Thursday, May 28, 2009

Eastern Blooms on a Sketch Challenge

I love my SU! DSP! This is a card of unusual size that we're making at tomorrow night's workshop. I used the layout from Sketch Challenge 12 at Stampin Addicts. The DSP is from the exclusive hostess set. Eastern Blooms is stamped in Brocade Blue and stamped off for the lighter color. The larger flowers have 2-Way glue and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. Like it? Schedule a workshop for June. SU! has a wonderful incentive for hostesses during June!

Thanks for visiting the Stamping Station.

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Wednesday, May 27, 2009

CASEing my Blogging Buddy

My blogging buddy Georgeann made this adorable card and I just had to CASE her. (Copy And Share Everything.) Georgeann has beautiful card ideas and you should see her watercoloring!
This is a THO project for Friday night's workshop and I really love it. I didn't have all of the supplies to replicate Georgeann's card exactly, so I made do with my Good Morning Sunshine DSP and the Pacific Point cardstock and ink. That color has been severely neglected by me, so it was definitely time to fix that! I love how simple this was to put together. It's a perfect way to show how a bit of DSP goes a long, long way. The little strip of blue over the DSP is the strip that you get after using the scallop edge punch. Nothing goes to waste, right? :-D Oh, and don't forget that the Stampin' Up! special on Designer Series Papers ends on Sunday. So you want that 4th pack free? Shoot me an email or order online via the catalog button on the right. I'll send you a thank you card if you do place an online order.

Supplies: Always and All Holidays stamp sets; Whisper White & Pacific Point cardstock; Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper; Pacific Point Classic Ink; Scallop Edge, Designer Label, and 1" Circle punches; white gel pen.

Thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station.

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Fifth Avenue Florals

I just love water- coloring these flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral. They're such gorgeous images and look so great with watercoloring. Of course, you don't HAVE to color them. They look great as an outline image also. This little notebook is something that I've wanted to do for awhile. I had some extra lilies from watercoloring a few days ago. I used my round tab punch to make two sections: color combinations and sketches. The spiral punch allowed me to completely cover the front of the notebook. Isn't that cool??!! This way I can have the notebook along with me, write down ideas and not lose them because they're on a scrap piece of paper. I don't know about you, but looking through magazines while waiting for an appointment is prime time for finding inspiration.
This is a special thank you to a special lady who gives of her time so freely to our school. We love her dearly and want her to know that. This card had to be special to convey that thought, so I used more watercolored flowers and my Damask texture plate. The thank you is from Beautiful Borders, a lovely set.
So, do I have you convinced yet about his technique? Want to hold a workshop so that you can learn this one? Give me a shout out. I still have a spot left in June, which would be taking advantage of the "Last Call" list before a huge number of stamp sets retire. Or July, when the new catalog is out and everyone wants to see it.


Thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station.

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Monday, May 18, 2009

It's a Sign!

Ack! I can't believe it's been since Thursday since I posted. Life sure has a way of flying. On Friday, my kids took part in their school's jog-a-thon. Prizes are usually given to the kids who earn the most money. This first card is for the highest earners in each class. It will be given to them with their prizes. There are a few retired items on this card, but I don't think the kids will mind.
This second card is for the top earners of the whole elementary. I used the glitter window technique for the yellow stars. Do you like the striped Pacific Point cardstock? It's from my Sizzix texture plates that I bought through SU. I just love the 3-D look that the texture plates give.

Well, that's it for now. Just had to share these cards with you. I'll be back (hopefully tomorrow) with more of the watercolored Fifth Avenue flowers.

Thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station.

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Thursday, May 14, 2009

Golfer's Father's Day

Yes, here's another card with To the Nines Specialty Designer Series Paper. It's just so easy to make a special card with it! Please forgive the colors - I think my photo program over-corrected the exposure. I used the Sketch Challenge 11 from Stampin' Addicts for today's card. For this sketch, Paula used a card in the Occasions Mini Catalog on pg. 4. Lesson: never, never, never throw out your catties and mini catties...they are a forever source of inspiration. I stamped golfer man in StazOn Black and then colored him with my blender pens. If you look closely, you can see the faint RELAX words behind Happy Father's Day. I stamped off twice before stamping those words so that it would create a very faint background.

Supplies:
Stamps: And Many Mower
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Naturals White, Chocolate Chip, To the Nines Specialty DSP
Ink: Always Artichoke, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Sahara Sand, StazOn Black
Accessories: Natural Hemp Twine, Paper Piercer & Foam Mat, Rich Regals Brads, Blender Pens

Thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station.

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Combined Challenges and Raspberry Tart DSP

Yes, I'm a little behind on the TAWC. Sharon gave us this challenge almost a month ago. We were to use grays and only one other color. We were also allowed to add a neutral. Since I only have Basic Gray and no Going Gray cardstock, I used brushed silver instead. The Raspberry Tart really draws the eye on this background. I've also included two challenges from Stampin' Addicts: Sketch Challenge 10 and Accessories Challenge 10. I crimped the main cardstock instead of using ribbon, paper pierced the side of the Whisper White cardstock and used the faux stitching technique, and the sketch is obviously from the challenge and was inspired by the card on page 4 of the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book and Catalog. The flower is the Simple Flower embosslit, sent through the Big Shot with the Raspberry Tart DSP. The swirls behind are from the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit. I added the half pearl from the Pretties Kit (Wow, do I love those! They really make a project pop!) and some square Fire Rhinestone Brads to finish it all off.

Thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station. Let me know how you're doing and if anything here inspired your own creations. I'd love to see them!

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Monday, May 11, 2009

Blog Candy Winner and Watercolor Rose Technique

Thank you all for participating in the blog hop. It was so much fun to take part in. And it was really fun to see which projects everyone enjoyed.

We were gone almost the whole day today, so my boys were not able to help me pick a winner. Instead, since they're all in bed, I went to random.org


and the winning number is..........














10! Debbi, you win the blog candy. Please email me your name and address so that I can send you the stamp set and ribbon.




And thank you all for playing along. Oh what fun it is to stamp and share with friends.

Now, for that Rose technique. This will work with any outline image.

First, stamp your image in Versamark on Shimmery White cardstock. (yes, from SU!)
Second, sprinkle clear EP and emboss.
Third, spritz with water until there are little puddles in between the embossed lines.
Fourth, pick up some ink from your reinker with an aquapainter and dab it on the image. The water will pull it and it will run through the water, creating a darker to lighter effect.
Fifth, use one or two more colors in other areas. Set it aside to dry.
Sixth, after it has dried, cut the image out and mount it on your project.

Try it. You WILL love it. And it's really fun to play with color combos. On my Journal, I used Riding Hood Red and Sahara Sand. On my Mother's Day card, I used Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette.

Once again, thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station. Stamp on!

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Fifth Avenue for Mother's Day

Thank you all so much for making the blog hop a huge success!

I need to get going, but my kids aren't home yet to pick the winning comment. I'll be back on tonight.

Have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Friday, May 8, 2009

Blog Hop Stop #3 - To the Nines and Blog Candy

Welcome to stop #3 of the Parade of Papers Blog Hop from Stampin' Addicts. Each of the 24 stops features a different Designer Series Paper pack from Stampin' Up! and creations by some awesome Stampin' Up! Demonstrators. If you've been hopping along, you just came from stop #2. If you just joined in, you can click on the Parade of Papers link at the beginning of this post, or start here and keep going. Just make sure you complete the circle by Sunday 05/10/09 11:59 p.m. PST. After that the links will be broken.
Stampin' Up! is celebrating Scrapbooking Month by offering a great special - buy 3 packs of Designer Series Paper or Textured 12 x 12 cardstock and receive the 4th pack FREE. What a great deal! After this blog hop, I'm thinking that I'll be buying almost all of them. And as you've seen or will be seeing, the DSP makes your projects fun, easy and special. All of the folowing projects use To the Nines DSP.
I just love this stamp set. It can be used for almost any occasion and goes well with both masculine and feminine colors.
Stamp Sest: Scene in a Garden
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Shimmery White
Ink: StazOn Black, Close to Cocoa, Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Blender Pens, Paper Piercer, Piercing Template, Foam Mat, Black Stampin' Write Marker
This bucket is from the $ spot at T*****. I punched holes along the top with the Crop-A-Dile and then threaded the Artichoke and Chocolate Chip 3/8" Grosgrain through the holes. The monogram cards were quick and simple. I made a simple box to put them in.
Stamp Sets: Oval All, Curly Labels, Ocean Commotion, Baroque Motifs, Lovely Letters
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: 3/8" Grosgrain, Hemp Twine (sponged with Artichoke ink), Pewter Jumbo Eyelet, Crop-A-Dile, Twill Tape, Small and Large Oval Punches, Crimper, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Big Shot, Scallops#2 Bigz Die, Gold Brads, Eyelet Border Punch, White Organza Ribbon (sponged with Banana chalk)
Please forgive the quality of the photograph. I just can't find a good way to take pics of scrap pages. These pages were so easy to put together. I love the interest that the Designer Papers add to it. Doesn't it create a rich look? No need to put on too many embellishments when the Designer Papers have already created the interest.
I blew this up a bit so that you could see the detail added from the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit on the journal box. Oh, and see that handsome man? I had to blow up his picture a bit more because that's my dear husband.
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White
Ink: Bravo Burgundy Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Vintage Brads, Big Shot, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit, Sweetest Stem Embosslit (sanded so that it shows some white for texture).
This is a favorite project of mine. The pop-up 3-tier cake die for the Big Shot is da bomb! Instead of putting candles or people on the top, why not create a scene? (I'm good at doing that :-D ) This is for my brother-in-law who is an avid golfer. Think he'll like it?
Here's a close-up so that you can see the little putter I made and the flowers from the Boho Blossoms Punch, sponged and glued onto a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock. I punched an oval, drew a hole on it and a golf ball.
Supplies:
3-Tier Pop-Up Cake XL Die, Big Shot, Small Oval Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Brushed Silver Cardstock, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke cardstocks.
I had so much fun making this one! To the Nines has two types of Sahara Sand patterns. I love Sahara Sand and white together. Come back and visit to find out how I made those flowers. The matching bookmark slides inside the journal and holds your place with a filigree brad flower on either side.
Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red, VersaMark
Accessories: Dress Up Ribbon Originals, Filigree Brads, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Crop-A-Dile, Big Shot, Scallop Circle Bigz Die, Circle Scissors Plus, Composition Notebook
And after all of this, I still have some more of my DSP pack left. Even after using some for two totally-hands-on workshops. Wow!
If you leave me a comment here, telling me which project is your favorite and why, I will enter you into my blog candy drawing. I will have one of my sons pick a number out of a hat and the corresponding number will win the blog candy. Please only enter for the blog candy if you live in the U.S. I'm sorry, but I can't afford to ship out of state. And if you don't have a demo, but would like to find out more about Stampin' Up!, feel free to email me or to shop online through my demonstrator website link.

I'm so glad that you stopped here on the Parade.

Thanks for visiting the Stamping Station!

Blessings,
Julie

Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Father's Day Idea

I've heard of so many people having a hard time figuring out ideas for masculine cards. So bring on the Designer Series Paper! This card was made with To the Nines, a fabulous textured designer paper. I just love how easy it is to create a wonderful card with the Designer Series Papers. With almost no effort at all! On this card, I stamped the tree in Chocolate Chip and the leaves in Sage Shadow, making sure to stamp the leaves two or three times before reinking.
The edges of the Very Vanilla papers are distressed with my Cutter Kit. Happy Father's Day found it's placement after one of my customers dropped this on an ink pad. :-( Oh well...we know that a mistake makes for new possibilities. Which is also what that Sage tree is behind the words. I meant to stamp the tree in Chocolate Chip and stamped in Sage Shadow instead. Well, we can't throw out a good piece of cardstock, now can we? So it became the background for the greeting. Now you know all my secrets to making good mistakes! See my matching hardware? The large eyelet is Pewter and the brads are from the Vintage Brads.
And now you're asking, why is she posting again? That crazy Julie, she already posted once today. Well, I just don't want you to miss out on Stampin' Up!'s fabulous special on Designer Papers. I hope you are beginning to see how much easier a creation is if you have the right Designer Paper to help you along. And to help you see the possibilities, the Blog Hop this weekend will make your DSP possibilities incredible clear!
24 Demonstrators will be posting to their blogs, each with a different pack of Designer Series Papers. I will be stop #3 with To the Nines. I have a pop-up 3-tier cake, a golfer's card, and a 2-page scrapbook layout ready to go. And I'm still coming up with more ideas. You see, there are just so many possibilities with the DSP that the ideas just keep coming and coming.
Do you have it down on your calendar? Go write the blog hop down and make sure you come to visit sometime between Friday 5 am PST and Sunday 11:59 pm PST. Because after that, the links will be broken and you won't be able to make the complete circle through the blogs and papers. Oh, and by the way, you're going to need some DSP after seeing all of the projects, so don't forget to click on that shopping button you see on the right to order your DSP. Now's the time, baby. We're going to have FUN!!
Thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Designer Paper Gift Card Bag

It's an icky wet stormy day here today in Western WA. A perfect day to put off the Costco trip (after all, why get everything wet?) and stamp instead! Yup! That's what my boys would tell me to do. They don't care if we have milk in the house or not. NOT! Well, maybe later...I'll go later. If I wait long enough, the rain will be lighter, right? Right!
I made this bag yesterday in 15 minutes! Yes! You see, Stampin' Up! has these wonderful Designer Series Papers that are soooooooo easy peasy to use. I don't need to decide on a color combo because it's already done for me. I don't need to do much embellishing because it's already done for me. I just need to create....my favorite thing to do! And this month Stampin' Up! is having a special on their Designer Series Papers. Buy 3, get one FREE! Yes! Free is at the top of my favorite words list. Want to see how beautiful these papers are and easy to use? Well, swing by here this weekend (May 8th - 10th) to see the Parade of Papers Blog Hop. I'm stop #3. I'll have a link to the stops before and after me. Each blog will have a link for you to go to the next blog and each blog will feature a different set of Designer Series Papers.
Yes! You will get to see them all! You can click on over to my website to shop online for your Designer Series Paper. You'll want some in hand for this weekend, after you see the fabulous projects and scrapbooking pages that have been made by my demonstrator friends at Stampin' Addicts. I can hardly wait for the blog hop to get started...I think you'll be blown away by what you see.
Oh...right...I did post a project here and haven't given you the deets yet...silly me! I made this by request from my middle son Nate. He had a birthday party to attend yesterday and asked me to put the gift card in "one of those bags that you made before". Uh...right...which one? Oh...THAT one! This is a 2-5-7-10 box that I modified to 2-5.5-7.5-11. I used at piece of 8 1/2 x 12 Rainbow Sherbet DSP, my Party Hearty stamp set and Stampin' Write Markers. After deciding not to use accessories (since this is for a 2nd grade boy and he wouldn't think ribbons and rhinestone brads were very cool) I decorated with popped up images instead. 15 minutes from start to finish. We have to keep it simple sometimes, right?
So make sure that you come back to visit sometime this weekend for the blog hop. You won't want to miss it and the links to the other blogs will be gone after Sunday the 10th. See you then!

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Saturday, May 2, 2009

Happy Birthday to Rain

This card was made for my friend Lorraine, who had a birthday last week. I just love her sense of humor and her Brit accent. She's such a wonderful and loving person. Since she's so wonderful, I wanted to make her a wonderful card. Her favorite color is Lilac, so I made sure to use some of it on her card. After running some vellum cardstock through the Big Shot (yes! the big shot again...not a broken record, just a really, REALLY fun tool!) I sponged Almost Amethyst over all of the petals and then highlighted some areas with Lavender Lace. I used the eyelet border punch on the edges and added some white organza ribbon. Done! Have I mentioned how much I love that Big Shot??? Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I can't help sharing my love of the wonderful effects you can create with it.

Supplies: Sincere Salutations stamp set, Almost Amethyst and Vellum Cardstocks, Almost Amethyst and Lavender Lace ink, Eyelet Border Punch, Sponge Daubers, White Organza Ribbon.

Thanks so much for stopping by the Stamping Station. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Friday, May 1, 2009

BOLO - Blog Hop Coming Up!


BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for a Parade of Paper Blog Hop to showcase each of Stampin' Up!'s beautiful Designer Series Paper packs. On May 8th and continuing ONLY through that weekend, I am part of a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from Stampin Addicts who are hosting a virtual tour through our blogs. Each blog will showcase a different package of the fabulous Designer Series Papers from Stampin' Up! and will also link to another blog participating in the Parade of Paper Blog Hop. You may start at any post, stop and pick it back up later, or visit all of them in succession. You will eventually wind up back at the blog where you started.

Just like Cinderella at the ball, however, all the fun ends at midnight on Sunday, May 10th. The tour will be over and the blog links will be broken. So check back here on Friday, May 8th at 8:00 am when the Parade of Paper Blog Hop links go active and join in the fun by clicking the links to visit all of our blogs. We hope you will be inspired by all the creative projects and beautiful scrapbooking pages and cards.

NOTE: Some blogs may have additional contests or blog candy. Each will show off our expertise with one particular package of DSP, as well as give you a little taste of our personalities and our blogs. You can find all of us in the chat threads at Stampin' Addicts, a great site for demos and non-demos alike!

Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This



Crazy for Cupcakes and Chalked Taffeta Ribbon Technique

Hello! Yes, I haven't been blogging much lately. My boys' schedules are killing me! One in track, one in baseball, and one in T Ball. Ouch!
Well ... enough whining ... on to the card. This is a project for this evening's workshop. The cupcakes are embossed (DON'T forget your embossing buddy!) and then colored with markers. The ribbon is white taffeta in disguise! I wanted pink ribbon, so I chalked up my sponge dauber and rubbed it on the white taffeta, flipped it over and repeated. Isn't that beautiful??? The color scheme was a no brainer, thanks to the Candy Lane DSP. Not having to come up with a color scheme is a real time-saver for me!

Supplies: Crazy for Cupcakes, Embossing Buddy, Black Embossing Powder, Powder Pals trays, Versamark, Heat Tool, White Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Eyelet Border Punch, Candy Lane DSP, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette cardstocks.

Thanks for stopping by the Stamping Station. I'd love to hear from you!

Blessings,
Julie
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This