Busy, busy, busy!!!!!

Erin and the girls arrived last night for a visit. I am beyond excited. This is what Elise and Irelyn wanted to do already.

Mingler Swaps and Nametag

Last month was the Michigan Mingler get together. We had so much fun and I look forward already to next year. The first project is my Shoebox Swap. Then my general swap and then my nametag.



I have seen these on several blogs. Isn't this just so cute!!!
Stamp Set: Flight of the Butterfly, Celebrate Everything
Pads: Bashful Blue, So Saffron
Cardstock: Bashful blue, Whisper White, Sale a bration DSP
Accessories: Circle Ice Rhinestone, Top Note Die, small paper bag.







This is an open view. The little bags can be found at craft stores and you just trim the top off to fit between the topnote.

These colors are some of my favorites together.

Stamp set: 5th Avenue Floral, Oval All

Pads: Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Accessories: Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die

This was my nametag. Thank you everyone that voted for me.

Emma's WICKED Challenge's and WOW!!!

Emma is the hostess for the demo WICKED (Wonderfully Inspiring Challenges Keep Educating Demo's) Challenge's this month. I HAD to take the time and do these. Well, 2 are done. I ended up getting sidetracked playing with, of all things, stencils. More about that later.

Hang on!!!!! I have a LOT to show you even though I didn't finish all of the challenges.

The first challenge is the color challenge. We had to use Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss and Very Vanilla. The layout I used is copied from Pegg Thomas. Her example is below. It was her shoebox swap at the Michigan Mingle. It was my favorite!






Stamp sets: Friends 24-7, Friendly Words

CS: Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Pads: Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Oval Punch, Chocolate Chip Marker, Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon



The focal image itself opens...



to this!!! Isn't this so clever!!! Plus the actual card opens as well. Just so very clever!!! I love it.















Here is Pegg's sample.










For the next challenge we had to use one of the many floral embellishments that Stampin' Up! offers. I had just been to the © Stampin' Up! site and had watched a tutorial using the stencils. WOW!!!!

This is the card that got me started. This is the one for Emma's challenge. Isn't that flourish absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I just laid the stencil over my cardstock and used a sponge dauber to add color. I used 2 colors to give dimension. LOVE it!! I sponged color on the flowers from the Pretties kit. Over that is a pink button from the Button Bouquet with a pink rhinestone brad. I thought the brad would fit through the holes in the button, but no such luck. But I wanted this look so I just snipped off the prongs and folded them under the brads and attached the brad to the button with a Mini Glue Dot. All of the flower pieces and buttons are all attached with Mini Glue Dots.
Stamp set: Friends 24-7
Pads: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Shimmery White
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Button Bouquet, Circle Fire Rhinestone brads, Regal Rose Grosgrain, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Oval Punches, Mini Glue Dots, Kind Thoughts Flourish


After finishing Emma's card I HAD to try other colors. So I tried Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red. Isn't this just so gorgeous!!! I am telling you, I love this stencil!!! And now I want more stencils! It is just so much fun!!!








I wanted to do another springy one. So this one is Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery.

You really do need to try this. Really!!!

April Class: Collage and Ghosting

The Collage technique is one of my favorites. I have not done this one in a very long time. For some reason I really struggled pulling colors together and got some help from my friend Pegg.

I love the distressed edges and the scraping of a stamp pad across your cardstock with this technique. Kind of scruffy looking!!! LOVE it.

Stamp sets: 5th Avenue Floral, Bella Toile
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Riding Hood Red
Pads: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Cutter Kit, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval punch, half pearl, Mini Glue Dots





This card is the Ghosting Technique. It is fun to do and I have not used my brayer in next to forever!!!

Stamp Sets: Eastern Blooms, Sanded
Cardstock: Glossy White, Baja Breeze, So Saffron
Pads: Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, Versamark
Accessories: Brads (EE and SS), Designer Buttons, Mini Glue Dots, Foam Brayer


I hope you like this months class!!!