Bloomin' Beautiful :)

I had no idea it's been so long since my last post. I've been getting a pretty good schedule at work and even got an extra shift last week. It's good for my wallet but leaves me with less time to make cards :(

I decided to go with a favorite set for this post. I had several ideas in mind but only had time to make two cards. I've been cards for a challenge at the icelandic scrapbooking forum, we had to make 7 cards in 7 days and each day we had a different challenge. The first card I show you is the last card I made in the challenge, we had to use flowers on our cards.

The image is stamped on watercolor paper and colored with blender pens and ink. I used our new eyelet border punch and a retired background stamp, Print Pattern.

The second card I made only took me a few minutes to make. I had the image already colored from sometime last year (I always make extra). I added iridescent ice to it a few days ago while adding glitter to a bunch of images I had in my box. I used my Floral background stamp (retired). I thought of adding ribbon but decided not to. There's room for a sentiment under the image if I decide to add one later.

Here's a close-up of the glitter.
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Since my last post we've had both snow and spring like weather!

I snapped this photo in our backyard on the 1st of March and a week later....

on the 8th of March I snapped this photo at Mt. Pisgah ;)

Hope you are getting spring like weather....it's supposed to get cold again here :(

TFL

Pun Fun again

I just love this stamp set! The animals are so adorable. I made these cards right before Christmas, just needed to get out of the Christmas card mode for one night.

My DS gave this one to one of his friends when we went to his birthday bash. I used the Print Pattern background stamp (retired), scallop border punch, white Signo pen and Crystal effects on the card. I used my inks and blender pen to color in the image. The colors are Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point and Naturals White.

This one has Christmas colors, but is not a Christmas card. I used Kraft, Always Artichoke and Riding Hood Red. The patterned paper is from the Manchester Designer Serie. I used the scallop border punch again and a little bit of Crystal Effects on the image.

The colors in this one are Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze and Naturals White. The patterned paper is from the Baja Breeze Petterns Designer Paper.
Well, I'm recovering from a stomach bug that I've had since New Year's Eve so I don't feel much like writing or doing much of anything, I have made it to work while I was sick but I'm worn out, but Stampin'Up has some great deals going on right now, check them out:

Inventory Blowout

Love you much Promotion

Here's the retired stamp list:
Retired Stamps list

And retired accessories list is here:
Item # Product
111377 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS ROOF GARDEN
112012 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS SEASON TO SHARE
112088 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS TRUE ELEGANCE
102782 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 12X12 Not Available
104188 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 6X6
105384 ALBUM LINEN POST MELLOW MOSS 6X6*
104516 ALBUM LINEN POST NAVY 6X6
105381 ALBUM LINEN POST REAL RED 6X6*
103977 BUTTONS BOLD BRIGHTS*
103978 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS
103981 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS & NEUTRALS
105446 BUTTONS RICH REGALS
105445 BUTTONS SOFT SUBTLES
103604 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 12X12
102174 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 8 1/2X11
112465 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BANBURY
112462 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GEORGIA PEACH
112463 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GHOSTLY GREETINGS
112040 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GREEN TEA
112470 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAIKU
112460 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAWAII PAPAYA
112469 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HOLIDAY TREASURES
112458 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER JUNIOR VARSITY
112459 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MAINE BLUEBERRY
112466 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MUIRFIELD
112149 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PARISIAN SUMMER
112467 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PRESTWICK
111355 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SUMMER PICNIC
112039 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WINDSOR KNOT
112963 ELEMENTOS PARA TARJETAS DIAS FESTIVOS HECHOS A MANO SIMPLY SENT
106523 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE FIVE-IN-ONE CARD COVER
104104 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE MINI
107298 ENVELOPES CONFETTI WHITE MEDIUM
110695 ENVELOPES OPEN END KRAFT SMALL
109115 ENVELOPES OPEN END VERY VANILLA SMALL
103372 METAL EDGE TAGS ALUMINUM WHITE SQUARE
107925 ON BOARD BITTY BOOK*
109190 ON BOARD CLIPBOARD 9X9*
109180 ON BOARD SIMON UPPER
112086 ON BOARD SOMETHING SEASONAL
107923 PAGE PROTECTORS RING 3.25 X 3.25
104942 PUNCH 1/4 INCH CIRCLE
104943 PUNCH 1/4 INCH SQUARE
107273 PUNCH 3/4 INCH SQUARE
104389 PUNCH DOUBLE CIRCLE*
100391 PUNCH HANDHELD 1/8 INCH CIRCLE Not Available
104830 RIBBON GINGHAM CARAMEL
104829 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT BLUE
104828 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT PINK
104831 RIBBON GINGHAM MOSS
109037 RIBBON GROSGRAIN MORE MUSTARD 1/4 INCH
110282 RUB ON ANCHORED
111806 RUB ON CHILLS & THRILLS
111805 RUB ON SCHOOL DAYS
111417 RUB ON WORD FLURRIES
110283 RUB ONS TAKE NOTE
112193 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN I WISH
112186 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN PINA COLADA
112068 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUMMER HOME
112043 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN U R SWEET
112061 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN WINTER RETREAT
112016 SIMPLY SENT CARD ELEMENTS HANDMADE HOLIDAY
109868 SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT LIFELONG NOTES
103647 STAMPIN STORE MINI
105813 WRITE ME A MEMORY FONT CD VOL II
107212 MATEYS MAP
106749 BRIGHT BULBS
109672 BRONCO
104100 MAKING TRACKS
108978 SANDY SHELLS
110332 SNOW
101233 SNOWFLAKE
109694 SWEET STARS
111249 TAKE A NUMBER

TFL

Prehistoric Pals

I have been wanting this stampset since I first saw it, but never got around to ordering it. Well, I managed to swap one of my hostess sets for it so I'm happy :)

This one is pretty simpla. I used the Chocolate Chip inkpad for stamping and the card stock is River Rock, Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip too. Designer Paper is River Rock. I am so going to miss River Rock and Soft Sky :(

I guess I can say this is a very masculine card. Basic Black and card stock that will be available in the new catty (Tangerine Tango). I used Kiwi Kiss (green), Riding Hood Red and Pacific Point (blue) ink (new in-colors). I used my spiral punch to make the Tangerine Tango look like a film strip. And my white Signo pen for faux stitching.

Never make card when hubby and kids are around you! I was working on this card and having to deal with my hubby and DS at the same time....and the card turned out crooked in all directions it seems like. The card base is Soft Sky, then Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango (stamped with Print Pattern background), Chocolate Chip and Soft Sky. I stamped the tree trunks on the Soft Sky card stock. The ground is River Rock scrap piece that I tore a little bit to make it look like sand. The dinosaur and the palm leaves were stamped on Whisper White and cut out

This is actually the first card I made with this set and the new in-colors. The card base is Basic Black, then Baja Breeze and Kiwi kiss cardstock. Basick Black again and Whisper White....! I had started using my brayer to make the Kiwi Kiss ground and the Baja Breeze sky when I thought of using the card stock to make the same effect on the first layer. The dinosaurs are stamped on Whisper white and cut out.

I am excited about the new in-colors but I wish I could keep River Rock and Soft Sky from the current in-colors. The only color from the new in-colors that I don't like all that much is Tangerine Tango....but I still managed to use some of it for this post :)

I'm thinking of showing you a new hostess set (from the catty we'll get in August), Serenity Spring, next weekend. We'll see if I stick to that or change my mind ;) I've got my first day at work on Monday and if I have a busy week I might change to something that doesn't require much coloring ;)

TFL

Fruit stand

The Fruit Stand is a small stampset, only 3 stamps. I really like all three images. I haven't done many cards with this set though. So it's about time to get some cards done!!!


I stamped the image on Whisper White using my Jet Black Stazon. I then used my blenderpens and inkpads to color in the image. The grapes are Perfect Plum and the leaves are Mellow Moss and Old Olive. The designer paper is from Bali Breeze, I stamped on it with the Print Pattern background stap (retiring). The cardbase is Old Olive and I also used Perfect Plum cardstock. I added Crystal Effects to the grapes.


