Wednesday All That Scraps Challenge

It's Wednesday and time for another All That Scraps Challenge. I haven't had a chance to participate in the last 2 challenges but was able to prepare a sample for this week's. The challenge is a color challenge. Use the colors Ridinghood Red (I used Ruby Red since it is so close), Baja Breeze and Kraft. This is a great color combo which I used on a Christmas card as well...I'll share that one another time.

This card uses some My Minds Eye paper and the Olivia's Birds set. I used the tree branch on several cards during the release for this set and it wasn't until I saw that the other design team girls used it as a sweet little tree, that I decided I had to CASE the idea! So here is Olivia sending you a little wave! The sentiment is from the Sentiment set. The sentiment actually says "A" Hello From Me, but all of it would not fit in the circle, so I chopped off the "A" and it works great. I used SU punches to highlight the sentiment. I also water colored Olivia with my SU ink and an Aquapainter. I don't own any Copics so that is why I keep water coloring everything. Yes, it takes awhile to get a large image done, but I still love the way it looks. Definitely different than Copics but I still like it. I admire all the copic coloring the rest of you gals do, but I just can't take the plunge and spend all that money on them!

Finally, the ribbon in the new Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon from Stampin Up! Again, that color is so similar to Ruby Red, that it works just fine on this project. Anyway, I hope you have a great day today! I'm hoping I get a chance to stamp again. I'm getting very overwhelmed with all the unorganized messes in my room and the rest of the house, so I've been trying to get some stuff picked up rather than stamp. Of course it isn't as fun as stamping!

Another Swap with Jami

We got the o.k. to share photos of our swap submissions for Jami's latest swap, the new catalog swap. This is one of my projects. I was required to use the stamp set A Flower for All Seasons (which I love by the way, not just because of the cute images but because it is pretty inexpensive at just $14.95) and a combo of colors based on the color swatches of Stampin' Up's Sweet Bella Collection shown on page 13. This card uses the new Pink Pirouette cardstock and ink, Old Olive cardstock and 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip cardstock and some of the new Bella designer paper. The main image was watercolored using my ink pads and an aquapainter. The sentiment came from the set "Family Phrases" and I used the Canvas background stamp on the pink panel. This project was made about 2 weeks ago yet as I look at the frog I have to chuckle because it makes me think of all the rain we have received here in Michigan over the last few days. It started drizzling here on Friday and started raining by Friday evening and didn't stop AT ALL until late last night! I can't remember a time that we had rain non stop like that! Thankfully our sump pump kept right on working!

Happy Birthday Cupcake!

This is for my mother in law, whose birthday is coming up in a couple weeks. I have one that is similar but not exactly the same, which I can show you in a week or so. I was in another swap with Jami and had to use this set and the scallop edge punch (shown on the bottom of the matted image). This is similar but took a bit less time. Lucky for me, Stampin Up! didn't retire the Summer Picnic paper! I LOVED That paper...remember how much I used it this past summer with all the CC Designs releases? I adore the cherry piece but hadn't cut into it, I don't know what I was saving it for! SO glad I did save it though, isn't it perfect with this image?!?!

Lucky Again!

SO, do you love this image of Lucky or what? Of all the samples you have seen, which are your favorite images of this new CC Designs release? Because I love the Lucky and Lulu stamps I have to say that I love the new Lucky set. I'm sad there isn't an image of Lulu, but the bear is just as cute and we can't have EVERYTHING we want (or so I tell my kids!). For this one I broke out my corner Photo Corner punch from Stampin' Up. I haven't used this one enough, and I loved it with the patterned paper (from KI Memories, Haunted). I popped it up with a dimensional and then stamped the spider and cut it out. He is also popped up with a dimensional (just one that was slightly shorter than the other). Of course I used the scallop edge punch from Stampin' Up! and some paper piercing. Finally, I haven't used eyelets in awhile but last night I did two cards and put eyelets on both. My crop-o-dile has to get some use doesn't it?!?!

Don't forget... the release party is at the All That Scraps forums starting at 8 pm est and the sets are available for purchase starting at 10 pm..hope to see you there!

Sugarplum Halloween

A short post today! What do you think of Olivia all dressed in her Halloween costume? Isn't she sweet? This card also uses the moon from Spooky Scenes. If there is one thing I am hoping you all discovered from my samples this month, it is that all the Halloween sets work so well together that you may as well get them ALL!!!

Missing You!

Here is a sample made using Bear Hugs but also a new set for the new CC Designs Release (you can get the sets on September 9!). The tree branch and grass are from Spooky Scenes and the leaf is from a set you'll hear more about tomorrow. What about that sign? I used it on the Lucky card that is below as well. Notice it has a different saying here? The saying is from the sentiment set that was released last month. I LOVE THE SIGNS! I adore the patterned paper here as well, both are from My Minds Eye. Do you think I like the images on this card???

My Pregnancies Never Looked Like This

Just once, I would have just liked ONE of my 4 pregnancies to look like this card does...soft, pretty, feminine...NOPE, not me! I am not complaining about weight gain, because I never gained more than about 27 lbs with my pregnancies, but from week 6 with ALL of them, I was vomitting like crazy (precisely why I didn't gain much, I LOST so much in the beginning, 20 lbs in 6 weeks with one of them!). I have never handled pregnancies well...now deliveries were pretty good. Except for my last.

Anyway, enough about me, this is about Amy Rysavy! Give a shout out to her, and Christine. Christine asked if any of the DT members drew and apparently Amy does because she created this set with lots of pieces of clothing and a seperate set that includes great sentiments.

I used Pale Plum cardstock and this designer paper is from The Paper Studio.

It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

As always, Christine's sets that include Lucky, Lulu, the bear and monkey are wonderful and always rank as my favorite new releases! The set Spooky, Spooky, Spooky is no exception. Don't you LOVE this image of Lucky?!? The pumpkins from this set are from another new release this month called Sugarplum Halloween, as is the sign. The bat is from yet another set..Spooky Scenes. As you can see all of the Halloween sets work so well together.

Once I got to looking at the sets I got this image for a Great Pumpkin themed card and these images all worked so well! I love how it turned out! The designer paper is from KI Memories and is from their Haunted line. Of course it is available from All That Scraps. There was a lot of paper piecing on this one but it was worth it.

I hope you all have as much fun looking at the new releases this much as I have had playing!

Chocolate is My Favorite

I have to apologize for not posting a sample made with Amy Rysavy's new set! I have a sample all done and ready to go, however I'm having trouble with my camera. (It isn't in focus on close up pictures and it is driving me crazy!) I had taken two photos of the first cards I created for the release, so I have 2 to share today. I'm hoping to work with it some more today and tomorrow and hopefully have it fixed so I can get a bunch of these samples uploaded before the new release is over! So, onto the card...

I love seeing the kids dressed up for Halloween....But I love trick-or-treating almost as much as they do....especially when their bags are full of chocolate!! Admit it - you raid the Halloween bucket too! What are your favorites? Mine must be the Kit Kat's, mini Baby Ruth's and mini Snickers. I also enjoy a simple Hershey's bar as often as I can!!! Next to stamping, chocolate is my addiction. A perfect night for me would be sipping on a Mountain Dew and munching on some good chocolate which stamping!! This sample uses an image from a new CC Designs set called Spooky, Spooky, Spooky. Isn't he sweet? I just love how Christine continues to use some of our favorite characters in different sets throughout the year. I love seeing them come alive! All the patterned papers on this one are from KI Memories. I really like their Haunted line. The large panel is called Skinny Stripe and the paper pieced shirt and pants are the front and back of Pin Dot. The "brads" are actually set like eyelets and I have had them since I first started using eyelets forever ago. I needed some purple brads but didn't have any so these worked just fine. I hope you have a great day and get to stamp!

Blog Candy Winner!

The winner has been drawn by a very fancy and technical device........the 9 year old chose a number and recorded it for you!

Lisa V said... Olivia back to school. one last week of summer vacation and my two are going to school one for the first time and a card in the lunch box would be a fun surpise for them. Lisa 3:01 PM

So.....Lisa V....you are the winner! Send me an e-mail at caspen1973@yahoo.com so I can get your address and we will get you your $5 CC Designs gift certificate!!!

Another Simple Bee

My first sample for the August releases was a simple card done with the standing bear from Bear Hugs and this is one that was made at the same time. A simple card done with the bee. The paper pierced circle came from the Stampin' Up! brass embossing template, Punches Plus. I love this template for paper piercing! There isn't muchelse to be said about this one, I just thought it turned out sweet.

A Little Bit of Everything - CC Designs Style

Here is a project I forgot to share! I used a little bit of everything on this one (all stamps from CC Designs)...The adorable bees from Bear Hugs and the tree limb is from Olivia's Birdies, the clouds are from the Sugarplum Scenery set, a cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dots) and some Stampin Up Designer paper (Cutie Pie). I really love how this turned out! The only thing it is missing is a bee hive hanging from that branch! Since these are yellow and black they aren't honey bees so it may be "correct" to have a hive hanging from the branch. Did you know that honey bees are brown and black and they typically don't build hives just hanging from a branch - they need an open cavity to hold all their honey (just some useless info from the wife of a bee keeper!). Anyway, I was really happy with this after it was done. I colored everything with Stampin Write markers and added Stardust Stickles to the clouds and the bee wings. I love the sentiment "What's the buzzzz?" Christine has been turning out some WONDERFUL stuff lately hasn't she? Just wait till you see what is up for September. I got my sets yesterday and I think that some of the commenters for the blog candy below will be happy to see what we have in store for you. A little bit of everything again this month...some more Lucky and more Olivia coming!!!

BLOG CANDY!!!

Hey all! CC Designs just finished another release right? We have the adorable bears and bees - Bear Hugs, the Sugar Plums Sentiment set that goes with...EVERYTHING, the Sugar Plum Scenery set and of course....OLIVIA and her Birds!!! Right now Christine is offering up an All That Scraps gift certificate for $5 if you post a comment here. I will post the winner on Tuesday. But, since you have seen Olivia, tell me - what would you like to see Olivia doing next?

Sock Monkey Returns

Here is another Sock Monkey project (I used the same colors as the one from my open house...I really like So Saffron, Tangerine Tango and Kraft together, they look very "fallish"). I am going to try something new with my stamp clubs this year. We are going to do a Sketch Theme all year. Most of my stamp clubs are made up of ladies who have been stamping for some time. One group most of the ladies have been in a stamp club with me for 4 or more years. So, I find myself having a hard time showing them new techniques. Of course though they still comment that they have a hard time knowing what to do with their stuff when they get it. I know I have that problem sometimes! So, we are going to do a new sketch at each meeting. But since we do two cards we'll turn the sketch on its side and try to mix it up a bit. My hope is that they will learn how to look at samples in the catalog and figure out the sketch and use it to work for them. Plus, they will have several sketches from me by the time we are all done meeting. Anyway, this card is one that we did at our stamp club meeting this week. The ladies did the Heard from the Heart card from below and then this card. See how we used the same sketch? We just turned it on its side and made our matted pieces wider. In addition, rather than doing the middle panel with a single stamped image, we made that section three circles instead. The ladies at the meeting told me I was stretching it, but that is the point! INSPIRATION GIRLS!

I have decided to stop posting the "Supplies Used" at the bottom of my posts, just to save time in typing it all out. Besides, I typically type somewhere in the body of the post most of the supplies I have used. Of course if you have a question about something please just post in the comments section and I'll be sure to answer you!

Open House Success

My new catalog open house was Saturday and I felt it went really well. It was so nice to see some of the ladies that I hadn't seen in a few weeks. I sold some used sets to clear out space on my shelves for more goodies and I think they liked the projects. They did the Sock Monkey card I already showed you, and they did this simple and easy card that showcased the Heard from the Heart set (I LOVE this set and it is on sale, I LOVE that even more!!). My guests were even able to use the new scallop edge punch! I wanted something simple that didn't need a lot of "stuff" or a lot of work. I think this fits the bill. The background is stamped with the big swirl from Doodle This, otherwise the only other stamping is the words. I can't wait to get all the new goodies I ordered from the open house, like A Rose is a Rose, Crazy for Cupcakes, Bella Rose paper, and more! So tell me, what are some of your favorite new things from the new Stampin' Up! catalog???

All That Scraps Guest Designer

All That Sraps is having a Guest Designer for October!! Check out the post at the All That Scraps blog: http://atsblog.typepad.com/ats/. If you get chosen by Amy and Christine, you get all the stamp sets that are released in October!! What have you got to lose? Start uploading to the All That Scraps gallery and maybe you'll be swimming in new stamps soon!

All That Scraps Challenge

It's Wednesday so it is time for another Sketch Challenge at All That Scraps. I have one submission done for it but I am hoping to stamp a bit later today and do another. This one uses Olivia's Birds, the branch from A Hootin Good Time, and the sentiment is from the Sugar Plum Sentiment set. I totally used Katie Stillwater's idea to use this birdhouse on a winter card. I wanted something simple that would be easy to duplicate for Christmas cards if you like. I added some Robin's Nest Dew Drops from the Poinsettia collection along the side and some beautiful paper from Basic Grey. Are you thinking Christmas cards yet???

Sock Monkey with a Cupcake

My New Catalog Open House will be on Saturday so I have been working on projects...We'll do 2 projects this year, one of which uses the new Sock Monkey set. I needed a project that would showcase this fun set but wouldn't take the participants too much time to work on. Not everyone enjoys watercoloring so I didn't want to overwhelm those who don't like to do it. This is exactly what I was wanting! I stamped Sock Monkey in Close to Cocoa on Kraft cardstock. Then I stamped the cupcake from this set onto white cardstock. I colored it with Tangerine Tango ink, Ruby Red marker and a So Saffron Marker. I even gave the cupcake some sprinkles. I then used the Stampin Up! circle punches and scallop circle to make the cupcake stand out. It is also mounted with dimensionals. So..what do you think?

Have a Birdie-ful Day

When I finished this card for the release I was so happy with it. It came across just as I had wanted it to. When Christine was working on the new Olivias Birds set, she showed the design team the images that she had drawn and a few of the girls started shouting out different sentiments that they would like to see and I suggested a bird bath. I was SHOCKED when Christine said that she had drawn a bird bath previously but it wasn't any good. I asked her to try again and within a matter of a couple hours (if that much!) she came out with this bird bath...it is PERFECT! I LOVE IT! This card uses one of the grass images from the Sugarplum Scenery set and everything else is from Olivias Birds set. I wish I could remember the name of the paper...it was from Stampin Up a couple years ago - I think it may be Spring Showers. Anyway, I loved that paper and still have some pieces - it worked perfectly don't you think?

Supplies Used: Close to Cocoa cs, ink, Blush Blossom cs, Whisper White cs, Certainly Celery SW Marker, Going Grey ink, Bashful Blue ink, Grosgrain Ribbon, Brads, Creamy Caramel SW Marker, Black Staz On, So Saffron SW Marker, slit punch, Olivias Birds, Sugarplum Scenery Set.

Sweet Notebook

You can see pieces of the new Sugar Plums Scenery Set on this project...I am quite excited about this little sample! SEVERAL months ago I purchased a Bind It All thinking I would have loads of fun making notebooks. Well, I have been so intimidated by it that I have only used it to punch holes!!! Well, for these new releases Christine was asking for us to make some 3-d projects...soooo...I busted out that Bind It All and created this little notebook. I plan to use it to keep track of the names, addresses, birthdays of all my stampin friends. I have needed something like this for some time so this book is long overdue!

The Sugarplum Scenery set includes all the things you are going to need to create spring/summer scenes for your CC Designs stamps. Several different kinds of grass, several clouds, several flower tops, a stem, a couple different leaves...it's all in there and it really takes your work to a whole new level. This sample uses the grass and flower parts from the Scenery set and the bee is from the new Bear Hugs and that sentiment...yup...another set that will be available soon! Most of the design team sneak peeks this month have pieces of this scene set mixed in with other stamps on their projects because it is just a super set! Don't forget to be checking out the All That Scraps blog each day...if you post a comment you are entered for a chance to win a free stamp set each day!

Supplies Used: Sassafrass Lass designer paper, Baja Breeze cs, Real Red cs, Stampin Write Marker, Regal Rose SW Marker, Certainly Celery SW Marker, Gable Green SW Marker, Regal Rose SW Marker, Close to Cocoa SW Marker, Summer Sun SW Marker, Black SW Marker, Black Staz On, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, ribbon Target Dollar Spot, SU Scallop Edge punch, Sugar Plums Scenery set, Bear Hugs set, Sentiments set.