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!

HOW TO STAMP AN EASY AND PRETTY FALL WREATH

The other night, I looked at Stampin' Up!'s Colorful Seasons and Painted Harvest stamp sets and tried to create a Fall wreath with a couple of the images.  I tried a variety of ink colors, and I didn't think I really loved any of my creations--even the one that became the card that I'm sharing today.

I picked up the white cardstock tonight that had my "wreath" stamped on it, and I started to throw it in the trash.  I'm glad I stopped myself, though, because all it needed was a little enhancing.  Do you love this wreath as much as I do?  Let me explain how I made it.  I started by drawing a circle that would serve as a guide for stamping.  I then stamped the leafy stem detail image from Painted Harvest stamp set using Soft Suede ink (a pad that really needs to be re-inked).  Next, I used Pool Party ink to stamp the solid leaf and Early Espresso ink to stamp the twig--both images from Colorful Seasons.

Seeing the stamped images, can you understand why I almost considered it trash?  To jazz it up, I punched three shapes with the Sprig punch from Copper Foil and three shapes with the Leaf punch from Vellum Cardstock.  I gently bent the sides of the punched leaf stems and then adhered all of the punched shapes on top of the stamped wreath.  It still didn't look fabulous, but it was looking pretty promising.  An Early Espresso 2-1/4" punched circle placed in the center of the wreath made a big difference!  I really wanted to use that sentiment (from Country Home stamp set), and I gave myself permission to place rectangle layers on top of the punched circle.  I ❤ it!!!  It's hard to tell, but the sentiment was stamped with VersaMark ink (I remembered to use the Embossing Buddy first) and heat-embossed (with Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder to coordinate with the Copper Foil punched sprigs. You can see that my finishing touches were the Corrugated Elements tag (retired), small punched heart (retired punch), Rhinestone Jewel, and Linen Thread.  Because the Whisper White layer still looked a bit plain at the top and bottom, I chose to place a cut of Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon (love, love, love this ribbon) along the bottom.  Cardstock colors used on this card are Whisper White, Early Espresso, and Pool Party.

Sooooooooo . . . what did we learn?  We learned that if something doesn't seem worthy for a card, it might just need a little embellishing.  Some might say that the finished card doesn't even look like a wreath, but I know that's what it is and I LOVE that three stamps and three punches brought it to life.

I have provided links in this post to the products used to create this card, and I'd love to send you a handmade thank you card for shopping with me!  Or just leave a comment and tell me what you think about it.