Tag Archives: Perfectly Penned

Mosaic Madness

Posted on by
1

I think Stampin’ Up! really is going to drive us to madness with all these Mosaic goodies!  The bundle has a stamp set, a punch, a TIEF (Textured Impressions Embossing Folder), and coordinating Designer Series Paper for all of our creative pleasure!

Maui Stamper Coastal Cabana Mosaic Madness Open HouseThis card was CASEd from the talented Ilina Crouse and simplified for the Open House card class over the weekend.  (Were you there?  Did you score some fabulous deals?  There were plenty to be had!!)

Coastal Cabana and Crisp Canteloupe are really luscious together – a perfect balance that’s not too pastel nor too bright.  I’m thoroughly enjoying discovering new color pairings!

Maui Stamper Mosaic Madness Perfectly PennedThe Brand New 2013-2014 catalog is live and kicking!  Skedaddle on over to my Online Store and shop your heart out.

So RemARKable! A Brights World Card Making Day

Posted on by
Reply

So glad you came back for more… at post time, it’s midnight in Hawaii, but you East Coast early risers are greeting the sun!  A special shout out to all the crazy all-night crafters at the RemARKably Hot Retreat this weekend 🙂

Choosing a favorite color family is out of the question, but the Brights are easy and fun to work with.  Face it – they’re like opening that fresh box of Crayolas on the first day of school, all shiny with their perfectly shaped crayon tops and intoxicating with that special waxy-Crayola smell.  Brights inspire me in the same way – fresh and lively!

Wouldn’t this card brighten up your birthday?  I’ve made a special effort to see that ALMOST every card in today’s blog hop can be popped into a (Stampin’ Up!) envelope and mailed without extra postage.  There are a couple of exceptions, but with rules, as I said in my first post, I make ’em, I break ’em!  The Brights just don’t seem to have any bad color combinations.

That being said, there MAY be some color combinations meant only for Very Special Friends.  Tangerine Tango and Melon Mambo sound like dancing words…or cocktails…or a dance you do while drinking (plenty!) cocktails!!  Life’s too short, and to quote my son “YOLO, Mom – You Only Live Once”.  Sounds good to me.

I struggled with a place to put a nice “Merry Christmas” on this card, but friends, if this doesn’t say it out loud I don’t know what would!  I assure you I stamped a greeting on the inside – and the insides of these cards will be part of the follow-up posts later this week – but who could argue with ornaments on a tree?  Not this girl!

Do you feel brightened up?  My Maui friends are up past their bedtimes, my Easties are greeting the day, and the Westies – well, I’m guessing most of you are sound asleep.  Bright Dreams!

Now head on over to see what Stampin’ Riri has in store for you…

Next Stop on the World Card Making Day RemARKable Blog Tour

Clean and Simple Thanks

Posted on by
2

Clean and simple isn’t a regular part of my repertoire.  It’s a style I admire, but one I find difficult to execute.  I just can’t seem to stop adding things, and before you know it my cards are covered with layers, embellishments, and road signs.  However, my son needed thank you notes.  Clean and simple fit the bill:

My Friend Thank You

 

  • My Friend and Perfectly Penned stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla card stock
  • Crumb Cake and Riding Hood Red Classic ink pads
  • Riding Hood Red 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon
  • Rhinestone jewels

My apologies;  the Riding Hood Red ribbon is retired, but Real Red is available and would be a perfect substitute.

Why don’t I make more Clean and Simple cards?  I really like them – it’s a mystery, I guess.  I don’t mind not knowing the answer.

{flashback:  Catholic Elementary school.  Classroom full of 11 year olds playing  “stump the priest” asking ridiculous questions.  His response?  A placid smile and “It’s a mystery, my child”.}

Note that this card was made before my FFIP arrived.  I could spend the next 6 months remaking cards with the FFIP to see how much better they looked.  Or I could just make new cards.  Yeah.  I think that’s what I’ll do.

 

 

 

All in Good Fun

Posted on by
Reply

I received so many incredible cards at Joan Cristo’s WOW swap at convention this year.  Honestly, I could spend an entire year creating new projects based on these beautiful cards.  I made 130 cards to swap, and yes, that was insane.  I don’t like production, and even though I made 2 different designs (so that I “only” had to create 65 of each) I found myself grumbling through the process.  Then I would remind myself of the rewards and start humming, thinking about the possibilities.

There’s something about holding a design in your hand – versus seeing a photograph of it – that inspires me.  If you’ve never participated in a swap, I highly recommend you give it a try.  There are swaps of all shapes and sizes in a variety of forums online, or your stamp club or demo team might be willing to give it a try.  Not every card will be to your taste or liking, but every card contains a possibility!

Last night at hostess club I worked from a design that I received in 3 or 4 different versions.  It’s a relatively simple design, and I’ve seen it referred to as a telescoping card.  We made our version in the bright, happy colors of the Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper:

Telescoping Big Top Birthday

  • Perfectly Penned, Ain’t Love Grand, Pennant Parade and Crazy for Cupcakes stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight and Real Red card stock
  • Big Top Birthday Designer Series paper
  • Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, and Real Red Classic ink pads
  • Daffodil Delight and Real Red Stampin’ Write markers
  • Aquapainter
  • Unibal Signo White gel pen
  • Stampin’ Sponges
  • Piercing tool, template and mat
  • Petite Pennants Builder punch
  • Silver brads 
  • Real Red 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon
  • Big Shot and ALL the Scallop Circle and Circle Bigz and Originals dies

There must have been some fumes coming off those ink pads last night!  The Piercing Tool, formerly known as the Pokey Doodle, suddenly became the Stabber.  We had balloons  and Stampin’ Sponges flying every which way, and I think we disturbed the concentration required to watch Sports Center in the other room 🙂  Ah well, all in the name of good fun and good times.

Wow cards: Due

Posted on by
2

For our second Wow card, I cased one of my own recent favorite projects:

Wisteria Best Friends

  • Best Friends and Perfectly Penned stamp sets
  • Naturals White, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush and Pear Pizazz card stock
  • Wisteria Wonder and  Concord Crush Classic ink pads
  • Vanilla Smooch Spritz
  • Big Shot and Fun Flowers Bigz L die
  • XL Two Step Bird, Boho  and Flower Builder punches
  • Neutrals buttons and White Bakers Twine

I loved that big distressed flower and brought it back in a new color scheme.  To get that look, you REALLY have to smush the individual die cuts a lot, then stack them and secure them with a button or brad, and then mist them.  The misting process softens the paper even more, and so when you do your final crush and fluff your petals crumple naturally.  The paper also holds its shape best if it has been misted and allowed to dry in place.

We had a pretty good time smushing those flowers.   It’s an excellent way to take out a little aggression, because the paper really benefits from some serious twisting and crumpling.  Once you’ve really worked it over and you start to assemble the flower, all of that crankiness seems to melt away as your blossom takes shape.  Who could be angry with a flower?

I think I’ll cut some Fun Flower shapes to have on hand for emergencies.