Sunny Garden Birthday- SU only card

Hi everyone! I hope this weekend is treating you well. We are having gorgeous weather in our neck of the woods so my family and I are headed off for a day of fun outdoors. Before we leave, I have a card and tag to show you first. The card and tag themselves are rather simple but I used a couple new techniques that I want to talk about just a bit. Let's take a look!
And an angle shot of just the card...
And just the tag alone...
First, I will tell you a little about the materials I used. The lovely print paper is from Sunny Garden DSP. This assortment has grown on me since it came out. You may recognize the patterns in this pack as those used in last year's Cottage Wall DSP. They changed the color scheme to reflect this year's palette. When I first saw it in the catalog, I thought it was rather "meh." I didn't even order it until recently and even then, it was more to challenge myself than anything. Well, these prints are much prettier in person! They look great when used singly or in combination and they really come together well with the coordinate solids. Too much fun!
Another point I want to mention is the line of "stitching" across the middle of the card...where the 2 prints meet. This faux stitching is part of the new In Stitches Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel. As I have talked about before, I unmounted the rubber and then snipped each line of stitching apart for easier access. The Craft & Rubber Scissors we used to use to trim our new stamp sets work well for this job. I used a little Dotto adhesive to adhere the rubber to a clear block. I love the results! The card and tag feature just one of the 6 types of stitching included on the wheel. I stamped it in Poppy Parade on the card and the tag uses it in Blushing Bride. Once I stamped it, I trimmed it by hand because I wanted it thin enough to just sit in the middle of 2 strips that I punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch. You get a totally new look with a tool that isn't even very new, huh?

I stamped my sentiment in Peach Parfait ink onto Whisper White CS and then I trimmed it by hand, just outside the border line that is part of the image. This birthday message is included in the super versatile set called Perfect Punches. Talk about a go-to set! Every image in this set coordinates with a matching punch, making it a very easy set to use on lots of card types. To set off the image, I punched a wide oval from Blushing Bride CS and then mounted those ovals onto a scrap of Poppy Parade CS and hand trimmed again.

The last thing I want to draw attention to is the little cluster of blossoms under my card sentiment. If you follow paper crafting at all, you have probably seen the plethora of 3D flowers and buds that are being done right now. There are several dies and tools out there to produce these rolled blossoms shown here but as you would expect, they are all very pricey and somewhat one dimensional in their function. I like to get several uses out of the tools I purchase.

The flowers I used here are made with an old fav of mine...the SU 1 3/4" scallop circle punch! I cut a free hand spiral (as shown below) and then rolled it with a quilling tool which can be found in most craft stores. You can also very easily use a pair of tweezers. I just happened to have the quilling tool laying around so I used it but it is not a must. After rolling, you secure the blossom with a glue dot and voila! The ones I used here are finished off with a few Real Red brads ( from the Brights brad assortment) and leaves which I punched from a few scraps of Pear Pizazz CS with my new Build A Blossom punch. This punch is way too much fun! I really hope it makes its way back to the catalog next summer. For now, it is available in the Occasions Mini until April 30th so don't miss out. This is a great addition to any paper crafter's tool collection. There are limitless combos for flowers and leaves as well as other shapes for punch art projects. I don't know how I lived without it all these years! The brads are attached to the buds by squeezing just a few drops of Crystal Effects into the very center of the bud and then just poking the unopened brad into the glue. You could also use the Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive here too.
Since this card is a birthday card, I decided a matching gift tag might come in handy. I used scraps from the card to create a simple tag that won't seem so simple when it sets off a wrapped gift alongside the card. I inked up part of the "so happy for you" image from the same named set (included in the Sale A Bration catalog right now!) in Basic Black for the tag but you could also use a happy birthday image here if desired. A length of ribbon (1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain) finishes the tag and we are ready to make someone's day!

