Category Archives: cards

Layers, layers, layers

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I do hope you’re not tired of this little typewriter yet…

 

You're My Type in Marina Mist

Did you notice that the First Edition Designer Series paper is all about the news?  And did you see my little bit of black “typewriter ribbon”???  I KNOW.

Keeping a card interesting when there is just a single image can be challenging.  I usually do one of two things – lots and lots of layers, or no layers whatsoever.  In this case, it’s lots of layers (brilliant, huh? – I’m a rocket surgeon in my spare time!)  I did have to fight the temptation to add buttons and brads and all of that.  I’m still on my “gotta be able to mail it” kick.  Don’t know how much longer that’s gonna last, because my fingers are gettin’ twitchy for some big bling.

I’m trying to keep a minimalist attitude these days.  Spring break is coming, and we’ve got a trip planned.  Mr. Maui Stamper has decided that we should carry on luggage – for a 9 day trip.  You know, travel light.   I feel like the Little Engine that Could – I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.  I think I have the clothing thing down – black is a wonderful color, and with temperatures in the 50’s, it will be layers, layers, layers!  I have the shoe thing down – I’m a comfort-before-beauty kind of girl when it comes to shoes.  The problem is that dog-gone quart ziploc bag.  All of my girl-stuff is NOT going to fit, and I NEED my shampoo, and conditioner, and lotions and magical potions!  I may have to leave the “Hair-be-tame” potion behind, which means I will have hair like nobody’s business – GINORMOUS.   There may or may not be a photographic record of this trip, at least as far as my presence is concerned.  Stay tuned.

 

 

So much simpler than it looks…REALLY!

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We made this card at club last week.  When I pulled it out, everyone ooh-ed and aah-ed, but when I told them this was the card du’jour, they were all SHOCKED.  Once I demonstrated how you pull it together, they gave me a bad time about how many little flowers they were going to have to punch, but they were ready to give it a whirl:

Floral Cascade card

Doesn’t it look like a flower garden at its peak in the middle of summer?  Here’s what it looks like opened up:

Floral cascading card open

No supply list – it’s any and all paper and texture stamps you have around plus every floral punch you own (and the XL Bird).  Pull out EVERYTHING and you’re ready to rock and roll!

Here’s what it looks like from the top when it’s open:

Floral cascading card top view

I encounted this card on Pinterest and you can see Sonia’s post HERE.  She offers a tutorial for the card, and shares how thrilled she was to have it published in Papercraft Inspirations.  Prety fabulous stuff, if you ask me!

My little Swiss gnome

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I have a gnome.  He used to sit in my garden, but the sun here is SO strong that his colors got completely washed out, so I gave him a fresh coat of paint and moved him to my shady potting bench.  (Hijack:  if you didn’t already know it, Mr. Maui Stamper is THE BEST.  I couldn’t find a potting bench I liked, so he BUILT me one for my birthday a couple of years ago.  I love it.)   Anyway, my little gnome sits on the top shelf looking benevolently over my projects.

He’s a genuine Swiss gnome; I bought him at a hardware store in Locarno in 2005 when we visited Mr. Maui Stamper’s family there.  I think our hostess thought I was nuts, buying this goofy terra cotta gnome to haul all over Switzerland and Italy in my suitcase.  And perhaps I was (and still may be!)  But this fellow reminds me of a wonderful trip, and keeps an eye on things for me.  It’s dark outside right now, but tomorrow I need to go out there and take his picture so you can see what a charming fellow he is.

Now you can understand why this is just one of those stamp sets that wouldn’t let me say no:

Gnome Sweet Gnome Birthday

  • Gnome Sweet Gnome and You’re My Type stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Real Red, Daffodil Delight and Not Quite Navy card stock
  • Staz-on Black ink pad; Old Olive and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads
  • Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper
  • Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Basic Grey and Blushing Bride Classic Ink refills
  • Aquapainter
  • Real Red 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon
  • Brights Brads
  • 1 1/4 inch circle punch

It’s just silly as can be, and those gnomes…well, they certainly have a personality of their own.  The little frog makes me laugh, and the gnomes…well, they remind me of Switzerland.

 

 

 

Sending love and sympathy

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Recently I needed sympathy cards.  I try to have one or two on hand, but I much prefer making just the right card.  It allows me to create something just for the person who has lost a loved one, and I can also spend some time thinking about them and praying for them as they grieve.

These cards were made for young adults – a brother and sister who lost their dad.  This is the card I made for the young woman:

Simply Soft Sympathy

  • Simply Soft and Faith in Nature stamp sets (both hostess sets)
  • Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Naturals White card stock
  • Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads
  • Baja Breeze seam binding

I considered adding pearls and other embellishments, but ended up rejecting all of that for the simplicity of the flowers.  I folded the seam binding in half – it’s so soft that it takes that treatment easily and can still be mailed without extra postage.

Lately, cards that can be mailed without extra postage have become more of a focus for me.  I think twice before adding buttons, big brads and other heavy bling.  I LOVE those embellishments – don’t get me wrong – but I mail a lot of cards and those extras create headaches at the post office.  I’m keeping the 3-D goodies for hand-delivered cards, and there are plenty of those, too.

Here’s the companion card for the young man:

Medallion Sympathy

  • Medallion and Thoughts and Prayers stamp sets
  • Old Olive and Naturals White card stock
  • Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads
  • 1/2 and 1 3/4 inch circle punches
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Crystal Effects

The “brad” in the center is nothing more than a circle of cardstock covered with Crystal Effects, and I left off that girly-frou-frou ribbon stuff.

Although these cards are similar in color and general style, the fact that they coordinate was more for my benefit than that of my young friends.  As I thought of the two of them,  putting these complimentary cards together gave me a little comfort.  I hope it did the same for them.

 

Froggy thoughts

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Trends are fun to watch and follow, but I have to confess I am not much a trend-setter.  I’m not exactly late to the party, but I’m not at the head of the parade, either.  I’ve played with flags and pennants a little, but it wasn’t until today’s card that I felt I came up with something a little bit different:

  • Fabulous Phrases and Gnome Sweet Gnome stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Pool Party, Pear Pizazz and Wisteria Wonder card stock
  • Pool Party, Pear Pizazz and Wisteria Wonder Classic ink pads
  • Pear Pizazz Stampin’ Write marker
  • Cupcake Builder punch
  • Heart to Heart punch
  • Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Wisteria Wonder Bakers Twine
  • Piercing Tool and mat
  • Big Shot and Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing folder

We made this card at my Last Minute Valentines class a couple of weeks ago.  No one believed me when I said I sewed the Baker’s Twine to the card – but it was easy and secure.  I used the piercing tool (aka the Pokey Doodle) to make a hole under the spot for the pot (made from the Cupcake punch – and trimmed).  I threaded all 3 strands of twine through the hole and scotch taped them to the back of the panel.  Then I made two holes above the place I wanted each of the 3 flags to be and threaded one color down and back up each set of holes – clear as mud?  The two holes created an anchor for the single color of thread that coordinated with the flag, and with a simple knot at the top my twine was secure.  I LOVE Glue dots, but they don’t hold ribbons and twine securely enough for my satisfaction.  Call me picky.

Change up the words and you could have any sort of card.  This card seems to span gender and generation as well – a neat trick if I do say so myself.  And who can resist the little frog from the Gnome set?  I do hope we’ll see that set in the new catalog – coming JUNE 1st!!

 

Plunging into pink

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I’m not usually an all-pink kind of person, but every now and then the girly-gene takes over and Ican’t resist:

Simply Soft in pinks

  • Simply Soft stamp set
  • Whisper White, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Wild Wasabi card stock
  • Pink Pirouette Classic ink pad
  • Regal Rose and Wild Wasabi Stampin’ Write markers
  • Pink Pirouette 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon
  • Big Shot and Adorning Accents textured impressions embossing folders

This was a valentine but it could be used for any girly occasion.  I left the front without a sentiment and stamped it inside, just because.

I wasn’t sure if I would like the Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing folders, but of course I do.  I don’t know why I ever bother to wonder if I’ll like something – there’s very little I truly dislike.  This particular folder isn’t very wide, but that’s the idea: it allows you to emboss a strip across a card at the top, bottom or the middle. I suppose if you were feeling very hearty you could do all three.

I’ll be sad when the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog closes out the end of May and Simply Soft goes the way of all hostess sets.  The images are exactly what the title says – simple and soft.  I’ve used them all many times, so I suppose the positive way to look at it is that I have gotten my money’s worth.  Of course, since this is a hostess set I didn’t pay real dollars for it, so to say I’ve gotten my money’s worth is rather silly.  Hmph.  And silly is where all of this is going!

It’s late, as usual.  I’m a night owl.  Time to hoot at the moon and get to bed.

 

Variations on a theme

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I’ve seen a number of cards based on this simple layout, but introduce a simple change of color and you have something entirely new:

Blushing Bride Mixed Bunch Birthday

  • Mixed Bunch and Elementary Elegance Stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Pear Pizazz, Blushing Bride and Not Quite Navy Card stock
  • Twitterpated Designer Series Paper
  • Blushing Bride and Pear Pizazz Classic ink pads
  • Pear Pizazz, Cherry Cobbler and Not Quite Navy Stampin’ Write markers
  • Big Shot
  • Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
  • Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die
  • Blossom punch
  • Blossom Builder Punch
  • Glue dots and Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Simply Scored

Simple but cheerful!  And who doesn’t need a birthday card from time to time?

The Mixed Bunch image is stamped on Whisper White and punched for the top layer, but the second layer is just punched from Blush Blossom – no one can see any stamping there anyway!  I used my Simply Scored tool to put those lines on the leaves, but you could manage quite easily with a bone folder and a straight edge.  I intentionally didn’t put a button in the middle of that flower, although it was begging for one, as I wanted to be able to mail this card without extra postage.

Now, a word about adhesives; don’t make it hard for yourself!  Buy quality adhesives and have a couple of different things on hand, and you’ll find your card-making goes so much more smoothly.  Glue dots are great for adhering layers like the two punched flowers, but they are indispensible for tucking those skinny little leaves UNDERNEATH the blossom.  A Stampin’ Dimensional gives you – well – DIMENSION, and it also provides a little room to squeeze in those leaves.

Get the adhesive.  Be kind to yourself.  You deserve it.

New Big Shot goodies

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Every time there’s new Big Shot stuff, I have a little conversation with myself.  (And yes, I do talk to myself – mutter is more like it – ask Cheryl if you don’t believe me.)  We go back and forth, my selves and I, on why we need more stuff for the Big Shot.  It’s just another shape…or texture…or container…and that’s just it.  It’s why I signed up to be a demonstrator.  I love getting all the cool new toys.

The Occasions Mini catalog introduced us to the world of Edgelits that cut beautiful, unique shapes on the edges of cardstock and coordinated Embossing Folders to put on the finishing touches.  It’s enough to make a crafter light-headed.

Bordering on Romance

  • Loving Thoughts and Bordering on Romance Stamp sets
  • Whisper White Card Stock
  • Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
  • Soft Suede and Poppy Parade Classic Ink pad
  • Poppy Parade, Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze and Peach Parfait Stampin’ Write markers
  • Big Shot
  • Adorning Accents Edgelits dies
  • Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
  • Baja Breeze Seam Binding

Cutting and embossing these edges goes really quickly.  The Edgelit dies are lightweight and easy to position – I’ve heard some crafters say they use a little dotto to hold them in place, but I haven’t found the need to do that…and I’m kind of picky.

I usually like to color in open images with my Aquapainter and some Classic ink, but I looked at this card and thought the saturated colors in the DSP needed equally saturated colors on the card front.  Our paper is so easy to work with – it’s smooth and the markers just glide across.  I try to cover the area with a single stroke ( no back-and-forth) to avoid distressing the paper or creating too many lines in my color.  The more I do it, the better I get – if I do say so myself!

Simple, with a dash of sparkle

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Valentine’s Day is on the way, and I need to get cards in the mail.  It’s an occupational hazard of living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – so many of the people I love live across the water.  I’ve been hard at work:

Thoughts of You Triple Heart Punch

  • Loving Thoughts Stamp Set
  • Whisper White and Real Red card stock
  • Real Red Prints Pack Designer Series Paper
  • Red Glimmer Paper
  • Triple Heart Punch
  • Bitty Heart Punch
  • 5/8 inch Real Red satin ribbon
  • Stampin’ Dimensional

This is easy as can be and a quick switch  into other colors as well!  It was inspired by a series of cards done by Lisa at I’m in Haven – go check them out as she did some gorgeous cards using this punch.  I haven’t decided if I like this oriented with the little hearts in the center – I think I may make another card with them tuned the other way.  It’s an organizational thing 🙂

You could easily leave off that sparkly, blingy heart – but why?

Hooray for Getting Things Done!!

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Oh, I do love a good, productive day!

I’m an organizer.  I make lists, block out time for important tasks, and when they are done I love to check them off.  I’ve heard the comments – call it what you want, I don’t care – it makes me happy.  Lately, however, MY important tasks have taken a back seat to OTHERS’ important tasks.  It’s not that those other tasks were unimportant – but they kept crowding out the things I wanted to do.  I’ve been out-of-sorts as I’ve seen things like “Complete the FAFSA” and “Prepare the minutes for the Pastoral Council meeting for distribution” get checked off, while things like “Make Valentines” and “Unpack new Stampin’ Up! goodies” remain on my list.  (If you don’t know what the FAFSA is, be grateful – and if we receive some financial aid for my son when he attends university next year, I’ll be grateful.)

This morning I was able to slay enough dragons (yes!!  it’s the Year of the Dragon!) on my list that I could justify an afternoon in my studio.  I did a little straightening up (just enough so I could find my mojo) then cracked open a few ink pads.  There were so many cards waiting to get put to paper!!

Branch Out Valentine

  • Branch Out (retired) and Pennant Parade stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Early Espresso and Pool Party card stock
  • Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Triple Heart punch
  • Calypso Coral Bakers Twine
  • Rhinestone Jewels
  • Simply Scored

I know I shouldn’t keep using Branch Out.  It’s a retired stamp set.  Oh, but it makes me so happy!!  There are other trees in the IBC – you could substitute Season of Friendship – but this one is my all time favorite. The card base is Very Vanilla, but it has a pinkish cast in my photo.  I gave up on that dragon.

If you haven’t placed a Sale-a-bration order yet, maybe it’s time to scoot yourself over to my Online Store and place a $50 order so that you can have your own package of Everyday Enchantment (#126154).  I’m ashamed to admit how many packages I have stashed away!  I love every single pattern, I love the colors, and I love the way it all works together.  Isn’t that how it is with Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper??

Occasions Mini 2012 Ribbon Share

I also have a few Occasions Mini Catalog Ribbon Shares left – for $15 (plus shipping) you’ll get 1 yard each of the new pleated ribbons in Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze and Pear Pizazz, plus 5 yards of each of the new Bakers Twines:  Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Wisteria Wonder.  I’ve even included a yard each of the Sale-a-bration skinny organza ribbon in Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade.  Contact me if you’re interested.

Thanks for stopping by!  Writing this post was the last thing on today’s MUST DO list – now it’s back to the studio for some play-time.