The Open Sea Masculine Birthday Card

 This was last weeks Sketch Challenge at Split Coast Stampers.  I have not been able to play for the last couple of weeks.  I just saw today's sketch but it looked too frilly for a masculine card.  Though I should give it a try and make it work for a masculine card.  Now that would be a real challenge.  I did make a most needed masculine card using the Open Sea set.  I'm SO glad this is back in the new catalog!  It's a great masculine set.  Though I was hoping for some more masculine papers.  But we always seem to manage to do with what is here, don't we?  This paper is perfect with this set.  I had purchased several packages of it and have used them all up!  

For my card I used Early Espresso for the base of my card.  Then I used the decorative papers for the backgrounds. I layered them in Early Espresso.  I stamped the ship on Whisper White card stock using Night of Navy ink.  My panel is smaller than the one in the sketch but I had to make it smaller.  If I would have kept it that size there would have been way too much white showing on each end. It worked out and turned out just fine.  My nephew will like the card.

This was a fun sketch.  I think it is one that I will be using again.  The focal panel is big enough for many of the stamp sets I have.  

If you have time I highly recommend you give the sketches a try!  It's always fun to learn new layouts.  I keep mine in a photo album and when I'm stuck with an idea I just open the album and find a sketch that fits a stamp that I have in mind.  It works 99% of the time!  And yes, my album has 386 sketches in it.  I collected them all!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Triple Treat Flower Birthday!

Here is another card I had made at Terri's FABULOUS Stamp-a-Stack.  The best thing about Stamp-a-Stacks (other than the fabulous designs) is that everything is cut for you!  I have made thousands of cards and now and then it's nice to be able to just sit down and play without having to think of a design, colors or cut card stock!  I have always been in awe of Terri's cards.  She comes up with some very fun designs.  

This card was made using Whisper White and Melon Mambo card stock along with Melon Mambo decorative papers. 

I am sad to see the Sincere Salutations word set retiring.  It was one of my favorite sets to use.  The words were all about the same size so they fit well in some of the punches, especially the circle punches.  

The stamp set used here is Triple Treat Flower and that one is also retiring.  I'm not as sad about this stamp retiring as I am about the Sincere Salutations.  But that does not mean I'm not going to hang onto it.  I will keep it for a while.  Well, until another one becomes my favorite that is!!! LOL

These were very quick and pretty cards to put together.  One went out in the mail today!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Notes on Faith in Nature

I still have a big pile of 2.5" x 2.5" pieces of copier paper all punched and ready for notebooks.  Today I thought I would use the leaf from Faith in Nature.  That was a very fun and beautiful Hostess set I had gotten.  I mostly got it because I loved the pear image in the set.  Have you ever done that?  Got a set just for one image?  I still do if it involves a snowman!!! LOL

I am working on getting my stash of 2.5" x 2.5" notebooks built up for the fall craft fair.  They are a great money maker plus they draw shoppers to the booth because they make great stocking stuffers.  Once I get my holiday stamps and start using them I will be making more Christmas and winter notebooks.  Those seem to sell the best. Probably because they are being used for stocking stuffers!!!

These notebooks were pretty easy to make too.  I just cut a piece of Wild Wasabi card stock 2" x 2" and the white card stock 1-7/8" x 1-7/8".  I stamped on the small white piece using VersaMark.  Then I embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I sponged the color over the embossed image and this is what you get.  It's soft, subtle and pretty too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Notebooks Weekend Project

I'm working on getting my notebook stash built back up for the fall craft fair.  I just noticed that I have a shoe box size tote full of scrap card stock.  Most of my notebooks measure 2.5" x 2.5" so I can make quite a few with the scrap that builds up during the year.

These two notebooks measure 3" x 4".  Often I end up with excess copier paper and I will normally cut it 2.5" x 2.5" and sometimes there are odd sizes left and I will cut them a bit larger.  There's always some image that I would like to add to a notebook front.  And in this case that is what I did.

I SO love the Fabulous Florets set. I'm not all that fond of cutting out the images but will do it now and then.  The notebook in the back was made using the Fabulous Florets set.  The blue notebook was done using an Inkadinkado set I ran across in my carousel of hanging stamp sets.  I have a TON of stamp sets on that thing and I hardly use them.  As I was paging through the sets looking for something that had to do with graduation I saw this set and pulled it out.  This set is called Boxed Wishes.  There's 5 other images in the set and the next time I make notebooks this size I will probably head for that set.  Well, unless I find something new in the Stamping Up! sets I'm gong to get that will fit in that space!

I love making notebooks.  When I get caught up on things I may make blanks again for the web store.  Though I'm not sure there is much of an interest in them anymore.  I use to take orders for them and the covers were in any Stampin' Up! color but I got overwhelmed with orders and when there was a lull in the sales I quite offering them.  I LOVE the little 2.5" x 2.5" notebooks.  I use to use them for workshop gifts.  Anyway, I will be working on more of them soon.

Edited: Fabulous Florets replaced Field Flowers, an error in what stamp set was used.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Simply Soft Birthday

This is yet another set I have not played with much.  It's so sad when I look at them before I sell them and see that they were hardly used or not even used at all. I have a few of those too.  My shopping this time around will be much wiser.  Of course I'm going to be starting with all the new in colors!  The papers, inkpads, inkers, markers and decorative paper pack.  That was number one on my list.  After that it's a matter of making some wise choices. I made my wish list and I need to be careful with it and not buy everything at once like I did last year.  That was how I bought too much stuff.  I have open houses to go to and Stamp-a-Stacks so I need to spread it out!

Ok, now onto my fun card.  I used the "Simply Soft" hostess set (that you will be seeing in my web store sometime next month).  A set that was very gently used.  It's such a pretty set. I wish I would have used it more.  

I love the Melon Mambo color so I ran with it on this card.  Card stock, ink pad, and decorative papers!

I used the lace punch for part of the background.  It's confession time here.  I was going to copy a card and they had that running down the left side.  As I got working on my card I decided to turn the card and my image fit differently on the card so I added the Happy Birthday layers and made a totally different card!  I love it when I'm inspired by another card.  I think my Mojo is coming back!  

I hope you are all having a very enjoyable holiday weekend.

Thank you ever SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Ain't Love Grand

I had spent the early years of our sons life preaching to him NOT to ever use the word "ain't."  We told him that it doesn't make you sound very intelligent if you use that word.  I even had an English teacher that preached at us as students to never use the word and reminded us that it is not even a word!!  And here it is on my stamp set!!  Well, "ain't" that interesting?!?  LOL

This is a very fun set to play with though.  It is a hostess set that is retiring at the end of the month. I have only used two of the images in this set.  Which is too bad.  I thought it was such a cute set but I just never got around to using it much.  I had too many other sets to play with!  So in a week or so you will be finding this set in my web store. I will be adding some more of my clear block sets to the store soon too.  I need to get them off my self to make room for more new ones.  

I thought I would try my hand at making a get well card.  I don't have many on hand and I figured the more I had on hand the less I would need them (according to Murphy's Law!).  

The base of my card is white.  The next layer is a piece of black card stock and then another piece of white on top of that.  I used one of the embossing folders to give it some texture.  Then I stamped and layered the image.  I colored it and set it in place on top of the layers using some Dimensionals.  

I tied a piece of black ribbon around the black and white layer before I had taped it in place.  Oh and I used some decorative paper for the colored strip on the left and under the image.  I'm not fond of how it looked under the image.  I think I would have been better off using a piece of coordinating card stock instead.  But what's done is done and I'll know better the next time, right???  

I do like this layout.  It allows you to use some of the smaller images and yet have a nice looking Clean And Simple (CAS) card.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fun Fold Friday Easy Events

I would like to add one more card using the very fun fold that I showed you on Wednesday.  And speaking of Wednesday, I didn't even get a chance to play with Split Coast Stamper's Sketch Challenge.  I did print it out and it's somewhere on my messy desk!

This card was made by a very fabulous and talented stamper (and wonderful friend) Ann.  She needed to make some thank you cards and this is one of them she came up with.  I am SO loving this fold.  Terri always comes up with some fun fold cards. 

The measurements to this card can be found here.  It's a very easy card to put together.  Ann even simplified it more by not adding two layers to the side panel or the ribbon and I think it looks wonderful either way!

I want to wish you all a very fun and safe holiday weekend!  For those of you who are staying home.  Be safe, have fun stamping and watch out for paper cuts!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Easy Events Baby Shower Card

I had gotten some requests for measurements on yesterdays card so I thought I would make another card and measure as I go.  I needed to make a baby shower card for my husband's great niece.  Yup, he's going to be a great-great uncle (again!).  And no, he's not really that old!!  His sisters are 17 years older than he is so there's bound to be some generation gaps there! 

So to make this card you need to cut your card stock as follows:

Take a piece of card stock cut 5-1/2” x 4-1/4”.  Score it in half on the long side (your score line is 4-1/4” long). 

Cut the front flap off at 1-3/4”. 

The layer behind the decorative paper is cut 2-3/8” x 5-3/8”

The decorative paper is cut 2-1/4” x 5-1/4”

Put those two layers together and tie a piece of ribbon around the bottom.  Then tape that piece to the front of the card.

The flap is cut 3” x 6” and score it on the long side.  Fold the 3” score. 

Decorate your card as you wish.  Today I used the duck from the Easy Events set.  So there you have it, now get to work on it!!!

Check out yesterdays card to see what the inside looks like.  On this card I used Petite Pairs and the words are "welcome baby."  I still need to stamp the duck on the front of the envelope and get a gift card!  But now I have my card done early!  I have one birthday and one anniversary next month and maybe I should get those cards done early too!!!  Wouldn't that be nice to be ahead of the game?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Very Vermillion

 I don't know what goes in cyber space between my computer and Blogger.  My photos are sometimes sideways and the second photo here is actually upside down.  It reminds me of Star Trek when they would go through the teleports and come out on the other side the same as they left.  I wonder if these images make that noise before they are visible on the web page!!! LOL  

I have tried a couple of times to get that second photo to turn out right but I just couldn't get it to flip.  So just tile your head until you are looking at it upside down!!! UGH!

This is one of the cards that we made at Terri's Stamp-a-Stack.  I really loved the decorative paper that was used here.  I believe it is from the "Well Worn" pack.  One of my masculine favorites.

The card stock colors used here are Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla.  I do have this bird image and I have used it a couple of times.  I think I will hang on to it for a little while longer.  I just have not played with it enough!  

This card is not only pretty but look how fun it is when you open it!

I didn't stamp anything on the inside of mine because I wasn't sure what occasion I wanted to use it for.  I'll just add the wording when I know.

This is a very quick card to make too.  Not just because all of the stuff was cut for me in advance, but because it went together so easily.  Isn't this a wonderful masculine card.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

A Stamp-a-Stack Birthday!

Today’s card comes from Terri’s Stamp-a-Stack I went to last week with my sister.  We always have a great time at those.  She is now hooked on them and can’t seem to get enough of them.  She actually arranged her schedule so she can attend them!!!  She’s not only funny but dedicated!!! LOL

The set used here today is “Fox & Friends”.   I don’t have this set and that is another reason why Stamp-a-Stacks are great.  You get to play with stamp sets you don’t own!  I didn’t order it this time around either.  I don’t have any little kids around and I didn’t see myself using it very much.  But it was fun to play with it Thursday night.

I have a few more cards to show you from the Stamp-a-Stack.  I have some of my own that I want to make and show to you first though!!  But I promise I will share the ones from Thursday night with you.

Well, I'm off to spend a few minutes on a project I've been working on a bit at a time.  And of course I will share it with you!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today!
Happy Stamping,
Wanda

Bye Bye Baroque Motifs

I have had a lot of fun with the Baroque Motifs stamp set.  From wedding cards to just fun beautiful and elegant cards.  I'm not sure if I'm going to part with the set right away though.  But time will tell, won't it?

For this card I used Pacific Point for the base and on the circle behind the computer generated words.

On top of the base card stock is a piece of brushed gold card stock.  I also used the brushed gold on the round scallop.

I used the Dotted embossing folder and white card stock for the next layer.

On top of that layer is the Cherry Cobbler and the gold embossed Baroque Motif image.

The butterfly was set in place with Dimensionals and 3 pearls were added.  This was a very fun and easy card to put together.  This would also be a pretty wedding, anniversary, sympathy and get well card too.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

The Best of Everything

The Best of Everything set is one I have hardly used too.  I saw a card much like this at Terri's Stamp-a-Stack and of course I took a photo of it.  I do that for future reference.  I have thousands of photos on my computer of card samples and I often wonder how far into the future I was thinking when I took all of these photos!!! LOL

So since Thursday was only 3 days ago and I'm making the card, I think I'm doing well.  The set hasn't retired yet so I'm doing well there too!  Many of those stamp photo images are of cards that the sets have retired.  Some I still like to look at for reference for a different set but I never get around to making the cards.  Today I thought I would make this one and delete the photo from my phone!  

I didn't have the same decorative papers but I did find some that were close in color and colors I liked and wanted to work with!  Here I used Old Olive and Calypso Coral.  I added a piece of chocolate ribbon on top of the seams to hide them.  

The base of the card is Chocolate Chip with a layer of white card stock on top of that. Then the decorative papers were added.

I stamped the image on white card stock.  I used markers and colored in the image.  The "Direct to Rubber" technique.  And I did the same with the bird.  I huffed on the images and stamped them.  I punched out a flower for the tree.  I set the flower on a foam mat and took the end of an ink pen and rolled the pen around the center of the flower until the flower started to spin a little.  Once it does the spin thing I know it's curled up on the sides.  I set it in place and added a tiny pearl in the middle.  I stamped the words on (but don't look too close, they are crooked!) and that was it.  This was very fun to make and extremely easy!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Cheery Birthday Wishes

I was hoping to get this posted before the storm rolled through but alas, I'm typing with lightening all around me!!!  So then I got smart and went on the laptop on battery power!  

My sister and I was at Terri's FABULOUS Stamp-a-Stack on Thursday night and this was something like one of the cards she had on display.  I didn't have the same decorative newsprint paper for the bottom but I did have some printed out from the Night & Day download so I used that instead.  You can use whatever paper you have, anything printed like a newspaper will work there.

The words are from the "Happiest Birthday Wishes" set.  I didn't think I had those words and when I was looking through my stamps I found it so of course I had to use it!  

The flower was done by using a couple of punches and adding a rhinestone brad in the middle.  

The black strip in the back is a piece of ribbon.  

The top is a white piece of card stock that was dry embossed with the dotted folder.  

There isn't a lot to making this card and it did go together rather quickly.  The original card is an easel card.  There were two small flowers at the bottom that held the card up when it was opened.  I opted to make this into a regular normal fold card.  The original card was made by one of Terri's downline. I don't know who the talented gal is but if you do, please let me know so I can give her credit!

This was a very fun and cheery card to make!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Smarties Graduation Cap Party Favor Weekend Project

I cut a strip of black card stock 3/8” wide by 3-1/4” long.  I wrapped it around the Smarties package and poked a hole in the top one that went through the other end of the strip behind it but not all the way through.  I didn’t want it to poke a hole in the candy wrapper.  Then I punched out a 1-1/4” square and poked a hole in the center of it.  I took a brad and poked it through the square and then the two strip ends.  I folded over the brad ends and then slipped the band over the candy.   And the final touch is to tie a piece of Baker’s Twine around the brad to make it look like a tassel.  And that’s it.  These are SO simple to make and fun for that graduation party.  And it’s not chocolate so you can set them outside and not have to worry about them melting.

This was not a bit project I had brewing but it was sitting on paper for a few weeks now waiting for me to find the time to put it all together.  Lucky you, today was that day!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda