Crazy for Crumb Cake

Hey guys! I have 2 cards to show you today. maybe that will make up for the fact that I was so busy yesterday that I didn't make it here. They are similar but one is an all occasion card and the other is a Christmas card. Wanna see?

 And the Christmas one...

 Lately, I just can't seem to pick a neutral other than Crumb Cake. It just looks great with so many colors. I paired it here with some of the Specialty DSP called First Edition. They are a little different so I'll start with the butterflies first.

For this card, I used several different background stamps on scraps of 3 in colors before punching out 3 butterflies with the Butterfly Punch. I stamped in the same color ink as each scrap of paper for a little texture with out making them too busy to stand out against the background DSP. The colors and stamps are as follows:
     -Calypso Coral with Dot, Dot, Dot
     -Lucky Limeade with A to Z
     -Pool Party with Solid Stripes

The sentiment for this card is from the Friendly Phrases set. As I have mentioned before, I LOVE this set. It is really versatile and I can see myself using this set for years to come. I stamped it on Very Vanilla and then cut it out using the Lots of Tags Sizzlit die set and my Big Shot. This particular tag ( in the 4pc die set) has a neat perforation line so by cutting it in 2 colors you end up with a nice frame for your sentiment with just a little snip snip.Two Designer Buttons (Neutrals- Crumb Cake) tied with White Baker's Twine finish it off.

On to the Christmas card! This card was so easy it felt like cheating. I stamped the tree image ( from Polar Party which is brand new this year) first onto my card base of First Edition DSP and then again onto a scrap of Very Vanilla. I used my Paper Snips to trim just the main parts of the 3 trees that were stamped onto the Vanilla CS. We don't have to mess with the tinier parts because those are ready for us on the DSP copy. Adhere these onto your card, directly over the same trees on the card base. I colored them with markers before sticking them down but it can be done before or after. I used a nice dark Early Espresso marker to color the trunks so the newsprint is less prominent. Next, I topped the stars with a little bit of Smooch ink in Gold Lame. Smooch is opaque so it completely fills the stars in, making them really stand out.

The sentiment is from an oldie but goodie called Punch Pals. I think that these 2 stamp sets coordinate really well. They have similar styles so the wording and images are perfectly interchangeable. I accented the sentiment with a Modern Label punch in Lucky Limeade and 2 little Cherry Cobbler brads from the Regals family). Done!

I hope you like these cards. I wanted to show the versatility of the First Edition DSP. It can be fun all year round!

Just Because

Do you ever have one of those times that you want to send a card to someone special but it isn't one of those traditional occasions that we typically do so? I like to keep a collection of general sentiments for card making that are both positive and fun. I also find these types of sentiments handy when I am making cards for my stash. If the wording is a bit more general, it is easier to pick just the perfect card out of the pile. Well, today's card uses one of these sentiments. I made it for my stash but I really can't wait to share it with someone.

The card itself was inspired by another card I saw in a magazine. I loved the sketch and the colors so it quickly made it's way into my inspiration file. Once again, I struggled with lighting when I photographed the card so all I can hope for is that you can imagine the Perfect Plum and Always Artichoke along with a little So Saffron in a much truer light.

The floral images are from 2 different sets. The main focal point flower is from the hostess set called Array of Sunshine. I stamped it 3 times and then hand trimmed the layers and popped them up on Stampin' Dimensionals. This sounds hard but it is really super simple because the layers of the flower are well defined. I accented the center of the flower with a few dabs of Gold Lame Smooch ink for a little sparkle too.

I wanted a floral DSP that combined the 3 colors I loved together but alas, there was no such animal. I had to make my own! So, that patterned panel in the middle of the card is made by stamping the images in the 3 colors randomly all over the paper. I wanted a slightly muted look too so I stamped each one off onto scrap first and then put it onto the project piece. These images are from both Array of Sunshine and another set called Best of Everything.

A few last details are the stamped border along the bottom Artichoke panel and the tag sentiment. The border was created with Very Vanilla Craft ink and one of the lines of "stitching" from the In Stitches Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel. You can still buy craft ink pads from SU! but you just have to do it differently. We still carry all of the craft refills and empty craft stamp pads so you can make your own. Easy peasy! Both of these can be ordered from me or from my 24/7 website store. The tag was cut with my Big Shot and the Lots of Tags Sizzlit die set. I cut it twice from both Very Vanilla and Perfect Plum CS and then trimmed the Vanilla layer to fit exactly inside the perforation that is part of the die. Then, I stamped the wording which is from It's Your Day. This is a set which could easily be overlooked. It is wayyyy in the back of the catalog with the Simply Sent projects. It is inexpensive because it has just 2 images included. They are both simple and perfect for the types of cards I discussed above so check it out!

I hope you like today's card as much as I do. I had a lot of fun making it. So, go make a fun card for yourself!

Happy Day to You

Hi guys! I have a really cute card to show you today (IMO) and it uses one of my favorite new sets from the catalog. I'll show you first and tell you a little about it after you have seen the card.

I have to tell you my photo does not do the colors of this card justice. The lighting has been poor for photos as the season changes and it is very difficult to get a good shot. Crisp winter light will help soon but until then, just know this card features 2 of the gorgeous new in-colors...Wisteria Wonder and Calypso Coral along with a touch of Lucky Limeade. The set I used, Fruit and Flowers, includes 9 great images and the best part? It coordinates with the Designer Series Paper, Berry Blossoms.

For some of the squares, I colored the stamp with markers because I wanted detail and a multicolored image. On others, I just inked it up with a pad and let her rip. I also stamped some images on scrap paper and punched portions to adhere over the image as in the flowers with centers. Either way, I just love how these images can be used together or separately for a really cute look.

The sentiment on this card is from a new set called Friendly Phrases. This set is really versatile because it includes 6 somewhat generic phrases that can be used on cards throughout the year. I really enjoy the wording sets that use more than one font per image too. I find them playful and very positive when used on cards. The font of a message for a card is super important to me. It has to have the right "feel" or I just can't use it. For example, I could never use wording that is written in a formal script on a playful birthday card with bright colors and fun paper. I guess I am just crazy that way.

That does it for today. I am off to finish laundry and clean up the mess left by me being gone all day yesterday. I hope your weekend finishes on a great note and I want everyone to have a great afternoon!

On a Scale of 1 to 10...

Hey guys! I hope your weekend is shaping up to be dandy. I have another new card to show you today. Take a look!

This card uses a new embossing technique that I just love. I don't really know what it is called but I will explain how I did it. First, I cut the numbers from various colors and patterns of card stock and DSP using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies and my Big Shot machine. Then I placed them randomly all over a piece of Whisper White CS. Once they are attached with adhesive, run the whole piece through the Big Shot in an embossing folder of choice. Here I used the Square Lattice folder which gives fantastic texture to your card surface. As you can see, it gives an impression of applique. The numbers look like they each sit in their own pre-cut slot on the card front. After that part was done, I just added a punched strip (using the Pinking Hearts edge punch) of Lucky Limeade and a sentiment from the new hostess set called Perfect Words. This set is just too cute! You get 8 stamps for just $9 (clear version) which makes it a winner in my book. 

The color scheme for this card is a real fav of mine. I put 3 of the newest In Colors (Lucky Limeade, Pool party, and Island Indigo) together with So Saffron and crisp Whisper White. I love how the rich, dark Island Indigo card base seems to anchor all the colors and images together as one cohesive card front. I will be using this combo again for sure.

Well, guys, I'm off for a busy day as chauffeur. My daughter has a day of training at the local cheer academy to get ready for the winter basketball season. Who has to drive 7 of the girls to and fro? That would be me! I think I will bring some stamp work with me and beat the boredom. Y'all have a fantastic day and check back soon!

It's Been Way Too Long!

Hi guys! I'm back again. With all that has been going on with the kids being home for summer and then getting them ready to get started again, something had to give or I would have had to start pulling all nighters. Sleep won! I am happy to say that I have tons of new toys to play with and show you though. Since the new catalog debuted, I have been ordering a little here and there so that now, I have LOTS of great new goodies. It is simply ridiculous just how much there is in the new catalog that I simply can't and won't live without. So, without further ado, how about a card or 2?

Since the Summer Mini only has a few days left, I will go ahead and post the cards using those materials that I had made for my open house that didn't take place. I would hate to show them to you later and then no one would be able to order supplies to make them if desired.  Here goes...

 This one really makes a splash, huh? Tee hee hee. I used the Summer Mini set called Summer Splash and one of the delicious new In Colors called Island Indigo. Also included are 2 of the new Designer Printed Brads. They are perfect for a pop of color here and there on your project. That yellow strip behind the main panel is a piece of So Saffron CS that I embossed with the new Stripes Textured Impressions embossing folder. Too fun!

 Next up is a little floral number that was so easy to make. I got the idea for the torn corner accent from a card in the big catalog and couldn't wait to use the idea somehow. I think it gives a nice amount of texture when paired together with the delicate floral images of Love & Care which is a hostess set in the summer mini. Remember, there are no longer levels in the hostess rewards merchandise. This set has a dollar amount assigned to it just as the sets in the front of the big catalog do.

This last one for today is almost an exact CASE from a very talented blogger named Vicki Burdick of the "It's a Stamp Thing" blog. I love her work and the day she posted this delightful card, I knew I was going to make it without changing very much at all. I LOVE how it all came together. The good news about this card is that the only thing on it that will be gone when the Summer Mini ends is the sentiment which comes from the Happy Greetings stamp set. The flower is from the Array of Sunshine hostess set (in the main catalog) and that gorgeous paper is also a hostess rewards offering. It is part of the Cheerful Treat DSP.  I especially loved her idea of embossing the Little Leaves die cut for added texture. I stamped the flowers several times and then popped the layers up on Dimensionals.

Well, that does it for me. I hope you enjoy seeing these cards after such a long wait. Please check back often because while I may have been quiet here, I promise, i have been working on quite a few things that I can't wait to show you. It isn't too late to place one last Summer Mini order so if there are materials used here or just something  you have been waiting to order, please contact me and I will get you taken care of very quickly. We have until the 31st to order from the Mini and then it will be time for the Holiday Mini. Time flies when you're having fun!