We Have Spring Fever

Welcome to the Stylin’ Stampin’ INKspiration blog hop! This month we are creating cards with the theme of “Spring Fever.” As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 4 on the Stylin’ Stampin’ INKspiration Blog Hop – Nichole @ Scrappy Stamps & Ink. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn’t work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

My card features my favorite spring colors: green and purple. I'm always looking out for gorgeous purple flowers. I decided to repeat the colors while creating a fun texture card. The Succulent Garden DSP is a perfect reminder of spring and the Remarkable You stamp set has such great flowers! I little bit of Sweet Sugarplum ribbon finishes off my card.

Stamps: Remarkable You
Inks: Basic Black; Sweet Sugarplum; Old Olive; Pear Pizzazz
Cardstock: Succulent Garden DSP; Pear Pizzazz; Sweet Sugarplum; Whisper White
Accessories: Sweet Sugarplum Ruched Ribbon
Tools: Petal Burst Embossing Folder; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Layering Circles Framelits

Blog Hop Participant List:

Occasions Catalog and SAB Swap Cards

I love participating in swaps when the new catalogs launch. Over the Christmas break, I was in three big swaps, ensuring lots of great cards to keep on hand for inspiration for me and my customers. Check them out!

Wanda Smith @ Wanda Creates

Michele SalchowJudy Pinner

Jeanne Moss @ Bluegrass StamperSheila Stanton @ Sheila StampsCreator unknownDarla Roberts @ Stampin' With Darla

(fellow member of the SSINK Design Team) Jenny Hall @ Jenny Stamps Up

Jen Guarino @ Faith, Grace, Stamp

(fellow member of the SSINK Design Team)

Jen Guarino @ Faith, Grace, Stamp

(fellow member of the SSINK Design Team)Jeanne Moss @ Bluegrass Stamper

Candy MichaelStasia ToddWendy Cranford @ Luvin' Stampin'Creator UnknownSheila Stanton @ Sheila StampsCatherine DaweLynda Falconer @ Crafter InspiredKathy ThistedJennifer Blomquist @ Northwest StamperLiz Mitchell @ Liz Loves 2 StampPamela Wu @ Stinky Tofu

(Pam's my upline and good friend)Carla BrantonNicole Flournoy @ Inky Fingers StampingStacey Lane @ A Work of CarteSusan Schultz

SSINK Annual Catalog Swap Cards

Some of the SSINK Design Team did a little card swap to celebrate the launch of the new Stampin' Up Annual Catalog. I finally got my swap cards from our coordinator this past weekend. I love getting new designs from other demos. Everyone has a slightly different style, but every card is gorgeous! Check out the cards below:

Diana Eichfeld @ Stampin' Fun with Diana

Pamela Wu @ Stinky Tofu

Kim Ryden @ Stamping with Kim

Jennifer Gregorsky @ Jenny G Paper Crafts

Donna Smit @ Geek Squad Crafting

Jennifer Gregorsky @ Jenny G Paper Crafts

Typeset Butterflies

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using a retiring product. I've been trying to use a decent portion of the retiring DSP. I fully admit to be a DSP hoarder. For this card, I'm actually using two different DSP packs. I love the simple color combos and mix of pattern papers.

A variation I made:

Stamps:
Inks:
Cardstock: Typeset DSP (retiring); Pretty Petals DSP (retiring); Calypso Coral; Pool Party; Very Vanilla
Accessories: Candy Dots (retiring)
Tools: Elegant Butterfly Punch; Pansy Punch

Archives: Playing with My New Supplies

Originally published on February 25th, 2014

This past week, I received a huge Stampin' Up order. My demonstrator, Pam, told me that she wanted to see me make cards with my new stuff. Of course, I had to dive right in. I had so much to play with and try out: tons of DSP, some punches, some stamp stamps, new ink colors, and some new embellishments. Here's pics of my new stash:

Card #1

Pam gave us the sketch above for our stamp club homework. I won't be attending March club (Arthur and I are flying that day to Indiana), but I did want to do the homework and get creative. I started with the idea of using my new Sweet Sorbet DSP. After finding a few different layering patterns, I paired them with my new Petite Petals stamps and punch. I love the play of florals with a touch of neutral (Sahara Sand based pattern paper). I left the card without sentiment because I didn't want it to get too busy. As an added bonus, everything on this card is Stampin' Up.

Stamps: Petite Petals
Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Summer Starfruit
Cardstock: Summer Starfruit, Sweet Sorbet DSP
Tools: Petite Petals Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals

Card #2

The second card is again using the sketch from OWH. I wanted to play with my new Banner Blast stamps and punch, and this is what came out. I decided to skip the horizontal piece of DSP as I think it would have been much too busy. While card #1 used a lot of the floral patterns from the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack, this card uses the geometric designs. I love the polka dots! I think that design is my favorite in the entire pack. I had to use it a background! Plus, this is another all Stampin' Up card.

Stamps: Banner Blast
Inks: Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black
Cardstock: Sweet Sorbet DSP; Summer Starfruit
Tools: Banner Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals

Card #3

I initially tried to complete the sketch with patterns from the Birds of a Feather DSP, but found myself making some big changes. Ultimately, this is what came out after a lot of playing and changing pieces up. I loved the birds on a wire look and wanted to incorporate that piece somehow. Because of the big pattern with both bird designs, I designed to go subtle for the background patterns. They are all from the same design pack so of course they all work together. Another all SU card.

Stamps: Express Yourself
Inks: Raspberry Ripple
Cardstock: Primrose Petals; Birds of a Feather DSP
Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias
Tools: Artisan Label Punch, SNAIL, glue dots, dimensionals

Card #4

This is my other attempt to use the sketch and the Birds of a Feather DSP. I decided that the two pieces overlapping (blue design and brown stripe) really threw off the balance of the card. So, I put the sentiment on top of the cross and added the dahlias in the opposite corner to help balance the card.

Stamps: Express Yourself
Inks: Primrose Petals
Cardstock: Primrose Petals, Birds of a Feather DSP
Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias
Tools: Artisan Label Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Glue dots

Card #5

I wanted to play some more with the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack, so I went onto my Pinterest boards for inspiration. The above card caught my eye and I knew I had to use it as inspiration. Just like Angie, I initially didn't know what to do with that black based pattern. It's incredibly loud in a 12 x 12 sheet, but if you cut it down and only use a piece, I really really love it. I kept her basic layout, but changed up some of the supplies for ones from my own stash.

Stamps: Perfect Pennants; Banner Blast
Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, Basic Black
Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Sweet Sorbet DSP
Accessories: WRMK Sew Easy Floss
Tools: Chevron scissors, Chevron Embossing Folder, Banner Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Card #6

Another card inspired by a Pinterest pin. For my last card, I realized that I don't have any Pool Card cardstock, so I can't recreate the exact coloring on the above card. Instead, I used a piece of black scrap to give the card a bolder look. I love the look of the banners in a row. Plus, the colors really pop against the black (they look much brighter in person).

Stamps: Banner Blast
Inks: Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit
Cardstock: Whisper White, Black scrap, Pistachio Pudding, Sweet Sorbet DSP
Accessories: WRMK Easy Sew Floss
Tools: Banner Punch, SNAIL

Overall, I'm really loving my new supplies. Next week I want to branch out to some of the other pattern papers. I have a plan to use some for One Sheet Wonders...

Archives: Weekly Crafting

Originally published on June 3rd, 2013

I figured I should finally dedicate posts to my card crafting and scrapbooking. Over the past two weeks, I've done a lot of crafting. My first task was to finish the boys' scrapbooks for last summer. I am determined to be completely caught up before the baby comes in October. I've ordered our pictures from last September to now; should get those in a few days. Then I can get started on that section of pages to catch up. I'm planning on switched to Project Life for the family album in October. I want to start with a clean slate. The baby will also start with a Project Life album. The boys will stay the same, but I still want them all caught up.

Now on to the card making...

Last month I snapped up the Round Array Bundle (Stampin' Up) with the stamp set and punch. I couldn't wait to try it out. I used a pretty dark pink paper as a card base with a light pink paper to stamp onto. For the white paper, I used my swiss dot embossing folder and the Big Shot to give some dimensions. I like the randomness to this card.

A card class card. The original design was different. I messed up my designer paper piece, so I changed the design to work with what I had. I like the simpleness of this card. All supplies are from Stampin' Up.

A new technique I was trying. We made an awesome card at class using Versa mark and a brayer. I bought some glossy paper and tried it out. Unfortunately the color did not adhere evenly. I want to try it again and see if I get different results. I do kind of like the tie dye effect I attained by mistake. (Looks better in person)

Another class card. I like the simplicity of this card. The colors work well together to create a masculine multipurpose card.

Class card. We were focusing on retiring stamps. I love the play of pattern with the designer paper and the embossed piece.

I love the designer paper on this card. The colors are bright and very cheery! Class card.

This card came from me grabbing some random supplies and working with what I got. I'm not in love with this card, but something about the mix of patterns intrigues me. After finishing the card, I went back to add the metallic jewels. Without them, the card just looks plain.

Another random supply card. I would have loved to see a thicker font for better contrast. But I do love the flower I constructed. I layered different sizes and shades to create a better embellishment.

Class card. I never bought them, but the button stamps really grew on me in the last month or so. Plus, I love the designer paper.

Class card. Love the mix of patterns on this one.

Class card. I love the rock n roll technique to create two color stamps. But overall I'm not a fan of the colors and stamps on this card.

Class card. Love, love, love this card. I love the combo of purple, pink, and orange. I love the simple sentiment.

The following two cards were part of my homework assignment for stamp club. We had a general sketch. I decided to play with the alignment of the card to make two different cards. Both cards used Stampin' Up paper, stamps, and punches. I just love the Print Poetry designer paper pack from the spring catalog. I'm rationing the paper to make it last.

Class card. I love the 3D tie we created and it really wasn't that hard to do.

Class card. I'm not a huge fan of the color/designer paper combo, but I loved work with the Shimmer paint and the coloring techniques.

More random supply cards. I'm on a mission to use a ton of my paper scraps. This strips were leftovers from cards made a long time ago.

Class card. Love, love, love the color and pattern combinations on this card. I think this is my favorite card from this entire post.

Class card. I want to do a replica of this card with different colors. I have all the stamps to do it!

Very cute little card. I didn't end up buying this stamp set, but I still like the look.

Class card. Like the layout, don't like the color combos that much.

Archives: Cards #20

Originally published on March 10th, 2013

I had a fun card class on Monday using some products that I actually own.

At class, I received my February Stampin' Up order. So lots of fun new toys to play with. I got inspired... Lots of butterflies. Using my new stamps and embossing folders. And a couple of birthday cards for the boys.

Archives: Cards #19

Originally published on February 24th, 2013

A great crafting class on Tuesday. All the stamps were from the Sale-a-Bration catalog. I've got some great new ideas. I love the new chalkboard technique of the first card. I changed my order to get the white craft ink so I can replicate! The last card is actually from Pam as a thank you. I just love the colors of that card.

Plus I had a free crafting night at Panera where I worked on our scrapbook. I completed multiple pages and made some great headway.

Archives: Cards #16

Originally published on February 3rd, 2013

I went a bit crazy this week and crafted a ton of cards. Instead of cluttering up this post, I made a separate post yesterday to show off my creations. As to general crafting, we had our first Stampin' Up Club meeting this past Monday. It's Sale-a-Bration, so of course I had to spend $50 to get my free product. Here are my goodies: