Twitterpated Birthday

Oh my goodness, I haven't felt this tired in a long time... yuck! Aaron's asthma has reared it's ugly head, so it was a long night. I'm not sure what I'll get a chance to stamp today - if anything at all - so I'm thankful I finished this card yesterday!

Did you ever work on a project that felt like a creativity roller coaster? When I saw this sketch challenge, I instantly had some ideas I wanted to play with. The sketch isn't complicated, and I have plenty of stamping goodies to play with. I was feeling good as I started the project, but then, well, I don't know... it just wasn't working out. So I did the best thing you can do - walk away. I left it on my desk and tended to some household chores (you know, the stuff I should be doing but choose to stamp instead). I am happy to report that when I came back to my project, I tried a few different things with success!

I started with a Blushing Bride card base. It measures 3-1/4" x 6" (closed) and has a top-fold. I am so in love with the Twitterpated DSP... I will be sad when it's gone. The three flower images from the Bordering on Romance stamp set are stamped in Basic Gray ink. I used a Blender Pen to watercolor the images. I punched out three 1-1/4" circles from Basic Gray textured card stock, and distressed the edges with my fingernail. Layering them behind the flowers really helps the pretty flowers stand out.

I used both Basic Gray 5/8" Satin Ribbon and Blushing Bride 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon... because I love ribbon! The birthday sentiment from the Petite Pairs stamp set is stamped in Basic Gray ink onto a piece of Baja Breeze card stock, which I die cut in the Big Shot using a Sizzlits Die from the Lots of Tags collection. I pierced a second little hole so I could tie the Twitterpated Button to the tag with Baker's Twine. Then I used a mini Glue Dot and a Dimensional to adhere the tag.

Speaking of birthdays... did you know today is Dr. Seuss's birthday? I'm sure if you have school-aged children, they will have a blast at school today. I know mine will!! Thanks for dropping by... time for me to finish off the coffee and brew another pot  :} 

Framelit Fun

Happy 1st day of March!! Even though we've had such a mild winter, I totally have Spring Fever... well, more like Summer Fever because Spring in Wisconsin isn't going to be much different than a mild Winter (sigh). So today I'm sharing a bright, pretty card perfect for Spring:

This is another card from my class on Tuesday  :}  The colors are Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, and Pear Pizzazz. After stamping the large label image in Basic Gray ink, I used a Blender Pen to watercolor the flowers and leaves.

Before adhering the focal point with Dimensionals, I used my magic potion of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol in a travel-sized spritz bottle to add some shimmer to the background layer. The golden sparklies look so pretty on the Everyday Enchantment DSP!

Well, thanks for dropping in today... let's all think warm thoughts and try to convince Spring to come early  :}

a window with a view

I had so much fun last night at my Technique Tuesday class! There are so many neat projects you can make with the new Framelit and Edgelit Dies. While most projects you make will most likely use the "positive" die-cut, you can also use the "negative" to create a framed look. If you add a layer of acetate, you've got yourself a cute little window  :}
After seeing a window card that another demonstrator made using a Framelit from the 'Labels Collection,' I really wanted to try a window card using a Framelit from the 'Hearts Collection.' Wedding season will be here soon enough (and therefore bridal showers and anniversaries), so it will be nice to have a beautiful card ready to go.

There are quite a few steps on this card, so I'll try to remember them all  ;)
I worked on the Blushing Bride layer of card stock first. After die cutting the heart from the center, I used the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder to add texture, distressed the edges for more texture, and then highlighted those details by sponging Blushing Bride ink around the edges.
I spritzed Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz onto a 4 x 5-1/4" layer of Twitterpated DSP, and adhered that layer to my Riding Hood Red card base. After stamping the flowery heart from the Take It to Heart stamp set, I used a heart Framelit to cut it out, and then I sponged the edges in Blushing Bride ink. To make sure I placed that heart in the center, I set the window-frame layer on the card front so I could use it as a placement guide. Once I had the center image adhered, I was ready to work on the rest of the card.

I used mini Glue Dots to adhere the 3-1/2 x 4-1/2" Window Sheet layer to the back of the Blushing Bride window frame. Then I used Dimensionals to adhere the window layer to the card.
After the window card is assembled, it's just pure fun to embellish the front. For this card, I stamped the sentiment from the Sweetly Said stamp set in Basic Gray ink onto a Whisper White strip (die cut using the Petal Cone Bigz L die). To adhere the sentiment, I used one Dimensional on the left end and two stacked Dimensionals in the center.

The card was getting a little too Valentiney, so I added the pop of Island Indigo and Basic Gray. The his & hers hearts and the fun little ribbon treatment are the perfect over-the-top finishing touches.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today... stay tuned for more projects using the Framelit and Edgelit Dies  :}

Technique Tuesday

Happy Tuesday! It's the last Tuesday of the month, so that means it's time for my Technique Tuesday class. I have a card to share with you today that's actually from my last technique class (Oh, Scrap), as well as a sneak peek at one of tonight's cards.

