BACK TO BASICS

THE NEW HOLIDAY MINI is posted on my sidebar. The product is not available for purchase until September 1st, but it never hurts to get an early peek so you can start planning those holidays cards, table settings and decorations. Just click on the photo and it will open the catalog - ALL 40 PAGES!!!!

With today's post, I'm going back to the basics - or should I say, back to the beginning. When I first started papercrafting I wasn't a stamper, I was a scrapbooker. Waaaaaaay back when I was a child I would cut photos out of magazines, paste them in notebooks, doodle designs and drawings around them and write down whatever thoughts about it came to mind. Sometimes it was about a beautiful sunset, sometimes a movie star and sometimes it might be an actual photograph of the cute neighbor boy - his photo of course was ALWAYS adorned with hearts and doodles with "Mr. and Mrs. So and So" scribbled in the margin...( his actual name is witheld to protect the unsuspecting!)

So, it's hard for me to believe I haven't done any real scrapbooking in almost a year - (Yes the photos are filling my harddrive) but I have a workshop coming up where the participants are mostly scrapbookers NOT stampers - which gave me an opportunity to play a little. I scrap 12x12 as most of us do I think - but I selfishly didn't want to use 12x12 sheets of DP and/or cardstock for make n takes so for our project we are making 6x6 size inserts. They can always incorporate it onto a 12x12 layout later.

The pumpkin was made using the small oval punch and then lightly sponging Pumpkin Pie ink around the edges. I also used:
Sizzix Alphabet in Always Artichoke
SU! Sizzix Little Leaves in Always Artichoke
SU! Bella Bleu Designer Paper
Chocolate Chip Cardstock
Pumpkin Pie Cardstock
White Gel Pen
SU! Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon

I searched the internet for a "pumpkin" greeting - they are difficult to find btw - and found this quote by Henry David Thoreau. I think somewhere I have the perfect photo for this - when my son was small we would go to a nearby orchard/farm each fall to purchase apple cides, apples and our pumpkin for a Jack-o-lantern. I have a photo of him carrying the largest pumpkin he could carry at the time. I could also leave it empty until this fall and take him back there. Then I could get a photo of him actually sitting on one of the huge pumpkins they have on display. Hmmmmmm! What to do?

That's all for today. Make sure to take a peek at the new Holiday Mini catalog. It's 40 pages of goodies.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping (or if you prefer - Happy Scrapping!)
Jill

BEST LAID PLANS

Happy Saturday to all of you. It' been a nice, restful day here at my house and I've been able to spend much of the morning in my studio. Unfortunately I wasn't stamping. I was cleaning and reorganizing after a week of not putting anything away! I still have a HUGE stack of scrap papers to sort. One would think I'd have learned to file as I go - but apparently I'm not there yet!



Anyhoo - the reason for the title of my post today: The Best Laid Plans is because I designed and sketched this card yesterday afternoon during my lunch break and it looked sooooo great I couldn't wait to come home and put it all together. But guess what - it didn't "work" the way I sketched it. It started out a 4.25"x5.5" card NOT square but I didn't like the "extra" card stock exposed at the bottom of the card - it just detracted from the punched medallions and frames - so it became square. The original sketch called for brown & pink with only the center circle in white. Too much brown. I planned to use my Martha Stewart Scalloped Eyelet Border Punch - it's NOT WORKING (Waaaaaaaa!) so instead I used the Martha Stewart Lattice Border punch. In the end though - I liked the finished version BETTER than the original sketch.


SUPPLY LIST:
Bloomin'Beautiful Stamp
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Markers: Pretty in Pink, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue
Punches: SU! Scalloped Border, MS Lattice Border, MS Triple Butterfly, SU!Ticket Corner
Embellishments: Mini Half Pearls


FINISHED CARD SIZE: 4.25"X4.25"

Just one more thing: Anyone interested in winning a BigShot, Doctor's Bag and 2 embossing folders? Check out THIS LINK.


Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Are you asking yourself why I'm making Christmas cards in July? I could say I'm trying to get an early start - but really I was simply trying out a new technique - a tag punch star - and it makes me think of snowflakes and winter.

I was inspired by a card I saw on SCS - it was so elegant in all white. I changed up a few things - added the snowflake CB background, the snowflake center, a single pearl in the center, stardust Stickles and the white organdy ribbon. I loved the original version and I am pleased to say I like mine just as much. After punching the hole for the ribbon however, I've decided I like it better without. Any that I make in the future will have only the star - no distractions.

That't it for today. Short and sweet.

Hope you enjoyed the tag punch star.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.
Jill

BIG SHOT PROJECT - REVISION

The consensus regarding my earlier post is that my yellow BigShot project sample card stinks! Let this be a lesson to all of you - stick with what you love. I HATE the color yellow. I DON'T LIKE to use bright colors when I make my cards. I DON'T LIKE alot of white space. So what happened with my card this morning? I used someone else's layout (it's in the catalog) and tried to get out of my 'comfort zone' and use colors that I DON'T LIKE. You SAW how that turned out!!!

So, tonight when I got home from work, the house was quiet and I set to work to revise that disastrous attempt. It was time to create from my heart and not my head. I had to use the same die because I was one of the last to sign up for the BigShot project and all the other dies I own were already spoken for. So knowing that I was cutting a flower containing layers I looked through my DP stash and the only other DP paper pack I have that is still in the current catalog was Bella Bleu. I LOVE that paper. So I picked two of the pieces and die cut my flower layers. Next I cut deep into the petal of each layer so that I could form them into a softer, 3-D shape. I used one of my FAVORITE techniques and sponged the edges of each flower in Not Quite Navy Ink. I connected the three larger layers with dimensionals then pierced the center with a piercing tool and stuck a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button/Brad through the hole. Okay. I LIKE the flower! So far so good.

Next step: Choosing the Cardstock. I knew I wanted to use the new Soft Suede ribbon on the card in some fashion so I chose Kraft cardstock for the cardbase. I LOVE that color!!! and it blends so nicely with both the Soft Suede and the touch of Sahara Sand that is in the DP. Then I pulled out a stamp set that I also LOVE - Itty Bitty Backgrounds - and used my FAVORITE of the four stamps to create little specks on the Kraft cardstock in Chocolate Chip ink. Another look that I LOVE. I knew that I wanted to use Soft Suede cardstock behind the flower to really make the flower "pop" so I needed a third color to make my browns seperate. I chose Not Quite Navy as a mat and sponged the edges in the same color. The Soft Suede background is stamped using the Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp in Chocolate Chip then sponged around the edges in the same color. I used mini copper brads in the 4 corners of the flower mat then cut and adhered two strips of trimmed ribbon to finish.

So what do you think of the revision? I stuck with the things I LOVE - muted, earthy colors; edge sponging; a touch of distressing and a few small embellishments - and created something that I like. That's the key you know: STICK WITH THE THINGS YOU LOVE!

It's okay to step out of your comfort zone now and then - just don't plan on LOVING the result! LOL!!!!!

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

BIG SHOT PROJECT

I have a couple of different items to share with you today. Both exclusively use Stampin'Up! product because they were made for a make n' take and a demonstrator project that I'm VERY excited about.

The first item is a 6x6 scrapbook page that is going to serve as the make n' take project at a workshop at the end of the month. The majority of the women attending this workshop are scrapbookers not card makers so I wanted to let them make something they could incorporate into their 12x12 scrapbook pages.

Recipe:
Crushed Curry, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Whisper White Cardstocks
Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper
Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon
Piercing Tool
Mat Pack with piercing guide
Stamp Set: Inspired by Nature
3x5" photo of my sister serving in South Africa
Oh - and I apparently lied - because the flower is NOT Stampin'Up but I'm using it anyway!

The next item is for a BigShot Album that the demonstrator group I'm in is making. To date there are 29 of us participating. Each one of us chooses a current BigShot die from the catalog. Then we diecut the object from whisper white and adhere it to a 6x6" piece of black cardstock. This will be placed in a 6x6 album so that when the album is open the black & white sample is on the left and then on the facing page (the right hand page) there will be a sample card or scrapbook page made using the die. I chose "Flower Layers" on page 202 because I already owned the die.

Because I have to make at least 30 samples I tried to design a fairly easy but not boring cardfront. I cut a piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock then cut a piece of Barely Banana cardstock 1/4" smaller and then embossed 2/3 of the Barely Banana layer using one of the Stampin'Up! Backgrounds I Texture Plates. Next I cut a 3/4" strip of Rich Razzleberry Cardstock and overlayed it with a piece of Crushed Curry "Ribbon". It's not really ribbon - I haven't ordered it yet - so it's just Crushed Curry cardstock that I added dots to for effect. You have to "imagine" that it's ribbon. After gluing the "ribbon" to the Razzleberry strip I adhered it to the card face and then stamped a portion of a stamp from the "WITH SYMPATHY" stamp set in Rich Razzleberry. I underscored the greeting by piercing a line of holes beneath it.

The flower layers were cut from Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper. The second and third layers are popped up using dimensionals. The 4th and smallest layer was covered with Crystal Chunky Glitter then glued to the center of the flower.

Now it's your turn. I really need some feedback on this card because I don't "LOVE" it. Do you like it or not? I'm not a big fan of this particular die shape. It's too contemporary (my 20 something year old nieces love it) and I'm very traditional (perhaps boring). I also don't generally choose bright colors and definitely not YELLOW (my least favorite color) very often so overall - this card front is just "not me". I'm really having a hard time deciding if it's a "keeper" or not. Feedback would be GREATLY appreciated on this one.

That's a wrap for today. Hope it's a good for you whatever you're doing.

A note to a few of my friends:
- to the one who is sick with a terrible cold - I hope you're feeling "unstuffed" soon.
- to the one getting the results of tests today - I'm here for you whatever the outcome. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
- to the one who received an upsetting photo in the mail yesterday - please forgive my scattered thoughts when you told me about it and know that you are in my prayers and in my heart.
I love you all.


Until next time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

So how was everyone's holiday weekend here in the U.S.???

DH and I, along with my brother & sister-in-law took 6 of our nieces and nephews hiking in Matthiessen State Park in Utica, IL. Absolutely gorgeous!!! It wasn't until last year that I knew we had anything like this in Central Illinois. And anyone who has traveled through our area knows what I mean - my Kentucky relatives say Illinois is just flatland with corn on one side of the road and soy beans on the other! Let this be a lesson to you. You just need to know where to look.

I have been so busy recently that I haven't been able to play in my studio at all. I finally had the chance Saturday and was looking forward to it. But guess what - I was so worn out by all the hiking on Friday that I didn't make one card! I cleaned the house very quickly in the morning then had my own personal NCIS marthon (Season One on DVD) on my laptop while I sat in my recliner. So the card you are seeing today is one that I made a couple of weeks ago and just haven't had the time (or energy) to post until today.

I love this new Designer Paper from Stampin'Up! It's so fresh and feminine - and EXCLUSIVE TO HOSTESSES so if you're lovin' this paper too it's time to call your SU! demonstrator and host a workshop.

To make this card, I began by cutting a piece of DP 1/4" smaller than an A2 size card then using my BigShot and a Spellbinder's circle Nestie to cut a circle in the upper half of the DP. I also cut the same size circle from a piece of white cardstock and stamped the greeting and small flowers using Crushed Curry and Razzleberry markers. I then glued the DP to the front of the cardbase (which is in the new SU! In-color: Razzleberry. Next I applied glue to the back of the stamped circle and fit it into the hole on the front of the card, gluing it to the inside of the cardbase. Once that was complete, I used the next size smaller Nestie to cut out the center of the circle on the cardfront leaving just a rim of the Razzleberry cardbase exposed.

I tied knots evenly spaced down a length of matching organdy ribbon - it's from my stash and not part of the In-Color line - and tied it around the bottom, front of the card. I then added a small yellow Prima and a few raspberry dew drops to finish.

That's it for today. Hope you enjoyed the card and the photo from my holiday weekend exploration.

Until next time,
Happy Stamping!
Jill

STEP BACK IN TIME

Before I share my card for the day I want to remind you that it is DAY 6 of the SPELLBINDERS RELEASE PREVIEW: IN SPADES PENDANT & BORDERABILITIES. Don't be fooled by the name - this GORGEOUS soon to be released die set from Spellbinders has nothing to do with playing cards or what you normally might think of as a "spade". Instead, think elegant, regal, florentine - actually stop thinking at all and just click here to see what I'm talking about. Heidi Blankenship is the guest designer for this release and her card is GREAT!

And speaking of cards, I have one of my own to share with you today. It's NOT A NEW ONE!

I looked back through my archives and found one of my EARLY cards. I laughed - but you CAN'T!!!! Seriously, I found it eye-opening to look back on my early work and compare it to my current style. I have improved alot over the past 3 or 4 years and much of what I've learned can be credited to the best stamping site on the internet (in my opinion anyway) - SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS.

There are some VERY talented women (and gents too) on that site. Pop into their gallery and check out some of the awesome work being showcased. It's a great place to visit if you have creative block and need a card in a hurry. You can either copy the card exactly or use one for inspiration to get you started.

So - what do you think??? Isn't this one of the gawdiest cards you've EVER seen!!!! LOL! I pray I didn't actually send this to someone but I probably did. If it was YOU, please forgive me.

A couple of non-related things:

For those of you who have recently decided to live a healthier lifestyle (diet, exercise, etc) - BE CAREFUL! The weekend is a saboteur of good intentions. Be on your guard and plan ahead.

And to my friend waiting on medical results (you know who you are) - my thoughts AND prayers are with you. Tend to your thoughts and remember: He knows the plans He has for you. Plans to prosper and not to harm. (from the book of Jeremiah). Whatever the outcome, God is STILL in control and he loves you - as do I.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill