November 11, 2014

A Sweet Thank You - Retro Rubber Challenge #1

November 11, 2014/ Shannon Jaramillo

Today I'm excited to participate in a brand new challenge called Retro Rubber! And it's a fun and different challenge...using our much-loved-even-though-they-are-retired Stampin' Up! supplies!!

How cool is that?!?

The challenge this week is to ink up your oldest Stampin' Up! stamp set. I can do that as I still own it and will never part with it...just sentimentally attached:) It's a stamp set called Watercolor Trio. I chose it because it was pretty and I thought it looked fairly mess-up-proof...it was after all, my first stamp set!

I pulled out all the stops for this challenge, digging into my supplies for the Floral District Designer Series Paper, featuring a much loved retired color, Baja Breeze!

I just love the look of this stamp, to acheive it, I simply stamped in the center with full coverage ink in Rich Razzleberry, then immediately stamped off to on side without re-inking, and then again on the other side, also without re-inking. So I've stamped the same image three times without adding ink to the stamp. It's helpful if you huff on the stamp before the third stamp to get all the last remaining ink to transfer.

I also inked up the butterfly stamp in Baja Breeze and fussy cut him out. I had a hard time deciding which way was up, so I hope he's not flying upside down!!

When I was done...I wasn't quite ready to be done so I decided to keep going!

I kept this one very clean and neat. I couldn't resist using Baja Breeze again. I actually had to re-ink the stamp pad as it has been so long since I used it! I'm so glad I still have it. It's like re-reading a favorite book, warm and comfortable :)

Retired paper, retired ink, retired ribbon retired buttons...yep, I think I have this challenge covered! so much fun to play along with!!

I hope you've enjoyed this detour into Stampin' Up!'s past...which was your first stamp set? Or the one you'll never be able to let go of??

October 30, 2014

Thank You From the Heart - The Paper Players #219

October 30, 2014/ Shannon Jaramillo

I played along with the Paper Players earlier this week, but I liked the sketch SO much, I had to play along AGAIN!

Thank You From the Heart - Paper Players #219

Isn't this paper AWESOME? It's from the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper! Yep, the one I used earlier this week, and it's on the clearance rack! Woo Hoo! I love a bargain!

Isn't this a pretty sentiment? It's from the From the Heart stamp set, which I have owned for probably close to two years and never inked up! Today I heat embossed it with black embossing powder to give it a bit more substance so it would be able to hold it's own against such a powerful background paper :)

I apologize, no that I see my pictures, they are a little dark and fuzzy, I'm not sure why but I hope you can see the card well enough! It's very striking in person :)

Thanks for stopping by!

October 28, 2014

A Thousand Thanks - Pals Paper Arts #225

October 28, 2014/ Shannon Jaramillo

To be perfectly honest, at first glance I was not very impressed with the Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up!. But as frequently happens when starting with a sketch in mind, these two papers jumped out at me and I KNEW they would be perfect together with this layout. I'm so glad I had them on hand! I loved being able to bring out the Soft Suede and Mossy Meadow in the pattern paper for a crisp color combination. The sentiment, from the Lots of Thanks stamp set, keeps with the crisp, minimalist tone of the card.

I love the juxtaposition of elegant and pretty masculine colors and patterns with a layered flower. I used the Flower Patch stamp set, along with the Flower Fair Framelits Dies, and kept with the color scheme, only this time pulling out the Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry.

I think the flower, instead of leaves, is a pleasant surprise addition to this card and keeps it fun and slightly whimsical.

And of course, the envelope liner is the icing on the cake. I just love the envelope liners, they add so much substance and beauty to the overall gift of the card. It really makes the card feel extra special:)

I was inspired by this delightful, delightful, delightful, (did I mention that it's delightful?) sketch from the Pals Paper Arts design team. They always have such fun challenges to play along with!

If you are so moved, you still have a bit of time to play along with the challenge, so please hop on over to see what the design team has created for you this week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

EZ Peasy Stampin' Up! Supplies List:

Paper: Soft Suede Cardstock; Color Me Autumn Monsters Designer Series Paper

Stamps: Flower Patch, Lots of Thanks

Ink: Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede Classic Ink Pads

Tools: Big Shot, Flower Fair Framelit Dies, Envelope Liner Framelit Die

Accessories: Crushed Curry Baker's Twine, Regals Designer Buttons

October 19, 2014

Can You Case It #41 - Fall Fest Thank You

October 19, 2014/ Shannon Jaramillo

Welcome to a new challenge from the Can You Case It Design Team!

Clean and Quick? Hmmmm....that's a little outside my comfort zone....just kidding!! I LOVE quick and clean!

Can You Case It #41 - Fall Fest Thank You

I knew I wanted to showcase these awesome stamps from the Fall Fest Stamp Set and so I set out to pick the perfect colors...Mossy Meadow, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey and Pistachio Pudding. Only when I started stamping, they were wayyyyy too dark for the feel I wanted. So...I flipped the card stock over and tried again!

On my second try, I stamped the Pistachio Pudding at full strength but stamped off for all the other colors to create a nice soft design. How did I get everything stamped in a perfect square? Well, I cut a piece of regular paper to the same size, 3 3/4" x 5", pulled out my Squares Framelits, placed the Framelit where I wanted my image to be and then ran the whole thing through my Big Shot! Now I had a template to lay over my white cardstock to stamp on. I used Post-It Tape to tack everything down and ensure no movement.

Once I was done I added my sentiment from the Lots of Thanks stamp set and three teeny tiny pearls colored with my darkest Daffodil Delight Blendabilities.

And the envelope! Have you EVER seen anyone use the Whisper White Designer Series Paper? Me, either! Now we both have! I thought it was a nice neutral compliment to my soft colors.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you will hop on over to the Can You Case It website to see what our other designers have in store for you! And we have some new, very talented designers on board so it should be fun! We'd love to see you play along!