A Good Card To Always Have On Hand

Sympathy cards are not my favorite kind of cards to make. It's always good to keep a sympathy card around for those unexpected times. I've had people ask to buy one from me, so it's not a bad thing for a card maker/stamper to have on hand.
When I first saw the Stampin' Up! set Close As a Memory, I knew it would be a keeper. I didn't have any sympathy stamp sets and this one was so beautiful and perfect to me. This set makes it easy to create a beautiful, quick card.

I used Night of Navy for my card base. I stamped the flowers in Whisper White Craft Ink all over the front of the card. Be careful when working with Craft Ink - it takes some time to dry! You can speed the process by waving your heat tool back & forth over it to dry quicker.

I stamped in Night of Navy ink "With Heartfelt Sympathy" on Whisper White cardstock (2.75 x 1.25) and mounted it on Night of Navy cardstock (3 x 1.50). I attached this piece to the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

My new love is Stampin' Up! Mini Library Clips. OMG! True love upon opening the little container they come in. A few customers of mine ordered them & I just didn't get the draw. I thought they would be too bulky and hard to send through the mail on a card. Boy was I wrong! These things are so tiny and cute I'm ready to order a second set!!! I get a little nutty over things sometimes. Forgive me!!! Try them, you will love them! I added a clip to my sentiment to finish it off.

Have a wonderful day and check back soon! Thanks for visiting!!!

Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up!):

Stamps: Close As a Memory (item #114946)

Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Night of Navy

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Whisper White

Accessories: Mini Library Clips (love them!!! #109857)

For you

What a beautiful weekend here! I hope you had warm sunny weather too. This morning when I woke up, I didn't want to get out of bed! All that fresh air made me tired. I'll take it though!

This card was created for a graduation card for one of my friends. I used some retired SU! patterned paper for the background and the Great Friend stamp set (#113792) from the new mini! I stamped "for you" in Whisper White Craft Ink on Chocolate Chip cardstock. The fun shape of this centerpiece was created using the Matchbox Bigz XL Die (#114890) from the mini as well. I layered the piece on pop dots and stamped upward from corner to corner the leaf from the Great Friend set. I added a little ribbon from the last sale-a-bration and some Prima flowers.

To make things a little interesting, I rounded opposing corners only of the Chocolate Chip and Whisper White cardstock on the center part of the card. When you decorate an edge or corner, don't think you have to do all sides. It makes it more interesting, I think, when you do something a little unconventional. Just a little tip!

Have a wonderful Monday and be sure to stop back soon! Thank you for visiting today!

Tiffany
Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up! unless noted otherwise):
Stamps: Great Friend
Patterned Paper: Petal Patch (retired)
Cardstock: Blush Blossom, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Whisper White Craft Ink
Tools: Matchbox Bigz XL Die
Accessories: Certainly Celery Ribbon, Prima Flowers, American Crafts brads

Guest Stamper!

Happy Saturday everyone! The weather is warm - almost hot - so I'm heading out shortly.

I am very excited to share with you a card I was sent for my birthday from one of my customers and friend.

Last year I met Claire Guenin at a card class in Pittsburgh. During the class she mentioned she lost her SU! demonstrator. After class, as I was shopping around the store, I introduced myself to her. I told her I was a SU! demonstrator and if she still wanted to purchase SU! products, I sell them directly online. We exchanged e-mails and I gave her my website. Since then she has been a customer of mine and most importantly a virtual stamping friend!

For my birthday last month, she sent me this adorable card and some beautiful soaps from her store. The soaps smell so good my little one asked if we can eat it! Hee hee!

I love Claire's card! The embossing on the bottom is beautiful and I love the colors she chose. She used Just Buzzin' By stamp set from Stampin' Up! (item# 113228). Claire has shared with me some other cards she has made and one is just as beautiful as the next.

Please leave a comment for Claire at the end of the post to let her know what you like best about her card.

Enjoy the warm, sunny weekend! Thank you for stopping by!

Learn.. Live... Hope

Creating this type of card was completely out of my comfort zone!

