Constantly Stamping

My Favorite SAB Card Sample

When my friend Nancy saw a picture of this card her response was "Oh Connie, this is so YOU!" I can't say that I can argue that point, because honestly, she is absolutely right! I really love this card. Too bad I had to send it away, but at least I have a picture. I used the SAB Everyday Enchantment DSP and did some heavy sponging around the edges with Early Espresso ink. It's been a while since I made this, but I am almost certain that this card is a little odd in size. I don't remember the dimensions exactly, but I think it is longer than a typical A2 card. I don't remember why I did it that way, but now that I look at it, it could easily be converted. I stamped the sentiment from the Outlined Expressions (SAB) in VersaMark and then heat embossed it white embossing powder to help it stand out from the darker background paper.

Now, let's talk about that flower a minute. (BTW, you can click on the photos to get a closer look.) I used the Circles #2 die and the Big Shot to cut two sets of Chocolate Chip card stock circles. I used the three largest circles and set the smallest ones aside for another day. I sprayed the circles with spray starch and scrunched the flowers up individually. I carefully opened them back up and let them dry completely. You can use a heat tool to speed up the process, just be careful not the flatten out the layers too much. Then I sprayed each layer with a light mist of rubbing alcohol and Frost White Shimmer Paint and let them dry again completely. I suppose you could combine the two steps, it's just that it was an afterthought to add the spray mist. I used a hot melt glue gun to layer everything together and then added a button threaded with linen thread on top.

CASEd Leadership Display Card

Most of the time I like to be original in the cards that I make, but when I saw this card on display at Leadership, I knew I MUST CASE IT! I love everything about this card...the colors, the layout, its cheerful feel. I literally stood there and studied this card for at least a couple of minutes, if not longer. The designer of this card used paper from the Spring Fever Simply Scrappin' kit (#124006). It is just about the only paper that SU carries that I don't already have. (It just occurred to me now that I have finished the card that this paper is available as a digital download...duh!) Anyway, I was bound and determined to make a card as close to the original as possible without buying another thing. I am so incredibly blessed with paper that there is no way I will ever use it all, so here is what I came up with.

So, what do you think? Can you spot the differences? For starters I used Cheerful Treat DSP (Hostess #122381), the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Everyday Enchantment brads (SAB), and the Delightful Dozen stamp set (#122652). For the center of the flower I used the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, 1" Circle Punch and some Brights Patterns DSP. I decided to change out the flower center mainly since the DSP didn't have as much punch as the original DSP. I needed to get some of that beautiful Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight into the flower somehow and it had to be in a big way.

So what do you need to know about making this card. Well, for starters, you need lots and lots of Stampin' Dimensionals to lift that entire piece of Whisper White card stock away from the base. You also need a lot of pieces around the opening of the flower and some teeny tiny pieces to support the little pointed pieces that go toward the flower center. Another thing that you may not notice unless I point it out is that I used the back side of the flower button because the color is more vibrant on the back. Oh and yes, I changed out the sentiment, since I am hopefully a l-o-n-g way off from being a grandmother. That's about it. I am very pleased with how it turned out and now I have my Mother's Day card already done. Now I just have to make cards for in-laws...but I am off to a great start.

Lolly or Rosette?

Just a quick post today. This is another SAB sample I made for leadership using the Elementary Elegance stamp set. This card is pretty straight forward.

I used Real Red and Whisper White card stock and embossed the background with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (and the Big Shot, of course). For the "rosette" I used Real Red DSP from the Brights Pattern collection and some satin ribbon for a bow.

I've heard these things called lollys or lolly flowers a lot recently, but all my life I have called these things rosettes. To tell you the truth, I don't even know if I am spelling it correctly...maybe it's "lollie". Hmmm. So I decided to take a little poll. What you call them?

 

 

SAB Valentine's Day Card

Today's card is a quick and easy Valentine card made with the Sprinkled Expressions Sale-a-bration set. It's been a while since I made this card, but I think I used Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, and Pretty in Pink ink, card stock, and Patterns DSP. I die cut the scallops with the Tasteful Trim die, curled the edges a little bit and tied everything off with a bit of baker's twine and a button. That is pretty much all there is to it.

Fresh Vintage Blessings Card

When I made this card, I didn't really think about Valentine's Day (it was late November), but I do think it fits the theme well. You could change out the expressions, or just use it the way it is here. I used the SAB Fresh Vintage stamp set along with the Everyday Enchantment DSP. Let me just say right off the bat that this is my FAVORITE design in this DSP collection. Even though SU says it the color is Poppy Parade, I personally think it goes better with Real Red ink and cardstock...so that is how I used it. There is a slight color variation between the background paper and the stamped image, but honestly it is almost undectible (and I am super picky about things like that).

This is one of the display projects I made that SU sent off to another market, so unless you are visiting my blog from the UK, you are probably seeing this card for the first time. As a matter of fact, all but one of the samples I have left to share were not on display in San Antonio, so there are lots of new things from Sale-a-bration to show you coming up over the next few weeks!

MDS Sunset Serenade Card

I thought I would take a little break from leadership samples to share with you a little project that I did a while back. This is just a simple notecard that I created in MDS using the Sunset Serenade download. Not much to tell about it really...it's just a fun, simple little note that I put together just in case I need it.

