Stitched Stocking Flip Card

I pulled out some retired items to make Christmas cards this year.  So many of my old stamps don't get a lot of use anymore, which is a shame, because I have so many, and I really like them all!  Stitched Stockings was a set that retired way to early, in my opinion.  It was great because the Stocking Builder Punch coordinated with it, making it so easy to punch out those little pieces for the heel, toe, and cuff of the stocking.  

For this card, I used it along with the Circle Card Thinlits, because really, who doesn't love a good flip card?  The white circle behind the stocking was embossed using the Argyle embossing folder.  I loved that it tied in perfectly with the argyle pattern on the stocking.  Argyle always makes me think of middle school, where there was a (very strict) dress code, and my friends and I wore knee socks every day.  It was always fun when we wore our argyle socks on the same day.  Oh, to be twelve again.  No, wait.  That would mean I'd have to be 13 and 14 again.  No thanks.  

Getting back to the card...I chose a pattern from the Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack that looked like knitting.  I figured that it kind of went with the stocking theme.  The little strip across the bottom is embossed using the now retired Needlepoint Border embossing folders (another one that retired too quickly!)  The little "Merry Christmas" comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes, which is probably my most used stamp set.  If you're looking for a basic sentiment set that covers just about every occasion, this is it.  Let me know if you'd like to order it!

Supplies

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Stitched Stockings

Ink:  Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, and Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack

Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Needlepoint Border embossing folder, Argyle embossing folder, Stocking Builder Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine,  2 1/2" Circle Punch

For All Things Flip Card

Oh my...it's been a while.  And I've been working on lots of cards, but just haven't had the time to take pictures of them!  This card is one of my favorite "almost fall" cards.  I love fall colors, but since I was making these for an event in September, I didn't want to go with the typical browns, oranges, reds, and yellows just yet.  But Elegant Eggplant is a great color to use in the fall, and it takes center stage on this card.

The coordinating Color Me Autumn Designer Washi Tape and the Crushed Curry embossing powder used on the sentiment tie the card together and add a pop of color.  The square-ish stamp in For All Things was used on the center circle, as well as the background of the card.  I stamped and then stamped again without reinking in order to add variation.  The inside circle is identical to the outside circle shown here, just without the washi tape and button.

Supplies
Stamps:  For All Things
Ink:  Elegant Eggplant, Sahara Sand, VersaMark
Paper:  Elegant Eggplant and Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Color Me Autumn Designer Washi Tape, Crushed Curry embossing powder, Heat Tool, Linen Thread, button, 2 1/2" Circle Punch

So Sorry Circle Flip Card

I wasn't going to show this card for a while, but since it's loaded with retiring products, I thought that sooner was better than later!  Unfortunately, Summer Starfruit card stock is no longer available.  Trust me, I'm as sad about that as you are! I may try to post this same card in different colors later this week.  Other retiring items include the So Sorry stamp set and the ribbon.

Tips & Tricks

• Did you know you can make a really cool linen look with the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set?  How great is that?  I love that set, for so many reasons, and now I have one more!  Just randomly stamp in two directions until you're satisfied with the look.  I used Summer Starfruit ink and card stock for a tone on tone look, and it's just perfect.

• Someone recently asked me how I know when to punch first and when to stamp first.  A lot of it is just kind of learned behavior that comes with lots of practice.  But a good rule of thumb is that if something needs to be centered, stamp then punch.  So in the case of the circle in the middle, I stamped the "So Sorry" then punched, and then stamped the flowers.  I could have stamped those before punching, but doing it after allowed me to better see the placement of the image, and I was much happier with it that way.

Supplies

Stamps:  So Sorry, Just Believe (retired), Gorgeous Grunge
Ink:  Summer Starfruit, Smokey Slate, Night of Navy
Paper:  Summer Starfruit and Very Vanilla card stock, Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper (retired)
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon

Stenciled Hearts Valentine Flip Card

It's not technically mid-January yet, but here I am with the first of many Valentine's cards to come!  I've been having fun this week playing with reds and pinks and hearts galore, so I wanted to share at least one of my creations.  Unfortunately, I'm having trouble getting as good quality pictures as I'd like, and parts of this card just aren't as visible in the picture on my screen as I wish they were.  If you look carefully, the left hand side of the card features a strip of tiny little embossed hearts. 

Tips & Tricks

• What's my favorite part of this card?  The fact that I didn't use a single Valentine's Day set on it at all!  I don't actually have any current ones, so it was time to get creative.  I used several different products and techniques to get the holiday look I was going for.  So don't distress if you don't have stamps for a specific occasion.  Odds are that with a little creativity, you can come up with whatever look you need!

• The hearts on the right hand side of the card were stenciled on, using a sponge dauber and Crumb Cake ink.  I punched out the shapes using the littlest die from the Hearts Collection Framelits and the small heart punch.  You can easily make a stencil using scrap card stock and any punch or Framelits you have.  

Supplies

Stamps:  Oh Hello, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink:  Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink and Whisper White Craft Ink
Paper:  Naturals White, Crumb Cake, and Cherry Cobbler card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlit Die, Hearts Collection Framelits, Adorning Accents Embossing Folders, Bitty Banners Framelits, Small Heart Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Sponge Dauber

Winter Frost Circle Flip Cards

As I mentioned last week, I'll have a bazillion kids coming to my house this week to make all kinds of fun Christmas gifts.  These cards are one of the items they'll be making.  I didn't have enough supplies for all the kids to make the same thing, so half will be making the top one, and the other half will be making the bottom one.

Tips & Tricks

• These cards both use non-traditional Christmas colors, but I love them both.  I guess they are more of a winter look than a Christmas look, but a simple "Merry Christmas" on the front conveys the message. :)  Don't be afraid to use colors other than red and green!  It's good to think out of the box, but also nice that Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Papers help you do that.  I was really surprised to discover that the gray card is one of my favorites this year.

• I mentioned on Friday how stamping tone-on-tone adds just the right amount of interest to one of the panels on a flip card.  Well, embossing does the same thing!  I put the extra flap on the right into the Northern Flurry embossing folder and fell in love with the look.  It's subtle, but perfect.  

Supplies
Stamps:  Christmas Punch (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Silver Encore Ink and Basic Gray Classic Ink
Paper:  Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, and Whisper White card stock, Winter Frost DSP Stack
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

So, which card is your favorite?  Do you make Christmas cards that aren't red and green?

Scentsational Season of Style Christmas Card

Do you like that title?  It's like one of those Jeopardy categories where they mash two phrases together, although for the life of me, I can't remember what that category is called.  For this card, I combined the retired stamp set Scentsational Season with the Season of Style Designer Series Paper.  I've already admitted that I'm a tad obsessed with making these flip cards...I can't help myself, they're so fun!  I'll also admit that a lot of my cards this month will be using some retired products.  That's a bummer for those of you looking for fun new stamps and tools to add to your collection, but a bonus for those who are looking for ways to use the things that have collected a bit of dust in recent months (or years).  It just seems a shame to me to use only current products when I have so many fun things sitting on my shelf!

One of those items is Scentsational Season, which in my opinion, was the cutest Christmas stamp set that Stampin' Up! sold last year.  I can't believe they retired it.  One of my most viewed and pinned cards of all time uses this set, which obviously proves that lots of people love this set as much as I do! :)

Tips & Tricks

• I only make flip cards with the extra flap on the right side...it just makes sense to give yourself a bit more room to write and not to waste card stock.  Cut your card stock 5 3/8" x 8 1/2" and let the right side stick out on top of the Circle Card Thinlits Die.  This will give you a nice score line instead of cutting the card stock.

• For a fun look, stick that extra flap into an embossing folder and run it through your Big Shot.  It adds a bit of interest without using more paper!

• Remember all the scented embossing powder that was available last year?  I have tons of it, and it is fun to use, since it makes my stamp space smell so yummy!  Did you know that you can combine colored embossing powder with the clear scented powder?  Play around with amounts to see what you like...the gingerbread man shown here was embossed using equal parts of Early Espresso and Sugar & Spice Scented embossing powders.

Mosaic Madness...for Christmas!

When I first saw Mosaic Madness, I wasn't exactly thinking Christmas.  But this versatile set makes great Christmas ornaments, which was perfect for my Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack

This card has a definite wow factor, thanks in part to both the Circle Card Thinlits, as well as the Silver Glimmer Paper.  It looks complicated, but is really quite a simple card.  You've got to love deceptive cards like that!

Supplies

Stamps:  Mosaic Madness and Christmas Greetings (retired)
Ink:  Silver (available in the Holiday Catalog!) and Pool Party Classic Ink
Paper:  Pool Party and Whisper White card stock, Winter Frost Designer Series Paper Stack, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Mosaic Punch, Whisper White Baker's Twine

So Sorry {Circle Card Thinlits}

Soft and subtle is always the way to go when making a sympathy card, and these two patterns from Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper are just that.  The two colors, Tangerine Tango and Sahara Sand, also happen to be a great combination on the tree/branch image from Thoughts & Prayers. 

It's good to keep sympathy cards simple, as well.  Someone once told me that the most meaningful card she received when her father passed away was one from a family friend that simply read, "I'm so sorry."  She knew that sentiment was heartfelt, and no other words were needed.  Now, this card allows for room to write a few more words than that, but if you speak from the heart, long sentiments aren't necessary.

Tips & Tricks

• One of the very first techniques I learned was to use markers!  I stamped the entire image in Sahara Sand, then colored the flowers right on the rubber with my Tangerine Tango marker.  If using two darker colors, don't layer your colors!  You'll end up ruining the tips of your markers.  However, it's perfectly fine to use a darker marker over top of a lighter color ink.

Supplies

Stamps:  So Sorry, Thoughts & Prayers
Ink:  Sahara Sand and Early Espresso Classic Ink, Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Marker
Paper:   Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, and Naturals White card stock, Sweater Weather DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Pearls Basic Jewels, 2-1/2" Circle Punch

Happy 40th Flip Cards {Circle Card Thinlits}

Ah, 40.  Ever since I turned 40 last December, it seems that almost everyone I know has been hitting that milestone.  Yikes.  I remember when my parents turned 40...and I was in high school.  When I think about that, it makes me feel ancient.  But most of the time, I still think I'm 18 and know that age is just a number. 

This week I'm sending out two 40th birthday cards...one to my college roommate, (whose birthday was actually a couple months ago and I never sent her card and box full of goodies) and the other is for my sister-in-law.  I've known Heather since 9th grade (we were in the same class), and it's still kind of weird that she's married to my brother.  But I'm so glad she is, because they are a great match.

This first card is for my roomie, and I've given a bit of a glimpse into what the inside looks like.

 This one is for my sister-in-law...this paper may be retired, but it makes me think of her.

Since so many of the products I used on these cards are retired, I'm not going to list the supplies.  But if you want to know about anything that I used, just let me know!  And if you'd like to order the Circle Card Thinlits I used on both of these, email me or visit my online store here.

Another Flip Card! {Circle Card Thinlits Die}

I am in love with the new Circle Card Thinlits Die!!!  These cards are so much fun to make!  And even though it's only early September, I decided to make a Christmas card.  Trust me, I'm in no hurry for winter, but I do love the wintery look of this card.  From the front, it looks like any other flip card, but when you open it...

it opens!  Just cut your card stock a little longer and you'll have an extra fold so your card opens.

Tips & Tricks

• Adhere your Designer Series Paper before running through the Big Shot and you'll have that semi-circle cut out for you.  OR...
• Place your DSP under the cut out card and trace along the semi-circle with a pencil, then cut with your paper snips.
• The Designer Series Paper stacks in the Holiday Catalog are a fantastic value!  For only $6.95, you get 48 double sided sheets (4 designs).  If you are planning to mass-produce Christmas cards, these stacks are the way to go!  

Supplies

Stamps:  Warm Winter Wishes (retired, but can easily be substituted with Festive Flurry...and be sure to get the coordinating Framelits so you don't have to cut those snowflakes out by hand!), Christmas Greetings (retired)
Ink:  Silver, Pool Party
Paper:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, and Pool Party card stock, Winter Frost DSP stack, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Rhinestones Basic Jewels, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Circle Card Thinlits Die, Paper Snips

First Flip Card!

If you pay any attention to what's going on in the Stampin' Up! world, you'll know that these flip cards are all over the internet right now.  That's thanks in part to the fact that Stampin' Up! has made it incredibly easy to make these fun cards with the release of the new Thinlits Card Dies.  These dies are like Framelits, only better!  They will score and cut your entire card, and all you need to do is fold it and embellish.

This is my first attempt, and admittedly, it's pretty simple.  But sometimes simple is great...the patterns on the (retired) Designer Series Paper are busy enough!  Each set comes with loads of extras, like this little "hi" sentiment.  I embellished it a bit with some Simply Pressed Clay, dyed in Cajun Craze.  It made for a fun dot for the "i".

Here's what the card looks like when it's opened...I left the circle blank as I plan to write a little note there.  This interactive card will be so much fun to receive in the mail!

Tips & Tricks

• Pair these dies with the Magnetic Platform for the Big Shot.  While this isn't available at the moment, it will be soon!  In the meantime, use a Post-It note or some painter's tape to hold the die in place while running through the Big Shot
• Embellishing is easy with all the extra goodies included with this die.  Not only that, but our 2 1/2" Circle Punch is the perfect accompaniment.  Just slightly smaller than the circle on the card, any card stock punched with it will look perfectly matted on your card!

Supplies

Ink:  Cajun Craze Ink Refill
Paper:  Comfort Cafe DSP (retired), Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit, and Midnight Muse card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits Die, 2-1/2" Circle Punch,  Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Simply Pressed Clay and Molds