StampinMojo: Thinking of You

Thinking of You

November 12, 2015

Wondrous Fall Wreath for Pals Paper Arts

We have another color challenge this week. While the colors are very fall oriented I did not want to create something with leaves (my go-to for Fall).

I purchased the Wondrous Wreath set last year and struggled with lining the leaves of the wreath up. I thought I would give it another try and I am so glad I did.

The key to the Wondrous Wreath and the coordinating framelits is aligning all the tabs for both cutting and stamping.

Cut out the center of the wreath first and then line up the first stamp (the one with the most leaves). I align the tabs at the top. Okay this part if had successfully accomplished in the past but the next part I did not get until I created this card.

When you go to use the second stamp (the one with less leaves) the leaves you are stamping will exactly overlay leaves already stamped. This was the part I was doing wrong, I kept thinking these leaves filled in between the leaves already stamped and they don't. AHA!

Then you stamp the berries. Again, lining up the tabs is what made all this work.

Cutting out the wreath is a piece of cake then.

Here are the PPA colors for this week that inspired my card...

I even added a bough of garland to the inside of my card. Now that I have this figured out I wanted to keep creating.

I am glad that I gave this stamp set another try. I really love this stamp set and the fact that Stampin' Up! has added additional stamp sets to coordinate with the framelits.

What stamp set has given you difficult in the past? Did this help you? I would love to hear from you.

Michelle

Products used to create this project, click on any of the items below to begin shopping now!

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Nov 12, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, PPA Color Challenges, Thank you, Thinking of You

November 09, 2015

Happy New Home

Some things I love about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator:

Saving money on my crafting supplies
Meeting wonderful people (in-person and virtually)
And always being able to come up with a card or gift when I need it

Life is busy. Recently I have noted several times how glad I am to be able to create a custom gift or card for a specific occasion. No need to find a Hallmark store any more!

My project today is a perfect example where I was able to create something special for a colleague who just purchased a house.

The card was inspired by the very talented Alison Okamitsu. She is a SU Artisan Team member and very talented.

The stamp set and coordinating framelits are retired. They were part of the Holiday Home collection from last year's Holiday catty. I was very disappointed to see this set retired. I am not parting with this bundle as it is perfect for housewarming cards and more.

You may not be able to tell from the photo that the "colored" house is popped up on dimensionals for added emphasis.

Also this Prosecco is delicious if you enjoy Prosecco. I get it at Total Wine. It is a go to for celebrations.

I was out of town over the weekend and am very grateful that I took today off to get settled. I hope you have a GREAT day.

Michelle

Nov 9, 2015 6:46:44 AM | Card making, Congratulations, Friendship, Gift Ideas, Thinking of You

October 23, 2015

Autumn All Year

Autumn is my favorite time of year. I know that I am not alone. The cool crisp air is so refreshing after a hot and humid summer. There is so much to love about Autumn; the beauty of changing leaves, yummy caramel apples, warm apple cider and pumpkin spice everything. So I want Autumn All Year. Alright I guess that is not such a great idea.

And I am entering my card in the Paper Players Challenge this week.

My card celebrates Autumn using the sentiment from Cheer All Year. I stamped the large maple leaf first then using the Leaf Framelits cut out the same leaf from a Post-it to mask the leaf. Then I stamped the other two leaves. The masking gives the card depth.

The Delightful Dijon base and Bohemian DSP frame the focal point.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

Today is the last day for 15% off all stamp sets. Don't miss out on the Savings! Click on any item below and begin shopping at StampinMojo's online store.

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Oct 23, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, Masculine, Thinking of You

October 15, 2015

Bordering Blooms for Pals Paper Arts

This week's Pals Paper Arts challenge is a sketch. It is so simple, it was difficult!

I really wanted to be true to the sketch, here is the sketch...

Clean and simple with an escape from all the fall colors I have been using lately. The Bordering Blooms is one of my favorite border stamps from last year's annual catalog. I was so glad to see it carried over.

My color combination is Cucumber Crush and Hello Honey. The card does not need much instruction. The flower was punched out with my retired 3/8" circle punch. The circles from the owl punch might work as well.

The sweet sentiment is from the Six-Sided Sampler stamp set. Wouldn't this just make you smile if this arrived in your mailbox?

Don't miss out on all the great projects from the design team over at the Pals Paper Arts Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

Products used for my project:

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Oct 15, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, PPA Sketch Challenges, Thinking of You

October 08, 2015

You've Got This for PPA 271

It's Thursday and that means it is time for another Pals Paper Arts Challenge. This week we have a color challenge and here is the color palette.

A clean and simple card this week using three different stamp sets.

The border was created using a stamp from the Tin of Cards Photopolymer Stamp set. The photopolymer stamps make it easy to line them up to create the border.

The flower is from the You've Got This stamp set. It was stamped twice and the cut out.

The sentiment is from the All Boxed Up stamp set.

The Old Olive thin border frame provides the color balance the card needed.

I hope you will pop over to the Pals Paper Arts and see what the design team members did with the color palette. We would love to see you play along.

Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle

Click on any item below to beginning shopping with StampinMojo:

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Oct 8, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Friendship, PPA Color Challenges, Thinking of You

October 03, 2015

Awesomely Artistic

On Thursday I told you my first project for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge was a card. Here is a quick look at that card.

I ordered the Awesomely Artistic Stamp Set during the demonstrators pre-order period and had yet to use it. I thought the color palette was perfect for this set.

To color the floral stamp I outlined the flowers using my Blackberry Bliss Stampin' Write Marker and then used a Blender Pen to fill in the rest of the flower. The leaves are colored with the Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker. The centers of the flowers are adorned with SU Pearl Basic Jewels.

The dragonfly was stamped with Sahara Sand and then cut out. I brushed Wink of Stella over the dragonfly for a little sparkle.

The base of the card is Sahara Sand. A piece of Blackberry Bliss card stock frames the focal point. A simple card with a dramatic look.

I am in Atlanta for World Card Making Day (WCMD) with many other Pals. On Monday I will share with you my swap card for this event.

Did you play along with the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge yet? We would love to see what you do with these beautiful rich colors.

Michelle

Products used to create this card:

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Oct 3, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, PPA Color Challenges, Thinking of You

September 28, 2015

Lighthearted Leaves Birthday

My hairdresser was celebrating her 30th birthday so I created this simple yet elegant birthday card. I did not put a sentiment on the card because I thought it looked so pretty with the simple gold and white palette.

I started with SU Whisper White note cards and envelope. I then took a piece of Whisper White thick card stock and added a piece of Winter Wonderland Designer Washi Tape. Then I stamped the leaf in Versamark and using Gold Stampin' Emboss powder and my heat gun brought the leaf to life. The Leaflets Framelit Die helped me get the perfect cut of the leaf.

Stampin' Dimensionals allow the leaf to float on the card. A small Gold Metal Button and Gold Cording Trim are the finishing touches.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope I inspired you to create today.

Michelle

Products used creating this project:

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Sep 28, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Friendship, Thinking of You

September 18, 2015

The Bond of Friendship

Happy Friday! I wanted to send my BFF of 40 years, yes you read that right, a card to inspire her. She is going through some pretty tough stuff right now. We have been each other's shoulder to lean on throughout our lives. I feel this card really sums up the support we give each other. I used two card challenges as my inspiration.

The colors came from The Paper Players; love these colors.

And the layout came from the new Global Design Project challenge.

I used a 5 x5 base of Kraft card stock. The sentiment is from the Feels Good stamp set. Then cut it out using my Circle Framelits. I layered it with some retired Lost Lagoon patterned DSP. The So Saffron card stock was embossed using the Elegant Dots Textured Embossing Folder. I piece of retired Tangelo Twist Satin ribbon (available on the Clearance Rack!) provided the stripe on the So Saffron layer. The heart was stamped from the Hello Life stamp set and then fussy cut out.

A clean and simple card. The colors make it come alive.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

Products used for this project:

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Sep 18, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Challenge entries, Friendship, Thinking of You

September 10, 2015

Garden in Bloom for PPA 267

I love how this turned out. I was inspired by a card created by one of the talented Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team members Kaitlyn Zumbach. You can see her card here.

I used the colors for this week's Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge.

I was not certain how I would like the colors together. I think they went together beautifully.

I used watercolor paper and stamped the solid images for the flowers and the leaves. Then I spritzed it with water and allowed the color to bleed. Because I wanted to keep moving I blotted it with a paper towel and then using my heat gun fully dried the paper.

Then I stamped the outline images of the flowers and leaves. The card came alive when I did that.

I finished it off with an image and sentiment from the Awesomely Artistic stamp set. It was cut out using a framelit from the Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits.

Have you tried this technique before? I would love to hear from you! Don't forget to stop over at the Pals Paper Arts site and see what the design team members did with these fun colors.

Michelle

Here are the products used for my project:

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Sep 10, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, PPA Color Challenges, Project Life, Thinking of You

September 03, 2015

Autumn Favorites for PPA 266

There are some colors that just speak Autumn. The color palette this week for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge are truly Autumn colors, in my opinion.

So I went with the Autumn feel ...

I used the new Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to create the background for the card. Using a sponge dauber, Soft Suede ink, and a light touch I added texture to the tree bark.

The sentiment is from the new Lighthearted Leaves Stamp set. I used Black Emboss Powder to make this a rich and shinny statement. (The photo did not capture the shinny texture but it is very pretty on the Delightful Dijon.)

I used a bit of jute left over from a recent Paper Pumpkin kit and ran it through a Gold Metal Button. I love how these kits give you enough supplies for additional projects.

The leaf is from the Vintage Leaves and coordinating Leaflets Framelits.

I love adding an elements to the inside of my card as well. There is still plenty of room to send my personal note.

I hope you will play along with the Pals this week. We have two new talented design team members on our team, Lynn Hoyt and Shawn de Oliviera, both very talented designers. So please check out what the other design team members created with this beautiful color palette at the Pals Paper Arts Challenge.

Michelle

Here are the SU products used to create my project:

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Sep 3, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Masculine, New Arrivals, Paper Pumpkin, PPA Color Challenges, Thinking of You

August 20, 2015

Vintage Leaves

Oh, I so love Fall. This is the time of year that I get so homesick for Chicago. While it remains very warm and muggy here in Southwest Florida I can use my stamps and ink to dream of cooler temperatures and days when I would kick through the leaves.

This week we have a fun sketch over at the Pals Paper Arts Challenge:

I chose to interpret this sketch rather than follow it straight up. The leaves were stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder. I was inspired by my friend and fellow pal Deb Simonis to use the gold embossing powder. I love the result.

I did not add a sentiment to the card front as I thought it could become whatever I need it for on the fly in the future. A small banner across one of the top corners will do the trick.

I did embellish the inside of the card. The sentiment is from Lighthearted Leaves stamp set available on September 1st from the Holiday Catalog. The leaves in this set also coordinate with the Leaflets Framelits Dies used here with the Vintage Leaves stamp set. I LOVE when more than one stamp set goes with a set of dies or punches!

I hope you will play with the Pals this week. Check out what the other talented design team members have created here.

Michelle

Products used to create my project:

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Aug 20, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, Masculine, PPA Sketch Challenges, Thanksgiving, Thinking of You

August 14, 2015

Get Well Single Stamp

We have many stamp sets to say thank you, happy birthday, and thinking of you. But there are not a lot of stamp sets to wish someone a speedy recovery. So when I saw this adorable single stamp in the Annual Catalog I knew it would find its way to my stamp shelf.

The stamp looks like this:

Here is what I did to step it up.

I started with a Crumb Cake Note Card. Then I stamped the image in Versamark Ink onto another piece of Crumb Cake card stock. I added Black Embossing Powder and heat set the image. (Don't forget to use your stamping' buddy on the card stock before you ink it up. This keeps stray flecks of embossing powder from sticking where you don't want it.)

Next I followed the same procedure on a piece of DSP. I used a piece from the retired Adventure Bound DSP paper stack. I thought this was a great use of retired DSP. Then using my Paper Snips I fussy cut the bowl out. The embossing makes it easy peasy to snip out.

I glued the bowl onto the Crumb Cake card stock over the stamped image carefully aligning it with image on the card.

Then I repeated the process one more time on a scrap piece of So Saffron card stock. This time I cut out the "soup" only and glued it onto the DSP bowl. Again I carefully aligned the snipped piece with the other elements of the image.

The result is one unified image.

I hope this cheered up a colleague who is recovering from some surgery.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

SU products used for the card:

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Aug 14, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, Masculine, Thinking of You

August 09, 2015

One Stamp used Two Ways

In Stampin' Up!'s Annual Catalog there are many stamp sets that were created for coloring. If you are not familiar with watercoloring or using the blender pens then these stamp sets can be intimidating or even overlooked. Today I want to show you another way to use one of these stamp sets.

I used a retired stamp set called People Like You. The flower in that stamp set is very similar to the flower in the Remarkable You set in the current catalog. This stamp set remains on my wish list.

To create this card I used my Stampin' Write Markers (Watermelon Wonder and Cucumber Crush) to stamp the flower. I stamped the image again with the the sentiment inked in black and then punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch.

Due to the delicate nature of the image I only added a small border layer. This ensured it did not over power the image.

For this card I stamped the image a few times.

Following the steps above I stamped the flower on the Whisper White card stock.
Then I inked the stamp up with Watercolor Wonder and stamped it onto Watercolor Wonder card stock. Then I fussy cut the flowers out and placed them over the stamped image using the Mono glue.
Then I inked the stamp up in Black Memento Ink and stamped it one last time and punched out the sentiment as I did in the first card. The sentiment is added with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Because the flower was now bold and bright I needed to balance it with a larger border. It is such a striking card.

I am pleased with both cards and I never had to watercolor!

I hope I inspired you to take a second look at some of the beautiful stamps like Remarkable You in the catalog.

Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle

SU products used or substituted to create these cards:

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Aug 9, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, How To, Thinking of You

July 25, 2015

Rising Stars

I created this card for this week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge. Here is the sketch:

The possibilities are endless with this great sketch. It is a keeper for inspiration when I need it!

My card earlier this week used the same stamp set - Be the Star. I have been surprised that this stamp set has not been more popular. It is one of my favorites. And this week the Star Framelit Collection is on sale through the Weekly Deals.

I used deep rich colors - Blackberry Bliss and Delightful Dijon. I think they compliment each other very nicely and result in a great masculine card. I am going to send this one off to my best friend's son who will be starting his Freshman year of high school.

It is difficult to photograph the dimension in this card.

The Very Vanilla, Delightful Dijon framed layer is mounted on Stamping' Dimensionals.
The largest star is mounted directly on the Very Vanilla background.
The middle star is mounted on Stampin' Dimensionals.
The smallest star is mounted on two Stamping' Dimensionals to create the feeling of rising stars.

Let's talk about the sentiment. Sometimes I get so excited as a card is coming together that I begin adhering all the elements. That is what I did with this card. Then I said, it needs a sentiment. I tried to stamp the sentiment directly on the Very Vanilla but it was not crisp and I got an extra bit of ink next to the sentiment. UGH. So I simply stamped the sentiment on another piece of Very Vanilla, punched it out with my Circle Punch. It needed a frame to stand out so I punched out a Blackberry Bliss circle. Viola! my mistake turned into the perfect finishing touch.

I love how creatively helps us turn mistakes into beautiful results. Imagine the possibilities in real life!

So be the Star YOU Are and get creative today. Play along with the Pals Paper Arts Challenge.

Michelle

Supplies used for today's card and available through StampinMojo's Online Store:

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Jul 25, 2015 10:39:57 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Friendship, Masculine, PPA Sketch Challenges, Thinking of You

July 16, 2015

Just Ripe for Pals Paper Arts

I love this stamp set, it is called Market Fresh. It is too darn cute. When I saw this week's Pals Paper Arts Sketch I knew I wanted to use this stamp. Here is the sketch:

I watched this Stampin' Up! You Tube video to continue developing my watercoloring skills. I find the shadowing to be so pretty so I gave it a try. I am pretty pleased with this first attempt as I am NO artist at all.

It is really fun to watercolor. I do hope you will give it a try. Helpful hint: I have started using the Shimmery White Cardstock rather than the watercolor paper. I like the smooth finish and the shimmer is a nice added bonus.

The background is from the Farmers Market DSP. I thought the rustic background and the burlap went together. What do you think?

Be sure to visit the Pals Paper Arts to see what the other design team members created. Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

Supplies used for this project:

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Jul 16, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, PPA Sketch Challenges, Thinking of You

July 14, 2015

Watercolor Wings

Today's card is super simple yet very striking (in my humble opinion). I used the new beautiful new stamp set Watercolor Wings. Watercoloring is on trend and this stamp set makes it so easy to create a work of at.

The butterfly is created with a three step stamp set. I believe I did this wrong. I stamped the outline of the stamp first using Delightful Dijon. Then I stamped the filler which is more muted and I used Hello Honey after stamping off once on a separate sheet of paper. The third stamp which creates the body of the butterfly I stamped in Tangelo Twist.

Now I said that I did it wrong. I say that because the second stamp extended beyond the first stamp on the right hand side. In the future I am going to do this stamp first and then stamp the outside of the butterfly. I could have remade this card but I thought it offered more to show you my mistake.

The butterfly was so pretty I really did not want to add much to the card. A single strip of Bohemian Designer Washi Tape seems to be the perfect finishing touch.

Clean simple and striking whether you are sending a get well message, thank you or just thinking of you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle

And here are the supplies I used to create the card:

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Jul 14, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, New Arrivals, Thinking of You

July 12, 2015

Watercolor Words Meets a Challenge

My card today is doing double duty. It was inspired by two card challenges. Freshly Mades Sketches and the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge. Here are the two badges:

The Brushed Silver outer squares are 2 3/4". The DSP and stamped image squares are 2 1/5". I adore the new script font pattern in the DSP Paper Stacks. The stamped image is from the Watercolor Words stamp set. I could not wait to ink this set up.

July 1st began the new fiscal year for Stamping' Up! and they are changing up the Weekly Deals program. Each week they will provide Bonus Deals up to 60% on certain products. This week many NEW products are on sale. I took advantage of these deals and hope you will too. Click on any item below to begin shopping.

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These items are available while supplies last and only through midnight MST on Monday July 13th. Don't miss the opportunity to get some of these great items on sale.

Thanks for stopping by. Check out below for the complete list of items used to create my project.

Michelle

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Jul 12, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Challenge entries, Friendship, PPA Color Challenges, Thinking of You

June 25, 2015

I Think You're Great

It is Thursday and that means we have another PPA Challenge. This week is a Sketch Challenge.

This challenge is a little different and rather than fuss and rack my brain I simply went with the sketch and had some fun. There was no grand plan. I grabbed a couple of colors (Pacific Point and Cucumber Crush) I don't normally use, my Circle Collection Framelits and a new stamp set.

I used the I Think You're Great Stamp Set. The flower/splash stamp is actually a rectangle so I centered the circle framelit on the stamped image and cut what I wanted. Then I cut another circle from a piece of Brushed Silver card stock.

The sentiment is a negative imagine which means the lettering is the color of the card stock - Whisper White. I did not realize at first that this stamp is not a perfect circle. I cut it out with a circle framelit and then using my Pacific Point Marker I filled in where any white space showed up. You can't stop this type A from getting the perfect circle!

I cut the banner strip and then ran it through my Big Shot with the Boho Chic Textured Emboss Folder. A few Large Rhinestones add some bling and pizazz.

Fun and simple card by just letting go and having some fun.

I hope you will play along with the Pals this week. I can't wait to see what you do with this sketch.

Michelle

Stampin' Up! Products Used to create this project:

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Jun 25, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Friendship, Masculine, PPA Sketch Challenges, Thinking of You

June 18, 2015

Triple Banners Made Easy

Happy Thursday! And we have another PPA challenge this week. This week is a sketch challenge and I am using a combination of new product and old favorites.

The card base is 5" square in Whisper White. A layer of Watermelon Wonder (LOVE this color) adds the perfect pop of color to the card. The next layer is Smoky Slate from the Neutrals DSP Stack. There are great designs in these stacks.

Another new favorite in the catalog is the Triple Banner Punch. You can create 1" 1/2" and 2" flagged end banners with this punch. Woo Hoo! Used Wild Wasabi along with Whisper White for the sentiment which comes from an old favorite stamp set Perfect Pennants.

I used Smoky Slate 1/8" Ribbon (Retired) as my finishing touch. (You could easily substitute the 1/8" Silver Ribbon and add a bit of bling to the card.)

Here is the Sketch for this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge:

And I added some decorative element to the inside as well.

The dots are also from Perfect Pennants. My Sweetheart and Itty Bitty Accents punches as some love. I think this card will make the recipient smile and feel the love being sent.

I hope you will play along with the Pals this week. We love to see your creative twist on the sketches.

Michelle

Stampin' Up! products used with this project:

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Jun 18, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, New Arrivals, PPA Sketch Challenges, Thinking of You

June 14, 2015

Wild About Flowers

Another great Photopolymer Stamp set in the new catty is called Wild About Flowers. It is a two-step stamp set and has three types of wild flowers.

I know there is Watermelon Wonder again. It is such a fun new color I can't stop using it. This time it is paired with Old Olive. I used a bit of Washi Tape (Retired) to create a border that looks like a sweet fence to me.

The center of the flowers have been accented with tiny pearls.

The sentiment is from the Six-Sided Sampler set.

I hope you are having a glorious weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle

Stampin' Up! products used to create this project:

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Jun 14, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, Thinking of You

June 04, 2015

Butterfly Birthday

I tried taking this photo about 50 times only to get a garden variety of results. I have to say the card is stunning in person.

Here is color palette for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge this week:

Before we get to the details of the card you might say Michelle your card does not have Strawberry Slush in it. Yep, you are right. Because Strawberry Slush has retired we decided to allow the Design Team and all Pals Paper Arts participants to use any color they want to substitute for Strawberry Slush. So I picked Calypso Coral. This is one of my favorite colors but I can clearly see that Watermelon Wonder is going to give it a run for its money! Onto the card...

The base of the card is Very Vanilla. Then I stamped two of the images from Gorgeous Grunge on the in Soft Suede to create the background. Then I added the butterfly from the Butterfly Thinlits Die and Butterfly Basics stamp set. I added the pearls down the center of the butter. Calypso Coral was brought in with flowers punched out by one of the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack. And they were adorned with pearls to coordinate with the butterfly.

And this is the inside of the card. I used a butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set. Added a design element to the inside of the card provides a finishing touch for me.

Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to visit the Pals Paper Arts Challenge site to see the fabulous designs of all the design team members. I hope I have inspired YOU to play along with us.

Michelle

This image provides a better representation of the Soft Suede and Calypso Coral on the card. However the butterfly as well as the envelope liner are still too soft. Hopefully you get a sense of the card.

Here are the supplies used with the card:

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Jun 4, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Friendship, PPA Color Challenges, Thinking of You

June 02, 2015

Petal Potpourri for Sunday Stamps

I am participating in a new challenge (for me at least) called Sunday Stamps. Here is the sketch for this week's challenge:

I wanted to use some of the new In-Colors for this sketch which are available today! I used Mint Macaron, Watermelon Wonder and Tip Top Taupe.

Using a sponge dauber I gave an antiqued look to the Typeset DSP (which is carried over in the annual catalog). This actually looks better in person. the lighting makes it look more stark on the DSP. The background stamp used for the focal piece is from the new You've Got This stamp set. I used Tip Top Taupe for both of these elements. I did stamp off once before stamping the background stamp to achieve a lighter color.

I am so sorry to see this Floral stamp set - Petal Potpourri retire today. This is your last chance to purchase this set. You can also purchase anything from the NEW annual Catalog starting today. My order is going in early today!

A button from Sale-A-Bration tied with Linen Thread add the finishing touch.

And the inside of the card includes a sentiment from Perfect Pennants a stamp set that was also carried over in the annual catalog. The envelope was lined with the new envelope paper in the new In-Colors.

We are preparing for an upcoming vacation. My to do list is long yet knowing we have time away is keeping me going. Enjoy your day and don't forget to shop StampinMojo! Today is a rare event when you can order from three catalogs at once (2014 Annual Catalog, 2015 Occasions Catalog and the new 2015 Annual Catalog

Thanks for checking in,

Michelle

SU Products used to create this project:

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Jun 2, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Challenge entries, Friendship, New Arrivals, Thinking of You

June 01, 2015

Hello Love!

Okay, I am in love with the swirls in the Snuggles and Smooches Photopolymer stamp set. It gives any card a little whimsy.

Isn't this fun? The colors from the new Bohemian DSP led me to putting Bermuda Bay and Island Indigo together. I love this!

The sentiment is from #Hello a stamp set that unfortunately retires tomorrow (and seems to be sold out from the retired list- sorry). Don't miss out on the ability to purchase from all three catalogs tomorrow (2014 Annual Catty, 2015 Occasions Catty and the new 2015 Annual Catty). Shop with StampinMojo here.

The inside is fun too.

This card would make me smile if it was in my mailbox.

Stampin Smiles,

Michelle

SU Products used for this card:

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Jun 1, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, Thinking of You

May 30, 2015

You've Got This Sneak Peek

This is a great new stamp set available on June 2nd with the launch of the new Stamping' Up! Annual Catalog. The background stamp will be very versatile. The flower will be perfect to heat emboss, watercolor or simply stamp as I did. The sentiments offer encouragement. We all need a little encouragement now and then.

I used Sahara Sand for the background. The flower, sentiment and card base are all in the new In-Color Mint Macaron. (The colors photographed darker than they are in person.) The Sahara Sand Lace Trim adds a pretty detail to the card. I added glue dots to the back of the Whisper White card stock and then added the lace trim with some gaps between to create the gathering effect.

Only a few more days before the launch of the new catty. Did you know that on June 2nd you can order from all three catalogs? Yes! For the first time ever you can order from the 2014 Annual Catalog (with all the retiring items), the 2015 Occasions Catalog AND the new 2015 Annual Catalog. WooHoo!

Michelle

Products used for this project:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

May 28, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Friendship, Masculine, PPA Sketch Challenges, Thinking of You

May 23, 2015

Seaside Birthday

Well we have officially launched into summer with the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend. I hope you have wonderful plans with family and friends.

My assistant had a birthday this past week. She loves the beach and water so I typically make her a card with blues and beiges to inspire thoughts of water and sand. This time I went straight for the By the Tide stamp set and used Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral and Very Vanilla.

I was inspired by a card I found on Pinterest by Tina Welles. I particularly liked how she combined the two textured embossing folders. The banner under the Windows Framelits (retiring June 2nd so get it now if you want it), was created with the NEW Triple Banner Punch. I have always struggled getting my banners right if I don't use a framelit so I could not wait to get this punch. It is SO worth investing in this punch. I love it!

The inside of the card used the sentiment from the Occasions Catty hostess set, Because You Care. I love the fonts and decorative elements in this stamp set. I just got it and am so glad I did before it is no longer available. Remember the Occasions Catalog will sunset on June 2nd. If there is anything you have been sitting on the fence about getting time is running out!

Yesterday we put our oldest on a plane to Brussels Belgium. He is an International Relations major and is thrilled to be embarking on this summer abroad program through the University of Florida. So my husband and I are back to just the two of us again and have a relaxing weekend planned with some neighbors joining us for a BBQ. What do you have planned this holiday weekend?

Thanks for stopping by. I plan on getting some crafting in this weekend and to get some posts ready for you. I am also working on my personal wish list with the new catty launching in just one week!!!

Michelle

Products used to create this card. Remember some will be retiring soon so get them while you can.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

May 23, 2015 1:17:45 PM | Birthday, Card making, Thinking of You

May 13, 2015

Out With the Old Blog Hop

Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for May where we are preparing for the retirement of some Stampin' Up! products. Though it may be goodbye to some very loved supplies, it will make room for the much anticipated new catalog products. We hope you enjoy the Pals' creative projects.

You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come from Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn, number 23 on the Pals Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all the projects.

I combined a few retiring elements to create my card. First the Beautifully Baroque Textured Embossing folder gives the base of the card a beautiful backdrop. Then I used the Chalk Talk stamp set and coordinating framelits on Night of Navy card stock. I stamped the image with Versamark and used White Stamping' Emboss Powder. Oh, how I love White Embossing on Navy or Black card stock. Then I took one of the stamps from the Lovely Romance stamp set and stamped and embossed it on Navy card stock. I punched it out with the 1" Circle Punch. I then layered this on Whisper White circle using the 1 1/4" Circle Punch. A small pearl was placed on the center of the image. The Night of Navy Seam Binding Ribbon was the finishing touch.

Another stamp from Lovely Romance provides a stunning border inside the card.

The next stop is Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine, number 25 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting; I hope to see you on next month’s Pals Hop!

Michelle

Here is the complete Blog Hop line up:

While some of these items are retiring there is still time to order and add them to your stamping collection. Here are the products used for today's card, click on any item to begin shopping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

May 13, 2015 5:30:00 AM | Blog Hops, Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Friendship, Thank you, Thinking of You

May 08, 2015

Life is Good

Today's card was made for a special lady whom I do not know - Joyce Bierman. Joyce turned 90 years young yesterday. How do I know that Joyce is a special lady? Because I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know her daughter Linda Callahan, a fellow Pal. A few weeks ago Linda told us that her mom was turning 90 and she would love to have her mom receive 90 handmade cards in the mail for her birthday. How fun is that! So here is the card I sent to Joyce.

I enjoyed using the colors Hello Honey and Coastal Cabana for the Pals Color Challenge yesterday so I kept on with the palette. I think it looks fresh and fun.

The flowers are from the hostess set Bloom with Hope (I am not giving this set up for a while). The sentiment is from the Project Life Remember This stamp set. A very versatile set for card making and memory keeping.

When celebrating your 90th birthday you should feel life is good. Happy Birthday Joyce I hope it was a wonderful birthday!

Michelle

Products used to make this project:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

May 8, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Celebrations, Thinking of You

May 07, 2015

Sending Good Wishes

This week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge is a Color Challenge. The colors are warm and bright.

Here is the original Challenge Palette:

I know you like to have the dimensions so here we go.

Base standard A2 (41/4" x 5 1/2")
Whisper White 1 5/8"
Hello Honey In-Color DSP Stack 1 1/2"
Coastal Cabana Tag 2" x 3 5/8"
Whisper White Tag 1 3/4" x 3 5/8"
Used the Scallop Punch to create the tag.
Sentiment is from Lovely Amazing You (I LOVE this set)
Baked Brown Sugar Thick Baker's Twine and Burlap Ribbon (deconstructed) are the finishing touch.

I hope you will play along and upload your creative design to the PPA gallery. We love to see your work. I will never forget the first time I played with a challenge. I was giddy to see my card on the intranet. I felt like a celebrity in my own crazy world - isn't that the world that we need to be the celebrity in.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

The new catalogs begin being mailed today. If you don't have a demonstrator and want to get a catalog please email.

Products used to create the project. Click on any item to go to StampinMojo's online store and begin shopping!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

May 7, 2015 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Friendship, PPA Color Challenges, Thinking of You

April 16, 2015

Thankful for you

This past weekend I attended the memorial service for an Aunt that was very special to me. She was someone who truly knew how to love unconditionally. It was a lovely service. I saw family I have not seen in 30+ years. It was bittersweet. While in Chicago for the memorial service, I had the opportunity to see our son as well as my bestie, Kathy, from high school.

When I see Kathy it is as if no time has passed. Being together fills my soul in a way nothing else does.

I made this card for her which was inspired by this week's PPA Sketch. During last week's free shipping promotion I ordered this stamp set. I love these flowers.

And here is this week's PPA sketch

I enjoyed stamping the envelope as well. This is a two step stamp set and oh so easy as a photopolymer set. The greeting is from the Good Greetings stamp set.