I am trying to step outside my comfort zone and create more artsy cards instead of my usual cutesy. I was inspired by a card made by Michelle Zindorf. Her cards are works of art. I started with soft sky cardstock and stamped the images in versamark and then classic chocolate chip. Then I embossed with clear EP. The swirl was stamped in versamark and then classic soft sky and embossed with clear EP. I learned from Michelle that when you layer embossed images you start with the image that is the outermost and the one in the background is stamped & embossed last. I sponged chocolate chip around the edges (if I did this again I would use less cc sponging), layered the center piece on cc, ticket punched, added brads and put dimensionals under it.

I saw the cutest cards on Tara's blog, Like Tara I don't usually use white as the main background color on a card but I like the effect and it really makes the card easy!! I did add the middle flower and a rhinestone brad for a little "pop". This would be an easy design to use to make a quick set of notecards to give as a gift!! Thanks Tara!!

Ink: regal rose, certainly celery, so saffron
Paper: whisper white, so saffron
Ribbon: wild wasabi grosgrain (I had already stamped the certainly celery ink before I decided to add ribbon)

This is my version of a photo wallet. There is a tutorial here on splitcoaststampers. I used tempting turquoise textured cardstock for the outside. The big flower and the swirl are from the SAB set Friendship Blooms the little flower is from the Seeing Spots stamp set. The large flowers have rhinestone brads. I will be having a class in May to make one of these. As soon as I get my calendar completed I will post the date. Cost will be $6 for each wallet.

I really, really, like this new set Pun Fun. I bought it because you get a free wheel with it (and I really like wheels!). This is not a set I would normally purchase but I can't seem to put it down. I used paper piecing with the lamb and whale and colored the rocket ship with markers. I added the flowers because the corner seemed rather blank and that stamp just happened to be out on my table. Of course I added some dazzling diamonds glitter to the flowers!! The stitching was done with a marker and my wonderful white gel pen!!

This is my version of a card I saw on The Roaming Stamper blog. I also used the tutorial from SCS for making a flap card. I used one of my spools of ribbon to draw the circle for the flap (my Coluzzle™ is backordered). I did not have the same paper so I improvised by using the retired SU Designer Paper, Cerise . The card base is Blue Bayou. The stars are layered with the Cerise DP and a star I stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Blue Bayou ink. I used the white gel pen for the stitching around the flap. I only have the large star punch so the smaller stars I cut out by hand. I cut 2 pieces of magnetic tape for the closure.

I guess I did quite a bit of improvising on this card-just shows what you can do even if you don't have all the fancy tools!

Thanks to the photo tips from Sharon (aka The Roaming Stamper) I am trying to take better photos of my cards rather than just scanning!! Not too bad?

This is my first attempt at the tag punch flower!! I saw this at my upline's meeting last night and had to try it before I went to bed. It is so easy!!!! I thought it would be hard and time consuming but not so!! I used the Boho Blossoms punch and a rhinestone brad for the center. The background is Wild Wasabi & Taken with Teal stamped on So Saffron cardstock with the Seeing Spots set. We will be making this card at club meeting April 18. You can't really see it in the photo but the flower stands up because of the folded paper-no dimensionals needed!! As Kris would say, "easy peasy!" I love techniques that are impressive looking but not time consuming!!

I
I just received my new wheel Sweet Stars free with the purchase of the stamp set Pun Fun and used it to make a background on Old Olive paper. This is actually my first jumbo wheel. Jumbo wheels are so easy! Just 2 trips across the card and you're done!

I just LOVE glitter!!!! I used Mono Multi Liquid Glue™ on the chipboard star to get the glitter to stick. I really love this glue! It dries very quickly. This is one of the cards we will be making at club meeting on Friday April 18. If you are not a club member and would like to visit there is a $5 class fee or place a $25 Stampin' Up!™ order and the class is free! Please let me know by Friday April 11 so I will have enough paper prepared!

Here is my first attempt at making an altered tin. Can you say "how many things can you do wrong in one project" five times fast? First of all I never found my brand new jar of mod podge™ that I know I have somewhere in my basement; so I bought another. I was so slow getting my paper on the tin that the mod podge™ was almost dry before I got the paper smoothed. Of course the directions said ," make sure to get out all the bubbles and wrinkles." Did I mention that I was so slow my glue was almost dry when I went to put on the paper? So I decide to use my bone folder to get out the wrinkles-the paper rips! Still I figure I can cover them up with ribbon and extra embellishments. I put my letters on the front and notice, I HAVE USED THE WRONG COLOR TO MAKE MY SCALLOPS!!! Of course when I take them off my paper RIPS again!! But it is done and most of the rips are covered and the imperfections are because it is "HANDMADE." Just don't look too closely!!

Another sneak peak at a card we will be making at the stamp-a-stack on Friday April 11. You will come home with a stack of cards ready to be signed and mailed. Just think you can have beautiful hand made cards for less than what you would pay in the store. No more emergency trips to the store for last minute cards (saves gasoline!). Be prepared for any occasion!!