CCMC182

I'm down to a few scraps of my Mocha Morning Specialty designer series paper, but that's all I needed for the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge this week. 

Faith in Nature is a Hostess only stamp set and I have seen so many lovely cards made with that set, but I just hadn't used that set yet.  I knew it would be perfect with the colors in Mocha Morning DSP.  My greeting was too big to use the pennant shape. I watercolored the pear with an Aqua Painter and the lids of my More Mustard and Pear Pizzazz ink pads.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Faith in Nature (Hostess only)
Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Mocha Morning Specialty DSP
Ink - Early Espresso, More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede
Accessories - Scallop Trim Border punch, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Early Espresso 3/8" taffeta ribbon

Monkey Challenge 88

I found a new site for challenges today, A La Card Monkey. 

The idea was an image with a ribbon and a thinking of  you greeting.  Here's my sympathy card.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Love and Sympathy, En Francais
Cardstock - Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Ink - Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz and Wisteria Wonder markers
Supplies - Wisteria Wonder 3/8" ruffled ribbon, Extra large oval punch, Stampin'  Dimensionals, Stampin' sponges

SSC 235

I got my challenge today from Stamping 411.  Since I was out of commision for a while, I'm getting in on the tail end of these challenges.   I really liked this layout, so I tried 2 different cards.

The first card, I followed pretty closely.  The second is a variation. I hadn't used the Daring Adventure stamp set yet and have been wanting to try it.  I love the Well Worn DSP that I used on both cards.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Have a Seat, Not So Seriously, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess only)
Cardstock - Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Very Vanilly, Well Worn DSP
Ink - Soft Suede
Accessories - 3/8" Early Espresso Tafetta ribbon, Large oval and Scallop oval punches, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, and Soft Suede markers, Signo white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' sponges.  (The gift bag is cut out and placed on the bench with dimensionals.)

The bag is so cute in real life, but it just doesn't show up on the computer!

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Daring Adventure
Cardstock - River Rock, Early Espresso, Well Worn DSP
Ink - River Rock, Early Espresso
Accessories - Color Spritzer Tool, Early Espresso Marker, Stampin' Dimensionals

Yes, that's Early Espresso cardstock that it torn.  The torn parts look like Chocolate Chip, but if you look closely, you can see the two tones.

Do you have a stamp set that you bought but haven't used yet? (I know I'm not the only one who does that :) )I challenge you to make a card with it soon!  Have some fun!  Even share it with me!

I'm Back!!

I've been cruising the Caribbean and getting ready for Christmas, but I'm back, caught up, and ready to stamp!! I thought I'd start with the color challenge with Create with Connie and Mary.

I have worked with the stars in brushed silver and brushed gold, but decided to try them with the siler glimmer to make a New Year's card.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Word Play, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Staz On Black
Cardstock - Brushed Silver, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
Accessories - Star punch (retired, but you can use Stars #2 die for the Big Shot)
Accessories - Stampin' Dimensionals, 3/4" square punch ( to make the pennant cut on end of banner)

CCMC178 Concord Crush

Todays card is one I made from the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge.

I love the richness of Concord Crush and adding white ribbon to it made it just beautiful!

Supplies:
Stamp sets -  Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock - Concord Crush, Whisper White, In Color DSP Patterns Pack (hostess)
Ink - Concord Crush
Accessories - 3/8" Whisper White taffeta ribbon, 5/8" Whisper White satin ribbon, Word window and modern label punches, White button from Neutrals Button collection, Stampin' dimensionals

cQc113 Serene Snowflakes

The challenge I tried today was from Colour Q.  I love all of Jim Shore's figurines so I wanted to play along.

After trying several different stamp sets, I settled on Serene Snowflakes.  I love making blue Christmas cards when I'm using any snowflakes, so I'm not surprised I chose that set. I embossed my snowflakes and used the embossed resist technique, but I have to say the finished product didn't look as good as I thought it would. The 3 blue colors were too close to the same color and I didn't get the definiton I wanted.  Or maybe it was just the way I blended them.  But we all make cards we're not really crazy about, so I decided to post this one anyway!!

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Serene Snowflakes, Teeny Tiny Messages
Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Marina Mist
Ink -  Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Whisper White Craft
Accessories - White Embossing powder, Marina Mist 5/8" satin ribbon, Modern label, word window, and large oval punches, Stampin' sponges

TSSC202 Not So Seriously #2

The Monday Lunchtime Sketch at Technostamper was a fun and easy one this week.

I used the stamp set Not So Seriously again.  I just love these dogs! And being the "top dog" for the day can be used for lots of things, birthdays not being the least.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Not So Seriously, Woodgrain
Cardstock - Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Neutrals Patterns DSP Paper Stack
Ink - Basic Black, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories - Crumb Cake 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Modern Label and Large oval punch, Stampin' Up! markers,  Stampin' sponge

Try making a card with this sketch!!  You'll  love it!

