Follow the Recipe - Year in Review

This month, the Follow the Recipe challenge is a year in review with themes each week! To play with this week's challenge, all you need to do is link up your fav project in the theme of the week over that the Catered Crop. This week, the theme is "Thank You" projects!

This was my fav thank you card from the past year. I lvoed the colours, I loved the layout, everything. I remember making it and actually being really really happy with how it turned out. Often times, I am okay with most cards but somehow I always feel the need to do better next time. I win some, I lose some. This one, I won :) To see the original post, please check it out right HERE!

Have a fabulous day!

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Colour Q Challenge #113

Stamps: Lovely As a Tree, Tags til Christmas
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Night of Navy
Ink: VersaMark®, Night of Navy, Marina mist, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Vanilla Seam Binding, Rhinestones

Good morning! Welcome back to another Colour Q challenge! I'd missed last week due to being away at my Mum's for a week. I took my youngest son with me and left my hubby to fend for himself with the other 4 while I spent some much needed time with my Mum and Dad. It was a great week! I was originally going to come home a couple of days earlier but the weather transpired against me so I stayed. Not a hardship!! We accomplished a lot of things as well, so it was a busy week too. Anyway, that's why I neglected to play last week. BUT, I'm back for this week!

I had needed another Christmas card for the class I'd held last week Friday evening and this was one of them. I love the soft look of all those blues for a snowy scene, don't you? It was snowing like crazy the day I'd made this so that must have been my inspiration. It snowed again on Sunday and it's supposed to snow again today but we'll see ... Evidently, I'm feeling fairly chatty today! hmm ...

Anyway, there's very little Sahara Sand on this card. You probably can't see it but I DID use it. I used the color spritzer tool to spray Sahara Sand flecks all over the card base for a little added texture and fun. The main panel was created using the emboss resist technique (clear embossed images will resist ink going over them), and then I sponged all three colours over top beginning with the lightest and working my way to darkest.

Hope you like it and are inspired to join us over at the Colour Q! Please check out what the Royal Court made using these colours too. Have a great day!

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for baby

Stamps: Stitched Stockings, A Eord for You, Full of life (inside)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Love Impressions DSP, Rose Red
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Pennants Die, Dimensionals®, Stocking Punch, White Bakers Twine, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Pink Grosgrain (retired)

I'm a little later in posting today than I normally am but I just had to share this card with you!! A good friend just had a baby girl last week and I needed to make a card for her. I wanted something special, not just your average easy peesy baby card so I came up with this one. I was inspired by a card Carrie Gaskin had made with the Best Friends Forever stamp set framing an item, thanks Carrie! I just noticed that I used the same sentiment too :) Totally unplanned but a happy coincidence, eh?

I combined it with a new-to-me challenge that I've wanted to play in forever but hadn't found the time. I haven't found time to play in many challenges beyond what I'm designing for so this felt really really good! Definitely will make more time in the future, I think :) Anyway, the challenge is for Freshly Made. I did move it around a little bit, not much, just a little! The basic sketch is still there.

I used the stockings and shortened them by cutting off the top 1/4" (?) and then added the cuff. The two were glued together and then I punched a teeny hole to thread the Baker's Twine through. The two scallop circle shapes were die cut from the Pennants die and then I threaded grosgrain ribbon through the holes of the top one.

Hope you like my card! Have a fabulous day!!!

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Inkspirations Challenge #97

Stamps: Scenic Season, Tags til Christmas
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Night of Navy
Ink: VersaMark®, Night of Navy, Marina mist, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Vanilla Seam Binding, Rhinestones

Good morning! I returned to a new Christmas card for this week's Inkspirations challenge. I needed another one for the class I'm holding this evening so this is one that the class attendees will make. I kind of omitted that piece that's behind the oval in the sketch and I changed the oval to a piece of Top Note die. What do you think?

Please check out the challenge and the rest of the DT's cards on the Inkspirations blog. Hope you have a great day!

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Create with Connie & Mary - 177

Stamps: Three Little Words, God's Blessings, Fabulous Florets, Just Believe
Paper: River Rock, Whisper White
Ink: River Rock, Lucky Limeade, Night of Navy
Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Vanilla Grosgrain, Dimensionals®

Good morning! I can hardly believe that November is almost over! Before we know it, Christmas will be here ... in the mean time, for today's Create with Connie and Mary challenge, I decided to make something non-Christmas. I know, I know ... we're all looking for inspiration for those last minute Christmas cards! BUT, I had to escape from the for a bit!!

I started out by inking up my embossing folder with a brayer and the River Rock ink (still hate this colour - looks like throw-up) and then embossed the white background. Creates a really fun background effect. I learned this technique from Di Gibbs, thanks Di!!!!!

Then, I stamped the leaves in the background of the smaller white piece and added a flower on top. I'd stamped the words first and then stamped the flower over top. Then, I just sponged a bit and cut out :)

Anywho, hope you like my card today!!! Please check out the challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary! Can't wait to see what you create!

New Tutorial!

Before I get into today's project, I wanted to let you know about the AMAZING deal that Stampin' Up! has going on right now! Online Extravaganza, our annual sale to kick off the holiday shopping season, will begin Monday, November 21, 2011, and run through Wednesday, November 30, 2011!!! Log in to my ONLINE STORE (www.reneevs.stampinup.net) on Monday, November 21 to take advantage of these wonderful savings such as:

• FREE digital downloads valued at $40 when you buy My Digital Studio Express
• 60% off select Designer Fabrics
• 30% off an exclusive ribbon bundle!
• PLUS...two items, on sale for 24 hours only (Nov 21, 12:01am - 11:59pm)

Check them out early so you don't miss out!

Good morning! I've finally gotten a new tutorial put together! This time, I chose to make a video tutorial as it's SO much easier to show how to put something together rather than try and figure out the best way to say something.

This is a cute little purse that I made for each of my daughters. They have put their chap sticks and a few other things in there but really, you could put quite a few things in there! You can purchase this tutorial from me for $2.99 CDN. Just click on the Paypal link below :) Once purchased, I will email you the link to the video as well as the password!

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Inkspirations Challenge #96

Stamps: Stitched Stockings, Friends Never Fade, Four the Holidays
Ink: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Real Red
Accessories: Whisper White Embossing Powder, Dimensionals®, Jingle Bell, Organdy Ribbon, Vanilla Satin ribbon, Edgers die (Paper Trey Ink), Linen Thread

I haven't played much with this stamp set. I love it but for some reason or other, I cannot figure out what to do with it. Odd ... I've seen fabulous ideas using it, though!

Anywho, this one is really simple, overall :) Hope you like it and are inspired to play along with us over at Inkspirations!

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Create with Connie & Mary - 176

Stamps: Finest Flourish, Pursuit of Happiness
Paper: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, First Edition DSP, Patterns DSP Stack, Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Dimensionals®, Glimmer Brad, Scallop Circle punch, Little Leaves Sizzlit

Good morning! Welcome to a new Create with Connie and Mary challenge! This week, Connie and Mary have come up with an interesting sketch. I flipped it to fit with what I felt like doing :)

This card has oodles and oodles of sponging. Took me a little while, but I love the result. Don't you?

Please check out the challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary! Can't wait to see what you create!

Colour Q Challenge #111

Stamps: French Foliage, Pursuit of Happiness, Established Elegance
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, DSP Stacks, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Stazon™, Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Lace Ribbon Border punch, Dimensionals®, Crochet Trim, Bird Punch

I have seen this stamp set used by some of my very favorite stamping artists and so I just had to get it! So, I played around with it for the Colour Q challenge this week. As you can see, I added black and used an infinitesimal amount of pumpkin but I think overall it works, don't you?

Hope you like it, anyway :) Please check out the challenge over at ColourQ and see what the Royal Court has come up with for these colours!

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Merry Christmas

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Tags ‘Til Christmas, Hand Penned, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler, Stazon™
Accessories: Rhinestone, Dimensionals®, Ornament Punch, Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Cherry Cobbler/White Baker’s Twine

Here's another sample for an upcoming class! I'm hosting a card making class at my children's school as part of a fundraising crop at the end of November. So, I'm trying to keep them all different. Do you know how hard that can be when all I feel like using is Crumb Cake as a card base?! Not easy at all!

Hope you like my card! Have a great day :)

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Inkspirations Challenge #95

Stamps: Snow Much Fun, Snow Swirled
Ink: Stazon™, Whisper White, various for colouring
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Newsprint DSP, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Fabric, Black Satin, Northern Frost Decorative Strip die, Watercolour Crayons, Dimensionals®

Okay, we're back with a Christmas card after last week's bright, non-Christmassy colours! Before I get into the card, do you see what I see? I saw it right away and howled with laughter! This card will definitely have to have a carefully chosen recipient.

I decided to play with fabric for my stamp club this past month. I don't play with fabric to sew but I'll put it on a card or a scrapbook page! The snowman was coloured in with ink, watercolour crayons, and an AquaPainter.

Hope you like my card! Please check out the challenge over at Inkspirations and play along with us?!

