My Personal Faves of 2009 - July & August

July & August: The Heart of the Summer

I'm continuing my walk down memory lane of 2009. Yesterday, I posted my faves from September through December.

July and August were the months for Gina K sets (Inspiration Mosaic & Bug Me Anytime), cutie pies, yummy treats, and for popping up cut out images. I tried to capture a little bit of each. As usual, I did a lot of stamping during the summer months. I think I made more cards in these 2 months than during the other months combined! If not, it had to be close. LOL! And it seems I had more time to comment and explain some of the cards, too. (I like to talk, too. LOL!)

August - Picnic of Daisies

Sketch Challenge #241
I love the blue ribbon. I wish I had more of it. I found it in a $1 spot. Michael's I think. It came with 5 other patterns... 12 inches each. The sky is lightly sponged with soft sky ink. The ground was made by sprinkling dots with a creamy caramel marker and then sponging it with the same color.

SHADOWS: For the shadow around everything, I used B60 (pale blue gray). You notice it if you're looking for it (in real life). It's subtle... like light make-up. I find it very effective. These are both new colors for me. It's possible I'll find different colors I like better as I grow my collection even more.

Stamps: Picnic of Daisies (Stampavie/Sarah Kay)
Paper: white, real red, creamy caramel
Ink: black, creamy caramel, soft sky, Copic markers (B24, B32, B60, E31, E33, E35, E51, G24, R27, Y35, Y38)
Accessories: eyelets, ribbon, CB Swiss Dots, white gel pen, dimensionals
Wish RAK: Picnic of Daisies from Stamp Muse, CB Swiss Dots from many Wish RAKers.

August - CAS Baby Congratulations

There are Stickles at the tips of each petal and 3 dots on the bottom right of the top panel.

Stamps: Baby Buttercup (Stamping Bella), sentiment (Gina K's Tag Lines)
Paper: white, so saffron
Ink: black, Copic markers
Accessories: ribbon, Stickles

August - Inpsired Mosaic

Inspiration Challenge: Bellacor Vases
This photo that caught my attention right away was a blocked mirror shelf with vase... and orange flowers! It was just right for me! I love Melanie's new mosaic set and I LOVE orange! LOL!

Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic, Bug Me Anytime
Paper: white, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, creamy caramel
Ink: Palette burnt umber, SU chocolate chip marker, Copic marker E37
Accessories: whole punch, brads, ribbon, SU large oval, circle & designer label punches

July - A Stepped-up CAS Birthday Card

Here is the stepped up version of a CAS card using Melanie Muenchinger's new stamp set, Inspiration Mosaic The first one didn't have any brads or punched flowers. There were cinnamon stickles in the top right corner.

Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic (Gina K)
Paper: white, chocolate chip, dsp - chocolate chip, bashful blue
Ink: palette burnt umber, SU ballet blue marker, Copic B24
Accessories: Martha Stewart cupcake punch, SU scallop oval punch, EK Success flower punch, brads, American Crafts ribbon, dimensionals

July - Dare to Get Dirty paper tole

This set is perfect for paper tole! It certainly is not CAS. It took me forever! But it was well worth it when DH was amazed and gave it high praise. :) This Gina K set was designed by Nina Brackett.

For the Paper Tole Technique: The top flower is popped up as a whole. Then the center is popped up again. For the second flower on the right, The bottom half is popped up and then just the laft side is popped up again. The lady bug is popped up as a whole and then just the body is popped up. Two of the leaves are popped up on one side. The white layer of the sentiment is popped up on the razzleberry mat.The butterflies are bent and popped up on one side. I used the top flower to stamp with razzleberry on razzleberry for the DP by Me challenge. I wish I could see more of it because it shows up nicely for tone one tone. And finally, these colors coordinate so much better in real life. I took a ton of photos and did a lot of editing, but this is the best I could get.

This card qualifies for many Dare to Get Dirty challenges:

DTGD09blondie090277 - Paper Tole
DTGD09kittie747 - Scene Challenge
DTGD09eggette - Flap Your Wings!
DTGD09gbedwright- DP by ME
(Most of it got covered up, but you can still see a little. :)
DTGD09DeborahLynneS ~ Taken with Texture!
DTGD09Becca_Stamps - Cut it Out!!

Stamps: Bug Me Anytime (Gina K Designs)
Paper: white, black, rich razzleberry, DCWV spring mat stack
Ink: black, SU markers: rich razzleberry, garden green, rose red, Copic markers (RV17, RV10, RV29, G07, G17)
Accessories: brads, ribbon, CB Swiss Dots EF, various circle punches, MS butterfly punch, dimensionals
Techniques: Paper Tole, LOTS OF CUTTING! :)
Wish RAK Items: black brads, CB Swiss Dots

July - Sweet S'Mores

SCS Sketch 238 - This was the 5th and final card I made that day!

Stamps: Under the Stars & Sanded BG (Stampin' Up), Sweetest Blessing sentiment (Gina K Designs)
Paper: white, chocolate chip, creamy caramel
Ink: palette burnt umber, chocolate chip, creamy caramel
Accessories: CB Swiss Dots EF, ribbon, square, large oval, & modern label punches, brads, pop-up dots

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My Personal Faves of 2009 - September - December

I've seen a couple of other bloggers re-posting their favorite cards. I thought it would be fun! It's also time-consuming. So, I've decided to spread it out over the weekend. Today is September - December.

September #1 - Clean & Simple (CAS)

Stamps: August KTOM '09 (Unity)
Paper: white, close to cocoa, regal rose
Ink: Palette burnt umber, SU ballet blue & garden green markers, Copic markers (R34 dark pink & B00 frost blue)
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

September #1 - Definitely Not CAS

Stamps: Aug. '09 KTOM
Paper: white, bashful blue, regal rose, sU dsp, chocolate chip
Ink: Palette burnt umber, Copic markers (R83, B32, Y35? - maize), sponging with creamy caramel & bashfu blue
Accessories: brads, taffeta ribbon, SU Top Note die (Wish RAK)

October

Stamps: KOTM July & September '09 (Unity)
Paper: certainly celery, lavender lace, white, CM dp
Ink: black, certainly celery, Copic E71
Accessories: Marvy scallop punch, CM custom cutting system, $1 spot ribbon
Techniques: paper piecing

November #1 - Clean & Simple

Stamps: Unity's September KOTM
Paper: white, black
Ink: black
Accessories: SU's wide oval punch, Marvy's mega scallop oval punch, dimensionals, Martha Stewart's edge punch, SU's Organza ribbon, pearl brad

November #2 - Definitely Not CAS!

Stamps: Cowboy Snowman (High Hopes received from wish RAK., Wild West (TAC)
Paper: kraft, real red, brocade blue, white, real red dsp.
Ink: black, creamy caramel, brocade blue, Copic markers
Accessories: brads, twine, cute horseshoe from Wild West, large oval, designer lsbel, and circle punch

December #1 - A Holiday Card

Stamps: Jumbo Candle (F006), Holly Giga Circle (L120), Silent Night greeting (D484) - all DRS Designs
Paper: real red, white, unknown dp
Ink: black, apricot appeal, garden green, Copic markers
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, Martha Stewart lace edge punch, Marvy Giga scallop circle punch, CM custom cutting system, sponge (light glow around the flame)

December #2 - A Non-Holiday Card

Stamps: Linden Branch, sentiment (Unity)
Paper: chocolate chip, bashful blue, white
Ink: chocolate chip
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, Martha Stewart edge punch, Liquid Pearls

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End of the Year Favorites

Here are some cards I favorited recently. I just haven't had much spare time. I will be back later today, or over the weekend, to post some more.... I don't want to miss anything :) And I want all the "end of the year" faves to be in the same post.

Thursday, December 31

ltecler (CAS)
slschaf771
KY Southern Belle
KY Southern Belle




Wednesday, December 30

ltecler
hobbywoman
mudflapmamma (CAS)
girlydecou
she's_crafty (CAS)
eggette


Tuesday, December 29


Monday, December 28

This is what I call a New Year's Eve party!

New Year's Eve challenges on SCS were planned in just one day by Faith, Lois, and Nancy. I discovered it while cruising the gallery. I hope to have time to make cards for the other 4 challenges. This card was made for the first challenge hostessed by Lois.

Challenge - Count Down to the New Year
Hostess - Lois Bak
Keyword - NYE09A

This is a "follow the list" challenge. Your card must contain:

5 layers (card base counts as a layer)
4 embellishments (each brad or eyelet or whatever counts as 1)
3 colors (plus one neutral if you want)
2 stamps
1 punch

No limitations on tools (Cuttlebug, Nesties, Markers, Gel pens)


I remember the first time we did this. (New Year's Eve challenges) What memories! Back then, using 2 background stamps was the thing to do. LOL! I was the coordinator because it was an off-shoot of the Limited Supplies challenge. It was either heading into 2006 or 2007. Time keeps zipping along! After that came other holiday weekend challenges. This site sure has history for me!


This card took me awhile. I kept second guessing myself. I finally had to call it quits before I messed it up. LOL!

Stamps: Valentine Flower & grass (DRS Designs)
Colors: red, green & black + white as my additional neutral
Accessories: satin ribbon, rhinestone stickers, white gel pen, dimensionals, SU scallop edge punch, SU Top Note die cut (Wish RAK), Copic markers, SU black marker for the dots on the scallops

For the Love of Chocolate

Nothing's better than hot cocoa when your chilled to the bones! And these adorable marshmallows make the thought even more irresistible!

Marshmallows Bring A Smile

Stamps: Cocoa Cup (H223), Cocoa & Marshmallows saying (H231), Marty the Marshmallow (D424), Interlocking Snowflake background (H015) - All stamps from DRS Designs
Paper: white, bashful blue, creamy caramel, pretty in pink
Ink: Palette burnt umber, bashful blue, Copic markers
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, white gel pen, CM custom cutting system, dimensionals

Fall into Chocolate

Stamps: Cocoa Cup (H223), Marty the Marshmallow (D424), Chocolate Chip background (H361), Fall into Chocolate greeting (F338), Open Heart Border (H342) - All Stamps DRS Designs
Paper: white, creamy caramel, pretty in pink
Ink: Palette burnt umber, creamy caramel, Copic markers, chocolate chip marker for the dots
Accessories: ribbon, CM custom cutting system, SU scallop edge punch


I hope your holidays have been bright and that your new year is even brighter!

Some Brand New Favorites

I haven't had much time on the computer today, but I had to find at least some time for cruising. The day just wouldn't be complete. Hopefully I'll have more time tomorrow to get more posted. :)

Tuesday, December 29

amgnam
jojot
jodi r.
Petal Pusher
hobbywoman
stampin fool
TreasureOiler


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Another Holiday Surprise!

Did you see the exciting news?!? I've been ready to burst with excitement for days!!!! But I kept cool. LOL! Gina is so so sweet! She does the nicest announcements and it is such a honor to be invited to participate on the Center Stage Spotlight design team. I've been dreaming of that for months! :) And I'm so happy to be working alongside Joan Ervin and Betty Neville.

Here is Gina's big announcement.

You are going to LOVE the new release (January 7)! I love it!!! I'm already stamping away. Fun images, fun sentiments, and new paper! You don't want to miss it! Seriously!



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Frosty's Note

Wow! It's been a busy couple of days and I have a lot to catch up on. Here's a shocker... I have hardly spent any time online the past couple of days! Whoa!

Dear Frosty was a sample for the Color Monday challenge on Christian Paper Crafts. The colors: bashful blue (or any light shade of blue), a light shade of purple, white, and an optional

Stamps: DRS Designs
Paper: white, bashful blue, lavender lace, black
Ink: bashful blue, lavender lace, black, Copic markers
Accessories: CM custom cutting system, ribbon

I have some more posting to do... lots of exciting news and eye candy around the web this week!

