Back Porch Stamper

Clean and Simple Masculine-Themed card challenge

2012-02-19T20:09:00.000-05:00

When I saw this challenge from the Paper Players to make a masculine card I decided to try making one using some of the chipboard from my stash. The Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog has a fun stamp called Packed for Dad (#125432). I found a piece of chipboard with 4 open circles and I decided it would be perfect for this kind of card.

The chipboard was covered with a piece of paper from the Twitterpated dsp (#125406), also featured in the Occasions mini catalog. The other colors of paper on the card are Certainly Celery, Cajun Craze, and Whisper White.

The sentiment is from the Friendly Phrases stamp set (#126151, clear mount).

The four images were inked with black marker and stamped on white card stock, then punched with a 1" circle punch. They were colored with markers and an aqua painter.

Other supplies include clear acrylic block D (#118465), a glimmer brad, paper piercer and word window punch.

Inside, the Cajun Craze and Whisper White were repeated. A border was stamped on a 3/4" wide strip of Certainly Celery card stock. A Stamp-a-ma-jig was used to stamp the border. There is still plenty of room to write a personal message to the recipient.

This card is 5" square.

I was happy to be able to use some of my chipboard and also enter this challenge.

Please stop by the Paper Players and see the other masculine-themed cards that have been designed for this challenge.

Thanks for taking time to look at my creative efforts!

Tote-ally Tess Birthday

2012-02-13T12:00:00.005-05:00

My granddaughter is turning 15 next week! I thought this Tess card would be perfect for a teenager. I cased this cute layout from a card I found on Stampin' Connection.
Tess' outfit is paper-pieced with the Sending Love Specialty DSP (retired).
Supplies for this card:
Elegant Lines Textured Impressions embossing folder
Stamps: Tote-ally Tess, Bring on the Cake, Crazy for Cupcakes
Papers: Whisper White, Real Red, Early Espresso, Sending Love Specialty DSP
Other: Cherry Cobbler quilted satin ribbon, Snail adhesive, paper snips, Stampin' Dimensionals, assorted markers.

Fun Flowers Birthday

2012-02-12T12:00:00.002-05:00

I think I send more birthday cards than any other kind of card. I made this one a few days ago using papers from Paisley Petals DSP. I decided to find some scraps from paper packs I haven't used lately
I used Pool Party card stock for the card base. This is probably my favorite of the In Color group this year. It really makes the colors in the DSP pop.
The fun flowers die was used to cut out the two flower layers out of Pool Party and Calypso Coral papers. The brad in the center of the flower is part of a Sale-a-Bration product that can be selected for free with a $50. purchase.
The coral border above the dsp was punched with the scallop trim border punch.
The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the Sincere Salutations stamp set.
This was one of the quickest cards I've made lately! I love a quick card!

Thanks for stopping by.

With Love valentine

2012-02-08T12:00:00.002-05:00

I've been playing with my new Framelits and Edgelits die cuts for some of my Valentine cards. This card uses the Labels collection # 2 and #3 dies. I stamped the With Love sentiment from the Hand-Penned Holidays stamp set. The white background was embossed with the Houndstooth textured impressions embossing folder, then cut with the Edgelits die. I love the added trim on the bottom of the card!
A small heart was added below the sentiment and embellished with a small pearl.
Papers used were Whisper White and Melon Mambo.

Razzleberry Valentine

2012-02-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

This card was created from some left-overs from other projects. At first I wasn't sure it would work, but I think it makes an interesting card.

The heart is from the Take it to Heart stamp set. It was cut out and layered on a heart cut from Very Vanilla card stock. The patterned paper is from the Paisley Petals DSP collection.

The lacey border was made with the Lace Ribbon Punch and Very Vanilla card stock. It was layered onto the front of a Razzleberry card.

The label behind the heart was cut with the new Framelits labels collection of die cuts. That paper was a scrap I had embossed and didn't use on another project. I used a sponge dauber to gild the edge with champagne mist shimmer paint. Love that extra little bit of sparkle! Of course, the little rhinestone on the heart adds some extra bling, too!

These are colors I would not normally have thought of using for a valentine project, but I like the way it ended up.

Thanks for visiting.

Take it to Heart

2012-02-06T12:00:00.002-05:00

Today I'm sharing a card made with a new set from the Occasions Mini catlog. It's called Take it to Heart! I love all of the images in this set and can't wait to try them all.
The background is the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder with Early Espresso card stock.
Pretty in Pink and Whisper White card stock complete the color scheme.
The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, and the word window punch and modern label punch were used.

Thanks for visiting today!

Cased Love Birds

2012-02-05T16:04:00.001-05:00

I was so inspired by this cute layout that I had to try it with my own supplies! The original card was designed by Heather Klump and I saw it on Nancy Riley's i-picks.
I made a few changes, using different DSP, letters, and adding rhinestones for the birds' eyes. It was really a fun card to make.
My supplies include:
Stamps: Headline ABC's (retired)
Ink: Classic Real Red, Bashful Blue.
Papers: Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Cheerful Treat DSP (Hostess)
Accessories: Circle Scissor Plus, Bird Builder punch, Scallop edge punch, small heart punch, square lattice embossing folder, baker's twine, sponges, paper snips, Basic rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals.

I'll be posting some more valentines in the next few days. Please stop by again soon!

Fresh Vintage fun

2012-01-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

Here's a fun card to make with the Fresh Vintage stamp set that can be yours for free with a $50 purchase of other SU products!
This card also uses Baroque Motifs stamp set to compliment the swirls in the Fresh Vintage image.
The Circle Scissors Plus was used to cut the circles from Whisper White and Pool Party card stock.
Other papers include Soft Suede card stock and the Everyday Enchantment Designer series paper. The DSP is another free product you can earn free with a qualified purchase. Also available as a free selection is the Everyday Enchantment ribbon and brad pack, which is showcased here with the 1/8" organdy ribbon that you see tucked behind the soft suede card stock.
I love how the Scallop Trim Border Punch finishes off the bottom edge of the card.

Inside the card you'll see the Fresh Vintage flower image stamped lightly in Pool Party ink.

Another image from the Fresh Vintage stamp set was stamped and cut out before placing on the strip of papers along the bottom edge.
I was pleased with the way this card turned out.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by my blog today!

Bordering on Romance

2012-01-10T22:50:00.000-05:00

The Bordering on Romance stamp set seems to lend itself to watercoloring. This stamp set is now available in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Supplies used include:
Stamp sets:
Bordering on Romance, Take it to Heart, and Fabulous Florets.
Papers:
Shimmery White, Regal Rose, Marina Mist, Watercolor paper, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette.
Inks:
Rose Red, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Black StazOn.
Miscellaneous:
The Framelits (labels collection) were used to cut the layered shapes.. The Rose Red scallop was cut out with the Adorning Edgelits die.

Texture was added with the Vintage Wallpaper and Stripes embossing folders. Other supplies used include the Sizzix Big Shot, Aqua Painters, sponge daubers, Basic Pearls, Paper Snips, and dimensionals.

Below is a close-up of the layering.

I hope you enjoyed this card. Please stop by again soon !

Fresh Vintage sneak peek

2012-01-03T23:23:00.001-05:00

Here's another sneak peek from the Sale-a-bration catalog that will be available on January 24th. This stamp is from the Fresh Vintage set. I love the clean and simple look of this beautiful image.
The Thanks stamp is from the retired Hostess set, Afterthoughts.
The Edgelits Dies are new product that will be available on January 4th in the Occasions mini catalog. The graceful curving edge was cut with this new Adorning Accents die. I used a marker to accent the edges. Inspiration for this card came from one designed by Sharon Field.
Other supplies for this card are Sahara Sand card stock, Always Artichoke classic ink pad and marker, as well as the Sizzix Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Elementary Elegance sneak peek

2012-01-01T23:15:00.002-05:00

I just received my pre-order and free Sale-a-abration set. I used this lacy frame from Elementary Elegance to make a thank-you note.
The basic card was made with Crumb Cake card stock.
The lower edge of the card was embossed with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.
The pretty frame was stamped in VersaMark ink and embossed with gold E.P.
I wanted to use the Elegant Thank You stamp but it didn't quite fit into the Curly Label Punch, so I turned the punch a quarter turn and punched it out on an angle. Soft Suede card stock was used for the punched piece.
The rick-rack trim was cut from Brushed Gold card stock using the Tasteful Trim die and the Big Shot. The edges of the trim were rubbed across the VersaMark pad and embossed with gold E.P.

On the inside, I trimmed a scrap from the brushed gold card stock that was cut for the rick-rack trim and used it to top the edge of the emossed section. It's always fun to decorate the inside a little bit.

I think this free stamp set is going to be very versatile!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today .

Christmas Cardinal watercoloed

2011-12-23T00:27:00.000-05:00

This card  was using the Christmas Cardinal stamp set and the Holly Berry Bouquet specialty DSP. The watercoloring just seems to bring this bird alive.
Supplies used for this card  are:
Stamps: Cardinal Christmas
Papers:  Watercolor paper, Garden Green, Basic Black, and Cherry Cobbler card stock.
Ink colors: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Garden Green, Black and Mustard markers, white gel pen.
Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Glimmer brad, Cherry Cobbler seam binding.

Here are some other views:

Thanks for visiting!

Welcome Christmas

2011-12-07T23:52:00.002-05:00

This card is one we made at my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack this year. The images come from the Welcome Christmas stamp set. The focal image shows the tree trimming occasion.
First the hole was punched on the lower right front corner. Then the Stamp-a-ma-jig was used to position the image inside so that it lined up with the punched out hole.
The Joy greeting on the front was stamped with Garden Green ink.

This photo shows the inside and another greeting stamped inside, as well.

This photo shows a closeup of the front. A Riding Hood Red marker was used to draw and color in some berries on the front of the wreath. The word Joy was stamped on Very Vanilla and then layered on the colors.
Supplies:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas
Paper an Ink: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, and Garden Green.
Accessories: Rhinestone Brad, markers, 1 3/8" circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

This stamp set has so many possibilities! I'm looking forward to creating more layouts for it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Snowflake Wreath

2011-11-27T02:00:00.005-05:00

I have seen several wreaths made from the Originals Snowflake #2 die and the Big Shot, and I've been wanting to try making one. I used green and white card stock and Coke cans for the snowflakes. The cardboard base was made from a piece of light-weight cardboard like the kind that backs our dsp paper packages. I used a 10" plate to trace around for the outside diameter, and a smaller salad plate for the inside.

The first layer consisted of 8 green snowflakes. The second layer used 9 white snowflakes, spaced alternately over the green ones. The third layer was made from 10 Coke cans. All of the snowflakes were glued on with a glue gun.

Next, the wreath was decorated with silver glimmer paper stars cut with the movers and shapers die, and doves also cut with the movers and shapers, using white felt, glued to card stock for support.

Some white star brads (retired) finished up the accents.

A bow was made with silver organza ribbon and attached on the lower left side of the wreath.

This was a fun project to make! It took me quite a while to collect all of the cans, but I like the way it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by!

Glittered Christmas Lodge

2011-11-26T15:10:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon, everyone. After a busy Thanksgiving and a wonderful time visiting with family I'm ready to get back into stamping and focus on completing my Christmas cards.
I was looking for an image that would fit on this pretty scallop oval die cut. I think that this Christmas Lodge image fits perfectly.
The card base is Crumb Cake, cut into a 4 1/4 x 11" strip, and scored to make a gate fold.
It was stamped with White craft ink using the little "bubble" image from the French Foliage stamp set. I think it looks like snowflakes.
The oval and scallop pieces were cut from Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler card stock.
The lodge was stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink on the white oval.

To attach the scallop frame to the outside, I found the center scallop and applied adhesive to the left side only, and then attached it to the left card front.
Leaving the card closed, adhesive was applied inside the frame on the right side of the crumb cake card front. The oval was placed over the adhesive, attaching it only on the right side of the card.
I like the way it opens and closes.
The last step was to add the glitter to the roof areas, porch and ground. The new Dazzling Details made application quick and easy.

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog today. Happy Stamping!

Join me for the Cinca Benefit this weekend!

2011-11-15T19:59:00.000-05:00

This weekend, on Saturday, November 19th, I will be participating in the Cinca Family Benefit for the Childen's Cardiomyopathy Foundation...A shopping extravaganza!
I will be there with my Stampin' Up! table, along with over 30 other vendors to make this benefit a success! Come and do some Holiday Shopping and help this fantastic benefit at the same time!

If you don't know about this disease, just follow this link for information.

Here are the details for this event:
Where: Hilton Oceanfront Resort, Cocoa Beach Florida
When: Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 2 - 6 P.M.
Details: Free Admission
              Door Prizes every 15 minutes!
              Over 30 Vendors available for your shopping interests!
              Speakers/Performances
              Ice Cream Tasting
              Gift Wrapping
All proceeds will benefit the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation.

If you live near Merritt Island, Florida, you' ll definitely want to attend! Bring your friends and relatives!!!

I hope to see you there!

Monogram Christmas

2011-11-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

I discovered this pretty layout when I visited Monica Gale's blog. She is a UK demo and her stamps were different from those available in the U.S., so I adapted her idea to products I could work with. I was pleased with the result!
The Baja Breeze card base was stamped with the Baroque Motif image and Baja Breeze classic ink.
Next, the wreath from Welcome Christmas was stamped in Cherry Cobbler Classic ink on a small piece of River Rock card stock. A small strip of Cherry Cobbler was added to the left side and decorated with chunky glitter. I love that look! So sparkly and festive!
The Monogram letter C was stamped in Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla card stock. It was punched out with a 1 3/8" circle punch and attached to the middle of the wreath.
Next, I inked the word Christmas with a marker and cut it into a banner shape. The cute little bird is a stamp from Northern Hearts (retired Hostess set).
The "Merry" from Teeny Tiny Wishes (Merry Christmas stamp) was stamped and punched out with the tiny jewelry tag punch.
The lace ribbon was formed into a bow that is held together with a brad. (Thanks to Mary Brown for this technique!)
The C for Christmas is embellished with a tiny basic pearl. I love the pretty vintage look of the completed card. Hope you do, too!
Thanks for visiting!

Double embossing Welcome Christmas

2011-10-31T23:47:00.000-04:00

This card was inspired by one I saw on Stampin' Connection. I didn't make a note of who the original designer is. The shades of green appealed to me for a Christmas card.
The image was stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with white E.P. Of course, I used the embossing buddy before stamping and embossing. I love that little tool and hope SU finds another manufacturer for it soon!
The white was repeated with the scallop trim border and white organdy ribbon.
The background of Old Olive was dry embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper folder, using the Big Shot.
The green DSP added more interest with another layer.

I really like this vintage look. A tiny rhinestone was added as a final embellishment.
Silhouette images are very popular this year. I hope this one stays around for a while!

Thanks for visiting today. Stop by again soon!

Belated Birthday

2011-10-29T08:37:00.000-04:00

Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for one of my grandsons. It's hard to think of things for an almost teenage boy, but I decided the images from the Nature's Nest stamp set would be just right.

The images were stamped with black StazOn ink and watercolored with Watercolor Crayons and an aqua painter.
The sentiment is from a retired Birthday Greetings stamp set. It's one I love to use if I'm a little late with the card.
Here's what I put inside:

I left enough room for a little note and signature before I stamped the final happy birthday sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes. It was punched out with the small oval punch and tucked into the corner.

Thanks for stopping by today.

French Foliage in Razzleberry

2011-10-02T11:50:00.000-04:00

I created this card for a swap a couple of weeks ago. I've always liked the French Foliage stamp set so I decided to use the leaf as the focal point of the card. The colors and layout were tweaked from a similar card in the catalog on page 123.

Recipe for this card:
Stamp sets: French Foliage, Sincere Salutations
Papers: Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, More Mustard
Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, More Mustard
Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Sizzix Big Shot, Crystal Effects, Paper Snips, 1/2" circle punch, 1/16" circle punch, Decorative Label Punch, 1/8" Old Olive taffeta ribbon, Snail adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Days of Gratitude

2011-09-21T17:06:00.000-04:00

I loved this pretty stamp set when it came out in the Mini Catalog last year. I was so pleased to see it in the current IB&C.
I chose these vibrant colors for a Fall card: Old Olive, More Mustard, and Really Rust (retired). I was out of the current color, Cajun Craze, which will be used on the next one!
The medallion image was stamped in VersaMark ink on Very Vanilla card stock and embossed with clear E.P. I used the emboss/resist technique to color the image with inks and sponge daubers. I wiped off excess ink with a tissue and cut out the image.
The shape behind the medallion was cut from the top note die. After each cut it was rotated and cut again, rotating a total of 3 times.
The little button in the center was made by stamping the center of the medallion and embossing it with clear E.P. before punching out with a 1/2" circle punch. The little black brad was added and the button was attached with a dimmensional.
The images were layered over a piece of Old Olive card stock that was embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder.
This is my first Autumn card and it has put me into the mood for creating more!
Thanks so much for stopping by!

2011-09-02T00:02:00.003-04:00

Today I am sharing a Lovely as a Tree card. This layout was cased from Linda's Stamping Loft.
I used markers to add color to the tree. The colored twine is from my stash.
This was such a fast card to make, and it's a perfect masculine card. Hope you like it!

Have a great day!

Fabulous Florets in Blue

2011-08-30T04:46:00.000-04:00

The card I'm sharing today uses a layout I found in the September Stampin' Success, a magazine for demonstrators. My card is standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" size.
The white panel was stamped with the stem from Fabulous Florets stamp set using Old Olive ink. The blossom was stamped with Marina Mist ink on a scrap of white paper, cut out and layered over the stem with a dimensional.
A strip of white organza ribbon was gathered with a needle and thread and attached behind the white panel with sticky strip.
The olive green color is repeated along the left edge with a narrow strip of card stock.
Marina Mist patterned paper comes from the Patterns Designer Series paper stack, Subtles collection, and the card base is Marina Mist, also.
I chose the sentiment from the Whimsical Words stamp set, retired. Two little pearls finish off the front of the card.

Here's a close-up of the blossom.

Inside the card is a narrow strip of the patterned paper. This carries the color and pattern to the inside and adds a finishing touch to the card.

I enjoyed using this layout. It's always nice to have extra thank you cards on hand.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Easy Events baby card

2011-08-28T23:18:00.000-04:00

My friend Debbie came over to stamp last week. She needed a baby card for a friend so she made this cute card!
The stamp set is Easy Events, new to the catalog this year.
I love the colors she selected. The umbrella is paper-pieced with a patterned paper, and the color is repeated as a frame around the image, and again along the side of the card.
I'm glad she agreed to let me share it with you on my blog.
Thanks, Debbie!

Casing Angela

2011-08-20T00:02:00.003-04:00

I loved this pretty layout on a card by Angela Walters and was inspired to CASE her card but using different colors for my version.

My card base is Perfect Plum card stock. A layer of striped dsp from the Subtles paper stack tops the card base. Other layers are Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and Whisper White.

The stamp set is Inspired by Nature. The flower base and blossom were inked with Stampin' Write Markers.

The flower blossom was stamped on a separate white scrap and cut out before layering over the stem. Saffron Grosgrain ribbon (retired) was added around the grass and stem.

Inside, the card was stamped with the grass from Inspired by Nature. A yellow butterfly was cut from the Beautiful Wings embosslit die and added with a glue dot to finish the inside.

We made this card at my stamp club last week. Everyone loved the project!

Thanks for looking!

Beyond the Garden birthday

2011-08-19T00:02:00.002-04:00

Today I am sharing this birthday card which uses the Perfect Punches stamp set and Beyond the Garden DSP. The selections in this package of paper are just beautiful! It was hard to decide which one to use!

This paper is perfectly matched with the Daffodil Delight card stock.

The accent color is Wildl Wasabi, which was used for the card base and background behind the dotted scallop ribbon border. The Wild Wasabi ribbon is retired.

Other accessories include the Extra large oval punch and Daffodil Delight Classic ink pad.

This is such a fun and easy card. Clean and simple! I hope you enjoy it!

Elements of Style in Pink and Black

2011-08-18T00:02:00.010-04:00

Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by today.

This card was made for a swap. We're using pink and black. When I think of that color combination, my mind goes back to the 1950's and the Poodle skirts that were popular back then!

The stamp sets I chose for this card include Elements of Style and Teeny Tiny Wishes.
I used Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, and Whisper White for my card colors. The floral design was stamped with Pink Pirouette ink on the white background, as well as on the pink card front and the envelope.

The hummingbird was stamped on Blushing Bride paper so a little deeper pink would show up in the pattern. Ir was cut out and attached with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Accessories for this card are the Pinking Hearts border punch and Pink Taffeta ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, paper snips, and Snail adhesive.

This card measures 4 1/4" square. The envelope was custom made.

I hope you enjoy my creation for this vintage pink and black combo!

Easy Events Gift Card

2011-08-16T00:01:00.010-04:00

This little gift card was made with the Easy Events stamp set. The card base is one of Stampin' Up's new In Colors this year. It is called Pool Party. I love the crisp, cool feel of this beautiful color!
Pool Party is paired with Crumb Cake card stock which is used as a neutral and complimenting color.

Note: This card is not my original creation. I found it somewhere on the web but was unable to find it again to give credit to the original artist when I decided to add it to my blog post.

The accent on this card is the pretty Lace Ribbon Border punch. It has been layered to give a ruffled look. The top layer is wrapped with Crumb Cake seam binding and finished off with a simple knot

This card measures 3" x 3" when folded and fits into Stampin' Up's mini envelope.

If you would like to order the products shown to make this cute card, please click on the Shop Online button in my sidebar on the right side of my website page. Supplies are listed below.

Product List:
Stamp set: Easy Events (Clear mount #123225) (Wood mount #116958)
Paper and Ink: Pool Party (8 1/2" x 11" #122924) Crumb Cake Card Stock ( 8 1/2" x 11" #120953) and Crumb Cake Classic ink pad (#12030) Whisper White card stock (8 1/2" x 11" #100730)
Accessories: Lace Ribbon Border Punch (#122362)
Crumb Cake Seam Binding (#122332)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Mini Glue Dots (#103683)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

Inspired by Nature with Crimped Background

2011-08-07T20:01:00.000-04:00

I've been admiring this crimped diamond technique on several cards lately, and when I received one for a swap at Convention I decided to try my hand at it. The image seems to fit inside the diamond shape quite nicely. I found a Crimped Diamond technique tutorial by Lee Conrey on Splitcoast stampers. Thanks, Lee, for such great photos and directions!

Inside, I finished the card with another daisy stamp, some sponging around the edge, and a scallop edge along the bottom.

Here are the details:
Stamp set: Inspired by Nature
Card stock: Bravo Burgundy, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Old Olive Classic Ink Pads and Stampin' Markers
Accessories: Paper Crimper, Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

So glad you stopped by today. Happy Stamping!

Awash with Flowers

2011-08-04T12:01:00.039-04:00

This card is one that I chose for one of my open house projects. I just loved a card by Nancy Riley which was my inspiration for this project. Because I have the clear mount version of this stamp set, I wanted to show my stampers how to arrange the line art images on the clear block all at one time.

The first step is to arrange the line images in the desired locations and press the clear block down firmly so the stamps will adhere to the block.

Turn the block over and ink the stamps with Basic Black ink. Stamp them on the card ( I used a top note die cut).

Add some stems and more small flowers to fill in the background. After this step, the stamps can be removed from the clear blocks and cleaned.

Next you will place the solid stamp images directly on the stamped line art.

Carefully place the clear block on the stamps and press firmly to keep them in place.

Turn the block over and begin coloring the rubber with selected markers.

Color all of the images. Then huff on the stamp to moisten the ink before stamping.

Color the additional flowers and tiny leaves with markers. Complete other layers on the card as desired.

I hope you'll find this an easy and fun project! Happy Stamping!

Sail Away

2011-08-03T12:01:00.002-04:00

Hello!
Our hot Florida weather makes me want to spend an afternoon or evening sailing away over calm waters with soft breezes blowing gently. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Well, I can dream, can't I?

I recently purchased this pretty Sail Away stamp. I think it will make some wonderful masculine cards, as well as all occasion cards.

I chose a piece of Marina Mist card stock for the base. The next layer is So Saffron, which was embossed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder and the Big Shot. Additional layers of Basic Black and Marina Mist card stock were added to create a base for the focal image, the sail boat.

A 1 3/4" circle punch was used to create a mask for the sun using a post-it note. It was placed on a piece of Glossy Card stock. Next, I brayered Marina Mist ink over the card stock, letting the color fade out at the top, and deepening the color at the bottom.

The post-it note was removed and So Saffron ink was sponged in the circle. Some Perfect Plum ink was also sponged across the center of the card to add some color variaion and interest.

For the main image, the sail boat was stamped in position with black ink. It was stamped a second time on Vellum card stock, and the sails were cut out of the vellum piece. The sails were attached over the image on the glossy card with two mini glue dots.

A white gel pen was used to color the tiny flag on top of the mast as well as to accent the waves in the water.
I enjoy using the brayer to create smooth and blended backgrounds. Glossy card stock is very forgiving when brayering and the lines tend to blend more easily than on other types of papers.

This card ended up as a birthday card for my son. He doesn't have a sailboat but I know he will appreciate the card.

Happy stamping,

Clearly for You

2011-07-31T00:02:00.004-04:00

This card is made with the Clearly for You Stamp set. The base card is Crumb Cake card stock folded at the top to make a tent fold. The card front was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.
The next layer is Rich Razzleberry, topped with a Whisper White card that has been stamped with the 3 little birds image.
A scallop edge border has been added, as well as a length of Crumb Cake seam binding which was tied in a knot.
The bottom corners of each layer of the card were punched with a corner rounder.
It is such a fun and easy card to make. Try it with a different stamp set and change the colors for a different look.

Pennant Parade

2011-07-29T21:48:00.000-04:00

I love the soft colors on this card! I chose Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, and Marina Mist card stock. The design came from a CASE of a card by Susan Carlson. I selected different colors and used another punch on the inside, since I don't own that one yet! I left a space at the bottom to add a greeting when I know what the occasion will be when I want to send it!

Inside shows scalloped eyelet border punch

This card uses the Pennant Parade stamp set and the Petite Pennants Builder punch, baker's twine, 1/16" circle punch and Brights Glimmer Brads as well as the Eyelet Border punch, Boho Blossoms punch, and Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack.

I'm planning to try some other cards with Pennants in the design. I'm imagining lots of possibilities! Thanks for stopping by today.

Elements of Style

2011-07-26T21:25:00.000-04:00

Hi, Everyone! Thanks for stopping by today!
I've been very busy the past few weeks attending the Stampin' Up convention in Salt Lake City, combined with family vacation and travel to Jackson Hole, WY, sightseeing in the Tetons, and then traveling to WA for more visits. I'll be trying to post more often now that I'm home and working in my studio.

Today I'm sharing one of my swap cards that I made for Convention. It uses Baja Breeze for the base card, and is layered with Early Espresso, Naturals White, and Paisley Petals designer paper. The Top Note die was used for stamping the Elements of Style branch and flowers. They were colored with Stampin' Pastels, then the details were accented with markers.

The bird (Bird Builder punch) was punched out of the Paisley Petals DSP and shaded with sponge daubers. I loved making this little card.

Stop by soon for some more inspiration!

Sunny Fun birthday

2011-07-09T01:00:00.001-04:00

My granddaughter has a birthday coming up this month and I wanted to make a card that goes with her birthday party theme. She's going to have a beach party, so what would be better than this Sunny Fun stamp set that is now available in the Summer Mini catalog! I borrowed the cute layout from a card created by Connie Babbert. Of course, I changed the main image to go with her party theme, and also used a different color scheme.
Inside, I selected a birthday greeting from the new Bring on the Cake stamp set, available in the new Idea Book and Catalog. I love how cheerful and fun this card turned out to be.

Thanks for visiting. Hope your day is happy and full of Sunny Fun!

The supplies for this card include:
Stamps: Sunny Fun, Bring on the Cake
Card Stock: Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose, Whisper White,
Retired DSP
Inks: Black StazOn, assorted Stampin' Write markers,
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Curly Label Punch, Scallop Border punch, 1/4" Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon.

Framed nature walk

2011-07-08T01:00:00.002-04:00

The Nature Walk stamp set was used for this card. The circle Scissor Plus tool was used to cut the circles. The leaf is from the Bird Punch XL.
This circle layout seemed to need a square card base. I hadn't used this clear square scallop die for some time, and it seems perfect for this card.

The color combo shouts CAS (Clean and Simple) to me. I used Sahara Sand and Basic Black. I like the sharp contrast of colors.
This card will be one of my convention swaps, although I only made a few of this one. Birds seem to be my theme this year, as most of my cards have birds on them!
I'll be posting a few more cards before I head out to Utah for convention. Hope you'll stop by again soon!

Twice Embossed Florets card

2011-07-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

When I was working on cards for the Stamping 411 Challenge earlier this week I came up with this as one of the cards I designed. I used the Square Lattice and the new Flower Garden embossing folders for the top 2 color blocks, and pretty paper from Beyond the Garden DSP for the bottom panel. The stamp set I selected is Fabulous Florets, available in the Summer Mini Catalog.
The circle for the focal point is punched with the 2 1/2" circle punch. It was sponged on the edge and stamped with small florets and a sentiment. The large flower was heat embossed with Melon Mambo EP and shaded with a marker and an Aqua Painter.
Colors on this card are Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point, and Melon Mambo.
I like how the DSP pattern picks up all of the colors on the card.
This stamp set has so many possibilities. I hope you'll decide to give it a try!

Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for visiting!

Fabulous Florets in Crumb Cake

2011-06-30T01:00:00.001-04:00

Here's a Clean and Simple (CAS) card for you! If you have a VersaMark ink pad and some embossing powder you are set to go! Picture this card in any number of color combinations. Add a ribbon and you're done!
I chose Crumb Cake card stock and stamped the stem and leaves with VersaMark ink. The flowers were also stamped with VersaMark and embossed with white E.P. Then they were cut out with paper snips. To make the petals appear darker, they were colored in with a VersaMarker. This technique adds more interest to the petals.
The base card of Chocolate Chip was cut 4 1/4" x 11" and folded Tent-style. A white 5/8" Organza ribbon was tied around the card front.

The inside of the card was stamped along the left edge with Chocolate Chip ink. This simple addition gives interest to the inside of the card and carries the flower theme to the inside.

I like the clean and simple look. Hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon!

Inspired by Nature in blue

2011-06-29T01:00:00.002-04:00

This card was a CASE of one made by Teneale Williams I changed the card size and the colors, but the layout is the same.
My card is an A-6 size. I like this size when I have a lengthy note to write inside.
The flowers were stamped on the circle, then the blossoms and leaves were stamped again and cut out so they could be layered on the circle.
Here's a close up of the flowers:

I used my Circle Scissors Plus to cut the large circle at 2 3/4". The 2 1/2" circle was punched out.
The colors I used are Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Always Artichoke. The seam binding is also Always Artichoke. Detail on the flowers and leaves were added with markers. Other supplies were glue dots, dimensionals, paper snips, Basic Pearls,dsp.

Glad you stopped by today! Thanks for looking!

Farewell to Pun Fun

2011-06-28T01:00:00.002-04:00

I just had to make one more card from this set before it retires! I love this little rocket! It makes such a fun card for a child. The image was stamped on watercolor paper with StazOn ink, then punched out with the 2 1/2" circle punch. It was watercolored with an Aqua Painter and markers. The silver parts were colored with retired Metallic colored pencils. The circle was adhered to a scrap of black glossy card stock I found in my stash.

The base card is Whisper White, and is layered with a piece of Not Quite Navy. The cute rick-rack trim is cut from Real Red card stock on the Big Shot with the Bigz XL Tasteful Trim die. The little embellishment (HB) is from the retired set It's Your Birthday.

Inside, more greetings are stamped, along with birthday confetti from the retired Eat Cake stamp set.

You have just 3 more days to order Pun Fun (#115054) before it is retired! Please place your order by June 30th by visiting my website, found on the right top corner of this page. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful day!

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 209

2011-06-27T08:14:00.000-04:00

For today's card I decided to follow the Saturday Sketch Challenge offered by Stamping 411. I like challenges because they take a lot of work out of creating a card. I selected one of my new favorites, Fabulous Florets for the main image, which is available in our Summer Mini Catalog.

The two small flowers were stamped in black and the circle was punched out with the 2 1/2" circle punch to create the focal point of the card. The Melon Mambo circle behind it was cut with the Circle Scissors cutter at 2 3/4". It was very easy to do. I should use it more often.
The large flower was stamped, cut out and popped up with a dimensional. I stamped the flower again in Melon Mambo, cut out the flower center and added glitter before attaching it to the large flower with a dimensional.
I decided to use the mat pack and piercing tool around the edge of the circle. It's a little difficult to see in the photo.
The two top panels were embossed in the Big Shot. The bottom panel is cut from the Night and Day DSP, retired.
The little Hello sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.
I carried the florets and colors to the inside of the card by stamping along the left edge. One blossom was cut out for the top of the inside panel.

I love finishing the inside of the card. I like to have a little surprise when the card is opened and you get to see what else is there.
This is such a great stamp set to work with! I've several more cards to share with you soon. Thanks for visiting today.

List of supplies: Stamp sets: Fabulous Florets, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo
Ink pads: Basic Black and Melon Mambo
Accessories: Night& Day DSP, Circle Scissor Plus, 2 1/2" circle punch, paper snips, Perfect Polka Dots and Square Lattice embossing folders, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Dimensionals, Multi-purpose liquid glue, Snail adhesive, Clear Mount blocks.

Another Touch of Kindness

2011-06-26T01:00:00.002-04:00

I was inspired to make this fun card when I happened to find this layout by Carrie.Gaskin. I used the Touch of Kindness stamp set (#123203 clear mount, or 123201 wood mount) that is featured in the current SummerMini Catalog.
The patterned paper is from the level 1 Hostess package. Other supplies include Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and Night of Navy card stock,Watercolor paper, StazOn ink pad, Basic Rhinestones, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, Polka Dot Embossing folder, 1/8 "C.Celery taffeta ribbon, aqua painters and markers.

This cute stamp set will be available until August 31, so I would encourage you to order it now! Thanks for visiting today!

Simple Flower

2011-06-25T01:00:00.001-04:00

This card was inspired by one I saw here and is a close CASE of Linda's card. I liked it so much I also made a pink version.

Both cards feature the Simple Flower embosslit, soon to be retired. Other supplies include the XL bird punch for the leaves, Thank you sentiment from Fresh Cuts stamp set, also retiring at the end of June, sponge daubers, Regal Rose card stock and ink, Daffodil Delight card stock and ink, Whisper White card stock, Wild Wasabi card stock, Beautiful Butterlies embosslit, Basic Pearls, black brads, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, retired grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge Border punch, Multi-purpose liquid glue.

If you would like to order any of these supplies before they retire at the end of the month please email me or order on my website. The link is at the top of this page on your right.

Thanks for visiting. Have a great day!

Thank You with XL Bird Punch

2011-06-23T22:30:00.000-04:00

This card is one I plan to use in a coming workshop. The hostess requested a card using the XL bird punch.
The card base is Baja Breeze, combined with Old Olive and Whisper White. The background is from Elements of Style, stamped in Baja Breeze ink.
The bird was stamped with Baja Breeze ink on Whisper White card stock, using the Hostess Level 1 Punch Potpourri stamp set. It was punched out with the bird punch, and the wing was punched out of Marina Mist card stock.
The flower was made with the Bojo Blossoms punch and embellished with a basic pearl.
I like how nicely the sentiment (from the Bold Blossom stamp set) fits into the Decorative Label punch.

This was a fun and easy card to make. I hope my customers will like it!

Touch of Kindness

2011-06-16T10:39:00.000-04:00

I just loved this little kitten when I saw it in the Summer Mini Catalog. I stamped the image with Black StazOn ink on watercolor paper. It was colored with aqua painters and ink from markers. The background paper is from the In Color designers paper pack.

Hope you try something with this fun set. Thanks for stopping by!

Thoughts and Prayers

2011-06-02T16:52:00.000-04:00

I made this sympathy card recently for a friend. It uses the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set. The card base is Always Artichoke, covered with a piece of Pear Pizzaz (In Color Designer Series Paper Packi), then layered with a strip of punched So Saffron card stock.

The inside of the card is layered with So Saffron card stock and a strip of Pear Pizzazz (In Color Designer Series paper pack.)

Other supplies include Whisper White card stock, the Sizzix Originals 3 1/2" circle die, Scallop Trim Corner punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack. Modern Label Extra-large punch, Movers & Shapers punch window, Stampin' Sponges, So Saffron ink, Basic Black ink, basic pearls, Liquid glue, Snail adhesive.

Sympathy cards are always a challenge to make because I want them to be pretty but not overly fussy. I think this one meets the requirements.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you're having a great day!

Just Believe dressed up

2011-05-27T01:05:00.003-04:00

Hello, Everyone! Thanks for stopping by today.

I've made a quick and fun card to share with you ! I've used the Just Believe stamp set for the main image. It is stamped in Basic Black ink on Perfect Plum card stock. I love the silhouette look for a clean and simple card.

To dress it up a bit I punched 5 little flowers from Pretty in Pink card stock, using the Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack. I placed them somewhat randomly and added a mini pearl to each flower center.

A piece of Pink Taffeta ribbon was added around the middle. The Thank You sentiment from my favorite Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set was stamped and punched out with the small oval punch. The Plum card was attached to the pink card base with Stampin' Dimensionals.

This card was inspired by a design from Linda Aarhus. I loved the layout immediately, but made a few changes in details. I think this one would be lovely in any of our pretty pastel colors, don't you?

Please stop by soon for more inspiration.

Supplies:

Stamp sets:

Just Believe (clear mount) #120453

Teeny Tiny Wishes (wood mount) #115370

Card Stock:

Perfect Plum card stock #101889

Pretty in Pink card stock #100459

Inks:

Basic Black classic ink pad #101179

Accessories:

Clear Mount Blocks (pg. 192)

Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack #118309

Small Oval Punch #119855

Large Oval Punch #119863

Pretty in Pink 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon #109067

Basic Pearls #119247

A Scrappy Card for Sketch Challenge SSC 204

2011-05-26T11:36:00.000-04:00

Here's my entry for the Stamping 411 sketch challenge this week. This turned out to be a card made just
from scraps. No new sheets of paper were cut to make this card.

The card base is 5 x 8 1/2" folded at the center. Card stock colors are Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake and Rich Razzleberry. DSP scraps are from Paisley Petals and Elegant Soiree collections.

The focal image flower is from the Hostess Level 2 set, Love and Care. I stamped the flower on a square of Elegant Soiree dsp, then stamped the blossom again on another scrap and cut it out. It was layered over the first stamped blossom with Stampin' Dimensionals and gives the image an out-of-the box look. The sentiment is from Bold Blossoms stamp set.
I cut a short piece of 1/8 " taffeta ribbon for the bow. That's the only part of the card that wasn't a scrap.

Inside, the card is lined with a piece of white card stock. A strip of Paisley Petals dsp was sponged with Baja Breeze ink and a sponge dauber to cover the bottom edge of the white layer. Look for the Paisley Petals designer pack in the new catalog, coming out in July! It's beautiful!
Clear mount blocks were used for mounting the stamp images. Additional supplies used include the Square Lattice embossing folder, Sizzix Big Shot, paper snips, snail adhesive and a glue dot.

The envelope was stamped with the flower image using Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive inks.

I'm recovering from a broken shoulder injury, so I haven't been stamping much! Today I was actually able to use the paper trimmer by myself, so I feel quite accomplished! I'll try to post more often now that I'm back working in my studio. Thanks for stopping by!

Gift Box with Blossom Bouquet

2011-05-19T00:30:00.008-04:00

Hello! I'm so glad you stopped by today!

My share for you today is this fun little gift box which is decorated with flowers created with the new Triple Layer Punch.
Our family will be celebrating a very special 90th birthday this weekend. I created this box to fill with cash!

After making the box I decorated it with flowers punched out with the Blossom Bouquet triple layer punch, now available in the summer mini catalog. All of the shapes are created from the same punch simply by moving a small lever to select the desired image!

A list of supplies follows:

Stamps: Bring on the Cake!

Card stock and markers: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie. Wild Wasabi

Ink: Basic Black (Craft)

Accessories: Black embossing powder, Heat tool, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Two-Step Bird X-Lg Bird Punch, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, 2-Way glue, Paper Snips.

Have a great day!

Nature Walk note card

2011-05-12T00:02:00.004-04:00

This little note card idea came from one of the projects at a Regional event that was held in Orlando this past March. The Nature Walk stamp set was used to stamp the flowers. Markers were used directly on the rubber to create the color palate.
When we made this card at the Regional event, a vanilla rosette was tinted with ink and was then attached to the flower with a mini glue dot. However, for this card I made the dimensional flower with card stock and the Boho Blossoms punch. Three blossoms were punched out, crumpled up tightly, then unfolded. Next they were sponged with ink and the layers were separated. After a little more shaping they were stacked together, using a drop of glue to hold each layer together. The flower was attached to the card and a tiny Basic Pearl was placed in the flower center. I liked the finished product. Hope you do, too!

Bold Blossom 3 x 6 card

2011-05-04T09:32:00.001-04:00

This is the first card I've made with my new Bold Blossom stamp set. Using the clear mount version helped with the placement of the stem and blossom.
I folded a 6" square of Baja Breeze card stock to make the card base. Next I stamped my flower and stem on a piece of Whisper White card stock and layered it over the Baja Breeze card front.
The layer of Early Espresso was wrapped with a length of my favorite Old Olive 1/8" taffetta ribbon. I tied a little bow and attached it with a mini glue dot.
The DSP is Baja Breeze from the Subtles Collection of the Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack. I just love this collection!
The little butterfly was stamped with Daffodil Delight ink. It was cut out by hand and popped up with a dimensional dot.
This card fits perfectly into the Small Open End Envelopes. I really like these for an occasional card that is not a traditional size and shape.
Thanks for visiting today!

Owlish birthday

2011-04-25T21:42:00.000-04:00

I just grinned from ear to ear when I made this cute owl card! I cased the original by Diana Gibbs but changed the greeting and some of the colors.
It was so much fun giving the punch out some personality!
It's pretty easy to figure out when you look at the details. When I made the feet, I punched the lower half of the owl in black, then cut it off leaving just enough above the feet to glue it underneath the body.
This isn't the best photo, but some of our Basic Pearls were added to make the necklace. Basic Rhinestones add detail to the eyes. I added the branch from the bird punch so she could perch comfortably over the greeting.
Now I'm starting to think of other ways to dress up that owl! Should be fun!

Inside the card I made this pop-up holder for the gift card. I found a video tutorial by Dawn Griffith that shows just how to do it! I'd been wanting to make a pop up like this for some time and just came across the tutorial recently. Thanks, Dawn!

Clearly for You Birds

2011-04-21T00:02:00.001-04:00

I made this card for a challenge with my sister and friend. We all used the same stamp set but created our own layouts. I decided to use some retired products from my scraps.

The main image was stamped in Basic Black on Naturals White card stock. It was punched out with the Decorative Label punch. I also punched the shape (two more times) out of Rose Red card stock and formed the slightly larger piece to layer under the image.

The dsp is retired Almost Amethyst from a patterns pack. I also used Certainly Celery. The retired color wheel was a big help in selecting the coordinating colors.

I gathered the ribbon with a needle and thread (being too lazy to set up my sewing machine!)

The hello sentiment is part of the "hello baby" stamp in the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. I finally had a chance to use my new Jewelry Tag punch!

I always have fun participating in a design challenge. Thanks for looking!

Happy Together birthday card

2011-04-20T00:02:00.004-04:00

This is a card I made recently for a special birthday celebration. I earned this Happy Together stamp set free as one of the catalog choices for a free Sale-a-Bration set. The promotion just closed at the end of March.

I used one of my favorite color combinations, Marina Mist and Soft Suede. The Elegant Soiree DSP is such a fun compliment to the card stock.

The little birds were stamped on Naturals Ivory card stock and mounted behind the punched-out windows.
The punched windows technique was inspired by a card by Mike Funke.

The birthday greeting is from It's Your Birthday retired stamp set. The blue brad is from the Glimmer Brights collection.

Thanks for stopping by!

Clearly for You

2011-04-19T00:02:00.004-04:00

This card was one of our projects taught by Catherine Harwood for the 321-Stamp monthly team meeting a couple of weeks ago. The project was a card design presented by Stampin' Up! at Leadership conference this year. I love the colors and the unique layout!

We used the paper crimper (which I had forgotten I owned!), the Extra Large Petal Card punch, and the 2 1/2" circle punch in addition to the Clearly for You stamp set. This was a fun card to make and just a bit different from the standard fold I often find myself making.

Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful day!

Daffodil Build a Blossom

2011-04-15T00:02:00.001-04:00

This card was the project for one of my recent events. Of course, you could change the sentiment as desired, since this pretty flower would be appropriate for any number of occasions.
The inspiration for this card came from a clear card designed by Mary Fish. Since I didn't have the necessary transparencies to make a clear card I decided on this version using a basic white card base.

Supplies used:
Daffodil Delight card stock
Certainly Celery card stock
Whisper White card stock
Old Olive card stock
Old Olive Stampin' pad
Clear mount Build a Blossom stamp set
Clear mount Block E
3/4 "circle punch
Botanical Gazette DSP
Daffodil button
Artichoke seam binding
Thoughts and Prayers stamp set (sentiment)
Dimensionals
Mini Glue dots

Thanks for visiting.

Cute by the Inch Surprise

2011-04-12T00:02:00.001-04:00

I made this card last week when my sister and a friend were visiting. We all made the same basic square card, but varied the stamps and colors as we chose.

This card was made with a 6" piece of Pear Pizzaz from the Level 1 Hostess In Color Designer Series Paper Pack, as well as Old Olive, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, and Certainly Celery card stock. When it's opened up, it looks like this.

The Cute by the Inch stamp (Hostess Level 1) was inked up and layered on a square of Whisper White.
The next layer was the flower made with the Petal Card Extra Large punch. Old Olive ink was used to stamp the floral design from Clearly for You. That was popped up on a 2 1/2" circle.
The Tangerine Tango square was cut with the Bigz Scallop Square Duo die.
The cute belly band holds everything together when folded up. It uses the 1 3/4" scallop circle punch and a 1 3/8" circle punch.

Below is a close-up of the center.

Isn't it pretty?
Here's the closed-up version below.
I think it's so much fun to try something different now and then.

I hope you'll stop by again soon!

Embossed petals card

2011-04-09T00:02:00.003-04:00

I know you're loving your new Blossom Petals punch if you ordered one!
I made this card in two sizes. The square card, shown here, and a variation of it in a regular 4 1/4" x 5 1//2" size. (I'll show you that one in a future post.)
The large petals were punched out of Whisper White card stock with the blossom punch and curled with a bone folder. Next they were layered on a 1" circle with glue dots. The long petals were stamped with VersaMark ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. After punching them out they were layered on a 3/4" punched circle with glue dots.
The flower center was stamped with Perfect Plum ink, punched out and layered over the center. I had to have some bling, so I added a basic pearl to the flower center!
The card base is Crumb Cake, layered with Perfect Plum.
Don't you love how these petals can be arranged to make whatever style you want? They are so versatile!
Just click the Order Online button in the side bar to purchase what you need for this card!

Supplies:
Blossom Petals Punch # 121808
Build a Blossom stamp set #121994 (clear mount)
Clear-Mount Block E #118484
1" circle punch #119868
1/2" circle punch #119869
Bone Folder #102300
VersaMark ink pad #102283
Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder # 101930
Heat Tool #100005

Whisper White Card Stock #100730
Crumb Cake card stock #120953

Perfect Plum card stock #101889
Perfect Plum ink pad #101437
Mini Glue dots #103683
Basic Pearls #119247

Paper Purse for a Gift Card

2011-04-06T00:02:00.001-04:00

Today's share is this adorable purse that holds a gift card or other small treat. It was one of the projects designed by Catherine Harwood at the March 321-Stamp team meeting. This version of the purse is based on a tutorial by Frenchie showing how to make this cute purse.
The project uses Rose Red card stock, Springtime Vintage DSP, Easter Blossoms and Clearly for You stamp sets.
The dsp is so pretty it really looks like a touch of Spring!
Here are some other views of the project.
Close up of front.

Back view.

Inside view.

I love little projects like this. I can hardly wait to give it to someone special! Thanks for visiting today!

Nature's Nest Collage

2011-04-05T00:02:00.001-04:00

I've seen so many pretty collage style cards made with this Nature's Nest stamp set that I decided to try one. A collage is not a technique I've done very often, but this is what I created.
After cutting out a Top Note die cut with my Sizzix machine I started building the collage.
I used ink pad colors of Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Soft Suede. The Thank You sentiment was stamped on white and punched out with the Decorative Label punch. All of the pieces were sponged around the edges with ink.Then it was layered onto a soft suede Designer Label punch out.

Inside the card I repeated the top note theme. I used Marina Mist ink to stamp the floral motif along the bottom edge.

This layout turned out being a fun one to make. I'll be trying it again soon!

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Build-A-Blossom fish

2011-04-03T00:02:00.002-04:00

This adorable card idea came from the Orlando Regional Seminar last week.
It uses the Build a Blossom stamp set and the Blossom petals punch. I brayered the bottom of the Whisper White card before stamping the fish in Tempting Turquoise. The big fish was stamped in Melon Mambo ink. The grass from the Inspired by Nature stamp set was inked in Certainly Celery ink.
This was really a quick and fun card to make!
My brayering tip: Put a magazine under your work mat before brayering to get a smoother look. Start your brayer off the paper and gradually roll harder as you mover over the card stock.

To order your Build a Blossom stamp set, and coordinating punch, click the Order Online button on my sidebar.
121923 (wood) $24.95
121994(clear mount) $18.95
121808 Blossom Petals Extra-Large Punch
Other supplies:
Inspired by Nature stamp set #111656
Basic Black card stock #121045
Whisper White card stock #100730
Melon Mambo card stock # 115320
Brayer # 102395
Tempting Turquoise ink pad # 100814
Melon Mambo ink pad #115656
Certainly Celery ink pad #105217

Thanks for looking!

Punch Bunch flower

2011-03-31T12:21:00.000-04:00

Wow! Today is the last chance to get your free Sale-a-Bration stamp set! Contact me today to get yours free with a $50. purchase!
This is a card I made with the Punch Bunch Sale-a-Bration stamp set! It's a double play on the flower theme! The blossom is the punch bunch stamp which has been inked up 3 times to layer it and give it a dimensional look. Next, I added a hand-cut stem and two leaves punched from the Two-step Bird XL punch to make a large flower with the flower-themed blossom.

Supplies:
Stamps: Punch Bunch (still available today in the 2011 Sale-a-Bration catalog.)
Ink: Real Red ink pad and marker, Basic Black ink pad, Old Olive (marker)
Papers: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, DSP
Accessories: Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, TwoStep-Bird XL punch, paper snips, Snail adhesive, Stampin' dimensionals.

Hope you've enjoyed the wonderful stamps available in this year's Sale-a-Bration catalog!
Stop back soon to see other new ideas.

Thoughts and Prayers Sympathy

2011-03-24T16:43:00.000-04:00

Hello! Thanks for stopping by today!
I've had this Thoughts and Prayers stamp set for some time but this is the first I've inked it up.
I had the layout in mind when I started and the card went together very quickly!
I like sympathy cards to stay pretty simple in design. The scallop edges give enough interest without getting too fussy.

The inside was stamped with a portion of the tree and the bottom edge was punched with the scallop edge punch.

Supplies:

Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke

DSP - retired

Punches: Scallop edge, large oval, scalloped oval

Ink: Always Artichoke

Bring on the Cake!

2011-03-19T21:16:00.000-04:00

This is one of the cards we made at a recent workshop. The stamp set, Bring on the Cake, is from the current Spring Mini catalog.
Don't you love those cute little pom poms? They were attached to the card with a tiny line of Multi-purpose glue.
The card base is Tangerine Tango, layered up with Whisper White which was embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.
The night of Navy striped grosgrain ribbon adds to the focal point. The navy color is repeated with the sentiment, which was stamped on white and punched out with the modern label punch.
Complete list of supplies:
Stamps: Bring on the Cake
Card Stock: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Night of Navy
Ink and markers: Basic Black, StazOn, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Night of Navy
Accessories: Tangerine Tango Pompom trim, Corner rounder, Decorative Label Punch, Modern Label punch, Punch Windows (accessory to Movers & Shapers die,) Sizzix Big Shot, Tombo Multi-Purpose glue, Snail adhesive.

I think this card would be perfect for almost anyone's birthday! Hope you like it!
Thanks for visiting!

Mini Accordian Scrapbook

2011-03-14T22:28:00.000-04:00

I made this little accordian scrapbook for my GGD last week. It really went quickly!
It measures 20' long and 5" high. After folding into 5 equal sections I decorated it on both the front and the back sides.

Since this was a first birthday celebration, I chose the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set to decorate the front panel.

Embellishments were made using DSP, the Sizzix Big Shot, Bigz Dies, Embossing folders, and punches. One page has a pocket with a pull-out tag. Most of the journaling is done on punch-outs.
I'm planning to make a few more of these. They are easy to complete and tell the story with a few photos!

Thanks for visiting today!

One Bunny looking at you!

2011-03-13T18:25:00.001-04:00

This fun bunny card was inspired by a tutorial created by Jackie Topa. A friend wanted to make a bunny card at her workshop so this is the one we did!
The Build a Blossom stamp set and Blossom Petals Punch were used to make this card. The greeting is from the Easter Blossoms stamp set. Inside, three colored eggs were stamped at the bottom of a white card, layered over the inside. The egg stamp was also from the Easter Blossoms stamp set. I'm sorry I don't have a photo to show you of the inside.
Card stock colors used were Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Regal Rose. Other supplies include Old Olive and Regal Rose ink pads, mini glue dots, stampin' sponges and a Basic Black marker.

This was a very easy card to make. Hope you enjoy it!

Build-a-Blossom Tulips

2011-03-12T20:59:00.000-05:00

This card was inspired by a tutorial offered by Jackie Topa. I love the idea of making tulips from the Build-a-Blossom punch.
The petals were sponged with ink and assembled with glue dots.
I used my Circle Scissors plus to cut the background circle, and stamped the grass from Inspired by Nature stamp set. The corner was punched with the Scallop Trim Corner Punch.
We will be making a card similar to this one at my Build-a-Blossom punch class next week. If you live near Cocoa, Fl. or Merritt Island and are interested in attending the class, please send me an email or check my class schedule on my website (in sidebar) for class details.
Thanks for looking!

Punched Easter card

2011-03-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

I was playing with my new Blossom Petals Punch last week. Here's the card I made. I love the soft subtle pink on white for the blossoms.

The Petals a Plenty embossing folder was used for the background. I haven't used this one in quite a while. It is perfect for this card.

The flower center is a 3/4" punched circle, accented with a Square Fire Rhinestone brad.

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, stamped on Whisper White and punched out with a Modern Label punch. That layer is attached to a die cut made with the punched windows coordinating modern label die.

Once I selected the colors I wanted to use, this card came together quickly. It is one of the cards that we will be making at my Build-A-Blossom punch class next week. If you live near Cocoa or Merritt Island or in that vicinity and would like to attend this class please send me an email for details.

Thanks for visiting!

C is for Calico Cat

2011-03-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

I had so much fun designing this card for a workshop this week! My hostess wanted a card for her neighbor that used a cat. Apparently she loves cats and rescues them when the occasion calls for it!

This cat was inked up with Crumb Cake ink, then dabbed with markers of various colors to create the calico look.

The fish was stamped, cut out, and sponged on the edges with Soft Suede ink. It was attached to the card with a glue dot. Next, the fish bowl was punched out of Vellum card stock with a 1" punch, leaving the straight edge of the paper create the top of the bowl. It was colored with Bashful Blue ink and attached to the fish with another glue dot.

The paper is one of my favorite DSP packs, Elegant Soiree. The background provides just the right amount of design to let the paw prints show up when stamped with ink.

The cat is wearing a rhinestone around his neck. I took apart a rhinestone brad by spreading the "legs" and opening up the little tabs on the back to release the rhinestone. It was glued on with a tiny drop of glue.

Inside, the card was stamped with more paw prints and the sentiment. My stampers loved this card and the new techniques they learned making it. Hope you do, too!

Thanks for visiting!

Recipe:

Stamps: C is for Cat

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Vellum Card Stock, Elegant Soiree DSP

Ink & Markers: Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, 1" circle punch, ribbon, glue dots, snail adhesive

Blog Candy Winner and Prize

2011-03-08T22:26:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Lillian Child who was selected by Random.Org as the winner of my blog candy for commenting on my OWH post!

Lillian said: I love your creative style!
I do so enjoy the OWH events as I get to meet so many lovely and talented people along the way. Thanks SO MUCH for sharing your creativity with us today! My husband is a decorated Vietnam veteran and this event always holds such a special place in my heart.
And I just found your blog on this hop and am now a follower - so VERY nice to meet you! HUGS!

What a lovely comment! Supporting OWH and our military people is high on my list of priorities!

So here are the cards she will be receiving as my Blog Candy gift.

Hope you enjoy them!

Thanks for visiting!

OWH Blog Hop: Spring cards

2011-03-05T10:00:00.035-05:00

Welcome to my blog. Today my post is for the Operation Write Home Spring Blog Hop where we're featuring Spring cards that we'll be sending to our deployed military personnel. If you haven't heard about Operation Write Home, please check out this link to their website. Would you like to make some cards for our men and women in the military so they can keep in touch with their loved ones? It's a great cause!
The deadline for contributing Easter cards is March 18th, and the Mother's day deadline is March 31st. The website above will give you detailed information.

If you've already begun the hop, you've just come from Jennifer's blog, Cards by Jennifer. I know you enjoyed her adorable cards.

Today I'm showing a card made from Stampin' Up's Nature's Nest stamp set.

This project is a standard sized card.

The nest was stamped in Early Espresso ink. It was colored with Stampin' Pastels and a blender pen, then layered onto a piece of Soft Suede card stock. It was then layered on a torn piece of Certainly Celery card stock. A striped grosgrain ribbon was tied in a knot and attached to the card front. The next layer of Pretty in Pink was stamped with the feather using Crumb Cake ink. Everything was layered onto another piece of Soft Suede and then onto card base of Certainly Celery.

Here's the same card with a pink taffeta ribbon. It fits into an envelope easily and is a little flatter for mailing.

The inside of card was stamped on the left and lower edges with the feather image to carry the theme of the card inside. I like the clean and simple look of the card.

Please leave a comment and you'll be entered in my drawing. I'll be using the random number generator to choose a winner of some blog candy. The Blog Candy will be this card along with three others made with the Nature's Nest stamp set, complete with envelopes. Be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you are the winner!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope these projects have given you some inspiration.

Click Here to hop on to the next blog and see some more wonderful projects!

A Nature Walk Spring Card

2011-03-04T08:04:00.000-05:00

This card is a 3" x 6" card and fits into a small open end Very Vanilla envelope (#107286). The images are stamped on Very Vanilla card stock in Early Espresso ink. They have been colored with Stampin' Pastels (#120962) and Blender Pens (#102845). The eggs have also been shaded with a Bashful Blue marker. The plants in the background were stamped in Crumb Cake ink and also colored with Pastels and blender pens.

The nest was stamped on a scrap of Very Vanilla and cut out. It was attached with Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).
I was looking for coordinating colored paper and chose the Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP (retired) to use behind the top layer and on the envelope flap. Both the Chocolate Chip layer and the Baja Breeze patterned paper have lots of texture, which adds so much to the vintage feel of the card.
The stamp sets used are Nature Walk (#121997) clear mount set for the bird and background, and Nature's Nest (# 113826) for the nest.
I like to make different sized cards occasionally, and this long narrow one worked fine for this design. Hope you enjoy it.
Tomorrow I will show a card I've made for the OWH (Operation Write Home) Blog Hop. Be sure to stop by and see my creation, then hop on over to other blogs for some more great cards! The Bunny Hop will begin at 10 A.M. (Eastern).
Thanks for looking!

Punch Bunch Owls

2011-03-01T22:25:00.000-05:00

Have you picked your favorite Sale-a-Bration set yet? I'm thinking this Punch Bunch stamp set is one of mine!
I stamped two of these little owls and punched them out with the owl punch. I used Basic Black for one and Basic Gray for the other one. The Extra-large bird punch was used to make the branches. After I put them on the branches I decided it looked like an Anniversary card, so that's how I picked my sentiment.
The card base was cut with the Sizzix clear Square Scallop die (115950) using Basic Black card stock. A piece of Basic Gray card stock was used for the Bigz scallop square die layered onto the black.
The circle was cut out with the Circle Scissor Plus using Daffodil Delight card stock.
I used the Modern Label punch for the Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment. This card went together very quickly after I decided what I wanted to make.
Now I'm ready to try using some of the other stamps in the Punch Bunch stamp set!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Nature Walk butterfly

2011-02-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

This little note card was one I gave to my customers as a thank you for their orders last month. My sister, Cindy designed the card for me.
The butterfly was stamped inside the punched circle. The "just for you" sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.

The butterfly was stamped in black ink, then colored in with watercolor pencils and Stampin' Pastels.
I love the look of pastels and the blending of colors to make the background.

(Click on the image to see it close-up.)

This Nature Walk stamp set has become one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Lovely as a Tree birthday

2011-02-21T05:37:00.000-05:00

When I need a masculine birthday card in a hurry I frequently reach for this stamp set. It is so easy to use because it always turns out just beautiful!
The tree was colored with watercolor pencils and shading was added with Stampin' Pastels. Some of my favorite tools I used are the extra large oval punch and the ticket corner punch. Almost all of the edges were sponged before assembly. The pretty brown print is from the retired Ski Slope DSP.
This was literally about a 10 minute card. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!

A Cat named Pumpkin

2011-02-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

When I made this cat card it made me think of a cat that belonged to one of my grandchildren several years ago. It was named "Pumpkin", and rightly so since that was definitely his color! I wonder how many orange cats there are today that are also named Pumpkin!

This cat looks a little fat and very independent, but definitely well-loved. Look at the cute bell around his neck!

Well, maybe I'm putting too much thought into it! I guess I got carried away a bit with this one!

Now for the details:

It is stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink. I love the polka-dot embossing folder for the background. It really ties into the pumpkin-colored DSP. The scallop trim border punch was used to give a pretty edge. Also used were the circle and scalloped circle punches.

Inside is the little sympathy sentiment "So sorry for the loss of your little friend." The envelope is also stamped with the cat image.

I hope the recipients will treasure the memory of their cat when they receive this sweet card.

Thanks for looking!

Card Purse project

2011-02-19T05:00:00.078-05:00

I wanted to make a little box to hold some cards. I found a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers for this pretty purse project.

I used the Things I Love stamp set to decorate the purse front. The images are stamped on Naturals White card stock and layered on a Chocolate Chip scalloped square cut out with the Bigz Scallop Squares die and the Big Shot. Layers of Elegant Soiree dsp and Baja Breeze card stock were also added. The small heart punch was used to make the little Real Red heart in the top right corner.

The opening at the top of the purse was punched with the 1 3/4" circle punch and the scalloped circle punch was used to punch the designer paper. The red heart was dabbed with Champagne Mist paint to give it some shimmer. Some white organdy ribbon was added to tie it all together.

The sentiment from the set was stamped on Naturals White card stock and punched out with the large oval punch. After shading with a sponge and chocolate chip ink the oval was layered to a Real Red scalloped oval and attached with dimensionals.

There is room inside the box for standard-sized cards and envelopes.

Here's one of the cards I made.

I also used the Baja Breeze card stock and Elegant Soiree paper on the card front. A border strip was punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch. It was added to the edge of the patterned paper. A scalloped square was added and topped with a Naturals White square featuring the sentiment from Curvy Verses stamp set. Once again, the paper layers have been sponged with ink.

I originally started this as a Valentine project, but I didn't finish it in time for this year. Nevertheless, I think it will make a nice gift set for almost any occasion. Don't you?

I hope your day is filled with happy stamping!

D is for Dog

2011-02-15T22:09:00.000-05:00

This cute card uses the D is for Dog stamp set. I stamped the image on Whisper White card stock, then layered it on a Basic Black scalloped circle, and then on a Real Red circle. I chose the bright houndstooth print for the card front. I love the red, black, and white combination.
Inside, I used the corner scallop trim punch and added a few paw prints. The dog image was stamped on the envelope.
Hope my dog-lovin' friends like this card.
Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Valentine Treats

2011-02-13T23:51:00.001-05:00

We made these little treat pouches at my Chicks & Chocolate party a few days ago. They were so much fun to make! I selected the colors to match the little Dove candies inside! The pink and purple one on the left is made with the heart punch as a base. It is covered with little blossoms from the Itty Bitty shapes punch pack. The little pearls are from the Basic Pearls jewels pack. They are so tiny and just perfect for the small blossom.
The Scallop Trim border punch and the Pinking Hearts border punch were used to trim the tops of the pouches. Pink Grosgrain ribbon and 1/8" Red Taffeta ribbon keep the flaps closed.
The green one uses the Just Believe stamp set for the flowers, and the tiny blossom under the greeting is from the level 1 Hostess set, Afterthoughts. The Just for You greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The pouch front is stamped with Elegant Eggplant, Wild Wasabi, and Real Red inks.
I got my inspiration for these pouches from Chera Wiest's 12 Days of Chocolate on her blog.

(click on the picture to enlarge image)

Our second project was this little 3 x 3 note card.

Here's how the heart was made:

The Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit was used to make the pink and red hearts. After embossing the pink heart, it was inserted in the large heart punch (without removing it from the original square of paper) and punched out, removing the scalloped edge. Then it was mounted on the red heart. This way the cool little polka dots are on the pink heart! The greeting comes from the Well Scripted stamp set.

The envelope is decorated with little love birds from the Northern Hearts stamp set. At least they look like love birds to me! They are just the right size for the envelope.

I hope you enjoy these little Valentine projects. Have a great day!

Elegant Soiree Thanks card

2011-02-12T22:09:00.000-05:00

I love making this fun card! The Elegant Soiree DSP and Baja Breeze card stock make an elegant combination. The stamp sets are from The Hostess set Afterthoughts.
This card also uses Soft Suede ink and card stock and Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon. The scallop trim border punch and the scallop oval punch add more details.
I cased this lovely layout from Michele Reynolds, who I find has lots of great cards. She is so creative! Check out her website here.
If you're looking for a fun layout, this one is quick and easy.
Thanks for stopping by!

Easter Blossoms on branch

2011-02-09T23:02:00.000-05:00

This pretty card is one my customers got to make at our monthly club. They loved it! The colors used are Very Vanilla, Rose Red, and Always Artichoke. The coloring was done with blender pens and Rose Red ink. Love DSP was used under the Artichoke layer.
The stamps used are from the new Easter Blossoms set found in the Occasions Spring Mini Catalog.
Also used were the large oval punch, the scalloped oval punch, and the pretty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Framed Tulips. This is really becoming a favorite folder with my customers! Of course, the fabulous Sizzix Big Shot (you've got to get one!) is what makes the folder work!

Here's how we decorated the inside of the card. A small sprig of the branch and blossoms was stamped on the edge, carrying the theme of the card to the inside.

Credit for this fabulous card goes to demonstrator Natasha Zandbergen who's card I cased making only a minor color change!
I hope you'll stop by to see more Spring cards that will be coming your way soon!

Friends Never Fade card and gift

2011-01-30T22:11:00.004-05:00

Don't you love matching cards with a gift? This sweet card uses the Friends Never Fade stamp set.
Accessories used on the card are the 1 3/4" circle extra large punch, the Eyelet Border punch, and 1/4" Rose Red grosgrain ribbon. Shading around the flower was done with Stampin' Pastels.

Here are some more close-up photos.

The gift is a small potted plant that was decorated with a pretty dsp and coordinating butterflies made with a Sizzix embosslit. The Rick-rack style trim is made with the Sizzix Tasteful Trim die.

I hope my friend likes it!

Come back soon for another project idea !

Silhouette for Valentine's Day

2011-01-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

This little silhouette makes such a pretty valentine! This was also a quick card to make. The polka dot background was embossed with the embossing folder, and the oval and scallop square were Sizzix die cuts.
I stamped the little girl from the Easter Blossoms stamp set on the Oval die cut with black ink. The tiny heart from the Two Step Extra Large Owl punch was glued in the basket with a 2-way glue stick.
The red bow is 5/8" red satin ribbon. It was such a fun card to make!
Hope you're getting your valentines made early. If you need any supplies, just go to my Stampin' Store by clicking on the button Order on Line, found on the right side of my blog. Of course, you can also give me a call or email if you'd like me to place your order for you.

Thanks for stopping by today. See you soon!

Things I Love embossed card

2011-01-23T23:13:00.000-05:00

I was looking for a Valentine card using the Elegant Lines embossing folder and I found this layout by Karen Philipp. I made a few changes and came up with my own version.

Supplies include:

Stamps: Things I Love, Holidays and Wishes (retired)

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White card stock

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Accessories: 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches, Modern Label XL punch, Scallop Trim border punch, Small Heart punch, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, 5/8" Satin Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Nature Walk

2011-01-17T07:00:00.002-05:00

I love cards with birds! This one is so real looking. It was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and colored with pastels and watercolor crayons.
This is another CAS (Clean and Simple) card. It has just a focal image, linen thread for an embellishment, and textured background.
The colors of card stock are Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, and Crumb Cake.

I hope you like it!
Thanks for visiting today.

Because I Care Hydrangea

2011-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have been making more clean and simple cards lately. I really like the crisp look as well as the ease of making one.
This flower is from the Hostess Level 1 set, Because I Care. It was stamped in Always Artichoke ink on Certainly Celery card stock.
The greeting comes from the Watercolor Trio stamp set.
The scallop border punch was used on the front edge. A narrow strip of Always Artichoke card stock (about 1/2" wide) was adhered behind the scallop edge.
Here's a tip for getting the artichoke strip placed accurately:
Place a small dab of Dotto on the back of the artichoke card stock. Adhere it to the inside of the card back along the edge.
Place your permanent adhesive on the back of the scallops and then close the card, pressing the adhesive down onto the narrow strip. Open the card and rub the Dotto off the card.

Hope you enjoy this clean and simple card.
Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Because I Care, Watercolor Trio
Card Stock: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Dotto Adhesive, Scallop Border Punch

Pretty Silhouette

2011-01-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Don't you love silhouettes? This cute stamp set is shown on page 6 in our new Occasions Mini Catalog! This card can become appropriate for many different occasions just by changing what is in the basket. On this card I covered the eggs with some flowers, stamped and cut out from the Vintage Vogue stamp set.

On the inside I stamped some flowers from the Vintage Vogue stamp set, punched it out with a 1" circle punch, and touched the edge softly with black ink and a sponge dauber to pop it out from the white card background. It is layered on a strip of red card stock, edged with black paper.

This will be a Birthday card, but could easily be Get Well or Thinking of you. I plan to stamp the greeting on the inside.

Recipe:
Stamp sets: Easter Blossoms, Vintage Vogue
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler.
Ink colors: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: 1" circle punch, oval die cuts, marker.

Autumn Days, A Clean and Simple card

2011-01-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick post for you today. This card was made with Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Whisper White card stock. The pheasant was stamped with chocolate chip ink and colored in with pastels and watercolor pencils. It was stamped on the large oval that was cut out with the Ovals die cut # 114525.

My sister, Cindy Rigel is my guest stamper who created this card for me! I'll be showing you more of her work in the next couple of weeks. I love the clean and simple look of the card.

So glad you stopped by today. Come back soon!

Thank you, Blogging Friends

2011-01-10T13:26:00.000-05:00

I'm honored to have recently received the Stylish Blogger Award. Wow! It is such an honor to be included in your ranks! Last week Mickey Roberts gave me this award, and yesterday I found my name on the lists of bloggers Regina Andari and Catherine Harwood. Thanks to all of you!
As a recipient of this award I am required to tell you 8 little bits of trivia about me that you may or may not know. Then I will share the links to 8 bloggers that have inspired me. So, here goes!
1. I was born and grew up in Ohio, attended Ohio Wesleyan and graduated from Ohio State. I moved to Florida in 1972. My sisters still live in Ohio, so I enjoy visiting there, but not in the Winter! (I'm a pansy when it comes to cold weather!)
2. I taught school for many years, retired in 2001, and immediately joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator. I guess I've always been a teacher at heart, so teaching stamping and scrapping is a perfect fit for me.
3. Among my many artistic ventures are making jointed teddy bears out of old fur coats, crafting unique character dolls, and entering craft shows.
4. I have been making lampwork beads for about 4 years and enjoy creating my own jewelry.
5. My husband and I have blended our families with 5 grown children, 12 grandchildren, and 1 great grand baby!
6. I love living in Florida and near the ocean. I enjoy water sports and love to parasail when we have the opportunity to do so.
7. My husband and I do a lot of traveling and especially enjoy the western United States. We are old car buffs so enjoy taking trips in our antique autos.
8. I'm a lefty and a middle child of three, so that's my excuse for being sensitive.
Enough about me! Here are 8 of many bloggers who inspire me ( not in any particular order). Click on their names to visit their blogs:
Becky Roberts
Kelly Mayou
Tina Taves
Glenda Calkins
Gwen Mangelson
Sharon Field
Linda Heller
Sandi MacIver

Thank you all who have inspired and influenced my love for stamping!

Plane & Simple Birthday

2011-01-07T22:19:00.000-05:00

This is one of the stamp sets in the new Occasions Mini Catalog. I love the masculine feel it brings to the card.
I've used Whisper White, Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze for my card colors.
The plane is stamped on white card stock and cut out. The edges were sponged with Crumb Cake ink and a sponge dauber. Then it was stamped twice again without reinking to show the images with different depths of color.

The happy birthday sentiment was stamped in Baja Breeze ink on a scrap of Whisper White, cut out with paper snips and mounted on another scrap of Crumb Cake. I chose to trim it in a banner shape before mounting it on the card with dimmensionals.

The open area was cut from Baja Breeze paper with the Circle Scissors Plus, making a 3" circle.

The main airplane has an extra layer of the wing stamped, cut out and attached to give some extra dimmension.

Inside the card I have layered the same colors again. The diamond-shaped pattern was added to the bottom edge, and the compass image was stamped and cut out to add another detail to the inside of the card.

The plane is also stamped in Crumb Cake ink on the envelope flap. I really like to finish it off so it coordinates with the card.

The envelope was hand-made since the card is not a standard size.

I hope you've enjoyed looking at my project. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend

Valentine Flower Pot card

2010-12-30T09:27:00.000-05:00

I came across this cute idea on Libby Stampz blog and I couldn't resist making my own version of it!

I made my own flower pot pattern by folding a piece of 6 1/2" x 4" Real Red card stock in half, trimming the sides on an angle and cutting a slit in the fold for the heart strip to slip into.

The heart tag that slips though the opening was made from designer papers and the large heart punch.

The sentiment is from the Well Scripted stamp set.
Below, the photo shows the tag insert along side the stamped envelope.

Here is a list of supplies used:
Stamps: Well Scripted, Paisley Prints
Inks: Real Red, Real Red marker for dots on heart
Papers: Real Red and Whisper White card stock, retired DSP
Accessories: large heart punch, White organza ribbon, Pinking hearts border punch, paper snips, 2-way glue stick, snail adhesive.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a Safe and Happy New Year!

Top Note Snowman

2010-12-29T18:11:00.003-05:00

I had so much fun making this cute snowman! First I cut a strip of 1 1/4" designer paper for the hat brim, then I cut the patterned paper and the top note together to make the face and hat top.
The nose is cut from Pumpkin Pie card stock, and the eyes are punched with a 1/4" circle punch.
The cheeks are made with a sponge dauber and some Pink Pirouette ink.

The snowflake is cut with the Big Shot and the Sizzlits Decorative Strip Northern Frost, using Shimmery White card stock. A large Basic Rhinestone decorates the center of the snowflake.
The snowflakes on the card front and the inside are stamped with Bashful Blue ink. They are from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set.

This little card makes a cute thank you note, or by changing the sentiment on the hat it can be a birthday card or some other occasion card. This card was cased from another stamper, and I've misplaced her post. It it's your original idea, please let me know so I can give you credit!

Recipe:
Stamps:
Teeny Tiny Wishes, Serene Snowflakes

Ink: Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, Always Artichoke

Card Stock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie,Shimmery White

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Sizzlits Northern Frost decorative strip, Decorative Strip Spacer Platform, Sponge Daubers, 1/4" circle punch, paper snips, white gel pen, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive.

Delightful Decorations

2010-12-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

Here's one more Christmas card for you. It's a real quick one and easy to do. This card uses the Delightful Decorations and Bells and Boughs stamp sets.
The card front was embossed with the Northern Flurry embossing folder. Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke, as well as Whisper White are the card stock colors.
The ribbon is 5/8" White Organza, and the Ornament Punch was used also.
Hope you like it! Thanks for taking time to stopping by during these last few days before Christmas. I hope your holidays are wonderful!

Tags till Christmas

2010-12-17T10:27:00.000-05:00

Here's one of the cards my stampers made a couple of weeks ago. I originally got this card idea from Catherine Harwood and Cindy Greene brought this card to our Stamp-a-Stack as one of our projects. Everyone loved making it!

Stamp sets: Tags Till Christmas, Just Believe
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink colors: Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Extra large and large tag punches, 1/8 " basic black taffeta ribbon, 5/8" real red grosgrain ribbon, Northern Flurry textured impressions embossing folder, snail adhesive, dimensionals.

Hope you're getting your Christmas cards finished up! Thanks for visiting!

Nature's Nest - CCMC 128

2010-12-10T13:29:00.000-05:00

I came across this week's color challenge for Creating with Connie and Mary (CCMC128) and decided to use these colors for my Thinking of You Card.
The dragonfly from the Nature's Nest stamp set became the focal point of my card. It was stamped in Old Olive ink and accented with some Champagne mist to provide a touch of glimmer to the wings and body.
I used the grass from Inspired by Nature to provide some background for the card base. It was stamped with VersaMark ink.

Above is a close-up of the dragonfly and the glimmer brad. The card was also sponged with Old Olive ink. and a bit of Always Artichoke ink, and some dots were stamped with the Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp set (retired).

The dragonfly theme was carried through to the inside with more stamping, sponging and dots.
I am pleased with the way card turned out, especially since this color challenge combo was not one I would have selected by myself!
Thanks so much for stopping by. Here's the link for this color challenge so you can see what other cards were created with the same colors.

Recipe:
Stamps:
Nature's Nest, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Paper:
Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Night of Navy, River Rock, Very Vanilla
Ink:
Old Olive, Night of Navy, VersaMark, Always Artichoke
Accessories:
Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Glimmer Brads, Champagne Mist ink, 1 1/4" Navy striped grosgrain ribbon, snail adhesive

Mini-Lunch Bag Party Favor

2010-11-29T08:00:00.005-05:00

Hello there! Thanks for stopping by today. I want to share this cute party favor bag made from Stampin' Up's mini lunch sack.

The sack was covered with a snowflake pattern made with the retired Bold Snowflakes jumbo wheel and some Always Artichoke ink. The front is decorated with a strip of Deck the Halls designer paper, layered over a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock.

The main decoration is made from around circle of Crumb Cake card stock which was glittered with some Silver Chunky Glitter and Multipurpose liquid glue. A scallop circle is layered over the circle, and a Crumb Cake oval tops it all. This little treat bag was filled with some yummy candy treats.

A simple bow was tied from artichoke seam binding and attached to the bag with a medium-sized paper clip.
Everyone loved receiving one of these at my last stamping event!

Recipe:
Mini Lunch Sack
Bold Snowflakes Stampin' Around wheel (retired)
Always Artichoke classic ink pad
Cherry Cobbler card stock
Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper
Crumb Cake card stock
Scallop circle punch, large oval punch, circle cutter
Silver Chunky Glitter, Multipurpose liquid glue, Snail adhesive, dimensionals, Seam Binding, paper clip

Medallion Snowflake card

2010-11-27T15:55:00.000-05:00

Here is one of the favorites we made at my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack last week. This beautiful Medallion stamp was inked up with Marina Mist. The little snowflake was made using the Northern Frost decorative strip with the Big Shot, Decorative Strip cutting pads, Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesisve Sheets and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Those adhesive sheets make glittering a real breeze! The Basic Pearl adds a finishing touch. I love making these fun and easy cards!
The sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes was also stamped in Marina Mist ink, punched out with the word window punch, and attached to a piece of Marina Mist grosgrain ribbon.

I hope you'll decide to try the adhesive sheets. I think you'll love them!

Come to Bethlehem card

2010-11-25T22:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you've had a wonderful day!

Now it's really time to get busy with my Christmas cards! I saw a card similar to this one when I was browsing the web, and loved the poinsettia on it! It adds such a festive touch! I decided to make my version of the card. It is so easy to sponge the edges and layer it together.
I used StazOn Ink to stamp the image. I've found that it works best if you ink the stamp thoroughly, then ink it even more than you think it will need. It makes such a difference in how the images comes out. If you have a spot that doesn't look dark enough, you can fill it in with a black marker.
I like the way this image looks when stamped on the Top Note die cut.
The only embellishments on the card are the gold brads and a tiny rhinestone.

Inside, I just layered the outside edge from the die cut onto a piece of white card stock to create a writing surface. I think it dresses it up a bit!

If you haven't started making your Christmas cards, you might enjoy this stamp set. It is so elegant and fun to work with.

Recipe:
Come to Bethlehem Stamp Set
Real Red, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Garden Green card stock
Riding Hood Red classic ink and Jet Black StazOn ink
Top Note Die, Sizzix Die Cut Machine, Standard Cutting Plates
5-Petal flower punch. piercing tool and mat pack, Stampin' Sponges
Gold Brads, Basic Rhinestones

Thanks for stopping by!

Flip card for Christmas

2010-11-17T20:44:00.000-05:00

My class loved making this card at our Big Shot Class last week! We used the Movers and Shapers die to cut the heart so it flips open. We also used some interesting techniques to color the embossed heart image .

Here's another view showing the back of the heart when the card is open .

Above is a view of the card front with the greeting peeking out from inside.

Hope you enjoy this fun card!

Thanks for visiting!

Supplies used for this card:

Stamp set: Heard from the Heart

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Whisper White

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, White Craft.

Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Extended Cutting Pads, 1 standard cutting pad, Movers & Shapers die, Embossing Buddy, White E.P, Heat gun, Ornamenr Punch, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Brayer, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding , Snail Adhesive.

Crazy for Cupcakes

2010-11-01T07:00:00.003-04:00

Hello there! I hope you're having a great day!
I needed a card for a special little girl's birthday. I settled on this set, Crazy for Cupcakes. It's the perfect set because the cupcake has just one candle, which is what I needed for this card!
I decided to paper-piece the cupcake with Tempting Turquoise and Pretty in Pink paper. The candle flame was colored with a yellow marker, outlined with More Mustard marker, and coated with Crystal Effects. The outline had been stamped in black ink on a Sizzix oval die cut which was sponged around the outside with some Tempting Turquoise ink. The tiny heart was punched out with the XL 2-step Owl Punch and coated with Crystal Effects. The cupcake sprinkles are Dazzling Diamonds glitter.
The Happy Birthday greeting (from the On Your Birthday set) was stamped with Tangerine Tango ink to compliment the Tangerine Tango card stock and the orange color in the polka dot paper which is from the retired Island Oasis DSP.
Other accessories used include the scallop border punch and paper snips for cutting out the balloon and banner. The background was run through the Sizzix machine with an embossing folder.
I love creating fun birthday cards. Hope you enjoy it, too! Thanks for stopping by!