one card, two ways

In my last post, I shared the card I made for the shoebox swap I participated in. It was tons of fun, and everyone had such pretty cards. This is the card that Lynn designed for us - 

Don't you just love these colors together? So pretty. She chose the Secret Garden stamp set and Framelits (as well as the Window Frames Framelits) for the focal point. 

I thought it would be fun to try using the same pieces and create a birthday card for my hubby - 

Ta da! After stamping the sentiment (Make a Wish), I used the Argyle Embossing Folder to create a masculine look on my card. I also switched the card stock layer die-cut with the smaller Window Frame Framelit, for a layer of Print Poetry DSP.

The 1-3/8" Circle punch works great with the images from the Blue Ribbon stamp set to create the focal point. 

Don't you just love it when you can use a great card design more than once??  Yay!!  :}

a simple card sketch - four ways!

Sometimes I like to give the creative side of my brain a little kick... either to get things started or to get my creativity to move in a different direction. I like to read paper crafting magazines, look through the photo gallery in Stampin' Up!'s online forum for demonstrators, and browse blogs. Earlier this week, a card sketch on the Clean & Simple blog caught my eye. I liked it so much, that I made quite a variety of projects using the same sketch. Today I'm sharing three cards and a  gift tag, all inspired by the sketch.   :} 

stamp sets: Circle Circus, A Word For You

stamp sets: Pleasant Poppies, Friendly Phrases

stamp set: Curly Cute          Embossing Folder: Lacy Brocade

stamp sets: Merry Minis, Tiny Tags 

Creating the scalloped-edge rectangle was super easy! Using the Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die, I simply die-cut two of each square. For the card fronts, I adhered the larger squares together with five scallops overlapping. For the tag, the smaller squares are adhered together with three scallops overlapping. 

Speaking of die-cutting, have you ever wished you could see all of Stampin' Up!'s products for the Big Shot in one place??? Your wish has been granted!  :}  

Big Shot PDF      http://bit.ly/BigShotUS

Don't have the Big Shot (yet) but want to create those beautiful embossed textures (like on the thank-you card) with the Embossing Folders??? Another wish granted!! The Texture Boutique Embossing Machine is here! 

whew... That turned out to be quite a long post! Thanks for sticking around to the end.  Now go stamp!!  ;}

leaves, layers, and shimmer... yeah, baby!

Sometimes you just need an "over the top," layered, shimmery card.

This was my favorite card we made in last night's class. I think that the ladies liked that it looked complicated, but actually went together rather quickly. 
For the background, I chose the Woodgrain stamp. With this large stamp lying on its back, pat the stamp using Soft Suede ink. Gently cover the stamp with the folded Soft Suede card stock. Press very gently in random spots to get the soft, partially-stamped look on the background.
After adhering the DSP strips to the front of the card, attach the Summer Starfuit leaf (Gently Falling). Then it's time to work on the focal point.  

Stamp the "THANKS a bunch" sentiment (Friendship Preserves) in Midnight Muse ink onto the same color card stock. Then die cut this image using the Window Frames Framelit.

Attach the Cajun Craze and Soft Suede leaves at the bottom, then punch a hole in the corner. Adhere the Crochet Trim to the back, and attach an Antique Brad through the hole.

Use several Dimensionals to adhere your focal point to the front of the card.

The last step is to spritz the whole card front with a "Shimmer Mist." This looks sooooo much better in real life - a photo just doesn't do it justice :(   To make the Shimmer Mist, mix rubbing alcohol and a few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in a travel sized spray bottle or Stampin' Spritzer. Be sure to cover your spritzing area completely so you don't end up with a shimmery table  ;)

I'll bet you know someone who would love to get something pretty in the mail... a one-of-a-kind "over the top" card might be just what they need  :} 

ribbons, ribbons... I love ribbons!

I am going to my upline's meeting this morning, which reminded me that I haven't shared the beautiful projects from last month's meeting yet. Ooopsies! 

Isn't this card gorgeous??? It's right up my alley with all the texture and layers... and RIBBON! I absolutely love using ribbon on my projects, and I find it difficult to not use any. 

And to make life even more fun - and pretty - you can get a spool of ribbon for FREE with every $40 purchase in September. Yay!!!
I'll share the rest of the projects soon... Happy stamping!! :} 

blue and orange

Here are two more of the crayon gifts that Aaron brought to help celebrate Blue Day and Orange Day. His teacher told me the kids are loving it! It's nice to be able to make something as simple as a new crayon into a fun gift :} 

 Blue Day

I kind of "hit a wall" when I was planning the Blue Day gift, because Stampin' Up! doesn't really have a color that matches the crayon wrapper. If I were one of those Moms who gets everything done months in advance, I could have used the "color picker" tool in My Digital Studio and designed a perfectly matched tag. But... well, I'm not even close to being that prepared. Soooooo, I solved my dilemma by using every shade of blue! And I love how it turned out! It's even more fun and "kid-like" than a perfectly matched tag :}

I used a Window Sheet (acetate) to create a window for my little astronaut. And I had to add a heavy layer of shimmer to that cute alien (rubbing alcohol in a Spritzer with a few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint) :} 

Orange Day

Drawing on my creative use of color from the Blue Day project, I chose Peach Parfait, Tangerine Tango, and Cajun Craze to create this fun flower tag. Stamp set: Printed Petals. Framelit: Floral Frames. 

I'll bet you can't wait to see the next two colors...  ;)

a card for my friend

One nice thing about moving back to the area where you grew up, is reconnecting with friends. I've had the joy of reconnecting with one of my closest friends from middle- & high- school. Every week or so we meet for coffee and conversation. After our first coffee date, I sent her this pretty card: 

We made this at Convention in a Make & Take session, and it's just the perfect card for my buddy :}

stamp set: Affection Collection

card stock: Primrose Petals, Early Espresso, Whisper White

ink: Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse, Early Espresso

My "old" friend has never stamped or made cards before, so I'm really, really excited to show her how much fun it is. I get to come over to her house in a few days to share the fun of stamping with her friends and family... I can't wait!!! Now I have to narrow down all of my ideas. What to make, what to make???

happy birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday to my sweet mother, who is celebrating her 24th birthday... again  ;) 

stamp sets: Mixed Bunch, Petite Pairs

ink: Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Soft Suede

card stock: Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit, Very Vanilla

Designer Series Paper: Comfort Cafe

punches: 2-1/2" Circle, Blossom 

Happy 4th of July

As soon as I saw this week's Mojo Monday sketch, I knew I had to make a happy little card for my grandmother for the 4th of July. I love sending her something pretty in the mail to brighten her day :} 

stamp sets: Perfectly Penned, Sweets for the Sweet

ink: Midnight Muse, Real Red

card stock: Midnight Muse, Real Red, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Summer Smooches

ribbon: Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin

punch: Scallop Trim Border

Embossing Folder: Stripes

Framelit: Apothecary Accents

Have a safe and happy Independence Day with your family and friends!

new, new, new!

Well, a super busy weekend has turned into a super busy week... I'm really looking forward to the upcoming 3-day weekend! Hopefully I will have all of the drywall dust mess cleaned up by then. That's right, home repair... yuck! So let's look at some prettier things, shall we?  :} 

For my May team meeting, I prepared a Color Chart "sampler" page, and designed three cute projects using tons of new goodies. It's always fun to try out all the new products from the upcoming catalog!  So... what's new???

Two new stamp sets: Itty Bitty Banners and Papaya Collage. Three new colors: Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, and Midnight Muse. Two new Framelit Collections: Apothecary Accents and Bitty Banners. New DSP and Ribbon, too!  :}

New stamp set: Betsy's Blossoms. New stampin' wheel: Betsy's Blooms. Three new colors: Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, and Primrose Petals. New DSP and button, too!  :}

New stamp set: Betsy's Blossoms. Three new colors: Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, and Primrose Petals. And new DSP!  :}  *Note: I planned this 8x8 page to go with the new 8x8 Scrapbook Albums in the upcoming catalog!!

I have to say, I prefer the creating of the new projects in my stamp room over creating new sections of drywall in my ceiling and walls, but a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do! And by that I mean, calling a handsome fix-it guy to do the repairs!  ;)

You know, you could be stamping with these brand new goodies too! There are all kinds of perks to joining the Stampin' Up! family. I would LOVE to have you as part of my team. Click here to learn more  :}

And last but not least, you can find full views of the front of each project - as well as other projects from my team meetings - on my Facebook Page. Thanks for stopping by today!!  :}

Happy Mother's Day...

...to my mother...  

...to my mother-in-law... 

... and to all of the mothers in our homes, our hearts, and those watching us from above.