Stampin' Mim: May 2011

Monday, May 30, 2011

Know that I care...

Less is More challenge this week is a sketch - a card divided into 5 squares (one of them being the center) and the image and sentiment must be in one of them only. My card base is 4 3/4 X 6 1/4". I am going to make another and try to reposition the sentiment and bottom right curve, as I think it's a bit cramped as it is...but this is a lovely way to create an elegant feeling card. All the empty space directs your eye to the color. Very good challenge for balance positioning - I have a bit of learning curve to traverse yet!

Stamp Image and sentiment: CTMH Carefree set
Inks: CTMH Juniper, Sunset, Creme Brulee

Button: small Juniper button from the Assorted Green collection, CTMH

piercing tool

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! Special thoughts to all veterans we miss- and to the memory of my Dad (1922-2002), PT-boat motor-mac in the South Pacific, WW II.

Here at MelonHeadz you can see some wonderful images - it's where I saw this heart. She has images in both black and white (color yourself) or already colorized. She also draws for special requests. It's an amazing site full of heart, soul and love as well as drawings.

Image: MelonHeadz digital

Paper: CTMH Fanfare collection, White Daisy and Indian Corn Blue card stock

Embellishments: White Daisy grosgrain, tiny star brads

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Lucky Birthday

For this 'guy' card I used Close To My Heart Lucky paper collection, some textured paper that was part of packaging, Outdoor Denim card stock, hemp and a button from CTMH naturals collection. The sketch is this week's Clean & Simple, FTL 142.

Friday, May 27, 2011

White and One Color

Designed 2 Delight Saturday challenge: Use White and One Color.

This Designed 2 Delight image - Kaela's Spring Bouquet - is pretty in pink. I colored the image with Prisma pencils. The designed paper is from the Bella collection (CTMH, retired), the card base is Hollyhock card stock (CTMH). I used a Cuttlebug folder for embossing, a MS small butterfly punch, white grosgrain ribbon and a button from the new CTMH pinks collection, and two small pearls.

Butterflies!

The Less Is More challenge this week has been Butterflies, butterflies....I finally have found some moments to stamp. So happy for a long weekend! This is also the Card Pattern sketch this week. I cut a 4" circle from the patterned paper and an oval from coordinating paper. The oval was stamped in black. I stamped the butterfly again on white and embossed in black, then using emboss resist sponged on Vineyard Berry ink and cut it out before placing it over the stamped butterfly on the oval.

products used:CTMH Find Your Style stamp set;CTMH Card Chatter- Birthdays stamp set; CTMH Wings paper collection; Black and Vineyard Berry inks; White Daisy card stock; Nestabilities dies

Monday, May 23, 2011

Meow!

An older Card Pattern sketch (#114) + Bugaboo kitty. I'm not thrilled with this...it's a great sketch that I'll need to try again. mojo in dumps.... I'm really looking forward to a long weekend ahead for some sleep and crafting time.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Grads in a Clean & Simple FTL 141

Sometimes challenges can work together. Catch the Bug challenge this week is "Grads,Dads and Celebrations" I adore this little frog of theirs. I used Clean & Simple sketch #141. It was fast and fun. The papers are from CTMH Hooligans, colors used are Pear and Gypsy on a White Daisy card base, and a strip of bling across the bottom.
Fast and fun I need - 56 graduating seniors on my roster this year. All super kids that I am going to miss - lots of send-off cards to make for them ;=)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Graduation Time

A stamping friend has two daughters graduating this year - one from college and another from high school. We had fun Saturday crafting the cards for their announcements. We used Cuttlebug folders and made the little hats and tassels, embossed the sentiment and year, cut those out with Nestabilities.

Lots of tests to grade tonight - my three classes of seniors will be graduating soon, too. First time having seniors for me and it has been so much fun. They are a very wonderful group and I am going to miss them.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

D2D Skater Boy

Designed 2 Delight image this week was perfect for a Mimee with two grandsons...and Parker adores his skateboard! I wanted it to be bright, and it certainly is. lol I used some retired paper from CTMH Tinker collection, Twilight and Sunny Yellow card stock, cranberry grosgrain ribbon, white bitty brads and some liquid glass for the skateboard. The sentiment is from Papertrey.

This has been a busy but fun week: Little Shop of Horrors production at my school Thursday, a dear friend drove over from Spokane for the Relay for Life being held up at my former school district Friday (I go every year to walk a few rounds and see friends), and Claudia stayed with me so it was dinner and girl talk Saturday night, and a wonderful time stamping cards with my group on Sunday. Life if good. I was going to post last night but my youngest son dropped in for a surprise visit and we convinced him to stay for dinner. Sometimes there are so many good things going on! Tomorrow it's book club in Karen's lovely garden...and the sun is scheduled to shine!

Hope your week has been full of delightful moments, too.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Workshop Card

One of the cards for this weekend's workshop. Inspired by Vicki W. and Brenda's scallop punch flowers. We will use Mayberry papers, Smoothie card stock, and embellish with a mocha pearl.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

D2D Pail of Flowers Stamp of the Week Challenge

Designed 2 Delight image this week is so pretty. I loved using my new Prisma pencils on it. I watched a pencil technique tutorial on the http://www.heroarts.com/ site in the morning, and while I was out buying essential items for next weekend's workshop I just bought a set of pencils! Inspiration. The tutorial suggested the texture stamp over the finished item, and that was a wonderful idea. The papers are CTMH Mayberry collection and the sentiment from CTMH Sweet Treats stamp set in Crystal Blue ink; Colonial White and Cocoa card stocks.

A good weekend is stamping all day Saturday, a great weekend is a little more on Sunday. lol

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the moms and grandmas out there. Get some hugs today.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

FTL 139 HAPPY, happy birthday

Clean & simple Stamping sketches are delightful! They are so easy to use for quick, gorgeous cards. This weeks sketch is no exception. This is a 10 minute card - just pick a pretty paper and sentiment stamp, cut and glue. Got to love that! So if you are wondering where to start, I suggest checking out their sketches.
I used CTMH Miracle paper collection with Whte Daisy card stock for the base, Sweet Leaf for the mat. CTMH's Card Chatter -birthday (D1475) for the sentiment, inked in Crystal Blue. SU! celery grosgrain ribbon.

White on White Less is More Challenge

This week creating all in white is the challenge at Less is More , and I had several ideas. This is the first one I tried, and it looks incredible in real life. They warned that photos would be as much of a challenge as the card! I wanted some of the white to be shimmery, so I painted the only Impressibility that I own with CTMH Create a Shade pearl paint and ran it through my Cuttlebug using White Daisy card stock. I mounted it on another piece of card stock and used foam tape to raise that a bit off the card base. Then I used a MS punch for the butterfly, painted it with the pearl paint and decorated with pearls. I love the ink press look. This is a great wedding card.

Now I'm off the try my other idea - more embossing and punches involved. Hurray for play day!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

OLW 52 Round and Round

One layer card featuring circles is the challenge from Susan this week. I used a retired stamp for the sentiment and Adorning Corners (both Close To My Heart stamps) inked in Moonstruck.

The image didn't quite fit the card base, so I masked and extended it on both sides before cutting around the shape. Some sparkly crystals finished it off.

Polka Dot Thank You

This new alphabet from Close To My Heart has been in my new stamp basket for months just begging to be used. It seems perfect for a Less is More thank you challenge. Simple card, but fun and girlie....which seems to be my mood today :-)

products: Textured pink card stock trimmed with EK border punch; White Daisy card stock and sentiment inked with Cotton Candy (CTMH) using the Polka Dot Alphabet; ribbon and lace from the stash;puffy mounting tape.

D2D Flutterby Fairy

The digital image this week at Designed 2 Delight is this darling fairy. With only sons and grandsons, I delight in going pink with girl things! Sweet.
The dress is paper pieced, and the wings were glittered. I have such a tough time with getting a soft color for skin. I used chalk for her face and it is the best I've found so far. My hope is to acquire some Copics this summer and learn how to use them.

products: Flutterby Fairy, Designed 2 Delight; CTMH White Daisy card stock and Sweetheart paper collection; sentiment from CTMH Piece of Cake stamp set ( D1407); CTMH Cotton Candy marker; Baby Pink organdy ribbon (retired); CTMH Sparkles and glitter adhered with Liquid Glass; tiny heart punch; puffy mounting tape.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Bugaboo NEW store!

In previous posts, I have said how much I enjoy the Bugaboo digital images, and have posted numerous cards using them. The designer has done a total make-over on the site and there are wonderful discounts in May for celebrating the new look of the store. Check out the new Bugaboo store and sign up for some cool prizes, too.

Scraps on the table...

Trying to organize paper is like herding ants. Maybe if you had some honey, the ants would be easier! I have no problem with cardstock - I have bins for greens, blues, pink/reds, yellow/orange etc. And my CTMH patterned papers have names and come in wonderful zip-lock bags. So those are in alpha order by collection name. What to do with all those lovely got-to-have-it singletons?? Obviously, I bought them to make cards...so yesterday, when I finally gave up and just stacked them up, these papers were on top. So I made the thank you card. Then there were scraps on the table- one looked like it should be something - at first I thought a vase, and was about to look for a flower stamp that might fit, when I just thought another scrap would be just right for a lamp shade. Looking for something to put on the pull, I found a $1 bin martinee stamp never used....Well, I had some fun and after two hours had a somewhat cleaner stamp room and a few cards. No ants. Not a bad afternoon.