BLOG CANDY!!!

Oh my gosh! 20,000 FLEW by me overnight...by several hundred! Thanks to you all for stopping in and checking my Blog out. I do appreciate you...and I love seeing your comments and that counter number go up! lol! At least that way I know someone out there is reading my ramblings...

So.....here is a little Blog Candy I'm offering up! I'll include a couple surprise things, too! First is an unmounted The World Over stamp set...a last year's hostess prize, so if you missed out on it last year, you are getting a second chance! And, a shadow box frame that I altered...inside used to be an ugly elephant picture! I switched it out with the image from Season of Joy...lots of sparkle on it! I think it turned out cute! I'm thinking I'll make up some of these for a craft show I'm doing in October!

OK...now how do you get the Blog Candy? How about leaving me a comment telling me your favorite Christmas/Holiday set in the Fall-Winter big catalog or the Holiday Mini catalog and why! I'll use random.org to give me a random number with the winner on Friday, Sept. 14th @ 9:00 AM! Good Luck!!!

Scallop Punch - Coneflower

One of my email groups has weekly challenges that you can participate in. Last week's challenge was to use any of the new punches or brass templates to create your card for a partner. Well, as I've said numerous times...I love punches, so I had to jump all over this challenge! I hope my partner, Laura, likes it!

I was inspired by the Coneflowers that are planted in the beds as you turn into my subdivision...they are in full bloom right now. I was a little challenged by the color of the purple coneflowers...but Orchid Opulence cardstock rubbed with a little Rose Red ink matches their color fine. The centers are Rose Red cardstock rubbed with Bravo Burgundy to darken them.

I took the Scallop punch and cut the scallops towards the center to make petals, then folded the Scallop in half. I used the 3/4 circle punch for the centers and small oval punch for the leaves. I followed a tip from another Blog...sorry I can't remember which one...that said to fold the leaf oval in half and rub ink over it...the crease will look like the stem of the leaf. Very clever! I layered the flowers with dimensionals so parts of them are popped up and curled the petals under. I had a lot of fun designing this card!

Sets: Short & Sweet
C/S: Wild Wasabi, Orchid Opulence, Rose Red, Whisper White, Soft Sky Designer paper
Inks: Rose Red, Garden Green, Bravo Burgundy
Other: Ticket corner punch, Wasabi ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, Small and large oval punches, 3/4 circle punch

SU Punches and matching Stamp Sets

Wow! Did you see my counter! We are FAST approaching 20,000 hits! I'd better get some Blog Candy together...be watching for it!

No stamping I can show off yet. I did work on a couple things this weekend, but they are for future events. My hubby took Friday off unexpectedly and that always throws my schedule off. We did get a major thing crossed off my to-do list! I have been looking and looking (and looking!) for a large, casual hutch/buffet type piece of furniture for my Dinette since we moved into our new home a year and a half ago. I have a LONG wall...10 1/2 feet x 10 feet high that has this little bitty baker's rack on it! It looks so DUMB right now! But, I did find one...the second store we walked into. I didn't even want to go in that store...I never have found anything I liked...but my DH convinced me. What is especially nice, there are additional pieces you can purchase to coordinate. Since the Dinette is one adjacent room with the family room and kitchen, I can get the other pieces of furniture to match! Yes!!! (Just need to work on my hubby and his wallet a little more! lol!)

This list came in a round-about way from someone on SCS who shared the punches that go with current Stamp Sets! What a wonderful idea! I love punches! Of course, you aren't limited by the ones listed here, but they will give a good start! So...pull out those punches and PLAY!

Scallop Circle Punch: In the Spotlight, Glorious Garlands, Punch Pals, Double-Line Doodles, Wanted, Priceless, Big Flowers, Big Deal Alphabet, Looks Like Spring, Fabulous Flowers, Ginormous Flowers, Sweet Shapes, Illuminations, It’s Your Birthday, Warm Words, Pictograms, Short and Sweet, Sincere Salutations, All Holidays, Jumbo Alphabet, All About Occasions, Brocade Basics, Baroque Motifs, Sparkling Sayings, So Much, Fun & Fast Notes, On Board Blossoms and Basics

Tag Punches: Perfect Presentation, All About Occasions, Flaky Friends, Punch Pals, Be Happy, Tagger’s Dozen, Bundled in Love, Business Boosters

Designer Label Punch: Party Punch, Labelicious

Round Tab Punch: Party Punch, Office Accoutrement, Totally Tabs

1” Circle Punch: Sending Happy Thoughts Simply Sent Kit, Perfect Presentation, Glorious Garlands, The Snowflake Spot, Perennial Favorites, Holiday Blitz, Double-Line Doodles, Polka Dots & Petals, Create a Coupon, Genuine Articles, Business Boosters, Calendar Cues, On Board Blossoms and Basics

1 ¼” and/or 1 3/8” Circle Punch: Simple Delights Simply Sent Kit, Perfect Presentation, Batty For You, Holiday Tag Team, Sparkling Sayings, Be Happy, Figures of Speech, Double-Line Doodles, Polka Dots & Petals, Big Flowers, Stamp of Authenticity, Carte Postale, Think Happy Thoughts, Big Pieces, Seeing Spots, So Happy, Dots Are Hot, Brocade Basics, Labelicious, Genuine Articles, Circle of Friendship, It’s All Good, Sporting

½” and/or ¾” Circle Punch: In the Spotlight, Holiday Tag Team, Glorious Garlands, Cold Play, Snow Flurries, Merry Merry, Punch Pals, Forever in My Heart, Holiday Blitz, Double-Line Doodles, Sweet Thing, Wanted, Star Struck, Little Flowers, Little Pieces, Please Come, Dot Spot Background, Alphabits, Art by Design

1 ¼” and/or 1 3/8” Square Punch: Simple Delights Simply Sent kit, Perfect Presentation, Forever in My Heart, Sealed With A Kiss, Be Happy, Figures of Speech, Tagger’s Dozen, Sweet Thing, Office Accoutrement, Stamp of Authenticity, Carte Postale, Glad Tidings, It’s All Good, Art by Design,Sporting, Business Boosters, It’s a Date

¾” Square Punch: Punch Pals, Calendar Cues

Large Oval Punch: I Did It, many of the word sets

Star Punch: Wanted, Starstruck, Sporting, Wild West Alphabet, On Board Blossoms and Basics

5-Petal Flower Punch: In the Spotlight, Be Happy, Priceless, Simply Said, Looks Like Spring, Heartfelt Thanks, Ginormous Flowers, Office Accoutrement, Big Pieces, Cutie Pie Double Sided Paper, On Board Blossoms and Basics

Snow Blossom Punch: In the Spotlight, Simple Snowman, Wondrous Gift, Snowflake Spot, Merry Merry, Snow Flurries, Punch Pals, Snowfall, Be Happy

Spring Flower Bouquet Punch: Looks Like Spring

Three for You Punch: Three Thoughts Simply Sent Kit, Punch Pals, Take Three, Three for You punch box

Word Window Punch: So Many Sayings, Block Party, Boatloads of Love, Fun & Fast Notes, Take Three, Everything Baby, Short & Sweet, Happy Everything, Wonderful Favorites, Warm Words, All Holidays, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Amazing to Zany, Fundamental Phrases

Blogger's Challenge Week #11

I must be in a Christmas Holiday mood. I've been designing Holiday cards for my World Card Day Events (check out my Stampin' Up! Calendar later today for details)and then decided to use the fun Dashing paper for my Challenge card this week. Our Blogger's Challenge was to use the card sketch on page 12 of the Holiday mini. I decided to use my Three for You punch again to make a wreath as my focal point on the card. The rhinestone brads add a little bling, along with the berries that I punched from red Faux Diamond dust paper. The Dashing paper is probably wilder than I would normally use for these backgrounds, but I had those pieces and went for it! This card came together really quickly...with NO stamping! Paper and punches...that's it! I debated whether or not to put words in the center of the wreath...what do you think?

Check out the rest of the Blogger's this week and how they interpreted the challenge sketch. I'm sure they will have lots of creative ideas!

Burnished Watercolors Technique

Sorry! I disappeared on you for a couple days! I had classes Tuesday and classes out of town Wednesday/Thursday and then went with friend to her doctor's appointment today (good news!) and then shopping! Fun day. Just got back in town tonight at 5:30 PM! Whew...long day. My girlfriend I sat up until 12:30 AM talking and then had to get up at 6:30 AM this morning! Driving around all day, shopping and then driving the 2 hours home just wore me out. I did catch a little nap after I got home, but I am SO ready for bed right now! I wanted to get this out to you first....

This was one of the cards and matching envelope we did for my Technique Classes this week...the technique is called Burnished Watercolors! Check out my Stampin' Up! calendar for future dates and join my classes!

Burnished Watercolors is one of the techniques featured in this month's Technique Junkies Newsletter...an awesome publication (and yes...I am a design team member for this publication!) I've been with Pat and Technique Junkies since she started this newsletter service. Pat and I are on an awesome yahoogroup together where we started doing technique challenges each week YEARS ago and it was the "birth" of Technique Junkies Newsletter inspiration.

Small ad here...To celebrate the 5th year of publication, Pat is offering a wonderful special. Check it out...you won't be disappointed! I get a lot of inspiration for my Stampin' Up! Technique Classes from her publication. Thanks, Pat, and congratulations on 5 years of publication!!!

Get two years of the Technique Junkie Newsletter at 2004 prices! Get the 2007 and 2008 Technique Junkie Newsletters for just $33.00 (US addresses only). You will receive a whopping 150 techniques delivered to your doorstep. TJ techniques are step-by-step -- not an overview -- and the newsletter itself is full-color, professionally printed and high-quality. In addition, you have online-access to the step-by-step picture tutorials online -- and GREAT artwork from talented designers.

No-one has more tutorials than the Technique Junkie Newsletter. With our 5 years of publications, we have an archive of nearly 400 Rubber Stamping Tutorials -- and so many more to come!

Email me at phuntoon@optonline.net for a PayPal invoice to get your subscription started -- or send a check to the address below. Thank you!

Technique Junkie Newsletter

PO Box 16547

Stamford CT 06905

PS: Yes, it is good for renewals, too...

Holy Triptych

Hello! I hope you had a nice holiday weekend! We were out at the lake enjoying the boat, sunshine and gorgeous weather! There wasn't a cloud in the sky and just a perfect temperature all weekend! Wish it would stay like that all year round!

I have been showing you some of the designs that lead up to my final Control Freaks Swap...so here is the card that I made 40 of for the Control Freaks Holiday Mini swap. As I mentioned before, I've received these swaps back and they are absolutely fabulous! One of the best swaps I've ever enjoyed!

The color inspiration came from the Wintergreen designer paper. I don't think I would have ever put these colors together, but they look great in the paper! The main colors are Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke and Sage Shadow! Very pretty!

Have to run...I have a Technique Class tonight, Stamp Camp tomorrow and another Technique Class tomorrow night! I'm finished preparing for them, but I want to get my World Card Making Day project done so I can show it off (and hopefully get some sign ups!)

Sets: Holy Triptych, So Swirly wheel, All Holidays
C/S: Certainly Celery, Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Wintergreen DP
Inks: Versamark, Always Artichoke Classic pad and ink cartridge
Other: Gold Embossing Powder, 5/8 celery grosgrain, Photo Corner punch, Key Tag punch

Glorious Garland

Glorious Garland was on my first order going into Stampin' Up! I knew that I wanted to use it for my Control Freaks New Catalog Set swap. I made 40 of these cards for the swap! Since everyone has or will receive their swaps shortly, I felt I could share it with you now! The swaps I received back were TOTALLY awesome! My jaw just hit the floor looking at all of them. Great work, gals!

It was quite a process to get to this finished design. First I did the tree in all one color - Always Artichoke. Then I decided that it needed more color. So I used Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Chocolate Chip and Summer Sun markers to color in the tree...yes...all 40 of them!

For the Purely Pomegranate layer, I first tried the So Swirly wheel...it seemed too busy, then I tried Print Pattern...again too busy. I would have used Sanded, but I didn't have it yet. So...Polka Dot won out. I think the tone-on-tone dots are nice and subtle for a background. Next was the Scallop punch design. If found that the 1" punch worked well on the Labelicious Merry Christmas since I just wanted the circle, not the rest of the design. Then, I felt a layer was necessary behind it, so added the 1-1/4 PP circle over the Scallop circle. Decided it needed a gold mini brad in the center, and placed all 40 of those. Still wasn't quite finished to my eye...so I added the piercings around the Scallop punch. Ahhhhh, that was it! Finally added the Ticket Corner punch on all the layers. DONE! Yeah! 7 layers in all! lol! It was worth it!

Sets: Glorious Garland, Polka Dots BG, Labelicious

C/S: Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White

Inks: Purely Pomegranate, (Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Bravo Burgundy markers)

Other: Gold mini brad, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4 and 1" circle punches, paper piercer and mat, Ticket Corner punch