The Holidays!

The holidays come early today for all Stampin' Up! fans... the holiday catalogue goes live!! It's always an exciting time for me and gotta love all the new products! Unfortunately, I was only able to put in a tiny pre-order and have not been able to play with what I got yet. :( BUT, I do have a holiday card for you today to celebrate. Check it out:

Now, you may be asking yourself "what Christmas set is that?". It's not! I used a few key pieces from the Flower Patch stamp set in the Annual Catalogue. As I wrote yesterday, it's a MUST-HAVE set, in my opinion. So much versatility, "bang for your buck" and the Photopolymer is so awesome for the layering effects you can achieve with this set!

For the inside, I stamped the same pattern and added a few more key sequins. I opted out of any inside text. I always decorate the inside to match the outside, but it's not often I add a stamped sentiment.

What do you like to do on the inside of your cards?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


RECIPE:
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede, Gold Foil, Whisper White
Ink: Pistacio Pudding, Old Olive, Real Red, Baked Brown Sugar
Stamps: Flower Patch, Petite Pairs
Tools: Big Shot, Stylish Stripes TIEF, Punches: Word Window & Modern Label
Accessories: Buttons (all retired), Sequins

Try It Tuesdays

Happy April Fool's! Today's post is no joke, but you will fool people with your savvy ways. :) It's a short but sweet post today - all about trying to save paper & money!

When you have several layers on a project, try to see if you can conserve paper. In this case, I was able to stamp my sentiments behind an area that was going to be covered up by paper. No one but yourself will ever know this little secret.

Give it a try! Do you have any other ways you like to conserve and save money with your crafting supplies?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

DSP Series: Card and Envie

This is Day 3 of my series on DSP and today I've created an adorably cute 3-½" x 5" card with coordinating envelope, all from DSP! This is made super easy with SU!'s Envelope Punch Board.

I made my card base from two scraps of card stock - Primrose Petals & Basic Grey and then layered with DSP. I accessorized with pearls and coordinating ribbon.

If you've been following along, I hope you're enjoying this series. Also, if you look back over the last several posts, have you noticed I've been using the same DSP and stamp set to make cards and projects for different occasions? Stay tuned for more on that also. :)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Primrose Petals, Basic Grey, Birthday Basics DSP
Ink: Basic Grey
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Tools: 1-¼" Circle Punch, Artisan Label Punch, Envelope Punch Board
Accessories: Pearls, Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon

Sketch Saturdays

Welcome back to another segment for my posts I'm calling Sketch Saturdays. This is my second one, and I'm really enjoying doing this. It's opening my creative mind…

This week, I'm featuring a sketch I created myself for a One Sheet Wonder series I'm working on (more on that in the coming weeks). It's a simple sketch, but check out what I did with it!

Well, I did a few things with it, actually. First, I flipped it. Next, I created four designs with it, from the very simple (for someone with very limited supplies, for example), to the more elaborate, using tools that one may not have access to.

I wanted to showcase that a simple sketch, doesn't always have to be so simple… and that you can create with just using the very basic of tools. The first card only uses a paper trimmer and a marker to ink the stamp. There's not much more to the second one, but just switching to a couple of basic punches and you've got a different look!

The third looks a little more in-depth, but it really isn't. You might think that I used some fancy tools, maybe a punch, but all I used were paper-piercing tools! I pierced the holes first in my triangular piece and then cut a small border free-hand following the shape of the pierced holes. The heart is also done the same way.

Lastly, the fourth uses the Big Shot and the Floral Frames Framelits, as well as the the Modern Mosaic TIEF. I heat embossed the sentiment, scattered some pearls and added an In-Color Dahlia.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: 2012-2014 In Color Card Stock, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey, Birthday Basics DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Grey, Raspberry Ripple
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Tools: Big Shot, Modern Mosaic TIEF, Floral Frames Framelits, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Artisan Label Punch, Paper-Piercing Mat, Paper-Piercing Tool, Paper-Piercing Essentials Pack, Heat Tool
Accessories: Pearls, In-Color Dahlia

Piece of Cake

For an SU! event I attended a couple of weeks ago, I created a swap card. Check it out:

Lots of techniques on this card - distressing, clear block stamping & paper piecing. I love SU! Designer Series Paper (DSP) because it's double-sided and coordinates so beautifully. Makes paper piecing so easy!

You'd never know it, but I stamped the cake image on the back of the DSP I used (in the bottom corner) so that I could cut out the pieces I needed for the cake. I didn't have to waste any DSP this way and I hid it all with my top layer. ;)

If you'd like to purchase this card, you can do so here.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Birthday Basics DSP
Ink: Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso
Stamps: Sketched Birthday, Petite Pairs
Tools: Distressing Tool, Spritzer
Accessories: Summer Starfruit Satin Stitched Ribbon, Jewels
Techniques: Clear Block Stamping, Distressing, Paper Piecing

We've Got Colour @ Sunday Stamps!

Boy did this colour combo challenge me this week! Black, Fuchsia & Red. Not a combo I would normally do. I got the chance to see some of the other DT member creations as they were posting them and all I wanted to do was CASE those. ha. Didn't think that was allowed... but the other team members ROCKED this combo! Here's what I eventually came up with:

Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, WW, Brights DSP Stack (retired)
Ink: Real Red
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Tools: Big Shot, Windows Framelits, Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Cloudy Day TIEF
Accessories: Baker's Twine, Jewels

I don't know why this colour combo was so difficult for me. Someone probably put it in my head years ago that red & pink clashed... and my hands just didn't want to put the two colours together. :) Anyway, I finally figured something out and I think it works!

I hope this colour combo inspires you and don't forget to check out the rest of the Design Team over at Sunday Stamps because like I said, they rocked this one!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Feather Wreath

Well, it's the last day of my Christmas in July sale (check out the product here), so I thought I'd show you another Christmas card:

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Silver Specialty
Ink: Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, Pool Party
Stamps: Fine Feathers, Petite Pairs
Tools: Circle Punches - 2-1/2, 1-3/4 & 1-3/8
Accessories: Jewels, Silver 1/8" Ribbon (sneak peek!)

This is likely not the last Christmas card you'll see from me (I've got TONS more and it's only July!), but one I wanted to show you sooner than later. I loved the Fine Feathers stamp set the moment I saw it in last year's catalogue. Sad to say though, I haven't used it too much as I've had trouble figuring it out.

Several months ago I did a happy dance because I had this vision of a feather wreath. I spend FOREVER executing my vision (several different ways) and all were epic fails! Last night I was perusing the internet and saw an image that was literally a few blurred swirls that formed a circle and that set off the light bulb. I ran to my craft loft, punched a hole in my paper and got to work.

This card is the result of that, and I love it! I finished it without the ribbon and liked it a lot, but felt it needed a little something else. I remembered about that gorgeous silver ribbon I pre-ordered from the Holiday Catalogue (live tomorrow!) and added a tiny bow. Perfect!

I know this turned out to be a long winded post, but happy you made it through. I thought my readers would want to know a little back story behind this card. I know it's not everyone's taste - non traditional colours and images - but I'm in love because I'm really happy with how it turned out and that my vision finally came to light!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Sunday Stamps Sketch Challenge!

I'm so excited to be a Designer for Sunday Stamps! This is my first official design for the team and I'd love for you to head on over and play along this week. It's lots of fun and gets your creative juices flowing! This week is a sketch challenge and here is my design:

Paper: Primrose Petals, Very Vanilla, Birds of a Feather DSP, First Edition DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Petite Pairs
Tools: 2-1/2" Circle Punch
Accessories: Jewels

I stuck pretty closely to the sketch and thought it would be fun to punch out the shape to have a "peek through" window. To coordinate the jewels, I coloured them with a Sharpie to mimic Midnight Muse. Did you know you can do that?!

