Start With Something New - Monkey90-Sketch + picture

It's time for A La Card Monkey's newest weekly sketch, Monkey 90 New To You and Sketch.  This sketch is all about using something that's new and unused in your stash, so it can be about anything.  Because Valentine's is coming and I'm in that kind of mood, I chose to do a "romance" theme. 

It wasn't hard to find something new in my stash that I hadn't tried out yet.  One of the perks of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is that you get to pre-order new things, and with my last order, I earned a number of free stamp sets both from the Occasions and the upcoming Sale-A-Bration catalogues.  If you want to know how to earn free hostess or other sets, just contact me for more information.

Okay so to get on with this week's sketch challenge, I first want to begin with the sketch.  Here it is:

Is it a rabbit or a doctored up squirrel?  I had such a laugh over this picture, first because of the little paw on the heart.  That is just so darned cute! 

But then I looked closer and I thought wow, that paw's a little out of proportion to the body and look at those ears...........not typical cottontail ones.  And whoa!  What about that dear little face?  You tell me rabbit or squirrel, I'd like to hear your take on it, maybe it looks like some other little critter.  Maybe I had too much caffeine!  Maybe I just want to see if you read my post! 

I love this little image from the Take It To Heart Stamp Set, but I hadn't used it yet, so it's my something "new".    I know this stamp will be one of my favourites "to go to" from the Occasions Mini.  It just smacks of young romance, but I can also see it being used for friendship.  I'm also in love with these hat pins and had to add one just "because" you can find them in accessories in the Idea Book and Catalogue. 

Take It to Heart is a beautiful 5 piece stamp set that can be used in conjunction with the Hearts Collection Framelits and the Full Heart Punch.  It comes in either a wood mount #12520 or clear mount #125522 set.  You can find it on page 14 of the Occasions Mini Catalogue.

Here's my whole card.  The card base is in Real Red card stock and I've layered that with Basic Black and then used a 1 1/2" strip of Red Glimmer Paper for the top layer and added a 2 1/2 " piece of DSP from the Holiday Mini that's in Very Vanilla and Glimmer Red, that I hadn't used.  It matched perfectly.  My sentiment is from a retired hostess set called "Something to Celebrate" #121955.  The little bow is made with Gros Grain Red Ribbon

Here's a view of the inside of the card.  I cut a piece of Red Glimmer paper with the Scalloped Punch and topped it with some of the DSP, then mounted it on a strip of Basic Black cardstock.  I stamped the Hearts from the Take It To Heart set in Basic Black ink.  It would have been better I think if I'd embossed them with Black Embossing Powder before adding the decorative strip as they were lighter than I intended.  Oh well, I'll do that on the next card  I make like this. 

Okay that's it for today.  Hope you liked my entry even though I took a little license with the sketch design by using hearts instead of circles and changing up the size of the DSP. 

As always thanks for dropping by and let me know if you like it, or not.   I love getting your comments, they make my day!

Stampin 411: Saturday Sketch Challenge #237 (SSC237)

It's been a while since I participated in a Saturday Sketch Challenge over at Stampin 411.  Don't ask me why.  I've been hit and miss with this group.  I don't understand it because I absolutely love checking out their blog and all the beautiful cards made by the Design Team and other stampers, plus all the helpful suggestions, tutorials and colour challenges. 

Maybe it's because I'm always too busy with family on Saturdays to pay attention.  But that's going to change.  Starting now, I'm going to be adding more of their challenges to my New Year " Must Try" "Must Do" lists.

I seem to be on a role with Birthday cards this month, so I thought I would adapt this sketch for one that's coming up in mid-January.   I'm featuring stamps and accessories from both the Occasions Mini Catalogue as well as a sneak peak at some neat things from the Sale-A-Bration cattie. 

Bordering on Romance #125480(w) or #125482 (cm) pg. 11 Occasions Mini Catalogue

Edgelits Dies - Adorning Accents #125595 pg. 7 Occasions Mini Catalogue

Isn't this a cheery and colourful card?  Just the thing to brighten a wet and dreary January day!  The 5 1/2 by 4 1/4"  card base is cut from Lucky Limade cardstock. The small floral image from the Bordering on Romance Stamp Set was stamped in Versa Mark Ink to create some background interest. 

To create the decorative edge, I used the brand new Edgelits  Adorning Accents Scalloped Edge Die. What fun!  These new dies are a little tricky to work with but they're not as fragile as they look.  To keep the edge straight while running it through the Big Shot I attached the die with mini glue dots over the card stock edge to the plate and then rolled it through the machine.  Voila a beautiful neat scalloped edge!  

Now the scallop looked really good as it was, but I decided it needed just a little more pop.  To achieve this raised image of the scallop, I embossed about 1/16" behind the scalloped edge using the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder Scalloped Edge.  It's one of three awesome embossing folders made specifically for edges.

Adorning Accents Embossing Folders #125601 pg. 7 Occasions Mini Catalogue.

I hand cut the pointed ends of the banner from Poppy Parade cardstock and then layered it with the same beautiful Designer Series Paper used along the inner edge of the card.  It's called Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper and will be available after January 24th when Sale-A-Bration begins. 

I changed my take on this sketch by moving the layered square to the right hand side of the card face, instead of centering it.  Poppy Parade, Lucky Limade and Very Vanilla cardstocks were layered for the square element.  Using Versa Mark Ink and Black Embossing Powders I heat set the larger floral image from Bordering on Romance to the Very Vanilla piece.  Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade inks were added to the floral image with an aqua painter. 

A 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Lucky Limade (122977 pg. 194 IB&C) was placed in the corner of the square.  A printed designer brad was added to the center of the bow.  Isn't it cute?  It's from the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brad Pack in the Sale-A-Bration catalogue.  These amazing 3/8" printed designer brads come in 5 different designs and there are 5 of each type in the package.............can you say "Great Deal!!!".   I

And finally, here's the inside of my card.  As you can see I added a 1" strip of the DSP to the right hand side of the card.  The Happy Birthday Sentiment is from a set called Perfect Punches.   I've also restamped the floral image in Poppy Parade ink to the left hand side of the card. 

Perfect Punches (#117022(w) or #120516(cm) paged 140 IB&C) is an inexpensive and must-have stamp set simply for how easy it makes creating accents and focal pieces for your projects. Each image coordinates with a different punch, making stamped creations easy as 1-2-3—stamp, punch, adhere. And with a variety of sentiments, you’ll be set no matter what the occasion.   

Well there you have it.  Hope you enjoyed this card and will come back and visit again. 

2012 Search For Hostesses? Want to Party?

With the launch of the new Occasions Mini catalogue on January 4^th and the upcoming Sale-A-Bration (SAB) sales event starting January 24^th, now is the time to seriously think “party”.  Here’s some more good reasons:

• Do you have a really long wish list?
• Would you like to have a fun morning, afternoon or evening out with your friends?
• Would you like to receive exclusive Hostess stamp sets?  How about FREE SAB sets for you and your guests?
• Are you looking for new creative ideas?

If you said yes to any one of the above items, you should hostess your own Stampin' Up! party! 

 

Hosting a Stampin' Up! party is simple and enjoyable. I will work with you to create a party that's fun for everyone. Here's all you need to do:

• Set a Date and Time (click here to check out my event calendar).
• Create your guest list and find out who's coming.   Find out about the easty to use Hostess Guest Tracker on my site
• I'll contact you before your party to get a count of guests planning to attend so I can ensure that there'll be enough supplies for the fun project(s) we'll be making at your Stampin' Up! party! .
• For guests who're unable to attend your party, offer them the opportunity to place an order with you.   
• Enjoy yourself as you have fun with your family and friends. As the hostess, you may choose to provide a treat or snack for the party.  Other options are available - just ask me about them.
• Pick your Hostess Benefits when you have qualifying party sales. Hostess Benefits mean your wish list is coming true.
• The order arrives directly at your home, so you and your guests get your goodies quickly.

Stop Procrastinating...........make this the year

you start stamping, and having Fun!!! Email Me to Book your Party: 

pennyhanuszak@telus.net

Stampin' Queen's Sketch Challenge - SQSC20

Here's another great sketch challenge from Stampin' Queen's Design Team.  These wonderful and creative gals keep coming up with great challenges that allow you room to add your own touches without going over the top. 

I am so loving the beautiful stamp sets in the Occasions Mini catalogue. They have that wonderful romantic vintage look that I adore.  I hope you've had an opportunity to explore them too!  If not just click here or on the Occasions Mini Catalogue button on my sidebar to view the PDF version of the catalogue. 

I couldn't miss this opportunity to create a Thank You card using two of my new "favourite" sets, Tea Shoppe (#125547) from Shelli Gardner's Signature Collection and Take It To Heart (#125522).

Tea Shoppe #125547, from Shelli Gardner's Signature Collection

Take It To Heart #125522

Edgelits Adorning Accents #12522

And here is my card:

I chose a piece of DSP from the now retired Spice Cake papers.  I love the petite flower design and how it lends a more vintage feel to the card.  It must be winter as I'm tending to go to darker colours for my stamping and really find the Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede cardstocks meet this need.  

These 3 tiny tea cups are from the Tea Shoppe Set.  I stamped them in Soft Suede on a Very Vanilla medium sized framelit and then dry embossed the small hearts on either side of the cups with the new Edgelits Adorning Accents embossing folder.   To add interest I restamped the tea cups, heat embossed them and then fussy cut out just the cup portion and mounted them with dimensionals on the original stamped image.  I sponged Soft Suede ink around the Framelit to give it some depth.

The Crumb Cake Seam Binding ribbon and bow  are punched up a notch with the addition of a Pretties kit hat pin and jewels.  I've also added some basic pearls to the beautiful label from the Take It To Heart set.  I've double cut the label in Soft Suede and in Very Vanilla Cardstock and mounted it with dimensionals.  This has to be my new favourite stamp for displaying sentiments. 

I kept the inside simple so a message can be added .  The only element is a fussy cut of the large tea cup which was stamped in Soft Suede and heat Embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  It's mounted on Dimensionals.


Hope you like this card, I'd love to hear from you.  If you're interested in purchasing any of the new products shown above just click on my "Shop Now" button on my blog sidebar and it will take you to my Stampin' Up! website and shopping  cart.

Tuxedo Card CASE

Today I want to share with you a card I unabashedly "CASED" from Linda Aarhus (with her permission of course).  Linda is a demonstrator from Washington State who I truly admire. I often visit her blog site Polka Dots and Paper to see what's new.  Linda produces such top notch creations and this design is no exception.  I hope you'll drop by her blog and see Linda's original card. 

Here's my version. This originally started out as an anniversary card for my husband, but while I was in the midst of making it, he wandered in and said "Wow what a great Valentine's Day card that would make", so I changed it to Valentines. 

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I basically copied Linda's card with the exception of the front panel on the shirt.  Linda used a crimper to capture the look of a tuxedo shirt.  I've never managed to use a crimper properly and find my lines always come out on a bit of an angle, so decided to use the Stripes Embossing folder and it worked perfectly.

I also changed the occasion from New Years to Valentines Day as noted above, and used the sentiment "Sweet Valentine" from a "Something to Celebrate" hostess set which is now retired. 

This is a sneak peak at one of the faboulous stamps featured in the New Occasions Mini Catalogue called "You Are Loved". It's stamped in Real Red on the inside of the card.

Hope you enjoy this card and come back and visit again. 

Out with the Old and In With The New................last chance for Holiday Mini

 

Just a reminder. the countdown to midnight is on!  Did you know that at 11:59pm EST your chances of purchasing anything from the 2011 Holiday Mini will have ended?  That's right!  At the stroke of twelve, the sales period for the brand new 2012 Occasions Mini Catalogue will begin and all products from the Holiday Mini (with the exception of the ones noted in the flyer below), will have ended.  

Carry Over Items:

 

The last chance to order from the Clearance Rack and save up to 80% on merchandise is also coming to an end on January 5, 2012.

Stampin' Queen's Sketch Challenge - SQSC19

I love this latest sketch from Stampin' Queen's Designers. It's clean and simple and would lend itself well for any occasion. For my card  I chose not to modify the placement of the circle shapes although the challenge said the design could be rotated and the shapes could have been replaced, as long as the general layout was recognizable.  Here is my card:

I chose a Whisper White background layered with Island Indigo. I embossed the next layer of Whisper White with the Manhattan Embossing Folder to give it a little extra detail.  I find this combination very romantic. 

For the shapes I chose the circle image from the Just Believe stamp set featured in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue.  I've added Basic Rhinestones for the flower centers and have mounted them with dimensionals.

I just can't get enough of this beautiful ribbon.  It's so stylish and feminine.  The other wonderful thing about it is that when it's cut it doesn't fray............ now that's exciting. 

For the inside of my card I chose the frienship saying from the Bold Blossoms set.  It's stamped in Island Indigo.  I also added a 1/2" strip of Island Indigo cardstock and stamped the new border image from the Bordering on Romance stamp set, in the soon to be released Occasions Mini catalogue.  I love these long images and the extra element they add to the card.  I know they'll be seeing ink a lot this season.