cards from my weekend away

I went away on a crafting weekend (see previous post) and these are some of the results of my playing (the word "working" was not allowed--we were "playing" the whole weekend!!) I have an upcoming workshop so I wanted to prepare some samples.

This is one of my favorites from the weekend. I inked up my Medallion stamp for the first time!! I used sketch #231 from Split Coast Stampers for my layout. I love the crushed curry/soft suede color combo from Stampin' Up's In Color series!! The distressed edges seem to work well with the speckled Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp. You know, I think that's probably my most used stamp. I just love the effect it gives!! The sentiment is from the Refuge and Hope set and is one of my favorite scripture passages.The silver embossed Medallion is another pretty use of this very versatile stamp. I cut it out on the right hand side. The inside has a matted area for writing that covers the ribbon that runs across the card. The "happiness always" sentiment comes from the Whimsical Words set that is part of the Sale-A-Bration promotion going on through the end of March. Contact me for more info on how you can earn this free set!!!!The following card was inspired by something I saw on SCS a while ago. If I remember correctly, the brown floral in the original used rub ons but I wanted to use the Vintage Vogue set (from the Occasions Mini Catalogue, which runs through the end of April) for the delicate border. I just LOVE bashful blue and chocolate chip together, don't you?? The corner rounder punch made that top corner a cinch. This was a super fast and easy layout!! Gotta love that!!Another super fast card to put together! It uses the Upsy Daisy set which is sooooo versatile!! Here I've just inked it with basic black. My Perfect Layers made the matting quick and .... perfectly layered!! LOL This is by far my most used and most favorite tool!!! If you like layering in your cards and scrapbooks as much as I do I would recommend this tool in a heartbeat!! The layout was inspired from Mojo Monday week #73. Visit this terrific site for loads of inspiration!! I really like the clean color combo of the kraft/black/white. There's beauty in simplicity! This little pouch was made with the Bloomin' Beautiful set. I can't remember where I saw the original that inspired me--probably SCS. I spend entirely too much time there!!! The flowers were water colored using Stampin' Up's blender pens and classic ink pads. The pouch is made of just three sides (front, back and bottom) adhered together at the top, so it can easily be modified to fit any need you may have. It was fun to put together and I will be experimenting with taller, shorter, wider and more narrow versions! What an easy way to gift some cookies or candies, small trinkets, or anything for that matter!! This may be what I use for one of my son's Valentine's Day treats for school. I'll be sure to post what I come up with!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Daria

Artist's Retreat Weekend

I had the wonderful pleasure to spend the weekend in the Pocono mountains with a super talented group of ladies at what we've dubbed our annual "Artist's Retreat". We decided that name was more appropriate than our earlier name of "Beading Weekend", as it has grown into much more than just beading and we felt it truly reflected the talent represented. We knew the level of creativity and craftsmanship surely deserved the classification of "art" and decided to call it so! It was so nice to not only get away from all of the distractions of home but to spend time crafting and chatting with such a terrific bunch!! The core group of ladies have been beading together for quite some time and have been kind enough to allow me and others to come along. It was heaven!! Crafting from morning into the wee hours with the occasional break for eating, drinking wine and conversing. Oh......I forgot to mention the jacuzzi and sauna! Like I said--heaven!!

I waisted no time in covering the breakfast nook table with stamping supplies!! Luckily, there was another table in the dining room! What a joy to work on a card from start to finish completely undisturbed!! To have the chance to stamp like that all weekend long.....bliss!!! I just wish I could have brought more supplies with me (meaning the other half of my stuff that wouldn't fit into the car!!)


My mom and master craftswoman (really!!) took a break from her usual Ukrainian folk crafts and played with some knitting. She eventually returned to the folk art knitting a sock with size 000 needles. Now, I don't knit but even I know that those are some tiny needles!!!!



Super talented beaders, jewelry makers and sisters Joanna and Elizabeth. Their bead work is absolutely gorgeous! They are both perfectionists and it shows in everything they make. I was very tempted to "borrow" a few things when they weren't looking!! Take a look at the 3-d Swarovsky crystal heart Elizabeth made while there. Just gorgeous!! I want one in purple, and one in red, and one in pink, and one in black, and..........


Joanna worked on figguring out the pattern for a braclet the whole weekend. I would have thrown it out the window after an hour but she persevered and finally did it! And she did it smiling! She eventually stepped away long enough to make a very pretty card.

The super sweet and equally talented Sophie standing with her beautiful beaded ornaments and card. She's a stamper at heart....she just doesn't realize it yet!!! She made a gorgeous card! AND she stayed up with me until 2 in the morning talking and crafting......a woman after my own heart!!!!! Aren't these ornaments just amazing?? She makes up each pattern as she goes! I can't copy those ornaments but I will be using her idea for embossing the Top Note with my new Cuttlebug Meadow Lark folder!!

Uber-cool Val intended on knitting a mohawk hat from her Pretty in Punk knitting book over the weekend. She was delighted to see that Elizabeth was making a necklace using a chainmail pattern and jumped at the chance to learn the technique. By the end of the day she had finished the necklace!! AND it was gorgeous!!! The card to the right was her first attempt at card making and she gave it her own special touch with great colors and some distressing!

Learning the technique............ Val with her choker half-way done........... the finished product!!!

Here are some stampers in the making trying their hand at watercoloring using reinkers. We had some really beautiful results! I'm so proud of you, ladies!!!

We decided that since this was an "Artist's Retreat" that we should create a gallery to display our works. The mantle became our spot to showcase all of the beautiful things we made. Thanks for a terrific weekend, all!! It was food for the soul!!!

Daria

Punch Workshop

I did a workshop showing the various uses of punches for a super group of ladies!! Besides the punches we also used the Big Shot--just loooooove that little machine!!! This first card uses the new Two Step Bird Punch. That little bird is just darling! I punched him out using the Cottage Wall designer paper series and used the Little Leaves sizzlet die since I wanted a little more green than the leaves that come with the punch. The sentiment is from Refuge and Strength. We used the Texturez plate for the polka dot layer. A little ribbon and DONE!!!! Card stock is Whisper White and Old Olive--so crisp together!! A big thanks to a super stamper and blogger--Julie Buhler from Paper Pleasing Ideas for inspiring this card!!


This next little project features the Pillow Box die which is just adorable! It's stamped with the Bella Toile background stamp in Certainly Celery on Whisper White card stock. The punches work perfectly with the sentiment which is from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue and is a free set that you can get with any $50 Stampin' Up purchase!! How cool is that?!? Contact me for more info on Stampin' Up products and this special promotion!


This last card features circle punches used in a Dahlia fold technique. This was my first attempt at this technique and was so much fun!! For a tutorial on Dahlia folding look here. I like using the Cottage Wall designer series papers with this technique since both sides of the paper are visible. I used Baroque Motifs for the flourish and the free Whimsical Words set from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue! I think the Orchid Opulence, Old Olive and Whisper White work beautifully together, don't you??

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a terrific day!!!

Daria

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Wishing everyone a very happy new year (and new decade!) full of health, prosperity and happiness........and losts of stamping and scrapping!!! After starting the new year surrounded by friends and family at my open house I'm ready to get my creative mojo flowing and post some new cards and projects! Check back soon!!!

Teacher Gift Set

In light of my new attitude in getting pro-active I'm posting my first photo!! This is a card set I made for my son's teacher as a Christmas gift. I used the Stampin' Up In Color series along with the Kind and Caring Thoughts stamp set.

I was inspired by a card by Beth Ann Wilson on SCS and the set came together fairly easily! I hope the recipient enjoys it! She's a wonderful teacher and deserves ten times more!!

Ingredients
stamps: Kind and Caring Thoughts
card stock: Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede
ink: same

The edges of the Soft Suede mat are distressed--it's a little hard to see in the photo.

Have a great day!!!

Blogging.....Take two!

Okay--can someone please tell me where I lost 4 months?? I started this blog in August with full intentions of posting regularly. I thought I could encourge myself to focus on my "creating" and not so much my "hoarding" of supplies. Anyway......POOF!!! 4 months gone! So the kids went back to school, extra-curricular activites started again, new routines, baby demanding more attention as he gets more active..........I get it! I'm kind of short on time. But I would have never guessed so much time had elapsed!! :( Please forgive me!! As I journey toward self-improvement I hope we can inspired each other to grow and become better! My immediate goals are to become more organized (in my crafting and in my overall life) and focus on doing and not planning to do. It just seems that every year as New Year resolution time rolls around I have the same list over and over again! I openly decree that this year will be different!!! How?? 1- I am determined to actually make it happen and 2-you will be here to keep me honest!!! ;) I hope you're willing to take this journey with me!!!

Getting Started......

Hi everyone!! I'm so excited to be starting this journey into blogging. It's my hope that you'll find something interesting, inspiring or just amusing here. I hope that you are patient with me as I get started blogging. I'm walking on thin ice here as my computer experience is VERY LIMITED!! I know, I know it's the 21st century, blah, blah, blah..... But I've been busy having babies the last 14 years!!! Anyway, I'm trying! I promise to post some new cards and projects soon...just for my visitors! So visit often and tell your friends!