Best Wishes Spring Swap

Finally got my computer to cooperate again to allow me to upload pictures, so now I can continue with blogging!  I thought that I would share a card that I made for my monthly swap with the Cult Crew (Upper Valley of NH and VT demo group) for March.  The swap was themed "spring" and I had just gotten the extra-large two step bird punch.

Stamps: Warm Words

Paper: Kraft, Pretty in Pink, Sweet Pea DSP (pink stripes), Thoroughly Modern DSP (rose red), Old Olive prints

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Sweet Pea stitched felt, Modern label punch, Scallop edge punch, dimensionals, pretties kit (half pearl), chocolate chip satin

My summer mini pre-order is due to arrive later tonight, so hopefully I will be able to create a few new cards with my new stuff to share!  Thanks for looking.

SCS Sketch Challenge 276

I found time last night to play along with a sketch challenge at Split Coast Stampers, SC276.  With the sketch I made two cards, once again using up old supplies and rarely used stamp sets!  Both of the cards use retired designer paper that I hadn't cut into - the Good Morning Sunshine paper that has several retired in-colors in it, some of which are coming back!

Stamps: Cheep Talk, Small Sayings
Paper: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip,
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip
Other: Real Red corduroy button, White gel pen, Modern Label punch, Chocolate Chip striped grosgrain, SU Perfect Polka Dots impressions folder, dimensionals

For the second card, I flipped the sketch (which I liked better because it feels more balanced).  The card uses the same designer paper pack, as well as the Urban Garden paper pack. 

Stamps: Happy Moments, Warm Words
Paper: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Urban Garden designer paper, Good Morning Sunshine designer paper, Bella Garden designer paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze
Other: Chocolate Chip striped grosgrain, chocolate chip twill, pumpkin pie corduroy button, Modern Label punch, white gel pen

Join my Stampin' Up! Team!

Stampin' Up! offers great specials to people looking to become demonstrators, and now is no exception!  If you join Stampin' Up! and become a demonstrator, you can earn two exclusive DVDs that showcase workshop tecniques.  If you want more details, please email me at emraymond@comcast.net for more details.  I would love to have you on my Stampin' Up! team and become a member of "The Cult Connection", which is a group of talented and passionate SU demos in the Upper Valley area of New Hampshire and Vermont.

Praying for You

There are cards that no one likes to make, and I am no exception.  I'm talking about sympathy cards.  When I do need one, I tend to try to keep them simple and tasteful...and I also make more than one so that I have one on hand should I need it again.

This card uses more Stampin' Up! designer paper, from the Urban Garden paper pack from the 08/09 IB&C.  When I first got the paper pack I felt that the colors in it were very strong and I was not sure how to apply them.  I've decided to tone down the color combinations and work with colors in the paper pack, and that seems to be working.  I also recently acquired the "Thoughts and Prayers" stamp set as well as the "Inspired by Nature" stamp set....I'm not sure why it took me so long to get it because I love the beautiful cards that it makes.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers, Inspired by Nature
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White (textured), Urban Garden designer paper
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy
Other: Large Oval Punch, Slot Punch, Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, blue satin ribbon (Offray)

A Jump Start

After the hustle and bustle of creating projects for the Artisan Award contest (which I sent out last Wednesday and SU received on Friday - thanks UPS!) it feels good to sit down and create with no particular projects in mind, just a desire to do something creative.  A few weekends back my husband and I went on a date - the first in a while - and we went to Borders and sat in the cafe with coffee and looked at books and magazines.  I found a sketch in a card making magazine that I liked - it was very simple using circles of designer paper.  This seemed perfect for me given the stash of designer paper that I have been hoarding away.

I thought that I would see if I could put together some Father's Day cards, and get a jump start.  I find that I'm better at sending out cards in time if I have them assembled and ready to go in advance.

This card uses paper from the Urban Garden designer paper pack, which has Kiwi Kiss (retired), Basic Gray, Baja Breeze (retired but coming back in July 2010!) and Not Quite Navy.  It was very simple to put together, and I liked the sketch so much that I created a second card with a different paper pack.

This card uses the Urban Oasis paper pack, which also has Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze and also Kraft (to be called Crumb Cake in July 2010) and Basic Black.  This is a very classy paper pack that I wish that I had used more when the colors were current....oh, well.  I'm using them now so that's what counts!  I decided to make this my swap for my monthly SU demo meeting at the end of the month...hopefully the ladies like it!  Enjoy.

SSSC 64

I decided that it would be fun to play with the sketch challenge over at Karen Giron's blog, SSSC 64.

Here's the sketch challenge for today:

Here is my interpretation of the sketch:

I chose to make it a rectangular card because I'm trying to use up supplies without cutting into new stock, and I had a piece of 6" x 6" Tempting Turquoise textured cardstock left over from a SU scrapping kit.  The Tempting Turquoise and So Saffron designer paper is from an old SU paper pack from 2 or 3 years ago.  The Regal Rose layer is from the Love Sparkles simply scrappin' kit (09/10 IBC) and all of the embellishments are from that kit.  All layers are inked with Close to Cocoa (boy, I'm going to miss that color when it retires!) and popped up on dimensionals.  The chocolate chip ribbon is from a retired ribbon pack from a few years back, too.  Enjoy!

Where Have I Been?

It's been a long time since I last blogged....I'm going to give it another go! 

Work and three daughters keep me pretty busy and I'm still an active SU Demo, and I'm hoping to use this as a place to reinvest in my business.

I thought that I would show you a card that I made for a friend's daughter, Savannah, who is turning 2 at the end of the month.  The colors came from the gift bag that I purchased for the cute gift that we bought her, and I wanted the card to match.  I'm also trying to use up the many, many, many packages of designer paper that I've accumulated over the years.  Everything on the card is Stampin' Up! except for the satin ribbon, which is Offray that I picked up at Wal Mart.

I'm hoping to keep up with blogging...not sure if I will get to it every day but at least one or twice a week!