What Makes You Happy?

Hi Everyone!

I recently bought the Hello Life stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogue and one of the main reasons I wanted this set was for one of the sentiments - do more of what makes you happy - this is my mantra for 2015.  What makes you happy?  Crafting certainly is one of the things that makes me super happy.  I've been trying to find the perfect way to use this sentiment and I just couldn't wait any longer.

Here is my card:

I had some really great inspiration from a few challenges:

1. Paper Players

The Paper Players had a fun sketch this week and I decided to turn it on it's side - I hope that was ok!

2. Stampin' Celebration

The inspiration photo over at Stampin' Celebration was really nice and I knew right away that I wanted to use the beautiful heart paper out of the Stacked With Love DSP Stack from Stampin' Up!.

3. Fusion Card Challenge

This week I was inspired by the hearts in the inspiration picture from Fusion.  Of course, that gave me even more ammunition to use the gorgeous heart paper in my project.

I also want to take a moment to thank Julia over at Colour Me...! for choosing my project as one of the Honourable Mentions.  I really appreciate it!  You can see my card HERE.

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

Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Stacked With Love DSP Stack
Stamp Sets: Hello Life
Inks: Calypso Coral
Tools/Techniques: Square Framelits, Big Shot, Stampin Dimensionals

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

Big Day Birthday

Hi Everyone,

I have another card to share with you today - I think I may be on a roll with this crafting thing lately!  I don't think I have posted this much in a long, long time!  Love it!

As always, I drew inspiration from a few challenges:

1. The Challenge

I haven't had a chance to play along with this challenge before but I had a lot of fun doing so this week.

2. The Paper Players

This was a tough challenge for me this week - to have the sentiment as the focal point.  I'm not really sure I pulled it off but I had fun trying!

Here is my card:

I used the new Irresistibly Yours Specialty DSP from Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-bration catalogue.  This is such a fun paper, it is an emboss resist paper.  So I sponged a few different colours around and then wiped off any excess so that the stars looked bright and white.  I'm sure I will have a lot of fun with this awesome paper.

I don't know about anyone else out there, but when I was done with this card and looked at the sponged strip, it reminded me of Rainbow Brite...Lol!

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

Card Stock: Whisper White, Irresistibly Yours Specialty DSP
Stamp Sets: Big Day (Sale-a-bration)
Inks: Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Rose Red, Melon Mambo Blendabilities, Coastal Cabana Blendabilities, Versamark
Tools/Techniques: Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks so much for dropping my, I'm so happy you did.
Steph

A Blackberry Bliss Christmas

Hi Everyone,

It's time for another absolutely fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I had such a fun time with this sketch and I encourage you to head over to the blog on Wednesday and check out the rest of the wonderfully talented Design Team creations.  These girls are AWESOME!  Make sure to take some time to play along as well!!

Here is this week's great sketch:

I decided that it would be fun to turn this sketch on it's side and see what came to me.  I also wanted to use some non-conventional colours for this Christmas Card so I chose Blackberry Bliss and Gold.  I also had a new stamp set that had not seen any ink just yet and I wanted to try it out - Letterpress Winter.

I know it's hard to see but the images are heat embossed in gold.  I also used gold foil sheets and embossed the background.  

I will also be entering this card in a few other challenges this week:

1. Paper Players

I love their theme this week - how fun!

2. Inkspirational

This week's theme is Anything Goes with Gold - love it!

3. Just Us Girls Paper Challenge

This week is their "Word Week":

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

Card Stock - Blackberry Bliss, Gold Foil Paper

Stamp Sets - Letterpress Winter

Inks - Versamark

Tools/Techniques - Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Gold Sequin Trim, Pretty Print Embossing Folder, Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot

Thanks for dropping by, I am so glad you took the time!

Steph

A Nautical Father's Day

Hi Everyone,

I don't know where the time has gone or where my crafting bug has gone lately...  It was so nice to get together with a couple of my friends today and actually craft!  It was a much needed release.

Today I thought I should get my Father's Day card done - unfortunately it won't make it to my Dad in time for Father's Day.  He will enjoy it once it gets there however.

I thought I would enter a few challenges in order to get my card done:

1) Seize the Sketch

I loved this week's sketch - it was perfect!

2) The Paper Players

I really thought the colours of Real Red, Night of Navy and Whisper White would be perfect for a nautical theme.  It would also allow me to use some of my new DSP - Maritime.

3) The Card Concept

Today's post from The Card Concept challenge was perfect - use a nautical theme!  I decided to play along in the Clean & Layered portion of the challenge this week.

So combining all of these challenges, here is my card:

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Maritime DSP

Inks: Versamark

Stamp Sets: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Tools/Techniques: Circles Framelits, Itty Bitty Labels Framelits, Smoky Slate Embossing Powder, Whisper White Bakers Twine.

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

A Card with Shaving Cream???

Hi Everyone!!

Hope you are all enjoying your week - can you believe it's Wednesday all ready??  I am really going through Olympic withdrawal.  I am totally missing cheering on those Canadian athletes and showing my Canadian pride.  Go Canada Go!

Today, I tried a really cool technique that can be found over at Technique Time Tuesday - using shaving cream!!  You must check it out!!  It is really great for creating your own DSP or background papers.

I used the Shaving Cream Technique and combined it with a couple of other challenges including Triple Threat week over at Dynamic Duos for the colours which I thought would be great with the shaving cream technique.

I also decided to use the sketch over at The Paper Players.  Loved the sketch from Jaydee this week!

And, without further ado, here is my card for this post:

This was a really fun technique, I highly recommend checking out Technique Time Tuesday, they have a new technique to try each month.  This one was messy and super fun to do!!

Card Recipe (All Stampin' Up! Products - other than the shaving cream! (ha!)):

Card Stock:

Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango

Ink:

Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Versamark

Stamp Sets:

See Ya Later

Tools/Techniques:

Wild Wasabi Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Chalk Talk Framelits, Basic Jewels - Rhinestones, Shaving Cream

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph