Spring-a-bration blog hop!

While here in NY we are wishing for a break from the freezing cold Mother Nature is dishing out this week, Stampin' Up! has started Sale-a-bration (SAB).  They're dishing out free products with every order of $50.  Gotta love that!!  I'm sure you're also loving the projects my friends are sharing using product from the new Spring Catalog as well as showcasing some of the exclusive SAB freebies.  Links to the rest of the blog hop are at the bottom of this post.

I'm assembling little love notes (3"x3" cards) for a teacher appreciation luncheon at my kids' school, and I made many variations before the organizer and I agreed on the final design.

 First, Calypso Coral with Pool Party.

How about Domestic Goddess DSP? 

 But the organizer wanted a Real Red , so I tried heat embossing in white with a pearl center from the Pretties Kit.  I was worried my kids would graduate before I heat-embossed 65 flowers, and then the pearl didn't give quite the look I was going for, so here is what I finally settled on...

All of the designs shown here (can you believe there were more!!) use the Mixed Blossom and Pretty Petites stamp sets with coordinating punches - Blossom and Petite Curly Label.

In the final design, the flower is stamped in Craft White ink on Real Red card stock, and the flower centers are made with Whisper White cardstock cut with the Sweet Buttons Embosslit (all the cards will match, but not be identical - yay!).   The sentiment is stamped in Crumb Cake to match the card base.

Last time I checked, the Pretties Kit and Domestic Goddess DSP were available on the Clearance Rack.  All other products used are from the Main and Spring Stampin' Up! catalogs.

Finally, here are a pair of digi-cards I created using My Digital Studio (MDS2) using stamps and paper from the One Big Sale-a-bration CD.  All the exclusive SAB artwork FREE w/ your order of $50!  Too good to pass up!   One of my fave features of MDS is that you can zoom in and out on the DSP patterns inside a punch.  Pattern too big or small for your project?  No problem in MDS!!


You can hop forward or backwards to see more Stampin' Up! Spring-a-bration ideas from Buffy, Stephanie, Debbie, Christine and Jean!  

Welcome to Wayback Wednesday

Wayback Wednesdays feature at least one retired product.  This Halloween card uses one of my favorite retired Stampin' Up! punches.  I CASEd the idea from Andrea Walford, but as most of us do when CASEing, I added my own twist to her card.  

Rather than mask a circle for the moon while sponging the background, I used a large circle punch on So Saffron card stock; stamped it in gray with the splotch from French Foliage, and sponged the edges with Pumpkin Pie and a touch of Cajun Craze for my harvest moon.  

She drew her bat, I made mine from black Shrinky Dink plastic and the Bitty Bat punch (retired but still available on the Clearance Rack; wink, wink).2


Clouds: Frost White shimmer paint

Sentiment from Delightful Dozen stamped in Craft White ink.  I used white embossing powder on the words and the Black Magic Technique to color the pumpkin (colored pencils on white ink on a black background).

Inks for night sky background: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Midnight Muse and Marina Mist.

Fall Thank you

Here's a quick Thank You note I whipped up this morning using the always wonderful Day of Gratitude stamp set.  You can make this card without square punches, but I've found that I just LOVE how perfect the  smallest squares are when using a punch, and of course I love the ability to align the stamped image exactly where I want it within the punched shape.  I've used Confetti card stock, as well as Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and Old Olive.  Each image is glued to a matching mat which is popped up with dimensionals.

You can't see one of my favorite things about this card, tho'... I have the marker in Cajun Craze, so I used the fine point to write my message inside.  Also, my handwriting didn't look too horrific today, so that was a big plus!!

Fall-i-days Thanksgiving Blog Hop

If you started our hop at the beginning with Debbie, you have no doubt seen some fantastic things today.   Hope you like what I've done for my version of a turkey card using the owl punch.  He's supposed to look like his eyes are closed in contemplation - not sure that's working, but there it is.

Colors:  Real Red, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Stamps:  Day of Gratitude, Lovely Little Labels
Tools:  Framed Tulips embossing folder, Window Frames framelits dies, Owl Builder Punch

I made the eyelids by punching out the medium circles, putting them onto a Post-it, then putting them into the punch again on the same circle, but offset.

The trimmed Window frame shape is most easily and thriftily done by lining up the corners on the die with the edge of the card stock.

One of our group wasn't able to join us on time due to technical difficulties, but since I'm at the end, I thought I'd add the link to her beautiful projects (click here).  She has a link back the main page for the blog hop, so you won't get lost if you visit her.  You can still get back to the beginning of the hop if you started somewhere in the middle.

To go back to the beginning of the hop, click here: 

To return to the previous stop on the hop, click here:

Lovely Bella personalized note cards

A set of simple monogram cards makes a great gift for anyone, including teachers!   This first one is a perfect example of why SU! color coordination makes creating easy; without cardstock and ink in the same shade of blue, I wouldn't have been able to make this.  
  

Stamps:  Lovely Letters, Bella Boutique (wheel).   

Ink:  Midnight Muse 

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse 

Tools: scalloped square punch, 1" square punch, distressing tool

Here is a more distressed variation using fall colors:

Ink:  Cajun Craze 

Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Old Olive, More Mustard

Tools:  Curly Label punch, 1 1/4" square punch

If you've ever tried to cut a smaller square with your trimmer, you know it can be challenging.  Combine that with my inability to stamp straight and this card would have looked a crooked mess, but the square punch came to my rescue!   I punched the square so that the W was evenly spaced from 3 sides, then trimmed off the final side to get a perfect rectangle - phew!

Fall-i-days Llama Blog Hop

The Stamping Llamas are planning a blog hop every month starting now through the holidays.   You will be treated to gorgeous projects using products from the Stampin' Up! Annual and Holiday catalogs!  I'm going to try and do one Christmas project for each hop as well as things for each of the Fall-i-days.

Back to School

My two favorite fallbacks for handmade teacher gifts are packaged cards and decorated hand sanitizer.   Pretty + Practical = Perfect!   I posted some monogrammed notecards here, but here is this year's version of something every elementary school teacher needs:

Stamps:  Four Seasons (Hostess Exclusive),  acorn from Day of Gratitude   

Ink/Markers:  Pool Party, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Early Expresso, Riding Hood Red 

Cardstock:  Pool Party, More Mustard, Early Expresso, Very Vanilla   

Tools: 3/4" and 1" circle punches, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Perfect Pennants Bigz Die

Accessories:  Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon

Christmas

When designing Christmas cards, it's good to think about how easy and cost-effective  it will be to mass-produce the card.  I like the challenge of making something that is simple, yet still gets an "oooooh" from the recipient!   I made a few different versions of this card; do you have a favorite?   

Here, the first and most CAS version:  single layer, just stamping and punching:

The second version has the snowflake image stamped in Versamark all over the background and embossed with Iridescent Ice powder for a little extra shimmer:

On this one, I created the look of a banner using the Simply Scored tool.

On this last version I used the Simply Scored to create a simple frame around the image:

Stamps:  Four Seasons (Hostess Exclusive),  snowflake from Every Little Bit,  greeting from Curly Cute.   
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder 
Cardstock:  Whisper White 
Tools: 3/4" and 1" circle punches, Simply Scored or heat gun (depending on which version)
Accessories:  Silver Glimmer paper



P.S.  The other day I promised cards with birds, and here I've used the Four Seasons set twice and both times I covered up the adorable bird!   Don't worry, I've been busy and more birds are in this next post!

You can use these gorgeous buttons (that Stephanie designed in MDS2) to navigate the hop.

Father's Day punch art

I was totally stumped on what to use for my father-in-law's card this year until I saw this golf card over on Kathe's blog.   Finally, a perfect idea where before I had none!  I changed a few things, and I'm pretty happy with how my interpretation came out, although I can think of a couple things I would do differently if I made another.

If you CASE this, please leave a comment here with a link so I can see your version, too!


Click here to see the card I made for my handy Dad!


