Jul 17, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
It was time for the Tic Tac Toe #06 Challenge, and I chose the bottom row across, because honey means bees, and the Dragonfly Dreams stamp set has my favorite bee. Plus, woodgrain means trees, and I was anxious to put them together.
I remembered the great plaids from last Christmas’s Warmth and Cheer Designer Series Paper, and I chose green to go with a Garden Green card base. I thought this would go well with the Wood Textures DSP, which would be the home for the beehive. The tree was placed on Adhesive Foam Strips for added dimension. The hive and honey (yum) was made by embossing So Saffron card stock with the Hexagons embossing folder. The tree was cut with a Layering Ovals die, so you could see the bees busy at work.
A branch from Seasonal Layers was added, layering three times for reinforcement. The sentiment, “You’re sweet as can bee,” was found in the Shooting Stars stamp set, and cut with the Classic Label Punch. I stamped my bees in Chocolate Chip ink on yellow, marble DSP, and cut them out with the die.
Someone tied this plaid ribbon around the tree. I hope it didn’t disturb the hive!
Jul 16, 2017 | About Me, Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I learned the meaning of anticipation early in life. My brother and I would spend countless hours talking about the morning when Santa Claus would finally arrive. This little, backward girl from Birthday Delivery re-creates this memory of sending up wishes to Santa.
The inspiration for this card was from the challenge going on over at Just Add Ink. We were asked to use a birthday set for Christmas. I often use a combination of sets for one project, so this was a “must do” challenge.
In addition to Birthday Delivery, I used a Celebration Times Thinlit, which cut the gifts (birthday) from Whisper White cardstock. I stamped it with “Merry Christmas” from the Teeny Tiny Wishes” stamp set, so there would be no mistaking. It was backed with Sending Love Designer Series Paper from Valentine’s Day, matching the Real Red card base. The little girl loved her stuffed toys (I still find them hard to resist), so she is clutching her favorite Christmas time gingerbread boy. He and the gum drop paper are from last year’s Candy Cane Lane DSP. The pretty, white, floating wishes are made by Celebration Thinlits.
I enjoyed combining birthday elements with Christmas, and it made sense to me. Afterall, Christmas is Jesus’s birthday. It was later in life that I learned the real pleasure in anticipation, and how looking forward to something can be just as exciting as the actual experience. So, high-five to the memories, high-five to the here and now, and high-five to those plans in the future!
Jul 15, 2017 | About Me, Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Life isn’t easy, and “boo boos” happen! I could tell you this Case this Sketch #230 was easy, but that would be far from the truth. First of all, I started this project late at night, I was tired, yet determined to replicate the sketch.
This happened:
With perseverance, I was able to accomplish my goal before going to bed. The Whole Lot of Lovely Designer Series Paper is beautiful, and I was able to choose three different prints, which I layered on Tranquil Tide. I raised the three rectangles on Foam Adhesive Strips and attached them to a Pool Party card base. Completing the card would have to wait for morning.
After much experimentation, I decided to use Celebration Time, because the cake fit perfectly in the upper right rectangle. The final step was to stamp “Time to Celebrate” on the bottom rectangle.
And, this happened:
It’s times like this when you need to get most creative. My disapointment was overcome when discovering that this sentiment fit perfectly in the Pretty Label Punch. Whew, project completed!
And, the moral is: 1) Don’t create when tired 2) Don’t force something when your gut tells you otherwise 3) Do make the best of a bad situation 4) Do forgive yourself.
Thanks for sticking with me on this one!
Jul 14, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
The color challenge over at Just Add Ink inspired my latest creation with So Many Shells: Smoky Slate, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, and the pop of Lemon Lime Twist. I could envision these shells in the sand, just below the surface of the ocean.
The Ruffled embossing folder was perfect for making the sandy, ocean floor, which would be layered on Whisper White with a Smoky Slate card base. I used Crumb Cake and Lemon Lime Twist Ink to stamp the shells on Smoky Slate and Crumb Cake Marble Designer Series Paper, and I liked the results with the added variation in design. This paper has been retired, but we now have a marble background stamp, so you could make your own. I hand cut the shells, except for the two round ones, which were cut with a perforated Layering Circles die. Since the ocean floor was 3D, I thought, why not make the shells 3D? I put my stylus to work on top of my Stampin Pierce Mat, using small circular motions on the back of each shell.
TIP: Press hard enough to break down the paper fibers, but not so hard that you tear through the paper.
Apply tiny bits of glue just around the edges, and presto! you have your puffed up shells!
“Life is a Beautiful Thing” from Colorful Seasons was the right sentiment for this nature scene. ( I stamped this before embossing). Prior to gluing the art piece down, I attached Linen Thread to the bottom for added interest. The beautiful Glitter Enamel Dots were the last detail.
If you enjoyed this project, you may also like to see my first card with So Many Shells. I explained why shells are so near and dear to my heart.
So Many Shells Displayed On A Burlap Mat
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I really enjoy sharing with you!
Jul 13, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Carols of Christmas is continuing in my craft room, and I made use of three dies from the Card Front Builder Thinlits set. It’s so much fun discovering all of the possibilities. I wonder how I survived before Stampin Up, without this creativity in my life. Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but I was definitely missing out.
My third Christmas card from this new Bundle began with Night of Navy cardstock being die cut with the border die of moon and stars. I chose Wisteria Wonder for the card base, keeping with the night time scene. Next, I die cut a single tree from Dazzling Diamond Glimmer Paper, backed for thickness for placing on dimensionals. The moon and three tiny stars were also die cut from the same glimmer paper, and positioned in the open shapes like a jig saw puzzle. Snow was produced by using the embossing folder, Softly Falling. I added to the forest by using the die of two trees to cut across the middle of the art piece. I decided on musical trees, so out came the Sheet Music background stamp, and I stamped Wisteria Wonder cardstock with Night of Navy Ink. I found the perfect word, “Noel,” from the Wonderful Wreath Framelits set, and matched it to the Wisteria Wonder card base.
A pop of Real Red Baker’s Twine, mimicking the music staff, was the final decision. How I wish you could see the tree and night sky shine!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love reading your comments.
Jul 12, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Welcome to the July 2017 Pals Blog Hop. Thank you so much for joining us today. This month we’re having a Pattern Party! Hoppers will feature projects using their favorite Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper and coordinating embellishments. After all, color coordination is a Stampin’ Up! Strength.
Whether you’re just starting the hop, or have come from a previous Pal’s blog, you’ll find the line-up toward the end of my post to help you move along.
When I first joined Stampin’ Up, I was immediately drawn to their beautiful Designer Series Paper, so this month’s Blog Hop was right up my alley. I love combining prints and patterns, and the coordination that is offered in the products makes it so much fun! Delightful Daisy DSP was the first to catch my eye, and this watercolor print with Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, a touch of Daffodil Delight, and a hint of Tranquil Tide is gorgeous. I decided to contrast the soft colors with a border of Tranquil Tide, and layer it on a Thick Very Vanilla card base.
I envisioned this paper with an overlay of the word “hugs,” die cut with the Lovely Words Thinlet in Tranquil Tide, and I would use a Layering Circle die for a circle of Very Vanilla beneath it. Since this Blog Hop is all about prints, I decided to stamp the circle in Daffodil Delight ink with a darling, triple flower that comes in the Daisy Delight stamp set. I enjoy making my own DSP once in a while. Do you?
I wanted to add more interest, so punched out half a daisy with the Daisy Punch, and turned it over, so the Tranquil Tide was on top. I added another punched out daisy in the Calypso Coral print of lines and dots, and cut it to fit the border. This same print was used in a 1″ strip along the bottom with Venetian Lace Trim tied around it.
The last step was to add a cluster of pearls for the center of the daisy. Oh, and then to photograph my project. The overhead lighting was getting in the way, and I didn’t like its reflection in the Daisy Punch. How do you like the way I solved the problem? “If you can’t lick ’em, join ’em!” I’m not sure who taught me this expression, and it’s not always the best advice, but in this case, it worked. It reminds me of the Metal Rimmed Pearl embellishments in last year’s catalog.
Please take a minute to mark your calendar for our next hop on August 9, 2017 when our projects will feature “cuts” from punches, dies, framelits, edgelits, or thinlits. Now hop along using the Blog Hop Line-up below. Thank you so much for hopping with the Stampin’ Pretty Pals today. See you on August 9th!
- Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
- Tricia Chuba at ButterDish Designs
- Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven’s Retreat
- Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
- Jennifer Michalski at Stamping Serenity
- Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
- Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
- Michelle Gleeson at StampinMojo
- Wendy Klelin at Doggone Delightful Stampin’
- Rae Harper-Burnet at Wild West Paper Arts
- Amy Hoptay at Craft Carnivore
- Jeanie Stark at Just Stampin’
- Sara Stuart at Sentiments by Sara
- Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
- Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
- Pamela Sadler at Stampin Pink Rose
- Su Mohr at Aromas and Art
