Friday Focus: Serene Silhouette Samples

Friday Focus is a little late this week because I was on a field trip with my son's class yesterday.  Our focus is on the Serene Silhouettes Stamp Set.  On Tuesday I posted a card about using twine that also used this stamp set.

This card used a masking technique that I just love.  I made a mask with the Apothecary Accents Framelit and then sponged inside with So Saffron.  Then I sponged the edges with Rose Red.  The result gives a sunset effect as a background for the stamp.  The photo corners were hand made with a little creativity.

This card uses the butterfly stamp.  I cut the circle out of the light pink and set the stamped image under it, separating with dimensionals.  Then the DSP and some punched butterflies added the finishing touches.

The final stamp in this set is this wonderful tree stamp.  I stamped the image in Certainly Celery first and then Old Olive next.  This creates a shadow effect that adds dimension to the image without adding bulk to the card.  The embossed background cardstock helps add dimension, as well.  Which stamp is your favorite?

Papers: Whisper White (#100730), Very Vanilla (#101650), Crumb Cake (#120953), Chocolate Chip (#102128), So Saffron (#105118), Basic Grey (#121044), Pink Pirouette (#111351), Primrose Petals (#126841), Certainly Celery (#105125), Old Olive (#100702), Patio Party DSP (#126916, retired)

Inks: Chocolate Chip (#126979), So Saffron (#126957), Rose Red (#126954), Basic Gray (#126981), Primrose Petals (#126858), Certainly Celery (#126958), Old Olive (#126953)

Stamps: Serene Silhouette (#127324), Sweet Essentials (#126457), Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370)

Other Supplies: Pearls (#119247), Old Olive Scallop Dots Ribbon (#124139, retired), Linen Thread (#104199), Stamping Sponges (#101610), 1-1/4" Square Punch (#119865), 1/2" Circle Punch (#119869), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (#119850), Word Window Punch (#119857), Modern Label Punch (#119849), Elegant Butterfly Punch (#127526), Big Shot (#113439), Wood Grain Folder (#127821), Chevron Folder (#127749), Labels Framelits (#125598), Apothecary Accent Framelits (#127003)

Serene Silhouette (#127324)

Apothecary Accents (#127003)

  
Get $155 in product for $99? Starter Kit Promotion Ends May 30.

• Spend $99 for your starter kit and get up to $155 in product (you get an extra $30 in free product during this offer)! 
• Make your kit your own by choosing from any current Stampin' Up! catalog or product promotion (including "Best of 25 Years Stamps" and  limited time single stamps), My Digital Studio, the clearance rack and specially priced bundles! 
• Plus add select products to the Starter Kit from the brand new Stampin' Up! 2013-2014 Catalog.
• The kit ships FREE! (another 10% savings)
• Save 30% on your first demonstrator order of $150 or more (before shipping and tax).  Must be placed within 45 days of purchasing the starter kit.  It's the perfect time to fill your wish list for less.
• Enjoy 20% off on all other orders you place as an active demonstrator.
• Click here to "Join the Fun" now. 

Not ready to join!  Host a qualifying party and receive $30 in free product while having fun with your friends!

Stampin Up! Current Promotions

 May 1 - June 15: Get 25% off select My Digital Studio Content and Printing!
 

• Digital content includes: ALL ensemble, calendar, photobook, and swatchbook digital content.
• Print products include: ALL photobooks, swatchbooks, cards, tags, individual pages, and calendars.  See all print products here.
• Visit my store today to start shopping!

Fine Print:

• Discount for downloads only available for artwork released prior to May 1, 2013.
• Make sure you have the latest version of the MDS software to get the discounts on print products. 
• Bulk pricing not included.

 Get $155 in product for $99? Starter Kit Promotion Ends May 30.

• Spend $99 for your starter kit and get up to $155 in product (you get an extra $30 in free product during this offer)! 
• Make your kit your own by choosing from any current Stampin' Up! catalog or product promotion (including "Best of 25 Years Stamps" and  limited time single stamps), My Digital Studio, the clearance rack and specially priced bundles! 
• Plus add select products to the Starter Kit from the brand new Stampin' Up! 2013-2014 Catalog.
• The kit ships FREE! (another 10% savings)
• Save 30% on your first demonstrator order of $150 or more (before shipping and tax).  Must be placed within 45 days of purchasing the starter kit.  It's the perfect time to fill your wish list for less.
• Enjoy 20% off on all other orders you place as an active demonstrator.
• Click here to "Join the Fun" now. 

Not ready to join!  Host a qualifying party and receive $30 in free product while having fun with your friends!

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .A Magical Paper Escape Every Month

 

• I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

• I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:
• All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!
• Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy! 

Getting Started
It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family every month!

Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month you get a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month. 
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month.
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!) There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Please list me as your demonstrator when you sign up!

FMS87: Congratulations Card

We make cards for so many reasons: birthdays, sympathy, congratulations, and love.  We give cards to so many people: family, teachers, friends, and others.  Today I decided to make a card for myself.

My inspiration came from a Freshly Made Sketches Challenge (#87).  This very simple sketch leaves a lot of room for creativity.  You could put any shape that you wanted to on this card.

I chose the bird punch, since it is one of my favorite shapes and this card was for me.  After six weeks on a liquid diet, which I thought would make me lose my mind, I was told yesterday that I could start eating soft foods.  It was not an easy six weeks, but I made it.  So, this card is a congratulations to me!

The colors were inspired by the Sun Garden DSP which I had started using, but then decided to use simple design to keep the card clean.  The little bird is repeated on the inside.  A bright, clean card to celebrate the end of a phase.  Now on to the next one!

Supplies: Bird Punch, Pearls, Meant to Be Stamp Brush Set, You Go Grad Stamp Brush Set, A Little Of This Stamp Brush Set

Show & Tell: New Photopolymer Sets and a NEW Online Class!

If you haven't tried our photopolymer stamp sets yet, now is the time! We've got two more for you: Show & Tell 1 and 2. Together these sets feature more than 60 versatile images that you can mix and match to create personalized backgrounds, patterns, layers, and dimensions to make any project stand out.

And even better, these sets are featured in our new Seeing the Possibilities Class! Take this class to discover how quickly and easily you can line up the stamped images for precision placement, achieve just the right ink coverage, combine images together exactly where you want them... well you get the idea. The possibilities are endless!

See the flyer by clicking here.

Technique Tuesday: Twine Time

 There are so many things you can do with twine.  You can make a clothesline or strings for balloons.  Sometimes you can also make things more interesting.  For today, I am using twine to add dimension and texture to my card.

For this card I chose to use the linen thread.  I love the texture and neutral color.  Many people I know have trouble making masculine cards, and this thread is perfect.

I used the Label Framelits to cut a frame and then wrapped it with the linen thread.  This makes a wonderful rustic frame.  The wrapping took a little time, but it did give me something to do while waiting at the doctor's office!

The wood grain seemed like a perfect fit to go with the rustic feel and the tree stamp.  This card is masculine enough for any father.  What will you do with twine?

Papers: Crumb Cake (#120953), Chocolate Chip (#102128). Very Vanilla (#101650)
Inks: Chocolate Chip (#126979), Crumb Cake (#126975)
Stamps: Serene Silhouettes (#127324), Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370)
Other Supplies: Linen Thread (#104199), Word Window Punch (#119857), Modern Label Punch (#119849), Big Shot (#113439), Wood Grain Folder (#127821), Label Framelits (#125598)

Paper Pumpkin - SU! Monthly Craft Kit

Paper Pumpkin is your very own paper fairy godmother (without the white hair).   It's the total package:

• Each kit includes all the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories (everything except adhesive) to create projects like cards, journals, décor, and more!
• The kit comes with all you need for your project cut, measured, and ready—with instructions included. 
• The kit will ship on or around the 15th of the month.   You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit.  If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. 
• And a free gift in your very first kit!  The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership, and it includes a free gift - a clear acrylic block!
• Please list me as your demonstrator, so I know you are getting your goodies.

Mojo294: End of Year Teacher Gift

Today started out with just a card sketch challenge from Mojo Monday (#294) and turned into a little bit more.

The sketch has some elements that I omitted or changed.  The square panel was made a little bigger to fit the dress and the trim was eliminated to keep it cleaner.

The embellishment was switched out for the sentiment.  I went with "just for you" since I wanted to use this for a teacher gift for my son's teacher.

For the card, I used both dresses from the Dress Up Framelit.  The strapless dress was done with DSP and the other dress was used to make the jacket. 

Once I started the card, I just could not stop.  Since I have been thinking about end of year gifts, I altered a container to hold some treats.  Since having surgery I have been on a liquid diet, so I have been using a lot of protein powder.  This container is the can that held the powder.

I used the same oval and dress to dress up the can.  The brads and paper were a matched set, so I thought it would be nice touch to dress this one up with a fancy belt.

Since the paper had butterflies on it I just had to add a few to the top.  I kept it simple since it may be man handled if the container is opened and closed often.

Overall, I am very happy with the set.  Sometimes it is surprising to me how a small project can lead to even greater inspiration.  A card sketch can lead to a full gift set.  Where do you find inspiration for your projects?

Papers: Very Vanilla (#101650), Pool Party (#122924), Everyday Elegance DSP (retired)
Inks: Pool Party (#126982), Calypso Coral (#126983)
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370), Itty Bitty Banners (#126257)
Other Supplies: Very Vanilla Seam Binding (#120999), Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (#119960, retiring), Dress Up Framelits (#130101), Bitty Banner Framelits (#129267), Word Window Punch (#119857), Modern Label Punch (#119849), Elegance Brads (retired), Beautiful Wings Embosslit (#118138)

STAMPIN' UP! COLOR REFRESH!   

Announcing the Color Refresh! I love all the different colors that SU! offers, but it is also important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. I am thrilled to share the updated line of colors, and hope you will be as excited by the new possibilities as I am!

The upcoming 2013-2014 annual catalog will include 10 new colors (most of which are returning In Colors from previous years)! They are welcoming back some of your favorites, moving some colors around, and introducing one brand-new color, so take a look!  Also, starting April 4th, all retiring and discontinued color products will be sold while supplies last.  So, stock up now on your favorites before they are gone.

See the Color Refresh Flyer

See the Stampin' Up! Color Refresh Video

Our Day Anniversary Card

I am spending my morning sitting at my son's school selling yearbooks.  I can not get to my craft room today, so I decided to do a little MDS while I was between sales.

This card was inspired by two challenges.  The sketch came from Deconstructing Jen (#101).  I love the layers main image of this sketch.

I also used the color challenge from Fab Friday (#18).  The colors are fun to work with and I love that there are two neutrals in the group.

I could not find any DSP that I wanted to use that went with the colors of the challenge, so I made my own patterns.  The Soft Suede side strip was decorated with the splatter tool, the Raspberry Ripple was stamped with a border stamp (three times), and the Primrose Petal banner was "stitched."

To keep the inside consistent I used the splatter pattern again.  A beautiful anniversary card in a non-traditional pattern.  I even signed my card. :)  Well, back to the yearbooks!

Supplies: Circle Punch, Flag Punch, Creative Elements Stamp Brush Set, Wedding Words Stamp Brush Set, Simple Stitching, Splatter Tool

Show & Tell: New Photopolymer Sets and a NEW Online Class!

If you haven't tried our photopolymer stamp sets yet, now is the time! We've got two more for you: Show & Tell 1 and 2. Together these sets feature more than 60 versatile images that you can mix and match to create personalized backgrounds, patterns, layers, and dimensions to make any project stand out.

And even better, these sets are featured in our new Seeing the Possibilities Class! Take this class to discover how quickly and easily you can line up the stamped images for precision placement, achieve just the right ink coverage, combine images together exactly where you want them... well you get the idea. The possibilities are endless!

See the flyer by clicking here.

PPA159: Love Life Card

The card today took some work for me to get just the way I wanted.  I tried several color schemes and various DSP combinations before settling on what you see above.

The card front was inspired by the Pals Paper Arts Challenge (#159).  This is a multi-layered sketch that offers a chance to get very creative.

As I am prone to do, I created my own background paper to coordinate with the card.  All of the stamps and DSP came from the Cottage Garden Kit.  I love the saying and just had to find a way to use it.  I used the coloring tool to coordinate the colors of the saying with the rest of the card.

For the inside of the card I repeated the background of the front and added a simple sentiment.  The banner design of the "celebrate" stamp is why I put a banner on the front of the card, as well.  Celebrations are a great way to show our love of life. I can't wait to share this card and show what I love.

Supplies: Cottage Garden Stamp Brush Set, Cottage Wall DSP, Simple Stitches #5, Cake & Ice Cream Stamp Brush Set, Flag Punch, Square Punch

STAMPIN' UP! COLOR REFRESH!   

Announcing the Color Refresh! I love all the different colors that SU! offers, but it is also important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. I am thrilled to share the updated line of colors, and hope you will be as excited by the new possibilities as I am!

The upcoming 2013-2014 annual catalog will include 10 new colors (most of which are returning In Colors from previous years)! They are welcoming back some of your favorites, moving some colors around, and introducing one brand-new color, so take a look!  Also, starting April 4th, all retiring and discontinued color products will be sold while supplies last.  So, stock up now on your favorites before they are gone.

See the Color Refresh Flyer

See the Stampin' Up! Color Refresh Video