Cadbury Egg Rose

This is the rose that Mindy taught us the other night when we met with fellow demonstrators. Isn't it so pretty? I thought if I made a bunch of these they would look so beautiful in a little white basket to represent Spring! And you know whats inside? A Cadbury Egg! We punched several pieces using the Ornament Punch and separated the paper. We then attached them to the Cadbury egg and formed the petals out to look like a real rose. Then we sponged the petals to give it some dept using Pretty in Pink Classic Ink. To finish it off we attached the Little Leaves which were cut using the Big Shot Machine.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi

Ink: Pretty in Pink

March Stamp Club Hostess Gift

For this round of Stamp Club I wanted to do something nice for the girls so I decided each month I would make a special gift especially for the Hostess. This month I made a tea light holder. I found the glass at the dollar store and decided to dress it up! I stamped the butterfly from the Strength & Hope Stamp Set, which will be available in the new Summer Mini Catalog, onto a Window Sheet with Brown Staz On. I adhered this to the glass using Glue Dots along with the Scallop Border Punched Early Espresso  trim along the top. I finished it off by tying Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon and Early Espresso 1/8 Taffeta Ribbon around the base and attached a Vintage Brad using another Glue Dot. This was so easy to make and could be modified to match any decor, what do you think?

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Stamps:Strength & Hope (Summer Mini Catalog)

Cardstock: Early Espresso

Ink: Brown Staz On 

MOJO 184: Uncharted Territory



For this weeks Mojo Monday sketch I decided to make a masculine card. I know it's a little early for Father's Day but I was looking through my cards this last weekend and realized I don't have any masculine cards. The stamp set I chose was Uncharted Territory which I stamped in Black Staz On and water colored. I used the Pinking Hearts Punch to create the stitching look on the sides and the Scallop Trim Border Punch along the bottom. For the background I used my Big Shot  and the Square Lattice Embossing folder to create a subtle background. I tied Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding ribbon around the top. I made a tag for the Happy Father's Day using the Something to Celebrate Hostess Stamp Set. To finish it off I made a medallion using the 1" Circle Punch and one of the punches from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Stamps: Uncharted Territory, Something to Celebrate (Hostess, Occasions Mini)

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Cherry Cobble, Daffadile Delight, Naturals White

Ink: Black Staz On, Night of Navy

Blog Candy!!!!!

Oh, gosh, what a day! It was a long Monday so how about some Blog Candy to put a happy ending to this day! How would you like to win this cute little notebook I made with the Vintage Vogue stamp set. All you have to do is leave me a comment by Friday April 1st and then I will randomly pick the new owner of this handmade gift next week! By the way, I received some suggestions for my photos so tell me what you think, are they any better?

Help! My Pictures Look Horrible!

So, as I'm sure you've noticed my pictures are hard to see and are never consistent. Some are too light, most are too dark, and they always seem to have a tint to them. I am using a regular point and shoot digital camera that has minor focus ability. It has different functions but I seem to get the best photos with the "HSi" function so that is what I always use. I made a light box so that I would have a consistent background, however it doesn't have a light. I usually take the photos in the evening under the very bright kitchen lights. I'm not very knowledgeable about photography, but I would really love for you to be able to see just how beautiful these cards are. I am going to try taking pictures outside during the day as well as using a black background to see if I can get rid of the tint. Please provide a comment below or feel free to email me with and ideas or suggestions. I will be working to improve this this weekend and will have some WONDERFUL new cards for you next week!  

Monthly 6th Swaps

I participate in a monthly swap in which I mail cards out to five people between the US and Canada and in turn I get back five cards and ideas each month. It's called a monthly "6th" Swap because there are six of us total and we mail them out by the 6th of each month. Today I thought I would share some of the recent cards I received with you.

This card was created by Jeanne Boulay and uses the Twisted Easel technique. Isn't that creative!

