New Stampin' Up Firm Foam Ink Pad Video!

Did you think that I fell off the face of the earth?  Well, I sort of did...I just disappeared into my classroom!  But today was the last day of school so I thought it's time to renew my interest in my blog!  I'll start with a video from Stampin' Up's Shannon West on the new ink pads!  I really like them!!!!

Blogger's Challenge #225: Back to School

It has to happen sometime...summer vacation has to end!  I just didn't want it to happen!  But, I'm looking forward to a terrific group of first and second graders so I guess I'll survive!

Our challenge was to "celebrate" the beginning of a new school year!  I needed a birthday card for an adorable little guy who will be my great-nephew as soon as my nephew marries his mom on 9-10-11!!!

I used a set from the Summer Mini called Recess...best part of the day!  (Usually my only prep time!)  I also snuck in a set from the "big" catty called Pennant Parade...isn't it terrific?  The punch matches the set perfectly!  Love all of the new punches/stamp sets that Stampin Up has designed!

Check out the other players below and join in!!!

Blogger's Challenge #223 & 224: Embossing and Color Challenge!

I don't know where my time went this week!  But I didn't do my blogger's challenge last week so I combined the two by embossing this one!  Our colors to work with were shades of green, purple and brown.  Now, just saying those colors doesn't sound very appealing to me....but try different combinations and you may surprise yourself!

I went with Lucky Limeade, Wonderful Wisteria and Crumb Cake...they worked very well together!  I embossed the doily images from the Delicate Doilies set and then used a sponge dauber in those colors to sponge in the color.  I finished off using the Wonderful Wisteria Ruffled Ribbon and the Doily Triple Layer punch!  Thanks for looking!

Stampin Up! August Promotion!!!

Buy any 3 $10.95 Designer Series Paper (DSP) from the Summ er Mini or pages 184-186 & get one FREE!

Blogger's Challenge #222: Summertime

I was really stumped on what to do for my Summertime theme.  I finally resolved that I needed a birthday card and I would go with light, fun, "summery" colors. 

I began with my color combo.  Don't you love this retro pink/blue?  I used Pretty in Pink and Tempting Turquoise but Stampin' Up has a lot of choices that you could substitute.  (I wanted Island Indigo but I don't own it in a craft ink so I went with Turquoise.)

I pulled out the Fancy Fan Letterpress. The Letterpress plates work best with Craft inks and watercolor paper.  SU now has much larger watercolor paper available, too!

Panels are a challenge for me...to get them the same size and spaced properly but I was successful!  After that, the rest of the card came together really quickly with a few punches (Cupcake Builder, 1 3/4" Circle, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle and the Modern Label punch. I also used the Movers and Shakers to layer the Modern Layer punch.)  I added a few rhinestones and ta-da, my card is complete!

Be sure to check out what Summertime fun the other players had below!  Also, as always, you are invited to play along.  Please make sure that Blogger's Challenge is a prominent part of your post.

Blogger's Challenge #221: Sketch

Lisa created a sketch for us to work with this week.  I really loved it and came up with a card lickety split!  I used some DSP Paisley Petals and do you recognize the flower?  Yep, it's the Fun Flower die again!  Guess I love it, huh?

Be sure to check out the other players below!  Also remember that you are always invited to play along.  PLEASE make Blogger's Challenge the main focus of your post!

Blogger's Challenge #220: Floral Frenzy!

The Big Shot shines again in my card this week!  I used the Bigz L Die Fun Flowers to create the funky DSP/Pacific Point flower.  I added a little color with a Melon Mambo Pastel.  The background is done with the Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and it's colored with more pastels in Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo and Pacific Point. 

Thanks for feeling floral with me!  Be sure to check out the other players below!  You are also invited to play along with us!  Make sure to have Blogger's Challenge as the main point of your post!