rich Razzleberry and complimented it with some elements made with the new Gumball green.  I rolled the Wedding Words Wheel with Gumball Green ink onto Whisper white card stock, backed in with green card stock and put it on top of the polka dots.  I cut some hearts with the Hearts Collection Framelits (#125599), embossed them with different embossing folders (Polka dot and the new Argyle), punched some flowers with the retired 5 petal punch, and finished off with a ribbon.

To stick the paper to the composition book, and make sure it adhered very well, I used the Stampin' Up glue stick.  It has a nice wide side that makes it easy to apply and it really sticks well for a project like this.

On the inside I added some tabs with the retired tab punch and also added some envelopes so she could save receipts or other important papers-

I hope this will help my Sweetie to keep organized over the next year!
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Break out with pleats

Hi Stampers!
Today I broke out.  I have been a stamper for 14 years plus and today I am stamping my first non-standard size card.  Can you believe it?  When I finished the card, I was finished!
Today I'm bringing back the pleats for the Handstamped Sentiments Challenge #123.  The challenge is to add pleats to a card.  Here is what I came up with:

This reminds me so much of a bathing suit I wore when I was about 3 or 4 years old.  It's the first bathing suit I ever remember wearing and I absolutely loved it because it had a ruffled skirt.  But I'm off subject.  I told you I broke out- this card measures 3 1/4 x 3 1/2".  I had originally planned on putting it on the front of a standard  4 1/4 x 5 1/2" card but I just couldn't do it- this is where I wanted it to be so I made it a card.  The bee is in the new Bug Me stamp set- so cute!  The words are from the new Made for you stamp set.  I think you will see a lot of the words from Made for You- it has just 3 stamps but they are the most useful of words at a great price point.  Check it out here.
To make the pleats I pulled out the Simply scored tool and scored at 1/2", 1", 1 1/2", 2 1/2", 3", etc until I had the pleats I needed.  The strip was 1 1/2" wide.  I used Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black cardstock and Basic Black ink.

 When you peek inside you can see that I stamped the bee inside as well.
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Showering

Hi Stampers!
Yes, it's showering here today- pretty gloomy for summer weather but the lawn and garden are quite happy.  Actually, I'm happy to because I will spend some time in my stamp room using my new items that arrived this week.  I have several challenges I'm working on so you will see those soon.
For today I want to show you a card I made for a shower- fitting with the weather and all.  I actually missed the shower as we were out of town but I did want to give the lovely bride a small token to mark the day and of course, a card.

The bride's colors are not rose but the color made me happy (do we still call it rose romance?  I can't remember, I'll have to look it up).  Nope, Regal Rose, darn.  Rose Romance would be so much more poignant.  I used the Creative Element stamp set, a Shelli favorite, and Teeny Tiny wishes, a Mary favorite.  I stamped the flower 3 times and cut out two at smaller increments then sponged the edges to make the layers stand out a little more.  I then used dimensionals to give it more of a 3D look.
I used an embossing folder for the background and finished the card off with some pretty satin ribbon.
We now have a Sizzix die that will cut banners for different sizes- many that coordinate with stamps in the catalog.  At this point, as I don't have the die, I still cut my banners manually getting the banner edge using my square punch.  I get some flexibility with this method as I can make my banners any size up to the dimension of my punch.
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Retired but still loved

Hi Stampers!
My daughter adopted a new dog this last weekend and she is over the moon with joy.  I decided to send "Archie" a care package to welcome him to the family and of course a card was necessary.  I had to go into my retired stash to find the dog set, but that's okay- it still works great!  Here is what I came up with:

The colors are Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade, incolors from last year but still current.  I stamped on Whisper white with Basic Black ink.  I used the 1 1/4 and 1 3/8" circle punches and the dot embossing folder for the background.  The only real embellishment is a rhinestone "tag" on the collar.  The stamp set is D is for Dog, a recently retired set.  Archie is a dachshund but I don't think he'll mind that I don't have hot dog on the card...
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CAS Challenge

Hi Stampers!
I was cruisin' over at splitcoast stampers and found this Clean and Simple Challenge.  I had an idea in mind so I didn't read all the rules so I hope this card qualifies for the challenge!  Here is the inspiration image:

I think this bathing suit is so cute!  Wish I could buy those thighs (sigh).
Here is what I came up with:

 I couldn't help adding a little Lucky Limeade- the ruffled ribbon is so...ruffly!  I used Four frames and the nice coordinating Decorative Label punch along with Teeny Tiny wishes.  I had this little flower on my table (in the new Raspberry Ripple) and I couldn't resist.  I think the flower may take me out of the "Clean and Simple" but it really wanted to be there.
There is just one more element to this card that you should check out- take a peek:

I punched out the front of the card and the greeting is actually on the inside of the card!  Take a look at this:

I inserted a square of white cardstock inside as well to write a nice note.  You could use our cool white gel pen if you like, but if you don't have one of those (yet) this is a nice alternative!
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More Papaya Collage

Hi Stampers!
I'm finding it hard to be inside stamping when the sun is out shining and the garden is calling!  I did stamp up a quick card for you last night to show you the versatility of the Papaya Collage stamp set.  I've had toile on my brain lately- I'm thinking of recovering my favorite chair in black and white toile, and Papaya collage fits this motif quite well.  Let me show you:

This black and white scheme uses just that- Basic Black and Whisper white.  I watercolored the rose using the new Rasperry and Gumball green incolor pads with my trusty aquapainters, cut it out, added another leaf, and mounted it with dimensionals.  Could you imagine life without dimensionals?
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Papaya Collage and In colors

Hi Stampers!
I stamped up a quick card using some new products from the catalog to show you today.  I love to linger over my workspace most of the time, make layers, try new techniques, add glitter, etc., but, like you, I don't always have time.  It's nice to sometimes make a quick card with a minimal of fuss and a stamp set like Papaya Collage gives you the feeling of fuss in it's sophistication yet can stamp up a quick card like this:

This is straightforward stamping!  I really like these new in colors- there was a lot of fuss about the Summer Starfruit (yellow) but darn if it doesn't actually look like the actual starfruit color, and wouldn't you know it was the first color I was drawn to?  The other colors are Midnight Muse and Raspberry Ripple, such funny names.  Perfectly Penned is the greeting and I am done.
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You're a Star!

Hi Stampers!
I made a card for my eldest child today.  She works in sales and last month she did really well, hence a large commission check.  To say she was on top of the world may describe her enthusiasm except she had another life changing, on top of the world moment last weekend, but we'll get to that one at another time!
Of course I made her a card:

Boy was this tricky to capture in a photograph!  The reason is because of the transparency sheet on the cover of the card- you can see the way it reflects the light (it also reflected me taking the photo until I found a better angle!).  I cased this cute card out of my monthly Stampin' Success magazine that all demonstrators get every month.  I used Pink Pirouette, Poppy Parade, and Basic Grey cardstock in addition to the transparency sheet.  I used the White Stazon pad to stamp on the transparency sheet with a stamp from a set that we got at convention last summer.  An embossing folder through the Big shot for some texture, a little white satin ribbon and voila!
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Spotlighting the Wheel!

Hi Stampers!
I have been remiss.  I started this blog in January and I have not used one of our most amazing tools- the Stampin' Around Wheel!  There was a time when I couldn't imagine not using the wheel for a week, much less 5 months.  I used it for backgrounds, borders, foregrounds, made plaids, masked and used sections.  One Demonstrator told me she actually cuts the rubber off the Wheel itself and uses it as a flat stamp.

 My favorite use was to decorate the gift bag.  Let me tell you a story.

When my children were at prime, what I call, birthday party age (I'm thinking Elementary school, but maybe as high as Middle school) Beanie Babies were all the rage.  The price point was perfect, the beanies were so cute (and collectible!  worth thousands!  and always introducing a new one that had to be purchased!).  You remember those days.  Well, birthday parties seem to fall often on Sunday afternoons during the spring and summer months and our family would be found inland at the river enjoying the sun and warmth, drag ourselves away at the last minute and scurry back to the coast for said party.  Luckily the "one horse town" on the river had a little locally owned drug store that carried Beanie Babies, and being in the sticks usually had the latest ones that were sold out in the more metropolitan area around home.  Sandy, sun burnt, in flip flops we would troop in, make our purchase, ask for the nice paper bag still flattened, throw ourselves back in the car, and here is where it gets tricky;  wheeling the bag without a proper flat surface while driving a long and windy road.  Not a skill you ever thought you'd need!  The results were charming (always give children credit for charming results), and we would arrive just a few minutes late, quickly digging out some warmer, hopefully not too dirty clothes from back of the car, grab the hair in a ponytail of sorts, and wave the child goodbye to enjoy the party delights.  Don't you keep a wheel tucked away in your car in the off chance you may need to decorate a party bag?  No?  Me neither now that my children are adults.  This is a close approximation of what the gift would look like:

Keep in mind I dug this bag out of my OLD sample pile, the actual wheels and colors are long since retired and it looks like the bag has seen it's glory days long past- but you get the general idea.  The self inking handle makes this easy enough for children to use as well with good results (remember charming?).
The project that I made for you today uses one of our Jumbo Wheels.  If you are looking for the Stampin' Around wheels in the catalog go to page 6 (thank you Sarah for finding that for me) or you can go HERE.  The handles (102971 standard, 103661 Jumbo) and cartridges as sold separately (101529 standard, 103678 Jumbo, 121206 triple cell).  These are un-inked cartridges and you will need to purchase a re-inker in your color choice to ink the cartridges.
Here is my project:

Now the joy of the self inking handle is that you don't need to ink up on a stamp pad and you get continuous rolling.  However, for a small project, like this card that only takes one rotation of the wheel or less, you can use your stamp pads to ink up the wheel.  This is handy when you don't have the cartridge in the color you need.  The Jumbo wheel I used is Friendly Words (oops recently retired but you could use Jolly Jingles for the same look!).  I inked it up on my Pink Pirouette Stamp pad first and wheeled tone on tone on the pink layer.  I then inked with soft suede on Whisper White cardstock for the main layer.  I wanted to use all these words as my focal point so I added very few embellishments- a couple of brads and some crumb cake seam binding.  Going for a vintage look I distressed and sponged the edges, including the punched lace edge on the bottom.  This was a quick and easy card to come together and it will be in the mail today!

This is a long post but I wanted to show you how I often come up with my color choices.  The color Coach (120148) is so valuable to me I want to show you what it looks like:

I chose the Certainly Celery card and it gives me some color combinations to work with.  You can also be assured that all colors in a collection are meant to coordinate so you can confidently mix your colors and know you will have a nice looking project.  The Color Coach helps to break out and try some new combinations.  I really liked this combo of Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, and Soft Suede.
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OMG! MDS!

Hi Stampers!
I have a confession to make.  I purchased My Digital Studio as a Convention Incentive several years ago.  I thought of several people in my life that would find this program LIFE CHANGING, or at least useful as they made books, calendars, photocards, tagbooks, planners, bookmarks, quilts, etc., using other online services, and I knew our program would be so much more versatile.  AND, if they wanted to add their own embellishments to said output, they could shop my catalog and coordinate perfectly.  How nice is that?  I could do those things as well.
I learned how to use MDS by taking the tutorials, and then classes at convention.  I can add punches, drop shadows, bows, lock elements, send things to the back/front/where-ever, use designer templates, make my own work, use a hybrid approach, I can do it.  I can even show you how to do it- happily.  Just ask!  The only thing I didn't do with MDS is use it.
Face it, I am a tactile person.  I would rather feel the stamp in my hand than do it on the computer.  I like the feel of ribbon.  I like the constraints of having a photo in one size and using it as is.  Probably what I like the best is the limiting choices of what I have on hand.  That's just me.
BUT- today I used MDS and I loved it!  I even printed it out on my own little printer and loved it!  You may laugh when I show you my output but keep in mind that baby steps turn into bigger things:

I'm taking my retired stamps to a flea market tomorrow to prepare for all the nice new stamps I am ordering and I'm decorating my booth to look somewhat like a fruit stand.  I sorted my stamps in categories into fruit boxes and I wanted to label the boxes.  If I had more time I could've hand stamped these tags myself, goodness knows I have many a retired alphabet in the bin, but I thought that typing the words would be so much quicker.  My original thought was to make labels in word, print them out, and then stamp.  And then I had a duh moment.  I made 9 tags in no time at all, spit them out on my printer, cut them up, and I'm ready to go!  I'M LOVING THIS!!!!!!!!!!  There is so much more I can do!  I printed on my Whisper White card stock and it looks so good- and I didn't even use the best quality on my printer!
If you would like to try out My Digital Studio for yourself you can go HERE and try it for 30 days for free.  I think you'll like it.
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