Blogger's Challenge - Black & White

Well, today has been one interruption after another and I can't even say it was kids, since mine don't live at home anymore. Phone calls and door bells, my husband wanting stuff...geez. FINALLY, I finished my Black & White card for the Blogger's Challenge. Yes, I know...I cheated just a LITTLE bit...but I couldn't have a police car without a light, could I? lol!

My Punch Class did a variation of this card with a bug car on Wednesday (Columbus...this class is coming soon!). I had in my head that I needed to do a police car, too. So this week's challenge really came at a good time.

Enjoy! I hope to have my Blog at it's NEW home next week. Everything is moving over very smoothly. Keep checking back! I'll also be offering up some Blog Candy for my BIRTHDAY next week! Woohoo!

Embrace Life

I love the simplicity of this card! Mercy (Lord Have Mercy blog) came up with another great sketch that Mary, Lisa and I challenged each other to follow. We were then restricted by using this picture for inspiration on colors. I knew immediately that I wanted to use the leaf from Embrace Life. I stamped in Chocolate Chip and used a blender pen and Old Olive to fill in the leaves. The background on the leaf piece is Sanded background stamped in River Rock. The base is also River Rock with Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Handsome Hunter layered in small pieces behind the focal point. I used the Piercing mat and template to create a zig zig of faux stitching and used my Chocolate Chip marker for the "thread". I added Antique Brass brads in each corner. I think this would be another great card for Father's Day with its muted colors!

I'm back from out of town and exhausted, but wanted to get this up before the end of the night. My classes seemed to be a big hit! I had 12 in the morning and 10 in the evening...just about capacity!

Tomorrow is Blogger's Challenge Day! I'm going to try to sleep in and rest up...but I know I'll be anxious to get up and stamp! lol!

All in the Family

Another quick post cause I'm just about dead asleep on my feet! I had a class tonight, was prepping for two classes tomorrow and then a long conference call tonight! Whew!

I think this All in the Family is such a cute stamp set! Quick and easy to make up cards. This was a challenge card that Mary, Lisa and I worked on a couple weeks ago. Sorry, I've forgotten whose layout we used, but I love the little trio of circle presents! I used my ink pads and blender pens to quickly color the girl and her balloon. The rest is designer paper, a punch and striped ribbon!

I'll be gone a couple days, so I'll check in later on Thursday!

Good night!

Graduation Money Holders

It is that time of year again! We make the rounds to graduation parties each weekend. I made up several of these money holders that I saw on Amy Celona's Blog! Thanks, Amy! Quick and easy to do...I made them according to the school colors (wow...some school colors are unusual!) I've already distributed a few and some are duplicate colors, but I managed to take a photo of the ones I had left. I love the new Great Grads set that Amy used, but I didn't get around to purchasing it. So...I used what I already had on hand.

The background is wheeled with the Jumbo Classic Stars wheel in Night of Navy or Black. I used the Text and Texture background stamp on the "notepaper". Go Confidently is in the stamp set Live Your Dream. I thought it was a perfect greeting for a graduation card. I used the large and small star punches and the Spiral punch to make the notepaper. They are long cards...3 x 6 so that money fits in the perfectly. The slit punch at the bottom holds them closed.

Inside I used the greeting and diploma from the retired set Tassle Time. Glad I kept that one!

Have a great weekend!

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!

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!!!

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!

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!!!

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!