Classic Dad, SSSC114

I have been on a making cards for guys kick lately.  It's a challenge to channel my masculine side because I enjoy being a girl.  I like ribbons and bling and glitter and fluffy flowers.  And you just can't add those frilly things to cards for men.

I followed the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for the layout on this card.  It fit perfectly with my stamp set To a Classic.  I paired the images with the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack which I felt worked for my "got to make it appeal to guys."  I think my dad would get a kick out of receiving this card.  What dad doesn't like cars?

Supplies from Stampin' Up!

Stamps: To a Classic
Inks: Jet Black Staz On, Pumpkin Pie and Pacific Point Stampin' Write Markers

Papers: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White Cardstocks, Brights Paper Stack

Accessories: Lots of Tags Sizzlets, Crystal Effects, Shimmer Paint, Aqua Painter, Wide Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Earth Brads, Peach Parfait Ribbon

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Vintage Cute

I have coined my own style.  Instead of shabby chic I am going with "vintage cute."  That's right you heard it here first--vintage cute.  But to be for real I named my post only because I have used the super awesome DSP called Springtime Vintage and the stamp set called Curly Cute.

I decided to put some scraps to use that were sitting on my table.  At first I thought the Springtime Vintage would look funky with Rich Razzleberry, but when I layered it with my cut pieces it looked WAY better than I thought.   When I was all done I fell in love with the colors on this card.  They are kinda vintage cute.

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps - Curly Cute

Inks - Rich Razzleberry & Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Markers

Papers - Springtime Vintage DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip, and Naturals Ivory cardstocks

Accessories - Fancy Flower & Decorative Lable punches, Victoria Crochet Trim, Certainly Celery Tafetta ribbon, Vintage Flowers, Shimmer Paint,Basic Pearls, and Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Go check out more cards featuring this layout at Create With Connie and Mary.  It's sketch challenge CCMC 147.

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Awesome Images!

All of the images in the Nature Walk stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog are totally gorgeous.  I highly recommend the set in combination with the Botanical Gazette DSP.  For today's card I mixed the set with the Botanical Gazette papers, Rose Red Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, and the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  There are just a few days left of the Occasions Mini Catalog, so get your stamps before they are no longer available.

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Cuckoo for Concord Crush

I would never have guessed last summer when Concord Crush was released that I would be totally diggin' that color.  At first it was too dark and too bluey purple for my tastes.  It just wasn't rich enough for me as I like dark plum, aubergine, and eggplant purples.  But now, I really REALLY like the cool intensity of the hue.  Like I said I'm cuckoo for Concord Crush.

 

So, my card features the Lap of Luxury DSP, coordinating cardstocks and ribbon, a series of punches, a flower brad, basic rhinestones, and the new stamp set called Strength and Hope.  Don't you just love the tiny tag?  The little greeting comes from the background of text stamp in the set.  I find I use markers to ink my images for almost everything I stamp--I can achieve more interesting results.

 

Happy craftin', Elizabeth

Something Old, Something New...

something borrowed, something blue.  That's right my happy Easter basket fits the old wedding poem.

I used an old (SU! retired) Sizzix die called Flowers for the handle of my basket.  As a handle for a box or such is my absolute favorite use for the die, so I had to use it.  My new item is actually a sneak peak of a brand new stamp that will be available in the Summer Mini Catalog from Stampin' Up!  It's called Hello Blossoms and is a single stamp which is super cute.  It spell out "hello" in the flowers.  Usually I borrow stamps and dies from my mom, but this time she is borrowing my Box #2 XL Bigz Die to make some of these cute baskets herself.  And blue, can you see there is one blue gummy bunny in the middle of the basket?

There you have it--old, new, borrowed, and blue.  What could be more fun?

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Faux Seersucker

With a few quick runs through a paper crimper, both up and down and side to side you can create a faux seersucker textured paper.  I love this simple effect which gives my card a casual yet sophisticated look.  I first stamped all the heather flowers before I crimped the cardstock.  I gently smoothed out the crimping before I glued the panel to the card base.  Once glued to the card base I used my finger nails to distress the edges.

Card Supplies

Stamps: Nature Walk

Inks: Soft Suede & Bravo Burgundy Stampin' Write Markers

Papers:  Soft Suede & Ivory Naturals Cardstocks

Accessories:  Beveled Windowpanes, Illuminated Top Coat, Crystal Effects, Twill Tape, Linen Thread Tools: Paper Crimper, Oval Punch, Bone Folder

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Easter's On It's Way

How about a little something less traditional for an Easter card?  Or, a less traditional baby card?  I say go for it.  Who says Easter and baby cards or projects have to be created in soft muted color palettes?

You have just a few weeks to get either of these two stamps sets from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  In your collection you should really have Nature Walk, for it's style and beauty, and You're a Gem for it's versatility.

Not to be Repeated

Have you ever made a card or craft and in the end you don't think you could repeat it?  Well that is the case with today's post.  I had it finished and then I decided to spitz the entire card with shimmer paint mixed in rubbing alcohol.  It didn't have much shimmer, so I kept spritzing and spritzing.  When I looked at it up close the card was dripping wet and the ink was bleeding and running.  Where I had painted with Moonlight Smooch Paint the spritz resisted, but around it that ink was bleeding also.  Even though it was kind of looking like a mess, I thought it looked super cool and natural.  So, I waited for it to dry and said "I don't think I could do that again." 

Crisp, Clean, and Cute

My very awesome friend Julie B. made this card for our last swap and I just think it is totally fabulous.  It has a crisp and fresh color palette, a clean and easy layout, a cute floral focal point, and coordinating embellishments.  Enjoy!

Have a Coke and a Smile

For my card I combined two online challenges: the recycling challenge over at Paper Players and the sketch challenge at the Sweetest Thing.  I sent the card to my son, Nicholas, who leaves for Mendoza, Argentina on the 11th of this month.  You're thinkin' "a flower on a card for a guy?"  Yup, that's right a flower but that is okay because it is made from a Coke a Cola can.  He, like me, loves Coke so it's all good. I even used packing paper to make an envelope.  Would you believe it cost me $1.22 to mail?

So, not only is the Coke recycled and used on my card, but so is the scallop circle.  It was cut from a scrap of plastic paper divider sheet.  In my search of looking for recycled goodies to use on my card, I came across a single piece of this retired Stampin' Up! Halloween designer series paper.  I don't even remember the name of the pack, but I know I used lots of it.

The other printed designer papers come from the In-Color Paper Pack which is a Hostess Level One gift.  The card base measures 5 1/4" square and is Basic Black cardstock.  I also used some scraps of Whisper White and Real Red cardstock for the greeting.  Speaking of the greeting it comes from the stamp set in the IBC called Word Play.  The awesome flower accent was cut from the Flower Daisies #2 Bigz Die.  I used just a few embellishments to finish the card: Basic Rhinestones, Neutrals Buttons, and Clear Rhinestone Brads.

Welcome Baby Blue and Green

Isn't this cake super cool?  It's the inspiration challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary.  I love the color palette and I need a card to celebrate my friends new baby so, I jumped right in and joined their challenge.  With a color palette and a purpose I then set out for a new layout to follow.  I found this one over at Mojo Monday and it's perfect for helping me bring my card all together.

All supplies are from SU!

Stamps: Punch Potpourri, Something to Celebrate

Inks: Marina Mist, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake, & Soft Sueded

Papers: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, & Whisper White cardstocks, Presto Patterns Specialty DSP

Accessories: Boho Blossoms Punch, Brights Brads, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Oval Scallop Punch, Basic Pearls, Inkworks Airgun

Stampin' Celebration #46

It has been a long time since I have stamped a card for a challenge so, today was the day to catch up.  When I came across the Stampin' Celebration Challenge I HAD to join in the fun.

This coming weekend I have a wedding where I am hanging large medallions over the dancefloor just like the inspiration picture.  I taught the Mother of the Bride how to make medallions.  We started with a 2" x 12" strip just to learn.   Then it became a challenge to see how big a medallion we could make.  We made the 8" across, then 10" and so on until we made them 24" across.  They are HUGE and super cool.  For the biggest we used eight pieces of 12" x 12" pieces scored every 1".

For my birthday card I used the Birthday Bakery stamp set because what is not to love about yummy looking cakes?  My card base is a side fold Melon Mambo layered with the Patterns Pack level one hostess designer series papers.  The banner of cakes is stamped on Whisper White with Jet Black Staz On ink.  I used an Aqua Painter to color the cakes and Dazzling Diamonds glitter to add a bit a sparkle.  To the center of my Melon Mambo flower embellishment I added a chocolate Flower Brad with a Basic Rhinestone in the center of that flower.

Magnetic Melon Mambo

Using the Two Tags Bigz Die I cut a top fold bookmark by placing the fold of my cardstock just below the cutting blade of the die.  The tag base was cut from Melon Mambo cardstock and was stamped with the Clearly for You stamp set.  For the main image I used Very Vanilla and Basic Black cardstocks were punched using my favorite trio: 1 1 1/4" Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, and Scallop Circle punches.  Of course Dimensionals give a bit of pop to the focal piece.  For sparkle I added Basic Rhinestones and a touch of Smooch Paint.  To keep the bookmark secure I used a small square of Magnetic Sheets on the inside of the tag.  Topping the tag off is a simple knot tied piece of Very Vanilla Seam Binding.