Cinema Saturday #63 - "Australia"

Woohoo! The Cinema Sisters took a well-deserved break in December, and have been back in action since the beginning of January. Though I missed being able to play along the last two weeks - this week I could! Their extra challenge was to use Kraft somewhere in the design.

I really enjoyed the movie "Australia" when hubby & I watched it a few months ago. In this design - I tried to capture the rugged Outback as well as the sophistication and femininity of the lead female character. I think I did okay with my goal via the color combination, elegant image and ribbons and distressing and sponging - in this mostly SU! design.

I used SU! Kraft as the base layer, then created the focal point with Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry & Blush Blossom. Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain and Kraft Taffeta Ribbons, a piece from the Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware Kit and Paper Piercer and Mat Pack. I used plastic wrap to apply some Creamy Caramel ink to border the focal image, then a sponged Soft Suede on the edges of the Kraft to create a subtle frame for the whole design. A Blush Blossom Stampin' Write and a Blender Pen with some Rich Razzleberry and Soft Suede fill out the focal image - which comes from the "Dreams du Jour" stamp set. the only thing non-SU is the Nestabilities I used for the focal image. Hope you'll play along too! ENJOY!

Haiti Relief & Birthday Love

Stampin' Up! recently announced it's plan to help with relief efforts in Haiti - one of many ways since I have been a demonstrator that I have seen this awesome company quickly reach out when a need arises. One of the many reasons I am proud to be a member of the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Family.

NOW through FEB. 28th - SU! will donate $2.00 for every purchase of the "I {Heart} Hearts stamp set to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Effort. This is the stamp set showcased in this design. Contact me TODAY, or order through My SU! Website.

Not only can you help with the Haiti Relief Effort in this way - you can also take advantage of Sale-abration (SAB) - the most wonderful time of the SU year! For every $50 ordered, you pick a FREE item from the SAB Mini Catalog! There are also extra SAB Host and New Demonstrator benefits as well - just ask me!


Today's Birthday Love design is one of my make-n-take projects at my SAB Open House this week, (along with THIS PROJECT), and showcases the "I {Heart} Hearts" stamp set - now available in both wood mount and clear mount! This is the first set I have tried in the new Clear Mount offered by SU! - and I LOVE IT! Clear Mount sets come in a slim, plastic storage case. They are still the same fabulous, deeply-etched red rubber but are mounted on cling foam rather than a wood block. You use them with a clear stamping block.

I also used the stamp set "Fundamental Phrases."

Also showcased is an SAB item choice - Scallop Trim Border Punch - currently available for FREE with a purchase of $50 during SAB.

Colors used are Soft Suede, Kraft, Blush Blossom, Real Red & Whisper White. the size of this card fits perfectly in the SU! Small, Open-Ended Envelopes.

Other accessories used include: Full Heart, 1 3/4" Circle & Word Window Punches, Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Block 'D' and a Stampin' Sponge.

For questions about ordering, hosting and joining the StampinJewels SU! family - please contact me!

ENJOY!

Welcome Baby Boy Card

I designed this card for a sketch challenge for the GinaK Designs January Release party over at SCS. I used the GinaK stamp set by Melanie Muenchinger - "Hand-in-Hand" for the focal image and the sentiments.

The color combo is Stampin' Up! Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Old Olive & Whisper White. The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is the retired Maine Blueberry. A couple of Earth Elements Brads in Old Olive and I've got a quick and easy baby card! ENJOY!

Sweetheart Card

I designed this for a challenge from the GinaK Designs January Release party over at SCS. The challenge was to create a Valentine WITHOUT using red or pink. Good challenge, as it makes us think outside our creativity box, eh? Besides red, pink and white - what is the next thing I think of for St. Valentine's Day? Why - CHOCOLATE of course! heehee So I chose Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and Brushed Gold as my color combination.


I used several GinaK stamp sets - all designed by Melanie Muenchinger - "Little Tees" for hers, "Just So Sporty" for his both heat embossed using SU! Gold emobssing Powder. For the sentiment, I used the "Hand-in-Hand" stamp set and my SU! Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker to 'omit' and be able to only stamp the words I wanted. My Big Shot (SU!) made it easy peasy to use the Heart and Classic Petite Oval Nestabilities.

I finished off my embellishing with the SU! Eyelet Border Punch and some retired, gold, narrow organdy ribbon. SU! Dimensionals pop up the layered sentiment and the gold bow. ENJOY!

A Winter Note Card

I made this design just for the fun of it - no challenges! I had these two 'frames' left over from the SU! Top Note Die and the Nestabilities Scalloped Rectangle Die and wanted to use them (for once). The adorable little poncho girl image is a digital image from Daisy May - a freebie over at the Copic Buzz group on Papercraft Planet this past week during their Challenge #24. Okay - this design *does* fit that challenge, but I had already made one. Copic markers were used for the coloring.

I used the Stampin' Up! stamp set "Priceless" to create the winter swirl background which is heat embossed in SU! Iridescent Ice embossing powder. A strip of Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon compliments the Melon Mambo and Bashful Blue color combination. The sentiment is from a Creative Play Stamps (CPS) stamp set, and is layered on a Fancy Tags Spellbinders Die (also from CPS.)

I used a quickie Glue Pen to outline the bottom two layers, the left and right edges of the tag and around the sentiment to add SU! Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. A couple of clear, gemstone brads (SU! Pretties Kit has these) finish up the tag which is then popped upon SU! Dimensionals. Oh yes - the Melon Mambo Top Note outline layer, was dry embossed in the Big Shot using the Cuttlebug A2 Swiss Dots embossing folder for some texture and to compliment the dots in the swirls background. ENJOY!

Love You Much Valentine

Here is another design using the Card Positioning Systems Sketch #148. I adore the simplicity of this sketch because it can be done quickly, and yet also holds such possibilities for variety in it's interpretation. Just check out their website to see what I mean!

For this all Stampin' Up! design, I used the stamp set "Love You Much" for the focal image, with the Scallop circle and 1 1/4" Circle Punches to layer it. Then popped it up on Dimensionals. The Full Heart & Heart to Heart Punches embellish the Top Note Die (works in Big Shot, Cuttlebug and other similar die cutting machines!). A strip of Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon adds to the fun. Colord are Melon Mambo, Basic Black & Whisper White. I love the striking contrast of this color trio. ENJOY!

Love You Much Card

This is a design I did today for Chat & Challenge #225 over at Sudsol (SU! demonstrator only website). And no, I wasn't the host this time! (I will be on Thursday again though.) I've been playing along with and hosting C&C's for a few years now. Sketch challenges are wonderful for kick starting your creative juices!

For this all Stampin' Up! design, I chose Whisper White as my base layer, and dry embossed it with the swirls side of the Texturz Plate "Perect Details" in the Big Shot. Then, I took my Two Way Glue Pen and highlighted all the swirls and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds Glitter on them to create my sparkly background. The finishing touch to the base layer is the Rose Red sponging around the edges.

All images on this design are from the stamp set "Love You Much" - a wonderful stamp set for all your 'love' needs! The focal image was inked using Stampin' Write Markers in Rose Red & Bravo Burgundy, then colored in with Regal Rose using a Blender Pen, and finally sponged around the edges with Rose Red.

The hearts were punched out using the Full Heart and Heart to Heart Punches. The Heart to heart Punch coordinates perfectly with the heart trio stamp image in "Love You Much", as well as in the NEW "I {Heart} Hearts" stamp set now available (in both wood mounted AND clear mount!) in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Some of the hearts are popped up on Dimensionals. ENJOY!

Baptism Card

I made this in celebration of the Baptism of friend's baby son in a few weeks. I found my sketch inspiration from Card Positioning Systems Challenge #148, as well as the Copic Buzz Group on PCP = use ribbon.

I used SU! Soft Suede as the base layer. Then Certainly Celery stamped tone-on-tone with a cross image from Creative Play Stamps First Communion stamp set, and SU! Corner Rounded. I also sponged Certainly Celery ink on the edges to provide a subtle, softer look - which unfortunately doesn't show up in the scan.


The Bashful Blue is punched with the SU! Eyelet Border Punch and is layered with a strip of Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon.

Oh look - one of my new Nestabilities again! Adore my SU! Big Shot and Nesties! lol Used to accent the adorable focal image from the stamp set "Hand-in-Hand" by Melanie Muenchinger for GinaK Designs is colored with Copic markers (I tried to make the baby's arm/hand a shade lighter than the adults) and sponged around the edge with Soft Suede ink. As well as popped up on SU! Dimensionals. ENJOY!

Thinking of You Card

Here's a design from the third challenge I participated in with the Copic Buzz group on Sunday - a design that uses 3 buttons. The focal image is Elzybells UK. The sentiment is Creative Play Stamps (CPS). And again, giving my Copic markers some loving use along with my new Classic Rectangle Nestabilities (also from CPS).

I used SU! Close to Cocoa, More Mustard (textured) & Brocade Blue card stock, as well as SU! Playground Designer Buttons adhered with Mini Glue Dots. (WHAT would I do without my SU! Mini Glue Dots?! It was love at first dot.) :)

ENJOY!

Scalloped Bling Girl Card

Another Copic Buzz challenge design - use pink and bling. I chose SU! Regal Rose as my pink, with a Creamy Caramel accent.

Have I shared how much fun I am having with my Big Shot & new Nestabilities yet?! heehee These were all from the Classic Circles Set. This is two of the same size scallop circle, with a folded over piece of Whisper White sandwiched in between. Again - colored with my Copic markers and embellished with the luscious SU! Organza Ribbon, some retired SU! flower eyelets to fill her basket, and some self-adhesive rhinestones picked up at a craft store.

This is another digital image that was a freebie from Cute Daisy May. ENJOY!

Be My Valentine Card

This is a card I created for a challenge at the PaperCraftPlanet Online group - Copic Buzz party yesterday. If you are a fan of Copic Markers - you might like to check this group out. Super nice people!

This is the first digital image I've EVER used! It was a freebie (from The Stamping Boutique) during the party. This challenge was to use pink, red & white. I used the Classic Petite Oval Nesties for this one. The sentiment is from a Creative Play Stamps (CPS) valentine stamp set. I also used some self-adhesive paper ribbon I picked up at CPS. And of course, my Copic Sketch Markers. The design is finished off with some Atyou Spica Glitter pens (by Copic and from CPS) around the edges of the paper ribbon, as well as on all the hearts in the focal image. I wish the subtle sparkles would scan, but they usually do not. The card base is SU! Ridinghood Red (retired). ENJOY!

Cinema Saturday #60 - "Chronicles of Narnia" & Blog Hop

Four days - Six cards & a pair of altered notebooks - YAHOOOOO! I used something out of most of my newest Nestabilities as well as my Copic Markers. Aaahhhh - feels good! I even tried out a couple digital images I found for free (those designs be posted here soon!)

This lovely, sparkly, iridescent design is for TWO events. It is for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge, #60 - "Chronicles of Narnia" (with additional challenge of 'iridescent sparkle') as well as a second design for Melanie Muenchinger's Anniversary Blog Hop.

Our family are huge fans of C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" book series. We even have audiobook dramatizations of all seven books on CD (highly recommended for audiobook lovers by the way - listen while you paper-craft or on long car trips.) Hubby and I have enjoyed the movies too, and look forward to sharing them with the kids when they are a bit older.

When I think of the "Chronicles of Narnia", themes like Faith, Hope & Love immediately come to m ind. Melanie Muenchinger's stamp set "Hand-in-Hand" is a perfect fit for these themes. The children siblings (sons of Adam and daughters of Eve) are symbols of hope for the Narnians, and Aslan the Lion IS the sum of Faith, Hope & Love! Even within the group of siblings - these themes run strong as one brother temporarily loses his way in Darkness. This last example is where I found my inspiration in this image and sentiment from the "Hand-in-Hand" stamp set.

I used Stampin' Up! (of course!) card stock, ink and embellishments in Night of Navy, Bermuda Bay and Whisper White, along with Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Versamark Ink, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot and Dimensionals. Also the retired jumbo wheel "Swirling Stars." ENJOY!

Sweethearts Card

Okay - these last couple of days have turned out to be awesome for me for papercrafting time! Woohoo! Have you noticed all the new Nestabilities shapes I've been using? (Yay for my birthday and Christmas gifts from CreativePlayStamps!) My Big Shot from Stampin' Up! makes it so easy to use these.

So I decided not to wait on my blog posts - let's just say I'm catching up for all the time between the pre-Christmas posts. Maybe I'll be able to keep up after this? Um, probably not! lol anyway - I hope you all are enjoying all these designs and finding a little inspiration for your own Mojo too! (I'd love to see what you are creating, so feel free to leave links to your gallery or blog in my Comments section.)

This design is for Melanie Muenchinger's Blog Hop celebrating her two years as a stamp designer. Participants may use any of her stamp sets from these past couple of years AND she's got lots of blog candy opportunities! I own several of her sets, but so far I think this one is my favorite - "Hand in Hand". Both the focal image and the sentiment come from this stamp set.

I used Stampin' Up! Bravo Burgundy and Very Vanilla and a retired DSP. Also the SU! Modern Label and Word Window Punches. The ribbon is retired SU! Wine Narrow Organdy Ribbon. My 'special touch' for this design is the Atyou Garnet Spica Glitter Pen I used to give a subtle, dark, sparkling border around the DSP layer, the sentiment the focal heart layer and the swirls on the DSP. The Garnet matches well with the Bravo Burgundy. I wish you could see the subtle sparkle - it's so pretty! - but it wouldn't scan or show up with my camera. Guess you'll just have to trust me! heehee ENJOY!

Altered Composition Notebooks

Yep - more altered composition notebooks - you'll find A LOT of those on my blog because they are mostly used as dialogue books for couples who have gifted their marriage with a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. This pair of notebooks is for our current Executive Couple (of the WWME Rockford/Madison/Milwaukee area). Whenever I ask people what colors they might like, the usual answer is, "Anything you make will be wonderful!" I didn't let this couple off the hook this time - and I'm so glad I didn't! I love when I am challenged to go outside my creative comfort zone, especially with color combinations - and these notebooks are no exception - I love how they turned out! Probably the most fun colors and design I've done yet. It's not that I personally don't like these brighter colors, I do - once I see them put together. It's the "putting them together" that I have an issue with. Creatures of habit - us humans - staying inside our general comfort zones.

Anywho - these notebooks use SU! Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Apricot Appeal and Whisper White - all colors in the Rainbow Sherbet DSP (retired) that you've seen in the last three posts on the get well cards. Also used are the current Heart to Heart, 1" Circle & 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon and Mini Glue Dots. Lastly, also used are the retired Apple Green 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon and Large Corner Rounder. Images come from the current SU! stamp set "Enjoy Every Moment", as well as the retired Coast to Coast stamp set.

Here's my usual WWME plug... You can find WWME Weekends all over the world. It is a weekend experience for married couples that is meant to make Good Marriages, Great Marriages! It is a wonderful gift to give your husband or wife, as well as your children (whether they are young and at home due to happier parents; or adult and married themselves), family and friends. ENJOY!

Get Well Soon Cards 3 of 3

Here is number 3 of 3 of the get well designs I made on Dec. 31st. Can you see the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter borders? (Hint: Around the main and second layer, the focal image top and middle layers, and around the sentiment layer.)

I made this card under the notion that every girl feels better with a little glitter. Even the thermometer in her mouth is glittered! heehee [Well, at least every Elzybells (UK) girl does.] I had fun with the SU! Rainbow Sherbet DSP (retired) as you have probably surmised seeing as I used it on on three get well cards! And more fun with my Copics and Nestabilities/ Spellbinders too. For this card, I chose to only outline the girl's hair, and I drew in the left side of the pillow by hand.

Stampin' Up!: Tempting Turquoise & Gable Green card stock, Apricot Appeal 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Dimensionals & Big Shot
CreativePlayStamps.com: Copics, Sentiment, Nestabilities, Spellbinders and Glue Pen. ENJOY!

Get Well Soon Cards continued...

The get well designs continue with the Stampin' Up! Rainbow Sherbet DSP (retired) and Copics, only this time with an adorable Elzybells (UK) girl.

I received MANY new sets of Nestabilities and a few Spellbinders for my birthday and Christmas and am finally getting a chance to play with a few of them - yahoo!

Stampin' Up!: Gable Green and Ballet Blue card stock, Rainbow Sherbet DSP (retired) and Soft Subtle Brads
CreativePlayStamps.com: Sentiment, Copics, Nestabilities and Spellbinders "Fancy Labels" die.

ENJOY!

Get Well Soon Cards

Happy New Year to all! I celebrated the grand debut of 2010 with a little Copic Sketch Markers play and stamping and designing. Woohoo! I felt fully recovered from our 100 family Christmas cards - heehee. And it's been too long for my Copics. I am also out of get well cards - thus the birth of the next three cards that I will post.

As always, I use the fabulous and favorite Stampin' Up! coordinating card stocks, designer papers and embellishments. This design uses Gable Green & Brocade Blue card stock, Rainbow Sherbet DSP (retired), and Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon and Corner Punch. The Peanuts image, sentiment and Copics are from Creative Play Stamps.

Oohhh it felt so good to color with my Copics again - why do I stay away so long? :) ENJOY!