Introducing Sparkly Fun Friday -- Valentine's Day Style

Sparkly Fun Fridays features a sparkly or glittery project using shimmer paints, embossing powders, glitters, rhinestones... anything shiny to welcome the weekend in a fun way!!!

Hi everyone,

We love glitter!!! We love glitter!!! We love glitter!!! I feel like marching down the street wearing a sign, proclaiming my love for glitter. Just can't get enough.

There are so many glittery elements on this card, all with different methods. Unfortunately, it is so difficult to have it reflected in the photos. You'll have to click on the pics to view them larger. Trust me, they're there!!!

I love adding dimension on my cards and a good way to do that is by using the Movers & Shapers dies for the Big Shot. And here's a little tip: before you run your cardstock into the Big Shot, align a piece of DSP at the bottom of your cardstock so you can cut both layers at the same time.

I love how the Movers & Shapers die, the Full Heart Punch as well as the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set all coordinate to give the perfect layering effect.

Look at that heart-shaped peak-a-boo! The heart was stamped with a combination of Classic Ink and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint. The scalloped border is also sparkly since I sprayed it with a combo of rubbing alcohol and Champagne Mist as well. So much fun to make! You can change the look of any paper, cardstock or embellishment with a simple shimmery spray. Another bonus: it dries really quickly so you can use it almost right away.

Even the gorgeous Sending Love Specialty DSP is shimmery. Can you feel the love?! I can :-)

Have a nice stampin' day!

CeeCee

Introducing Sweet Treat Thursday !!

Sweet Treat Thursdays are all about food -- our other favorite topic -- and features ways to embellish/wrap/present something edible. CAUTION: May be hazardous to your waistline!

Hi everyone,

Today, will be the exception to the rule with a healthy homemade banana muffin. I got those funny footed silicone mold from my dear friend Caroline. I though they were so cute and wanted to try them but didn't want some icing on my breakfast treat for my 2 years old (sugar isn't such a good thing and icing for breakfast can be messy !!!).

So I came up with this : a punched piggy face on a toothpick...easy to put on, easy to take off, non-messy and turn out but be a cute nice puppet when you need a little entertainment!! So Mrs and Mr Piggy had a lot of fun, but I'm sorry to tell you that they are now at the cardstock hospital for a little surgery !! LOL, have fun creating for your kids, even just to see their eyes sparkling and having fun with them.

All punches and cardstock from SU!

Have a nice stampin' day!

Gen

Introducing Whatever Challenge Wednesday !! : FTL no 76

Whatever Challenge Wednesdays features a challenge from the blogosphere, chosen randomly.

Here's our pick for this week:

Hi everyone,

today I decided to choose a sketch challenge from Clean and Simple Stamping. I also tried a paper I had for a long time but had never used : Flock Together mix it with Kraft cardstock, taffetas ribbon and corduroy button and voilà!! The color combination are out of my comfort zone, but yet I really like how the card turned out.

I really like to create within boundaries, I'm not so good with a blank page in front of me. That's probably why I just love Challenges. Think about it, a big part of the work is already done for you, following a sketch is a easy way to create something fast, all the designing part is done for you.

Don't forget that you don't have to begin from scratch every time, let the others help, inspire and guide you.

Have fun creating and have a nice stampin' day!
Gen

Introducing Two 4 Tuesday - baby style

Two for Tuesday features 2 projects that are similar in either color, theme, layout or embellishment but... with a different twist!

Hi everyone,

Today we're introducing our Two4Tuesday segment and we've done it baby style! Here's my original design...

... and true to form, here's the 2nd card -- using the same stamp set, same DSP, same layout but in a different color scheme and orientation, and with a different image.

Of course, nothing's complete without a little glitter so I put some "blinged" my giraffe.

After having made those 2 cards, I just couldn't stop so I decided to make multiples.

I gotta tell ya, i'm so happy with this year's Sale-a-Bration choices. The Welcome Neighbor DSP pad is out-of-this-world! Because the paper is 6 " X 6", the patterns are small are lend themselves perfectly for making cards.

And here's all that I've ended up with! A fun group of baby cards -- clean and simple yet striking.

