Merry Monday Punch Potpourri

Lesley's given us another fantastic sketch at Merry Monday.  I wasn't sure what I would do with it at first, but I love the way it turned out.

Here's Lesley's sketch...

From what I've seen from the rest of the design team cards, they'll knock  your socks off!  Be sure to take a look.

Lesley Croghan

Allisa Chilton

LeAnne Pugliese

Nina Forsyth

Wendy Aungst

Narelle Farrugia

Sue Joyce

Sherry Eckblad

Margaret Moody

Gloria Stengel (FD)

It's your turn now.  Christmas will be here before we know it.  Get a jump on those cards and play with Merry Monday.

Since I used quite a few snippets for this, I'm going to Pixie's Crafty Workshop and see if I can get a chance on the swings.

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round's August Challenge is Christmas Extravaganza-make it fussy and fancy. I think this card qualifies for that.

I see that my Christmas Stocking was a Top Three winner for July over there. Thanks so much for the honor, ladies!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps: Punch Potpourri, Cardinal Christmas (both retired)
Ink:  Real Red
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, DSP (retired), Old Olive
Other:  Bird Builder Punch, Floral Ovals Die (Spellbinders), Kars Snowflake (Cuttlebug), Pine Brand Punch (Martha Stewart), Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Red Rhinestones (?)

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Featuring Gayatri

This little bird was done with the Baby Wipe technique.

It's for the Featured Stamper at SCS a week ago last Sunday, Gayatri, aka Scrapawayg3.  This lovely card caught my eye right away.  I love birds!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri (retired), Curly Cute (soon to be retired)

Ink:  Marina Mist

Paper:  Whisper White, Marina Mist, Old Olive

Other:  Re-inkers, baby wipe, Bird Builder Punch, Square Lattice EF, Simply Scored

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Love is in the Air

Here's another card made from the leftovers of the last class.  I love using the components of one card and challenging myself to make something a little bit different.

Again I used the Sahara Sand card with Island Indigo and White.  The heart from Punch Potpourri (retired) was stamped in Sahara Sand then overstamped with the butterfly from Kindness Matters and the postmark from French Foliage. (I stamped off on scrap paper before stamping on the heart.)

Challenges:

CAS at SCS Love is in the Air

CAS-ual Fridays: Love Song.  

     I'm going to show my age here.  The song I'm thinking of is "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck".  I sing it to my grandchildren all the time.

Simon Says Stamp:  Have a Heart

Stampendous February Challenge: Love is in the Air

CASology:  Red  (I hope this tiny red heart is enough for them. It's what draws my eye.)

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri (retired), Kindness Matters, French Foliage, Itty, Bitty Banners

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Island Indigo, Whisper White

Other:  Square Lattice EF, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Fashionable Hearts Embosslit, Bitty Banners Framelits, Full Heart Punch

I hope all is well with you today.  Thanks so much for sharing your time with me.

Enjoy!

Super CAS Heart

If you like CAS cards, I think you'll like this.

I was cleaning up bits and pieces and kits left over from my last class and this was probably the quickest and easiest that I came up with.  Also, my favorite.

I love this white paper.  It's from a tablet of paper for using Acrylic ink.  I've had it for years as it was a left behind that was never claimed when I was working at the library.  It's not bright white but not cream.  Just a pretty shade in between and I love the texture.

I'm going to take this over to Addicted to CAS #5 

I'm also going to take it to the SCS Free4All challenge to make a cute Valentine.  It must have a heart on it.  I'm not sure if this would be considered cute or not, but it does have a heart.

The heart on this card and the class card were inspired by a card that my friend LeAnne did a while back.  You can see that card Here.  Thanks so much for the inspiration, LeAnne!

This is the card the class did...

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Kindness Matters, French Foliage, Itty Bitty Banners (card 1), Clearly for You (card 2)

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Island Indigo

Paper:  Island Indigo, Acrylic paper (card 1), Sahara Sand, Sycamore Street DSP (Sale-a-bration), Island Indigo,Acrylic paper (card 1)

Other:  Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelit die, Large Scallop Edgelit, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Full Heart Punch, Gold flatback bead (unknown origin - card 1), Basic Pearl (card 2)

Thanks so much for the visit!

Enjoy!

CAS - Dark Blue and White

Here's another card that I made while playing with the baby wipe technique.

The CAS challenge at SCS this week is to use Dark Blue and White.

I used Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy and Night of Navy re-inkers on the baby wipe.  I went heavy to the darker colors.

