Square Steps Punch Embellishment Card

This was a card I made the day I stamped with several other Stampin' Up! demonstrator friends several weeks ago. The focal point is a "medallion" made by using the Square Steps and Daisy flower punches that are now discontinued : ( However, I know that a number of you have purchased it so I wanted to share a wonderful use for it! There is a tutorial with pictures (I'm very "visual" myself!) on this demonstrator's blog: click here. She has done lots of pretty cards with it! I'm so sorry to see this punch is being retired.

My card uses the So Saffron designer paper from the Palette O'Prints May special. (These designer papers in sixteen (!) different colors will be in the new Fall Winter Collection [what we know as the catalog]). Almost Amethyst, So Saffron and Whisper White cardstock were also used for the card, as well as the two largest Stampin' Up! circle punches on which the Daisy punchout was layered. The greeting was stamped in Craft Whisper White using the Happy Everything set. Notice the line of square steps punching across the bottom; this was done by very carefully removing the paper guide from the punch, then repeatedly punching right next to the previous punch all across the bottom of the card. It made a separate strip, which I then just lined up with the larger piece and adhesived down to the card.

Have a happy day, and try to stay dry!
Margaret

Forgotten Treasures Challenge again

Here is my Forgotten Treasure Challenge card from Kristin Markus, Ontario, Canada! It's a gorgeous card of rich colors. Kristin said this "Prep School" ribbon was something that she has forgotten to use so pulled it out for this challenge! She used Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla cardstock and the same inks with the addition of Mellow Moss. The background on the lower front of the card was made by rolling the Bodacious Jumbo Wheel with Not Quite Navy ink over the same color cardstock. I love that... and it looks so rich and textured. Kristin used the Bodacious Bouquet stamp set which has these wonderful bold images that give dramatic impact to your projects. The strip of wide Prep School ribbon behind brings all the colors and the entire design together. I was so excited when I opened the envelope and saw this beauty! I just love it!

Pastels Challenge

Remember the Forgotten Treasures Challenge card I posted recently? Well, I participated in another challenge with the same group; this time the challenge is to use our Stampin' Pastels. Danelle Tucker made this card using Artichoke, Almost Amethyst, Basic Black, Barely Banana, Whisper White cardstockand the Polka Dots and Paisley set. She embossed black paisleys on the black cardstock then colored those in with the pastels for an unusual and great look! The tag with the "happy" greeting and eyelets really finish this card off well! It's always exciting to open the mail when I see that I have a wonderful handmade card in with the bills, etc.! : ) I love the color scheme Danelle used, also!

Thanks for dropping by!
Have a great week, and don't forget to brighten someone's day with handmade card art from the heart!

Birthday Cards!

I'm the happy recipient of several hand-stamped birthday cards from friends and am tickled to be able to share them with you today!

Connie Babbert sent me this cutie made with the Polka Dots and Petals from the Spring Mini catalog. What a clever use of the stamps and round punch to form a flower! The So Saffron center is covered with sparkley bling (Dazzling Diamonds glitter!) too! That Connie is really clever: just look how she used just the bottom of three Rounded Tab Punches underneath the So Saffron layer to make scallops out of Designer Paper! Too cool, Connie!

Sweet Shapes is the set Michelle Neuendorf used to create this spring-y card of Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Brocade Blue! She used the Signo white gel pen for the faux stitching and a bow of Apricot grosgrain to finish it off. What a sweet and cheery card!

Stampin' Fun For Everyone! is the set used by Jane Bosi to create this card! Both the striped and floral cardstock is from the Flowers and Friends Simply Scrappin' Kit which has been a Hostess set this catalog year. Jane used the oval punch to make a window for the verse, which is actually stamped on the inside of the card. Isn't this just so cute!! (This set will be retired on June 30th).

All products ©Stampin' Up! except the alphabet and the scalloped square punch on Jane's card.

Thanks, ladies! How fortunate am I to receive such great cards and get to share them with you!

Have a great week! Thanks for dropping by!

