It's All Plum at Sunday Stamps!

Well, what can I say? This time of year is completely nutty for me and my business. On top of that, I'm still without my craft studio & half my house is under renovations! Needless to say, my Blog has been neglected, and probably will be until the end of the year unfortunately.

The good news is that I have a colour challenge to share with you today from Sunday Stamps!

I had a wee bit of trouble with this colour challenge. Perfect Plum is not a colour I use often, but I think I made it work. I inked up my Age Awaremenss stamp set for the first time with this card. It's such a fun & versatile set.

Stampin' Up!'s Photopolymer stamps sets are AMAZING!! If you haven't used them yet, you have to give them a try. The best I've ever used or seen. They're at a great price-point and you can see exactly where you're stamping every single time. :)

Anyway, hope you'll challenge yourself and join us over at Sunday Stamps this round. Check out the other DT members too because they rocked this one!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


RECIPE:
Paper: Naturals, Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum & Wisteria Wonder
Ink: Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder
Stamps: Age Awareness, Flower Shop, Petite Flowers
Tools: Flower Punches
Accessories: Jewels
Challenge: Sunday Stamps

SAVE BIG!!

It's true. Today is my birthday and rather than showing you a card I created, I wanted to celebrate with you and offer you a discount on cards and handcrafted items I've made - all found in my online store! This offer is only available today, so make sure you take advantage!

If you're still looking for a little crafty inspiration, I created this flyer in My Digital Studio (MDS) in less than five minutes. MDS is so easy to use and you can quickly and easily create flyers, posters, scrapbooks & more with text, images, stamps, punches & embellishments. :) I'd be happy to chat more with you... contact me anytime to learn more!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Ink Fix

Earlier today I posted a picture on Instagram (find it here) about a completed project that landed on top of an open ink pad. Argh! That'll teach me to have a messy cluttered "working" desk because I have several projects on the go. ;) Although, this isn't the first time this has happened, so no lesson learned! ha.

Anyway, here is the fix:

In all honesty, the strip at the bottom really works. It's like it was meant to be! Although, if it were really meant to be there, I would've left more room to the right of the sentiment. :) I used the new (and in my opinion MUST-HAVE) stamp set Flower Patch. It's an awesome Photopolymer stamp set with tons of layering options AND coordinating Framelits!

The inspiration for the card came from some button-holed wood flower pots I had laying around. Having to pack up and move to a temporary space left me searching through my "must haves" of all my craft supplies... and all the stuff I've been hoarding saving for a rainy day. It came down to a "use them or lose them" sort thing.

I stamped the stem in Mossy Meadow and adhered some flower buttons (I'm trying to use more buttons!) to the top with a jewel in the middle of each that I coloured with my darkest Old Olive Blenabilities marker. Love those too!

Anyway, stay tuned tomorrow for something a little different that I've done with the Flower Patch stamp set. You won't want to miss it!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


RECIPE:
Paper: Summer Starfruit (retired), Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Fresh Prints Paper Stack (retired)
Ink: Mossy Meadow
Stamps: Flower Patch
Accessories: Thick Baker's Twine (Summer Starfruit, retired SAB 2014), Buttons (retired), Jewels

Pinwheel Spinner Card with June Paper Pumpkin

Happy Monday! I'm winding down here with the last lot of my June Paper Pumpkin projects. Today's post will be short because I will just guide you to Dawn's awesome video tutorial!

I followed her tutorial exactly... but I must say that it was extremely hard for me to find some pennies!! (FYI, Canada removed the penny from its currency last year.)

To create a smaller pinwheel from those given in June's kit, I just cut a 2" square from the center and punched four more holes.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Even More Paper Pumpkin Examples!

Are you getting sick of these yet? Don't worry, tomorrow you'll get a break with my Sunday Stamps post. ;) Here are two more cards I created with the June Paper Pumpkin kit.

For this first card, I just cut one paper straw (included in the kit) into thirds and then hand-cut some "flames" to create candles. The included stamp "celebrate" was the perfect sentiment for this card!

I forgot to jot down the sizes for these mini pinwheels on my second card... I'm guessing about 1-1/4" squares though. I creased them flat and added a bit of bling with some Red Glimmer paper that I punched with the retired Punch Pack.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Sunday Stamps SSC78 - Late Again!

Well, I don't know what to tell you. I've been seriously ignoring my Blog!! Now that the weather has been better, I just want to be outside... and at the end of the day, I'm exhausted from following my two munchkins around. ha. I will try to be better. Promise!

A week and a day ago, we posted a new challenge over at Sunday Stamps. It is a great sketch challenge and one I think I will be using over and over again!

I was commissioned to create a custom card for an 80th birthday. I thought this sketch would work well for what I wanted to do. I flipped the sketch on it's side and created away. I kept it pretty simple, but adding a bit of shimmer with some Gold Specialty Paper & Champagne Glimmer Paper. It was for a man, so I could't go overboard with it. ;)

We hope you'll get inspired with us this week. You have until Friday, June 27th at 6 p.m. to link up and play along. Hope you will!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


RECIPE:
Paper: Night of Navy, Gold Specialty, Champagne Glimmer, Very Vanilla
Ink: Midnight Muse (retired)
Stamps: Memorable Moments
Tools: Big Shot, Scallops TIEF (retired), Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die (retired)
Challenge: Sunday Stamps

70th Birthday

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, it was my dad's 70th birthday. Today I'll share the card I made for him for all to sign.

My dad is an awesome guy and on top of that, an inventor, handyman, woodworker and the best father and "Opa" to her children a gal could ask for. I wanted something classy & sparkly, but also something that resembled him too, hence the Hardwood stamp & silver button (retired).

I also used a new stamp set that you'll find in the 2014-2015 Annual Catalogue - Work of Art. I gave you just a small sneak peek of the set, but I think you're gonna love it. It's so versatile! I stamped several images in Silver and then heat embossed in silver too. The "70" was cut out with the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die (that's retiring!) in Silver Glimmer Paper (that's also retiring!)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Silver Specialty, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Silver
Stamps: Hardwood, Work of Art (sneak peek), Remembering Your Birthday
Tools: Big Shot, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Silver Embossing Powder
Accessories: Silver 1/8" Ribbon, Silver Button (retired)
Techniques: Heat Embossing

A Social Affair

This was a card I did a while back. I got the idea from some other social media cards I did a couple of years ago on a different forum. I think you can guess what this card is based from. :)

I thought this card was appropriate to share with you because tonight I will be attending the Catalogue Premier in Canada. I'm quite excited! May 1st is the pre-order for us demos (only on some products), but I always love getting my hands on new catalogues and product. Even better, to attend a party about it! I'll be sharing what I can on social media, so if you follow me, you might be getting some sneak peeks!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Whisper White
Tools: MDS, Decorative Dots TIEF, Big Shot

A Little (Blue) Bird Told Me...

A couple of years ago I did some humorous cards relating to a popular social networking site. Now I've come up with a couple more relating to another popular #socialnetworking site.

I'm sure you can guess which site I'm referring too here. I'm always trying to push card sales, not just because I make them, but also because I know how happy people are when they receive a card. Even better, a card in the mail. And even better than that, a handcrafted one!

I personally don't think wishing someone a happy birthday through social media is acceptable, but perhaps I'm "old school". hehe This card is the best of both worlds - fitting in with the social networking crowd, and giving cards. :)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Punches: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, 2" Scallop Circle (non SU!), 1-3/4" Circle, Bird Builder
Accessories: Jewel Rhinestones, MDS Software

DSP Series: Post Card

Welcome back to my DSP Series. You can check out the first post yesterday. This one is along similar lines… it's a post card. Making post cards with DSP is very easy, really, you could just make one similar to the tags I made yesterday. I went a step further and used the Post Card Stamp Brush Set in My Digital Studio (MDS).

With the newer updates in MDS, you can crop and colour stamps to your liking. The Post Card Stamp Brush Set isn't quite as long as I wanted, so I cropped and pieced together two images to get the size I wanted. :) I fit four on a page, printed at home, cut and glued my DSP on the other side.

These are quick and easy too and no worries if you don't have an envelope on hand! For me, receiving a card in the mail is special, receiving a post card is also memorable.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Naturals Card Stock, Birthday Basics DSP
Tools: MDS, Post Card Stamp Brush Set

DSP Series: Tags

This week, I'm focusing on DSP - Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper. They offer a great variety of double-sided, high quality 12x12 paper. It's awesome! The thing is, sometimes people don't know what to do with it. The first few posts this week will be simple projects and then we'll get into some more detailed ones.

First up, tags!

These ones are simple 2x3 inch tags. I simply cut some Naturals Card Stock, made a hanging tag from some coordinating ribbon and then glued DSP on the other side. So quick and simple, this took me less than five minutes! How cute would these be with a coordinating card and bag?! Stay tuned later in the week for some ideas. :) In the meantime though, you can check out one of my bags here.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Naturals Card Stock, Birthday Basics DSP
Accessories: Summer Starfruit Satin Stitched Ribbon

Feeling Neutral at Sunday Stamps

Love the colour combo we've got going on at Sunday Stamps this time around. It inspired me to create a manly card - those are always hard to do, aren't they?!

The colour combo is Tan, Black & Saffron. I used Sahara Sand & Soft Suede as my "tan", as well as some of that awesome Burlap Ribbon. I used the stamp set Wetlands that I wasn't fond of at first, but grew to love it. Actually, I always loved those tiny birds because they reminded me of the birds my dad always take pictures of on the shorelines in Florida when on holiday. It was the Goose that grew on me. ;)

Hope you'll join us over the next two weeks. We always love seeing your creations! You have until December 27th to submit your entries...

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Sahara Sand, So Saffron, Ivory
Ink: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Stamps: Wetlands, Sincere Salutations (retired)
Tools: 1" & 1-1/4" Circle Punches
Accessories: Burlap Ribbon

Birthday Cake

Today's post is later than I had hoped, but I hope it was worth the wait! ;)

I created this card a few weeks ago for a dear friends' birthday. It was perfect because this card requires hand-delivery and we were going out for tea, so she had this card displayed on the table the entire time for her birthday celebration. Isn't the cake tea light adorable?! I found it on Pinterest (of course!) and you can find the awesome tutorial here on Jill George's Blog.

I didn't follow it exactly. I didn't bother with the separate template for the "icing". I just found the middle on the back, punched a hole and then cut slits that were long enough so that my flame could slide through.

On the back of the card, I punched a hole with the labels punch pack so that the switch could be turned on and off. My friend love it and I think I'll be making a bunch of mini cakes now. :)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, SAB DSP
Ink: Perfect Plum
Stamps: Simply Sketched
Tools: Punch Pack, 1-3/4" & 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punches, Labels Punch Pack
Accessories: Jewels, Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Pinwheels are Fun!

I've always wanted to make a card with pinwheels, but never seemed to get around to it... until Vickie Y inspired me with her cards here. Check out my creation:

There was something about the bright colours against the stark black that caught my eye. I am so happy with the results - I made this same card in Daffodil Delight (pictured here), Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry. I think this card can also work for either gender. It was also a great way to use colours I don't normally gravitate to and use up some retiring DSP. :)

If you'd like to purchase this card, you can do so here (and the other colours too).

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Brights DSP Paper Stack (retired patterns)
Tools: Big Shot, Cuttlebug EF,
Accessories: Neutrals Brads
Techniques: Dry Embossing

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

Using the Old

I don't know about you, but there are some items in my craft space that have been sitting there, unused, for years! I think this has happened more to me after becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator (since I try to use mostly SU! products), but I thought it was high time I used some of the paper flowers that have been staring at me for so long.

These cards were quite simple to make considering I went crazy on the flowers and nothing else, and I really like how they turned out. The flowers give a lot of dimension to the card so I didn't need to add much else, I thought.

I'm so happy that I finally used these flowers to make these pretty cards (made some other versions too)... and am especially happy that they are one less thing that I have to pack when we move in 5 weeks!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

We're Getting Sketchy @ Sunday Stamps!

Welcome to another Sunday at Sunday Stamps! It's been a while since I've been able to create for the Blog, but I'm so happy to return this week. This sketch deemed to be a perfect fit for a custom card I was commissioned to design for a client. Check it out:

Paper: Basic Gray, Concord Crush, Whisper White
Ink: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray
Stamps: Memorable Moments
Tools: Big Shot, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, HB Embossing Folder (non SU!)
Accessories: Basic Gray Washi Tape

This is such a great sketch - so versatile. I cut some numbers from Glimmer Paper using the Big Shot which added a special little something, I think. Before embossing my first layer, I stamped the number '70' randomly all over the page.

For some added texture, I ruffled the Washi Tape in the top right corner. The beauty of Washi is that it's repositional and self adhesive!

Stop on by Sunday Stamps to see what the other DT Members have created to inspire you. We always look forward to seeing what you create! Don't forget that we're now a 2-week challenge, so you have until July 26th to play along.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Say Buh-Bye!

It's that time of year... time to ship out the "old" and bring in the new. Stampin' Up! released their retiring list today (and 2013-2014 catalogue for us Demonstrators!) and there are many great deals to be had!

This card seemed fitting considering Dinoroar is on the retiring list. :( This is such a fun set, especially if you've got kids in you life! I think it's definitely worth considering if you don't already have it in your collection!

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Ink: Black StazOn
Stamps: Dinoroar, Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired)
Tools: Square Lattice TIEF, XL Oval Punch

These images are so much fun to colour, but this time, I left it up to the receiver of the card. I included two crayons with each card for instant gratification! I thought this was such a fun birthday card for either a boy or a girl and so I've made several like this (and a with different images) that have become part of my cards for sale.

Have I convinced you yet to purchase this awesome set? Maybe it isn't for you, but I'm sure you'll find something you "need" on the retiring list. Check it out and then make your purchase through my online store! Remember, all consumables (i.e. paper, embellishments, etc) are only available while supplies last...

View all the retiring products here.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Mmmmm... Cupcake!

I love cupcakes and the cupcake on this card looks so scrumptious! This card is pretty much a CASE off Pinterest from Kimberly VanDiepen.

Paper: Calypso Coral, Sweet Shop DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder
Stamp: Sweet Cake
Tools: Big Shot, Labels Framelits
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon, Sweet Shop Brads
Dazzling Details

I know this card uses all retired products, but I still wanted to share. This card just screams Birthday! I love the bright colours of this card... they just make me so happy. I didn't have to do much with this card. Stampin' Up!, for one thing, does the work for you when they create lines of products that all coordinate together - stamps, paper & accessories. Plus, part of the DSP pack that I used included a piece of embossed paper (the polka dots), so I didn't need to use a folder for the effect. :) Love SU!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph