Weekly Diva Challenge

Another week has slipped by. Where does the time go? We are more than half way through the month of June, and my new Stampin' Up catalogs were on my doorstep earlier this week. Just in time for my annual Stampin' Up "garage" sale! Last week I was in Michigan for five days and Becky and I had the fun of working on this week's sketch together. It's fun to see the different ideas we came up with while we were working in the same room! Thanks for sharing your ink, stamps, and paper with me, Becky! Above is this week's sketch, and here is the card I came up with. All the supplies are from the 2010-2011 Stampin' Up catalog available on July 1.



Supplies used are:
Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Stampin' dimensionals

Below is a detail on the center image. I first stamped the image on Whisper White with Early Espresso Ink. I also stamped the image on Pear Pizzaz and Chocolate Chip paper, then cut out the flower and flower center and popped it up with Stampin' dimensionals. I have to admit I was struggling with the sketch this week, but I am pleased with how the card turned out. Now on to Becky's blog to see what she created with this week's sketch.



Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,
Barbara

Bundle of Love

I was busy earlier in the week working on these invitations! My daughter Laura and her husband Toby are expecting their first baby in November and I am planning a baby shower for her. The invitations went in the mail yesterday, and I really enjoyed making them. I am planning on making matching thank you cards for Laura as well.



The stamp set is in the new catalog and it is just adorable! I wanted to keep it neutral since at this point we don't know the sex of the baby, so I used Sage Shadow. It is one of the retiring colors that I will miss! Here is the list of supplies:

Stamps: Baby Bundle
Paper: Sage Shadow, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Inks: Black Staz-On, Soft Suede, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Dotted Swiss embossing folder, blender pens, Soft Suede grosgrain ribbon

I love how the dots on the ribbon tie together the dots on the baby carriage and the dotted Swiss background. Here is a detail of the tag.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Blessings,
Barbara

Diva Sketch Challenge

Welcome to my blog and another Diva Sketch Challenge! Pictured below is the sketch Carol gave us to work with. My card uses one of the sneak peek stamps sets that demonstrators could order on June 1. Customers will be able to purchase this stamp set and see the new catalog on July 1!



Stamps: Artistic Etchings. En Francais background
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray
Ink: Black Staz-On, Basic Gray
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Oval Punch, Clear Rhinestone Brads, 1/8" Basic Black Taffetta Ribbon (new!)


I absolutely love Paris, and this image of the Eiffel Tower is just amazing! It looks like a beautiful etching. Below is a detail of the accent piece. I think this stamp looks just like an antique pin.

I'd also like to share a tip for using background stamps. (It's on my mind since I did a variation of this card for a new catalog swap and I had to do 24 cards!) I always use a brayer to ink my background stamps. It goes much faster than using your ink pad and you get a very even coverage! Of course, you all know to leave your background stamp rubber side up and place your cardstock on top of the stamp. I work on a sheet of Stampin' Up grid paper, keeping my inked stamp on the right. I take the left side of the grid paper, flip it on top my cardstock, and rub over the stamped background to get an even inked image. No mess on the hands and a perfect imprint every time!

To see the next card in the Diva Sketch Challenge, just click here to see what my lovely and talented daughter, Becky, came up with.

Back to Blogging!

It has been a little while since I've posted. Well, maybe more than a little while. Um, actually over a year. Don't ask me why because I really don't know! Anyway, I'm back! I will be posting at least once a week because I've joined the Saturday Sketch Team on UTAH DIVAS INTERNATIONAL. I'm not quite sure how to post this week's sketch, but if you followed a link to my blog, I know you have seen the sketch. Here's the card I came up with.



Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Pedaling Past
Paper: Real Red, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Inks: Black StazOn; Markers: Real Red, Basic Black and Basic Gray
Ribbon: Real Red double-stitched grosgrain and natural hemp twine
Accessories: Log Cabin smooch spritz and Stampin' Up Square Lattice embossing folder

A lot of these products are from the Summer mini catalog. Can you tell I'm having fun with them?

If you came here from Alisa's blog, you'll want to follow this link to Becky's blog to see the next card in the sketch challenge.

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you next week!

Blessings,
Barbara