Baja Breeze is Coming Back!

Stampin' Up announced new color families earlier this week.  Some colors will be retiring (I'll miss you Ruby Red!) but there will be additional colors that were formally retired In Colors (whoop whoop Baja Breeze!) as well as a few BRAND new colors.  Are you as excited as me???  Check out the new color families by clicking on the link to the right. 

So...down to business.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to stamp and continue to stock up on thank you cards.  This is what I came up with. 

Sweet Deets:
Stamps:  Elegant Thank You
Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Going Grey DSP
Ink: Going Grey
Accessories:  Large Oval Punch, Non-SU Ribbon

Mother's Day Cards

Whew! It's been a LONG time since I've gotten to sit down and do some stamping.  The good news is I got to finally sit down a few days ago and got a few projects completed.  Here is the first of them - a few mother's day cards.  

For the card on the left, I carefully cut along the perforations of one top note to layer onto the second.
The border on the right card was created using the scallop trim border punch along all four sides.  I haven't perfected the corners so that they are all similar.  That will just have to be a work in progress.

Sweet Deets:
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Whisper White Retired Ginger
Blossom DSP
Stamps: Well Scripted
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Top Note Big Shot Die, Large Oval Punch, Flower Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch

JAI9 Challenge

I finally got the time to do some more stamping!  Tonight, I got caught up on some scrapbook pages and incorporated a sketch challenge in at the same time.  I played along at Just Add Ink sketch challenge.

Here is what I came up with:

I centered the photo on a strip of mellow moss paper.  Then, I added brushed gold brads to the top and bottom corners.  I ripped the edges of the brown paper to add some texture and extra interest.  The flowers on the top left corner were created using the poppin' pastel technique with a two step stamp.  A few weeks ago I received one of my favorite stamp sets - Define Your Life!  I just love all the different words and definitions!  It was hard to use pick just one to use on this page!  I think they are just perfect for scrapbook pages.  Here's the close-up.

Sweet Deets:
Paper: DSP (Non-SU)
Cardstock:  Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa
Stamps: Define Your Life, Botanical Blooms
Accessories:  Brads, Stampin' Write Markers (Mellow Moss and Close to Cocoa), Stampin' Pastels (Barely Banana, Close to Cocoa), Sponge

Now This is Some Green Tea I Could Enjoy!

I am forever trying to make myself drink tea.  I have lost track of how many different kinds I have tried - black, green, herbal, peppermint...none of which suits me.  I'm too much of a coffee girl.  But - after I made this card, I decided the sponged edges of the vanilla card stock reminded me of green tea!

 I stamped the flower on a piece of vanilla cardstock and colored the flowers purple.  Then I layered it with Baha Breeze.  To achieve a continual torn affect on the side, I attached the ribbon to the left side of the celery cardstock; the attached the cardstock to the left side of the card.  I distressed the edge by tearing the edge of the card on the right side.  When I got to the strip of celery paper, I tore both at once.  Then, I was able to attach the ribbon to the torn side of the strip of celery and glue it all down. 

Like the card holder???  I made this cute little thing with a large binder clip at a workshop by this demonstrator.  Stay tuned for my design later this week.

Sweet Deets: 
Paper: Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze
Ink: Black Stazon
Stamps: Embrace Life
Accessories: "Baja Breeze" Ribbon (Non SU)

*All supplies Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted. 

Mambo Sand

This just might be one of my all-time favorite color combinations!  I love bright colors and was so excited to see Melon Mambo as one of the new In Colors.  To really tone down the pink, I paired it with white and sahara sand.  The stamp set  and DSP are from last year's Sale-A-Bration.  The flower stamps are one of my favorite flower sets.  I only used Certainly Celery for the leaves.  To achieve a contrast between the outline and inside of the leaves, I first stamped the leaves on a sheet of paper, and then on my card.  This gives you a lighter image in the same color.  I did the same with the flowers to tone the color down a bit. 

 Sweet Deets:
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Sahara Sand DSP
Ink: Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery
Stamps: Botanical Blooms
Accessories: Taffeta Ribbon


*All supplies Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted.

A Star is Born

I never know when you need a quick baby card.  This is the baby girl version - I'm still working out the color combo for the baby boy version.  I had some pink and brown polka dot ribbon I found in the dollar bin at a craft store and I couldn't find a use for it until now!  I distressed the edges of each layer of cardstock to add some additional interest to the card.  I stamped the stars, cut them out, and the used dimensionals to pop them up on the ribbon. 

Sweet Deets:
Paper: So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Stamps: Warm Words
Accessories: Polka Dot Ribbon (NON SU)

*All supplies Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted.

I Took the Plunge!!!!

No, not that one.  At least not until July ;)  I did however become a Stampin' Up Demonstrator this past week!   Then, on Saturday I had the opportunity to do something I haven't seemed to be able to do in a long time - get together with some friend for an afternoon of stamping!  I used some of my friend's supplies to make the two versions of this card. I used the scallop edge punch on the bottom of my card.  Next, I punched out 4 of the curly label squares.  Then I randomly stamped the image using black Stazon. I colored them with my markers and placed them in a window pattern using stampin' dimensionals.  The card lacked something, so I stamped one of the accents from the stamp set in VersaMark. 

Sweet Deets:
Paper: Elegant Eggplant / Rose Red, Whisper White
Stamps: Doodle This
Ink: VersaMark, Black Stazon
Accessories:  Curly Label Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Write Markers (Lovely Lilac, Elegant Eggplant, Creamy Caramel) / (Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Creamy Caramel)

Happy Baby

The bad new is I haven't had much time for stamping lately.  The good news is I get to stamp all afternoon on Saturday AND I just signed up to become a demonstrator.  *Yay*  So tonight I finally got around to putting together a baby present for a friend.  Her husband happens to be in the construction/enginereeing industry so I thought this little shirt was a great find!  Naturally I used the shirt as my color inspiration.  Don't you just love easy inspiration? I sure do :)

Sweet Deets:
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Kraft, Bashful Blue
DSP Paper Pack, Night of Navy
Stamps: Wonderful Words

Wine + Stamping = Pretty Good Idea

Today was just one of those days at work...too much to do, too little time, and everytime I went to sit down and take a breath I hear Ms. K!!!!! And in walks one of my little angels with another new problem.  *Sigh*  Needless to say, I came home to do my favorite thing on one of these days: Drink Wine, watch Brothers and Sisters, and turn off all the lights.  Then I thought to myself, hmmm, the colors on this wine bottle would make a pretty cute card.  Next thing I knew, I was sitting at my desk getting ready to stamp and here is what I came up with!  I can't take all the credit for the layout but I can't remember where I've seen it before.  So whoever you are - thanks!

Instead of sending this out, I am sending it to myself to hang by my desk for those days when I forget to remember that for my students, THIS is their life and THEIR real world.

Sweet Deets:

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Melon Mambo, Brilliant Blue, Basic Black

Stamps: Dream a Little, Embrace Life

Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Weekend! Spring is just around the corner, can you feel it???  Here's a little something I sent to some friends to bring some springtime happiness in the midst of melting snow. 

 

All the flower pots had different colored bottoms (I was using up DSP scraps).  The directions are in the splitcoast technique spotlight.   I used taffetta ribbon and colored in to match the color of the flowerpot.  I stamped the sentiment and punched it with the large oval punch.  Then, I sponged the edges with Melon Mambo.  I stamped the sentiment in melon mambo then with a wet Q-Tip, wiped off  all the words except "friendship."  Then I used pumpkin pie to color the rest of the words.  (If you had the Incolor markers, you could eliminate this q-tip mess).  The ribbon was colored to match the flower pot with using the markers on taffetta ribbon.  The direction on splitcoast tell you to tie the ribbon to keep the flower pot closed, but I had a hard time with that.  So, I used to brads on the edges to keep it closed and then the ribbon didn't have to be super-tight. 

Sweet Deets:

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Whisper White

Stamps: Wings of Friendship

DSP: Always Artichoke, Razzleberry Lemonade

Accessories: Taffetta Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie and Always Artichoke Stampin Write Markers, brads,

A Lil' Treat

Here is a little something I created for the mentoring group I am in.  There are 10 girls and each girl has her own mentor.  We meet every Thursday for homework, life skills, a healthy but tastey dinner, and a craft project that will eventually go into her *NEW* room!

I made small, skinney boxes and adhered some DSP to the front.  I decided the "folllow your heart" stamp was the perfect Valentine's Day sentiment for the girls.  To give the oval a little dimension, I sponged the edges in melon mambo.  I left the back of the box blank so I could write a little message to each of the girls and filled the box with some Sweet Tart conversation heart packets for a tastey little treat!

Sweet Deets:

Paper: Melon Mambo, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo

Stamps: Whimsical Words

Accessories: Large oval punch, sponge

Cake Recipe

I've gotten some requests for the recipe for the Valentine's Day Cake (Posted below).  The hardest part is the icing.  Actually, it just requires patience, which I seem to run out of sometimes.

Cake:
2 c. Flour
1 c. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 c. Unsweetened Cocoa
1 c. Hot Water
1 c. Miracle Whip (any mayo, but we've always used Miracle Whip)

Sift the dry ingrediants together.  Stir the hot water into the Miracle Whip.  Add to dry ingrediants and mix well.  Grease and flour two 8" round cake pans.  Divide the cake batter evenly between the two pans.  Bake at 350* for 30 minutes.

Boiled Icing:
1/3 c. Water
1 c. Granulated Sugar
1 tsp. Corn Syrup
1/8 tsp. salt
2 egg shites
1 tsp. Vanilla
2-3 Tbsp. Powdered Sugar

Combine the water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil without stirring.  Continue boiling until the mixture "spins" when dropped from a spoon.  (This usually takes 7-8 minutes if you keep the heat on high and continue stiring once the mixture comes to a boil.)  It is important that this happens or the icing won't set up right.
Meanwhile, beat the egg whites until stiff but slightly moist.  Continue beating and drizzle the sugar mixture in slowly.  Add the vanilla.   Beat on high for anoother 1-2 minutes.  If this icing is not stiff, add powdered sugar 1 TB at a time and beat on high for 1-2 minutes. 

When I ice the cake, I add crushed peppermint candies between the layers.  Before I add the candies on the top, I use the spatula to "spike" the icing up.  A flat top for the cake works best because the icing will start to slide off the cake after a couple days.  (So eat up quickly!)

Valentine's Day Fun!

I've been having a craving for some yummy chocolate cake; so for Valentine's Day I made my mom's recipe for Devil's Food Cake.  It's actually a chocolate mayo cake, some people call it Depression Cake and it is absolutely delicious!  After I made the cake, I thought, now I have to make the boiled icing with crushed candy cakes on top like my mom used to do.  All of a sudden, my cake became inspiration for a card.  My good friend back home has a birthday coming up, she loves the chocolate chip cardstock and her house is decorated in red so I thought this would make the perfect inspiration for her birthday card!  Here is what I came up with...

First, I tore the edges of the red, white, and DPS.  Then, I did a little sponging on the edges with chocolate chip ink to tone down the color a bit.  Next, I distressed the edges with a bone folder and some scissors (use old scissors, this dulls the blades quickly).  I layered all of this and tied a red ribbon around the top.  Next, I punched out the sentiment, again sponging the edges in chocolate chip.  Finallly, I stamped, colored, and cut out cupcakes.  To attach them, I popped the sentimate and one of the cupcakes.

 

Sweet Deets (All Stampin' Up:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

DSP: Real Red

Ink: Real Read, Chocolate chip

Stamp Sets: Cause for Celebration, Whimsical Words

Techniques: Sponging, Tearing, Distressing

Accessories: Pop Dots, Sponge, Larve Oval Punch, Holiday Ribbon (non-SU)

JAI4 Color challenge

This challenge from "Just Add Ink" uses red rose, sage shadow, more mustard, and kraft.  I used more mustard DSP to make a flower with the dahlia fold I saw on splitcoast. 

the, I layered the paper,  using only the corners of kraft.  Lastly, I stamped the "congratulations," punched the bottom, put brads on the top, and used pop dots to add more dimension.  

Sweet Deets:

Paper: Rose Red, Kraft, Sage Shadow

DSP: More Mustard

Ink: Rose Red

Stamps: Well-Scripted

Accessories: Spiral Punch, Brads, Pop Dots

Techniques: Dahlia Fold.

Cabin Fever Round 2

Here is another thank you card.  This one is quick and simple.  I created using whisper white, rose red, raspberry tart DSP and "Fresh Cuts" stamp set. 

My other Hobby

Here is my other hobby.  Keeping still for a long movie is not my forte, so took up crocheting again.  Long ago, my mother taught me and last Christmas I finally finished a blanket I start in high school with my college colors.  See how easy it was to crochet AND pay attention to a real good movie, I made another blanket for a Christmas gift, and then soon I was making hats!  Here is one I created for myself to match a scarf I already had.  I found the pattern in a book titled "Cool Crocheted Hats" and used "Vanna's Choice" yarn. 

Here are my sister and I in our matching hats at Christmas time. 

Thank You Notes

Since I was a shut in due to the immense snow, I decided it was a great time to get to work on my thank you cards for bridal showers.  This card was a bit intricate to create in masses, so I only made a dozen.  Anway - I used the same layout as this beautiful card.  On the white card, I layered Tempting Turquoise, Camero Coral, and three panals of Ginger Blossom DSP (retired).  Then, I punched a chocolate chip  scallop circle, stamped the "you're too kind" in cameo coral, and punched that with a circle punch.  Next, I stamped the flower and attached it with a small brad.  Finally, I tied a knot on the top with a favorite ribbon at the moment - Satin Chocolate Chip. 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):

Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Whimsical Words
Ink: Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise
DSP: Ginger Blossom (Retired)
CS: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: 5/8" Satin Chocolate Chip Ribbon, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Antique Brads(from recollections)

Cabin Fever - Round 1

Cabin Fever has gotten the best of me - and my stamping supplies!  I ran out of one of my favorites - Old Olive :(  What is a girl to do?  So...I did some serious time on the internet browsing blogs and splitcoast, got color challenges from my favorite demonstrator, and sat down to get to work!  One of my color challenges I found was pumpkin pie, pink passion, whisper white, and basic black.  I stamped the background with the large flower from "Time Well Spent" then added some color with my markers.  I punched a film strip with the spiral punch, added more colored flower from "Time Well Spent," and VIOLA, a birthday card for a friend.