Paint Palettes Inspiration

I pulled a muscle in my back (oh ouch) and was laying in bed looking at my wall color and my drapes...they really look a lot like Baja Breeze...hmm maybe I like this color more than I thought, maybe that would make a good color pallette someday....So, with a sore back you can never stay in one position too long, and later I looked at the Inspiration Challenge and look at that...it's a paint inspired pallette for rooms. How fun!


Here's the inspiration room I chose.

And I put together a quick card with the new set Eastern Blooms that hadn't seen ink yet.

I stamped the main branch of flowers with Chocolate Chip to mimic the photo on the wall. I added extra flowers in Sahara Sand and Baja Breeze and pierced some of the chocolate chip flowers. I wanted to get the feel of the geometric bedspread so I added the DP in Urban Garden and also stamped the flowers on the Sahara Sand layer in a geometric pattern. Some pretty ribbon, a felt flower and piercing. To give the feel of another layer on the sentiment (from Fresh Cuts), I ran the Sahara oval through the CC ink pad. At night it's so much harder for me to get a good picture so I took one from each side.

Here's a closeup:

Alright...sore back again, time for a new position not sitting at the computer!

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe: Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Fresh Cuts Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze Paper: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Urban Garden DSP Accessories: Oval Punches, Felt Flower, Vintage Brads, Piercer, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch, CC Ribbon, Baja Breeze DS Wide Grosgrain

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Paint Palettes Inspiration

My New Teams!

A couple of months ago Beate asked me if I would like to be on the Product Review team over at Splitcoast. I happily said an enthusiastic "Yes!". If you receive the "Weekly Inkling" newsletter over at SCS you'll see a link to this months' Product Review of the Scor-it Tool, or you can link to it here: Scor-it Review . As well, the girls on the team created some fabulous projects with the Scor-it and you can view them here: scoritpf . I just don't want you to miss out on some great ideas and creativity. My team members are all stellar girls: my sweet friend and fellow DD alumnus Jodi Collins, Silke Ledlow, Mary Brown, another DD alumnus Jami Sibley, and the wonderful Beate Johns.

Box Template: As well, some of you have asked me for the template for my Advent Mantle Boxes I made on Tuesday's post. I don't have any fancy schmancy software for this, so I just drew it out for you. It really is an easy box. Sorry for the empty top and side lines, those are the edges of the paper, so imagine solid lines there! It's on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. Yesterday I mistakenly said the box was 2.75 x 2.75, it's actaully 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches. This way it all fits on that regular sheet of cardstock. Solid lines mean CUT, dashed lines mean score. Basically you are cutting out a cross shape and scoring it into sections to make your box.

The bottom of the "cross" there's a piece that says DISCARD, that's the tiny piece you're left with once you cut after the .75 inch section that folds in to attach your box together (use sticky strip). (Don't discard that .75 inch section! You'll need it! :) just discard the tiny piece after that...hope that makes sense - let me know if it doesn't!) If I can figure out how to attach it as a PDF I will later.

The 1/2 inch sections at the edges of the "left and right sides of the cross" are the folded in lid which does not get sticky strip on it, and the folded in section that makes the bottom of the box that does get attached with sticky strip.


I'm a Great Swaps Girl!

In January when the amazing JulieHRR asked me to be on the Dirty Dozen I was overjoyed. It was like the floodgates opened and two other great Swap teams also contacted me about joining their very amazing groups, that are a real honor to be a part of. I knew I couldn't juggle it all, so I had to say - thank you but no. The tough part is that you have to keep being chosen for the Dirty Dozen team a secret for a month before your reveal...so I couldn't even honestly explain why!

So after my DD term was over, I went back to one of those teams and said, remember way back when you asked me to join the swap group? Do you still have room? Well, these sweet girls had saved a spot for me. So, I'm a new Great Swaps Girl. Such fabulous women! Here's a link to the Great Swaps Girls blog too.

Here's a swap I did for the new Catalogue. It's always nerve wracking for me when I do a swap with a group...especially like this one, for the first time, I second guess myself all the time thinking....is this good enough???? So hopefully it was :)

I really think that Bella's Bloom is one of the under appreciated sets of the new catalogue. Not only is it inexpensive but very versatile and classy and it goes really well with Bella Rose paper. But here I paired it with my favourite Urban Garden in rich shades of Kiwi Kiss and Not Quite Navy and White for some crisp contrast.

I inked up the flower in Not Quite Navy SW Marker and Old Olive on the horizontal (the shade is a deeper tone of Kiwi Kiss so it works here). Then I added the sentiment and it just fits inside our new large oval punch. I added a little piercing on the sentiment and then started layering the paper and scallops and ribbon. On some swaps I used White Taffeta ribbon, but ran out about half way through so I used the Kiwi Kiss Satin ribbon just on the green side (because that Vanilla side really would not work here). And I really love the rich look it gives. I did a lot of sponging on each layer that you can never really see unless its in front of you, but it gives the paper edges rich color. I added the simple floral circle in a 1/2 inch circle punch with brads as accent.

Next week I'll show you my Christmas Mini swap once the girls are starting to receive them. And if you're in my stamping clubs you'll get to see all the Great Swaps Girls Swaps in person! What I love about something like this is getting a card in person from another designer that you really respect. Such a cool thing!

Recipe: Stamps: Bella's Bloom Ink: Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Urban Garden DSP Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, 1/2 inch Circle Punch, Earth Elements Brads, Piercer, Dimensionals, White Taffeta Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, SW Markers, Sponge

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My New Teams!

Toonie Tuesday - Totally Terrific Projects

Two great projects for you today!

Sample One: Advent Boxes for your Mantle

I have a project I've been working on for a few days that I'm really proud of. I have a brand new toy, a Scor It Tool that I've been playing with. It's been so fun, so I've been thinking up all kinds of projects that are possible with the embossing/creasing ability you have with it.

Here is an Advent Decoration I came up with. It was designed for my children for the 12 day's before Christmas. Like and Advent Calendar, in each special little box will be little surprises and I think verses that will remind them of the truth of what Christmas means. They are so excited about using it this Christmas. I think I will hang it on our mantle. It's such a difficult project to photograph because it is so long, but I'll show you numerous shots.

Each box measures 2.75 x 2.75 x 2.75, and each box can fit on a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. I made my own template and then used the Scor It to make all the creases. Perfectly sharp for a box, and all the attachment pieces. Sticky strip is used to hold it together, and my husband suggested using eyelets to run the fishing line through each box so that it will be long lasting. (smart man).

Here I've used the reverse image of the letters for Joy, just adding the center of the O too.

Sorry this picture is a little blurry I was playing with the size....I'll try and fix it later!

I ran the Scandanavian Wheel with each box's color ink over the bottom and the lid of the boxes and then decorated each of the three sets with Advent words of truth, HOPE, JOY and PEACE (12 letters - get it?). I used old SU chipboard letters, punches and new Ski Slope DSP to decorate and new ribbons to give it some festive but simple embellishment.

To link the boxes I used old clear beads I had bought in bulk from Michaels, 3 between each box and 14 between each word with a Felt Flurries Snowflake threaded over top. The Felt Flurries were my idea from the beginning but I had the hardest time trying to figure out how to have them between the words without them crushing in on each other when the boxes were hung. With all the clear beads in between now, and the snowflake threaded overtop it holds the boxes apart firmly. Here you can also se the H box slightly open.

I seriously LOVE it. Is it Christmas yet? Can I hang it yet???? Any thoughts on some of the surprises I should put into each box? They can't be too heavy....and it needs to work for 3 kids each day - they do know how to share so it can be one thing too. But I want it to be special and symbolic of the celebration of Jesus' Birth.

Project Two: Bella's Vanilla Kiss

Mmmmm, doesn't that sound yummy??? I have a thing for Vanilla. In fact I wear Victoria's Secret Vanilla Lace lotion every day, sorry too much information??

This is for today's color challenge hosted by Cindy today, Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze. I know Cindy loves this Baja Color. I didn't to start with, but paired with the right colors and it's totally growing on me.

I used my Hat pins in my Pretties Kit for the first time (can you believe it?!) It sure makes it over the top elegant - but you wouldn't be able to mail it in a regular envelope.

Here Bella's Bloom is inked in both Baja and Kiwi (carefully) and stamped on Vanilla, as well as the sentiment. I stamped the main bloom a 2nd time and popped it on top. I cut it out with my Coluzzle, used my Scor It to score some lines around the sentiment (a row over and under the sentiment) and added piercing. Then I punched out several of the large ovals and layered them behind the main image oval as accent.

I also used the Scor It for the embossing along the edges of the card base (isn't that snazzy?) and added Urban Garden DSP inside the embossed area. The pretty hat pin is embellished with the pearls and beads and the gorgeous Kiwi Satin ribbon.

So pretty. Stamping just makes me happy.

Hope your day is filled with Vanilla Kisses too !

Recipes:

Project One: Advent Boxes: Stamps: Scandanavian Wheel Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Ski Slope DSP Accessories: Oval Punches, Chipboard Letters, Sanding Block, Scor-it Tool, Alpine Felt Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Grossgrain, Double Stitched Riding Hood Red Grosgrain, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Baja Breeze Double Stitched Ribbon, Felt Flurries Snowflakes, Clear Beads, Fishing Line, Silver Eyelets, Mono Multi Adhesive, Sticky Tape

Project Two: Bella's Vanilla Kiss: Stamps: Bella's Bloom Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss Paper: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Urban Garden DSP Accessories: Colluzzle, Scor-it Tool, Piercer, Dimensionals, Large Oval Punch, Pretties Kit, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon

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Toonie Tuesday - Totally Terrific Projects

Where Did all the Layers Go Dirty Girls?

That sounds like such a funny title when I read it! Each month on the 20th the Dirty Dozen and Dirty Dozen Alumni girls at SCS are invited to participate in a challenge. This month's theme is Where Did All the Layers Go? We were to create a no layer card of any size - but the card base is the only cardstock you can use. Required Element: There has to be some element of masking on your card. Restricted Element: No Pink.


So here is my submission for our challenge today. I find no layer cards to be extremely challenging. I'm just not a Clean and Simple kind of girl....I like the look of CAS, and I so appreciate those designers that can create a stunning look without layers....but I'm not one of them!


But I had an idea pop into my head, and when Jami issues a challenge you just have to play, that's what a challenge is for right? To stretch you!




On this base of Whisper White Cardstock (it really is white...not pink - honest!) I masked an open large rectangle with large Post-It notes. (I cut a rectangle out of the center of the Post-It note and stuck it to the card). I also cut out a Word Window Punch piece of Post-It note and placed that in the lower right as a 2nd mask. Then I took my new Winter Post snowflake and with VersaMark stamped all over the open masked area and over top of the masked Word Window punch area. Then I carefully took off the masks and embossed with Irridescent Ice EP for some really pretty sparkle (but it's really difficult to photograph, especially because it's white on white). Imagine really sparkly and shimmery. And the card isn't bent as it might appear...it's just the shadow of the ribbon behind the card.


This left me with a *window* mask to stamp the sentiment in from Warm Words in Riding Hood Red. I added the gorgeous new Riding Hood Red striped ribbon from the Winter Mini (it has really nice texture and softness), added scoring lines on the opposite set to mimic the striped feel and some piercing to frame it. Here you can see the white and detail a little more closely. Hmm, now that I think about it, I really seem to be on a Red kick lately.

Here's some other RED we've been enjoying this weekend.

This rose is from one of my graduated girls, she wanted to give it to me to encourage me. She is the most thoughtful and rare young woman. And she's getting married to one of our graduated guys in less that a month...our first youth kids to get married. This rose is one of the most perfect ones I've ever seen and it opened so beautifully!

And here are are Strawberries from our backyard. I picked them last night and honestly the kids and I ate the whole bowl within a few minutes! The are SO sweet. They are everbearing so they don't ever get really large....but oh the yummy taste!

Be sure to check out all the other Dirty Girls/Alumni submissions HERE or by searching the Keyword: DCNL908 at SCS. Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe: Stamps: Winter Post Ink: VersaMark, Riding Hood Red Paper: Whisper White Accessories: Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain, Piercer, Scoring Blade, Irridescent Ice EP

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Where Did all the Layers Go Dirty Girls?

Inspired Christmas Dishes

I was looking at my lonely Winter Post set....so new....so pretty....so un-inked....so lonely. So I challenged myself tonight that no matter what the Inspiration Challenge would be at SCS I'd used Winter Post. Well, surprise surprise....the Inspiration Piece is not remotely Christmassy...it's a really pretty set of dishes, but the colors were really cool, so I incorporated the colors into this Christmas themed card.

Here's the IC picture. Neat dishes aren't they? I bet there will be some really creative cards from this one.

So here is what I came up with. I love the combination of soft brown, bright greens and the bluey hues, with the gold added. So I pulled out Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze DP from the new Winter Mini Christmas Paper and some Kraft.

The Sketch is from Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge, which I haven't been able to do in FOREVER...and it's a cool sketch too (as always).

Card size is 4.25 x 4.25. I basically pieced it all together based on the sketch deciding how I wanted the colors to look, then added the stamping. That's the nice thing about a set like this...lots of versitility. A little scalloping...some overstamping...and little sponging, some gold brads, some really pretty Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon and new Snow Flurries Felt Snowflake. A very different but unique Christmas card.

Stay tuned, I'll be back tomorrow morning with our Dirty Dozen monthly challenge.

Recipe: Stamps: Winter Post Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Kraft, Ski Slope DSP Accessories: Gold Brads, Dimensionals, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Snow Flurries Felt Snowflakes (small), Piercer, Sponge

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Inspired Christmas Dishes