Wow! It's been a while! But it's good to be back :) I thought I'd give you all a little update on my life, and I've got a card to share as well (it's at the end, so feel free to skip now to the good stuff!)
So the main reason I've been MIA this summer is because...well, it's summer :) Ben has had marginally more time to spend with me this summer, so I'm spending as much time with him as he'll allow! We've had a couple of major achievements this summer as well, which have contributed to our busyness and my absence from the stamping world (yes, not only have I not been posting here, but I haven't even been stamping! At all!). The first major achievement is that of my husband. Ben earned admittance to the University of Chicago Law Review (a prestigious law journal, of which only 29 of 190 students in each class earn admittance to the staff). This was a HUGE deal for him. He worked so hard this past year, and all his hard work has paid off...and it has paid him with more work :) Oh well. This achievement will almost certainly aid him tremendously in his search for a job once he's out of school. Obviously this is important, especially considering today's job economy. So I guess we're in for another year of even more work than last year...so that means you'll probably be hearing even more from me!
The second of our major achievements this summer was my getting my first "real" job! Last summer, I had worked several short-term temporary positions before landing a long-term temporary assignment with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Unfortunately, the office I was assigned to was a hour drive from my house, each way. Although I enjoyed the position, I hated the commute. I started looking for a position in the Blue Cross Blue Shield office that is only a short 15-minute train ride from my house. After a long hiring process (that included three interviews!), I was offered a position. It was such great news! I started in mid-July, so I've had about a month in the new position. So far I LOVE the job. The people are great, and I love the work. It's so perfect for me, and I'm so thankful God had everything planned out perfectly (as always!).
So although we're technically still in "summer" as Ben doesn't start classes until the last week in September, both of us are so busy that it sure doesn't seem like summer (except for the crazy heat of course). I am very excited by all the new products Stampin' Up! has created for us with this new catalog. I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the new colors! I could not be happier with the new Color Renovation. It's so nice to have a bin full of totally stylish colors...but it's so hard to choose which colors to use!
Now...on to the stamping! Speaking of the color renovation, this card features one new "regular" color and one new "in color":
Sorry the colors are a little off in this picture. I just made this card tonight, and the lighting in my living room is not ideal for picture-taking :) I used the new Greenhouse Gala DSP along with the polka dot embossing folder and a retired (sorry!) Sale-a-Bration set from this past spring. The flower is actually yellow--I used one of the small Paper Daisies (p. 188) and dyed it using the Daffodil Delight ink. The card stock colors are Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, and Pear Pizzaz.
8.17.2010
An Update
5.03.2010
Happy Wedding, Jenny!
One of my very good friends from high school, Jenny, got married a few weeks ago (congrats!). I made this card to send to her. I used all retired stamps (because they just worked PERFECTLY for the card...you know how that happens sometimes!), so I apologize that you cannot purchase the stamps used on this card, though all the colors and accessories are current.
I copied the idea for this card from page 6 of the current Idea Book & Catalog. I tend to miss some of the projects shown on these "non-product" pages in the catalog because I usually skip those pages when I'm looking through the catalog. However, I have to remind myself that this book isn't just a catalog--it's also an idea book...with ideas on EVERY page! I just love it!
One of my favorite parts of this card is the ribbon with the staples. I always forget that I can use such a simple tool as a stapler to add some nice dimension and spice to a project.
I also LOVE the Pretties Kit (p. 178 #109114)--especially the clear rhinestone brads and the pearls. The kit is just full of pretties to use on your project. When my sisters and I were little, my mom used to call our hair bows "hair pretties," so using the pretties kit always reminds me of the good ol' days with hair pretties :-) Yay for pretties!
Happy Monday!.jpg)
4.22.2010
Quick & Easy
Here's another quick, easy, and bright card for this lovely spring day! The dimensions are 6" x 3".
You know, I really didn't like Bermuda Bay at first...but now that it's almost time to retire this lovely color, I have totally fallen for it! I think I just needed to find the right colors to pair it with. This combo (Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Kraft, and a little Real Red) make such a happy card! Try those colors on a card and make your day happy too!
