Mojo Monday Challenge

I ran across the Mojo Monday blog today,

and decided to join in on the fun.

So I checked out the sketch and headed

downstairs to get creative.

I hope I did alright - this is my first
time with this challenge.

I decided to do the square card option.

My card base is a 4.25" square card out of

perfect plum cardstock. I added bashful blue

and naturals ivory layers.
The SU scallop border punch made
the scallop naturals ivory layer edges.

The sentiment from SU's Best Yet stamp set

is stamped in perfect plum and punched out with

SU's scallop square punch.

Bashful blue grosgain lays across the card,

with a few primas and brads for accents.

My Crazy Friends

This card is for this week's Teapot Tuesday challenge.

It's "Tickle a Teapotter" week, and the theme

is "Out of this world."

Here's what I came up with.

My card front uses a blue DP, as well as SU basic black,

embossed with iridescent ice embossing powder.

I used the Paper Dolls Cricut cartridge

to create a spaceship, using SU pacific point,

brushed silver, and cardstock vellum.

I added some fun fiber to resemble fire coming

from the back of the spaceship.
The alien peeking out is a Studio G clear image
stamped in memento tuxedo black ink onto wild wasabi
cardstock and cut out.

Silver cord is wrapped around the card front.

The planet and ring is made using the

SU small oval, large oval, and 1 1/4" circle punches

on blue DP and SU brushed silver cardstock.

The sentiment is part hand-written.

The other part is using SU's Alphabits stamp set

along with the 1/4" circle punch.

I hope my teapotter receipient gets a giggle.

Scrappin' some Sweetness

Everytime I saw this pack of SU DP in my scrappin'

room, I thought of my neice's newborn hospital picture,

and how perfectly it matched her outfit.

Yep, I'm a true scrapbooker LOL!

So this morning, I decided to get that picture out

and get crackin' on it.

Here is what I came up with.

With the DP, I used SU rich razzleberry cardstock,

but just enough to help the picture stand out.

I used the Jasmine Cricut cartridge for my letters,

and wrote her birth information with the rich

razzleberry marker. I used SU whisper white ribbon,

as well as some bling . The wavy edge of the

strip of DP was made with the Creative Memories

wavy blade and new cutting system.

So then I got some real Faith snuggles later this morning,

and I came home and got to work again.

She was just a little over 2 months old

for her first Christmas.

I love reindeer, so I made her a blanket

out of this cute reindeer flannel.

I decided to use a basic red scrapbook paper

for my page. I embossed my strip of black

with black embossing powder, and added

SU tinsel to the edges.

SU wide real red grosgain lay across the embossed black strip.

I added a simple bow with the wide red grosgain.

I loved these little Recollections reindeer

3-D stickers.

I used the Teardrop Cricut cartridge on DP for my letters,

and the Doodlecharms Cricut cartridge for

my reindeer. I used a versamarker, heat and stick powder,

and red glitter for the reindeer's nose.

The bow is red sheer ribbon, with the ends heated

with a heat tool.

It's All About My Friends!

I am blessed with some great friends in my life!

And I am so very thankful for every one of them and

love them dearly!



Time Well Spent

Playing around with a bright color combo.

stamps: Stampin' Up Time Well Spent set

paper: SU green galore, whisper white, and

regal rose, non-SU yellow patterned DP

ink:  memento tuxedo black

accessories: SU crushed curry, green galore,

  regal rose markers; green galore, regal rose

  summer sun watercolorwonder crayons, and

  a blender pen, SU crushed curry dotted ribbon,

  non-  SU sheer dotted ribbon, heat tool (on the

  sheer ribbon)

Friendship Blooms

The original plan for this card was black and white,

but color always sneaks in on me. LOL

stamps: SU Friendship Blooms set

paper: SU basic black, whisper white, marina mist

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: swiss dot CB folder, non-SU dot ribbon,

  basic black grosgain, black brads, stampin' sponges,

  stickles



New Storage for my Retired Ink Pads

I have an awesome storage unit from http://suink.net/

that I absolutely love. I use it for my current SU ink

pads, current in-colors, and specialty inks.

However in the 7 years I have been stamping, I

have acquired many ink pads that are now retired.

Even though I'm no longer an SU demo, I still prefer to

keep my current and retired inks and cardstock

separated - mainly for ease since I can't order additional.

This is the latest way I have been storing the retired

ink pads. I recently put them on my storage cubes that I

moved under my stamping counter. Before that,

they were across the room on a shelf.

The separating panels are not actually sturdy, but

do offer a little support to help them stay stacked.

Well, in cruising through pictures of people's craft rooms

and storage ideas, I ran across ideas of covering

cereal boxes.

My son drinks these breakfast drinks in the mornings

to add more protein to his diet. We got these bulk-type

boxes at Sam's, and I realized they were the perfect width for

Stampin' Up ink pads.

So I got some scrapbooking paper in colors to match

the fabric I picked out for the new curtains my mom is making

for my window and cabinet boxes,

dug out the mod podge, and used some of the

ribbon we found that matched the fabrics.

The Finished Ink Pad Boxes

They have many imperfections, but I love them!

I have them on my counter next to my ink pad storage

and now I have them all right in front of me.

My Monthly Challenge ...

... and I completed it BEFORE the end of January!

Yay! Those of you who know the procrastinator in me

will understand what an accomplishment

that is for me! LOL

Here's hoping this is the first of many

successful challenges to myself.

Just a refresher, my personal goal for each month

is to make 6 Christmas cards,

10 gift tags, and 1 homemade gift.

I had my cards completed last week, but

I think for future months, I will save them until

my challenge is completed each month.

My Christmas gift tags

Homemade gift

I decided to make an accordian file card holder.

I found the tutorial for this in the resources section

at splitcoaststampers.com:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/accordionstylecardholder/http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/accordionstylecardholder/

There are 10 cards inside the box.

They are each very simple, but sweet cards

using a colored base, a white layer embossed with

the rebeccah cuttlebug embossing folder,

then a variety of sentiments or images stamped

in ink to match the card base.

... and the mojo still goes :)

Mambo Love You Much

This card is a whisper white card base. The first layer is

melon mambo. The SU Soft Swirls background stamp is stamped

in melon mambo ink on the top half of the card front.

The pink pirouette layer is embossed with the swiss dot cuttlebug

folder, and the bottom edge was punched with SU's scallop border punch.

The sentiment from SU's Well Scripted stamp set is stamped in melon mambo,

then punched out with the SU scallop circle punch. I used the piercing

tool around the scallops. I stamped versamark directly onto the bottom edge

of the card front, and onto the sentiment scallop circle, then embossed

them with iridescent ice embossing powder.

I stagger-layered a scallop circle in melon mambo behind the bottom of

the sentiment to separate it from the pink pirouette stip more.

Pink pirouette taffeta ribbon tied around the cardstock layer finished it off.

Crocheted Thinking of You

This card uses the SU Bella Rose DP, riding hood red,

and whisper white cardstock. The sentiment from SU's Warmest Regards

stamp set is stamped in riding hood red ink, punched with the SU punch, and has

riding hood red ink sponged around the edges. Riding hood red taffeta

ribbon looks so great with this paper pack! I used crocheted flowers

from SU's accents & elements for the finishing touch.

Pomegranate For You

I am using up some DP from my stash.

This card uses SU DP, purely pomegranate, and

whisper white cardstocks. Purely pomegranate stitched

ribbon is across the bottom, and regal rose grosgain is across

the top layer.

I stamped the sentiment from SU's One of a Kind stamp set

in purely pomegranate ink, punched it with the SU punch,

then used stampin sponges around the edges with the same ink.

Bermuda Bay Wishes

I ran across some odds and ends of DP while organizing.

I used the DP on bermuda bay cardstock with the top of the front embossed

with the swiss dot cuttlebug folder. I used a metallic cardstock for layering.

I stamped the flower from SU's Delight in Life stamp set,

using the rose red and bermuda bay markers for ink.

I punched the image out with the 1" circle punch, then

layered it onto rose red punched with the 1 1/4" circle punch,

then bermuda bay punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch,

and finally the metallic cardstock punched with the SU scallop circle punch.

I adhered it with dimensionals and added some non-SU fibers from behind it.

The sentiment is from SU's Heard From the Heart stamp set,

and stamped with gold encore ink.

I added bermuda bay dot ribbon and hodgepodge hardware to finish it off.

Cart of Blooms

This is for this week's Teapot Tuesday challenge.

This card is for a lady named Betty. You can ready her story here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/teapot-tuesdays-f260/mmtpt182-~-gee-dats-better-muddah-fadduh-kindly-disregard-letter-t546774.html

My card base and basket are daffodil delight cardstock.

I made the basket using SU's round tab punch for the bottom

and the SU large oval and scallop oval punches for the handle.

I added some flower brads from my stash.

We were supposed to use a flower cart image on our card.

However, I don't have one. So I made my own. Luckily, I ran across a

pre-made close to cocoa card front a friend gave me using an

embossing folder (I'm not sure which it is though).

I made the wheel with the Creative Memories circle maker.

I covered the wheel, as well as some strips for the sides of the flower cart,

with versamark, then embossed them with copper embossing powder.

I used a stampin' sponge in daffodil delight ink on the whisper white

cardstock for a sunshine effect. I stamped the butterfly from SU's

Because of You stamp set in lavender lace in the corner, and used

the matching marker for it's trail behind it.

I stamped the flower trio image from SU's One of a Kind

stamp set in lavender lace, daffodil delight, melon mambo, only orange, and

gable green inks, then punched them out using SU's

flower trio punch. The main sentiment is also from SU's

Blooming with Happiness stamp set, and the basket's sentiment

is from SU's Fancy Flexible Phrases stamp set.

I hope it can bring some blooming smiles Betty's way.

Challenge Swap that was left behind :(

In all of my cleaning and reorganizing of my purple palace,

I ran across my envelopes from a challenge swap that I fell way

behind on, and I thought some needed some attention.

Lucky for me, two of them were for Christmas cards.

That means that I finished numbers 5 & 6 for my monthly

Christmas card challenge. Yay! :)

Then I also dug into a few more of them.

Non-traditional Purple Christmas Card

This is a challenge swap creation.

I received the DP, the image, the sentiment,

the ribbon, and the beads in the swap.

I cut the DP into rectangles and added them to

a pale lavender paper, and onto a white card base.

I used the Creative Memories wavy blade on my new cutter

to cut out the tree image. I used the SU punch for the sentiment,

then sponged the edges with pale plum ink.

Then I added the beads to the sentiment and the tree.

I tied the ribbon into a bow, then curled the ends

with my heat tool.

Non-traditional Guava Christmas Card

This is another challenge swap creation.
I received the image, the guava ribbon, the DP, and the beads,
and the challenge was a non-traditional colored Christmas card.
I added always artichoke cardstock, embossed with a cuttlebug folder,
and used the SU scallop border punch across the bottom edge.
I colored the image with SU markers, and sponged the edges with always artichoke ink.
I then used the Creative Memories cutting system for ovals on the image,
as well as the groovy guava layer behind it.
I also added some gold stickles.
I stamped the sentiment from the SU Holly Jolly Christmas stamp set,
using SU always artichoke and groovy guava ink, punched it
out with the large oval punch, and sponged the edges with groovy guava ink.

Challenge Christmas Thank You

This is another card I created from a challenge swap.

I received the DP, the scallop punch, and the sentiment.

I added wild wasabi cardstock, and used

SU's distressing tool on the edges of it, as well as the sentiment.

Razzle Rose Red Quack Me Up

This card uses another challenge swap.

I received the image, the black cardstock base, the white, cardstock,

the DP, the rose red and black ribbons,

and the rich razzleberry cardstock that I embossed

with the swiss dot cuttlebug embossing folder.

I added the rose red cardstock punched out with the SU scallop circle punch,

and the dots and faux stitches done with SU's rich razzleberry marker.

Denim Genuine Birthday
This is also from a challenge swap that I didn't have completed.
I received all of the papers and images, and added my own
soft suede cardstock base, linen thread, red and blue
star brads, and the Happy Birthday sentiment
from SU Birthday Greetings stamp set,
which I embossed with a copper embossing powder.

Bright Birthday Giraffe

This card is a gate fold.

The large turquoise rectangle is only

adhered to the left half, and it opens and

leaves the right side still folded.

the inside flap

This is from another challenge swap. I received most of the

supplies, including the image, the DP, and the

turquoise and orange ribbons.

I added some of my own goodies, including the solid cardstocks,

celery and eggplant ribbons, and a 3-D birthday decoration.

I colored the image in with SU markers,

and sponged the edges with tempting turquoise.

I embossed the front flaps with the swiss dot cuttlebug folder.

I punched the sentiment out and layered it with

SU circle punches, and then onto the SU scallop circle punch.

I also sponged the top layer with tempting turquoise ink

and added dots all the way around.

Creative mojo is still running strong :)

Eggplant Teacup Friendship

I do not know where the image and sentiment stamps

are from, as they are images I snagged from my Mom's stash

of received images.

I used SU elegant eggplant, lavender lace, and whisper white

cardstocks, along with cardstock vellum.

I stamped the SU Soft Swirls background stamp in

elegant eggplant on the card base.

I colored the image in with watercolor pencils and a blender pen.

I used Fiskars corner edges scissors on the top corners of the

lavender/vellum layer as well as the whisper white.

I used the SU scallop trim border punch on the

lavender/vellum bottom border.

I used SU whisper white organza with elegant eggplant grosgain

behind it across the top layer. Then I added a bow

in lavender satin ribbon.

Pink and Gray Fabulous Friend

I used SU DP as the main focus of this card.

I layered it with SU pink pirouette cardstock.

I stamped the image/sentiment from SU's Oval All

stamp set in encore silver ink and punched it out with

the SU wide oval punch. I finished it off with SU's

pretty in pink taffeta ribbon.

Pink Pirouette Circles Birthday

This is just an easy birthday card to add to my stash.

I used DP with SU pink pirouette and very vanilla cardstock.

I stamped the circleimage from the SU Seeing Spots stamp set

in pink pirouette on the very vanilla layer.

I stamped the sentiment from SU's Warmest Regards stamp set

in early espresso ink. I used the SU punch, and sponged the punched

sentiment and the very vanilla layer with early espresso ink.

Navy and Marina Mist Happy Birthday

This was a another super simple card, just to add to my stash on hand.

I used DP with SU night of navy and marina mist.

I stamped the sentiment from the SU Birthday Greetings stamp set

in night of navy ink. I finished it off with night of navy grosgain ribbon.

Rose Birthday Hugs & Wishes

I used SU DP with SU riding hood red, pink pirouette, kiwi kiss,

early espresso, and whisper white cardstocks.

I stamped the image from SU's A Rose is a Rose stamp set

in ridinghood red, pink pirouette, and kiwi kiss ink,

and the sentiment from SU's Hugs & Wishes stamp set in early espresso ink

I used the SU punch for the sentiment and sponged the edges

in riding hood red ink.

I used the SU distressing tool on the pink pirouette

layer behind the rose image.

The ribbon is SU riding hood red taffeta ribbon.

Turquoise and Olive Birthday Wishes

I used SU DP with SU's basic gray, whisper white,

tempting turquoise, and old olive cardstocks.

The flower image is from the SU Time Well Spent stamp set,

colored in with SU markers.

I used the SU Trio Flower punch for the corner flowers.

I stamped the sentiment stamp in tempting turquoise ink,

then punch it out with the SU designer label punch,

and sponged the edges in tempting turquoise.

Then I layered it on the SU punch.

I added turquoise ribbon and stickles to finish it off.

Non-Valentine Colored Valentine

I wanted to make a Valentine without using the typical

Valentine colors. I used an SU DP to determine my card color scheme.

I used SU's so saffron, bashful blue, early espresso, and whisper white cardstocks.

I embossed the bashful blue layer with the swiss dot CB folder.

I stamped the image from SU's Festive Four stamp set in

early espresso ink and layered it. The bashful blue layer was

edged with SU's distressing tool.

I stamped the sentiment from SU's Holidays & Wishes stamp set

in early espresso ink.

I finished the card off with SU's daffodil delight taffeta ribbon.

Lots of Hearts

This is a simple one made from some Valentine DP I ran

across while reorganizing my Purple Palace.

I used it with SU pretty in pink, real red, and whisper white cardstock.

I stamped the sentiment from SU's Holidays & Wishes

stamp set in SU real red ink.

I used the Creative Memories heart punch for the hearts

and the SU punch for the sentiment layers.

I added real red dots to border the sentiment layers.

I finished it off with a bow in the SU pretty in pink grosgain ribbon.

Busy Hearts & Dots

I used couple different DPs for this one.

I think it turned out rather busy, but fun for a Valentine.

I used SU pink pirouette, pixie pink, and real red cardstock.

I stamped the sentiment from SU's Fancy Flexible

Phrases stamp set in SU pixie pink ink.

I made the additional hearts with the Creative Memories heart punch.

I added a Love ribbon across the bottom, as well as SU

whisper white organza ribbon behind the top layer of DP.

I finished it off with lines of pixie pink dots to border the love ribbon.

Walt Disney's Twilight

This card is for the Teapot Tuesday challenge for this week.

We are sending a young lady in the hospital

to bring some smiles her way.

She loves the movie Twilight, and the challenge was

something funny, whether it is the image, the

sentiment, or whatever. I found the image

online and printed it off to use for this card.

I used SU's real red, brilliant blue, peach parfait,

and whisper white cardstock.

I printed the sentiment and image on the computer.

(not the best print job unfortunately, as my printer is about out)

I wanted some fun embellishments, so I used sticky strip

to adhere SU bold bright beads. I also used a variety of

coordinating SU ribbons to the side.

I hope this card makes Amy giggle as much as me. LOL

I am so loving my burst of creative energy lately! It's definitely been a long time since

I have had this much mojo in my Purple Palace!

My Sweetness

A stamping friend of mine hand-crocheted
this awesome purple headband flower for my niece.
When my sister took her for her 3 month pictures,
she took some special ones in just purple
(obviously, I loved them! lol)
So here is the scrapbook page with a few of them.

I used the Jasmine Cricut cartridge for the lettering.
Then I embossed them in clear embossing powder for
some added shininess to this special page.
I also clear embossed my picture mats and flowers.

Here are two more cards for my monthly Christmas card challenge

(6 a month)

no stamp, no ink Santa

I wanted to do a simple, no stamp, no ink card.

I used designer paper for the main focus of the card.

I used SU ridinghood red and wild wasabi cardstock.

I used the striped SU wild wasabi ribbon and hodgepodge hardware

for an added touch.

holly jolly reindeer

I love reindeer!!! Cute ones, fancy ones, I love them all!

This is a designeer paper from my new stash that I had to use.

I used SU chocolate chip, ridinghood red, and whisper white cardstocks.

The holly jolly sentiment is from SU's A Holly Jolly Christmas stamp set.

I used SU markers to color the small stamp from SU's Season of Joy stamp set

underneath the sentiment, stamped off for faded images, then punched

it out with SU's wide oval punch.

The wide chocolate chip grosgain ribbon finished off the outside.

This card is a gate fold card, meeting in the middle. The ridinghood

red layer is only adhered to the left side of the card base.

On the right side, I adhered a cut-out reindeer image from the

designer paper, and layered it using SU's 1 3/8" circle and the scallop circle punches.

I added gold dots around this with the zig painty to help it stand out from the card base.

A creative start to 2012

Starting 2012 off creating :)

I am starting this new year off creating! And I love it!
I set a personal monthly goal to create 6 Christmas
cards, 10 gift tags, and 1 homemade gift each month.

Gold and Holly

This is a very simple card, but I like clean and simple on
many of my cards. The holly background is a designer paper that I received,

as is the gold paper. I did use SU whisper white cardstock for the
card base and to stamp the sentiment from the SU stamp set Christmas

Punch in gold encore ink. The image works with the SU wide oval punch.
I also used some gold ribbon from my stash for an extra gold element.

Cruisin' Sparkling Santa

I definitely had the recipient in mind while creating
this card. I decided to use the SU Cruisin' Christmas stamp set, with my uncle

in mind. I used SU whisper white, glorious green, and real red
cardstocks, as well as a designer paper from my shopping. To bring out the red

sparkle in the designer paper, I covered real red cardstock with versamark,
then embossed it with iridescent ice embossing powder.

I stamped the Santa motorcycling image in Memento tuxedo black ink

and added some color with SU markers.
I stamped the sentiment in versamark and real red, then also
embossed it with iridescent ice embossing powder.
Then I finished it off with a fun, sparkly fiber from the Paper Studio.

I Said a Prayer Angel

We found out that my mom was the designated
recipient for a challenge on SCS, where we are members and friends
with so many great people. She has received some beautiful cards
from people on SCS - some she knows, but most she doesn't.
I thought this was such a cool idea, and decided to check out
the weekly challenge. I am jumping on the Teapot bandwagon, and
decided to start with this very challenge for my mom.

I used SU bermuda bay, cool caribbean, and whisper white cardstock.
For the background, I used the shaving cream technique with
the SU bermuda bay and cool caribbean refil inks.
The angel image and the prayer sentiment are non-SU
stamps, and unfortunately I cannot name what company. I received the
angel image in an image swap, and I received the sentiment from a

friend, and there is no company name on it. But I love both!
I colored the angel in with a blender pen and the same SU inks. I covered

her wings using the versamarker, then embossed with iridescent ice
embossing powder. I stamped the sentiment in marina mist ink onto cardstock vellum,

trimmed with decorative scissors. I finished the card off with some SU hodgepodge

hardware and a non-SU cord from my stash.