So, what are you waiting for? Go check out Sunday Stamps and this week's sketch!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Ribbon Stem Flower

Today's card was inspired by some ribbon weaving I saw online. Thought it would be nice to create a flower stem with it. Have a look:

Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral
Ink: Calypso Coral, More Mustard, So Saffron
Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Petite Pairs
Tools: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents, Paper Piercing Pack, Modern Label, Blossom Punch
Accessories: Ribbon (retired), Brights Button

The base and layer with the Apothecary Accents Framelit is pretty self explanatory. For the flowers, I stamped the flowers from Fabulous Florets in Calypso Coral ink on Whisper White. I then used my Blender Pen with Calypso Coral, More Mustard and So Saffron ink to get the desired look I wanted. To make my flowers larger so that the proportions would look right with the stem and the card, I punched two flowers in Calypso Coral using my Blossom Punch. Placing the punch behind my stamped flower, I started to bend and fold the petals to align better with the image. For the smaller flower, I cut each of the five petals and glued them behind. I think I achieved the look I was going for.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Patio Butterflies

I was honoured to be asked to be a Guest Designer for Sunday Stamps this week! I've enjoyed playing along for the last several challenges and look forward to many more. Here is this week's sketch and my design:

Paper: Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Patio Party DSP
Stamps: Fabulous Florets
Ink: Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit
Accessories: Jewels, Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

When I saw the butterflies in the sketch, I immediately thought of all those tiny butterflies in the Patio Party DSP. To add a little interest (and it's hard to tell in the photos), I stamped the large leaf image from the Fabulous Florets set in VersaMark, covered it in clear embossing powder and heated it. After all was dry, I got out my Brayer and brayered Midnight Muse ink all over the DSP. This allowed my leaf image to pop because the butterflies that were captured behind the clear embossing powder stayed lighter and you can still see the rest of the DSP, although darker, under the brayered ink. Cool, eh?!

I mounted the DSP on some Summer Starfruit card stock and punched a border in the same colour with my Scallop Trim border punch. I also added some Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon for more texture. I used my Beautiful Wings embosslit to get all the butterflies and scattered them across the front - I saved the largest one for inside the card. For the sentiment, I stamped one of the floral images in Summer Starfruit on Summer Starfruit card stock, added some Dazzling Diamonds to the center and stamped the sentiment from Petite Pairs in the center in Midnight Muse ink. Then I fussy-cut the flower out and popped it up with Dimensionals.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Love Colour

Today I'm participating in a colour challenge over at Stampin' Royalty. Although I refer to my Colour Coach on occasion, I often forget about referring to that wonderful tool! Colour Challenges are a fantastic way to use colours together that you might not have thought to use together.

I wasn't too keen on these colours at first, but once I got creating I discovered how awesome they look together!! Here is my card:

See what I mean?! The colours look great together. I used a bunch of new product that I just got last week (but didn't have a chance to play with it until yesterday!). I used the new Butterfly Punch... isn't it so elegant?! I also used the new Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I love this new folder... I'm so happy SU! had a replacement in mind for the plates they retired with this lovely pattern on it. I embellished with some teeny pearls, some Pool Party Baker's Twine and had to add a brad as an after thought because it covers a smudge. :D But you didn't need to know that because you'd never be able to tell! I thought the butterfly brad from the 2012 SAB redemption pack worked perfectly... even though it's not available any more.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Colour for The Paper Players

This week I had the opportunity to play with The Paper Players! It was a fun colour challenge because the colours are fabulous and they just look so great together! Here's the colour scheme:

Banners are all the rage now... especially so since SU! just released some Bitty Banners Framelits in the recent catty. They are so adorable! Well, I didn't use them on this card, but used them as inspiration. I cut all my banners by hand using a mix of card stock and ribbon.

For this card, I used the Basic Gray Striped Ribbon (that just retired). I haven't used it until this card... so it was time to create something with it! Then I added Melon Mambo & Lucky Limeade card stock in different widths. I embossed all the hand-cut banners with different embossing folders and my oh-so-loved Big Shot!

I accented with a Melon Mambo button (retired) and the Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon that I stocked up on from the last SAB. :) I thought it added a little something extra treading it through the button and fanning it out.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph