Modern Poinsettia

Hooray!  I did manage to get some cards made late yesterday afternoon, between all the scurrying around the house.  I'll tell you, I was a white tornado!  Semi-cleaned the house, put away some Halloween decorations, packed for my daughters, sort of packed for me, did laundry.

Then I made four of these simple cards:

I am loving these corduroy buttons I recently won from Ann Schach!  They have brads attached.  Sometimes, the simplest, smallest things make me happy - like brads on the back of buttons.  :D

As usual, I've created two slightly different versions of the same card.  In this case, I ran out of large poinsettias to cut out and pop up, and the smaller flower did not look right with the big chunky buttons.  So that one got the gold ball treatment in lieu of the center florets.

The designer paper is from a value pack by Me & My Big Ideas, and it's called "Our Holiday Traditions."  I've hardly touched it.  It has 180 sheets.  So, I broke into it at last.  There's plenty to go 'round!  Those poinsettias I've fussy-cut are from one of the pages in that pack.

The sentiment is from Stampin' Up!'s set, Sleigh Bells Ring.  There's actually more to the sentiment, but it would not fit on the Modern Label punch, so I just inked up a portion of it.

I'm following this sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You and turned it sideways:

Thanks for joining me today!  I always appreciate company. 

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Sleigh Bells Ring by SU
Paper:  Old Olive cardstock, Me & My Big Ideas Our Holiday Traditions dp, Whisper White
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Modern Label
Other:  dimensionals, corduroy buttons, gold ball stickers

Using Yesterday's Scraps, Colour Queen

Hello everyone.  I had some time to make a clean and simple Christmas card last night using the scraps from yesterday's "Christmas Cheer" tag.  My 9 YO is home sick with a cold, and she's just lying around, so I am crafting nearby in case she needs anything (sometimes just a hug is all you need when you feel lousy).

I had already stamped and cut out some ornaments from All That Glitters by Flourishes, and the satin ribbon from my grandmother was still hanging around so I put them to work here.  

The card base is Very Vanilla cardstock by Stampin' Up!, dressed up with the Elegant Lines embossing folder, also from SU.  A strip of Night of Navy cardstock helps highlight my sentiment tag, and of course, I had to add bling.  Light blue rhinestones from Queen & Co. adorn the sentiment tag, the "o" in the word Season's, and the neck of each ornament.  I tried to come up with a polished way to "hang" the ornaments, but had no resources (another reason to go shopping!) so I simply drew on ribbons and hangers with a Night of Navy marker.  Not quite the elegance I was going for, but I was desperate.  And it just so happens there's a challenge this week for hand-drawn lines.  How 'bout that luck??

This card will be entered into these challenges:

• Flourishes FLLCNOV10 - Warm Winter Wishes - use cool blues
• Really Reasonable Ribbons 11 - use wintery blues, silver and white plus ribbon
• Pollycraft Monday Challenge - doodling - adding your own hand-drawn lines or doodles 
• Pattie's Creations Design Challenge - Christmas
• Winter Wonderland - "Sing a Christmas Carol" - mine is "Deck The Halls"

I woke up to some happy news this morning.  I was crowned ColourQ Colour Queen for this card here: 

Wow!  I'm honored.  It just goes to show you don't need a fancy card to win a challenge!  Thanks to everyone at ColourQ!  I will wear my badge proudly.

I hope to make another card before I go out of town soon, but I can't make any promises.  I have to pack for three of us, and have mounds of laundry going on right now.  Plus I have my sick little one to tend to. 

Thanks so much for visiting me.  I always appreciate it!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  All That Glitters by Flourishes, Snow Swirled by SU
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Night of Navy
Ink:  Night of Navy, Basic Black
Other:  Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder (SU), dimensionals, blue rhinestones by Queen & Co., satin ribbon from my grandmother, Stampamajig, Spellbinders Fancy Tags, Night of Navy marker

A Different Kind of Christmas Cheer

I took this kind of Christmas "cheer" (a Sam Adams beer coaster from a restaurant):

And turned it into this kind of Christmas cheer, a gift tag:

My kids thought I was nuts to swipe two coasters from Chili's when we recently went out to dinner.  I knew they were projects just waiting to happen!  (and, hey, don't they throw them out when you leave, anyway?)

It just so happens that the largest die from Spellbinders Labels Eight fit perfectly over this coaster with just a tad bit of room to spare.  What luck!  I used Soft Sky cardstock from Stampin' Up! on both sides of the coaster, then a designer paper from SU that I don't know the name of.  (It's older and retired, like ALL of my SU dp's)

I layered on a Spellbinders Labels Ten in Soft Sky, then an oval nestie in an SU designer paper (Bella Bleu, maybe?), and finally, a "nestie" medallion of my own design.  I learned some tricks from my friend, Andrea Ewen, about using a corner punch to create your own medallion.  I chose the Martha Stewart Gothic Arches Corner Punch to do this.  To see Andrea's tutorial, click here.  Any mistakes can be covered by things such as tree branches, or snowflakes (wink, wink).

I'm playing in several challenges:

• Flourishes FLLCNOV10 - Warm Winter Wishes - use cool tones and blues
• Flourishes FLLCNOEL - Tag, You're It - using Flourishes stamps
• Flourishes BBB4 - use a ribbon or bow (mine is the hanger for my tag)
• Mark's Finest Papers 28 - use piercing (I do have some genuine piercing tool marks above the Doily Lace border punch, but I thought also the Doily Lace punch had a nice pierced look to it)
• 
  Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings - winter theme of blue, silver and white using ribbon as well
  
  
  

I used my favorite glitter liberally, over punched snowflakes, the ornament from All That Glitters by Flourishes, and corners of the darker blue nestie.  More bling shows up in the form of icy blue brads and a recycled piece of tinsel-looking pipe cleaner (came on a gift bag). 

I don't think I've ever made a tag before.  This was fun!  One tool I lack, and discovered I now need, is a Crop-A-Dile.  It's true:  I don't own one of those, or even grommets.  Can you imagine??  For the hole at the top of the tag, I used my paper piercer.  It's not as polished as a grommet would've been, but it'll do.

Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you were able to play in the Inspiration Challenge 257 at Splitcoast over the weekend.  If you haven't, there's no deadline for it, so give it a try!

Happy Stamping,

Stamps:  All That Glitters by Flourishes
Paper:  Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, retired SU dp's
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Martha Stewart snowflake, Doily Lace border and Gothic Arches corner punch
Other:  Big Shot, rhinestone stickers, dimensionals, tinsel wire from a gift bag, Making Memories icy blue rhinestone brads, iridescent glitter, blue satin ribbon from my grandmother, Spellbinders Label Eight, Label Ten, large oval

Peaceful Olive Branch

Hello stamping friends!

The June 2010 issue of the Martha Stewart Living magazine featured the work of artist Miyuki Sakai.  She makes pictures with fabric and a sewing machine, and her art blew me away. 

I suggested Ms. Sakai's website to someone at Splitcoaststampers, to use as inspiration for one of their challenges.   This weekend the Inspiration Challenge at SCS (#257) will revolve around her work.  Stephanie Severin (aka SmilynStef on SCS) asked me to do a sample card for the challenge.  What an honor.  I'm still walking on air!!

Here is the inspiration I chose:

And here is what I came up with:

I used the Mojo Monday 163 sketch:

I really spent a lot of time on this card.  I made my own subtle designer paper by taking white cardstock and first sponging on Distress Inks in Old Paper, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen.  Then I used two background stamps, Weathered and En Francais, both SU, in the same ink colors.  I'm tellin' ya, it's very subtle.  Maybe you can see better here:

I stamped the olive branch from SU's Touch of Nature several times and colored them in with Copic markers.  I also stamped one more branch on a scrap piece, colored it, then cut it out veeeerrrry carefully.  That one is propped up on the sentiment panel. 

Since the olive branch is known as a peace offering since Biblical times, I thought the sentiment from the SU set Peaceful Wishes was apropos.  I may just give this to my husband for Christmas.  I'm thinking I'd like to keep this one here at home!

Finally got a chance to use some pretty crochet trim from my blog candy package that I recently won from Ann Schach.  It is so lovely!  And a large, copper brad finishes off the Curly Label punch, which was folded in half around the sentiment panel.

By the way, I kind of stink at using a combo of corner and border punches.  So, it's kind of helpful that the Mojo Monday sketch needed an element on the left; hence the burgundy piece.  And on the right, that fussy-cut olive branch nicely covers my boo-boo!

I'm also entering this card for the SCS challenge, WT295 - Ways to Use Green.  I used about four different green Copic markers for my leaves and olives, and if you count River Rock as a greenish neutral, then my card base counts as well.

Another entry:  The Paper Players, where "Anything Goes" for the holiday.

Thanks for joining me, and I hope you get a chance to play in the Splitcoast Inspiration Challenge #257!  Or just pop by Miyuki Sakai's website (link near top of post) to admire her unique take on art.

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Weathered, En Francais, Touch of Nature, Peaceful Wishes
Paper:  Whisper White, River Rock, Basic Black
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks in Old Paper, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen
Punches:  Curly Label, Iron Gate by Martha Stewart corner and border
Other:  crochet trim, copper brad, dimensionals, sponges, Stampamajig

Indian Headdress

If you've already seen my other post today, "Give Thanks", then this layout will look familiar to you.  I made just a few minor changes and now this card is able to play in the ColourQ challenge.  (I feel like I am somehow cheating!)

I like this version better than the "Give Thanks" one. 

The colors in the ColourQ challenge are:  Cherry Cobbler/Cajun Craze/More Mustard/Taken with Teal/Vanilla.  To be honest, I'm not a fan of that combination, and I decided not to play.  Then, after making my other version earlier today, the idea of an Indian headdress came to me.  I already had made up the base cards with the rust-colored ribbon, embossing and sentiment.  All I needed to was add feathers in the appropriate colors.  

Hope you've enjoyed these CAS, quick ideas for Thanksgiving cards.  The layout came from my friend, Bonnie Klass.  You can see her adorable baby card here.  And check out her gallery while you are there.  She makes some of the prettiest CAS cards around!

Later tonight, I make one more post.  It is for this weekend's Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast.  My card will be featured as a sample and I'm so excited!

Thanks for joining me today. 

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Natural Beauty, Holiday Best by SU
Paper:  PTI Natural White
Ink:  More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Riding Hood Red
Other:  Big Shot, dimensionals, Stampamajig, twill scrap, Square Lattice embossing folder

Give Thanks

Splitcoast's current color challenge is to use Early Espresso, Peach Parfait and Cajun Craze.  Well, I don't have any of those colors yet, so I had to sub in older colors.  I think it looks okay, though, don't you?

The layout idea comes from my friend, Bonnie Klass.  She made the sweetest baby card that you need to see.  I happen to need some Thanksgiving cards more than I need baby ones at the moment, so that's the direction I took.  Bonnie, thank you for letting me use your terrific layout!

I'm also entering over at Scrap Creations, where we are to use our favorite technique.  I love using my Big Shot and embossing folders!

I have another post to do in just a moment.  See you soon!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Natural Beauty by SU, Holiday Best by SU
Paper:  PTI Natural White
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Really Rust
Other:  Big Shot, scrap ribbons, Square Lattice embossing folder

Play Date Cafe FAB 4 & Applesauce

Mind if I share my happy news first?  My "Christmas Toile" card received an honor from The Play Date Cafe yesterday.   A new FAB 4 badge proudly sits at the top corner of my page now.  My friend Emily calls herself a prophetess, because she knew this card would win something.   Thanks for your encouragement, Em!

And so on to the applesauce.

I have an awesome recipe for applesauce that I want to share with you all.  It was given to me by my mother-in-law ages ago, and it is so simple and delicious.  When I make it, I try to freeze some to have later in the year.  My kids love this applesauce soooooo much that  I have to try to ration it out. 

I used Cortland apples, pictured above, but honestly you can use any type of apple.  I encourage you to try different apples each time you make it, because there are such wonderful variations. 

Applesauce
10 - 12 apples, any type - note:  I use 14-15 apples
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 - 3 tsp. cinnamon 

Quarter and core each cleaned apple.  Place apples in a pot with water covering bottom of pot about 1/4".

Place lid on pot and cook over low to medium flame for 20-30 minutes or until soft.  Pour liquid and apples over a food mill set over a bowl.  Grind.  While applesauce is hot, add sugar and cinnamon.

A food mill  is a must for this recipe.   It looks like this:  

It helps keep apple skins and seeds and other unwanted stuff out of your applesauce.  Gives your arms a workout, too!  (just kidding)

I have a card to post late tomorrow night that I just can't wait to show you!  Took me hours to complete it yesterday because I want it to be "just so."  It will be used as a sample for the Inspiration Challenge this weekend at Splitcoaststampers.  Make sure you check out the Inspiration Challenge this Saturday, hosted by Stephanie Severin (aka SmilynStef on SCS).

See you soon!
Colleen

Christmas, Inspired by Pottery Barn

Do catalogs provide inspiration to you for card ideas?  They sure do for me.  Almost any kind of catalog will do.  I have so many torn-out pages in my craft folder.  Seems I never have enough time to do something with them all, though!

The PB Teen catalog, part of Pottery Barn, arrived recently and a beanbag page caught my eye.  I tried to get an online photo of it, but there wasn't one so I took a photo of my actual page:

See the pink beanbag with cut-out paper snowflakes and a pair of scissors on it?  That's the one that attracted me.  And here is my card:

I am also following a sketch at CPS-Card Sketches.

