Stamp it OFF!

As a paper crafter, I'm always stamping ON something, but have you ever thought of stamping OFF?

Your images get a whole different look when you stamp OFF before stamping ON. Check it out:

To create the background paper, I used Early Espresso, Blushing Bride and Sahara Sand Ink. But, they look nothing like that, do they? That's because I stamped some of the ink off before stamping it on to my Whisper White Cardstock. It's a great way to create your own paper if you don't have exactly what you're looking for in your collection.

The idea for the banners was taken from the lovely and talented Shelli Gardner, the CEO and co-founder of Stampin' UP! She showed it to us earlier this year at Leadership and I've reproduced it a couple of times now.

The sentiment is from Perfect Pennants (one of my favourite sets) and is stamped in Sahara Sand (at full strength) onto Whisper White Cardstock. I used my Big Shot to cut it out.

On the inside, I stamped some more flowers, but these were stamped at full strength (no stamping off):

I also added some of my signature doodling around the edges. :)

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the divas have been up to here.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Flower Shop, Perfect Pennants
INK: Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso
PAPERS: Whisper White, Sahara Sand and Early Espresso Cardstock
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Die, Punch, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Wanna Swap??

One of the highlights of each major Stampin' UP! event I attend is what I've started to affectionately call "The Lyssa Swap".

Lyssa is an AWESOME Stampin' UP! demonstrator and a dear, dear friend. We only see each other once or twice a year, but it's always a great time!

"The Lyssa Swap" is one you don't want to miss if you're a Stampin' UP! demonstrator attending a major event (Leadership or Convention) as it's ALWAYS top notch!

Here's the card I created:

My base is Very Vanilla and then I added a piece of Tangerine Tango. My sentiment is stamped and layered on Coastal Cabana. The Designer Series Paper is from the Retro Fresh pack that's now available in the Occasions Catalogue.

And do you see that fat baker's twine? It's in the Sale-A-Bration brochure! It comes in three colours (Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe and Summer Starfruit and it's all packaged up together with some printed, adhesive-backed cork - SO CUTE!!

Sale-A-Bration starts on January 28th and it's better than EVER this year!

You'll want to come to my next class on February 1st where you'll be able to see the brochure, some of the goodies and take part in our Thank You card class.


What do you think?

STAMPS: Perfect Pennants
INK: Coastal Cabana
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Coastal Cabana and Tangerine Tango Cardstock; Retro Fresh DSP
ACCESSORIES: Baker's Twine (SAB), Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Inspired at Leadership

I took LOTS of pictures at Leadership because there was SO much to see! One of my favourite parts of Leadership is the display boards. This year they were stamped by the Artisan Team and they did a WONDERFUL job!

Here's a card I created the day after I got home:

I made it for my honey, because he DOES make me happy and besides...I missed him!! He thought it was very cute!

The Designer Series Paper is from the Fresh Prints Paper Stack in the Occasions Catalogue. I wouldn't have thought to put Real Red and Coastal Cabana together, but it works and I really like it!

I can see using this combo often! :)

I started off with a base of Very Vanilla and added a layer of Baked Brown Sugar.

Then I added a layer of the DSP and along with a layer of Real Red which was tied with Linen Thread. Here's a tip. You can cut each piece of the DSP in the stack in half and it's JUST the right size for the centre of the card because it's exactly one inch smaller all around. Two cards from ONE piece of DSP. SCORE!


What do you think?

STAMPS: Perfect Pennants
INK: Real Red
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar and Real Red Cardstock; Fresh Prints DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Framelits, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

You should know by now...

...that I never actually GET to complete the Mojo Monday on an actual Monday. So it stands to reason that I'm showing you the Mojo Monday card on a Thursday. At least you get to see it, right?

The MOJO Monday sketch was pretty simple this week, so of course I had to dress it up with extra layers. Check it out:

My base is Coastal Cabana and I added a layer of Fresh Prints Designer Paper. That paper stack is just so darn cute! I love all the fun colours and patterns in it!

It took me a while to figure out the right colour combination for the the "You and Me" and heart images. Lots of scrap paper was used, but I'm happy I persevered and love the way it turned out.

And what about that ribbon? I love that you can shape it around things and because it's ruffled you don't end up with extra thickness behind the layer. Perfect!

This would be such a cute Valentine's Day card, don't you think?

Look at THIS:

See that splatter? I learned a new trick!! You'll want to come to class on February 1st, where we'll be making Thank You cards and I'll be showing you this new technique that I picked up at Leadership. SO much fun!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Perfect Pennants
INK: Real Red, Coastal Cabana
PAPERS: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana and Real Red Cardstock; Fresh Prints DSP
ACCESSORIES: Coastal Cabana Ruffled Stretch Trim, Big Shot, Hearts Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Paper Craft Crew Wish Big!

I was looking through my bag of scraps (I keep it by my crafting table with small pieces, potential card fronts that didn't get to the card, etc.) and found the layer that we did at a techniques class in 2012!! I know - CRAZY! I didn't think that was in there, because usually I sell my scraps at the end of every catalogue year (it's a treasure trove in there!) but I guess this particular piece must have been hanging out somewhere else.

Anyway...when I saw it, I though it would make a PERFECT birthday card since it was so bright and cheerful!

I added the Very Vanilla base and then started to play with layers - SO fun!

All the stamps I used are from the Perfect Pennants Set (new in the Occasions Catalogue). I fussy cut the stars and banners.

Here's the sketch on which the card was based:

You can see what the rest of the Crew has been up to HERE.


What do you think?

STAMPS: Perfect Pennants
INK: Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo
PAPERS: Very Vanilla and Melon Mambo Cardstock
ACCESSORIES: Sponges (background), Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals


Happy Stampin'!

Utah Divas Hello!!

Well, it's been quite some time since we had a colour challenge from the Utah Divas - we have all been so crazy busy and there never seems to be enough hours in the day!!

Here's our colours for today:

Now...I really like Pool Party and Island Indigo together...and Pool Party and Bermuda Bay is pretty awesome too. I SO wasn't sure about combining all three, but I love the way these little notecards turned out. See:

Want 'em?? It's easy! Just go over to my Facebook Page and like it. Next week when I do the UDI Colour Challenge, I'll also draw a name and that person will be the lucky winner of all four notecards! Easy right?

Check out what the other Divas are up to HERE.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Perfect Pennants
PAPERS: Whisper White
INK: Pool Party, Bermuda Bay and Island Indigo
ACCESSORIES: Paper Snips, Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Fresh Start!

Happy Monday!!

I'm back from Leadership and had a GREAT time!! I have SO much to tell you, but for now, here's a card based on the Freshly Made Sketch from this week:

I had an Old Olive base sitting around, so I started off with that. I really like the monochromatic look here. Just some Old Olive and Very Vanilla - PERFECT!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Perfect Pennants
INK: Old Olive
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Old Olive and Crumb Cake Cardstock; Old Olive DSP
ACCESSORIES: Markers (for doodles), Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!