an anniversary card

I had so much fun today!!!! I got to spend the morning with some very fun ladies at my local library, and teach them how to create hand-stamped cards. We got to know each other a little bit, learn a few techniques, and create three cards.
The last card we made featured a background stamp, a technique called "masking," and the finished project gave my Big Shot quite a workout! 

After dry embossing the Raspberry Ripple layer with the new Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (a FREE Sale-a-Bration choice!), I adhered it to the Crumb Cake card base. The Very Vanilla layer is die-cut using the Top Note die. Then I used a large "sticky-note" to cover the bottom portion of this layer, and stamped the En Francais background stamp in Crumb Cake ink onto the top portion. After removing the "sticky-note," I stamped the anniversary sentiment from the Express Yourself (hostess) stamp set. There are so many great sentiments in this stamp set, and during class several other ladies chose a different sentiment to stamp onto the bottom of the die-cut. 

After attaching a strip of Crochet Trim, I attached the Top Note layer and started adding hearts. The DSP heart and the Crumb Cake heart are courtesy of our two heart punches. The stamped heart and the Raspberry Ripple heart were die-cut using the Hearts a Flutter Framelits. And a Basic Pearl adds the perfect "ta-da" to the finished card.  :}

trends in papercrafting

Sometimes it's fun to be trendy... run with the IN crowd. Just be sure to put down your craft scissors before you run.   ;) 

This card is the "cat's meow," and has some of the latest craft trends all over it! I started with the idea of wanting to make a card using blues and purples. Then I thought giving it sort of an ombre look would be great. And you can't leave out chevrons or flags. Throw in some Baker's Twine and a good amount of white space, and you've got yourself one of the hippest cards in town! 

I used the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die to cut scraps of (from top to bottom) Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo, and Pool Party card stock. Wisteria Wonder Baker's Twine tied into a bow around the 1-1/4 x 2-1/2" Pool Party DSP looks pretty darn cute. 
What? What stamp? Oh! You want to know where I got that neat-o greeting that's stamped in Elegant Eggplant? Um, yeah. That's from an awesome (and very trendy!) Hostess stamp set in the upcoming catalog. That's right, Banner Greetings is a Hostess stamp set. Why? Because we know that you want to be like all the other super-cool people and host your own stampin' party so you can get cute, trendy, free stuff too! C'mon... you know you want too...   ;) 

the cards I don't like to make

I had an appointment with my eye doctor a few days ago. As I was paying my bill and chatting with the receptionist, I noticed a collection of obituary notices on her desk. One of her duties is to check the obituary section of the paper, and then to mail sympathy cards as needed to patient's families. That must be the most depressing part of her day! 
So to make her task a tiny bit easier, I thought I would stamp some pretty sympathy cards for her to use. 

Sympathy cards need a clean and simple design (Love & Sympathy stamp set), a subtle background (Netting Background stamp), and soft colors (Perfect Plum, River Rock, Elegant Eggplant). 

I skipped the fancy embellishments and kept my use of Dimensionals to a minimum so that extra postage won't be needed.  

Well, I have a super busy day ahead, including the Veteran's Day assembly at the school and helping a little at the church.  TGIF  :}

simple Fall card; unexpected color combo

I love making Fall cards, especially when I get to add all the yummy details like sponging, shimmer mist, Crochet Trim, layers, etc... But let's face it, if I waited until I had time to make all those, I wouldn't get much done! I like to try to mail out a few Fall cards, so that if I don't get my Christmas cards done in time, I've given myself a "free pass" until Valentine's Day.   ;)   Is that planning to fail, or being realistic???
Anywho, I came up with a simple Fall card that's super easy to make and doesn't take much time - yay! 

My favorite thing about this card is the unexpected color combination. I had something else in mind when I started working on it, but when I went to my card stock shelf, the Perfect Plum jumped up and said "PICK ME!!" So I did.
The Woodgrain background stamp is perfect for this card - love it! At first I used the Woodgrain Embossing Folder on the More Mustard layer, but I felt like it made the card too busy. It needed something that would add subtle detail, without taking too much time, since I want to make several of these... Stripes Embossing Folder to the rescue! 

After die-cutting Very Vanilla card stock on the Autumn Accents Bigz Die, I inked a leaf from the Wonderfall stamp set with Cajun Craze ink. While the stamp was lying on it's back, I pressed the card stock onto the stamp... it's like stamping upside down :}
The "thanks" sentiment (Fabulous Phrases) is stamped in Early Espresso ink onto Cajun Craze card stock, and adhered to the back of the leaf. I used Dimensionals to adhere the leaf to my card front, and Mini Glue Dots hold the Perfect Plum button in place. Easy Peasy!
If you are looking to mix things up a bit in your craft room today, try this color combo (Perfect Plum, Cajun Craze, More Mustard) on some Fall cards. I think you'll like it!  :}

green and purple

And so the crayon gifts continue... 

Green Day

A big "thank you" to my Mom for creating this darling froggie to hold the green crayons! Isn't he adorable???  :} 

Purple Day 

And a big "thank you" to the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die for making this gift super cute and super easy to create!

Jodi's card

It's been a while since I got to make a "baby" card, which I always like working on. So, I was happy to have a reason to use some soft colors for this card.

The little boy I babysit in the morning is going to have a little sister soon, and this card is for his Mom. It's a nice feeling to actually have the card ready before the baby is born - an unusual thing for me to do  ;)
Adhered to the Blushing Bride card base is a layer of Nursery Nest DSP. Over that I added a 1" wide strip of Perfect Plum card stock, which has the sentiment from Sweetly Said stamped in Perfect Plum ink. Then I added a piece of Blushing Bride 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon... so pretty!

For the focal point I stamped the rattle from Button Buddies in Blushing Bride ink onto Whisper White card stock, die cut the image using the smallest Framelit in the Labels Collection, and sponged the edges with Blushing Bride ink. After tying a bow of white Baker's Twine through a Perfect Plum Designer Button, I used two mini Glue Dots to adhere the button to the rattle image. I used the second smallest Framelit to die cut a layer of Pear Pizzazz card stock, which I already dry embossed using the Snow Burst Embossing Folder. After tucking it behind the stamped layer, I used Dimensionals to attach the piece to my card.
For some additional "prettiness" I stamped another rattle on the front of the envelope and added more Nursery Nest DSP to the envelope flap. And while I can't wait to give this card to Jodi, I really can't wait to meet this new little bundle of joy  :}

Thanks for stopping by today! If you have an extra minute, stop by Tiffany Bauer's blog. She chose one of my cards as one of her "Crafty Picks" for the week!! I am so honored to be among this group of talented stampers! Have a fabulous day!!!

so much to stamp, so little time

I am so happy to see September! The kids are in school, so I can get back into my routine, and the Holiday Mini is here! Yippee!!!!
I have a quick post to share with you today...
One more project using Glossy card stock:

This card features the color burnishing technique. The images from Flower Fest are stamped in StazOn® ink onto Glossy card stock. I used sponge daubers to swirl in the color (Lucky Limeade, Riding Hood Red, and Perfect Plum).

Here's another example of the color burnishing technique on a telescoping card:

This card also uses the Flower Fest stamp set. Colors: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, and Poppy Parade.

Perfect Plum

Wow, this little personal challenge is fun! Today's color is Perfect Plum. The Color Coach lists Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant as the Dynamic Duo. The "Creative Combination" colors are Perfect Plum, Marina Mist, and Rose Red. The "Sweet Set" colors are Perfect Plum, Riding Hood Red, and More Mustard. I LOVE how the "Sweet Set" combo turned out... I never would have chosen those colors together. Thank you Color Coach!!