Birthday Wishes

Good morning!  Today's card is a birthday card for a dear friend of mine from highschool.  We live many, many miles apart, but stay connected by sending cards and chatting on Facebook.   I found a couple of challenges to help me with my mojo and I think I nailed it!    I am participating in my first challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  I took a little bit of liberty with the sketch, but I think it works.  

The second challenge that I'm entering the card in is for Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Their challenge this week is a color challenge using Blushing Bride, Real Red, Pool Party, and Pear Pizzazz.  

Here is my creation: 

Card Ingredients:

CS:  Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red, Pool Party, Shimmery White

Ink:  Pool Party, Blushing Bride (marker)

Stamp Set:  Swirls and Curls Verses

Accessories:  Lattice Embossing Folder, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Subtle Designer Button, White Embroidery Floss, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

If you have any questions about my card, please email me at Josee4@aol.com.  Thanks for stopping by today!!!

~ Angie

The Paper Players Challenge 75

Tonight I worked on a card for The Paper Players Challenge # 75.   The object is to create a holiday project using non-holiday stamps or colors. 

I chose to pull out some retired colors and stamp sets for this challenge that I really love and use them to create a holiday card with a non-traditional color palette.  I also applied a couple of techniques to the card - heat embossing and paper piercing.   Here is my entry:

Card Ingredients:

CS:  Pacific Point, Pale Plum, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze

Ink:  Pale Plum, Baja Breeze, Versa Mark

Stamp Sets:  Snow Burst, Lots of Thoughts



Accessories:  heat tool, white embossing powder, circle punches, snowflake brad, kiwi kiss ribbon, paper piercing tool, dimensionals, basic rhinestones, snail adhesive, sticky strip

I hope you enjoyed today's card.  For more inspiration, be sure to check out the design team's samples. 

~ Angie

One More Card For The Pals

I really loved the color challenge this past week at Pals Paper Arts so I whipped up one more card before the collection closes today.    I used the same stamp set, The Sounding Joy, but added some sparkle:  silver embossing on the word Joy and some silver glimmer paper.  

Card Ingredients:

CS:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Specialty Paper:  Silver Glimmer Paper
Stamp Set:  The Sounding Joy
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke
Accessories:  silver embossing powder, heat tool, eyelet border punch, basic pearls, dimensionals, snail adhesive, sponge, pine colored twine

Here is a close up of the silver embossing:

I love silver embossing - especially on Christmas cards!  Just seems to add the right touch to holiday projects. 

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

~ Angie 

Anything But A Card Challenges

Today's project is a Christmas tree ornament that I am entering in two blog challenges.  The first challenge is for Hand Stamped Sentiments HSS Anything But A Card Christmas Ornament Challenge #95 and the second challenge is for Stampin' Royalty's Anything But A Card Challenge #100.   With Christmas decorating fully underway at my house, it's a great time to design an ornament using some of the fabulous stamps and designer series paper that Stampin' Up released this fall.  Here is my creation:

Card Stock:  Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy
DSP:  Frostwood Lodge
Ink: Whisper White (Craft)
Stamp Sets: Tags Till Christmas, Short & Sweet
Accessories:  Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Mini Jingle Bells, Scallop Edge Punch, Ornament Punch, Cherry Cobbler/Whisper White Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive,  Two Tags Die(cut 2), Basic Pearls, Silver Thread

Lots of little details, but I love how it turned out! 

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog today.   Enjoy your day!

~ Angie

A Color Challenge for PPA122

The first week of the month brings a color challenge at Pals Paper Arts.   The design team invited the very talented Angela McKay to their challenge this week as a guest designer.  The challenge is to use Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, and Always Artichoke on a card, scrapbook page, or 3D project.   These colors looks gorgeous together and I invite you to visit the blogs of the design team to get your creative juices flowing.   Here is my entry for the challenge: 

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke

Stamp Set:  The Sounding Joy

Accessories:  Basic Pearls, Antique Brads, Dimensionals, Mono Adhesive, Sponge, Always Artichoke Seam Binding, Scallop Trim Border Punch

That's all for now....I'm off to a wedding reception!

~ Angie

A Card For The Pals - PPA121

Today's card is an entry for PPA121 Challenge - CAS Elements of Style - Pearls.   I kept it simple and added some pearl accents to the tag.  I just love the colors Pool Party and Chocolate Chip together - I think it reminds me of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream!  Yum!

Card Ingredients:

CS:  Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Shimmery White
DSP:  Spice Cake
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Stamp Set:  So Happy For You
Accessories:  Basic Pearls, Scallope Trim Border Punch, Itty Bitty Shape Punch, 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Snail Adhesive, Dimensionals, Spice Cake Designer Button (Pool Party), Crystal Effects



One more picture:

 Hope you enjoyed today's card.   May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

~ Angie

Summertime and the Livin' Is Easy with the Pals

Two posts in one day doesn't happen very often but I decided to whip out another card after drawing inspiration from the photo posted at Pals Paper Arts  this week.  The challenge is to create a card or papercraft project that reminds you of livin' easy in the summer.  The Pals provided this photo to get our imaginations rolling: 



The photo also brought back memories of spending time with my grandparents during the summer on their farm - falling asleep with the windows open and hearing the cool, night breeze whispering through the curtains.  And waking the next morning to birds chirping in the trees.  The Pals photo and Botanical Gazette DSP gave me just enough inspiration to get the ball rolling for this challenge.  I also wanted to try a new card style so I decided to make my first gate fold card!

 

The gate fold card is quite easy, just requires some special scoring for the folds.   The Crumb Cake card base stock measures 4 1/4" by 8 1/2".   The base is scored at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8".   Add DSP and other accessories to the panels and finally a stamp a focal image piece for the middle of the card.  I am going through a vintage phase right now so I usually ink the edges of my cardstock and this card was no exception.  I also added some basic pearls and got out my spritzer tool to complete the card. 

Card Ingredients

CS:  Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip(textured), Marina Mist

DSP:  Botanical Gazette

Ink:  Early Espresso (marker), Walnut Stain (Distressing Ink)

Stamp Set:  All Holidays (retired)

Accessories:  sponge, basic pearsl, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, modern label punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, spritzer tool, dimensionals, mono adhesive, birds and swirls embossing folder, antique brad, scoring tool

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great week!

~ Angie



 

The Paper Players Challenge # 55

Good afternoon everyone!  Today I made a card for The Paper Players Challenge #55.  It's a color challenge using Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, and Baja Breeze.   The easy part was picking a stamp set to use - Strength and Hope.  But I had a little bit of trouble trying to use both Crumb Cake and Basic Gray together so I chose to use Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake as my focal colors and Basic Gray was used on the background stamp underneath the Poppy Parade butterfly, which of course I had to pop off the page with dimensionals!  I love how it turned out! What do you think? 

Card Ingredients:

CS: Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Poppy Parade
Stamp Set:  Strength and Hope
Accessories:  basic pearls, sponges, dimensionals, mono adhesive, paper snips, Stamp-a-ma-jig

If you'd like to play along with The Paper Players, there's still time to create your own project and upload it to their website.   The link will close on Friday, July 22nd at midnight.  As a side note, if you purchase the stamp set, Strength and Hope (Wood Mount # 118100), from Stampin' Up's Summer Mini catalog, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  The campaign ends August 31st.  Click here to order from my website 24/7.

Have a great Sunday!

~ Angie

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #79

This week's Stampin' Royalty challenge is a colour challenge using Pink Pirouette, Pacific Point, and Pear Pizzazz.   This was a very simple card to put together.  I found some DSP with Pacific Point and Pear Pizzazz - it's from the Celebrations collection.   The piece of DSP also had a partial Real Red circle on it so I covered it with a  partial Pink Pirouette circle.  I love using dimensionals so I popped some additional circles off the DSP, including a textured scallop circle.  The marina mist button tied with a white floss bow was the final element to complete the card. 

Card Ingredients:

CS:  Pear Pizzazz, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette
DSP:  Celebrations (retired)
Stamp Set:  So Happy For You
Ink:  Pacific Point
Accessories:  Marina Mist button, dimensionals, snail adhesive, scallop circle punch, 3/4" punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, embroidery floss, Perfect Polkadots textured impressions embossing folder, and Crystal Effects. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

~ Angie

Buttons and A New Baby Girl!

I made today's card for two reasons:  1) for a coworker that just had a baby girl, and 2) for the Hand Stamped Sentiments Button Theme Challenge 74.    I finally had some time to dig in to the new DSP, Cheerful Treat, and thought it would make a perfect card for a new baby!   The card design is loosely based on the template found on page 30 of the July Stampin' Success.  

Card Ingredients:

CS:  Concord Crush, Melon Mambo, Shimmery White, Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake
DSP:  Cheerful Treat
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Concord Crush
Accessories:  Stampin' Up Buttons (from the Neutral, Brights, and Subtles Collections); embroidery floss, Crystal Effects, dimensionals, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Modern Label Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, sponge, and Snail Adhesive

I hope you enjoyed today's card - I love how it turned out! And if you'd like to play along with this week's challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments, you have until Monday at Noon to add your card to the collection.  Please email me at Josee4@aol.com if you have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques that I use. 

Happy Stamping!!!

~ Angie

Christmas in July - The Paper Players Theme Challenge 54

I officially consider myself an addict........of decorating printer trays!   A couple of weeks ago I decided to decorate more trays with Christmas themes and plan on giving them as gifts this Christmas.   So yesterday morning I officially began work on my first vintage Christmas tray. The Paper Players challenge this week is Christmas in July so I will be able to enter my tray in a challenge this week!  Woo hoo! 

 Here are a couple more up-close pictures of the tray:

Tray Ingredients:

7 Gypies Tray
DSP:  Silent Night Collage and Vintage Letters (Karen Foster Design), Noel Dots and Noel Stripes (Bo Bunny)
Ink:  Distress Ink - Walnut Stain, Old Paper, Aged Mahogany, Forest Moss
Accessories:  Distress Stickles - Old Paper, Aged Mahogany, Forest Moss, Clear Rock Candy; Smooch Paint - Siren, Candy Apple, Iluminating Top Coat; Stampin' Up Buttons - Neutral, Regal, and Deck the Halls; Vintage Tag; On Board Essentials (stars) and On Board Simon Letters; Jim Holtz Seasonal Salvage Stickers; Chantilly Trim; Wood Flourishes (ornaments); Stampin' Up! Basic Pearls; Heat Tool; Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon; gold satin ribbon; Noel Candy brad; sponges; linen thread; Zots (small & medium); SU! Distressing Tool; Crystal Effects; and Scotch Quick Drying glue

Thanks for stopping by today and if you have any questions about the vintage Christmas tray, please email me at Josee4@aol.com.

~ Angie

The New Idea Book & Catalog!

The new catalog has arrived and it is spectacular!

Click here to view the current 2011-2012 catalog online.

My first order from the catalog will be arriving in a couple of days and these are some of the things I ordered: 

Stamp Sets:

     Pennant Parade

     Button Buddies

     Best of Everything

     My Friend

     Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess Set)

Designer Series Paper:

     Well Worn

     Cheerful Treat (Hostess Set)

New Colors!

     Calypso Coral- ink, paper, and ruffled ribbon

     Island Indigo - ink, paper and ruffled ribbon

     Lucky Limeade - ink and paper

     Pool Party - ink, paper, and ruffled ribbon

     Wisteria Wonder - ink, paper, and ruffled ribbon

Punches:

     Petite Pennants Builder

In a few days, I'll be happy as a camper playing with the new colors and my new stamp sets! 

~ Angie

     

Nature Walk Challenge Card

Today I whipped up a card for two challenges.  The first challenge is for Pals Paper Arts and their 100th challenge.  Not only can you showcase your favorite "Magnifique Technique" but each member of the design team is giving away some blog candy!   Who doesn't love blog candy?  I love to emboss and spritz so my card incorporates those techniques.  The bird image is embossed in black and I used the spritzer tool with a basic black marker to spritz the very vanilla cardstock after I had embossed and inked the images. 

The second challenge I am entering this card in is for Hand Stamped Sentiments Theme Challenge #73.  Your project needs to create a project using a charm(s).
 

Here is my submission for the challenges:

Card Ingredients:

Cardstock:  basic black, very vanilla
Ink:  basic black (marker), crumb cake, versamark
DSP:  Newsprint
Accessories: trinket key, black embossing powder, spritzer tool, heat tool, linen thread, Bo Bunny gray brad, paper daisy


Thanks for stopping by today!   I'm working on another printer tray this weekend and I should be ready to post it tomorrow.  This one features vintage Christmas images!  :)

~ Angie

PPA99 CAS Element of Style - Stars

Today I tackled an exciting project and decorated a 7 Gypies printer tray with a patriotic theme.    Mixed media projects like printer trays do take a long time to create.  This particular tray from start to finish took 4 1/2 hours!  Whew!  But as you can see, once it is finished it is a beautiful item that can dress up a mantle or a wall for your seasonal decorating.  The Pals Paper Arts (PPA99) challenge this week is to use stars and this project definitely fits the bill! 

Here are two close-ups of the tray:

close-up of the top eight trays

close-up of the bottom 8 trays

The tray definitely has a vintage look to it and I love that! I sponged the edges of the 12 pieces of designer series paper with Walnut Stain Distressing Ink.   I also used a distressing tool to tatter the edges of the other papers that were layered on top of the main tray papers.   Here is a list of the items used to decorate the tray:

7 Gypies Printer Tray

Ink:  Tim Holtz Distressing Ink - Walnut Stain, Old Paper, Fired Brick, Chipped Sapphire

Other Accessories: trinket pin, memo pin, stacked pearl stick pin, twine, chipboard stars and letters (U, S, A), miscellaneous designer paper/tags, vintage buttons, Tim Holtz Seasonal Salvage Stickers, bingo marker, polkadot ribbon, paper twine, Stampin' Up! basic pearls, Distressing Stickles -  Old Paper, Barn Door, Faded Jeans, Zots - small and medium, Stampin' Up! dimensionals, Scotch quick dry adhesive, heat tool

This is a very detailed project so I won't document each step in my blog, but if you'd like more information on this project, please email me at Josee4@aol.com.  I'm also going to enter this project into the HSS Stars and Stripes Theme Challenge this week.  The design team came up with some great ideas to get your mojo started! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

~ Angie

SRC Challenge #74 and The Paper Players #50

I love the first week of the month at Stampin' Royalty - that means a colour challenge!   The challenge this week was to use Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, and Daffodil Delight.  You can create a card, 3D project, scrapbook layout or a My Digital Studio project using the featured colours as your main inspiration.   I'm also submitting this card for The Paper Players Challenge # 50 this week.   Their challenge is a theme challenge - Kind Thanks.  Here is my submission for both challenges: 

Card Ingredients:

CS:  Melon Mambo, Shimmery White, Daffordil Delight, Wild Wasabi

Ink:  Black

Stamp Set:  Oval All

Punches:  Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Heart to Heart

Accessories:  basic pearls,  dimensionals, mini glue dots

Card Measurements:  4 x 4

I love adding shimmery white and basic pearls to a card, it just gives it a little extra pizzazz.   Thanks for stopping by today!

~ Angie

PPA 90

This evening I decided to try my hand at a Blog Challenge once again.  I found a sketch challenge at Pals Paper Arts and decided to highlight the Botanical Gazette DSP.   Margaret Moody created the sketch:

And here is my submission: 





I absolutely adore the Botanical Gazette DSP - my photo doesn't do this piece justice.  It's a beautful shade of Old Olive with polkadots and butterflies.   The sentiment is stamped on a piece of the DSP came from the Oval All stamp set.  For some extra bling, I spritzed the card with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz and added some basic pearls.
 
Card Ingredients:

Stamp Set: Oval All
DSP:  Botanical Gazette
Card Stock:  Early Espresso, So Saffron
Ink: Early Espresso, So Saffron (ink pad and marker), Old Olive (marker)
Accessories:  Oval Scallop Punch, Wide Oval Punch, XL Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Basic Pearls, Coordinating Buttons, Vanilla Shimmer Smooth Spritz, Sponge, Mistletoe Ribbon(retired), Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Glue Dots

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

~ Angie

Nature Walk Cards

I've been on hiatus for awhile - very busy at work and just having a hard time finding my mojo.  I received some new SU! items last week so I got busy this weekend putting together new stamps sets and set out to make a few cards.  I really love the stamp set, Nature Walk, and when paired with the DSP, Botanical Gazette, you can make some stunning projects!   Here are the three cards I created over the weekend:

(I saw this card on Carrie Gaskin's blog, Artistic Avenger, and just had to CASE it!)

I like card # 2 except for the ribbon...I may go back later this week & scrunch it! 



Thanks for stopping by this evening! 

~ Angie