Thoughts of Father

This will be for my dad for his birthday on the 26th....I've been busy this week making quick-ish cards for my upcoming Birthday Bash Stamp A Stack, so I thought I'd post my favorite so far from the new Spring and Summer Catalog.

One of a Kind and SAB Birthday Whimsy card

The One of A Kind Set seems like it will be a versatile set, and I love the Berry Bliss papers! I couldn't even resist using a piece for the large oval on this card even if it may be a bit busy! The BoHo Blossoms punch was used for the little flowers in the center of the main image. Purely Pomegranate on Pretty in Pink layered on a Cocoa on Pink that just peeks out.

This card is an option for my Birthday Bash Stamp A Stack that will be on Thursday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m, and it was designed for LSC150 on Splitcoast. The challenge was to use only two colors that are in the same family, and it was suggested we use our least used family. Mine is Bold Brights most definitely. I was trying for boyish or gender neutral.

Mystery Hostess Night Make and Take

In addition to the little pink Qbee box (created by user ID Qbee on SCS) with the choice of image for the top shown on the events page, my guests will also make this Wiper Card. I used the tutorial on JanTInk's blog shown here: http://stampspaperscissors.typepad.com/wipercard.pdf

This little box was popular in Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration brochure as well as the new Catalog Preview brochure, so when I saw a post on how to make one on SCS I had to try. It will round out my display table with a 3-D item.

Another Card with the A Beautiful Thing Stamp Set

I decide for the Limited Supply Challenge on Splitcoast (to use no white or vanilla cardstock) to go with my favorite color Soft Sky. I had planned to use Blue Bayou with it, but it wasn't dark enough., so I went with Not Quite Navy for better contrast. I love the way the half-back ivory pearl from the Pretties Kit and the Ivory Taffeta ribbon lighten it up.

New Sets/New Catalog/New Year!

I just placed my order for the new spring Stampin' Up! catalog today, so I am excited to show a few of the items we were able to preorder from Stampin' Up!

New to this spring's catalog are Rub-Ons....available in black and white (as well as Old Olive and Chocolate Chip during Sale-A-Bration) This set of Rub-Ons coordinates with the A Beautiful Thing stamp set that my upline and friend Jessika gave me for Christmas. In the samples below, I used the set and rubons with the Cutie Pie designer paper.

In this example, the Rub-Ons are the white center of the So Saffron flower and the white starburst on the Round Tab punch.

In this example, the black Rub-Ons are used for the center of the flower and the "Make a Wish" sentiment.

Finally, in this example I used a Rub-On as an accent strip where I might normally put ribbon across the center of the card. They really allow you to coordinate your projects because you can put them on glass and non-porous surfaces as well! I'll have a bottle or vase on display at my Mystery Hostess night :)

This little mouse makes cute Valentine's and has a companion elephant friend in the set....here's hoping I have time to display an elephant card tomorrow :)

Time Well Spent

Our demo gift this year is the Time Well Spent set. It will be a Level 3 Hostess Set in the New Spring and Summer 2008 Stampin' Up! catalog. It is a very large set (12 stamps) and is nicely versatile I think.

Here are the first three cards I've made with it. The first one was for a Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS. The designer of the card I CASE'd (while changing the stamp set and some small details)was Shelly Kuck/papermoon04 on SCS. The second card was for the Stalker/Challenge Chasers Sketch Challenge on SCS (sketch by SCS ID debdeb), and the third was for Sherry and JeanneS's blog challenge and the Saturday Inspiration Challenge. Not sure I can make a card without a challenge again! Now I need to make a Thank You card to send to Stampin' Up!

This is a cracked glass square card for the Technique Challenge today (TLC140). I masked a little and did some sponging on the edges, but I'm basically posting this to show off the colors which I hope you can actually see well enough to appreciate. Soft Sky, Certainly Celery and So Saffron....I really like them together for spring.

New SCSC01 and Jami's Blog Challenge

This is for the new stalker/challenge chaser sketch challenge on Splitcoast shown here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7538938#post7538938

I punched the scallop circle out of the Dashing paper and layered a 1-3/8 inch Old Olive circle and the Poinsettia from Perfect Presentation stamped on Olive in a 1 inch circle. The Joy image is layered on a large oval punch in Real Red.

It is also for Jami's blog challenge (use Dashing paper and other restrictions-One was no hardware or brads, but punches and ribbon are okay....that's why I have circle punches in my corners.) shown here: http://jami.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/10/22/a-dashing-challenge/

Such fun challenges!

QBee Box TLC139

This great little box design was created by Brenda/QBee on SCS. This is my version created for the TLC139 shown here http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295073 -Her originals were super-cute Halloween designs.

What fun it was to make! It holds treats and is easy to open and reclose without disturbing the box, but you can see the treat through the transparency sheet too. They would be great in any color scheme and for many occasions! (I could use a bit of work on neatness though :) )

Popcorn slider

I was lucky to get to make a shoebox swap card similar to this in Allen, Texas at Milette's Shoebox Swap and Class Fest on Saturday, but mine uses the Sketch Challenge from SCS's Fan Club Forum and Perfect Presentation and Baroque Motifs instead of Season of Joy as well as different Dashing papers. (The inspiration was also red instead of Olive.) I really like this medallion from Baroque Motifs as a background.

Illuminations

I borrowed Illuminations from my upline, and I love it. It is fairly large but still easy to use and versatile. My two examples show it used as a Christmas card for Jen70's latest blog challenge to use Always Artichoke and Bravo Burgundy and as a Wedding card in Tiffany blue, oh I mean Soft Sky. The Cherish stamp blends beautifully with the background swirl from Baroque Motifs, and with the lovely pointed leaves in the swirl, the Hope stamp isn't half bad with the holly stamp from Background Basics.

Rhode Island Red?

My blog usually is all about SU!, but today I have to share this card. Stamps by High Hopes Rubber Stamps......fun to make!

This card is for the Color Challenge CC132 on SCS. It is also to send to a young girl named Victoria who has cancer for a card campaign her teacher started...hopefully my middle-aged/childish humor will be a little bit funny to her. Here's a link to Courtney's blog if you'd like to send a card to Victoria: http://createdbycourtney.blogspot.com/

Favorite Set and Favorite Colors

Blue Bayou and Soft Sky are definitely favorites of mine....and this little bird-yep, love her too! I like the blues with Mellow Moss as well. This idea grew from my card for the CC130 for which the colors were Groovy Guava and Always Artichoke. The watercolored leaves on this card are artichoke and the bluebird's breast is Groovy Guava.

Today's Inspiration Challenge

We were to be inspired today by a beaded purse for IC91 on SCS. Here is a link:http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282839

This card was simple, quick and fun! I like the depth in the sky areas which was done using the sponge daubers and gold encore/metallic ink after the gold embossing. I had no idea what I was doing-love those happy accidents!

Boolicious Candy Bar Holder

Inspired by today's Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS (WT128--make a Halloween Card) this candy bar holder is for my upcoming Masking, Distressing and other Ghoulish Delights class. I think the Almost Amethyst cardstock looks "spooky" with the Old Olive, Only Orange and Black for some reason. :)

It is very easy to make this little box. Cut your 8-1/2 X 11 inch Only Orange cardstock in half at 5-1/2 inches. Next, cut at 6-1/2 inches to create a 5-1/2 X 6-1/2 inch rectangle. Next, score the 5-1/2 inch side at 1/4 inch to create the bottom of the box. Then, score the 6-1/2 inch side at 2-3/16 inches, 2-7/16 inches, 4-11/16 inches and 4-15/16ths.

Use a circle punch to create a notch in the front piece to allow the candy bar to be seen. Using sticky strip, attach the long sides tucking the smaller piece inside. Cut the four scores at the corners of the bottom folds. Next, fold the back piece (with the two layers that are adhered together) in and apply sticky strip to the top/outside of the cardstock. Then, fold the tiny squares in on top of it and finally, fold the outer portion in toward the sticky strip to glue it all together. Finish it off by decorating your candy bar holder for the upcoming season.

Wanted Versatility

I love the versatility of the Wanted stamp set...yes, it is western, but it can be subtle too. It made the SCS Color Challenge (search CC128 for this week so simple!

For this card I stamped off the Groovy Guava and over-stamped with Very Vanilla craft ink on both the Groovy Guava and Soft Sky in the background....Added a few Very Vanilla stamps that are just on their own as well. I like the texture it gives a background.

Christmas Wreath

This card I hope to share in an upcoming Christmas card class. I love the versatility this idea gives to the Trio Flower Punch that is in the Three for You punch box! I think I CASE'd the layout for this card, but I can't remember where I found the idea (sorry!). I definitely CASE'd (copy and share everything) this super cute wreath idea from a fellow SCSer, kpaisley1. Kristine was gracious enough to allow me to use her idea for my card. Here is a link to her blog: http://www.paisleyscraps.blogspot.com/ Her card was posted on July 14th (so you can find it easily).

Fabulous Flowers is my new Favorite Set

This set is so fun, and the possibilites are many...I'm having trouble moving on to the next set in my shipment! I enjoy the Fabulous sentiment with the glitter on the flower too...kind of funny :)

Tile Technique TLC

Here's my card from Monday....the Close to Cocoa on Soft Sky background flourish is covered with the tile technique, and the center image is cracked glass. The new rhinestone brad is a much better match in real life than it appears in my picture.

The New Baroque Motifs set is sooo easy to use and looks nice in a variety of different uses. I can't wait to offer it to my customers after July 1st, so I have to link to this fun countdown I found on my SCS-friend, Amanda's blog:

Get this widget!

Splitcoast is down this morning!

How will I manage? Well, I can update my neglected blog! I am posting my Ways to use it challenge card here as well as my TLC (technique lover's challenge) card from Monday.

The WT117 challenge was to use flourishes. I used the new 2nd level hostess set, Perfect Presentation, as well as the Baroque Motifs flourish and the Merry Christmas from Holidays and Wishes. I love the new Purely Pomegranate and Wild Wasabi In-Colors together as well.

I couldn't find my 2-way glue pen so I used crystal effects to attach the dazzling diamonds snow. I am considering this for a stamp a stack, so I used the zig painty silver in the corners and silver cord to finish it.