Flower Patch Card in a Box

If you follow my blog, then you've probably realized that I really, really like the Flower Patch stamp set from the annual catalog.  I tend to use it a LOT.  It's just a fun set, and the possibilities are endless.  It's also the perfect set to use for a card in a box. 

I wanted to make a special card for a friend of mine.  She does so much for our homeschool community in general, as well as some other things specific to my family.  I don't really know how she has time for it all...we joke that she has 36 hours in her days!  But a card in a box definitely qualifies as special, and I modified it a bit to allow for two people to write a message on the back.  Typically when making a card in a box, the back panel is where the message would go.  I added a flap over that so that it actually opens like a card, and then both I and another friend were each able to have a panel's worth of space for writing our message of thanks.

I used the retired Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper for the flaps of the box.  You know a card is special when I give up any of my gingham or plaid DSP!  But it suits this card so well, and really was perfect for it.  I used my Flower Fair Framelits to cut out the various flowers, then whipped out my Fringe Scissors to cut some grass for the flowers to peek out of.  I love how it turned out! 

Oh, and since I went a little crazy with the flowers, they ended up sticking out of the sides when the card was folded up.  Did I worry about it fitting in to an envelope?  Of course not!  I got out my envelope punch board and made a custom envelope to fit this card.

Supplies
Stamps:  Flower Patch
Ink:  Pool Party, Island Indigo, Cantaloupe Crisp, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder, Rich Razzleberry
Paper:  Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, and Whisper White card stock, (retired) Gingham Garden DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Flower Fair Framelits, Paper Snips, Fringe Scissors, Sticky Strip, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, hot glue gun, hot glue, and Blendabilities markers

Hardwood Father's Day Card

I know, I know, Father's Day was in June.  Somehow I missed posting this, and even though we've long passed Father's Day, I still wanted to share it.  Plus, I have the best dad in the whole world, so there's nothing wrong with a card that makes me think of him, even in August.

This card uses the Hardwood background stamp, which I LOVE.  I also used the Woodgrain embossing folder for the strip of paper going across the card.  Yes, I love any product with any kind of woodgrain on it!

After stamping the tree from Thoughts & Prayers, I cut it out using the Labels Framelits Collection and my Big Shot, then sponged around the edges of it and the smaller label with Soft Suede.  I topped it off with some Linen Thread, and that's it.  Easy-peasy!


Supplies
Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers, All Year Cheer, Hardwood
Ink:  Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Ivory Naturals
Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Linen Thread, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Sponge

Toughts & Prayers Background Technique

I had a request for a card using the sponging technique with a silhouette image, and this is what I came up with.  I don't have a lot of current images that fit the silhouette category, but the tree from Thoughts & Prayers works perfectly for this technique.

I embossed the tree using Early Espresso embossing powder.  I stamped the tree first, rather than sponging first.  I like to do it this way so that the tree is placed where I want it, and I can sponge around it and work the "ground" around the base of the tree.

For the sponging, I used Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, and Baked Brown Sugar.  I simply dabbed and rubbed the sponge around the card, beginning with the brown for the ground.  Next I used Pumpkin Pie at the top, and worked my way down.  I filled in with Crushed Curry and just blended the two together.  For the tag, I stamped right on a piece of cotton ribbon.  That's it!  Such an easy card, but the bright sunset makes it look like it took a lot more time than it did!

Supplies
Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, and Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink, VersaMark
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar and Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Sponge, cotton ribbon, Heat Tool, Early Espresso embossing powder

Nuts About You Joy Fold Card

I have had so much fun with the Nuts About You hostess set.  It's just so cute.  This card is a joy fold card turned on it's side.  The grass is what keeps the first flap closed, and I love how it looks cute and is functional all at the same time!

I'm keeping it short and sweet today...I hope you'll forgive my brevity.  I'm hoping to get back into a more regular posting routine now that school is starting and (hopefully) life will settle down a bit.  Does that make any sense at all?  Isn't summer supposed to be a time to relax before the hectic school year?  Apparently that's not the case for my life!

Supplies

Stamps:  Nuts About You
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, and Basic Gray
Paper:  Garden Green, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, and Soft Suede card stock, Gingham Garden DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Fringe Scissors, Linen Thread, 3/4" Circle Punch

Be You Flower Patch Card

Oh, Flower Patch, how I love you!  This set is fabulous!  If you don't have it, you need it.  I'm just loving all the different flowers you can create with it.   I'm having such trouble getting good pictures of my cards lately, and I'm not entirely sure how to fix that problem.  So because of that, I feel like once again, the picture doesn't do the card justice.  I realize this doesn't sound very humble, but in real life, this is a great card!  The color combination is great (I love these In Colors!) and it's just a pretty, fun card.

