Needed More Mojo

For the Mojo Monday challenge yesterday I used Twitterpated.  I was not terribly in love with the card, but I convinced myself that I liked it well enough.  However, upon entering my craftroom this morning, I realized that I still felt it was lacking something, so I pulled the paper out again and began playing.

I have a binder on my desk with old sketches on it that I wanted to get to, but never did.  I flipped through this morning and found this layout.  It gave me a few options for displaying the different patterns, so I went for it.  Mother's Day isn't right around the corner, but I figured it would be a good time to make my cards up now so I am not scrambling later on.

I'm MUCH happier with this card.  I recently purchased the Textured Impressions pads and pulled them out to have a little play.  I just wanted something subtle in the background, and the Damask print was perfect for this DSP.  I added a few of the coordinating buttons to finish it off, and voila!  1 mum's day card down, 1 to go.

I seem to be on a kick making things out of scraps.  This is a little silly since I have about 400 full size sheets of paper that I still need to use (and I keep buying more - as though I might run out soon).  I found this card on another SU! demo's website and knew I had to make it.  Check our her blog for a video on how to do the pinwheel.  You're just layering the pieces on top of each other, but I'm too lazy to type it all out when you can read about it on her site.

I wasn't crazy about the plain background of the original card, so I pulled out En Francais (it never fails to impress me with its beauty).  I stamped the entire image with Riding Hood Red, and then took Cherry Cobbler and patted it around a little, finishing with a few pats of Early Espresso.  I love the way the colours blend together and flow like the script.

Paper:  Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Holly Berry Bouquet, Glimmer paper
Ink:  Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler
Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, En Francais
Extras:  Bird punch, Modern label punch, Word Window punch

Crafter's Anonymous

From several of my previous posts, you have by now realized that I am a teacher (if you haven't realized this, read more carefully), and that I get the summer off.  Does this mean that I sleep in though?  Absolutely not.  My husband still has to go to work so when his alarm goes off at 6:30, I'm up too.  What do I do in early morning while he's getting ready for work?  Why, come into my craft room, or course!  So this morning, he posted a comment on his facebook page asking of anyone knows of a CA group that he could contact.  Apparently I need an intervention...

So this morning, I continued making wedding cards (I've been trying to stockpile them for the market).  This little gem came to me in my sleep and needed to be made immediately.

No, that's not metallic paper.  I covered up a piece of cardstock with tin foil and ran it through the EF.  I am fairly impressed with myself right now.

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Basic Black
Paper:  Basic Black
Extras:  Vintage Wallpaper EF, Scallop punch, Oval punch, TIN FOIL!

To Market, To Market

 

It's Friday, so that means it's off to the Farmer's Market for me!  And what do you know?  It's cold and miserable outside.  What a surprise...

Even if it is cold and miserable, this card makes me pretty happy.  I finally got to play with my new triple layer punch and I am IN LOVE!  I'm committing tonight to making a few cards with this new little dodad to see what I can come up with.  I'm picturing Poppy Parade getting some action, maybe with So Saffron and Concord Crush... Hmmm....

Hope you like it!

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Lucky Limeade
Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Extras:  Triple Layer Blossom punch, Perfect Polka Dots EF

Sympathy Flowers

My husband called me from work this afternoon for a little pick-me-up.  We live in a small town, where everyone knows everyone, and how and what everyone is doing.  At his work, there is a sweet old, albeit curmudgeony, gentleman (the father of one of the owners) who spends his day driving customers around town while their cars get serviced, drinking coffee at A&W, and doing a fair amount of old-man style complaining about some SOB or other.  During his travels around the dealership, he often drops in on my husband for a visit (according to him, my hubby is "one cool cat").  So when dear old Frank seemed a little off yesterday, Chris asked him if everything was ok.  The response he got was that Frank seems to think he's "come to the end of my rope."  80 some odd years is a pretty good shot at things, but when Frank decided to stay home today because he wasn't feeling well, it got everyone down a little.  Thinking about this hardy ex-truck driver as a frail old guy made me think of all the people that I've heard have passed along recently.  So with this in mind, I set out to make some sympathy cards that aren't black and grey and depressing.  The muted blue tones of this card made it solemn, but the punch of yellow is that light that you see at the end of the tunnel.

Stamps:  Fabulous Florets, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight
Paper:  Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Extras:  Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Flower Garden embossing folder

Bold Mother's Day

It seems that all of the Mother's Day cards that I've been seeing are traditional girly colours.  I've finally had a chance to get back into my room after report card time, and I had some time to play with the Springtime Vintage DSP.  This gorgeous floral pattern is still girly, but the background colours give it a more bold punch than traditional pinks usually found on Mom's day stuff.

Stamps:  Four Frames, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Paper:  Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Extras:  Decorative Label punch, Very Vanilla ribbon, Basic Jewels pearls

Gate Fold

Last night after a few hours of curling, I decided that I would warm up by sitting on my butt and crafting for a few hours.  I hadn't gotten around to trying gate fold cards out quite yet, so I gave it a whirl.  The warm temperatures (and by warm, I mean 1 degree) made me pick my Sunny Garden paper out of the pile and play.  I'm really happy with the result.  This was the perfect card to give to a friend that I wanted to let know how much she means to me.

Paper:  Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Sunny Garden
Extras:  Embosslits Beautiful Wings






I've still got a few pieces of Ice Cream Parlor hanging around, and I wanted to use them up, so I put together this little number.  I have been trying to get myself to make some cards with brights, so this was the perfect opportunity.  Ice Cream Parlor is only available through Sale-a-bration which ends on the 31st so get your orders in if you would like a stack of this fun paper!

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Pacific Point, Ice Cream Parlor
Ink:  Old Olive
Extras:  Scallop Edge Punch, Ice Cream Parlor Quick Accents

Workshop Thank Yous

I had a great workshop a couple of weekends ago and the ladies' orders should be in early this week.  I wanted to make them thank you cards to put in with their orders and here's what I came up with.  The Botanical Gazette designer paper is just beautiful and works perfectly with the Nature Walk stamp set.

I got another chance to use my Build a blossom set, and love how it turned out with the dark colour.







Stamps:  Nature Walk (121997), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370), Build a Blossom (121923)
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler (119685), Night of Navy (100867), Crumb Cake (120953), Early Espresso (119686), Botanical Gazette (121783)
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler (119669), Night of Navy (102997), Early Espresso (119670)
Extras: Blossom Petals Punch (121808), Modern Label Punch (119849), Embosslits Beautiful Wings (118138)

 

 

Basic Grey

 

Grey is the new black.  I love the simplicity of monochromatic.

Okay, monochromatic is amazing, but so is hot pink.  I tossed some Melon Mambo into the mix just for kicks.  I knew that I wanted a background of some sort to put the birdcage on, but nothing was working.  Then I moved some things around on my desk and saw the leftovers from the previous card and, voila!  Match made in heaven.  The birdcage is a Tim Holtz die that I've been looking for for ages, but is always sold out.  As soon as I saw it on the shelf I grabbed it and felt quite smug that I scooped it up.  I forsee great things coming from this die.

Stamps:  Silhouette Sentiments (hostess), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Paper:  Basic Grey (121044), First Edition (121878), Melon Mambo (115320), Very Vanilla (101650)
Ink:  Basic Grey (109120)
Extras:  Modern Label Punch (119849)

Friend to Friend

The {friend to friend} sentiment is probably the most well-used of my stamps from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  It works for pretty much anything.  I leave my cards blank inside, and this sentiment leaves the door wide open for whatever use you need.

My best friend loves owls, so I am going to send this down to her.  We both love browns and greens together, so it seemed like a natural combination with this sweet little owl.

One of the free sets during Sale-a-bration includes an owl stamp that fits this punch perfectly.  New demonstrators that join Stampin' Up during SAB get to choose a free punch as one of the extras, and this could be the punch that you choose.  Hobby stampers - remember, you can join Stampin' Up just to take advantage of the great deal ($187 for over $350 worth of product and supplies during SAB).  There's absolutely no obligation to sell even one stamp set if you join.  Starter kits are completely customizable to get you exactly what you want.  Check out the details on my page (test drive SU!) or contact me for more info.  I can help you figure out what sets you'd get the most mileage out of.  SAB ends on March 31, so take advantage of this deal while you can!

Stamps:  Teen Tiny Wishes (115370)
Paper:  Pear Pizazz (119795), Crumb Cake (120963), Early Espresso (119686), First Edition (121878)
Extras: Owl Punch (118074), Early Espresso Ribbon (119753), Modern Label Punch (119849)

Nature Walk

 

One of the ladies that I work with recently had her mother pass away.  I didn't have any sympathy cards made up when I found out so I frantically made one up before I went to work the next morning.  I was happy with the result (didn't take a pic though in my rush), but it made me think that I would like to see what other combinations I could come up with that would get the message across without being too depressing.  Tonight I came up with this little number.  I like the sombre note the navy lends, but the images are gentle and, I think, soothing.  I changed the size up a little on this one.  It measures 6" X 3.5."

Stamps:  Nature Walk (121997), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Paper:  Night of Navy (100867), Botanical Gazette (121783), Very Vanilla (101650)

Ink:  Night of Navy (102977)

Extras:  Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (117291), Modern Label Punch (119849)

Since I had the set out, I decided I'd make another one while I was at it.  This one uses the same stamp set and designer paper, but I've changed up the colour scheme.  I thought about putting a sentiment on here as well, but decided against it in the end. 

Stamps:  Nature Walk (121997)

Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Botanical Gazette (121783)

Ink:  Early Espresso (119670)

Extras:  Jumbo Brads (112534), Hemp Twine (100982)

Beautiful Wings & Scallop

I  love coming home to presents on my doorstep.  I bought these for myself mind you, nevertheless, it's so exciting to pull into the driveway to see a Stampin' Up box on the porch.  I really should have spent the evening marking some essays, but let's be honest here, this was waaaaayyyyy more fun.

I haven't tried making cards in any other than the traditional shape, but since this little baby was in the box today, I decided to give scalloped shaped cards a whirl.  It's definitely smaller than usual, but I think the funkiness of it more than makes up for the smaller size.  Along with my new scallop die I got an Embosslit.  I'm already in love with these little butterflies.  The plate actually cuts 5 little butterflies, so I put one of them inside the card for an extra touch.

If you want to make a scallop card, you just cut 2 scallops from your cardstock and on one piece, score across the top, about 1/4" in.  This will give your card the support it needs to stand up.


Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Paper:  Pumpkin Pie (105117), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Whisper White (119952), Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (115675),
Extras:  Scallop Circle (113468), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138), Modern Label Punch (119849), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (102023)