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Create with Connie & Mary - 175

Stamps: Gently Falling, Thoughts and Prayer
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper
Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Basic Black Taffeta, Dimensionals®, Top Note Die, Color Spritzer Tool

Good morning! Welcome to a new Create with Connie and Mary challenge! This week, Connie and Mary have come up with a nice colour combination. I'm not really "into" fall anymore, but with the American Thanksgiving coming up, I suppose I could make a fall card :)

I haven't played with my Colour Spritzer tool in a while so I figured it would make a neat background in and amongst those leaves - breaks up the vanilla a little more, don't you think?

Please check out the challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary! Can't wait to see what you create!

Colour Q Challenge #110

Stamps: Doily, Inspired by Nature, Hand Penned
Paper: Pool Party, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink: Pool Party, Soft Suede, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Dimensionals®, AquaPainter, Sponge Daubers, Basic Pearls

Good morning! I've got a new card today for the ColourQ challenge! I actually made myself sit down and stamp the other day when a friend came over to do something crafty. I really had no desire to stamp but in the end, I enjoyed the process and came up with this beauty!

I got the Doily background stamp finally so I had to play with it. .I stamped it with Pool Party ink (stamped off once first) and then I added the flowers. To ink up those flowers, I used daubers and the three colours of ink. After I stamped it, I added a bit more ink with an Aquapainter.

Check out the challenge on the ColourQ blog and see what the Royal Court has come up with!

Talk to you later,

Renée

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"back into the swing of things" card

Stamps: Button Buddies, Snow Much Fun
Paper: Whisper White, Lucky Limeade
Ink: Stazon™, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Designer Folders Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler/White Bakers Twine, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals®, Designer Button

Ahhh ... Monday's are now "free"posting days! No more display stamper stuff or anything! LOL :) Way back when, when I was struggling with getting my mojo back, I made myself start with something very simple. The simpler, the better. This was it. And you know what? I LOVE it! I loved it so much that it really did get me back into stamping! It's so incredibly simple, but those embossing folder frames are to-die-for - totally worth getting, IMO.

Anywho, hope you like my "back into the swing of things" card! Have a great day :)

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Inkspirations Challenge #94

Stamps: Raining Flowers, Friendly Phrases
Ink: Melon Mambo, Stazon™
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Old Olive
Accessories: Lattice Die, Pink Button, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Dimensionals®, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

Good morning! I was inspired for this week's Inkspirations colour challenge by Nancy Riley. A looooooooooong time ago, she had made a card using the Lattice die as a part of the background and I just LOVED that! I cased the layout too, although I played around with it a little so it's not a complete "case" :)

Anyway, again we are using purple. I'm seriously learning to like using purple so thanks, Keesh, for constantly challenging me! Love it!!!

Anywho, hope you like my card! It's not a Christmas card but as a December baby myself, I'm always sensitive to receiving Christmas cads on my birthday ... ugh, it does happen seeing as how my birthday is so very close to Christmas!

In other news, I think I'd mentioned a while back that my mum had been diagnosed with cancer back in April, right? Either way, she was. She went through her treatments and then at her latest checkup, she has been told that it spread throughout her abdomen, chest, and neck. Treatment is not possible, only palliative care ... we're praying for a miracle. She's only 56 ... way too young, IMO. We don't know what any of this means, she will have other appointments to discuss what happens next. Will you pray for her?

Check out the inspiration over at Inkspirations and play along with us!

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Create with Connie & Mary - 174

Stamps: Dasher, Heard From the Heart, Medallion
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, VersaMark, Whisper White
Accessories: 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch. Clear Embossing Powder, Sponges, Dimensionals®

Good morning! Welcome to a new Create with Connie and Mary challenge! This week, Connie and Mary have come up with this amazing sketch. It took me a bit to figure out how to play with those three vertical strips, but once I had that figured out, the rest came together really quickly.

This is a card for an upcoming class so you'll have to forgive me if I'm short on the how-to's :)

Please check out the challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary! Can't wait to see what you create!

Colour Q Challenge #109

Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Four the Holidays, Serene Snowflakes
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon™, Whisper White, various for colouring
Accessories: Dimensionals®, Pennant Die, Red Striped Grosgrain, Circle Die, Corner Rounder

Wow, these are different colours. I like the lamp - don't love it - it's a bit 70's to me and I'm not a fan of the 70's décor ... was happy to see it stay in the past! But, alas, I had to create something with these colours even though they didn't scream at me to use them ... LOL! ach, drama, eh?

Well, after playing around for a while, I managed to put something together that I really liked! What do you think?

Check out the challenge and the Royal Court's creations over at ColourQ and play along with us?!

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