And an Anniversary!

So many dates to celebrate this month; I've already shown you some of the birthday cards I've sent (here and here).  Today I'll show you the anniversary card I made for my son and daughter-in-law.  They've been married 6 years (where DOES the time go?), and have blessed us with two adorable grandsons.

A fairly simple card, but I really like how it came out.  I started with a Crumb Cake Note Card (with envelopes).  This is a great way to cut your preparation time, as the note cards are ready to mail.  However, I had to doctor it up a bit...

Check out the cross-hatch background.  I took a slightly smaller piece of Crumb Cake card stock and ran it through my Big Shot with the Stylish Stripes embossing folder.  Then I turned my card stock over and ran it through again, making a "plaid".  Just a little extra texture.

I then added one of our Tea Lace Paper Doilies, cutting it in half, and overlapping slightly so it would fit on my card.  This was topped with my new favorite ribbon--Burlap, flagged on each end. 

A Blushing Bride heart was punched with the Sweetheart punch and given some texture with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, and then a Crumb Cake arrow (from the Label Card Thinlet) was popped up using skinny pieces of Dimensionals.

I finished off the card with a sentiment stamped in Crumb Cake and mounted on a label from the Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits. 

A sweet card for a very sweet couple. 

Happy Anniversary Matt and Sarah!

All products can be purchased here.

And let's get creating!

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!

Thinking Outside the (Orange) Box

My Pumpkin Pals had fun with our September Paper Pumpkin Kit.  Not only were we able to prepare some really cute burlap treat bags, but we also created some extra projects.  Take a look:

An alternative tag, using the Scalloped Tag Topper punch and some White and Tangerine Tango Two Tone Trim.

This is a 3x3 card; the bottom was punched using the Confetti Stars Punch and backed with Tangelo Twist card stock.

A Halloween greeting card, with some additional Washi Tape!

And straying away from the Halloween theme, to show the versatility of our stamps, here's a cute Birthday card.  We only inked and stamped the "Happy" from the "Happy Halloween" stamp--the photopolymer stamps (completely clear!) make it so easy!

Wanna get in on the fun?  Join My Paper Pumpkin and get your very own Orange Box delivered to your doorstep each month.  When you choose me as your demonstrator, you'll be invited to participate in my Pumpkin Pals club.  Can't make it?  I'll be glad to send you the additional supplies and directions with color photos.  This is FREE to my subscribers.  Click on the button to the right and sign up now!

And let's get creating!

Simple Birthday

My mom turned 86 this past week!  Wow!  She lives 3000 miles away from my California home on beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  I'm going to be traveling there this week for a visit, but wanted to be sure to recognize her special day.  So here's a pretty card, the idea for which I first saw on Stampin' Connection (a private web site for Stampin' UP! demonstrators).  Katherine LaPiane did it in 2013-15 In Colors.   I loved the single layer; the original card was only the stamped center--I decided I needed to add some embellishments.  And my mom loves fall colors...So here's my card:

To make it, you start with a thin piece of paper (I used printer paper from my computer) and cut a hole of any shape in the center.  I used the Circle Framelits, but I've also shown a previous card using an oval (here). 

Once you have your shape, place it over your card front and anchor it with removable adhesive. 

I stamped the sun image from Kinda Eclectic using Hello Honey ink, then stamped the leaves (same set) in Mossy Meadow. 

Leaving the mask in place, sponge right over the stamped images.  I used Hello Honey in the center, Pool Party for the sky, and Pear Pizzazz around the leaves.  Then remove the mask and see the magic!

The butterfly from Kinda Eclectic was stamped using Tangelo Twist and punched with the large Butterfly punch.  This was added with Mini Glue Dots and some Pearls Basic Jewels gave it a little bling.

I punched some Hello Honey cardstock using the Scalloped Ribbon Border Punch, then covered almost all of it (just the tiny little scallops are left) with Blackberry Bliss Stitched Satin Ribbon.  The sentiment was stamped with Blackberry Bliss and cut out with Bitty Banners Framelits, then popped up with Dimensionals.

And see that tiny little scallop along the bottom?  That was made with the Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade and the Stampin' Trimmer--just a cute little detail.

Inside?

I scored around the edge using my Simply Scored, and stamped the leaves in Mossy Meadow.  The "enjoy" was inked with Blackberry Bliss, and it was layered on a piece of Blackberry Bliss. 

Such a pretty card.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

All products can be purchased here.

And let's get creating!

September Card Club Samples

These were cards made at our September Card Club classes:

We started with a skinny card, using the new For All Things stamp set from the Holiday Catalog.  The Crumb Cake base was stamped with the big leaf from the set, using Versamark ink.  The edges were sponged heavily with Soft Suede ink.  We tore the Naturals Ivory square to fit, and sponged the edges with Hello Honey ink.  The square was stamped, also using Hello Honey, and the leaves were added with Mossy Meadow ink.

A strip of Burlap Ribbon, Newsprint Designer Series Paper and Mossy Meadow Stitched Satin ribbon add texture; a Gold Basic Metal Button, threaded with a little bow made from the burlap ribbon is stuck on with a Mini Glue Dot, and the sentiment was stamped on a skinny strip and adhered with a Dimensional.

Next up, Bonnie's card:

An elegant Christmas card, using Bright and Beautiful, and the Star Framelits.  The smaller star was stamped with Versamark and embossed with Gold embossing powder; the Very Vanilla layer was stamped with the greeting and we used the larger Star Framelit to cut the star shape--when this piece is layered over Cherry Cobbler, the star is prominent.  Our gold-embossed star is added with Dimensionals,and we topped it off with Gold 1/8" ribbon and a Rhinestone Basic Jewel (colored with Blendabilities). 

Another Christmas Card, using non-Christmas colors:

The Lost Lagoon card base was embossed with the new Filigree Frame Textured Embossing Folder.  A piece of All is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper is anchored in the center.  Silver Glimmer Paper was cut using the Starburst Framelits, and a tag of Pear Pizzazz was cut using Chalk Talk Framelits.  The tree baubles were first embossed with Silver Embossing Powder, and then over-stamped with Lost Lagoon ink and the Festival of Trees stamp set; this was punched with the matching Tree punch.  Pretty!

And finally:

Tani contributed this cute card, featuring the Fun Fall Framelits dies, the Party Pennants Bigz die and some Motley Monsters Designer Series Paper. 

What a fun month of cards!

All supplies can be purchased here.

And let's get creating!

Happy New Home

My daughter and son-in-law were fortunate to have recently been able to purchase their first home.  I can remember the excitement I felt when I bought my first house, and I know that they are feeling it too.  (Along with the worry about making those house payments!)

I wanted to welcome them "home", so this card was waiting for them in their new mailbox:

A fun card to put together, I started with one of my favorite sets from the Holiday Catalog, Holiday Home.  The house was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Blendabilities, and cut out with the matching Homemade Holiday Framelits Dies. 

I also stamped and then fussy-cut the two trees from the same set, using Early Espresso ink with the Old Olive Blendabilities.  

The card is a square of Blushing Bride, with a layer of Early Espresso.  Mossy Meadow and Pistachio Pudding card stock were hand trimmed to make the hills; they were run through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots and Woodgrain embossing folders to give them some texture. 

Soft Sky was used for the sky; I used a vintage "clouds" embossing folder. 

Of course, a new home is filled with love, so I had to mount the house on a heart of vellum:

I hope they are very happy in their lovely new home (which I get to see in early November...can't wait!).

All products can be purchased here.

Let's get creating!

Stock Up and Save!

Stampin' UP! is offering reduced prices on many of your favorite items in celebration of World Card Making Day, which is celebrated Saturday, October 4th this year. 

Color families and Whisper White cardstock, along with all medium envelopes are offered at 15% discount.  Fast Fuse (a super sticky adhesive) and refills are 15% off.  And all individual ink pads are 15% off!  Wow!

And...a limited number of stamp sets are offered at 20% off:

Item Number	Stamp Set	Price	After Discount
135540	Grandes nouvelles (Clear) FRA	31.95	25.56
134018	Big News (Clear)	31.95	25.56
134015	Big News (Wood)	43.95	35.16
134288	Playful Pennants (Clear)	16.95	13.56
134285	Playful Pennants (Wood)	21.95	17.56
134198	Choose Happiness (Clear)	17.95	14.36
134195	Choose Happiness (Wood)	24.95	19.96
125682	Quelques Lignes (Clear) FRA	20.95	16.76
122497	Petite Pairs (Clear)	20.95	16.76
128706	Petite Pairs (Wood)	28.95	23.16
135594	Tellement heureuse (Clear) FRA	17.95	14.36
134234	So Very Happy (Clear)	17.95	14.36
134231	So Very Happy (Wood)	24.95	19.96
135653	Y muchos más (Clear) ESP	26.95	21.56

 Cardstock and accessories:

Item Number	Product	Price	After Discount
133681	Card Stock In Color 8-1/2" x 11" 2014-2016	$6.95	$5.91
131200	Card Stock 8-1/2 x 11 In Color 2013-2015	$6.95	$5.91
131190	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Brights	$6.95	$5.91
131193	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Subtles	$6.95	$5.91
131192	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Regals	$6.95	$5.91
131191	Card Stock  8-1/2 x 11 Neutrals	$6.95	$5.91
100730	Card Stock 8-1/2" x 11" Whisper White	$8.50	$7.23

Item Number	Product	Price	After Discount
107297	Envelopes Medium Crumb Cake	$6.50	$5.53
107300	Envelopes Medium Very Vanilla	$6.50	$5.53
107301	Envelopes Medium Whisper White	$6.50	$5.53
102619	Envelopes Medium Clear Translucent	$4.95	$4.21

Item Number	Product	Price	After Discount
129026	Adhesive Fast Fuse	$9.95	$8.46
129027	Adhesive Refill Fast Fuse	$7.50	$6.38

This offer is only good until Monday, October 6.  So call me now to place your order or shop in your pj's here.

And let's get creating!