Which One Do You Like Better?

I spent some time working on my swap card. I knew I wanted to use the scallop circle punch and Big Flowers. I decided it would look cool to do 4 of them popped on the black textured cardstock. I looked at the SU Color Combo sheet for a combo and decided on Soft Sky, Orchid Opulence, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive. I chose that one because it's one I would never ordinarily use. Well, the Pumpkin Pie was just too much, so I changed it to Groovy Guava. I like that much better! Then as I looked at the card, I really wasn't sure about the Soft Sky. There wasn't really anything to tie it in to the rest of the card. So I decided to try Old Olive as the card base to tie in to the Old Olive layers on the flowers. I'm still undecided, so I need your opinion. Please leave me a comment to let me know which you prefer. Thanks for looking!

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Big Flowers, Hugs and Wishes, Paisley BG; Paper: Groovy Guava, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Soft Sky, Basic Black textured; Ink: Black Staz-On, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, Groovy Guava; Accessories; 1 1/4 & 1 3/8 & scallop circle punches, Pretties kit, metallic eyelets, gold brads, black gingham ribbon, 1/8 & 1/16 hole punches, Crop-a-dile

What Color is Your Brain?

On Saturday mornings, I usually go through all of the MANY blogs I have saved to my favorites. (The list on the right are the ones I check almost daily.) This morning, I found a quiz called What Color is Your Brain? Here are my results, and I SWEAR I didn't cheat. This is really what I got. Click on the link below my results to see what color your brain is.

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

I plan to stamp today as I still have 1 swap to do. I'm forcing myself to complete it before I can play with my new stuff. So check back later to see how I did.

To Cheer Up a Friend

One of my friends at work lost her house over the weekend. While she and her husband were out golfing, an old air conditioner caught fire and totally destroyed their home. We are collecting funds to help her out, and I volunteered to make a card. I wanted it to be cheery, and I think this is. There's not much stamping on it. I used the new chipboard and double-stitched ribbon; only the leaves are stamped. I used craft ink on the chipboard and heat set the ink so the color would be true. I got the color combo for the flowers from the color wheel. Inside the card it says, "Friendship improves happingess and abates misery by doubling our joy and dividing our grief." The saying is from the set Friendship Flowers. I don't have that set, so I printed it on my computer.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Bodacious Bouquet; Paper: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery Prints Designer Paper; Inks: Wild Wasabi Classic, Cameo Coral craft, Barely Banana craft, Rose Red craft; Accessories: On Board Blossoms & Basics, crop-a-dile, Pewter jumbo eyelets, Neutrals buttons, mini glue dots

Also, today I got my Holiday Mini preorder. So I thought I'd give you a peek at the die-cut rubber. This new set, True Friend, is gorgeous! I don't know what it has to do with a holiday, but I love it!

This is the full sheet. You can see the cut outline around each image.

Here's a close-up of one flower.

From the Archives

I made this card a couple of months ago. It's a great example of how tastes can change. When I first started stamping, Bold Brights were my favorite. Now I rarely use them! But I do really like this card; it's so spring-y and fresh looking.
I have book club tomorrow night (Brave New World--Ugh!). But I am planning to stamp on Thursday; gotta get that 2nd swap card done PLUS my holiday mini pre-order is arriving. I was good; really, I was! So look for something new on Thursday, and I'll post all about my experience with the die-cut stamps!
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Polka Dots & Paisley, Petals jumbo wheel; Paper: Whisper White, Gable Green, Lavender Lace, Pixie Pink; Ink: Green Galore (for wheel), Lavender Lace, Pixie Pink, StazOn black, Pixie Pink & Gable Green markers; Accessories: ticket corner punch

New Catalog Swap Card #1

Whoohoo! I finally got one of my swaps done. They're due by the 15th, and I stupidly signed up for 2. I know it will be worth it to get back 20 cards made with new sets from the catalog. I'm pleased with how this card came out. It's based on a design by Sharon Harnist for the SCS Dare to Get Dirty challenges last week. It would be very easy to change the sentiment to fit whatever occasion you'd like. This would be a great card for a guy also.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: With Gratitude, Flannel Plaid, Canvas; Paper: Naturals Ivory, More Mustard, Really Rust, Old Olive; Ink: Pumpkin Patch Spectrum pad, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Very Vanilla narrow grosgrain ribbon, ticket corner punch, horizontal slit punch

Beate's One Sheet Box

This cute box was created by Beate Johns. Her blog link is to the right, and here's the direct link for directions for the box: http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/07/04/pick-a-petal-one-sheet-box/ The best thing about this box to me was the topper and the way the little flower holds it closed. I sent this project to my mama and her friends, but they had trouble figuring out how the box was put together. So I thought I'd post a few pics to help out.

This is the completed piece before assembly.

This is how it folds together on the inside. Beate left hers unadhered, but I decided to adhere the flaps on each side. This helps the box stay closed too.

Here's what it looks like with the flaps adhered on both sides. You do have to push the sides in some in order to close the box. You could also leave off the flower piece and punch holes in each tall side and tie it closed.

Quarter Fold Card

This is a Quarter Fold Card. I think it's really cool and different, so I thought I'd show you how to make it. My first mini-tutorial!

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Bud Basics, Warm Words; Paper: River Rock, Soft Sky; Inks: River Rock, Soft Sky, Basic Gray; Accessories: Pretties Kit, Crop-a-dile, Jumbo Pewter eyelets

The first piece of cardstock is 4 1/4" X 11". (A sheet of cardstock cut in half longways) Score at 2 3/4" and 8 1/4".

The second piece of cardstock is the standard 5 1/2" X 8 1/2". (A sheet of cardstock cut in half the other way) Score at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8".

Adhere the two pieces of cardstock together, forming a cross. Put the long piece of cardstock to the back.

Fold the flaps in like you are closing a box. Decorate the exposed pieces as desired.

Here is another one I made last winter using the SAB set Happy Harmony and Vintage Violet and Cool Caribbean. Oh, I miss that color!