PPA18 - Love, Peace & Joy

Hello!  Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and weekend!

Today's card combines Pals Paper Arts Challenge #18 and an old Stampin' Addicts Sketch Challenge (#32).  The PPA challenge was to create a clean/simple project.

All of the images are from the Punch Pals stamp set, and the sentiment is a rub-on from the Chit Chat pack, which is jam-packed full of different sentiments!  Plus, there are two sheets - one in Whisper White, and one in Chocolate Chip.  A fabulous deal for sure!  The images were stamped with Jet Black StazOn on 1-1/4" squares of Very Vanilla cardstock, then colored with Stampin' Write markers to keep it simple.  (Stampin' Up! has a 1-1/4" square punch, but I don't have it..yet!)  I used our lovely Sleigh Bells cotton ribbon from the Holiday Mini catalog.. so nice and thick, and so easy to tie!

Don't forget!  There is only one day left in the Online Holiday Extravaganza sale, where you can get great products for up to 50% off!  Contact me today or shop anytime at my website.

Love, Peace & Joy card:  Punch Pals stamp set; Jet Black StazOn; Soft Suede textured cardstock; Old Olive and Very Vanilla cardstock; Soft Suede, Real Red, Old Olive, and Yo Yo Yellow Stampin' Write markers; Chit Chat rub-ons; Scallop Square punch; Sleigh Bells ribbon

Clean and Simple Medallion card

Hi!  Here is a clean and simple card using one of my favorite stamps - Medallion.  It also uses one of my favorite Big Shot dies, Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Matchbox Bigz XL die.  Not only does the die cut out a cute little matchbox, but also three tags that coordinate with a variety of Stampin' Up!'s stamp sets.

I stamped all images with VersaMark, then embossed with white powder.  The sentiment actually comes with the words as one stamp, and the outline as another - both from the Great Friend stamp set.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, if you are in the US!  :)

Don't forget about the Online Holiday Extravaganza sale!  See this post for a look at all the fantastic deals.  The sale runs through November 30th, 2009.  Now's your chance to get your holiday shopping done early!

Medallion card:  Medallion and Great Friend stamp sets; VersaMark ink; Bermuda Bay textured cardstock; Kraft cardstock; Whisper White organza ribbon

Another Dasher card!

Hello!  Here is a card that I made with the same layout as yesterday's, but I feel it looks very different:

After stamping, I went back in with the Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker and gave Dasher some more dimension.  I'm not sure what's up with his head though.. it looks like the image got wet, but it doesn't look like that in real life!  The snowflakes in the background were embossed with VersaMark and clear powder as before.  I just love that sentiment image!  It's from the Holiday Best Level 1 Hostess Set, and all of those stamps look beautiful multi-colored with markers.  Instead of coloring a large part of the image with the Soft Suede marker, I simply inked up the stamp with the ink pad, then used a Blender Pen to remove the Soft Suede ink from the bird.  Then I colored in the bird with the Bordering Blue marker.

Snowy Dasher card:  Dasher, Season of Friendship, and Holiday Best stamp sets; Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad; VersaMark ink pad; Bordering Blue and Soft Suede Stampin' Write markers; The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Series Paper; Kraft, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, and Bordering Blue cardstock; Kraft 3/8" taffeta ribbon; clear embossing powder

Bright Tree Trimmings

Hello!  I've been in a Christmas card-making mood lately, and here is one I made using an old sketch challenge on Stampin' Addicts (#29):

This card uses some non-traditional colors, but I think they look great together!  The turquoise paper from the Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper pack also works nicely on a Christmas card.  I embossed the snowflakes from the Season of Friendship stamp set on Kraft cardstock, using VersaMark and clear embossing powder.  The string stamp in the Tree Trimmings stamp set was not long enough for the first ornament, so I sketched one out with a pencil, then went over it with the Soft Suede marker.  You could stamp the string twice - stamping it once normally against the ornament, then again upside down to lengthen the string - but I like the look of drawing it in personally.

