"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

For today's MISM project, I chose to work with Stampin' Up!'s new "Storytime" designer paper!  I love this paper collection--it reminds me of "Dick and Jane" from my childhood era.  To make this quick card, I cut the ABC blocks and a block from the writing paper design and then sponged the edges.  The punched frog is from one of the paper designs, and I layered it onto a 1" Riding Hood Red circle, which was layered onto a Very Vanilla Postage Stamp punched shape that was also sponged with Crumb Cake ink.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from the "Memorable Moments" stamp set.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include 3/4" Circle punch, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, and Pool Party card stock for the card.  This card is proof positive that some of Stampin' Up!'s paper patterns can easily come to the rescue when you need a quick card!

"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS"

Last week, Julie shared a Freestyle Fridays project featuring embossed ribbon on a card that she had sponged with three colors of ink, and she issued a mission for me to feature sponging with three colors this week and to use ribbon--a lot or a little.  At first, I thought it might be quite a challenge, but then I had an idea.  That's the good thing about missions/challenges . . . they make you think!  For my card, I knew that I wanted to use some of Stampin' Up!'s newest products, and I used "For the Birds" stamp set and one of the "Delicate Designs" embossing folders.  For the background, I used Sponge Daubers to apply Calypso Coral, Pool Party, and Daffodil Delight ink.  The other side of the card actually looked better, but I placed the card stock upside-down in the embossing folder and had to use the side that you see.  Actually, I'm not sure what is considered "upside-down" with this embossing folder.  Normally, I consider the raised edges of the folder to be the back since it's going to push into the card stock, thus creating the embossed texture.  With this lacy design, though, I thought it looked more like lace (especially after it was lightly sanded) when I used what I would normally consider the backside because the larger areas are debossed.  Most of Stampin' Up!'s embossing folders, if not all of them, are designed so that the Sizzix/Stampin' Up! logo is the front (right-side-up) and, if using that to gauge the front/top of the embossed design, then it is shown (politically) correct in the photo.  Anyway, moving right along, after punching the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to know exactly where to stamp the image, which was colored with markers.  The two ruffled ribbons that I used are Pool Party and Calypso Coral, and the finishing touch to the card was the addition of three rhinestone jewels along the top of the sentiment banner.  Card stock colors are Whisper White and Calypso Coral, and this card is 4.75" square.  Surprise, surprise . . . yet another square card.  Thank you, Julie, for yet another fun mission!!!  If you haven't tried any of Julie's missions, you really should!

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

Today's MISM card features several new products used in ways that make for a cheery, fun card (I think).  The card itself is one of the new In Color colors, Gumball Green.  Following are the other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card:  Sizzix Bigz Oval Accent Clear die in Very Vanilla, embossed with the Chevron embossing folder; "Storytime" striped designer paper, which was die-cut with one of the "Apothecary Accents" Framelits dies; Brights designer button and natural hemp twine (retired); "Moving Forward" stamp set; and one of the "Bitty Banners" Framelits dies to cut the stamped sentiment.  "Moving Forward" is the Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp set for the 2012-2013 catalog year.  When you purchase this stamp set, Stampin' Up! donates $3 to RMHC, and it's a really cute set that helps support a really special charity.

STORAGE SOLUTION FOR FRAMELITS DIES

Sharing today a picture of the supply station for my Big Shot die-cut machine.  I'm fortunate to have the corner space to the right of my die-cutter, which is the perfect place to keep all of the supplies organized and within easy reach.  In the wire basket, I have pockets with a zip-style closure where I store my Framelits and other thin dies.  When Stampin' Up! began offering Framelits dies, I kept them in clear stamp cases, which worked perfectly.  After a couple of months, though, it occurred to me that it made more sense to keep them with all of my other similar dies.  In the pockets, I have two pieces of thin cardboard to which I've adhered thin magnetic sheets, and these two pieces of cardboard rest back-to-back in the pocket and can each be removed as needed.  I use a metallic marker to label each sheet with the name of the die collection and the product #.  The pockets come with hole-punched tabs on the top and one side, so there's versatility and options to hang the pockets or store them in a binder.

JULIE'S "FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" PROJECT

Happy Friday!!!!  It's a really happy Friday for me because I'm waiting for UPS to show up with a couple of boxes from Stampin' Up!  It's also time for Freestyle Fridays, and it's Julie's turn to share a project with us.  From the looks of the sneak peek that she sent, it appears that she's been playing with ribbon and embossing folders.  Isn't that what it looks like to you?  Of course, to learn more about her project and to see the whole thing, we need to visit her blog.  Don't forget to take a few seconds to leave a comment, and be sure to read the mission that she leaves for me because you might want to play along.  One of my favorite things about Freestyle Fridays is the challenge that Julie presents every other week.  Sometimes they have me scratching my head for ideas or stepping outside of my comfort zone but, all in all, they're a lot of fun!  Have a stampin' good day!

