boo-hoo!

I've had such a great time, a really great time, as Sharon Johnson's October Stamp Simply DT Guest, so I'm boo-hooing that the month has flown by so quickly! You can bet that I'll continue playing along, so stay tuned for more stamp simply installations!

Here are the deets for this week's challenge:

3 Panel Accordion - Accordion cards are some of my favorite things to make, and that's just what we'll do today. We're taking it easy with just 3 panels today. Your accordion may be as large or as small as you like it. It may serve as table decor or it may tie closed as a little gift waiting to be opened. Anything goes -- just do a 3 panel accordion card. But beware -- they are ADDICTING!!! Be sure to check out all the DT girls links to get some GREAT ideas and to get your juices flowing!

Sharon is sooo right about these accordian panel creations becoming quite addictive. I had every intention of making a Christmas themed accordian after having so much fun making this one, but I got distracted being "mom" and "wife", and that's OK, too!

I'd like to share instructions for my Boo accordian with you, because for me, the time it takes to make one of these is sometimes consumed by tweaking the measurements and layers to fit the ideas in my head. That's why I was so excited about making another Christmas accordian--because the measuring was all figured out!

1. cut base card stock 8 1/4 x 4 inches
2. score at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2" (or simply 2 3/4" in from each end)
3. fold panels and trim "tag" corners using your favorite method -- measure precisely or just wing it! (I actually measured 3/4" from each corner, marking lightly with pencil and cutting diagonally from point to point, through all layers with my guillotine cutter.)
4. cut 2 1/4" kraft squares and 2 3/8" black squares for each panel; stamp and/or decorate as desired
5. the patterned paper strips are cut 1 1/4" x 4", V-trimmed at one end, lined up on base and trimmed at top as needed.

Those are the measurements I used, but obviously you can tweak them and decorate each panel as you desire. I am really loving my buttons and felt lately, so I couldn't stop until I'd incorporated those elements as well. I can't wait to see what the rest of the Team Stamp Simply has done, so let's not delay:

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy

Thanks again, Sharon and the SS crew--it's been MY pleasure!
Amy

Materials
Stamps: Carved and Candelit (retired SU!)
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Distress Ink Walnut (Ranger)
Paper: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Kraft (PTI)
Patterned paper: Mistletoe (Making Memories); Jenni Bowlin 4x4 papers
Everything else: Thickers, staples, felt (loops), buttons & button twine (PTI)

Stamp Simply #110

Hip, hip, it's hip to be square! This week's Stamp Simply Challenge, in the words of our fearless leader, Sharon Johnson:

Feeling Square - Today's challenge has to do with shape -- squares. NO rounded corners on todays card -- so that means NO oval or circular punches or die cuts -- only square shapes. The card must be square, any size, as long as it's square and all layers added must have squared corners. Only your small embellishments can be round or oval -- so you can use buttons, brads, primas, etc. as embellishements, even though they may be round. So if you're feeling a little square, today is YOUR day!

My card uses Sweet Bee by The Rummage Bin in Perfect Plum, Spring Moss and Vanilla. The subtle backgrounds (dots, script, pussy willows) are stamped in Sahara Sand, with touches of vanilla around the edges to soften things up a bit. My only not-square element is the tied plum button, and I love that it also softens the sketch and stands as the token round embellishment.

I'm excited to see what the rest of the SS crew has squared up for our viewing pleasure!

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy will be back next week...

See you Saturday with another SFYTT!

Stamp Simply #109

This week's Stamp Simply challenge is to create a gate fold card. Mine is pretty simple, straightforward -- a 8.5 x 5.5 sheet of cardstock, scored 2 1/8" in from each end, resulting in an A2 card when folded. The patterned paper is cut at 2 x 5 3/8" on the outside, and my inside vanilla layer is 4 x 5.25" or you could even go with 3.75 x 5", too.

I made this card for a wedding we're invited to on Saturday, and that I'm playing for as well. Their invitations were very simple in kraft, embellished with printed leaves, so I kept with fall colors. My patterned paper is from DCWV Indian Summer Fall Stack, layered on Dusty Durango, with a 1" Chocolate Chip belly band. The belly band is topped with chocolate grosgrain and a die cut vanilla oval, stamped with their initials using PTI's Fresh Alpha and a damask from Vintage Labels. The "J" was computer generated using Edwardian Script font.

Just a little tip on layering the oval atop the ribbon: I fashioned my bow for length and the look I was going for, but before attaching my stamped oval, I cut another same size oval and stapled the ribbon to it; then attached my stamped oval on top. I did this because I didn't want that ribbon slipping and sliding around, and the layered ovals also hid the staples.

The inside panel is stamped with retired SU! -- leaf from Botanicals and the sentiment from one of the All Year Cheer sets.

Let's see what the rest of the Stamp Simply girls have done with their gate fold cards, and BTW, I am having a ball participating in these challenges this month--a great group of girls and fun challenges!

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy

Have a great Thursday eve/Friday, and remember to use keyword: ssnotime109 when uploading to SCS. See you Saturday with a new SFYTT!

Stamp Simply #108

I'm so lucky to be part of Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge team as October Guest Designer, and here's my creation for this week's challenge:

Krafty Black -- Today's challenge is in honor of all those who LOVE Kraft paper. The added element is that we MUST use black paper as well -- anything else goes, as long as you have both Kraft and Black paper in your creation. And, if you don't own Kraft paper, do your best to use whatever you have that is as close as possible. As always, we're an easy bunch. We just want you to play and have some fun with us!

There you have it, a fun and pretty easy challenge (for a kraft and black lover like me, anyway)! My creation is one of these fun little totes made with SU!'s Top Note die and a mini paper bag. Here is my original source for these fun little bags: akjuda on SCS.

Just a little background on the monogram - KBA: it stands for King Bee Apiary which is owned and operated by a wonderful friend and co-worker of mine. She and her hubby have started a little honey bizness (get it?!), selling hand made soaps and honey. I can tell you from personal experience how wonderful both products are! Anyway, I just had to have this set from The Rummage Bin, Sweet Bee, and thought it would make a great little monogram for my friend's bizness with the king's crown hanging on that big ol' B. The K and A are from PTI's Fresh Alpha, so clean, so crisp!

Just for a bit of added regal-ness, I ran the kraft card stock through my Big Shot with the argyle embossing plate from SU!. I think I'd probably die cut the kraft layer first, and then emboss secondly, because it lost a bit of it's embossing the second time I ran it through with the Top Note die. I know, some of you are probably thinking, yah-duh, didn't you think of that first? I have to tell you that sometimes when I get an idea, I just run with it, impulsively at times, and don't "think" of all those things...kwim?!

Have a fantastic Thursday night/Friday all, and please play along with this "krafty" challenge, using keyword: SSNOTIME108 at SCS and/or linking your creation over at Sharon's blog. Be sure to check out the rest of the SS sisters by clicking on their names below.

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy

I'll be back Saturday morning with another fabulous SFYTT!

A {WCMD} Gobble from Sprinkle!

Welcome! You may have happened upon my blog from the Moxie Fab World Countdown to World Card Making Day blog hop. Cath has been our tour guide around the world this week, making her final stop in the states, if you will. I was so very thrilled when Cath asked little old me to join the hop, and it really got me thinking about the annual WCMD event. I'll be spending a few hours stamping with a small group of friends tomorrow and am thoroughly looking forward to it! What are your plans for WCMD?

Before I share a card with you, I have to tell you that Cath has offered up some jam packed fabuloso prize packages each day this week, so don't forget to stop along the entire blog hop and leave a little love in the comment section at each blog in order to increase your chances at winning today's prize package showcased at Moxie Fab World.

There is another Blog Tour going on that spotlights 25 fabulous paper crafters that you must check out HERE. You'll be able to visit their blogs for additional card making ideas as well as a 25% off discount code to use at the Paper Crafts online store.

In addition to all that, you can upload your very own creations to the WCMD gallery and become eligible to win a prize on both the Paper Crafts Connection blog and the Moxie Fab World blog! Prize winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 6. Finally, you can also enter the WCMD contest where you will have the chance to be published in the March/April 2010 issue of Paper Crafts magazine. Whew, I know that was a bit of information overload, but the bottom line is this: have fun on WCMD and if you can, visit Moxie Fab World and/or Paper Crafts Magazine for lots of ideas and contests!

The card I'm sharing with you today is two-fold for me. I am showing off a fun Sprinkle Thanksgiving image that will be available to you mid-month from The Cat's Pajamas. Secondly, I'm joining Sharon Johnson and her Stamp Simply crew for the month of October--fun, fun! The Stamp Simply challenge for this week is ABC/123--making letters and numbers our focal image (keyword: ssnotime107). Sprinkle, with her paper pieced feathers, is doing her best to steal the show from the chocolate covered chipboard letters, but they've got her surrounded! Be sure to see what the rest of the girls have done with their ABC's and 1-2-3's: Sharon, Jenny, Jennifer, AJ, Barbara, Deborah, Janine, Julie and Tammy.

Have a wonderful Friday and be sure to give yourself a little stamping love on Saturday for WCMD!