CCMC177 Color Challenge

I worked off the color challenge from Create with Connie and Mary site to make my card for today.  I had a lot of clothes/outfits in the 70's and 80's that used this Navy/Limeade combination, so I decided the dress from the Not So Seriously set was a good place to start.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Not So Seriously
Cardstock - Night of Navy, Lucky Limeade, River Rock, and Whisper White
Accessories - Stampin' Up! markers, Eyelet border punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

SSC231 Artistic Etchings

When I saw this sketch, I thought of En Francais immediately. So sticking with the French theme, I got out my Artistic Etchings stamp set. This is NOT my "go to" set. Actually, I think it is only the second time I used it.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - En Francais, Artistic Etchings
Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Night of Navy
Ink - Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy
Accessories - Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Very Vanilla 3/8" taffeta ribbon, Large oval and Curly label punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

I made another one with a Christmas theme.  I just love this designer paper and only had a small piece of it left; enough to make 2 cards, so thought I'd give it a try.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock - Whisper White, Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler
Ink - Cherry Cobbler
Accessories - Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Quilted Cherry Cobbler ribbon, Word Window, Modern Label, and Large Oval punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

Zoo Review - Lion

Here's another card made with the Zoo Review set.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Zoo Review, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess only)
Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Well Worn Designer Series Paper
Ink - Early Espresso Craft ink
Accessories - Clear embossing powder, Linen Thread, Cutter Kit (for distressing the Crumb Cake cardstock)

Black Friday - Zoo Review Zebra

I went out shopping on Black Friday, but not early. Didn't go until late afternoon. And this is my Black Friday card. Had to have black on it!

Supplies:
Stamp Set - Zoo Review, Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess only)
Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Ink - Basic Black
Accessories - Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1 1/4: Basic Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' dimensionals

Vellum Undercoloring

This is another card CASEd from Linda Heller's Stamping School videos. Stamp the tall snowman from Snow Much Fun on a piece of vellum with Black Staz On ink. Let it dry a couple of minutes so it doesn't smear. Then turn the vellum over and color on the underside of the vellum with Stampin' Up! markers. After it dries, attach it to a piece of Whisper White cardstock by using mini glue dots, positioning the glue dots where you colored so it won't show through the vellum.  I used vellum cardstock, not vellum paper.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Snow Much Fun, Holiday Happiness
Cardstock - Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, White Vellum Cardstock
Ink - Black Staz On, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories - Stampin' Up! markers, Petals-a-Plenty Textured impressions Embossing folder (or you can use Snow Burst), Basic Rhinestones, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, 1 1/4" Basic Black Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots

For heavily embossed cardstock, I recommend using Tombo Multipurpose Liquid Glue (#110755) insead of SNAIL. It holds much better.

Winter Post TSSC201

Today's card is stamped with the Winter Post stamp set.  This set is part of the Online Extravaganza and is on sale for 50% off the normal catalog price.  Stamp a greeting from Many Merry Messages, which is also 50% off, and you're set to go! To take advantage of those savings, you must order online. You can get to my website by clicking on the Shop Now button.

The design for today's card came from Technostampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch.

This is my card using Winter Post and Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Supplie:
Stamp Sets - Winter Post
Cardstock - Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory, Mocha Morning Specialty DSP
Ink - Soft Suede
Accessories - 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin'  Dimensionals


If you like this set, here is another sample I made, CASing the card from Leena Girsa.

The recipe card holder I posted earlier on Nov. 7, was also made with Winter Post.

Holiday Extravaganza

Stampin' Up is offering some hot holiday deals,but you can only get them by ordering online, so visit my online store at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampwithdianecaron/catalogs

SSC 230 Button Buddies #3

Todays card is from the Saturday Sketch Challenge at Stamping 411.

I have been working with the Button Buddies set and thought it also would work well with this layout.  When I started choosing my colors and DSP, I became a little melancholy. Everything about this card reminded me of my grandmother and I remembered the feeling of sitting in her home, with the wallpaper on the walls and all the knick-knacks sitting around.  So, this card's for you Grandma!!

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock - Marina Mist, Whisper White, Subtles Designer Paper Pad
Ink - Marina Mist
Accessories - Stampin' Up! markers, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Subltles Designer Buttons, Whisper White 3/8" taffeta ribbon, Word Window and Modern Label punch, White Baker's twine, Stampin' sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals

Now, it's almost 3:00 on Sunday afternoon, and the final NASCAR race of the season is getting ready to start. So I'm off to the family room, getting ready to root my heart out for Tony Stewart!  He has a chance to win the Sprint Cup Championship today, and I sure hope he can pull it off!!  GO TONY!!

Button Buddies #2

I came up with a card that matched the challenge sketch on Red Hot Stampers.

I used the snails and made a belated birthday card.

I love them!!

Supplies:
Stamp set - Button Buddies, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess-2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog)
Cardstock - Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
Ink - Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight
Accessories - Lace Ribbon Border punch, Extra-Large oval punch, Lots of Tags Sizzlits Die Sets,Subtles Designer Buttons,  Stampin' sponge, Crochet thread (not Stampin' Up!)

