Wanna Scoop?

I thought the "Mouthwatering" stamp set was the most wonderful stamp set for summer and just had to have it.  HAD to, I tell you. 

And then, it sat there.

And sat there.

And sat there.

And sat there.  Collecting dust. 

Holy smokes!  How could a stamp set with so much promise be so hard to use?!? 

I finally settled on stamping the image on a scrap of white and cutting it out--I figured I could do something with that, right?

So, I carefully colored, stamped and cut out the ice cream cones, and they just sat there. 

And sat there.

And sat there.

And sat there.

Are you sensing a theme here? :oP

Then, I began playing around with using the acrylic blocks to stamp blocks of color for a focal point, and that was it!  Perfect! 

I finished with the sentiment stamped underneath and popped the ice cream up on dimensionals.  :o)

Whew!  I did it!

For this card, I had the sentiment already cut and mounted lying on my desktop so I used it instead. 

Either way, it makes for a fun card.  :o)

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets:  "Four You", "Mouthwatering", "Curly Cute"
*Inks: Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, Garden Green, Real Red, Baked Brown Sugar
*Paper: White card stock, whisper white, Coastal Cabana
*Accessories: dimensionals

The Color Challenge Colors Continue

Oh my goodness!! I'm so excited I can't stand it!  This card was selected as the Headliner over at the Paper Players!  Thank you SO much, Sandy!! :o)  I'm honored!

And, speaking of that color challenge, I may have mentioned I found it very inspiring.  I may have even submitted a couple of cards.  I may have also mentioned I was playing around with scraps on my desktop. 

But, did I mention I couldn't stop making cards in Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush and Pear Pizzazz?  I think I have a problem...;o)

As I may have previously mentioned, I had stamped and die cut quite a few flowers (and leaves!) from the "Secret Garden" stamp set, and I was determined to use them!  I picked up the flower and leaves, fussed with it for a bit, and voila! another card was born. :oP

I ran a piece of card stock through my Big Shot using a swirly Cuttlebug embossing folder, mounted it on the Crisp Cantaloupe, stamped the sentiment and created a banner, and used a scrap of the Pear Pizzazz I had already embossed for another banner.  I got everything placed where I wanted it and adhered it. 

There's nothing quite like a card that just comes together in a snap. :o)  Sometimes it's a struggle (I have a few of those I'll be sharing in the coming days), and other times it almost seems they make themselves.

This card (as well as so many of the others I have recently posted) will be joining a stack of others on their way to Jaydee for her OWH card drive.  I don't know about you guys, but I typically create two of any card I make (I figure I'm already cutting the card stock so I might as well), meaning this way I can keep one and send one.  Or, in the case of OWH, I'll just send them all. :o)

And, because I believe in keeping it real, I had just cleaned up the desktop (I've been crafting like a fiend for days), and found my paper worktop is just a wee smidge uh...used.  That's the word for it, right?  Can you identify the stamp sets I've been working with? ;o)

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Secret Garden", "Curly Cute"
*Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pear Pizzazz, Strawberry Slush
*Papers: Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, Pear Pizzazz, Crisp Cantaloupe
*Accessories: swirly embossing folder, Woodgrain embossing folder, "Secret Garden" framelits

Of Crafting with DSP

Sometimes when I'm making cards, the Designer Series Paper (DSP) calls to me more than a stamp.  There is a stamp that coordinates with this gorgeous DSP, but I was more interested in using the paper. 

Okay, time for the truth here: Lissie and I had been crafting all day and into the evening and we were both fatiguing.  However, we knew our time to make cards together was dwindling, so we were determined to keep going.  When we get together, I ask what she wants to work on/with, and we had a list a mile long.  We were both utterly in love with the "Eastern Elegance" DSP and decided we wanted to make cards showcasing it.  Since we were both on overload at this point in the evening, and since the paper really is so beautiful, I decided we would let the paper do all the work for us.  I created three cards using the DSP and am so happy every time I look at them. :o)

There are so many different ways to use DSP and to highlight it.   With this last card, I very carefully used my 3/4" square punch, centering the parts of the paper I wanted.  I assure, this was NOT a random punching. ;o)

(Obviously I must have been in a hurry when I snapped the photos since they aren't even straight...:sigh:)

There are so many different ways to us DSP, I'm so glad we were tired that evening that I couldn't think of anything else to do.  ;o)
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These cards use:

*Papers: "Eastern Elegance" DSP, Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana
*Inks: Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana
*Stamp Sets: "Sweet Essentials", "Curly Cute"
*Accessories: pearls, square punch, scalloped edge punch

--Rach

Another Mosaic Madness CASE

First off, a shout out to the fine ladies at The Paper Players, Jaydee in particular, for selecting this card as their "Headliner" for their challenge last week.  Thank you SO much!!