Here is a card from Debbie Cunningham using the Faux Patina Embossing technique. I was thinking of teaching this to my Stamp Club members this month. What do you all think?

This lovely card was made by Rose Friesen using the fabulous Bliss Stamp Set from the Sale A Bration Catalog.

Here is another lovely card using the Bliss Stamp Set made by Linda Fischer. This is my favorite set from Sale A Bration this year!

And this last one was made by Robin Cosca and though it's kind of hard to see in the photo, she did a wonderful technique that makes the background look like silk! I look forward to these cards every month so keep em' coming ladies! 

MOJO 183 - Because I Care

I decided to take another try at the Mojo Monday sketch challange so here is the card I came up with for MOJO 183.

I decided to go with the Because I Care Hostess Set and stamped the flower using the Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze, and Not Quite Navy Markers. I layered this onto some Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog. The little flowers you see on the DSP are stamped using the long flower stamp and Not Quite Navy Classic Ink stamped directly onto the DSP. For the sentiment I stamped the thank you using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and layered it using the 1 1/4" & 1 3/8 Circle Punches along with the Scallop Punch. To finish it off I tied two bows using the Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, a little bow of Linen thread, and lastly a Baja Breeze Rose from the Vintage Flower Adornments with a Glue Dot (which are also in the Occasions Mini Catalog). Hope you like it!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Stamps: Because I Care (Hostess)

Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

 

Last Week for Early Bird Registration - Pigments 2011 Spring Stamp Camp!

 

 

Just a reminder that this is the last week to sign up and get the Early Bird price of $29 for the Pigments 2011 Spring Stamp Camp! As an added Bonus I will draw a name from all my customers that sign up for a chance to win a special hand made gift!

 

Announcing the 2nd annual Pigments Spring Stamp Camp! As always we will combine creative minds for an afternoon of fun, crafting, and creativity! Our stamp camp will be on April 3, 1:00-5:00 (note that it is one hour longer!) There will be 6 different projects ranging from cards to gifts that would be great for Easter, Mother's day, birthdays, or Teacher's gifts. The cost for the event is $29.00 if you register by March 25 and $34.00 if you register after this date. This includes all projects AND $10.00 off your order placed that day! There will be stamping with table and chairs, snacks and beverages (including a delicious cupcake display), samples to take pictures of (bring your camera), and PRIZES!!!!!! There will also be "Retired Rubber" for sale so bring some cash for those stamps set that you just love and get them at a discount! If you would like to register for this event or would like more information please click here!

Just Believe Potted Flowers

Here is a swap I received from my upline Brenda. The flowers are from the Just Believe Stamp Set. Isn't the pot so cleaver? Its made using the Ornament Punch, turning it upside down and cutting off the tip! She embellished it using the Basic Pearls. The border is done using the new Tulips Border Embossing Folder from the Occasions Mini Catalog. She finished it off with the Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Stamps: Just Believe

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant

Happy Birthday Ice Cream Cone

The is one of the cards that we made in my February Stamp Club. The ice cream cone is made using the new Petal Cone Bigz Die from the Occasions Mini Catalog. We ran Soft Suade cardstock throught the Bigshot Machine with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder to acheive the cone look. We used the In Color Designer Series Paper (hostess) for the Ice cream and the Real Red Glimmer Paper for the cherry on top! Would you like to attend one of our stamp club meetings to see what it's all about? Your welcome to attend once as a guest, if your interested contact me today!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Stamp Set: Bring on the Cake

Cardstock: Soft Suade, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red Classic

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today I wanted to share a card with you that I received from my nephew, Dylan. Isn't it so cute? Dylan participates with his mom in my stamp club and is quite fond of card making and Stampin' Up! For our February swap the theme was Spring, Easter, or St. Patrick's Day. Dylan wanted to incorporate all of those into his card so he made a egg shaped head for his face, clovers are stamped for the eyes (St. Patrick's Day) and inside is a tree for Spring! How creative Dylan, thank you!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Easter Greetings for Mojo Monday # 182

I thought it would be fun to start participating in some sketch challenges and I found my first one; Mojo Monday #182 .

