Simple Flower

A couple of weeks ago I hosted a stamping class in the compound.  I wanted to see if there was enough interest to start teaching regular classes in the fall.  There seems to be a fair bit of interest, so now the only trick is how to get enough supplies into Saudi.  We're coming back to the US for a visit this summer, so I imagine I'll have a suitcase full of stamping supplies on the way back.  :-)

Anyway, this is the card we made at the class.  Since the majority of the ladies had never stamped before, I wanted to do something pretty simple.  This card basically consists of stamping and then punching (the flower and sentiment) and the using an embossing folder through the Big Shot.  Almost everyone was pleasantly surprised at how easy the card was to make, and they agreed that tying the knot was the hardest part of the card!

Don't forget that today is the last day to enter the drawing for $40 worth of free Stamin' Up! product!  You can see more information and enter the drawing by leaving a comment on THIS post.  There aren't very many comments yet, so your chances are pretty good.  :-)

Stamps:  Flower Shop
Ink:  Raspberry Ripple
Paper:  Raspberry Ripple, Baked Brown Sugar and Whisper White
Accessories:  Pansy Flower Punch, Decorative Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Square Lattic Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, Pearl Basic Jewels, dimensionals

Hello, Free Product, and Lacy Dress

Hi everyone!  I thought I would pop in, let you know what I've been up to, share one of the few cards I've stamped in the last 10 months, and offer some free product!  (Ok, and see if anyone still follows this blog, lol)

First I'll let you know where I've been. . . or rather where I am. . . in Jubail, Saudi Arabia!  Crazy, huh?  Our family relocated here with my husband's job last October (2013) and we plan on being here for a few more years.  It's been an interesting experience with ups and downs, although overall we are enjoying our time here and the opportunities that come with expat life.  I am adjusting to not driving and wearing an abaya, among other things.  If you are curious to learn more about our adventures in Saudi, you can check out my Winding My Way blog.

Now back to stamping!  I needed a wedding card, so I pulled out my stamping supplies and went to work.  It had been a long time since I had created anything, so I kept it pretty simple.  :-)

I used the Dress Up framelits for the dress as well as the dress layers.  The texture for the dress comes from the Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  I used the Ovals Collection framelits and coordinating Occasions paper-piercing pack for the Smoky Slate oval layer.  The sentiment is from the Curly Cute stamp set.  I made up a few cards to have on hand just playing around with different colors of ribbons and accessories.

Even though I am so far away, I will still be stamping!  It's taken me a little while to feel settled here, but I have committed to teaching stamping classes in my compound here starting this September.  (Of course it didn't help that 3 months after moving here we moved again to a different compound in the same city.)  So although I don't plan to post more than occasionally over the summer, I'll be back to regular stamping this fall.  :-)  

In the meantime, since there is a new catalog to celebrate (yay!) I thought it would be fun to give away some free product.  To be entered into the drawing:

1.  Leave a comment on this post no later than June 29th, 2014.
2.  If you'd like to be entered a second time, you can leave a comment on any post over at my Winding My Way blog, also no later than June 29th, 2014.

I'll randomly choose a comment on June 30th and the winner will receive a $40 Stampin Up shopping spree (US addresses only please, I'll pay the tax and shipping too).  I will contact the winner on June 30th and they will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Stamps:  Curly Cute
Ink:  Smoky Slate
Paper:  Smoky Slate and Whisper White
Accessories:  Lacy Brocade EF, Dress Up and Oval Collection framelits, Big Shot, Occasions paper-piercing pack, paper-piercing tool, rhinestones, ribbon

Stampin' Celebration #70

Hi all!  Sorry for the long absence. . . there's a big move on the horizon for our family, so between that and spending a good part of the summer visiting family I haven't been stamping much.  :-)  I'll post later more about all that, but for now on to this month's Stampin' Celebration challenge!  

This is an exciting month over at Stampin' Celebration since we have some new stampers who have been selected to join our Design Team!  So make sure to head over to the blog to see who's joined us.  There's lots of talent as well as great inspiration this month.  :-)  

It's been a while since I stamped anything, so I thought I'd go simple.  :-)   I loved the bold colors and simple style of these photos.  

I used my Pear Pizzazz and Coastal Cabana markers to ink up the flower image from the Morning Meadow (hostess) set.  (Side note:  I just love the hostess sets in the current catalog!)  Although the picture doesn't really show it, I added Crystal Effects on just the flowers for a little dimension and shine.  The rhinestones add even more bling.  :-)  

To get the little 'notch' in the Basic Gray layer, I used the edge of one of the framelits from the Apothecary Accents set:  

I ran it through the Big Shot twice--once on each end.  The card below uses the colors Calypso Coral and (again) Pear Pizzazz.  I enjoy making sets of cards that I can give as gifts. . . fairly simple and easy to change the colors up.  I'll make a few more of each of these, a couple in Wisteria Wonder, and I'll have a gift ready to go.  :-)  

Now it's your turn to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration. And also remember to take a look at what the other design team members created! 


You have until Sept 25th to play along. And don't forget to check back on the 15th for some more inspiration. :-) 

To follow along on this month's Blog Hop, simply click the links below:

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun!

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Allison Ohran - Sweet Impressions

Nina Dee - Deesigns by Nina Dee

Lauri Ingram - Paperville Crafts

Krista Jensen - Krista's Stamper Room

Anita Krul - My Paper Chronicles

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

Stamps:  Morning Meadow (hostess), Sweet Essentials

Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana (and markers)

Paper: Naturals White card stock, Basic Gray

Accessories: Subtles Candy Dots, Distress Tool, Crystal Effects, Apothecary Accents framelits, Big Shot, Rhinestone Jewels, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration #66

 

 

 

I'm running a little late this month, but I definitely couldn't miss out on playing along this month with the Stampin' Celebration challenge!  What fun colors! 



 
I'm always in need of tween birthday cards for my nieces, and with these colors I thought that would be the perfect combo.  I'm not sure if I ended up hitting the 'tween' age (maybe a bit younger?) but I have younger nieces too.  :-) 
 
I also wanted to pull out and use some of the stamp sets that will soon be discontinued.  All 3 of the sets I used. . . Mouthwatering, Distressed Dots (background stamp), and Made for You (sentiment). . . will no longer be available after June 3rd.  And, Pretty in Pink is one of the colors we are losing in the Color Refresh. 

To see the retiring stamps click HERE, for the accessories click HERE. 
 
This card is pretty straight forward, I just inked with a marker and stamped the top of the ice cream cone 4 times, hand cut, and then layered.  For the background stamp I inked it up, stamped off once, and then stamped on the card base. 
 
Now it's your turn to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration. And also remember to take a look at what the other design team members created!

To follow along on this month's Blog Hop, simply click the links below:

Allison Ohran -Sweet Impressions (you are here)

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun!

Jenny Peterson - Lakeshore Stamping

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

You have until May 25th to play along. And don't forget to check back on the 15th for some more inspiration. :-)
Stamps:  Mouthwatering, Distressed Dots, Made for You
Ink:  Tangerine Tango (and marker), Melon Mambo (and marker) and Pretty in Pink marker
Paper: Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Accessories: Pretty in Pink stitched grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, dimensionals 
 

Stampin' Celebration Sketch Challenge

 

Hi all!  There's a new sketch challenge over at Stampin' Celebration . . in case you need a break from thinking about taxes.  :-)  You'll notice I did kind of rotate the middle of the sketch a little, but I loved this sketch.  I also used this same card for one of our club meeting projects, and the ladies were pleasantly surprised at how easy this card was to put together. 

 

 
A few hints. . . . I used my brayer to easily add the Pretty in Pink ink to the Paper Doilie.  To color the flower, (one flower cut from the 5/8" Flower Trim) I dipped it into a mixture of about 5 drops of Rich Razzleberry reinker mixed with a little water.  Then pull it out and let it dry on some paper towels.  The splatter on the large Whisper White layer was made using the Color Spritzer Tool. 

The Secret Garden stamp set and coordinating framelits, flower, doilie, large Rhinestone Jewels are all found in the Spring Catalog. 

 
You still have time to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration. Be sure to link your project over at Stampin' Celebration by April 25 to be in the running for the "Pick of the Party"!  Remember you can use the sketch challenge, the inspiration piece, or a combination of both.   

Stamps:  Secret Garden, Petite Pairs
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry (ink, marker and reinker), and Pretty in Pink
Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Sycamore Street DSP
Accessories:  Secret Garden framelits, Labels Collection framelits, Big Shot, brayer, large Rhinestone Jewels, 5/8" Flower Trim, Color Spritzer Tool, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration 64--Sketch

 

 
Here in Houston, this week is spring break!  And it has been an absolutely beautiful spring break with perfect weather, not too hot (yet!) and not too cold.  I think this card is a reflection of that 'spring' feeling.  :-) 
 
I used the Mid-monspiration sketch and created this card using the Secret Garden stamp set and coordinating framelits.  I used Finishing Touches Edgelits to get the border along the edge of the Summer Starfruit layer, and added some of the large rhinestone jewels to the center of the flowers.  I stamped the Primrose Petals card base with Versamark ink and the (discontinued) Sanded background stamp.   
 

 
You still have time to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration. Be sure to link up to the main Stampin' Celebration site here by March 25 to be in the running for the "Pick of the Party"!  Remember you can use the sketch challenge, the inspiration piece, or a combination of both! 

Stampin' Celebration Blog Hop:
Allison Ohran -Sweet Impressions (you are here)

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun!

Jenny Peterson - Lakeshore Stamping

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

Stamps:  Secret Garden, Sanded
Ink:  Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Versamark
Paper:  Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Whisper White
Accessories:  Large Rhinestones, Lucky Limeade ribbon (discontinued), Finishing Touches Framelits, Secret Garden Framelits, Big Shot, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration 64

 
Hi all!  It's time for another Stampin' Celebration challenge.  Look at the fun inspiration piece we have this month: 

I love butterflies, so that picture caught my eye immediately.  :-)  I also like the variety and combination of what I would call 'bold pastel' colors, so I tried to incorporate those as well. 

I used the Elegant Butterfly punch and the new Bitty Butterfly punch (from the Sping Catalog).  Some have a layer of vellum over the top, some have rhinestones, down the middle, and some are covered with Dazzling Diamonds glitter (using Mulitpurpose Adhesive Sheets).  Most are stamped with the Papillon Potpourri stamp (using Versamark) and a couple are pieces of Designer Paper. 

The background was made using the Fancy Fan Folder Embossing Die, and Perfect Plum 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon is tied around. 

We'd love to have you play along with us this month at Stampin' Celebration! You have until March 25th to link your creation (a card, 3D item, digital item, scrapbook layout, etc.) to the Stampin' Celebration blog and be in the running for the "Pick of the Party" at the end of the month.

And remember to check back on the 15th to see what the sketch challenge is for this month!  We can't wait to see what Stampin' Celebration inspires you to create!

To see what the other DT members have created:

Allison Ohran -Sweet Impressions (you are here)

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun!

Jenny Peterson - Lakeshore Stamping

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

Stamps:  Papillion Potpourri
Ink:  Versamark Ink
Paper:  Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Vellum, random DSP, and Whisper White
Accessories:  Elegant Butterfly punch, Bitty Butterfly punch, linen thread, 3/8" Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon, rhinestones, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Big Shot, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration 63--Mid-Monthspiration

Wow, this month is flying by!  I've been keeping busy stamping lots of Valentines--for my kids' school classes, cousins, and grandparents, etc.  So, I was ready to take a break from Valentines creations for a bit and create a card using the Stampin' Celebration *sketch* challenge.  Yep, a fun new surprise.  :-)  For the mid-monthspiration, there will now be a sketch.  So you can use just the inspiration piece, OR just the sketch, OR both for more fun!  

I have also been wanting to use my Oh, Hello stamp set which has been neglected since I pre-ordered it all the way back in December.  The color combination was inspired by the colors found in the Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP in the Spring Catalog.  

As I was making this card I liked all of the different elements, but I wasn't so sure once I got them all together if I like the overall card.  One of the elements I thought was fun was the safety pin at the top.  I pierced two holes with my paper-piercing tool and then added the safety pin (from the Vintage Trinkets collection).  The ribbon--Marina Mist and Melon Mambo 3/8" Striped Organdy Ribbon--is also new in the Spring Catalog.  

You still have time to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration.  Be sure to link up to the main Stampin' Celebration site here by February 25 to be in the running for the "Pick of the Party"!

Stampin' Celebration Blog Hop:
Allison Ohran -Sweet Impressions (you are here)

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun! 

Jenny Peterson - Lakeshore Stamping

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

Stamps:  Oh, Hello
Ink:  Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, and Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Marina Mist, and Daffodil Delight markers
Paper:  Naturals White, Basic Gray
Accessories:  Marina Mist and Melon Mambo 3/8" Striped Organdy Ribbon, Vintage Trinkets, Ovals Collection Framelits, Big Shot, dimensionals

Sentimental Birthday

 
Stampin' Up's premiere promotion of the year has started!  Sale-A-Bration is here, and this card showcases one of the stamp sets--called Feeling Sentimental--that is available for free with a $50 purchase. 

I needed a birthday card for my grandpa, so I set to work with this stamp set.  I also wanted to participate in the SUO challenge--using your 'New Toys'. 

The image is inked with Early Espresso, and I also sponged (and distressed) all the edges with the same color.  I added some of the new Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon and one of the new Silver Basics Designer Buttons.  I really like both of these products.  The buttons are nice because they are thin, they don't add too much 'up' to your card. 

Thanks for coming by!  Remember that there are several ways to party during Sale-A-Bration:

Shop:  With each $50 purchase you can choose an item (for FREE!) from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. 

Host:  Have a party with your friends and earn Sale-A-Bration freebies!  With a $150 order you get (in addition to all the normal benefits) a package of Silver Glimmer Paper.  With a $400 order you get the Glimmer Paper PLUS a product bundle. 

Join:  When you join the Stampin Up family during Sale-A-Bration, you get 25% more product for free in your starter kit.  Whether you are looking for a discount on your product or a new career, Stampin Up has a place for you! 

If you have any question, don't hesitate to ask.  :-) 

Stamps:  Feeling Sentimental, Essentials
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Very Vanilla, First Edition Specialty DSP
Accessories:  Natural Trim Ribbon, Silver Basics Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Stampin' Distress Tool, Bitty Banners Framelits, Big Shot, dimensionals

Hearts all in a Row

Well now that I've started creating some Valentine's cards, I'm on a roll!  Several of these hearts were actually 'left overs' from the card I created earlier this week.  I saw the sketch challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, and knew what I could use the hearts for.  :-)  

And the colors were taken from the Stampin' Celebration Challenge for January:  

I stamped the hearts using the Hearts a Flutter stamp set (found in the new Spring Catalog) and then ran them through the Big Shot with the coordinating Hearts a Flutter Framelits to cut them out. I also used the new Honeycomb Embossing Folder for the fun texture on the Pool Party layer.  

The gray hearts are covered in Dazzling Diamonds glitter--I used Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets to adhere the glitter.  The 'love' tag was stamped with the Lovely Little Labels stamp set and then punched out suing the Little Labels Punch pack.  I adhered the bow and the tags with glue dots--uncharacteristic to my 'usual', they aren't attached to each other.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend!

Stamps: Hearts a Flutter, Lovely Little Labels

Ink:  Going Gray, Pool Party, Primrose Petals

Paper:  Pool Party, Going Gray, Whisper White

Accessories:  Hearts a Flutter framelits, Hearts Collection Framelits (for the smaller heart), Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Little Labels Punch Pack, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds, White Baker's Twine, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration--Fluttering Hearts

Hi all!  Just popping in with a reminder to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration this month--and a little mid-monthspiration to inspire you.  :-)  

With Valentine's day less than a month away, it's about time that I got started thinking about Valentine's projects!  I had fun putting this card together using some new goodies from the Spring Catalog.   

I used the Hearts A Flutter stamp set and the coordinating framelits dies.  The smallest heart is from the Hearts Collection framelits (found in the main catalog).  The ribbon can be found in the Sale-A-Bration catalog--it is part of the Sycamore Street Ribbon & Buttons Pack.  The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. 

Remember to link your creation to the Stampin' Celebration blog so we can see your project.  Hope to see your project soon.  :-) 

Stamps:  Hearts A Flutter, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Basic Gray, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette

Paper:  Basic Gray, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Accessories:  Hearts a Flutter framelits, Hearts Collection framelits, Bitty Banners framelits, Big Shot,Pool Party Ribbon (Sycamore Street ribbon & buttons pack), rhinestones, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration #62--Essential Thanks

 

Happy 2013!!  What a fun way to start the new year, with a new Stampin' Celebration challenge.  :-)   

 

This time of year I am always needing thank you notes. . . I have many vivid memories of my mom helping us write thank you notes after Christmas and birthdays.  Although I didn't like the tradition as a child, I see the importance now and am teaching my children to write thank you notes.  Do you find it 'old fashioned' to send thank you notes for presents? 

 

 

Anyway, you can see that I took the snowflake theme, the pink and blue and ran with that.  I figure my son will use the blue ones and my daughter will use the pink ones.  I used the Note Cards (finished size is 3 1/2" by 5") that come pre-scored 20 to a package, with envelopes, for $5.95.  I used by Snow Flurry die and Big Shot to cut out the snow flakes. 

After I cut out the snowflakes from the Silver Shimmer Paper, I sponged coordinating ink onto the snowflake.  Plenty of shimmer still shines through! 

There are a couple sneak peeks here from the Spring Catalog that goes live in just a couple days (Jan 3rd): the stamp set, called Essentials, and the Large Rhinestones.  Look at the pretty bling.  :-) 

Simple, huh?  :-)   We'd love to have you play along with us this month at Stampin' Celebration! You have until January 25th to link your creation (a card, 3D item, digital item, scrapbook layout, etc.) to the Stampin' Celebration blog and be in the running for the "Pick of the Party" at the end of the month. We can't wait to see what Stampin' Celebration inspires you to create!

To see what the other DT members have created:

Allison Ohran -Sweet Impressions

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun!

Jenny Peterson - Lakeshore Stamping

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

 

 

Stamps:  Essentials (available Jan 3)

Ink:  Marina Mist, Primrose Petals

Paper:  Silver Shimmer Paper, Marina Mist, Primrose Petals, Note Cards (Whisper White)

Accessories:  Snow Flurry Die, Large Rhinestones (available Jan 3), sponges, dimensionals