Card Recipes

What a wonderful blog hop, celebrating Stampin' Addicts second birthday! I have such a hard time completing a S.A. blog hop in one sitting, because I'll see something fabulous and immediately want to run to my craft room and recreate it! There are so many creative geniuses that participate, all of whom are far more talented than I (but I can CASE with the best of them, by golly!).

As promised, here is the list of materials used on the cards.

Stamps: Just Believe (W-116948, C-120453), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Cardstock: Shimmery White (101910), Daffodil Delight (119683), Pacific Point (111350), Marina Mist DSP (117152, Subtles Paper Stack)
Ink: Daffodil Delight (119667) and Basic Black (101179) Classic Stampin' Pads, Marina Mist (119679), Old Olive (100079), and Pear Pizzazz (119801, In Colors set) Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Daffodil Delight (119766) and Marina Mist (119965) 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Daffodil Delight brads (119740, Brights pack), Stamping Sponges (101610), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), water mist sprayer (non-SU)

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral (113734), Autumn Splendor (116503), Birthday Bliss (115442)
Cardstock: Shimmery White (101910), Pretty in Pink (100459), Rose Red (102544), Certainly Celery (105125), Certainly Celery DSP (117152, Subtles Paper Stack)
Ink: Pretty in Pink (101301) and Rose Red (101778) Classic Stampin' Pads, Pretty in Pink (102295) and Rose Red (102109) Classic Stampin' Ink Refills, Old Olive Craft Stampin' Spot (119714, Brights Collection), VersaMark (102283)
Accessories: White (109132) and Clear (109130) Stampin' Emboss Powders, Heat Tool (100005), Lots of Tags Sizzlits Die , Big Shot, Wide Oval Punch, Aqua Painter (103954), Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon (117289), Stampin Dimensionals (104430), Paper Snips (103579), water mist sprayer (non-SU)

Stamps: Pony Party (W-115217, C-120015), Birthday Bliss (115442)
CS: Watercolor Paper (105019), Pretty in Pink (100459), Rose Red (102544), Very Vanilla (101650), Lap of Luxury DSP (120436)
Ink: Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad (101778)
Accessories: Blender Pen (102845), Scallop Square Punch (119884), Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die (120893), Big Shot (113439), Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (109026), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Basic Rhinestones (119246)

I hope you all are having a lovely day! I'm off to prepare for tomorrow's Big Shot Class. You can take the class for free if you are a member of the Big Shot Club - ask me how!

Just What Is So Special About February 22?

George Washington, the father of our country, was born on this day. So was my little sister, who always got her birthday off from school (the little twerp). Oh yeah, and so was a fabulous new stamping forum called Stampin' Addicts! And to celebrate their 2nd birthday, we are having a Birthday Blog Hop featuring different stamping techniques, all with a birthday theme. If you are following the hop in order, you just landed here from Holly's blog, where punch art was the technique. That pizza made me hungry! This is stop number three and the technique is Watercoloring. (Here's a link to all the stops on the hop, in case you get lost.)

The first card uses the marker-to-stamp technique. Using a Stampin' Write Marker, color directly on your stamp. Mist Shimmery White cardstock lightly with water before stamping to get that soft watercolor look.

Click Images to See Larger

Up next is the Watercolor Bleed technique using re-inkers. Heat emboss image in white on Shimmer White cardstock or Watercolor Paper. Moisten image with water in a mist sprayer, then pick up ink with an Aqua Painter and spread it around, letting it "bleed" on the image.

And the last card features a quick, easy technique. Simply stamp the image on Watercolor Paper using a Classic Stampin' Pad in your color choice, then use a Blender pen to spread the color around as desired. Easy-peasy! Note: After the pony was inked up, the Blender Pen was used to remove the ink on the eye and nostril. Then a Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker was used to color (marker-to-stamp) the eye and nose.

There are sooo many different ways to watercolor...you've only seen a few here! I hope you are inspired to try some of these techniques. Check back on Monday for the materials used in each card.

Up next is Carmen's blog, where she's going to show the inlaid embossing technique (one of my new favorites!). Love the bats, especially.......

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Be sure to check out Stampin' Addicts. It is a warm, friendly Stampin' Up-only community, and is open to everyone, not just demonstrators! It's free, it's fun, and it's full of fabulous ideas. (Be sure to check out the gallery.)  Tell 'em Cindy sent you!

For My Sweet Cousin

Her mom passed a little over a year ago, and her husband was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Whenever I think I'm having a bad day, I just think about what she has to endure, and my problems seem minuscule by comparison.

