What's on My Needles - 1/24/15

I have yet to finish off the scarf I was making for myself, but will show you a picture once I do.  Instead, I started on a scarf for Julian - one of the twins.  Isabella (the other twin) and Justice the big boy who just turned 6, got theirs already.  I will try to get them to model them one of these days and get some pictures.  I started a different one for Julian, but just didn't like the feel of the yarn.  These kids need something nice and soft, as well as warm around their necks in our cold climate.  Here's what I have done so far on Julian's:

It is difficult to see because of the tweedy color of the yarn, but it is done in a basket weave pattern that has resulted and a very soft and cushy fabric that I think will be perfect for around his neck.

Am still on the prowl for a good pattern to start for my mother's birthday.  I want a nice short cape like shawl and there are just too many good ones out there.  If you have a specific recommendation, I would love to hear it.

Thanks for visiting! 

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Playing with Blue!

I'm making some (more) note card sets with boxes and was playing a bit with two of my favorite blues from Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist and Pacific Point.  Maybe its the nautical names, but I really love these two colors.  I paired them up with the new Painted Petals set and my all time favorite background, Something Lacy.

The top one is Pacific Point ink on Pacific Point paper and the flower is stamped in Marina Mist and mounted on Marina Mist.  The bottom one is just the opposite.  I'm liking the bottom one better for note cards, but the top one really packs a punch!  I will probably do several of each to include in the note card boxes.  The sentiment is from Mother's Love, also new in the Occasions mini catalog.

Thursday was DH's 71st birthday.  Here is the card I made for him:

I was inspired by THIS card that I found on Pinterest.  The card base is Sahara Sand and I used Naturals Ivory for the stamped layer and the tags.  I used The Open Sea and By the Tide and the sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners.  The ribbon is some retired SU Not Quite Navy ribbon that I love because it looks like denim and goes with so much.

We are preparing for our Florida/Georgia trip and I will try to post while we are on the road and show you what new and exciting spots we find on our way.  I am going to schedule some posts as well for while we are gone so that we don't miss any Freebie Mondays!

Thanks for visiting! 

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up! - 1/20/15-1/26/15

Every Tuesday Stampin' Up! announces the weekly deals for the coming week.  This is a great way to stock up on some of your favorite items without breaking the bank.  If you have any questions about any of these items, just shoot me an email (address in the sidebar) or leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

Thanks for visiting! 

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Monday Freebie - January 19, 2015

Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I thought I would share a couple of "lovely" sentiments with you:

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Right click and choose "save as" to save these to your computer.  As always, if you use one of my digital sentiments on a project, I would LOVE to see it.  Send me a link via a comment on this message or via email (address in the sidebar).

I'll be back with more fun stuff to share this week.  Pix from the Rocky Mountain Inky Fingers and also the Front Range Stampers swaps and more of playing with new toys.  I might even have the finished scarf off the needles and a new project started!

Thanks for visiting! 

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

More Something Lacy

I am totally enamored with the Something Lacy background stamp that is new in the Occasions Mini catalog from Stampin' Up!  I've been a demonstrator for over 7 years and I have to tell you that this is my all time favorite background stamp (so far).  Here are a couple more cards I made using this stamp:

The top one uses Strawberry Slush and the bottom one Lost Lagoon - two wonderful colors!  Very simple cards that pack a lot of punch (IMHO).  I find myself going back over and over again to the Sassy Salutations set for my sentiments as well.  Love these!

Thanks for visiting! 

Something Lacy Clear Stamp

$13.95

Butterflies Thinlits Dies

$24.95

Sassy Salutations Clear Stamp Set

$17.95

Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Strawberry Slush 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$8.50

Extra-Large Oval Punch

$16.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Downline Meeting Swap

Today is our Rocky Mountain Inky Fingers downline group meeting.  These meetings are always so much fun and so informative.  Here is my swap for today's meeting:

I chose Calypso Coral for my card base and added a layer of white and a piece of Best Year Ever dsp.  The flower is from the new flower/punch set called Petal Potpourri and it is one of my favorites in the Occasions catalog.  I also used the "hello" die from the Hello You framelits and the little "you" from the Crazy About You stamp set.

I will also be showing the gals how to make boxes with lids that fit.  I am working on a photo-tutorial for that and hope to share it with you soon.

Thanks for visiting! 

Here are some of the products used on today's card:

Petal Potpourri Clear Bundle

$31.25

Crazy About You Photopolymer Bundle

$42.25

Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper

$0.00

Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

The sun is shining so I was inspired!

The sun is out today and all is good in the craft cave.  I saw this card and couldn't help but give it a try with a bit of a twist:

I switched up the colors and layout a bit, but I like it.  It's bright and sunny and just - fun!  I used Daffodil Delight cardstock and the polka dots are from the retired Polka Dot Parade dsp pack (see I'm even using up some of my stash).  The sentiment is from Sassy Salutations and I cut the banners using the banner framelits.

I also played a bit with the new stamp set Mother's Love that is in the new Occasions Mini:

I love two step stamping and this was so simple to make.  I used Smoky Slate for my card base and layered the flower and sentiment on Elegant Eggplant.

Lots more toys being played with here in the craft cave and I'll have some samples to show you as the days go by.  I'm loving it and enjoying our warm (relative mind you) weather as well.

Thanks for visiting! 

Some of the products used for today's projects:

Petal Potpourri Clear Bundle

$31.25

Sassy Salutations Wood Stamp Set

$23.95

Mother's Love Photopolymer Stamp Set

$24.95

Lotus Blossom Photopolymer Stamp Set

$0.00

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Elegant Eggplant 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

1-1/4" Circle Scallop Punch

$15.95

1-1/4" Circle Punch

$15.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Playing with new Toys and Techniques

I am having so much fun these days playing with new toys and techniques in the craft cave.  I've been busy making new paper (and some new cards using it) and with some of the new stamps and dies in the new Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration catalogs from Stampin' Up!

Here's this mornings efforts:

Both cards are made with paper I created.  I used water color paper for both, but the top one utilizes a new technique that I saw here and uses a combination of wet on wet water color technique (Pistachio Pudding, Mossy Meadow and Wild Wasabi re-inkers) and stenciling with white craft ink.  The butterfly is cut from white cardstock using the medium sized butterfly in the Butterflies Thinlits die set and then stamped with the fern from Butterfly Basics using Hello Honey ink.  The fern was then stamped in Memento Black onto the watercolored background paper.  The sentiment is from Four You and I wish I had stamped and embossed it before putting the card together as it didn't come out as well as I would have liked.

The second one is just me being a sucker for things that are shiny!  It is wet on wet water color using Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede and Early Espresso re-inkers.  I then over sprayed the dry ink (a heat tool works wonders for those of us that are impatient) with some Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearl Mist from Ranger.  I cut the butterfly from black cardstock and added some gold flat back pearls.  The sentiment is from Sassy Sentiments.

I have tons more to show you this week so please come back and see me.

Thanks for visiting! 

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Bundle

$41.50

Four You Clear Stamp Set

$11.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

What's on My Needles This Week

I don't know if I've ever told you how much I enjoy knitting.  I made a couple of warm scarves for grandchildren this season and finished one for my BFF Sabrina and gave it to her last night.  Once her scarf was off the needles, I cast on some yarn I picked up in New England a couple years ago to make a new scarf for myself.  I love this yarn - great colors and so soft.  This is an easy peasy garter stitch scarf:

I am loving how the colors are coming out and can't wait to wear it!  Next project up is something for my mom for her birthday.  I'm in search of just the right pattern for a shawl or shrug that she can wear when she gets chilly while sitting and reading or playing cards (both activities are favorites of hers).

Thanks for visiting! 

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Monday Freebie - January 12, 2015

Here's another thank you freebie for you today:

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Right click and choose "save as" to save these to your computer.  As always, if you use one of my digital sentiments on a project, I would LOVE to see it.  Send me a link via a comment on this message or via email (address in the sidebar).

I have a downline meeting this Friday and a Front Range Stampers meeting next Monday.  I'll have some fun swaps and a tutorial (of sorts) to share with you this week as I prepare for these meetings.  I also have the cards from the Sassy Chic Stamp Camp to show you - awesome stuff!

Thanks for visiting! 

If you have any questions about the techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.