Rubber 'n Rafters

Seeing Double - Fire & Ice - {FMS21) {PP82}

2012-02-12T15:44:00.000-05:00

My post today is for two challenges from two of my favorite sites; First a sketch by Lesley Croghan at Freshly Made Sketches with her "Seeing Double sketch # 21",

and the second is a color challenge #82 by Ann Schach at The Paper Players

called "Fire & Ice & a Neutral times 2". The colors are from Stampin' Up (poppy parade, pool party, soft suede and very vanilla).

Now here is my card.

I used a soft suede card base then topped with poppy parade cs die cut with the new "Adorning Accents" edgelits die. I embossed 4 times with the matching "Adorning Accents" textured impressions embossing folder at different spacings.

I cut two pieces of "Everyday Enchantment" DSP using the edgelit die to fit 'into' the embossed sections, but as you can see I'm having difficulty making them match completely. I tried several times then just gave up, must be me because I can't make it totally line up at both ends. There must be a secret, so feel free to spill the beans!

I then layered a piece of vanilla/suede script that was wrapped with a piece of pool party ruffle ribbon then glued to the card front. This piece was layered with two more die cut "Designer Frame Labels"; one in pool party to frame the second smaller very vanilla sentiment piece that I also distressed with soft suede and a dauber.

The little birds and sentiments are from the new SAB "Elementary Elegance" set. These two pieces were popped and double popped up to give dimension. I also couldn't stop messing and colored a ribbon rose with a pool party write marker and added with a glue dot.

Here is a peak at the inside using touches from the front. Did you notice I even used my scrap piece of DSP over the script on the left?

I just HATE to waste any DSP!

Well that's about it for now and I probably won't be in blogland much as I have two more crazy busy weeks ahead at work; out of state traveling for one week... oh man. I just want to stay home and get INKY!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray... Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Note to Friend {CCMC186}

2012-01-27T19:06:00.000-05:00

Another very quick post before I'm off to Mexico Sunday for work...really hate these last minute unplanned trips ... especially when I have to interrupt my weekend of stamping!

This post is for the sketch challenge {#186} over at Create with Connie and Mary and here the sketch.

My card is pretty easy to follow and it's another note for my sweet SIL gal pal that is very ill but I like to let her know she is always on my mind. Here is my card.

This card is made with wisteria wonder cs embossed with the square lattice EF and rounded corners. I layered with 'berry blossoms' DSP. I folded up the bottom and of the DSP to show the coordinating side, stamped "FRIEND" in basic black, then wrapped a piece of lucky limeade ribbon at the seam and glued down.

I stamped the dress form from 'established elegance' and then used the 'designer frames' oval EF over the image. I cut the oval out and distressed the edges. I painted the top of the dress form with a few drops of calypso coral reinker added to some dazzling details.

But hey......... pretend you don't see how sloppy my brush strokes are once it dried! Seriously I didn't see that when it was wet. [smile]. I popped up the oval with dimensionals.

The blossom is a 5 petal punch pierced in the center, then lined with sticky strip. I wrapped and twisted the coral ribbon around and tucked in the end. Then added an antique brad to the center, and glued dots were used to attach to the front.

A peek at the inside of my note using 'happy greetings' for the sentiment and images from 'established elegance' stamp sets.

Done!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray... Thanks for stopping by today."

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Get Well Mel {FMS #19}

2012-01-26T18:40:00.000-05:00

This post features my interpretation of Jen's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

Here is my card I will be mailing to my SIL's dad who is also a family friend. He's been very ill and In-an-Out of the hospital for the last year or so with heart issues, but getting weaker now a days.

I did flip the sketch, but think my clean and simple card fits good for a masculine feel with these color choices (IMO). Crumb cake, espresso and very vanilla, with river rock distressing. I started with a crumb cake base layered with a piece of "Well Worn" DSP. Next it was layered with an edge die cut in the wood grain from the same DSP. The typewriter, image from "Established Elegance", and sentiment were stamped in basic black on very vanilla and all the edges distressed in river rock ink.

I stamped the BG script in RR ink on a scrap of VV then added the little 'hello' from the "Tiny Tags" set. I cut a slot in the typewriter with a craft knife and slipped in the little note. Then the focal piece was added to the front with dimensionals.

A peek at the inside shows touches from the front and "Happy Greetings".. even the scraps from the edge die cut were put to use!

One more touch on the envelope and it's ready for the mail!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray... Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Get Well for the Paper Players "Tag It" challenge {#79}

2012-01-24T17:39:00.000-05:00

This post is a quick little number I put together last night for The Paper Players clean and simple challenge "Tag It"!

Clean and simple is not my usual style and it's always hard for me NOT to add a little something more.... so here is my card and I'm hoping it works for this challenge.

The "Everyday Enchantment" DSP (love it) from the SAB catty was layered on the baja breeze base. I stamped one of the tags from the 'two tags' sizzix die, with images from "Just Believe" in baja breeze ink and edged with the same. The sentiment is stamped in lucky limeade ink from the "Perfectly Penned" set, then popped up with a few dimensionals.

It was just too simple for me so I added a blossom from the "fun flowers' die and gave it a "spiced cake" fabric center. Then popped it as well with double dimensionals to raise it above the tag.

The inside has touches of front.

Then I also added touches to my envelope.

This will be one of the cards for my February 1st Wed. of the month club. Hope the girls like it! How about you?

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray... Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Black & White for the Penguins! (CFC36)

2012-01-22T18:23:00.000-05:00

This post is for the challenge at CAS-ual Fridays honoring the penguin. The challenge says your entry must be JUST black and white without a spec of any other color.

I wanted to make a few cards to have on hand just to write a good ole' fashioned note, so I was happy to play along and use up some of the scrap Night & Day DSP (retired) filling my files. I think the DSP blended great with a few of the stamps from "Established Elegance" and "Happy Greetings". I think it works for the challenge and for what I had in mind too. Here is my clean and simple card for CFC36 Penguin Suit.

I used two sizes of the brand new SU "framelit labels" dies, LOVE these.

Here is a peek at the inside.

A touch on the envelope too.

Well this went so smooth and fast I decided to make another one but flipped it vertical this time.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray... Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

A Royal Birthday Crown! {JAI#100}

2012-01-17T20:52:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick post for the Just Add Ink #100 theme challenge to celebrate their 100th birthday, and the Royal theme is "Just Add Crowns". You must use a crown on your card, layout or 3D project. Fun right? Well I decided to make yet another one of these cute little boxes that uses two pieces of the milk carton die! So quick and easy and sooooooooooo darn cute. Don't ya think?

I made one just like this for my girlfriend last year in a gift set, and also made a ton of them for Halloween table favors, Thanksgiving table favors, and Christmas table favors in my card classes. This one is simply black & white (Love that) with a touch of pink on the tag bow.

It also uses one of the SU trinket crowns, SU basic pearls, and pretty ribbon.

The flowers were punched from DSP scraps using the 5 Petal Flower and Boho Blossoms punches, then basic pearls were added to the centers.

Here is a close up of the cute little SU 'trinket crown' hooked on the pink bow, then tied to the black ribbon that gathers to the box top. The tag was stamped with the SU stamp set "You're a Gem".

These cute little boxes have so many uses, and they are super simple to make. I hope you give it a try and also check out Just Add Ink other 'crown' jewels.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray... Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

All you need is LOVE theme challenge {PP#77}

2012-01-08T12:46:00.001-05:00

Today's post is for The Paper Players theme challenge {#77} "All you need is LOVE". Well I haven't done many heart cards but what could say Love more than a new baby?

I just made this card yesterday for a baby shower I have to attend this week for a friend's DIL and she knows it's going to be a girl... so Pretty in PINK was in order. Here is my card.

I used the new "Framelit Label" dies to create dimension by popping up the pink label and double popping the whisper white focal point. I colored the focal point "Bringing Baby" (SU A La Carte stamp) with a blender pen and write markers.

I used one more whisper white die cut for the inside sentiment distressed the edges wtih pretty in pink ink and stamped the cute little bunny from "Forest Friends" (retired).

This is going into a basket full of the shower gifts along with a bookmark for mom, and a sweet little 4 1/2" square box I made to hold 3 tiny books for baby. The box is adorned with some pretty in pink DSP, edged in ribbon and topped with a DSP paper bow with a new "Everyday Enchantment" butterfly brad (SAB) in the center.

Box opened.

I think this was a project filled with LOVE to fit The Paper Players theme challenge. What do you think?

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray... Thanks for stopping by today!

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Diane

Apothecary Art Card Class Card

2012-01-06T19:19:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

Whew... I just feel like I can't catch up! After 10 days off for the holidays then back to work at full tilt, I'm just plain exhausted. I can't seem to get anything done. There are so many challenges I want to participate in, but here I sit in my easy chair on a Friday night. Well at least I can catch up on some blogs, but before I do that, I'm going to do a quick post of one of the cards we did for my first Wednesday of the month club... here.

I started with a sage (?) card base and added a strip of Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB) to bottom front. Then I die cut 3 labels from the new Framelits Labels dies in whisper white and early espresso. I stamped and colored the flowers with coral and artichoke ink using blender pens. This was popped up with dimensionals over the (SAB)Everyday Enchantment DSP strip. I added a touch of dazzling details to the flower centers and added a cute little bow from the (SAB) calypso coral ribbon with crystal effects.

The inside used the third label die cut that I glued over the scrap strip of DSP. I stamped with another one of the stamps from the Apothecary set. I also colored the flowers but left the inside for a small personal note.

Done!

I only preordered few items from the Occasions mini to fill a customer order; can you believe it? I'm trying to wait for SAB...yeah right.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Great Surprise - I made the "Best Dressed List for 2011" at the PPA

2011-12-29T11:35:00.003-05:00

Wow Wee! What exciting news for me today. I just received an email telling me that one of my challenge cards was chosen by Nina Dee as a winner on the "Best Dressed List for 2011" over at Pal Paper Arts! challenge blog. How exciting is that!

Here is my card that was chosen for the month of August by Nina.

This was my very first attempt to make a 'lollie' card.

You can read all the details of my ''lollie' card from my original post here.

More exciting news.... my VERY talented SU up-line Nance Leedy from Canopy Crafts was also chosen as the winner for April. How wonderful! If you would like view all the other monthly winners stop by Pals Paper Arts for the complete list.

Once again I want to say THANK YOU to all the Pals Paper Arts design team members for such wonderful inspiration every week of the year, and a special Thank You to the very talented Nina Dee from "Designs by Nina Dee" for choosing my card as one of the monthly winners. Please stop by and visit Nina along with all the other fabulous members of the Pals Paper Arts design team.

Happy New Year.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Established Elegance

2011-12-20T21:10:00.000-05:00

This is such a busy time for me but I decided to post this card that I made for a friend to give to her goddaughter for her 18th birthday. I used the Established Elegance stamp set and the inspiration came from Ann Schach here. Here is my card for my friend.

I started with a pretty in pink base embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I used some bordering blue cs to mat the DSP (retired) and stamped a few images from Established Elegance on the DSP and glued to the card front.

I added some scrunchy baja breeze seam binding to the top edge.

I stamped the dress form and flower from the same set and embossed with the oval from the Textured Impressions set and distressed the edges with soft suede ink, then added with dimensionals. A few flowers colored with stamp write markers were added as well a sentiment with a few rhinestones and the number 18, both mated and popped up. I also 'attempted' to make a seam binding rose (ugh) and added a soft pink pearl.

A peek at the inside and done!

