FAREWELL TO "BRIGHTLY GLEAMING"

One of my favorite holiday bundles from Stampin' Up! this year was Brightly Gleaming.  The designer paper was gorgeous with its foil accents, the stamp set had a perfect mix of images and sentiments, and I LOVED the two coordinating punches!  Knowing that I always run out of time to get my cards made, I thought it would be oh so handy to be able to quickly punch my stamped images--and it was.  All of the stamped holly leaf images had to be hand-cut, but that was quicker than you might think.  And so . . . following are some of the cards that I created with this fun bundle:

I previously shared this FUN shaker card on my blog, but it's worth seeing again, right?

This card was a CASE by Narelle Farrugia.  Isn't it just so pretty?

Last, but not least, is this CASE from the Holiday Catalog.  When I first looked through the catalog, I loved this card so much and knew that I would make a set of them.  I may not have gotten around to making a whole set, but I did make a couple.  I still love this card--its slim size, the colors, the placement of images and sentiments and, of course, the ribbon and rhinestones.

I hope you and yours have had a very Merry Christmas and

that 2020 will be a year filled with many blessings.

BRING ME GRAY AND GLIMMER

Today's Christmas card was one of the leading contenders, and I really thought that I would make  many more of them.  I really liked the simplicity of the design, the stray from obvious and expected holiday colors, embossed texture, and just the right amount of glimmer.  I didn't find the time to make more of these--I didn't even get to keep a sample for myself, which is something that I normally like to do.  

It's just a sweet card, don't you think?

ADORABLE TURNTABLE/RECORD PLAYER CHRISTMAS CARDS

Another of my favorite Christmas cards was this fun record player:

Isn't it just the cutest???  I would love to take credit for using the die-cut pieces from My Favorite Things' Turntable dies to create this fun fold card--complete with a pocket/sleeve to hold a second "vinyl" record, but this project was CASE'd from Stephanie Klauck, whose tutorial can be viewed HERE.

I made several of these cards. They were all made pretty much the same with ever so slight changes to some.  There wasn't a good space for writing a message or signing the card, so I used the space on the back of the spare record (in the sleeve/pocket) for this purpose.

The outside of the card was kept very simple.  You can't tell from the photo, but a Wink of Stella clear glitter brush was used to outline the snowman and the snowy lines on the ground.

FOLDED DOILY TREE & FLANNEL CHRISTMAS CARDS

I finally got my Christmas cards completed and in the mail.  For a while, I started thinking that I'd have to send store-bought cards this year, but I treated myself to a "card day" over the weekend.  Actually, I purchased a box of cards, but they just didn't work for me.  Seeing that the cards were accordion-folded and had just the right amount of glitter and cut-outs is what caught my eye, but I missed the description about the size of the cards when opened.  Can you say "WOW!!!"?

I don't know anyone who would have enough space to display a card that--when open--is 5.5" tall x almost 33" wide!  It's a beautiful card, but . . . why so big???  I could have used two of the cards for festive window valances!  Needless to say, the box of cards got returned to the store.

And then I worked on a fun design that had assorted layers and textures, and I used two pieces of flannel fabric--some with haphazard stitching, some without:

I folded doilies to create the tree shapes and used torn vellum for the tree trunks.  Assorted glimmer paper was used for the punched star and twig embellishments and, of course, I added sequins to some of the cards.

All of the cards featured a dry-embossed layer, which added yet another texture.  These cards were among my favorites this year!

Stay tuned because I will be sharing photos of a couple more cards between now and Christmas.  😊

TWINKLE BUILDER PUNCH

Have you ever ordered a product and, in the time it takes to arrive, forget what you had planned to do with it?  That happened a few months ago when I ordered the Twinkle Builder punch.  Admittedly,  it was a snap decision to order it, but I'm sure I had a good reason.  The plans I had for that punch have never come back to me, but I put it to use on this Christmas card:

When I started designing cards for this month's stamp-a-stack, this was one of the (eventually rejected) designs.  I really like this card, but I decided that it may not be too much fun to place all of those little stars and circles.  What do you think about the color combo?  That was something else that I was wanting . . . non-traditional colors with just a touch of glimmer.

Stampin' Up! products featured on this card include:

Twinkle Builder punch

Merry Moose stamp set

Silver Glimmer paper

Basic Gray cardstock

Granny Apple Green cardstock

Bermuda Bay cardstock

Whisper White cardstock

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Tufted embossing folder

Silver Metallic-Edge ribbon
Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

Although I haven't tried it yet, I think a small handful of punched stars and circles would work great in a shaker card.  I hope to try that before too long!  