Stamp Sets: Well Scripted (117072-Wood; 118601-Clear —pictured below)
Paper: Bermuda Bay (115317)Crushed Curry (115319)Kraft (102125)
Ink: Real Red (103133)
The Little Something Extra: 1/2” Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon Bermuda Bay (115610)
4.20.2010
Bold Thank You
I would have never dreamed of putting these colors together on a card, but I absolutely LOVED how they turned out together! This color combo (Brilliant Blue, Elegant Eggplant, and Pumpkin Pie) make for an extremely bold look. This color combo could work well for a masculine card as well...and you know coming up with those kinds of color combos is difficult to do--especially for a girly girl like myself *smile*
I used one of the new Clear Mount stamp sets in the Occasions Mini catalog, "With All My Heart". I think this stamp set was kind of intended as a Valentine's Day stamp set, but it seems to work well for any kind of card!
This card was so simple to make, and this layout is easy to copy. Try it for yourself!
Stamp Sets: With All My Heart (118134-Wood; 118623-Clear —pictured below)
Paper: Brilliant Blue (100721)Elegant Eggplant (105126)Pumpkin Pie (105117), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Brilliant Blue (100691)Elegant Eggplant (105210)Pumpkin Pie (105216)
Punches: 1-1/4” Circle Punch (104403)
The Little Something Extra: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (109070)
4.19.2010
Square Mojo CASE
In my last post, I showed you the circle version of this Mojo Monday sketch:
For today, here is the square version:
I basically CASE'd (copy and share everything) this card from Mary Fish because I absolutely LOVED her card as soon as I saw it. I (of course) did not have all the same elements as she used on her card, so I substituted with what I had on hand *smile*
Hope you all have a lovely Monday!
Stamp Sets: Whimsical Words (SAB 2010: 118386-Wood; 119119-Clear)
Paper: Sahara Sand (105328), Taken with Teal (101584), Pumpkin Pie (105117), So Saffron (105118), Chocolate Chip (102128), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Taken with Teal (103257)
Punches: Star (109045), Large Star (110710)
The Little Something Extra: Fresh Favorites II Buttons (107422), Silver Brads (104336), 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon Chocolate Chip (109051), 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon Pumpkin Pie (109030), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
4.16.2010
Some Mojo...a Little Late!
Like I mentioned in my last post, I have TONS of cards that I've been making over the past month and a half that I simply haven't posted yet. This one was a Mojo Monday sketch (from February!). Today's card uses the circle version of the sketch...but tune in tomorrow for the square version!
I sent this card to my niece a few weeks ago (she was turning 5!!), so I hope she liked it! It even has glitter :)
4.09.2010
Color Renovation!
Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? March was CRAZY for us! Ben was on Spring Break for two weeks, so we took a week-long trip to Kansas (so much fun!). When we got back, Ben & I tried to spend as much time together as we could as his work load will be even greater this quarter than it has been all year long. It's like they're trying to "weed" people out or something... Anyway, now that he's back in the swing of things, I have much more time to myself *smile*
The first thing I wanted to share with you is the upcoming Color Renovation! Wow, Stampin' Up! I'm so excited!
Starting in our new catalog on July 1, Stampin' Up! will introduce a new system of colors, with four color collections: Brights, Neutrals, Regals, and Subtles. They're keeping many of the current "regular" colors, bringing back several past In-Colors, and introducing 5 brand new colors! PLUS (as if that wasn't enough!), they're introducing a new In-Color system. Each year, they will introduce 5 new In-Colors, but those colors will be available for two years instead of one. So this year, we will have 5 colors, but next summer, they'll introduce 5 more colors (for a total of 10 In-Colors). I can't wait!
Click here to see a bigger version of the new color collections:
Click here to see a bigger version of the retiring colors:
I apologize again that it's been so long since I've blogged. The funny thing is...I have TONS of stuff to show you. I've even taken the pictures and everything! Just haven't posted... Oh well! Time to remedy that! Happy Saturday!.jpg)
3.08.2010
Clean & Simple x2
Happy Monday! This week's Clean & Simple sketch caught my attention right away. I really liked this sketch, so I made a card by hand AND I made a card in My Digital Studio *big smile*
Here's the sketch:
Here's my "real" card:
Here's my digital card:
...and the inside:
Yay! That was so much fun! Hope you have a lovely Monday!.jpg)
3.07.2010
My Digital Studio Card
Whoa! It's been a week! Amazing how time flies sometimes!
For today's card, I decided I'd try my hand with My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up!'s brand new digital scrapbooking/card-making software. I've made a few scrapbook pages with my software, but I hadn't yet made a card. When I saw this past week's Mojo Monday sketch, I was disappointed because it featured a large circle...and you all know how I really don't like circles--they are hardly ever perfect! :-) After my initial disappointment wore off (and it took all week *wink*), I realized that I could just use My Digital Studio and make a computer-perfect circle! Yay! What a solution!
Here's the sketch:
And my very first digital card:
Whoo hoo! Yay for me! It's nothing special--I basically just followed the sketch exactly--but it was fun nevertheless! I know there are TONS of things I can do with my software, I just haven't had time to sit down and really play with it. Hopefully I'll have some more time in the coming weeks and be able to make some more digital creations to share with you all!
For now, I'm going to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having in Chi-City (the highs for the next 10 days are all above 40 degrees!! I can practically put my coat away! ...just kidding)
2.27.2010
Another Sketch!
Mary Fish, one of my favorite bloggers, has started a challenge blog with her downline called the Pals Paper Arts blog. This sketch came from that blog a few weeks ago:
I got the color combo for this card using a DSP pack from last year that is retired. This paper pack used Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, and Basic Gray. Since we no longer carry Kiwi Kiss or Baja Breeze, I substituted them for similar colors to make a similar color combination. For this particular card I used Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, and Basic Gray to make this spring combo that worked out perfectly for this card!
I LOVE the new Scallop Trim Border punch, available right now only as a Sale-a-Bration item! Which means...you can get it for FREE! Yeah! Just place an order for $50 of merchandise, and receive this punch (or any of the other 75+ Sale-a-Bration stamp sets or the paper pack I featured in my blog post yesterday) absolutely FREE! I love this time of year! It's so wonderful to earn free stamp sets for 3 months each spring :) Click here to view the whole Sale-a-Bration brochure.
Stamp Sets: Well Scripted (117072-Wood; 118601-Clear —pictured below), Eastern Blooms (111626—pictured below)
Paper: Basic Gray (108692), Bashful Blue (105120), Old Olive (100702), Pretty in Pink (100459)
Ink: Old Olive (102277), Basic Gray (109120), Pretty in Pink (101301)
Punches: Scallop Trim Border (118402)
The Little Something Extra: Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon (109067), Basic Gray Corduroy Buttons (114345)
2.26.2010
Clean & Simple Thank You
This fun sketch blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I love "clean & simple" stamping. It's so nice to get back to the basics and be able to make a beautiful card in only 10 minutes :)
The sketch:
My card (which is almost a complete CASE from a sample on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog)
I used the Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Pad for the Bermuda Bay patterned strip. I love this pack of paper because it's so versatile and includes many of the In Colors :) Remember that YOU can get this paper pack for FREE! Just place an order of $50 worth of merchandise and choose ANY Sale-a-Bration stamp set/punch/paper pack for FREE! You only have until March 31, so hurry!
Stamp Sets: Thank You Kindly (111700—pictured below)
Paper: Melon Mambo (115320), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Basic Black (101179), Versamark (102283)
Punches: 1-1/4” Square Punch (104400)—to make the “flag” ending to the Bermuda Bay strip
Cool Tools: Heat Tool (100005)
The Little Something Extra: White Embossing Powder (109132), Fresh Favorites II Buttons (107422), Linen Thread (104199)
2.24.2010
Mojo Monday 125
So I'm a few weeks behind on the Mojo Monday sketches, but...better late than never! :)
It's always fun to try new sketches that force you out of your normal card layouts :) I have such a difficult time doing new things, but nevertheless, it is still fun!
Stampin' Up!'s Big Shot and dies are super easy to use and they help make parts of your card much easier and quicker to produce. The large Chocolate Chip scallop semi-circle was made using the Scallop Circle die. So quick! So easy! Another quick and easy addition to a card is Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series paper (their exclusive patterned paper) because this paper is always made using Stampin' Up! colors so they are easy to match and use with your other Stampin' Up! paper and accessories. This particular DSP is from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Click here to see the whole catalog!
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Stamp Sets: Whimsical Words (118386-Wood; 119119-Clear –pictured below)
Paper: Pretty in Pink (100459), Chocolate Chip (102128), Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (117153)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908)
Punches: Scallop Circle (109043), Curly Label (112208)
Cool Tools: Big Shot (113439), Scallop Circle Die (113468)
The Little Something Extra: Organza Ribbon (114319), Mini Library Clips (109857), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