Lately, I've become a fan of Papertrey Ink's white cardstock.  It is so much sturdier than SU's, so I used PTI here for the card base.  I cut a piece of Purely Pomegranate cardstock to fit over the front of the card (less waste, especially for a retired color!).  The next layer is white, this time using SU because it is thinner and will add less bulk to the card.  I've embossed with my Big Shot and Cuttlebug's D'vine Swirls embossing folder to give some texture and the appearance of swirling snow.

The designer paper is a retired series from SU, and I cannot remember the name.  I just know that I absolutely love it and hoard it (I've mentioned my hoarding problem once or twice before).  Snowflakes were punched, glued and glittered, then scattered on my circles much as in the Pottery Barn photo at the top of the post.

The sentiment is from Seasonal Poinsettias by Mark's Finest Papers, and I dabbed some glitter in the "O".

I'm also entering this over at Stamp Simply 163 :  Winter/Christmas Clean and Simple
and Mark's Finest Papers 27 - a holiday card.

Thanks for visiting with me on this rainy day!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Seasonal Poinsettias by Mark's Finest Papers
Paper:  Purely Pomegranate, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, PTI white, retired dp from SU
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Modern Label by SU
Other:  Spellbinders circle nestabilities, Big Shot, dimensionals, Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls, glitter, Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Reverse Spotlighting & Fall Foliage

When I was a Stampin' Up demo, I had access to their fabulous techniques gallery.  One of the techniques that intrigued me was called Reverse Spotlighting, and this card was their sample. I'ved CASE'd it pretty close, with a couple of changes. The colors my camera captured don't seem quite true-to-life...that IS Old Olive ribbon, but it looks darker. 

For a great reverse spotlighting tutorial by Beate Johns, visit here at Splitcoaststampers. 

************************************************************************

I brought my camera on a walk with me recently.  Around the lake near my house, the most glorious fall foliage was beginning to show.  I think I did more stopping and photographing than actual power walking.  Just wanted to share some of the better shots I took:

Happy Fall, wherever you are!

Colleen 


Stamps:  Vintage Labels, Organic Grace (SU)
Paper:  Kraft, Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  1 3/8" circle punch
Other:  dimensionals, Old Olive ribbon, , stampamajig

A Halloween Birthday

My soon-to-be sister-in-law happens to be born on Halloween.  I just learned this piece of information the other day.  Although this card will be late, I wanted to make her a special card that touches on her holiday-birthday, but also her impending wedding in Charleston, South Carolina.

Check out this inspiration photo from Off The Wall Craftiness:

Look at the bottom two left images.  One is a chandelier, the other a wedding party in orange and white.

Now check out my card:

And a close-up:

The dresses stamp is from Simply Sweet (SU).  I used my Copic markers to give the "bridesmaid" dresses an orange flair, but the bride's dress remains white with some Stickles on it for appropriate bling.

The sentiment, also from Stampin' Up!, is from Absolutely Fabulous.  I used the coordinating sentiment stamp on the inside ("No seriously - you are!") as well as the "happy birthday" from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

You might remember the chandeliers on the background from this card here.  I love those chandeliers from the clear stamp set by Inkadinkado.

I used the tight-mat tutorial by Becca Feeken to make my black Spellbinders layer closer to the orange one.  If I had simply used the next size die up, it would have showed too much orange cardstock for my taste.  Go visit Becca's tutorial.  It's a helpful thing!

I'm also entering over at The Paper Players, where the current challenge is "Anything Goes".  Can't go wrong with a challenge like that!

Almost forgot to mention:
Over the weekend, I found out that my "Thank You, Deer" card won a Cut Above badge at The Paper Players.  That really made my week!

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I always appreciate your visit!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen


Stamps:  Absolutely Fabulous, Simply Sweet - both SU; Chandeliers by Inkadinkado
Paper:  white by PTI for base, Whisper White for image, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black for image, Basic Black for sentiment, Basic Gray for chandeliers
Punches:  Modern Label
Other:  black velvet ribbon by Michael's, Spellbinders Label Four, Big Shot, Copic markers, clear rhinestones, iridescent glitter, Zig Two-Way Glue Pen, Stickles

For The Newlyweds

Hello!  My family will travel to Charleston, South Carolina soon for my brother-in-law's wedding.  We are excited to see the city.  Well, I am, anyway!  My kids are happy just to have several days off from school.  ;)  The happy couple have many events planned for us all and the reception itself is in the Aquarium.  Can't wait!

