A Hug Without A Kiss...

....and so goes the sentiment on the new stamp I just got this week from Unity.  It was a prize in a package from Sav O'Gwynn.  It's always fun to get new goodies, isn't it?

The designer paper is also from that pack of goodies.  I punched my new "Quilted" border along the sides and mounted it on a textured Wild Wasabi card base.  The Bermuda Bay scalloped oval nestie matches a stripe in that paper, too.  I sponged Orchid Opulence ink around the sentiment while the oval die was still intact, punched a Horizontal Slot through both layers of ovals on the left-hand side, and threaded through a velvet ribbon that might be Bermuda Bay.  It is from SU and is retired, but I'm not sure if I've got the color right.  I dug into my stash of Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware to find a buckle slide to add some style.  Little purple rhinestones accent the flowers.

Hope I have time to stamp again soon.  I have a busy work weekend ahead of me, and may not have play time.  :( 

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Colleen

Stamps:  Unity (name unknown)
Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, designer paper unknown, Bermuda Bay
Ink:  Basic Black, Orchid Opulence
Punches:  Quilted border by Martha Stewart, horizontal slot by SU
Other:  scalloped oval and oval nesties by Spellbinders, velvet ribbon by SU, purple rhinestones by Queen & Co., sponge, dimensionals, buckle slide from Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware (SU), SU markers for little flowers

Play Date Cafe Debut!

Ta da!  Today is the day I become an official Private Blend designer on the Play Date Cafe team.  I am so excited!  Each week, the other team members and I will bring you fresh ideas using the unique and beautiful color stories put together by Julie Ranae and Sarah Anderson.

To start, I pulled out some heavy, gold gift wrap and a piece of damask designer paper from my precious DCWV Luxury Stack pad.  Oh, do I hoard those papers!  

On the gold gift wrap, I punched a border with Morocco Lace by EK Success. 

I added an adhesive ribbon by Martha Stewart in just the right shade of blue, then went over it with a piece of sheer silver metallic ribbon from my stash.  The same silver ribbon was added, tab-style, to the sentiment panel. 

The sentiment panel was created using Labels Ten and oval nesties by Spellbinders and two layers (gold gift wrap and Soft Sky cardstock) of the Decorative Label punch by SU.  Inside the stamped label, I inked up the words "For You" individually, then stamped them one on top of another.

Now you have to check out the fabulous creations from the rest of the Play Date Cafe's new design team:  

Senior Design Team:
Julie Ranae
Sarah Anderson
Savannah O'Gwynn
Ruby 2 Shoes

First Term Design Team:
Andrea Ewen
Fiona Shultz
Jaclyn Miller
Jinny Newlin
Libby Hickman
Michele Gross
Tracey Kuzniak

Private Blend Designer:
Colleen Dietrich - that's me!


We would LOVE to have you play along with us!
Here are some guidelines to help you create and share:

Deadline for prizes is 11:59pm EST on Tuesday.
The 'Cup of the Week' will be announced during the next challenge.

**ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY! **

We want you to enjoy this challenge.  Interpret the colors the way you see them.
We do not use specific card stock color names or brands.
The main requirement is that PDCC COLORS BE THE FOCUS OF YOUR SUBMISSION.
When using additional colors, please limit them to neutrals.
You are welcome to combine challenges, but we do ask that:

1. The PDCC name and/or photo is used and
2. OUR colors are the focus of the card.


I hope you come play with us at the Cafe!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Vintage Labels by SU
Paper:  gold gift wrap, Whisper White, Soft Sky, damask paper from DCWV Luxury Stack
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Decorative Label by SU, Morocco Lace by EK Success, horizontal slot
Other:  Big Shot, Labels Ten and oval nesties by Spellbinders, rhinestones from Queen & Co., silver ribbon from stash, blue satin adhesive ribbon by Martha Stewart, dimensionals

Featured Stamper Snowflake

There's a new Featured Stamper at Splitcoast this week:  Julie (aka UKJem).  As soon as I saw that she was featured, I knew which of her cards I was going to CASE.  She's got over 2,000 views on that one - Wow!

As per the rules, at least two things must be changed on my version of her card.  Julie's includes a flower, but I decided to make mine into a winter card by using a couple of stacked snowflake punches.  I did not do any sponging, and used a different sentiment and embossing folder.  I used vanilla and crisp whites in my palette.