Here's one that we made at Papercrafting using Marina Mist, Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery.

And with a Marina Mist card and a little branch from the bird punch.

I think I like the last one best.

The embossing folder is in the new Holiday Mini.  It has a little Christmas tree embossed in it but by placing the bird strategically it's not just for Christmas.  Thanks for the idea,  Doris.

When I was finished, I laid a piece of cardstock on the baby wipe and pressed it down.  It made a delightful background.  I haven't had a chance to stamp anything on it yet.

This ended up being a long post.  Thanks for bearing with me.  I'm not going to add a card recipe.  I'll be glad to answer any questions.  Just email me.

And thank you for all your kind comments.  I really appreciate them. I love it when you come to visit!

Enjoy!

Hearts

The CAS challenge at SCS today is Hearts.  I just happen to have some hearts.

Most of them are sitting on the table and haven't been photographed yet.

But I do have one to share with you.

This was a quick and easy card.  I used the heart from Punch Potpourri, which is now retired.  Floral Fusion has a heart that would work just as well.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri
Ink:  Rose Red
Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Whisper White
Other:  Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Elegant Lines EF, Full Heart Punch, Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon


I've got a class on Wednesday.  And I'm no where near ready for it!  Aagh!  I need to get busy.

I'm glad you were able to stop by.

Enjoy!

Mini Card Sets

Here is one of the mini card sets (3" x 3") that I made for my Stamp Club.

I used the Punch Potpourri Level 1 Hostess set.

And this one.

I used the Strength & Hope set for this.

They were really fun to make.  The tutorial for the holder is in the Splitcoaststampers resources.

I'll be back later with a challenge card.

Birds Sing

Jennifer nearly stumped me with the One Layer Wednesday challenge at Stylesink this week, I've got the Music in Me.

This week’s challenge is to make a one-layer musical themed card. Anything to do with music. Sheet music, musical instruments, an image of someone singing; anything that in some way relates to music.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Yeah Jennifer, if you actually have a stamp that relates to music!

I almost ordered the Music Notes wheel last month, but took it out at the last minute.  If I'd only known!

Then I thought, birds sing!  They're the best singers!  So.......

Can you see his beak open?  He's just trilling away!  Aah, I love to hear the birds sing!

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig again.  I've given it a workout this week!  I am getting a bit better, but it still took 3 tries to get an image I was satisfied with.  I'm learning to release it and place the stamp gently so it doesn't move.  It's slippery!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Apple Blossoms (both are hostess gifts), Just Believe
Ink:  Pacific Point, SU Markers (Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz)
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Basic Rhinestones

Thanks for visiting.  Enjoy!

Bonnie

One Layer, Two Hearts

This week's One Layer Wednesday challenge over at Simplicity is 1. stamp a border, 2. stamp an image, 3. Add some bling.

Here is what I came up with.....

I think maybe I overdid it.  Oops!  I used one image twice and a sentiment. Does that count?

 It is a one layer card.  (A one-layer card is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half. No other layers of cardstock allowed!)

It also works for the Ways to Use It challenge on SCS which is to put a heart on our card.

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig again today.  My border still didn't land where I intended, but I'm getting closer.  At least the two stampings matched up!

After stamping the hearts with Basic Black and letting them dry awhile, I used markers and a blender pen to color the flowers.  NOTE:  Be sure to let the black ink dry or it will smudge and make your flowers black.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Vintage Vogue, Punch Potpourri, Short and Sweet
Ink:  Basic Black, Su Markers (Real Red, Olive Green)
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Blender Pen, Real Red Narrow Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Bird in the Wreath?

I wanted to share the other card I made yesterday.  It's one that I really struggled with but finally came to a satisfactory conclusion.  Sometimes cards come so easy and other times they are a mighty struggle!

A couple of my blogging friends are on design teams and I've been wanting to play along with their challenges.  Unfortunately time is limited and I don't always often get to everything that I want to.

Colleen (of Dietrich Designs) is a Designer at The Play Date Cafe.  This was this weeks challenge there....

I think I should have used the Olive Green and maybe I would have liked it better, but somehow I got Always Artichoke in my mind and went with that.

My friend Emily (My Little Slice of Bliss) is a Designer on Stampin' B's Designs and she challenged us to use a banner on our card.

The wreath is the branch from the Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch.  I found that punching the leaves with just a bit of the branch worked best.  I used a 2 1/2" punched circle with a 1 3/8" circle punched out of the middle as a base.   When I had enough branches punched, I ran the snail over the base and began to stick the branches down. I tried not to adhere all the leaves so I could tuck the next branch underneath.

Once the wreath was finished I needed a door and the Faux Wood Technique seemed like the best choice, especially since I needed gray in my card. I used Going Gray on a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White to do this.  After I scored the piece, I just dragged the inkpad down the length of the card a couple of times.

For the banner, I stamped the Welcome on a scrap and cut the ends.  It needed some defination, so I inked the edges with Basic Gray.  I used 2 dimensionals, one on top of the other in the middle and snail on the ends to attach it.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Warm Words

Ink: Going Gray, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray

Paper:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch, Basic Pearls

I haven't had a chance to stamp today.  I've got an idea floating around in my head too.  I hope to get to my table and play a bit this evening.

You can check on my sidebar for Colleen's & Emily's blogs.  Treat yourself to a visit.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Bookmark Card

While playing with Poppy Parade  in the last week, I made a bookmark using the Punch Potpourri heart and the Scalloped Heart of Heart embosslit.

I love to read and most of my friends and family also love to read.  I love being able to pass along or use a new bookmark.

A few weeks ago, on SCS there was a Technique challenge to make a bookmark using ribbon.  I didn't have time to do one then, but when I saw these heart pieces sitting on my table, I knew just what to do with them.

Attaching the bookmark to a card posed a challenge.  I ended up just tying the ribbon around the front of the card.  I will need to hand it to someone rather than mail it, but I really don't mind that.

Oh, and the flowers were colored by using a blender pen and some Poppy Parade ink.

I'm going to enter this in the Stampin' Bs #93 challenge to use a die cut.  There are a lot of awesome cards over there!  Pop on over and take a look.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Punch Potpourri
Ink: Poppy Parade
Paper: Whisper White
Accessories: Full Heart Punch, Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet EF, Scalloped Heart of Heart Embosslit, Poppy Parade Ribbon

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Inspired by Cindy B

Today's CAS102 challenge at SCS is to do a card inspired by cindybstampin's card here.

I've probably made more than enough Valentine cards, but this just seemed to fit the challenge.

After stamping the Punch Potpourri heart and letting the ink dry, I used a blender pen and ink to color the flowers in the heart.  The little hearts are punched out of a piece of Real Red embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  The Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit is a perfect mat for the punched design.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Teeny, Tiny Words
Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories:  Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Square Lattice EF, Whacked Finial Press EF, Full Heart, Small Heart & Heart to Heart Punches, Real Red narrow ribbon, Blender Pen, Basic Pearls

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Riding Hood Valentine

I stamped this bird from the Punch Potpourri set last Saturday, added ribbon and just didn't like it.  So I came home, cut the bird out, pulled the ribbon off, and this is what I turned up with.

I like it much better!

I did some fancy work on the white strip and punched a couple of hearts from an embossed piece.  The wing is cut from one of the hearts in the I {heart} Hearts set that I stamped in Riding Hood Red.

All of this was so I could use some of this wide ribbon I bought from the SU Clearance a while back!

I'm going to enter it in the PaperPlayer29 challenge Valentine's Day.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, I {heart} Hearts
Ink:  Riding Hood Red
Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Old Olive
Accessories:  Riding Hood Red wide striped ribbon, Extra Large 2-step Bird , Heart to Heart & Scallop Trim Border punches, Basic Pearls

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Poppy & Silver

The color challenge at SCS yesterday was to use Poppy Red, White and Silver or Gray.

Since all my Valentine stuff was out, I opted to use these colors to make another Valentine.

The hearts were stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with silver.  The scalloped hearts behind were cut with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit from Brushed silver.

The sentiment is also embossed with silver.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri (Level 1 Hostess gift), Teeny, Tiny Wishes
Ink:  VersaMark
Paper:  Whisper White, Brushed Silver, Poppy Parade
Accessories:  Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Square Lattice EF, Full Heart & Pinking Hearts Border & Word Window Punches

Enjoy,
Bonnie

For Sweet Emmy

I wanted to do a card for the Just Add Ink #48 challenge.  Fortunately the challenge was extended until Wednesday of this week.

I'm trying to make cards for a particular person or holiday so that I don't end up with hundreds of cards to find homes for.  I'm also going to make it a goal to make cards that can be mailed without adding extra postage.  The postage isn't as bad as having to stand in line at the Post Office.  That's time I can use for making cards!

This was the sketch to use for the challenge....

