A quick scrapbook page!

With just a little of a month left before the Occasions Mini Catalog 2011 retires I had to show you something I CASEd some time ago.  On page 24 of mini there is a b&w scrapbook page that drew me right in.  Now, I will print a photo in b&w without hesitation but I haven't attempted a layout in these colors exclusively, so this was going to be an adventure for me.  I had the perfect picture to work with ... of my little grand baby Caroline.  Here's the rest of the details:

Little Angel gift

Well I should say that this isn't really b&w it's more very vanilla & black.  So I started with a sheet of 12" x 12" black textured card stock and then embossed a 2" x 12" sheet of very vanilla.  I then used the top note die to cut a piece of very vanilla.  I stamped the dear from the Forest Friends stamp set on a 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" very vanilla cs.  I stamped the Little Angel sentiment from the Little Angel stamp set and used the 2" x 1 3/8" oval punch.  I cut a 2-1/2" x 12" strip from the First Edition Designer Series Paper.  I used some left-over chipboard to spell the layout title Gift.  I then cut an 8" x 3" piece of smooth basic black cs and ran through the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch and attached to the bottom of the pattern paper.  Finally, I  embossed a 5" x 1-1/2" piece of basic black cs with the Big Shot Textured Impressions Square Lattice Folder, which I folded in half and attached with a staple.  As easy as that and such a terrific page, don't you think?

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' UP! Forest Friends (113748), Little Angel (118574)
Ink:  ' Classic Stampin Pad Basic Black (101179)

Paper:  Stampin' UP! Very Vanilla Card stock (101650), Basic Black Card stock (12045), Specialty Designer Series Paper First Edition (121878)

Accessories/Tools:  Stampin' Up Sizzix Top Note die (113463),  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (119275), 2" x 1 3/8" Oval Extra-Large Punch (119847), Big Shot Textured Impressions Square Lattice (119976)

Design: Stampin' UP! Occasions Mini Catalog 2011 pg. 24

As always, thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Pals Paper Challenge PPA85

Somehow I pulled it together this week to actually participate in a challenge and get it posted here ... a regular miracle.  With the sudden beginning of spring in Connecticut there's a lot going on.  Both of the children are   working hard in school, well Jase calls it playing but I suspect they are learning as well.  In a couple of short weeks the kids will be moving into a brand new school building, which is just beautiful from the outside, we are definitely excited about that.

Stampin' UP! has become a wonderful source of joy in my life.  I'm part of a involved excellent team and looks like quite a few members will be attending SU's big convention in July.  We are in active talks about attending in this house, which is something that I REALLY want to do.  Now onto the business at hand.

PPA85 - Sketch Challenge

For the challenge this week Margaret Moody supplied a wonderful classic sketch that was great fun to play with.   I choose the FREE Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper & Quick Accents Pack (122242) from the Sale-A-Bration 2011 mini catalog.  I really enjoy the bright colors of this set and incidentally there is a coordinating Ribbon & Button Pack (125329) for FREE as well.  Unfamiliar with Sale-A-Bration?  For every $50 in merchandise purchased you can pick one free item from the Sale-A-Bration mini.  By the way, Sale-A-Bration ends March 31.

For the stamps I picked the Take A Spin (122015) set from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I paired the set with the Game Spinner Hands (121893) and did a little paper piecing for the spinner face.  The Happy Birthday scallop square is from the Punch Bunch (121847) Occasions mini catalog.  For this stamp I  embossed the design in black.

One final note if you are a digi crafter Stampin' UP! has a full line of papers, brushes, and stamp sets available at great prices.  In fact in the upcoming Summer Mini Catalog there is a great pricing opportunity for these items!

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' UP! Take A Spin (1122015), Punch Bunch (121847)
Ink:  Stampin' UP! Classic Basic Black (121045)
Paper:  Stampin' UP! Ice Cream DSP & Quick Acents Pack (122242), Peach Parfait CS (119794), Pacific Point CS (111350), Daffodil Delight CS (119683), Old Olive CS (100702), Designer Series Paper Pack - In Color Level One Hostess Gift (121028)

Accessories/Tools:  Stampin' UP!  Scallop Square Extra-Large (119884), Game Spinner Hands (121893), VersaMark Pad (102283), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), SNAIL (104332)
Design:  Pals Paper Arts Challenge PPA85 - Sketch

Back with a Queen

Well, it's been a very long time since I last posted.  Time is a precious commodity so I've learned in the past two years.  Instead of blogging I have been choosing to do my creating undocumented.  Hopefully with this post that will change.  A contributing factor to this post is the fact that I rejoined Stampin' UP! a few months ago as a hobby demo and have rediscovered the need to share my stuff.  My upline is Mary Fish and I am happily a member of her Stampin' Pretty Pals team.  My hope is that when both Kamdyn and Jase are in school full-time I will be able to start my own Stampin' UP! business.  Okay, now onto the card.

Butterfly Queen for a Day

In the Stampin' UP! Occasions Mini Catalog 2011 on page 25 there is a card titled "Friend" that I've really taken a liking to.  This card is my cased version with some alterations!  This is my entry into the Pals Paper Arts PPA82 challenge and SCS Sketch Challenge #SC321 .  The card came together pretty quickly with the Basic Black and Very Vanilla color scheme, the butterflies are punched  from First Edition (121878) and Love Letter (117162) DSP's.  I hope if there's anyone still out there following this blog you enjoy this one as much as I did creating it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' UP! You're a Gem (122270)
Ink:  Stampin' UP! Classic Basic Black (121045)
Paper:  Stampin' UP! First Edition (121878), Love Letter (117162), Very Vanilla CS (101650) and Basic Black CS (121045)

Accessories/Tools:  Stampin' UP!  Scallop Square Extra-Large Punch (119884) and Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882)
Design:  Stampin' UP! Occasions Mini Catalog 2011 Pg. 25, SCS Sketch Challenge #SC321

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

A simple card of sympathy

Recently, the father of one of David's staff passed away and he asked me to make a card. Luckily I have never made a sympathy card but on the other hand that means I have no stamps that seemed appropriate. So, I made this card which admittedly is nothing unique or dynamic ... just a simple little offering of condolences. This was my first attempt at ribbon folding and it was far less complicated than I had thought it would be. Colors are Baja Breeze, Mellow Moss and of course So Saffron. Patterned paper is Walk in the Park Designer Series from the Occasions Mini.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps.