Truly Loving Wisteria Wonder

Hello Friends,

Happy Wednesday, the week is half over already can you believe it? Personally, I would like summer to last just a little longer but I can hear the school bell getting louder and a new set of 1st graders waiting to meet me; school starts in 2 weeks...guess I better get busy stamping as much as I can before time passes me by!

Today's card was made with one of the new Stampin Up In Colors: Wisteria Wonder. I cannot say enough about how beautiful this color is. Make sure you let me know what you think!

Card Size: 3 1/2" X 5"

Stamp Set Used: Precious Butterflies

Colors Used: Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, and Whisper White

Accessories and Tools Used: Scallop Border Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslit die, 5/8" organza ribbon, and dimensionals 

Monday Sketch Challenge 1

Hello Friends,
I have decided to add something new to my blog. A Monday Sketch Challenge. What is it you ask??? Well, what I will do every Monday is post a new layout (sketch) for a card. I will also post my example. Then, you can make a card using the sketch and email a picture of it to me so I can add it to the post. Things to remember: You can be as creative as you would like and the measurements for your card is up to you!! It will be fun. The main idea for this new task is because if you are like me, you tend to use the same style latouts for your cards. Now we will have to challenge ourselves to try something different. I am really excited about this because I am convinced I will end up finding new layouts that I love and will want to use over and over again. So here is our first challenge....

These sketches come from Stampin Up's Demonstrators website. This one was created by Susie Nelson. I think this one is a pretty simple one to get everyone started. I hope you will give it a try! Below you will find the one I came up with. Have a wonderful week!

Card Size: 5" X 5"

Stamp Set Used: Cottage Garden

Colors Used: Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Whisper White, and Basic Black

Accessories and Tools Used: 2010-2011 Hostess Designer Series Paper pack, Basic Rhinestones, and dimensionsals.

Here is my friend, Jessica's card for this challenge. Way to go Jessica, I knew you would love this challenge. Now where was this card when the 4th of July arrived, I know I could have used it.

The next adorable card was made by my friend Evelyn.I love the colors you chose. It's just so amazing to me how the same layout can create so many different cards.

Here is a card made by one of the sweetest girls I know, Sierra. Those butterflies are so cute! I just love your colors. Reminds me of one of our new In Colors called Pool Party!!!

And the next one is another sweetheart's entry. Her name is Aliya. Yes you guessed it they are sisters. I am so lucky to know these two lovely girls. Aliya's card is bright, bold, and exciting. Whoever gets this card, sure is a lucky person!

I am loving everyone's entries......Keep them coming!

The next one is from a lovely friend of mine named Marcia, she is one creative lady! Just love pink and browns together!!! Marcia, you finally convinced me that I NEED this set and it was one I was willing to without...Just great another addition to my never ending stamp wish lis LOL.

Using your Idea Book and Catalog as a resource!

Hello Friends,

This week, during my card class I covered something in class that a lot of my friends were not present to hear, so I am sharing it with you here!

Stampin Up's Idea and Catalog can give you so much more than just a place to find your stamping needs or wants. It has the word IDEA in the title because there are tons of great ideas inside of it. A lot of people say to me, "Sandi, you are so creative which is why you are so good at doing what you do, I could NEVER do that!" Well, I am here to say that that is simply NOT true!! Use your catalog, that's what it is for.

I love to create something unique and creative, but just like the world's greatest authors, I get creator's block (writer's block). So instead of thinking that today is just not my day to make anything and give up, I pick up my catalog and flip through it for inspiration. Sometimes I will find something that I kind of like but would change something to make it my own, sometimes I will find something I know I would like if it were in a different color scheme; so I change it to fit my color choices, and other times I will make something exactly like in the catalog. The truth is, no matter where your inspiration comes from, the person you are making your card or gift for will simply adore it, and usually will never know that it wasn't your own creation! Ok my preaching is over..... Now I will show you the two cards I created with my sermon in mind LOL......

