Smiles & You

 

Hey Everyone!! I have been playing a little this week getting ready for my upcoming club this weekend.. I wanted to put some samples together using some new product and colors. When I spied the new set Around the World in the new catalog, I knew it was a must have :) I just {heart} those little camera images.. here is what I came up with using those two images -

 

 

I paired the images with the set Petite Pairs for the sentiment, and just love the out come.. (SQUEE!)

Can't wait to play again! Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! :)

 

Heather :)

 

 

Stamps - Around the World, Petite Pairs, Woodgrain

Paper - Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White, silver glimmer, Raspberry Ripple

Ink - Baked Brown Sugar, Raspberry Ripple, Summer starfruit, Early Espresso

Accessories - Owl Builder punch, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensional dots

 

Some Joy and Cheer

Hey Everyone! I have a card to share today that was from my time as a Dirty Dozen on Splitcoaststampers. Enough time has passed that I can share these creations here on Downstairs Designs. I Loved my time on the team, and put my heart into every creation, and wanted to share one more time. :)

 

I realize it is the first day of Summer on the calendar, so bear with me when I show you a Christmas card.. Maybe it will put you in a cooler frame of mind. :) Here is the card -

 

 

While being on the Design Team it allowed me to use all kinds of retired papers that are in my stash. So this paper may bring back some memories and.. prompt you to use some of it that you may have hiding in your stash too. *wink* Now there are some current products used to, so don't worry, if you have some of that paper, the card stock and alphabet are still readily available. :)

OK, that's it for me today... gotta hit the road to pick up a kiddo away at Summer Camp! Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Morning Post Alphabet, Sweet Essentials, Music Note Wheel, Apothecary art

Paper - Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Real Red, Holly Berry Bouquet

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Gable Green Marker, Wild Wasabi marker, Pretty in Pink Marker, Real Red marker, black Stazon

Accessories - Big Shot, labels Framelits, dotted scallop trim border punch, mini clothes pins, bakers twine, paper piercing tool, dimensional dots

 

 

Sugared Plum

Good Morning Everyone! I have a card to share today..Earlier in the week our family as well as others in our community were shocked by the very sudden death of a friend to so many.  So needless to say, I needed to sit and make a sympathy card..

 

 

I used a new color, Baked Brown Sugar, and an old Perfect Plum. I like the rich combo.. :)

A really straight forward card too... no fuss or muss. OK.. off to the post to get in the mail. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

 

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Fabulous Florets, Simply Sketched

Paper - Baked Brown Sugar, Perfect Plum

Ink - Perfect Plum, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper white craft

Accessories - Natural Trim, Basic Pearls, White EP, Dimensional dots

 

a sampling of USA

Hey Everyone! It's been a week from my last post... sorry.... Summer is in full swing here, and the boys are off to this and that..So that means, Mom is driving here and there.. and everywhere.. :) I have been in the yard, and busy putting out the July 4th Holiday decorations inside and out. I started inside with a sampler of red white and blue -

 

 

I made it with a retired set from a summer mini catalog from years ago.. I am sorry I don't know the name, but the set belongs to my stamping friend Pam D'Urso.. :) I love it.. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! :)

 

Heather :)

 



Chirp Chirp..Tweet

Hi Everyone! Taking a break from yard work, and sharing another card that is made with some new goodies. :) This time around I am using some new DSP from the Gingham Garden Suite in the new catty. The colors in the papers are so fresh and Sweet.. I paired the papers with the set Animal Talk and came up with this card

I just love the Island Indigo gingham in this DSP. I jumped for joy that Island Indigo has carried over as a new core color in the catalog. :) There are some retired elements on my card too,.. I have to use the old before I buy some new, (it's so hard when everything in the catty is like a new shiny penny.) I just remind my self to breathe. :) OK, off to get the yard work complete. thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! :)

Heather :)

Stamps - Animal talk

Paper - Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake, Whisper white, Gingham Garden DSP

Ink - Daffodil delight, Pear Pizazz, Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo, Pumpkin pie, Melon Mambo

Accessories - Big Shot, Stripes and fancy fan EF, Window Frame and Oval Framelits, Cupcake builder punch, Brights buttons, white bakers twine, paper piercing tool, Dimensional dots, daffodil delight 5/8 grosgrain ribbon

Sideways???

Hey everyone! I just wanted to chime in and say that I am sorry that my picture for todays post is wonky/sideways, if you open it via mobile or tablet... I really have no explaination.. :( It is fine here when added to the post, but then something goes amiss.. If any of you out there have a clue as to why, please let this one confused woman know.. Thanks!

Heather :)

A simple sketch

Hi Everyone! Quick post for today... I tested the waters with some new goodies from the new catty last weekend. Did you notice the new 2013-14 catalog link on my Sidebar? I Love the new colors, and there are SO many uber cute sets that are certainly on my wish list.. Check it out. :) Here is a card made with a hostess set called Simply Sketched-

  

So.. what do you think? Sweet right?... Told you there was fantastic new stuff in the catty. :)

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! 

Heather :)

Stamps - Simply Sketched

 Paper - Watercolor, Very Vanilla

 Ink - stazon, Strawberry Slush, Old Olive, crumb Cake

 Accessories - 3/8 circle punch, lucky limeade ribbon, basic rhinestones, paper piercing tool, Aquapainter, dazzling diamonds, two way glue, dimensional dots

Special Delivery Dude...

Hi Everyone! I have a card to share today.. My Ian was in need of a Birthday card for a classmates party that he would be attending this evening. Do I have any Tween cards on hand??? Um.. no... Better still, do I have any "boy" Tween cards on hand...?, an even bigger Um.. No.. ! Now I am faced with the task of making a card that is age appropriate, masculine, and on short order.. :) The horrors...*wink* .. Here is the my card for today -

 

 

 

Inspiration was from a card by Amy Sheffer.. I combined some Gender neutral sets and DSP to create my card..., and really like the outcome. OK now if I am smart, I will sit and create another, and then I will be ahead of the game for next time.. :) Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Dude you're Welcome, Sent with Love, Morning Post Alpha, and Bomb's away Birthday
Paper - Gumball Green, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, First Edition, This and That Epic day, Crumb Cake, silver glimmer
Ink - Black, Calypso Coral, Gumball Green, Daffodil delight
Accessories - This and That Washi tape, small star punch, star die, hole punch, paper piercing tool, dimensional dots, calypso Coral twine, sponge dauber

 

Living the Life

Hi Everyone! I have a really quick and easy card to share today. I was in need of a last minute Grad card for this weekend, and really didn't have the time to spend downstairs... So here is my card -

 

 

Super easy, but still has impact. The sentiment is a new set from the upcoming SU catalog called Really Good Greetings. I have no "Grad" sets on hand so I thought this sentiment would work just great. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! :)

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Really Good Greetings (Available Jun. 1)

Paper - Black, Whisper white, Silver Glimmer

Ink - Black

Accessories- small star punch, Dimensional dots, glue dots, ruler, black marker

Old Fashioned hello

Hi Everyone! I have another card to share today, using some products from the Spring Mini catalog that will no longer be available after the 31st of the month. I really love the Print Poetry DSP stack form the spring catty... The retro colors and prints are so bright and cheery... Inspiring me to make this card -

SO Fun! The Designer Build a brads make such a great rotary phone dial.. Who would of thunk? :)

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! :)

Heather :)

Stamps - Oh, Hello

Paper - Gumball Green, Black, Very Vanilla, Print Poetry DSP, Basic Gray Textured, First Edition DSP, Sahara Sand

Ink - Black, Gumball green

Accessories - 1 3/8, 1 1/4, 1", 3/4, 3/8 circle punches, 3/16 corner rounder, Paper Piercing tool, Basic Gray Stitched ribbon, Sponge, Dimensional Dots

River Rock Friend

Hi Everyone! I have a card to share today that my club girls made this past weekend... We used retiring items considering we only have a little over a week to order the retiring items before they are gone for good. Here is the card -

 

 

We used the single stamp from the main catalog called Just thinking, some Comfort Cafe' DSP, and River Rock card stock.. Needless to say they loved the card. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Just Thinking

Paper - Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, River Rock, Naturals Ivory, Comfort Cafe' DSP

Ink - Midnight Muse, Versamark

Accessories - Big Shot, Window frames framelits, Early Espresso EP, Striped EF, Midnight Muse stitched Ribbon, Designer Build a brads, Naturals buttons, Paper piercing tool, Dimensional Dots

 

 



Tipsy Pot Planter info

Hi Everyone! I had someone.. (Hi Mary Ann!!) inquire as to how I made the Tipsy Pot planter in my garden. So here is what I used -

 

1  16" clay pot with drain hole in center (base)

1  12" clay pot with drain hole in  center

2  10" clay pots with drain holes in center
1 8" clay pot with drain hole in center

1  67" piece of Rebar ( found at Lowes or Home Depot by the cement mixes)

Pea Gravel ( had on hand ) for the bottom of the base pot

 

Start making your planter by pounding the piece of Rebar into the ground about a foot or so. Once done, slide your base pot over the rebar to the ground through the drain hole in the center of the pot. Fill the pot about 1/3rd full with the Pea Gravel, or some other rocks to make sure the base stays put. (the gravel or stone also cuts back on filling that huge base pot full of potting soil :) ) Once you have your base pot full of your potting soil, slide the next pot onto the rebar. Tip this pot to the side. Fill most of the way with potting mix. Proceed with the next pots, flipping the positions of the pots. Fill your Tipsy pots with the flowers of your choice. I added the painted bird house to hide the top of my rebar, and you can add on too.. or top with what ever makes you happy.

 

I hope these instructions helped out. :) Mine was really fun to make, and I hope you decide to make one too. Thanks for stopping by -

 

Heather :)

The Sun on my back

 Hi Everyone! I have got to say that I have missed you..:) In the last month or so.... my life has been crazy.. In April, just after my last post, my town was under water. Just like many towns in the Chicagoland area we were affected by the flooding of the DesPlaines river. Here are some pictures from my front steps -

 

 

Like most, if not all around us, we got water. :(  My stamp room is in the basement, where we got water. Double :(( I lost only a few things in my room, but getting the rest of the basement back together was a slow process. But its done.. so I can finally come up for some air... and get into other things that are not so depressing. I have been in the yard for the past week.. letting the sun warm my back and sooth my soul.....

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! I will be back with some paper goodness very soon. :)

 

 

Heather :)

 



Up for Air

Hey Everyone... :) Remember me?? I finally made it up for some air, and wanted to pop in and say that I will be getting downstairs soon, and I PROMISE to share.. I miss you guys! :)

Heather :)

A Spring Sampler

Hello Everyone... I was away stamping with friends last weekend, and we worked on putting together a class for next month. A while ago, you may have noticed out there in the crafty blog land, lots of people making samplers for the upcoming holidays and so forth.. Well, I finally bit the bullet and made one with some inspiration from my stamper friend Pam D'urso. All of her samplers are so Beautiful.. Here is is mine -

 

 

so Sweet right... Here is a little closer view -

 

 

 

The picture is a little fuzzy.. thanks for no sun here in the Midwest.. :( I used the Spring Sampler set from the Spring mini Catalog, and Pursuit of Happiness for the sentiment. It was so fun to make, I hope you try one too. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

Heather :)

 

 

Stamps Spring Sampler, Pursuit of Happiness

Paper - Pool Party, Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Peach Parfait and Pool Party DSP, twitterpated DSP

Ink - So Saffron, Pear Pizazz, Pool Party, black, Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze, Chocolate chip

Accessories - 1 3/8. 1 1/4, 1" square punches, 1, 3/4" circle punches, itty bitty shapes punch pack, saffron brad, basic pearls and rhinestones, pool party and calypso coral twine, Dazzling diamonds glitter, Dimensional dots, 1 1/4 scallop circle punch, scallop edge punch, cupcake builder punch



 

Pleasant Poppies

Hi Everyone! I have been busy with some design team obligations, but I am done...:) So... that means today is a play day!! Whoot!! :) A few weeks back, I saw a card on Case Study, and wanted to recreate it with SU products..and I finally have that chance.. So here is my card for today -

 

 

 

So Pretty Right?! I stamped my poppy image in versamark onto Crumb Cake paper, heat embossed it with white EP, then colored it with my SU markers.. Couldn't be easier.. and what a WOW card. I hope you give it a try.. OK, I am off to play some more.. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

Heather :)

 

 

Stamps - Pleasnt Poppies, Delightful Dozen

Paper - Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Ink - Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Crushed Curry, Versamark

Accessories - White EP, Heat Tool, Ruler White Signo gel pen, Old Olive Satin Ribbon

 

 

Just Ducky..

Hi Everyone! I am still recovering from jellybean overload from this past Easter weekend.. So needless to say it is slow going for me today..:) I do have a card to share today... My Mom is in need of a baby card for her Pastor at church, and I simply CAN NOT pass up the opportunity to make a baby card.. in particular for a baby boy.. My heart just melts for sweet baby boys! OK, enough blathering, my Husband will read this an probably suggest I get my head examined....Tee-Hee :) Here is the card -

 

 

 

I found inspiration in a current issue of Paper Crafts magazine. The Parachute is actually an umbrella from the SU set Rain or shine, and the ducky is from the Spring Sampler set. Both sets can be found in the spring catalog. So Cute together! OK I am off to deliver this to my Mom.. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! :)

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Rain or Shine, Spring Sampler, Little Additions

Paper - Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP

Ink - Summer Starfruit, Baja Breeze, Daffodil delight, Pumpkin pie

Accessories - Paper Piercing tool, black marker, XL create a cupcake punch, sponge, Dimensional dots

 

It's Easter Everybunny

Hi Everyone! Just popping in to say I hope all of you that are celebrating the Easter holiday this weekend has a great time with family and friends.  

 

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Everybunny

Paper - Pool Party, Water color, Pool Party DSP, Whisper White

Ink - Stazon, Pool Party, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Marina Mist, Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Pretty in pink

Accessories - Big Shot, Ovals Framelits, Paper Piercing tool, Create a cupcake punch, Pretty in Pink Satin ribbon, Basic pearl, Aquapainter

 

Perfect SAB

Hey Everyone.:) I have a super quick post today... We are in the final week of Sale-a-bration. Time Sure does fly right? So If you haven't placed your order for Sale-a-bration goodies, time is running out. I have a card made with a bunch of the Sale-a-bration products, so if you haven't seen them in action here is your chance -

 

 

The DSP, image, button, and ribbon are just some of the SAB goodies to be had! Hope you decide to join in the celebration! Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

Heather :)

 

Stamps - Vintage Verses

Paper - Summer Starfruit, Island Indigo, Sycamore street DSP, whisper White

Ink - Versamark, Tangerine tango

Accessories - White EP, big Shot, Labels Framelits, SAB ribbon and button pack, Island Indigo, bakers Twine, Basic Rhinestones, Paper pircing tool, Festive paper piercing pack, Dimensional dots

 

 

 

Clearly Lost...

Seems that way right?? Well I am sorry for the absence. I wish I had a good story to go with the absence, but alas I do not, just WAY too busy doing everything and nothing.. :) But I do have a card to share today! Whoop!! Have you heard? Stampin' Up! is offering clear Photo polymer stamps! What?! Yep!! Here have a look -

 

 

 and here is the card that I made using the set -

 

 

 

So Fun! What a great option from Stampin' Up! OK, off to get the kiddos to swimming!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

 

*ETA* - A sweet lady named Jacquie left a kind comment regarding my card, and was wondering if I was entering it in Moxie Fab World speech bubble challenge.. ? Well, I think will! Thanks Jacquie! I think this is a great challenge to help us get our juices flowing with this brand new set., and....I might just have to play along again! :)

 

 

Heather :)

 

 

Stamps - Designer Typeset, Morning cup

Paper - Whisper white, Gumball Green

Ink - Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Primrose petal, Midnight Muse

Accessories - Word Window Punch, Paper Piercing tool, Dimensional dots