Faux Suede

Another faux technique!  Faux suede is even easier than faux silk...just crumple up some cards stock as much as you can.  The more you crumple, the better, as you want to break down the paper fibers as much as possible.  Once you've done lots of crumpling, your card stock should feel much softer than it did when you started.  If not, keep crumpling!  Once it's soft and sort of leathery feeling, you can pull apart the layers of the card stock, so that you have two pieces.  The "inside" part will feel (and look) kind of fuzzy, which gives it the look of suede.  For this card, I cut one strip of card stock, then used both pieces after I pulled them apart.  See that roughed up edge on the piece the flowers are stamped on?  I did that by simply running the edge of a pair of scissors along the card stock until I was happy with the look.

For the flowers, I stamped them with Whisper White Craft Ink, then tapped over the image with More Mustard and Cajun Craze pastels.  Sadly, those have retired, but for those of you lucky enough to own them, give this technique a try.  It's especially stunning on Whisper White or Basic Black card stock.

Stamps:  Just Believe

Ink:  Whisper White Craft Ink

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip, and More Mustard card stock

Accessories:  Stampin' Pastels, sponge daubers, linen thread

Faux Silk

This card is one we made in club a few months ago, and it features a technique called faux silk.  It's so soft and pretty, but couldn't be easier.  Simply stamp on the back of a piece of tissue paper, crumple it up, then smooth it out, and mount it to a piece of Whisper White card stock.  That's it!  Another easy technique that adds the look of texture to the base of this card is to simply stamp onto the card stock with the ink pad.  Now, this isn't going to give quite the same look with the new firm foam pads, but if you have the old felt pads, it definitely adds a little something to a card.  So there you go, two super easy techniques to try on your next card!

Stamps:  Just Believe

Ink:  Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink Pad, Always Artichoke and Elegant Eggplant Markers

Paper:  white tissue paper, Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Whisper White, and Crumb Cake card stock

Accessories:  Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon

Another Birthday

Today my first born turns 10.  It doesn't seem possible that I've been a mom for a decade, but I have loved every day with this sweet, precious gift.  She's an amazing kid, and we just feel so blessed to get to be her parents.

I realize this card probably has more retired product on it than new, but I wanted to show it off anyway.  It's easy to swap out DSP and ribbon with current stuff, or anything that you have in your stash!

Goody, Goody...Gumballs

I know, it's supposed to be gumdrops, but there are so many gumballs on this card, that I couldn't resist.  The green, of course, is Gumball Green, my very favorite of the new In Colors.  Remember how I said that Brights make me happy?  This card has lots of them, but on the Crumb Cake background, they aren't overwhelming.  This was such a simple card to make...just punch out lots of circles, do a little water coloring, and that's pretty much it! Isn't the gumball machine from the Every Little Bit set so cute?  I don't make use of that set enough!

Stamps:  Every Little Bit, Pennant Parade 

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Pacific Point, and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink Pads, Staz-On Black

Paper:  Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, and Crumb Cake card stock

Accessories:  Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, and 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Aquapainter

Happy Card

So yeah, have you noticed there's a lot more stamping going on here than stitching?  I can't even get into the room where my sewing machine is right now.  It's become the room where everything gets stashed, including lots of yard sale stuff.  Hopefully I'll be sewing again soon.  In the mean time, I'm having lots of fun playing with my goodies from new catalog.

I know I've been stamping in Brights a lot lately, but they just make me happy!  I'm so glad that there are so many bright new DSP choices...Brights = happy (to me, at least!) and that's what I need right now.  And since my favorite color is blue, this is definitely a happy card for me!

Stamps:  Bright Blossoms, Best Dad Ever (sentiment)

Ink:  Pacific Point, Old Olive, VersaMark

Paper:  Pacific Point, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White card stock, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories:  White embossing powder, Old Olive taffeta ribbon, Brights Buttons, White Baker's Twine, Labels Collection Framelits, Paper Piercer

New Catalog!

It's here!  Today is the first day to order from the 2012-2013 catalog!  There are so many great new things in it, like Betsy's Blooms, the stamp set I used on this card.  The base of this one is made with Gumball Green, one of the new In Colors.  It's a great match with Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise.

One More Day!

Today's the last day to order from the current catalog.  If there is anything still on your wish list, NOW is the time to order!  Just let me know if you'd like to place and order, or better yet, have it delivered right to your door by ordering from my website.

I know it seems odd to post a Mother's Day card today, but I have my reasons.  When I first made this, I was going to post it on Mother's Day.  That didn't happen, and immediately after I made the card, I knew that I was going to change it into a birthday card for my daughter.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a new picture before putting it in the envelope.  She adored this card when she saw it, so I knew that I should just use it for her.  She's my pink girl, so this is perfect for her.  I can't believe my baby is eight years old!

I could go on and on about how fast my kids are growing up, but I'll give you card details instead. :)  The card itself is made with Naturals White card stock.  I clear embossed across the front with the new Betsy's Blooms wheel that coordinates with Betsy's Blossoms, the set I used for the flowers and leaves.  I did the same thing on Raspberry Ripple cards stock and put a strip of that along the top edge of the embossing on the card.  On top of that is a piece of Primrose Petals that was embossed with the Square Lattice embossing Folder, mounted on a piece of Gumball Green.  That's my favorite of the new InColors, and I even have one of the new firm foam ink pads in GG.  Can you see how perfectly those leaves are stamped?  I LOVE these new ink pads!  The flowers are Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals.  They remind me of an old, long-ago retired set called Island Blossoms, which was a favorite of mine.  And of course, the little banner was cut out using the new Bitty Banners Framelits.