More Christmas!!

More Christmas cards plus fabric rosettes!! The cards above are made by not using traditional red and green Christmas colors. Instead, colors used are (left to right): early espresso, always artichoke on very vanilla (bird card), melon mambo and crumb cake on very vanilla (jingle bell card) and night of navy on whisper white (snowflake card). Way back in the background (right upper corner) you'll see a cute snowman gift tag.

The fabric rosettes are made from the Candy Cane Christmas fabric from the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog  - a first for SU! Ashlan showed me how to make the rosettes and I just love 'em. Colors in the fabric coordinate with SU! colors: real red, garden green, baja breeze and blushing bride.

Time is running out on purchasing Christmas supplies. I still have room on my calendar to host a workshop before Christmas!Please contact me soon at keith_carla@suddenlink.net to book your holiday party!!

Thinking About Christmas (Already)!!

Even though today is Halloween, I've been thinking about Christmas. The cards above were made using only four colors on whisper white with SU's Speciality Designer Series Paper "Candy Cane Christmas" from the 2010 Holiday Mini. The four colors are inspired from the Candy Cane paper and are: real red, garden green, baja breeze and blushing bride. I love this color combination for Christmas.

Stamp sets (left to right) "Big on Christmas", "Delightful Decorations" and "Season of Joy" used for both the cards on the right end. Notice the embossing on two of the cards above. This is created using the "Elegant Lines" embossing folder and the Big Shot.

Which card is my favorite? The red/white card on the right!

Aloha!

At the Luau on the beach at sunset

Keith and I took a vacation to Maui - just the two of us. It's a trip we promised ourselves years ago. We were there for seven wonderful days. We saw lots of scenery (my favorite thing to do), learned how to snorkel, did some shopping and spent a lot of time on the beach.

Below are some of my favorite photos from the trip!

Black Rock at our hotel - best spot on Maui to snorkel

South Maui - lava tube

.

South Maui - great waves

South Maui sunset

Road to Hana - 52 miles of curves and one lane bridges

Road to Hana - Three Bears Falls

Road to Hana - black sand beach

Road to Hana - Banyan tree

Road to Hana - beautiful carved canyons

Road to Hana - shoreline cliffs. See the highway?

Last but not least, I did stop at two quilt shops and picked up enough fat quarters for a Crazy 9 Patch quilt.

Fat Quarters from Maui

Easy Scrapbook Page Design

8"x8" Scrapbook Page and Card

Do you struggle when designing scrapbook pages? Do you just stare at your sheet of white paper waiting for a creative idea to pop into your head?? Here's an easy way to overcome those times when you just can't get started.

The scrapbook page above (left) was designed after I created the coordinating card (right). For me, it is easier to design a card because it is smaller than a scrapbook page (all that space scares me!). Any card design can be turned into a scrapbook page - just blow it up!!

Where do you get great ideas for cards and scrapbook pages? From the 2010-2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog. If you do not have yours, please contact me. Catalogs are only $9.95 if you purchase them or free if you host a qualifying workshop.

Happy stampin' and scrappin'! Carla

keith_carla@suddenlink.net

Girls Night Out - The Power of Punches

At girls night out last night, we focused on using punches. Here's the make 'n take project that we did. We used the Punched Posies set which is a hostess set out of the Summer mini catalog. All of the flowers and the butterfly were punched out. We used a total of 5 different punches to make this card. I love the way SU is making punches and stamp sets to coordinate. It makes creating a card a simple task.

This "lollipop" flower card is made just using circle punches. The one the left is the one my friend Carmen made. I made the one on the right. Which do you like best? I like Carmen's.

Thanks to all who came to girls night out. We'll hopefully do it again soon!

Summer Mini - Time is running out!

Need a little get away but no time left this summer to do it? Take a little vacation by using the stamps from the Tropical Party set available only in the Summer Mini. Or maybe you took a beach vacation this summer that you would like to remember in a scrapbook. The Tropical Party set is perfect for you along with the coordinating designer series paper. But hurry - they are not available in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog!

Sets and paper include:
Punched Posies - hostess set (card on the left)
In a Word - sentiments (card on left and right)
Tropical Party - (2 cards on the right)
Island Oasis designer series paper - (all cards)

Ink pads and card stock colors are:
Tempting Turquoise
Pumpkin Pie
So Saffron
Rose Red
Old Olive
Early Espresso

Call me soon!

Summer Mini - Bouquet Bunch

 

I love the Bouquet Bunch stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog. It is so versatile. From this one set I stamped a topiary, a tree, and a flower pot. There is also a flower bunch, bird, squirrel and a vase to match. So much fun to use!

 

Just a reminder, the summer mini runs until August 31, 2010! Call me if you didn't get one.

Stampin' Night

Ashlan, Christie and I got together this week to stamp. Christie worked on her Cookbook Scrapbook. Ashlan and I made cards. Above is what we accomplished except Christie made more scrapbook pages than just the one pictured. Ashlan made the card in the lower left corner (So Saffron base). After she figured out how to do it (Thanks Ashlan!!), I made one like it - mine is the card with the Chocolate Chip base. I love Christie's scrapbook page - can't wait until she finishes this scrapbook!

Here's a list of stamp sets used above: Punched Posies (summer mini) and Great Friend.
Punches used: Scallop, Fancy Flower X-Large Flower, and 2-Step Bird X-Large, and circle.
Big Shot dies used: Top Note

I had fun girls!

Celebrate SU's New Colors

Stampin Up's new color collections combine current colors with previous In Colors, and five new colors. The card above is made with the five new colors. Amazingly - they all go with each other although they are scattered into all four color collections!


The base of the card was made using Early Espresso (Neutrals Collection).
The colored tabs from left to right:
Cajun Craze (Regals Collection)
Marina Mist (Subtles Collection)
Cherry Cobbler (Regals Collection)

Daffodil Delight (Brights Collection).

I can't wait for you all to see the new colors in person!

Together

Last Friday night I had a bunch of ladies over to stamp. We all made this card. It is sooo cute with its little awning and window. The stamp sets are "Bouquet Bunch" and "In a Word" from the Summer Mini. You really missed out if you didn't get to make it - this card was a lot of fun to make and we experimented with SU's new clear stamps. The colors used for the card are Garden Green (now in the Regal Collection) and Regal Rose (part of the Brights Collection). What really sets it off is the 3D effect of the awning and window ledge!

Thanks to all who came and for those of you who didn't make it, we'll do it again in July when the new 2010-2011 SU Idea Book & Catalog comes out!

What to do with "Night of Navy" Part II

After discussing my lack of confidence in using Night of Navy in my last post, my daughter-in-law Ashlan posted a note suggesting I try Night of Navy with a bright green color. Ashlan is a color-combo extraordinaire. She has a real talent for selecting colors (and fabric) that go great together! She's a natural. So I redid the card with Night of Navy and Old Olive. Believe it or not, Old Olive is now part of the "Brights Collection" in the 2010-2011 SU Idea Book and Catalog. I love these colors together and plan to use them a lot more. Ashlan - keep the color combos coming!! Thanks!

You may pre-order the new 2010-2011 SU Idea Book and Catalog now or book a party and receive it for free! The new catalog starts July 1, 2010!!

What to do with "Night of Navy"

Some SU color families are easier to for me to use than others. Rich Regals has always been a challenge. The cards above are made using Night of Navy and the new flower punch along with Patterns Designer Series paper in Night of Navy. Very simple with no challenging color combination.

I'm really looking forward to the new "Regals Color Collection" and also the new color coach available in the 2010-2011 SU Idea Book and Catalog. I'll be ordering the new catalogs soon - first day to place an order is July 1, 2010!!

More Returning Colors.... SU! 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog

It's Wild Wasabi ('07 In Color) and Pacific Point ('08 In Color) layered with Pretty in Pink (returning Soft Subtle color). Wild Wasabi will be a part of the Subtles Collection along with Pretty in Pink. Pacific Point will be a part of the Brights Collection.

I'm really excited about the Subtles Collection. The old Soft Subtles was my least favorite of the old color families. Now that the Subtles Collection is brighter I think I'll find it easier to use. I'm using it already! The stamp set is "Bouquet Bunch" from the new Summer Mini.

Happy Stampin'!

Welcome Back Baja Breeze

Baja Breeze was part of the 2008 In Color Collection and will be returning in the new 2010-2011 catalog as part of the Subtles Collection! "Trendy Trees" are stamped using Baja Breeze, Old Olive and Soft Suede. All are layered on a Sahara Sand card base along with Soft Suede and Old Olive card stock. Old Olive is now part of the Brights Collection and Sahara Sand a part of the Neutrals Collection. The sentiment is from the new "In a Word" set from the Summer Mini Catalog.

Important Dates - Mark your calendars!
The Summer Mini Catalog is out now and runs thru August 31, 2010. Click here to see it!
The retired list from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog will be published June 1, 2010.
The 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog catalog ends June 30, 2010.
The new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog comes out July 1, 2010.

Color Renovation

Stampin' Up has a new refreshing, updated color palette ready for the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog. While many colors are retiring, 5 new colors are coming in and several In Color colors from the past are returning. There will be 4 Color Collections (formerly color families): Brights, Regals and Subtles and Neutrals. I particulary love what they have done to Regals and Subtles. Below are samples.

Brights Collection: Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquiose, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango and Real Red.

Regals Collection: Eggplant Envy, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Garden Green, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, and Bravo Burgandy.

Subtles Collection: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Perfect Plum, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, and So Saffron.

Browns, grays, and blacks have all moved to the Neutrals Collection to include: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Early Expresso, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Gray, and Basic Black.

For future blogs, I will be posting cards made with the new colors. Stay tuned!

Vintage Vogue

The cards above were made using products from the Occasions Mini Catalog. The card on the left was made using SU's new Two-Step punch. You get more than one image in a single punch. The Two-Step Bird punch includes the bird, wing and branch. I used Sweet Pea Designers Series paper which is 2 sided to punch the bird and the wing. The card on the left was made using the Vintage Vogue stamp set and also the Sweet Pea paper. Colors are Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive. The Occasions Mini Catalog is only good thru April 30, 2010!

Card Swap

Christie and I have done a couple of card swaps since she moved to San Antonio over a year ago. Below are the last cards she made. My favorite is the "sweet" card in the lower left corner. Thanks Christie! I'll be glad to have you back home stamping with me this summer.

Fabric Gone Wild!!

Christie challenged her fellow quilters to actually count their projects that are waiting to be completed. I have 16 quilt projects (4 of these are Crazy 9 Patch projects) and 5 apron projects in line at this time. That's a total of 21!! This means I would have to complete 2 projects each month this year just to complete them all!

The 12 projects above are for quilts. In some cases I have a pattern in mind and in some cases I'm waiting for the perfect pattern to come along. The project in the lower right I have had since 2006. It's fabric for my craft room. The newest fabric would be the Amy Butler fabric top left.

The 4 projects above are for the last of the 12 Crazy 9 Patch quilts that I have been working on for over a year.

Last but not least is the fabric for aprons. Beware - the fabric photo on the left contains my most favorite fabric ever!! The black and white polka-dotted chicken!! Ashlan picked these fabrics up for me in a quilt shop in Dallas. The chicken fabric was a surprise - she really knows what I like!

As you can see, I need to end this post and get to sewing! I'll send updates as they happen.

Sale-a-Bration

Sale-a-bration this year includes 4 exciting stamp sets, a 6"x6" designer series paper pad, one of SU's new style punch, and plus options for free stamps from the big catalog. All of the cards above were made using the new stamp sets, 6"x6" designer series paper and the new style punch.

Stamp sets: Vintage Labels, Happy Moments, Good Neighbors, and Whimsical Words
Designer Series paper pad: Welcome Neighbor
Punch (in the new SU punch style): Scallop Trim Border

It's not too late to take advantage - but hurry, Sale-a-bration ends March 31, 2010. Get 'em before they are gone!

Sale-a-bration catalog link

One Last Valentine's Post

 

As you all know, I'm crazy about Crazy 9 Patch quilts. I am working toward having 12, one for each month to hang in my stairs. This one is for February. It will soon go to the quilt shop in Arkansas to be quilted and will be ready to hang in February 2011! The fabric is a Moda called L'Amour. I have 9 Crazy 9 Patch quilts with fabric picked out for 2 more right now!

Also, from the scraps from the Crazy 9 Patch valentine's quilt, I made this adorable scarf! Next will be key chains. That will be a later post!

Sending Love II

I love the "Sending Love" designer series paper from the Occasions Mini. Above you see 2 Valentine boxes made from the DS paper with cute 3x3" note cards tucked in. Each box is embellished with either the corduroy button brad or an expoxy brad from the Occasions Mini Catalog. The boxes were made using the "Scallop Envelope" Bigz die (2 envelopes each). The red box uses real red striped grosgrain ribbon for a handle. The 3x3" note cards were made with the "Happy Moments" stamp set also from the Occasions Mini catalog. The Valentine card was made using "The More the Merrier" stamp set from the IBC in pretty in pink and chocolate chip papers and inks. I love how the 1-1/4" chocolate chip striped grosgrain ribbon anchors the birdies and sentiment on the card.

 

Above is a collection of Valentine cards that I made over the years. My favorite above is the LOVE card bottom right. The teddy bear card is probably the oldest.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Oops!

 

Oops in that I bought fabric for a new project when I have so many projects already lined up! Sister Scraps has a new line of fabric from Amy Butler that I just had to have. Also, I purchased the white fabric to use with the Amy Butler fabric to make the quilt in the pattern that I also just bought. The white fabric is white on white with a paisley print - love it! The pattern is from Atkinson Designs (mine and Christie's favorite!) called "Pie Crust Pile Up". Can't wait to get started on this one!

 

Here's a project that I worked on during the big winter storm - key chains. These are just like the ones that Ashlan and I bought in Breckenridge. I ordered the supplies on the internet and used my scrap fabric to make these cute key chains! I sold 2 to the first person I showed them to!

I also made 2 aprons during the winter blast - I've been busy but I have so many projects I want to make! Whew!

Next blog I have some more Valentine cards to show you - stay posted!

Sending Love

All of these cards have one thing in common other than the fact they are Valentines cards. All of these cards were made using the Designer Series paper "Sending Love" from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Other supplies include:
Card stock: real red, pretty in pink, chocolate chip, very vanilla
Inks: real red, pretty in pink, chocolate chip
Stamp sets: "Always", "Love You Much", "The More the Merrier" - all from the SU Idea Catalog
Punches: scallop circle, scallop square, heart to heart
Big Shot dies: top note
Ribbon: 1/4" chocolate chip grosgrain, 5/8" regal rose grosgrain, 1-1/4" striped chocolate chip grosgrain
Embellishments: epoxy brads sending love (chocolate chip and real red), corduroy buttons (real red) both from the Occasions Mini Catalog

Warm Winter Wishes

With their cheerful scarves and hats, the snowmen from "The More the Merrier" stamp set  makes you feel warm all over! Snowflakes in green galore ink using the snowflake stamp from the "Christmas Punch" set creates a colorful background. In tempting turquoise and green galore, one large and one small snowflake was layered to the base card. These snowflakes were made using the Sizzlits 4-pak "Snowflakes" die set and the Original "Snowflake" die on the Big Shot. The snowmen were stamped on whisper white layered on only orange card stock. Using SU markers the scarves, hats and carrot noses were colored. Who says winter has to be dreary?

Thanks Christie for the use of the Big Shot dies for this card.

A Clements Family Christmas

Christmas came and went way too fast!

Here's the highlights of the Clements Family Christmas!

New Clements family stockings were purchased this year. Ashlan and I made tags help identify each stocking. The "B" was made with my Big Shot die cutter using real red card stock. Circles were punched with 1" and 3/4" circle punches. The stamp set is no longer available.

Christmas morning.

Nathan bought a house in Evergreen, CO not far from where he works in Denver. We all took advantage of his hospitality after Christmas to ski at Beaver Creek. It was a really pretty day!

This is the Christmas tree at The Ritz-Carlton at Beaver Creek.

 

After skiing the first day, Ashlan and I shopped in Breckenridge while the guys did the skiing on day 2. We found a great shop called Magical Scraps. The scarf above was made with quilting fabric and fleece. While we both loved it, we were not willing to pay $40 for the scarf!

Instead, we purchased a yard of fabric from Magical Scraps and with some of my fabric stash we made our own scarf. Ashlan has a real talent for picking out coordinating fabric. This scarf cost less than $15!

From the Clements family - Happy New Year!