Welcome to the Make My Monday challenge #153. Debbie chose a trees theme for the challenge starting today, July 19, 2021. I hope you will pop over to the challenge blog to see what the rest of the design team created as well. We all look forward to seeing what you create in our gallery!
For this challenge, I used my very first Stampin’ Up! stamp set: Lovely as a Tree. I remember how excited I was at the quality of the used stamp set I’d purchased on eBay. When I purchased the stamp set, I really didn’t know anything about Stampin’ Up!. However, I was so completely in love with the details in the stamped images that I tried to get my husband just as excited. For some strange and unknown reason, he wasn’t as excited as I. This one stamp set started me on my SU! obsession journey. Yeah, that’s it – a journey.
Here’s my card:
Measurements:
The So Saffron base measures 5-1/2 inches by 8-1/2 inches, scored at 4-1/4 inches to create a tent.
I used Whisper White for the front and the inside panel of the card. The front piece of white measures 4-1/8 inches by 5-3/8 inches. As usual, the inside panel measures 4 inches by 5-1/4 inches.
Since I stamped the same tree image on the envelope flap, I didn’t need anything else.
Masking with Post-it notes:
Thankfully, the finished card completely matches the picture I had in my head before I started.
The width of the stamped image measures about 4 inches. That’s how I determined that she size of the background box I needed would measure 4-1/2 inches by 1-3/4 inches. Before I did anything else with the card, I needed to mask off the area I needed. When masking straight lines, Post-it notes are one of the best ways to accomplish a clean edge.
If you don’t have Post-It notes, using repositionable tape on the back of copy paper works just as well.
Here’s a picture of my mask:
Ink Pads and Blending Brushes, and Sentiments:
I started to color the panel with Basic Grey ink and a blender brush along the bottom edge. Without putting more ink on the brush, I started swirling up the marked off box. My goal was to have the grey blending into the yellow to resemble a misty morning.
HINT: In order to get a smooth color while using the blending brush, it helps to gently tap off the brush a couple of times.
Then, I started using the So Saffron ink pad and a blending brush along the top. I did reink the brush with the yellow as I worked my way down into the grey.
When I was satisfied with the depth of the So Saffron color, I went back to the Basic Grey. This time I gently pulled the grey color up into the yellow. I didn’t reink the brush a second time after I started pulling color upwards.
After I removed the post-it notes, I stamped the image from Lovely as a Tree. I purposely lined the top of the stamp up with the top edge of the colored panel. I wanted to have the bottom of the stamp run slightly over the bottom edge.
The sentiments on the inside and outside of the card come from the new Color and Contour stamp set. I used Smoky Slate for the sentiments.
Next, I stamped another tree image in the bottom, left corner on the inside panel.
Before adhering the front panel to the outside of the card, I used the Basic Grey Stampin’ Write Marker to outline the white cardstock. I wanted this outline to go with the misty morning, so the width of the outline varies as I went around the cardstock.
Finally, I adhered both pieces of white cardstock using multipurpose glue.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
I’d love to hear what you think, and greatly appreciate every comment.
These all-inclusive kits are for beginning stampers, casual stampers, and avid stampers. There are only two things you will need to have on-hand to create the same cards as shown in the directions included with each kit: liquid adhesive and scissors for the ribbon/twine. That’s it!
These KITS are available to view online only, but I’ve included each of the available kits below:
Just click on the picture of each kit to see what’s included!
Take a look at this video explaining what you get with your kit! Remember, the kits are all inclusive! Just add some of your own crafting basic tools, and you are good to go!
Do you live in the U.S. and need a demonstrator? If so, I’d love to talk to you!
Do You Want to Place an Order?
Of course you do!
If you are ordering less than $150.00, please use the host code shown. If you are ordering more than $150.00, please contact me first so you can get your Stamping Rewards! Any order over $50 will earn a little surprise from me.
The HOST CODE through July 30, 2021 is 2TJSU2RQ.
Again, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate your comments and your time.
