Stampin' Up! Nuts About You

When I saw the new catalog, I absolutely fell in love with this adorable hostess set, Nuts About You.  It's so cute, and I can think of so many people that I'll make cards for with this set.  The tree is kind of funky and super-cute, as you can see in the picture.  This card shows a little 'possum hanging from one of the branches.  It's the only 'possum I've ever seen that's actually cute!

Tips & Tricks

• Get our your paper snips, because this set doesn't have matching Framelits.  You'll need to do some fussy cutting if you want the tree to be cut out like this one.  With so many Framelits to choose from these days, it's easy to forget how we used to have to cut out everything! 

• I stamped the tree on Naturals White card stock, and as you can see, it gives kind of a mottled look.  This is partly due to the fact that I used markers to color directly onto the rubber, and that tends to add to this look.  But it's also part to how porous this particular card stock is.  If you'd like a smoother, crisper image, stamp on Whisper White card stock.  I'll put an example of that up later on this week.

• I popped the tree up using Stampin' Dimensionals...it makes it easier to hang the 'possum by his tail! 

Supplies

Stamps:  Nuts About You, Woodgrain (retired)
Ink:  Garden Green and Soft Suede Stampin' Around Markers, Early Espresso and Soft Suede ink pads
Paper:  Soft Suede and Naturals White card stock
Accessories:  Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

Gently Falling Thinking of You Card

Tonight I have some friends coming over to stamp, and this is one of the cards we'll be making.  I'm not sure why, but the colors are coming out kind of weird in the picture.  Ever since I rearranged my basement a few months ago, my pictures have been off.  I just haven't been able to recreate the lighting I had going on before, and I think that's why.  So in case you're wondering, that's Cajun Craze going across the middle of the card, not some crazy bright orange color!

Tips & Tricks

• I'm so sad that Gently Falling is retiring.  I love a good leaf set, and this is a favorite.  When I'm using this set, I always stamp the outline first (although the order doesn't really matter), then, before stamping the background, I stamp off once on my grid paper.  It makes the outline pop and gives a softer look.

• Another way to soften up any card is to sponge around the edges.  You'll see that I've done that twice here:  once on the Always Artichoke sentiment, and again on the tag.

• And if you are wanting some soft texture, crumple up some paper!  That Cajun Craze piece was just crumpled up, then when I was happy with the way it looked, I smoothed it out with a bone folder and adhered it to the card.  So simple!

Now, in case you are looking at this card thinking everything on it is either retiring or already retired, I have wonderful news.  The Tag Topper Punches will be in the new catalog!  I am super excited about that, because I love them both! 

Supplies

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Sincere Salutations, Woodgrain
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Always Artichoke
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Decorative Label Punch, Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon, Linen Thread, Angled Tag Topper Punch

Truly Grateful Label Card

I think it should be obvious this week which products are my favorites!  But I love fall, and this is kind of my last chance to show off fall cards, because on Friday, well...let the Christmas season begin, right?

This is an upside down flip card, which I love.  It's nice to mix things up a bit and throw in some variety to one's card-making.

Tips & Tricks

• To make the card "upside-down", simply fold the opposite way you normally would.  It's really that easy!

• Pair up the Woodgrain Background stamp with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  It's a great combination!

• Sponging the edges of the Label shape for both sides of the card adds a really soft look.  Did you know that you can cut a sponge in four pieces (like a pie) and quadruple the value?  It's actually a lot easier to use that way, too!

Supplies

Stamps:  Truly Grateful, Yippee-Skippee, Gently Falling
Ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, More Mustard (retired), and Cajun Craze Classic Ink
Paper:  Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card stock, Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Label Card Thinlits, Sponge, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Sanding Block

Thanksgiving Place Cards

So last week I took a little blogging break.  It wasn't intentional, but definitely necessary.  Last week was insane, and my stress levels were through the roof.  So hopefully you'll forgive me for not posting...I just didn't have the time or creativity to come up with any projects to post.

This week I'll have a couple of non-card projects to show you.  Today is a simple, hand-stamped place card.  Since this one features a woodsy look in fall colors, it's perfect for Thanksgiving.  And if I were going to host Thanksgiving dinner, I'd probably consider putting these on the table.  OK, that's a total lie, because as an introvert, finding out that I have to sit next to someone other than my husband is terrifying to me.  Since I hate being assigned a seat, there's no way I'd do that to someone else.  However, there are definitely situations where place cards are appropriate, and maybe Thanksgiving is that time for you and your guests. 

Tips & Tricks

• You don't always have to use a background stamp in the vertical position.  For this card, I turned the Woodgrain background stamp so the grain is actually going across my card, instead of up and down.  I much prefer it this way!

• Let's talk about alphabet stamps...I give you permission to NOT line up your letters perfectly when spelling out a name or word.  In fact, I was trying to keep this casual and didn't want the letters to look perfect.  The haphazard placement of the letters in my name give it a relaxed, hand-made look, which is exactly what I wanted.

Supplies

Stamps:  Woodgrain, Gently Falling, Classic Alphabet (retired)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, and Crushed Curry 

Paper:  Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stock

Accessories:  paper snips, brayer