MDS Happiness

A friend posted this wonderful quote on Facebook, and I thought what a great little frameable it would make with the right artwork around it.   I started with one of the designer templates that came with My Digital Studio, called Sunny Day.  I tweaked it to create the trees and house by filling punches with different digital DSP, and found the sun in one of the collections of embellishments.

Monday / Friday Challenges

I combined the sketch from Mojo Monday 259 with the color combination from Fab Friday #2 to come up with this card.  I really love how it came out, maybe I should play along with more challenges!  I stuck to the sketch pretty well, but I goofed and used Summer Starfruit instead of So Saffron for the colors.

Stamps: Hello Doily, Curly Cute

Ink:  Basic Gray  Cardstock:  Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit

Embossing Folders:  Flower Garden, Delicate Designs

Tools:  Large Scallop Edgelit, Sizzix Big Shot

Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Antique Brad and Crochet Trim

Techniques:  Sponging, Dry Embossing 

To get the more intense look from the lace embossing folder, I rubbed an inkpad onto the raised side of the folder before I embossed.   Another tip when using a die cutting machine - always cut first, then emboss!

Amateur Hour

A tip for organizing Piercing Templates with the coordinating dies and embossing folders

A couple of weeks ago, I realized that my first blogiversary is coming up, so I thought to note the occasion, I'd try something new.   I've done a few tutorials so far, but never a video.   Now that I've tried it, I have SO much appreciation for those that do them regularly.   Thank you for watching what is really more of a study in how tough it is to do a good video!

Feel free to leave me a comment to let me know how I did!   What do you think of the organizational tip?   Don't think I'll try this again unless I find something to hold my camera for me and get more lights! 

Halloween Llama Blog Hop

So excited that the second in our series of Fall-i-days blog hops is finally here, and I'm at the beginning of it!   I know my fellow demonstrators have come up with fun and inspiring projects for you!   For links to all their blogs and all of our llama hops, click on the gorgeous banner up there that Stephanie created!

The first thing I'd like to share with you today is a Halloween card.   I love the versatility of stamp sets like this one with lots of little images; they work for treats, tags, cards, anything really!  So cute, too.

Stamps: Spooky Bingo Bits 

Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie 

Cardstock: Old Olive, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie 

Tools / Accessories: 1" circle & Curly Label punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

Technique:  Faux Tearing (sponging w/ a torn mask) and actual tearing

Next is a teacher thank you card I created for this week's Mojo Monday sketch challenge using My Digital Studio.   Since version 2 of the software is now in full release, Stampin' Up! is donating the remaining disks of version 1 to schools.   Contact me or your local demonstrator if you would like more information.

I printed out the image from Greeting Card Kids and colored it by hand, then scanned it in and inserted it into my project like a photograph. Used the eyedropper tool to color the circles and the mat of the oval the same red as the girl's apple and the blue of the boy's book.  In the new version of the software, images can be colored digitally; so easy! 


Finally, the first card I've ever made with French Foliage!  A wedding invitation inspired me to make a card stamped with purple leaves.  What do you think?

Stamps: French Foliage, Curly Cute 

Ink: Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry 

Cardstock: Whisper White, Perfect Plum 

Accessories: Linen Thread

Technique: OSW (one-sheet wonder:  create your own patterned paper with your stamps, here I did a half sheet that I cut into strips to make a set of matching cards)

Next in the hop is Marsha, or, if you like to do things backwards, click on the other button to head back to Debbie!

   

Handbags Helping Hearts

I wanted to make a donation to a local charity auction, and needed to make a paper purse large enough to fit A2 cards.  I scanned the interwebs, and found lots of things I liked, but none were quite what I was looking for.   My favorite simple design was at Mel Stampz, but her template was too small, so I created my own.

I used Stampin' Up!s Decorative Accents Edgelits to create the curve at the top, and the "leather" edging (yes, its Chocolate Chip cardstock)

So that you can still get the cards in and out, the handle has to be able to move, so I attached it with brads, SU! Antique, of course!  I thought about continuing the brown CS around the ends, but flowers  seemed prettier.   These are fabric ones I had leftover from the retired Pretties Kit, but the currently available Paper Daisies, as well as several Stampin' Up! dies or punches would work just as well.

If you would like me to put up a template or tutorial for this project, please let me know in the comments!

Update:  I am working on a tutorial, but I'm also working on some projects for a blog hop that starts Thursday and I have a crazy number of meetings and school activities this week.   Thanks for your patience!