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a girly girl. I love pink and I don't like getting my hands dirty! The stamps we are drawn to create with reflect our personality as well. I have a ton of flower, leaves, and tree sets - pretty stamps. Love them! I can't get enough!!!

I forced myself, and it was a little painful, to buy this set from the new mini because it's like nothing else I have. It's called Sense of Time. Nobody has enough time anymore & I know I always complain about it, so I knew I would use this set. I can see it on a scrapbook page too. Bonus! It's really neat, I must say.

I decided to create a masculine looking card with it. I stuck with Chocolate Chip and Tempting Turquoise for my colors. Again, out of my comfort zone. Where is Pretty in Pink??? Do you miss it??? I do - sniff, sniff.

I blocked my background into 3 pieces of patterned paper from Stampin' Up! Walk in the Park collection. I layered two different sizes of Nestabilities to attach the clock to. The clock was stamped in Tempting Turquoise and the saying in Chocolate Chip. I added a cute little brad from SU! Vintage collection near the bottom.

What do you think? Stay in my comfort zone or not? Be honest, you won't hurt my feelings.


Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Sense of Time (#113804)
Designer Series Paper: Walk in the Park (#115123)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Vintage Brads (#109109)
Tools: Nestabilities

Walk in the Park

What a beautiful weekend! Too bad it goes so fast. So how is your Monday so far? I wish I could say Monday's are a "walk in the park", but they seldom are.

Speaking of "Walk in the Park", my creation today is all about that. Check out page 9 of the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog. This paper is gorgeous! I thought it was pretty in the catalog until I received it in person. Now I'm going with "gorgeous" to describe it.

I made a card out of a half sheet of 8.5 x 11 Whisper White cardstock. I used a 5.5 x 4 inch piece of the gray patterned paper, from the Walk in the Park collection, as my first layer. Next, I took a 1 inch wide strip of Whisper White cardstock and finished the edge with the Eyelet Border punch. I cut that piece to 5.5 inches long and added it about 1/2 inch from the top of the gray patterned paper.

I decided to use the bright Cameo Coral patterned paper from the collection to really make a statement against the gray. I think it worked! This piece is 5.5 x 2.5 inches.

The square piece with the sentiment is 3x3 inches - Whisper White cardstock, a different gray patterned paper from the collection, Cameo Coral scallop circle, and a Whisper White circle for the stamped image.

I stamped an image from the Pocket Silhouettes set in Basic Gray ink. It's a very simple, yet elegant stamp set to use. I've seen a lot of neat things created with this set. See one of my prior postings with this set by clicking HERE.

After I assembled the 3x3 square piece, I tied a sheer gray ribbon around the center of the card and attached the square piece.

As the card reads, "thanks so much", for visiting my blog today! Have a good one!

Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes (#111672)

Designer Series Paper: Walk in the Park (#115123)

Carstock: Whisper White, Cameo Coral

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Sheer gray ribbon (from Michaels Arts & Crafts)

Tools: Eyelet Border Punch (#13692), Nestabilities

Tea Party Anyone?

I'm talking Tea Party Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! I love how colorful and cheery this paper is for Spring & Summer. Today is supposed to be warm & sunny - finally! I can't wait to soak up that sun and fresh air!

Since I'm in the mood for sun and freshness, I created a card with that thought in mind. I used Certainly Celery cardstock for the card base. There are actually 4 layers added to the card base:

1) striped background
2) yellow dots paper layered on Certainly Celery
3) horizontal flower piece with the "V" cut out and Certainly Celery underneath
4) the butterfly (Flight of the Butterfly - SU!) stamped on Whisper White cardstock and matted on Certainly Celery with a small piece of the matching flower paper on the bottom

I tied white grosgrain ribbon at the bottom and secured the knot through the new Designer Hardware - Basic Jumbo Grommets, from the new mini catalog. These Grommets are a great deal! You get 20 pieces in 4 different colors for under $7.00. Colors include Basic Black, Silver, Very Vanilla, and Whisper White. Gotta love a good deal on hardware!

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to take time to stamp! Thanks for stopping by!


Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up!):
Stamps - Flight of the Butterfly (#111564)
Designer Series Paper - Tea Party (#113992)
Cardstock - Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink - Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue
Accessories - White Grosgrain Ribbon, White Designer Hardware Basic Jumbo Grommets (#114348)

Pocket Card Madness - Top Note Die Pocket Card

I am going a little pocket card crazy lately. I hope you don't mind!

I like to make my husband cards for no reason at all. When you're first married, your really good at all that lovey dovey stuff. Time goes by, kids come along . . . you know how it goes! I have good intentions, but it doesn't always work out. Masculine cards are always a challenge for me too. Here is a very simple one for you to try!

I used less than 1 sheet of To the Nines Specialty paper. This paper collection is perfect for masculine cards. It's double sided and thick, which is great for cards!

I die cut two Stampin' Up! Top Note's. I folded down one of the Top Note's about 1/3 of the way down. I stamped a sentiment and framed it with hardware to the card front (folded piece). I added glue around the very edge of the folded piece and adhered it to the other full Top Note die cut.

The little card that gets tucked inside this card is 2.5 x 4 inches. You can add your own little note on this or stamp a little saying like I did. To finish it off, I added a little round tab and one of SU! new Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons!

Have fun with this type of pocket card, and don't forget to share your love for stamping with the ones you love!

Thank you for visiting today! Have a good one!

Recipe (All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless noted otherwise):

Stamps: Best Yet (retired), Printworks (Have a Wonderful Day)

Ink: Close to Cocoa

Designer Series Paper: To the Nines Specialty (#114038)

Hodgepodge Hardware: Antique Brass (retired)

Corduroy Buttons in Chocolate Chip (#114339), Ribbon

Tools: Top Note Die (#113463), Round Tab Punch (108340)

Pocket Full of Posies

I hope you had a wonderful Easter holiday! I think my son & I have sugar hangovers. Hee hee!

I really wish I could tell you I came up with this card all by myself, but I cannot tell a lie! Last week Splitcoaststampers had a Technique Challenge (TLC215) with the pattern for this Flower Pot Pocket Card. With Mother's Day just around the corner, and my mother being a Master Gardener, I had to give this a whirl.

It actually looks harder than it is. Although the template is not my idea, the design is!

I used Really Rust for my cardbase to make it look like a terra cotta pot. The pot was covered in retired SU! patterned paper which I matched the flowers and leaves to.

The flowers were die cut through my Big Shot using the Cherry Blossom embosslit and Blush Blossom cardstock. I layered the leaves in Certainly Celery cardstock behind them using the 5-Petal Punch.

I couldn't decide on the center for the flowers, so I did one with pearls and one with dew drops. Which do you like better?

Now check out the inside of the pocket card to the right here. The SU! set, Curvy Verses, is the perfect fit for the inside of the card.

I hope you give this Flower Pot Pocket Card a try! I think it will make a great Mother's Day card.

Have a wonderful Monday and stop back soon!


Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up! unless noted otherwise):
Stamps: Curvy Verses
Ink: Basic Grey
Cardstock: Really Rust, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Cherry Blossom Embosslit
Dew Drops or Pearls
Ribbon

Easter Favors - Reese's PB Cups - Mmmm!

I took into the office today these little Easter greeting treats for my co-workers. My little ones eye caught them this morning and he says "oh wow . . . candy!" He is so cute!

They are super easy to create! All you need are some good hand tools from Stampin' Up! I used the Top Note Bigz Die, Round Tab Punch, Slit Punch, & 1/16" Circle punch.

Directions for this treat are easy! Cut out two Top Note Dies for each treat. One is for the base - patterned paper, and one is for the inner part you can stamp on (solid color cardstock). Before you assemble the two pieces together, use the slit punch to punch two slits near the bottom. On each slit I added two little punched out 1/16" circles. Glue both pieces together, add your stamped message at the top, and attach your Round Tab and your done! These are an easy assembly line project!

Next to Peeps, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are a close 2nd to my favorite candy! How about you?

