Velvet Strikes Again

Well, in seeing Karen's card for Melissa, I realized that I had not sent her a card welcoming her beautiful baby girl into the world. I know, I am lame.

Inspired by Karen's gorgeous pink card, and inspired by the flippin' awesome pink velvet I just bought from SEI, I decided pink and brown would win again. I LOVE the simplicity of this card. I love how sleek it is. I kept looking at it thinking it needed more elements, but something in my head screamed, "ENOUGH!" So, here it is. And tomorrow, Melissa's lame friend shall mail her card!

Size: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches

Paper: SU! Pretty in Pink, SEI pink and chocolate velvet paper, SU! Ultrasmooth White

Brads: The Paper Studio

Stamp: Fine Print (SU!)

Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip and Real Red; white gel pen

Technique: Paper Piecing

Velvety Fun

Well, of course I am going to have to use my new velvet paper! Sketch Challenge 171 was just the ticket. It seemed simple enough (see sketch): use a "lopsided" oval as your main shape. Finding an image that would accentuate that was another story. Enter the Stampin' Up! Rub-Ons from Sale-A-Bration. I love these rub-ons. They are so versatile. AND you can use rub-ons on velvet. How cool is that?

I decided to use the SU! Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware. At first, I was afraid the brads were too big, then I thought of the ribbon treatment. Once they served a purpose in addition to decoration, they took on a new life on the card. I also busted out the Cricut for the ovals (George cartridge). Worked wonderfully with the SEI velvet paper. You may also notice the Cuttle bug embossing, again on velvet. I think I am in love with this card!

Size: 5 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches

Paper: SEI Velvet Paper; SU! Chocolate Chip

Image: SU! Rub-Ons

Brads: SU! Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware

Ribbon: Sheer White from Michaels

Color Challenge 161

The SCS Color Challenge today used some very basic, bold colors: Night of Navy, Glorious Green, and Real Red. Going through my patterned paper, I noticed some paper that I purchased a while ago (I have no idea where). It is from The Freedom Collection by Reminisce and it is called American Girl. You cannot see on the photo, but it has a lovely metallic sheen to it. So, that was my red and blue. I added green as a background color, tying it in with the brads, ribbon, and ink. I really like how this turned out.

Size: 5 1/8 x 4 1/4 inches

Paper: SU! Glorious Green, Night of Navy, and Ultrasmooth White, Reminisce American Girl

Stamp: SU! For a Friend

Brads: Magic Scraps

Thread: Dunno... bought it at Christmas

Dill Blossom Double Challenge

Well, I am back in the challenge circuit. So sorry to have missed Virtual Stamp Night/Weekend. I was in St. Louis being crafty (see my entries from April 6). I decided to try a double challenge today with some of my new stash.

New on the cutting board: Dill Blossom patterned paper by SEI. The inspiration challenge for this week made me think of the new patterned paper I purchased, so I chose the one with the most similar color/design scheme (in my mind, anyway). The technique challenge was to use a stacked ribbon technique in a card. I am not 100% on the ribbon totally meshing with this card, but I thought I would step outside of my box.

I got to use my new linen assortment from SEI as well. I love it! I guess they would consider it the olive green color.

As for Stampin' Up!, I used More Mustard cardtsock and ink as well as Old Olive ink. My sentiment is from the Full of Life stamp set. My yarn is from... my yarn stash. I impulse buy, so I am not really certain. This is your typical 5.5 x 4.25 inches card.

Excited is not a strong enough word...

Well, at the very end of my CKC experience, I saw Wendy Smedley, creative editor of Simple Scrapbooks. I brought The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker, as I knew she was scheduled to be in St. Louis, but I did not know if I would see her for an autograph. I passed her in the lobby, and, well, let's just say it wasn't one of my best verbal responses. But she was so gracious and understanding that my tongue was twisted around my head! She said Aby Garvey, the co-author of the book, would be at her class at 3:10, which was right next door to the SEI class I was taking. She suggested I stop by with the book.

I did so. The two of them were so kind to sign my book and get a picture taken with me (love the glasses, eh? I was so wiped out by then!). Wendy asked if I would send her a picture of my craft room, after I gushed about how helpful the book was. Well, needless to say, right now there will be no photographs, as it looks like a craft store exploded in here. However, after I sift through the mess of CKC purchases, I will, most definitely, send her a picture. SOOOOO cool.

CKC St. Louis Lowdown

{Yawn!} I am pooped! We attended the Creating Keepsakes Convention in St. Louis this weekend. When Karen and I went to Kansas City, we went for about four days. We LOVED the time we spent there. This time around, we were so excited to have some of our craft buddies with us. We were not able to have an extended trip this time. It was still a great time. Here's a rundown:

Friday night: We checked in at the hotel and decided that we will take the Plato "Cadillac" Minivan to Archiver's in Fairview Heights before we ate, as we do not have an Archiver's close to us in Bloomington-Normal, and several of our posse had never been to an Archiver's. My purchases included:

~Stampendous Perfectly Clear Stamps Changito Notes (those cute little monkeys!)

~Making Memories Animal Crackers 30 Felt Shaped Buttons - Jack

~Inkadinkadoo Small and Medium Acrylic Blocks

~American Crafts Jewelry Box Brown Chipboard Thickers

~American Crafts Daiquiri Brown Vinyl Thickers

~K & Company Boy Scouts Flat Paper

~KI Memories Pop Culture Die Cut - Flower Child Socialite
~KI Memories Pop Culture Die Cut - Hangman Navy

~KI Memories Pop Culture Die Cut - Hangman Old Flame

~Reminisce Self-Adhensive Die Cut Stickers - The Freedom Collection

We then ate at Smokey Bones in Collinsville, IL. Yummy, and some of the hardest laughing I have done in a long time. :) Finally, we went to the hotel to catch some zzzzzzzs.

Saturday: Karen and I needed to be "crack o' dawn" people, as I had an 8:30 class and she started volunteering and reported at 7:45. After a continental breakfast, I headed out to my first class, hosted by the best company on the planet as far as I am concerned: SEI. This class focused on velvet paper techniques. I made the accordian album (both sides shown) in a one-hour class. In the class we used rub-ons, dry embossed, and inked velvet. I really had never known it could be such a versatile product.

SEI is one of the most generous companies at the CKC events. You come out of their classes with a TON more than $21 would ever have covered retail. And that, my friends, is smart business based on what I then went to their booth and bought. The other really great thing is, with their kits especially, you have pieces that are precut and they give you possible layouts. Here are some of the selections I bought from the SEI booth (shown in the picture):

~12 x 12 velvet paper - Gerti Flower, Brown Stripe, Chocolate, and Clover

~Dill Blossom Paper Stacks - 8 x 8 and 4.5 x 6.5

~6 x 12 Velvet Assortment Packs - Romance and Neutral Collections

~6 x 12 Linen Assortment Packs - Organic Collection

~Ally's Wonderland Assortment Pack

~Accordian Envelopes Pack (previously a Club SEI kit)

After the SEI class, I hit the Vendor Fair. HOLY MOLY, were there a lot of people there! Whew! That didn't stop me from shopping, though. I visited Embellish It!, which was one of my favs in KC. They sell tons of Basic Grey. Pictured in the photo are my buys (all Basic Grey unless otherwise specified):

~6 x 6 Archaic Paper Pad

~Colored buttons

~Undressed Chipboard - Wilma

~Mini Monogram Stickers - Sugared (fit with Wilma chipboard)

~Family Chipboard Album

~Magnetic Precision Mat

~A generous bonus kit

~Bazzill In Stitch'z Granny Stitches Templates

I also had to visit the always-busy Technique Tuesday booth. Such great product! I bought:

~Fundamentals of Love Technique Tiles (not shown)

~Celebrate Life Clear Stamp Set (50% of proceeds go to Susan Komen Foundation)

~Textile Circles, Scallops, and Squares

~Free gifts: Twill ribbon and Stickles four pack

By then, it was time to head off to my next class presented by Scrapbooks 'N Stickers, entitled "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." We began an accordion album, and I am hoping to complete it for Scott for Father's Day (maybe this year... gotta get some photos of him, too!). I really liked the paper assortment they chose for the project. I sat next to some fun people, and the volunteer was none other than... Karen! Crazy coincidence!

After that class, we decided to have show and tell at the hotel lobby and then we went to eat at Zapata's. We returned for a very quick run to the Vendor Fair, where I bought a T-shirt and some folders for a small album. I cannot remember the name of the booth, and, since some vendors were assigned to the lobby but not on the map, I am unable to check with anything at the moment. I have bought from them before, and I do love their product. I also subscribed to Paper Crafts magazine and extended my subscription to Simple Scrapbooks. What a sucker!

Our last venture of the day was another SEI Class about album techniques. This was taught by their owner. Instead of using the paper mats in the kit, the company replaced them with linen paper mats. We used the Dill Blossom kit. I am not finished yet, but I love what we have done so far. I had a VERY special enconter after the SEI class. That must have its own blog entry. Let's just say, it made me very tingly!

We stopped in Springfield for a bite to eat at The Pasta House Co., and then we arrived at home... pooped! But a really great tired, you know?

Quadruple Color with a Sketch

I tackled yesterday's Color Challenge (CC 160) of Mellow Moss, Creamy Caramel, Apricot Appeal, and Cameo Coral and combined it with the SCS Sketch Challenge (shown below). At first, I was a bit afraid of the four colors when I thought of them together, but they REALLY look great together. The picture does not do them near the justice they deserve. I chose to use Afternoon Tea DSP (What a surprise!). All I had of Creamy Caramel cardstock was what I could scrounge in my scraps, until I remembered the textured 12 x 12 cardstock that I recently purchased (woo hoo!). I used the textured cardstock for the base and the regular cardstock for the matting. I tried my hand at some ribbon manipulating tonight. I tried to create a pleated look. Wish I had a sewing machine for this, but Tombo adhesive worked fine, too. I thought of adding more elements but I didn't want to cover up how the DSP flowed from one piece to the next.

Size: 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches
Paper: SU! Afternoon Tea, Apricot Appeal, Mellow Moss, Creamy Caramel, and Cameo Coral
Ribbon: SU! Mellow Moss taffeta
Brads: Mini Pewter Brads (American Crafts)
Stamp: SU! Full of Life
Ink: SU! Creamy Caramel and Mellow Moss