DIRECTIONS:
I started with some scraps of Certainly Celery card stock and tore the edges to make the grass (or "the green" or whatever!).  I used the retired Medium Oval Punch for the hole and the 3/4" circle punch for the golf ball.  I ran the white circle thru the Big Shot with the retired polka dots Texturz plate and sponged the debossed side with a tiny bit of Basic Gray.   I attached it to the Bashful Blue card base with a dimensional, then ran my finger around and around the edges of the ball to give it a curved shape.  The flagpole is a scrap strip inked direct-to-paper with Chocolate Chip and Soft Suede.   Pennant Builder Punch for the flag, curved with the bone folder and attached with 1/2-dimensionals.   To make the bushes, I punched a Scalloped Oval and a scalloped triangle (Pennant Builder Punch) from Certainly Celery and sponged with Garden Green.   I was going to use a scalloped circle for the sun until I remembered Every Little Bit has a cute sun, so I stamped him in Pumpkin Pie on Daffodil Delight, cut him out and mounted him with a dimensional.   With such a cute sun, the "Live in the Sunshine" sentiment from the Pursuit of Happiness stamp set seemed necessary on the card front!   The inside has Happy Father's Day from Delightful Dozen, but this would also make a great birthday card for anyone who enjoys golf!

Stampin' Llamas Summer Blog Hop

Hope you're enjoying all the creations of my lovely sister llamas from the brand spanking new 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! catalog.   If you're following around, you arrived here from Buffy's lovely blog.   The link to the next stop on the hop is at the bottom of this post.


Masculine teacher card  -  Here in NY, we still have one more week of school, so I'm just starting on the teacher thank you projects.  This card really seems to me to need another little layer or a few brads somewhere, but I'm stumped... any ideas?

Bus from Every Little Bit stamped in Crumb Cake on Crumb Cake cardstock, except for one stamped in Early Espresso and colored with pencils.  Sentiment from Pursuit of Happiness stamped in Real Red on Very Vanilla, matted on Early Espresso and popped up with dimensionals.  Inside stamped Thank You from the Curly Cute stamp set.  

Hello Doily In-Color Rainbow card  - I've been seeing so many rainbow-themed cards lately I just had to try one!   What do you think?

I started by heat embossing Hello Doily with clear powder onto Whisper White.   Starting at the center of the doily, I sponged with Primrose Petals, So Saffron, Pool Party, Marina Mist and Midnight Muse inks.   Flowers from Language of Friendship are stamped in Primrose Petals on matching CS, and punched with the coordinating Boho Blossoms punch - really like how the stamp gives dimension to the punched flowers.   I loved the sentiment in this set, as well, so I stamped it in Midnight Muse onto Whisper White and used Stampin' Up!'s largest oval punch, layered it onto a Decorative Label punched from Midnight Muse.   Mounted the whole shebang onto a So Saffron card base.   Stampin' Up! super-duper glue stick, glue dots and dimensionals hold the whole thing together.

Father's Day (or masculine birthday) card - Created this for my handy father.  Can you see the subtle variations in the texture of the green layer?   Click on the smaller pics to see it close up.     I CASEd another llama for my father-in-law's card which you can see here.   

Every Little Bit has a stamp for, well, everything!   I used it again to make the monochromatic hammer and nails background on this card for my dad.   Don't know if you can see it in this pic, but I experimented with the layer of Always Artichoke CS;  I put it in the stripes embossing folder and instead of running it thru the Big Shot, I pressed down on it kinda randomly with my hands.   I was hoping for irregular faded texture, which I got.  The heart is Rich Razzleberry sponged with Crumb Cake (that sounds like a pretty good dessert!).   I LOVE the Family Reunion set, I'll be using it for scrapbooks and cards - such a great and versatile set.  I used it to stamp dad in Always Artichoke, punched out with Modern Label, embellished with Vintage Trinkets (such cute teeny tiny metal button brads) and attached with lots of dimensionals.   

Click here to go to the next stop on the hop: Debbie's Clever and Cute blog!

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 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

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.

                    

Triple Pretty

The inspiration for this card was my sister-in-law's winter outerwear, beleive it or not.   She has great taste in clothes and when I saw her black coat and pale pink scarf, both in that super-soft faux fur, I knew I had to make a card with that same gorgeous color combination!


It's super-simple, as you can see:   Pretty in Pink cardstock stamped with a sentiment from Sincere Salutations and the Triple Treat flower punched first with the 5-Petal Flower punch and then the Fancy Flower, then popped up with some dimensionals.  Punched the corners of the pink card fronts with the Scalloped Trim Corner punch, and mounted onto Basic Black.   Inside, I decorated the interior panel using Pretty in Pink scraps punched with the Scalloped Trim edge.