Search This Blog

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Sweet Stems

I’m afraid that I don’t have the "author" for this card, so if someone knows who designed this one, please let me know and I’ll give proper credit.

I love this little set! I started out with a card base of Cameo Coral. A piece of Raspberry Tart designer paper was matted to Rose Red and attached to the card base. The green panel is pierced on top and bottom. The flowers from the Sweet Stems set were stamped in Basic Black, colored with Rose Red, Regal Rose and Green Galore markers and punched out using the 1 1/4" circle punch. These were matted on to Green Galore mats punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch. The scalloped circle mats were created by punching out Regal Rose and Rose red and staggering them so part of the other color showed. The two outside mats are Rose Red on top of Regal Rose, the center one is Regal Rose on top of Rose Red. I used my white gel pen to draw the dots on the top layer of the scalloped circle. The flowers elements are attached using dimensionals. I didn’t feel that a sentiment would work on the front of this card, just didn’t seem like there was enough room, but a small one could be done using an oval punch if the main panel was moved up a little bit. I couldn’t change my layout because the dimensionals tore the paper when I tried to move the panel. I don’t think the recipient will mind.

Here’s the recipe:
Stamp Set: Sweet Stems
Paper: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper
Ink: Basic Black, Rose Red, Regal Rose and Green Galore markers, white gel pen
Accessories: Paper piercer and mat, scalloped circle punch, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punch

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Polka Dot Flowers

I recently participated in a 10 4 $10 event. Folks made 10 different cards for $10. It’s a GREAT way to try out some of the new Stampin’ Up! sets and products to see if you want to buy them. I’m friends with one of the Stampin Up! demonstrators and we had the event at my church. Because the ladies were all great, the folks all had a good time (the ladies from my church who attended said they really enjoyed themselves), and because of the little gifts each demonstrator gave me, I decided to make them all thank you cards. Because they’re all part of the same group of course I couldn’t make duplicate cards and because they’re all demonstrators I couldn't make just ANY card but had to pull out all the stops and make GREAT cards! So, I have new cards to show you, in addition to the 10 cards that I myself made at the event. But first, the thank you’s. I think this is some of my best work to date.

I got the idea for this card here. I shamelessly copied it because I couldn’t come up with any good ways to change it. Thanks Nancy for a GREAT card idea!

The card base is Bashful Blue. Delicate Dots designer paper was matted on to So Saffron and attached to the card base. Strips of Bashful Blue and So Saffron were cut and design done using the paper piercer and piercing template, and then attached to the bottom of the card. I stamped the "flower" from the set in Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Sahara Sand on Very Vanilla card stock. These were punched out with the 1 1/4" circle punch and then matted to the coordinating solid punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch. These were attached with dimensionals, to scalloped circles punched in the coordinating colors. The holes in the scallops were done with the 1/16" hand held punch. A length of 5/8" Certainly Celery twill ribbon was tied at the top.

Here’s the recipe:
Stamps: Polka Dot PunchesPaper: Delicate Dots DP, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand, and Very Vanilla CSInk: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, and Sahara SandEmbellishments: 5/8" Certainly Celery Poly-Twill Ribbon, Bashful Blue Brad, So Saffron Brad, Certainly Celery Brad, Pewter BradTools: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle PunchesSupplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/16" handheld punch

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Looks like a Buckle?

This card is going to a man who’s an outdoorsy type person, so I thought the designer paper looked a little bit Western, and the striped embossing folder looked a little bit like barn board. I hadn’t intended that the stripes go sideways, but that’s the way it came out of the embossing folder, and I think it looks better than the other way.

My medallion is different than the other two that I made. I cut the square wrong, so it was too short in one direction. So, instead of chucking the piece or using it for something else, I trimmed it so it was the short distance all the way around, decided to just punch two sides instead of four, and it almost looks like a belt buckle, don’t you think?

So, the directions again, are the same as the other cards only, as I said, the square was cut wrong so was trimmed so that it was one and three quarter inches on all sides, and punched on just two. If I had tried to punch all four sides the way I first had it cut, the inside would have fallen out.

Here’s the Recipe:
Stamp: Hero Arts
Paper: River Rock (card base and circle), Chocolate Chip (medallion, Old Olive (leaves), Really Rust ("Belt"), Apple Cider Designer Series paper
Accessories: Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Scalloped Border Punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Sweetest Stem Embosslit folder, Cuttlebug machine

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Washington Apple with a Sweetest Stem

I needed a birthday card for my nephew who will be 11. I don’t have many if any masculine stamps so tried to come up with an idea that would be both fun and not too "girlie." I hope I accomplished that with this card. Check the previous post for dimensions and directions.

I’m going to see what other designer papers I have that would work with this. This is SUCH a versatile card design!

Here’s the recipe:
Stamp Sets: Upsy Daisy (sentiment)
Paper: Bashful Blue (card base), So Saffron (leaves), Pumpkin Pie (band), Riding Hood Red (medallion), Washington Apple Designer Series paper
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Scalloped Border Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Cuttlebug machine and Bloom Dots embossing folder, Sweetest Stem Embosslit folder

Friday, March 13, 2009

Sweetest Stem Embosslit Card

Folks! I think I’ve hit on a card layout/idea that works no matter WHAT kind of paper I have or what the occasion is!

I was cruising through Splitcoast Stampers the other day and came upon a blog and a card that I thought was outstanding. It's SO versatile and would work with just about any patterned paper as long as it had three or more colors in it. First, I found this card (go to the January 18th post) that I decided to CASE. It's by Nancy Hendel. I just LOVED her card.

Here’s how mine went together with a few modifications:

I used the Swiss Dots folder to emboss the base card which was Certainly Celery. Because the embossing didn’t go all the way to the edge, I trimmed a couple sides to eliminate that part. A piece of the Green Tea Designer Series paper was cut and attached to the bottom half of the card front. Next, a square of Baja Breeze was cut to just a bit over 2 ½". This made the square big enough so the center didn’t fall out when the scalloped border punch was used to do the cut out design. I lined this piece up in the scalloped border punch and did all four sides. (Check out Nancy’s medallion tutorial for January 18th.) Next, a circle was cut out of Certainly Celery CS with the 1/1/4" circle punch. Next, a piece of Old Olive cardstock the size of the embosslit die was cut and run through the Cuttlebug. The Certainly Celery circle was attached to the center of the blue square and the embossed leaf element was layered on to that with small dimensionals. A strip of Old Olive card stock was cut at 1 1/4" and threaded through the medallion. This whole thing was then attached to the card, covering up the edge of the patterned paper. Three Rain Dots were attached to the blank Old Olive area and adhesive pearls were attached to the leaves.

This is a fun card to make and the medallion is very unique. This card could be made with just about any paper (I’m going to try it with some brighter papers with more colors) and embellished with rhinestones, glitter, eyelets, brads, anything you want!

I LOVE the way this card turned out! I will be posting more.

Recipe:
Stamp set: None
Paper: Green Tea DS paper, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
Accessories: Scalloped Border Punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Cuttlebug machine and Swiss Dots embossing folder, White Rain Dots by Cloud9 Design, Sweetest Stem Embosslit folder, adhesive pearls by K&Company

Monday, March 9, 2009

Thoughts and Prayers

I just got the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set and unfortunately, had to use it right away. I got my idea for my card from Splitcoast Stampers here

I used Kiwi Kiss for the card base and used my Martha Stewart lace scalloped border punch on the bottom edge of the Whisper White layer. I inked up my branch stamp with Kiwi Kiss ink and removed the ink from the flowers using a blender pen. I then used a Bashful Blue marker to color in the flowers. This was stamped on Whisper White and matted to Baja Breeze. I used the two way glue pen to put adhesive on to the flowers and applied Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Once that was dry, I glued a piece of Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon across the upper left corner of the matted piece. This was attached to the card. The sentiment was stamped on to Whisper White in Kiwi Kiss ink and punched out with the large oval punch. This was matted on to Baja Breeze which had been punched out with the Marvy oval punch. This was attached to the card front and the card was done.

I really like this set, I look forward to using it for something other than a sympathy card.

Here’s the recipe:
Stamp Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Bashful Blue Marker
Accessories: Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon, Martha Stewart scalloped lace border punch, large oval punch by SU! and wide oval punch from Marvy, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, two way glue

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Hearts and Swirls

Here’s another card using Laura’s idea. Again, I changed the embossing folder and trimmed off the unembossed edges, and used the scalloped square punch for the second background square. This was very easy to put together once I got the colors coordinated. The heart pieces were created the same as the other one, with the scalloped square layer being the shimmer paper. It doesn’t show up in the picture, but it adds just the right amount of shine. I stamped the sentiment on Shimmer White and trimmed the ends into a curve. The squares and the sentiment were attached to the card with dimensionals. This one will probably go to my Mom and Dad.

Here’s the Recipe:
Stamp Set: Hero Arts (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Shimmer White, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Night of Navy, metallic shimmer paper from Marco Paper, The Luxury Stack by DCWV (for hearts)
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Cuttlebug Folder "D’vine Swirl", heart punch by Marvy, 1 1/4" and Scalloped Square punches, dimensionals

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Stampless Heart Card

Every once in a while I come across an idea that doesn’t use any stamps. This card is CASE’d from one that I found on Laura Fredrickson’s Blog (go to posting date Feb. 4). Please check her out, she has MARVELOUS card ideas!! I changed it up a bit by using the "Birds and Swirls" Cuttlebug folder and using the scalloped square punch as my second square layer.

Because I didn’t want to make the whole card base out of my Shimmer White card stock, I used Whisper White instead. I then ran a quarter sheet of Shimmer White through my Cuttlebug with "Birds and Swirls" and the unembossed edges were trimmed off. This was attached to the card base. The hearts are punched out of the Luxury Stack and attached to the appropriate colors of square cardstock. The Scalloped Square metallic papers are gold for the Really Rust and Chocolate Chip, and green for the Always Artichoke. It’s hard to see in this picture but the shimmer really adds a nice touch. The heart squares are attached to the scalloped squares and then attached to the card with dimensionals.
I had debated about doing a sentiment on the front, but didn’t want to cover up any more of the embossed design so let it be. Sometimes, less is more. I wound up sending this to my sister and brother-in-law for their anniversary.
I wish the detail showed up more but I was having a problem with lighting this time. So many of my pic attempts didn't want to focus! I was thrilled to get THIS one!

Here’s the recipe:
Stamp set: None
Paper: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Shimmer White, Whisper White, metallic shimmer paper from Marco Paper, The Luxury Stack from DCWV (for hearts)
Accessories: Cuttlebug Folder "Birds and Swirls", heart punch by Marvy, 1 1/4" and Scalloped Square punches, dimensionals

Lovely As A Tree

This post also uses the new Brusho Crystal Color Powder.  I wanted to try making a landscape, but knew, because of how Brusho works (you can...