Positively in Love with Positive Thoughts

Today was a busy day in our house.  We got word that our daughter will be getting her braces on in the fall, we continued our project of turning my daughter's "girlie" bike into my son's Iron Man bike (I might have to scrapbook this project, because it's awesome), and played a board game with my family.  I still found some time to craft.  I found a great sketch over a the Paper Craft Crew Challenge:

I decided to play with the Positive Thoughts stamp set along with the Nature's Thoughts Dies.  I also found a great color combination of Pool Party, Magenta Madness and Granny Apple Green:

Here is my card:

I started with a Magenta Madness card base and layered on some Magenta Madness DSP.  I used my Stitched Oval and Scallop oval dies.  For my background paper slivers, I used some silver glimmer paper and a strip of Pool Party with a die cut layered on top.  My stamped images are all from Positive Thoughts stamped in my color palette.  I finished my card off with some retired Granny Apple Green glimmer dots.  Here is a close up:

Here is a look inside using more stamps and another strip of the Magenta Madness DSP:

The Positive Thoughts stamp set is so versatile.  I love it using a subtle, soft color palette as well as a bright one like today.  Magenta Madness is clearly my favorite new in color!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Hang In There!

Tomorrow is Earth Day, so over at SSI we are featuring nature inspired cards.  Thankfully Stampin' Up! has just about every flower in stamp form as well as several other trees and landscapes.  This worked out well for me because I wanted to make a card for someone I work with who I think could use a little something to make her smile: 

I knew I wanted to use the You've Got This stamp set...I just love this flower!  I started off wanting to do a watercolor emboss resist, but then I realized that I didn't have any watercolor paper.  How did that happen?  So instead I just used some Shimmery White, stamped the outline in Basic Black and then painted with the Aqua Painters.  I filled the center of the flower with some Wink of Stella Gold Glitter.  I knew I wanted to use Watermelon Wonder but decided to pair it with Wild Wasabi.  I just love the Petal Burst embossing folder, I am so glad it will be around next year.  I sponged some Wild Wasabi on a lace doily .  I will confess that the sentiment is positioned to cover up a mistake...I had a little watercolor mishap.  I think it works though.  I really do love this Watermelon Wonder!  It is bright but you can tame it by pairing with other colors.  

For more nature inspired cards, head back over to SSI.   

April Inkspiration Challenge

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday weekend with your family and friends.  The next few weeks are going to be quite busy in our house so crafting time will be rare but much needed for an escape.  Today I am sharing with you a card featured over at SSI for the Inkspiration Challenge.  Check out this month's image:

When I selected this image I had a very distinct stamp set in mind.  Here is my card:

I combined the Sheltering Tree stamp set with the Beautiful You set along with some rain drops from Weather Together.  With these bold images and bright colors. I just needed some ink and some card stock for my card.  I did use some Stampin' Write Markers for the sentiment and to color my little lady in.  

Head over to SSI for more cards inspired by this rainy day image.  And then take some time to create and upload yours!

Quick and Easy with High Tide

One of my favorite new stamp sets in the Occasions Catalog is High Tide.  I love the nautical images and the wonderful sentiments.  The variety of images makes it easy to set a perfect seaside scene.  And you can make a perfect card with just ink and paper.  Here is a quick one I did for my Open House this past weekend:

I started with an Island Indigo card base and used the water image to do some tone on tone stamping for the back ground.  I used a strip of the Tip Top Taupe envelope paper to layer underneath my stamped part.  I used Pear Pizzazz for the grassy area and I stamped the light house in Tip Top Taupe and Calypso Coral.  The sentiment is stamped in Island Indigo.  This card came together very easily because of all the great images in the stamp set.  

Thanks for visiting my page today.  For more Quick and Easy cards, head over to SSI where that is our focus today!

Beautiful You and Watercolor Pencils

So the Beautiful You stamp set is...well Beautiful!  It has three lovely ladies and lots of great sentiments.  There are also little extra stamps to add some quick color to the stamped images of the ladies.  But of course I had to use the AMAZING NEW Watercolor pencils with this great stamp set.  

In fact, just to let you know how easy this was, I packed the Beautiful You stamp set and a clear block, the Basic Black Archival Ink along with the Watercolor Pencils and a pack of the Notecards in my son's swim bag.  See he recently graduated from his Parent Child Class to going to a group class.  This means I have 30 minutes to myself while he is swimming.  It is great!  So I stamped and colored while he had his class.  Here is what I made:

I also took a blender pen to blend the colors in a little bit more once I got home.  I actually had a little girl come up to me while I was coloring and we chatted about how we loved to color.  It really is a great stress relief!  The list of products I used is below.  I just realized that it costs a little bit over $50 (without the Blender Pens) which means you could buy all these products now and qualify for a Sale-A-Bration item.  And with these pencils, you should totally get the stamp set Hey Chick or the Inside the Lines DSP.  

For more projects using the Watercolor Pencils, head over to SSI!

November Color Challenge

Another Monday is here and so is another fabulous challenge over at SSI.  This week we have a color challenge for you.  I was in major Christmas Card-making mode so these colors had me take a break from that.  Check it out:

This one had me stumped for a bit.  Then I grabbed a bundle that I bought but hadn't really used to much.  Here is my card:

This is definitely more of a clean and simple card...very different from my usual over embellished and crazy style.  But I really like how it turned out.  I used a Smoky Slate card base and layered on bit of Island Indigo, then some Whisper White.  I used the Weather Toegether bundle to create a cute little rainy day scene with Smoky Slate clouds, Island Indigo rain drops and a cute Tangerine Tango Umbrella.  That fun print is from the Designer Series Patterns pack in the brights collection.  I did add a touch of silver underneath the umbrella that might be hard to see.  Here is a peek inside:  

Another umbrella stamped on the inside with the sentiment stamped in Island Indigo.  I think I could make a whole pack of these cards perfect to have on hand to send to someone who needs a pick me up!  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Be sure to check out the other designer's projects using these colors and then create your own and upload it over at SSI.  

Sympathy Cards

Sympathy cards are the kinds that I hate to have to make but unfortunately I always need.  Here is one I created using the You've Got This stamp set along with some of my favorite In Colors.

I stamped the flower on some Shimmery White paper and water colored it using Flirty Flamingo and Mint Macaron.  I added some Gold Wink of Stella in the middle of the flower as well.  I fussy cut the flower and layered it on one of the new doilies.  I did some background stamping and added a few banners and some extra enamel dots and pearls.  

Thanks so much for looking.  Head over to SSI for more Sympathy cards.    

  

May Color Challenge

It's the first Monday of the month so that means we have a new color challenge for you over at SSI. Check it out:

So I never use Always Artichoke, so this challenge was a great excuse for me to bust out that ink pad.  Here is my card:

I made this card at a crop with some friends and they thought I was truly insane.  It definitely took some time which might be hard to tell from just looking at it.  I used the Rose Wonder thinlits three times; one for the Wisteria Wonder rose, one for the Always Artichoke leaves and one for the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper (sponged in Wisteria Wonder) insides of the rose.  It was a little puzzle to put together, but honestly, I felt like it was totally worth it.  I added some additional collage stamping with Timeless Textures and instead of putting the leaves back inside, I just sponged the ink inside them.  Here is the inside:  

The Rose Wonder Bundle will be in the next catalog, but that great bundle price will not be, so get it now while it is 15% off.  Thanks so much for looking at my card today.  I can't wait to see what you can create with these three colors!  Head over to SSI to upload your project today!

Pedal Pusher

Man, I have been so busy today!  I have one last card to share and its using the Pedal Pusher stamp set, a new Sale-A-Bration offering.  Honestly this stamp set is not really my style, but that made me want to get it more to stretch myself creatively.  And of course I ended up loving it.  I decided to use it with the sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday and the color challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.  Here are both challenges:  

Cute, right?  The colors are from the Have A Cuppa DSP stack so I knew that would be perfect to have on hand.  Here is my card:

It's official, I am now in love with this stamp set.  It was so easy to use too.  Here is a close up of the bike:

It might be hard to see, but I added some of the glitter from the clear Wink of Stella Pen on the spokes and the chain.  I used my Stampin' Write markers to color in the bike.  

Here is the inside.  I had a strip of the Bermuda Bay DSP, so I punched a heart border and added it inside to tie it all together.  Below is a complete supply list!  Thanks so much for checking out my card today!  

Everything Eleanor and Botanical Blooms

I was able to steal some time to sneak in my craft room this weekend and work on some challenges.  I found two that I thought would work well together, a color challenge from Just Add Ink and the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  Check them out: 

Here is my card:

I decided to use the stamp set Everything Eleanor.  It's been forever since it has seen some ink and I love that flower, or those flowers I should say.  I layered them up.  There wasn't any leaves in the set so I got out the Botanical Blooms and Builder stamps and dies.  I just used the Pool Party in the stamped scroll background, a matte for the center panel and for my sentiment which is from Greatest Greetings.  I added glitter with some Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper and some clear Wink of Stella glitter on the flower.  Thanks for looking!

November Inkspiration Challenge

It is the third Monday of the month so we have a new challenge for you over at SSI.  Take a look at this great fall inspired image:

With all the excitement of the holidays coming and the school projects plus a super fun Stampin' Up! event that I got to attend, I didn't have too much time to create for this challenge.  I did throw together a quick and easy card with a new set I got when all the stamps were 15% off.  Check it out: 

I just took a Crumb Cake notecard and stamped that beautiful tree in some regal fall colors inspired by that photo.  There aren't too many leaves left on our trees now, but all the colors this year were so pretty.  Thanks for checking out my card.  Let's see what you can make now!  Upload your creation over at SSI!

Hope

I saw the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch and I really wanted to play along.  Here it is:

I had tried a few different things and I wasn't really happy with where I was going.  And then I came up with a perfect idea:

The word Hope is embossed with some (retired) Blushing Bride embossing powder.  The hearts come from Pictogram Punches and Something to Say.  I really like how this turned out.  It is simple and pretty.  Thanks so much for looking!

Ornate Tag Topper Punch

I love the weekly deals that Stampin' Up! has.  They always include some product that has been on my must have list.  The Ornate Tag Topper Punch was definitely one of those products.  I knew it would be cute to make tags for the upcoming holiday season but I also thought I could use it for tags on cards as well.  Here is a card I made using the punch on both the top and bottom and then using twine to tie the tag on.  I love how this turned out!  

Don't you just love those rich colors of the Bohemian DSP?  This card was so easy to make.  Stampin' Up! always makes it easy with great coordinating products.  Here is a complete supply list:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thanks so much for looking.  Be sure to check back with SSI for more inspiration using the Tag Topper Punches!  

CASE-ing the Annual Catalog

Stampin' Up! puts out some great catalogs.  They are just showing their products, they are showing great samples on how to use the fabulous products.  Today at SSI we are CASEing (Copy And Share Everything) samples from the Annual Catalog. I drew my inspiration from a card on page 46.  Here is a picture of it:

Instead of Pictogram Punches I decided to use a hostess set that I got awhile ago but still hadn't seen some ink.  Here is my card:

I love how by changing the stamp set and color scheme, I was able to create a completely different card.  I stamped the flower from the stamp set in a lighter shade of pink under the sentiment.  I also added some Dazzling Details to the butterfly that I fussy cut.   Be sure to check out the other CASE'd creations over at SSI.  Here is a supply list:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Watercoloring

Today I have some fun watercolor and watercolor inspired cards to share with you.  I had purchased the Aqua Painters a long time ago and finally broke them out for this post.  And I will be using them again because they are so fun!   And I got to use some fun new stamp sets as well.  

Here I used From Land to Sea and By the Tide along with And Many More for the sentiment.  That turtle is so cute and I had so much fun coloring him.  I used my favorite color Mint Macaron along with Tip Top Taupe.  I decided to add some Night of Navy accents as well.  I love how this card turned out.  I made a few to swap with at Convention!!!!

I used that beautiful flower from You've Got This and colored it with Watermelon Wonder and Mint Macaron.  I added some of that Watermelon Wonder Lace on the side as well.  And this doesn't show as well in the photograph but I used my two way glue pen and then sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds on the flower.  Ooooo sparkly!

And finally here is my water color inspired card.  I used the Watercolor Wash background in Pool Party and added the sentiment from Watercolor Words in Tip Top Taupe.  Then in Calypso Coral, I stamped and fussy cut some seahorses from By the Tide.  I finished the card off with some Linen Thread and the White Perfect Accents.  This was a fun card to make!

So are you into watercoloring now?  Whether you actually watercolor with the Aqua Painters or Blender Pens or just use some of the fabulous watercolor inspired stamps, the sky is the limit...or should I say the ocean?  Thanks for looking!

Anything Goes SSI Blog Hop

Welcome to July's SSI Blog Hop.  We have a wonderful variety of projects for you today because ANYTHING GOES with this Blog Hop!  Today I am featuring projects using our fabulous white vellum.  This specialty paper can add a fun and elegant touch to any project and you can use it in so many ways.  

As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 10 on the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop - Jennifer at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

First up I have an easy way to use vellum, layer it over a particularly busy piece of DSP to make a bold pattern a little more subtle.  

Here I used a piece of DSP from the Pretty Petals stack, layered on the vellum and added the large butterfly from the Butterfly Thinlits.  Of course I needed to add pearl to the body.  The sentiment comes from the And Many More stamp set.

Next up I tried my hand at embossing a piece of vellum.

My color palette here is Bermuda Bay, Tangerine Tango and Smoky Slate.  I embossed the vellum with the Boho Chic embossing folder and used the Watercolor Words set for the flowers and sentiment.  I added a little bit of Bermuda Bay thick twine under the sentiment.  I really do love how the vellum looks embossed!

Next up I used a small piece of vellum and heat embossed a sentiment on it.

Here I used some Pacific Point card stock and a piece of DSP from the Pretty Petals stack.  The sentiment comes from Friendly Wishes.  And how about that cute flower?  I was inspired by my fellow design team member Carrie!  I added an antique brad to the center of my Mint Macaron flower!

And finally I have little bits of vellum used from punches.

Apparently I was in a butterfly mood.  The DSP is also from Pretty Petals and its layered on Mint Macaron and Calypso Coral.  The sentiment is from Butterfly Basics and I added the net stamp in Mint Macaron over the Pacific Point text.  I punched the butterflies in card stock and vellum and then layered them and finished them off with some rhinestones!

Thanks so much for looking at my projects!  If you don't have any vellum, now you see a few cool ways to use it.  And if you have it, what are you waiting for?  Time to use it to add a special touch to your creations!  

Up next is Diana at Stampin Fun with Diana.  I can't wait to see what she has in store for us.   

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Jenny at Jenny G Paper Crafts
2. Diana at Stampin Fun with Diana
3. Leanne at Literally My Joy
4. Kim at Stamping with Kim
5. Darcy at Dj's Stampin Place
6. Tobe at The Craft Sea
7. Melissa at Stamp Doc
8. Donna at Organized Chaos
9. Bree at Craft-Somnia Momma
10. Jennifer at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life

Sprinkles of Life

I loved last year's Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp set.  I thought the flamingo was so fun and I loved all the images that had matching punches.  I thought they could not top that set.  And they did!  Sprinkles of Life has like a bajillion used plus it's own coordinating punch.  I just love it!  Here are a few cards I made with this set:

Here I made a tree, although I only punched out the leaves.  The background is from the Cherry on Top DSP stack.  I thought the lace doily would be a cute feminine touch.  I just love these bright in colors, especially Cucumber Crush!  

Here is a card I did at my open house.  The colors are Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder and Smoky Slate.  I also added a little bit of the silver glimmer paper under the one cloud for the silver lining.  The white satin ribbon tied it all together!

You can do even more with this set!  Be sure to check out all the other creations from the design team over at SSI!

New Catalog Countdown Day 3 - Tip Top Taupe

The new catalog is just three days away...I am just so excited!  We are spotlighting the new in colors in our countdown and today we have Tip Top Taupe.  This color is so pretty.  At first you might think its like Crumb Cake but it is so different.  I didn't think I needed another neutral but now I can't imagine not having it.  As you check out today's Inkspiration from my page, be sure to check out the rest of the projects by the SSInkspiration Design Team for today!

Here is a card I made with this fabulous color and an awesome new stamp set!  

I just love that flower from the You've Got This stamp set.  You will be seeing me use that one a lot this year.  I paired Tip Top Taupe with Very Vanilla and embossed the background with the new Boho Chic embossing folder.  This card came together so easy.  And I also made a coordinating envelope with the new light weight envelope paper.  There is no liner needed with this pretty double sided paper.  Let's see what everyone else came up with on the SSI Design Team using this fabulous new color!

Friday Favorites: Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum

Today I am showing you some cute projects you can do with the fabulous Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum.  There are quick and easy projects as well.  And this product is only available until the end of March, so you better get while the getting is good!  Oh, and its free with any purchase of $50.

And here are some of my cards:

Here are individual shots:

I also made an envelope from the vellum and a quick card.

And I made a super adorable little box to hold a little tealight.  

So what are you waiting for?  Get shopping to earn this great product before Sale-A-Bration is over!  And be sure to check out the other favorites from the designers over at SSI.