Wednesday, December 5, 2012

CASE Study #120 Beautiful Bouquet

 Hi and thanks for stopping by!  Ready for your weekly dose of Case Study Challenge inspiration?  It's December - so we have a new Muse for the month .... Windy Robinson from the Ribbon and Bling Blog! 

Check this gorgeous card to inspire us this week.   I am always saying I learn something new at CASE - every single time.  And that is absolutely true.    If you know me you have to know how much I love die cuts.  I use them on every single thing I create (with the rare exception of the EEK!! dreaded one layer card!)    I thought I knew everything there is to know about ways to use a die cut.  But look at this!!!  Windy did something with die cuts that I have never even thought about!  She cut some nesties and left them all stuck together!!!  I mean who would have thunk it??  Looks fab and that is the element that inspired me - I definitely had to CASE this idea! 

I thought I'd switch it up a little big - gotta try and make it all mine afterall!  Instead of using solid dies, I used some really elaborate fancy cuts from Cheery Lynn for an elegant wedding congratulations card!  Speaking of congratulations - did you hear Aimes from the CASE DT is engaged?!!! 
 
 I hope you'll give this one a try too!  You can choose any of the elements from the inspration photo that inspire you.  The flowers, the colors, the layout... work with whatever moves you.  If you'd like to see what the rest of the CASE Design Team came up with  just click on their names..



I Looking forward to seeing you over at CASE Study Challenge Blog!  I can't wait to see how you make this one ALL YOU!!   Have a great day!
Jeanne
Supplies Used:  Finished Size 6" x 6"
Stams:  Waltzingmouse Say It With Style
Dies:  Cheery Lynn French Flair Doily Stacker
Paper:  Papertrey Ink: Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist
RIbbon:  Ribbon Reel May Arts Mesh 5/8: Aqua
Ink:  VersaFine Onyx Black
Flowers:  I am Roses S-10, and Large Pink, Medium Roses from Wild Orchid Crafts Sweet Roses

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Announcing SSBC #1 - Honeycomb Butterfly

I've been waiting to share some amazing news with you.  As you know, twice a month Mary, the owner of Serendipity Stamps, comes up with a challenge for the design team members.   I've secretly wished that you all could play along and now that is a reality!  We've created the new Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog and I hope to see you there!!  There will be a special badge for the entry that knocks our socks off, and a separate random drawing for $20 off your next order at Serendipity Stamps.  Everyone is a winner because Mary will still be offering specials - this week is Free Shipping on all continental US orders of $10 or more valid December 5-12, 2012.
 
All the graphics for the new site  were designed by Anya Schrier for a fresh new look.  She and Marybeth Lopez are our newest design team members.  Marybeth is playing along with our first challenge and Anya will be re-joining us in January. 
The challenge is bi monthly and this time it is to create a honeycomb / accordion card.  This was really easy.  Using thin paper cut out 10 (or more if you want it fuller) of your die shape.  Fold them in half and then glue them together in a stack.  When you are done you can fan them out for a beautiful full 3-D creation.  This is a neat technique because you can fold them down for easy mailing.  Here is a link to a tutorial that I hope you will try.
For mine, I used thin Origami paper (I thought it would tie in well with my Asian theme).  I used the floral butterfly stamp on my die cuts.  The origami paper worked out great because it has a bit of a coating on it so when I didn't line up the dies just right it peeled apart very easily so I could make the adjustments.
If you are looking for a little inspiration here's a list of the design team members - just click on their names to jump to their page.


I hope you will join us in kicking off our very first Serendipity Stamps Challenge!  You can use any brand die you like, but you must include one Serendipity Stamps design on your submission.  You don't have to have a blog to play - you can link up to any on line gallery and you have two weeks to play! 

Hugs!
Jeanne


Floral Butterfly Stamp & Die Set
Supplies Used:  Finished Size approximately 6" x 6"
Stamps:  Floral Butterfly, Lady Butterfly Haiku Serendipity Stamps
Dies:  Floral Butterfly Solid Serendipity, Mexican Tile Cheery Lynn, Asian Motifs, Asian Accents, Petite Ovals Spellbinders
Pattern Paper:  Creative Imaginations Christine Adolph, Aitoh Origami Some,
Gold Foil AC Specialty Paper
Card Stock Papertrey Ink Royal Velvet, Plum Pudding, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Antique Linen, Memento Rose Bud, Stampin Up Pretty In Pink

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Welcome December!

Well if this is December I'm just loving it!  The weather is still beautiful here - warm enough to walk with just a jacket - no hat and gloves required!  I hope it doesn't snow now!  HAHA!   I love to look at it, but I don't think I am in any condition for shoveling right now.  I have a torn rotator cuff -  I know too much football playing right Marybeth?   My secret life!  Just kidding - not really sure how it happened - just getting old I guess!  Maybe too many turns of the die cut machine?
I've been working my way thorough this beautiful set of month stamps by Serendipity and I've made it to December.  NO I am not finished with my set of cards - I actually started in May so I have a few more to look forward to.  Once I get to the last one I'm going to offer them up as blog candy.  Each one is so pretty .... the name of the month surrounded by little images so appropriate for the time of year.  December has some cookies and pine boughs, and the border all the way around is candy cane striped.  They are easy to color and are so festive!
I colored the images with Copic and fussy cut the stamp.  I layered this on a pretty Cheery Lynn die cut and embellished with bow.  I love glitter at Christmas time so I added a glitter embossed star, star die cut and pine cones.  I made the little star button.  I just cut out a small star - inked it up and heat embossed it with gold glitter powder, and then punched out the little button holes.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.  If you are a big Serendipity Stamps fan you will definitely want to stop back on Wednesday for some big news!  (OK that's your hint!)

Hugs!
Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 6" x 6"
Stamps:  Serendipity Large Month Oval, Stars
Markers:  Copic
Dies:  Cheery Lynn French Flair Doily Stacker, Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Star, Spellbinders Persian Accents
Pattern Paper:  Pink Paiselee City Sidewalks Collection
Card Stock:  Papertrey Ink:  Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream
Gold Glitter Embossing Powder - Ranger Embossing Tinsel
1" Red Satin Ribbon, Twinery Twine Maraschino
Glittery Pine Cones  Holiday Inspirations Joann
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black