Welcome to another MMM challenge! Meg is hosting the theme of cats or dogs and I’m looking forward to seeing your creations in the gallery. Since I just posted a dogs card for Cardz 4 Guyz (you can see that here), I chose cats for this MMM.
Here’s my card:
I thoroughly enjoyed playing around with the DSP (designer series paper) to find a non-pattern with which I was happy. I used the Playful Pets stamps, coordinating die set, and both ribbons. In addition, I used the tailored label punch and a circle punch.
Measurements:
The Flirty Flamingo card base measures 4-1/4 inches by 11 inches, scored at 5-1/2 inches to form a tent card.
I trimmed the black mat to 4-1/8 inches by 5-3/8 inches.
The sentiment circle came from scrap white cardstock. I also trimmed a piece of white cardstock for the inside to 4 inches by 5-1/4 inches.
The last measuring I did was for the envelope flap. I used a piece of the cats DSP and trimmed it to 2-1/2 inches by 6 inches. I adhered this directly to the envelope flap so I wouldn’t misplace it.
What I Did:
Without any real thought, I just started punching a bunch of tailored tags out of the cat themed DSP.
Happily this grumpy cat fit inside one of my circle punches. I used the layering circles die set to crop the mat for it out of scrap black.
This grumpy cat immediately reminded me of Garfield, which led to the use of the “Enjoy” sentiment. Hopefully, eventually, grumpy cat would smile sooner or later. Both the cat and the sentiment have dimensionals underneath them so they pop off the card.
Then, I just needed to play around with the DSP tags until I found something suitable. Using this removable tape helped me move things around without worrying about getting everything out of place.
Once I found a layout with which I was happy, I used multipurpose liquid adhesive to adhere everything down to the black mat.
Next, used the Label Me Fancy punch to get a slit punched out in the tip of the sentiment circle. I wrapped the ribbon and baker’s twine around the black mat and slipped one set of ends through the slit. The dimensionals really keep the sentiment from just flapping on the card.
I used a glue dot to adhere one of the (retired) pet trinkets to the cats collar. Then I used 3 black matte dots to embellish the sentiment.
I stamped “I hope your day is a real treat” on the inside and added a cropped cat to the bottom, left corner.
After trimming the DSP on the envelope flap, I punched a circle for the seal, which I ran through my XYRON create-a-sticker. The seal then lives inside the envelope until I am ready to use the card.
With that, I’d completed this card/envelope/seal coordinated set.
I’d love to hear what you think, and greatly appreciate every comment.
What’s New? Since you asked, it’s The Kits Collection!
Take a look at this video explaining what you get with your kit! Remember, the kits are all inclusive! Just add some of your own crafting basic tools, and you are good to go!
Do you live in the U.S. and need a demonstrator? If so, I’d love to talk to you!
Do You Want to Place an Order?
Of course you do!
If you are ordering less than $150.00, please use the host code shown. If you are ordering more than $150.00, please contact me first so you can get your stamping rewards! Any order over $50 will earn a little surprise from me.
The HOST CODE through June 30, 2021 is 26AD7SA3.
Again, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate your comments and your time.
Welcome back to another Make My Monday challenge! The design team members each created floral birthday cards, so please visit their blogs as well.
I used the new and absolutely fabulous Hand-Penned DSP (designer series paper) for my card. When I first saw it in the new catalog, I thought it looked washed-out. Then I saw cards using the DSP, and they were stunning! Of course, I ordered it ASAP, which meant during the demonstrator pre-order period!
Here’s my card:
Letting the DSP Do All the Work!
I wanted to leave as much of the DSP showing as possible. It’s just too pretty to cover up, especially since this was my first time using it! Therefore, I made sure the DSP did all the work for me.
What I Did:
I used Highland Heather cardstock for the base of the card. It measures 4-1/4 inches by 11 inches, scored at 5-1/2 inches to form a tent card.
The Hand-Penned measures 4-1/8 inches by 5-3/8 inches. While I had the DSP out, I also trimmed a piece to 6 inches by 2-1/2 inches. In addition, I punched a 1 inch circle of it to create the envelope seal. After running it through the XYRON create-a-sticker machine (you can see it here), I adhered the DSP to the envelope flap and trimmed it. I’ve found that if I don’t do that right away, I loose track of the envelope flap piece. The envelope seal goes inside the envelope, and it’s ready to be written out and mailed.
I figured out where I wanted my raised block of DSP to live, then eyeballed it to make sure I had it straight. Using the Stitched Rectangle dies, I cropped a vertical rectangle measuring 2-1/4 inches by 3-5/8 inches.
Then I very carefully trimmed a scrap piece of black cardstock to 2-3/8 inches by 3-3/4 inches for the mat.
The last piece of cardstock I trimmed measures 4 inches by 5-1/4 inches for the inside panel of the card.
Putting It Together
After carefully adhering the DSP to the black mat, I wrapped a length of the Soft Succulent open weave ribbon around the matted DSP. Amazingly, this bow turned out to actually work the first time I tied it. Will wonders ever cease? I adhered the bow to the DSP using two glue dots. I put one on the front under the bow, and the one on the back of the mat.
Next, I stamped the birthday sentiment on a scrap piece of white cardstock. Then, I cropped it using the nested labels die set. While I used a sentiment from the Here’s a Card stamp set (available in the current mini-catalog), any birthday sentiment would’ve worked since I offset it from the raised DSP. Finally, I outlined the sentiment using the Soft Succulent marker.
I used dimensionals under the DSP mat and under parts of the sentiment. Where the sentiment label overlaps the raised DSP I used multipurpose glue to adhere it down.
Every birthday card needs some bling, right? I used three of the Soft Succulent In Color Jewels and placed one on the center of each of the three flowers on the raised DSP.
Next, I adhered the whole front to the Highland Heather cardstock using multipurpose glue. I know I’ve said it many times before, but this adhesive just makes me happy. You could even say I am obsessed with it. Take a peek at my stash of the Tombow in one of my drawers:
That’s not counting the three I have ready to use on my desk.
After adhering the white cardstock to the inside of the card, I’d finished this card/envelope/seal coordinated set. I know it took me longer to type this blog post than it did to create the card!
Do You Love Fun Folds?
I always enjoy finding and learning how to do a new fun fold card! If you do as well, please stop by a new challenge, Creative Creases from Debbie Mageed at The Secret Stamper! I am having a blast with her challenges and have learned some new fun folds! Join the fun at her website! My card for the current challenge is made and will be blogged before the end of the challenge this week.
Thank you so much for stopping by today.
I’d love to hear what you think, and greatly appreciate every comment.
Just Take a look at this fabulous Hand-Penned suite!
The picture doesn’t do the DSP justice, so here’s a look at just that:
Join the Fun!
It’s a fabulous time to join Stampin’ Up! New team members get even MORE FREE products in their customizable Starter Kit. From 4–31 May, new team members can get $155 USD worth of products for only $99 USD + free business supplies + free shipping + all the fun being a part of Stampin’ Up!
Do you live in the U.S. and need a demonstrator? If so, I’d love to talk to you!
Do You Want to Place an Order?
Of course you do!
If you are ordering less than $150.00, please use the host code shown. If you are ordering more than $150.00, please contact me first so you can get your stamping rewards! Any order over $50 will earn a little surprise from me.
The HOST CODE for May is ZM63ASKZ.
Again, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate your comments and your time.
Welcome back to another Make My Monday Challenge! The theme for MMM#148 is to create a sympathy card. These cards seem so difficult to do when the need arises. I almost feel like I am tempting fate when I make one in advance, but then am thankful when needed.
Here’s my card:
Black, yellow and white is such a classic color combination and I’ve always loved it. While yellow seems doesn’t seem like a traditional sympathy color, I think the intentional pops of black make this combination completely appropriate for a sympathy card.
Measurements:
The So Saffron base measures 5-1/2 inches by 8-1/2 inches, scored at 4-1/4 to create a tent card.
The black mat measures 5-3/8 inches by 8-1/4 inches.
Since the Painted Texture #D embossing folder creates such a deep emboss that I like to trim the paper to size after embossing. This top layer measures 4 inches by 5-1/4 inches.
While I had the white paper handy, I trimmed a piece for the inside of the card to the same measurements.
Amazingly, I had the black flourish in the 8×8 inch page protectors I use for scraps of cardstock. I simply needed to trim it to 5-1/2 inches wide.
The piece of the So Saffron 6 x 6 inch DSP measures 1-1/8 x 5-1/4 inches.
I picked a piece of coordinating yellow butterfly DSP for the envelope flap. That piece measured 2-1/2 inches by 6 inches. I have realized I need to attach the paper for envelope flaps as soon as I trim it down so I don’t misplace the piece.
Putting It Together
Once I had all my pieces, putting the card together proved to be a simple process.
I attached the Basic Black mat and the white embossed card front using the multipurpose glue.
Then I adhered the So Saffron strip and the black flourish using multipurpose glue as well. This Tombow adhesive is my favorite go-to adhesive. So much so that I make sure I always have at least 15 tubes on hand. I don’t want to have any chance of running out, especially when I start creating cards en masse.
I cropped this beautiful butterfly from a piece of the Butterfly Bijou DSP, which has sold out. However, happiness still abounds because the Butterfly Brilliance bundle contains the coordinating stamp set and die set. Take a look at this gorgeousness:
The stamp set is actually all one stamp, as is the coordinating die. Many demonstrators have purchases a second stamp set to cut it apart for single butterflies. I think I will have to do that as well.
This beautifully simple sentiment on the front comes from the Heal Your Heart Sale-a-Bration stamp set. I stamped it using the Momento Tuxedo Black ink pad, then cropped it using the stitched rectangle dies. Next, I outlined the rectangle with the black marker to add some dimension to the sentiment.
I popped up the sentiment and the butterfly on dimensionals.
Finally, I used three of the 2020 – 2022 In Color enamel dots to add something simple to the card.
I purposely didn’t add ribbon because I thought the flourish carried the eyes from one side of the card to the other. Adding ribbon would take away the card clean and simple design of the card.
With that, I’d finished this coordinated card and envelope set.
Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you will visit the Make My Monday Challenge and also visit the blogs of the other design team members. I look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery!
I’d love to hear what you think, and greatly appreciate every comment.
My new catalog order arrives Wednesday! I plan to do an unboxing video and hope to post that later in the week.
Do you live in the U.S. and need a demonstrator? If so, I’d love to talk to you!
Do You Want to Place an Order?
Of course you do!
What could be better than placing an order?
$25 additional Stampin’ Rewards for qualifying orders!
If you are ordering less than $150.00, please use the host code shown. If you are ordering more than $150.00, please contact me first so you can get your stamping rewards! Any order over $50 will earn a little surprise from me.
The HOST CODE for May is ZM63ASKZ.
Of course, joining my team is another fabulous option! Contact me to find out how!
It’s a fabulous time to join Stampin’ Up! New team members get even MORE FREE products in their customizable Starter Kit. From 4–31 May, new team members can get $155 USD worth of products for only $99 USD + free business supplies + free shipping + all the fun being a part of Stampin’ Up!
Again, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate your comments and your time.
Welcome back for another MMM challenge. Here in Central Florida we had a few days of storms last week. Rainy days are perfect for reading or crafting, but I was working. However, I did create an April Showers card using the Under My Umbrella photopolymer stamp set and coordinating punch.
Here’s my card:
This Ornate Garden DSP retires in just a few short weeks, but I’ve really enjoyed using it throughout the year. Since January I’ve really come to love Terracotta Tile and Rococo Rose and will be sorry to see them go!
The clean and simple layout is from the Try Stamping on Tuesday #503 challenge, which ends on May 2nd, so you have time to play along with it and with this MMM challenge.
Measurements:
I used Terracotta Tile for the base, and it measures 4-1/4 inches by 11 inches, scored at 5-1/2 inches to create a tent fold.
The Pear Pizazz mat measures 4-1/8 inches by 5-3/8 inches. I did crop the oval shape for the sentiment panel from the center of this mat.
The floral Ornate Garden DSP is trimmed to 4 inches by 5-1/4 inches.
While I was trimming this floral DSP, I trimmed a piece for the envelope flap to 6 inches by 2-1/2 inches.
Next, I trimmed the Terracotta Tile cardstock to 2-1/4 inches by 5-1/4 inches. The Pear Pizazz DSP 2 inches by 5-1/4 inches.
I cropped the ovals from scraps of white for the sentiment using the Layered Ovals die set.
The white cardstock panel for the inside of the card measures my usual 5-1/4 inches by 4 inches.
Putting It Together
I picked a single color DSP from the Ornate Garden DSP for the umbrella and boots. Then, I stamped the umbrella and boots from the Rococo Rose DSP and punched the umbrella out.
I did stamp the boots on a scrap piece of white as well. After coloring in the soles and top rims of the boots, I fussy cut both of the boot pieces. I adhered the DSP boots to the white boots.
Since I was using a photopolymer stamp set, I was able to stamp the sentiment using the Momento Tuxedo Black after cropping the oval.
Even after outlining the white ovals with the Terracotta Tile Stamping Write Marker, I knew the top oval needed something more. Therefore, I used the raindrop stamp and stamped it randomly using VersaMark. Then I heat embossed the drops using clear stamping powder. These drops are very subtle, but do make a difference.
Here’s a close-up of the raindrops:
The only dimensionals I used are under the scalloped oval, the umbrella and the boots.
Since I created this card for my daughter, I used a sentiment from the Strong and Beautiful stamp set for the inside.
Finally, I adhered and trimmed the DSP on the envelope flap. I also punched a 1 inch DSP circle using the DSP from the umbrella and boots. I ran this circle and through the XYRON create-a-sticker to use to seal the envelope.
This card./envelope/seal coordinated set was finished!
Thank you so much for stopping by today.
I’d love to hear what you think, and greatly appreciate every comment.
It’s Almost Time for the 2021 – 2022 Annual Catalog!
So far, I’ve only gotten the new In-Color basic supplies. However, I will be putting in another pre-order. There are two suites at the top of my wish list, and as soon as I can order them, I will. There’s a sneak peak of the first suite on the cover of the 2021 – 2022 Annual Catalog:
That DSP is absolutely, stunningly gorgeous! I can not wait to order this on May 4th!
It’s a fabulous time to join Stampin’ Up! New team members get even MORE FREE products in their customizable Starter Kit. From 4–31 May, new team members can get $155 USD worth of products for only $99 USD + free business supplies + free shipping + all the fun being a part of Stampin’ Up!
Do you live in the U.S. and need a demonstrator? If so, I’d love to talk to you!
Do You Want to Place an Order?
Of course you do!
If you are ordering less than $150.00, please use the host code shown. If you are ordering more than $150.00, please contact me first so you can get your stamping rewards! Any order over $50 will earn a little surprise from me.
The HOST CODE for April is 6QMKRYXG.
Again, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate your comments and your time.
Welcome to this week’s Make My Monday challenge # 146! I’m the host for this week’s challenge, which is Checks or Plaid. I have DSP (Designer Series Paper) in both of this week’s patterns. However, for some reason I made it a bit more involved.
Here’s my card:
See what I mean about involved? I decided to make my own check pattern. Once I did the math, it really came together easily.
Here’s the outdoor theme challenge banner for Paper Craft Crew #421:
Measurements and Math
The card base measures 4-1/4 inches by 11 inches, scored at 5-1/2 inches to create a tent fold.
In my humble opinion, this set of DSP patterns look stunning on black backgrounds, so that’s what I did. The black mat measures 4-1/8 inches by 5-3/8 inches.
I used the Butterfly Bijou DSP, but once you have the dimensions of the boxes, any DSP will work. For my card, there I chose to have four columns and 5 rows. Since all the math stays the same, this could also be a landscape card.
The boxes each measure 1 inch by 15/16 inches. In my happy world, I find it easier to measure it out to 1 inch by 1 line before 1 inch on my paper trimmer. Either way, it comes out the same.
I started cutting the DSP to place it on the black mat from the bottom up. First, I cut a 1 inch strip, then started cutting the 15/16 inch pieces. I made sure that I kept the pieces in order so that I could match all of them up as I went. I found it much easier to adhere each row down as I cut it out. This process helped me keep the DSP pattern in order.
Since I had the DSP out, I cut a piece measuring 6 inches by 2-1/2 inches for the envelope flap. I’ve also found that I really need to adhere the envelope flap when I cut out the paper. If I don’t, then I tend to put the strip away with the DSP, which means I later start searching.
Adding the Rest of the Elements
Since I want to be able to add an inside sentiment when I am ready to send this card out, I wanted to keep the outside sentiment very generic. I think “Thinking of You” allows me to add a variety of sentiments from get well to just a hello card.
The sentiment from the front of the card is from the Good Morning Magnolia stamp set. I stamped it using the Momento Tuxedo Black stamp pad on white cardstock.
Next, I cropped the sentiment using the Stitched So Sweetly die set. The sentiment mat in Just Jade is also cropped using that die set. I outlined both pieces using my Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker.
Next, I wrapped the Just Jade ribbon around the black base mat, and tied it in a little bow. I decided on a left-hand placement for the bow after dry-fitting the sentiment pieces on the front of the card.
I used large glue dots to adhere the Just Jade sentiment mat just for a bit of height, which made it easier for it to lay down over the ribbon.
The actual sentiment panel has dimensionals under it for more height.
Finally, I played around with the two butterflies to decide where they needed to live and used multipurpose glue and dimensions to adhere them down.
Finishing Up
After adhering a 5-1/4 inch by 4 inch white cardstock panel to the inside of the card, I trimmed the DSP on the envelope flap.
Finally, I punched a coordinating piece of DSP using my 1 inch circle punch. Then I ran that circle through my XYRON create-a-sticker machine. By creating a sticker, I can seal the envelope cleanly and germ-free.
With that, I’d finished this coordinating card/envelope/sticker seal set. I think it’s gorgeous, and am quite sure it will be going in the mail quickly.
Thank you so much for stopping by today.
I’d love to hear what you think, and greatly appreciate every comment.
So far, I’ve only gotten the new In-Color basic supplies. However, I will be putting in another pre-order. There are two suites at the top of my wish list, and as soon as I can order them, I will. There’s a sneak peak of the first suite on the cover of the 2021 – 2022 Annual Catalog:
That DSP is absolutely, stunningly gorgeous! I can not wait to order this on May 4th!
If you want to be able to take advantage of the pre-order period, let me know! You can join with an order of just $125 of supplies for $99. There’s no obligation, either!
Do you live in the U.S. and need a demonstrator? If so, I’d love to talk to you!
Do You Want to Place an Order?
Of course you do!
If you are ordering less than $150.00, please use the host code shown. If you are ordering more than $150.00, please contact me first so you can get your stamping rewards! Any order over $50 will earn a little surprise from me.
The HOST CODE for April is 6QMKRYXG.
Again, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate your comments and your time.
Welcome to Just Peachy Stamping by Sue Jackson: an independent Stampin' Up demonstrator.
Through Stampin' Up!, I happily share my love of papercrafting through sales, classes, small stamping group meet-ups and workshops. I think that being a teacher in my "real life", I have a unique approach to sharing my fantastic hobby. I look forward to connecting with you!
