7/29/08

More Bella Rose creations!

I can't seem to get enough of the new in-colors and Bella Rose DP. This weekend, Sara came over to stamp on Saturday night, and these are the cards I made.  I used a sketch and challenge to complete 2 of the cards.  All use the Bella Rose DP and the in-colors Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, and Pirouette Pink.

This first one was for the latest Our Creative Corner challenge: Christmas in July.  This sentiment is from a new catalog set, and the heart is from the "Always" set. I thought the heart went along with the sentiment.  I stamped the heart in Kiwi Kiss and cut it out, and then colored it in with my Aquapainter and ink from the Riding Hood Red stamp pad.  The hearts stamped on the Pink Pirouette paper behind the main heart were covered in a layer of Stardust pen.

Next, I created a card for the Splitcoast Sketch challenge #183.  I used the stamp set "Priceless" for this card. 

Last, I had never used the set "One of a Kind" before, and decided to pull it out. I think I was a bit intimidated because I had seen so many beautiful examples with it. I copied very closely from a card found on Splitcoast. SU sells a punch
that matches the flowers in this set perfect so there is hardly any cutting involved (besides the large flower).
Enjoy!

7/25/08

Embrace Life!

Hi! Well, the saga continues with my injured foot. I went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and it turns out that I broke a bone in the side of my foot and that's why the pain and swelling has not gone down. Luckily the break is not too bad and it should heal on it's own in a few weeks. I have to wear a hard-soled bootie to keep my foot flat and to give it support for the next 3-4 weeks. I swear that I am a danger to myself!

I was able to play with a new stamp set (for me at least) tonight, Embrace Life, and the brand new SU! In Colors and Bella Rose DP that matches perfectly! I made 2 cards which also follow the latest Sketch Challenges on Splitcoast.  The first card uses the vine from the stamp set Embrace Life and follows SC185. I punched the flowers out of paper that had been run through my cuttlebug embossing folder to give the flowers texture. The scallop border is punched out with the new SU! scallop border punch.

My second card also used the Embrace Life
stamp set, but the single flower in the set. This card follows SC186.  I stamped the flower 2 times right next to each other. I then colored it in with my Aquapainter and the ink from the lid of my pad. I used Pink Pirouette and Pretty in Pink for shading. I then colored over the flower with a GellyRoll Glitter Pen and smoothed out the glitter with my Aquapainter. This gives the whole flower a shimmery look.  The sentiment from this card is from "Warm Words".  I really love this DP and this stamp set!

7/21/08

A trio of MFT!


I made this card using the lavender Annie LaPointe image last night. I really liked the layout of the card, and all day long at work today I was thinking how cute it'd be to use all of the Annie LaPointe MFT vertical stamps to make a card set.  When I came home tonight, I pulled out some paper that matched the original card and got to work!

I used the new Stampin' Up scallop edge punch on all three cards on the middle layer for the scallops. I also used my new rectangle nestabilities to mat the main image (it is actually 2 rectangles cut out and then layered together to get a scallop rectangle long enough to fit the image).  Most of the DP is from My Mind's Eye, from a Magnolia pack I got last year at AC Moore.  The 'thank you' is from a SU! set called 'All Holidays'.  

I also had the latest Our Creative Corner challenge in mind when creating these cards: Dry Embossing. I used my new Swiss Dot cuttlebug embossing folder on the top layer of each card.
Thanks for looking!

7/20/08

New MFT!

While I was away, my order from MFT came! I got all of the new sets except for the bunny ones. For some reasons I just couldn't imagine myself using them all that often, and I figured I should buy sets that I'd use! I think my favorite set is Bunny Slippers, which I used on 2 cards here.  I just love the warm and cozy robe in this set, and it is a great set to paper piece (as are most MFT sets!).  Here are supplies:

Bunny Slippers Supplies:
Stamps: Bunny Slippers, MFT
Paper: Pheobe by BasicGrey, Pale Plum, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Archival Black, SU! Markers
Accessories: Nestabilities, brads, paper piercer, ribbon, Spica glitter pen

Kick Back Supplies:
Stamps: Bunny Slippers by MFT
Paper: Pheobe by Basic Grey, Certainly Celery, Pale Plum, Whisper White
Ink: Archival Black, SU! Markers
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Prima flowers, brads, ribbon, SU! large oval punch, Spica glitter pen

I Survived Hurricane Bertha!

I'm back from my vacation to Bermuda! We arrived home last night after a VERY eventful week in Bermuda. Hurricane Bertha hit Bermuda last Monday with mostly rain and wind only. It really was not as bad as they were predicting it to be in the US. I learned how to ride a motor bike (think a Vespa, but black), with only minor injuries from my learning phase (I only ran into 1 curb!).  We drove the motor bikes all over the island of Bermuda and really got to see a lot of the beautiful scenery! On Wednesday, I fell walking to dinner and badly hurt my foot. It is very bruised and swollen. I wasn't really able to do much after that because I couldn't walk very well, but luckily is was close to the end of the trip. I am still resting it, but I think it'll be sore for awhile! (That's me in the picture at Gibbs Lighthouse, overlooking the ocean.)
This afternoon I made a card using the MFT Sketch Challenge #40. To celebrate 40 sketches, Kim from MFT is giving away a free August release set to someone who participates in the sketch challenge.  I used the stamp set "Hot Stuff" for the sketch.  I had these papers still on my desk from my last card I made before vacation, and really wanted to use them again.  The paper is by Basic Grey, called Archaic.  The main image is paper pieced with some of the designer paper, and a Spica Glitter pen has been added over the top of the coffee steam.  The orange ribbon is from a Swavorksi gift that I got a long time ago, which came with the ribbon tied to it.  Thanks for looking!

7/7/08

Just One More!

Just one more card! I used another stamp set that I've had for a few months and never used! (I should hang my head in shame!) This set is by Lizzie Ann Designs, and is called "By the Sea". I loved the mermaid in this set. Growing up in the late 80's/early 90's my absolute favorite movie was the Little Mermaid! This mermaid reminded me of her.  I used the sketch challenge from the Our Creative Corner (OCC) blog for this card. The sketch allowed me to be pretty flexible, with just a large rectangle in the center of the card.  I did a lot of tearing and inking on this card to get a distressy beach look. Enjoy!


Supplies:
Stamps: By the Sea by Lizzie Ann Designs, Bitty Backgrounds by SU!
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, BasicGrey Archaic DP
Ink: Staz On Black, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, SU! Markers
Accessories: Star and Flower SU Punch, Daubers, Sakura Stardust Pen, Aquapainter, Ribbon, Clear Baubles, Pop Dots

Soak up Summer!

Hello! I've spent the last couple of days browsing some of my favorite blogs, and drawing inspiration from them. I think I finally have my zeal for stamping back! I was out of it for a bit, not feeling well and just tired. I missed my rubber though!  I pulled out a set tonight that I've had for a least a year and never used! A crime, I know! This set is from My Favorite Things, and it is called "Hit the Beach".  I did some paper piecing on this card (towel, flip-flops, and sun tan lotion bottle), as well as some paper piercing, and I used a ton of stickles!  The bubbles are from a Lizzie Ann set called "By the Sea".  Enjoy!


Supplies:
Stamps: MFT Hit the Beach, Lizzie Ann By the Sea
Paper: Summer Sun, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, BasicGrey Gypsy DP
Ink: Black Staz On, Tempting Turquoise, SU! Markers
Accessories: Ribbon, Scallop Scissors, CM circle cutting system, stickles, pop dots

I am leaving for a vacation on Friday, for 8 days in Bermuda!  I probably won't be able to post again this week because I have a lot that I have to do before the trip.  See you towards the end of July!

7/3/08

Make a Wish!

Whew, I'm finally getting over the long ordeal with my wisdom teeth! Today marks a week, and I am just starting to feel better and closer to back to normal.  Tonight I made a card using a new stamp set that I got, She's All That, by Stampin' Up.  This set was in the latest mini-catalog, which actually just expired at the end of June.  I stamped her with chalk ink and then embossed her with clear embossing powder.  The cupcakes are from an old SU! sellabration set. They are also stamped in chalk ink and yellow stickles has been added to the candles, and clear stickles over the frosting of the cupcakes.  The marigold morning piece of paper has been embossed with my cuttlebug embossing folder.  This is a pretty simple card, I think I need to get my mojo back since it's been a week since I've stamped!


Wow, I also almost forgot to mention the big news! I got a new job! I'll be teaching 1st grade next year in a new district! Yahoo!