A Recycled Cereal Box

Who knew an old cereal box could turn into something so cute! Hee! I created this magazine holder with a recycled cereal box for my last 3-d project for the Artisan Awards contest. Here it is:





Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Vintage Vogue, Always, Hope Happens
Ink: Versamark; Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum classic ink
Paper: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White cardstock; Rich Razzleberry textured cardstock
Accessories: Soft Suede polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Clear circle rhinestones, Hemp Twine, Circle Punch, Dimensionals

It's pretty easy to make at home- I just used a marker and a ruler to draw the lines where I wanted to cut the box and then cut it out. Then, just decorate and you've got a fun, cute place to put all your Stampin' Success magazines! I think I might make another one of these for my studio area... I did a lot of hand cutting for the front of the box. I wanted to add a pretty detail that framed the quote. I love how pretty the branch flowers from the Always set turned out.

Don't forget to checkout the other Artisan Award winner's blogs! We've got a few more days on our blog hop!

Heather Van Duker
Elizabeth Price
Renee Ballard
Angela Timms
Jodie Olver
Becky Cowley
Andrea Munro
Richard Garay
Tessa Wise (you are here)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Saying goodbye to one of my favorites...

Hi! Hope you are enjoying your Saturday morning... my hubby just got back from Starbucks with our favorite Saturday morning treat and now we are set to read the paper together before we start our day. I love Saturdays!

With Stampin' Up!s upcoming Color Renovation, 30 of the current colors will be retired. It seems like a lot but with the additions of some of the great past and current In Colors, plus the addition of 5 new core colors, we will still have plenty to choose from. In fact, I feel my creativity blooming more because of the changes. I am all for it!

That said, I am very sad to have to say goodbye to some old favorites... Ruby Red will probably be the most missed out of all of them. I've got a little stock pile of cardstock incase I need it but I try to work SUO (Stampin' Up Only) when I work with my SU! stuff so who knows how often I'll actually pull it out... Anyways, this card's for you Ruby Red!



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set, Tiny Tags set
Ink: Ruby Red, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron classic inks
Paper: Confetti White, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Kraft cardstock; Ruby Red textured cardstock
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Paper piercer, Scallop Edge punch, Scallop Circle punch, Jewelery Tag punch, Dimensionals

This card is also for this weeks Just Add Ink color challenge! Hee! I had so much fun playing along- I might even make some more cards with this pallet... If you have time, check out their great challenge blog and play along!

OK! I'm off to enjoy the weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

A Wedding Card for Gallery Idol...

Hi!

Have you heard about the Paper Craft's Gallery Idol Contest? I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the 20 finalists to participate in the second round! The cards go live today and you can begin voting for your favorite at noon (mountain time)!! Here is the link, in case you want to go vote right now! Hee!

So, today I can share the card I chose to submit. I absolutely love the quote! Here it is:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Always set, Full of Life set, Petal Pizazz set
Ink: Basic Black, Going Gray Classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Baja Breeze cardstock; patterned paper by Making Memories
Accessories: Valet ribbon originals ribbon, 1/2" circle punch, White embossing powder; glitter brads by Making Memories; flower rhinestones by Hero Arts

I am really happy how it turned out! I love black and white for a wedding and pairing it with Baja Breeze seemed to soften it a little. I used some of my favorite flower stamps... you can never have to many! Hee!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the contestants made!! Make sure you stop by the Paper Crafts website to check them out and vote!

Thanks for popping in today! Hope you have a great Monday!

-tessa

A KWerner Color Challenge...

When I saw the latest Color Inspiration Challenge on Kristina Werner's blog this week, I couldn't help but play along! The colors were so rich and gorgeous! Here is what she challenged us with:



And here is what I made:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set
Ink: More Mustard, Really Rust, Going Gray, Basic Gray Classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Really Rust cardstock; Autumn Vine DSP
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Very Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon, Stamping Sponges, paper piercer, White Signo Gel pen, Scallop Edge punch, Dimensionals

I decided to go with an old, favorite stamp set, Always... I haven't used it in so long! It was one of my very first Stampin' Up! purchases and definitely worth every penny! Don't you love sets like that!

I also used my favorite technique, emboss resist with the heart... I layered it to incorporate more colors to the design and added a Very Vanilla mat to really make it pop off the background. I wanted to keep it simple so I tried not to go overboard on all the little things... sometimes I have a habit of that! Hee!

Thanks for taking a peek today! I am thinking of taking my girls to explore a new park... it is too perfect outside to stay inside!

-tessa

Back to Blogging!

I had such a great week last week! My cousin Shirlie flew in from Washington state to spend part of her spring break with us. We had fun but, I really slacked on the old blog, didn't I! To make up for it, I'll share two cards today and give a little blog candy away!! First, the cards... I made them last week before I knew Shirlie was coming.

This one was made for Dawn McVey's latest Raspberry Suite color challenge:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set, Together Forever set
Ink: Basic Brown, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Cameo Coral classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cameo Coral, Riding Hood Red, Kraft cardstock; watercolor paper; Candy Lane DSP
Accessories: Very Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon, Top Not Die, Aqua Painter, Scallop Edge punch

I watercolored the main image and then popped it up, matting it in different colors for a layered effect.

This next card is just a simple one I created for any occasion:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Best Wishes and More
Ink: Regal Rose, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black classic inks
Paper: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Basic Black, Baja Breeze card stock; Patterned paper by Bo Bunny
Accessories: White Signo Gel pen, Paper Piercer, ribbon by American Crafts, buttons and thread- craft supply

The hearts are just stamped and cut out then popped on to the card front using dimensionals. I love the sentiment on this card because it really could be used for just about any happy occasion.

And, like I promised, some blog candy! I am loving the new stuff in the Occasions Mini Catty so I'll be giving away the Great Friend set:

the Walk in the Park DSP pack:

and a package of the Printed Window Sheets:


Just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite thing in the new mini is by 5:00pm (eastern) on Friday, April 17th and I'll randomly pick a winner! Good luck!

Blue and Chocolate Heart

Hello! I thought I'd post a card I made last night. My friend Nicole and I have been exchanging color challenges and here is our latest one- I found it on Williams & Sonoma:



I challenged us to use Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla. I thought I would do a Christmas card with these- (wouldn't snowflakes look pretty in these colors?) but ended up with my trusty Always set instead! Here is the card I made:



Here is the inside:


Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set, Together Forever set, En Francais background stamp
Ink: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Timber Brown Staz On
Paper: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla card stock; Bella Rose DSP, watercolor paper
Other: Scallop Edge punch, Aqua Painter, Very Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon

I first stamped the heart onto watercolor paper with Timber Brown Staz On ink. The Staz On is important as it does not bleed when water is added. I used my Aqua Painter to blend some of the residual ink from the Bashful Blue ink pad onto the heart. After that, I cut around the inside edge of the heart and inked it with Chocolate Chip ink and a sponge. I matted it onto Very Vanilla card stock with dimensionals and cut around it. Then, I stamped the heart image again onto Bashful Blue card stock. I cut around the outside edge of the dots this time and added a little ink to it, too! For the card, I stamped a piece of Bashful Blue card stock using the En Francais background stamp and Bashful Blue ink. I inked around its edges using Bashful Blue ink. Then I cut a strip of the Chocolate Chip printed paper from the Bella Rose collection to add to the side. Before I adhered it to the Bashful Blue panel, I added the Very Vanilla scallop edge. Next, I matted it onto a piece of Very Vanilla card stock and added it to my Bashful Blue card base. I love how it turned out!

I'm packing today to go on a fun scrapbooking weekend getaway to Nags Head, NC with some of my friends. I am getting excited!! Hopefully I'll have a few projects to share when I get home!

Thanks again for taking a look at my blog!

-tessa

Gotta Love Swaps!

Last week I had two swap cards due. One for a small group of SCS friends and the other for my Recollections girls! We haven't been able to get together for soo long so it was great to see everyone who came! I ended up making four different cards to choose from on Friday... Here are the winners!

For the SCS monthly swap:



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set
Ink: Versamark; Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive Classic Inks
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy card stock; Holiday Treasures DSP
Other: Silver brads, Scallop Edge Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

This card is a case of my own from earlier this year. I love the way the heart turned out with the blues- I used the emboss resist technique on it. I also love this color scheme- I think it may have been one of Kristina Werner's challenges!

For the Reco Girls:



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs set, Best Yet set(Hostess, Polkadot Background stamp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, More Mustard Classic Inks
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White card stock; Autumn Vines DSP
Other: Flower by Prima; Rounded Tab Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch all by Stampin' Up!

I thought I'd make a pocket card since they are kind of special. And, I've had this Autumn Vines DSP since preorder but only used it once so far! I love the colors in it!

And, here are the rejects... although I'm sure most of the Recollections girls would have preferred something a little easier!! (it was a shoebox swap)



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy set, Best Yet set (hostess)
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Paper: Kraft, Pirouette Pink, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip card stock
Other: Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon, Curly Label punch, Scallop edge punch

Pretty and simple... my kind of card!

One more:



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Best Wishes and More set, Polkadot Background stamp
Ink: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Chocolate Chip Classic Inks
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Chocolate Chip card stock
Other: Silver Brad, Scallop Edge punch, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals

I decided to veto this one because of all the cutting... three snowflakes on each card! Yikes!

Anyways, those are my shares for now! I hope they inspire someone out there to get out the ink! Hee!

-tessa

Some Simple Cards...

I made some quick cards last weekend at a crop and thought I'd share today! Here they are!


Sweet Hello Card:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Say it With Scallops set
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette Classic Ink
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip card stock; Sweet Always DSP
Other: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Square punch, 1/2 Circle punch, Dimensionals

Pretty Orange Heart Card:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal Classic Ink
Paper: Kraft, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White card stock; Sweet Always DSP
Other: Scallop Edge punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Fall Friendship Card:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Season of Friendship set (from the new mini!!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Sage Shadow Classic Ink
Paper: Sage Shadow, Really Rust, More Mustard, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip card stock; Autumn Vine DSP (from the new mini!!)
Other: Crystal Effects, Antique Brads, Dimensionals

Ruby Flowers Card:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Embrace Life set
Ink: Ruby Red, Always Artichoke Classic Stampin Ink; Versamark
Paper: Always Artichoke, Baja Blue, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Ruby Red card stock
Other: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, White Embossing Powder, White Signo Gel Pen, Antique Brads, Dimensionals


I got them all done in one night so I was pretty excited! Sometimes I can go crop and only get one done!! Too much chatting and not enough stamping...

I had some good news today on Kristine Werner's blog! I made her top 15 this week! Yeah! After stalking her blog all weekend to see who she picked, it is a great surprise!

Hope your week is going great! Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

Sharing some more little goodies!

Today I worked on a color challenge Nicole sent me earlier in the week. I decided to make some more mini cards. The are great because the smaller stamped images really stand out! Here is her inspirational picture:



She challenged me to use Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Blue Bayou, Whisper White, and Kiwi Kiss. I really like this color scheme so you may be seeing it quite a few times this month! Here are my little cards:

A quick thank you card:



I confess, I used the new Pacific Point instead of Brilliant Blue... I just love that color!!

Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Live Your Dream set
Ink: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin' Ink
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Whisper White card stock; Summer Picnic DSP
Other: Scallop Edge punch, 1/2" Circle punch, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Paper Piercer

Here is my 2nd card:



I stamped in Versamark and heat embossed the heart with clear embossing powder. Then I sponged Bashful Blue and Blue Bayou ink around the heart to give it some great color!

Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set
Ink: Blue Bayou, Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Ink; Versamark
Paper: Blue Bayou, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White card stock; Bella Rose DSP
Other: White Grosgrain ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge punch

And here is my last creation! It is a candy holder!




Again, I used Pacific Point instead of Brilliant Blue. I'll try Brilliant Blue later this week to see which I like better! Hee!

Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Eastern Blooms set, Cute and Curly set
Ink: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Ink
Paper: Pacific Point textured card stock; Whisper White, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss card stock
Other: Black ribbon and brad by Lasting Impressions; Dimensionals

Anyways, I've been trying to keep busy making things! Hope you all have a good weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

Real Red & Yo-Yo Yellow...

For the month of July, Nicole challenged me to use this as my inspiration to design a card and a scrapbook page:



From the cake, she took Real Red, Yo-Yo Yellow, and a splash of Only Orange as her main colors. Here is what I did with it:



Goodies:
All products Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Dreams DuJour Set; Polka Dot background
Ink:Real Read, Only Orange, Yo-Yo Yellow, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Yo-Yo Yellow card stock
Other: Stickles by Ranger, Dimensionals, water pen

I watercolored the butterflies and the flowers with my water pen and inks. The butterflies were hard to cut out but I'm glad I did! I love this card! Isn't the glitter pretty!

Here is a closeup of the butterflies:



I had made another card first. After I was done, I realized I've cased myself! I keep making the same card in different colors, Yikes! Here it is anyways:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Always set
Ink: Real Red, Yo-Yo Yellow, Only Orange, Basic Brown, Versamark
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Only Orange, and Yo-Yo Yellow card stock
Others: Clear Embossing Powder, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop edge punch, Dimensionals

I stamped the heart in Versamark before inking it up with the brown. That way I could emboss over it, even though it is a dye ink.

I do have a scrapbook page, too but I still have to add the pictures! I've been out of ink and time to have them printed so still it sets on my desk...

One more picture! My husbands Mom and Dad sent a package to the girls last week and this is what was inside! The girls loved them! All day suckers... only a Nana would buy, right! Hee! Here is Natalie enjoying her treat:



Hope you have a great weekend! I'm planning to spend some time making cards for a swap I joined and for the upcoming Collector's Club Class! I'll be holding one at Kristen's house on September 13th featuring Dreams DuJour set!!!

-tessa

Scrapbooking Page... a Challenge!

It is weird because I started out as a scrapbooker. I started making cards as a way to use up my scraps from my pages. Somewhere along the way, cards became easier for me! Today though, I am posting a page! My friend Nicole swapped color challenges for the month of June and challenged each other to make a few cards and a scrapbook page. Here is mine using her challenge for me, to use Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, and Basic Black all together:


Here is a closeup of the floral embellishment:


Funny, this didn't come together very quickly! I had the idea for the layout in my mind at the beginning of the month and added a little here and there until this morning, when it finally came together! I had to alter the letter stickers a little, I used the same stamp as the blue flowers and I think they look OK.

I also made one more card for her challenge:

This one is growing on me! At first, I thought it was way too busy to look at but now I like it. I love the way the outer floral pattern came out. The idea for this came from my friend Dawnette! She did this with another stamp and I just loved how it turned out!

Anyways, as you can see, I had a lot of fun with Nicole's challenge this month! I'll post a few from my own color challenge tomorrow!! Mine was a little more difficult...

Have a great day!

-tessa

Color Inspirations...

Today when I was checking in on my favorite blogs, I found a color inspiration challenge by Kristine Werner. I thought I'd give it a shot! Her challenge was to use these colors together in one card:






Not Quite Navy
Old Olive
So Saffron
Bashful Blue
Whisper White


I decided to use the Always stamp set yet again!! I think I am addicted to it! Here is my card:



I used the emboss resist technique on the heart with basheful blue and not quite navy ink. The flowers in the background are stamped with versamark for a subtle look. Here is a closer look at the heart:

If you haven't tried a Color Inspiration Challenge before, you really should! It is lots of fun and keeps the creative juices flowing!!

Thanks for looking today!

-tessa

Just a card...

This one I made last night. I am planning on making 5 more and sending them into a swap I joined.

I used Stampin' Up's Always stamp set. It is a great on and I think it may be my most used set! I just love the heart!

I am really liking the color scheme of Kraft, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, and Cameo Coral... They look soo pretty together!! Very shabby chic spring...

As for the techniques, I first inked up the edges of the kraft paper with a makeup sponge and Creamy Caramel ink. I stamped the sentiment in the corner. The berries are done using 2nd and 3rd generation stamping onto the certainly celery piece. I also tore the edge and rolled it up a little onto itself with my finger. I added the blue scallop diecut (Scrapdoodles) and trimmed the edge to line up with the kraft base. The heart is done using the emboss resist technique. To do this, I first stamped the heart with Versamark onto Vanilla cardstock. I embossed using clear embossing powder. I then used a makeup sponge to dab ink over the image. I started with Pretty in Pink, then added Regal Rose around the outside edges and finished by going over it with Cameo Coral to brighten it up. This technique is a lot of fun to play with!! I cut the image out and popped it over the same image stamped in Regal Rose. I cut this out and matted it with Cameo Coral cardstock. The ribbon was the last bit I added...

As always, please email me if you have any questions regarding my techniques or products. I am always happy to help out a fellow crafter!