Category Archives: Stampin' Up!

One stamp, a thousand cards

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I know I’ve said that if I could take only one stamp set to a desert island I would take Vintage Vogue, but if I could take only one stamp all by it’s lonesome I would take Medallion.

Happy Anniversary Medallion

  • Medallion, French Script and Linen (retired) background stamps; Teeny Tiny Wishes
  • Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze (retired) card stock
  • Baja Breeze, Mellow Moss and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads; Versamark ink
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in solution with rubbing alcohol as Shimmer Spray
  • Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon, Circle Ice Rhinestone brads, Photo Corner punch
  • Embossing Buddy, Clear Embossing powder and Heat Tool

I used the photo corner punch to make the points on the little banner, and I embossed the Not Quite Navy circle from the Medallion background stamp to add texture. Oh and ps, I relied on my favorite all time color combo of blues and greens.  You know this is a special card because I dug into my stash of retired Baja Breeze card stock!

My amazing husband and I celebrated 29 years of married on Easter Sunday.  It was a busy day filled with church and family (including skype conversations with the West Coast and Perth, Australia – lots of time zone math) plus dinner and a trip over to the beach to drink a little champagne and watch the sun go down.  I’m so blessed to be married to my best friend, and I wanted a special card to tell him how much he means to me.  My theme was “Classic Masculine Romance” – not quite sure I hit it, but I’m pleased with the card all the same.  He liked it too.

Happy Birthday, Carol

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Today my oldest daughter celebrates her birthday…except of course she’s in Australia where it’s tomorrow, so she celebrated it yesterday.  I think.  Can you blame me for being confused?  I hope she’s gotten her package, and here’s what I tucked inside:

Happy Birthday Carol

  • Build a Roo stamp set
  • Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Blush Blossom and Pixie Pink card stock
  • Blush Blossom and Soft Suede Classic ink pads
  • Soft Suede and Pixie Pink ink refill and Stampin’ Write marker; the Aquapainter
  • Corner Rounder, Scallop Trim border punch and Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon

Love that little joey in the pocket!  I like to stamp the joey on a scrap, trim it and attach it with Tombo – there’s a little more dimension that way and it seems more real.

I took a deep breath and wrote my own sentiment.  I always worry I’ll mess it up but for this card I knew just what I wanted to say and nothing else would do.  Kristina Werner often hand writes her sentiments and they look great.  I just need to learn to be more bold and increase my “font” size.

Happy Easter

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Happy Easter

  • Embrace Life, Well Scripted, and Vintage Vogue stamp sets
  • Very Vintage jumbo wheel
  • Stazon black ink, So Saffron and Bermuda Bay Classic ink pads
  • Watercolor paper, Naturals White, Bermuda Bay, So Saffron and Basic Gray card stock
  • Aquapainter, Bermuda Bay ink refill and Champagne Mist shimmer paint
  • Stampin’ Sponge, Gray Taffeta ribbon, Big Shot and Perfect Details Texturz plate

Today Christians everywhere celebrate the triumph of life over death, light over darkness, love over hatred.  Whether or not you believe in Jesus Christ, we can all make our world just a little bit better by bringing light into our lives and choosing to love.  Happy Easter.

Courage

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I bought the Hope Happens stamp set because I liked this sentiment so much:

It Takes Courage

  • Hope Happens and Vintage Vogue stamp sets
  • Whisper White, So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise card stock
  • Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise Classic ink pads
  • Ribbon Originals Elementary, Piercing tool and mat, and scoring blade
  • Big Shot and Beautiful Wings Embosslit

It’s hard to see, but the white card base is scored  at right angles to create a texture.  I fiddled around for so long with other stuff that I ran out of steam when it came to doing what I’d planned with this scored grid, so I just used it as is.

I don’t consider myself especially courageous, and for that matter, I don’t consider myself especially grown up.  I’ve learned to ACT like a grown up at least some of the time, but being one is something altogether different.  I can dress the part, and I can certainly talk it too, but I find it hard to believe I’m really a grown up.  I suppose that to my kids and their peers I seem like a grown up, always reminding them to do responsible things like pick up after themselves and develop a budget they can stick to and tackle big problems one step at a time (hey, kids, look how I managed to nag each of you!!)  But the truth is, I have trouble with all of those things myself – that’s why I can see them so clearly in others (my kids, for example).    Real courage lies in looking honestly at ourselves, accepting what we find and stretching to become just a little bit better.  And if that’s being a grown up, well maybe I’m in the club after all.

Soft Daisies

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Here’s another shot at Poppin’ Pastels.  I had a great time with my first attempt and was anxious to try it again.  I had a lot of fun with this:

Upsy Daisy Poppin Pastels ColourQ Challenge

  • Upsy Daisy and Thank You Kindly Stamp sets
  • Linen background stamp (retired) and Very Vintage jumbo wheel
  • Versamark ink and Lavender Lace and Certainly Celery Classic ink pads
  • Whisper White, Lavender Lace, Lovely Lilac, Bermuda Bay and Certainly Celery card stock
  • Stampin’ Pastels, Piercing tool and mat and White taffeta ribbon
  • Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
  • Embossing Buddy, Clear Embossing Powder and Heat Tool

The colors came from Arielle’s ColourQ 26 challenge, and though I was skeptical at first, by the time I finished the card I was sold on this combination.  I love how the Upsy Daisy images look sort of Impressionistic.  Heaven only knows I could never do that with paint and a brush!  That’s why I love to stamp – I can’t draw worth beans.  Stamping does the drawing and I just get to be the creative genius that puts it all together 🙂

Once again I find myself apologizing for teasing you all with a retired stamp.  The Linen background stamp is one of my all time favorites, and though I’ve tried to avoid using it sometimes I just cannot resist.  It gives card stock that little extra something that causes it to stand out, and I just can’t make myself give it up.  Sorry!

20 years, and no foolin’

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It’s been 20 years since my husband, my almost-3-year-old daughter and my 7-months-pregnant self  stepped off the plane in Kahului to begin what we thought was a two year job on Maui.  Actually, stepped off the plane doesn’t really tell the story.  We’d given our daughter some Benadryl during the flight to help her sleep, and it took a little longer to kick in than we expected.  When we landed she was sound asleep and we had substantial carry-on luggage even without her and her enormous car seat.  Oh, and did I mention I was 7 months pregnant?  What WAS I thinking??

The crew that cleans the plane was so compassionate, and helped us down the stairs – back in 1990, there were no jetways in Kahului.  Someone brought a golf cart to the bottom of the steps and we loaded my still-sleeping little girl and my enormous ankles onto the cart for the trip to the baggage claim.

Fast forward 20 years…and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  Thank you, Maui.  Thank you to all the beautiful people who have been part of our lives, and for the richness of the Hawaiian culture.  Thank you for the opportunity to live in a true mixed-plate community, with the richness of many cultures blending and sometimes struggling together.  And thank you,  Lord,  for this incredible, beautiful island of mountain and beach, lava and sand, fragrant breezes and tropical blooms.  It is truly home.

  • Thank you Kindly and Embrace Life stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Basic Black, and Kraft card stock
  • Sahara Sand Classic ink pad; Stazon Black ink pad; Pretty in Pink ink refill
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and Aquapainter
  • Pink taffeta ribbon and Scallop trim border punch

10:05pm   I forgot to mention that this card was inspired by the Curtain Call Color Challenge:  CC23

Looking for a quick card?

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I think I finally “get” clean and simple.  Truth is, I was just looking for simple when I came up with this idea, and the clean part just followed along:

Happy Easter, Forest Friend

  • Forest Friends, Inspired by Nature and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • So Saffron and Whisper White card stock
  • Soft Suede and Sage Shadow Classic ink pad; Pretty in Pink Classic ink refill
  • Big Shot and Movers and Shapers XL Bigz die
  • Curly label and Scallop Trim Border punches; Aquapainter
  • So Saffron striped grosgrain ribbon and Stampin’ Dimensionals

The Movers and Shapers die is SO easy to use.  It took me a long time to spend the money – I kept thinking I could do the same thing with one of our punches.  You can get close with the punch, but you are limited to punching within a short distance of the side of the card.  The big difference, though, is that beautiful pierced border that the Bigz die puts around the opening.  That embellishment really makes a difference – and did I mention it’s quick?  You put a piece of paper on the die, run it through the Big Shot, and out comes a trimmed, scored and punched card, ready to roll.  This is the thing to use when you have a lot of cards to make.

I’m having an absolutely fabulous Saturday.  My son is driving himself all over the island to his many activities today – Scout work day, youth group project, lunch with friends (we’re meeting him there), then up to the harbor to go on a whale watch with his friends as a belated birthday celebration, and finally to the track meet (we’ll go watch him compete).  Did I mention he is DRIVING HIMSELF?????  You don’t know how happy that makes me.  I know he’s happy to have his license, but I’m telling you, I’m the one who is truly thrilled.  We’ve had some very serious discussions about maturity, responsibility, and the consequences of abusing the privilege of driving.  Each time as we wrap up, I remind him that if I have to take the keys away because he has abused his privilege, we are both going to be unhappy.  And if Mama ain’t happy, honey, ain’t nobody happy!

Happy Saturday!

An Eastern Easter Basket

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We made these baskets last night at club.  I knew if I asked them to make all the paper blossoms that are needed for THIS basket my club members would mutiny, so I adapted it to use only one.  It’s a simple basket but I find it very sweet and just right for Easter:

Eastern Blooms Easter Basket

  • Eastern Blooms stamp set
  • Whisper White, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst card stock
  • Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst Classic ink pads
  • Scallop Trim Border punch, Big Shot and Little Leaves Sizzlet
  • 1 3/8, 1 1/4, 1, 3/4 and 1/2 inch Circle Punches
  • Piercing tool and mat, Soft Subtles brads, Tombo adhesive and Sticky Strip

The basket is a 7 3/4 inch by 4 3/4 inch rectangle scored 1 1/2 inches from each side.  I use Sticky Strip to assemble it – nothing else is strong enough.  The handle is attached first with Snail (to keep it from rotating) and then with a brad.  The flower is simple – a series of graduated circles held together with a brad and then crumpled and mashed until they give you the look you want.

I went a little Scallop Trim Border crazy:

Eastern Blooms Easter basket side view

I’m so taken with that open Scallop Trim border.  You have to fuss a little to be sure you don’t end up with funny broken ends but it’s worth it.  And I’ve always loved the look of Blush Blossom with Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery.  It looks great with Barely Banana thrown into the mix too.

Easter’s almost here – are your Easter baskets ready?

And now for something completely different…

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Enough Shabby Chic, enough Tropical Brights…I’m ready for soothing images and more subdued colors:

Eastern Blooms inspired by Renee

  • Eastern Blooms stamp set
  • Blush Blossom, Sahara Sand and Gloss white card stock
  • Welcome Neighbor SAB Designer Series Paper pack
  • Old Olive and Blush Blossom Classic ink pads; White Craft ink
  • Embossing Buddy, Clear and White embossing powder, and heat tool
  • Old Olive 5/8 inch satin ribbon; white gel pen
  • Build a brad and Pop-up Glue dot

Today’s Sale-a-bration Don’t-Miss-It product is the Welcome Neighbor Designer Series paper pack.  There are great patterns and colors in this 6×6 assortment and it’s yours for free with a $50 order until March 31st.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I was inspired by a card on Renee VanStralen’s blog Stampin’ for Sanity.  I liked the look she got, but I was too lazy to get out my brayer and fill in all the spaces, so I adapted her technique with simple embossing.  There’s more than one way to achieve the look you want!  I did pull out the Embossing Buddy this time and managed to avoid those annoying white freckles.  If you’re going to use either the black or white embossing powder, you really do have to use the EB.

I debated with myself (and you would have enjoyed seeing me do that) with regards to a sentiment, but decided that the card seemed complete without it.  I often make a card without a sentiment and then add one to suit the occasion once I’m ready to send it.  I’ll add the sentiment on the inside of this card.

This card makes me feel serene.

More Kitchen Sink Stamping

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I kinda like this Kitchen Sink business.  Today’s card isn’t as busy, but I used just about every stamp set I could put my hands on.  I’ve just realized that at the end of the month, all of the Sale-a-bration stamp sets will become collector’s items!  It’s time to put them to work before that deadline:

Birthday Stack

  • Cheep Talk, Happy Moments and On a Pedestal stamp sets
  • Summer Sun, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery and Whisper White card stock
  • Rich Razzleberry and Bermuda Bay Classic ink pads;  White Craft ink pad
  • Summer Sun, Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo Stamp n Write markers
  • Stamp-a-ma-jig; White embossing powder and heat tool; blender pen
  • Scallop Trim and 3/4 inch square (retired) punches; hand-held rectangle punch (retired)
  • Bermuda Bay polka dot ribbon; Big Shot and Perfect Dots embossing folder

I got a little carried away with the colors, didn’t I?  It’s tropical 🙂

Don’t miss the Sale-a-bration set Happy Moments.  I wasn’t taken with it when I first saw the SAB offering, but once I had it and started to play with it I changed my mind.  The images lend themselves to a lot of different occasions and techniques.  You heard it here, OK?

There are a couple of tricks I used here.  First, to make that Happy Birthday Banner you just stamp your message, cut it into a strip, and trim the corners with a square punch to make perfectly even points.  And no, I forgot to use the embossing buddy,  so yes, it has white “freckles”.    The other trick is to use a blender pen to selectively remove ink from a stamp.  I stamped the entire bird from Cheep Talk with Bermuda Bay ink, then used the blender pen to remove the color from his beak and legs.  I added the color I wanted with a marker.

It’s kind of a wild card, but I like it.  Hope it makes you smile.