Project Life Wedding Pages

Today I have a few more pages to share with you from the Project Life Album I created as a gift for some dear friends.

Their wedding ceremony was just perfect...from the beautiful weather to the gorgeous cliff-side setting of Cresent Bay in Laguna Beach. I embellished a few photos with gold embossed shells from the Stippled Shells stamp set (retired) and some Gold 1/8" Ribbon. The photo at top right is stamped in White Stazon Ink with the pretty swirl from Creative Elements. (retired) Yes, I do keep my favorite stamp sets to use in my scrapbooks.

The top, left photo is stamped with and the word love from the Wonderful Words stamp set...that one goes WAY back to my firsr days as a SU! demo. Along with the oldies I've also used a current SAB stamp set...Any Occasion. Mr & Mrs from that set is stamped on the die-cut watercolored heart.

More gold embossed shells from the Stippled Shells embellish the photos at left. The single photo at right uses Falling In Love DSP from the current Occasions Catalog. It's just perfect for wedding photos! I embossed a lace border from the Delicate Details stamp set along the bottom of the photo. Both Delicate Details and Any Occasion are FREE selections during Sale-A-Bration. Here's a closer look...

Sorry about the glare from the page protector. I used the Remember This (retired) stamp set on these pages as well. Both sides of the Falling in Love DSP were perfect for thses photos, so here's a look at the flip side.

Their smiles say it all! It was such a wonderful day!!! Check back again to see more pages from this Project Life Album.

Project Life - Road Trip Pages

Recently I shared the cover of the 6x8 Project Life Album I created for some dear friends here. Today I have a few pages to share with you.

The first page of the album starts off with my friends' engagement. I used the retired Wedding Words Jumbo Wheel inked in Crumb Cake for the entire background and then inked it again in Early Espresso to emphasize a few of the phrases.

Sometimes you need to get creative so that the photos fit into the pockets...especially if they are portrait vs landscape. If you don't want to crop out any of the details, you can cut the photos in half to fit in the pockets like I did here.

It's fun to stamp overlays or even stamp right onto the photo using Stazon Ink. The photo at the top left is stamped with White Stazon. The journaling cards were left blank in the album so that my friends could write their memories.

Again, I created an overlay using a Window Sheet stamped with White Stazon for the photo pocket on the bottom left. The full sized pocket pages, like that shown at the right, allow you to create more tradional pages or you could use them to place souvenirs or  mementos. I chose to create a full page layout and embellished the photo with beautiful Flourish diecut from Gold Foil Sheets. The DSP is from the Serene Scenery Paper Stack.

The next page also features a fun, full sized layout with overlay and DSP from the Serene Scenery Paper Stack. I used several retired stamps here including Painted Petals & Remember This.

The Everyday Adventure Project Life Cards (retired) are perfect for these road trip photos! My friend will be able to easily jot down her favorite memories of their trip. On the photos used on the right page I cut them both in half to fit the small 3x4 pockets. Check back next week to see more of the album.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Wildflower Meadow with Watercolor Background

I've been enjoying the beautiful summer days so much that I haven't taken time to share anything recently here on my blog. To go along with all the gorgeous wildflowers in bloom around my house, how about a card made using the Wildflower Meadow stamp...

I used the E Clear Mount Block inked in Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay & Pear Pizzazz to create the watercolor look background. I explain that more here in this post. After my background was thoroughly dry, I stamped the Wildflower Meadow image in Island Indigo.

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful summer weekend!

Vibrant Peaceful Petals for Mom

I hope you had a wonderful Mothers Day! The weather here was absolutely beautiful and I was happy to spend it with my Mom & my sons...perfect day!

Have you seen the NEW batch of In Colors for 2014-16 yet? I think they are just gorgeous, rich & vibrant colors! Here is my first creation using them...along with the Blendabilities.

I stamped the flowers from the Peaceful Petals set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink while masking the largest flower with an image cut from a post it note. Then I had lots of fun coloring in the flowers with my new Blendies! I really like working with them! It's nice to even be able to color pearls & rhinestones to match! As you can see here, I've colored Basic Pearl Jewels in Razzleberry & Daffodil. Here's a closer look...

The rich colors achieved using the Blendies work really well with the new In Color card stock...I used Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Tangelo Twist and threw in some Cherry Cobbler for good measure. So, basically fruit with a bit of honey...and who doesn't like that!?

Isn't the new 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon luscious? It will be available in the five new In Colors...I used Blackberry Bliss.

I used each of the Blendability Color Sets shown above:

• Rich Razzleberry
• Pumpkin Pie
• Cherry Cobbler
• Daffodil Delight
• Old Olive

The label was created using the Creative Elements set along with the Apothecary Accents Framelits. I cut just the edge off...I shared how to do this on this post. 

Enjoy your day! We have a thunderstorm going on here right now...it's pouring down rain. Guess I'll be "forced" to stay indoors and stamp instead of working outside cleaning up the flower bed today. 

Saying Goodbye: Creative Elements

I think one of the most versatile stamp sets on the retiring list has to be Creative Elements. I grab this set a lot for the beautiful swirl to create pretty, yet subtle backgrounds, the label image to make a nice framed focal point for a sentiment, and the border stamp for what else...creative borders! Add in the butterfly and pretty flower along with the word "create" and this makes for a must have set. Here's today's creation, made with several favorite retiring products.

Can you spot all the different retiring products I used here...besides the Creative Elements stamp set? The Pool Party background as well as the Primrose Petals embossed strip are Core'dinations Cardstock. I love that this cardstock has a nice texture to it and comes in 12x12 so it's perfect to use for my scrapbooks. The added benefit is the cool look you get when you use the embossing folders and then sand it. Here's a look at some of the other retiring products I used here...

I just love that embossed oval included in the Designer Frames Embossing Folders set...and of course the stitched border from the Needlepoint Border Embossing Folders set is another one I use a lot. All the Stitched Satin Ribbons in the retiring In Colors will be missed as well. Here I used it in Primrose Petals.

I decided while I am working with all my retiring favorites this week, I will make smaller cards sized to fit inside my antique printer tray hanging in my stampin' space.

You cannot tell from this photo, but there is actually a lot of dimension on this...the little banner, flower & butterfly are all popped up.

I hope you will stop back by tomorrow to see more of my retiring favorites.

Flippin' Friday: Creative Elements Double Flip

Happy Friday! I'm here today to share a different kind of flip card...a double flip! The double flip is new to me...but I guess maybe I might be living under a rock, because another creative stamper shared this back around Christmas time. Anyways...when I saw it the other day on Pinterest, I knew I had to try one!

Isn't this a fun alternative? I love seeing new ways to use my dies...it makes them that much more versatile!

To create the double flip,  first, you must start with a piece of card stock that measures 4 7/8 x 7-1/2" and run it through the Big Shot stopping just after it cuts through the label portion. Back it out of the machine, and then flip the card stock to do the opposite end. Clear as mud? Here is a link to a great video that shows you exactly what I'm trying to say.

Then just decorate it as you like...I used my favorite new background stamp...Hardwood to stamp the Coastal Cabana base. The Hardwood background is available in the Occasions catalog. I hope to see more great background stamps in the new catalog out in June.

The Creative Elements set was used for the rest of the stamping here. I love using the border stamp to decorate the edges of cards and scrapbook pages. I think this is a really versatile set. The pretty swirl was stamped onto each of the Whisper White label pieces in Pool Party ink. The butterfly was then stamped right on top of it using Strawberry Slush ink. I stamped the butterfly again onto scrap, this time inked in Calypso Coral to coordinate with the strips along the edges. I punched out the center of the butterfly using the Bitty Butterfly Punch.

The back side of each of the label flips are perfect to stamp a greeting on one and write a message on the other.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Stippled Birthday Blossoms

It was my Mom's birthday a couple days ago, so a special card was in order. Her favorite colors include shades of purple, yellow and green. I don't have any DSP with those colors, so I decided to make my own using Stippled Blossoms and Creative Elements.

I started with a 5-1/2" x 11 piece of Whisper White card stock and stamped my design using:

• Wisteria Wonder
• Elegant Eggplant
• So Saffron
• Crushed Curry
• Pistachio Pudding
• Wild Wasabi
• Pool Party

When I started, I wasn't sure what kind of card I was going to create, but wanted to be sure I had enough "DSP". I used about 1/2 of my decorative paper for this gate fold card...so that means I can make 1 or 2 other projects using the rest of my hand stamped paper. Here's a closer look at the layered Deco Label focal point.

The left half of this label is adhered to the left panel of front of card. The bow kind of holds it in place on the right, but it easily flips open to reveal the inside of the card...

A pretty Tea Lace Paper Doily mats the sentiment on the inside.

Flippin' Friday: Creative Elements Style

I cannot believe it's flippin' Friday already! This week has flown by! Too much to do, and just not enough time to do it...tis that time of year! I did finally finish all my Christmas cards, so next week I'll be sharing those. (some of the recipients occasionally look at my blog, so I wouldn't want them to see it here first) This one isn't a Christmas card, but I did use some products from the Holiday Catalog in a non-holiday way.

Doesn't the stamped main image look like I took a lot of time coloring and then tediously cutting it out? It was actually stamped on Whisper White in Cherry Cobbler and then I used a sponge dauber to lightly add a bit of color.

Then I masked off the flower, with a post it note cut in the shape of the flower...stamp on a post it and then cut. I read a smart tip not long ago: cut several masks at the same time by cutting through several post it notes at once. DOH! Wish I had thought of that, or at least read it a lot sooner...I've been doing it the hard way, one at a time! Once you take the time to cut out the mask, it can be used over and over, so  just store in your stamp case for next time.

Anyways...once I had my mask over the flower, I sponged on some Early Espresso. Then added the pretty swirl design. The best part is when you pull off the mask...the image just pops!

I used paper from the Season of Style stack along with the coordinating Washi Tape and the die cut thx from the Circle Card Thinlits accessories that comes with this die set..

I have another busy weekend ahead of me...as I'm sure you do! Thx for stopping by today!
Supply List:

• Creative Elements - Clear-Mount Stamp
• Pink Pirouette 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Season Of Style Designer Series Paper Stack
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
• Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
• Season Of Style Designer Washi Tape
• Circle card Thinlits Die
• 2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch
• Stamping Sponges
• Sponge Daubers

Flippin' Friday : Simply Sketched Trio

It's Friday! That means I have a new flip card to share with you! Actually, it's a set of three cards made with the beautiful hostess set Simply Sketched and Quatrefancy Specialty DSP.

Here's a closer look at the Daffodil Delight card...

I think the little white embossed edge adds nice detail to this card. I used the Needlepoint Border EF. Here's a closer look at the Strawberry Slush card.

The left panel of each of these cards were stamped with the beautiful swirl from Creative Elements using coordinating ink. I think my favorite of the three may be this last one using Pool Party.

To watercolor these images I just stamped them in Basic Grey and then used my Aqua Painter and Classic Inks pooled in my stamp pad lid to color. Which one is your favorite?

This is going to be a busy weekend for me...shopping, decorating, parties...and hoping to get the rest of my Christmas cards done. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Supply List:

• Simply Sketched Clear-mount Stamp Set
• Creative Elements - Clear-Mount Stamp
• Pool Party 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• Strawberry Slush 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Daffodil Delight 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
• Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad
• Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
• Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
• Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad
• Circle card Thinlits Die
• Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folders
• 2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch
• Basic Pearls Jewel Accents

Flippin' Friday - Daydream Medallion Boxed Set

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Yesterday I shared a cute box made with the Envelope Punch Board and promised I would be back today to share the set of cards that fit inside the box. So, here they are...

These 3 flip cards cut with the Circle Thinlit Die fit in the coordinating box along with three matching envelopes. They were quick and easy to make using the Daydream Medallion stamp set and the Floral Framelits.

The colors were chosen from the Quatrefancy Specialty Papers. The sentiments are from the Hostess Set Simply Sketched. They were punched out using the Large Oval Punch and matted onto one of the die cut pieces included in the Circle Thinlit set.You cannot tell so much from my photos, but the white 2 - 1/2" circle is embossed with the Modern Mosaic EF.

If you don't yet have the Floral Framelits...you are in luck! They are on sale right now as part of Stampin' Up!'s Weekly Deals.

If you are local and would like to make this set or a Christmas version, please contact me.

Enjoy your weekend!

Supply List:

• Creative Elements - Clear-Mount Stamp
• Daydream Medallions Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• Simply Sketched Clear-mount Stamp Set
• 2013-2015 In Color Core'dinations
• Pool Party 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• Daffodil Delight 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Strawberry Slush 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Medium Whisper White Envelopes
• Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
• Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
• Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad
• Circle card Thinlits Die
• Floral Frames Framelits Dies
• Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• Envelope Punch Board
• Large Oval Punch
• 2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch
• In Color Boutique Details
• Large Pearl Basic Jewels

Daydream Medallion Card Box

To all my visitors here in the USA...Happy Thanksgiving! On this day as we express gratitude for all the things we are thankful for, my list includes being fortunate enough to have the time to spend being creative and sharing what I love to do. I am also thankful for those who visit my blog, and to those who take the time to leave a comment of encouragement. I am also thankful to all the other creative people who inspire me and others by sharing their projects on blogs and on Pinterest. May you all have a wonderful day filled with family, good food, love and laughter!

Today I have a cute box that holds a set of cards to share with you.

It is quick & easy to create with the Envelope Punch Board. I decorated the box by stamping the delicate swirled image from Creative Elements. The belly band that keeps the box closed was also stamped using the border image from Creative Elements.

The layered flower is made using the Daydream Medallions set along with the coordinating Floral Framelits. Something else to be thankful for...the Floral Framelits are on SALE right now as part of Stampin' Up!'s Weekly Deals!

Here's a look at what the box looks like open...

and a little sneak peek to what's inside. You'll have to check back tomorrow to see the set of cards.

Don't forget to check out this weeks Weekly Deals to see the other items offered.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
Supply List:

• Creative Elements - Clear-Mount Stamp
• Daydream Medallions Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• 2013-2015 In Color Core'dinations
• Pool Party 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• Daffodil Delight 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Strawberry Slush 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
• Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
• Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad
• Floral Frames Framelits Dies
• Envelope Punch Board
• In Color Boutique Details

Mosaic Meadow

Here is a soft & pretty card created with the Wild Flower Meadow stamp, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder & Quatrefancy Specialty Paper.

I stamped the image in White Craft Ink onto Crumb Cake card stock and then used my Aqua Painter & Classic Inks to color the image. It is a fun technique and the result is really soft & pretty.

Colors used: Strawberry Slush, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Pistachio Pudding & Crumb Cake.

Thanks for visiting today.

Stippled Blossom Get Well

I think that perhaps it may be nearly impossible to create something that isn't pretty using the Stippled Blossom set. I just love the beautiful 2-step rose and the coordinating images! I think that it has an old-fashioned quality to it especially when using soft muted colors like I used here.

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Creative Elements, Papillion Potpourri, En Francias & Thoughts & Prayers (sentiment)
Ink: Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding & Wild Wasabi
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe & Pool Party
Accessories: Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder, Victoria Crochet Trim, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Apothecary Accents & Window Frames Framelits, Word Window & Bitty Butterfly Punches, Basic Pearls & Stamp-a-ma-jig

The little butterfly stamped from the Papillion Potpourri set and punched out with the Bitty Butterfly Punch makes a cute accent on this card, don't you agree? What, you don't have these items yet? Well, now is the time to get them! During the month of September they are on sale for 15% off! Find out all the details here.

As you can see, I also decorated my envelope. I like to use the frame from Creative Elements as a spot to write my return address. Another way to make your envelopes special is with the new SU! Envelope Punch Board. This tool looks pretty cool...but I don't have it yet. You can make any sized envelope...and the size chart is printed right on it to make it easy.

Envelope Punch Board: Item	133774	Price $19.95

Want to see this in action? Check out this video.

Have a great weekend!

Black Magic Wildflower Meadow

A while back I was playing around with a technique using White Craft Ink and my Aquapainter with Classic Ink to color the Wildflower Meadow image on Crumb Cake card stock. I loved the results, but never did figure out what that technique was called? (Here's the cards I'm referring to) Anyways....

at the time, I  thought that I could try the same thing on Basic Black card stock. That didn't work out so well...the colored ink disappeared after it dried and I just ended up with white ink on black card stock...which is OK, but not the look I was going for. So, I ended up digging out my colored pencils to try the Black Magic Technique.

Now that's more like it! It's easy too! Just stamp your image with White Craft Ink onto Basic Black Card stock (or probably any very dark color) allow to dry, or use your heat tool, and then using your colored pencils, color as desired. I used my retired SU! Watercolor pencils as they were handy. I thought this shade of red was a good match for Strawberry Slush so I used that color to finish off my card.

The DSP is from the Quatrefancy Specialty pack. The label was created by stamping the label image from the Creative Elements set in black and then cutting just the ends with the Apothecary Accents Framelits. I shared this trick here a while back in case you missed it.

I'm glad I finally gave this technique a try...you should give it a try as well!