Casing Myself

Since all the supplies were still laying out on my table, I decided to make a card based on the supplies I used to make the scrapbook page for the VC Rocks Blog Hop this past weekend. You can see the page in the post below.

I got a little sponge happy on this one, but I like how it turned out and will be using it for the demo swap at my upline's group meeting.

I used all the same colors as the scrap page, but switched out the DSP and the embellishments.


Everything except the card base was sponged-told you I got a little carried away. :) The pearl was again colored with a Sharpie maker and placed inside the jumbo eyelet. I ruffled the ribbon by placing a length of sticky strip down and then pressing the ribbon on to that, scrunching it as I went along. I used the Espresso marker to color the word "dream" from the sentiment stamp in the Razzle Dazzle set for the tag. Then pinned the tag to the ribbon using a safety pin from the Vintge Trinkets.


Stamps: Razzle Dazzle (the word dream from the sentiment)
Ink: Baja Breezer, Early Espresso, Certainly Celery
Paper: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso
Misc: Jumbo Eyelets, Jewels Basic Pearls, Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon, Sizzix Bigz Die Fun Flowers, Vintage Trinkets, Linen Thread, Jewelry Tag Punch, Sponges, Sticky Strip, Sharpie marker

Color My World

Welcome to the first VC Rocks blog hop for the 2011 season! If you don't know what VC Rocks is, please check out the VC Rocks Blog for more info. If you come across a broken link or get lost along your hopping journey the VC Blog has a list of all the hop participants. Or, if you came directly to my site and would like to start the hop at the beginning, go to the VC blog to see who's first in line. :)

If you have been following the hop, you should have arrived here from Sharon's blog ~ Created By You What a great project.

The theme for our hop is Color My World. We were to design projects that used some kind of coloring technique. Not being a coloring type girl, very few of my sets are line art stamps or ones that lend themselves well to coloring; so, I was thankful we were able to use retired sets for this hop. I created three projects for the hop and the coloring techniques I used were with reinkers, markers and sponges.

This first card was SO quick and easy. I have always admired the CAS style of cards, but have difficulty making them myself as I prefer Vintage/Distressed. It has been sunny and really nice here the last couple of days, so I gave this card a "beachy" kind of feel in honor of the rain letting up.

Using a wet paint brush and reinkers in Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz and Crumb Cake, I color swiped a 3" x 3.5" piece of Naturals White cardstock. I then stamped the triple palm tree image from Balmy Breezes in Early Espresso. The word Dreams is from a sentiment in the Happy Harmony set. I used the Early Espresso marker to color just that word for stamping. The piece was then layered onto Baja Breeze with a Naturals White card base.

Stamps: Balmy Breezes, Happy Harmony (both retired)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzaz, Crumb Cake reinkers, and Early Espresso marker
Paper: Baja Breeze, Naturals White
Misc: Paint Brush


This next card uses my all time favorite color combo-Brown and Teal. For this one I used Baja Breeze and Early Espresso. I first inked the flower image from Embrace Life with Versamark and then with Early Espresso before stamping and clear embossing. By inking with Versamark first, before your color, and embossing with clear powder, you then basically have any "color" embossing powder you want.

Using the Baja Breeze marker, I then colored in the flowers to give them more depth and make them stand out as a focal point.

I randomly stamped the branch/leaf stamp from the set on the Baja Breeze mat in Baja ink. I then used the Weathered background stamp, also with Baja ink, over that. I finished off the focal point with Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon and stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso.

Stamps: Embrace Life (retired)
Ink: Baja Breeze ink pad and marker, Early Espresso
Paper: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso
Misc: Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Early Espresso 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon



My final project is a 6" x 6" layout that is definitely more my style and again uses the Espresso and Baja color combo.

I colored the Presto Patterns DSP with Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake using sponges. Next I spritzed it in a couple of places with Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, and then spritzed again with Frost White Shimmer Mist (made from Frost White Shimmer Paint). Finally, I sponged on some more Baja and also Pear Pizzazz. I colored the edges with Early Espresso and a sponge.

I stamped the butterfly from Clearly For You on Naturals White cardstock in Early Espresso. Then I colored it in with Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery markers and cut it out. I sponged the Vintage Tag with Pear Pizzazz and adhered the butterfly with a Pop Dot clipping it to the piece with a Mini Library clip. The pearls were colored with a green Sharpie marker.


For the flowers I used the Sizzix Bigz Die-Fun Flowers. I misted them with water and then crumpled them up. After carefully uncrumpling, I sponged the entire flower with Baja Breeze ink and then sponged the edges with Early Espresso.


I colored another pearl with the green Sharpie and placed it on top of an Antique brad for the center of the flower. I colored the edges of the Celery ribbon using a sponge and Early Espresso to give it a grungier look. To "ruffle" the ribbon I put down a length of Sticky Strip tape and then scrunched the ribbon together as I pressed it down on the tape.

Stamps: Clearly For You
Ink: Baja Breeze ink pad and marker, Early Espresso and Pear Pizzaz ink pad, Certainly Celery marker
Paper: Presto Patterns DSP, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso (textured)
Misc: Antique Brads, Jewels Basic Pearls, Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon, Sizzix Bigz Die Fun Flowers, Vintage Tags, Mini Library Clips, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, Frost White Shimmer paint (made into shimmer mist), Pop Dots, Sponges, Sticky Strip, Sharpie marker


I hope you enjoyed the projects, but it's time to move on. The next stop on the hop is Angela's blog ~ Life with a Wiener Dog. Frankfurter is very cute and Angela's projects are pretty cute too. :)


Have fun!

Paisley Petals Companion Card

This is the card that I made to go along with the notepad set from yesterday's post. Again, I went for simple and quick with the style.



The designs in the Paisley Petals paper lend themselves quite well to being the focal point of a project. There are so many great colors that coordinate with this paper - Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, River Rock, Soft Suede and Tangerine Tango. Some other choices include Bravo Burgundy, Peach Parfait (In-Color) and Mellow Moss (Retired). Think of all the different projects that can be made with that many color choices!

If you missed getting any of this paper during the sneak peak promotion in April, don't worry-it will be available again July 1st, in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog!

Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Mellow Moss (retired), Not Quite Navy, Paisley Petals DSP
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Jewels Basic Pearls, MDS (for sentiment inside card)

Enjoy!

Paisley Petals Test Case

Now that they are no longer available to purchase, I have finally got around to making something with the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper and the Four Frames Stamp set. The good thing about that is, they will both be available AGAIN in the new 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog coming in July!! Only a couple of months away!

While big floral prints are not typically my style, my Mom likes them, so I made a gift for her using the paper and stamp set for Mother's Day. She was definitely my guinea pig for this one, as it was also the first clear case notepad set I have made. Fortunately, she loved it. (But then Moms are a bit prejudiced when it comes to their kids talents.) :)

I have seen a lot of the cover inserts made for these cases using Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio. Using MDS gives you the opportunity to add beautiful digital embellishments and rearrange your layout as many times as you like, without wasting any supplies. Since the digital layouts are not bulky like normal layouts, they slip right into the case cover. I will definitely be making more of this fun and easy project, and next time will be printing some MDS cover inserts as well.


While I wanted to showcase the floral pattern of the paper, I still think the front cover is a little plain. If I hadn't waited until the last minute to make it, I probably would have embellished it a bit differently.



I really like how the inside turned out and was actually surprised at the thickness of the two pads together not causing a problem with closing the case. These are so handy for your purse or car whenever you need to write a reminder note to yourself or make a quick to do list.

Both of the large green mat pieces and the little piece under the clip are Mellow Moss, however, the lighting makes them look like two different shades of green. Of course I didn't look closely at the pictures until after giving it to her. Oh well...can't retake them now.

Stamps: Four Frames (available in July), Notes & Details, Office Accoutrement (retired)
Paper: Paisley Petals DSP (available in July), Not Quite Navy, Mellow Moss (retired)
Accessories: Clip Assortment, Basic Pearls, Decorative Label Punch, Double Stitched Baja Breeze Grosgrain, Mini notepad, Post-It note pad, Mini pen

Enjoy!

Spring is Blossoming Stampin' Up! Promotion

Stampin' Up! is giving us a sneak peak and a chance to pre-order some new items from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog, available in July! Don't miss out on this special offer.

The Paisley Petals Designer Series paper is absolutely beautiful and perfect for your Spring and Summer projects; and the Four Frames stamp set is designed specifically to work with the Decorative Label Punch. The colors featured in the DSP are:

• Baja Breeze
• Cherry Cobbler
• Chocolate Chip
• Marina Mist
• Not quite Navy
• Old Olive
• River Rock
• Soft Suede
• Tangerine Tango

To purchase these items simply place a minimum $20 order, or host a $350* workshop and earn them for FREE! This offer is only valid through April 30th. The items will not be available to purchase again until July 1, 2011.

To place your order, or to learn more about this promotion and to see a fabulous sample using these products, check out my SU website Kym's Creations.


*Net sales before tax and shipping; not applicable for online orders.

Butterflies and Aged Metal

Finally, I'm posting again! Sorry to take such a long hiatus; hope you like my "come back" card. I did this for a recent demo swap with my upline's group.

I really like aged metal pieces and the whole distressed look, but sadly SU no longer offers the Hodgepodge Hardware in the aged selections. :( So what's a girl to do when she needs that aged metal look, but can only use SU products? Improvise! As the Styled Silver HH was too shiny and bright for the overall "feel" for this card, I decided to alter it.First, I used some medium grit sandpaper to sand the the Hodgepodge pieces-brads too. This was better, but it was still a bit too bright for me. So then I decided to age it further with alcohol ink. Again, since this was for a demo swap, I could only use SU products. I created my own alcohol ink using Soft Suede reinker and rubbing alcohol in a mister bottle. I sprayed the metal pieces with the ink and then heat set until almost dry. Finally, I took a paper towel, wiped off the excess ink and then buffed the pieces a bit. Here is the close up.

Stamps: Just Believe, You're a Gem

Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Elegant Soiree DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede reinker
Misc: Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Distress Toll-Cutter Kit, Linen Thread, Sponges, Medium grit sandpaper, Rubbing Alcohol, Misting Bottle

Sorry the pictures are blurry. I retook them several times but with no better results. I think I may need to purchase a new camera.


Enjoy!

The dreaded "S" word

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I lasted posted! Sorry about that. :(

It has been very dreary and windy the last couple of days and it is getting downright cold. Now, for me to say it is cold is generally unheard of as I go around most of the winter without a coat. But today, we actually got our first little ssssssnowfall.

YIKES, the dreaded S word! It wasn't much, but it was still not welcome. My ideal winter would be to snow on Christmas Eve a soft, fluffy gentle snow. You know the kind, the perfect snowfall you always see in the movies where you get snowed in with that special someone and spend the evening curled up next to the fire, or sharing some much needed quality time with your family, and then it would be gone the day after Christmas. (and be about 68 degrees and sunny the rest of the time) Perfect! :)

I thought this card would be appropriate to post since we have been seeing the little flecks blowing about today.

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizazz
Ink: Soft Suede, Whisper White
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Build-a-Brad, Scallop Edge Punch, Heat Tool

I stamped the trees in Whisper White craft ink and then embossed them with white detail powder. The green mat and Build-a-Brad center are the new Pear Pizazz In-Color. I really liked the clean easy style of this card, and it went together very quickly.

I hope wherever you are the weather is clear and bright!


Enjoy!