Friday, November 29, 2013

Embossed Frame with Flower card



I hope you had a great Thanksgiving yesterday and haven't been too obsessed with the Black Friday sales! Remember to take time to be thankful for all that you have everyday.



Materials needed:

Flower Shop stamp set (#130942)
Crushed Curry card stock 2 3/4 x 4"
Elegant Eggplant card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Whisper White card stock
Designer Frames embossing folder (#123130)
Pretty Print embossing folder (#132175)
Daffodil Delight 1/4" Grosgrain Stitched Ribbon (#126872)
More Mustard ink
Raspberry Ripple ink
Sponge dauber (#102892)
Brights Collection Buttons (#119747)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Glue Dots (#103683)
embroidery floss or thread

1. Stamp one of the flowers from Flower Shop stamp set on white card stock with More Mustard ink.
2. Place the oval frame from the Designer Frames embossing folders so that the flower fits inside the frame. Build your sandwich for this and run it through the Big Shot machine. Cut it out around the frame edge.
3. Use a sponge dauber and Raspberry Ripple ink and ink the raised part of the frame. Place Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of the frame.
4. Place the Crushed Curry card stock in the Pretty Print embossing folder and run it through the Big Shot machine.
5. Peel the backing off the dimensionals on the frame and adhere it to the center of the Crushed Curry embossed card stock. Adhere the Crushed Curry card stock to the top left corner of the Elegant Eggplant card stock, leaving a small border on the top and left side.
6. Cut 2 pieces of ribbon. One should be about 6" and the other should be about 5 1/2" long. Adhere those to the Elegant Eggplant card stock allowing the ribbon to cross as shown in the picture.
7. Thread floss through the button holes and tie. Add glue dots to the back of the button. Press the button at the corner where the ribbons cross.
Add the card front to a card back and you are ready for the inside. Add a greeting or a note.

Why do I always add my card front to a card back instead of just using a solid 8 1/2" piece of card stock and folding? Actually, I've got a couple of reasons. My first reason is that I want to be able to add embellishments, like brads, to the card without having the ends or the backs to show through to the inside of the card. My second reason is because I like to use a variety of colors of card stock and I prefer to be able to send my greeting or note on easier to read white card stock. For example, if I had used a sheet of card stock that was 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" with the Elegant Eggplant, I would have to add a lighter color to the inside for my message to be seen. Many of the cards that I send are to senior citizens and I want them to be able to read the message easily. On a dark card stock that would be difficult. My third reason is that that's just how I like to do it. I learned to do it that way years ago and I've just gotten used to doing it that way. What ever you do with your cards, the important part is that you make it be you. Have fun and express yourself to your friends! That's what I do.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Cross Word Birthday

Materials needed:
Cross My Heart stamp set (#126582)
This & That Epic Day patterned paper (#130814) 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Soho Subway patterned paper (#130140) 2 x 4 1/4"
Raspberry Ripple card stock 2 x 3"
Whisper white card stock
Hung Up Cute Clips (#129389)
Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon (#126846)
Raspberry Ripple ink
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Cut your patterned paper to the sizes shown above. Adhere the Soho Subway paper to the top of the Epic Day paper.
2. Cut a piece of ribbon about 6-6 1/2" long. Tie a knot in the middle. Run the ribbon through the Cute Clip. Adhere the ribbon over the paper where the seam comes together. Wrap the ends to the back.
3. Use Raspberry Ripple ink to stamp your cross word greeting on white card stock. Cut out around the edges of it. Place Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of this. Adhere it to the Raspberry Ripple card stock.
4. Adhere the Raspberry Ripple card stock to the Epic Day patterned paper below the ribbon.
5. Stamp a cup cake on right side of the Soho Subway paper with Raspberry Ripple ink.
6. Adhere the card front onto a card base and add your greeting to the inside.

Got Mistletoe?

Here's your last Christmas card before Thanksgiving. Enjoy your family and friends tomorrow and don't forget to give thanks for all you have been blessed with.

Materials needed:
Snow Festival patterned paper (#126908) choose 2 sheets
Real Red card stock 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
Very Merry Tags stamp set (#130402)
Whisper White card stock
Old Olive marker
Cajun Craze marker
Extra Large Oval punch (#119859)
In Color Brads (#122940)
Old Olive 3/8" Striped Organdy Ribbon (#129291)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. I chose the gumball green with white stars for my background paper. Cut it 4 1/4 x 5 1/2". I chose the patterned paper with Christmas houses, etc in lines for the other piece. Choose the lines that you want to use on this and cut at the natural divides to measure about 3 x 4 1/4." Adhere the smaller paper on the green with stars about 1/2" from the bottom of the paper.
2. Center the Real Red card stock over both pieces of patterned paper.  Adhere.
3. Use the Old Olive marker to color the mistletoe on the stamp. Color the ribbon, words, and border with the Cajun Craze marker. Huff on it and then stamp on white card stock. Punch out the image with the Extra Large Oval punch.
4.
4.Tie the ribbon in a loop.
5. Punch a hole through the center top of the Real Red card stock and the patterned paper. Loosely place aa brad there.
6. Wrap the tied part of the ribbon on the brad. Tighten the brad in place. Place Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of the "mistletoe" tag. Cut the ribbon loop in half. Add adhesive to the top of the back of the tag. Look to see how far down you need the ribbon to fit on the tag. Press the ribbon on to the adhesive. Add one more Stampin' Dimensional on top of the ribbon.

7. Peel the backing off the Stampin' Dimensionals and place the tag so that it looks like it is hanging on the brad.

8. Adhere the card front to a card base and add your greeting to the inside. Sign it and wish your family and friends a very merry Christmas.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Snowman Gift Card

Christmas is one month away today. It's coming soon. Here's a card that you can slip an extra something special in to. You can put a gift card or a cookie in the pouch, depending on who you're giving it too.

Materials needed:
Jolliest Time of the Year stamp set (#116584, retired)
Tag a Bag Gift Bag (#131370)
Real Red card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Black Staz On ink
Early Espresso marker
Crumb Cake marker
Cherry Cobbler marke
Gumball Green 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon (#126848) 10-12"

1. Score the gift bag at 3 7/8" and fold. Adhere the bottom of the bag to the Real Red card stock.

2. Using the Black Staz On ink, stamp 3 snowmen on the front of the gift bag. Use the markers to color bits of the snowman, as shown. (You can stamp the bag before or after you adhere it to the card stock.)
3. Wrap the ribbon around the gift bag and tie.

You can place a longer item in the bag, if you wish, because the bottom section is not glued together.

4. If you want to place a small item or a gift card in the bag, adhere the top and bottom together so it won't flap open.
5. Place this card front on to a card base. Add your greeting and note inside the card.
That was easy enough! At least, I think so.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Thanks for You card

I just love the First Edition patterned paper as a background. I'm not sure why because I love really bright colors and this is not. I think it must just be my love for the printed word. In the future, we will not have print on paper like we do now. It will all be electronic. Don't get me wrong. I love my Kindle also but the printed word has a special feel that you can't get with a tablet!
Materials needed:
Serene Silhouettes stamp set (#1273324)
Chalk Talk stamp set (#130634)
Coastal Cabana card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" plus
Whisper White card stock
First Edition patterned paper (#121878)
Coastal Cabana ink
Crushed Curry ink
1/4" Daffodil Delight Grosgrain Stitched ribbon (#126872) about 10"
3/16" Corner punch (#119871)
Extra large Oval punch (#119859)
 Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Glue Dots (#103683)

1. Using the Corner punch, round the corners of the patterned paper. Adhere it to the Coastal Cabana card stock leaving a small border all the way around.
2. Stamp the image from Serene Silhouettes in Crushed Curry ink. Cut it out. Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back and place it on some Coastal Cabana card stock. Cut out around the image leaving a Coastal Cabana border. Adhere this to the left side of the patterned paper.
3. Stamp the greeting from Chalk Talk stamp set on white card stock. Use the Extra Large Oval punch to punch out the greeting. Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back and place it to the top  right side of the patterned paper.
4. Cut about 10" of ribbon and tie a bow. Use glue dots to adhere it to the bottom right side of the patterned paper.
5. Adhere the card front to a card base. Add a greeting or note and you are done! Find someone to be grateful to today. I'm sure there are many in your life that deserve a thank you.

If you haven't turned in your shoe boxes to your local collection center for Operation Christmas Child, you still have a few days left. The last collection day isn't until Monday, Nov. 25. If you live near a Chick-fil-a, check them out to see if they are collecting shoe boxes for OCC. Our local ones are collecting tomorrow, Nov. 23 until 3 pm. With every shoe boxes you bring, they will give you a coupon for a free Chick-fil-a sandwich.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Antiqued Thanks

This card was very easy to make. I was surprised at the antique look that it came out with but I like it.

Materials needed:
Crushed Curry card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Whisper White card stock
Holiday Frame Embossing Folder (#127820)
Truly Grateful stamp set (#131733)
Large Oval punch (#119855)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Night of Navy ink
Brayer (#102395)

1. Ink up your brayer with the Night of Navy ink and apply to the inside of the embossing folder. For step by step directions for this technique, click here. Run it through your Big Shot machine.
2. Stamp your greeting from Truly Grateful stamp set on white card stock. Punch out with the large oval punch.
3. Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the greeting. Place in the center of the embossed image.
4. Add the card front to a card base and you are finished.
See! I told you this was an easy one!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Fall Birthday



 Materials needed:
Cottage Window stamp set (#127282)
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (#115370)
Beyond the Garden patterned paper (#122342, retired) 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Coastal Cabana card stock 2 3/4 x 3 1/2"
Whisper White card stock
Close to Cocoa marker
Summer Starfruit marker
More Mustard marker
Pumpkin Pie ink
Baked Brown Sugar In Color ink
Brights Candy Dots (#130931)
Tangerine Tango Sycamore Street 1/4" Ribbon (130812, retired)
Word Window punch (#119857)
3/16" Corner punch (#119871)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1.  Stamp the window from Cottage Window set in Bake Brown Sugar ink on white card stock. Line up the pumpkin with the window sill and stamp in Pumpkin Pie ink. Cut out the window, including the inside.
2. Using markers, color your branch in the Cottage Window set. Stamp it on white card stock. Cut it out.
3. Determine where you are going to put the window on the Coastal Cabana card stock. Place the branch in the window and put a small mark where it will go. Remove the window and adhere the branch over the mark.
4. Place Stampin' Dimensionals behind the window and pumpkin. Adhere it to the Coastal Cabana card stock with it slightly overlapping the right edge of the branch. Adhere this piece to the left top of the patterned paper.
5. Cut 2 pieces of ribbon, one about 6" and the other about 5 1/2." Place adhesive on the back of the ribbons. Place one horizontally  across the bottom of the card. Place the other ribbon vertically on the right side of the card. Allow them to cross.
6. Stamp your greeting in Tangerine Tango ink on white card stock. Punch it out with the Word Window punch. (I just love my Word Window punch with the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamps!) Adhere it on top of the ribbon where they cross.
7. Add Coastal Cabana Candy Dots to the Word Window to give it the look of brads.
8. Adhere the card front to a card base and add your favorite greeting, saying or note to the inside.

Triple Dahlias

Today starts National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. If you want to learn more about it way to help children go to www.samaritanspurse.org.
Here is a fun card that could be used for many different occasions. How you use it will depend on what you put on the inside. A birthday or get well greeting or your own personal note would work just fine! Have fun stamping!
Materials needed:
Regarding Dahlias stamp set (#130327)
Crushed Curry card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Summer Smooches patterned paper (#125409) 4 x 5 1/4"
Whisper White card stock
More Mustard ink
Pumpkin Pie ink
Really Rust ink
1/2" Grosgrain Striped Ribbon Pumpkin Pie (#110715)
1 3/8" Circle punch (#119860)
3/16" Corner punch (#119871)
Stampin" Dimensionals (#104430)
scissors

1. Stamp the dahlia stamp on white card stock 3 times, once in Pumpkin Pie ink, once in More Mustard ink, and once in Really Rust ink. Cut out each flower image with your scissors.
2. Stamp the "hello, you" greeting in Pumpkin Pie ink on white card stock. Punch out with the 1 3/8" circle punch.
3. Cut a 7" piece of the Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon. Tie a knot in the center. Put adhesive on the back and press 1/2" from the bottom of the patterned paper. Wrap the ends around to the back.
4. Use the corner punch to round the corners of the patterned paper. Adhere the patterned paper to the Crushed Curry card stock centering it so that you have a 1/8" border all the way around.
5. Adhere the Really Rust dahlia image to the patterned paper on the right side. Place 4-5 Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of each of the other 2 dahlia images. Peel the paper off the dimensionals and press onto the Pumpkin Pie image on top of the Really Rust image. You might want to off set the images about 1/8". Repeat with the More Mustard image on top of the Pumpkin Pie image. This will give you the darkest color on the bottom and the lightest color on the top. The idea is to give it a more dimensional look.
6. Adhere the circle greeting to the top left side of the patterned paper.
7. Adhere the card front to a card base and complete by adding your greeting or note to the inside.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Top Flip Gate Fold Birthday

Well, so far so good this week with getting my cards on here. Hopefully, I'll be able to continue getting a card on Mon, Wed, Fri like I've been doing. Things are really getting busy for me now with Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week being next week. We've been getting our collection center ready for receiving all the shoe boxes and for doing our church packing parties. Last year, we collected over 11,000 shoe boxes from 5 Central Texas counties at our Mid-Texas OCC center, here in Temple. Those, along with over 6 million boxes collected in the US last year, went to poor children in over 130 different countries. We hope to increase our number of boxes this year so that even more children can learn about our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Ok, for today, we are turning our gate fold card on end... well, just flipping the card around by a quarter so that it opens top to bottom instead of side to side.

Materials needed:
Crisp Cantaloupe card stock 5 1/2 x 8 1/2"
Patterned paper from Patterns Pack II (#114325, retired) 2 pieces 2 x 5 1/4"
Polka Dot Parade pattern paper (#126902) a 1" strip about 8" long will do
Whisper White card stock
Best of Birthdays stamp set (#132929)
Extra Large Oval punch (#119859)
1/2" Circle Punch (#119869)
1" Circle Punch (#119868)
1 1/4" Circle Punch (#119861)
Modern Label punch (#119849)
Old Olive ink
Tangerine Tango marker
Old Olive marker

1. To gate fold your card, lightly score the card stock at 4 1/4". Fold each side in to touch the scored center. You can score the card stock at 2 1/8" from each side and fold there. Every time I do that, I end up with a gap where they meet in the center. It shouldn't but it always does with me, so I fold to the center.
2. Adhere the striped patterned paper on the sides of the gate fold.
3. Use your extra large oval punch to punch a 1/2 of an oval on each side. To do this, turn your punch over so you can see the placement of the card stock.
After you punch the first side, make light pencil marks on the edge of the other side to line up the punch and have the halves look like they were punched at the same time. Punch through the card stock and the patterned paper on both sides.
4. Stamp the oval birthday greeting in Old Olive ink in the center of the oval punch. If you wish, you could mark the oval with a pencil and then punch with the card open. Be sure to erase all your pencil marks.
5. Stamp "celebrate" in Old Olive ink on white card stock. Punch it out with the Modern Label punch. Adhere it to the center of the bottom side of the fold.
6. Punch out circles from the Old Olive Polka Dot Parade paper. I punched 1 circle 1 1/4," 3circles 1" and 3 circles 1/2". Since the paper is doubled sided, it is easy to use both sides of the paper to give you "different" balloons. Adhere the circles on the front of the card as shown. Lay 2 of the 1" circles aside.
7. Use the brush end of the marker to draw balloon strings from each balloon. Use the fine tip to draw ties near the balloons. Use an Old Olive marker to draw crescents on the right side of each circle balloon.
8. Open the card up. Cut 2 stripes of the striped patterned paper to measure 1/8 x 4." Adhere them to either side of the birthday oval placing them fold to fold. Adhere the two 1" circles from step 6 to the tops of these strips of paper, as shown in the picture. Use an Old Olive marker to draw crescents and strings on the circles like we did on the front.
You card is now ready to place in an envelope and mail or give to your best birthday buddy!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Flip Label Birthday Card








Materials needed:
Simply Sketched hostess stamp set (129672)
Best of Birthdays stamp set (#132929)
Label Card Thinlits Die (#133479)
International Bazaar patterned paper (#126920)
Crushed Curry card stock 5 1/2 x 6"
Whisper White card stock
1 3/8" Circle punch 119860)
Extra Large Oval punch (#119859)
Old Olive ink
Coastal Cabana In Color ink
Daffodil Delight marker
Baked Brown Sugar marker
Pumpkin Pie marker

1. Build a sandwich with the Crushed Curry card stock  and the Label Card Thinlits Die. Run it through the Big Shot machine. Fold on the score lines.
2. Use the "label" die that comes with the Label Card set to cut out 2 pieces of International Bazaar patterned paper. This paper is double sided so it will be great to decorate both sides of the label.
3. Stamp your greetings from Best of Birthdays stamp set with Coastal Cabana ink on white card stock.
4. Punch out the "happy birthday" greeting with the Extra large oval punch. Punch out the "icing on the cake" greeting with the 1 3/8" circle punch.
5. Adhere the labels from the patterned paper on the flip part of the card. Use one side of the paper on the front and the other side on the back. Adhere the "happy birthday" greeting on the center of the front flip part. Adhere the "icing" greeting on the back or inside flip part.
6. Stamp the leaf images from the Simply Sketched set on the right and left sides of the card, as shown in the picture.
In the pictures here, you can see how the card looks standing, laying closed and laying open. Have fun.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Country Thanksgiving

 Materials needed:
A blueish-gray Patterned paper about 6 x 6"
Baked Brown Sugar card stock 6 x 6"
Whisper White card stock
Countryside stamp set (#120495)
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (#115370)
Regals Candy Dots (#130932)
Word Window punch (#119857)
Modern Label punch (#119849)
Baked Brown Sugar In Color ink
Thinlits Label Card (#133479)
Big Shot Machine
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Cut both the card stock and the patterned paper with the thinlits label card die and your Big Shot machine. Fold on the scored lines. By folding the lines one way you can get the cut label at the top. The opposite fold direction will give you the label at the bottom. Play with it a bit to see which way you like it.
2. Stamp the images from the Countryside stamp set on white card stock with Baked Brown Sugar ink. If you have the retired color Really Rust, this looks really good in that color too. Cut out the pump and rooster images with scissors.
3. Place the label die from the set over the wheel barrow image, build your sandwich and run through the Big Shot machine. Lay all the images to the side.
4. Cut the patterned paper that you ran through the Big Shot to measure 2 x 5 1/4' and 2 3/4 x 5 1/4". Watch the direction of the label cut in order to get the paper cut to fit. You should have about an 1/8" border around 3 sides of the paper. Adhere the patterned paper to the card stock, carefully fitting the label cut over the label cut of the card stock. (If you have trouble with this, you can cut the paper to size with your paper trimmer instead of running it through the Big Shot. They draw the label design on the back of the paper and cut it out before you adhere it. It is more difficult, IMO, to get a proper fit this way but it will work.)
5. Stamp your "happy thanksgiving" greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes on white card stock. Punch it out with the Word Window punch.
6. Punch out the Modern Label from the patterned paper. Adhere the greeting on to the Modern Label. Adhere this to the center of the flip part as shown in the picture.
7. Place Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the rooster. Be sure to place them just on the bottom and the tail feathers so that the head does not stick to the swinging flip label.
8. Adhere the pump image to the top right section of the card. Adhere the wheelbarrow to the back side of the flip part.
9. Place 3 yellow Candy Dots on the bottom right side of the card and 2 on the top left side.

When I make this type of card, I often sign on the center folded section of the card so that it doesn't show until they open the card.





Friday, November 8, 2013

Simple Lady

This is a pretty simple card that I made to send to a TOPS friend of mine. It didn't really take long to put it together as I didn't do anything fancy. I used a stamp that I've had for years. I probably bought it at a local store. It's not SU! I think that it turned out nice.
Materials needed:

Stamp with cute saying
Smoky Slate card stock 3 3/4 x4"
Cherry Cobbler card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Whisper White card stock 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
Soho Subway patterned paper (#130140) 4 x 5 1/4"
3/16" Corner punch (#119871)
Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch (#119275)
Midnight Muse In Color ink

1. Adhere the patterned paper to the Cherry Cobbler card stock, centering it so you have a border all the way around.
2. Use the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch to punch the design on one long end. When you punch this, line up the card stock just a little beyond the punching edge and do not punch all the way to the end. This is easy to do, you just have to watch it, otherwise, the scallop border will come completely off of the paper.
3. Stamp your image on white card stock with Midnight Muse ink. Use the Corner punch to round the corners. Adhere it to the Smoky Slate card stock to the left of the border.
4. Adhere this to the top of the patterrned paper, lining the top and bottom with the patterned paper.
5. Adhere the card front to a card base.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving

I did this card on Summer Starfruit card stock from SU! This is my least favorite color that SU! has come out with but I think that it turned out good with the other colors on it. I'm using this as a Thanksgiving card but it could be used for many other occasions just by changing the greeting. I love the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set because it has greetings for almost everything you will need.

Materials needed:
Summer Starfruit card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Whisper White card stock
Old Olive card stock
Polka Dot Parade patterned paper (#126902) 1 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (#115370)
Truly Grateful stamp set (#131733)
Perfectly Preserved stamp set (#126692)
Framelits Cannery set (#127822)
More Mustard ink
Really Rust ink
Pacific Point ink
Word Window punch (#119857)
Modern Label punch (#119849)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1.  Adhere the strip of Old Olive Polka Dot patterned paper to the right side of the Summer Starfruit card stock.
2. Use Really Rust ink to stamp the wood grain on white card stock. Cut out around the image edges. Adhere 1/2" from the left side and about 3/4" from the bottom of the Summer Starfruit card stock, overlapping the patterned paper.
3. Stamp the wheat stalk image in More Mustard ink on white card stock. I wanted the wheat stalk to be a little longer so I turned the stamp upside down and stamped some more of the stalk part on the bottom of the image. Cut out.
4. Lay the cut out stamped wheat stalk image on a piece of white card stock. Using Pacific Point ink, stamp the jar image on the white card stock so that the jar mouth stamps on the wheat. If the jar image doesn't go all the way to the edge of the wheat, you might want to use a Pacific Point marker to draw the lines out a bit.
5. Cut out the jar image using the framelits die and your Big Shot machine. Adhere the wheat image over the jar, carefully lining up the lines of the jar mouth. Place Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of this and adhere it on the wood grain as shown in the card.
6. Stamp your greeting on white card stock. Punch it out with the Word Window punch. Punch out the Modern Label punch from Old Olive card stock. Adhere the punched greeting on top of the modern label. Add Stamin' Dimensionals to the back and place it on the bottom right of the card.
7. Adhere the card front to a card base. Now wish all your friends a very happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Celebrate You

Here's a card to celebrate any of life's events. This card can be used for birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, graduations, and on and on. Just celebrate who you are and who God made you to be.

Please be aware that for the rest of November, I am going to be extremely busy! I will do my very best to get cards & ideas on here 3 days a week, like I've done for a long time now. Please, though, if I don't get them posted as often as normal, be patient with me. Come back and check when you can. By the time Thanksgiving is over, I should be back to a normal posting schedule. Until then, all I can say is that I'll try my best. Our Operation Christmas Child area coordinator passed away back in Sept of this year and I have taken over her duties with our local OCC. Whether or not, I'll do it after this year, is in God's hands. He will have to let me know what He wants of me. National Collection Week is Nov. 18-25 this year and I have much to do now and until then.  I love cardmaking and will get as much done and posted as I can.

Materials needed:
Rich Razzleberry card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Daffodil Delight card stock 3 7/8 x 4 1/2"
Kraft card stock about 2 1/2 x 1"
Best of Birthdays stamp set (#132929)
Serene Silhouettes stamp set (#127324)
scrap brown patterned paper at least 1 x 4"
Brights Candy Dots (#130931)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Rich Razzleberry ink
3/16" Corner punch (#119871)
Modern Label punch (#119849)

1. Round the corners of the Daffodil Delight card stock. Center on the Rich Razzleberry card stock and adhere.
2. Stamp the tree and birds stamp in Rich Razzleberry ink on the left side of the Daffodil Delight card stock.
3. Cut the brown patterned paper into 2 strips that measure 1/2" by 4" each. Adhere both of these to the right side of the Daffodil Delight card stock about 1/8" from the right edge and about 1/8" apart.
4. Stamp "celebrate" on the Kraft card stock and punch out with the Modern Label punch. Place Stampin' Dimensionals on the back and adhere it over the patterned paper strips.
5. Add 3 Rich Razzleberry Candy Dots to the left bottom side of the Daffodil Delight card stock. Place the card front on a card base and you are ready to send it with your special message.

I love, love, love the Candy Dots in all the colors. They are great to add to a brad base that SU! has available but they are also great to just put on your card without the brad. They give you the brad look without punching more holes in your paper!


Friday, November 1, 2013

Amour

This is not my usual style but like everyone, I like to do things different some times. It's also not the fall colors that I had said I'd do for my next card but it's not springy either. I hope you like this one.
I have a stamp that I've been wanting to use so I designed this card around the stamp.

Materials needed:
Soho Subway patterned paper (#130140) 4 x 5"
Rich Razzleberry card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Crushed Curry card stock 3 3/4 x 4"
Whisper White card stock
Artistic Etchings stamp set (#120573)
Dictionary background stamp (#130351) (This is the one I've been wanting to use!)
Rich Razzleberry ink
Baked Brown Sugar In Color ink
Sponge Dauber (#102892)
Glue Dots (#103683)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Brown button
Twine

1. Adhere the patterned paper to the center of the card stock. You will have a nice colored border around the paper.
2. Stamp the Dictionary stamp in Rich Razzlebery ink on the Crushed Curry card stock. When using large background stamps, I find it easier to take the paper to the ink and press down. Just my preference.
3. Adhere the dictionary stamped image on top of the patterned paper all the way to the right and in the center.
4. Stamp the tower and greeting with Baked Brown Sugar ink. Cut out the tower with your scissors. Use a sponge dauber to add brown in to the edges. Punch out the greeting with the small oval punch. Add brown ink to the edges of that also. Put a couple of Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of these images. Adhere the tower to the left side of the Crushed Curry dictionary image and the greeting to the right side of the Crushed Curry.
5. Use a brown button. I used one that I've had for ages. Thread some tan/kraft color thread through the holes and tie. Place one or two glue dots on the back and adhere to the bottom right of the Crushed Curry piece.
6. Place the whole card front onto a card base.
Send this to your favorite literary friend! Or even someone who's not so literary.