By the way - one of Stampin' Up!'s biggest sales has started.. the Online Holiday Extravaganza sale!  Check out the deals in my online store by going to my website and clicking "order now".  I've listed the deals also in this post.  Happy shopping!  :)

Bright Tree Trimmings card:  Tree Trimmings, Season of Friendship and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets; Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads; VersaMark ink pad; Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker; Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, and Kraft cardstock; Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper; Modern Label punch; Word Window Punch; Very Vanilla 3/8" taffeta ribbon

Online Holiday Extravaganza sale!

Wow! You won't want to miss out on these fabulous deals:

Item	Description	Regular	Sale
120280	Framed with Love Bundle Framed with Love stamp set Full Heart punch	$43.90	$21.95
120281	Thank You Kindly Bundle Thank You Kindly stamp set Scallop Edge punch	$29.90	$14.95
120976	Thank You Kindly Bundle (French) Tous mes remerciements stamp set Scallop Edge punch	$29.90	$14.95
120282	Animal Crackers Bundle Animal Crackers stamp set Star Designer brads	$25.90	$12.95
120283	Corduroy Button Bundle Kraft Corduroy buttons Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons Summer Sun Corduroy buttons Basic Gray Corduroy buttons Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons	$49.75	$24.88
120284	Game Night Bundle Card Games stamp set Game Night stamp set	$40.90	$20.45
120285	Four Square Bundle Four Square stamp set Scallop Square punch	$30.90	$15.45
120286	Heart to Heart Bundle Love You Much stamp set Heart to Heart punch Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon	$49.85	$24.93
120310	Heart to Heart Bundle (Spanish) Te Quiero Mucho stamp set Heart to Heart punch Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon	$49.85	$24.93
120311	Heart to Heart Bundle (French) J't'aime beaucoup stamp set Heart to Heart punch Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon	$49.85	$24.93
120287	Chipboard Letter Bundle On Board Timeless Type On Board Loads of Letters	$25.90	$12.95
120288	Double-Stitched Ribbon Bundle Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	$17.90	$10.74
120289	Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle* Best Wishes & More stamp set Eight Great Greetings stamp set On a Pedestal stamp set Earth Elements Stampin' Spots Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11") Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11") Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Flower Designer brads	$127.70	$76.62
120290	Build-A-Brad Bundle Calendar Alphabet stamp set Pewter Build-A-Brad Antique Brass Build-A-Brad	$40.85	$24.51
120291	Enjoy Every Moment Bundle Enjoy Every Moment stamp set Circle Designer brads Flower Designer brads	$43.85	$26.31
120312	Enjoy Every Moment Bundle (French) Profiter de chaque instant stamp set Circle Designer brads Flower Designer brads	$43.85	$26.31
120292	Cheep Talk Bundle Cheep Talk stamp set Note cards Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons	$42.85	$25.71
120293	Sock Monkey Bundle Sock Monkey stamp set Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons	$58.85	$35.31
120313	Sock Monkey Bundle (French) Sing-chaussette stamp set Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons	$58.85	$35.31
120294	Alphabet Bundle Jayne's Type Alphabet stamp set Lovely Letters stamp set	$87.90	$52.74
120295	Simply Said Bundle Simply Said stamp set Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Full Heart punch	$52.85	$31.71
120314	Simply Said Bundle (French) Amitié stamp set Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Full Heart punch	$52.85	$31.71
120296	On Board Bundle On Board So Tweet On Board Batch of Blooms On Board Essentials	$42.85	$25.71
120927	Christmas Décor Bundle #1 Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Kraft, Real Red) Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements	$74.85	$44.91
120298	Christmas Décor Bundle #2 Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Chocolate, Real Red) Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements	$74.85	$44.91
120299	Christmas Décor Bundle #3 Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Old Olive, Real Red) Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements	$74.85	$44.91
120300	For All You Do Bundle For All You Do stamp set 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$36.90	$25.83
120315	For All You Do Bundle (French) Merci pour tout stamp set 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$36.90	$25.83
120316	For All You Do Bundle (Spanish) Por todo lo que haces stamp set 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$36.90	$25.83
120301	Striped Ribbon Bundle Bashful Blue 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon So Saffron 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Real Red 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon	$47.73	$33.41
120302	Bling Bundle Sticky Pages Sticky Cuts Sweet Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter	$43.80	$30.66
120303	Fresh-Cut Bundle Fresh Cuts stamp set Fresh-Cut Notes 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$37.85	$26.50
120317	Fresh-Cut Bundle (French) Fraicheur exuise stamp set Fresh-Cut Notes 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$37.85	$26.50
120304	Pendant Note Bundle Pendant Park stamp set Pendant notes 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$39.85	$27.90
120318	Pendant Note Bundle (French) Adorable parc stamp set Pendant notes 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$39.85	$27.90
120319	Pendant Note Bundle (Spanish) Un dia en el parque stamp set Pendant notes 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$39.85	$27.90
120305	Sporting Bundle #1 Large Night of Navy Sporting Décor Elements Night of Navy Just Sports Décor Elements	$67.90	$47.54
120306	Sporting Bundle #2 Large Chocolate Sporting Décor Elements Chocolate Just Sports Décor Elements	$67.90	$47.54
120307	Sporting Bundle #3 Large Black Sporting Décor Elements Black Just Sports Décor Elements	$67.90	$47.54
114864	Ginormous Flowers I Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
114863	Ginormous Flowers II Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
112534	5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$7.95	$5.57
112533	5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$6.95	$4.87
112081	Scallop Square punch	$15.95	$11.17
113693	Full Heart punch	$15.95	$11.17
113694	Heart to Heart punch	$15.95	$11.17
112091	Scallop Edge punch	$15.95	$11.17
112571	Circle Designer brads	$5.95	$4.17
112579	Flower Designer brads	$5.95	$4.17
112572	Star Designer brads	$5.95	$4.17
114785	Small Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
114786	Medium Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements	$69.95	$48.97
114791	Small Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
114792	Medium Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements	$64.95	$45.47

*This bundle is only available while supplies last.

I know I'll be taking advantage of a lot of them! With a wide variety of items, the sale offers excellent gifts for everyone on your list! Contact me or order through my website today, as quantities are limited! Please note that when shopping online, discounts will show up in your shopping bag at checkout.

Always Everything to Me Card

Happy Sunday!

Here's a card I made for a monthly swap I'm in.. hope the recipient will like it!

I've had the Always stamp set for a long time, but it doesn't get as much love as it used to!  I love the set though, such gorgeous images.  For the card, I took inspiration from the Holiday Mini catalog, although obviously my card is not a holiday card. :)  It was a breeze to highlight the word "everything" in the sentiment using the Stampin' Write markers, coloring directly on the stamp.  I also had the help of the Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp my sentiment on two lines, exactly where I wanted it.

Here's how I did the inside:

These stamps are in the same set, and I love the look that stamping the branch in three colors gives!

Stampin' Up!'s Online Holiday Extravaganza starts tomorrow!  If you are not already on my mailing list and would like to be reminded of the sale, click on over to my website and click on "request my newsletter".  You won't want to miss out on the fabulous deals in this sale, with items up to 50% off!

Always card:  Always stamp set; Soft Suede, Certainly Celery, and More Mustard Classic Stampin' Pads; VersaMark ink pad; Soft Suede and More Mustard Stampin' Write markers; The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Series Paper; Soft Suede textured cardstock; Whisper White and Certainly Celery cardstock; Paper Piercing Tool; Mat Pack; Whisper White organza ribbon

PPA17 - Bitty Birthday Wishes

Hi!  I wanted to do some more watercoloring for Pals Paper Arts Challenge #17, which was a sketch challenge (click on over to see the sketch and the other submissions for the challenge).

I turned the sketch sideways.  The Bitty Birthday stamp set is perfect for watercoloring with its line-art images.  The set of four stamps was also perfect for this sketch!  I love the gorgeous colors in the Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper pack - great for a bright and colorful birthday card.  This time I used the stamp pads to watercolor, another quick and easy way to watercolor with Stampin' Up!'s fabulous products.. you simply squeeze the closed stamp pad, then open it up, and you've got a pool of ink inside the lid that can be easily picked up with an Aqua Painter.  With the amount of watercoloring I did, the Watercolor Paper was the best choice as my surface.  And with the Stamp-a-ma-jig, I effortlessly stamped "happy birthday" on two lines (the stamp is a single-line sentiment).

