It's A Boy

Fab Friday's design team took over the challenge this week from their awesome leader, Mindy Backes. Why? Well it came about because Mindy delivered a son, Ian Lee, on Tuesday, August 5th.  To honor Mindy and Ian, the design team came up with a little surprise for her by switching out the weekly challenge with a baby card theme challenge and inviting everyone to play along.  Mindy was super surprised when she found out.

Because I really like Mindy's challenges and her Badabing Crafting Blog, I obviously had to play along and contribute a sketch for her and her new little guy.  Congrats Mindy and welcome to your little one!

For this challenge I combined the need to make the "baby" card with a sketch from Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration.  This is a rather interesting site where they hold blog hops and have three challenges a month.  On the first Monday of each month they hold a colour challenge.  On the second Monday it's a sketch challenge, and on the third Monday it's a scrapbook challenge.  They draw winners on the fourth monday of the month.  The August sketch challenge is what I opted to play along with and here is their great sketch outline -#SSINKCS12.

Here Is My Card:

I used a straight Whisper White A2 base measuring 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 and scored at 4 1/4"  The first layer of Soft Sky measures 4 1/8"  x 5 3/8".  A third layer in Whisper White and measuring 5 1/4 x 4" was embossed with the Delicate Dots Embossing folder before being adhered to the Soft Sky layer.

I used the Squares Collection Framlit Dies to cut out my Soft Sky and Whisper White Squares for the design element of the sketch.  The three Soft Sky squares measure 2 " x 2" and were embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  

The Square Collection Framelits die is a great new addition to my tool chest. It includes 8 layering dies with the largest scalloped square measuring 4 3/8" x 4 3/8".  Great value for only $32.95  #130921, pg 231 of the IB&C. 

I wanted just a slight tough of glam on this card so I added a 1 5/8" x 1 5/8" square of silver glimmer paper.  Remember that normal adhesive doesn't adhere to the glimmer paper so I had to use large glue dots to stick the next layer on.

Because I don't own any current baby theme stamp sets, I chose to use the rattles from the retired Button Buddies stamp set stamped in Soft Sky ink on the 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" Whisper White layers.  The edges of these squares were sponged with Soft Sky ink.  These rattles have a little dotted pattern on them so they fit in perfectly with my other dotted layers. 

Stampin' Up! has a great "baby and kids section" in their current catalogue and there are many great sets that would also work well with this card sketch, such as the little duck from Something for Baby, or the little monkey from Zoo Babies.  

The sentiment "congratulations" from the Sweet Essentials stamp set (r) was stamped in Smokey Slate ink on Whisper White cardstock measuring 2 6/8" by 5/8".  This piece was layered onto a piece of Soft Skye and mounted below the blocks with dimensionals.  I think this was the perfect sentiment for this card. 

I chose to keep the inside of the card fairly plain by not adding layers.  I simply stamped the sentiment "A baby is God's opinion that the WORLD should go on (Carl Sandberg) in Basic Gray ink.  I also stamped another rattle in Soft sky beneath the sentiment.  

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Button Buddies (R), Sweet Essentials(R), Occasional Quotes (R)
Ink:  Soft Sky, Smokey Slate
Card Stock:  Soft Sky, Whisper White, Silber Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Squares Collection Framelit Dies, Decorative Dots and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing, Trimmer, Sponge Dauber, Big Shot Machine, dimensionals, adhesive, glue dots.  

I hope you like this card and will let me know if you like the design.  I also hope you'll drop by the two challenge sites to see the other submissions by the designers and participants, and may you're inspired to enter your own take on the sketch or theme.  Until next time..........

Happy Stampin!
Penny Tokens 

Christmas in August Class

Here's a snap shot of the cards we made on Sunday August 26th at my Christmas in August Card Class.

We had a lovely 4 hours of creative fun trying new techniques (Herringbone) and playing with the new Ornament Keepsake stamp set and framelit die bundle.  Oh and did I say there was lots of laughing!

I'll be repeating this class in September so if you're interested in participating let me know.  Cost is $20.00 however fee is waived when a minimum order of $25.00 is placed at the class.

I also have Holiday Catalogues on hand so if you are looking for new ideas, would like to host a party or workshop or just simply want to have a catalogue contact me for more information.



Love these Button Buddy Snowmen and the Mixed Medley Hostess Set.  Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green card stock were used along with Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper.  A little touch of Silver Glimmer paper adds some sparkle to this card. 

Here's a closeup of the little Medallion made with the Mixed Medley Hostess Set.  Basic Rhinestones gives it a bit of bling and the Gumball Green 3/8" Stritched Satin Ribbon adds to the fun.  The sentiment is stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink.

This wonderful crazy quilt pattern called the "Herringbone Design", really livens up this Christmas card.  It was fun to make and everyone was dying to try it again with different DSP.  This one is made with the 4 different patterns from the Be of Good Cheer Designer Paper Series.  An ornament from the Ornament Keepsakes Bundle was used for the centre focal point in this card and some of the red glimmer cardstock adds some pizzazz.   

This card is a remake of the one I did for the Vernon Girls Night Out party a few weeks ago.  The only differences are that the small sheet of Glossy White cardstock has been embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder and a larger ribbon was used for the ornament. 

Our Ornament Keepsake card was a lot of fun to make. The card base is Pacific Point and a layer of Tempting Turquoise followed by a Whisper White layer that's been embossed using the Holiday Frame Embossing Folder.  It's so beautiful and this picture just doesn't capture the depth of the embossing.  The ornament was coloured with markers.  I used Basic Gray for the ornament cap, Tempting Turquoise for the base colour and Pacific Point was rolled around the ornament edges.   Basic Rhinestones were added at the base on each of the sides of the ornament and at the top of the cap.    

I discovered later in the day that I had a big finger print on the lens of my camera........duh, no wonder everything kept blurring.  So, apologies for this little blurred out shot of Ethel DeTemple and Sheri Lee with their versions of the Snowman cards.   What a fun time we had!

Remember I will be holding this class again in September so please check out my Event Calendar and register to attend.  It's a great way to start getting ready for the card season ahead! 

Happy Stamping!