Totally Redeemed

Sorry for the Dumb and Dumber reference, but I wasn't feeling my last Hand Stamped Sentiments project....not so this week.  It's our inspiration week and I'll admit I really stared at this one in my room day after day.



Isn't it lovely!?!?!...but just where to go?  I headed to my photos looking for a Valentine photo to scrap...turns out I must not take many Valentine's Day pictures.  I did however find one that I adored, even thought it's an old film photo. (So happy I only have a couple of years of film photos!)  Here is my layout:

It's stark white with pops of red-just like the inspiration photo!  This is my Linnea who is now just shy of 9!-how the heck did that happen!?!?

It was so hard to photo but the background has a fun little pattern:

I scored "envelopes" on the background-sorry you may have to click on the photo to see it larger.  I scored every 3" to make the squares then used the diagonal plate to make the "flap."  My last little detail that I loved is the flower button to match her flower on her shirt.

Be sure to hop over and check out the projects from the rest of the team!- and remember you have 2 weeks to play with us.

No Stamping Needed

It's Monochromatic week over at Dynamic Duos and remember when I said I love Bright week...I maybe forgot about this week.  I'm a sucker for tone on tone.  Here is this week's color badge:



Can you hear my squealing with delight?!?!  These are probably the most used colors in my room.  And after a couple of card weeks, I'm back with a scrap page.  Take a look:

I knew exactly what photo I was going to use immediately!  These are my girls this summer while playing in the sprinklers.  Now don't let them fool ya...they are the best of friends and the worst of enemies.  I have two younger brothers so I'm quickly learning the art of raising two girls!

I started by scoring my Suede card stock using my diagonal plate.  I love the DSP, and I'm not scared to use Vanilla and White together.  My cluster includes a tissue paper, which I made using 8 Scalloped circles cut from the Scallop Circle #2 die, stapling them together and then some twisting and turning, finished by some Crumb Cake spritzing.  My doily blended too much so I sponged with Suede and Crumb Cake ink.  Some ribbon, buttons, and pearls and it was finished!  I stamped nothing!  I had pulled out the 'sister' from the family set, but wasn't sure where to put it. 

Be sure to head over and look at the projects from the other Designers.  I know I say this week after week, but they are A.MAZ.ING!  I'm honored I can be included with this group.

Chalkboard Valentine

ugghh.  Sorry I left this as a draft, here it is now!

It's Color AND Theme week over at Dynamic Duos, and it's another card for me!



I started a couple of classes this week to get my teaching license back in order so time is a commodity.  I promise I'll have a scrap page next week!   Here is my card:

Now I never go on the blog until my project is done as I don't want to see the other projects and have them influence mine.  Last week I was flabbergasted I was on the creativity wave of Anne Marie and this week I must have been riding Amy's wave.  They are uber talented so this is a good thing in my mind!!

So I've seen these chalkboard cards everywhere on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a try. The twine is non SU, I only wish we had more colors!  Pretty simple, but I made two and now I have my girls' cards done!  Yippee!

Now if you want to see how Amy did her chalkboard and the rest of the team's projects, be sure to hop over and check them out!

Getting Sketchy

Another change over at Hand Stamped Sentiments is we now have Sketch Challenges!  I have to admit, these scare me!  Take a look at our sketch:



Second admission, I have lots of unused pieces on my desk.  This card isn't how I envisioned, but it is what it is!  Take a look:

 



I wanted to use some fabric on the card, for some texture.  I'm also digging the color combo of Real Red and Pool Party.  I'm in complete denial that this color will soon be gone.

Be sure to play along with us.  Remember you have two weeks to play. 

On a side note, today is a big day for me!  I'm going back to school to get my teaching license back in order.  I've had a great time being a stay at home mom while my girls "were" little, but come next year they will be both in school full time and Mom needs to get back into it.  Wish me luck!

Dynamic Thanks

It's subtle week at Dynamic Duos and these always scare me, but I'm super happy with how this one turned out...and it's not even a scrap layout!  Here are this week's colors:



I'm not going to lie...I was stumped.  It's been a crazy week and I knew I wouldn't get a page done, and it spoke flowers, then baby, but then I ended up with this:

I'm telling you if you haven't seen the Spring Catalog, you are missing out!  This is pretty much the source of this card.  I needed a thank you card and just went with it.  I wish it didn't look so Daffodil, as the Saffron in person makes for a beautiful card.  I scored my sentiment as I'm not going to be stuffing this into an envelope.  The rose is cut from the trim roll and dyed with Saffron reinker.    Here is another view:

 

 



Be sure to head over and check out what the other designers have created for your viewing pleasure!  I'm amazed week after week of their talent!

 

Parent Day

It's Bold and Sassy week over at Dynamic Duos and I'm beginning to tell this is my favorite week of the month-must be my love of bright colors.  Here are this week's colors:



I'll admit I haven't used Island Indigo much so I was up to the challenge!  I found some photos of Kendall's PreK parent day last winter.  The only problem was I had all of these photos taken at school and this one taken at home, when Daddy surprised her by coming home and attending.  I decided to make it a 3 page layout!, and I'm quite smitten with it!

 

 

This layout isn't typical me, but I thought I'd try something new.  I loaded up Stampin' Up spritzers with Rubbing Alcohol and reinker.  I tested the Indigo on a white sheet of paper and thought it looked good, but once I sprayed it on her, it looked more Turquoise :/ 

The title is done with our new Framelits. Love them! The arrow is also from a new set and I think it needs to be on every page I create.  I wanted to balance that huge drop of Melon Mambo so I found a retired Indigo button.   Here are the other pages:

I think the looks is perfect for Preschool pages! I added some more reinker in the Indigo spritzer before I sprayed these pages, I think it looks better!  I continued to use the tag as a little label for the photos, the Indigo ribbon is from the upcoming Saleabration catalog.  Here are some closer views.

Sneak Peaks with HSS

Sorry it's been a while....  it's been a long few weeks and I could get into it, but instead I'll share some new fun items that can soon be yours!  Here are this week's Hand Stamped Sentiments colors:



So I have to admit, my background DSP has some Real Red in it, but this paper is way too pretty not to use.  There aren't many DSP's that I buy multiple packs of, but I'm thinking this will be one!  Take a look at my layout:

 

It's quite simple, and I'm not sure whether I want to put a title on it, but it's full of sneak peeks from the Spring Catalog.  I've been using Stampin' Up products since 2008 and I'm telling you, this is my favorite catalog to date!  Thank goodness for some Christmas money.

I jazzed up my banner with a new set, I love the outlines but also paper pierced some of the detail pieces.  The heart is also a new stamp set...with framelits!  The fun banners and heart in the corner are also a part of this collection.  Here is closer look of the bottom corner:

So at first glance, the rose trim didn't do anything for me, until I saw the flowers cut and then dyed in our Stampin' Up magazine.  I haven't bought the reinkers yet, so I just rubbed the rose on my ink pad.  Like the Pool Party button....think Saleabration!  I'm not ready to say goodbye to this color.....I'd rather have another color renovation!  A view of the top:

That's my (new) black ink pad...:/
The brackets are from a Saleabration set.  The Primrose tag is embossed using the new Hexagon emboss folder. (The u is from a retired set.)

So how do you get these products early?  Become a demonstrator! 

Hand Stamped Sentiments is changing with the new year!  Instead of weekly challenges, they will now last TWO weeks--no excuse not to play. 

If you are reading this early on Tuesday morning, I'm running a 10K in the bitter cold and wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!