Fresh Vintage - Sketch Challenge

Happy Sunday!  What another fabulous weekend.  I had a great time at a workshop on Saturday and when we took Aidan and a friend to the Phineas & Ferb:  Best Live Show Ever! which was a lot of fun.  I wanted to share with you tonight the card I made for this weeks Stamping 411 challenge.  I decided to use the Fresh Vintage stamp set and Everyday Enchantment DSP and brads as the basis for this weeks card, and the best thing, you can get each of these items for FREE during Sale-a-bration!  I started with a poppy parade cardstock and then layered the designer paper on top (now this paper is designed with distressing on the edges of the 12 x 12 sheet so when I cut the paper I had two sides of the paper that were distressed and two that weren't.  I took a sponge and Crumb Cake classic ink to distress the remaining two sides.  I added another strip of DSP across the middle of the card and that layered it with Pool Party ruffled ribbon.

The main image was colored with Stampin' Write markers directly on the rubber and stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock and then punched it out with the 2 1/2" circle punch. Next I took my Crumb Cake marker and color spritzer to add all over the cardstock. I layered this piece if a circle of Peach Parfait that I cut out with Circle Cutter and then cut the scalloped circle with the Scallop Circle #2 big shot die and Lucky Limeade cardstock. I used the same ribbon for the bow and used a brad from the Everyday Enchantment ribbon and brad pack for the center of the bow. Three half pearls in the top corner and a greeting from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set punched out with the word window punch finished off the card.

This card turned out so pretty and have lots of elements that are sure to please. You will definately want to make sure to get these exclusive Sale-a-bration items before the end of of March. I hope you enjoy and have a great week!

Diana

Sketch Challenge - Mixed Bouquet

Good evening!  We've had another fun-filled weekend.  Saturday we had Aidan's bowling birthday party so we had 10 kids who all had a blast on the lanes (the best way to describe it was "herding cats" but everyone had a great time and that's all that matters).  Today we've been waiting for this "snow storm" we're supposed to get but it didn't start snowing until about 7:30 tonight so we'll have to see what we end up with in the morning.  I spent the day planning of fabulous projects for Laura's workshop on Saturday was well as making a sketch card for this weeks Stamping 411 challenge.  I drew the colors from for this weeks card from the Twitterpated designer series paper and was excited to show off the new Mixed Bouquet stamp set from the Occasions Mini catalog.  The cardbase is Baja Breeze and I added a piece of Basic Gray cardstock as well as a couple of strips of Twitterpated DSP.  You may have noticed the funky border on the Riding Hood Red patterned paper -- I got that by using a scrap of DSP from when I cut a box with the Fancy Favor XL die. 

For the printed circle accent I stamped in Basic Gray ink on Basic Gray cardstock with the En Francis stamp set, then I cut the circle out with the Clear circle Big Shot die before sponging the edges of the circle with the same ink.  I also added a strip of Riding Hood Red 3/8" pleated satin ribbon.  For the flower I stamped with the Mixed Bouquet stamp set and Island Indigo ink, once on Whisper White cardstock and again on Riding Hood Red cardstock and used the new Blossom punch to punch out both flowers to be layered.  I used my bone folder to shape the petals so they flip up.  Next I stamped one of the circle images from the same stamp set with Riding Hood Red ink on Riding Hood Red cardstock and punched it out with the 3/4" circle punch.  I added add a Pear Pizzaz Glimmer Brad to the center of the flower and the final touch was to add a small butterfly that was cut out with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.  (Check out a close up to the right)

The last step was to stamp the happy birthday greeting from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set with Pear Pizzaz ink.  I used snips to cut the ends of the strip to make it look like a flag and once again used my bone folder and glue dots to add some "ripple" to the banner.  Now here's the sketch, I have to admit this wasn't how I envisioned the card when I first started but I really like how it turned out.

Hope you enjoy and have a great week!

Diana

Happy 7th Birthday Aidan!

