I'm Baaaaa-ack!

Wow! I can't believe it's been almost two months since my last post!! I have been on a hiatus, dealing with some personal issues, in which I had to pack up my craft space. :( Anyway, I've created a temporary space now so that I can get back to my crafty ways. I'm also very excited to be able to get back to Sunday Stamps and design with the other very talented DT ladies!!

I didn't make it back in time to post for this last challenge, but I will link-up. I had a lot of fun with this sketch and it helped me design this custom card for a client. Check it out:

I kept the card relatively simple, but added lots of texture with a doily, some buttons and ribbon. The paper doily was inked up with my Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities to create an Ombre effect. That effect was kinda lost when I cut it in half and pleated it, but you can still see the different tones. ;)

The buttons are some retired SAB freebies from a couple of years ago and instead of threading them with ribbon, I punched the flower shape from the retired Punch Pack from the same DSP I used on the card.

The ribbon is also retired (jeez, I didn't realize how many retired items I used for this card!) and I wrapped it around my card front and then glued a few strips on top to create a fringe.

Hope this card inspires you... and for even more inspiration, check out what the other DT members created for you. You have until Friday, August 22nd to link up and join the fun!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


RECIPE:
Paper: Smokey Slate, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities
Stamps: And Many More...
Tools: Big Shot, Decorative Dots TIEF, Typeset Alpha Bigz Die (retired)
Accessories: Basic Grey Stitched Ribbon (retired), Rich Razzleberry Buttons (retired), Paper Doilies
Challenge: Sunday Stamps

Sunday Stamps SSC75

I'm loving the colour combo we've got going on over at Sunday Stamps this time around! I know you'll love them too - Basic Black, Coastal Cabana & Melon Mambo... neutrals are always welcome too. :)

Today is actually my dad's 70th birthday, so I thought it fitting to design on a birthday card... but didn't think my dad would appreciate pink. ;) I started with a Basic Black card base and stamped one of the blossoms from Stippled Blossom in White StazOn. Next, I stamped the coordinating blossom on top in Melon Mambo.

Since two of my favourite products are retiring at the end of the month (sniff sniff!!) - Itty Bitty Punch Pack & Dress-Up Framelits - I thought I should showcase them. I cut the dress form in Coastal Cabana and then created a dress using cut-up Doilies, Melon Mambo Ribbon & another stamped blossom.

For more inspiration, head on over to the Blog to see what the other DT members have designed & then play along. You've got until Friday, May 16th.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Ink: White StazOn, Melon Mambo
Stamps: Stippled Blossom, Banner Greetings
Tools: Big Shot, Dress-Up Framelits, Itty Bitty Punch Pack
Accessories: Doilies, Melon Mambo Ribbon (retired), Jewels

Not All Superheroes Wear Capes.

Well, only a week and a day late for the Sunday Stamps sketch! I had a very busy time preparing for my last show, then I developed bursitis in my shoulder (wouldn't wish that on anyone!), got sick and then my youngest got sick. That was just in the last week! ha.

I flipped the sketch on it's side and worked from there. I omitted the sentiment because I just wanted a single letter on the front. I found this awesome quote all over Pinterest (although, not sure where it's from) - "Not all superheroes wear capes." I thought it would be particularly true for parents.

I'm putting this past week behind me and moving forward. This coming week should be especially awesome because I'm attending the Catalogue Launch Party for Stampin' Up! So excited!! Stay tuned for more detail on that... whatever I can share with you, of course.

You have until Friday at 6 p.m. to play along. Hope you will! Check out what the other designers on the team have created to spark your creativity!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Tools: MDS, Printer, Rotary Addition + Scallop Edge
Accessories: Flower (retired), Pearls, Doily, Fabric Tape (non SU!)
Challenge: Sunday Stamps

She Believed She Could...

I attended a Stampin' Up! workshop last weekend that was filled with business tools, techniques, projects & more. One of the projects was a canvas home decor piece. Check it out:

Ink: Blushing Bride, Soft Suede, Baked Brown Sugar, Primrose Petals
Stamps: Feel Goods
Tools: Big Shot, Gift Bow Bigz L Die, Oval Framelits,
Punches: Pansy, Bitty Butterfly
Accessories: Build a Banner Kit, Doilies, Buttons, Pearls

I'll admit that I wasn't too keen about this at first, but on second glance (and a little tweaking for the recipient of it), I started to get excited. Thank you Jamilla Ivits for creating this piece for the workshop because it's probably something that I wouldn't have otherwise thought about doing!

I hope I didn't offend by tweaking her design a bit. I don't know why, but I saw a plaid pattern when holding the stripe stencil in my hand (which is how Jamilla's banner was done). I'm thrilled with the way it came out! The plaid is really the major thing I changed. All the other elements are the same, I just moved them around a bit.

I surprised my daughter with this by hanging it in her room. She was so grateful and appreciative that I made this just for her. After seeing that, I was so happy that I gave project a chance!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Christmas in July Series - Post 3

If you missed the previous posts, you might want to check them out starting a couple of posts back. I'm doing a week-long series on Christmas cards, but not using Christmas stamps. Here's today's:

Paper: Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla, Silver Glimmer
Ink: Basic Gray
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree
Tools: Big Shot, Heat Tool, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, Snowflurry Bigz Die
Accessories: Doily

Ok, so this isn't my favourite. It looked so much better in my head! ha. I hardly ever plan my designs out... I just create as I go. This one seemed to take hours!

The Typeset Alpha Bigz Die is so versatile! I've been using it a lot. On this card, "N O E L" fit just perfectly. After stamping and embossing the trees and cutting my letters, I thought it needed something else. After playing around with several ideas, I thought about using a doily. It didn't look quite right when I just laid the doily down, so I got the idea to cut a snowflake into it. It works, but I've got some other ideas floating around in my head with those doilies, so stay tuned...

Anyway, it is what it is. Maybe you love it. Creators are their worst critics after all. :)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph