Button Buddies Birthday

This is a card for a very special girl, who turned 14 yesterday.  I've known her since she was two, and it's hard for me to believe that she's really as old as she is.  I gave a similar card to her mom a few months ago, and it's still hanging on their refrigerator.  A little birdie told me that she frequently looks at the card and comments on how she wished it was hers.  So I made one that's not a duplicate, but is similar, and hopefully she loves it. 

Tips & Tricks

• Paper piercing adds a lovely "finishing" touch to a card element, and I love that the Festive Paper Piercing Pack coordinates with Labels Framelits.  The holes are spaced perfectly, and there's no guesswork involved!

• Don't forget the most basic of stamping techniques...using markers directly on the rubber of your stamps.  This is how I created the Rich Razzleberry vase with the Old Olive stems sticking out.  Don't forget to breathe on the stamp before stamping to moisten the ink!

Supplies

Stamps:  Button Buddies and A Little Birthday
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Classic Ink, Whisper White Craft Ink
Paper:  Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, and Whisper White card stock, Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat, Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon, Buttons, White Baker's Twine

Simple Banner Card for Any Occasion

If this card looks familiar, it's because it is!  It's just a birthday version of this Christmas card.  I love this layout, as it's a great way to use up scraps of Designer Series Paper.  And if you are anything like me, you have a lot of that lying around!

Tips & Tricks

• Paper piercing is a breeze when you use the Festive Paper Piercing Pack.  The guide lines up to coordinate with the Window Frames Framelits, so there's no eye-balling your paper piercing. 

• Cut each banner the same length, then adhere them to your card front in whatever arrangement you prefer.  Then go through and trim the tops off the shorter banners...it's much easier that way!

Supplies

Stamps: Cheery Chat
Ink:  Whisper White
Paper:  Old Olive, Whisper White, and Tangerine Tango card stock, Floral District and Summer Smooches DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Window Frames Framelits, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat, Old Olive ribbon

A Card for Grandma

This bright card is for my Grandma, who recently moved into a nursing home.  Since I live in a different state, I can't be there to visit her as often as I'd like.  But I can send her a card every week.  She loves purple, and has made more quilts in her life than I could even count.  I loved going to her house when she was tying off a quilt.  The frame would take up the entire living room and made a pretty cool fort for a little kid.  She also made a quilt for each of her grandchildren as wedding presents.  My green quilt is one of my treasured possessions.  Quilts and Grandma just kind of go together, so I wanted to add a quilted element.  I'm hoping this will brighten her day and make her happy.

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (126149)
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry (126950), and Lucky Limeade (126984)
Paper:  Floral District (126919), Summer Smooches (125409), and International Bazaar (126020) Designer Series Papers, Rich Razzleberry (155316), Lucky Limeade (122926), and Naturals White (102316) card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Dazzling Details (124117), Rich Razzleberry Ribbon

Friendly Phrases

I think Friendly Phrases might be my new favorite set.  Sentiment stamp sets aren't always that exciting, but they are so necessary.  I have tons of them, and I use them, but sadly most of my favorites are retired, and I needed a newer, more updated set.  And let me tell you, this is the one.  It's fun, it's versatile, and it's perfect for so many cards!

I'm also loving that cute little pinwheel Sizzlet.  The pinwheels are fairly easy to put together, and they are adorable!  If you don't have it, you NEED to get it!  (and I can help you do that...just call or email me!)

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (126149)
Ink:  Island Indigo (126983)
Paper:  Tangerine Tango (111349), Island Indigo (122923), and Naturals White (102316) card stock, Summer Smooches DSP (125409)
Accessories: Pinwheel Sizzlits S Die (129411), Big Shot (113439), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850), Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack (126187), Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), Brights Designer Buttons (119747), 3/16" Neutrals Brads (119736), Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262), Tangerine Tango 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon (124144)

Designer Typeset {NEW Photopolymer Stamp Set!}

I finally had a chance to play with the brand new photopolymer stamp set, Designer Typeset.  It's no secret that I much prefer wood mount stamps, but let me tell you, the clear photopolymer stamps...wow.  I really like the ability to arrange the letters however I want...that means spelling ANYTHING my little heart desires.  In fact, I have a very silly card all planned in my head.  I probably won't post it here, because it will only be funny to my college roommates.  But I can personalize any card I make...in fact, I think I'm going to add a name to this card.  Not sure who the lucky birthday girl (or boy...because this set lends itself to ANY kind of card!) will be, but that's a decision I can make at the last minute, because it takes very little time to pop the letters on a clear block and stamp. 

And if I can do all these things so easily, so can YOU!  Call, email, or visit my online store to order yours today!

Stamps:  Designer Typeset (132956)
Ink:  Island Indigo (126986), Daffodil Delight (126944)
Paper:  Island Indigo (122923), Whisper White (100730), and Summer Smooches DSP (125409)
Accessories:  Clear Block I (118488), Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126872)

Bright Blossoms

Here's a super quick card for today.  Using the Peekaboo Frames Die and my trusty Big Shot, I made a little window for the flower.  The window even opens...sorry, I neglected to take a picture of it closed!  A little bit of Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper and some Daffodil Delight card stock that took a trip through the Big Shot in the Chevron Embossing Folder both add a bit of interest and texture.

Stamps:  Bright Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade Classic Ink, Whisper White Craft Ink

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, and Whisper White card stock, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot, Peekaboo Frames Die, Chevron Embossing Folder, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Peekaboo...Happy Day to You!

This is a fun little card I made using the Peekaboo Frames die.  I bought these to make an advent calendar, but they aren't just for a single use.  This little circle makes a fun element on a card.  This would be great for a child's card, because what kid can't resist opening that little window?

Stamps: Friendly Phrases, Bright Blossoms

Ink:  Old Olive, Island Indigo, and Daffodil Delight Classic Ink

Paper:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, and Island Indigo card stock, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories:  Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Chevron Embossing Folder