Finally...an ornament!

This is the third card from my punch class showing how to use the ornament punch in a variety of ways. Although I showed two other ways to make things from this punch, I love using it for the obvious purpose-making an ornament.  I found this sketch over a year ago from Page Maps (LOVE this site!!) and made a few cards last Christmas using it. It is a pretty easy sketch, but looks so pretty and festive!

You can't really tell from the picture, but the candy cane striped paper is all glittery and pretty! All of the DSP is from the new Holly Berry Bouquet in the Holiday mini.  There are lots of pretty prints and glittery papers in this set! Many can be used for all occasions, not just winter and Christmas.

Card Recipe:Cardstock-chocolate chip, very vanilla, Holly Berry Bouquet, Ink- chocolate chip, Stamp Set-Snow Swirled (sentiment), Accessories-ornament punch, linen thread, scallop trim border punch

Feeling Scrappy!

If you follow my blog, you know that while my paper crafting skills began with scrapbooking, I tend to make and post more card creations than layouts.  Well, for the next few weeks this is about to change! I agreed to make a wedding album for my DH's nephew and wife.  Their wedding was this past weekend (beautiful dresses, flowers, and decorations...crappy weather!) but, since I'm putting in a few of the pictures, they knew they wouldn't be getting the album on their wedding day.  I am happy to announce that the album is finished!! WHEW!  That means for the past few weeks, I have been making page after page after page... (Lucky for those of you who love cards that I scheduled a few card posts in between all of this scapbooking!) So, since I have an abundance of pics of wedding layouts, I will be sharing some of my favorite pages over the next few weeks.  I used a LOT of discontinued SU product and some non SU goodies, so I will not be sharing recipes for the pages.  The general color theme was soft suede (matched the bridesmaids dresses perfectly), very vanilla, sahara sand, and early espresso. There was a splash of pumpkin pie added since this was one of the colors in the fall floral bouquets that the ladies carried.

The first page will have baby pictures of the bride and groom and a picture of them when they started dating.  The two pages for the shower are designed to hold 3 4x6 photos on each page. They will be placed where you see the white space.

I will show a few more pages next time! Thanks for looking!

A Little Christmas...

I have always been a devout believer that Christmas decorating doesn't take place until after Thanksgiving. I  love fall and all of the beautiful colors used to decorate for the fall season. So, our home isn't 'decked' until after the turkey has been digested.  This same philosophy doesn't apply to my cards... I make all of the cards that are sent from our home and it seems like each year I'm always making 'just a few more' at the last minute. So this year, I started playing with several different stamps and plans as soon as I opened my box of Holiday Mini goodies.  I LOVE the stockings and the coordinating punch!
Today's card began when I saw the color challenge at Simply Stampin' Challenge. I was looking at my pear pizzazz, chocolate chip, and soft suede paper and began to see a stocking card in my head. I know this is not a traditional color combo for Christmas, but I love those brown colors!!  Here is my card...

I had to add a little bling to two of the stockings. After all, it is Christmas... This card is also being submitted for the Design Team Call. Thanks for stopping by!

Card Recipe: Cardstock-very vanilla, pear pizzazz, Ink-chocolate chip, pear pizzazz, soft suede, Stamp Set-Stitched Stockings, Accessories- stocking builder punch, chocolate chip scallop dots ribbon, basic pearls, basic rhinestones, snow burst embossing folder

Sweet and Kind

I've been working on several projects and haven't had a lot of 'free' stamping time lately.  But today I felt the need to just play! A great blogging friend (Lisa) introduced me to another fabulous challenge blog called Simply Stampin' Challenge.  This week they have an awesome color challenge using Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, and Very Vanilla.  I found a great sketch at The Paper Players to go with this color combo!

This was a great way for me to use up a few pieces of retired DSP too!! Simply Stampin' Challenge is also having a design team call and I'm submitting this card for that as well! Thanks for looking!

Card Recipe: Cardstock-very vanilla, chocolate chip, soft suede, pear pizzazz, pear pizzazz DSP from In Color  Paper Stack, choc chip & soft suede DSP is from retired sets, Ink-pear pizzazz, soft suede, Stamp Sets-Four Frames, Fabulous Phrases, Accessories-decorative label punch, very vanilla seam binding ribbon, basic pearls

More than an ornament Part 2

This is the second card we made at my punch class featuring the ornament punch.  I first saw the vases at Elizabeth's Craft Room and loved this idea!

Card Recipe: Cardstock-so saffron, whisper white, bashful blue, wild wasabi, Ink-wild wasabi, bashful blue, Stamp sets- Snow Swirled, Precious Butterflies, Organic Grace (ret), Accessories-square lattice and snow burst embossing folders, big shot, ornament punch, so saffron taffeta ribbon

A little something for my club

My first club formed last month and these ladies are all close friends and family so I wanted to make them a little something to show my thanks and also show them a nice, inexpensive gift idea without a lot of work!  I bought the little brag books at a discount store and removed the inserts from the covers.  Then I personalized each one for my club members.  These would be great for their intended purpose, holding photographs, or could also be a cute little book to keep sketches of card designs, color combinations, or any other inspiring ideas.

Recipe:  Cardstock-very vanilla, wild wasabi, woodland walk (ret), Ink-crumb cake, wild wasabi, Stamp Sets-Four Frames, Broadsheet Alphabet, Accessories- chocolate chip ribbon (ret), decorative label punch

More than an ornament...

I recently had a class showing how versatile the ornament punch can be. Only one of the three cards actually had 'ornaments' on it. There are so many creative ways to use this punch and I'm not sure who the original inspirations were, but I can't take credit for coming up with them. Today's card uses several pieces of cardstock punched w/ the ornament punch to make a flower.

I made a card similar to this a while back and thought that it was a fun way to use the punch.  I had the design for this one in my head and when I went to put the very vanilla center on the card, it just looked way to plain.  So I dug through my stamps looking for something that would fit on the circle. I looked at the stamp set Faith in Nature and inspiration hit! I used the flower stamp on the circle to add the details of a flowers center and the script on the stamp really dressed it up.

Card Recipe: Stamp set-Faith in Nature, Card stock-crumb cake, poppy parade, very vanilla, baja breeze dsp from the stack, Ink-poppy parade, Accessories-square lattice folder, big shot, very vanilla satin ribbon, 3/4" circle punch, ornament punch

Jr Varsity cards

OK, quiz time...Who remembers the year of the DSP Jr Varsity? That's right, it's from the 2008 catalog! Well, in an effort to use up some of my stash, I was digging through a container of retired paper and found Jr. Varsity! I have really got to start using up my DSP!! So, today's post is a couple of cards I made using the very retired, JV!

Card Recipe: Cardstock-old olive, whisper white, bashful blue, Jr. Varsity DSP, Ink- bashful blue, Stamp Sets- Riveting and Birthday Wish (both ret), Accessories-corner, scallop circle, and 1 3/8 circle punch, whisper white 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

No Really...Scrapbook Pages!!

In case the title didn't give it away, I am extremely far behind on my scrapbooking. I don't even want to admit how many unfinished projects are sitting on my shelf right now... But, this weekend, due to both rainy weather and a change in schedule, I was able to set aside some crafting time. As much as I wanted to make cards, I am ahead of schedule on my birthday and anniversary cards so I decided I had better tackle some scrapbooking.
My husband's nephew is getting married later this month. His fiance's family made the bridal shower invitations, so I gave her a very pretty unfinished photo album, thinking she might want to make the pages herself.  After seeing the card I made for her shower, she asked me if I would do the pages for her instead! So I am in the process of working on their wedding album.  Since I am including some pictures from the wedding on the pages, they are not expecting the album to be finished by the wedding date, but I would like to have the majority of it completed before then! Two down, 18 to go...
The bridesmaids are wearing latte colored dresses and the flowers are in a variety of fall colors. I decided to go with a more monochromatic color palette with just a few splashes of color.  Here are two of the pages I finished (minus photos).

I used up a lot of retired DSP on these pages. Since I went through all of my DSP to find papers with the right color scheme, I didn't think to chick which packs they came from but I think these are Woodland Walk and Elegant Soiree. I used Sahara Sand as my base and the photos will be mounted on the Early Espresso cardstock. Other supplies used were vintage flowers (ret), early espresso ribbon (ret), brads (some ret.), Four Frames and Notes & Details stamp sets, decorative label and 5 petal flower punches, pear pizzazz marker and cardstock, crumb cake and early espresso markers, log cabin and vanilla shimmer Smooch Spritz.  I also used some non SU letter brads and some prima flowers (thanks Kelly!)

America, the Beautiful

Today is a day that is full of memories for so many of us. I remember that we had recently found out that I was pregnant w/ our second daughter and I was getting ready to go to work.  The tv was on and the first broadcast came on. At that time, no one was sure what happened. I put our oldest daughter in the car and headed to work.  I had almost arrived when the news updates came on about the second tower and the fact that we were being attacked.  I can so clearly remember looking in the rear view mirror of the car at my daughter and thinking "What kind of life will they grow up in?" That evening we watched the news in tears and disbelief that this could happen. I sat in awe of all of the law enforcement, fire fighters, EMTs, and other emergency responders who ran past the fleeing crowds of people to help those in the middle of the chaos.  There were so many lives lost that day due to ignorance and hatred.  Today at church, the sermon was about forgiveness. We are not expected to forget the pain and emotion caused from this, but to fuel the hatred that started this is not in God's plan.  It reminded me to focus on the heroes from that day and the compassion and love we showed each other.  Our closing song was America, the Beautiful and I felt quite emotional as we sang the 3rd verse.

"O beautiful for heroes proved. In liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!"

Could there be more fitting words for today...

May God watch over all those who work daily to protect us and keep us safe.  May He bring comfort to those who lost loved ones that day and every day after.

A Little Late...

I was reorganizing my crafting area over the weekend and came across some cards my sister sent us for our anniversary and my birthday. I had intended to photograph these and post them, but somehow became sidetracked (go figure!).  My sister is the person I 'blame' for starting my stamping addiction. There I was happily scrapbooking (remember the sticker sneeze phase?), when she suggested I start making my own cards. Make my own cards??? Her cards were awesome and she actually thought I could do that??  About a month later I was invited to a SU workshop hosted by a friend of mine, so I thought, what the heck... and invited my sister to attend with me. The rest is card making history! We often joke that we could open a crop shop where people could use all of the tools we have, for a rental fee! But anyway... here are the cards she made for me. Please excuse the terrible photography on the second card. Not sure what happened...

Not exactly sure why the 2nd pic is so blurry but she used a happy birthday embossing folder and added a little bling. It is really cool in person!

I won a prize!!

As many of you know, I am an admitted blog junkie! I love visiting other crafty friends and seeing all of the wonderful things they create. One of the blogs I stalk is Debbie's Designs and I frequently pop in to see what she's up to and scope out her cards.  Debbie had just finished a 'Christmas in August' Stamp Camp and was handing out blog candy for some lucky person who left a comment. Well, I love to leave comments and the chance to win her lovely cards was just an added bonus, especially since I never win things! Imagine my surprise when I received an email from Ms. Debbie telling me I won. Here are the beautiful cards that I received from her. They are way more fabulous in person than they are in my picture. Thanks again Debbie! I love your work!!

Saying Goodbye...

Last week a dear friend lost her battle with cancer. She was one of the first people to welcome me into the law enforcement family when my husband joined the Sheriff's department. We are close enough to her son and his family that my husband likes to intimidate their daughters' boyfriends (much to the girls' embarrassment!) and her son refers to our daughters as 'his other girls'.  Needless to say, this card was not a 'fun' one to make, but sometimes little things like cards can say what we struggle to express.

Card Recipe: Cardstock-certainly celery, so saffron, whisper white, Delicate Dots DSP, Stamp Set-Word Play, Ink-bashful blue, Accessories-bashful blue grosgrain ribbon, basic pearls

And still more retired stamps...

If you have been following my posts, you know that I am desperately trying to break free from my hoarding tendencies.  I am still going through stamps making the final decision to keep or remove...
I pulled out Polka Dot Punches today.This is a set I have not used much, but honestly I love the heart image in this set. I decided if this set is staying there has to be more than one stamp that I will use, so I'm playing with the other 3 to see if I really need to keep this. (Now you know why I have so many stamps and why it takes so long to get rid of them :-) Anyway...enough rambling! I decided to use the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping for my card. I love their sketches because they can either be really CAS or a little dressed up, just by changing a few things.

Card Recipe: Cardstock-whisper white, Stamp Sets-Polka Dot Punches, and Warm Words (both ret.), Ink-so saffron, bashful blue, Accessories-scallop circle punch, bashful blue ribbon (ret.)

One Blinged Out Card

I have a special family member with a birthday in the next month and needed to make a special card for her.  I was glad to see that The Paper Players had a birthday card challenge this week.  Then I saw the great sketch challenge at Sketches By Carly and I was ready to go!
Do you ever feel like you're channeling someone else when your finished card is not what you normally create?  My style is generally pretty CAS, not that I don't love embellishments, but I usually end up with a mess when I try to put too much on a card.  Today's card, I couldn't stop myself from adding just a little more bling and I immediately thought of fellow blogger Anne Marie and her glittery, glitzy creations! So, here is my AM channeled, glamorous card...

Card Recipe: Cardstock-whisper white, so saffron, Delicate Dots DSP (ret.), Ink-Black Stazon, so saffron, certainly celery, blender pen, Accessories-scallop trim border punch, so saffron taffeta ribbon, basic rhinestones(16!!) Stamp is non-SU from my stash.

Yes, Another Retired Stamp Set...

Anyone seeing a trend here?  I am still in the process of going through my stamps and deciding if they stay or go.  At my last club, some of my stamps found new loving homes, but  I still have a big basket of stamps that I would like to use one last time. So as time allows, hopefully the contents of the basket will get less and less!  Today's card is for my great nephew's first birthday.  I decided to use animal stories for his card.

Card Recipe: Cardstock-whisper white, bashful blue, Ink-so saffron, bashful blue, Stamp Sets- Animal Stories, Word Play, Accessories- square lattice folder, certainly celery 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

Because I Care

OK, I must be on a 'play with retired stamp sets' kick!  I was so sad that Because I Care did not make it into the new catalog.  The detail on this stamp is just beautiful!  I made some anniversary and sympathy cards using this stamp set.

Card Recipe:Cardstock-whisper white,concord crush DSP, rich razzleberry DSP, Ink-certainly celery, almost amethyst, rich razzleberry, pear pizzazz (all markers), Stamp Set-Because I Care (ret), Accessories-basic pearls, pastels, rich razzleberry 1/4 " grosgrain ribbon