Happy Mother's Day - DIC145

Hello all!!!  Two posts in one day!!!  Need some more inspiration for Mother's Day cards?  The photo that Maria has picked out for us on the UDI Blog can help you out!

I'll post all the details tonight.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Creative Sketches 27 and Diva Inspiration 142!!!! A winning combo!!!

Hello all!!!  Two fabulous things, NEW, have happened for April!!!  The first I told you about yesterday and that is the guest designer for Late Night Stampers for April and the second is I am joining the design team for Creative Sketches from April to October!!!  I love sketches and I love new challenges!!

With that being said, let me tell you about my card!  You can check out the sketch on the blog.  I hope you can play along with us this week!!!

To start off the card base is Very Vanilla, 5 x 5.  The color combo is Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso.  I did take some liberty with the UDI Inspiration pic for this week with these colors.  But, I wanted to use the Sweet Stitches dsp and the matching rub-ons.  I'm sure Maria will understand!

There is a lot of dimension on this card to.  The rub-ons I used are the of the little girl and the row of straight pins.  Daffodil Delight buttons from Sale-A-Bration with pearl centers finishes it off!!

Don't forget to check out the Creative Sketches blog and UDI Blog for two awesome challenges!!  Let me know if you play along too so I can check out what you created!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Love You - DIC141

Hello all!!!  Time for another UDI Blog Inspiration challenge!  I just love the inspiration picture that Maria picked for us this week.  A very simple, yet focused, picture of a Monarch butterfly on a yellow flower.  It gives such a nice feeling that Spring is finally coming.   Make sure to check out the UDI Blog and play along.

My inspiration came from the yellow of the flower and the butterfly.  The newest Technique Junkies newsletter is loaded with fun and interesting techniques to try.  The technique that I used on here is called Millefiori.  It is based on an Italian way for making stained glass.  I used three different sets to create the background piece:  Flower Fancy, Pick a Petal and Dreams du'Jour.  I can't give you all the specifics of the technique, but if you check out the Technique Junkies site, you can get the details for getting the newsletter.

The main image and butterfly come from the Dreams du'Jour set.  And this image is great for also using the Outof-the-Box technique because it's already set up for you!  I stamped it twice, once in black staz on and again in Kiwi Kiss.  I then cut the image out, leaving the leaves and bud outside the box, following the inner boxed lines.  I then layered it with a dimensional with the second image.

Luckily for me, I stamped a butterfly in just the right spot so I could cut it out and pop it up over the stamped image.  Helps to give it even more depth.

The "bow" is a faux bow using the instructions from Mary Brown.  The entire background panel and strip are popped up on dimensionals too.

This is going out to my March Just One partner with Technique Junkies.

Don't forget to check out the UDI Blog and play along if you can!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Fan Flower - DIC140

Hello all!!!  Here we are again at another Thursday and time for the UDI Blog Inspiration challenge.  The inspiration piece this week is painting with a modern feel to it.

This past weekend I spent stamping and socializing with my Michigan Mingler friends in Novi.  I spent more time socializing than stamping, but I did manage to create this card for the challenge.

I took limited supplies with me, as I really couldn't take the entire craft room!!!  I did take my Big Shot and limited dies.

My inspiration card starts with a Crumb Cake base, folded at the top.  Then I used a piece of the SAB dsp in the Peach Parfait pattern, distressed with my cutter kit tool and then ripped or torn away at random areas.  Under that I layered a piece of the First Editions dsp, available in the Occasions mini.  The card base was also distressed and then sponged over with the Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip.

The flower is made from a strip of Newsprint dsp, scored at every 1/4", folded accordion style and then shaped into a flower.  An antique brad in the center finishes it off.  Linen thread is wrapped around the card and a sizzlet leaf is the final touch.

Don't forget to check out the UDI Blog and play along if you can!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Queen for A Day - DIC138

Hello all!!  WOW has this past week just flown by me!!!  Here we are at another UDI Inspiration Thursday.  This week Maria has provided us with a beautiful deep blue rose.  At first I thought, "What am I going to do with this??"

After I thought about it for a moment I remember the fabulous Springtime Vintage dsp and especially the sheet with the roses on it!!!  Since the rose is blue, I cut the dsp to show as many of the blue roses as possible.  Layered this on a card base of Not Quite Navy.  A leftover strip of the striped dsp was next and I topped that with Crumb Cake seam binding that I scrunched.

The interesting part of this card, I think, is the rose embellishment.  I just knew that I had to use one of the new rose adornments, available in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  But it needed to be built up just a tad and so I used 1 1 1/4" circle of NON, 3 1" circles of Baja Breeze that were crumpled up and then layered onto each other.  And just to set the rose apart slightly from the Baja Breeze card stock, I tore a piece of NON and have it peeking out.  This was then put on top of a banner strip cut from the Petal Cone die.

The layout is from the clean & simple blog, FTL130.  I also used a leftover piece of the scallop 1/2 circle from the Petal Cone die in Very Vanilla.  The sentiment was stamped in NON using the "You're a Gem" set.

If you have a minute, check out the UDI blog and play along with us!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

It's A Celebration with Sock Monkey - DIC137!!!!

Hello all!!!  Here we are at Thursday again and time for another UDI Blog Inspiration challenge.  The piece that Maria provided us is a very calm and relaxing table setting, but I took some liberties with the piece and used a few other colors.

Finally here is my sample!!! Time just got away from me this week!  I decided to cover 2 challenges in one with this card.  My UDI sample, using the the colors of the inspiration piece of white, blue and a touch of pale green.  The other challenge is for the Late Night Stampers weekly challenge and this week it is to create a kids card!  Next to creating a masculine card, I find these just as difficult!!!

So when thinking of kids right away I thought of Sock Monkey.  And he hadn't seen any ink for awhile so I thought it was time!  LOL!  He was stamped onto Whisper White in black staz on and then watercolored with Crumb Cake and aquapainter.  The dsp I used is the Celebrations set, and is perfect for creating those kids cards with the bold primary colors.  I stamped him on the side I wanted and then cut out the parts and pieces.  Since I used the striped side I when I stamped him I tried to keep the stripes all going the same way.  I think I did ok!  Once he was put together I popped him on dimensionals and attached him to the card!

The cupcake was again stamped in Whisper White and then Pear Pizzaz for the holder.  I colored the "frosting" with the Soft Suede marker and covered it with Crystal Effects.  The cupcake is popped up with another dimensional.  I also added the Champagne glass glitter to the flame, but it's hard to see.

Not too sure about the ribbon tabs and glimmer brads, but I wasn't going to fuss with it once they were on there!  Dry embossed the top part of the Whisper White card base with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  Even the panel across the front is popped up with dimensionals!!  Love my dimensionals!!
 
Please check out the UDI Blog and the other designers.  And play along this week!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Birthday Wishes - DIC135

Hello all!!!   Another Thursday means another UDI Inspiration Challenge!!!

This is one of the cards we made at club this month and fits perfectly with the challenge!!!  I was recently in a birthday card swap and received a card like this.   I made some changes, of course, to make it my own, but it was the layout with the circles that caught my attention.

The card base is Peach Parfait, layered with Whisper White.  Only the bottom portion was put through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  The new, and fabulous, cupcake punch was used to create the cupcake.  The bottom was punched in Early Espresso after being embossed with the Square Lattice folder.  The topping was punched from the SAB dsp - Ice Cream Parlor.  And the cherry on top is punched with the new red glitter paper.  I think the cherry really does top off this cupcake!!  LOL!

Each of the circles are punched using the 1 1/4" circle punch, adhered together in a triangular shape and then put on the card using dimensionals.  The cupcake is then put on top of the circles with more dimensionals!  You know how much I love my dimensionals!!!

The ribbon and buttons are from the SAB Ice Cream Parlor buttons and ribbon pack.  The ribbon was placed just at the top of the embossed area.  Using another SAB set - So Happy For You - I stamped the birthday wishes in Peach Parfait.  Two of the buttons, topped with rhinestones, finish off the card.  Pretty easy and clean and simple for me!!

If you have a minute, check out the UDI Blog and play along!!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Wise Valentine Owl - DIC134

Hello all!!!  The UDI Blog Inspiration challenge this week is a fun and flirty pic in reds and pinks.  Just in time for Valentine's Day!!  Are you ready?

I have to confess actually.  The basic components of this card were sitting on my craft table, leftovers from a previous class.  A Christmas class to be exact, but I thought it would make for a nice Valentine card.  I think it turned out just fine!

The card base Blushing Bride, layered with Real Red, CandyCane dsp and striped Shimmery White.  Some of these items are retired, but just goes to show how some dsp can be used for other holidays too!  The big button is from the 2010 Holiday mini and I soooo hope they show up in the new catalog this year!!

As I'm still lovin' this owl punch and stamp set, I had to use him!  The owl is from the SAB set Punch Bunch and punched with the 2 step owl punch.  So much fun.  The owls "chest cover" was stamped separately in Real Red on Whisper White.  The small heart is in Blushing Bride, popped up with a tiny dimensional and topped off with a rhinestone.  The pinking hearts border punch was used on the back of the card base.  A 1/4" is cut off the front so it shows through.

If you have a chance, check out the UDI Blog and play along!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Hello Baby - DIC132!!!!!

Hello ladies!!!  Another week has flown by and here we are at the UDI Blog Inspiration challenge!!!  This week Maria gave us a very bright, cheery, pink infused bouquet of daises along with pink marshmallow bunnies!!!

My card doesn't have any bunnies, but it does have pinks and rubber duckies!  I used the new SAB set, Punch Bunch, to make a sweet baby card.  And, for me, this is pretty simple too!!!

I'll give you all the details tonight!  Off to work now!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Pure Bliss - DIC131!

Hello all!!!  Another Thursday has arrived and so has another UDI Blog Inspiration challenge!!!  And as the title states, the inspiration piece evokes the feeling of pure bliss!  At least for me!!!

So, I have a card for you that I actually made for a recent swap.  This uses the new, Sale-A-Bration set, Bliss.  This will become available to earn for free on January 25th!!!  Remember, with every $50 you spend, you earn one SAB set.  Do you have your wish list ready?

All of the stamps on here are in this set, plus one more.  I just love the damask stamp, which I used on here as a background image.  It was stamped in Pink Pirouette on Pink Pirouette.

The dsp is the new Springtime Vintage and it is fabulous!!!  So is the fabric that matches it!!!  I took my colors from the dsp:  Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz and Always Artichoke.

A small basic pearl gives the touch of "oldness" and the bird in the Pear Pizzazz gives it that right amount of pop!!!

Check out the UDI Blog and the inspiration piece.  Why not play along if you can??

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Nature Walk with You - DIC130

Hello all!!!  Here we are at another Thursday and time for the UDI Inspiration challenge!  This week Maria has given us an adorable birdhouse and birds to pull out our creativity!

I originally started this card for a swap and then changed my mind.  But is works perfectly for this week's challenge!

The card base is white and top folded.  Since I started this a swap, the original card base was Tangerine Tango, but I trimmed that to put it onto the white base.  The dry embossed layer is also Tangerine Tango, with the Square Lattice ef.

The stamp set used on here is the new Nature Walk that is now available in the Occasions Mini!!!  Love this set with the vintage, nostalgic feel to it.  There is also coordinating dsp too!  I used a small piece of it here, the muted olive color.

The bird is stamped in Choc Chip and the bird cage is in Tangerine Tango.  Both are cut out and popped up with dimensionals.  The sentiment tab is half of the decorative label punch and the stamp is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Enjoy!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Nature Thank You - DIC128

Hello all!!  This week the UDI inspiration piece is 3 very yummy looking cocktails.  Each in their own fabulous color.

I mainly went with the colors from the piece to build my card, but still not quite sure how the cocktails translate to birds!!!  Anyway, I love how this came out and I just love this new set coming out in the Occasions mini, January 4th!!!

While the overall look of the card is clean, it not necessarily simple!!!  I combined alot of techniques on this card, once again!

The first is using the dry embossed method with the new Framed Tulips embossing folder and Perfect Polka Dots folder.  However, the fun part is that I double embossed them!  To do this you run your secondary folder through first and then place your card stock into your primary folder and run it through the Big Shot again.  You will still notice the secondary embossing, but just not as pronounced.

The second technique I did was Out-of-the Box.  This is a fun and fairly easy technique to do.  The tough part is making sure you don't cut into your image when trying to trim part of the card stock away.  To do this you stamp your image onto the card stock and then trim away parts of it.  You should cut your card stock as close to the size you want to end up with.  The idea is to leave part of the image "cut out" of the card stock.

The third technique is watercoloring.  Pulled out my watercolor wonder crayons and blender pen, and colored away.  Not sure if there is a bird this color in real life, but I think it's pretty!  The eggs were colored with markers direct to the stamp and then cut out. 

I couldn't resist the fly on here, since the cocktails are fruity and flies also come around with the sweet things!!

If you have a chance to play this week, check out the UDI Blog and see what you come up with.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Three Silly Reindeer - DIC127

Hello all!!!  I'm still plucking away at Christmas gifts and such this week, how about you???  This week's UDI Inspiration piece is a traditional Christmas picture of Santa with a darling little girl.

No Santa on my creation, but I do have 3 of his silly reindeer, chomping at the bit to get going!!!  At my December stamp club this is the scrapbook page the girls made.  The colors and feeling of the piece are what I used.  This is 12 x 12.

Do you have the owl punch yet?  If not, what are you waiting for???  You can do so much more than just owls with it!  The reindeer were made with the owl punch, minus the little feet!  I'm not sure who came up with idea, but it is one darling, and clever, use of the punch!!  I used a card I found on SCS for the basic idea of the reindeer "looking" over a stall.  We had a lot of fun making this page.

Be sure to check out the UDI Blog and play along if you get a minute!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Girl in Christmas Red - DIC125

Hello all!!!  With Christmas right around the corner, the inspiration pieces on the UDI Blog are all about Christmas.  I had ideas for my card this week, but in getting ready for my own Christmas projects, I ran out of time!!!  So this one is quick and simple.

At my Christmas card club this year we made this card and the ladies loved how easy it was.

I used Old Olive for the card base, a strip of the Holly Jolly dsp, Cherry Cobbler square and layered with a Very Vanilla scalloped square.

The scalloped square was cut using the Big Shot and the duo scallop die in the Holiday mini.  It fits so well with the large clear scallop square.  The image is embossed with black craft and black embossing powder and then watercolored.  We used ink from the stamp pads to watercolor and an aquapainter.  While watercoloring is not my forte, I do enjoy it and keep trying to improve my skills.

I still needed to add something, so I put a scallop edge in Old Olive on here.

So, check out the UDI Blog if you get a moment and play along.

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Candy Cane Christmas - DIC124!!

Hello all!!!  This week Maria, over at the UDI Blog, has presented us with a yummy inspiration picture of candy canes!!!  Since I have been working on Christmas cards I had this one all ready!!

The card base is Blushing Bride along with Real Red, Whisper White and the Candy Cane dsp.  Love that dsp!!  The stamp set I used is Season of Joy.

The eyelet punched border is attached on the inside of the front and I cut 1" off the bottom to make it even.

My first intent was to stamp the collage sentiment in the Blushing Bride and then over stamp the tree in Real Red.  Well.... I decided that wasn't going to work, so I stamped the tree on Whisper White and cut it out.  I used the new stick on rhinestones for my "bling"!  The big Candy Cane buttons was used with the Blushing Bride poly twill. 

So check out the UDI Blog and play along if you get the chance!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Happy Retirement - DIC123

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!  Even if you are not celebrating Thanksgiving today, take a moment and look around you to see what you have to be thankful for.

The Inspiration challenge on the UDI Blog is a picture of a lush fall scene, ripe with pumpkins, squash and fall leaves.  Check it out and play along if you have a moment.

I needed to make a retirement card, actually a couple more too!, for one of the ladies in my office.  With the early retirement that the state of MI is offering, we have several taking advantage of it.  So, this is card #1.

I just received the new "Have a Seat" set and decided to put it to good use!  Isn't that what retirement is all about?  Relaxing and enjoying life?

I took a variety of the colors from the inspiration piece to complete my card.  The base is Naturals Ivory, layered with More Mustard and pieces from the Autumn Spice dsp in the Holiday mini.  I just love this dsp!  It is heavyweight and textured. 

I stamped the bench in Early Espresso and sponged the edges with the ink pad.  This is layered on Cajun Craze and Pear Pizazz, which has been embossed with the lattice square folder.  The entire panel is popped up with dimensionals.  A mini library clip helps keep the sentiment panel attached to the main image.  Two, non SU!, chocolate stick on pearls finishes it off!  (Sorry Maria, but they were just what I needed!!)

Don't forget to check out the UDI Blog for the rest of the design team creations and play along when you get a chance.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Thanksgiving Greeting - DIC122

Hello all!!! I cannot believe the weather we are having here in Michigan!!!  You would think it's early spring instead of the middle of November.  But, I am truly enjoying it.

Over on the UDI Blog this week, the inspiration challenge is a gorgeous picture of a fall tree in all it's glory!  The color of the leaves is stunning.  Check out the UDI Blog to see it.  And play along!

I had one thought for my card when I looked at the picture, but then, like always, the card went on it's way by itself!!!  But, I do like how this turned out!!

It all started with the "wreath".  I cut out several lattice dies from the wood sheets the other day, and just couldn't throw away all the little bits and pieces left.  If was cardstock, that's one thing, but this was using the wood sheets.  As I had them on my table the "light bulb" went off and I thought those pointed ovals would make a great wreath. 

Originally I intended for this to be a Christmas wreath, but when I looked at the pic for this week, I thought a fall wreath would work too.  I have no idea how many pieces I used, but it does have two rows.  I punch a circle first with the 1 3/4" circle and then punched that out with the 2 1/2" circle.  That is the base.  I added sticky strip and stuck 'em down!!  I then spritzed it with the Log Cabin Smooch Spritz.

I used the Greeting Cards Kids set and actually this image is more for Halloween.  But, we have pumpkins at Thanksgiving!!  I omitted the broom she is holding and made her hat look more like a pilgrim hat.  I watercolored her with my aquapainter and stamp lids.  It's supposed to look like she's "holding" the sentiment!

The sketch is from this month's Fan Club/Dirty Dozen group on SCS.  The card base is Naturals Ivory, layered with Old Olive stamped in the same ink with the Sanded BG.  The second layer is Chocolate Chip with a piece of the Autumn Spice dsp.  I distressed the edges with my distressor tool.  A piece of Victoria lace and linen thread, and it's done!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Caffeine is a Vitamin - DIC121!!

Hello all and Happy Thursday!!!  And Happy Vetrans Day to all of our vetrans, past and present!  Without you this country would not be the safe haven we all love.  Thank you.

This week on the UDI blog Inspiration challenge, Maria provided us a picture of a yummy cup of coffee/lattee.  Either one I'm good with!!  So, I decided to pull out my Morning Cup set, which I HAD to have, and decided to ink it up!

The card base is Very Vanilla, layered with Soft Suede and then dsp from the Blueberry Crisp set.  On here it kind of reminded me of vintage wallpaper.

The large scallop circle is cut from the scallops #2 die in Marina Mist.  The smaller one, is punched from the 2 3/8" scallop punch.  The Very Vanilla image layer is punched with the 1 3/4" circle punch.

Lots of dimension going on here too.  The Soft Suede center strip, and each of the scallop circles are popped up.

I stamped the cups in brown staz on and watercolored them with my aquapainter and ink from the stamp lids.  It's hard to see, but on two of the cups I used my white gel pen for some highlights.  I used the Soft Suede ink pad directly on the circle layer for shading.

A piece of Chantilly lace and Vanilla Seam Binding and some stick on pearls, and we're done!

The sketch is this week's SCS306 over on Splitcoast.

Don't forget to check out the UDI Blog for rest of the design team cards!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

An Old Fashioned Christmas! - DIC119

Hello all!!!  I hope everyone is doing good and, of course, finding time to stamp!!!  Halloween is now behind us, and Thanksgiving and Christmas soon approaching.  Where does the time go???

The UDI Inspiration pic this week is a basket of different breads and wheat.  I'm not quite sure how I got from that to a Christmas card, but it's where I felt lead.

The "wreath" is made using the new, and gorgeous, Deck the Halls fabric.  If you haven't seen or felt this fabric, you are missing out!  I cut four of the large scallop circles from the Scallop Circles #2 die and my Big Shot.  My idea for this card came from a Christmas card on the front of our monthly demo magazine, Stampin' Success, but I made a few changes.  They used the scallop circle from the Pennant die.  Since my circles are just a bit bigger, I added additional layers to the center.

The button is from the new Deck the Halls buttons currently available in the Holiday mini.  I LOVE those buttons!!!  I used the new stick on Pearls for the center.  Another fave of mine!

The ribbon tags are using the Always Artichoke seam binding ribbon, also available in the Holiday mini.  My card base is 4.25 square from Soft Suede textured and layered with a piece of Very Vanilla.  I ran this through the Perfect Polka dots eb folder and then aged with my Distressing Kit inks.  The saying is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and held on with linen thread tied around the button.

Don't forget to check out the UDI blog to see the inspiration piece and what the other team members did!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

DIC #119 - Happy Halloween!!

WOW!  What a week this has been for me!!!  Craziness, craziness, but it all works out in the end!  Here we are at another Thursday and a UDI Inspiration piece.  This week Maria gave us a pic of a Norman Rockwell Saturday Even Post cover, featuring Halloween.

For my card I used the new Wicked Cool set and Wicked Fun dsp.  I actually started this card by playing around with scraps, put them together and then cut them out with the Top Note die.  I used the new waffle paper in black around the edges.

The witches shoes were colored with my markers and then stamped.  The hat was stamped in black stazon, Versamark and then clear embossed, but it doesn't show up that well.  I colored the blocks in her hat with the Rich Razzleberry marker and popped it up with a dimensional.  I spritzed the panel with the RR marker and the same with sentiment circle, but I used the Cajun Craze one.

The bat was cut from the Wicked Fun dsp, added some rhinestones for a little bling and the Rich Razzleberry grosgrain, all scrunched up!  Love the way that it pops off the card with the polka dots.

Check out the UDI Blog when you get a minute to see the inspiration piece and see what the other team members did!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~