I {Heart} Friends!

I love the real life texture of this card! I layered Chocolate Chip, Real Red and a sheet from the Sending Love ds. The Real Red layer was run through the Big Shot in the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder.

The Real Red, Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink hearts were cut/embossed with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit. The edges of both hearts are sponge and the indented 'dots' each have a dot of Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

The 'friend' heart was stamped in Real Red craft ink and clear embossed to make it pop more.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Sending Love ds

Ink: Craft ink: Real Red. Classic ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit, Top Note die, sponges, clear ep, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, dimensionals, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon

Abundant Hope

I really like the springtime feel of this card!

I layered Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, So Saffron and Vanilla. The So Saffron layer was color embossed by rubbing my So Saffron classic pad across the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, then inserting the So Saffron cs and running it through the Big Shot. I love the look you get by color embossing.

Stamps: Abundant Hope, Tiny Tags

Paper: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Vanilla

Ink: Black, So Saffron, Only Orange, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard

Accessories: brads, linen thread, scallop border punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions, folder, aquapainter, dimensionals, Certainly Celery twill ribbon

Vintage Vogue

I couldn't seem to find a real end to this card -- I kept adding frills. I like the Victorian texture of this.

I layered Night of Navy, Baroque Burgundy and Pretty in Pink. The larger Pretty in Pink layer was color embossed with Baroque Burgundy using the Finial Press Textured Impressions folder. The middle Pretty in Pink layer was stamped with the vine flourish in stamped off Baroque Burgundy. The F was clear embossed with Baroque Burgundy craft ink and clear ep. The BB heart was die cut/embossed using the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit.

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Paper: Night of Navy, Baroque Burgundy, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Craft ink: Baroque Burgundy. Classic inks: Baroque Burgundy, Night of Navy

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions folder, Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit, small heart punch, Pretties kit, vintage brads, Scalloped border punch, sponges, dimensionals, navy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon

I layered Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum and Vanilla. The Perfect Plum layer was run through the Big Shot using the new Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder.

I made the Certainly Celery frame using the Pinking Hearts corner and border punches -- it's much easier to make the frame, then tailor the image to fit within!

The Perfect Plum bird on the tag was paper pieced.

Stamps: Garden from the Heart

Paper: Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Vanilla

Ink: Black, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Close to Cocoa, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, Pinking Hearts corner and border punches, eyelets, dimensionals, Certainly Celery twill ribbon, aquapainter

Love Bandit!!

I layered Always Artichoke, Real Red, Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue. I got the layered grass idea from this months' Stampin' Success. I cut the layers with my CM wavy cutter, stitched them on the sewing machine, then snipped the edge to make the 'grass.' The raccoon, squirrel and hole in the stump are done in red ultra-fine glitter. The tag is from Tiny Tags and punched with the new tiny tag punch. The corners are cut with the new scallop corner punch. I wanted to do the border all the way around, but could NOT get it to come out right. Clearly not something that you want to do when you're in a rush! The heart brad at the bottom is from the new Real Red Epoxy Brad sets. Stamps: Love Bandit, Tiny Tags Paper: Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Real Red, White, Barely Banana Inks: Black, Going Gray, Sahara Sand, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink Accessories: Scallop corner punch, Red Galaxy utlra-fine glitter, dimensionals, glue pen, Real Red epoxy brad, sewing machine and thread, sponges, 3/4" circle punch

New Occasions Mini!!

I just got the SU New Occasions Mini in the mail. Three words: Oh my God!! Clear-mount sets and blocks? Recipe by Design? New, slimmer 2-part punches? (I love the Pinking Hearts border and corners, btw!) Love those epoxy brads and all the new ds, too.

I need to get my order in as soon as the pre-order becomes live. I've been so busy this month that I haven't had any time to do any stamping. Hopefully, with some new goodies, I'll be so motivated to push chores and other holiday stuff aside!

Here's what's been up lately. My daughter qualified and competed in the South West Virginia Hunter Jumper Association (SWVJHA) Pony Medal Finals on Busy Body Nora. She was Reserve Champion!

As she's grown so much this year, she had totally outgrown Emmy (Busy Body Nora), a medium pony. So, instead of moving up into the Large Pony Hunter ranks, we decided to just get her a horse to do the Children's and the 3' equitations on next year, with hopes of him being able to do the 3'6" Juniors and equitations after that

So here's the new horse, Blessing!

It's been a slow week....

Sorry no posts this week -- I've been busy with the barn and Halloween coming. My daughter has a show tomorrow in preparation for the SWVJHA (South West Virginia Jumper/Hunter Association) Annual show the following weekend. She's qualified for the Pony Medal equitation final, so getting her ready for that is keeping me busy.

I'm hoping that I can find some inspiration -- and some free time! -- to stamp on Sunday.

It's a Brown Biter!

Okay, I really love this little dog hanging off the skeleton dudes' leg! He reminds me of my Jack Russells, who will hang off a stick all day if they have to.

I layered Black, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and two patterns from the Night and Day ds. The skeleton dude was embossed with black detail ep and colored with a white gel pen. The dog is also heat embossed on Close to Cocoa and pieced on top of the leg. I got the idea for the skeleton from this months' Stampin' Success.

Stamps: Twick or Tweet

Paper: Black, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Night and Day ds

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: White gel pen, Bold Brights II eyelets, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, orange 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, black detail ep, dimensionals

It was a rainy afternoon....

I color embossed the background by rubbing my Close to Cocoa classic pad across the Finial Press Texturz plate and running through a piece of Always Artichoke. I discovered that you get a heavier inking if you run a couple of extra pieces of cardstock through the Big Shot. For this card, I liked the more distressed -- dirty? -- look of having less pressure on the cs.

The oak leaves were watercolored and cut out from Lovely as a tree and layered across a piece of Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon.

Stamps: Gifts of the Earth, Lovely as a Tree, Fancy Flexible Phrases

Paper: Always Artichoke, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla

Ink: Black, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Summer Sun, Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke, More Mustard

Accessories: Brads and frame from Aged Copper HPH, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, Big Shot, Finial Press Texturz plate, aquapainter, dimensionals

What I did today between orthodontist appointments and flute lessons ...

I'm totally feeling the love for the BS Textured Impressions folders! I applied a light coat of So Saffron on the Finial Press folder and ran a piece of Vanilla through the Big Shot. The result is a really, really cool textured piece of cs that looks like an old piece of aged textured wallpaper. It's fabulous IRL -- the scan does NOT do it justice! I don't know what the name is for this, but I think of it as 'color embossing.'

I layered Soft Suede, Ruby Red, So Saffron and More Mustard cs. The ribbon is layered 1" So Saffron twill, Soft Suede polka-dot grosgrain and Riding Hood Red taffeta. Who knew that the RHR taffeta ribbon is almost a dead-on match for Ruby Red cs?

The leaves are from Lovely as a Tree, watercolored and cut out of Vanilla cs.

Stamps: Gifts of the Earth, Lovely as Tree

Paper: Soft Suede, Ruby Red, So Saffron, More Mustard and Vanilla

Ink: Black, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Sahara Sand, Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Big Shot, Textured Impressions Finial Press folder, brads and buckle from Aged Copper HPH, dimensionals, aquapainter, 1" So Saffron twill, Soft Suede polka-dot grosgrain and Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon

Techniques: watercolor

It's officially autumn!!

This is my first attempt with this set. I knew that I had to have it the first time that I opened the Holiday Mini!

I layered Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Vanilla and sheets from the Autumn Traditions ds. I thought that it looked pretty good, letting all the texture from the ds come through, but ended up running the sewing machine around the Crushed Curry ds.

I like how the muted colors of the cardstock and ds let the watercolored image pop.

Stamps: Gifts of the Earth

Paper: Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Vanilla, Autumn Traditions ds

Ink: Black, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Summer Sun, Elegant Eggplant, Bravo Burgundy, Really Rust, Garden Green, More Mustard, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive

Accessories: Aquapainter, vintage brads, Eggplant 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, white gel pen

Frankie & Friends treat boxes!

I got the tutorial for these darling little treat boxes from the creative genius herself, Gretchen Barron. Go here for the tutorial. These treat boxes are amazingly cute and really fun to make!

I'm going away for the weekend before Halloween with a bunch of old summer camp friends and their kids. It's a rough & ready sort of weekend and a friend of mine always busts out her creative juices and has arts and crafts for the kids to do. This year, I thought that I'd take a project for them to work on, too!

There's always a pinata, so I thought that the kids could use Frankie & Friends to put their loot in.

Paper: White, Vanilla, Black, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Almost Amethysts, Melon Mambo

Ink: Classic inks: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Creamy Caramel Markers: Real Red, Basic Black

Accessories: Sponges, photo corner punch, medium and small oval punches, round tab punch, 1 1/4", 1 3/8", 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches, word window punch, crop-a-dile, white gel pen, Big Shot, Top Note die, Bigz XL Fancy Favor Bag die, dimensionals

Winter Post

This is an emergency swap card because I screwed up -- did this in 5 hours. Long story short, I signed up for two groups in a swap, but had a senior moment and did the same card for both groups. Duh!

It's basically a re-working of a card that I did last year, but without all the fun retired stuff like Riding Hood Red cs, the flourish and square frame from Frames with a Flourish and the striped ribbon out of last years' Holiday Mini.

Personally, I liked the original better because of the Riding Hood Red -- one of my favorite SU colors. I'm still in deep mourning.

(Baja Breeze was another favorite, but let's not go there.... Baja Breeze with Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red with Chocolate Chip. It makes me sad just to think that those faboo colors are retired.....)

The message on the Vanilla layer was done with En Francaise in Close to Cocoa by masking the area. The whole layer is overstamped with the spatter pattern from Itty Bitty Backgrounds in both Creamy Caramel and Sahara Sand. The layer is also overstamped with the snowflake from Winter Post in both Sahara Sand and Always Artichoke.

The Merry Christmas sentiment from Holiday Best is stamped in Chocolate Chip craft ink and clear embossed.

Stamps: Winter Post, En Francaise, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Holiday Best

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Vanilla

Ink: Craft ink: Chocolate Chip. Classic inks: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Orchard ribbon originals, Chocolate taffeta ribbon, vintage brads, dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I finally got the extended cutting pads so I could FINALLY use the Matchbox die that I bought earlier this year! I took the birdie image pretty much from this months' Stampin' Success, heat-embossed it with black detail embossing powder, watercolored it put it on the matchbox. These are really cute, IRL.

Stamps: Twick or Tweet

Paper: Old Olive, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Black, White, Haiku ds, Autumn Traditions ds

Ink: Black, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, More Mustard, Versamark

Accessories: Black detail ep, scallop circle punch, metal-edged tags, black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, aquapainter

Swap Hell

Yes, I'm still in Swap Hell, but I'm hoping that I will soon be done with all my Santa Swaps! Either that, or I'm going to have to find the correct authority to revoke my visa to Swap Land.....

I do have a box of SU! goodies showing up today. I'm going to get started on putting together some Hallloween treat bags and some cute little matchboxes with the "Twick or Tweet" birdie from Twick or Tweet. I FINALLY ordered the extended cutting pads for my Big Shot, so I can FINALLY use the matchbox die that I got last spring!

Nothing like a little procrastination....

Not my usual type of card!

Sort of a weird day and an edgy card -- I think that my creative juices are rebelling against the swap that I'm still working on! I took the inspiration from the book that I CASEd a couple of weeks ago.

I layered Black, Dusty Durango and a sheet from the Night & Day ds. The Bermuda Bay star at the top of the crown has a clear token over it.

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Hope Happens, Gallery

Paper: Black, Dusty Durango, White, Night & Day ds

Ink: Black, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry

Accessories: Photo corner and spiral punches, Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry polka-dotted grosgrain, Build a Brad, dimensionals

Goody Bag!

I made this tag to go onto a goody bag. Last year, my daughter wont he CPJHSA H&H Tack Shop Equitation Medal and part of her loot was a gift from the previous years' winner.

This year, we put together a goody bag of nifty things from our favorite horse show vendor, The Preppy Pink Pony. We did a pink/green/white checked Scout mini-tote filled with pink/green note cards, pink flower sticky pads with pen, rhinestone horse shoe necklace and earrings, ribbon belt with matching headband and some other little stuff. I wrapped the whole goody bag in cellophane, put on a slew of SU ribbons and a pink silk flower and attached this tag with the Old Olive ribbon. My daughter signed the back.

The flower was die-cut using Flowers Daisies #2. I cut two each of each size and sponged the edges to give more depth. Two of the large flowers were attached to each other, then two of the medium and two of the small. Then the small/medium/large section were attached with dimensionals and the edges of the petals curled up. I really loved how it came out!

Stamps: Pony Party

Paper: White, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette

Ink: Old Olive, Black, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Accessories: Aquapainter, Old Olive grosgain ribbon, rhinestone brad, green glitter from the ultra-fine supernova collection, button from Button Bouquet, over-sized antique brass eyelet, Big Shot and Top Note and Flowers, Daisies #2 dies, dimensionals, sponges, linen

Techniques: watercolor

You can't see it, but I put this little book in at the back....

In SwapLand for a week or so....

Sorry that I haven't posted anything in a week or so, I'm participating in Veej13's New Christmas WOW swap on Splitcoast. I signed up for two groups, so I'm busy rolling out 22 cards. I'm doing the red, white and blue Santa card below. I've put together all the Bordering Blue/Night of Navy layers, including the color emboss. Now I'm getting ready to start watercoloring the Santa image.

If you're a SU demo, here's the link to Veej13's swap. Hers are always great! I don't usually participate in swaps, because I've never been happy with the return. However, Veej13 organizes great swaps and the returns are always fantastic!

Here are her guidelines -- I highly recommend her swaps to demos who are interested in high quality swaps.

• At least 4 layers – not counting the base card

• At least 3 embellishments (brads, buttons, ribbon, glitter, hardware, Sizzix die cuts, punches, pretties, shimmer paint and any other accessories that are currently available)

• All card stock must be cut straight and layered evenly AND firmly attached – take the time to make a card that will make you proud!

• Neatly stamped and colored images

• NO discontinued stamps, ink colors, card stock, designer paper, or accessories

More later.....

A shameless CASE!

I took this lock, stock and barrel from the front of the September 2009 Stampin' Success! This little book is to go into a goody bag that I'm putting together for this year's winner of the CPJHSA H&H Tack Shop Equitation Medal.

My daughter won it last year and has been asked to present the trophy to this years' winner. Historically, the previous years' winner gives something to the new winner. Last year, my daughter got a dozen roses. This year, I"m putting together a goody bag from one of my favorite shops, The Preppy Pink Pony.

The PPP is usually at most of the horse shows that we go to and all the girls (young and old) love the preppy things that they've got: ribbon belts, cute cell phone covers, ribbon flip-flops, purses, monogrammed everything. I thought that it would be nice to put some cute stuff in a little Scout tote with this book. I'm also going to make a tag with Party Pony and the Top Note die that my daughter can sign.

The following upload is the front page of the book. I don't know about the original, but I covered the back and inside covers with a sheet from The Write Stuff ds. The stars are from the star stamp in Extreme Elements and covered with a clear token from Build-a-Brad. The front and back covers are adhered and top-sealed with ModgePodge.

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Gallery, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Paper: Confetti Cream, The Write Stuff ds, Razzleberry Lemonade ds

Ink: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry

Accessories: On Board Timeless Type and 5x5 Art Journal, tokens from Build-a-Brad, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, ModgePodge, sponges

Inside front page of my shamelessly CASEd book

I put together this little page inside my book to "explain" to the winner what the W was for on the front of this book! I used the tags/pieces from the The Write Stuff ds and stamped the words with the Straight Up Alphabet.

Stamps: Straight Up Alphabet, star from Extreme Elements

Paper: The Write Stuff ds

Ink: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Token from Build-a-Brad, On Board Timeless Type, sponges

Rooster Medallion

I had a dreadful day yesterday, so I was playing around with the stuff on my desk trying to keep myself entertained.

I sponged the color onto the Medallion bg stamp because I liked the softer, more seamless look. Thinking about it now, I should have used the spatter from Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Sahara Sand and Soft Suede over the Medallion, too.

Stamps: Country Morning, Medallion

Paper: More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Vanilla

Ink: Black, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Really Rust, Sahara Sand, Pumpkin Pie, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: brads/buckles from Antique Brass HPH, Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Soft Suede polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, sponges, aquapainter, dimensionals

Techniques: watercolor