I love this sentiment, as I explained before, and if you look closely, you'll see that this card emphasizes that idea in more than one way.  See the centers of the flowers?  One of these things is not like the others...did you spot it?  The blue flower has a white center, and all the others have blue centers.  I love that!  Wondering how I got those blue pearls?  I made them using my new Blendabilities markers.  I just took the darkest Coastal Cabana marker and colored them.  Cool, isn't it?  You can do that with rhinestones, buttons...all kind of embellishments.  If you want to try out the Blendabilities, just let me know.  I'd be happy to demonstrate their many uses for you and help you place an order.  Trust me, they are totally worth getting!

Supplies
Stamps:  Flower Patch, Chalk Lines
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana (Classic Ink and Blendabilities), Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding
Paper:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White
Accessories:  Pearls Basic Jewels, Stretch Ruffle Trim, Distressing Tool

Nuts About You Shadow Box Card

So I'm totally in love with the new hostess set, Nuts About You.  I almost never get hostess sets anymore, but this one was way too adorable to pass up.  I love the cute animals, the funky tree, and all the fun ways you can use the stamps together. 

Tips & Tricks

• I've posted about shadow box cards before, (here and here), so check out those posts for directions and to see some other example of this easy-peasy card.

• It's kind of hard to tell in a picture, but I cut the tree out by hand and then popped it up a bit using Stampin' Dimensionals.  It adds more interest when the image isn't flat on the card...you'll have to trust me on this one, since you don't have the card in your hand!

• The grass in front was made with my handy-dandy fringe scissors, and layered on the front piece of the card.  I highly recommend using sticky strip for this part.  It just makes life so much easier than snail or glue would, although both of those option would work.

• I think my favorite part of this card is the little "you & me" in a heart that looks like it's carved on the tree.  I'm pretty good at eye-balling things to line them up, but even I had trouble with this one.  It's most definitely a job for the Stamp-a-ma-jig!

Supplies
Stamps:  Nuts About You
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Smokely Slate, Basic Gray, Early Espresso, and Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Naturals White, Crumb Cake, and Garden Green card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Fringe Scissors, Sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and Paper Snips

Sweet Stuff Sunflowers

Have you taken notice of the Sweet Stuff stamp set that's new in the Annual Catalog?  It's the cutest set...perfect for kids, and especially little girls.  Since there are only girls in our family (on both sides!), this definitely caught my eye.  The little flowers are absolutely adorable, but there are lots of other fun images, like a cupcake, ballerina, and an ice cream cone.  If this set hasn't been on your radar, get out your catalog and check it out on page 87!

Tips & Tricks

• This set is perfect to use with the new Blendabilities markers.  I chose to watercolor this card, but since this set consists of line art images, Blendabilities are a great way to color them in.

• Want an easy way to make grass?  While you can do this with Paper Snips, it's a even easier when you use the new Fringe Scissors.  I didn't get these when they came out in the Occasions Catalog this spring, so I'm so glad they are still available in the Annual Catalog.  Just a few snips gave me this grass...you've got to love a tool that makes an easy job even easier!

• I love the stamps in the new Chalk Lines set...they are perfect for making a simple and understated background, like you see here.  The stripes give this card just a touch of texture for the card base.

Supplies
Stamps:  Sweet Stuff, Chalk Lines
Ink:  VersaMark, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, and Crumb Cake 
Paper:  Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  Heat Tool, Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Aqua Painter, Linen Thread, Fringe Scissors, buttons

Fun Frames Flower Patch Card

Happy Friday!  Today I have a simple card to show you that uses the Flower Patch stamp set.  I love the layering possibilities with this set, and the coordinating Framelits that make it so easy.  I'm also loving the new Fun Frames Embossing Folders.  The birthday sentiment from Flower Patch fits so nicely in the center of this frame.  I've gotten rather used to cutting things out with Framelits, so when I have to cut something by hand, I tend to avoid it.  But it really wasn't that hard to cut out this frame, because the outside edge is embossed, giving the perfect guideline for cutting.  And I love the look of the cut out frame.

Supplies
Stamps:  Flower Patch
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Cantaloupe Crisp, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, So Saffron
Paper:  Whisper White and Crumb Cake card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Flower Fair Framelits, Fun Frames Embossing Folders, So Saffron ribbon (retired)