CS26A–CAS Texture and Flowers

This is a quick and easy, CAS or Clean and Simple card which I created for this week’s Creative Sketches Design Team  CS26A challenge.  The challenge theme is “anything goes”… but Connie also inspired us with a sketch  

Here’s my card, featuring a lattice die cut, square lattice embossed 5 petal flower, and pretty polka dotted background.  Hope you like it!

This CAS card went together so quickly, I almost feel like I’m cheating LOL!  Card Stock for this week’s Creative Sketches CAS card:  Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Whisper White.  In addition to the Big Shot Machine, other supplies not already mentioned:  Rhinestones, and narrow Grosgrain Ribbon.

Here’s Connie’s Sketch for the Creative-Sketches challenge:

I’ve had some very interesting email messages over the last week or so… one topic that continues to come up is a problem with browser error messages and hijackers!  I’m a very diligent geek when it comes to this stuff… and want to give all of you a suggestion from my heart.. in addition to your antivirus software, be sure to download and run Malware Bytes.  It is available in both free and paid subscriptions.. and well worth your time and effort.  After downloading, be sure to install and run the software… you’ll be surprised at what this little program can find lurking in the dark areas of your PC!

Other messages which I’ve received have to do with tutorial requests.. quite a few of you submitted some fabulous tutorial requests, and I’ve created a new list to work from.. thanks a bunch, and keep those requests coming

Hope you’ll play along with the design team this week… see you tomorrow with a mini blog hop/tour from the team at Sketch Frenzy Friday!

Hugs,

Sharon

Shop my online Stampin’ Up Store for these products and more… your orders and comments are always greatly appreciated!

Technorati Tags: creative sketches,malwarebytes,sketch frenzy friday,stampin up,online shopping,card stock,tutorial requests,design team,blog tour,CAS,5 miniute card

DCBD 221 Cute, Curly, Butterfly and Bliss

Here we are at the end of the month, and just one day left for Sale-A-Bration!  I hope you’ve earned your free BLISS Stamp set because it’s going away tomorrow!

Today’s Diva Coffee Break Designs Team Challenge kind of threw me a curve… The inspiration sketch has a great big Heart on it!  Of course, there is no reason you can’t make a card with a heart on it all year long… but I just got stuck on that heart and Valentines’ Day for awhile!

Then, a little creative opportunity came my way via a butterfly.  Inspired by the tiny butterfly in the Bliss Sale-a-Bration Stamp set, I decided to substitute a die cut and embossed butterfly… so here’s my card for today’s DCBD 221 Sketch Challenge!

Who says you can’t put Very Vanilla and Whisper White together LOL?  Usually I color paper daisies with a sponge dauber and Champagne Shimmer Paint, or spray them with Shimmer Mist so they kind of match the Very Vanilla tones in my cards and projects…

But, today I decided to embrace the differences, LOL.  using a variety of tones of beiges found in the crumb cake and very vanilla seam binding, designer series paper, chantilly lace crochet trim, and vanilla rosettes.

After cutting the butterfly die cut with my big shot machine, I also embossed it with my often neglected Elegant Lines Textured Embossing Folder.  The raised edges were embossed with Crumb Cake Classic Ink, and tiny Paper Daisies and Basic Jewel Pearls were added to the embossed surface.

Hope you like today’s DCBD 221 Challenge Card… here’s the original Sketch for the challenge, I’d love to see what you come up with!

Stamps and supplies used in today’s DCBD 221 Cute, Curly, Butterfly and Bliss Design Team Challenge Card:

Stamps:  Cute and Curly, Bliss

Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry

Classic Inks:  Crumb Cake

Big Shot Machine, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, and Elegant Lines Textured Embossing Folder (TEF)

Accessories:  Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Open Scallop Border and Modern Label Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Chantilly Lace Crochet Trim, Mini Glue Dots, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper (DSP), Vanilla Rosettes, Paper Daisies, Basic Jewel Pearls

I look forward to viewing your creations on the Diva Coffee Break Designs Team Blog, and hope to see you back here tomorrow for another Creative Sketches Design Team challenge!

