Elements of Style Birthday

I just LOVE this Stampin' Up! "Elements of Style" set. I am aware that there are four more images to the set and one of these days soon I will play with them but for now I'm SO into this flower image. It just has WAY too many possibilities to it!!

The base of my card is Basic Black card stock. The next layer is Melon Mambo that was dry embossed using the "Square Lattice" embossing folder. I have so many things I want to make using that folder!! I just need more time in the day to do all the things I want. Too bad we have to sleep, huh? LOL

I colored in the larger flowers using a blender pen and Melon Mambo ink. The flower was done using Ballet Blue and a blender pen. The center of the flowers were colored in with the Crushed Curry marker. And the leaves were colored in with a blender pen and Old Olive ink. After I colored them in I went back over the darker areas with the Old Olive marker.

The "Happy Birthday" was done using the computer and then punched out using a 1-1/4" circle punch. I sponged the edges on the large flower piece and the Happy Birthday. I also used a Scalloped Circle punch on the Happy Birthday layer. I layered everything in black. It just seems to make the colors pop more!

I wouldn't describe this card as a quick card because the coloring did take a little while to do. Not a long time but nothing like just stamping and calling it done! Once in a while I just like to sit down and color! I think the next time I "sit down and color" I'm going to color around the whole image too with either a soft yellow or a light blue hue. And of course I'll share it with you, no matter how it turns out!!! You poor people get to see all the good, bad an ugly cards and items I make. I hold nothing back!! Just lets you now that we all make mistakes and it's ok!

Thank you SO much for visiting today!
Go create something,
Wanda

Awash With Flowers VERY Versatile Card

I am SO loving this Stampin' Up! "Awash With Flowers" stamp set. It will be available in the new catalog as a level three Hostess Set. I pre-ordered mine a while back but hadn't had time to play with it. So this week I put it together and have been having a little fun with it. I ordered the clear mount set. It's cheaper and easier for me to store. I'm running out of room in my workroom for more stamps.

The background is Old Olive decorative paper. I LOVE it that Stampin' Up! had put these colors in a variety pack, a variety of designs in the one color that is. A multicolored pack would be fun too but there is always a color that is not so popular to me and gets ignored. This way I pick out the color I like and I know I will use it and hopefully use it up!!! I'm still working on the "use it up" part!! But honestly I am hoarding less and less all the time!

I stamped my image with Crushed Curry stamped off once and then the edging of the flower was stamped with Crushed Curry. The stem was stamped using Old Olive. I sponged the edges with Old Olive and layered everything. It is a very quick and simple card to make. Though I did use the Stamp-a-ma-jig on the outline flower image. I wanted to get it as close to the inner design as I could without it being too far out of whack. I was happy the way it turned out.

I was thinking of putting some wording on it up near the flower head but I didn't want to take away from the image plus I liked the openness of that area. In not adding any wording I now made the card a very versatile one. It can be used for birthdays, get well, thinking of you, thank you and even a sympathy card. Just add your sentiments on the inside! It's a simple and sweet card to make!

Oops! I was mistaken and thank you all for refreshing my memory on this. The Awash With Flowers will be available for purchase in the new catalog!! Even better!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Just Buzzin' By Cards and Card Holder Weekend Project

My dear friend Sharon purchased the Stampin' Up! "Just Buzzin' By" stamp set and left it here for me to play with. And I played with it a little. I'm not done with this set yet!!! I have a few more ideas I want to try out before I give it back to her.

I first made the card with the little bee in the circle window. I used some retired decorative paper, More Mustard and white card stock. I tied a piece of More Mustard ribbon around it and I colored in the bee with a marker and blender pen. Isn't it just TOO cute!

Well, I just couldn't stop there. I made three more matching cards. I got out some envelopes and stamped a little bee on them too. And I even colored that bee too!!!

Then I decided to make a card holder for them. It just completed the set, didn't it? Not quite, I had to cut out one little bee and tape it to the flap of the card holder. now it was complete!!!

The pattern for the card holder is still available here. It's very easy to put together. What I like about it is that all of the edges are enclosed so no mater which way you turn the holder the cards are not going to fall out. The flap stays closed with a magnet and that gives the front a nice clean look. I LOVE making these card holders. I'm getting some together for the fall craft fair. I have LOTS of retired decorative papers that I will be able to use up for these!

I made cards and a card holder a while back. You can see it here.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Medallion Card

I can not believe how quickly this card went together! And what is great about this card is that it can be used for other occasions/events other than the "thank you" one I made.

I used the "Groom " decorative paper by Stampin' Up!

I used Basic Black ink on the Stampin' Up! "Medallion" image.

The "Scallop Edge" punch on the bottom of the "Groom" DP gave it a nice sweet edge. I tied a piece of ribbon around it before I taped it in place.

The "thank you" came from the "Holiday Blitz" set. A set I use a LOT and am hoping it's not on the retiring list next month! I hate it when stamp sets with LOTS of images in it retires. I think of all that time I spent mounting the images and then it's retired. It doesn't bother me as much with sets with 4 or even 6 images in them but when you get a set with at least a dozen or more images it does require some time to put it together. SO when those retire I'm not very happy! Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that set. It could make stamping a bit difficult but you know me, I share the good, the bad and the ugly with you!!! Lucky you, huh? LOL

This card can be done in quite an array of colors too and it would still look great! Talk about versatile!

Ok, that's it for today. I'm finishing up a project that I will be sharing with you tomorrow!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Pocket Silhouettes Get Well Card

Some times it's difficult to figure out how to make a big card using such a little image. The Stampin' Up! "Pocket Silhouettes" set is a good example of that.

I used the "3-D Technique" on the image. I stamped it using Chocolate Chip ink first and then stamped it again using the White Craft ink pad. You are not going to believe this but when I stamped my first one I actually stamped the white perfectly on top of the Chocolate Chip. What are the odds of that? And if I wanted to do that I never would have been able to do it in a million years with out the help of a Stamp-a-ma-jig.

I also practiced with the Scallop Edge punch and got that piece almost perfect!! Practice does make perfect!! Or darn close to it!

I used the new "Square Lattice" embossing folder on the layers of this card. I like the texture it makes, it's so different than any others I've seen.

The words were done on the computer. I'm still working off a sheet of them I printed out.

The looks of this card has a masculine touch to it. Add some ribbon, bows and buttons and it will have a more feminine touch. It's a very versatile card. It could be used as a birthday card, thinking of you card, thank you card and even a sympathy card.

It was a pretty quick card to make too if you don't get the images perfectly stamped twice on there!!! Embossing folders add a lot of texture to a background so you don't need to stamp on it which makes making the card go quicker too. And it was a VERY fun card to make too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Awash With Flowers

I struggled a bit with the Sketch Challenge today. I just didn't know where to go with it. I had been looking at samples of cards using the Stampin' Up! "Awash With Flowers." I looked at the shelf were my set sat, still with the rubber band around it from the factory!!! SO I took it off the shelf and thought and thought and thought of how I was going to use this set with this layout and this is what I came up with.

Now cutting out lots of flowers is not my idea of fun but it sure does make a difference on a card, doesn't it?

I stamped the flowers with VersaMark on watercolor paper. I heat embossed it in black. Then I colored them in with the Watercolor Wonder crayons and the Aqua Painter. I don't use my Aqua Painter much at all. Good thing I filled it with distilled water. Had there been tap water sitting in there for that long it probably would have stunk by now. YUCK!!

I highly recommend cutting out the flowers first and then coloring them. The color does transfer onto your fingers and ges repositoned on the flower in places you don't want.

The "happy birthay" is from the "All Holidays" set. One I use quite often! I also used the new "Square Lattice" texture plate. It's among my favorite texture plates!!

I used some Dimensionals under most of the flowers and set them in place on top of a piece of watercolor paper that was washed with Old Olive and Ballet Blue.

It's ready to go out in the mail tomorrow! And I'm caught up with May birthdays. Good thing too, it's almost the end of the month!!!

If you have time give this sketch a try. See what you can come up with. I print the layouts out and put them in an album. Yup, I've got 282 of them in my album!!! I'll never run out of ideas for layouts!

This card can be used for other occasions than just a birthday card. It would make a very pretty get well card and even a nice anniversary card.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wedding Card. Katie Did It!!!

Katie did it!

A while back I had made a card I saw at the Stamp Share I had attended. It's such a fun card to make and even just to see. I LOVE the punched hearts idea and then working them into a bride and groom theme.

Katie did her in the colors that are being used in an upcoming wedding she is invited to.

I never thought to make the card using the wedding party colors. I was still in awe of the first one I had seen and copied and never thought to venture out of that little box!! There's a whole world of color out there, isn't there? LOL

I really like how her card turned out too. The silver behind the hearts really makes them pop. And in adding color like she did the little flower on the bride heart shows up much better as does the bow on the grooms heart. Just too cute! Thank you SO much Katie for letting me share your creation with everyone! I just LOVE it!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Echo's of Kindness Card

I have told you many times that I stamp among some talented gals! Here is a card that Sandi made using the Stampin' Up! "Echo's of Kindness" set. It's a set that I REALLY like but have not used much at all. Hmmm, sounds like most of my sets! SO sad.

This card opens at the right but the layout is such that it could open from the bottom or even from the right side.

I LOVE the black card base and layers. That's SO me when I make cards, especially ones for the SplitCoastChallenge every Wednesday.

Personally I would not have tackled a card like this. Way too much cutting close to the flower for me. Sandi did such a fabulous job keeping it even all around the flower. We won't talk about what it would look like had I cut around the flower. Do you think that is why she didn't ask me to cut her flower out? LOL

This card has such a spring look to it. It's got a warm happy feeling associated with it as well.

The "Scallop Trim" corner punch was used on the flower layer and the "Scallop Trim" edge punch was used on the long center strip. That is a punch I just love using but am SO particular when it comes to getting both sides exactly perfect. And I'm not all that great at that either. It's evident by the lack of cards on my blog with it on them!!! I know, I should use it more and work with it and soon they will be perfect! Practice makes perfect, right? Hope so!!!

This is also a very versatile card. It would work for a Birthday, Get Well, Thinking of You and Mother's Day. Anyone would be happy to receive a card like this. Great job on it Sandi and thank you for letting me share it with everyone!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Thoughts of Father Birthday Card

Here is a quick card the ever so talented Sandi made. I love the monochromatic look.

I'm not sure what stamp was used on the background but it is very effective. I need to ask what sets were used before I let these gals go home!! That background creates a nice antiquated look.

The car was embossed using black embossing powder. I like the look of it. The car was layered on top of a piece of the "Groom" decorative paper. It gave the card a bit more depth.

Isn't this a wonderful masculine card? Thank you Sandi for letting me share this with the world!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Bundle of Joy Baby Card

The Stampin' Up! "Bundle of Joy" set is a retired set that I am having trouble letting go of. Fortunately for me this is a card a fabulous stamper Peggy made. I won't be getting to this set in my list for a few weeks. I did look on my index of stamp sets and it is on the first shelf of stamps I'm working my way through. *sighs* It's one that I will have to give SERIOUS thought to before I decide to keep it or sell it.

Anyway, back to Peggy's card. The wording is a fabric sticker layered on top of a piece of Pretty in Pink scallop punched card stock.

A ribbon is tied around a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock and the scalloped word piece is taped in place on top of that.

The Chocolate Chip piece is taped in place and the giraffe from the "Bundle of Joy" set is stamped above that. It's a simple but adorable card. I absolutely LOVE that giraffe!!! Probably another reason why I'm wanting to keep the set. But time will tell with that one!

If you need a quick baby card, this is the way to go. If you don't have those adorable fabric stickers you can use your computer to print out the word. Punch them out and affix them to the punched scallop. As simple as that and it would still be a quick card!

I LOVE our monthly stamping. It's a fun time and I get to stamp among some very talented gals. Plus it's just fun chatting with them and catching up. I look forward to it every month and when it's done it's kind of a sad feeling around here. They leave me with a clean workroom that I spend the next month messing up before I have to pick it all up again for them to come over. And believe me, they would fall over if they saw how messy I could get both tables plus the ledges and all three of the counters!!!! I think they would also fall over if they knew where I put the mess before they come to stamp!!! LOL

Isn't Peggy's card adorable?

Thanks SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fun & Fast Notes Birthday Rocket Card

I saw a card like this done by Lori. I'm not clear on her website but on her photo it read "image by Starving Artstamps.com. Hers had the moon and on the moon was a creature and the words that went across the top read "wish you were here." I had copied this card a long time ago and was always meaning to make one like it. I didn't have a creature for the moon but I did have a rocket ship and I did have a star punch and this is what I came up with.

The base layer of the card is Bashful Blue. I layered a piece of Ballet Blue on top of it. I cut a circle for the moon and then I cut that circle in half. I punched holes in it to represent craters. On Lori's card she didn't have as many craters. I got a bit carried away but I wasn't into copying her card exactly.

After punching the holes in the half circle I set it in place on top of the other half using Dimensionals.

The rocket ship is from the Stampin' Up! "Fun & Fast Notes" set. I cut it out and colored it in using markers. I set it in place on top of the moon using Dimensionals.

I stamped the words on. They came from the "Eat Cake" set. And I punched out 5 stars and taped them in place. I overlapped a few and trimmed the edges.

I like how this card turned out too. It's the moon that is the cute part to me. I liked it on Lori's card and I like it on this one! This was a fun and easy card to make. And this card could be used not only for a birthday card but also for an invitation to the birthday party!!!

