Tag Archives: Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Fond Farewell to Blush Blossom

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When I look at the list of colors retiring in June, I feel ambiguous about Blush Blossom.  It’s not a very trendy color.  It doesn’t inspired me on its own.   But Blush Blossom plays well with others.

Stampin' Up! Awash with Flowers Splitcoaststampers challenge

  • Awash with Flowers and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • French Script, Inspired by Nature, and Flight of the Butterfly stamp sets
  • Blush Blossom, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral and Whisper White card stock
  • Ruby Red, Blush Blossom and Mellow Moss Classic ink pads
  • Cameo Coral and Ruby Red Stampin’ Write markers
  • Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, and SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz plate
  • Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Stampin’ Pastels, and Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon

The new Awash with Flowers stamp set is a winner, my stampin’ friends.  I inked the solid stamps in Blush Blossom and used the Cameo Coral and Ruby Red markers to add a little extra color to the rubber before I stamped the images.  If you want to see a mind-boggling beauty of a card with this set, peek at Lisa’s Add Ink and Stamp.  She is one amazing artist.

This card was a project for my stamp club last night.  I’m not sure if it was the profusion of stamps or all of the steps or just the fact that we were crazy enough to schedule stamp club on Tax Day, but it was a wild and crazy kind of club!  Lots of hootin’ and hollerin’  and crazy farmin’ talk, especially when we were finished stamping.  Teresa brought some of her Auntie’s home made wine – a bottle of cherry and a bottle of lilikoi.  Yes, I was wrong – there ARE cherry trees on Maui!  The cherry wine was sweet and refreshing and and the lilikoi was tropical and somewhat mystical and both were absolutely delicious.  I think it’s fair to say a good time was had by all!

One last thought:  If you haven’t tried a challenge card yet, I enthusiastically recommend that you do.  This card uses Color and Sketch Challenges from Splitcoaststampers and there are loads of other challenges out there to try.  Find one that inspires you and give it a shot!

Kitchen Sink Card Making

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Do you ever have one of those crafting moments when you can’t stop yourself?  You think “ah, that’s just it!” and then you spot a little something over there in the corner of your craft desk and before you know it, you’ve added it in.  You could call it “Kitchen Sink Card Making”,  I suppose.  Well, that happened to me:

Vintage Style and more...

  • Vintage Vogue, Bella Toile, and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo and Soft Suede card stock
  • Soft Suede, Bashful Blue and Melon Mambo Classic ink pads
  • Melon Mambo and Bashful Blue Classic Ink refills
  • Modern Label punch, Fresh Favorites buttons, and Linen Thread
  • Aquapainter,  and Stampin Sponges
  • Big Shot and Beautiful Wings embosslit

Those butterflies from yesterday’s post were lurking around on the craft table and I couldn’t resist them.  However, it appears I couldn’t resist anything else!  This was fun to play with, even it if does look a little…hmmm…shall we say “busy”?  That would be kind.

One note:  Be sure to insert a liner on the inside of a card that’s this deep in color.  A simple Very Vanilla panel would do here, although I often add a mat and stamp a little in the corner.  What the heck – if the front is gonna be all out, the inside needs a little zip too!

Re-interpreting the Mini…Summer Mini, that is!

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If you’re a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator AND you’ve received your advance copy of the Summer Mini Catalog (May 1 to August 31) this card may seem vaguely familiar:

Vintage Butterflies with a Summer Mini inspiration

  • Vintage Vogue,  Bella Toile and Only Ovals stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Kraft and Melon Mambo card stock
  • Sahara Sand and Soft Suede Classic ink pad
  • Bashful Blue and Melon Mambo Classic ink refills
  • Big Shot and Beautiful Wings embosslit
  • Oval punch, Stampin’ Sponges Aquapainter and Bashful Blue taffeta ribbon

I looked at the images on the front of that mini catalog and fell in love with the colors and the vintage style.  The more I looked, the more I thought I could find a way to create that same feeling with stamps I already had.  I pulled out the color palette the cover artists used, rummaged around until I found a few vintage-looking stamp sets, and started to play.

I wanted to add the ribbon, but with the tall skinny card format it just seemed too wide even at 3/8″.  Eventually, the little light bulb went on in the air over my head and I figured out that I could twist the ribbon to make it fit my purpose.  The butterflies were created from the Beautiful Wings embosslit using paper that was stamped with the Bella Toile background stamp (an under-utilized stamp, I might add!).  I used the Aquapainter and Classic ink refills to selectively color bits of the image and I love the result.

By the way, that Beautiful Wings embosslit is so popular that Stampin’ Up! is STILL experiencing shipping delays.  If you want it,  my suggestion is to put in your order and get in line now!

Just because I could recreate this concept does NOT mean I won’t be buying this set.  You see, one of the many beautiful images it features is a hummingbird, my favorite bird to watch.  They are fast, tiny, jewel-colored, and crazily territorial little things and I love the zzzhhhmm noise they make when they go by.  Somehow, the little hummer has never made it to Hawaii, and I miss seeing it.

Have I got you thinking ahead about that Summer Mini??  Good.

Playing with color

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We all have our favorites in the color world, and we have our favorite ways of combining those colors too.  The Stampin’ Up! color families make it easy to put colors together by organizing them into pleasing groups.  It’s soothing to work with those comfortable combinations – color evokes an emotional response in most of us, and seeing something in our favorite colors evokes happy thoughts.

It’s a challenge to stretch myself beyond my favorites but I keep working at it.  Sometimes I like the results, and sometimes they make me wince, but I’m learning to see color in new ways.  There’s  a basket full of scraps on my craft table (what a surprise!) and lately I’ve been pulling handfuls of scraps out to play with.  I arrange and re-arrange the scraps, bringing one color forward and another back to adjust the proportions of colors until I have something I want to work with.

Vintage Vogue Scripted Birthday

  • Vintage Vogue and Well Scripted Clear Mount stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery and So Saffron card stock
  • Certainly Celery and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink pads
  • Rich Razzleberry polka dot grosgrain ribbon
  • Big Shot and Beautiful Wings embosslit

I came very close to making a big ol’ bow with that Rich Razzleberry ribbon, but this card was for a workshop and I wasn’t sure if a bow would through the new crafters too much of a curve ball.  I’ve seen a lot of really big bows lately and in all honesty, that’s not my style.  I would have probably ripped off the bow and changed it to a nice, flat square knot.  Playing with color is enough for one card – messing with bows will have to wait for another day.  Or maybe not at all.

Elegant and Easy Notes

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A few weeks ago I came across a black and white card with a single color accent.  It was so appealing to me that it has stayed on my mind.  Sometimes an idea just won’t go away, and this one was very persistent.  Last night I had time to play with it, and it took me no time to come up with this:

  • Vintage Vogue Clear Mount Stamp set
  • Basic Black Classic ink pad and Stampin’ Write Journaler
  • Whisper White,  Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue and So Saffron card stock
  • Big Shot and Beautiful Wings Embosslit
  • Mini Glue dots

The colors I used with black and white were drawn – literally – from a jar of Beautiful Wings Butterflies I have in my craft room.  I never seem to use all the butterflies that embosslit makes, and I can’t bear to throw them away so they collect in a jar.

This card would be very easy to reproduce in quantity, especially if you changed the stamp to a wheel.  As it was, I made a dozen of these in about 20 minutes.  Each note card is made from a quarter sheet of card stock and is just the right size for a quick thank you or invitation.

One last Valentine

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I’ve saved this post because it was the Valentine I gave my wonderful husband, and it didn’t seem right to post it before he received it.  The idea came from Becky Roberts, whose projects I continue to CASE with reckless abandon.  I fell for this folder as soon as I saw it, and thought it would make a great club project.  Once I developed my own sample, I realized it would not only be a great club project, but would work perfectly for my Valentine.  Here’s the outside:

Valentine Coupon booklet

This uses the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (don’t forget $2 from the sale of each set goes to the American Red Cross through February 28) and the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel. There’s also the Big Shot with the Scallop Circles #2 and Originals Circles #2 dies. I used the Full Heart, Heart to Heart, and Scallop Trim Border punches as well, and finished with the Real Red 1/2″ Striped Grosgrain ribbon.

Here’s the inside:

Open Valentine Folder with Tags

Isn’t it clever?  There’s a small Cello Bag attached with Sticky Strip to each side, and I can fit two little tags inside each bag.  You could use the tags as gift tags, but I was inspired to make the tags into coupons.  Each one has a little message on the back, and he can redeem them as he likes.  The possibilities for this idea are endless.

Here are the tags a little closer:

First two tags

I’ve used 5/8″ Satin Ribbon from the Occasions mini on all of the tags, and incorporated the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper as well.

Here are the other two tags:

Second set of tags

These tags use the brand new XL Two Step Bird punch and the fabulous Beautiful Wings Embosslit for the Big Shot.  All these goodies made this project really easy to put together.

If there’s enough interest, I’ll put together a tutorial with dimensions and more instructions.  Becky said in her post that she had made hers and sent them off and didn’t plan a tutorial, so considering all I’ve gained from her blog I think it would be the least I could do.  Either way, enjoy and CASE away!!

Keeping your feet firmly planted

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Whew.

The past week has been so full.  Early Saturday morning we took Carol to the airport, said our goodbyes (a few extra times for good luck) and put her on the plane for Perth.  Getting to that point was physically and emotionally exhausting, but once we were there, it felt much better than I’d anticipated.  Of course we shed tears, and continue to do so (like right now, typing this post).  Her dad and I know this is the right move for her, and after all the sorting, packing and problem solving of last week we are ready to let go.  She’s ready too – sorry to leave Maui, but happy to finally live in the same time zone as her boyfriend.

I haven’t accomplished much since Saturday.  I did engage in something of a cleaning frenzy yesterday.  My son grumbled that it was his sister’s fault that I suddenly needed all his stuff  Put Away Now, but he knows I’ll get over it.  My next task is to clear out the debris that remains in Carol’s room, clean it up, and return it to the purpose it fulfilled so well for 4 years of university:  My Stamp Room.  Ah yes.  Every cloud does have its silver lining.

In the meantime, I sat down at the disaster area that currently functions as a stamp space and made a card.  Boy, did that feel good.  So good, I think I’ll make another later on!

Plant your feet firmly and let your heart have wings

  • Fifth Avenue Floral, Vintage Vogue, and Hope Happens Stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom and Close to Cocoa card stock
  • Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom and Regal Rose Classic ink pads
  • Big Shot and Beautiful Wings Embosslit die
  • Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, Aquapainter and the Scallop Trim border punch
  • Stamp-a-ma-jig, Embossing Buddy, Fine Supernova Stampin’ Glitter and Tombo Adhesive

The color inspiration for this card came from colourQchallenge – this is ColourQ 19.  I used the same embellished leaf stamp from Vintage Vogue on the Blush Blossom card base and the Whisper White focal image, but I stamped it off on the Whisper White panel to make it more subtle.  To get the mixed colors with the glitter, I dotted Tombo adhesive in the center of the flower a few times and dusted with the Chocolate glitter, then repeated and dusted again with the Pink glitter.  Don’t forget to use your Embossing Buddy on your cardstock before glittering – it really makes a difference!

Following your heart

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There’s a big transition looming on my horizon.  My oldest daughter is moving.  To Australia.  In about one week.

We’ve known about this for a long time.  She spent a semester abroad in Perth her junior year at Notre Dame, and met someone.   These two have maintained a long distance relationship for two years, seeing each other a couple of times a year and making do with Skype, instant messaging, email and the occasional card.  Our daughter graduated in May and came home to work for a few months.  Her goal was to earn enough money to convince the Australian government to grant her a visa, and a couple of months ago, she got the good word that she could enter the country.  Her Someone has just finished law school and needs to get work experience in his field before he can apply to work in the U.S.  They assure me that living in the U.S., specifically in Hawaii, is their long term goal.

As her departure grows closer, the distance seems to grow greater.  It’s not all that much farther than she was when she was at Notre Dame, but it’s another country.  Not so easy (or so cheap!) to pick up the cell phone and push her speed-dial.  And it’s West of us instead of East, which makes the time zone coordination a little more complicated.

Her dad and I support her decision, but it’s still hard.  When I saw this sentiment in the Sale-a-bration catalog, I knew it was meant for her.

Follow Your Heart Beautiful Wings

  • Whimsical Words SAB Clear Mount stamps and Baroque Motifs stamp set
  • Whisper White, Bordering Blue, So Saffron, and Pale Plum card stock
  • Certainly Celery and Bordering Blue Classic ink pads
  • Big Shot and Beautiful Wings Embosslit
  • Ticket corner punch, Gold brads, and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

The butterflies seem appropriate too, though butterflies aren’t really her favorites.  They represent change and taking flight and letting go.  I’m working on accepting all three.