Featured Stamper: Jessica Rone

As I'm eagerly awaiting my new Stampin' Up'! order, I have been in the mood to use some of my 'recent' purchases that have never been used. Since it's going to be ALL about Stampin' Up! once my new goodies arrive, I figured I had better ink up some of my other stamps before that order arrives. Can I just say that it feels really GOOD to be this excited about Stampin' Up'! products? I felt like with the last catalog, I wasn't as thrilled as I am with some of the new things. With this catalog, I'm breaking the budget and can't wait to start getting my new things! Now, I don't typically have time to complete Splitcoast Challenges over the weekend, but I always take a look to see what they are and yesterday's featured stamper was a fellow Illinoisian (is that a word?) so I had to give it a go! I used this card of hers to CASE. For this challenge, you have to change two or more things on the card. I changed the colors, paper, sentiment and embellishments. I didn't use the larger bow on top of the cupcakes or paper-pierce the sentiment panel. I used some of my Bella Dots on the bottom left-hand corner, but I'm not really happy with how they look. I probably could have just used one smaller one in the corner or a row of three smaller ones. Once those suckers were down with the Glue Dots, I didn't want to try to remove them! The cupcakes were colored with Copics and the decorations were added with a Spica Glitter Pen. I also used a clear Spica to add shimmer to the the cupcakes. Well, I hope to get some other cards made this week so hopefully I'll have some more to post soon!

Stamps: My Favorite Things
Paper: Bali Breeze DSP, textured olive from Hobby Lobby, Georgia Pacific White
Ribbon: Stampin' Up! (Fairytale Collection) Dots: Stamping Bella

A Cupcake Card

I recently got some Heidi Swapp Cherry Bling and I had to use it right away. I've been wanting it for sooooo long and I was hoping to find it at the CKC Vendor Fair a few weeks ago, but I didn't so I ordered it. These bling cherries are the cutest even though they're a bit pricey (ouch). The lighting in this photo is very poor so you can't really see just how cute the bling is so just use your imagination. This card used yesterday's sketch challenge on Splitcoast. It was a fun sketch to work with and a great one to utilize DSP or your background stamps. I should have made that panel on the left slightly wider so if I try it again I think I'd add a 1/2" or so. I stacked some Chocolate Chip grosgrain with some neglected dot ribbon that I've had for ages. I thought they would complement the dots on the pink paper, but they really are almost too 'matchy' (I realize that isn't really a word, forgive me). I colored my cupcake using my Copics. I really enjoy my Copics but I'm hoping to get into a certification class in July so that I can learn more about them. Unfortunately, with CHA they're expecting record attendance at the certification so it's going to be tough to get it. Wish me luck! Well, I have to get to the post office to mail some 'thank you' cards that I just finished so I will be back later with another project to share! Thanks for stopping by!
Stamps: Cupcake by Hero Arts and Sentiment by My Favorite Things

TLC162: Paper Tole

I have never heard of the Paper Tole technique, but a simple version of it is to cut out and raise different elements of a stamped image using dimensionals in order to add some depth and life to the image. Full-blown Paper Toling (if that's even a word) is to cut out each separate element of an image and even curl the paper or raise parts of it to really bring dimension to the project. I may have to try that another day when I am actually wide awake and functioning. I am making some last minute cards for my class on Tuesday and I thought these monkeys would be cute to try with this technique and since I had this sentiment, I figured I could make it work for both the challenge and my class. It's all about humorous cards on Tuesday! I do believe some of my participants will skip the cutting part because it is a bit tedious and we have a bunch of cards to make, but I could be wrong :-)
Stamps: Paisley BG, Changito, Twisted Sentiments (MFT)
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Brown, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics

Celebrating My Favorite Things Day

First, let me thank all of you for your wonderful e-mails and comments in regards to yesterday's post. I am so grateful for the support you've all given me--some of you in all aspects of my life and others in this little hobby of mine. You really know how to make a gal feel special and I'm truly blessed--that I know.

The 20th of each month is a day set aside for fans of My Favorite Things to share a project they have completed using stamps from MFT. Even though I didn't purchase anything from the last release {insert shocked face here}, I still wanted to participate. I know I just used this set (Serenity Now), but I had to use it again for this card. After my exciting news yesterday, I decided to make a card for ME! Ha! Well, come on--you know this sentiment is just the perfect one to describe the ecstatic state I was in so I had to do it. The sentiment is from a MFT's set called Twisted Sentiments. I used some new paper from American Crafts which I picked up at The Keepsake Element recently. It was a possible print for the invitation I submitted for publication--this print did not get chosen but since the overall design of the card is so close to what was chosen, I don't think I'll share that sample quite yet. I digress. You know how much I love American Crafts and this paper is no exception--the parts of the pattern that are in brown have a glossy coating on them and it really brings the paper to life. At first, I had that print as the whole background but it was a little overwhelming so I narrowed the print down to just that strip on the side. I relied on my trusty paper-piecing technique to pull in some of the print on the stamped image and then I used the back side of the printed paper to piece the yoga pants in. What wasn't paper-pieced was colored in using my Copics. Speaking of Copics, don't forget that MFT has the Copic Spica Glitter Pens I've used a couple of times and now is the perfect time to get them if you've been considering. I know most of you got this in an e-mail from me already, but in case you didn't here is some information on a special that is going on TODAY. The coupon code expires at midnight tonight! My gosh, you'd think I was working on commission with all the enabling I'm doing here!

With all of the work I've been doing on this invitation order, I haven't had much 'free' time for stamping so it was fun to make a card just for me. I've been missing a lot of the challenges so perhaps I'll just have to cut out some time to participate in a couple. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Serenity Now and Twisted Sentiments

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, American Crafts

Ink: Basic Brown

Accessories: Copics

Ribbon Slides

I am in love with these new ribbon slides from Stampin' Up! They are part of the new Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware sets available in the mini catalog. There was another blogger (Cambria) who used one of these with Crystal Effects and Chunky Glitter--a marriage made in heaven if you ask me! I mean, I thought the ribbon slides were cute, but now, I think they're fabulous. I used the 'clear' Chunky Glitter and it really picked up the green from the cardstock. This card was made for the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge this week. I thought it was the perfect sketch for me to break in my new set, Serenity Now. Even though I only took yoga for two weeks, I had to have this set. I have a friend who teaches yoga so I am determined to make her a set of cards to justify the purchase :-)

Stamps: Serenity Now
Paper: Mellow Moss, Outlaw DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: grosgrain ribbon, ribbon slide, Crystal Effects, Chunky Glitter, Copics

I love this stamp set by Verve Visual. The birds are just adorable and I could stamp with them all day. This card uses a similar color combo from the mini card I made last week using this set. The ribbon slide on this card was embellished with the pink glitter and it's just too cute! Don't you love how the simplest thing just makes you HAPPY! That's what adding this glitter to the ribbon slides has done for me--just makes me happy! What makes you happy? Leave a comment here to let me know and I'll send 5 of these ribbon slides your way! I will draw two names on Friday so please comment by 10:00 A.M. CST on Friday. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Set: Anniversary Birds by Verve Visual

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White

Accessories: grosgrain ribbon, ribbon slide, Crystal Effects, Chunky Glitter, Copics