HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!

Hope you all have had a great 4th of July!

 Isn't this the cutest card?  A Stampin' Up friend of mine showed me how to make it and I just had to share it with you today.  Although she used orange card stock so it looked like a dreamsicle, I chose a printed designer card stock.  To make it, cut a 4 X 6 piece of card stock then fold in half to 4 X 3.  Don't forget to round the corners and punch out the upper right corner with a scallop punch.  Glue about 1/3 of the popsicle down on the inside and if you want to hide the popsicle stick put an extra layer on the inside or use your craft knife to cut a slit for it to go through to the back side then glue it down.  Be sure to stamp or write your message before you add the layer.  Add a small piece of ribbon to the stick at the bottom of the card stock. Tip: Use a small regular letter envelope (see behind card) and measure where to put the popsicle stick so that it will fit in the envelope.  Next, punch a star shape in white card stock then punch it out with a circle punch that is just a bit bigger.  Now layer that onto a red scallop circle and pop it up with some foam tape and you're done.  Hope you will try this one, it's really easy and lots of fun!

Have a great week!

Stir Your Stash

I know we all have a lot of scrap designer paper that needs to be used up because we just can't bare the thought of throwing it away (no way - not me!) even if it isn't current.   I have posted a card sketch for you.  Using the sketch as a template, I want you to "stir your stash" and use up a bit of the old papers and embellishments you can't bring yourself to get rid of that are no longer current.  My sample is below.

SIPP Sketch #007

My Sample

Have a great week!

Flowers By The Garden Gate

My Sister-in-Law was here today to drop off some flower pots that I sent home with her last week.  The now empty pots were full of flowers that I share-croppped and sent home to her boyfriend who loves gardening as much as I do.  It was a long drive and they will need some TLC if they are going to make it but, there is hope.  This prompted me to post this lovely card I made a while back.

I made a basic 1/4 sheet card front with layers as you can see.  With the use of punches I added a cute little garden gate complete with a "Welcome" sign that every gardener just can't do with out.  I even used the punches to create the hinges.  The only thing it's missing besides a few more flowers is a little piece of ribbon on the wire hanger.  I had so much fun making this card I just had to share it with you.

Have a great day!

Tutorial

I have had a very busy crafting weekend so I could bring you this tutorial today.  I made today's card with some really great products I found over the last few months. I used a Martha Stewart punch that I bought at Michaels, some Sugas Flowers & pearl embellishments by Prima, as well as a nice stamp from Stampabillities picked up at Hobby Lobby  and some pretty designer paper from Memories on 5th before they closed.  So let's get started.

First cut your white cardstock base to 4" by 10-1/2" then fold in half.  By adding the black cardstock backing you have a  regular 1/4 sheet card.
 

Next, add a strip of designer paper 5-1/4" X  2"  and rose cardstock 1-1/4" X 5-1/4" to the right side of your card front as shown.






Attach the rose lace to a strip of black cardstock.  Glue the white lace to the backside of the black strip of cardstock.  Attach this completed piece up next to the
rose strip of cardstock so that
the white lace comes just
to the edge of your card.

Stamp the sentiement on a prepared tag, trim under sentiment and layer onto black cardstock with punched border.  Tie completed tag with pink ribbons.

Remove the green stem from the middle of the Prima  flowers and add the pearls in their place.  Glue the flowers to the upper left of your card as shown (I suggest a strong glue dot).

Attach the tag with a foam dot just below and to the right of the flowers. Make a matching envelope with a scrap of your left over designer paper and your done!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hummingbird

Have  you ever found something out of the ordinary that makes a great card?  That's what I have today.  See the little hummingbird on the scallop?  Can you believe that it's actually table confetti?  I found it at Michael's - one of my favorite places to shop.  And it was on sale to boot.  Score!  I added the little pink gems to the polka dotted designer paper - just had to - it seemed to call for it.  Didn't it turn out pretty?  Love the greens and purples together.

Have a great day!

Wishing You

              










I have a gate fold card for you today.  It's a little bigger on the bottom than on the top to accommodate the very large peony stamp from Stampendous that shares the focus of this pretty card with the beautiful ribbon I used.  I stamped and cut out the image then sponged it with my daubers.  I love the randomness of the colors and how they blend a bit.  I used the Labels 4 die from Spellbinders with the large oval stamp from Stampin' Up! and sentiment from another Stampendous clear stamp set.  I loved adding the ribbon and a few gems to dress this card out.  I just had to stamp the envelope too.


See you soon!

Stars & Stripes

I'm so excited today.  I just found out that I will be published in the July 2012 issue of Scrap n' Art magazine.  Since I needed to remove the picture from my previous post, and I didn't want you to go away empty handed so to speak, I've posted a new card today.  It's pretty simple and only takes about 10 minutes to make.  Some of the supplies are a little older but you can substitute anything you like and still come up with a cute card.

Supplies:
Stampin Up! Cardstock - Brilliant Blue (retired), Whisper White, Real Red
Stampin Up! Stamps - Summer Fun (retired)
Stampin Up! Ink - Brilliant Blue (retired)
Paper Studio - Red Stars Designer Paper
Lowe's - Drywall mesh (sticky on one side)
Hobby Lobby - 1/8" white grosgrain ribbon

Directions:  Stamp image on card base with Versa-Mark ink or the same color ink as your cardstock.  Attach a piece of drywall mesh tape across the middle (this stuff is great - love that it's sticky on one side already!).  Tear a strip of white cardstock and ink edgethen attach to cardstock base as shown.  Layer a torn and inked piece of designer paper on top of the white cardstock leaving a bit of the white cardstock showing.  Attach a ribbon around card front over designer paper and tie a bow or knot (or not).  Stamp image on white cardstock and layer 2 times with coordinating cardstock.  Attach this piece over the mesh tape with foam tape or dot.  That's it. Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Flag For You

 Happy June 1st!  It's the first day of summer vacation for my youngest.  I let him sleep in (only until about 9am).  Can you believe this year is almost half over already?  Wow!  Summer is definitely a time for celebrations.  So lets get started!
Today's post is in honor of Flag Day on June 14th.  but, you could make this card for the 4th of July too.  This card is so simple to make.  The denim designer paper is from Hobby Lobby (The Paper Studio) along with the jute twine.  The star punch, the white cardstock, the sentiment, the red designer paper and the border punch are from Stampin' Up!.  The small tag is from Staples (Avery).  I also used Stickles gold glitter glue.   Don't forget to pop up the little stars with foam tape (3M - Lowe's).  Hope you're having a great start to your summer!

Family Frame

I love making things not of the ordinary.  Once in a while I get that opportunity.  This little gem was one of those times.  With Memorial Day coming up I am reminded that our families may be far and wide or some gone from us but we love each other in ways that only each of our family members can understand.

My first born son is graduating from high school this week, a huge milestone for our family.  We are so proud of him.  But it's finally sinking in, that he's growing up and it won't be long before he's out on his own.  He and I are both having growing pains I guess as I remember the baby that he once was and he looks forward to the man he will become.  As he moves into the next stage of his life I have faith that his family ties will stay strong and he will always be a part of our lives even if he doesn't live close by (although he has assured me that he will).  We have been so blessed.  Love you baby boy.

May Card Club and Grad Invite

1st Version

2nd Version-May Card Club

See the shimmer?

Final Version-Graduation Invite

 I spotted a group pic of some cards over on Becky Roberts blog which you can see here.  First I made my card almost identical to the one I saw in her pic.  I was thinking of using it for my son's graduation invites - first pic.  Once I made it though I decided it would be good to do the girl thing to it - second pic (used this for May Stamp Club).   Even with all the gray and white, I think it turned out pretty. For the flower I used the Big Blossom punch from Stampin' Up. I learned to make it over at Splitcoast Stampers from their weekly newsletter - third pic. The scallop petals gave the card so much more character, don't you think?  There are about 5 layers of punched flowers crumpled, opened up and joined with a brad.  Then I crumpled them again and inked up the edges.  I moved the layers around a little as I inked them until I was satisfied with the way it looked.  I alternated the pattern paper to add interest to the flower as well. I used a Clear Stamp set for the sentiment and added some organdy ribbon (Hobby Lobby).  I also used Stampin' Up's Note die (as well as their card stock).  Of course, I had to add Stampin' Up's Champagne Mist over the whole thing.  Don't you just love the shimmery effect?  I reworked the card again and came up with the third card shown as the graduation invite for my son (minus the glitter).  All I did there was turn the card to a landscape view and add the grad cap and stars with pop dots, a strip of black ribbon and a couple of bling dots to dress it up a bit.  I'm pretty happy with the end result.  I may have to rework it again just for fun to see what I can come up with.