Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch #63

Can we say simple? That would be the card I have for you today! And, the winner of the most ignored stamp set that HAD to go on my first order from the Spring Summer catalog is.....Man's Best Friend! It is really cute but I've been challenged and hadn't used it until this challenge!

Here is the layout from MJ:
Here is what I came up with:


I began with the stamp set and then Kraft cardstock and decided Riding Hood Red would be a fun color to go with that. Chocolate Chip was left on my desk from a previous project so that got used, too. I changed the "trio" element to my sentimen and moved it to the bottom. I tried to include another trio but it just lost the right look with anything I tried.

Love the Impressions Texturz plates!!!! My Big Shot is still one of my new favorite tools since it's introduction to Stampin' Up!

Thanks for looking! If you want to see some other great projects, go to MJ's Blog. You won't be disappointed!!!!

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 2

I made a little time and played along with the second of Dawn's color challenges this week. I needed a card to send to a gentlemen who donated a fan to my classroom. (We have a tree of wishes for our school and one of my fans was broken so I added it to the tree. I got a remote control on this fan, though! I don't even have to break a sweat to turn it on! tee hee)


I used the fan from Puns from the Past. When I purchased the set, I separated the sentiments from the images (that's why you still need Craft and Rubber Scissors even though the sets are die cut!) I stamped it over my celery background using Versamark. Then, stamped the image in Chocolate on Whisper White. The sentiment is from the hostess set, Sweet Little Sentiments.

Thanks for looking and have a fantastic day!

Blogger's Challenge #91: Die Cut or Template

Today's Blogger's Challenge was to use a template or a die to create a project! Mine is a little sneak peek of what's available in the upcoming Occasions mini catalog! I used the Matchbox die (and the Big Shot, of course!), the Oval All stamp set and coordinating punch Scallop Oval Punch. Oh what fun!


I used the DSP Bella Bleu (not a misspell). It doesn't look too "blue" in my catty. But it is full of Not Quite Navy which I LOVE! So, I dyed my Organdy ribbon NQN using a rubber glove and my ink pad.

I went to bed without setting my alarm so I'm just so excited to be awake! Also, if you've been following the news, you may have seen that we've been in a flood scare. God has spared Crookston again this flood season, so far (it's never completely done, I guess!) But please keep Grand Forks and especially Fargo in your prayers!

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 1

I LOVE challenges! They've helped motivate me when I don't know what to stamp and to stretch my stamping/papercrafting abilities. When Dawn McVey offered her first Raspberry Suite Color Challenge, I wanted to participate but with my tax appointment and the horrible weather here in Crookston, I didn't think it was going to happen. Well, a snow day today made it possible.

You may or may not be aware of the weather/flood/snow issues we're having in northern MN and eastern ND but it's been interesting! The good news is that we're okay. The bad news is that people we know were given a voluntary evacuation notice yesterday as our river is rising! Top that off with 4 plus inches of snow! We got a snow day today out of it but really didn't need more snow. BUT snow is better than rain and will hopefully slow down the rising of the river.

Okay, back to the challenge:



Here's what I came up with using all Stampin' Up! supplies:



Can you even believe that I wasn't sure if I should preorder Petal Pizzazz? Oh my! I LOVE that set! I love the retro boldness, especially when combined with these colors! Love that ribbon? Only a few more days for you to get it free with Saleabration!!!!!

I'm off to the treadmill and to see what happened with the Biggest Loser last night.

Here's the recipe:
Cardstock/Ink colors: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Stamp set: Petal Pizzazz
Other: So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon (SAB option only!), Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive

Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch #62

My brain is officially fried! But, I finished my taxes and am ready for my appointment on Tuesday. I tried to be inspired by a color combo I saw on a blog: Sage Shadow and Gray. I'm okay with my cards but I'm not in love with my cards. I love to LOVE my cards but today is not the day!

Here's the super nice sketch that I attempted:
Here's the first card I came up with:



Not wanting to give in on this color combo, I came up with this one:



You can play along too! Just use the sketch to come up with your own marvelous creation and then, if you wish, you can add it to the Mister Linky on MJ's blog!

Blogger's Challenge #91: Spring!!!

It's not quite spring here in Northern MN but after having 13 inches of snow last week followed by a meltdown this past weekend and now freezing temps, a warm and fun card is just what the doctor ordered!

I began with the Mojo Monday sketch. This is my first time trying one of these sketches and I liked it.

My other "springboard" for my idea was the Sweet Always paper. LOVED this one as soon as I saw it and still do! I don't think that I've ever made a card that was so thick! Every layer has a dimensional!!! Perfect for hand-delivering!



Be sure to see what the other Blogger's Challenge members are up to!

Card Recipe:
Set: Petal Pizzazz
Cardstock/Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Other: 1 " Double-Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain RIbbon, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL, Sweet Always DSP

Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch #61

Ohhh...this was a fun one! Good job Mary Jo!!! As much as I struggled with last week's, I didn't with this one! I have two to share but one uses a retired set so I'll save that for another time...Since it's St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday and although, I'm 100% of a German ancestry (how can you argue with names in my lineage such as Wohlhuter and Schultz?) I thought I'd put a green twist to my card!

I used Always Artichoke and Old Olive for my colors. For the scallop portion of the layout, I wanted a more masculine look, so I used my Curly Label Punch and adhered 1/2 of a punch along the bottom edge.



I've loved seeing what others have done with MJ's sketches!!! (Especially last week! Those were inspiring! A lot of "that's what I should have done" moments!)

Thanks for looking and play along with us on this challenge!

Blogger's Challenge #90: Texture!

The announcement of Stampin' Up! offering the Big Shot by Sizzix in our catalog was so exciting but I didn't think that I would LOVE it as much as I do! The new Texturz plates and now this Manhattan Flower Texture Impressions Die has made me love my Big Shot even more!!!



Our challenge this week was to use Texture. I knew immediately that I wanted to use this die as it just arrived at my house on Friday! It was featured in the Spring/Summer catalog but wasn't available until March 1.



I went with a same but different card theme. I began with the Whisper White going through the texture process and then using my Pink Pirouette ink pad, I rubbed the color all over the lifted image. I thought that Basic Gray would give my card the elegance that I wanted so a layer of that placed onto the Pink Pirouette card base looked GREAT! I added a bit of Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon to complete the look. This card is for someone special to all of us participating in the Blogger's Challenges! Happy early birthday to Lisa, our BC list-mom!!! Her birthday isn't until Sunday so there's a little bit of time for you to wish her the best!


The second card is for my SIL Marji and her family. I used Pale Plum in the Big Shot die and rubbed Perfect Plum ink to highlight that image. Using those same colors to layer, I finished the card off with a sneak peek from the upcoming Occasions Mini catty, Whisper White Satin Ribbon....ISN'T IT GORGEOUS? So soft and elegant.


Card Recipe:
Stamp set: none that you can see. I stamped the inside with the largest flower from Fifth Avenue Floral
Ink/cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum
Ribbon: Basic Gray Taffeta and Whisper White Satin
Other: Big Shot, Textured Impressions Die, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Mini Glue Dots

Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch #60

Wowza...this was a tough one. I finally think that I'm okay with the card I came up with but I know that there's a better card in my head for this sketch. I just haven't found it!

I began with a color combo I had written down weeks ago. I intended to use Pink Pirouette, Perfect Plum and Kiwi Kiss. The Kiwi got dismissed as I worked. The card I saw with that combo was gorgeous so I'll have to try again later!



The flowers came from the Pretties Kit. I dyed them using my ink pad and a sponge dauber.

Use the sketch and challenge yourself to come up with your own ideas. Click HERE to see MJ's post and you can play along, too!

Card Recipe:
Stamp sets: Oval All (sneak peek from upcoming Occasions Mini!) and Friends 24-7
Cardstock/Ink: Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette
Other: Stamp a Majig, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scallop Oval Punch (another sneak peek!) Oval Punch, Pretties Kit, Glue Dots, SNAIL

Stamper's Showcase!

Because I had BC posted for yesterday, I saved my fun news that my card was on Stamper's Showcase yesterday!!! I participated in a swap with an AWESOME group of ladies who happen to be the BEST stampers! So far, if I've counted correctly, 12 of the cards from that swap have been selected!!! Fairly amazing!

On to the card:


Oh, that is little! (I downloaded the pic from SU) I have one of the originals from the swap. Maybe I'll have to take a picture of that so you can actually see the card!

Thanks for looking and if you are in the area (Crookston) stop by our Celebration Sunday tomorrow to help put a new surface on our school's playground!!!

Blogger's Challenge #89: Sage and Chocolate

We were also supposed to throw in a neutral but I guess I forgot that part! One of the cards the girls made at my Birthday Bonanza class on Tuesday was a gatefold card, so I started with that. Also, the new Fine SuperNova Stampin' Glitter set has CHOCOLATE glitter so it was perfect for this challenge!

I know that you won't want to miss the other Blogger's Challenge projects and cards, so click on the link on the sidebar and see what they came up with. Also, PLAY ALONG!!! Have a great weekend!!!
Card recipe:
Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral
CS/Ink colors: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow
Other: Sage Shadow 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Versamark Ink, Heat and Stick Powder, Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter, Heat Tool, SNAIL Adhesive

Sneak Peek!!! Whoo hoo!!

It's an exciting time for Stampin' Up! Demos BUT it's also exciting for their customers!!!

The following products will be available for customer purchase beginning March 1. Although the Occasions Mini Catalog is not available until April 1, Stampin' Up! wanted to give you time to create your Easter projects using our adorable new Easter stamp sets and accessories.

113196 An Egg-cellent Easter $21.95
113262 Wagon Full of Fun $34.95
113822 Eight Great Greetings $27.95
115421 Ocho saludos geniales (Spanish Eight Great Greetings) $27.95
114643 Huit souhaits sympas (French Eight Great Greetings) $27.95
113833 Egg Hunt Stampin' Around wheel $6.50

See the sets that are available NOW! Remember!!! It's Sale-A-Bration (February 1- March 31)!!! Customers who purchase $50 of Stampin' Up! products qualify for a free Sale-A-Bration product. Customers may purchase any Stampin' Up! product to earn Sale-A-Bration rewards, including the sneak peek products from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Trendy Trees...

I am really loving this set! I knew that I would but it's so simple and versatile. On this card, one little tree and the card is almost complete. I used the swirly dots stamp that comes in the set to add a little texture to the Ruby Red background.

I tried to keep this simple to focus on the Thank you! I used Kristina's Color Inspiration for my color choices. My photo doesn't show the quality of the Brocade Blue. It's a GREAT color!