French country style for a color challenge

Since I had fun creating a card for the last Fab Friday challenge -- and my card was even chosen as one of the Fab Four! Woo hoo! -- I decided to take a stab at the next challenge, too. This round was a color challenge featuring Hello Honey, Marina Mist and Night of Navy.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Carte Postale
Paper: Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Hello Honey ink pads and markers
Accessories: Chalk Talk Framelits dies, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Hello Honey stitched satin ribbon, Shine & Sparkle sequin tubes (Hazel & Ruby), color spritzer, sponge, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

These colors would be a great combo for a Father's Day card, but they always make me think of French Provençal or French country design. (I even noticed these three hues on a chart of Provence colors.) So I pulled out an old French-themed stamp set, Carte Postale, and created a card with a feminine feel.

I started with a Marina Mist card base and stamped the branch image repeatedly across the card front using Marina Mist ink. I added a touch of darker blue to the background by spritzing the Night of Navy marker over the stamped images and sponging ink along the edges

To add a little texture I embossed a small piece of Night of Navy card stock with the Lacy Brocade embossing folder. I tore a bit of card stock off the top and the bottom of the strip and adhered it near the upper left corner of the card base.

For the focal point, I used Hello Honey and Marina Mist markers to apply ink to the floral image and stamped it on Very Vanilla card stock. I used one of the Chalk Talk Framelits dies to cut out the image and then sponged the edges of the shape with Night of Navy ink. I stamped the bird on a separate piece of Very Vanilla card stock, cut it out and adhered it to the focal panel with Dimensionals. I stamped "Bonjour" in Marina Mist, added a bit of Hello Honey ribbon and attached the focal panel to the card base with Dimensionals.

To finish off the card I stamped "Mon Amie" in the lower right corner using Night of Navy and added a few simple sequins.

Thanks for stopping by!

Masculine cards in neutral colors

I'm finally getting to the end of the birthday card stash I gave my uncle last month. In this post I'm going to share the last three cards, which are all masculine designs featuring neutral colors. Although I created these as birthday cards, the designs also would be great for other occasions -- such as thank you, retirement, or Father's Day -- by just changing the sentiment.

Note: I apologize for the poor, very shadowy pictures. If you have any questions about something that is hard to see in the photos (or anything else), please leave me a comment, and I will respond as soon as I can.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Vintage Labels
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Gray card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Clockworks embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Basics Glimmer Brads, 1" circle punch, copper cord (unknown), Walnut Brown and Silver 3D stamp paints (Viva Decor), distressing tool (Making Memories), spouncer stencil brush (Plaid)

Combining an embossed background and 3D stamp paint is an easy way to make an impressive background. For this card I embossed a piece of Basic Gray card stock with the Clockworks embossing folder and then used a spouncer brush to apply Walnut Brown and Silver 3D stamp paint all over the card stock. (The paint dries almost immediately, so there's very little waiting time.) By applying the paint in a circular motion, the colors blend together in some spots.

I embossed a second piece of card stock, cut out the largest gear and painted it. I used a metallic brad to attach the gear to the panel, so it actually turns. I distressed the edges of the card stock panel, wrapped copper cord around the bottom portion, tied on a Crumb Cake tag stamped with "Happy Birthday" and adhered the completed panel to a Crumb Cake card base.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Papa's Pocket, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Basic Gray, Early Espresso ink refill
Accessories: Linen thread, Naturals Designer Buttons, distressing tool (Making Memories), Aqua Painter

For this card I made my own background by repeatedly stamping images from the Papa's Pocket set using Basic Gray ink on a Crumb Cake card base. (Tip: When stamping a collage-style background, start with the largest images and work toward the smallest ones so it is easier to fill in empty spaces.) Then I used an Aqua Painter brush to pick up a little bit of Early Espresso ink and lightly tapped the brush to make the spatters. I stamped the sentiment on a strip of Very Vanilla card stock, tore the right end of the strip and accented the left side with a wooden-looking button tied with linen thread. To add to the vintage feel of the card, I used a distressing tool along the edges of the card front.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Wolf
Paper: Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Shimmery White card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Hello Honey, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Wood sheets, Birch Tree embossing folder (Darice), Cappuccino baker's twine (Hemptique), Aqua Painter, Dimensionals

For the focal image on this card, I stamped the wolf's head on Shimmery White card stock. Using an Aqua Painter brush, I applied a quick wash of Sahara Sand ink over the image and then added a bit of Hello Honey ink to the eyes to make them stand out. I tore the edges of the card stock around the image to add some texture.

For the background, I embossed a piece of Sahara Sand card stock with the Birch Trees embossing folder. I adhered a strip of the wood sheets across the top portion of the embossed card stock and tied a piece of baker's twine around it. (You can't tell in the photo, but the baker's twine is actually a subtle cream and white stripe.) I used Dimensionals to adhere the focal image over the knot in the twine and then attached the completed panel to a Basic Black card base.

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday cards with 'short on time' tips

Are you ready for more birthday cards? Here are three fun and festive designs that will help make the recipient's special day even better. And while all three cards are already pretty clean and simple, I've also included tips for modifying the designs so you can create each one in just a few minutes. Perfect for those times when you need a last-minute birthday card.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Perfect Party, Banner Blast
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Hello Honey
Accessories: Banner punch, wooden stars (from Hooray It's Your Day card kit), Mono Multi liquid glue, Glue Dots

My first step for this card was to stamp several little banners on Whisper White card stock and then punch them out. I played around with the arrangement on the front of the card and then adhered them when I was happy with the design. (I had enough punched pieces left over to also include a banner on the inside of the card.) Then I simply stamped the sentiment and glued on a few wooden stars.

Short on time? Skip stamping the banners and just punch the pieces from coordinating patterns of Designer Series Paper (DSP). Use self-stick embellishments (e.g., rhinestones or candy dots) instead of the stars so there's no drying time for glue.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Woo Hoo!
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White card stock; silver glimmer paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Blenabilities: Soft Sky, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Skin Tones assortments
Accessories: Decorative Dots embossing folder, foam dots (unknown)

I love this stamp with all the different birthday greetings and fonts. And it's easy to use -- just stamp and color. I hand cut around the scalloped edge and mounted it on a piece of Basic Black card stock that is about the same size but angled so you can still see the color at each corner. I embossed the card base, added a bit of silver glimmer paper (this piece was left over from using the Tasteful Trims die) for a little sparkle, and adhered the focal point to the card with foam dots.

Short on time? Skip the "fussy cutting" and cut or trim the focal image on the dashed-line border around the words. Color in just the slice of cake for a pop of color and use a straight strip of glimmer paper. Omit the embossed background or replace it with a simple layer of coordinating DSP.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes
Paper: Smoky Slate, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Smoky Slate, Memento Tuxedo Black; Blendabilities: Smoky Slate, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky assortments
Accessories: Honeycomb embossing folder, Scallop Edge border punch, Regals Candy Dots, 1/8" silver ribbon, Mono Multi liquid glue, foam dots (unknown)

The Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set has a number of different words and phrases that you can combine to make different sentiments. For the focal image on this card I stamped several of the individual words with Smoky Slate ink to make a background. I stamped the cake image over the words and created a quick shadow with a few marker strokes. Then I stamped the cake image again on a separate piece of Whisper White card stock, colored it, cut it out and glued it over the cake image on the focal panel. I layered the piece on Old Olive card stock, added a scalloped Daffodil Delight border (love how that mimics the decoration on the cake) and placed a Candy Dot in the upper right corner. To finish the card I wrapped a piece of silver ribbon around the embossed card base and adhered the focal panel with foam dots.

Short on time? Stamp the cake once on the focal panel, color it (if desired) and stamp one word below the cake. Omit the punched scalloped border or replace it with a mat of Daffodil Delight around the whole focal panel.

Did you like the "short on time" tips? Were they useful or too obvious? If you found them helpful, leave me a comment below, and I'll try to include them in future posts. Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday cards for kids

I'm back to birthday cards for the next few posts so I can finish sharing the cards I gave my uncle for his birthday last month. Today I have four card designs that are great for kids.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Calling All Heroes
Paper: Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Arrows embossing folder, extra-large oval punch, Real Red cotton ribbon, stapler (Making Memories), Dimensionals

This is a fun card for any superhero or comic book fan. I stamped the faces on Whisper White card stock, punched them out, and adhered them to an embossed Pacific Point card base. For embellishment I added three stars and a lightning bolt (stamped and cut out of Crushed Curry card stock) and stapled on a small piece of Real Red ribbon. If I were to make this card again I would switch the placement of the two faces on the bottom so there would be some Real Red on the right side of the card.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Sweetie Pie, Sweetie Pie Frames
Paper: 110-lb white (Recollections), Whisper White card stock
Ink: Smoky Slate, Memento Tuxedo Black; Blendabilities: Skin Tones, Soft Sky, Old Olive assortments
Accessories: 1/8" silver ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

I bought the Sweetie Pie stamp set when it came out because I thought it was really cute (and to be honest, partly because it seemed like everyone else was buying it or wanted it; I didn't want to miss out). But once I got it, I wasn't sure how to use it. So it sat, neglected. When I decided to use it for this birthday card, I remembered seeing a card by demonstrator named Lydia (she is amazingly talented and artistic). She had stamped all the faces to make a background and colored in just one as the focal point. So I decided to take a stab at it.

Originally I was going to stamp each face separately, so I was worried my spacing would be off. But then I realized that -- duh! -- I could put all the images together on my largest clear block and just stamp the background once. So to line up the stamps, I marked off a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" section on a piece of grid paper. I placed all the stamps in that section, image side down, adjusted them until I was happy with the arrangement and then just pressed my clear block down on the stamps. After I inked the stamps, I stamped them on my grid paper to double-check the placement. (I cut out that section of grid paper and saved it with the stamp set, so next time I can just place the stamps directly over the images to get the same placement.) Then I stamped them on my card base. For the focal image, I stamped just one of the faces on a separate piece of white card stock, stamped a frame around it, and colored the images. I hand-cut the image, adhered it to the card base with Dimensionals and added a silver bow. Inside the card is the sentiment "It's all about you. Happy birthday."

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Packed for Birthday
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; markers: Chocolate Chip, Baked Brown Sugar, So Saffron, Real Red, Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Large Polka Dot embossing folder, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, paper-piercing tool, Dimensionals

The Packed for Birthday stamp is a fun one because you can ink up and stamp (or cut out) just some of the images or use the whole stamp, as I did here. I chose bright, festive shades to color in the images and then matted the piece with Basic Black card stock. I pierced holes around the edges of the black card stock and adhered the panel to a Tempting Turquoise card base embossed with large polka dots.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Remembering Your Birthday
Paper: Crumb Cake card stock, Pawsitively Prints Designer Series Paper (DSP)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Bow Builder punch, Mono Multi liquid glue, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

This design is a great way to use up scraps and small pieces of DSP. For this card I cut three different DSP patterns into squares or rectangles then chose coordinating prints to make strips for "ribbons." I used the Bow Builder punch to make a bow for each present. Then I layered them on the card base and stamped a sentiment. Easy peasy!

Thanks for stopping by!

May 2015 Paper Pumpkin: Alternate card designs

I was pretty excited about the May 2015 Paper Pumpkin kit, Birthday Bundle. Who couldn't use a few extra gift bags and birthday cards to have on hand, right? I sat down yesterday to assemble my kit, and I put the bags together following the instructions. I liked them as-is, and it was easy to decorate them and then leave them folded flat to store with my other gift bags until I need them.

When it came to the cards, though, I wanted to play around a little. The suggested card design was fine: It coordinated with the bags, was suitable for any age or gender, and would be easy to create for a last-minute card. But it was a little plain for me. I thought about just adding a few simple embellishments, like ribbon, rhinestones, or sequins, but instead I decided to change up the layout and create some new designs.

Below are pictures of the individual cards as well as the supplies used for each. In general I used the three other coordinating ink colors (Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, and Crushed Curry) in addition to the Island Indigo included in the kit, I added embellishments, and I used a few different punches. The only extra paper I used was silver glimmer paper and vellum card stock.

Note: All of the following cards were made with the May 2015 Paper Pumpkin kit, Birthday Bundle. Additional supplies used are listed for each card. All materials are from Stampin' Up!

Additional supplies:
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Rhinestones

This layout is the most similar to the design in the kit instructions. I cut 1/2" off one end of the patterned strip of card stock and then trimmed each end into banner points. I stamped the three balloons on one of the white circles included in the kit (I had an extra because I didn't use the circle on one of my cards) and cut them out. I stamped the balloon strings on the card base and used Dimensionals to adhere the balloons and sentiment layer on the card. I added a few rhinestones for a little sparkle.

Additional supplies:
Accessories: Daffodil Delight pompom trim, Calypso Coral baker's twine, Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Best Year Ever buttons, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, paper-piercing tool, Glue Dots

This layout is also similar to the suggested design; it's simply turned on its side. This time I trimmed just one end of the patterned strip into banner points, and I placed the straight end right at the top of the card. To add some interest to the focal point, I pierced a border around the circle and added pompom trim around it. (Tip: It helps to use a double layer of Dimensionals to adhere the focal point to the card because of the thickness of the pompom trim.)  For extra embellishment, I added a Calypso Coral button tied with a bow of Calypso Coral baker's twine and a few Bermuda Bay sequins.

Additional supplies:
Stamps: All Shook Up (December 2014 Paper Pumpkin kit)
Ink: Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Calypso Coral baker's twine, Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Glue Dots

I love that this card looks like a fun present. To achieve this look, cut the patterned strip into three strips 1/2" wide. Adhere two of them to the card, one horizontally and one vertically, to look like ribbon on a gift box. You can use the third strip to create a bow, which I did, or adhere it inside the card for a fun pop of color. For stamping I used one of the extra tags from the kit instead of the white circle. (The circle was used on the first card above.) I did have to find a different birthday stamp to fit on the tag; this one happens to be from the December 2014 Paper Pumpkin Kit, All Shook Up. If you don't have another stamp handy, you could use the "To:/From:" image from this kit and fill it out like a gift tag. Then you could tuck a gift card inside the card, and there you go: card and present in one. To embellish this card I added Calypso Coral baker's twine and Bermuda Bay sequins.

Additional supplies:
Paper: Vellum card stock
Ink: Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Banner punch, white baker's twine, Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Glue Dots, Mono Multi liquid glue

For this card I punched twelve banner shapes out of the patterned strip from the kit. (I used six on the card front and six for a banner inside the card.) But the little banners were overpowered by the bold stripes of the card base, so to soften the stripes I used a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of vellum. (Tip: Adhere all the pieces onto the vellum first. Then apply the adhesive on the back of the vellum so it is hidden by the balloons and banners.) The balloons were stamped on the white card stock circle and then cut out. I adhered baker's twine to the back of each balloon and then placed a tiny drop of glue at the bottom of the vellum to keep the twine straight. I finished the layout with a few sequins (I love those things!).

Additional supplies:
Paper: Silver glimmer paper
Accessories: Island Indigo cotton ribbon, large star punch, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, paper-piercing tool, Glue Dots

For this card and the next one, I didn't stamp any birthday sentiments. These cards could be used for celebrating a variety of different occasions, such as graduation, a new job, or another milestone or accomplishment. For this card I wrapped Island Indigo ribbon around the card base and tied it in a knot. Then I cut the patterned strip of card stock in half and adhered the two pieces to the card base so they formed a block of color. I pierced holes along the edge of the white card stock circle and then punched a large star in the center. I adhered the circle to the patterned layer with Dimensionals and added a small silver star in the center. A cluster of three silver stars in the upper right corner finishes the card.

Additional supplies:
Paper: Silver glimmer paper
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Daffodil Delight pompom trim, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, Glue Dots

This card definitely has a cheerful, celebratory feel to it, doesn't it? I started by cutting the patterned strip in two strips each 3/4" wide. Then I trimmed 3/8" off the long edge of the card front -- I saved that strip and used it inside the card -- and adhered one of the patterned strips to the back of the card front. I cut the second strip in half and trimmed one end of each piece into banner points. I glued the pieces to the card front so they look like the tails on a blue-ribbon award. For the focal image I stamped the "celebrate" sentiment several times in different colors on the white circle and then adhered pom pom trim around it. I used a double layer of Dimensionals to adhere the circle over the top of the "tails" and added a few silver glimmer stars as embellishment.

I'm excited to add these cards to my stash, and I hope the recipients enjoy them. Thanks for stopping by!