More IBC Inspiration

After I made my last card, I kept flipping through the Idea Book and Catalog, looking for other great ideas--it was so much fun!  (While I've known you can do this for a long time and recommended it to others, I've never actually sat down to do it myself--how silly.)  This 3x3 card was inspired by a framed gem on page 163, but I wandered pretty far afield from my inspiration piece.

Obviously what remains the same is the word collage done with Fabulous Phrases.  I have this set in clear mount, which really helps with lining up the words and seeing how they'll fit next to each other.  I started off with "fabulous" and worked out from there...only to realize that my collage was not centered on my original card.  So I punched the whole thing out with the Designer Label punch, since it just barely fit in those margins.

Next, I thought it would be fun to have a contrasting color, so I punched a piece of Wisteria Wonder and lined it up--I just love the shape that the two punches make together.  This is a perfect fit for a 3"x3" card of Lucky Limeade.  My finishing touch is two Antique Brads, with a little extra bling from two basic rhinestones. 

I can't wait to look for more inspiration in the IBC.  Any suggestions for what I should make next?
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Fabulous Phrases
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder
Paper: Ivory Naturals, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade
Extras: Antique Brads, Basic Rhinestones

Fabulous Doilies

As promised, here's my second card using FTL149.  So different from yesterday's card, but so much the same!  For this card, I switched to the Flirtatious Speciality DSP, so my colors became the cheery Wisteria Wonder, Pretty in Pink, and Melon Mambo.

My main image is from the Delicate Doilies stamp set, inked in Melon Mambo, with a sentiment I created myself using the stamps in Fabulous Phrases.  I used the brand new Lace Ribbon punch, though most of it is covered by the main piece.  I love this card, and can't wait to share it with you at my open house this coming Sunday, from 2 to 5 PM.  Be sure to stop by and make one of your own!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Fabulous Phrases
Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Black
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Extras: Lace Border punch

Birthday Cupcakes

It's been mostly quiet here...which might have something to do with the tremendous amounts of shoveling necessary over the past few days.  With the promise of more shoveling next week (it is winter, after all), I plan to spend this weekend enjoying the great indoors and all its warm wonders--heat, blankets, hot chocolate, homemade soup, fresh baked bread...

And stamping!  I'm very excited to use some of my yet-untouched treats from the Occasions Mini, and today's card continues the new product exploration of the past few weeks.  As you know, I love Stampin' Up!'s punches, and today's card just reinforces my ardor.  The new Build-a-Cupcake punch creates everything you need for an adorable paper cupcake, right down the cherry, candle, and sprinkles (not seen here).  There's also a coordinating stamp set, so you can dress your cupcake up right and add plenty of birthday cheer.

For this card, I went simple and used some of the things I already owned, like the stamp set Fabulous Phrases, my trusty Big Shot, and the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder.  I started with a base of Crumb Cake, and ran that through the Big Shot with the Framed Tulips folder to create a lovely edge.  To make that stand out a bit more, I sponged it with Chocolate Chip ink.

On to the fun part--my cupcakes!  I started with the Build a Cupcake punch, and punched all of its pieces in Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, and Bashful Blue.  Then I got out the Red Glimmer paper so that I could punch out two cherries, and a tiny scrap of Daffodil Delight to punch the candle flame.  I assembled the cupcakes on my card, and used dimensionals to pop the frosting up for a little 3D action.

My finishing touch is the sentiment, which is inked in Chocolate Chip and comes from the individual, mix and match words of Fabulous Phrases.  Since the end of January is a popular time for birthdays, this card is already in the mail.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Fabulous Phrases
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Red Glimmer
Extras: Build a Cupcake punch, Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder

Oh Sew Suite

Now that you've had a chance to check out the Occasions Mini, don't you just want it all?  I love each of the different "suites" or styles in this Mini, and for entirely different reasons.  But, like you, my wishlist outstrips my stamping funds.  Instead of ordering everything, I chose a favorite item from each of the suites and will build from here.

First up, from Oh Sew Suite, are the adorable Sweet Stitches Rub Ons (pg 36).  It's been a while since I've raved about rub ons, so I think it's ok to indulge--these things are fantastic!!  First of all, there's no ink and no mess, which I appreciate every once in a while.  I also love how sharp the images are, and the fact that you get true color on color with these (see that yellow measuring tape?  I couldn't have done that with a stamp unless it was on white paper.)  And the process couldn't be easier--you cut out the image you'd like to use, remove the backing paper, and then literally rub it on to your cardstock, where it sticks and stays.  I'm going to use these all up in no time!

On this card, the pins, the measuring tape and the little girl are all from Sweet Stitches.  I also borrowed my palette--Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Chocolate Chip--from the Oh Sew Suite line up.  The other new Mini item on this card is the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (pg. 28).  I almost missed this great new embossing folder, which is perfect for adding a sharp edge and dimension to your card front, so be sure to double check your Mini for this and other hidden gems.  My sentiment is from Fabulous Phrases, which I punched out with the Word Window (and then hand trimmed the Chocolate Chip for a thin border).

Thanks to Mojo Monday for the great layout--Mojo172.

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Fabulous Phrases

Ink: Melon Mambo

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Extras: Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Sweet Stitches rub ons, Circle Scissors Plus, Glass Mat, Word Window, Paper Snips

Sparkly Medallion

This is just one of those cards that wows in person, and my inspiration comes directly from the winners of the Paper Pal Arts challenge for white on white announced yesterday--this card, made by Andrea Ewen, jumped up and begged to be CASEd.

This also gave me an excuse to break out some of my favorite things--the Medallion stamp, Basic Rhinestones and Pearls, Snow Swirled (which had yet to see ink this year!), and silver embossing powder.  Kiran used the Medallion for her holiday cards last year, but I had yet to do so.  I don't know why I waited so long--it's the perfect giant snowflake.

For the step-by-step, here's how I made this card.  Don't be deceived by the bling; it's really very simple!

--Stamp Medallion in VersaMark on Baja Breeze card base.  Then coat in Silver embossing powder, tap off the excess, and set using the heat tool.
--On a 1-3/4" circle of White Naturals, stamp the large snowflake from Snow Swirled in Baja Breeze.  Then ink "celebrate" in Baroque Burgundy and center it over the snowflake.
--Apply Basic Rhinestones and Basic Pearls liberally--use the dots of the Medallion and snowflake as your guide.
--Use dimensionals to pop the snowflake on the center of the Medallion.
--Need another sentiment?  I'm not sure I did, but I still inked "Peace on Earth" (from Four the Holidays) in Marina Mist, and embellished that with a line of Basic Pearls.

That's it!  Though this isn't the card I'll be sending this year, I think this is ripe for mass production.  Perhaps next year...

Today's bingo piece is the mittens.  Good luck!
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Medallion, Snow Swirled, Fabulous Phrases, Four the Holidays
Ink: VersaMark, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist
Paper: Baja Breeze, White Naturals
Extras: Circle Scissors Plus, Glass Mat, Silver embossing powder, heat tool, Basic Pearls, Basic Rhinestones, dimmensionals