As You See It Challenge #021 (Sweet Baby)

I've been having lots of fun playing with my new stamps from the 2014 Occasions Catalogue. What's on your "must have list" of new products??

As soon as I saw the cute images in Baby, We've Grown, I knew it needed to be added to my collection. Those cute grumpy owls (they're not meant to look grumpy, but they kind of do!) and that adorable little bunny were destined to be brought to life. 

This weeks' As You See It Challenge features a focal point right smack in the middle. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to break out some new rubber!

Here's the sketch that the lovely Amanda has designed:

Lots of fun! I have to admit, I didn't adhere to the shapes of the challenge, but the general idea is definitely the same.  I don't have all of my supplies with me so I had to just use what I have and this is what I came up with:

I didn't have a scallop square or rectangle so I went with the Deco Labels Framelits.  I had been antsy to use the new Arrow TIEF (textured impressions embossing folder) so I broke that out for the background of that. It's cut out and embossed on Smoky Slate card stock.  I then used the Circle Framelits to cut out that circle of DSP from the Fresh Prints paper stack. Love the fun and sassy designs in that super stack of paper!

I also used the new Fringe Scissors for the first time, too! I've seen some really cute cards using them on Pinterest so I'll hopefully be making lots of fringe-filled cards! The three red candy dots are in place of the sentiment on the sketch. I've been quite taken with Real Red and Coastal Cabana paired together. I'm not normally a red person, so I find this kind of odd, but fresh and new at the same time!

Now comes the best part!  Look at that rabbit! Isn't he the cutest??? I've fallen in love with him! I stamped him in Jet Black StazOn ink and then coloured him in with an aquapainter and Basic Gray and Coastal Cabana ink.  I went around the outline very lightly with crumb cake to create a bit of dimension. Then I added some beneath as well to ground the images. 

He even looks kind of fuzzy. I want to pluck him off the card and give him a good cuddle!

Here's a last look at the completed card.  what's your favorite addition? The candy dots? The fringe? Mr. Rabbit?  I'd love to hear your comments!

Enjoy and be inspired!

Tamara

As You See It Challenge #020 (AHOY!)

Another week snuck on me. I created my card on Tuesday with the intentions of writing my blog post Wednesday. Well, that didn't happen and now it's Friday! We found out our bathroom has a mold issue so we are staying at my inlaws for a week or two while we deal with it.  That meant Wednesday night was spent packing and last night was spent settling in. 

I have a fun card today! I really wanted to use my new Hello, Sailor stamp set so I set to work.

Here's the sketch challenge: As You See It Challenge #020

And here is my design team project!

 A close up...

 A cute banner...

 The final project!

I've been loving all things nautical and Real Red, Night of Navy, and Whisper White are just that. I added a pop of Coastal Cabana too, just for fun. After all, it is COASTAL Cabana so it has to, right? Right!

I thought this could be a cute valentine's card for my hubby. He's been working so hard on the bathroom fix, I'll have to think of a nice gift to accompany his card!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Be Inspired,
Tamara

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Hello, Sailor, Banner Blast (SAB)
Card Stock: Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana
Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: Gold Sequin Trim, Gold Baker's Twine 
Punches: 1" circle punch, Ticket Punch, banner punch (SAB)
Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail

As You See It Challenge #018 (playing with the NEW!!!)

I've been MIA over the holidays, but I'm happy to report I'm getting back in the saddle.  I spent some time in my studio last night working on today's post and some customer thank you's.

Here is this week's challenge: ARROWS! And I'd be remiss if I didn't share the cute graphic Amanda created!

I subconsciously used the colours as well, though that wasn't intended. I mostly just wanted to use some new product and the Fresh Prints DSP stack has Real Red, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White.

Here's my entry:

I know the arrow is subtle, which is what I was hoping to achieve. I had been flipping through this year's Sale-a-bration brochure (yes!! I have them!!) and saw a cute card with polka dots. I achieved the polka dots with a sponge dauber and ink pad.  I freehanded an arrow and then cut it out with an exacto knife and used that image as a mask. I then lightly sponged crumb cake over top to enhance the arrow shape.  

Some cute pennants finished off with Whisper White Baker's Twine. Loving these colours together, aren't you?

One last view. I used my iPad to take these photos. My laptop had an unfortunate mishap over Christmas. My darling daughter (2.5) decided to dump a full cup of eggnog on it! It hissed and popped and died. It will turn on now, but the keys are glued together and I haven't had the patience to carefully and gently work each key loose. I've been in the market for a new one for a while, but this will most likely speed up that process!

Anyways, I hope you leave feeling inspired to play with arrows! Have a look through the Stampin' Up Annual catalogue for inspiration. Can you find any projects featuring arrows there?

Have a great weekend!

Tamara

My Christmas Tree & AYSI Challenge #014

It's definitely getting Christmasy around here! I put up our tree today. Actually, I bought a new "slim" tree and decorated it before my husband got home so it would be harder for him to say "return it". He likes it so it gets to stay! Also helps that it was pretty cheap and I used a gift card for part of it ;) Here's a little pic. It's not quite done, I'm missing a ton of decorations, but it's getting there! It fits our space a lot better, which was the main reason for getting it. We have a beautiful HUGE fake tree, but it's HUGE! (In case you missed that).

 

I know you didn't come here to see photos of my Christmas tree though, so here's this week's As You See It sketch challenge:

 

And my Design Team entry is decidedly NOT Christmas themed. I needed a change. 

 I had fun making this while my friends slaved away making their Stamper's Dozen cards.  It's fairly simple, but enough bling and added touches to make it special :)

Here are some alternate views:

And a close up:

The colours are Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, and Crushed Curry. I used the Chevron embossing folder (TIEF) on the card base. Chalk Talk framelits provided the cute little tag. I used some Coastal Cabana stretch ruffle trim for the tails and rhinestones to bling up the sentiment which is from Yippee-Skippee! (LOVE that set. Wish I could use it on everything!) I'm trying to remember the name of the DSP, but it's just not coming to me. It's the primarily gray, yellow, and blue one. It goes with the Beautifully Baroque stamp...I think it's something about Eastern...Eastern Elegance DSP maybe? Leave me a comment if you remember the name of this paper stack!! Thanks :)

Hope you're feeling inspired! Be sure to visit the other Design Team's pages for more inspiration!

Tamara

AYSI Challenge #004

Week 4 coming your way! Amanda is doing such a great job designing these sketches! I've been so inspired and look forward to each new challenge!  

Here's this week's sketch: 

 I really loved the bicycle image from last month's My Paper Pumpkin and so I used it in this week's challenge.  I'd seen a technique call motion stamping so I thought I'd give that a try. 

 It was actually a happy coincidence that this card worked for this sketch! I had been surfing Pinterest for some ideas for my monthly technique class and this is sort of a collaboration of a bunch of things I liked from various cards! 

First of all, I love these colours! Coastal Cabana and Basic Gray. Yum! 

Second, that RIBBON! Some people don't like this ruffle stretch trim ribbon. I think maybe they should play with it a bit more! It's gorgeous to just add that "something special". 

The "thank you so much" stamp is also from the My Paper Pumpkin kit. I paper snipped it out and then cut out a few extra. Quick tip: stamp on the other colours, snip out, and flip over! So much easier than trying to trace or snip without some guidelines.   The three pennants are held together with a little silver brad.

One more view cuz it's just SO fun! Motion stamping is fairly simple. Ink your stamp once and stamp your paper. Then quickly stamp again and again without reinking.  This provides the fade or look of motion to your image. Give it a try, it's a quick and easy technique with great results!

Hope you've enjoyed this week's sketch! Be sure to play along with us :)

Tamara

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamp Sets: August My Paper Pumpkin kit
Card Stock: Coastal Cabana, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray classic ink
Accessories: Coastal Cabana Ruffle stretch trim, silver mini brad
Tools: Big shot die cutting machine, Honeycomb TIEF
Other: Dimensionals, paper snips, glue dots, Snail adhesive

Stamp Studio Reveal -Part I

Here's the first segment of my Studio reveal! I've tweaked the set up of the room a bit since these photos were taken so I'm just giving you glimpses of what it looks like. I have a class this Wednesday so I will take some photos of the room when it's clean and ready for fun!

Welcome! I'm in the process of making a cool vine wreath for the front door. 

 This hutch and cabinet is from a sweet stamping friend who passed away last year. It's so nice to have a memory of her in my studio. My mom-in-law helped me sand it and paint it white. I gave the back a pop of colour with some Benjamin Moore Tropicana Cabana! The wall colour is also BM - Jamaican Aqua. It's kind of a mix between Pool Party and Coastal Cabana.

Hopefully in the near future (when it's not so hot) I'll serve tea at my classes! I picked up this sweet and complete china set from a couple who were downsizing. I love that the colours of the tea set went with my room!  

That's all the peeks for now! I'll take some more photos as I've added blinds and a few other things since these photos were taken.

Hope you've enjoyed the first glimpse ;)

Tamara