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

Another Endless Birthday Wishes Card

Today my oldest daughter turns twelve.  Every year when birthdays roll around, I have a hard time believing my children are as old as they are.  I remember thinking this when she turned four, and now she's twelve.  I am confident this is a universal problem for parents everywhere, as my dad tells me he has a hard time believing that his oldest (that's me) is in her forties!  Anyway, today we celebrate our sweet girl, who has a heart of gold and that's as big as an ocean.  She's just an amazing kid and I hope it's the happiest of birthdays for her.  (And please don't remind me that on her next birthday she'll be a teenager!) 

I needed a purple card for my purple girl, and I thought she'd appreciate one that's a little different.  I made a simple shadow box card for her, and the only embellishment is the Strawberry Slush ribbon and the Dazzling Details I dabbed on top of the candles.  Unfortunately, it doesn't show up well in the picture, but it gives just a bit of sparkle.  I also cut out the cake and greeting with my Ovals Framelits, then mounted them in the center with Stampin' Dimensionals.  It's a little different, and adds some extra dimension to this card.  For directions on how to make a shadow box card, check out this one...I even used the same color scheme!

Supplies

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes
Ink:  StazOn Jet Black, Wisteria Wonder, Smokey Slate, and Strawberry Slush
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder, Naturals White, and Strawberry Slush card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Framelits, Strawberry Slush Stretch Ruffle Trim (I love this...why did they retire it?!?),  Dazzling Details, Stampin' Score scoring tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

Oh, Hello!

This is one of the cards that I made to send to one of my college roommates for her 40th birthday.  I think she'll like it...at least I hope she does!  I think that Oh, Hello and Gorgeous Grunge are a match made in stamping heaven.  I love how these two sets work perfectly together.  I'm also in love with this year's In Colors, especially Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding.  And I am shocked by that last one.  There really aren't words to describe how much I hate mint green.  Remember Mint Medley?  Oh, how I hated that color.  I danced with joy when that retired.  I think it's because as a child, the walls in my dentist's office were that color, and I absolutely hated going there.  I had more things done to my mouth during my growing up years than any kid should have to endure.  Unfortunately, I think my oldest daughter is following in my footsteps.  It's much harder to watch your child go through that stuff than it ever was to endure it myself! 

Anyway, my dental issues seem to have influenced how I feel about mint green, so I think you can understand why I was so shocked to realize that I really do love Pistachio Pudding!  It's a more updated "mint" and not minty at all, which is probably why I like it. 

Tips & Tricks

• Now that the novelty of the Simply Pressed Clay and Molds has worn off, I'm happy to report that I still use them all the time!  The embellishments they add to any card are so affordable, and I love that they can be customized to match any project.  The only negative is that you can only make three buttons or flowers at a time.  But did you know that if you stick the molds in the freezer for about 30 minutes (in a deep freeze...a fridge freezer may take a bit longer), the clay will (temporarily) harden long enough to pop out of the mold?  You can then set them aside to dry, and free up the mold for more clay.  

• I always try to make extra buttons and flowers when I dye clay.  I keep the extras in old embellishment containers (you know, those round containers that buttons, brads and other items come in.)  It's a great way to reuse empty containers, and have beautiful embellishments ready for your next project!

Supplies

Stamps:  Oh, Hello and Gorgeous Grunge
Ink:   Sahara Sand, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar and Whisper White
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, Whisper White Baker's Twine

Pennant Parade Christmas Tree

In the spirit of making Christmas cards out of current, non-Christmas stamp sets I already own, here's an adorable little Christmas tree made from the Pennant Parade set.  Conveniently, there is a little star and pot for the tree included in this set, so clearly, my idea to use it as a tree was not original.  This card is so simple to create, and makes a cute and fun card to give this Christmas.

Tips & Tricks

• Five of the little Cherry Cobbler banners will fit in the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder at one time...great when mass producing this card!
• I love how the Ovals Framelits make layering perfect.  I cut them out using my Big Shot and the new Magnetic Platform, of course!
• The Season of Style Designer Series Paper Stack is a tremendous value!  At just $6.95, it's a bargain you just can't miss!

Supplies

Stamps:  Pennant Parade, Christmas Greetings (retired)
Ink:  Old Olive, Crushed Curry, and Soft Suede Classic Ink
Paper:  Naturals White, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, and Old Olive card stock, Season of Style DSP Stack
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Pennant Builder Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Paper Snips

I'll be holding another Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack on October 20.  If you'd like to attend, please contact me for details.

Oh, Hello

Oh, Hello is a set that I just haven't used enough.  I've been wanting to make a card using the In-Color color combination of Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding, and I just thought this set worked well with those colors.  While this card looks simple, I will make the disclaimer that there was a bit of work that went into it.  Not hard work, mind you, just a little time consuming.  To get the arrow stripe up the side, I got out my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure the arrows were perfectly aligned.  Then I stamped the other "arrow" stamp in each of the three colors, and cut out each of the pieces in order to glue them down in the alternating pattern.  The oval chevron image fits perfectly into the third smallest of the Ovals Collection Framelits, which makes cutting that out super easy.  Then I cut the flower out with my paper snips.  Don't look too closely...I didn't do that great of a job!  I've gotten so spoiled by using Framelits to cut everything out!  I'm not sure about the flower there...what do you think?  Should it stay, or should I have left it off?

Stamps:  Oh, Hello
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding
Paper:  Naturals White card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Paper Snips, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Stepped-Up Card {Sneak Peek}

Do you spy the new product on this card?  If you've been hoping for washi tape from Stampin' Up!, your wish is granted!  I'll confess that I'm a bit of a washi tape newbie, but it's tape...it's not like it's hard to use!  Several strips of tape, a ribbon, and a stamped image...voila!  A simple, easy, and fast card.  I love that you can stamp right on the washi tape!  Easy peasy. 

But then I decided that I wanted to step this card up a bit. I could have done this in a variety of ways...just another layer with a punched out sentiment would have been great.  I decided to add an extra layer, though, as well as a few other touches.  I used my paper-piercing pack to perfectly align the holes around each of the ovals, and decided to use two different color markers directly on the stamp to get a two-toned sentiment.  Just a few simple steps can jazz up any card...and remember that even one of these steps would have added just a bit more to the original card.  Don't feel like you have to go overboard!

Stamps:  Paper Pumpkin Welcome Kit (click here to subscribe for only $19.95/month...you'll even get the "hey there friend" stamp!)
Ink:  Basic Gray ink pad (126981),  Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Around Markers (119702)
Paper:  Island Indigo (122923) and Naturals White (102316) card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Ovals Collection Framelits (129381), Large Oval Punch (119855), Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape (129314) Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack (129387), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), and Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199)

Oh, Hello!

The Oh, Hello set was one that I received at Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference.  And honestly, I wasn't sure I would really use it that much.  At first glance, it's not really my style.  Or so I thought.  I have to say, my style has definitely changed over the past couple of years.  I've always been drawn to the bold images rather than line art that requires watercoloring.  And I don't tend to like ornate things.  Or vintage.  Except that now I sort of do.  I think that after fighting the vintage craze for a couple of years, I've finally started to embrace it.  I'm pretty sure that the crochet trim has helped...how can you not love a style that uses that gorgeous trim?  I LOVE that stuff!

So, the card.  I stamped the large oval image with Soft Suede ink onto Crumb Cake card stock.  I'd love to tell you that I cut it out with my new oval Framelits, but I'd be lying.  They are on a truck somewhere between Utah and Pennsylvania right now.  But let's just pretend that I cut it out with the Framelits, shall we?  Because I most definitely would have, had they been in my possession.  I roughed up the edge with the new Stampin' Distress Tool...what a fabulous new toy!  I did the same thing on the smaller oval.  So fun!  I sponged Soft Suede ink all over this card...not just the base, but on each of the layers.  It adds a bit of dimension, which I think is a must.  Some pearls, linen thread, and of course, my favorite crochet trim add the final touch.

Just a word about the images down the side of the card...the image has been repeated five times.  I highly recommend getting this set in wood mount, as using the Stamp-a-ma-jig is most definitely necessary.  I find that much easier to use with wood mount stamps rather than clear mount.  

Stamps:  Oh, Hello (130730)

Ink:  Soft Suede (126978), Crumb Cake (126975), and Marina Mist (126962) Classic Ink Pads, Marina Mist (119679), So Saffron, Crumb Cake (120967), and Old Olive (100079) Stampin' Around Markers

Paper:  Naturals Ivory (101849), So Saffron ( ), and Crumb Cake (120953) card stock

Accessories:  Linen Thread (104199), Crochet Trim (118481), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Extra-Large Oval Punch (119859), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), Big Shot (113439), Stampin' Distress Tool (127562), Stampin' Sponge (101610) Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Ovals Collection Framelits (129381)