Faux Metal Pretties Card

The combination of the soft Pretties Kit flower and the metallic embellishments make this card stand out.

I used the Faux Metal technique for the center of the flower. Start by inking your cardstock with Versamark and heat emboss with Silver embossing powder. Apply more Versamark and more embossing powder for a total of 3 layers. As you finish heating the third layer, quickly ink your stamp with Versamark and stamp into the hot embossed cardstock, leaving an impression from the rubber stamp. (Inking in Versamark before stamping will help protect your rubber.) Make sure to press down firmly and lift straight up to get a good impression. I punched the image out with the 1-1/4" Circle Punch and added a clear rhinestone brad to attach it to the flower.

Ordinarily, I feel like a card is naked with a greeting on the front, but I let it slide this time and punched and layered a greeting for the inside. (Forgot to get a picture of that, sorry!)

Supplies: True Friend, Versamark, Whisper White cardstock, Brushed Silver Cardstock, Rich Razzleberry cardstock, Silver Embossing Powder, Pretties Kit, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Razzlberry Lemonade DSP

So Long, Heartfelt Thanks

I've been waiting for Heartfelt Thanks to retire for awhile...but now that I've pulled it out of the cabinet, I remember what a classic set this is! I love the 2-stepping. Here's a card we did in Stamp Club this month to give Heartfelt Thanks one last heartfelt hurrah.

Don't forget -- there is only ONE WEEK left to order from the Last Chance List. Click here to see which stamp sets, accessories (up to 50% off), and Decor Elements (25% off) are being discontinued and then place your order on my website at http://juliedavison.stampinup.net. Place any order on my website in June and I will send you the new catalog for free!

Supplies: Heartfelt Thanks, Thank You Kindly, Pink Pirouette ink & cardstock, Bravo Burgundy marker & cardstock, Mellow Moss marker, Always Artichoke marker, Whisper White cardstock, Manchester DSP, Top Note die for the Big Shot, Pretties Kit (half pearl), Watercolor Joy Stampin' Around wheel, White Satin Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots

Free Bucket of Stamps

I'm looking for hostesses who want to have fun! All you have to do is get a few friends together and I'll provide the entertainment -- new stamping techniques, a free make and take project. And best of all, you'll walk away with free stamps! In addition to the generous hostess benefits that Stampin' Up! offers, you'll also get cute little bucket with 8 "All Occasions" stamps when you host a party before June 30! Ready to set a date? Call or email me to reserve a date for your next party!

This project was inspired by Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration Challenge #36. I had a turquoise bucket ready to be altered and some Lavender Lace rubber stamps to fill it!

Supplies: Elegant Thank You, Tempting Turquoise marker, Lavender Lace marker, Wide Oval Punch, Walk in the Park DSP, So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Crop-a-Dile, Stampin' Dimensionals

Retro Tropic Card

I have to say, some of the new Designer Series Papers have really given new life to Summer Sun. When I saw Kristina's Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #50, it reminded me of the Pink Flamingo DSP and I think using a strip of it at the bottom of this card really ties the card together. It feels very retro to me -- and also very tropical. So I'm calling it Retro Tropic.

I've been working on this card for the last couple days...I was really debating about using the Pretties Kit flower. After all, I've used the same flower in 2 of the last 3 challenges (CI47 and CI49). I hate to over-do it with the flower. But maybe it's like my lucky socks or something because the last two cards with this flower were picked for the Round-Up! That and I really wanted to mirror that aspect of the inspiration piece. So, I'm going with it! What do you think? Will it be another top 10 pick?

I have to show you this close-up. I used the 1/8" hole punch to punch little bitty circles that I glued on the yellow flower to cover up the Cameo Coral color that was originally part of the DSP. Kristina was very clear that we weren't supposed to use ANY other colors for this challenge, so I wanted to make sure I followed the rules!

The finished card is 5" x 5".

Supplies: Garden Greetings, Real Red cardstock, Chocolate Chip cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, Pink Flamingo DSP, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Summer Sun Corduroy Buttons, Texturz Plates for the Big Shot, Circle Scissors Plus, Pretties Kit, 1/8" Hole Punch

KWerner Color Challenge #49

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #49 is nice and bright for this dreary and rainy Good Friday. I whipped this up during morning nap time and now we're headed to the pool! Yeah, I know it's 45 degrees outside, but it won't matter inside. Hooray for indoor pools and happy stamping Fridays!

By the way, the one and only stamp I used on this 4-1/4" x 4-1/4" card is "Happy Birthday To You" and is available for FREE this month! Check out all the details on the April promotion by clicking here.

Supplies: Happy Birthday to You, Basic Black marker, Kiwi Kiss textured cardstock, Basic Black cardstock, Taken with Teal cardstock, Raspberry Tart DSP, 1" Circle Punch, Clear Buttons, Vintage Brads, Scallop Edge Punch, Rose Red 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretties Kit

Oops, She Did It Again!

I'm back from Hawaii!! Oh my, we had an incredible trip to paradise. I'll share some photos later when I get them all uploaded and sorted. It was beautiful. The sun was perfect. Elise cooperated. I swam with turtles!! I went to bed early every night. It was a dream vacation. Truly!! So thank you Stampin' Up! and thank you downline and customers for helping me earn it!

When we landed back in Chicago from Hawaii, the pilot said "Welcome back to reality, folks!" Yes, we're back to reality and I've got loads on my plate this month. But I made some time for stamping last night after the kids were in bed and the suitcases were unpacked. It felt good to be home!

I tackled some color challenges. Here's the first card, for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #47. Hopefully my mom's not reading this yet because I'm sending her this card. I used the Sale-a-bration stamp set "Congrats" for the greeting: "you've outdone yourself again". I really like this little set. It has lots of possibilities! And better yet, it's FREE with any $50 purchase -- but you have to "Shop Now" because the sale ends tomorrow (Tuesday, March 31)! Click here for all the details.

I keep getting distracted. Ok, so "Oops, She Did It Again!" -- my mother. She's ROCKIN' this year and even with watching my children while I was in Hawaii, she still managed to break her monthly personal sales record yet again with March sales of over $4,500! Dang! You've truly outdone yourself, Mom! I'm so proud of you!!

Supplies: Congrats, So Saffron cardstock, Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP & ink, Whisper White cardstock, Tangerine Tango cardstock, Pretties Kit, Curly Label Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Crafters' Tool Kit (paper piercing around circle), Tangerine Tango Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots

Sketch Series #5

I've been wanting to try this layout again ever since I made this Starring You Trio back in October. (It's the third card on that post.) I finally got around to it with Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration Challenge #27.

As soon as I saw the necklace for this week's color inspiration, I knew I had to break out my Pretties Kit! I used the Stampin' Write markers (brush tip) to color directly on to the flowers (which come white). As I am uploading the picture, I'm thinking I should have done another purple flower to peek out from behind the pink one...

Supplies: Fundamental Phrases, Pretties Kit (flowers & rhinestone brad), Lovely Lilac marker & cardstock, Pink Passion marker/ink, Yo Yo Yellow marker, Whisper White cardstock, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates for the Big Shot

And while making birthday cards last week, I discovered that this layout also works just as well upside down!

Supplies: Flowers for All Seasons, Many Mower (greeting), Delicate Dots DSP, Certainly Celery marker & cardstock, Bashful Blue marker & cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, Basic Black ink, So Saffron marker, Going Gray marker, Blender Pen, SAB Ribbon Bundle

Holiday Wishes Card

Here is the first card I stamped up with the Country Living Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit. I CASED this layout. I just love the way Barb used these "negative" chipboard pieces from the scallop square frames in the Something Seasonal chipboard set. I used a sponge dauber to ink it up with Chocolate Chip Classic ink.