Hugs,

Sharon

Shop my online Stampin’ Up Store for these products and more… your orders and comments are always greatly appreciated!

Technorati Tags: Bliss,Sale-A-Bration,design team,diva coffee break designs,challenge,sketch,dcbd 221,card,card stock,classic ink,shop online

UDI 29 Color Therapy…uh, Coloring

Water coloring that is!  This week’s Utah Divas International Color Challenge inspired me to pick up my aqua painter and use the challenge colors a bit differently. 

The stamp set is called “The Nicest Things” and can be found on page 71 of the Idea Book & Catalog.  The sweet little girls were stamped with Crumb Cake Classic Ink… I knew I would be going over some of the lines with darker colors so didn’t worry about coloring each individual line with stampin’ write markers!

Water color paper made this image really easy to color… I tried it first on Whisper White Card Stock, but wasn’t very pleased with my meager attempt. 

The very bottom edge of Rich Razzleberry Card Sock base is enhanced with a strip of square lattice embossed card stock in the same color… just adding a small touch of texture to the card.

Coloring and/or water coloring images is kind of mindless therapy… the key of course, is not to have your aqua painter brush too wet with color and/or water!  Having a paper towel near by can also avoid disasters, as you can sometimes quickly blot up your mistakes and lessen their impact (LOL voice of experience?)

I hope you’ll play along with the Utah Divas International Color Challenge Design Team this week… and look forward to viewing your creations!  Here’s this week’s inspiration piece:

Love the texture in the squares of the pillows.. would like to have an embossing folder like that, wouldn’t you?

Stamps and supplies used in today’s UDI29 Color Therapy…uh, Coloring Color Challenge Card:

Stamps:  The Nicest Things #121530 (Clear Mount) or 117036 (Wood Mount)

Card Stock:  Watercolor Paper, Rich Razzleberry, Poppy Parade

Classic Ink:  Crumb Cake

Big Shot Machine and Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder (TEF)

Accessories:  Aqua Painter, Stampin’ Write Markers, Paper Towel, Neutrals Buttons, narrow Grosgrain Ribbon

See you tomorrow for another edition of the Diva Coffee Break Design Team Challenge!

Hugs,

Sharon

Shop my online Stampin’ Up Store for these products and more… your orders are always greatly appreciated!

Technorati Tags: water color,color therapy,coloring,utah divas international,color challenge,design team,the nicest things,shop online,created by you,idea book & catalogs,markers,card,card stock

Thank You! Blog Candy Winners

Thanks to ALL of you!  I cannot begin to show my appreciation for all the lovely comments left on my blog during this past week!  As part of my blog candy offering, you were asked to:

1. Leave a comment
2. Place an Order
3. Join my Team
4. Contact me with a tutorial suggestion

AND… You responded!  There were so many sweet comments, I truly enjoyed reading each and every one of them. 

Thank you to those who placed orders with me personally, or online.. you guys are the BEST!   Sadly, no one signed up to join my team during this round of blog candy… you win some, you lose some..

I also received several wonderful tutorial suggestions, and also learned a little bit about some of you in our email exchanges… It has been a pleasure!  I will begin implementing the new features and tutorials later this month!

I really wish I could send each and every one of you a special gift, LOL… and although that is not feasible, I’ve decided to sweeten the pot with a couple more items, and randomly choose SIX people instead of FOUR as Blog Candy Winners!

Here’s the list of SIX Blog Candy Winners, in random order… that way you will be surprised when you receive your special gift! 

1. Dee in NH
2. Brittani Nguyen
3. Alita Long
4. Jill Taylor
5. Deb Bryson
6. Kay Capps

I will try to contact each of you this afternoon If for some reason you do not hear from me, please use the Contact Me tab at the top of this page to send me your snail address!

I hope you’ll let me know when you receive your blog candy, and that you enjoy your goodies!

Thanks again to everyone for following, commenting, ordering and participating!  I just love my readers!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: blog candy,winners,comments,online ordering,join my team,tutorials,suggestions,stampin up,contact me

Orlando Regional Swap Rejects LOL

So… Yesterday I shared the swaps I took with me to the Orlando Regional event… and today I am sharing the ones that didn’t make the cut.  I made them as swaps… but I REALLY didn’t like them, you’ll have to tell me what you think! 

Every now and then we have OFF days, and the day I made these two cards certainly was OFF!!  What else is there to do when you cannot stamp and create anything you like?  Watch TV, Shop, Clean (yuck)… so I spent the balance of that day cleaning my stamp room until the MOJO hit me again.

Have you ever had an off day?  What do you do to inspire yourself to create and get back on the horse, so to speak?  I’d like to know what you do to spike your creativity, get the wheel rolling…  I’m always looking for fresh inspiration!

Later today, I’ll be posting the winners from last week’s blog candy… four winners, four prizes.  Check back, YOU may be a blog candy winner! 

News for You:

• Sale-A-Bration ends on March 31st… all those free items with a $50 merchandise purchase, they’re going away… for another whole year!   Be sure to place your order at my online stampin’ up store  before the deadline (March 31st).
• Join Stampin’ Up! during sale-a-bration and receive an extra $50 in merchandise… now that’s a deal!  I’d like to add two more people to my team.  Join Now… and attend convention with me in July, wouldn’t that be fun?
• If Spanish is your native language, even better!  The Hispanic market is growing by leaps and bounds, and we don’t have enough Spanish speaking demonstrators!!  Hablo español bastante bueno, llámeme si querría llegar a ser un manifestante!
• There is no password needed to join Stampin’ Up! now… simply visit my Start your own Stampin’ Up! business site, and click Join Now on the lower left side!

So… not very exciting, but here are my three UGLY cards!! LOL.. the ones that did not make the cut!

Sometimes I wonder “what was I thinking”!  But that happens to everyone, doesn’t it!

I love to travel, but it’s great to be home, even if I am allergic to my two cats!!  Before you ask, Leo is still hanging in there, maintaining his weight around 7-8 pounds.  Of course, the other cat just looks bigger and bigger with each passing day!

Don’t forget to check back later today for Blog Candy Winners… and a new blog candy offering too!  If I can get the laundry done, I’ll also upload a few fabulous swaps I received at the Orlando Regional Event!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: Orlando regionals,Join Stampin Up,Hispanic demonstrators,inspiration,swaps,blog candy,winners,stampin up,posting,creativity,cards

Three NEW CPC Projects Posted

The Craft Projects Central Design Team has been busily creating again!  Today I’ve got more BLOG CANDY… and three new projects from the CPC team!

A Beautiful Blissful Bread Pudding Recipe Page from Shelby, complete with a yummy recipe:

A fun Easter Holiday Banner from Joanna, too cute!

And, just one more today… a recipe card easel which I designed exclusively for the CPC Site:

And now, I bet you’re wondering about the blog candy!  The CPC team has authorized me to give away ONE FREE PASS to the Craft Project Central!  Craft Project Central is a monthly membership site, the free pass will be for a specific month…

All YOU have to do to win is leave a comment on today’s CPC post with your email address (unless I already happen to have it LOL).  For your security, please use the format julieb (at) roadrunner (dot) com.  Alternatively, you can use the contact me form at the top of this page to send your email address after leaving a comment.

Thanks to all of you who have emailed or left comments about my Petal Cone Die Cake Demonstration at the Orlando Regional Event!  If you’re new to my blog, you can find the step by step instructions on the Tutorials Tab at the top of this page!  My cake is on the way to the Stampin’ Up! Headquarters in Utah… I hope I’ll  have an opportunity to share again!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: craft projects central,cpc,blog candy,petal cone die,cake template,orlando regionals,stampin up,headquarters,opportunity,scrapbook,banner,Easter

Orlando Regional Workshop Wow & Swap

On Saturday, I had the honor of presenting a Workshop Wow at the Stampin’ Up! Regional Conference event.  I have to tell you I was nervous, and quite happy to be one of the first of many fabulous presenters at the event!  I chose to present my Petal Cone Die 2 Tier Cake… for those who attended, I hoped you enjoyed the presentation! 

LOL…. and my name on the big screen too!

Can you tell how nervous I was?  All the projects on the table in front of me are made with the petal cone die and my big shot machine… what’s not to love?

And, the petal cone die cake is now on it’s way to the Stampin’ Up! Headquarters… it’s a celebrity in it’s own standing LOL!

I had an opportunity to teach several people how to do the Double Loop Bow on their fingers, and enjoyed demonstrations from several fabulous demonstrators… Kim Moorhouse, Linda Heller, Lilliana, Christiana… old friends, Karen Parramore, Adriana, Andrea, and many more.

Of course, everyone wants to get their picture taken with Shelli Gardner, and yes, I stood in the line to get my photo taken too… the one on stage didn’t come out so well… so I asked for a re-do, LOL!

The lighting was a little off in the Orange County Convention Center… my jacket and the flowers in Shelli’s sweater are actually Poppy Parade, a very bright and cheery color!

I also got to meet my friend from the Royal Blog Tour, Lucia Kaiser (and her hubby Bill)… Although we have chatted online for years, it was the first time we actually had an opportunity to meet face to face!

 

I also got to meet my friend from Inkspirations4U, Martha Lucia Gomez for the first time… I thought we got a photo together but can’t seem to locate it on my camera, darn!  I look forward to seeing all my new and old friends at convention in July!!

Here are two cards I made for organized SUDSOL and LNS Demo Swaps… You can check out SUDSOL by clicking on the Join Sudsol icon on my sidebar.

My apologies for the short post… just need some rest, and I’ll be back blogging and sharing again tomorrow! 

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: orlando regional event,shelli gardner,swaps,demonstrator,friends,petal cone die,petal cone cake,tutorials,presentation,workshop wow,workshop

Super Saturday: Bold Blossom Rose Tutorial

The regularly scheduled Super Saturday Tutorial has experienced a slight interruption!  LOL.. there were so many requests for a tutorial for the Bold Blossom Rose featured on the elegant rose topped box which I made for the UDI color challenge earlier this week, that I’ve decided to postpone the scheduled tutorial, and feature instead, a Super Saturday Tutorial on the Elegant Bold Blossom Rose!

I’m actually composing this this tutorial while on the road… LOL I’ve been selected as a technique “Presenter” for the Stampin’ Up! Regional Event in Orlando… so as you read this, wish me luck!!  (And if you’re attending the event, stop by and say hi, I’d love to meet you!)

If you happened to miss the Elegant Rose Topped Box, check it out HERE.  I couldn’t just re-post the same box I made earlier this week because wouldn’t want to disappoint you…. so I made another elegant rose, and put it on a card!  This long stemmed rose is very 3-dimensional… hope you like it!

Tied with a double loop bow, don’t you think it would make a great apology, anniversary, or sweet sixteen card?  I changed up the colors a bit… the original Elegant Rose was made with Pretty In Pink and Regal Rose Card Stock.  This time, I’m making it with Rose Red and Pretty In Pink card stock.

Stamps and Supplies you will need to make the Elegant Rose:

Stamps:  None

Card Stock:  Your choice… two shades for the rose, and a green for the flower.   Here, I’ve used Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, and Old Olive Card Stock

Classic Ink:  To match the flower… I’ve used Old Olive, and Rose Red Classic Ink

Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folders to add texture to the flower and stem, Fast Tack Glue*, Utility Scissors or Craft and Rubber Scissors, Paper Piercing Tool, 1” circle punch, Bold Blossoms Punch

*Fast Tack glue is a quick setting and very sticky glue, which allows you to work more quickly and add layers to your project… you could use Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive to make the Elegant Rose… but you will need to work a bit more slowly and wait for layers to set before moving to the next step.

Step by Step Elegant Rose Tutorial:

• Begin by punching card stock with the Bold Blossom Punch.  You may add more/less as you build your flower.  For today’s Super Saturday Elegant Rose Tutorial, I punched 3 Old Olive large petals, 8 Rose Red large petals, and 7 Pretty In Pink small/wide petals.
• Emboss all the petals using the Big Shot Machine and Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder (TEF).
• Hit the high areas and edges of the embossed petals and leaves with corresponding Classic Ink Colors, this will give them a little more depth and texture.
• Working with the smallest aka Pretty In Pink petals first, you will begin to build your blossom.  Use the Paper Piercing Tool to gently coax and roll the paper into a narrow tube.
• You now have your elegant rose “center”.  Roll a second petal, but not as tightly… attach around the first petal with a little bit of fast tack glue.  Sorry.. this picture is a bit blurry… and my cuticles, well.. UGH… Alex Anderson would throw me off the quilting show I’m sure!
• As you add the petals, offset them a bit and wrap them around the previous petal, and pinch the bottom to form a stem.
• Now it is time to add the Rose Red petals.  Because these petals are larger, you will need to butter them with a bit more glue (In another life, I owned and managed a tile store… buttering is tile lingo:  butter the back of the tile with mastic, adhesive, or glue…)
• After buttering the stem of the petals, pinch them to form more of a stem… don’t forget to look at the photo below… the absent minded professor here set her paper piercing tool right in the glue… emergency clean up on Isle 6!
• As I pinch the stem of the petal, I also roll the outer edges along the top of the petal with my fingers.  Because the card stock has been embossed, it is much more pliable, and I can manipulate the cardstock to make a lovely petal.
• Continue adding petals until you have achieved the desired fullness.  Be sure to pinch the stem as you go along… the stem on the rose shown below is probably about 1/2” long.
• At times, you will add new petals lower than the previous petal.  This contributes to the fullness of the flower.  Continue to stagger the layers, overlapping them and manipulating the curves with your fingers.
• Use the paper piercing tool to curve the Old Olive petals, now leaves in an outward motion… (again, sorry for the blurry photo.)
• Butter, and pinch the stem of the leaf, and then add to the flower.
• Continue to add leaves, staggering them so they overlap on the back of the flower… and don’t forget to pinch to form a stem!
• Here’s a photo of the back side of the elegant rose… it’s kind of difficult at this point to pinch and form a stem… but the leaves are glued securely in place.  Pinch, pinch, pinch to form a stem… you are going to cut it off with your craft and rubber scissors (or super strong utility scissors!)
• Cut off approximately 3/8” of the stem… before you ask… yes, I could have shortened the petals before adding them… but it would have been very difficult to hold, roll, and add petals.  This is a really scary step… you can cut a little at a time until you achieve the desired height.
• Punch a 1” circle to match your leaves (it will disappear beneath the flower) and glue it to the base of the flower.  This will give it a good base for adhering to box lids and/or cards.

Now… all you have to do is attach it to that special card, 3-d Item, etc.

For today’s card sample, I free-form cut a thorny long stem.  After embossing it with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder, I added a little Old Olive Classic Ink with a sponge dauber to add dimension.

ADDITIONAL Supplies used in today’s Elegant Rose Super Saturday Tutorial and Card:

Stamps:  En Francais, Four Frames, Wonderfully Worn, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock:  Marina Mist, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy

Classic Ink:  Rose Red, Marina Mist

Other Accessories:  Stampin’ Dimensionals, Basic Pearl Jewels, Sponge Daubers

Just a few more days until the blog candy is awarded on March 27th!!  Are you in the game?  There are four chances to win!!  Be sure to read this post:  NO Adhesive box and Blog Candy.

I’ve got a soaking tub and magic TV in a mirror calling me.. LOL I’m soooo tired!  Next week I’m giving away a free pass to a creative site you won’t want to miss, be sure to check back for details!

Next month I’ll be kicking off new blog features based on reader suggestions and contributions… dropping a little hint, but you’ll have to check back to find out what they are!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: elegant rose,rose,super saturday tutorial,blog candy alert,orlando regional event,stampin up regionals,2011,card stock,classic ink,big shot machine,embossing folder

 

SFF325 Black And Vanilla Vintage Vogue

Welcome to Sketch Frenzy Friday!  This week, team member Ros Davidson has a very simple sketch challenge for you… so grab those stamps and play along, pretty please?

This week I grabbed my ‘go to’ card stock colors… Basic Black, and Very Vanilla.  Along with images from the Vintage Vogue and Occasional Quotes stamp sets, I’ve added Love Letters Designer Series Paper too.  Here’s my card:

I really wanted to add a button layered brad or two to my card, but couldn’t seem to find the perfect place for them and in the end opted out of adding anything more.

The focal “thanks big time” greeting is from the Occasional Quotes Hostess Set.  After punching it out with the Extra Large Decorative Label Punch, an additional flourish from the Vintage Vogue stamp set was added, and the edges highlighted with a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker.

The brads at the bottom of the photo are from my framing gun easel stand Super Saturday Tutorial… which also makes a perfect greeting card display stand, LOL.

Hope you like today’s Sketch Frenzy Friday Card Share… upload your sketch based artwork to an online gallery (Splitcoaststampers, Flickr, Photobucket, etc.. ) and then visit the Sketch Frenzy Friday Design Team Blog to add your artwork!

The next stop on the Sketch Frenzy Friday mini blog hop and tour is Tammy Baldwin… be sure to stop by and leave her a sweet comment.

See you tomorrow with another NEW, Free Super Saturday Tutorial!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: Sketch Frenzy Friday,Sketch,challenge,design team,vintage vogue,occasional quotes,Love Letters,Designer Series Paper,splitcoaststampers,flickr,photobucket,marker

CS25– Pretty in Pink Baby Girl Card

The Creative Sketches Design Team Challenge this week was to create a sketch based Holiday card… I chose to make a soft and pretty baby girl card from Pretty In Pink and Whisper White Card Stock. 

With a French Filigree Background,Basic Pearl Jewels, Paper Daisies and a Double Loop Bow, I think it turned out kind of cute… hope you like it!  Here’s my CS25 Sketch Based Card!

The bunny in a flower pot image is from the Nicest Things Stamp Set… I replaced the word ‘carrot’ which was on the printed image with the word “baby” from the Stamp Set.  Pearls, girls… they go together, so the bunny wears a Basic Pearl necklace, and a little blush on her cheeks, with a pretty pink nose

I had a lot of fun making this card… adding texture with the big shot machine and square lattice textured embossing folder.  The flower layers and the bunny are all popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Here’s the sketch for the Creative Sketches Design Team this week, hope you’ll play along:

Stamps and supplies used in today’s Pretty in Pink Baby Girl Card:

Stamps:  The Nicest Things, French Filigree

Card Stock:  Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

Classic Ink:  Early Espresso, Pretty In Pink

Big Shot Machine and Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder

Accessories:  Pretty In Pink 5/8” Satin Ribbon, Basic Jewel Pearls, Paper Daisies, Stampin Write Markers, Stampin’ Dimensionals

For those who have asked, my adopted down-line Chastity had a very healthy baby girl!  Everything went well, and I’m still working on her wishes and prayers album, but it’s almost finished.. I’ll be sharing a tutorial for the special album in a few weeks… of course, I want Chastity to be able to see it first!

Are you playing along for this week’s Blog Candy?  There’s only three days left, and four prizes up for grabs… check last week end’s Super Saturday Tutorial for details!

Hugs,

Sharon

Shop my online Stampin’ Up Store for these products and more… your orders and comments are always greatly appreciated!

Technorati Tags: french filigree,prize,stampin write,Creative Sketches,Design Team,Square lattice,Blog Candy,Double Loop Bow,Pretty In Pink,Basic Jewels,Pearls,Super Saturday Tutorial

DCBD 220 Nature Walk and Leftovers

The Diva Coffee Break Designs Challenge this week was to use colors Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery in our art.

Now, I happen to love Certainly Celery… but perfect plum has been a color I’ve struggled with forever!  It looks great with Certainly Celery though, doesn’t it?

The focal image on today’s DCBD 220 challenge is from the Nature Walk Stamp Set in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  The image was colored gently with the brush end of Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink Stampin’ Write Markers.  A little Multipurpose Adhesive was used to attach Dazzling Diamonds to the flower buds.. just to give that added sparkle!

Love my mat pack and paper piercing tool… and the faux stitching technique.  It’s so very easy to replicate stitching on a card using the mat pack and paper piercing tool.  Of course, the key to connecting the pierced holes is to work slowly with the fine point end of your stampin’ write marker. 

The background for my focal image was created by scoring a Very Vanilla Card Stock Scrap at 1/4” on all sides.  One at a time, I folded along the scored line and stamped with the En Francais Background stamp, Paradise (leaf) stamps, and then sponged additional color with a stampin’ write marker and Certainly Celery Ink.  After opening up the fold, I also used the sponge dauber to add a little bolder Certainly Celery color along the folded edge.  I really liked how it came out.. hope you do too!

Here’s today’s color palate for the Diva Coffee Break Designs Team Challenge… hope you’ll come play along with us!

Stamps and Supplies used in today’s DCBD 220 Nature Walk and Leftovers Card Share:

Stamps:  Paradise, Nature Walk, En Francais

Cardstock:  Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery

Classic Ink:    Certainly Celery

Accessories:  Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Scoring Blade, Bone Folder, Sponge Dauber, Stampin’ Write Markers, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Hope to see you back here tomorrow for the Creative Sketches Design Team Challenge…

Hugs,

Sharon

Shop my online Stampin’ Up Store for these products and more… your orders are always greatly appreciated!

Technorati Tags: dcbd,challenge,color challenge,diva coffee break designs,certainly celery,nature walk,paradise,mat pack,paper piercing,faux stitching,dazzling diamonds,en francais,stampin write,markers,design team

Elegant Rose Topped Box Color Challenge

Last week, you were given a hint or two about this Utah Divas International Color Challenge when I posted THIS Card, and told you I goofed!

My original card used Bashful Blue Card Stock instead of Basic Black... LOL!  I had written BB in my notes… and interpreted it as Bashful Blue!

The Color Challenge Colors were Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Regal Rose, Whisper White, and Basic Black (NOT Bashful Blue).  Today, I’m sharing a  box made with these colors… something a little different for a change!

This box measures 3” tall by 3.5” wide (before the flower was attached to the lid).  Both base and lid were made with the 3.5” Originals Circle Die which can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog on page 39. 

Two strips of Basic Black Card Stock were cut for the top and sides of the box (1.5” x 11” and 3” x 11”), and scored at 1/4”. 

SNIPS were used to snip every 3/8” inch or so along the short scored edge… and the 1.5” strip was crimped with a paper crimping tool before being attached to the lid with Multipurpose Adhesive.  The crimped cardstock is very forgiving to use as a lid piece, stretching over the base piece and snuggly fitting the top of the box.

The flower on top was made with my newest favorite Blossom Petal Punch, after punching each piece, I ran them through my Big Shot Machine with the Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder.  It was a little difficult to hold all the flower layers together and glue them, patience is definitely required!

Here’s today’s UDI Color Challenge Inspiration Photo:

Hope you’ll play along with the Utah Divas International Design Team Color Challenge this week… you can make a box, card, scrapbook page, wall art or whatever your heart desires!  Simply upload to your personal blog, Flickr, Splitcoaststampers, Photobucket, or any other online gallery and then stop by the team blog to add your creation!

Stamps and Supplies used for today’s Elegant Rose Topped Box Color Challenge:

Stamps:  Live, Love, Laugh

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Basic Black

Classic Ink:  Basic Black

Big Shot Machine and Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder

Other Accessories:  Bold Blossom Punch, Double Scallop Ribbon Border (DSRB) Punch, Multipurpose Adhesive, 5/8” Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Paper Crimper, SNIPS, Mini Glue Dots

See you tomorrow with another installment of the Diva Coffee Break Designs Challenge!

Hugs,

Sharon

Shop my online Stampin’ Up Store for these products and more… your orders are always greatly appreciated!

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Allegro Grandioso, Newsprint Embossed

This is a weekend for embossing technique experimentation!  Similar to the cards posted in the Super Saturday Tutorial, and yesterday’s card… this card also features embossed Brushed Gold Card Stock.

I love the sheet music from the Newsprint Designer Series Papers (DSP)… and use it often in my cards and projects.  I’d love to have a whole pad of this stuff LOL.. maybe I should tear up my old guitar music books, since I no longer play!

Experimenting with distressed inks and the SU! Distressing Kit, the Brushed Gold Card Stock along the side/background of today’s card share was embossed first using a big shot machine and finial press textured embossing folder.  After hitting it with the sanding block included in the distressing kit, the high points were enhanced with Mahogany Distressing Ink.

The Mahogany Distressing Ink enhanced and darkened the Brushed Gold Card Stock wonderfully… I really like the results, and can already visualize using it on Christmas and Fall themed projects and cards!

The next visible layer is also brushed gold card stock… embossed first with versamark and Black Embossing Powder, and then along the bottom embossed with Versamark Ink and Gold Embossing Powder.  A sanding block was used to ‘rough up’ the high spots which just dulled them slightly, making them look like old metal or brass.

My black rhinestones are a carry-over from the holiday mini catalog… if you don’t happen to have black rhinestones and want to re-create this card, a permanent marker may be used to color Basic Jewel Rhinestones Black… or any color you would like!

Stamps and Supplies used in todays’ Allegro Grandioso, Newsprint Embossed Card:

Stamps:  NONE

Big Shot Machine and Finial Press Textured Embossing Folder

Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold, Basic Black

Accessories:  Newsprint Designer Series Paper, Basic Jewel Rhinestones, Basic Black 5/8” Satin Ribbon, Vanilla Rosettes, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Feeling a little under the weather… again… I hope you’ll stop back by tomorrow for the Utah Divas International Design Team Challenge…

Big Hugs,

Sharon

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Gold Leaf Antique Frame Inspiration

Inspiration can be found so many places… look out the window, capture a pattern in a carpet, or even in a dollar store picture!   Today’s card and yesterday’s Super Saturday Tutorial was inspired by a Dollar Store Picture, on two levels!

First, I wanted to recreate the abstract floral image which was represented in the photo, and secondly to create a gilded frame for that piece, replicating that in the picture.

So I turned to my Big Shot Machine and Textured Embossing Folders.. several different ones.. and here is my tutorial and dollar store inspired card:

Pay attention to the vase collage, and the framing detail… here is the original inspiration picture from the local dollar store:

LOL.. if we still had Apricot Appeal Card Stock, I could have replicated the wall color… but instead chose Pear Pizzazz with a little texture from the Pretty Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder.

Making the gold leaf frame required a little bit of experimentation… I really wanted a distressed, old and antiqued feel.  After experimenting with Basic Black, Brushed Gold, and Early Espresso Card Stock, my final sample was embossed with the Framed Tulip Textured Embossing Folder and a base Card Stock of Early Espresso.

Initially, I wanted to double frame my art piece, similarly to the one in the photo… then I just ran out of room LOL!  Looking at it now, I guess it doesn’t really look that much like the inspiration piece once you look up from the vase collage!

To make the Antique Frame, I started with a piece of Early Espresso Card Stock, embossed with the Framed Tulip Textured Embossing folder and Big Shot Machine, and then Embossed with Gold Embossing Powder.  The top layer was distressed with a sanding block to reveal the Early Espresso Cardstock beneath the embossed surface… Simple enough!

But the experimentation process is really what yesterday’s Super Saturday tutorial was really about, the results can be quite dramatic… I hope it inspired you to create something very special too!

Stamps and Supplies used for today’s Gold Leaf Antique Frame Inspiration:

Stamps:  None

Card Stock:  Pear Pizzazz, Cranberry Crisp, Vellum Paper, Crumb Cake, Brushed Gold, Basic Black, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Old Olive

Ink:  VersaMark, Mahogany Distressing Ink, Old Olive Classic Ink

Big Shot Machine and Textured Embossing folders:  Framed Tulip, Perfect Polka Dots, Elegant Lines, Vintage Wallpaper, Square Lattice; Bigz Lattice Die

Accessories:  Mini Glue Dots, 2 Step Bird and Branch Extra-Large Punch, Vanilla Ribbon Rosettes, Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Write Marker, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sanding Block

Do you have a technique tutorial request you would like to see here on Created By You?   Leave a comment with your suggestion, and I’ll see what I can do to make your request happen!

See you tomorrow with another card share… haven’t created it yet, so I can’t even give you a hint LOL!

Hugs,

Sharon

Shop my online Stampin’ Up Store for these products and more… your orders and comments are always greatly appreciated!

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