Baroque Motifs in Bravo Burgandy

Hi Everyone,

Did you ever notice that when you need a birthday card...then you need LOTS of them...if you need a sympathy card, it seems, I get lots of calls for them. And that's the trend right now for me, everyone is asking for Sympathy cards. That's not necassarily a good thing for someone...but I make whatever they ask me for. So please bear with me...I seem to be doing a bunch of them of late.

I wanted a card that was clean and simple, but pretty. I think it was much more defined without the glitter...the Burgandy was so deep and crisp. But I added the glitter, which I think looks fine on the card in real life, but in the pic, it looks like it wasn't stamped very clear...it's the glitter...trust me :)
LOL

Today was such a rainy dreary day that I had to turn the lights on in order to see what I was stamping. That's crazyyyyyyyy!!! It's mid June for crying out loud, we need more sunshine!! Poor Abbi, our Shih Tzu, just wants to sleep, sleep, sleep on days like this...doesn't want to play or anything. I know just how she feels, we definitely need sunshine!

My medical update: I am so proud of myself, I managed to get a load of wash done, some stampin done, got a beautiful pork roast done for supper and off to the Chiro for both DH and myself. Back home, watched a little TV and now I'm blogging. So I feel like I accomplished something for another day. Which is good, cuz it was just a week ago that I could hardly get out of my own way. I'm so happy that my body is reacting the way it's suppose to and I actually WANT to do something. woohooo! In all honesty though, I really, really am hoping for more energy, but I will take what I can get and be happy with it. It sure beats napping 20 times a day!! hehe

I hope I was able to inspire you to pick up your rubber and stamp something. Have a stampingly great week!

hugs,

Ret

Artfully Asian meets Baroque Motifs

Hi Everyone, I hope you don't mind that I'm on the "using retired stamps kick"! LOL
It just erks me to have all these beautiful stamps and not use them. So that's why you see a mixture of current and retired stamps. I just love inking them all up, can't let the oldies feel lonesome! heeeeee!

For this A2 standard size card I started out my card base with Chocolate Chip card stock. Incidently, all products used on this are from Stampin Up! I just love their products!! My next layer is Old Olive c/s. Then I cut my next layer from Almost Ivory c/s. I sponged the top half of it very, very, very lightly with Close to Cocoa ink. Just so I could see it, ever so lightly. I inked up my Brayer with Old Olive ink and I just brayered a quarter of the layer at the bottom of it. (I'm trying to give you all my steps here, so bear with me).

Next, I took 2 post-a-notes...I arranged them on my newly brayered part, so that the only thing I could see between the post-a-notes was a 1/4 wide line of the Old Olive ink. (still with me here? oh good, stick with me!) then I lightly sponged Creamy Caramel. Then I lifted my P-A-N and I had a perfectly straight line of darker green!! (phew!!) I put about an inch layer of Old Olive designer series patterns paper and adhered it.

Next, I took a sanding block and starting with the 1/4" line of Old Olive I lightly sanded the lower part of that layer. The only way I could get it to make lines the way I wanted it to was to hold it straight and kinda tap or bounce it in intervals to give a very lightly distressed look. I hope you know what I mean.

Take a deep breath, in and out...ok, now for my next step.... I stamped the large swirl from Baroque Motifs in Chocolate Chip. I added Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain
Ribbon. If you look closely you can see at the top, two lines of piercing. I added 3 black brads as well.

Now, on to the tag... I started out with a Chocolate Chip c/s base, with a layer of Mellow Moss, which I sponged really, really lightly with Close to Cocoa..again, just enough to show.

Yay, now we are at the very last layer! (I promise!!!) I stamped the flower from Artfully Asian in retired In-Color, Purely Pomagranite). My sentiment is in Chocolate Chip. I used direct-to-paper method with Creamy Caramel, and sponged around the edges. I had a black picture hanger hook which I attached with a black brad and embellished it with a small piece of Chocolate Chip ribbon. I attached the tag and I was done, done, DONE!!!!

As you can see after reading this, it wasn't hard, but it was a little time consuming!! If you stuck with me to the end and didn't stop reading, I thank you!!!
It was long, but I had people ask me for directions and I wanted to deliver them as clearly as I could. PHEWY!!!!!!! If I didn't make it clear enough though, just shoot me an email and I'll help you.

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it!!Have a great Saturday!! I hope you get to do some stamping. Take care!

Stampin hugs,

Fabulous Flowers meets Baroque Motifs

Hi my fellow bloggers,
I hope everyone is having a great week. We are doing well, here. My hubby has been busy studying for some work thingy and poor Abbi has been sick, and had to have a visit at the vets tonight. But all in all, everything is pretty normal around here.

Here's a pic of a card I made with a set that I can't decide if I really like it or not. I loved it when I got it, then I find I don't use it much, maybe I'm using the wrong colors with it. Guess I'll have to do some experimenting with it!

The set I used is by Stamping Up & is Fantastic Flowers. I never have a "manly" card when I need it and thought maybe if I used darker colors it might be suitable to call it masculine. What do you think?

On Ruby Red Card Stock, I stamped the flower four times in Black Stazon and then embossed each one with clear embossing powder then cut them out. I love the shiny crisp look it gives! I used Chocolate Chip for this A-2 size card base, and then used a layer of real red with just a light sponging of Chocolate Chip Ink around the edges. I then layered a piece of Retired 2007 Chocolate Chip Patterned Paper. I made a "belly band" going right across the middle front of the card in Chocolate Chip. Then layered again, the ruby red card stock, after I stamped the large swirl from Baroque Motifs in chocolate chip ink, sponging with chocolate chip around the edges of the layer. I added a strip of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon. I gathered all the flower layers in order then put a large black brad in the center of the flower, placing it on the left of the card. I was pleased with the results and think I will use it for the next masculine card I need.

Well Everyone, thanks so much for dropping in! I always love it when you stop in, your comments make my day!! After all, you are the reason I blog, with the hopes of inspiring you to stamp and have some inky fun!!

Take care & Happy Stampin,

Hi and a card!

Hi Everyone,
I absolutely don't know where the time is going!! I have been so very tired and sore, but I'm plugging along and filling some card orders. I haven't yet figured out how I'm going to get my own done, mind you, but atleast I'm getting everyone else's done!!! lol

I apologize for not posting as regular as I should be. Everyday I think about it,
and the time just flies right by me like a bird! I've seen so many cute things that you've all been making, they are awesome!!! I'll probably not get to try some of them until "next year", but that's ok, cuz it's not far off!!

I'm going to share this card I made, I hope you like it. I used a non-Christmas stamp set to make this, Barouqe Motifs. I really like how it came out. I put some dazzling diamonds around some of the swirls give it some "bling", but you can't see it in the pic. River Rock and Chocolate chip are the main colors I chose to go with.
I used that gorgeous chocolate chip satin ribbon Stampin Up offered last year on sale. It's so rich, it's one of my favorites. I am going to work hard to come back here daily and update my blog! I'll try, I really will!

I hope your holiday time is going well. The clock is ticking, only 11 days left til Christmas!!!!

Thanks for reading & I'll try to get back here tomorrow :)
hugs,
Ret

Finally, a pic of a card!

Hi Everyone! I'm still in New York State, and haven't had one stitch of time to stamp. We are so much more active & busier this summer, than last year! We're having a good time and my fibromyalgia has been down to a low roar, so that is great! I stamped a bunch of cards at home for a friend who had ordered a bunch.

This card is made from Stampin Up products and is the standard A-2 size.

Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs

Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, and Mellow Moss

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Sage Shadow

Markers for faux stitching: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow

I hope you all are having fun stamping. I'll pop in again, when I can. Bye for now....Ret.