HSS Theme Challenge #100-Pleats or Ruffles

Good Morning Stampers! This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a fun theme challenge for you to try...

Hopefully you are recovered from the whirlwind that the holidays brings, and are ready to start creating again. I've had a whirlwind last 3 months with a new job, but things have settled down and I am so excited to be back participating in the HSS challenges.

 For this weeks card I used brand new products that I earned for FREE from Sale-A-Bration (SAB). This is our yearly sale where for every $50 you spend you earn free product. Keep an eye out as it begins January 24 and runs through March 31.

I started with a Very Vanilla base and cut strips of Designer Series Paper from the Everyday Enchantment pack (SAB), and Soft Suede. This is the most gorgeous paper pack I have seen from SU. You will definitely want it! 

I got my inspiration from Amy Sheffer. She does some cute quilting like cards and I wanted to use that idea. I ran the Soft Suede strips through the Big Shot with the Embossing Folder. The last strip was also run through with the BRAND NEW Edgelits Dies to create the scallop. I added faux stitching with a gel pen around the edges.

To create the focal point, I stamped the frame image in Soft Suede from the Elementary Elegance set (also part of SAB). I then stamped it again in Poppy Parade and punched the top and bottom with the small oval punch. These were adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals. "Hello" was stamped in Pool Party. This was layered onto Soft Suede and placed on the card front with more dimensionals.

The final touch was the addition of our NEW pleated satin ribbon in Riding Hood Red. I tied the side with Linen Thread and placed a Everyday Enchantment Brad (SAB) over it.

Make sure you check out the other gorgeous projects by the other designers at the HSS site.

HSS Inspiration Challenge #90

Don't you just love the Inspiration Challenge picture at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week? Ok so I know this picture evokes all sorts of Thanksgiving thoughts, but gosh darnit, I LOVE Halloween, so I am posting my FAVORITE Halloween card. Now, I know you're thinking that this isn't even a current stamp set, but I was recently going through my card and came across it. This was one of the cards I made at my very first workshop I held. It's still a favorite, which might explain why I have it 4 years later. And it does have some of the colors from the Inspiration picture, right?

We've had a busy week/weekend this past week and 1/2. I started a new job, and the baby turned 1. I have some great pictures to post from the party. He was adorable in all his "monster" glory! Stay tuned for those and some other projects I've been working on...

HSS Technique Challenge #89-Crayons?

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments you have a choice: you can create a project using shaving cream, crayons or pastels. Ok, before you start asking why I posted my son's "art" let me assure you I made this masterpiece, obviously that term is used lightly.

Earlier I was talking with Dawn Braun of Dabble with Dawn, (you might be seeing more of her HERE in the very near future, hint, hint) about our obsession fondness of Pinterest. She was asking me if I had seen the crayon art people were doing with melted crayons. I hadn't and thought it sounded odd, but then I saw it and it was so COOL! So Dawn thank you, the ones on Pinterest are 100% better but it was fun trying.

I started by choosing my crayons. Yep I just scavenged through my kids cheapy crayons picking out the oranges, greens, yellows and browns. I used a piece of left over cardboard, you know the ones that come in your DSP packs, and placed a piece of sticky strip to it to hold the crayons.

I placed the crayons in the order I wanted them in and used temporary adhesive to secure the paper down just under them. (Place it further under than I did. As the crayons melted the obviously shorten up and started to run under the paper instead of on top.)

Then I simply used my Heat Tool (or blow dryer) to heat them up. This was after a while and they came off the sticky strip. I did have to hold the cardboard up at an angle to force the wax to travel down.

OK, so not the most gorgeous work of art, but it was seriously fun! I added some flowers from the Boho Blossom punch and glitter brads to the centers, I mean why not go all out and take the hideousness to the max, right?

This WAS my inspiration, so much better...

by Lindsey Daniella

Come be a kid again and join us this week or perhaps try one of the other techniques, either way we'd love to see what you come up with.

Paper: whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade
Tools: Heat Tool Crayons, Sticky Strip, Boho Blossom Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Glue Dots
Embellishments: Glimmer Basics and Brights Brads

HSS Think Pink Challenge #88

 This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have PINK on the brain. Did you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month? This is such an important cause to be aware of and making sure you have early screening is crucial! So here's to thinking pink this month...

For this weeks card I didn't want to make it too literal for the breast cancer awareness so instead I stuck with the pink color palette, but did a more generic card. I started with a Pink Pirouette base, layered a Rose Red on top and a Blushing Bride on top of that. The flourish (from the Baroque Motif set) was stamped in Rose Red ink and then (with the help of my Stamp-A-Ma Jig, I was able to stamp the image again in Versa Mark and emboss it with Clear Embossing powder.) It wasn't perfect, but I liked that even more because it left a faint shadow outside the original Rose Red image. The Lighthearted sentiment was also stamped in Rose Red ink. (I LOVE this set-it's in the Holiday Mini).

A Rose Red grosgrain ribbon was layered on top of a Whisper White Satin Ribbon and added to separate the two images. The final touch was the addition of a  Rose Red scored "flower" to which I added a Blushing Bride blossom from the Boho Blossom punch with an Antique Brad attached.

I was really happy how it turned out. I have been a bit timid in trying this technique, but now that I know how easy it is, I am hooked! (HINT: To keep the flower in place, punch a circle out of card stock and apply Sticky Strip or hot glue, and attach the flower to it. It will also make attaching it to your card so much easier).

Make sure you stop by and check out the other amazing projects from the other designers and welcome our newest DT member Rachel Ricks of The Little Blue Room.

Paper: Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Blushing Bride, Rose Red Pattern Stack DSP

Ink: Rose Red, Versa Mark

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Lighthearted

Tools: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stamp-A-Ma Jig, Simply Scored, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch

Embellishments: White Satin Ribbon, Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Antique Brad, Sticky Strip

WHAT?! A FREE BIG SHOT!!

If you were ever considering becoming a Stampin' Up! Demo, now is the time. Check out this awesome promotion good through October.

 Dates: October 1-31, 2011

Details: The Big Shot is a big deal! And during October, get a FREE Big Shot (or up to $100 in free Stampin' Up! products) when you purchase the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit and become a member of My Stampeed Stampers Team! It's the perfect opportunity for a hobby stamper who loves our products to test drive Stampin' Up! discounts and benefits through March 31, 2012. There's NO obligation to purchase or sell anything further.

Product Bonus
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•Standard Starter Kit Contents $175.
•My Digital Studio Starter Kit Contents $175.
•Order your choice of starter kit on-line and get your Free Big Shot (or $100 in FREE product) by clicking HERE and then clicking on the Join The Fun tab. It's easy!

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