LNS Challenge - Let's Heat Things Up!

Time to pull out your embossing powder and heat gun for this week's LNS challenge!  Your challenge for this week is to create a project using heat embossing.  Once you have created your project, you can load it HERE.  It really is simple to play along!

I used Early Espresso embossing powder for my project, and my favorite SAB set, Feeling Sentimental.  After I embossed the image, I distressed the edges, carefully wadded up the cardstock and then feathered the edges using a sponge and Early Espresso ink.  You can find more details below:

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Inks: Early Espresso
Papers: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, More Mocha DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Early Espresso EP, Heat Gun, Very Vanilla Brads, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Vintage Trinkets, Distressing Tool, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge

Good morning everyone!  It's almost 60 degrees here in the Chicago land area and this has been such a weird winter as we are suppose to get snow and freezing temperatures tomorrow; crazy, crazy!

We have a great challenge for you today and would love for you to play along!  Here is the sketch for today's challenge, and you can load your works of art HERE:

Below is my project and I once again used my favorite SAB set, Feeling Sentimental.  To me, this set has such a vintage feel to it and I think is perfect for distressing and grudging up.  After I ran my Very Vanilla c/s through the Chevron EF, I did the direct to paper technique and swiped Soft Suede and Midnight Muse over the c/s.  I then distress the edges and added some Vintage Trinket brads at the corner.  I stamped the phone booth image with Midnight Muse, and water colored the image with Midnight Muse and Soft Suede.  Here's the details of what I used:

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Midnight Muse, Soft Suede
Papers: Very Vanilla, Midnight Muse, Mocha Morning DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Chevron EF, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Vintage Trinkets Brads and Pin, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Soft Suede Button, Distressing Tool, Dimensionals, Watercolor Brush

Technostamper Monday

I am very excited to announce that I am now a part of the fabulous design team for Technostamper Monday Lunchtime Challenge!  Mary Jo has decided to restart her challenge blog, and each Monday there will be a sketch/project posted for you to play along; which you can find HERE.  I also have the blogs of the design team listed on right-hand side of my blog.

Check it out; we have a very fun project for you today:

I used one of my favorite retired stamp sets for this project, Pocket Fun, and water colored the images using Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Daffodil Delight and Baja Breeze.  The DSP I used is called Loves Me and is from the retired 2006 winter mini (I admit, I am a DSP hoarder).  Below is my project and a list of what I used to make my card:

Stamps: Pocket Fun

Inks: Basic Black, Stazon, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze.

Papers: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Baja Breeze, Loves Me DSP

Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts a Flutter Framelit Dies, Oval Die, Perfect Polka Dot EF, Flower Punch, Regal Rose and White Brads, Regal Rose Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool, Dimensionals, Mini-Glue Dots, Watercolor Brush

LNS Stamper's Color Challenge

Can you tell from the image above what the challenge is this week over at LNS?  Time to pull out your Rich Razzleberry, Pink Pirouette and Lucky Limeade and put on your creativity hat!  When you're finished creating, you can post your awesome work of art on our blog and you can find the link HERE.

When I first looked at these colors together, I thought interesting combo......but I think they really do work well together.  Below is the my project, which was pretty simple to put together.  I colored in the image from the stamp set, For the Birds, using the color above using my trusty watercolor brush.  I used the Hearts a Flutter Bundle items to create the banner and heart at the bottom.  Here's a list of the rest of the items:

Stamps: For the Birds, Hearts a Flutter
Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Pink Pirouette, Lucky Limeade, Black StazOn
Papers: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Sycamore Street SAB DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Floral Frames Framelits, White Doily, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Sycamore Street SAB Rich Razzleberry Button, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Pearls, Dimensionals, Watercolor Brush

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge

We have another great sketch for you this week over on the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge blog!  The sketch is shown below; and you can post your works on art on the blog - which you can find HERE.



Below is the card that I created for this week's challenge.  I embossed the image using Early Espresso EP, and then tried to lightly rub some Early Espresso and Pink Pirouette ink over the image.  Unfortunately I was a little heavy handed on the Early Espresso ink!  Here's a link of the supplies that I used:

Stamps: Blooming with Kindness, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette
Papers: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Twitterpated DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Delicate Designs EF, Vintage Wallpaper EF, 1-1/4" Two-Tone Pink Pirouette/Rose Red Ribbon, White Baker's Twine, Vintage Trinkets, Pearls, Word Window Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Dimensionals

Swallowtail

I saw a beautiful card that the very talented Sandi MacIver did using the stamp set, Swallowtail, from the Spring Catalog.  You can see Sandi's stunning card on her blog by clicking HERE.  Sandi has a wonderful tutorial on her blog that shows how she made her card.

Below is the card that I cased.  I changed it up by popping up the wing of the swallowtail, and used the set, Elements of Style, for the background, and Blooming with Kindness for the saying.

Close up of the wing

Stamps: Swallowtail, Blooming with Kindness, Elements of Style

Inks: More Mustard, Marina Mist

Papers: Whisper White, Brushed Gold

Accessories: Gold EP, Heat Gun, Sponge Daubers, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Hearts a Flutter

I finally got the Stampin' Up! Hearts a Flutter Bundle on Tuesday and had fun making the card below.  I love, love that SU! are making stamp sets with coordinating framelits, and I especially love that I don't have to cut the images out anymore!  Details are below.........

Stamps: For the Birds
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Certainly Celery, Black Stazon
Papers: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts a Flutter Framelit Dies, Cloudy Day EF, Needlepoint Border EF, Apothecary Accents Framelit Dies, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Pearls, Retired Flower Trio Punch, Watercolor Brush, Dimensionals

Try Stampin' on Tuesday......

Below is the fun sketch for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge.  This sketch has great possibilities and the design team has some wonderful samples on the challenge blog; which you can find HERE.

And here is the card that I made for this challenge:

Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms

Inks: Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango

Papers: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Floral District DSP

Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bird Punch (leaves), Pearls, Tangerine Tango Ribbon, Dimensionals

Hearts a Flutter LNS Challenge

This week's LNS challenge was to create a project using a heart.  I thought I would try a different take on this challenge, and added a heart with a sentiment on it and made the coffee cups/pot the main focal point.  To be honest, I am not 100% sure if I like how this card turned out.  Having a killer headache since Friday made it hard to concentrate on stamping........so below you can find my card - what do you think?  To much?

Stamps: Morning Cup
Inks: Cajun Craze, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede, Black Stazon IP
Papers: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede, Comfort Cafe DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Chevron EF, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Corner Punch, Midnight Muse Ribbon, Hearts Collection Framelits, Cajun Craze Brads, CAD, Watercolor Brush, Sponge, Dimensionals

Snowmen - LNS Challenge!

This week's LNS challenge is to use a snowman in your project.  We have a new look to our blog challenges, and you can now load your challenges HERE.

When I went to check my stamps, I realized that I don't own one stamp set that has a snowman - no one!!  So I had to look for an alternative and came up with a snowman box using the Fancy Favor Bigx XL die.  I used the 1-1/4" circle punch for the cheeks and sponged some Cherry Cobbler on the edges.  A 3/4" and 1/4" circle punches for the eyes, and one of the petals from the Blossom Petals Builder Punch.  I added a snowflake from the Snow Flurry Die to cover the ribbon the ends.  I covered it with a Cherry Cobbler Button and added some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.  I then added some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon at the bottom for accent.

Stamps: None
Inks: Basic Black Marker
Papers: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Fancy Favor Bigx XL Die, Snow Flurry Die, Square Lattice EF, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Blossom Petals Builder Punch, Cherry Cobbler Button, Gumball Green Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip Tape

LNS Challenge

I am excited to let you know that the LNS Challenge group has a new blog! You can find the link for the new challenge blog HERE! You can now load your challenge projects directly onto this blog instead of through Yahoo.

This week's challenge is to create a project using snowflakes. Below are two projects I created for this challenge. The first project is a card using the new Honeycomb EF from the new spring catalog. I love the texture this new embossing folders creates! I embossed some designer papers using this folder, cut them out and layered them on the honeycombs. The snowflakes were made using the Snow Flurry die, glimmer paper and DSP. Below is a list of items I used for this project.

Stamp Sets: Pennant Parade (saying)
Inks: Cherry Cobbler
Papers: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Be of Good Cheer DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Honeycomb EF, Snow Flurry Die, Glimmer Brad, Little Labels Punch Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Scissors, Dimensionals

I have been seeing these cute gift tags made into the shape of a coffee holder and thought it would make a cute project for this challenge as well.  The mug was pretty easy to make - you cut a piece of c/s 2-1/2" x 6-1/2 and score it at 3-1/4".  You then open up the tag and the cut an angle off 1/2" from the fold.  The belly band is 1" x 3", the top of the mug is 1" x 2-3/4" and I then used a corner round of the top edges.

Stamps: None
Inks: None
Papers: Very Vanilla, Be of Good Cheer DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry Folder, Snow Flurry Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Glimmer Brad, Gumball Green Ribbon, Brad, CAD, Dimensionals, Dimensionals

Ttry Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge

Happy New Year's Everyone!  I hope 2013 is filled with many blessings to you and your family!

It's Tuesday, and that means it's time for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday challenge!  We have a great sketch for you, which you can find below.  After you have created your work of art, you can load it on the Try Stampin' on Tuesday blog HERE.



For my take on this sketch I used the stamp set, Field Flowers, and paired it with the stamp sets, Four Frames and Itty Bitty Backgrounds.  The flower images were stamped using Wisteria Wonder Ink; one flower was stamped on scratch cardstock and then cut it out. I distressed the edge of the cardstock with a distressing tool. I used the new Needlepoint Border EF to make the impressions on the top and the bottom of the card. I ran the ribbon through a slider and then added a 5/8" Vanilla Flower (from the new spring catalog) over the slider.  Below is a list of items I used to make my card:

Stamps: Field Flowers, Four Frames, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Old Olive
Papers: Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Big Shot, Lacy Brocade EF, Needlepoint Border EF, Vanilla Flower, Old Olive Ribbon, Pearls, Slider, Decorative Label Punch, Distressing Tool, Dimensionals