Paper Players In Honor of Teachers!

The Paper Players color challenge just reminded me of blackboards and late summer apples! I am creating some cards to send to my teacher friends as they go back to school to encourage their hearts as they step into the lives of children. They do make a difference. I can tell, because I am a substitute and I so admire each teacher as I attempt to cover their classes! So this card is in honor of all teachers heading back to the classroom. It is a retired "apple" set inked up in Cherry Cobbler with a touch of Crumb Cake for the stem and leaf. The fun punch adds a flavor of classroom and I created the little ribbon by cutting out a thin strip, adding some fake stitching, not very good cuz I wanted to get this card posted~ A strip of sticky strip holds the fake ribbon on. I used the new DSP Newspaper Print and Love Letter as well. A button adds a touch of homemade love! Have a wonderful weekend! Blessings and Joy!

Summer's End

The theme of this card was inspired by the Curtain Call color challenge. The layout is inspired by Mojo Monday! Summer is winding down and the tips of trees are changing a bit...There is still a glimmer of time to have that last bit of summer fun, like swinging on a tire! This retired SU set, Branch Out, has always been a favorite. So this card is dedicated to the last couple weeks of our summer break before getting back to school daze...and for me, substitute teaching!!

Owl Punch Fun!

I finally found some time to work with this fun little owl punch! I always like to use my DSP, even though this one is retired. Can't wait to send this off to somone special!

Inspired by Nature in Lavender

Just wanted to share a couple cards that were just for fun! This one I sent to a friend for her birthday...so fun to add a little shiny spritz to jazz it up and a bit of crochet ribbon and a new vintage brad! I guess I just needed an excuse to use some new stuff!

Vintage in Pink and Black - A Winner at Always Playing with Paper!

It is always encouraging to be acknowledged for your creativity. Thank you Always Playing With Paper for the sweet honor of being one of your picks this week!

For this new challenge,Playing with Paper, which called for a "vintage" look card, I used my new Elements of Style set and Artistic Etchings sets. I am also using this card for the Stampin Royalty challenge to create your own background DSP. I created a "shabby chic" vintage look by using Pink Pirouette and black on Whisper White cardstock. You can see I used lovely pink roses for my background. I love how versatile this stamp set is going to be! With a bit of retired ribbon and a button plus the gorgeous new antique brads, I finished off this card with a bit of "pop!" ( A very thin cut of black cardstock creates the "thread" in the center of my button, a tip from the wonderful Mary Fish and her Stampin Pretty blog...see sidebar for link) Hope you are having a great week!

Presto Paper Experiment!

I have been wanting try the Presto Papers for quite awhile. So I finally opened up the package and pulled out this grid paper...and decided to use Not Quite Navy as my color to brayer on...all for the Color Throwdown Challenge. Wow, is it fun to work with! I also brayered the smaller square in Not Quite Navy and a bit of Wild Wasabi. As an added experiment, I cut out the tag and inked up a retired punch stamp with the sentiment that added the greeting I wanted. A bit of Marina Mist DSP added the third color for the Color Throwdown. I added the Not Quite Navy brads and inked up the ginko flower from the Kind and Caring Thoughts set in that same color. The sketch is from Pals Paper Arts #52, always a fun spot to drop by and get inspired! This card seems to have a more masculine look, so saving it for the next male birthday. I think I will work with the Presto paper some more...it is so cool!

Stampin Royalty Stencil Challenge

I just came across the Stampin Royalty stencil challenge and thought I would enter this card using the Stampin Up stencils. I originally had striped ribbon on this card, but it was a bit much~ Love the new Newspaper Print DSP from SU.. Cherry Cobbler is just the yummiest red yet and works beautifully for stenciling. This technique is fun and adds interest to a card.

Baby Carriage Card

I adapted this card from Sandy McIver. It uses the Scallop Circle Bigz Die, Dotted Swiss embossing folder and Eyelet Punch along with some other circle punches. You cut out the circle leaving 1 1/2 inches below the scallop design to allow for the fold. Then you put one side through he embossing folder. You can embellish with any kind of punch. Iused the Cricut for the baby, but I have also used a circle punch as well. A friend and I stamped the other day and she made her card with 3 baby heads for a mother expecting triplets! It was SOOO cute! As you can see, the wheels are made out of 2 circle punches and I put a rhinestone brad in the middle of each. You could use a heart as well. For the stroller handle, I punched out a portion of the small circle scallop punch! I still love my Barely Banana cardstock for soft baby cards so that is what I used here. This card has been a hit when I have given it at baby showers! Guess is will be my staple now! Blessings and Joy!

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge

With the shipment of new stuff yesterday I have had such fun playing with new colors, stamps and papers. For this Mojo Monday sketch I decided to use the "Because I Care" set inking up the flower with Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzelberry and Old Olive markers. With a little "huff" I found the colors worked beautifully for this hydrangea. On a side note...I have a hydrangea and for the life of me, it grows a foot tall every summer, bloomed a couple small blooms this year, and then, dies off in the fall! I long for a big bushy hydrangea plant!!! Any tips? Anyway, hope you enjoy this Mojo offering, simple and elegant I think!

Daffodil Delight and Newsprint DSP

The UPS man came today so I just had to try out the colors. I must say I think I will grow to love them! The newsprint DSP has so many options, from music, to maps, to numbers to ...newsprint! all so great for bold backgrounds. I used this Verve stamp and a retired SU butterfly and flower that I used my markers on. This Daffodil Delight cardstock is bold and beautiful don't you think?

Cherry Cobbler and Newprint DSP

Oh I love this new Cherry Cobbler and the Newsprint DSP...I also love trying out the stencil on the newsprint! Perhaps a little busy, but it was fun to experiment! I keep using my retired stuff cuz it matches!

Color Throwdown #100

For this Color Throwdown Challenge I used my butterfly sizzlet for the first time! Love these little guys! I created a framed mat using the required colors and embossed the outer frame. You can't really tell form the picture, but I brayered the Very Vanilla cardstock with the shimmer paint and then brayered some on the frame and butterflies as well. It really has a nice "glow" to it! Red buttons and a red rhinestone brand bring in the last color I needed and 3 little bow knots complete this card. Thanks for stopping by!

Pals and Mojo Merge!

Basic Gray, So Saffron, and Chocolate Chip are the colors for this Pals Paper Arts project. Interesting combo, but fun too! I found some retired SU DSP and the Animal Stories stamp set along with the Little Angel salutation to make this card. It is also a Mojo Monday sketch! Some retired cordoroy buttons and So Saffron ribbon with a touch of silver cord top off this one today. My motto these days is "use what you have!" So I will be trying to find new ways to use retired SU products. I have some new SU products coming and am looking forward to incorporating the new Color Renovation as well. Are you having a good summer? I hope so! Blessings and Joy!

4th of July and Celebrating My Comeback!

It took me awhile to recover from my long term sub job! Those 7th graders did me in, but I enjoyed teaching Reading for a couple months. But then vacation came around and time just got away from me. But my inspiration to post again came from Pals Paper Arts and their 4th of July theme. I feel blessed by family, friends and the freedom we experience because so many brave Americans fought and died for it. I love saying the Pledge of Allegience, do you? Anyway, this card is made of all retired Stampin Up designer paper, stamp set and embellishments. But the colors are current: Riding Hood Red and Baja Blue! After I put the card together I decided the mouse needed a little flag to wave! So I just glued some tiny little strips together. Isn't it cute? Happy 4th of July!

Dear sweet blogging friends and followers, I am sorry for not posting regularly. I have just begun a teaching assignment which goes for the rest of the school year...7th grade Reading...stamping is now on the backburner and lesson plans have taken precedent! I will be back from time to time! Blessings and Joy!

My Flower Pins!

Here are a few of the fun flower pins I have been making (instead of blogging!) with the wonderful Flower Folds Die....they are so easy and now I will be selling them on my Etsy shop...Posiepins, for $10 plus shipping. Thought you would enjoy seeing my latest obsession! They look really cute worn on a jeans jacket or attached to a fabric purse. I will create one with your favorite colors if you would like to order one! Just email me! The very special detail of these little sweeties are the vintage buttons in the middle!

Think Spring!

Finally, time to think tulips, and birdies returning, and soft spring colors! Thank you Pals Paper Arts for a fun spring challenge. I used Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana as my base colors. A Flower for All Seasons is my focal point stamp, watercolored with my stamp pads. The Eggcellent Eggs kit provided my beautiful little die cut flowers and Bella's Bloom became my sentiment because it really is "Time to Bloom!" My new Scallop Trim Border punch gives a fancy touch, and some other non SU products finish off the texture of this fun spring card.