CLEAN AND SIMPLE FELT FLOWER

I have a whole tin of these cute felt flowers and I thought they would work perfectly for this Clean and Simple card challenge.  This card was super quick and easy.  I think I will make a few of these to have on hand without stamping a sentiment.  Then when I need a really quick last minute card, I can stamp the appropriate sentiment.

Enjoy!!

 

BIRTHDAY LABEL FRAMELITS

Today's birthday card combined this weeks Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches.  When I saw Mary Fish's card using the label framelit with the oval embossing folder, I knew I had to try it.  A really unique look.  Enjoy!

OUTLINED OCCASIONS MOJO MONDAY

So, I know it is Thursday, not Monday, but I am just now getting around to my Mojo Monday sketch.  I have been having so much fun combining challenges to create cards, really does speed up the planning process.  For my card, I rotated the sketch 90 degress.  The stamp set I used is a free item from the Sale-a-bration catalog and I have already used all three images on recent cards.  Enjoy!

BIRTHDAY TAG CARD

For today's card I started off with the The Paper Players challenge...use a tag on a card.  If you have been around Stampin Up products long enough, you might recognize some of these products as VERY retired.  I don't know about you, but I tend to buy a paper pack, use part of it and then hoard the rest.  As if some day, I will wish I had kept it for that special project.  Well, the reality is there is always new paper that will come out that will work just fine for that "special project". 

One of my New Year's resolutions is to use it or get rid of it.  Sounds easy...I will let you know throughout the year how this resolution turns out.  I can say, this card helped me to eliminate a little of that stash.

Enjoy!

SALE-A-BRATION STARTS TODAY!!

Today is the day!  Sale-a-bration starts!  For every $50 purchase you receive an item from the Sale-a-Bration catalog.  So many cute things to choose from. If you want to host a workshop, live or virtual, give me a call or e-mail me.  Individual on-line orders do qualify for free products.  If you have questions about how to order, contact me and I can make sure you get as much free product as possible.

Have you been thinking of becoming a demonstrator?  Now is the perfect time...you can join for only $125.  You will be getting over $350 worth of product at less than half that price.  You also have the choice of choosing a free paper pack or free digital downloads every month for a year if you stay an active demonstrator.  You can customize your starter kit to get the products that you want.  The great thing about the starter kit is that although you also get all the business supplies, you are not obligated to sell a single item or host any workshops.  You are a demonstrator for 3 months, you get the great discount and access to exclusive sites during that time; but, if at the end of the three months you decide you don't want to do continue as a demonstrator, you are just dropped from the list of demonstrators and start buying from me again.  Some people simply buy the kit for all the products, this is especially great for those people who need the basic supplies to get started.  Think about it and call or e-mail if you have any questions!! 

Now for the card today! Want this paper or the ribbon and buttons?? Look on page 7 of the Sale-a-bration catalog...they are free items! Enjoy!

VALENTINE HEART TREE

This weekend I had some fun playing along at Our Creative Corner.  Their challenge was to use the photo below to create a project and then explain which elements in the photo inspired us.  When I first looked at this photo, I saw a lot of white space, or in my case, Very Vanilla.  The photo has a lot of details, but they come across very subtly.  I wanted my card to represent this subtlety.  I used the tree stamp (it's a Christmas stamp) in a whimsical way and punched the hearts in mostly solid colored card stock to not add too much pattern to the card.  I added a few rhinestones to represent the crystals shown in the photo and a little delicate ribbon.  I used chocolate chip ink on my tree and sentiment to represent the small chocolates also seen in the photo.  I really do enjoy taking inspiration from the things around us, it forces me to look at things a little closer and appreciate their finer details.  Hope you enjoy!

BUILD-A-BEAR VALENTINE

Ready for another Valentine card!  This one is for my youngest daughter.  I started with two challenges the SCS 368 and Color Throwdown.  After I finished the card, I realized it also fit the Creative Corner Challenge that I posted earlier.  This really is a simple sketch that I fancied up with some paper peircing and a few embellishments.  Did you notice the little pearl on the flower?  I think this little girl bear turned out super cute, although my watercoloring could use a little practice.  If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear them!  Enjoy!

PAPER PIERCING VALENTINE

I thought I would share a little Valentine with you today.  I decided to play along at Our Creative Corner with their challenge this week.  The challenge was to make a project card with paper piercing, no ribbon and only one embellishment.  Since it wasn't going to have ribbon, I decided I should take this opportunity to make a masculine card.  Enjoy!

SALE-A-BRATION SNEEK PEEK THANK YOU

One of the great things about being a demonstrator is that I get to order products early, before they are available to customers.  This year Stampin Up decided to let us earn Sale-a-bration sets early also.  If you are not familiar with Sale-a-Bration, let me tell you, it is a great time of year to order and by far the best time of year to host a workshop.  So many free products to earn and it all begins Jan 24th and lasts through March 31st.  So, gather up your friends and give me a call or e-mail and I will help you plan a party.  It can also be a virtual party!

This leads to my thank you card today, all the supplies for this card are products you can earn with a $50 purchase.  I just love how the paper, ribbon and buttons all coordinate, it makes card making and scrapbooking so easy.   I also used the new Label Framelet again, love it!

I also entered this card into the The Friday Mashup, just to add a little challenge to my blog.

BIRTHDAY GRUNGE ROCK

Another birthday card today!  I have finished my January and February birthdays, so soon I will take a break and start my Valentine cards.  The card I have to show you today is for my daughter who will turn 9 next month.  I wanted a fun, bright, cheerful card to fit her personality.  She is really a fun sweetheart of a daughter.   I used the set Grunge Rock.  I bought this set a while back thinking it would make cute "Tween" cards, but sadly, it has never been inked. 

To design my card, I started with a sketch I found at Freshly Made Sketches  It is a little hard to tell in the picture, but I used Melon Mambo embossing powder on the guitar along with a few rhinestones for a little bling. To get the speckled look, I inked up one of my clear blocks and stamped it on whisper white paper.  I thought more ink would come off on the paper but it didn't, but I like the affect it gave the card.  Hope you enjoy!

BIRTHDAY-HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY WISHES

Back to birthday cards.  I made a list and boy do I have some card making to do, but I enjoy it!!  Today the card I am going to show you is for someone very special.  He is a little boy who has had to deal with some very difficult health issues over the last couple of years and each of his birthdays are a blessing for everyone in his life.  I used the Happiest Birthday Wishes set and I have really gotten my money out of this set...wait, it was a free hostess set...even better.  Want to host a workshop and get one for free, just give me a call or e-mail for details.  I also used the new Label Framelits on this card (new occasions mini).  I really love them and could kick myself for not buying the heart one, but it will be on my next order :).  My Big Shot and punches saw some use on this card.  I am really pleased with how this card turned out, but I can't take the credit for the layout, I CASE'd it from hlkdownstairdesigns.blogspot.com who also CASE'd it from someone else...I love blog land.  I did change up the colors to match the brads I had.  I think I will be making a couple more of these to keep on hand and just add the number as appropriate!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SAIL AWAY

I am took a break from birthday cards last night to make an Anniversary card.  I again went back to Color throwdown for some inspiration...this week I made it in time to enter the challenge :).   I used white StazOn ink, which I had bought but never used and clear embossing power on my stamped image.  I then rubbed on some soft suede ink to really make the sailboat pop.  Hope you enjoy! 

Come back tomorrow for another b-day card...kid style!

BIRTHDAY COLOR THROWDOWN

In January I start my birthday cards for the year.  If I make them in advance, I am more likely to send them out on time.  For my family and special friends, I like to make cards specifically with that person in mind.  Today I used the color throwdown challenge to help me out with this card.  I like this stamp, but honestly most people that I send cards to really do not want to see their age stand out with red dazzling diamond glitter.  But the recipient of this card is loving that she is turning 16 and I hope she loves this card!!!

MISSING IN ACTION

Well, I started this blog and then went mising in action.  I will just say, I really enjoyed a great winter break, Christmas and New Year's.  I may not have been blogging, but I sure was busy making Christmas cards, gifts for teachers, neighbors and friends.

So, it's a new year and I hope to get back in the swing of things with a goal to post a project at least once a week, so log on and keep me on track.

Today's project is an easy way to package a set of cards.  I often make extra cards and give them away as birthday gifts and thank yous, but I like to dress them up a little.  This is one of the quickest and easiest ways.  It only takes one 8 1/2 X 11 piece of card stock, scored and folded at 2 1/2 to make a pocket.  I use stickly strip to secure only the sides, as can be seen in the picture. 

Try this project, I promise the recepient will not be disappointed.