CASE'ing Mary

Today I have another card for you that I am planning to do at a private class I have coming up.  It is inspired by a gorgeous card by Mary Fish and uses a fantastic colour combo of Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Summer Starfruit. Check it out:

Simple Birthday card featuring the Papillon Potpourri stamp set with sentiment from Perfect Punches.

Inside view with sentiment from Sweet Essentials

I have to say, I sadly neglect this particular TIEF. It is beautiful but I often only pull it our for wedding cards!  Seeing Mary's use of it with the Core'dinations card stock has made me see so many more possibilities!  I used it as the focal image here and added a little butterfly stamped in Summer Starfruit and punched with the Elegant Butterfly punch.  This is an addition to Mary's original design which I feel balances the card a little better.  The sentiment, from Perfect Punches, is stamped in Early Espresso and punched out with the XL Oval punch. I added some of that luscious stitched satin ribbon in Summer Starfruit that I got for FREE this month, as well as some pearls to add a bit of elegance.  This card is SO simple to make but really effective thanks to that beautiful TIEF!  Gotta love simplicity!

One more Reason to Smile

Today I have my last project in my week-long series featuring the beautiful Reason to Smile stamp set.  I hope you've enjoyed seeing just how versatile this set is.  I know I've certainly enjoyed playing with it to create all of these projects!  My final sample is another one that I designed for my monthly techniques group.  It uses the Faux Linen technique...

Bright and colourful Birthday card featuring the Reason to Smile stamp set with sentiment from Perfect Punches.

Inside view with sentiments from One in a Million

I just love the combination of Melon Mambo and Gumball Green!  What a vibrant, cheerful duo they are!  I'm not sure it shows in the photo, but the background on the front of the card is done using the Faux Linen technique.  I stamped the line-art Daisy image all over using Whisper White craft ink once I had created my coloured linen background.  For the focal image, I watercoloured it a little differently.  I began by stamping my images on watercolour paper after inking the stamp with markers.  I then used a blender pen to blur the image and pull colour from the stamped lines to fill in the rest of the image.  The result is a soft, blurred watercolour effect.  The rest of this card is pretty straightforward and came together quickly. 
I hope I've shown you just how wonderful this stamp set is.  If you missed my previous projects using this set, just click back through the last week's worth of posts to view them.  Then call or email to place your order and get this stamp set for just $5 when your order reaches $60.  Hurry...this offer only lasts until the end of the month and then this stamp set will be gone for good!

Now for yet another fantastic project from Craft Project Central.  Today's fun idea comes from fellow Canadian Tara Bourgoin.  Check this out:

Gift Cards and Tags set designed by Tara Bourgoin

This cute set has everything one needs to be prepared for birthdays, dinner invitations and other special events.  It also makes a wonderful gift.  To access the instructions to make this project and nine others, visit Craft Project Central and subscribe to July. 

Spring Card Buffet Preview #2

Today's sample is one I CASE'd from a fellow demonstrator who posted her work on our demonstrator forum.  I can't recall exactly whose work this is, but I sure do like it! It is so clean and simple yet striking...have a look...

CAS birthday card suitable for just about anyone!

For this card I turned to the Sweet Shop DSP in the Occasions Mini.  I love the colours in that paper and thought they'd be perfect for a gender-neutral card.  I love the little punch-art presents and the sentiment from the Perfect Punches set is...well...perfect!
So, have I convinced you to join us for the Spring Card Buffet yet?  If so be sure to register by March 10th, as I am heading to Austria for March Break (with 19 teenagers in tow!) and won't be able to accept new registrations while I'm away. 

Another Christmas card...in July!

Yes, I know...here we are in the middle of a heat wave and I'm making Chirstmas cards!  I have to get planning for my fall classes and, since Christmas is a big part of my fall crafting, I decided I had better get to designing some holiday cards.  This card was inspired by a swap card I got at convention.  I got so many amazing swaps...there are MANY talented demonstrators out there!  I plan to use this card in my Stamp-A-Stack line-up at some point:

Christmas card using the Perfect Punches stamp set and featuring the Petals A-Plenty embossing folder.

