Paul's birthday card

I made this birthday card for my brother-in-law Paul.  His birthday is today!  I had several goals in mind with this card, and I think I met them all!  First, all of the cardstock I used was scrap.  No full sheets were cut here!  Even the DSP wasn't a full sheet!  Second, I used a neglected stamp set, Pretty Postage.  Third, I used my new borders insert for my Simply Scored board.

Card details: The card base is Whisper White 8 X 5 1/4 mounted onto a 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 piece of Basic Gray.  The DSP is Twitterpated.  I stamped the image in Cherry Cobbler then punched it out with the postage stamp punch.  The squares are 1 3/8 (Certainly Celery), 1 1/2 (Basic Gray), and 1 7/8 (Island Indigo).

Happy Stamping!

Christmas card

This is one of the Christmas cards we'll be sending out this year.  The card base is Very Vanilla 8 X 5 1/4 attached to a 1/4 sheet of Cherry Cobbler.  The Be of Good Cheer DSP layer is 3 3/4 X 5.  I punched out the ornament shape and then traced the hole onto the card front.  This gave me the area to cover with sticky strip or sticky circles and then last year's velvet ribbon.  I popped the DSP up with dimensionals and tied on some Gumball Green ribbon.  I added a second ornament punched from Champagne glimmer paper.

Happy stamping!

300 items added to the Clearance Rack

300 items have been added to the Clearance Rack!  For the first time ever, stamp sets are available!  There's also lots of ribbon, old style ink pads and accessories.  Happy shopping!

Alyssa's birthday card--NEW STUFF!

I got my Occasions catalog preorder last week, so I had to make a card using my new stuff right?  Even though I haven't finished my Christmas cards, sigh!

This technique is called triple time stamping.  You adhere 3 graduated laters together, stamp on them and then separate them with mats.  (I got the measurements from Dawn Olchefske's blog.  The DSP pieces are 2 X 3 1/4, 3 X 4 1/4, and 4 X 5 1/4.  The 2 mats are 2 1/4 X 3 1/2 and 3 1/4 X 4 1/2.)

I used 3 new things on this card.  The stamp set is called Secret Garden, and it has framelits that cut out the shapes!  I haven't had a new flower set in a long time!  The button is from Sale-A-Bration, and I got the color combo from the SAB DSP even though I didn't use the DSP itself on this card.  The colors I used are Island Indigo, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry and Tangerine Tango.

Happy stamping!

Sympathy card

My friend's father died last week, so I needed a sympathy card.  I'd seen a similar card like this on Dawn Olchefske's blog, I think.  (I have it pinned on Pinterest.)

The card base is Baja Breeze.  I used the aquapainter to color Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Pacific Point onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  I stamped the image from Serene Silhouettes and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes in StazOn black.  I'll warn you that the vanilla cardstock buckled from the water, and I'm having a hard time keeping it adhered to the cardbase even with sticky strip.  Next time I'll use watercolor paper!

Happy stamping!

Fall leaves

I made this birthday card for my dear FIL, Larry.  I've been wanting to try this technique for a while.  I think it's called shadow block stamping.  I inked an acrylic block with Crumb Cake and stamped it onto Naturals Ivory cardstock.  I masked the edges with Post-It notes and stamped the leaves from French Foliage in More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Cherry Cobbler.  I added Crumb Cake water drops and the sentiment in Cherry Cobbler.  The cardbase is Cajun Craze.

Happy stamping!

Online Extravaganza 11/19-11/28!

Stampin' Up's answer to Black Friday is the Online Extravaganza!  Lots of items 20-50% off!  Some items are only on sale for one day, so read the details closely!  You can see the items here or you can go to www.stampinup.com/store on Monday.  You can order online or through me via e-mail.

Happy stamping!

Window card

This window card was the other card we made at my workshop last month.  I CASEd this card from the latest issue of Stampin' Success, the magazine SU sends to demonstrators.

To make this window card, you first have to create the cardbase and then partially adhere the DSP layer to it.  Next, cut out the jar shape using the Big Shot and Cannery framelits.  Adhere white cardstock to the inside of the card and stamp the apples through the jar-shaped hole.  Stamp the jar image onto a piece of window sheet.  Adhere it between the DSP and cardfront using mini glue dots.  Now adhere the rest of the DSP layer and tie on the ribbon.  Stamp the jar lid and an apple, and cut those out using the Cannery framelits.  Adhere the jar lid to the front of the jar.  Adhere the apple inside the card using a dimensional.

Happy stamping!

A new and improved fabric flower!

Let's be honest; my first fabric flower looked more like a braided rug than a flower.  I twisted the fabric too tight.

I really wanted to do a fabric flower at my workshop last month, so I decided to try again.  The result was SO much better!  I CASEd this card from Splitcoaststampers, changing it up just a bit.

The fabric and DSP are Twitterpated.  The leaves are from the bird punch, and the sentiment is from Word Play.  It's also available as a single stamp until January 1.

Happy stamping!

My first fabric flower

I made this card for the Fab Friday blog challenge, but I missed the deadline.  :(  I've been wanting to make a fabric flower for a while, and I finally did it!  I used Craftin' Owl's tutorial and Twitterpated fabric.  Mine didn't fill the adhesive circle, so I added the Riding Hood Red pleated ribbon. 

The card base is Baja Breeze.  I cut a piece of Twitterpated DSP, wet it, crumpled it and dried it with my heat gun.  The ribbons are Baja Breeze seam binding, Riding Hood Red taffeta and Pear Pizzazz twill.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched with the modern label punch, and I cut off the right edge to make it smaller.

Happy stamping!

Shelli's birthday card

No, it's not for Shelli Gardner!  It's for my work BFF, Shelli Johnson!  Shelli loves all things pink, so I created an all pink birthday card for her.

I started with a piece of retired DSP from a couple of years ago.  I don't save much retired stuff, but I heart this DSP!  The glittery flowers are AWESOME!  I embossed it with the new Lacy Brocade embossing folder from the holiday mini.  I stamped the happy birthday sentiment from Pretty Postage 3 times (in Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink and Primrose Petals) and punched them out with the postage stamp punch.  I added a pink button and some Primrose Petals stitched ribbon.

Happy stamping!

Color challenge card

I made this card for the 2nd Fab Friday challenge.  It's a color challenge: Sahara Sand, So Saffron, and Basic Gray.

The card base is Sahara Sand.  I cut a Basic Gray layer (5 1/4 X 4) that I topped with First Edition DSP (crumpled and sponged with Sahara Sand and So Saffron) and Sahara Sand cardstock (embossed with the Fancy fan EF that was brayered with Sahara Sand ink).  I used Basic Gray taffeta ribbon over the seam, tied with a potato masher bow.

The flower is made with the Build a Blossom stamp set, Sahara Sand ink, So Saffron cardstock, blossom builder punch, and a neutrals glimmer brad.

The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners, stamped in So Saffron and Basic Gray, cut out with the Bitty Banners framelits, and tied on with white bakers twine sponged with So Saffron ink.

Happy stamping!

Owl workshop card

We made this card at Pauline's workshop last week.  I got the idea from one of the cards I saw on the display boards at Dawn Olchefske's stamp-o-rama.  I don't know whose card it was; if it was yours, please let me know so I can give you credit!

I modified the card a bit.  The original card used the woodgrain background stamp.  Totally adorable, but I knew the woodgrain EF and Cordinations paper would make the tree look amazing!

The cardbase is Crumb Cake topped with the Coredinations Early Espresso paper embossed with the Woodgrain EF then sanded.  Before applying it to the cardbase, punch a hole with the 1 3/4" circle punch.  (Tip: Don't push the circle punch all the way in.)  Adhere it to the card base and then use the 1 3/8" circle punch to punch a hole in the center of the other one.  (Tip: Punch a circle out of a sticky note then use that for the placement of the circle on your card.)

Next, we punched out the owl and adhered him to the inside of the card so that he is peeping through the hole.  Googlie eyes and wings from the bird punch are great additions here!

I wanted a punny saying for this card, so I used MDS to print out several sayings and then punched them with the word window punch.  A wood button is a great finishing touch.

Happy stamping! 

Steph's birthday card

Our middle child loves horses, so Horse Frontier was a no-brainer for me!  I happened across Mindy Backes' new challenge blog, Fab Friday, today, and the sketch seemed just right.  This card is also for one of the September Creative Crew challenges that start tomorrow.  Be sure to check out our new Crew!

Supplies include: Horse Frontier, From My Heart, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla cardstock, Early Espresso Coredinations, dots EF, Summer Smooches DSP, Brushed Bronze button with linen thread, Tangerine Tango marker, paper piercer and template.

Happy stamping!

CAS for the birds

I needed to make a quick card that shows all of the stamps in the Language of Friendship set.  I started with a Pool Party base.  I stamped the sentiment in Island Indigo and then stamped the flowers all over the card in Pool Party.  I used black StazOn to stamp the bird and branch on Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green then punched those out.  The bird's feet are also stamped with black StazOn.

Happy stamping!

Dare to Get Dirty dirty card

Here is my dirty card!  The cardbase and flower are Crumb Cake.  I made the flower just like the one on the clean card, and then I sponged it with Early Espresso ink.  The embossed layer is Early Espresso Coredinations cardstock run through the same Lacy Brocade embossing folder that I used on the clean card.  Then I sanded it to show the embossing more.

I used a different sentiment from Perfect Punches and Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon to finish my dirty card.

Happy stamping!

Dare to Get Dirty clean card

For the recent Dare to Get Dirty challenges on SCS, I decided to make 2 versions of the same card: 1 clean and 1 dirty.  Here is my "clean" card.

I used shimmery white cardstock for both the base and the flower.  I punched out the petals with the Blossom Petals builder punch then I wet them and crumpled them up.  I opened them up and used the heat tool to dry them.  An antique brad is the flower center.

I used the Adorning Accents edgelit to cut the edge of the cardbase and then ran it through the Big Shot in the Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  I added rhinestones for accents.  The final touches are white ribbon, and a sentiment from Perfect Punches.

Come back later this week to see my "dirty" card!

Happy stamping!

August Creative Crew card

I made this card for the August Creative Crew challenges on SCS.  The focus here is the DSP along with the brads and buttons.  These colors are just perfect for summer!

Details: the embossed dots on the card echo the dots on the vase and the brad used as a flower.  The bottom of the Island Indigo mat is cut with the Adorning Accents edgelit.

Mama found this layout in either a magazine or catalog.  I thought it was really fun and a bit different!

Happy stamping!

Masculine Christmas card

It's Christmas in July for the SCS Creative Crew!  Here is my masculine Christmas card for that challenge.  The cardbase is Cherry Cobbler.  See that Early Espresso layer??  It's the new Coredinations cardstock from the Holiday Mini!  The paper core is a different color (Crumb Cake in this case), so you can emboss it and sand it; I used the Woodgrain embossing folder.  The image is from Lovely as a Tree.  I layered that onto Be of Good Cheer DSP and tied some Cherry Cobbler bakers twine around it.  The sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes is punched with the modern label punch.

Happy stamping!

New stamps plus paper piercing

I'm loving the new paper piercing templates!  This card uses Layered Labels for the main image, and the sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners.  Both layers are cut out with the Big Shot.  The card base is Baja Breeze.  I used Twitterpated DSP and Island Indigo ribbon.

Happy stamping!

Krissy's birthday card

I made this card for Krissy for her 18th birthday.  I love this pattern from Summer Smooches DSP!  It's so bright and cheery.  I also thought the circles echoed the shape of the medallion.  It's from the new set Blue Ribbon.  I was going to just add the ribbons at the bottom but decided I liked the look of the full loop.

Happy stamping!

Hand Stamped Sentiments Artist Pick!

The kind and talented ladies at Hand Stamped Sentiments chose my butterflies card as one of this week's artist picks!  I'm blown away and so thankful!  I know some of these ladies, and they are uber-talented!

Fabric flower

The flower on this card is made of Twitterpated fabric.  I used the Big Shot and the Fun Flowers die to cut it out.  The card base is Old Olive.  I added striped Twitterpated DSP, an antique brad and Riding Hood Red pleated ribbon.  The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners.
Happy stamping!

Color challenge butterflies

Today, I was checking out blogs, and I found a color challenge I really liked on Hand Stamped Sentiments.  The color combo is Calypso Coral, Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight.  I've been wanting to make these butterflies for while, and this color combo is perfect!  The flower from Mixed Bunch is punched out, and two petals are trimmed away.  I also punched out 2 flowers from cardstock to add to the edges of the wings.  I used Calypso Coral bakers twine for the antennae.

The card base is Daffodil Delight with Baja Breeze DSP from Twitterpated.  The ribbon is retired SAB.  The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners and cut out with a framelit.

I'm so pleased with the piece that the butterflies are adhered to.  I wanted to use that shape from the Apothecary Accents framelits, but I needed it to be longer.  I cut a 2nd one and adhered them together; the rectangle is 4 inches long.  I saw the mat measurements on Patty Bennett's blog; I just made mine longer.  (For the original shape, cut a 1 5/8 X 3 1/8 rectangle and add 2 1" circles.  For my piece, the rectangle is 1 5/8 X 4 1/8.)  I used the new paper piercing template to add an accent around the edge, and I also added 2 Calypso Coral brads.

Happy stamping!

Krissy's grad card

Our youngest graduated from high school!  Here is the grad card I made for Krissy.  It's from the June issue of Stampin' Success.  They gave us a template, but according to the measurements they gave, the top part is a diamond that is 6 5/8 across by 4 3/8 top to bottom.  This creates 4" sides.  The base is actually a pocket that holds a gift card or money.  It's 4 1/2" at the bottom, 3" at the top, and 2 1/2" tall.  I cut a trapezoid and then rounded the bottom corners with a circle punch.  The front piece of the pocket is embossed with the Big Shot and Stripes embossing folder.

I hope you can see the glittery edges!  I punched silver glitter paper with the ribbon punch.  I cut the strip in half and glued them to the edges.  I did the same with the sentiment.  The tassel is white bakers twine.  The small brad to the left of the sentiment attaches the top to the base and makes the top swivel to reveal the gift in the pocket.

Happy stamping!

Flip-flop card

I saw this card demonstrated at the Milwaukee Regional by Cristy Butzen.  It's so cool in person!  This photo is the card when it's folded closed.  You pull on the left side, and the center part flips around.

The card base measures 4 1/4 X 7 1/2.  The score lines are at 2 3/4 and 3 3/4.  Center the framelit on the first score line.  Line up the cutting pads on the 2nd score line covering the entire right side of the card and run it through the Big Shot.  Move the cutting pads so they line up with the first score line and cover the left side of the card.  This leaves the area between the 2 score lines uncut which provides the pivot for the card.

This is the inside of the card.  It also shows the cut area in relation to the score lines.

I stamped the image from Apothecary Art onto watercolor paper then watercolored it with Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals and Pink Pirouette.

Happy stamping!