This is the card I made for them:

And here's the how-to:

• Make a card base.
• Make a slightly smaller layer to fit on base (my layer is 5" x 3 3/4").
• Arrange four equal-size rectangles of embossed cardstock pieces on layer with tape runner (I used Perfect Polka Dots [SU] and Textile [Cuttlebug] embossing folders).
• Use Big Shot and Lattice Bigz Die to make one die-cut.
• Use Big Shot and Sizzlits Lots of Tags to create tag.
• Stamp sentiment on tag.
• Make 2 opposing slots in tag using Horizontal Slot punch (SU) and place dimensionals on back.
• Run a piece of satin ribbon through the tag, then through the Lattice die cut. 
• Secure ribbon on back of cardstock layer with Sticky Strip or glue or Scotch tape; anything with a stronger adhesive.
• Adhere layer with dimensionals to card base.
• Finish with pearls.

That looks like a lot of steps and a lot of work, but TRUST me -- it wasn't at all difficult.  Just ask me if you have any questions about it.

I'm entering Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 89 - to focus on the sentiment.

Gotta run.  My 9 YO is having her Halloween Parade at school today.  During her lunch hour, I need to feed and costume her.   It's a whirlwind of an hour!

Thanks for joining me today.  I really appreciate it!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU)

Paper:  Whisper White, PTI white (for base)

Ink:  Basic Black

Punches:  Horizontal Slot (SU)

Other:  Big Shot, dimensionals, white satin ribbon, embossing folders:  Perfect Polka Dots (SU) and Textile (Cuttlebug), Sizzlits Lots of Tags (SU), Lattice Bigz Die (SU)

PS - Ever notice I use a lot of Stampin' Up! stuff?  For about two years, I was an SU demonstrator.  I never actually demonstrated, but hung in for the discount.  I am no longer a demo, but I still love their stuff!

Christmas Toile

Hello everyone!  Remember when Stampin' Up! introduced their stamp set, Elements of Style, several months back?  It was an instant hit in the Splitcoast galleries and I fell in love with the set even before it was available to non-demonstrators.  When I finally got the set in my hands, I used it once, maybe twice and down it went to the basement (my stamping storage).  I love Elements, but I have too many stamp sets (yikes, did I actually just say that?) and not enough time to use them all.

I'm pleased to say that Elements of Style saw daylight today for a Christmas card.  The idea came to me last night as I lay awake at, like, 3:30 am.   

Isn't it gorgeous?  This makes up for all my cards that I wasn't too crazy about.

As you can see from photos below and above, I made two versions of this card and each is subtly different (I tend to do that), using two stamps from the same set.  I think the flourish actually looks better because it's a bolder style, which works well with heat embossing. 

Here's what I did:

After stamping the images in Versamark, I heat-embossed them with white embossing powder.  (The hydrangeas in the picture - from the Because I Care set - did not make the grade.  They were too busy-looking after embossing.)  Then I used my Ornament Punch (SU) to punch out as many images as I could manage.  I actually got 11 out of the page you see here; not bad!

The foliage, from a Flourishes set called All That Glitters, was stamped multiple times.  The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers' Seasonal Poinsettias.

I am entering my card at:

• The Play Date Cafe - inspiration colors are black, white & a splash of burgundy

• Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #77

I have turned the sketch on its side, of course.  This was SUCH an easy sketch to work with; thank you, Priscilla!

Thank you for joining me today.  I always appreciate your visit!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Seasonal Poinsettias by Marks Finest Paper, Elements of Style (SU), All That Glitters by Flourishes
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, white by PTI (for card base; nice & sturdy!)
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy, Basic Black, Handsome Hunter
Punches:  Ornament (SU)
Other:  pearls (black and white), dimensionals, Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon

Daisies

This clean and simple card took longer than it probably should have.  It was just one of those days, I suppose.  I wanted to make another card for the Off The Wall Craftiness challenge, using this picture as our inspiration:

I used (finally) my Sizzix Blossom Party Bigz Die and the Big Shot to crank out all those flowers.  This means I can play in the Mark's Finest Papers challenge:  to use die cuts or punches.  The sentiment panel is from Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies.  A strip of sheer, dotted ribbon from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store winds under and through the beautiful curlicues of the tag and attaches with a dab of craft glue on the inside.

In the OTWC inspiration photo collage, there are many golden tones.  I picked up on that with my touches of glitter, courtesy of Martha Stewart, in Florentine Gold.  My Zig Two-Way Glue Pen has a chiseled tip that allows for delicate placement of glue in small areas.
A sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes by Stampin' Up! finishes the tag.

Time for dinner --- I'd better run!  Thanks for joining me.  :)

Happy Stamping,

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes by SU
Paper:  Garden Green, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink:  Basic Black
Other:  Big Shot, dimensionals, ribbon from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Sizzix Blossom Party Bigz die, Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies, Stampamajig, Florentine Gold glitter by Martha Stewart