Iris Folding

Iris Folding... that's what this card uses. Although it looks complicated, it's really very simple! It's a perfect way to use up small scraps of patterned paper - or patterned paper that you think is too gaudy for anything else since only a small part shows. I would love to show you how to make this card in person as it uses a template and would be difficult to explain in written words. If you are interested, please contact me and we'll schedule a time for a one-on-one lesson in my home! Supplies used for this card:

"Big Pieces" stamp set (any small flower will do)
"All Year Cheer I" stamp set
Old Olive cardstock and ink
So Saffron cardstock
Petals & Paisleys double-sided paper
1 1/4" Square Punch (use 4 times to make window)
White organdy ribbon
Stampin' Dimensionals

I'm Back!

Hi friends, sorry for the delay... we were out of town for the Memorial Day weekend. But here's a quick, cute card I made using the Palette O' Prints papers. It easily lends itself to several different occasions since the "Nice and Easy Notes" stamp set has several sentiments to choose from. Obviously this one is birthday, but it could be a get well card, a congratulations card, a thank you card, or just a note card to a friend. It's also a fun set to use your Watercolor Wonder Crayons or watercolor pencils with! The supplies I used are listed below:

"Nice and Easy Notes" stamp set
"Amazing to Zany" stamp set
So Saffron cardstock
Bordering Blue cardstock
Palette O' Prints Sampler Pad
Confetti Cream cardstock
Watercolor Wonder Crayons
Aqua Painter
Round Tab Punch
Brads

By the way, I do have a Stamp-a-Stack workshop coming up on June 5th at 7pm. I still have spots available! Remember that we make 12 cards (4 each of 3 designs) and the cost is only $10 with a $15 order, or $20 without an order. I'm considering posting one of the cards we'll be making just for a teaser! I also have a Girls Workshop coming this weekend on June 3rd at 2pm. Let me know if you'd like to sign up for either of these! Have a great week...

Simply Said...

Here are those same daisies - this card was very popular among my Stamp-a-Stackers! I did not create it, I copied it, which in the world of cardmaking is totally acceptable. It even has a name: "CASE" - Copy And Share Everything! I think the sharp definition between the red, white, and black makes this card really pop. The photo doesn't show the sentiment very well unless you enlarge it, but it says "Simply said from the heart... thank you". To get the dotted lines between the flowers (which to me looks like the flight of a butterfly), you place the paper-piercing pad behind the front of the card and use the paper piercer to poke holes in a loose, flighty, manner. The supplies for this card are listed below:

"Simply Said" stamp set
Real Red cardstock and marker
Basic Black cardstock and ink
Whisper White cardstock
White Gel Pen
Vintage Brads
Word Window punch
Crafter's Took Kit (for the paper piercer and mat pack)
Stampin' Dimensionals

So, simply said, this simple card is simply beautiful!

Celebrate!

Daisies are my favorite flower, so I naturally love the "Simply Said" stamp set because it has these wonderful daisies! No special techniques on this card - sometimes simple is best! Remember that you can click on the image above to enlarge it. The supplies are listed below:

"Simply Said" stamp set
"All Year Cheer II" stamp set
Black cardstock and ink (Craft & Classic)
Bashful Blue cardstock
Black gingham ribbon
White narrow organdy ribbon
Ticket Corner punch
Horizontal Slot punch
White Gel Pen
Summer Sun marker
Black Detail Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Stampin' Dimensionals

Now, pick one of the things you have to celebrate and make this darling card!

Fun Filled!

That's the name of this set - Fun Filled! And it IS so much fun because it's very versatile. Instead of this adorable pot of flowers, it can be a birthday cake, a present, or even a purse!

But wait - I'm getting ahead of myself. I wanted to mention to those of you who come to all of my Stamp-a-Stack classes a big THANK YOU first, but also to please be patient - I promise to have new cards on here that you haven't seen before. I want to get the others caught up and give them a glimpse of what they've been missing!