Button Buddies

I started out trying to make a card for the Red Hot Stampers Sketch Challenge.

I wanted to use the snowman from Button Buddies, and I didn't like it in the circle punches I tried.  I put him in the oval and I liked it, but it needed to be matted.  The Designer Frames embossing folder looked really good behind the extra large oval punch, but I couldn't get 3 across the card, so I ditched the design and make something else.  I'll try the snails from Button Buddies on a card later, using this sketch.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Frostwood Lodge DSP
Ink - Basic Black
Accessories - Cherry Cobbler and Pumpkin Pie markers, Extra Large oval punch, Designer Frames and Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Modern Label and Word Window punches, Signo white gel pen, Neutrals Button collection, white baker's twine, glue dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanksgiving Card

I made a card that fit 2 challenges at once. The Stampin' Up! Only challenge was to create a Thanksgiving card. The ColourQ Challenge was to use the colors Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz, and Crumb Cake.  I love stamping flowers and/or leaves on the First Edition DSP, so that was the basis for my Thanksgiving card.

Supplies:
Stamp sets - Gently Falling, Falling Leaves
Cardstock - Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, First Edition Specialty DSP
Ink - Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories - Crumb Cake #/8" Tafetta ribbon, Neutrals brad collection, Stampin' sponge

TSSC200 Snow Much Fun in the Country

I saw this challenge and wanted to try the short snowman from Snow Much Fun with a "country" edge. I am not a good water colorer at all, but if you are, imagine how cute this would be.  Remember, my ideas are just springboards for you!

Supplies:
Stamps - Snow Much Fun, Holiday Happiness, Sanded
Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Watercolor paper
Ink - Black Staz On, Cherry Cobbler, (Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede, for watercoloring)
Accessories - 3/8" Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon,  1 3/8" circle punch, Circles #2 die, cutter kit, Neutrals brad collection ,Signo white gel pen,

SSC 229 Sympathy Card

Today I participated in the SSC 229 challenge on Stamping 411.

I chose to make a sympathy card using the Build a Blossom stamp set and punch.

Supplies:
Stamps - Build a Blossom, Love & Sympathy
Cardstock - Pink Pirouette, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette DSP (Subtles Stack)
Ink - Pink Pirouette, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories - Blossom Petals Builder punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, White Baker's Twine

Christmas Lodge

This card was CASEd from Jill Hilliard.  I loved the style and altered it very little.

Supplies:
Stamps - Christmas Lodge, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Netting
Cardstock - Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler,Very Vanilla
Ink- Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler,Crumb Cake
Accessories - 3/8"Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon, Victoria Crochet Trim 5/8",Finial PressTextured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1 3/8 " circle punch, Designer Label Punch (retired), stampin' sponge

Color Challenge CCMC175

I participated in a Color Challenge with Create with Connie and Mary.  My card is an inspiration from one of Linda Heller's videos at Stamping School.  It's amazing what happens to a card when you change the colors!

Supplies:
Stamps - French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock - More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory
Ink - More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Crumb Cake,
Accessories - Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cutter Kit,Stampin' Dimensionals, 3/8" Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Sponge,
Technique - Clear Block Stamping (using the "C" block), Rock and Roll technique

Wine Bottle Tags

Here is a fun way to give a gift that comes in a bottle. It doesn't have to be wine. 

I made one for Christmas and one for New Years. They are simple to make and you can use any stamps, punches, or embellishments that you have.  You can make them for any occasion, too, not just the holidays.

The size of the tag is 3" x 7".  Score at 2".  Using a 1 1/4" circle punch, punch the circle closer to the edge that to the fold. Decorate and embellish however you'd like.  If you want directions about what materials I used to decorate mine, email me and I'd be happy to give that to you.

Now go try to make one!!

Snow Much Fun

The challenge for the week on Stamping 411 immediately brought to mind the snowball with the bird on it.

So I got out my Snow Much Fun set and made this card. I just love the tall snowman!

Supplies:
Stamps - Snow Much Fun
Cardstock - Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink - Staz On Black
Accessories - SU markers, Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1 3/8" circle punch, Circles #2 die, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

"Work from your stash" challenge

Andrea Walford's Make over Monday Challenge was a Christmas card using a die cut snowflake. She challenges you to take the ideas you find on the internet and make it your own by using what you already own.  I have several snowflakes, but I didn't really want or need another Christmas card. Instead, I chose the Thanksgiving theme.

Supplies: 
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso,Mocha Morning Specialty DSP
Ink - Early Espresso classic
Accessories - Leaves #2 die,Spider Web and Square Lattice textured impressions folder, Linen thread, 3/8" Soft Suede taffeta ribbon,Word Window punch, Modern Label punch

Have some fun and work from your stash! You'll be amazed at what you can do.
Happy Stamping!