A little break

Hiya friends!  No card to share but a quick note to let you know that I am taking a little time off from blogging for some quality family time.  :-)  On May 7th I will celebrate two years of blogging and we'll have ourselves a little party with some candy.  So check back next week to see what I'll be giving away.  The giveaway will be for followers only so join in the fun and let me see your smiling face!  Take care, friends. 

Fabulous Petals

Happy Friday everyone!  Just a quick post to share a card we made in the Canopy Club on Tuesday night.  It features the gorgeous new designer paper--Paisley Petals--which is a sneak peek from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog being released July 1st.  This paper is just beautiful--it looks like tapestry and the colors are so rich and elegant.

To make it look even more like fabric, I adhered a generous piece to Not Quite Navy cardstock and ran both layers through the Square Lattice embossing folder.  Isn't that a cool effect?  It really adds so much texture and volume to an otherwise clean and simple card.

Another sneak peek is this darling label from the Four Frames set that coordinates perfectly with the Decorative Label punch--love that!  Here, I stamped it in NQN onto Naturals Ivory cardstock and added a sentiment built from the Fabulous Phrases collection of words.  This really is a great set to have in your arsenal--single words that can work together to build sentiments for every occasion and person--check it out, pg. 149!

Ribbon Share final UPDATE:  Ribbon shares were mailed out to participants this morning, woohoo!  So glad to get those in the mail!  Thank you to everyone who participated.  I know you will enjoy your ribbon and have a great time creating with it!  Stay tuned for more opportunites to "share".

That's all for me today, friends.  We're planning some quality family time this weekend and I am taking a short vacation from the Paper Players design team so I look forward to chatting with you next week!

the goodies:

stamps: fabulous phrases, four frames

ink: not quite navy, cherry cobbler

paper: cherry cobbler, not quite navy, naturals ivory CS; paisley petals DSP

xtras: cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon; decorative label punch; square lattice embossing folder

Canopy Club Treat

Woohoo, look at me with a mid-week post!  I had some time in my craft room today and made some projects for my monthly Canopy Club including these sweet little treats for everyone who came to club tonight:

I finally broke down and bought the Petal Cone die and am I ever glad!  It's so cute and I love the little banner tag that comes with it.  I've seen Petal Cone carrots all over blogland and just had to make one. 

The "carrot" is made from one Tangerine Tango petal cone on which I stamped the spray of blossoms from Easter Blossoms.  I like the effect of stamping on textured cardstock for an instant distressed look!  The die also includes a scalloped half circle which, in Pear Pizzaz, trims the top of the carrot nicely.

There's the sweet little silhouette from Easter Blossoms too--can't get enough of this set!  In fact, we used it on 2 of the 3 cards tonight.

Ribbon Share update: All the ribbon is cut and I am in the process of packaging it all to mail by the end of the week.  Thank you all for your "share"...and your patience!  I promise it will be the worth the wait--I've never seen so much gorgeous ribbon in one place!

That's it for tonight friends...hope you have a great day tomorrow...hugs! 

the goodies:

stamps: easter blossoms, something to celebrate

ink: tangerine tango, soft suede

paper: tangerine tango, pear pizzazz, very vanilla CS

xtras: petal cone die; 1 3/8" circle punch; hole punch; pear pizzazz seam binding ribbon

Paper Players CAS Sketch: {PP43}

Welcome to Paper Players Sunday! It's a good thing I have to post a card for the Paper Players because otherwise this blog would be pretty quiet (insert chirping crickets here). I'm not sure if life will ever slow down but lately it's been difficult to find time in my craft room! :-(  Anywhoooo...so glad it's a clean-and-simple challenge this week! We have a great sketch from Jaydee for you:

and here is my card:

The Wild Wasabi base was stamped with a random pattern of single stamps from Button, Button.  This is such a cute set with 18 different button selections that coordinate with some of our punches!  I stamped the buttons in Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder for a glossy effect:

You might be thinking that I stamped each of those little buttons separately.  I could...but I didn't!  I used our largest clear block (F), placed all the buttons in a collage pattern on the block and stamped the whole thing just once! 

How easy is that?  Next, I trimmed some of my very favorite Sweet Stitches designer paper with an Early Espresso scalloped border.  Did you spot the sneak peek product?  If you follow any other Stampin' Up blogs, you no doubt have seen the Four Frames stamp set that is currently available to customers as a pre-order this month.  The set of 4 stamps coordinates with the Decorative Label punch for a perfect label every time!  Here I used the polka dot frame in Melon Mambo on Very Vanilla.