Now, for this beautiful Bashful Blue birthday card, I used several fun techniques. I tore the edge with The Tearing Edge (honest, that's what it's called), I used 2-Step Stampin' for the pot, and I colored the rubber on the circles stamp (the one used to color the flowers) with our fabulous markers. The supplies are listed below:

"Fun Filled" stamp set
"Simple Sayings II" stamp set
Bashful Blue cardstock and marker
Almost Amethyst cardstock, ink, and marker
Certainly Celery cardstock and marker
Whisper White cardstock
Lovely Lilac ink
Celery grosgrain ribbon
White narrow organdy ribbon
The Tearing Edge

So, if it happens to be your birthday today, then I dedicate this card to you!

Palette o' Prints

Don't miss out on these patterned papers! The striped and polka-dotted Certainly Celery cardstock on this card is included in the Palette o' Prints promotion that is available until May 31st. With a $35 purchase in May, you can get a sample pad of your own for just $9.95! The pad includes forty-eight (48) 6"x6" sheets of the NEW Prints Designer Series double-sided paper from the upcoming Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog! There are 4 colors in the pad, each in 12 different patters. The colors are Certainly Celery (shown above), Almost Amethyst, Rose Red, and So Saffron. The possibilities are endless! The supplies for the card above are listed below:

"Be Happy" stamp set
"All Year Cheer I" stamp set
Certainly Celery cardstock and ink
Cranberry Crisp ink and stitched ribbon
Fresh Favorites I colored buttons
Palette o' Prints Sampler Pad
Stampin' Dimensionals
Glue dots (easiest way to adhere the button)

Remember that Cranberry Crisp is part of the In Color palette and is only available until June 30th - if you like this color, don't wait too long to add it to your collection! It is available in Classic Ink and refill, 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock, and the stitched ribbon shown above.

You Make Me Smile!

I have so much to smile about these days... the weather is gorgeous, my family is healthy, I have some of the best friends in the world, my business is growing... I can't ask for more! I thought I'd share this lovely card with you. It's another that we did at a recent Stamp-a-Stack workshop. The "Big Pieces" stamp set that I used is not currently available (it was in a former mini catalog) but I'm holding out hope that maybe they'll put it in the upcoming 2007 Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog! No promises, but even if they don't, there are several other sets that you could use for this. A flower from "Mixed Bouquet", "Bodacious Bouquet", "Love Without End", or "Petal Pushers" would do nicely! You may not be able to see it well in the photo, but the center of each flower has a drop of Crystal Effects on it to make it shiny. Quick and easy embellishment that adds a nice touch, don't you think? The supplies for this card are listed below:

"Big Pieces" stamp set
"Simple Sayings II" stamp set
Whisper White cardsock
Regal Rose cardstock and ink
Pretty in Pink ink
Black StazOn ink
Crystal Effects
Vintage brads
Vellum cardsotck

Thanks for taking a peek! I hope it made YOU smile! :)

A Happy Hello!

Hello world... I'm very excited to get my very own blog site under way! It is my intention to use this site to help educate others about the wonderful craft of card making! I am a Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator and lovin' every minute of it! I joined in January '07 and have learned so much, made so many friends, and even earned a decent amount of money. Of course, let's not fool ourselves... Stampin' Up! usually gets all my earnings anyway. I just can't get enough. I hope to inspire others through this site by sharing cards I've created along with the supply lists and instructions. As you can see, I have included this beautiful sunflower card that we made at a recent Stamp-a-Stack workshop (I'll explain those in a minute). It's a beautiful stamp set that just pops off the page. Here's a list of materials to make this card:

"Serene Sunflower" stamp set
"All-Year Cheer I" stamp set (a happy hello)
True Thyme ink and cardstock
Chocolate Chip ink (classic and craft) and cardstock
Marigold Morning ink
More Mustard ink
Confetti Cream cardstock
Mustard grosgrain ribbon
True Thyme stitched ribbon
Tag Punch
Small Tag Punch
1/4" circle punch

If you like what you see, you should come and stamp with me! I hold regular Stamp-a-Stack classes in my home in Allen. You will make 12 cards (4 each of 3 designs) using my supplies (with the exception of adhesive). The cost is only $10 with a $15 catalog order, or $20 without an order. This is the most popular class I offer -- I encourage you to come try it out! (but fair warning... you'll be hooked!)

Thanks for stoppin' by... be sure to bookmark this site and return often for inspiration.