Hey... Happy Birthday!

Today is my little brother's birthday! Sooooo, I'm sharing the card he'll be getting (late - aagh!) in the mail. 

I wanted a masculine card, but with a brighter color combination. I turned to the Color Coach for "advice" and chose the Creative Combination on the Island Indigo card, which suggests adding More Mustard and Lucky Limeade.  (Be sure to read to the end of the post for some information about More Mustard!) 

So what makes a "masculine card"... masculine? 
- texture (Argyle Embossing Folder, distressed and torn edges)
- masculine colors (I'll let each individual decide what that means, but for me it means neutrals, blues, "fall" colors) 
- a simple and/or clean design (I made this card in less than 10 minutes by keeping the details and layout easy) 
- no ribbon (in my humble opinion, Baker's Twine and Linen Thread are exempt from this rule  :P)

I also like to add "extra ink" by sponging edges and/or spritzing with markers and the Color Spritzer Tool. 
I'll bet you're wondering about those stamped images. Other than the "happy birthday" greeting from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, the rest of the images are from the new Designer Typeset photopolymer stamps. They are completely clear, and are used with acrylic blocks. 

Apparently, even though my birthday isn't for another 2-1/2 weeks, I got an early birthday present this morning! 

I couldn't be more excited. I am especially pleased with the changes to the Subtles Collection! I have really missed Pear Pizzazz, and for those of you who haven't been stamping forever, you will really like Soft Sky.   :}     

 And here's a little "birthday present" for you... for whenever your birthday is! It's the card sketch for today's card - yay!! It would make me super happy if you "pinned" this sketch. After all, it's nice to share.   ;)  All you have to do is click that tiny little red "Pin it" button at the bottom of the post. Thanks!

  

Gorgeous greens

Have you ever made a card with too many layers??? Yeah, me neither... HA!! I just can't help myself when there are so many yummy things to play with. Today's card is no exception:

Aaron's bus driver (one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet) asked me to make her a few cards, for events that happen to fall on St. Patrick's Day. This card is for her sister's birthday, so I used color to tie the two celebrations together.

I'm going to take you on a little side trip here, and talk about color for a minute. Yesterday, I mentioned using the Color Coach to help me when I'm stamping, and I wanted to share some design tips related to that.

The Color Coach is held together with a post that screws together. After I got mine, I took it apart and rearranged the cards in "rainbow" order. This makes it easier for me to use my limited "color theory" knowledge. For example, if I want to make a project using the classic Primary color combination, I can easily select the tint or shade of red, yellow, and blue that best fits the style or theme of my project.

Knowing that I wanted to start with green, my project began by selecting three "neighbor" cards in my Color Coach. If I had stopped there, I would have a mono-chromatic color scheme.
But I wanted an extra "zing" since this was for a birthday, so I added a few pops of green's complimentary color - red. (Complimentary colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel.)



So there's some basic color theory info for you. I love how choosing just the right tint, tone, or shade of a color can add just the right "feeling" to a project  :}

Using the Create a Cupcake stamp set, I stamped the wrapper image in Pear Pizzazz, the frosting image in Certainly Celery, and the sprinkles image in Lucky Limeade. I used the Cupcake Builder punch to punch out those images. I adhered the cupcakes to a layer of Certainly Celery card stock, that has been dry embossed using the Perfect Details Texturz Plate and the Big Shot.
There are a ton of other details, so I'll just note a few... The birthday sentiment is stamped in Lucky Limeade ink onto the same color card stock. I stamped a subtle background onto the 4-1/8"x5-3/8" layer of Pear Pizzazz card stock using Pear Pizzazz ink and a stamp from the Creative Elements stamp set.

Special cards have to be pretty on the inside, too! Plus, it's a good idea to add a light-color layer when your card base (Poppy Parade) is pretty dark. Distressing and sponging the edges of the Very Vanilla card stock adds nice detail. And I just love this sentiment stamp: "It's not about how many candles you blow out but how many cupcakes you get!" Perfect  :}

It's also pretty perfect that the theme for SUO Challenge 39 is "a birthday card." Nothing says "birthday" more than cute cupcakes!
And if you think this card has lots of layers, just you wait! The card I'm posting on Thursday is really over the top!! Thanks for dropping in today  :}

Birthday Wishes

I love any birthday stamp set that includes text for belated birthday wishes... I am often late getting my cards mailed out! The Happiest Birthday Wishes Hostess stamp set has ten great text stamps for people who are organized and punctual, plus one text stamp for people like me  :}

I made this card for a friend (whose birthday is today) using the Saturday Sketch Challenge 243. I consulted the stamper's best friend - The Color Coach - for my color combination: Bravo Burgundy, River Rock, and Baja Breeze.
While I was mulling over which background stamp I wanted to use, it dawned on me that I haven't used my stencils in a long time. So, I used the floral image stencil from Elegant Trio, a Sponge Dauber, and Baja Breeze ink. Stenciling tip: pounce the dauber; don't rub or the stencil pieces will move and ink will be where you don't want it to be. I stenciled right onto a piece of Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper. At the bottom I added another strip of Paisley Petals DSP and a piece of Baja Breeze card stock (punched with the Scallop Edge Border punch; stamped with the swirly background from Creative Elements).

The Baja Breeze Seam Binding adds a nice, soft "feel" to this card. For the butterfly focal point, I die cut Bravo Burgundy card stock and Vellum Paper using the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die and the Big Shot. After dry embossing the card stock butterfly using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, I adhered the butterflies together with two mini Glue Dots. They are attached to the card with Dimensionals. A string of Basic Pearls adds the final touch to this special card.

 Now, I could have just gone ahead and stamped my greeting inside, but this card was too pretty to leave the inside plain. So, I added another layer of the Paisley Petals DSP, which I cut so that I could include that pretty floral image in the corner. Then, I stamped my belated birthday greetings in Bravo Burgundy ink... oddly enough, this ended up being the only stamping on this card.

Thanks for taking a minute to stop by - have a super day!!  :}

Mojo Monday 228

There's nothing like a good card sketch to get your stamping "mojo" going for the day... well, that and a few cups of coffee! For today's post, I used the Mojo Monday 228 sketch. 

I turned to my trusty companion - the Color Coach - for the colors on this card. I used the 'Dynamic Duo' of Always Artichoke and River Rock. Then I pulled in some white to lighten it up.
I wanted to add interest to the Always Artichoke background layer, so I dry embossed it using the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder and the Big Shot. Then, I used a Sponge Dauber to brush on some Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.
The Paisley Petals DSP takes its place in two spots on this card... once as a strip and once as a die cut. To make that nice little die cut, I used the third largest Framelit from the Labels Collection. Wanna see how??? Taadaa!! I have a short video for you today!

Here's a close-up of all those yummy details and layers on my card-

The Artichoke 3/8" Denim Jean Ribbon looks great on this card! I'm glad I finally used it - what a wonderful texture! This ribbon would work great on masculine cards... which is a good thing for me since I have a hard time not using ribbon  ;)
The leaves, from the Build a Blossom stamp set, are stamped in Always Artichoke ink onto the same color card stock, and then punched out with the Blossom Petals Builder punch. The sentiment is actually two stamps from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set - an excellent set to have on hand. I stamped them in Always Artichoke ink onto a scrap of River Rock card stock.
The Paper Daisies - which I really need to use more - look great on this card. To add interest, I spritzed them liberally with my mixture of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (in rubbing alcohol). I just {love} the look of it! A Basic Pearl in the center of the flower and a Large Basic Pearl add just the right amount of elegant bling to finish the card.

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful day!!  :}

Happy Groundhog Day!

Every time Groundhog Day rolls around I get that old Sonny and Cher song stuck in my head for a few weeks (thanks to the Bill Murray movie). "I got you, babe..." Even though it is very cloudy here today, I'm sure the groundhog saw his shadow. I mean, we've hardly even had winter yet, so I'm sure we'll spend the next six weeks making up for it!   ;}
Anywho, today is my friend Nikki's birthday. I made her the cutest little card, that is in the mail, but will arrive a wee bit late. But, I'm sure she'll forgive me when she sees how adorable it is.

This card was totally inspired by my years of teaching Kindergarten! I decided to use Crumb Cake to make my punch-art groundhog. Then I used the Color Coach to choose the Bashful Blue and Real Red.
I tore strips of Chocolate Chip card stock to make the "ground," and the groundhog is attached to a small craft stick. Here's a view of him popping up:

I stamped the sentiment (from Elementary Elegance) in Soft Suede ink, which is the ink I used to sponge the punched pieces. I can't wait 'til Nikki opens her card!

Have a super fun Groundhog Day!!   :}

Color Inspiration

Today's card has a story behind it...
The colors I used are Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, and Tangerine Tango. I was inspired to work with this color combination by a floral designer's Facebook post this morning about the trendy colors in fashion this coming spring. If you read my blog, you know how much I love playing around with color combinations. (If you are new to my blog, click on the Color Coach link at the end of this post in "Labels" to see a TON of color combinations.) So when I read the post, I just had to make something using some of the colors.

I figured that because the color inspiration came from a floral designer, it made sense to use a floral image for the focal point  :)
I stamped the large floral image from the Just Believe stamp set in Pear Pizzazz ink onto Very Vanilla card stock. Then, I "colored" over each flower with the VersaMarker™ and heat embossed using Tangerine Tango embossing powder. The edges of the Very Vanilla and Pear Pizzazz card stock are sponged with Soft Suede ink. The sentiment - also from Just Believe - is stamped in Tangerine Tango ink onto Very Vanilla card stock, punched out with the Decorative Label punch, and sponged with Soft Suede ink. I used the Decorative Label and 2-1/2" Circle punches to create the Soft Suede layer behind the sentiment. (Click here to see how to make this shape.) The card base needed one more thing... so I grabbed my handy Color Spritzer Tool and a Soft Suede marker. Perfect!
Color inspiration can come from anywhere... a cereal box, sweater, floral arrangement... What are some of your favorite color combinations, and interesting inspirations?

more team-meeting projects

Hello stamping friends! I'm playing a little catch-up this week, but it feels good to be back into my stamping groove. I have two projects to share with you today, both from my August team meeting.

I really wanted to use the Flirtatious Designer Fabric to make a cute rosette, like the one I learned to make with my Convention Make-and-Take projects. (Yes, I have actually finished every single Convention project... first time ever!) I am really enjoying using the new Wisteria Wonder, so I turned to my Color Coach, which suggested I add Lucky Limeade and Elegant Eggplant. To make the fabric rosette, I used a 1" x 12" strip of fabric. First, tie a knot at one end, and adhere to the center of a square cut from a Sticky Sheet. Using every ounce of coordination you have, twist the fabric strip at the same time as you wrap it around the knot, pressing it into the Sticky Sheet. Trim excess Sticky Sheet, and adhere the rosette to your project. On this card, the rosette is adhered to Elegant Eggplant card stock punched using the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch.
I stamped the stem image from Raining Flowers in Lucky Limeade ink onto Lucky Limeade card stock, and slipped a piece of Flirtatious Specialty DSP (that matches the fabric -- LOVE that!) behind that layer before attaching to the Elegant Eggplant layer. The sentiment from Curly Cute is stamped in Elegant Eggplant ink.


This card is from my "Workshop in a Bag" treat I got at Convention. It uses the Note Cards, which are great to have around in your stamping stash for quick little projects. You get twenty 3-1/2"x5" pre-cut and pre-scored notecards, plus envelopes... awesome!

While the card looks very fancy, it's really quite simple. Just be sure to stamp your image with StazOn® ink if you are going to color it in. This pretty little cupcake is from Easy Events - a great "covers-everything" kind of set. I used a Blender Pen with Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait, and Wild Wasabi to color the cupcake; the cake stand is colored with Pool Party.
Here's a close-up of the "bling":

To get a little sparkle on your projects, tap your 2-Way Glue Pen onto the chosen area, and sprinkle on some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. So pretty!!

Basic Black

Today's card from the Color Coach is Basic Black, which is in the Neutrals Collection. If you can't tell from the pictures, I L♥VE the Top Note Bigz die. This die is one of my absolute favorites, and it is exclusive to Stampin' Up!. So, I thought it would be fun to use it three different ways for these cards. ☺

The "Dynamic Duo" colors are Basic Black and Basic Gray. I was thrilled to find I had DSP in those colors! It's from the Wicked Fun Specialty Designer Series Paper. But, my excitement subdued a bit when I was trying to think of a way to use it that was not for Halloween. Hmmm... get those thinking gears in motion... gears... Cogs punch! I love finding a different way to use something, like DSP that was made for Halloween! Anywho... I used the Lots of Bots stamp set for this 'get well' card. The robot is colored in with a Blender Pen and a few drops of ink.

 The "Creative Combination" colors are Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, and Baja Breeze. This card turned out so pretty. ☺ I used the Artistic Etchings stamp set for this card, and the music notes are from the Newsprint DSP. The 'crown' image is stamped in VersaMark ink, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. A scrap of Cherry Cobbler card stock that I punched out with the Dotted Scallop Border punch peeks out from behind the focal point. 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and a pin from the Vintage Trinkets top it all off.

The "Getting Started" colors are Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, and Old Olive. For this card I used the technique called 'embedded embossing'. First, I die cut the flowers and flower centers from the Fun Flowers Bigz L die and the leaves from the Little Leaves Sizzlit. After adhering them to the Top Note die cut, I dry embossed the whole piece using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and my Big Shot. The sentiment is from Fabulous Phrases, punched out with the 1-3/4"x7/8" Oval punch, and layered onto a scrap of Basic Black card stock punched out with the Modern Label punch.

WOW!!! I am at the end of my Color Coach! I have now made EVERY color combination suggested. Whew!! Hmmm... what to challenge myself with next... Off to my stamping desk! ☺

Basic Gray

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day! It was a beautiful day for me - I got to spend time with my in-laws AND my parents, which doesn't happen very often. The weather was gorgeous, the food was yummy, and the children were well behaved. It doesn't get much better than that!
Today's card from the Color Coach is Basic Gray, which is in the Neutrals Collection.

 

 The "Dynamic Duo" colors are Basic Gray and Basic Black. The Basic Gray layer of card stock is dry embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, and then spritzed with the Silver Foil Smooch Spritz. The sentiment is from the Perfect Punches stamp set, and punched out with the Modern Label punch. I used my Big Shot and the Movers & Shapers Bigz XL die with one of the Punch Windows to die cut a scrap of Basic Black card stock, creating a mat for the sentiment. The Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon adds an elegant touch.

 

The "Creative Combination" colors are Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, and Old Olive. For this 3x3 card I used the Awash with Flowers stamp set. If you like 'two-step stamping' then this is a great set to try. The sentiment from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set is punched out with the 3/4"x15/16" Oval punch. A Basic Rhinestone and Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon are a great little addition to bring out the 'cute' factor.

I think this card using the "Sweet Set" colors (Basic Gray, Real Red, and Pumpkin Pie) turned out super cute. I used my Big Shot to die cut a piece of Real Red card stock with the Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die. Then I used the 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch to punch a tiny little hole into each scallop. After stamping the creatures from the Greetings, Earthling stamp set and punching them out with the 2-1/2" Circle punch, I colored them in using a few drops of ink and a Blender Pen.

Whisper White

I have to giggle that there is a card in the Color Coach for Whisper White. I mean... it's Whisper White... it goes with everything!

The "Creative Combination" colors are Whisper White, Basic Black, and More Mustard. For this combination I chose to create a card using 'My Digital Studio.' I love that you can choose a pre-designed project, and tweak it to make it your own. I chose this already completed Halloween card and changed out some color and paper designs. Woohoo - a cute card in minutes!

The "Getting Started" colors are Whisper White, Marina Mist, and Night of Navy. To create this cute little 3x3 card, place a folded piece of Whisper White card stock on the larger square of the Scallop Squares Duo Bigz die. Just make sure that the square on the die is not completely covered; slide the folded edge down so that it does not get cut. Then, just run it through your Big Shot. Easy peasy, lemon squeazy. ☺ I used the Aviary and Fabulous Phrases stamp sets, Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, and a Basic Rhinestone to complete the card. When I'm ready to give this little cutie to someone, it fits right into a Whisper White Mini Envelope (107309  $7.50 for 40 little envies).

Soft Suede

 Soft Suede was a recent 'In Color' that carried over into the Neutrals Collection during the Color Renovation - yay!

 The "Dynamic Duo" colors are Soft Suede and Early Espresso - gorgeous!! For this card I used the Hostess stamp set Love & Care from the new Summer Mini Catalog. I wanted a subtle texture on the background, so I used one of the Texturz Plates from Backgrounds 1 (114512 $11.95 set of 3 in 6 designs). The sentiment is stamped in Soft Suede ink onto Very Vanilla card stock. After snipping a 'V' into the end, I distressed the edges with my Craft & Rubber Scissors, sponged the edges in Soft Suede ink, and spritzed on some color with the Color Spritzer Tool and Soft Suede marker.

 

I used Early Espresso 5/8" Satin Ribbon (119753 $8.95) to make the ribbon flower. Want to make one yourself? You will need Sticky Pages (114300 $6.95) to make the 'base' of the flower. Die cut a piece of a Sticky Page (the 2nd to smallest circle) on the Circles #2 Originals Die with your Big Shot. Cut a length of Satin Ribbon to about 14". At 1" intervals, snip into the ribbon almost to the opposite edge. Peel the red backing from your sticky circle. Starting at the outside edge of the circle, attach your ribbon in a spiral motion. As you move along the sticky circle, you will need to pleat and gather the ribbon. When you get to the center, you might need to add a Mini Glue Dot to tack down the end. The next step is to 'melt' the edges with your Heat Tool. Now, keep in mind, you are about to use something with a lot of heat on something that is flammable... just pointing this out so you have time to think it through. The work area gets very hot for this project. To create a safe work area for 'melting' the ribbon, I use a foil cake pan which sits on a cork trivet. After pre-heating my Heat Tool, I hold down one edge of the flower with long tweezers and start heating up the opposite edge. I alternate holding the Heat Tool straight down and then at an angle to 'flutter' the ribbon petals. It does take a while to 'melt' and my kitchen smells like... well, burnt ribbon. But, it's really cute!☺ After the flower cools, peel off the paper backing from the sticky circle and cover it with a circle of card stock die-cut the same size. If you use the same color card stock and ribbon, it will hide any gaps in the curled ribbon flower petals.

 

The "Creative Combination" colors are Soft Suede, So Saffron, and Regal Rose. I really like the Love & Care Hostess stamp set, so I used it again for this card. The Soft Suede layer is die cut on my Big Shot with the Top Note Bigz die. I used that die again to cut a smaller layer from Regal Rose DSP (Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack: Brights). I chose a different pattern of Regal Rose DSP, and punched out three Scallop Circles. I crumpled and distressed each one, then layered them together with Dimensionals.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!! I made this card for my oldest son's teacher using the colors in the "Sweet Set": Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, and Cherry Cobbler. The adorable image is from Greeting Card Kids, and the sentiment is from Thank You Kindly. I used Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a Blender Pen to color the image. The layer of Cherry Cobbler card stock is dry embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder on the Big Shot, and the raised images are lightly sponged with Soft Suede ink.

Sahara Sand

Sahara Sand reminds me of khaki pants - it doesn't get all the 'color glory' but it goes with everything. ☺It makes a great neutral, especially if you want something lighter than Crumb Cake.

 

The "Creative Combination" colors are Sahara Sand, Bravo Burgundy, and Pink Pirouette. I used the Medallion background stamp and the Oval All stamp set for this card. I stamped the Medallion a second time in Pink Pirouette ink onto Very Vanilla card stock, and punched the center out with the 1-3/4" Circle punch. The Scallop Oval and 1-3/4"x7/8" Oval punches got to come over and play, too. And to finish it off, the Basic Pearls are the perfect accessory.

 The "Sweet Set" colors are Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, and Cajun Craze. I grabbed the Bugs & Kisses stamp set for this card - L♥VE this stamp set! The pleated strip in Pacific Point is from the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack: Brights. The three punches used on this card are: 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, and 1-1/4" Circle.

Crumb Cake

 So you might be thinking that even though Crumb Cake is a "new" Stampin' Up! color, it sure looks a lot like the retired Kraft. You are correct! The name changed and it became a core color. As part of the Neutrals collection, it now has an ink pad as well - woohoo!!!

The "Dynamic Duo" colors are Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip - love these! The Crumb Cake layer is dry embossed using the  Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, and sponged with Chocolate Chip ink. I stamped the Ornate Blossom in Whisper White Craft ink. The small ornate image stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and the images on the tag are from the Tiny Tags stamp set.

  

The "Creative Combination" colors are: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, and Riding Hood Red. While this might look like a card, it's actually a stack of envelopes. I made a set of cards for 1 of the PTO's raffle baskets, and I wanted to bundle the envies together to look just as nice as the cards. My Big Shot got a nice workout on this project! I used the Scallop Rectangle Clearlit die, the Little Leaves Sizzlit, and 1 Sizzlit from the Birds and Blooms Sizzlit 4-Pack. The sentiment is from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set.

The "Sweet Set" colors are Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, and Garden Green. For this card I used the Inspired By Nature stamp set and a technique called Poppin' Pastels. To create this soft look, stamp your image in VersaMark® ink. Then, use Sponge Daubers to pick up color from the Stampin' Pastels®, and 'pounce' the color onto the image. To learn more about using VersaMark® ink, sign up for my May 31st Technique Tuesday class.

Early Espresso

Early Espresso is a new color that debuted this July. I LOVE this brown hue, and it has gotten quite a workout in my stamp room.

The "Dynamic Duo" colors are Early Espresso and Soft Suede. Both 3x3 cards feature the large floral image from the Fabulous Florets stamp set, which is on p22 of the Summer Mini Catalog. The sentiment which reads 'the earth laughs in flowers' is also from that stamp set. I stamped the '{thanks}' sentiment (from the Pretty Postage stamp set) in Early Espresso ink onto Confetti White card stock and tore around the edges. The layer of Early Espresso card stock behind the sentiment is punched with the new Postage Stamp punch. ☺


I think my photography skills, which are minimal at best, went AWOL on this card. I promise it looks better in real life. The "Creative Combination" colors are Early Espresso, Marina Mist, and Tangerine Tango; I added Confetti White card stock to balance this bold combination. The Marina Mist layer is dry embossed using the Square Lattice embossing folder and the Big Shot. The Early Espresso layer is spritzed with my mixture of rubbing alcohol and Frost White Shimmer Paint. All of the punched pieces were punched using the AMAZING Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch. I used a Whisper White Jumbo Brad and some gorgeous Basic Rhinestones to top it all off. ☺


♥♥♥♥♥LOVE how this scrapbook page turned out!!! I used My Digital Studio to create this page in the "Getting Started Combination" colors: Early Espresso, Whisper White, and Pretty in Pink. I am so excited to be able to create some 'pink' scrapbook pages now!! I have two boys, so lots of 'blue' pages. Could my Mom (who is also my Upline ☺) look any happier??!!

Chocolate Chip

What's not to love about Chocolate Chip??? It's such a great color, and it has 'chocolate' in its name!

This simple 3x3 card uses the "Dynamic Duo" colors: Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake... yum! ;)
I stamped 'thank you' (from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set) in VersaMark ink, and heat embossed using clear embossing powder. 'What's that awesome punched piece??!!' you ask??? Well, it's two punched pieces actually... from the Doily Triple Layer punch (122465 $23.95). This punch is in the Summer Mini Catalog, which starts May 1st. I have to tell you, that one of the best perks of being a demonstrator is not having to wait to order awesome goodies. :)


The "Creative Combination" colors are Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, and Pretty in Pink. I used the Apple Blossoms Hostess stamp set on this card. The sentiment is punched out with the 2"x1-3/8" Oval punch. Then I punched a piece of Pretty in Pink card stock with the Modern Label punch and cut that piece in half to layer behind the oval.


I really like how this card turned out using the "Sweet Set" colors: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, and Always Artichoke. I used the Extreme Elements stamp set to create the background images. The Extreme Skateboard image is stamped in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I used a Chocolate Chip marker to ink 'happy' (from Teeny Tiny Wishes), stamped, cleaned, and then used the marker to ink 'birthday'. The sentiment is then punched out with the 1" Circle punch, and tied on with Hemp Twine. To finish off the card, I gave it one more layer of color with a Chocolate Chip marker and the Color Spritzer Tool.

Pink Pirouette

Pink Pirouette was previously an 'In Color, ' and it made a return this July. It is now a Core Color in the Subtles Collection.

The "Creative Combination" colors are Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, and Early Espresso. The images on this card are from the Fast & Fabulous Hostess stamp set, which is a great set for the Two-Step Stampin'® technique. The sentiment is from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set. I used two punches on this card: Eyelet Border and 2-1/2" Circle.


The "Sweet Set" colors are Pink Pirouette, Sahara Sand, and Always Artichoke... a perfect color combination to make this card for my brand new niece born this evening!!!! For some reason, this photo just doesn't do the card justice - my projects always look better in real life, especially this one. I stamped the image from the Four Frames stamp set and punched it out with the Decorative Label punch. Using my Blender Pen, I added a hint of color (Pink Pirouette) to the flower petals. I punched a piece of Pink Pirouette card stock using the Curly Label punch, and then cut it in half to layer behind the 'frame' image. Two Basic Pearls and a Seam Binding bow add the finishing touch. I can't wait to give it to her... well, to my sister-in-law... as I get to meet her for the 1st time tomorrow! Yay!! :)

Pretty in Pink

Today's card - Pretty in Pink - is from the Subtles Collection.


The "Dynamic Duo" colors are Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo. Since it doesn't get any more 'girlie' than this, I thought... why not throw in some glitter? For this card I used the Birthday Bakery Hostess stamp set, and the Homemade stamp for a little detail on the card stock punched with the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch. All of the images are stamped in Melon Mambo ink, so I used Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo markers to add a bit of color. The grosgrain ribbon and Dazzling Diamonds glitter just make it the perfect girlie birthday card :)


The "Creative Combination" colors are Pretty in Pink , Certainly Celery, and Bashful Blue. I guess I wanted to give the Homemade stamp a workout - it really does add a great little detail to card stock you want to punch with the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch. The cute little whale from Fox & Friends is stamped in Bashful Blue ink and punched out with the 1-3/4" Circle punch.


I love our collection of Build-A-Bear Workshop stamps and Big Shot dies. They are easy to use to make the cutest projects. I stamped the little bear three times - twice onto Whisper White card stock and once onto the DSP. I used my Snips to cut out the dress, which I attached after coloring the bear with markers and Watercolor Pencils. I used my Snips again to cut out only the dress collar from the remaining stamped image. Then, I added a tiny bit of Crystal Effects to her shoes and flower. While this will be a one-of-a-kind card, I will definitely use the "Getting Started Combination" colors again (Pretty in Pink, Marina Mist, and Daffodil Delight).

Blushing Bride

Today's card from the Color Coach is Blushing Bride, which is from the 'In Color' collection. Blushing Bride will be available until June 2012.


Sometimes, you need a simple and easy design - this card is exactly that. The "Dynamic Duo" colors are Blushing Bride and Regal Rose. I stamped the image (twice) from the Just Believe stamp set in Blushing Bride ink. The sentiment from the Something to Celebrate Hostess stamp set is stamped in Regal Rose ink. 1/2" Stitched-Poly ribbon in Blushing Bride is the perfect finishing touch.


The "Creative Combination" colors are Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, and Pear Pizzazz. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these colors together!! The image and sentiment are from the Easter Blossoms stamp set. I love SU's punches - the more the merrier! This card features the Decorative Label, Scallop Oval, and 1-3/4"x7/8" Oval punches. I have become very addicted to the Basic Pearls... don't you just love them, too??? They're so easy to use with the adhesive already on the back... my projects just beg for them ;) It's difficult to see in the photo, but there is a yummy layer of shimmer on the card. I mixed some rubbing alcohol and Frost White Shimmer Paint in a travel-sized spray bottle. It works beautifully!!


Do ever finish your project, and feel like you can't wait to share it with someone? I feel that way all the time. I really felt it after I was done with this card... I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with the "Sweet Set" colors: Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum, and Sahara Sand. I never would have put these together on my own... which would be sad to miss such a pretty combination. Thank you Color Coach :) I used the Vintage Vogue stamp set, Blushing Bride and Perfect Plum ink, 1/2" Stitched-Poly ribbon, and a little clip from the Clips Assortment (112580 $6.95) to create this card. So pretty :)