CASEing myself

We all probably find ourselves using an idea we like over and over sometimes...


This sympathy card is based on the poppy card I made for the last Llama Blog Hop. I used different brads and punches for this one, and rotated the sketch.   I like the card with these punches, but I think I preferred the previous layout.   What do you think?

Stamps:  En Francais, Petite Pairs

Colors:  Poppy Parade & Pear Pizzazz, retiring soon

Punches:  Lace Ribbon Border (on sale while supplies last), Fancy Flower, Boho Blossoms, Curly Label

Embellishment:  Neutral Flower Brad, retiring soon.

I wondered how the Freinds Never Fade card I made last week would work with a new color combination.  I ended up using Wisteria Wonder with So Saffon and Melon Mambo.

This time I used the soon-to-retire Eyelet border punch and some Basic Jewels Pearls instead of ribbon.   I also colored the center of the flower with Stampin' Pastels - I love them for quick subtle color so I'm sad to see them on the retirement list as well.   Hoping for fun new products to take their place!

Interested to know which versions are YOUR favorites!

Llama swaps, part 2

More of the long-ago promised swap cards.   Most of them feature products from the Occasions Mini - these products many not be around after April 30th, so now is the time to order if you like them!   Please leave a comment if you have any questions about the products used.

From Patti

From Kath

From Margaret 

From Chris (not a llama, but very sweet all the same!)

From Stephanie

From Stephanie

From Stephanie

Happy Chanukah?

Yes, I know it's April.  But these Everyday Elegance Simply Sent kits are only going to be around for a few more weeks so I wanted to show you another idea using them.   I've already shown you Christmas and Valentines, here's one more:

This card uses the Sincere Salutations stamp set that will retire (sob!), the menorah image from Every Little Bit, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, snowflakes cut from Brushed Silver cardstock with the Northern Flurry decorative strip die (which is also on the chopping block!  order soon!), and Not Quite Navy ink and cardstock to coordinate with the Baja Breeze of the card base.

Llama swaps, part 1

This week I'm going to share some of the pretty cards I've received from my llama sisters, either in a swap or as a RAK.  Today's are all created by the lovely and talented Buffy Cooper.

Colors: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Blushing Bride

Stamps:  Petite Pairs, Fabulous Florets

Colors: Wisteria Wonder, Melon Mambo, Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade

Stamps:  Bordering on Romance,   Petite Pairs

DSP: Cheerful Treat

Colors:  Blushing Bride CS & DSP, Very Vanilla, Old Olive

Stamps:  Just Beleive, Elements of Style, Music Notes Wheel

Lucky Mambo!

The Freinds Never Fade stamp set has been around for a few years, but come the end of May, it will no longer be available from Stampin' Up!  I usually shy away from bright colors, but I think the gorgeous weather we had all last week inspired me.   This card features Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Lucky Limeade.

Maybe I should venture into the Bright zone more often?

Domestic Goddess

I bought this DSP for the beautiful color combinations in it.  So glad I did because I think it made a perfect card for a bridal shower.   I put it into a Stampin' Up! clear envelope, wrapped the gift in cellophane, and tied it with matching Daffodil Delight satin ribbon.  Now the card is also the decoration for the gift.   Thanks to my fellow demo Michelle Bair for this great idea!

Stamps:  Petite Pairs

Punches:  Large Oval, Decorative Label, Heart to Heart

Papers:  Domestic Goddess, Brights DSP Stack

Card stock:  Baja Breeze and Calypso Coral

Baby birthday

A sweet baby girl we know is turning one, and these are the cards we made for her.   Most of the products used will only be available from Stampin' Up! until the end of May, so if you see something you like, don't delay!

Stamps: Party This Way

Punches:  Pennant Builder, Lace Ribbon Border

Paper:  Domestic Goddess DSP, 2011-2012 In Color DSP

Colors:  Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze

My young daughter wanted to color, so this is the card she made.

Stamps: Elebration, Curly Cute, Party This Way

Colors: Whisper White, So Saffron, Pool Party

Colors of Spring Llama Blog Hop

Working on projects using our soon-to-retire set of In Colors has made me realize how much I love all of them.  Pear Pizzazz is by far and away my favorite green, and I've liked Concord, Blushing and Poppy from the very start.  Up until this week, I thought I didn't care for Peach Parfait, because it's orange, but now that we're about to lose it, I realize that it is my favorite Stampin' Up! orange; not as bright as Tangerine Tango or as deep as Pumpkin Pie, it works for spring, summer and fall.   What's your favorite In Color?

My first project is an all-occasion card that I created in My Digital Studio.   I used stamps and embellishments from the Spring Fever ensemble; the colors are So Saffron, Melon Mambo and Pear Pizzazz.   While this versatile green will no longer be available as traditional ink, ribbon and cardstock after June 1st, it will always be available digitally.  Similarly, the Spring Fever Simply Scrappin' Kit that has these images is only available until the end of this month, but the digital version should be around for awhile.   I'm making sure I have both!

Next, I made a poppy using, what else, Poppy Parade.   The Fancy Flower punch would have worked here too, I think, but I'm more infatuated with the newer Blossom Punch!   The black center uses the Boho Blossoms Punch and an Antique Brad.   The Designer Series Paper on this card was a Hostess item last year, but as of April 9th, it was available on the Clearance Rack; I don't think it will last long - gorgeous patterns really useful for many cards.  (I used some last Christmas.)  The sentiment on this card is from the Just Believe stamp set.

Finally, I wanted to make a card with Concord Crush, because it's my favorite purple, deep and bluish.   I usually use it as an accent color because it's so dark, but this time I wanted to make it the primary color of the card:

Funny thing is, I struggled for the longest time and then this card almost made itself.    I used the Paper Doily die on Brushed Silver cardstock and sponged it with Frost White Shimmer Paint.  The image from Mixed Bunch was stamped twice in Concord Crush on Whisper White and punched with the coordinating Blossom Punch. An Antique Brad and Dimensionals were used to mount the pieces onto a 4 1/2" square Concord Crush card base.    I cut 4 petals off the second stamped and punched image.   I placed each petal under the doily die cut and traced the doily outline onto each petal with a sharp pencil and trimmed with paper snips before gluing the pieces to the corners.

Be sure to check out all the contributions from my sister llamas.   Next up is the talented Debbie Martin at CleverandCute.

                    

Hybrid Halloween card

Halloween in April?   Well, I actually made this card in the fall, but it uses Peach Parfait as the base, and I've just suddenly realized that this is the perfect shade of orange, but it's only going to be available for about 6 more weeks, so I thought I'd better post this now!   The adorable little witch is from the Greeting Card Kids stamp set, but if you have the set, you may notice that she seems larger here.   That's because mine is from the digital version for My Digital Studio - she can shrink or grow to whatever size you like.   Cool, eh?

More Peach Parfait coming soon in the Stampin Llamas Colors of Spring Blog Hop!