Clear card

Here is the clear card I promised to post. It really bothers me that clear cards don't scan well or show up nice in a picture because they are so cool in real life! If anyone has any tips for photographing them be sure to tell me.
To make this card I cut a rectangle out of a piece of typing paper. I inked up my script background stamp with staz-on ink and set the typing paper (with a rectangle hole) on top of the background stamp, then placed the clear card on top of that. It is very important to use staz-on ink for this because it is permanent and won't rub off.
The image layer has weathered BG in Creamy Caramel. The flowers are done with So Saffron and Bravo Burgundy. The edges are sponged with So Saffron to give a softer look. The words are stamped with Karen Foster Snap Stamps (1/8 inch casual). I used pop dots to adhere the layer to the clear card.

One Sheet Wonder

It is too late at night to give a long description for this card so I will just tell you it is part of a One Sheet Wonder (OSW) set. A description of what OSW is and more cards from the set will follow soon.
Stamps: SU-Bodacious Bouquet, It's Your Birthday, Canvas
Paper: SU-Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: SU-Real Red, Cool Caribbean, Summer Sun, Certainly Celery
Ribbon--From Fabric Barn
Other: Pop Dots--The flower at the bottom and the yellow flower (top right) are both popped up. Also the red flowers have beads in the center of them.

"Love Always"

This post is dedicated to my grandparents. They have been married for 65 years and are still deeply in love! It is a love that has seen many happy times and sad times and is stronger because of them all. Just yesterday I was talking to my Grandma and she said about Grandpa "I think he's just wonderful!" They have a marriage that reflects their love of God and each other. It is hard to see them getting older and not being able to do stuff anymore. I love them so much.
I made this scrapbook page with a picture I took about 4 years ago. I develped the film and made the print myself (I was very proud of how it turned out;) ) I think the picture shows their personalities and their love for eachother.
The patterned paper I used is Recollections by Stampin' Up! The cardstock is Bravo Burgundy and Mellow Moss. The stamps are also SU. I did a blanket stitch with Moss DMC floss. I don't know if you can see, but the main sentiment says "Love" and the tag says "Always"--Those two words pretty much sum it up!

A few of my favorite things (to put on cards)

Today the creative juices were running and I created 3 cards. One of them was even a clear card! For those of you who haven't seen a clear card it is a card that uses a transparency as the card base. Unfortunately I can't share any of my cards with you because my scanner is a beast and isn't showing my cards at their best right now. I will try to take digital pics sometime this week so I can share.

I thought I would share a top ten list with you.

MY TOP TEN FAVORITE CARD EMBELLISHMENTS

1.Ribbon--this is definitely my #1 favorite!
2.Brads--Black and antique are my favorite colors.
3.DMC floss (for stitching or hanging tags or tying buttons)
4.Pop dots--does this count as an embellishment?
5.Glitter--Stickles or Dazzling diamonds
6.Jewels--perfect for adding a little bling to a necklace, purse, flowers, shoes...okay last week I even put a jewel on a dog collar.
7. Punches--I love all different kinds of punches-They each embellish a card in their own way!
8. Buttons--You have to have ribbon tied through the holes.
9. Gel pen--I love the different stitches that can go on a card.
10. Hodgepodge hardware-#10 because I don't have my own set yet so I have only used HH a few times.

Friendship

On Saturday I hung out with 6 of my stamping friends and had a blast! We get together and share stamps so that we all get to stamp images of stamps we don't own. Of course, often one person will convince the others that they NEED a certain stamp set or accessory! I can't say I always get a lot of stamping done in between the eating (thanks for the cake Emily!) and laughing and chatting , but I always leave inspired! This card I made using Emily's new stamp set from the Holiday mini called "Think Big." Now I like it so much I think I might need the set! The ribbon I used is grosgrain that matches SU! colors Cool Caribbean and Certainly Celery. I sell it (5 yards for a $1) in case anyone is interested.
Stamps: SU--Think Big and Crosshatch
Paper: SU--Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Comfort Color Combo

Just like people have "comfort food" I think stampers have comfort stamp sets and comfort color choices that they can always count on. This card uses one of the first color combos I fell in love with when I first started stamping--Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, and Mellow Moss. I think I liked it because it was an easy combo, great for flowers of all sorts, great for 2 step stamping and best of all no one could deny it matched--I mean PALE plum and PERFECT plum they must go together! I have since come to love other color combos (my recent favorite being Regal Rose, Rose Red, and Certainly Celery), and I have even stepped away from comfort color combos and tried a few color challenges--I have come a long way ;). I hadn't used my plums for a long time so it was fun to drag them back out, dust them off and make a card with them. So I challenge you to go dust off an old favorite--stamp set or color combo--and create a "comforting" card! All images and paper from Stampin' Up!

Coloring 101

When I got my tin of 120 prisma colored pencils I was very excited. I couldn't believe all the shades of gray there were! Then came the time when I had to sharpen all of the colored pencils and I was not so excited! So the tin sat for a while with half of the pencils sharpened. I used the colored pencils and I liked them, but I disliked how my images looked like (in my opinion) a 2nd grader colored them in. You could always see the pencil lines in my image. Then I learned about gamsol magic and saw some BEAUTIFUL coloring on other people's cards so I bought the gamsol and stumps to try it out. I have had the supplies for over 6 months and I have used them, but I didn't LOVE the technique. This weekend I decided to dust off my gamsol and give the technique another try. So I made a couple of cards. This image gave me a LOT of practice!!! The stamp of the girlsis from Inky Antics (I think) , I also used SU Fresh Fillers, Little Pieces, and Just Jeans. You can't really see it, but I also used a glaze pen to highlight different parts.

Saran wrap, photo corners, and color spritzer oh my!

Here is just a quick card I made today using my newest fun background--stamping with saran wrap! All you do is crinkle up saran wrap and ink it up like you would a stamp and pat it on the paper. You can decide to make it very subtle or dark. I love that it is fun and cheap! I also tried making a photo corner for the first time on this card. I got directions for making a photo corner off of Amy R.'s blog. If you haven't been there check it out, she has lots of neat stuff there! http://prairiepaperandink.typepad.com/amyr/ Oh yeah, I also used the color spritzer tool. That is how I did the blue specks on the main image layer. I was just about to get rid of my spritzer tool when SU! put it back in the catalog. I love it and I am so glad I can demo using it again!

I love this new Stampin' Up! set called "Time with You." It makes me want to go hang out and drink lemonade with my girl friends. I just thought I would share this card I made with the set with you. The phrase is one I made up from the old saying, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!"

Fabric Barn--a must see!

Today I visited the Fabric Barn with friends. If you live in southern California you MUST visit the Fabric Barn. No, not for the fabric ;) This place has tons of cool, inexpensive ribbon!!! Today my best buys were Certainly Celery and Cool Caribbean (grosgrain) and Marigold Morning and Buckaroo Blue (Satin). Fun times! I can't wait to start making cards with my new ribbon!!!