FM74 Show Me Your Pleats

Today's Friday Mashup challenge is to create a baby project with pleating.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with "Pleating".
2. Or Make a "Baby Theme" project .
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with "Pleating and a Baby Theme".

I hope you aren't too sick of my MDS pages yet.  It's really all I've been working on lately.  My stamps are so lonely!

My daughter went to a cute birthday party about a year ago at Snip-Its.  The kiddos got their hair braided, put on make-up and nail polish, colored a fan, and put on a fashion show.  It was adorable!

As you can see, no mashup for me today.  But a perfect excuse to use the Twitterpated kit with pleated ribbon. And I love those Candid Frames!

So I actually tweaked this page.  I thought the background was too bold, and I wanted it more faded.  I added a Whisper White Splatter stamp image (the single round one), enlarged it so it filled most the page, and then set the opacity to 60%.  What do you think now?

I really like this look.  To me, it looks like a canvas covered with weathered acrylic paint.

MDS Elements: Stamps: Vintage Overlays, Torn Edges, Splatter; Papers: Twitterpated; Color Palette: Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Gray, Whisper White;  Accessories: Twitterpated ribbon, Twitterpated button, White baker's twine, More Candid Frames, Stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sis Likes to Shop

My sister likes to shop. Not that she needs any encouragement... I made this birthday card for her. Guess she's allowed to go crazy on her birthday. ;)

I used Retro Sketches #25 for this card,

and I thought Summer Smooches was bright and lively for some fun shopping.

Stamps: Carry On; Paper: Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP; Ink: Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango; Accessories: Rhinestone jewel, White baker's twine, Circle punches, Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, Square Lattice EF, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS Circle Fun

I played along with this week's Friday Mashup again.  I had to alter the exact colors a bit, no worries!

I created a hybrid MDS card using this week's Clean&Simple sketch.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the colors "Midnight Muse, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise & Soft Suede".
2. Or Make a "Thank You" project .
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Thank You project w/ the colors Midnight Muse, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise & Soft Suede".

Here's a little hint on how I used a "cheater" rectangle as a guide for placing my circles.  I inserted a 3-3/4 x 5" Whisper White square punch into the center of the card and applied a light-colored thin matting around it.  Send this punch to the back layer, and this was my cutting line when I printed it.

Paper: Midnight Muse, Whisper White; Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots EF, Big Shot, Dimensionals: MDS Elements: Stamps: Fabulous Phrases; Papers: Pinwheels on Parade, Days to Remember; Color Palette: Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede.

Thanks for stopping by!

Scrappy Monday: Playful Polka Dots

I've been resisting the Simply Scrappin' Kit Playful Polka Dots since it was in the Summer mini  in 2011 and then available as a MDS download kit.  But, it is now 31% off through September 14, plus it was the perfect compliment for some Easter pages.  So why not?

Do you agree with me that these papers and colors are just yummy?  I'm totally going with kits in the future... so easy to coordinate papers and embellishments for quick pages.

I used Alesha's layouts ScrapSketch49 and ScrapSketch51 on mydigitalstudio.net for the photo arrangements and Sketchy Thursday's 3.10.11 double-page layout for the background.

MDS Elements: Stamps: Just Add Cake Alphabet; Papers: Playful Polka Dots; Color Palette: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red; Embellishments: Button Latte, White baker's twine, Playful Polka Dots kit.

I've started to play with the Freeform option of MDS2.  Found under the Design Center, here you can color line art images with a brush or draw your own lines.

Here I inserted a circle into my project, adjusted it into an oval, and then attached my text to the shape.  Pretty fun!  This page uses Sketchy Thursday sketch 1.28.10.  Watch the advanced training videos for step-by-step instructions.  Make sure you have the latest updates to your MDS2 software to make sure all the options work correctly.

MDS Elements: Papers: Just Add Cake; Color Palette: So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Whisper White; Accessories: Library clip, Baja Breeze grosgrain knot, Very Vanilla zig-zag stitching; Font: 2Peas Goofball.

