SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS60 SCRAPNEXTRAS

Today's SCS Featured Stamper (FS60) features the gallery of one of my FAVORITE stamping artists, Laura Fredrickson, scrapnextras on SCS! Laura's creations are always unique and jaw-dropping. You can view her SCS Gallery HERE and her blog, Scrapnextras HERE.

THIS is Laura's card I chose to case. I've always liked the unique simplicity of her card, and thought it might look really cool using this week's SCS Color Challenge (CC159) ... Soft Sky, Basic Gray/Basic Black, and Whisper White. I made this card really late last night, and woke up this morning to photograph it, only to realize that I neglected to use one of the colors in the color challenge! ... and of all the colors to forget .... Whisper White! I guess it just wasn't meant to be in the Color Challenge. I must have been really tired when I made this card because now I'm realizing that the only thing I changed from Laura's original ... the colors. Everything else is the same. Boy, I really messed up on this one, huh?!RECIPE
Stamps: A Beautiful Thing
Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Soft Sky DP
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink Pad and Versamark
Embellishments: Basic Black Button, Black Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

GREAT GRADS SFYTT

This card uses Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try ... LOVE Jen's sketch, not so sure about my card! Believe it or not, this card was a 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" card, and it just didn't look balanced .... so, I chopped off a bit of it, and it now measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/4". A little on the short side, but you get the picture.

This graduation card features the stamp set Great Grads and the Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel. The colors of Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, More Mustard, and Wild Wasabi were taken from the East Coast Prep Designer Paper.

The main image medallion is stamped on Whisper White CS in Tempting Turquoise and again in Real Red. The "G" is punched out with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch, and the More Mustard ring around the "G" was created by punching with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch, then again with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch. I used the 2-way glue pen to glue the More Mustard ring onto the "G". The Whisper White CS piece with the Real Red "graduate" ring was cut out with my Creative Memories Custom Cutting System that I've had for years. That circle measures 2", and the Wild Wasabi circle measures 2 1/4".

RECIPE
Stamps: Great Grads, Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel
Paper: East Coast Prep DP, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, More Mustard, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Versamark, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, and Wild Wasabi Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: More Mustard Brads
Tools: Star Punch, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Creative Memories Custom Cutting System (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, 2-way glue pen

MARCH weSTAMP DEMO MEETING and SWAP

Last night was our March weSTAMP Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Group meeting, a monthly get-together that we all very much look forward to! Our weSTAMP group is growing and growing with downline from Lorri Heiling and myself (plus one lovingly adopted demo, Pam Wood!).

Our weSTAMP monthly meetings include a make 'n take project, recognition, education, a three-minute demo, date reminders, planning ahead, a door prize, and themed swap. Last night, Linda Bickley provided the 3 minute demo showing us how to make beaded pens with Stampin' Up! Designer Paper and Micro Beads. I failed to get a photo of this month's door prize provided by Pam Wood. Jessica Blair won the handmade bracelet and beautiful gift bag decorated with Stampin' Up! Rub-Ons.

Here's a photo of those in attendance. "Hello" (waving frantically!) to our out-of-town weSTAMP group members (Kori, Tracy, Mauna, and Joyce), and of course the in town demos that couldn't make it.Ginny Schembri brought homemade snacks in these wonderfully stamped Martha Stewart boxes. Such a beautiful presentation!
This is the Make 'n Take project I provided ... cased from my cyberspace friend Carol Frerichs, Stamp Like Crazy. This card features the new Tart & Tangy stamp set and Summer Picnic DP from the new Occasions Mini Catalog. We used the chalkboard technique on the apple images. See a complete tutorial by Beate Johns for the chalkboard technique HERE on SCS. RECIPE FOR APPLE CARD
Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Phrases for a Friend
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, Basic Black and Whisper White CS
Ink: White Craft, Real Red Classic, Chalks: Red/Olive/Brown
Embellishments: Black Gingham Ribbon, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Old Olive Poly-Twill Ribbon
Supplies: Sponge Dauber and Applicators for Chalks, Swiffer Cloth

SWAP CARDS ... Our swap theme this month was Mother's Day ... full card or 3-D item.

by Adriana Gray ... by Leah Sinatra ... by Lorri Heiling ...
by Anne Fundner ... by Pam Wood ... by Ginny Schembri ... by Linda Bickley ... by Jessica Blair ... by Diana Clarkson ... by me ...RECIPE for Punch Purse Card
Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Cutie Pie DP, Rose Red, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, and Certainly Celery Prints DP and CS, Basic Black CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Gold Brads, Black Gingham Ribbon
Tools: Round Tab Punch, Word Window Punch, Small & Large Oval Punch, 1 ½” Square Punch

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS59 PICKLETREE X 2

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! We attended a beautiful church service, and had a delicious outdoor meal with family. For those of you still in snow, yes, we actually ate our Easter meal outdoors with a breeze that was just perfect enough to keep the sun from becoming too warm. OK ... I'm rubbing it in! You can all rub it in to me in July and August!

This is a first ... last night I was able to create TWO cards for the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge FS59! This FS Challenge features the gallery of Amy Sheffer, PickleTree on SCS. Amy's blog is Pickled Paper Designs.

Ummm .... have I ever mentioned how much I love the new Stampin' Up! Flower Fusion? I used them for both of my FS59 cards! HERE is the first card of Amy's I cased. The things I changed from Amy's original include using different colors and designer papers, and using the Flower Fusion for the center medallion instead of a stamped image.
RECIPE
Stamps: None
Paper: Bali Breeze DP, Rose Red and Taken With Teal CS
Ink: None
Embellishments: "just because" Rub-Ons from SAB Love & Happiness, Flower Fusion, Turquoise Ice Circle Rhinestone Brad
Tools: Scallop Circle Punch
Notes: Card measures 8 1/2" x 4 1/4", scored at 4 1/4". Taken With Teal squares measure 2" x 2". Bali Breeze squares measure 1 7/8" x 1 7/8"

This next card cases Amy's card HERE. I kept the very same layout, just changed up the colors, used Flower Fusion (again!) instead of stamped flowers, and used a Rub-On sentiment from A Perfect Day (Occasions Mini) instead of a stamped sentiment.

RECIPE
Stamps: None
Paper: Old Olive, Rose Red, and Taken With Teal CS
Ink: None
Embellishments: "You're so Sweet" Rub-On from A Perfect Day (Occasions Mini), Flower Fusion, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brads
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template

BEATE'S WEEKEND SKETCH CHALLENGE WSC40

I can't believe our Spring Break is almost over already. Allie returned home last night from Florida. She spent the week near Tampa in a beach house with her best friend, Britt, and her family. This is the second time Britt's family has taken Allie with them to Florida, and last year, they took her along to Washington DC! Britt's family is so good to Allie!

Drew stayed busy with his friends over break, and even made some money filling in on a couple of his sister's babysitting jobs!

This is the card I made for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge WSC40. I am in love with Stampin' Up! Felt Flower Fusion!!! Although I'm not quite sure how crazy I am about my card as a whole, I AM liking the flower! My flower seemed to be floating on the card, so I added the swirl from SAB Friendship Blooms to anchor it. The "thinking of you" sentiment is from the new Phrases for a Friend, the Ribbon Slide is from the new Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, and the ribbon is the new Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon ... ALL from the current Occasions Mini Catalog.

Here is a close-up of my flower. Starting at the bottom layer: I used the 5-Petal Flower Punch for (a) Old Olive, (b) Rose Red, and (c) Chocolate Chip, then Flower Fusion in (d) Pumpkin Pie, (e) Rose Red, then (f) Old Olive. The center of the flower is a Pumpkin Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad.

RECIPE
Stamps: Phrases for a Friend, Friendship Blooms
Paper: Bali Breeze DP, Chocolate Chip and Rose Red CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: Flower Fusion, Pumpkin Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad, Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon, Style Silver Ribbon Slider Hodgepodge Hardware
Tools: 5-Petal Flower Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template, Ticket Corner Punch
Supplies: Pop-Up Glue Dot, Stampin' Dimensionals

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter holiday !!!! We'll be going to church then having dinner at John's Aunt Shirley's house with family, and visiting John's mom, Ada.

EASTER RAK

I received this adorable Easter RAK from Ginny Schembri the other day! Ginny is a fellow weSTAMP member, and her card uses the Stampin' Up! stamp set, A Good Egg. It's hard to tell in the photograph, but the chicks are very glittery!

SCS SKETCH CHALLENGE SC168

This card uses SCS Sketch Challenge 168. This is one of those cards that I keep looking and looking at, and just can't decide whether I like it or not. Is there just too much going on? I do know that I like how it uses the new Jersey Shore DP, the Wild Wasabi Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, and the For A Friend Level One Hostess Stamp Set. RECIPE
Stamps: For A Friend (Level One Hostess)
Paper: Jersey Shore DP, Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, and Pumpkin Pie Markers
Embellishments: Brilliant Blue and Bashful Blue Brads, Wild Wasabi Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Word Window Punch
Dimensions: Overall card dimensions 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4".
Panel #2 top - 1/4" x 5 1/2", Panel #2 bottom - 1/2" x 5 1/2".
Panel #3-a: 1 3/8" x 2 3/8", Panel #3-b: 2" x 2 3/8", Panel #3-c: 2 1/8" x 2 3/8".
Sentiment Panel: 1" x 2 1/4"

LOVE & HAPPINESS RUB-ONS

I can't believe Sale-A-Bration ends today. That time went by really fast. Hope everyone earned all the neat stamp sets on their wish list!

I just had to show you a really quick and simple thing I did with my Sale-A-Bration Love & Happiness Rub-Ons. My friend, Karen Laub (nikesmom on SCS) , gave me this reed diffuser for Christmas, and I dressed it up a little with Stampin' Up! rub-ons. These reed diffusers are so popular right now, and I know many of you have them around your home. It took me seconds to alter it with Stampin' Up! Rub-Ons! The SAB Love & Happiness Rub-Ons come in white, black, old olive, and chocolate chip (as seen in the photo). Stampin' Up! Rub-Ons can be used on paper and most nonporous surfaces, even glass, photos, clipboards, candles, and more.

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS58 BECKYTE

This card is for SCS Featured Stamper Challenge FS58, featuring the beautiful gallery of beckyTE. HERE is beckyTE's card I chose to case. I kept Becky's layout, but changed the stamp set to A Good Egg, papers, colors, and embellishments to Spring Fling and Pretty In Pink, So Saffron, and Certainly Celery. I used my new Cuttlebug embossing folder, Swiss Dots, on the So Saffron background piece. The egg image from A Good Egg is paper pieced using Spring Fling DP and So Saffron CS, and was inspired by the catalog sample on pg. 30.


RECIPE
Stamps: A Good Egg
Paper: Spring Fling DP, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and Whisper White DP
Ink: Basic Black
Embellishments: Pink Gingham Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Brads, So Saffron Button with DMC #772 Embroidery Floss (non-SU)
Tools: Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (non-SU), Photo Corner Punch, 1/8" Handheld Circle Punch
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

DREW HUMOR

My 13-year old son, Drew, has a great sense of humor, and this morning he came up with a doozie! He has a birthday party to attend this afternoon for a classmate. I had a handstamped card for the birthday boy, pulled out a few sentiment stamp sets, and asked Drew to choose a sentiment for the inside of the card. After looking at a few of them, Drew says, "Here, why don't I show up late, and we'll use this one?", while pointing to the stamp on the right. CRACK ME UP !!!!!

WELCOME MAUNA AND NIKKI !!!!!

Two talented and enthusiastic stampers have joined my Stampin' Up! creative team during Sale-A-Bration!

Mauna, Ink~Paper~Scissors

and

Nikki, Nurse Nikki's Blog Spot

WELCOME MAUNA and NIKKI !!!!!

MARCH STAMP CLASS PROJECTS

These are the projects I had available at my March Stamp Classes .. four cards featuring Sale-A-Bration stamp sets, and one Easter card. We had such a great time at both classes ... I've got the BEST customers/friends anyone could ask for!

This first card was designed with the help of SCS Sketch Challenge 166 (SC166). The chick/egg image from A Good Egg stamp set was stamped four times; once on Whisper White, once on So Saffron, and twice on the Certainly Celery polka dot from Spring Fling DP. There is paper piercing horizontally across the top and bottom border of the Pretty In Pink CS base. Inspired by speedystamper's card HERE.
RECIPE
Stamps: A Good Egg
Paper: Spring Fling DP, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink Pad, Pumpkin Pie Marker for chick’s nose
Embellishments: Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon, So Saffron or Certainly Celery Buttons
Tools: Paper Snips, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots
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This next card is a case of one of my own designs found HERE using SAB Friendship Blooms. I simply changed the colors to Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, and Real Red.
RECIPE
Stamps: Friendship Blooms (SAB)
Paper: Soft Sky and Blue Bayou Prints DP, Whisper White, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, and Real Red CS
Ink: Real Red, Blue Bayou Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Real Red Brads, Adhesive Rhinestone (non-SU)
Tools: Boho Blossoms Punch
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Pop-Up Glue Dots
************
This next card uses SAB Birthday Whimsy and is cased from Jean Stayton's original HERE. Jean's new blog is Bear Hugs and Inky Paws. I love the way Jean used a portion of the Scallop Punch for the icing on the cake, along with the Trio Flower Punch and Brad. The White Gel Pen was used to add dots to each scallop, and Diamond Stickles (non-SU) were used on the birthday candles.
RECIPE
Stamps: Birthday Whimsy (SAB)
Paper: Berry Bliss DP, Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Brad
Tools: Ticket Corner Punch Scallop Punch, Trio Flower Punch
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals, White Gel Pen, Diamond Stickles (non-SU)
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I've shown this next SAB So Many Scallops card on my blog before because this is the card I cased from Taylor VanBruggen for our weSTAMP swap (here). See Taylor's original card HERE on her blog, Taylored Expressions.
RECIPE
Stamps: So Many Scallops (SAB), Polka Dot Background Stamp, Garden Whimsy, and Sincere Salutations
Paper: Ginger Blossom DP, River Rock, Ruby Red, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Ruby Red, Groovy Guava, and River Rock Classic Ink Pads, Versamark
Embellishments: Gold Brads
Tools: ½” Circle Punch, Scallop Punch
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals
************
The last card features the SAB stamp set, Merci and was cased from {Teneale} on SCS. See her original card HERE.
RECIPE
Stamps: Merci (SAB)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Rose Red, Perfect Plum, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Basic Gray, Rose Red, Perfect Plum, and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pads, Rose Red, Old Olive, and Perfect Plum Watercolor Crayons with Blender Pen
Embellishments: Rose Red Brads, Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

YOU MAKE MY DAY

Unfortunately, I still don't have any stamped items to share with you, but I will at the end of the week. I've been doing everything BUT stamping and can't WAIT to get freed up to do some challenges!

We found a prom dress for Allie on Saturday, and she was asked to prom on Friday which made it even more important to find "the dress". We found a gorgeous red dress that was, by no surprise, over my budget ... ughh!

My cousin, Crystal, from North Carolina spent a couple of days with us, and left yesterday. We hadn't seen each other for about 23 years (she was 5 or 6 when I last saw her!). We had a great time getting re-acquainted, and showing her the diversity of Arizona by driving her to Montezuma's Castle, through Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, Flagstaff, and back to Phoenix on Monday.

I am holding two stamp classes in my home tomorrow and have been preparing for those yesterday and today.

I'm looking forward to stamping again after I get Allie off to Tampa, Florida for Spring Break on Saturday. She's traveling with her best friend and her family....lucky girl!

Two of the most talented stampers I know awarded me with this beautiful "You Make My Day" award: Laura from Scrapnextras, and Chat from Me, My Stamps, and I. Laura and Chat inspire me DAILY with their creativity!

Every single one of my readers make my day, especially when you leave awesome comments! Comments mean so much, and are so very motivating! Feel free to consider yourself tagged just for reading, okay?! Here are just a few of the awesome bloggers that leave me lots of comments that make my days:

Pesc, Pescbrico
Jimi, Stamping With Jimi
Alex, California Stampin'
Amy, amygdesigns

FRIEND PHOTO FRAME

I've been a busy girl cutting lots of cardstock for my stamp class next week, and plan to spend the next couple of days cleaning house to get ready for more company. The weekend holds more prom dress shopping with Allie and company staying with us for a couple of days. I guess what I'm trying to say is ... I'm sorry, in advance, for being a bad blogger! (As much as I'd LOVE to do a challenge card every single day, I'm only one person! ... yikes!)

I'll be giving away this photo frame as a door prize at my class next week. It is completely cased from the incredibly talented Joanne Basil, ...just a little something... Joanne said it literally took her two minutes to alter her $5 Target photo frame, so I thought I'd give it a shot since I had a Target photo frame begging to be altered, and the Sale-A-Bration Love & Happiness Rub-Ons waiting to be used! Yep, Joanne was right .... it took literally two minutes and was super easy with eye-appealing results!

The Love & Happiness Rub-Ons come in four colors -- White, Black, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip .... and can be yours FREE as a Sale-A-Bration choice with any $50 Stampin' Up! purchase until March 17.

Off to cut more cardstock ...
Thanks for looking!

NEW OCCASSIONS MINI CATALOG IS HERE!

Stampin' Up! has done it again ... they're offering more must-have items in the new Occasions Mini Collection! ... new stamp sets that are all Die-Cut!, more Rub-Ons, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Carousel Notes, Poly-Twill Ribbon in Chocolate Chip and Old Olive, and new Designer Paper Packs ... to name a few. You can order from the new Occasions Mini March 1 - May 31, 2008. View the online Occasions catalog HERE.

Don't forget ... you can still earn FREE stamp sets from the Sale-A-Bration catalog until March 17, 2008! Earn one free stamp set for every $50 purchase from the new Occasions Mini Collection or Spring-Summer '08 Collection catalogs.

Contact me for further ordering or class information ... nrileycm@cox.net.

WHAT'S BREWING?

I'm posting much later than I had planned today ... I promised Allie I'd take her shopping this afternoon for a prom dress. If you know me, you know I don't care for shopping, especially when it is in a mall. And shopping for a prom dress is no easy task ... they're all made for barbie doll figures, not normal teenager figures! geezh! Not to mention, they're all very sexy ... hard to find a "hip" dress that is a little conservative! Unfortunately, we came home empty handed, and our search continues. Onto the card ...

This coffee mug image and sentiment are just two of the coffee-themed images from the new Paper Pretties stamp set, Look Who's Perky. I made this card using Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try from 2/23/08.

The flower on the coffee mug is a SAB Love & Happiness Rub-On in Old Olive, and the ribbon is the new Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon in the new Occasions Mini Collection 2008. I finally used some of my Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware (I must quit hoarding that stuff!).

RECIPE
Stamps: Look Who's Perky from Paper Pretties
Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, and Old Olive CS, Old Olive Prints DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Old Olive Classic Ink
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon, SAB Love & Happiness Rub-Ons (Old Olive), Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware
Tools: 1 1/4", 1 3/8", and Scallop Circle Punches, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Note: All Supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS56 PETAL PUSHER

Today's Featured Stamper on SCS (FS56) is Mary, aka Petal Pusher on SCS. THIS is Mary's card I chose to case today, and HERE is Mary's SCS gallery. The things I changed from Mary's card include: a) different DP and colors, b) added paper piercing along the horizontal section and on the scallop medallion, c) my sentiment is below the main image, and d) I used the ticket corner punch on the Pretty In Pink CS bordering the main image.

I used my new Watercolor Crayons to color in the chick .... I just got them on Friday, and they were FREE! ... my Senior Supervisor promotion bonus from Stampin' Up! woohoo! The chick's shell is paper pieced from Spring Fling DP.

I'm not completely thrilled with the end result of this card, but it just felt good to be able to stamp, even if it wasn't my idea of the ideal stamping time ... I think I started this card around noon today, leaving it several times to do other things, coming back to it several times, and finally finishing it around 7:00 tonight ... lots of interruptions!
RECIPE
Stamps: A Good Egg
Paper: Spring Fling DP, Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, and So Saffron CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie Watercolor Crayons
Embellishments: Certainly Celery Brad, Pretty In Pink Brad
Tools: Word Window Punch, Trio Flower Punch, 3/4", 1", 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Paper Piecing Tool/Mat/Template, Aquapainter
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals