Mojo Monday on a Wednesday!

Good Morning Stampers! Happy Wednesday to you! I can't believe we are already half way through our spring break from school! Have you gotten your taxes out? I did ours back in Feb thank goodness-I hate taxes!!


Today's card is my submission for the Mojo Monday Sketch of the week. These are always fun to play along with!

I started out with my WW card base, added a piece of Candy Lane DSP and two different strips of Candy Lane punched with my Scallop Edge Punch. Next I added some Pink Pirouette Striped ribbon and my first square of more Candy Lane DSP matted with some Pink Pirouette. My main image from the Great Friend set in the Occasions Mini is stamped in Close to Cocoa on Whisper White also matted with some Pink Pirouette and the Ridinghood Red butterfly is popped up on Dimensionals. The sentiment which should have been stamped off to the right side is stamped in Chocolate Chip on the main panel. I just didn't think it would show up on the dark DSP and didn't want to make the card any busier by layering it with the oval punches or something else. Not exactly like the sketch but that's the fun part of doing a sketch, you make it your own!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend Paper: Candy Lane DSP, WW, Pink Pirouette Ink: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Ridinghood Red Accessories: Pink Pirouette Striped Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Dimensionals

Hope you have a super day! See you soon!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Sweet Sunday Sketch

Good morning stampers! Thanks for stopping by today!
It's that time again...to do Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Today's card starts out with a Whisper White card base with a layer of Ski Slope DSP (retired)matted with a layer of Sahara Sand. My main image is from the Upsy Daisy stamp Set and is stamped in Baja Breeze and then highlighted with my White Gel Pen along the tops of the flowers and matted with another piece of Sahara Sand.
The ribbon is Certainly Celery from the Sale-A-Bration catalog and I tied a piece on one of our new Basic Jumbo Grommets from the Occasions Mini and attached it to the card. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black and is also from the Upsy Daisy stamp set.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy Paper: Ski Slope (retired, Sahara Sand, WW Ink: Baja Breeze,White Gel Pen, Basic Black Accessories: Basic Jumbo Grommet, Certainly Celery Ribbon (retired SAB)

Hope you liked my card today!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Great Friend

Good Morning Stampers! Hope you had a terrific Easter Weekend! I must say I enjoyed being lazy this morning and not rolling out of bed until just a little bit ago! :)

Today's card is one I made a few days ago. I am still trying to figure out my swaps for an upcoming demonstrator event I am going to. I do like this card and I think it just might be the one I will make to swap.


I started out with a Baja Breeze card base, added a strip of the new Walk in the Park DSP from the Occasions Mini Catalog and used my Eyelet Border Punch to make a lacey border along the bottom. I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to stamp the three butterflies from the Great Friend set in Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze and Sahara Sand and my sentiment comes from the Oval All stamps set also from the Occasions Mini. The sentiment is layered on a piece of Baja Breeze punched with the new Scallop Oval punch and is adhered with a dimensional on a piece of Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend, Oval All Paper: Walk in the Park DSP, WW, Baja Breeze Ink: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, SU Markers Accessories: Scallop Oval Punch, Dimensionals, Large Oval Punch, Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Eyelet Border Punch

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

New Pop Up Dies!

Hi guys! Happy Easter!
I'm taking a quick break from my family activites (the kids are getting showered and dressed so I have a few minutes)to post a couple videos about the new Pop Up Dies that are available through me! The dies will be available in the local craft stores in a couple months but Stampin' Up got to be one of the few vendors to have them for sale first!
Now I honestly don't own these yet but I have seen quite a few projects with them that are just so stinking cute! You're going to want these for sure!


Click HERE to see the video about the Pop Up Ball Die

Click HERE to see the video about the Birthday Cake Die

You can see some wonderful examples of cards made with these pop up dies by some super talented Stampin' Up demonstrators HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE!

Hope you are having a wonderful day and I'll see you tomorrow with another card!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Two Challenges in One!

Good Morning Stampers! Hope you are enjoying your Easter weekend! Thanks for stopping by!


So yesterday after stamping my card using the colors from Kristina Werner's Color Challenge of the week I decided that they were a fun and challenging combo that really stretched me! Guess that's why they call it a "challenge" duh?! ;) So anyway I thought I'd have a go at that color combo again this time with a sketch challenge from Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge. I usually am a total CASE-r, that is my creations are almost always copied with slight changes from other creations I've seen out there in blogland and on my beloved Splitcoast Stampers and the Stamper's Showcase on the Stampin' Up website. The terrific thing I have found with doing these sketch challenges is that the creations are all my own! Whoo hoo I CAN actually come up with something original!
So today's card started out with a WW card base. I added a strip of Pacific Point cardstock with a little Kiwi Kiss Striped Ribbon running down it and then stamped my main image using Black, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red and Pacific Point and the Eastern Blooms stamp set. The corners of it and the Rose Red mat are punched using the Ticket Corner Punch and then added to another mat of Basic Black. The large flower is from the Sizzix Bigz Die called Daisies #2 and the leaves are from the Sizzix Sizzlits Little Leaves. I layered those all together and then added a Rose Red flower from my Boho Blossoms Punch and added a little shine with a Metal Sticker from Colorbok (in the $1 section of our local Joann's). The sentiment is from the Great Friend set from the new Occasions Mini.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Great Friend Paper: Pacific Point, Basic Black, WW, Rose Red Ink: Pacific Point, Basic Black, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss Accessories: Sizzix Bigz Daisies #2, Sizzix Sizzlits Little Leaves, Kiwi Kiss Striped Ribbon, Metal Sticker, Dimensionals, Ticket Corner Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch

I have to say I really like this card. Judging by my total lack of comments on my Swap or Not to Swap post (click HERE to see it)I'm thinking you guys hate them but are too nice to tell me! ;)

Hope you all have a great Easter tomorrow and that the Easter Bunny brings you lots of goodies (all fat and calorie free of course!)
hugs,
Elizabeth

A New Challenge

Good Morning Stampers! Happy Good Friday to you!



As I was doing my typical hour long blog surf the other day I happened upon a fun blog that I have since favorited. Kerin Sylvester does weekly sketch challenges at her blog Stamps, Paper, Glitter and I thought this week I'd play along using the colors from Kristina Werner's Color Challenge for this week.

When I saw Pacific Point as one of the colors in Kristina's challenge for the week I knew I wanted to use the bird from Good Friend and the coordinating paper from the Good Morning Sunshine DSP. Those little birds are just too cute!

I started out with my fairly typical WW card base, added my strips of Good Morning Sunshine DSP and my Basic Black cardstock with little strips of Kiwi Kiss. I then stamped the bird image in Pacific Point and Rose Red and stamped the beak and tail again on a scrap so I could add Dimensionals to them and popped them up for interest. I managed to stamp these without my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line my images up perfectly, but it would have been a good time to use it-I was lucky! I matted my main panel in Basic Black and added some Sizzix Sizzlits Little Leaves in Kiwi Kiss to make it look like my bird was in a tree. The final touch was my sentiment from the Only Ovals set layered on a Rose Red Scallop Oval both from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Don't forget about Stampin' Up's current Get Connected Promotion! For the month of April when you purchase $40 in product from the Occasions Mini Catalog or $150 from either the Occasions Mini or the big Idea Book and Catalog (or hostess a workshop for that amount)you get to choose anything from the "Under $10" section of the Idea Book and Catalog for FREE!! (It's on page 208) Who can pass up FREE STAMPS?!?!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Oval All, Good Friend Paper: WW, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Good Morning Sunshine DSP Ink: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Pacific Point Accessories: Sizzix Sizzlits Little Leaves, Scallop Oval Punch, Dimensionals, Googlie Eye

Have a fantastic Friday and I'll see you tomorrow.
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Diva Coffee Break Challenge

Hi there Stampers! Thanks for stopping by!


Today I decided to play along with the Divas over at the DCBC blog. This week's challenge really wasn't much of a challenge because I use my Big Shot ALL THE TIME!


My daughter had an Easter themed party with her Brownie troop and I needed something little but cute to give to her two troop leaders. What's better than chocolate than chocolate dressed up really cute?!
I started by running some of my left over Delicate Dots DSP from the Sale-A-Bration catalog through with the Sizzix Bigz XL Matchbox Die that's new in the Occasions Mini catalog. I quickly and easily put the matchboxes together using just one little piece of Sticky Strip for the box lid, as the bottom requires no adhesive at all! Next I stamped my bunny from the new Eight Great greetings also from the Occasions Mini in Black Stazon and colored him in with my SU Markers. I punched him out with my Wide Oval Punch and layered him on a Scallop Circle punched out of more Delicate Dots DSP. The So Saffron ribbon is also from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. Inside I wrapped two Ghiradelli chocolate squares in Delicate Dots DSP and added a die cut egg from the green sized Sizzix Eggs Die after running it through with a Cuttlebug Embossing folder. I think it turned out super cute and it was so easy!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Eight Great Greetings Ink: Black Stazon, SU Markers Paper: Delicate Dots DSP (SAB)WW, So Saffron Accessories: Sizzix Eggs Die, Sizzix Bigz XL Matchbox Die, SO Saffron Ribbon (SAB), Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

Hope you have a super day!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

To Swap or Not to Swap

Good Morning Stampers! How are you today?
I have a demonstrator event the end of this month and have been trying to figure out my swap card. I have decided I absolutely have too many stamp sets to choose from which I think is part of my problem narrowing down to one! The only guidelines we have for our swap is that we have to use only current Stampin' Up products. That leaves it pretty wide open!
So I've been playing with several stamp sets trying to come up with I card that I just love that isn't too time intensive since I have to make quite a few of them and make sure I have enough supplies in stock to make them all. I thought I'd show you a couple that I've been working on today.

This first card is in my reject pile. Too much coloring even though I do like it. I started with a Garden Green base (probably the first time I started out with THAT color!)added a mat of Close to Cocoa and stamped my images from Blooming with Love in Black Stazon. I colored them in with my SU Markers and then adhered it to my card. I added some Tangerine Tango Striped ribbon, stamped my sentiment in black after stamping the watering can image in Sahara Sand, punched it out with my 1 3/8" Circle Punch and layered it on a Close to Cocoa Scallop Circle. White Gel Pen doodle dots finish it off.

The second card I made uses my Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. I based it on THIS one. I was resisting this set for so long but I finally caved in and bought it. I decided to make the card using Ridinghood Red since I have a full roll of the Ridinghood Red Striped ribbon. I must say I am much more drawn to the catalog sample of it in Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss than Ridinghood Red and Black but it is very pretty. This card came together quickly which is a definite plus when you are making 40 or 50 of them! I started out with a Ridinghood Red card base, Added a Basic Black mat and stamped my flowers from the Fifth Avenue Floral set in Going Gray, Basic Black and Ridinghood Red on Whisper White cardstock. The sentiment is also from that set and stamped in black and layered with the same colors. The finishing touch is the Ridinghood Red Striped Ribbon.

This last card is my favorite though definitely not as fast and easy to put together as the Fifth Avenue Floral one above.
This card is based on THIS one I saw on Splitcoast Stampers. I started out with a Regal Rose base, added some Raspberry Tart DSP matted with Kiwi Kiss and stamped the butterfly from the Great Friend set in the new Occasions Mini. I used the rock and roll technique to stamp the butterfly by first inking it up with Regal Rose and then rolling just the outside edges in Rose Red ink. I used my Ticket Corner punch for the corners of my WW piece and matted it with Kiwi Kiss. The butterfly's trail is from the Flight of the Butterfly set and is stamped in Kiwi Kiss. I added some Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon and some flowers punched with my Boho Blossoms Punch with White Gel Pen in the centers. The final touch was a piece of WW cardstock punched with the Eyelet Punch along the bottom.

So what do you think? I have a couple more card ideas to play around with but I'd love to hear what you would vote for. Leave me a comment and let me know!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a terrific day!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Mojo Monday Sketch of the Week

Hey there stampers! Thanks for stopping by today!
Today's card is my submission for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.
I started out with a Whisper White base and added my Raspberry Tart DSP matted with Kiwi Kiss panels after placing my black brads and tying my Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon. I stamped my images from the Sweet Stems stamp set in Black Stazon and colored them in with my SU Markers in Rose Red, Regal Rose and Old Olive. I matted my images in Kiwi Kiss, used my SU Markers to color in my sentiment from the Level 2 Hostess set called A Little Something and punched it out with my 1 3/4" Circle Punch. The scallop circle behind my sentiment is from the Sizzix Bigz Die called Scallop Circles #2 and I popped it up with Dimensionals.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Sweet Stems, A Little Something Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP, Kiwi Kiss, WW Ink: Black Stazon, SU Markers Accessories: Sizzix Bigz Scallop Circles #2 Die, Dimensionals, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Black Brads, Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon

Have a super day and I'll see ya tomorrow!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

Good morning stampers! Hope you had a nice weekend!

Today's card combines two challenges once again! I really liked the color combo of Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White from Kristina Werner's Color Challenge for the week so I decided to use those colors again this time with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.
I started out with another square card base of 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" in Baja Breeze (using another one of those CD envelopes-maybe I'll have all 200 used by next year!!) I stamped a background using a small flower from Eastern Blooms also in Baja Breeze. I stamped my two panels in Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, and stamped off Chocolate Chip in various flowers from the Eastern Blooms set and matted them in Chocolate Chip. The butterfly is from the Great Friend set now available in the Occasions Mini Catalog. I stamped it in Kiwi Kiss, cut it out and stuck a jeweled brad (Making Memories) in the center and adhered it with a Dimensional.
The sentiment is from the Only Ovals set also from the Occasions Mini Catalog and is stamped in Baja Breeze, punched with the Large Oval Punch and matted with a Scallop Oval punched piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock. I added White Gel Pen doodle dots around the border of the Scallop Oval.


Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend, Eastern Blooms, Only Ovals Paper: WW, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip Accessories: White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Jeweled brad (Making Memories), Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

Thanks so much for stopping by and feel free to comment on my card! I love to hear from my readers! :)
See you tomorrow!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Two Challenges, One Card

Hi there Stampers! Thanks for joining me today!
I stamped this card yesterday after checking out some of my favorite blogs and decided to combine two challenges in one. The first challenge is Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge and the second is Taylor's Cupcake Challenge sketch. Both are such fun to play along with!

I started by making my card 5 1/4" x 5 1/4", small enough to use one of my zillions of CD envelopes as an envelope if I ever send this baby out! I knew I kept these for a reason! ;)
The card base is Baja Breeze stamped in the same color using my new Fifth Avenue Floral stamps. I tried and tried to resist this set and finally just caved in *sigh* Now that I have it I love it! I stamped my two square panels in Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss and matted them with Chocolate Chip. The center flower was stamped in Chocolate Chip then colored in with a blender pen in Baja Breeze. I popped it up on dimensionals in the center and added some Dazzling Diamonds with my 2 way glue pen. The sentiment comes form the new Great Friend set in the Occasions Mini.
The final touch is adding two of my Filagree Brads in the corner, positioning them just so with my Mat Pack. I've been hiding these brads away and almost forgot I had them! They are super cute!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend, Fifth Avenue Floral Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, WW Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss Accessories: Dimensionals, Filagree Brads, Mat Pack, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

So glad you stopped by! Have a great rest of your weekend!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Great Friend Thanks

Hi there stampers!
Hope you are having a great weekend so far!
I made this card last night when I needed a thank you note and I really wanted to ink up my new Great Friend set from the Occasions Mini. I started with a Certainly Celery base, added a Cuttlebugged panel of Baja Breeze, and stamped my butterflies and cut them out. I added the jeweled brads to the centers of the butterflies and stuck them on the card with dimensionals. The sentiment is from the fresh Cuts set and punched with the Large Oval Punch and layered on the new Scallop Oval Punch. I've decided this set is in my top 5 of favorites now!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend, Fresh Cuts Paper: Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Ink: Basic Black, Baja Breeze Accessories: Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Dimensionals, Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Jeweled Brads (Michael's)

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Sweet Stems

Hi there Stampers! Thanks for stopping by!
So I don't have a Furry Friends post other than we are still trying to find a home for our foster kitty, Venetian. She is such a sweet girl and would be the perfect addition to a family. If you are local you can see her at Petco in Thousand Oaks tomorrow and on Sunday at Petsmart in Simi Valley. Please help us find her the home she so deserves!!






I was browsing through the Splitcoast Stampers gallery and found this cute card. So I had to CASE it. I used it in a workshop and everyone seemed to really love it!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Sweet Stems, Polka Dot background stamp Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Raspberry Tart DSP Ink: Basic Black Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, Rose Red SU grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals, SU Markers
Have a super Friday!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Mojo Monday on a Thursday!

Hi there guys! Thanks for stopping by or coming back if you checked out my earlier post. :)
I just finished my submission for the Mojo Monday Sketch of the week. It took me a little while to put it all together but I like what I ended up with I think ;)
I started with a Whisper White base, added some of the Delicate Dots DSP from the Sale-A-Bration catalog and stamped my tree from the brand new Forest Friends set in the Occasions Mini using my SU Markers. I tied my So Saffron ribbon (also from SAB)in a knot on my DSP and then stamped the bunny in Going Gray and matted it with my 1 3/8" Circle Punch and my Scallop Circle Punch. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black and is from the Fresh Cuts stamp set. The final touch is the three flowers punched with my Boho Blossoms Punch with gray brads added to the centers.


Ingredients:
Stamps: Forest Friends, Fresh Cuts Paper: Certainly Celery, Delicate Dots DSP, Sahara Sand, WW Ink: Su Markers, Going Gray, Basic Black Accessories: Boho Blossoms Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, brads, So Saffron Ribbon (SAB), Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

The Occasions Mini is Here!

Good morning stampers! Hope you are having a great day!
I don't have a card to post yet but am hoping to have one this afternoon! I do have some great news though! The Occasions Mini catalog (click HERE to see it) has officially started and there's an awesome promotion to go with it for the month of April! If you place an order from the Occasions Mini catalog totaling $40 or more (before tax and shipping) you get to choose any item in the under $10 section (page 208 of the Idea Book and Catalog)for FREE! Also if you hold a workshop that totals $150 or more (or you order that amount yourself)you also get to choose an item from the under $10 section for FREE! That's in addition to the regular hostess benefits!
Thanks for stopping by and check back later to see what I've posted!
Hugs,
Elizabeth