Just can't get enough!

I just can't get enough of the nautical theme - and what a better theme for some Father's Day cards for the Operation Write Home Father's Day challenge I stamped up 6 ships and then designed these in no time.

The acrylic block background works so well with the boat stamp. It can look like clouds or even a stormy sky. Stamp Set: Sail Away (from the summer mini catalog - available May 1) Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Nautical Expedition DSP (from the summer mini catalog)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue

Embellishment: Baker's Twine (from the summer mini catalog)

Punches: Tag punch - both sizes, Crop-a-dile

On the Cherry Cobbler paper for this one I used Versamark and a small star from the Seeing Stars stamp set to make a random design.

This uses a sheet of the Nautical Expedition DSP. Next time I will use Crumb Cake ink as the background for the stamped image to try to blend it a little more with the DSP coloring. The ribbon is a retired Real Red grosgrain.

And another sheet of the Nautical Expedition DSP with the retired Real Red ribbon. After tearing the DSP I rubbed some Early Espresso ink along the edge.

Another sheet of the Nautical Expedition DSP was used here. This one has several knots scattered throughout the design so it was fairly simple to line one up so you could see it on the card.

And for this one I tore the edges of the Whisper White and rolled them using the side of the paper piercing tool. I did the faux suede technique on the Real Red and then tore along the bottom edge. I did stamp Happy Father's Day using the Frost White shimmer paint. It shows up much better in real life.

Hope you have enjoyed my little sneak preview. I will most likely be planning a share for some items in the summer mini - probably a combination of the baker's twine and the DSP. Watch for details after May 1.

New toys and an old favorite!

I finally got some stampin' time - have been wanting to try this idea for over a year and finally got around to it.



Retired Stamp Set: Branch Out
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Crop-a-dile, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch
Card Stock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi Embellishments: Large Eyelet, Linen Thread


And this is using some of my new products - available in the summer mini. One of the great things about being a demonstrator is getting to order new products before they are available to everyone else!
Stamp Set: Sail Away (from the summer mini catalog)
Card Stock: Night of Navy, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue
Embellishment: Baker's Twine (from the summer mini catalog)



Another using the same colors and stamp set. This also uses Early Espresso ink nad some retired buttons that I had. I wanted the buttons to be raised so I could wrap the twine under them so I put in some large brads and then used a mini glue dot to adhere the button to the brad. It worked well.



And a little different color scheme.
Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Brocade Blue
Buttons: Retired

I love the Sail Away stamp! I will be making more of these for birthdays, get well, retirement - the possibilities are endless !

Technique Tuesday - Acrylic Block Background

I have been playing with using the acrylic blocks to create a background for the Technique Tuesday in April (April 19) - here are some of my experiments. Which do you like?

Card stock: Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake

Stamp Set: Fast and Fabulous, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ribbon and Button - Retired

Card stock: Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake

Stamp Set: Fast and Fabulous, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ribbon and Button - Retired

Card Stock: So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Stamp Set: Elements of Style

Ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist

Ribbon: Retired

Card Stock: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bashful Blue, Cajun Craze

Stamp Set: Herb Expressions

Card Stock: Very Vanilla

Ink: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron

Stamp Set: Herb Expression

Card Stock: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi

Stamp Set: Itty Bitty Bits

Ribbon: Retired

Card Stock: So Saffron, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Soft Suede

Ribbon: Retired

For the two clubs in March I 'consolidated' some what for the cards. This was the masculine card that we made

Card Stock: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Stamp Sets: Extreme Elements, Look Who's Turning

Ink:Soft Suede, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Tools: Tag Punches, both sizes, 1/16 hole punch

Embellishment: Hemp Twine


The next two cards were using some of the same paper but I changed them up a little because I get bored making the same card for more than one workshop :-)




Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz, Not Quite Navy, Rose Red, Baja Breeze, Springtime Vintage DSP

Tools: Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Big Shot, Framed Tulip Embossing Folder

Stamp Set: I {Heart} Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red, Not Quite Navy

Embellishment: Crochet Trim



These uses a lot of the same items - in addition the Punch Bunch stamp set.




Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Rose Red

Stamp Set: Elements of Style, Very Vintage Stampin Wheel

Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz ink refill

Embellishment: Pear Pizzazz seam binding, Fleurette, Adornment




This little bunny is cute and can be made into a little treat by inserting a Pixie Stix candy through the holes.




Card Stock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink DSP

Ink: Pink Pirouette

Tools: 1 3/8 inch circle, Medium and small oval, Heart to Heart, Trio scallop circle and regular hole punches, Crop-a-dile Ribbon -1/4 inch grosgrain Pretty in Pink

Wellness Challenge

I am participating in a Wellness Challenge at work and part of that is developing an exercise program - 30 minutes at least 3 times a week. I can't convince them that Card Making is an aerobic sport so have started riding the stationary bike. I have decided to take a Virtual Bike Ride- tracking how many miles I have ridden by how far I would be traveling on a cross-country journey. If you would like to go along, you can do so at Mary's Virtual Ride

Tulip Border Embossing Folder

I just love the new tulip border embossing folder - have you tried it? And did you know you can make your border fit smaller sizes of card stock so you aren't stuck using it only on a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card fronts? I have been playing with it and here are some of my creations - one of these will be a card for club this weekend. I'm not telling which one :-)

Stamp Set - Fast and Fabulous
Ink - Rose Red, Crumb Cake
Card Stock- Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze,Very Vanilla
Embellishment - Rose Red Seam Binding


Card Stock - Springtime Vintage, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Stamp Set - Punch Bunch
Embellishment - Springtime Vintage Big Designer Buttons


Card Stock - Crumb Cake, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Springtime Vintage, Very Vanilla
Embellishment - Crochet Trim, Springtime Vintage Bid Designer Buttons
Stamp Set - Thoughts and Prayers
Ink- Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake

Card Stock - Crumb Cake, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Springtime Vintage
Embellishment - Crochet Trim


Card Stock - Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage
Embellishment - Crochet Trim
Stamp Set - Punch Bunch

Oh My! Where have I been?

I can't believe my last post was February 1- where has the time gone??? It's mid-March and the signs of spring are all around. Can't wait for the flowers to start blooming and the days to get longer.

March's Technique Tuesday is Plaid Stamping. You can use any stamp with a solid or almost solid image and come up with some cute, one-of-a-kind cards. Don't miss out - Technique Tuesday has been moved to the 3rd Tuesday of the month so March 15th is the date. I start at 6:30 p.m. and you can drop in any time before 8:30 p.m. It doesn't take long - and for the $5 fee you get the printed instructions, a sample, a card using the technique and a sheet protector for a 3 ring binder so you can store all your techniques together and refer to them often.

This is the card we are going to make on March 15th. It could be a birthday, thinking of you, or even a get well card.
Card Stock - Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight
Inks - Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Old Olive
Stamp Set - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Playful Pieces
Embellishments - Pearl Jewels

Here is another one of those cute little flowers. The ribbon on this is from the Ice Cream Parlor Sale-a-bration set. Hurry - Sale-a-bration ends March 31at! You don't want to miss out!

Card Stock- Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink - Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, Regal Rose
Stamp Set - I {Heart} Hearts


And this one uses one a stamp that is not completely solid but the plaid affect still works.
Card Stock - Whisper White, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Encore Gold
Stamp Set: Delightful Decorations, Christmas Greetings