clean and simple - part 2

While I had the Notecards out and was stamping quick and easy cards, I went ahead and stamped a few other designs, including this card inspired by the Clean & Simple sketch #235: 

Isn't that just darling?? And it was super easy to make!  
I inked the vase image (Button Buddies) using Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade markers. Then I adhered the image and a small strip of Tea for Two DSP to a layer of So Saffron card stock. After stamping my greeting (Teeny Tiny Wishes) in Lucky Limeade ink onto Certainly Celery card stock, I folded that strip under, tied on some Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, and attached the whole piece to a pre-cut, pre-scored Notecard (love these things!). For the final step, I attached some Buttons - easy peasy!

you're swell

You really are swell... so swell in fact, that you should see one of the easiest cards to make, ever!   :} 

I was inspired by a card in our demonstrator magazine - Stampin' Success. The layout is the same (and yes, I have the simple card sketch at the end of this post - yay!), but I changed everything else. It was a hit at my last card class down at the bakery.   :}
I started with a So Saffron card base, and the DSP layer measures 3-7/8" wide by 5-1/2" tall. 

I stamped the chevron-oval image from the Oh, Hello stamp set in Calypso Coral ink onto the same color card stock, then punched it out with the Curly Label punch. A skinny strip of Lucky Limeade card stock and a 1" punched circle of Early Espresso card stock add more necessary layers.  ;) 
The greeting (from the Ciao, Baby! stamp set) is stamped in Lucky Limeade and punched out with the Petite Curly Label punch. After adhering the layers together, I attached them to my card with Dimensionals. 

Isn't this about the easiest card ever??? I'll bet you're already planning some cards to make using this sketch. Have fun stamping!!

happy Easter everybunny!

Don't you just love stamping cute Easter projects??? I have a fun Easter card to share today that shows a great way to use up some scraps! 

I had some card stock and Tea for Two DSP scraps left over after cutting kits for my card class at the bakery, and I just can't bear to waste. Soooooo, I put them to good use on this Easter card. 
Isn't that bunny in the balloon just the cutest?! I stamped this image from the Everybunny stamp set in StazOn® ink so I could "watercolor" without the ink smearing. After adding spots of color gently with the Watercolor Wonder® Crayons, I smoothed out the color in each section of the image with a Blender Pen.

Here's a close-up so you can see all the details. The Chevron Embossing Folder adds the needed texture to the So Saffron card stock... and I folded the "blue" DSP strip back and under (on the right side) before adhering that card stock layer. Everything is adhered with my favorite liquid glue except the focal point, which uses Dimensionals for some height. 
I liked the simplicity of this card, so I kept the embellishments simple too. A Certainly Celery Button with a bow of Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine is all this card needs.  :} 

After I finished the card, I thought it would be fun to create the same "layered strip" look on a digital scrapbook page! 

Aaron is so sweet... don't you just want to hug him?! I LOVE this Easter Bunny basket he brought home from school, and I had to take a photo right away. 
I used pieces from a few downloads on this layout, but most of the "supplies" come from the Eggceptional Easter kit.

Here's a close-up of the basket-

The top and the two flat sides opposite the handle are cut away to create the opening. The handle is left intact in the back. Aaron got to draw a bunny face on the front... "with a PERMANENT MARKER, Mom!" The two bunny ears are stapled to the top, and the students got to play Easter Bunny by bringing some goodies for each basket. How fun!!

one sketch... two cards

Yesterday was such a beautiful day! It was sunny and kinda warm (51 degrees in the afternoon!), so the boys spent the day running around outside keeping you all safe from pirates, dragons, storm troopers, and aliens. AND, I had soooo much fun at my afternoon stamping class. Do you know what we will be doing today? Shoveling!

How do you like the contrast of our palm branches in the snow??? Crazy Spring weather! 

For both of the cards I'm sharing today, I used the same card sketch:

Here's the simple birthday card from yesterday's class-

stamp sets: Spring Sampler, Made for You

Embossing Folder: Chevron

DSP: Tea for Two 

And here's the card from the craft night I held at the grade school last week- 

stamp set: Madison Avenue 

Embossing Folder: Vine Street 

DSP: Sycamore Street 

Well, whatever kind of weather Spring has brought to your door today, I hope your day is fabulous! Thanks for stopping by my blog... now go stamp something!!  :} 

Ribbon Wreath

I finally finished a project on my "really-really want-to-make" list!!! For those of you who have a 2010-2011 SU catalog handy, my inspiration comes from the ribbon wreath on p190. It's not like it takes a long time to make a ribbon wreath - I finished in a few hours. I probably would have finished sooner if I didn't take breaks to draw outside with chalk, lose a lightsaber battle, and have a snack in the shade... but those are some of the best parts of working from home  :}  It's just one of those projects that kept getting pushed to the side, but I had time today since I didn't want to get a ton of supplies out while the drywall was being sanded. For this project, all you need is a hoop, ribbon, and Craft & Paper Scissors. I have two of these high quality scissors - one for paper, and one for fabric and ribbon.

Isn't it pretty??? Since I have several miles spools of ribbon in my craft room, this is the perfect project for me! All of these ribbons are from Stampin' Up! ... some are current, some are old, some are really old. I chose a variety of pinks, yellows, oranges, and greens for a bright, summery look.

I started with a hoop (approximately 13" diameter) that I purchased from my local craft store (I think I found it in the same aisle as the mirror pieces). Then I tied all my ribbons on... that's it! So easy!! 

A few tips for you: 
I used approximately 1 to 3 yards of each ribbon.
Push the tied ribbons close together as you're working.
Trim the ends as you go; don't wait to trim them all at the end.
Use a good amount of the wider ribbons first; it's much easier to fill in with skinny ribbons.
Try to use a variety of ribbon textures (satin, twill, grosgrain, scalloped edges) on your wreath for visual interest.
Mixing solid, striped, stitched, and dotted ribbons of varying widths is fun!
If you are using Pleated Satin Ribbon, pull gently when tying.
Ribbons with a heavier stiffness hold up to being cut longer; floppy ribbons should be cut shorter.

I bought more than 1 hoop because I have plans to make more. I will definitely create a Ribbon Wreath for Christmas... what else... oooh! Fall colors would be pretty!!  :}  What colors do you think I should try next?

birthday fun

Good morning! The project I'm sharing today is my brother's birthday card - Happy Birthday to my little brother! The card is in the mail, but it will be late- shocker ;)

I chose the colors - Poppy Parade, Basic Gray, and So Saffron - from this color challenge. I finally got a chance to put some ink to the You're My Type stamp set... yay! Since this is a "guy" card, I kept the layers pretty simple, using some First Edition and Twitterpated DSP.

I distressed the edges of the Very Vanilla card stock pieces for some no-fuss details. I also sponged some So Saffron ink on the edges of the sentiment banner. For a simple embellishment, I punched two Poppy Parade pieces (using the scallop shaped punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack) and added a So Saffron brad to the center.

Well, I'm off to squeeze in a bit of exercise before my little one gets home... no pain - no gain, right???  Have a fabulous day  :}

So Saffron

Today's card from the Color Coach is So Saffron, which is in the Subtles Collection.

The "Dynamic Duo" colors are So Saffron and More Mustard. I used the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder to dry emboss the More Mustard card stock. I stamped the sentiment from the Oval All stamp set using More Mustard ink. I love how the 1-3/4"x7/8" Oval Punch and the Scallop Oval Punch layer together to make projects easy :)


The "Creative Combination" colors are So Saffron, Rose Red, and Wild Wasabi. For this card, I wanted to use a Bigz Die that has been lonely the past few months. The Island Floral Die makes quick and pretty flowers, with the center hole already cut for your brad. I used the Woodgrain background stamp on the card base, as well as on the flower pieces. The Oval All stamp set and those two oval punches made another appearance to finish off the card :)


This was a card design from a workshop I did several months ago. The "Sweet Set" colors are So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, and Soft Suede. I used Soft Suede ink to stamp the image and sentiment from the Just Believe stamp set. The sentiment is punched from the 1-3/4" Circle Punch, and layered onto a piece of Riding Hood Red card stock which was cut on the Big Shot using the Circles #2 Originals Die.