Forgotten Treasures Challenge

I'm a member of an online stamp group which issues weekly challenges to its members. This weeks challenge was "Forgotten Treasures", using neglected stamping supplies. Hmm, I haven't used my Hodgepodge Hardware in a while, nor have I used my Twill Tape so those were my selected supplies. Then when looking for a stamp set to use, I saw my really neglected Be Happy set which had been cut out but not even mounted yet!! That was perfect, I had to use it! I really like it but just got "involved" with other stamps and had neglected this happy little set. No more! I have my challenge done and ready to mail out to the recipient, so here it is to share with you before going to the mailbox!

I also made good use of a couple of scraps from making my coaster album a few days ago. Both the So Saffron and Rose Red prints are from the Palette O'Prints that was the May Stampin' Up! special. I'm sure you also recognize the flowers that are stamped with Looks Like Spring then punched out with the Spring Bouquet punch.

I added a partial second layer of twill to the first and frayed the end. I added a brad to the twill in the center of the buckle to finish the "belt".

All products ©Stampin' Up!

Hope you enjoy. Have a wonderful day!

Palette O'Prints Cards

I wanted to share with you two cards that my friend Leslie made using the Palette O'Prints... they are SO cute!! This one uses Certainly Celery cardstock stamped with Canvas background. She then layered three of the Pallette O'Prints in Rose Red, Almost Amethyst and So Saffron. Over that are images stamped with the Sweet Shapes set in the same colors. The butterflies are cut out and attached with Dimensions. This look so pretty, fresh and spring-y!

Here's our favorite frog again from the fun set Unfroggetable! The backgrounds are Palette prints in Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst. There is such variety in the designs in the Prints papers; I just love that! I just can't wait to see the 16 colors + In Colors™ in which these will be available in the new Stampin' Up! Collection on July 1st!!

Leslie wanted to be sure to let us know that she received inspiration for these cards from Splitcoast Stampers. Thanks, Leslie, for sharing these cards with us! They are really fun and useful cards!

Thanks, friends, for dropping by today! Happy Saturday!

Palette O'Prints Coaster Book

I actually got to stamp yesterday with some demonstrator friends! It has been awhile; I've been so busy and preoccupied with other matters. This coaster book using the Palette O'Prints that was a special offer in May from Stampin' Up! was one of the projects we did. Thanks to Jann McCollom for bringing this project and leading it! We used four coasters and covered each with one of the color papers in the Palette: Rose Red, So Saffron, Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery. A Sanding Block was then used on the coaster edges to give it the popular distressed look. On the back of each coaster "page" we added stamping and coloring with sponges, markers, AquaPainters, Blender Pens, etc., each of us in our own style and designs.
I used the Doodle This set from the Spring Mini Catalog on the front cover, colored with AquaPainter and markers, and then highlighted it with a good dose of Dazzling Diamonds in the center and accenting the edges. These papers are beautiful by themselves but I just couldn't resist adding some doodle-y swirls on the edges of the front and throughout the mini book. This set is so much fun to stamp with... I love the whimsical nature of the stamps and projects made with them! A few grosgrain ribbons give a finishing touch to the album!

These little booklets make great mini albums for a special occasion or remembrance. They are also a great size (4"x4") to carry in one's purse to show off pictures of loved ones (such as children, grandchildren or pets?!) : ) I don't have any pictures in mine yet, but hopefully soon!

In the upcoming Stampin' Up! Collection (new term for the catalog), these 12"x12" "Prints" Designer Papers will come in packages of 12 sheets, 2 each of 6 designs and each package will be an individual color. There will be 16 color choices available plus a selection of the new In Colors™! Wow! Lots of cool new Designer Papers!!

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Gayle is one of the demos I stamped with yesterday and she presented me with an early birthday card! I love this card! It is that same wonderful set, Doodle This, done in Tempting Turquoise and Green Galore. Gayle, who always makes the coolest things, used the Signo white gel pen to highlight the swirls on the turquoise side; I love that look, don't you?!! A touch of the green grosgrain ribbon and Dazzling Diamonds in the flower center set the card off just perfectly. Thanks again for the lovely card, Gayle!
I'm working on a big project right now so my postings may be a bit more infrequent. I'm not ignoring you nor forgetting to post; it's just that my time will be limited for awhile.
Thanks for dropping by!!

Sanding blocks...did you know?

Did you know that you can use your sanding blocks not only to smooth rough edges of card stock or chipboard, but also to give a distressed or sanded look to buttons or brads, cardstock or even photos?
They are found on page 222 of the Idea Book & Catalog.