from the herd

Now you've just gotta love these funny and weird animals in the From the Herd stamp set!! They've called to me for months and now I finally ordered me this set! They make me feel jolly, especially that llama in the upper left corner!!

The Challenge Spark (Pop-up card)

Tara challenged Jane and me to do the absolute IMPOSSIBLE!!! She chose a pop-up card for our challenge spark this week. When I heard what she chose...well...my eyes got bigger and bigger and I yelled, "OH NO!!!" in my mind! (In case you're wondering just how animated I really am, well, not that much, anyway!) And so I googled it and this tutorial helped me tremendously with my pop-up box card.

Here it is! Hard to believe this summery bouquet full of butterflies and even a bird is a CARD!!! But yes, my friends, it is! And it was so much work I figured my dear MIL deserved it, since she's a marvelous lady and we love her! (Hi Mom!!)

I used DSP in coordinating design to make an envelope with SU's wonderful envelope punch board. (Tara and Jane, did you see that I actually used DSP TWICE for this card??? Did you SEE???!!!)

Now, my MIL is a smart lady, but I figured I'd pop a belly-band on my card to explain the why's and wherefore's of how to unfold this rather awkward looking package. Because if I got it in the mail, I just might say, "Hmmm, now WHAT is THIS and HOW do I unfold it?" And I'm smart, too...so....

 That's it for today folks. It's ready to pop in the mail as soon as I address it to my husband's dear mom!

huge discount on retiring product

Click right here to see what all Stampin' Up is retiring in order to make room for all their new fabulous product which we shall soon see in the new annual catalogue coming out the beginning part of June.

There are some wonderful deals going on! Let me know what I can order for you!

The Challenge Spark (CASE from SU catty)

So this week, Jane challenged Tara and me to CASE (copy and share everything) a card from the Stampin' Up catalogue. There are so many neat cards in there that it was a tough call. So! I got a certain precious 4-yr-old boy to tell me which one he liked best! He chose many of the stamps I used as well! So really, he gets the credit this time! (Thanks, Boy!)

I used the Moon Lake goose for this one, along with SU watercolor paper and inks. Gotta love that watercolor paper!! I stitched the watercolor paper on with white, just like the original card (bottom) but it lacked PUNCH, so I quick added a hot pink accent with my faithful sewing machine.

And for this card (above) I used the World of Dreams nest silhouette. I loved how the bright pink stitching just popped it and gave it life.

And this is the original card (below) from page 108 in the Annual Catalogue. It looks to me maybe they used canvas for their focal point, but since I don't have any on hand I substituted with watercolor paper.

   

And for next week, Tara says we're making you a pop-up card! Now THAT'S gonna be a real challenge as I've never EVER made one of those before! Check back...

The Challenge Spark (card for younger teenage boys)

This is quite possible my most difficult challenge ever. And I'm the one who chose it! You'd think I'd find it easy since boys are my LIFE! But, it's not. 

Jane from White Orchid and Tara from Country Girl {Creates} join me in this thought that it's simply NOT easy to come up with something boyish, especially for the young teenager. I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to inspire us with.

I came up with an idea that if I was the boy, what would I have to say about it? Probably "No girls allowed!" (sometimes, anyway!) So the front of my card was SUPPOSED to look like a hidden campsite with the inside depicting the site itself, somewhat camouflaged among the ferns from Butterfly Basics. Of course, only one person who's seen it yet, figured that out! 

So, what would you change? Honestly asking now!!!

The Challenge Spark (DSP aka designer series paper)

Tara from Country Girl {Creates} challenged Jane from White Orchid and me (from HERE!) to use SU's designer series paper for this card. Since I'm greatly DSP challenged, I used Irresistibly Yours from Saleabration. THAT STUFF I thought I MIGHT be able to use since it has my favorite EMBOSSING on it to ink over! 

I made both cards using the same emboss resist technique. That top one sure looks like St. Patrick's Day, but oh well! The bottom one looks like Easter! All without trying! LOL!

(Tara, don't do that to me again! Didn't your mom teach you that it's not nice to tease!)

Next week I'm challenging ALL of us to something none of us finds easy: something for a young teenage boy.