Happy Moments Birthday Cake

I saw this card on SU's Stampin Connection by Kim O'Connell and thought it was so sweet. I tweaked it a little bit to meet my taste but another nice simple card. Hope you enjoy it.

M.

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted.

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla and Sending Love Specialty DSP.

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink.

Stamps: Happy Moments.

Ribbon: Pink Organza.*

Misc.: Dimensionals.

My Digital Studio

Updated Look!

If you haven't had the chance to check out this New Stampin' Up! product!
Here is a short clip on MY DIGITAL STUDIO!

Lisa's Notebook

A gift from a friend is meaningful on many levels, as you know. This gorgeous mini-book was made especially for me by Lisa Cool, and I can't imagine anything more beautiful! She took the time to observe my tastes in color and style, listened to my love of books and writing, challenged me to stretch and try new things and then gave me this as a visual record of the fact that I did, and became more than I was in the process.

Lisa used an emboss resist technique, sponging, and the gorgeous new Vintage Vogue stamp set and Very Vintage wheel to cover this SU! 5x5 Art Journal.

Next time you wonder if it's worth making your gifts, I vote a resounding YES! It's a great way to say that the little details that make the recipient unique, matter to you.

Kathy

Happy Moments Birthday

Materials: All material is Stampin' Up!
Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal and Sweet Pea DSP.
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Taken with Teal.
Stamps: Happy Moments.
Punches: Curly Label.
Misc.: Dimensionals.

Friends 24-7

Materials: All materials Stampin' Up!
Paper: Whisper White, Going Grey, Basic Grey and Pale Plum.
Ink: Pale Plum, Green Galore and Versa Mark.
Stamps: Friends 24-7 and En Francais.
Punches: Scallop Edge.
Ribbon: Organza.
Misc.: Dimensionals.

Butterfly Friend

Another project in pink and brown, but with such a different look and feel. One of the things I love about this craft is how you can give a group of people the same basic set of supplies, and end up with so much variety! Deb also used paper from Sending Love, but added details with the new Pinking Hearts border punch and (my personal favorite) the Beautiful Wings Embossilts Die which cuts and embosses in a single pass through the Big Shot.

I like to have a few general cards like this on hand. I can add a quick sentiment stamp inside to make it specific to birthday, get well, etc., or I can just grab and go, writing what I need to say as part of the message.

Kathy

Felt Flowering Heart

Another project from our demo stamping day in Topeka, this one designed for us by Deloris Carroll. It's such a luxury to go to an event like this with one project (and one swap), and return home with a dozen!! Don't you love the satin ribbon? I'm going to get a stash before the Occasions mini catalog expires. The DSP is the sparkly "Sending Love" - just takes a little bit to set the tone for the card. The felt flower is made by running the "Scallop Circle #2" die through the Big Shot, then running a quick stitch through with contrasting thread. One other very clever touch is the leaf, a punched oval shape that has been scored and folded in half lengthwise before being run through the crimper (a.k.a. paper torturing tool).

Good eye for detail, Deloris!

Kathy

Heart & Home

Looking for a simple way to change up your decor? Fellow demonstrator Arla Ogle put together this super-quick project at a recent stamp day for local demonstrators. She had a number of empty frames acquired from cleaning out the home of an elderly relative. We trimmed some "Welcome Neighbor" designer series paper (a free Sale-a-bration item) to fit inside the frame opening, then cut letters from a new color of sheet vinyl with the Big Shot (which we placed on the outside of the glass). Peel and stick. What could be simpler than that?!

Thanks, Arla, for a great idea.

Kathy

February 2010 Stamp Club

Did you miss stamp club this month? Karen, our February hostess, is ready for spring so she asked me to design some garden markers for the group to make. These are made of wood, so if you use them outside, they'll need 4 coats of spar varnish or some weatherproof protective covering. I couldn't resist adding this little flowerpot card to the mix, I'd seen it several places and it's just such a happy promise of things to come! Catch you later - feel a need to do a little bonding with my seed catalogs... Kathy

Sometimes Love is Blue

At a recent demonstrator meeting we challenged ourselves to create Valentines without using the traditional colors of red and pink! Here are a couple of examples from that swap (the card on the left was created by Deb Rethman, the card on the right is unsigned). And by the way, if you've never participated in a swap, you're missing out on loads of fun. Everyone interprets the theme so differently, I can hardly wait to see what they'll come up with next!

Kathy

Valentine Bouquet

Lisa is someone who has mentored me as a stamper and taken the time to show me the ropes back when I was a new demonstrator. She has generously invited me to meet with her "stamping family" and given me (and many others) a place in which to grow. I wanted to do something that would remind her of what she has meant to me, so I made up this little ensemble to say it for me whenever she sees it!

Thank you, Lisa, for all that you've invested in me. Kathy

Note: My idea for the "heart pops" was inspired by the work of fellow demonstrator Kristy Schalk. The idea for making the spiral streamers (by winding a thin strip of DSP around a skewer) in the bow was my own. KN


All supplies Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Ink: Rich Razzleberry classic
Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP; scraps of Pretty in Pink and perfect Plum
Accessories: Heart Treat Cups; white organza and Melon Mambo 5/8" polkadot ribbon; large oval, curly label, and full heart punches; galvanized pitcher from Target, lollipop sticks, egg-shaped styrofoam, moss

Rosemary for Remembrance

Maybe it's my age. Maybe it's the fact that "modern" medicine can put a name to just about every ailment known to (wo)man and we can instantly and electronically communicate our status to each other. Maybe it's just that long, dark dormant season between late summer and early spring that we endure each year. Whatever it is, I find that I'm needing sympathy cards on a regular basis, and I'm hearing the same thing from many of you!

THEREFORE, and because my calendar is not being otherwise cooperative, I am going to prepare a selection of "sympathy" and "thinking of you" cards in a stamp-a-stack format and have them available at my regularly-scheduled work night on February 18 (7-10:00pm here at the studio). You'll be able to make however many you want of whichever designs you want for just $1/card (envelopes not included). Pre-registration is not required; however, if you know you'll be stopping by, it would be helpful if you'd drop me a line! Kathy

Comment Crises & Candy

OK. You may have been wondering what happened with the blog candy giveaway we promised?! (See post on January 18.) We have been getting repeated reports from folks who have tried to post comments to enter, but have been unable to do so. We've been working on this, and hope we've got it resolved! Take a peek in the column to your right. You'll see a simple step-by-step "how-to" for leaving comments. Give it a try! It's simpler than it looks. And as previously noted, if this doesn't work for you, you can always enter for the giveaway by e-mailing us at idyllwildestudios@gmail.com. Remember, you're answering the question

"What type of project are you most often looking for when you blog surf?"

Thanks for your patience as we learn to navigate blogland. We will hold the formal drawing for the winner on Monday, February 15, assuming we have at least 10 new posts (if you've already left a comment or sent an e-mail, we're holding on to your name so don't worry!). Kathy

Kimono Girls

OK, all I can say is that I am having waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much fun with these little gals as I prepare for the Asia Inspired class on Saturday! These cuties are turning out to be a super way to use up scraps. My daughter thinks I should draw faces on them but I kinda like them as is... so you can each decide for yourselves!

I still have a few spaces left in the class, which will be held from 2-5pm. And if you can't make it Saturday afternoon, talk to me about setting up an alternate date/time!

Kathy