I love this embossing folder (actually, I don't think there is one I DON'T love!).  It adds so much to a card for such little effort (and expense!).  Here is how I put this one together:
Starting with a whisper white card base, I ran it through my Big Shot with the embossing folder.  I then cut a 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" strip of whisper white and punched one of the long edges using my scallop border punch.  I ran that piece through the Big Shot as well, ensuring the punched edge remained OUT of the embossing folder so that it would stay smooth.  I cut a 2 3/4" x 4 1/4"  piece of cherry cobbler cardstock, punched one of the long edges and glued the embossed white strip to it.  I then wrapped a piece of cherry cobbler polka dotted scalloped ribbon around and tied it in a knot.  I glued that piece to the lower edge of the cardfront.  For the focal image, I began by die cutting a cherry cobbler medallion using my new perfect pennants die.  I then cut a 2" circle from brushed silver cardstock.  On a scrap of whisper white, I stamped the focal image using Versamark ink and then heat embossed it using the new (and SOOOO exciting!) cherry cobbler embossing powder.  I punched the embossed image out using my small scalloped circle punch and adhered it to the medallion.  I then adhered the whole focal image to the card using dimensionals.  So fast and easy!  I could mass produce this card in a snap, which makes it a perfect SAS card!
Last night I managed to get the last of my convention Make-n-Takes done.  They are FABULOUS!  I need to get them photographed and I'll post them for you soon!

Quick and Easy Deck the Halls card

Simple holiday card using Deck the Halls DSP and Perfect Punches stamp set

 Today's post is a quickie I made last weekend from scraps that were left on my stamping table after I finished prepping for some classes.  I was determined to use up some of my huge scrap pile and I'm happy to say I was successful!

Inside of card.  Sentiment is from the Many Merry Messages set.

Close up of the embossed focal image

This card was really quick and uses a minimum of layers.  I started with a 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" piece of crumb cake cardstock to which I adhered the poinsettia printed DSP piece.  I layered two more smaller pieces of the holly print DSP at right angles to eachother.  I tied some very vanilla seam binding ribbon over the holly DSP and tied it to look like a gift. 
For the focal image, I stamped the Joy at Christmas sentiment in versamark on very vanilla cardstock and then heat embossed it in gold.  I punched it out using my 1 3/4" scalloped circle punch.  I layered it on a 2" circle in brushed gold and a 2 3/8" scalloped circle in early espresso.  I adhered it to the card using dimensionals.  I then adhered the whole card front to an early espresso card base.
The inside of the card uses another piece of the poinsettia print DSP.  I stamped the sentiment in early espresso ink on very vanilla cardstock.  I punched it out using a 2" circle punch and then layered it on a 2 3/8" scalloped circle in brushed gold and a 2 1/2" circle in early espresso.  I added a little elegance with three little pearls...I love using embellishments INSIDE a card!

That's it...quick and easy.  The gorgeous paper does all the work on this card.

Pop can card

Today's card was a bit of an experiment for me.  I have often wondered what would happen if I took the aluminum from a flattened pop can and ran it through my Big Shot with an embossing folder.  I finally gave it a try and was relatively pleased with the result...see what you think...

Focal image created by running a pop can through the Big Shot with the Petals a Plenty embossing folder.

Close up of the focal image.  The sentiment is from the Perfect Punches set.

Inside of pop can card.  The poinsettia image from Jolly Bingo Bits matches the embossing folder perfectly!

Using a pop can to create a card poses a few challenges.  First of all, how the heck do you cut the can apart?  Well, believe it or not, I just used my craft knife.  The metal in pop cans is VERY thin and doesn't take much to cut.  I just sawed it apart using my knife and my knife actually ended up being sharper as a result!
The second issue is one that you can't fix...the edges of the metal are SHARP!!  Use caution when handling it...blood doesn't mix well with ink. 
The third issue is that it is nearly impossible to get a straight edge on the metal.  You can't cut it with a regular paper trimmer.  I used scissors but even then, the edges were less than perfect.  My solution was to mat the metal with a frame to hide the rough edges.  I used the Scalloped oval frame and trimmed the sheet of metal to hide behind it. 
The final issue surprised me a little:  the metal really got stuck in the embossing folder.  I had to pry it off with a fair bit of difficulty after running it through the Big Shot.  The next time I try this I think I won't use any tabs on my platform...hopefully that will make it a bit easier to get the metal out of the folder.
So now on to the rest of the card...its really simple, actually.  After I embossed the metal and die cut my frame I glued the two together using Tombow (you need something strong here!).  While that was drying I embossed a Night of Navy card base using the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  The sentiment was stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed using silver embossing powder.  I punched it out using my 1 3/4"scalloped circle punch and then layered it on a 2" Real Red circle.  I set eyelets in either end of my oval frame using my crop-a-dile and threaded a length of Whisper White satin ribbon through them.  I tied a pretty bow on the left side.  I ran a layer of sticky strip underneath the ribbon to keep it laying flat.  I then adhered my sentiment using dimensionals.  The entire focal image was adhered the card base using sticky strip...again, stronger is better.
The inside of the card is pretty self-explanatory, but I did want to mention a discovery I made.  The poinsettia image from the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set in the Holiday Mini matches the Petals A Plenty embossing folder perfectly!  I was mighty pleased to discover this...but I am easily amused...you may not be quite as excited about it as I was.  By the way, if you're thinking of purchasing this set, it will carry over into the new catalogue next summer...just thought I'd throw that out there...

Here comes the bride...

I'm posting this card in the hopes my friend ( who will be the recipient next weekend) doesn't see it.  I know she is really busy with wedding preparations so I'm trusting that she won't have time to read my blog!

Shower card for a friend who is being honoured next weekend.

Close-up of sentiment.

Inside of card

Here is what I did to put this card together...it's actually really easy!
I started by running a 5 1/4 x 4" piece of Very Vanilla cardstock through my Big Shot using the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  (I absolutely adore our embossing folders...so much WOW for so little effort!)  Then I sponged the entire thing with Champagne Mist shimmer paint.  I adhered the blue pearls, which came from our local dollar store.  The ribbon is just a scrap that I adhered on either end on the back of the Very Vanilla panel.  I gathered it in the middle and tied it using Linen Thread.  I stamped the sentiment from the For The Bride set in Soft Suede ink on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I then punched it out using my word window punch.  Then I punched a modern label from Soft Suede, a wide oval from Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper, and a decorative label from Baja Breeze.  I layered them all, added some more blue pearls and adhered using dimensionals.  Then I layered the front panel on a 5 3/8 x 4 1/8" piece of Elegant Soiree DSP and mounted the whole thing to a Baja Breeze card base.
The inside is pretty self-evident based on the picture...no fancy techniques or secrets here!  The Love sentiment is from the Level 3 hostess set called Occasional Quotes and the Congratulations is from the Perfect Punches set.  The patterned paper is also from the Elegant Soiree pack.

A Playdate Christmas

I am always impressed by the quality and versatility of Stampin' Up! products.  They really are second to none.  Last week I was working with the Playdate DSP (see my back to school post) and realized that while the child-friendly patterns are great and really cute, not everyone has a use for that style of paper.  Imagine how thrilled I was to realize that the reverse side of all the kid-type prints are beautiful, subtle, single-colour patterns!  This paper is just perfect for so many uses!  Today's card is a case-in-point.

Christmas card using Playdate DSP!

Close-up of the ornament focal image

Embossed sentiment

All of the patterned paper on this card is from the Playdate pack!  The Real Red polka dots and the Old Olive lattice pattern are perfect for Christmas.  How great is it that this paper is so versatile!  There is also a great pattern for Valentine's Day...but that will be for a MUCH later post!  Here is what I did to make this card:

I started with a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Whisper White cardstock which I ran through my Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  These folders are so affordable and a terrific way to add instant texture to any project.  I then layered a piece of the Real Red polka dot patterned paper and a piece of the Old Olive lattice patterned paper on top of the embossed white piece.  I didn't worry too much about making the two patterned pieces the same width but did make sure they were exactly 4" long so that they would align with the white piece.  I then took a 1" strip of solid Old Olive cardstock and punched it using my Scalloped Edge punch.  I added the little pierced detail in each scallop using my piercing tool and mat pack.  I glued all of this down using SNAIL adhesive.  I  wrapped a 12" piece of Whisper White satin ribbon around covering the non-scalloped edge of the old olive cardstock and knotted it, notching the ends of the ribbon.
 I then stamped the sentiment from the Perfect Punches set using Versamark ink, sprinkled it with silver embossing powder and heat embossed it.  I punched the sentiment out using my 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch.  I layered that over a 2" circle in Real Red and adhered it using a glue stick. Then I layered that on a 2 3/8" scalloped circle in Old Olive using dimensionals.  Again, I added the piercing in the centre of each scallop all the way around the circle to tie it into the scalloped strip on the cardfront.  I glued the whole thing to the cardfront using SNAIL adhesive. 
Finally, I stamped the ornament image from the Tags Till Christmas set in Real Red ink on Whisper White cardstock and punched it out using my Ornament Punch.  I added some bling with the Basic Rhinestone jewels.  I tied a 6" length of Real Red 1/8" taffeta ribbon into a tiny bow and adhered it to the top of the ornament using a glue dot.  I punched out two branches using my Two-step XL Bird Punch and adhered them to the upper left corner of the cardfront.  I adhered the embellished ornament below the branches using dimensionals.  I adhered the entire thing to an Old Olive card base.

This card was MUCH faster to make than it was to write about!