Saturday, February 28, 2009

Club Cards, Cheesy Chicks and Cool Creativity

As I was finishing up some cards today I was just struck again by how blessed I am to have found this hobby/obsession/creative outlet :). Stamping has given me SO much, and those few days a week I can create something are just happy days for me! The people who've been a part of my life because of it are a treasure!

So....I thought I'd share some great things with you today. Three cards I designed for our 10 for 10 Club that met this past week....and then show you a club I am a part of with my upline.

5th Avenue Sparkle

I've been wanting to show the girls the FAB ways you can use glitter. So, I took out our new Sticky Cuts Sweet and the awesome Supernova Fine Glitter, and some great pattern and texture and created this:



Sizzlits leaf, Texturz small polka dots on the white layer (which you may not be able to see) and simple accents and yet its such a wow card!

Blossoming Branches

Remember when the first thing we had to have was Stampin Up Pastels? It had all 48 colors, but I don't often use mine anymore! But, to create soft effects, there's really nothing better. Here we used the cool new set Branched Out.


First we stamped the tree in Basic Black, and then added some leaves (stamped once off for softer effect) in Kiwi Kiss, and then stamped in VersaMark with Regal Rose pastels dabbed and rubbed on to create that soft blossoming tree effect. I also showed the girls how to use the Texturez plate with the bark background on the Kiwi Kiss main panel layer. FANTABULOUS! I found this color combo one day as I was putting away two projects I had been working on, these three inkpads ended up being together and I thought...hmmm that looks pretty!

Botanical Kindness

When I saw the new SAB Delicate Dots DSP in the Sale A Bration Catalogue I wanted to design a project around it...soft pretty springy.


Here I stamped the blossom centers and leaves on a layer of whisper white. Then on a layer of cardstock vellum layed on top of the flower layer I stamped the outlines in White Craft and embossed with White Embossing Powder. SO pretty and such a delicate soft effect! Especially with the eyelet punch border.


Now, I designed the project around the paper...which ended up not coming in time! Talk about crazy! So, I grabbed last seasons Hostess Pack of Patterns DSP in the Sahara color and you have the same palette. Sentiment is embossed too. Loving how pretty this is!


And HERE are my Cheesy Chicks!


We are (l - r): Celeste, Barb, Lorraine, Kimberly (not there that night), Kaitlin, Karen, Barb, Bev and Me.... It must have been vest night 5 of us were wearing vests, I have my nice puffy one on, perfect for winter...and yes I wear glasses :) - oh and notice my shirt...Kiwi Kiss :)

I love these women! Some of us been stamping together for over 5 years now. I first started this whole stamping LOVE in a 10 for 10 group with Susan, then became a demonstrator within the first year.

These girls are so fun, we always laugh together, and we have shared a lot in the past 5 years...the joy of births, the sorrow of deaths, the celebration of accomplishments, the fun of creativity and ALL THINGS CHEESE! Seriously, one day we discovered that at every event we shared great food, but there was always cheese. We all seem to have a love of Applewood Smoked Cheddar, or other wonderful cheesy tastiness. So we've dubbed ourselves the Cheesy Chicks! And yes, sometimes we are also a little cheesy.


So, because Susan my upline (an amazing and very successful demo, one of the top girls in Canada) is our fearless leader, one day we started teasing her that she was our "Head Cheese" - or "Cheese Head"! Celeste got the brilliant idea to order some Green Bay Packer Cheese Head material, and we presented it to her last month. It was a hoot.


She loves us :)

Recipes:

5th Avenue Sparkle: Stamps: Fifth Avenue Backgrounds, Pocket Silhouettes; Ink: Tempting Turquoise; Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss; Accessories: Big Shot, Leaves Sizzlit, Swiss Dots Texturz plate, Gel Pen, Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon, Large white brads, Dimensionals, Tab Punch, Supernova Fine Glitter, Sticky Cuts Sweet

Blossoming Branches: Stamps: Branched Out, All Holidays; Ink: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, VersaMark; Paper: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black; Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Kiwi Kiss Striped Ribbon, Black Brads, Circle Punches, Dimensionals, SU Pastels, daubers, Piercer

Botanical Kindness: Stamps: Botanical Blooms; Ink: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, White Craft; Paper: Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Cardstock Vellum, Whisper White, Sahara Sand Patterns; Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Bashful Blue Striped Ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Small Oval Punch, heat tool, Dimensionals

16 comments:

"Kirby" (KrB) said...

I enjoyed reading your post, Christine. I love the cards you did, and this is the second time to see the card with the tree and I love it. Your group sounds like fun. I need to find out what 10 for 10 is....sounds interesting.

Pastor Terry said...

I'm so glad you have that group also.

Stacy Morgan said...

all the cards are pretty, my fav is the tree set. The cheese head is so cute. One of the twins is a GB fan and he said hey that is a GB hat. lol So Susan might get a few people thinking she is a GB fan. hee hee But how fun to have a group like that!

Dawn Easton said...

Oh wow Christine! Your projects were all amazing...gorgeous work as always! What fun it would be to get together with a bunch of girls all the time!!!
I'm sitting here thining that in THREE WEEKS...Laura, you and I will be doing the SAME THING! Can't wait!

Denise Marzec said...

Oh my gosh, it looks like you all had a BLAST!! I love the effect you got on the set with the vellum overlay...GORGEOUS! As for the chalks...oh yeah, I just HAD to have those as soon as I started stamping...then they just sat and sat. I hardly use mine, but you're right they are great for achieving that soft look.

Cindy Haffner said...

Wow what fun you have been having, I can see why it brings you joy. Love looking at your art!!!!

Kelly Lunceford said...

What fantastic projets! I am in love! You have really inspired me to put together a stamp-a-stack or something! I especially love what you did with the vellum on the SAB card! Love it!

Rose Ann said...

All of your cards are so gorgeous, Christine!! It looks like such a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing it!!

Jeannie said...

The cards you did are great and it looks like you have a great group to share them with. I just recently joined a group myself and having no friends or family here in AZ, I am truly thankful for them too. I think we talk and laugh sometimes more than we create!

I am originally from Wisconsin and a HUGE Packer fan! I not only have a cheesehead, but a whole lot of other cheese related stuff too!

Peace and Luv,
Jeannie

Amy Rohl said...

Hi Christine!

Love the use of pastels, and yes I do remember when that was one of the fist things "to buy"! lol! They look great! Love all the texture of the tree/swing card on the layered piece, and I love the layout of the first card. Looks like you and the cheesy chix had a great time!

You know, I am an official cheeshead from WI, ha ha!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! Every one of these sets of cards is fabulous!! ALL of them! And that sure looks like a lot of fun with your friends! :)

Norine said...

the cards are so pretty love them all gotta love the glitter
looks like the group has a lot of fun
Hugs
Norine

LeAnne said...

Lovely creations as well as lovely ladies! It looks like you have lots of fun!
Blessings,
LeAnne

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the memories! I was afraid I'd be doing the "ugly laugh" in the photos that night. There was so much laughing!!! And you're right...I do love you guys!!!

Susan

Anonymous said...

These three cards are wonderful - how lucky are those ladies! Thanks for the inspiration with the Botanical Kindess - I'm struggling to like this set. Ali

Anonymous said...

The cards are all so fabulous, I just love them! Your pictures are wonderful! Isn't it so much fun to have a group of women you can share fellowship with! I wish my group of girlfriends liked to stamp. I'm all along in my craft and get my fix from all of you.