UDI Inspiration Challenge 137

Here's the photo for this week's UDI Inspiration Challenge. Looks delicious!  My first thought when I saw this picture was "Great! I'm out of white cardstock..." Then I remembered I have a pack of GLOSSY White! YIPPEE!!! Yes, small things amuse me.  It was perfect to represent the shiny white dishes! The yellows and blues and white in this photo remind me of some of my favorite quilting fabrics, paired with eyelet lace bedskirts and breakfast (or brunch) in bed.

So here's my take on the photo:

This is probably the simplest card I've made in months! The card base is So Saffron The next mat is Marina Mist, and the top mat is, of course, Glossy White.  I brought in a quilting theme by using the eyelet border punch on the bottom edge of the white layer, and adding a Marina Mist Square Lattice diecut, which always reminds me of a double wedding ring quilt.  I added a 1/4" blue grosgrain ribbon secured with a white ribbon slider from Hodgepodge Hardware.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped in Marina Mist ink on Bashful Blue cardstock and punched with the 1-3/8" by 5/8" oval punch.

See? Simple! and lots of fun. Hope everyone's ready for a great weekend!

Welcome Baby!

Cardstock:
Daffodil Delight
Pumpkin Pie
Melon Mambo
Whisper White

Punches:
2-1/2 Inch Circle
Fancy Flower
Scallop Oval
Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack 4-petal flower

Big Shot Accessories:
Top Note Die
Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder
Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder

Embellishments:
Basic Pearls
1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon-Pumpkin Pie

Stamp Sets:
Sweetness Unlimited
Itty Bitty Bits

Ink:
Pumpkin Pie
Melon Mambo

This card is deceptively simple.  With the exception of the ribbon, everything is either punched or run through the Big Shot.

I used Daffodil delight for the card base, then ran a piece of Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo cardstock through the Big Shot with the Top Note die. I took the Melon Mambo Top note and ran it through again in the Petals a Plenty Textured Impressions Folder. Then I trimmed off the perforated edge and used snail to adhere it to the front of the Pumpkin Pie Top Note.  I snipped the ends of the 5-1/2-inch striped ribbon and laid it across the top note, adhering with sticky strip or mini glue dots to help it stick to the textured cardstock.

Next I took a Pumpkin Pie and a Melon Mambo punched flower, overlapped them at one petal and adhered them with a glue dot.  Then I stamped the Sweetness Unlimited stamp on Whisper White Cardstock with Melon Mambo ink and punched it out with the Scallop Oval Punch. I punched a second scallop oval from Daffodil Delight Cardstock, cut it in half and layered it under the white one.  I used glue dots to center the ovals on top of the flowers.

Then I took my 2-1/2" Circle punch and made 2 Whisper White circles, which I then ran through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder.  I laid them next to each other and used dimensionals to center the flowers over the circles. Then I used glue dots to adhere the circles to the Top Notes.

Finally, I stamped the 4-petal flower shape from the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set several times on Whisper White and punched them out with the Itty Bitty Shapes pack corresponding punch and used glue dots to adhere them around the edge of the scalloped ovals. I used the smallest Basic Pearls in the center of each flower.

UDI Color Challenge #25

So, here's the color challenge for this week.  I have to admit as challenges go, this one stumped me more than others have.  Mainly, because I don't think I've ever actually used Basic Gray in anything.  As evidence, I submit the completely empty scrap folder labeled Basic Gray and the fact that I had to open the paper pack to use it in this project.  I'm a firm believer that you can add white to just about any combo and make it work, but if you can believe this, I actually ran out of white cardstock! I'm not exactly sure how that happened...um, yeah.  But I like to stretch my creativity, so after some gnashing of teeth, here's what I came up with.  Not entirely sure I'm happy with it, but I can definitely say that I'm seeing Basic Gray in a new light, and that after all was the point, right?

I used Rich Razzleberry as a base, and Tempting Turquoise for a mat.  I ran my Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel over the Tempting Turquoise in Basic Gray ink.  I had a large scallop square from the Scallop Squares Duo in Rich Razzleberry left over from my Valentine's Day projects with the heart shape punched out of it, so I layered it over the Tempting Turquoise and a square of Basic Gray cardstock, which I ran through the Big Shot in my Square Lattice Textured Impressions folder.

I punched a few 5-petal flowers out of So Saffron, and used the Itty Bitty Punch pack to make the centers from Perfect Plum.  I stamped Thinking of You from Silhouette Sentiments on So Saffron in Rich Razzleberry ink, then punched it with the Modern Label punch.  I ran over all of the saffron pieces with the Very Vintage wheel in Basic Gray.  Then I cut out a butterfly from the Very Vintage Wheel stamp.   I didn't like the way the Turquoise mat looked, so I tore the top and bottom edges and balled up the scraps to make the flower centers.

I think I may try it again and see if I can do something I like a little better, but to the ladies (and gentleman) at UDI, my sincere thanks for helping me stretch my thinking!

Happy Wednesday!

http://utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com/

UDI Inspiration Challenge 136

 So, the snowstorm started a little late and didn't get here until tonight.  It's supposed to last for the next three days, so I'm planning to stay put and play with my paper and ink!  So glad I have some UDI Challenges to inspire me and keep me off the streets and out of trouble!  The above picture is this week's Inspiration Challenge.  They are gumdrops, and the napkin reminds me of those old fashioned paper bags you used to get at the carnival or the circus, or maybe the beach boardwalk filled with popcorn or peanuts or a candy store filled with...hmm, let me think... maybe gumdrops! The gumdrop colors immediately make me think of summer at the beach, and in keeping with the boardwalk theme, Dippin' Dots or shaved ice, a wonderful way to cool off on a hot summer day!

So here's what I came up with.  It's an 8 x 8 Scrapbook Layout that I was planning to use for a swap I'm participating in, but halfway through it I realized I had used  Pink Pirouette for the background and the friend I'm swapping with has 3 boys... um, yeah, I'll be working on another layout before the storm's over.  But that's okay, 'cause I've got time on my hands this weekend!

Anyway, back to the layout, I used a sheet of Poppy Parade DSP to represent the candy strip or popcorn bag, and the white eyelet border reminded me of a candy store doily. I used Pink 5/8" grosgrain ribbon for the bows, and stamped "Summer Fun" with my Sweet Shoppe Alpha set in Melon Mambo and punched each letter with my 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches.  The letters are sponged around the edges with Melon Mambo ink, and raised on dimensionals.

I used the new 3.5" and 3" Circle dies to make the 2 white circles as eventual mats for pictures of my adorable nieces & nephews at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. For the remaining circles I used Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie along with various Circle punches.  I used my Textured Impressions folders to give some of them dimension and popped them up on dimensionals.  There's still room on the DSP to put another photo or a Journaling tag once I decide what exactly I want to use.

Well, that's all I've got for tonight. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! I love the way everything looks with a fresh layer of snow, and we don't get it here very often, so three days will be a treat!




http://utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com/

UDI Color Challenge #24

 

So I decided to play along with today's color challenge from UDI after getting home from my mother's hair appointment and the last minute grocery run to prepare for the snowstorm that's supposed to come through California tonight.  Now I know those of you in the midwest, not to mention Canada and Alaska, are saying to yourselves "What a whimp! Stinkin' California chick wouldn't know real snow if she were buried in it!" and you'd be right.  I live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, and we're billed as being "above the fog and below the snow".  We get anywhere from 2 to 6 inches each year, and it washes or melts away fairly quickly, but this storm is supposed to bring snow to sea level in the Bay Area, and with 2 octogenarians in my care (otherwise known as Mom and Dad), I like to be prepared so that even though I COULD go out, I don't have to until it thaws and I don't have to worry about any of us slipping on the ice!

Okay, back to the challenge: The colors are So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Cherry Cobbler, and Always Artichoke.  They reminded me of the wallpaper in the kitchen of one of my neighbors growing up.  She was my babysitter/adopted grandmother, and I have to say thoughts of her brought back wonderful memories.  The wallpaper was on a white background and had lots of strawberries on it. Anyway, I stepped out of my comfort zone a bit, because I really haven't used Blushing Bride very much, and I loaned out my favorite Textured Impressions Folders last week and won't get them back until tomorrow, so I was left with the Petals a Plenty, which I thought kinda fit the fruit theme if you think of them as fruit blossoms; and my Spiderweb folder, which I guess if you stretch it a bit fits the garden theme, 'cause I always have lots of spiders in my garden.  My first choice would have been the square lattice folder to give it more of a fruit basket feel, but as I said, I loaned it out... (sigh).

I trimmed around the perforation on the Blushing Bride top note, and sponged it with Cherry Cobbler ink, then I sponged Always Artichoke over the texture on the So Saffron circles.  For the fruit I stamped each one once in Cherry Cobbler and once in Always Artichoke.  Then I actually cut out the green stems and pasted them over the red ones.  I have to admit, I questioned my sanity as I was cutting around the cherry stems, but it worked out better than I expected.  I popped the So Saffron layer and the cherries up with dimensionals and wrapped Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon around the card base with a finishing bow on the side.  

So, that's how I spent my evening, and now I'm going to settle in and wait for the flurries!  Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Link to Utah Divas International Blog

Happy Valentine's Day!

Okay, so Valentine's Day was on Monday and it's now almost Thursday...  I'm running just a teensy bit behind! But I had so much fun making my Valentines this year, I had to share, and I think the ideas are usable with a few tweaks for other occasions, so here's to inspiration!

For my "Grown-up" girlfriends, I made a swivel card using the Big Shot and my Scallop Circle for the back, and the Circle, 3.5" Circle and 3" Circle dies for the front.  I attached the 2 layers with a brad so you can swivel the top open to read the message inside.  I also used the Circle die to make a DSP liner for the inside.

This card has Sunny Garden DSP and is embellished with Rhinestones, a metalic brad, grosgrain ribbon and glimmer paper. The stamp sets are Simply Said and Monogram Sweet.

This card uses the Be My Valentine Stamp from the last page of the Occasions Mini. I stamped it twice and cut out the banner portion and popped it up with Dimensionals.  It's difficult to see in the photo, but I added a couple of Rhinestones in the centers of the flowers on the big heart. I used the small heart punch to make the hearts out of Glimmer paper found on page 7 of the Occasions Mini. The layered flower under the brad is made from the Boho Blossoms punch

 This one uses Victorian Crochet Trim, and Pearls.  I layered the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch and 2 Fancy Flower punches with a 1-3/8" Circle punch for the center. The leaves are made with the wing from the 2-step Bird punch. I popped the flower up with dimensionals, and the brad is hidden under the ribbon.

 I used Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon found on page 16 of the Occasions Mini for the bow and the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit die for the bottom layer of the monogrammed heart. The brad is hidden under the glimmer paper heart at the top.

The Melon Mambo cardstock is embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder. The 1-1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon is scrunched on a line of sticky strip.  A scrap of Victorian Crocheted trim is layered on top with glue dots.  The Jewelry Tag punch is stamped with 2 different Tiny Tags stamps and tied to the crocheted trim with Linen Thread.  The brad is hidden under the flower.

I used the 3" circle die to cut the Glimmer Paper circle. The Red Satin Ribbon is scrunched on a line of Sticky Strip.  In order to make the sticky strip curve to follow the circle's edge, I clipped it halfway in every 1/4-inch or so.  (Note: This method works well for adhering Glass Glitter, too.) I attached the front to the back with a Glimmer Brad through the center of the layered Boho Blossoms and added pearls to the centers of the flowers.

Here's a view of the inside.  I used Teeny Tiny Wishes to stamp the greeting inside each card.

I hope you enjoyed the Grown-ups Valentines!  I love the variety you can get when you add different embellishments to a few of the same simple foundation pieces.  The kids' cards are coming in my next post!

"Green" Coffee Sleeves

 Ingredients:
Candy Cane Fabric
Bigz XL Die-Tasteful Trim
Candy Cane Big Designer Buttons
1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Real Red and Marina Mist
Brights Designer Buttons
Victoria Crochet Trim
Quilt batting scraps


Here's my attempt at coffee sleeves using the new Stampin' Up! Fabric line.  These were very simple for those of you who sew.  I'll be trying a no-sew version soon for those who don't.

First I took a sleeve from the local coffee house, and pulled it apart at the seam. Then I folded one of the fabrics in half with "right"  or "patterned" sides together.  After pinning the folded fabric to keep it from shifting, I laid the opened sleeve flat on the fabric, and used a pen (or chalk) to trace around it. Here's the trickiest part of this project:  When I cut it out, I "eyeballed" a 1/4" seam around the traced line.  I did the same thing to cut out a single layer of quilt batting. 

I pinned the fabric pieces together with "right" sides facing and the batting on the bottom of both layers.  I used my sewing machine to sew along the traced line on three sides of the sleeve, leaving one end open.  I used the open side to turn the sleeve outside in and stitched the remaining side closed by hand.  I quilted the sleeve to minimize bulk by machine sewing along each red stripe, along the entire sleeve. 

For the sleeves that used lengthwise trim, I sewed it on at this point.  I used the Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim Die to make some of the embellishments. 

I used the cardboard coffee house sleeve to measure where to stitch the ends together, and sewed the seam by hand.  Then I embellished over the seam to help hide it.   I gathered the bric brac trim to make the rosettes.  I think you can figure out what I did from the pictures, but if you have any questions, feel free to email me. I apologize if any of this doesn't make sense, but it's very late, so I'll recheck it tomorrow.