Once again I used my favorite stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog which is Easter Blossoms. I've been having visions of using this set on Crumb Cake with the white gel pen so this was my chance! The background is layered with the  Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper.I added a layer of Regal Rose and Crumb Cake and stamped the branch image onto the Crumb Cake using Always Artichoke Classic Ink. This is where I added a little bit of the White Gel Pen to make it look like the little blossoms you see on all the trees in the Spring! I gathered the Always Artichoke Seam Binding using Sticky Strip and embellished it with the Boho Blossoms and an Antique Brad. I just love the Vintage look! Of course I had to finish it off and make it dainty using the Basic Pearls all around the scallop. Don't you just love it?

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

Stamps: Easter Blossoms

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Regal Rose

Ink: Always Artichoke, River Rock

St Patrick's Clover

Here is the card I made as my swap for the month of March. I used the Large Heart Punch to create the clover. The heart were ran through the Big Shot Machine using a texture plate to give them a little more detail. I outlined the clover in Gold Glass Glitter and free handed cut the stem. To give the background a little detail I ran the Whisper White Cardstock  through the Big Shot Machine using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder. I just love this subtle look on the Whisper White! I'm trying to use my border punches more so I used the Scallop Trim Boarder Punch on the Whisper White as well. To finish the card I added the Pear Pizazz 1/2" Poly Stitched Ribbon.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! 24/7

My First Cake!

So, as if I don't already have plenty of things going on, I decided to sign up for a cake decorating class. The first class was last week and our homework was to bake two 8" rounds and prepare butter cream frosting to bring to class so that we can decorate the cake with the assistance of the instructor. Well, I couldn't wait so I decided to try and decorate it with the tools that she taught us in class.

Here are two 8" rounds of white cake. I'm really not a baker so I thought it would probably be best to stick with a box mix until I master the decorating, then I will try making different recipes from scratch. 

I decided to fill the cake with chocolate pudding which the instructor motioned was one of the easiest fillings. Once again the pudding is not homemade, but rather a pudding cup made by Jello!

Once filled I added the second layer. I think next time I may try to make a torte and have 3 layers of filling. 

Here is my cake after I frosted it. It's not perfect but I think it is pretty good for my first try. The frosting was a little too thick and wasn't as smooth as it should have been. But it taste great so that's what matters, right?

And here is my finished product, isn't it so pretty! We only learned how to use a star tip to make stars so I was limited to how I could decorate it, but I think this is comparable to what you would find in the store. I think this is pretty good for my first try! We will be cutting into it tonight after dinner so hopefully it's as good as it looks!

While I was at it being a baker I decided to bake some white bread for Texas Toast (BBQ dinner) and French Toast (breakfast). Here is my dough....

Before the second rise.

After the second rise.

The finished product!

Well thanks for stopping by. I will have some cards for you tomorrow (gasp)! I know, I've been absent for a while but I will continue to try to be better about that!

Your Invited: Pigments Spring Stamp Camp!

Announcing the 2nd annual Pigments Spring Stamp Camp! As always we will combine creative minds for an afternoon of fun, crafting, and creativity! Our stamp camp will be on April 3, 1:00-5:00 (note that it is one hour longer!) There will be 6 different projects ranging from cards to gifts that would be great for Easter, Mother's day, birthdays, or Teacher's gifts. The cost for the event is $29.00 if you register by March 25 and $34.00 if you register after this date. This includes all projects AND $10.00 off your order placed that day! There will be stamping with table and chairs, snacks and beverages (including a delicious cupcake display), samples to take pictures of (bring your camera), and PRIZES!!!!!! There will also be "Retired Rubber" for sale so bring some cash for those stamps set that you just love and get them at a discount! If you would like to register for this event or would like more information please click here!