Another...It's a Girl! Design

This sweet design goes out to my soon-to-be newest goddaughter, Rosemary - who was born in August. I had the Pretty in Pink frame left over from the previous post's design, and thought, "What a perfect frame!" I popped it into the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder for subtle texture. The Spica Glitter Pen for sparkly highlights, of course! And again, the Stampin' Up! Fire Rhinestone Brads for the perfect flower center embellishment.
ENJOY!

Chat & Challenge #175 - Fifth Ave. Floral

So I hosted a Chat & Challenge over at SUDSOL this morning. This is always great fun! I used a sketch from PaperCraftPlanet. What a fun sketch, eh? I was excited to get inspiration for my own design right away - and set to work while I was hosting. I had a rose image from Fifth Avenue Floral that I had colored in with Copic Markers that I had been wanting to use. I adore the depth of shading I can achieve with my Copics. I had most of the design laid out, but I needed *something* for that vertical layer under the focal piece. I didn't want to add another color, just some texture. My first thought was to run a piece of Basic Black through with an SU! Texturz Plate - good idea. Then "I spy with my little eye" (my kids and I play this game in the car all the time! lol) something clear and shiny! A piece of window sheet lying innocently on my stamp table from who knows when! :)

















So I ran the piece of window sheet through with the Texturz plate to see if it would work - and IT DID! BEAUTIFULLY! I am so please with the outcome, as it was just what I was looking for - a little texture without another color. It's a bit difficult to photograph, but hopefully you can see it. A little glitter on the Scribbles Swirl Sizzlet, and some 1/4" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon run along the top and bottom edges of the card (which you can't see in the pictures) - and Happy Anniversary to my mother and father-in-law.

P.S. I layered the Top Note die cut by cutting away the perforated edge on the Basic black piece.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
Card Stock: Basic Black, Apricot Appeal
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers
Accessories: SU Texturz Plates, Top Note Bigz Die, Scribbles Swirl Sizzlet, Window Sheet, 1/4" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen, Cuttlebug (soon to be a Big Shot!) ENJOY!

Altered Notebook - Lighthouse

Here is another Altered Notebook, made as a gift for one of Presenting Team we'll be with this weekend for the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend in Rockford, IL. Lighthouses have special meaning for team couples and priests, and the "Enjoy" you see at the end of my posts comes from here also.

Stamps: Sweet Sampler (SU); Coast to Coast & Elegant Inspirations (retired SU!)
Card Stock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip,Not Quite Navy
Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Top Note, Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Embossing Powder and Heat Tool
ENJOY!

Altered Notebook by My Hubby!

Did you catch the Title of this post? You read it correctly- my sweet man Steve altered this notebook (with just a bit of verbal input from me)! He even used my Cuttlebug (still saving for the Big Shot!) to cut the Top Notes and the Oval - Woohoo Steve! We were finishing up some of these as gifts for our fellow Presenting Team for the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend (WWME) this weekend in Rockford, IL. This one is for Fr. Dennis.
If you think Steve did a good job - leave him some comment love and kindness, and I'll be sure to share it with him.

Stamps: A Light Unto My Path & Everyday Expressions (both retired SU!), Boston Light, MA (Stampendous) & WWME stamp
Card Stock: Night of Navy, Sage Shadow and Prestwick DSP (retired)
Ink: Basic Gray & Versamark
Accessories: Top Note, Classic Ovals Nestabilities ENJOY!

First Communion

This First Holy Communion design uses both Creative Play Stamps and Stampin' Up! The First Communion set by Creative Play Stamps is perfect for creating invitations, cards, favors and scrapbook pages - not only for First Holy Communions, the images in this set could be used for Ordinations, Jubilees and any other religious occasion. I wanted a bigger cross image for my main focal piece, so I used the SU! Refuge and Strength stamp set. I heat embossed the cross in gold on half of a SU! Top Note Die.

Stamps: First Communion (CreativePlayStamps), Refuge and Strength (SU)
Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Versamark
Accessories: SU! Top Note Die, Curly Label Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool and Dimensionals; Cuttlebug and Distressed Striped A2 Embossing Folder
ENJOY!

Pearl Love & Hearts

Okay - so I learned something new while making this design. While browsing the Creative Play Stamps site, I came across the Ranger Embossing Pearls powders. Huh, I wonder what these are like? so I ordered a couple to try out. You saw the Pale Gold in the previous post, such a lovely gold! "Well," I thought to myself, "St. Valentine's Day is coming up, I think I'll try the Embossing Pearls in Red." I receive my order and the container of "Red" Embossing Pearls powder is pearl white. Huh! (Anyone laughing at me yet, oops, I mean "with" me!) :) So I try it out on Basic Black first. As you can see - it comes out a lovely shade of purple, actually it pretty much matches the SU! Orchid Opulence perfectly!

So I try it on Whisper White next - still looking for a red color! (yah, takes me awhile sometimes! heehee) Wow - the pearl is sure pretty, but where's my RED? As I move the card stock I catch a glint of the lightest reddish sheen I've ever seen - it all depends on the card stock and the way the light hits the embossed design! LOL - and here I was expecting RED with a pearl-like sheen. So now I'm playing with this powder on other colors to see what happens - you may see future designs with this, not sure yet.

BUT - I am thrilled to be using a SU! color that I rarely use, which is Orchid Opulence. This design is quite pretty in person, though neither my camera nor my scanner did a great job at picking up the true Orchid Opulence color. For this design, I used both of the CPS Valentine sets - isn't the arrow cute? The "You" is part of an "I Love You" - just inked up only that word. I like the Cuttlebug Heart Block A2 Embossing Folder. for this design, it adds a nice, simple background while letting the Embossing Pearl powder be the draw to the focal point sentiment and image. A little SU! Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon & paper piercing with the SU! Crafters Tool Kit and VOILA - Pearl Love & Hearts!

Stamps: Valentine and Valentine Circle (CreativePlayStamps)
Card Stock: SU! Orchid Opulence & Basic Black
Ink: Versamark and Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ranger Embossing Pearls - Red, Cuttlebug & Heart Block A2 Embossng Folder; SU! Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Heat Tool, Crafters Tool Kit & Stampin' Dimensionals.
ENJOY!

Velvet Flower Valentine

Here's a classic black and white color combo - with a splash of St. Valentine's Day color. I also used some Ranger Embossing Pearl Powder in Pale Gold for the "Love" image. The fact that the word love is spelled out in tiny, solid hearts is so fun! (Have I told you that already?? lol) This image is from the Valentine stamp set from Creative Play Stamps.

And the splash of color? 7 Gypsies Velvet flowers - the Ruby Red assortment. As you can see, it comes with white too. The color is so pretty, and I love the soft texture of the velvet finish on these flowers.

Below is a close-up so you can see the Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder called Heart Block, that I used on the SU! Whisper White card stock. It makes a nice, simple background that adds nicely to the Love sentiment.



Stamps: Valentine
Card Stock: SU! Basic Black & Whisper White
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Ranger Embossing Pearls - Pale Gold; 7 Gypsies Velvet Flowers - Ruby Red; Cuttlebug and Heart Block A2 Embossing Folder; SU! Corner Rounder Punch (retired version); SU! Black Brads, Mini Glue Dots and Heat Tool.
ENJOY!

Be My Valentine

Never trust your computer! lol I thought this project posted earlier today - only to find out it did not! I got the layout idea for this design from a GinaK Designs January Release Party Challenge last week. It was originally a scrapbook layout, but I saw a card design instead.

Not your traditional St. Valentine's Day colors though, eh? What do you think of this color combination? I am still using the GORGEOUS Prima Belle Fleur Vintage Ruby Flowers I got from Creative Play Stamps - so that's where the Bravo Burgundy & Always Artichoke come from. I added the More Mustard and Very Vanilla (all SU! colors, btw) to tie in with the self-adhesive(love this feature of any embellishment!) Prima Pebble from the Definitions assortment.

The Valentine Circle Stamp Set gives a wonderful focal point, while the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots A2 Embossing Folder adds some texture interest.

Stamps: Valentine Circle (CreativePlayStamps)
Card Stock: SU! Bravo burgundy, Always Artichoke, More Mustard & Very Vanilla
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots A2 Embossing Folder, Prima Belle Fleur Vintage Ruby Flowers, Prima Pebbles - Definitions, SU! Scallop Edge Punch & Stampin' Dimensionals.
ENJOY!

Priscilla's Journal

I received this beautiful, hand-made journal from a new friend I met yesterday when a small group of us went for Copic Marker Certification Training. Priscilla made one of these for each of us in our group - you can find her blog here.

She used CreativePlayStamps Swirl Garden for the main image. I love the pearlized, textured cardstock she used too - that's the green under the butterfly, the pink under the green, and the beige journal covers. Priscilla used StazOn for the letters stamped on the acetate. She paid such attention to detail on this with the punch, the Cuttlebugging and the pink rhinestone bling! Simply Beautiful Priscilla! THANK YOU!
ENJOY!

Bloomin' Beautiful Copics

I used the Sakura Stardust Clear Glitter Pen to outline the Pretty in Pink layer, the Cuttlebugged Whisper White layer, and the flower image layer.

For this SU! Bloomin' Beautiful flower image, I tried another way of creating depth - outlining in different shades, then blending all over with the lightest shade. I am pleased with the effect these three Copic RV shades make - especially after blending all over with the RV10. For the leaves, I colored in one layer of YG67, then highlighted the edges several more layers to darken and give the effect of depth. You can do this with the Colorless Blender too - but I think the Blender gives a more distressed look - and I just wanted some depth and shading but I don't have any other YG colors close to the YG67 - yet! (Another way to achieve the shading and depth perspectives.)

If you haven't broke down and tried the SU! Tafetta Ribbons yet - is there something wrong with you?! LOL, just kidding - but really you must! Okay - you talked me into it - it's time for some Blog Candy - so you can try this Taffeta Ribbon....post coming after this one... :)

Stamps: SU! Bloomin' Beautiful (retired, so far!)
Cardstock: SU! Basic Black, Pretty in Pink & Whisper White; Papertrey SS White
Copics: RV10, RV17, RV 23, YG67
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: SU! Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Soft Subtle Brads and Dimensionals; Sakura Stardust Clear Glitter Pen; Cuttlebug and Script Texture A2 Embossing Folder; White Brad.
ENJOY!

Monogram Notes

A set of 12 of these were our gift for our second cousin who graduated highschool this year. Congratulations Jaimie! Here name begins with the most perfect letter! *wink* Since a lot of schools offer "kits" for graduation annoucements, thank yous, etc. I thought some personalized stationery would be the best choice. These came together really quickly once I was able to pull the layout out of my mind's eye! :) {On a side note -

my 20th Class Reunion is this Summer - whoa how time flies!}

Stamps: SU! Quirky Alpha Upper(retired)

Cardstock: SU! Basic Black, Pixie Pink & Whisper White

Ink: SU! Pixie Pink Classic Pad

Accessories: Cuttlebug and d'vine Swirl A2 Embossing Folder; SU! 1/4" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon; SU! Scallop, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle Punches; Dimensionals; Mini Glue Dots. ENJOY!

Graduation Announcements

CONGRATULATIONS to our niece Stephanie on her highschool graduation! When Steph was born, I was living in the upstairs apartment of my sister/b-i-l's house. I remember being woken up in the middle of the night to come sleep downstairs with the now big brother, while they went to the hospital in labor! (Steph long since became a big sister to another brother.)

Steph requested hot pink and black for her announcements - I hope she likes these! I wasn't sure which Cuttlebug A2 embossing Folder she'd like best - so I did some of 4 different designs - Swirls, Script, Diamonds and Distressed (not sure if these are the proper names, as I threw away the packaging and they aren't marked on the folders! lol) The SU! grad hat was stamped in the Essential Glue Pad and covered with Pewter Ultrafine Opaque Glitter, along with the "2008" along the bottom on the Basic Black.

Stamps: SU! Sketch an Event & Simple Type Numbers(both retired)

Cardstock: SU! Pixie Pink, Basic Black & Whisper White

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Pewter Ultrafine Opaue glitter, Essential Glue Pad, Creative Memories Cutting System, Cuttlebug & A2 embossing folders, Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge, SU! Black Wide, Organdy Ribbon (retired), Mini Glue Dots

ENJOY!

Elzybells Angel

I have been adoring the Elzybells images since I started seeing them on Cambria's Blog. They are just the cutest little images! I browse the website often just because they are so cute to look at, and they make me smile. So when I saw Patti had a few Elzybells stamps when I was at her home for the Stamp Day last week (waahh, a week has gone by already!) I had to stamp some images and then have fun coloring them in with my Copic Markers.

I took this pic with my new Canon Powershot S5IS - which I *need* to learn how to make full use of. I was pleased that it caught some of the glitter from the Clear Spica Glitter Pen on the cloud and angel's wings - I hope you can see it to! It didn't pick up the delicate & lovely Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist sheen on the Textile Texture Cuttlebug Embossed SU! Whisper White background though - which goes wonderfully with the Gold Spica Glitter Pen I used on the starts. And then there's the Liquid Pearls I used to add the pearl dots around the edge of the Marvy Giga Scallop Circle. Funny thing about the Liquid Pearls - when I saw them on the CreativePlayStamps website, I thought it would be so cool! But when I got it, I had *no clue* what to do with it! LOL I do now! It is perfect for making tiny pearl accents without having to fuss with a separate adhesive and tiny half-pearls.

Stamps: Elzybells Angel; Stampin' Up! Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: SU! Whisper White & Bashful Blue

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, SU! Bashful Blue

Copics: Y21, Y17, B21, YR000, YR00; Spica Glitter Pens in Clear and Gold

Accessories: Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist, Marvy Giga Scallop Punch, Liquid Pearls, SU! Scallop, 1 3/8" Circle & 3/16" Corner Rounder Punches, Stamping Sponge, SU! Pretties Kit (half-pearl), SU! Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon and Gold Cord(retired), Dimensionals, Cuttlebug & Textile Texture A2 Embossing Folder, Mini Glue Dots. ENJOY!

Happy Father's Day to the King

This is the card I made for my dad for Father's Day. Remember my dad, from the Elvis or Is It?... post? Hhmm, looks like I'd better try my new camera next time for taking a pic of this Pewter Ultrafine Opaque Glitter cuz my new scanner doesn't do it justice - it's beautiful in person!

The image is Jumpsuit Silhouette - from the Elvis Series at Cornish Heritage Farms. He was stamped on a SU! Basic Black oval cut with the Creative Memories cutting system, using the Essential Glue Pad . When I saw this Elvis image, my first thought was the Pewter Glitter! Elvis is then attached to a piece of SU! Whisper White that has been coated with Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist, then run through the Cuttlebug using the Textile Texture A2 Embossing Folder (which CreativePlayStamps now carries! WOOHOO!) that I had used my SU! Basic Black Classic Pad to rub ink onto.

I picked up this technique from SplitCoastStampers right after I had gotten my Cuttlebug. Depending which side of the Embossing Folder you rub the ink on - you get different effects. For mine, I rubbed ink on the inside, bottom of the folder so that the ink would be pushed into the paper from the back. If I flipped over the Whisper White, it would look like the "normal" way you use a Cuttlebug Embossing folder. (For the opposite effect, rub the ink on the inside, top of the folder, and the ink will coat the cardstock, but the design pushed in from the inside, bottom will remain the color of the cardstock your are embossing. It is quite cool! Try it, then upload you link here!)

Inside the card, I wrote - "Dear Dad, On Father's Day and everyday, we wanted you to know that you're still the King!"

Here's a recap...

Stamps: Jumpsuit Silhouette Elvis (CHF)

Cardstock: SU! Basic Black & Whisper White

Ink: SU! Basic Black Classic Pad, Essential Glue Pad

Accessories: Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist, Pewter Ultrafine Opaque Glitter, SU! Corner Rounder Punch, Cuttlebug and Textile Texture A2 Enbossing Folder.

ENJOY!

First Holy Communion Thank You

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is also our son's First Holy Communion - when did he grow up to be old enough?! It is also the Holy Feast Day of Pentecost - truly a wonderful day!!

I posted the invitation earlier, here is the thank you I designed this afternoon. The images are stamped tone on tone, and I sponged the Bashful Blue focal piece with Bashful Blue Classic Ink. LOVE that Striped Grosgrain Ribbon from SU! this card is 3" x 5 1/2" so my focal piece looks more proportionate plus it will still fit in the standard Whisper White Medium Envelope.

Stamps: First Communion and Thank You both CreativePlayStamps.com

Cardstock: Bashful Blue & Night of Navy(SU!)

Accessories: Silver Glimmer Mist (CreativePlayStamps); Stampin' Sponge, Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Dimensionals (SU!); Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder Spots and Dots.

ENJOY!

First Holy Communion

This invitation is for our son's First Holy Communion. It's hard to believe he his old enough for this beauitful Sacrament already! Wasn't it just yesterday that he was Baptized and we spent our days happily nursing, playing and napping together?!

And I am having great fun using my NEW Glimmer Mist and Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders too!! Woohoo - don't you just adore playing with new toys and bling? I believe the Glimmer Mist is STILL ON SALE at CreativePlayStamps through the end of this week only! Go check it out - they have the limited edition Spring Releases along with a large variety of other colors.

This Design has the Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist sprayed all over the card as a final touch. Though let me NOTE: DO NOT spray Glimmer Mist on stamped vellum or the ink will run! lol - you guessed it, I learned the hard way so you don't have to - isn't that sweet of me?! LOL

This invitation got a thumbs up and a "Cool" from my son - so I guess it is good, huh? :) I used a sentiment from the CreativePlayStamps First Communion set - and used the technique of Direct to Stamp Omitting - i.e. using a Stampin' Write directly on the stamp to only ink up the words I wanted. I really like the choice of typestyles in this set - CreativePlayStamps did a nice job touching on a variety of typestyle preferences for this important Sacrament.

Stamps: Refuge and Strength (SU!) AND First Communion (CreativePlayStamps)

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White and Vellum Paper

Ink: Bashful Blue

Accessories: Stampin' Write Marker in Night of Navy, Irirdescent Gold Glimmer Mist, Cuttlebug and Spots & Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Night of Navy Eyelets

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

This weekend I accomplished two of my stamping goals - using my new Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders AND designing Confirmation invitations for our niece, plus a card to send to her made from the trial pieces. "Trial pieces?", you may ask. You know, when you try out different color combos, layouts, etc. until the *right* ones come together and you say, "That's the one!" It's really not that different from finding your wedding dress!! :)

I wasn't that interested in the Cuttlebug UNTIL I received a card, then started seeing on my fav blogs, designs using the Embossing Folders. Thanks to a Sudsol Sister who shared a link to a site that was offering the Cuttlebug for $35!!!! - I got in on that deal - then went a little eBay crazy and picked up several Embossing Folders for both very good prices and average prices. So - hopefully I'll be using these more often. This Confirmation invitation needed some kind of background on the Lovely Lilac layer and the Cuttlebug came to mind. It was exactly what I was looking for - no additional color or shading, just some added texture.

But I must admit that the focal piece you are looking at, is not the one I went with. Why? Because my scanner wouldn't pick up the Almost Amethyst Classic Ink. I *almost* chose the colors from the focal pieces you are viewing, but decided for my niece, a softer look was better. PLUS, I liked how the Cross was more subtly in the background, an ever-present shadow, part of everything - like the breaths we take or the beats of our hearts. The Dove, of course, is a long time symbol of the Holy Spirit. So - on the actual cards that will be sent, the Cross is in Almost Amethyst, and the Dove is in Lovely Lilac.

On *these* samples - the Cross is stamped off in Lovely Lilac, and the Dove is stamped in Elegant Eggplant.

Stamp Sets: Refuge and Strength, Peace Be Unto You (retired)

Colors: Lovely Lilac, Almost amethyst, Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White

Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Cuttlebug and Swirls Embossing Folder.

ENJOY!