Vintage Vogue Birthday Card

No, I still have not put this stamp set away. I just love it and am having a lot of fun with it. It's an extremely versatile set too. It starts out as a "Friend" type set but can be used to make birthday cards, thinking of you cards, sympathy cards and get well cards.

Today I made mine into a birthday card for my sister. And it's obvious I still have not put away the "Well Scripted" set either! I know I've said this before but I just LOVE the font on this set. It's very pretty and elegant at the same time. But it's not too pretty to use on a masculine card! It's just perfect!

For the base of my card I used Basic Gray card stock. On top of that is a piece of Rich Razzleberry cut 4-1/8" x 5-3/4". The flower was stamped on a piece of Very Vanilla cut 2-1/4" x 2-1/4". The edges were sponged in Rich Razzleberry. That piece was layered on top of a piece of Basic Gray measuring 2-1/2" x 1-1/2".

The Old Olive piece was lightly stamped with the leafy image, allover the card and the edges were sponged in Old Olive as well. That piece measures 3" x 3-1/2". The Basic Gray piece behind it measures 3-1/8" x 3-5/8".

The Rich Razzleberry dotted ribbon was added before the Old Olive piece was taped in place.

I punched out a little Going Gray flower and put in the center of the large flower. I punched out a 1/4" vanilla circle and put it in the center of the little gray flower. After the photo was taken (this is when I am the most critical of my cards... somehow seeing them on the computer I see more things I could have done, should have done or should not have done!) I added a dark pink rhinestone. It is so dark that it actually looks like the Rich Razzleberry color. It really made the card look finished! And fortunately I will be hand delivering this so I won't have to pay the extra postage involved in this one.

Now I need to make one more birthday card, 2 get well cards and one thinking of you card before the end of the month! I am very behind on my cards. UGH!

Anyway, this was a fun and pretty quick card to make.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fancy Favor Die Cut Easter Basket Weekend Project

Sorry for the late post, I was wanting to play with the Sizzix die cuts tonight and thought I would make an Easter Basket. I even managed to get a Sweet Treats cup to work with it too! I got so wrapped up in playing I lost all track of time. So onto the specs of the basket!

I cut the basket out using Pale Plum card stock. The handle is made using a strip of the Pale Plum with ribbon on top. It is attached using white brads.

I tied a white ribbon at the bottom. It just looked like it needed a little something there.

Before I assembled the box I punched a round hole in the middle of the front part and added the Sweet Treats cup.

For the scallop around the Sweet Treats cup I used Scalloped Nestabilities for both the white and the "Shades of Spring" decorative paper.

The little bunny on the bottom right is from the Stampin' Up! "Eggcoutrements" set. That set has an adorable border image in it and I wanted to use it on the bag but I didn't have enough room at the bottom for it. I'm sure I'll find something else to use it on!

I added some fun colored paper Easter grass inside and and added the candies.

When making this don't fill the Sweet Treats cup until you are ready to finish the whole bag. Mine kept falling over and it bent the one corner of the bag. Once it was filled with the paper and candies it balanced out and stood up nicely.

Isn't it cute? What a nice way to brighten up a co-worker's desk or even a great teacher gift! Lots of people you can give this to!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Three Purses Card

Here is a fun card I made for my stampers to do if they wish. I don't remember where I saw this layout. The one I saw was in blues. It was very pretty but I didn't have the blues that they used so I thought I would go with the black and white look. It's a fun look and I usually don't do black and white so it was a bit of a challenge for me too.

I used several punches here to make the purses, including the handles, flowers and closures. Brads were added to the front of each purse and on one of them I used the white gel pen to add a few dots.

The base of the card is Basic Black. The next layer is the "Night & Day" decorative paper. I had some left and thought I would use it up. I didn't succeed, I still have some left! On top of that is three layers. A black layer, a gray layer and a white layer. The white layer was embossed using the Dotted Swiss embossing folder. A ribbon was tied around the three layers before they were taped in place with Dimensionals.

The words are from the Stampin' Up! "Oval All" set. It's an adorable set but I don't use it as often as I'd like to. The original card used that set and I did to because it fit nicely in that space. If you know how make the original "Three Purses" card please let me know so I can give them credit.

Isn't it a cute card. I just loved the original one and this one in black and white did turn out cute too. It sure does have a LOT of pieces to it though! But SO worth it!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

The Bracelet! Beaded Bracelet

I forgot all about posting the bracelet I finished on Sunday when I was teaching at the local bead shop. I LOVE this bracelet. A lot of the students did it in two different colors of seed beads. It is very pretty like that too. On mine I just used silver lined gold and the "eye" of the peacock part is an Amethyst Swarovski bicone. Those bicones are SO pretty. The cut of them catches the light just right and gives them an even richer look to them. I will be putting this bracelet in my web store. I need to get the photo to the webmaster so he can re size it and post it for me. You can find more details about it there in a couple of days. It will fit a 6-1/2" wrist. When I teach I give each student a strip of paper and have them wrap it around their wrist and cut it exactly the size of their wrist. This is how big they make their bracelets (if it's for them) and adding the clasp and clasp beads creates enough length to allow the bracelet to have some movement on the wrist but not be tight. You write your name on these strips or the name of whoever's wrist you measured and put them in an envelope and you will always have their measurements and can make them a gift without giving the secret away! I have several slips in an envelope with friends names on them. But I haven't made too many from that envelope! Maybe come Christmas. But I have all summer to think about that one, huh? Click on the photo for a closer view. Anyway, watch the web store in a couple of days for the bracelet info.   

Thanks SO much, Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge

This sketch layout came just in the nick of time. I needed to make a masculine birthday card and this sketch fit the bill. I needed something with a larger focal point. I SO love this "Two Canoes" stamp by Creative Impressions. I have used it many many times and love the outcome each time.

On this card I stamped the image using VersaMark and embossed it in black detail embossing powder. I used my blender pen and markers and colored in the images. One thing you have to remember to do when coloring with the blender pen on images that are embossed, you need to make sure you blot the surface. The color beads up on the embossed area and you can pick it up on your fingers and transfer it to other parts of your card for a much undesired look. Speaking from experience here. But not on this one! I blotted a lot as I colored and was thrilled with the end results! SO much so that I'm now not sure I want to give it to my nephew! LOL I know, just give it up, it was made with him in mind so just give it to him. It's not like I can't make another one. It may not turn out exactly like this one but I can make another one. Ok fine, I'll give it to him! LOL

I love to do the blender pen and markers in my coloring. It goes on so quickly and if you start with the lightest colors and color in the areas that are the darkest you really can't ruin the picture. You want to start coloring in the areas that are the darkest (in this image, where the canoes reflect on the water, it creates a darker shade, so I would start there). You work your way outward and the pen will run out of color and you just pick up more color and continue. Watercolor paper works the best for this but because of it's texture it is more difficult to get the image to stamp and emboss nicely. Sometimes I've actually turned the watercolor paper over and stamped on that side. It's still watercolor paper on the reverse side, just not textured! Here I used white card stock and because I quickly colored I didn't get any worn spots on my card from overworking an area. I've done this lots of times so I think I've pretty much perfected the "not overworking areas".

If you have time play with this card layout. Another one for my album! I just love going to that album with a stamp image and seeing what layout will fit with that image and I go from there. Sometimes I still put one together on my own but when I get stuck I will take one of those layouts and start from there. Most of the time for me it's a matter of getting started and this is what it takes!

Anyway, I think my nephew will like the card!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Technique Tuesday Technique Page

Yes, it's Tuesday and YES, I have finally finished the last technique page in the third set of pages. I will be emailing those of you who are on my list to let you know they are ready and for those of you who would like a set you can email me and I will be in contact with you. These are on a first come first serve basis for those of you not on the list. The CD will not be available until all the physical page sets are sold.

So with that out of the way, here is today's technique. It's called "Breaking News". I saw a card on someones blog but they didn't say what it was or how it was done. SO I thought I would give it my own try and my own version of it. If it is different than on that card I saw posted then that's even better! But if it's the same then I will need to give someone credit, it's only fair! I no longer show the technique page, they all seem to look alike anyway. I thought I would start showing samples of what you can do with the technique. The pages will be make like before just not posted on here. In the web store there will be a group photo of the pages.

To do this technique you obviously need some newspaper. I prefer to head towards the Variety section since some of the words do show through and you certainly wouldn't want to give a get well card to someone with the Obits showing through, see what I mean. Pick and choose the sections of the paper that would best fit the card you are making. You can head to the card for sale part to make a masculine card, that would be SO appropriate! You know what I'm getting at here so we'll move on.

I next embossed my image and heat set it. I brayered on some ink and I did turn it over and brayered ink on the other side just to make the words even darker so the embossed spot would show more. And it did. I cut it to fit my card and that was pretty much it. You can use it as a background or a focal part of your card. There's LOTS of things you can do with this but the main thing is to have fun!

On this card I used Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Always Artichoke and Whisper White card stock. I used the Dotted Swiss embossing folder, the 1-1/4", 1-3/8" and Scalloped Circle Punches. The words are from the Stampin' Up! "Holiday Blitz" set (one of my favorite sets) and Soft Suede ink.

Now I'm off to put together the rest of the pages to this technique. It takes me a while to get the pages done because I'm not just doing one, I'm doing quite a few more and after looking at that same page being done over and over and over again I begin to NOT like the technique!

I will be contacting those of you on my list in the next two days. I need to go into my archives and find the list. My computer had been reformatted since the last time I sent out that list so I will need to hunt it down. Why do people have to make and send out viruses? Isn't there enough going on in life than to have to deal with stuff like that? Anyway, be watching your in box for my email!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A VERY Ugly Thank You Card!

I told you, I share with you my successes and my failures. I have no idea where I was going with this one. I think what I had in mind was the four squares and this is where it took me. . . . down the road of UUUUGLEEEEEE! And this is also a reminder to you that I do not always stamp perfectly, my cards and projects do not always turn out nice or pretty or even straight! I have days when what is in my head just does not work out well on paper! Today is one of those days and lucky you got to be here for me to share it with you!

There are a couple things I can say about this card. It does have the four squares that I was wanting to work with and it is VERY colorful! Perhaps a different color or design on the background might help? Or is this one of those cards that there is no help for?

As I am writing up this post and got my first paragraph done I thought I would pull up the photo and paste it to the blog. I keep looking at it and it's kind of like a train wreck, you don't want to look but you can't take your eyes away!!! LOL

SO as you can tell I am not pleased at all with this card. But the week ahead has better things for you! One of them includes that last technique page in the third set! For those of you waiting, this week will be the one! Woot! Woot!

Yesterday I was at the local bead store teaching. Tomorrow I will show you what the class made! You are going to LOVE it! See, I told you, LOTS of fun stuff this week!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Vintage Vogue Mini Notebook Weekend Project

I'm still playing with that "Vintage Vogue" stamp set. I just can't get enough of it. I am loving all the things you can do with it. And another thing I LOVE making is these little notebooks. After I got this one all taped together (with some REALLY super sticky tape) I noticed that the front could have used some sponging on the edges. h well, TOO late for that now!

The cover of my little notebook is Rich Razzleberry. Oh and I say little because it is only 2-1/2" x 2-1/2". I stamped the branch/leaves in Old Olive. On top of that I taped the large Rich Razzleberry flower which I had cut out by hand. Then I taped a smaller flower (stamped in Pretty in Pink and cut out too) on top of the larger flower.

In the center of the flowers I taped a Sweet Pea felt flower. I am not sure why I did that. I think it's mostly because I like those things too! Do all things need a reason? I don't think so! And as soon as hubby accepts that things will roll a lot smoother for him!!! LOL

This was just a fun little project. You can alter other notebooks and get the same effect. If they are a bit bigger you can add more layers to fill in the space. There's a way to work around that!

Aren't they just adorable? They make great gifts and wonderful stocking stuffers (for those of you who like to craft early for Christmas!). These are fun for Stamp Camps, Make n Takes, Customer Appreciation gifts, Hostess Appreciation gifts and even Craft Fairs.

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Sweet Pea Stitched Felt Flowers Birthday Card

Now I know I saw this layout somewhere but I can't remember. I guess it's all in what you do with it that is important too!

I used Very Vanilla card stock as my base. I ran it through the "Elegant Bouquet" embossing folder. Then I added a piece of Melon Mambo card stock. It measured 2-7/8" x 3-7/8". I cut a scrap piece of paper from the "Cottage Wall" decorative papers pack and a piece of Whisper White. They were both cut 3-7/8" wide. The length is 2-3/4" before it was punched with the "Scallop Trim Border Punch".

I stamped the Happy Birthday from the "Well Scripted" set. Then I taped the white on top of the "Cottage Wall" scrap. I wrapped a piece of Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon around it and taped it to the back to secure it. I was thinking of adding a bow but I knew this one had to go through the mail and it would cost 20 cents more to mail it. I know 20 cents isn't much but when you send out cards all the time it adds up. But the card did need something more than just the strip of ribbon. SO I got out my "Sweet Pea" stitched felt flowers. I just LOVE those things. I'm on my second package already! I used one of the larger flowers. I had a lot of them and it's obvious that I didn't use them much so I thought I would work it into this card. It was easy enough to do since the space it was going in was pretty large. I added a felt leaves and put them on the card with glue dots. I wanted something sticky that would hold and those things seem to be the best for it. And surprisingly so that is all there was to making this card.

This card can be used for other occasions too. Like a Thank You cards, Thinking of You card, Mother's Day and Get well.

Now to get it addressed and ready to be mailed. Oh and get this, I will actually be on time with sending this card out! Shocker, huh? LOL

If you're looking for a quick and sweet birthday card, this is the way to go!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Simple Yet Sweet Birthday Card

Sue (my upline) on her website displayed the birthday cards she had received. This is a copy of one of them. I thought it was a very sweet card. Simple and quick to make too! I LOVE how Autumn punched the three flowers out on the white card stock and you can see the color behind them. And the brads in the center are a nice touch.

The words are from the Stampin' Up! "Sincere Salutations" set. I have used that set more times then I can count. I've always loved that font and the set contained all the sayings you need!

The colors used here are Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White. The ink is Rich Razzleberry. And the ribbon is Rich Razzleberry as well.

To make this card you will need a half sheet of whisper white card stock folded in half. Cut a piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock 4-1/4" x 3". Cut a piece of white card stock 4" x 2-7/8". I don't know if these are the same measurements Autumn used but these worked for me.

You will also need the Trio Flower punch, 3 silver tone brads and 5 Dimensionals.

Cut your card stock. Punch your flowers. Mine are punched about 7/8" in. Wrap ribbon around the white piece and tape on the back. Stamp words. Set this piece on top of the Rich Razzleberry piece and mark where the brads will go. Punch a hole for each brad using your paper piercing tool. Put the brads on and then tape this piece down on the white card base. Using the Dimensionals set the top piece in place. You are done. That is all there is to this card. How simple, huh? Now I have to go make another one. Good thing I just wrote all the dimensions down! This card is for my sister and I thought I should have one on display here. My stampers like to find simple, quick and cute cards to make. This fits into all three of those categories!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wings of Friendship Card

I chose this Stampin' Up! "Wings of Friendship" set a while ago because I thought it was sweet and I never used it. I didn't even have it put together. Sheeeeeesh! What is wrong with me? It's such an adorable set. SO tonight I thought I would put it together and perhaps make a card with it. Well, I actually accomplished both. Oh and I did put ALL of the pieces to the set together and not just the bird! I've been known to do that.

I have a photo album that I keep all of the SplitCoast Sketch Challenge card layouts in. SO I picked up the bird stamp and paged through the book looking for a layout that would support the image. I got to SC75 and stopped. I told myself to pick the first one I come across that works. I didn't want to have to make any other decisions! Just find one and go with it. SO I did. And it was one that I had never done before too. I started doing the Wednesday Sketches at #125 and I've done all most all of them since. I should go back to the beginning of the book and make a card using the sketches I haven't done yet but I figure eventually in time I will get to them. See, I already got one done tonight!

I did use the "Very Vintage" jumbo wheel on the Crushed Curry background pieces. I tried to give the card a vintage look. I used Old Olive on the background piece. Behind the Crushed Curry strips I used a piece of Basic Gray. And the bird was stamped on Very Vanilla. I colored in the image with markers. The flowers and ribbon are Melon Mambo. I did cut out the flowers and put them in place using Dimensionals. I wanted to give the bottom part of the card a bit of dimension. It was just enough too!

This card can be used for quite a few occasions, birthdays, get well, thinking of you and Mother's Day. You can add those sentiments on the front or leave it as it is and write on the inside.

I ran across a couple of notebooks that I want to alter the fronts with this bird or maybe the one from the 24-7 set. I haven't put that one together yet either!!! I need to find more time to play! It's a lot more fun than cooking and cleaning.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge

Another Wednesday is upon us. The first one for the month of March. Can you believe it's March already? I'm just shocked at how fast time flies. Hopefully it's spent doing things we like!

And speaking of things we like. I especially like the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers. It's one of the things I look forward to in the middle of the week.

The sketch was pretty fun and simple. Well, simple for me.

I used the Stampin' Up! "Vintage Vogue" set this week. Or should I say "again" this week? I used it for last weeks Sketch Challenge too. I didn't catch that until I posted it in my gallery at SplitCoast. Oh well, it's a different sketch and different colors!

Once again I found myself cutting out flowers, leaves and this time even the letter "F". I know, I'm nuts! I liked cutting out the large flower but the smaller one was more touchy and after the second one I didn't want to cut out anymore but the card needed more. I had even tried using ribbon but no, it had to be flowers! SO I cut more flowers. Now I think I will make some cards with this set that don't require me to cut out little flowers and bunches of little leaves!!! I say that but you know me, I'll be cutting flowers and whining about it later! LOL

I LOVED using the new punch for the bottom part of the card. It's such a fun punch. It's a nice scallop with a bit of a lacy look to it allowing you to see through it to the background paper. And now that I'm looking at the card I'm thinking I should have done that same scallop on the top of that layer too.

Don't you love how Melon Mambo and Old Olive go together so well? I am OS loving those two colors together.

My decorative paper is from the Old Olive "Paper Patterns" package. I LOVE those packages! I have some in several other colors and have used them on my cards and projects.

I used the Dotted Swiss embossing folder on the background and sponged it in Old Olive.

There really isn't a lot to this card, it's all that cutting of the flowers that took time. But SO worth it. It's another card I actually like.

If you have time play with this sketch and see what you come up with. Check out the other posts to this sketch at SplitCoast. There is a lot of beautiful cards made using this layout.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sharing What They Make

A while back I posted my tote that holds 4 milk cartons using the new Stampin' Up! "Milk Carton" die. I LOVE that die! I have used it a lot and have LOTS more uses for it in the near future. I offered the pattern (click here to see that post) and I also asked to see what those of you who got the pattern did with them. I got my first reply back on that!

You can still get the pattern, just email me. It's in a PDF format and I am not able to post that on here. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's me not knowing how to do it but I tried to post it the "usual" way and nothing. SO, be brave and email me!

This was made by Kim at "Stamp, Scrap & Get Kreative". I love the colors she used. And I love how great the tote turned out. The pattern is designed to make a tote to hold 4 milk cartons or to make 2. It's very versatile and easy to make.

There is SO much going on here. The purple band around the tote has been scalloped with the border punch along one edge. The flowers in front are adorable

They are all punched out using decorative papers. The totes are made using card stock and decorated with punched flowers some bling and don't forget those adorable Library Clips at the tops. I am still waiting for my butterfly Sizzlet and in my emails today I saw that something is being shipped to me. It's hopefully them. I could go check but I don't want to be disappointed right now. I'm in a good mood, lets not spoil it!!! LOL

These milk cartons are great because all the scoring and cutting is done for you. All you do is fold tape or glue it together and then the fun and creativity begins. There's no limits to how you can decorate your cartons! Well, there probably is some limits but by the time you've made that many that you've reached limits you've made too many!!! LOL

So what do you think? Isn't it just adorable? It's so fun to see what others do with your patterns. This one is a thumbs up for sure!

Thank you Kim for allowing me to share your finished tote with everyone. You did a fabulous job on it!

And thank you for visiting my blog today,
Wanda

Word Whimsy Sweet Pea Thank You Card

This post is going to be short and sweet! Just look at the card. How much sweeter can a card get? You got this soft stripe paper going on on the left side. Which is from the "Welcome Neighbor" print pack. Along side that the "Eyelet Border" punch was used. The flower is from the "Sweet Pea" felt flowers pack and the words are from the "Word Whimsy" set.

This was another quick and easy card to make.

Now that I see it on the computer I can tell that I maybe should have made that patterned paper part a bit narrower. It looked ok until I had added the eyelet border. And it looked ok after that too but now that I see it from a distance it looks like the card was split in half. It's still pretty and the one receiving it will not be so critical, right?

These little elements that you get can help in putting a card together SO quickly. I just picked out a flower and a leaf from the bag. Then I cut a tiny strip of Old Olive for the stem. I did use glue dots to put them on the card. I am not sure how well tape will stick to that felt fuzz! But those glue dots . . . . they will stick for a LONG time! Ever get one stuck to the top of your fingernail? With nail polish on??? VERY sticky!

And to top it all off with, it was a fun card to make. Now what more can you ask for? A card that is not only quick, easy, sweet AND fun to make too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda