Handstamped Sentiments Design Team Tryout

Some of you are probably familiar with Handstamped Sentiments, a weekly challenge and inspiration blog.  Well, it just so happens they have a few design team spots available, so, I figured I'd give it the good ole college try.

HSS, you see, holds a very special place in my heart.  Back when I first started blogging, My Cheery Cherry Blossoms card was chosen as an artist pick, which happened to be the very first challenge I ever won.  That gave me SUCH a boost, I'd love an opportunity to give back.

Here's my entry:

I recently discovered (quite by accident, actually) that the negative strip left behind after cutting out a Fancy Favor Box makes a REALLY COOL border strip, and that strip in pool party is what started this card off. The background is double embossed with Vintage Wallpaper and Stripes and the patterned paper is from Attic Boutique - this paper is GORGEOUS... I'm so happy I finally cut into it!

The flowers are punched from Boho Blossoms, and hand-colored using a modified technique I picked up from Kittie over at Kittie Kraft.  Her flowers look way awesomer than mine do, but I'm learning, lol!

Here's a close up of the sentiment treatment:

I first saw this curled edge technique from Ann over at Stampin' Chic - she's my hero! I ADORE her style (she also introduced me to the Color Spritzer tool, which was love at first sight, lol!) and I'm constantly inspired by her creativity!

This card is very "michey"- it's kinda sophisticated and a little bit shabby 'n vintagey. Hopefully this entry is worthy of Design Team consideration -- I'm frequently inspired by the HSS gals, and I'm super excited for the opportunity to share the love!

Most of my creations feature only Stampin Up products, here are a few of my favorites to give the judges a better idea of my style:

• A Birdie Birthday
• Simply Soft Birthday
• Black, White and Red Birthday
• Blueberries and Lace anniversary Card

Thanks for taking a peek!

Michey

DETAILS - All products are available for purchase from me  at Stampin' Up

Very Vanilla Color Suite	Pool Party Color Suite	Daffodil Delight Color Suite	Sahara Sand Color Suite	Attic Boutique Patterned Paper
Naturals White Cardstock	Loving Thoughts Stamp Set	Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch	Boho Blossoms Punch	Big Shot Die-Cutting System
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder	Stripes Embossing Folder	Fancy Favor Die	Basic Pearls

Card Front Swap!

Hi Stampers!

Here's a card front I designed for a recent card swap I did with local demos in the area:

I started out with Very Vanilla Cardstock, stamped my most favoritest swirls from Creative Elements in soft suede (it's been quite awhile since I've made a card WITHOUT this flourish... I ADORE it sooooooooooo much!).  I splattered the background a smidge with my Color Spritzer Tool in Soft Suede, and sponged the edges.  I then dabbed some Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint with a crumpled up piece of celophane to add in some veins of shine.  (I got this tip from Sage over at Stamping Madly. This is now my go-to technique for using my shimmer paint ;-)

The striped panel is a piece of Everyday Enchantment DSP, which you can get for free with any $50 order now through March 31st as part of Sale-a-Bration. To this panel, I stamped the line motif, again from Creative Elements.

This piece was embellished with Pear Pizzazz Pleated Satin Ribbon and a hand-pieced flower out of Very Vanilla and Calypso Coral.  The sentiment is from Apothecary Art and I added a bit more bling in the form of regular and large basic pearls, which are new in the occaisions mini.  The larger-sized pearl fills that bottom corner really well, dontcha think?

For the swap I had to make 7 of these card fronts... if I could do it again, i'd go with something less involved than the layered flower - it was easy to do, but a little bit on the tedious side for repeating 7 times.  Ahh well, I'm happy with the way this turned out, and the swaps I got in return were AWESOMELY INSPIRING!

Thanks for taking a peek!
Michey

DETAILS - Products are available for purchase from me  at Stampin' Up

Soft Suede Color Suite	Very Vanilla Color Suite	Calypso Coral Color Suite	Pear Pizzazz Color Suite	Printed In-Color Brads
Creative Elements Stamp Set	Loving Thoughts Stamp Set	Apothecary Art Stamp Set	Color Spritzer Tool	Boho Blossoms Punch
5 Petal Flower Punch	Large Basic Pearls	Basic Pearls	Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

Stamps: Creative Elements, Apothecary Art

Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Calypso Coral
Accessories: 5 petal flower punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, 2011 In Color Printed Brads, Champagne Shimmer Paint, Pear Pizzazz Pleated Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Large Pearls, Color Spritzer Tool

Thinking of a Dear Friend

I have a dear friend who lives a few hours away that has been going through some trying times.  Since I can't very well stop by and give her a big ole' Michey-hug, I instead chose to make her a card:

I wanted this card to be ruffley, girly, and a lil bit boudoiry (that's a new word, btw, feel free to pass it on ;-)

I started out with Designer Cuts laser-cut cards from the Occaisions Mini Catalog. I backed the front panel with a piece of Island Indigo and bunched up some seambinding onto the edge.  I then added Pearls to cover where the seam binding was peeking through the pre-cut holes on the card edge.

I framed out a piece of Timeless Portrait DSP with a Cherry Cobbler mat (i've had this designer paper for almost 6 months and haven't cut into it yet... SHAME ON ME!).  I then cut a piece of Island Indigo using a Labels Framelit Die, and then added some texture with a Designer Frames Embossing Folder.  Don't you just love how the embossing folder fits perfectly inside the dicut?  By the way, you can get this embossing folder FREE with a $50 purchase now through March 31 during Sale-a-Bration!

The oval centerpiece is another freebie from Sale-a-Bration - Fresh Vintage - stamped in Cherry Cobbler. I overstamped a little peek of the flourish from Creative Elements in river Rock (It works really well with the flourish in the DSP, dontcha think?) and sponged the edges in river rock.

I positioned this element so it looks like it's hanging off the blue scroll on the DSP... doesn't it look like a mirror hanging on the wall?

The sentiment banner is from Loving Thoughts, and will hopefully let my dear friend know that she's in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for taking a peek!
Michey


DETAILS - Products are available for purchase from me  at Stampin' Up

Very Vanilla Color Suite	River Rock Color Suite	Island Indigo Color Suite	Cherry Cobbler Color Suite	Timeless Portrait Patterned Paper
Designer Cuts Card Kit	Loving Thoughts Stamp Set	Creative Elements Stamp Set	Very Vanilla Seam Binding	XL Oval Punch
Big Shot Die-Cutting System	Basic Pearls	Labels Framelit Die	Designer Frames Embossing Folder

Stamps: Fresh Vintage, Creative Elements, Loving Thoughts

Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Island Indigo, Timeless Portrait DSP
Ink: River Rock, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Designer Cuts Laser-cut Card, Big Shot, Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Labels Framelit Die, Basic Pearls, Oval Punch, Seam Binding

A Birthday in Paris

My brother is a bit of a globetrotter. He has gone to MANY far and exotic places, which is why when I set out to make his birthday card, I knew I wanted to tap into his well-travelledness (is that a word? if not, it should be!).

As luck would have it, he's recently back from a trip to France. Couple this with the fact that for most of the day leading up to this card, I had the song "Come What May" stuck in my head - That's the beautiful ballad from the finale of Moulin Rouge that *always* brings a tear to my eye.  So, it was settled, his birthday card would have a French theme!

This card was a melange of stamp sets and supplies.  The background paper started out as Very Vanilla, but I sponged on So Saffron and Crumb cake, stamped French Script in Sahara sand, distressed the edges with my distressing tool and added a touch of Soft Suede to make it look "old and crispy".

The Eiffel Tower and flourished line image from Artistic Etchings are stamped in Basic Gray, as is the "Post Card" sentiment from Winter Post and the "Happy Birthday" from Tagtastic.  All of the elements were then color spritzed with Crumb Cake and So Saffron.

It's all tied together with some linen thread and Quilted Satin Ribbon layered over a piece of striped So Saffron Designer Series Paper and a fleur-de-lis charm from a broken bracelet in my stash.  What do you think? Is it Oh la la or C'est la vie?

I used a few challenges to help inspire me on this card:

• Cr84fn's Color Challenge 
• Our Creative Corner's Inspiration Challenge

Thanks for taking a peek!

Michey

Shopping List - Products are available for purchase from me at Stampin' Up

Artistic Etchings Stamp Set	French Foliage Stamp Set	Winter Post Stamp Set	Tiny Tags Stamp Set	Tagtastic Stamp Set
Very Vanilla Color Suite	Sahara Sand Color Suite	Crumb Cake Color Suite	Soft Suede Color Suite	Basic Gray Color Suite
So Saffron Color Suite	Subtles Patterned Paper Stack	Cutter Kit	Postage Stamp Punch	1" Square Punch
Jewelry Tag Punch	Color Spritzer Tool	Linen Thread