So Many Reasons to Smile :)

July 1st is a date that brings a smile to my face, for many reasons. First, it's Canada's Birthday - Happy Canada Day! Second, it's the start of my Christmas in July Promo over at Hofkissed. Check out my Facebook page here for more details on that. Third, it also happens to be the start of the "Reason to Smile" campaign with Stampin' Up! If you spend $60 in July, you get the opportunity to buy an EXCLUSIVE stamp set for only $5.00!! Click here to learn more. Lastly, it's a beautiful sunny day here in Cambridge and I got some time to myself to get my hands a little inky... but only after tidying up my workspace - that was loooong overdue! :) Now, aren't those all reasons to smile?!

I can't quite get into the Christmas spirit (besides, I haven't yet ordered any new Christmas stuff from SU!), but I made a Christmas-ish card to start off my Christmas in July Promo. It also happens to fit the challenge over at The Paper Players!

So, like I said, I haven't yet ordered any new Christmas stuff from SU!, so I had to get creative. Here's my card:

Don't you just love when a stamp set can work for many different occasions?! I worked with some retired DSP - Jolly Holiday, and the Stippled Blossoms stamp set - not your typical Christmas stamp set, that's for sure. I think it turned out well, for a Christmas in July card anyway. :) To add some dimension and texture, I ruffled some Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), wrapped some Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine around it and added a tiny tag from the Tiny Tags stamp set and coordinating punch. I popped up my flower that I punched out with the 2 3/8 Scallop Punch and added some teeny pearls to the center.

What do you think?

Again, Happy Canada Day and Merry Christmas... in July!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Stipples and Blossoms

I just can't express my love enough for the new Stippled Blossoms stamp set from SU! It's so beautiful and two-step stampin' adds so much to a project!

Today I have another challenge card - seems to be my theme this week. I participated in challenge number 101 over at The Paper Players. This week's challenge was a sketch challenge. Here's the sketch:

As I often do with sketches, I turn them every which way until I find an angle that "speaks to me". For this challenge, I opted to create my card by flipping the sketch horizontally. Here's the card I came up with:

I originally wanted to use Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum and Raspberry Ripple... but I just couldn't get the Raspberry Ripple to work. You know how sometimes you get a vision in your head... but then it just doesn't turn out that way on paper?! That's what happened with my original vision - even though it was AMAZING in my head. ha.

Instead, I decided to keep it fairly natural with just the two colour tones. After omitting the Raspberry Ripple, I added the Victoria Crochet Trim - and I think that turned out fabulously. I also added some teeny tiny pearls (those take patience!) and some paper piercing using the new Essentials Paper Piercing Pack. I LOVE those templates!! I embossed the one strip with one of the beautiful folders from the new Delicate Designs Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. I sponged the entire thing in Perfect Plum so that it really pops!

I added my sentiment by stamping one from Petite Pairs and punched it out with the Modern Label punch (such a versatile punch!). I folded it to create a ribbon/banner look to it and added a knotted piece of the Victoria Crochet Trim. I finished off by stamping some more blossoms on the inside.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

I'm Back!

I know, I know... another long hiatus! I was consumed in 4 floors of "stuff" for the last week. We took part in a huge neighbourhood yard sale yesterday and I can't believe how much "stuff" I managed to pull out of my house! I was purging like crazy, packaging and pricing... every day! I had no time for anything fun. :( I shouldn't complain though, my hard work paid off... and I'm not ashamed to say that I crashed before 8 p.m. last night. ha.

Now on to why you came to my blog... the crafty stuff! Since I was on such a long hiatus, I needed some inspiration. What better way to get some inspiration than to find a challenge that interests me. Well, I found two! Mojo Monday and Sunday Stamps. Here are the sketches:

I decided to combine both challenges since Mojo Monday had a sketch challenge and Sunday Stamps had a Colour Challenge. Here is the card I created based on these two challenges:

What do you think? I love, love, LOVE the new Stippled Blossoms stamp set from SU!. It is such beautiful set and since I just got it last week (but didn't have time to play with it!), I had to use it when I found the opportunity to stamp today. I also used one of the new embossing folders from the Delicate Designs Textured Impressions set. I added some Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon and some hat pins that were in the last Occasions Mini.

I'm really happy with the way this card turned out. Just so cheery!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph