Scrapnextras

Undue Influence

One thing I have trained myself to NOT do, is to peek into the gallery for the daily challenges until my card is complete.  I get overwhelmed by the amount of talent and diversity, and so often I can't think of anything original, since I have so many great ideas swimming around in my head.  So I don't go there.  But today, when I opened my in box, my Feedblitz subscriptions got me in the same sink hole. 

Now usually this isn't a problem because the challenges are generally posted late enough and Feedblitz usually picks up posts made before midnight; there aren't that many bloggers who are so quick on the draw.  However, it seems like Feedblitz is picking up later and Silke must have been up really early, and when I saw her entry for the sketch challenge my jaw dropped.  So if that wasn't enough, next I opened up Kristina Werner's blog and she had posted her inspiration challenge.  So my card was unduly influenced by these ladies.  Honestly, it was like seeing spots after you look into light...even when I closed my eyes, I still saw their art. 

See what I mean?  I have to admit that I totally love this, so I'm really quite happy the sequence of events happened the way it did.  I went with Kristina's colour scheme, and Silke's flower theme and paper choices.  Thank you ladies for sharing your amazing talents!

The card is top folded Orchid Opulence, and I loved Silke's white base...so that's where the Whisper White came from!  The next layer is the Pumpkin Pie print from the Bali Breeze designer series paper pack.  The horizontal panel is Rose Red card stock and the sentiment from "It's Your Birthday" is stamped on Whisper White in Old Olive classic ink, and some dots were added to the bottom with the Old Olive marker.  On the right edge I added three brads from the Earth Elements set.

The long vertical panel is Orchid Opulence with Whisper White, and a section of the Love and Happiness border rub on in Old Olive was transferred onto it.  I filled in the hollow leaves with a criss cross pattern using the Old Olive marker.  I covered up the flowers on the rub on with the Flower Fusion felt flowers, layering several flowers together, and attaching them to the panel with circle rhinestone brads.  Finally the panel was adhered to the card with dimensionals.  Aren't those felt flowers just amazing??   

My days are really cockeyed this week.  If you recall in the seven facts I revealed earlier, I love routine, and with the girls being home this week, well routine is out the window.  I had to beg my 7yo for some computer time, and now it's supper time, so I really have to go!  I hope you are having a wonderful day and thanks so much for dropping by.  I always love it when you do.

 

Weekend Challenges

It's rare that I post on Saturdays, but my girls have been occupied with their friends, so I have actually had some time to myself!  That means time to stamp, so I thought I would share my weekend challenge cards.

This first card is for the Splitcoast Inspiration challenge.  We were to be inspired by a bright and colourful line of children's clothing.  I chose to be inspired by the colours and random design, and pulled out some designer paper by Junkitz that seemed to be a great match, and was my starting point.

The card base is Naturals White, standard size, top fold, and it was a better match to the paper than the clean crisp Whisper White I usually reach for.  The Junkitz paper was layered on Pixie Pink, then Tempting Turquoise.  There are two ribbon tabs in Pumpkin Pie and Real Red added before adhering the panel to the card base. 

The sentiment panel is stamped with "Lots of Thoughts", one of the Sale-A-Bration sets, available only until Monday!!  It was inked up with markers and stamped on Naturals White, then layered on Real Red and adhered to the card.

The big bloom is from the new Die Cut Blooms available in the Occasions Mini catalogue.  I chose the Real Red, and added a punched Daisy (retired) in Pixie Pink, then a Pumpkin Pie Felt Fusion flower and attached them all with a turquoise brad.  The flower is adhered to the card with dimensionals to add some presence and that's all there is too it!  Love the mix of colours!

Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge this weekend was Paper Piercing.  Almost not a challenge, since it seems to be one of my favorite finishes these days.  However, thought I could add a little bit more interest, and included a butterfly trail!

The card is Almost Amethyst, and is layered with textured Whisper White, and Certainly Celery Prints designer paper.  The butterfly is from "Just Celebrate", also available in the Occasions Mini Catalogue!  The butterfly was stamped in Basic Black on the Whisper White panel, then on the same Prints pattern designer paper in Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery.  The whole butterfly was cut out of the Almost Amethyst print and the inner portions out of the Certainly Celery print.  The butterfly trail was drawn free hand in pencil, then pierced and erased.  Piercing was also added all around the perimeter of the card to bring it all together. 

To finish the card a length of Almost Amethyst stitched ribbon from the retired Sweet Shoppe ribbon originals was wrapped around the seam, and the sentiment, stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White, was punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch.  It was then layered on a scalloped circle punch of Almost Amethyst, and white dots were added with a white glaze pen.  Finally, it was attached with dimensionals and the card was complete.

Now this last card started out with every intention to work with Beate's Weekend Sketch.  It's not too far off, but there was no sentiment panel in the original sketch, but it just didn't work any where else.  I had the idea for this combination, but I had a hard time translating it on to paper.

Honestly, this card was once pink, then brown, then I finally decided on Whisper White.  The designer paper is from Berry Bliss, and it's layered on Close to Cocoa and adhered to the card.  Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon from the Theatre Ribbon Originals is tied around the lower portion of the card. 

The little owl...(isn't she cute all dressed in her finest dance attire!) was stamped in Basic Black on a slight angle.  I cleaned the stamp, then took my Basic Black marker and inked up the little wings, and stamped them twice on each side to show off some of her dance moves.  She currently "has her right leg out!".  She's coloured in with Stampin' Write markers and I added a little oval spot with the Sahara  Sand marker to ground her.  She is attached with dimensionals to Close to Cocoa, then Pretty in Pink, before finally being adhered to the card with dimensionals.

The sentiment from "Smarty Pants" was stamped in Basic Black, then layered on Pretty in Pink.  I started by colouring in the "O's", then just kind of got carried away with dots and such.  I finally attached it to the card with dimensionals... and I think I should have doubled up on those babies!  Three pink brads were added above the focal image to finish it off.

There you are!  I see the Featured Stamper has been posted, so I am going to be checking out a new gallery!  Hope you are enjoying your weekend!  I'll see you tomorrow!

Paris in the Spring Time! Featured Stamper Challenge

It's not that I haven't been stamping.  It's that my husband is home this weekend, and the girls had no school Friday.  So, in my attempts to create and enjoy some family time, I have to forgo computer time.  Plus I am very slow at the whole blogging process.  Uploading and editing photos and composing a post can take me 2 hours, and that's not very conducive to family time!  Not to mention that I have three other people to share the computer with this weekend, so I'm stealing some time while hubby takes the kids shopping!

The Featured Stamper challenge is one that I don't like to miss too often.  I love the "license" to CASE (Copy and Selectively Edit), and also the opportunity to explore a gallery that I might have missed. This week's featured stamper is Paris Otrembo, and what an awesome and huge gallery!  It was almost overwhelming, since she has been sharing her art on Splitcoast since 2004 and has 389 items to choose from.  So, being the very indecisive person I am, I picked the very last card she had uploaded, or I might still be in there trying to make my choice!

The card came together quite quickly.  I snickered at Jessie's comment on an earlier card of mine that she had never seen "Blah-vo Burgundy" look so good.  So I thought I might see if I could do it again!  The base is standard A4 card size in Bravo Burgundy.  The designer paper is from the retired Brocade Backgrounds.  The three flower stamp was inked in Bravo Burgundy and stamped on a strip of River Rock.  March is all about markers, so I took my Bravo Burgundy marker and outlined each of the small flowers just to give them some more definition.  It's more apparent on the banner shot above. The River Rock piece was layered on a Bravo Burgundy strip and a row of piercing, top and bottom was added using the mat pack. 

Paris used a tag for her focal image, so I did the same using my ticket corner punch to create the tag.  The large flower was stamped in Bravo Burgundy on River Rock.  I also took the brush tip end of the Bravo Burgundy marker and touched up the inner portion of the flower, which doesn't get as crisp an image on River Rock the way it does on Whisper White!  On the lower part of the tag, the flourish was stamped in River Rock, and the small flower coloured in with the Bravo Burgundy marker, then the sentiment was stamped in Bravo Burgundy just above it.  I took the slot punch and created an opening for the 5/8" Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon, and stapled it with a mini gold staple.  The tag is adhered to the card with dimensionals, and that's it!

OK, since I love "approved" Cases I decided to try another.  These colours were selected by my 7yo, and she thinks this is "So Beautiful" LOL!  I figured I had better make a card that she will use, since it really doesn't suit my tastes, although I'm OK with how it turned out!  Hopefully it will be a quick pick for the next birthday party she has to go to!

I selected this card of Paris' to CASE, and figured I could easily work four colours into her design.  The colours are Yo Yo Yellow, Pixie Pink , Tempting Turqoise and Orchid Opulence!!! 

The card base is Orchid Opulence and the other three colours were pieced together and I used the Birthday Cuttlebug folder in my Sizzix for the 2nd time ever.  I wanted to try something with my markers, so I took all four colours direct to rubber in a diagonal pattern.  I think it turned out pretty cool, especially where the colours mixed!  A neat option since we don't have the Spectrum pads any more.  One thing I will add regarding this particular image; you need to use a light touch with the markers, or you will fill in the swirly details on the balloon.  Finally, I cut the balloons out and adhered them to the image panel of Whisper White and Orchid Opulence.  The sentiment was stamped below in Basic Black, and Tempting Turqoise grosgrain ribbon was tied to separate the images and sentiment. 

I pulled out the retired "Maize" grosgrain ribbon for the middle of the card, and mounted the image panel with dimensionals.  And I think that pretty much covers it!

I do have a whole stash of cards to share with you but I will have to spread them out through the week.  I'll give you a hint, that if you are looking for ideas for the Occasions Mini, I just might have some!

I hope you are finishing off a wonderful weekend!  To forget to "SPRING AHEAD", and I will see you Monday!

Invitation to Party!

Wanna party?  Today's Ways to Use it Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers was to use your computer.  I use the computer a lot and I am always printing challenges, sketches, not to mention flyers and lately even school projects for the kids.  So as I go to print my teenie little message to meet the challenge, wouldn't you know my printer tells me it's low on ink!  Yikes, that stuff is like gold.  Oh well, I'll get a new cartridge with my next million, but today it just kind of faded in places.

I started by choosing "Tart and Tangy" which is a fun little set that is now available in the Occasions Mini!  I used Jen del Muro's sketch, and everything just fell into place from there.  I mean really, how many different colours can you colour a strawberry?  Today I chose Rose Red! 

The card base is Always Artichoke, layered with Whisper White, and then Rose Red Prints designer paper.  I coloured the strawberries with my Stampin' Write markers, Rose Red for the berry and the leafy part is Always Artichoke, and they are stamped on Whisper White.  Each strawberry is punched with the 1 1/4" circle punch, then layered on a 1 3/8" circle of Always Artichoke, then attached with dimensionals to a Whisper White scallop circle.   Each scallop has a little dot of Rose Red using the fine tip end of the marker.

The Sentiment on the upper left is from the Sale-a-Bration set "Lots of Thoughts".  It is stamped on Whisper White in Basic Black.  The lower right message is printed on the computer, and is entirely fictional...unless you want to come!  It will work well as a sample for both Sale-a-Bration and the Occasions Mini!  Both are punched out with the 1 1/4" square punch and layered on Rose Red punched with the 1 3/8" square punch.  They are adhered to the large squares with dimensionals.  I added some ribbon tabs on the bottom, both from the Ribbon Originals sets that retired last July.  I love the width of these particular ribbons...1/8" inch, which works well with the scale of the card which is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4".

I really think this is so cute; I just love that sketch!  And I am really thinking a Daiquiri party with stamps would be a good thing!  How about you?

Have a great day!   

Birthday Whimsy Challenge

I am going to be so sorry I stayed up to finish this card!  But it was always almost done!  Have you ever been there before? 

I really wanted to finish up a few more samples with Birthday Whimsy, one of the Sale-a-Bration sets, just to show off the versatility of this set.  I had already decided I was going to case Mary Jo Albright, the week's featured stamper, so I had picked out a few different cards of hers I could case before deciding on this one, and I thought I would see what this week's Colour Challenge was, and combine them....maybe.  Well,I was stumped for a second, because Emily chose one of my favorite combos, Basic Black, Whisper White, and River Rock.  I used this combo on my CD folder albums!  All good, but fairly elegant for a whimsical birthday stamp set.  So I said to myself, work it girl; that's what challenges are for.  And so this is what I came up with and I love it!  Whimsical is a great spin on an "Over the Hill" card, don't you think?

The card base is long notes size...3 1/4" x 6 1/2" in Whisper White.  I thank Sharon Johnson every day for her Tall and Thin challenge, because I have fallen in love with this sized card!  I layered a section of River Rock Prints designer paper and a thin strip of Basic Black to form the base. 

The cake is stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White, and then again on a white scrap in River Rock.  I cut the cake portion of the image out, and layered it over the black cake with dimensionals.  It is then layered on River Rock and Basic Black.  The sentiments are stamped in Basic Black on the lower panel, and layered the same as the top.  In the farthest, opposite corners I added a black brad to each panel.

The balloon was stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White and cut out.  The string is black hemp which is adhered to the back of the balloon, and it was so stiff, I just let it hang naturally.  The balloon is adhered to the card with dimensionals.  To finish it off...since it was a pretty somber card, I needed to bring in that humor....black balloons on a birthday card can't go it alone!  The "Over the Hill"s are actually little confetti pieces!  I dabbed on a tiny bit of Crystal Effects and placed them in opposite corners and called it done!!

I am quite pleased with the versatility of this set.  It really looks quite elegant here, and quite whimsical in most of my other samples.  Over all I think this is a great birthday set...especially when you can get it for FREE! 

OK, I have got to get some shut eye...big chipboard class tomorrow...remember!  Have a wonderful day!

Happy Mail and Beate's WSC36

I have some fun Happy Mail to share again!  The first is from my friend Jessi.  She is an awesome and inspirational stamper.  I just love her stuff, and it's such a pleasure to have one of her works of art to display in my studio!

Isn't he adorable!  I love everything about it, especially the fact that it's MINE!!!  That ribbon is just scrumptious and the medallion must have 8 layers alone! 

Thank you Jessi for thinking of me!

This next card is from Peggy a member of a Yahoo stamping group I have been long absent from.  Isn't it darling?   I just love the way she used the Cuttlebug on the designer paper and coloured only the little heart!  Big impact!

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while still on the topic of Happy Mail, I wanted to share that I rec'd my Verve order on Friday! I still can't get over this one, Julee must be doing something right.  It was mailed on Feb 19th and it arrived here on Friday, Feb 22!  That's like 3 days.  Anyone who knows Canada Post, knows that is something of a miracle!  I can't get a letter to Calgary in less than 4 days, and it's only 90 mins away!  So after I finished all my class projects I had a chance to play, so stay tuned, it's coming after this post!

And I also had a chance to play a bit myself.  Beate posted her awesome Weekend Sketch Challenge, and I was thinking that this might work for a class card, however, there wouldn't be enough pieces to go around.

This card started with a base of River Rock, and I added a layer of Blue Bayou, which I scalloped the edges with my corner rounder.  I used some designer paper from the 100% Original Simply Scrappin kit that retired in December.  On the upper right I attached 3 star brads, and I also added a length of Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon, with a slider from the soon to be available, Styled Silver Hodge Podge Hardware kit. 

I was quite taken by how well the chipboard took ink from a sponge when I created Friday's Fast and Fabulous project and I wanted to see what type of effect I could created sponging in different colours.  So I worked with Soft Sky, Blue Bayou and River Rock classic inks and just sponged randomly on the chipboard.  It looks very dark at first, and dries very true to the original colour when heat set.  I say it is Tres cool!!

I adhered a small piece of River Rock to the back of the chipboard, that I had liberally spread adhesive  sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds.   I used a Rub On from the  Love and Happiness Rub Ons, a Sale-a-Bration choice, and if you are somewhat familiar with them, you know this saying has three little flowers where I have the brads.  I decided flowers didn't work with the star thing, so I removed them with my adhesive remover and added heart and star brads instead.   So what do you think?  I know, you are thinking, that you can't wait until I change my product focus from chipboard!! 

OK, so next month I will be featuring Markers, and some fabulous tips and tutorials on how to get the most of your Stampin' Write Markers.  And they will be on special too! 

Chipboard Class Projects

I thought I would share my chipboard class projects. There are four projects, each designed to let participants experience the fun and versatility of chipboard.  They are quick and simple ways to learn how to stamp, cover, emboss and glitter chipboard! 

Each project features one of the Sale-A-Bration sets, and the little box I picked up at the dollar store for 3 for $1.00! Love it!  They come in different shapes, and for the class we will be using Soft Sky, since the perimeter of some of the boxes is longer than the 6" length I have in the So Saffron DP.

Here they are individually;

Pretty cute???  I think so! 

My next class is the Sale-A-Bration class coming up on Tuesday, March 4th.  Register early!  scrapnextras@yahoo.com   You will create 6 cards; one with each Sale-A-Bration set.  You can see some of the samples here and I will share the rest as we approach the date.  The class is $25.00, or FREE with a Sale-A-Bration purchase that day.  You must register by Friday, February 29.

Don't go away...I've got more stuff to share!

Friday's Fast and Fabulous Projects: Acetate & chipboard

OH boy, I kept you waiting for this one!  I kept my youngest home from school today.  She woke up with a red, puffy, swollen eye and I feared the worst.  Luckily her eye didn't get any worse, in fact it got better as the day progressed, however, I didn't.  When it's just me and her, I'm "it".  Ah well, better late than never.

I hope that before this month is over, you will have so many ideas you will really need to stock up on chipboard!  I have really enjoyed sharing some of the different ways you can use chipboard, and there are so many cool things that I could go on and on, and still find newer and cooler ways to use it.  Today's project was "brewing" for a while.  There, and not quite there...certainly not fully formulated, but there.  If you're creative, you probably know what I mean!

I have loved all the clear cards I have seen over the last little while.  I love the possibilities of acetate, being clear and almost not there, but strong and sturdy.  I just loved the idea  of something appearing as though it were suspended in mid air.  So with all my focus on chipboard this month there was this "AHA" moment!  Chipboard could float...in midair...via acetate.

To create this card, I started with 2 nesting flowers from the On Board Blossoms and Basics, and a small chipboard circle.  I used the direct to paper...or rather direct to chipboard to colour the larger flower in Purely Pomegranate, and the Smaller in Groovy Guava.  The small circle I inked up in Soft Sky.  I should mention that I don't get as even coverage with the classic ink pads, direct to chipboard as I do with the Craft inks.  I needed to use a sponge to even out the colour, as the inner portions don't ink up as evenly.  However, the "In Colours" don't have a craft ink option.  I also heat set them to speed up the drying process. 

The layers were adhered together with Mono Multi adhesive and then a hole was pierced through the center of all three pieces and then secured to the acetate with a large circle rhinestone brad.   

I  chose the "Friend" flourish rub on from the Love and Happiness Rub on set, a free Sale-a-Bration selection with a $70.00 purchase, and placed it below the flower.  I tied Purely Pomegranate double stitched ribbon to finish off the front of the card.

I really thought it would be cool to leave it as is, so the flower really appeared to be floating, but decided in the end to put a "back" on the card.  I adhered a 4" square of Soft Sky to to the inside of the back of the card, and then to be sure the adhesive wasn't evident, I adhered a 4 1/8" square of Purely Pomegranate to the back of the back.

That's it...really fast, and totally fabulous!  Here's another view from a higher angle, without so much reflection. Oh and the flower can spin..not that it needs to, but it was something my oldest dd noticed and she thought this card was "Sweet"!  Good enough for me!

Have a great weekend!

**Edited to add:  I purchased the acetate from Staples.  I chose the cheapest they had, because it's pretty pricey, and even that worked out to about $0.65 sheet, or $16.00 for 25 sheets!   Look for overhead projector sheets, or transparency film.  They have many different kinds and I just chose the least expensive, since I had no intention of using them for their intended purpose!

My News, Answering some questions and a card!

Wow, my third post today...I feel like I've been glued to the computer!  Well, it wasn't really my intention to build up my news in my last two posts.  I am just so excited, and of course I want to share it with you!  Do you recall this card?  I had entered it in the Verve Visual Honored Guest Designer contest, and yesterday I found out I was chosen as a runner up!  Check it out!

I am so thrilled, I get to be a Guest Designer for Verve Visual in April!  So I am excited and flattered and just kind of floating around right now.

I also thought I would take a minute to answer some questions.  One question that has come up a lot recently, is where am I?  Well, when I started this blog, there were only a handful of my local customers who came to visit, and that's mostly who I catered to. They all know where I am.  However, I know that there are a few more visitors who drop in from time to time who don't know where I am.

I am in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.   Click on the link to see a map, Zoom OUT to get it in perspective of North America.  I offer classes every month, and I wish you could all come, it would be so fun!

I had another question from Sandra who asked how I get my pictures so clear.  I am really happy to answer that, because it was only a few months ago it seems, I was asking the same questions.

I got my first glimpse at how to shoot from Alli Miles blog, now I can't find it!  However Emily Giovanni just recently showed a shot of how she sets up her shots, and that is basically the way I do it.  I do not have a fancy hi tech camera either.  I have a Canon A70 3.1 Mega pixel digital camera.  Here are the few tips that I would add, that I know I found blog surfing, but I wouldn't be able to go back and link.

• Set your camera to "macro"
• I use a tri-pod, and often use the timer to make sure I don't "shake" the camera when I shoot
• My camera is about 18" from the card, I zoom if necessary, but never beyond your digital zoom
• My camera has little squares that tell me where it is focusing, and I really pay attention to that, and try to make sure the key areas are in the camera's focus
• I always position my cards on a slight angle because I like it and I think it adds depth
• I take about 10 pictures of each card from different angles, shooting from down,up and straight on, and select the best from those
• For my "banners" and close ups (I got that idea from Kristina Werner...she's an awesome stamper and photographer!) I try to position my card right under the camera, while still on the tripod, and shoot, I use my photo editing software to crop it really tight
• I got Adobe Photoshop Elements for Christmas, (thanks Mom & Sandra) and it has made a big difference in my photos as well.  I have not mastered half of it, but it is so much more superior than my 7 yr old program.  Firstly, my older software didn't allow me to increase the resolution of a jpeg, and PSE lets me save it with a high resolution, and the file size is still small
• I always crop my photos, leaving about 1/2" space all around to give it some breathing room, and perspective

I am by no means a photographer, but if this helps someone out there, I am happy to share.  By the way, don't expect to see me making video tutorials like Kristina's Make a Card Monday.  Firstly, I don't have the technology, plus I know attention spans are short, my stats tell me most people just want to look at the pictures!  Hey that's OK, there's lot's of times that's all I do too!  Plus, if I taped myself in the process of making a card, it would end up the being a full length feature film!  Well, at least as long.

OK, if you made it here, you deserve to see a new card!

I was rummaging through my designer paper scraps the other day looking for the perfect sized scrap because I have so many scraps that I am sure it's in there! Plus I don't want to cut a scrap, that just makes more scraps LOL!  Anyway, I never found what I was looking for, but I came across a lot of these little squares that are 2"x2", that are obviously the result of trimming a 6" page to 4" card size.  I just knew I could make something from them, and it would feel so good to use these little scraps, and not have to make one cut!

Well, they weren't going to fit on a standard sized card, so I went with the long notes size.  The card is 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square, and scored at 3 1/4".  The three squares were positioned near the opening edge, so I could wrap a length of Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain around the inside edge.  I stamped the sentiment from "Lots of Thoughts" in Basic Black on Whisper White and punched it out with the 1 1/4" square punch, then I punched a 1 3/8" square of So Saffron card stock, adhered them to the centre square and Voila!  Super simple scrap card!

Well I hope you made it this far.  I am really enjoying blogging and sharing, and I look forward to sharing something new with you tomorrow.  Have a wonderful evening!

Merci Beaucoup

Happy Family Day to my fellow Canadians, and Happy Monday to you!  I'm not fluent in French, but I've always thought "Merci Beaucoup" meant Thanks a lot or Thank You Very Much.  If I'm right, then my title is appropriate, since I have a lot of cards (ok...3) all done with the Sale-a-Bration set "Merci"! 

I had in mind a field of daisies as I approached this card, so I started by stamping the flower stamp from "Merci" in Basic Black on Kraft card stock.  I coloured them in with my yellow Pure Colour Pencil and my white gel pen.  I used my Nestabilities to cut it into circles adding a layer of Whisper White, and then a layer of Summer Sun.  I used my corner rounder to scallop the Summer Sun circle.  The little bee was punched with my 1 1/4" circle punch and layered on a 1 3/8" circle of Whisper White, and popped up with dimensionals.

For the border I trimmed off 1/2" of the front of the Kraft base, and added a strip of Summer Sun and a strip of Whisper White scalloped with corner rounder again.  I took my Summer Sun marker and made little yellow dots on each scallop.  The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White, and punched with the small oval punch.  It is adhered to the large Summer Sun oval with dimensionals.

 

I've had a number of comments or questions asking where I get my ideas, so I thought I would share my though process on how this next card came about.  The inspiration came from the card above!  As I was colouring the daisies I noticed a few little overlaps, and so I think to myself, which colour should I colour the overlap...white or yellow.  Then a silly voice pops in my head and says "just colour it blue".  I giggle at the thought, but that made me think about those kids colouring puzzles where they tell you to colour the sections different colours to see what the image was, like you can't tell it's a Christmas Tree already!  So I decided to try purposely stamping the flowers closer together and just colouring in the overlapping areas with my markers.

I chose purples because Stampin' Up! has so many different purples, although I rarely use them.  Then I decided it needed a background, and finally I decided that the flowers needed to be coloured in too.  It's pretty different, but I really like the effect. 

I layered the main section onto Elegant Eggplant, then on Mellow Moss (which is the colour I chose for the background), and finally on Whisper White.  I added a Prima which was a perfect match for Pale Plum, and layered a flower from the Boho Blossoms punch and adhered it with a fancy brad from the Styled Silver Hodge Podge Hardware set, which will be available March 1st.  The sentiment was stamped in Black Craft ink on Pale Plum card stock, then embossed with black embossing powder.  It was punched out with the Designer Label punch, and framed with a bookplate also from the Styled Silver Hodge Podge kit and then a length of Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon was strung through and tied. 

OK, so I am not usually one to talk up my cards, but I am so in love with this funky, sort of stained glass look!  Isn't it just so cool?

Ok, last card, and this is with my February sketch. 

The base of this is Pretty in Pink, and I grabbed three scraps; one Regal Rose card stock, one from the Petals and Paisley retired designer paper pack, and the other Rose Red Prints designer paper.  They are bordered with strips of designer papers. 

The butterfly from "Merci" was stamped on Naturals White with Black Stazon, and coloured with Watercolour crayons and the aquapainter.  I put a dab of Turquoise Cosmos Glitter on the upper swirls of the butterfly wings and then layered it on Regal Rose, adhering it to the card with dimensionals.  To finish it off I tied Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon on the top.

So there you have it...the last of my "Merci" samples.  I have to say this set didn't appeal to me at all when I first saw it in the Sale-a-Bration mini, but having had to stretch my creativity to create samples for a set I didn't like, has made me change my mind!  I think it's awesome and versatile, and I would definitely recommend it as a Sale-a-Bration choice.

We are at the tail end of our Family Day long weekend, and I have even more to share, but it's Family Day, so I will have to come back this evening, after the kids are down for the night!  Thanks for dropping by, I love it when you do!  See you soon!