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

Just Thinking

I love free stamps!  And I got a lot of them at Leadership!  Everyone received this stamp, which was super exciting.  I didn't waste any time putting it to use and came up with this card.  This card also uses the Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper, one of my favorites.  I think it works perfectly with this stamp.  I colored directly onto the rubber with my Stampin' Write markers and it turned out beautifully...or so you think.  I actually moved the stamp a little bit so the top is blurry.  But it's nothing a strategically placed bow can't fix!  When I first started stamping, I was all about perfection. But I quickly learned that nothing we make has to be perfect...those little imperfections are what give it a handmade feel and make it uniquely our own.  So if you're holding back because you're afraid of making a mistake, don't.  You can create beautiful projects, and I can even teach you how to cover up your mistakes. :)

Stamps:  Just Thinking

Ink:  Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit, and Midnight Muse Stampin' Write Markers

Paper:  Comfort Cafe DSP, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, and Midnight Muse card stock

Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Crochet Trim, Pearls, Distressing Tool, sponge (edges of center image)

Swap Card

This past week I was in Orlando at Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference.  I've never gone to a big SU! event, so this was a first for me.  One of the highlights for many people at SU! events is to swap card fronts.  It's just the front of a card that you can trade with other demonstrators, in order to get new ideas.  This is the card I took to swap, and while some people make hundreds of swaps, I stuck with just 20.  I'm sure it would have been great fun to swap every day I was there, but what do I need with a million card fronts? :)  Check back later in the week, because I'll be posting the swaps I received.

My card uses the new Honeycomb Embossing Folder, which is super-trendy right now.  I love it!  When paired with the Core'dinations Card Stock and a sanding block, the result is amazing.  I love how the lighter shade of brown shows through after it's been embossed and lightly sanded.  I used a couple of strips of Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper at the bottom, and stamped one of my all time favorites, the flowers from Just Believe.  I punched that with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch and sponged the edges.  The final details include the sentiment banner, and a little ribbon from behind the flowers.  This card was simple, yet doesn't look like it was!

Editing to add that I was positive that the Early Espresso Core'dinations had carried over to the Spring Catalog, but guess what...that's right, it didn't.  It's a good thing I didn't make more of these!  My apologies to any demonstrators out there who received a card with retired product on it!

Stamps:  Just Believe

Ink:  Crumb Cake and Summer Starfruit markers, Whisper White Craft Ink

Paper:  Early Espresso Core'dinations, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla Card Stock

Accessories:  Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Itty Bitty Banners Framelits, sanding block

Comfort Cafe Flowers

This might just be my favorite card of them all.  The Cajun Craze piece is embossed with the Square Lattice Die, then topped with a piece of Comfort Cafe DSP.  For the flowers, I colored right onto the stamp using Soft Suede, Midnight Muse, and Cajun Craze, then stamped it onto a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  After cutting out the flowers with the Labels Collection Framelits, I sponged around the edges with a little bit of Soft Suede.  It's all topped off with some butterflies I made using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.  A piece of Soft Suede taffeta ribbon tops the whole thing off.

Stamps:  Just Believe

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, and Soft Suede markers, Soft Suede Classic ink pad

Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Cajun Craze, Midnight Muse, and Very Vanilla card stock, Comfort Cafe DSP

Accessories: Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Labels Collection Framelits, Square Lattice Die, Big Shot, pearls, sponge

June Club Cards

This is one of the cards we made at club this month.  I have recently fallen in love with the crochet trim.  I love how it adds the perfect finishing touch to every card I put it on.  Why did it take me so long to start using this?!?

Er, somehow that flower got smushed.  Fortunately, I have a different version of this card below, so you can see how pretty the pearl in the middle of the flower is.  Both cards use papers from the Comfort Cafe DSP, which I love!  Fall colors are my favorites, plus there's a blue thrown in for good measure.  A perfect combination!

Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers

Ink:  Soft Suede Classic Ink Pad

Paper:  Cajun Craze (or Midnight Muse), Soft Suede, and Summer Starfruit card stock, Comfort Cafe DSP

Accessories:  Pearls, Crochet Trim, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals


I need to post one more card from this month.  Somehow it disappeared before I could take a picture.  I'll try to add it soon!