This image is also stamped on Whisper White with my Jet Black Stazon. And again I used my blenderpens and inkpads for coloring. The colors are Real Red, Mellow Moss and Bashful Blue. I covered a part of the Mellow Moss card stock with torn copy paper before I used my Print Pattern stamp for the background. the image is on dimensionals.

This one I'm not too happy with. I seriously need more background stamps or something. Maybe a couple of brads would have done the trick. The image was done the same way as the two cards above. I used Mellow moss, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Apricot Appeal and Groovy Guava. The ribbon is Mellow Moss. DP is Old olive.


These were fun to make. I stamped the images on Lavender Lace cardstock with my Versamark. I then used my black embossing powder and embossed the images using my heating tool. And then I used an old blenderpen and bleach to change the colors of the images. It was very interesting and it took me a while to pick out which color I should try this on. I like it. So the colors are, Whisper White, Lavender Lace and Basic Black. These would be easy to make in sets if you want to make a box with notecards or "thank you" cards.

I have not yet decided what I want to show you next weekend, I'm running out of stampsets to show you. I might have to start all over again with the stamp sets I've already used until I get my preorder from the new catty.
Have a nice week and check back in next weekend :)

TFL

ETA: I forgot that I was tagged by Laura over at Stamp Happy with Laura.
The "rules" of the game: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. Ten years ago - I was having fun in Bergen, Norway. I was working there as an Au-Pair for an awesome family. That fall I started studying at the University of Education in Reykjavik.

Five things in today's do list:
1. Finish a couple of cards
2. Fill out job applications
3. Turn the applications in
4. Send in a SU order
5. Blog!!!

Snacks I enjoy: Popcorn and Coke
Things I would do if I was a millionaire: Buy a house. Visit with my family in Iceland every year. Open a preschool maybe or a small craft store.
Places I have lived - Grindavik, Reykjavik, Hveragerði, Drangsnes (all in Iceland), Bergen (Norway), Härnösand (Sweden), Asheville and Fairview (NC, USA).

;)
If you have a blog consider yourself tagged by me!!!
;)

Carousel Notes

I've been having so much fun looking through the SCS gallery to get some inspiration for the Carousel Notes. It's amazing what people come up with. But I'm going to start with an easy card:

This card is appr. 3x6 in. I cut a Soft Sky carousel note in half. And used the Soft Sky DP with it and Chocolate Chip cardstock. The stamp is from Short and Sweet.

This little purse is made with a 6x6 envelope (one from the Carousel Notes kit). I covered two Soft Sky carousel notes with DP from Fall Flowers. The stamp is from Heartfelt greetings, I used my scallop punch for the purely pomegranate layer. The ribbon is double stitched purely pomegranate. Cambria Turnbow made an awesome tutorial for this purse.

Here I used Fabulous Flowers and En Francais to decorate the top layer. The Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky and Whisper white make the front and I used my jumbo eyelet to attach them to the carousel note.

You can open it all the way. The colors I used are Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate and Whisper White.

If you didn't guess it already, it's a bib! I made a Chocolate Chip carousel note using a real one as a template. The DP is from Berry Bliss. The stamp is from Nursery Necessities. This idea came from Kelly.

This is a gatefold card. I used two Wild Wasabi notes that I folded in half to make the gate. You slip the belt off to open the card (I didn't think of taking a pictureof it like that too). The colors are Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black and Whisper White. The stamps are from a Level 2 hostess set called Spring Solitude and the background stamp Print Pattern. The card is 6x6 in.

Here's a box that I haven't seen anyone else do, so I guess I can say it was my idea! *grin*

I used one of the carousel notes as a template because I wanted a different color. Of course I could have made this a lot fancies but I wanted to give it a try and see if it worked before wasting a bunch of paper on it. This is how I cut and scored the paper:

You can't see it on the picture but there are four flaps, the one down to the left just didn't show. So three scallops on each side of the box. The cs is Bashful Blue and the stamps are from So Many Scallops (SAB set, not longer available) and a level 3 hostess set Time Well Spent.

I haven't posted these in my gallery yet so I don't have the details like I usually do.

For more inspiration check HERE!

Next weekend I'm going to tease you a little bit. I'm going to use a Level 2 hostess set, Infinite Goodness. I just think it's so pretty!

TFL

Wedding cards

I thought my idea would be a piece of cake! But even after I narrowed it down to 5 colors and just a handful of stamps it was a little bit overwhelming (did I spell that right?). Sometimes my head overflows with ideas and I don't know where to start. But I survived and this is the first card I made:

My card base is Soft Sky but I covered the whole front with Whisper White. I used my Forever Flowers wheel to make the strip and colored the image in using my blender pen and Soft Sky ink, I then covered it with Versamark and Irridescent Ice and heat embossed it. The main image I drew on a piece of Soft Sky paper and cut out. I then used one of the stamps from Baroque Motifs to stamp on it. I then covered the pieces with Versamark ink and Irridescent Ice and heat embossed them. The flower and the pearls are from the Pretties Kit. My final touch was using the Print Pattern background stamp to stamp the diamonds in the corner. I had the card ready but felt something was missing so I covered up the card with scrap paper except for that corner and stamped the diamonds in Soft Sky.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Forever Flowers, Print Pattern
Paper: Soft Sky CS, Whisper White CS, Basic Black CS
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Irridescent Ice
Techniques: heat embossing
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2



I've got this stampset in my starter kit when I signed up as a demo. I've hardly ever used it but I think I did ok here. I stamped the image with Versamark and covered it with black embossing powder, I ten heat embossed it. I used my blender pens and ink pads to color in the image. The strip of pattern paper I made using the flowers from Fabulous Flowers.

Stamps: Fun and Fast Notes, Fabulous Flowers
Paper: Soft Sky, Basic Black, Perfect Plum
Ink: Versamark, Soft Sky, Perfect Plum, River Rock
Accessories: Black EP
Techniques: watercoloring with ink, heat embossing
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2


This is actually the last card I made, but not the last one I showcase here. I stamped the image with Versamark ink on Whisper White and used clear embossing powder to heat emboss it. I then sponged over the image with my Perfect Plum ink. The image is glued to the left half circle. I used my Coluzzle circle template to make the half circles and the matting under the image.

Stamps: Fun and Fast notes, Print Pattern
Paper: Whisper White, River Rock, Perfect Plum
Ink: Versamark, River Rock
Accessories: Clear EP, Black Ribbon, Signo Pen
Techniques: Gate fold
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2


This one is pretty simple. I used River Rock Designer Paper for the dotted background. The strip is done the same way as on the first card, heat embossed with Irridescent Ice for a little sparkle. The River Rock circle is also heat embossed with Irridescent Ice. I used Crystal Effects to stik the glitter to the flower. I used a sponge and Basic Black inkpad to dye the flower black. The flowers and the pearl are from the Pretties Kit.

Stamps: Forever Flowers
Paper: River Rock cardstock, River Rock DP, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Pretties Kit flowers, Black ribbon, pearl, Irridescent Ice EP, Coluzzle Circle
Techniques: Heat embossing
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2


This one is my favorite. It's simple. The only difficult thing about it (for beginners) is the heat embossing I did on the dress. Again I used Versamark and Irridescent Ice. The flower and pearls are from the Pretties Kit. Here's a close up of the dress:


Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Print Pattern
Paper: River Rock CS, Basick Black CS, Whisper White CS, River Rock DP
Ink: River Rock
Accessories: pearls, ribbon, irridescent ice EP
Techniques: heat embossing
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

I think it's challenging and fun to make my own images by making shapes in paper if I don't have a stamp that fits with my idea. I don't have the stampset "To have and to hold" but it's on my list of sets I want to get from the catalog. It's new and should be available through out the year.

I do not have a special this week. Next week I'll be making something with Carousel Notes from the Occasions Mini Catalog.
Check out the challenge on my other blog!

TFL