A SIMPLE MASCULINE SYMPATHY CARD

A masculine sympathy card was needed recently and, if you're a card maker, you know that masculine cards can be challenging.  But . . . I have found that a nature theme is always a perfect choice!  Actually, trees and leaves never disappoint--for men or women--although I tend to gravitate to flowers for the ladies.

The tree image that I used is from Stampin' Up!'s Snow Front stamp set, and that fun background is the retired Weathered stamp.  My sentiment and leafy stem are from Simon Says Stamp!'s Sketched Flowers set.  It's difficult to tell from the photo, but the Very Vanilla layer was embossed with the Pinewood Planks embossing folder.  When all was said and done, I really liked all of the texture created by the embossing and multiple layers in assorted shapes and sizes.

Want to see more sympathy cards that I've created?  Just type "sympathy" in the search box in the top left corner above my blog banner.  😊

"BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP" (AGAIN)

Soooooooooo . . . I 💗 the Beautiful Friendship stamp set!  The images in this set make it too easy to create something pretty--and colorful!  Today I'm sharing two cards that were stamped pretty much the same . . . one sympathy and one thank you. 

Of course, the beautiful images in this set really dress up an envelope.

I can't think of anything else that needs to be said about the gorgeous projects that can be made with Beautiful Friendship . . . except that your stamp room needs this set, and you can order it from me HERE!

CIRCLE SPINNER BIRTHDAY CARD

My great-nephew had a birthday last month, and I used Stampin' Up!'s retired Shining Star dies and Seaside Shore stamp set to create a fun and fishy spinner card for him.  

Obviously, the dies made the making of this card so easy.  And then I stamped a coordinating envelope.

"WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS"

That's one of my most favorite quotes and, when I saw this new Chalk Couture transfer, I knew that I had to have it.

I thought it would be the perfect decoration (on the small Chalk Couture Pennant Banner) for my cubicle at work.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a good adhesion of the transfer on the banner, and some of the ink seeped where I didn't want it.  That meant I would have to go to plan B.  I didn't exactly have a plan B, but I managed to whip up a new banner with a scrap of fabric.  I'm actually quite proud of my homemade banner, considering that I've only been sewing for a month.  

The second time around, I decided to use Chalk Paste instead of ink.  My colors were Tide and Sage, and don't they look great swirled and mixed?  To accomplish the mix, I spread Tide on the bottom half of the transfer, Sage was spread at the top, and then I used my finger to blend where the colors met and moved the paste around.

I know that my sewing is FAR from perfect (hence the green glitter strip across the top), but this turned out to be a great decoration!

Want to see another "We Rise" project?  The one below is on a Board & Pillar Stand:

The nice thing about the Board & Pillar Stand is that the framed chalkboard can be oriented in a vertical or horizontal position, AND the chalkboard itself can be washed and re-used.

PRESSED PETALS CONCERTINA POP-UP CARD

Aunt Betty has a birthday next week, and it's only natural that I wanted a special card to send to her.  While this concertina pop-up design packs a definite wow--and I'm pretty sure she'll like it, I felt just a smidge blase about the finished design.  For one thing, I was running out of time to come up with a plan for the birthday card because it needed to get in the mail, and that kind of pressure really squashes a creative muse.  But . . . it's a really fun card, right?  

Stampin' Up!'s Pressed Petals designer paper is simply gorgeous, and it works really hard to make a pretty card.  I mean . . . just look at it . . . the front of this card really didn't need very much because that paper deserves center stage.

The card folds flat, which is perfect for mailing (with extra postage if thick with embellishments and layers), and the inside is where the pop-up and WOW take place!  While there is a LOT of space for creativity with this type of card, I felt that I didn't utilize it to the best of my ability.  But then again . . . how could I possibly compete with that gorgeous paper?  I kept things simple by stamping images from the retired (and lovely) Pocket Silhouettes stamp set, and I pulled birthday sentiments from Perennial Birthday and that oh so FANTASTIC Beautiful Friendship set.  

I hope you get some inspiration from this card!  Have a stampin' good day!

ANOTHER POP-UP FRONT STEP PANEL CARD

This was the first horizontal version of the Pop-Up Front Step Panel card that I made, and I had no idea where to begin.  As with the cards that I shared in my previous post, I opted to keep stamping to a minimum since I couldn't envision (during the design trial process) where the stamping needed to be or where it would be covered.  Using designer paper to cover the panels/layers was a wonderful idea!  This Mosaic Mood Specialty paper has such pretty colors and also adds texture with its shiny transparent accents that feel embossed.

