A Little Inspiration

Bicycle Note Cards

I'm on a bicycle kick and just love these super simple note cards using Pedaling Past stamp set for my Etsy Shop update.

I made three 3x3 cards using Early Espresso and Baja Breeze ink the Word Window Punch and a brad.

So simple, so easy.

Because I love them, because it's Friday, because I have reached my first year blogging and because I ordered an extra, I'm giving away a Clear Mount Pedaling Past Stamp Set.

Just leave a comment here (between now and Sunday at 11:59 pm) - any comment is fine, but if you need a topic, how about your favorite summer activity?  I'll pick a winner on Monday.

• I love sipping a cool drink on the deck with my friends & family as the sun goes down and the heat of the day eases off.  How about you?

It's Monday (MOJO144)

It's definitely a Monday...so I'm trying to 'kick start' the week with a little MOJO Monday Sketch Challenge (MOJO144).

• I had some old 3x5 cards laying around so I decided to use one for the base.

• Layered Crumb Cake embossed with Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder

• Stamped Fast & Fabulous in Early Espresso & Cajun Craze on Vanilla

• Sponged the edges in Crumb Cake

• Needed a decorative band to go across the bottom so I made some Designer Paper with a coordinating stamp on Vanilla in Cajun Craze that I also sponged and layered on Early Espresso

• A couple of Chocolate Chip Brads (retired - thanks Liz!)

• Finally the sentiment from "Because I Care" in Early Espresso.

Technique Tip:

When you get this stamp set, you'll notice that it stamps in a little 'grid pattern'.  Use your blender pen or aqua painter to blend the ink together.

Supplies:

Paper: Crumb Cake, Vanilla, Early Espresso & Cajun Craze

Ink: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze & Crumb Cake

Stamps: Fast & Fabulous (Hostess Level 2) & Because I Care (Hostess Level 1)

Other: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Chocolate Chip Brads (retired), & Curly Label Punch

Little 3x3 Note Cards

I have been on a roll making little 3x3 note cards for my Etsy Shop update.  I was going through the retired list of stamps and realized I have a few that are going 'away' and was trying to decide if I could part with this little bird.

He's (she's?) just so handsome, that I think I'll keep this set around for a while.

Notice something new?  Yup - Greenhouse Gala DSP & 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (love it!).

I also made a set of three with a brown butterfly.

 

And, since I love this hydrangea...I made a set of these too...

Can you see the inside image in Crumb Cake?

And then a couple of others with the retiring hostess set "Country Morning".  Why didn't I get this sooner?

 

I love them all and they are available in my shop.  Or, pull out your stamps and see what you can create.  I'd love to see what you make...

Supplies:

Paper: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze & Daffodil Delight

Ink: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Cajun Craze & Crumb Cake

Stamps: Country Morning, Because I Care & Spring Song

Other: Beautiful Wings Embosslits 

Happy Blogaversary to me!

I've been meaning to celebrate my 1st Blogaversary beginning June 1st but how time flies!

I started my blog a year ago to share what I make since so many friends and family live so far away. Along the way, I've come to love posting, participating in challenges and of course reading other blogs for inspiration.

So, to say thank you, I would like to share some of my favorite blogs (NOT related to stamping or paper crafts) with you and offer a little BLOG Candy too!

Just leave a comment with a link to one of your favorite blogs and I'll randomly select a winner on Sunday, June 20th.

The winner will receive this set of 5 3x3 Thank You cards, a stack of 6x6 Old World card stock, ribbon, and this little matchbox filled with buttons, brads, grommets & clips.

PS: If you would rather have cards over supplies, you are welcome to choose one of my cards from my Etsy Shop in addition to the 3x3 notecards :-)

PS:  This card features the new Hostess Level 1 stamps set, "Because I Care".  I stamped the image in Crumb Cake and then added Riding Hood Red with marker and Wild Wasabi for the leaves.  Inside and on the envelope, I stamped in Crumb Cake for a watermark effect. 

clipped from www.spudandchloe.com

clipped from tinyhappy.typepad.com

clipped from thepioneerwoman.com

clipped from www.101cookbooks.com

Introducing Fast & Fabulous - MOJO143

Have I mentioned that I am in love with the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog?  There are so many scrumptious new stamps, papers, and of course - Colors!

I started with the MOJO Monday Sketch Challenge (MOJO143) (taking the liberty of lengthening the panels) and two wonderful NEW COLORS: Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso along with a good standby - Vanilla.

• NEW Hostess Level 2 Stamps Set - Fast and Fabulous is a two-step stamp set that can be used together or separately.  I used both the petals and the outline for the panels and just the outline for the sentiment background
• The panel is in vanilla and gives texture with the Lattice Square Embossing Folder (Summer Mini Catalog)
• The sentiment is from the Tiny Tags set (Summer Mini Catalog)

And, a little touch inside...

All of these NEW products are available JULY 1st or in the Summer Mini Catalog until August 31st.

Supplies:

Paper: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler & Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso & Cherry Cobbler

Stamps: Fast & Fabulous & Tiny Tags

Punches: Scallop Circle, Jewelry Tag, 1 1/2" & 1/4" Circle Punches

Other: Square Lattice Embossing Folder (BigShot)

Thanks for stopping by!  To place an order, click here.

Inspired Card (PPA45)

Today's card is inspired by the Pals Paper Arts Picture Challenge (PPA45).  I didn't have quite the right green, but I think this works...I  also used some of the new colors that will be available JULY 1st - Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and retired Kiwi Kiss.

  The inspiration is based on this picture.  I would have like a softer green (sage shadow would be perfect!).

Here's the inside.

Supplies:Paper: Old Olive, Marina Mist, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Whisper White

Ink: Dusty Durango

Stamps: Happy Moments (retired)

Other: Island Floral Bigz Die, Scallop Circle Punch, 1" inch circle punch, 1/4" circle punch, modern label & word window punches

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day.

To place an order, click here.

Pendant Park Notecards

I have been lucky to have time this week to play with flowers and experiment with the Pendant Park note cards that have been sitting in a drawer for months.  This is what I came up with today.

I used the same basic technique for each card. 

• Versamark for the background using Elements of Style
• Center flower made from the Island Floral Bigz Die (Summer Mini Catalog)

• A little shimmer ink on the Melon Mambo

• 5 Petal Flower for the leaves
• A sentiment in coordinating ink (the bashful blue is a little light---maybe a darker blue would be better)

• Striped grossgrain ribbon

 

• Coordinating style inside

I used the light pastel colors with coordinating ink on the other cards but the Melon Mambo was a little dark.  Instead, I used Whisper White with Pink Pirouette.

Final Touch:  Coordinating envelopes and optional "flower stickers" for the exterior of the envelope - if being mailed with a gift or given in person.

I think it would make a lovely gift...

Supplies:

Paper: Pendant Park Note Cards, Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo, Barely Banana & Whisper White

Ink: Crushed Curry, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo & Pink Pirouette

Punches/Dies: 5 Petal Punch, Bigz Island Floral Die, Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch

Other: Platinum Shimmer Paint, Striped Grossgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals & Brads

Thanks (PPA42)

PS: After posting this, I realized how much it follows the lines of Margaret Moody's card - here.  Too funny!  I guess the image was embedded in my brain - LOL!

Time for another Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA42).  This week's challenge is a color combo:

I don't have Tempting Turquoise so I used In-Color Bermuda Bay.  It's a little deeper and changes the look a bit, but I thought it worked pretty well.

The sentiment is from a retired set "Illuminations".  I love the swirls on the stamp and haven't been able to part with it just yet.  I stamped the image with Soft Suede (another current In-Color) on Whisper White.

Be sure to play at PPA this week as they are giving away Blog Candy!

Supplies:

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Old Olive & Whisper White

Ink: Soft Suede

Stamps: Illuminations

Other: Bigz Island Floral Die, 5 Petal Flower Punch, Scallop Eyelet Border Punch, Real Red Striped Grossgrain Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch

Happy Stamping!

Pendant Park Notes

Several months ago, I bought these Kraft colored Pendant Park note cards.  They were in the clearance rack and then sat in a drawer through the holiday season.  I pulled them out the other day and put this little card together.  I love Baja Breeze and am so excited to have the color returning in July (my 'secret stash' is nearly gone). 

I also picked the buttons up in the Clearance Rack just last month - corduroy Baja Breeze buttons - there might be some left.  Check it out here:

Here is my supply list:

Paper: Pendant Park Note Cards, Baja Breeze, Vanilla & Rose Red

Ink: Baja Breeze

Stamps: Watercolor Trio

Other: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Small Tag Punch, Embosslits Beautiful Wings, Baja Breeze Corduroy Button & Dimensionals

Have a great day!

Wild Horses

Isn't this beautiful?

I love the image, the colors, the sponged edges and the freedom of this beautiful horse.

I received it as a thank you card and just had to share.

This was the image inside.

 

I'd love to have these as posters in my office. 

Freedom.  Spirit.  Wildness.

Thank you, Shirley!