Witches' Brew Meets The Best of Halloween

I finally decided to get into the Halloween spirit and whip up a few cards! And since I was diving in, why not break out the Circle Thinlit Card Dies that have been sitting abandoned on my craft table while I decide whether or not to take the plunge and try something new...

And I decided...I like them!! Since I haven't used much DSP (Designer Series Paper) in awhile, I decided to throw that in the mix too...

I think for me the issue with using the Thinlit Card Dies has been not having a place to write a greeting. I just have not been able to wrap my head around that. I finally did some poking around on the internet and found some videos that actually extended the card to create another fold, thereby adding enough room to write a message. Perfect!!

Isn't the back just darling? And look! A place to write a message...how awesome is that!! There are some VERY creative people out there working hard for us and I thank them!

Here's another view...

This card looks like it took a lot of time but honestly, the die does all the work for you. I just trimmed the DSP to 1/4" smaller than the card base, centered each, and adhered. EZ Peasy! The sentiment is from the Best of Halloween 25th Anniversay Stamp Set and it is my FAVORITE...I just LOVE the images! I used one stamp and using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, lined it up and repeated.

Isn't this haunted house fabulously creepy? It makes me think of the house in the Stephen King novel 'Salem's Lot...I'm just sayin! I embossed the image using black embossing powder and colored in the windows and the moon with a Blender Pen and my Summer Starfruit Stampin' Marker. It's really very easy to use a blender pen. Using the broad tip of the Stampin' Marker I scribbled some ink onto a Clear Mount Block (really). Then I just used my Blender Pen to pick up some of the ink and applied it to my card. That's it! The trick is to use a little bit of ink at first and add until you are satisfied. I also sponged black ink aound the edges of my scallop, which happens to be one of the dies included in the Circle Card Thinlits Dies, and done!

I hope you enjoyed today's post, I will be posting more Halloween cards so please stop back soon!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Best of Halloween (134381)

Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Basic Black (121045), Cardstock; Witches' Brew Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark (102283) Pad; Jet Black (101406) StazOn Ink Pad; Pumpkin Pie (126945) Classic Stampin' Pad; 2012-2014 (126856) Stampin' Write Markers

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Circle Card Thinlits Dies (133480), Black (109133) Stampin' Emboss Powder; Heat Tool (129053); Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Blender Pen (102845); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: None

Thanks for stopping by!

Best of Flowers - Freshly Made Sketches #108

Greetings! I'm back today with a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches:

I thought the hydrangea from the Best of Flowers Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary stamp set would work perfectly with this sketch and then built from there:

When using two colors on one stamp, I usually use Stampin' Markers to ink up the stamp but today I tried something a bit different. I stamped the image onto my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig stamp positioner, lined the image up onto my piece of Very Vanilla cardstock just where I wanted it, then I slide a 3x3 Post-It note under the stamp positioner and carefully covered up the stem and leaves of the flower. I removed the stamp positioner, stamped the flower in Pool Party ink, and reversed the process! I think the image stamped very cleanly!

The card base is NOT Old Olive cardstock, but rather is one of the papers from the Etcetera Designer Series Paper pack! I glanced right over it at first because there is a very large pattern on the paper but on second glance, I realized I could cut out around the pattern and have a nice crisp backdrop for the other delightful pattern paper in the same pack. And the colors were green and blue...perfect for a hydrangea!!

And isn't the font on this sentiment amazing? It just soooo girly!! Love it!

I used the new Envelope Punch Board to round all these corners...ez peasy :)

I didn't feel that the card needed much more so I used some simple Linen Thread and a double bow with a bitty button for jewelry.

I spent the weekend stamping away and look forward to sharing more projects with you! I'll be back on Wednesday with some halloween treats :)

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Best of Flowers (133342), A Dozen Thoughts (131059)

Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Old Olive (100702) Cardstock; Etcetera (130129) Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pool Party (126982), Old Olive (126953) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Envelope Punch Board (133774)

Embellishments: Linen Thread (104199), Naturals Designer Buttons (127554)

Thanks for stopping by!

Clean and Simple Saturday - Bright & Cheery Birthday Wishes

Hello there! It's been awhile since I last posted...my creative mojo took a back seat to some health issues but I'm feeling much better. I spent all of yesterday stamping, it felt wonderful!

A few weeks ago I posted a card that utilized the color scheme I saw on a package of napkins at the grocery store (that still cracks me up, never know when inspiration will strike!).

I fell in love with the layout that I created and thought it very flexible and easily modified to different occasions and recipients. The first one I create had a masculine tone to it so I decided to make a girly girl card:

Isn't it FUN!!! It's so bright and cheery! You'll laugh at my color inspiration this time...I knew I would need to emboss the cupcakes to make them stand out amongst all that white so I looked to see what color embossing powders I own. Tangerine Tango, check. Melon Mambo, check. Wild Wasabi, check. I'm glad they go together so well because those were the only bright colors I own, lol! Actually, I think it's probably Stampin' Up! doing it's job behind the scenes, quietly making it easier for stampers to be successful!

I kept the color order of the cupcakes and the banners the same to provide visual continuity and kept the green cardstock in the middle for the same reason. I put the Melon Mambo cardstock layer at the bottom as it is the visually stronger color and the card would be off balance if it were on top.

I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the cupcakes to give them some added pizzazz and two little Candy Dots...love, love, love them! Sooooo much easier than brads...if I don't get them placed perfectly I can quickly adjust their placement!

I've been working on some Halloween cards so please check back soon!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Best of Birthdays (132929)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Melon Mambo (115320), Wild Wasabi (108641), Tangerine Tango (111349) Cardstock; Brights (130134), Subtles (130135) Designer Series Paper Stacks

Ink: Versamark (102283) Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439); Chalk Talk Framelits Dies (129983); Heat Tool (129053); Melon Mambo (123223), Wild Wasabi (123224), Tangerine Tango (123106) Stampin' Emboss Powder; Stampin' Trimmer (126889); Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Brights (130931), Subtles (130933) Candy Dots

Thanks for stopping by!

Wedding Wishes

My niece called me up recently, quite unexpectedly, to ask if she could purchase some cards from me...to say I was surprised is an understatement! I am thrilled to pieces that she would think of my cards and of course am sending her a care package as we speak!

Her request inspired me to create a few pieces, one of which is featured today. I went searching for inspiration on Pinterest and found this card by Nadine Weiner that I just had to case (copy and share everything)!

Can you see the lovely shimmer? This is the first opportunity I have had to use the Foil Sheets available in the Holiday Catalog and I have a new love! Such a beautiful subtle finish for a wedding card, don't you think? And I haven't pulled out the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and matching dies in quite a while...they look superb here stamped in Metallic Silver. And this pattern from the Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper sets everything off wonderfully!

And of course, what would a wedding be without a few pearls? I'm adding a few other cards to my niece's care package and will share some of them with you over the next few weeks. I'm hoping she enjoys using them!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Hearts a Flutter (129252), Delightful Dozen (122652)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Smoky Slate (131202) Cardstock; Silver (132178) Foil Sheets; Eastern Elegance (130131) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Silver (132142) Metallic Encore Pad, Smoky Slate (131179) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Hearts a Flutter Framelit Dies, Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)

Thanks for stopping by!

Clean and Simple Saturday - PPA173 Sketch Challenge

Hello there and welcome to my latest Clean and Simple Saturday post!

First and foremost I would very much like to thank Susan Itell of the Pals Paper Arts design team for recognizing my submission for last week's Pals Sketch Challenge as a Pals Artists' Pick!! Please click here to see the winning card.

I have accomplished several goals with today's card:

• I needed a baby card for a family friend,
• I needed a Clean and Simple Saturday card,
• I wanted to use this wonderful sketch by the talented Nicole Watt for the curent Pals Paper Arts challenge,

 

• And lastly I needed to come up with a card that used products that start with the same letter as my first name for a little fun the Stampin' Pretty Pals are having over on their gallery. 

So...baby card, check!...clean and simple, check!...followed the sketch, check!...and I used Smoky Slate and Soft Sky, starting with "S" for Shannon, check! Whew, I'm worn out, lol!

I did eliminate one of the layers of the sketch for this card...but this card suits me to a T! I am in love with this stamp set, Zoo Babies, and am thrilled to be able to put it to use to welcome a very long awaited little bundle of joy into the world...hello Abraham!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Zoo Babies (130456)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Smoky Slate (131202), Soft Sky (131203) Cardstock; Subtles (130135) and Neutrals (130132) Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink: Smoky Slate (131179) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Whisper White (124262) Baker's Twine

Thanks for stopping by!