Happy Birthday Balloons

Hi Everyone,

I'm a little late posting this but yesterday was Monday so that means another fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!!  I do hope you will take the time to swing by the blog, check out the other Design Team creations and play along.  We love seeing our favs but also new players!!

Also, tune in next week for something very special as it will be sketch #100 for AHSC - you won't want to miss out!!

Here is this week's fantastic sketch:

And here is my card for this week:

I love the colours that are used in the DSP from Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-bration catalogue - they are just so fun and cheery!  I also fussy cut the balloons and sentiments - I don't often like to fussy cut but it was worth it for this look.  I also used a strip from the Birthday Bash Specialty DSP in the Occasions Catalogue - I love these sheets as they have flecks of gold foil in them although it is hard to see in the pictures.  It just adds such a lovely effect to the card.

As always, I'm playing along with a few challenges to get the mojo going.

1. Just Us Girls

This week is a trend week  over at Just Us Girls and they are looking for "Splatters".  I chose to use this splattered DSP as the background for my card.

2. Addicted to Stamps and More

It's a photo inspiration week over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  The photo reminded me of a birthday party setup and I used some of the colours from the photo as well in my card.

3. Seize the Birthday

I chose not to use the toppings option this week at Seize the Birthday but rather to go with the Anything Goes option.  I love that they have the Anything Goes option each week and it gives a great opportunity to build up your Birthday stash any way you like.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Best Year Ever DSP, Birthday Bash Specialty DSP
Stamp Set: Balloon Bash
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry
Tools/Techniques: Best Year Ever Accessory Pack - 1/4" Polyester Ribbon - Crushed Curry

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'm so glad you did!
Steph

A Masculine Big Day Birthday

Hi All,

Hope you are all doing well.  I am back today with a Guest Designer post for Sunday Stamps.  I have had a lot of fun with these ladies - thanks so much Holly for letting me spend the month with you all!

This week is a super fun colour combination - Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Smoky Slate and Very Vanilla.  I was inspired by the inspiration photo as well - it screams birthday (and baby but I'm going with birthday on this one!) to me!  I encourage you all to head over to Sunday Stamps to check out the rest of the fabulous DT creations and of course, play along!!

Here is my creation:

I will be entering this card in a couple of other challenges as well:

1. Seize the Birthday

I have decided not to use the "toppings" options this week and to play along with the "Anything Goes" portion of the challenge.

2. Addicted to Stamps

It is also an "Anything Goes" week over at Addicted to Stamps.  :)

I'm so glad to be adding to my birthday card stash - it is so needed!!  Especially masculine ones.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock:  Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Very Vanilla

Stamp Sets: Big Day

Inks: Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Smoky Slate

Tools/Techniques: Chalk Talk Framelits, Big Shot, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon - Soft Sky, Neutrals Candy Dots - Basic Grey

Thanks for stopping by, I'm so glad you did!

Steph

Hello Love!

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all doing well and enjoyed a lovely weekend.

It's once again time for another fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  As always, I encourage you to not only come play along with us but to also check out all of the wonderful creations by our very talented Design Team.  These will be posted to the AHSC blog tomorrow.

Here is this week's fantastic sketch:

And here is my card:

I will also be linking up this creation to the following challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More

This week's photo inspiration is a fun one - I love the colours.

2. Inkspirational

This week the theme is to use Rose Colours - I have recently discovered that Rose Red is one of my new favourites and had to use it on my card.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Rose Red, Whisper White

Stamp Sets: Sheltering Tree, Really Good Greetings

Inks: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Rose Red

Tools/Techniques: Modern Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for dropping by, I"m so glad you did.

Steph

Exciting News - Guest Designer Spot!

Hi Everyone!

I have some super exciting news today - I will be the Guest Designer over at Sunday Stamps for the month of February!  I am so happy and excited to get to hang out with these ladies and be inspired by their awesome talent.  Thanks to Holly for having me. :)

I encourage you all to head over to the Sunday Stamps blog to check out the awesome design team and to play along.  This is such a fun challenge blog.

This week is a sketch week and it was challenging for me...

In the end, I decided to use washi tape which is fairly unusual for me.  And, I decided that I really wanted to use Blendabilities and one of the most beautiful stamp sets in Stampin' Up!'s Annual Catalogue - Blended Bloom.

Here is my creation:

In order to create my card, I was also inspired by some other challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More

This week is the theme is CAS (Clean and Simple) over at ATSM - it is definitely one of my favourite type of challenges/

2. Seize The Birthday

I love this challenge.  It's been a while since I've played so it's time!  This week is an "Anything Goes" week.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Stamp Sets: Blended Bloom, Bloom With Hope
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities
Tools/Techniques: Stacked With Love Designer Washi Tape, 1/8" Ribbon - Silver

Thanks so much for dropping by, I'm so glad you did.
Steph

Lovely Lumberjack

Hi Everyone!!

Hope you all had a truly wonderful weekend!

I got to spend the evening crafting with one of my most favourite buddies and it was awesome!  Good music, good treats, good conversation and good crafting.  Love it!

At the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogue Launch I won a stamp set that I didn't think I would ever, ever use.  Well I got it in the mail last week and of course, I inked it up tonight.  I think I have fallen in love with it.  It is just so cute...  It is called "Wood You Be Mine" and I used it for my fun card tonight!

As always, I decided to play along with a few challenges:

1. Colour Me...!

It has been far too long since I have had a chance to play along with this challenge that I love.  This week's striking colour combination is Real Red and Pacific Point.

2. Fusion Card Challenge

I also decided to use both the sketch and inspiration photo at Fusion this week.  I loved the wood hearts and they really helped to inspire the whole "wood" theme of my card.



3. Addicted to Stamps and More

This week is "Make Your Mark" over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  I had so much fun colouring this guy with Blendabilities that I knew he should be entered in this challenge as well.

Without further ado, here is my fun card for tonight!

So seriously, just how much fun is that little lumberjack?  And that sentiment is just awesome!  The lumberjack is a two step stamp which was really fun to use.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Real Red, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Adventure Bound DSP Stack
Stamp Sets: Wood You Be Mine?
Inks: Real Red, Pacific Point, Momento - Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake Blendabilities, Smoky Slate Blendabilities, Skin Tone Assortment Blendabiltiies

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you did!
Steph
Tools/Techniques: Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Circles Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals

Sparkly Pines

Hi Everyone!

We are back this week with another fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I really think you should all head over and play along!  While there, you should also check out all of the fabulous creations of the rest of the Design Team - they are a pretty talented bunch!

Here is this week's sketch:

You know me, I took a few liberties with sketch...I hope Michelle doesn't mind!

I don't know if you all have had a chance to check out the fabulous technique and card that Cynthia Millan shared on her blog a few weeks back.  You can check out her technique video HERE.  I have been dying to try this technique using the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and to create my own version of Cynthia's card.  So here is my CASE of her card:

If you click on the third image, you can really see how fabulous the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder is.  I simply took a Versamark ink pad and covered the entire white panel with it, covered it with the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and then used the heat tool.  And it turned out lovely.  The Early Espresso panel is embossed using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder which goes right along with the theme of this card, don't you think?  This is one of my most favourite cards I've made to date and was super fun to do.  Make sure you check out Cynthia's video above and try out this technique.

I will also be entering this card at the following challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps Challenge Blog

The theme for this week is HOLIDAY.  How fun!

2. Stampin' Celebration

Here is their inspiration photo for this week:

I really love all of the pine in these photos and knew my card would fit right in.  Isn't this a fantastic inspiration photo??

Finally, I'd like to take a moment to say thanks to the ladies over at Colour Me...! - my Subtle Thanks card I posted a couple of days ago was chosen by Julia for an honourable mention.  Yay!

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Whisper White, Early Espresso

Stamp Sets: Ornamental Pine

Inks: Garden Green, Early Espresso, Versamark

Tools/Techniques: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Sponging (using Early Espresso ink)

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you did!

Steph

Merry & Bright Stars

Hi Everyone!

We have another fun sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge this week.  Take a run over to our site and check out the rest of the Design Team's creations, I am absolutely sure you will be inspired!

I took a couple of liberties with the sketch but I hope you still enjoy it.  Here is my creation:

I am in love with the new Christmas stamp set from Stampin' Up! - Bright & Beautiful.  It is such a fun set, especially when you pair it with the Star Framelits.  For my card, I decided that I would emboss with Smoky Slate embossing powder on Lost Lagoon card stock for the beautiful stamped star image in the centre.  I love how it turned out!

I will also be entering this card in the "Anything Goes" challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More! and this week's challenge at Merry Monday Christmas Challenge which is "Silent Night".  For me, when I think of "Silent Night" - I think of bright and shining stars.

Card Recipe (all products are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Smoky Slate, Pear Pizazz, White Vellum

Stamp Sets: Bright & Beautiful, Good Greetings

Inks: Pear Pizazz, Lost Lagoon, Versamark

Tools/Techniques: Big Shot, Star Framelits, Smoky Slate Embossing Powder, Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Frosted Sequins

I would love it if you would take some time to follow my blog!

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph

Happy Birthday Dad!

Hey Everyone!

Wow!  Two posts in one day - it's been awhile!!

My Dad's 60th birthday was a few weeks back and I, of course, took the time to make him a card.  I just haven't had a chance to post it...

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps & More:

This week's challenge is to "Make Your Mark".  I don't often colour too much on my cards, but I decided to do so on this one.

2. Seize the Birthday!

You can never have too many birthday cards!

Here's my card:

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Fresh Prints DSP

Stamp Sets: Just Sayin', Sketched Birthday

Inks: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Tools/Techniques: Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, 1/8" Tafetta Ribbon - Bermuda Bay, Banners Framelits, White Embossing Powder

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph

Happy Mother's Day!

Hi Everyone!

Can you believe that Mother's Day is just around the corner?  I am excited because I get to spend the next few days leading up to Mother's Day with my Mom - we haven't done that in probably 15 years.  She lives on the East Coast of our lovely country and I am in Central Canada in Ottawa.  So this is a very nice treat!

I decided to combine a few different challenges this week to get to my card for my Mom.  First, I took some liberations with the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch.  I love how clean and simple the sketches are over there and I decided to do quite a CAS card.

Next, the theme over at The Paper Players is "Mother" so this was perfect for this week!

Finally, the colour theme over at The Card Concept this week is monochromatic purple.  I love purple so this was a great challenge for me!  My Mom also likes bright and cheery colours - what better than purple?!?!

I decided to enter my card this week into the Clean & Simple category of challenge - it is not too often that I do a one layer card let alone a card this CAS - I'm pretty happy with it.

With all of that said, here is my card for these great challenges!

The stamp set I have used for the paint brush strokes is the brand new one we received at the 2014 Stampin' Up! Catalog Premiere!  I am in LOVE with it!  You will be too, trust me!

I also noticed after I posted this, that this card would be perfect for the theme over at Addicted to Stamps - this week is CAS.  I will also be entering this card into the mix over there.  You should check them out this week as they are also having a Design Team Challenge.  The DT over there is quite inspiring and do some awesome work.

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder, Black Staz On

Stamp Sets: Work of Art, Delightful Dozen (retiring)

Tools/Techniques: All of the stamps (other than the greeting) were "stamped off" first before being applied to the card base to give the colours a lighter look.

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph