RILEY THE BRICK MASON

I like almost anything that Riley the moose gets into, and he paired nicely with the "bricked" embossing folder  that I recently purchased.  The stamped image, I will admit, is overworked, and I clearly should have stopped "doing something else" to it long before I actually called it "done."  I still like how the card turned out, and this was a very different, unique color combo for me . . . Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, and Bashful Blue.  I colored Riley with Copic markers, sponged Early Espresso, More Mustard, and Cajun Craze ink on the embossed layers, and used Stampin' Up!'s linen thread to tie the tags onto the card.  To create the tags, I used the "Tiny Tags" stamp set and Jewelry Tag punch.

"GREETING CARD KIDS" MDS PROJECT

Since Stampin' Up!'s "Online Spectacular" (sale) ends soon, I thought I would show you one of the most fun ways to use "My Digital Studio" (MDS) to create any project.  Through November 30th, MDS is 50% off!!!!!!  One of the items included in the Online Spectacular sale is the "Greeting Card Kids" stamp brush set and, if you've looked into the products available during the Online Spectacular, then you already know that this download for MDS is cheap, cheap, cheap!  I couldn't resist this stamp brush set (that's what stamp set images are called in MDS), and this card is a perfect example of how I used one of those cute images.  I printed it onto Crumb Cake card stock, used an Aqua Painter and Watercolor Pencils to color it, added Stickles to the tree, and I used Crystal Effects to add styrofoam "snow" to the "fur" areas of the little girl's coat and hat.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Scallop Edge punch, Glimmer Brad, flat-back pearls, Square Lattice embossing folder, Antique Brad, "Deck the Halls" designer paper, Photo Corner punch, Mat Pack and piercing tool, distressing tool, and "Four the Holidays" stamp set.  The die-cut mitten is from a set of Spellbinders' dies that I used the Big Shot to cut and emboss.  I know that it may seem that I have been pushing the My Digital Studio software, but those of you who know me will know that I'm not a pushy person, and I certainly don't promote a product that I don't personally like or will use.  This is the last time (at least for a little while) that I am going to strongly encourage you to take advantage of the 50% discounted price for My Digital Studio.  I know that some of you want the "total hands-on" experience and/or want dimension to your projects, but your MDS projects can have as much dimension as you care to give them.  Did you know that MDS comes with:  61 stamp brush sets, 11 embellishment KITS (273 pieces), 13 background paper packs (442 patterns), 25 punches, 6 designer KITS (497 pieces), 7 designer templates (5 album/15 greeting card), 30 photo templates (available in photo album sizes and card sizes), 2 calendar templates, all of the Stampin' Up! colors (including some past In Colors), and other downloadable MDS products.  Stampin' Up! has been very consistent with providing new downloads as they expand their product line(s), and it seems like there are always new choices!  If I've talked you into purchasing MDS, you can go to my WEB SITE, click "Shop Now" (in the top right corner), and place your order!  ;-)

DECK THE HALLS WITH METAL AND PEARLS

Even though it's the biggest shopping day of the year, "Feminine Fridays" must go on.  Last week, Julie issued a mission for me to create a box with a floral theme and, while my box isn't nearly as elaborate as hers, it's a box nonetheless.  Earlier this week, I received a package of beautiful metal sheets and could hardly wait to use them, so I wrapped an embossed strip of metal around the box and created a poinsettia embellishment from a sheet of red metal.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this box include:  5-Petal punch (for the makeshift poinsettia), "Tiny Tags" stamp set, Jewelry Tag punch, "Deck the Halls" designer paper, 1/4" Early Espresso ribbon, vintage clip, tiny pearls, and Mini Milk Carton die.  The foam pad from the Mat Pack and a stylus were used to emboss lines on the flower petals. 

FULL-FIGURED CARDINAL

Isn't this a cute cardinal????  My friend, Laura, is the one who showed me how to use punches to make the little guy.  I'm always amazed at the variety of things that can be made from punches, but I don't normally engage in a lot of punch art because I don't really enjoy all of the assembly.  I've actually made quite a handful of these cardinals and will probably use them on some of my holiday cards to family and friends.  Speaking of which . . . I need to get cranking on those cards, plus several others that I've been commissioned to create.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include:  "Candy Cane Christmas" designer paper, Whisper White, Real Red, and Always Artichoke card stock, Petals a Plenty embossing folder, white gel pen, rhinestone jewel, and the following punches: Two-Step Bird, 1-3/8" Circle, 5-Petal Flower, and Heart to Heart.

EASY & QUICK "MY DIGITAL STUDIO" CREATION

What in the world are you waiting for????  Hop on over to my web site, click the "Shop Now" link in the top right corner, and order Stampin' Up!'s "My Digital Studio" now!  It's 50% off for a few more days, and you won't regret the purchase.  While you're there, go ahead and grab a couple of the discounted Digital Downloads!  This evening, I designed and printed this card using "My Digital Studio."  The images are from "Medallion" and "Thoughts and Prayers" stamp sets. Products added to my printed project are the antique brad and 1/8" Early Espresso ribbon, and I added an Early Espresso layer to the Crumb Cake card.  Even though Stampin' Up! recently reduced the cost of printing MDS projects, there are many projects that you can design and print at home, and your projects can have depth and dimension when you add a couple of embellishments (and card stock layers) to them.   

"FABRIC OF FRIENDSHIP" T-SLIDER CARD

Today was my sister's birthday, so I created this fun T-slider card for her.  One of my first obsessions when I got interested in paper crafts was interactive cards, and this one is actually quite easy.  Even though it wasn't a difficult card to make, I still managed to make a couple of oopsies--sometimes changing your mind just doesn't work--but one of them was covered by the stamped cameo-looking oval on the far left of the card.  Since Renee enjoys sewing and quilting, I used a retired Stampin' Up! stamp set ("Fabric of Friendship") and chose to only color the measuring tape and pin cushion on the main focal point.  Didn't everyone's mother and grandmother have a red "tomato" pin cushion????  It was a tomato, wasn't it?  Other Stampin' Up! products used include Early Espresso and River Rock card stock, Round Tab, Large Oval, and Scallop Trim Border punches.

FUN TECHNIQUE!!!!!!!!

One day last week, I stumbled upon a pretty card where the designer had used a clear acrylic block to create a lightly colored background for her stamped image.  I thought it was a wonderful idea, and then I saw tonight that SCS has a tutorial for this technique.  Of course, I didn't get the technique exactly right when I made this card the other night, but it still turned out okay.  For this very simple card, I used the following Stampin' Up! products:  "Pendant Park" stamp set, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, and Small Oval punches, River Rock, Not Quite Navy, and Whisper White card stock, and Not Quite Navy brads.

"CANDY CANE" RUB-ONS

Since the "Candy Cane Christmas" designer paper was still on my desk, I decided to make another quilt-ish card using the Top Note die and other Stampin' Up! products.  I love the non-traditional holiday colors in this paper collection, and this particular card design helps to show them off.  The tree image and the bird at the end of the Modern Label-shaped greeting are both from the "Candy Cane Rub-ons."  Other Stampin' Up! products used include that fun Tinsel Trim, Scallop Trim Border punch, and Real Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, and Wild Wasabi card stock.  I'm glad I pulled out the rub-ons because those sheets are full of cute images, I love that they're colored, and they make it a snap to whip up a card!

"CANDY CANE CHRISTMAS" QUILT CARD

To thank my grandmother for the beautiful quilt (pictures posted on 11/18/10) that she gave me for my birthday, I created this quilt card using Stampin' Up!'s "Candy Cane Christmas" designer paper.  Since the quilt mamaw made had blocks that were set on point, I "set" my scallop squares "on point" on the Crumb Cake card stock and then used the Top Note die to cut it.  I used the Square Lattice embossing folder  on the Blushing Bride and Top Note layers, which I think gives them the look of fabric.  The big buttons were sewn onto the Top Note layer with linen thread--yes, I actually used a needle and thread!  Other Stampin' Up! products used include:  Baja Breeze card stock, "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set, satin ribbon, and Jewelry Tag punch.

JULIE'S BEAUTIFUL "FEMININE FRIDAYS" PROJECT

Pictured on the right is Julie's very pretty "Feminine Fridays" project, which you can see in full on her blog.  As usual, she has presented a new "mission" for me, but she found a cute and clever way to convey it.  Be sure to visit Julie's blog for more details about her beautiful project!  You'll even get to see and hear Agent Frankii, say hello to me!!