Category Archives: cards

Rainbow Critters

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I created this card for one of mom’s stamp camp. She requested a kid birthday card. I chose to use Fox & Friends (such a cute little set!). I couldn’t pick which little critter to use, so I decided to use them all. I was trying to decide what color to make each animal when I realized I could make a rainbow. That always makes me happy 🙂

Thanks for taking a peek!

happy day
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Fox & Friends, Friendly Phrases;
Colors: Daffodil Delight, Pure Poppy, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, White, Crumb Cake;
Other: Daffodil ribbon, Scallop Border punch;

Sheep and Rainbow

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My girls have a birthday party to attend today. And as usual, I’m last minute making the card. The invitation was a rainbow and clouds, so I figured I would just emulate that.

The birthday girl loves goats so I was lamenting the lack of goat images in my index when I remembered she also loves sheep – and hey I have one of those – and, even better – it looks like a cloud!

I can’t believe how quick this card came together – even with all the hand & die cutting!

Thanks for taking a peek!

happy baa-thday
Stamps: Party Posse (Paper Smooches);
Colors: Spring Rain, White, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Harvest Gold, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, Plum Pudding (PTI); Going Grey (SU); Black marker (SU); Black ink (Palette);
Other: By the Numbers impression plate, Cloud dies (PTI); Rainbow die (MFT);

Sympathy Poppies

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I created this card a few months ago for a friend.

Three of the flowers are cut-out and popped-up. I added the black detailing to the flowers with a pen/marker. The card base is embossed.

Thanks for taking a peek!

With Sympathy
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Botanical Silhouettes;
Colors: Spring Moss, Pure Poppy, White;
Other: Giga Guidelines impression plate, Mat Stack 5 die, Spring Moss ribbon;

Hollyhock Garden

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My random file this afternoon was Spring Garden – an oldie but goodie from Stampin Up. I thought I would do a tulip row, but when I went looking for help I found a sketch at Clean & Simple Stamping (ftl180) that worked perfect for the hollyhock image.

I decided I wanted to use Wisteria (mostly because I knew I had some pattern paper in that color) and chose Limeade because they are family 🙂

This is a great layout and I’m sure I’ll use it again!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Spring Garden, It’s Your Birthday;
Colors: Black (VersaFine); White (PTI); Wisteria, Limeade;
Other: Wisteria ribbon, Lots of Tags die;

Birthday Hoot

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I am out of birthday cards and have lots to send this month. Most of my cards go to folks that are part of a RAK group – which means I don’t really know them so my normal method for making a card (tailoring it to the recipient) doesn’t work. When I’m not sure where to begin, I like to browse my stamp index….problem is I have WAY to many stamps and I end up with too many ideas in my head. My solution – go random!

I don’t remember where I first read about it, but I know some stampers have taken to trying to use more of their older stamps by using a random number generator to help them pick sets from their index. My index is digital and can’t really be numbered in a useful way. Instead I found a random file picker program – I can point it to my digital index directory and have it pick a file for me. (I found the “Pick Me” program here.)

This morning I got Owl Always Love You – a Gina K set I bought when the owl craze was in full swing. I also decided to use a sketch from Retro Sketches (rs#2) – a new sketch challenge blog.

I originally had stamped the image on a rectangle, but quickly decided I wanted an oval with some pieces hanging out. I know there is a way to die cut with pieces hanging out, but it would have taken me too long to figure that out – so I traced my die onto the paper and hand-cut the shape.

I wasn’t exactly sure what colors I was going to use when I was coloring, but since I don’t normally do “weird” colors on natural things, I didn’t worry about it. When I was done I decided to add a bit of blue marker around the image. That blue reminded me of Aqua Mist so that is where I went. I kept the other colors neutral so the card didn’t get too overwhelming.

I really wanted to emboss the card base with a wood grain, but I felt the card was on the edge of too much, so I stopped.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Owl Always Love You (GinaK);
Colors: Kraft, Aqua, Rustic White (PTI); Black (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic); oval dies (Spellbinders);

FYI – Autumn Garden

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It is time for another For Your Inspiration challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> FYI26.

I really loved the hazy feel of the inspiration photo – so dreamy and relaxing! I just had to pull out one of my favorite sets – Asian Garden (Waltzing Mouse Stamps).

The focal panel is watercolor paper. I wet it thoroughly and then stamped the leaf/foliage image in red, yellow, and green. Since the cardstock is wet, the ink runs and puddles and blends. I let that dry and then went back and stamped the foliage again – without the extra water, you get a clean imprint. I did this for some definition. I also added a couple tree branches.

I so wanted to add a bridge, like in the inspiration, but it worked better to have the splash of white be the sentiment. I used an embossing folder from StampinUp and then tore it out so it had the same worn edge as the foliage panel. I added an outline of gold pen around the inside of the frame.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Debbie
Debby
Karen <-- that's me 🙂 Michelle
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Sylvia
Vicki

I hope you join us at For Your Inspiration!

Thanks for taking a peek!

A Little About the Challenge: The For Your Inspiration challenge is posted the First and Third Thursdays of each month. Steph, the challenge coordinator, will post a photo and you make a card – however the inspiration hits you. You have two weeks to post a link.

thinking of you
Stamps: Asian Garden (WMS);
Colors: Scarlet Jewel, Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Rustic Cream (PTI); More Mustard (SU);
Other: watercolor paper; gold pen; ribbon (stash); Designer Frames embossing folder (SU);
Technique: Wet Paper Watercoloring;

World of Thanks

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I created a few of this card for my husband to use in his office – as thanks to those that donated for the charity drive.

Thanks for taking a peek!

You
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Rose (PTI);
Colors: Night of Navy, Real Red (SU); White (PTI);
Other: pattern paper (SU); Textile Rectangle die (MFT); Wonderful Words die (PTI); ribbon (PTI or stash);

Springy Trees

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I created this card for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge (wmsc88).

The weather has been quite warm this past week and it has me in the mood for spring – so I created a bright springy card.

Thanks for stopping by!

glad tidings
Stamps: Teeny Trees (WMS); Weave (Cornish Heritage Farms);
Colors: Rose Red, White, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede (SU);
Other: Pear ribbon, Eyelet Border punch, Flower Trio punch (SU); Rhinestones (Hero Arts);

Kiddie Cards

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A few months ago I needed a couple boy birthday cards.

The first card is pretty straight forward.

The second card I used some bits from a card that failed me months before. The little banner and the cute monster are from my scraps bin. I pulled the rest together around them.

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Free Spirit: Boy, Free Spirit Sentiments, Offbeat Backgrounds (WMS);
Ink: Going Grey (SU); Black & Red markers (SU);
Paper: White, Kraft (PTI); Pacific Point? (SU);
Other: Limitless Layers Circle (PTI);
HB 2 U
Stamps: Make a Monster (SU); Tiny Treats: Valentine, Birthday Bash Seniments (PTI);
Colors: Real Red, Pacific Point (SU); White & Black (PTI); Celery or Olive? (SU);
Other: Twine, Black ribbon (SU); star die (?);

Reverse Applique

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I made this card months ago for the Papertrey Make-it-Monday: Reverse Applique (mim40).

I used the Leaf Prints dies and Fall Prints & Patterns paper. I faux-stitched along the edges with a brown Copic marker. This was a masculine birthday card, so I kept it simple and just added a bit of twine.

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Birthday Basics;
Colors: Rustic Cream, Kraft, Dark Chocolate;
Other: Leaf Prints dies, Fall Prints & Patterns paper; twine (stash); marker (Copic);