Tag Archives: sincere salutations

Sweet Cherry Blossom Birthday

Posted on by
1

I’ve gone through my shelves and pulled all the sets that are on the Last Chance list.  There’s a decent-sized stack, and they’re sitting rather forlornly together in a basket on the floor of my stamp studio (the Room Formerly Known As Sara’s Bedroom).  I’ve got plans for those stamps this month, and since I’ll be away for a bit in June I thought I’d better get cracking:

Cherry Blossom Birthday

  • Eastern Blooms and Sincere Salutations stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Early Espresso and Pink Pirouette card stock
  • Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose Stampin’ Write markers
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Pretty in Pink 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon
  • Pearl Jewels
  • Crop-a-dile
  • Frost White Shimmer paint and the Aquapainter

I cased this card from Alli Ohran, making a very few minor changes.   I don’t use a lot of Crystal Effects because in Hawaii it seems to take an eternity to dry, and I’m not a patient person so I stick my finger in it and smudge it and get all cranky about it.  Well.  There’s a self-disclosure for you!!  Anyway, I used Frost White instead and although you don’t see it well in the photograph I assure you it is there.

Cherry Blossoms are such romantic flowers, appearing in almost misty pink clouds that linger briefly on the trees and then begin drifting away.  I think pink is a very romantic color, too, so this card really gets my “awww gee whiz” feeling going.   To me, it fits to keep such a romantic image simple, although it would be easy to imagine this dressed up with lots of layers, background stamping, vintage lace and bling.  Another time.  Maybe.

 

A Frou Frou ribbon

Posted on by
1

This card didn’t make the Manly card cut – the ribbon was too Frou-Frou:

Blissful Sense of Time collage

  • Sense of Time, Bliss (SAB) and Sincere Salutations stamp sets
  • Naturals White, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizazz and Night of Navy card stock
  • Baja Breeze, Pear Pizazz and Night of Navy Classic ink pads
  • Large oval and Decorative Label punches
  • Baja Breeze seam binding and Sticky Strip
  • Piercing tool, mat and template
  • Stampin’ Sponges

Collage is such fun.  I have to remind myself not to get too fussy with it, but to just let it flow and be happy with the results.  Doesn’t that sound like a good way to live your life?

That ruffled ribbon is VERY easy – just brush the cut edges of the seam binding until you can grab a couple of threads in the middle – I use tweezers – and pull.  When the ribbon is bunched up halfway, turn it around and do the same thing from the other end.  Don’t trim the ends too much – stick those long strings on some sticky strip and then press the ruffled ribbon down and Voila! – it will be fabulous, dahling.

Soft and simple

Posted on by
3

Cheryl sent me a thank you note the other day and as soon as I pulled it out of the envelope I knew I would be making a bunch of these for my own use:

Cheryls thank you in Blush Blossom

  • Sincere Salutations stamp set
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blushing Bride, Whisper White and Pear Pizazz card stock
  • Prints Pack Designer Series Paper (Hostess Level I) and Vellum cardstock
  • Scallop Trim Border and 5 petal flower punches
  • Jewel pearls and Stampin’ Dimensionals

This card is simple but oh, so elegant.  When I see a card like this I always do a headpalm because really, I could have thought of that!!  Coulda woulda shoulda.  I’m going to go make some of these Right Now.

 

Inspiration in unlikely places

Posted on by
3

I was standing in line in the post office, of all places, when I saw a card that inspired this:

Bliss Birthday Wishes

  • Bliss (Sale-a-bration) and Sincere Salutations stamp sets
  • Naturals White, Always Artichoke and River Rock card stock
  • Always Artichoke and Rich Razzleberry Classic ink pads
  • Always Artichoke seam binding; Sponge Daubers
  • Sticky Strip and Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Pearl Jewels and large Oval punch

That fluorish from the Bliss set is GORGEOUS.  It lines up well with itself to create a repeating pattern, but it’s also strong enough to stand alone.  The seam binding has been gathered with needle and thread and pressed onto some Sticky Strip, but you could skip that step – I prefer the evenness of hand-gathering.

I surprised myself when I added Rich Razzleberry.  I didn’t think I would like it, but there it sat on my messy table, looking hopefully at me, so I gave it a chance.  It pays to take a risk when colors beg to be used like that!

Butterfly Pansies that make your heart sing

Posted on by
2

This isa shameless CASE, but I was so impressed with this card that I couldn’t see any good reason to change it.  Dawn Olchefske is the original artist and has even made a video tutorial for those of us who are visual learners.  I received a CASE of her card as a convention swap and couldn’t wait to try it when I got home.  Here are my results:

Butterfly Pansies

  • Sincere Salutations stamp set
  • Very Vanilla Card stock and Shimmer White card stock
  • Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink pad
  • Elegant Eggplant and Daffodil Delight classic ink refills
  • Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker
  • Big Shot, Top Note Bigz die and Elegant Bouquet Imprssions folder
  • Very Vanilla 5/8″ Satin ribbon
  • Gold brads
  • Large Oval and Butterfly punches

My apologies for the quality of the photo – photos are going to be a little hit and miss for a while.  My poor little point-and-shoot has been dropped on its head a few times too many and it’s getting a little wonky, not to mention I have to wrap a rubber band around it to keep the battery door from opening and dropping the battery on the floor.  A new camera is NOT in the budget right now, so we will make do with what we have.

If you find a color combination you love, be sure and let me know.  I played with quite a few and this was my favorite, but I’m sure there are more out there!  Happy punching.

Sweet Birthday Girl

Posted on by
1

It’s been a wonderful couple of weeks, but I’m sending my daughter back to Boston this evening.  The job market on Maui isn’t much to speak about, and she’s found not one but two paying internships in Boston that give her great experience AND cash in hand.  I’ve loved having her home and will miss her big bunches, but thank goodness for email, cell phones, and skype.

It was her birthday a week ago and I CASE-d another idea from the new Idea Book and Catalog:

Sweetest Birthday Girl

  • Sincere Salutations and Crazy for Cupcakes Stamp Sets
  • Baja Breeze, Soft Suede and Whisper White card stock
  • Sending Love Designer Series Paper (retired)
  • Not Quite Navy Classic Ink pad
  • Real Red, Barely Banana, and Soft Suede Classic Ink refills
  • Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker; Stamp-a-ma-jig
  • Crystal Effects; On Board Chipboard letters (retired)
  • Scallop border and horizontal slot punches
  • Real Red Double Stitched ribbon
  • Tombo Adhesive and Sanding Blocks

The Crystal Effects makes the cupcakes look like stickers.  I was really patient this time and gave it a LOT of time to dry.  That’s the key if you want it to really shine – use a lot of product and then leave it alone!

My daughter loved her card and I think she knows there is a lot of love in the making.  I wish I could put myself in an envelope and send myself to visit her.

I don’t get it.

Posted on by
1

Who makes up the Dormant List?  Some of the stamps that are on the dormant list break my heart.  How about Wonderful Watercolors?

Wonderful Watercolors 113688

Wonderful Watercolors 113688

This set has such a soft, soothing style that caused me to move towards a more vintage look.  I had a “dyed with tea” sort of theme going on in my head as I stamped and moved things around.  The card started looking a little dark, but when I created a background out of the stem image I was satisfied with the color balance.

Vintage Watercolors

Vintage Watercolors

  • Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede and Naturals Ivory cardstock
  • Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, and Mellow Moss Classic Ink
  • Wonderful Watercolors and Sincere Salutations Stamp sets
  • Wide Oval and handheld rectangle (ret) punches, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon
  • Aquapainter, Stamp-a-ma-jig and Stampin’ Sponges

You can link to the Dormant List from the sidebar of the blog or by just clicking here.  A word of warning though – the link to the Dormant List is a link to the general Stampin’ Up! customer website and not my Demonstrator Website.  They’re two different places.