Color Me Happy!

This awesome new set by Hero Arts was a super sweet Christmas gift from my "not-so-secret sister" Donna [craftingcrazy]. WOW! What an awesome surprise! Color me one HAPPY stamper! :) This is the card I created and sent to thank her.

Quote for Today ~

"Live, Love, Laugh...and be HAPPY!"

Supplies ~

Stamps: Hero Arts - Solid Flower Fourish, SU Fresh Fillers, Small Sayings

Paper: Stampin Up - basic black, white; Doodlebug Designs

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, detailed clear embossing powder

Other: polka dot ribbon, oval & rectangle Nestibilities

Hip Hip Hooray! Beate's Back!

Hip Hip Hooray! Beate at Fresh & Fun is back with Weekend Sketch Challenge #29! There are so many wonderful blogs and sketches out there...more than I can keep up with, but I do like to participate in this one!

Have you been following my blog posts this past week? If so, you know that I've been "challenged" to step out of my creative comfort zone and try some new styles. I've done elegant, funky, vintage (oh my!) and the latest request by my sweet DIL Jami at Crazy Daisy Creations is. . . get this...

"URBAN CHIC"!

Do you all know what "Urban Chic" is? I wasn't so sure so I had to google it and find out...

"Urban Chic is all about "Glam"...bright colors, jewels, sparkles, shiny metals, pen outlining, sequins and other sparkles are prominent. The presence of black and white paired with bright colors is practically a must. It often has heavily inked edges and often is on white backgrounds. Some stitching can be spotted in this style. You may also find shiny glass or plastic in nice neat shapes. You may spot minimal doodling and pen out lining, but the Urban Chic is not the do it yourselfer, she would rather add sparkle than doodles. Think big city, bright lights and noise. Think Party Girl. Urban Chic is a fun time!"

So, what do you think? Does this card pass? If nothing else, I've got the black and white and a shiny plastic flower! :) And it was FUN to create! I started with Beate's sketch and then selected my black and white patterned papers. I used the rectangle Nestibilities to cut out and emboss the white piece with the sentiment and the black layer behind it. No stitching on this card, just a few polka dot brads, ribbon, and the plastic flower! Really, a very simple card!

Wishing you all a most splendid weekend! Smiles, Pam :)

Quote for Today ~

“Create your own visual style... let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.” ~ Orson Welles

Supplies ~

Stamps: Studio G

Paper: Imaginisce-black tie optional, The Paper Studio - black & white floral, Stampin Up basic black

Ink: Versafine onyx black, clear embossing powder

Other: Making Memories "Sweets" - dimensional flower, The Paper Studio-black & white brads, JoAnn Craft Essentials -black & white polka dot ribbon, rectangle Nestibilities

Oh No! Not VINTAGE!

So much for venturing out of my comfort zone in 2008! To quote Stacy, I kicked the door wide open with this one! :) If you've been following along with my last couple posts, you read that I resolved to try some new styles of cardmaking, other than my usual "cutesy". Well, I made the BIG mistake of asking for suggestions. I should have known that you all would do just that! :)

First, it was ELEGANT, then FUNKY. Ok, no problem so far. But, VINTAGE?!! I cringed, I scowled, and I nearly threw in the towel right then and there! I love the vintage look, but I don't do vintage! I even had to take a night off from stamping just to dwell on it. Do I have to do this? Will they notice if I just ignore the suggestion? hmmm

But, I got home from work tonight and a thought came to me. . . what if I do a little TINY vintage card. That will be easier, right? So, here it is my dear friends... a 3x3" note card. Does it pass? Please tell me it does! And that I can go back to my cutesy comfort zone again. :)

Seriously, THANK YOU all for your comments and suggestions and for having FUN with me. You're my inspiration! Stampin' Smiles, Pam :)

Quote for Today ~
Learn to enjoy the little things -- there are so many of them. ~ unknown

Supplies ~
Stamp: No stamps today, just a sponge and Tim Holtz Distress Ink - old paper
Paper: Life's Journey Stamp Collage, The Paper Studio- Vintage Black Stripe & Vintage Black Damask, Stampin Up basic black
Other: black button, linen thread, stitching

ETA: Kelly had a question about the photo I used. It's not an original photo of mine, it was simply cut out of the Life's Journey Stamp Collage Paper and it's only about 1-1/2 x 2".

Laugh Out Loud ~ It's FUNKY!

In my post yesterday, I told you that one of my New Year's resolutions was to venture out of my comfort zone in cardmaking. Then I asked if anyone had any suggestions. What was I thinking!?! LoL :)

Leave it to my dear humorous friend Sharon in NE to suggest FUNKY! I really did laugh out loud...and then I looked it up in the dictionary! Well, I knew what she meant, but thought maybe the definition would inspire me. Ha!

funk-y [adjective]

1. Smelling of something foul, especially a moldy smell, or the smell of a person who hasn't washed.

2. Having the soulful feeling of early blues

3. Stylish and modern in an unconventional way.

Needless to say, I settled on the third meaning of "funky" and tried to create a card that was stylish and modern...in an unconventional way! What do you think? Did it work? If nothing else, it gave me a chance to use this wild decorative paper I've had on my shelf for months! :)

You could say that I got a bit carried away with this card. I distressed all the edges with Versafine Vintage Sepia and then applied clear embossing powder to give it some shine. I also embossed the dots on the flower, the rings on the background and the sentiment. The large flower was "fussy cut" out of a coordinating background paper and this is the first time that I've stitched with wild reckless abandon! :) Next time, I won't apply the embossing powder to the edge because my sewing needle kept getting stuck!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for leaving comments and suggestions. It's really nice to know that someone is reading this! So...do I dare ask what style I should try next? ;)

Smiles 2 U! Pam :)

Quote for Today ~

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

Supplies ~

Stamps: Laugh out Loud - Studio G ($1 Michaels acrylic set), Stampin Up - Itty Bitty Backgrounds & Sweet Spot

Paper: Random Circles, Yellow Floral - The Paper Studio, Wild Saffron - K & Company, Stampin Up Chocolate Chip

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, clear embossing powder

Other: large brown brad, random stitching with Janome Sew Mini

A Touch of Elegance ~ With a Flourish!

It seems that most of the cards that I've created recently have been "cutesy". I'm not sure why, but apparently I'm especially drawn to all those lighthearted *cute* rubber stamps. Well, I'm here to tell you that one of my New Year's resolutions will be to venture out of my comfort zone and expand my creative horizons! :) LoL

Soooo, with that said...take a look at this *elegant* card I created today. First of all, I must say a heartfelt THANK YOU to my friend (and not-so-secret sister) Donna in Oregon who sent me this awesome Hero Arts set ~ Solid Flowers Flourish. I love it and the options are endless with what I'll be able to do with it!


I'll admit that it took me most of the morning to finish this card. :) Seriously, it didn't come easy! I started by selecting the stamp, then the patterned paper and cardstock. I used my new rectangle Nestibilities dies to cut out and emboss the cardstock before I stamped the image. For the image, I used the "direct to paper" technique and my Stampin Up markers - certainly celery, old olive, regal rose, rose red, bravo burgandy. After it was stamped, I embossed with a detail clear embossing powder to give it some sheen and depth.

The top edges were paper pierced and all edges were sponged with SU true thyme. One other extra touch was to distress the natural creme cardstock with a ball of saran wrap and Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad - old paper. It's very subtle and doesn't distract from the image itself. For the tag, I stamped "friend" on the natural cardstock and layered it on the true thyme, cutting the corners to create the tag. The finished size of this card is 5 x 7, larger than I usually make, but I love this paper and wanted plenty of it to show around the image.

What do you think? Did I pull off creating "a touch of elegance"? :) Hmmm, what should I try next? Any suggestions??? Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U All, Pam :)

Supplies ~
Stamps: Hero Arts - Solid Flowers Flourish, Stampin Up - Noteworthy
Paper: Melissa Frances - Gilbert Item #PA088 & Sandra Item #PA083, Stampin Up true thyme, purely pomegranate, natural
Ink: Stampin Up true thyme, purely pomegranate, Tim Holtz Distress Ink - old paper, clear embossing powder
Other: Stampin Up old olive organdy ribbon, antique bronze brad, Spellbinders rectangle Nestibilities, zig-zag stitching with Janome Sew Mini.

Quote for Today ~
Elegance is something more than ease; it is more than a freedom from awkwardness or restraint. It implies, I conceive, a precision, a polish, a sparkling, spirited yet delicate. ~William Hazlitt