Back With a Card Sketch

I'm back! Apologies for my hiatus. I recently started working full time again, after only working part time for the last five years. In addition to being physically exhausting to my lupus/fibro body; it's been mentally exhausting too as I'm learning new duties in my office. To say that I've pretty much let everything else go the last month would be an understatement. However, I'm happy to report that I'm adjusting and it felt great getting back to my stamp table today!

It's Card Sketch Monday at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration. My grandma-in-law has requested some more birthday cards, and I thought this was a great sketch for that purpose.

This is technically a hybrid card, as I've not purchased the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper out of the Occasions Catalog. If you remember from the February Blog Hop, I do have the digital download of it, however. I picked the design I wanted to use in My Digital Studio and created a "page" with it. Then I printed it out on a piece of Whisper White cardstock. Easy! I opted to color the flowers with Stampin' Write Markers, however I think the next time I make this card, I will use the Blender Pen for a softer effect. What do you think?

We'd love to have you stop over at SSINK to get INKspired by the other designers as well!

Pink Pirouette 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$8.50

Pistachio Pudding 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers

$22.95

Subtles Stampin' Write Markers

$28.95

Express Yourself

$11.00

Happy Watercolor

$21.95

Neutrals Candy Dots

$5.95

Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper - Digital Download

$4.95

Modern Label Punch

$16.95

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

$22.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$29.95

Snail Adhesive

$6.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Birthday

My philosophy is that you can never have too many birthday cards on hand. For me, it is because I usually remember the day before their birthday, "oh, I need to send (name) a card." If I have them already made, I have a much better chance of getting it in the mail and it not being unfashionably late!

Today I've created a card for you that goes together quickly and is easily duplicated. You can switch out the butterfly for your favorite image or background stamp.

I used the smallest square in the Square Collections Framelits to cut out the Designer Series Paper. The squares measured 1-1/8". I then used my Paper Trimmer to cut the cardstock layers at 1-1/4". For the butterfly layer, the vanilla cardstock is 2-1/2" x 3-3/4". The pink cardstock is 2-5/8" x 3-7/8". The large vanilla layer on the card base is 4-1/8" x 5-3/8".

Supplies used:
  Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla
  DSP: Afternoon Picnic
  Stamp sets: Express Yourself, Swallowtail
  Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette
  Framelits: Square Collection
  Tools: Paper Trimmer, Big Shot, Simply Scored
  Adhesive: SNAIL

Are you looking for more birthday card inspiration? Check out more birthday cards at SSINK.

3, 2, 1: FUN!

Today we had quite a challenge over at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration. It was a 3, 2, 1 challenge where we had to use 3 Designer Series Papers, 2 punches, and 1 stamp set. At first it was a little daunting, but was actually fun and easy once I got into it.

 

As I was looking through my DSP, I realized we have lots of different packages with polka dots in them. I picked the three that went best together, and took off from there. 

3 DSP: Modern Medley, Afternoon Picnic, I Am Me

2 Punches: Blosson, 7/8" Scallop Circle

1 Stamp: Express Yourself

Other: Calypso Coral cardstock and ink, Coastal Cabana cardstock, Black Candy Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Head over to SSINK to see what everyone else did with their 3, 2, 1. We'd love to have you play along with us in this fun challenge too!

Anniversary Patterns

Thank you so much for joining us for the September Stylin’ Stampin' Squad Blog Hop! This month we are focusing on the tools of the stampin’ trade. Specifically, each of our favorite stamping tools. It’s amazing the kinds of tools that have been created to help us along in our paper-crafting addictions.  This month’s blog hop will showcase many of the Stampin’ Up! tools that are now available to us in the 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Holiday Catalog and even a couple of products that are so new they aren’t in either catalog. We hope you enjoy seeing how we use the old and new tools and are inspired to come up with some great projects of your own.

You should have just left stop number 4 on the Stylin’ Stampin’ Squad blog hop – Dawn B. of Dawn's Creative Chalet. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn’t work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

My card uses three of my favorite, and most used, tools: Big Shot, Heat Tool, and Simply Scored.

The Modern Medley Designer Series Paper that I used in the center works well for anniversary and wedding cards because the whole pack of DSP is all Basic Black and Very Vanilla patterns. As 99% of Stampin' Up!'s DSP is double-sided, I love using the Simply Scored Tool with the Diagonal Plate to score even fold lines to showcase both sides of the DSP on my cards.

I was going to use the polka dot pattern, but when I laid it out, the card screamed "PROM," which was not the them I was obviously going for. This pattern felt more appropriate, and coordinates well with the Modern Mosaic embossing folder which I used with the Big Shot.

The "happy anniversary," embossed in black, is from my most used greeting set: Express Yourself. This is a set that can be purchased with hostess dollars only. In my opinion is was definitely worth the "investment" of my free dollars, and definitely a reason for you to host a party with your demonstrator, so you can get one for yourself!

The colors on this card are Basic Black and Elegant Eggplant. I bet you're not surprised to see candy dots on a card I made, are you?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll continue hopping and head over to Pamela's blog next.
Make sure to stop by tomorrow when I'll be featuring a Framelits Friday card featured over at SSInkspiration, inkspiring you 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year!




Blog Hop Participants:

1. Shellie G. of Craft Smashup
2. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
3. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
4. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
5. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
6. Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
7. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim
8. Justin K. of JK Cards
9. Heidi B of Stuck on Stampin'
10. Jennifer B. of NW Stamper
11. Bree R. of Craft-somnia
12. Diana E. of Stampin' Fun with Diana
13. Jennifer C. of Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life
14. Jamie H. of Unique Ink
15. Kristina M. of Mama's Sanity