I'm also playing in the Clean and Simple Challenge 101 this week...."A Day in the Snow".  So now you know why I picked a snowflake as my accent, as well as a snowflake embossing folder (Sugar by Sizzix).  And speaking of embossing, I'll play at Mark's Finest Papers, too, where that is the challenge this week.

A few 'new to me' things in this card:

• the flourish behind the snowflakes was already punched out and in a $1.00 Scrap Bag that I got from my Stampin' Up! demo a while back;
• the brad is from SU's Filigree brads (how pretty!);
• the smallest snowflake punch (right under the brad) is Martha's Alpine;

• the "Warm Wishes" stamp is a CHEAP bargain I found today at Mike's:  30 cents!!  It came with a snowflake, too.

I went to the craft stores this morning and came home with a haul of bargains, and I just had to take a pic to show you!

With some of my Christmas money, I got two large pads of paper (Mariposa by DCWV, and Best of Damask by My Mind's Eye) for $10 each, two Martha Stewart tinsel glitters, a pack of glittery chipboard, that 30 cent snowflake/sentiment, a Tim Holtz Christmas stamp (60 cents, I think it was), rhinestones, Artisan Elements by Pink Paislee, Jolee's snowflake border stickers (60 cents), 3D bird stickers by K & Company, two packs of "U" 3D stickers (I'm already thinking of cute ways to use them), and a few loose sheets of 12 x 12 paper.  All for $48.00.  Not bad, eh?

And yesterday, a package of goodies arrived from Savannah O'Gwynn, from whom I recently won blog candy.  She sent some ippity and Unity stamps, which I have never owned before, along with designer paper and ribbon and a pack of Skittles.  Yes, Skittles.  She said I need to have something to eat while I craft!  Isn't she too funny?  Thank you, again, Sav!!

Thanks a bunch for joining me today.  I love when you visit!

Colleen

Stamps:  Michael's sentiment
Paper:  Very Vanilla, white by PTI
Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  SU snowflake, Alpine snowflake by Martha Stewart
Other:  Big Shot, Sugar embossing folder by Sizzix, Filigree brads by SU, dimensionals, Glue Dots, scroll die cut from $1.00 scrap bag, iridescent glitter

Featured Stamper Christmas

Hi, I'm back again with another card made for the Featured Stamper Challenge at Splitcoast.  Featured Stamper 304 is my friend, Marisa Ritzen, aka whiterockmama on SCS, and I did two cards in honor of her.  This post of mine earlier today was made into a Valentine, but this one is a Christmas card based on Marisa's card here. 

This was one of those cards that takes on a life of its own.  Once I punched out my snowmen, I thought they seemed a bit bare.  So I hand-drew lines in red around each square.  And once they were matted on pink cardstock and attached to the white piece, the squares looked bare once again.  Since they were already secured down tight, I used a black marker to edge around each square and create a faux-mat.  But then, the ink smeared a little, which prompted me to cover the white piece in glitter.  Ugh!! 

One happy note:  I got to use my new String Lace border punch once again, which I got as a set at Michael's after-Christmas sale (corner and border punches) for $9.99!  Whoo hoo!

I am entering this at Flourishes' FLLCJAN11 challenge, using a red/pink /white color combination. 

My debut at The Play Date Cafe is on Thursday this week, so be sure to pop by there and see what the new design team has cooked up for you!

Thanks for joining me again today! 

Colleen

Stamps:  Wishing You Cheer (SU),  Time to Chill by Mark's Finest Papers (sentiment)
Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Ink:  Versamark, Stazon Black
Punches:  1 1/4" and 1 3/8" squares, String Lace border by Martha Stewart, large oval
Other:  SU markers, ruler, very old glitter that has no name on it, white embossing powder, heat tool, bit of Riding Hood Red ribbon from a scrap bag

Featured Stamper Valentine

At Splitcoast, there is a challenge each week called Featured Stamper.  You browse through the gallery of the person whose work is featured and choose a card to CASE.  The rules stipulate that you must change at least two things to make the card your own.

Last week's FS was Marisa Ritzen, known as whiterockmama on Splitcoast.  And she is my blogging buddy, so I HAD to play along, even though I am a bit late.

I CASE'd this card of Marisa's, using her layout but changing everything else about it.  I went with the Color Challenge #304 from last week at SCS, too:  red / white / silver or gray.  I've included both silver AND gray, silver being in the form of tinsel glitter by Martha Stewart.  It's a new product for me, and what yummy stuff it is!!  I am going to need it in every color.  ;)

I've used some new-to-me stuff on this card:

• the embossing folder is from Cuttlebug's "Love Is In The Air" set
• as mentioned above, the silver tinsel glitter is from Martha Stewart

• and the nesties, both small circle and scalloped circle, are from Spellbinders

 I'm entering at Stampin' B, where the challenge is to use something old/something new (the old is the stamp set), and also at Mark's Finest Papers, for the use of embossing.

There's another "Marisa" card I did, and I'll be posting that one in a short while.
See you soon!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  A Happy Heart (SU)
Paper:  Basic Gray, white by PTI
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Punch:  Bracket by EK Success
Other:  Big Shot, nesties both small circle and scalloped circle by Spellbinders, dimensionals, rhinestone by Mike's, white grosgrain ribbon from my stash, silver tinsel glitter by Martha Stewart, brushed silver brads by Joann's, Cuttlebug embossing folder from "Love Is In The Air" set

Single Snowflake

I made these two cards on Christmas Eve, believe it or not.  Before I had to go to work that night, "all was calm, all was bright."  My preparations were over and the house had that 'calm before the storm' feeling to it.  These cards were truly quick and easy to make, and allowed me the chance to play with my new Martha Stewart Score Board.  Besides, I had already punched out bunches of snowflakes to make this card HERE. 

Since my computer crashed last week, we had to get a new one.  We now have Windows 7, which has a different picture viewer on it.  They removed some photo "fix" tools I relied heavily on before.   Now, I have to adjust the light/contrast in my pix with a different program (GIMP, it's free and like Adobe Photoshop, only FREE - did I mention that?) and I'm still getting the hang of it. 

Long story short....those snowflakes are actually made with Buckaroo Blue and Bordering Blue cardstock, but they look much darker in my pic.  Or maybe it's my new laptop screen that is making colors look different to me.  I don't know.

The true colors seem more apparent in these two close-up shots.

I am entering this card in these challenges:

• Mark's Finest Papers #37 - embossing
• Cupcake Craft Challenge - White is White
• City Crafter #38 - Winter White - use white and one other color
• My Time to Craft - Up In The Air - anything that goes into the air
• Pollycraft #74 - White Christmas

Here's the other card I made, using a different embossing folder and two different colored snowflakes:

Which do you like better?

Happy Stamping,

Paper:  PTI white, Buckaroo Blue, Bordering Blue, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze
Punch:  Arctic Snowflake by Martha Stewart
Other:  dimensionals, MS Score Board, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder by SU, Big Shot, Textile embossing folder by Cuttlebug, pearls by Queen & Co.

Inspired by a Pottery Barn Bench

If you read my previous post, you would know that I was smitten with the Pottery Barn catalog that came in the mail the other day.  Here's another picture I was inspired by:

As you can tell by my blog header, I'm a sucker for hydrangeas.  And the gorgeous, vibrants ones sitting here on this bench, surrounded by subdued colors, really grabbed me.  So, using a sketch from Lucy's Cards...

...this is my creation:

This also fits in at Stampin' B, where the challenge is to use something old (that twine; it's been in my stash since I began stamping) and something new (both the String Lace border punch by Martha, and the embossing folder 'Ornate Flowers, Leaves and Twirls' by Sizzix) AND at Mark's Finest Papers, where the challenge is also to use something new.

I colored the hydrangea from SU's Because I Care with Copic markers and the sentiment is from SU's Teeny Tiny Wishes (one of the most versatile sets I own).  The oval nestie black frame was created with the tight-mat tutorial. 

Behind the scenes, I am having fun putting together creations for my future Play Date Cafe challenges.  My official debut there begins next week.  I am truly excited!  I hope you enjoy the things I show you each week and I really, really hope you come and play, too!

Thanks for joining me once again today (I promise that's it for posts today). 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Colleen

Stamps:  Because I Care, Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU)
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Punch:  String Lace by Martha Stewart
Other:  Big Shot, Sizzix Folder 'Ornate Flowers, Leaves and Twirls', dimensionals, natural twine by SU, oval nesties by Spellbinders, Copic markers

Inspired by a Pottery Barn PIllow...again

I'd better make this a quick post.  I have spent waaaaay too much time on the computer today. 

The most recent copy of Pottery Barn's catalog hit my mailbox the other day, and I saw this monogrammed pillow in it:

I thought right away of my clear Anna Griffin stamps.  I used an initial from her collection, and a frame from GlitzDesign's Fancy Frames and came up with this:

I love, love, love the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder from SU, so that became the backdrop.  A few pearls were added to the main image, but otherwise, it's pretty simple and clean.

Thanks for joining me! 

Colleen

Stamps:  Fancy Frames from GlitzDesigns, initial from Anna Griffin
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink:  Basic Black
Other:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, pearls from Queen & Co., dimensionals

Yours Truly is a Guest Designer!

I am very excited to be this week's Guest Designer at Off The Wall Craftiness!  The color story this week is so classy and elegant - check it out....

The colors remind me of an elegant winter wedding.  I was so thrilled to be working with this color palette that I made two cards for the challenge! 

If you look closely at the group of inspiration photos at the top of the post, you can see where I got my ideas from....scallops from the ladies dress in the top right corner....ornate 'jewels' from the necklace also on the top row of photos....white-embossed words of thanks from the middle row of pix.

I used medallions from Simple Delights and Artistic Etchings, both by SU, and embossed them in white.  The sentiment is from a Flourishes set called With Gratitude.

The next card has a more natural feel.

I broke in my new Pine Needles border punch by Martha Stewart and an acetate die cut of a bird from K & Company.  I layered the bird over pretty white-on-white wedding specialty (retired) paper from Stampin' Up!.  The only other paper used is Always Artichoke for the card base, and Bravo Burgundy for the borders.  It was a very simple card to put together, thanks to that die cut.

 
Head over to Off The Wall Craftiness to play with us this week! 

Before I go I wanted to show you some of my favorite Christmas decorations before I put them away until next year:

I made this tree out of a Styrofoam cone and vintage glass balls
 from my grandmother's attic.

My beloved snowman collection.

A snow couple and a red squirrel that I made from pipe cleaners.

Vintage jar from a yard sale filled with newer ornaments.

Love this large bottle brush tree from my husband and kids given a few years ago,
 but the vintage type Santa is new to me this year.  Love his aged look. 

Remember,  you can click on any of the above pictures to make them larger.

Thank you so very much for joining me today!  Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think of my cards.  I love to hear what you think!

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Scalloped Card --

Stamps:    Artistic Etchings, Simple Delights both by SU; With Gratitude by Flourishes

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Bravo Burgundy

Ink:  Versamark

Punch:  Doily Lace by Martha Stewart

Other:  white embossing powder, heat tool, Stampamajig

Bird Card --

Paper:  wedding specialty paper (retired) by SU; Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke

Punch:  Pine Needles by Martha Stewart

Other:  bird acetate die cut by K & Company

Tree by the Water

It's time for a new challenge at The Play Date Cafe, and the colors this week are beautifully inspired by nature. 

I knew I wanted to have a water element on my card, as well:  

For the first time, I played with aluminum foil from my kitchen.  I thought the shine would be a good representation of water.  Note to self:  use heavier-weight foil next time!  Mine is the bargain thin type, and although it took to embossing quite well, once I began manhandling it, it lost some of its crisp appearance.

The D'vine Swirls embossing folder by Cuttlebug worked great for 'waves' on the water, and torn pieces of 3 different green cardstocks stand in for grass.  I'm not wild about my marker-to-stamp rendition of the tree (from Lovely As A Tree - SU), but it's okay I suppose.  I used Handsome Hunter, Mellow Moss and Green Galore markers.  The sky in the background is sponged using Soft Sky (what else??) and Baja Breeze ink pads.

Come play with us this week....and remember, you have until 11:59 pm EST Tuesday to get your creations in!  Can't wait to see what you all do.  :)

Thanks so much for joining me today.  Have a terrific day!

