Christmas Pouch

Merry Christmas! I CASEd this idea from the Holiday Mini Catalog that is going LIVE tomorrow! I am in LOVE with so many of the new products in this catalog, and many are used in this project. This is a Christmas "pouch" which you can fill with goodies of any kind.

I began with a half sheet of the *new* Deck the Halls Designer Paper. It is cut into two triangles, so will make two pouches. Then I decorated the two shorter edges using a Scallop Border punch in Cherry Cobbler, the *new* Silver Tinsel Trim, *new* Waffle Paper in silver and gold.

You will love the Waffle Paper! It's so versatile and fun to work with. It feels so good in your hands and has a bit of wiry-ness to it--if that's a word!

Also used in this project: *New* stamp set, Bright Christmas, *new* Very Vanilla 1/2" Seam Binding (also comes in Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke) and *new* Glass Glitter in Silver or Champagne, *new* Big Designer Buttons. The Antique brad that is inside the big button at the bottom is from the 2011/2012 Idea Book and Catalog.

Tomorrow you will be able to order from the Holiday Mini Catalog. Be first to have these fun and beautiful items for your Holiday projects! All customers who order from me online tomorrow, September 1st, will receive a *special* hand made item from me! (USA ONLY)

Organizational Help

Short post today about organization. I read about this idea somewhere in cyberspace some time ago. I finally collected enough Crystal Lite (Peach Iced Tea is my fav!) containers to put together my very own Stampin' Write Marker container. The markers lay flat, as they should to keep the ink ready to go at either end. I separated them by color family and there is enough room to grow my collection when new colors are added. First I used dimensionals to stick them together in the middle. I tied them with a lovely SU striped grosgrain ribbon. Easy. Recyclable! Fits nicely on my desk and looks colorful.

What is your favorite way to organize you creative space? Please leave it in your comments--I'd love to hear what it is and so would my readers!

Thanks for looking. Have a great weekend. And, remember if you need any Stampin' Up! supplies, please use my website.

PPA57 Sketch Challenge

This week's challenge is a sketch by Margaret Moody. She is fantastic at putting together our sketches! Take this any direction you wish, using any products you like. I can't wait to see what our followers come up with! Play with us at Pals Paper Arts!

I used the plaid from the Designer Series paper Pawsitively Prints II because it reminded me of school uniforms, and school is about to begin for many within the next week, if it hasn't already. Back in my day, we always had plaid skirts and I've seen a lot of plaid lately in the stores for their Back-To-School sales.

I hope you enjoy looking, thanks for stopping by and please do leave your comments--I love to read them all!

Card Basics:
Card Stock: Sahara Sand (base), Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Designer Paper: Pawsitively Prints II
Stamps: Sentiment: Fundamental Phrases, Fast & Fun Notes
Ink: Poppy Parade (on Whisper White), Real Red (on So Saffron)
Extras: Build-A-Brad, Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon

For all of your Stampin' Up! needs, please use my Website to order.

Sneak Preview and Mojo 153

So I'm a little late with the MOJO this week! Oh, but I had fun coming up with this card. I started with a basic idea in my head of butterflies instead of squares and then turned to the Color Coach again for my colors. The colors I saw were Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango.
I added the Pear Pizzazz all by me onesie!

If you will notice, this week's sketch is designed by my talented (and quite famous) upline and friend, Mary Fish from Stampin' Pretty. I hope you will check out her blog and see her creations. She really has a defined style and I love learning from her.

Here are the details of my card:
Card Stock: Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Perfect Punches, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Concord Crush
Punches: Scallop Square and Word Window
Fun Tools: Big Shot, Textured Impressions Vintage Wallpaper, Embosslits Beautiful Wings, Bigz Beautiful Butterflies, 1/8" Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

For your very own Stampin' Up! supplies, please use my Website to order.

Here is a sneak preview of my card for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. Tune in tomorrow to see how YOU can join us and have your project uploaded for a chance to be one of the Featured Picks of the week! We always have a good time at PPA and we hope you will play along.

Our Design Team is very diverse in style and we all use mostly Stampin' Up! products, since we are all demonstrators, but we always welcome you to use any products you wish to create your entries. Once a month we offer Blog Candy just for fun, too. Just upload your project photo with a link to your blog or online gallery.

Punch It!

I love creating with inspiration, but I also love to create freely without any idea of what I'm going to end up with! This is the case today. I took the Stampin' Up! stamp set Punch Potpourri and used my Color Coach to come up with a color scheme. The rest was dreamed up freely from my own imagination. I hope you like it and thank you for looking!

Card Basics:
Card Stock: Regal Rose, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Punch Potpourri
Ink: Regal Rose, So Saffron, Soft Suede
Punches: Boho Blossoms, Butterfly XL and Full Heart (I cut the bird out using paper snips)
Extras: Matt Pack and Paper Piercer, Soft Suede Dotted Swiss ribbon, Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scor-Pal (non-SU), button leftover from new clothing.

(All Supplies Stampin' Up! except where noted)

If you are in need of any Stampin' Up! supplies, please use my Website to order.

PPA56 Simplified

Are you challenged by this week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge? (PPA56)

Here's a great tip and an opportunity to narrow the scope of this week's inspiration challenge. Simply focus on the bird or flower in the photo above (snipped from the larger version) for your inspiration.

Play with the colors. Find a bird stamp. Grab a punch and create a flower. Anything goes and there is still plenty of time to participate. It's that easy!

Click here to read the original challenge post and upload your card. Look for the blue "add your link" button at the bottom of the post.

Remember, you may choose to do only one project, or go ahead and run with the night AND day theme! It's your choice!

We hope you will design along with us at Pals Paper Arts Challenge!

Sunny Garden Weekend

Good Friday to you! I hope you have something fun in store for your weekend. What are your plans? For me it's a bit of work and a lot of fun! I have a lot of gardening to do and a birthday celebration for our son who is turning 24! Speaking of gardening....

• This is Stampin Up's Sunny Garden designer series paper and the colors in it go with the card stock I chose: Poppy Parade, So Saffron and Peach Parfait.

• I used the Cute by the Inch stamp set for my sentiment, also stamped in Poppy Parade. It looks so crisp and clean cut out in a square with my paper trimmer.

• I used the set Eastern Blooms one of my FAVorites for the popped up flower.

• I curled the edges (using my bone folder) of the cut out bloom just a bit for a more 3-D effect, then popped it up using Stampin' Dimensionals.

• On the side I used three colors of the Flower Brads and the middle of the large bloom also got a brad in a coordinating color.

If you need these or any other Stampin' Up! supplies, I'd love to be your go-to demonstrator. Just use my Website. It's quick and easy and you can order 24/7!

Pals Paper Arts New Blog Design Launch!

It is SOOOOO exciting to be a part of this makeover on the Pals Paper Arts Blog! Play along! The above photo is the inspiration for our re-design launch today. There is so much in this photo that I really had to stare at it quite awhile before I zeroed in on the white on white and plum sparkly flowers below the candle just right of center.

• I began my card with Whisper White card stock. The first layer is the Square Lattice embossing folder. I added some shimmer to this with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spray.
• Next I layered on a border using Perfect Plum punched out with the Eyelet Border punch. Pearls dot this border for some classy sheen.
• I punched out some flowers very easily from Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper with the Birds & Blooms Sizzlits and my Big Shot. I added shimmer to those with the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spray as well. The center of each layered flower was graced with another pearl from the Pearl Basics collection. They are popped up with more Stampin' Dimensionals.

(All supplies Stampin' Up!) For your Stampin' Up! supplies, please use my website to order.

We hope you will check out the Pals Paper Arts Blog and see how we have transformed our look. You can meet our new Design Team members and learn more about all of the DT members in the coming months with our new profile articles.

Most of all, we hope you enjoy what we have to share with you and that you will be inspired to play along and create each week. It's relaxing, therapeutic AND your creations can bless someone else's life when you give them away!

Sneak Preview~

In case you haven't heard yet, Pals Paper Arts Challenge has a re-designed blog! Tune in tomorrow morning to see what we have done to make our challenges a bit more fun! Above see the preview of my card for tomorrow's challenge and a sneak peek at the new logo. There is much more, so tune in first thing tomorrow, August 19th!

Itty Bitty Beauty

The August issue of Stampin' Success, which is a Stampin' Up! publication just for demonstrators, had a card similar to the one above. I used it for inspiration in creating my card. Using the Itty Bitty Bits shapes and Itty Bitty Shapes punches makes this card a snap to create. It's final size is too big for the 3-1/8" x 3-1/8" mini envelopes, but this card would make a beautiful tie on for a gift bag, and the card would jazz up the bag in a big way!

Card Supplies:

Card Stock: Textured Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Whisper White

Stamps: Itty Bitty Bits

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze

Extras: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

For your Stampin' Up! supplies, please use my website to order. If you have any questions, please email me and I will be glad to answer them.

Only two more days until we unveil the *NEW LOOK* at the Pals Paper Arts! It is so exciting, you won't want to miss it! The badge below is just a sneak peek~

MOJO 152

I really was "inspired" today, but came a long way from where I began this card! It looks something like the sketch??? Check out Mojo Monday.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock: Vellum Card Stock, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Poppy Parade

Stamps: Because I Care (hostess)

Ink: Poppy Parade and Jet Black Staz On

Extras: Matt Pack foam pad and Stylus, Boho Blossoms, Eyelet Border, 1/2" punches, 1/2" So Saffron Striped and 1/8" Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbons, Stampin' Dimensionals

To get the effect with the flower in the middle, I stamped the image onto Vellum Cardstock with Staz On ink. I let it dry and then turned the vellum to the back side on top of my foam piece from the Matt Pack and used the stylus tool (larger end) to press into the vellum in random areas. It leaves it white and bumpy on the front side for some texture and depth. Plus I don't have to water color the image! Yeah! I learned this technique from Dawn Olchefske over at DOstamping.

If you are in need of any supplies to complete your cards, please use my website to order.

Exciting News!!

What do all these have in common: Celebrity Color Challenges, a Fashion Twist and one of the classiest new blog designs around?

Stay tuned for the launch of the Pals Paper Arts makeover and new personality on Thursday, August 19th!!

SWEET Treat

Here is the project I spoke of earlier in the week in THIS post.

Isn't it COOL?? It was so fun to make with my stamping friends last Friday night. You can fill this treat holder with those cool ice cream candies that Baskin-Robbins has, or just pop a gift card for ice cream inside and you've got an instant package for a party. How about one of these at each place-setting with little trinkets inside? All ages will enjoy whatever you pack inside. It is sized slightly larger than a real ice cream cone!

I got the idea from Andrea Walford and purchased her tutorial instructions.

• The cone/ice cream is cut from two pieces of Pretty in Pink card stock and then put together with sticky strip.
• The dollop of ice cream is "dipped" in Versa Mark, then coated with Dazzling Diamonds and heat set with a heat gun.
• The cone sides in So Saffron are cut in triangles, run through the Big Shot with a texture plate and then sponged with Soft Suede to help the texture show up. Stick them on with Sticky Tape.
• The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny wishes dipped in Chocolate Chip and decorated with brads, then popped up onto the cold creation with Stampin' Dimensionals. YUM!

Here is another look at one of the upcoming changes to our Pals Paper Arts Blog! Beginning next Thursday, August 19th we will be introducing a chic new makeover (banner, badges and more!) that will offer a whole new twist on paper crafting challenges! Stay tuned!

Please let me know if you have any questions and I'd love to read your comments!

PPA55- Colors and a New Look Preview...

Exciting times are ahead Pals Paper Arts followers! The PPA Design Team is changing their "style!" Here is a sneak peak at our new logo....

Okay, back to today's challenge--COLOR~~

Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight!

• I began my card with a Melon Mambo base cut lengthwise from an 8.5 x 11" piece of card stock into 4.25 x 11". This is just to be a little different than usually.

• I layered two pieces of Patterns Designer Series Paper in Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil Delight, matting the TT with card stock.

• For a big WOW, I cut a 2 3/8" Scallop Circle XL from Melon Mambo and attached a 3/4" x 12" strip of Daffodil Delight Patterns DSP that I fanned by scoring every 1/4" then folding.

• I attached it to the Scallop circle using Sticky Strip. In the middle I used a 1/2" circle of Daffodil Delight and studded that with three different-sized turquoise Rhinestone Brads from the Circle Ice collection.

• For the sentiment, I used Teeny Tiny Wishes dipped in Tempting Turquoise ink that I then cut into a teeny tiny banner!

Such a fun card and such a summery color combination. I hope you will play along. And don't forget that this week when you enter your creation, you will be eligible to win the BLOG CANDY by directly linking your creation to your online gallery or blog. Good luck!

PPA Sneak Peek

Here is the sneak peek at tomorrow's Pals Paper Arts challenge. And... PSSSSSTTT!!! There is a special announcement tomorrow regarding the future of our Design Team and our blog. Stay tuned, exciting things are happening!

Perfect Ruffled Punches

I had fun playing with Playdate Designer Series Paper!! It has such happy colors and the summery weather is finally here for the playing! I like all of these colors together: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Real Red. Add in the fun and matching Designer Buttons that Stampin' Up! has and you have a hit in the easiest way. I used a bit of Old Olive Satin ribbon, which I "gathered" by placing it onto the very Sticky Strip, making this decoration a snap!

My stamp is from the Perfect Punches set and lets the recipient know I am thinking of them.

If you need supplies for your creations, please use my website any time!

MOJO151 Sketch

Simply Mojo! What are you waiting for? Join in by uploading your creation based on the above sketch. It stretches your creativity and creates something for you to give to someone else :-)

Supplies:

Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray

Designer Series Paper: Lap of Luxury

Stamps: Because I Care

Ink: Perfect Plum

Extras: Designer button, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

Sweet Scoops!

Two of my best stampin' buddies came over last night and we CASEd this card from Dawn Olchefski. Her tutorial is fantastic and we had such fun making this card. On the same theme, stay tuned this week to see my other "cool" creation!

Supplies:

Card Stock: Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Soft Suede and a snippet of (retired) Blush Blossom

Stamps: Sweet Scoops

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Extras: Organdy Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch, Word Window Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Two-Way Glue Pen, Versa Mark, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat Gun, Scoring Tool

If you are in the Orange County, California area, maybe you will join me for my next get-together. Just email me to see when my next class is.

For your very own Stampin' Up! Supplies, please use my Website--it's easy!