Masking and Ink Blending

Who likes to mask?  I don't mean for Halloween (I mean, doesn't everyone like to mask at Halloween?).  Who likes to use a mask to highlight a portion of a card?  Like this:

I laid masking paper on the edges of my Thick Basic White card base, leaving the center portion uncovered.  Using Blending Brushes, I gently added/blended Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight and Peach Pie inks over the exposed area.  When I removed the masking paper, I was left with a beautiful rectangle of color!

I highlighted it further with frame of white (cut with the now-retired Deckled Rectangle dies) popped up on Adhesive Strips.

And I finished with some pretty flowers, stamped with the Extraordinary Flora set, colored with Stampin' Blends, and cut with the Extraordinary Flora dies.

Such a lovely way to bring attention to your greeting!

Product List

Extraordinary Flora Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165243]

$20.00

Extraordinary Flora Bundle (English)

[165245]

$43.00

Paper Tags Cling Stamp Set (English)

[165454]

$24.00

Lemon Lolly Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161673]

$11.00

Peach Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[163827]

$11.00

Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161682]

$11.00

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154885]

$11.00

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

[147114]

$9.00

Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Pad

[161666]

$9.00

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

[147094]

$9.00

Peach Pie Classic Stampin Pad

[163810]

$9.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

$17.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Extraordinary Flora Die

[165244]

$28.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Antique Pearls

[164679]

$8.50

Foam Adhesive Strips

[141825]

$8.25

Peace on Earth

It's another Merry Monday and I have a really pretty card to show you.  The products used are from the September - December Mini Catalog and will be available for purchase on September 3rd.

 This beautiful designer paper, Peaceful Garden, is part of the Peaceful Garden suite.  It includes the Peace on Earth stamps and coordinating dies, as well as an embossing folder, ribbon, embellishments and glimmer paper, all in tones of blues and browns - simply lovely!

I started with the leaf-filled sheet of DSP, cutting a circle in the center using the Stylish Shapes dies.  Then I simply flipped the circle over to see the reverse side of the patterned paper.  This was stamped with the greeting, mounted on a piece of Cloud Cover cardstock and added to my Misty Moonlight card base.  The patterned paper was then popped up on Dimensionals.

And then there's those beautiful doves.  Cut with the dies and Basic White cardstock, I adhered them over the circle and added little branches.

What I love about this bundle is that not only does it make a perfect holiday card, but it's also just right for sympathy, "thinking of you" or even "wishing you the best" cards.  

Watch for this suite on September 3rd; it may sell out quickly!

Product List

Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad

[153118]

$9.00

Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[153081]

$14.00

Cloud Cover 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[165621]

$14.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

[158987]

$7.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Extraordinary Flora

 I got my hands on the Extraordinary Flora Washi Tape (and coordinating stamps and dies) and thought I'd have a play.  But where to start?  Then I looked at page 24 of the 2025-26 Annual Catalog, and found this:

There are a bunch of sketches to follow for making cards and tags, and I decided to try my hand at making this first one.

Now the rule of using sketches when you create your cards is that you can really do anything you want.  I've flipped the sketches so they are upside down or sideways, and I've traded out shapes for other shapes.  In this case I traded the tag in the center for some Everyday Arches.  And then I went back to the sketch.

The card base and bottom layer of the arch is Summer Splash cardstock.  The Basic White arch is embossed with the Exposed Brick embossing folder.  

And see all those flowers?  They were cut from the Extraordinary Flora washi tape (I first adhered it to a piece of Basic White cardstock and then used the Extraordinary Flora die to cut it out - it matches up perfectly!).

I also used the 2024-26 In Color 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper for the striped layer.  And since I had to cut it down to size I had a piece of left over for the inside:

I really love the Extraordinary Flora washi tape.  But if you prefer to color, you can instead use the Extraordinary Flora stamp set - one large stamp prints the same flowers as what is contained in the washi tape - just stamp, color and cut with the same die.  So perfect!

And look!  We created this card (in several colors) in my card classes this month - here's one class with their creations:

Check out the Extraordinary Flora products on page 84 and 85 of the Annual Catalog.  And while you're at it, look at the great collection of card sketches that are on page 24!  

Product List

Extraordinary Flora Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165243]

$20.00

Extraordinary Flora Bundle (English)

[165245]

$43.00

Extraordinary Flora Washi Tape

[165269]

$15.00

Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad

[163809]

$9.00

Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock

[163797]

$14.00

2024–2026 In Color™ 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[165299]

$12.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Extraordinary Flora Die

[165244]

$28.00

Stitched Shapes Dies

[152323]

$30.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

2024 2026 In Color™ Flat Pearls

[165266]

$8.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

A Busy Birthday Month!

August in my family is very busy for card-making.  I have five birthdays and two anniversaries to celebrate.  My granddaughter, Matilyn, just turned 7.  I wanted to create something fun for her to open:

 From the outside it appears to be a normal card.  I cut numbers 1-7 from the Birthday Celebrations dies and adhered them to my card layer, used Blending Brushes to spread a little Pretty in Pink ink, then embossed over them with an old Stars embossing folder.  The cake came from the now-retired Attention Shoppers, and the greeting is letter cut with the Mini Alphabet dies. 

And inside:

I made a fun-fold, adhering little banners to a strip of paper that is attached at both ends to the inside of the card.  When opened, it pops up:

The Party Banner dies (available in my Online Exclusives store) made great little labels.  

This is such a fun way to celebrate a special day!  

Happy 7th Birthday, Mattie!

Product List

Choose Happy Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[163701]

$21.00

Pretty In Pink Classic Stampin Pad

[163807]

$9.00

Petunia Pop Classic Stampin Pad

[163811]

$9.00

Petunia Pop Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[163828]

$11.00

Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154883]

$11.00

Berry Burst Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161681]

$11.00

Pretty In Pink Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[163824]

$11.00

Pretty In Pink 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163793]

$14.00

Petunia Pop 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163801]

$14.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

$17.00

Mini Alphabet Dies

[162934]

$31.00

Party Banners Dies

[165264]

$40.00

Birthday Celebration Dies

[164598]

$27.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141897]

$9.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25