Have a wonderful day and if you're traveling this weekend, be safe!

Hippity Hoppity . . .

Easter is on the way! I just put in the mail all my Easter cards this morning.

This is one of the last Easter cards I made. I just love this little bunny from the new SU! occasions mini catalog called Eight Great Greetings.

I made a soft pink shadow behind the stamped bunny using Stampin' Pastels (chalk). The beautiful background paper is from the SU! Tea Party Designer Series Paper. It's perfect paper for Spring and Summer cards.

Are you ready for Easter? I'm getting there. We are going to color eggs tomorrow night. Thursday evening we will take Brandon for his picture with the Easter bunny. Friday I need to grocery shop and Saturday is the Easter egg hunt at the zoo. Busy week! All fun!!!

Have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting my blog!

Recipe (all products from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted)

Stamps: Eight Great Greeting (SU!) and Hero Arts (Easter Greetings)

Designer Series Paper - Tea Party

Cardstock & Ink: Green Galore, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Basic Black

Accessories: Prima flowers, Making Memories brads, Pink satin ribbon

Tools: Nestabilities

Celebrate . . . Hooray for Friday!

Who is glad it's Friday? I am!!! I've got a busy weekend planned. Among other things, I am taking my son to the Sesame Street Live show this weekend. It's his first show, so I really think he is going to love it! I'm exited to take him.

I felt like creating something a little formal the other evening. Clean, simple, and elegant. This is what I came up with. The stamps, patterned paper, and die cut is all from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog. Are you loving the new mini yet?

I created a different size card again to keep things interesting. For this one, take 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of Whisper White cardstock and cut it in half the long way. Fold it in half and there you have it!

I matted two different papers from the Walk in the Park Designer Series on top of matching solid color cardstock to make them stand out a little more. I arranged and adhered the layers to the card, securing the ribbon over the edge of the top layer. I added my little die cuts overlapping everything. I just love the Matchbox Bigz Die! I think it's really cool!

I hope you had a great week and have a nice long weekend to kick back, relax, and stamp of course! Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Matchbox Messages (#113800)
Designer Series Paper: Walk in the Park
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Barely Banana
Ink: Basic Gray
Matchbox Bigz XL Die (#114890)
Grosgrain ribbon

SU! Occasions Mini Catalog Has Arrived! No April Fools Here.

Happy April Fools Day! I already had someone at work play a joke on me yesterday. A day early! No fair!

I'll tell you what isn't a joke - the arrival of the new Stampin' Up! occasions mini catalog! It's got some serious stamps, patterned paper, and accessories. Love it, love it, love it!

My creation today utilizes just a few goodies from the new mini catalog. I used Great Friend stamp set, Basic Gray Corduroy Buttons, Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper, and last but not least, Matchbox Bigz XL Die.

This friendship card is 5 inch square in Basic Gray cardstock. I took my Stampin' Up! Circle Scissors Plus, measured in about 2 inches on the card front edge, and trimmed off a half circle. I added coordinating patterned paper on the front and inside. I punched out a small hole on the exposed inside part of the card, on the far right-hand side, to put my ribbon through. On the rounded end of the card front, I added a corduroy button to loop my ribbon around. When you attach the button, leave a little room between the button & paper before fastening. This way, after you open the card, you can loop it back around and tie your bow again. Make sense?

The butterflies were stamped in Whisper White Craft Ink on Basic Gray cardstock. For their little bodies, I added pearls to keep it soft looking. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray on Whisper White cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot to get my diecut image using the Matchbox Bigz Die.

It's been fun playing with the new products and I have so much more to show you! Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you like best from the new mini!

Recipe (all products listed below with item #'s next to them are from the new SU! occasions mini catalog):

Stamps: Great Friend (#113792)

Designer Series Paper: Walk in the Park (#115123)

Cardstock: Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink: Whisper White Craft ink, Basic Gray

Die: Matchbox Bigz XL Die (#114890)

Accessories: Basic Gray Corduroy Buttons (#114345), Ribbon, Pearls