Sunflower Seed Card

Happy Friday & Happy May Day! Here are some flowers for you in the form of another seed packet card! Of course I HAD to buy the Sunflower packets! I'm planning to plant quite a few in my landscape this year, including one packet of these. Stay tuned for pics of that later this summer. It's almost time to plant them-if it stays warm!

For these cards (I bought several packs and will be mailing some out this week!!), I used Summer Sun for the base and Naturals White for the pocket layer. My dear Kind & Wonderful Friend was stamped in the center of the pocket in Chocolate Chip. Love that saying!!! The pocket was once again punched with the Eyelet border punch and sponged with Chocolate chip. The flower is from the Pretty Amazing set. I inked it with Summer Sun, then daubered Chocolate Chip in the center.

I forgot to say on the last seed cards, I added a brad or button to the top of each packet over the price. I prefer an accent there to seeing the price! Enjoy!

ETA: GRR, my font keeps shrinking! Sorry, just fixed it again and will check frequently to make sure it's OK!

Little Thanks

I made this card a while back, on one crafty evening out of many that weren't! I have stacks of sketches upstairs by my table, and occasionally I'll get one done! This is Mojo Monday Sketch 77, from way back in March sometime. I like the way it came out, maybe more now then when it was first done!!

Card base is Basic Gray. Background layer is Kiwi Kiss DSP from the Walk in the Park pack in the Occasions Mini. Brads on the side are the new (to this catty) 5/16" Jumbo Brads in Silver. The stamp set used is Pocket Silhouettes. Love the look it yields-simple but elegant! I stamped it in Kiwi Kiss on Whisper White, full strength across the center, then off once below to fill in. I sponged the edges just a bit around the lower side & bottom in Kiwi Kiss, and top with Baha Breeze to match the background layer.

The scallop circle punch was used to layer under the saying from the Matchbox Messages set, also in the Occasions Mini.. Love the look of these two sets together! Need to play with both more!! The saying was attached with dimensionals for added effect.

Glittery Club Card

Here is the last card from Club last weekend, made in response to a request to do something with acetate.  SU! has the window sheets in the Mini Catalog now and that was the spark for the request!

The card base is Rose Red with a Whisper White layer.  Wide Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon knotted around.  It's hard to see in the picture, but this uses the Sparkly Stained Glass technique (tutorial here on SCS).  The top sheet is acetate that we stamped the flower image on in Jet Black StazOn.  We let that dry briefly, then turned it over and applied Crystal Effects in three stages.  First, the center of the flower to which we added light blue glitter (it looks green for some reason, but it was blue!!).  Second, the flowers to which we added rose glitter. Lastly, the leaves and stem to which we added green glitter. All the glitters were from the Fine Cosmo set of glitter.

We let the image dry (while we did all the cutting of butterflies from the last post!). To finish, we attached the acetate to a piece of Whisper White the same size with Vintage brads at the top, layered on a slightly larger piece of Rose Red and attached to the card. The verse was stamped below the image in Rose Red.

Another Club Card

If not for my club ladies, I wouldn't stamp at all!   I so appreciate their inspiration and having a reason to stamp!  Here is the second card from last weekend.  I love this set, Great Friend from the Occasions Mini but hadn't taken time to play with it.  So glad I did!  It was lots of cutting, but worth it!

The card base is Elegant Eggplant-one of my favorite colors that I hadn't used in too long!  The background is two different pieces of the Designer Series paper from the Walk in the Park pack, colors are So Saffron & Kiwi Kiss.  The DSP is also in the Occasions Mini.  We stamped 3 butterflies on Whisper White CS:  One in Elegant Eggplant, one in Kiwi Kiss and one in Baha Breeze, and cut them out.  We also stamped the shape in Elegant Eggplant and added the verse in Baha Breeze using the Stamp-a-ma-jig and cut that out as well.  The ribbon around the center is the So Saffron 7/8" PolyTwill & the Narrow Elegant Eggplant grosgrain.  All the butterflies & the verse were attached with Dimensionals.  Lastly we added the Baha Breeze large corduory button with a Pop-Up glue dot.  These buttons are actually more like brads in that they have "legs" on the back.  We tried to poke a hole through and push the button through, but the legs got so loose that it didn't work, probably in part because of the double ribbon.  We used my Craft & Rubber scissors to remove the legs and used the glue dot instead!

I'm Back!!

Wow, another long lapse. Sorry! I think I have Spring Fever! Haven't been stamping at all, but have spent some time today looking around for inspiration, so maybe I can get motivated! The other good news is it's too cold to do any outside work today! I've been working on sprucing up the yard for Spring, but that's probably going to have to wait a few more days.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and here's a project from my club meeting last week! These ladies are great inspiration for me, and the only stamping I've done in the last month!! There are two versions here, and they actually started in the garden department at Wal-Mart. I was walking through and found some great seed packets for 20 cents! I grabbed a handful knowing I could make these great pocket cards and that they would be perfect for Mother's Day! I have done these cards in the past, but it had been a few years.

The first uses a packet of Bachelor Buttons. I was able to use the same base color for the two versions. The card base is a regular card out of Pink passion. I then cut a piece of white long enough to fold over the top pocket. We punched the top edge of the pocket with the Eyelet Border punch. The Happy Mother's Day is stamped in Basic Gray. We then took the flower image from Fifth avenue and stamped it randomly in coordinating colors, Pink Passion, Lavender Lace & Pink Pirouette. We used a dauber to add the color in the center of the flower to look like the Bachelor Buttons on the seed packet. I sponged some Pink Passion on the top of the pocket and attached the sides with two mini glue dots. Attach the white to the card front and insert seeds!

The second uses a packet of Cosmos flowers. Same basic card, just slightly different colors. This one used Pink Passion, Real Red & Pixie Pink with Summer Sun markered in the center of the flowers. I like things to match so I made the stamping match as closely as I could to the seed packets! LMK if you have questions! Thanks all!

Scallop Envy Easter Basket

Here is an adorable basket for Easter!  or for many other occasions!  I received one of these in trade at the recent Lincoln Half-Day Regional from Jennifer Thomas, another SU! demo.  It is a very quick, easy basket to make!  Here is Jennifer's:

To make this basket, you need the Scallop Envelope die for the Bigshot.  Cut two of those.  Cut one strip for the handle, either 1' x 11" or 1" x 12" (depending on what size CS you have!).  Cut another strip for the sides/bottom 2" x 7-3/4".  Score this last piece at 2-1/4" and 5-1/2".  Jennifer used DSP around hers. 

Here is the one we made for a club project.  Note that you will want the prettier side of your Scallop to fold OUT on your basket.  We stamped under that with the Egg Hunt Wheel using Versamark on Lavender Lace CS.  We wheeled the sides & handle as well.  Attach the basket together using Sticky Strip on the tabs and bottom of the envelope.  You will also want some Sticky Strip to hold down the scallop flaps.  We stamped the Bunny from the Eight Great Greetings set in Stazon on Shimmery White CS and colored with markers.  Punch it out with the Wide Oval and attach with a Pop Up Glue Dot.  The handle was attached with Mini Glue dots at the bottom edge and we added a decorative brad on each side.  LMK if you have questions!

I'm trying something different with this post (Blogger Draft to post at a later time), so if the format comes through all crazy I will be back in to fix it as soon as I can after it posts!  I hope this works so I can do posts ahead of time!

Second Club Project

Howdy all! Hope the weather is turning to Spring wherever you are! Here unfortunately, that means wind. But at least the snow keeps missing us!

For our second club project last week, we used the fabulous new item, the Manhattan Flowers Textured Impressions Die. For those of you that have used Cuttlebug embossing folders, it's just like that! For those that haven't, it dry embosses the image when put through the Big Shot. The flower on the die coordinates with the Fifth Avenue Floral set (p. 106).

I chose to use Vellum Cardstock for our first use of this-there will be more in future months!!! Here is the first version. I was going for elegant for a wedding card but the verse could be changed out for ANY occasion!

The card base is Basic Gray. The flower is embossed on Cardstock Vellum and layered onto the Gray, attaching with Vintage Brads on the corners. The Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon was tied near the bottom before attaching. The verse, from the Sincere Salutations set, was stamped in Basic Gray at the top of the vellum. Quick, easy & elegant!

This version is the same, but I changed out the Basic Gray ribbon with a White Taffeta one. Just a little different look! You could use ANY color as your base and it would look good!!

This last version was done with a White Card base, and a Basic Gray layer under the vellum. It's a few more steps, but the same basic look if you want the white base.

Bigshot Simple Flower

This is the "project" I got off my to-do list yesterday. I made 20+ of these yesterday for a swap. Last minute of course, that is my style. It is postal though!!

There are a couple "sneak peaks" here from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog!! It's packed full of great new goodies!! The card base is Chocolate Chip. The background layer is a new sheet of Baja Breeze DSP from the Walk in the Park set. The flowers were made using the Bigshot and the Simple Flower Embosslit from Shimmery White CS. I decided it would sure be nice to have more than one Embosslit when you have to cut 60+! ha! And it was a stormy, very windy day here in Nebraska so there wasn't much else to do!! After cutting the flowers, I sponged classic ink on them, some in Baja Breeze & some in Chocolate Chip, using a sponge dauber. I added a medium half pearl from the Pretties Kit to the Chocolate Chip. The bottom edge was punched with the Scallop Edge punch. The ribbon is NEW White 5/8" Satin ribbon. Very pretty!!! I wish we had more colors of this-it really dresses up a card! Did you notice the NEW Scallop Oval punch??? It coordinates with the large oval already in the catalog. I stamped the Just for You (from the NEW Oval All set) twice, once in Chocolate Chip on Baja, and once on Shimmery White in Baja.

I will hope to be back on Thursday, but I'm not promising! Finishing up our taxes is tops on my to do list now with several other tasks that need to be done as well!

Lucky Duck!

This is one of the cards my Club ladies did yesterday afternoon. Simple & quick!!

Card base is Bashful Blue. Background is the Delicate Dots DSP that you can earn FREE during Sale-A-Bration. GET YOUR ORDERS IN NOW!!! Time is running out!!! Order Here!!

Click on the card above to see if it will enlarge. We used a Texture plate in the Big Shot on the DSP to give it small raised dots. Love texture!!

The duck is stamped on Naturals White CS and colored with Watercolor Crayons and either a blender pen or aquapainter. Certainly Celery is layered behind the duck, with the So Saffron grosgrain tied around. The ribbon is also FREE during SAB.

The duck is from the Wagon Full of Fun set that is one from the upcoming Occasions Mini that YOU can order NOW!!! Click HERE to see the sets available NOW to get you ready for Easter & Spring!!

I will be back tomorrow with more things to share! I got a project off my "to do" list today, so tomorrow I hope to catch up on posting here!! After work of course. Thanks for stopping by and let me know if I can help with anything!!

Punch Creations

Wow, everyone, sorry about the hiatus! I knew it had been awhile, didn't realize that long! It's been a little busy, not crazy, and I've been sick too. Had a head cold stick around a little too long, and I'm almost done with the antibiotic! It's also calving season here on the farm and that's been interesting-details later! They are fun to watch run around and play (as long as they stay within the fences!), but their arrival can be stressful!! I have some pics of some of them I'll see about posting later this week!

Here are some cards I made last week with a group of local demos. These ARE NOT my creation! I was lucky enough to be included with a local group to complete some projects sent by their upline. Note that neither of these are full card size!

Isn't this duck just too cute? His bill actually opens! LMK if you have questions on how he was done!

This is a matchfold card. I put the red ribbon around the bottom of the card, with the "grass" inside the bottom fold. Again, let me know if you have questions on how it was done!

I will be back soon with more creations-I'm heading up to the stamp room now with several sketches in hand! I will also have a Sunflower Seed (aka Blog Candy) sometime soon as I've just passed my second blogaversary! So, check back with me VERY SOON!!!

Don't forget too that SAB is winding down and your chance to earn FREE goodies will be ending soon. Well, this chance for free goodies I should say! Contact me if you need to place an order, or go here and order online! Thanks for stopping by.

WSC 70-Thinking of You

This may look similar to the last post! The paper, stamps & ink were still out, so it was very easy to use them again! This one is for Beate's Weekend Sketch #70, hosted by Lori Craig.

The card base is Chocolate Chip, Background Stripe from the Parisian Breeze DSP. Daisies cut withe Big Shot & Daisies #2 die-another favorite staying VERY close to the Big Shot!! The Chocolate Chip floral print is on the left side, with a layer of Baha Breeze under the Whisper White with the images. The butterfly is from Dreams Du Jour, & Thinking of You from Sincere Salutations. Butterflies are stamped in Basic Brown and colored with just a touch of Baha Breeze. Ribbon is from the Valet Ribbon Originals set. Jumbo brad in the center of the Daisies adhered with a Pop-Up Glue Dot.

Dreams du Jour-Mojo Monday #75

Well, my Mojo doesn't seem to happen on Monday, but here is my creation for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge! I've had the idea since Monday, just didn't get it done until tonight!

Another creation using the great new DSP paper from SU! This card uses DSP (Designer Series Paper) from the Parisian Breeze Specialty set. It's not your average DSP! It's textured, cover-weight card stock. Fun fun! Colors in the paper are Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip & Kraft.

My card base is Chocolate Chip CS. That color has found a permanent spot beside my cutter!! Next layer is the flower print for the background. Next on the right side, a Baha Breeze CS strip punched on the right side with the Eyelet Border topped with a piece of dotted DSP. Center layer has a Kraft background piece, with 2 pieces of DSP. The dots again, and the reverse side of the dots- a Chocolate print., The only stamping on this card is the Dreams image, done in Basic Brown on Whisper White, colored with a blender pen using Baja Breeze & Sahara Sand ink. Accent layer on the Dreams image is again Chocolate chip. The brads are from the pretties kit. If I had it to do again, I would do a few less, and maybe a different brad (? vintage?). These don't lay very flat-that's just the way they are! Great for flower centers and such, not so great when you want flat!

Last accent on the card are flowers from the Pretties kit. I colored both with an Aqua pen and classic ink-Baja Breeze & Sahara Sand. Ice brad in the center in the light blue color.

Over all, I like the look! Lots of layers, but this paper blends wonderfully together (as to ALL of our DSP packs!)

Happy weekend all!

Big Shot Daisies

Here is the last club card from our last gathering. Another hit with everyone!

My inspiration once again came from a hostess request. She wanted to see something done with Big Shot flowers. I took the dies I have and compared them to my background stamps, and thought these would go well together.

Card base is Riding Hood Red. The background is Whisper White, stamped with the Pretty Petals Background stamped, and punched along the bottom with the fantabulous new Eyelet Border punch. The Daisies #2 die has 3 different sizes of flowers on it. I cut two of each (at the same time). The largest & smallest in Riding Hood Red, the center in Chocolate Chip. These flowers have a very large center so you'll want to layer together with Snail adhesive. We alternated the petals on each size flower to give it the full look. Once we had all the layers adhered together we put a Chocolate Chip Corduroy button through (it has a back like a brad). We attached the finished flower to the card with a Pop-Up Glue Dot. Fun Fun!!

Contact me if you NEED any of these great items!!!

Good Friend!

Well, my streak is broken, but that's OK! I didn't feel very well last night so didn't take time to post. Not feeling wonderful tonight, but grabbed the laptop and parked in front of the TV!

This is my most recent swap creation, for a 'new catalog' category. I only ordered 2 sets (so far!) from the catalog, so I didn't have a lot of choice. I struggled a bit with this, it's a bit "busy", but overall I do like how it came out.

Card base is Summer Sun, background paper is Good Morning Sunshine. Bird is stamped in Pacific Point on Whisper White, layered on Pacific Point. I rounded the corners on the bird layers and background paper to go with the 'good friends'. I stamped that in Basic Brown and colored in with Summer Sun ink using a blender pen. The key tag punch was used to punch out the 'good friends' and I punched a second one from Kiwi Kiss, split it, and layered it behind each side of the top layer. I tied a Kiwi Kiss ribbon around the background layer, and added the saying with dimensionals. The bird wing was cut from Kiwi Kiss by stamping a partial image and cutting it out. The eye of the bird is a brad from the new jumbo brad sets in the Chocolate Chip color.

One more note. If you look at the bird in the catalog (Good Friend set), his legs are much longer. I masked the bird, and stamped the feet at the bottom of the white layer giving him the short legs. It's pretty quick and easy, and used much less paper then the full length leg!

Thanks again for stopping by! Hopefully I'll feel up to stamping tomorrow!

WSC69 Big Bold Birthday

Not that anybody but me is counting, but this is 5 in a row! More inspiration from a challenge. This one is Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. Not sure I like the colors, but otherwise it's not bad!

Card base is Pumpkin Pie. Dotted DSP on the side is Kiwi Kiss from the Bella Rose set. Thought it would go great with the ribbon, which is from the new Ribbon Originals set Pig Tails. I ran the card base through the Big Shot with the Large Polka Dot Texture plate-they are hard to see in the scan. The cupcake bottom is Kiwi Kiss, frosting is Bashful Blue. I cut a reverse mask of the frosting and stamped Pumpkin Pie dots over. Candles are Kiwi.

One question for all you out there. Is there an easy way to texture just the the front of a card? without doing the whole thing? I tried to open the card and just do the front, but it moved when I put it through the Big Shot. Any suggestions? I ended up doing the whole thing, which doesn't look bad. The inside/back of the card have light impression dots on them!

Thanks again for stopping by! I survived shopping with two teenage boys today. They are stylin', and I'm broke! Ahh, the joys of parenthood!

Together Forever SDC 40

WOW-4 days in a row!!! I've found inspiration in some sketch & design challenges! and of course, I'm ignoring my messy house and choosing to stamp! he he!!

This one is for SUDSOL Design Challenge #40. SUDSOL is a demo group, click the icon in my sidebar for more information if you're interested in finding out more!

Very simple layout, and I went with an elegant look for a wedding or anniversary card. My initial thought was to again use a texture plate for the background, but then I remembered this wonderful NEW paper that we have. Both the background white and dotted vellum piece are from the Taste of Textiles pack of paper. The scan doesn't do them justice! Click to view it larger and you might see some detail. The white is called Coated White Pin Stripe, and it really shines in person! Very pretty. The vellum has Not Quite Navy Polka Dots. Card base is Not Quite Navy, top layer is Shimmery backed by Chocolate Chip. I stamped the flowers in Basic Brown and used a Blender Pen to color with Not Quite Navy classic ink. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip with white dots, from the Valet Ribbon Originals set. I stamped the Together Forever on Not Quite Navy with Craft White and punched with the Wide Oval punch. It is layered on with Dimensionals.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! My boys are off school tomorrow and it's a usual day off for me, so we're heading shopping for dress clothes for upcoming band activities. Fun fun! Hopefully I'll still find time to share something before the day is over.

Botanical Blooms-Mojo Monday #74

Don't anybody fall off their chair-this is my 3rd day in a row to post!! And better yet, I stamped this just because I wanted too! That hasn't happened for quite a while!

I used the Mojo Monday week 74 sketch for inspiration. And I FINALLY used a texture plate with my Big Shot!! It's a little hard to see in the scan, but it's there!

Card base is Chocolate Chip. Textured layer is Riding Hood Red. The texture is the floral/swirl image from the SU! Backgrounds 1 set. The pink strips are the 1-1/4" Pink Pirouette Grosgrain ribbon. Stamp set is Botanical Blooms, another Sale-A-Bration set that you can get FREE with a $50 purchase. I stamped the outline parts of the flower with Chocolate Chip, and filled in the flowers with Pink Pirouette & Riding Hood Red. This is a two-step set so no coloring, just a quick stamp! A piece of the Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon is around the bottom of the stamped image. Lastly, I added a Fleurette with a 1/2 Pearl from the Pretties Kit.

Contact me today or Order Online to get this GREAT SAB set FREE! Back to stamping!

2nd Club Sample

My hostess last weekend also requested something for St. Patricks. While I knew I didn't have any sets specifically for that, I knew I could do something with this Sale-A-Bration set, Polka Dot Punches.

The card base is Garden Green. We started by stamping the heart from the set along the top, bottom, & then sides to create the background using the Craft White ink pad. While that ink was drying, we stamped 3 hearts in Garden Green on Whisper White and punched them with the new Full Heart punch. We adhered the hearts to a piece of Garden Green to form the Shamrock, then added the stem in Garden Green ink. It says "you've got a friend in me!" and is from the Cheep Talk set. We added a Rhinestone Brad for the center from the Pretties Kit before attaching to a layer of Whisper White and then onto the card base. Quick and easy!!

Don't forget you can order online 24-7 through my demo site. Click the Shop Now button at the top and shop, shop, shop!!! You will need to register the first time, then log in each time you return. SU! is giving FREE catalogs with online orders (while supplies last) AND it's Sale-A-Bration!!! Make sure if you do an online order that you choose your FREE SAB item(s)!!

SAB has benefits for customers, hostesses and new demonstrators!! Most involve FREE stamp sets!! Contact me today if you have questions! I also have openings on my calendar for workshops-in the SE Nebraska area so contact me today to book yours!!

February Club Project

Hello all, sorry once again for my delays in posting! I'm having trouble getting anything accomplished these days! I did manage to get some projects together for my club ladies last weekend. Here is one of them, inspired by the great Patty Bennett! If only I could get as much done as she does!!!

This project is a pocket, created with the Top Note die for the Big Shot. The base of the pocket is cut from Bashful Blue cardstock. The top layer is from the Dashing Dots DSP which is FREE during Sale-A-Bration with a $50 purchase. Don't miss your chance to own it! It is a great set of paper- 4 sheets each of 4 prints! There are two samples here, the only difference being which way we folded the top layer of paper. I scored a line about 1" down from the top of the Top Note cut out of the DSP.

We attached the DSP Top Note to the base with just a little snail around the edges. The Certainly Celery ribbon-also FREE during SAB, was tied around the assembled pocket, over the fold. We added a punched flower from the Polka Dot Punches set-you guessed it-FREE during SAB. The brad in the center is the new So Saffron Flower brad from the Flower Assortment Designer Brads. We made a small coordinating bookmark for inside the pocket. The Saffron ribbon is part of the bundle pack for SAB. The white brad is from the 5/16 Neutrals Assortment of Jumbo Brads.

January Club Samples

Here are the club projects from last week! It was good to see the ladies again-it had been awhile! The weather cancelled us in December!

The first project used the Love You Much Bundle items-the Love You Much set, Candy Lane Designer Series paper & Heart to Heart punch.

To start, I cut a Top Note out of folded Pink Pirouette textured cardstock so that it opens. The overall size is smaller than an average card, but perfect for a gift card or small note. Out of the scrap where the Top Note was cut, we punched two sets of hearts with the Heart to Heart punch. I also cut a strip of DSP using the Top Note die in the Big Shot. I placed the strip right on the center point of the die. We attached the DSP to the Pink, then tied the ribbon around the top edge. We stamped the scallop image from the Love You Much set in Chocolate chip on both Riding Hood Red & Very Vanilla. The Riding Hood Red image we punched with the Scallop circle punch and added white dots with the gel pen. We punched the center of the image with the 1" circle punch and colored the heart with a blender pen and Pink Pirouette ink. Attach the vanilla circle with a dimensional, and layer on the scallop. Inspired by samples shared by Patty Bennett & Mary Brown on SUDSOL.

Next we created this card using the new Just Buzzin' By set. Card base is Basic Black. Background is the NEW Good Morning Sunshine DSP in a Summer Sun pattern. We stamped the sayings, one at the top, one at the bottom. We added the hive and the dancing bee in Basic Black and used a blender pen with Summer Sun ink for accents. The flying bee was stamped on Whisper White and punched with the 1-1/4 punch, layered on a Summer Sun 1-3/8 punch, layered on a Basic Black Scallop circle punch. The bee was attached with dimensionals over the Black Gingham ribbon. Corners were punched with the Ticket Corner Punch. Pretty quick and easy!

Lastly, was this one also using the Just Buzzin' By set. Someone shared a card with the same layout on SUDSOL last week, so I started with that for inspiration. I chose a new DSP-also from the Good Morning Sunshine pack. Colors are Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun & Pacific Point. I chose the card base & ribbon to be Pacific Point, background layer is Summer Sun. Flowers & Bee are colored with blender pens & the coordinating colors on Whisper White. Another quick and easy!