Endless Birthday Wishes Banner Card

We're in full-on birthday mode at our house, so I thought I'd share yet another birthday card.  This one uses some brand new Designer Series Paper and makes great use of my Stampin' Write markers.

Tips & Tricks

• To get the lowest banner to be that lovely Lost Lagoon color, I used my markers to just color the white ribbon.  It takes the ink so well, and I ended up with a piece of custom ribbon!  The ribbon adds a more interesting touch than just another piece of card stock would have, and as I've said a million times, I'm all about lots of texture on a card!

• I also used my markers to color in the cake from the Endless Wishes Photopolymer stamp set.  I don't often use this technique, but I actually like it here. It adds a fun pop of color to this line art image.  I'm excited to try out Stampin' Up!'s new line of alcohol markers, Blendabilities.  While they are in the catalog, they aren't available quite yet.  But sit tight...it will only be a short wait of a few weeks.  This set lends itself perfectly to the Blendabilities, so I can't wait to get my hands on some to try out.

Supplies

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes
Ink:  Basic Gray, Smokey Slate, Hello Honey, and Lost Lagoon
Paper:  Basic Gray, Smokey Slate, Hello Honey, and Whisper White card stock, Moonlight DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Decorative Frames and Decorative Dots embossing folders, Large Oval Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits, Paper Snips, 5/8" Whisper White Satin ribbon, buttons, Whisper White Baker's Twine

Papillion Potpourri

I've been playing with a new technique lately.  Can you spot it?  It's called blown ink, and it's lots of fun.  In fact, my kids and I are going to experiment with this a lot more this afternoon.  The cool swirls on the butterfly were made using this technique, and what's so neat about it is that it's different every single time.  I'm also loving this color combination, which is funny (to me) because when Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry first came out as In-Colors a few years ago, I really didn't like Bermuda Bay at all.  But I guess my tastes have changed, because I love how these colors look together!

Stamps:  Papillion Potpourri
Ink:  Bermuda Bay and So Saffron Classic Ink refills
Paper:  Naturals White, Bermuda Bay, and Crushed Curry card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Elegant Butterfly Punch, straw

International Bazaar

I can't even tell you how much I love the colors in this card.  Anyone who knows me well knows that blue is my very favorite color, but that I also like green and brown (especially in my house.)  And they are all here, in one bright, cheery place!  I've always been drawn to this particular print in the International Bazaar Designer Series paper, but could never quite make it work.  I LOVE it on this card!  And I love all the little touches on this as well:  the embossed frame for the sentiment, the little buttons, ruffled ribbon, and the orange baker's twine.  Wait...orange baker's twine?!?  No, you didn't miss a new product...I dyed it!  I pulled out one of the accent colors (Tangerine Tango) from the DSP to dye it.  It just gives that little pop to pull the orange tone out.  The Daffodil Delight button does the same thing.  I love that there is a ton of color on this card, but the number of colors isn't overwhelming because there are really only three main colors used. 

Oh, don't forget...FREE SHIPPING ends today.  So if you like that Lucky Limeade ribbon (or any of the other retiring colors), today is the perfect time to place an order to stock up!

Stamps:  Paper Pumpkin Welcome Kit (click here to subscribe)
Ink:  Pacific Point (126951)
Paper:  Naturals Ivory (101849), Pacific Point (111350), Lucky Limeade (122926) card stock, International Bazaar DSP (126920)
Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Designer Frames Embossing Folders (123130), Extra-Large Oval Punch (119859), Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (122977)

Papillion Potpourri Double Embossing Technique

Double embossing...it's such a gorgeous technique, and I've wanted to try it for a very long time.  I finally decided to give it a shot, and honestly, it was so easy.  Why did I wait so long?   I can't wait to sit down this weekend and try it with different combinations of embossing folders.

I so wish I could take credit for this card, but I can't.  I CASEd the whole thing from Pat Coombes, a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in the UK.  Click here if you'd like to follow her tutorial on how to double emboss. 

Stamps:  Papillion Potpourri (123757), Itty Bitty Banners (126255)
Ink:  Soft Suede Classic Ink (126978)
Paper:  Soft Suede (115318) and Naturals Ivory (101849) card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Fancy Fan Embossing Folder (127751), Designer Frames Embossing Folders (123130), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), Elegant Butterfly punch (127526), Pearls Basic Jewels (119247)

Sparkly Snowflakes

 This is such a simple card, and I think the simplicity is what makes it so pretty.  Using the Snow Swirled stamp set, I stamped random snowflakes in Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler, and Champagne Shimmer paint along the left side of the card, leaving the right hand side unstamped.  The strip of Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon separates the two sides, emphasized with a simple bow above the oval sentiment.  I love the use of the oval Designer Frames embossing folder here, and I highlighted the embossed frame with a bit of shimmer paint lightly sponged over the raised pattern.

Stamps:  Snow Swirled

Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler, and Early Espresso Classic Ink, Champagne Shimmer Paint

Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla card stock

Accessories:  Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Extra-Large Oval punch, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, sponge dauber