Lissie found this card when searching for ideas for using "Mosaic Madness".  While I adored the card at once--especially the colors used!--I wanted to make it my own and create a card with a more summery feel.

This card was a royal pain in the patootie to make!  Sure, it looks simple enough, but stamping that main panel was painful and fiddly and never could have happened without grid paper and my stamp-a-ma-jig.  Eesh!  I'm good at eyeballing when it comes to cooking, putting together bulletin boards and estimating if an article of clothing is going to fit my girlies.  I'm not good at eyeballing when it comes to stamping and alignment of images...

I began by eyeballing (okay, I lied a bit up there) and drawing lines across both the horizontal and vertical midway points to not only find the center, but to also help me line up the images and space them.

I began by stamping the Calypso Coral images first and then added the Sahara Sand images after.  It doesn't look as if it would take long...yeah.

And, here's the inside.  It's simple, but effective. :o)

I do love this card, but I'm not sure I would be willing to make another anytime soon. :oP

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This card uses:

*Inks: Sahara Sand, Calypso Coral
*Papers: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Calypso Coral, vellum
*Stamp Set: "Mosaic Madness", "Curly Cute"
*Accessories: dimensionals, pearls, mosaic punch

--Rach

Lissie's Mosaic Madness Birthday Card

So, if it's not obvious yet (it will be soon, I promise), I'm in love with this stamp set.  It's incredibly versatile and easy to use, and heck, it's fun.  And, what's not to love about coordinating stamp sets, punches and embossing folders?!?

Combine "Mosaic Madness" with the new In Colors which I utterly adore, and I was as happy as a pig in mud when I was making this card. :o)

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This card uses:

*Inks: Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana
*Papers: Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana
*Stamp Sets: "Mosaic Madness", "Curly Cute"
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals

Paul's Birthday Card and a Color Challenge

Lissie's here, and when Lissie's visiting, cards are being made--many, many cards. :o) It turns out this extrovert loves company when making cards and the mojo is aflowin'.

Paul's birthday is coming up soon and I needed a card. (Actually, July is a crazy birthday month for our family--six birthdays!) Masculine cards are so tough for me so I went poking around to see if I could find inspiration on the challenge sites.  I found a color challenge over at The Paper Players and thought I would give it a go.

I markered the cupcakes and fussy-cut them out.  I then adhered them using dimensionals to give it some pop.  And, speaking of "pop", I knew I wanted the sentiment to shine so I stamped and backed it with Crushed Curry.  I'm really loving white space at the moment (I think it's the heat, too much stuff just makes me feel even hotter...) so I left the rest of the card as is. 

Well...except for those little cherries on top.  No, they're NOT part of the challenge, but the cupcakes were practically begging for them.  I used my copics to color a medium sized pearl for each and adhered them. 

I know the banner overhangs the edge, but I plan on having Lissie hand-deliver it, so no worries.  :o)

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This card uses:

*Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, red Copic markers
*Stamp Sets: "Patterned Occasions", "Curly Cute"
*Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals

--Rach

A Graduation Card for Bev

My dear friend Beverly finished her associate's degree and graduated yesterday.  I'm so proud of her as it's not easy to be a full time student and a full time mom.  Even though I'm no fan of graduations (honestly, is there anything more soul-draining and hiney numbing?), I was determined to go to hers because I adore her. 

I wanted to create an elegant card for her and thought the color challenge over at The Paper Players would fit the bill. 

I've been playing around with my "Mosaic Madness" stamp set and thought it too would be perfect. And, I'm a sucker for any stamp that works with a punch. ;o)  I popped them up on dimensionals, with the Gumball Green one mounted taller than the other two. 

I wanted something clean and simple because Bev's a CAS kinda gal. But, just because it's a CAS card doesn't mean I couldn't bling it up a bit.  I used pearls in the center of the mosaics, and to dot the "i" in "congratulations".

And, because I wanted that "congratulations" to POP (as if the punches didn't already draw the eye), I scored two lines to set it off. 

And, of course, I had to doll up the inside a bit.  I have to say, I do love using markers to make two-tone (or more!) images.  I just wish I had been able to order the new 2013-2015 In Colors markers early as well as the stamp pads and paper (I'm SO in love with the new colors!!)...