And I wanted to share with you a page I put together for Little Missy's 4th birthday.  It is a double-page layout, but I'll share the first page here.

I was "scrap-lifting" a page I found on the internet, and I was so pleased with how adorable it came out! 

MDS Elements: Stamps: Natural Composition Overlay, Bunch of Backgrounds, Perfectly Preserved; Papers: Pinwheels on Parade, Woodland Walk; Color Palette: Summer Starfruit, Night of Navy, Raspberry Ripple, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede; Embellishments: Button Latte, Early Espresso baker's twine, Staple & Stitching; Font: Old English Text MT.

My Project 52 totals: Week 35, pages 48.

Thanks for stopping by!

FM73 Colored Sketch

It is time for another Friday Mashup challenge.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the colors "Midnight Muse, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise & Soft Suede".
2. Or Make a "Thank You" project .
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Thank You project w/ the colors Midnight Muse, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise & Soft Suede".

Today I'm sharing another digital scrapbook page using My Digital Studio 2.  No mash up this time.  I went with Summer Smooches DSP, which contained a similar color combo to the challenge one.

I used the cool trick of recoloring the embellishment (Summer Smooches brad) again, and the layout is from Sketchy Thursday 10.6.11.

Edit to add: I finished a second page over the weekend to go along with the first one.  Thought I would share that as well.

I feel like I'm missing an embellishment... not sure what.

MDS Elements: Stamps: Splatter; Papers: Whisper White textured card stock, Summer Smooches, Big Top Birthday, Soft Suede Large Polka Dots; Color Palette: Tempting Turquoise, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede; Embellishments: Very Vanilla stitching, Crumb Cake digital tape, White baker's twine, Pewter brad, Summer Smooches fabric brad; Font: Chalkduster.

My Project 52 totals: Week 34, pages 41.

Thanks for stopping by!

Great News: 31% Off Digital (Download and Print) is Extended Through September 14!

I have been working like a dog on my photobook, up late every night tweeking pages.  Who would think I would get a reprieve?  Who could expect one?  But I did!

Stampin' Up has decided to extend the 31% Off Digital sale until September 14! We know you are wrapping up summer stuff, getting everybody back to school, and things are busy. Now everybody can have a little more breathing room to finish their projects to send off to the print services. And don't forget about the 31 digital content items on sale too.  Snatch up your favorites before September 14.

Yes, we realize that this change doesn't go along with our little "31 theme," but . . . who cares? When we're talking SALE, 45 days is better than 31! In fact, you are the ones who made it happen; we decided to extend the sale because you asked for more time since there was so much going on in August with the release of MDS 2 at the same time.

Now I have a little more time to get my pages done (YAY!), so you do too!  Here's a reminder of the scoop:  All cards, photobooks, individual pages, and tags are 31% off print processing!  And there is a list below of 30 downloads and 1 digital disc (from the main catalog) that are also 31% off.  

Item	Digital Content	Retail Price	31% Off Price
127217	Floral District Collection Disc	$  23.95	$ 16.53
118115	Night and Day Designer Series Paper	$    4.95	$   3.42
129929	Candid Frames	$    2.95	$   2.04
129921	Check This Out Page Templates	$    4.95	$   3.42
129609	Blossom Builders Embellishments	$    5.95	$   4.11
128999	It's All Me Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127441	Whimsical Note Journal Template	$    1.95	$   1.35
128342	Pinwheel Daily Calendar Template	$    9.95	$   6.87
127599	Party Animal Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127600	Autumn Traditions Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127620	Grateful Heart Thanksgiving Ensemble	$  14.95	$ 10.32
126027	Playful Polka Dots Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
130066	World Traveler Photobook Template	$  17.95	$ 12.39
131221	Storybook Specialty Designer Series Paper	$    4.95	$   3.42
130850	Joyful Times Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
124463	One Great Year Digital Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
127175	Limited Edition Embellishments	$    2.95	$   2.04
129607	Walk in the Park II Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
129934	#HASHTHIS Stamp Brush Set	$    7.95	$   5.49
129923	Book of Birthdays Swatchbook Template	$  12.95	$   8.94
121071	Travel Journal Kit	$    9.95	$   6.87
129924	Get it Done Kit	$    5.95	$   4.11
129005	Sweetly Nested Framable	$    4.95	$   3.42
127758	Delight in the Day Photobook Template	$  19.95	$ 13.77
130862	Blast Off Ensemble	$  19.95	$ 13.77
129890	Little Milestone Birthdays Greeting Card	$    7.95	$   5.49
128892	Designer Gift Cards	$    4.95	$   3.42
127580	And a Happy New Year Photocard Template	$    1.95	$   1.35
127435	Thanks Tons Greeting Card Template Set	$    2.95	$   2.04
127587	Sending Glad Tidings Designer Tags Kit	$    7.95	$   5.49
127762	Gratitude Framable Designer Template	$    1.95	$   1.35

No excuses... go get busy!!  :)  Thanks for stopping by!

Do Daisies Help You Find Your Mojo?

I got a chance to stamp today... can you believe it?  Well, actually, there was no stamping involved, but there was paper, glue, and some manipulation!

I wanted to make a sunflower-like card, and also playing along with the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge, so utilizing a yellow and gray color palette.  So I'll call these daisies instead.

I also used this week's Mojo Monday sketch to help me out.

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Twitterpated DSP, Beyond the Garden DSP; Ink: Basic Gray; Accessories: Boho Blossoms punch, Dotted Scalloped Ribbon punch, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Square Lattice EF, Daisy #2 die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Vintage Hydrangea

I have one more card to share with you from the recent Dare to Get Dirty challenges on Splitcoaststampers.  This card was also a combination of inspiration and sketch challenges.

Here is the inspiration photo.  Can you tell what elements I was using in the photo?

I attempted the faux barn board technique, using white acrylic paint mixed with Summer Starfruit ink, but it didn't crack for me. :( That technique can be tricky, but I wasn't going to waste a perfectly good piece of card stock.  It still led to an interesting background texture.

Stamps: Because I Care; Paper: Summer Starfruit, Garden Green, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Garden Green DSP, Patio Party DSP, Newprint DSP; Ink: Summer Starfruit, Black Stazon, Summer Starfruit reinker, Garden Green marker; Accessories: Linen Thread, Silver mini brads, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Square Lattice EF, Big Shot, Dimensionals, White acrylic paint.

Thanks for stopping by!

SUOC52 Picture It!

Good Morning!  Today's challenge on Stampin' Up Only Challenges is to create a project featuring a photo.  I'm still working diligently on my My Digital Studio photo book, so what better project to feature a photo than another scrapbook page?

Here I am showing you my assistants, or catsistants.  We'll call what they are doing "helping".  The top is Gizmo, just hamming it up and looking pretty.  Xena is keeping all the cards in the shoebox safe and warm.  And Liesl, at the bottom, is helping or hindering my ability to play along with card challenges... I'm not sure.  As one friend said, she is thinking very hard about an inspiration challenge.

I actually created this page while playing along with the digital scrapbook challenge DGC024 Stark Contrast on Splitcoaststampers.  The challenge is to create a page with contrast or an oxymoron... mine of course is the tongue-in-cheek helpers who don't really help.  But they sure are fuzzy and cuddly!

This page uses the hostess MDS CD called Keep in Touch (in the big catalog).  Love this retro feel and the colors!!

MDS Elements: Stamps: Bliss, Keep in Touch; Papers: Keep in Touch; Color Palette: More Mustard, Sage Shadow, Early Espresso; Embellishments: Round button (recolored Sage), White baker's twine, Stitching, Keep in Touch kit; Font: Pea Diana.

My Project 52 totals: Week 34, pages 37.

Thanks for stopping by!

Scrappy Monday: More MDS2 Pages

On Splitcoaststampers, the digitial scrapbook challenge DGC023 Quote It is to use a quote on the page.  My daughter has been using the "Keep Calm" quote lately, so I thought this would make a fun page.

MDS Elements: Papers: Day in the Life; Color Palette: Pool Party, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Whisper White; Embellishments: White baker's twine, Day in the Life frames, Piece of Cake balloons; Font: Keep Calm.

Here is the digital version...

of this page from Leadership make & takes.  

A couple cool MDS2 tricks... I cropped the baker's twine to place it over the button holes.  I just hate naked buttons!  Also I was able to use two paper clips and crop the top one so it looks like it is clipping the papers.  I don't know about you, but I just couldn't figure out how to use the clip before cropping was available.  Now we are "woohoo"!  :)

MDS Elements: Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Loving Thoughts; Papers: Twitterpated, Woodland Walk; Color Palette: Lucky Limeade, Baja Breeze; Embellishments: Blossom Builders kit, Pear Pizzazz baker's twine, Brights buttons, Library clip.

I don't think this was possible in the first version of MDS, or if it was, I wasn't aware of it... I was able to open a 11 x 8-1/2" template from Sweet Details directly into my 8 x 8" photo book.  Cool!  Edit to add: it was possible to get one template to another size using a couple steps in MDS1.  If you have that version, you can see the directions here.

I actually took a couple template pages and merged them together.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do the same with a finished 8-1/2 x 11" page that I wanted to import into my photo book.  Blah, blah, blah, not the same size... waah!  Edit to add: I did find out, via the video tutorials on mydigitalstudio.net, that you can change an existing project to another size or project type (not just a template).  See the video called Project Size Conversion.  The short instructions: while your project is open, click > edit > change project size/type from the top tool bar.

MDS Elements: Two layouts from Sweet Details; Stamps: Thoughtful Overlays; Color Palette: Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze.

My Project 52 totals: Week 34, pages 34.  Hey Ma, look!  I'm caught up!  Of course I will continue to press on until the end of the month when it is printing time (31% off - don't forget!).

Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin' Addicts Holiday Catalog Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Holiday Catalog Blog Hop! Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy a selection of fabulous projects from the holiday seasonal catalog, which was released on August 1.

If you have been following the blog hop in order, you have just come from Paula's blog featuring the stamp set Googly Ghouls. Didn't she do an amazing job?

If you know me, you know I don't get into Christmas until Thanksgiving.  Thank goodness we can savor the fall and harvest time with the stamp set Perfectly Preserved.  I'll be holding on tight to the fall weather all the way through December!

Of course, the first project ya gotta make is a card.  This is my card for the Stampin' Addicts holiday seasonal catalog swap, hosted by Yapha.

How fun and easy are these new framelits, which coordinate with selected holiday catalog stamp sets?  It makes projects a breeze!  Looking closely, you see I did sew down the cotton ribbon, 'cause that's how I am.  I then ran the linen thread under the stitching with a needle to gather the ribbon and tie the button on.  I used the layout challenge CCMC-MC5 from Create with Connie and Mary.

Tip: To use more than one color on a stamp, ink the stamp in the main color, remove the ink in selected areas with a blender pen, and then color on the stamp with Stampin' Write markers.

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved; Paper: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest DSP; Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Early Espresso marker; Accessories: Natural cotton ribbon, Linen thread, Brushed bronze designer buttons, Blender pen, Square Lattice EF, Argyle EF, Finishing Touches edgelits, Cannery Set framelits, Window Frames Collection framelits, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

This set lends itself to all sorts of harvest and canning projects. 

I created a cute cinch bag with designer fabric, including a cute little tag, to hold an embellished jar of preserves.  Wouldn't this make a cute thank you or hostess gift?  Unfortunately we missed much canning this year, so store-bought preserves it is.

If you are interested in instructions for the cinch bag, I did make a similar one for November 2011 issue of Paper Crafters Sampler, Harvest Essence.  I reduced the length and width dimensions by 2" to accommodate for a smaller jar.

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved; Paper: Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest DSP; Ink: Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade marker, Raspberry Ripple marker; Accessories: Early Espresso baker's twine, Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, Brushed bronze buttons, Square Lattice EF, Bitty Banners framelits, Cannery Set framelits, Big Shot, Orchard Harvest designer fabric, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

And a recipe page is always fun for a "food" stamp set. This is hubby's world famous apple crisp.  :)

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved; Paper: Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest DSP; Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso; Accessories: Linen thread, Perfect Polka Dot EF, Cannery Set framelits, Big Shot.

And since I am eyeball deep in MDS2 photobook creation, I thought I would also use the Perfectly Preserved and Orchard Harvest downloads to create a digital scrapbook page.

Check out one of those wonderful features of MDS2 - I was able to color the corn stamp image to look like indian corn!  Fun!  This page is based on a 4.7.11 Sketchy Thursday layout.

MDS Elements: Stamps: Perfectly Preserved; Papers: Orchard Harvest DSP; Color Palette: Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple, Island Indigo; Embellishments: Candid Frames Snap Shot, Scallop Edge punch, Very Vanilla stitching; Font: You Wont Bring Me Down.

If you aren't yet a member of Stampin' Addicts, you can sign up here. Make sure you check out the next stop to see what Tanya at Tinkerin In Ink put together using Wonderfall. She's made some amazing projects.
 

 

The complete blog hop listing: 

1) Jennifer (jentimko) -- Snowflake Soiree
2) Sharon (createdbyu) -- Joyous Celebrations
3) Rhonda (rhondag) -- Watercolor Winter
4) Sara (lilyinkpad) -- Scentsational Season
5) Debra (webdeb) -- Evergreen
6) Kim (s1itcher46) -- Winter Memories
7) Mickey (MickeyRoberts) -- Border Banter
8) Yapha -- Jewish Celebrations
9) Katherine -- Toxic Treats
10) Cindy (CindyE) -- Monster Munchies
11) Betty (kittystamp) -- Frightening Feline
12) Paula (scrapshappen) -- Googly Ghouls
13) Heidi (hlw966) -- Perfectly Preserved
14) Tanya (tanya27) -- Wonderfall

Thanks for stopping by!

FM72 Scrappy Sketchy Flowers

A little sneak peek for you today.  My Friday Mashup blog post is coming slightly early, due to the Stampin' Addicts Holiday Mini Blog Hop tomorrow.  I hope you don't mind!  This week Amanda has put together a sketch for us.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with "the Sketch."
2. Or Make a project w/ a "flower or multiple flowers"
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project w/ "the Sketch and a flower or multiple flowers"

I've been working non-stop on my My Digital Studio photobook for this year.  I've got MDS on the brain; I'm not really sure how much traditional stamping I'm going to be able to accomplish this month.  I hope you don't mind if I take the sketch and adapt it to a scrappy page.

I went back to the digital scrapbooking challenges on Splitcoaststampers for some inspiration.  This one is for DGC021 Cutesy Cluster.  Some fun MDS 2 details I used: I recolored the paper button and Downtown Grunge background paper to Dusty Durango and the Soft Blooms flower to More Mustard (Crushed Curry was a bit too bright).

MDS Elements: Stamps: French Foliage, Meant to Be small dot background; Papers: Downtown Grunge, Domestic Goddess, Crumb Cake Polka Dot; Color Palette: Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip; Embellishments: Paper buttons, Soft Blooms, Bermuda Bay grosgrain knot, Tasteful Trim, Stitching, Blossom and Curly Label punches; Font: Digs My Hart.

My Project 52 totals: Week 33, pages 30.

Thanks for stopping by!

Colorful Summertime Flowers

I have another card to share with you from the recent Dare to Get Dirty challenges on Splitcoaststampers.  This card was a sketch challenge and also an inspiration challenge.

I can't resist sharing the inspiration photo; I try pretty hard to duplicate an element of the photo.  How'd I do?

And a couple close-ups of the texture and stitching.

Paper: Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Garden Green, Comfort Cafe DSP, Patio Party DSP; Accessories: Boho Blossoms punch, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Daisy #2 die, 3" Circle die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

Thanks for stopping by!