Scraps of Designer Series Paper and card stock are perfect for small layers on your cards. You can add interest to each layer with texture, such as tearing along the edge, or by stamping right onto your DSP.

Tonight we will be working with the Framelits and Edgelits. Here's a sneak peek at one of the cards:

 Looks like fun, right??? I look forward to sharing our projects with you later this week. Have a wonderful day!!  :}

fun colors

Good morning! I hope you all had a nice weekend. Ours was busy, as usual. The highlight was last night's Blue & Gold Dinner for Ben's Cub Scout pack. Good food, funny skits, and great family time   :} 
Today's project is a nice, simple card we made at my last Team Meeting. I love it because it's super easy, and you can make it in minutes, without leaving a mess in your craft room. 

The Peach Parfait card base has a top-fold. I scored the Whisper White layer at 1/4" and 1/2". The heart image from the Sprinkled Expressions stamp set is stamped in (from the bottom) Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, and Peach Parfait. I used the same color markers to ink the sentiment stamp. For a simple embellishment, I added a brad from the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack. Then I attached the Whisper White layer using Dimensionals.
That's it! Super easy!! And what makes it even more awesome is that the stamp set and brad were free! Yeppers, they are Sale-A-Bration choices  :}  You can earn these items free for yourself by placing an order online or by calling/emailing me with your order.

Happy stamping! Enjoy the rest of your day  :}

a green anniversary

I'm posting a bit late today... such a busy one for me! I chaperoned Aaron's field trip this morning to a loud, but fun, place. The kids got to have hands on experiences in different rooms. Each room had different themes and activities, with a large indoor play area in the center. They were moving SO much, I hardly took any photos. This is my favorite, from the room filled with dress-up clothes:

The kids took turns going up on the stage and acting for us... what a bunch of "hams"! This skit is titled "Pirates in Green Bay."  ;)

On to "greener" things...
As promised, here's a mega-layered card, which I made for Aaron's bus driver:

 Her wedding anniversary is also on St. Patrick's Day, and she wanted a special card. She LOVED the cards I made for her! (click here to see the card for her sister's birthday)
 There are so many layers and details on this card... I'll just list a few:
* Poppy Parade DSP from Everyday Enchantment, a Sale-A-Bration choice
* grassy background and stem stamps from the Inspired By Nature stamp set
* the Basic Black card stock has one edge distressed, one edge border punched, and dry embossing

* the lucky four-leaf clover is made from a heart stamp in the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set
* I used the Boho Blossoms punch and a Large Pearl for the center
* I printed my sentiment onto Very Vanilla card stock before punching it out with the Large Oval punch

Even the inside of the card got the royal treatment. I used a Wild Wasbi marker to ink the sentiment from the A Word For You stamp set. Then I distressed the edges of the Very Vanilla card stock before adhering it inside. For a final loving touch, I stamped the smallest heart image from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set in Poppy Parade ink, punched it out with the Small Heart punch, and attached it with a mini Glue Dot.



After such a busy day, it would be nice to kick back and relax tomorrow... HA! Not going to happen - the kids are off from school, so it will be a noisy family day  :}  Thanks for dropping by tonight - I hope I get to sneak in a few minutes tomorrow to stamp something...

hubby's birthday

Today is my husband's birthday! It's so easy to remember, since it's the same day as George Washington's birthday. Interestingly enough, Washington is one of Chris's history heroes. And while they both have a thing with cherry trees, I'm happy my husband uses his to make pies and wine :}
My hubby enjoys getting some of the "fancy stuff" (as he calls it) that I make, and his birthday card is no exception:

Masculine cards can be a little tricky to create... why is that? Well, it's a lot more fun to make a card that screams "Yoohoo!! Hey! Look at me! Love me - I'm gorgeous!!" At least I think that's what my cards are shouting  ;)  But with a masculine card, it needs to be more subtle, as in, "hey. What's up? Yeah, I'm a handmade card. Cool, dude." Soooo, I tend to use more "fall" colors and neutrals, plus LOTS and LOTS of texture.

Now, that doesn't mean the card has to be boring! I added lots of detail, subtle detail, to the background. First, I used Cajun Craze ink and a Sponge Dauber to stencil the fleur-de-lis image (from the Elegant Trio set). Then I spritzed the background using a Not Quite Navy marker in the Color Spritzer Tool. I used a stylus to dry emboss a few bits of the image from the Houndstooth Embossing Folder, and then tore a bit from one corner of the card base.
The layer of River Rock has been treated to what I call a "faux leather" technique. First I crumple the heck out of the card stock. Then I sponge the same color ink over the whole piece, including the edges. It starts to look and feel like really worn out leather. For more subtle detail, I lightly sponged some Not Quite Navy ink onto one corner, and then lightly spritzed the Not Quite Navy marker onto two opposing corners.
The strip of Well Worn Designer Series Paper is dry embossed using the Houndstooth Embossing Folder through the Big Shot. *Tip: cut your DSP strip a teeny, tiny bit longer than the width of the card, as the width will "shrink" a smidge after it's embossed. I sanded the raised places a little, but the exposed white core was a little too white. So, I used a sponge to lightly rub some River Rock ink over the DSP.
The birthday sentiment is stamped in Not Quite Navy ink onto Very Vanilla card stock. I distressed the edges, and added a layer of Cajun Craze card stock behind it. A snip of Blue 3/8" Denim Jean Ribbon (with frayed edges for more texture) and a Chocolate Chip 5/8" Jumbo Brad are all the embellishment this card needs.
It was pretty darn convenient that the challenge over on the Paper Player's blog is for a masculine-themed creation. How'd they know I was making a "boy card" this week??? Cool, dude  ;)  

Thanks for dropping by - enjoy your day!

Gorgeous greens

Have you ever made a card with too many layers??? Yeah, me neither... HA!! I just can't help myself when there are so many yummy things to play with. Today's card is no exception:

Aaron's bus driver (one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet) asked me to make her a few cards, for events that happen to fall on St. Patrick's Day. This card is for her sister's birthday, so I used color to tie the two celebrations together.

I'm going to take you on a little side trip here, and talk about color for a minute. Yesterday, I mentioned using the Color Coach to help me when I'm stamping, and I wanted to share some design tips related to that.

The Color Coach is held together with a post that screws together. After I got mine, I took it apart and rearranged the cards in "rainbow" order. This makes it easier for me to use my limited "color theory" knowledge. For example, if I want to make a project using the classic Primary color combination, I can easily select the tint or shade of red, yellow, and blue that best fits the style or theme of my project.

Knowing that I wanted to start with green, my project began by selecting three "neighbor" cards in my Color Coach. If I had stopped there, I would have a mono-chromatic color scheme.
But I wanted an extra "zing" since this was for a birthday, so I added a few pops of green's complimentary color - red. (Complimentary colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel.)



So there's some basic color theory info for you. I love how choosing just the right tint, tone, or shade of a color can add just the right "feeling" to a project  :}

Using the Create a Cupcake stamp set, I stamped the wrapper image in Pear Pizzazz, the frosting image in Certainly Celery, and the sprinkles image in Lucky Limeade. I used the Cupcake Builder punch to punch out those images. I adhered the cupcakes to a layer of Certainly Celery card stock, that has been dry embossed using the Perfect Details Texturz Plate and the Big Shot.
There are a ton of other details, so I'll just note a few... The birthday sentiment is stamped in Lucky Limeade ink onto the same color card stock. I stamped a subtle background onto the 4-1/8"x5-3/8" layer of Pear Pizzazz card stock using Pear Pizzazz ink and a stamp from the Creative Elements stamp set.

Special cards have to be pretty on the inside, too! Plus, it's a good idea to add a light-color layer when your card base (Poppy Parade) is pretty dark. Distressing and sponging the edges of the Very Vanilla card stock adds nice detail. And I just love this sentiment stamp: "It's not about how many candles you blow out but how many cupcakes you get!" Perfect  :}

It's also pretty perfect that the theme for SUO Challenge 39 is "a birthday card." Nothing says "birthday" more than cute cupcakes!
And if you think this card has lots of layers, just you wait! The card I'm posting on Thursday is really over the top!! Thanks for dropping in today  :}

Birthday Wishes

I love any birthday stamp set that includes text for belated birthday wishes... I am often late getting my cards mailed out! The Happiest Birthday Wishes Hostess stamp set has ten great text stamps for people who are organized and punctual, plus one text stamp for people like me  :}

I made this card for a friend (whose birthday is today) using the Saturday Sketch Challenge 243. I consulted the stamper's best friend - The Color Coach - for my color combination: Bravo Burgundy, River Rock, and Baja Breeze.
While I was mulling over which background stamp I wanted to use, it dawned on me that I haven't used my stencils in a long time. So, I used the floral image stencil from Elegant Trio, a Sponge Dauber, and Baja Breeze ink. Stenciling tip: pounce the dauber; don't rub or the stencil pieces will move and ink will be where you don't want it to be. I stenciled right onto a piece of Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper. At the bottom I added another strip of Paisley Petals DSP and a piece of Baja Breeze card stock (punched with the Scallop Edge Border punch; stamped with the swirly background from Creative Elements).

The Baja Breeze Seam Binding adds a nice, soft "feel" to this card. For the butterfly focal point, I die cut Bravo Burgundy card stock and Vellum Paper using the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die and the Big Shot. After dry embossing the card stock butterfly using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, I adhered the butterflies together with two mini Glue Dots. They are attached to the card with Dimensionals. A string of Basic Pearls adds the final touch to this special card.

 Now, I could have just gone ahead and stamped my greeting inside, but this card was too pretty to leave the inside plain. So, I added another layer of the Paisley Petals DSP, which I cut so that I could include that pretty floral image in the corner. Then, I stamped my belated birthday greetings in Bravo Burgundy ink... oddly enough, this ended up being the only stamping on this card.

Thanks for taking a minute to stop by - have a super day!!  :}

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!!!