FLAMINGO LOVE FOR THE PAPER PLAYERS

I know I said I'd post cards from my last card class and I will.  The pictures have been uploaded to my computer and need some editing.  In the meantime, I thought I would show you a Valentine card I created this evening.  (Yes, I know - I'm NOT watching the Super Bowl. Gasp!)  The images are from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini set called Valentine Defined.  I've laid out my Valentine stamps on my craft space and have vowed not to use any other sets until I've used all my Valentine sets.  I'm so bad about impulsively buying holiday themed sets and (sigh) not using them.  Ugh!  Do any of you ever do that or am I the only one?  This card was created for the Paper Players Challenge this week.  The theme for this week is "Love is in the Air".  Would you like to play along?  You have until Friday, February 11th at 12:00 Midnight to play.  Check out the Paper Players challenges here.

Okay, so on to the card. 

I have to admit that just adhering my images to a "naked" piece of card stock scares me a bit at the moment.  I've been on a kick of embossing every card base I create lately.  So to calm my "embossing folder" withdrawal, I stamped the Bashful Blue card base with the heart flower do-hickeys (the long stems with the heart images at the tops) and then sponged around the edges.  (Sorry it looks gray instead of blue.  Night time photography during the winter is not such a good thing.)  I still think it's missing something though.

That's it for me this evening.  Thanks for peeking in on me.  Sorry for the long period of no posts.  I've got more posts ready to go.  So, please bare with me.....I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

WHOOOO'S HAVING A BIRTHDAY

I created this card for my cousin, Brent.  It will be a little late getting to him, but it's the thought that counts.  Right?

 I saw this cute idea for a shadow box card on Dawn Griffith's blog and knew that I wanted to try it.  I love her video tutorials.  She makes it so easy for the visual crafter like me.

I really like how my card came together.  Look at that sweet little owl.  This was actually the first time I'd used my Two-Step Owl Punch.  Why I waited so long to use it I'll never know. He reminds of the owl on the Tootsie Roll Pop commercial.  You know the one.  "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?"  I know I'm corny.  Believe me when I say I get it honest.  I also really like Stampin' Up!'s Woodgrain stamp.  Doesn't my card look like the actual grain on a tree?  To create the moon I used the 2 1/2 inch circle punch and also the branch from the Two-Step Bird punch to create the tree branch.  Over all, I was pretty happy with the results of this card.  Looking back I think I would have moved my buttons up a little to hide the edge of my "Happy Birthday" banner.  Looks like I need to pay a little more attention to details.  

I hope your week is sailing along smoothly.  I can't complain too much as I enjoyed a three day weekend with fantastic weather.  Thanks for taking time out of your day to peek in on me.  It really does mean so much to me.

IN A RUT

Does it ever happen to you?  You're feeling really crafty and have all these great ideas in your head and then you sit down to stamp and nothing - nothing at all.  You try your hardest to stamp your thoughts on paper and it doesn't work out like you plan.  That's where I'm at right now. 

My card layout today is one I CASE'd from Mary Fish.  Once again, the Melon Mambo has turned out a freakish pink color.  I'm not overly thrilled by this card.  Perhaps it is because I struggle with pastel color combinations.  Perhaps it's because of the above mentioned problem I seem to be having.  The good news is I will have some more cards to show you in the days ahead.  I'll just have to keep stamping until I get out of this rut!

Thanks for peeking in on me today!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless noted.
Supplies:  Stamps - Punch Potpourri, Trendy Trees (sentiment), En Francais; Paper - Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Whisper White;  Ink - Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo; Accessories - Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Butterfly Extra-Large Punch, 2" x 1 3/8" Oval Extra-Large Punch

It's that time of year again.  Time for the release of the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog.  This year's catalog is jam packed with all new exiting items.  Take the new color renovation color families - beautiful new colors to play with and the new designer series paper packs are just awesome.  If you click on the catalog in my sidebar, you can check out the new catalog.  Believe me when I say, "You're going to love it."  My wish list is almost a mile long.  If you don't currently have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like to order products from the new catalog, check out my website here.  You can order Stampin' Up! products 24/7 and you don't even have to change out of your jammies to do it!

Well, I just ending a wonderful Fancy Folds card class.  Let's just say, I truly enjoy spending time with these awesome women.  They just make the stress of the day melt away.  Thanks ladies for a terrific evening.  And thank you for peeking in on me today!  I'm a little tired and need to hit the hay.  I've been experiencing insomnia this week and I'm sure to crash and burn soon.  Stay tuned - I have pictures to post from this evening's class.  I hope to share them with you this weekend.

PPA38 & OCC Beautiful Butterflies Challenge

Today's card is a result of two challenges.  I decided to play along with Pals Paper Arts PPA38 sketch challenge and Our Creative Corner's Beautiful Butterflies challenge.  I love the simple layout of this sketch and using Stampin' Up!'s square punches make it a breeze to assemble a card such as this one.  When I saw Our Creative Corner's challenge this week, I automatically thought of the Beautiful Wings Embosslits die in the Occassions Mini Catalog.  (You still have until April 30th to purchase Occassions Mini products.  Wink!  Wink!) 

I actually thought I had an original thought this time combining the butterflies with this sketch challenge.  (You that follow my blog know that original ideas from me are sadly few and far between.  I'm a CASEr.  It's sad, but true!)  Imagine my despair when I popped over to Nancy Riley's blog ISTAMP only to find she had the same idea too!  Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm not overly upset about it.  I actually admire the great and wonderful Nancy and to think that I actually was thinking like her was a pure BLISS moment for me!  Although, I have to admit her card is much more wonderful than mine : )

Well, I must get back to the drawing board.  I'm working on a birdhouse card.  I've seen them everywhere and I'm trying to come up with my own pattern for one.  I hope to post it later this week.  Thanks for peeking in on me!  Hope your weekend was a great one!

Supplies:  (All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless noted.)  Stamps - Thank You Kindly; Paper - Sending Love Specialty Paper -  Very Vanilla, Real Red, Chocolate Chip; Ink, - Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, Real Red Classic Ink; Accessories - Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder, Big Shot Machine, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Real Red Corduroy Brad,  Sponge Dauber, Pop Up Glue Dots, Mini Glue Dots, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack; Punches - 1 1/4" Square, 1 3/8" Square

VERY VINTAGE

Okay, so one day I AM going to have an original idea in my head.  Guess what?  Today is not that day.  My card today was inspired by this card created by Ann Schach.  I love the Vintage Vogue stamp set in the Stampin' Up! Occassions Mini.  The best part is, is that this set is going to be in the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog.  Hooray!!!  I love, love, love vintage.  You just can't go wrong with it - know what I mean?

My color combination consists of Basic Gray, Kraft, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry.  I used  a Basic Gray corduroy brad  and some silver brads to jazz things up a bit.  (I'm also trying to quit hoarding and start using all these great products.)  If you look closely you might notice I used the Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch for the leaves of my flower.  The bird's wing in this punch makes excellent leaves.  Gotta love that!  I also pulled out my sponges to give the card a more vintage feel.

I'm glad to see that Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo will be returning as part of Stampin' Up!'s color collection in July.  I have to admit that the idea of retiring some of the current Stampin' Up! colors terrified me at first, but I am embracing the change.  I may be embracing the change slowly, but I am embracing it.  I actually think I'm going to be excited about it after I absorb it.

Well, that's it for me today.  I'm heading to Bible Study in a couple hours.  We're studying about the role of a family and the component that every individual plays in a family.  It's good stuff and really makes you think about your role in the family.  Well, that and it makes me realize that I need to step up to the plate a little more and try harder to keep my family a spiritual family.  Thanks for peeking in on me today!  Have a beautiful evening blogging friends!