Growing in Unity, Day 1

Welcome to my first day as the Growing in Unity gal!
Every day this week I will be posting a project I made using Unity stamps. Visit my blog every day and comment for your chance to win two Itty Bitty stamps of your choice!


So here is my first project this week:

I have a lot of pregnant friends right now so I thought I'd get a head start on some cards for all those little babies! And a lot that already had a baby and STILL need a card from me. : \

I used the stroller from Delight in the Little Things Itty Bitty stamp set and a sentiment I received in a Unity grab bag.

I first stamped the stroller directly on the tag and then again on white cardstock. I fussy-cut the second imaged and popped in on the first for a little dimension.

This is for the Unity Challenge which is to use the colors pink, green, and off white
and for
Stacy's Stash challenge over at the Sketches 4 All group which is to use pink.


Thanks for stopping by and remember to leave a comment for your chance to win some free stamps!


Supplies:
MME Lost & Found Masison Ave paper
Unity Delight in the Little Things stamp
Tattered Rose Distress Ink
Jet Black StazOn ink
American Crafts ribbon
Basic Gray brads
Tag from Unity

Paper Girls Challenge #7

I forgot to post my sample for The Paper Girls Challenge!

We are on challenge #7 already. It's a sketch hosted by Charity:

And here is my take on it:

There is supposed to be journalling on the red star. I just haven't gotten around to it yet!

I hope you get a chance to join us with this sketch and win some crafty goodies. You have until Friday, May 18th to link up!



SP and Company Orange Blog Hop and New Release

This month's color is Orange! After you're done hopping around today, make sure you play along with this month's Orange challenge (click here for details) for a chance to win some awesome SP and Company prizes!


Join us for our Release Celebration that is happening today and tomorrow on the SP Forum HERE.  You can talk to all of the designers, discuss projects and chit chat with other stampers!It's a blast and you don't want to miss out!

Don't forget that the random prize patrol is watching so leave a comment on every blog to be eligible for the prizes!! The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning something fun! Our GRAND PRIZE this month is one month in the SP 6x6 Stamping Kit Club! The grand prize winner will receive a newly released 6x6 paper pad from Echo Park + a newly released SP & Co stamp set as their kit.

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Here are the projects I made for our blog hop. I didn't realize how much I liked orange until I started playing around!

This first one uses the Even Bolder Sentiments: Many Thanks set. The stamp is so big I didn't need much else on the card other than the fussy-cut flowers!

 And the rest of my cards use Bold Sentiments III: Birthdays. There are thirteen big and bold sentiments in this set!

washi tape candles:

This last one also uses Echo Park's Birthday Boy Baners paper. I love cutting out those fun banners to add to projects. I thought it could also use some confetti, but now I think the paper looks like it has chicken pox!

This set has so many fun stamps that I just wanted to keep going and use them all up! But I stopped myself after three. I'm sure you'll be seeing much more of this set in the future!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Make sure you check out the SP Blog to see what Samantha did with the new stamps! And don't forget to hop around to each Design Team Member's blog - there are brand new projects with the stamps that came out TODAY to inspire you!

 

Here is the list of designers that will inspire you today:

Chrissie

Vicki 

Kelli

Michelle

Amber {you are here!}

Vera

So it is mini cards week over at SP & Company. My favorite size of mini card to make is a 3"x3". For one, they are just so dang cute! And secondly, I can get 8 of them out of one 12x12 sheet of cardstock.

The easiest way to make these is to cut your 12x12 cardstock in half. Then cut each half into 4 3"x6" pieces. Score each piece and there are your card bases.

I decided to go really simple with these cards. I stamped the flower from the For Every Woman set and colored it in a few different colors. I always make sure to stamp in a permanent ink like StazOn so that the ink doesn't bleed with my markers. Then I fussy cut the flowers. You could use the coordinated svg file if you are not a fan of fussy cutting. I like fussy cutting. I find it a bit relaxing!

I just used foam tape to adhere the flower to the center of the card. Then stamped the Thank You sentiment from Ultimate Sentiments II . While I wanted these to be simple I still felt like they were missing something. So I inked the edges just to give it a little something extra.

After I had all the cards assembled and together I thought it was a bit too much yellow. So I cut some more bases in an aqua color and stamped the Hello sentiment on it.

Now each recipient will get half yellow and half aqua! Plus, they can use the cards for more than one occasion.

Thanks for stopping by today! Check out the SP blog for more stamping inspiration!

If you came here looking for the Paper Girls Challenge blog hop you can find it here. But feel free to finish reading this first!

Here's a little gift card holder I whipped up for my SP&Company Design Team post.

This one is very simple since it is for a Father's Day gift. And men don't care for all the fuss and layers and dimension that we do!

I started by cutting a piece of double-sided cardstock to 4"x10". I drew a little diagram with the measurements for the size and score lines. Along the short short side you will score at 1.25", then again 3 and a half inches away, again 3 and a quarter inches away, and finally again at 2 more inches away. It seems like a lot of score lines but there is also a pocket on the inside for a little note. I hope this makes sense. I'm still sick and still functioning on little sleep!

Then fold up that bottom 2" section, then fold up the 3.25" section, and then fold down the top 1.25" section.

I make a notch to hold it closed with a notch tool, but you could use a craft knife as well. To do so I lightly mark with pencil right under the center of the top flap.

I then press the notch tool to cut out the half-circle notch and erase the pencil mark.

Now the flap can tuck into the notch and stay closed.

To decorate I simply attached a simple brown scallop to break up the stripe patttern on the front.

On the inside I added a white panel and cut out two notches to hold the gift card. This iTunes gift card was just sitting on my desk so I used it but in reality this would be a Bass Pro Shops card or something with all the fishermen in the family!

Oh, and almost forgot to mention that the pocket is made by adhering the sides of the bottom 2" panel. This is so you can include a little note.

And finally I used the sentiment from the Father's Day Fun set. It's so big it fits across this 4-inch pocket!

Thanks for stopping by and make sure you check out the SP Stamps blog for more inspiration using their stamps!

The Paper Girls Challenge blog hop!

Welcome to The Paper Girls first ever blog hop!

We're so happy you're hopping with us!!

{First of all I want to apologize in case my post doesn't make sense! It's been a loooooonnnngggg week. I'm running on very little sleep, survived tornadoes, power outage, and now to top it off I think I have the flu. So I hope you can make some sense of this all!}

I love that we chose to make ATCs for this hop . I made several with a Spring theme:

My first one is very simple - I cut out some Webster's Pages paper, stamped "Spring time", added a die-cut butterfly,  attached a ruffle of washi tape at the top, and glittered the butterflies and flowers.

I'm starting to acquire quite the washi tape collection so I thought I could utilize that stash to make an ATC. I attached diagonal strips of tape to white cardstock, made a tape flower, added a tape banner, and then stamped the word bloom.

The last one is my fave:

I misted white cardstock with blue glimmer mist, stamped a brown branch, punched white flowers, added a yellow glittered center, inked the edges gray, and added 3 butterflies.

But I feel like it needs a sentiment. Or am I wrong? Let me know what you think!
Also linking this to Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge #137 which is to use your "green thumbs", meaning something planted or something green.

Here's a reminder of what you can win on the hop:

Man, I wish I was eligible to win. ; )

I love that monster paper!

And who couldn' use an adhesive dispenser??

Want to win? Get one entry for:

• commenting on each stop of this blog hop
• liking the Paper Girls Challenge on Facebook
• becoming a follower on our blog

Extra credit:

Want to have more fun after seeing all of the inspiring projects? Join in! Link up an ATC created by you and you will get an extra entry for the prize!

International readers are welcome to play along but currently we are only shipping prize packs to the US and Canada due to shipping costs.

Here's the hopping order:

The Paper Girls Challenge Blog
Amber Sheaves ---you are here!
Kristina MacKeen ---next stop!
Judy Stech
Kyla Norris
Charity Becker
Erica Bass
Heather Gray

Thanks for playing and GOOD LUCK!!!

Paper Girls Challenge #6

It's my turn to host over at The Paper Girls Challenge blog!

I decided to use this photo for the challenge's inspiration:

Here are the projects I created:

For my card I used the colors as inspiration. I took a grey cardbase, yellow woodgrain paper, white homemade washi tape, and yellow dot purchased tape. I fussy cut some Authentique flowers and stamped a sentiment.

I went a little more literal with my layout.

I cut 2-inch squares of clear acetate, then cut 1 3/4-inch squares of Authentique Blissful paper. I adhered the clear squares over the paper (using spray adhesive) so they'd look like the frames in the inspiration photo.

I die cut a branch from the Straight from the Nest cartridge to help anchor my photo.

I hand-cut a banner and stamped my simple sentiment from a Unity/Authentique stamp:

I am entering the layout over at Stampin Sisters in Christ #135 which is to use something transparent.

I also tried to use this sketch from Authentique's monthly challenge:

I initially had hexes cut out but just wasn't feeling it. I stared at my LO for hours. Then I switched to squares and that's when it all came together. The title was moved to the bottom. I added extra squares instead of those hangy things. And added a branch instead of a bow. It's funny how one vision is transformed into something else. I was totally stressed about this project, but then making those few changes turned it into a layout that I finally love!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come play with The Paper Girls and the other two challenges!

Card Supply List:

SU Basic Grey cardstock

MME Miss Caroline All Dolled Up

Authentique Blissful 6x6

Unity Stamp Hello My Friend

Up & up printed tape

SU basic Grey ink

LO Supply List:

Authentique Foundations paper

 Authentique Blissful 6x6 papers

SU Basic Grey cardstock

Straight From the Nest cartridge

I-rock and stones

Unity Stamps Authentique co-branded stamp set "you + me= bliss"

SU Basic Grey ink

Happy Birthday!

As I was looking at the new SP& Company mini stamp set Father's Day Fun I noticed that I really liked the way the corner of the mustache curved up. So I played around with it trying to create a fun pattern. Here's what I ended up with.

I also used the dot and circle from All Zipped Up which are meant to be the grommets on the pocket. First, I stamped alternating rows of the mustache in green. A row of upside down and then a right-side up row. Just stamp until your card base is filled up. Ideally you won't be traveling like I was. I was working on my score board on a bed while my 2-year-old was jumping on the bed! I really miss my craft desk! But the imperfections just add character right?? ; )

After the green mustaches, I stamped the solid circle from All Zipped up in turquoise in between every other mustache.

Then I used the ring and stamped that in a slightly lighter blue in the other spaces. And that's my background for the card.

Then I grabbed some papers from the Echo Park Birthday Boy Mini Kit and cut a strip from the Stripe Paper. I used the back side which is blue with stars and adhered it toward the bottom of the card. Then I cut out a cupcake from the Journaling Paper and stamped Happy Birthday from All Zipped Up (while 2-year-old is still jumping!). Then some green and turquoise twine finish it all up.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope I inspired you to look at your stamps in a fun and new way!

For more ideas visit the SP Stamps blog for daily inspiration!

SP Blog Hop!

Thanks for hopping along with us today! Welcome to my little stop on the hop!

This month's color is Lavender (Light Purple)!!! After you're done hopping around today, make sure you play along with this month's Lavender challenge (click here for details) for a chance to win some awesome SP and Company prizes!



Join us for our Release Celebration that is happening today and tomorrow on the SP Forum HERE.  You can talk to all of the designers, discuss projects and chit chat with other stampers! It's a blast and you don't want to miss out!


Don't forget that the random prize patrol is watching so leave a comment on every blog to be eligible for the prizes!! The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning something fun!

For my projects today I decided to go really clean and simple.

For my first card I wanted to show that this new Father's Day Mini set can be used for more than Father's Day cards.

 I stamped the striped tie onto some plaid lavender paper, fussy cut it and added to a little baby shirt that I cut. I added two little brads for snaps, and added a sentiment from Bold Sentiments I.

Next, I made an actual Father's Day card. I stamped all three ties onto the same plaid paper, cut them and adhered to my white card base. 

  I double-stamped the sentiment by first stamping in a lavender ink and then (after cleaning the stamp first!) restamped it in black slightly moving my placement so the lavender looks like a shadow.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win some prizes! 

Make sure you check out the SP Blog to see what Samantha did with the new stamps! And don't forget to hop around to each Design Team Member's blog - there are brand new projects with the stamps that came out TODAY to inspire you!


Here is the list of designers that will inspire you today:



Chrissie

Vicki 

Kelli

Michelle

Amber


Vera

Happy Birthday

For this week's SP&Company stamps DT project I made a cute little birthday card using the new Mustache Madness stamp set and papers from MME Miss Caroline Dolled Up.

This stamp set is so much fun and even if you don't like mustache humor you can still use it for other occasions! I chose to use the Happy Birthday sentiment - it's just so big and bold!

I used a couple sheets of that beautiful Dolled Up paper from MME to die-cut some balloons. I added some black and white twine for balloon strings.  And then cut out the corners of the card front with a scallopy lace punch and adhered on a white card base. Can you imagine getting balloons that looked like this?? How cute would that be? : )

Now for the inside I decided to use a pop-up die I have of a 3-tier cake. I thought that would be fun! And then I'd stamp another sentiment from Mustache Madness "Where's the Cake?"

So the cake looked great when I first made it. But then after the card is folded the cake gets smashed and just doesn't hold up very well. I think the problem is that I didn't use strong enough tape. I just used my tape runner when the directions suggested using  a strong tape like that red Sticky Strip stuff. I didn't think I had any. Turns out I did. So I will remake this using the stronger tape and see if it helps. I got this die on clearance and I think I might know why it was on clearance. But maybe the tape will work! We'll see....

Just so you know it's also driving me crazy that the cake doesn't match the balloons. I cut the cake first before I knew what papers I'd use on the front. I wish I didn't use that purple. Oh well! The next one will match : )

Thanks for stopping by and if you'd like more inspiration using SP&Co stamps head over to their blog at http://sp.thescrapmaster.com/.