Can you say busy?!!

I've been incredibly busy lately. In a good way though! I've been stamping a lot and going to lots of my son's cross country meets and school activities. I also attended and presented at the Nebraska Mini Stamp Convention, held a World Card Making day event, held my stamp club/class and completed two swaps! Oh yeah, I also did an open house/fall event with two other home based business women. Phew! I'm tired all over just thinkin' about it! So, guess you might like to see some of my stamp projects?! Even if you could care less here goes! LOL!

This is a sample I made for my presentation at the Nebraska Mini Convention. My presentation was on the Pretties kit. I dyed the flower with Summer Sun reinker and did a little shading with More Mustard reinker using an aquapainter. For the center of the flower I punched a circle out of Close to Cocoa DSP and backed it with another circle of white card stock to add some stability. I then cover it with Crystal Effects. This takes a while to dry but I really like how it turned out. The card itself is Barely Bannana stamped with the Sanded background in Summer Sun and sponged around the edges. The bottom half is Close to Cocoa stamped with Chocolate Chip, the stamp is from Background Sampler. A True Friend sentiment is from True Friend set, stamped in Chocolate Chip. Ribbon is 5/8 Chocolate Chip grosgrain.

This is another sample made for my presentation. For the deep color of the flower on this sample I got the flower damp with the aquapainter the dropped the ink from the refill bottle directly onto the flower. This is kind of messy and it will take the flower longer to dry. The result is really wonderful. You may want to blot the flower even when it seems dry it may still bleed. The darker flower is Night of Navy, the smaller flower is Soft Sky. Center of the flower is a clear Rhinestone brad from the Pretties Kit. Card base is Soft Sky stamped in same color with the Tres Chic Background Stamp. Stamp of Authenticity stamped in Navy and words in the Author and Title space are from Fundamental Phrases. I used the spiral punch to finish it. Attached the flowers with a glue dot.

That's all for today. I'm going to finish up some card swaps!

Happy Stampin'!

Dry Embossing....

I forgot how much I really like dry embossing until I made this card for a stamp class. One of my stamp club members who had never dry embossed asked if we could try this. This is what I came up with. Really simple to make but I like how it turned out. The dry embossing was done on white card stock. Then I added the Uptown designer paper. Stamped the medallion from True Friend set in Elegant Eggplant and used circle punch to punch it out, then punched out a scallop in barely banana. Friend sentiment is from the Fundamental Favorites set and punched out with the word window punch. Attached these pieces with gold brads. Oh, and I used the Pick A Petal Brass template for the dry embossing. So far this is the only card I've made with my new template but now that I've used it I keep thinking of different things I want to try with it! There's just never enough time!

Labor Day weekend is winding down. The last "weekend of the summer". We had a family gathering on Saturday complete with homemade ice cream!

Today I'm posting a card I made for a swap a few weeks ago. I really like this layout. It does take a bit of time to piece the patterned paper but I love the look. I used the Brocade Basics set. I stamped the images in River Rock, sponged the edge with Chocolate Chip and also stamped the greeting in Chocolate Chip. The card base is Old Olive. Designer Series paper is Brocade Background. The ribbon is from Theater Ribbon Origionals. I used a half pearl from the Pretties Kit for the center of the medalion piece. Love the Pretties Kit!

That's all for today. I'm making some Halloween cards so I'm going to go work on those! Thanks for lookin'!

Something Masculine

I'm always struggling to make those masculine cards even though I'm a Mom to three boys. I think this is a good masculine card though. I really like the Outlaw double sided paper and couldn't wait to use it. I started out with a Creamy Caramel base for the card. Stamped stars from the Starstruck set on the upper part with Versamark. Sponged the edges with Really Rust. Added the Outlaw paper to the bottom. I punched a piece of Really Rust for the scallop, 1 inch punch for Creamy Caramel, and 3/4 inch for the star that I stamped in Chocolate Chip onto Vanilla card stock. I sponged the edges of the Really Rust scallop with Chocolate Chip and then sponged it lightly. I used a antique brass brad in the center of the layered punched pieces and dimentionals to attach them to the card. The greeting is stamped in Chocolate Chip. I made this card for a couple of swaps and will be making some more on request as some friends saw it and asked me to make some for them! It's always exciting to be asked to make something special! Makes ya feel warm and fuzzy!

Now I gotta go.....I have more stamping to do for a get together on Saturday! Nothing like waiting until the last minute!!

What I've been stamping lately...

This is a card I made for a swap reciently. I used the Pick a Petal set. First I stamped my background piece of kraft paper with the Canvas background inked in Creamy Caramel. I sponged the edges of it with Chocolate Chip. I stamped the petals in Groovy Guava, cut them out and sponged them with Chocolate Chip. I punched a half circle out of Chocolate Chip card stock for the top. I wanted the flower to look like a coneflower. I used a piece of wild wasabi card stock for the stem and tied a piece of wild wasabi stitched ribbon in a knot and attached it with a glue dot for "leaves" on the stem. The card base is Chocolate Chip then a layer of Groovy Guava. I stamped the greeting in Chocolate Chip also. I really like how this turned out and I'd like to try some different color combos.

Busy Summer!

Wow! It's been a busy summer! I attended the Stampin' Up! Convention in Denver in July. Came home for a day and went on a family vacation to Alaska! We had a great time and I'd definately like to go back. The lower picture was taken in Glacier Bay. This is one of the largest glaciers we saw. We saw pieces of the glacier dropping off into the water.....so awesome! The other picture is me and two of my sons, Drew and Ryan on the dock in front of the ship we were on, Sapphire Princess. This is at the Skagway port. We also took a three day land tour before the cruise in Fairbanks and Danali. In Danali we went on an all day wilderness tour and saw moose, eagles, dall sheep, bears and lots of other wildlife! We saw parts of Mt. McKinley (Danali) but not the whole thing. A reason to go back!

I guess you could say I've been more than a little neglectful of this project of blogging. I have resolved to do at least two entries a week. So without further delay....here goes! I just recieved my lovely new stamps from the SU! preview. I couldn't wait to play and came up with two very quick cards using the Baroque Motifs set. I really LOVE this set. Both cards also use the new In Colors. I started by making a square card, I don't know why! It just seemed like it "needed" to be square! I stamped the flourish in River Rock, then added the small flowers in Groovy Guava and also sponged around the edge with Guava. I had a bunch of the copper brads and thought this would be a nice touch. Then to make it have a little definition and pop I used Chocolate Chip as an accent color.

For my next card I was on a mission to make a card with paper piercing for a challenge on SCS. This is a very easy and quick card. I used Wild Wasabi and River Rock, both new In Colors for this one. I just stamped the large flourish stamp all over the background and stamped it off without reinking. Then stamped "cherish" on a strip of RR and did the paper piercing and attached the round motif with silver brad in the center with a stampin' dimentional. Then pierced a corner pattern in the bottom corners. I think I'll be making this one in some different color combinations as I like that it goes together quick and easy!

Check back in a few days as I don't think I can keep my hands off my new stamps so I will be having some new creations to share.

Quiet

Aaaahhhhh.....hear that?! Everyone has left the house (except the cat) and I've finally had time to actually get some much needed stamping time in. I had to prepare for my Stamp Club and made this Mother's Day Card. I used no ribbon, punches or accessories which is very out of the ordinary for me! I even used Rose Red which is a color I never use. I really like how it turned out though and I hope my Stamp Club does too. Besides Mother's Day I think this would make a great Birthday, Thinking of You or Friend card. I like to make up a few of these and leave off the greetings and stamp those on when I need a card.

All images copywrite Stampin' Up!

1st Blog

I've been thinking of doing this for a while now. Today I decided to take the plunge. First I wanted to think of a "title" for my blog. So after much deliberation (about an hour and some consultation with my thesaurus) I came up with "Stamping Visions & Chocolate Morsels". What do you think?! You see I love Rubber Stamping and Chocolate. Really, can you have one without the other?! I'm looking forward to sharing my stamping creations, expertise (?) and "adventures" here. I've been stamping for almost 10 1/2 years. Much to my DH's dismay. When I first discovered the wonder of stamping he was glad I had something I enjoyed doing as a hobby. It has become a little.........ok, a LOT more than that now. I've taken over the "play" room (the boys out grew it) and it is now my "Stamp Room". My collection of stamps, paper & the tools I "need" now occupy this space. This is also my haven as when I'm in there my family hardly ever bothers me. I have a small TV, VCR/DVD player there and a CD player. I even have a secret stash of chocolate there. After all, can you REALLY stamp without chocolate?! I really should be cleaning my kitchen or something but why? It will still be there when I'm done I suspect. Right now I think I'll go down to my stamp room and create something to share later. (and have some chocolate....dark chocolate....it's my fav) Until then. Happy Stampin'!