Mar 29, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Today’s project is a simple, Happy Birthday card. Other than the time it took to color, it just took a few minutes to complete. The Springtime Foils Designer Series Paper is really fun to color with Stampin’ Blends, because the foil lines make it easy to stay within the lines. I’ve seen beautiful projects from other demonstrators, which inspired me.
The Stampin’ Blends colors I used were Light and Dark Old Olive. You can see the uncolored DSP in the background of my photo. The Stampin’ Blends have been so popular, they are unavailable until the end of May. If you don’t have them, they are worth the wait. In the meantime, I’d try other coloring methods. How about the Stampin’ Markers or an Aqua Painter with Ink?
Springtime Foils Happy Birthday Card
The gold leaf in the DSP is pretty, so Gold Foil was my choice for the large, “Happy Birthday” sentiment. I used the die to cut two; one from Gold Foil and one from Thick Whisper White for layering. I glued them together, place it in the center, and was pleased with my “Happy Birthday” among the leaves.
An Old Olive card base was an easy decision.
I couldn’t capture the shine for you to see, indoors, so I took it outside. Here it is among real leaves, and you can really see the shine!
It just so happens this project fits perfectly with the Tic Tac Toe Challenge that started today, matching a diagonal row perfectly: green, gold and die cut.
This large “Happy Birthday” Die has probably been used more than any die in my collection. I often use it on the inside, but it has shown up on the outside a number of times. Here is one from the past:
Tree Rings or Polymer Clay?
I hope you’ve been inspired to color and create. You can look through digital copies of the Stampin’ Up! catalogs found on the right-hand side of my blog for more inspiration. The “Happy Birthday” Die is featured on page 77 of the Annual Catalog, #143700. Just click “Shop” if you’d like to purchase it from my store.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Mar 27, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
The “marker direct to stamp” technique is this week’s challenge at TGIF. I wanted to play along, because this is a great technique, and I don’t use it nearly enough.
I got out my Stampin’ Write Markers and decided on the stamp set I would use, Happy Wishes.
It’s always exciting using a product for the first time, and this was a first for the Sale-A-Bration, Happy Wishes Stamp Set. I thought it would look pretty using this technique, and it was a red rubber stamp, which gives the best results. I colored “happy” in rainbow fashion with the brush end, using five different colors of markers. Leaving the stamp flat on the table, I pressed Whisper White cardstock on top of it. I lifted gently, and was “happy” with this technique.
Are you wondering how I came up with the layout for my card? CAS(E) this sketch has an interesting challenge this week. It reminded me of a brick wall, so that’s why I embossed the Whisper White card base with the Brick Wall Embossing Folder.
I needed to turn the design upside down to make my words fit properly, but you get the idea. Right?
I layered “happy” on Lemon Lime Twist cardstock, stamped “birthday” and “wishes” in Tranquil Tide, and a strip of Washi Tape to complete the sketch. I finished the envelope with a piece of Fresh Florals Designer Series Paper in Tranquil Tide.
Marker Direct to Stamp Technique
The Happy Wishes Stamp Set is great, because it has 16 stamps, all words, that are interchangeable. It’s on page 19 of the Sale-A-Bration brochure. I can’t believe I waited this long to use it! It’s available at the store until the end of March. Click on shop, if you want it!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope the “marker direct to stamp” technique gives you some new ideas!
Mar 26, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Time is passing quickly, and next Sunday is Easter! Can you believe it? I needed one more Easter card, and I used three challenges for inspiration. It was handy that the Global Design Project has an Easter theme this week. I also used the sketch from Paper Players, and a row of items from Tic Tac Toe (Twine, Embossing, and Polka Dot).
I started with thoughts of Easter, and wanted to incorporate butterflies, fluttering around on my card. Remember the sweet, little butterfly from the Butterfly Basics Stamp Set? I stamped it in three cheery colors; Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Berry Burst. I happened to have the retired butterfly punch, so punching it out was easy, but it could be fussy cut.
Easter Card Says Miracles Happen
I chose a card base of Thick Whisper White, and layered it with Whisper White, which I embossed with the Basket Weave Embossing Folder. I really like the texture on the backside.
Next, I cut two 1″ strips for the banners that are in the sketch, and used the Banner Triple Punch for the ends. One strip is from Daffodil Delight DSP (polka dots for Tic Tac Toe) and the other Whisper White. I found the right size circle for the sketch in the Layering Circles Die Set, and used Whisper White for it also.
The circle was calling for something other than “Happy Easter,” and I remembered the sentiment from the So Many Shells Stamp Set, “Miracles Happen.” This set was voted as having the most beautiful font in the catalog. It really is pretty in Berry Burst! And, in this case, I love how the meaning goes with the cross that I die cut from the Cross of Hope Die Set.
I tied White Baker’s Twine around the top for the Paper Players sketch AND Tic Tac Toe. To represent a vertical row on the right side of the sketch, I added six Glitter Epoxy Shapes.
I completed the inside with a simple “Happy Easter” from the Sweet Little Something Stamp Set, which I stamped in Berry Burst. And, the three Daffodil Delight flowers are from the Beautiful Bouquet Stamp Set.
I decorated the envelope flap with Autumn Harvest Designer Series Paper, and it’s ready for mailing.
Thanks for visiting me today. I hope this Easter card was inspirational for you!
Mar 25, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I have a surprise, watercolor technique to share with you.
I started by choosing a “new to me” stamp set, Blossoming Basket, that just arrived from Stampin’ Up! I know I’m late to the party for using the Blossoming Basket stamp set from Sale-A-Bration, but I thought it would make a perfect Mother’s Day card. Flowers are probably the number one gift for Mother’s Day, so why not make a card to match?
Blossoming Basket Mother’s Day Card
I haven’t created many watercolor cards, and I have a confession; this one didn’t start out that way.
This is what happened:
I thought the basket of flowers would look pretty on a Wood Textures background, so I chose the white-washed favorite. I then stamped the image in Chocolate Chip Ink, and began happily coloring away with my Stampin’ Blends. This is how it looked when I placed it on the Crumb Cake card base.
I happened to turn it over, before gluing it down, and my watercolor surprise was revealed! I was so delighted, I didn’t want to add anything, other than a “happy mother’s day” tag. I stamped it in Chocolate Chip Ink on Sahara Sand cardstock, used the Classic Label Punch, and tied it with Linen Thread.
TIP: I punched a tiny hole on the end of the tag, so when the Mini Dimensionals lifted the tag, a sticky spot was there for holding the Linen Thread bow.
Would you like to know the Stampin’ Blend colors I used? It was Light and Dark Crumb Cake for the basket, Light and Dark Old Olive for the greenery, Light and Dark Calypso Coral, Light and Dark Daffodil Delight, Light Pumpkin Pie for the flowers, and the Color Lifter.
Due to the popularity of the Stampin’ Blends, they will not be available until the end of May. These alcohol pens make coloring so much fun, it’s worth the wait!
I stuck with the watercolor theme for the inside, choosing “you’re the best” from the Watercolor Words stamp set. The sentiment would be music to any mom’s ears, mine included.
I hope you enjoyed my technique, “how to watercolor without even trying.”
If you like the Blossoming Basket Stamp Set, it’s a Sale-A-Bration item that is only available until March 31. Leave me a comment, if you’d like to order one from my store. Please click to leave a COMMENT HERE.
Mar 23, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Here I am, making more masculine birthday cards! Funny thing, but Stampin’ Up! is featuring masculine cards in this quarter’s Stampin’ Success magazine. “Make It Masculine” is the event of the month. Look at the cover:
I’ve made masculine cards with two of the three sets showing on the cards the mystery man is holding. Here’s a previous post where I used the True Gentleman Designer Series Paper:
Stampin’ Up! True Gentleman Designer Series Paper Birthday Cards
But, I chose the Waterfront Stamp Set for today’s project, and I think it works equally well.
Waterfront Masculine Birthday Card
I can’t speak for all men, but I bet a number of them would like to spend their birthday in a mountain cabin.
I set out to create this scene using the Waterfront Stamp Set. I stamped the mountains in Sahara Sand Ink, The trees in Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz, the earth in Chocolate Chip, and the sun in Daffodil Delight.
The window was cut from Crumb Cake cardstock with a Hearth & Home Die, matching the Crumb Cake card base. I set the window, with its beautiful view, in the wall of a log cabin. What could be more perfect for a log cabin than Wood Textures Designer Series Paper? Some things just can’t be improved, and I’m so glad this paper will be around for a while.
I needed the sentiment to say the right thing, along with being the right size and shape for the Fab Friday challenge. See what I mean?
I found, “Enjoy you special day,” in the Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set, and stamped it in Chocolate Chip Ink on Whisper White cardstock. Using my Stampin’ Trimmer and Stampin’ Snips, I cut my own banner to fit.
On the inside, I stamped the lake from the Waterfront Stamp Set (think Lake Tahoe) in Pool Party Ink. And, it was my first time for using “Happy Birthday” from the Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set, Eclectic Expressions. I really like the font, don’t you?
I added some lake water to the envelope flap, and one more masculine birthday card was complete!
I hope you’ve been inspired to create some masculine cards for the men in your life. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Mar 21, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Hi everyone, welcome to my blog! The thing I missed most while on vacation was participating in challenges. So, I’m participating in two with this project.
This week’s Global Design Project has an unusual sketch that I wanted to challenge myself to duplicate. Here’s the sketch:
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my final Sale-A-Bration order from Stampin’ Up. I thought it might be here when I returned from vacation, but I had to wait two more days. The FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Heartfelt Blooms, was in this order, and the one I was envisioning for these two challenges.
I thought it looked like antique fabric, as I stamped it in Sahara Sand Ink all over the Whisper White cardstock. I glued this on a Sahara Sand card base, and my first layer of the sketch was complete.
For the other two rectangles (4″ X 2 1/2″) of “fabric” I chose Powder Pink Ink and Chocolate Chip Ink for stamping the floral image. I layered these on matching cardstock with just a 1/16 border showing. After gluing them together, I tied our beautiful Organza Ribbon around the two, as in the sketch. A bow seemed like too much with all that was going on, so I tied a knot rather than a bow. Can you tell the two rectangles are popped up on dimensionals?
I used Sahara Sand ink for the remaining circle in the sketch, after cutting it with a Stitched Shape Die. The sentiment, “Wishing You A Lovely Day,” is from the Lovely Wishes Stamp Set, and I stamped it in Chocolate Chip ink. In case you noticed, I eliminated the “sentiment” strip from the sketch, opting to put it in the circle.
Heartfelt Blooms Birthday Card for two challenges
The Heartfelt Blooms Stamp Set was also perfect for this week’s TGIF challenge. Look at the gorgeous inspiration:
I used subdued colors, but I definitely have the flowers going on! I can’t wait to try it with brighter colors. I must say, I was delighted with the performance of the Heartfelt Blooms stamp. It gave me a perfect image, first try, every time.
For the inside sentiment I used the Stylized Birthday Stamp, and stamped “Happy Birthday” in Powder Pink on Whisper White cardstock. I also decorated the envelope with Fresh Florals Designer Series Paper in Powder Pink.
Thank you GDP and TGIF for the challenges and inspiration! Wishing you all a bloomin’ perfect day!
