Build-a-Bear

Here's my contribution for a mini catalog submission. Like most of you, I want everything, but it's not in the budget so I started small. (Actually, I built a bunch of stamping classes around mini products so I have a reason to purchase them, but I couldn't get them all at once.)

The first thing I thought of when I saw the new dies was paper dolls. And my mind wandered to a set of magnetic dress-up dolls that Emma has. I put the two ideas together and a magnetic B-a-B dress-up doll class was born. (For info, visit my blog.)

So this is just one little bear in her newest outfit. The skirt is made from the new DSP in the mini. The prints that are part of the paper pack are perfectly sized for little bear clothes. It's just too cute. I was planning on making a set for the kids to play with, but I'm pretty sure they're going to have to fight me for it!

Sweet Treat Cups!

Love the mini !! This is a card using the Sweet Treat Cups and the Sweet Centers Stamp Set. I made the clouds using the oval scallop punch as a template and then applying classic ink with a sponge while I moved the template.

Holiday Mini Night and Day

I don't know about you, but I couldn't wait to get my hands on the Holiday Mini! I love the holidays, and especially fall and winter, Thanksgiving and Christmas! One of the first sets I added to my wish list was Serene Snowflakes. Next came Shimmer Paints, Sweet Centers, Specialty Designer Papers... the list just grew and grew! Well, when the box arrived, first things first! I needed a wedding card, and I needed to see how those Shimmer Paints would work.

The hardest part of design for me is the layout, so I tend to CASE a lot or work from a sketch, especially if I'm short on time and it seems like I am always short on time! If you're looking for a sketch, Stamping 411 is a great site, full of information for beginners or experts and the design team includes many of my favorite bloggers. Using their sketch from Friday, August 14, made creating this wedding card a snap! You may not be able to see the beauty of the Platinum Shimmer Paint in this picture, but when you try it, you're gonna love it! I chose the Night and Day Specialty Paper first, then added the other colors of Real Red, Brushed Silver Metalic, and Basic Black. The largest image from Serene Snowflakes, the sentiment from Kind and Caring Thoughts, Filigree Brads, and Fire Circle Brads add to the "bling" created by combining the shimmer paint and irridescent ice embossing powder.

The Shimmer Paints come in three colors and are just what they say they are - Paint. You can apply them with a variety of tools. They need to be shaken before they are used. Once you've shaken them, remove the lid, and all the paint you will need is in the lid. Some are translucent, some transparent, still they take a very small amount to cover your image or area. I used a sponge dauber to apply the paint from the lid to the stamp. They dry within minutes, but since I embossed with irridescent ice, my heat tool took care of the drying time.

I posted the finished project to my blog and also to Stamping 411, then mailed it off to the bride and groom. Hope they enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed making it. If you look at the links on 411 for the other cards made from this sketch, you'll see all sorts of interpretations. Several flipped the sketch. I tried that too. Here's the result. I think I like the first one best. How about you?

Swap Card

This is one of the cards I received in the last Inkbig Swap.

Sock Monkey Cards

Here are a few sock monkey cards that I made, trying to incorparate some of the in colors. I just love the sock monkey set. It is hard to see on this picture but I versa marked the bananas on the soft seude, real red & crushed curry pieces. The kids just love the sock monkey too. My soon to be 15 year old daughter loves monkeys so this is one of her favorite sets. I made a sock monkey card for my oldest son's birthday last year (it was supposed to be a joke) and he loved it. It is still up in his room almost 1 year later.

Big Shot Die Question

When you emboss with the texturz plate, do you spritz the cardstock you are embossing with water or do you use another piece of cardstock on the platform as a shim to create a more defined effect? I have customers telling me that Scrapadoodle told them to run all their dies through the Big Shot and when it gets to the end, roll it back toward them.

Funky One

This card is totally not one I would usually do...but I am not totally dissatisfied with it...it is just different...totally:)

Thanks for looking!
Barb

Circle Circus

Hi Fellow Stampers! This is a birthday card I made for my son's 28th birthday which was in July. I used the wonderful Circle Circus stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and modern label punch as well as the circle punchs. I love the strong graphic designs in this set. - Sheryl Diemer

This is very simple piece of artwork made using Designer Paper and the Birds and Blooms Decorative Strip Die Cut in the Big Shot. I can see lots of possiblities .....blue sky, red birds ?

Train Decor Elements

Here is the train that I put up in Robert's room. The train decor element that I bought is the one that retired so it is slightly larger than the ones that we still offer. Also Robert's room walls are textured. I know SU doesn't suggest decor elements on textured things but I thought I would try it because I had read others saying they had success with it. It is a bit more tricky. You have to push down to get it to stick a lot more than on a flat surface and I rubbed it a bit after it was on just to make sure that it was in place. But I didn't have any real issues doing it. The caboose has been on the wall for a week and is still on great. It is really a great addition to his room as it turns from a baby's room to a big boy's room. Sorry the picture isn't better but it was tough to get it all in one shot. His closet is to the back of the train so it looks like the train just drove out of the closet.