Stamping with Michelle

A small break from fall

It is so beautiful out today.  A reminder of the wonderful summer that we had this year.  I thought it would be appropriate to share this sample that I created last week.

Materials: Just Believe

Card stock: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Parfait, Whisper White

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz and Baja Breeze

Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Regals brads, and Stampin Dimensionals

This card has finished measurements of 3" x 6" and is sized to fit in our long envelopes.  It uses a fun, fresh color combo that feature two of our new In Colors for this year!  I don't often make cards this size and it was fun to have a slightly different "canvas" to work on!

Enjoy your day and happy stamping!

Michelle

Introducing.....Color Combo Challenges

I am really excited to announce a new feature here on my blog.  I love anything that can help jumpstart my creativity, so I thought that it would be fun to start featuring color combos that I have come up with, in the hopes that it will jumpstart YOUR creativity!  I am hoping to hold this feature every other week on Fridays.  I will post the color combo and then I will show you the card that I created with that color combo.  Are you ready?  Da ta da da.....

Aren't they fun?  This combo actually came straight from my head!  I wanted a fun combo that said fall, without using my recent standbys of Cajun Craze and Cherry Cobbler!  I couldn't quite pull myself away from Early Espresso, though!

Here's my sample with this combo:

Stamp set: Autumn Harvest and A Word for You

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Pear pizzazz and Confetti Cream

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz and Basic Gray

Accessories: Large Scalloped Oval punch, Wide Oval punch, 1/16" circle punch, 5/16" Neutrals brads, Linen Thread, Aquapainters and Stampin' Dimensionals

 

I had a lot of fun with this combo and I even created a second card with it that I'm showing at a workshop tonight.  I hope you enjoy this combo, too!  Now here's the challenge part...create a card and email it to me.  I will draw from all the entries and send you a little gift ***  Your card may even be featured here on my blog!

***US and non-demos only, please!

 Happy Stamping!

Michelle

Fall Scrapbook pages

Last night was another scrapbook club, and I thought I'd show you the pages we worked on.  I usually pull together some sort of fall page design for September, and this month was no exception.  I got the sketch from a demonstrator only group that I belong to.  It was actually posted back in August, and I immediately sat down to design these pages...I was quite impressed with myself to have the pages designed almost a month out!

Materials: French Foliage

Carstock: Cajun Craze, Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla

Ink: Cajun Craze, Perfect Plum and Always Artichoke

Accessories: Twill Tape, Stampin' Dimensionals and Aquapainters

Honestly, I think the French Foliage set is definitely on my all time favorites list!  The skeleton leaves are just beautiful and make it easy to put together a card.  I know you probably can't see the oak leaves really well, but I used the Rock and Roll technique on them.  First I stamped the leaf in Always Artichoke, then I gently rolled the edges of the image in Perfect Plum.  Finally, I used my aquapainter to blend the ink inside the leaf.  Because the ink is waterbased, it bleeds when wet.  In this instance, that was exactly what I wanted it to do!

Finally, you will want to check back later this week.  I have a new feature that I'm working on and I hope to get up by Friday.  I think you're going to like it!

Happy Stamping!

Michelle

 

Never too early for Christmas

I thought I'd take a break from showing you fall cards to post a Christmas card.  Today is the last day for early reservation for my Christmas stamp a stack class on Friday, and this is one of the cards we will be making:

Materials: Dasher and French Filigree

Cardstock: River Rock, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper white

Ink: River Rock and Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Gold brads, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon and Stampin' Dimensionals

Cute, isn't it?  As with all my stamp a stack classes we will be making a total of fifteen cards, three each of five designs.  The class fee is $30 if prepaid by today, otherwise, you can pay $35 at the door.  I do still have a couple of spots left, so let me know if you'd like to attend!

Happy Stamping!

Michelle 

Fall is in the air

After the warmth that we have enjoyed this summer, we have a decided shift in the weather this week and fall is most definitely in the air.  Fall is in the air at Stampin' Up! as well with the release of our Holiday Mini catalog.  One of my favorite new stamp sets from that catalog is the French Foliage set:

I've already banged out probably half a dozen cards with this set!  Here is one that we will be making at my workshops this month:

Materials: French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Cajun Craze, More Mustard and Whisper White and Regals DSP stack

Ink: More Mustard and Cajun Craze

Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, gold brads, 1/16" circle punch and Stampin' Dimensionals

You may wonder how I achieved the multi color look on the leaf.  It utilizes a technique called Rock and Roll.  First I inked the leaf in More Mustard ink and then I rolled the stamp around on it's edges in the Cajun Craze ink.  If you'd like to see this demonstrated in person, I still have openings for workshops this month and you can create this card!

Finally, I also wanted to mention the special that Stampin' Up is running for it's new demonstrators.  If you sign up to be a demonstrator by September 30, Stampin' Up will include in your kit a fabulous craft tote.  I have this tote and it is what I use to "tote" all my supplies to my workshops.  It is absolutely loaded with pockets and works wonderfully.  You can see a picture of the tote in my sidebar on the left and then you can click on the image for more information!

Happy Stamping!

Michelle 

New Candy Wrapper box

Well the holiday mini catalog is here, and I'm excited to show you one of the boxes you can make with the Big Shot and our new Candy Wrapper Die:

Isn't it the cutest!  You can fit four or five hershey kisses inside, making this a sweet little project.  I will admit that the folding of the sides takes a little getting used to, but once you've done a couple you'll be all set.  Now that I've got it down, I should be able to talk you through it!

I created a batch of these to give out at my workshops when somebody sets a date for their own workshop.  I'm not going to tell you the surprise that is inside.  You'll just need to book a workshop and find out!  Be sure to mention this post if you do. If you haven't had a workshop with me yet this year, you will definitely want to hold one before November 30.  I am working on putting together a super special event for just my hostesses of this past year.  There will be fantastic door prizes (I used all my hostess benefits from my open house to get them...hint, hint!) and I'm also planning a couple of very special stamping projects for that day.  I haven't settled on a date quite yet, but it will be in December and I guarantee you won't want to miss it!

Happy Stamping!

Michelle

Another wedding card

Actually, it is the card I made for my sister-in-law for her bridal shower.  I know that was a couple of months ago, now, but I realized I hadn't shared it with you yet!  

Materials: Herb Expressions and Occasional Quotes

Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake

Ink: Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso

Accessories: Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Early Espresso narrow taffeta ribbon, Top Note Die and Big Shot, Basic pearls

Didn't it come out nice?  I was quite pleased with it.  One of my new favorite things to do is to layer two ribbons for a unique accent.  I'm also really, really liking those Basic pearls.  What?  You don't have them yet?  Oh, you need to take yourself right over to my website and get them ordered...along with the basic rhinestones.  I'm afraid I may need to order more soon, I've been using them so much!  Just click on the "Online Ordering" button on the left side of the screen!

Happy Stamping!

Michelle