Royal Blog Tour

This stop features a stamp set new to the 2009-2010 IBC, Circle Circus. I chose this set because of the versatilty of the stamp set. It can be used as the main image or background on a card. I really wanted to do a 3-D project for the tour, but due to time constraints with the passing of my dad and deadlines, I was not able to complete one for you. But I do have several different projects that shows the versatilty of this stamp set that I was talking about.

The first two cards show both a the stamps being used as a background and as a feature image. The one on the left uses Taken with Teal, Basic Black and Whisper White. I also used a stamp set that will be available in the new Summer Mini, Go, Graduate, and Basic Black satin ribbon and a white jumbo grommet.  The card on the right uses the colors, Lovely Lilac, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Whisper White and Basic Black.  The ribbon used is the wider grosgrain ribbon in Basic Black.

These next two cards show the images used as the focal point. The card on the left uses Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Whisper white. The sentiment is from Vintage Vogue. The colors used on the card on the right are Bashful Blue, Whisper White, and Pacific Point. You may recognize this color as being part of the In-Colors of 2008-2009. With the Color Renovation, this is coming back as part of the color Stampin' Up! colors.

This following card uses the stamp set as both a background and feature image. The colors are Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Old Olive, and Whisper White.

The last two pictures of the cards that I created using a One Sheet Wonder (OSW) and the images from the Circle Circus set to make the image sheet. The colors are Certain Celery, Bashful Blue, and So Saffron.

Finally, blog candy. Anyone that leaves a comment and/or becomes a follower, will be entered in a drawing for the stamp set Itty Bitty Backgrouds. Make sure to leave contact information in your comment so I can contact you, if you are chosen. If you become a follower (or are already a follower), leave that in your comment also and you will be entered twice.

Thanks for visiting my blog

Another Element of Style Sneak Peak

Only 2 more days until this stamp set is available to order! This card used Temptin Turquoise, Whisper White and a touch of Apricot Appeal. The saying is from Vintage Vogue, which will also be still available to order after the Occassions mini is over. Pretty self explanatory after that.

Stay tuned as the Royal Blog Tour starts tonight at 8 PM CST! I'm part of the tour and will be featuring Circle Circus.

My First Blog Award!

Yesterday I was awarded with the Sunshine Award from Martie Shea with From Our Hearts! Thank you for bestowing this honor upon me.  And it's my first award ever!

 

I will proudly display the award on my blog.

 

 

Now I'm supposed to pick 12 blogs to pass this on to. How do I pick just 12? I chose the following people in no particular order. These ladies have had a great influence in my stamping journey, with the support they five and/or their wonderful ideas they are so willing to share.

 

I hope you will be as inspired by their work as I am-- click on their name to take a peek at their blog.

• Kelly Mayou
• Patti Bennet 
• Monica Weaver
• Sandi MacIver
• Carole'Anne Sluchinski
• Ilina Crouse
• Jean Fitch
• Mary Jo Price-Williams
• Sherrill Graff
• Jackie Topa
• Lucia Kaiser
• Mary Fish

Here are the rules for the Sunshine Award:

 

1. Put the Sunshine Award on your blog and/or within your post.
2. Pass the award to 12 other bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Thanks again Martie!

Go, Graduate! Sneak Peak

Here is another sneak peak using another new set from the Summer Mini, called Go, Graduate! When I first looked at it, I had a hard time figuring out what to to with this set. It's the first graduation set I've ever owned, and I really only purchased it because I signed up with the set for a swap - how bad is that? Anyways, this is one idea that I've come up with, using Real Red, Basic Black, Whispher White, and Close to Cocoa (marker for the owl). Sorry about the shadow in the picture too.

Sneak Peak: Sweet Scoops

Again, thanks for your patience. I see that I've fallen into bad habits again. I used Sweet Scoops, vanilla Smooch Spritz, and Island Oasis DSP, all from the summer mini. This is actually an easel card, but I didn't take a picture of it. The colors are Rose Red, Close to Cocoa, and Whisper White. I notice the picture is a little blurring, sorry about that. How does only half of the picture get blurry anyways?

Thanks for Your Patience!

Thanks for you patience while I tend to my family during the last days of my dad's life and the proceeding funeral arrangements. I've finally been able to sit down with my stamping stuff and had to design my cards for the Royal Blog Tour coming next week. With those done, I still have many, many, many swaps to make in the next couple of days. Here is a sneak peak from the Summer Mini using Sweet Scoops. The colors are Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, and Pumpkin Pie. I also used the new Island Oasis DSP and Square Lattice Impressions folder, both from the Summer Mini, and Dazzling Diamonds.

Once I realized that cutting out 18 x 3 of the ice cream top was not going to be possible, I changed up the design slightly to what is shown below.  I actually got out the dread Circle Sissors Plus (CSP) to cut the Whisper White circles out. The CSP and I do NOT get along very well. I end up wasting a lot of paper and just plain don't like it (and the blade once cut me).  We got along enough for me to cut 18 circles out and now it's back in the drawer, where it is likely to stay for a while. Instead of the Dazzling Diamonds, I decided to try the new smooch spritz (vanilla shimmer) paints, also in the Summer Mini. Definitely going to have to get the spray box too, everything within a 5 feet radius of my craft desk is now very sparkly!

Again, thanks for your patience and prayers and thoughts.

Sorry

Sorry for not posting as promised and then being absent. I'm sad to report that my dad passed away earlier this afternoon. I was home with him for the past week, with the rest of my family, and even though he was unconscious for the majority of the time while I was here, it was good to share memories with my family. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  More stamping to come next week sometime.

Thanks!

Another Sneak Peak

As promised, here is another sneak peak. It's again using Elments of Style and is a CASE of a card Shelli (Stampin' Up! CEO and cofounder) showed at Leadership this year. Colors are Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, and Bashful Blue. More sneak peaks tomorrow!

Another Vintage Vogue

This second Vintage Vogue CASE is way outside my color spectrum, but I do like the way it turned out. The colors I used were Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal (which I don't think I have ever used as a main color before). Other than that I think the card is pretty self explanatory, but you are always more than welcome to ask me any questions you may have.

 

More sneak peaks tomorrow!

Vintage Vogue Revisted

This weekend we are going to revisit Vintage Vogue. Remember, this set is available for purchase through the end of the month and not again until July. Yes, it will be available in the new catalog in July. The two cards I will be sharing with you today and tomorrow were both created on that trip to my parents' where I had limited supplies, but was able to freely craft. I am really please with how this one turned out. And yes it is a CASE. Colors are Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence, and Always Artichoke. I also use Cottage Wall DSP and the two-step bird punch.

Stay tuned for another Vintage Vogue CASE tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

Another Sneak Peak

Today's sneak peak is again using Elements of Style, but using the other large stamp in that set. This again is a CASE, though I'm not sure I really like how it turned out. I might try to tweak some things before I mass produce for a swap. The colors are Very Vanilla, Creamy Carmel, and Bravo Burgandy. I also used the new embossing folder from the summer mini brayered with Creamy Carmel and then inked along the edges with Bravo Burgandy.

Yesterday I sat down and compiled all the swaps that I signed up for within the next couple of months (most due end of this month) and I have over 200 cards to make! That means lots of new samples to share with you guys. So stay tuned.

Sneak Peak: Elements of Style

As promised, here is my first sneak peak share. I used the stamp set Elements of Style. When I first looked at this set, I wasn't real sold on the stamp that I used here, but the swirl image also in the set. But as it happens, while I've been playing with this set, I this is the stamp that I've used the most. This is a CASE from Mary Fish, but I changed out the colors and the layout a bit. The colors I used were Elegant Eggplant, Pixie Pink, and Whisper White.

Thanks for looking. Tomorrow I will be sharing another sample using this set.

Wedding Card Share

Today's share is a card that I'm using as a shoebox swap. I started out CASEing something, but I didn't have all the supplies with me to finish it, so I made due with what I had. I was visiting my parents and thought I grabbed everything that I needed to work on some cards I wanted to get done, but it turned out that I didn't, so instead I made some cards with the supplies I had. For once, I actually just made cards to make cards, not really having anything in mind for their use. I sign up for so many swaps, that I barely have time to do that. I actually liked how some of them turned out, so I may turn them into swaps yet.
Anyways, I digress, this uses Sending Love DSP and the colors are Pretty In Pink, Real Red, and Very Vanilla. Stamp sets I used were Teeny Tiny Wishes and Only Ovals. I also used the two-step bird punch.

Tomorrow I will be sharing some sneak peaks from the new summer mini, so stay tuned!

Last of the Scrapbook

Today I will be sharing the last of the scrapbook pages. This first page is just a mosaic of the tons of pictures I took at the botanic park. The idea came from one my scrapbook friends (non SU) and I took the pictures with this layout in mind. That's the first sign of an obsessed scrapbooker - taking pictures just for a layout!

This page documents our ride on the gondola to the top of Mount Werner.

Below are just a few of the sights from Downtown Steamboat.

This final page is our attempt at frolfing, or frisbee golf. We bought disc to go frolfing, but when we found the park, it wasn't in the best of conditions for newbies like us. 

Hope you enjoyed my trip to Steamboat with me! Tomorrow I will be back to cards.

Thanks!

More Scrapbook Pages and An Apology

Sorry I didn't get around to posting the rest of the pages last week, which was my intent. I was out of the office and I realized that I had the pictures saved to my desktop at work and couldn't find another copy of them. Anyways, hope everyone had a safe and happy Easter!

Here are two more pages of the scrapbook, both of Fish Creek Falls. The first page shows the falls from the top of the falls.

The second page is from the bottom of the falls. I don't know if you can read in the picture, but the sign says that the falls are 1/4 mile ahead. What it fails to mention is that there are a 1/4 mile downhill ahead. Which means to come back, it's a 1/4 mile uphill!

The last of the pages will come tomorrow (hopefully!)