It's a Colour Challenge Over at Sunday Stamps!

I'm the host this week and I've got a great colour challenge waiting for you over at Sunday Stamps! There's also some fantastic inspiration, as always, from the lovely Design Team. We'd love for you to check us out and play along! Here's my creation this week...

Paper: Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, Print Poetry DSP Stack
Ink: Raspberry Ripple
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Big Shot, TIEF's: Perfect Polka Dots & Vintage Wallpaper,
Fun Flowers Bigz Die,
Punches: Heart to Heart, Word Window & Decorative Label
Accessories: Neutrals Brad, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I had "love" on my mind when I chose this colour combo... and it just so happened that I needed an anniversary card, so that's what I created. I kept my card base a solid colour because I went bold with the DSP choices. LOVE the new Print Poetry DSP Stack in the Spring Catalogue!

For a little more texture, I added some Seam Binding Ribbon to the sides of my DSP panel and embossing to the card base, label & hearts.

Hope you like it and get inspired by the Design Team to play along this week! We can't wait to see what you design!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Pierced Butterflies

I created this card a while ago and am finally now going to show it to you. :) I love randomly stamping images on a card to create lots of interest and I thought "what if I use my Paper Piercing Pack to create that type of look?" Here are the results:

Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White, Sycamore Street DSP
Ink: Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Wacky Wishes (Hostess)
Tools: Butterfly Punch, Paper Piercing Pack
Technique: Paper Piercing

I'm quite happy with the way this card turned out. I love all the piercing templates Stampin' Up! has introduced to the market since last year. I own all of them! It's great to have another element to add to cards that coordinate so perfectly with other products. What's better than a stamp set that coordinates with a punch, that coordinates with a piercing template?!

After randomly piercing my butterfly patterns across my Whisper White card stock, I stamped & punched out my butterflies and popped them up with Dimensionals. I added strips of Sycamore Street DSP for some added colour and stamped my sentiment slightly off center because my one butterfly hangs low. I think it works!

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

A New Page Added - Stash for Sale!

It's high time I clear out some of my old stash... to make room for the new, of course!! So I've added a new page to the top called "Stash for Sale!" Check it out to see if something interests you. I've included links to Kijiji where I've posted photos of what I'm selling.

Happy Shopping!

Until next time, stay crafty...
          maybe with some new-to-you stash?!
Steph

It's Here!!

The BIGGEST sale of the year is here! Today kicks off
Sale-A-Bration!

There are three ways to earn free product: 

1. Shop - For every $60 you spend you get to choose from almost 20 FREEBIES.  
2. Host - Host your very own stamping party and receive extra hostess benefits. 
3. Join - Join my team and you'll receive an extra bonus of 25% in your starter kit... that's almost $200 worth of product for just $125!! (no shipping or tax added)

So what are you waiting for?! There's no better time to shop, host of join at Stampin' Up! Contact me today!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

A Two Fer

I had a small moment to craft last night... (I've got a sickie toddler at home) and decided to make a card for two challenges that caught my eye. The Friday Mashup and Retro Sketches, which is a new one to me. Here's my card:

Paper: Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Black
Stamps: Hello Doily, Fabulous Florets, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Decorative Label Punch
Accessories: Masking Tape, Vintage Brads, Mini Stars (from stash)

So, over the weekend I was perusing the web and came across a Blogger who said she used the "masking tape technique". I had no idea what that was, so I did a little Google search. There were many great ideas, but I decided to ink up a stamp and then use masking tape to transfer the image to the sticky side and tape it down to a sheet of whisper white.

Before gluing it down to my card base, I sponged it with Raspberry Ripple and stamped some of the floral images from Fabulous Florets in the same colour. I added a fussy-cut flower with a Vintage Brad a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Hope you like my card... why don't you play along with the challenges too?! They're tons of fun and get your creative juices flowing!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Great Sketch @ Sunday Stamps!

It's Sunday... so that means it's a new challenge over at Sunday Stamps. This week Tara has got a great sketch for you and hope you'll pop on over and play along. This sketch was perfect because I needed a quick and easy birthday card... check it out:

Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Pool Party, So Saffron
Ink: Night of Navy, Pool Party, So Saffron
Stamps: Happy You (Hostess), Merry Minis, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Simply Scored, Borders Plate

First thing I did was flip the sketch because I wanted to put my sentiment in one of the banners. I randomly stamped my images on a Whisper White piece of cs and then mounted it to a piece of So Saffron. Since I needed a "manly" birthday card, I didn't want to add a lot of embossing or ribbon, so I brought out my Simply Scored Borders Plate. It's new in the Spring Catalogue and I love it! I added a zig zag across the top and then cut it out.

Now head on over to Sunday Stamps to check out what the rest of the design team has created for some inspiration. Hope you'll play along with us!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

For the Mashup

It's been a loooooong time since I've played along with any online challenges. The Friday Mashup is one that I've enjoyed and I decided to play along this week...

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Sycamore Street DSP (SAB Sneak Peek)
Ink: Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit
Stamps: Simply Soft (Retired Hostess), Perfect Punches, En Francais
Tools: Big Shot, Honeycomb TIEF, Labels Framelits, XL Oval
Accessories: Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon

This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest by Kristin Moore. I went a little overboard on the patterns maybe, but I think it works. The challenge this week is to use at least three of the suggested colours (Early Espresso, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand) &/or to use patterns. I mashed it up by doing both.

I had a lot of fun making this card and I hope you like it!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Tranquility for Sunday Stamps

It's Sunday, so that means it's another challenge over at Sunday Stamps! This week, Hayley has a great colour combo for us - Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple & Pumpkin Pie. Not a colour combo I would've ever thought to put together, but I love it now!

Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Sincere Salutations (retired)
Techniques: Sponging, Inking with Multiple Colours

I masked off a section of my Whisper White piece with stickies and then sponged from lightest to darkest. After removing my mask, I inked up my stamp from Serene Silhouettes with my ink pads, making sure to ink my stamp starting with the lightest colour. This is important because you don't want to get a dark colour ink on your light ink pad! I know there's an official name for this technique, but I can't remember what it is. :)

As I was looking for a sentiment, there just wasn't one I owned that worked other than the retired Sincere Salutions. It's such an elegant stamp set and the sentiments are perfect. I couldn't resist using it for this card.

To finish off, I popped up my piece on my Whisper White card base. I wanted this card to have lots of white space...

Hope you'll play along with us this week!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #6

I think today will be my final post in this series. Not to say I won't be using my scraps anymore, but I just won't focus my posts on them in this manner. It's sure been fun and I'm glad that I finally got my scraps organized & used! Here's today's card:

Paper: Sahara Sand
Ink: Early Espresso
Stamps: Feeling Sentimental (SAB Preview!)
Tools: Simply Scored, Simply Scored Borders Plate (NEW!)

Aside from my card base, everything is from my scrap bin. I had the banners that were cut using my Big Shot and the Itty Bitty Framelits. I trimmed them a bit to work with this card. Instead of using card stock or DSP to stamp on, I trimmed up a paint chip sample that worked with my colour scheme.

Since this is a "manly" card, I didn't want to add any ribbons or embellishments, so I used the NEW Simply Scored Borders Plate from the Spring Catalogue. I LOVE it!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #5

I'm having so much fun making these cards from my scraps I may just have to continue after today (my plan was to do 5 posts)... today's card features scraps of course, but also a couple of new products and a some sneak peeks!

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, 11-12 In Color Paper Stack,
Elegant Soiree DSP (retired)
Ink: Island Indigo
Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired Hostess)
Tools: Big Shot, Honeycomb TIEF (NEW!), Distressing Tool (NEW!),
Butterfly Punch
Accessories: Tangerine Tango Ribbon (SAB Preview!),
Tangerine Tango Button (SAB Preview!), Baker's Twine

I had strips of the DSP that I just cut to the width of the Butterfly Punch, punched the butterflies and then lined it all up again when I glued them to my Whisper White piece. Next, I ran the whole piece through my Big Shot using the NEW Honeycomb TIEF. I love this new folder!! I left a section at the bottom for the sentiment and divided the sections with some of the Tangerine Tango ribbon & coordinating button you can earn for FREE starting January 22nd... Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration kick off!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #4

Another simple card today using all my scraps! I debated adding a sentiment or not, but sometimes I like to keep it open until I need a card for a particular occasion. I think this will eventually become a birthday card, but you never know...

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Melon Mambo,
Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Buttons, Linen Thread

Like yesterday's card, all my pieces were already cut and die cut with my Big Shot using the Finishing Touches Edgelits. It was after I glued all the pieces down that I thought I needed some dimension. I just so happened to have flower buttons in all the colours! Three were from the Ice Cream Parlour Ribbon & Button Pack from SAB a few years ago (but you can purchase on the Clearance Rack currently!) and the other two are from the Brights Buttons, I believe.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #3

Today I have another card created from my scrap pile. If you missed my previous two posts, you might want to check them out for some inspiration. Here is today's card:

Paper: Festival of Prints DSP Pack, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo
Accessories: Fabric - Comfort Cafe, 2012 SAB Brad

What I'm loving about all my scrap cards is that they're all completely different! I'm finding that I'm using colours and papers I might not have used together otherwise and my layouts are being determined primarily on the size scraps I have. It's awesome!

No stamps or ink were used in today's card. Everything, including the cut flowers were all in my scrap pile. I also didn't have to cut any of the DSP because the size was perfect. For the flowers, originally, I used my Big Shot and my Fun Flowers Bigz Die.

Once I had it all laid out, this card took me no time at all to piece together. I love using my scraps!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #2

Back again today with another card I created from just scraps. If you missed my post yesterday, you might want to take a look at how I went about organizing my scraps and my first card in this series.

Now, I mentioned yesterday that I was going to get rid of all my die cuts and punches... but because I was actually going to (finally) use them, I held on to the ones I had so that I could created cards with them for my week-long posts on using scraps. Here's what I came up with:

Paper: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, First Edition DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Established Elegance, Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired Hostess)
Accessories: Lace Trim, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Pearls

Believe it or not, I had all the Cherry Cobbler & Whisper White (but sponged them in Crumb Cake) pieces cut from a Christmas card I made. They were punch outs from the Window Framelits. I just cut the Whisper White pieces into squares. I also had a large piece of First Edition Specialty DSP that I thought would work great.

I glued all the Cherry Cobbler pieces in a pattern and then used the Established Elegance stamp set on each of the Whisper White pieces. I stamped in Crumb Cake and then sponged in the same colour. I love this stamp set because there are so many different images that it works well for a collage type card!

The sentiment is from the retired Hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes. I thought it was perfect because it was vintage looking and seemed to fit perfectly with Established Elegance set. I cut out the center circle and popped up the rest for dimension. To finish off, I added some trim, ribbon and pearls.

This card took longer than others I've created because there were so many elements and pieces to put together... but I'm glad that I finally got around to using these scraps!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #1

I don't know about you, but I felt like I was living in a scrap yard. I kept just about every scrap of paper and ribbon that I produced thinking that one day I would use it again. The reality is that if it's not organized and at least a good size, what's the point in keeping it?! Why should I keep a punched scallop circle in Gumball Green? Reality is... it would probably be lost in my current scrap pile and if I ever needed one, I'd just simply punch another.

My point is that with the new year, I've finally come around to organizing my gigantic pile of scraps!

Here are a few rules I set for myself:

1. Get rid of all the tiny pieces - anything shorter than 5-1/2" or too small for a large punch out was not worthwhile in my book.
   
2. Cut every piece of scrap into straight edges - get rid of all those tiny punch outs I was hoarding!
   
3. Separate the neutrals - I decided to keep small pieces of Whisper White & Very Vanilla because I use them a lot for stamped sentiments.
   
4. Patterns and colours - same rules apply as above, but if I came across DSP or colours that were retired and decided I probably wouldn't use them again or didn't have more of it lying around, they went "bye bye".

After sorting through with these rules in mind, I bagged all my scraps according to colour and put them back in my bin. Now it's easier to find the colour and size I need. If it's not in the bag, I know not to look any further!

Since I spent half a day organizing my "scrap yard", I decided to do a mini series of posts with cards I created from just using my scraps. Surely there are others out there like me, right?! :)

Here's the first card in the series:

Paper: Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, DSP: Elegant Soiree (retired),
Everyday Enchantment (retired), 11-12 In Color Stack, Fan Fair, Neutrals Stack
Ink: Lucky Limeade
Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Tools: Paper Piercing Pack
Techniques: Paper Piercing

I know it's my own card, but I'm in love with it. Frankly, if it weren't for my scrap pile, I would've never thought to use five different DSP's together on one card! Funny how they all work nicely together though, eh?!

Tune in again tomorrow for another "scrap yard" card... and why not give this a try yourself. You may be surprised as to what you can create from your scraps!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Pretty Butterflies

I love butterflies... they're just so free and whimsical. I gravitated to them once again for this week's challenge over at Sunday Stamps. Melissa has a great sketch for us this week and I hope you'll play along with us!

Paper: Patio Party DSP, Whisper White, Watercolour Paper
Ink: Midnight Muse, Baja Breeze, Primerose Petals, Summer Starfruit
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri
Tools: Paper Piercing Pack, Mat & Piercer, Boho Blossom Punch, Aqua Painter
Accessories: Button, Whisper White Baker's Twine
Techniques: Watercolouring, Paper Piercing

I'm starting a series tomorrow on my Blog about scraps... and the DSP and watercolour paper I used happened to be in my "scrap" pile. When I saw the tiny butterflies in the Patio Party DSP, I knew I wanted to pair it with the Papillon Potpourri stamp set. I also hadn't used my Aqua Painter in a while, and thought to give that a try also.

I pulled all my colours right from the DSP and after colouring sections on my watercolour paper, I stamped one of the butterfly images, full strength, in each colour. I cut the strip into a banner and then opted to use some Baker's Twine, a flower punch and a button to keep with the softness of the card.

I didn't want to add much more, but thought a few pierced holes in the bottom right corner were in order. :)

Now check out what the rest of the team has done to help inspire you and play along with us. We always look forward to seeing what you create!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

CAS, Easy Peasy Cards in Minutes!

Today I'm showcasing some simple cards I made as a thank you gift set for a client. It doesn't take much to create handcrafted cards for someone - sometimes less is more. Check them out:

Paper: Simply Sent Kit (retired), Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Early Espresso
(Stampin' Write Markers used)
Stamps: Button Buddies
Accessories: Various Buttons

All I did to create these cards was use a (retired) Simply Sent Kit that came with buttons and ribbon - I used the ribbon but opted to use different buttons I had in my stash - some extra paper and one stamp set. I knew that my client loved the button cards I had done for her in the past and also that she often preferred "blank" cards so that she could use them for any occasion she needed them for.

I created six (two of each style) for her in a matter of minutes. Provided envelopes (that came with the kit also) and wrapped them up nicely. Why not give it a try - there are some great kits that just came out in the NEW Spring Catalogue... and starting January 22nd, you can even earn one for FREE during Sale-A-Bration! Contact me for more details... I'd love to chat with you about it!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

New Year, New Products & Promotions!

A new year brings new things at Stampin' Up!. Starting today, there's a new catalogue and a new promotion... check out all the details below!

From January 3 - 21, 2013 only, Stampin' Up! is offering the My Little Valentine promotion. You will get the Sealed with Love Simply Sent Kit FREE (a $9.95 value) when you purchase the brand new My Little Valentine set. This four-piece set was created exclusively for this promotion and will not be available again after January 21!

During this same time, you will also have the opportunity to purchase the exclusive Valentine Treat Bundle at a 20% off discount. This bundle was created specifically for this special offer and contains the brand new Happy Valentine Heart single stamp and a package of 1" x 8" cellophane bags. 

Valentine Promo PDF

The second new thing of the new year is that the Spring Catalogue goes LIVE today! There are so many fabulous products that I know you'll love! There are brand new stamp sets, lovely DSP, tons of fabulous accessories and of course some cool new tools, including the Simply Scored Borders & Patterns Plate!

Check out the catty in the PDF below (or to the right) and contact me if you haven't received yours yet... I'll be happy to give one to you!

Spring Catty PDF

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

My "Baby" Turns 3!

No card to show you today, but a yummy cake. Also not one that I made, but my awesome mom made for my "baby" girl who turns 3 today!! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by...

She can be a girly girl, but also loves her trucks and "mighty machines", her Thomas the Train winter boots, etc. I just love her to pieces and I know she'll LOVE this cake too:

She woke up asking (begging) to see her cake and continues to ask me about where it's hiding. I just keep telling her that I'm not telling, but I almost can't wait myself to see her reaction tonight!

Remember that today is the last day to order those products you love from the Holiday Catalogue... tomorrow the Spring Catalogue goes live!

I'll be back tomorrow with another project.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph