Tracey Stamps

Stamper's Showcase Sunday

by Mary Ellen Stites

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

And because I love you and all your family, I thought I would share this little gem... :-)

HUGE Sale!

 

You are seeing that right! There's a huge sale on my Stampin' Up! Online store right now, so go check it out!  Just click the photo of the Idea Book and Catalog on the right and then click "Shop Now" in the top right corner.  There are some great deals!

Blog Banner Evolution

A few months ago I decided I wanted my own look for my blog.  The quick way to make a blog your own is to have a unique blog banner.  I didn't have any money to spend for a designer to do their magic (and I really couldn't justify the expense even if I did), so I decided to test out my Photoshop skills and make my own.  First came this...

This banner was a great learning device.  I learned how to customize my blog settings to match colors, I stretched my mouse finger a bit, and in general gained some experience and computer/blog savvy.  Then I decided I wanted something that was a bit more my style and that reflected my Stampin' Up! love.  So I worked really hard and made this...

So proud.  Like my second baby... I had a little experience and the fear of major mistakes was eased, so I branched out.  But it's a bit rough around the edges.  Fortunately for me, SU! announced My Digital Studio about 2 weeks later.  And now I have FINALLY gotten around to making a new banner!  Check it out!

 

MDS made this so easy. It's so nice and clean and polished looking.  Hmm... what else can I make?

Stamper's Showcase Sunday

By Jennifer Dimmer

Night of Navy Shimmer

Woo!  In just under the line!  If you haven't noticed, I've been posting a lot.  It's a goal/challenge that some undertake to post everyday in November.  It was really easy the first half of the month... I just posted all of the things I had made the last few months.  Now the work is really beginning!  I have found that it is really working out for me though.  I have been stamping more already!  That's the goal.  I want to be more consistent in making time for my hobby/business and the accountability of keeping up this blog is really working.  So thanks for reading... you are keeping me busy!  ~:-D

So after a busy morning with my hostess club ladies and afternoon out seeing a movie (I'll give you 3 guesses which one) I have a quick and easy card for you.  Then it's to bed with me.  Thanks for looking!

 

Stamp Sets: All Holidays, Serene Snowflakes  Ink: Night of Navy  Paper: Shimmer White, Night of Navy  Accessories: Frost White Shimmer Paint

My Herringbone Card

Isn't that panel just lovely?  This card is a CASE of Dawn Olchefske's card here using the Herringbone technique.  I love that you can use scraps for this technique and that each time you do it you will get a unique result.  Dawn has a wonderful video of the technique, so check it out!

Stamp Set: Sweet Season  Ink: Garden Green and Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Garden Green markers  Paper: Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Merry Moments DSP

That Thing I Do

I do this thing... every once in a while I'll make a cute card element.  For which I have no purpose.  Then it sits.  And sits.  And every time I clean my desk, I find it and think, "I really need to make a card for this."  Then I set it down.  And it sits.  Such was the case with this pretty little butterfly.  I think it deserves more than a life of anonymity (holy cow, I spelled that right) buried under cardstock scraps. :-D

I used the Big Shot Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die to cut out the butterfly.  I combined the pieces and just tied a bit of linen thread to make the body and antenna.  Of course, this card has to involve shimmer paint.  I don't think I could make a card without it these days.  I buffed Champagne Mist shimmer paint all over the kraft card base.  It is also on the top layer and edges of the butterfly.  I cut out a 3" circle using my Circle Scissor Plus and embossed the swirls using the Big Shot.

I'm glad my pretty little butterfly found a home on this card!

Stamp Set: A Beautiful Thing  Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Sage Shadow  Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Sage Shadow, Autumn Meadows DSP  Accessories: Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

Decor Elements

Currently with the fabulous Gift Giving Guide from Stampin' Up!, if you buy $50 from the guide you receive a free Decor Element (value $16.95 or less).  I thought you might like to see this little video of how they work.  Enjoy! ~:-)

A Sketch Challenge

I love challenges!  A while back, I was doing color challenges out the wazoo.  They really helped me start to get a grasp on color combination and balance.  So... I've found a new (to me) sketch challenge called Mojo Monday.  Here is this week's sketch.

Pretty nice right?  Here's my take on it.

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs, All Holidays, Together Forever  Ink: Night of Navy, Real Red  Paper: Night of Navy, Baroque Blue, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments DSP  Accessories: Real Red grosgrain ribbon