May My Digital Studio Calendar Page, and Newest Downloads!

Wow!  The end of May is fast approaching, and I realized I still had not shared the calendar page I created with My Digital Studio for this month.  So, here it is today!

This is another simple layout . . . wanted to keep the focus on the photo of my boys!  The photo was taken at one of our favorite places to visit, Point Lobos Reserve, a beautiful state park just south of Carmel, California.  On the day this photo was taken, we had come at just the right time to really enjoy the tide pools and see lots of  little marine creatures in them.

The background paper on the page and the "May" stamp are from the Year to Remember 2012 Calendar Template.  I placed the "May" stamp onto a Flag Punch.

There are some amazing new downloads this week!  My absolute favorite is the Soft Blooms Digital Download.  Look at the beautiful flowers that come in it:

Images copyright 2012 Stampin' Up!

You can click here to check out the rest of this week's downloads, too!

And, If you haven't tried My Digital Studio out yet, you can still get started with a free 30-day trial -- just head over to my online store, add the My Digital Studio Express free trial to your bag, then download it, and start creating amazing projects right away! 


Thanks for visiting my blog!


- Michelle

Birds, Blossoms, and Butterflies In Color!

Here are some more samples I've been creating with new stamp sets and the new In Colors from the upcoming Stampin' Up! Catalog (you can order from it starting June 1st!  Need a copy?  Please let me know either by leaving a comment or sending me an email using the link in the right sidebar).  

This first sample features birds and blossoms from the new Betsy's Blossoms stamp set.  I was inspired by a sample place card in Stampin' Success (a wonderful monthly magazine for demonstrators), and expanded on it to create this 3 x 4" note card:  

The base is Confetti White card stock (which is on the retiring list!)  I stamped the bird using Daffodil Delight, and used a strip of the new Daffodil Delight Stitched Ribbon along the bottom of the card to coordinate.  The three flowers were inked using a Primrose Petal Stampin' Write Marker for the petals and a Raspberry Ripple marker for the centers.  The "happy" sentiment is from the new Memorable Moments stamp set, and was stamped in Midnight Muse on a banner cut out using the new Bitty Banners Framelits.  I inked around the edges of the banner with Baja Breeze Classic Ink.  For a finishing touch, I added a strip of  Primrose Petal card stock, punched using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, along the bottom of the card.

For the next card, I used the Papaya Collage stamp set.  Again, I started with a Confetti White card stock base to create this card: 

I stamped the "frame" image using Summer Starfruit, and the leaf image using Gumball Green.  Those are two more of the fabulous new 2012-13 In Colors!  I cut another banner from the Bitty Banner Framelits, and stamped "gratitude" from Fabulous Phrases in Midnight Muse, and inked around the edges of the banner using Gumball Green.  The butterfly image is stamped onto a piece cut using one of the new Apothecary Accents framelits.  I used Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple markers to color the butterfly image before stamping it.  The flourish in the corner was stamped in Baja Breeze, and the entire accent piece was sponged around the edges with Baja Breeze.

Here's another variation on the card, using a Midnight Muse frame instead:

One tip I discovered while making these is that the new ink pads are much juicier than the old ink pads, so it is not necessary to push the rubber as much into the ink pad as with the old-style pads.  A light tap will suffice to ink the image!  You can see evidence in both frames of some over-enthusiastic inking, but I think it actually lends to the vintage look, so I've gone with it!

What do you think of the new In Colors and stamps?

Thanks so much for visiting!

- Michelle

Irresistible Cake with a Cherry on Top!

Here's a fun birthday card I whipped up this week using this week's Mojo Monday sketch (#241), the amazing Patty Bennett's May Technique Challenge (emboss resist -- one of my favorites!!!), and sneak peek goodies from the new Stampin' Up! Catalog (please let me know if you need a copy, and I'll be glad to get one to you).

Here's the card I created: 

I stamped the cake stand and cover using Versamark on Whisper White card stock, then sprinkled on clear embossing powder and heat embossed.  The card stock was then die cut using an Apothecary Labels Framelit.

I used Chocolate Chip, Primrose Petals, and Raspberry Ripple Stampin' Write Markers to stamp the "cake."  For the cherry, I inked the stamp with Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green Stampin' Write Markers, then stamped.  I then sponged around the images, first with Bashful Blue ink, and finally with Midnight Muse classic ink.

Behind the embossed resist centerpiece, I layered a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock, which had been embossed with the Stripes Embossing Folder.  Behind that is a layer of Primrose Petals card stock.  The card base is Raspberry Ripple.

For the finishing touches, I added a Regal Rose seam binding ribbon bow (which works, but I can't wait to get some new In Color ribbon so the color coordination will be even better!), and one of the smallest daisies from the Paper Daisy pack with a Shimmer Brad in the center.

Thanks for visiting!

- Michelle

With a Cherry on Top!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day!  We had a good weekend despite some sniffles going around the family . . . in fact, my littlest guy was home from school today with sniffles.  He's already doing much better . . . so, fingers crossed, we'll be back to our regular routine tomorrow!  Somehow, though, I still managed to get a card made today -- and even more shocking, I've already taken a photo and have it ready to share!

I've been wanting to do one of Mary Jo Price-Williams's Sketch Challenges for a while, and I'm so excited, I made my card with her fun sketch today!  Hope you'll check out the challenge and play along, too!

Here's the card I created:

I used a mix of retiring, returning and sneak peek projects on this one.

The card base is Wisteria Wonder card stock (this is one of the returning In Colors).  I used scraps from the retiring Berry Blossoms paper for the strips along the top of the layout.  Underneath those, I used a strip of Basic Black punched out with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

To create the cupcake, I used some sneak peek products -- the new Apothecary Accents framelits.  I'd originally planned to layer them a bit differently, but as I was moving the pieces around, saw the cupcake shape emerge and decided to go with it!  The frosting is cut out of Whisper White, and the base from Basic Black.  The accent behind them is cut from Calypso Coral (another returning In Color).  The greeting is stamped in Calypso Coral and Basic Black using a stamp from a sneak peek hostess set called A Cherry on Top.  I used Dazzling Details around the cupcake and on top of the Basic Black ink to give the cupcake's frosting a bit of sparkle.

I punched the cherry out of Calypso Coral, using the 1/2" Circle Punch.  I sponged it with Poppy Parade (retiring In Color) and added a bit of Real Red Dazzling Details along the edge.  A little hard to see, but there is a piece of Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon from the Sale-a-Bration Everyday Enchantment Pack for the cherry's stem.

For a final finishing touch, I added a Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon bow.

Hope you like this one, and hope you'll play along with this fun sketch challenge!  Look forward to seeing what you create!

- Michelle


Here's the link to click if you'd like to join.

Mojolicious Blooms (Sneak Peek!!!)

Whoo Hoo!  Yesterday, I actually found a little bit of time to play with some brand new Stampin' Up! goodies I had been able to preorder from the new Catalog (coming June 1st . . . not long now)!  I used this week's great Mojo Monday sketch # 240 for the layout.   

The color combo is partially taken from the Color Coach . . . I started with one of the combinations for Summer Starfruit (to combine it with Baja Breeze and Midnight Muse), but then after looking through my ribbon stash, decided to add some Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon to coordinate with the strip of Primrose Petals (die cut and embossed using the Adorning Accents Edgelits and coordinating embossing folder) and the stamped flowers, which are Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple.   

Here's my card:

  

The stamp set for the bird and flower images is the new set Betsy's Blossoms.  For the greeting banners, I die cut Whisper White pieces using the new Bitty Banners Framelits, then stamped in Summer Starfruit using the ship's log stamp from the Open Sea.  I used Midnight Muse ink for the greetings, which are from the Fabulous Phrases set.  I love how well the Fabulous Phrases fit on the banners!  

For the finishing touches, I added Pearl Jewels in the flower centers and dots of Dazzling Details for the bird's eye, to accent the Primrose Petals trim on the side and on the stamped images on the Baja Breeze strip.

Thanks so much for visiting!!!

- Michelle

Faux Mosaic Tile Cards and Video Tutorial

A while back now at one of my SUper Friends downline group meetings, Agnes Lang -- one of the awesome ladies in my group -- demonstrated the faux mosaic technique.  And, that started me thinking . . . what if you did the technique with clear mount blocks instead of creating a more permanent stamp out of rubber scraps and wood.  So, I did that and made this video to show you how to do it, too:

I also finally created cards out of the pieces I created using this technique!  Not a bit too soon, as the lovely Simply Soft stamp set used to create these cards is one of the retiring hostess sets, and will no longer be available after May 31st!  And, that is why these cards are also just right for this week's challenge over at Late Night Stampers (Challenge 172 -- Sorry to See You Go).

So, without further ado, here are the two cards I created, along with close-ups of the Faux Mosaic pieces:

Supplies used for these cards:

Stamps:  Simply Soft and Tiny Tags

Ink:  Early Espresso to stamp flower images; Chocolate Chip to stamp greetings; flower images colored in Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, and Lucky Limeade; for the top card, sponging is done with Crumb Cake and Soft Suede; for the bottom card, sponging is done with Chocolate Chip

Card Stock:  Whisper White for faux mosaic pieces; for top card, Sahara Sand for base and Lace Ribbon Border punched piece; for bottom card, Lucky Limeade base, Wisteria Wonder for frame and Lace Ribbon border punched piece, and Chocolate Chip for frame

Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Lace Ribbon Border Punch (retiring), Calypso Coral 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Mini Vintage Tags (retiring).

Thanks for visiting!  Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what you think of these.

- Michelle

Clearly For You Vintage Embossed Card

Life has been busy around here!  The boys have had lots of baseball lately -- practices, games, hit-a-thons, and  pictures, oh my!!!  I'm enjoying seeing their progress this season, getting to know their teammates and their families, and all that good stuff.  Saw an opportunity today with nothing baseball, so I thought I better pop in and let you know I really am still here!!!  And, I have plenty to share with you!

Thought today I'd show you another card I created using the same vintage embossing technique as in this mother's day card.  For this one, I kept the card layout on the clean and simple side:

The base is Wisteria Wonder.  I framed the embossed piece with Concord Crush (a retiring In Color).  Then, I added this piece:

To create it, I used a 1-1/2" x 2" Beveled Windowpane (these are on the retiring list, so make sure to pick some up before it is too late!)   I cut a piece of Very Vanilla to fit, and stamped it with images from the Clearly for You stamp set (also retiring).  I inked the flowery background using the Rock n Roll technique, first in Crumb Cake, and then with Wisteria Wonder Classic Ink around the edges.  The birds and "for you" images were stamped in Early Espresso.  I also stamped a small flower just to the right, in between the birds and greeting.  The small flower and birds were colored using an Aquapainter and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.  I used Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon wrapped through the windowpane to hold the artwork in place and help with attaching everything to the card.

Hope you enjoyed the card!  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

Inspired Blooms

When I saw the cover of this month's Stampin' Success (for those who don't already know, this is an amazing magazine Stampin' Up! creates for demonstrators each month!), I just had to recreate the look of the amazing flowers they had on a cake.  So, that inspired me to create this card:

For the base, I used a piece of Whisper White.  I then layered on another piece of Whisper White, cut 1/4" smaller on each side, and cut and embossed at the top with the Adorning Accents Dies and Embosslits.  The flowers were created using pieces punched using the Blossom Petal Punch and Pool Party, Daffodil Delight and Regal Rose card stock.  The centers are More Mustard strips, cut into fringe, then rolled up and glued into place.  I also added a strip of the new Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon.  That was available as part of the Summer Smooches sneak peek last month.  Don't worry if you missed out on it then, it will be in the new Catalog coming out on June 1st!

It takes a while to create these flowers, but they look so pretty it is worth it!  And, wouldn't this make a fun Mother's Day card for one of the special women you want to celebrate?  

Thanks for visiting today!

- Michelle

Embossed Smooches . . .

Hi!  Happy Tuesday!  Today is digital download day, and there are five new digital downloads over in my Stampin' Up! store.  Click here to check them out!  I think my favorite this week is the Nifty Fifty kit . . . some fun possibilities for scrapbooking road trips with that one . . . or tracking which states you've visited!  The Ahoy Matey kit has some fun possibilities . . . and the Happy Camper . . . and the It's a Wrap . . . and the Sunflower.  Well, I guess I want them all!!!  

Anyway, last week I posted one of the cards we made in my April Creative Connections class.  Today, I have the second one to show you.  Here it is:

This card was inspired by a layout I saw in the May 2012 Cards magazine.  I thought the layout would be fun to do with the embedded embossing technique.  To do that, I punched 1" circles out of different designs from the Summer Smooches Designer Paper (available as part of a sneak peek special last month, and will be available again when the new Stampin' Up! Catalog comes out on June 1st).  Then, adhered the circles to the Daffodil Delight Card Stock piece, and ran it though the Big Shot in the Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  

The card base is Old Olive.  I added Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise trim, which I cut on the Big Shot using the Tasteful Trim Bigz Die.  

The flower was created by cutting two flowers out of Real Red Card Stock using the Fun Flower Die and the Big Shot. I punched a 3/4" Circle out of Tangerine Tango, and layered that on top of the flowers.  Then, I inserted a Summer Smooches Fabric Brad through the center.  The flower's leaves were punched out of Lucky Limeade using the Blossom Petals Punch.

The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped in Old Olive Classic Ink on Whisper White Card Stock, and punched out with the Modern Label Punch.  

Here's another variation on the design, with a different brad from the Summer Smooches pack and using Rich Razzleberry for the greeting instead.

And, one more variation -- I used this card for a swap with my SUper Friends group, and wanted something everyone could re-create with current products, and since the Summer Smooches Brads are sold out, I replaced those with one of the Pumpkin Pie buttons from the Bold Brights Button Pack.  I tied some Calypso Coral Baker's Twine through the center of the button.  I dyed the twine Tangerine Tango using a Stampin' Write Marker.  I was not sure if the Snow Burst folder would be in the new Catalog, so I switched to the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Here's the card:

I finished the inside of these cards as well.  Pretty simple -- I just used a piece of Whisper White card stock and more of the Rich Razzleberry and Turquoise Trim, as on the front of the card:

Thanks for visiting!

- Michelle