My Dear Friend Card & Tutorial

This is the card I made using the flower from yesterday's tutorial. The finished size is 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 and opens with a flap. The picture above shows the ribbon going through the slider (just like a belt buckle), but I think the recipient of the card will have too much trouble trying to get it to open. So instead, just put the ribbon through the top hole of the slider. Doing it this way will still hold the flap down and still look good! For this project you'll need the apricot flower from yesterday's tutorial and the following:
Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Coluzzle, Old Olive 1/4" Twill Ribbon, Ticket Punch, Small Corner Rounder Punch, Mini Glue Dots, CuttlebugChoose a Cuttlebug design folder to use on the 4-3/4" section of the base card. After scoring 1/2" across top of flap piece, attach the folded 1/2" section behind the upper edge of the 5-1/2" portion of base card. TIP: To give a more subtle look on a ticket punch corner, don't insert the card stock corners all the way into the Ticket Punch. In this project, the Ticket Punch seemed too deep for me, so I only slid it in half-way before punching.

Thanks for visiting me today!

Another Flower Tutorial

This flower was made by using the 5 Petal Punch. The supplies I used also include: Apricot Appeal card stock, chalk pastels, dauber, 1/8" circle punch, Silver Style Brad.

Add the brad through the center of both flowers, curl the edges up and there's your flower!

Easy 3-Flowers Card

With the girls home for Easter vacation and the appointment for my CT scan hovering over my head, I just couldn't seem to concentrate on making anything. Now with my test over with and after spending the entire day with my girls, I finally made it to my work table. (I just heard the fireworks at Disneyland! I always know when it's 9:35 because of the "boom" from Disneyland's nightly firework show... anyway...)

I wasn't in the mood to do too much stamping, so I took out my ribbons and lace and found a string of pink and green flowers. I bought about a foot of this at JoAnn's Fabric last month thinking I might be able to use it on a card. This was the perfect solution for a day like today... all I had to do was apply mini glue dots to it and BAM! colorful flowers with no stamping! Here is how I did this simple card:

Certainly Celery (5-1/4 x 3): With the 1-1/4 circle punch, punch center of card stock. Punch two more circles, one on each side of the center punch. Trim Celery on long sides so that it measures 2", making sure that the circles are evenly centered.

Whisper White (5-1/4 x 2): I used the scallop scissors to make the scalloped edges. Make scalloped edges on both of the long edges. Cut in half longways so that you now have two pieces with scalloped edges. Glue behind Celery as shown in the picture.

Certainly Celery (5-1/4 x 1 and 5-1/4 x 2): Glue the smaller Celery strip behind the bottom WW scalloped edge so that only 1/2" of Celery is visible. Glue the larger piece of Celery strip behind the top WW scalloped edge so that only 1-1/2" is visible. This piece should now measure 5-1/4 x 4. Attach the whole piece to the Apricot Appeal card stock (5-1/2 x 4-1/4, folded) with several dimensionals on the edges. Attach flowers with mini glue dots in center of each circle.

Stamp "For You" or another sentiment with Rose Red ink on WW and punch out with small oval punch. Punch Rose Red card stock using the large oval punch. Glue "For You" on top of Rose Red oval. Punch a 1/8" hole on left side of oval and slip a 2" strip of Apricot Appeal 1/4" grosgrain ribbon through it. Use brad to hold ribbon in place. Attach to card with dimensionals.

Excellent Blog Award

I would like to thank Leonie Schroder of Totally Addinktive for nominating me the E for EXCELLENT BLOG AWARD!

I have tons of blogs bookmarked, all of them owned by amazing, talented artists, so to choose only four is quite difficult. But here goes (and in no particular order):

I found Donna of Serenity in Stamping through Hannastamps Yahoo Group. Not only is her talent evident in her creations, but her photography is awesome! You're truly blessed, Donna.

Now Susanna of Barefoot Stamper, she's one sweet, talented artist! When I first started stamping, her blog was one of the first ones I had bookmarked. Last month, I found that I had bookmarked her twice! So, Susanna, when it comes to your blog... ya can't help but take a second look!

Of course I have to include Kelly of Diaries of a Stamper. She has inspired me with so many of her beautiful cards. What I admire about Kelly is how she goes from "classy classics" to "crisp & clean" to "just plain fun!"

Laura of Scrapnextras has a treat she serves every Tuesday -- Technique Tuesday is something to look forward to every week. You'll love it if you haven't tried it.

Okay, I could go on and on because there are so many awesome blogs out there, but time will never permit it. So, if your name is listed here, have fun with your choices and don't forget to leave their links.

Thanks for visiting!

Crack That Egg! Tutorial

Pull the bee up and the egg cracks open!












Supplies
Stamps: Merci, Happy Everything, any "Easter" stamp
Paper: Tempting Turquoise (8-1/2x5-1/2); Whisper White (5-1/4x4) plus scraps; Barely Banana Oval (appr. 3x2); DSP Petals & Paisleys (5-1/8x3-7/8); Acetate
Ink: Regal Rose, Black StazOn
Accessories: Stampin' Cosmos Fine Glitter Celery, 2-Way Glue, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Brads, Boho Blossom Punch, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Rick-Rack Trim

On a 1x1-3/4 piece of Whisper White, stamp with "Easter" with Regal Rose ink making sure it will fit in a 1/2 in. tall space. Place the dimensionals as shown below. Trim "Easter" card as needed.

Next you will need to stamp the "pull tab." Here I used the bee from the Merci SAB set. You can use any other stamp about the same size as this (about 1" sq.). I used purple and yellow watercolor pencils with blender pens to color the bee.

Punch flowers with Boho Blossoms Punch (or use whatever flower you have), place it under each end of the "happy" acetate, punch a hole in the center through all the layers, and put a coordinating color brad through it. When positioning the "bee" acetate BEHIND the "happy" acetate, make sure the bee does not stick out of the paper too much.
Making sure that the bee is resting on top of the "happy" acetate, and that the word "Easter" is completely hidden in the bottom egg, tape the acetate with the bee to the "Easter" card. You can put a ruler under the "happy" acetate to show where it needs to be attached. Remove the dimensionals from behind each flower and place back onto the card front aligning it above the ruler. Now, put a dimensional on top of the upper egg on back side and remove adhesive. Remember, DO NOT remove the two backings of the lower dimensionals. Align it over the lower egg in the closed egg position with the bee still resting on top of the "happy" acetate. Now, attach it onto the "bee" acetate.
Glue this layer onto the Whisper White card stock, then, glue the whole thing onto the turquoise card base. All you have to do now is pull the "bee" up and the egg cracks opens!

Lacey Wedding Card & Tutorial

Two down...two to go. I'm finding that I really enjoy designing wedding cards. I love all the lace, the softness and the feeling that comes with the event. But I wish I can take better pictures of these "softer" cards because the last two pictures I took, including this one, just doesn't come out looking like the real thing. It's so frustrating! Okay, now about the card...
Supplies
Stamps: Together Forever, Frames with a Flourish
Card Stock: Whisper White (6x9), Shimmery White
Ink: Sahara Sand, VersaMark
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon (20"), Pretties Kit, Ticket Punch, Dimensionals, Sticky Strips, Mini Glue Dots, 1" Wide Lace (5"), Charm

Cut Shimmery White 5.5x4. Cover 1/3 of left side with scrap paper. (Tip: It's best to rub card stock with the Embossing Buddy before embossing.) With the flower stamp from Together Forever, randomly stamp flower using VersaMark. Pour Clear Embossing Powder over the card stock and shake off the excess and pour it back into the container. Emboss with heat tool until melted.

To emboss the frame from Frames with a Flourish, first tap the stamp on the VersaMark, then tap it on the Sahara Sand Classic Ink before stamping it onto Whisper White. Now, pour Clear Embossing Powder over the stamped area and shake excess off. Emboss with heat tool. Trim just outside the line with paper snips and punch two holes with 1/8" hole punch where indicated in the picture.

Lay the 1" wide lace on top of the Shimmery White over the 1/3 edge that was previously covered with scrap. With sticky strip, tape it down on the back of card stock.With the taffeta ribbon, go in and out of the two holes on the frame (shown in picture). Wrap the left side of the ribbon around the back and bring it back to the front. Attach frame with dimensionals on top of 1" wide lace about 2/3 down from top of card. Attach the Love charm (I found these at the bridal section at Walmart where they keep the wedding favor supplies). I held it down using small pieces of mini glue dots. Now, tie a bow and secure with a mini glue dot as shown. Punch corners with ticket punch. Attach all this to the Whisper White base card with 2 to 3 dimensionals on the back at each edge. Attach one half pearl from the Pretties Kit with mini glue dots on each corner of the card.