I've had some requests for instructions and, after cleaning off my desk, I uncovered several notes--some of which had been altered, most likely as mistakes were discovered.  I haven't made more of these cards, so I'm not 100% sure what the dimensions are for the smaller pop-up layer.  I found an unused card base, though, and it is 5-1/2" x 8", scored at 1/2", 1-3/4", 3", and 4-1/4".

Something that I really like to add to a card with a simple design is torn vellum.  I just love that look, don't you?  It's also a great way to use vellum scraps because you can cut the cardstock layer to fit the size of the vellum scrap--it just needs to be wide enough to wrap around the cardstock and, of course, you must have just enough on top and bottom to allow for tearing.  Embossing on the vellum?  Well . . . that's just the perfect touch!

POP-UP FRONT STEP PANEL CARDS . . . WITH A DIFFERENT ORIENTATION

Has it really been a month since my last post?  In the 12 years that I've had this blog, I can't remember when so much time passed between posts.  I started a part-time job earlier this month, which is going well, but it's been quite an adjustment after being home for the past two decades.  I'm not sure how long it will take to "find my groove" as it relates to hobby time, but I can say for certain that I really missed my stampin' time--especially during that first week.  I apologize for what may have seemed like a disappearing act, and I hope to have more frequent posts going forward.

Some of the most fun cards that I made this month were Pop-Up Front Step Panel cards . . . but . . . I made them with a horizontal orientation.

I always loved the original (vertical) style of this fun fold, but isn't the horizontal version just the cutest???  Besides the new orientation of this fun fold, I love that it's a perfect project for those occasions when you don't have time for a lot of stamping but have plenty of designer paper that deserves a chance to shine.

And I have LOTS of designer paper!  It was almost hard to decide which papers to use.

So what do you think?  Do you love this orientation of the Pop-Up Front Step Panel card???

"BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP" SHUTTER GATE FOLD CARD + LINK TO TUTORIAL

My friend, Laura, recently shared pictures of some gorgeous and creative cards that she made, and a Shutter Gate Fold card was among them.  Do you remember this type of card from a few years back?  There's a reason why "fun fold" is the term given to describe cards that have a . . . well . . . fun fold, and the Shutter Gate Fold is just that--and WOW for the recipient.  With Laura's card fresh on my mind and the need to create a birthday card, I got busy.  She had used pretty designer paper on her card, but I decided to cut the layers that I needed from Whisper White cardstock and then cover them with images from my most favorite Beautiful Friendship stamp set.  It looks like I used designer paper, doesn't it?

If I remember correctly, my cardstock and ink colors are Flirty Flamingo, Gorgeous Grape, Old Olive, and Whisper White.  If the colors look familiar, it's because I shared a sympathy card in this post that was created around the same time.  In the following photo, you can see how the "shutter" is beginning to slide out of the way to reveal the interior sentiment as the card is being opened.

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.  The above photo really doesn't have any rhinestone jewels.  They were added after this photo was taken, and I was too lazy busy to take another shot.

The photo above shows the card completely opened with the decorative band at the bottom center.

Sooooooo . . . have you purchased your own Beautiful Friendship stamp set?  I'm wondering if I should purchase a second one in case I totally wear out the one that I'm loving.  I don't know if it's possible to wear out a stamp set, but I'm sure to eventually find out with this one!  😜

BTW, if you're looking for a tutorial for this fun fold, you can find one HERE.

"BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP" AND A FUN LEAF TECHNIQUE

A sympathy card was needed recently and, since I've been playing with Christmas products lately, I literally had no idea what I wanted to make.  When my eyes landed on the Beautiful Friendship stamp set, I knew that was the one to use.

Listen up!  I'm only going to say this one time (that's a lie . . . I'll say it over and over, I'm sure) . . . if you buy no other stamp set from the current Stampin' Up! catalog, let it be Beautiful Friendship.  Unless you have a rare disorder that makes you hate flowers, you will 💕 this gorgeous set.  You cannot make a mess with the flowers.  Whether you choose to use one or two of the floral images to make a simple design OR use several (or all) of them to cover your project, you cannot go wrong.  I had absolutely no preconceived notion of how my card should look when I was finished, and just look at how pretty it turned out!  I just willy-nilly chose to work with Flirty Flamingo, Highland Heather, and Old Olive, and I love this card.  

If you look closely at the images in the set, you'll not find one that looks like the stacked leaves featured on my card.  That fantastic filler was an accidental blessing, and I think the leaves look so pretty stamped like that.  Following is a closer view:

I was having so much fun stamping the flowers and leaves that I had to stamp the layer inside the card.  The envelope was decorated, too, but it shows a little better in the first photo.

Are you ready to make room for Beautiful Friendship in your craft room?  I can help with that!  Just shop with me HERE.

HOW TO GIVE A PLAIN CARD A BURST OF COLOR

Remember the heap of hearts that I shared in this post?  I needed one of those hearts last week to be the burst of color on a "kept simple" thank you card.  

I was so sure at the time that I would remember what was used to color the stamped and black-embossed heart, but that knowledge escapes me at the moment.  I'm almost certain that I used Watercolor Pencils and an Aqua Painter.  What I know for sure is that I love the simplicity of this card with those rainbow-colored facets and the softness added by the torn vellum with its gold-embossed sentiment.  This heart image is so fun to color!   You might even say it's addictive because once you get started, you just want to color more and more.  

If you want to get in on the coloring fun that is also stress-reducing and pleasant and will be just what you need to whip up some cards like this one, following is what you need:

Modern Heart stamp set

Watercolor Pencils

Aqua Painter

Black Stampin' Emboss Powder 

Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder

Embossing Buddy

Heat Tool (Did you know that Stampin' Up!'s Heat Tool has TWO heat settings?)

Beads & Baubles Embossing Folder

Vellum Cardstock

Gorgeous Grape Cardstock

Highland Heather Cardstock

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine

Whisper White Cardstock

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper

And yes . . . there had to be a coordinating envelope.

"CHRISTMAS GLEAMING" - A CATALOG CASE & HOW TO MAKE AN EASY SHAKER CARD

It seems a bit odd to be playing with Christmas stamps/products today but, like it or not (and I DO like that summer is coming to an end), now is the time to start thinking about holiday projects.  One of my favorite samples in Stampin' Up!'s upcoming Holiday catalog features the Christmas Gleaming stamp set and punches.  It looks a lot like this:

Once I saw the card in the catalog, I knew that I had to make one.  Some of my chosen colors differ from the catalog sample, but isn't it a fun layout?  I also LOVE working with punches because they're just so handy and quick to use.  You'll notice that the sentiment strip extends the right edge of the card and, to facilitate that, the card needed to be cut slimmer than the usual A2.  To know me is to know that I like smaller-than-usual card sizes, so that's just one more reason why this particular card wriggled (or wiggled?) right into my heart.

While I had the stamps and punches on my desk, I played around with stamping a background using one of the large ornament stamps.  That's when the idea of a shaker card came to me!  

It's pretty cool, huh?  Keeping things as simple as possible (except for that one ornament that didn't stamp very straight), I chose to make my shaker layer a small one so that I could be sure and place it perfectly on my card.  I didn't take step-by-step photos, but following is what I did:

1)  Stamp ornament images to cover the 3-3/4" x 5" Whisper White cardstock.

2)  Use the larger Gleaming Ornaments punch to cut one of the stamped shapes, creating a window.

3)  Cut a piece of Window Sheet that's larger than the ornament-shaped window, and adhere it over the punched window (on the back of the cardstock).

4)  On the back of the cardstock, place Firm Foam Adhesive around the shape of the punched window, making sure you leave no gaps.  Place additional Firm Foam Adhesive around the edges of the cardstock.

5)  Place sequins or other shaker bits on top of the Window Sheet.  Carefully peel the liner from all of the Firm Foam Adhesive strips.

6)  Cut a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock that's approximately 4-1/4" x 5-1/2", and place it over the Whisper White cardstock.  Make sure all of the Whisper White cardstock is covered by the Bermuda Bay cardstock.

7)  Use scissors to trim the Bermuda Bay cardstock so that none of it shows around the perimeters of the Whisper White cardstock.  Your shaker layer is complete!

If the instructions aren't clear OR if you would like for me to post a step-by-step photo tutorial, just leave a comment to let me know.

Additional Stampin' Up! products featured on this card include:  White Baker's Twine, Noble Peacock designer paper, Noble Peacock Foil, and Gold Glimmer paper.  You'll notice in the photo below that I stamped the top of the ornament onto a scrap of Bermuda Bay cardstock, and then used the punch to cut it.  This added a lot to the top of the ornament shaker window!

This is a beautiful and very useful holiday product bundle, and I know that I am going to enjoy it immensely!  These first two cards that I have made are very different in style, and I think that speaks volumes for this bundle's versatility.  The stamp set has great sentiments--not just great but great-looking!  Yesssssssss . . . this one is going to get a lot of use!