So Saffron Hope

This was a really fast and easy card to put together! I wanted to try out the watercolor paper and Natural Beauty is one of my fave stamp sets!! The 'Hope' was easy enough to cut out and add to the side of the flower image ~ that adds a whole other dimension to the card I think.

I am totally into this paper distressing thing lately but I wanted to demo that you can still go back and do it with the bone folder for those that dont have the SU! cutter kit yet (my fave new tool right now!!) ----Just use your bone folder and rub it along the side of your paper like you were peeling a potato--whoola! How easy is that?!

So I thought this card could be used for any number of things----including support or sympathy.


As always, here the recipe of 'ingredients':

Stamp Sets: Natural Beauty & Floral Background
Card Stock: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Watercolor Paper
Sampin' Pads: Stazon Black, So Saffron (for background and also for flowers)
Accessories: Gingham Ribbon, AquaPainter, Bone Folder (for distressing edges of CC cardstock)

~TFL & Enjoy~

All my (customer) thanks to you

I have a workshop coming up tonight for a group of gals that get together with me about every month for a workshop. They are a super bunch of fun ladies to meet with and since it is almost December I am going to do a bit of a more detailed 'make-n-take' card with them as my present to them for another great SU! year. This will be our final project of the night. I wanted to show off the new Designer Label Punch and this is such a perfect card to do it. The tag says "All My Thanks to You" and that is exactly the way I feel to this group of gals! They are pretty experienced stampers so they should be able to get it done pretty quickly. I have everything cut and ready to go---they just need to stamp, distress, tie and assemble. They will also stamp a coordinating envelope and I will give them each one of the plastic card jackets that I was recently introduced to from a SCS'er friend! (I don't usually promote anything but SU! stuff at demos but these card jackets are really pretty cool!!)

Thank you SCS'er 'AmyR' for your total inspiration on this card!!! See her card here

As always, here are the 'ingredients' for this card:
Stamps: Seeing Spots, Designer Label, Dotted Background,
Card Stock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Marigold Morning
Stampin' Pads: Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Cranberry Crisp, Marigold Morning
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon, Cutter Kit (distressing tool) Designer Label Punch, Rectangle Punch

~TFL & Enjoy~

Close As A Memory

Sympathy cards are always something that I like to keep on hand---not fun but it is one of the occassions that we face as we live life---death.

I don't stamp a verse on the inside until I am ready to sign and send it so it can be a bit more personalized but I think this card could work well either for a guy or gal.

I adapted the colors for this card from the SU! Ribbon Originals (page 234 of the current IB&C)--I just love this stuff!! Prep School color line is what I worked with here~ ~ ~

It's hard to see in the picture but the background of the flowers is actually stamped with the Linen BG using So Saffron to give it a very subtle but 'filled in' look. The flowers were colored on the rubbah' with the Mellow Moss and Bravo Burgundy stampin' write markers and then stamped on the card stock. The 'huffing' technique was used to do this --- many of you may be familar with this. The weathered background stamped on the bravo burgundy cardstock is stamped with Versa Mark---I didnt want it to be too dark as I wanted to stamp the Sympathy verse on the front too...but I wanted it to be just dark enough that you could still see it there. Results: Perfect!

The SU! Cutter Kit (distressing tool) is one of my fave new tools!! I have used it on soo many cards lately! On this card I used it aound the edges of the Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla card stock.

Here are the 'ingredients' to this card:
Stamps: Close as a Memory, Linen BG, Weathered BG
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand
Stampin' Pads: Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Mellow Moss Stampin Write Marker, Bravo Burgundy Stampin Write Marker, Versa Mark Pad
Accessories: Cutter Kit (distressing tool), Ribbon Originals Prep School, Stampin' Dimensionals

~Enjoy & TFL~

Tribute Totally 2 Taylor

Err... maybe the title should say "Totally Cased"???

Anywhoo....I am a huge fan of Taylor VanBruggen (Taylored Expressions). Like if she were a rock star I'd go to her concerts and have to sit in the front row kinda fan...get it? *wink wink* She is such an awesome stamper---her ideas continue to amaze me!! Like where does she come up with all of her wonderful awesome ideas? I'll just keep daily tabs on her blog for the pure amazement!!

