Sunday Stamps... on Thursday

Okay, so the week got away from me a bit. This past Sunday, we started another challenge over at Sunday Stamps. Hope you'll play along with us. It's a sketch challenge, featuring my sketch. After a small hiatus from the DT at Sunday Stamps, I'm glad to be back!

It wasn't until after I posted this to the team Blog that I noticed I extended my banner across the entire card. Oops! But I guess I can get away with it because you can still see the basic sketch principles there, right?

The card is pretty simple. I didn't want to distract too much from the clay flower. Isn't it gorgeous?! I dyed the clay before adding it to the mold. Gotta love the clay accents because they pack a punch AND they add little weight to a project. You know I'm partial to SU! Product, and while they have some awesome molds, I had to venture elsewhere to feed my clay addiction. :)

Don't be afraid... play along! Check out what the rest of the amazing DT ladies have come up with too and show them a little love. You have until April 4th.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECEIPE:
Paper: Naturals White, Gingham Garden DSP, Whisper White, Primerose Petals
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Punches - Word Window, Modern Label & 2-3/8" Scallop Circle
Accessories: Clay & Clay Molds

Watercolouring with Tissue Paper

If you missed my post yesterday, check it out because it'll explain how to do this technique. Today, I'm showing you a project I created with it.

Since I didn't get a lot of colour variation (and ended up with a lot of white space) in my paper, I cut the "good" pieces into 2-3/4"squares. I layered them on top of 3" square cards. The two colours that were prominent resembled closely to Wisteria Wonder and Calypso Coral, so those were the papers I used.

I created some coordinating envelopes using the awesome new Envelope Punch Board from Stampin' Up! and then included two sentiments with Dimensionals on the back for the recipient to choose either, or none for that matter, depending on the occasion.

I decided to individually package them. Not sure what I'll do with them yet. I've thought about randomly handing them out to people I meet or a "thank you" gift for customers who place orders with me. So many possibilities!!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's a Sketch Week!

Well, a sketch week for two weeks that is! If you didn't know already, Sunday Stamps is a bi-weekly challenge now... leaves you plenty of time to join us!! This time around, Marie has a great sketch for us. It's her first time hosting a sketch, so show her some love and play along, won't you?

I kept my card fairly simple. Only one layer and no "bling". Gasp! I love it though. I added a couple more pieces than what appear in the sketch, but the basic elements are all there and that's what sketch challenges are all about.

Since next weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada and Fall is my favourite time of year, I created a Thanksgiving card. The wavy element in the sketch reminded me of leaves blowing in the wind. I simply created a template from scratch paper to mask my area and stamped away. I then stamped the three leaves in Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit and Cherry Cobbler tone-on-tone on top of cardstock. I ruffly cut out each leaf, distressed the edges with my scissors and scrunched them up to give them more dimension. To add to the harvest feel, I took out some strings from the new burlap ribbon from the Holiday Catalogue (LOVE it!) and tied together with a piece of twine.

Hope you'll play along with us - you have until October 18th! Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT Designs too because they will inspire you!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit
Stamps: French Foliage (retired)
Tools: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch
Accessories: Twine, 1/4" Burlap Ribbon
Techniques: Distressing

It's a Colour Challenge Over at Sunday Stamps!

I'm the host this week and I've got a great colour challenge waiting for you over at Sunday Stamps! There's also some fantastic inspiration, as always, from the lovely Design Team. We'd love for you to check us out and play along! Here's my creation this week...

Paper: Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, Print Poetry DSP Stack
Ink: Raspberry Ripple
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Big Shot, TIEF's: Perfect Polka Dots & Vintage Wallpaper,
Fun Flowers Bigz Die,
Punches: Heart to Heart, Word Window & Decorative Label
Accessories: Neutrals Brad, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I had "love" on my mind when I chose this colour combo... and it just so happened that I needed an anniversary card, so that's what I created. I kept my card base a solid colour because I went bold with the DSP choices. LOVE the new Print Poetry DSP Stack in the Spring Catalogue!

For a little more texture, I added some Seam Binding Ribbon to the sides of my DSP panel and embossing to the card base, label & hearts.

Hope you like it and get inspired by the Design Team to play along this week! We can't wait to see what you design!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's a Colour Challenge!

This week at Sunday Stamps, we've got a colour challenge for you - it's all about Fall, ya'll! How perfect this was for me because I needed to make some Thanksgiving cards for a client to send to her US friends who will be celebrating in a couple of weeks.

Paper: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, WW, VV
Ink: More Mustard
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Big Shot, Square Lattice TIEF, Modern Label Punch, Word Window
Accessories: Half Back Pearls (retired), Baker's Twine

I hope you can play along with us this week... don't forget that every time you enter a challenge this month, you will be entered in a draw for a chance to win one of two $25 Stampin' Up! gift certificates!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Another CAS Button Buddy

Yesterday I showed you a birthday card made with the cherry stamp set from Button Buddies. You can view it here if you missed it. Today I have a similar card using the rattle from the same set. Here's that card:

Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Crumb Cake
Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Big Shot, Designer Frames TIEF, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch
Accessories: Buttons, Baker's Twine

This is the exact same layout as yesterday and I used all the same tools. The only difference is that I did some faux stitching with my Crumb Cake marker all around the card, punch-out and embossed part of the card. Pretty CAS and I like it!

Short and sweet today... what do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Cherries Please!

I know Button Buddies has been around for a while now, but it's been on my wish list since the beginning and I finally got my hands on it. I kept pushing it down the wish list as new stuff came out. I hoard buttons because I love 'em and yet, don't use them too often. I bought this stamp set to get me using all my buttons! Here's my first card with my newly acquired set:

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Early Espresso (marker), Old Olive (marker)
Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Big Shot, Designer Frames EF, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch
Accessories: Buttons

This is probably the cleanest and simplest card I've ever done. I usually like lots of layers and embellishments, but I was feeling the "less is more" vibe for this one.

All I did was start with a Whisper White note card and emboss it with one of the Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. After that, I inked up the cherry stamp from the Button Buddies set with my Early Espresso and Old Olive markers, stamped it and added the buttons with glue dots. I popped up the sentiment with Dimensionals and viola!, a CAS card done in less than 5 minutes.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

For Elizabeth

Today's card is for my mother's birthday. Her name is Elizabeth, so it only seemed fitting to use the soon-to-be-retired À la Carte stamp called Elizabeth. Her (BIG) birthday isn't until May, but this card also showcases some product from the current Occasions Mini. So I felt it was important to show it off as some product you'll only be able to purchase until April 30th.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Supplies

Stamps:
- Elizabeth #117120 - retiring May 31st
- Teeny Tiny Wishes, #115370 - one of my go-to sets because you get 24 greetings! Plus every greeting coordinates perfectly with two punches (Word Window, #119857, Modern Label, #119849)

Paper:
- Beau Château Designer Series Paper (DSP), #122357
- Very Vanilla 81/2 x 11 Card Stock, #101650

Ink:
- Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad, #115657
- Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, #119668
- Blushing Bride Stampin' Write Marker*
- Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker*
* part of the 2010 - 2012 In Color marker set, #119801, these will be retiring colours

Accessories:
- Antique Brads, #117273 - love these!!
- Victoria Crochet 5/8" Trim, #118481
- Blushing Bride 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon, #125570 - Occasions Mini, available until April 30th.
- Big Shot, #113439
- Framelits Dies - Labels Collection, #125598 - Occasions Mini, available until April 30th.
- Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, #120175