Sketch Frenzy Friday Sketch Challenge: New Design Team Opportunity, So Exciting!

I'm so excited it's Friday!  Not only is it almost the weekend but I'm so excited to announce a new design group I've been selected to and can't wait to share some great projects with you in the upcoming months.  The Sketch Frenzy Friday Blog offers fun new sketches each week that you can play along with.  This sketch is great since it can be used for so many things and I decided to make another love/Valentine card (I've got hearts and glitter on the brain!)

The cardbase is Basic Gray and I added a layer of Blushing Bride My Digital Studio using the Be Mine Frameable Printable.  I shrunk the page down and then printed it out so I could cut it out with the Big Shot and the Hearts Collection Framelits.  I used the Paper Piercing tool and the Occasions Paper Piercing pack to make the heart outline.  Next I added some hearts that I punched out with the Small Heart Punch and Red and Silver Shimmer Paper (dimensionals were used to pop each of the little hearts up)  The final touch is the sentiment is from the Best of Love Hostess Stamp set (you only have until the end of the month to get this stamp set, so don't miss out!) and it's stamped with Real Red ink. 

Cardstock.  The designer series paper is actually printed from

 

I really like how this card turned out, nice and sweet with just the right amount of glitter which is a requirement for almost all valentine cards (in my opinion).  I hope you enjoyed and that you're able to play along with us this weekend and share all creations using the linky button on the blog.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Diana

Proverbial Stampers Color Challenge: Best of Love

Happy Monday!  What a great weekend, not only did the weather warm up so we were able to enjoy being outside (it made my runs this weekend much more enjoyable) but I got together for some stamping on Sunday with the ladies, it's always so fun when we get together and stamp.  Today I'm sharing one of the cards I designed for yesterday's class using the Proverbial Stampers Color Challenge this week.  I love this color combo, it works for so many occasions and I decided to use it for another Valentine's/Love card.  The cardbase is Coastal Cabana and I added a layer of Crumb Cake cardstock.  I used the Best of Love Stamp set (you only have until the end of the month to purchase this or any of the other Best of Sets so make sure you get yours!) and stamped the "love" on the bottom in Real Red Ink.

I love the flag/banner look so for this card I used a piece of Real Red DSP from the Perfect Polka Dot DSP package as well as a piece of Basic Gray cardstock that was embossed with the Big Shot and the Chevron Embossing Folder.  The main stamped image was from the same Best of Love stamp set and I used Stampin' Write Markers to color directly on the rubber before stamping.    The final touches to the card was to add a piece of Coastal Cabana Ruffled Ribbon along the top and a little heart that was punched out of Silver Glimmer Paper using the Small Heart Punch (I used a dimensional to help the heart pop up). 

 

This card is just too stinkin' cute and fun!  This is such a fun and fresh color combination you should give it a try.  Enjoy and have a great day!

 

Diana

Stylin' Stampin' Squad May Blog Hop: "Best of"

Good morning and welcome to this months Stylin' Stampin' Squad blog hop.  This month we're focusing on the Best of Stamp Sets that are being released all year in honor of Stampin' Up!'s 25th Anniversary as well as all the fabulous products that are being retired next month.  If you've been following the hop you just came from Bree's blog, isn't her project wonderful?  Love it!!!  Retirement time is always a little stressful since that means you have to say goodbye to some of your favorite items but it's also exciting since that means there are new things on the way and I can't wait.

My first project

 is a card that uses the Patterned Party stamp set.  I just got this stamp set a few months ago when it was on sale even though it's been on my wish list for quite awhile.  The cardbase is Pacific Point and I added a layer of Tangerine Tango cardstock that was embossed with the Big Shot and the Fancy Fan embossing folder.  I also added a strip of Daffodil Delight DSP from the Polka Dot Parade DSP pack (I'm so excited this DSP isn't retiring).  For the main stamped image I used my Stampin' Write markers to color in the banner greeting (love to create a rainbow with greetings!) and then cut it out with the Big Shot and Apothocary Accents framelits.  I used my paper piercer and Essentials Paper-Piercer pack to outline the image.  I used the same markers to ink up the package stamp and punched it out with the Extra-Large Oval Punch and attached it with dimensionals.  The final touch was to add a bow made with the Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stiched Grosgrain ribbon in the top right corner.

I have a second project for you this month that uses one of my favorite Big Shot Dies (Petite Pocket Bigz XL, boo hoo) as well as the new Best of Love stamp set and is awesome since it holds a full size Hershey candy bar (it was really touch to not eat the chocolate while I was working on this, haha.  So for this I cut two Petite Pockets out of Basic Gray cardstock, trimmed off part of the bottom tabs and then attached them together with Sticky Strip so it makes the pocket.  To decorate it I added a belly band with Basic Black cardstock and Summer Smootches DSP.  The ribbon is 5/8" Organza Ribbon, love how soft and flexible this ribbon is.  Next I used the Big Shot and the Scallop Rectangle Clearlit die and Red Glimmer Paper.   For the stamped image I just inked up the stamp with Stampin' Write Markers and then trimmed the paper after stamping so it fit on the scalloped rectangle piece. 

 

Here's a close up, love how the red glimmer paper sparkles!!

 

I love these treat holders (I made a similar one for Halloween) and I'll definitely be keeping this die in my stash for future projects, I've made so many fun gifts with it.

Thanks for joining me and I hope you enjoyed this months projects and were inspired.  If you just started on my blog you can click the link below and go to Pam S.'s website and continue along with the hop.

You can check out the full list of blog hop participates blogs below:

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
2. Nancy B. of Lady Stamps-A-Lot
3. Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
4. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
5. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
6. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
7. Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
8. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim
9. Heidi B of Stuck on Stampin'
10. Bree R. of Craft-somnia
11. Diana E. of Stampin' Fun with Diana

Stylin' Stampin' Blog Hop: Fabric Madness!!

Good morning and welcome to another additional of Stylin’ Stampin’ Squad Blog Hop.  This month we’re featuring fun projects using Stampin’ Up! fabric.  Fabric is a great way to add texture and dimension to a project and even if you’re not a sewer (like me) you’ll still enjoy crafting with it and I love all the great patterns SU offers.  You may be joining me from Bree’s blog, doesn’t she do fabulous work?  If you’re just starting hear, don’t fear you can continue around and not miss any of the fabulous projects. 

The first project I’m sharing with you is a card that uses two different fabric patterns from the More Amore fabric package in the Spring catalog. I started by using my Big Shot to cut out the large scalloped heart with the Hearts Collection framelits and used the heart fabric.  I will warn you when you’re using the fabric you’re going to have to add an extra shim or two to cut through the fabric.  Since this heart is so big I ended up making a 6x6 card by taking a 6x12 piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and folding it in half.  I sponged around the edge with Crumb Cake ink to soften the edges (I love doing this and added this to every element on this card).  Next I took a piece of Pool Party Coredinations cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot with the Chevron embossing folder and lightly sanded to highlight the pattern.  Next I added a strip of fabric with the small print and hearts and just used sticky strip down the edge and then ruffled the fabric as I go.  I just like to tear the fabric when I’m using it on cards so it has frayed edges so I don’t have to worry about cutting straight and it adds texture.  Next I added the fabric heart and then layered it with a heart cut with the same framelits and First Edition Specialty DSP (crumpled the heart and distressed it with Crumb Cake ink and sponged with Primrose Petals ink around the edges.  I also spritzed the heart with Champagne shimmer mist I made so it lightly sparkles (hard to tell from the picture).  Next I cut a Crumb Cake heart out with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit. 

The greeting is from the newly released Best of Love stamp set, it’s so fun seeing what stamp images SU chooses to pull from the archives for us to use again and was stamped with Real Red ink on Primrose petals cardstock.  I was able to punch the greeting out with the Full Heart punch and used dimensionals to make the greeting pop.

Now this card is way too big to fit our standard envelopes so I made one to fit using the More Amore Speciality DSP, the Simply Scored, and the Diagonal Scoring Plate (so easy!).  To decorate the envelope I added another strip of the More Amore Fabric as well as two of the scallop laser cut hearts from the DSP package and cut out coordinating hearts with the hearts framelits and DSP. 

This card is so lovely I can’t wait to give it for valentine’s, do you think it’s a little too girly for my hubby???

I do have one more project to share with you, I decided to take two of the large scalloped hearts cut with the same fabric and made a little pillow.  I added a lot of the same elements so that it coordinates with the card.  The key was to fully decorate the top heart before sewing and stuffing it so that the brads, etc. could all be pushed through the fabric so they’ll stay in place.  I added another heart with the First Edition DSP that was distressed the same way as the card and added a piece of Victorian Trim and Primrose Petals Stitched Satin ribbon that were each ruffled.  Next I added a bow made with the Pool Party satin ribbon (that’s free during SAB) with an Antique Brad in the center. 

In the top corner I added two tickets from the That’s the Ticket stamp set that were punched out with the Ticket Duo punch (each ticket was also sponged with Crumb Cake ink) and attached with the heart with a 3/16” Metallic Brad.  The final touch was to add a Pool Party Button (also free during SAB, along with the ribbon) and tied a bow with linen thread before attaching it with a glue dot.

This pillow came out just as I pictured, nice and soft and very girly, love it!!!  Hope you enjoyed this month’s project and make sure to check out all the rest of the fabulously creative people on the hop, you’ll have lots of ideas on how to use fabric on your next project.  Click the link below to see Darcy's projects.

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Shellie G. of Craft Smashup
2. Annie L. of Love Me Cards
3. Nancy B. of Lady Stamps-A-Lot
4. Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
5. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
6. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
7. Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
8. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim
9. Justin K of JK Cards
10. Heidi B of Stuck on Stampin'
11. Jennifer B of NW Stamper
12. Bree of Craft-somnia
13. Diana E of Stampin' Fun with Diana
14. Darcy J of Dj's Stampin Place

Enjoy!

Diana