Isn't it adorable? As with all of my photos on this blog, click on them to see a closer view.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Go, Graduate Graduation Card

The graduation open houses are just starting to arrive. SO I thought I would make a card for each one as they come in. I'm not thrilled with this card though. I shouldn't have colored the gowns all the way up. Once I got it put together on the card I noticed how doing that made it look out of place. Oh well, a lesson learned for the next card I need to make.

I just LOVE this set. I had never purchased a graduation set from Stampin' Up! before. I am not sure why. But this one was just too cute to pass up. I absolutely LOVE that row of feet.

The cute owl came in the set too. I am going to take the card and color in the owl with Creamy Caramel or maybe Going Gray and a blender pen. It's got to be a soft color but the main things for me is it's got to be a color. It looks to blah just plain. And I need to finish coloring in the cap too. I guess I thought it was the top of the owls head. Oh my, I'm still laughing here. What an odd shaped head that would be!!! I must be too tired! So not only do I need to color the owl in but the cap too. I'll do the cap first so I will know it's NOT the owls head!! I don't believe the things I do (or see) anymore!! Silly me! And while I'm at it, I think I'll color in the diploma too. How could I forget to do all that coloring? Too much going on right now. Hopefully this weekend will bring with it some time to just kick back and relax! Sounds good to me.

This card was easy enough to make. The school colors are blue and white. Though I wasn't sure if it was a darker blue or the lighter one. When I went to that school (back in the dark ages!) the blue was light. I checked on the school's web site but it didn't show anything with their colors or logo, it just said the school colors are "blue and white. So blue and white it is. Do you think the person receiving it is going to care if the colors are wrong? I don't think so. He's going to get so many other graduation cards that aren't his school colors so I think this one will squeak by!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge

This weeks Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers was a fun one. It had a few layers but yet a pretty simple card. And I kept it simple too. I needed to make an anniversary card that has to go through the mail so I kept it free of ribbons, buttons, bows, etc. I did add a couple of dimensionals under the oval wording but that goes through the mail just fine.

The image I used is from the Stampin' Up! "Bloomin' Beauty" set. The words are from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set and the image behind the flower is from the "Extreme Elements" set. I wanted that set just for that one stamp. Though now that I look at the other images I can see myself using them on other cards. REALLY!! LOL

The background on my card was done using the "Dotted Swiss" embossing folder. I LOVE embossing folders. Isn't it great how it can add SO much to a background and you don't even have to stamp? I sponged the edges on all of my pieces in Pretty in Pink, including the little Pretty in Pink piece (#3). It just framed the edges a bit more when I do that, well I think it does anyway!

I used the Oval Scalloped punch to layer the oval punched words.

I colored in the flower using a blender pen and then went back on the flower with the marker and darkened some areas. The center of the flower was colored in using Barely Banana. The leaves and stem were colored in using the Mello Moss marker.

And the image behind the flower was done using Barely Banana ink and the large stamp from the "Extreme Elements" set. I masked the flower and then stamped the image over it. I did have to color in the area by each side of the stem and around the leaves. Not all areas get covered when you mask images. Many times I will cut my mask a bit smaller than I need so the stamping over the top of it covers better. But this time I didn't do that. The mask was already in the stamp case so I went with it and put it back when I was done!

I do like the soft subtle look of this card and I REALLY like the layout. It was a very fun sketch this week. If you have time play with the layout. I printed it out and it will be trimmed and placed in an album I have that is FULL of these sketches. I LOVE having this album. I open it up a lot! When ever I need to make a card and I know what image I am going to use I just page through it until I find one that the image fits into. And I now have 281 to pick from!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Elements of Style Birthday Card

This is the first time I got to play with the new Stampin' Up! "Elements of Style" stamp set. Ok, it's obvious I didn't play with the whole set, I just played with one piece of it. The set contains 5 pieces and I am planning on making another card using more from that set.

On my card I use VersaMark on the stamp. I set my card stock on the image and pressed down on it with my fingers to get the image to stamp evenly over the entire piece.

I took out my chalks, a medium I rarely use and I used a cotton swab and added my color. The big mistake on my card was that I should have done the center of the flowers first so the yellow wouldn't have any pink in it. But I couldn't see the center of the flowers to do that. Once I found a few flowers it got easier. You really have to have good lighting to see where the VersaMark images are.

I finished the coloring and trimmed the image down to fit on the card. Then I got my trusty sheet of printed "Happy Birthday" words out and used it on the card. Like I said yesterday, I'm just lazy. And no, I still have not taken a sheet of card stock and stamped "Happy Birthday" all over it. I didn't have any spare time. I will do it the next time I make a birthday card and have time to do it.

This card turned out rather pretty. Click on the photo to see a closer view. You'll be able to see how soft the chalks look on it.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda