Category Archives: cards

You’ve Got a Friend – MOJO114

Posted on by
Reply

Many years ago, my husband and I went to a James Taylor concert…kind of a blast from the past for us, as we were part of  his fan club back in the early days.  I remember walking through the amphitheater during a break and overhearing a couple of “kids” talking.  One asked the other “Isn’t it weird how all these OLD people know all the lyrics to his songs?”  I can only imagine what the reaction would be now.  I must be approaching the Ancient category.

This week’s Mojo sketch called for a small image, but I found a way to use the entire card as my canvas.  The colors from the Thoroughly Modern paper seemed to have just the right intensity and pattern for an awning, and I even had the ribbon I needed to finish the look.

  • Cheep Talk stamp set
  • Rose Red and Bermuda Bay Classic ink pads; Whisper White Craft ink pad
  • Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Write marker; Unibal Signo Gel pen
  • Bermuda Bay, Rose Red and Whisper White card stock; Thoroughly Modern Designer Series paper
  • Scallop Edge punch; White embossing powder and heat tool; Stamp-a-ma-jig
  • Rose Red 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon; Piercing tool and template

This week you can purchase the Cheep Talk stamp set, a package of note cards, and the gorgeous Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons for $25.71 – that’s a 40% discount!  Head on over to my Online Store and check out all the great Holiday Extravaganza deals.  See you around, Friend.

Ah, Medallion!

Posted on by
1

If I had to choose only a few stamps to work with, Medallion would be very near the top of the list.  It’s elegant, it’s symmetrical, it’s layerable, and it looks great even if you cut part of the image off.  There are so many ways to embellish it, and it looks wonderful all by itself with no embellishment.

I felt the need to step away from Christmas.  This is the week to give thanks, to remember, to be grateful.  I looked for a color combination that I hadn’t worked with lately, and pulled out a sheet of Bravo Burgundy.  What a wonderful, rich color…a perfect Autumn color…but I wasn’t necessarily looking for an Autumn card.  It wasn’t until I had this card put together with Brocade Blue that I realized these were the colors from my oldest daughter’s high school.  I really like the medium blue with the burgundy.

  • Medallion and Thank You Kindly stamp sets
  • Brocade Blue, Bravo Burgundy and Very Vanilla cardstock
  • Brocade Blue and Bravo Burgundy Classic ink pads; Versamark ink pad
  • Clear embossing powder, heat tool, 1/8″ circle hole punch (retired), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, Wine Organza ribbon (retired)

Those little burgundy dots are just holes punched from cardstock and attached with the indispensable Tombo All purpose adhesive.  I apologize for using a retired ribbon, too….it used to be a regular product in the catalog, and I happen to have a stash of it because I’d used it for a custom invitation a few years ago.  Seems like organza has fallen out of favor, but I enjoy using it as a layer.

I found a great use for the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  Sometimes I can’t decide what image, especially sentiment, I want to use to finish a card.  I was goofing off one day and realized I could put the options on different corners of the SAMJ and layer them over my project to see how each would look – like this:

“Thanks” on the Stamp-a-ma-jig

“A Note of Thanks” on the Stamp-a-ma-jig

I think it looks good with either choice, but I liked the more ornate font on the “Thanks” stamp to dress up the simple layout of this card.

The added bonus of this trick is that your SAMJ is all ready to go when it’s time to add your sentiment, so you’re less tempted to wing it – and end up with a crooked sentiment.  Not that I ever have crooked sentiments.

 

 

 

Sometimes simple is best

Posted on by
Reply

I’m a huge fan of the Clean and Simple (CAS) look…I just can’t seem to pull it off myself.  I come from the “More is More” school of card design, finding it hard to hold back from adding just one more ribbon, brad, or texture.

Today’s card is more of a CAS style than anything I usually do, although it still has more layers than a purist would use.  It’s a pretty card, and an easy one to make in quantity.  (Did I mention I haven’t made my cards yet?  Are we wondering where all this recent discussion about “production” has originated?  No mystery there.)

Clean and Simple Petals a Plenty Tree

  • All Holidays stamp set
  • Shimmer White, Brushed Gold, Real Red and Always Artichoke card stock; Vellum
  • Real Red Classic Ink pad; Champagne Mist shimmer paint
  • Big Shot and Petals a Plenty embossing folder
  • Small star punch; 1/16″ hand held circle punch; gold brads; sponge dauber

You can stamp on vellum with Classic ink – just be sure to give it plenty of time so it doesn’t smear.  The Plenty Petals on the tree are brushed with my favorite Champagne Mist Shimmer paint and a sponge dauber.

To create the tree, cut your triangle piece first, then run it through the embossing folder.  You’ll get a cleaner edge than if you try to cut that heavily embossing paper with your paper trimmer.

And that Petals a Plenty folder is GOING AWAY, girls and boys!!!  That’s a mini-catalog item and if you want one, you’d better get yourself to my Online Store and click that Shop Now! button and order one!  Pronto!

