Happy Accident

I was working on a card using this Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper. I had made my cut for a 4"x5-1/4" piece of it and then my paper cutter blade fell down on the remaining 4"x6-3/4" piece and cut it diagonally. I hate when I do that! Usually I just put that piece back in the package and hope I will use it later. But this time I challenged myself to make something with it. I like how it turned out. 

The stamped image is from the Another Great Year stamp set. I stamped once on white and cut with circle punches and then stamped a second time on Crushed Curry and fussy cut the banner to layer.  I colored the candles with Blendabilities markers. More circle punching in Tangelo Twist and Crushed Curry and a strip of the Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim and all layered on a stamped piece of Tangelo Twist. The dots were made using a stamp from the Work of Art stamp set. (You gotta get it!) After everything was layered I had a few of the Bermuda Bay sequins laying on my work surface so I added them to the card and topped them with a little rhinestone. I love when little mishaps turn into happy accidents!

TBT - Because I Care

For this week's "throw back" I used the "Because I Care" Hostess set from several years ago with retired Concord Crush cardstock, ink and ribbon. A little black matting and brad help to bring out the colors. Hydrangeas have always been one of my favorite flowers, so I really like this set. I used Pear Pizzazz for the green in the card. The Concord Crush cardstock was embossed using the Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder and Big Shot.

Butterfly Basics and Thinlits

Here are two cards made using the Butterfly Basics stamp set and the Butterfly Thinlits. I debated on whether to order the bundle or just the Thinlits. But the images in the stamp set won me over. They are just so pretty!
There are three thinlits in the pack. I've used the two larger more detailed ones on these cards. The little butterfly on the first card is punched using the Bitty Butterfly punch.
Because these two butterflies are so detailed you will want to use a layer of wax paper between the thinlit and your card stock. And even with that added layer I found I had to add a shim to get the best cut of the large butterfly. I was using the Irresistibly Yours Specialty DSP which is thicker and has that glossy layer so that only added to the difficulty of getting a good cut. But I do like the way the sponged paper looks with the butterfly cut.
All Big Shots are a little bit different so you may or may not need a shim. If you don't like to fuss with die cuts this set of framelits may not be for you; but believe me once I got my layers for my Big Shot figured out I really had fun with these butterflies.

CASE of Manufactured Card

Have you noticed that card manufacturer's are producing cards that look hand made. I think we have them worried!
Here's a CASE of a card I received recently. The manufactured card had stems that were scripted words. Honestly I like mine better because the purchased card had to be turned on its side to read the script. And it didn't have the embossed vellum like mine does. I colored the Basic Jewel Rhinestones with blendabilities markers and the vellum was colored using a sponge dauber and ink pad of the same color. The stem is actually the balloon string from Celebrate Today stamp set and the flower is from Petite Petals. I used the Petite Petals punch, too.

B.Y.O.P.

 B.Y.O.P. stamp set in the Occasions catalog is one of my favorites. It's designed to use with gift cards. There are expressions for specific occasions but a few can be used for anything. I also used the new Bow Builder Punch on this card. Originally I was just going to put the bow on the card but then there were these little strips of card stock sitting on my work surface from a previous cutting in the exact same color and that gave me the ribbon idea. Since then I've seen it on other people's blogs and Pinterest. When using the Bow Builder punch you do have to punch twice to get all the pieces you need. I put mine together using mini glue dots. I won't be sending it for a while so I'm going to see how it holds. Sticky Strip might be the better adhesive.

The inside of the card explains the expression and I added a little strip of matching card stock to the left side. I won't be sending a gift card but will be sending a check in this card; so the strip is just attached with a glue dot at each end and then I'll fold the check and hang it over the strip of card stock. I'm sure somebody else has come up with this idea, too. LOL

Sympathy Cards

 Here are two cards using the Something Borrowed Designer Series Paper, My use certainly doesn't go along with the name of this DSP, but I was in need of some more masculine looking sympathy cards. The top card was my first attempt. It uses a couple of retired stamp sets and the new White Jute Ribbon. I like it but still wasn't quite as masculine as I wanted. So I used a different patter of the paper in the card below and paired it with the retired Herringbone embossing folder. Both cards use the white embossing powder. I have finally put the powder away!

Throw Back Thursday

 I decided to apply Throw Back Thursday to my stamping. This is an old set called "In Full Bloom."  Such pretty delicate designs! Yes, I still had my embossing powder out and did white on white again and used it to make this card with the detachable book mark. There's a little slit cut into the Soft Sky card stock and hidden under the stamped band. The book mark was trimmed at the top using the new Ornate Tag Topper punch. I used my Big Shot and the retired Flower Garden embossing folder on the Soft Sky cards stock. The recipient can remove the bookmark and then use the card again if they want. The twine is from the Painted Blooms Cotton Twine pack in the Occasions catalog.

Belated Birthday

I missed a birthday last week, so I made this card using the cake from Life's Adventure hostess set in the Stampin' Up!'s annual catalog. White emobssing powder here on white card stock and then used some sponge daubers to apply the ink. The expression is from the Remembering Your Birthday stamp set. This set has paired expressions, inside it reads, "But then I forgot, Happy Belated Birthday."
The strip of DSP is from the retired Flirtatious pack and was a piece that was hidden under something else on my desk and destined for the trash. I discovered it while I was thinking about what sort of card to make for the recipient and Wisteria Wonder and the design seemed perfect!

Petal Potpourri

And while I had the embossing powder out I decided to give a few other cards on my "try this" list a go. Here's one using several new products from the Occasions catalog. The crocheted flower from the Petal Potpourri set is stamped on Vellum card stock and with VersaMark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. So pretty!
Then I cut them in half to layer along the Coastal Cabana card stock which was stamped with the little dot image from the Work of Art stamp set.
The ribbon is from Sale-a-Bration's Best Year Ever Accessories pack. This year the items in Sale-A-Bration will only be available through that period. So, if you like a product get it now.
I punched a little heart out of Coastal Cabana card stock and stuck one of the new Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers (page 28 in the Occasions catalog) on top. It gives it a nice shiny touch!
Hello is one of the words in the Hello You Thinlits Dies. Just remember to layer some wax paper between the thinlit and your card stock and the word will pop right out.

Product Focus: White Embossing Powder

 I saw a similar card that Dawn Griffiths posted and decided to give it a try with stamps that I had. Here's my "Make a Wish" card. You may be wondering where the white embossing powder is used. All over the card! Everything is stamped using VersaMark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. Then you color the embossing powder using Blendabilities markers. I used the medium color of Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo and the lightest color of Daffodil Delight. I liked how Dawn used the Dotty Angles stamp set on the background layer. And I also got the idea for adding sequins from her card. I just cut off some of the sequins from the ribbon of Bermuda Bay trim that is in the Occasions catalog.

 Then I made this card. I wasn't sure I would get a good enough impression of the medallion to heat emboss it. But it worked better than I thought. I like the way the "HAPPY" has a neon lights look to it.

I wanted to give the angle stamp in the Dotty Angles a try, too. Here's my card using it. I tried not to overthink the coloring of the angles. I didn't really want a pattern. That's not always easy for me. I can be too logical a thinker sometimes! But it's fun to just turn your mind off sometimes and let your hands do what they may.

Pompom Trim

I think one of my friends will smile when she sees this Pompom Trim on this card. She'll remember when Pompom trim was a big part of home decorating... curtains. pillows, tablecloths, etc. The stamp set is Simply Wonderful free with Sale-A-Bration. At first I was stumped about how I was going to attach the trim. One would need a really large punched hole to thread it through the card. So, I used a stapler but then it just wanted to hang down in front of the expression. I carefully tied it after stapling it on the card and that gave it the "lift" it needed.

From the Garden

We are gardeners, so I couldn't pass up the Handpicked Framelits and From the Garden bundle in the Occasions catalog. Just too cute and I could see lots of possibilities for use for both cards, gifts and table decorations. This is a Valentine I'll be sending to another friend who is a real gardener; in fact she is a certified Master Gardener. Her yard is just beautiful! This bundle is one of this week's weekly deals!!!
I pulled out my Fringe Scissors to make the grass. And while I had them out I made this second card using some retired stamp sets and glitter brad. The petals are made with retired DSP using the heart from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack. (Also used for red "flowers" in the top card.) I found the easiest way to make the flower was to adhere the bottom most heart to the paper, then add the brad and then arrange the hearts around the brad.

Mini Treat Bag

 I have been having fun with the new Mini Treat Bag Thinlits from Stampin' Up! There are a lot of pieces in this package of thinlits to use with your Big Shot. In the photo above you see the little treat bags I made for the Confirmation Class. They'll get them on Wednesday. So, keep it a secret! I used the Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper that you can get free during Sale-a-Bration. I have searched and searched for my little cello bags and couldn't find them. So, made do with the little cello wrap that dimensionals come in. Good thing I don't throw much away! This time it paid off.

See the little framelit in the card photo. That comes in the Mini Treat Bag set. I rolled a piece of white card stock through the Big Shot 3 times repositioning the thinlit each time to make the three rows of hearts. It was eaiser than I expected to get the rows lined up. The thinlit leaves a little impression and I just lined the top of the thinlit with the bottom impression. The ribbon is from the Best Year Ever Accessory Pack. And look at all the little hearts you get (see them scattered on the table surface)... I have hearts all over my work space! There is also a star strip thinlit; I'm thinking quick and easy masculine cards.
And here are some photos of some Valentine decorations I made for our Valentine Brunch at church.

I made little Valentines to sit on the tables next to the vases. The vases have little branches from our Red Twig Dogwood bushes in them. I used the scraps from the Valentines and some silver glimmer paper to punch hearts and hot glued them to the branches.
The two photos below are actually one project as it is two-sided. I used my Big Shot to make the smaller boxes; I had these precut and in my Melon Mambo scrap envelope. I honestly don't ever remember cutting them. Anyhow, I wanted to use the "B" and bumblebee stamp from the retired "Just Buzzing By" stamp set and needed a larger box; so I used my Gift Box Punch Board to make it. This was one of those late night, can't fall asleep ideas. Luckily I still remembered it this next morning!

More Crazy About You

 Here's a cute card made using the Crazy About You Photopolymer stamp set and Hello You Thinlits. I also used my scallop punch and paper piercing tool (see the row of punched holes along the left side). The green leaves are stamped directly on the white card stock. The two flowers are stamped on a separate piece of card stock and punched with the Flower Medallion and the 1-3/4" scallop circle punches. The button is from the Best Year Ever Accessory Pack and I used a black Candy Dot from the neutrals pack on the scalloped flower. If you haven't tired the Candy Dots in the big catalog you are missing out on a great product.
"Thanks" is one of the thinlits for use with Big Shot machine. So pretty; just be sure to add a layer of wax paper between the thinlit and card stock and it will pop right out of the thinlit with no tearing. I have also seen where people use a new dryer sheet but I've not found that to be necessary.
And here's another trick I learned from Mary Fish's blog... when using photopolymer stamps place then on the diagonal on your clear blocks and it's easier to get then straight. See the photo below. I saw her hint and thought, "Yeah right."  But gave it a try and it works! I can't explain it but I stamped "so much" for three different cards and each time it was straight as an arrow! I love reading other blogs and getting ideas and helpful hints.

Birthday Bash!

A little girl we know is turning two this month. She's the first grandchild of friends. I know Grandma and Grandpa will enjoy celebrating with her. I used the Birthday Bash Speciality Paper from the Occasions catalog for the two corner squares. This is one of the two sheets in the package that are one-sided embossed gold foil. It's hard to tell on the photo but some of the little sprinkles are gold foil embossed. Pretty paper! For the center square, flame tips and little heart (from Owl Builder Punch) I used a piece of gold foil sheet. The Cupcake Builder Punch makes for a quick focal point. The stamp set is the retired Create a Cupcake but check out the new Cupcake Party set in Stampin' Up!'s big catalog. One of my nieces introduced me to this sketch design and I've been having lots of fun with it.
Here's a fun valentine I made using the same sketch.

Lots of retired product on this one; Oh, Whale! stamp set, and coordinating embosslit, Cloudy Day and Scallops embossing folders. The sentiment inside is "Whale you be mine?"  I'm hoping some little family members will get the pun.

You Brighten My Day!

This stamped image is from a cute free Sale-A-Bration set called You Brighten My Day. I also used the Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper from Sale-A-Bration. The banner was cut using Banner framelits and is embossed with the new Happy Hearts Textured Embossing Folder for the big shot and the Whisper White twine from the Painted Blooms Cotton Twine pack (Soft Sky and Wild Wasabi are the other two colors in the pack). I used Circle punches for the circles and the little heart from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack. Silver Glimmer paper adds to the sparkle. The bulb was colored with the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities.
I'll have some more ideas for the Occasions and Sale-A-Bration products next week. Check back in!

More Cheerful Critters

I used the Cheerful Critters for this Valentine and colored them with the regular stamping up markers. The expressions come from a variety of stamp sets. The heart with love in the middle is from a Sale-A-Bration set called You Brighten My Day
There are so many possibilities with these Cheerful Critters and their blank placards!

Cheerful Critters

I don't think Stampin' Up! could have come up with a better name for this stamp set. These little critters really are cheerful. And when you color them with Blendabilities markers they really pop! I did spend some time fussy cutting each of the critters but they really are cute just stamped on white cardstock and colored are just left plain. Each critter is holder a placard on the stamps but I just cut them off for the two so it looked like they were cheering. The top card uses a piece of the Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper also from the Occasions catalog.
If you buy one of the bundles (see previous posts or check out other bundles in the Occasions catalog) and this Cheerful Critters stamp set  or the Birthday Bash DSP you have earned a free Sale-A-Bration item. I've used one on these cards. The ribbons and buttons are in the Best Year Ever Accessory pack. (That's three separate pieces of ribbon on these cards.)
I used the Confetti Stars border punch on the bottom card.

Celebrate Today

Here's a card made using another bundle from the Occasions catalog. In this bundle you get the Celebrate Today stamp set and the Balloon Framelits. The framelits or stamp set alone are great but put then together and a card goes together really quickly! I used some retired DSP to make cut one balloon and the banner. The banner can be used as I did here or also as a decoration on the balloon. I also used the Lucky Stars embossing folder on this card.

Crazy About You

This card uses a fun new bundle from Stampin' Up's Occasions catalog. The bundle consists of the Crazy About You stamp set and the Hello You Thinlits for use in the Big Shot. I also used Heart Framelits to make the hearts. I made this into a Valentine by stamping "Happy Valentine's Day" inside but wouldn't you love getting this card any time of year!
There are lots of great expressions in the Crazy About You set plus some pretty new flowers (with coordinating punches) and a leaf pattern. The Hello You thinlits consist of the words "you", "happy", "hello" and "thanks".  There are so many possibilities for creativity with this bundle!