Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Elegant Vintage Background

 The Fresh Vintage set is my absolute favorite!! For today's card I discovered how easy it is to make a lovely vintage background paper with the large floral image.

I stamped the image repeatedly using Concord Crush ink on Whisper White card stock. The shapely layered borders come from the Adorning Accents Edgelits. I also embossed the main panel, you may better see the detail if you click to enlarge the photo. Stamping the trio of flowers in Concord Crush ink with the small flower image, I then punched them out.

I combined Concord Crush with a Peach Parfait tag die cut with the Labels Collection. Pearls dress up this clean and simple card. I included a tag to play along with Jaydee's Clean and Simple challenge at The Paper Players. I had fun with this one!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Fresh Vintage

Paper:  Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush

Ink:  Concord Crush, Peach Parfait

Accessories:  Basic Pearls, Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing Folders, Labels Collection Dies, Peach Parfait Twill Ribbon, Basic Pearls, hole punch, Itty Bitty Flower Punch

Balloons Make Birthdays Special

I'm married to a great guy who for years has done something special for our childrens' birthdays. We have a tradition of placing a bouquet of about 20 balloons on their beds while they're asleep for them to find on birthday morning. Even as young adults they've enjoyed starting their special day this way.

I thought the balloons in the Up, Up, and Away set would make a great guy card that I need to mail.

 

The colors look much better IRL, you'll just have to take my word for it! I made several attempts to get a better photo that showed the Daffodil Delight looking sunny instead of mustardy but to no avail.

I made a tag using the Matchbox Die, and found the Denim Twill coordinated perfectly.

I find masculine cards to be hard, don't you? Maybe I should challenge myself to make them more often. I'd love to know what helps you with this type of card. A certain set or theme? Favorite colors? If you have a minute, let meknow in my comments box.

This was made using the beautiful sketch by Karen Giron, you'll find it at the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Up, Up and Away

Paper:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Brights Designer Series Paper Pack, Old Olive

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Basic Black

Accessories:  Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Denim Twill, Matchbox Bigz Die, Large Oval Punch

Sale-A-Bration Sampler

Sale-A-Bration is here! Today marks the first day of the terrific yearly event from Stampin' Up! where you earn FREE products for every $50 you spend on merchandise. If you'd like to learn more, just click HERE.

You can easily earn exclusive products designed just for this promotion. My absolute favorite is the beautiful Designer Series Paper called Everyday Enchantment that's featured on today's card. This paper is so sweet and has some slight distressing and shading for a ready-made shabby look.

 

I also used the Brads and Ribbon pack that coordinates. Aren't these delightful colors?

The other options for Sale-A-Bration rewards include items from the current main catalog. One of those is the Designer Frames embossing folder that I stamped with the sentiment from the Friendly Phrases stamp set. You're the best!

Hope you're getting in some crafting time today.

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases

Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment DSP

Ink:  Calypso Coral

Accessories:  Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brad pack, Designer Fames Embossing Folder

Twitterpated and Freshly Made

I'm exhausted after the wedding! It was a fabulous celebration!

After all the excitement and travel, I'm twitterpated to even think of making a card today. But that's what I did and now I'm under the wire to post it in time to be shared on this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge. Wondering all the while if I wouldn't have been better off taking a nap. Hope you like it!

I used the Bordering on Romance set, keeping the hues monochromatic for an elegant look that's really easy. I embossed the image in Cherry Cobbler, and used markers to highlight in Blushing Bride. I love the sweet patterns and colors of the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper and dressed it up with other product in that collection (you can never go wrong with pleated ribbon!) The Adorning Accents Edgelits provide a feminine border.

 

Stamps: Bordering on Romance, Upsy Daisy

Paper: Twitterpated DSP, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Versamark, Basic Gray

Accessories: Blushing Bride, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Vintage Brads, Cherry Cobbler EP, markers, buttons, Basic Rhinestones

Something Beautiful

I wrote in my last post that I would be posting yesterday. Sorry that didn't happen, my computer was NOT cooperating!

I promised to post something beautiful that didn't involve stamps, paper or ink. That something VERY beautiful and precious to me is my family. I've rarely shared photos of my family here - you've seen me and my Mom and heard about the family from time to time, but I've mostly kept pretty quiet about them.

Today I'd like you to meet our crew! My husband and I are on the right. We have four grown children, two sons and two girls. This was taken on Thanksgiving Day and sent out with our Christmas cards this year.

Our daughters are on the left, our youngest son is in the back, and our older son is standing next to his new bride, She's the sweetest new addition to our family. Know what's even more beautiful?  They had a small legal ceremony last fall, but this weekend is THE BIG wedding!

Now you know what's keeping me more than a little busy these days. I'll be enjoying the celebration of one of life's important moments.

I'll be back to crafting next week!

 

 

 

 

 

Pleated Paper Tutorial

Hi there! I know I've been MIA a bit again and I have good reasons I'll share with you soon. In the meantime, I hope to encourage you to try something new today.

When I posted THIS card, I got requests asking for instructions on how I did the paper pleating, and I'd like to share a tutorial today for this simple technique. Pleating paper is a great way to add interest to your cards. I know we all have scraps of designer paper to use up ( and reams more, probably!) and it's fun and a good value to make your own embellishments.

Pleated paper also lends itself well to the shabby chic style which includes vintage or distressed items combined with other elements to achieve a soft, feminine style.

1. Begin with a strip of designer paper which is 2-1/2 times the length of the finished project you want. That's about 8" for a 4-1/4"  pleated piece. It can be any width you want, mine is 1-1/4" wide.

2. Score your paper at 1/4", and at 1/4 again. Go over 3/4" and score again, go over 1/4" and score, and 1/2" and score.

Instead of giving you the exact numbers for scoring, I'm giving you a pattern to follow. It is:

1/4, 3/4, 1/4, 1/2, 1/4, 3/4, 1/4, 1/2, 1/4 and so on for the length of your strip. A tab of 1/4" may be added at each end as in my sample.

3. The 3/4" pleat is on the top of your row, the 1/2" pleat is the bottom where the 1/4" edges fold. If this doesn't seem clear, get a piece of paper and just try it!

4. Fold and pinch your pleats beginning with the lines around the 3/4" sections. I make sure those lines are crisp and then fold the 1/4" tabs to meet in the middle of the 1/2" piece.

I adhere my pleated paper to the project with a glue dots on the 1/2" pieces along the bottom. You may add ribbon, punched borders or twine to your pleats to further embellish.

Now that you see the pattern and get the idea, you can vary the size of your pleats.

 I sure hope you'll give this a try!

I'll be back tomorrow to share something very beautiful and special even though it involves no stamps, paper or ink! (if you can imagine that <g>)

Have a great day!

 

Freshly Made Vintage

I'm wide awake when I should be sleeping and that means I may ramble away here on my blog. No telling where that could lead! Life is very busy right now and I wake up with my mind swirling of things to do and lists, and wondering how I'll get them all done.

These are happy things and what needs to get done DOES get completed. The rest I let go! Tonight I could not let go of blogging. This card was just begging me to get up out of my nice warm bed and show it to you!

I made it the day my pre-order came using the set for Sale-A-Bration called Fresh Vintage. Who can resist a pretty floral spray and flower images repeated on a square sized perfectly for the Postage Stamp punch? I used markers to ink most of the image, but used Versamarker on the larger flowers so that I could emboss them with Tangerine Tango EP (also used on the square tag.)

I know the flowers are upside down, hope that doesn't bother you! I was using a sketch (from Mojo Monday 221) and I sensed better balance with the heavier flower hanging down. I added rhinestone jewels to adorn this flower as the focal point.

This card never got posted to the MOJO challenge. But THIS one from last week and THIS one from  awhile back were chosen as Finalists in the MOJO Contests. There are so many talented artists and entries, I am delighted that my cards were picked!

As always, I like sharing my creations with you. After I list the supplies, I think I'll get right back to sleep. No more lists until morning!

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Fresh Vintage

Paper:  Attic Boutique DSP, Whisper White, Tanager Tango

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Stampin' Write markers, Tangerine Tango EP, Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon, Scallop Dotted Ribbon Border and Postage Stamp Punches, Basic Rhinestones, Scallop Circle Bigz Die

Take it to Heart

Hi there!

Hope your day and new year is perking along well. I've been busy with family birthdays and a stamping "Tea" party last night but I've got a quick share for you today.

You know you are going to see this set again from me a few times in the next month - I LOVE the Take it to Heart stamp set from the Occasions Mini. Paired with the Everyday Enchantment DSP (a peek of what's to come with Sale-A-Bration) this vintage set shows off a cute and fun, classic style!

I started out with an idea to create a seasonal card perfect for a thank you or short note. I love the perky colors - Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Poppy Parade.

Adding a topper made with the Adorning Accents Edgelits and coordinating embossing folders really dresses up this easy card. I stamped the sentiment from the Loving Thoughts set tone on tone so the edge treatment details could stand out.

This fits right in with the Love Challenge at The Paper Players.

Thanks for stopping by today! I know there are a zillion blogs out there and I'm honored that you pop in to take a peek at my creations. I'd love to hear from you!

Occasions to stamp!

I'm settling down after all the holidays, how about you? The days show hopeful signs of settling into some routine again. That means time to take walks with Josie, try to get the house back in order, and stamp! The Occasions Mini catalog goes live today with wonderful new products and I can't wait to show them to you. So settle back, I've got some cards in the lineup for the next couple of days.

  My favorite new product is the Attic Boutique DSP! I love the vintage patterns and color combos. My Valentine began wtih the sentiment from the Loving Thoughts stamp set, and I scored the panel for extra detail. That pretty little border underneath is made with the Adorning Accents Edgelits Die.

The heart images are from the Take It to Heart set. I stamped and cut the two larger hearts by hand. The little one was die cut with the new Fashionable Hearts Embosslit. I added pearls and a few spritzes of ink, just to make me happy!

This card is my entry for the contest this month at  Mojo Monday - it's a gorgeous sketch, don't you think?

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Loving Thoughts, Take It to Heart

Paper:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Attic Boutique DSP, Pretty in Pink

Ink:  Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink

Accessories:  Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Color Spritzer Tool, Basic Pearls, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, marker

Flower Flourish

Hi and Happy New Year!

I was about to post my card for this week's Case Study when I found out a very pleasant surprise!  THIS card that I entered in the last challenge was a Top 3 Winner! That certainly brought a smile to my face this morning and makes it very enticing to play again!

The challenge featured this lovely sample from one of my favorite artists, Amy Sheffer.

I loved her beautiful color choices and the rich textures including the pleats and a doily as part of her collage accent.

Here's my take on it -

The flower was stamped with the Mixed Bunch stamp set which is available starting Wednesday in the Occasions Mini. I used the basic Resist technique, stamping with Versamark ink onto Glossy Paper, then heat setting it to dry. I sponged Poppy Parade ink over the flourish and got this pretty textured look. Here's a close-up for you.

This technique is so simple to do. Just be sure to use glossy paper. A darker ink is best. The ink does show up a shade lighter and the wonderful sheen of the paper shows through.

I cut it out with the coordinating Blossom Punch. Don't you love using supplies that are MADE for each other?

The paper pleating wasn't hard and I promise to show you how I did that soon. The DSP is coming for Sale A Bration and is called Everyday Enchantment. I need Thank You cards at this time of year, so this one is going out in the mail soon.

If you need any details of other supplies used, please don't hesitate to ask! I'm away from my desk right now (standing in the kitchen in my jammies) and whenever I add supplies without looking up the exact names - well you know, I give them new names all my own - right off the top of my head.

I'd so love to hear from you! Your comments always inspire me.