#SSINKCS32: Card Sketch Challenge

Hello! Bree provided us with a fun sketch for this month's challenge at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration.

I took a little creative liberty with the challenge, because I didn't want my flowers to overshadow my greeting.

This was the first time that I inked up Crazy About You, which I stamped the flower in Daffodil Delight classic ink on Daffodil Delight card stock. I then used the coordinating Flower Medallion punch to cut it out. I was going to add some vellum butterflies, but I liked the simplicity of just a single flower image. I did feel like it needed an extra pop so I added the Perfect Plum Regals Candy Dot.

The base is Watermelon Wonder. I really didn't like this color when it was released, but it has really grown on me. The green patterned layer, as well as the banner that I stamped the Happy Birthday on are both from Going Places Designer Series Paper stack. The larger banner is Pear Pizzaz card stock. The banners were created using the Banner Triple punch. The happy birthday is from That Thing You Did and is stamped in Watermelon Wonder classic ink.

Make sure to check out the other Design Team members cards at SSINK, and play along with us by linking up at SSINKspiration or using #SSINKCS31 as a tag on your photo when you post it to a gallery.

Happy Washi Tape Birthday

Hello! Today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration we are featuring projects made with washi tape. I had to sign up to join this post because my washi has been neglected lately, though it seems to be reproducing!

I'm focusing on making lots of birthday cards currently so I can be prepared for the #imbringingbirthdaysback movement. If you haven't heard about it, several Stampin' Up! demonstrators are participating and gathering birthdays and address so we can get back to mailing cards to people. That was honestly why I loved my birthday so much when I was little. I ran to the mailbox (which was at least an 1/8" of a mile from our house) everyday for a week leading up to my birthday just to see if there were cards in there! I also did it for my parents' birthdays, though having to wait for them to open their cards, wasn't as much fun!

Back to the card! It features the Cherry On Top washi. I used the dot pattern to create a background. By itself it looked like a science experiment or one of those vision tests that you look for the number in all the colored dots. The banner below the greeting was made by using two strips of the green washi on a 1" piece of whisper white card stock. Then I used the Banner punch on the ends.

If you would like to be added to my birthday list, use the contact form to email me your birthday (month and day only) and your address. Also, check out the other washi projects at SSINK!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Garden Birthday

Ok, not to toot my own horn; but I think this might be my favorite card that I've made in quite some time. I don't know if it's the embellishments or the color combination, but it all makes me really happy!

I was kind of struggling with what I was going to do to make a birthday card; and then this one suddenly came together. I knew I wanted to use the Tin of Cards stamp set, because the fonts are so elegant. As I mentioned Monday, I am absolutely in love with the patterns of the Designer Series Paper color family stacks this year! I folded the Tip Top Taupe trim up on top of itself and it added a soft new texture to the card.

Have a lot of birthdays coming up that you need to make cards for? There's more inspiration today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Masculine Monday

Thankfully I remembered that my dad's birthday is in a couple weeks, so I had a subject for my Masculine Monday card this month.

As I was going through my alphabet sets, they were all too big for the space I wanted to stamp them on. Project Life Accessory Packs to the rescue!

• Pool Party card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored at 4-1/4"
• Typeset Designer Series Paper 4" x 5-1/4"
• Very Vanilla cardstock - 3-3/4" x 4-1/2" - cut with 3rd largest Squares Collection framelit
• Flashback Designer Series Paper - 3-1/2" x 4"
• Flashback Designer Series Paper - hand cut out the photos and camera
• Love Story Project Life Accessory Kit
• Real Red card stock - punched 3 1-3/8" circles
• Bloom With Hope stamp set
• Real Red Ink
• Neutrals Candy Dots (Smoky Slate)

Birthday Tag Fun

One of the tags I received in my swap box was a birthday tag that I fell in love with.

Creator Unknown

I couldn't wait to make my own. I received my order today with 4 packs of Designer Series Paper that I had gotten on our July sale. I grabbed the Birthday Basics DSP and started creating!

Here is my version of this cute tag. I really love all of the patterns in the Birthday Basics pack. The birthday hat pattern was perfect for the "legs." The scallop was punched from the same piece, just flipped over to reveal the pattern on the other side. I popped the greeting up with a couple Stampin' Dimensionals. I curled the scallops up on the top layer for a subtle extra dimension. You can't tell unless you know I did it; but I also shaded the edge of the legs with some Baked Brown Sugar ink.
My nieces turn one this weekend, so expect to see some more birthday items from me this week. ;)

Washi Birthday

Today I decided to focus on washi tape. The card colors are a throwback to my high school colors.

The card stock is Basic Black and Real Red. I used the "notebook" washi tape from the Epic Day This & That pack to imitate photo corners. The stamp image is from Best of Birthdays, which is one of our exclusive 25th Anniversary stamp sets. The greeting says, "a candle for every year might not be such a good idea... happy birthday. It is embossed with silver embossing powder.

Hope you enjoyed this quick & simple card. Have a great weekend!

