Every Little Bit of a fun Aviary card...

I enjoyed making this card. I thought it'd be fun to have the cat in the birdcage with the bird holding the key and voila! Here it is. You can see the A La Card Monkey Challenge that inspired this card:

Stamps: Every Little Bit, Just Believe, Aviary;

Ink: Classic Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Basic Gray, Tangerine Tango;

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pawsitively Prints II dsp;

Accessories: Brights buttons, white baker's twine, cutter kit, trinket key, Scallop Border Punch.

Poor Bambi...

This week there's a wacky challenge at http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com/ to come up with a humorous/silly/fun card + a sketch challenge. When I shared the challenge with my neighbor, Beth, she had idea after idea pouring out of her. But today was a long work day and this is what she ended up with! The humor is dark, but maybe a hunter would appreciate a card like this? I don't know. But I do know that one card - and one stamper - will get BLOG CANDY! (Photo below). Right now there are only a few cards uploaded, so your chances are GREAT! You have 'til Thursday at midnight (PST) to make a card of your own for this challenge, so do it!



Faux Mother of Pearl Fun Flowers and New Postage Stamp Set & Punch

I've only taken photos of two swaps so far - Karen's above and mine below. Karen is in my downline. She used the Faux Mother of Pearl Technique on flowers from the Fun Flowers Die for her card. To do the technique, she started with Whisper White card stock and sponged on Shimmer Paint in Frost White. After that, she brayered on Classic Rose Red ink. The flowers look almost metallic!

My card is simple - the front was run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. I added a strip of Real Red patterned paper (from the Brights pad), with a Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border-punched piece of Old Olive behind it. The stamp is a new image from the Pretty Postage set in the upcoming Summer Mini Catalog. I used markers to ink the stamp, then punched it out with the Postage Stamp Punch, another Summer Mini item.

I'm hoping to have time today to take photos of the rest of our American Ink team swaps, so look for those later!

Channeling my inner old lady...

This is the first time I'm uploading a card to the Try Stampin' On Tuesday challenge blog. I channeled my inner old lady (Hi, Kim!) for another Timeless Treasures card, this time using the teacup and a sentiment from Something to Celebrate. Since I'm using my card for a club tonight, I made it a normal 4-1/2" x 5-1/2" because I don't have enough square envelopes for everybody. I also took the liberty to make the Springtime Vintage dsp squares smaller to stamp the greeting on the Very Vanilla card front instead of one of the squares. The front of the card was also embossed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder.

Stamps: Timeless Treasures, Something to Celebrate (hostess Level 2 in Occasions Mini);

Ink: Classic Rose Red;

Paper: Very Vanilla, River Rock, Rose Red, Springtime Vintage dsp;

Accessories: Antique Brads, Framed Tulips embossing folder, crochet trim, dimensionals.

I'm a winner!

My Timeless Treasures shoe card (shown below - the entire post is on April 8) was one of the top three cards chosen from Mary Jo's blog hop at http://technostamper.blogspot.com/. She's got a new sketch today. Go check it out!

Photo tutorial: How to make a longer tag with the medium jewelry punch...

Here are a few photos showing how to make a longer tag using the Medium Jewelry Tag Punch:

Cut a strip of paper 1/4" wide (marked with arrow with white gel pen) to 3/8" wide and any length.

Insert strip from the bottom of the punch and punch.

This is what you end up with on a 1/4" wide strip.

Stamp your sentiment and then feed the other end of the strip through any size square punch at the corner to get a banner-type end.

Top: A regular-sized tag punched from the Medium Jewelry Tag Punch. Under that: A longer banner-type tag made with the same punch. I like adding a brad, rhinestone, pearl or button on the left side of the tag.

American Ink make & takes: From Four Frames to On The Grow...

Our American Ink team gathering yesterday was so much fun! Not only was the food plentiful, but there were new faces, great make & takes and swaps! Though there were six make & takes, I only got photos of these four.

Four Frames with Blueberry Crisp dsp by Karen

Greenhouse Garden and Something to Celebrate by Debbie

 

Sneak peek Summer Mini stamp set On The Grow by Barb

Plane & Simple by Heather



Fun new monkey challenge with GOODIES...

I can't help but smile when I look at this seal cracking up on the beach. I came up with this week's sketch for my new challenge blog, A La Card Monkey. My card uses the penguin from Jolly Bingo Bits, the slide is from an upcoming Summer Mini set called Recess, and a sentiment from Full of Life. It's not grab-your-gut funny... just kinda silly. I paper pierced to show the penguin's topsy-turvy trip down the slide.

Below is a close-up of the penguins. I inked them with markers (Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango and Basic Black), cut them out and adhered them with dimensionals.

Pink Baby Bundle for sketch challenge...

I'm a huge fan of simple sketches, so when I saw the sketch below at Create with Connie and Mary, I wanted to use it. I stamped the carriage and baby from Baby Bundle in Basic Gray, layered it on Melon Mambo, and added an Eyelet Border-punched strip of Pretty in Pink along the right side. I used two sizes of Pretty in Pink ribbon - a strip of 5/8" satin ribbon is simply adhered across the front of the Brights dsp, with a bow of 3/8" taffeta adhered with a mini glue dot. I added white (Neutral pack) buttons with thinly-cut strips of 3/8" white taffeta ribbon tied and then frayed.

The close-up shows the frayed white taffeta ribbon in the button, as well as the Dazzling Diamonds glitter adhered to the polka dots, heart and inside of the wheels with a 2-way glue pen.

Timeless Treasures shoe for sketch challenge...

There's nothing like a vintage woman's shoe from Timeless Treasures and Lap of Luxury dsp to make a card for a special friend. I used Mary Jo's sketch at Technostamper (see sketch below) for the design of my card, using antique brads on the right side of the card and a couple of pearls on the shoe itself. I first stamped the shoe in Pretty in Pink and then rolled the edges in Concord Crush ink (rock 'n' roll technique). The Very Vanilla layer adhered to the card front with dimensionals was first put through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.

Cheryl's Forest Friends entry for A La Card Monkey challenge...

This is Cheryl's card entry for the first A La Card Monkey nature theme challenge using the Forest Friends stamp set. Cheryl is one of my downline and makes elaborate cards that amaze us! View all 50+ cards in the challenge at the link above, or click on the badge in the left column!

Here are some of Cheryl's directions: "I cut out the small daisies from the bigz die (4 of them), cut the hole in the middle bigger, then cut one side open and put tape only around the hole in the center. Using my quilling pen, I cut a 1/16" straight piece of pumpkin pie and started twisting and glueing 'til I got the size I wanted for the middle of the flower. Then I started with the open end of the daffodil paper and started twisting and gluing-using 2 flowers. Glued the ends and pressed the flowers open and that was the end result."
 

Stamps: Forest Friends;

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Basic Black;

Paper: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Old Olive;

Accessories: Punches-scallop trim border, eyelet border, photo corner; Big Shot dies-decorative border one Xlg die, flower, daisies #2 bigz die, Elegant Lines embossing folder; gold twine ribbon, rhinestones, diamond dust on bunny & deer backs, mini glue dots.

More Goodies to Give Away on New Challenge Blog!

Just a heads-up about about my new challenge blog, A La Card Monkey: In addition to the already BIG BUNDLE OF STAMPIN' UP! GOODIES (see the post below), I'm giving away two prizes to A La Card Monkey blog followers!
 
 

This 1st Giveaway for Followers contains:

• Classy & Fabulous 6 pc stamp set
• Love Bug 6 pc stamp set
• Darling Dots 8 pc stamp set
• Dear Friend 4 pc stamp set
• Welcome Neighbor 6" x 6" dsp pad
• Baja Breeze corduroy buttons & brads
• Jumbo Grommets
• Library Clips 1/2" Old Olive
• Bravo Burgundy 1/4" grosgrain
• Blossoms & Basics Chipboard
• Pink Pirouette 8-1/2" x 11" card stock
• Cranberry Crisp 8-1/2" x 11" card stock
• Sweet Pea Felt Flowers

This 2nd Giveaway for Followers contains:

• Out of the Box 6 pc stamp set
• Baja Breeze corduroy buttons & brads
• Sweet Pea Felt Flowers

Remember, you have till tomorrow night at midnight (PST) to be eligible for all THREE GIVEAWAYS! So visit A La Card Monkey now!

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).

Easter Blossoms Technostamper Challenge...

I love the way this card turned out for the Technostamper Sketch Challenge shown below. I left the sentiment off this card and the one below so I can use it for whatever I need (birthday, Easter, etc.). This card also uses Greenhouse Gala dsp, along with the Easter Blossoms stamp set, Vintage Label embossing folder, and Basic Pearls on the scallop-punched Pear Pizzazz strip. The 3-1/2" Baja Breeze circle was diecut from the Big Shot. If you're up for another challenge, try this sketch with the A La Card Monkey theme challenge of Nature. There are BIG BUNDLES OF STAMPIN' UP! GOODIES to be won!

Strength & Hope thumped butterfly card for 411 challenge...

Yes, another butterfly card. I'm really pushing the Strength & Hope stamp set, available now, because sales of the set raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This time around I inked the butterfly in Baja Breeze ink and then thumped it with an Early Espresso marker. Then I added 2-way glue all over and dumped on Dazzling Diamonds glitter. It's gotta sparkle, right?

I decided to add a few buttons too. The little blue flower button is adhered to the brown one with mini glue dots, then there's a big rhinestone adhered to the middle of the blue button. I like it!

I used the sketch challenge at Stamping 411. If you're up for a new challenge, try http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com/. You can combine both this sketch and the theme challenge of Nature at my new challenge blog, A La Card Monkey.

Stamps: Strength & Hope;

Ink: Baja Breeze pad, Early Espresso marker;

Paper: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Whisper White card stocks, Greenhouse Gala dsp;

Accessories: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Sweet Stitches designer buttons, Brights Designer Buttons, Basic Rhinestones, Baja Breeze seam binding, Scallop Border Punch.

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/

Strength & Hope in blue...

Okay, I know I've been posting a lot of this Strength & Hope set lately, but this is the last one for awhile. It uses a strip of Paisley Petals dsp (available to buy now), plus Night of Navy card stock run through the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and the 2-1/2" Circle Punch. I pierced holes around the circle to pick up the circles from the border punch. The butterfly has a few pearls on it, and that's it! Simple and pretty. Now have a wonderful Friday!

Four Frames with Strength & Hope...

I really love this Paisley Petals dsp with the Four Frames and Strength & Hope stamp sets. All of these items are available to purchase tomorrow (Friday, April 1). Hope you're enjoying our last day of March! I have been!!!