Paper Scraps

I had two packs of Designer Series Paper that just had scraps of paper left in them. I remembered seeing a similar card on Pinterest but decided I didn't want to hunt for it to CASE. So, made this on my own. I started with the top card because that packet had lots of long skinny scraps. I glued the expression strip down first and then added the strips above and below. the first strips were cut at just the angle I needed for the bottom pieces. But then as I got to the top of the card the angles were wrong. So, I had to cut them and it wasn't as easy to assemble. So, for the second card I drew a pencil lines where the white piece of card stock would go and then layered the strips on the card. This was so much easier. For one thing I could lay down a layer of adhesive on the backing using a Stampin' Glue Stick. By adding the white expression strip last I didn't have to worry about the angle on the bottom pieces since the white would cover the ends.

You Grow, Girl

This card combines an expression from the new Greatest Greetings stamp set with lots of retired products. It's fun to pull out some of those old favorite things and create cards.

Another Card Using Happy Home

This card also uses the Happy Home stamp set and the Heart and Home Thinlits. I also used the other thinlit in the set to make the window sill planter. The flowers were punched using the punch from Itty Bitty Punch Pack and the leaves are punched using the Owl Builder punch. I used my white chalk marker on the clouds and placed everything on top of card stock that was run through the Big Shot suing the Brick Wall Textured Embossing Folder.

Happy Home Again

Another spring image out the window using Happy Home and Hearth and Home Thinlits. This scene was stamped on Soft Sky card stock and then the ground was colored using a Wild Wasabi marker. I also colored the child's clothes and the kite using Real Red and Night of Navy markers.

Happy Home

I like when Stampin' Up! offers new sets that coordinate with thinlits I already have in my collection. This is the new Happy Home stamp set in the Occasions catalog that coordinates with the Hearth and Home Thinlits. I added some Blushing Bride color to the tree to make a spring scene. We've had so many blizzard days lately that thoughts of spring are welcome!

Another Welcome Card

Big expression stamps make for easy, quick cards. This stamp comes from the new Welcome Words stamp set. It has lots smaller word stamps that can be added for new home, baby, etc. It's not easy to see in the photo but I paper pierced the white card stock top and bottom to give a little more interest to the card.

Same Layout Different Spin

This is the same layout as yesterday's card. Just used the scrap of the Big Note die and switched things around a bit. The butterfly was made using the Big Shot with Butterfly Thinlits. I used my new Precision Base Plate made to use with thinlits that have lots of intricate cuts and the Big Shot Die Brush. Both are in the Occasions catalog. If you watch the video for using the Precision Base Plate it recommends that you do not use it with the magnetic platform because they both are magnetic and can really get stuck together. So I didn't do that but not thinking I put them in the same storage basket, unfortunately side by side and it did take quite a bit of work to get them apart. So, have made a special place on my die shelf for the Precision Base Plate. Lesson learned!

In The Meadow Again

This card features another image and sentiment from In the Meadow stamp set. I used markers to color the image before stamping on card stock. It's paired with the Wildflower Fields Designer Series Paper from Sale-A-Bration. And I used the retired Big Note die with my bigshot and then trimmed it to the size I wanted. I got this layout from Leisure Arts book, Card Sketches for Paper Crafters.

This is the inside of the card using some more stamps from In the Meadow.

In the Meadow

I finally got a chance to create with the new In the Meadow stamp set available in the Occasions catalog. It has such pretty sketched images. I used a clear block and three markers (Pacific Point, Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi) and applied ink to the clear block to add color to the paper. Then I pressed the inked block onto the paper. Then I stamped the mountain image over that background. Simple and easy!

Here's another card using the tree sketch from In the Meadow. I just used two colors of markers here (Pacific Point and Wild Wasabi).

Little Monsters

Another card using the Owl Builder punch to make the little monsters. Their mouths were drawn on freehand. The arms are cut from a separate owl body using the feet to make hands. The banner is made using the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and the coordinating Bitty Banners framelit. CASE: Pinterest find Craft-Your-Home.com

Party Penquin

CASE of Australian stamper Tenealle Williams. This card was fun to make but I'll admit there were lots of steps to put it all together. The penguin alone has 10 pieces to adhere. But it sure is cute!

Love U

Another sketch from Card Sketches for Paper Crafters inspired this card. I used the Sweetheart punch and the Little Letters thinlits for the center. The "love" comes from Best of Love.

Olive You

Another sketch from Card Sketches for Paper Crafters. The stamp is another from the retired Best of Love set. I'm going to send this card to a great niece who is really into jokes and play on words.

More Inspiration from Card Sketches for Paper Crafters

This card used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set with the retired Best of Love stamp set and a heart punch. Any expression could be used; Thank You, Happy Birthday, Get Well. It's such an easy card but so pleasing to the eye. I used Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Whisper White and Real Red for my colors.

Dual Card

I have two people that I send birthday cards to that were born on Valentine's Day. So lately I've been making them dual cards. This is the design for this year. I used some of the Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper Stack. Then chose my colors for the stamps and card stocks based on the paper. The little cup cake from the Party Wishes stamp set and punched with the Party Punch pack. Cute little bundle in the Occasions catalog.

Sky is the Limit

I used the Sky is the Limit stamp set for this card. It's a cute set and free with Sale-A-Bration but only available through February 15. I used another World Traveler Embossing Folder for the background. Look closely because you may not have noticed the tail of smoke with the heart. 

Welcome Words

This is another sketch layout from the Card Sketches for Paper Crafting book. I used the row of houses from Welcome Words and punched the heart using the Confetti Hearts Border Punch. The clouds are from the Sky is the Limit stamp set available from Sale-A-Bration available through February 15, 2016. I fussy cut all. The greeting is from retired Good Greetings stamp set.

Happy Heart Day

I CASEd another sketch from Card Sketches for Paper Crafters book for this layout. I used some retired Designer Series Paper and the last of my Bravo Burgundy card stock.

And speaking of retired products... Here's my latest little bit of organization:

storage for my retired markers.

I saw this idea online over a year ago but at that time I didn't have anywhere near my work table to put them up. But now realized I could put them inside the old drawer I use a shelf. The tubes holding the markers are Crystal Lite plastic containers (the kind the pitcher packets come in). I had just enough containers saved to hold my retired marker collection and a couple blender pens. Now, I'm trying to decide if I want to do the same thing with my current markers. HMMM.... May have to start drinking a lot of Crystal Lite teas. LOL

 I decided to pull out my Holiday Home stamp set to make this Valentine. I CASED a card made by my niece. Then I freehand drew the wisps of smoke. The inside of the card was made with the new Welcome Words and retired Good Greetings stamp sets.

And here's a tip I learned from Mary Fish's blog. Snip a slit in the top middle of the cardboard holder to tuck the tail of the thread to keep it from unwinding.

Paper Pumpkin Alternative Idea

 I made cards in this style with the supplies and stamps in the January 2016 Paper Pumpkin. The kit for January had supplies to make little treat holders and a banner. I made 8 treat holders for the Confirmation Class students but didn't think I would get much use out of the banner. So, made valentines instead. I usually send valentines to all my nieces and nephews or their children. It's just another way to keep in touch throughout the year. And who doesn't like getting something other than junk mail in their snail mail.
The bottom card uses some gold sequin trim, gold twine and sequins I already had in my supplies.