So many of them, I love it. I hope this inspires you to make baby cards. Spring is coming and we know what that means -- babies are going to start sprouting out everywhere around us.

Have nice stampin' day!

CeeCee

Introducing Quickie Mini Monday !!

Quickie Mini Mondays feature a 10 minute-or-less project -- something fast, fun and easy to reproduce and mass produce.

Hi everyone,

When I received my order from the new Occasions Mini I was so eager to play that I made this simple and fast card using some of my new toys. This week's card is using the new stamp set Fox and Friends, the new Sale-a-bration DSP Welcome Neighbor and the new Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch from the mini catalogue. Also used, one of my own random button and Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon.

Since it's so easy to reproduce, I tried a bunch of different colors...

and made them twice...

So in 1 hour (sponsored by baby Sara's naptime), I made all of the 8 cards! I love to see lots and lots of the same thing don't you ?? The abundance... so pleasing to my eye.

Have a nice stampin' day!

Gen

the official re-release of Card à la Carte ***video***

Hi everyone!

Gen and I are back with lots and lots of new ideas and a new style. From Monday to Friday, you'll find inspiration for your handmade projects and we're so happy to share this introductory video (click here to view it directly on YouTube)-- we also apologize for the poor quality:

So, just to recap here's what's going to happen every weekday on Card à la Carte:

• Quicky Mini Monday -- a 10-minute-or-less project
• Two for Tuesday -- two different cards but with a twist
• Whatever Challenge Wednesday -- any challenge in the blogosphere
• Sweet Treat Thursday -- a little something to do with food!
• Sparkly Fun Friday -- things that glitter and sparkle

We're also working on a new blog design and are really excited about that. In the meantime, we hope you'll come visit us every day so we can inspire your creativity.

Happy stampin'!

CeeCee & CeeCee

Cardstock Color Guide *** a gift for you!

It's been a while since we've posted... Gen was busy delivering a cute little girl and I was inspiration-less. To make up for the absence of new products, we decided to offer you a free tutorial (at the bottom of this post) to make one of these:

What is it, you say? Well, this cute little bundle contains a full set of all the Stampin' Up! cardstock. Gen (obviously) came up with this concept because we were always pulling full CS sheets when choosing colors and we found this very annoying. And since each sheet was cut at 4 1/4" X 5 1/2", it gives you a great visual when choosing a card base or a mat. Instead of being arranged by SU color families, we've stacked them by colors such as yellows, reds, blues, etc... This enables you to quickly choose the perfect "red" or the perfect "blue" for your project or the perfect color combo. It's a must-have tool!

The CS is secured by a post much like the ones we find in post-bound scrapbooking albums. The hidden closure is magnetic but could easily be made out of a piece of Velcro. Here's an open view of the book:

And we've labeled the colors with stickers on the back of each CS.



Here's how to make your own Cardstock Color Guide:

Step 1: Cut a piece of CS measuring 4 1/4" X 5 1/2" out of each of the SU color, including neutrals and kraft.
Step 2: Label each color to the back of each CS or write the name by hand. Set aside.
Step 3: Cut a 12" X 5 1/2" piece in the DSP of your choice.

Step 4: Score the DSP at 4 1/4", 5 1/8", 9 1/2" and 10 3/8".
Step 5: Cut 1 piece of 5 1/2" X 3" out of coordinating CS and scallop one edge.
Step 6: Cut 1 piece of 5 1/2 X 2" out of the same coordinating CS and scallop one edge.
Step 7: Sandwich the magnetic closure between the DSP and the scalloped CS, at both ends of the cover. Use Sticky Strip for durability.
Step 8: With a Crop-a-dile, punch a whole in the upper left-hand corner of each CS (you can punch several CS at a time).
Step 9: With your Crop-a-dile, punch a whole in the upper left-hand corner of the bottom panel of your book and secure the stack of CS with the album post.
Step 10: Decorate as you wish!

Leave it on your work table or bring it with you to your next demo. It's an awesome visual for your customers as well.

We hope you enjoy making your very own Cardstock Color Guide. Feel free to email us if you need more info.