Bitty Birthday card:  Bitty Birthday stamp set; Soft Suede, Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, and Summer Sun Classic Stampin' Pads; Jet Black StazOn; Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper; Soft Suede cardstock; Whisper White textured cardstock; Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; Playground Designer Buttons; Linen Thread; Scallop Edge punch

Birthday Cupcake

Happy Thursday!  The week is just flying by for me!  Can you believe that there's just a week left until Thanksgiving?  Where has the year gone!

This card is for my dad.  I always struggle with making masculine cards, as I tend to buy the "pretty" sets. :)  I couldn't refrain myself from using ribbon though!

I did some light watercoloring on the image, using my Watercolor Wonder Crayons and Aqua Painter.  I LOVE having all 48 colors and neutrals in the crayons.. you can easily pick up some color from the end of the crayon (bottom end so you don't mess with the point of the crayon).  You can also scribble a little bit on a stamp set case and use that as a palette, or even color directly on the image and blend it with your Aqua Painter or Blender Pen - as I did with the balloon.  The colors I used for the cupcake and balloon were Old Olive (candle), Pumpkin Pie & Summer Sun (candle flame), and Not Quite Navy (balloon).  The sprinkles were watercolored with Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Not Quite Navy.  Sahara Sand and Going Gray make for a perfect shadow below the cupcake, whose liner was paper pieced with The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Series Paper.  This DSP was also used for the horizontal strip, and the pack additionally includes fun cardstock-weight die-cuts.  Our watercolor paper is wonderfully thick, and works fabulously for watercoloring!  I don't show it in the photo (forgot to add it in), but I used the coordinating Cupcakes wheel and VersaMark on a Kraft envelope to match the card.

Birthday Cupcake card:  Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set; Jet Black StazOn; Kraft cardstock; Soft Suede and Crushed Curry textured cardstock; Watercolor Paper; The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Series Paper; Neutrals and Earth Elements Watercolor Wonder Crayons; Signo White Gel Pen; Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

Sweet Glitter!

Good afternoon!  I am really excited today that I was chosen as an Pals Paper Arts Artist Pick for this week.. woohoo!

I decided to break out a product I'd had for a while, but hadn't used - the Sticky Cuts Sweet package.  These are awesome!  The package comes with two 12x12" sheets of die-cut words and images that are "sticky" on both sides.  You simply punch them out of the sheet, peel the white backing sheet off, and stick it on to your project.  Once you have it down, you peel off the orange top sheet, revealing the sticky surface.  Shake some glitter or some beads on, and you're good to go!  I only have Dazzling Diamonds glitter (for now), so I thought they'd look pretty against some contrasting paper, and paired up with the Blooms Die Cuts.

Love it!!  The package also comes with some trees, hearts, butterflies, and leaves, as well as the words "sweet", "love" and "friend".  There's even a little space on the sheet if you'd like to punch out your own images!  (Stampin' Up! also sells just the sheets that you can punch and die-cut to your heart's content.)  On the card, I didn't want the ribbon going all the way across, so I just used my craft knife to slice out a slit for my ribbon.  And the 1/2" circle punch is the perfect size for flower centers!

By the way.. there is less than a week until Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Online Extravaganza sale!  You won't want to miss this sale, where you can save up to 50% on fabulous products!  Things sell out very quickly during this sale, so I will be sending a reminder to all of my customers when the sale starts.  If you are not on my email list, and would like to be, please click on over to my Stampin' Up! website and click on "Request My Newsletter".

Wonderful Special Day card:  (no stamping this time!)  Whisper White and Soft Suede textured cardstock; Kraft cardstock; Blooms Die Cuts (Old Olive); Whisper White organza ribbon; Chit-Chat Rub Ons; Eyelet Border Punch

SASC31 - Dasher Christmas

Hi there!

It's been a while since I've used the Scallop Circle Bigz die, and this sketch from Stampin' Addicts was perfect for it.

I used the flash on the camera so that you could see the pretty shimmer from the Champagne Mist shimmer paint.  Dasher was inked up first with Chocolate Chip, then Champagne Mist shimmer paint was sponged on before stamping.  The snow (kind of dirty looking now that I think about it :) ) was done by masking and sponging Sahara Sand ink and Champagne Mist shimmer paint.

Dasher Christmas card:  Dasher, Snow Swirled, and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets; Chocolate Chip and Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pads; Champagne Mist shimmer paint; Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and Kraft cardstock; Scallop Circle Bigz die; Big Shot; Circle Scissors Plus; Scallop Oval punch; Large Oval punch; Chocolate Chip 3/8" taffeta ribbon; sponge daubers; Stampin' Sponges

PPA16 - Silvery Merry Christmas card

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone's enjoying their weekend so far.

This card was made for Pals Paper Arts Challenge #16.  The challenge was to make a Christmas Cheer card.  I took the opportunity to use my new Stampin' Up! exclusive Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder and some Frost White shimmer paint.  I love blues and silvers together, and of course Kraft matches everything :)

I wanted to create a foiled-leaf kind of look, so I inked it up with Bordering Blue ink, then sponged a little Frost White shimmer paint over the ink on the stamp before stamping.  The Frost White shimmer paint was also sponged over the embossed flowers.

If you have time, you should play along!  Challenges are great to help get the creative juices flowing.

Silvery Merry Christmas:  Berry Christmas, Best Wishes & More, and Season of Joy stamp sets; Bordering Blue and Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads; VersaMark; Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper; Kraft, Very Vanilla, and Bordering Blue cardstock; Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker; Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder; Big Shot; Very Vanilla 3/8" taffeta ribbon, Frost White Shimmer Paint

Get Well Wishes Brick Wall card

Good evening!  Today's card uses the Brick Wall technique from this week's Splitcoaststampers newsletter:

Pretty cool, huh?  I stamped first using Old Olive Classic ink, then stamped again, offsetting the image a little bit, in Old Olive Craft ink.  The offset image was embossed with clear embossing powder.  Try it out!  And I just love the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  It comes with so many different sentiments, with something for everything you would ever need!  I can't count the number of times I have pulled it out and used it for a card.  Each sentiment even fits perfectly into the Word Window punch, which in turn layers nicely with the Modern Label punch!

Get Well Wishes card:  Of the Earth (level 1 hostess set) and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets; Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads; Old Olive Craft Stampin' Pad; Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper; Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip textured cardstock; Old Olive cardstock; Chocolate Chip 3/8" taffeta ribbon; clear embossing powder

FS136 - Great Friend card

Hi!  Here's a card I did a little while ago, and am just getting around to sharing.  I made this for Splitcoaststampers' Featured Stamper challenge #136 (FS136).  Featured Stamper challenges have you CASE a card in the featured stamper's gallery, changing two or more things on the card.  So here's my card...

Lots of times these Featured Stamper challenges are hard for me, because I'm a big SUO girl (Stampin' Up! Only.. by choice!), and a lot of them use non-Stampin' Up! images and other products.  Here's the original card, by Shannan Teubner (steubner on SCS).  Changes I made: used all Stampin' Up! products, used the leaf/stem image from Great Friend on the acetate sheet, and used the sentiment from Great Friend as well.  I also used textured Whisper White cardstock to give it more weight as a base (and I just love our textured cardstock).  What do you think?  The circle was pretty easy to cut out with our Circle Scissors Plus, and stamping on it with StazOn was a lot easier than I thought!  Our Window Sheets are great - they come as 12x12" sheets, with 2 to a pack.  The medium weight Window Sheets are 7 mil thick, and the thick Window Sheets are 20 mil thick.  The thick ones are great for making clear pillow boxes and other containers, very gorgeous.  Stampin' Up! also offers printed window sheets, which are what I'm planning on trying next!  All are great with our punches, Big Shot dies, or you can cut them with the Circle Scissors or our Craft & Rubber Scissors.

