CASE-ing JENNA and KAREN

The other night, I wanted to stamp something quick and easy without spending a huge amount of time designing. There were a couple of brilliantly designed cards I've been itching to CASE so I tackled those ....

This first card CASES this card by Jenna Millsap, A "Sap" For Stamps. I love Jenna's use of the felt flurries inside the metal edge tags against the Whisper White background! The only things I changed from Jenna's card was to use round metal edge tags verses the square ones, and I backed the tags with Scallop Circles. RECIPE
Stamps: Best Yet
Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, and Riding Hood Red CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Embellishments: Felt Flurries, Metal Edge Tags, Red Circle Rhinestone Brad
Tools: Scallop Circle Punch

This next card is a case of this card by Karen Giron, the sweetest thing. I was thrilled to use up some of this print from last year's Dashing DP (now retired) ... I have a ton of it! Just like Karen, I trimmed around the Whisper White Curly Punch piece to make it smaller than the Real Red Curly Punch piece. I think Karen used small red rhinestones on her tree ... I used X-mas Red Stickles. The tree is an upside down party hat from Party Hearty.

RECIPE
Stamps: All Holidays, Party Hearty, Cute & Curly
Paper: Whisper White and Real Red CS, Dashing DP (retired)
Ink: Real Red and Old Olive Classic Ink Pads, Close To Cocoa Stampin' Write Marker
Embellishments: Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Yellow Rhinestone (non-SU), X-mas Red Stickles (non-SU)
Tools: Curly Label Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

iPICKS, WEEK FIVE

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my blurfing (blog surfing) and SCS stalking for the week. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week Five ...

Angie Tieman's Bazaar Stamping (schwoo!).

Jenna Millsap's ABC's of Christmas (A "Sap" for Stamps).

Christine's Cutie Merry & Bright Card (Christine Creations).

LeeAnn Greff's Big Shot Votive Wrap (Flowerbug's Inkspot).

Kelly Lunceford's Friends Forever Card (Flutter by atomicbutterfly).

Lynn Put's Merry & Bright Card (The Queen's Scene).

Amy Ward's Army of Snowpeople (Amy's Addiction).

Heather Freeman's Cuttlebug Santa Card (heather freeman on SCS).

Amy Fleming's Like It A Latte Card (Me & Mi Stamps).

Makeesha Byl's Choc Top Boxes & Tutorial (Inkspirations by Makeesha Byl).

MacKenzie Bruckler's Dressmaker Card & Paper Piecing Tutorial (Midnight "Scramper").

Carolina's Baby Socks Cupcakes (Carolina's Creative Pad) ... Carolina's card iin the top of the post is super duper cute but be sure to scroll down to see the Baby Socks Cupckakes!

Dawn Easton's Season of Joy Curly Label Card (Treasure Oiler Designz).

Michelle Fischer's Scallop Envelope Die Cut Basket and Snowman Frame (michelle fischer on SCS).

Karen Motz' Let It Snow Card and Snow Swirled Season's Greetings Card and Merry Christmas Cupcake (Paper Playhouse).

Becca Feekan takes Fun Foam Stickers to create a Melt Your Heart Snowman Card and Becca's friend Beth's Painted Light Bulb Ornament (Amazing Paper Grace).

Jackie Pedro's Happy Holidays Card (The Scalloped Edge).

Jodi Collins' Punch Pals Card (Stamping A Latte).

Pam Varnell's Raspberry Stems Card (The Stamping Addict).

Silke Ledlow's Worship The Lord Card (My Life).

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS97 CARDS BY AMERICA

Today's SCS Featured Stamper #97 is Cards by America. HERE is the card I chose to case.

Things I changed from the original include colors from Black & White to Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla, and I used a different sentiment (from All Holidays) with Small & Large Oval Punches. Both of the large Very Vanilla panels were dry embossed with the Cuttlebug ... one uses the Swiss Dots and Tiny Bubbles Embossing Folders. The only stamping on my card is the "thank you" sentiment from All Holidays. The main image is all Chocolate Chip Rub-Ons from Love & Happiness (retired). The large flower is also a rub-on, and was cut out and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals. I added miscellaneous self-adhesive rhinestones and half-back pearls (all non-SU).

RECIPE
Stamps: All Holidays, Love & Happiness Rub-Ons (retired)
Paper: Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: Misc. non-SU self-adhesive rhinestones and half-back pearls
Tools: Small & Large Oval Punch, Cuttlebug with Tiny Bubbles and Swiss Dots Embossing Folders (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for all the awesome comments you've been leaving lately! ... they truly make my days! Many of you have asked how my foot is doing .... SLOW! I got the stitches out earlier this week, and am still hobbling around with a walker ... putting a little bit of weight on it.

SEASON OF SKI SLOPE JOY

This morning, I thought I would tackle Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try. I used the stamp set, Season of Joy and combined it with Ski Slope Designer Paper. I love the way Baja Breeze looks with Real Red and Old Olive! On the main image, the "falalalala", "&", snowflake, and tree were stamped separately, cut out, and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals. I also added some Diamond Stickles to the main image for a little bling. RECIPE
Stamps: Season of Joy
Paper: Ski Slope DP, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Old Olive, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Real Red, Baja Breeze, and Old Olive
Embellishments: Real Red Brads, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Punches Plus Classy Brass Template & Paper Piercer, Designer Label Punch, 1/4", 3/4", and 1" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Diamond Stickles (non-SU)

SO EXCITING!

Yesterday, I received the coolest e-mail ! ... from Stampin' Up"! ... I won the WOW! Art File Contest for December (US)! At this time, I have no idea which of my designs is the winning entry since I entered several. The prize is my choice of three stamp sets from the current Idea Book & Catalog or current Mini Catalog!

If you don't know what this contest is .... each month Stampin' Up! Demonstrators receive a monthly business magazine, Stampin' Success. One of the features of the magazine is the details of the monthly Art Contests. There are usually two or three theme contests and one WOW! Art File contest which includes "all other projects". My project will be published in the February Stampin' Success!

Pinch me!

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE .... OH, CHRISTMAS TREE ....

When I saw these Christmas Tree Triangle Boxes on Connie Collins' blog, Constantly Stamping, I knew I HAD to try them! They were fun and easy to make, and a great way to use up those craft store rhinestones that have been sitting in a drawer for-ever! Just like Connie, I used Beate Johns' Triangle Box tutorial on SCS. Instead of using a 5" x 10" piece of cardstock, I used a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece.

The scallops of the tree were made using the Scallop Edge Punch, and the scallops were sponged with Old Olive ink. I used my Paper Piercer Template to strategically place the rhinestones by penciling in each spot. The rhinestones were adhered with Tombo Adhesive. I used Sticky Strip to close the box because I was afraid that it may not stay closed with the additional weight of the candy. I know, I know .... the recipients will have to tear them open to get to the candy. It's the thought that counts, right?
RECIPE

Paper: Old Olive CS, Gold Metallic CS for star

Ink: Old Olive Classic

Embellishments: Generic Colored Rhinestones (non-SU), Gold Cord

Tools: Star Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Peircing Template, Crop-a-dile

Supplies: Sponge, Tombo Adhesive, Sticky Strip

SNOW SWIRLED CASE

Today, I worked on a huge project that took most of the day. I can't WAIT to show it to you but can't until I'm able to give it as a gift to my friend who happens to read my blog.

This is a card I cased from THIS CARD (2nd card on post) on Cindy Lawrence's blog (the creative closet), designed by Ann Walker. I love Ann's design, and it would be a great mass production Christmas card! RECIPE
Stamps: Snow Swirled
Paper: Whisper White and Real Red CS
Ink: Real Red Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Red Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad
Tools: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, CM Custom Cutting System for 2" Circle (non-SU), Cuttlebug machine & Snowflake Embossing Folder (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

FESTIVE SNOWFLAKES

I love this week's SCS Color Challenge #196 of TAKEN WITH TEAL, RIDING HOOD RED, BAJA BREEZE, and WHISPER WHITE! What FUN colors for a Christmas card! I decided to combine these colors with today's SCS Sketch Challenge #206. As much as I loved both of these challenges, I was really hoping to create something spectacular ... BUT, after alot of fussing over this card, my end result looks much like many others that have been posted on SCS. Oh well! ... some days you got it, some days you don't!

I had some difficulty finding a sentiment for this card that was small enough to fit in the bottom right hand corner, and ended up with this "merry & bright" from the retired stamp set, All Year Cheer I. The Little Felt Flurries (LOVE THESE!) are mounted on White Circle Metal Edge Tags, and the Taken With Teal piece behind them was run through the Cuttlebug with the Snowflake Embossing Folder. RECIPE
Stamps: sentiment from All Year Cheer I (retired)
Paper: Ski Slope DP, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Taken With Teal, and Baja Breeze CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Embellishments: Circle White Metal Edge Tags, Little Felt Flurries, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: Snowflake Cuttlebug Embossing Folder & Cuttlebug Machine (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

CANDY CANES FOR KIDS

Remember how panicked I was about jumping into full-time employment after 13 years as a SAHM? In case you didn't know, I have been working as a Paraprofessional at an elementary school in our neighborhood since August ... working with special needs kids. Although I was completely out of my element at first, I have found a comfort level and enjoy the kids I work with tremendously! I work with the coolest kids! I spend most of my mornings in a first grade classroom, and let me tell ya' ... it's a BLAST! I am fascinated with this age group and find these kids quite entertaining! Before I left for my surgery, the first grade teacher asked the kids to make get well cards for me! OMG! These cards are so precious! I bet I've looked through them a hundred times and boy do they put a smile on my face! They are just filled with love and well wishes! I wanted to do something for each of the kids I work with and the students in the first grade class for the holidays, and when I saw Ashley Bowen's Candy Cane Cover, I knew it was just what I was looking for ... something easy to mass assemble and affordable.These are so easy! I just cut a piece of Real Red CS 2" x 3", rounded the corners with a Corner Rounder, and used the Slit Punch for the holes that the candy cane slides through. I used the stamp set Merry & Bright by stamping it in Jet Black Staz-On, and colored with Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers. I added sparkle to the snowman's hat with Diamond Stickles. The snowman image was punched out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch, and adhered to a Real Red 1 3/8" Circle Punch, then Old Olive Scallop Circle Punch. Each scallop was pierced with a Paper Piercer. I used Glue Dots to adhere the scallop to the Real Red CS. RECIPE
Stamps: Merry & Bright
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Real Red & Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Embellishments: Diamond Stickles
Tools: Slit Punch, Corner Rounder, 1 1/4", 1 3/8", and Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Piercer
Supplies: Glue Dots

STAMPIN' UP! PROMOTIONS

Today, Stampin' Up! introduced TWO new promotions ....

1) Dozens of stamp sets from the current Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog are retiring to make room for many new stamp sets in the upcoming new Catalog & Idea Book. These retired sets are only available through January 18, 2009 ... AND they're 10 percent off from December 9-23!

View the Retired Stamp Set List ...
Alphabetical
Numerical
2) From December 9 through December 23, all orders of $70 or more will receive free shipping!

Contact me today, to place your order! ... nrileycm@cox.net