Adventure Awaits

As one who loves camping, hiking and all sorts of adventure, I had fun playing around with Stampin' Up's Pieces and Patterns designer paper.  The paper has all sorts of cute animals and camping images on it.  I spent a few minutes cutting them out (I think I need the Brother Cut and Scan for Christmas - hint, hint) and then made some magnets using the images.

I just love the little trailer in this one.  I just bought a vintage trailer similar to this one and can't wait to take it out "on the road!" 

I added ribbon, pearls, buttons and enamel dots to the magnets for embellishments.

Look how cute the moose is!  Someday I'd like to see one (from afar, that is) in real life. 

I had so much fun playing around with these.  Look how I even added an enamel heart to the little bear.  :)

Which one do you like the best?  Seriously, I could make these all day.

I finished off the day making a shadowbox with more cut-outs.  The saying says, Today is the perfect day to be happy.  Looking at all of these really does make me happy.  I'm already looking forward to next year's camping adventures.

How about you?  Do you love to hike, camp and find adventures?

Who is Your Neighbor?

From time to time, I teach a Sunday class at my church and come up with a craft project for them to work on.  The lesson that I taught to go along with this craft was the Good Samaritan, where Jesus was teaching about who is your neighbor - and that is anyone that is in need.

I had some 6x8" canvas boards in my stash of crafting supplies, so I took them out and found some designer paper to use for the background.  I glued the papers down before the class.  This made the houses and other items easy to glue on using a glue stick.

I used an old stamping wheel with a cute set of houses on it and rolled them in black on different colored cardstock.

At church the kids cut them out and made their own neighborhoods.  They could color in the white houses if they wanted and there were trees, clouds, dog houses, bushes and lamp post cut-outs for them.  I did a lot of cutting beforehand to make the craft easier for some of the children.

Then I made the "Who is your neighbor" sign for them to put on their board.   I was totally amazed at the creativity of the children.  Each board had its own creative look to it. Some children even stood up the houses along a row for a 3-D effect.  It was a lot of fun helping them to design their own neighborhood.

I think I'll keep this one around as a reminder of the great time that we shared together.  :)

More Daisies

I fell in love with the Daisy punch the first time that I saw it in the new SU catalog.  :)  I've made it in a lot of colors, shapes and sizes but haven't gotten sick of it yet!

I love the yellows and navy blues in this card.  I made a bunch of them as Thank you cards for some of my friends.  They're each a little bit different.

This one has a different background paper on it with the Daisy designer paper accents.

And this one has yellow daisies.  Which color daisy do you prefer?  I think the blue ones offer more contrast.

Now just to get them off in the mail to my friends.

Summertime Frame

Ahh, I'm so sad to see summer wind down.  I think I had so many expectations for summer and I didn't get to do many of them this year.  So I'm desperately trying to finish my summer projects and activities with a bang.

I have wanted to make a Summer framed project for a couple of years.  So I finally sat down and came up with something!  I had a bunch of these 8 x 8" frames laying around (!), so I took the glass out of the frame and made this 3-D project.

I started out making the squares to fit into the frame.  I wanted to have different sizes to give it some interest.  There were some summer stamp sets that I definitely wanted to include.  Don't you just love the fireflies from the Jars of Love set?

Jars of Love is also used for the lemonade and the flower arrangement within the heart, which is from the Swirly Bird framelits.  The sailboat is from the Swirly set, too.

I had to include the beloved Daisy punch and also the Adirondack chair from the Colorful Seasons. The kite in this frame is from the Swirly set.  I tried working up the frame using some different colors and different accent flowers.  This second one has a bit more whimsical look to it.

I'm not even sure which one that I like the best.  In this frame, I used coral colored paper for the background.  I just love the colors, don't you?

Which frame is your favorite?   Have you ever made a collage frame using different stamp sets?  I think it came out so nice, that now I want to work on a Fall one.  :)

It's Time for a Coffee Break

One of the sets that caught my eye in the Stampin Up new catalog was this set, Coffee Cafe.  Funny thing is, I don't really even drink coffee!

I guess it's the colors that drew me to this suite- I love the way these colors blend together- the browns, teals and greens.  Then I think it's the cute images that are on the designer paper.  You can cut them out and use them as embellishments on your cards and projects.

This first card, Happiness is a Cup of Coffee shared with a Friend, has some Espresso designer paper as the background and then the two cups of coffee that are "shared" together are set on a green striped banner to make them stand out.  I added the straw, sugar cubes and a button to give this card it's cute factor.  I put this card idea together myself. 

On this next card, I just love the paper that has coffee rings on it.  It goes great as a background for the Coffee Suite.  The band on the coffee cup has ridges on it that can be made using the die cuts that come with the set.  Then I took out an old tool- the crimper- and made the corrugated heart for the center embellishment.  In real life the card has a lot of dimension on it.  This idea came from Joann Mulligan.

Third up is this gate-fold card.  It opens in the middle and has this cute coffee cup in the center, only attached to one side, of course.  Don't you just love this polka-dotted paper? 

Here is the card showing how it opens.  This idea came from Joann Mulligan, also.

Then I made this instant coffee favor.  It's made using the tag topper punch and then folded up, leaving a small gusset for the bottom to make it stand.  The hole used to insert the instant coffee packet is made using the small oval punch.  Then it's just decorated using cut-outs from the designer paper.  I saw this idea from thepaperedchef.  I purchased the coffee packets at Starbucks, 10 for $10, but when I was over at Walmart, I saw the same item for only $6.  You can also put tea packets or flavored drink packets in them.

Last up I made this little candy/gift card holder using a 6" square piece of designer paper. I remember making these paper drinking cups when I was a kid!  Now I'm making crafts out of them.  :)  I got the idea from Cindee Wilkinson.  If you click here, it will give you the instructions on how to make them.  

I had so much fun working with this set and the beautiful coordinating papers.  Have you tried using them yet?  Which one is your favorite?

Do Something Creative Every Day

One of the new stamp sets that Stampin' Up has to offer is called Crafting Forever.  Okay, doesn't that sound just like me?  Seriously, I just move from room to room in my house making crafts.

It has cute images of paintbrushes, pens, scissors, twine and of course, a rubber stamp!  It also has 3 cute sayings, but the one that I love the most is, "Do something creative every day." 

I made this little magnet the size of an Artist Trading Card which is 3 1/2" x 2 1/2".  I stamped the paint brushes onto white cardstock and then again onto designer paper and cut out the pot.  I used the Delightful Daisy paper and then coordinated the rest of the colors in my project to match with Calypso Coral and Tranquil Tide. 

The stamp image and saying really make it look crafty.   Add the bow or a button for the perfect embellishment.  What a great reminder to be creative, don't you think?

It's a Daisy Craze!

This week I made 3 cards featuring the Daisy Delight stamp set.  I wanted to show the ladies who come over to stamp with me the diversity of the Daisy stamp.  And I am loving this set.  

 

 Here is Card #2 (Card #1 is in the previous post), made with Bermuda Bay cardstock and accented with some sponging. 

For the sponging, I punched 3 different sized circles with punches onto a piece of scrap cardstock and then sponged them onto the white layer with different colors.  I used Flirty Flamingo, Bermuda Bay and Soft Sky.  Once you are done with that, randomly stamp the Daisy image using black ink. 

Add a saying and some rhinestones to make it sparkle.  Very different look, right?  I got the idea for this card on Pinterest from Amanda Mertz.

Card #3 is a bright and cheery yellow Thank You card.  For this card, I used thick white cardstock for the base, added black frame and some Daffodil Delight designer paper.  Then I used a circle framelit and added stitches with a white chalk pen.  I stamped and punched two daisies for the center.  I put the dimensionals under the black circle and under the saying.  The idea is from dutchstampin.blogspot.nl.

There are so many different ways to use the Daisy stamp set!  I think I've only just begun.  :)

Coneflowers from the Daisy Punch

This week I have been working on making cards using the Daisy Delight stamp set with its coordinating punch.  I love punches that match the stamp sets- they are so quick and easy to use. 

The cards have 2 different colored flowers.  I used Tranquil Tide at first and then Early Espresso.  I decided that I like the brown flowers better.  Then I stamped a light speckle stamp using Crumb Cake ink for a subtle color in the background. When I stamped the saying onto this card, the ink smeared so I stamped the saying again on some scrap and mounted it in an oval scallop.  I mean, who wants to start over when your card is almost done? 

For this project, I used the Daisy punch and cut it in half to form a coneflower.  It was stamped on the Daisy designer paper to give it a watercolor look.  What do you think? 

I saw the idea for this card on Pinterest from Cindee Wilkinson.  I love how it came out. :)

Everyone Needs a Friend

Seriously, isn't this just a beautiful card?

While browsing on Pinterest, I kept seeing samples using this thinlet set, So Detailed, and I thought that it just makes any card look so wonderful.  I love this saying, "Everyone need a friend like you," from the Suite Sentiments stamp set and when I paired them together, I just love how this card turned out. 

In my perfect dream world, I would love to send this card to every one of my friends.  In reality, maybe I can just send them a link to this page and tell them that I love and appreciate them.  If you are one of my friends, this page is for you.  I ram really grateful for you.  If you don't know me, then this page can also be for you.  You are just a friend that I haven't met yet. 

Cool Treat Card Class

When I first saw the stamp set Cool Treats, I didn't think that much of it.  Enter Pinterest samples, and I began to find so many cute ideas for it that I bought it.  I offered a class where we made 4 cards using the pretty Tasty Treats designer paper and the Cool Treats stamp set.  The strawberry paper in the set has a pretty glossy shine to it, making the card stand out even more than it appears in the photo.

The "You're Sweet" card uses punches for the saying.  A cute and easy card to make.  I got the idea from songofmyheartstamper.  

Next, the Happiest Birthday card uses another sheet of the dsp and the layering oval framelits that I think make any saying look great.  We embellished it by cutting out and adding two popsicles.  This ideas is from theladyandherstamps.  Cute, right?

The next two cards ideas are from prettypapercards and mystamplady.com.  For the Happiest Birthday card, we stamped the cones and scoops and then cut them out and adhered them to the card.  The cone in the middle has dimensionals under it to give it some pop.

I didn't have the framelits for this stamp set, so I cut out two circles for the sundae bowl on the Cherry card and cut them in half.  I love how they came out.  The ice cream scoops are punches and then I cut out the spoon and cherry for added interest.  the saying on the inside says, "I hope your birthday is sprinkled with everything great."

I love how they all turned out.  I think this was one of my favorite card classes yet.  Have you tried this set?  Which one is your favorite?

Loving the New Stampin Up Catalog

I have to say that I am loving the new Stampin Up 2017 catalog.  There are so many new interesting items offered this year. 

The first stamp set that caught my eye was the Daisy Delight bundle.  I got the idea to make this little pot of flowers by Debbie Blake.  I offered this project at my New Catalog Open House.  All of the ladies loved it!

Each daisy flower is made using 3 stamped flower images and then they are punched out with the coordinating punch.  (You know how I love the matching punches!)  I curled them with my bone folder to give them some texture. 

Then I put a dimensional between each flower and added one of the new gem embellishments to the top.  I attached them to a floral wire by bending it into a circle and mounting it with some glue dots.  Then I inserted them into a styrofoam floral base.  I love the idea of putting the dragonfly into the flowers.  It add such a nice touch, don't you think? 

I stamped two of them and attached them to some floral wire also.  Then I adhered the two dragonflies together so that you can see his wings from the top and from the bottom side. 

I used a new saying from the Colorful Season stamp set that says, "Life is a beautiful thing."  Perfect.

It's Another Wreath

I saw the idea for this card a while back. The wreath is made from the vine stamp in Foxy Friends set.  The vine is an arc that you can stamp two times to make a wreath.  Cute, right?  I saw this card from Julie T at stampingala.com.  I embossed the flowers that are from the Touches of Texture set and added some leaves using the bird punch.

During one of my classes, one of the ladies used the flower from the Texture set and I love how this changes the look of the card.  The flowers have Wink of Stella on them but it's hard to see in the photo.  There are some mini pearls also on the flowers and in the vine.

Here's another sample made using some yellow and an added bumble bee. What do you think of this?  The sayings are from Dragonfly Dreams.

Which one is one that you like the best?

Spring Wreath

I've had this Circle of Spring wreath stamp set for a couple of years and thought that I'd like to make some "spring-looking" cards this week.  I had a little bit of trouble getting the framelit to line up with the middle of the wreath, so I cut it out with scissors.  I love how this card turned out, especially with the mint lace around the edges of the hardwood banner in the center.  I got the idea while browsing on Painted Orange's blog.

Here is the same card, only with some flowers in the background and a generic "for you" greeting.  My Mom is gone so I won't be sending her a card this year.  Perhaps I can give it to someone else who is a mom. 

Three's a charm - here are all three.  They're pretty much the same card.  I enjoyed making them and just love the colors.  Have you used the spring wreath lately?

I Love the Succulents

I found out this week that these wonderful succulent stamps are retiring and won't be around for another year in the Stampin Up catalog.  How sad!  I think they are so versatile.  I just want to put them everywhere.  :)

I found this card idea on Pinterest (from Painted Orange blog) using the basket framelit from the Basket Builder dies and I just loved it.  Of course, I had to buy the Basket Builder framelits to make this card!  Ha ha. 

Anyway, I just love how it came out.  It looks like the basket of succulents are sitting on a shelf with a lace doily or tablecloth underneath.  So pretty!

The second time that I made the card I used a green designer paper for the background.  It gives more of a monochromatic look, whereas the first card looks a bit more country.

And how about his look?  I used a striped peach and it makes the card look more playful.  I just love them all.  I'd even like to try making this card using some different color schemes.

Here are all three of them side by side.  Which one do you like the best?  The ladies who came to my stamping class this week loved making this card. 

We All Need a Little Salsa in Our Lives!

 It's no wonder that this little guy is the first stamp set in the Stampin Up catalog.  It's because he's so cute!  I have a lot of stamp sets (would you guess that?) and I love to get a something that has a whimsical feel to it.  I finally took out this little llama and I just loved putting these cards together!  Not only do I like the llama, but the cactus is really cute, too. 

 Here is the same card with a very festive background!  At first I thought that it was too busy, but it's growing on me and now I like it.  For the cards, I took out some watercolor paper and colored in a blue sky background.  Then I shaped it like a tag and added some washi tape to the lower edge.  Finally I added a pink strip of paper that was cut with the "grassy" scissors, you know, the one with all of the blades.  :)  The rest of the pieces are just stamped and adhered with glue dots.  Don't you just love the saying?

Here are the two cards side by side.  Which one do you prefer?

I found the idea for this card from Heidi Baks.  I enjoyed using this bright and playful llama.  I have a feeling you'll be seeing more of him in the future.  :)