Card... Six

This is a new background layout for me. It's simple and I will be using it more. It's pretty using the same DSP pattern on two of the strips but also would be pretty using two different, or using two colors of card stock or using one strip of DSP and three colors of Card Stock. Lots of possibilities! Three of the strips measure 1" x 3-3/4" and the larger one measures 1-3/4" by 3-3/4". They are mounted on a piece of card stock that measures 4" x 5-a/4".

 The first three cards today use the same basic layout. I just used different stamp sets, framelits, punches, embossing folders, layers to change them up a bit. Thanks a Ton card is made using a past Sale-a-Bration stamp set called Patterned Occasions, retired Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper, Vine Street embossing folder (also a retired Sale-a-Bration item), retired Midnight Muse 3/8" stitched satin ribbon and Chalk Talk Framelits (129983).

More Comfort Cafe DSP with Summer Starfruit 3/8" stitched satin ribbon (retired). But in this card I used the Apothecary Accents framelits (127003) as the layer behind my expression and embossed both that layer and the Soft Suede card stock layer with the Fancy Fan embossing folder (127751). The expression comes from the Lots of Thanks stamp set (129690 c, 129687 w). The card below is essentially the same except I used the Curly Label (119851) and Petite Curly Label (129405) punches for the expression layer and used the Fancy Fan embossing folder but flipped the card stock to the opposite side. The expression comes from the Pretty Petites stamp set (another retired Sale-a-Bration set). 

 I was about to throw the rest of my scraps away when I realized a few pieces were big enough to use with the Petite Curly Label punch. I'm telling you it's not easy for me to throw these scraps away!
So, I layered the punched DSP on pieces of card stock punched with the Postage Label punch (122344). The little flower was punched with the Boho Blossoms punch (119858). The flower center is from the Neutrals Candy Dots (130934) If you look closely you will see I got out my Simply Scored tools (122334) and used the Borders Plate (126192) to add some embossed designs below the punched squares. The expression is from the retired Simply Sketched hostess set.

Two cards, same layout.

This design layout is a CASE from Frenchie Stamps. The Designer Series Paper is layered on matching Pool Party card stock, which I did first before picking out my stamps. When I stamped the expressions I realized that they were going to look too small with the layered bands... so thought about what I might be able to add to make them fit. I like the way the stars and Candy Dots finished off this simple design. (Subtles 130933 and Neutrals 130934 Candy Dots used here.) The stars were punched using the star from the retired Merry Mini's Punch Pack but it is almost exactly the same size as the star in the new Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (133787). Little punches from the Punch Packs are great to have on hand for adding a little focal point. And the Candy Dots are so much easier to use when you don't need an actual brad to hold things together. The Thank You So Much expression comes from the Lots of Thanks stamp set. Mighty Kind of You is from the Yee-Haw photopolymer special stamp set (138107) being offered now. I'm having a lot of fun with that set! Yee-Haw!

Zig Zag!

Finally I started to use the larger two inch scraps of Designer Series paper. I wanted to make some simpler, more masculine cards for my husband's 'stash'. So, I just tried to keep it simple. I still feel like I should have made at least a knot in the ribbon but sometimes you just have to walk away from a card and call it done!

As promised both of today's cards use the zig zag from the Finishing Touches edgelits (127010). I will admit when I use this edgelit I have a tendency to put it on the paper with the zig zag along the card stock edge. I've found it works better for me the opposite way; putting the "straight" edge along the edge of the paper. That way you don't get a groove in your card stock along with the zig zag cut and it seem to line it up straighter for some reason.

The ribbon in both cards is retired Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin. The expression in the card above is from the Lots of Thanks stamp set (129690 c, 129687w). The Midnight Muse card stock was embossed with the Zig Zag embossing folder (133738).

In the card above I cut the Cajun Craze card stock about 1/2" wider than the DSP so that I could cut both edges with the zig zag edgelit. The stamped image is from Starburst Sayings set (133185 c, 133182 w) and was cut using the Starburst framelits (132967).

Still more cards from that packet of scraps to come in tomorrow's post!

One Card Leads to Another!

This card was made using the last of the thin strips that were in my scraps of this Designer Series Paper (Comfort Cafe, retired). I just lined them up on a piece of Cajun Craze card stock that was sitting on my work space and glued them down. Then I designed the card around that piece of card stock. I made the flower using the Floral Frames framelits (127012) and snipped the petals using my scissors. The center is one of the retired Dahlia Adornments, a button would work, too. The "Thank You" comes from the Lots of Thanks stamp set (129690 c, 129687 w). The ribbon is retired Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin. I chose Crushed Curry card stock for my base. When I put all the elements together I decided I needed to add a layer of Midnight Muse card stock (retired). So, I had to cut off some of the Cajun Craze card stock. 

This created a scrap of card stock that I couldn't just throw in the trash and presented my next card design.

I layered my scrap on a piece of Crushed Curry Card stock, stamped the same expression on it and then punched the edge using the retired Scallop Trim Border punch. Some more retired Midnight Muse 3/8" stitched satin ribbon was used. Then I embossed a piece of Midnight Muse card stock using the Zig Zag embossing folder (133738).

If I had it to do over I would have used my Big Shot and the zig zag edgelit in the Finishing Touches Edgelits (127010) instead of the Scallop Trim Border punch. But I didn't think of that edgelit until later in the day. Check back tomorrow!

More Uses for Homemade Holiday Framelits!

This card is a CASE from Stampin' Success, Stampin' Up!'s magazine for demonstrators. the arrows are made using the tallest house from the Homemade Holiday framelits. You just have to cut off the chimney to make the arrow shape. The Designer Series Paper is Confetti Celebration collection. I also used the Arrows embossing folder on the Bermuda Bay card stock area. The fifth arrow is made with Crushed Curry card stock. The base is Smoky Slate card stock. "Awesome... Thanks!" comes from the Yippee-Skippee stamp set (131344 c, 131341 w). I have some DSP scraps that are going to be put to use making some more cards of this design. 

Which brings me to the theme for the rest of this week... What to do with all those little scraps of Designer Series Paper? I have such a hard time throwing away those little scraps. I put them back in the plastic sleeve as I use the paper sheets. Eventually I always end up with just a sleeve of little scraps. I lived too many years with my Aunt Nina to just throw them away. So, those sleeves reside next to my work area until I get inspired to tackle them or the stack gets too big and I'm forced to do something with them.

Being a Pastor of two congregations my husband sends out lots of "Thank You" cards and his 'stash' was getting low. So, I grabbed a packet of scraps and told myself I had to use them all up before working on anything else. I had about 11 scraps that were 2"x12" and the rest were all much smaller. Most of a day was devoted to turning those scraps into 31 cards!

Here's the first card I designed. These pieces of DSP were just a tad longer than shown here but all the same width. They just screamed to be woven together on the card front. The "Thank You" is from Lots of Thanks (129690 c, 129687 w) and after stamping it I cut it with my Big Shot using the Homemade Holiday framelit turning that house on its side to make the label shape. The ribbon is Night of Navy 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon. That color is now retired. I was really wanting to use the Crushed Curry 1/8" Taffetta that is a new color available this year but don't have that in my possession (yet!). The background here is Cajun Craze card stock and the base is Crumb Cake.

A hint on doing the weaving. Lay out your strips on your paper and decide the length you want them and cut to size. Then lay down three longest all running the same direction. In my card those are the horizontal pieces. Glue just the ends of these three to the card stock. Then weave the other three (vertical pieces here) under the three glued. Glue these pieces when you have them all woven into place.

I had enough pieces of these strips to make 2 cards like this. Check back tomorrow to see what I did with the remaining 4 strips of this width. And how that led to another scrap that I just couldn't throw away!!!