Simple Heartfelt Bloom - Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Blooms

  Sometimes a stamp set is just so pretty on it's own that you really don't need to do too much to make a stunning card other than just keep your layers straight!

  The Heartfelt Blooms stamp set which is one of the free Sale-A-Bration (SAB) rewards this year is just such a stamp set!  It has a beautiful large flower image and then 3 sentiments in a beautiful script font.

  With nice muted colors of gray and Very Vanilla the set makes lovely sympathy or thinking of you cards.

  Just a basic Very Vanilla thick card base, then a smaller layer of Very Vanilla stamped with the bloom in Smoky Slate, the sentiment a bit darker in Basic Gray.  The bit of free SAB shimmer ribbon in Basic gray added to the top is a nice muted detail.

  That's it!  So simple!  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Heartfelt Blooms (SAB)

Ink: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Shimmer Ribbon combo back (SAB)

Bluebirds are Coming! - Stampin' Up! Flying Home

  This weekend we did a bit of work around the house as the weather was nice so we had some windows open doing some spring cleaning and tidying up.  One of the things we checked off the list was to adjust the camera and wires that connects to our bluebird house.  Yes, that's right I have a little camera that is in the bluebird box and runs to the TV in our playroom.  I can see all the fun things that the bird do when they pick our box for their nest!  It's really cool and fascinating!  We've had 2 different pairs of bluebirds the last 2 years raise families and my fingers are crossed for another pair or 2 this year.

  This is Martha sitting on her 5 eggs 2 years ago.  Yes we've named the birds!  The first pair was George & Martha.  The second pair was John & Abigail.  Can anyone guess what names we'll us for #3?

  And these are her 5 sweet and hungry chicks!

  I'll share current pictures once we have confirmed our next "renters"!

 In keeping with the bluebird theme my card today uses the Flying Home stamp set.  Again, it's another bird themed stamp set from the Occasions catalog.  This one is a fun line art set perfect for coloring!

  I started with a Soft Sky base and them built up my layers from there.  Using the fun lacy diecut from the Petals & More thinlet set I cut 2 strips out of Melon Mambo cardstock and then layered them under a panel of the Wood Textures DSP.  If you line up the die cuts just right you can't really see the seam at all.

  Next is a Stitched Shape circle cut from watercolor paper and stamped with the bird house image in Stazon.  I colored in the image with my markers.  I dug through my ribbon scraps and found a bit of 1/2" finely woven ribbon in Lemon Lime Twist and made a little flag and stapled it to the edge of the circle.  I popped the circle up on dimensionals.

  Lastly I stamped a few butterflies and a little bee in Soft Sky ink right onto the card base and then added a little 'hello' in black.  The hello is from the Tabs for Everything set.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Flying Home, Tabs for Everything

Ink: Stazon, Soft Sky  Markers: Melon Mambo, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Basic Gray

Paper: Soft Sky, Watercolor paper, Wood Textures DSP, Melon Mambo

Accessories: Stitched Shapes framelits, Petals & More thinlets, finely woven ribbon, dimensionals

Back to the Birds - Stampin' Up! Petal Palette

  I just can't keep away from the birds in the Occasions catalog!  Today's card is one that my stampers made at class last month.  I also wanted to let them have a go with the new Stampin' Blends alcohol markers.  I designed this card so that they could chose whatever color they liked for their sweet little birds.

  The card base is Whisper White thick to keep it clean so the birds will stand out.  A piece of Pool Party is stamped with the speckle stamp in Pool Party ink and then the sentiment in black.  This is backed by a piece of Crumb Cake just offset from the edge for a different look. This panel is popped with dimensionals.

  The birds are stamped in Memento and cut out with the coordinating Petals & More thinlets.  The branch is cut from Pear Pizzazz cardstock and tied with a bit of organza ribbon.  These birds are colored with the Daffodil Delight Blends and then perched on the branch.  It was fun to see all the different colors my stampers chose to use.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Petal Palette

Ink: Pool Party, Memento black  Blends: Daffodil Delight

Paper: Whisper White thick, Whisper White, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Petals & More thinlets, dimensionals, 1/4" organza ribbon

Dapper Day Bowtie - Stampin' Up! Truly Tailored

Here's a quick and easy guy card!  Most guys don't need a lot of fussy stuff on a card but they do apreciate some details.

  This layout is nice and clean with a fun geometric feel using the True Gentleman DSP and circles for the focal point.

  I made the Lemon Lime Twist bowtie using Finely Woven Ribbon and glue dots and attached it to the circle with a dimensional.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Truly Tailored

Ink: Tranquil Tide, Crumb Cake

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, True Gentleman DSP

Accessories: Circle framelits, Finely Woven ribbon, dimensionals, glue dots

Springtime Petals - Stampin' Up! Petal Palette

  Just so you don't think that all I have are cards with bird images on them I decided to share a floral card today.  But don't worry I have a whole bunch of bird cards to share soon!

 This card started off as something completely different.  I think I was trying to design a card for one challenge or another and it just took on a life of it's own.  It wasn't where I intended to end up but I like the results!

  After I stamped the flowers and leaves on the Crumb Cake panel I thought it would be neat to see how the Stampin' Blends worked on colored cardstock and with an ink that wasn't Memento.  I was pleastantly surprised by the soft look the colors took on.  

  Once the background was complete I stamped a few more blossoms onto Very Vanilla cardstock in Crumb Cake ink and then colored those in as well.  Using the coordinating Petals & More thinlets I cut them out and highlighted the stamped sentiment which was cut with the Stitched Shapes framelits.

  A little bit of Gold Natural trim gives just a hint of sparkle to this spring time birthday card.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Petal Palette, Picture Perfect Birthday

Ink: Crumb Cake  Blends: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Calypso Coral

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Accessories: dimensionals, gold natural trim, Stitched Shapes framelits, Petals & More thinlets

Little Love Birds - Stampin' Up! Bird Banter - Fab Friday 131

We've made it through another week!  And to celebrate we have a Fab Friday challenge!  It's a sketch this time around and I'm excited to see what will be shared in our gallery.

  Lots of possibilies with this one!  I stayed true to the sketch except for changing the circle to a rectangle to accommodate the 2 sweet birds.

  I've been having fun coloring the birds in Bird Banter with my Stampin' Blends.  I kept the rest of the design basic so that the birds would stand out.  A bit of glimmer was brought in with the branch die cuts and some Wink of Stella on the heart.

  I can't wait to see your cards in the Fab Friday gallery.

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bird Banter, Thoughtful Banners

Ink: Memento black  Blends: Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Calypso Coral

Paper: Pool Party, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Bubbles & Fizz DSP (SAB), Myths & Magic Glimmer paper 

Accessories: Layered Leaves embossing folder, Petals & More thinlets, Layering Ovals framelits, Whisper White classic weave ribbon, dimensionals

  

Not Just Birthday Candles - Stampin' Up! Picture Perfect Birthday

  Today's card is a just a little bit out of season but it's never too early to start stocking up on Christmas cards.  I always like to try to see if a stamp set can be used for an occasion it wasn't necessarily made for.

  I used the Picture Perfect Birthday stamp set from the Occasions catalog to make some Christmas candles.  I think it worked out pretty well!

  A lot of Big Shot work on this card but it came together quickly.  I added a bit of vellum behind the window to make it a bit frosty like it was winter.

  I hope you'll be inspired to look at your stamps and see all the possibilities!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Picture Perfect Birthday

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Whisper White thick, Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Vellum, Gold foil, Quilted Christmas DSP (retired)

Accessories: Pinewood Planks embossing folder, Hearth & Home Thinlets, Pretty Pines Thinlets, gold embossing powder, dimensionals, mini ornament punch (retired), gold cord (retired)

Let's Have a Party - Stampin' Up! Picture Perfect Birthday

  Today's card is one I designed for my regular January class a few weeks ago.  I really wanted to highlight the Picture Perfect Party DSP stack.  The patterns and party photos are so fun that I had to design a card that my stampers could choose their own paper and build their card around it using the coordinating stamp set Picture Perfect Birthday.

  The card base is Basic Black, then the DSP layer.  Next, a wide band of Berry Burst was stamped with the little sprinkle/confetti stamp in Berry Burst ink.  A silver baker's twine bow brings in a bit of shimmer.

  Next, the sentiment is stamped in Basic Black and cut out with the Stitched Shape framelits.  On a piece of scrap Whisper White we stamped the noise maker.  The Bermuda Bay base is stamped off once and then the stripes are added over the top in full strength Bermuda Bay.  The other end is Berry Burst and then it is fussy cut.  No framelits with this stamp set but the images are pretty basic and not hard to cut with a good pair of scissors.  The little fringe was stamped separately in Lemon Lime Twist and fussy cut and then popped up on the noise maker with a mini dimensional.  Once the noise maker was complete it is adhered to the sentiment circle and then the circle is popped up on top of the Berry Burst band.

  When you've got great DSP like the Picture Perfect Party DSP you don't need to have a ton of stamping since the paper is the real star!  You could get all your birthday cards for the year made with this paper!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Picture Perfect Party

Ink: Black, Berry Burst, Bermuda Bay, Lemon Lime Twist

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Berry Burst, Picture Perfect Party DSP

Accessories: Stitched Shapes framelits, silver baker's twine, dimensionals

Trellis Roses - Stampin' Up! Petal Palette

  I realized the other day that I had a stack of cards that hadn't been photographed and shared yet.  Today's card is one that I designed for my Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration kick off event way back at the start of January.  The more I stamp with the Petal Palette stamp set the more I like it.  It's versatile for lots of occasions, can be colored- or not,  works well with DSP, really what's not to like!?

  The card base is Powder Pink and then a layer of the cool Petal Passion DSP backed with a piece of Whisper White.  My stampers chose from several different of the patterns from this pack.  The mix of geometric and floral patterns is a fun mix.

  Next is a piece of Whisper White cut with the fun trellis/lace die from the coordinating Petals & More Thinlets.

  The cluter of roses is stamped in black and then colored using sponge daubers in Powder Pink, Berry Burst and Emerald Envy inks and then cut out with the matching framelit.  It's then popped up on the edge of the trellis/DSP panel.  The sentiment stamped under the panel finishes off this card.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Petal Palette

Ink: Memento black, Powder Pink, Berry Burst, Emerald Envy

Paper: Powder Pink, Whisper White, Petal Passion DSP

Accesories: Petals & More thinlets, dimensionals

  

You're Awesome - Stampin' Up! Epic Celebrations

  You can't go wrong with a black, white and red color combo for a card.

  Using the Sale-a-Bration reward Epic Celebrations stamp set I pulled in some bold stripes from the Petal Passion DSP.  See you don't have to use the Petal Passion DSP on only flower-y cards!

  The guitar is colored with the Cherry Cobbler Blends and then popped on a layer of the Myths & Magic Glimmer paper.  Under the sentiment I layered 3 different ribbons for some more shimmer and shine.  The Basic Gray is also one of the Sale-a-Bration rewards, then a strip of the mini black sequin trim and finally a piece of the silver baker's twine.

 I think I'll be using this card for one of my boys for Valentine's day.  They are getting to the age where hearts and pink just don't cut it anymore.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Epic Celebrations (SAB)

Ink: Memento black  Blends: Cherry Cobbler

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White thick, Real Red, Petal Passion DSP, Myths & Magic Glimmer paper

Accessories: Shimmer Ribbon pack (SAB), mini sequin trim, silver baker's twine, dimensionals,  

'Free' Birthday - Stampin' Up! Birthday Wit

With all of the things you need to watch out for in food these days with allergies, diets and sensitivities I really laughed out loud when I saw the Birthday Wit stamp set in the Occasions catalog.  The stamp I used for today's card is what I think of as the 'free' birthday greeting!

  This is a basic card design pulling the colors from the fabulous True Gentleman DSP.  I stamped the sentiment in Night of Navy and then again in Crumb Cake and Tranquil Tide.  Using my paper snips I  cut a few of the words out and popped them up with dimensionals over the words on the main panel.  The mini dimensionals are the perfect size!

  A bit of the Night of Navy corduroy ribbon as a flag under the sentiment panel finishes this super easy and fun card off.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Birthday Wit

Ink: Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Tranquil Tide

Paper: Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, True Gentleman DSP

Accessories: dimensionals, Corduroy ribbon

Perfect Plum Lavender - Stampin' Up! Lots of Lavender

One thing you can always count on during Stampin' Up!'s annual Sale-a-Bration (SAB) event is that there is sure to be a fantastic floral stamp set in the rewards options.  This year I think we have 2 wonderful choices in Heartfelt Blooms and Lots of Lavender.  My card today uses Lots of Lavender on a nice basic design with some pops of gold.

 Starting with a Perfect Plum card base I stamped the outline flower stamp in Perfect Plum ink.  Then I stamped the same out line image in Versamark and embossed it with gold embossing powder.  I used the 2 step fill in stamps to add the color to the bouquet; Perfect Plum for the flowers, Old Olive for the leave and stem and then Powder Pink for the bow.

  I used a gold foil mat, an Old Olive flag and bit of Powder Pink ribbon to add some details and the finishing touch are a few gold sequins.

  I left off a sentiment to be added to the inside later before mailing.  I find that sometimes I don't have enough blank cards to grab in a pinch so I thought this would be a nice all purpose design!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Lots of Lavender (SAB)

Ink: Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Powder Pink, Versamark

Paper: Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Gold Foil

Accessories: gold embossing powder, gold sequins, Powder Pink finely woven ribbon

Because...Go Birds!!! - Stampin' Up! Bird Banter

  Our house is going to be flying high for quite a while after the BIG Super Bowl win last night by our Philadelphia Eagles!  We were all decked out in our Eagles green at home with just the 4 of us watching since we knew we wouldn't have been good company at a party!   It was an exhilarating rollercoaster as a fan and I'm pretty sure the neighbors could hear us hooting and hollering and jumping around in a slightly stunned frenzy when the game finally ended.  It probably sounded as if way more than 4 people were here!

  To celebrate, my boys wanted to go to school with green hair this morning!  Why not right?  Hope I don't get a call from their schools!

  Anyway, onto the card for today...which has birds of course!  I don't have any eagle stamps so the birds from Bird Banter are as close as I can get.

  It was fun to use a bunch of new products on this card.  The card base is Lemon Lime Twist stamped with the flower and leaf stamp from the Bird Banter set.  At the top is a strip of the SAB Bubbles & Fizz DSP.

  The birds and party hat are stamped in Memento black and then colored with Stampin' Blends and cut out with the Layering Circles dies.  I backed each one with a slightly larger circle cut from the fantastic Myths & Magic glimmer paper.  The colors are great.  Then they are popped with dimensionals.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bird Banter

Ink: Memento black, Lemon Lime Twist  

Blends: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Pool Party

Paper: Lemon Lime Twist, Whisper White, Myths & Magic Glimmer paper, Bubbles & Fizz DSP (SAB)

Accessories: Layering Circles framelits, circle punches, dimensionals

  

Happy Birthday Wishes - Stampin' Up! Happy Wishes - Fab Friday 130

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you've set aside some time this weekend to do some stamping!  The Fab Friday Design Team has been hard at work on a new challenge for you to join in on!

  We have a great color combination this week!

   This would be a great start to a Valentine's Day card or even a baby girl card.  I went with a birthday card this time as I'm trying to build up my stockpile for the onslaught of February birthdays in our family.

  A few weeks ago I had to order a bunch of cardstock and other stamping necessities and it just so happened that I earned some Sale-a-Bration (SAB) rewards so I decided to get the big Happy Wishes stamp set!  So many sentiment options with this set.  And the fun floral look of the 'happy' and 'best' will be perfect for spring cards.

  For my background I decided to go with color blocks in the challenge colors and then jazzed them up with 3 different embossing folders.

  The sentiment was stamped in black and then I colored in the flowers with ink pads and a blender pen.

  The 'birthday' was stamped in black onto Sweet Sugar Plum and then flagged.  I pulled in a bit more Melon Mambo by coloring some of the new 1/4" tafetta ribbon with my old Melon Mambo alcohol marker.  We don't have Melon Mambo in the Blends....yet.  Hoping for more colors to expand the offerings.  I hit the ribbon with a little blast from my heat gun and it gave it a nice little crinkle.  I wouldn't recommend doing too much heat or the ribbon could melt.  A bit of the black mini sequin trim and a faceted gem finish off the embellishments.

  I hope to see your card in our Fab Friday challenge gallery!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Happy Wishes (SAB)

Ink: Melon Mambo, Sweet Sugar Plum, Powder Pink, black

Paper: Whisper White thick, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Sweet Sugar Plum, Powder Pink

Accessories: Petal Pair embossing folders, Quilt Top embossing folder, Oval framelits, dimensionals, 1/4" tafetta ribbon, black mini sequin trim, faceted gem