Soul Scrappers - SENSE-ational Summer contest # 1 - the SMELLS of SUMMER

The Sweet Smell of Honeysuckle

I belong to Soul Scrappers, a fun bunch of ladies who like to scrapbook.  They have several challenges for us each month, by the way, you don't have to be a demonstrator to join, just click on my link on the right for Soul Scrappers and tell them I invited you and you can be a part of the fun over there.
This challenge is about the SENSE-ational Summer contest # 1 - the SMELLS of SUMMER.  I'll be honest with you, living in HOT So. Illinois with all of my allergies to everything outside, including GRASS, there aren't too many smells that I really enjoy.  My journal tag says it all:  I love to walk around the corner of my house and be blown away by the sweet and bold scent of the honeysuckle growing on my back fence.  The bees, butterflies and hummingbirds enjoy it also.  If you want to see the page closer, just click on the photo.
One of the challenge requirements was that there be sewing on the page.  Last time my daughter was home, I pulled out my 25 year old sewing machine and we tried to get it working, but it is destined for the trash.  Last week I decided to check out Joanne's online sewing machines and found one that I thought might fit my needs and it was 1/3 off and free shipping.  Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!(LOL you can tell I watch too much Drive-Ins, Dinners and Dives).  Sewing is not a craft that I have ever enjoyed, but I have been intrigued by the sewing I have seen on cards and scrapbook pages.  So when my machine got here, it sat in the box for FOUR days until I got the taxes sent off to the IRS! YEA!  Then, I allowed myself time to actually READ the directions(something that I do rarely) for the new sewing machine.  It is supposed to do 59 different stitches, but I only see a possibility of 25.  Luella, my daughter, is coming for a visit tonight and maybe she can help me find the other 34 stitches. LOL!!!  But, I was proud of myself that I figured out how to use the leaf stitch around the boarder of my page.  I also attempted to make my own honeysuckle flower out of paper.
I placed yellow ribbon(SU retired) behind the punched Lace Ribbon Border and it really made it pop off of the page.  I used DSP(SU retired) for the title and glued it to a cereal box before cutting it out with the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlits Dies.  If you try this at home, crank the die through the big shot three times to get it to cut through this thicker material.  Just crank until you see the die go past, stop, crank the other direction, etc.  If you let it get too far through before reversing, static electricity will move your paper and ruin your image.

Recipe:

Paper: Retired SU cardstock and DSP, More Mustard, Whisper White and So Saffron Card Stock

Ink:  Old Olive

Stamp:  French Foliage

Accessories:  Big Shot, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlits Die, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Crop-a-Dile, Stampin' Write Journal, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Retired SU Ribbon, Brother Sewing Machine, Smashed Pop Bottle Cap

Blossom Party & Faux Cloisonne

I have been designing cards for my upcoming card buffet and wanted to share one with you.  My daughter, Luella, was with me for five days and we always have a great time together designing cards and making 3D projects.  I love this retired DSP and wanted a flower to show it off so it reminded me of the Blossom Party die, it is really sad that I have had this die for over a year and never used it. :(  But the great part of having a card buffet is that I am getting all of my DSP out and my dies and having a great time creating!

Blossom Party

Isn't it just too cute?  The next card we learned how to do Faux Cloisonne in our Technique class Thursday night and I have decided to add it also to the card buffet since I love how the butterflies turned out.  Do you have a lot of glossy catalogs or old Stampin' Up! Catalogs hanging around?  When I started cleaning out my stamp room last week, I couldn't believe how many I had still, but we put them to good use with this Technique.  First the cards:

Faux Cloisonne with Flores Suaves

Isn't the butterfly so lifelike?  It is from the Flores Suaves (Soft Flowers) stamp set.  First we found a picture in the colors we wanted to use for the butterfly, then rubbed over the image with the Embossing Buddy then stamped the image using Versamark, sprinkled on black Emboss Powder (you could also use gold or silver) then heated it with a Heat Tool.  Cut them out by hand and the paper ends up feeling like plastic and really takes a bend well.  This technique works well with open stamps (not a solid image) like this butterfly or a flower.  Check out my next post that qualifies for two challenges.

VC Rocks! Blog Hop - Big Shot Madness

 

This hop is all about the Big Shot!  I decided my theme would be Recycle on the Big Shot.  I have three projects for this hop and the first project came about with the left overs from my upcoming Build a Blossom Scrapbook Pages.  I had all of the lovely negatives left from using the Swirly Sizzlit Decorative Strip Die(which retires at the end of June).  So here is the card that I designed for using that negative image:

Swirly Fabulous Florets

Recipe:

Stamp:  Fabulous Florets

Ink:

Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Cajun Craze

Paper:

Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Whisper White

Accessories:

Big Shot, Swirly Sizzlit Decorative Strip, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, White Baker's Twine

Fun Flowers 

Side View

This cute pin was designed by Annette E. Martin and I had found it over on our demonstrator board.  I fell in love with it, so I found a pair of the DH old blue jeans and made this pin, isn't it too cute?

Recipe:

Accessories:  Big Shot, Bigz L Fun Flowers Die, Pin, Very Worn Blue Jeans

Butterfly Heaven

Side View

Well, I started using a different kind of dryer sheet and noticed how thick they were and thought, a flower!  The flower was made by cutting seven dryer sheets doubled on a Flowers #3 Die(Retired), then sprayed with my own home-made Rose Red Shimmer Spray(come back next week and I will have a tutorial on how to make this spray).  I was so pleased with how it turned out.  The large butterfly was made using the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die and three different papers.  I colored some of our Basic Rhinestones with a permanent ink marker and added Dazzling Diamonds around the edge.  I was very pleased with how this one came out.  I will be teaching this card in July at our technique class.

Recipe:

Stamp:  Swirls & Curls Verses(Summer Mini Hostess)

Paper:

Confetti White(I love to use this for a card base because it is so heavy), Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride, Beyond the Garden DSP, Presto Patterns Specialty DSP(I inked this up using the Direct to Paper technique), Vellum Card Stock

Ink:  Certainly Celery, Rose Red

Accessories:  Big Shot, Flowers #3 Die(Retired), Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Two Way Glue Pen, White Baker's Twine

Now you are on your way to the next blog listed below.  Have fun and stop by again.

00-START	VC Rocks Home Blog	VC Rocks	http://vcrocks.blogspot.com/
01	Jane Hignite	Stamp With Jane	www.stampwithjane.com
02	Eileen LeFevre	Stampin' Fevre	www.elefevre.blogspot.com
03	Jayne Stenstrom	Jayne Stamps	http://jaynestamps.blogspot.com
04	Elaine Wright	I Reckon I'll Stamp	http://www.stampinreckon.blogspot.com
05	Kristi Jaenisch	Stamping in the Moonlight	www.stampinginthemoonlight.blogspot.com
06	Cindy Lubbert	Sew Much Fun with Cindy	www.cindylubbert.blogspot.com
07	Barb Furlong	The Love of Stamping	http://www.theloveofstamping.com
08	Shari Dudek	Shari's Stamp Pad	http://sharisstamppad.blogspot.com
09	Dawn Dickinson	Inkspiration by Dawn	http://dawndstamps.blogspot.com
10	Robin Messenheimer	Robins Craft Room	http://www.robinscraftroom.com
11	Tammy Q Howell	Tarheel Stamper	www.tarheelstamper.blogspot.com
12	Veronica Miller	Bluegrass Stamper Studio	http://bluegrassstamperstudio.blogspot.com/
13	Tessa Boulter	Tessa's Finds & Stamped Creations	www.tessaboulter.stampinup.net/blog
14	Debbie Martin	Clever and Cute	http://www.cleverandcute.blogspot.com/
15	Kim Abbott	Stamping Fun with Kim	http://stampingfunwithkim.blogspot.com
16	Nancy Keithley	Scrapbook Kits and more	http://fancynancykay.blogspot.com/
17	Kim Overholt	Crafting with Kim	http://craftingwithkim.blogspot.com
18	Stace Coombs	Stampin Stace	www.stampinstace.blogspot.com
19	Pam Staples	Sunny Girl Scraps	https://www.sunnygirlscraps.com
20	Marisol Gutierrez	A Touch of SOL	www.atouchofsol.blogspot.com
21	Holly (& The Dog)	InkPaperStamps	InkPaperStamps.com
22	Jackie Watson	Creative Designs by Jackie	http://jackielwatson.blogspot.com/
23	Kym Schwinkendorf	Artful Imagination	www.artfulimagination.blogspot.com
24	Heather schlagel	Stamp with me	www.stampinschlagel.blogspot.com
25	Mary Jo Price-Williams	Technostamper	http://technostamper.blogspot.com
26	Heidi Sorg	Cheekies Ink Pad	cheekiesinkpad.blogspot.com
27	Angela Walters	Life with a Wiener Dog	www.lifewithawienerdog.com
28	Shirley Northey	Stamper Shirley	http://stampershirley.blogspot.com
29	carolyn sharkas	inkingthenightaway	www.inkingthenightaway.blogspot.com
30	Diane Clark-Sutton	Stampin Ldygflr62	http://www.stampinldyglfr62.blogspot.com/
31	Mary Campbell	Mimi To Jett	http://mimitojett.blogspot.com
32	Brenda Hugar	Brenda's Stamping Corner	http://brendasstampingcorner.blogspot.com
33-LAST	Loni Holt	Loni's Life	www.loniholt.blogspot.com

Mother's Day Card Class

I finally finished the other two cards for the 5/3 Mother's Day card class.  If you don't have a special woman to give these to, we can make them into birthday or thank you cards. The first card I have seen all over the internet, but I loved it so much that I wanted to make one to share with you.  I don't know who first designed this card, but thank you, I love it.  This uses the branch from the Easter Blossoms, I just love this stamp set and I hope it carries over to the new catalog in July.

CASEd Mother's Day Blossoms

Recipe:

Stamp:  Easter Blossoms, Something to Celebrate

Paper:

Pretty in Pink, Confetti White and Early Espresso Card Stock

Ink:

Early Espresso

Accessories:

Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Uni-Ball White Signo Ball Pen

Mother Four Frames Flower Garden

Starting May 1st our new Summer Mini Catalog starts.  I am so excited about the new Flower Garden Embossing Folder that is in the new catalog.  See how beautifully it embosses the card stock?   You are just limited by your own imagination.  I had a new package of Peach Parfait card stock to be opened, so I consulted my Color Coach for suggested color combination with the Peach Parfait.  I just love the resulting colors together, don't you?

Recipe:

Stamp:

Four Frames

Paper:

Whisper White, Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Pear Pizzazz In Color DSP Paper Pack

Ink:

Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso Markers

Accessories:

Big Shot, Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch

Nature Walk Shadow Box

First I would like to say thank you to UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! Oh My Word!! Edition 2011.  This site has some very talented ladies on it and I have CASEd this from one of them, Nancy Horn, thanks so much Nancy!  This is our class project for Monday night.  I can't wait to see what my talented ladies do with this shadow box.

Front Cover Shadow Box

Shadow Box

Spine of Shadow Box

Inside of Shadow Box

Back cover of Shadow Box

Well, after promising this for a month, I finally had to get sick to finish it, sad I know.  And here is the Recipe:

Stamp:

  Nature Walk

Paper:

  Botanical Gazette and First Edition DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and Naturals Ivory Card Stock

Ink:

Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede and Early Espresso Classic Inks

Stampin' Write Markers:  Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant and Bashful Blue

Accessories:

papier-mache book, Vanilla Pearl 1/2" Simply Adorned Baubles, Purchased nest

Botanical Gazette Initial

Our class tomorrow night is a creativity class where my ladies will be bringing their own papier-mache initial and will decorate it with my papers to match their own style. 

Botanical Gazette Initial

I have decorated mine using the First Edition DSP and also the Botanical Gazette DSP which is currently my favorite paper.  I cut out bees, butterflies and moths from the DSP and colored them with our great Stampin' Write Markers.  Here are some closer details.  See the large pearl hanging from the flower, that is the Simply Adorned Bauble Vanilla Pearl 1/2", don't you just love it?

I'll add pictures of the initials created in class so you can see what a talented group of ladies I create with.

Clock Class - Beautiful Results

We had our clock class last night and here are the pictures from my very talented class:

Mari'sSpringtime Vintage, Mine behind with Love Letter, Jodi's Lap of Luxury

Paula making her Love Letters

Sabrina, Alecia and BJ with Botanical Gazette  Isn't it amazing how different they turned out using the same DSP?

Shirley's with Elegant Soiree

I had them order their DSP they wanted to use ahead of time.  Each clock was a thing of beauty and all so different.  I know some of these ladies plan on making more clocks.

Very Vintage Nature Walk CD Folder Album

Very Vintage Nature Walk CD Folder Album

I am so excited to share this album with you.  I am giving a class on this album on March 27th.  Stampin' Up! has done an excellent job on the Nature Walk stamp set and the matching DSP Botanical Gazette.  I believe that this combination is my all-time favorite since I became a demonstrator in August 2009.
When I first became a new demonstrator, Patty Bennett had a free tutorial on her blog for a CD Folder Album.  I have since modified that tutorial to fit my CD Folders and customized it to my own tastes.  Thanks to Patty for helping me along my way.  Here are more pictures:

Just love butterflies, birds and especially bees since we have eleven bee hives at our house.  Now if they would just come out with a hosta stamp I would be in seventh heaven since we have a hosta business with almost 100 varieties of hosta.
I forgot on the Watercolor Wonder Crayon Wall Art to mention that my favorite daughter, Luella (also my only daughter, LOL) taught me the techniques I used to make the wall art.  She is a very talented young lady and I am waiting for her to get moved permanently so that she can join my team...I need to start thinking of a team name...do you have any suggestions?  I would love to have you as a member of my team also, and now is the perfect time to join our Stampin' Up! team of Independent Demonstrators.  Through March 31st the New Demonstrator Starter Kit is 15% off and you also receive a Bonus Bundle worth $50 for FREE!  If you have been thinking about this, now is the time.  My team members will be trained by me and I will be happy to help you get started in this terrific career.  Stamping is my happy place and I would like to share that with you!  Click HERE to start your own business!

Recipe:

Stamps:

Nature Walk, Notes & Details, En Francais, Sanded, French Filigree

Paper:

Botanical Gazette, Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Ink:

Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue, Basic Black

Accessories:

Manila Tags, Kraft CD Folders, Stampin' Sponge, Tombow Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Cutter

Springtime Scalloped Circle Easel Card

Springtime Scalloped Circle Easel Card

Finally finished the last card for my Monday night card class.  I have Bronwyn Eastley to thank for her great tutorial on her blog: addinktivedesigns .  I was inspired by two challenges with this card.  The first was Creative-Sketches CS16T and the challenge was to use punches or dies on the card and used both with this one.  The second made me think of spring: Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge SCIC #36

I pulled out the Easter Blossoms stamp set and used the cherry branch for the center of my circle.  I just love pink and brown together, don't you?

 

 

 

Recipe:

Stamps:

Punch Potpourri

Easter Blossoms 

Ink:

Classic Soft Suede 

Regal Rose Marker 

Paper:

Chocolate Chip 12x12

Regal Rose

Pretty in Pink

Accessories:

Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Up! Satin Ribbon

Basic Pearls 

Jumbo Brads 

2 Step Bird Punch  

Boho Blossoms Punch  

Full Heart Punch 

Scallop Oval Punch 

1-3/4 X 7/8 Inch Oval Punch  

Scallop Circle Bigz Die  

3 Inch Circle Originals Die 

3-1/2 Inch Circle Originals Die  

Paper-Piercing Tool  

Mat Pack 

Tomorrow I am mailing off 62 cards to Operation Write Home.  I am so proud of my group of stampers!

 

Cracked Glass Butterfly Thanks Card

Cracked Glass Butterfly

Cracked Glass Butterfly Thanks Card

Jodie asked me to make this butterfly after she had watched Tami White on YouTube: Cracked Glass Butterfly Technique.  This is my challenge day and this card qualifies for two challenges, the first (with 9 minutes to spare in posting before the deadline) is Stampin' Royalty Challenge #54. The second challenge is Technostamper Challenge #157 which is also a blog hop.

Recipe:

Stamps:
Punch Potpourri 
Perfect Punches 

Paper:
Designer Series Paper Pack-In Color Hostess
Confetti White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
Concord Crush
Marina MistOld Olive

Ink:
Marina Mist 

Accessories:
Brights Glimmer Brads 
Stampin' Dimensionals 
Linen Thread 
5 Petal Flower Punch 
Butterfly Punch 
Boho Blossoms Punch 
Scallop Oval Punch