PINWHEEL CARD

I've been slack this week about posting projects, and that's because I've been working on my class projects for next week and waiting for my big order from Stampin' Up!, which should arrive tomorrow.  Woohoo!!!!!  I made this quick card this morning and took the picture, but my camera and computer weren't communicating all day.  Pinwheels are, once again, making a comeback, and they're hard to resist because they're just so easy to make.  This card features the following Stampin' Up! products:  Wisteria Wonder designer paper, Vintage Wallpaper and Stripe embossing folders, "Petite Pairs" stamp set, Wisteria ruffled ribbon, white Baker's twine, rhinestone jewel, Boho Blossoms punch, and one of the Labels Collection Framelits dies.  The ladies at my class next week will be making a card similar to this using the brand new "Comfort Cafe" designer paper, new stamp set, and one of the new Bitty Banners Framelits dies. 

BUDDY

This post has nothing to do with stamping or paper crafts . . . I just wanted to share a picture of Buddy enjoying a delicious T-bone.  While I was visiting my parents and grandmother in Mocksville yesterday, my husband and son went to Longhorn for dinner and, as always, brought a scrumptious leftover for Buddy.  He actually belongs to our neighbor, but we treat him as our own.  We keep a water bowl on the porch for him, and he knows that we have containers of treats at the front and back doors.  Buddy is so loved, and he is such a perfect pet--even if he isn't ours, we love him as if he was. 
ETA:  For the past couple of weeks, we've had another little fellow who seems to enjoy the greenery around the house, and I call him Peter.  Unique name, huh?  BTW, do you know how to catch a unique rabbit?  Unique up on him!  Anyway, he was spotted in front of the porch today, and I was able to get this picture of him.  He's quite a little guy, but he doesn't seem to be afraid of us.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

For today's MISM project, I used some of Stampin' Up!'s newest products . . . "Make a Cake" and "Itty Bitty Banners" stamp sets, Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit card stock, and one of the Bitty Banners Framelits dies.  I apologize for the colors in my photo being a bit off, particularly the Primrose Petals, but the lighting just isn't too good this morning.  Summer Starfruit looks pretty much like it does in real life.  When I first saw this color, I wasn't too impressed; however, I'm beginning to think of it like River Rock, which is one of my favorite neutrals today.  I didn't see much purpose for that color when it first came out, but I realized that it goes nicely with so many other colors and so does Summer Starfruit.  The only other product that I used was the Stamp-a-ma-jig, but I wanted the pennant image to be just right on top of the cake.  This is a great little stamp set and, if I had used black ink rather than Early Espresso, I probably would have added some color to at least one of the cakes.  Have a wonderful Monday!

MIXED MEDIA ART CANVAS FOR MY SISTER

Just wanted to share my second mixed media canvas that I created for my sister.  She is currently working full-time in a Kindergarten classroom and is also a student working toward her teaching degree.  A few years ago, I gave her a Mary Engelbreit print (as pictured on the right), and she said that's what prompted her to enroll in a teaching program.  It has not been without challenges and frustrations, but I'm proud of her for hanging in there.  And so the theme for this canvas was born.  Symbolic elements included on this canvas are the school-related charms, angel charm to remind her of her faith, buttons to remind her to continue to enjoy her needle & thread hobbies, butterfly and wings to symbolize her hard work that will lead her to the career she wants, the girl on the purple path that shows how far she's come and how wide open the future is, and the fence is a reflection of the obstacles that she's had to overcome--the hurdles she's jumped--rather than a barricade. 

"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" SHAPED CARD

Last week, Julie used a brand new technique from SCS to make a shaped card and challenged me to do the same.  She even said that I could make a square card, and who would have thought that my creation wouldn't be square?  At the time that I worked on this card, the "Soft Blooms" digital download for My Digital Studio was new, and I wanted to work with it and also had an idea to make a shaped card, so it seemed perfect to make this my Freestyle Fridays project.  The focal point was designed with My Digital Studio and printed from my home printer and then die-cut with one of Stampin' Up!'s new Apothecary Accents Framelits dies.  I cut that same shape twice more from Wisteria Wonder card stock and cut it accordingly to fit as a mat for the floral focal point.  For the shaped card, I used another new Stampin' Up! die--the Sizzix Oval Accent clear die--to cut a Very Vanilla card and, at the same time, I cut a piece of Wisteria Wonder designer paper to cover the front of the card (this also served to cover the "hinge" of the card).  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include:  Bitty Banners Framelits die for the sentiment banners, which were stamped with two of the "Fabulous Phrases" stamps and adhered to the card with a designer brad.  One of the other dies from the Apothecary Accents Framelits was used to cut the Very Vanilla shaped layer behind the floral focal point, and I used pearl jewels to adorn this pretty cut.  The only other Stampin' Up! product featured on this card is the crochet trim.  Stampin' Up!'s brand new catalog goes into effect today and, as you can see from this card, there are some really awesome dies available!  Be sure to click on the photo of the card to open a larger picture so you can really see the pretty details of the new dies!  Don't forget that you can always order Stampin' Up! products from my web site!