Supplies: Holiday Collection stamp set, Ski Slope DSP, Baja Breeze ink & cardstock, Chocolate Chip ink, Whisper White cardstock, Rhinestone Brad from Pretties Kit, Scallop Frame Chipboard piece, Stampin Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber

Another Fall Color Challenge

Kristina Werner just posted her latest Color Inspiration Challenge, so I played along and got a birthday card stamped up tonight. I'm falling behind on birthdays again, so I need to crank out a few more cards before I hit the sack. Kristina's inspiration colors were Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Kiwi Kiss. I changed the Pumpkin Pie to Tangerine Tango so I could use the Hawaii Papaya DSP.

Supplies: Wow Flowers (greeting), Hawaii Papaya DSP, Tangerine Tango cardstock, Chocolate Chip cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, White Gel Pen, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Pretties Kit (rhinestone brad), Stampin' Dimensionals

Sketch Challenge

I knew that starting this blog would motivate me to stamp and create more, but sometimes I need a little something to help me get going. Tonight, I turned to the Splitocaststampers.com Sketch Challenge. I love to copy layouts from samples in the catalog, but I like an empty sketch because it helps me come up with something using the materials I have. Often when I see a sample I like, my mind can't go outside the colors or the stamps they used.

For this sketch challenge, I sat down at my very messy desk, pulled out some things that were buried, and turned it into a card.

Supplies: Fundamental Phrases, Afternoon Tea DSP, Soft Sky ink& cardstock, Pretties Kit, Aquapainter, Chocolate Chip ink pad, Stampin' Dimensionals.

I colored the center flower with the aquapainter and the Soft Sky ink pad. By pushing down on the lid, I pooled just enough ink to pick up with the paintbrush and color the fabric flower. I made sure to let it dry before attaching to the card.

Fresh Cuts Favorite

If you've stamped with me this month, you have already seen -- or even made -- this card. It is my favorite with the Fresh Cut stamp set and die-cut notes. It's just so pretty!

Supplies: Fresh Cut stamp set, Fresh Cut notes, Sofy Sky Classic ink pad, Blue Bayou Classic ink pad & cardstock, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Pretties Kit, Stampin' Sponges

When you open the die-cut notes, you have to punch out part of the petals. For this card, I sponged those petals with Blue Bayou ink and then put them back on the note card, between two petals to make another layer of flower. So easy!


There's only a few more days to order the preview Fresh Cut stamp set and die-cut notes. Email or call me to order (see contact info on the right). Click here for more samples using the Fresh Cut stamp set.

Celebrating...everything!

Today is my Stampin' Up! Anniversary -- I have been a demonstrator for 6 years! And I'm so excited to celebrate two milestones this year on my SU! Anniversary.

I had a great time at Nancy & Lisa's party last night (thanks, ladies!) and when we finalize their workshop order, I will hit my $100K milestone. Yes, in the last six years, I have sold a total of $100,000 of Stampin' Up! product!! The incredible thing about this milestone is that Stampin' Up! gives cash bonuses to all demonstrators for every $100K they sell. After Convention in August, I will receive $1,000. WOW!! And it doesn't matter how long it takes you to sell that...could be 2 years, could be 20. They truly know how to spoil their demonstrators!

And if that wasn't enough, it is official as of this morning, I earned the free trip to Hawaii!!! Stampin' Up! will pay for me and my husband to fly to Hawaii and stay at a luxury resort next spring with the other several hundred demonstrators who earn the incentive trip each year. WAHOO!! I have to give a shout-out to all of my downline. In conjunction with my personal sales, it was their promotions this year that helped me earn the trip. I am so proud of you guys -- you truly have had an incredible year!

Ok...back to stamping projects. Sorry I missed posting yesterday. I crashed on the couch as soon as I got back from that party last night. But here's a special card I stamped up this morning for my sideline Judy. She also just earned the incentive trip (her first!) this week and I am so excited for her! Congratulations, Judy!

Supplies: Summer Day Simply Scrappin' Kit, Taffy Alphabet, Whisper White cardstock (7" x 5-1/2" folded in half to make 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" card), Pretties Kit, Flower Fusion (felt flowers), Cutter Kit (edge distresser on Pumpkin Pie cardstock), Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini & Pop-up Glue Dots

Watercolored Thank You Card

It's been awhile since I watercolored and I had forgotten how much I liked it. It makes me feel like an artist -- and even better yet, it's so much easier than it looks!

My very favorite tool for watercoloring is the Aquapainter. It's a paint brush with the water jar built right in to the handle. You have to be careful not to use too much water, but you get the hang of it after a couple of cards. On this card, I use drops of reinker in the coordinating ink pad lid (for a little more concentrated color than just pushing down on the ink pad to pick up color). I used Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue (sky), and Blush Blossom. The Watercolor Paper is the most ideal medium for watercoloring because it accepts the water better without curling the cardstock. And it's pre-cut and ready to mount on your card front.

I added some sparkle to this card with a little bit of Dazzling Diamonds on the flowers and the dress. And it still needed something more, so I watercolored a small flower from the Pretties Kit and used mini glue dots to attach a half pearl and then more mini dots to attach it to the card front.

Ruffled Ribbon Card

After seeing Tara's owl card with the ruffled ribbon last week, I just had to try it for myself. I went back to my trusty Round Tab Punch card and used the same layout, but substituted the rub-ons on ribbon for my own ruffled ribbon.

Making the ruffles was a little trickier than I thought it would be. It was hard to keep the ruffles even and straight, but I got into a rhythm after I started. As Tara described, I put the sticky strip on my card and then ruffled the ribbon as I adhered it down on the sticky strip.

Supplies: True Friend stamp set, Fresh Cuts stamp set (inside greeting), Pretties Kit, 3/4" Circle Punch, Groovy Guava textured cardstock and Classic ink, Afternoon Tea Designer Series paper, Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill ribbon, Round Tab Punch (to create window).

It started with just one kiss

I saw a Maternity t-shirt at the store the other day that said, "It started with just one kiss". Ironically, so did this baby card!

The "kissing" technique is easy and a great way to add some texture to your projects. For this card, I started by inking the elephant from Nursery Necessities with Pretty in Pink and the Canvas background stamp with Close to Cocoa. Then, I "kissed" the stamps together by stamping the elephant on the Canvas stamp to transfer the Canvas print in Close to Cocoa to the pink elephant. Then I stamped the elephant on Whisper White cardstock.

I did some faux stitching on the Close to Cocoa cardstock strip to pick up the design of the Berry Bliss paper. To get the look of sewing without the sewing machine, use your piercing tool and template (from the Crafter's Tool Kit or Mat Pack) and pierce a line of holes. Then, use the White Gel Pen (or any color Stampin' Write marker) to add dashes between the holes to mimic stitching. Great creative with your dashes and come up with different faux stitches!

By the way, this card is not a sign of the gender of baby #3....that I know of. My ultrasound in scheduled for Thursday, but we've decided to be surprised with this baby!

Cute as a Ladybug

This is one of my favorite scrapbook pages I have made. I created it as part of my submission to be display stamper for Leadership Conference last fall and I got picked! Of course this also means that I sent away the page and don't have a sample of my own.


Claire was such a cutie pie in her ladybug dress, I just had to use these pictures for a page. I started by choosing colors from her dress: Pixie Pink and Gable Green. I embossed the title in white using the Big Deal alphabet set. Originally, I had stamped "cute as a" right on the pink, but it was crooked, so I had to cover it up. I actually like the way it turned out with the Word Window punch better. The little ladybug on the b (and the cute sentiment) comes from the Bugs and Kisses stamp set. I dyed the flowers from the Pretties Kit using reinker and the Aquapainter.

The journaling says: "Grandma made this ladybug dress for Claire. I let Claire help me open the package as soon and it arrived and she couldn't wait to try it on! August 10, 2007".