A Card Club Offering

A quick post today; here's one of the cards from our March Card Club:

Although a little hard to see (should NOT have photographed my Crushed Curry background on my maple table!), this is a little different card.  Using a standard Stampin' UP notecard-sized Whisper White base, I attached it to a standard-card-sized piece of Crushed Curry (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), run through the Big Shot with the "vintage" Sophisticated Stripes embossing folder.  This makes the smaller Note Card fit into a standard sized envelope. 

The Make-a-Wish stamp (from Perfect Pennants) was inked in Strawberry Slush and stamped on Whisper White; then cut out using one of the framelits from the Banners Framelits Dies.  The same stamp was re-inked in Crushed Curry; just the "a" was stamped on a scrap of card stock, and punched using the 1/2" circle punch.   A piece of Designer Series Paper from the Kaleidoscope DSP was also cut using a larger banner.  And during the same "run through the Big Shot" a tiny banner (from the Bitty Banners Framelits) was cut using Bermuda Bay cardstock.  This all gets layered to create the main image, which is topped off with a wrap and bow of Linen Thread.

Two banners (also from Perfect Pennants) are stamped in Bermuda Bay and Strawberry Slush, and snipped to size using Paper Snips (love these!).  They're popped up on Dimensionals.

And I love the border at the bottom--triangles were stamped using Geometrical, and punched with the Triangle Punch, then pieced together to make the border.  One of the Crushed Curry triangles was cut in half--6 triangles (3 Crushed Curry and 3 Bermuda Bay) fit perfectly!

Wanna make one of your own?  I'm happy to ship the monthly Card Club offerings to you--all card stock will be cut to size, ready for stamping (your stamps) and putting together; I include detailed photos.  You get 4 cards and envelopes for just $14.00 (this includes postage).  Contact me and your set will be shipped the next business day.  Stamps can be ordered here.

And let's get creating!

Shakin' that Birthday!

Sometimes adults need some fun for their birthdays!  (Like when you start feeling your age?  Just ask me how I know this...insert frowny face!)

Anyway, I wanted to send a little fun to my brother-in-law for his birthday, and here's what he's getting in the mail:

This shaker card should create a little laugh.

Using a clear envelope, cut to the size of the "polaroid print" in the On Film Framelits, I added some punched stars (using the star punch from the Merry Mini's set--still available!).  These were punched from Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo, Pistachio Pudding and Smoky Slate card stock--nice manly colors, yes?  The edges of my envelope were sealed with thin strips of Sticky Strip, and the envelope was adhered to the framelit.

I used some of my favorite Washi Tape (Retro Fresh This and That) to help hold the frame in place.

The card base is Smoky Slate, cut to 4-1/4" x 11" and scored at 5-1/2".  To this I added a layer of Coastal Cabana, and then a layer of the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper. 

My sentiment, from Sweet Essentials, was stamped in Smoky Slate on Whisper White, and a little arrow was cut from the Bermuda Bay DSP (also from the Kaleidoscope collection) and popped up on Dimensionals. 

There's even a "celebration" inside:

"Celebrate" is from the Best of Birthdays collection (available until 3/31!) and the Washi Tape is from the This and That Epic Day set.

Wouldn't you like to have a little fun creating one of these shaker cards for a friend?  All supplies used can be ordered in my on-line store, here.

Let's get creating!

Finale (of card samples!)

Today is the last sample of my Box of Cards (see here ), and I hope you've enjoyed my creations and are inspired to make your own.

This card is actually CASED (although with changes) from one I found on Stampin' Connection, a website for exclusive use by Stampin' Up Demonstrators.  Wanna see it?  I'd love to have you join my team of Stampin' Amigos!  Click here for the link to join, and you'll soon be inspired by thousands of demonstrators from around the world, coming together in one place--Stampin' Connection! 

Now on to today's card:

I strayed from my theme using the Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper, and used a color theme from the Afternoon Picnic DSP instead (still on a Coastal Cabana card base). 

I stamped my image from See Ya Later (get it FREE during Sale-a-Bration!) in black Staz On, then sponged over it in Wisteria Wonder, Coastal Cabana and So Saffron inks.  Using the On Film framlits and the Big Shot (you really need one of these!) I cut the filmstrip (2) from Whisper White card stock.  One frames the image and another frames a piece of the DSP. 

The bottom of this card has a few things going on: The edge of the base card was run through the Big Shot using an oldie-but-goodie edge trim so the white of the inside can peek through.  I used a layer of DSP from the Afternoon Picnic collection and punched the bottom with a retired punch for a sweet, heart-filled edge.  The DSP was layered on Whisper White to highlight the heart-bordered edge and a piece of Coastal Cabana 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim was added using Sticky Strip. 

Because I'm such a DSP collector, I decided this card needed it's own envelope, and using the Envelope Punch Board (see this link) I made one with the Afternoon Picnic DSP.

And that completes my tour through my Box of Cards.  I hope I've inspired you to have some fun and create one of your own.  Such a special gift for a friend...

Let's get creating!

A Guy Card

If you've been following me for the past few days, you'll know that I am show-casing a series of cards I made for a colleague.  (If you missed it, start here).

Day 4, and time for a card that can be used for a guy's birthday:

A simple, serene card, using the Wetlands stamp set (that had not yet seen the light of day--or my craft lamp!)  And again, using Coastal Cabana as my theme color...

A Whisper White card base is cut at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" and scored at 4'1/4".  A layer of Coastal Cabana, run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder is added next.

For the main image I took a piece of Whisper White, on which I laid a mask--another piece of card stock with a rectangle cut in the middle.  I sponged Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana and So Saffron through the rectangle mask, leaving a white edge all around.  Then the birds image and the sentiment from Wetlands was stamped with black Stay On ink.  This was added to layer of Basic Black, cut only 1/8" larger than the white.

A simple, elegant birthday card (with a little special touch of the birds image stamped on the envelope):

Let's get creating!

A Fortunate Mistake!

My third sample from my Box of Cards (see Saturday's post here) started out with a goof that turned into a happy mistake:

I was really happy with the way this one turned out.  Again, my card base is Coastal Cabana (the "theme" for my box of cards), 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4".
Using the pretty gingham-like piece of Designer Series from the Retro Fresh paper collections, I trimmed the edge with my Big Shot and the Finishing Touches Edgelits.  But I did it upside down and missed the pretty design!  (yes, I'm woman-enough to admit my mistakes!)  Of course, every mistake is an opportunity, and I adore how this one evolved...I took a piece of Very Vanilla trimmed with Finishing Touches the RIGHT way (!) and added it just below--a lucky error as it turns out, as this is just perfect!

Now for the focal point (although if it were up to me, I'd be focusing on that edge--can't get enough of how cute it is!!!  But I digress)...

Happy Watercolor was stamped with Old Olive to a panel of Very Vanilla.  I stamped the flower in Strawberry Slush, and again (twice) with Melon Mambo on scraps of Very Vanilla.  The Strawberry Slush one was snipped (Paper Snips!) and adhered to the front panel, and the the two Melon Mambo ones were snipped and layered with Dimensionals.  Butterflies were cut/embossed using the Beautiful Wings Embosslits and the Big Shot from Coastal Cabana card stock.  My panel (with opposite corners rounded) was adhered to a piece of Strawberry Slush and then onto my card front.

The sentiment was stamped in Coastal Cabana on Very Vanilla and cut using the Apothecary Accents framelits and the Big Shot, layered on Coastal Cabana.  I added a butterfly to the front of the envelope and the inside of the card.

Another sample will be featured tomorrow...hope you'll come back and see it!

Let's get creating!

Pleasant Poppies Card

Welcome back to my series of cards from the birthday gift I created for a colleague (see the past few posts).

Today's card uses the beautiful background stamp, Pleasant Poppies.

But you'll notice that it also has another background stamp--En Francais!  (Love this!)  And I stamped both on a piece of Designer Series Paper from the Retro Fresh collection...I was so happy with the results!

My base card is a standard 4-1/4" x 11" piece of Coastal Cabana Card stock, scored at 5-1/2". 

Using a piece of the small coastal cabana print from the Retro Fresh DSP, I carefully stamped En Francais in Coastal Cabana.  I actually gasped when I saw the results--just gorgeous!

I then stamped my Pleasant Poppies using Baked Brown Sugar--I wanted the lines, but wanted them subtle, and BBS was the perfect choice! 

The flowers were colored using Blender Pens and Stampin' Write Markers in Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Strawberry Slush, Melon Mambo and Old Olive. 

A sentiment from Four You was stamped on Very Vanilla using Coastal Cabana ink.

A strip of Crisp Cantaloupe, punched with my Scallop Trim Border punch was added and adhered to the card front.

After stamping Pleasant Poppies in Coastal Cabana on the envelope (and of course, finishing the inside of my card with a piece of Very Vanilla and a Scallop Trim border) I was done.

Please visit again tomorrow for the next card from my gift.

And let's get creating.

Vivid Birthday Card

Are you a collector of Designer Series Paper?  I am!  I find that I own nearly all that are available...but I don't always use them. (insert "frowny face")

So for a birthday gift that I made for a colleague (see yesterday's post), I challenged myself to use one color scheme and Designer Series Paper for a box of cards.  I also wanted to use stamp sets that haven't seen too much light of day! (*grin*)

I'll be highlighting each card over the next few days, and here is the first:

Choosing the Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper gave me a color scheme for my "Box of Cards"--Coastal Cabana will be the card base for each.

I stamped the image from Vivid Vases on Whisper White card stock with Black Staz On ink, and then carefully outlined each vase (one at a time using a black Stampin' Write marker) and stamped it on different snippets of the Retro Fresh papers.  These were carefully snipped (LOVE my Paper Snips) and "paper pieced" on the stamped image, giving color and texture to each vase.

 The flowers were colored using Blender Pens and ink pads (Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Coastal Cabana, Wild Wasabi and So Saffron).  This layer was mounted to a layer of Tangerine Tango.

My base was Coastal Cabana, cut to 5-1/2" x 8-12" and scored at 4-1/4".  A slightly smaller (4" x 5-1/4") piece of Whisper White was run through the Big Shot with the Stripes Embossing Folder and adhered to the card base using SNAIL adhesive.  

And since I happened to have a few rolls of the Retro Fresh This and That Designer Washi Tape sitting on my desk, I thought I'd add a few strips of those too:

 Then I popped up my stamped panel with Dimensionals.  Two more strips of Washi tape were added to my envelope, and I was done with my first card!  So fun!

Come back tomorrow for another sample from my gift box.

And let's get creating!