I have been playing around with the new Simply Scored insert that I was lucky enough to win at Leadership. I created a fun envelope to go along with the card using some coordinating DSP. I will be back soon with some helpful hints on making envelopes with the insert along with measurements for some different size envelopes.

Another Make-n-Take Display Project

Here is another one of the projects I made for the Leadership M&T display. Bear in mind, that our supplies were very limited, and by the time I got around to making this card, I was really starting to get a little desperate for ideas.

Afterall, we only had 30 days to make 24 projects and mail them AND it was smack dab in the middle of the holiday season. So, this is probably not my favorite card that I have ever made, I suppose it was pretty good under the circumstances. I do love that Twitterpated DSP and the stamp sets (Mixed Bunch and Loving Thoguhts) from the Occassions Mini are wonderful! Oh yes, and I think I cheated and substituted a Cherry Cobbler button for a Real Red one (wink) because it works much better with that particular DSP. Also, I used Island Indgo ink for the flower and the sentiment.

Let's Have a Sale-a-Bration!

Let's admit it...if you are a Stampin' Up! fan, today is the day you've been waiting for. The day when your stamping obsession actually pays off and you can get even more fabulous stamps for F-R-E-E! I know that I have looked forward to this day each year for the past twelve years. Sounds silly, doesn't it? Well, that's just the way it is...we gals love a great value! Oh, and IMHO this year is the best Sale-a-Bration ever! The stamp sets are fabulous, the DSP is gorgeous, and there is even an option for those of you who love digital downloads....AWESOME!

In honor of Sale-a-Bration, I thought I would share another card that I created for the Leadership displays last week. This card features the Sprinkled Expressions stamp set, along with the Everyday Enchantment DSP, and the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack. I will be the first one to admit that my cards are not always "do-able" for the beginner, but I designed the layout on this card specifically to be workshop friendly, so I encourage you to give it a try.

Also, don't forget the beautiful Occassions Mini Catalog. This may very well be the very best Sale-A-Bration ever for Stampin' Up! customers.

Speaking of the Occassions Mini catalog...I thought I would show you some of the beautiful projects that were on display at Leadership Convention.

I did not make these pillows or quilt, but I had to show you what you can do with the new Dresden Designs Bigz L die, the Big Shot, and the Twitterpated designer fabric. Aren't they just beautiful? It almost makes me want to start quilting. Notice I said "almost". I do love fabric and sewing, but I don't see a quilt anywhere in my near future.

Here is another view of the quilt. I wish they had displayed the entire quilt. Did you notice the beautiful Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon around the center flower. LOVE IT! I really wish I had the patience to make a quilt...especially when I see one that is this beautiful. I come from a long line of quilters/seamstresses, so maybe one day.

Oh, and look at how they used the Elegant Bird Bigz Die on this quilt piece. I apologize for the shadow on the top portion of the photo...I should have used my flash. Ooops!

OK, that's all for today. See you tomorrow with even more beautiful projects to share! Oh, and don't forget to head on over to my on-line store to see all the wonderful new products Stampin' Up! has to offer.

Same Card But Ramped Up!

Can you believe this is the same card from my last post? Well, sort of. I was making some of the other cards to take to Leadership Convention as swaps and I got to thinking about how it would look in black and white. And then I thought, what if I used the new Framelits dies instead of just a plain rectangle. So while it is the same card...it has a very different look. I thought the big black border was a little too much, so I pulled out my white uniball gel pen and added a much-needed accent around the border. Of course I moved the flower to the center to give it a formal symetrical look.

I will be back from San Antonia on Sunday with lots to share with you. See you then!

So Shelli Creative Challenge-Simply Stunning

Each month, Shelli Gardner, Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!, hosts a creative challenge on her blog. This month the challenge is to create a card that is simple yet stunning. I couldn't resist playing along this month.

I wanted to keep it simple, so I stamped the background with the upcoming Sale-A-Bration set, Fresh Vintage. (BTW...it is my very favorite!) In just a few weeks you will be able to earn this beautiful set for free with the purchase of $50 or more. I stamped the image with Island Indigo ink on Whisper White CS and trimmed it out with Island Indigo CS. I also sponged the edges with the same ink. But be extra careful because the ink is very dark. I had to sponge off onto a piece of scrap paper before sponging the edges.

I used the banner from the new set, Take it to Heart, and the sentiment if from another wonderful new set, Apothecary Art. This is what the card looked like at first. Don't get me wrong, I actually like the card just like this...it is mailable and actually very pretty, but not exactly what I would call "Stunning". It needed something more to take it over-the-top.

That is when I got the idea to add a pop of color...Poppy Parade to be exact. I used the new Blossom punch from the Occassions Mini Catalog and punched three flowers from the Pocketful of Posies DSP collection. I also punched a smaller layer with the 1-3/4" Scallop Circle and snipped between each scallop with scissors and added a top layer punched with the Boho Blossoms punch. I sponged Poppy Parade ink on the edges, curled the petals, and seperated each layer with Dimensionals. I added a few pearls for the flower center and VOILA!