 This first card can be found on page 75 in your Stampin Up Idea and Catalog. When you locate this card you will find that it was in a completely different color scheme. I chose to make mine more summery by changing the colors and using some of the new IN Colors; Wisperia Wonder, and Calypso Coral, as well as some other favorites; Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight whereas, the one in the catalog was done in Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery, and Real Red. Both cards are laid out completely the same but the colors are changed, giving this card a whole new look that I love. Feel free and compare the two, you will find that even though the are exactly the same card they look very different.

For this next card, you will find it on page 136 in your Stampin Up Idea and Catalog. For this one I made it exactly the same except for two things, first,  I didn't have any white Bakers Twine so I used a white ribbon instead and second, I didn't have the pinking hearts border punch so I used my scallop border punch. Cute isn't it? I thought so too so I didn't need to change anything.

So what do you think? Feel inspired to flip through your catalog again and find a new use for it? In fact, if you have our previous catalogs and thought about tossing them...don't because now you know another used for them. And if your thinking, "But Sandi, some of the stamps in my old catalog are not available anymore so I couldn't use it if I wanted to". My answer to that is, "Yes you are right, the stamp set is no longer available, BUT, you might like a card layout in the catalog that you can use to make a card with a current or favorite set!

Well I hope I gave you a bit of advice and a new inspiration that you may have not thought of. Oh, and if you don't have the current catalog, I have some available, just give me a call! Take care

Stamp Sets Used: Tiny Tags and Little Friends

Colors Used: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breezr, Wisperia Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Temtpint Turquoise, Whisper White

Accessories and Tools- Brights Designer Buttons, Hemp, Designer Series Papers from the Subtles and Brights collection, Scallop Border Punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, Stamp-a-ma-jig, piercing tool, mat pack, dimensionals, glue dots, and Stampin Write Markers

It's Summertime!

Hello Friends,

Today I am loving my summer vacation which is why I made this card....

I have to say, Stampin Up really captured summer this year in their Summer Mini. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE stamp sets that show kids having fun. I am a mother of 5 after all! If you listen carefully I think you might even be able to hear the children at the beach laughing and having a good time. I hope they remembered to wear sunscreen!

 Notice how I left one flip-flop in the sand and one by the sentiment, I did this because whenever we take a trip to the beach someone in our family ALWAYS loses one of their flip-flops. Sometimes I think someone's dog ran off with them, but to be all honest my kids probably buried them deep down in the sand and forgot where, they have an absent minded mother so it really isn't their fault, their fogetfulness was inheritted :o)

Do you like my textured sand and the way the water looks alive? I know I actually had a spout of brillance today! I used a background stamp for the texture (which unfortunately is retired but you can get the same effect with Stampin Up's color spritzing tool) and Crystal Effects to make the water look wet.

 Stay safe, suncreened, and have a wonderful summer adventure!!!

Stamp Sets Used: Sunny Fun

Colors Used: Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, and Whisper White

Tools Used: Color pencils, Blender Pen, Crystal Effects, and a dauber

Love & Care

Hello Friends,

Happy Weekend!!!

I cannot express how beautiful it is outside today. So I decided to make a card that expresses beauty through nature. Hope you like it.

Beautiful, isn't it?

This card was so easy to make. Notice, I didn't use any embellishments? Well, I wanted to make a card with just some ink and paper. I wanted to express the fact that you do not have to have everything in the Stampin Up catalog to make a great card (although my dream is to have almost everything :o), or that sometimes less is more!

What makes this card stand out? Well instead of using an ink pad, I chose to use my Stampin Write markers so that I could layer three different pinks to make the flowers look more alive rather than flat. I also used my best tool; my hands, to make a few tears in my layers to give the card a different edge. Then once I tore my edges, I used a dauber and rubbed some ink onto the edges to bring out the torn paper texture. Sound easy? That's because it was super easy! I hope you enjoyed stopping by today, I am off to enjoy the beautiful day, you should too!!!

Stamp Set Used: Love & Care

Colors Used: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Always Artichoke

Accessories or Tools Used: daubers and Stampin Write Markers

Birthdays are so much fun!

Hello Friends,

Have you ever pondered how birthdays are so much better when you are a kid? Why is that? Is it because we love the cake and ice cream? No, because I still love the cake and lots of ice cream. Could it be the presents? Nah, because if you say you didn't care if you got anything, you would be lying!!! Presents are always fun and exciting to open. Maybe it's because when your a child you get to have a theme party? I don't know about you, but when I was a kid I begged my mother to make my birthday party a Barbie, Princess, Strawberry Shortcake, or whatever the IN thing was at the time, party. And if you decorated everything and sent out invitations in your special theme, chances were, all your friends would buy you a gift that revolved around your theme!!! Hmmm, maybe I should make a diamond party? Then maybe I would get lots of diamonds? After all, they say Diamonds are a girls bestfriend :o)

Anyways, today's card was made for my little nephew Javier. We will be attending his 6th birthday party this weekend (a Pirate Party LOL) and with taking my summer art college class I figured I better get busy on his card instead of stressing at the last minute. So here is what I came up with...

What's the matter? You were expecting a Pirate card :o)   Not this time!

This card is a fun greeting card because I chose colors that are bright, cheery, and could be given to anyone, not just a little boy. In fact, I actually made a bunch to save and pass out throughout the year! Have a wonderful week and as always, Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Set Used: Happiest Birthday Wishes (This is a hostess set, so if you love it call me and we can set up a workshop so that you can earn this set for free!!!)

Color Scheme: Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White

Accessories and Tools Used: Scallop Border punch, Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper, and Hemp

Ice Cream on a HOT day!!!

Hello Friends, Happy Tuesday,

Today's card I made because the weather has been so hot lately that all my family can think about is Ice  Cream!!! And when you look at the card, I can tell you that we have probably had one of each kind of ice cream displayed this summer.

Doesn't it make you want to stop the next Ice Cream man in your neighborhood and buy one?

I love this card. My dear friend, Roxanne was the inspiration for this card. She told me, "You should try making a card that fits into a legal size envelope. So even though I wasn't sure I could come up with something, I tried anyways. Guess what? She was right, now I am going to try making more cards in this size.

This card also uses a tool that I had no clue how to use when I bought it but have now decided is my

FAVORITE tool. It's called the Stamp- A- Ma- Jig. It helps you align any stamp perfectly straight. If you look at my card you will notice that some of the ice cream treats repeat.I used the stamp-a-ma-jig and lined the two images up and then stamped. Now both images look like one continuous but straight image. Are you amazed? I was, because most of you that know me think that I ALWAYS stamp perfectly, this is totally NOT true. Most of the time I stamp several practice cards, throw them away because they are crooked, and then stamp again. Truth is, it probably takes me 3-4 tries before I end up with something I am proud of. But, now that I have learned how to use this tool, I can stamp perfectly the first time, everytime. I am telling you, this is now a MUST HAVE item!

Well, have a wonderful summer day, stay cool, and listen carefully you might be able to hear the next Ice Cream man in your neighborhood!

Stamps Used: Summer Fun

Colors Used: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, and Whisper White

Accessories Used: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Scallop Border Punch, Scalloped circle punch, corner rounder, Stampin Write Markers, Designer Series Paper Brights collection, and a popcicle stick.



Create A Cupcake Birthday

Hello Friends,

The card I made today is a tribute to my friend Lisa, she just got amazing news that she will be able to make her dream of owning a party supply and cake boutique a real endeavor. I am so excited for her. Her shop is called The Big Bash and you can look it up on Facebook.
Anyways here is the card I made while thinking of her exciting news:

This card was made using one of my new favorite sets; Create A Cupcake. It has a coordinating punch which makes creating a card like this a snap. Incase you cannot read the greeting it says, " It's not about how many candles you blow out but how many cupcakes you get!" Such an adorable set. I was thinking about how fun it would be to visit my friend Lisa and sit down for a scrumptous treat while catching up on old times. That is how I came up with the table of cupcakes. You will notice that my center cupcake and the heart on the cupcake to the right have something shiny on them. That is called Crystal Effects. It is such a fun product that makes your icing look good enough to eat! It also looks great on anything that is liquid or glass that you would like to make look more realistic. Definitely a Must Have!!! Well I wish the best for my dear friend Lisa, and I hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by!
Stamp Sets Used: Create A Cupcake
Colors Used: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, and Crumb Cake
Accessories and Tools Used: Brights Designer Series Paper in Pretty in Pink, Crystal Effects, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, scallop border punch, create a cupcake punch, basic pearls, dimensionals, and glue dots.

