Friday, April 30, 2010

Finally Friday with Sun, Flowers and Butterflies!!!



Hello all!!!  I hope you are enjoying a beautiful Friday.  The sun is out and the flowers are blooming here in my corner of Michigan!!!

I want you to look around at your surroundings. What do you see? Is there a picture you have that you have thought many times would make a nice card, or do you have an awesome view from your windows? Whatever may be around your home that gives you inspiration, that is what I want you to use for this week.

My inspiration came from the new "Welcome" mat I recently purchased for my front door. Every time I come home, I look at it and think "That would make a neat card." Well, today I sat down and created it!

I started with a card base of Kraft (soon-to-be Crumb Cake) and layered that with Whisper White and Gable Green. I am trying to use as many retiring colors I can now so I wont have a ton left over come the new catalog year.

Since the mat has white polka dots in the background, I ran my Gable Green layer through the Big Shot with the Perfect Details texture plate. I then colored all of the dots with my white gel pen. They're a little difficult to see on the the Gable Green.

I used another strip of Kraft/Whisper White across the bottom and covered it with a piece of the Melon Mambo polka dotted gg, except I flipped it over. Way too many polka dots! My flower comes from the Pretties Kit and place a large white grommet in the center and filled it with clear chunky and pink fine glitter. I also ran the Melon Mambo pad around the edges of the flower to make it pop a little more.

The butterflies were made with the awesome Beautiful Wings embosslit using Razzleberry Lemonade dsp. And for a little more bling, I added two of the small rhinestones from the Eggcellent Easter Egg kit on my sentiment panel.

Not sure who this will go too, as I have my mother's day card already made, but I do have many friends at work who are mother's!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Diva Inspiration Challenge #93

Butterflies and blue skies - who could ask for anything better?!? I love the bright colors and the happy outdoor feeling I get from looking at this picture. How can you not be inspired?!?

To see what my creative team came up with, just click on their name:

Maria
Elizabeth

Carol
Katy

Karen


Post a link in the comments section with your blog entry or public gallery showing us what creation you were inspired to come up with!! If you upload to a public gallery, be sure to put DivaIC93 (no spaces) as the keyword. Have fun!!

Inspire Stampin' happiness wherever you go!! :)
~~Maria~~

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Let Them Eat Cake!

The Occasions Mini is almost at an end (sad, I know) but Stephanie Gittins has a great idea for using up the last scraps of your Sending Love DSP.  Aren't these great!  Easy and fast - I love it!


Eat Cake mini birthday cards

After my February class, I had a few supplies left over, including these 3x3 gift cards.  I wanted to do something different than the Valentine-type cards from the class, so I switched out my greeting and layered a punch.  Using markers to highlight different words makes a simple stamped image into a great focal point.  Even though the Sending Love Designer Series Paper has traditional Valentine colors, the patterns are so versatile that you can use the paper for any kind of project.  I love these simple little cards; they are perfect for attaching to a gift or a bag.

Stamps: 
Inks:  Real Red, Pretty in Pink, and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write markers
Paper:  Sending Love Designer Series Paper.  Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla cardstock
Accessories:  Scallop Square Punch

Thanks Steph - I'll definitely be making a few of these to keep on hand!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

diva sketch challenge

It's sketch time again here on the divas. I hope you're having as much fun with these as the team is. It's so much fun to skip from blog to blog and see all of the incredible talent we have here.

Check out what the sketch team created for your this week from the sketch provided.
Adriana
Alisa
Elizabeth
Jeannette
Max
Ruthie
Tiffany
Carol.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Finally Friday and Awashed with Flowers!!!


Hello all!!!!   Bet you thought I forgot didn't you?  I didn't, just a little slow!!  This Friday we have a lovely card from Brenda Taylor featuring the new set, Awash with Flowers.  If you like 2-step stamping, you will LOVE this set!!  It is on special this month only, and will not be available again until the new catalog comes out in July.

Here's what Brenda has to say about her card:

Here is a card that I created for TSSC #116, www.technostamper.com . I decided on my color choice, by spinning the SU color coach wheel. I love that tool, I used it all the time, when I am not sure where to start. When I was stamping, I did stampin off the ink. I stamped the ink into the ink pad and then stamped it off on a scratch piece of paper and then I stamped it directly onto the Whisper White cs. I wanted the card to have a softer look.


Supplies:

Awash with Flowers stamp set
Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal and Whisper White cs
Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery and Basic Black inks
Clear Rhinestone brads, pop dots, Certainly Celery sating ribbon, 1 1/4" circle punch and 1 3/8" circle punch

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Diva Inspiration Challenge #92

Clean and simple is what comes to mind for this week's challenge image. Martha Stewart is always great for inspiration, which is where our picture this week comes from. I am really drawn in with the light and blue colors - and look, there's a little doggie in there too. :) Hope you have fun with this one!

To see what my creative team came up with, just click on their name:

Maria
Carol
Katy
Karen

Post a link in the comments section with your blog entry or public gallery showing us what creation you were inspired to come up with!! If you upload to a public gallery, be sure to put DivaIC92 (no spaces) as the keyword. Have fun!!

Inspire Stampin' happiness wherever you go!! :)
~~Maria~~

Monday, April 19, 2010

Promotion - Fifth Avenue Floral

Happy Monday Friends,

Take advantage of the 20% off the promotional sets this month.  One of them is the FIFTH AVENUE FLORAL stamp set.
Enjoy these cards made by our very own Divas.

Gretchen Barron


Kellie Paxton


Sue Erickson


Maria Williams


Sharon Field


Monika Davis



Have a great day!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

diva sketch challenge





Adriana
Elizabeth
Jeannette
Leonie
Lorie
Max
Ruthie
Tammy
Tiffany
Carol.

Above are listed the sketch team's blog links. Pick any one to start and then you can skip to the next one from their blog.

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to share with us what you've been stamping. :)

Friday, April 16, 2010

Finally Friday with Elegance!!


Hello all!!! Another week has come and gone and it's now Friday again!!! As I've been out-of-town this past week and a half, I am ready to be home and sleeping in my own bed!

And I have a very elegant, yet simple Congrats card to show you you today. It comes from Brenda Taylor, and appropriately, I am posting it the day after taxes were due!!! Did you get yours done? If so, this congrats is for you!

Here is what Brenda has to say:

I created this wedding card, it has a simple layout, but it showcase our Brides specialty paper, beautifully. I stamped half of the Vintage Vogue stamp all around the congratulations.

Supplies:
Vintage Vogue and Well Scripted stamp sets
Basic Black and Whisper White card stock
Bride specialty designer paper
Basic Black satin ribbon

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Diva Inspiration Challenge #91


I am enjoying the cuteness and softness of this week's inspiration picture. I love the soft colors and absolutely cannot resist the bunnies! I hope you enjoy it too and can't wait to see what cuddly creations you come up with! :)

To see wh
at my creative team came up with, just click on their name:

Maria

Carol
Katy
Robin

Post a link in the comments section with your blog entry or public gallery showing us what creation you were inspired to come up with!! If you upload to a public gallery, be sure to put DivaIC91 (no spaces) as the keyword. Have fun!!

Inspire Stampin' happiness wherever you go!! :)
~~Maria~~

Saturday, April 10, 2010

diva sketch challenge

Happy Saturday. Here is this week's sketch challenge for you to play with. Be sure and check out everyone's blog and then skip to the next one to see their creations. Have a great week.


Adriana
Elizabeth
Jeannette
Leonie
Max
Ruthie
Tammy
Tiffany

Friday, April 9, 2010

Finally Friday with Pink, Brown & Flowers!!


Hello all!!! How are you this fine Friday? Ask I type this, I am in Harrisburg, PA at the 2nd Annual Remarkable Retreat - Hot City Lights!!! Put on by my upline, Janet Wakeland. Last August was the first retreat and oh what fun we had! I will be here until Sunday and then will head home.

My creation for you is the name tag I made for the SCS 2010 Michigan Mingle. This is an event that is held each year for any Michigan stamper who would like to attend. We have a name tag challenge, among other fun challenges, and this was mine. I even won the contest! How cool is that??? I received a $15 Archivers gift card, which is already gone!!

When I put this together I really didn't have a specific idea and I was putting things together to take with me while I was gone for work.

The scalloped circle is cut from chipboard, using my Big Shot. Boy, that tool can cut through anything!!! I covered it with the Pretty in Pink dsp from the Sending Love speciality dsp in the Occasions mini. Hard to see in the photo, but this dsp has glitter already on it.

The second layer was cut from the Top Note die, from chipboard, creating a medallion from the Top Note. The dsp I used on here is Pink Pirouette (which will be back as a core color in the new 2010 - 2011 catalog!!!) and Sweet Always dsp. The Pretty in Pink strip was in my scraps and I already had embossed it with the Perfect Details texture plate.

I cut my name using the Timeless Type alpha and my Big Shot. You can do so many wonderful things with this gadget. If you don't have one yet, I urge you get one. This layer is popped up with many dimensionals!!!! Didn't want it to fall off.

My ribbon flower was made using Regal Rose gg. I stitched along one edge with linen thread and then pulled it into a circle shape when I finished. After that I just played with it to get the look I wanted. The center is 3/4" circle punched from the same dsp I used on the scallop circle and then a Chocolate Chip epoxy brad in the center. This is popped up on a thicker pop dot. Actually, this flower is really where the idea for the whole name tag started from. I cut leaves with my Little Leaves sizzlet from Kiwi Kiss.

The ruffled ribbon behind the scallop circle is made the same way as my small ribbon flower, but I used the 1 1/4" Pink Pirouette gg and the double stitched Chocolate Chip. Once I had the look I was going for, I adhered it to the back with sticky tape. A length of the Chocolate Chip poly twill served as my lanyard.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Diva Inspiration Challenge #90

I love the Spring!! One thing you cannot deny when you think of Spring are Tulips. I love the colors in this picture and the simplicity of it. I hope you are enjoying the Spring as much as I am!! :)

To see what my creative team came up with, just click on their name:

Maria

Elizabeth
Carol
Katy
Robin

Post a link in the comments section with your blog entry or public gallery showing us what creation you were inspired to come up with!! If you upload to a public gallery, be sure to put DivaIC90 (no spaces) as the keyword. Have fun!!

Inspire Stampin' happiness wherever you go!! :)
~~Maria~~

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Stampin' Up! Colors that are going away....new ones coming!

Hello Friends,
Stampin' Up! has let us know that they will be introducing new colors.  In order to make room for the new, we have to say goodbye to some of them.  If you are a fan of the ones going away, be sure to contact your Demonstrator to stock up.  Here are the ones that will no longer be available once the new ones become available in the new Idea Book and Catalog in July.

glorious green
green galore
gable green
yoyo yellow
only orange
pink passion
pixie pink
orchid opulence
lovely lilac
brilliant blue
close to cocoa
creamy caramel
really rust
ruby red
cameo coral
summer sun
bordering blue
brocade blue
ballet blue
taken with teal
handsome hunter
pale plum
blush blossom
apricot appeal
barely banana
mellow moss
sage shadow
almost amethyst
lavender lace
basic brown
going gray

Here are the new ones.

Enjoy and have a great day!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Easter may officially be over, but I couldn't resist sharing this with you.  I CASE'd the idea from Becky Roberts for Christmas and had so much fun with it that I just had to make them again - this time I changed it up a little for spring.


I cut out flowers with my Big Shot, added those to a scallop punch and then adhered the whole thing to a piece of chocolate.  (I used some Willy Wonka chocolates that I found; they were small, square and foil wrapped)  Then I slipped the chocolates into a clear pretzel bag and finished it off with a great big bow.  Fast.  Easy. Fun!


(Of course, you can change the greeting to work for anything)

Supplies:

Teeny Tiny Wishes
Old Olive CS
Pawsitively Prints DSP
Flower Layers w/Leaf bigz die
Old Olive striped grosgrain ribbon

Monday, April 5, 2010

Beautiful Dimensional Roses

Happy Monday Friends,
Hope you have had a fabulous Easter.  Next month is Mother's Day.  Being that my Mom lives in England, she gets to celebrate Mother's Day twice a year.  In March, she gets to celebrate with my brother and sister and in May she will be here in the US, so she will get to celebrate with us here. I have been wondering what kind of card I should create for her - I need look no further.
Today's creation was made by the fabulous Gretchen Barron.  Just look at the details ..........
"I've been so anxious to try these beautiful dimensional roses that I saw on Julie William's blog. They are created using the new Extra Large Fancy Flower punch. Julie a fabulous tutorial and although these flowers take a little time and patience, her step-by-step directions will lead you through the whole process. Thanks, Julie, for such a great resource! So, here's my finished card ...
I decided to do yellow roses, with tints of Regal Rose and Pumpkin Pie. I followed Julie's tutorial exactly and I'm pretty pleased with how these first roses turned out. I'm sure that the more of these you make, the better and easier they will get. I used Apricot Appeal cardstock and Regal Rose ink for the pink-toned rose and Barely Banana cardstock and Pumpkin Pie Ink for the two that are more yellow!
I sponged Apricot Appeal and Regal Rose ink onto the Swirly Bride Paper for the gorgeous resist background. The sentiment is from Well Scripted and the ribbon is 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain. I used Tombo Adhesive to make the roses and Pop Up glue Dots to adhere them to the card. I created the leaves using the Large Oval Punch."
More pictures and complete instructions, including dimensions, are included on my blog at http://gretchenbarron.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/beautiful-dimensional-roses.html

Thanks as always Gretchen for sharing your wonderful creativity with us. 

Have a great day!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

diva sketch surprise challenge

Happy Easter. What a wonderful time of year.


For today's sketch there was an added surprise ~ iris folding. Hope you like what the team did today.
Adriana
Alisa
Jeannette
Leonie
Lorie
Max
Ruthie
Tammy
Tiffany
Carol.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Finally Friday with Peter Cottontail!!!


Hello all!!! Better late than never, huh? This has been one weird week for me.

Do you realize that Easter is only 2 days away??? Do you have your Easter cards or projects done? Well, if not, here's a quick project to the rescue.

How's this for a cute, and quick, goodie bag? I found this idea on SCS in the gallery of Diana Seitz, AKA paperball.

Her goodie bag is made from a 3 x 3 mini envelope, and while this is very cute, I decided to change the size just a tad. I used 4 x 6 envelopes and only put the dsp on the front of the envelope.

It's a little difficult to see in the photo, but the dsp I used is Bella Rose, now retired, and it's the Pink Pirouette damask print. The same print as the Kiwi Kiss dsp, but my camera washed the Pink Pirouette out. Another thing I did different on this bag is the ribbon. On Diana's she punched holes in the sides and tied the ribbon through. Because I used a larger envelope, I used sticky tape on both sides of the ribbon, Kiwi Kiss, and adhered it to the inside of the envelope. A piece of Pink Pirouette gg finishes it off.

The bunny was stamped in Chocolate Chip and Versamark and then clear embossed. Doesn't he look good enough to eat??? The flowers are from the stitched Sweet Pea felt flowers in the current Occasions mini. Not sure if I like the pom-pom on his tail or not.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Diva Inspiration Challenge #89


Happy April Fool's Day! Hopefully nobody falls for a prank today. This week's inspriation is no prank! With Spring in the air and Easter right around the corner, this soft image is perfect!

To see what my creative team came up with, just click on their name:

Maria
Elizabeth
Carol
Katy
Robin
Karen

Post a link in the comments section with your blog entry or public gallery showing us what creation you were inspired to come up with!! If you upload to a public gallery, be sure to put DivaIC89 (no spaces) as the keyword. Have fun!!

Inspire Stampin' happiness wherever you go!! :)
~~Maria~~