How about some Chocolate?

Lots of Chocolate Chip cardstock and ink, that is! I had an extra damask background piece from Friends 24-7 stamp set on my desk and with stamping my Medallion stamp on another piece of Naturals Ivory cardstock, my technostamper challenge came together quite nicely! Here's the sketch:

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Friends 24-7, Medallion, Short and Sweet
Cardstock/Ink Colors: Chocolate Chip, Naturals Ivory
Other: Jumbo brads (both sizes) Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive

Blogger's Challenge #114: Sketch Challenge!

When I first looked at the sketch from Lisa this week, I immediately pictured using the folding tag from the Bigz Two Tags die, a Stampin' Up exclusive die. I also snuck two of the smaller Sizzlet dies, Little Leaves and Floral Fusion, two other SU exclusive dies.

I made this card for a friend who recently had surgery. Thought she could use a little pick me up. Here's a picture of it with the tag open:



Can you see the texture that the Texturz Plate Perfect Details adds?

Here is the sketch we were given from Lisa. Isn't it a great one?



Thanks for looking and be sure to see what the other players are up to this week!

Card Recipe:
Stamp set: Refuge and Strength
Cardstock/Ink Colors: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, and Old Olive
Big Shot Elements: Perfect Details Texturz plate, Little Leaves and Floral Fusion Sizzlets, and Two Tags Bigz Die
Other: Old Olive 5/8" and 3/4" Grograin Ribbon, Trio Flower Punch, 1/8" circle punch (retired), SNAIL adhesive, Tombo Multipurpose Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Pumpkins!

It's a little early for pumpkins or is it? This summer has been so "cool" that I've even worn mittens and a stocking hat on my morning walk! That's cool!



Our sketch for MJ's Lunchtime Sketch was a simple yet elegant one. I began by stamping my image with Staz onto watercolor paper. Then, colored in spots with markers in Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard and Soft Suede (love that the incolors come in a marker set this year!!!!) and blended with my Aqua Painter. After layering a couple of times in those colors, I roughed up the edges with my bone folder.

I didn't have any DSP (Designer Series Paper) in Pumpkin on hand so I improvised by running my brayer over a small piece of Autumn Traditions DSP with Pumpkin Pie. I could have left it plain but I like the look this acheived!

I also snuck in a little sneak peek into the Holiday Mini Catalog. The sentiment I chose comes from an adorable set called "Pumpkin Patch." I know you'll love it, too, and soon, very soon (Tuesday, Sept. 1) you can order it, too!!!

Thanks for taking a look today!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Pumpkin Patch, Autumn Harvest
Cardstock/Ink Colors: Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Watercolor Paper
DSP: Autumn Traditions
Other: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Brayer, Bone Folder, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals

Blogger's Challenge #113: Die Cuts and Punches

Our challenge this week was a product focus! We had to use punches or die cuts as a main focus for our projects/cards. When I saw this bag by Lisa Martz made with the Top Note Die for the Big Shot, I had to be a Big Shot and try it for myself!



The bag is made with 8 regular Top Note die cuts and 4 shortened die cuts. I ran those through the Big Shot again using the Texturz Plate Perfect Details which I didn't mean to copy Lisa completely on this but focused on using a different plate than on the tutorial and forgot that Lisa used the Perfect Details plate! The official directions that I followed are HERE by Allison Ohran.

Mine is different in that I am using a little sneak peek from the upcoming Holiday Mini catalog. It's Shimmer Paint! I used a sponge to just rub a little of the Frost White Shimmer Paint over my Bravo Burgundy paper on the bag and over the Whisper White of the Butterfly to add a little touch of sparkle!

Also, though difficult to see in the photo, I used the Eyelet Border Punch to create a border along the top of the bag. It's easier to see in real life!

Thanks for taking a look and be sure to see what the other Blogger's Challenge girls were up to this week! Also, pull our your punches and dies and make a project for yourself!!

Card Recipe:
Stamp set: SHAME SHAME....NONE!!! This is just me and paper!
Cardstock Colors: Bravo Burgundy and Whisper White
Other: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Di, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Pretties Kit, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Frost White Shimmer Paint (coming soon!), Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (essential for this gluing project!)Stampin' Sponges

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #83

I had fun with this one! When I looked at the sketch for the week, there was no question that I needed to do a little glazing...with paper! To do this card, I punched a variety of DSP (I chose Nouveau Chic) with my retired 3/4" square punch. I miss that one in the catalog! I adhered the pieces to a larger piece of Basic Gray cardstock and then used my versamark pad to completely cover the entire piece. Then I sprinkled Glassy Glaze over the entire thing and heated. I repeated that step three more times! All of the steps take a bit of time but worth it in the end. I would love to have a wall in my house like this!

I am using this as a wedding card for a couple who will have the last name beginning with a P.



This is a the sketch if you want to try it yourself. Remember a sketch is just a starting point. MJ provided a square sketch but I made mine rectangular. Click HERE for MJ's blog and to see what others have done with the sketch.

Card Recipe:
Stamp sets: Monogram Sweet, Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Basic Gray, Apricot Appeal
Paper: Nouveau Chic DSP, Sage Shadow, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Other: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glassy Glaze Embossing Powder, Heat Tool.

Blogger's Challenge #112: It's Your Birthday

Good day!

Our challenge was to create a birthday card! I LOVE birthdays...especially my own (not until Sept. 29) so this was a fun challenge.

I used Circle Circus and my circle punches to create this card. I stamped the circles from the set onto the Designer Series Paper Razzleberry Lemonade. SUCH fun paper!!! Then, I punched the circles out...important to do it in that order!

I CASED the layout from Lisa Johnson.

Thanks for looking. Try this for yourself and also go and see what the other BC members did!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: On Your Birthday, Circle Circus, Party Hearty
Colors: Rich Razzleberry, Kraft, Whisper White
Other: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Ribbon, 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Corner Rounder Punch

Hostess Promo!!!

If you've ever thought about hosting a Stampin' Up Workshop with me, now is the time!!! Not only are there super hostess benefits including free hostess dollars and exclusive hostess sets but SU just announced a hostess promo!!! Here are the details:

Dates: September 1-November 30, 2009

Promotion Details:

We're excited to bring you this sweet deal for hostesses September through November:

•Host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10!
*Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

Email me at bohler@gra.midco.net or call me on my cell phone 218-289-0025 to book your workshop during this promo time!!!!!

Hugs!

Good day!

Our sketch challenge was a fun one. It came to me quite easily. I had made the Circle Circus background piece for another card and though it didn't work on that one, I couldn't let it go to waste. So I cut it down a little bit and cut it in half and used it for my challenge today!

Here was the sketch:


You can make a project with this sketch, too. Wouldn't it make an interesting scrapbook page?

Thanks for looking!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Celebrate Everything
Colors: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Real Red and Whisper White
Other: Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Tabletop Paper Cutter (I use this on EVERY card along with SNAIL and usually Dimensionals!)

Blogger's Challenge #111: Color Challenge!

Our Challenge for today was a color challenge! I LOVED IT! Crushed Curry (a new In Color), Old Olive, Soft Suede (another new In Color) and a neutral. I chose to use one of the new Level one Hostess Sets: Of the Earth. It's just one of 6 items you can chose for free when you host a qualified workshop or class with me!!!

Also, new in the catty is the Paper Piercer as a solo item! In previous catties, you had to buy it in a big kit. It's now available for $3.50 and the mat pack (which is highly recommended to go with it) is $9.95. I am SO glad that SU did this!

I CASED the layout....if you recognize it, let me know as I didn't write down to whom it belonged!

You are always invited to play along! Don't have Crushed Curry or Soft Suede? Don't worry...you can order cardstock, ink, ink refills or the In Color markers from me...okay, you can also substitute another yellow or brown! Be sure to see what the other players did with these gorgeous color together!

Card Recipe:
Stamp sets: Of the Earth
Colors: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Old Olive and Very Vanilla
Other: Corner Rounder, Scallop Border Punch, Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, In Color Markers, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive

Mojo Monday on a Thursday!

I have been seeing all kinds of sketches and layouts that I just have to try and this was no exception! I had to play along with this sketch:



Here's the card that I made.


My inspiration was the polka dots on the Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon! I stamped the image and added polka dots to the elephant with my Signo White Gel Pen. The, I went a little dot crazy!

Thanks for looking!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Nursery Necessities
Colors: Kraft, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Signo White Gel Pen, Circle Scissors Plus, Big Shot, Scallop Circles #2 Die, Photo Corner Punch, Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Tabletop Paper Cutter

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #81

Good morning!


Our sketch was a challenge this week! Many of us like straight, clean lines so tipping is a challenge! I used some new items from the new catty: Pendant Park stamp set, Autumn Traditions DSP and Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel.

Be sure to play along and also see what some other terrific stampers did with this sketch at Mary Jo's Blog.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Pendant Park, Jumbo Wheel Bright Blessings
Paper/Cardstock/Ink Colors: Autumn Traditions DSP, Ruby Red, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, More Mustard
Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, water mister, Sponge Daubers, SNAIL, bone folder (to rough up edges)