Remember this? (TSC1231)

The Twisted Sistahs Challenge for this week was presented by Marleygo. Lesley challenged us to make a Thank You card using our school colors, some kind of embossing and musical notes somewhere on the card. I used Real Red, Basic Black and Whisper White card stocks (my high school colors), and I used Brights Collection (Real Red) DSP. The white panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Allegro folder. The image from "Little Lambs" was stamped with Black Stazon and colored with SU! Markers. I used the Scallop Border Punch on the edge of the DSP and added three Bold Brights Brads (retired) before popping the panel up over the embossed panel. Do you remember that song? Everything except the EF is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

New Years Card

A few people from my church gave me Christmas cards, but I hadn't sent them anything, so I decided to make some New Years cards and use up the last of those calendars I got from a bulk buy deal. I made it an easel card so that it will stand up on a desk or something and expose the calendar. The base card is Lovely Lilac (using some retired card stock), and I also used Whisper White. I used the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder, a Labels Nestie and a verse from Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection #4. The flowers were punched with the Punch Pack Flower and embossed, and the leaves were punched with the Bird & Branch Punch. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Proverbs 31:30 (SC313)

Today's Sketch has a horizontal panel with an "Out-of-the-box" image. I think that panel didn't go all the way across the card in the original sample, but that's how it worked out for me. I have an online friend who lives in Ireland, and she is responsible for my getting the Our Daily Bread Designs verses. She is such a sweetheart!! Other than the verse, everything here is from Stampin' Up! I used Naturals White, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White card stocks along with Daffodil Delight DSP from the Brights Collection. I embossed with Elegant Bouquet Impressions Folder and used the open scallop Border Punch. The flowers were stamped, water colored and one was cut out and popped up. I used the masking technique to over lap two of the flowers, and they all have Dazzling Diamonds along the edges. Thanks for stopping by!!

Red Hat Cat (MMTPT126)

This is for Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge. You need to go here to find out the whole story. We are to wear red hats, red and purple hats, red or purple clothing, red AND purple clothing...you get the picture. This card will go to a Red Hat Lady who has been battling cancer for 13 years. She recently had surgery which left her in a condition similar to a stroke victim. I thought the Cat in the Hat would cheer anybody up, so I printed the image I found online onto card stock and went from there. The sentiment is from "Smarty Pants" and is heat embossed with red EP. The card stock is Real Red, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White. The Rich Razzleberry layer was embossed with the "Square Lattice" Impressions Folder. I touched up and colored the image with SU! Markers. Everything except the downloaded image came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

Ribbon Bookmark (TLC305)

Two posts in one day! Well, I'm not getting much else done around here! I wanted to try the Technique Lovers challenge which is to make a ribbon bookmark. It was fun to make this bookmark. I used the 1-1/4" Striped Ribbon. I also used my new Eyelet Circle Nesties. I embellished with Real Red Satin Ribbon and Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon along with the red roses from Michael's. The bugs and sentiments came from "Bugs & Kisses" and they are all embossed with red EP. Thanks again for stopping by!!

CAS Thank U (CAS99)

I haven't posted anything in a couple of days. We drove over to Durham, CA for Christmas with my daughter and her family. We had a great time there. The drive home took too long because of snow over Donner Summit, so we were glad to be home again. I do miss my daughter, her hubby and my three wonderful grand kids there though. Anyway, I'm back at it now!

This card is for the Clean and Simple challenge which is a color challenge. We are to use Wild Wasabi, Kraft (Crumb Cake), Chocolate Chip and White. I made a 4.25" square card using Crumb Cake for the base. I die cut Chocolate Chip using my new Eyelet Square Nesties that I got for Christmas from my daughter. There's another layer of Crumb Cake and then the Whisper White Petal Card Punched piece with the inchie stamped with Wild Wasabi using the "Cute by the Inch" hostess set. The Petal Card piece with the inchie inside is popped up on a Dimensional. Everything is from Stampin' Up! except for the Eyelet Nestie. Thanks for stopping by!!

