Old Green Truck

This old truck just has to be used for a Father's Day card or two. I just love coloring it too. And I used 2 of the new In-Colors on this card.

Raspberry Ripple is such a deep, rich purply-red, I love it! And I have already gone on and on about how I love the new Gumball Green :) This image tends to make me think of autumn, but these colors are the lush colors of summer, right now anyway!

The inside is all ready for someone to pick a sentiment, and the River Rock truck is light enough to stamp and write right over the top of it.

• Stamps: Countryside, Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Ink: River Rock, Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Jet Black Stazon
• Paper: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, River Rock, Naturals White, Watercolor paper
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents and Oval dies, Designer Label punch, Signo white gel pen, Aquapainters, Stampin' Dimensionals

Native Father

This stamp set (Dream Catcher) is retired and rare, and I paid  more for it than I care to admit. I bought it off Ebay shortly after I started working in Red Lake, and I am really glad I did. The vision for these cards came to me while driving home from work after a night shift on Friday morning, and I still love the way they turned out!

The new firm foam inkpads make this image so much more crisp and clear, so much more beautiful! I find myself more drawn to the intricately designed stamps because I can get an image I am happy with! I always assumed it was something I was doing that made the images a little mucky.
I used a non-SU set that really helped communicate the message I wanted for these cards. I love the crisp, clean imagery throughout this card.

And this is the second version. The print in the background gives the definition of the word Hero.

And the inside...

I am hoping that this is a popular card, but I only made 1 of each. Maybe I should make 1 more of each.

• Stamps: Dream Catcher (retired SU), My Hero My Dad (PTI)
• Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede
• Paper: Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso, Soft Suede
• Other: 1" Square punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

A Little Golf for Dad

I was a card-making fool yesterday! I made about 10 cards, all but 2 were unique designs. With Father's Day coming up next weekend, I have a number of people wanting cards at work. My goal was to have 20-30 cards ready to go by tonight. I have 17 cards done... we'll see it I make it to 30.
So, this is the first card I am going to post. Someone requested a golf themed card, and this is the only golf stuff I have. Boy, am I glad I held on to all of those masculine themed sets I have gotten over the years!

This is the first version of this cards. I love the new paper piercing guides, Worked so well on this Apothecary Accents die cut! The Perfect Polka Dots embossing reminds me of the dimples on a golf ball :)

And this it the second version, which was accidentally different. I had forgotten which piece I had embossed the first time, but I like this too. Sadly, no piercing guide for the smaller Apothecary Accents diecut.
I am really glad I hung on to the Creamy Caramel marker and inkpad. As you may already know, I work on an Indian reservation and people there are generally not pink :)

And inside the card are the simple sentiments that come in this set. This set really made this card come together fast!

• Stamps: And Many Mower...
• Ink: Basic Black, Lucky Limeade, Going Gray, Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso
• Paper: Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 2½" Circle punch, Signo white gel pen, Blender pen, Srampin' Dimensionals, Paper Piercer, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack

WIldlife Father's Day

More Father's Day stuff! This one uses another retired set, and this card came together in a flash. I actually used a past card for the layout.  And now that I looked at it again, I actually used the same animal stamp set on that card!

I find myself using the Apothecary Accents dies constantly! Love these shapes!! I chose the bear, eagle, ans wolf from the Wildlife Reserve set as they are seen as strong and noble animals, which seemed very appropriate for a Father's Day card to me. They are also important animals to the Native culture :)

 

I kept the inside pretty simple and I will be bringing my sentiment stamps with me to work so people can pick a sentiment and then  a card.  There are a few that I did put sentiments in already as they were designed for a specific phrasing.

• Stamps: Wildlife Reserves, Best Dad Ever
• Ink: River Rock, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso
• Paper: River Rock, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits, 1" Square punch, Signo white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

New with Old Swap- Gently Falling Gumballs

I did another swap recently , and hopefully everyone has their copy in their hands by the time I post this :) The focus of this swap was to make new samples with a set that had carried over from the 2011-2012 season to the 2012-2013 big catalog. I chose Gently Falling, which was in the Holiday Mini last fall and I ♥ this set so much! I am such a sucker for leaf sets, but this one is special since it is so versatile :)

So, I was skeptical about the new green, Gumball Green, until I had it in my hands. I really love it! It is intense and bold without that neon effect green can sometimes have. And a great leafy green!
I did some generational stamping to add a little more depth the the main images. I was going for a lush summer leaves look :)

Here is the inside of the card. I made it pretty generic so it could be used for a variety of occasions.

• Stamps: Gently Falling, Friendly Phrases, Woodgrain BG
• Ink: Gumball Green, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
• Paper: Gumball Green, Early Espresso, Naturals White
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits, Signo white gel pen, Paper Piercer, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, Stampin' Dimensionals

Up in the Air Over You!

I don't usually CASE things out of the catalog, but I just has to do this one (page 36). It has just the right amount of corniness and whimsy that I was looking for and it is pretty gender neutral. I made it for my husband for out 22nd Anniversary which was this weekend. I really am still totally in love with my guy, and if you have met him, you can understand why! He is a real sweetheart :)

I actually used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig top make the balloons. I hadn't used it with a clear-mount set yet but it worked perfectly! You just have to make a new guide each time you remove the stamp from the block. I made this into a 5x5 card as I did not plan to use a envelope since I hand delivered it. Although I could have used my Diagonal plate for the Simply Scored to make a matching envelope.

 I am hoping for some great mojo to hit me today since I actually have time to create! Wish me luck, and limited internet cruising so I don't waste all my creative time!

• Stamps: Up, Up & Away, non SU checkerboard stamp
• Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, So Saffron, More Mustard, Early Espresso
• Paper: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Whisper White
• Other: Corner ROunder punch, 1" Square punch, Stamp-A-MA-Jig, Signo white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Distressing Essentials blank stamp for distressing with ink.

Twittering Poppies

Wow, another month just flew by and I sure don't have much to show for it on my blog... life is seriously getting in the way of my papercrafting I tell you! I had a graduation, a wedding out of town, and a crazy work schedule to accommodate the above mentioned activities :) But I am back and plan to have a busy June on the blog!

The project I am sharing today is a card we made in the May stamp club meeting using one of my current favorite flower stamp sets. All of the products in this project are available in the new catalog that started 4 days ago. Mmmmm, fresh goodies available!! My shipment of new goodies should arrive on Wednesday evening, just before I leave for work on a dreaded night shift. (I guess I have to take my turn to cover for a co-worker who is taking some time off to be with his brother who has cancer. Prayers are always welcome for Larry and his brother. Larry is a big marshmallow-hearted fellow and is having a tough time with this. I imagine his brother is too, but I only know Larry so I worry more about him)
Ok off the depressing topic. On to the project!

The 2 tones of the flower are achieved by stamping off once for the lighter tone. I love all the texture going on here, and the distressing really makes it pop. I did not use a sponge to apply the color. I used a piece of blank rubber cut from the leftover rubber sheets form another stamp set. Since it is already cling-foamed, all I had to do was cut and stick to a clear block.

Then I just inked it and, starting off the cardstock, rubbed the ink on the edges of the cardstock. First I used the Pink Pirouette, then I used Crumb Cake. This gives the piece some great dimension. I then drew my white gel pen outline, THEN I embossed the cardstock piece.

I also got to use the new Firm Foam ink pad in Early Espresso. I cannot tell you how excited I am about these new ink pads! Fantastic coverage, and such crisp images!

So much goodness in the new catty. I know I always say this, but it is soo true!! I ♥ SU!

• Stamps: Field Flowers, Curly Cute
• Paper: Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP
• Ink: Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
• Other: Big Shot with Elegant Lines and Stripes folders, 2-1/2" Circle and 1" Square punches,   Signo white gel pen, Stampin' Dimensionals