Lovely as a Tree General Card

Okay, I confess.  A couple of days ago I used the large single tree from the "Lovely as a Tree" set and I did not put the set away.  I was glad I hadn't because I was thinking of Christmas cards and I thought it might be fun to make a winter solstice card.  I know, here in Minnesota it's very unlikely to have green grass in the winter!!!  I wasn't thinking when I was picking out the colors.  The grass is green and the sky is blue! I learned that as a kid!! LOL  I used Coastal Cabana for the sky.  I think Soft Sky may have been the way to go to give that look of winter.  And I would probably not do anything on the ground.  Or maybe some ultra fine white sparkly glitter!  I'm not a big fan of glitter but I will use it if I think it will greatly improve the look of the card of give the illusion I'm trying to go for! 

After making this card I think I may pass on using this set for our Christmas card.  I like how this card turned out but I don't think I want to make it our Christmas card.

This is a super easy and very fun card to make!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

The Open Sea Father's Day Masculine Card

While waiting for my Stampin' Up! order to come I will be playing with some of the sets that I have.  I just turned in my order today so it will be a little while before I get it.  I'm ok, with that.  I have tons of other things to keep me busy until then.  Like I REALLY need more stamps!!!  LOL  But I do, I do!!!  I just love to stamp and I try to make a card or work on a stamping project every day.  Personally, I think it helps keep me sane!!  It just gives me some time alone to create and I love it.

So today's card was made using the "Open Sea" set.   I used Soft Suede for the base of my card.  I layered the map on top of a cut piece of Chocolate Chip. I was going to go with Early Espresso but I thought it was too dark.  The words were done on my computer and the background was found on the Internet.  I just Googled "Antique World Maps" and then I selected "images" and quite a few came up.  I liked the one I found here plus a blue one, so I did a copy and print thing with it.  It made for a pretty background and perfect for the ship image.  I did print it on 32# copier paper.  I prefer to print my backgrounds on heavier copier paper, it looks more professional.  The ink takes nicer to it and it won't show the card base through it as easily so the colors on the copier paper look more solid than transparent.

I just taped everything together and when I set the word piece in place I did use Dimensionals.  I thought the card needed a little something.  I didn't want to go too fancy or frilly, after all it is a masculine card.  As easy as this was to make I should have printed out a few more maps and made a masculine Birthday and Get Well card.  Oh well, hopefully I will remember this card sometime on down the road when I need one like that.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Poetry Print Card Stampin' Up!

I saw a card made using this layout on Pinterest and I had to give it a try.  I LOVE playing with new layouts and I must admit, I have not done the Split Coast Wednesday Card Challenge in a very long time.  When the sketches changed hands there a while back the cards were actually too involved.  Yup, they had too many layers for me (if you can believe that! LOL).  And I really have not gone back.  I should at least check them out now and then to see what's new and fun.  I have hundreds of layouts so I am really not in need of any more and Pinterest provides a lot of ideas as well.

So let's talk about my card.  I used the Poetry Print Designer paper pack to make this card.  Once again the pieces were small (which means I will NOT be using up that pack before it retires!).  

This was a fun card to make.  I used the 1-3/8" and 1-1/8" square punches, so there was no cutting by hand or on the paper cutter for those.  The base of the card is Very Vanilla and so is the layer under the green designer paper.  That green piece measures 2-1/4" wide x 5-1/4" long.  It's set in place using Dimensionals.  The Melon Mambo piece is cut 4-1/4" x 5-1/4" and was embossed using one of the folders.  I LOVE those folders, they sure can add a lot to a card with just a little texture!  I added a piece of ribbon before I set it in place with the Dimensionals and that was it. A very quick card to make and fun too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Punch Cards

Here is another card I made at Terri's Stamp-A-Stack.  This card is made using punches.  The only stamping on here was done on the center of the flower.  And the best thing about this is it makes the card extremely versatile. I can see this as a get well, card, a birthday card, a thinking of you card, and even a sympathy card, and possibly a wedding card.  

To make this card we stamped the worn dots background stamp on the blue card stock.  Then it was run through the Big Shot with the die.  Then the ribbon was set in place.  The center of the flower was stamped and then the flower was punched out.  Next we clipped the petals on the flower and it was set in place on top of the ribbon.  As simple as that and SO elegant looking too.  I just ordered that champagne colored glitter paper.  It's SO pretty and I've seen it on a lot of other cards and that's all it took. I just had to have it!

This was such a fun card to make and because it was a Stamp-A-Stack I got to make 3 of them!  It's great to have so many cards on hand for any occasion.  

And now it's coming up on Christmas time and I'll be making a variety of Christmas cards to show you.  Plus other cards that I create or find.  I did find a couple that I just HAVE to make!!!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bug Me Glow Worm

Back in July 8th of 2007 I had sent myself an email with this cute little glow worm saying!  

"I wish I was a glow worm,

A glow worm’s never glum.

‘Cos how can you be grumpy

When the sun shines out your bum!"

I always wanted to make a card using those words but I never got around to it and never found an image that would work.  Well, today I worked with the Bug Me set and made myself a glow worm so I could use the poem!!  Isn't it cute?  I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the end of the glow worm and on the top part of all the wings. That part looks SO much better in person! I used markers to color in all the parts of the glow worm and I also used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the wings.  I wanted them in a certain place and I wanted them a certain length so I had to get some help with that!  I got the fun shading on the wings by coloring the entire image with Basic Gray ink and then stamping off (on copier paper) twice.  What was left behind was just dark enough to give the wings a nice shaded look.

I had just used my computer to type the words.  The font size is set at 12 and it is called CurlzMT (whatever that means!).  I think it is one that came with the computer!

This was such a fun card to make, mostly because I've wanted to make something like this for a very LONG time!!!  Now I can delete that email to myself!  One less email in the inbox!!!  Mine is SO full of stuff I send to myself!  But see, it's good not to get rid of things, you never know when you will need them!  LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bootiful Occasions

I bought this Boutiful Occasions set because I LOVED the witch boot image in it.  I want to use the cowboy boot image before I use the witch and Christmas one.  I have a few ideas for some Christmas stuff but I'm going to hold off for a little while yet.  I'm still wanting to do flowers, even though it's been SO hot out lately that I am wanting to welcome winter with open arms!  Today we have rain and better temps. I'm hoping we have cloud cover all day.  If that sun comes out after these thunder storms it could get nasty out there.  We need the rain but that's all, just rain, no hail, no strong winds or downpours, just rain!  Ok, weather report is over!  LOL

This card was not my idea.  I found it at Joan's Daily Stampede blog.  I have been asked how I run across some of these blogs.  I honestly don't know.  Sometimes I just Google the name of the stamp set I want to use and blogs pop up.  Many times I go to Split Coast Stampers.  There's a plethora of samples and other information there!

The background (SO cool looking) is from the Natural Composition Decorative Paper (DP) pack.  The wood grains are actually glossy looking.  And it has some substance to it, it's a lot thicker than the regular double sided DP is.

The boots were stamped using a marker on the outer edges and then stamped on the Polka Dot Parade DP and cut out.  Not one of my favorite techniques!!! I'd rather have punches to do that kind of work for me. Fortunately it was only two boots so I didn't whine too much!!! LOL

The words came from under the boot.  I had to mask the boot off when I stamped the words.  And I hoped I got them straight!  They are straight enough! 

I tied a red ribbon around the layers and then set them in place.  I didn't add the hemp like the original card shows.  I was too lazy to get up and get it!  Plus I liked the look of just the red anyway.  

This would be a great image to use for a shower card, wouldn't it?  Just type up some wording on the computer and add it where the words are on the card!  How cute would that be?  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

Bright Blossoms

I just can't seem to get enough of this Bright Blossoms set.  I know when I show my sister this card she will more than likely be taking it home with her!!!  These colors are SO her!

This card was SO much fun to make too.  I do like how colorful it is.  It is totally out of my comfort zone and it was a nice challenge for me to make this card.  Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone and try something different.  You never know how it will turn out unless you try.  And as you all know, when things don't turn out I share them with you anyway!!!  If I have to suffer looking at it then you should suffer along with me!!! LOL  Aren't you glad it doesn't happen very often?  

My card was easy to make too. I used the decorative paper from the new Summer Smooches set.  I tied a piece of red ribbon around the decorative paper. Ok, I didn't actually tie it around the paper.  I cut the ribbon just a bit past the length of the paper and taped it in place on the back.  Then I tied a bow on the front.  I like making my bows like that because it allows me to move the bow to the exact place I want it!  There is less stress making a bow like that.  

Next I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock and I used the scoring pad and made score lines every 1/8".  I cut the card stock 1-3/8" wide by 4-1/8" long.  I began my score 1/4" in and stopped 1/4" from the end for a total of 8 score lines.

Then I stamped the flower image using Real Red and Wild Wasabi ink pads.  I punched the image out with the 1-1/4" circle punch and behind that I punched out a Pacific Point 1-3/8" circle and taped the two pieces together.  I ran a piece of Whisper White card stock through the Dotted embossing folder and punched a couple of 1-1/4" circles.  One was layered in Real Red and the other in Daffodil Delight.  I made a couple of circle rings by taking the piece of card stock I used to punch out the 1-1/4" circle.  I lined up the 1-3/8" punch and cut out a ring, one of Pacific Point and one of Real Red.  I did glue those in place.  Taping them was just too difficult and messy!  I punched also punched out a couple of small dots using a "regular" paper punch.  I glued those in place as well.  And that was it.  Pretty quick and ever SO easy!!! And lets not forget about colorful!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Rolling Marbles Card Technique Page

This is one of the techniques that Terri taught a few months back. As I have said, I've been cleaning up things and sorting through papers and I ran across this card. Terri had given me the card and the technique page and of course I set it aside in a pile of papers and then moved the papers to an even larger, ever-growing pile.  Well, until this weekend that is.  I'm going through it all and putting things where they belong.  Now the trick is to keep doing that and NOT piling stuff!  Wish me luck on that one.  I just don't understand why I don't deal with it right away!  If you can figure that one out for me I'd be eternally grateful! 

Ok, onto this beautiful card that Terri made.  She used Whisper White and Pool Party for the card stock colors.  Pool Party has become one of my favorite colors to use lately and I'm actually in need of another pack of it!

The technique here is called "Rolling Marbles". I did that technique a few years back and you can find those directions by clicking on the "Rolling Marbles" words.  I just linked them both so there would be no confusion.

It's an easy technique to do and watching the marbles roll around is fun!  Wash them off, pick new colors and begin again.  You can make lots of different and unique cards using this technique.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florettes

Ok, I'm getting very close to being done with that fun project and after this much time (time passed not time invested in it) I'm starting to thing it's not so fun anymore.  I don't like having a project sitting around unfinished for so long.  But when I can only work on it for a few minutes at a time you don't get very far on it very fast.  But there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!  Saturday evening is open for me and I am going to head down to my workroom and pop in a movie and finish up that project, take a photo and finally post it on my blog!!!  If all goes as planned that is!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Today's card came from Sue's blog Still Stamping with Sue.  I had it in my download stash for a while now and when I was looking for some card samples with flowers on them I ran across this one and still liked it.  Now what I mean by that is, I have downloaded TONS of cards and sometimes I will run across one that just didn't strike my fancy as much as it did when I downloaded it and at times I will even ask myself "what were you thinking when you downloaded that one?"  LOL 

This is one of those CAS (Clean And Simple) cards.  It was very easy to make and it can be used for quite a few occasions.  Ya gotta LOVE cards like that!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,

Wanda

Morning Cup

I have had a lot of fun with this "Morning Cup" stamp set.  I have made lots of tea holder sets with belly bands around them.  I have given a lot of them away and I have sold many of them too.  They are great sellers at craft fairs.  They make perfect stocking stuffers, co-worker gifts and are the best for when you want to give a "little something" to someone!

This card was made by Irene!!  When she was here stamping on Thursday evening she let me take a photo of her cute card.  I especially love the paper at the bottom.  I have always loved those types of papers.  It reminds me of when I worked at a gift shop and they had wrapping paper that looked like that.  We used it for masculine gifts.  They had free gift wrapping there and for a while after I quit there I just hated to wrap gifts!!! LOL  There would be long lines on Christmas Eve of people waiting to have their purchases wrapped!!! But I'm now over that and I can wrap gifts again!!! LOL

This card has lot of fun elements on it.  There are layers, punched edges, Dimensionals and punched edge borders.  And don't forget the wonderful decorative paper!!!

Thank you Irene for sharing this card with me and those that visit my blog!

And I thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda

Now You're Cookin"

Isn't this paper adorable???  Can paper be adorable?  Well, I think it can and this paper is adorable!!!  It is from the "Domestic Goddess" pack.  And the fun part of it for me was I got to play with two of the new "In" colors that I have not paid much attention to.  And they are Pool Party and Calypso Coral.  They are SO pretty together.  It makes me think of spring.  Of course without snow and warmer temps it almost feels like spring out there.  I am temped to hang sheets outside tomorrow.  And I may just do that so I can say that I hung sheets outside the last week of December!!!  LOL

I have always loved this layout.  It lets you use those little images in sets that often get left out because they are too small.  This whole card is designed for those little images.  They are the focal point of the card!!  I know I've used this layout a lot but what can I say.  I'm just showing you what to do with those little images!!! LOL  

This little image is from the single stamp "Now You're Cookin".  It's got 2 of these cups on it, an oven mitt, a pancake turner and a fork, knife and spoon all on one rubber piece.  I just colored in the cup with a marker because that is what I wanted in the center of this card.

I thought I would send it to a friend with a recipe in it!  It also looks like a great card to use to invite people to coffee or just a pretty thinking of you card to send off to your friends.

The flash really bounced on this card because the coral color is not really that bright of an orange and you can see the coffee cup much better in real life too!  The cup had a little star mark on the image so I thought it would be pretty to add a rhinestone there.  I was going to add a tiny half pearl but the rhinestone sparkling looked prettier!

It's a very simple card to make and I always have fun making these.  And probably because they are quick to make too!

The layers go as follows beginning with the base of the card. 4-1/4" x 11" and fold it in half on the long side.

3-1/2" x 4-5/8" on the coral layer

3" x 4-1/8" for the Pool Party card stock layer

and 2-7/8" x 4" for the decorative paper layer.  And you need a 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" piece of scrap paper to stamp on.

When I punched the holes I taped the decorative paper to the card stock at about the spot where the circle will be punched from.  I lined them up as if I were permanently layering them.  Then I dropped the layers all the way inside the 1-1/4" circle punch, I lined up the sides so they were even and I punched out the circle.  Then I took the decorative paper (with the hole already punched in it) and set a piece of scrap copier paper behind it.  I took the 1-3/8" circle punch and punched out a ring.  You toss the ring and keep the decorative paper piece.  The hole is now bigger than the hole on the card stock and when it's set in place it is a circle with a nice layer behind it.  Simple as that.  You can decorate it as much or as little as you wish.  The first card I made with this sits out all of the time because I have the instructions on the inside and since I make so many of these I like to have it at hand!  Give it a try with one of those small (less than an inch) stamps and see what you think!  I gave you measurements, you have no excuse not to do it now!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Gifts of Christmas

I have loved this "Gifts of Christmas" set and have not used it as much as I would have liked to.  I did "stamp on a candle" using it.  I had plans on making candles to sell at the fall craft fair but that didn't happen.  

I have had this card saved in a file on my computer for over a year.  I found it at Michelle's site, Painted Desert Serenade.  She I only changed one thing (shocker, I know!!!).  She had used Bravo Burgundy for the flowers and I used Cherry Cobbler not only for the flowers but for the words too. Minor changes but I do like how the red stands out a bit more than the burgundy does.

To do this you are suppose to color the image with markers.  What I did was I stamped the whole image with Night of Navy.  Then I took my blender pen and wiped off the few areas where I wanted the Cherry Cobbler to go and then I just colored with the Cherry Cobbler marker. It was so much easier to see where I needed to color that way.  I actually did start coloring with the marker but I found it difficult to see where I needed to color so I went with the ink pad and blender pen.  

This is a quick card to make too! 

You can view the candle I stamped using this image here.  

I am betting this set won't be in the next catalog.  It's been around for a few years now and I have a feeling it will be gone.  I think I need to make a couple more cards with it before it retires.  I will probably be selling mine if that is the case.  I have LOTS of sets to sell but very little time to get them photographed and put in the web store!  Where does the time go?  And besides, to be honest here, I would rather be stamping and creating!!

This card is going off in the mail tomorrow to a special friend!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Just Believe Card

I still like using this "Just Believe" set.  I saw this card made by Kris at Stamping with Kris.  Her colors were different and I used a different texture on the left side of the card.  But it is basically like her card. I had seen it a few days ago and I knew I had to CASE it.  It had been a while since I had played with the Just Believe set.  I had to put it away for a while because I thought I had played with it too much and I didn't want you to get tired of seeing the image!  And I promise, I won't be making another card using this set for a while again so it will be a fresh and welcomed image again!

This card can be used for any occasion since there are no words added to the front.  It looks to me like it could be a sympathy, birthday or get well card.  I like it and I really like the layout.  

My favorite part of this card is the tulip embossing folder used on the larger white piece.  The two layers fit inside of it so all you see is the tulips on the right side.  You can click on the image to view it closer.

And I REALLY like this layout too!  Kris did a great job on the card and I had fun reproducing it.

Thank you every SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Touch of Kindness Greeting Card

I thought I would play with this stamp set before It retires.  I didn't see it in the new catalog but I have a feeling it won't be in the 2012-2013 one.  I just love this kitty and wanted to make a card using a few images from it.  Well, what a better layout than this to use several images!  There is only a couple of the small word images in this set that I did not use so I am happy to say I was able to actually use the bulk of the set before it retires!!!  

I have used this layout on a card a while back.  I don't use it too often because it takes a while to make because of all of the pieces there are to it.  But when I do make one I am happy with it and don't mind cutting all of those pieces!

And any chance I get to use the Color Spritzer Tool I grab it.  I LOVE using that thing!!!  I did learn that you should never NEVER toss out your old markers.   Yes, even if the tips are smashed down so they won't write at all!  You can take one part water to two parts inker and re-ink your markers.  Then you can use these nice juicy markers with the Color Spritzer Tool!  This also avoids anyone damaging the tip on one of the better markers!  I know, more stuff to keep around the workroom.  But if it's going to save your good markers from getting damaged it's SO worth it.  I like to ink mine up so they are REALLY wet.  They work SO much better in the tool.  A really wet marker is difficult to color with so if it's an old marker then you don't have to concern yourself with the coloring quality!  Anyway, I thought I would share that tip with you.  

I also did a fun thing for the grass on the card.  I was going to be using the "hello" image in the set and I had it out and ready to go. I took the Wild Wasabi ink pad and inked up the "hello" and stamped it and inked it several times under the flower so it looked like grass.  

I have someone special I am going to send this card to.  I decided that I was going to try very hard to mail out a card a week to those special people in my life.  It's sad that months and sometimes years go by that we don't contact our friends (except at Christmas with our annual Christmas card).  I make so many cards and I have 2 drawers full of various cards so it's not like I can't part with some.  And I usually make 5 cards a week and I try to do a project or something else but I do average 5 a week so I have plenty to pick from.  And not to fret if you didn't get a card from me (you are special to me) but I do have a LOT of people in my life and I'm guessing that 52 cards a year is probably not going to cover them all!!!  But my goal is to send out one a week and the first one went out today.  It's a great feeling to do this too!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Thoughts & Prayers Thinking of You Card

A couple of weeks ago on some stamping blogs there was an all white theme going on that I just loved.  So, today I had a little time and thought I would give it a try.  

This is what I came up with.  The base of me card is a half sheet of Whisper White card stock, folded in half.  On top of that layer I added a piece that was cut 5-3/8" x 4-1/8" and textured using the Lattice Square folder.

I wrapped a piece of ribbon around the textured piece and taped it in place on top of the base of the card.  

Next I cut a piece of card stock cut 2" x 2-3/4" and I used a stamp from the "Fruits & Flowers" set for the green (stamped off) image.  The green is "Certainly Celery."  I layered that piece on top of a piece of white cut 2-1/8" x 2-7/8".  I set it in place over the ribbon using Dimensionals.

I wasn't sure what else I wanted to add to the card until I saw the butterfly I had in a container.  Actually, the container is full of butterflies from other projects.  When you cut one you cut them all on the die.  SO I just saved the ones I wasn't using at the time.  I taped the butterfly in place only on the body of the butterfly. The wings are not stuck to the card.  Then I added the tiny pearls down the body of the butterfly. 

And lastly I tied a piece of ribbon to the open spot on the right and that finished off the card.  I didn't realize how much fun white on white really is!  Give it a try sometime, you will be amazed!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Hello, Doily Card

I wanted to play around with the new "Hello, Doily" stamp and at the same time I thought I would use the 4th stamp in the "Easy Events" set.  I have the clear mount set so I have two DVD type cases with the stamps in them.  There are 4 images in each case.  I have now finished one case!! I'm half way there to meeting my challenge of using every image in a set!  Pretty good for me.

Ok, let's talk about my card now!  I used Very Vanilla card stock and I embossed the "Hello, Doily" image on it using Very Vanilla craft ink.  I used clear embossing powder and heat set it.  Once I was done with that I took a sponge dauber and colored in the details of the doily with Soft Suede ink.  I lightly filled in the open areas on the card stock.

I didn't have any current Soft Suede ribbon so I used the backside of some dotted ribbon that I had.  I have a nice size wish list of accessories that I need and ribbon is on it!!

I took some Dimensionals and set the image piece in place with them.  It looks SO much better in person!  When I sat down with this stamped image, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. Since the doily wasn't all that colorful, nor the background, I was thinking of just stamping the image in Soft Suede and leaving it like that.  But once I stamped it I kept seeing the "Pool Party" color for the bird and the next thing I knew I was coloring in the adorable clock.  The words attached to this image (which I taped off) was "hello".    I didn't work them into the front of the card.  I just left it blank, that way it can be used for several occasions.  

I had a lot of fun making this card.  This doily image is fun to stamp like that and use sponges to bring out the detail.  I have loved every color I used on it.  I do want to make one using the Pool Party ink pad.  It's such a pretty color and maybe it will give it a vintage look!!  It's on my list of cards to make!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florets Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card

WOW, when a holiday is at the beginning of a week I tend to forget what day of the week it actually is.  I thought the Sketch Challenge came early.  I'm so messed up on the days this week.  I have to keep telling myself "it's Wednesday, it's Wednesday, it's Wednesday"  LOL  And since it IS Wednesday it's time for this weeks fun Sketch Challenge.

My card was done using the "Fabulous Florets" stamp set.  I is a FABULOUS set. I have been having a lot of fun with it.  And I love how versatile it is too.  That is why I buy a lot of the sets I have.  I LOVE versatility in a stamp set!

The "Hello" is from the "Pocket full of Posies" digital suite.  It was from the "Avante-garde Collection DVD" that was offered in the latest mini catalog.  It was SO full of fun things.  The thing I like best about buying digital images is that I can make them any size I want. I like how the "hello" looks. It's a fun and refreshing new look.  

I also used the new "Lace Ribbon" border punch and the "Beautiful Wings" embosslits die.  I have used it so much it's almost wore out!  I wanted my butterflies to look exactly like the flower so what I did was I dragged my Calypso Coral ink pad over my Whisper White card stock and then punched out the butterflies.  I set them in place with Dimensionals.  The flower was also set in place with Dimensionals.  

I like how the card turned out and I can see myself using this layout again!  I can see myself making this same card again with different wording at the bottom.  I think the "Sincere Salutations" set would work well in that space!

If you have time play with this sketch.  And be sure to go to SplitCoastStampers and have a look at what the other stampers have done with this layout.  That is what makes these sketches so much fun.  Everyone has a different perspective on this layout.  You see some things and say "why didn't I think of that?" I do it all the time!!  LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Aviary Card CASE

If you are looking for a fun card with some variety that is not only easy to do but quick, then this is the card layout for you!!

I found a card on Late Night Stampers.  I had the page open on my computer all day and about a half hour ago I was closing windows because I had SO many open I couldn't find what I was doing.  The next thing I know I'm looking for the card and it's no where to be found.  UGH!  The original card was a baby card.  The words at the bottom of the circle were "welcome baby" and I think the image was an elephant.  I was interested in the layout, not so much the images.  If you know who's card that was, please let me know so I can give them the credit they deserve.

This card was fun because of the 3 different textures on the background.  Those panels on the top measure 1-15/16" x 3-1/2" and the bottom panel measures 1-3/4" x 4".  The Marina Mist piece behind the panels measures 4-1/8" x 5-3/8" and the white card base measured 8-1/2" x 4-1/4" before folding in half on the long side.

I used the "Aviary" stamp set.  I just love using this set and it's been a while since I've played with it.  I was originally going to stamp an owl inside the cage but I ended up stamping a bird on white card stock and cutting it out.  I set it in place using a dimensional.  I punched out the circle after stamping the cage and I taped it on a scalloped circle.  Fun, easy and cute too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Added 7-6-11:  The artist of this card is Kris at Stamping With Kris.  Thank you Mary for finding this!

Fabulous Florets Wednesday Sketch Challenge

This is the card I made for today's Sketch Challenge over at SplitCoastStampers.  I really look forward to these sketches.  Sometimes I struggle with them and other times they seem easy.  I like to try to make them so they don't have a lot of bulk to them so they can be mailed with only one first class postage stamp.  

For this card I used the "Fabulous Florets" set.  The words are from the "Hugs & Wishes" digital download.  Though I do have the set I thought I would play with the digital one since you can resize it more to fit your needs.  

I stamped the images using VersaMark and then embossed them with white embossing powder.  Once it was heat set I then cut them out by hand.  For the bottom panel, the 4b part I used ribbon.  I took my x-acto knife and made a couple of slits in the layers and inserted the ribbon through them and taped them on the backside.  Then I taped that layer on top of the black card stock so no one can see the tape job!

On the #2 piece I used Whisper White and used the Dotted Swiss embossing folder.  I wanted that area white but yet I wanted it a bit textured and the Dotted Swiss was just what it needed.

On the 4b spot I used 2 pieces of the 1/8" ribbon.

It was a very fun sketch to do and I think I would use it again for other images.   Maybe on images that I would just stamp on the #4a part instead of cutting something out and adding it on top.  I'm sure I have lots of sets that would fit in that #4a spot!

If you have time give the sketch a try.  I'm off to cut the sketch out and add it to my sketch album!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Simply Soft Card

"Simply Soft" is one of the new Hostess Sets that will be in the new Stampin' Up! catalog.  I had to get this because I thought the flower images in it were so pretty.  The image here is a branch with small flowers and buds on it.  I had covered those flowers and buds with punched out ones.  The tiny little flowers on here are scraps that were left from when I used the new "Lace Ribbon Border" punch.  I don't save EVERYTHING but these little flowers I just had to save and I was glad I did.  They came in handy for this branch!  And they are SO cute.  I used a white gel pen to make a dot in the center. I'm sure I could have used a small round punch for that but I didn't want to be chasing dots and gluing them on.  I did glue on dots for the larger flower but they were bigger so it wasn't a huge task to take on!!

I actually used several punches on this card.  The "Lace Ribbon Border" punch, the "Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer" punch, the "Itty Bitty Shapes" punch.  I think I just got caught up in the moment of punching and had a blast. Those flowers were so fun to add.  I must have been in one of those "tedious" moods!!!  

My colors here are Whisper White, Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise.  I had run out of the Tempting Turquoise ribbon but one nice thing is you can dye your own using your inkers!!!  I always purchase white ribbon in the various sizes so I can color my own.  You just never know when you need a matching color and if you have white ribbon and inkers you can match all of your card stock!!!

This was a fun card to make.  I'm not sure what I am going to use it for but I do know it will sit on the ledge for a month before I file it with the "miscellaneous" cards!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda