Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Color Inspiration

Where do you get inspiration for your creations?  I often scour the internet (Facebook, Instagram, blogs) for ideas, but sometimes inspiration strikes when I least expect it.  Like this:

Last week my husband and I enjoyed a lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.  When our bill came, there was a pen for us to sign our credit card receipt.  And I felt instant happiness (or maybe it was the pizza and salad I had just consumed?...Anyway...) look at this:


 Now we were not in a Pediatric office, so I'm guessing this pen was left at the restaurant and the waiter was re-using it.  But I loved the colors!

So home to create...

I started with a piece of Basic White cardstock and get out my Blending Brushes with some Azure Afternoon, Summer Splash, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Twist inks.  Blending them together on the paper was so satisfying!  


It made a lovely background, and I had to decide whether to stamp over it or add something.  I chose to add - I happened to have the letters "Hi" cut on my desk from a previous project, and thought they would be perfect for my card.  I also decided that I needed a little interest under the top layer, so I randomly cut some triangles with the same colors of cardstock that I used for the ink blending - Azure Afternoon, Summer Splash, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Twist.  



Just a few retired coordinating sequins and I was done. 


So where was the most unusual place you found inspiration?  And what did you create?  I'd love to hear.


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Friday, July 18, 2025

Poppin' By

 Yesterday I showed you a box I made  using the Party Banners dies and the Poppin' By bundle.  It was given to a customer who had purchased the Poppin' By bundle so she would have ideas for her cards.  

Here is one of the cards I included in the box:


This card is a gift card holder, and is perfect for a birthday (of course - because it says "happy birthday right on the front!).  But if you like to give gift cards, this is a great way to present them.

I started with a piece of Thick Basic White cardstock and cut 1-1/2" off the bottom of the front, creating a flap and space to add the gift card on the inside.  

The front was decorated with images from the Poppin' By bundle.  Then inside:


Along the bottom of the card I used Tear & Tape adhesive to add a strip. This is stamped with one of the  stamps from the Stripes and Dots set.  


Each card in the box has a coordinating envelope; for this one I simply stamped the popcorn along the side.

Poppin' By can be found in the OnLine Exclusives, but is only available while supplies last.  Be sure to pick it up before it's gone!


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Thursday, July 17, 2025

A Banner Box

Have you seen the new Party Banner dies?  They are awesome!

This set of 14 dies (does not count the extra "corners" and "grommets" dies) ranges in size from 1-1/4" x 1-3/4" to 5-1/4" x 7".  If you like to create decorative banners, these are for you!

But what else can you make?  I previously showed a card that I made with the dies; see it here.  And today I'll show you another item - a box that holds 4 handmade cards:


 A customer recently purchased the Poppin' By bundle (stamps and coordinating dies) and I wanted to make her a thank you gift.  So I created the banner box using the same set and included 4 cards showing the versatility of the stamps and dies.  I'll show you the cards over the next few days (yes, you'll have to come back to see them 😄), but let's look at this cute box.

I started with a template:


I used Real Red cardstock to create the box, then cut two Real Red banner pieces with the largest Banners die.  I also cut two more smaller ones in Basic White.

The banner pieces are just adhered - upside down - to the box front and back, extending about 1/4" on either side of the box.  Placing them upside down gives you the "points" on the top where you can add ribbon handles.


Then it was time to decorate.  Since my customer had purchased Poppin' By, I chose that set to decorate the front.  


This came out so cute, and she was thrilled to get some card ideas that she can create at home.  

The Party Banners dies and the Poppin' By bundle can be found in the OnLine Exclusives right now!  But these items are only available while supplies last, so don't delay; be sure to pick them up before it's too late!


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