1-on-1 Card Challenge

I made this card for a 1-on-1 Challenge for a group I belong to. They post a 'challenge' and then when everyone signs up, you are paired up with one person. The goal behind it is to do your absolute best work, since you are making 1 card. The challenge for this card was No Square Corners. The size of this card is 5x5 and I round the corners using my Coluzzle. I also used the Doodle This set and the sentiment from Simply Said. I really liked how this turned out. I made this while at a crop. During the crop, the organizer (Korin) held a scrapbook page and a card contest. Well, I entered this card in the contest and it WON!!! I was so excited!! :)

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Doodle This, Simply Said
CS: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, WW, Petals & Paisley DP
Ink: Black, Taken with Teal, Rose Red
Other: Lt. Pink Grosgrain Ribbon (from one of Jody's Ribbon Share), Marvy Giga Scallop Circle Punch, Coluzzle, Sakura Glitter Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blender Pen

Office Accoutrement - Spring Mini

This was one of the cards that we did at my March Stamp Club. Yep - just now getting a chance to post it...only a month behind! The sketch and color combo came from the SCS Challenges. I don't remember off the top of my head, which ones, but will look and update later. I wasn't sure about this set at first, but I really like it - the big flower is awesome!

All Supplies Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Office Accoutrement
CS: Sahara Sand, Vintage Violet, WW
Ink: Sahara Sand, Vintage Violet, Pink Passion
Other: Vintage Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Staples, Stampin' Dimensionals

Spring Mini Catalog

This set is in the SU! Spring Mini Catalog that will be available for purchase starting March 1st. There are so many sets and items in the Spring Mini that I want. I only have a couple of the items from my preorder, but I'm hoping to get a couple more sets that I put of preordering. This card uses the Polka Dots & Petals set and the saying is from the Polka Dots & Paisley set (both in the Mini). I really like these colors together as well. It reminds me of Spring, which I would really like to come soon! This cold weather is no fun anymore - especially today. The wind makes it even colder - quite chilly taking Madison to school this morning!! WOW!

Ok - back to the card. *grin* The base of the card is Cool Caribbean (love this color and wish it would stay, but come July it will be retired). I took the little flower type stamp and stamped all over WW in Certainly Celery ink (another fav color of mine). I randomly stamped a smaller piece of WW with the other stamps in the set - Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, and Barely Banana. I layered this piece onto Certainly Celery card stock. I stamped the flower in the circle and punched it out - layered onto Certainly Celery. I put a brad in the center and popped it up with a Stampin Dimensional. After this whole piece was adhered to the WW, I wrapped ribbon around it. Then adhered the whole piece onto the Cool Caribbean. I stamped the greeting in Cool Caribbean (a little crooked I see now). *grin* The colors are so refreshing - I figured it wouldn't hurt to stamp cards and maybe the weather would change sooner! :)

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Polka Dots & Paisley
CS: Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, WW
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana
Other: Barely Banana Brad, Circle Punches, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Ric Rac (Flirty Ribbon), Stampin Dimensional

Creative Blah

Well, lately I've been in a creative blah. We've been sick again at our house and it truly drains me. My oldest also had her tonsils out this past Monday, so on top of being sick...I'm trying to keep her as comfortable as I can. I feel so bad for her when the pain medicine wears off. She's been a huge trooper though and for the most part is doing really well. So, with everything going on...I just haven't felt like stamping or scrapbooking. Could also be the mess in my area because I have no energy (nor desire :) to clean it up. I had to withdraw from a couple swaps as well because I just don't have it in me.

This all said - on one of the many message boards I belong to (2Jills), one of the owners of the business/board is battling cancer. I wanted to send her a card to help brighten her day, as my days in no way compare to what she is going through. So, last night I sat down and stamped her this card. I really like how it turned out as well - a shock since I've been in a scrampin' rut. Hope it helps to put a smile on her face if only for a short while.

I used the D'vine Swirl for my Cuttlebug machine. I got the embossing folder at All That Scraps - she has TONS of items in stock and offers free shipping on orders over $10. Can't beat that even going to the store (gas, time, tax, etc). :) I also use my new SU! tag punch that is in the Spring Mini (will be available for purchase come March). I first embossed the greenish paper (from TAC ). I then sanded the raised swirls to reveal the white core of the patterned paper. I stamped the flowers from Happy Harmony (SAB set from SU) with markers. I edged the certainly celery card stock with the Taken with Teal pad to make it *pop*. I used the Tag Punch (so glad I bought it!!!) and adhered it to the flower piece with black brads. I stamped 'smile' first before attaching. The smile is from TAC, as is the Just Because. I used both Oval punches from SU! and the Horizontal Slit punch to thread the celery ribbon through. Both the flower piece and the oval piece are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Happy Harmony (SAB), both greetings (TAC)
CS: Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery, WW, PP (TAC)
Ink: Taken with Teal
Other: Tag Punch, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Horizontal Slit Punch, 1/16 Circle Punch, Markers - Taken with Teal, Bordering Blue & Certainly Celery, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sanding Block, Black Brads (from Vintage Brads pack), Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder

Overdue UHU Review

This is a way overdue review on UHU glue products. On Maria's blog they were offering free samples to crafters who had a blog. All we had to do was post a review on their products on our blogs after trying it out. Well, after some time, I've finally had a chance to use the UHU glues I received - the UHU stic and UHU twist & glue. The glue stic is like any other glue stick except that this is colored. It states that it dries clear, however, I used it with a transparency on a scrapbook layout and you can see some of the purple still. It isn't all that noticeable (unless you are looking for it though), so I didn't mind too much.

The twist & glue I used on the coaster magnet below. I made them for a swap I was in. I covered the coasters with SU!'s Designer Paper on the front and just regular card stock on the back (since this is where the magnet was going - no need to waste good designer paper :). I used the twist & glue and liked how it is 2 different sized applicators. There is a fine dispenser or twist it and it becomes a wider dispenser for covering more area in less time. I really like how well the glue held the paper and didn't cause it to curl or warp either. I will say that either I am overly sensitive to their product or it is just strong in general - be sure to work in a ventilated area when using the twist & glue. :) Of course, I did make a couple of these, so maybe that is why I noticed the glue smell more.

Sorry for the blurry picture here - I thought it was clear enough and had already packaged these up to mail out.

All items SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley (SU Spring Mini)
CS: WW, Old Olive, Designer Paper (forget from which collection I used though)
Ink: Old Olive
Other: Markers - Old Olive & Elegant Eggplant, Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge, UHU twist & glue, Magnet

Swap Card - Spring Mini

This is one of the cards I did for a swap. It is Polka Dots & Paisley from the Spring Mini ('07). It is such a fun set to use. The colors are from the In Colors ('07) selection. I also did some doodling on this card - the white dots (anywhere on the card) are made with the White Uni-Gel Pen.

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted -
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley
CS: Cool Caribbean, Vintage Violet, WW
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Vintage Violet
Other: White Uni-Gel Pen, Violet Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brad, Markers, Cutter Kit (for the distressing)