Another dashing reindeer

Posted on by
Reply

If you’re like me, you’re suddenly looking at the calendar and saying “DANG!  I need to get my Christmas cards made!”   (I am the Queen of the Last Minute.  But that’s a story for another time.)  Just flip open the back of your catalog and check out Mr. Dasher on page 208.  Well, it could be Ms. Dasher, but frankly, with those antlers, I’m thinking we’re looking at the male of the species.

There are so many ways to use this great image.  Today’s card is one that could easily be made in quantity, with steps that are easily broken down for assembly line production.  Just the thing for someone who needs a heap of cards in a hurry.Easy Dasher in artichoke

  • Dasher and All Holidays stamp sets
  • Always Artichoke, Real Red, Brushed Gold and Whisper White card stock
  • Soft Suede Classic Ink pad; Whisper White Craft ink pad
  • Texture Jumbo Wheel; Always Artichoke jumbo ink cartridge
  • White embossing powder; Heat tool; Real Red stitched grosgrain ribbon

I’m a big fan of diverse greeting sets.  All Holidays and Teeny Tiny Wishes are always close at hand when I’m designing cards.  They’re higher priced sets, but the cost-per-use is very low and I consider them a great investment.  I’m also a big fan of white craft ink and white embossing powder – you can emboss pretty quickly when you’re in production mode, and the results are always eye-catching.

What would be on your “Marooned on a desert island” list of supplies?

 

 

 

A Christmas Topiary

Posted on by
Reply

This is not an original design, and I am thrilled to be able to remember that THIS card is the source of my inspiration.  I’m embarrassed by the number of times I’ve used someone else’s work as a starting point, but can’t remember the crafter, website, or anything else that would allow me to give credit where credit is due.  It’s a very clever use for these images, and I really enjoy finding ways to expand the use of a stamp set.

Berry Christmas Topiary Crop

  • Berry Christmas and Holiday Best (Hostess Level I) stamp sets
  • Big Shot and Stampin’ Up! Perfect Details Texturz plate
  • Old Olive, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla, Really Rust and Brushed Gold card stock
  • Old Olive and  Ruby Red Classic Ink pads
  • Scallop Square punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Iridescent Ice Stampin’ Emboss Powder and Heat Tool

The sentiment is trimmed from the Holiday Best Christmas image.  This is a pretty simple card – no ribbons, no brads, nothin’ – and it relies on the texture from the Big Shot and the bit of sparkle from the embossing powder to set it apart.  We sure do love our embellishments, but if you don’t have much, you can still make an appealing card.

To get all of this lined up, you really need to get out the SAMJ or you’ll waste a lot of paper.   Trust me on this.

Dasher in the Holiday Lounge – MojoMonday113

Posted on by
3

I am SO excited I’m going to have to disable the Caps button on my keyboard so I don’t just shout this entire post!  (Perhaps I’ll disable the exclamation mark, too.)  This is such a late post for me today…all day I’ve tried to get to the Mojo Monday sketch, and all day there have been other things that got in the way.  I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to do, and Heaven help me, when I finally sat down to put it together it was even better than I imagined!  (OK.  Breathe here.)

So, what do YOU think??Mojo Monday 113 Dasher in the Holiday Lounge

  • Dasher and Holiday Best (Hostess Level I) Stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Brushed Gold, Sahara Sand and Ruby Red cardstock; Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper
  • Encore Gold Pad; Taken with Teal and Ruby Red Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Whisper White taffeta ribbon; Piercing tool and template; Stampin’ Dimensionals; Clear Detail embossing powder and heat tool

I’ve had so much trouble with the Mojo Monday sketches in the past…this makes me really, really happy.  I hope you like it too.

Shimmery pines

Posted on by
1

It amazes me how quickly days pass by.  It’s always been that way for me.  I’m sure  I thought Christmas or my birthday or whatever longed-for day in the future would never arrive when I was small, but I don’t remember that.  I just know that every day I wake up thinking “How am I going to do everything I want today?” and every night I wonder where the day went.

This card has been waiting patiently in the To-Do list of my mind for a while.  A few days ago, it actually made it to the paper To-Do list, which is a significant step on the road to “git ‘er done”.  This was going to be a Dasher Snow Globe, because I had a lovely comment which put that idea into my mind, but Dasher is off visiting Crystal and his Snow Globe Debut will have to wait.

Shimmer_Pines_Snowglobe

  • Patterned Pines and All Holidays Stamp sets
  • Whisper White and Brushed Gold cardstock
  • Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink pads; Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon, Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Sponges

Cards are SO difficult to photograph!  You can’t see the Shimmer mixed in with the Tempting Turquoise sponged on as background, but I promise you it’s there.  The First Star just to the left of the center Pine is stamped in Shimmer Paint too.  And the base of the globe is gold, not olive.   Really.

I’m working on posting the template for the Snow Globe card since so many of you are interested, but for now, leave me a comment with your email address if you would like a copy.   The template is now available HERE

If you’re interested in an Over-The-Top Snow Globe, check out THIS tutorial over at SplitCoastStampers.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Your To-Do list will languish for days if you get hooked on those.

Pretty Pheasants All in a Row

Posted on by
1

This Autumn Days stamp set has proved itself much more versatile than I anticipated. The leaves, the grasses, and especially the pheasants have surprised me in the best possible way.

We do have pheasants on Maui…not down here at sea level where I live, but on Haleakala, in the area of the island we call “Upcountry”.  Maui has so many micro climates – wet side, dry side, sand at sea level, red dirt at upper elevations, lava flows and forest – if you don’t like what you see, keep going because in a few miles it will change.  I always like what I see.

I colored these fellows with markers and then masked them so they could step through the weeds together.

Pheasants_in_a_row

  • Autumn Days and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango and Very Vanilla cardstock
  • Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie and Summer Sun Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Chocolate Chip and More Mustard Class ink pads; Basic Black Stampin’ Write Journaler
  • Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon; mini glue dots; Stampin’ Sponges; Scotch Post-it notes (for mask)

They’re all relaxed-like, cruising through the weeds, because they know they’re safe for now – it’s Big Cousin Tom Turkey who needs to be lookin’ out in November.

 

Beautiful leaves

Posted on by
1

Last month Ray and I were in New Hampshire and Boston to see the fall color and visit our daughter at Tufts University.  We got a little bit of everything in just over a week…gorgeous blue sky, cloudy sky, snow…brilliant leaves…great food…and of course, time with our favorite university student.  (I can say this now that her sister is graduated and her brother is still in high school.)  In Hawaii, leaves don’t change color much, so the sight of a tree like this really took our breath away.

Portsmouth-leaves

I’ve wanted to work with these colors since I got home, and this morning I had my opportunity.  I love the reds and oranges in the photo, and the way they contrast with the brilliant blue sky. Within 24 hours, by the way, we were looking at grey skies and snow, so that blue sky is a fond memory!  No blues in my card though…I had a different idea.

Autumn Days Leaf Wreath

  • Autumn Days, Woodgrain and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango and Naturals Ivory cardstock
  • More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Old Olive, and Pumpkin pie Classic Ink pad; Versamark ink pad
  • Dusty Durango Stampin’ Write marker and Aquapainter
  • Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, Vintage brads, piercing tool and mat pack, double rectangle punch, 3/4″ square punch and corner rounder punch
  • Tissue paper and Dotto

I wanted my wreath to have a nice circular shape, so I traced a circle very lightly with a pencil onto my cardstock before I started.  I think if I were to do it again, I would try to avoid getting ink on the stems of the leaves – they’re not a big deal, but I would be happier if they weren’t visible.   I just played with the leaves in the circle until I liked the pattern and fullness.  Of course, then I got the brilliant idea that the image needed the Woodgrain background.  I’m crazy, but I’m not crazy enough to cut out all those leaves for masking.  That’s nuts.  Seriously.

Instead, I placed a piece of tissue paper over the image, drew an arrow to indicate the top, and traced around the inside and outside perimeters of the wreath.  I did a rough cut around the edges and used a little Dotto to hold that mask in place.  When I stamped the Woodgrain, it looked a little stark so I blurred it with my Aquapainter.

The little banner isn’t pegged down completely flat – it has a little lift to it in real life.  Those lovely, symetrical corners were created with the corner of the square punch – you didn’t think I could get them like that on my own, did you? And just in case you don’t know the piercing tool and mat trick, that’s the way to get perfect placement for your brads anywhere on your project.

This is a 5 x 5 inch card, a size I almost never work with.  I think I’ll have to change that.

 

The Aquapainter, and Why You Need Ink Refills Part III

Posted on by
Reply

I wanted some paper with Almost Amethyst and Summer Sun accents for a birthday card for my Mom.  I had some old Amethyst Designer Series Pattern paper, but it was much too understated for the look I wanted.  I wanted stripes.  I could visualize the stripes!  I pulled out my Aquapainter and some Whisper White cardstock and some Ink Refills, and I started to play.

Wonderful Watercolors birthday'

  • Wonderful Watercolors and Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set
  • Almost Amethyst, Summer Sun, Lovely Lilac and Whisper White cardstock
  • Lovely Lilac Classic stamp pad; Almost Amethyst and Summer Sun ink refills
  • Almost Amethyst, Summer Sun and Lovely Lilac Stampin’ Write markers
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint,Scallop Circle punch, hand held rectangle punch (retired)
  • Uniball Signo Gel Pen, Piercing tool and mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig and White Taffeta ribbon

Don’t you like my stripes?  The Summer Sun should have been a little more intense, but I like the haphazard, random look of the pattern.  I’m playing with some other stripe combinations.  I’ll share them if I like them.  If I don’t…well, it’s just paper.

There’s a little Shimmer Paint mixed into the Summer Sun ink refill for the centers of the flowers.  Honestly, if that stuff doesn’t make it into the next Idea Book and Catalog I’ll be so disappointed.  Are you listening, Stampin’ Up!?