Thank You!

Yesterday I mentioned having a few snow days.  Not only was I able to complete all 75 of my Christmas cards, but I was able to knock out my thank you notes, too!  This year I am keeping it simple.  I am using the Scentsational Seasons (from last year's holiday mini catalog) candy cane stamp with the coordinating framelits die.  I used the stylish stripes textured impressions embossing folder.  I used silver ribbon from this year's holiday mini.  For the cardstock and ink, I used real red (and whisper white).  Clean and simple!  Here's the work-in-progress as well as the end result.

Holiday Sneak peek!

Well, I haven't posted for awhile (surprise, surprise!) but I've been home from work for the past two days due to snow.  I've had plenty of time to cook, clean and stamp!  Here is a sneak peek of my Christmas card.  I won't post the final product until they are sent out.

Here are a few snapshots...

Stay tuned for the final product!

Pinwheel Perfection

Today is my niece's birthday (she is turning 3!  My how time flies!) and her birthday party is tomorrow.  I made this card way back in June especially for her. It just looks like fun to me.  I made a few of them, so a few other September birthday babies may also receive this same card.  None of these products are still available except the colors.  I used the new 2013-2015 in-colors to show case in this card.  I LOVE the Crisp Cantaloupe color and I think the Strawberry Slush really ties it all together.  The stamp set and pinwheel die were both available in the 2013 Occasions mini catalog but neither made it into the annual catalog.  Let me know what you think!

Eat the Cake

September tends to mean a fresh start and new beginnings.  Back to school, a new season, new clothing styles, new, new, new.  For most people, it also means a TON of birthdays.  I know more people that have birthdays (myself included!) in September than in the other months COMBINED.  Yikes!  So during all the rush of back-to-school madness I tend to look for free moments when I can sit down and design some creative birthday cards... as well as some unique (yet simple!) thank you notes to send out after I receive my own birthday loot!

Over the past few years of card making, I've realized people are very sentimental about wedding cards.  They tend to keep "just because" I'm-thinking-of-you cards that appear out of the blue.  They sometimes keep a thoughtful anniversary card.  But, most people do not keep birthday cards.  So, I've tried to stop going over-the-top with really time consuming birthday cards since they are rarely held onto.  That doesn't mean I don't want something cute and clever, though! 

If your birthday is in September, you should probably STOP NOW so you don't get an early sneak peek at what might be your birthday card!  (I still have a few others stowed away not featured on this blog, so not every Virgo will be receiving the card below.)

I decided to use 2 free stamp sets for my card design.  Free stamp sets are often a challenge for me to use because they generally aren't ones I would buy so I have to think outside of my box to come up with a card.  In this case, I used Make a Wish which I received at the Baltimore Regional Conference in April and the Yippee Skippee stamp set that we got as an all-attendee give away at Convention in July.   Let me also state now that I am IN LOVE with Smoky Slate.  LOVE.  THIS. COLOR.  So much.  Expect to see it used in some capacity in every card from here on out (not really... well... maybe.)

Here's the card: (If you like what you see, you can click HERE to order Stampin' Up! Products)

 

Paper: Smoky Slate, Pacific Point, Naturals White
Ink: Smoky Slate, Pacific Point
Stamp Sets: Make a Wish and Yippee Skippee
Accessories: Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Window Frames Framelits

Convention 2013

Stampin' Up!'s Convention is nearly here!  I am so excited to attend my very first convention.  This year should hold many surprises as it is SU!'s 25th anniversary.  I am anticipating learning new techniques and seeing some sneak peeks of upcoming treats in store for the year.  I still need to pack, so this post will be short and sweet but I wanted to post my swap card.  Instead of writing the recipe on the back of the card, I just posted my blog address and people can check out the details below.

I knew summer was going to be busy so I did not make general swaps like I did for Baltimore Regionals.  I did, however, join a vintage swap.  The swap only requires 12 cards but each one has to have a vintage feel.  I love vintage style cards, AND I struggled a bit coming up with this design!  So many new catalog items are similar to older items I already own (I guess this happens when you've been a stamper for so long) and I didn't want to spend too much on a stamp set I wouldn't use frequently.

Here's what I came up with:

The card was simple to make, but still has the "wow" factor of 3-dimensions. I was glad to have the chance to play around with the new colors!  The base of the card is the new Smoky Slate (it is a bit washed out in the photo).  Next, I ran a 3 inch piece of the new In Color, Pistachio Pudding, through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder with the Big Shot.  I layered that with a piece of the Ruffle Stretch Trim Ribbon (I LOVE this ribbon!!).  I stamped the Million and One greeting in Blushing Bride on Very Vanilla cardstock and cut it using the window frame framelit.  I used the paper piercing tool and then the Festive Paper Piercing Pack on the pierce mat to poke the holes all the way around the shape, giving it texture.  The flowers were created using 5 punches from the new Pansy punch onto Blushing Bride cardstock. I sprayed the petals with water and crinkled them to give them more of a vintage look and feel.  I topped the card off by adding a Very Vintage Designer button with a bow made from Early Espresso Baker's Twine.  

... And that's my card for Convention!  Hopefully it will be well received by this vintage-loving bunch!  When I return, I'll post some pictures from Convention here.  

Stampin' Up Regional Conference

Tomorrow is Stampin' Up's spring regional conference!  I am very excited to go and am hoping to gain a sneak peek of new 2013-2014 products, or at least the new colors.  I just NOW finished my swaps for tomorrow... it's been a busy few weeks! I kept my swap card fairly simple since I was making so many of them. Here it is!

Stamp Set: Forever Young
Ink and Cardstock: Night of Navy
Addtional Cardstock: Old Olive, Naturals White
Accessories: ribbon, antique brads, Designer Frames embossing folder, Lacy Brocade embossing folder

Change of Address

A colleague recently moved into a new house, so I decided to make a quick card to welcome her into her new place!  This stamp set is an oldie (I can't even remember how old!) but it is one of my favorites so I've held onto it for awhile.  It is one of my "go to" sets for making a change of address card.

I got the idea for the style of this card from a card Stampin' Up! pinned on pinterest.  It is an easy, clean layout.  I used the 2 and a half inch circle punch to punch out the circle from the Melon Mambo card stock (I cut the cardstock a quarter inch smaller).  I used an aqua painter to water color the dress and added a few rhinestones for a bit of bling.  Very simple and straight-forward, yet still effective!

A Bit of Shabby Chic

I really love shabby chic style but I struggle to design cards that match!  My cards tend to come out with more of a vintage flare (which I also enjoy!).   This card has 11 layers and the colors are perfect for a Shabby Chic romantic valentine/wedding card.  This is another card that was designed by my Upline, Mary Walker. I love the details. 

The card begins with a basic Very Vanilla cardstock base.  The vellum is dry embossed using the Delicate Designs Embossing Folder.  The strip of Pink Pirouette paper is trimmed with the Scallop Trim Border punch.  The next layer is Very Vanilla, this time embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper folder.  The skinny Crumb Cake piece was also created using a punch. Once all of those paper pieces are punched or embossed, it time to add the embellishments.  Sheer Whisper White ribbon is wound around the embossed Vanilla piece and then a flat build-a-brad (from the new spring catalog) is glued on.  I folded a flower to place behind the brad and added a bow using Linen Thread.  Another flower is added to the brad and topped with a pearl.  Finally, a small pink heart was punched out and glued with the edge just sliding under the brad.  Whew!  a lot of steps, but not a very difficult card to build. Here are the details, up close:

Want to order Stampin' Up! Products to re-create this look or a similar look?  Click HERE then select "Shop Now" to order products of your own!

Another Funny Valentine

I know Valentine's Day is long over, but I wanted to post yet one more valentine since I am just getting back into the swing of blogging.  I did not design this valentine.  It was designed by my Upline, Mary Walker.  This valentine was incredibly easy to create!

This card features Real Red cardstock and ink.  The hearts are created by cutting strips of Red Glimmer Paper and the Heart Punch.  The pieces are staggered on the white card stock to create this cute image. I used scraps of the glimmer paper to create the smaller heart (using the tiny heart punch). 

Want to order Stampin' Up! products of your own? Click Here and then select "shop now" to order online. 

9 Month Hiatus

Well, well, well!  It's been a very long time since I've taken time to update this blog... over 9 months in fact!  I never meant to be gone quite so long.  I decided to come back to it to focus more on some of the recent cards I've made.

Let's focus on this year's valentine!  I am in love with Stampin' Up!'s Spring catalog.  I've ordered a few things so far and have a very long wishlist of items I am hoping to purchase before the catalog period ends in June!

As soon as I saw the Oh, Whale! stamp set I thought it was darling and I knew I needed it.  I also bought the Happy Whale Clearlits die to punch out the whale.

Paper: Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Marine Mist, Pacific Point
Stamp Sets: Oh, Whale!
Accessories: Pearls, Oval Framelits, Happy Whale Clearlits dies, Chevron Embossing folder, Modern Label punch

I got the idea for the design from something I saw online.  Using the Oval framelits, I layered ovals and also created an oval frame so this gate-fold card would open in a creative way!  I attached the top of the frame to the top half of the card and the bottom of the oval to the bottom portion of the card. Look below to see how it opens.

What to order Stampin' Up! products of your own?  Click Here and then select the "Shop Now" button to view Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs and order products.