Sympathy with Elements of Style

I don't have a stash of sympathy cards on hand, I guess I just don't like to have that forethought. So when hubby asked for one I got to work with the current color challenge at the PPA: Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum and Pear Pizazz.
* Started with a quick zip through the Big Shot with a Baja Breeze cardbase and the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.
* Using a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink, I lightly distressed the edges as well as the embossed/raised texture
* Zipped the Scallop Oval Frame through the Big Shot with Whisper White for my image and Perfect Plum for the 'frame'
* Stamped out the flowers from Elements of Style in Basic Brown and softened the edges with my Soft Suede inked Dauber and continued to soften the stark white areas around the flowers.
* Using my Perfect Plum Pastel Chalk I colored in some of my flowers and highlighted some areas using my Blender Pen and Perfect Plum ink. Continued to use my Blender Pen w/ Baja Breeze for some of the smaller flowers and Pear Pizazz for the leaves.
* Flecks of Soft Suede ink, achieved with very fun Color Spritzer, was the final 'softening' step.
* Basic Pearls adorn a few flower centers
* Matted the focal image with a Perfect Plum frame. And a Baja Breeze bird, from Elements of Style, was snipped out to hoover on a dimensional over some blooms
* The sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes was inked in Pear Pizazz and popped out with the Word Window punch. A piece of Pear Pizazz was punched out with the Word Window, then cut in half and matted behind the sentiment.

Thanks again for stopping in for that little dose of me. Hope you liked my take on the PPA Color Challenge. Here's hoping you have time to get inky :) Any questions, I am always just a click away!

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders.

Happy Kreating

Beautiful Butterfly CASE

First I have to say HI! to all my Convention going Pals!! I know you are all having a blast, can't wait to hear all about it!!

This card was CASED by DoStamper, Dawn Olchfeske. I loved the design, but to make it my 'own', I wanted to tweek a few elements!

* Very Vanilla cardbase
* Very Vanilla butterfly kreated with the Big Shot and Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die

My tweeks:
* Distressed the edges of my butterfly using a sponge dauber inked in Soft Suede ink
* GOLD EMBOSSED image and sentiment - the floral spray, as well as the sentiment, from Elements of Style, were inked in VersaMark and then sprinkled with Gold Embossing Powder. Then with my Heat Tool, heated for a beautiful shiny raised image. SO pretty and you'll have to trust me as it was very hard to capture the look of the embossing. TRY IT :) You'll like it! ;)
* Colored in the images with Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Old Olive inks using a fine tipped q-tip
* With my Color Spritzer, added some Soft Suede and Pretty in Pink speckles for a more aged look.

Without having to reinvent the wheel, a few little tweeks and I've added my own touch! Hope you like my tweeks ;)
Thank you to my faithful followers, I can't believe how quickly summer is going by! I'm glad to have taken this breather from blogging and really enjoy these lazy, crazy days. Unfortunately I know they are quickly running out - ugh, only about 6more weeks :( But that means back to more time for kreating and sharing with you :) Thanks for stopping by for a little dose of me ;)

ANY questions about techniques, my kreations, product orders, joining my team, ANYTHING, I am only a click away :)

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders.

Happy Kreating

irRESISTible :)

Not only could I not resist this sweet bird, but I could not help but use him with the emboss resist technique! And a cute 3x3, BONUS cute factor!! :) This was a new technique for my class and they loved how easy it was to do and of course how cool it was. So if you've never done this before, get some supplies and get ready to be wowed ;) Quick and easy, I promise!


* Start with a 3x3 Whisper White card base
* Ink up your hummer from Elements of Style with VersaMark, sprinkle on Clear Embossing Powder, and with Heat Tool, emboss to a shiny raised image.
* FUN part!! Take any color classic ink, I used my favorite returning in-color, Baja Breeze, and inked up a piece of sponge.
* In circular motion, apply your ink on top of and around your bird. Go ahead, its ok, the clear embossed image RESISTS the ink. How cool right? One of my ladies happened to get nervous that she did something wrong because there was 'blue' on her bird... nothing wrong, this bird has a very intricate design, so the blue does show up on the bird. If you'd like a darker hue around your bird, continue to ink up your sponge and reapply around your bird.
* Many of you know that I enjoy my daubers for distressing. After seeing my Pal Ann Schach using the Color Spritzer, I decided it high time to dust mine off!! For the longest time I could not get this little tool to work right (either too much ink or nothin?!) After some playing, it seemed to definitely make a difference to hold the Color Spritzer with the marker on top (an aha/dah moment for me- insert embarrased look here!) With a firm quick squish, you get those pretty speckles (Yeah Ann I got it, with no 'splat') It really adds a great effect, with minimal effort. Once ya figure it out LOL
I hope I'm not the only one that struggled with this little tool!
* So, I Color Spritzed with Soft Suede and then with my handy dandy dauber, distressed the edges with Soft Suede too.
* Each image from the Elements of Style set was used to kreate each card just slightly different. Soft Suede was my ink of choice with a little bit of rhinestone and pearl bling!!


Can you resist these hummers? LOL Let me know what ya think - I love to read your thoughts :)

ANY questions about techniques, my kreations, product orders, joining my team, ANYTHING, I am only a click away :) Thanks for taking a moment to stop by to get a little dose of me :)

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders.

Happy Kreating

Not quite what I had in mind!

Here I am ;) Did ya miss me? ;) Summer brings new schedules, routines, to-dos, and lots of time with my kiddos, so I haven't been blogging or stamping as much. I know, {gasp}, but I am enjoying the summer to the fullest, it always ends way too soon for me! All sorts of new goodies from the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog, will be coming my way shortly, so I'm sure I will be more than eager to play a bit and of course share :)

Jeesh, it hasn't been that long, but already I am a bit rusty. Don't ya hate when that happens?? I'll share my 'rust' with you anyway, is that ok? The colors were definitely a bit of a challenge for me, so can I blame my rust on my 'failed' color challenge?! 'Nough complaining... PPA50 challenge today is So Saffron, Choc Chip and Basic Gray.
I chose the very versatile set Elements of Style - such beautiful images and really, I think you can do any occasion with it!
*The Circle Scissors Plus is the perfect must have tool for making circles. I love this tool!!! Cut out circle from Watercolor Paper (approx 3" diam)
*Inked up the floral image in Choc Chip ink and stamped on Watercolor Paper. Using my Aquapainter, I lightly went over some of the choc chip to blend into the flower and stems - left it to dry a bit
*On my standard So Saffron card base, I stamped the flourish image in Choc Chip and highlighted with my White Signo Gel Pen. Distressed the edges of the card with more Choc Chip ink using my dauber
*Sentiment was inked in Basic Gray between flourishes
*Bird image was inked in Basic Gray and stamped off once to get a softer/lighter image. Snipped out my bird with precision using my paper snips. Daubbed the edge of my bird with more choc chip ink
*Returned to my floral image and 'painted' my yellow roses with So Saffron reinker. TIP: kreate depth and division of florals with darker and lighter flowers. Use a dryer brush for a darker pigment. When completely dry, go back in with your coordinating marker to highlight/darken an area.
* Added a little Vanilla Smooch Spritz to the floral image and placed on dimensionals.

Hmmm, what went wrong? Looked so much better in my head. LOL Can't win 'em all!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll stick with me through the summer. I may be sporadic, but I will be here! (Honestly, I can't be gone for too long, than I miss you!!) If you want to make sure you don't miss me, just subscribe to my blog. Enter your email address along the right sidebar under 'subscribe'. Make sure you watch your inbox (and spam folder in case) for an 'activation' email and then you will be updated with an email any time I post. K?! Don't worry, you won't get inundated with spam or junk mail by doing this, it'll just be me visiting your inbox!

As always, ANY questions, I am just a click away and I will respond promptly.

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders.

Happy Kreating

Simple Style

This was the simplest card I have made in a long time!! I hope you think it is worth the share :) I had to make a couple quick thank you's and I turned to the new Elements of Style,
in the Summer Mini, for the beautiful floral spray. My first one, which I didn't photo, I did this same way but using my Aquapainter decided to color in. Yup it was pretty, but I just liked the look and simplicity of it just the way it is. And boy was it ever easy to reproduce a couple of these :) Don't think this photo does the embossing justice, so you'll just have to kreate one yourself!!;) Here's how...

* Ran a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock through the Big Shot and Scallop Square Die
* Inked up my image from Elements of Style in VersaMark and sprinkled on some Gold Embossing Powder. Using my Heat Tool, melted the gold to a rich beautiful embossed image.
* My go to set for thank you sentiments, Thank You Kindly, also got inked in VersaMark with the same Gold Embossed as above.
* And why not add that pretty bird? Inked in VersaMark, stamped on scrap Very Vanilla and given the gold embossed treatment. For a precise cut I turn to my Paper Snips, cut out and then placed on a dimensional.

Thats IT!! Can you believe it? And if you are not partial to this simple look, at this point it is very easy to 'color' in with whatever you want, Blenders, Aquapainter, chalks, markers...

Have a class tonight, off to finish my preparations! If you live near the Bergen County NJ area and would like to join us, we'd love to have you!!

If you'd like to join my Krew, now-June 30th is the perfect time with the $99 Mini Starter Kit (valued at over $180). Career or hobby demos welcomed. AND there is no penalties or obligations, keep your goodies no matter what. I will be here to coach you along your journey and have lots of fun!! Click HERE to see your starter kit contents (select items are customizable too!) If you'd like more information, I'd love to chat with you. Contact me and we can set up a time that works! Looking forward to hearing from you :)

Available until June 30th or while supplies last, don't miss out on:
Last Chance Stamp sets

Last Chance Accessories

Last Chance Definitely Decorative

Any questions, I'm just a click away!!

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders.

Happy Kreating

Scrapping with a Vintage Style

It's National Scrapbooking Month and I'll be darn if I'll let it pass me by without a page!!! This is a picture of my mothers mom, my grandma Agnes. She left this world way to soon when hit by a drunk driver when my mom was only 14. She has always said I had her moms smile and she sees her in me. When she gave me this photo a few weeks ago, I immediately envisioned a scrapbook page with the new Elements of Style.
* I matted the photo with Pink Pirouette, soon to be a part of our core colors with the release of the Color Renovation in new Idea Book and Catalog debuting July 1
* I layered this over an Eyelet Border punched Whisper White rectangle
* To enhance the vintage feel I used a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink to distress the edges of both layers
* The beautiful floral image from Elements of Style, was inked in Soft Suede and stamped onto a 12x12 Sahara Sand. Again, edges distressed with Soft Suede ink
* The Sahara Sand page was given a Smooch with Vanilla Shimmer Spritz before I added my photo panel
* Added a pop of color to the center of my large bow, with the gorgeous Wide Striped Choc Chip Ribbon, with a pretty in pink houndstooth brad (sorry retired!)
* Dangled a non SU heart tag from my bow. (My Mini Vintage Tags in the Summer Mini ARE on order ;) !!!)
* The remainder of the ribbon was ruffled up for a soft, feminine, vintage feel. TIP: Separate/fray ribbon edge, then pull about 2 fibers from the ribbon and continue to pull and scrunch until you get the length and 'tightness' you are looking for
* Lovely Letters was the pefect set for this layout. Stamped in Soft Suede and popped out with the 1-3/8 Square Punch. Daubers assist me in distressing yet again. FYI: You may wonder why I always use daubers vs sponges? I don't mind getting my hands dirty, but I DO mind when those dirty fingers ruin a project!!!! For distressing, Sponge Daubers allow me to keep my finger tips ink free and my projects safe from ruin!

I'm scrap happy :) It felt really good to do a page, and hopefully I'll have the time to do some more! I already asked mom for my Pop-Pops old navy photo. I see a spread, oh unless I do one of my mom, or another spread of my mom and dad - ooooo the wheels are turning!!! So how did I do????? Let me know what you think, it has been a long time since I've completed a scrapbook page!!

Any questions about any of my kreations, I am only a click away :) Thanks for taking a moment to stop by to get a little dose of me :)

* National Scrapbooking Month (click to view flyer) - FREE brads with your purchase of My Digital Studio or select stamp sets

Take advantage of my FREE SHIPPING gift to you now through May 15th!!

Happy Kreating

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders.




If you don't have a demonstrator and would like a copy of thE NEW 31 page Summer Mini, drop me an email with your address and I'd be happy to pop one in the mail for you!!

Elements of Style

Still trying to get back on my feet after being sick for now 2 weeks. UGH!! And I am now just praying that I am not relapsing! Go figure, pretty healthy all winter, spring arrives and whammo - ok, you're not here for a 'sob' story, but I thought I'd at least explain why I've been MIA! On with the card...
This card started with the Sweet Sunday Sketch #65 and this weeks current color challenge (CC267)of Basic Gray, Apricot Appeal, and Sage Shadow - all these colors we will be bidding a Fond Farewell, so stock up while you can!! But we will be welcoming new colors in the Color Renovation and very soon, May 1st, we will be welcoming the set Elements of Style(120045-clear mount)from the Summer Mini Catalog, that I used on this card! This one was a bit labor intensive - Snip, snip, snip, crazy me, but it really gave it that extra wowsa effect!
* The floral image was inked in Basic Gray and colored in direct to image with 'layers' of Apricot Appeal and Sage Shadow Markers
* Remember I said crazy me... I snipped out the entire image - some tight spots required use of my hobby blade, otherwise the sharpness of the Paper Snips enables precision. Love them!!
* Popped up the image on Whisper White, matted with Basic Gray, with dimensionals - TIP: Give a little dimension to your card, the results stand out :)
* Coloring directly to the stamp with a Sage Shadow body and Apricot Appeal beak allows you to get different colors on one image. Huge bonus to have markers for this effect!! I used 2 dimensionals stacked on each other to raise the bird above the flowers.
* Sentiment inked in Sage Shadow and popped out with a 1" Circle Punch and placed in a circular frame from the Hodgepodge Hardware set.
* The coordinating Sage Shadow DSP is from the To The Nines Specialty paper mounted onto Basic Gray
* The standard Sage Shadow cardbase is given a decorative background with stamped off Whisper White baroque flourish image

I think it has some Elements of Style! What do you think? If you liked todays kreation won't you take a moment to leave me a comment! I LOVE to know your thoughts!! Even if you think I was crazy to snip out that flower - hehe :) (But I think I'd do it again!)

Any questions about any of my kreations, I am only a click away :) And thanks for taking a moment to stop by to get a little dose of me :)

Happy Kreating

You can purchase all products online with me or email me with your orders.