Star Birthday

Happy May, friends! This weekend, I had a little time in the studio. I'm sharing one of the cards I made for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SplitcoastStampers. Vicki, aka Basement Stamper, was our featured stamper FS482. She has a fabulous gallery & has been making cards for quite some time. I remember her work from before my hiatus & loved it then as I do now. I chose her Confetti Birthday card to case. As you might know with the FS Challenge, you change some elements & keep other elements. You can see her card here: I changed the confetti to stars by using a star stencil from Simon Says Stamp (SSS); I think it was in one of the monthly kits a while back but it hadn't seen ink. I also changed the colors to Real Red, Midnight Muse and Marina Mist. I punched three balloons; one in each color & popped up on dimensionals. I hand drew the balloon string. I kept Vicki's idea of a die cut happy but I used the "Express Edges" Happy from DieVersions in Midnight Muse & then stamped birthday in Midnight Muse using PTI's Everyday Happiness. Last I added a few wooden stars colored with a red marker. Have a great week!

July Shoebox Swap Cards

Hi Friends! I hope you have had a nice weekend. Today I want to share with you the two cards I made for the July Shoebox Swap with a group of St. Louis Splitcoaststamper friends. Each month the group gathers at a local library's multipurpose room where each of us designs a card & brings the supplies for each person to duplicate that card (aka as a shoe box swap).  We have a lot of fun, talking while we create & mostly talking about stamping, paper art, and crafts. Gotta' love these friends who are as obsessed as I am with paper and ink!

Some months we have themes but July was "stamper's choice". I wanted to swap a card that used some of my new Washi Tape because it is just fun. So, the above first card was my Washi Tape card. Because this card could be completed in about 5-10 minutes, I decided to make a second card to keep my friends "busy" at my shoebox station for a little while. I think the ladies liked both. Each of my friends has a different style & often bring new techniques or products, so it is nice to step out of my comfort zone. It really gives me a creative boost!. You can follow our thread HERE; and you can see the other ladies' cards HERE in Gill's gallery.

Have a great week!
Hugs, 

Marilyn

Supplies- Card1:
Stamps:Compact Sentiments Part 2 (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper: Summer Starfruit (SU), White (Neenah)
Ink: Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Memorable Washi Tape (My Mind's Eye), Scoreboard (MS)

Supplies- Card 2:
Stamps: Curly Cute, French Foliage (SU)
Paper: Island Indigo, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Baja Breeze DSP (SU), White (Neenah)
Ink:Pacific Point, Island Indigo
Accessories: 4" Doilies (Wilton), Circle Diamond Gem (Studio 112), Lacy Brocade EF (SU), Boho Blossoms & Decorative Label Punches (SU)

Mini Virtual Stamp Night Fun

 Last night was the Splitcoaststampers Mini Virtual Stamp Night (VSN). The VSN forum link is HERE.

Every hour a hostess posts a challenge related to the VSN theme. Each player must complete their challenge within 45 minutes (does not include the time to post the card). The theme for this VSN is Birds, Bees & Creepy Crawlies. I was fortunate to host the second challenge, which happens to be my first card here & the rest of the cards are in numerical & chronological order. (I missed the first challenge).

Here are my cards:
- MAR13VSNMINI2- My challenge to make a Spring card featuring flowers as the main image or focal point. Must use at least one flower. Dessert option to use something new.
- MAR13VSNMINI3- Use Hexagons.
- MAR13VSNMINI4- Pick a fun pun to use on your card with a bird or a bee.
- MAR13VSNMINI5- Make a sympathy card with one or more birds or butterflies.
- MAR13VSNMINI6- “flock” together: TWO birds, THREE different embellishments and FOUR colors from a posted picture of brightly colored birds.

 I really love VSN & feel so happy when I can play. Because of the 45 minute time rule, you don't have time to be fussy. [Rather I don't have time to be fussy!-LOL!!] A stamper can't spend 30 minutes rolling ideas around in her head & another 30 minutes picking embellishments. It forces me to CREATE and not THiNK about creating. Usually I get on a roll & the creative juices flow. I forget every other care in the world!

I hope you have a chance to check out this mini VSN; you still have time to play along. Join us for with the full VSN on March 1 & 2. Look HERE for more details! 

Hugs, Marilyn

Giraffe Birthday

Happy Father's Day!
We had a nice and easy lunch with my FIL (father-in-law) and step-MIL (mother-in-law). They are elderly & although they still get out, it really takes a lot out of my FIL. So to keep it easy on them, we brought to their home a BBQ lunch from one of our local restaurants to them. I am so thankful to have them both in our lives and just a short drive away. I made a German chocolate cake which is my husband's and FIL's favorite. Tonight I will give my husband a little gift from me & he'll open the cards that our daughters sent.

This card wasn't a Father's Day card but rather it was made for my youngest daughter's best friend whose birthday is upcoming. She has a thing for giraffes and anything with animal prints. The sketch I used is from Freshly Made Sketches. Love that sketch challenge and their sketches.

Thanks for stopping, Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies: 
Image: Zoo Review, Sentiment (SU)
Papers: More Mustard, Close to Cocoa (retired), WHite (Neenah), Dsp- Safari Kids Matstack (DCWV) 
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Momento), Barely Banana (retired), Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery markers (SU)
Accessories: Scallop Oval, Extra large Oval punches (SU), Extra Long Rectangles Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Card Club Swap

Hi Friends!
What a whirlwind of a week- we are super busy at home and at work. Which is why I need my stamping even more...to keep my balance. So today's card is one I made for this month's SU! Stamp Club card swap. These are strictly SU! but it is fine to use retired products. We make 12 cards so I try to make CAS cards, but unless I case a blogland favorite my cards are more CAL - clean and layered & often with DP. I love DP...duh...Paper Dreams!

Onto the card details...the base is retired Yo-Yo Yellow which exhausted that color from my supplies. The other colors are Wild Wasabi & Peach Parfait. The DP is from the 2010-2012 In Color Pattern Stack. I really love these papers & even though they are retiring in a day, I still have lots left so I'll be using them for card swaps & my CB42DD project. (Card box for two dear daughters who requested a card supply of their own since they no longer live at home & can't raid my stash.)

The images are from SU! Aviary set & the sentiment is from a retired Sale-a-bration set called Love you Bunches (circa 2005). This was my first Sale-a-bration set & probably one of my first ten stamp sets. The sentiment fit perfectly so I went with it. The layered sentiment is made with the Modern Label punch. The yellow and green punched out shapes were each cut in half and separated across the back of the white layer to form the layering on the front. Paper piercing in the corners and a little bling are the added details.

This card qualifies for the SU!Only #46 challenge to capture something about bright summer days & my color combination certainly fits. Have a great rest of your week!

Hugs, Marilyn

VO Ribbon Challenge & Sale

Hey blogger friends! I hope my US friends had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I loved being off for 4 days in a row. It was such a treat to spend time with family and in my studio. This week is my last week at my current job. I have really enjoyed this job and will miss the people, but I was offered a real exciting opportunity. I am hopeful that I won't have to put in 60 hours a week to keep up & the location is much closer to home which will give me more STAMPING and creating time! I know I will be busy in the beginning trying to learn the business, department and my job, but I am ever hopeful it will be closer to 40 hours a week once I settle in.

Anyway, here is the card I created for the Victorine Originals Challenge to use ribbon. Easy peezy, right?!  Check out the VO online catalog while you are at it, because Vicki is offering half-price on all unmounted stamps but just through tonight.

 Don't you just love the sentiment?! Cracks me up.I also used the sketch from Clean & Simple FTL168 challenge. It was fun making a non-holiday card for a change even if I love making holiday cards, a little variety is good, right?!

I used my Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage paper and die cuts. I love this retired collection and I have hardly used it. It just seemed perfect for these two challenges.
Have a great day! Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies:

Stamps: Secret of Youth- 1244-E (Victorine Originals) 

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)

Paper: Lucky Limeade, Basic Black (SU), DP-Bayberry Cottage (Pink Pasilee)

Accessories: Scallop Circle & Fancy Tags 1 (Spellbinders), Black grosgrain ribbon (SU) 

 

Party Hats

Happy Monday, Friends! I have some very exciting news that I've kept quiet for a little while...I was selected to join the Victorine Originals Design Team! Isn't that cool? I'm super thrilled and honored, to say the least. I waited until today to tell you as today is my first DT challenge card. Hop on over to the Vicotrine Originals blog (aka http://vostamps.blogspot.com/) to check it out. Today our challenge is "Bling".

I used a fun VO stamp called "Party Hats" as my main image. Colored it with SU! markers in Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz and retired Pixie Pink. Then covered the entire image with Versamark ink and sprinkled with Iridescent Ice for a beautiful sparkle. But you knoiw that it is hard to capture that twinkle on the camera. The card base is Pear Pizzazz that I scored with my Scor-Pal to highlight the image and the gemstones. My sentiment is from VO's All Occasions Set.

Supplies:
Stamps: (Party Hats-2925F; All Occasions Set-10512X) Victorine Originals
Paper: (Pear Pizzazz, Pretty in Pink) Stampin' Up, (Solar White) Neenah
Ink: (Memento-Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko, (Markers-  Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz &retired Pixie Pink) Stampin' Up
Accessories:  (Iridescent Ice) Stampin' Up, (Oval and Scallop Punches) Stampin' Up, (Pink Gemstones) Paper Studio

Bright Birthday

Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you had a great weekend. I did but it sure did go fast. I'm voting for another day, how about you?
My card was made using the FTL146 challenge layout seen below.There's still plenty of time to play, so head over!

I need a few new birthday cards & I had received a sample of the bright and fun Stampin' Up designer paper. I like these colors and design for a birthday card. It works for just about anyone- young or old, male or female. At least in my humble opinion. {wink, wink}

Have a great week! Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies- All Stampin' Up
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Pacific Point, Real Red, White, DP- Celebrations
Ink: Pacific Point
Accessories: Large Star punch, Piercing tool (EK Success)

Another Sunday card~ Life is Sweet!

Hi again! I made another card today. It was a little reward to myself for my work today. I continued sorting & organizing in my studio & converting my wood stamps. Plus I have started an inventory of my stamps by stamping the images on a 4X6 cards according to categories. One of these days, I'll show you how I converted my stamps...I am so happy with it!

Anyway, my card is for the Fall To Layout challenge(FTL144) over on the Clean & Simple Stamping Blog to use the sketch below. Isn't this a great sketch! I know I will be using it frequently. 

In addition, I made this card for the ColorThrowdown challenge (CTD145) to use:

I just love Baja Breeze so, how could I not play?!  I did a micro imitation of Kittie's floral sprays and wreaths along the sides of my tag. If you haven't seen her work, you must check it out. She's so kind to put up tutorials & she even personally helped me find the correct punches. How sweet was that?!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Marilyn

Stamps:Just Believe (SU), Sentiment (SU-unknown set)
Paper: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, White, DSP- A Walk in the Park (retired)- all SU!
Ink: Craft White, Baja Breeze (SU)
Accessories: Winter White embossing powder (SU), branch and branch 1 punches (MS), trio flower punch (SU-retired), Fancy Tags die (Spellbinders), pearls (stash)

Butterfly Birthday

Here's my take on the Splitcoaststampers' sketch challenge from Wednesday (SC336). I really love this sketch; it is one that I feel comfortable with making a CAS card, but it can also be dressed up. I made 12 of these cards for my stamp club card swap. They went together very quickly which was great since I needed to make two sets this month as I missed last month. 

We really enjoyed our anniversary trip, but it is nice to be home with our daughters, dog and stamps. I'm still working on the studio & there is more decorating to do in our bedroom. Plus with all the things that came back home with the girls, the house is still a bit chaotic but I love every minute of having the girls home!

Have a great day! I'll be back tomorrow and later this week with more creations, so please stop by again. I love seeing you!!

Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies: All SU except where noted
Stamps: Something to Celebrate, French Script (retired)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, DSP- Springtime Vintage
Ink: Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Corner rounder punch, Butterfly punch, Felt butterfly from Michael's $1 spot (24/$1)

VSN Challenge Cards

Here are my cards for tonight's Virtual Stamp Night (VSN) Challenges over on SplitcoastStampers. I am so excited to play as I haven't been able to play for several years. I have this evening and all day tomorrow open. Nothing better than stamping all day!

I really need a lift too. This past week I started meeting with my career coach since my position at work was eliminated with a restructure. Last Friday, 8/20, was my last day. I received a good severance package so I won't have to worry about income for a while which is quite reassuring. I'm optimistic that I'll find a rewarding position. Keep me in your thoughts, please.

Back to the cards. I missed the first challenge, but hopefully I can start early tomorrow and make a card for it too. My first pictured was for the "B" challenge ( AUG10VSNB); the challenge was to incorporate a window. The second card was for the 'C" challenge (AUG10VSNC); we were to use the wax paper cuttlebug resist technique.

Our challenge on the third card, "D" (AUG10VSND), was to be inspired by the camping theme. I don't really care for camping. Here in the midwest, I get eaten alive by mosquitoes if I stay out past dusk. Plus I'm not a big fan of all the other creepy, crawly things. But I do love nature, the outdoors & I love to stay in the cabins or lodges at the state & national parks. We took our daughters on a 'western states" vacation & one of our stops was the Grand Canyon. How beautiful! We stayed in a cabin there. Each morning right outside our cabin was an Elk grazing on the tree's foliage. That is one HUGE animal; downright intimadating when you are only six feet away. Thus the inspiration for this card.

My last card was for the last challenge for the evening ( AUG10VSNE) and we were to be inspired by summer vacations. We took some vacations when I was a kid, but mostly we stayed home. We rode our bikes everywhere. One of my best girlfriend's family had a tandem bicycle which is what inspired my card.

That's it for tonight! I'll post the rest of the VSN cards on Sunday. Hugs!

AUG10VSNB supplies:
Image: Sweet of You (SU-retired) {I still love this set}
Paper: Pear Pizazz, Rich Razzleberry, White (SU), DSP- Green at Heart (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento), Pear Pizazz, Rich Razzleberry,Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: 1/2" Pear Pizazz poly ribbon (SU), Cha Ching brad (Brazzill), Velvet flower (7 Gypsies)

AUG10VSNC supplies:
Image: A Little Bit of Happiness (SU-retired)
Paper: Barely Banana, Soft Suede, Glossy (SU)
Ink: Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz-Distressed-Ranger)
Accessories: Wax paper, Iron, Woodgrain Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), Cuttlebug, Twine.

AUG10VSND supplies:
Image: Yukon (SU-retired)
Paper: Mellow Moss, River Rock, Vanilla, DSP-Fall Traditions (SU)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Accessories: Thread, Twine, eyelets (SU!), oval punches (SU), Zipdry glue.
Info:

AUG10VSNE supplies:
Image: Pedaling Past (SU)
Paper: Ballet Blue, Old Olive, DSP-The Paper Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Old Olive (SU)
Accessories: Bling Flourish (Want2Scrap)

Route 66

Hello friends!

We just returned from a wonderful week of vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks. Lots of fun in the water and sun~ amazingly HOT like most everywhere else in the US. Since I don't have anything new, I thought I'd post the card that I made in late July for my BIL. He is my DH's twin so I always spend a lot of time trying to make his cards extra special. He is a car nut ~ he builds stock cars for races & he has completely restored several cars. He loves it like we love our paper artistry.

I am crazy about this Classic Convertible set from Stampin' Up, but I seem to have a hard time with sketches for it. So I turned to my friends at Splitcoaststampers and stalked the SU! Classic Convertible gallery. Well it wasn't hard, I fell in love with the newest one from July. It is from a fabulous artist~ Wanda, aka cullenwr on SCS . You can view her card here on her website. As you can also see, I changed up the colors, but otherwise, I made very little changes to her card. (why mess with wonderful?!) I even had the same DP in my stash which I bought some time ago to match this stamp set.

I'll be back soon with a new creation, a few photos from vacation, and a little bit of personal news. {{{Hugs}}} Marilyn

Supplies:
Images: Car - Classic Convertibles (SU!), Route 66 (free image from internet), Gear - It's About Time (SU!), Rough Texture jumbo wheel (SU!), Happy Birthday (SU!)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, White, Black (SU), DP- Roadmap (paper Pizzaz)
Ink: Black (Momento), Tempting Turquoise (SU!)
Accessories: Red brads (SU!)

Teacup Birthday

A quick monochromatic card for the Tea Party Tuesday challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I used mostly Stampin' Up products today. The background texture was created with the texturz plates in my cuttlebug. I misted the card-stock lightly with water which seems to do the trick to get a good impression with the texturz plate in the cuttlebug. My sandwich is Plate A, texturz plate, misted card-stock, embossing pad, card-stock as shims and B plate. My bow was made with the bow easy. I cut out the teacup and water colored with melon mambo. I did not want a deeply colored teacup so instead of coloring directly with my marker, I took the brush side of the marker and colored onto an acrylic block, then twisted my watercolor painter into the marked acrylic block to pick up ink.

I really like this Pun Fun stamp set from SU! It is not one of those sets that the minute you see it, you have to have it. {or at least it wasn't for me} But here's the reason I love it ~ it has a variety of images- eight altogether & you can make a quick card that looks great b/c of the image size (aprox 2X2). It is easy to make sets and duplicates. That's about it from me. Have a great day!

Supplies:
Image: Pun Fun, VIntage Labels (SU!)
Paper: White (Neenah), Melon Mambo (SU!)
Ink: Black, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Sizzix embossing plate, MM ribbon, corner punch (all SU); glitter glue, watercolor painter, bow easy, pearl pins.

Plaid Flowers

Isn't this a pretty color combo? It was this past Tuesday's color challenge on SCS. The colors are from SU! new in-colors and new pallet; specifically they are Crushed Concord, Pear Pizazz, and Daffodil Delight. I even included the challenge's dessert option to add dew drops. I combined the color challenge with today's TLC challenge. Joan Ervin shared a new technique called Plaid Silhouette. Joan's has a nice tutorial on her blog.

Have a great day!

Supplies:
Image: Office Accoutrement, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Crushed Concord, Daffodil Delight, White (SU!), DSP- Sugar Rush (Basic Grey)
Ink: Crushed Concord, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizazz (SU!)
Accessories: Velvet flowers (7 Gypsies-Eggplant), Dew Drops (orchid-Robin's Nest), Oval punches (SU!) Rose leaf punch (MS)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Sunday!
This card was made for my Father-in-Law who celebrated his 84th birthday this past Friday. We had a family party on Saturday complete with ice-cream cake.

Have a great week!

Supplies:
Images: The Journey (Tim Holtz); sentiment-Simply Chic Stamps (Provo Craft)
Paper: Bashful Blue, Simply Celery, Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, DSP- retired SU (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU), Vintage photo (TH-Ranger)
Accessories: HPH, color spritzer (SU), twine, book page

Pretty Petals

Today's card was made for the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I had the DSP and cardstock out already so I decided to go ahead and use it for the challenge. Below are a few of the cards I made earlier this week with this retired SU! DSP (Sweet Always)~ the reason the papers were already out. These colors are good for young ladies, so I know my daughters and their friends would like the cards.

{sorry the pic isn't the greatest- it's hard to get three cards in one shot }

I want to make more cards with the retiring colors, DSP and other DSP that I've been neglecting. Most of my friends and family have no idea if I am using "old retired" stuff including colors and stamp sets. So I may not post much in the SCS gallery, but I'll posting here on my blog in case there is an idea you want to case. All that said, it won't keep me from purchasing all the new SU! in colors and new colors in the line though. LOL!

Have a great day!

Hip Hip Hooray

Today's Featured Stamper was Emily, aka Scoopy at SCS. She designs for A-Muse and has a wonderful gallery filled with Clean and Simple (CAS) cards. Since I don't do CAS easily, it was fun to case her. It is always good to copy someone else when you are doing something outside your comfort zone. For me, I like CAS but can't quite get the hang of designing a card that doesn't look naked. I cased her Hippo Birdie card. I do like how this one turned out so I may make several like it using the Pun Fun set with different colored card stock. Who knows, I might actually design a CAS on my very own. Thanks for looking! Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Supplies:
Stamp: Pun Fun (SU!)
Paper: Barely Banana (SU!), White (Neenah)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento), Copic Markers
Accessories: Ribbon (Michaels)

Happy Friday! A quick masculine b-day card. The chipboard star is covered with retired SU! DSP and the edges are lined with marker. I used my ScorePal to create the sentiment panel. SU! Punches were used for the red stars. The DSP paper is from the Paper Studio; cardstock SU! Have a great day!

Birthday Cards

Here is card I made for this past Sunday's Featured Stamper challenge. HamiltonGal (aka Laurie) was FS158. I really admire Laurie's work. She has a beautiful gallery filled with great cards, but I especially like her CAS (clean and simple) cards. I love the look of CAS however it is not easy for me...I am more of a layers, papers & embellishments kind of gal. So I enjoyed the challenge to case because it didn't take me very long and I ended with a card I really like. I will be making several duplicates of this one for February and March female birthdays. This card was also made for Sharon's SS no time challenge 126 to make a card with purple and green- any shades. Anyway...here is the card I chose to case from Laurie's gallery. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...;ppuser=147277

Have a great evening! Thanks for stopping by.

Recipe:
Images: Let's Party & Birthday Whimsy (SU!)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Pefect Plum (SU!), DP- Paper Studio Pack
Ink: Perfect Plum, Versamark
Accessories: Heat 'n Stick powder, dazzlind diamonds glitter (SU!), circle punch (SU!), Scallop circle nestabilities(SU!), ribbon (Offray)
Challenges: SSnotime126, FS158

Best Friend

My fifteen year old nephew had a birthday earlier this month & this is the card I made for him. The breed of dog on the card is a Cairn Terrier & this is same breed as his dog. This is also the same kind of dog that I have. Both our dogs are a light tan color, thus the choice of ink color- creamy caramel.

I stamped the background with the 'ruff', the 'bark', and the paw & bone acrylic stamps from Inkadinkado's dog set using creamy caramel. Then using the color spritzer tool and my chocolate chip marker, I misted ink over the craft card stock. That look is especially great for guy cards as it adds color and dimension without adding 'girly' embellishments.

Below is a picture of my little dog, Karlee.
Have a great day!

Marilyn

Card Recipe:
Image: Terrier (Stamp Gallery), Dogs (Inkadinkado), Happy Birthday (Teeny Tiny Wishes)
Paper: Craft, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Chocolate chip, Vanilla
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Twine, Spritzer tool.