FLOWER POWER MOJO

This card uses the new FLOWER POWER SIMPLY SENT CARD ELEMENTS KIT that you'll see in the new Stampin' Up! catalog. These are soooo my colors! ... OLD OLIVE, ROSE RED, MORE MUSTARD and PERFECT PLUM. I have a feeling this kit is going to be the one that replaces my love for the Crew Kids Girl SSK! Makes card making so easy! The Textured Cardstock, Striped Designer Paper, More Mustard Grosgrain Ribbon, Self-Adhesive Die Cuts, and More Mustard Brad are all from the Flower Power Kit. I also used the new Scallop Border Punch for the scalloped border below the designer paper.

For this card, I used Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday Sketch #48.

RECIPE

Stamps: sentiment from Absolutely Fabulous

Paper: Rose Red and Old Olive Textured CS and Striped DP from Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements Kit

Ink: Basic Black

Embellishments: Self-Adhesive Die Cuts, More Mustard Brad and Grosgrain Ribbon from Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements Kit

Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Piercing Tool

Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

JUST BECAUSE

My friend and SU sideline, Lorri Heiling is at the Stampin' Up! Convention with other weSTAMPers, and I'm insanely jealous that I'm not there with them! I can't believe I'm missing out on all that Stampin' Up! fun! Lorri has called from Salt Lake City several times to fill me in on all the happenings - specifically new products in the new, upcoming Stampin' Up! catalog. Among many NEW products and stamp sets, some products from the mini catalogs have made it into the new catty. When I heard that the Tart & Tangy stamp set, Summer Picnic designer paper, and the Mini Library Clips made it into the new catty, I had to celebrate by making a card with them! I used yesterday's Sketch Challenge #187 for the layout.

RECIPE
Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Define Your Life
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, and Old Olive
Embellishments: Black Mini Library Clip, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

BAROQUE MOTIFS GRID TECHNIQUE

This card uses this week's Color Challenge #177 on SCS of Groovy Guava, Whisper White, and Sahara Sand, along with the Grid Technique for a faux tile look. I have been wanting to try this technique for so long, and I think Baroque Motifs is the perfect stamp set for it. The results remind me of tiled kitchen backsplash. HERE is a wonderful Grid Technique Tutorial by Beate Johns.

Besides the obvious ...
* I scored the Whisper White CS every 1/2" before stamping the Baroque Motifs images so the faux grout lines stay white.
* The flower image on the Sahara Sand background piece was stamped in Versamark.
* There are two Groovy Guava small ovals staggered behind the Whisper White oval with the sentiment stamped in Groovy Guava.
* Overall card size is 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".RECIPE
Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Paper: Groovy Guava Prints DP, Groovy Guava, Whisper White, and Sahara Sand CS
Ink: Sahara Sand, Groovy Guava, and Versamark
Embellishments: Groovy Guava Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Self Adhesive Half Pearls (non-SU)
Tools: Small Oval Punch, Scor-Pal (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

RAKS from CAROL AND LISA

More wonderful hand stamped cards landed in my mailbox this week from stamping/blogging friends!

from Carol Frerichs ...from Lisa Henke ...

DOIN' THE HAPPY DANCE!!!

Well, I'm NOT doin' the happy dance LITERALLY because as I mentioned two posts ago I'm a little crippled up this weekend. I'm doin' the dance inside because my card was chosen in the TOP TEN of Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #17 !!!! It looks as though there were over 200 entries! I'm keeping good company in the TOP TEN ... see them HERE. For details about my card, see the original post HERE.

TWO-WAY OPEN CARDS

I created these two-way open cards for SCS Featured Stamper #77, Julia, known as artystamper on SCS. HERE is Julia's card I chose to case. I had never made these two-way open cards before ... boy, are they FUN and EASY to make! The Stampin' Up! designer papers make the possibilities endless! I used Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin' Kit and Summer Picnic DP for my samples.

Click HERE for a tutorial on how to make these. The tutorial does not include the belly band which measures 11" x 1", and is scored at 3 3/8" and 8", overlapped and adhered in the back. Finished size is 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".
RECIPE
Stamps: Tart & Tangy
Paper: Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin' Kit w/ Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, and Pretty In Pink CS and Summer Picnic DP with Old Olive, Bashful Blue, and Pumpkin Pie CS
Ink: Basic Black and Old Olive
Embellishments: Pink and Bashful Blue Brads, Metal Edge Tag
Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Word Window Punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack

POOR ME AND AN AWARD

I've been laying low this weekend trying to stay off my feet. I think I have a Heel Spur (or Plantar Fasciitis). Talk about PAIN !!! ughh!! The research I've done on the internet says the best things you can do is REST, ICE, and STRETCH ... so that's what I'm doing. I'll be calling a Podiatrist tomorrow.

I am really poor at keeping up with these awards and tags, and have had to do some back tracking. If you've tagged me, and I haven't listed you, please bring it to my attention and I'll be sure to link you!

I received this Brillante Weblog award 4 times over! ... by Carol Frerichs (Stamp Like Crazy), Diane Gilbert (My Little Stampin' Spot), Lorri Heiling (Confessions of a Stamping Addict), and Charmaine Ikach (Oodabug Alley). Thanks, girls!

I'll tag seven of my favorite blogs ...
Jen, JenTapler Designs
Mauna, Ink~Paper~Scissors
Toni, I'll Be Stamped!
Pam, Creative Inking
Wendy, It's All About Stamping!
Lisa, My Little Creative Escape
LeAnne, Wee Inklings

FALL FLOWERS for SWEET BABY COURTNEY and DIRTY SKETCH

Today's card combines two challenges ...

The first is Jen del Muro's Dare to Get Dirty Saturday Sketch Challenge on SCS. Every day this week, the Dirty Girls are offering a variety of challenges for Fan Club Members.

The second challenge is Libby Hickson's From Courtney's Closet Challenge. See this sweet precious baby girl? This is Courtney, Libby's baby daughter. Each week, Libby chooses an outfit or dress from Courtney's closet, creates a card inspired by the outfit/dress, and challenges her readers to do the same. It's GOT to be the cutest idea I've ever seen for a stamping challenge! I also enjoy seeing the super cute pictures Libby takes of Courtney modeling the inspiration piece each week! Isn't she a doll?!

Courtney's dress immediately made me think of the paper you see in the squares which is from Fall Flowers DP. The Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and the polka dots around the main flower image brings in the color and pattern of the trim. This card measures 5" x 5". RECIPE
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Fall Flowers DP, Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Old Olive Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Antique Brass Build-A-Brad
Tools: 1/2" and 3/4" Circle Punches, Photo Corner Punch
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

BIRTHDAY, FRIENDSHIP, AND THANK YOU RAKS

Oh my goodness! ... it's been a fun week! THANK YOU for all your happy birthday wishes in the comments you've left on my blog, and for the nice comments left about the card I posted yesterday! Most of these beautiful cards were sent to me acknowledging my birthday that was earlier this week, others are friendship RAKS and/or thank yous. My blog is truly one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, and your encouraging words through comments, e-mails and RAKS mean the world to me!

by Diane Gilbert ...
by Nancy Morgan ...
by Silke Ledlow ...
by Karen Laub ...
by Charmaine Ikach ...

by Mercy Kerin ...
by Cindy Lawrence ...
by Melissa Kaufman ...
by Sandy Braddock ...

I never knew how to add wording to the photos of RAKs without a true watermark. Thinking it was a high tech process, I put off asking my DH (my computer genius) about it. I finally took the time to ask yesterday ... it took him one minute to show me how to do it in Photoshop and it is incredibly easy! Glad I asked!

I've started reading my favorite blogs through Google Reader, thinking it might be a more efficient way of reading them. So far, I think it's going to work out well for me, but I'm wondering if anyone else has the same problem I'm having ... when Google Reader is open it dramatically slows down my computer. If I decide to continue with Google Reader, I'll be unsubscribing to many blogs so don't worry, I'm just reading through a different method. My e-mail inbox is gonna love me for this!

PRETTY AMAZING

Today's card combines Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #17 of Rose Red, Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, and Whisper White and SCS Sketch Challenge #186. I really think my card seems a little out of balance and needs something on the upper left side ... BUT do you think I could find ANYTHING to put there?RECIPE
Stamps: Pretty Amazing
Paper: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Sage Shadow, and Rose Red CS, Bali Breeze DP
Ink: Sage Shadow and Basic Black
Embellishments: Flower Fusion, Gold Brads, Real Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Swiss Dots Dry Embossing Folder and Cuttlebug Machine (non-SU)
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals