Happy Greetings and Nature Walk swaps by Michelle

One of my downline, Michelle, created these two cards to swap. Above, the card uses the Happy Greetings stamp set, Decorative Label and Eyelet Border punches, and Flower Garden dsp. Below, her card uses Nature Walk and Something to Celebrate stamp sets.

Alaska cruise update: Today I had to eat my friend. Oh, just kidding. We're on Day 5 of the seven-day cruise and will spend the day in Skagway. It's incredible to see how the cruise ship looms over the town, which still has false-fronted buildings and wooden sidewalks. The hot souvenir here is the hand-painted gold-mining pans. I want to get a photo of those!

After 6 p.m., we'll be cruising the Inside Passage. It's prime habitat for bald eagles, sea lions, and whales.

Prepping for a 10-card class for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday...

It's been several weeks since I've participated in Julia's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW) event at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/, and alot has happened in the meantime. I've had loads of events - including weekly 10-card classes that keep me hoppin', spring break for my kids, and starting a new challenge blog with a friend called A La Card Monkey. You'll definitely want to visit and participate because I'm giving away a BIG BUNDLE OF STAMPIN' UP! GOODIES - not only to the Nature Theme challenge winner, but to a lucky FOLLOWER, as well. Isn't the badge I made cute?

Now for the cards I'm working on prepping:

Stampin' Up!'s Easter Blossoms stamp set with Greenhouse Gala dsp, Early Espresso ink, and Real Red, Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizzazz card stocks. The circle is a 3" die for the Big Shot.

New Paisley Petals dsp with Four Frames and Fabulous Phrases stamp sets, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Cherry Cobbler and Baja Breeze card stocks with an Itty Bitty Punch flower, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, and rhinestones.

I CASE'd this card from Penny at http://penguinstamper.blogspot.com/. It's all Very Vanilla (including the 5/8" satin ribbon), with Basic Brown eggs from Nature Walk and a sentiment from Teeny, Tiny Wishes. I used an aqua painter and Baja Breeze pad to add the color to the eggs. The layer under the eggs was run through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder in the Big Shot.

Plant Hope is the beautiful stamp set used on this card. I CASE'd - and simplified - an idea from Andrea Walford. The Woodgrain background stamp was inked in Crumb Cake and stamped on the Crumb Cake card front. The Early Espresso card stock layer was punched using the spiral punch, and the dsp is Woodland Walk. The sentiment is from Teeny, Tiny Wishes.

The final card for class is this Very Vanilla card with a strip of Springtime Vintage dsp, Rose Red and Old Olive inks, with the sentiment, teacup and saucer from Timeless Treasures. I CASE'd and changed it a bit from http://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/.

Now your reward for reading through this long post? A chance to win a BIG BUNDLE OF STAMPIN' UP! GOODIES from A La Card Monkey's inaugural challenge. So enter a card and put the monkey link on your own blog. Good luck!!!

Here is the List of Stuff:

• Garden Whimsy 8pc stamp set
• Goody-Goody Gumdrops 19pc set
• Picnic Parade 15 pc set
• Stampin' Fun for Everyone 7pc set
• Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon 5/8"
• Fresh Favorites 1 Buttons
• Baja Breeze Corduroy button brads
• Chocolate Chip Library Clips 1/2"
• Sweet Pea stitched felt flowers
• Welcome Neighbor DSP pad
• Baja Breeze 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• On board Blossoms chipboard

The bunny and basket are not included. Post this goody basket on your blog with a link to A La Card Monkey and tell all of your friends what great stuff I'm giving away! You'll get a chance at a second goody basket when you add yourself as a Follower (a photo of that basket will be posted Wednesday).

New blog! More fun! Getting back to Nature...

I'm starting a new blog with a friend called A La Card Monkey, and we're starting with the theme challenge of Nature. We picked a big number to start with - 50 - and I'm giving out a BIG BUNDLE of STAMPIN' GOODIES!!! There's paper, ribbon, brads, stamps and more!

Here's my nature card:

I started with a pretty flower on lined yellowish paper from the Botanical Gazette dsp pack, crumpling it up and distressing the edges with the Cutter Kit. To it, I added a bee from the Nature Walk stamp set on dimensionals that was colored with More Mustard (body) and Bashful Blue (wings), as well as one of the Four Frames stamps. For added interest, I put in a jumbo eyelet and threaded the 1/8" Early Espresso ribbon through the eyelet and around the first two layers before knotting it. The decorative label is adhered with dimensionals too. The "celebrate" comes from Fabulous Phrases. I cut it out, roughed up the edges with the Cutter Kit and adhered it to the label with dimensionals. You can see a close-up below.

Now it's YOUR turn! Stamp a card that has something to do with Nature, and add it to the http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com/ blog. You could win BIG!!! Isn't the badge I designed with My Digital Studio cute?

http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com/

Inlaid embossing technique with Nature Walk...

I love the rounded corners and Square Lattice embossing folder used on this Nature Walk card. I started with a Crumb Cake base and added Old Olive and Very Vanilla layers with Crumb Cake seam binding. To do the Inlaid Embossing Technique: stamp the bees on Very Vanilla card stock in Old Olive and punch using the 1" circle punch. Adhere the bees well to the larger Very Vanilla piece and run through the Big Shot in the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. It's that easy! The sentiment is from Sincere Salutations. I CASE'd this idea from Wendy. Have a great day!

Sketch challenge with Nature Walk stamps...

I love the way this Nature Walk card turned out. It's actually the first time I've used the set. I started with Very Vanilla, then Early Espresso and Botanicals Gazette dsp. I had a couple inches of crochet trim and a big button for the left side of the card. The words - a close-up is shown below - are from the Hodgepodge Happiness stamp set.

Many layers have been distressed with the Cutter Kit, and sponged. I masked the bird so the Old Olive cage wouldn't show through the Early Espresso body. Did you notice the dry embossing? It's difficult (impossible!) to show on my photos, but I used a stylus to outline the bug bodies on the designer paper. The card looks and feels very cool in real life. See the Sweet Stop Sketch I used below and join in!

Nature Walk card for Technostamper challenge...

I used this card as one of the five for my Thank You Card Stamp-a-Stack yesterday. And I followed Mary Jo's Technostamper sketch below to do it witih the new Nature Walk stamp set (coming up in the Occasions Mini January 4) and Botanicals Gazette dsp. I didn't make my card square because I didn't have enough envelopes for all 15 women to make two of this card. Inside, I used the thank-you verse from the God Bless set.

I used Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive markers to ink up the flowers, and an Early Espresso pad for the bee. Add a couple of punches (circles - 1-1/4" and 1-3/8") and dimensionals and that's it. I'll take photos of the other four thank-you cards and post those tomorrow.