I Almost Forgot

I totally spaced and forgot to mention a couple of awesome opprotunities from Lizzie Anne Designs.

1. ALL Lizzie Anne Halloween stamps are a whopping 40% off TODAY ONLY, while supplies last. You can find them here and here.

2. Both Meredith and Tricia are giving away THREE Spooked sets each on their blogs today! Head on over to enter.

My Fond Farewell

Well, today is officially my last day with the Storage Units, Ink & More design team. I'm sure going to miss working with Denise and such a great team. I'll definately still be following along though, cause those stamps are just too darned cute to walk away from. In fact, tomorrow is another release day, and based on the sneak peaks I've seen, you're not going to want to miss it.

So, here's my fond farewell. This card uses the cornucopia and some other little bits and pieces from the Bountiful Harvest set. I colored everything with Copic markers and even got a chance to use my brand new Labels One dies from Spellbinders.

To pierce the border around the label: Use your piercer and template. Punch one hole centered in the border. Leave your piercer in place in that hole. Now twist your template until the next hole is centered. Pierce and continue all the way around.

What's In It?
Stamps: Bountiful Harvest (SU Ink)
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); french roast, honey, orange (Core'dinations); Coco Collection (Webster's Pages)
Ink: noir black (Palette)
Copics: C1, W3, E55, E57, E27, Y17, YR31, YR04, YR07, R29, YG03, YG63
Dies: Lables One (Spellbinders)
Ribbon: American Crafts
Other: sewing machine, thread, dimensionals, SU! slot punch, Tim Holtz distresser

The Three Amigos

Except, well, they're not Mexican/Spanish. But three friends just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?

I made some time today to play with yesterday's Splitcoast sketch challenge. Can you believe it's number 200!?! I thought the little squares would work well with this set, Giving Thanks from Storage Units, Ink. They have the cutest stamps, like this little feathered dog. It just makes me smile.

After stamping with Palette's noir black ink, I colored all the images with Copic markers. I ran a dark brown marker around the edges of the squares before layering them on some Core'dinations card stock. The die cut in the corner is from the Cuttlebug Vintage Dies set, with a little close to cocoa ink sponged on top.

What's In It?
Stamps: Giving Thanks (SU Ink)
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); quicksand, iced cocoa, satin rose (Core'dinations); Wanted (Cosmo Cricket); vanilla (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: noir black (Palette); close to cocoa (SU!)
Accessories: ribbon (American Crafts); pewter hardware (SU!); vintage dies (Cuttlebug); square nestabilities (Spellbinders); dimensionals

And while you're here, I wanted to tell you about a couple of good blog candies I've come across lately. Maybe you have time to check them out. The first is from Michelle with a whole goodie package from her store Paper Addictions. Secondly, you can try for some new product from the Shimmerz blog. I already love the existing product, so I can't wait to see what they have in store next.

Go! Team! Win!

It's another Whatchadoin' Wednesday challenge at Storage Units, Ink, and today's challenge is to use black and orange, but not on a Halloween card. I thought this was going to be quite a challenge, until I remembered that one of our local high school's colors are black and orange. Go Blackhawks! And then the card fell together very quickly, with a little input from my husband. LOL. It is his Alma mater after all. And Jen's Sketch For You to Try from last weekend.

I stamped the football player, cheerleader, and foam finger from First and Goal in noir Palette ink on Papertrey's white card stock, and colored with Copic markers. The orange Core'dinations card stock is embossed with the distressed stripes folder and the BP cut with the Olivia Cuttlebug font. I stamped the "Go! Team! Win!" sentiment on the black background with Cloud white VersaMagic. Tie on some black grosgrain and silver cord, and pop your finger up on dimensionals. And don't forget the star dust Stickles for those pom poms. Every cheerleader needs a little glitz!

I hope you find some time to play along, with or without Storage Units, Ink stamps. Be sure to link your card to the original challenge post. We all want a chance to check it out.

What's In It?

Stamps: First and Goal (SU Ink)

Paper: orange, nightfall (Core'dinations); white (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: cloud white (VersaMagic); noir black (Palette)

Accessories: Copic markers; silver cord, black grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Olivia Alphabet dies, distressed stripes embossing folder (Cuttlebug); star dust Stickles; dimensionals

Blushing Love

I made this card last week for the Sketch challenge on Splitcoast, and I'm just now getting around to posting it. And it even uses pink! (a pre-requisite for all of last week's challenges)

I used a couple of scraps of Sultry designer paper by Basic Grey, layered on chocolate chip. The green circle is also from the Sultry line. I stamped the sentiment in pretty in pink, punched it with my one inch circle punch and popped it up on dimensionals. Both the sentiment and the scalloped frame are from Lizzie Anne's new Circle Sentiments set.

The ribbon was just folded like a bow, not knotted, then smooshed inside the Sultry brad. Card base is Blush Blossom.

What's In It?
Stamps: circle sentiments (Lizzie Anne)
Paper: blush blossom, white, chocolate chip (Stampin' Up!); Sultry (Basic Grey)
Ink: chocolate chip, pretty in pink (SU!)
Accessories: Sultry glazed brad (Basic Grey); ribbon (Dashes Dots & Checks); circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); dimensionals

Pretty in Pink and Green

Isn't this such an upbeat little card? I think it's just so happy. And it was another quickie to make. Love that! All of the stamps are from Lizzie Anne's Circle Sentiments.

I cut the scalloped square first with a Nestabilities die, then stamped the flower in celery, pretty in pink and rose red. I just eyeballed it to get a grid pattern. I stamped the "thanks" half circle and cut with another die. The "thank you" circle was punched. The three little flowered circle are die cut as well. I love the flexibility of those nesties, even if it does take a minute longer than a punch. Pretty much everything is popped up on dimensionals. And the ribbon is May Arts.

Shiny Cupcakes...Yum!

I don't think I shared this card here yet. It was for the Verve embossing challenge. I wanted to used some of the great Verve stamps as embossed silhouettes on patterned paper. So I settled on Cupcake Affair in silver embossing. I found it easiest to match up the top and bottoms of the cupcakes by stamping all of bottoms in Versamark, embossing, then repeating with the cupcake tops.The sentiment, on layered Cuttlebug flower dies, is from Thoughtful Florals.


Speaking of Verve, Julee has a GREAT sale going on starting today. Through the end of the month, all stamps are 10% off, and in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Verve is donating 10% of all sales today through October 31 to the Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation. So get something for yourself, and you'll be giving a little while you're at it.

On the topic of giving, Laura Fredrickson sent me this totally adorable card. I just love the soft colors on the bird's belly and those darling felt/brad flowers. Thanks so much for thinking of me Laura!

Gathering Together

Hello Stampers! Life has been wild and crazy busy. My dad is out of town for a week, so Sunday and Monday I went to spend with my mom. Then she stayed with us Monday and Tuesday night. I feel like I'm almost constantly running to some doctor or another. I had my first appointment with my obstetrician. I had been seeing a specialist during the early weeks of my pregnancy. Last weekend, a chunk of one of my teeth cracked off. So I had to get a crown done. And today I got my Invsalign braces. I thought I would be wearing them for a year, so I was very excited today to find out it will only be five months. Woo Hoo! And perhaps best of all, I've gone a whole week now without being queasy!!! Things are looking up!

And, yes, I actually have a card to share with you. I used these two cuties from Storage Units, Ink, not to mention their little squirrel friend. I thought they would look great with these Webster's Pages papers. I stamped the boy and squirrel, then masked them to stamp the little girl. Then colored it all with my Copic markers. Ialso colored the brown and orange primas with my Copics to match.

Thanks for stopping by. Love ya peeps!

What's in it?

Stamps: Bountiful Harvest (SU Ink)

Paper: chocolate mocha (Core'dinations); white (Papertrey Ink); Parlor collection (Webster's Pages)

Ink: noir black (Palette), pumpkin pie (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: flowers (Prima); ribbon, ticket corner punch (SU!); ribbon tag trio die (Spellbinders); markers (Copic); dimensionals

Forever Plaid

I popped over to Splitcoast and checked out the Ways to Use It challenge yesterday. The challenge was to use plaid. I LOVE plaid, so I found a plaid designer paper (My Mind's Eye's Fresh Linens) in my stash and paired it up with these pretty flowers from LAD's Floral Frenzy.

I mostly did the card layers in slightly darker colors and the flowers in paler shades. The flowers are embossed on solid card stocks using detail white embossing powder. Then I arranged them with a few buttons. The ribbon is American Crafts. The scalloped edge a Martha Stewart Punch. The sentiment punch is Marvy's largest scalloped oval.

Here We Go Steelers!

It's Wednesday, and that means another great Whatchadoin' Wednesday Challenge from Storage Units, Ink. I hope you get to play along with this week's inspiration challenge, with or without SU Ink stamps. Leave a link to your card (in your online gallery or blog) on the SU Ink blog so we can be sure to check it out. Use keyword SUINKWWC10. You'll also see some great ideas from other design team members there too.

I took the layout for my card from the inspiration picture. I used a darker color as the "rug" layer and the patterned half of the "comforter" layer, then a lighter shade for the left side of the "comforter".

Check out my cute little football guy from the First and Goal set. I think the artist might be a Steelers fan...He's wearing Ben's number. LOL. But I really do love how you can color him in to suit any team, from your kid's pee wee football colors to your fave pro club.

What's In It?

Stamps: First and Goal (SU Ink)

Paper: white, black, summer sun, so saffron

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: circle, word window, and large oval punch, paper piercer and template (SU!); Copic markers; dimensionals

Reach for the Sky!

This is the last of my quick and easy cards from my one day of stamping last week. Here, I stamped the flower in Elegant Eggplant, then ran over it a bit with a water brush to fill it in (since the ink is water based dye, this is so quick and easy). Then I stamped the swirl as a stem with Old Olive. The entire flower/scalloped layer was a long rectangle nestability die cut, which I trimmed off all but one of the scalloped edges. Layer on pale plum and add a strip of Old Olive.

For the sentiment, I used my stamp-a-ma-jig, and eggplant marker to stamp only the part I wanted. The original sentiment is from In the Treetop and reads, "Trees teach us to stay grounded, but also to never stop reaching for the sky!"

The darling polka dotted paper is from the new Pretty Papers Winter Wonderland pack.

What's In It?
Stamps: Floral Frenzy, In the Treetop (Lizzie Anne Designs)
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); pale plum, elegant eggplant, old olive (SU!); winter wonderland (Lizzie Anne's Pretty Papers)
Ink: old olive, elegant eggplant (SU!)
Accessories: flower die (Cuttlebug); long scallop rectangle nestabilities die (Spellbinders); circle punch (EK Success); white gel pen; button, thread, water brush, ribbon, o ring

Shimmered Frenzy

Thanks so much to all of you for your well wishes and congratulations! It really means so much to me. I'm happy to say that I started taking my prenatal vitamins at night, rather than in the morning, and I'm feeling much less queasy now.

Here's another one of the cards I whipped up the other day. Again, keepin' it simple with pretty much one color and black and white. I stamped the flowers and swirls (Floral Frenzy by Lizzie Anne) with onyx black Versafine on Papertrey white card stock. The darker pink is pixie pink done with a water brush. The lighter pink is Shimmerz! Have you tried this stuff? This was my first go at it, and it was SO EASY! I just dipped my paint brush into the little jar and started painting. It's really easy to control. And it gave such a gorgeous pearly shimmer!

Since I wanted to show off my shimmer, I just added some ribbon, a sentiment (Sketched Sentiments), and a punched butterfly (covered in star dust Stickles) to this large panel. Card stock is pretty in pink.

hi...

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting too regularly lately. I'm really falling behind on my stamping. But I have news! I'm expecting my very first bundle of joy! Though I wouldn't call it joyful right now. I'm so tired, sick, and haven't an ounce of creativity. I forced a few cards today because I NEED to get some deadlines taken care of before they really sneak up on me.

Now after saying my creativity has all been zapped, I must also say...I love this card! And it took me all of five minutes I think. Stamp the three flowers from Lizzie Anne's Floral Frenzy in Old Olive. Adhere American Crafts paper strip. Tie on ribbon. Adhere chipboard letters (already colored and glittered from Making Memories). Pierce a row of holes on bottom. Add a few dots of Star Dust Stickles to the flowers.

World Card Making Day

It's World Card Making Day, and Lizzie Anne Designs is celebrating in style! The fall releases are all available starting today, including the gorgeous new line of designer papers, called Pretty Papers.

Check out the winter card making workshop for all the seasonal inspiration you're looking for. It includes card ideas and step by step instructions from all of the design team members. AND you get 20% OFF EVERY STAMP / SET used on those cards for today only! So this cute little snowman stamp you see on my winter card...oh yeah! Only $3.99 today!

AND, both Tricia and Meredith are giving away packs of the new Pretty Papers as blog candy today, so be sure to stop by for a visit.

Stamps: Snowmen Line
Paper: Winter Wonderland patterned paper, watercolor paper, white and red cardstock
Ink: Onyx black (versafine); Bordering Blue, Mellow Moss, Old Olive, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Apricot Appeal (SU)
Other: Water brush; chipboard snowflake(Basic Grey); star dust stickles; snow cap acrylic paint (Ranger); paint brush; long scalloped rectangle Nestabilities die, rhinestone, dimensionals

New Baby Sleeve and Insert Card

Lizzie Anne Designs will be releasing their fabulous fall stamp line up on World Card Making Day (this Saturday, October 4), along with a few other surprises. So the sneak peeks have already started! You can see each full stamp set as it is revealed here, including the one I used for this card, Circle Sentiments. I also used some of the fabulous new exclusive Lizzie Anne Pretty Papers. There are TWO gorgeous collections. You're looking at a few of the French Floral collection here. You definately want to check out every gorgeous sheet!

This card is about 3.5 by 6.25. It is made of a kraft "sleeve", sealed at the bottom, and a scallop tabbed insert. It's pretty subtle, but it also says "congratulations" all around the scalloped kraft piece.

Stamps: Circle Sentiments by Lizzie Anne Designs
Paper: kraft, white (SU!); French Floral Pretty Papers (Lizzie Anne)
Ink: creamy caramel, choc chip, pumpkin pie, sage shadow (SU)
Accessories: circle nesties (Spellbinders), decorative pin, dimensionals, button, thread, Michael's ribbon, glue dot

A Fall Harvest Dinner Favor

Whatchadoin? Me, I'm playing along with the Whatchadoin' Wednesday challenge at Storage Units, Ink. The challenge is to come up with a favor to fancy up your fall dinner table this season. They've released some great seasonal stamp sets today, so be sure to check those out as well.

Here, I've used Giving Thanks to create my fall harvest scene for a decorated tin. As you can see, it also doubles for a place card if you add a little name tag. Perfect for holding a little baggie of nuts and dried berries for your guests to take home. The tin was a 50 cent Michael's find.

I tried figuring out what colors from the Core'dinations line of card stocks would match up with this week's color challenge at Splitcoast (really rust, chocolate chip and baja breeze). I colored all of my images with Stampin' Up! markers and a little swipe of a water brush, except the blue shading. That was done with VersaMagic ink and a blender pen.

So I hope you find some time to play along. We'd love to see your ideas, with or without SU Ink stamps. Just link back to the original post on the SU Ink blog. Here are a few more pics, including the undecorated tin, in case you want to know what to look for.

What's In It?

Stamps: Giving Thanks (SU Ink)

Paper: white (SU!); tidal wave, french roast, rustic (Core'dinations); water color (Strathmore cold press)

Ink: noir (Palette); onyx black (Versafine); sea breeze (VersaMagic); SU! markers in really rust, creamy caramel, lavendar lace, lovely lilac, certainly celery, old olive, pumpkin pie, apricot appeal

Accessories: tin (Studio 18); retired Rustic retreat ribbon, blender pen, water brush, word window punch (SU!); white gel pen; tacky tape (Art Accentz); dimensionals, circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)