Heartfelt Blooms

Since I do not have the "Large Letters Framelits" and since I don't think I can afford them, I have been looking for other ways to do the "Eclipse Technique" that I see all over Pinterest. For this card I used the Sale-a-bration set called "Heartfelt Blooms". I stamped the flower three times on white card stock and then using the die from the set called "Celebrate You", also a Sale-a-bration reward, I cut out the word "you". Then taking the die, I cut three pieces out of black card stock. I then glued all three black pieces together and then added the piece from my stamped image on top. This creates a clipboard like piece. After gluing the stamped image onto the black card stock, I inserted the glued piece back into the cut out spot. Worked beautifully!  And I didn't have to use any dimensionals. It was just the perfect height.

Using "Heartfelt Blooms" One More Time

I did another card this morning using the "Heartfelt Blooms" stamp set. This time I used Primrose Petal card stock and ink along with Very Vanilla card stock. This is a very simple design but one that really stands out because of being asymmetrical. Before adding the focal image to the card base, I stamped around the edges with a stamp from the "Waterfront" set and VersaMark ink.

I often forget about adding something to the inside of the card. This time I remembered. I added just a little bit of color using the focal stamp and the Primrose Petal ink. I hope this inspires you today in your card making journey.

2018 Sale-A-Bration Heartfelt Blooms

I needed a couple of cards this week so here is what I came up with. At first this stamp set did not jump out at me. I thought it was one that I could do without. After seeing a lot of cards made with the stamp set on Pinterest, I began to have different feeling about it. On the last Stampin' Up order that I sent in, I had the opportunity to get this set. The more I have seen cards made with it, the more I really love it.

Yesterday I needed a get well card. I also needed it a little larger than a regular A2 card. So here is what I did. Of course the focal image is from the set "Heartfelt Blooms" stamped with "Wisteria Wonder" ink on white card stock. It is layered on a piece of Wisteria Wonder card stock. The card base is white. Found a piece of Designer Series Paper in Wisteria Wonder. When I was checking the pieces and layout, I found that the white card base was to stark; it was too white. I started looking through my stamp sets and decided on using a stamp from the set called "Touches of Texture". I stamped it around the exposed edges. What a difference that made.

The next picture shows the back of the card. When I was all done, I turned the card over. In the upper left corner, there was a big, dark ink smear. I didn't have time to start over. What could I do? I thought about ways that I might cover it up or I could just leave it. I didn't like the last idea. What I ended up doing was punching a 1 1/4" square from the Designer Series Paper, cutting it on the diagonal and covering up the smear with one of the triangles. It sort of matched the front of the card. Good or bad, that is what I did.

The second card I needed was a sympathy card. I find these cards difficult to make. I used the same stamp set "Heartfelt Blooms". This time I stamped it with a Stampin' Up retired color called "Brocade Blue". I had seen a card on Pinterest where part of the image had been cut it such a way that it hung over the edge. I wanted to give it a try. I also stamped the image twice so that I could cut out the main flower and attach it over the main image to add interest and dimension to the piece. The sentiment I used is from a Our Daily Bread Designs set called "Loving Memories". Here is a link to the original card I saw.

Thanks for stopping by today.

A One Sheet Wonder Set

This morning as I was looking on Facebook I came across a video and as I followed the link back to the original blog post, I fell in love with the cards. I had to try casing this set of cards.

I found some cardstock that was very close to the Wisteria Wonder from Stampin' Up. Then I took a 6" x 6" piece of designer series paper from the new Delightful Daisy package. Cut it following the layout and created my cards.

The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up set called "Peaceful Petals". Then I used a stamp from my new set "Labels To Love", stamped it with Wisteria Wonder ink and punched it out with the coordinating punch.

Only one problem.When I looked at the last card, I realized that I had not been as careful as I should have been. This designer series paper had a "nap" to it just as corduroy or velvet, and I got this one upside down. Can't change it now.

A Color Challenge

I was working on a card yesterday for a color challenge that my stamp class is doing on August 26. The colors are Marina Mist, Crushed Curry and Wild Wasabi. I can't wait to see what every one comes up with.

 I wasn't sure how this was all going to turn out but I do love these colors together. The die I used was from Gina Marie Designs. I cut the die three times--one in Marina Mist, one in Crushed Curry and finally one in white. All the die cuts were taken apart and then one was re assembled. I love the patchwork look. The leaves were cut from Wild Wasabi card stock. The flowers were stamped and die cut. I really do love these colors together.

The Crushed Curry frame was used in yesterday's card.

My Latest Quilting Project

I have used this punch very little. I decided it was time to give it a try. I had seen a card similar to this. I had all these paper scraps together for another project. "Why would they not work for a card?"

As you can see, I tried it and they worked. I love the poka dots. I love the soft pastel colors. I love using something from my collection that has not been used very much. I love many of the retired stamp sets. This sentiment was from one of the first stamp sets I purchased "Always In My Thoughts" (2008). It was a perfect fit. I stamped it and punched it out.

Then I needed something for the inside of the card. I could have left it plain, but that didn't appeal to me. As I was looking through my stencils I found one that had little hexagons on it. Perfect!  I added a little bit of color using the stencil and some ink. Now, for me, it was complete.

By The Lake

Earlier this month I posted a card very similar to this one. I love creating water scenes. This time its a lake scene with mountains in the background. I love this chair. It reminds me of spending a quiet day by the water's edge.

"Be still and know that I am God"

 Psalm 46:10

A Splitcoast Stampers favorite for the week ending July 30.

I feel blessed.

Tri-fold Revisited

I think this turned out to be a very special card. I found this fold on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago. I had several pieces of scrap designer paper laying on my work space from another project. When I saw how to make this card, I decided to see what I could make.

I used a black card base then chose pieces that would fit each part. The card is so easy to make. The card base is a piece of card stock cut 5 1/2" x 11" and scored at 3" and 7 1/4". The card stock is folded with the two side panels folded over each other. I chose to have the smaller 3" panel on top. All of top pieces (layers) are cut 1/8" smaller than the measurements of the panel. I like the very small borders -- about 1/16". I think the smaller borders accent the beauty of the paper, especially when the card base is black.

The flowers were made using the Cheery Lynn Designs tea rose dies. I used Soft Sky card stock and sponged the edges with a distress ink.

Sponging and Masking

These are two of my favorite techniques. That was the topic for our June Create, Challenge, Encourage Stamp class. We made three cards using three different types of sponging and some masking.

This card was made using on oval mask to sponge the colors onto plain white card stock. I used blue and green ink and a large sponge dauber. After the sponging is complete you can add the stamped image and sentiment .

The steps for this second card were a little more involved. I first stamped my images onto plain white card stock and cut into the oval shape using a Spellbinders Nestabilities die. Without removing the paper from the die, I turned it upside down and embossed using my silicone rubber mat. Still leaving the oval in the die, I turned it right side up and lightly sponged over the die onto the card stock. The result is a small white edge to the image which creates the appearance of an additional layer.

I posted this third card a few days ago on the blog. With just a few stokes of ink over some masked lines, I created the illusion of a landscape. Very simple way to add depth to your stamping.

Finished Centerpiece

Just wanted to share the finished center piece I made for the Mother/Daughter Tea I attended at my church just before Mother's Day. I had posted the table mat and the candle holder earlier. To finish off the centerpiece, I added a box of greeting cards. The center piece was to show something about our selves and the things we enjoy doing.

A close-up of the box.

A little closer look at the flowers on top.

These are the cards inside the box--

Rich Razzleberry was the accent color on each card. Used different stamp sets and different embossing folders but the same circle die on each card. Thanks for letting me share this project with you.

Going Back to "One Sheet Wonder"

I was going to try the "one sheet wonder" pattern that I have using a different designer paper. I cut my 6" x 6" piece. Looked at the pattern, made a cut, looked again at the pattern -- it was all wrong. Now what? Well, I will just use these pieces and see what I can make. After playing with different solid colored card stocks and different layouts, I made three cards (instead of four).

Here are the cards all together.

Now, individually. 

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When I saw this paper by Graphic 45, I fell in love with it. Loved the small design, the strips on the back side, the colors and the flowers. I took the pieces that I had cut incorrectly and made three cards that I was very happy with. I used different stamp sets, a number of different dies and different color card stock. They are not what I started out to make, but that is OK. I love the finished cards.

There was one little piece left, so I used it on the inside of the middle card. So often I forget about doing anything to the inside when I am working on a card, but I always love the finished look when I do. Even just a little piece of the designer paper gives that completed look.

Flowers Are Mine

Sometimes I look around my desk and wonder why I don't just throw everything laying around in the wastebasket. Then I make a card with some of those things. That's why I cannot seem to throw away those extra flowers, leaves, die cuts, etc away. This is one of those cards. I needed a card for a special friend. Found the die cut in a small tray on the left side of my desk. The flowers were from the "flower drawer" and the leaves were from a small plastic box of "greenery". Often when I have a small scrap of card stock left, I will punch or die cut a flower or two. If it is green card stock, I will punch or die cut greenery until the scraps are so tiny that I can do nothing else with them. I have found that I like to have different shades of greenery on hand. When I am in the middle of making a card, I don't have to stop and cut the leaves.

I started out making this card with the idea that it would be a sympathy card. I had cut the large circle medallion months ago (from a Spellbinder's die). To keep the colors soft I used the same vanilla card stock that the circle was cut from. From the "flower drawer" I found the parts for the flowers which had been cut from SU island indigo card stock. Some parts had already been sponged with whisper white craft ink. The greenery was already cut. After laying everything out, I sponged a little island indigo ink onto the medallion so that it would show up better. I did not add a sentiment because I knew that I could use the card for many different occasions. 

I love flowers and I love putting them on my cards. I love springtime and I love seeing all the different flowers come to life after a winter of rest. 

"Take a good look at God's Wonders--

They'll take your breath away."

Psalm 66:5 (The Message)

Two Cards -- The Same But Different

This card is from yesterday's post where I had made a set of cards using a "one sheet wonder" sketch pattern. I needed a card for a friend who fell earlier this week and broke her foot. So-- I decided to make a card following the same design as the first card using the same paper and similar color palate.

This is the new card I made. I hope that you can see the similarities and the differences. By using the same paper and choosing different sides, you create two unique cards.This sentiment if from Our Daily Bread Designs Mini Tags 3 set.

Here is the two cards together. Makes me wonder how many different looks could be achieved with this sketch and these papers. Should I try?

Second Card Set

I enjoyed making the first set of cards using the One Sheet Wonder patterns so much that I decided to try another set with some beautiful paper I purchased at my local scrapbooking store, Altered Art Addicts in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The piece was by Graphic 45 called "Pretty Primrose" from the Secret Garden Collection. The minute I saw the paper, I knew that I had to have at least one sheet. I am beginning to think that I need to go back and purchase a few more. Here are the cards--

The Complete Set

For this card and the next one, I used SU Cajun Craze card stock for the base. I also used SU So Saffron in the layers. The sentiment is from a long time retired Stampin' Up set called "Lots of Thoughts". The flower came from the Stampin' Up set called "Fabulous Florets". It was stamped on white card stock using Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink. I used the Memento ink because I knew that I wanted to add some additional color and highlights using my copic markers. I think that this flower was meant to go with this paper.

For this second card I used the "Friend" stamp  from SU's set "Awesomely Artictic". Using my Misti, I stamped it in three colors -- So Saffron, Cajun Craze and Old Olive.

The last two card are made using SU's So Saffron card stock for the base. Most of the layers are SU Cajun Craze. The elements on the card above were added directly to the card base. The sentiment is from the SU's set "Whimsical Words".

Some time last year, I began to be aware of how many stamp sets I had that I had never used or used very little. I decided that it was time to slow down on the purchases and start using what I had. It has been fun to see how much I really love lots of the retired stamp sets. I guess that doesn't help the stamp companies but it has made me more aware of what I have and what works for me. That doesn't mean that I have not purchased anything new; it just means that the things I do purchase tend to be ones that I really, really like.

Have a great day stamping.

Quilt Block Inspiration

As I was preparing for my card class at Altered Art Addicts, this Saturday, October 1, I learned several new things. I had been asked by one of the ladies if we could learn to make the "pinwheel" card. Sure! Not a problem! I had made the card once before and enjoyed doing it. As I began planning for the class, I looked on Pinterest for inspiration. I found many cards. Then I began wondering about the name "pinwheel". I knew that it was not the same as the pinwheel quilt block I had made several times. I found the real name for this quilt block is "Wings of Eagles". It is sometimes called the "Twisted Star" block.

For these two cards, I found doubled sided designer paper in my scrap box that worked perfectly. It is a fun design to work with.

After working on the first two cards, I wondered if I could make a card using one of my favorite quilt blocks -- the nine-patch block. I had also come across  some interesting facts regarding the block. It is probably from the early 19th century. Being an easy block to learn how to sew, it was probably one of the first blocks taught to young girls. 

I made my squares by using a 1 1/4 inch paper punch. I used a square piece of card stock cut at 3 3/4-inches for the base to glue the squares onto. After doing the piecing I ran it through the Big Kick in an embossing folder. It created the perfect design on the quilt block.

Class Challenge

This last card is for the challenge I had sent out for our class on Saturday. The challenge is to play "Tic-Tac- Toe".  I chose to do the diagonal "Yellow, Pink and Purple". I ended up using Flowers, Bling, and Die Cuts from the list as well.

I found the background paper (pink and yellow) in my scrap box. The flowers are made from shades of purple. The leaves were from a die and for the bling I used "Perfect Pearls". The base for the card is "Perfect Plum" card stock (a retired color from Stampin' Up).