a Thank You

I think this card turned out cute.  I love that little elephant.  And the glittered butterflies!  The color scheme for this card is:

Vanilla

black

Pink Pirouette

Pacific Point 

Layout is simple, fun.   I made use of punches here.  I will let you in on a little secret { I actually goofed up the water coloring on the elephant.  I over did the grey.  This of course after I had the butterflies glittered and the flowers done too.  I re-stamped the elephant on another piece of vanilla.  Aqua painted it again.  Then pasted it on top of the 'yucky elephant'.  It gave my card more dimension that wasn't planned! }  Shhhh, don't tell.  It looks like I got it right the first time!!  Don't you just love that.  No one has to ever be perfect when creating a card!!  Just flip it, cut it, paste over it... whatever it takes!  

Happy Stampin' Friends

Andi

For my three year old

Hello!  Another Party Hearty card... this one dedicated to my 'baby' who is turning 3 this Sat.

I thought I would make a card with the in color, Kiwi Kiss.  I haven't used that color yet.  Love the textured cardstock.  My other colors of cardstock are Robin Hood Red and Pacific Point.  Also 'in colors'.  I used vanilla for the neutral.  This is such a simple card.  Just repetition and glitter really.

Happy Stampin' Friends

Andi

Party Hearty Baby!!

This is a simple card.  Took me FOREVER to create.  My first card in MONTHS.  Once the building of our new home started, I just didn't get time to stamp.  I absolutely love this set.  I think it took me so long also because every stamp in this set is so cool I was trying to use them all instead of thinking, keep it simple.  

My color scheme is the Stampin' Up! in colors Pacific Point (blue) , Pink Pirouette, and then the Always Artichoke color that is always available.  My neutral was vanilla.

I stamped the "b' in Pretty in Pink for my main 'b' image.  Then stamped it again on another piece of paper in the Always Artichoke.  Cut out the 'is for birthday', and placed it over the pink 'is for birthday.  I used the Build a Brad in the center of the 'b'.  I LOVE those!!  They add so much!  

There is a lot of paper piercing, doodling with the white gel pen, and a bit of glitter too.  All those techniques add 'pop' to a card!

Happy Stampin' Friends!

PS, I don't actually have internet hooked up at our new home.  Please bare with me if posts are scattered here and there!!

Andi

My new Stampin' Room!!

Hello Stampin' Friends!  I thought you might like to see my new 'office'.  My stampin' room!  I think it could be about twice the size... but I also thought I needed a mudroom, bedrooms, kitchen.... g-whiz.  So many rooms to go into a home!  I couldn't quite get it all in the photos.  The ceilings are high, so I try to take advantage of that.  I might even add another shelf.  I use cabinets for storing my rubber stamps...Stampin' Up! of course!!  They are all along the top.  The base cabinets are housing some other supplies like my Stampin' Around Wheels, and other containers with accessories.  There isn't much actual 'work' space, so I can't have a ton out on the one counter that is in there.  Although I suppose you may laugh at that since the counter is full....ooops.  Can't help it I guess.  Everything has a home in this room.  Lo-ove it!!

oh, under the wall cabinets, I have some of the cards from other people displayed.  This really is not only a room to create, but a room that is full of photo's of my family, and artwork from my children and friends!

The cool display shelf was created by my father.  I use to have all my stamps on it.  Yes, way back about 12 years ago, they all fit on that 3' X 3' shelf!  I prefer to keep my SU! sets together in the containers now so I can find them easier.  So I have a few non - Stampin' Up! stamps up there and some more artwork from my kiddo's displayed on it.

Happy Stampin'

Andi

 

Easter Card

Hello Stampin' Friends!  I am ba-ack!  I have a bunch of new cards and projects to post over the next couple months.  Our new home is built, we aren't totally moved in, but we are living there.  Been crazy.  I will say, my stamping room is complete...so let the stampin' begin!!

Here are a couple of my Easter Cards this year.  I used the same Stampin' Up! set for both cards, just changed the layout on them.

The stamp set I chose is Loads of Love, by Stampin' Up! Both of these cards feature the same techniques, use of the brayer, embossing with the versamark pen, and a lot of markers for the background.

The first thing I did was stamp the truck, eggs and girl with basic black.  I then water colored the truck and girl using the aqua painter.  The eggs I wanted bright, so I used the markers to color them in.  After coloring in my stamped image, I used my ersamark pen, went over the entire truck, girl and eggs, then embossed them with the clear powder.  This created a nice mask for my image.  I was then able to brayer the background with out ruining my water coloring!

The backgrounds are brayered with So Saffron, Bliss Blue and Pacific Point.  I also brayered some grass using Certainly Celery.  

My birds, grass and flowers were created with markers.  I simply 'flicked' the wings of the birds and the grass with the small end of the markers.  The flowers were just dots.  Again, using the small end of the markers.

Thanks for visiting!  This blog post is a little crazy yet.  I haven't posted anything in so long I have to remember all the tricks....PLUS I don't have internet set up at my home yet, so I am working away from home. Bare with me!!  I will get back into the swing of things!!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

Error

Hello Friends! I am SO SORRY! I posted the wrong link to Dawn Griffiths blog aka: Dawns Stamping Thoughts. There is another Dawn out there with the same title for her blog/website. There was a link to her site for the pop up Crab card and the plastic bag double slider, I fixed those links so they are now correct. I also changed the address in 'my favorite blogs'. If you notice any more incorrect links, please let me know! Thank you!!
Andi

Where have I gone???

Hello Friends! I thought I would pop in to let you all know I am way too busy with my family right now to stamp! Summer is here and so are all the kids!!! Plus extras like neices, nephews and lots of the kids friends!! We spend most of our time at the pond, pool, or parks!!

I am also still crazy with building our home! Here are some pics.

I know this is a stampin' site, but thought you might like a peek! Have a great summer and I will be back in full swing in September!!

Simple Thank You

Hello Friends!! Here is a simple Thank you I made for one of

my friends that placed an order with me. It is a 3 X 3. Those are a really fun size to make! I used the One of a Kind set by Stampin' Up! My color scheme is this weeks splitcoast color challenge. I should have tried the kraft....think I will tomorrow!!! I used Creamy Caramel, Soft Sky and Basic Black. The flower was actually stamped on Soft Sky with 1) Versa Mark pad 2) basic black. Then clear embossed. The flower in the center of the larger flower is from Boho Backgrounds by Stampin' Up! I thought it matched the tiny flower on the 'for you' stamp. The 'for you' image was punched out with the Window Word Punch. I used the Photo Corner punch in the corner of the note. The dots and the flower were colored in with Gel pens I picked up at Sams club. I am happy with them so far! They are Pilot G2 retractable gel ink rolling ball pen. 20 pens, assorted colors!! (just in case you wanted to know) I think that sums it up!

Happy Stampin'

Graduation card

Hello Friends! Here is a graduation card I made for a friend that is graduating! A simple card. White, Night of Navy and So Saffron were my colors. I first stamped the images in Versa Mark, then in the Night of navy. I then clear embossed them. The diploma and the caps were then colored in with the So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker, colored in with Versa Mark Marker, and clear embossed. I wanted to shine up the card and make sure it wasn't borring! I really like the books in the background. I highlighted them a bit and wrote '2008' on them. I am not sure about the circles I added with the '2008'. It needed something more, but, what???

Happy Stampin' Friends!!!

Andi

NEW RETIRED LIST IS AVAILABLE

Hello Friends!!! The Stampin' Up! Retired list is NOW available!! Check it out! Don't let those stamp sets you've been 'waiting' to order disappear! Contact me and place an order!
Happy Stampin' !!

For my Sister's Birthday

Hello Friends! My sister's birthday is coming up in another week or so. Thought I better get on her card!! Can't wait til the last minute these days or it might not get done. I may not be home to do it!! We have been at the pond quite a lot lately!!

My sister likes horses, and green. (yes, so does my other sister that I made THIS and THIS for ) I didn't want to make it just like Heidi's stuff, so I went with Equestrian Dreams. I have to say. NEVER made a really nice card with this set. I really like the images, just haven't known quite what to do with it. I was really nervous. I liked Heidi's card so much, I felt like the bar was 'high'.

I started with Vanilla card stock. Stamped the horses in Basic Brown. Then simply highlighted the running horses, and added a little more color to the row of them. A bit of Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Basic Grey, all water colored onto the image. Then I took my Versa Mark Marker and went over the images so I could clear emboss them both. That really sharpened up those images and made them 'pop'. Added so much to them!! I then brayered the sky onto the images. The embossing made it resist any ink that I brayered on. Perfect. After I got my images complete, it all came together easy. I could see that I was really liking this card. I roughed up some edges with my distress tool. Added some Chocolate Chip behind the images. Double matted the running horses with Always Artichoke. This was actually mainly because I wanted to faux stitch. I knew it wouldn't show up as good on the dark brown, so I added the green. I added some photo corners, thanks to my Photo Corner Punch. The greeting is from a retired set, and I added a build-a-brad in the middle of that. Yes, love those build-a-brad's!! The style of my greeting is a little different, but I wanted something small that wouldn't be the first thing to grab your eye.

Well, hope you like!! Happy Stampin' and thanks for visiting!!

4th of July Invitations

Hello Friends!!! Wow, another card! Wish I could say I was back in the game, but I am not sure! There will be another post tomorrow, but after that, they will be more sporadic again :( Just SO busy! I hope you are all busy too and understand ;)

Isn't this just the CUTEST invitation for a summer party! I found it HERE. I don't have a stamp that is small that says 'you're invited' like this Kristen, but I think it is still cute! Thanks Kristen for the awesome idea! It took like NO time at all!!! So easy and great to do with the decorative paper!!

The Strawberry is from Stampin' Up!'s retired DD Fruit Medley. I used the scallop punch for the 'bite', corner rounder for the other side, and a couple circle punches, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4". The inside is from SU! retired Dot Invitaion.

Happy Stampin' Friends!!

Father in Laws Fathers Day Card

Hello Stampin' Friends!! LOOOOONG time no stamp? Sorry. I guess that is how it is going to be this summer. I will get to stampin' when I can. But the weather is HOT, the kids will be home.... lots of swimming to let them do, building a house, outside work. You know the drill!

SO! I finally stamped up my father in laws card. I was just brain dead. Couldn't figure out what stamp set to use. Wanted it to be one I thought he would like. I hope he likes the card. I think my mother in law will, and she will be the one that actually keeps it ;)

I used an old retired set, DD Pines by Stampin' Up! I THOUGHT I used a sketch challenge, but can't seem to find it. So did I make this sketch up! I swear I did not!!! The first step I did for this card is ink up those two large trees! I inked them in Versa Mark ink, then in Always Artichoke. I wanted to add texture, so BEFORE I stamped the trees, I then took the pine needle stamp, inked it in Basic Black, then stamped it directly on the rubber that is already inked with the Versa Mark and Artichoke. THEN I stamped it on the White Card stock!! I then clear embossed it. This is so I could create the sky and grass with out ruining the trees! I then positioned my circle cutter system and cut a partial circle, leaving the trees uncut so I could use my exacto knife and leave them 'out of the circle'. After the trees and the circle were cut, sponged a bit of So Saffron, then the Wild Wasabi Green for the grass. The sky is Soft Sky and Blue Bayou. I added a bit of grass with a Stampin' Mark marker and some flowers are just dots with the Brocade Blue Stampin' Write Marker. That piece is done. The diamond is Always Artichoke textured with the Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then placed that layering section on top of my white card stock so I could get an idea of where I wanted the bear to be positioned. I then inked up my bear in Versa Mark ink,Creamy Caramel on the face and feet, and Choco Chip on the body. I took the pine needles again and textured it with the Close to Cocoa ink. I added some black around the nose and edges of feet and back before FINALLY stamping him on the white!! Then I clear embossed him!!! Once he was embossed, I could brayer the sky and grass. Draw in some flowers. The geese were stamped in Basic Black, directly over the brayered sky. I used my white gel pen to added the white back to the geese. I guess the rest is just layering, gluing, and doodling!

Happy Stampin' guys!! Sorry I am not posting every day like before! I just have so much family life right now to attend too!!

Final Card for 3 card challenge

Hello! Here is the last of the 3 card challenge! Hope you have enjoyed them!
My main stamp set is One of a Kind by Stampin' Up! I used the Prints Background stamp again for this one. I inked it in Pink Passion, then marked it up a bit with the Real Red. The flower was first stamped on Vanilla in Basic Black. Then I stamped it on Real Red, then on Pink Passion. I cut out the Flower and paper pieced it. The center was created with Build a Brad. (AGAIN!!) I did a bit of paper piercing around the edges and corners of the main image. Layered it with Real Red and then Pink Passion. Dotted a bit of Black around the edges. Gingham Ribbon was added. The I inked up the 'for you' with Versa Mark Pad, then used markers directly over the versa mark ink on the rubber so I could emboss the image in clear. I punched it out with the Key Tag punch then added some black doodles. That sums this card up!! Hope you like!!!
Happy Stampin'

Second of Three card challenge

Hello! Here is the second card for the challenge: Three cards, same stamp set, same colors. Must use hardware and ribbon. My stamp set is One of a Kind and my color scheme is Real Red and Pink Passion. All three of my cards also feature the 'Build a Brad'. I just bought them. They are great fun!! I love them in the middle of this great flower from One of a Kind.

For this card, I incorporated SCS Sketch Challenge SC178. The background for this card was created with a cuttlebug embossing folder. I do not own this GREAT TOOL, but my good friend Casey embossed a bunch of colors for me! Wow!! Thanks!!!

I used the punches Key Tag and Designer Label for this card. Just like my last one!! The large flower is stamped off the corner of the 'diamond'. I popped out he middle of the flower and added the build a brad. Hmmm. Pretty simple card. Gingham Ribbon again. White doodling. Black doodling. Lots of layers. I will admit. The inside of each of these layers is cut out. Saves paper and saves $ with the post if the card isn't too heavy. Hope you like!

Happy Stampin'

Three in One Challenge 1 of 3

Hello! These next few posts are all part of one challenge! We were to create three cards. All using the same set, and the same colors. I liked this challenge. It was unique! I chose to combine some other challenges with this one. For my first card, I also did a sketch challenge.


My color scheme for these cards is Real Red and Pink Passion. These colors came from the inspiration from Sandy's card in a previous post. My stamp set is One of a Kind by Stampin' Up! The background stamp is Print Pattern by Stampin' Up!. I inked that large stamp in Pink Passion and then stamped the smaller flowers scattered about in Real Red. I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the centers of them.
I stamped the main flower image in Basic Black and water colored with Pink Passion. The Red is colored in solid with Real Red Stampin' Write Marker. The full flower is embossed using the versa mark marker and clear powder. I LOVE this technique. Makes your image really pop. In the center of the flower I used 'Build a Brad'. Pretty cool. I just got these for the first time. I am really happy with them! What fun! I used them in all three cards! I backed up this main flower with Black and distressed the edges with my distressed tool. I also paper pierced all around the square.
For punches, I used the Designer Label punch and the Key Tag punch. The ribbon is the black and white gingham. I love this ribbon. It is super easy to work with. Not stiff at all. I added a brad from the pewter Hodgepodge Hardware set. Some white doodling all around, and I am done! Do you like!?! I had so much fun with these colors!
Happy Stampin'

A simple card

Hello! gosh, I really hope I haven't posted this card before! I haven't been stamping since I am so busy. I thought I would post a few I made already! If it rains today, I will stamp....hope my kids aren't bouncing off the walls. They usually do when it rains!

This is a 3X3 note card. Very simple. I think it is very cute. I used Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip for my color scheme. I water colored some of the images. Added GLITTER, BLING, PAPER PIERCING and RIBBON. Those are the elements that make this card seem so special! This was not time consuming, anyone can do it. All those elements just really set off a card! If you don't have the mat pack and paper piercer, GET THEM ;) and get the bling!! get the glitter!!! Add a few of these things and your creation will look GREAT!!!

Happy Stampin' Friends!! Have a GREAT weekend! Hope we can all stamp!!

another oldie, but goodie

Hello! So here is another 'oldie, but goodie'. I really like this card. I love the color combo! I have to say though, I made this awhile back. I am not sure the layout is my own. So no full credit for this one!!

I used the set All About U by Stampin' Up!. My color scheme is So Saffron and Real Red. The background was created with the background stamp, Canvas and then I stamped the small flower right on top of that. I used glossy card stock for the 'U'. I like the bold look it creates with those solid stamps!! I used the slot punch to create a little card onto of the card! Just a little added fun. I also used the slot punch to hold the red gingham ribbon in place.

This is a very simple card! But you gotta have those too!!

Happy Stampin'

A card to CASE

Hello! Sorry I haven't had much time for myself lately. Not a lot of stamping time ;(

I thought however it might be nice to share with you a card that was sent to me a while back. One of my fav's!! My dear friend Sandy is such a wonderful Card Creater! She made this for me for Valentines Day. Not sure what year.... ha ha! It is an oldie, but goodie! I basically 'cased' this card and created an Easter Card with it. I created my card a couple years ago too. So no new 'hot' stuff! I think I will now have to stamp a card using those wild colors! I love the Real Red and Pink Passion together! Sandy's card is 'HOT HOT HOT'

For my card, I used Bliss Blue and Lavendar Lace. The stamp set is the retired set Spring Things. It is a real cute layout. Hope you like, and thanks for hangin in there with me. I am so busy with Kids, potty training, building a house, and 'spring things' !!

Happy Stampin' All!

busy busy busy

Hello! I can't believe this stamped image isn't SU! Hee Hee. I have had this image since before I was a demo, so like what, 11 yrs or so? One of my fav's. I don't use it much, well, haven't used in probably 10yrs, but I just like looking at it up on my shelf. I can totally relate to the image...I think you can all see that. Only one problem. This is me, right?? Ok. But where am I? There are no kids on top of me, and aside from being almost passed out, there are no toys or clutter anywhere!!!!

I decided to do my first Mojo Monday sketch. Pretty cool sketch! I really like all the different elements on this one!
I also took the SplitcoastStampers Color Challenge, CC168, Vanilla, Sage, and Choco Chip. Really no challenge. Quite easy to work with! I had those cool colors in the DSP Outlaw. I thought the stripes would look good on the chair. The stamped image was actually stamped three times. Once on the vanilla, once on the striped paper and then once on the white. The only part I kept off the white paper is the 'don't ask'. It really 'pops' that way.
I added a bunch of details to this card while still keeping it very clean. No brayering. I added paper piercing all over. Some was used for faux stitching, some was actually pierced on the reverse side of the paper. For example: I actually placed the striped piece of paper, stripe side down onto my Mat Pack. Then poked the holes. I love the look. Basically, had I done it stripes up, you really wouldn't have seen the holes. The paper is too busy. Sometimes the paper is just too dark too. Reversing it gives more definition and you can actually see white around the holes, a natural highlight, if you will!! The holes around the circle punch are reversed too.
I added some corners with my Photo Corner Punch, got into my Hodgepodge hardware and added some hardware and ribbon. I think that sums it up!
Hope this makes you smile ;)
Happy Stampin'
Andi