So Many Smiles - Just Because

You ever have one of those days that just went great from beginning to end, there there were no snags and everything just clicked?  I experienced one of those days today!   I got up early, took my Rottweiler for a walk, or did he walk me?  lol anyway, while we were walking down the road the fragrance of fresh cut alfalfa triggered memories of my family's farm I grew up on in Western Idaho, right on the Idaho / Oregon border with the Snake River.

What I wouldn't give to feel safe and carefree without a worry in the world, other than who was dating who and who quit talking to who.   It's too bad when we are younger, we don't have the good sense to just stop and absorb everything going on around you and absorb it to your memory so you can hold on to forever.  Shoulda-Woulda-Coulda or Hind sight is 20/20 I suppose.

This card is inspired by the creative Cindy Elam with Heart's Delight Cards. 

I used Stampin' Write Markers to color the hummingbird stamp to ensure the colors were the way I wanted.  My camera didn't do this card justice, but I'm sure you get the idea.  ")  To make the flowers I punched out flowers with the Boho Blossoms punch, wadded them up and shaped & twisted them around to be the shape I wanted. To give additional dimension to the hummingbird I cut out and added an additional wing

The outside of the card says:  So many smiles...

And the inside says:  ...begin with you!

Thanks for stoping by!  Have a beautiful day.
Blessings and Inky Hugs;
~Shawnie B

Stamps:  Elements of Style and Petite Pairs

Punches:  Word Window, Scallop Trim Border, Boho Blossoms, Bird Builder, and Modern Label

Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Stripes embossing folder, and Lacey Circle die (nestabilities)

Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Garden Green, Old Olive, and Night and Day Specialty Designer Paper.

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green, and Taken with Teal, Garden Green, Rich Razzleberry, and Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers.

Accessories:  Big Shot, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, halfback pearls, Sponge Dauber,  and Circle Scissor Plus.

Kind Thank You - For the Birds Challenge

Greetings Stampers!

Sorry I have been of the grid for a while.  Have been devoting my time on family things.  My Mom's health is going down hill and her Dr. isn't expecting her to be with us too much longer.  Her organs are shutting down and she is unable to feed herself, sit up, etc... Her right arm is turning black because she is unable to use it.

Today's project I completed is a challenge from SU - Only Challenges where the focus is For the Birds.

Now, to the card.


This card was made using the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Stamp Set/s:
• Vintage Vogue
• Because I Care
• Punch/s:
• Bird Builder Punch
• Oval Punch
• Scalloped Oval Punch
• Misc:
• Halfback Pearls
• Bling Gem
• Satin Pleated Ribbon
• Dimensionals
• Colors Used:
• Blushing Bride
• Old Olive
• Very Vanilla

So, there you have it.

Thank you for stopping by.  I look forward to hearing back from you!

Blessings & Inky Hugs;

~Shawnie B.

So Grateful

This card is sporting a handmade flower I created a while back.  I have been wanting to use my flowers but the time just hasn't been right. I sprayed the surface of the card with my home made shimmer mist to give it a glittered sheen.

For the homemade Shimmer Mist recipe, please visit this post.

This card was created using the following Stampin' Up! Supplies:

• Stamps:
• Apothecary Art
• Punches:
• Circle Scallop
• Big Shot:
• Elegant Lines Embossing Folder
• Misc:
• Homemade Shimmer Mist
• Ribbon
• Colors Used:
• Whisper White
• Baja Breeze 
• Crumb Cake
• Whisper White
• Crumb Cake ink

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Blessings & Inky Hugs;
~Shawnie B.

Butterfly Birthday

Greetings!

This card has my favorite attributes, glitter & butterflies!  It still feels like there might be something missing in the middle between the two butterflies.  I've sat for a long time studying it and nothing has come to me.  I'll post any updates that may occur.  I know this is really going to bother me until I find something that fits there!  lol

This card was created with the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Stamps:
• Heard from the Heart
• Punches:
• Square Punches
• Big Shot:
• Embosslits - Beautiful Wings
• Misc:
• Ribbon
• Filigree Brad
• Colors Used:
• Blushing Bride
• Very Vanilla

 Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings and Inky Hugs;
~Shawnie B.

Frosted Birthday Greeting

Greetings everyone!
This Birthday card is sporting a frosted embossed tile.  To create the frosted appearance I took an acrylic tile, sanded it with my sanding block until the whole surface was scratched and you couldn't see through it.  I then stamped an image with versa mark, embossed with clear embossing powder, and then hit the heat gun to it. 

I really like how the frosted tile turned out.  I think I just might have to do some more playing around with this technique!  Maybe something feminine with flowers?

This card was created using the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Stamp Set/s:
• The Open Sea
• Little Friends
• Punches:
• Circle Punches
• Big Shot:
• Stripes Embossing Folder
• Framelits - Labels Collection
• Sizzlits - Lots of Tags Label 1
• Misc:
• Regals Brad
• Linen Thread
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Clear acrylic tile
• Colors Used:
• ink:  Soft Suede & Not Quite Navy
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Grey, Riding Hood Red

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Blessings and Inky Hugs;
~Shawnie B.

Inspired by Nature

Here is a Birthday card and a Thank You card.These two cards were inspired by Vicki Burdick with It's a Stamp Thing.    Nothing fancy was done with these cards, but I really like the way they turned out.


These cards were created using the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Stamps:
• Inspired by Nature
• French Foliage
• Little Friends
• Punches:
• Word Window Punch
• Tiny Tag Punch
• Misc:

• Antique Brads
• Seam Binding
• Linen Thread
• Colors Used:
• First Card:
•  Daffodil Delight
• Early Espresso
• Very Vanilla
• Second Card:
• Pale Plum (retired color)
• Early Espresso
• Very Vanilla
  

Card for Dad

Greetings Everyone!

Here's another Dad card. I did a variety of things on this card.

This card was created using the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Stamps:

• Noble Deer
• Wildlife Reserve
• Delightful Dozen
• Punches:
• Oval Punch
• Photo Corners Punch
• Square Punch
• Big Shot:
• Framelits - Labels Collection
•  Designer Frames Embossing Folder
• Square Lattice Embossing Folder
• Misc:
• Crop-a-Dial
• Heat Gun
• White Embossing Powder
• Cutter Kit
• Soho Designer Hardware
• Colors Used:
• Whisper White
• Chocolate Chip
• Sahara Sand

Have a blessed day!

Blessings & Inky Hugs;
~Shawnie B.

Deer Dad

Here I am, making more Fathers Day cards.  I just can't keep enough of them around.  Most of the cards I make for Dad's, however, can be given to them any time of year.  It doesn't have to be just Fathers Day that these cards are given.

Dad's need to know they are appreciated all year long, don't they?!

This card was created with the following Stampin' Up! Supplies:

• Stamps:
• Noble Deer
• Just so Sayings
• Punchs:
• Square Punches
• Word Window
• Modern Label
• Big Shot:
• Fiscars Wood Impression Plates
• Misc:
• Brads
• Dimensionals
• Hemp Twine
• Colors Used:
• Whisper White
• Chocolate Chip
• Dusty Durango
• Early Espresso ink

Don't forget, Fathers Day is the 17th of this month!  This is a great day to also recognize those whose family lives far from them and they won't be able to spend time with their families.  Even if he's not your Dad, more than likely he's somebody's Dad.

Take care & God Bless!

Blessings and Inky Hugs
~Shawnie B.

Fusion Thanks - Replay

Good morning everyone!

I was having a hard time finding my Mojo this morning.  I wanted to create something but just couldn't lean towards any particular thing, so I looked through my archives to see if anything I made previously had jumped out at me.

I generally never create the same card twice unless it is by Customer request.  There are some that are popular and are asked for frequently.  I try to make all my cards differently in one way or another, that way the buyer / receiver of the card knows they are receiving a truly unique card.  Well, I CASE'd my own card just because!  I started out with some different ideas, and just started building, and by the time I was finished, this card looks pretty much like the one I made before a while back during a Sketch Challenge at Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge (entry #79)


Something I forgot to add on my previous post:  Here is information how I got the flowers to look more 3D than just laying flat and lifeless.  Place each flower on a thick piece of foam (I used the inserts that came with my Clear Block Storage Cady.  Using the stylus that came with my Simply Scored scoring tool I pressed the center of each flower into the foam.  This made each of the petals form and reach out.

The inside foam inserts from the Clear Block Storage Cady are also good to use for other things, like using them as your stamping surface.  This will help ensure an even sharper image when you stamp on your favorite cardstock.  So if/when you purchase your Clear Block Storage Cady, make sure to not throw away the foam inserts that your clear stamping blocks rest in because they can be good to use for so many other things.  I also use them for storing special brads, like my Antique brads.  This keeps them from rattling around in the storage container.  I also use them when inserting a brad through cardstock.  After piercing a hold with your paper piercer (or push pin) I lay the cardstock on the piece of foam and pierce the brad through.  Then you can take the whole thing and turn it over so you can press the prongs down without the brad falling out of the cardstock.  Cool idea, huh?!

Here are the ingredients for today's card: 

• Stamps
• Kindness Matters
• Punches
• Circle Punches
• Big Shot
• Bigz Lattice Die
• Floral Fusion Sizzlits Die
• Framelits Labels Die
• Perfect Dots Embossing Folder
• Misc
• Brads
• Pleated Ribbon
• Halfback Pearls 
• Sponge Daubers for distressing around edges. 
• Colors Used
• Blushing Bride
• Soft Suede
• Very Vanilla

Thank you so much for stopping by!

~Shawnie B.

Butterflies - Thanks so Much

Good afternoon folks!  I used Stampin' Pastels (chalk) to color in the larger butterfly to give a softer appearance.  To add texture I waded up a piece of Patterns Stack Designer Series paper, flattened and smoothed it out and ran the ink pad directly to the surface where only the raised portions received the ink.  This gives it a marbled appearance.  I finished off the butterfly with an Antique Brad. 

This card was created using the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Stamps:
• Elements of Style
• Tiny Tags
• Punches:
• Tiny Tags
• Big Shot:
• Bigz Beautiful Butterflies
• Bigz Lattice
• Misc:
• Antique Brads
• Safety Pin from Vintage Trinkets
• Ribbon
• Sponge Daubers
• Stampin Pastels
• Colors Used:
• Crumb Cake
• Soft Suede
• Very Vanilla
• Bashful Blue

Thank you for stopping by!

Blessings & Inky Hugs;
~Shawnie B.

The New Catalog is Here!

TODAY IS THE DAY – 

THE BRAND NEW 2012-2013 CATALOG IS HERE AND YOU CAN ORDER FROM IT NOW!!!

Stampin Up's 2012-2013 Annual catalog is live!

I'm so excited about the new format and the goodies within the new catalog.  You can view the catalog online here!

I'm lovin' the changes Stampin' Up! made to the new catalog.  With it's clean lines, beautiful samples, fabulous photography and more...it's a hit!  In addition, you'll find a new style ink pad...firm foam.

PLUS

Dates: June 1 - July 31, 2012

Details: During June and July, hostesses who hold a minimum $450 workshop will receive an additional $50 in hostess FREE merchandise dollars--that's in addition to the $65 they already receive for a $450 workshop!

Please be sure to let me know if you have any questions!

Blessings & Inky Hugs;

~Shawnie B.

Blissed

Greetings!

This card was inspired by the talented Ann Schach. 

This card was created using the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Stamps:
• Bliss
• Punches:
• Oval
• Scalloped Oval
• SCalloped Trim Border Punch
• Big Shot:
• Bigz 3 1/2 inch Circle Die
• Misc:
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Embossing Budy
• Heat gun
• Halfback Pearls
• Dimensionals
• Spritzing Tool
• Ribbon
• Sponge Daubers
• Colors Used:
• Not Quite Navy
• Very Vanilla
• Crumb Cake
• Cherry Cobbler
• Baja Breeze

Thank you so much for stoping by! 

Blessings & Inky Hugs;
~Shawnie B.