The colors really are much prettier but my photography STINKS!

Hope she'll like the card I made for her Godchild's 18th birthday!

This is my last post for 2011. Have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Putting-on-the-Ritz {PPA123}

2011-12-08T08:59:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I posting this for the Pals Paper Arts 'Putting-on-the-Ritz' challenge {PPA123}. First let me say I have to leave for the airport in one hour so this is going to be a super short post as far as details! I also must mention I CASED this from one of my favorite stampers, but I can't remember who at the moment, and I don't have time to find it right now, but I LOVED it...so thanks for the inspiration! Here's my card.

I made this card last night at class using the "Christmas Lodge" stamp set and the masking technique. I masked the snow using a torn piece of scrap paper and stamped the lodge in Stazon black ink. Then I used daubers and sponges to create the night sky with pool party, pacific point, crushed concord, and night of navy inks.

I also took a dauber and with more masking and light touches added inks to give the snow some dimension.

Then I used a two way glue pen and sprinkled glitter for the sky and some Mica Flakes for the snow mounds. I used a non SU puffy pen and heat gun for the roof.

Then the inside also has a touch of glitter on the trees but it's hard to see in the photos.

Done!

I hope you liked my "Putting-on-the-Ritz" card for the PPA 123 challenge,

Now I'm off to see my grand kids! Yippee!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

FMS #12 Sketch - circle

2011-11-27T19:21:00.000-05:00

Today's card is for the Freshly Made Sketches #12 challenge by Jen here

I really should have played the peek-a-boo snowman card from my last post, but it was not a new creation, so quickly made another clean and simple card today. Here it is.

Now first let me say, I'm the worst photographer of cards and today's wins the prize for worst ever! I've tried to take it about 10 times; with/without flash, with lights on/off, but it just doesn't come our correct at all. The DSP is retired SU paper that is a beautiful tans, deep red, and hunter green... this photo just looks blah.

The flower was stamped in cherry cobbler ink on real red cs, with a few colored rhinestones in the centers, but.... well... and it looks almost plastic. The circle with the sentiment and leaves were stamped in hunter green ink, with the same colored sponged edges..then popped up with a few dimensionals. So all I can say to you is that it really is pretty in person.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

No MoJo Class Colection

2011-11-19T11:22:00.001-05:00

Well I'm not sure if the reason I have NO MoJo left is because I've been kitting up items for classes or just the Holiday approaching faster than I'm ready for or what, but I am completely out of MOJO... so today's post is going to be a collection of some of the cards I've had in my last two November classes and the a few for my December class soon approaching. Not only am I out of MOJO I'm feeling pretty lazy too! So think of this more like a slide show - without sound... Hugs.

Beautiful Season and scored background.

Christmas Lodge in Non-Traditional colors for Christmas.

Peek-a-Boo Frames Snowman

Winter Post and Lovely as a Tree.

Super Simple Folded Christmas Tree from 1/2 circle with striped emboss folder.

Dasher .... dashing through the snow... la laa la la la laa la.

Ornament in non-traditional colors with Morning Mocha DSP.

This last one is a CASE from my very talented Up-line Nance at Canopy Crafts. After completing it I decided it's not going to be a class card, but this Curly Cute card is going to my friends as a "Thank You" for our up coming Thanksgiving Day dinner invitation which they always include us to.

THANKS Nance for all your wonderful inspiration!

Well that's the end of my slide show.

Hope you enjoyed the show!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Emboss Resist Fall FMS#10 and PPA #119

2011-11-11T15:51:00.001-05:00

My card today is for two challenges; the Sketch challenge #10 from Rita Wright at Freshly Made Sketches

and also for Pals Paper Arts Holiday photo inspiration challenge #119.

However, I think you'll have to use your imagination with the 'holiday' part of my card. You'll just have to pretend my banner says 'Happy Thanksgiving'.... okay? I just saw this inspiration photo, but I really needed a Get Well card instead, so here is my card.

I started with a crumb cake base and stamped the "French Foliage" in versamark and covered with clear embossing powder, then heated with the heat gun. Then I just started covering the front with daubers and ink. I started with the lightest colors first; more mustard and added cameo coral. I continued with some lucky limeade, and finally rich razzleberry.

The center part was made by flagging the ends of a piece of chocolate chip cs which I ran through the crimper. I added another flagged piece of very vanilla stamped with a "Sweetly Said" sentiment, then I distressed that piece in all the colors of the card front. I added a few die cut felt leaves and top them with a "Holly Berry Bouquet" button tied with hemp twine. I popped the whole piece with dimensionals in the center of the front.

The inside has touches from the front.

Done!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Anything Goes FALL theme at Paper Players challenge #70

2011-11-01T18:43:00.000-04:00

This is very simple card for the Paper Players FALL theme challenge. Here's my card.

It's a very simple card on a natural white card base. It's hard to see in the photo but I started by scoring the two lower corners on opposite angles.

Here is another view, but the one side doesn't want to show up too good.

I really have to work on a light box for photos in the New Year!

I then stamped the top part of the card with French Foliage in more mustard, rich razzleberry and cameo coral. I also used the water spot in river rock. The same was done on the focal piece except everything was stamped off once.

I then heat embossed Give Thanks from the Hand-Penned Holidays in copper embossing powder and matted it with shiny copper paper.

I added a copper leaf brad, then popped it up with a few dimensionals.

The inside is touches of the front but I forgot to take a photo! ddaahhh.

Well that's it.... Done!

It was very difficult to photograph due to the flash back from the shiny copper paper, but I did the best I could. Hope you like it.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!"

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; and I hope you will stop by again

Diane

Toile & Trouble

2011-10-30T20:59:00.000-04:00

Well all the Grammas out there know that I have to stay impartial with the grandkids, so I decided to post another page to include them ALL! Happy Halloween everyone!

Here are all three; Becca the Witch, Hannah is Tinker Belle and little Bumble Bee Brian. Becca informed today... "Gramma, all three of us can FLY!"

Not only are they cute as bug, they're smart as a whip too!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Becca's Skating Competition - Oct 2011

2011-10-30T19:14:00.001-04:00

Well I keep saying I have to practice my MDS, and this weekend while going through a blog HOP I saw a few MDS cards. So it gave me some inspiration to practice a little. I finally had reason to make a page, not that I don't have tons of catching up to do with my scrapbooking mind you, but this occassion is something special; in our family anyway.

My middle grandchild... Becca won third place in her figures (where they have to go on one skate in a figure 8 on the floor at her skating competition. She also participated in the "Shoot the Duck" position (down on one skate with one leg out front) and "Stroking" (don't know that one) and she's getting better all the time. She was so proud and told me all about it on the phone. The second day she won a "Reward" certificate too. Isn't she just cutest 5 year old skater you ever saw!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Triple Treat Ribbon Cake - {PPA117}

2011-10-29T14:35:00.000-04:00

Today's post is for the Pals Paper Arts - Ribbon - challenge 117 using one of my favorite new stamps.. the Triple Treat Flower and here's my card.

This needs little explaination but the colors are cajun craze, crumb cake, chocolate chip cs with pieces of the new SPICE CAKE (love it) DSP and a scrap of cameo coral designer DSP to add some punch.

I tied the chocolate chip wide stripped ribbon with piece of linen thread, then added the flower which was stamped twice with the Triple Treat Flower; Once on lucky limeade, and again on crumb cake. Then I used the 5 point flower and punched out the center and held together with an antique brad.

The leaves are actually the wings from the two-step-bird punch tucked in behind the ribbon. I stamped the sentiments from My Friend, but in hind sight I should have heat embossed it..

Here's a peek at the inside using touches from the front.

Done!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Watercooler Llama Holiday Hop! Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas

2011-10-22T08:07:00.001-04:00

This post is for the Watercooler Llama Holiday Hop. If you are following the HOP in order you should have arrived from Debbie Martin's blog. The HOP rules are to make three projects, any holiday of your choice, however, ONE must be a 3D project. .... AND...... It's my very FIRST HOP ever! I'm very excited and nervous all at the same time. Excited to participate but nervous because I don't really understand it all yet and I really hope I linked everything correctly. So with that being said, here are my Watercooler Holiday HOP projects.

PROJECT #1 Halloween Treat Holder

Let's start with Halloween. I made a 3D Witch Hat Candy Holder.

I used the Petal Cone die and embossed with the Spider Web embossing folder. The base of the hat is a circle cut with my Cricut. I shaded with rich razzleberry ink, added a few strips of DSP for a band then I tied a rich razzleberry ribbon around the base.

The sentiment from "Hand-Penned Holidays" is stamped and distressed with rich razzleberry ink on piece of whisper white cs with flagged ends. I added to the witch hat with glue dots at the center.

Now for the fun part. When you turn it upside down you find the prize! Two flaps of the Petal Cone die go through two slits in the large circle to form a closure. The other two flap of the die make a easy access to the candy, yet stay closed enough to prevent spillage of the same.

This photo below shows it closed with a paper clip, but this will be replaced by pieces of magnet sheet. I only hope it holds, otherwise plan 'B' is velcro closings.

Done!

I hope you like my 3D Witch Hat candy holder. You can find detailed instructions of many demos by typing "petal cone witch hat" into any search engine.

PROJECT #2 Thanksgiving Favor

For my next project I made another 3D table favor for Thanksgiving (or Fall).

This favor used two cuts from the milk carton die. Here it is ...

Isn't he the cutest little acorn guy ever? I found this punch art acorn from a free tutorial at Stamp and Scrap with Frenchie; check it out! I used dark green cs for the milk carton pieces. Once together I added a strip of DSP as a band and decorated with some leaves stamped from "French Foliage" directly on DSP scraps then fussy cutting them, adding to the box with glue dots.

Here's a peek at the back.

I punch holes around the top flaps and strung with hemp twine and tied a bow.

The little acorn was punched using the ornament punch and a few partial pieces of large and small ovals make the hat and smile. (It's all in the tut). The silver brad was colored with a pumpkin pie write marker. The cheeks come to life with a touch of ink and dauber end, then the eyes are made with a black write marker; hat, cheek and eye highlights from a white gel pen.

"Thanks" from "Fabulous Phrases" was stamped in soft suede on very vanilla and punched with an oval punch, then glued to a piece of cameo coral and punched with the tag punch. It was added with one of the new mini clothespins to the twine! Done!

PROJECT #3 Christmas Card

My third and final project is a Christmas card using the new "Stocking Builder" punch. Here's my card.

It's a pretty simple assembly using lucky limeade cs as a base,then layered with Jolly Holiday DSP (retired and I'm so sad) and I thought this DSP looked like a fireplace. How about you?

I stamped 'believe' in cherry cobbler ink on a piece of very vanilla then drew a line 1/4" inside the edge with a cherry cobbler write marker to connect the sentiment.

I punched two stockings with the Stocking Builder punch from various DSP scraps and assembled, then added some bling with dazzling diamonds. I used a 1/8" hole punch a the top of each stocking, then tied a bow with cherry cobbler bakers twine. I added to the front with dimensionals. Now we're all ready for SANTA! Done!

I hope you like my Stocking Builder punch Christmas card. I look forward to any comments on my first HOP attempt.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my three Watercooler Llama Holiday HOP projects and your next stop on the HOP is Heather!
So to see her fabulous projects just click the box below...

If you would like to return to main page of the Llama HOP blog click the box below...

SWAP CARD FRONT

For those that did not play this time, here is my SWAP card.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

CAS Red & Green Sketch Christmas (PP#68, FMS#6)

2011-10-16T15:52:00.000-04:00

This post using the "Beautiful Season" stamp set will hopefully work for two challenges; The Paper Players CAS Red & Green {challenge #68}, and Freshly Made Sketches {challenge #6}. This card is not the typical Christmas Red & Green and I turned the sketch a bit, but I hope it will work for both. Here is my card.

I used a crumb cake base and 'temporarily' added a piece of DSP. Then both were run through the Big Shot using the stripes embossing folder. I removed the DSP and I wrapped it with a piece of cherry cobbler seam binding, then glue permanently to the card front. If you look close you can see the embossed DSP.

The bird image from "Beautiful Season" was stamped on very vanilla with versamark & early espresso ink, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored the image with crumb cake, cherry cobbler and lucky limeade inks using a blender pen, and few write markers. The die cut piece was popped up with dimensional.

I stamped Merry Christmas on very vanilla and punched with a 1 1/4" circle punch and added to a LARGE Spice Cake designer button. Added a snippet of cobbler seam binding and popped up with double dimensionals. Done!

I hope you like my card today.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Fall Thanksgiving {PPA 115 challenge}

2011-10-15T14:20:00.001-04:00

Well hi everyone. I've been out the country and out of blogland working in Mexico, so I was happy to get back in time to be able to play along with the Pals Paper Arts challenge 115 this week. The theme is Fall/Thanksgiving, and here is my card.

I started with a Cajun Craze base and added some yummy "Spice Cake" DSP for the background. LOVE that DSP!

I used a masking technique on very vanilla for the pumpkins from "Autumn Harvest" using Cajun craze, pumpkin pie and more mustard inks. I little filling with a blender pen and a few more leaves stamped in the wind. The "Hand-Penned Holidays" font is one of my favorites and stamped that in early espresso ink on top of the images. Seems to be blowing in the wind as well.

I doubled matted the very vanilla piece with a pool party mat and added a snippet of pool party ruffle ribbon with a leaf brad from my stash. Then added to the card with a few dimensional to pop it up.

I hope you like my Fall/Thanksgiving card.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Ribbon Loop Christmas {CFC22}

2011-10-02T21:33:00.000-04:00

Today's post is for CAS-ual Fridays CFC22 "ribbon loop" challenge.

Here are the particulars.
CFC22: Create a Clean And Simple project using a ribbon tab or loop. Big loops, tiny loops...get creative but the loops on a bow don't count.
Here is my card using two new sets from the Stampin' UP holiday mini; "Christmas Lodge" and "Hand Penned Holidays", and an image from "Bells & Boughs".
[This is also one of the cards that will be done in my class this week].

The sentiment from "Christmas Lodge" was stamped in crumb cake ink.

The lodge is stamped in brown Stazon on crumb cake cardstock, then the snow is colored with white craft ink and blender pen, then sprinkled with glitter. It's matted on soft suede cardstock, both pieces have the corners punched.

I then rolled the edges inward of a piece of wide striped ribbon, then folded in half and punched a hole with my crop-a-dile. I added to the mat with a large brad. The whole piece was popped up with a few dimensionals.

Here's a peek at the inside using "Hand Penned Holidays" with that yummy font, and the image from "Bells & Boughs".

I hope you liked my card with a LOOP!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Bobby's Birthday - Giraffe CASE

2011-09-23T19:31:00.001-04:00

Today's post is a special card I had to make for my brother's birthday. I was at a total loss of what to make with totally NO MO JO going on. I was soooooooo excited to see a card this week that would be perfect!... except I didn't have that stamp set. So I have to admit, the materials used are not all SU, but I that's going to have to be ok, OK?

I was inspired by one of my favorite designers Ann Schach, and my inspiration is from a card she did the other day here. Well it was more than inspiration it was pretty much a CASE! I was soooooooo excited by the techniques she used, I couldn't wait until I got out of work to run home and try them out! How about that BG pattern? So cute!

Ann made her BG pattern with rubber from the new clear mounts, but I wanted something permanent so I didn't have to fuss with it each time I wanted to use it. So here is my version. I LOVE it!

First I had to dig out some rubber scraps that is left from the stamps sets. I cut up pieces and stuck them to a wood block to make a giraffe skin pattern. I previously purchased a whole box of wood blocks from another demo that wanted to get rid of them last year so I used the rubber from wood mounted stamps and used a large BG size block, so now I have a new BG stamp to keep and use forever!!! Yippee! and... here's my card.

I stamped the BG giraffe pattern with early espresso ink on more mustard cs and mounted the piece to a black card base. Then I ran my card base through the BS with an embossing folder that reminded me of the giraffe pattern. If you look close you can see it.

I used cream color emboss powder on very vanilla to emboss my (cutie) giraffe, then distress with crumb cake ink and the spritzer/marker. I matted it on a piece of early espresso and glued to the card front. I did the same with the sentiment oval.

Next I stamped some jungle leaves with lucky limeade ink on pear pizzazz cs; fussy cut and distressed it with (are you ready?).. turquoise ink! Another tip from Ann.

I mounted them to a small black cs circle and folded a scrap of twill tape then attached the antique brad. I mounted to the card front with a dimensional.

Here's a peek at the inside with touches from the front! I think it turned out so cute..... that I made TWO! One to send and one for a spare!

Notice I use two different brads too... Which one do you like?

THANKS Ann for the inspiration and tips!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

FALL Clean and Simple for Paper Players 64 theme Animal or Plant

2011-09-19T12:01:00.000-04:00

Today is quick post for the clean and simple Paper Players #64 theme challenge "Animals or Plants"...

Here is my card.

This is a pretty simple assembly using the neutral card base with the Pocketful of Poises DSP matted in Rich Razzleberry cardstock. I stamped directly on the DSP using a stamp from the "Perfectly Penned" set.

I added a few die cut leaves to the front, then punched a hole in the center of a scallop circle to make the shaker frame flower which is centered over the white circle stamped with 'autumn wishes' and filled with more tiny punched leaves. Done!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

"Bewitched" for the Halloween PPA110 challenge

2011-09-09T17:44:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that Halloween is right around the corner! Soon there will be little goblins running around in search of the candy on "Halloween"! That's what the 'theme' challenge {PPA110} is all about at the Pal Paper Arts this week, so as soon as I saw the inspiration photo, "Bewitched"... I knew just what card I would submit.

This is one of the cards from my class this week...

Isn't she just the cutest? This card was made using peach parfait, wild wasabi and rich razzleberry card stock. The image is stamped on whisper white using the set "Out on a Limb" from the holiday mini. I sponged the moon with daffodil delight and more mustard, then added a little bling with chunky glitter.

The sentiment (retired) is framed in razzleberry and popped up with dimensionals.

Here's a peek at the inside with touches from the front. I'm actually using this for an October birthday card, and I also colored her little socks and hair with write markers since this photo was taken.

Hope you liked it.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Sense of Time - 60th Birthday {PP#62}

2011-09-03T21:05:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone.

I just posted this yesterday night, and as luck would have it, I found out this morning the Paper Players has a theme challenge... Birthdays! I LOVE to play along when I can but this is a BUSY weekend and I likely will not have to time to do another. So I decided I would come back this morning to edit my post for the Paper Players "Birthdays" challenge {PP#62}. Hope that's okay!

This is a quick post to show the masculine vintage card I made for my friend on his 60th birthday. I used the stamp set "Sense of Time" because, for me anyway, when I recently turned the Big 6 0....TIME seemed to matter a little more. So here is my card.

The card base is crumb cake distressed (I'll just say now that I distressed everything!). with the spritzer and layered with cherry cobbler cs and wood pattern Well Worn DSP. I layered another piece of newsprint then I wrapped that entire mat with piece of wide striped ribbon, frayed one side then tied at the top with trimmed edge scrap.

I glazed the 'watch' with crystal effects (let it dry overnight) and added a antique brad to the center. Now if you look really close you'll see I used an old broken necklace as the watch chain...too funny, eh? I clipped the clasp on the sentiment tag from the same set then popped it up with dimensionals.

I added a few gears made from the Cogs punch, and sprinkled a few inside too.

Here's a peek at the inside with touches from the front.

Now to finish the envelope with a hint of what is in inside.

DONE!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Oh Happy Day!

2011-08-31T17:06:00.000-04:00

Just had the most wonderful news! My card from my previous post was picked as a winner for the Pal Paper Arts "Soften the Edges" challenge . How fun is that!

I love playing in the challenges, and being picked as winner is the icing on the cake!

I want to say "Thanks again" to the PPA design team for making my day!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Soften the Edges - PPA# 108

2011-08-27T19:16:00.000-04:00

Hi there. Tonight I'm posting a card for Pal Paper Arts challenge #108 elements of style - "Soften the Edges". I put my thinking cap on and tried to create something with rounded or soft edges. Here's my card.

I used the new IN colors for this card, starting with calypso coral card base and rounded the edges. I cut a piece of the new "Spice Cake" DSP and rounded one corner, then added to the lower front of the card. I stamped my "Perfectly Penned" sentiment in soft suede on very vanilla and rounded one corner. I then did some paper piercing and added this piece to the upper card front.

I also die the leaves and softened them by distressing with lucky limeade ink and marker. I pinched them in the middle to add dimension before gluing to the front.

Over the leaves I added my FIRST lollie!

To cut my flower I used the Sizzix scallop circle #2 die, then fan folded my first layer from calypso coral DSP from the pattern stack. I glued my lollie to a 1 1/2" circle of pool party card stock. I then layered the center of the lollie with the small scallop circle of the same DSP, and again with two layers small scallop circles of the new Spice Cake Fabric cut with the same die. I added a new printed designer calypso coral brad to the center.

Here a peek at the inside with touches from the front and another leaf from "French Foilage" was stamped few times as well.

I finished it off by stamping a bloom from "Field Flowers" on the envelope. Done!

I hope you like my card for the PPA108 challenge... "Soften the Edges".

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Hootie is in Heaven!

2011-08-26T09:08:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! What do think? Isn't my new look just a HOOT? Little Hootie thinks so, he's all freshened up and looking mighty dapper, don't you think? He's just hanging out on his branch in the clean fresh air.
Now really... Aren't those the cutest clouds ever??????

I've been thinking of changing my blog background; as much as I liked it, for a while now because it took so long to open the page when people came to visit. Well! What a great surprise I got from my FABULOUS and CREATIVE up line Nance Leedy at Canopy Crafts. She surprised me with this new "LooK' which was created by Lesley who just launched a new website titled "Premade Blog Banners" by Lesley.
Lesley Croghan is a very talented and creative designer, not only of blog banners, but she is also on the Design Team of many other challenge blogs (as is Nance); which is where I first got to know her talent. You can also check out her projects on her own blog... "Always Playing with Paper".

Be sure to check out Lesley's new site "Premade Blog Banners" starting August 27th where you can purchase a premade banner using all Stampin' Up images for your own blog. She's also offering some Blog Candy... and who doesn't love candy!

I'm so happy and excited about my new fresh look and LOVE everything about it and I hope you do too. So just one more thing to say..... THANKS Nance for my surprise gift and THANKS Lesley for making it all happen.
So leave a comment and let me know what you think.... then hop on over to check out Lesley's new site.
You can also access this site from the icon above that is located on my sidebar.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

CAS Christmas {PPA106} - "Dress for Success"

2011-08-14T19:58:00.000-04:00

A quick post for the Pals Paper Arts "Dress for Success" challenge {#106}. We were to use 1 piece of DSP, 1 punch and 1 sentiment. I used the new stamp set "Christmas Lodge" from the Holiday Mini for my card, and here it is.