My aunt loved dragonflies, so my cousin and her three daughters all got dragonfly tattoos in her honor.

Stamps: Easter Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Ink: Early Espresso  Classic Stampin' Pad and Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Big Shot, 1¾" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, dragonfly charm (non-SU)

Baby Bella

Sounds like a mushroom, doesn't it? This card is for someone who just had her first baby, a sweet little girl that doesn't look at all like a fungus. ;-)  (I wonder how many Bellas have been born, since the Twilight books/movies came out. I haven't read or seen ANY of them, either....no desire.)

My inspiration was found in this card, but of course I changed it to make it more feminine. The combination of Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, and Basic Gray work well together, don't you think?

Stamps: Baby Bundle
Cardstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Basic Gray, Watercolor Paper, Pretty in Pink DSP
Ink: Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Blush Blossom, and Rose Red Stampin' Write Markers plus Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Pretty in Pink brads (Subtles pack), Basic Rhinestone, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Paper Crimper, baby beads (non-SU), Silver Elastic Cord (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals

Sweet Swaps

This cute little 3 x 3 card was made for a demo swap over on Stampin' Addicts. It would be perfect to tuck in a thank you gift, or a hiding place for someone to discover later (think Easter egg!). The image was stamped using the marker-to-stamp technique with Stampin' Write Markers (Old Olive, Rose Red, and Soft Suede) and stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock.  It was then colored in using a Blender Pen and Classic ink pads (Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede).

Stamp: Sweet Summer (FREE Sale-A-Bration item!), Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette Textured, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper
Ink: Old Olive, Rose Red, and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers plus Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette, and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads
Accessories: Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim, Basic Rhinestones, Blender Pens

Is This Yours?

Heaven help me, I can't remember where I saw the card for this CASE. It was done in the lovely blue florals from the Springtime Vintage DSP, with Baja Breeze ribbon. If it's yours, please let me know so I can give proper credit! Edited to add:  It was Krystal's gorgeous card HERE that I copied. Thanks, Krystal, for the lovely inspiration!!!

There probably won't be any new posts for a couple of days - I have lots of projects I need to finish before Monday, including the 3x3 swaps for the demo swap over at Stampin' Addicts.

Whooo Loves You?

My little cutie-patootie granddaughter is getting this card for Valentine's Day. Those googly eyes just crack me up, and I think she'll like them, too :-D  It's definitely a non-traditional Valentine!

The sentiment was printed from the computer. Inside says "Grandma Cindy and Papa Tom, that's whooo!"
Stamp: Punch Bunch (FREE Sale-A-Bration set!)
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red, Cottage Wall DSP (retired)
Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Big Shot, Blossom Party Originals Die, Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die, Small Oval Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 2-Step Owl Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Blender Pens, Stamping Sponges

Have a wonderful day today!

Thanks for Caring

Well, I am finally getting around to one of my New Year's resolutions, which was to participate in more color and sketch challenges.  Better late than never, 'eh?  This week's COLOURQ Challenge #71 was what got me off my arse motivated me to participate.  Aren't the colors absolutely dreamy?  This color combo would work for soooo many different occasions!

I am going to use this card in my stamp club, demonstrating how to do emboss-resist and inlaid embossing on the same card. (I CASEd the card layout from Dawn Olchefsky's blog here.)

Stamp: Thanks for Caring
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Versa Mark
Accessories: White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Decorative Label Punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Perfect Polka-Dots and Square Lattice embossing folders, Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (dyed with Pink Pirouette Stampin' Write Marker - somehow it looks more like Blushing Bride, but it works!)

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope the weatherman is wrong for you folks east of the Rockies. :-( Stay safe!

Swap Challenge

Here's another card based on this month's "love" theme swaps, with NO hearts and NO red. Still trying to get a feel for the aged, vintage look, and not succeeding very well, I fear. The embossed layer is a piece of corrugated cardboard with the outer layer of paper peeled off, then run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper folder.

Stamp: Artistic Etchings, In Stitches Jumbo Wheel (unmounted from wheel, individual "stitches" separated)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Newsprint DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede
Accessories: Victoria Crochet Trim, Hemp Twine, Vintage Trinkets, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Big Shot, Small Oval punch (1-3/8" x 5/8"), stick pin (non SU)

Wild Thing!

You make my heart sing. You make everything groovy.... Wild Thing. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Just be thankful you couldn't actually hear me singing! The sheet music made me do it - yeah, that's the ticket. I would have added a heart, but this had to stick to the theme of NO hearts and NO red!