Filled With Love (1) (WT302)

This will probably be my last post until next week. This is for the Ways To Use It Challenge on SCS which is called, "Make it POP." We are supposed to pop something up on Dimensionals, foam tape, recycled foam, etc. I used Dimensionals to pop up all of the hearts. The hearts were stamped with "Filled With Love" (bundle) and punched out with the Full Heart Punch and Small Heart Punch. The larger heart is matted on Whisper White that was die cut with the Scallop Heart Embosslit. The punched heart on top gets raised a bit because the embosslit leaves embossed polka dots all over the scalloped heart. I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch to finish off that panel. The DSP is from the same Valentine Bundle as the stamp set. Everything is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

TSC Challenge Combo (TSC1224)

This is for the Twisted Sistahs Challenge. First, Shirley (wannabcre8ive) challenged us to make a card with food on it and a border. That was because we hadn't heard from Terri (Brat Cards) about the challenge, and it was her turn. Then, Terri challenged us to make a CAS card with a critter on it. She didn't see that Shirley had already covered the next challenge. That's OK, though. My card is CAS with a critter (reindeer) AND I have food on it (candy) and a border. That covers BOTH challenges! The base card is Pretty in Pink with Whisper White and Real Red. I used a Martha Stewart Punch for the border and added some bling. The image is a digi download from Dustin Pike's blog that I got a year or two ago. I added Crystal Effects to the eyes to make them look like google eyes. The ink is printer ink and I colored with Real Red, Crumb Cake and Basic Black Markers. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. Thanks again for stopping by! I might not be able to post until Sunday or Monday. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

It's Not the Candles (SC312)

This is for the Sketch Challenge on SCS. The base card is Barely Banana (retired), and the patterned card stock is from The Glitter Stack from DCWV. I matted the Whisper White main image panel with Soft Sky (retired). The sentiment is from "Create A Cupcake", and I used the corresponding Cupcake Punch to make my cupcake. I did have a cherry on top of the cupcake, but that red cherry stood out too much, so I cut a flower out of the patterned card stock to top off the cupcake. I used Lavender Lace and Yoyo Yellow (both retired) to make my cupcake and popped it up on a Dimensional. The "Create A Cupcake" set and corresponding punch are in the new Occasions Mini and will be available January 4, 2011. Thanks for stopping by!!

Still Life (MMTPT125)

Here we go again; my camera wants to turn purple into blue! If you look at the post just below this one which is the tutorial for making the tissue flower, you will see the actual color of that flower. This is for Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge. You can find out the whole story here. We were to start out with a blank canvas and go on from there. I must admit, I was in a hurry, and this card did not turn out like I had imagined at all. You win some, you lose some, I guess. This is not exactly my masterpiece as suggested in Cindy's story. The base card is Garden Green, the frame is Lavender Lace and the "canvas" is Whisper White. I made the tissue flower as described in the post below. The flower from "Because I Care" was stamped with Wild Wasabi and SU! Markers and Blender Pen were used. The sponging on the frame and "painting" is Rich Razzleberry. Thanks for stopping by!!

Tissue Flower Tutorial

I was asked how I made the flower on my Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge card. I could have just put a link to a blog where I found a video tutorial, but I did mine slightly differently, so I made a picture tutorial. I hope this helps.

All you will need is some used tissue that you received in a gift bag. The more winkles in it, the better. You will also need the Scallop Circle Punch. Mine is the old style. Another thing you will need is a strip of paper; copy paper is just fine. Mine is about 2" wide. You will also need a brad (not shown).

Fold up about 4" or so of the tissue paper.

Fold again so that there are 4 layers about 2" wide.

Put the copy paper in between the layers. Mine is unfolded just to show the paper. This paper is needed for punching. Without it, your punched pieces of tissue will just be a mess.

This photo shows the paper in between the layers, ready for punching.

Now, I have punched once, giving me 4 punched pieces of tissue and one copy paper. You can toss the copy paper pieces or find another use for them. Do this punching three times, so that you will have 12 punched tissue pieces.

You will only need ten of the pieces. Save the other two for another flower. Let me know what you decide to do with those copy paper pieces.

Put five punched pieces together punching the center of each with a brad as you go along. You could use a punch to punch a hole in the center, especially if you are using anything thicker than tissue.

Holding the ends of the brad in one hand, squish the tissue together layer by layer. In this photo, only the first layer has been squished.

This photo shows the five layers all squished together. Now, poke the ends of the brad into one piece at a time of the next five pieces, squishing as you go.

This photo shows all ten layers squished together. Next, you will open the ends of the brad and then start fluffing the layers out until it looks like a flower.

