{ Punched Bugs & Bees }

I fell in love with this cute paper the second I saw it on someone's card in the SCS galleries. I was so excited when I happen to come across it at a Joann's, I just had to have it!

I sat down last night to make a card with this adorable paper and it started out by cutting some lady bugs from a Sizzix ladybug die I have. After looking at them with the paper I realized I had to make my own bugs. Perfect timing to being that the SCS challenge of the day was to make something with punches! Everything on the bugs is made from a punch. Even the antennas which I used the slit punch to make and the tails that were made from a snowflake! I ran all the pieces through my Xyron sticker machine first so they would be easier to put together. I couldn't find a cute enough sentiment for this one, so I figure I'll wait until I want to use it and hope I've picked something up that will work well with it. Hope you like!

Supplies:

Paper: SU Whisper White, Yo-Yo Yellow, Gable Green, Ruby Red, Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Misc Designer Paper

Embellishments: SU Ribbon

Other: Circle Punch, Hole punches, Rounded Corner Punch, SU Slit Punch, Cuttlebug & Embossing Folder

{ It's Your Day }

Just playing around with some new dollar stamps I got from Michael's. I like the designs of the acrylic dollar stamps much better than the rubber ones. Plus you get 5 stamps for a dollar! I had fun making the bright cheery birthday card. All the coloring was done with a blender pen and water color crayons. I used Stazon ink so it wouldn't bleed with the watercoloring. The dots around the punched circle were done with a Basic Black Write Marker. This card is pretty straight forward, a simple one layer card. Hope you like!

Supplies:

Stamps: Michael's Acrylic Dollar Stamps

Ink: Stazon Jet Black

Paper: Misc Off White Confetti

Embellishments: SU Ribbon, Misc Ribbon

Other: 2in Circle Punch, SU Hole Punch, Pastels, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen Write Marker

{ Emerging Thanks }

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

So I learned a new technique today, emerging color. Simple, but a little time consuming, but I love the way it looks! Try it out, here's how:

1. Using two different colors stamp random images on white or vanilla card stock.

2. Using Versmark and clear embossing powder emboss a third image randoming over the card stock.

3. Using a brayer apply ink completely over the card stock. Wa-la!

I'm going to have to try it again soon, I want to use a bigger, stamp for the embossing part of it.

For the top layer I stamped the flower in Pale plum and colored in the center. I then stamped another flower over the first with Versamark and Heat & Stick Powder so I could apply some glitter. The "Thanks" cut out was done with my Cuttlebug. It was a die that came with an alphabet. I think that is about it, so enjoy!

Supplies:

Stamps: SU On the Spot, Polka Dots & Petals, Polka Dots & Paisley

Paper: SU Whisper White, Pale Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum

Ink: SU Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum

Embellishments: SU Ribbon, Misc Eyelets

Other: Cuttlebug & Die, Heat & Stick Powder, Glitter, Heat Tool, Brayer, SU Round Tab Punch, Write Marker, Distressing Tool

Techniques: Emerging Color

{ Cuttled & Stitched Thanks! }

Some images copyright Stampin' Up!

Okay one last card for the day. I actually did this one much earlier today, but had to leave before I could add the ribbon. For the background I used vanilla cardstock and stamped flowers all over the, then ran it through my Cuttlebug with the blossom embossing folder and ran the brayer over it to add some color and more dimension. I absolutely love using a brayer on embossed images, it always turns out nice and even. Much better than just running an ink pad over the cardstock. The flower, vase & "thanks" cutouts were done with my new Cuttlebug dies, oh how I love playing with new toys!

I'm really tierd right now from not sleeping last night, so I'm hoping to get a good nights sleep tonight! So I'm done with card making for the day. Laundry day tomorrow, so I probably won't have a chance to play more until tomorrow night or Friday. :(

Supplies:
Stamps: SU Polka Dots & Petals
Paper: SU Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red
Ink: Su Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: SU Ribbon, Misc Fibers, Hardware
Other: Cuttlebug Embossing Folders & Dies, Brayer, Sponge Daubers, SU Ticket Punch

{ Yet Another Snappy Birthday }

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

I finished another card for the night, actually, I guess you could say for the morning now. This one was very simple. I heat embossed the crab and masked him off to stamp the birthday hat which I also heat embossed. I then colored him in and punched him out. The background is done in So Saffron, which I stamped off first so the color would be very subtle. I sponged the edges of the crab punch and the edges of the card base. I also used pastels on the edge of the card base. So pretty straight forward. Enjoy!

Supplies:

Stamps: SU Crab & Company

Paper: SU Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Craft Chocolate Chip

Embellishments: SU Ribbon

Other: SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen, Pastels, Marvy Scallop Punches, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

Techniques: Masking, Heat Embossing, Watercoloring

{ Another Snappy Birthday! }

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

This set sure is fun! I love coloring it all in and playing with punches. The coloring was done with WCWC's and a blender pen. A new little trick I just learned! I can't believe I've been water coloring with a paint brush for so long... the blender pen is so much easier for me! I masked off the crab then stamped on the hat, as I can't stand the way the hat looks sitting on top of the eyes. The whole crab image is popped up with pop dots under the chocolate layer. The fastners and the brads look a little gold in the picture, but they are really silver. This sure was fun!

Supplies:

Stamps: SU Crab & Company

Paper: SU Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla

Ink: SU Craft Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, So Saffron

Embellishments: SU Ribbon, Misc Ribbon, Fastners, Brads

Other: SU Write Markers, Water Color Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, Circle Punches, Square Punches, Fiscar's Circle Cutter, Sponge Daubers, Cuttlebug & CB Embossing Folder

{ A Little Something }

While my husband played Madden with some guy online I was busy surfing the SCS galleries. I came across this really cute card by Kricki. My husband and I had to run out the door as soon as he was finished playing, but I was so inspired by it I had to go, wait run, to my stamping desk to play. With only four football mintues left I created this cute little card! So simple, as you can tell and a lot of fun. I got to put a bunch of my new toys to good use! And, what's that? No stamping? Yup! Just punches, die cut, dry embossing and doodling on this cute little 3x3 card. Enjoy.

Supplies:
Paper: SU Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Rose Red
Other: Packing Tape, Glitter, Cuttlebug Embossing Folders & Dies, SU Write Markers

{ Snappy Birthday }

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

I needed a birthday card for my cousin. He's turning eleven, which is an hard age for me to make a card for. I didn't want my card to be too childish, but I still wanted it to appeal to him. He practically lives on the beach so I thought SU's Crab & Company would be perfect!

I've played around with this set a lot and haven't been able to come up with anything I liked until today. My background was done using a Cuttlebug folder then I used a brayer to apply a little ink over the top. All the coloring is done with SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a blender pen. I don't like the way the birthday hat looks when it is sitting on top of the crabs eyes, so I masked the crab in order to put the hat on. I love the way this card turned out, so I'll probably try it again sometime. So what do you think?

Supplies:

Stamps: SU Crab & Company

Paper: SU Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Ink: SU Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Craft Chocolate Chip

Embellishments: SU Ribbon, Fastners

Other: Cuttlebug, Brayer, Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Circle Punch, Square Punches, SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, Ticket Punch

Techniques: Heat Embossing, Masking, Water Coloring

{ Sweet, Yummy Wishes }

Some images copyright Stampin' Up!

Well I finally got around to doing some more stamping yesterday! I was at AC Moore yesterday and they clearanced most all their punches so I picked up all the punches that I have been wanting for a while. I also got this cute paper, I love how it matches SU's colors and images, so I just had to have it!

I wanted to use a big cupcake image, but I didn't have one, so I had to improvise. The base of the cupcake is half of SU's round tab punch. The icing is liquid applique with just a touch of glitter. I cut the candle out of scratch paper and used cord for the wick. The cupcake itself is popped up on the layers scalloped punches which are also popped up off the designer paper. The ribbon, cord and fibers kind of blend in on the picture, but IRL they don't. The So Saffron punched out circles that say "Sweet, Yummy & Wishes" are all popped up with pop dots over cupcake paper. For a final touch I added about 6 rhinestones in multiple different places. Doesn't it make you want to eat a cupcake?

Supplies:

Stamps: SU Seeing Spots, Fancy Flexible Phrases

Paper: SU Pink Passion, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Junkitz Designer Paper

Ink: SU So Saffron, Craft So Saffron, Craft Chocolate Chip

Embellishments: SU Cord, Ribbon, Misc Fiber, Rhinestones

Other: SU Write Markers, Round Tab Punch, Liquid Applique, Misc Pop Dots, Embossing Powder, Circle Punches, Cuttlebug, Scallop Punches