I did it! My first MDS project!

Thanks to Stampin' Up's free 30-day trial of My Digital Studio Express, I took the plunge today and downloaded it!  MDS Express has pretty basic content: one set of DSP, one stamp set, lots of cardstock and ribbon colors, lots of punches.  The great thing about that is that you can just purchase the additional items that you want as needed.  Or if you like the idea of having lots of stuff at once (yes, that's me!), you can purchase the full My Digital Express CD.

If you've done any kind of work on computers where you deal with images, MDS will be a snap.  I found the program easy to use without having to access the help feature.  What I loved: I could resize any photo or mat.  I could drag everything to where I wanted it to go.  I could also resize the punches and stamps; if only that worked in real life!

Happy stamping!

Free-standing pop-up card

I've been thinking about old favorites lately.  A past favorite technique is definitely the free-standing pop-up card.  It's a showstopper!  I combined it with a neglected stamp set: Fifth Avenue Floral.  Using this set with the SAB items (DSP, ribbon and brads) really gives it a fresh new look.  I stamped the flowers on two of the DSP patterns, cut them out, and then added Dazzling Details to the flower centers.

Making the base of this card was a piece of cake using the Simply Scored board!  You can find a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.

My Digital Studio for free!

Stampin' Up is now offering a 30-day free trial of My Digital Studio Express!  Go to the Stampin' Up website  and order the downloadable version for free!

Interactive valentine

Today's card combines two of the February Creative Crew challenges.  One challenge is to use Twitterpated DSP or colors.  The other is to use that stamp set you just had to have that's gathering dust on the shelf.

For me, Take a Spin definitely qualifies!  I fell in love with the set right away, but I used it a couple of times and then forgot about it.  After looking at this set, I realized this would make the perfect Valentine card for my hubby.  It describes how I feel about him plus he can play with it!

The cardbase is Baja Breeze.  The striped DSP is layered onto Basic Gray.  I used the new embosslit hearts on the bottom.  Next I added the sentiment from Filled with Love (retired) punched out with the square label punch.  Riding Hood Red pleated ribbon is layered over that.

For the spinner piece, I used markers to ink up the stamp in Island Indigo, Riding Hood Red and Basic Gray.  I punched it out with the 2 1/2" circle punch and then trimmed it down a little more.  The Pear Pizzazz layer is also punched with the 2 1/2" circle punch, and I used the Circle Scissors to cut out a 2 3/4" Island Indigo circle.

Happy stamping!

Quilt card for Shirley

It was my mother-in-law's birthday recently, so I had to make a blue card!  I decided to use the new Twitterpated DSP and made a quilt card.  The square lattice embossing folder really makes it look quilted!

The card base is Baja Breeze with accents of Island Indigo, Riding Hood Red and Pear Pizzazz.  The sentiment is punched out with the curly label punch.  I couldn't resist using that Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon and the Teahouse background stamp.

Happy stamping!

Sunrise color combination

I got this color combination from Patti Chesky's blog.  She called it Tequila Sunrise.  It's Calypso Coral and Poppy Parade.  The sketch is from last week's sketch challenge on SCS.

The cardbase and lace ribbon border are Poppy Parade.  I threaded Calypso Coral narrow organdy through the border.  The DSP is from Everyday Enchantment.  The flower is from Mixed Bunch, punched with the blossom punch.  The sentiment is from a retired hostess set.  The ribbon, DSP and brad are all from the Sale-a-bration catalog.

Happy stamping!

Workshop valentine

I had a workshop last night.  It was so much fun!  I met 3 new people, and I got to share my love of the Big Shot!

We made this valentine using the Big Shot.  I CASEd this card from Tiffany Bauer.  I added the back layer and changed the bow.  Both hearts were cut with the same framelit.  I think the edge is what makes it special!

Happy stamping!