This photo shows all the layers fluffed out. It's starting to look like a real flower now.

This part is optional. I spritzed the flower with Stampin' Up!s Smooch Spritz, Vanilla Shimmer.

After I spritzed it, I dried it with my heat tool. It's ready to add leaves or just adhere to a project.

I used the new "Build-a-Blossom" stamp set and the coordinating punch that will be available from the new Occasions Mini Catalog on January 4, 2011. That's all there is to it! I will add this flower to my next project and post it here for you to see. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Thanks a Million (Mojo170)

This is for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge. This color combo is not my norm, but I have this whole tablet of DP that my kids gave me several years ago, and I thought I might start making use of it. At the time, this whole tablet of 200 sheets was only $9.88 (they left the price tag on it)! They got it at WalMart. I used Lavender Lace and Whisper White textured card stock to match the DP. I made the flower from used tissue (that's the best kind for this) using the Scallop Circle Punch. I used Nesties to cut out the circles and ovals. Oh, and that flower is not blue; if you look closely in the upper right portion of the flower, you will see that it's actually purple! Cameras!! Sheesh! Thanks for stopping by!!

CASEing Mary (FS202)

Our Featured Stamper for this week is maryrose. I chose to CASE this card from Mary's wonderful gallery. The changes I made are: different stamps, different papers, added ribbon, tied a bow instead of using a snowflake (since mine is not a Christmas card), and I moved the sentiment down a bit. I used the "Pun Fun" stamp set, Early Espresso, Real Red and Whisper White card stocks, Stazon Timber Brown and Early Espresso inks plus the Real Red Marker. I added gingham ribbon as well. I used two DSP's: Pawsitively Prints II (checks) and Brights Collection (stripes). Everything except the ribbon is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Let It Snow (TSC1217,WT301)

The Twisted Sistahs Challenge this week is presented by patsmethers. She challenged us to make a card that is inspired by a Christmas song AND have it all glittered up using anything that sparkles. Well, it's snowing outside right now, so what song do you think I thought of? You're right! "Let It Snow!"

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But, the fire is so delightful,

And, since we've no place to go,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

The Ways To Use It Challenge for this week is to use glitter. Those punched snowflakes are covered with Dazzling Diamonds. So am I, now!! I made my own template out of a thick piece of cork to create the non-embossed oval in the middle of the embossed snowflakes. That's a cool technique. Most people use a wood frame with an oval in the middle. Whatever works! The set is "Big on Christmas" and the colors are Pacific Point and Whisper White. Thanks for stopping by!!

December Workshop Projects

I'm having a workshop tonight. Our first project will be these 3 X 3 gift cards. They will be able to make as many as five per person from six designs. They can color the images or just leave them black and white. The images are all from "Fun & Fast Notes' and "Pun Fun". The DSP is mainly from the Sweet Pea collection. I want them to use up scraps and to see how a little DSP perks up any design.

Our second project will be these nugget tins. They can use up more DSP scraps and make a last minute Christmas gift OR have one on hand for a birthday gift. I got the nugget tins in a bulk buy through a Yahoo Group. I've gotten some cool stuff through that group. All products used to make these projects are from Stampin' Up! although most of the DSP is retired scraps. Thanks for stopping by!!

Shopping Spree (MMTPT124, SC311)

No post yesterday because I was too busy to make any cards. I was editing for my daughter's magazine, and when I finished that, I had to finish my grand kids' Christmas stockings. I still have to get ready for my special workshop tomorrow night plus make tags and wrap gifts, but I'm getting there. My mother has a doctor appointment today, so that will limit my time quite a bit.

This card is for the Teapot Tuesday Challenge (a day late). You'll need to go here to find out the whole story about boisterous Bree and the shopping spree. We were to go to the mall and find the holiday sales. I didn't know these shoes were back in style! I found a BOGO! That's "Buy One Get One." I bought the right shoe and got the left one FREE!! LOL! Hey, I found a purse that matches pretty well, too! This card is also for the Sketch Challenge for today on SCS.

I used some retired card stock and DSP for this because I used a lot of scraps. The base card is Pixie Pink with a layer of Kiwi Kiss that was embossed with the new "Framed Tulips" Impressions Folder (Occasions Mini, available January 4, 2011). I used plenty of bling on the purse and shoes. The sentiment from "Sincere Salutations" was embossed with Red Tinsel EP. This card is going to a teenage girl who is about to undergo a whole year of aggressive chemotherapy plus surgery to remove a tumor in her back. My prayers go with this one as well. Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Bear (CAS97)

The Clean and Simple Challenge for this week is to follow a sketch by Biggan. I used Naturals White for the base card. I wish I had used it for the circle in the middle, too. The bear from "Beary Best Friends" was stamped, water colored, cut out and popped up. The dress was paper pieced to match the matted DSP layer. That was the In-Color Paper Patterns Pack (hostess) Blushing Bride. The DSP was matted on Blushing Bride card stock. The balloon was colored with Pretty In Pink Marker and cut out. I used thread for the string. The sentiment was from "Create A Cupcake". The card is 4.25" square. Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

CASEing Lisa (FS201)

The Featured Stamper this week is lisaadd. I like Lisa's gallery because she has lots of cards that are beautiful, elegant, yet fairly simple. I chose to CASE this card. Her card was a Color Challenge card, but I only used the Melon Mambo with Whisper White. I only changed the layout slightly by moving the sentiment. I used different stamps and different punches. The "Punch Bunch" set is a 2011 Sale-A-Bration set. It's my favorite because it has five stamps that all coordinate with SU! Punches: Owl, Scallop Square, Scallop Circle, Tag and 1" Circle. Sale-A-Bration begins on January 25th. Everything except the EF is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Cotton Candy Inspired (IC262)

I don't know how long it's been since I participated in an Inspiration Challenge, but today is the day, I guess! We were to go to Shabby Apple to find inspiration today. I chose the dress called "Cotton Candy" for my inspiration. The dress is pink and purple, and the model is leaning against a brick wall, so I made my flower out of Pretty In Pink and Rich Razzleberry and used the Tim Holtz Sizzix Impressions Folder called "Bricked." The flower was made with the "Build a Blossom" set and coordinating punch which are in the new Occasions Mini available January 4, 2011. Everything is from Stampin' Up! except for the Impressions Folder. Thanks again for stopping by!!

Bright Birthday (C4C67)

I made this one for the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge which was a sketch this week. I had to do the math for this one! I worked from the 5-3/8" square base card up to the main image panel. I had to keep measuring things along the way so that I had all six squares plus the horizontal panel and they all fit. I used So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla and Whisper White card stocks plus Pawsitively Prints Part 2 DSP. I used the Poppy Parade Ribbon, too. I used "Create a Cupcake" and "Word Play" stamp sets with Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise and So Saffron Inks. The cherries were colored with In-Color Markers and Crystal Effects was added for shine. I used the new Cupcake Punch for the cupcake and cherries. It coordinates with the "Create a Cupcake" stamp set and will be available from the new Occasions Mini on January 4, 2011. Everything is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Jolly Santa (TSC1210)

This week's Twisted Sistahs Challenge was presented by our fearless leader, wannabcre8ive. Shirley just asked us to make a Christmas card WITH a Santa on it. I used the Santa from "Jolliest Time of the Year". I stamped him twice, colored one, cut it out and popped it up over the other stamped image. He's covered with clear EP and the snowballs in the background and the snow beneath his feet have Dazzling Diamonds on them. I used the Norther Flurry Impressions Folder and some wide Real Red Striped Ribbon to make it look festive. Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Pray for Peace (CCEE1049)

The CCEE Stampers Challenge was to take inspiration from the Christmas song, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" I took my inspiration from this verse:

Said the king to the people everywhere

"Listen to what I say

Pray for Peace, people, everywhere

Listen to what I say."

I used Marina Mist and Whisper White card stocks, dry embossed the white panel with "Northern Flurry" Impressions Folder, heat embossed the main image/sentiment, stamped the dove with a light color, cut it out and reversed it so that it would be white. I sponged the edges of the dove a little and popped it up on Dimensionals. Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Flower Power (CC300, SC310)

This card is for two challenges on SCS. First, I used this week's sketch. Most people used designer paper for those two horizontal panels, but I just used embossed card stock. Secondly, I did this week's color challenge. Since it's challenge #300, it's a celebration, and we were to use any one of the previous color combos. I chose #277 which was Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay. Those were the In-colors from last year that got retired. It's not an easy combo to work with either! The base card is Basic Black with a layer of Bermuda Bay and embossed Dusty Durango panels matted in black. In the space between the horizontal panels, I stamped tiny flowers from "Picnic Parade" (retired hostess set). I used two different Impressions Folders to emboss. The main image panel is Whisper White matted on black with flowers stamped on Crushed Curry using the "Fast & Fabulous" (hostess set). I mounted the cut flowers at three different levels using Dimensionals and recycled foam. The three little flowers at the top were punched using the Boho Blossoms and Punch Pack Flower Punches, sponged and embossed. Their centers were done with a black marker. I added Dazzling Diamonds to the main flower centers. Everything used to make this card came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Teapotter Mojo (MMTPT123, Mojo168)

This is for Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge and for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge which I have not done in quite a while. I guess I've just been too busy with everything else. I love the sketch, and it works perfectly with my stamps from Recollections - North Pole. I used Stampin' Up! card stock, DSP, ribbon, markers and Dimensionals. Santa was colored with markers as was the tree. I added Liquid Applique to his fur. I cut him out and popped him up and did the same with the sentiment. I added rhinestones to the sentiment panel.

This is the inside of the card with a greeting and the Christmas stocking that was also colored with SU! Markers. This was a fun card to make, and I hope the family who is getting it enjoys it. Thanks for stopping by!!

Emphasis on the Bow (CAS96)

No posts this past weekend because I was busy shopping, cooking, going to church and the annual church Christmas Party! Hey, my Gluten-free Grasshopper Bars took 3rd Place in the dessert contest! We had fun!
The Clean and Simple challenge is to use bows. I love this wide, striped ribbon from Stampin' Up! It is so easy to work with and makes beautiful bows. The only reason the sentiment panel is matted is because I mounted that sentiment upside down! LOL! I had to re-stamp it on another piece of Whisper White, punch it with the Word Window Punch and mat it on Brushed Gold punched with the Modern Label Punch. The champagne was colored with a Zig-Painty. I sure wish Stampin' Up! still carried those! I'm running out of paint!! Everything used on this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Winter Bears (TSC1203)

This is for the Twisted Sistahs' Challenge. We were to have lavender, blue and a snowflake on our cards. The base card and mat are Bashful Blue, and I water colored with bears using shades of lavenders and blues for their sweaters and scarves. The Whisper White layer was embossed with Stampin' Up!s "Northern Flurry" Impressions Folder which is snowflakes. I added a rhinestone in the middle of the largest snowflake. I also added Dazzling Diamonds to the little snowflakes on the main image, but you can't see it in this photo. The stamp is from the retired "Bear Necessities" set. Everything here is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Relaxed Snowman (CCEE1048, WT299)

This card is for two challenges. First, is the CCEE Stampers Challenge which is to have a snowman on our cards. The second challenge is the Ways To Use It Challenge on SCS which is to use letters. The base card and scalloped mat is Bashful Blue. The white layer is embossed with Stampin' Up!s "Northern Flurry" Impressions Folder. The rectangles were die cut with Nesties. The letters were die cut out of Bashful Blue DSP (retired) using Sizzix "Round-A-Bout" alphabet set. The snowman (Hampton Arts) was colored with Water Color Pencils and blended with a Blender Pen and baby oil. I cut him out and popped him up on a rectangle of Naturals White that I added Crystal Snow all around. The whole panel is also popped up with Dimensionals. Now, I need to get back to work on my Christmas stockings! Thanks for stopping by!!

Christmas Stockings

I didn't have time to do any cards today. I had to go shopping for a few food items plus I bought my last few Christmas gifts. I also had to go to the post office to send off Christmas stockings to my grandchildren in Washington plus a few cards. I don't know what they will do with the card I sent to Linda T. in Texas, but I already mailed it when I found out she went to be with the Lord just this morning. (See Mountain Blue Bird post below) That is so sad. Anyway, I have twelve grandchildren, and I bought them all Christmas stockings and decided to put their names on them. This one is for my grand daughter, Emily, in California. I have one for her brother and sister and I will take them with me when I go there for Christmas. I used alphabet Sizzlits on my big shot to cut out the felt letters. I had to pass it through a few times to get it to cut all the way through the felt, and on most of them I had some trimming to do. It has been taking too much time, but I think they will all like them. I still have several more to do. So, that's why there's no new cards to post! Thanks for stopping by!!