Snow Much Fun!

I've been having a ton of fun as a Stampin' Up demonstrator!  This was a make and take from a recent card class that I held.  I used the "Snow Much Fun" set, with "Be of Good Cheer" designer series paper, whisper white cardstock, and cherry cobbler Baker's Twine.  I also used the Smooch Illuminate pearlized topcoat for the buttons and some snow highlights. 

Happy Birthday, Bro!

I made this birthday card for my brother!  It was another good reason to use the Stampin' Up set "The Open Sea", which I am IN. LOVE. WITH!!!!  I found the background paper from Imaginisce and loved the travel/vintage/masculine look.  I wrapped that with some Denim Twine from The Twinery, and layered it onto a SU Basic Gray base. 
Next, I cut Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307) in three sizes, out of SU Crumb Cake, SU Marina Mist, and White.  I stamped the Crumb Cake layer with the captian's log, in Staz-on Black.  Next, I took the Marina Mist layer, and stamped the globe all over it in Black, also.  Finally, I took the white layer and stamped the ship on it in Staz-On Black.  I swiped the sizes of the layers on the ink pads to add dimension, then I got out my SU blender pen.  I used the blender pen to pick up ink from the ink pad lids, and shade/watercolor the ship and water.  I used Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, and Crumb Cake on the picture.  For the "stormy/cloudy" sky, I used a sponge with some SU Basic Gray. 
If you've never used the blender pen, they're SUPER easy!!!  I like to carefully squish the lid of my ink pads into the top before opening, then you have a palette of color to work with.  You cold also use a drop of reinker in the lid.  Carefully dip you pen into the color, and, Voila!  You essentially have a paintbrush, without all the mess!  Cleanup is easy, too!  Just use a scrap piece of paper and swipe your blender pen on it until it runs clean.  Easy-peasy, and look at the effect!  You'll look like a watercolor master!  :o)  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Baby Berkley

 New baby Berkley made her way into this world recently, and here's a crafty little banner I made for her room.  I used some Spellbinders die cuts for the banner, and the Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge for the letters.  The flowers are from a Tim Holtz flower die, and the gorgeous twine is from The Twinery.  Congrats to Berkley's parents and siblings! ~Hoppy Crafting!

Kindness Matters-Triple Butterfly

I love all the butterflies that are in designs these days, and decided that I hadn't used Stampin' Up's "Kindness Matters" enough!  I decided to use some gorgeous yellow and gray scraps that I've had, so add to a Crumb Cake base.  Then, I wrapped some lemon twine around the yellow layer before attaching to the card.  I stamped the butterflies in both Daffodil Delight and Basic Black, then also used the Daffodil to run around the edges after I had used a distressing tool.  I used dimensionals behind the butterflies, and there you have it!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Gobble, Gobble!

It's turkey time already (well, almost)!  I finally had some open time to really work on a project, and ended up making 20 of these adorable Thanksgiving cards!  I saw a similar turkey a couple of weeks ago at my Stampin' friend, Deb's party, and really wanted to scrap-lift it!  I used quite an array of punches during this project, as well as Twinery twine, my Cricut, Stampin' Up ink, and foam adhesive.  I think it would be easier to put into a list everything I used, so here it goes!  :o)

*Stampin' Up Owl punch (eyes, body)
*Stampin' Up Butterfly punch (feathers & wings-cut in half and apart)
*Stampin' Up 1" Square punch (behind turkeys for support)
*Stampin' Up XL Oval-2" x 1 3/8" punch (behind sentiment)
*Stampin' Up Scallop Oval  punch(for sentiment)
*EK Success Arch Scallop (border)

*EK Success Card Suits (waddle)
*Stampin' Up "Holiday Best" stamp set (sentiment)
*Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie ink
*Stampin' Up Early Espresso ink
*The Twinery "Lemondrop" twine
*Cricut Savory Cartridge (plates)
*"Party-Celebrate" paper from Fancy Pants Designs (background behind turkeys)
*DCWV textured cardstock (card bases)
*Buttons
*Foam adhesive (pop up sentiment and turkeys)

I punched everything, then assembled each part mass-production style (all hats, all eyes, all turkeys, etc), until every last part was finished and I ended up with 20 pieces of art!  I had to add some humor and put each turkey on a dinner plate, haha!  The only thing I did differently, was how I added the twine.  On some cards, the twine is wrapped several times from left to right.  On others, it is looped behind the top left corners, then threaded through buttons and finished in a bow.  Hope you like these as much as I do!  ~Hoppy Crafting!!!

Turkey Army!!!

It's for the birds!

Here's another pheasant card using the Stampin' Up "Autumn Days" stamp set.  I used a "fall" colored theme, with yellows, reds, and browns.  The patterned cardstock is from K & Company, which I used an EK Success edger punch to create the notebook page look.
The pheasant is stamped is SU Chocolate Chip, and the leaves in the background are in SU Early Espresso.  I also sponged the scalloped oval with Early Espresso.  I used some gorgeous brown and white twine around a corner-rounded mat.  Finally, I added the pheasant with pop dots, and added bling for it's eye.  ~Hoppy crafting!!!

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Today is my friend Lisa's birthday, so I made a little card for her.  :o)  I used some pink, brown, and tan cardstock for the base and layers of this card.  I also used the Stampin' Up "Dreams du Jour" set for the sentiment, butterflies on the brown paper, and the "dream" embellishment.  Before adding the top layers, I embossed the tan paper, then spritzed each layer with Tsukineko silver spritzer to add glimmer.  I also used the Fleur de Lis edger punch from EK Success along the top of the faux ribbon.  I popped up the brown faux ribbon, the sentiment, and the embellishment/dangle with foam adhesive, and added light pink ribbon and twine.  Finally, I added color using my Zig markers and sponged the sentiment with SU Early Espresso ink.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Scored Thank you

Hi!  Today I whipped up a thank you card for a friend of mine, using some Teresa Collins paper and regular orange cardstock.  I started with an orange textured cardstock base in an A2 size card.  I had an 8" strip of Teresa Collins paper left from another project, and decided to use my Martha Stewart Scoreboard (yes, evil Martha...it's a love/hate relationship), to add some fold lines and give the look of using a wide strip of ribbon.  I placed adhesive on both sides of each fold so that it would stay in place, and then added an orange brad in the left corner and some gorgeous Twinery twine around it!  After adhering the whole piece, I stamped "thanks so much" from Stampin' Up's "Curvy Verses" onto orange cardstock, and cut it into a little banner.  I then inked the edges with Early Espresso, popped it up with dimensionals, and gave it a "V" ribbon-esque ending.  On the flower, I added an orange piece of bling.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Twine Crazy!

Left ring: Twinery twine   Right ring: SU, Boxer, Pink Paislee-House of Three twine

I must admit, the twine craze has hit me, and, over the past few months, I've gone a little "twine crazy"!  I love the look on my cards and layouts, and twine is SO versatile, you can use it almost anywhere!  Through the March Shop Hop, Expos, and just browsing, I have come up with quite an assortment of twine.  I also recently ordered the "sampler" from The Twinery (www.thetwinery.com), and split it with a friend. 
My biggest concern with the twine, was how to organize and store it, so that it could be used efficiently.  I got out my embroidery floss, and found some of my flat bobbins and started winding!  I quickly ran out, and had to run to my local JoAnn's Fabric, where I discovered they had a package of 28 bobbins with a 2 1/2" metal ring.  PERFECT!  I could hang the assortment from on of the old shower hooks I have on my metal shelving!  I bought a package for just under $2, and finished my organization!  Now my twine is all accessible and visible so that I can coordinate with any project!  Anyone need some twine?  Lol!  ~Hoppy Crafting!