The sentiment, from Hello Again, was stamped in Wild Wasabi on Very Vanilla and punched out with the Large Oval punch.  I popped it up on dimensionals and added a little Early Espresso ribbon tail underneath topped off with a Daffodil Delight flower button.  That's a little snip of Early Espresso cardstock threaded through the button holes for instant matching "thread".

 Here's another sneak peek for you--Happy Greetings provided the wonderful sentiment I used on the inside--just one of the many new stamps and goodies awaiting you in the Summer Mini Catalog.  I finished it off with a scrap of designer paper and a few buttons stamped in Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight.

I hope you like today's card and that you will play along with The Paper Players this week.  You have until midnight (PST) Friday, April 22nd to load your fabulous creation at The Paper Players.  I hope to see you there!  Have a great day, my friends.

the goodies:

stamps: button button, hello again, four frames, happy greetings

ink: wild wasabi, melon mambo, early espresso, daffodil delight, versamark

paper: wild wasabi, early espresso & very vanilla CS; sweet stitches DSP

xtras: clear block "F"; large oval, decorative label, & scallop trim border punches; brights designer buttons; clear embossing powder

Paper Players Colour Challenge {PP42}

Happy Sunday everyone!  I love Sundays because it's one more day to sleep in and it's also Paper Players day--hooray!  This week Ann has challenged us with a fresh color combination:

I will be the first to say that I'm not a huge fan of Poppy Parade but this is a challenge, right?  So, I persevered and...well...I used just a little bit!  That's my solution when I'm stumped by a color, LOL!  I started with this fantastic sketch from Create with Connie & Mary:

 to make this:

And, to my surprise the touch of Pure Poppy is my favorite part!  These colors said "retro" to me and I love the retro/vintage feel of the Morning Cup stamp set so I knew this would be my stamp of choice for this week's card.  Not too many details to explain here but I do need to show you the paper piecing up close:

Cute, eh?!  The coffee pot was pieced with the Baja Breeze pattern from Elegant Soiree DSP and the mug uses a So Saffron pattern from the Play Date DSP.  I love how our DSP always has several versions of a one-color pattern that make incorporating a color so easy!  My favorite part just might be that sweet little Pure Poppy puffy heart!  I stamped it onto Pure Poppy cardstock, cut it out, added a dollop of Crystal Effects and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds while wet.  Puffy glitter heart!  I did add Sahara Sand to my color palette in the steam rising off the mug and a little touch at the bottom to ground the mug and coffee pot.

Well, that's all from me today folks!  We've got a 24-person BBQ to prep so not much time in the craft room or on the blog today.  But, I hope you'll have time to swing on by The Paper Players blog for some DT inspiration.  If you share a project with us, be sure to load it up before midnight (PST) Friday April 15th for a chance at the DT's selections for A Cut Above and Headliner.  We can't wait to see what you make of Ann's colors this week!  Have a good one, my friends!

the goods:

stamps: morning cup, puns from the past, so much [retired]

ink: early espresso, sahara sand

paper: whisper white, so saffron, pure poppy CS; elegant soiree & play date DSP

xtras: baja breeze grosgrain ribbon, designer buttons (neutrals), scallop border punch,

Update: Ribbon Share

WOW, thank you for the enthusiastic response to my first-ever Ribbon Share!  So many of you wanted in on it that I opened a second round but all available spots are now full.  The ribbon will arrive at my house next week and I will need a few days to cut and prep it all.  I will send all share folks an email when it is on it's way to you.

I am planning to do another share next month and would love to hear which SU ribbon interests you the most?  In Color Twill?  Satin?  Seam Binding?  Leave me a comment and let me know!  

Speaking of next month... In May I will celebrate two years of blogging here under the Canopy!  I am so grateful for all of you who stop by for a visit.  Your comments and encouragement brighten my day and stretch the bounds of my creativity each time I sit down at my craft table.  I am amazed at how many wonderful people I have met through this little 'ole blog--crafty folks are the nicest bunch around!  To celebrate all my blogging friends, I've got some blog candy planned in May for all followers.  And I can't let this post go by without giving a shout-out to my 100th follower!!  Yahoo, thank you Chris L. for helping me break the 100 mark!!

OK, I'll see y'all back here on Sunday for a color challenge from The Paper Players!

Ribbon Share!

Hi everyone!  I thought it was about time that I offer up a ribbon share to anyone who loves our 1 1/4" Wide Striped Grosgrain Ribbon as much as I do!  You've seen me use it on many cards including this one as well as here, here and here!  A little bit of this ribbon makes a huge impact and with a total of 11 exclusive Stampin' Up colors, you'll have some to match every occasion!

Here are the deets:

• 1 yard (36") each of all 11 colors
• Total price is $11 for 11 yards--that's $1 a yard!
• It would cost $110.00 to buy all the colors on their own
• That's a savings of $99!
• Shipment within the US and Canada ($1.50)
• All ribbon will be wound around cardboard for wrinkle-free delivery.
• Colors included are:
• Daffodil Delight
• Pumpkin Pie
• Pretty in Pink
• Real Red
• Rich Razzleberry
• Night of Navy
• Marina Mist
• Certainly Celery
• Old Olive
• Early Espresso
• Basic Black

If you want in on this great deal, leave me a comment indicating your interest or send me an email to nleedy@cox.net and I will send you an invoice via PayPal. Thanks, in advance, for your interest!

Blossom Lantern: {PPA87}

If you're looking for my Paper Players recycling card, please click here.

Happy Monday everyone!  Just wanted to pop in and share a card I made over the weekend with my mom.  We were inspired by a card displayed at SU Regional training using punches and a crimper to make a paper lantern.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the name of the artist, so if you know please tell me!  When I saw the latest punch art challenge at the Pals Paper Arts, I knew I had to enter this one:

I cut a Very Vanilla circle with my 3" circle die, stamped the spray of Easter Blossoms in Jet Black Stazon and ran it through my paper crimper.  The Basic Black Small Tag punch was tucked under the bottom and a scaled down Word Window punched piece was attached to the top with a loop of hemp twine.  The Word Window punch was too big so I tucked one end back into the punch, from the top, and punched again giving me a shorter window punch.

Of course, I needed to sprinkle a few Basic Rhinestones to the blossoms as well as a row across the top of the lantern. 

 They are soooo pretty IRL!  To the Crumb Cake base, I added some [retired] Urban Oasis and a punched border of Very Vanilla [non-SU].  

The background looked a little plain so I stamped the blossom spray in Crumb Cake and added a sentiment from Bring on the Cake.

I just can't put down those cherry blossoms!  So, the inside got some too along with another sentiment from Bring on the Cake.  Thanks for stopping by today!  Before you go, I would love to know what you think of today's card.  Have a great day, my friends!

supplies:

stamps: easter blossoms, bring on the cake

ink: crumb cake, jet black stazon

paper: crumb cake, basic black, very vanilla CS; urban oasis DSP [retired]

xtras: paper crimer, basic rhinestones, hemp twine, 3" bigz die, fiskars border punch

Recycled Paper Players Challenge: {PP41}

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you're having a great weekend.  If you're looking for my [Orlando] Regionals Creativity Challenge card, please go here.  

Today is our first April theme challenge at The Paper Players and LeAnne has challenged us to use a recycled or repurposed item on our projects.  

 Clean out your supplies, clean out your stash, look in your recycle bin--find treasures anywhere!  It can be a piece of ribbon from gift box you kept (does anyone else beside me do this?!), a picture from a catalog, or that pretty wrapping paper you just couldn't part with (oh yeah, I do that too!). Can you identify the source of the recycled item on my card?

It's the carton from a 6-pack of beer!  Longboard Lager to be specific:

 

Can you believe how beautiful the artwork is on this carton of beer?!  Wouldn't this make a great "guy card"?!  I took the carton apart, selected the areas I really liked and ran it through the Big Shot with the Circles #2 die.  Look at these beach bums catching some waves:

and I love the palm fronds:

The circles are mounted on More Mustard cardstock with a little added paper piercing around the bottom.  Some baker's twine and a Curly Cute sentiment finished off the front.

...and a little bit of stamping finished off the inside.  There's actually more stamping on the inside than the cover!  The tropical leaves are from the Paradise set stamped in Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler and More Mustard.  Along with a sentiment from Hope Happens and Bring on the Cake.  If you like today's card, you might like this simple masculine card I made a couple years ago for my BIL--it was my first 6-pack card!  You should see how many 6-pack cartons I have piled up now!  My husband will even select beer now based on how cool the packaging would look as a card, lol!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to check out the rest of the design team's inspiration over at The Paper Players.  If you would like to play along, you have until Friday April 8th at midnight (PST) to load up your creation on our blog.  I hope you'll have some fun with this challenge--we can't wait to visit you!