Whirlpool of Imagination

Tangerine Floral

This week I thought I would highlight a stamp from a new set in the Stampin' Up catalog called Blooming With Kindness. I was drawn to the flower image as soon as I saw it. And even though I can about a million flower stamps, I just had to have one more!

The flower was stamped with tangerine ink (new formula from Stampin' Up) and the sentiment, from Papertrey, was stamped with espresso ink (SU).

This patterned paper from Lillybee matched the stamped image just about exactly - love when I can mix and match companies and they go so well together.

I'm going to try more designs this week with this flower stamp - I'd like to stretch myself with the same stamp and see what other designs I can come up with.

Stay tuned!

Butterfly and Raspberry

I'm still working my way through Stampin's Up's new In Colors. Today I decided to play around with Raspberry Ripple.

This card started off with a sheet of raspberry cardstock. I then found this great patterned paper that seemed to go so nicely.

I was still stuck on this butterfly image (Papertrey Ink) so I stamped it with Marina Mist which was set off nicely with the patterned paper too.

That image is stamped with the new formua SU inks. The marina is a bit darker but I like the full coverage I was able to get with it. I think I've siad this before, but these inks remind me of the Colorbox chalk inks, expecially for solid image coverage. I find it's much easier to get the ink onto the whole image without splotchiness or missing sections.  If you get a chance to try some out, I highly recommend it.

Have a great day!

Thinking of You with Ribbon

Sometimes I like to create cards that encompass many occasions - that way if I need a birthday, sympathy or congrats card, I'm good to go. That's where the "thinking of you" sentiment comes in so handy. LOVE that one.

This simple design is a fun one that helps me use my (MANY) embossing folders and feel like it was money well spent. The strip here is ribbon over cardstock but I also like using patterned paper strips too. Good way to use up extras.

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.

Meg has been busy working on her summer scrapbook. I hope to be back soon and show you a few of her creations. Have a great day!

Celebrate CAS

This month I challenged my ArtFire guild members to create a card using stars or stripes that were either red, white or blue.

I stretched the definition of stripe for today's card but since I run the guild, I'm saying this one works - LOL!

The swooshy stripe is from a set from Raisin Boat and I stamped it first and second generation for the variation in color (midnight muse - one of Stampin' Up's new In Colors). The sentiment is from paper and stamped with SU's red ink.

I thought this one would be fun for birthday's or other events as well as possibly 4th of July. I see maybe adding a small embellishment somewhere around the sentiment, maybe stars, maybe balloons, maybe even a grad hat on the letter C to personalize it for a specific card theme. But for now, I will keep it simple and leave it as is.

I do have a couple other ideas floating around that I will try to create before our challenge deadline of the 30th. And THAT all depends on crafting time now that the kids are out of school! Have a great day!

To Wish You Well

As I'm unpacking more boxes, I'm finding new cards to show off. Today I have another black and white card for you.

This is a layout design that I like working with. The top is embossed with a folder and the edge is covered up with this pretty scalloped ribbon from Stampin' Up. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.

Speaking of Stampin' Up, have you seen the new catalog? I am in love with the new In Colors and will have something new to show you soon. Have a great night!

Birthday Numbers

A couple of months ago I challenged the members of my card guild to create something using vegetables as the inspiration. I decided to create a card and use this as a color inspiration. I chose an avocado and it's shades of green.

The cake stamp is from Spunky Stamps and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.

This is a layout design that I like and use often. I decided to have a little fun with the background layer. I took a lighter piece of green cardstock and used the numbers cuttlebug folder on it to emboss it. I then painted the entire thing with a darker green. Once dry, I took a piece of sandpaper and rubbed off some of the paint to reveal the lighter green below.

I love using paint but usually just dry brush some on. This time I went with fuller coverage and then removal of some color. It's a totally different look but lots of fun in a slightly distressed way.

I am finally almost done with my moving announcements - phew. But I can't seem to find all my A7 envelopes from the move - oops - quick trip for some envies for me!

Have a great day!

Lacey Flowers Birthday

Once of my favorite color combinations is shades of pink with shades of brown. But not just any pink, variations of pomegranate or rose red with brown make me smile when I create with them.

Today I've got a really  quick birthday card that uses that color combo.

These lace flowers are a big bold stamp so I wanted to enjoy them fully. Because of their size I went with the A7 sized card - a size I very rarely create with.

The flowers (from Papertrey Ink) are stamped in my rose red ink that I adore. The sentiment (also Papertrey) is probably espresso brown if I had to guess from the picture.

I kept it simple with just repeating the layers in colors from from image block and there you have it, a quick and easy, but very pretty birthday card.

I am working on our change of address cards (slowly!) at the moment. I have a design and I have a plan - just haven't had the discipline to get the assembly line working and get these made. My goal? Get myself in gear and have them done by the weekend. Hopefully I'll have them created and photographed to show off next week!

Have a wonderful night!

Butterfly and Paper

A couple of weeks ago, there was a Papertry tutorial about using patterned paper strips and mixing and matching. I didn't watch the video but the basci idea stuck in my head. So when I recently went to make a card, I decided to give it a whirl.

I started with the butterfly image and sentiment stamped in one of my favorite colors - marina mist from Stampin' Up. (the stamps are from Papertrey)

With the blue guiding me, I pulled out a Basic Grey paper pack and matched some papers that I though went nicely with the blue.

Usually I use one paper design and stick with just the one on a card. I liked mixing and matching and of course, the paper packs make it easy as they all sort of match to begin with. Hopefully I'll get out of my comfort zone more often and try it again!

Have a great day!

Colorful Thank You

This card was started last month for my Rainbow of Color April Card Makers guild challenge. Then everything I needed got packed away for the move so I set aside the parts I had already done and as I was unpacking today, I found the bits and pieces I had set aside. Luckily, enough was unpacked that I could do what I had originally envisioned doing with this design.

The shapes were die cut and adhered and then I ran it through the Cuttlebug to get some texture. The little sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink.

Here's a little peek at the close up:

Shush - I'm sneaking in stamping time when I should be unpacking.......but it feels great to be back in the studio and creating, even if I can't find everything yet!

Have a great night!

In a New Home

Yippee - finally got our internet back! The first day or two without phone, internet or tv was kind of nice in a get away from the world kind of way. But after the week dragged on, things got old fast!

I am getting my studio up to speed so when it's (semi) organized, I'll snap some pictures.

But after the warm welcome we received from our new neighborhood, I had to pull out enough supplies to get some thank you cards done.

Yikes - not the best picture but I'm still working on where to take pics in the new house.

The image is from Taylored Expressions and the sentiment from Papertrey Ink. I pulled out enough copic markers and a bit of ribbon to get the card decorated although kept it in my usual CAS style.

The carpets were cleaned yesterday so I'm hoping that by tomorrow they will be dry and I can get to organizing. Have a great night!