StampingChallenges -- SC1 (Anniversary Card)

Today I'm excited to share my first sketch challenge for Stamping Challenges  (SC1 -- January 4, 2013).  

It's been a very fun process getting to be a part of the Design Team. It's made up of a lively group of avid stampers, so I'm very proud to get to stamp alongside them. (Even if not physically next to them, in spirit!)

Each week they create a sketch for you to try, and the challenge is for you to interpret it the way you see those elements used -- make substitutions with your creativity!

It's open to everyone, so start stamping with us today.

Here was the sketch to work from:

Here is the card I designed:

Get the materials to make this card here:

http://cecile.stampinup.net

For this card I used

Cardstock:

- Whisper White (base)

-  Pirouette Pink

- Raspberry Ripple

Stamp Sets: 

You Are Loved

En Francais

I made this card for my anniversary to a very sweet and wonderful man. :)

He's incredibly kind, funny, handsome and super smart. I feel so lucky and happy that we treat each other with such love and respect. That doesn't always happen in life so it makes me extremely grateful. Well... so much for that.

I hope for an excellent 2013 for everyone!

Steam Punk Invitations for my Sister

My sister got married in December in Orlando Florida, at the Disney Boardwalk. It was a very beautiful ceremony and I'm happy for her and my new brother-in-law (who I already felt like he a family member even before he was officially inducted)

She wants to have a party at their home for the folks who couldn't make it, so they are having a steam-punk themed party. Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction. Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain -- that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. (Thanks Wikipedia)

So here's what I came up with:

For this card I used:
Cardstock -- Basic Gray (base), Black, Whisper White
Stamps -- En Francais (SU!) and Extreme Elements (SU!)
Inks -- Tempting Turquoise, Concord Crush, Brushed Gold

Back in the swing of things

I've been absent from my stampin' fun for entirely too long! I lost my mojo for just a bit, due to a series of life changing events, but I am happy to say I am in a really great place right now, thanks to the support of my family and friends. I'm super grateful.

I have a new job, and even though I work later than I am used to, I've been in a much happier mood. So with that, I have a card I worked very hard on for a swap. It was a Twilight themed swap. I finished the first book, am on the second and still have not seen the movie - ACK!

With that, I have pictures, although...not to pat myself on the back too hard, but the pictures don't really do the card justice I think. I was very happy with the way they turned out!

Here is the front of the card


I tried a different fold this time, still a standard sized card though. The front seal I made took 4 layers of UTEE and one of red glitter embossing powder. I really wish my camera could really capture the color and texture, it was really pretty. I tried to get a close-up but you still can't tell too much.


Here is the inside of the card - lots of work, but so worth it. I used a brayer technique I learned from Kim from Stamp-a-rama who learned it from Michelle Zindorf. I took a piece of glossy photopaper, punched out a circle and temporarily affixed it to the paper, then using a brayer I rolled Baja Breeze ink all over the paper, then I used Pacific Point around the edges with the brayer. Then with a sponge, I used Basic Gray. Then when you take off the circle piece of paper, you have a bright white moon. Then using StazOn ink in Jet Black I used the tree stamp for a cool silhouette effect. I wanted to give this a really dark and romantic feel, so I used the cursive background stamp.

Here is a close-up so you can see the quote I chose for the card. I think it's very fitting.


I am super excited to see what kinds of swaps I will receive, and I hope that whoever gets mine really enjoys it.

On a side note, I should also mention that my stamping room that I complained about earlier, is fully functional and AWESOME!  I couldn't be more ecstatic that I have my own working space now.

More to come, I'm working on some Valentine's Day cards. I got some great gifts over the holidays that I've been itching to use, among them the SU! Valentine's Bundle. (You've seen the heart punch in action already!)

I used:
Card Stock - Black (base), Riding Hood Red, White and Glossy paper
Stamps - SU! En Francais, SU! Nature Silhouettes