One More National Scrapbooking Day Card

A scrapbooking CARD??? What the heck??? I just decided I wanted to put one more card up for one of the challenges posted on Robyn's (aka mypinkstamper) blog ... this one was called "May Day" and was a challenge to create a "flowery" card ...

This is a little non-traditional flower (but there IS a flower in there, nonetheless). I have always considered the Storybook cartridge a "must-have" if you are gonna have a Cricut ...

This card only took me about 20 minutes, which makes me pretty happy. I guess I am done with the NSD challenges for this year ...

Stamps: Warm Words
Ink: Soft Suede
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Cricut Storybook cartridge, Sizzix Birthday Set #2 Textured Impressions embossing folder, Modern Label punch, Marvy double scallop corner punch, large pearl sticker

Another Tulipe ...

This has turned into one of my all-time FAVE SU dies!! I wasn't interested when I first saw it ... UNTIL, of course, I saw what people were makin' with it!! i have practically worn mine OUT as I did about a GAZILLION wedding announcements with it for my friend's son last summer ...

I actually did this for the Ways to Use It Challenge on SCS yesterday ... which was to incorporate some chipboard into your card. You can't really tell from the photo, but the I cut the whole darn die out in chipboard FIRST, then cut it out with the MUI-LOVELY Cottage Wall dsp ... pretty simple card, actually, but I like the color combo!!

Stamps: Vintage Labels
Paper: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Cottage Wall dsp
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Bigz Tulipe die, large and small oval punches, chipboard, whisper white taffeta ribbon, pearl (from Pretties kit)

How. Stinkin'. Ca-YOOT is THIS???

I have a Cricut ... and I am embarrassed to admit how many cartridges I have ... but suffice it to say it is waaayyyy more than anyone SHOULD have, and waaayyyy more than should sit gathering dust! So, I am committed to trying to use it more so that I can somewhat justify my obsession, er... um ... NEED to keep buying more cartridges!!

Which is where this card came from. Isn't this monkey just the cutest thing EVER???? I am totally LOVING him. The cartridge I got him from (Create a Critter) is gonna be one of my faves, I can tell! Actually, I have a goofy story as to how I justified buying it. My sister-in-law has a Crciut, and like ONE cartridge. Her daughter just turned 13 a couple weeks ago and is really starting to get interested in scrapbooking. Soooo.....I decided to buy the cartridge for HER, but not before loading the thing onto my Gypsy! (I called and asked my sister-in-law FIRST if she had any plans to get one .... riiiiiiggghhhht .... and she said, "By the time I ever even THINK about getting something like THAT they will have come out without something else entirely!") So, there ya have it!! Color me happy!!

Stamps: Wild About You
Paper: So Saffron, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Garden Green, Basic Black
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Cricut Create a Critter, modern label punch, large oval punch, Sizzix Animal Print (leopard spots) textured impressions folder, soft suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon, pop-up glue dots

Sneaky Peeky!

Just thought I'd give y'all a little sneak peek at one of the new sets - Eclectic Butterflies - that is being released by ISC tomorrow!

I was able to incorporate this card into two challenges on SCS, too!! I used CC257 - Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango and Sage Shadow (a color, I am sad to admit, that sits neglected in my cardstock drawer much, much too often!) and SC267. I like doing sketch challenges because I sometimes feel like all my cards start looking alike!! (Isn't that what they say happens to people and their DOGS??? Hmmmm.....I have a toy poodle.....)

Tune in tomorrow to see some more FABULOSA new things from ISC!!!

Stamps: Eclectic Butterfly and Netting by ISC
Paper: Dusty Durango, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Manchester and To the Nines dsp by SU
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Dusty Durango
Accessories: Sizzix Damask embossing folder, D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug folder, 5/8" satin chocolate chip ribbon, chocolate pearl stickers, pop-up glue dots

With All My Love from ISC

Here are a couple of samples I made featuring a new stamp sheet from ISC called "With All My Love." I had soo much fun creating this card ... I have always had a weak spot for anything heart-shaped - I have been collecting heart-shaped jewelry items since I was a little girl, and I hate to admit how many stamp images I own that are hearts!! Seems we never get tired of them, eh?

Stamps: With All My Love by ISC
Paper: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, With All My Love Digi Paper by ISC (for the largest heart)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Pinking Heart border punch (SU), Heart Punch (SU), Sizzix Damask embossing folder, Cuttlebug Spots and Dots embossing folder, rhinestones, linen thread, pop-up glue dots

And sample #2 ... I tried going for a more manly-man color combo, but I am afraid I couldn't stop myself from adding a bow ... so not as "dude-like" as I had planned. Sigh ...

Stamps: With All My Love by ISC
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Distressed Warmth Digi Paper by ISC
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: EK Success Fluer-de-Lys border punch, basic black grosgrain ribbon, Quickutz Retro Diamonds embossing folder, pop-up glue dots

And once again, you can check out the January New Releases at the following links:
I Heart for You!
With all My Love

And also don't forget to visit the ISC Blog. For even more inspiration and how each design was created stop by and each of the Creative Architects blogs:

Kathy Tucker
Connie McCotter
Sabrina Jackson
Joanne Grzelak
Julie Warner
Karen Dunbrook

Starting the New Year with something different…. introducing ISC Digi-Paper. A downloadable file!

With All my Love Digi Paper
Distressed Warmth Digi Paper

Have a great day!

Falling Into Fall ...

Even though we have ALREADY had a little bit of snow, the colors outside are still SPECTACULAR! And, oddly enough, the weather is supposed to be nearly 70 degrees today and tomorrow!! Unbelievable!! It'll be back down to 50 degrees by this weekend, so I fully intend to enjoy the next few days ...

I did double duty on this card. Two challenges in one! TLC245 - Double Embossing and CC243 - Neutrals with a POP! I have to admit that it took me several attempts (like, FOUR!) to get the embossing background panel right. I kept forgetting steps and had a hard time tweaking the stacks that I put in my Big Shot in order to make this work. I also had to take MANY photos of this to get the embossing to even show up in them!! Sheesh!! What is up with THAT??

So, that's it for today ... enjoy the weather no matter where you are!!

Stamps: All Holidays, Autumn Flourish (by Flourishes)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Old Olive
Accessories: Alpine felt chocolate chip ribbon, Sizzix Damask embossing folder, curved rectangles (mega) Nestabilities (S5-006), pop-up glue dots

AND SINCE I HAVE BEEN ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES ... here is a link to the TLC (TLC245) over on SCS on how to do the blank or double embossing. Several people on the thread gave alternative ways that they made it work for them as well:

Double or Blank Embossing

Cards and Countdowns . . .

I think I have done MORE stamping this summer than I EVER have (TWO sets of wedding invites kinda put me over the edge . . . I will be sharing the second set I made with y'all coming up here very soon!). As busy as I have been, I try to squeeze in some stamping that is just for "fun" as often as I can, as it is UBER-good therapy (how's that for German? Just practicing!! At the rate I am going, I will speak MUI-good by the time I get to Europe . . . har-de-har!!)

The featured stamper on SCS last Sunday was Joanne (aka jojot - FS133). She is such a wonderful stamper and a great person, too (I got to play with her a lot when we were on the There She Goes design team at the same time). Her gallery is HUGE and FABULOUS! I had a hard time choosing just ONE card to CASE, but this is the one I ultimately settled on:

Joanne's ISC Natural Silhouetter

I loved the simplicity of the two colors, and that border!! Sheesh!! UBER-GRANDE!! (Gettin' better!) I only have one border/corner punch combo, and that is the MS spider web duo . . . TOTALLY not working here, so I used my trusty ol' Cricut to create a similar feel with the swirly-twirly-border-y thing!

Stamps: Kind and Caring Thoughts
Paper: So Saffron, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Cricut Storybook Cartridge, ticket corner punch, keytag punch, 5/8" and 1/4" black organza ribbon, Sizzix Damask embossing folder

And SOMEBODY HELP ME!! I am having a JANTINK FLASHBACK!!! We had so much fun hanging out together, and Jan brought LOTS of stamps I didn't have (WHAT??? Could it be possible that there are stamps I DON"T own???) During one of our gab-stamp-n'-eat-chocolate sessions I got to play with these "extreme" stamps . . . LOVE 'em!! C'est Magnifique!! (Wait!! Now I am wandering into the oo-la-la French area . . . NOT gonna help me in Germany! Sheesh!)

I ended up posting this for last week's LSC - LSC234 - which was to make a masculine card with NO bling and NO ribbon. Could it be that we all struggle so much with this dang masculine cards because we own sooo many flowers and BUTTERFLIES??? Hmmmm . . . COULD be!!

Stamps: Extreme Guitar, Extreme Elements, Just Jawing
Paper: Soft Suede, True Thyme, River Rock, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: small star punch, linen thread, paper distressing tool, paper piercing tool/mat, pop-up glue dots

Which leaves me to the countdown . . . ONE WEEK from today I will be leavin' on a jet plane (hmmmm...could there be a GROOVY song title in there somewhere??) I can scarcely believe it!! Man, oh man, I can't WAIT!! (Which is NOT a foreign language at all . . . unless you consider American Slang foreign . . . which many people DO!)