So I totally fell in love with a card she posted on November 9th---wowzers!! She just 'whipped' it up...I didnt exactly do that but I got er' done! lol I didnt have all the supplies that Taylor had but I made due. I was also trying to only use SU! supplies as I am going to demo it at a workshop next week. I probably wouldnt demo such a detailed card at a workshop but this is a group of gals that get together with me pretty much on a monthly basis to do a SU! workshop so I think they will be ok with it as far as the degree of stamping goes. Most of them have all of the 'tools' it takes to make this card so I think they will be excited to see that they too can make it with the supplies and tools that they already have at home!

The pic may not show it very well but I double stamped the background with two background stamps---Linen and French Script--in that order both using More Mustard. Amazing that the FS comes across looking a bit darker in color even though it is the same color ink!! I sponged the Cool Caribbean cardstock with Chocolate Chip ink after using the white gel pen. I used the sponge dauber on the big flower to apply the cool caribbean colors as I can get a more precise application this way. I did this after stamping the middle More Mustard flower. Then I lightly sponged this whole image using the Chocolate Chip sponge.

One thing I thought of that could possibly change the whole look of the card would be to take the large flower and do the cracked glass technique on it---that would be very pretty but add more time to the card project.....

Here is the list of 'ingredients':

Stamps: Mixed Bouquet, French Script, Linen, Tiny Talk,
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Cool Caribbean
Stampin' Pads: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Cool Caribbean
Accessories: Cutter Kit (distressing tool), Mustard Grosgrain Ribbon, Copper Metal Edge Tag, Sponge, Sponge Dauber, White Gel Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Crafters Tool Kit, 1/16" Punch, Mini Glue Dots

~TFL & Enjoy~

Like it a Latte --- Reformatted??

The air is starting to get chilly here and that that reminded me of this fun 'old' SU! set...

I just love the new stamp set in the SU! Winter Mini Catalog 'Like it a Latte'. Pictured here is a retired stamp set that I used to love and use alllll the time!

Humm.....I could totally see this same project reformatted using the new stamp set!!! Can't you??

"Nothing's better than a good friend with chocolate"

"Sending warm thoughts your way"

"I like it a latte"


Here are the 'ingredients' for the above pictured project:

Stamps: Espress Yourself
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Real Red Stampin' Write Marker, Creamy Caramel Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Cello Bags, Circle Maker, Stamped Labels to go around the chocolate bars, Gold Brad, Deco Scissors


~Enjoy & TFL~

Autumn thoughts & creations

This is getting wayyy off the rubbah' thoughts and creations but I guess it tis' my blog eh'? lol

My DH and I live out on Iowa family farmland on the edge of timber. We have no close neighbors to speak of. (ahh!!) This fall we went over to my parents place, only about 4 miles away, and brought home one of my Dad's old trucks from the grove -- I wanted to use it as a 'decoration' in our big yard---on the edge of the timber! In the spring and summer the truck bed will be a 'flower bed'! For now Mr. Scarecrow is occupying the drivers seat and the bed is full of hay bales and punkins'. Soon Santa will take the drivers seat and he will be hauling trees and gifts.

At night it is illuminated by a few spotlights on the outside as well as one on the inside of the cab ~~ it's been a fun addition to our acerage!

~TFL & Enjoy~

Simple Plaid Noble Deer

Wow! Was this a quick one or what?! ---but how fun and masculine this will be to give to the guys deserving of cards!

I am just loving the flannel plaid background stamp---I've been using it on just about everything! Humm...wonder how that would work on the walls around the house?! lol

Anywhoo....that is just grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the two corners there and just taped to the back...how simple is that? Just a bit of embellishments but not enough to over do it on a guy card! *wink wink*

Special thanks to SCS'er 'jackgofoxy1' for her inspiration---yeah!!

Here are the ingredients to this card:
Stamps: Noble Deer, Flannel Plaid
Paper: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Confetti Cream
Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Confetti Cream
Accessories: Sponge, Grosgrain Ribbon

~Enjoy & TFL~

Happy Holidays 2006

My Dad recently had knee replacement surgery. So while he was in surgery Mom and I sat in the family waiting room and made these cards! These will be their Christmas cards to send out this season. Mom was thrilled to have her cards done before they left the hospital this past week --- completed before Thanksgiving!

Special Thanks to SCS 'stamptramp72' for her inspiration for this card!! I appreciate you! Here is her card~

Here are the 'ingredients' used to complete this project:
Stamps: Flannel Plaid, Woodcut Holly Jumbo Wheel, Happy Everything
Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Kraft
Stampin' Pads: White Craft Pad, Always Artichoke Jumbo Cartridge, Handsome Hunter
Accessories: Cranberry Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Real Red Marker for berries, Heat Gun to set White Craft faster

~Enjoy & TFL~

Riveting Revisited!

So I tried to go back and add a 2nd picture to my other post a few days ago---a better picture that is! lol Once again my computer illiteratices are shining through! I figured out where you can add a second picture--but it woud not show up even though it said it uploaded it and all. So anywhoo---for anyone that reads my blog--here are two more pictures that I think turned out quite a bit better the 2nd time around!

~Enjoy & TFL~

Celebrating a la Carte

Happy Saturday to you!!

Pictured here is what kept me busy today in my stampin' space!

I prepared swaps for the upcoming SU! Winter Mini catalog. This was a fun card to do---all of the colors are from the "In Colors" SU! family and have been really fun to work with since they were released with the new catalog back in July.

What is a card swap you ask? Well it is a really fun (and addictive) way to collect card samples of all the stamp sets featured in the upcoming mini catalog without having to actually purchase all of the stamp sets to make all of the card samples myself! So for example, the upcoming mini had let's just say 16 different stamp sets or printed papers. So I made 16 of the same card front plus one extra for the hostess (the hostess gets one for the work she will do to sort them out and get them back to all of us in our pre paid packages). So when I get my package back, I will have 16 DIFFERENT cards to share with my customers showcasing the new Winter mini catalog. My investment was minimal compared to what it would have been if I were to have made all of the cards my self (let alone the time involved!) Clear as mud now? lol

Whew! Ok with that all being said, I signed up for the 'Leaves a la Carte Jumbo Wheel' spot but also wanted to use the 'Taggers Dozen' stamp set too cuz' I just lovveee anything tags --- so I tried to use them together on the same card design.

As I was coming up with a theme and a layout I thought this would make a great fall wedding card---great fall colors and it's seldom that I get wedding or anniversary card ideas through swaps. I hope the other swappers like it too!

Here are the ingredients to the card:

Stamp Sets: Leaves a la Carte Jumbo Wheel, Taggers Dozen, Linen BG, Wonderful Words
Card Stock: Marigold Morning, Vintage Violet, True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp
Stampin’ Pads: More Mustard Jumbo Cartridge, Vintage Violet, Cranberry Crisp
Accessories: Tag Punch, Small Tag Punch, 1/16” circle punch, Gold Narrow Organdy Ribbon, Gold Cord, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Cutter Kit (distressing tool), Stampin’ Around Wheel Guide

~Enjoy & TFL~

Riveting!

Hello! I have been wanting to post the past few days but have had a little snag in the plan! I was out of town...but had my laptop...I had access to wireless internet access but I was unable to attach a picture to any posts here. Now don't ask my why this was as I am computer illiterate when it comes to stuff like this!! lol So, even though I am a few days behind the plan, here goes!

My Dad recently had a birthday AND knee replacement (thus the reason I was out of town for a few days). Pictured in the foreground is the birthday card I made for him. I wanted it to look 'masculine' and I wanted to use the "Riveting" SU! Hostess stamp set. I had seen a card posted on SCS by (kellykk) and I just loved the look of using different background stamp sets.

Here is a list of supplies I used:
Stamps: Linen BG, Print Pattern BG, Weathered BG, Canvas BG, Riveting (hostess)
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Brushed Gold
Stampin Pads: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon

The base of the card is Chocolate Chip cs and I stamped the entire front of the card using the Linen BG in chocolate chip ink.

Then I stamped the Print Pattern, Weathered and Canvas background stamps on Creamy Caramel cs using Always Artichoke ink. I cut these into 3 pieces of the same size and mounted them to a piece of Always Artichoke cs.

I wrapped a piece of Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon around that piece and tied it with a knot (I can't do pretty bows so all are done in knots at my house!)

THEN I stamped the 'enjoy your day' stamp from the hostess Riveting stamp set in the top boss pad and stamped it on the brushed gold paper. I immediately sprinkled the Gold Embossing powder over it and heat set it using the heat gun. The result is an awesome gold on gold tone! Once it cooled, I used the 2 circle punches to punch it out! Then I just simply placed that behind the two tails of my knot---whoola! It's done!

Also, pictured in the same picture in the background inside the plastic card holder are thank you cards using the same design---just changing the riveting greeting to 'thanks so much'. I thought Dad could use the thank you cards to send out after his knee replacement for those that remembered him with their thoughts and prayers. So sorry the picture is soo dark. I wish I could get my pics to turn out so bright and pretty on line like others are able to achieve! I'll keep pluggin' away and tryin'!

~Enjoy & TFL~