Congratulations, Janine!

Sorry for the late post on this, but earlier today I went to Random.org and it picked comment number three, from Janine! Janine, if you'd please email me at scipvms@yahoo.com with your mailing address, I'll get your goodies out in the mail to you! Congratulations!

Same Design, Four Different Cards

After spending parts of three days going through my closet and every drawer in our bedroom, I decided to reward myself with some stamping time tonight. I hadn't made anything with the Tart & Tangy stamp set and the coordinating Summer Picnic designer series paper, so I decided to make four cards tonight. They all feature the same simple card design, but feature a different image from Tart & Tangy for each card. I think this would make a great Stamp-a-Stack project, as it took me a little over an hour to make all four (including time to come up with the card design). I needed some thank you cards, but I think I'm going to make a second set as birthday cards. I never seem to have enough of either on hand! The image was stamped on glossy white cardstock after coloring the image with markers (Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip). After the ink dried, I punched the images out using a 1 1/4 inch circle punch. The images were then stamped over with VersaMark and sprinkled with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. After heat setting the powder, I mounted the circles onto 1 3/8 inch circles, then onto the scallop punch-outs. The image is popped up a little with stampin' dimensionals. I used Wild Wasabi and Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon as well as Old Olive 5/8 inch grosgrain. Accents come from the Three For You punch as well as flowers from Flower Fusion. Orange fire and green ice rhinestone circle brads jazz up the paper flowers, and red brads were used with the olive felt flowers. The sentiment is from the level two hostess set, Spring Solitude. The cards were quick and fun to make - hope you like them, too!

5,000 Hits = Blog Candy Time!

Wow, I just noticed that my blog hit the 5,000 hit mark today! To thank you for coming to visit my blog, I'm offering some blog candy! This goodie bag includes a Spring-Summer 2008 Collection catalog, brand new spools of Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, and Celery grosgrain ribbon, a brand new Certainly Celery classic pad, a 'Designed by' incentive stamp and two stamps sets - Bunny Hugs and The World Over. To be entered into the contest, simply leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite stamping technique is. I'll randomly choose a winner on Friday, June 27. Good luck!

Mulberry Batik Classic Stars

I think I've finally decided on this card for my Mulberry Batik technique swap. I just got the Classic Stars Jumbo wheel and Stampin' Up!s large and small star punches, so I thought it might be fun to make something a little festive looking considering the 4th of July is just around the corner.

You can find a tutorial for the Mulberry Batik technique here. I chose to use Ruby Red, Blue Bayou, and Soft Sky as they coordinate so well with the Western Sky designer series paper that makes the background of my card. The striped Blue Bayou behind the batik is from the Blue Bayou designer series papers. I added the color by using a reinker and dabbing onto the mulberry paper with a sponge. The first time I tried it, I got the paper wet (probably a little too wet) and didn't like how much the colors bled through the larger fibers in the mulberry paper. The second time I skipped the getting the paper wet step and added ink directly to the mulberry paper. I like the results much better, although my colors are a little more vibrant as a result. The sentiment is from the Send a Celebration set I earned a few years back through SU!s Sell-A-Bration (now Sale-A-Bration) promotion, which I think nicely compliments the feel of the card. It was stamped first in Whisper White craft ink, then embossed using a detail white embossing powder I had. I hope the ladies enjoy making one next week!

Stampin' Up! Retired List Released Today!

Today Stampin' Up! posted its retiring stamp sets list. The retiring accessories list will be available in July. If you are thinking of getting any of the retiring sets, now is the time! If the retiring set also has a matching wheel, chances are it will be retiring too once the accessories list is posted, so you might want to pick up the wheel while you still can (they tend to go fast once the accessories list is posted). I'd be happy to place an order for you if you are interested - just email me at scipvms@yahoo.com. Get them before they are gone - last date to order is August 10. Here's the link to the retiring stamp set list, first alphabetically, then by catalog page number.

Father's Day, Part 2

Happy almost Father's Day! We celebrated with my dad tonight by having dinner out and then getting together afterwards at my brother's house. It was a nice get-together. Tomorrow, on Father's Day, we'll spend time with my dear husband's dad with a BBQ at his house. Before heading out to dinner, I finished making my hubby's Father's Day card. I hadn't used my Pocket Fun set, so last night I mounted the stamps. I used my Just Jeans background stamp and Blue Bayou ink on Whisper White to create the denim background, stamping the pocket from Pocket Fun on another piece, then cutting it out. I stamped the tools in VersaMark and then embossed with detail silver embossing powder. I stamped the tools again, and since I couldn't find my detail black EP (I really need to clean up my stamping room), I stamped in craft black and embossed with crystal clear EP. I then cut and pasted the pieces together to give a two-tone look for the tools. I adhered the pocket onto the denim background, leaving the top edge open to add the tools. The silver behind the denim was created by stamping with my VersaMark pad around the edges of a piece of Whisper White then embossing with detail silver EP. I topped it off with the screw top brads I got through Paper Wishes. I hope he likes it!

Happy Father's Day

I needed to make a few Father's Day cards, so I decided to use some of the extra Chocolate Chip envelopes I have from my Carousel Notes Purse class last month. I've always admired Silke's beautiful card that used images from the Simple Delights Simply Sent card kit, and decided to finally put some ink on my set. I found the cute pearl brads in the wedding aisle at Michaels a few months ago, and they fit perfectly! I used Brocade Backgrounds designer series paper to compliment the stamp set. It was great to be able to take some time to stamp - it's been too long! Thanks for visiting, and have a great weekend!

Wonderful You Mulberry Batik

I'm still working on my next technique card for our upcoming Sparkles meeting at my upline's, Jeanne's, but this is what I have so far. I chose to do the mulberry batik technique as I've never tried it but always wanted to. First I used the Stems & Silhouettes jumbo wheel with VersaMark ink and rolled over the white mulberry paper. I then quickly added some clear embossing powder and heat set it. After getting the mulberry paper wet, I sponged on Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi from my classic pads. Once I got the look I wanted, I ironed the mulberry paper between two sheets of copy paper to remove the embossing. I adhered it onto Whisper White to bring out the details. I used Wild Wasabi ink for the stems and sentiment. Paper used was Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi. The flowers were done using Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink markers. The brads are from the Rich Regals set. I'm still not happy with the card, so I'll spend some time trying some modifications once I have some time to stamp. May was a hectic month and I didn't get much time to stamp. I hope June will allow me some creative time! Thanks again for visiting.