Oh What Fun!

I love making pretty gift packaging.  Fancy tags really make a gift stand out.  Stampin' Up! products coordinate so well together that making gorgeous and fun tags is a snap.

Here are some tags I made for my Christmas "treats"

• Chalk Talk Framelits are a tag makers dream!  Tags of all shapes and sizes that coordinate and layer beautifully together.
• Christmas Messages Stamp Set.  All kinds of cute sayings and fonts that fit perfectly on tags or cards or scrapbook pages.  It's really perfect!
• Silver Glimmer paper.  All the gorgeousness and sparkle - none of the mess.

Joyful Tidings

Each Christmas it seems a particular theme stand out to me. This year it was the miraculous appearance of the angel to the shepherds and the heavenly host singing praises to the King.  I thought the beautiful 18th century hymn by Charles Wesley, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, would be the perfect starting point for my card inspiration.

I created my own Designer Series Paper in My Digital Studio.  I took the lyrics for Hark the Herald Angels Sing and used the font called "Jefferson" (for 18th century appeal) which I downloaded from Google fonts.  I printed it on Very Vanilla card stock and used it as the back ground for my angel.

• The angel is cut using my Silhouette Cameo E-cutter (maybe you'll get one for Christmas!)
• The angel layer is embossed with the Wood Grain Embossing Folder and daubed with Champagne Shimmer Paint (sadly, discontinued.)
• The sentiment (Christmas Messages stamp set) is embossed with Gold Embossing Powder and cut with the Deco Framelits

About to Blossom Part 2

Here's another hybrid card I created using the gorgeous and versatile About to Blossom Digital Kit.



See my previous post here for information on printing the digital designer series paper.

Think feathers are for masculine or fall themed cards only?  How about some fancy, shimmery, pink feathers to change your mind? This card is a fusion of inspiration somewhere between Jane Austen and Marie Antoinette.  Undeniably feminine.

Elements I used to create this card:

• Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies
• Oval Framelits Dies
• Fine Feathers stamp set
• Simply pressed clay and Buttons & Blossoms molds
• A Dozen Thoughts stamp set
• Smooch Spritz
• Dazzling Details
• Modern Medley Designer Series Paper

About to Blossom

Every Tuesday Stampin' Up! releases new downloads for My Digital Studio.  It's exciting to have such fresh and fun content always within in reach and always on trend!
Last week I fell head over heels for the latest Digital Kit:  About to Blossom

 

I'm nuts about Digital Kits in general, too.  They have SO much content for a great price.  They are a fantastic way to build your MDS creative arsenal quickly and inexpensively.

Now, I have loads of ideas for digital projects with this kit, but I also am so crazy about the beautiful Designer Series Paper that I had to print it out and use in a "hands-on" kind of way.

Here's my quick advice on printing MDS designer series paper:

• Select an 8.5 x 11 project
• Use a square punch and resize it to cover half of your page
• Do this again for the lower half of your page
• Fill the top and bottom punches with the DSP of your desire and then zoom in or out to get the size of the design right for your project
• My best results printing have come from Matte Finished Photo Paper.  Paper that is not "photo paper" does not, in my experience, produce good results
• Now you have two 5.5 x 8.5 sheets of DSP to play with
• Print more as needed!

Other supplies used for this card:

• Blossom Punch
• Chalk Talk stamp set & Framelits
• Simply Pressed Clay and Molds for button
• Floral Frames Framelits Dies stamped with Betsy's Blossoms
• Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack with Crystal Effects (flower center)
• Little Leaves Sizzlit Die
• Modern Medley DSP
• Basic Gray and Tangerine Tango Ink

This card is also my entry for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge







 

Catalog Inspiration

Feeling short on inspiration?  Spend some time cozied up with the Stampin' Up! Catalog.  There is no shortage of beautiful, adorable, practical, simple, and fun ideas for projects.

This card was inspired by the gorgeous gift bag on page 88.  I've had the Mixed Bunch stamp set in my collection since it came out and, admittedly, I haven't used it in awhile.

This sample helped me see its potential in a new way and I'm excited to create with it again!

• I embossed the Pool Party Coredinations card stock with the Honeycomb Embossing Folder
• I sanded it for a distressed look with the Stampin' Sanding Block
• I stamped the blossom and the sentiment (from the Four You stamp set) with Versamark and heat embossed them with White Stampin' Emboss Powder
• The blossom was punched out with the Blossom Punch 
• The center of the blossom is a scrap of Daffodil Delight card stock stamped with Crushed Curry ink and finished with Whisper White 1/4" stitched ribbon.

New Month! New Stuff!

The Holiday Catalog is here!  It is jam-packed with fabulous ideas for quick and easy holiday cards and projects!  Click below to see it now.

 

What's even more exciting?!  This catalog is interactive!  Simply scan your smart phone over designated images in the catalog and see how-to videos.  Watch the video below for a quick tutorial.

Butterfly Lace

I love Stampin' Up's new Butterfly Collection Stampin' Wheel:



Now, I did not actually use it to make this card (I promise many upcoming projects with it soon!), but it inspired me to try a "lace" technique with My Digital Studio and my Silhouette Cameo E-Cutter. 

• I imported two different butterfly punch shapes to my e-cutter software
• I resized them to make the small
• I copied them several times over and arranged them in a pattern I liked
• I cut them out with my e-cutter
• Voila! Butterfly Lace inspired by this beautiful stamp.

 

This card is also using the layout for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge:  

Tools and Techniques:

• My Digital Studio - for the butterfly lace
• Chalk Talk Stamp Set with Versamark Ink and White Embossing Powder
• 1 3/8" Circle Punch
• Floral Framelits Dies
• Blossom Punch
• Crisp Cantelope, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White Cardstock
• Basic Black Chevron Ribbon

Fine Feathers

Here's a stamp set that I admired since it first appeared in the Stampin' Up! catalog last year, but I couldn't figure out how I would use it.  It kept calling to me, though.  I'm thrilled with it:  it's beautiful and versatile.  It can be used for masculine or feminine cards with ease and I definitely see potential for Fall and Thanksgiving themed cards.



Here's a masculine card using Fine Feathers and the Dude You're Welcome stamp sets.

• "Dictionary" background stamp is stamped in Smoky Slate on Whisper White Card stock
• 2 Feathers and sentiment are stamped with Black Staz-On ink over the background
• 1 Feather is stamped with Black Staz-On on Smoky Slate and then snipped out and adhered with dimensionals
• I tied a vintage faceted button with a piece of linen thread and placed it over the "o" - if you want a spot of color on this monochrome card, a brightly colored button would look very cool, too.

 

Mojo Monday 300 Celebration

I think nautical themes and motifs are lovely.  They are perfect for many types of occasion cards, invitations to summer parties and table settings.  I also think they are perfect style for a sympathy card - there's something profound about the ebb and flow of life - and the sea is certainly a perfect metaphor.  This card was created for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.

• For this card I used the By the Tide stamp set in clear mount. 
• I stamped the background coral in Calypso Coral, stamping and then stamping off for shade variations.  
• The center layer is a piece of pink pirouette cardstock embossed with the wood grain embossing folder.  
• The square and circle shapes were both cut with my Silhouette Cameo e-cutter using shapes I imported from My Digital Studio.  The square is from the Covention 2012 photobook template and the circle is from the Fan Fair photobook template (2 of my very favorite downloads).
• I stamped the shell image on the square in Crumb Cake ink and then used my blender pen to add some pink with Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, and Calypso Coral.  I added a little sparkle with Dazzling Details and then gave it a pearly finish with Vanilla Smooch Spritz.
• Lastly, I used a vintage faceted button and sponged it with Summer Starfruit and Old Olive Ink to give it a beach glass look.  The ink needs to dry for a few hours or it will rub off.

By the Tide stamp set


 
 Convention 2012 Photobook Template

 Fan Fair Photobook Template
 
Dazzling Details

A Vintage Style Thank You

I made this card to show my thanks to the wonderful group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators that I am a part of:  The Pretty Pals.  It's an delightfully eclectic group of stampers of all types, styles, and backgrounds and a continual source of encouragement and enthusiasm.

I wanted to stretch (just a little) outside my comfort zone and style for this card so I decided to reach for a color that I rarely use:  Rich Razzleberry.  I mixed it with Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum, and a pop of Summer Starfruit.  I really love the results!

It has the vintage appeal that I love and the purple colors give it a very regal, royal appeal.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Ex Libris, Daydream Medallions, Papaya Collage, Lovely Little Labels
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Early Espresso, Summer Starfruit
Paper:  Very Vanilla CS, Perfect Plum CS
Tools:  Stampin' Trimmer, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Floral Framelits, Little Labels Punch Pack
Embellishments:  In Color Dahlias, Linen Thread

Oh Happy Day!

Have you place your Sale-A-Bration order yet?  Only one week left - and this card showcases one of my favorite stamp sets that you can earn:  Bloomin' Marvelous.  The typewriter style font mixed with the loopy cursive script is so, so cute. 

Product Highlights:  

Pop-Up Posies Designer kit:

 

Tea for Two Designer Series Paper

 

 

Pals Blog Hop - Spring Projects!

Thank you for joining us for the March Pals Blog Hop! Today the Stampin' Pretty Pals are excited to share new ideas and projects to get you ready for spring.
You should have just left stop number 13 on the Pals Hop - Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards. If so, you are in the right spot.  If you get off track, the full blog lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.

I'm so ready for Spring and the beautiful explosion of colorful flowers that it brings.  That desire is what inspired my card.

• The large dahlia is created with the Blossom Petals Builder Punch.  The center is a designer builder brad that I "antiqued" with a jewelry-crafting product called Guilders Paste.  The center was a circle of Midnight Muse covered with Dazzling Details for an opalescent effect.
• The medium sized flower is created with the Floral Framelits Die and coordinating Daydream Medallions stamp set.
• The teeny flower is punched from the Boho Blossoms Punch.
• The paper, ribbon, and sentiment are all products available exclusively during Sale-A-Bration.

The next stop is Carmen Sublasky at The Creative Stamptuary, stop number 15 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting – and I hope to see you next month!
 

1. Dawn Tidd at tiddbitsfromdawn
2. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty -
3. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
4. Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works 
5. Debbie Mageed at Scrappin' & Stampin'
6. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
7. Debbie Crowley at expressivelydeb...
8. Ann Schach at The Stampin' Schach
9. Katy McGloin at Just Fun Stamping
10. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
11. Kerry Willard Bray at stampgoodness
12. Brian King at Stamp with Brian
13. Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
14. Jennifer Takacs at Stamped in Full 
15. Carmen Sublasky at The Creative Stamptuary
16. Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
17. Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons 
18. Kim Czenszak at LiveLoveStamp
19. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin'
20. Julie Trevett-Smith at The Stampin' Affair
21. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
22. Ginger Toivonen at gingerstamps.com
23. Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range
24. Shannon Jaramillo at ezpeasycards
25. Amy L. Lazzell at Just A Thought...Cards by Amy
26. Penny Nichols at Sierra Stampin!
27. Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine
28. Peggy Noe at prettypapercards.com 
29. Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!