Good morning!  Today we're so excited to be celebrating Aidan's 7th birthday.  I know every parent says this but it really does seem like just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital.  He's such a good kid and we're so proud of the person he's becoming.  Like me, Aidan loves to plan things in advance and has had all the details of his special day planned for months.  I always like to make him a special birthday card and I think he will love this one.  It uses the Party This Way Stamp set (you can earn it FREE during Sale-a-bration) and cut out 7 balloons, one for each year.  I randomly stamped the Happy Birthday greeting on the background with Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, and Old Olive ink before running it through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder on the top 2/3's of the card.  I used Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo baker's twine for the balloon strings and Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon for the bow.

The "Look who's turing greeting is from the Look Who's Turning stamp set and I cut number 7 out with the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet die.  I love how this card turned out and know Aidan will love it as well.  Before I sign off I have so share a couple of pictures of the birthday boy.

Here's Aidan (10 day's old)!

Here's the birthday boy now!

Have a great day,

Diana

Happy Valentine's Day Treat!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I'm so excited, not only do I love this holiday but it is also Aidan's "birthday eve" so we're in for a whole week of celebrating.  Today I wanted to share the treat I made for Chris.  For those of you who know Chris he really dislikes this holiday and thinks it was created by the card, flower, and candy companies to make money (and he does have a point) but he embraces the holiday because he knows Aidan and I love it (he's definately a keeper).  So this year I wanted to give him a little treat that I knew he would love and his favorite candy are caramel cremes so I made this box with the Fancy Favor die and decorated in manly Real Red DSP and black (it also happens to match the card I made him and showed on Sunday).  I cut the hearts with the new Hearts framelits (love how easy they are) and spritzed the black heart with shimmer spray I made with the Champagne shimmer paint.

The strawberry is from the P.S. I Love You stamp set and I colored directly on the stamp with Old Olive, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip to get the three colors stamped at the same time.  Next I added some Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to the top of the berry and Crystal Effects to the dipped chocolate part so it looks shiny and wet.  The final touchwas the greeting (this saying is awesome!) that is from the same stamp set and I snipped the edge to make it look like a flag.

I love how this turned out and think he'll really like that his favorite candy is in it.

Hope you have a fantabulous day and get to spend some time with your loved ones.

Enjoy,

Diana

I Can't Stop Making Valentine's!

Good morning friends!  I have to say, I absolute love valentine's day (who doesn't love any reason to show your loved one's what they mean to them).  I also have to admit that I can't stop using the new P.S. I Love You stamp set, there are so many great imagines that I've only worked my way through about half of them.  I designed this card for our team meeting last month and it was so fun and easy to make.  The cardbase is Pink Pirouette and I added a piece of Twitterpated designer paper along with a piece of Going Grey cardstock that I ran through the Big Shot with the Striped embossing folder.  A piece of Baja Breeze 3/8" pleated satin ribbon was used to cover where the two pieces of paper meet.  The greeting was stamped with Going Grey and Riding Hood Red ink and was punched out with the Modern label punch, popped up with dimensionals, and pearls were added for a decorative touch. 

The hearts were so fun to make, the small one was stamped from the P.S. I Love You stamp set and punched out with the Heart punch.  I also used the same stamp set to stamp the circle before punching it out.  The large heart was made using another pattern from the Twitterpated DSP package and the new Heart Framelits.  These are so fun and easy, you're able to cut out multiple sizes of hearts quick and easy and position them anywhere, you've got to try these out!

What a fun card, hope you enjoy!

Diana

Sketch Challenge - P.S. I Love You

Good evening friends!  So we were reminded this weekend that it's still winter and got a good dose of cold, wind, and even a little snow, which made it a great weekend to hang out at home and relax with the family.  We also put the finishing touches on all the valentine gifts for classmates and family for the upcoming holiday so it was only fitting that my card for this weeks Stamping 411 challenge be a valentine.  I've been struggling to come up with card for my husband, that wasn't "girly" and decided that this sketch, with the P.S. I Love You stamp set would be perfect.  

I started with a Real Red cardbase and took a piece of Whisper White cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder for the background.  I stamped three images that were punched out with the 1 1/4" square punch and then punched out three squares with Going Grey cardstock with the 1 3/8" square punch.  The greeting in the bottom left is also from the same stamp set and was punched out with the Modern Label punch and popped up with dimensionals.  I also added pearls as a final touch.  The accent in the top left was made with a piece of Basic Black cardstock punched with the Decorative Label punch and folded in half around the edge.  I used a Real Red button from the Brights Button pack and a bow was tied with a piece of Cherry Cobbler bakers twine.

So what do you think?  This sketch was so fun and versatile.  I love how the card turned out and think Chris will like it as well.  Hope you have a good week and a happy valentine's day!

Enjoy,

Diana

February Stamp-a-stack: Sneak Peak Projects

Happy Wednesday!  Today I wanted to share a picture of some of the projects we'll be making at this Sunday's Stamp-a-stack.  We'll be making a total of 5 different cards so you'll need to register for the class to see the other 2 cards.  These are so fun, one uses the so fun new Twitterpatted fabric, another uses the "kissing" technique with the Medallion stamp, and another is a card we made at last month's regional (there are two fun techniques on this card that you won't want to miss out on).  We'll also be starting the Christmas card option (yes I know it's only February) but you can make 3 cards each class so your all set for next year.

There's still to register so contact me soon to reserve your spot!

Enjoy,

Diana

Aidan's Valentines for Vets

Good morning!
So some of you may know that Aidan's at a traditional school, which he loves, and one of the things that they focus on is community service.  Right now one of the projects is Valentine's for Vets and as soon as I heard about this I loved it.  So I cut all the paper and we had fun punching out tons of hearts and had a great time.  Aidan did so well I thought I would share with you a couple of his cards.  The great thing about a lot of the Stampin' Up! products is that they are easy enough for kids to use and still make really nice looking cards.  We had a ton of fun and Aidan enjoyed writing special messages in each of the cards.

Sketch Challenge - Gnome Sweet Gnome

Good evening friends!  We had another fun weekend and I was able to spend several hours each day in studio and was a valentine making fool (the hearts and glitter were flying!)  I managed to take a break from valentines to make this weeks Stamping 411 sketch card and since it was Sunday and we were getting ready to head over to friends to watch the SuperBowl I decided that the perfect stamp was the Gnome Sweet Gnome stamp set  since I was "hangin' with my gnomies!"

The color combination is from the Everyday Enchantment DSP that you can get for FREE during Sale-a-bration (love it!)  The card base is Pool Party and I used Calypso Coral behind the strip of DSP that I punched out with the Scallop Border punch.  The ribbon is Pool Party ruffled ribbon, which is so fun and flirty.  The lucky limeade cardstock behind the image was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder and then the edges were distressed with the distressing tool.

The main stamped image was stamped in Basic black and colored in with Stampin' Write markers.  The grass was stamped with Lucky Limeade ink and the rock in Basic Gray.  The greeting is from the Gnomenclature stamp set and was punched out with the word window punch and matted with the modern label punch (it's also popped up with dimensionals).

This card  turned out soo cute and Aidan thought it was really funny so I definately count this as a success.

Hope you enjoyed!

Diana

Candy Heart Greetings

Good evening friends.  I had some technical difficulties blogging while I was in San Antonio so I still have a couple of projects to share.  This is a cute card that uses the Candy Conversation single stamp from the Occasions Mini catalog.  I took the color combination:  Pear Pizzaz, Blushing Bride, Marina Mist, Going Gray, and Perfect Plum from the Nursery Nest DSP.  I colored the different candy hearts directly on the rubber so each one was different but only had to stamp it once.  I also used the Silver glimmer paper (love that it is still available) and was punched with the scallop border punch.  The final touch was using the paper piercer and mat pack to punch the holes in the corners.

It's funny what catches someone's eye, while I liked this card there were definately other swaps I made that I thought were WOW'd but this was the first card that I ran out of and the ladies loved it, go figure.

I've been having so much fun making tons of valentine's projects for gift giving so say tuned for more ideas and if you haven't started making your cards and gifts contact me to order all your Stampin' Up! supplies.

Enjoy!