Blogger's Challenge Week #49 - Animals

I didn't realize I was so limited on the stamp sets I owned that have Animals! Florals...yes...TONS...but very little sets that contain animals. I haven't used this Wanted set we got at Convention last year in quite a while, so pulled it out. The horse is subtle, but it IS there!

I started with Western Sky designer paper (I've really been LOVIN' this paper lately!) and pulled the colors Soft Sky, River Rock and Blue Bayou (REALLY going to miss these In-Colors when they go away!). Behind the Blue Bayou WANTED, I stamped off several horses in River Rock to look like they were running. The horse at the bottom follows along the paper pierced track. I used my distressing tool around all of the layers for some added texture. Finally, I added 3 Antique Brass brads along the bottom.

This would be a great card to use for Father's Day! Have a great weekend everyone!

Third time's a charm???

When I sat down yesterday to do Poetic Artistry's Mojo #38 sketch challenge with Mary and Lisa, I had my tin of Die-Cut Blooms sitting out for my class tonight. I thought I would build the card around them. I matched the blooms to some of the Summer Picnic paper, added a Build A Brad for some bling and used my white gel pen around the flower. Getting into the card, I realized that the finish card was deviating too much from the original sketch. I had moved the words, I didn't use the rectangle focal point or the oval...so I set it aside to use as a sample at my class tonight. OK...start over.

I already had the blue Bloomin' Beautiful flower done and sitting in my leftover pile from a previous Ink Wash Technique Class. This technique is in the April/May 2007 issue of Technique Junkies Newsletter! I decided to build the card around that rectangle piece. I love how Night of Navy turns into Almost Amethyst when watercolored, so I matched those two colors together, along with a touch of Always Artichoke green. I also used an oval piece from my Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware and the Almost Amethyst designer prints, along with some white Taffeta ribbon. Cool...happy with how it turned out. Looked at the sketch again to see if I missed anything and saw that a part of the challenge was to use specific colors! Grrrr....

So...now I use the Verve Visual Summertime colors that we were SUPPOSED to use on the challenge (Soft Sky, Cameo Coral or Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive or Certainly Celery). OK...at this point I should be working on my class samples, so I quickly made up the same card using these Summertime colors. I again used the Ink Wash technique from Technique Junkies Newsletter. I started with the background of Soft Sky. On white I stamped the flower, the Pumpkin Pie watercolored to the So Saffron color. Yeah! Just a hint of the Cameo Coral behind the So Saffron designer prints makes the layers POP! I used the Soft Sky double-stitch ribbon and Antique Brass hardware since those tones seemed to match a little better.

And the best thing? I have 3 birthday cards done! Woohoo!

Canton folks, we are doing this technique next week at our Technique Class, so if you haven't signed up...it isn't too late!!!

Bali Breeze

I've been hoarding the flowers on my Bali Breeze designer paper. I love how big they are, unfortunately you only get 3-4 full ones per sheet...but I know I can use the half ones, too.

I decided to pull out my saved flowers when Mary, Lisa and I worked on a few challenges over the past weekend. This was one of the cards I did using a past MoJo Monday sketch from Poetic Artistry and BLING. Only a small amount of stamping on it. Those designer papers make it EASY to make cards!

The Tempting Turquoise background is stamped with the Twill background stamp (still my favorite!) in Tempting Turquoise and used the ticket corner punch. I cut out the large Bali flower and added an Old Olive and Purely Pomegranate felt flower (Flower Fushion) with yellow Rhinestone brad in the center. The entire flower is popped up with Dimensionals. I first crimped my Old Olive paper, then punched out the leaves with the small oval and placed them under the flower. I also added 3 small pink Rhinestone brads on the left side.

Enjoy! (Anyone have their days mixed up because of the holiday? I feel like it is just Tuesday!)

Liberty for All

I just sold this set this past week to someone who has been looking for it for a long time. I was very undecided whether or not I wanted to let it go. But, I hadn't used it for a couple years, so I decided to sell it so someone else could get some joy from using it.

Sometimes I take cards that I've received in swaps that I especially like and put them with the sets when they retire. This gives me some ideas if I ever pull out that set to use. So, this collage card with the Statue of Liberty was in the case with the set. There is no name on the back, so I'm not really sure who made it (maybe someone on Creative Stamping Friends??) If it is you, let me know...I'd like to give you credit.

The second one I decided to make up quickly to include with the set. I used Ann Clemmer's creative background, but paired it with the Eagle stamp from this set instead of the stars that she used. I also changed up the colors to Night of Navy on Whisper White, instead of Craft White on Night of Navy. I loved how hers looked and I think this turned out pretty nice, too! The larger star is from Sweet Celebrations set and the swirl from Stitched Exotics.

I just want to take the opportunity to thank the men and women who defend our Country and make it a great place to live. Your sacrifices humble me. And, to those family members who are left behind, I can't imagine how hard it is, but I'm very thankful to you, too.

Have a Blessed Memorial Day!

Blogger's Challenge - Red/White/Blue

This week's challenge was to use Red, White and Blue. Now...if I was thinking correctly, I should have waited and posted LAST week's card today! It fit the criteria perfectly! However, during my challenges with Lisa and Mary over the past couple days, I made one that fits both the traditional patriotic holidays AND a necessary "man" card! Lisa and Mary will see that I "tweaked" the sketch a little. I thought the upper left corner was a little empty, so I added the half moon greeting "happy day". My father's birthday is coming up on June 2nd, so I'll save this card for him!

The ONLY stamping on this card is the greeting, the rest are combination designer papers from the Western Sky pack. I also used Ruby Red and Blue Bayou to punch the stars, and added a red Rhinestone brad to the center. Tied some Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon around it (I HOPE they bring back the ribbon in more colors next catalog!)

Enjoy your holiday weekend. We have plans to go to the lake house at least on Sunday...maybe Monday, too. A couple graduation parties to attend, too!

Embrace Life

Last night, before American Idol, Lisa, Mary and I decided to work on some challenges! It had been a LONG while since we'd played! This sketch was one of the challenges, along with the color scheme of Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Mellow Moss and/or River Rock. It was a pretty simple sketch for me...this idea came together pretty easy. Amazingly enough, though, Lisa used the same set and her idea was similar! I can't believe how many times that happens with us...a couple of us will come up with similar end results.

For this one, I used the Twill background stamp with Perfect Plum on the Perfect Plum layer. I watercolored the large flower with markers and the AquaPainter on Watercolor paper. I layered it on two scallop circle punches from River Rock. The center is a 1/2 pearl from the Pretties Kit. I tied River Rock double stitched ribbon around the Perfect Plum layer, too. It has a simple elegance to it, I think!

Well, they challenged some more while I was watching Idol, but I caught up afterwards. So...more coming in the next few days!

Stitched Exotics and Define Your Life

Here is another of the cards I made for Leadership Display Samples. I used the large flower from Stitched Exotics in Purely Pomegranate on Glossy White cardstock. I cut it out, added a Build a Brad using the stripe paper from Cutie Pie in the center. Then used my Cutter Kit to make the curve of the Cutie Pie paper and punched Three for You flowers to cover the seam. I added a touch of White Gel pen to the centers. I wrapped Wild Wasabi Double Stitch ribbon around and tied. Finally, I used "Unique" from Define Your Life. If you don't have that set yet, it really is worth getting. For about $1.83 per stamp, it has a TON of useful sayings.

SO.................who do you think will win tonight? I voted MANY times for David A. I like David Cook, so I wouldn't be REAL disappointed, but I love the pureness of David A's voice. Can you believe he is only 17? Oh my. His life will never be the same, cause you know he'll get a record deal either way. I know I'll buy his CDs. Should be an interesting night! Now...what am I going to watch on Tuesday/Wednesday nights? lol!

Tart & Tangy

This was one of the cards that I was going to use in my Tart & Tangy stamp camp last month, but then decided against it. I didn't feel it sat in the box as well as a regular sized card. I do like the way it opens up. The bottom, you could adhere a gift card. The ribbon around it keeps the card closed, and you remove the ribbon to open it up.

I colored the cherries with Old Olive and Real Red markers, then added a little tie of red gingham ribbon. I punched it out with the 1 1/4" inch circle punch, then the 1 3/8" circle of Real Red and the Old Olive Scallop Circle Punch. Under the flap is the cherry designer paper from Summer Picnic...just a great package of designer paper! The greeting on the inside is from the Full of Life set in the Spring mini catalog. I find those greetings to be SO timely and use them all the time. The stripe Bashful Blue ribbon goes all the way around. (I still have Ribbon shares left! Get a 3 yard sampling of each color ribbon...Stripe, Double Stitch, Grosgrain, 5/8 Grosgrain, or Taffeta...Email me for details.)

Whew...I just finished a big project that is going in for submission. I actually finished it yesterday and let it sit...went back today and tore a few things apart so that it flowed a little better. I like it now. The bad thing is that I hate to give it away! lol!

Have a great day!

EXCELLENT news!

Oh my! Remember this gift card holder that I made for the any new catalog swap with Control Freak Swappers? It made it online to Stamper's Showcase today! For those that don't know...Stamper's Showcase is a place on the Demonstrator Only side where Stampin' Up! features 4-6 cards every day that demos can use for inspiration in their classes and workshops. These are items people send in for the monthly contests or groups (like Control Freaks) submit one of each of the swap cards and Stampin' Up! picks and chooses which ones they want to use. Control Freaks have CONTROLLED the Stamper's Showcase board for the past couple days...having 3 and 4 each day of the cards chosen from that last swap or from members of our Group!!! Way to go, girls!

My second piece of news is that on Friday I went to my mailbox and had an issue of the new summer Take Ten magazine in my mailbox! I knew that meant that I had a card in that issue! Woohoo! My card is shown at the bottom of page 48! (They spelled my last name as Babert instead of Babbert...but, hey, I know it is me!) I started dancing right in the street! I'm SO excited!

Have a wonderful week! Mine is starting off great!!!

Blogger's Challenge Week #47

This week's challenge was to use the layout on page 21 of the Spring Mini catalog...the puppy dog card! I don't think I even really looked at the layout until this challenge, but it was fun to do!

Don't ask me how I came up with this card. Looking at the layout, it just popped into my head that I wanted to use Big Birthday Candle (page 43 of the Spring Collection book). When I first purchased this set, I thought it would make cool firecrackers. And, the Snow Blossom punch (page 181) has always looked like fireworks to me. Voila! I combined them both to make my patriotic 4th of July card. I had to dig deep in my stash to find a Happy 4th of July greeting...it is in the set, More Great Greetings, that retired MANY years ago. I'm happy I kept it.

The bar code lines on the base card are from the background stamp Happiness (page 122) and stamped with Craft White ink. (I totally cut up my background stamp into the different segments, so I can use them separately.) The firecrackers were stamped in Basic Black ink on Real Red, Whisper White and Brilliant Blue cardstock, then the design circles and lines stamped with White Craft ink. On the white firecracker, I used my markers to color the Real Red and Brilliant Blue lines. I've had the red/white/blue stripe ribbon from back with Stampin' Up! carried it in their catalog. The Snow Blossom is punched from Yo Yo Yellow Faux Diamond Dust paper, so they really sparkle! Oh, and I wanted a strip of red/white/blue paper along the left side, so I made up some "faux designer paper" by inking the line stamp with my Real Red and Brilliant Blue markers again and stamping it down the strip of Whisper White cardstock.

I had LOTS of fun making this card and it came together very easy...actually looking a lot like I had pictured in my head! I wish all cards came together that easily!

Have a great weekend!

Tart & Tangy 50th Birthday card

I took some inspiration from "heartfeltgreetings" margarita Fiesta card I found on SCS and made up my own Margarita card for a friend having a 50th birthday on Friday! The glass is hand-drawn and cut out of clear acetate, then backed onto Whisper white cardstock sponged with Brilliance Green and Sky Blue inks...so they shimmer thru the clear acetate. I rimmed the top of the glass with Tombow Multi glue and clear microbeads so it looks like salt.

The base card finished size is 6x6 from Tempting Turquoise cardstock. The background is different designer papers cut into 5/8" strips and using my Deckle cutter. I stamped the limes from the Tart & Tangy stamp set and punched them with the 1-1/4" circle punch. Each lime is also glittered with Tombow Multi glue and dazzling diamonds. One lime is cut so that it fits over the top of the "glass".

I used my Cricut to cut the 50 with the George cartridge from Tempting Turquoise cardstock...then again glittered it with Dazzling Diamonds. The greeting is printed on my computer and says on the front: "Take every birthday with a grain of salt..." Inside says: "This works much better if the salt accompanies a large Margarita!"

I think this is a fun and fitting birthday card for her! She'll get a chuckle, I'm sure!

Fun & Fast Notes

My Technique Class did this card a couple months ago using the Frosted Filters technique. The Yo Yo Yellow reinker obviously "took over", but there is some white and Only Orange in the background, too. A lot of the white is hidden by the focal point. I love this technique because you get really MESSY fingers!

I also had them watercolor the vase of flowers from Fun & Fast Notes using Watercolor crayons...it gives it such a soft look. I punched a hole in the upper left side of the focal point layer and tied the black gingham ribbon. The Green Galore layer pulls out the color of the leaves in the vase. The vase itself is colored with Bashful Blue crayon.

A simple card, but this technique is really showed off by this layout, and the crumbled background almost looks like fabric.

The rain has finally gone away and the sun is back out, warming up the temperatures again. Yeah! My pots of flowers and bedding flowers are taking off! The Dogwood trees are in FULL bloom, too, along with my Lilac bushes...oh...they smell SO awesome!

By Ones and by Twos

I hope you all had a very Happy Mother's Day. I, unfortunately, didn't get to see either of my boys...one lives out of state and the other was working. But, they sent me a beautiful bouquet of Tulips in a rainbow of colors! Gorgeous! We were able to visit with my parents and my husband's parents.

This project was one that my Stamp Club did last month. Inside holds one of those plastic gift cards. My group did the "boy" one in Blue Bayou, but I made up the "girl twins" one in Rose Red so they could see the same thing done up. These are so quick and easy to make up and they make the presentation of a simple gift card a WOW! The Belly band holds the card closed.





On the boy inside, I had them stamp the onesie in black ink, then I had them stamp the onesie on designer paper...cut it out and apply over the onesie on the inside...I think this gives the image an applique look. The outside the stars are just layered onto the Scallop Circle and secured with a mini brad.

On the girl inside, I used two different designer papers and the outside is the 5 petal flower punch and the Boho Blossom punch held with a mini brad.

Sorry for the blurry pictures...the dimension must have been throwing off my focus on the camera.

Retired Sets for Sale

My Vendor sale went well today...did bring a couple empty boxes home with me. As promised, here is a list of the retired stamp sets I am selling. All are in excellent condition from a non-smoking home. Shipping is $4.80 for one or two sets, actual shipping costs will be figured on three or more. I take Paypal (no credit cards).

In () are the number of stamps in that set. UM - Unmounted

$4 sets
Seasonal Patches (4) - SOLD
Swirl Frame (1)
Thank You Blocks (4) - SOLD

$5 sets
Around & About (4)
Beyond the Basics (4)
Itty Bitty Borders (4)
Exotic Blooms (6) - SOLD
It All Adds Up (4) - SOLD

$8 sets
Simply Circles (6)
Border Builders (9) - SOLD
Little Layers (8)
Little Layers II (8)

$10 sets
Sketch an Event (8)
Fun with Shapes (13)
Very Punny (8) - SOLD
Buds & Blossoms (7) -SOLD
Something Nice (6) - SOLD
Botanical Garden (3) -SOLD
Provencal (4) -SOLD

$12 sets
Sunflower Serenade (7) - PENDING
Sweet of You (6) - SOLD
Wild Things (6) - SOLD
Announcements (13)
Sew Seasonal (9) - SOLD
Best Bar Codes – UM (4)
Aged to Perfection (7)
Oh My Word (6)
Large Monogram C
Large Monogram E - UM
Large Monogram T - UM
Autumn Frame – UM (7)
Shapes & Shadows (12)
Holiday Frame (7)

$14 set
Watercolor Garden II (9) - SOLD

$20 set
DD Sunflower (12) - SOLD

Blogger's Challenge - Mother's Day Card

This weeks Blogger's Challenge was to create a Mother's Day card. I am giving this card to my mother this Sunday (hope she doesn't peek at my Blog before then!)

Stampin' Up!'s Cutie Pie designer paper has been one of my favorites since it first came out. Even though I will be sad when it retires in a couple months, I know they will have great NEW designer paper for me to love. I picked out the colors in the designer paper, and started with the base card of Wild Wasabi and then a layer of So Saffron on top. Then I used a square of the cluster flower designer paper. I wrapped a square of a complementary design around the one corner and tied it with the white Taffeta ribbon.

For the focal piece, I stamped the trio of flowers from the hostess set, Spring Solitude with white Craft ink and embossed with White Embossing Powder. In the center I placed a small Stampin' Up! So Saffron button. I took my black marker and highlighted the word mother from the Happy Mother's Day stamp in All Holidays, stamping it on Wild Wasabi cardstock. It is just slightly slipped under the button. I also used a scrap strip of Wild Wasabi and made a scallop border to go under the Purely Pomegranate focal piece. I really like how it turned out! And, I know my Mom will love it.

Check back tomorrow for my Super Stamp Sale list. I'm parting with some of my retired stamp sets. Have a great weekend!

Celebrate Everything

I made this card for a swap with an awesome online group SSUS (Sensational Stampin' Up! Stampers)! The criteria was to make a card for a kid/teen. This age group is always challenging for me and I was glad to get some awesome ideas.

For my card, I used the stamp set Celebrate Everything along with the circle stamp (in the background) from Seeing Spots. I matched those with the Jersey Shore designer paper. Each of the stars on the left is punched from sheets I made of Faux Diamond Dust cardstock (Iridescent Ice EP on colored cardstock). I like how it makes them sparkle. I did a frame star again by punching the small one first, then using the larger one around the punched star. I didn't waste the small star, just flipped it over and used the back side of the designer paper, with a mini brad in the center. I think a kid/teen would like this card...or it would make a nice graduation card, too!

I'm sorting thru my stamp sets getting ready for a big sale this weekend. I'll be posting my stamp sets on my Blog this weekend, so make sure to check back!

Text & Texture

I recently participated in a small swap that my upline held. I decided to use the set, Text & Texture and East Coast Prep designer paper. I like how LARGE the words are in this set. It seems that is becoming a popular trend right now. I used my markers to color each word a different color. The red star is also a framed star, meaning I punched the small star first, then went back and punched the larger star around it. I layered the red one onto the Tempting Turquoise punched large star and then placed a mini brad in the center. I think this would be a fun birthday or graduation card and non-gender specific!

I have a Technique Class tonight and they will be learning 3 new, fun techniques! Need to finish cleaning up my studio for that!

Oh...I did get registered for convention FIRST thing this morning! Woohoo!

Nature's Sketchbook

Yes, this is a retired set, Nature's Sketchbook, but it is one of those sets that I will never let go. I especially love the butterflies in this set, but the strawberries come in a close second for my favorites. I used the Waxy Cuttlebug technique again, found in the current (April/May) Technique Junkies Newsletter. It is a FUN technique to do! On the background I used the Bamboo embossing folder and Pumpkin Pie Spectrum pad. The butterflies I colored with More Mustard and Close to Cocoa markers. Since the technique is striking on its own, I left the rest of the card simple...layering the focal point on Basic Black, then More Mustard and finally the Really Rust base card. A length of 5/8 wide Olive grosgrain ribbon finishes it off!

It was a beautiful weekend, can't believe it is over already. We had nice weather again today and tomorrow is expected to be nice, too. Tuesday mornings I get together with a couple of my stamping friends (hi Candy and Dina) to walk. Looking forward to chatting with them.

AND, tomorrow is registration day for Convention! Woohoo! I'm getting up early to jump online and get registered. Already have my airline reservations, so I'd better get in! lol!

Stitched Exotics and GOOD news!

Here is another card that I made when Lisa, Mary and I were doing sketch and color challenges a couple weeks ago. I'm not sure I'm wild about these colors together. lol! We needed to use More Mustard, Really Rust, Night of Navy and Bordering Blue. The center flower is stamped in Really Rust and More Mustard and punched out with the 5 petal punch. The side flowers are stamped with More Mustard and cut out. I layered them on the Scallop Circle in Night of Navy, along with using the Round Tab punch to make the circle behind the center flower. I stamped the small center flower with More Mustard and used a Build-A-Brad. In the background on the Bordering Blue, I used the stitched leaf in the Stitched Exotics set. I added some Night of Navy ribbon and Thank you at the bottom!

This weekend was beautiful (well it showered a couple times yesterday). We managed to get the mulch down and I planted flowers in all my pots and some variegated marigolds in the flower beds (the rabbits eat any other type of flower). I bought the mixed variety this year and they are really pretty! Glad to have that chore done...now to keep them watered.

Oh...I did get some great news yesterday! I received a postcard from Stamper's Sampler telling me I have card(s) in their June/July 2008 magazine! Woohoo! I submitted quite a few, so I'm not sure which one(s) they chose...guess it will be a surprise! Good news is that it should be out in a couple weeks. Yeah!!!

Blogger's Challenge Week #45 - Graduation

Our Blogger's challenge this week was to create a Graduation card. Instead of recreating the wheel, I decided to use the money holder card that I designed for my Stamp Club last month. This is the same card design as the birthday one I did for the Control Freaks swap. I plan on making these up in the graduate's school colors as necessary. Glorious Green, Whisper White and Brushed Silver are the colors of our local Dublin high schools.

I wheeled the Nursery Jumbo wheel in Glorious Green over the Brushed Silver cardstock. I felt the definition of "Journey" from Define Your Life was appropriate to send off the graduate to their next experience...either college or work. (If you don't have Define Your Life, you are missing a wonderful addition to your stamp collection! This set has a definition for almost everything you'd ever need!) I used the tag corner punch and 1/8" circle punch for the hole on the tag and tied it with White Taffeta ribbon. The large and small stars are layered and a mini brad attached in the center...popped up with dimensionals. Inside I added more stars and the Good Luck greeting from Sincere Salutations.

I have a full day finishing up some design projects. Hope you have a great weekend!

Time for You

I was following a sketch and color challenge with Mary and Lisa a few weeks ago and this is the card that I ended up making for the challenge. The sketch was from Poetic Artistry's site and the color combo from Kristina Werner's site (Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and Taken with Teal). This isn't my "favorite" card, but I think it turned out OK. If I didn't have to follow the sketch, I would have moved up the flower to above the stamped bench.

I used some of my Berry Bliss paper and the bench stamp from Time for You. This is a fun, unusual set for me...I like the bike, the clock and the bench. On this one, if I substituted the star for the 5 petal flower, I think it could easily be a masculine card. I used my new Posy background stamp with Tempting Turquoise on the Tempting Turquoise layer. I colored the bench with my ink pad and a blender pen.

Hopefully Mary and Lisa and I can get together soon and do some more challenges. They are fun and get me creating! I have several assignments that are due NOW...today was too nice to play inside...tomorrow it is supposed to rain. I hope to get some work done then.

Got to go! Gray's Anatomy is on in a few minutes! Woohoo! I'm so glad the writer's strike is OVER!

Oh...check out the new Icons on my right sidebar...Stampin' Up! has an AWESOME recruiting special going on...20% off the starter kit AND a FREE Hodgepodge Hardware set in your choice of colors. AND, all the On Board pieces are 25% off this month! Woohoo! Contact me today to place your order!