Theresa Momber: Life is Good (Part 2!)

I'm still excited as ever to be one of two guest designers this month for Theresa Momber.... fabulous artist and paper crafter for Gina K. Designs. Her stamp set,"Life is Good," makes such elegant cards that it's hard not to feel peaceful when looking at the results. Please visit Gerri's blog! She makes such stunning cards and has more to share with you, too! And don't forget to visit Theresa's blog, too. The cards she has made with these stamps look like paintings. Amazing! (And.... She is showing one of my cards! How fun is that?!?)

From Our House to Yours

I love this cabin image so much that I had to make a card spotlighting just it. Since I'm enjoying cranberry tart cardstock, I decided to see what this cabin would look like in a coordinating shade (Copic R59 - Cardinal). I sponged the sky with bashful blue and layered it on another piece of white cs. To finish it, I used a white gel pen for snow on the trees and bushes and added some white organza ribbon. The sentiment is from another one of Theresa's stamp sets, "Autumn Beauty".

Your Love Sustains Me

For this card, I wanted to use a wide mat like you see on some picture frames. For texture, I used the trees. The sky is sponged in bashful blue. I used 3 SU punches to layer the sentiment: oval, circle, and designer label punches.

Thank you so much for visiting! This has been so much fun for me!

Congrats on Your Big News!

Congrats on You Big News!

This is my sample for today's CAS challenge on SCS. It's an inspiration challenge. This time we are taking a trip into the world of Disney! Even though I chose to use Disney characters on my card, it isn't a requirement. Just let your imagination flow while site-seeing :)

I used this valence as my inspiration. My original plans were to use regal rose where you see the certainly celery scallop layer, but it didn't match. None of my pink cs matched! Plan B: Make it neutral since this card is meant for a wonderful lady who just found out she is expecting!

Stamps: Disney's Pooh & Piglet (source unknown), sentiment (Stampin' Up)
Paper: white, certainly celery, so saffron, DCWV mat stack
Ink: Palette burnt umber, certainly celery, Copic markers: YR31 light reddish yellow, R27 cadmium red, RV34 dark pink, RV11 pink
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, CM custom cutting system, SU scallop edge punch, white gel pen

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Christmas Weekend Faves - Part 2

I'm having some fun in the gallery in between my lazy afternoon of card making. Everyone needs those kind of days once in awhile!

Sunday, December 27

jstarbright
scrubbybubbles
sgtStamper
flaxychick
Kristin Moore (CAS)
hobbywoman (CAS)
k dunbrook (CAS)
CAKath (CAS)
CAKath (CAS)
CAKath set 1
CAKath set 2
CAKath gift (She has posted many other gifts in her gallery this weekend!)
lcoughlin
mfps1 (CAS)
justcrazy
justcrazy
ltecler (CAS)
patsmethers
Creative Daze
lawnfawncards (CAS)
star
tessa. (CAS)
Whimsey (CAS)
HamiltonGal (CAS)
peebsmama (CAS)
peebsmama (CAS)
Disaster (CAS)
va.sunshine
va.sunshine


Saturday, December 26

ctorina
slschaf771 (CAS)


These were also uploaded on Saturday! And there are many, many more where these came from... uploaded just on Saturday! She's talented and busy :)

Craft Fanatic
Craft Fanatic
Craft Fanatic (CAS)
Craft Fanatic
Craft Fanatic
Craft Fanatic (CAS)
Craft Fanatic
Craft Fanatic
Craft Fanatic

Featured Stamper CAS Card

SCS Featured Stamper challenge: SmilynStef

I used a different mailbox and kept it CAS. I also added ribbon. Here is Stef's card that she made for her postal worker DH to give to his patrons.

Stamps: Sending my Love (Unity)
Colors: melon mambo, pumpkin pie, certainly celery, & close to cocoa