Perfect Blend for Paper Players #152

Hello there stamping friends! This week at the Paper Players, the ever-talented LeAnne is our hostess with a fabby "tic-tac-toe" challenge. Pick a line, across...down...or diagonally. Or if you are a SERIOUS over-achiever, go for the whole sha-bang and create a project featuring the entire board. For my card, I successfully achieved 5 of the nine "squares"...the bottom row and half of the middle row. I am on a huge kick with the color yellow right now, so I couldn't resist.

After I saw the new Stampin' Up catalog, the FIRST set I added to my wish list was Perfect Blend. As a self-admitted Starbucks addict, it called my name...in a really loud and overly-caffeinated way. Lol! I have also been itching to crack open my new Soho Subway DSP.  I'm originally from New York...NOT the "city" but "upstate". Something about this paper and the stamp set make me long for a trip back East...and coffee. Yes, I need coffee! 

For the embossed element, I used both "dry-embossing" on the background DSP and the scalloped edge border. I "wet embossed" the coffee cup and attempted to shade it with a sponge dauber and a marker. I suck at distressing, I know this. Oh, and the sentiment is MEANT to be distressed...It wasn't me being a messy stamper. Haha! I paper-pieced, cut-out and popped-up the image. It's a simple card, with little details...I kind of like it! All of the supplies used to create this card are listed at the end of this post. 

Please join us over at the Paper Players this week. The challenge is open through Friday, July 5th, 2013 at Noon (PDT). Stop by and say hello to the rest of the Design Team. They are an amazing group of gals and I am honored to work with them every week. 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Before I go, I wanted to share a photo of our little foster "prince" Tony Triple Paws. He is still with us and really coming out of his shell...slowly but surely. He is BFF's with the other kitties and loves lounging around. Isn't he gorgeous?

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Stampin' Up! Supply List

Stamps: Perfect Blend

Paper:  Soho Subway DSP, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla card stock 

Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake Classic Ink and Versa-Mark Ink

Accessories: Large Scallop Die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool,  Basic Pearls, Big Shot and Stampin' Dimensionals

Chalk Talk for Paper Players #151

Hi there stamping friends! This week at the Paper Players our very own Nance has a cool sketch to try out. I had no idea what I wanted to do with the sketch when I started out.  But I knew I wanted to use the brand new pack of Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper that was sitting on my desk. So I picked some patterns and got to cutting.

From there I ended up selecting the Chalk Talk stamp set for the main image because the pattern on the little tag kind of works with the paper. This stamp set has matching die cuts which rocks because it makes cutting out the images so easy to do. I added a little dressed up brad as an accent. I completely thought these were in the new SU catalog, but they are not. They do, however, live in the piles of unused awesomeness in my stamp studio, so I was glad they saw the light of day on this card. Haha! All of the supplies I used are listed at the end of this post.

Please join us this week over at the Paper Players! The challenge is open through Friday, June 28th at NOON (PDT). Please check out what the rest of the Design Team have created with this week's clean and simple challenge. This is sadly our last week with our awesome Guest Designers. Stop by and give some blogging love to Amy, Brian, Justin, Sandy and Jen. :) 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy O'Neill

Brian King

Jen Nelson

Justin Krieger

Sandy Mathis

CLICK HERE to order anytime 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website

Stampin' Up! Supply List

Stamps: Chalk Talk

Paper: Eastern Elegance DSP, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry and Whisper White card stock 

Ink: Crushed Curry and Smoky Slate Classic Ink

Punches: 1- 3/8" Circle Punch

Accessories: Chalk Talk Framelits Dies, Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon, decorative silver brad (which I don't remember buying or when it retired), Basic Rhinestones, Big Shot and Stampin' Dimensionals

Positively Chevron for Paper Players #150

Well hello there stamping friends! Long time, no blog, eh? I am back from a wee blogging vacation and really excited to get back into my craft room once again. I am the challenge hostess this week over at the Paper Players and it's all about my favorite embellishment : BLING! We are focusing on Clean-and Simple (CAS) projects showing off the sparkle. I hope you will join us and play along. 

For my card, I used some brand new Stampin' Up! products that just came out in the 2013-2014 catalog. I LOVE the Positively Chevron background stamp and couldn't wait to get it inked up. I used VersaMark ink and them embossed the image with Heat and Stick Powder. Then sprinkled a whole bunch of fine silver glitter all over the patterns and there you go...a background that truly packs a sparkly punch. The colors are new as well: Smoky Slate and Coastal Cabana.

I originally had used the light bulb image from the Crazy, Mixed Up Love stamp set, that went with the sentiment. I just felt like the card needed more dimension, so a simple punched butterfly was added instead. The sentiment still works, too. This is one sparkly card, indeed! But I think it still falls into the CAS category because it was quick and easy to put together.

Please join us this week over at the Paper Players! The challenge is open through Friday, June 21st at NOON (PDT). Please check out what the rest of the Design Team have created with this week's clean and simple challenge. 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy O'Neill

Brian King

Jen Nelson

Justin Krieger

Sandy Mathis

CLICK HERE to order anytime 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website

Birthday Hole in One for Paper Players #146

Hello stamping friends! This week at the Paper Players, our fabulous hostess Ann has a theme challenge for us: CAS (clean and simple) Masculine cards. I always need ideas for fun "guy cards" so I can't wait to see all of the ideas shared for this challenge.

I wanted to make a golf-themed card for a friend's birthday and this is what I came up with. It was simple and easy to put together and sometimes that is a good thing, right? Also, it is easy to mail and that is always a bonus. The only stamping on the card is the sentiment from the Banner Greetings set. I can't tell you how much I love that cloud embossing folder. It really added to the scene which (hopefully) resembles a golf course "green". I even busted out some old school decorative edge scissors for the grass. Whoa!  

Please join us this week over at the Paper Players! The challenge is open through Friday, May 24th at NOON (PDT). Please check out what the rest of the Design Team have created with this week's clean and simple challenge. 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy O'Neill

Brian King

Jen Nelson

Justin Krieger

Sandy Mathis

Before I go, I wanted to share a photo of our new foster kitty. We are taking care of him for a local rescue and I just picked him up yesterday afternoon. His name is Triple and is a very special guy. He is a little shy at first but once he warms up, he does great. He is about 7 months old and came to the shelter needing to have one of his front legs amputated. He's still adjusting in his private room here and hasn't met the rest of the crew yet. 

Have a HAPPY day today! :) 

CLICK HERE to order anytime 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website

Stampin' Up! Supply List

Stamps: Banner Greetings (sneak peek from the new catty)

Paper: Regals DSP paper pad, Cajun Craze, Garden Green and Whisper White card stock 

Ink: Cajun Craze Classic Ink

Punches: Extra Large Oval Punch and Itty Bitty Punch Pack (small circle punch)

Accessories: Cloud Embossing Folder, Stripes Embossing Folder, Big Shot and Stampin' Dimensionals

Non-SU! Accessories: old school decorative edge scissors (for the "grass")

Flying Monkeys with Party Hats for Dynamic Duos #53

Hello there stamping friends! It's time for a new challenge over at Dynamic Duos. This week is "Black Tie" week where we select one color...pair it with Basic Black...and add an optional theme element to the challenge. Please join us with a project featuring: Pacific Point, Basic Black and the *optional* kid-theme.  I always need cards for the wee ones...I don't know about you.

I wish I could say that this challenge was easy for me. But with a long week at work and some volunteer commitments, I had some struggles getting my finished project together. In all honesty, it is ONLY because of a few of my fellow Dynamic Duos Design Team members that I am even posting my card this week. I love these gals and I  love how amazing they all are. *BIG shout out to the DD gals for your awesome encouragement*

Sooooo, let's talk about this card. Are you secretly hearing the theme song for the wicked, flying monkeys from the "Wizard of Oz", after seeing this card? You should...because these monkeys are "cray cray". I stamped them and punched them in different poses to try to add some personality to the little buggers. I also colored their faces and bellies for some added detail. The little hat was hand-cut and popped up for fun.  

My card was created from the *retired* set Fox and Friends and the sentiment is not SU! but seemed to fit perfectly with the card...I mean how often do you actually SEE a monkey wearing an itty bitty hat? 

Um, I JUST noticed that this guy is wearing a hat...so I suppose to answer my question above, monkeys actually DO wear hats pretty often. Who knew? Even Toto looks surprised in the photo. 

Please stop by the Dynamic Duos page and join us! The challenge is open through Thursday May 23rd, until Noon (PDT). Be sure to stop by and visit our fabulous Design Team members, too 

The Dynamic Duos Design Team

Alison Barclay

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Michelle Williams

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

...and me! 

Have a HAPPY day! :)  

CLICK HERE to order anytime 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website

Mosaic Madness for Paper Players #145

Hello there stamping friends! It is time for another fun challenge over at the Paper Players! This week, our very own Jaydee has shared a fabulous color combo for us to play along with. Bright and sassy...this color combo is AWESOME Won't you join us?   

To create my card, I started by pulling out all three colors of card stock as a starting point. Then I looked to the new, "sneak peek" Mosaic Madness stamp set. Yes, it will be featured with a coordinating punch in the new SU! catty.  Pretty cool, huh? After deciding on the stamp set, I stamped and punched quite a few different images until I figured out how I wanted to place them on my card. Let's just say I have a lot of left over punches from this card...I'm so indecisive sometimes. Ha! All of the supplies I used are listed at the end of the post.

Before I sign off, I wanted to spread some Mother's Day cheer. I want to send a special greeting to my own mama, who I love very much! Enjoy your day today, Mom!! Here is a photo of us from a few years ago. :

Please join us this week over at the Paper Players! The challenge is open through Friday, May 17th at NOON (PDT). Please check out what the rest of the Design Team have created with this week's color challenge. 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy O'Neill

Brian King

Jen Nelson

Justin Krieger

Sandy Mathis

Have a HAPPY day today! :) 

CLICK HERE to order anytime 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website

Stampin' Up! Supply List

Stamps: Mosaic Madness and Banner Greetings (both sneak peeks from the new catty)

Paper: Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse and Whisper White card stock 

Ink: Gumbsll Green, Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse Classic Ink

Punches: Mosaic punch (new)

Accessories: Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, Gumball Green 5/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, In Color Dahlias, Big Shot,  Basic Rhinestones and Stampin' Dimensionals

Dynamic Duos #52 - Our One Year Anniversary Celebration!

Hello stamping friends! Hope you are having a wonderful day so far. I am very excited today to share that Dynamic Duos is having a big celebration this week: Our One Year Anniversary! How awesome is that?! 

I remember when my dear friend Lesley Croghan and I originally talked about this two color challenge. It hardly seems as though a year has gone by. I have been really honored to be a part of Dynamic Duos since the beginning and to work in my role as the Challenge Manager. You can select ANY one of our past color combos for your project, so there are lots of choices for inspiration this week. 

There are so many color combos that I have loved over the past year, but in looking through the past year of challenges, the combo that still grabbed my attention as soon as I saw it is the "Bold and Sassy" combo of Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive. We used these colors together in week #10 of the challenge and I am celebrating our anniversary by pairing them together, yet again.

I reached for a set I seem to rarely use: Betsy's Blossoms. That little bird is super cute! I also wanted to make a card with a lot of layers...I know that is very shocking to anyone who visits my blog regularly. Haha! I stamped the bird twice in Rich Razzleberry ink. Once on Whisper White card stock and once on Old Olive card stock. Then I cut out the "wings" in Old Olive card stock and paper pieced them to create a little more dimension. I wanted the frame to pop a bit more so I added some Iridescent Ice embossing powder to the scalloped edges to give them some sparkle and shine. All of the rest of the products I used are listed at the end of this post. 

Here is the photo of my original card for Week #10 of the challenge. 

You can find the details of this card on my original blog post by CLICKING HERE.

Please stop by the Dynamic Duos page and join us for this our One Year Anniversary Challenge! Remember, you have a lot of choices with this challenge, as you get to pick your favorite color combo over the past year. The challenge is open through Thursday May 16th, until Noon (PDT). Be sure to stop by and visit our fabulous Design Team members, too 

The Dynamic Duos Design Team

Alison Barclay

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Michelle Williams

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Have a HAPPY day! :) 

CLICK HERE to order anytime 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website

Stampin' Up! Supply List

Stamps: Banner Greetings (sentiment, new catty sneak peek) and Betsy's Blossoms

Paper: Brights DSP paper pad, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive,Crumb Cake and Whisper White card stock 

Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Classic Ink and Versa-Mark Pad (for heat embossing)

Punches: Bird Builder Punch

Accessories: Chevron Embossing Folder, Old Olive ribbon (retired), Adorning Accents Edgelits Die, Big Shot, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool,  Basic Rhinestones and Stampin' Dimensionals

Non SU Accessories: circle and scallop circle dies