Chocolate Dreams

I started this card by picking out that gorgeous designer paper. I know it's from Stampin Up!, but I have no idea what it's called or how old it is. I suspect I've had it hanging around for at least a year or so. When I saw it in my scrap pile, I knew I wanted to use it to make this MOJO sketch card. I don't do a lot of sponging, but I think I sponged this vanilla circle pretty well and I like the effect. Now, I titled this post Chocolate "Dreams" because part of the photo near the felt flowers looks a little fuzzy to me. I had a smudge on my camera lens that I didn't realize was there until I uploaded the photo. So I've decided to pretend that it's the same effect they used in old movies for dream sequences where the scene had a soft, fuzzy look. Yes? No? I can dream too! Here's the recipe:

Stamps: All Holidays, Baroque Motifs

Paper: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, ? DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Brads, Damask Texturz Plate, Flower Fusion Too, Photo Corner Punch, Sponging

Greenhouse Garden Birthday

Greenhouse Garden is such a pretty set. I seem to be drawn to floral sets, and I think this one is my favorite (so far, anyway!). I used the layout from the Stamps, Paper, Glitter sketch challenge, but I chose the colors because I haven't used these in quite a while. I just love the line of brads on the ribbon. That was a last minute inspiration. The recipe:

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, French Script, Birthday Whimsy

Paper: Bordering Blue, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla

Ink: Rose Red, Basic Black, Bordering Blue

Accessories: Kraft Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Sizzix Die, Brads, Dimensionals

Inspired Asian Artistry

It's only Wednesday and I've managed to make a card, take a photo AND upload it here. I wish I had more time to play with my stamping stuff, but unfortunately duty calls and I have to go to work every day. That doesn't leave a lot of time for stamping, but I try to squeeze it in whenever I can. I made this card for the MOJO96 sketch challenge. When I started thinking about this card, it was not going to have an asian influence, but somehow when I gathered up my supplies this is what emerged. Go figure... The recipe:

Stamps: Asian Artistry, Embrace Life
Paper: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla
Ink: Garden Green, Soft Suede
Accessories: Crushed Curry ribbon, Markers, Dimensionals

GIMP Me!

I have been messing around with watermarks lately but I didn't have a program to add them to m pictures. Then I read about this free software here and decided to give it a try. I am a complete novice about this type of photo-editing software, so I can see that I've got a lot to do before I figure it out. Not to mention that the proportions of my watermark are all off. Oh well. Back to the drawing board. But anyway, this card is for the MOJO95 sketch challenge. The recipe:

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Year-Round Cheer, Sanded

Paper: Old Olive, Orchic Opulence, Whisper White, Cottage Wall DSP

Ink: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Accessories: Rhinestone Brad, EK Success border punch, Old Olive Ribbon

More Goodies

Despite the fact that it is not raining here in MA (3 days in a row whoo hoo!) and I have a ton of things to catch up on outside in the garden, I still have managed to scrounge up some time to play with my new SU stuff. This is the Cottage Wall DSP which is so pretty. The colors are really lovely together. I decided to try it out for the Splitcoast sketch challenge 236. And I also tried misting the cardstock with water before running it through the Big Shot with the Texturz Plate and I think it made a big difference in the impression. I remember reading about that tip somewhere in blogosphere but I don't remember where. Thanks so much for looking. The recipe:
Stamps: Best Blossoms (no one can make me "retire" this set!), Artfully Asian
Paper: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White, Cottage Wall DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence
Accessories: Old Olive Ribbon, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Dimensionals

New Goodies!

I got my box of Stampin Up! stuff from the new catalog yesterday and immediately set to work playing. I decided to use the Stamps Paper Glitter sketch challenge as my starting point. And I knew that I was going to do something using the Nouveau Chic DSP. The colors are absolutely gorgeous. I had a feeling I was going to really like the Greenhouse Garden stamp set when I bought it, but I was wrong. I LOVE this stamp set. I can't wait to use it and more of my new stuff. The recipe:
Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Greenhouse Garden, All Holidays
Paper: Sage Shadow, Basic Gray, Apricol Appeal, Whisper White, Nouveau Chic DSP
Ink: Sage Shadow, Basic Gray
Accessories: Modern Label Punch, Sizzix Die

Gift Bags Galore!

I absolutely love making these gift bags. They are so easy (and I might add, highly addictive). It's such an easy way to make a gift for someone so much more special. Who wouldn't love to receive a gift in a home-made gift bag? You can find the tutorial here.

Saturday Sketch Challenge

I made this card using a sketch from the Saturday Sketch challenge website, but I have no idea which one! But it's a nice sketch anyway...The recipe:

Stamps: Great Friend

Paper: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP
Ink: Basic Gray, So Saffron

Accessories: Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals

Spring Flowers Birthday

I have admired this designer series paper for a LONG time. Every so often I take it out and look at it, then put it back, reluctant to cut it and spoil its pristine lines. However, every so often I decide that this is completely ridiculous and today I actually used the paper. I'm so pleased with the result. I hope you like it too. I made this for the MOJO94 sketch challenge. The recipe:

Stamps: On Your Birthday, Pretty Amazing
Paper: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Whisper White, Spring Showers DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Dimensionals, Rhinestone Brad

Procrastination

I can't believe I made this card a week ago and I'm only getting around to posting it today. It's been a busy couple of weeks, but I'm relieved to finally get this card posted. (I've been staring at it on my counter for many, many days). I made this card for the Stamps, Paper, Glitter challenge #19. The recipe:

Stamps: All Year Cheer I, Priceless, Kind & Caring Thoughts
Paper: Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White, Urban Garden DSP
Ink: Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, Valet Ribbon Originals