SUMMER CASEing

My craft room has seen some action since I've been on summer break! I've been making cards copied (CASEd) from other great stamping artists. I truly appreciate a great card design, especially one that makes me want to ink up my stamps and copy it! 

This first card was CASEd from Mary Brown's card.  I'm a sucker for Stampin' Up!'s Daffodil Delight, and SU's Polka Dot Parade DSP really shows it off! The sentiment I used is a retired SU rub-on.

I found this next card on Pinterest, and believe it was originally found on the Stampin' Up! website. If that is incorrect, please kindly let me know so I can credit the proper source.The Patio Party DSP (retired) makes this card super easy to put together!  The three cakes are cut out of the designer paper, and raised up on dimensionals.  The only stamping is the "Birthday Wishes" sentiment from Bring on the Cake.

This next card is a CASE of Rita Wright's card.  I love Daffodil Delight paired with Basic Black!  Somehow, my large flower turned out larger that I'd like it to be.  Ugh!  I used SU retired striped grosgrain ribbon for the horizontal center strip in place of the designer paper strip.

This year, I had many graduates to acknowledge, and I made many of these cards!  It was inspired by two cards: Mindy's (Bada-Bing! Paper-Crafting!) card and Teneale Williams card, using the stamp set, Blue Ribbon and Storytime DSP (retired).

WAY TO GO GRADUATE!

Having extra stamping time this weekend has been so much fun! This card is the last one of the weekend and it's back to work tomorrow. I've used Stacey Schafer's Curtain Call Color Challenge {Act 26} of Basic Gray, Going Gray, Crushed Curry, and Whisper White.

RECIPE
Stamps: Starring You, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Urban Oasis DP (retired), Going Gray, Basic Gray, Crushed Curry, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Going Gray, Basic Gray
Embellishments: Silver Brads, Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Star Punch, Large Star Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

SINCE I'VE BEEN GONE ....

* I've ended my school year at work.
* Tested, interviewed and accepted a new position within the same school district at a new school for the upcoming school year.
* Drew promoted from 8th grade.
* Allie graduated from high school.
* Held a graduation open house for Lord knows how many people were there! (It was awesome!)
* My mom, four aunts, and two uncles visited Phoenix from Iowa & Nebraska for one week. (had an incredibly good time with them!).
* John and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary.

Needless to say, the last few weeks have been very busy and very special at our house! Here's a photo of Allie in her cap & gown, along with the awesome hand stamped cards Allie received from my stampin' friends and family!
by Karen Laub ...My amazing sister-in-law Norene made the next three cards. One is from her & my brother-in-law, one is from her parents, and one is from her daughter's family. Norene made all three, and made all three different knowing Allie would be the recipient of them. So thoughtful!by Gaylene Dickinson ...
by Leah Sinatra ...
by Sandy Braddock ...
by Lorri Heiling ... (more information about Lorri's projects HERE)

an anniversary card from Lorri Heiling ... (more information about Lorri's card HERE).
For those of you that follow the monthly weSTAMP swaps, I had to sit out of the May meeting and swap. If you'd like to see the swaps cards you can see them HERE on Lorri's blog.

I'll be stamping quite a bit this weekend and coming week ... hope to be sharing frequently!

GRADUATION

One more graduation card to check off my list! This one uses Taylor VanBruggen's Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #64. I used Allie's high school colors of Brilliant Blue, Gold (the school calls it Vegas Gold), with Basic Black accents.

What you don't see in the photograph is that I used the Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel and Versamark on the large Whisper White background piece for a subtle pattern. Also difficult to see in the photograph is the paper piercing done with the Priceless Classy Brass Template on the Basic Black Circle that backs the gold star medallion.
RECIPE
Stamps: Great Grads, Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel
Paper: Brilliant Blue Prints DP (retired), Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White, and Brushed Gold Cardstock
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Gold Brads
Tools: Star Punch, 1/4", 1", and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Priceless Classy Brass Template
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

IN BETWEEN THE TRASH FILE AND PUBLIC DISPLAY FILE

Remember last week when I was whining about my missing mojo? I thought I'd share the cards that didn't make the trash but didn't thrill me to publicly share them. I'm really hoping to get some challenges done this weekend that I'll be excited about sharing with you ... in between finishing up Allie's graduation announcements and cleaning out some closets.

This first card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge #74 along with a few new items from the Occasions Mini Catalog ... Walk In The Park Designer Paper, Oval All Stamp Set, and Scallop Oval Punch.




RECIPE
Stamps: Oval All
Paper: Walk In The Park DP, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Gray and Pink Pirouette
Embellishments: Whisper White 5/16" Jumbo Brads
Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Blender Pen, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

This next card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge #73 with the Level One Hostess Set Darling Dots and Rockability Specialty Designer Paper.
RECIPE
Stamps: Darling Dots (Level One Hostess)
Paper: Rockability Specialty DP, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red and Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Square Punch, 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

This last card uses Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #82. The graduation image is from the retired stamp set, Sketch An Event. I've used several more new items from the new Occasions Mini Catalog on this card too ... Walk In The Park DP, Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon, and Black Jumbo Grommets.
RECIPE
Stamps: Sketch An Event (retired), Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Walk In The Park DP, Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Gray Classic and Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Basic Black Jumbo Grommet, 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon
Tools: Word Window Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Scallop Border Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

BASIC GRAY GREAT GRADS

Boy, have I been struggling with my mojo this week! You might have thought that I had forgotten how to stamp! Last night, it all came back to me when I went to work with this week's Sketch Challenge #221 on SCS. My daughter Allie graduates from high school in May so I need to get busy with graduation cards for her friends. This is the first graduation card of many.

This card uses two stamp sets - Great Grads and Congrats (Sale-a-bration '09). The designer paper is from Urban Oasis and Patterns DP Pack II (Level One Hostess). The "grad" is stamped in Basic Gray ... the cap is stamped in Jet Black Staz-On, cut out, and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals.RECIPE
Stamps: Great Grads, Congrats (SAB '09)
Paper: Basic Gray Patterns DP, Urban Oasis DP, Basic Black and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Gray Classic and Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: 5/16" Silver Jumbo Brads, Silver Cord (retired)
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

APRIL STAMP CLASS

I've been quiet this week because I've been in "stamp class mode".... which I absolutely LOVE! I've got the best friends that make it so fun to teach stamp classes! They are the most loyal bunch that love whatever projects I prepare for them, and are always bringing someone new to class! THEY are how my SU business grows! I appreciate them so-o-o much !!!!

Here are our projects for yesterday's classes ....

GREAT GRADS GIFT CARD HOLDER

RECIPE
Stamps: Great Grads
Paper: 12 x 12 Whisper White CS, 8 ½ x 11 Tempting Turquoise and Real Red CS, East Coast Prep DP
Ink: Versamark, Real Red
Embellishments: Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, More Mustard Brads
Tools: 1 3/8” Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Slit Punch, Star Punch, Heat Tool
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Clear Embossing Powder
Technique: Embossing
Inspired by: Patty Bennett at Patty's Stamping Spot, Jan Tink at Stamp, Paper, Scissors, Tara at Stampalicious . Both Patty and Tara provide instructions/tutorials.
Note: The medallion on the front of the holder is embossed ... once on Real Red, and once on Tempting Turquoise.

CRAYON RESIST MOTHER'S DAY
RECIPE
Stamps: Time Well Spent (Level Three Hostess), All Holidays
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, and Glossy White CS
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, and Groovy Guava Classic Ink Pads, Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Groovy Guava Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template, Stamp-a-ma-jig for Sentiment
Supplies: Sponge Daubers, White Crayon (non-SU)
Techniques: Crayon Resist , Paper Piercing
Cased from: Wendy Janson, It’s All About Stamping!

WEDDING CARD
RECIPE
Stamps: Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Whisper White and Going Gray CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Going Gray Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: Fancy Corners Cuttlebug Embossing Folder and Cuttlebug Machine, Scor-Pal
Supplies: Rhinestones from craft store, Glue
Techniques: Dry Embossing, Scoring
Inspired by: the many Cuttlebug projects by Sharon Johnson, No Time To Stamp.

WELCOME BABY CARD
RECIPE
Stamps: By Ones & By Twos (Occasions Mini)
Paper: Whisper White and Pretty In Pink or Bashful Blue CS, Pretty In Pink or Bashful Blue Prints DP (Level One Hostess), Vellum
Ink: Basic Black Classic
Embellishments: Pretty In Pink or Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals
Techniques: Paper Piecing, Paper Piercing, Dry Embossing
Cased from: Lisa Hoekstra on SCS. See her card HERE.


PICK A PETAL GET WELL CARD
RECIPE
Stamps: Pick A Petal, Sincere Salutations, Polka Dot Background
Paper: Blue Bayou, Cameo Coral, Soft Sky, Basic Black, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black, Cameo Coral, and Soft Sky Classic, Versamark for background stamp
Embellishments: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Ticket Corner Punch
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals, Pencil Eraser for eyes, Post-It Notes for masking mouth
Technique: Masking
Inspired by: justcrazy on SCS HERE

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS62 KHARMAGIRL, RIVER ROCK GRADUATION

I know I've said this many times before, but here it goes again .... "River Rock is impossible to photograph!". Sometimes it looks like Old Olive, and in this case it looks like Creamy Caramel ... at least on MY computer screen ... go figure???? Anyway, this IS RIVER ROCK !!!!

Today's SCS Featured Stamper (FS62) features the gallery of Jodi, aka Kharmagirl. Jodi is fabulously talented, and super sweet (she always leaves the nicest comments for me!). HERE is Jodi's card I chose to case. I changed the color combo and the stamp set, keeping the same layout. I picked up Jodi's Basic Black, her wording on the background piece of the main image, her double ribbon, and her three brads.

To achieve the word background on the Whisper White piece, I stamped the image from Great Grads four times (corner to corner) in Jet Black Staz-On using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, then cut to the size I needed. The "graduate medallion" was stamped in Jet Black Staz-On onto River Rock CS, the "G" was punched with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch, the "graduate" circle was punched with the Scallop Circle Punch, then a Basic Black CS layer was punched with the Scallop Circle Punch and offset from the River Rock piece.

Behind the black brads are two circles ... one 1/4" River Rock and 1/2" Basic Black. The sentiment was punched with the Word Window Punch, then two pieces of Basic Black Word Window Punch were layered behind.
RECIPE
Stamps: Great Grads
Paper: River Rock Prints DP, Basic Black, River Rock, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Brads
Tools: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/4" and 1/2" Circle Punches, Word Window Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
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