I tried a little embossing resist. I haven't decided if I really like this or not. I can't find my embossing buddy so there are a few stray embossing crystals. Then of course I smeared the white craft while stamping the "for you." I love the new riding hood red taffeta ribbon!! I think I need to buy some more of the taffeta; I usually use the grosgrain! I made another panel using baja breeze-just haven't made a card yet. Off to watch Mr. Smith Goes To Washington with Jimmy Stewart!!

Always artichoke is not a color I use often. I usually pull out the old olive. However, I like it when paired with the real red especially for Christmas cards!! This card was quick to make. I stamped the tree image from Scandinavian Season twice. Once on naturals white (my favorite neutral paper!) and once on some real red DP from the hostess print pack. The flower image is part of the tree stamp but it is cut off at the edge so I used a black SU marker to complete the flower. Then I cut out the flower, added a brad and used a dimensional to attach it to the card. I used a SU real red marker to ink only the "merry Christmas" from the level 1 hostess set Best Yet and punched it with the word window punch. This is one of the cards we will be making at the Christmas card Stamp-a-Stack.

Here is another card made with Happy Blessings. I stamped the pumpkin on the twill ribbon with pumpkin pie classic ink. The main image was stamped with chocolate chip craft ink, embossed with clear EP and colored with SU markers. For some reason this card gave me trouble. I love earth elements but couldn't seem to make up my mind about a layout or colors. I think I will check out some of the weekend challenges to inspire me.

I copied this technique from someone's blog. Her photo even has a watermark but try as I might I cannot make out the full name. As soon as I find the original I will post a link here. Or if you recognize this technique post a comment and let me know.

This flower is made using the SU 5 petal punch. I punched several flowers out of baja breeze, sponged some baja breeze ink on some of the flowers, and then cut the petals apart on all of them except 1. That complete flower becomes the center and the other petals are attached in between the petals. I used glue dots to attach the petals. The center is the largest flower from the boho blossoms punch and a filligree brad is in the center. The leaves were hand cut out of folded crimped paper. Once you start the layering process it goes rather quickly!! The last layer is a little tricky and you can "lose your place" so take your time and look at the flower from the front as well as the back. The sentiment was a rub-on.

Kraft and Pink Pirouette!! Inspired by Carrie!

I saw a beautiful card on Carrie's blog that she did in kraft & pink pirouette and was inspired to make this card. I don't have the big shot or the top notch die so I used the coluzzle to cut the oval frame. The DP in the back of the oval frame is from the prints pack available as a hostess gift. I love those print packs!!! The flower in the middle is from the Embrace Life set-my favorite flower stamp!!! I stamped the flower in creamy caramel ink on pink pirouette paper and embossed it with iridescent ice (love that stuff!!!). The small flowers are simply punched with the boho blossoms punch and layered. Added a little paper piercing that I made using the guide in SU mat pack and Voila!! Thanks Carrie for the inspiration!!! I am really loving this color combo!!!!

Note Cards & Folio Made at KC Regionals

I really love these little cards!! This was one of our projects we received at KC SU Regional Seminar. I did change their pattern some. On my folio I cut out the bottom part of the spine in between the pockets and rounded the top corners. It folds neater!! For the embellishment on the outside of the folio I inked the tag with baja ink and stamped the bird on the tag-not all of the bird would fit but all I wanted to show was his feet. I then stamped the bird again on a scrap piece of very vanilla and cut out just the body and attached it to the tag with dimensionals.

The note cards are the Scallop Notecards from SU. They come precut, folded and with envelopes. The envelopes were lined with a small piece of DP cut to fit. To attach the DP to the envelopes just moisten the envelope and attach the paper. Just remember you cannot mail this size card but these would be great gift cards. I think this would make a nice gift. This set goes together rather quickly and is fairly inexpensive to make. These may be my Christmas gifts I am giving this year!!!

Ribbon Flower Card from KC Regionals

First stamp a snowflake image in versamark ink. My piece of paper was 2 x 2.
Next use a hole punch or the smaller hole punch from the crop-a-dile and punch holes around the outside points of the snowflake and around the inside of the snowflake.
Next begin threading your ribbon through the holes. I used a 12" piece of ribbon and had plenty left. I used riding hood red taffeta but I have seen this made with 1/4" grosgrain also.
When threading the ribbon do not pull tight. Instead slightly "poof" up the ribbon.
I placed a rhinestone brad in the middle; at Regionals we used a button. I taped the two ends down on the back of the paper and mounted it with dimensionals.

Here is the finished card!

Finally got to play with my scarecrow!!! I dug out my pastels and colored him using pastels and a blender pen. I wish I had made his shirt pumpkin pie instead of red but I didn't really have a plan when I started. The pumpkins were stamped, cut out and the leaves were colored with a glorious green SU marker. I popped them up with dimensionals-love those critters!!!

Stamps: Happy Blessings
Ink: basic brown, pumpkin pie,
Paper: pumpkin pie, not quite navy, whisper white

We are off to the movies!!! My DD, DS#2 and I are going to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Couldn't find anyone to go with us so I guess we don't have to share our popcorn or our candy!!!!! LOL!!!

Here is my version of the ever popular Frankie card!! Isn't he cute? I got the idea from Dawns Stampin Studio. There is also a really cute Mummy card that I saw somewhere that I am going to try next.

I am going to try to take photos tomorrow of how to make the ribbon flower on the card from Regionals.

I have not been able to be very creative lately. Here it is 2 AM and I am still doing laundry and trying to get my basement organized. UGH!!!!! I can't seem to get caught up with all that boring stuff so I can do some of the fun stuff!!!

I did manage to watch Iron Man tonight with my my 2 teenagers-who were home tonight!!! It was a pretty good movie although I am still a HUGE Spiderman fan!!

I have 2 new stamp sets and I have not been able to play with them yet!!! The scarecrow is calling my name saying, "Rhonda, Rhonda, Rhonda, Stamp with me please!!!" Okay off to fold clothes and clean off my stamping table so I can STAMP!!!

Here are a couple of the cards I made at KC Regional Seminar

These are just a couple of the cards I made at SU KC Regional Seminar last weekend.






The first card uses the Scandanvian Christmas Set that I actually purchased but haven't played with yet. I like it because it is unique and I have a vision of the tree being embossed in gold!!!

I am not too crazy about this card but it was fun water coloring. I did learn that you can use SU craft ink pads for water coloring. The old olive is craft ink. It is very rich and much more intense color than the other colors we used which were classic ink. We used a watercolor pen. It was easier than I thought but I think I still prefer the blender pens.

The flower card is my favorite!! The "flower" is made by stamping a snowflake stamp with versamark and then punching 6 holes at the edge of each point on the snowflake and 6 more points around the center of the snowflake. We used the snowflake from the Best Wishes & More. If I get a chance later in the week I will show the before & after-I don't want to call it a tutorial because that sounds like work!! LOL!!

Here are some more lovely cards I rec'd as swaps at the SU Regional Convention. The Christmas card on the left was made by Gina from Puducah, KY. She used the Organic Outlines stamp set. See, you don't have to purchase a "Christmas" set to make a Christmas card.









Don't you just love these yummy cupcakes? These cupcakes were made by Jessica. Cupcakes are all the rage in stamping right now. I love the colors in this card and the sparkle of Dazzling Diamonds on the frosting. The cardstock colors are real red, lovely lilac, apricot appeal.











The Sewing Machine card was made by Gloria, my upline. I just love this set and am only waiting for it to go on sale in December!!! I love the vintage images and the puns!!!!













This card was made by Vickie. I just love the fresh cuts set and the spiral punch. The scallop is actually 2 scallops layered together. The top always artichoke scallop has each scallop punched and then a so saffron is layered behind it. It makes for a great embellishment. This card actually has 9 layers!!!!! I like also like the way the always artichoke or spiral punched layer goes just halfway behind the stamped image. Makes the card interesting and not so perfectly symmetrical.

The great advantage of receiving swaps is copying parts of a card. It might be the layout, it might be a technique or a color combination. Or you might just CASE the entire card!!!