My Peek a Boo Card- Happy Watercolor

 I changed this card up slightly- Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant seemed like naturals for this card.  I love the tone on tone effect and the darker frame.  At first, I played around with the shape and size of the opening.  I wanted to use the frame from the Embossing Folders, Designer Frames but had difficulty getting the right size oval to line up in all the layers.  This first card was tricky, however, I think when I make another it will be much easier.

Supplies:
Stamp Set- Happy Watercolor
Paper- Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, WW
Ink- Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, BlackStazon
Accessories- Circle and Scallop Punches

Amazing Swap Using Happy Watercolor

 I participated in a swap recently with fellow demonstrators.  We used products from the new Occasions Catalog.  The organizer of the swap, Chrissy Ferron (one of my roommates from Convention 10 years ago!), sent this amazing card.  She called it a Peek a Boo card and the directions as to how to make it are on a video by Dawn Griffith on YouTube.  It took me awhile to figure out how to make it with my own twist but was well worth the effort.  I will post my card this weekend!

Supplies:
Stamp Set- Happy Watercolor
Paper- Coastal Cabana, WW, Foil Sheet
Inks- Coastal Cabana, StazonBlack
Accessories- On Film Framelits Dies

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 297- See Ya Later!

This is this week's sketch challenge.  I decided I wanted to use the Sale-A-Bration stamp set See Ya Later!  The sentiment "you make me HAPPY when skies are gray" suggested the colors Smokey Slate, Island Indigo, and Daffodil Delight.  I needed DSP and found Watercolor Wonder DSP that used these colors.
The card just went together after this.

Supplies:
Stamp Set- See Ya Later!
Paper- WW, Smokey Slate, Island Indigo, Watercolor Wonder DSP
Ink- Smokey Slate, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight
Accessories- Scallop Punch, Grosgrain Ribbon

Close As a Memory

Unfortunately, I have needed sympathy cards these last few weeks.  For inspiration I checked out the Occasions Galleries on Splitcoast Stampers.  A very lovely card by TexasGrammy caught my eye.  I used the same stamp and color scheme but changed the matting and background.  This was a fast and easy card to make.

Supplies:
Stamp Set- Close As a Memory
Paper- WW, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant
Ink- Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green
Accessories- Labels Collections Framelit, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder

Peaceful Petals

This was CASED from the new 2014 Occasions' Catalog- Celebrate the Everyday.  It is a fast and simple card that some of my visually impaired stampers can make with ease.  I used WW and mounted it on Strawberry Slush which I mounted on a WW card base.  Using Strawberry Slush ink I stamped three of the larger flowers and added leaves using Pear Pizzazz.  I used Black Stazon ink for the sentiment and was done!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets- Peaceful Petals
Paper- WW, Strawberry Slush
Inks- Strawberry Slush, Pear Pizzazz, Black Stazon

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 296- Costal Cabana

This week's challenge was challenging.  What could hang from a string and look logical?  At the very last hour I decided that wash might work and decided to try that.  I wanted to use bright baby colors and decided that Costal Cabana and Crisp Cantaloupe would work nicely.  I made three onesie dresses, added little white pearl buttons and hung them on a line with clothes pins.  I added the sentiment and had my card.

Supplies:
Stamp Set- Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper- Costal Cabana, WW, DSP from Winter Frost Specialty
Ink- Costal Cabana
Accessories- Clothes pins, Baker's Twine, Pearls

Clean & Simple Sketch 274

This was last week's sketch.  It looked like Swiss cheese to me!  It must have really been on my mind because I woke up suddenly one morning from a dream and knew exactly what I was going to make.  I decided to use gold paper and stars.  My sentiment was "Congratulations" and when you congratulate someone isn't it like giving them gold stars?

Supplies:
Stamp Set- Sentiment unknown
Paper- Brushed Gold, Basic Black, Retired DSP
Ink- VersaMark
Accessories- Clear Embossing Powder, Star Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

I recently joined Late Night Stampers and have been amazed at the number of daily emails and links to fabulous cards.  This card was CASED from Sandi Maclver's blog- stampingwithsandi.com  Her technique is called "Starry Night Resist" and is gorgeous!  I tweaked this card a bit to make it more my own.  Using VersaMark ink, stamp two snowflakes from the stamp set Snowflake Soiree and heat emboss using Clear Embossing Powder.  Next sponge on your lighter ink first then your darker inks (I used 3).  Then using Smooch Spritz mixed with lots of water, tap some on the card using a paint brush.  Let it dry.  Stamp a few more snowflakes using your darker ink.  Add rhinestones and you have a beautiful card.  Thank you Sandi for sharing this spectacular techniques.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets- Snowflake Soiree, Sincere Saluatations
Paper- WW
Inks- VersaMark, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Island Indigo
Accessories- Clear Embossing Powder, Smooch Spritz, Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 295

What do you do when you want to make a Valentine's Day card and you cannot find any Valentine stamps in your stash? You get creative and use hearts.  I used the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder for the white heart and inked the Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder in Real Red before putting it through the Big Shot.  The polka dotted heart still needed something so I used a retired border punch with hearts, trimmed it, and carefully shaped it to the back of the heart.  Since I could not find a Happy Valentine's Day sentiment I used a retired "always" stamp.  I think it works.

Supplies:
Stamp Set- Small Script (retired)
Paper- WW, Real Red, Basic Black
Ink- Real Red
Accessories- Perfect Polka Dots and Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folders, retired hearts border punch

New 2014 Occasion Catalog is Here!!!

The new 2014 Occasion Catalog is here!  Thirty-nine pages of brand new stamps, accessories and ideas.  Lots and lots of ideas!  If you have not gotten your copy yet, click on the catalog on the lower left hand side and enjoy!

Clean & Simple Challenge 272- Flaky Friends

What would I do without my snowmen stamps?  They are perfect for thank cards.  Who wants cards with flowers on them yet?  After receiving another foot of snow these last two days, I might change my mind and be ready for my flower stamps real soon!!!!

Day 2 of NO SCHOOL has left me with plenty of time to read by the fire and stamp.  Yesterday I made this whimsical card based on the Clean & Simple Challenge 272.  I greatly appreciate that this blog has a new challenge each week yet each challenge runs for 2 weeks.  This gives me plenty of time to create.  I used my new watercolor pencils and made 10 of this card.  I need a few more thank you cards so I might make a few more today.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets- Flaky Friends, Peaceful Petals (in the new catalog!)
Paper- WW, Pacific Point
Ink- Stazon Black, Pacific Point
Accessories- watercolor pencils, Blender Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Clean & Simple Challenge 273- Happy Watercolor

Happy New Year!  I am hoping everyone has a healthy and happy New Year.  Here in New Hampshire it is down right cold with temperatures dipping below zero  tonight along with an approaching snowstorm. I am suppose to go back to school tomorrow and it will be very interesting to see if that will happen.  If I do not have school either Thursday or Friday- you can guess what I will be doing.  I can guarantee it will not be shoveling!!!!

I have finally started using my new stamps from the Occasions Catalog that begins tomorrow.  I love water coloring especially using watercolor pencils. My son got me more pencils for Christmas and I am loving them.

For this challenge you were supposed to use Washi tape.  i did not have any the right colors so I made my own.  Using a clear block I inked it up and stamped on tissue paper.  Next I stamped an image from the Sale-A-Bration set- You're Lovely and stamped on top of the inked tissue paper.  Then I cut it out and using SNAIL adhesive I attached it to my card.  It works for me!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets- Happy Watercolor, You're Lovely, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper- WW, Strawberry Slush, Watercolorpaper
Ink- Stazon Black, Daffodil Delight
Accessories- watercolor pencils, Blender Pen, Rhinestone