StampingChallenges -- SC13

Here is my latest sketch challenge for Stamping Challenges  (SC13 -- March 29, 2013).  

Each week StampingChallenges.com 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's what I did:

Want to get the materials to make a card like this? Visit my store:

http://cecile.stampinup.net

For this card I used

Cardstock:

Whisper White (White)

Stamp:

StampingChallenges -- SC7 (Just My Type Card)

Here is my latest sketch challenge for Stamping Challenges  (SC7 -- February 15, 2013).  

Each week StampingChallenges.com 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's what I did:

Want to get the materials to make this card? Visit my store:

http://cecile.stampinup.net

For this card I used

Cardstock:

Crumb cake (base)
Whisper White

Designer Series Paper:
Sycamore Street

Stamps:
You're My Type

StampingChallenges -- SC2 (Birthday Card)

Today I'm excited to share my second sketch challenge for Stamping Challenges  (SC2 -- January 11, 2013).  

As I mentioned last week -- 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:

- Crumb Cake (base)

-  Whisper White

Designers Series Paper:

- Sycamore Street

Stamp Set:

- Pretty Petites 

I am low on birthday cards, and I just got this great set, so I tried it out. :)

Happy Bird-Day

I love punny things, so I just felt the need to make a fun card with one of my favorite sets. Plus I had to use a really Spring-y palette... I'm so glad that winter is just about over! (Austin has relatively mild winters, I don't know how you folks with all that snow do it!) Anyways, I thought it came out kind of cute, so I thought I'd post it. I originally was going to enter it for a contest for Papercrafts magazine, although this one ended up not making it into the bag. I'm really proud of the other cards that my best friend and I made, so wish us luck! :)

For this card I used:
Stamps - Pun Fun (SU!), Occasional Quotes (SU!)
Card stock - Crumb Cake (Base), Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Whisper White
DSP - Delightful Dots (SU!) -- Retired from Sale-a-Bration 2009

Sunday on Congress

My best friend, Nicole, and I decided to try out a craft fair. We made a ton of cards to sell on Congress on Sunday. It was a beautiful day, albeit a little windy.

We shared a tent with her cousin Becky who was selling one of a kind feather accessories. (Visit her at Foxy Flight)

Here we are in our tent:

We met alot of nice people and had a fun time. It wasn't super busy... I think alot of people weren't walking around because they were prepping for their SuperBowl parties. But we did get alot of nice feedback from people who thought we did a great job.

Nicole and I really liked pushing ourselves to create alot of different designs. We crafted together weekly, and when we weren't crafting together we were sending photos back and forth of what all we came up with.

I also liked how we used many of the same stamps but came out with really unique end products. It just goes to show you how you can really add your own flair to things.

I had friends visit and show support, too, which I thought was really sweet.

All in all, we'll definitely be doing it again this Sunday (February 13th). We hope to see a ton more folks come out! And for those who can't come out to Austin, I'll be posting a video tutorial to make one of the Valentine's cards that I especially liked making.

Don't forget that Sale-a-Bration is still going on -- from now until the end of March, you can earn lots of free stamp sets, ribbons, paper, buttons and digital downloads. Check out my website to see the Sale-a-Bration specials.

Video Tutorial #2: Clear Mount Stamps

Hello!

For those of you who didn't get to see my first video tutorial I wanted to let you in on why I started making them: I love, love, LOVE stamping. But more than anything, I love sharing it with people I care about. Many friends and family members stamp with me. We live all over the place though, so it's difficult to find time together. That's what spurred this idea to create video tutorials.

This is my second video, and it shows you an easy peasy way to mount your clear mount stamps once you get them.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and check it out. :)

If there something in the Stampin' Up! catalog that you've always wondered "What does that do?" please send me a message and I'll see what I can do to help you out.

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

Robot Birthday

I made this card for one of my co-workers... in January... of last year -- that's how behind I am! I think robot stuff is so fun, and I'm happy that stamp makers are picking up on this trend! I found a great pack of designer paper from Jo-Ann's called Generation Tech. It was a pack full of video game/technology themed papers. This binary code sheet seemed a perfect background for the card. Then I embossed the nuts and bolts on the side in silver.

For this card I used:
Card stock: Kraft (base), Generation Tech (DSP), Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss and Basic Gray.

Stamps: Lots of Bots (SU!)

Coworker Commissions

Last year one of my supervisors had requested some cards from me for his wife, for Valentine's and her birthday (there's only 5 days difference between the two). Well this year I was pre-emptive and brought some for him to choose from beforehand. He was very appreciative and this is what he chose:

For his wife's birthday:
I love, love, LOVE punny things, so I had to get this set. I'm also digging this new DSP called Razzleberry Lemonade -- the color combinations are so perfect. It's probably the fastest pack I've gone through... I'm about to have to order more!

For this card I used:
Card stock - Kraft (base), Melon Mambo, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and White
Stamps - Comfort Food (SU!)

And for Valentine's Day:
I learned a great watercolor technique from Kim at Stamp-a-rama during stamp club and that's how I made the rose. I had been on the fence about getting that stamp set but making this definitely convinced me to spring for it.

For this card I used:
Card stock - Kraft (base), Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and White (photopaper)
Stamps - Yummy (SU!) and Fifth Avenue Floral (SU!)

Graffiti Birthday Card

I tend to have lots of real cutesy stamps, but I wanted to make a card that had a bit of different feel, and I'm pretty happy with what I was able to do.

For this card I used:
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay (Base) and White
Stamps: Alphabet Soup (SU!) and Extreme Elements (SU!)

Work Birthday

My co-worker Meredith turned 22 yesterday, so I made this card. Birthdays are fun at work, we always get cake. I can't help but think about that scene in Office Space where Melvin(?) doesn't get to have a piece.

I've totally gotten my money's worth out of the Animal Crackers set. Who could hate it -- it's cute animals and puns! I used a few of these stick on pearls which I think are adorable... to the point that I sometimes hoard it, but I have been getting better about using things up. As long as I take a picture, I think I can part with some of these things now. I hope kraft colored paper doesn't go out of style anytime soon, it's so great to use!

For this card I used:

Card stock - Kraft (base), So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Tea Time DSP and white

Stamp - Animal Crackers (SU!)

Halloween Treats

Happy Halloween!

While I'm not super nutty about this holiday, I do love any reason to celebrate and make fun things. For work I made these cute little treat boxes. I learned it at Stamp Club last week with and you can see the instructions here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/trianglebox/

At Stamp Club we made a Christmas one, so I adapted it and made my Halloween ones. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out. First I cut and scored my paper. Then I ran it through the Cuttlebug and tied it off with orange ribbon.

Next I stamped this small spider image and mounted it on a piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock (how appropriate!) I even put a bit of Crystal Effects on the spider part, for added cuteness.

Scored and folded it to make it a mini card on the outside of the box.

Then I stamped the outside with "Eek! You're Sweet"

It was fun making them (I made 16 in all). It's been awhile since I've made something that wasn't mostly pre-designed so I'm happy with the final product.

For this box I used:

Card stock - Black, Pumpkin Pie and White

Stamps - Random Spider (I'm guessing just a Hobby Lobby one, I got it as a bonus with an eBay auction I won) and Sweet Centers (SU!)

Sympathy Card

I made a sympathy card for a dear friend of mine. Unfortunately his grandfather passed away. But I told him that it sounded like his grandfather lived a long, full life and that he should be happy that he got to see him recently. I know that doesn't always make it easier to deal with, but I hope it brings even just a little comfort that his granddad was happy in life.

I always find sympathy cards difficult for many reasons. I never know if it's appropriate to even make anything that serves as a reminder, but at the same time I feel if properly expressed I would hope that there is a larger message to be understood... that even during a difficult time people want to be there to listen and to help with healing.

Death is a difficult thing though. I have known people who have died, but no one who has been extremely close to me. I am sure it would be absolutely devastating though if it were to happen. And I guess the sadder part is not so much the if it happens... but the when it happens. My father has always been preoccupied with death, I think it was largely in part due to him fighting in the Vietnam war. He's been saying for the last 20 years that he doesn't think he'll live much longer, but as I get older the words become scarier and scarier.

Making the card for my friend really forced me to be a bit more reflective about what is going on around me. Things like would I know what to do if something happened to the people I care about most, or even if I were to go, did I feel that I did my best? I find that the more you count your blessings, the more blessed you'll realize you are. So with this uber comtemplative mood I've been in, I have been choosing to make more thank you cards. I urge you today or any ol' day, to let people know they mean alot to you.


For this card I used:
Card stock - Kraft (base), Bermuda Bay, White
Stamps - Thoughts & Prayers (SU!)

Gothy Goodness Swap

It's been awhile since I did one, but I joined a swap many months ago with a gothic theme. It was due on my birthday (09-09-09! And by the way I turned 27 and 2+7=9... crazy o_O)

So anyway the theme revolved around goth girls. It's basis requires a little bit of the pop subculture of Japan, but there is a style called "Goth-Lolli" (a combination of Gothic Lolita) where girls dress up in these really decadent porcelain doll kind of outfits (I guess Victorian?) and it adds other gothic elements to it (dark colors, dramatic eye makeup, etc.)

Well I decided that based on alot of the imagery I've found of this Lolita

fashion, that I had to do a card with butterflies and lace.

So I started with a piece of photo paper and used Melon Mambo with my brayer.

Then I stamped this image onto it using Jet Black StazOn. The stamp was from a set called Friendship, but I don't know what company it's from. Isn't she pretty?


I then used a white paint pen to color in the whites of her eyes and adhered it to a piece of black cardstock.


Then I put it on the gray base cardstock and silver embossed a butterfly (from the same stamp set) on top of the ribbon.

I kind of like how it turned out, though I don't really know what it could be used for. Thinking of you? Or maybe some kind of dark valentine sentiment?

Speaking of sentiments -- I found a great book in the bargain section at Borders. It's called Finding the Right Words by J. Beverly Daniel. It's got phrases to personalize your greeting cards. While I am a big proponent of say what you want however you want to, it's certainly not bad to have a little help sometimes when you're just stumped.

Graduation Card

I made this card for one of my best friends. She is graduating from her Physical Therapist Assistant program, so we are all super happy for her. (Congratulations Nicole!) I forgot to take a picture of the inside, but there is a cute little stamped image of a graduation hat. I can't get over kraft paper, I have trouble picturing cards on any other base! But I especially love the color combination here. I also used a new embossing powder, it's supposed to have a distressed look. I kind of like it, but I don't know that I will use it very often. Anyway, the ceremony is tomorrow so hopefully she likes it. :)

For this card I used:

Card stock - Kraft (base), Baha Breeze, Walk in the Park DSP and White

Stamp - Say it With Scallops (SU!)

Birthday Fun

My friend turned 30 in May, but we've both been so busy that I didn't get to give my card to him until recently. I think it came out pretty cute. This entire stamp set was so cute, so I am glad I got to play with it finally. So -- happy belated birthday, Cody!

For this card I used:

Card Stock - Basic Grey (base), Going Grey, Pacific Point and White

Stamps - Bitty Birthday (SU!) and Animal Crackers (SU!)

It's been super busy at work (in a good way!) so I haven't had as much time to stamp, but I plan on cracking down pretty soon and getting more blog posts up. I mean, it's not like my Christmas cards are going to make themselves!

Gift box and card combo

Today is my best friend's birthday (Happy Birthday Nicole!)
I got her a really cute, sparkly headband and I needed a box for it, so I decided to make a mini-pizza box for it. I based it off of a template I found on SplitcoastStampers, but I had to adapt it in order to fit the headband.


For this box I used:
Card stock - Kraft (base), Real Red, Black and White
Stamps - SU! Yummy, SU! Pocket Silhouettes and SU! Flowers in Silhouette

Anniversary Commission

One of my bosses is celebrating his one year anniversary with his wife this weekend, so he asked me for a card.

These were the two I came up with for him to choose from:


I'm surprised at how much Cameo Coral struck me. At first it reminded me of Groovy Guava which I hated, but paired with River Rock it is kind of nice. I also embossed the sentiment to give it extra oomph.

For this card I used:
Card stock - Kraft (base), River Rock, Cameo Coral, Ginger Blossoms DSP and White
Stamps - SU! Flowers in Silhouette, SU! Pocket Silhouettes and random sentiment from Hobby Lobby
Other - River Rock ribbon

This is the one he decided on:

For this card I used:
Cardstock - Pretty in Pink (base) and white
Stamp - SU! Short and Sweet
Other - $1 bin ribbon, Hodge Podge hardware

This is probably my favorite folder for the Cuttlebug. I'm glad I got it - it's so pretty! I can't wait, I am saving up for the Sizzix Big Shot with all the money I make from my cards. (That's the deal, since we are socking away money for our house. So I've been really good and haven't splurged on alot.)

So congratulations to David and Becky for their one year wedding anniversary!

Mother's Day Cards

I hope everyone was able to thank that special mother, mother-in-law, stepmother, godmother and/or person who is like a mother to you. :)
My mother came here from Vietnam in the 60's as a refugee during the war. She and my father worked anywhere that would take them, and at night they would take classes to learn English. They worked very hard, and were able to eventually get great jobs working for AMD (not sure if everyone is familiar, but AMD makes computer chips and processors and other technological things like that). They were able to put a nice roof over our heads, as well as get 3 kids through college and trade schools. This is the absolute American Dream, and I know it was still a difficult road full of many sacrifices. So for that I am so grateful to such an amazing woman. (And my father, too - we'll revisit that closer to Father's Day hehe)

I made a few Mother's Day cards, mainly just 2 styles and then slight variations to them to give away and to sell (different colors, etc)

For this card I used:
Cardstock - Kraft (base), Certainly Celery and White
Stamps - Pocket Silhouettes (SU!) and a random sentiment one I got at Hobby Lobby
Inks - So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink

For this card I used:
Cardstock - Kraft (base), Almost Amethyst, Tea Time DSP and Very Vanilla
Stamps - Flowers in Silhouette (SU!) and a random sentiment one I got at Hobby Lobby
Inks - Almost Amethyst

More Birthday Commissions

My supervisor needed a birthday card for her mom, so I made a couple of different styles.
Her mom likes the color blue, flowers and is a quilter so here I made these two:


For this card I used:
Card Stock - Chocolate Chip (base), [I will fill this name in later, I can't remember!] DSP, Baja Breeze and White
Stamps - SU! Botanical Blooms

This one is the one she ended up deciding on, which I like, too. I chose the saying because she got her mom a gift card, so I thought she could slide it in there.


For this card I used:
Card Stock - Kraft (base), tons of DSP [will input names later]
Stamps - SU! Yummy