Field of Birthdays

This was supposed to be a sympathy card. I really thought it would make a nice sympathy card. But I think it is too cheery...So I decided it would be better suited as a birthday card.

 I am back to outlining again. It almost adds another layer to those limited layer cards. That ribbon is part of the offerings in the Sale-A-Bration brochure!! ♥ it!

•  Stamps: Field Flowers, Happiest Birthday Wishes
• Paper: Pretty in Pink, Lucky Limeade, Naturals White
• Ink: Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
• Other: Big Shot with Adorning Accents Edgelits and Labels Framelits, Lucky Limeade 1/8" Organza ribbon, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Clear Coat Accent Ink, Frost White Shimmer Paint, sponge, Signo white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

 Everything got a little layer of shimmer in some way or another. The white strip on the side was spritzed. The label and banner with shimmer painted, and the main flowers were accented. Wow, that's a lot of shimmer! Too bad it doesn't show up in the photos :(

I've gotten pretty good at getting the 2 layers of the flower lined up without really trying! I need to use this stamp set more. So, do I need to add a little bit of stem to this flower?

Grassy Sympathy Card

There is just something about the image of tall grass swaying in the wind that makes me think of peace and contemplation. Both of these thoughts together make me think of sympathy cards. We are trying to convey peace to the bereaved, and are often contemplating the life that has passed, and how our lives will now be changed. Some passings are a thing of peace, and that in itself is something to celebrate. So says the ER nurse who has seen death in all kinds of forms.... I no longer fear death like I used to, and I am pretty sure it has more to do with my job than my age :)
Wow, these are pretty deep thoughts for a stampin blog! Better get to the Happy!!

I decided to use the  Adorning Accents Edgelit in the opposite direction this time, offering a peek at the cardstock beneath. It feels more masculine this way, don't you think? Really, what makes something masculine? It is sometimes not quite definable. But this feels like it. I was going to add some kind of embellishment to the right side of the oval, but decided I liked it this way just fine :)

• Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Thanks for Caring (retired)
• Paper: Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Naturals White
• Ink: Always Artichoke, Early Espresso
• Other: Big Shot with Adorning Accents Edgelits and Labels Framelits, Wide Oval punch, Always Artichoke Seam Binding ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

 You can almost hear the wind softly blowing, can't you. This would make a great masculine card for any occasion, not just a sympathy card.

I wish the Thanks for Caring set had not retired. It has such a wonderful sentiment, very timeless. If you have one, you have quite a little treasure in your stash!
And here is hoping that no one I know, including myself, needs a sympathy card any time soon....

Elegance in Blue

This was my first attempt at a swap with Elementary Elegance but it didn't feel quite right. I do like how the small elements fit on the Jewelry Tag punch.

 I used some Cherry Cobbler embossing powder and then sponged over it to add more depth. I did stamp the little elements first and then punched them out.

• Stamps: Elementary Elegance
• Paper: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red,  Pear Pizzazz, Naturals White, Twitterpated DSP
• Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red,  Pear Pizzazz, Versamark
• Other: Big Shot with Adorning Accents Edgelits, Curly Label punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Stampin Dimensionals, sponges, Signo white gel pen, Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun

I did a little bit of fussy cutting around the main image and the sentiment is also embossed.
I hope to find just the right person to give this to!

Don't forget, Sale-A-Bration starts tomorrow and you can ear this stamp set with a $50 purchase (before shipping and tax) !

Hearts & Snowflakes

I saw some cute Valentine's banners today while pottering around on my newest obsession, Pinterest. You girls have created a monster!! You all know who I mean. My family of stampin friends is a wonderful source of joy....and new ways to waste time, lol! Seriously though, if you haven't tried Pinterest yet, you need to go check it out. It is like having a favorites button for the whole internet!! Love it!

Now, I realize this pic is a little yellow. Sorry, couldn't get that fixed with my humble Photoshop skills. But, I thought I would share with you how I made this beauty. It is NOT Glimmer Paper. It is Poppy Parade with Romance Red glitter (retired) applied with Versamark and Heat & Stick powder on both sides!! This was the first time I used the Heat  Stick powder with a satisfactory result. I think I was trying to do too fine a detail work before, but it works fab like this!

This is simply the First Edition DSP die cut with two of the Heart Framelits. Fun way to use up some scraps and I just can't get enough of this paper :)  It is dangling on some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine and held on the string with a Mini Clothespin.

This is my favorite part of this little banner. I used some of the brown packing paper that comes in my shipments from SU and die cut it with the biggest Heart Framelit. Them I stamped it up and outlined it!

• Stamps: Distressed Dots BG, I (Heart) Hearts, PS I Love You
• Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride
• Other: Big Shot with Hearts Framelits and Snowflake die, Signo white gel pen, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Mini Clothespins

One more fun pic of the banner. Loving this, even if I did hang it up a little early :) We have actually been going through a rough spot with our daughter. She is dealing with some heavy issues, and hit bottom over the holidays and is getting the help she needs. Actually making some wise choices again! She is a beautiful young woman and has a personality as big as the world. She can warm the heart of a scrooge! Yeah for my girl! I felt the need to "show a little love" today, so here it is :)

Layers of Shimmer Wedding Card

 I am surprised to say that I never really considered February to be a popular wedding month, but I just now realized that I know 3 family members who were married in February . Wait, make that 4! I guess Valentine's Day trumps frigid weather and many inches, if not feet, of snow in Minnesota, lol!

I was on a Letterpress kick again. They add such a touch of elegance to a card. Who van resist the word love in so many different fonts? The Blossom punch makes a very nice fluffy flower with the Waffle paper, which is just gorgeous!! How about the flowers spilling down the side of the cake? Yummy! and the layers of the cake are highlighted with the Clear Coat Accent ink. Why oh why did I wait so long to get that stuff! It is amazing!

• Stamps: Love & Laughter
• Paper: Naturals White, Whisper White, White Waffle Paper, Pink Pirouette, Twitterpated DSP
• Ink: Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette
• Other: Big Shot with Hearts Framelits, Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing Folder, and Lots of Love Letterpress Plate, Corner Rounder punch, Blossom punch, Basics Glimmer Brads, Clear Coat and Silver Fox Accent Ink, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack

 

This was a really hard card to photograph. I tried 3 different methods, and still the colors seem washed out and off. In real life, it is quite lovely.

Even the inside of the card got some bling! I had to add shimmery centers to all of the flowers. Now I need to make a pile of anniversary cards!

Tea Thanks 3x3

 

The new Tea Shoppe set is so scrumptious! And irresistible to me, since I drink tea all day everyday! There is just something so soothing and centering about making a cup of tea and enjoying it during the hussle bussle of life. 

 I know it is hard to see, but I used the Fancy Fans Letterpress Plate to add texture to the Baja Breeze layer of the card. Looks great in real life of course :) And more of the Twitterpated DSP. I didn't think I was going to like it, I only got it because it came in a preorder bundle at a discount (one of the many reasons to be a demonstrator!) and didn't realize I had changed my mind until I had used it on 3 cards!

• Stamps: Tea Shoppe
• Paper: Naturals White, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
• Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Adorning Accents Edgelit, Labels Framelits, and Fancy Fans Letterpress Plate, Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Large Oval punch, Modern Label punch, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

I seem to be a dimensionals kind of gal lately. All kinds of poppin action going on here :)  Don't you love this DSP?! So fresh and fun!

Inside the card, I could not resist adding a little tea cup and accenting it with dots of Riding Hood Red marker.

This was another of my swap cards that I made before Christmas, and I am trickling them out over this month.

Blooming Corsets!

Who is ready for a little support?! I love this stamp set, and these 2 stamps in particular!

 I could not resist making a shaped card with the Labels Framelits. I had to some more texture to the River Rock layer to make it work with this card. I also inked the emossing to set it off more. The Coral card base is also stamped with the corset image.

• Stamps: Rue Des Fleurs
• Paper: Calypso Coral, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, Watercolor
• Ink: Calypso Coral, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Jet Black Stazon
• Other: Big Shot with Labels Framelits, Wide Oval punch, Pear Pizzazz Pleated Satin ribbon, Blender Pen, Moonlight Pearlized Accent Ink, Pearls Basic Jewels, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals

I made a few extras of this one to take to work to sell, but I wonder if that is the right crowd, lol!