Retro Play

I wasn't going to do any more challenges, I swear!  I said this to myself, so I can relax and enjoy some crafting with friends and last minute excitement of pending Christmas.  Not to mention prep for Leadership, mail-in swaps, upcoming blog hops...  But I saw the inspiration photo over at Play Date Cafe... well, it reminded me of the new embossing folder coming out for Sale-a-bration.  I couldn't resist!

Retro in a couple ways, I used Retro Sketch #41 and also these blossoms are a retro 60's look.  I always think of the Partridge Family with rounded retro images and font.

Here's the Play Date Cafe inspiration images... isn't the upper left perfect for Bright Blossoms and the Vine Street embossing folder?

I really did get into this challenge.  I even imported the image into MDS so I could match the color swatches with existing colors.  Missy helped me, and she has been bugging me to "draw" with MDS.  I have a new little digital protege in the making.

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Sweet Essentials; Paper: Brilliant Blue, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Bella Bleu DSP (retired); Ink: Brilliant Blue, Brocade Blue, Crumb Cake; Accessories: Brilliant Blue button, White baker's twine, Small Circle punch, Vine Street EF, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Countdown to Christmas: More Last Minute Gift Ideas

Two weeks to go...  here's a couple ideas for quick, last-minute items.

These are some gifts I made for my stamp club members.  I had "catalog marking" items put aside for them, and I had to figure out a way to package them.

I used the hostess MDS CD Keep in Touch to make the front panel of this legal pad portfolio.  If you have a bunch of these to make, MDS is definitely a great way to go!  Here is the inside.

I added the "catalog marking kit" insert, and there is a few wish lists attached to the other side of the insert.

Here is a quick sketch of the dimensions - 

• Score 8-1/2 x 11" base at 4, 9-1/8, 9-3/8", rotate 90^o and score at 8" (i.e., 1/2" score line at bottom)
• Attach a second piece of 5 x 8" card stock base at 9-3/8" point with Sticky Strip.  This is the flap you will attach the legal pad.
• Mark 2-1/2" in both directions on the upper left corner of the 4 x 8-1/2" flap (two places) and cut off the diagonal
• Trim away the 1/2" scored strip from the bottom EXCEPT from the 4 x 8-1/2" pocket (with diagonal cut)
• Use Sticky Strip on 1/2" tab to attach and create pocket

For teacher gifts this year, I made some mini legal pad notebooks.

A little simpler notepad from the ones above, because the junior legal pads are cut in half, with no inside pocket.  I also included a matching altered RSVP pen.

The mini notebook tutorial is here, and the RSVP pen tutorial is here.

Stamps: Field Flowers; Paper: Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP, Ice Cream Parlor DSP; Ink: Peach Parfait, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Early Espresso marker; Accessories: Lucky Limeade ribbon, Color Spritzer Tool, Jr. legal notebooks, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

SUOC60 Glitter Galore

Today on Stampin' Up Only challenges, we are focusing on projects with glitter.  With a little self-reflection, I realized I don't like working with glitter.  The first card I made was so not me, so I tried again.  First I'll show you Take Two, a blingy Christmas tag.

I thought a glitter window would provide plenty of sparkle.

A few die-cut snowflakes and added touches.  I used the Sticky Pages to get glitter all over my main image.

Stamps: Christmas Lodge; Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Brushed Silver, Snow Festival DSP; Ink: Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke, Black Stazon; Accessories: Very Vanilla seam binding, Linen Thread, Dazzling Diamonds, Rhinestone Jewels, 1/2" Circle punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Trio Flower punch, Stylus, Window Collection framelits, Northern Frost decorative strip, Big Shot, Sticky Sheets, Dimensionals.

Take One: When I was flipping through the Holiday catalog, I saw the set Affection Collection.  My daughter loves this set, so I tried to channel my inner tween (or 5-year-old going on tween) to create a card with lots of pink and glitter.

I couldn't get myself to pull out lots of loose glitter when I've cleaned the house for class that night, so I went with some retired specialty patterned paper with embedded glitter and glimmer paper.  We'll see if Little Missy approves.  I think she'll like the 3-D flying wings.  ETA: She said, "That is beautiful!"  :)

Stamps: Affection Collection; Paper: Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Sending Love DSP, Love Impressions DSP, Cherry Cobbler Glimmer; Ink: Real Red, Basic Gray; Accessories: Real Red taffeta ribbon, Small Heart punch, Sewing machine, Thread, Stapler, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Trees

While crafting, I came across a die I purchased and haven't used.  Still in the package!  :o  So I used it to make a silly little card for fun.

The die is Merry Details, and it cuts the cute little trees.  It is retired now.  I think I picked it up off the clearance rack.

I used an interesting sketch from iSpy Sketch Challenge #43,

ColourQ Challenge #166, and Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge #147.

Stamps: Patterned Pine; Paper: Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Comfort Cafe DSP, Beyond the Garden DSP, Island Oasis DSP; Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Midnight Muse; Accessories: Midnight Muse ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Coluzzle, Square Lattice EF, Merry Details die, Ovals die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

The larger trees in the layout was throwing me, so I decided to try again.

This one is for Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #61 and this week's Our Creative Corner challenge (stitching and fabric).

I used a running stitch to create the yo-yo.

Paper: Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Deck the Halls DSP; Accessories: Linen thread, Early Espresso baker's twine, Always Artichoke button, Deck the Halls designer fabric, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Square Lattice EF, Merry Details die, Circles #2 die, Big Shot, Burlap, Needle, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

FM88 Sketchy Masculine Bling

I needed a masculine card.  I haven't bought many masculine sets recently, so I'm back with the leaves again (hello again Thanksgiving!). Honestly, Fall goes so quickly, and it's at that time I create some of my favorite projects.  And we are having our Thanksgiving turkey this weekend, so it's all good!  The trick is to incorporate some bling in a masculine card.

I had to try Amanda's tutorial for making dirty leaves.  A little bit of gold smooch and glimmer paper...  I went with neutral backgrounds to focus on the leaves.  And I decided to skip the sentiment.  The tulle adds such a fun texture!  Hint: Make sure you think about which way to place your leaves in the embossing folder, to get your veins going the right way.  Once you get that far, like me, you won't want to start over.  ;)

Paper: So Saffron, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Natural Composition DSP, Gold Glimmer; Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Real Red, Soft Suede; Accessories: Early Espresso Tulle, Gold Smooch Spritz, Sponges, Water spritzer, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Square Lattice EF, Woodgrain EF, Autumn Accents die, Top Note die, Big Shot.

This is my project for this week's Friday Mashup.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project using the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project with some "Bling".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "project with the Sketch showing some Bling"!

Thanks for stopping by!

3-D Thursday: Neighbor or Co-Worker Gift Ideas

Continuing the Step It Up Christmas class series from this week, today I'll highlight a couple quick projects you could use for neighbor or co-worker gifts.

We made a hot cocoa packet using the Scentsational Season set.  This is a super easy project designed by Dawn Olchefske. The card base scoring instructions are: Early Espresso 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", score straight at 4-1/4, score diagonal at 5-3/4.  This is a great way to utilize both the Simply Scored scoring tool and Diagonal Plate, which up to now hadn't come out of the box.  :o

I told you before, I love this sweater trim! This thing in the silver foil ('cause hubby asked) is a chocolate-covered mint stick... mmmmm!

Stamps: Scentsational Season; Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Candlelight Christmas DSP; Ink: Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Early Espresso marker, Versamarker; Accessories: Rhinestone Jewels, Cherry Cobbler sweater trim, 2-1/2" Circle punch, Simply Scored scoring tool, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, Hot cocoa mix, Chocolate-covered mint stick.

And I had wanted to have this decorated kraft gift box as an option for neighbor gift wrapping.  I cut, I die-cut, I ironed... my flowers were too flat.  I tried to starch my flowers, and that blasted can was giving me trouble.  I'm sorry, but there were too many roadblocks to offer this project for class.

Stamps: Daydream Medallions; Paper: Crumb Cake; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: Candlelight Christmas designer fabric, Early Espresso tulle, Brights button, White baker's twine, Fun Flowers die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Kraft Gift Box.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cascading Christmas House

Hee hee, this one is adorable!  I thought my ladies might kill me with yesterday's card, but today's will take the cake!  They wanted more details...  they may be careful for what they ask for next time!  :)

Here's some shots of the details.

This card uses the cascading card fold, which came from a technique challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.

Stamps: Daydream Medallions; Paper: Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Old Olive DSP, Close to Cocoa DSP;  Ink: Always Artichoke; Accessories: Cherry Cobbler dazzling details, Real Red taffeta ribbon, Silver mini brad, Stocking builder punch, Simply Scored scoring tool, Holiday Collection framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Glue dots, Tombo multipurpose liquid glue.

Thanks for stopping by!