Stamp: Non-SU
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Newsprint DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Elegant Lines embossing folder, Big Shot

Birthday, Again

Here is a little twist on the CAS layout I've been using all week. The card was rotated and a matted DSP panel was added under the image. The brads are for balance. See, if they weren't there, the card would fall over to the left. ;-)

Stamp: Got Treats
Cardstock: Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz DSP Pack (Hostess Level 1)
Stampin' Write Markers: Blushing Bride, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Accessories: Scallop Square Clearlits Die, Big Shot, Cajun Craze Brads (Regals Collection), ribbon (non-SU)

Still Thinking Spring

No doubt you all are thinking Spring, as well. Hopefully, this will cheer you up a little. Before you know it, the crocuses (croci?) will be peeking out of the snow, followed by the jonquils, daffodils and tulips. Hang in there!

I love how you can get a pastel shade of any Stampin' Up color by picking up just a little ink from the lid of a Classic ink pad (press lid against pad before opening) using a Blender Pen! Then you can just keep adding color to deepen, adding shadow and depth. This works best on the Watercolor Paper.

Stamp: A Flower for all Seasons (111592) or FREE Sale-A-Bration item (123917) with qualifying purchase!
Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Elegant Eggpplant (105126), Perfect Plum Designer Series Paper (Subtles Collection 117152), Watercolor Paper (105019)
Classic Inks: Soft Suede (115657), Elegant Eggplant (105210), Garden Green (102272), Pacific Point (111837), Basic Black (101179)
Accessories: Blender Pens (102845), Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon (114616), Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Scallop Rectangle Clearlits Die (118872), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683), White Gel Pen

Thanks for stopping by today! Come back tomorrow for another birthday card. I did mention the plethora of birthdays coming up, so you were warned!

Birthdays, Birthdays, and More Birthdays

This is the month for birthdays in my family. There are many more scattered throughout the year, but February takes the cake. *wink*  What was it about May....oh, never mind, we won't go there. :-)

The anniversary of my birth is this month, too, so just for fun I decided to sign up for various restaurant "clubs" to get a free birthday treat. (Hey, in these times of tight $$, I won't turn down a freebie.) As I was doing it, I was struck by just how OLD I have become. What hammered that little nugget home?  When I entered my birth date, I had to scroll and scroll and scroll to get all the way down to the the year I was born. Geez.

Wanna know what else makes me feel positively ancient? My Baby Girl will turn 30 in a week and a half! How can that possibly be?! Just last week I was dropping her off in front of high school for the first time. And the week before that, she was playing teacher with all her stuffed animals lined up as her students. Wahhhhh!!!!

Okay, before I shuffle off with my walker to find the Geritol, let me share a couple birthday cards with you. The CAS kick continues all this week, with various incarnations of the same layout:

Stamp: Got Treats (W-119114, C-120627)
Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Early Espresso (119686), Blushing Bride from Designer Series Paper Pack (Level 1 Hostess 121028)
Ink, Stampin' Write Markers: Early Espresso (119680), Soft Suede (120973), Blushing Bride 119807 (In Color Set)
Accessories: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275), Scallop Rectangle Clearlits Die (118872), Big Shot (113439), Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119262), Basic Pearls (119247)

You probably can't see it, but there are tiny dots of Crystal Effects with Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the cupcake. Oh well, looks good IRL!

Stamps: Got Treats (W-119114, C-120627), Perfect Punches (W-117022, C-120516)
Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Early Espresso (119686), Blushing Bride from Designer Series Paper Pack (Level 1 Hostess 121028)
Ink, Stampin' Write Markers: Early Espresso (119680), Soft Suede (120973), Blushing Bride 119807 (In Color Set)
Accessories: Crystal Effects (101055), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (102023), Early Espresso 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119964), Early Espresso brad (Neutrals pack 119736), Scallop Rectangle Clearlits Die (118872), Big Shot (113439)

Thanks for visiting today! Up for your enjoyment tomorrow is a Spring-y card. (No, it doesn't jump around; it just kind of lies there.)

Love Birds

Is this year zipping by at light speed for you, too? Here we are, already firmly into February, and just yesterday, I SWEAR I was putting the turkey on the Thanksgiving table.

So, anyway, Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching (along with about a dozen million birthdays in my family), so I thought I'd throw together a little card. Actually, this is for the stamp club card swap challenge this month - to make a love-themed card without using any hearts or red on it. This is one of my favorite color combinations, pink and chocolate.... oops, I mean pink and brown! :-D

Stamps: Filled With Love, Clearly for You

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink DSP

Ink: Rose Red Classic, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Stitche dGrosgrain Ribbon (retired), Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, 3/4 X 15/16 Inch Oval Punch, Linen Thread, Chocolate Chip Sending love Epoxy Brads (retired)

CAS Spring Wishes

This is a RAK card sent to someone who shall remain nameless because she hasn't received it, yet. And the way the weather has been, her letter carrier may not get it to her for another week! Yeesh, enough with the frigid temperatures, already! Think Spring. Think Spring. Think Spring. Maybe if we all concentrate hard enough, we can drive away the cold, ice, and snow, and welcome warmer, milder temperatures. Maybe? Please??? Punxsutawney Phil says so!

I really have nothing to complain about here in sunny Southern California, but I have many friends and family in harms way. If YOU are one of the many affected, please be safe; don't go out in it unless it's a life or death situation. Just stay hunkered down and ride it out.

Thank you for visiting!

Stayed tuned tomorrow for some love birds!!!

Stamps: A Flower for all Seasons, Easter Blossoms
Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz DSP, Watercolor Paper
Inks: Basic Black Classic, Cajun Craze Classic, Daffodil Delight Classic, Pear Pizzazz Classic, Soft Suede Classic, Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker, White Gel Pen
Accessories: Blender Pen. Scallop Rectangle Clearlits Die, Big Shot, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 1/8" Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Christmas in January

As threatened promised yesterday, here is the Christmas card for the January challenge. Those of you who have followed me for a while know that I vowed a couple years ago to never again be late on my Christmas cards, and to fulfill that vow, I challenged myself to make four cards per month through November so I'd be ready to mail them in December. Well, that was two years ago, and since then I've added quite a few people to my Christmas card list! So now my minimum is six cards, but by December I'll probably need more. :-)

My inspiration for this card came from Gretchen Barron's card. I just love that frame!

Stamp: A Flower for all Seasons, Baby Blossoms
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Deck the Halls DSP
Ink: Basic Black Classic pad plus Regal Rose, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, and Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Petals A Plenty embossing folder, Big Shot, Basic Pearls, Old Olive 1-1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Wide oval Punch

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stayed tuned tomorrow for a Spring RAK!!!

Sunflowers Tutorial

First of all, let me send my sincere sympathy to all you who are getting hammered with yet another blast of winter. Spring certainly can't come soon enough, 'eh?

And on that note, I'd like to bring a little snippet of it into your life, if only to your monitor! This was my take on the flower pot card tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers. I changed the dimensions a bit, as you will see below.
As always, you can click on an image to enlarge it, and then click again to super-size it for details.

Several people were interested in how I made the sunflowers, so I'll explain it briefly, and let you figure out the rest.  The flowers themselves were made using the smallest daisy-like flower on the Originals Blossom Party Die (the one on the lower left).

After cutting them out with the Big Shot (easily cut 4 layers of Daffodil Delight cardstock at a time), glue one layer on top of the other, with the petals offset.

Use a blender pen and Pumpkin Pie Classic ink to shade the petals from the center out. Do the same around the edge of the 3/4" punched circle, then adhere it to the center of the flower.

For the leaves, fold a strip of Pear Pizzazz and run it through the Paper Crimper at an angle. Please pay no attention to the flannel snowflake nightgown showing in the photo below. :-)

Slide the folded edge part way into the Small Oval Punch (1-3/8 X 5/8 Inch) as shown and make the cut.

The flower pot starts with a piece of Cajun Craze cardstock cut 2-3/4" x 6-1/2". Score at 1" and 3-3/4" and fold as shown.

The 1" fold becomes the rim of the flower pot. Fold the bottom of the pot up, flip the rim up out of the way, and place the rim score line on the groove of the Paper Cutter.

Place the bottom edge of the pot on the 1/2" mark. Trim off that angled cut. Repeat for the other side.

Adhere DSP and decorate pot as desired.

To make the ladybug, slide a scrap of Poppy Parade cardstock into the 3/4 X 15/16 Inch Oval Punch at an angle and cut the body. (That poor woman needs a manicure desperately.)

Color the head and polka-dots with a Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker. I added black thread for the antennae.

I'm fairly certain y'all can figure out how to assemble the card, so I won't bore you with those details. Tomorrow I'll be showing the cards I made for Christmas in January. Yeah, I know I said I was sooo over Christmas, but I have to keep up with the challenges at Stampin' Addicts and Splitcoast Stampers to make at least four cards per month, so I'll be ready when Christmas comes around again! Then I promise I won't show any more Christmas cards.....at least not until the end of February, when I'll dazzle you with the Christmas in February cards. Teehee! Ain't I a stinker?

Thanks for visiting!