Create with Connie and Mary Color Challenge: Perfect Blend Birthday Greetings

Good morning friends!  I don't know about you but I'm officially finished with this winter weather, we got that nice little peak of spring weather this weekend and I loved it!  Time to bring it on for good.  Today I'm sharing the card I made for this weeks Create with Connie and Mary color challenge (I seem to be on a color challenge streak this week).  These are nice springy colors which  is helping keep those warm thoughts.  For this card I used Crisp Cantaloupe for the cardbase and then added a layer of Sahara Sand under the Whisper White layer.  Along the bottom of the card I used the outline of the Chevrons from the Oh, Hello stamp set and stamped them in Sahara Sand.  I also stamp the decorative inside pieces in Pistachio Pudding and Crisp Cantaloupe and cut them out before adhering them to the card. 

 

I love the Perfect Blend stamp set and used it again, stamping the cup three times in Whisper White, Sahara Sand, and Pistachio Pudding so I could cut out the pieces and paper piece them together.  The Oh, Snap! is from the Hip Notes stamp set and I cut out the banner with the Itty Bitty Banner Framelits and Big Shot but made it a smaller banner.  The bow is tied with Crisp Cantaloupe baker's Twine from the Sweet Sorbet Accessories pack (a FREE Sale-a-bration item).  The birthday greeting is from the Bring on the Cake stamp set and after stamping it I added some Rhinestones along the bottom to accent the greeting.

 

This card is kind of funny, not what I pictured when I started but I just kept adding elements, I finally had to put it away so I didn't keep going.  It's interesting and not something I usually make so that's OK, the process was still relaxing which is the best part for me, plus I love to send handmade cards and the reactions you get when you send something you made for them, it's priceless.

 

Enjoy and take care!

 

Diana

Let the Fun Begin, Convention 2013 Begins!

Good morning!  I'm sending greetings to you from beautiful Salt Lake City.  I'm here for Stampin' Up's Annual Convention, this year it's the 25th Anniversary so we're really going to party.  One of the fun parts of convention is swapping.  Swapping is where you make multiples of one card design and then trade them with other demonstrators.  This is a great way to see fun, new ideas and have lots of samples to share.  For the rest of the week I'll be sharing the different swap projects I've been working on for the past several months. 

 

This card uses the Oh, Hello, Label Love, and A Round Array stamps sets to create all the different layers.  I love the matching Artisan Label punch, 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch, and Oval Collection framelits, they really make cutting elements out a breeze.  I also used the Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper and 1/4" Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon for fun accents.  The cardbase is Island Indigo and I added a layer of Crumb Cake paper that was embossed with the Big Shot and Fancy Fan Embossing Folder.

 

This is such a fun card and a great way to use paper and ribbon scraps. 

 

Enjoy and make sure to check back frequently since I'll be sharing multiple projects each day.

 

Diana

Hand Stamped Sentiments Color Challenge: Thankful Flowers

Happy Friday and welcome to the the start of the weekend (in a few hours).  After what was supposed to be a very bad weather day yesterday, thankful the storms missed us and we're looking forward to a beautiful weekend, perfect to celebrate the special men in our lives for Father's Day.  Today I want to share the card I made for this weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge, this week it's a fun color challenge.  These are four fun colors but I'll admit I never would have thought to combine them.

 

I started with a cardbase of Baja Breeze (so sad this color retired) and then added a layer of Midnight Muse under my Whisper White panel.  For the Whisper White piece I first stamped it with the Mixed Bunch stamp set and just stamped several of the flowers and circle images in different colors.  Then I ran it through the Big Shot with the Hexagon Embossing Folder before adding a piece of Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon.

For the greeting image I used the Oh, Hello stamp set and stamped the chevron oval piece in Summer Starfruit but stamped off first to soften the color.  The greeting is from the same set and is stamped in Midnight Muses.  I used the Big Shot and the Oval Collection Framelits to cut out both oval pieces (I love matting layers and the framelits help me do that so easily and with so many different sizes and shapes available, so awesome!)  I used dimensionals to attach the greeting to card so it really pops up off the page.

 

I have to admit when I was making this card I didn't know how it was going to turn out because of the colors but the more I look at the card I really like it, nice and cheery!  If you haven't tried using these colors together, give it a try, it'll be fun to see what you come up with.

 

Take care and have a great weekend!

 

Diana

Elegant Birthday Greetings, Feeling Sentimental

Another Friday has arrived, whoo hoo!  I'm definitely looking forward to some down time this weekend, plus my birthday weekend officially begins on Sunday and I can't wait.  Early this week I we were celebrating a friends birthday and I enjoy making her pretty cards, but I had to wait to share until she received it.  This card uses the Tea for Two Designer Series Paper for the color pallet along with the Feeling Sentimental stamp set (today is the last day to get this stamp set for FREE) along with the Oh, Hello stamp set for the chevron oval. 

 

I used the coordinating Ovals Collection framelits and the Big Shot to cut out the oval as well as the Needlepoint Border embossing folders (can't believe this is my first time using it, too cute!  I added a strip of First Edition Speciality DSP that was punched out with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch as well as some Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon.  The final touch was to add one of the flowers from the Floral Trim (I used Pool Party ink and a sponge dauber, along with the Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker to add color and dimension to the flower (so soft and pretty).

 

This card was so fun and turned out so soft and cheery, perfect for birthday greetings and I'm sure my friend loved it!  I'm really hoping that we get some spring weather so we can start enjoying time outside.  I hope you enjoy and get some time relaxing and being creative this weekend.

 

Enjoy,

 

Diana

Paper Players Sketch Challenge: Oh, Hello

Good evening and another Friday is upon us!  While it's been a crazy week I was able to sneak down into the studio for a little bit to make card for this weeks Paper Player's Sketch Challenge tonight.  This weeks challenge was a color challenge and these are fun ask they really help get you out of your comfort zone.  All week I've been thinking about the card I was going to create however I have to admit the final product looks nothing like what was in my head.  The cardbase is Crumb Cake and I embossed it with the Big Shot and Hexagon embossing folder.  Next I added a half of a circle paper doily, Lucky Limeade Designer Series Paper and strip of cardstock that I stamped the chevron image from the Oh, Hello stamp set, first in Early Espresso for the outline and then the patterned stamp in Regal Rose (definitely need the stamp-a-majig for this). 

For the main focal image I stamped the chevron oval, from the same stamp set, in Pool Party the greeting in Early Espresso and then cut the whole thing out with the Oval Collection framelits and the Big Shot.  I added lots of embellishments, first with a bow made from Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon and the Pool Party printed designer brad.  The final touch is one of the flowers from the floral trim the I died with a sponge dauber and Regal Rose ink.  This is a close up of the main image.

 

Now check out the challenge we were provided.  I have to admit while this card didn't end up how I initially envisioned I really like how it turned out.  It's got just the right amount of softness which is offset with the graphical elements, so fun.  Feel free to use this color challenge and see what fun things you can come up with.

Have a great weekend!

 

Diana

Fab Friday Sketch Challenge: Oh, Hello

Good evening friends!  What a great weekend, I had a last minute event cancellation which means we had a completely free weekend, a rarity with us so we were able to work on some projects, relax, and I even got to spend several uninterrupted hours in the studio this afternoon and had fun working on several fun projects.  Today I'm sharing the card I made for this weeks Fab Friday Sketch Challenge.  I was so excited when I saw this color challenge and immediately started thinking about valentine's, then I decided to step out of the box and try something different and since I had the Oh, Hello stamp set sitting on my desk just waiting to be inked up things quickly came together.  I started with a Crumb Cake cardbase and stamped the flag image along the border in Crumb Cake (definitely need to use the stamp-a-ma-jig to get it lined up).  Next I stamped the oval chevron image in Pool Party ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and the greeting is stamped with Cherry Cobbler.  Since my new oval framelits are in my order to be delivered this week I used my Paper Snips to trim around the oval.  I matted the oval on a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock that I cut out with the Big Shot and Labels Collection Framelits before embossing it with the Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  The sponged around both layers with Crumb Cake ink.

The flower was colored with Stampin' Write markers directly on the rubber before stamping and then I cut it out with Paper Snips.  It's hard to tell from the picture but I also paper pierced around the label with the paper piercing template (love these!)  The final touch was to add small pieces of the Victoria lace trim and Pool Party SAB ribbon as little flag tails.

This card is so delicate, springy, and fun, I love it!  Make sure to stock up on all your favorite new items during SAB so you can earn Sale-a-bration items for FREE!

Have a great week,

Diana