a tisket a tasket a bermuda bay basket!

Just under the wire again but here is my entry for PPA26--anything BUT a card!  I saw this adorable basket on Jan Tink's blog and just had to try it. I'm sure lots of other people have made these already since Jan's post was from last year but as they {used} to say on TV "if you haven't seen it it's new to you"!   Anyway, this basket was so easy and fun to embellish.  The basket is made from 4 scallop envelopes cut with my Big Shot from Bermuda Bay CS.  I wrapped the basket in coordinating prints from the Thoroughly Modern DSP.  I cut another strip of Bermuda Bay for the handle and lined it with the Thoroughly Modern paper.  Can you see the handle close up?  I stamped my sentiment in a repeated pattern on the handle before I attached it to the basket, cute eh?!  Of course, the little bird on the flower is the star here.  The bird is made with the fantastic XL two-step bird punch available in the mini catalog.  But just punching out the paper wasn't enough!  His coordinating wing is run through the Big Shot with the swiss dot cuttlebug folder (my SU one is on order!) AND the bird got a spritz with champagne mist shimmer paint.  Oh so sparkle-y!

Here's a look at a second one I made with the Cottage Wall DSP.  I don't have a good picture of the inside but underneath all that delicious chocolate is another sentiment!  I cut a piece of Old Olive CS to place in the bottom of the basket.  This helps stabilize the basket and also gives the recipient a surprise when they finish all the chocolate.  Hope you've enjoyed my two little baskets--let me know what you think!

 supplies:

stamps: teeny tiny wishes; flight of the butterfly (flower)

paper: bermuda bay, rich razzleberry, old olive cs; thoroughly modern, cottage wall dsp
ink: bermuda bay, chocolate chip, old olive
xtras: two-step xl bird punch, daisies #2 die, scallop envelope die, cahmpage mist shimmer paint, rubbing alcohol, swiss dots cb folder, rivets from my stash

Get your morning perk @ PPA24

This isn't exactly how I imagined this card would turn out but here it is!  I hardly ever put things on an angle!  In fact, I always tease my Mom for putting almost everything on an angle!  So she should like this card, right?!  Anyway, I had three objectives with this one: 1) make a card for PPA24 featuring a fabulous Margaret Moody sketch (PPA is my absolute favorite challenge!) 2) use up some of my "holiday" paper in a not-so-holiday-way and 3) use a stamp set that I love but haven't inked up in quite awhile.  While it isn't exactly what I saw in my mind's eye, I still like it.  I think this will be one of my go-to layouts.  The colors are taken from the Holiday Lounge DSP on the bottom: Ruby Red, Taken with Teal and Sahara Sand.  I think the DSP looks a bit like bubbles percolating in the coffee machine, don't you?  I just love the vintage percolator image and the play on words for the sentiment--both from the Puns From the Past (#111676) set.  I think I used this set just once previously but I love all the images.  Before mounting the stamp to the wood block I separated the sentiment from the image (it was below the image) and mounted the sentiment on the side of the block so I could used them independently if needed, as I did here.  Did you notice the bottom border?  Can you guess what it is?  The sentiment is resting on a pretty big hint.  Yes, it's the Curly Label punch (#112208)!  I punched out 4 of them from my Ruby Red CS, lined them up side-to-side and taped them together.  Then I just attached them to my DSP as usual with any other border.  I've seen alot of cards in blogland using a similar Fiskars punch but since I'm trying to stick to only SU products, I thought I would try to match it.  Cool, eh?  For the sentiment, I punched a 3/16" hole with my crop-o-dile in the side of the curly label then threaded my Kraft taffeta ribbon {love} through and tied a knot.  I like the effect and thought it dressed up this otherwise simple card.  One other tip: Kraft ribbon is a fantastic match for Sahara Sand.  So there you have it, perfect with your morning coffee or afternoon tea or nighttime decaf.... 

Curtain Call: Act 11 UPDATE

How cool is this?!  Stacey Schafer picked my card as one of three Show Stoppers for Act 11 of her Curtain Call Color Challenge!  I am absolutely tickled pink...or maybe in this case tickled old olive?! We all love to get feedback {comments} on the cards and projects we post but when someone goes out of their way to say it's fantastic....well that is just the best feeling!  The Curtain Call challenge is great because it's a color challenge mixed with an inspiration piece.  So it's almost two challenges in one.  To use the colors in a card or project and you might even be inspired by the fabulous object Stacey has chosen.  Check it out! Thank you so much Stacey!

Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act 11

Ugh, this isn't a very good picture but it's the best I can do with my phone!  My usual camera is on a trip to Tanzania right now so you will just have to trust me that this looks way better IRL!  This card was made for the Curtain Call Color Challenge over at Stacey's Stamping Stage.  I've followed Stacey's blog for awhile--even back when it was a Jewelry color challenge--but this is my first entry.  The yummy colors and Amy Butler fabric (I {heart} her designs!) made my stamping fingers itch to create!  The main panel of Always Artichoke CS ran through my Big Shot (yes I am a proud owner now--whoot--thanks Mom!) with the SU exclusive Lattice die.  The lattice tops some Old Olive and Whisper White on a Going Gray A2 base.  The bird is so cute, isn't she?  She was punched with the Two Step Bird punch--new in the Occasions Mini Catalog (see button in my sidebar).  This punch is fab--it cuts the bird, her wing and the little branch peeking below the ribbon. Tons of opportunity for customizing as I did here with a piece of Old Olive DSP for her wing.  A length of whisper white organza ribbon is tied around the main panel and the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set delivers a perfectl pint-sized sentiment.  The most dazzling part of this card is lost in this photo but I treated the birdie with a spritz of Champagne Mist shimmer spray for a frosted effect.  Watch this video to learn how to make the shimmer spray with SU's shimmer paint--a fantastic Holiday Mini Catalog item that will continue to be available.  Whew, that was a chatty post!  Anyway, thanks for looking and be sure to check out the Curtain Call Color Challenge!
01/11/10 update: I was able to add a slightly better picture taken with my phone in natural daylight.  Can't wait to get my good camera back!

New look & shop online

How do you like the new blog background?  I can't take credit for it--the talented gals over at Cutest Blog on the Block designed it but I think it's a great winter theme don't you?  I am really loving gray lately and I am seeing it in many home and fashion designs--a great inspiration to me.  Another new addition to the blog is a more prominent button to my SU business website where online shopping is available 24/7.  Just click the {Baja Breeze} butterfly to go straight to my business website.  Isn't the butterfly cute?  Easy-peasy with My Digital Studio, ask me how!

NEW Catalogs!

New catalogs, new merchandise, oh boy!  It's the most exciting time of the Stampin' Up! year.  During the Sale-a-Bration (SAB) period (January 5 - March 31, 2010) any $50 order qualifies customers to choose any item from the Sale-a-Bration catalog for FREE.  If you order $100, you can choose TWO items.  How exciting is that?  And for the first time, Sale-a-Bration items include a new PUNCH (pg. 9 SAB catalog)!  Click on the catalog covers below to view the catalogs online or follow the links below the images.  If you are a customer, you should have already received these publications directly in your snail mail box.  If you did not, please let me know with an email.

2010 Sale-a-Bration Catalog

2010 Occasions Mini Catalog

All items in the Occasions Mini Catlaog will be available for purchase beginning January 5, 2010.  Any $50 order qualifies you to choose one item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog for FREE! Making Sale-A-Bration the best time of the year!