My Little Angel

Here's my sweet doll baby.  She looks just like a little angel!

After visiting Olive Jane (and mommy and daddy) again, it was back home to my boys.  They decided, after dinner, that they wanted a little soy chocolate snack.  Here are my chocolate boys!

Playing with My Blog Design

I've been playing around with redesigning my blog.  You will see more changes as I continue to work on tweaking and playing with it.  I am using My Digital Studio as my designing tool.  It is an awesome way to create MANY projects.  During May, the Digital Starter Kit is actually available at a reduced price.  It is a wonderful way to become a part of my team AND add this program to your array of design tools to use in creating your projects.  Click on the Stampin' Up! logo to connect to my web site and learn more about signing up to be a part of my team.

Back to the Subtles... Baja Breeze

In order to have time to keep up with all my posting of the Subtles, I turned to My Digital Studio to turn out some quick cards.  MDS is a really fun digital scrapbooking program that can be used to create journals, cards, scrapbook pages, tags and more.  It's quite 'user friendly' and I enjoy using it.  Soooo, on with the Subtles...

The Color Coach Creative Combination is:
Baja Breeze
Cajun Craze
Basic Gray

The Sweet Set is:
Baja Breeze
More Mustard
Cherry Cobbler

The Dynamic Duo is:
Baja Breeze
Not Quite Navy

A Surprising Day!

I started out my day feeling so happy to be over this awful flu bug!  It hit hard and left fast -- yay!  I was trying to get caught up on a few things and planning for my daughter and 2 grandsons coming for a visit tomorrow.  In the midst of it all, I got a call from my son saying he was on the way to the hospital.  Due to some complications, they did a C-section on my DIL and our sweet grandbaby is here!  We weren't expecting her until May (around the 12th) but I don't think she could stand the wait any better than we could.  Here is our sweet Olive Jane.  She is so precious.  We love her to pieces!

Isn't that hat the cutest thing?  She is already in my heart and we feel so thankful that baby and mom are doing well.  We feel so blessed.  My son says he's still trying to adjust to it all.  He will be a great daddy!
Stats:
4-27-11 / 4:16 PM
5 lbs, 15 oz. / 18 1/4" long / loads of gorgeous dark brown hair

Flu Bug!

I'm sorry I haven't been able to post for a few days.  I had one nasty flu bug that didn't want to let go of me.  This is the first day I've even sat at my computer for a while.  I am feeling human again!

Subtles Collection

Our 10 colors for the Subtles Collection are:
Baja Breeze
Bashful Blue
Certainly Celery
Marina Mist
Perfect Plum
Pink Pirouette
Pretty in Pink
Rose Red
So Saffron
Wild Wasabi

In my next posts, I will be showing 2-3 color combos with each of these colors.  Once again, I think these colors look gorgeous together.  Check back often to see what colors are flying each day. Don't forget to sign in as a 'follower' and feel free to leave a comment.

Layouts Using Brights Collection

Today, I thought I'd post some layouts I made using the Brights Collection.  These are especially great for birthday layouts.  They all have some of the 'Celebrations' DSP included in the design.  Besides using several of our birthday stamps, I made use of the Big Shot for trim pieces.  My favorite is the second layout, using the Bugs & Kisses stamp set.  Enjoy, and Happy Easter, everyone!

Sock Monkey To Go!

Sock Monkey takes a ride!

Here's a cute little project using colors from the Brights Collection.  Grab Sock Monkey and go!  The DSP is Greenhouse Gala.  This project was inspired by one from our Idea Book & Catalog.  It's full of tons of great ideas for making cards, 3-D projects and scrapbook pages.  Contact me if you'd like a copy of our Idea Book & Catalog.  It's free if you place an order of $50. or more OR if you book a workshop with me!

That's It For the Brights Collection!

When you make 2-3 cards for each of the 10 colors in the Brights Collection, you end up with a LOT of cards.  I have enjoyed our journey through the land of the Brights Collection.   Tomorrow, I'll post a little project using DSP and Bold Brights colors.  Enjoy!

Tempting Turquoise

The Creative Combination on the Color Coach is:
Tempting Turquoise
Real Red
Tangerine Tango
With these lively colors, I just had to get out my sock monkey.  With his 'Sock Monkey Accessories' stamps and the 'Sanded' background, he is riding to his birthday party in great style.  I embossed the wagon, similar to the one in our Idea Book & Catalog.  For a final touch, I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds to the frosting on the cupcake and the flame on the candle.  I really enjoyed playing with this bright color combo.

The Sweet Set from the Color Coach is:
Tempting Turquoise
Rich Razzleberry
Pumpkin Pie
These bright colors seemed to beg for another birthday card.  I used 'Fox & Friends' and the Hostess set 'Something to Celebrate.'  The circus wagon cars are made from the Curly Label punch and then embossed.  I cut off part of the top of each one and then used them on the coordinating color of wagon car.  The button wheels add a cute touch, as well as the monkey hanging from the banner by his tail.

Tangerine Tango

The Color Coach gives the Creative Combination as:
Tangerine Tango
Tempting Turquoise
Old Olive
These colors work so well together!  I used the 'Funky Four' stamp set for the cute little toadstools.  I colored them with our markers and then added 1 extra layer on the second toadstool (Tangerine Tango) and popped it up on dimensionals.  The flower brads are from our Brights collection.  The birthday sentiment is from 'Bring on the Cake.'

The Sweet Set combination from the Color Coach is:
Tangerine Tango
So Saffron
Pacific Point
It's difficult to see it in the photo, but the animals are 'hiding' behind punched out circles.  The stamp set is one of our Level 2 Hostess sets, 'Long Fellows.'  The card also sports a little Old Olive flower brad in the corner.

Today's last card is from the Color Coach Dynamic Duo:
Tangerine Tango
Cajun Craze.
The stamp sets are 'Homemade' and 'So Cute.'  I added Dazzling Diamonds to the frosting on the cupcake.

A Little Razzleberry Surprise

Since our color today is Rich Razzleberry, I am adding this Razzleberry surprise.  We'll be doing this card in my Technique Tuesday class tonight.  The colors are Basic Black, Whisper White, Bashful Blue, and Rich Razzleberry.  To find out how to do this technique and other fun techniques as well, sign up for a Technique Tuesday class.  My next one is on May 24 and it's called 'Faux Everything.'  You'll love it!

Rich Razzleberry

The Color Coach Creative Combination is:
Rich Razzleberry
Old Olive
Pumpkin Pie
I thought these little monsters would look great in these colors.  They make me smile.  I used the 'Make a Monster' and 'Greetings, Earthling!' stamp sets.  I added a stamped assortment of eyeballs for the background.  I put them all onto 1 acrylic block and stamped them all at once.  I crimped the Old Olive strip behind my monster friends, added pumpkin pie ribbon and, for the finishing touch, googlie eyes.

Here's another cute little card using the same colors.  We made this at my Team Meeting.  The size is a 4" square.  This idea came straight from our Stampin' Success monthly magazine -- just one of the many perks of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  Contact me if you'd like more information about joining my team.

 

The Color Coach Getting Started Combination is:
Rich Razzleberry
Pretty in Pink
Early Espresso
I used the stamp set 'Fast & Fabulous' and stamped a flower background onto the card base.  I stamped it with VersaMark ink and embossed it with Iridescent Ice EP.  I stamped the main image in Early Espresso and then used inks (Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry & Pear Pizzazz) to color in the image by stroking a blender pen directly onto the ink pad to pick up the color.

Regal Rose

The Creative Combination for Regal Rose on the Color Coach is:
Regal Rose
Early Espresso
Daffodil Delight
This was a fun and easy card to make, using our cute little spinner. I used the 'Seeing Stars' stamp set for the background and 1 of the 4 spinners in the 'Take A Spin' stamp set. I added tiny touches of Dazzling Diamonds to the little images on the spinner and finished off the card with some of our gorgeous Early Espresso ribbon.

The Color Coach Sweet Set colors are:
Regal Rose
Tempting Turquoise
Sahara Sand
What could be sweeter for the Sweet Set than a baby card? I used the Hostess stamp set 'Slice of Life' from the Occasions mini and 'hung' the jammies on a line of linen thread. For the background, I used a flower center from the 'Pick A Petal' stamp set and the sentiment is from the 'A Word for You' stamp set. It's difficult to see it, but I added a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter to each of the hearts on the jammies.

The Color Coach lists the Dynamic Duo as:
Regal Rose
Rose Red
I wanted this to be a simple, yet elegant card so I used the 'Bella Toile' background stamp and embossed it with Iridescent Ice EP. The other stamp sets are 'Ribbon of Hope' and 'Hope Happens.' I added a little touch of bling with a couple of our rhinestones.

Real Red

This was a really fun card to make. The Creative Combination from the Color Coach is:
Real Red
Bashful Blue
Crumb Cake
The stamp set is 'Hello Blossoms' and is coming out in May in the new Summer Mini. I colored the image, using our markers and then made a second set of the 'hello' letters. I colored a little extra around each circle, so I could punch them out with a tiny flower punch. I added dimension by attaching them with 3 mini glue dots behind each one.

The Color Coach Getting Started Combination is:
Real Red
Early Espresso
Pumpkin Pie
This was another fun card to make, using the 'Bold Blossoms' stamp set. I have good news about this set (from the current mini). It will be carried over into the summer mini because it coordinates with the 'Hello Blossoms' stamp that I used in my previous card! I used the 2 tags die to add a layer behind the stamped flower image. The sentiment is stamped and punched out with the Decorative Label punch and tucked in a little behind the tag (which is on dimensionals). The butterfly is cut out and attached with a dimensional. After adding a couple rhinestones for bling, I added Dazzling Diamonds to the butterfly wings.

Pumpkin Pie

The Creative Combination on the Color Coach for Pumpkin Pie is:
Pumpkin Pie
Pacific Point
Real Red
This card is rather a 'girlie girl' card, with all the flowers and bling. I used the stamp set 'Baby Blossoms' and a new embossing folder coming out in May, called 'Flower Garden.'

The Getting Started Combination on the Color Coach for Pumpkin Pie is:
Pumpkin Pie
Early Espresso
Daffodil Delight
The deep chocolate color of the Early Espresso got me thinking about chocolate, so I used the stamp set 'Eat Chocolate!' I embossed the chocolate bar twice, cut it out, and attached it on dimensionals. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a real chocolate break:)

Pacific Point

Pacific Point is a wonderful color. When Stampin' Up! came out with their renovation of the colors last July, I was sooooooo happy to welcome back this beautiful blue. Being such a bright and happy color, I decided to make a couple of birthday cards. Each card has some bling and sparkle:)

This card is made with the Color Coach Creative Combination:
Pacific Point
Melon Mambo
Pumpkin Pie
After playing with punched shapes and creating an embossed layer, I stamped the birthday images with the stamp set 'Create a Cupcake.' I like that you can use the coordinating punch to create the cupcake -- no cutting. I don't mind cutting, but punching is a lot faster.

This card uses the Color Coach Sweet Set colors:
Pacific Point
Daffodil Delight
Rich Razzleberry
I paired the 'Create a Cupcake' stamp set with 'Bring on the Cake' for the stamped images.

Old Olive

This card was made with the Creative Combination on the Color Coach. The colors are:
Old Olive
Not Quite Navy
Cajun Craze
The stamp set is 'Plane & Simple' from the Occasions Mini. I added some special touches by using Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, buttons and Hemp Twine.

This card is made with the 'Getting Started' combination on the Color Coach and uses the colors:
Old Olive
Pretty in Pink
Night of Navy
I used the Level 2 Hostess stamp set 'Apple Blossoms.' Ribbons, a rhinestone, a glimmer brad and Shimmery White CS lend a touch of elegance.

For my last Old Olive card, I used the Dynamic Duo from the Color Coach --
Old Olive
Certainly Celery
The stamp sets are 'Leaf Lines,' 'Lucky Shamrock' and the Level 1 Hostess stamp set 'Afterthoughts.' I used the tiny rhinestones and the white punched border strip to keep the monochromatic theme from being too overpowering with all the green.

Melon Mambo

This card was made using the Creative Combination from the Color Coach:
Melon Mambo
Daffodil Delight
Tempting Turquoise
This combo is fun to work with and lends itself to a bright and colorful birthday card. The stamp set is from our Level 1 Hostess Set "Birthday Bakery.'

This card is made with the Sweet Set from the Color Coach:
Melon Mambo
Old Olive
Elegant Eggplant
I used 3 coordinating stamp sets from the Occasions Mini Catalog --
'Button, Button,' 'Pattern Pieces' and 'Sew Suite.'
To make the pattern pieces actually look like real pattern pieces, I sponged (using a circular motion) River Rock and Crumb Cake inks onto vellum CS and then, after heat setting it, I stamped the image with Early Espresso ink and heat set again.
The tape measure was just rumpled up and pushed together onto a line of Sticky Strip, to give it dimension.
I added real buttons on top of the stamped buttons. This was really a fun card to make and I enjoyed using a combo I might not have tried if I hadn't been playing with the Color Coach.

The last card was made with the Dynamic Duo (monochromatic) colors suggested on the Color Coach. It's important to give lots of texture and dimension when using a monochromatic color scheme. I stamped the 'French Filigree' background stamp onto the card base and then added further texture by stamping 'Dot, Dot, Dot' onto the layer behind the elephants and then embossing the Pretty in Pink layer. All the dots were in keeping with the polka dot ears on the elephants, which I stamped twice so I could layer them. The sparkle brads add the finishing touch. Now, I need someone to have a baby so I can use this card:)

Daffodil Delight

Our first of the Bold Brights on our color journey is Daffodil Delight. This bright color is easily paired with LOTS of different colors and it's fun to experiment with all the possible combos for it.
For this card, I used the Creative Combination suggested on the Color Coach:
Daffodil Delight
Early Espresso
Cherry Cobbler
The stamp sets are 'Countryside' and 'Homegrown.'

This card uses the Getting Started Combination from the Color Coach"
Daffodil Delight
Night of Navy
Old Olive
The stamp set is 'Charming.' I love the pearl accents.

Meet the Brights Collection!

Here we go on our color journey. I'm starting with the Brights Collection, a bright way to start. Don't they look beautiful together? Stampin' Up! spent over 2 years studying and planning the color combos they would use in their color renovation. The new color families were introduced in July, 2010.

Our 10 colors for the Brights Collection are:
Daffodil Delight
Melon Mambo
Old Olive
Pacific Point
Pumpkin Pie
Real Red
Regal Rose
Rich Razzleberry
Tangerine Tango
Tempting Turquoise

In my next posts, I will be showing 2-3 color combos with each of these colors. Check back often to see what colors are flying each day. Don't forget to sign in as a 'follower' and feel free to leave a comment.

...about Color

The Color Coach says: "Think of color as a language. It helps you convey a message by setting a mood for your project. Just as you make a statement with words or images, you make a statement with color. If words are what you say, then color is part of how you say it." The combination in which you use color will have a great effect on how your project turns out because colors influence each other in how they are used together.. In many cases, you can substitute colors of a similar hue and change the look of your projects.
Until you become comfortable creating color combinations, you may want to just stay with TWO colors --- your main color and one accent color. If you want to use 3 colors, think of a paint swatch. Use the most of one color, half as much of the second color, and half as much of the third color as the second color --- walls, trim, and accent colors.
Also mentioned in the Color Coach: "The most powerful color tool is your sight. The human eye can distinguish over 10 million colors." No wonder I love to play with color.

Color Coach!

What is one of the most helpful (and fun) tools you can own -- for any kind of stamping project? The Color Coach! It is wonderful. It is designed like a paint swatch book. Each Stampin' Up! color has a card. On the back of the card, it gives 2-3 color combo suggestions. I have always LOVED playing with color and don't usually have a problem coming up with pleasing color combinations, but this is loaded with combos that I would not have thought to try.

Starting next week, I am giving myself a huge challenge. I am going to go through ALL the colors in the Color Coach and make something for each color combo they suggest. I know I'll revisit colors that I haven't used for a while and that will be fun. This time of year, as I start thinking about the new products coming out with the Summer Mini (in May) and the new Catalog & Idea Book (in July), I realize that I need to go through all my stamps and revisit some of those that haven't been out for a while. Sooooooo, I will be very busy and you will see some amazing color combos. Be sure to check often to see what I've come up with to show you.

Inspired from the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog

I realized that I don't showcase a sample from the catalog often enough. It's fun to let a catalog sample inspire you to make your own version of a card or project. The peach parfait card is made using the 'Butterfly Prints' stamp set. Now go get out your big catalog and let a sample inspire you to create your own project today.

3 Butterflies

This card was inspired by a set of framed butterfly pictures I saw in a Pottery Barn catalog. See www.lanahorton.stampinup.net for further details.

Remember this?

Remember this beautiful card? This is made with my featured Stamp Set of the Month for April - 'Nature Walk.' Order your set on or before April 25 and you'll receive a free kit to learn how to make this card. Order the coordinating Botanical Gazette DSP and receive a 2nd free kit to make an additional card. (Each card kit has a different design; not 2 of the same.) Do you already have this stamp set? Order the DSP and still receive a free card kit. The set is not only beautiful, but quite versatile.

Off we go, into the wild blue yonder!

I found I had some leftover Halloween DSP, already cut into card-making strips. Now, what do you do with Halloween paper in April? You turn it over and use the side with a non-holiday print design! This is a super simple little card for a male birthday. Ok, so there's no 'wild blue yonder' but we can still say "off we go" and make this card in a short amount of time. The bright Tangerine Tango adds some birthday cheer. The stamped images are embossed -- black Craft ink and clear EP.

Time for More Cards... And A Little Tutorial!

Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight (Greenhouse Gala DSP) make for a bright and cheery birthday card. It's difficult to see it, but I added a little smooch spritz to it.

Here's a little chart with all the frames you can make with the border punches. They all start out with a 3" square. They're quick, fun, and easy -- my favorite kind of project:)

Cutest thing I've ever made!

After decorating the inside of the armoire, I decided to finish my pizza pan memo board that I'd been wanting to do for a couple of months. I took a sheet of the decor vinyl and cut it to fit the inside of the pizza pan. This is a chalkboard vinyl, so you can use magnets with it and/or write on it. The 'notes' at the top was from a free S-A-B product. The magnets are made with buttons or our fabric brads. Sooooooo, you'd think I'd be organized now. We can only hope:)

Would you believe? More decor elements!

Last night, I wanted something creative to do. So..... I decorated the inside of the armoire that holds my DSP and items for scrapbooking. It was so much fun!

Here are close-up shots of each door.