KWerner Design Color Challenge

I just love these color challenges. I especially love this one because it reminds me of summer, which I can't wait for! But for my Stamp "IN" Fellowship Group meeting, we were asked to bring a Father's Day or Graduation Card, so I elected to use this color combination for graduation cards. I used it to make this money holder. 

I decided to let this greeting be the focal point. Using a variety of the alphabet stamp sets that Stampin' Up! offers, I used it to stamp CONGRATS. Also, I used the So Saffron button from Button Latte as my "o". I like how these mixed up letters seem to work together.

Besides, what graduate wouldn't love a card that reminds them of summer to come and find inside a little extra spending cash!

{Project Details}

Stamp: ABC Alphabet Upper, Big Deal Alphabet, Taffy Alphabet, and Eight Great Greetings Stamp Sets

Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, and More Mustard Classic Ink pads

Paper: Sahara Sand and Whisper White card stock; Baja Breeze and So Saffron Patterns DSP

Accessories: Big Shot; Top Note Die; Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate; Corner Rounder and 1/16" circle punches; and More Mustard Brads (Earth Elements).

Welcome Little Cutie

I have finally gotten around to this past Monday's Sketch challenge. Mojo 84 is the card that I will be giving to my husband's colleague who just had a baby boy! First babies are so special, aren't they? So small and so new, you just don't know what to do with all the excitement. That is how I feel about this card. I just wish I could squeeze it . . . so cute!

I love the artwork from the "Animal Crackers" stamp set (113395). I also love the versatility of the stamp set. It comes with short phrases with each character but I omitted the verse that comes with this birdie. By using a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Up Marker and coloring on the little bird image, I was able to stamp only the image that I wanted onto my Whisper White card stock. Then, I used phrases from the "Nursery Necessities" stamp set (113506). 

Using the small floral buttons from the Button Bouquet, I adorned the sides of my focus trying to tie in with the Kiwi Kiss background. Colored in the birdie with "Barely Banana" Stampin' Up! Marker and went over the edges for a more highlighted image. The beak was colored in using "Apricot Appeal" Stampin' Up! Marker.

Unfortunately, you can't tell in this picture very well that the brown with white polka dots is a textured paper. I have been playing around with the Big Shot and the Texturz Plates. I saw a great idea from Patty Bennett. Please click on her name for a link to her blog. I decided to show you a few pictures on how to achieve the look on on the plain side of "Chocolate Chip" designer series paper. 

Using the small polka dot Texturz pattern and my handy, dandy Big Shot, I ran my "Chocolate Chip" Designer Series Paper through to get this embossed look. (TIP: Use an extra cardstock underneath the texturz plate as a shim to get a deeper embossed look.)

Then, you can sand the raised image with the sanding block to highlight the embossed pattern.

(TIP: Using a plain paper helps the sanded image pop and a light touch is all you need.)

Finally, I punched out a scallop circle to place my extra sentiment on. Hope you'll become a fan of the Texturz Plates like I have!

Christmas Banner

This was so much fun to make! I was really happy with the way it turned out. Its an easy project but it takes time (the stitching that is). But if you did this with paper, you could "faux" stitch onto the scallop circles and voila! This project was completed using my favorite die cutting machine--the Big Shot (by Sizzix and sold now through Stampin' Up!) and the exclusive Pennant Die from Stampin' Up!, large scallop circle, and serif alphabet dies. Think of the endless possibilities you could make with all these wonderful materials! Fun, fun, fun!  Enjoy!