A Moon Lake Card

As soon as I saw our new Moon Lake stamp set, I knew it had my name on it.  I love it.  However, I just recently got around to using it.  Does that ever happen to you?  It's a matter of the 'so many stamps / so little time' syndrome.  Sigh.  

Anyway, when I did get around to using it, I loved it even more.  I went with my favorite way of coloring... using a puddle of ink in the lid of my ink pad and coloring with my Aqua Painter.  This has always been my absolute way of coloring.  It's easy and you can get some nice shading with it. 

Did you notice that I have a smooth layer of CS under the embossed layer?  Having all these layers on the front of the card and all in the same color, keeps it from being too 'busy' with other distracting colors and it ends up being more elegant because of this.  The framelits cut pieces are attached with dimensionals.  I stamped on the inside of the card and the envelope, of course:)

I did not stamp my image onto watercolor paper, so I had to keep it from being too wet.  I think that when people say they don't like using the Aqua Painter, it's generally because they're squeezing it too much and getting everything into a wet, muddy mess.  With an Aqua Painter, less really is more.

This would make a great masculine card, but I think anyone would love it.  I hope I've inspired you to go do some stamping today.

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world.

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Soft and Pretty Pool Party... and our February Winners

Today, let's go for a very soft, fresh look.  This card reminds me of early Spring... soft, subtle colors... crisp and fresh.  It includes soft layers, embossing (2 ways) and lots of embellishments.  Enjoy the card and then be sure to keep scrolling down to see the winners of our February drawing.  Yes, I said winners.

Embossing:
1.  a layer of dots with our Decorative Dots embossing folder
2.  added details of lines forming a frame around the layer of dots,
          created with our Simply Scored Tool

The coordinating envelope is lined with Sweet Sorbet DSP.

... and now... our February winners for our monthly drawing... Yes, I chose TWO this time, because I wasn't able to teach any classes or hold any events in January.  Drum roll, please... and the February winners are.........
     Julie D.
     Linda B.
Congrats, you two.  I will be sending an email confirmation.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Chocolate, Anyone?

I came across an adorable project to make for housing some delicious chocolates.  I found it on a blog by Pootles... yes, that's her name for it.  She is a talented lady, has a soft, beautiful voice with a gorgeous accent and thinks up the most amazing projects.  This one uses some of our gorgeous new vellum, so she had me from the start.

The box is chocolate chip (good for holding chocolates:) and the vellum pieces are made using our new Banners Framelits dies.  The vellum comes in silver and gold and each package has 3 designs in it - tiny hearts, polka dots, and stripes.  It is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to come up with more projects for using it.

Here are my boxes:

The cute little tag is stamped in gold ink, from our Sale-A-Bration Banner Blast stamp set.  See how the vellum pieces just tuck together so nicely?  I love this idea for a closure and wouldn't have thought of it... or at least not for a long time:)

I hope you enjoyed seeing my 'Pootles boxes' and thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blog world.

Click here to learn about my Stampin' Tokens program.

Have a great day and go stamp something beautiful. 

Click here to learn more about upcoming classes.

Kaleidoscope Treats

Today I'll share my Kaleidoscope Treats.  I call them this because they're decorated with our Kaleidoscope DSP and coordinating colors of CS.  I've used Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, and Crushed Curry.  Things couldn't look much brighter or happier!  They're wrapped in gold and white Bakers Twine.  Each has a delicious treat inside:)  Take a look.

Come back soon for more projects using the Envelope Punch Board.  I've been working on quite a few --- so much fun!!!  Before you go, here's a sneak peek at some projects I'll be sharing soon.  These were unbelievably addictive!

Click here to learn about my Stampin' Tokens program.

Have a great day and go stamp something beautiful. 

Click here to learn more about upcoming classes.

Love What I Do... Share What I Love

Our Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart is:
'To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments... in this we make a difference!"  I recently enjoyed putting this concept to work by sharing some of my little treats.  They look like baby file folders!

Saturday, I had a doctor's appointment in Springfield.  I decided to take Valentine's Day treats with me and just randomly pass them out to any of the healthcare workers with whom I came into contact.  They loved them and it brought me so much joy to share them.  I have the highest regard for my surgeon.  He is fabulous.  He replaced both of my hips, years ago when no one else would believe me as to how much they hurt.  They all thought I was too young for hip problems and so they didn't even look into it.  When I finally got referred to my surgeon, he discovered that I had no cartilage in my hip joints!  He is now helping me with my knee problems and Saturday, he gave me the good news that I would not need further knee surgery --- at this time.  He did say that the arthritis is really bad in both knees and gave me cortisone shots in both.  So far, so good.  When you need healthcare help, go to the best.  Going to him means an hour trip --- one way --- and Saturday we passed 7 or 8 vehicles in the ditch, all with people in them.  One was a semi with the trailer turned completely on its side.  It did look like no one was hurt and they all had someone helping them, so that was very good.  I'm thankful for a safe vehicle that holds the road well and a husband willing to drive me.

So, would you like to see my treats that I made?  Here you go!

Aren't they cute?  Here are some close-ups:

The candies are held in place by wrapping the Gold Bakers Twine around the baby file folder.  I didn't use any adhesive on it at all.  I did use Stampin' Dimensionals to attach my punched pieces.  The gold foil punched piece didn't photograph as well as I'd hoped, but I think you can get the idea.

I've been seeing a lot of these on the net, all kinds of versions and just had to try my own.  They're quick and easy and, thus, a bit addicting.  I just kept making them until all my Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares were gone.  I actually got through it without eating even one!  That's probably a first:)  Come back soon for more projects using the Envelope Punch Board.  I've been working on quite a few --- so much fun and unbelievably addictive!

Click here to learn about my Stampin' Tokens program.

Have a great day and go stamp something beautiful. 

Click here to learn more about upcoming classes.