July 2013 Stylin' Stampin' Blog Hop

Did you have a great 4th of July? I enjoyed the local display with my husband, but I have to admit I'm very glad that my neighborhood no longer sounds like a war zone until 11:00 every night!

Our blog hop theme this month is birthdays. My card this month is one that I taught at my June card class. It is a double pocket card and is made out of one piece of Designer Series Paper. Two cuts, a few scores, and a little folding; add some adhesive, decorate, and you're done. Well, the recipient of the card might appreciate something being put in the pockets. Perhaps some birthday money in this birthday card?

Supplies used:
Epic Day & Gingham Garden Designer Series Papers
Pool Party cardstock
Gumball Green ink
Epic Day This & That Designer Stickers
Epic Day This & That Washi tape
Label Love stamp set
Artisan Label punch
Simply Scored
Grid Paper
Sticky Strip
Stampin' Dimensionals

Inside view

I really can't tell you what supplies I love most on this card. I love all our Washi Tape as it's so easy to use and adds so much to step up a project. I have used the Epic Day and Gingham Garden Designer Series Papers on several of my projects lately. Label Love is quickly becoming one of my most used stamp sets from the new catalog. The coordinating punch can't be beat! I like to layer behind this punch, by punching out an additional piece, cutting it in half and gluing the halves to the back so they peek out on the top and bottom.

You will see many exciting changes to my blog starting this weekend. I just finished and mailed 76 items for a swap I participated in, which was actually 10 different projects. I will be posting those swap projects this weekend with all the supplies used, and then a daily post featuring each of the projects, especially if I did something "tricky" on them. (Totally not tricky, but lots of fun!)
Then starting in August, I'm proud to be a Design Team member for our new DAILY inspiration blog that will be brought to you courtesy of several of our blog hop members. If you're not currently following my blog, I would love for you to start because I don't want you to miss out seeing some of my favorite projects, which I hope will inspire you.

A HUGE shout out to Kim Ryden for getting the ball rolling on this & Bree Renwick for creating the badge! 

Thank you for joining us our our monthly hop! I hope you are as excited as I am about the new catalog, and our upcoming fun times in blogland! Now head on over to Pam's blog to see what she's created to share with us!





Blog Hop Participants:

1. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
2. Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
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. Jennifer B. of NW Stamper
9. Bree R. of Craft-somnia
10. Diana E. of Stampin' Fun with Diana
11. Annie L. of Love Me Cards
12. Jamie H. of Unique Ink
13. Jennifer C. of Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life

Recent cards

These are some cards I have made recently. The red one with the dress is one that I had made at the crop last weekend.
I've decided to start mass producing "designed bases" and leave greetings off until I need to use them. This worked very well this morning when my husband texted me that he forgot to tell me that it was one of his co-worker's birthday today & could I make her a card & get it to the store that the carpool leaves from. :)

The owl card was an easel card made for a friend's baby shower. I punched the owl out in the same color pattern as the owl pillow I got for her.

Stylin' Stampin' Squad July Blog Hop

I can't believe that June is over already and July is upon us! I apologize that I'm behind on my weekly product posts. Between two birthdays, an anniversary trip, work, and training; time flew right on by! I promise that next week I'll be all caught up again!
I bet you just arrived here from Marla's blog. Aren't her projects fabulous? If you are just starting the hop, make sure to make it all the way around. We've got 12 amazing ladies this month and you don't want to miss any of their work!
We all love to hear what others think of our projects. Please show us some love and leave each of us a comment about your favorite project, technique, idea, etc!

Ok, who's ready to see some projects? My card this month was inspired by three friends who all share their birthday with America.
I had made some fabulous note cards with the Natural Composition Designer Series Paper and the Top Note die in Very Vanilla. Looking at what was left from the Top Note, I thought, "this would make a cute card front!"

Supplies used:
Paper: Natural Composition DSP, Very Vanilla cardstock, Red Glimmer paper
Stamp sets: Create A Cupcake, Jolly Bingo Bits
Ink: Midnight Muse
Punches: Word Window, Modern Label
Big Shot & Top Note die
Embellishments: 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse, Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Adhesive: Snail, Glue Dots

Who can figure out where I used the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set?

My 3-D project is a cute little wall hanging. There's a beautiful old house in town that has these great vintage fans hanging on their front porch every year for the 4th. They were my inspiration for this project.

Supplies used:
Paper: Red Glimmer paper, Midnight Muse and Whisper White cardstocks
Stamp set: Morning Post Alphabet
Ink: Midnight Muse
Big Shot & Scallop Circle die
Punch: 2 1/2" Circle
Embellishments: 5/8" Organza Ribbon
Adhesive: Snail

Reminder: You can click on each picture for a closer view.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my projects and I can't wait to read your reviews!
Hop on over to Kim's blog by clicking on this cute MDS-made star! 

1. Shellie G. of Creative Electica
2. Annie L. of Love Me Cards
3. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
4. Nancy B. of Lady Stamps a Lot
5. Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
6. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
7. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
8. Patricia T. of Sunnyone Stampin'
9. Heather W. of Heather's Stampin' Blog
10. Marla R. of Marla's Stampin' Spot
11. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
12. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim