Monday, September 28, 2015

Scrappy Creations

 
Hi friends,
  Happy Fall !  Every year about this time, when the weather gets a little cooler (not here yet, but other states), I get the itch to do some re-organizing and cleaning. I recently retired and have found that my list of things to do is getting longer and longer. I decided to clean out the craft room.  You know how it gets. You make cards, and you keep the scraps, thinking some day, I will make something with you.  Well, I finally did just that.  I made several cards with scraps left over from cutting supplies for my monthly stamp camps.  I put them in an envelope and decided it was time to see what could be done.  I am sharing three of them today.  Here they are:
The scraps here were the negative butterflies, punched out from my Stampn' Up! Convention swaps. I even had a couple of butterflies left.  It just so happens, my punched out spots were almost lined up perfectly! The Delightful Dijon piece, embossed with the Woodgrain folder, was left over from my September stamp camp.  A Rich Razzelberry card base and a snippet of black, and it's done.

This was my ugly duckling at first.  We've all been there; you have a design in your head, you put it on paper, but it turns out just terrible.  That's what happened here.  I envisioned a border all the way around the card in black, on a Crumb Cake card base.  The middle was supposed to be the same stamps, like a wreath in the center. Didn't happen. I wish I had a photo of the original; maybe that's not a good idea; I don't want you to be ill.  So, more scraps to the rescue.  A piece of Bohemian DSP, a little bit of black, more of the Delightful Dijon Woodgrain, and a strip of ribbon, and it turned out ok.

This is my favorite.  See all those teeny, tiny strips of DSP on top of the Tangelo Twist piece?  Those were actually very skinny strips left over from a One Sheet Wonder card I did at a friend's house. She knows how I love to use scraps, so when I started to throw them out she said "Now Bobbi, you mean you're not going to make something with those?"  Challenge accepted!  I thought of doing a similar Sunburst technique, but of course, didn't have enough pieces to do that. So, I just randomly cut them to size and glued them in several directions.  The leaf was left over from another card from the September stamp camp. Another scrap of Bohemian DSP and some seam binding in Calypso Coral, Wild Wasabi and Early Espresso, and I really love the result.

Later this week, I will share the other cards with you. Sometimes, scraps help me to see things that I don't always see, when I'm designing a card.  It's nice to "see what happens" when you sit and ponder and move things around.  Hope you like my cards today.  Please leave me a comment and let me know.  Until next time, happy stamping!





Monday, September 21, 2015

September Stamp Camp

Hello!  I apologize for not posting sooner. The days just get away from me.  I did retire at the end of August, so you would think I'd have a lot of time to make cards and post them.  Not true.  The first week had my head spinning and thinking something was missing. The second week I couldn't get organized and last week I started making a list of things to do, but wasn't too successful in getting much accomplished.  I did however, find a little time to have a stamp camp.  Here's a couple of the cards we made.

 I really wanted to use the new Bohemian DSP.  Here it is paired with a Blackberry Bliss card base, and a layer of Bermuda Bay.  I used the Washi Tape Punch for the sentiments, as well as the layers underneath, with Bermuda Bay and Delightful Dijon card stock.  The stamp set is called Me = Grateful, stamped with Blackberry Bliss and Bermuda Bay Inks. Candy Dots add some interest.
 This is a sweet card I think.  I love the fall season, and even though it's really hot here most of the summer, we do get a little bit of fall weather starting in October.  Up north of me, they still have the 4 seasons, but down here in "the valley", we just get to enjoy cooler weather, and lots of blooming plants.  I used Very Vanilla for my card base, and added a piece of Fancy Foil Designer Vellum in Gold.  The stamp set is Vintage Leaves and I used Crush Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Mossy Meadow and Cajun Craze inks.  The leaves were cut out using the new Leaflets Framelits and popped up on dimensionals. This card is a little smaller than a normal A2 size, so the the leaves could hang over the edge, and still fit in a standard envelope.  For added interest, I adhered an Into the Woods embellishment, and tied a bow with the new Gold Cording Trim.
I hope you like my cards today.  I will be sharing plenty of more cards later this week, or early next week.  I had a field day last Friday, making cards with scraps.  I love it when that all works out. Until next time, happy stamping! 

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

New Catalog Cards

Hello friends, and welcome!  Today is the day the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog is available for ordering.  Trust me when I say...this is one of the BEST catalogs ever! I know, I say that every year, but when it's the truth...well, it's the truth. Stampin' Up! does a fabulous job of making sure everything they offer is current and hot right now. And this catalog is no exception.  I haven't had too much time to play so far, but I did manage to create a couple of cards for Halloween.  Here they are:

One of my favorite items is this Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Just look at the detail on those tree trunks and branches! I mean seriously?? Can't you just see a million uses for this folder?  I used the new Among the Branches and the Cheer all Year stamp sets.  And those eyes floating in the forest? I added our rhinestones, colored with markers.  

Another favorite are these spectacular Spider Web Doilies. They are so versatile; these really aren't spider webs, and can be used later as a backdrop for a beautiful flower too. They're a generous 4-3/4" around, so you can cut them down to suit your needs. And, they are white on the reverse side, so I can also see a lot of uses for these as well, after Halloween is over. . The background paper is our Happy Haunting Designer Series paper. I also used Among the Branches stamp set and stamped the Spooky on Tangerine Tango card stock, using our new Black Archival ink. A little shimmer from a Wink of Stella pen and a few rhinestones, and my main focal point was a quick finish.
 
I hope you like my cards today.  If  you don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, contact me and I'll send you a new catalog.  I'd love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment.  Until next time, I'm off to the craft room to create something else.