Belated Birthday Card

I can be really bad at getting cards to family members on time.  And I have a wonderful neice whose birthday is on Christmas Day.  I almost always miss giving her her birthday card, in the business of getting ready for Christmas....  This year, I even had her gift bought early, but still didn't give it to her on time.  Then, once I miss it, I seem to put off correcting my mistake...

But I am working on it!

Anyway, I wanted to try something fun for my neice's belated birthday card.  This ended up not being as girly as planned, and I'll have to try this technique with other papers, but overall, this is a pretty cool technique.  This background technique is called Bargello.  I found it on Splitcoast Stamper's website, HERE'S the link for complete instructions.  You basically take thin strips of paper, and lay them out on a sheet of paper, but I think I'll try our Sizzix Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets next time.  Then you cut that up at a 90* angle, so instead of strips of designs, you now have strips with little blocks of the designs....the instruction photots show it much better than I can explain.

I think I will try this again with some girlier paper patterns!  Small patterns work best; even those larger polka dots are almost too big...

Recipe:

Stamps:  Bring on the Cake

Cardstock:  Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White, Frightful Sight DSP

Accessories:  Labels Collections Framelits, Big Shot, Cajun Craze 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Scallop Dots Ribbon, Stampin' Sponge

Regionals Swap

Today's card is one of my swaps from Regionals in Columbus, OH.  I made about 20 or so of this card and no matter how many cards I get finished, I always wish I had more to swap!  This card features the Apothecary Arts stamp set, and the Frames Collection Framelits.  This particular stamp is made to be used in the larger frame, but I wanted to be able to layer it....so I stamped the image, and then cut it down smaller, so it would fit the next layer.  The flowers took a bit of time to color, but they were just colored with my Stampin' Write Markers.  I used the writing side and just kind of scribbled a bit on the flowers, adding more color to the insides, to deepen the color.  I spent a good deal of time on these, and so when I decided that I wanted more swaps to trade, I knew I would have to come up with something simpler....but I haven't photographed that one yet....I'll get back to you with my other swap another day!

Elegant Lines card

 Today's card features the Embossing Folder Elegant Lines.  I first embossed a layer of Whisper White cardstock.  Then, I cut it into 3 equal pieces, and layered it onto a piece of In Color Cardstock. 

Add a piece of Poly-Twill ribbon tied with Baker's Twine,(shown at right).  A few butterflies (Beautiful Wings Embosslit) and Rhinestone Jewels add the finishing touches to this multi-purpose card.

You can use this card for a number of occasions, even leaving it blank until needed.  You can add the banner with Happy Birthday whenever you are ready to use it.

Below, I have it shown in Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade, but at my stamp-a-stack, I had all the In Colors available.  We decided that the Blushing Bride card made a lovely baby card, and the Concord Crush card was very striking, being such a deep rich color.

Extra Easter Cards

I decided to send a few extra Easter cards this year, and I didn't have enough time to make more of yesterday's card.  So my solution was to pull from my blank card stash.  I often make several of the same or similar card, and then leave them blank, with no sentiment inside or out.  Then, when I need a card for a particular occasion, I have several to choose from.

This card was made with Pick a Petal stamp set (retired) with the Large Oval Punch, and the 1" (or 1 3/8") circle punch for the center of the flower.

The Daffodil Delight layer is embossed with the Bouquet embossing folder, and I also embossed a scrap piece, to punch the centers of the circles.

 The brad is from the Fire Circle Brads, and gives just the right touch to this flower.

The DSP is retired, but it was lovely, and had several wonderful colors...Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz....  When I originally had this card at a stamp-a-stack, it was a big hit, and I had several different pieces of the DSP available for the flowers and for the rick rack.

That rick rack scalloped edge was made with the Tasteful Trim die.  It is $42.95 in the catalog, but I have found that it has been well worth the price.  I often use the rick racks instead of ribbon, thus saving me lots of $$ in ribbon!

This card uses the same DSP as the card above, but also incorporates the Build a Flower Punch, and a flower Bigz die (I'm sorry, I'm not home as I'm blogging, and am without my catalog).

 These cards both incorporate Cottage Wall DSP (retired), and the bottom one features a window sheet that coordinates with the same DSP.  I have it attached to a Whisper White piece of cardstock, so that it will show up nicely.  I have made several of these cards, following a few similar layouts, and they are nice to have on hand to suit whatever occasion I may need them on.  Eery once in a while, I like to sit down with a pack of retired DSP, with the intention of using it up!  I often hoard and hoard, and then as I'm trying to use it up, I realize that each card doesn't take all that much paper, and my stash doesn't get all used up!  I'm trying to not hoard as much, but I have lots of product still to be used up.

My Easter Card for 2012

 Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!
I hope that you have a day full of blessings, on this most wonderful day of grace!

I made about a dozen of this card, and I wish I had time to make a dozen more.  You could put anything in that framelit....Happy Birthday, Thanks, Thinking of You...

I wish I had a REJOICE stamp, but the closest I had was JOY, so I went with that.  I will have to invest in a new Easter stamp set once the new catalog comes out.

I have wanted to try this quilted look for a while, but just hadn't done it.  These colors worked well together.

Easter Cards...

Hippity Hoppin', Easter's on its Way!

I made this card last year at a stamp event in Nashville when I was there for Leadership with Stampin' Up!.  This is  simple and fun, using Forest Friends stamp set, and Playdate DSP.  I added the inside sentiment from Words of Wisdom stamp set.

I received this card at a swap this year at Leadership in San Antonio.  I had to make a few adjustments to it to be able to layer it onto a cardbase.  (a swap is usually just the card front, so it must be trimmed down to fit onto a card base)

That punch is new; it is available in the Occasions Mini catalog.

I love how the embossing frame was used to frame the bunny.  So cute!

 

I sent this card to my mother-in-law or her Easter card.  This was a swap I received last year, and the DSP is now retired, but it is lovely.

To get the girl's silhouette to be pink AND sparkly, you can ink your stamp in Rose Red CRAFT ink, then sprinkle Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder over the image.  Heat to set the EP.  You have a lovely sparkly image.  If you don't have the craft ink, you can stamp in Versa Mark, then Rose Red ink, then emboss.

Here's another shot of the card, with the flash on.  It catches more of the sparkle in the Embossing Powder.

I hope you have a blessed Easter!  I will have a few more cards, including the ones I made for this year's Easter card that gets sent to my family.

Easter's on it's Way!

Once in a while, I get to attend my downline, Jennifer's, Stamp-a-Stacks.  She always has great projects, some that she creates, some that she CASES.  I always enjoy going, as I get to see some of my original stamping group, that started with me 8+ years ago.  I also get to visit with Jennifer, whom I love to pieces.  She took over the group when I moved away (4 moves ago!)

Anyway, here are her beautiful Easter Cards!!!

Recipe:
Stamp set:  Everybunny
Cardstock:  Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Paper Snips, Blush Blossom Pleated Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Pastels

I love this card, and I enjoyed using the Stampin' Pastels...I don't get mine out often enough.  Jennifer had a great tool to use with the chalks:  cotton swabs with one end that comes to a tip.  They worked great!  I could color the smaller areas with precision, and then color the larger areas will the rounded end.  Great card, Jennifer!

Recipe: 1 3/4", 1", 1/2" Circle Punches, Large and Small Oval Punches, Word Window Punch,
Scallop Oval Punch, Scallop Border Punch
Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, SAB DSP, and SAB Brads, White Gel Pen

Punch Recipe:
2 Ornament Punches (head and belly)
Large Oval Punch (bill)
Small Oval Punch - retired - (bill)
Scallop Circle Punch - (wings and feet)
Boho Blossoms - (tuft)
Word Window - (sign post)

Great job, Jen!  I really enjoyed making these Easter cards!  Now I'm off to finish getting my envelopes all addressed....tomorrow I will show some of the rest of the Easter cards I made to send out to friends and family.