Mojo Monday Sketch Thank-you Card

It's not often that I have a time to play around with sketches and challenges, but I had the week off and took the day to play in my stampin' studio. The best part is that this card qualifies for three challenges in one - Mojo Monday, The Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers, and the Buckles & Buttons Challenge at A Charming Place.

Supplies:
Stamps: Full of Life
Ink & Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Scallop Edge Punch, Vanilla Rosettes, Little Leaves Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Satin Ribbon

Easter Blessings

 Happy Easter! Here are a couple of quick pages I created in MDS. The photos were taken at Memorial Hill close to our cabin. I took them several years ago, but haven't had a chance to do anything with them until now. The second page isn't quite finished - I'll add a layer of journalling later (when I decide what I want to do with the finished page - print in an album, or save it for later).

Pop-up Apple Card

Check out the new additions to the Clearance Rack!

I bought this pop-up ball die on the Clearance Rack months ago and only now took it out of the package after being inspired by a card I saw on Crafting With Class. Good news - the Pop Up Ball Die is still available!!! Items are selling out quickly, but there are some great deals to be found. Check out my online store to see all of them or contact me to place an order. There are also grab bags of discontinued merchandise available throughout April.

I began this card as a simple 6x6 card and added a belly band to keep everything closed. It think that for the first time ever, I might be ahead of the game for teacher year end gifts this year! There is space behind the "chalkboard ledge" to tuck a gift certificate and I will use my white gel pen to write a more personal note on the blackboard inside.

 Here's what it looks like without the belly band





Supplies:

Paper & Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Whisper White, Newsprint DSP, Love Letter DSP

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Full of Life

Dies & Punches: Pop Up Ball Die, Owl Punch, Window Punch, Texturz Plates #4

Accessories: Linen Thread, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, White Pen





Handmade Little Leaves Embossing Folder

I can't believe it's been so long since I sat down in my crafting room to make something for me - not for clubs or workshops, but just for fun! I started out with a challenge from A Charming Place to make my own embossing folder. It takes a little time, but it's really quite easy.

Begin with a piece of cardboard from a cereal box. Chipboard was a little too thick. Cut images from your Big Shot out of scrap cardboard. I found that the cereal box was perfect for cutting the Little Leaves, but I had to make two layers to make a deep enough impression. If you are using a regular die instead of an embosslit, one cut out of chipboard will be enough. Next, arrange the pieces on your cardboard piece and use Modge Podge to stick everything down. Coat the entire board with a layer of Modge Podge and let dry overnight. You will be left with an embossing plate that can be used over and over again.

Hydrangea Flower Pot Card

The challenge at A Charming Place this week was to make a flower using a technique that we had not yet tried. I've made a lot of flowers, so this challenge had me searching the internet. I settled on one that I had seen, but not yet tried. It's my MIL's birthday today and I needed a card that also had a pocket for her gift - tickets to the local theatre. The flower pot card was the perfect solution. The hydrangea's were inspired by this youtube video by Valita's Fresh Folds.

Stamps: Occasional Quotes (greeting)
Ink & Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso
Accessories: Satin Ribbon, Pearls, Little Leaves Die, Heart Punch, Sponges

Simple Chocolate Towers

Here's what I did with the scrap from the hearts I punched out for yesterday's card. I literally had an itty bitty strip of paper left over from where I punched between the hearts. I save a lot of my scrap, but even this was too small to keep, so I tossed it. Later, while I was assembling these for my Stamp Club ladies, I thought of the itty bitty scrap and realized that there was still enough to punch the tiny hearts from the three heart punch. Recycling can be fun!

I made all of these (plus a few extras) over my lunch break. I am lucky enough to live close to work and so I came home on a day when the kids stayed for lunch and came up with this idea. It all started when I looked at the ginormous bag of chocolates that I bought at Costco and wondered how I was ever going to get through them all. At the one a day that I eat, this could be a lifetime supply. I guess the sentiment fits - so much chocolate, so little time!

Stamps: Eat Chocolate

Ink/Paper: Vanilla, Glitter Paper, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Corner Rounder, Three Heart Punch

Loving the new Glitter Paper!

I'm loving the new mini catalogue! The glitter paper is so easy to work with - no more going to work with sparkles on my face, and the Framed Tulips folder make it a breeze to create a WOW background. Tomorrow I'll post what I did with the scrap from the glitter paper.
Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Paper & Ink: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Love Letter Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Heart Punch, Oval Punches