Playing with Scraps

Hello Friends,
Happy Tuesday.
Today I wanted to make a card using scraps. Many times when I am playing and creating, I will collect the different scraps and save them for future use. For some reason I just don't have the heart to throw them away. Guess you could call me the scrap queen!

Isn't it fabulous?

At the beginning of every card I make I have to decide on what colors I want to use. Not always an easy task unless your card stock is low and you need to restock like I do, LOL. When that happens I force myself to use what I have a lot of, which in this case made me ask myself...How come you don't use this color combination more often?? Any who I ended up using Always Artichoke, Craft, Whisper White, and Pretty in Pink. Here are the steps to make this card...

First, I collected all the scraps of Designer Series Paper that had these colors in it. Oh and BTW, some of it came from the mini 6 X 6" paper pack you could get from hosting a Stampin Up party. I always wondered what I was going to do with the different paper packs I have collected, and now problem solved. I am going to sit and make a lot more of these cards in different color schemes YAY me!! Anyways, if you are like me and are afraid to throw away a scrap, then DON'T DO IT :o)  Save them for a card like this one.

Second, I cut 12 1 1/4" squares from my scraps. I chose to use three different double sided papers (that's one of the perks to using Stampin Up's Designer Series Paper because both sides are coordinating). I folded the squares into cones and used a glue dot to hold the cone shut. * Hint...Make sure to fold all squares the same way for a more even flowing flower. Looks a lot neater this way.

Third, I used a 1" circle punch and punched out my flower center in one of the printed papers that I used for the flower cones. With this circle I glued all  the cones to it using sticky tape. I then punched another 1" circle to tape to the back so that all the cones are sandwiched between the two circles.

Next, I stamped "Hello" using the Posy Punch stamp set onto a scrap of Whisper White card stock using Always Artichoke classic ink. I punched it out with a 3/4" circle punch because I wanted it to fit inside the 1" circle punch. I then placed a dimensional under the Hello so that it would be popped up from the flower.

Then, I wanted to make a little border so I cut a 1/2" piece of scrap Designer Series paper and punched some 1" circles out of the papers I used in the flower to make the little border strip.

Lastly, I ran a piece of Pretty in Pink card stock measuring 4" X 4" through my Big Shot and embossed it using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

Finally, I mounted my entire card onto a piece of 4 1/4" X 5 1/2 Always Artichoke card stock.

Such a pretty card and all out of scraps!
I hope you enjoyed your visit, have a wonderful day!

Four Frames

Hello Friends, Happy Sunday!

Today I went to church like I do every Sunday but I felt like the message today really hit home. The message today was to learn to forgive and let it go. Not forgive if and only if someone does something for you first, or maybe forgive after you have had time, but to forgive completely the way God does for us. Now I sat there thinking, "Are you talking to me?". So I tried to think if there was anyone that I needed to forgive. Of course I did think of someone because I am NOT perfect and have had a little stored grudges. So I decided that today's card would be for that person. Now I said I forgave them when they first hurt me but I didn't fully forgive them and let it go. So I will send my card out and say hello and invite this person to get together because then I can finally say I have actually forgiven them and REALLY put it behind me. Why am I saying all of this, well because sometimes God is talking really LOUDLY to us and we need to listen!

So, how did I come up with today's card? Well I felt like playing with a different layout than I usually do. So before I began playing I looked up some design layouts. Sometimes when I have a creative block it helps to browse the internet for some card layouts. That is exactly what I did for this one and I am very glad I did because I love how it turned out.

This card uses a Designer Paper Series pack and a stamp set from the new Stampin Up catalog. I wanted to try to bring out some of the unique colors in the paper. This would make a nice card for a friendly hello, to pair with a gift, or even turn it into a birthday card. Because it says "for you", you can actually turn it into any kind of card you would like.

Stamp Sets Used: Four Frames and Clearly For You
Colors Used: Bravo Burgandy, Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, and Tangerine Tango
Accessories and Tools Used: Old Olive 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Decorative Label punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 2 1/2" circle punch, Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, and 2 different embossing folders.

Have a wonderful day, God Bless

Pennant Parade

Hello Friends,
Today's blog is dedicated to one of the new stamp sets that came out in Stampin Up's 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog which was launched yesterday!!! It is an amazing catalog with some terrific new In Colors. If you don't have yours but are dying to see click on the catalog picture to the right of this blog and browse. I guarantee you are going to see a lot of items in it that you cannot live with out!

Pennant Parade:
Okay normally when I think of pennants, I think of sports. And if you know me, you know I am so not a sports fan, I leave that up to my husband. Besides when sports is on that's the time I can sneak away and stamp to avoid it  :o) Anyway, this stamp set has completely changed the way I think about pennants now. Below I will be sharing with you three different cards that I made using this stamp set and the awesome punch that you have to have with it!

Pennant Birthday:

This first card uses the pennant as a birthday banner. The best part about this set is you can stamp your image on any color and if you have the coordinating punch you can punch it out and have a perfect pennant every time in very little time. Next, use a glue dot on the back of the pennant and stick it onto a piece of hemp and tada you have a banner. Just think how cute it would be in a scrapbook page across the top of a picture or even the whole scrapbook page. In fact, you could even put mini letters on the banner and spell out the person's name on your banner. Super cute!!

Stamp Sets Used: Pennant Parade and Happiest Birthday Wishes

Colors Used: So Saffron, Baha Breeze, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, Poppy Parade

Accessories and Tools Used: Glue dots, Hemp, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper, and the Pennant Punch

Ice Cream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream:

And can you blame us in this HOT HOT HOT weather?

This card is very special to me, it is going to be entered into a magazine contest so keep your fingers crossed that it makes it into the magazine!!

So, can you see where the pennant stamp is??? Okay, incase you can't it is the cone of the ice cream. I know, I know, very clever isn't it? This was a very fun card to make, and if your thinking it's too difficult, you are wrong because I like to rely on punches punches and more punches. You can't see it in this picture but I used some Crystal Effects on the cherry which makes it shiny and more 3D looking.

Stamp Sets Used: Pennant Parade, Teeny Tiny Wishes, and Create a Cupcake
Colors Used: Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, and Whisper White
Accessories and Tools Used:  embossing folder, Create a Cupcake punch, Pennant Punch, Jewelry tag punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, basic pearls, dauber, hemp, and Crystal Effects.

Merry Christmas!
Okay, I know it's hard to think about Christmas when we are sweating our little tooshies off but I had to show you again how versatile this Pennant Parade stamp set is.
I actually had fun coming up with this one, even though I was roasting in my dining room making it.  I was able to use my new Big Shot die that my dearest friend, Roxanne got me for my birthday.  It really makes the card layout elegant with very little effort. Photography is not my specialty which is why again you cannot really see the complete beauty of my card. For the snowflakes I used glitter glue on each one of them to give a little sparkle to my card and in real life they looks so pretty. There is also a cute itty bitty heart shaped button on the tree with a small piece of hemp going through it...so so cute.

Stamp Sets Used: Pennant Parade and Itty Bitty Bits
Colors Used: Not Quite Navy, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, and Whisper White
Accessories and Tools Used: Pennant Punch, Itty Bitty Buttons, Old Olive 5/8" Satin Ribbon, dauber,glitter glue,Top Note Bigz Dies, and of course my wonderful Big Shot

Now that I am done playing and sharing, I bet your considering this stamp set as one you cannot live without? If so contact me or visit my Stampin Up Website http://sandialba.stampinup.net/ to get yours! Or host a workshop and earn yours free with all the hostess money you can earn!!!
Have a great day everyone!