Woodgrain Birthday

I'm so excited for tonight!  I'll have a house full of people making birthday cards with me this evening!  I was sick last week and was so disappointed that I had to cancel the birthday card event I had planned for last Friday night.  Fortunately, everyone was so kind and understanding...and able to reschedule.  This is one of the cards we'll be making, and I think it's perfect for a masculine card.

Tips & Tricks

• It's no secret that I love Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock AND the woodgrain embossing folder, especially when they're used together.  And I do like to lightly sand the embossed card stock to really make the woodgrain pop.  It's important to GENTLY sand with the grain, rather than across it, or the card stock will tear.

• Some light distressing adds the perfect touch to this woodgrain card.  I simply sponged a bit of Crumb Cake ink around the edge of the center piece.

Supplies

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude (retired), Best Dad Ever (retired), Woodgrain
Ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, and Crushed Curry Classic Ink
Paper:  Crumb Cake and Naturals Ivory card stock, Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock
Accessories:   Big Shot, Label Card Thinlit Die, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Paper Snips, Sponge

Joyful Christmas Sunflower Card

I've been making tons of Christmas cards lately, but I can't quite seem to bring myself to post one today.  By Monday, I'll fully be in a Christmas mood, but it's still November, so I'm going to enjoy my Thanksgiving decorations for at least one more day.  (Although I will confess that I'm pretty sure we're going to go get our Christmas tree today.)

I hadn't intended to get any new Christmas stamp sets this year.  But I've had my eye on Joyful Christmas since the Holiday catalog came out, and when the clear mount stamp was listed as part of the Holiday Sale (which is still going on!), the price was just too good to pass up on it.  I've been playing with this set for the past couple of days and have some gorgeous Christmas cards to show off in the next couple of weeks. 

Who Knew?

• You can totally turn a poinsettia into a sunflower!  I think that an additional layer of the petals would look better (and more sunflower-like), but I used glue on this card and didn't want to mangle it in an attempt to dismantle it and add another layer.

• Crushed Curry and Gumball Green look FANTASTIC together!  Never in a million years would I have thought to combine those two colors.  It makes me sad that Gumball Green will only be around for a few more months.

• Maybe you knew this already, but RUN to the Clearance Rack and stock up on single color packs of Core'dinations Card stock.  That's where I found this Early Espresso paper.  It's also available in the Neutrals pack of Core'dinations Card Stock.

Supplies

Stamps:  Oh Hello and Joyful Christmas
Ink:  Gumball Green Crushed Curry, and Early Espresso
Paper:   Gumball Green Crushed Curry, and Soft Suede card stock, Early Espresso Core'dinations
Accessories:  Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, Linen Thread, Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon, Sanding Block, Paper Snips

Happy, Happy, Happy

If you're a fan of Duck Dynasty, this card doesn't really need any explanation.  And if you aren't, well, you're just missing out.  Watch it.

As soon as I ordered Gorgeous Grunge, this idea popped into my head.  And then I had to wait over a week for the set to come.  When it did, I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to be able to pull off the camouflage look, but I was beside myself with giddiness when it really did work.  Just one splatter, randomly stamped with different colors really does look like camouflage.  To get the happy, happy, happy sentiment, I simply inked my stamp with markers instead of an ink pad, then only stamped the word happy the second and third time.  My trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig helped me to line it up perfectly.  To finish it off, I snipped a couple of card stock feathers, and added the woodgrain embossed Core'dinations card stock strip.  I'm thinking this is the perfect birthday card for my brother who is both a hunter and Duck Dynasty fan.  I just have to remember that in a couple of months when it's time to send it.

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Yippee-Skippee
Ink:  Always Artichoke, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain embossing folder, sanding block, linen thread, paper snips

Truly Grateful

I don't show nearly enough masculine cards here on my blog, so it's high time that I did.  This card uses the brand new set Truly Grateful, from the Holiday Catalog (which will be available starting August 1).  There are some beautiful images in this stamp set, but the wood slice that you see above is the reason that I got this set.  I love anything woodsy, so I just had to have this.  On a side note, I'm totally a woodsy/camping girl...I would much prefer to go camping in the mountains/woods than to go to the beach.  I know I'm completely in the minority on that one, but I grew up living in the woods and I guess no matter what, I'm always drawn back there.  Although if someone wanted to send me on a free beach vacation, I would not turn it down!

Anyway, back to this card.  I love using the Woodgrain embossing folder with this stamp...the more woodgrain, the better!  I lightly sanded a piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock and clear embossed the sentiment on it.  Oh, and there's one little wood slice that I cut out and popped up with a Stampin' Dimensional.  I just love all the browns and the woodgrains together. 

So what about you?  Mountains/woods or beach?

Stamps:  Truly Grateful
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso (Core'dinations) card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain embossing folder, sanding block, linen thread, paper snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

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

November Club Card, Part 2

I had originally planned to use the card from last week for club, but there was something about it that didn't seem quite right to me.  Plus, it had too many layers and steps to do at club.  So I took some of the elements I loved most about that card, and used them on a new card.  I'm so happy with the result!  The medallion is exactly the same, as is the button.  In addition to those pieces, I added half of one of the flowers cut using the Floral Frames Framelits behind the piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock that was embossed with the Woodgrain folder (my favorite!)  A simple banner using DSP from the Orchard Harvest pack finishes it off.

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, and More Mustard Classic Ink
Paper:  Naturals White, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, and Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock
Accessories:  Sweet Buttons Embosslits, Floral Frames Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Woodgrain embossing folder, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot

Thanks a Bunch

I have been so busy lately that I haven't had a lot of time to just stamp for fun.  I've been working on lots of projects, but I rarely have a chance to just sit down and stamp for the fun of stamping, with absolutely no specific end in mind.  I finally had a few minutes this afternoon and decided to use the Fab Friday sketch for this week.  I've never linked to a challenge before, but I'm hoping to do it a lot more in the future!

I used the cracked glass technique on the center image.  I'm sad that Stampin' Up! no longer sells the embossing powder needed for this technique. :(  Fortunately, I still have a little stash of it to pull out occasionally.  I really like this sentiment from the Friendship Preserves set, and I don't use it nearly enough.  Hopefully it will carry over to the main catalog!

Stamps:  Friendship Preserves

Ink:  Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, and Early Espresso markers, VersaMark

Paper:  Early Espresso Core'dinations,  Naturals Ivory, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Very Vanilla card stock

Accessories:  Window Frames Framelits Collection, Big Shot, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack, Paper-Piercing Tool and Mat, Linen Thread, Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon, Woodgrain embossing folder, Glassy Glaze embossing powder, heat tool

October Club Card #1

I'm not really much of a Halloween person, but I do love fall.  And fall means pumpkins.  These little pumpkins are so easy to make.  Just pick out a circle or oval punch, punch out three pieces, then with a little adhesive, stick them together.  So simple.  I did pop up the center piece with a Stampin' Dimensional, and sponged the edges a bit to give the layers a bit more dimension.

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Button Buddies

Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, and Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Pumpkin Pie card stock, Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock

Accessories:  Labels Collection Framelits, Woodgrain embossing folder, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, sponge

Candy Dish

I made this cute little candy dish on Saturday so we could have a fun way to eat our treats at the Stamp-a-Stack on Sunday.  Because fall colored M&Ms should really be housed in a cute fall-ish container.  :) I guess it's not actually a little candy dish...it's actually not little.  It's made from a full piece of 12x12 card stock, so the bottom and the sides all measure 4" square. 

Here's a view from the top.  I just tied a bunch of different ribbons around the top to make it pretty.  It was so easy to make...I was actually surprised at how quickly I was able to follow these directions and put it together. 

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude

Ink:  Old Olive, More Mustard, and Cajun Craze

Paper:  Autumn Spice DSP (retired), Cajun Craze 12x12 card stock, Early Espresso Core'dinations and Very Vanilla card stock

Accessories:  Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Crochet Trim, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

Speaking of the Stamp-a-Stack on Sunday, I'll have those cards coming up later this week.  And if you're interested in coming to our last Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack on Dec. 2, just let me know!

SAS Christmas Ornaments

I've had fun playing with the Ornament Keepsakes set from the Holiday catalog.  I'm not really a vintage kind of girl, but I know it's a very popular look right now, and I've slowly been forcing myself to move out of my comfort zone and make some vintage cards.  I was really happy with how this card came out, especially since it combines my normal preference of bold images with a vintage-y look.

I loved how this card turned out!  The ribbon, the shimmer paint, the Core'dinations card stock, the pearls...all so pretty.  I especially loved the little tags.  But it was kind of a lot, especially for a Stamp-a-Stack.  It's one thing to make one of these, but to have several people making five?  I knew it would end up taking all afternoon just to do this one card.  So I sat down and tried to rework it, and I ended up loving the new card even more!  Many of the elements are the same, such as the shimmer paint that's covering the ornament and most of the card surface.  The ribbon and linen thread are still there, just altered a bit.  And I love the addition of a bigger piece of Crumb Cake card stock.

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes, Christmas Greetings (retired)

Ink: VersaMark, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, and Crumb Cake card stock

Accessories:  Linen Thread, Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding ribbon, sponge, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Pearls, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Big Shot, Champagne Mist shimmer paint, sponge dauber

August Club Card

This was one of our cards for club this month.  It used my very favorite, the Woodgrain embossing folder.  I wish I had used the new Core'dinations card stock with it, but unfortunately, I didn't originally buy it in Early Espresso.  But after making this card, I took care of that!  It will be here on Thursday. :)

The flowers and jar are from Perfectly Preserved.  Everything is stamped right onto the piece of Very Vanilla.  We took a piece of Window Sheets and cut it out using the Cannery Framelits.  We didn't do any stamping on that piece, although if you wanted to, StazOn is the way to go.  The ribbon and sentiment hide the adhesive, and I think it turned out to be so cute!

Our other card this month was a repeat of a SAS card from earlier this summer.  Here's a look at that one.

Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved

Ink:  More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, and Raspberry Ripple Classic Ink

Paper: Orchard Harvest DSP, More Mustard, Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, and Very Vanilla card stock

Accessories:  Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, Cannery Framelits set, Window Sheets, small oval punch, Woodgrain embossing folder

More Christmas

I have lots of Christmas cards to show you over the next few days.  I guess hanging out in my cool basement and thinking of December helps deal with the heat and humidity outside.  This card uses the new set, Ornament Keepsakes.  I was so happy to see this set in the Holiday Catalog, because my favorite ornament set retired in May.  This one is very similar, only better, because there are a lot more stamps, in a lot more sizes!  And there is a coordinating set of Framelits, so you know I love that!  If you look closely, though, you can see that I need a little more practice using them. :)  Oops!  Actually, after making this card, I realized that by putting a bit of removable adhesive (I used Dotto, which retired) on the card stock, the Framelit will stay in place, and it does a much better job of perfectly cutting out the stamped image.

There are only three colors here:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, and a tiny little piece of Crumb Cake.  I used a new embossing folder, plus the new Core'dinations card stock, then sanded it.  The ornament is embossed with Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, and hung with a piece of linen thread.  And then I went crazy with my new favorite finishing touch:  Champagne Shimmer Paint.  I know, it's not a new product, but believe it or not, I've never used it.  I decided to open my brand new bottle and go to town.  Everything is covered in it, and it is so pretty!  I think I avoided it because I thought it would be too gold.  Nope!  It's absolutely gorgeous, and adds such a pretty, yet subtle effect.  I kind of wish I hadn't waited so long to use it!

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes, Tiny Tags

Ink:  VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake Classic Ink, Champagne Shimmer Paint

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Crochet Lace, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Big Shot, Lacy Brocade embossing Folder, linen thread, Jewelry Tag punch, sponge daubers, sanding block, paper piercing tool