Not What I Had Imagined!

I often read on other's blogs that the card they have created was JUST what they imagined it to look like.  Really?  Do people really have the ability to "imagine" a card and then make it?  That's a gift I just don't have.
So when I decided to participate in the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week, I should have known that the card I "imagined" would never happen.  But truth be told, I'm not unhappy with the outcome...
Here is the sketch:

I started out planning to highlight Designer Series Paper from the new Occasions Catalog.  Birthday Bash Specialty DSP is fantastic!  Great colors and two sheets have actual embossed gold foil images.  Such pretty and fun paper.  But could I get it to work with this sketch?  NO!  So quick detour in plans...

I chose the #Hello Stamp set as a FREE gift from Stampin' UP! for having met a challenge.  It wasn't a set I originally wanted (I'm not into social media) but I got to thinking of my nieces and nephews who love Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc, and figured it would give me a whole year of card-making for their special occasions.

I embossed the @ using Crushed Curry Embossing Powder.  I then cut it out with the Starburst Framelits, and adhered it to a Whisper White circle cut with the 2" Circle punch.

My card base is Basic Grey, after a run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  A narrow layer of Crushed Curry is topped with Bermuda Bay (also embossed, using the Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder).  Then I laid down a piece of Tangelo Twist, topped with two pieces of Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper (often overlooked and way underused!), and then my @ is popped up on Dimensionals.

#birthdaysrock is stamped in Bermuda Bay; the end was flagged with the Banner Punch (a must-have if you like flagged tips!) and adhered atop a slightly larger piece of Bermuda Bay.

The card had a masculine feel and will be perfect for my nephew's birthday in January--woot woot!  Head start on 2015 cards!

How prepared are you for card-giving in the new year?  Won't you leave me a comment and let me know if you prepare in advance or last minute?

All products can be purchased here.

What have you created today?

(Hashtag) Hello Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$24.95

(Hashtag) Hello Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$17.95

Crushed Curry Stampin' Emboss Powder

$4.95

Starburst Framelits Die

$26.95

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$8.50

2" Circle Punch

$16.95

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Big Shot

$99.95

Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$7.95

Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$7.95

Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Tangelo Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper

$10.95

Stampin' Dimensionals

$3.95

Banner Punch

$12.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Another birthday--sure hope you aren't getting sick of all my birthday cards!  It's a busy time of the year for our family...and there are more to come.

This week was my son, Matt's, birthday.  He's my "baby" (the baby who has given me two wonderful grandsons!), and I was 3000 miles away for his birthday.  So a special card was in order:

What a fun card!  Lots going on.

The Basic Grey base took a trip through the Big Shot with the Arrows Embossing Folder.  Then the fun begins:

I used the "vintage" Tasteful Trims die to cut the Crushed Curry pinked edges.  These were adhered to a strip of Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper, and this layer was adhered to the card front.

Two banners were cut using the Banners Framelits--Bermuda Bay and Smoky Slate, which was embossed with the Chevrons embossing folder.  See those little staples holding them on the card?  That's the cute Handheld Stapler with Silver Mini Staples from the Holiday Catalog--so easy to use with it's extra-long reach!

Then I had fun choosing sentiments and arrows to decorate the card:  I used Just Sayin' and Project Life Point and Click and the matching Word Bubbles Framelits; the "happy birthday" is from a retired set, but there are many others that would fit.

What's Up? provided the fun arrows, tying in with the Designer Series Paper.

And of course the inside:  Big News and Borderettes were stamped on Whisper White with a layer of Bermuda Bay to finish off this card. 

All items can be purchased here.

And let's get creating!

Lots of Thanks!

I shared the other day a thank you card for one of my customers  (you can see that here).  Today I have another to show you. 

I so (SOOO) appreciate my customers who choose me as their demonstrator.   Do you think this card will convey my appreciation? 

Starting with a piece of Designer Series Paper Confetti Celebration, I placed shapes from the Word Bubbles Framelits all over the front.  This was run through my favorite Stampin' UP accessory--the Big Shot--creating windows all over the paper. 

Carefully lining up my piece over a layer of Whisper White, I stamped thank you sentiments from a variety of stamp sets in Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, and Tangelo Twist (with a Crushed Curry heart).  I did use my trusty Stamp-a-ma-Jig to ensure everything would be lined up just right!

These two layers were added to a card base of Strawberry Slush, and then some Candy Dots were strategically placed to add an extra pop of color.

I stamped a sentiment from Workshop Words inside, using a mask to ink it up in Basic Grey and then coloring each little flower with my Stampin' Write markers.  So cute!  (Even my husband commented how much he liked the colored accent!  WOW!).

I dressed up the back flap of the envelope with a layer of the Designer Series Paper to match the card front...MUST MAKE MATCHING ENVELOPE!

All supplies can be ordered here. 

And let's get creating!