And they lived happily ever after... thanks for stopping by. (Sorry about that comment, I couldn't resist. All these weddings remind me of fairy tales!)

Together Forever

Because of all the weddings going on this year, I have wedding cards on my mind. I went to my local fabric store and took a look down the ribbon aisle. There were so many spools of lace to choose from! I came home with several different designs and styles. I used one of them on this 6 x 4-1/2 card pictured above. The ivory lace I used here has a small string of pearls intertwined with it. (The picture doesn't show how delicate the lace really is and it's much lighter than shown.)

Stamp: Together Forever, Frames with a Flourish
Paper: Very Vanilla, Brushed Silver
Ink: Going Gray, VersaMark
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Silver Cord, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Decorative Corner Punch, Heart Charm, Lace

Bali Breeze Album and Expandable File

A certain "company" donated this album to my husband to hand out to expectant mothers at work, but they gave him way too many. I couldn't resist asking for some to play with. This is the before picture, which is very cute -- only if you're having a baby (been there, done that!).

With the Bali Breeze DS paper, I made the center cut for the photo by placing the paper on top of the album, outlined the opening by pressing down with my fingers (dry embossing-like), place on cutting mat and then used a straight-edged ruler and a hobby knife to cut the opening. I covered the front and back using Tombow glue. I thought I'd have to use half a roll of sticky tape, but Tombow worked great. I'm still not sure what to use this for so I decorated this very simply using the felt Flower Fusion, Brads and micro beads (attached by first coating the brads with Tombow glue and then dipping it in the micro bead container).









The inside cover had areas to document the baby's birth information. Two pieces of card stock took care of that! Now the album is ready to be decorated...


Now for the matching File Folder. I covered the folder with the same DSP and glued it the same way. As you can see in the cute baby before picture, it already comes with an elastic and snap closure -- very convenient!

Look how nice the inside folders are!

Here's the side view of the Photo Album AND File Folder!! Now how many of you guessed that they were really only ONE unit? Isn't that just so clever? One side is meant to look like a photo album with an inside cover to decorate, then turn it on its side and it becomes an Expandable File Folder! Who knew? It can be used to store memorabilias, coupons, recipes, etc... I'm planning to store cards in here, or maybe use it at workshops for wish lists, order forms, mini cattys, endless possibilities... If any of you would like to receive one of these, I have a few undecorated to give away. Subscribe to my blog, leave me a comment and you can get this for the price of the shipping cost. (US only please)

Merci

I've always loved the stamp set Carte Postale. I never did much with it so I finally took it out this morning. I wasn't sure what to do with it, then I remembered one of Beate's cards that she made a couple of days ago with vellum. Out came my package of vellum and of course it was brand new... I bought it a few months ago "just in case." I have lots of "just in case" items just like everyone else, right?

Stamp: Carte Postale, All Scallops
Paper: River Rock, Basic Black, Vellum Paper
Ink: Black StazOn, VersaMark
Accessories: Stylus, White Taffeta Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Silver Style Brads, Small Oval Punch, Piercing Tool, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Distressing Tool.

Blush Wedding

This year seems to be The Year of Weddings. May 10, my niece; May 18, my close friend; June 28, a cousin; August 2, another cousin is also getting married... in Maui! This card that I made is for my close friend... just because.

Stamp: Happy Harmony
Paper: Whisper White, Blush Blossom, Mulberry Paper, Acetate
Ink: VersaMark, Timber Brown StazOn
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon, Just For You Punch, Iridescent Ice EP, Mini Glue Dots

Carousel Notes

I finally opened my package of Carousel Notes today and played with it. At first I thought the size was too big (6"), but after a while, I actually liked it a lot! AND it comes with large square envelopes.
The first one I made was with the Rose Cottage Simply Scrappin' Kit, my fave. This project did not involve any stamping at all! From the picture, you can't really make it out, but the sentiment on the bottom says "Thinking of You." That too is a sticker from the kit. This note card was so easy to make!

For this card, I chose to use the Friendly Flowers stamp set from the Occasions Mini. Part was embossed with white EP and the other part was stamped with brown StazOn on acetate. I cut a folded Groovy Guava card stock using the Culuzzle keeping about an inch and a half of the fold uncut. The brown circle base looked too small, so I ended up punching circles on the scallops so the edge wouldn't be so plain looking. The "friend" tag is partially slipped between the Groovy Guava card stock and the acetate.

Thanks for stopping by!