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.

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

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)

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!

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

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)

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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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

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)

Spring Kind

As the snow falls outside, it seems that spring will not be here any time soon, but in the meantime, I plan to make some spring-colored cards to brighten my collection of muted winter-tone cards I've been making these past few months :)



I copied the layout for this card from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog, page 130. Like I always say, it's called an "idea book" for a reason :)

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs (113490—pictured below)
Paper: Cameo Coral (100475), Apricot Appeal (105124), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Tempting Turquoise (100814)
The Little Something Extra: Filigree Designer Brads (112577), Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads (109110)

7 Days of Valentines: Happy Valentine's Day!

The day has finally arrived :) Unfortunately for you, however, this is a card you've already seen... Sorry! But to make up for this serious problem, I have an 8-1/2" x 11" scrapbook page that I don't think I've shared with you yet :) This is a page I made about a year ago to use for the cover of my bible study notebook. Since this page was a year old, I decided to make a new cover (which I will post later this week).



I love using a color layered on the same color--it creates an embossed look that is so easy to achieve!



The "l" and the "ve" at the bottom are made from chipboard inked with Old Olive and Whisper White craft ink. The idea for this page came from a Stampin' Up! Regionals seminar I attended in Kansas City last winter. Their page title was "snow," but it employed the same techniques. I love how good Stampin' Up! does in giving demonstrators TONS of ideas that are easy to complete and easy to share. I hope this page gives you at least one idea you can translate and use on your next project :)

7 Days of Valentines: Day 2

Almost done...



I used two of my new clear-mount stamp sets for this card along with some of my new Specialty Designer Series Paper! I really like how this one turned out. I love using the Top Note die--it's so versatile and just adds a fresh look to the card, and I like how the ribbon is tied in the middle. As I've mentioned before, none of these cards really require much explanation :)

By the way, I'd like to apologize for my multiple typos in yesterday's post. I wrote it late the night before and I was trying to be quick. Too bad that didn't pay off! Let's hope this post is better...

As always, thanks for stopping by! I've got one more card to post in this series. In the meantime, if you missed the previous posts, click here to see them all!

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Well Scripted (117072-Wood; 118601-Clear —pictured below), With All My Heart (118134-Wood; 118623-Clear —pictured below)
Paper: Pretty in Pink (100459), Very Vanilla (101650), Real Red (102482), Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (117153)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Pretty in Pink (101301)
Cool Tools: Big Shot (113439), Top Note Die (113463)
The Little Something Extra: 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon Chocolate Chip (109051)

7 Days of Valentines: Day 3

So I went a little "heart crazy" on this card :) I am not a huge fan of hearts--just ask my mom. It became the running joke as we were planning Ben and my wedding a few years ago..."How about this--it has hearts!" Basically, if it had hearts, it was automatically vetoed :) But something strange happened last year when I saw the stamp set "Love You Much" and the matching Heart To Heart punch...you know I'm a sucker for matching stamp set/punch combos! I just fell in love! I'm still not a huge heart fan of hearts in general, but I pulled all the heart images I had from three (that's right--three!) stamp sets for this card! I'm sure Ben will love all the hearts ;)



Like all the other cards I made for this excursion, this card is pretty simply and straightforward. I had to adhere the pink heart to the white circle before I could stamp the "i {heart} u" stamp since the sentiment was too wide to stamp only on the heart. Otherwise, the card is pretty self-explanatory.

I hope you're enjoying the cards! If you'd like to see the previous days' posts, click here. I know Ben is enjoying the cards (or at least the candy he's getting every day!)

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Best Wishes & More (111602—pictured below), Happy Heart, A (111758—pictured below), Love You Much (113756—pictured below)
Paper: Pretty in Pink (100459), Very Vanilla (101650), Real Red (102482)
Ink: Real Red (103133)
Punches: 1-3/8” Circle Punch (104401), Scallop Circle (109043)
The Little Something Extra: 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon Real Red (109052), Silver Brads (104336), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

7 Days of Valentines: Day 4

I absolutely LOVE how this card turned out! I can't remember now where the inspiration came for this card. I think I started with a sketch and then altered it because I liked how this layout looked. That's what I love about stamping! It's so easy to simply copy a card exactly how you found it...or to take an idea and run with it. I love to create new layouts and cards. It's just SO MUCH FUN!

Happy 4th Day Before Valentine's Day!

To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Well Scripted (117072-Wood; 118601-Clear —pictured below)
Paper: Pretty in Pink (100459), Very Vanilla (101650), Chocolate Chip (102128)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Real Red (103133)
Punches: 3/16” Corner Rounder (109047)
Cool Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds I (114512)
The Little Something Extra: 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon Real Red (109052)

7 Days of Valentines: Day 5

Happy 5th Day Before Valentine's Day! To see the other day's cards, click here.



I just LOVE this sparkly Specialty Designer Series Paper featured in the Occasions Mini Catalog! I know you can't see the sparkles in the picture, but the paper is so neat!

This card was another very simple card that could be easily copied en masse for valentines or even a little gift for a friend.

Happy 5th Day Before Valentine's Day!

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: With All My Heart (118134-Wood; 118623-Clear —pictured below)
Paper: Real Red (102482), Pretty in Pink (100459), Chocolate Chip (102128), Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (117153)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908)
Punches: Scallop Edge (112091), Heart to Heart (113694), 1-1/4” Circle Punch (104403), 1-3/8” Circle Punch (104401), Scallop Circle (109043)

7 Days of Valentines: Day 6

Happy 6th Day Before Valentine's Day! To see the other day's cards, click here.



This card was super simple, and the glitter really "adds a little something extra, don't you think?" (Legally Blonde...one of my favorites!) Enjoy!

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Happy Heart, A (111758—pictured below)
Paper: Real Red (102482), Pretty in Pink (100459), Very Vanilla (101650)
Ink: Real Red (103133)
The Little Something Extra: Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon (109067), 2-Way Glue Pen (100425), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter (102023), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

7 Days of Valentines: Day 7

So I totally dropped the ball in scheduling a "7 Days of Valentine's" class like I had previously promised...sorry! I had already made all the cards, so I decided instead to post each card for the next 7 days so you can at least see the cards :-)

I am giving these cards to my husband along with a little treat each day. I also wrote about the significance of each number inside each card. For example, 7 is a significant number for Ben and me because we got married on 07/07/07, so for today (the 7th Day Before Valentine's Day), I wrote about our wedding and how happy I am to have married Ben. A couple of the numbers I got a little cheesy, but...it's the thought that counts!

Here's card #7:



The treat bags I'm making for each day look approximately like this one:



I put 7 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the cello bag. I have different candies for each day. The topper is cut out of some really cool self-adhesive "metal" sheets I found last weekend. Ben really likes silver and red, so I was sure to incorporate those colors. All my cards are brown, pink & red, so I made the tag brown & red to coordinate.

Happy 7th Day Before Valentine's Day!

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To Order Stampin' Up! Products Online 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamp Sets: Happy Heart, A (111758—pictured below)
Paper: Real Red (102482), Pretty in Pink (100459), Very Vanilla (101650)
Ink: Pretty in Pink (101301), Real Red (103133)
Punches: Scallop Edge (112091)
Cool Tools: Crop-a-Dile (108362)
The Little Something Extra: Red Gingham Ribbon (104827), Metallic Eyelets (105319)