Scrappy Monday: Giving MDS 2 a Whirl

Hi Ladies, Don't forget to be working on your digital scrapbooks this month, so you can submit them for printing at 31% off by month's end.  I am working diligently on mine.  I always finish up a book during the year (a sale is just the ticket to spur me on), and just hit print several times for some Christmas gifts.

Stampin' Up has posted some (many) quick and easy MDS 2 videos on the mydigitalstudio.com website, under >Training > Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced.  I am currently working my way through these.  What a great way to see and learn what MDS 2 can do!

I wanted to share a couple pages I put together.  This one focuses on the photos, but uses some features of MDS 2.

Here I inserted a new photo layout, which comes with rounded corners, then I moved it around a bit.  The splatter stamp brush images are new and really fun!  And check out that button.  I inserted a paper button embellishment, and then I changed the color(!) to match the Summer Starfruit splatter.  What fun!!

MDS Elements: Stamps: Splatter; Color Palette: Marina Mist, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Starfruit; Embellishments: Paper button, Baja Breeze baker's twine; Font: CK Alis Handwriting.

And this page was inspired by a layout by Heather Summers.  Here I used a new fun feature of MDS 2 - I colored the butterfly stamp two different colors with the coloring tool.

MDS Elements: Stamps: Bliss, French Foliage, Vintage Overlays; Papers: Whisper White Texture, Sun Garden; Color Palette: Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight; Embellishments: Button Latte, White baker's twine, Staples, You're My Sunshine label; Font: Bradley Hand ITC.

Don't forget, you can give MDS 2 a try with a 30-day free trial.  Download it now here.

My Project 52 totals: Week 33, pages 24.

Thanks for stopping by! 

PCS August issue: Sublime Nuptials

The August issue of Paper Crafters Sampler is up and running.

Sublime Nuptials features elegant and beautiful Fall wedding cards and favors, but by no means are these projects limited to the Fall.  A quick change of colors will adapt these wonderful creations to any season.

Here is a glimpse of my project.

The template for this month is a beautiful Swan Boat table decor project.  Melanie outdid herself!  It is so lovely and elegant; I can't wait to make one!  Stop by Paper Crafters Sampler if you would like to purchase a copy of this month's issue for yourself.

Thanks for stopping by!

FM71 Black & White Bling

Another Friday Mashup challenge...

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project using " Black N' White Only ."
2. Or Make a project with " Some Bling ".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Black N' White Project with some Bling! "

Black & white makes one think of formal occasions, and the photo above pushes you further in that direction.  But I thought I would try something different.  While surfing around last weekend, I came across a crazy and cool Retro Sketch I hadn't seen before.

It was perfect for some collage work.  I bought the set Clockworks for a blog hop, and I didn't end up using it, so it hadn't seen ink yet.  I usually don't put stamp sets away until I use them at least once, and it was laying there nagging me.  So let's get this sketch and stamp set together, shall we?

Working in only black & white is definitely a challenge!  I went with different ways to make the same thing, like the pennant flags (plain card stock, embossed, and DSP) or the splatter (stamp and spritzer tool).  Overall, I think it came out pretty cool.

Stamps: Clockworks, Loving Thoughts; Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Howlstooth & Scarringbone DSP; Ink: Basic Black, Basic Black marker; Accessories: Rhinestone jewels, Silver mini brad, Black taffeta ribbon, Cog punch, Color spritzer tool, Square Lattice EF, Apothecary Accents framelits, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Big Shot, Dimensionals.


Thanks for stopping by!

Fabric Sale... While Supplies Last

Good Morning,

If you love fabric, Stampin' Up has a fantastic offer!  They are offering discontinued fabric for only $0.99 on any type of order (workshop, customer, or online), while supplies last!

Item	Description	Price
121716	Deck the Halls Designer Fabric	$0.99
121715	Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric	$0.99
121817	Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric	$0.99
121818	Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric	$0.99

If you love these patterns, and would like to stock up for a project, I would recommend you place an order right away through my demonstrator website.

Happy sewing, and thanks for stopping by!

Dare to Get Dirty Challenges

I got a change to play last week... I love to play along with challenges to make cards, just because.  When they don't have a specific purpose, you can go in any direction, and you never know what might come out of it.

I'll share a couple cards I made... I can't really tell you what the challange was.  It's a secret (unless of course you are a member of the Splitcoaststampers Fan Club).

This one uses a retired die-cut called Tulipe.  I actually broke it out of the packaging for the challenge.  'Bout time, eh?

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Whisper White; Ink: Basic Black marker; Accessories: White baker's twine, Pearl jewels, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, Finial Press EF, Tulipe die, Big Shot, Dimensionals. 

My daughter had a birthday party to attend, so in this case I combined a challenge and a to-do task.

Stamps: Sincere Salutations; Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Polka Dot Parade DSP; Ink: Pacific Point; Accessories: White gel pen, Small Circle punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, Perfect Pennant die, Circles #2 die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

And the last sample I'll share for now... I saw one sample in the gallery which got me thinking about making some poppies.  I came up with this crazy card.

I did a bit of sewing on the ribbon, and used the reinker spreader technique on the poppies.  In this picture you can see the Shimmery White card stock.

It is eclectic, but I really like all the details.  Super fun sketch (oops, did I just say that?  :) )

Stamps: Fabulous Florets; Paper: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Lucky Limeade, Shimmery White, Pocketful of Posies, First Edition DSP; Ink: Lucky Limeade, Black Stazon, Poppy Parade reinker, Tangerine Tango reinker; Accessories: Poppy Parade ribbon, Night of Navy ribbon, Corner Rounder punch, Aquapainter, Coluzzle, Ovals #2 die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

 Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my challenge cards.  Thanks for stopping by!

SUOC51 Color Blocking with DSP

Today on Stampin' Up Only Challenges, we are making projects with all the wonderful designer series papers options Stampin' Up offers.  And how can you not love them, when they coordinate so beautifully with the card stock and embellishments?

There are a few ways to really showcase a pack of DSP, and one is to use little scraps to make some color blocking patterns.  All these pieces come from the same pack, and don't they work beautifully together?

I thought the dahlia would work as a cute little blossom in the branch.

Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms; Paper: Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Floral District DSP; Ink: Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry; Accessories: In Color Dahlias, Brights buttons, White baker's twine, Square Lattice EF, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sponging Silhouettes

Time to play with a new stamp set, Serene Silhouettes, that is staring at me for our downline meeting.  I couldn't get away from the idea of doing a sky-type background for this image, but I wanted to use something simpler than brayering.  So for the background, I sponged sunset colors by rubbing the sponge over Whisper White card stock, rather than dabbing, in three distinct areas.  I then went over the borders of the layers by blending (sponging) them with the lighter color.

I tried to use some new items on this card, such as the Apothecary Accents framelits and new paper piercing pack.

I kept it clean and simple so the eye is drawn to the focal point.  I need a sentiment that says, "Take a moment..." or something like that.

Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Fabulous Phrases; Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink: More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Basic Black craft; Accessories: Clear EP, Piercing tool, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Simply Scored, Sponges, Square Lattice EF, Apothecary Accents framelits, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!