Celebrate!

Our President and CEO is being honored by the Boy Scouts this week, so I made a little card for her:

Supplies used:

SSS March 2015 card kit
black shimmer cardstock
Pretty Pink Posh and Studio Calico sequins
Penny Black Celebrations die
Spellbinders Edgeabilities die

Thanks for looking!

SSS March 2015 kit

Yay!  My kit got here today, with some extra bits and pieces to really layer on the goodness with!

My first two cards are always a bit of a warmup, CASEd from the idea sheet that comes with the kit.  The first card was designed by Yana Smakula and I think it's just amazing how she used the patterned papers and layers on stamps.  Here is mine:

Given my fear of patterned paper, I think this is an excellent way to get into the swing of things!

My next card was designed by Kathy Racoosin.  I left out the punched circles, but I think I like it better this way.

You know, I did get some sequins with my kit... I think I may add some to this card later on.

Since both cards are on a black card base, I added a white liner with some yellow stamping inside each card.

Supplies used in both cards:

SSS March 2015 card kit
SSS Goldenlocks ink

And that's it!

Thanks for looking.

A First Foray into Patterned Papers

All right, so I have accumulated quite the stash of 12 x 12 and 6 x 6 patterned papers, with the full intention of using them but for some reason, I always reach for my solid card stock when I'm making cards.  To help with my fear of patterns, I enrolled in Online Card Classes' Pattern Play class.

I was inspired by the great videos and projects in the class, but I still am a bit shy when it comes to patterns, so these first two attempts are a little less than bold lol.

I took myself to Michael's for a little shopping trip since they had a couple of awesome coupons this weekend and picked up a 6 x 6 patterned paper pad from My Mind's Eye "Now and Then", which has my favorite aqua colors teamed with navy, grey, and yellow.  I also grabbed some coordinating Bazzill card stock and treated myself to a Sizzix die set.  Like I said, it was a great sale. Unfortunately, I did not find what I actually went in there for- clear and white embossing powders!  lol

My first card uses one of the boldest papers in the pack- wow, was I a little nervous about how it would turn out!  So here it is:

This paper is such a departure for me!  But I do like the way it turned out.  One thing about the Sizzix Flipits cards- there isn't much room to write a greeting to your recipient.  But it's a fast, easy way to create a card that looks like you're a paper engineer.  Plus, the sets come with some great elements that you can use separately.  This one includes a set of scalloped and dotted nesting circles.

Supplies used:

Sizzix Card, Circle Flip Its die set
My Mind's Eye paper pad
Bazzill Marshmallow card stock
Distress Marker Pine Needles to stamp with
Technique Tuesday Adored by Ali Edwards stamp set

My second card is a little different, I wanted to use a patterned paper but I wanted to use the Happy  Birthday die too, so I had to find a way to make them work together.  The key was to find a paper that wasn't too busy so that my greeting would still be readable.

Supplies used:

SSS Stitched Rectangles die
Paper Smooches Stitched Frame Wise Dies
Impression Obsession Greeting Bottom Edgers Die
My Mind's Eye paper pad
Bazzill Blue Calypso card stock

So that's it for my toe dip into patterned papers.  Look for more in the near future!

Thanks for looking!

A card making binge

So today has been interesting, weatherwise, making it so icky outside that there's just no sense in going out.  Snow, then sleet, then a downpour of rain.  The good thing is that the rain is melting off a good bit of the snow that hit last weekend (15inches of it blanket my yard!) and the roads are finally clearing.

I started off wanting to make a sympathy card for a friend whose husband suddenly passed away two days ago.  So this was the first try:

I love the aqua color, but I am not sure this is the card I will go with.

Supplies used:
SSS Seaglass cardstock
Bazill Marshmallow cardstock
Memento Teal Zeal ink
SSS Stitched Rectangles die
Stampin' Up! Chalk Talk framelit die
Hero Arts With Sympathy stamp set

She loves my handmade cards, and there was one that she really liked a while back that used a Paper Wishes tree die, so my next attempt used that die:

This card uses the same stamp set as the one above.  I like this card much better, I believe this is the one I will send her.

Supplies used:
DCWV Cardstock stack neutrals
Hero Arts With Sympathy stamp set
Versamagic Gingerbread ink
Red cardstock scrap
Textured white cardstock
American Crafts .01 Precision Pen

Next, I pulled out a card kit from Club Scrap because I remembered the brown would coordinate with the patterned paper.

I ended up using a dark green Bazill cardstock instead, but I like how this one turned out, too.

Supplies used:
Club Scrap Hydrangeas patterned paper, cream cardstock, and green ribbon
Bazzill green cardstock
Spellbinders Labels Four dies
SSS Blessed stamp set
Versamagic Gingerbread ink
Old Paper Distress ink
SSS Stitched Rectangles die

Next up, a variation on this paper combination:

Supplies used:
Club Scrap Hydrangeas patterned paper, cream cardstock, and green ribbon
Bazzill green cardstock
Spellbinders Detailed Scallops dies
SSS Blessed stamp set
Versamagic Gingerbread ink
Verve Die Sidekicks stamp set
Memento Bamboo Leaves ink

Now, a different color combination from the same card kit:

Club Scrap Hydrangeas patterned paper and cardstocks
SSS Blessed stamp set
Versamagic Gingerbread ink
Memento Grape Jelly ink

I decided I wanted to play with some new SSS dies I got this month, and these two cards are what I came up with:

I left that one without a sentiment, letting the die cut stand alone.

This one gets a sentiment to stand out.

Supplies used:

Recollections red cardstock
Bazzill Marshmallow cardstock
SSS Fog cardstock
Versamagic Red Magic Ink
SSS Highlight Frames die

Too bad Valentine's day is passed, eh?

Thanks for looking, maybe I'll get some more done tomorrow!

Happy Hellos

I just got my Stampin' Up! Butterfly Thinlits.  They were on back order, so they didn't come in with the rest of the order.  I love the intricate butterflies!  I made a couple of cards- and didn't even CASE anybody!

I wish I could do better photos.  One of these days, I'll put a little thought into a DIY lightbox.  That way you could see the variations in color on my butterfly.  I inked white cardstock , cut out the butterfly, and laid that on top of an embossed piece.  I popped the sentiment up since the rest of the card is flat.

Supplies used:

Distress inks:  Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, and Dusty Concord.
Memento ink: Grape Jelly
Stampin' Up stuff:  Swiss dots EF, Butterfly Thinlit
Stampers Anonymous sentiment and frame (Simple Sayings)
I don't know who made the pink and purple cardstocks.
Bazill Marshmallow cardstock.


The next card is a similar design, taken up maybe half a notch:

This time, I die cut a sentiment along with the butterfly from white cardstock I had inked up with distress inks.  I also rounded opposite corners on my layers, and added a little matching bling.  There are two layers of the butterfly there, each curled to create a little dimension.

Supplies used:

Distress inks:  Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive, and Pine Needles.
Stampin' Up! Butterfly Thinlit
SSS hello die (I think)
Crafter's Companion EF from the Barkley Everday collection
Recollections yellow cardstock and bling
Bazzill Marshmallow white cardstock

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday card #2

So I found another card on Dawn's blog to case here.  You know, if it weren't for so many talented card makers putting their creations online, I am not sure I'd ever get a card made lol.

Supplies used:

Recollections cardstocks
American Crafts glitter tape
Spectrum Noir markers
Stampin' Up Big Day stamp set

Thanks for looking!

A card for a happier occasion

Well, Brother Jim passed away this morning, so the sympathy card I made yesterday is all ready to mail out.  He will be missed- he was a good, Godly man with many talents he used in the church.

Today's card is a happier- a birthday card!  I CASE'd this card.

Supplies used:

Stampin' Up Butterfly Basics stamp set
Inks:
    Distress Inks (Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord)
    Memento Inks (Lulu Lavender, Grape Jelly, Elderberry)
    Versamark Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Bazzill cardstock (purple, Marshmallow)

Thanks for stopping in!

Sympathy Card

This card is one that I know I will need shortly, unfortunately.  

Supplies used:

Bazzill Marshmallow cardstock

Simon Says Stamp Seaglass cardstock

Stampin' Up stamp sets:

           Lotus Blossom- main image

           Bloom With Hope- sentiment (also used inside)

           Build A Bouquet- background, leaves

Simon Says Stamp Seaglass ink

Versamagic Turquoise Gem ink

Memento Bamboo Leaves ink

Memento Pear Tart ink

Thanks for looking!

           

New Stamps means lots of valentines!

I've been dying to sit and play with these for weeks now, I just got my new stamps from Simon Says Stamp!  So let's just jump right in and I'll show you what I've made!

Supplies for all cards include Bazill Marshmallow and Watermelon Sensation cardstocks and various Memento inks.

This card was totally CASEd and I can't remember the original artist and that makes me sad :(
 If you can find this card elsewhere on the interwebs, let me know so I can give credit where credit is due!  I used the SSS You Are Pawesome stamp set and matching dies and some hemp twine from my stash.  I colored in the doggy with my Spectrum Noir markers.  The heart die is from Paper Wishes "Love and Five Hearts" die set.


Next up is another take on the same stamp and die sets, also colored with Spectrum Noir markers.  The heart doily outline is also from the Paper Wishes die set:

Next is a card made with  the filigree heart die from the Paper Wishes set and some random cardstock scraps I had.

I also got the Parade of Hearts die from SSS, and made this card:

I also part of a stamp from the Hero Arts OWH stamp set "Year Round Sentiments".  The whole stamp says "I love you", but I only inked up the last bit.  The scrap of paper is from an old Basic Grey paper pack. Memento Rose Bud ink matches the Bazill Watermelon Sensation paper so nicely!

This card uses the same ink and cardstock combo:

This card started with the SSS Heart in a box die- I used just the word "you".  Then I stamped LOVE from the SSS All About Love set in Rose Bud ink, and the hearts from the same set in Angel Pink.  I kind of like how this turned out!

And my last card:

Here I used the heart die from Paper Wishes, sentiment from the OWH set embossed in white SSS pigment ink and Hero Arts powder, and random hearts from the Inkadinkadoo Hearts set.  It was on sale at Michael's for half price :)  I also splurged on a ball of pink and white twine .

These cards will all be going to a nursing home in town after all of us in the office sign them!  Woo hoo for making smiles!

Have a great night!