Card Refills for Mom (Part 1)

I was quite upset to find out that one of my very favorite stamp sets, Stippled Blossoms is retiring.  It is not continued in the Stampin' Up 2015-2016 catalog.

I guess Ms. Shelli didn't hear me when I told her this was my very favorite stamp set... and we had a quiet moment together with no one else around in Dallas.  Oh well.  I will continue to use it! 

 The last time Mom and Dad came to visit, Mom brought her envelope holder from a Christmas ago saying it was empty, and showing me how empty and lonely it was. 

 After some searching and thinking - the thinking part of the creative process always takes me the longest.  How do I want the cards to look?  What embellishments?  What colors?  Composition?  Placement?  Oh, so many thoughts!!! 

 SO, this is the first of two sets she received.  If you know the Stippled Blossoms set, you know it's a 2 step stamping set with a flower base, and the piece I used for these cards is actually the detailed top piece.

 All I did with these cards was to take the top piece and stamp it as close as I could with some overlapping going on.

 I used coordinating card stock for matting and stamping the Happy Birthday on the white card stock.  From each mat, I punched two flowers to add to the center piece.

 So now you've seen each of the six cards with its envelope flap stamped as well.  I left the individual cards quite large so if you click on them, you'll see a very large image indeed.

 I haven't yet mentioned colors.  Pacific Point,  Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Blackberry Bliss, Bermuda Bay, and Tangerine Tango.  I'm not sure why the Blackberry Bliss photographs so muddy.  It's quite a pretty purple in person.

As any stamper does, I am most critical of my work, and will make the mat pieces smaller next time I make a version of these cards so more of the background shows.  Just thought I'd put that out there.

Mother's Day Card - and a Surprise!

I saw a version of this card online as a girl's 21st birthday card from a demonstrator out of Australia.  It was stunning!  I made a few changes, but kept the same flavor for the card.
One of my all-time favorite stamp sets, Stippled Blossoms make amazing flowers for so many different card and craft applications!  I used Pretty in Pink (ret.) and Strawberry Slush papers and inks.  The background pieces are two Stampin' Up die cuts, one a thinlits, and one doily.

The original card has pearl accents - and I have lots of rhinestones.  They always are so nice for flower centers and sparkly accents!


When Mom was here visiting over Easter, she brought card blanks.  We ran out of time because of all the baking we did - and I took an evening and put together these 11 cards for her.
Three colors:  Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, and Melon Mambo.
Stamp set - Gorgeous Grunge!  I also used the speech bubble framelits and marker to get the outlines on the stamps with another sentiment stamp set that fit.

Now she's got a good selection of stamped cards to send when she needs them! 

As Promised - A Little Later... More Thinlits Card Ideas and Examples

A few weeks ago I posted the circle thinlits cards I made for stamp club.  I took these cards along as samples for other options to make with the circle thinlits.

The base cut on these cards is only a bit different.  Instead of cutting the paper 5 7/16", turn it, and cut at 4 1/4" as in any regular card.  Lay the end over so it doesn't cut, but run the die through your machine (Cuttlebug, Big Shot etc.) only half way!  Score the remaining long piece of cardstock to fold in and make the extension flap you see in the 2nd picture.

Here's a simpler card using my favorite set - Stippled Blossoms.  I kept the outside simple, and when you open the card, there are more details.

Order Thank-you's

 After playing with the measurements for awhile, I discovered that you can cut an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of cardstock equally into 2 3/4 inches to make 4 cards.

I sent these cards along in each of the orders that came in this past week from my first card class.

 One of my very favorite stamp sets - Stippled Blossoms seemed perfect for this mini- Thank you card.
I didn't use any retired products here - only current "stuff"!

The flower is stamped with Pink Pirouette and Blushing Bride.  The leaves are Pear Pizzazz and Wild Wasabi.  The smaller flower is Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry with a rhinestone accent.  The sentiment is from the new Hostess Set Express Yourself.

Please enjoy!

A Bookmark for Me!

Most of the time I make cards and projects for other people.  That's actually 99.9% of the craft work I produce.

I was looking around online and saw these handmade bookmarks - I made some in plastic coverings a few Christmases ago... but never made one for myself. 

 Lately, I've been spending lots of time waiting......  and I can nap only so much. ;) ;)... SO I started picking up books and novels to read while I've been doing this waiting.    The only problem I've had is that I'm using bits of paper, book receipts from the purchase, or adverts I've torn out of the center as bookmarks!

After I saw one of these online, I decided to make one myself. :)  The backing is Wild Wasabi,  DSP mini polka-dot paper, and 2 1/2 by 8 inch piece of whisper white, with 1/4 inch added to the dimensions of each of the backing pieces.
The ribbon was a scrap that was just long enough not to go to waste.  Whew! :)

Colors:  Pink Pirouette and Blushing Bride for the small flowers.  Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry on the top flower,  Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry for the bottom flower.  The leaves?  Pear Pizzazz and Wild Wasabi.
I then took these colors in the markers, and wrote READ all over the front.

Talk to you soon!!

Team Leader Card

I REALLY LOVE the Stippled Blossoms stamp set!

Now that most of the colors I usually use for these cards are retiring, I'm going to have to rethink my color palette choices, BUT I'm sure some other combinations will present themselves.

One of my team members asked me to make a card for our team leader to show our appreciation for all the hard work and mediation she's done throughout this year....  it's been a LOT! :)

I stamped Pretty in Pink (soon retiring) and Regal Rose (soon retiring) for the flowers, and Certainly Celery (soon retiring) and Old Olive for the leaves.
The background cardstock is Regal Rose (sr) with Old Olive embossed as the band across.  Pretty in Pink ribbon (long retired), Framelits, and the Just for You from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I used a Sharpie on the rhinestones to give them some color for the flower center.

Love the paper doilies!  They're so pretty - this one was cut in half, and placed under the Old Olive band.

In the morning, we'll all sign it and the card will be presented to Martha Friday during our morning meetings.

Stampin' Up Dallas Regional!

 I am SO SO SO SO SO excited!

There is a Stampin' Up Regional Meeting in Dallas, on February 16th.
Why am I so excited??  Because I'll be there, AND I'll be back in TEXAS!  WHOO HOOOOOOOO

Feels just like "Old Home Week!". :)

I'll be able to tell you more about this even when I return - since it's only the 2nd one I've attended, and this one is a full-day event.

At these huge events - I estimate there will be over a thousand demonstrators there, & swaps are 'encouraged'.  Basically, you come up with  a card design, make however many you want to, and use them as trades.  Give one, get one basically.

I made 3 designs, with a total of 50 of each card.
Now you know why I've been a little absent on the blog lately.  I've been at these for quite awhile, as you'll see.

 1st card:  Rainy-Day Inchies Thank You; Stamps:  Spring Sampler, Perfectly Penned.  Paper:  Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Whisper White.  Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Midnight Muse.  Punches:  Postage Stamp, Decorative Label.  Embossing Folder:  Cloudy Day.  Ribbon:  Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin.

 2nd Card:  Easter Inchies;  Stamp Sets:  Spring Sampler, Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Delightful Daffodil, Whisper White.  Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Wild Wasabi.  Markers:  Regal Rose, Gumball Green, and Tempting Turquoise.  Punches:  Postage Stamp, Word Window, Modern Label.  Embossing Folder:  Square Lattice.  Ribbon:  Gumball Green 3/8" ruffled ribbon.
***After this picture was taken, I changed the design on the jellybeans, and used the 3 marker colors listed above instead of the pink.

 This card took the most time, and I ended up with 52 of them.  Can anyone say assembly line?
3rd card:  Thank You Blossoms;  Stamp Sets:  Stippled Blossoms, Blooming with Kindness.  Paper:  Certainly Celery, Whisper White.  Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Primrose Petals, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, and Raspberry Ripple.  Die:  Top Note  Embossing Folder:  Square Lattice.

I'll have more to say about this even when we return...  and 150 card designs to play with!


Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

Counselor's Day

Today, February 4th we are celebrating Counselor's Day at school.

I made this card for my team to present to our wonderful counselor!  I work closely with her, getting advice and with one of our testing programs.

I really do appreciate her!

This is the card I came up with.  It's a little busier than my usual work, but in person, it's quite stunning if I do say so myself.

I already had the background stamped with the pink flowers for another purpose, but it didn't quite work for that project.  I took another look at it, and it was perfect for this card.  I stamped another pink rose, and fussy-cut it to make it stand out a little more.

The sentiment "Just For You" is from a retired set called Tagtastic.  It's too bad it's a retired set - I really like the detail on the stamp with the spaces for some extra coloring detail.


Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

Dinner Invitation - Someday!

Last December I had a dinner party with our neighbors one evening between Christmas and New Year's.   We had a great time, and wanted to take the opportunity to get together again.

 These are the invitations I put together for this year's dinner party.  Problem is, it hasn't happened yet!  We planned it again before the new year but my husband got sick, and the neighbor got sick as well, so we postponed the dinner party.

The menu is all planned!   3 great appetizers,  a delicious main dish, 2 great sides, and a special cake for dessert.

Here we are at the end of January, and time has flown so fast.... things get busy, and I still have the invitations here!

They're just waiting for a 'date'!  I hope we can get a night everyone can come over before March!! :)

 The intention wasn't for it to look so Spring-y - I'd asked my husband what color I should use for the base, and he requested green.  Even though it's a dinner invitation for mid-winter, it sure has that Spring-y feel!!  **Next time I'll use Christmas trees! :D


Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

Birthday Card - LOVE those Stippled Blossoms!

Yes, a birthday card, but right at this moment, I don't know who it's for yet.  I saw a card similar to this with the scalloped edge at the bottom, and of course, since I'm really hooked on the Stippled Blossoms right now, I thought I'd play with it a bit.

 I find it a little curious that the reds and greens keep their layers, but the two pinks seems to lose definition.  I wonder why.  Hmmmmm

Large flower:  Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple
Small flowers:  Pirouette Pink, Pretty in Pink
Leaves:  Wild Wasabi, Gumball Green.

I'm still in the middle of working up two big projects so it might seem I'm not crafting much, but I'm actually in overdrive!  Postings will come in time.

Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

Operation Write Home - Box 1

Here is a sample of the 55 cards I sent in my first box to Operation Write Home.  OWH always has some challenge or other going on as well as mini-challenges on the Facebook page or their blog page.

One of my Cricut/Facebook friends mentioned OWH, and I looked into it.... and here I go with another project! I do love these - challenges, deadlines, and oh yes, you have to be creative! 


I used some of my new Stampin' Up products that are coming available now in January, as well as some of the Sale-a-bration items available later this month!

 

I really love the sailboat, and have found lots of use for it.  I got out the Spectrum Noir markers, and had a good time working with blending the alcohol inks.

 Here we have a triple-time-stamping sample using the Everything Eleanor stamp set.

Below, is one of my very favorite retired Stampin' Up sets - Watercolor Garden  I get an incredible amount of use out of it - One Sheet Wonders, etc....  Flowers anyone??

Are you tired of seeing the Stippled Blossoms yet?  I LOVE them!  Looks great with the colors... so springy!

 

I found an entire set of card sketches on the OWH website, and decided to play with one of them under the flowers theme.  Even if it is in the middle of winter....  flowers are always so nice to have around!!

 

Here's another retired Stampin' Up set - I really like how the alcohol markers make the flowers look so pretty!  I added some photo corners, and lots of little details.

 

I saw a sample of this on a blog, and thought it would be great for the winter themed cards.....  Here I used my Tsukineko brilliance inks - Sky Blue and Platinum with some pearls and rhinestones.

 Here you can see some of the new stamps - the hummingbird, butterfly, and flower come from the Sale-a-bration brochure, and the sentiment stamp is from the new January catalog.  I'm going to get lots of use out of these stamps!

 So that's my first post for Operation Write Home cards!!!!  I'm already working on the 2nd box with new challenges and assignments.

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