Simple For All Things Card

This is just a simple card that works great for Thanksgiving, or just as a thank you card.  It would be great to give to someone just to say how much you appreciate them, too.   This cute little card uses a little bit of several favorites:  stamps and ink, Simply Pressed Clay, and Designer Washi Tape. 

Tips & Tricks:

• I don't think this card needs a lot of explanation, but I will point out that the button was made using the Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, and I colored the clay using a few drops of Crushed Curry ink refill.  

• Did you know that there are a couple of great ways to speed up the process of making clay embellishments?  It takes a while for the clay to air dry, and I'm far too impatient for that!  Just pop the mold into the freezer (deep freeze works best) after putting the clay in the mold.  After about 15 minutes, the clay will be frozen and able to be removed from the mold easily.  Set it aside to air dry, or, if you happen to have a dehydrator, you can put it on a tray to dry more quickly.  I usually make a bunch using the freezer method, then put all of them in my dehydrator to dry.  It takes less than an hour.

Supplies
Stamps:  For All Things
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Elegant Eggplant, and Crushed Curry (ink refill)
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, Very Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Color Me Autumn Designer Washi Tape

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

Day of Gratitude Emboss Resist Card

Today is my 18th wedding anniversary, so I thought it would be fun to show the card I made for my husband.  I used the retired Day of Gratitude set, which is fitting, since I am filled with gratitude to be celebrating 18 happy years of marriage today!

I love this set, and thought it would be fun to try the emboss resist technique with it.  It turned out a bit more colorful than I was hoping...I think there are more fall colors on this card than I'm seeing on the trees this year.  I'm not sure what's going on around here, but where are all the pretty leaves?!

Tips & Tricks

• Emboss resist is such an easy technique.  Simply stamp and emboss your image.  I used VersaMark on Very Vanilla card stock and embossed with clear embossing powder.  Then dab a sponge on the ink pad of your chosen color, and kind of swirl it around on your card.  I used several colors and just randomly chose where to rub the sponge on the card.  I went back and filled in with Crumb Cake at the end, so be sure all the empty spaces were filled.

• Sponges are super inexpensive, and even more so when you cut them into fourths.  I set aside 1/4 of a sponge for each color ink, then slide them in a tiny cellophane bag labeled with the color name.  I never have to worry about accidentally using the wrong sponge in my ink pads!

Supplies

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Day of Gratitude (retired)
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, and Crumb Cake Classic Ink, VersaMark
Paper:  Soft Suede, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, Linen Thread, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Yippee-Skippee {Label Card Thinlit}

I just can't get enough of these Thinlit dies...flip cards are so much fun to make!  This one features Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper.  If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, I loooove plaid!  I think the Crushed Curry plain in this pack of DSP is my favorite. 


Tips & Tricks

• I made this card using the Label Card Thinlit Die.  Use the coordinating Labels Collection Framelits along with it to create additional layers.  They're a perfect match!

• When dying the Simply Pressed Clay, don't forget the gloves!  Of course, if you enjoy walking around with stained fingers, feel free to ignore my advice. :) 

Supplies

Stamps:  Yippee-Skippee
Ink:  Chocolate Chip and Crushed Curry Classic Ink, Tangerine Tango and Chocolate Chip ink refills
Paper:  Sweater Weather DSP, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, Linen Thread, Big Shot, Label Card Thinlit Die, Labels Collection Framelits, Magnetic Platform (!), Sponge

Truly Grateful

Ah, fall colors, plaid, and woodgrains (OK, plus linen thread)...three (four) of my favorite things.  This may be a simple card, but there are several textures and patterns going on.  The plaid comes from the Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper, which is available in the Holiday Catalog.  (Let me know if you need a copy!)  And check out the wood slice image stamped across the Cajun Craze stripe.  It goes beautifully with the woodgrain texture embossed on the Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock.  This card just makes me think of fall, my favorite time of year.  Although I'm not quite ready for it yet!

Stamps:  Truly Grateful
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso Core'dinations, Cajun Craze,  and Sahara Sand card stock, Sweater Weather DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Bitty Banners Framelits, Linen Thread, Simply Pressed Clay, Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds, Sanding Block

Buttons and Banners {Sneak Peek}

Do not be alarmed...Pennant Parade is NOT retiring!  I've been trying to feature retiring sets recently, and didn't want anyone to freak out thinking that this fabulous stamp set was headed out the door.  Thankfully, it's not!  I've had these pennants punched out and sitting on my desk for weeks, just waiting to be made into a card.  I had a general idea, but it was just too boring every time I tried to make a card.  And then along came the clay and button molds...the perfect touch to ramp this card up a little!

Using my Pennant Builder Punch, I popped out three pennants, then adhered them to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.  A couple of cute little Whisper White Baker's Twine bows complete the banner.  Then, using the Bitty Banners Framelits, I cut out the sentiment.  Those two perfectly dyed buttons are made with the new (and soon to be available) Simply Pressed Clay.  I can't believe how easy it is to dye this clay, and how true the color ends up being.  Without really trying, I was able to perfectly match the clay to Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue.  You will LOVE this new product, which will be available on May 31.  If you'd like to take a peek at the new 2013-2014 Annual Catalog, be sure to contact me so I can get one to you!

Stamps:  Pennant Parade (122740)
Ink:  Whisper White Craft Ink (101731), Marina Mist Classic Ink (126962), Bashful Blue (105221) and Certainly Celery (105230) Classic Stampin' Ink Refill
Paper:  Bashful Blue (105120), Marina Mist (119682), Certainly Celery (105125), Wild Wasabi (108641), and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), Simply Pressed Clay (130685), Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds (131272), Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262), Petite Pennants Builder Punch (122361)