Colleen

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree (SU)

Paper:  Handsome Hunter, bright green by DCWV, Garden Green, white by PTI

Ink:  Soft Sky, Baja Breeze

Other:  Big Shot, D'Vine Swirls by Cuttlebug embossing folder, gold brads by Joann's, aluminum foil from kitchen, various markers by Stampin Up!

Touch of Vintage

Hello folks.  I am working off my 12 YO's laptop, because my computer 'crashed' yesterday.  It went to the shop today, and I don't know if or when we shall see it again.  Boo hoo!  I feel so lost without it.  All my pictures are there, my files, email contacts, etc.  I am still able to access email remotely, but it's not the same and I can't retrieve any emails I received before the crash.  Sigh.  I'm also not used to typing on a laptop with its darn flat keyboard. 

Okay.  Enough crying, Colleen.  Show the nice people the card you made.

Something vintage, for a change.  I brought out Notably Ornate, Elegant Ornaments and Touch of Nature by Stampin' Up!, some designer paper (retired but new to me) from SU as well, and a pre-dyed flower from SU's Pretties Kit (also new to me).  Yes, I actually got some flowers in those $1.00 Scrap Bags from SU demo!

In the center of the flower, I have a punched-out circle from one of the stamps in the Elegant Ornaments set.  And the bird is from Notably Ornate, but it's been "kissed" by a stamp in the Elegant Ornaments set.  I've never tried the kissing technique before, but it's this week's Clean and Simple challenge over at Splitcoast. 

Other challenges:

• Mark's Finest Papers #36 - use something new (for me it's the paper and the flower)
• Flourishes FTTC99 - use a flower
• Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful - Vintage
• SCS Free For All 44 - 'Christmas List' - use 1) patterned paper 2) a brad 3) at least one punch (my circle in the flower and the corner rounder) 4) ribbon
• CPS 199 - sketch layout

Wow, 6 challenges!  I was just talking to one of my fellow DT members at The Play Date Cafe about combining challenges.  I said it was rare for me to combine 5 or 6 at a time....that the stars had to be aligned just right for this to happen.  I guess it is one of those times!

Speaking of the Play Date Cafe, did you pop by there yet to see the color story for this week?  You have until 11:59 pm EST tonight to play and upload your creation.  Tell them Colleen sent you, if you play!

One more thing before I go:  I will be the Guest Designer at Off The Wall Craftiness later this week!  I can't wait to show you my card, and for you to play over there as well.  The color scheme is very classy indeed!

Thanks for joining me today!

Colleen


Stamps:  Notably Ornate, Elegant Ornaments, Touch of Nature - all SU
Paper:  So Saffron, Very Vanilla, unknown name designer paper by SU
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Basic Black, More Mustard
Punches:  corner rounder, 1" circle
Other:  floral ribbon by Michael's, copper brad by SU, dimensionals, Stampamajig

Wishes For You 2011

Happy New Year!  Last night my 5 year old niece spent the night, and she fell asleep before midnight.  We went out on the porch and banged our pots and pans together at 12:00, but she slept blissfully on.  Ah, kids. 

While waiting for the new year to approach, I put together a couple of festive cards so I could play in some challenges.

I used new goodies here:  a glittered frame from K & Company, a $1.00 stamp from Michael's, and an embossing folder from Sizzix called Damask. 

Challenges entered:

• My Time to Craft - Brand Spanking New
• Stampin' B - Celebration
• City Crafter - Stamp It Out
• Off The Wall Craftiness -

Just for fun, I made a gold version of this card, but I don't like it as much, and it is not entering any challenges.  The balance and proportion are a bit off, but it's still a cute card, I think.

The gold ribbon is a Michael's half price find, but it unravels like crazy, so I won't be taking that one out to play too often.  It looks like a gold bracelet, doesn't it?

I wish you the happiest, healthiest, most prosperous New Year!  Thanks for joining me today.

Colleen

Stamps:  Michael's $1.00 bin
Paper:  Basic Black, PTI white
Ink:  Basic Black
Other:  gold and silver frames & black glittered flower from assorted K & Company pack, silver rick-rack, silver narrow ribbon from Offray, gold ribbon from Michael's, Big Shot, Sizzix "Damask" embossing folder, dimensionals