I think that about sums it up. This is an easier project than it looks to be. Just a little effort on your part can make someone's day very special. Isn't that what card making is all about? ;) Have a great day and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Edit: I forgot to mention a very important point about this card and a loyal reader immediately noticed the issue. Thanks to Susan for reminding me! :) Mailing these types of 3D flowers can be a problem so you have to choose location for the embellishment very carefully. I would not place flowers like these very close to the top of the card...where it will inhibit the flap of the envelope from closing. Also, if you cut the spiral in the scalloped circle so that the width of the strip is no more than about 1/4", it won't stand up as high. Overall, my recommendation for a card with this type of embellishment would be to give it locally but if you are careful, it could be sent through the mail to someone special. I hope this info helps!

A Few Good Eggs

Hi guys! I had to take a few days off due to "hustle and bustle." My kids couldn't be any busier lately and since I operate the taxi, well... ya know. So, I have a card to show you but I am going to hurry so if there is a detail I leave out, just ask. Here ya go...
To make this card, I started with A Good Egg which includes this large, blank egg shape as well as various patterns to decorate the egg. I masked the egg shapes in succession so that the illusion of depth occurred and also so I could get the patterns inside the egg borders and make it look more realistic.

I have been experimenting more with masking because it has always been a technique that stumped me. I try it and am rarely happy with my results. Well, recently, I attended a rubber stamping show and realized that the look I love in stamped images is often achieved with masking so I am working to get more comfortable with it. Just keep swimming...

Only A Good Egg was used as far as stamps on this card. The green panel is a strip of Designer Patterns DSP in the Subtles assortment. I added a punched layer of Pink Pirouette CS that I ran through the Eyelet Edge punch. The finishing embellishment is a Designer Flower Brad to which I added a pink center.

That does it for me today. I am off to a doctor's appointment and more errands before my hubby starts his new job. It has been WONDERFUL having him home for a month but we have run ragged trying to get things done since it will be a while before we see a real vacation again. I'm off. Have a great day for yourself!

Simple Thank You Note

Happy Tuesday! My week is moving right along and I hope yours is too. First, I would like to remind everyone that tonight is Hostess Club. Our February meeting will kick off the new cycle which will take us to the end of the current catalog.

I have another new card for you today but I have to rush off for an appointment in a minute so I will be brief. I used one of the new Sale A Bration sets (So Happy for You) and an adorable image from the Level 1 Hostess set (A Slice of Life) included in the Occasions Mini. These sets can both be yours with a qualifying order so don't miss out! Wanna see my card?
And then a side shot...

This card was so easy to make and now I will have it on hand when the need arises. I water colored the image using my Watercolor Crayons and an Aqua Painter pen. The vase is paper pieced by stamping the image on a scrap of River Rock CS and then hand trimming it. The sentiment is accented by a piece of embossed (Square Lattice embossing folder and my Big Shot) Certainly Celery CS that was punched using the Decorative Label punch. The wording itself was stamped on Very Vanilla CS and then punched out using my small oval punch. A pink Designer button finishes it off. I hope you like it! If you have any questions, please ask!

Eat Chocolate

Hello, hello! Happy Monday to ya! I have a cute card today and it uses a new set from the occasions Mini catalog along with an older set which you have probably seen before. Wanna see?

The sentiment and the little list are from Eat Chocolate and I paper pieced the bon-bons from images included in On a Pedestal. I added the flowers just for a little oomph. This new set could be used on a variety of card types. It includes some really cute images!

Since I think this card is pretty self explanatory and I am in a huge hurry again today, I will leave you with a fond wish for a great Monday and a reminder that I am always just a phone call or an email away if you have any questions. Please let me know if I can help! :)

With Deepest Sympathy

Hola! Today's card is one of those that we make but we wish we never needed them. I'm talking about sympathy cards. There is a new stamp set in the Occasions Mini catalog, called Thanks for Caring, that is perfect for sympathy cards. It has 6 images that all work together for other types of cards too. Take a look...
And from another angle:
I have used this combo of papers together before. I love the whole Springtime Vintage DSP but these 2 together are so pretty to me! I may have to order another pack just for these 2 patterns. The solids I chose to use are Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, and Baja Breeze. I stamped the butterfly in Baja and the sentiment in the Artichoke. The butterfly is popped up on Dimensionals to give it more definition. I added a Designer button ( Marina Mist from the Subtles assortment) as a finishing touch over the Scalloped Ribbon Border punch strip.

That does it for me today. The weekend is in full swing at our house so that means B-U-S-Y. Have a great one!

First Easter Card of the Season!

Hi guys! I have to hustle with some muscle today but I just had to show you a card I made recently. I am excited about it for 3 reasons: (1)It is the first Easter card of the year, (2) I tried a new technique, (3) and it uses a very favorite set of mine that I finally bought for myself. Wanna see?
And a little bit from the side so you can see more texture:
See that cute little flower? Well, I decided to try my hand at using SU tools and materials to create a few of these fabulous dimensional flowers that are everywhere. This little guy actually uses the Itty Bitty Punch Pack flower image along with 2 "candle" shapes punched with the new Build A Cupcake punch (for leaves) and a (non-SU) 1/8" hole punch. I trimmed a freehand spiral into the middle of the shape and then cupped it slightly with tweezers. It is secured with a mini glue dot. It was really tiny to work with but not impossible if you wanted extra detail on a project.

The 3 precious chicks are stamped from A Good Egg which is a perennial fav from the regular catalog. I stamped them in Basic Gray ink onto both Whisper White and a piece of DSP from the Pawsitively Prints assortment. After a little trimming and reassembly, they get even cuter, huh? Their beaks were added by stamping the face part of the image onto scraps of Pumpkin Pie CS and then trimming. This technique is called paper piecing and is an excellent alternative to coloring your images. It gives texture and dimension as well as introduces pattern into the project where coloring and stamping alone would not. The grass was cut freehand but you could also use the egg stripe image in the set to get a good outline guide too.

I added a quick sentiment, from the same set and we are done! Pretty simple and just waiting for Easter to roll around. Have a wonderful weekend and check back in for more springtime cards using new and exciting materials. I can't wait to share!

Blow Out Your Candles One by One!

Hi guys! I have a cute card to show you but first I just have to say that it has been some week! One or all of us have been sick at my house for over a week now and it has been a real drag. Oh my gosh, I can't wait to get everyone well again! Just to get today's card photographed was a comedy of errors. I took the photos 3 different times but twice, they were way too dark and I didn't edit the photos until after sundown so it was too late to do anything. Anywho, wanna see?
And a side shot for detail:
I combined the Celebrations DSP with the new Build a Cupcake punch for a simple but fun birthday card that would be fine for any age or gender. That sentiment is from the new Bring on the Cake set featured in the Occasions Mini catalog. Isn't that cute? The set comes in 2 cases with a whopping 13 images at your disposal. That's a lot of birthday cards!

The colors I used here are Pear Pizazz, Real Red, and Bashful Blue along with classic Whisper White which are all coordinates of this DSP assortment. The focal point image is set off in a 2 3/8" Scalloped circle punch trimmed with a 2 1/2" Circle punch. I embossed the blue panel with my Big Shot and the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. A little bit of Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon and a white Designer button tied with Linen Thread complete my greeting. I hope you like this card. I have a couple more coming up that I think you'll like too. I have several new stamp sets and accessories I have been playing with this week so check back to see them used. Bye!

Make a Monster Mash

Today's card is inspired by one I saw on the gorgeous blog by Teneale Williams, an SU demonstrator in Australia. Her cards are always lovely but this one really caught my eye. I liked it so much, I decided to copy it pretty close and this is what I came up with...
And a shot from the side:
When I saw hers, I loved the color combo and the sketch as well as the adorable focal point image. I was lucky enough to have just purchased this set recently so I pulled it out and gave it my best shot. The cute little creature is from the set called Make a Monster. I accented him/her with a little Pear Pizazz Designer (Polka Dot) DSP which is part of the In Colors Designer Patterns Assortment. The marina Mist strip across the middle was embossed with my Square lattice embossing folder and then trimmed with a strip of Whisper White CS which I punched with my Pinking Hearts border punch.

I stamped a couple balloons from the Crazy for Cupcakes set onto Marina Mist and cut them out so I could pop them up on Dimensionals. If you don't like to fussy cut, you could always stamp them directly onto the white and color them with markers too. I added a little white 3/8" Taffeta ribbon and a sentiment from the So Happy for You set featured in the SAB catalog right now. You can earn this set for FREE with any $50 purchase from now until March 31st.

I am off to my day. Have a great one!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hello girls! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone has a fabulous day filled with love and fun. I have one last Valentine to show you today before the season of red and pink goes away for a while. By the time this posts, the recipient of this card will have received it from her husband, who asked me to make it for her. I will let her come forward if she chooses ( and reads this post, of course!). Anyway, without further ado...
I hope she loves it and enjoys her day with her darling fella! Meanwhile, I will give you the deets since I have a feeling, that is why you found your way here. I used a rich, Riding Hood Red pattern from the Love Letter DSP along with basic Black and Very Vanilla CS. I added a length of 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon across the middle to accent the punched heart and sentiment.

The sentiment for this card came from the Filled with Love stamp set which will be available in the next big catalog ( or so I hear). I stamped it and then punched it out using the small oval punch which premiered in the last holiday Mini catalog and will return this summer. It is backed by a small circle (1") and then both are on top of a heart which I punched with the XL Full Heart punch. For a little contrast, I placed them all over a 2 3/8" Scalloped circle that was slightly distressed with some Crumb Cake ink and a Stampin' sponge.

The inside has another heart and a simple, "Be my valentine" message. I hope she loves it and has a wonderful day just as I wish for everyone else. Enjoy!

Sunny For You- SU only card

Hi guys! I am in a super big hurry today but I wanted to show you a really simple but sweet little card. This is a perfect sketch for those times you just don't have any time but you need a cute card. It could be tailored to the occasion very easily just by changing the image and sentiment. Take a look:
Isn't that cute? And it was so easy to make. I started by embossing the front of a Poppy Parade card base with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. I rounded the corners on just the bottom 2 edges. Next, I trimmed a rounded piece of Sunny Garden DSP with a piece of Pear Pizzazz CS. These were placed along the top of the card, centered in the middle. A quick wrap with a length of Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding and we are almost done.

My image here is from the new SAB set called Punch Bunch. You can earn this set for FREE with a $50 purchase during Sale A Bration. Can't get any better than free, right? This set has 5 adorable, all occasion images that all coordinate with SU punches making them all easy to use in a hurry. No cutting needed! If you don't love to trim freehand, this is a set for you. Instead of just using the whole image, I punched a 1 3/4" Scalloped Circle from Peach Parfait CS, which is the same as the outer edge of my image. I used Markers to color the image and then punched out the middle using the 1 1/4" circle punch. Breathing with your mouth open over the colored image will moisten the ink so you get a crisper image.

I added 2 snipped seam binding tails behind the image for a little texture and balance. The finishing touch is 2 Whisper White Designer buttons that have been stitched with a little yellow pearl cotton which you can find in the needlework section of any craft store. Here I used DMC #6132 which coordinates beautifully with Daffodil Delight.

Easy peasy, huh? Come back next time so I can show you one more Valentine card. It is a card that i was asked to make for a friend by her husband. I can't wait for her to see it!

Springtime Vintage Easter Bonnet

Hello gals! I have an adorable project to share today. I am very excited to show you. I saw it somewhere online and once again, can't remember who and can't find my notes. So, if you recognize this project, please fill me in and I will gladly give credit. Wanna see?
Isn't that too cute? Here is a close-up of the flower which I will explain below:
You wanna see what can be done with this darling little creation? Take a look:
I filled it with whatever candy I had on hand but it would be precious with some M&Ms in a matching color or even a handful of those pastel mint drops. These could be used as shower favors, table decorations, or even little gifties on Easter and Mother's Day. Have you identified the core container yet? It is just one of those clear plastic cups that hold SU embellishments. If you ever order buttons, brads, etc then you probably have a few laying around. SU also sells empty ones too.

All the materials I used are SU. That bottom scalloped circle is the Clear Circle Sizzix die which I cut with my Big Shot. Next, I wrapped a length of 5/8" Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon around the cup and secured with glue dots. I topped that with Marina Mist 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon. The top of the bonnet is made with a 2 1/2" circle Punch and the 2 3/8" Scalloped Circle punch. The patterned paper is from Springtime Vintage DSP featured in the new Occasions Mini catalog. I cut 2 extra lengths of the ribbon to create the tails which hang off the brim. They are attached separately rather than trying to wrap the whole ribbon to drape that way.

The flower looks like a lot more than it really is or took to make. I started by punching 8-5 petal flowers from Baja Breeze (5) and Not Quite Navy (3) CS (using the 5 Petal Flower punch). Then you crumble them up rather small and dampen them all over with a spray bottle of water. Let it soak in a bit and then uncrumple each flower. At this point, you should be able to pull the layers of CS apart on each petal.

While they are damp, pile them up and very carefully run your piercer through the middle of the stack. This hole is for a brad to secure the flower. I used an Antique Brass one from the Metallic Assortment but it doesn't show so you could use whatever you have. After the flower is all in a brad, you can shape it forwards...like a cup. Attach a glue dt to the back and stick it down to your bonnet, along the brim.

That tiny bud-like center of the flower is made by first punching a 1/2" circle which you set aside. Next, punch a 1 3/8" circle and then directly over the hole made by that, punch a scalloped circle (1 3/4"). This will give you a piece that is not much more than the scallops themselves. If you snip it, between 2 scallops, you can then straighten the piece out to a long strip. Gently roll this strip in your fingers until it is tightly coiled. Put a glue dot in the center of the reserved 1/2" circle and stick your coil to it. This holds the coil from unrolling. Another glue dot to the back and you are ready to drop it down in the flower. I will look into possibly making a tutorial for this flower as soon as possible.

The 2 leaves of the flower were first stamped with the Build A Blossom stamp set in Old Olive ink onto Pear Pizazz CS. Next, I punched them with the Create A Blossom punch. I attached them with glue dots. I embellished the hat with pearls from the Basic Jewel Pearls Assortment and a few 1/16" inch dots.

I hope you enjoy this project. I think it has many possibilities! :)

Bliss

Hi folks! I am running low on time today so I will be quick. Today's card is not too complicated so let's move right along.
Pretty, huh? Those images are to die for, IMO. I was happy with the results. I used one of my favorite color combos and paired them with the brand new SAB set called Bliss. Isn't this set just gorgeous? It didn't jump out at me when I first saw it in the SAB catalog but I started seeing people use it and it grew on me until I had to own it. I can see myself using this set for years to come. It is so versatile!

The word "BLISS" is part of the stamp set of course but the other sentiment I added, "Happy Anniversary", is an image from the new Level 2 Hostess set, Something to Celebrate, which is featured in the Occasions Mini. You can earn this set very easily by booking a qualifying workshop of your own. I stamped both of these in Basic Gray ink for better contrast with the rest of the card.

The finishing touches of embellishment are ribbon and pearls. The ribbon is Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon and the pearls are from the Basic Jewel Pearls assortment. Both can give your cards that added oomph that takes them over the top.

Have a great day!

Caffiene is a vitamin?

Is caffeine a vitamin? If not, it should be! I have been so busy lately and even after burning my candle at both ends, there still have not been enough hours in my day to keep up here. Sorry to leave everyone hanging! Today's card answers my question above in a very cute way. I used the Morning Cup set (SU, of course) to make it and I used a new and very cute embellishment that you are really going to want for yourself. Take a look...
And I even decorated the inside this time...
I hope you like it. I have had that set for a while and despite how cute it is, I just haven't pulled it out very often. I need to change that because it applies to my life these days in a BIG way. I think this set would make cute encouragement cards for friends having a rough time. It would also be good for just a friendly hello. A little laugh is always welcome when I open my mailbox anyway!

The embellishment is a combo of the ribbon and buttons included in the new SAB offering called the Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon and Button pack. These colors just scream SPRINGTIME to me. I love how dainty the ribbon looks with all the little flowers too. And the great thing about it is that these "flowers" are somewhat abstract so you could include this ribbon on cards of all kinds.

The scalloped Melon Mambo border is just half of the Scallop Ribbon Border punch. I laid the ribbon over one edge. Also, the little flower in the center is from a retired punch but you could easily duplicate it with the very similar option, Bojo Blossoms punch.

I think that does it for me today. I promise to be back tomorrow. I already have my card photographed and ready to post. I swear! It features another brand new set from the SAB catalog so check back for a peek. Have a great day!

Sorry to keep you waiting!

Hi guys! I am so sorry for not popping in for 3 days! On Friday, I had to go and have a crown put on the root canal from last week. I was trying to wait until our new insurance kicks in but the tooth broke and it was a must all of a sudden. Then yesterday, I was lucky enough to attend a stamping show so I went and decided to just do my blog last night. Well, I was just pooped so it was early to bed for me. Here I am, with the card I have had on my desk for days now. I hope you like it!
And a side shot...
This was a super simple card but does not look especially simple so IMO, you get a lot of bang for your buck. We all have times we have to hurry a card, right? I used the oldie but goodie Season of Friendship to stamp the tree in Pear Pizazz and Crumb Cake. Then, I used my Small Heart Punch to cut 10 hearts out of Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette CS. They are added and topped off with tiny pearls from the Basic Jewel Pearls set. The sentiment is from the new Level 2 Hostess set called Something to Celebrate which I LOVE. This set is featured in the new Occasions Mini Catalog. This is a set worth trying to earn, It includes 9 all occasion and spring holiday sentiments. This will now be my go-to set for spring cards. I punched the sentiment with the Modern Label punch and then trimmed the next outer layer by hand.

I think that sums it up. Short and sweet! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

For You

Hi guys and gals! Well, in all probability I am speaking to just gals but just in case... ;) I have a card for you today and it is super simple. It is one of those cards that you make quickly when you need a last minute greeting for someone special but you are short on time. Take a look!
I apologize for my blurry photo here. I took it quickly before sunset and by the time I went in to edit it for my blog, it was too late to retake it because I had lost the good light outside. The close-up side shot gives a little more clarity:
I have to hurry off but just a few details about this card first:

*The card base is stamped in Crumb Cake ink on Sahara Sand CS. I used the Woodgrain background stamp for a little texture. The edges are sponged with more Crumb Cake ink.

*For color, I chose to use So Saffron, Pear Pizazz, and Baja Breeze. The edges of the leaves, which were punched using the new Build a Blossom punch, were sponged with Old Olive ink.

*The flower image is inspired by the a la carte stamp called For You Flower. Rather than stamp the whole flower, I punched the Saffron part using the coordinating XL Fancy Flower punch. Then, I stamped the image in Baja Breeze, on Very Vanilla CS and punched the middle out using a 1 1/4" circle punch.

* A Marina Mist Designer button and a length of Baja Breeze Seam Binding (Occasions Mini Catalog) finish the card. The button is tied off with a bit of crochet cotton but I could have easily used linen thread as well.

As always, please contact me with any questions about this card or other projects you see here. Have a wonderful day!

Thank You From the Heart

Hi folks! I have a great card to show you today. I was very happy with how it turned out and I hope you love it too. I just hope you don't look at the papers I used and say, "she needs to move on!" ;) I used another pretty combo from the Springtime Vintage DSP collection. I just can't seem to put it away! Here goes...
This paper pack is so versatile! I haven't used the same print on 2 cards yet. I also love that they coordinate with so many solids. I will be stocking up on this pack before the end of the Occasions Mini catalog on April 30th.

I need to rush off today so just a few details about this card:
- I used marina Mist and Always Artichoke to accent today's print.
-The seam binding across the middle of the card is also featured in the Mini. It is Baja Breeze but it matches very nicely to the marina Mist. If you have not tried the seam binding yet, you just have to! It is so supple and easy to tie. It is very silky and has a gorgeous sheen to it.
-The sentiment I used here is from the Simply Said stamp set. This is an older set from the regular catalog. I have "rediscovered" it lately. This is a great set for springtime and the images combine very nicely for a variety of all occasion cards.

As always, if I missed a detail you are wondering about, drop me a note. I would be glad to fill you in. I have to rush back to the endodontist for a problem with last week's root canal. Have a great day and check back this week for more new projects featuring products form the SAB and Mini catalogs. Buh bye!