Great Friend card (FS136):  Great Friend stamp set; Jet Black and White StazOn; Whisper White textured cardstock; Basic Black, Kraft, Melon Mambo, and Old Olive cardstock; Medium Window Sheets; Vintage Brads; Scallop Edge punch; Mat Pack; Paper Piercing Tool

Belated Birthday card

So I had finally sent this out a week ago (it had been sitting around for a couple weeks!), after finally making my own envelope to it.  I, of course, just had to make a square card, but I didn't have any of Stampin' Up!'s square envelopes (which fit up to a 5-1/4" square card comfortably).  I made my own, out of some retired Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper, but I love the look of Stampin' Up!'s ultrasmooth envelopes.  Plus, you can stamp beautifully on them!

If you're wondering what to do with your ornament punch, other than to make ornaments.. look at the card more closely!  You can snip off the pointy end and make a vase.  I embossed the polka-dotted stamp from the For All You Do stamp set with VersaMark and clear powder to give it some interest.  The punch has a coordinating stamp set, Delightful Decorations, in the Holiday Mini catalog.  It also coordinates with the rub-ons on the opposite page!  I don't know about you, but I'm such a sucker for coordinating stamp sets and punches!

Belated Birthday card:  For All You Do and On Your Birthday stamp sets; Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads; Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, and Crushed Curry cardstock; VersaMark; Stampin' Up! Clear Scallop Square Bigz Die; Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags Sizzlits; clear embossing powder; sponge daubers

Decisions and Sympathy

Good morning!

I've been in a slump lately, feeling under the weather for more than a week.  Not sure what brought it on, but both myself and Seth have been feeling worse, then better, then worse, and so on.  Anyway, so I haven't been stamping much.  I'm feeling a bit better today, plus I got some new goodies this morning from Stampin' Up!

I didn't want this to be a personal blog, but I was so excited that I had to share... so many of you who know me, know that I've been having trouble figuring out what graduate program I want to go for.  Well, after researching what's here at the University of Tennessee, where Seth is studying for his Chemistry Ph.D., I've finally decided to go into Plant Sciences.  They have a great agricultural research center here, and even their own organic farm.  I found out that they are even looking for interns for the spring for this organic farm, so I applied and sent in my résumé.  The coordinator was impressed with my lab experience, and apparently they have positions open for research projects on the farm.. I even have an interview for this coming Friday!  :)

So, back to our regularly scheduled program!  Here is a card I made over the weekend for a friend.  I hope she likes it!  I'm not sure if she reads my blog, so I'll keep those details to a minimum as I want her to be surprised when she sees it.  :)

I just LOVE the Lovely as a Tree stamp set.  I held off on it for so long, thinking that I wouldn't want it to retire right after getting it.  Then I figured, so what if it retired??  It's such a gorgeous and versatile set that I would still definitely use it afterwards, and I've been depriving myself of such a beautiful set for too long.  I think it's by far the best set to use for the brayered sky technique.  My inspiration for the colors came from the beauty of nature.  Out here we get different "stages" of colors of the sunset.  One of them includes breathtaking yellows, pinks, and purples.  I just love how it turned out!

Thinking of You sympathy card:  Lovely as a Tree and Thoughts & Prayers stamp sets; VersaMark; Jet Black StazOn; Crushed Curry, So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Pale Plum, and Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pads; Bravo Burgundy and Kraft cardstock; Chocolate Chip textured cardstock; white embossing powder; Playground Designer Buttons; Button Latte Designer Buttons; Linen Thread, Scallop Edge punch; Mini Glue Dots

Tea bag holder project & video

As soon as I saw this stamp set in the Holiday Mini catalog, I had to have it!  It was also used for my Polar Bear Love card.  When I saw this sentiment, I immediately thought of warm, comforting drinks like hot chocolate, hot tea, and of course, coffee.  So I created this little holder for a tea bag, or you could even use it for a gift card or some other little goodie.  Enjoy!

YouTube video

Penguin Tea Bag Holder:  Cold & Cuddly and Snow Swirled stamp sets; Not Quite Navy and Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pads; Jet Black StazOn; Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Old Olive, and Kraft cardstock; Basic Black, Real Red, and Summer Sun Stampin' Write markers; Frost White shimmer paint; large oval and scallop oval punches; Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; Stampin' Dimensionals

Simple Medallion Thanks card & video

Here is a simple card that is easy to mass-produce.  It is similar to the one on the cover of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.

While I was making this, I actually for some reason thought the card on the SU! catalog was oriented horizontally.  I can't remember if I left that in the video or not, but looking back at the catalog, it is indeed oriented the same way as my card!  lol

Here's the video, if you'd like to see it.. view it on YouTube.

Simple Medallion card:  Medallion and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets; Melon Mambo and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads; Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, and Bermuda Bay textured cardstock; Very Vanilla cardstock; Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper; Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker; color spritzer; Very Vanilla 3/8" taffeta ribbon; Word Window Punch; Modern Label Punch

PPA14 - It's Good to Dream

Hi everyone!

I made this card for Pals Paper Arts Challenge #14.  The challenge was just to use pink.  It's been a while since I participated in a challenge, and have never taken part in a Pals Paper Arts Challenge.

I love Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo together; they make for such a gorgeous color combo.  The image from Razzle Dazzle even incorporates both colors.  I'm not sure how well you can see it, but the flower image from the same set is also stamped in Versamark to make a background.  Speaking of the background cardstock.. I love that Stampin' Up! offers 8.5x11" textured cardstock packs!  It's only in the In Colors for now, but maybe that will change.  It definitely makes for a quick textured card base without having to cut into a 12x12" piece.

Good to Dream card:  Razzle Dazzle stamp set; Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, and Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads; Versamark ink; Melon Mambo textured cardstock; Very Vanilla and Pretty in Pink cardstock; Pretty in Pink 3/8" taffeta ribbon; Filigree Designer Brads; scallop edge punch

Polar bear love!

Happy November!  Can you believe how the year's flown by?

Today's card uses one of my new favorite stamp sets, Cold and Cuddly:

Isn't the polar bear cute?  I stamped him holding the fishing pole with the gift on Very Vanilla, then cut both out.  I also stamped him a little hat and a chunk of ice to sit on.  I wanted to do something a little different in terms of a background, so I stamped a piece of Designer Series Paper from the Bella Bleu pack with snowflakes from the Snow Swirled stamp set.  Both the DSP piece and the Very Vanilla oval with the sentiment were daubed with Champagne Mist shimmer paint (love it!).  If you look closely you'll see that there's a pierced border all the way around the focal panel.

Do you like my new blog header?  I created it, easy peasy, with My Digital Studio!  I'm working on all of the other pieces to fully customize my blog.  I'm having so much fun even just going through all of the stamps and embellies in the program.  There are even some stamp sets that are ONLY available in My Digital Studio!

Polar bear love card:  Cold and Cuddly and Snow Swirled stamp sets; Not Quite Navy and Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads; StazOn Jet Black; Chocolate Chip and Real Red Stampin' Write markers; Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Very Vanilla, and Chocolate Chip cardstock; Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper; Very Vanilla 3/8" taffeta ribbon; scallop oval punch; large oval punch; Champagne Mist shimmer paint; paper piercer; mat pack

Holiday Gift Giving Guide Promotion!

It's that time of the year again.. start shopping for your holiday gifts!  Why not treat yourself while you're at it?  From November 1, 2009 - January 4, 2010, purchase $50 of items listed in the Gift Giving Guide, and receive any Décor Elements free, up to $16.95!  Our Décor Elements are so easy to put up, as well as to change whenever you see fit.  They're not just for walls, either.. use them to make custom clothing, framed art, home décor pieces, car decorations.. the possibilities are endless.

The long promo period will enable you to take advantage of it all season long, whether it be for a gift for that special someone.. or even yourself!  :) 

Click here to view the Holiday Gift Giving Guide (PDF)

Don't forget that you can shop 24/7 with me online at http://melissahuie.stampinup.net/.  Contact me if you would like to purchase a Stampin' Up! gift certificate (redeemable through me), or if you would like to set up a personal wishlist that you can email to your significant other or friends and family!