Inlaid Up & Away

Today I have a couple of cards using the Up, Up & Away set...both use the inlaid embossing technique for the background, but they each have a sightly different color combo and the birthday greeting is different. Here they are...

I created my background using the Tasteful Trim Die for the hills and the Create a Cupcake Punch for the clouds. I stamped the birds and the baskets for the balloons and then I ran it through my Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. I originally planned to use a banner die cut from the Petal Cone Die for my birthday greeting along the bottom, but it just didn't look as I envisioned. So I went with the Modern Label punch instead. The base of this card is Pear Pizzazz.

I decided to give this same design another shot using a Poppy Parade base and this time I made the hilly area at bottom a little larger with less sky area...this slight adjustment was just what I needed to make the birthday greeting on the the die cut pennant work. What do you think?

For the second version I also sponged some Lucky Limeade ink on the top of the Pear Pizzazz hill and some Island Indigo ink on the edges of the clouds. The sky on both cards is a layer of Pool Party.

Which version do you prefer? Thanks for visiting today!

Let the Sale-a-Bration Begin!

Today is the day! It's finally time to SALE-A-BRATE!!! My card to share today uses my favorite two items from this years selection of items you can earn for FREE with a $50 order...the Fresh Vintage stamp set and the Everyday Enchantment DSP.

Stamps: Fresh Vintage & Happiest Birthday Wishes
Card stock: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla & Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral & Crumb Cake (for sponging on edges)
Accessories: Scalloped Edgelit Die, Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon & Basic Rhinestones

I'm offering a FREE class using the new Sale-a-Bration set Fresh Vintage along with the coordinating Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Papers.

You will make a beautiful set of 3 cards, including the one above, plus 2 other designs. Here's how you can take part in this class:

If you are local: Place your Sale-a-Bration order* with me by January 29th and your order will be ready for pick up at class: Thursday, February 9th from 1 to 3 OR 6:30 to 8:30
Just choose the time slot that works best for you and come to stamp! (Please bring your own adhesive)

If you are long distance: Place your online Sale-a-Bration order* from my demo website between Jan. 24th - 31st and I will send you a card kit to complete the cards using your stamps, ink & adhesive from home. Be sure to contact me with both your shipping and email addresses. (instructions will be sent via email)

*$50 in SU! merchandise of your choice + shipping & tax

Elegant Apothecary Set

We celebrated my Mom's birthday over the weekend so I made her a special card along with a cute set of matchbox drawers to hold the gift of jewelry we gave her.

I cannot say enough about the gorgeous new set Apothecary Art...coupled with the coordinating Framelits, it sure makes for some beautiful projects. As you can see, I've been getting lots of use out of them!  Here's a closer look at the card.

I chose the colors Elegant Eggplant & So Saffron because my Mom loves those colors. I also added Wisteria Wonder for a nice contrast to the darker purple of the Eggplant. I used the same colors of Classic Inks to watercolor the image, which I first stamped in Basic Gray onto Very Vanilla card stock. The background is embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder. Here's a closer look at the matchbox...

I of course cut this using my Big Shot and the Matchbox Die...so much easier than the way I used to make them...cutting and scoring from scratch! I cut them and then used the Love Blossoms wheel (a carry over item from the Holiday Mini) to stamp the box. As you can see, the jewelry fit perfectly inside the drawers. The "For You" label on the top of the box is the smallest of the Label Framelits.

My Mom just loved the set and I hope you do as well! One more day until Sale-a-Bration!!!

Triple Treat Poppy

I think this may be the first time I've used the color Poppy Parade for more than just a small accent. I guess I'm just not drawn to this color like so many others...but I must say, I rather like it with Pool Party. That's one of the things I love about SU! Designer Series Papers...many times it gets me to try new color combos I wouldn't have even considered! That is certainly the case with the new Everyday Enchantment DSP. These beautiful papers can be yours for FREE during Sale-a-Bration!

The Triple Treat Flower stamp is also available as a FREE selection during SAB. This stamp is fun because it works with three of the SU! punches...Fancy Flower, 5-Petal Flower (both used here) and 1/2" Circle punches.

I also used the Hostess Set...Happiest Birthday Wishes and another SAB set...Fresh Vintage, which coordinates with the Everyday Enchantment papers. And...since I couldn't possibly make a card these days without using one of the new Big Shot items...I also used the scalloped Edgelit Die with the matching Embossing Folder...in case I haven't said it enough...I LOVE THESE!!!

Have a wonderful weekend...we're in for a ccccold one here! I'm thinking I may hibernate down in my stamp cave...so check back next week for some new designs!

Elegant Tree

Unfortunately I had to make some sympathy cards this past week. Those are always difficult. I hope they brought some comfort to the recipients. Here is one of the cards I made using the Thoughts & Prayers set along with (retired) Elegant Soiree DSP.

As you can see I used a few new Big Shot Dies here...the Labels Framelits and the Adorning Accents Edgelits with the matching embossing folder. I also did some paper piercing and punched a small hole in each scallop for extra detail. Here's a closer look...

Thanks for stopping by!

First Fresh Vintage

It won't be long now, the BEST time of the Stampin' Up! year will soon be here...YES! Sale-A-Bration time! Here is a card using a couple of the exclusive SAB items that will be available starting January 24th.

The Fresh Vintage stamp set was used to create the main image and the Lucky Limeade stamped base. As you can see, I've been having lots of fun using the new Labels Framelits & the Edgelits with their coordinating embossing folders...I think I've used them on EVERY new card I've made recently! Hope you don't get sick of seeing them!  I really love the pretty, distressed patterns in the Everyday Enchantment DSP, it coordinates so nicely with the Fresh Vintage set. Both of these items are FREE with a $50 order during SAB.

Other accessories I've used here are: Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Designer Printed Brad, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer Tool.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Today I have a card to share using a few of my favorites: my favorite new stamp set... Apothecary Art. Favorite new Big Shot item... the Labels Collection Framelits; and finally, one of my favorite color combos...Elegant Eggplant & Wisteria Wonder.

I think the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder really compliments this floral image nicely. The phrases from the Three Little Words set fit perfectly inside the frame. Here's a closer look at the water colored image.

This new stamp set and coordinating Framelits are now available to order from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Have a great weekend!

You Are Loved Duo

Today is the last chance to order products from the Holiday Mini. If there is anything you've had your eye on, this could be your last chance to purchase it, as many of the products won't be available again. I'm sure glad I added the pretty set You Are Loved to my collection. I've found it to be a very versatile set, and it pairs up nicely with the Designer Frames Embossing Folders.

I used the rose image to stamp my background and my focal image. I cut along the edge of the embossed frame with my hobby blade so that I could add the lace behind it.

Here's a closer look at the other card as well...

During the same stamping session I also created a third card which I shared on this previous post. Have a wonderful day!

New Year...New Stuff!

Happy New Year to you! May you be blessed in the coming year with much happiness, good health...and new stampin' goodies too! Here is a card I made with some of my new stampin' goodies.

I absolutely LOVE working with the new Framelits, Edgelits and the accompanying embossing folders, Adorning Accents...as you can see by my card! The Everyday Enchantment paper, a freebie during Sale-a-Bration 2012, totally rocks too! I chose my colors of Pool Party, Calypso Coral* & Lucky Limeade based on the colors of the paper.

* I originally stated here that the color used was Peach Parfait, which was incorrect...sorry about that! Guess I need to use those colors more so that I know the difference. ;-)

The Apothecary Art set that coordinates with the Labels Framelits, is so pretty and nice to watercolor. Since the paper is kind of distressed and toned down color wise in some spots, I think the Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding works fine since I didn't have any Lucky Limeade ribbon.

These products will all be available for you to order soon...starting January 4th the Occasions Mini begins and towards the end of the month, January24th, Sale-a-Bration starts...WOO HOO! my favorite time of the stampin' year!

Edited to add: After I made this post I realized that today is my Blogiversary! It's hard to believe that I have now been blogging for 5 years! Here's a link to my very first post. It's been a lot more fun than I expected and not only have I made some new friends through my blog, it's been a useful tool to myself to keep track of things I have created and for who & when I have created them. To those who read my blog regularly...thanks so much! For those who may have just stumbled upon my blog....hope you'll be back!