The rules for this challenge were so super simple my card will need little explanation.

I started with a cherry cobbler card base and added some pine tree DSP from my stash.

I stamped the sentiment from Christmas Lodge on a whisper white scallop circle and distressed it with pear pizzazz and crumb cake. I colored the birds with a blender pen using a cherry cobbler marker.

Before I mounted the focal point I took a scrap piece of 1 1/4" inch striped ribbon and frayed the edges; folded over the top: then glued it to the front. I used the trimmed piece of ribbon to thread through the button, then used a glue dot to add to the scallop circle. I popped up the sentiment piece with dimensionals.

I finished the inside with two more stamps from Christmas Lodge, distressed the edges and glued to the card.

Done!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Recess! {PP#58 School Daze theme challenge}

2011-08-07T11:31:00.000-04:00

Hi there everyone. Today's post is for the Paper Players theme challenge #58 - "School Daze" using the SU stamp set "Recess". One of my favorite things to do on Sunday morning is to sit with my coffee and view what the new challenge will be on Paper Players blog. This worked out perfectly for me since I JUST made this card last night to send a little somethin' to help with my grandkid's school supplies. This card did not photograph as colorful as it is in person but here is my card.

I used a calypso coral cs base and stamped the a-b-c & hop-scotch background with Versamark then rounded the corners. However, until this very moment I didn't realize the hop-scotch was stamped upside down! Oops {well I'm only in kindergarten!}

The front has a strip of daffodil delight from the "Just Add Cake" DSP. The focal point is stamped on whisper white cs and colored with markers. The sentiment is from "Fabulous Phrase", then mounted on a wild wasabi scalloped circle which I dotted with a white gel pen then popped up with dimensionals.

The inside BG is also stamped with "Recess" in Versamark (also upside down). The sentiment is stamped on another scallop circle and matted with wild wasabi then glued to the card. I also added a little hand written note on the reverse of the "Just Add Cake" DSP, then punch the edge with the Spiral punch {retired} and mounted to the opposite inside panel. I really wish this punch was still available because it fits perfect with the new 'school' themed stamp sets.

I finished the envelope with another of the images from "Recess".

Ding, Dong..... Done!

I'm pretty sure my granddaughters will like this card... but mom will like the check!

Hugs!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

A Island Indigo Calm - Piercing - Sketch. {PPA 104 & PP 57}

2011-07-31T18:15:00.004-04:00

Well hi there everyone. This is going to be a super fast post. I needed a card for a elderly gentleman friend that is home from the hospital, and I thought... hmmmmm, maybe a brayer card which is super quick..

I was simply rubbing different ink spots across a piece of glossy paper to see how the colors looked and soon I was making a sunset (without the sun}and then I just had to stamp a palm tree and a few flowers from upsy daisy to foreground.

If I add a scrolled to the bottom (side if I alter it) this card would actually fit two challenges! I hope anyway. So added it to the side and let the Big Shot do the piercing.

I added the sketch details... well sideways anyway.. stamped a sentiment in Island Indigo from Friendly Phrases (love that font) and also a 3 teal rhinestones for some bling.

and if you look close the Top Note piercing was done by the Big Shot die and I hope it works for the PPA challenge.

Gave my scene some water movement with a white gel pen...... and ta da!

Done!

So this will entered in the Pal Paper Arts 104 paper piercing challenge

even though the Big Shot did the piercing on my Top Note.

and The Paper Players #57 Nance's sketch challenge.

Well I told you it was short! Hope you liked it, and even more, hope they qualify.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

What's SMORE fun than eating a SMORE "Under the Stars"?

2011-07-28T08:54:00.000-04:00

Hi there.

Today's post will highlight a recent project that was the combined effort of one of my best pals Nancy from Nanc's Niche and myself. Nancy also happens to be the mother of my up-line Nance Leedy from Canopy Crafts. The inspiration for our project came from Becky Roberts over at Inking Idaho who comes up with some of the cutest stuff ever! .... did you follow all that???

Good. Now for our project; here's a quick look to show you what we made for this past weekend's fun with my best gal pals at our Annual Gull Lake Golf Outing. In other words.... Wild Women Out of Town!

Here's our inspiration from Becky Roberts.[ I know..adorable].

We knew we wanted to make the SMORE packs with the new FLAT marshmallows called Stackers

..(how cute is that!) and the bear from the "Under the Stars" stamp set, but we were having trouble finding the clear boxes that are shown in Becky's inspiration photo, so we settled on a clear cello bag instead and tied them with different colored raffia ribbon and twine. We stamped, colored and cut out the small Smores and bears, but instead of holding two smores, our bear is also holding a sentiment stamped on a flag from "Pendant Parade" then punched with the new Pendant punch. Don't they look Grrreat?

Here's a few more photos.

We packaged and hauled in a cooler like this to keep from melting ....

When it was time to bring them out we slipped each one into a Fancy Favor box adorned with the "Skeeter" roller .......

I know... adorable; right?

Please let me know what you think and be sure to stop by Nanc's Niche and let her know too!

Now aren't YOU ready for SMORE fun?

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Summertime Fun with my Grandkids!

2011-07-17T21:12:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone.

I've been absent from blog land for a bit but I just wanted to share a few photos of some of the fun we had during the last 11 days with my grandchildren. I miss them already, the house is sooooooo quiet and little Becca has called me 3 times to tell me her eyes won't stop crying because she loves me & papa and wanted to stay longer. So stinkin' cute but so heartbreaking it made me cry too! Anyway.... here is some of the fun. We went to visit my brother Larry (Kim) for the weekend and after being out on the boat a bonfire was in order - daughter Dena, grandkids Hannah 9, Becca 5 & Brian 2 1/2 enjoy the fire. SMORES and more...

Going Out on the lake

tubing...

I couldn't believe they ALL (Hannah, Becca & Brian) climbed right on the big Banana tube with cousin Michael and girlfriend (Sarah). Little Brian got off and they rest of the crew started showing off.

Stopping at the Sandbar for a lazy day of swimming... even Sarah's 3 legged dog is ready!

floating to the sandbar.......

Brian takes a nap on Gramma's lap.... ZZzzzzzzzz

Returning to Gramma's of course they always want to make some crafts with Gramma. Keep in mind while viewing they did ALL work! Each one made a Christmas ornament for the tree this year [gift from Uncle Larry & Aunt Kim].

Hannah (9 yrs. old) made a set of all occasion cards for a dear family friend's (Sylvia)birthday coming in August.

Hannah did ALL the stamping and the creativity was all her's. Gramma made a box to hold the cards. Becca (5 yrs. old) made a scrapbook box of their Michigan visit for Sylvia - gramma made the 'surprise' box and Becca did all gluing and arranging.

Brian (2 1/2 yrs.old) made his card with help from his sisters but I don't have a photo (oooppps) It's a good thing he can't read yet, but you'd never know it... (he's such a parrot)...

Brian reading the morning paper with Papa.

Last but not least.. their favorite... Pancakes!

Hope you enjoyed my little angels.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy - Cakes, Candy, Ice Cream and More! { PPA 102 & CFC11}

2011-07-15T22:40:00.002-04:00

Welllllll it's been a while since I've posted, or peeked, or checked my email, or anything!

Gramma is POOPED! My daughter & three grandkids have been visiting for 11 days and my little angels went to bed early tonight to rest up for their early morning flight, so I thought I'd take a peek at my favorite blogs since I can't sleep myself.

So it's going to be a quick post for two challenges; the Pals Paper Arts - "Summertime and the Livin' is Easy" & Cas-ual Fridays "Cakes, Candy, Ice Cream and More"! What says "Summertime" better than three angel grandkids and Ice Cream! And we had plenty of it too!

So that is my inspiration for this challenge; here is my card.

It was easy and quick and needs very little explanation. The card base is crumb cake layered with a piece of blushing bride designer series paper.

I used three of the same image from "Pretty Postage" stamped in cherry cobbler ink on very vanilla then punched with the postage stamp punch and matted in cherry cobbler cs, then assembled at different angles to add interest.

The main image ice cream cone is stamped from "Sweet Scoops" in chocolate chip (what else?) and the ice cream is pretty in pink ink, with cherry cobbler sprinkles on very vanilla. (umm I'm getting hungry for yet another ice cream cone!) The sentiment is from "Swirls and Curls" (summer mini hostess) also stamped sideways in cherry cobbler ink then matted in early espresso cs and popped up with dimensionals.

I finished it off with a brad bow using pretty in pink ribbon and large brad that was attached with a glue dot.

The inside is finished off with some yummy touches of the front. Even though I have made this card before, I like it every time I do... and it always makes me hungry for ice cream!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Emboss Resist -Christmas in July - PPA{100} & PP{54}

2011-07-03T22:47:00.000-04:00

Hi and Happy 4th of July everyone!

This card will be used for two challenges; the Pals Paper Arts {#100}"favorite technique" challenge; emboss resist, AND for the Paper Players "Christmas in July" challenge{#54).

I hope you're enjoying your July 4th weekend as much as I am, which sparked me to use this holiday to choose my color scheme for my challenges. So get ready for a Red, White & BLUE Christmas in July using the Emboss Resist technique.

So here is my CAS card.

I started with a cherry cobbler base and stamped the pine tree from "Lovely as Tree" in versamark on the inside and front card stock of my card then rounded the corners.

I tore a page from an old dictionary and when I found just the right page.....

I stamped the same tree, that I used on the BG, three times in versamark on the dictionary piece; I then heat embossed with white embossing powder. I tore around all the edges of the dictionary page, then covered with bordering blue ink using a dauber. I took a pencil and curled one corner.

The sentiment was inked in versamark then cherry cobbler and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

I sheared a piece of crumb cake seam binding, then using a craft knife to sliced a small slit under the word Xmas and poked the sheared seam binding through it and taped to the back of the page; then secured the end to front with a glue dot.

I added some bling with a few soft blue rhinestones to the middle tree

I then attached the dictionary page to the card front. Done!

I haven't finished the inside with a sentiment yet but the BG versamark trees will be waiting when my new stamps arrive to receive just the right one. Hard to see here.

I hope you like my Emboss Resist Christmas in July challenge card.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Change of a Dress - {PPA 100} your favorite technique challenge

2011-07-02T18:08:00.000-04:00

Whooo Hoo the Pals Paper Arts is celebrating their 100th challenge! Wowzer wowzer! This challenge says to use your favorite technique....hmmmm that is going to be HARD because I like so many different kinds of techniques. So I thought and I thought and finally settled on a combination... embossing and paper piecing because I LOVE layers and texture on my cards too. I also used some retired and new items; and here's my card.

This card is for a friend that just moved back into her NEW house... but it's really not new, just totally remodeled to accommodate her handicapped sister. The house is 'finally' done and it's beautiful! I started my card by embossing the card front with the square lattice embossing folder and rounding the corners.

I added a layer of the new Wisteria cardstock and punched opposite corners with a rounder.

The focal point features the dress forms from Sew Suite stamped on whisper white and then I matted the WW on melon mambo cardstock and added some melon mambo pom pom trim to one side and popped up with dimensionals.

The form stands were outlined with a silver paint pens to look like metal stands.

I added some Flirtatious Fabric to the forms to resemble one dress done and one in progress. The finished dress has a ric-rac belt and two tiny pink pearls for accents.

I stamped the tape measure from Sew Suite on Just Add Cake DSP and cut it out and added silver paint pen to resemble the metal end on most tape measures.

I tucked a designer button under the mat and on top of the tape.

I also added a scrap of the wisteria fabric to the sentiment and added a tiny pale pink button. The sentiment is from Tiny Tags. I also did the pins in silver paint pen.

Then I popped this up with dimensionals as well.

The inside sentiment is from Humor in High Heels but was so fitting for the card.

"Change of a Dress".... too cute, right? You see, my friend has been living at her deceased mother's house caring for her sister while the construction to handicap her house has been going on, and now she gets to move back home. So it's really not a NEW house, but if you could see the finished product, you'd think it was exactly that!

I had some odd envelopes that match the wisteria perfectly.. so of course I added a few images to finish the envelope for my card. I hope you like it and stop by again soon. Hugs.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

The Sun will come out Tomorrow!

2011-06-24T20:07:00.000-04:00

Hi there!

It feels like forever since I've posted anything because I've been out of the country for work. I didn't have much time to 'think' about what I want to do with my new SU stamps yet, so I'm going to make this a 'very' quick post because I have to get a card in the mail tomorrow for my dear friend going through radiation treatment. So here is my card.

I started with a few items I purchased on my pre-order from the new IBC... I can't wait until July 1st to place a real BIG order. So I only for now I have the new colors of card stock and one pack of DSP. For my card I'm using the new IN colors Pool Party and Calypso Coral card stock, and embellished using the new "Just Add Cake" DSP.

The other items used are non SU but they seemed to work for what I wanted to say.

Here is a peek at the inside using touches of the front.

I hope you liked my card today.

I told you it was a QUICK post!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Wild For You - Paper Players color challenge {51}

2011-06-12T22:34:00.003-04:00

Ohhh wow... Two posts in one day! But I'm loving the color combo for the Paper Players color challenge! I wanted to use a new set from the upcoming new IBC for this challenge, BUT.... I'm still waiting to get some NEW stamp sets from the big brown truck! [I did get a bundle and the new color kit but have to wait until July for my shopping spree of new stuff]. So I grabbed an oldy but goody set "Under the Stars" for this cheery card. First .... here are the fun colors we get to use.

Wild Wasabi, Delightful Daffodil and Melon Mambo.... So cherry and bright! Don't they just make you smile? I sure do and here is my card.

White card base was my starting point to stamp my background scene using all the challenge colors. I inked my title stamp with Stampin' write markers and triple matted with the challenge colors as well.

I stamped the little critters from "Under the Stars" and colored again with write markers. The little raccoon was stamped directly on the front but I cut out the big 'ole bear with snips to give some dimension.

I stamped the flags from the new "Pendant Parade" set and punched the banners with the new petite pendant punch and stamped each flag with a small alphabet letter in early espresso, and finally topped each one with a coat of crystal effects. Then I punch 1/16" holes and threaded with linen thread to hang from the bear's hands. Then popped the bear up with dimensions.

Here's a peek at the inside.

I hope you liked my card.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

A Little Old - A Little New - Signature Style - PPA {97} challenge

2011-06-12T12:24:00.001-04:00

Today's post is for the Pals Paper Arts "Signature Style" challenge {97}. I'm not even sure I have a 'style' but I do know what I like. Whether it's vintage (love), clean and simple, fun and cheery, elegant or whimsical it makes me take a second look. As for details, I do really like layers; using DSP, matting, ribbon, brads and of course a little bling when it fits. When it's finished... it something that makes me say ... Aawwww I really like that! So here is my card using some Old and some NEW Stampin' Up favorites.

This card started with a basic black card base mixed with some retired dsp in black/white ghinham along with pink retired dsp, and also pink pirouette and whisper white cs. I love this color combo no matter what the style.

I ran the retired Friendly Words wheel over the whisper white and cut to fit the bottom of the front just under the black & white check dsp [This would be the 'old' part of my card].

I wrapped a piece of pink pirouetter ribbon around the seam with glue dots and adhered to the front. I made a brad bow using more pink pirouette ribbon and an old olive brad and glued to the ribbon with another glue dot.

I cut a large scallop circle with the sizzix die of the retired dsp for the focal point.

I stamped two blossoms from the new "Fabulous Florets" (LOVE) set on pink pirouette cardstock and cut out with paper snips and finished the edges with a dauber and PP ink on the edges and touch to the centers. I cut out a leaf with a sizzix die and used the pear pizzazz ink with the small leaf again from "Fabulous Florets" set to make the veins.

I layered the flowers over the branch and popped the top one up with a dimensional then added a touch of bling with an medium pearl to the center. I stamped the sentiment in pear pizzazz ink from the "You're a Gem" set to the left. I then popped the entire scallop circle focal point up with a few more dimensionals. Done!

Here's a peek at the inside using up the scraps of dsp and few more stamped blossoms in pink pirouette. Awwww I really like that! Hope you do too.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Kind Thanks for the Paper Players {50}

2011-06-05T20:16:00.001-04:00

Just a quick post to play along with The Paper Players - 'Kind Thanks' challenge -
[make a Thank You card].

This card needs little explanation but you can see I used up more scraps and did some punch art for this CAS card.

I started with a white card stock base and embossed with "Framed Tulips" embossing folder. Next I took another scrap of white cs and ran it through the BS with the "Square Lattice" embossing folder and matted with another scrap of melon mambo cs, then glued to the front center.

I punched a few sets from the "Two Step Bird" punch, in various greens and glued down a few of the branches .

I then stamped some flowers from "Punch Potpourri" in melon mambo on WW cs and the bird from the same set in pear pizzazz on PP card stock.

I punched two sets of flowers with the Boho Blossoms punch and curled with a bone folder. I glued down the branches and a few flowers; I also popped a few flowers up with dimensionals.

I created the vase using the oval punch, rounded with a bone folder and shaded with some pear pizzaz ink, then popped up over the stems. Then I glued the other branches next to the vase and added the pretty birdie with a pop dot.

Then sentiment was stamped in EE ink on WW cs and punched with an oval punch, also popped up with dimension.

Here's a peek at the inside with shades of the front. Done!

I hope you liked my "Thank You" card for the Paper Players challenge.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Brad scraps for PPA95

2011-05-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

Here is a quick post for the Pals Paper Arts "BRADS" challenge.

For this card I decided to dive in my scraps bin... and here is my card.

I started with a perfect plum card base and for the rest of the DSPs it was all pieces and bits I had left over of (mostly) retired DSPs. I used the scallop edge on the olive gingham then layered a piece of the plum series DSP, then a layer of another piece of olive floral paper.

I created the main flower with the Fun Flowers die using scraps of pear pizzazz cs and springtime vintage dsp. I held this flower together with a pink corduroy (retired) brad then popped it up a dimensional.

I made the little tag from plum cs and stamped the sentiment in the same colored ink. I added a small flower with the Boho Blossoms punch to the tag and held it on with a small olive brad, then tucked a branch from the two step bird punch. I tied the tag on to the corduroy brad with some twine .

The second sentiment is stamped in plum on w.w. and punched with the word window punch, then two more olive brads hold that to the pink label mat and popped up with dimensional.

Here's a peek at the inside and I finished the envelope with a piece of perfect plum DSP. Hope you liked my brad challenge card.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Fabulous Florets - Gem of a Friend PP48 sketch challenge

2011-05-23T21:17:00.001-04:00

Today's post is for The Paper Player's sketch challenge. My wonderful up line Nance Leedy of Canopy Crafts was the Paper Players DT member that chose this great sketch..

and here is my card for the challenge using my favorite set from the summer mini Fabulous Florets, and another new item; the Flower Garden embossing folder.

I hope you can see the sketch, which I modified a bit, but I think I captured it okay.

I started with a white card base embossed with the Flower Garden emboss folder, then embossed another piece of wasabi green and placed it on the front left side.

Here is a closer look at the embossing side by side.

The focal point is a w.w. white scallop circle stamped with a sentiment from "You're a Gem" in wild wasabi ink. Then I stamped the stem from "Fabulous Florets" in wild wasabi, and stamped a second time (without reinking) on the inside. (you'll see that in a minute). Then I stamped the blossoms from the Fabulous Florets on tangerine with tangerine ink and cute them out. (I stamped a second time without re-inking on the inside again). I dusted the edges with a touch of white shimmer paint, then added a few rhinestones and popped them up with a dimensional.

I stamped a few leaves in wasabi and cut them out and added to the focal point to complete my sketch items.

Here's a peek at the inside, but I haven't added the sentiment yet.

Then the finishing touch on the envelope.

Done!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

You're a Gem of a Friend

2011-05-22T21:12:00.000-04:00

Today is a quick post of a card I made for a friend. I love the colors and actually made several; each a little different. Here is my card.

I started with pacific point blue and layered with daffodil delight accents.

I embossed the card front with the new "Flower Garden" embossing folder. Then I stamped one blossom from "Fabulous Florets" several times in pacific point on w.w. cs and ran it through the BS using the square lattice emboss folder. I added that to a pacific point mat, and again with a daffodil delight mat.

I wrapped this stack with a frayed piece of wide striped daffodil delight ribbon and tied it with the tiny piece I cut off the edge, then I added to the card front. I stamped the sentiment from "You're a Gem" set in pacific point on w.w. and double matted with a daffodil scallop oval, and a pacific point large oval then popped it up with a few dimensionals overlapping the ribbon.

I stamped another blossom from "Fabulous Florets" and cut it out leaving a hint of white and popped this up as well, then added a pretty blue rhinestone to the center.

Here is a peek at the inside using a sentiment from "Happy Greetings" and a few more blossoms from "Fabulous Florets".

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Here Comes the Bride - {PPA93} challenge

2011-05-15T11:09:00.000-04:00

Hi there everyone... well today my post is for the Pals Paper Arts "Here Comes the Bride" challenge, and here is the inspiration photo.... oooohhh so pretty.

My wedding stamps are very limited, but here is my card.

It really is much prettier in person than it's showing here, so use your imagination. I started with a crumb cake card base, than punch the corners with a double rounder. The next layer is a very vanilla stamped with an image from the "Blissful Bride" set. I colored the bow on the dress with a blushing bride write marker, then run through the BS with the square emboss folder and added a tiny pearl the center of the bow.

The next layer is vellum card stock embossed with the new "Flower Garden" emboss folder which I colored with a touch of crumb cake ink, then tore the edges before attaching.

Next I stamped the sentiment from "Happy Greetings" in crumb cake in on very vanilla cs and punched with the decorative label punch. I punched a second label from some gold tissue paper and beefed up the back with a third label in cs.

I colored a small rosette with the blushing bride write marker and added another pearl to the center of the rosette.

Here's a peek at the inside using touches from the front.

Then I stamped the envelope.

Hope you liked my card today.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today! Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Brother's Birthday {PP46} color challenge.

2011-05-08T20:21:00.003-04:00

Hi again! Wow two posts in one day! I just posted my card this morning for the PPA challenge ... then I was soooooo excited to see a new challenge at the Paper Players ; another color challenge that fits the birthday card, I made for my brother's birthday tomorrow, perfectly! Here are the colors.

And here's my card.

I actually had this card done a fewweeks ago but went back and added the twine and tags when I got the inspiration from Ann Schach's card a few posts back here. She is also my spritzer hero too. I 'finally' got the hang of that spritzer after I called SU and got mine replaced. Now I don't have to feel like a spritzer stumper!

I started with marina mist card stock for the base and stamped the compus lightly on the top right corner, then built my card layers using the new "Nautical Expedition" DSP and new stamp set "The Open Sea"... LOVE this set!

I layered a few strips of the DSP to the front then I stamped the ship's log on basic white and spritzed and distressed it and curled the corner.

I also stamped the ship on another piece of basic white and die cut then distressed and spritzed this piece; I stamped the sentiment in cherry cobbler and then matted this piece with cherry cobbler die cut before attaching to the front with pop dots.

The finishing touch (thanks Ann) was to wrap some cherry cobbler baker's twine and add a few tiny tags with a piece of blue floss.

The inside is finished with touches of DSP and more of the Open Sea, then the sentiment was stamped in cherry cobbler.

One more stamp on the envelope... Done!

I REALLY like how it turned out... hope my brother does too!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today! Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Sympathy Watercolors {PPA92 Color Challenge}

2011-05-08T10:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Just quick post today to play along with the Pals Paper Arts color challenge. OOOhhh Love these colors too.

This is actually a card we will be making in my next class on Wednesday. It's pretty simple to assemble too. Here's my card.

I started with pale blushing bride card base and used a double round corner punch to soften the edges.

Then I used VersaMark and stamped the images from Fifth Avenue Floral on vellum and covered in clear embossing powder. I colored the flowers using daubers and inks in blushing bride, poppy parade, peach parfait and did the same with pear pizzazz on the swirls.

Then I used brilliance white pigment ink and white embossing powder on the sentiment.

Next I folded a piece of scrap pear pizzaz ribbon in half and punched a 1/16" hole and added a pale pink corduroy button to secure the vellum to the card front. I also added one tiny glue dot to bottom right lower front to keep the vellum in place.

I repeated the process on the inside but this time I used whisper white cs. I really like how it turned out and think it gives a soft pretty look.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today! Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

May Birthdays & The Cupcake Open!!

2011-05-07T10:31:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone.

Well what a wonderful week this is...why? Because there are so many family members and friends Birthdays this week! [Me 5th, MIL 6th, Michele 7th, Nancy 8th, cousin 8th, brother 9th]. Plus...the first Thursday of May is always our Cupcake Open on my golf league. Why? Because we celebrate the birthdays of Nancy, Michele and ME! Our birthdays are on the 5th;me the 7th; Michele and the 8th; Nancy! how fun is that? Well take my word, it FUN!

I wanted to share the cards I made for both. First is Nancy's; which suits her to a tee.. no pun intended. here it is. I started with a Rich Razzleberry card base and added some pear pizzaaa DSP, which I glued to the pear pizzazz mat then ran through the BS with the Cottage Wall emboss folder.

Then I wrapped the mat with razzleberry polka dotted ribbon and tied a knot bow before attaching to the card front.

I stamped the image and re-stamped it on razzleberry velvet paper and cut out the hat and shoulder area, and glued to the original image. I added a few pear felt pom poms to the hat. Then I colored the face with markers and a blender pen. I added some bling pearl earrings to finish the 'look'.

Here's a peek at the inside... and she really IS a Chic' chick!

And a peek at the envelope. So cute.

Happy Birthday Nancy on the 8th!

Michele's card has been previously posted. When she saw this card she Loved it because it reminded her of her daughter that took ballet and wore tu tus. I knew I had to save it for her birthday.

You can find full details of how I made this card here.

Happy Birthday Michele on the 7th!

There is also many more birthdays at the end of month too! I better get busy.

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today! Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Birds - Bees - Flowers - Trees (PP45) theme challenge

2011-05-01T12:57:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone.

Today's post is for the Paper Players theme challenge - "Birds, Bees, Flowers & Trees" - however I'm still trying to figure out if Spring has really arrived yet.

I don't really have any flower sets from the summer mini that would work for this challenge, so I went to one of my very favorite sets "Four Frames", and that gorgeous "Paisley Petals" DSP that will be available in the new IBC and here is my card.

One of the things I LOVE about this DSP is that it does all the work for you. I think it's just gorgeous. I cut a piece of DSP and matted it with marina blue cs. Then wrapped a piece of cherry cobbler seam binding before adding to the card base.

I stamped the sentiment on WW in cherry cobbler and punched it out with the decorative label punch. A second label was punched out of cherry cobbler to mat the sentiment and popped it up with dimensionals centered on the seam binding.

Then I added a few butterflies in cherry cobbler and marina blue that were made with the butterfly embosslit. I added to the front and label with tom bow and embellished each with a sweet pearl body.

The inside was finished with another piece of DSP. Easy peasy Done!

Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Easter Blossoms Easel Butterfly - PPA #90 sketch

2011-04-23T15:41:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone,

Posting today for the Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge {#90} and here is the sketch.

Now I'll be the first to admit that my card may be stretching the sketch a bit, but I'm going for it anyway. So just squint your eyes and tilt your head and you'll see it!

So with that said.... here's my card.

I used the new "Easter Blossoms" set in the occasions mini... Love that set.

I started with concord crush card base folded to make an A2 horizontal card.

I stamped the blossoms in concord crush on WW cs and colored the blossoms with a blushing bride write marker. I stamped the sentiment in the concord crush then glued the WW to the blushing bride cs and wrapped with concord ribbon. Then adhered the double mat to the card base.

I have seen these easel butterflies on several blogs, but I first saw it on Donna's at Butternut Sage Designs. She used them as place cards for a brunch. So cute.

I used my Sizzix butterfly die in the BS with folded blushing bride cs, and slid it down just a hair to create a fold. I cut another large butterfly and one small butterfly. Then I ran them through the BS with an embossing folder. I assembled the easel butterfly together and stamped a sentiment inside from the new "Pretty Postage" in the summer mini and 2 single stamps in concord crush.

I added a medium metal brad for the butterfly body and glued it to the card front.

Here is what my butterfly looks like from open from the side.

Here is a peak at the inside using some new and old stamps and a few more blossoms on the envelope. Well that's it.. hope you like it.

Hootie says "Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!"

Please leave a comment with your thoughts & I hope you will stop by again.

Diane

Just a Quick Post

2011-04-21T12:12:00.028-04:00

This is just a quick post to show my card for my new pal Brody. It will be going to cheer up his nice neighbor. Hope she likes it.

I used concord crush, whisper white and so saffron cs along with the two step bird punch and the "Fast and Fabulous" hostess set.

A little coloring with my write markers in concord and pear pizzazz, some concord ribbon and a big button tied with jute.

Touches from the front are added to the inside. Done!
Hootie says " Hoot Hoot Hooray...Thanks for stopping by today!

Please leave a comment with your thoughts; I hope you will stop by again!"

Diane

Fashion Inspiration - Flowers PPA 89

2011-04-14T16:10:00.001-04:00

Today's post is for the challenge at Pals Paper Arts "Flowers" challenge 89, and here is the inspiration photo.

So pretty and doesn't it say SPRING??? Yeah baby!

Well now on to my card..... which is using several new items available this spring.

I started with crumb cake CS for the base, then layered with a piece of soft suade CS. The next layer is the new yummy "Paisley Petals" DSP. Love this stuff and it does all the work!

I made a large flower by using my new Blossoms Punch for the cherry cobbler petals and a 1" circle punch in concord crush for the flower center.

I ran the pieces through the BS with a polka dot embossing folder. I glued the petal ends to the 1" circle with tom bow then free hand cut a stem of old olive.

I glued the stem to the back and sandwiched them with another piece of concord cs. [I punch a larger 1 1/2" circle to sandwich the back of the flower pieces & stem for more stability]. I then used dimensionals to Pop Up the flower head.

I made the flower leaves by using a scrap of olive ribbon tied in a knot, then a glue dot to attach to my stem.

The sentiment is from the SAB set "So Happy for You" stamped in cherry cobbler on a very vanilla then punched with the Modern Label punch. A second modern label was punched in cherry chobbler; cut in half to anchor it; then popped up with a few dimensionals.

Here's a peek at the inside with touches of the front.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment. I hope you like my card today. Please stop by again!" DIANE

Just a Note for a Friend

2011-04-10T11:41:00.000-04:00

Hi there everyone.

Just wanted to share this post today to show you a small gift of note cards I gave to a special friend going through chemo treatments. All the cards are blank inside except for touches of the fronts.

I started by making a box (which I intended to be a my prototype) out of retired crushed curry card stock. I ran out of time due some personal family matters, so now what to do... no time left...

I lined the inside with and out with new "Paisley Petal" DSP. Of course it's not my first choice to have a curry colored box, but I had no other options.

I made to slots with the slot punch and tied closed with WW grosgrain ribbon.

I also added a little sentiment on the top and another big flower made with the "Fun Flowers" die and some PTI felt. Another tag tied on with hemp to a large metal brad through the center of the flower, and done.

Now all I had to do was filled it with handmade note cards made with love.

Many of the note cards are cards I've made and posted previously on my blog. If you look close the newest card I made is the lattern: this one I TOTALLY CASED from my upline Nance Leedy at Canopy Crafts, who has unlimited talent as designer on many blogs. To me she is just the best ever up-line and mentor.

Well I hope you like my little gift box, my friend sure did.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave comment and let me know what your thoughts on my card today. Please stop by again!" DIANE

Technique Punches Card for the PPA {#87}

2011-03-31T19:52:00.000-04:00

My card today is for the Pal Paper Arts (PPA) challenge #87 "Technique Punches". We are challenged to do a design using a punch, or two or three! How fun! I love punch art cards and today my card uses the new Build-a-Cupcake Punch, a Circle Punch and the Oval Punch. We made this card in my last class and the girls had lots of fun doing it. They couldn't believe we going to use a Cupcake punch!

Now here is my card.

I've seen many hot air balloons done with large circles and stamped baskets, but for my card, my inspiration is from Ann Schach that made several balloons using oval punches for the balloon section in the fall of 2010 and you can see one or two of them here.

I started with a bashful blue card base and started punching! I punched up some scraps of card stock in the primary colors. First we punched a 2" circle in yellow. Then we punched some ovals in red, green, orange and blue. [This balloon uses 4 colors made with large oval punch, but you can use more if you like]. I started by gluing the outside ovals to the yellow circle, then popped the top one up a dimensional.

I then took strips of early espresso or chocolate chip scraps and punched out the basket from the bottom of the cupcake. Then it was embossed with the BS using the square lattice embossing folder. Looks just a basket too, don't ya think? I punched a bright pink heart from the small heart punch and used a glue dot to attach it to the basket front.

I had to lay the piece on the card front before attaching permanently to figure out where it would be "flying" and I made a few pencil marks to draw my balloon cables with stampin' write marker.

Then I glued down the balloon to the card front and I used dimensionals to pop up the basket. I also 'bowed' the basket with my fingers as I stuck it down to give it a concave appearance.

I made a knot bow with marina mist 1/8" ribbon and attached with a small glue dot to one of the cables.

Now the really FUN part.....

I punched out 4 cupcake frosting to use as clouds! Can you believe it? I distressed each cloud with marina mist ink and glue to the card after playing around with the positions. I decided to pop one up with dimensionals and overlap the balloon to make appear like the balloon was traveling through the clouds. THEN.... I took a dauber and lightly, lightly, lightly daubed up the clouds with some shimmer mist for a touch of shine.

Now I needed some earth!

I choose this DSP (retired) that had some trees! I just hand cut a piece and matted with a scrap of pear pizzazz and glued down. Then I stamped the sentiment, rounded the ends, and distressed with marina mist ink; popped this up too. (Boy oh boy I love to POP up stuff don't I?)

The inside sentiment was stamped in marina mist on w.w. cs and matted with light pink. I created the rainbow using my double sided tape roll and Stampin' Up write markers. It still looked a little plain so I created more clouds using marina mist ink in the negative from the punched clouds as a template.

One more little heart and Done!

Hope you like my Build-a-Cupcake Hot Air Balloon punch card. Now get out a PUNCH and create!

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment".

Hugs

DIANE

SEW Suite is TuTu cute - {PP#40}

2011-03-27T09:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday AGAIN! I know, I know... two posts in one day. Well I spent yesterday making several cards and I think I have one that will work for the Paper Players Sketch challenge #40. Marina made a great sketch and here it is:

Here is my card that I think will work if you hold you head sideways for the DSP placement.

I used the "Sew Suite" stamp set that I'm just in love with. "Sew" many things to do with it and "Sew" cute!.

I matted the card base with that yummy "Springtime Vintage" DSP.

On W.W. cs I stamped the dress form and pin cushion in espresso ink. The pin cushion was colored with blushing bride SU write marker and I used a silver paint pen to color the pin heads and the dress form stand.

The cutest part of this card is the gathered ribbon skirt. [I've seen this on several other blogs so I CASED the idea, but I can't remember all the names of the designers nor do I know which one actually came up with idea, so I apologize I can't give credit to the creator... but 'thanks' because it is such a cute idea.]

I stamped a second form on w.w. cs and cut it out. Then I stamped a third piece on DSP and cut out the top half and glued to the second w.w. form. I wrapped the gathered ribbon around the bottom half of the second w.w. form and pop dotted it to the original stamped dress form. I matted the w.w. piece with matching cs and popped this up on the card front,

Then I tucked and glued a piece of melon mambo Pom Pom trim along the edge of the focal point. This was my first time using the pom pom trim which I only have in melon mambo, but it is so fun and cute, I will be ordering it in more colors.

I stamped the sentiment on w.w. in espresso and punched out with new small oval punch and glued that to a oval of DSP which was attached to the bottom of the focal point with a dimensional.

I cut two piece skinny, skinny strips of card stock to use as thread on the Big Vintage button and added to the front with a large glue dot.

Can you see my card stock thread?

The inside has touches of the front DSP and I used a sentiment stamp of "Puns from the Past".

The final touch was a stamp on the lined envelope. Done!

Hope you like my little tu tu card made with the "Sew" cute "Sew Suite" stamp set.

Hootie says "thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment".

Hugs

Diane

Just My Stlye - ColourQ {#77}

2011-03-27T08:12:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday everyone.

This post is for the color challenge over at the ColourQ { #77} blog and what a color sample to work with! Wow. This was the hardest color challenge for me so far. Although the inspiration photo is gorgeous, when I went to put something together that was a different story. Here are the CQC colors.

See what I mean? Gorgeous right?

After I sat and stared for what seems to be hours, I got out the card stock and threw it in pile to see what would pop into my mind........... and NOT so much! After staring at the pile I thought...okay. Clean simple mats! So that is how I arrived at my card.

This post is going to be a super quick one as there is so little to explain on the card since it's mostly a series of mats! LOTS and lots of mats made of the CQ colors: Concord Grape, Kiwi Kiss, Bermuda Bay and Bashful Blue. I started with a kiwi base and started layering with a series that was pleasing to ME eyes. Each layer is corner punched with the ticket punch. The top layer is stamped on some scrap DSP with a Just My Style retired SU stamp I just can't get rid of ... wink.

A little bit of bling was placed to right side [can you tell why?]. It's because I off-set the top 3 layers to the left so it would line up the edges with the same 1/8" dimension...but... as I do with most of my mats to conserve the precious card stock, I usually die cut the centers with any die that will fit to be used as mats on future cards. So if you look really close you notice the right side has a Larger 1/2" edge which created a wavy bit of concord crush peeking out through the die cut in the bermuda bay. By placing the bling in the center it looks like this is suppose to be that way! Right? Well I convinced myself it did.

Here's a peek at the inside using the new Four Frames set.. stamped in concord crush, then double matted with concord crush and bermuda bay cs.

Done!

Hope you like my VERY challenging color card.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment".

Hugs,

Diane

Embossing - PPA86

2011-03-24T19:15:00.000-04:00

Hi there.

Today's post is another quick one for the Pals Paper Arts challenge #86 - "Embossing". The challenge is to use embossing on your card any way you like. So with that said here is my card which needs very explanation of how it went together.

I started with Natural White card stock for the base ran that through my Big Shot with the "Framed Tulips" embossing folder. Then I filled the center with some of my favorite DSP - Sweet Pea [retired]. I know it's retired, but I keep hoping it will come back in the new IBC.. a girl can dream; right?

The sentiment on the scallop circle is from the SAB set "So Happy for You" stamped in melon mambo ink and matted on a scalloped melon mambo cs circle, then popped up with a few dimensionals. The second sentiment is stamped on a scrap of vellum, gave it a quick curl with my bone folder, then I cut the banner end and secured it to the card front with a glue dot.

To hide the glue dot showing through the vellum I added a pretty Designer Brights Button with another glue dot. Then I couldn't stop until I topped it off with a gorgeous PEARL with yet another glue dot! Just love those little pearls, don't you?

The inside is scraps of the same Sweet Pea DSP - corner photo punched pieces of the opposite side of the DSP. The sentiment is stamped on W.W. and I added a few butterflies from the "So Happy for You" SAB set.

Done!

See told you it was a quick post!

Hootie says "Thanks so much for stopping by and please leave a comment".

Hugs!

Diane

Paisely Petals & Four Frames Clean and Simple {PP#39}

2011-03-20T18:10:00.000-04:00

Tonight's post is another very quick and easy card for The Paper Players Clean And Simple sketch challenge #39. Here is the CAS sketch.

I just happened to be playing around with the new Paisley Petal DSP [LOVE IT] and the new Four Frames [LOVE THEM] stamp set yesterday and I couldn't stop. I made 4 cards before I knew what time it was. When I saw this sketch I believe this card will meet the requirement for this challenge, except it is turned sideways for the sketch. In other words, a regular A2 card. Here is my card.

I know this doesn't look like the typical CAS card but the DSP does all the work! I used a base of Natural White CS. I cut a piece of Paisley Petals DSP matted with Cherry Cobbler CS.

Then I scrunched a piece of cherry cobbler Seam Binding and taped to the back of the mat before adding to the card front.

Next I stamped one of the new Four Frames on whisper white CS and added a sentiment, both inked in cherry cobbler. I used the Decorative Label punch and colored the flowers with my blender pens using cherry cobbler and pear pizzazz write markers. I punched a second label in cherry cobbler and off set it behind the W.W. label and mounted with two dimensionals.

I added a few sweet butterflies from the Butterflies Embosslit and put a tiny pearl on each. (Love those pearls don't ya know).

I haven't decided how I'm going to use this card, so I lined the inside with more of the DSP and will add a W.W. piece for the sentiment when the time comes to mail it.

Well there you have it... my CAS card that doesn't 'look' so CAS... but it really is.

This DSP is so pretty all by itself it really doesn't need much at all.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment".

Pom Poms - SPRING is Coming!

2011-03-19T19:28:00.000-04:00

Today's post was inspired by Gretchen Barron's card using the new Big Springtime Vintage buttons with the new Pom Pom trim. So cute! I just wanted to give it a try. Here is my card.

The card itself needs little explanation and went together pretty easy. I started with Natural White CS, and layered with some scrap olive DSP.

I stamped the flower leaves from the "Sweethearts" set in old olive ink on W.W. CS. I stamped a few more stems in old olive and added a few small flowers from other sets inked in tangerine tango and melon mambo. The little butterfly is from the SAB set "So Happy For You" stamped in tangerine tango. I matted this W.W. piece on pumpkin pie CS mat.

I pulled a center thread of some pear pizzazz seam binding and gathered it to give it a scrunchy look and wrapped it around the tangerine mat. I stamped the 'for you' from "Elements of Style" in melon mambo on W.W. and punched it out with a 3/4" circle. I punched a second 1" circle in melon mambo and glued the two together and then popped up on the seam binding with a pop dot.

Then I took a crumb cake Big Button and punched an orange circle from the Sweet Pea DSP {retired}and glued to the center with a glue dot. Then I wrapped the outer edge in sticky strip and wrapped a second time with the melon mambo pom pom trim. Aren't these pom pom flowers just so cute? I just loved how cute the pom poms look wrapped around the Big Buttons!! I attached with a large glue dot.

The inside is finished off with touches of DSP and colors from the front and I added a few photo corners punched in melon mambo.

Well that's it! Thanks Gretchen for the cute idea for using the pom pom trim on Vintage Big buttons.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment on this pom pom button flower card."

Colour Q76 - Reflections

2011-03-17T20:20:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone.

This is the first time I did a challenge for the Colour Q website so I'm pretty excited to see what they are all about as I see so many people talk about them on their blogs. So I hopped over there to take a peek... and here are the colors for this week... Wow! I struggled when I saw these colors; and here they are:

Tough right? Well they are for me.... I thought and thought and said WHAT in the heck can I do with this color combo. Then it came to me! I'll do a brayer card! I did about 30 of these cards for Troops a year ago and it is an oldie but goodie I called Reflections.

I first saw this technique about two years ago from Michele Zindorf who is a "master" of the brayer technique. When I first read her instructions I said "OMG .. I'll never be able to do that!" But once I did it I found it's not as hard as it seems. Now I can whip out brayer cards like no body's business. You just have to learn to GO FOR IT... if you don't like what you see, you brayer some more!. anyway back to my brayer cards I have some that are better than others, and I'll tell you now... this is NOT one my best, but it works for these colors; so here is my card.

It's going to my friend that spends winters in Florida and she's always missing our weekly group of scrappers, so I decided to send her a little note that reminds me of Florida as I sit here watching the SNOW melt and wishing for SPRING!

The card itself needs very little explanation once your read Michele's directions that is! I used a piece glossy paper and brayer with old olive, kiwi, daffodil delight and early espresso. My favorite part of this card is seeing the trees reflect in the water. So cool I think. There are some more suttle things if you look close though, other than the trees reflecting in the water that is. {that's my favorite part by the way}.

If you click to enlarge it you can see the French script in more mustard on the left side of the card...just follow the water ripples made with a white gel pen and you'll find it.

I finished off the inside with a sweet sentiment and stamped a few more palm trees. Done!

.Well I hope you liked my Reflections card and please leave a comment and tell me what you think.
OMG... I just realized I have TWO friends that spend winter in Florida... and the one that's probably going to read this post is not getting this card! But YOU (and you know who you are) is getting one of my NEW cards made with that yummy new DSP. Ok? Ok! whew... almost thought I was in trouble!

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by today"!.

Paper Players - Ann's Color challenge #38

2011-03-13T19:42:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone... back again!

This posting is for the Paper Players - Ann's Color challenge #38, and what pretty colors they are.. what do you think? Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride Early Espresso and Very Vanilla. Beautiful soft colors.

Here is my card.

I started with crumb cake base and embossed with the Elegant Lines emboss folder, then highlighted the embossed lines with espresso ink and a dauber to really make the lines stand out. Next I stamped two butterflies from the "Thanks for Caring" set in the occasions mini; one in baja breeze ink and the other in early espresso ink. I search my stash and decided to use some pale pink pearls I found that matched blushing bride to a tee, and ... I only six left. Perfect!

Now here comes the sad part.. and pretend you don't notice, but as I went to apply the very last one to the butterfly's body... my tweezers pinched it and that sucker went flying. Heaven only knows where it is ... because I LOOKED HARD to find it, but no luck. So just pretend there are SIX pale pink pearls. Shhhh

I applied two strips of DSP to the front of the card. I used the scallop trim border punch on the baja breeze DSP from the Springtime Vintage and I used a solid scallop border punch on the Blushing Bride DSP from the Designers Series pack. I punched hole where the two DSPs met and then wrapped crumb cake Seam Binding around the card used the no slip bow technique to secure my bow knot.

Next I used the "Elizabeth" stamp in espresso ink and cut it out, then distressed with baja breeze ink around the edges and slightly into the design. I stamped the sentiment from "Thanks for Caring' in espresso in, punched it out with the oval punch and inked the edge with baja breeze. I popped it up on the Elizabeth center with dimensionals, then popped the entire grouping up again with more dimensionals. I added a tiny flower from the Itty Bitty punch set in baja breeze DSP and added a white pearl to the center.

The finishing touch was to color a Rosette (LOVE) with a blushing bride write marker and added under my knot with a glue dot. {I so hope these rosettes carry over to the new IBC}.

I finished the inside with touches from the front and stamped the flower from "Thanks for Caring" and sentiment from an older set (the name slips my mind).

Last but not least I finished my envelope off by lining it with some blushing bride DSP.

Well that is my card for the Paper Players Color challenge and I hope you like it.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a message".

Hugs

Diane

Chocolate Easter Bunny {PPA84}

2011-03-12T08:36:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

I am posting for the Pals Paper Arts 'Spring - Easter' challenge #84 today. Oh how I wish it WAS spring here in Michigan, but we keep getting pounded with SNOW. Just when you think it's over and you can see the grass............ you wake up to more of the white stuff!

I am so over the winter and I just can't wait for SPRING to get here.

Well I decided to get out my sweet little chocolate Easter Bunny stamp that I showed up in last years mini but is now current. When I saw it, I just had to have it because it reminds me of the Sander's 'solid' Chocolate Easter Bunny we would get in our Easter baskets. We didn't have much growing up (but we never noticed) and to get a genuine SOLID chocolate bunny in our Easter basket was the Best thing ever; and my mom always made sure it was Good Sander's chocolate! Yeah baby! Anyway that stamp is the Exact replica of that Sander's bunny. I can almost taste it. But since Sander's is no longer around............ I just had to pop a Hershey's chocolate kiss in my mouth so I could finish this post.

Well enough of that... here is my card. I had this great plan to frame it and give some dimension. Well...

I don't like it as well as the one I made last year, but it will have to do. Between you and me.... it looked much cooler in my mind!

I started with a olive card base than stamped my grass from 'Inspired by Nature' in olive, then heat embossed my 'Chocolate Bunny' in chocolate chip embossing powder on whisper white card stock.

I stamped the sentiment from last year's SAB in taken with teal. [in hindsight I would use Pear Pizzazz CS in place of the Olive].

Then I used my Ovals die to cut some Easter eggs out of my scraps. I popped the top egg with a dimensional and poked the top out of the frame. I also used my Butterflies embosslit to get a few butterflies from scrap retired DSP, and the tiny one I placed on the bunny's nose. Too cute, don't you think?

Now for the frame... I wanted to use the Top Note die to frame my bunny, so I die cut it in pale pink. Then I used the negative piece from the die cut and popped it up with dimensionals.

Then I used the Top Note piece on the inside to mount my sentiment on a W.W. egg in Taken with Teal ink and sponged the edges lightly. I stamped a small bunny in choc. chip and added a few more scrap DSP eggs, and the mid sized butterfly to add touches from the front.

Done. Hope you like my spring theme card.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment". I read them all!

Hugs,

Diane

Sew Suite - {PPA 83} Color challenge

2011-03-06T17:09:00.000-05:00

Hi again!

Can't even believe I'm posting again today, but thought I'd try another challenge since the weather stinks! So after playing around all day I decided to to post this card for the Pal Paper Arts color challenge #83, and here are the pretty colors.

I decided to use the my new stamp set Sew Suite from the Occasions mini for this challenge and here is my card.

I have very little baja breeze anything so I hunted through my stash and found this Elegant Soiree' DSP to help me out.

I matted a piece of DSP on some crumb cake cs and glued to the card front.

Then I stamped the dress forms on a piece of whisper white and then stamped again on some DSP; cut out and glue to the forms.

I first saw this inspiration from both Nance Leedy my up-line and Ann Schach, as well as a few more stampers out there in blog land, but this was not my original idea.

I stamped the buttons card from Sew Suite in crumb cake on W.W. and cut it out. Then die cut some buttons in heavier SDSP and threaded with linen thread then glue to the button card with glue dots.

I also scrunched some baja breeze seam binding and tucked it behind and over the two front elements that are popped up with a few dimensionals.

The inside sentiment is a stamp from "Puns from the Past" and fits perfectly with this theme. I also stamped the tape measure from "Sew Suite" on a scrap of baja breeze and cut it out. Then I scrunched it up as well and tucked behind the mat then glued down here and there with some tom bow glue.

I colored the end of the tape measure with a silver paint pen (I think this IS my idea because I've not seen it out there in blog-land) to make it look like a real tape measure.

This finishing touch was to line my envelope with more Elegant Soiree' DSP. Done!

Hootie says "thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment".

Spring has Sprung {PP37}

2011-03-06T11:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone.

Today I'm posting for the Paper Players Theme challenge {PP37} "Spring has Sprung"! I for one can't wait for spring to get here. We just got socked with another 3" of snow after seeing the grass last week... Enough already!

Well back to my card which is pretty easy to figure out. I wanted use up some of my old DSP scraps (retired) as well some new things from the Occasions Mini and the SAB sets. Here is my 'spring' card.

The card base is Peach Parfait CS embossed with the 'Framed Tulips' EB. I matted a piece of Sweet Pea DSP (retired) onto bashful blue cs.

The DSP does all the work on this card, so I just touched up a few butterflies with some sparkles.

I took a piece of baja breeze Seam Binding and pulled the center string to gather it; then wrapped around the matted DSP before attaching matted DSP to the card front.

The sentiment is inked in peach parfait on whisper white cs then punched with the circle scallop punch. The sentiment is from one of the FREE SAB sets; "Punch Bunch". This entire set fits current punches and it's so nice to know you don't have cut them out! I then popped up this sentiment with a couple dimensionals to the lower right corner.

The inside shows touches of the front, but I just inked the flower portion of the stamp separately with a marker and added below the inside sentiment.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment".

MDS Practice!

2011-03-03T20:59:00.002-05:00

Hi there everyone.

I'm very excited to say my good pal (Sharon) purchased the MDS software from me last week, so I thought I better get busy and practice with it! After all, I will have to help her ... and right now I know very little. So I thought to myself.... "Self.... you better practice, practice, practice!" So I did.

I'm doing a quick post of two MDS pages I made tonight... can you believe it? TWO WHOLE pages in very little time at all. I do feel like I'm progressing with the MDS software, but my oh my... SO MUCH to learn.

The pages need no explanation so I'll just post them for you to critque'... and please do tell me what you see if I goofed on something. I LOVE constructive criticism, so don't be shy!

The first post is a photo of my youngest grandson's 2nd Birthday. His big sisters, Hannah & Becca, are helping him blow out his candles. Such sweet big sisters. Here's my page.

On this page I tried to use a torn edge and some stitching. I still can't figure out how to shorten those ??? I ended up covering up the edge to the left bottom corner with a punch, then filled it with background paper.

The second page is very self explanatory... and Brian's first Official time to do his duty! Here's my second page:

He's gonna have a few words for Gramma when he gets bigger. {smile}

but that's just fine with me! Hope you like my pages.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment and tell me what you think!" Any and all Tips are welcome too. Hugs.

Stylish Blogger Award Surprise

2011-03-01T12:12:00.001-05:00

Imagine my surprise when I found in my comments I won this Stylish Blogger Award!
This award was given to me to by Kelly Birrell at Scrap Happy!

Thank you SO MUCH Kelly for thinking of me. I am SO Excited to recieve this award for a second time! (Dec 2010).
Part of accepting this award is to:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award. Thanks Kelly!
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pass it on to 8 bloggers
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award

8 {more}Things about me:
1 - I work full time and stamp as a hobby, but wish it was the other way around.
2 - Originally my passion was scrapbooking, but I slowly became an obsessive Stamper and card maker. LOVE every minute of it too. 8-)
3 - I became a Stampin' Up demo going on two years in May 2009 and Still feel like a newbie when I see the talent out in blogland. Wowzer!
4 - I'm becoming a "Digital Scrapbooker".... so much faster.
5 - As much as I 'USE' a computer.... I'm STILL pretty much a stumper as to HOW the inerds work, or how to do a lot of stuff .... just ask Nance, Sharon, Nancy, Sherriee.... what would I do without them? THANKS gal pals!
6 - Have one daughter and three 'perfect' Grandchildren: (2 girls and 1 boy) that live in another state.. thank goodness for SKYPE.
7 - I love to GOLF! I love to Golf ..... I LOVE to Golf! Can't wait for spring to get here.
8 - I admire and am grateful for the many talented bloggers out there that give me inspiration and friendship and especially to the ones who stop and leave a comment from time to time.

As difficult as it is to only name 8, here are 8 more stamper that inspire me.
Anne Marie at Stampin Anne
Pam at WackyWippet Stamper
Lesley at Always Playing with Paper
Kerin at Stamps, Paper Glitter
Lee Ann at Wee Inklings
Patti at Papercrafts by Patti
Dianna Ball at Stamping Moon
Buffy at Stamp with Me!

Now won't you stop by and check them out too?

Build-A-Blossom PPA82 & CD98

2011-02-27T11:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone.
Today I'm posting a card that will work for two challenges; The Pals Paper Arts theme challenge #82 and also the Color Dare Color Challenge #98.

For the PPA challenge - Scallops of any kind could be used, and for the CD challenge - the colors are Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke and any Neutral.
It's always fun when the card you make will work for two challenges, isn't it? So with that being said... here's my card I'm sending to a friend going through chemo treatment.

I started with a 'Perfect Plum' CS base then added three layers (Always Artichoke CS, & two layers of Perfect Plum DSP) all scalloped with the scallop edge punch then glued to the front.

Next came that pretty blossom created with the new "Build A Blossom" stamp set. I double stamped the large petals in a lighter shade of purple {retired} then accented each with perfect plum ink on strips of whisper white CS [stamping the petals on strips of cs reduces the waste]. I punched them out with the "Blossom Petals" punch then repeated the process with the small petals.

I built the blossom by adding sticky strip to a 1 3/4" circle of perfect plum cs. Then I used the mat stack to poke the hole in the center. I placed four large flower petals down on the circle and pressed to the sticky strip, then repeated with four more, and then layered the small petals with tom bow glue. I pushed a large flower brad through the center hole but did not spread the clasp yet.

Before adding to the front I cut 3 large leafs with the build a blossom die and shaded the edges with AA ink; then held the Blossom in my hand and eye-balled where they would lay and glued to the card front with tom bow.

Next I stamped a sentiment on w.w. and punched with the smaller tag punch, then matted with an A.A. cs larger tag. I tied it to the brad by looping some twine around the pin with a bow, then spread the clasp on the back of the circle.

I mounted the large blossom with sentiment to the card front dimensionals.
Here is a peek at the inside with elements of the front; scraps of the DSP, a small stamped petal and a few more scallops!

For the finishing touch, I 'finally' remembered to lined my envelope!

Well there you have it, hope you like it.

Hootie says "Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment".