Same Colors...Three Cards

Lately I've been thinking about the holidays, not just Christmas, but all of them and how we use the same color combos for all our projects. At least I seem to. We tried to break out of our mold a little for our September card class when we made Halloween cards. Don't get me wrong, some of these combos are tried and true, but do they have to be the base of every holiday card?

I got the Patterned Pines hostess set from the Holiday Mini Catalog, as well as Four the Holidays, also from the mini. It gave me a chance to make a couple "holidayish" cards using a color combo that has been stuck in my head for a while. I feel that Melon Mambo is extremely bright and have looked away from it for too long. The problem is always what color to pair with this insanely bright pink. Guess what color I picked? Taken with Teal, another somewhat bright color. What was I thinking? I did try and tone it down a little by using Kraft CS and Chocolate Chip CS. I ended up making three cards, all different, and yet used the same colors on each. I don't know if I got it just right yet, I mean what was in my head, but I will keep working on it.

This layout is from Clean & Simple Stamping and it was FLT #56. I love how simple all her layouts are. I also embellished with some little sticky rhinestones.

This layout is courtesy of Mojo Monday. This was actually back from when Mojo Monday had it's 100th sketch birthday. This was the MojoMaria Sketch. You can see how quick I am about using all the sketching I find. I stamped the snowflake in Melon Mambo and Taken with Teal, then I used VersaMark and inked all over the white CS. Last I sprinkled the whole thing with Iridescent Ice embossing powder and made it shine. It's hard to see in the picture, but boy does it sparkle.

Last, but not least, I again used a Mojo Monday Sketch from Week 100, but this one was MojoTeresa. I stamped the trees in VersaMark ink and embossed with clear powder. I then sponged all around the trees with Teal ink. The clear embossing resists the ink making the trees pop.

I really hope you enjoyed my very bright holiday cards!

Baby Austin Update

We've had friends ask how Baby Austin has been and that they want to see some new pictures. Well I love my nephew and I love to take pictures of him. For whatever reason, I love to get in his face with the camera and take extreme closeups. Sometimes this works out well for me, sometimes not! Austin has been in his leg braces for about 2 months if not more. We like to call them his magic shoes. When he first got them he cried bloody murder for about 2 days straight, but now he is pretty used to them. Soon he will only have to wear them during naptime and at bedtime. He is getting so big already and is almost 7 months old! He's growing up fast!

Austin with his "magic shoes."

Fingers are always in his mouth.

Such a sweetie!

One of my favorite pictures ever! A happy little guy!

Gobble, Gobble

We all know that Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Yum! I bought the Gobble, Gobble single stamp from the new Holiday mini catalog. Honestly, I didn't know if I would even use it. I am glad that I did. It is kind of cute. Not that you would need to make cards for Thanksgiving, but it could have lots of other decorative uses, like placesetting name tags. My family isn't really that kind of family. We are a paper plate kind of family. No nametags required.

The inspiration for this card should be credited to Mojo Monday Sketch 105 for the layout and the Autumn Pottery Barn photo at Pals Paper Arts for Inspiration PPA9. Thanks to both websites for getting me out of my stamping funk! By the way, I used the Thoroughly Modern DPS, Dusty Durango, Always Artichoke, and Kraft CS. Thanks for looking.

Video Tutorial Simplystampin4u Sweet Centers Lollipop, Upsy Daisy Card and Pumpkin Patch Card.

Were trying something new.  Well at least for us this is very new teritory.  We have a few customers that live out of state, but wanted to join our monthly card classes.  How is this possible when they can't be present?  We decided to video tape the tutorials for our cards.  Anyone wanting to join us now will receive all of the dimensions, ingredients and supplies to make their cards.  Then all they have to do is watch the video on YouTube.
If you are interested in joining our group, just send us an email to simplystampin4u@new.rr.com for more information.
Click on each of the links below the photos to view the Tutorials

Sweet Centers Lollipop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmpzY-hYBXs

Pumpkin Patch Card - Masking Technique

Part One  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHUQh8zHk

    Part Two  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8UkBGerKdY

Upsy Daisy Card - Heat Embossing Technique

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LCcnwPVgIE

Sweet Centers

How about sending a card like this to the little ghouls and goblins on your list. I love the Sweet Treat Cups. Use your imagination and fill them with whatever you like. Of course I used Candy Corn, because it's traditional for Halloween. My husband’s favorite candy! When you slide out the message you can retrieve your treat from the inside of the card!

Anniversary Card

I have been a complete slacker about anything related to crafting lately. School just started again and things have been hectic. I have been wanting to post this for a while now and feel like I just never have time. My 5 year anniversary was on August 21st and this is the card my wonderful mother made for us. She used the Cottage Wall DS and it turned out beautifully. She says this is the best card she's ever made. I think it was wonderful and I will treasure it forever. She even used our wedding picture in the card. How sweet!

The New Holiday Mini Catalog

You can view it by clicking on the catalog, and find the supplies you need to make the exciting holiday projects featured in the Holiday Mini Catalog.
You'll find Sweet Treat Cups, Autumn and Winter Stamps and Products, the new Ornament Punch and new Big Shot Dies. Build-A-Bear-Workshop. Stampin' Up! has teamed up with Build-A-Bear-Workshop to bring us an exciting and exclusive collection of stamps, Sizzix Dies, and Designer Series Papers.

And MY DIGITAL STUDIO !!! Use Stampin' Up! exclusive images in this innovative and easy to use software studio to make Cards. Photo Albums, Scrapbooks, Calendars and more Starting Oct 1, 2009.

Would you like to receive a copy of the new Holiday Mini Catalog? Email me at simplystampin4u@new.rr.com and I would be happy to mail one to you.

The Holidays are coming. All perfect elements for creating. Call me to book your fall workshop today and we can create together!

Click here to download the product supplement for the mini catalog:
PRODUCT SUPPLEMENT