This is such a fun and versatile stamp set I have yet to run out of ideas with it! 

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Mosaic Madness", "Curly Cute"
*Inks: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
*Paper: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals

--Rach

Buttons Buddy Birthday

I mentioned the slew of January birthdays we have and here's yet another card for one of them.  I can't help myself, I just adore the Button Buddies piggy with a birthday hat on his head. :o) He's such a cheerful little guy. :o)

Since my nephew's favorite color is green I went with Wild Wasabi for the base.  I mimicked the polka dots on the hat with the Swiss dots embossed on the white layer.  I also figure no birthday hat is complete without some pom pom trim and the Daffodil Delight picked up the yellow in the hat's dots. :o)

I finished off the inside with the same sentiment I used on Lydie's birthday card and the same cute little cupcake from Warm Words. :o)

--Rach

This card uses:
*Stamp Sets: Button Buddies, Curly Cute, Friendly Phrases, Warm Words
*Papers: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Cutie Pie DSP (retired)
*Inks: Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Real Red
*Accessories: Daffodil Delight pom pom trim

Curly Cute Cupcakes

January is a month of many birthdays around these parts.  It's our second heaviest month behind July.  I've been busily making birthday cards and trying to make sure each one is unique and suited to the recipient. 

This card is for my niece, Lydia. I chose the DSP with polka dots to mimic the dots on the cupcakes.  I'll come right out and admit I'm a sucker for polka dots.  :o)

I found the sketch at the Paper Players, and it's such a versatile sketch you'll be seeing it a couple more times. ;o)

And, the inside. 

I got it addressed, stamped and mailed just in time for Lydie's birthday. Whew!

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: Darling Dots, Curly Cute, Friendly Phrases
*Paper: Bella Rose DSP (retired), Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
*Inks: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Wild Wasabi and Pretty in Pink markers, Pretty in Pink and Riding Hood Red stamp pads

Watercoloring for APP91

In keeping with my New Year's goals and in need of stress relief I turned to the Paper Players challenge this week which was to create a CAS card using watercoloring.  I find coloring--watercoloring in particular--so soothing.  It's a go-to activity for me when I'm in need of calming and peace.  In fact, when I was teaching, if the class was particularly unruly, I would quickly come up with some activity that required coloring (I would join in!) and before I knew it, we were all calm once more.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks around here and this challenge was just what I needed. 

I hate that that old adage about death coming in threes seems to be true because I found I was once more in need of a sympathy card.  I pulled out my "Easter Blossoms" stamp set, inked up using brown Staz-On and went to work.  I used Rich Razzleberry on the buds and blooms as it reminded me of the gorgeous red bud tree in my front yard.

Although you can't see it in the photo, the vanilla base is stamped with the same branch using VersaMark.  I wanted to include a sentiment (I don't always) but wanted the branch to stand out so I stamped the message on vellum.

And, because I was still in need of a bit of calm, AND I needed a birthday card for Miss Beanie who turned two yesterday, I made a second card (so I once more have two submissions for the challenge--I can't seem to stop at only one these days...):

I love the "Greeting Card Kids"--I find them utterly adorable!--and knew this little sweetie would make a perfect card for my little sweetie. :o)  I had a blast coloring her as Lissie and I watched "Pride and Prejudice" (the good version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy :dreamy sigh:).  Talk about soothing--watercoloring and Mr. Darcy?  I was in heaven. ;o)

I cut the little darlin' out using my oval Nesties, added a very sweet sentiment from "Curly Cute" and I was finished.

I'm grateful to the Paper Players for this week's challenge--it helped me find my calm center once more.  Thanks, ladies! :o)

Birthday Buttons for PP87

Since I've been getting back into the groove of things (not as much as Lissie, but getting there) and getting into the offudio to stamp and play, I've been having fun getting back into participating in challenges.  The Paper Players have a fun one this week and I couldn't wait to play along.  Nance's challenge was to create a CAS ("clean and simple") card using buttons.

Now, I have to confess I was a bit stymied at first--I didn't want to just throw something on the paper and simply glue buttons on...that would NEVER work.  I also wanted to challenge myself not to use my go-to "Button Buddies".  Since I have a friend's birthday coming up soon, I decided I needed to make a birthday card, and then, since she's my friend, my mind jumped to my "Season of Friendship" stamp set.  Perfect!

I used a combination of Chocolate Chip and Early Espresso on the trunk, and then had to figure out what to do with the leaves.  I decided I wanted a spring-y look as I'm surrounded with early spring leaves right now.  I pulled out my Certainly Celery and rock and rolled that with some Wild Wasabi.

Then, I had to figure out the buttons.  I knew I didn't have enough to do all one color, and since I have a bit of a Roy G Biv "thing" (for lack of a better word, more like an OCD), I pulled out my Brights buttons and got to work. 

I wanted to put the sentiment on the front, but didn't want to clutter up the image by stamping over it.  I was intrigued by Nance's use of vellum for her sentiment on her button card and decided to give it a go.  It was perfect!

I added a bit of scoring behind the tree on the card base and that was it--card finished!

Now, let's just hope Dani loves it as much as I. :o)

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Season of Friendship", "Curly Cute"
*Inks: Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry
*Paper: Whisper White
*Accessories: Assorted Brights buttons

--Rach

P.S.  Don't forget to scroll a little further to see Liss's card for the day. :o)

Variations on a Theme

Not only did I need a birthday card, I'm also trying to get some cards together for my bloggy friend Jaydee's Operation Write Home card drive. 

I confess, I've not had much time to stamp of late, but am going to get together as many cards as I can--one is better than none, right? 

So, I pulled out my new "Pennant Parade" stamp set and matching punch and got to work.  I liked it so much I made two other versions, and, not as pleased with the last one as I thought I would be, I'm going to create yet another version. :o)

This card uses:
*Stamp Sets: "Pennant Parade", "Curly Cute", "So Happy for You"
*Papers: Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
*Inks: Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette
*Accessories: Baker's Twine

Same card, only I used the new In-Colors "Pool Party" and "Island Indigo"

And, here I used Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point, and Rich Razzleberry. 

I think these are just delightful and will make wonderful cards for soldiers to send to their children. :o)

Birthday Butterflies

Grandma's birthday is Sunday and I wanted to create a card I knew she would love.  Grandma's favorite color is pink and she has always loved butterflies--more so now that we've lost Hannah, as she (like us) views them as a symbol of the Monkey.

So, all I had to do was combine pink and butterflies. No problem!  I remembered how much I had enjoyed working with a similar color combination on a Paper Players challenge and pulled out Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla and went to work.

"Just Believe" is an incredibly beautiful, feminine set and lent itself perfectly to meet my needs.  I knew the "Beautiful Wings" embosslits would coordinate wonderfully with the set as well. 

I love it when a card just comes together. :o) 

Because it's a birthday card for a very special lady, I decided to bling it up a bit.  I used Dazzling Diamonds on the flowers and butterflies, and then went a step further, adding pearls as well.

I just knew "Curly Cute" would be the perfect sentiment to accompany such a pretty card.  :o)

And, you know me, I had to add a little something to the inside.  I mimicked the scalloping on the outside and added a butterfly, Dazzling Diamonds and pearls as well.  I left plenty of space to write a personal message to Grandma.

This card uses:
Stamp Sets: "Just Believe", "Curly Cute"
Papers: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery textured card stock
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Scallop edge punch, "Beautiful Wings" embosslit, Dazzling Diamonds, pearls

It's such a sweet card I just want to prop it up and look at it all day. :oP  I can't WAIT to give it to Grandma. :o)

--Rach

P.S.  I'm sure I must have CASE'd this from somewhere, but for the life of me I can't remember where...

Well...

 

I had thought Lissie was going to post today, otherwise I would have posted this sooner.  Liss is busy doing her "real" job today and unable to post.  Thank goodness I had something. :oP My sister-in-law's birthday is tomorrow.  Dana's favorite color is black and I had originally thought to do a tuxedo card.  But, I looked at this image, and I just knew I had to color those little falling leaves.  I wanted something unobtrusive and felt Blushing Bride fit the bill. 

Well, once I had that little pop of color, I knew I had to have it in a couple of other places as well.  :o)

I have to say I'm thoroughly enjoying the clear mount stamps.  In this instance, it allowed me to get the images stamped fairly uniformly without the aid of the SAMJ. 

 

I had resisted purchasing any more sentiments (I have SO many already), but saw "Curly Cute" and had to have them.  :sigh:  I have no willpower.  :oS  But, look what a sweet inside it makes! 

This card uses:

Stamp Sets: "Funky Four", "Curly Cute"

Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White, Blushing Bride

Inks: Basic Black, Blushing Bride

Accessories: 5/8" black satin ribbon, scallop trim border punch

Let's hope she likes it!

--Rach