Meet Mr. Jack-O-Lantern

Hi All,

This is the second Halloween project that I wanted to share with you.  I got these fabulous new dies and I have so enjoyed playing with them this weekend.  You can use them to create pumpkins (which I will show you later this week) or you can make these adorable Jack-O-Lanterns.

I had seen these cute Jack-O-Lanterns that paired an orange print with black polka dots.  I loved the look so I pulled out some vintage SU! papers: Pumpkin Pie Patterns DSP & Night & Day DSP. The stem was made with Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon. They all work so perfectly together!

These dies are made by PTI and I just love them.  The Pumpkin Die Collection creates the base for the pumpkin.  You can also use this to create a card base that the pumpkin base fits on so you can stand it vertically.  The Pumpkin Sections Die cuts out the individual pumpkin sections, the face and a stem.  So clever!

These fit into a regular size envelope or you can use them for place settings, parties, etc.  Not to mention, you could replicate them with many different prints.  These were one of those things I saw on Pinterest and just had.to.have.  Hope you like them too!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Tiny Tags
Paper: Pumpkin Pie & Whisper White Cardstock; Pumpkin Pie Patterns DSP and Night & Day DSP
Ink: Basic Black & Pumpkin Pie Classic Pads
Accessories: Pumpkin Die Collection, Pumpkin Sections Die, Jewelry Tag Punch, Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread and Mini Glue Dots

A Merry Little Penguin

Hi All,

Happy Saturday!  We are lucky enough to have another beautiful day in Arizona.  I'll take the 70s in December any year.  We are dropping down into the 60s next week, so maybe winter is finally gonna settle in.

The card I have for you today is a shameless CASE from Kimberly Van Diepen over at Stampin' by the Sea.  I saw this card and Had.To.Have this stamp set!  I fell in love with this adorable little penguin. Is he not the cutest thing you've ever seen???  Well, this set also has an adorable deer (that was on my last card) and a sweet little snowman, both of which are just as cute.  These critters were the star of the show the other night.

My cards are definitely not usually this colorful, frilly or spritzed, but I LOVE what she did with all of these elements.  Your eye is immediately drawn to these fabulous colors: Rich Razzleberry,  Lucky Limeade and a pop of Melon Mambo.  That fun Lucky Limeade print is from the Summer Smooches DSP (Item 125409). Check it out, it is full of other fun colorful prints!

This card also has plenty of heat embossing.  The sentiment, our cute little penguin and the tiny tag are all embossed in black.  I think it really helped them pop against everything else that's going on.  Any time you're embossing, be sure to have the Embossing Buddy (Item 103083) on hand.  If you're wondering whether it's really worth it to have, it is!  Just rub it on your paper prior to stamping and it removes any static that's there.  This keeps the powder from sticking to the places you don't want it to.

I had looked through the catalog dozens of times and had never looked twice at this stamp set.  It's amazing how seeing it used one way, can totally open your eyes.  So glad I got it...as it has easily become one of my favorites!  It would also be great for tags.  So versatile!  If you're like me and can't wait to add this to your collection, it is (Item 126290 in Wood & Item 126292 in Clear).  You can order it by popping me an email or clicking the Order Online button in the top right corner.  Hope you enjoyed this card as much as I did.  TFL!

Stamps: No Peeking, All Holidays & Tiny Tags
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla cardstock; Summer Smooches and First Edition DSP
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Color Spritzer Tool, Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Marker, Distressing Tool,  Decorative Label Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Circle and Scallop Circle Nesties, Vintage Trinkets, Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon, Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon, Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Pop Dots/Dimensionals and Glue Dots

PP74: A Vintage Snowman

Hi All! It's so good to be back. I took off last week to prepare for a workshop and I sure missed hangin' out with y'all. But, you were in good hands. Rita filled in for me and did a fabulous job. Thanks so much Rita!! The break must have done me some good, because my card this week came together pretty easily. It sure helps that Lesley put together a sweet little sketch for us to play with.

When I saw the oval shape, I immediately thought snowman. There are some really pretty prints in the Deck the Halls DSP that I thought would work perfectly on this sketch as well. I settled on a really pretty blue design and that was the inspiration for my card.

I went with a vintage-y look for my design...which is something I don't often do. I love the softened look that the sponging does for the edges and it works so well with this stamp set. I added a bit of snowflake embossing on the background and some Jingle Bells to my sentiment. Isn't he just adorable?

What do you think? Are you inspired by the sketch? If so, be sure to hop on over to the Paper Players Blog and upload your project. While you're there, check out all the other fabulous cards the Players have put together for you. I see that the Tiny Tags were popular this week ;) Thanks so much for stopping by!

Paper Players Design Team
Ann Schach
Ann Marie Hile
Jaydee
LeAnne Pugliese
Lesley Croghan
Nance Leedy
Susan Joyce (November Guest Designer)
Tara Bilbao

Stamps: Jolly Old Saint Nick, Tiny Tags & Season of Friendship
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake and Whisper White; Deck the Halls DSP
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake & Basic Black Classic Pads
Accessories: Jingle Bells, Scallop Edge Border Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Blue Brads, Linen Thread, Sponges and Dimensionals/Pop Dots

PP64: thanks {so much}

The challenge this week at The Paper Players is to use a Plant or an Animal in a Clean & Simple Design. Plant...easy, Animal...not so much. Yes, I took the easy way out--no judging! (And, shhhhh, I think I missed the 'Clean & Simple' part when I checked out our next challenge ;)


Living here in Arizona, we still have quite a bit of heat, so I haven't quite made the switch to fall and darker colors yet. As you can tell by this card...I'm still using plenty of color.


The first new In Color I bought was Calypso Coral. Quite a few of my girls were heart broken when SU! retired Cameo Coral, so I wanted to show them that we have a fabulous new alternative. Calypso Coral is just a tad bit darker than Cameo Coral...and can you believe that it pairs so well with Baja Breeze. Would have never guessed it! I found this combo in no other place than my Color Coach.

I also got to pair up two fun accessories new to my collection: Crochet Trim & the Tiny Safety Pins. The Crochet Trim adds just the perfect touch of femininity and the Tiny Pins are great for attaching these Tiny Tags. I love how it all came together.

Need some more inspiration? Be sure to hop on over to The Paper Players blog to see what the other girls have cooked up for you...or better yet, to upload your very own project. We'd love to see it! Thanks for stopping by.

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Ann Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Tara Bilbao

Sandie Conner (September GD)

Stamps: Field Flowers & Tiny Tags
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze & Very Vanilla Cardstock; First Edition & Walk in the Park DSP
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz & Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Accessories: Crochet Trim, Vintage Trinkets, Jewelry Tag Medium Punch, Curly Label Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Brown Brads and Dimensionals/Pop Dots

Queen for a Day

Well, who doesn't want to be a Queen for a Day??? Admit it, there's a bit of princess in each of us. I thought that sentiment was perfect for the card I have for you today. As soon as I saw this on the cover of the 2011-2012 Catalog, I knew I had to make it. My favorite part....that fabulous frame that is the focal image of the card.


It is one of the new Designer Frames embossing folders that SU has introduced. This oval also comes with a rectangular frame. I have seen them used so many different ways and I will definitely be sharing them with you.

I must admit that this DSP also steals a bit of the show. Yep, I pulled out the Mocha Morning again for this card. Between all the fussy tearing, ribbon and feminine details, I do believe this card is fit for a Queen! Hope you like it.

Stamps: You're a Gem, Tiny Tags & Elements of Style
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso & Very Vanilla Cardstock; Mocha Morning DSP
Ink: Early Espresso & Regal Rose Classic Pads
Accessories: Designer Frames Embossing Folders, Antique Brads, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch and Crumb Cake Seam Binding

My Sew Pretty Butterflies

It finally happened, I got together with my sweet friend Nicole and we broke out her sewing machine. How fun! I think I could be hooked. I also think I know what I want for my next birthday present (psst...hint to the hubby ;)

I went through all my card samples to gather some ideas, but I settled on a card I saw in the Occasions Mini. That card used various sized hearts that were stitched up the middle. I switched it up and used butterflies. I think they worked perfectly with this DSP.

This was also the first time I used River Rock on a card. Up until now, I considered it a neutral color, but now I see it as a really pretty light green.

Have I inspired you to add some sewing to a project? If I have, I'd love to see it. Be sure to leave me a link. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Tiny Tags
Paper: Always Artichoke, River Rock, and Rose Red Cardstock; Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: Always Artichoke Classic Ink
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Thread, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Buttons, Embroidery Floss, Linen Thread and Small Glue Dots

Monkey 52: I Like it a Latte

There's a new kid on the block: A La Card Monkey. Shirley and Terry just kicked off a new Challenge Blog at the beginning of April and they are off to a great start. You should definitely pop on over to check them out for some inspiration!

I was more than happy to help out when they asked me to be a Guest Designer. It has been quite some time since I've been creative in my craft room, so it was time to get back in the saddle.

The challenge was a coffee or tea card with this sketch. Since I only have one coffee set, it was easy to get started. I had seen a card some time ago by Laurie Schmidlin that used microbeads on the coffee cup. That's what I did here. The cup is stamped in Black Stazon, smeared with 2-Way Glue and dusted with Clear Microbeads. I love the effect that it gives and how it works perfectly with this DSP.

I think this will make the perfect Thank You card and I can't wait to send it. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Like it a Latte (Retired) & Tiny Tags (118091 or 118592)
Paper: Basic Black (121045) & Very Vanilla (101650) Cardstock; Love Letter DSP (117162)
Ink: Jet Black Stazon (101406) & Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Accessories: Jewelry Tag Medium Punch (117190), 2-Way Glue (100425), 5/8" Black Satin Ribbon (117285), Basic Black Brads (119736), Sponges (101610) and Clear Microbeads

Pattern Pieces

My mom will tell you that when I was little, I was a true girly-girl. Skirts and dresses only...for a very long time. I was lucky because she was a sewer and made a lot of my clothes. If I remember correctly, she may have even made some clothes for my Cabbage Patch Doll.

This stamp reminds me of the many patterns she would have laid out ready to cut. I didn't have time to play with colors and cardstock, but I'd like to try and find a combo that looks more true to the color of a pattern. Of course, I should go check one out, they may come in different colors now ;)

There aren't a lot of sentiment stamps that go with the sewing theme, but Tiny Tags has a handcrafted stamp that works perfectly. I tied the ribbon off with some linen thread and then added the two tags with a brad. Love the look!

Stamps: Pattern Pieces & Tiny Tags
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Ink: Rose Red & Chocolate Chip Classic Pads
Accessories: Jewelry Tag Punch-Medium, 1/16" Circle Punch, Linen Thread, 1 1/4" Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Pink Button and Mini Glue Dots

TSSC154: Love, Circa 2007

I took a walk back in time on this card. Do you still have some of this DSP in your stash? It's called Enchante and is one of the first paper packs I ever bought from SU! I also have the Carte Postale set that coordinates with it...but, I didn't break it out for this card ;)

This sketch comes to us from Mary Jo over at Techno Stamper. My inspiration was drawn
from some heart tags I had seen last year. Unfortunately, I saved the picture, but no link. Not sure how that happened, as I ALWAYS save a link to refer back to. Anyways...they had punched a heart, added some pretty patterned paper behind it and blinged it up. I loved the look and wanted to recreate it.

I used some new goodies on this card: Rik Rak and some new Buttons. I have always wanted some Rik Rak and finally got some in a few colors. That super cute Perfect Plum button (my favorite part) comes from the Subtles Designer Buttons. Lots of great colors to choose from with these and you get a ton. A great deal!

Take a walk down memory lane and pull out a stamp set or paper that you haven't used in a while. It reminds me not to hoard...as you never really use anything up completely.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Tiny Tags
Paper: Perfect Plum, Old Olive and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Enchente DSP (Retired)
Ink: Perfect Plum Classic Pad; Old Paper & Peeled Paint Distress Inks
Accessories: Full Heart XL Punch, Small Heart Punch, Hole Punch, Subtles Designer Buttons, Vanilla Rik Rak, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack and Sponges

A Snowflake Resist

I saw this Beautiful card by Lesley at Always Playing with Paper and just had to recreate it.

It uses an Emboss Resist Technique. Sound hard? It truly isn't. It's just a few short steps. First, you stamp and heat emboss your snowflakes. I used Versamark & White Embossing Powder. Secondly, you stamp over your embossed snowflakes. I used the large French Script stamp. Thirdly, once that dries, you sponge around the snowflakes. This gives the card such great dimension.

If you've never tried an Emboss Resist, live on the edge and give it a try...you won't regret it!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Tiny Tags and French Script
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake Classic Pads; Versamark Pad
Accessories: Heating Tool, White Embossing Powder, Snowflake Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Jewelry Tag Med Punch, Scalloped Edge Punch, Sponges, Tan Brad and Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon

Presto Patterns Pizazz

I had a special request for my last workshop: use the Presto Patterns paper and the Smooch Spritz. I combined them both on this card to create the Rose Red Mat.

The cool thing about the Presto Patterns DSP is that it comes to you in white with 6 different designs. You add your own color, so you can make it any color you'd like. I experimented with adding color using the Aqua Painter and the Sponges, but I much prefer using a Brayer. It goes on much more evenly and the color is more uniform.

Once the ink dried, I sprayed it with the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spray. You can't tell in the picture, but it gives the paper this perfect little shimmery look.

I got the color combo off of my old Color Coach: Rose Red, Barely Banana and Certainly Celery. Love how the Certainly Celery adds a little pop of color.

TFL!

Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Tiny Tags & Carte Postale (Retired)
Paper: Barely Banana and Whisper White Cardstock; Presto Patterns DSP
Ink: Rose Red & Basic Black Classic Pads
Accessories: Brayer, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer, Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon, Round Tab Punch, Rhinestone and Stickles

SC258 Vintage Rose

Happy Saturday Everyone! I've been working on this card since Tuesday and I finally finished it up. I had the color scheme and DSP, but couldn't decide on a sketch. When in doubt, go to Splitcoast ;) This is the sketch I decided to go with.

Remember my ramblings about the Very Vintage Wheel and how I'd like to make a card with just that? Well, this is pretty close. I wheeled up the Kraft and decided on a color scheme from there. I pulled out my Sweet Pea DSP pack and saw this blue print. Love it! I haven't really decided what Blue it is yet, but the closest is Bashful Blue (but still not quite right.) Didn't matter on this card though, because I pulled out my Rose Red ribbon and what a pretty combo it is.

See the tiny tag on the ribbon? I had seen these little tags popping up everywhere and once I checked them out, I had to have them. The set is called Tiny Tags and it's in the Occasions Mini. A lot of different options....too cute!

I really like this card...especially the colors. Hope you like it too ;) TFL.

Stamps: Tiny Tags, Vintage Labels & Very Vintage Wheel
Paper: Kraft and Chocolate Chip Cardstock; Sweet Pea DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad
Accessories: Medium Jewelry Tag Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Button, Linen Thread, Jumbo Wheel Handle, Acrylic Blocks and Dimensionals/Pop Dots