Fruity Gratitude

What a weird title for this card, but I was stumped - so there it is.  Gotta tell you that I'm totally lovin' the Perfectly Preserved set and all the goodies that coordinate with it!  I was so thrilled to get the box today and sat right down to play with it tonight.  First off, I checked the Stamping 411 blog site here.  This week they had the perfect sketch for using this set.  So that's exactly what I did.  Hope you like this quick card...

Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved and Fabulous Phrases
Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Island Indigo, and Crumb Cake
Paper:  Orchard Harvest DSP, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, and Naturals Ivory
Accessories:  Big Shot with Cannery Set Framelits Dies, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Sponge, Paper Snips, and Dimensionals

I had thought of using the Early Espresso ink for sponging, but ended up using Crumb Cake so it wouldn't be quite so dark.  Everything was sponged except for the two pieces of fruit that I wanted to stand out more so I left them plain.

Did I mention how much I love all these coordinated pieces that Stampin'Up! puts together?  I was amazed how easy it was to make the little fruit pieces since there was no cutting out.  I could see making a whole fruit-bowl filled with these little cuties 'cuz they're so quick and easy to do!  And I thought the plaid DSP I chose was perfect for the county feel of this card.

Hope you liked the idea.  I'm liking this so much I might make up a batch for Thanksgiving this year.  Think I need to look for a 'give thanks' stamp for the front instead.  Happy stamping!  And don't forget to check out the Stamping 411 blog for lots of lovely ideas!  Thanks for stopping by...  Sharon

Fancy Favor Butterflies

I needed a little something real quick this afternoon, so I took a peek at Stampin' Connection (which is a sight just for demonstrators) to get a cute idea.  Right away I saw the perfect little gift holder that Susan Haddad had made.  Of course I didn't have everything to copy it outright, so I used what I had and got it made in no time at all.  Want to see what I made?  Here it is...

Stamps:  none
Ink:  none
Paper:  Twitterpated DSP, Neutrals Collection DSP Stack, Basic Gray, and Rich Razzleberry
Accessories:   Big Shot with Chevron Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Blossom Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Brights Glimmer Brads, Sticky Strip, and Dimensionals

I can't imagine what I'd do without my Big Shot.  It was used for three different applications on this one project alone!  From die-cutting the favor box, to embossing it, to using an embosslit to both cut and emboss the larger butterfly.  It's such a versatile tool and, in my humble opinion, everybody needs one!  But like I said, that's just my opinion.

I love all the textures and layers on this little bag/box.  (What do you call these little containers anyway??)  All of the flower and butterfly layers have been slightly curled with a bone folder to give them some extra dimension.  And with adding Dimensionals under the butterflies and under the flower too, there's lots of 'pop' to this. 

The colors are a bit darker than I would normally reach for, but the goodies in the container are some lovely Raspberry & Dark Chocolate M&M's.  Or should I just say mmmmmmmmm's.  Yes, they are yummy, and you know stamping goes great with chocolate!  Ok, that's it for today.  Again thanks to Susan Haddad for a great idea.  I'm so glad I found your original to get me started today.   Sharon

Christmas 3rd Time Around

Ok, hope you aren't too tired of my Christmas in July samples 'cuz there's another one today.  This one will be the last one for awhile.  I really need to start thinking about the fall holidays coming up first and not get so carried away with Christmas.  So enjoy this one - there won't be anymore for a little while.

Stamps:  Christmas Blessings
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, with Be Of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper
Ink:  Stazon Jet Black, Gumball Green, and Cherry Cobbler pads, Daffodil Delight marker
Accessories:  AquaPainter, Pearls Basic Jewels, Victoria Crochet Lace Trim, and Dimensionals

When the catalog had just come out,  I knew this would be one of the first stamp sets I'd purchase.  The artwork is just lovely, and the sentiment and fonts used for it are perfect!  Can't tell I like it very much, can you?!

Even with the watercoloring, this card is very quick to put together once all the layers are cut and ready to put together.  It looks involved and time consuming, but actually it would be a great card to make up in multiples.  In fact, I think I just might!

Thought you'd want to see the inside here too.  Nothing too special, but nice words and a bit of color to set it off.

That's it for my Christmas in July theme.  Hope you enjoyed the ideas.  Definitely different styles and colors to think about.  Now it's time to start thinking about pumpkins and ghosties.  I should be back from conventions and ready to stamp by Monday.  Hopefully there will be goodies to share soon!  Sharon

Warm Hands

Okay, I'm posting this while I'm at convention.  Wish you were here too!  Having waaaay too much fun!  But thought you might need another Christmas idea to get you primed for the coming holidays.  I know it's so weird thinking of Christmas when it's so dreadfully hot and sticky outside, but that's the way it goes.  So get ready - here are some warm mittens for you!

Stamps:  Chock-Full of Cheer and More Merry Messages
Cardstock:  Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, and Whisper White
Ink:  Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry
Accessories:  Big Shot with Perfect Polka Dot and Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folders, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Mini Glue Dots, and Dimensionals

This card has very clean and simple lines to it, but the textures take it up a notch.  It sort of reminds me of the different patterns in a pair a hand-knit mittens.

The two colors chosen aren't classic Christmas colors, but look very warm and rich together.  Sometimes you just need to get away from the regular red and green of Christmas and have a little fun.

Love the new sentiment set for Christmas.  Lots of wonderful fonts and the wording should fit nicely for my cards.  After using the last sentiment set for several years, I was ready for a new one.  And this one is lovely!

Thanks for checking in.  Check back in another day or two for another Christmas in July sample.  Sharon

Rejoicing Angel

I'm trying to get a card posted for tonight in between packing for convention.  I really needed a break cuz I was getting too stressed out.  (I'm not the best traveler - I freak out!)  Any way, thought this would be a great stress reducer.  So here goes.  Last week was my class week and I had the ladies getting started on their Christmas cards.  This is one that I really loved.

Stamps:  Rejoicing with You and More Merry Messages
Cardstock:  Bashful Blue, Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler and VersaMark
Accessories:  Heat Tool, Pewter Emboss Powder, Big Shot with Finishing Touches Edgelits, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, Antique Brads, and Dimensionals

I love all the different textures on this card.  If you look closely, you might notice that it looks alot like the card sample shown on page 21 of the new 2012-2013 catalog.  I used the the layout of the sample and changed the colors, some stamps, and accessories.  Why mess up a good layout when SU! does such a fabulous job at it? 

Anyway, hope you like the card and it prompts you to start thinking ahead to Christmas and what you'll be making for your cards this year.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hopefully I'll get a couple more ideas posted before I leave.  Toodles, Sharon

Another Reason To Smile

Oh yes!  This one really has me smiling big time.  I love the colors, and stamps, and papers, and just everything about it!!  Geez, can you tell I like this one just a bit?  lol  So let's get on with it and check it out.

Stamps:  Reason To Smile, and Petite Pairs
Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Whisper White with Floral District Designer Series Paper
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry ink pads, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, and Old Olive markers
Accessories:   Big Shot with Labels Collection Framelits and Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Paper Snips, Sponge Daubers, Dazzling Details glitter, and Dimensionals

Whew, it was a bit of work playing around with the colors and layers to come up with what I liked, but the Color Coach really helps you put the perfect colors together.  I've been looking at how SU! uses odd bits of layers on so many of the samples in their catalog, and that really makes the cards very eye-catching.  So that's what I tried to accomplish with this card.

When the card was finished, or almost finished, it still needed something to make it special.  After trying buttons and brads that didn't work, I added the Dazzling Details to the center of the daisy.  When it dried, it was just gorgeous!  It had sort of melded the two colors together and added some sparkle on top of that - just perfect.  Don't you love it when an idea works out so well?!

That's it for today.  Hope I get a chance to get another post or two in before I leave for convention.  I'm so looking forward to seeing some of my friends from around the country.  I'm sure we'll have a lot of catching up to do so there'll be some late nights.  But oh what fun we'll have!!  I can hardly wait to see what new ideas they'll share with us.  Wish you could be there with us too!  I'll make sure to post our M&T for you when I get back.  Sharon

Reason to Smile in B&W

Don't you just love this wonderful stamp set - Reason To Smile?  I've been having fun playing with it while it's still available.  Yes, you can get this set for only $5 when you place an order for $50 or more.  But you can only get it during the month of July!  So if you're interested, you'd better hop on it now!!  Anyway, back to the card I have to share today.  One of my favorite color combos is any pop of color with a basic black and white card.  That's what I have for you today.  Hope you like it...

Stamps:  Reason To Smile and Wacky Wishes(hostess)
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Real Red, and Whisper White
Ink:  Basic Black and Real Red
Accessories:   Big Shot with Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bitty Buttons, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Basic Black Scallop Dots Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, and Paper Snips

Did you notice how the die-cut tag was only partially used?  I cut off the other 'bump out' to have a straight edge.  And since there isn't another framelit to make a nicely framed layer, I just traced the outside of the framelit, cut it out, and made my own.  Great idea, right?

I wanted to add just a smidgen of red to the accent and realized the Baker's Twine would work out quite nicely.  I used Real Red ink to stamp a sentiment inside the card and added a few more daisies in the corner to finish it off. 

This was a really quick card to make, but I love how classy it looks.  And right now, any card that is quick gets my vote.   See you soon, Sharon

Catalog CASE

Sometimes my Hostess Club ladies convince me to use a catalog sample for one of the projects they make when we get together.  This was one of those months.  On page 74 of the new catalog is a cute partial card.  So it was up to me to make my version of what is shown.  So that's the starting point, and we go from there.  Here's what I came up with...

Stamps:  Language of Friendship and Petite Pairs
Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory,Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, and Baja Breeze
Ink:  Early Espresso
Accessories:   Big Shot with Manhattan Flower Emb. Folder, Bird Builder Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Pearl Basic Jewels, Jet Black Jewel(ret), and Dimensionals

Since only a small portion of the card actually is shown in the catalog, I definitely took a few liberties with it.  I really liked the retired jet jewel added to the bird's eye.  It really makes it stand out.  Also I changed the sentiment on my card, but the ladies had a choice of wording to use.  I also chose a lighter card base to make it come together.  So that's my take on one of SU!'s fabulous samples in our new catalog.  Why not try this idea yourself and see how you'd make one of the catalog samples your very own with a little tweaking here and there!

Happy stamping, Sharon

Floral District Quickie

This is just a quick little card I put together with some scraps of the Floral District Designer Paper that were sitting on the table.  I'm still not sure about the color on the punched flower accent, but right now it's staying like it is.  If you have any suggestions, let me know and I'll give them a try.

Stamps:  Curly Cute
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Rose Red, and Baja Breeze with Floral District Designer Series Paper
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Five Petal Punch(ret), Boho Blossoms Punch, Flower Brads(ret), 1/8" Circle Punch, Paper Snips, and Dimensionals

Looking at the picture, I'm thinking maybe the flower colors should be reversed with the Rose Red on the larger layer.  But I really didn't like the Baja Breeze layer next to the flower brad.  Oh well, there must be a combo that really pops, but I haven't quite figured it out yet.

This card came about because I had several 1" scrap strips of patterned paper sitting there and didn't want to get rid of them.  Since the Razzleberry layer was 4" tall, I couldn't line up 4 in a row, hence the slightly staggered rows with one trimmed on the top and one on the bottom.  I liked the concept of using up these little bits and I'll probably use the idea again for more of my scraps.  Hope this gives you an idea too.

Thanks for stopping in today.  See you soon!  Sharon