Non-traditional Valentine

I made this non-traditional Valentine for our 20-year-old.  I wanted to make a card that reminded me of her.  She loves the outdoors and bright green, so I think I succeeded!  The cardbase is Lucky Limeade.  For the focal image, I stamped the trees from Serene Silhouettes in black Stazon onto glossy white cardstock.  I cut it out with the Big Shot and a framelit, sponged Daffodil Delight in the center and then sponged several layers of Lucky Limeade around the edges.  The DSP is from Summer Smooches.  I added piercing around the edges along with Lucky Limeade brads.  The final touch is Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon.

Happy stamping! 

Combining the new and the old

Today's card combines two challenges, and it also combines the new with the old.  The challenges are from Splitcoaststampers (SCS for short); they are a sketch challenge (SC367) and a color challenge (CC357: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride and Riding Hood Red).

The old is the stamp set, Awash with Flowers, as well as the Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon (a great find from the clearance rack).  The new is Twitterpated DSP, hearts embosslit on the edge of the card, and the scalloped edgelit on the Baja Breeze layer.

Happy stamping!

New colors!

Today's card focuses on In Colors.  Three of them are new: Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, and Pool Party.  I added Blushing Bride, one of the 2010-2012 In Colors, and Basic Gray.  I used the Fancy Fan letterpress plate again for the background.  This time I used Basic Gray classic ink on it, and the effect is very subtle.

I inked the solid flower stamps first in VersaMark and then regular ink.  This allowed me to add Irridescent Ice EP for some sparkle.

Supplies:  Stamps: Awash with Flowers, Perfect Punches; Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Wisteria Wonder; Ink: VersaMark, Basic Gray, Lucky Limeade, Blushing Bride, Wisteria Wonder; Accessories: Big Shot, Fancy Fan letterpress plate, Irridescent Ice EP, heat tool, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, wide oval punch

Happy stamping!

Inspired by the Summer Mini

I'm embarrassed to admit that I have pretty much ignored the Summer Mini. Maybe it's because my summer has been so busy. Anyway, I decided to take some inspiration from the Summer Mini. I started with the card on P16A. I used it as a sketch. I changed the color combo slightly, taking my colors from the Travel Journal DSP from the Summer Mini. My sentiment is from the In a Word stamp set from the Summer Mini as well. Only 22 days of the Summer Mini left!
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Awash with Flowers, In a Word; Paper: Naturals White, Garden Green, Bashful Blue, Travel Journal DSP; Ink: Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Garden Green; Accessories: scallop oval punch, neutrals buttons
Happy stamping!

Awash with markers

Last weekend, I got to go stamp with my friend Karen! I am terrible when it comes to figuring out what to take with me if I don't have the projects planned out in advance. (Pauline, I know you're laughing! LOL) I always end up wishing I had something that I left at home. But I managed to mostly make one card and get a start on a couple of others at least.
This is the card I mostly finished. (I didn't have the modern label punch with me. I decided to leave the sentiment off since I didn't have a recipient in mind.) All of the images here were done entirely with markers. I'll admit I haven't used markers much, but since I got the color kit of 13, I've been using them a lot and loving them! It was especially handy for doing that big flower as I could use a different color for the center. I also used the Wild Wasabi marker to give the stems a little extra color. The butterfly was made with one of the flower stamps. I used the Early Espresso marker to draw the body and antennae.
I hadn't used the spiral punch in ages, so I decided to use that as well. Those little holes are perfect for the narrow taffeta ribbon to fit through!
The colors I used are: Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette and Tangerine Tango.
Happy stamping!

More new colors

Here's the second card I made with my new stuff. This is a CASE of a card I made back when I first got Awash with Flowers. The cardbase is Daffodil Delight, and the mat is Early Espresso. All of the outlines are stamped in Early Espresso, and I drew over the stems with Wild Wasabi. The big flower is Daffodil Delight with a Cajun Craze center. The tulip (?) is Marina Mist. The small flowers are Cherry Cobbler, and the triple flowers are Pink Pirouette. The edges of the focal image are sponged with Early Espresso and Cajun Craze.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Awash with Flowers; Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso; Ink: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi; Accessories: Marina Mist and Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, sponge
Happy stamping!

Milwaukee swap # 2

When I saw the new Awash with Flowers stamp set, I knew right away that it would be a great set to use for the chalkboard technique.  For the chalkboard technique, start with dark cardstock (I use black or navy).  Stamp a solid image in Whisper White and color it with chalk; I use a cotton swab with a dabbing motion.  I try not to swirl it too much so I don't rub off the chalk I've just put on.  Then stamp the outline over the chalk image using Whisper White.  Doesn't it look just like it was drawn on a chalkboard?  TIP:  I did the Bashful Blue flowers first including the whte outline so that when I stamped the Rose Red flowers, the BB flower stem would disappear behind the RR flower.  (Learned that one the hard way, LOL)

As for the rest of the card, this is a shadowbox card.  It's 3-D but flattens for mailing, and it's a standard card size.  Cut your 2 pieces of cardstock to 4 1/4 X 5 1/2.  Then score 1/2" and 1" from each end.  After you've completed your stamping and cut the hole out of the front piece, adhere the 2 ends using Sticky Strip.  (I also folded along the score lines before adhering.)

To cut the hole out of the center, I used my standard paper cutter.  Don't forget that the piece that holds the cutting blade also has a ruler on it, so you can start and stop the cutting blade anywhere you want!  I made a 1/2" frame all the way around, so here's how I cut it.  First, I lined up the cardstock with the long side up against the top.  Then I lined up the edge at 1 1/2" and cut from 1/2" to 3 3/4".  I flipped the cardstock 180 degrees and repeated the same cut.  Next, I lined up the cardstock with the shorter side up against the top, lined up the edge at 3 3/4" and cut from 1 1/2" to 4".  Flip the cardstock and repeat.  It is really easy to see where the cut lines stop and start so you can match them up.  I also found that I could feel when the cutting blade hit the cut line.

Happy stamping!

Ribbon flowers

This week's workshop wow challenge is to make fabric or ribbon flowers.  I didn't have time to go looking for my fabric stash, so I whipped up these ribbon flowers.  It really only took about 20 minutes to make all 3.  To make a ribbon flower, just grab a needle and thread to make a running stitch (just in and out, not too close together) along one edge of the ribbon.  Pull the thread tight to gather up the ribbon and tie a knot to hold it together.  These are not flat, so this is a card to give in person unless you mail it in a padded envelope.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Awash with Flowers; Paper: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP; Ink: Basic Gray, Crushed Curry; Accessories: scallop border punch, ribbon (Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo), filigree brad, jumbo brad, Hodgepodge Hardware brad

Happy stamping!

Shadow stamping

For this week's workshow wow challenge, we are shadow stamping AKA stamping off.  Each of the flower images on my card was inked only once but stamped 2 or 3 times for a really pretty effect.

I decided to go CAS (clean and simple) for this card, and it's even just one layer, very unusual for me.  I decided to use gold embossing to add the wow factor.

This stamp set, Awash with Flowers, is a sneak peek set from the new catalog in July.  The set will be available to everyone for the month of April only!  It has 18 stamps, and the clear mount stamps come in 2 DVD cases--one for the solid centers and one for the outlines.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Awash with Flowers; Paper: Sahara Sand; Ink: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, VersaMark; Accessories: gold EP, double hole punch, Dusty Durango ribbon

Happy stamping!

New catalog sneak peek set!

In April, SU is offering a sneak peek set from the new catalog.  One of the perks I get as a demonstrator is that I can order these things in advance.  Whoohoo!  This set is called Awash with Flowers.  It's a 2-step stamping set.  There are 18 stamps, and the clear mount stamps come in 2 DVD cases.  I love it!!  It seems like true 2-step stamping sets have been rare, but this one really is.  TIP: I found it easier to stamp the outline first and then the solid centers.  For the biggest flower, I used a sponge dauber to apply Melon Mambo to the flower center; then I used my Elegant Eggplant spot to ink up the rest of the flower.

I didn't make this card the same way I usually do.  Usually, I plan out a card in my head before I ever start to stamp.  Sometimes I'll think about a card for 2 or 3 days first.  Spur of the moment stamping just doesn't work for me, but in this case it did!  I knew that I wanted to use my Elegant Eggplant rickrack.  I thought that I could use some vanilla ribbon and wrap the rickrack around it and capture the ends inside the ribbon knot.  So armed with Eggplant as a color, I pulled up the SU In Color combo sheet for this year since the combos on the color wheel didn't excite me too much.  On that sheet, I found Elegant Eggplant, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Old Olive.  Perfect!  I cut a 3 1/2" square of Very Vanilla and started stamping.  When I was done, I wanted more Old Olive on the card, so I sponged it all around the edges.  Then I roughed up the edges with the cutter kit and did the same to the mat.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Awash with Flowers; Paper: Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo textured; Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Jet Black StazOn; Accessories: Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Orchard Ribbon Originals, cutter kit

Happy stamping!