I flipped it and didn't use the big scallops.  I wanted a more feminine border since it's for my only granddaughter.

Hmmm,  I may go  back and add some pearls since it will be handed with the gift.  Maybe not, she might think it's candy and try to eat it.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Lovely Letters Alphabet

Ink:  Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz

Paper:  Regal Rose, Whisper White

Accessories:  Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose & Pear Pizzazz SU Markers, Eyelet Border, Corner Rounder & Boho Blossoms Punches



Emmy

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Shades of Green

The Just Add Ink Challenge last week was to use River Rock, Wild Wasabi & Chocolate Chip.  I'm getting this in just under the wire.  The River Rock and Wild Wasabi together had me stumped.

After I had put my box of Decorative Paper up on the top shelf of the closet, I had an eureka moment.  I knew that inside that box was some old DSP with River Rock & Wild Wasabi.

I love this piece of Wild W. with the butterflies.  To keep with the butterfly theme, I used the Punch Potpourri and stamped on Whisper White with River Rock and punched it out.  I sponged a bit of Wild Wasabi around the edges, freehanded a butterfly body, and added some Basic Pearls.

I added a piece of 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain and laid a piece of River Rock ribbon over that.  (Both of these ribbons, as well as the paper are retired. Sorry I'm using old stuff, but it needs to be used)

After stamping the sentiment with Chocolate Chip, I added the butterfly with glue dots in the center.

All this was matted on a piece of Chocolate Chip, then mounted on a white card.  Oh, I did round the bottom corners in keeping with the rounded butterfly wings.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Baroque Motifs

Ink:  River Rock, Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi DSP

Accessories:  Butterfly & Corner Rounder Punches, Chocolate Chip Chip & River Rock Ribbons, Basic Pearls

Still waiting for my Dad.  I will be so thankful when I see him! 

Just took an apple pie out of the oven and the house smells yummy!

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Butterfly Tango

In case you're getting sick of Christmas Cards, here's the card I did for the clean&simple #115 challenge.  There's some great inspiration over there.  Follow the link and take a look.

I used my new Punch Potpourri stamp set and stamped the largest flower with Tangerine Tango.  I colored in each flower with a blender pen dipped into in the top of my ink pad.  I had this pretty Pacific Point butterfly.  Would you believe that I have a whole container of butterflies?  The embosslit does 5 butterflies at a time and I rarely use them all!

I use the Basic Pearls to adorn the butterfly and Basic Rhinestones for the center of the flower.

Paper Piercing was my border of choice for this card, but oh, oh!  I forgot the sentiment.  Then when I added the sentiment, in the wrong place, I stamped it crooked!  Aargh!  That Word Window Punch saved me on that one.

There's a little sponging on the edges.  I used Baja Breeze for that.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze
Paper:  Pacific Point, Whisper White
Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Word Window Punch, Basic Pearls & Rhinestones, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Blender Pen

Thanks for checking in today.  I hope it's a good day for you.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Bird on the Nest

After that last post and making you think you're eyesight is failing, I though I owed you something else.

Today's color challenge on SCS was to use Peach Parfait, Early Espresso & Cajun Craze.  We could use rick rack for dessert, but I still don't have any.  I'm also going to send it over to SU Only Challenges to use punch art.

I hadn't played with my Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch lately and I had recently received the Punch Potpourri Hostess Level 1 stamp set.  These colors worked perfectly with the stamp and punch.

I stamped the bird on Peach Parfait with Cajun Craze.  They make a beautiful contrast! I used the filigree from the Vintage Vogue set to stamp Cajun on Peach and punched the wings.  The nest is punched from Early Espresso.

I had a piece of Very Vanilla that had been embossed with the BIG GUY and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  I used that to determine the size.  That piece is 3 3/8" square. The mat is Peach Parfait and it's 3 1/2" square.  The final mat is Early Espresso and it's 3 5/8" square.  All of that is on a Very Vanilla 4 1/4" square card.

I'll add a sentiment when I decide what to use it for.  I think something from Teeny, Tiny Wishes or Short & Sweet punched with the Word Window punch will work well, don't you?

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Vintage Vogue
Ink:  Cajun Craze
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Peach Parfait
Accessories:  Extra Large 2-step Bird Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Basic Pearl

Colleen Dietrich made this card that inspired me to make a nest out of the branch punch. While you're there, take a look at her blog.  You'll find lots of inspiration!

Thank you for visiting today.  I hope you have found some inspiration here.

Enjoy,
Bonnie