Friday, July 31, 2009

Hope Stamps Eternal *SALE*


***SALE NEWS FROM HOPE STAMPS ETERNAL ***

All items, regular and clearance-priced are ON SALE now through August 2nd! Receive 20% off the ENTIRE STORE! There are loads of new stuff coming soon from Summer CHA and we need to make room on the shelves! No code is necessary, just shop as usual and recieve 20% off everything! And as usual, all orders over $100 qualify for FREE US shipping!

Stamp Simply #98 - Lovely Lace


It's Friday, and that brings us to another Stamp Simply challenge from Sharon Johnson! Today's challenge is to incorporate lace into your card! Whether it's real lace, a punched border, a stamped image or whatever, just work some lacy magic into your design!

The Stamp Simply girls have some awesome designs to inspire you so be sure to check out their blogs, starting with Sharon's stunning sample on her blog!

RoseAnn Reynolds, July Guest DesignerBarbara Anders
Janine Orchard (taking this week off... have fun at the wedding, Honeymuffin!)

And here's my sample to hopefully inspire you! I decided to play with some new stamps from Great Impressions, and give everyone a sneaky-peeky at some of the Stamp of the Month designs for August! These little girls skipping through the grass, and the swirls in the background are part of the art board for August, that I just know my customers are going to love. For the lace on my card, I used a white strip of cardstock punched with the Stampin' Up! eyelet lace border punch. (Thanks for letting me borrow it, Anita!)
My husband learned today that a family friend just had a hip replacement, and we're planning to visit her in the hospital tomorrow evening, so I made this card for her. (And hopefully I can get taken out to dinner while we're in the big city, too!)

I hope you'll make time to join us for this lacy challenge! Upload to your blog, and leave a link on Sharon's blog! And if you upload to an online gallery, be sure to tag your photo with ssnotime98!

Happy Friday, and happy stamping!








Stamps: silhouette girls, swirls (Great Impressions), sentiment (Kitchen Sink Stamps)Cardstock: So Saffron, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!), white (Neenah), designer paper (Bo Bunny)Inks: Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue, Versamagic Night Sky (Tsukineko), Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: ribbon, eyelet lace border punch (Stampin' Up!), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), white brads (Basic Grey).

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Swingin'


I did a little "just for me" stamping on Wednesday evening... no challenges, no design team work, just something I thought would be pretty! I adore these little Penny Black hedgehogs, and wish I had all of them to play with! This little guy was fun to color! After I cut the image out with the Labels 4 Nestabilities die, I sponged Cool Caribbean ink around the edges for sky (since I sadly don't own a Copic airbrush system... boo hoo!) I layered my Hedgie on some Urban Prairie paper from Basic Grey, added some clear dew drops and a border using my new Apron Lace border punch from Fiskars (thanks for enabling me, Julie!) Finally, for a finishing touch I pulled out my fabulous new Bow Easy that I got from Sharon Johnson and this gorgeous gingham ribbon (also from Sharon!) and added a beautiful bow! So how do you like my Hedgie?

Hope you have a fabulous day! THANK YOU for stopping by!








Stamps: Hedgie on Swing (Penny Black)
Cardstock: Romance (Bazzill), Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up!), white (Neenah), designer paper (Basic Grey)Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), markers (Copic), Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up!)Accessories: clear dew drops (Robin's Nest), Apron Lace border punch (Fiskars), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), ribbon (May Arts).


Wednesday, July 29, 2009

SU Ink - Whachadoin' Wednesday?


Welcome to another Whachadoin' Wednesday? with the team from Storage Units, Ink & More! This week we have an inspiration challenge for you to try! Check out the picture below for inspiration... isn't that a beautiful scene? I can see myself napping in that chaise!

For my card, I pulled inspiration from the colors, the fact that the scene is set in a beautiful garden of flowers, and also from the scallops on the siding of the house!

I used the Mojo Monday #97 sketch for further inspiration, and some pretty Die Cuts With a View paper.

Check out some beautiful creations from my fellow SU Ink team members, too.... Cathleen and Mary Jo!

I hope you'll join us in this challenge! I'd love to see what you create! Happy stamping!








Stamps: All Things Grow With Love (Storage Units, Ink & More)
Cardstock: Chocolate Mocha, Rouge (Core'dinations from SU Ink), cream (Neenah), designer paper (Die Cuts With a View)
Inks: Nightfall (SU Ink), Versamagic Jumbo Java (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)
Accessories: corner punch (Stampin' Up!), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), scalloped border punch (EK Success), Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder (ProvoCraft) buttons (craft supply).

Color Throwdown #53, and More Dare to Get Dirty!


It's time for another Color Throwdown, and this week our hostess is Danielle! I hope you'll take time to play along! Remember, if you don't have these exact colors, just use whatever you have that is similar! We're not technical about it... we just want everyone to have fun! Leave a direct link to your creation on the Color Throwdown blog, and you will then be in the running to be chosen as Featured Stamper! We choose one person from all the Featured Stampers each month to be our Guest Designer for September, so put your best foot forward, and good luck!
For my card, I chose to check a few more of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges from Splitcoaststampers off my list, so this card is not only for the Throwdown but also for the DP by Me challenge from Betty Wright, the non-traditional card size challenge from my HSE Sweetie buddy, Carolina Buchting, the Born to be Wild challenge from Amy Sheffer, and the Sew Unexpected challenge from Bev Rousch.

Check out the awesome creations from the other Throwdown designers, and join us in saying farewell to our first ever Guest Designer, Juliana Swanson! It's been so awesome having her join us this month, but stay tuned... we've got another awesome stamper on board for August!


Thanks for stopping by today, and happy stamping!








Stamps: birds (Inkadinkado), sentiment (Kitchen Sink Stamps)
Cardstock: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Border Blue (Stampin' Up!), white (Neenah)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamagic Aegean Blue (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)
Accessories: Nestabilities (Spellbinders), flower (Prima), button brads (*NEW* from Imaginise at Hope Stamps Eternal).

Monday, July 27, 2009

Dare to Get Dirty Challenges


Fan Club members over at SplitCoastStampers were given a treat this past weekend with the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges 2009. This is the third year that they've done these challenges, and I've tried each year to participate in as many as I can because they always get my creative juices flowing. So here are a few cards I made on Sunday for various challenges!
This first card combines a sketch challenge from Cindy Lawrence, a challenge from Jen delMuro to use a tag in your design, and Becca Feeken's challenge to make good use of die-cuts and punches. My Mom was visiting this weekend and needed a birthday card for a friend, so this was what I came up with. She asked for it to be a little elegant, to mention "friends" and said that if I had some Scripture to include that would be great, too. Well, sometimes not everything fits on the front of a card, right? So I had to doll up the inside, too!
This second card is for a sketch challenge from Susan Roberts, and a challenge from my fellow HSE Sweetie, Bonnie Sharp to use something with wings in the design! For this one I pulled out some of the new June Bug paper from Basic Grey (that you can pick up at the Hope Stamps Eternal store!)
And finally, we've got The Big Kahuna! Isn't he cute??? Some of you read last week that my Mom was visiting, and we spent some of the weekend doing a semi-remodel and complete redecoration of my daughters' bathroom. The bathroom now has a beachy/seaside/nautical theme, and the girls are just thrilled. My Mom is a garage sale queen and always finds the neatest "finds" so she's been picking up cute items for decorating this bathroom for a few years now (yes... this was definitely a project that was overdue!) so not everything is hung up on the walls yet, but I'll get some pictures to show you as soon as I can! In the meantime, I thought my girls would like to have a little something from Mommy to hang in their bathroom, so I set to work creating a framed piece, and The Big Kahuna here from Whipper Snapper totally fit the bill! I used the sketch challenge from Cindy Haffner to create this piece. And I know it's a stretch but Krystie Lee challenged participants to create something with a clear element so I figured this worked since the glass in the frame is clear, right? (Like I said... I know it's a stretch!) I printed the sentiment on the computer using the Joyful Juliana font from Kimberly Geswein, and it's mounted on a chipboard flower with embellishments. The inspiration for this piece came from a gift I received from Kim Howard.

So, I hope you've enjoyed my Dare to Get Dirty entries, so far! (Now, if only someone would dare to make me Dirty! LOL) It's my day off, so I hope to complete a few more of the challenges today, along with getting a lot of design work completed for upcoming commitments! But for now I'm heading out to breakfast with Kaylie!

Have a great day!








Tulip card...
Stamps: Multi-Step Tulip Garden, Never a Loss 4 Words (Kitchen Sink Stamps), Scripture (Stampendous), birthday sentiment (River City Rubber Works)Cardstock: bright pink (Hollo's), Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!), designer paper (Basic Grey)Inks: Memento Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko), Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: flower (Prima), Cuttlebug embossing border (ProvoCraft), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), eyelet lace border punch (Stampin' Up!), double dot scallop border punch (Martha Stewart from Hope Stamps Eternal), ribbon, button (craft supply).

Ducks...
Stamps: ducks (Great Impressions), sentiment (Impression Obsession)
Cardstock: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry (Stampin' Up!), white (Neenah), designer paper (June Bug by Basic Grey available at Hope Stamps Eternal)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Tempting Turquoise (Stampin' Up!), markers (Copic)Accessories: ribbon (Creative Impressions), brads (Stampin' Up!), Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

The Big Kahuna...
Stamps: The Big Kahuna (Whipper Snapper Designs), computer-generated sentiment
Cardstock: yellow, red (Bazzill), designer paper (Bo Bunny), white (Neenah)Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)Accessories: Nestabilities (Spellbinders), chipboard flower, circle punches, red hemp (Stampin' Up!), button, frame (craft supply).




Sunday, July 26, 2009

Hope Stamps Eternal-Cupcake Inspiration #17


It's time for another Cupcake-Inspired Challenge from the Sweeties at Hope Stamps Eternal! I hope to see LOTS of players this week, because HOW could you not be inspired by this yummy display? The fact that they're chocolate alone is inspiring enough, but look at those colors! Bright and summery... you can't go wrong! Link your creation back on the Hope Stamps Eternal blog using Mr. Linky so we can see what yumminess you come up with, too! And if you upload to an online gallery like Paper Craft Planet, be sure to tag your photo using CIC17!

So, you can probably guess that I was inspired by the bright colors, right? Here's my card using some fun new paper I got from Kaiser, and some of the new Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo cardstock and ribbon. Someone I know has a birthday coming up very soon, so I just had to get a birthday card ready to send her and this cute Mouse and Candle from Whipper Snapper was the perfect stamp to use!

Be sure to stop at the other Sweeties blogs today to check out more cupcake goodness!


I hope your weekend is going great! The weather is beautiful here in Northeast Ohio, and we're loving every minute of it! Have a great Sunday!








Stamps: Mouse & Candle (Whipper Snapper Designs), sentiment (Impression Obsession)Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (available at Hope Stamps Eternal), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)Cardstock: Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!), Parakeet (Bazzill), white (Neenah), designer paper (Kaiser)Accessories: ribbon (Stampin' Up!), concave corner punch (EK Success), gemstones (Mark Richards), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Yellow Stickles (Ranger available from Hope Stamps Eternal).

Friday, July 24, 2009

Stamp Simply #97 - Fruit of the Vine

Well, the Stamp Simply Team is back from their weekend gathering in Shipshewana, Indiana and ready to bring you another challenge! Sharon Johnson has come up with another great idea for we girls to inspire you with today. Since fruit is such a wonderful summer snack (and can sometimes be turned into a meal!) let's create something fruity today! If you don't have any fruity stamps, how about some fruity paper like I've used here? Got any of that fabulous new Lemonade paper from Basic Grey? There are cherries there! If you really don't have anything, how about using shades of orange, watermelon, cherry, grape, blueberry? You get the picture, right?

As I said, for my card I used this citrus-y designer paper I picked up recently, and literally stamped simply by not stamping at all! My sentiment is computer-generated using Kimberly Geswein's "Joyful Juliana" font. (click on the photo for a close-up) I cut out my sentiment with a Spellbinders ribbon slide die, and used this yummy gingham ribbon I got in Shipshewana. I'm so pleased with how this turned out... clean and simple, which is sometimes all you need!

So be sure to stop at Sharon's blog for her amazing sample, and then sample some fruit from the rest of the Stamp Simply team members for more inspiration!

RoseAnn Reynolds, July Guest Designer

Are you getting geared up for a fabulous weekend? I sure am! My Mom is visiting, and I'm so happy to have her with us for a few days! Hope your day is fabulous! Happy stamping!








Stamps: none
Cardstock: Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!), Festive, Parakeet (Bazzill), designer paper (American Traditional Designs)Inks: none
Accessories: ribbon (Making Memories), ribbon slider die (Spellbinders), Scalloped Dot punch (Martha Stewart from Hope Stamps Eternal).

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Paper Craft Planet - MyGrafico-Sponsored Challenge



We have a really fun challenge for you today -- it's a product challenge, sponsored by MyGrafico. To play along, create ANYTHING using one of the MyGrafico images -- they have a ton to choose from, but if you're trying to cut costs, here's a link to some free images.
Post your project in the Paper Craft Planet photo gallery, and use the tag "PCPgrafico". (Here is a tutorial on adding pictures to the gallery, if you need it.) MyGrafico has generously offered a $10 gift certificate to the store to one of our lucky challenge players.
Just a note about working with digital stamps:
  • You do NOT have to have a photo editing software. You can just open and print these jpg images.

  • If you have a photo editing program, the images come in both jpg and png files. You can resize the images and combine them into scenes with just a click of the mouse.

  • Digital images last forever and require very little storage space!

  • There are several great tutorial videos over on Paper Craft Planet that will show you how to use digital images, if you have any questions.
Here is what the rest of the Super Novas came up with:

Now, it's your turn! Take the challenge and let's see what you make!



For my card, I chose to use this cute owl sitting on a branch and colored him with my Copic markers. The eyes and beak were colored and cut out from an extra image, then added to the main image with some foam tape. I used some designer paper from October Afternoon, a sentiment from Kim Hughes' URA Hoot stamp set, and the Sketch for You to Try from Jen del Muro.
Thanks for stopping by so many times today! I appreciate your patience with all the posts I have up today!

Stamps: owl from Forest Friends (MyGrafico)Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Bahama Blue (Stampin' Up!), Reed (Bazzill), white (Neenah), designer paper (October Afternoon)Inks: Versamagic Ocean Depth (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)Accessories: concave corner punch (EK Success), scalloped circle, circles (Stampin' Up!), clear embossing powder (Ranger).

Color Throwdown #52 - Clear & Simple Stamps


It's time for another exciting Color Throwdown, as this week we have another great company sponsoring our challenge... Clear & Simple Stamps! Please be sure to stop by the Throwdown blog to read about this wonderful company and to see the generous prize they're donating for one lucky random participant this week!
The challenge this week is being hosted by Barbara, and she chose Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Perfect Plum for you us to Throwdown! So why not see what you can do with these colors, and try to win the prize or be chosen as our Featured Stamper? Remember, the colors are only meant as a guide! If you don't have these exact colors, just use whatever you have that is similar! Link your creation back on the Throwdown blog using Mr. Linky and make sure you're using a direct link! Links that take us only to your blog, and not directly to your entry will be deleted and ineligible for prizes!

The ladies at Clear & Simple Stamps also generously donated a stamp set to each member of the Throwdown team to use for this challenge, and the set I received is called Glam Girl! The sentiment included with this set (shown here) just kept calling out to me, so I had no choice but to create my own mirror on the card for a princess to gaze into, hoping to see Prince Charming staring back! The stars are also part of the set and I stamped them using Versamark Dazzle for some extra bling along with the added gemstones. If I'd had some smaller gemstones, I would have encircled the mirror with them!

Stop by the Throwdown girls' blogs to see what they've created with their Clear & Simple Stamps, too!


I try not to upload too many times in one day, (I know some people don't like receiving multiple emails with blog posts) but I do have a few other things I need to show you today, so please stick with me and stay tuned! Thanks!








Stamps: Glam Girl (Clear & Simple Stamps)
Cardstock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!), silver mirror cardstock (craft supply)
Inks: Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!), Versamark Dazzle Frost (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Nestabilities (Spellbinders), gemstones (Mark Richards), ribbon (Creative Impressions).

Sunday, July 19, 2009

HSE Sweeties - Cupcake Inspiration #16


It's time for another Cupcake Inspiration challenge from the Sweeties at Hope Stamps Eternal! I really fell in love with the image for this week's challenge, shown below. I mean sure.. the cupcake looks delicious but aren't those colors yummy, too? Be inspired!
For my card, I chose to use this Michael's $1 stamp that has never seen ink, colored the flower with my Copics, then cut it out and adhered it to the blue circle. And I ran a strip of white cardstock through my crimper to simulate the cupcake paper!


Stop by the other Sweeties blogs for more inspiration from this cupcake!


Have a great Sunday, and happy stamping! Thanks for stopping by!








Stamps: background circles (Great Impressions), flower and sentiment (Michael's)
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up!), white (Neenah)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Ruby Red (Stampin' Up!), markers (Copic)Accessories: Nestabilities (Spellbinders), ribbon (American Crafts).

Friday, July 17, 2009

Stamp Simply #96 - Little Black Dress


Well, by the time some of you read this I will be in Shipshewana, Indiana having a blast with some of the Stamp Simply girls, both past and present including Sharon Johnson, Julie Koerber, Darlene Pavlick, Barb Schram, Joan Fricker, Janine Orchard, and Pat Adam (and wishing the rest of the girls had been able to come, too!) Of course, we couldn't just all take off without leaving a Stamp Simply challenge behind for you, to here is today's challenge from Sharon...

"The staple of every women's wardrobe -- or so they say. How many of you actually HAVE a little black dress? Not me! Anyway, today's challenge is to make a project of understated elegance using black and white. If you need to add in a little pop of another color, that's fine, as long as the project is primarily black and white and its overall feel is that of understated elegance. I think this one will produce some real beauties! Can't wait to see!!!"
For my card, I pulled out this elegant stamp from a new Just Rite Stampers set called Birthday Wishes. Paired with this felt scrollwork piece that I've had for forever from Queen & Co., these Prima crystals and the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, I thought it made for a very elegant card. I also used Stampin' Up! Shimmery White cardstock, and clear embossed my main image although it doesn't show in the photo. Darlene can tell you how pretty it is, because it's her birthday card! ;)

Stop by Sharon's blog for all the challenge details, and check out the blogs of the other Stamp Simply designers too, for further inspiration!

Barbara * Jenny * Deb * Julie * Janine * Jennifer * AJ * RoseAnn


Thanks for stopping by today! I hope your weekend is going to be as fabulous as mine will be!