Winter Wonderland

This card combines last weekend's Clean & Simple Stamping sketch with Loonie Stampers Color Challenge. I chose to go with the winter theme outlined in the sketch. The colors reminded me of the holidays so I went with it.

1. Create card base by trimming cardstock to 4.25" x 11" then score at 5.5"
2. Stamp snowflake images and sentiment in Versamark, then sprinkle white embossing powder and heat
3. Tie red ribbon around card base.
   
4. Add leaf ribbon to the red ribbon.
   

:: My Goodies ::
Stamps: PTI-Snowfall
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: brown
Accessories: red ribbon; leaf ribbon; heat gun; white embossing powder
Technique: Stamped; Embossed
Card Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Monday Madness

Hey everybody...it's Monday. How was your weekend? I had quite a weekend. A quick trip to Philly. We saw our cousin, then ventured across the bridge to South Jersey to go to my "old" childhood friend's 30th birthday party. Well, all I have to say is that I am so sore! I cannot party like I used to! Tomorrow, I'm off to NYC...more traveling. I'll try to have some scheduled postings, but maybe I can pop in late tomorrow night with some Time Square photos!

Anyway, today's cards are a couple that of course combine Clean & Simple Stamping + Loonie Stamper's Challenge. I started doing it a few weeks ago, and now like combining the two together. I did not get a chance to stop by Joann's to ask about a better needle, nor did I try out the idea of putting wax on the needle to make it 'smooth.' So, I only stitched where there was no adhesive this time.

To create the above card:

1. Make card base from 8.5" x 11" cardstock by trimming it in half on the 8.5" side at 4.25". Score at 5.5" (By doing this, you can save the other half for another card later...get the most out of your stash!)
2. Trim pattern paper in a square to fit the front of your card base. Adhere to the card base.
3. Place jewel rhinestone brads in the center of Prima flowers, then adhere to pattern paper.
4. Stamp sentiment on pink cardstock, then trim to fit the center.
5. Stitch around the border of card base, then stitch around the sentiment cardstock.
6. Pop sentiment cardstock in the center of of the card base.

Please Note: It is okay if your stitching is not 'perfect!' I actually prefer mine to be crooked.

:: My Goodies ::
Stamps: PTI-Birthday Basics (sentiment)
Ink: Brown
Paper: Cardstocks: PTI-Sweet Blush; SU!-Chocolate Chip
Pattern Paper: PTI-Chocolate Remix (polka dot)
Accessories: Prima flowers; Thread; Sewing Machine; dimensionals; jewel rhinestone brads
Technique: Stamped
Card Size: 4.25 x 5.5



This card is somewhat of a case of this card. I really like the design and will probably use a combination of the two styles and submit it for publication soon. This photo is terrible, as I was rushing this morning and did not realize the sentiment is blocked by the ribbon, but yout get the point! HEE!

To create this card:

1. Trim card base to 4.25" x 11", then score at 5.5"
2. Take a background stamp, and stamp randomly on bottom and sides of card base in watermark ink.
3. Sprinkle clear embossing powder over the card base, then heat with heat gun until the image embosses or 'melts.'
4. Stamp flower images on vanilla cardstock in brown ink, then cut out.
5. Pop flowers off of card base around the background stamps.
6. Tie pink ribbon around card base and tie in a knot.
   
7. Stamp sentiment on vanilla cardstock, then trim and slightly distress the edges. Adhered behind the pink ribbon.
8. Adhere paper stamped flower to the knot on the ribbon.
9. Add pink dew dots to the centers of the large flowers.
   

:: My Goodies ::
Stamps: SU! Friendship Blooms (flowers/background); PTI - Birthday Basics (sentiment)
Ink: Versamark + Broiwn
Paper: Cardstocks: PTI-Sweet Blush; SU!-Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Dew Dots; Clear Embossing Powder; Heat Gun; PTI-Sweet Blush grosgrain ribbon; dimensionals
Technique: Stamped; Embossed
Card Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Thank You :: FTL 15

Clean & Simple Stamping is featuring a new sketch on their blog, so I decided to use it for today's card. It is a very simple design. I used a larger card base than I have been using for some time now. My focal image cardstock was too large and I did not want to size it down, so I just improvised and placed it on a larger card base. I stamped the flowers (first, starting with the detailed stamp, then with the background). I mounted on brown, then summer sunrise cardstocks. I tied brown grosgrain ribbon in a knot around the card base, then added a button.

Instructions

1. Make card base by trimming cardstock to 10" x 7", then score at 5"
2. Trim orange, brown, and white cardstocks into rectangles to matte on each other.
3. On the white cardstock, stamp the flowers and sentiment.
4. Adhere cardstocks together.
5. Tie brown ribbon around card base.
6. Sew button on ribbon knot.
7. Adhere cardstock over top of ribbon.
   

:: My Goodies ::
Stamps: PTI-Remember (sentiments)
Ink: Brown; Summer Sunrise
Paper: Cardstocks: White, Brown, Summer Sunrise
Accessories: brown grosgrain ribbon, button, brown waxy flax
Technique: Stamped
Card Size: 5 x 7

Thankful for You

On Friday, I completed this card for a couple of challenges (Loonie Stampers Challenge and Clean & Simple Stamping). This picture is totally washed out, but you get the point! I'm going to have to get more practice with the new Cybershot. I hope you are having a good weekend. I'll be back tomorrow with something fresh and hopefully a better picture! I hope to get my 'old' sewing machine up and running because my Janome Sew Mini conked out on me; either too much sewing, user mis-use, or a poor mahcine. So, I picked up my Memory Craft from my mom's basement (I don't know how I left that there!). This was really high-tech when she got it for me in the early 1990s, but now it's like a big clunker. It has a memory card and a computer on it and everything, so just imagine a middle-schooler with this 'computer' sewing machine. Well, we all know I did not grow up to become a big 'sewer', but I guess my mom is glad I can still get use out of it. I just hope to get it up and running. I can't wait to add stitching to my cards again!



:: My Goodies ::
Stamps: PTI-Rustic Branches
Ink: CTMH-Bamboo; PTI-Spring Moss
Paper: Cardstocks: Vanilla, Kraft, Spring Moss
Accessories: PTI spring moss grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals
Technique: Stamped
Card Size: 5.5 x 4.25

Much Appreciated

I am starting to participate in more sketches and challenges. This card combines two: (1) Clean & Simple Stamping and (2) Loonie Stamper's Challenge. Check out those blogs for interesting challenge and inspiration! They are much appreciated!

Circle nestabilities were used to create the card. The bottom half of the card is a stamped pattern. This was a unique color combination, but I actually liked it! This is why I do these challenges...to think outside of the box (i.e., my head). This weekend, I completed a lot of projects. I worked on a few more holiday cards, which I hope to preview next week.

Instructions

1. Make card base by taking trimming cardstock to 4.25" x 11" then score at 5.5"
2. At the top of the score line, place circle die and cut out circle.
3. On white cardstock, stamp flowers and dots.
4. Adhere to card base, then trim around the edges to fit circle.
5. Trim blue cardstock, then adhere to card base and trim around edges.
6. Tie ribbon around card base
7. Stamp sentiment.
8. Cut out on of the leftover flower images, add a red brad, and adhere it to the card base using a dimensional.

:: My Goodies ::
Stamps: Papertrey Ink-Garden of Life
Ink: Chocolate Chip; Aqua Mist: Cranberry
Paper: Cardstocks: SU!-Chocolate Chip, PTI-Aqua Mist, White
Accessories: PTI-pure poppy topnotch twill ribbon; dimensional; circle nestabilities, cuttlebug; brad
Technique: Stamped
Card Size: 3.5" diameter circle