A Month To Celebrate Some Graduates and a Special Dad

First... I've been 'absent' for a bit as I dealt with some personal things.  One thing after another kept slapping me in the face.  Fortunately, I believe it's all mostly behind me and I'm happy to say... that's a REALLY great thing.  God is good.

Now on to catching up on some things I've been working on.  First up.... Father's Day.  Not too long ago, I stumbled upon a really cute tutorial on how to make a shirt & tie out of a dollar bill.  I always loved Origami as a child. So, I did a test run, showed it to my son and thought it would a great way to give his dad his Father's Day card/gift.  That was over 2 months ago.  Plenty of time to plan it all out.  Being the procrastinator I am, when did I start making it?  An HOUR before his dad arrived to pick him up yesterday.  I was in slight panic mode.  But I did it & even had a time to take pictures.  But they're not the greatest because I was in a rush!  Oh I'll never learn.  Anyway.... if you're interested in watching the video tutorial, here's a link ... shirt & tie dollar bill tutorial.  I'll warn you, though... it's a little tricky in spots.  I had to start, stop & rewind a lot to figure out a few of the steps.   And this one that is pictured isn't my best (I goofed up on the left side & didn't have time to re-do it)... funny how the test one I made with a dollar bill turned out better than the crisp clean fifty dollar bill for the present.  :oP

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Delightful Dozen;  

Cardstock: Whisper White, Marina Mist;  

Patterned Paper:  Fifty Dollar Bill (US Federal Reserve, Dept of the Treasury) :0) , Polka Dot Parade DSP;  

Inks: Early Espresso;   

Sizzix Dies:  Apothecary Accents Framelit;
Sizzix Embossing Folders:  Chevron; 

  Ribbon: Linen Thread;   

Other: Big Shot, Pop Dots (Recollections), Scotch ATG.

Also this month, I was lucky enough to get to celebrate some High School Graduations.  My niece (who is also my god-daughter) graduated from the same HS my siblings & I did.  Of course, there was a party.  And of course I needed to bring a dessert.  And of course I needed to make it special.  I saw these cute little graduation cap cupcakes on the Share Dessert Company site a few weeks before the party and wanted to make them.  They're made from an upside down Ghirardelli chocolate square on top of an upside down Reese cup with a tassel made from Rips (had never heard of these before but stumbled upon them miraculously) secured with a miniature M&M.  Her school colors are black, green & gold.  Fortunately for me, I found the Rips in green.  (I think they only make them in green & red so I lucked out.)  I also rolled up a small piece of parchment paper & secured them with embroidery floss for the diploma.  They were a big hit....

For the graduation gift, I rolled up a check and tucked it inside of a graduation cap box I made using the Matchbox die.  Sadly, the Matchbox die is now retired {moment of silence, please}.  Sigh.   And with this post, I profusely apologize to whomever it is I saw do this.  I cannot for the life of me find the person who inspired me to make this.  I'm a stickler for giving credit where it's due... but I can't find it anywhere.  If I find it, I'll come back and link.  And, I also apologize for these photos, they're very bad... I had the wrong setting on my camera and didn't realize it until after I downloaded the photos (which was several days after I imparted the gift upon said niece).  I repeat... sigh.  (Can you tell it's been a flustered month?)  Anyway... you get the gist, I'm sure...

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Basic Black;

Sizzix Dies:  Matchbox (retired);

  Ribbon: embroidery thread (DMC);
     Embellishments: Basic Black Brad;

Other: Big Shot, Scotch ATG.

There were also 10 of the neighborhood kids who graduated this year (this is our largest group yet); the neighborhood will be a bit quieter in the Fall.  Sniffle.  So, I made up a few cards & the graduation cap boxes for those who we celebrated with.  The school colors are blue & white.  I added a bit of silver in there as well to make it a bit more festive.

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Sets: Delightful Dozens; 
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver (DCWV);

Sizzix Dies:  Apothecary Accents Framelit, Matchbox (retired);
Sizzix Embossing Folders:  Perfect Polka Dots, Finial Press (retired);

  Ribbon: embroidery thread (DMC), blue & white polka dot (unknown);
     Embellishments: Basic Black Brad;

Other: Big Shot, Pop Dots (Recollections), Scotch ATG.

So, that wraps up the gift giving for the month of June!   Hope you'll be celebrating some special Dads in your lives tomorrow.  In honor of my Dad, here's a photo of him with all us kids in ~1967/68.  I'm the one sitting on his lap.  We all miss him dearly.  I so wish my son had met my parents; they were amazing role models.  If I could be a quarter of the parents they were, I'd consider myself a success.  I'm still working on it.  :0)

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen

Mocha Morning

I'm finally diving into my Mocha Morning DSP (better late than never!).  I wanted to keep this one very simple & clean.

I used some Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (I'm really into using this lately) to accent the edges of the Early Espresso cardstock.  I also layered it on the small strip of striped DSP on the bottom to give it some sparkle.  Just a very simple, quick card.

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Delightful Dozen;  

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso;  Patterned Paper:  Mocha Morning DSP;  

Inks: Versamark, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint;   

Punches: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers); 

  Ribbon: Soft Suede Taffeta;  Embellishments:  Antique Brad;  

Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Daubers, Scotch ATG.

Here's a close-up to show the shimmer paint effect...

I'm off to find something else to use shimmer paint on!  :)

Thanks for stopping by...

Colleen

Ode to Blushing Bride

With the impending retirement of SU! 2010-2012 In Colors, I'm feeling that sense of panic to squeeze in some craftiness with those colors headed out to the pasture.  I'm also feeling guilty because I actually rarely used any of these colors.  Ever.  I'll continue to use them here & there but not prominently.  So anyway....

I made a few cards using Blushing Bride.  I love pink but I rarely use it.  I tend to be more effective with earth tones, greens, blues, browns, oranges, etc.  For some reason, I'm just not as good with pastel even though I love them.  So I forced myself to do something decent with Blushing Bride...

Yea... so, I realize that Blushing Bride is not particularly prominent in this first one but bear with me.  I had to ease into it, LOL!  I used some Twitterpated DSP, made a little tag, embossed a flower in white on Blushing Bride and added a sentiment.  Voila. 

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Mixed Bunch, Delightful Dozen;  

Cardstock: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Island Indigo;

Patterned Paper:  Twitterpated DSP;  Inks: Whisper White, Island Indigo;   

Punches: Blossom, ⅜ Circle, Crop-A-Dile (We R Memory Keepers); 

  Ribbon: White Baker's Twine;  Embellishments:  Basic Pearls;  

Other: Sponge Daubers, White Embossing Powder, Pop Dots (American Crafts), Scotch ATG.

In the center of the flower, I randomly added different sizes of the basic pearls.  It gives a little dimension to the flower...

Next up is more like it, eh?  Blushing Bride overload.  :)

I doubled up the Blossom Punch on this one.  Again, I embossed the flower in white on Blushing Bride and added some pearls.  I used a variety of Blushing Bride DSP for the pennants and layered them with pop dots to give them some dimension.

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Mixed Bunch;  Cardstock: Whisper White, Blushing Bride;

Patterned Paper:  Blushing Bride DSP Stack;  Inks: Whisper White, Frost White Shimmer Paint;   

Punches: Blossom, Scallop Edge Border;  Embellishments:  Basic Pearls;  

Other: Sponge Daubers, Pop Dots (American Crafts), Scotch ATG.

What I did a bit different on this card to give it a little "wow" is I used the Frost White Shimmer Paint on the DSP pennants and on the edges of the bottom flower.  I REALLY love this effect... it gives it such a pretty sheen.  You can get an idea from this picture how it sparkles a bit in the light...

Ah... makes me smile.  My Ode to Blushing Bride.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen

Sweet Friend - Color Challenge (CCMC197)

I made this card this morning for this week's color challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary.  I'm very drawn to greens, purples & blues so I had to jump in with this color combo... Certainly Celery, Marina Mist and Concord Crush.

I've not done very much with the soon-to-be-retiring 2010-2012 In Colors so I was glad this one included one of the retirees in it... Concord Crush.  I have very little in that color which I think actually made it easier to incorporate it.  And... look at that it's the dominant color.  :)  It's a little hard to see in the photo but I tucked 2 tiny scalloped borders below the Concord Crush scallop to tie in the Certainly Celery & Marina Mist buttons. 

Sometimes I have the hardest time coming up with which phrase to put on the front of a card.  But then it hit me to give this card to a friend at work who innocently came into my office to fill me in on all the details of her fun vacation and our conversation morphed (as it always does) into all different topics.  And I wound up unloading details of a really difficult time I'm having with something in my life that has me very frightened and lost.  I wound up sobbing and she was there to listen, offer encouragement and just simply be my sweet friend.  So, the phrase on the front was easy to choose this time. 

Thanks, Connie & Mary, for another fun one!   And my Concord Crush thanks you, too.

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Four Frames, Fabulous Phrases;  

Cardstock: Whisper White, Concord Crush, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist;

Patterned Paper:  Concord Crush DSP Stack;  Inks: Certainly Celery, Marina Mist;   

Punches: Decorative Label, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border;  

  Ribbon: White Baker's Twine;  Sizzix:  Tasteful Trim Die;  

Embellishments:  Subtles Designer Buttons;  

Other: Pop Dots (American Crafts), Glue Dots, Scotch ATG.

Thanks for stopping by!  

Colleen

Bird on a Branch

This is pretty much a lift from a card on the cover of the current SU! Catalog.  Now that this catalog is nearing it's end, I feel anxious to (finally!) get some of my favorites made before the new catalog is unveiled.  (You should see the list of my favorites that I want to make.. yikes!).

Anyway... he's a cute little fella and he was fun to make.  Hopefully, the card buffet girls will like him, too!

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Best of Everything; Cardstock: Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede;

Inks: Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Old Ollive;  

Punches: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Itty Bitty Shapes;  Ribbon: Hemp Twine;  

Sizzix:  Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder;  

Embellishments:  Brights Brads;  

Other: Pop Dots (Recollections), Scotch ATG.

A close-up...

I used the Soft Suede & Old Olive markers to color the tree branch & leaves.  I like the uneven look that I got with the leaves by using the markers.  I crumpled up the flowers a bit before I layered them to give them a little more dimension.  I made a  of these using different colors for the centers of the flowers.. green, blue, yellow, etc would all look good.  The final size of this card is 4¼ x 4¼. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen

Cheers (way to go) - Color Challenge (CCMC195)

I've been a long-time admirer of Mary Brown's work and have contemplated off & on to join in on the challenges she & Connie Babbert post each week.  No time like the present, eh?

This week was a color challenge (CCMC195)... Poppy Parade, So Saffron & Basic Gray.  The samples were inspiring so I decided to dive right in. Ta da!

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Delightful Dozen; Cardstock: Basic Gray, So Saffron;

Patterned Paper:  Poppy Parade DSP Stack;

Inks: Basic Gray;  Punches: Scallop Trim;  

  Ribbon: Basic Gray Satin, White Baker's Twine;  

Sizzix:  Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder;  

Embellishments:  Everyday Enchantment Brads;  

Other: Pop Dots (American Crafts), Scotch ATG.

  

I likely would have never paired these colors so I'm glad I did it. Hopefully I'll find the time to keep doing some of these challenges.  

Thanks for taking a peek!

Colleen

Double Embossing

A few weeks ago, I saw this post/turorial by Angie Leach regarding double embossing and loved the look.  I had tinkered a bit with double embossing about a year ago and it worked okay.  But I think that the Designer Frame Embossing Folders that SU! released since I last tried this has really made the difference for me.  They help to finish off the look. 

So here we have the card I made using this technique.  I'll admit that I tinkered a lot with the sandwiches and finally found one that worked for me (each Big Shot is different so you have to adjust where needed).  For the oval frame, I semi-permanently (how's that for a contradiction) attached the chipboard template since I know I'll be using this technique a bit.  And because of that, I wound up ordering a 2nd set of the embossing folders to use as you would normally.  That way, I don't have to waste time finding the template, adhering it, removing it, etc. every time I want to use it.

Additionally, I wrote notes directly on my chipboard templates so it's easy for me to reference exactly the sandwiches I used for each one.  That'll be a big time saver for me when I reach for it to use them.

This card uses my two current favorite embossing folders... Vintage Wallpaper & Oval Designer Frame.  The combination of the two of them makes me quite happy.

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes; 
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White;

Inks: Wild Wasabi;  Punches: Itty Bitty Shapes;  

Sizzix Dies:  Floral Fusion Sizzlet, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Beautiful Wings Embosslit;
Sizzix Embossing Folders:  Vintage Wallpaper, Oval Designer Frame;

Embellishments: Bitty Buttons; 
Other: Big Shot, Pop Dots (Recollections), Scotch ATG.

And since I had all the other butterflies after running the Butterfly Wings Embosslit through the Big Shot, I figured I'd add a few to the inside of the card....

The possibilities are endless with this double embossing; I tried it out with several other colors and it's oh so pretty!  So be prepared to see a bunch of variations on this. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen

Easter Cards

I'm normally not someone who uses cutesy animals-dressed-in-clothes kind of stamps.  But I'm thinking everything aligned in order for me to not be able to resist the Everybunny Stamp Set when I saw this card by Melissa Davies.  It was just too adorable.  So, I made two versions... a boy & a girl.  It also helped that I needed a few Easter cards and the recipients would enjoy cutesy animals-dressed-in-clothes kind of images, too.

I used my trusty blender pen with my ink pads to color the images.  I love the blender pens so much that I have this fear of losing them.  So I did the only logical thing... I order another set of 3.  Because that's easier that training myself not to lose things.  :)  Oh... and I also added one of the smaller images from this stamp set to the inside of the card.  I've been on a kick lately to dress up the insides, especially when I don't add a sentiment inside.

Products used (everything is from SU! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp sets: Everybunny, Delightful Dozen; Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party;

Patterned Paper:  Domestic Goddess DSP;

Inks: Basic Gray, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery;
Punches: 1/8" Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers);  

Sizzix Dies:  Scallop Square Duo; 

Ribbon: Pool Party Seam Binding; 
Other: Big Shot, Blender Pen, Pop Dots (American Crafts), Scotch ATG.

 

 This is a close-up of the stamp on the inside of the card. 

Now all I have to do is get my act together to get these Easter cards mailed out!

Hope you enjoy these... thanks for stopping by.

Colleen


(**Edited to add that I just noticed a goofed up ribbon on the boy card.  sigh.  Wish I had noticed that when I was taking the pictures.  oy.**)