AND IT SHALL BE CALLED . . . A LITTLE CHARMER

I don't know if the name of this card is truly accurate, but it's the first thing that popped in my mind when I looked at it.  Can you believe that I almost threw away this embossed image?  Yep!  I held it over the trash can, and something said "WAIT!"  This was actually a miserably failed trial after the Double Embossing yesterday, but I now like the look.  It reminds me of wrought iron.  Notice the tiny tag in the top right corner?  That's the quickest, easiest way to use a tiny tag on a project, second to dropping a dot of glue on the back.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this little dilly include:  Always Artichoke, Basic Black, and Very Vanilla card stock, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon (yummy), "Elegant Bouquet" embossing folder, Filigree, Rhinestone, and Always Artichoke brads, Slit punch (to create the cut-out corners, "Island Oasis" designer paper, "Tiny Tags" stamp set, and Jewelry Tag punch.  Did I forget anything?

I HOPE HE WINS!!!!!!

As Randy Jackson said, he truly "threw down the gauntlet" last night!

LATTICE & BUTTERFLIES . . . A FUN POP-UP CARD

Are you looking for a not-too-hard card to make, yet one that looks like you spent a lot of time on it?  Here it is!  Seriously!  From start to finish, including the time it took to select card stock colors, ribbon, and a stamp and to die cut the lattice and butterflies, I probably spent 30 to 45 minutes making this card.  Obviously, the next one won't take nearly that long, especially if you already have a drawer or box where you keep leftover die-cuts.  I can't take credit for the ingenuity of using the lattice to create the butterfly pop-up inside this card but, when I saw the idea, my mission was to make one!  The die-cut flowers got their glittery shimmer from Champagne Mist shimmer mist, and Chocolate Chip lattice was spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer and Silver Foil Smooch Spritz.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card:

Stamp Sets:  Elements of Style, Curvy Verses

Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Taken with Teal, Lovely Lilac

Sizzix/Big Shot:  Lattice (Bigz die), Blossom Party (Originals die), Birds and Blooms (Sizzlits die), Beautiful Wings (Embosslit)

Accessories:  Chocolate Chip (retired ribbon), Rose Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, flower brad, Champagne Mist shimmer mist, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Silver Foil Smooch Spritz

ETA:  Notice how nicely the largest flower from the "Blossom Party" die and the two flowers from the "Birds and Blooms" Sizzlit die match and layer?  Love that!

BRIGHT AND CHEERY

I came across a technique today that I hadn't tried, so I put down my "Things that must get done today" list and gave it a whirl.  It's an okay technique--I love the end result--but I can't say that I'd want to make a lot of these cards.  It's called Double Embossing with an embossing folder, and here's what you do . . . (1) Open the embossing folder of your choice (I used Stampin' Up!'s "Elegant Bouquet") and apply VersaMark ink to the side where the images are debossed.  (2)  Place the designer paper of your choice (I used Stampin' Up!'s brand new "Island Oasis") in the embossing folder so that the side you want to be embossed and shown on your project is face down on the VersaMark ink.  (3)  Run the folder through your Big Shot machine and then, working quickly, remove the designer paper from the folder and sprinkle it with black embossing powder and heat.  To complete my project, I used the "Blossom Party" die to cut the flowers, which were adorned with a rhinestone brad and adhered with a Stampin' Dimensional.  My card stock colors are Tempting Tuquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Whisper White, and So Saffron.

MORE "ELEMENTS OF STYLE"

My guys decided to converge upon the stamp room this evening to watch TV, and it's amazing how distracting that is!  I can't even form a complete thought of what to say about this card, so I'll just tell you which Stampin' Up! products were used to create it: 

Stamp Sets:  All Holidays, Elements of Style

Card Stock:  Soft Suede, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry

Ink:  Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, and Bermuda Bay markers; Soft Suede ink pad

Accessories:  Dotted Crushed Curry ribbon, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle punches, Color Spritzer Tool, "Thoroughly Modern" designer paper, Eyelet Border punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals

SOMETHING SHORT AND SWEET

There's nothing spectacular about this card design, and there's no special technique . . . it's just a simple, quick, and easy card that I made using some scraps of card stock that have accumulated.  The white embossed piece was laying with the other card stock that needs to be sorted and filed, and it was ready to go!  Stampin' Up! products featured on this card include:  "A Flower for all Seasons" stamp set, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, and Whisper White card stock, black Gingham ribbon, Square Lattice embossing folder, and Eyelet Border punch.  The stamped image was colored with watercolor pencils, blender pen, and an aqua painter. 

TRACKBALL WOES

This is my Microsoft Trackball, which I L-O-V-E and can't imagine living without.  If you click on the picture, a larger one (hopefully) will open, and you'll be able to see the arrows pointing to the miniscule beads which allow the ball to "connect" as it directs the cursor/pointer where you want it.  The arrow with a yellow star points to the one bead that has a proclivity to fall out and roll to Lostville unless/until I'm able to locate it.  The first time it came out, I was aware of what had happened and was fortunate enough to find it . . . on the Berber carpet!  This afternoon, I may have had a little fit because the Trackball was being sluggish.  I may have slapped and pushed it to the point of sending that one little bead to Lostville.  This time, however, I had no idea the little bead had taken a hiatus.  Imagine my horror when I returned to my desk later to discover my little bead buddy was missing!  Yikes!!!!!  [Freeze!  Nothing and no one move!]  I'm so sorry for being mean to you, little bead!!!  I carefully scanned my desk, which was fairly clean--cleaner than the picture I posted a day or so ago--and no bead.  I slid my chair away from the desk and got on hands and knees to search the Berber carpet which, to a tiny bead, could be a gigantic new world.  Believe it or not, it didn't take long for me to find it--WOOHOO!!!!!!  This time, I decided to put a little drop of Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive to help hold the bead in place and, so far, all is well.  The more I think about this little scare, the more I think my little bead buddy was really just wanting attention--reaching out, so to speak.  I just hope I find another Trackball to replace this one when it stops working because I really and truly will have a hard time learning to use something else.  The moral of the story is . . . A bead in the Trackball can easily cause many beads (of sweat) on the forehead.

"CHEEP TALK" HELLO

Over the river and down the interstate . . . I'm heading to my grandmother's house today for a little visit.  I'm looking forward to it!  Before I head out, I wanted to share a design that I was going to use for a stamp-a-stack, but I haven't been able to pinpoint a date for that event.  I really do like this card . . . it's neat, quick to make, and (I think) presents nicely.  Part of its charm probably comes from its square shape.  Ha!  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include  "Cheep Talk" stamp set and the following punches:  Two-Step Bird, Scallop Square, 3/4" Square, Heart to Heart, and Small Heart.

"SIMPLY SAID"

An oldie but goodie . . . "Simply Said" is a stamp set that I haven't used in a long time, but it's one that's near and dear to me because one of the first projects I ever created with it was published in a national magazine!  I've attached a picture of that card (below), and it looks sooooo simple!  I had used a Stampin' Up! wheel and triple-cell ink cartridge to create the swirly background, and inking that cartridge was a nightmare!  When I got paid for being published, I felt that all the trouble had been worthwhile.  Ha!  For tonight's card, I used Real Red,

 Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black, and Whisper White card stock, along with Stampin' Up!'s Eyelet Border punch and Real Red grosgrain ribbon.  It's difficult to tell from the photo, but I placed tiny gemstones in the centers of the flowers.  As much as I enjoy creating detailed cards, I always like the easy ones, such as this one, and wonder why I don't make more of them.  And yes . . . it's a square card!

SUN GODDESS

Today on one of the demonstrator groups, Lynn Pratt shared a bathing beauty that was so cute that I had to make one of my own.  I made a few subtle changes and am pleased with how it turned out.  Stampin' Up! products used include Creamy Caramel, Yoyo Yellow, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, and Bordering Blue card stock, Color Spritzer Tool and Creamy Caramel marker to create the "sand," Melon Mambo dotted ribbon, white gel pen, silver cord, "One of a Kind" stamp set, and the following punches:  Word Window, 1' Circle, Photo Corner, Round Tab, and Scallop Circle.  The designer paper used to create the beach towel is from the "Welcome Home" Sale-a-Bration paper pad.