Courage Scrapbook Pages

We are having a going away party for my youngest son this weekend. He joined the National Guard and will be leaving for basic training at the end of the month. I am very proud of him for making this choice, but I am already worrying about the possibility of where he could be sent and all the dangers he will be facing after he is done with his basic training. I guess with being a Mom, worrying comes with the territory, huh?  Here's a couple pages I made using photos I took of Danny in his uniform.

I used the Hero Jumbo Wheel and the Stars #2 Sizzix Die to create these pages. The stars are textured using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. I used Real Red, Night of Navy & Very Vanilla card stock and Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy and Crumb Cake ink. Here's a closer look at the left page:

I used Antique Brass Hodge Podge Hardware (retired) to hold the Twill Tape. Here's a closer look at the right page.

I stamped the word "son" from the Wonderful Favorites set using Black Stazon onto some Twill Tape and formed a tab behind the main photo.

Well, I need to get busy...lots to do to get ready for the party this weekend and tonight we are going to see Kid Rock! Busy weekend! Hope yours is a good one!

Just Believe Trio

For these cards I combined two of my favorite new stamp sets: Just Believe and Elements of Style.

I inked up the floral image using both my markers and sponge daubers. I like the blended look that you can achieve using the sponges daubers. I also used them on the hummingbird to add a little shading and the color on his throat. I really like the color combo of Marina Mist and Pear Pizzazz. I also added Rich Razzleberry for an accent color.

I spritzed all of the images with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, but it doesn't show up too good in the photos. Here's a close up look to see the sparkle.

By changing out the sentiments using the Teeny Tiny Wishes set and the color combo, you could make a card for just about any occasion. Here it is in Perfect Plum with Pear Pizzazz & Marina Mist.

Thanks for stopping by today! Enjoy your day!

Subtle Butterflies

I cannot believe a whole week has gone by since my last post! It's been another busy week! I'm happy to say that yesterday I made some time to do some stamping and had quite a productive afternoon. I saw a super cute card on SCS posted by Chris In Memphis where she stamped butterflies and then layered them with butterflies punched from vellum. I also noticed the Our Creative Corner challenge on my friend Wendy's blog that called for embossing. With those two ideas in mind  I came up with this card.

I stamped the butterfly image from the Level 1 Hostess set Punch Potpourri in three colors from the Subtles Collection - Pretty In Pink, So Saffron & Marina Mist. I ran White Vellum card stock through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and punched them out using my Butterfly punch. I adhered them at the center of the butterfly with a small dot of Tombo Multi Adhesive and embellished with adhesive backed Basic Pearls.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day!

Razzleberry Melon Punch

I love all the Level I Hostess Sets in the new catalog, but the one I was most excited to get my hands on was Punch Potpourri...because I just LOVE stamps that coordinate with my punches! Lets see...just how many punches did I use to create this card?

Stamps: Punch Potpourri & Watercolor Trio
Card stock: Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry & Brights Patterned Papers
Ink: Melon Mambo & Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Punches: Two Step Bird, Boho Blossoms, Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Scallop Trim Corner & Scallop Trim Border

Here's another version of the same card using a few of this years In Colors:

Stamps: Punch Potpourri & Watercolor Trio

Card stock: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz & Very Vanilla
Ink: Concord Crush & Peach Parfait
Accessories: Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Punches: Two Step Bird, Boho Blossoms, Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Scallop Trim Corner & Scallop Trim Border

Floral Circles

Here's another card that I created during the same stamping session as the card I shared on Monday. It's an easy card but I like the way it turned out.

I stamped three floral circles from the Just Believe set in Soft Suede on Crumb Cake and two in Baja Breeze on Very Vanilla. Punched them out using the 1- 1/4" Circle Punch and matted them on circles punched with the 1-3/8" Circle Punch. The centers are adorned with adhesive backed Basic Pearls...LOVE those things! Instead of ribbon I used Victoria Crocheted Trim.

Have a wonderful weekend! I am sure I will...I'm up north for my annual girls weekend. We always have way too much fun!!!

Fox & Friends For Baby

Here is a fun little card/gift tag I made for a baby shower that I went to this past weekend.

The Real Red scalloped base was cut using the Scalloped Square Bigz die. I layered squares of Daffodil Delight & Bashful Blue. The Bashful Blue layer is the actual card which opened at the top. I used some fun prints from the Brights Collection of Patterned Prints in Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight. In addition to the adorable animal images from Fox and Friends, I also used the Teeny Tiny Wishes and Best Yet stamp sets.

My inspiration came from this cute wrapping paper I found at Target. The mother-to-be loved the card and even passed it around for her guests to see. That made me feel that the extra time I took to make her a handmade card was definitely worth it.

Have a great day!

A Few New Favorites

Another busy, but fun weekend! I love summertime in Michigan! We did have a few rainy days this past week, so I took that time to play with some of my favorite new things, and created this card.

If I could have only picked one new stamp set from the new IB&C it would be Just Believe. I love the elegant looking floral silhouettes. I paired it up here with some of my favorite new patterned paper - Elegant Soiree and my favorite new embellishment - the gorgeous Antique Brads. I also used a bit of the Victoria Crochet Trim.

On the main image I created a shadow by stamping the image twice. The first time in Baja Breeze, the second time in VersaMark. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to offset it just a bit from the first image to create the shadow. Then I embossed it with White Embossing Powder. The Crumb Cake (formerly known as Kraft) base was embossed using the Perfect Details Texturz Plate and the Big Shot. Then I decided to be brave and spritz it with some Log Cabin Smooch Spritz. I wasn't brave enough to try it on my main image tho, and I think that was a good move...that stuff is a little hard to control.

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today...enjoy your day!

Watercolor Elements

I had my eye on the Watercolor Trio set since the Summer Mini came out...what a pretty set! I got it with my first new catalog order and here's my first creation using it.

It's funny, before the color renovation, the Bold Brights color family was my least favorite. Now, the new and improved Brights Collection is possibly my favorite. I used the Brights Patterns DSP in Melon Mambo & Rich Razzleberry. It's so nice having a whole stack of pretty patterns in all the colors! I used Old Olive as the base. The cute hummingbird is from the Elements of Style set.

Accessories used: Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon, Brights Designer Buttons & Oval punches.

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!

Personalized Wedding & Anniversary Cards

This has been a REALLY busy past couple of weeks for us! We've been to grad & anniversary parties, 4 concerts and also managed to complete a landscaping project here at home in between all the running. I received a new box of goodies from SU! and haven't had time to play with them yet...so sad! I did manage to make cards for all the celebrations we've been to.

Sorry about the weird angle of the card in this photo. I was trying to capture the shimmery background and the shiny embossed medallion. I embossed this using Clear EP on Shimmery White card stock. Then I sponged on Marina Mist and Baja Breeze. Here's another card I made for a 50th Wedding Anniversary party.

Doesn't the Brushed Gold card stock look gorgeous embossed with the new Vintage Wallpaper folder? Both cards use JustRite Monogram stamps to allow the personalization. I've always wanted to try these, and had the opportunity when stamping with a friend recently. (thanks Karman!) It is really tedious to set up all the lettering, but it's worth it to have the personalization.

Both cards also use the new adhesive backed Jewels available in the new catalog. They come in both rhinestones & pearls. Love those things! So glad SU! is finally carrying them! They have so many awesome new embellishments in this catalog. Here are the first ones I got in my first new catalog order.

The pearls & rhinestones come in 3 sizes and also in 3 connected strips. The Antique Brads are amazingly GORGEOUS! And the new assortments of Designer Buttons are way CUTE! I got the Brights collection...ooooh...Razzleberry buttons!!! I think this coming week I'll have time to play with some of my new goodies!

Brayered Roses

A quick post to share a card I created using the Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder.

After embossing the roses using my Big Shot, I used my brayer inked first with Bashful Blue and rolled lightly over the embossed image. I went back with Marina Mist, Perfect Plum and Rich Razzleberry adding layers of ink until I was happy with the color. The embossed roses were then cut out and adhered over a background I created using the pretty swirl image from the Elements of Style stamped in Bashful Blue. Although you cannot tell from this photo, in real life this card is very shimmery because I spritzed it with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz before adhering it to the Rich Razzleberry card base.

Also used on this card: Oval All Stamp set with Scalloped Oval, & Large Oval Punches & White Organza Ribbon. A while back I shared basically the same card here, only I changed the colors for a totally new look.

If you want to see a great tutorial on how to do the brayered roses, you should visit Patty Bennett's Blog . That is where I first saw this wonderful idea.

Thanks for the nice comments regarding the hacking of my email account. I'm glad you are still stopping by to visit me. Have a great weekend!

I am not in London England!

I have not been held at gunpoint while all my belongings have been stolen, and I have not contacted you to wire me money so that me and my family could return home! Thank God! If you got an email from "me" stating the above, I AM SO SORRY! Some lowlife, scumbag hacked my google account and sent a message looking for money to all my contacts! I spent most of my day trying to get it straightened out. I was just now able to log into my blogger account to post something here.

I have received so many phone calls today from concerned family & friends, which I kind of expected. I was also very pleasantly surprised by several friends who only know me by reading my blog, who took the time to call me to make sure everything was OK. I was really touched by that, so I wanted say thank you to everyone who called...that was very kind. I sure hope that nobody fell for the scam! I feel bad enough that so many people were sent the email. They even went so far as to post to a message group that I belong to...can you believe that?


In the future, if this had been an actual message from me requesting money it would probably be due to the size of my wish list and all the items I want from the new IB&C. Combined with getting a glimpse of the fantastic upcoming holiday mini...it just pushed me over the edge! So please everyone...deposit $$ directly into my SU! account! (just kidding!!! :-)  Well, the begging for money part anyways...the wish list for the new IB&C combined with the upcoming holiday mini is WAY out of control...so that part was real. ;-)
 
But seriously, I am SO SORRY if you received that hoax email sent from my email account. I hope I will never be in a situation that desperate to have to resort to something like that, but it's nice to know that so many people cared.

Cherry Pumpkin Delight

After all that cleaning and re-organizing of my stampin' space, I finally got in there to mess it up! Here's the first card I created using my new set Elements of Style. It arrived here in the middle of my cleaning frenzy and I've been dying to play with it.

I stamped the elegant floral image on Shimmery White card stock and used my Aqua Painter and Classic Inks to color the image.

Stamps: Elements of Style & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card stock: Shimmery White, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler & Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Black Stazon, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie & Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Scalloped Square Bigz Die, Lots of Tags Sizzlet, Large & Small Oval Punches & White Organza Ribbon

I'm looking forward to a fun Fourth of July holiday today spent with family and friends at the lake. I hope you enjoy your day as well!