It's in the Mail #2

I really liked the original of this card.  Many times, I see a card but there aren't any dimensions or instructions, so I just wing it and usually come very close.  Sometimes I don't like the result and sometimes I like my card even better than the original.  The original of this card was created by Joan Robertson.  I am sure she used all Stampin' Up ink.  I used all distress ink because I liked the colors.

My card is made with the elegant butterfly and bitty butterfly punches, together with the Papillon Potpourri stamp set (all SU); and Peeled Paint, Dusty Concord and Broken China distress inks (Tim Holtz/Ranger).  I also used Very Vanilla cardstock (SU), En Francais background stamp (SU) in Going Gray ink (SU), and black cardstock (Michael's).  The twine is linen thread from CTMH.  The sentiment is from "Thinking of You" stamp set (Hero Arts).

It's in the Mail! #1

95% of the cards I make must go in the mail, so, that's the name of my new series - It's in the Mail!  I usually don't make cards that can't be mailed - although I enjoy looking at ideas on line.  I don't have a lot of extra money to spend on cards that will sit in my studio because they're too thick to mail.

Sometimes I find it just as challenging trying to reproduce a card I see as coming up with my own ideas. I saw this card and really liked it - then I added my own twist, of course.  Here is the first one and I reproduced it just like the original design by Chiaki Haverstick:

This is the card I made out of the same die, embossing folder, Tea for Two paper (printed from SU's My Digital Studio), and cardstock colors (Very Vanilla and Pacific Point):

As you can see, my sentiment is a bit crooked!

Be aware that if you decide to use this paper - some of the flowers are upside down!  Also, Pay attention to the print around the circles.

Embossed Squares

I'm not sure whose original design idea this is, but I saw a similar card at a stamping party.  The squares are embossed with clear embossing power twice.  The photo does not show it, but the squares are very glossy.  I did notice that I needed to use bright paper before embossing because the embossing powder dulled the colors.  I cut the squares after all the embossing was done and cooled.

Supplies:
A2 Card Base - More Mustard, SU
Very Vanilla CS, SU
Elegant Eggplant CS, SU
DSP - Autumn Harvest, My Digital Studio, SU
Pretty Petites stamp set, SU
Fall Season stamp set, unknown (leaf)
Petite Curly Label punch, SU
Clear Embossing Powder
VersaMark Embossing ink pad
More Mustard ink pad, SU
Elegant Eggplant ink pad, SU
Cream/Gold 1/8" satin ribbon, Michael's

Vellum Flowers

I saw this card on LeeAnn Greff's blog and had to try it.  I changed out the colors a bit.

I'm not sure how she colored her flowers, so this is how I made the flowers: I embossed the flowers in white on white vellum.  Next, I colored the back of the flowers (just the centers) using SU markers. Starting in the center and using a water brush, I drew the colors to the edge of the flowers.  Next, I die cut the flowers.  I used double-sided tape in just the middle of the flowers.  I figured out I needed to use alot less water for the back of the flowers because the vellum curled easily.

I stamped the leaves and sentiment before embossing the white cardstock.  I also used Sharpie markers to color the pearls for the flower centers.

Supplies:

A2 Card Base - Rich Razzleberry, SU

White Cardstock

White Vellum

Secret Garden stamp set, SU

Secret Garden framelits, SU

Kind & Caring Thoughts stamp set (sentiment), SU

Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist & Summer Sun markers, SU

Water brush

Small Pearls, Want 2 Stamp

Sharpie Markers

Tuxedo Black ink pad, Momento

Certainly Celery ink pad, SU

Swiss Dots embossing folder, ProvoCraft

Ghost Stamping

I saw a video for ghost stamping on Darlene Devries' blog and knew I just had to make it in purple.  Below is a link to her YouTube video for creating this card.

Click here to learn how to ghost stamp

Supplies:

A2 Card base - White CS

Black CS, Michael's

Crumb Cake CS, SU

Secret Garden stamp set, SU

Wetlands stamp set (sentiment), SU

Whisper White Craft ink pad, SU

Dusty Concord Distress ink pad, TH/Ranger

Always Artichoke ink pad, SU

Thin black marker, Sharpie

White marker (flower centers), GellyRoll

Thinking of You

This is a simple and quick card using the

Field Flowers stamp set from Stampin' Up.



Supplies:
A2 Card Base - Very Vanilla, SU
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery, SU
Field Flowers & Wetlands (sentiment) stamp sets (SU)
Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon (SU)
Cloud Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Hanukkah Card

Below is a Hanukkah card I made with inspiration from a Christmas card made by Mary Fish.  She's so creative and always has lots of wonderful ideas!  My friend is Jewish and was so busy with Hanukkah, being a mother, working, and just keeping up with life that I wanted to make sure she had cards for her family, so I made 10 of these cards for her.

(I know, Hanukkah is long past, but I am still messing around with my back problems and I finally have a surgery date - January 4th!)

Supplies:

A2 Card Base - Ballet Blue

Ballet Blue, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla CS (SU)

Designer Paper: K& Company

Festival of Lights stamp set (CTMH)

Background Basics stamp set (SU)

Ballet Blue & Elegant Eggplant ink pads (SU)

Cricles - Plantin SchoolBook & Cricut (ProvoCraft)

Boho Blossom punch (SU)

Pearl (CTMH)

1/4" Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon (SU)

Lion Little Girl Birthday

I saw this cute punch art lion made by Kim Score (link to her blog below), and just had to try it!  It was so simple and fun and I'm sure our granddaughter will love it as she loves all zoo animals.

A2 Card Base
Pink Pirouette, Really Rust, More Mustard & Apricot Appeal CS (SU)
White & Black CS
Green Striped Paper (SU)
Pink Passion ink pad (SU)
Rusty Hinge Distress ink pad (Tim Holtz/Ranger)
Spun Sugar Distress ink pad (Tim Holtz/Ranger)
Well Scripted stamp set (SU)
1/2", 3/4" & 1-3/8" Circle Punches
Eyes & Nose: Owl Punch (SU)
Small Oval Punch (SU)
Tail - Leaf Sizzlit Die (Sizzix)
Black and White markers

Click here for Kim Score's blog.

Embossed Birthday

This is a super simple card using an embossing folder I forgot I had.  Once again, I was looking for a masculine birthday card idea.  Just changing the only color in the card could easily make this a feminine card.  I used glossy card stock for the embossed piece then inked it with a distress ink and applicator.

Supplies:
A2 Card base: White CS
Brocade Blue CS (SU)
Glossy White CS (SU)
Birthday embossing folder (ProvoCraft)
Chipped Sapphire Distress ink pad (Tim Holtz/Ranger)
Navy 3/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's)

Thanksgiving for the Adults

This is a super easy, but time consuming card - 3 leaf stamps and 9 circles per card (I made 13 all together!).  I also used Old Olive cardstock, which is a rare color in my cards.

Supplies:
A2 Card Base: Very Vanilla
Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie & Old Olive CS (SU)
Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust & Old Olive ink pads (SU)
Espresso Adirondack ink pad (Ranger)
Leaf Stamps (WeAreMemoryKeepers)
Heartfelt stamp set (SU)
1" Circle punch (EKSuccess)
5/8" Cream Twill Tape (Offray)
Square Brown brads (JoAnn's)

Thanksgiving(For the Little Kids)

For the grandkids, I have my long list of "cards to make" divided into "little kids" and "teenagers" and these are the Thanksgiving cards for the little kids.  I've discovered from my three step-daughters that their kids like the 3"x3" cards because they fit better in little hands.  Plus I have to make no less than five different variations!  For this card, I changed the mat colors.

ELEGANT EGGPLANT

RICH RAZZLEBERRY

GARDEN GREEN

EARLY ESPRESSO

OLD OLIVE

Supplies:

3" square card base: Very Vanilla CS (SU)

Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Garden Green, Rich Razzleberry, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie CS (SU)

Give Thanks stamp set (SU) (I used a stampamajig and marker for the partial sentiment)

Rusty Hinge Distress ink pad (Tim Holtz/Ranger) (sponging on card fronts)

Espresso Adirondack ink pad (Ranger)

Garden Green, Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie & Chocolate Chip Markers (SU)

Teen Birthday

As always, masculine cards are a challenge for me, especially the teenagers in our family.  It's hard to believe my great-nephew will be 16 very soon!  I still remember the occasion of his father's 16th birthday (and shopping for roper boots and Wrangler jeans for him - he was one fine looking young man!)  This is a pretty simple card to make.

FRONT

INSIDE



Supplies:

A2 Card Base: Early Espresso CS (SU)

Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy & Very Vanilla CS (SU)

Striped Paper (Glitz Design)

Alphabet Stew stamp set (SU) - Front

Alphabet Soup stamp set (SU) - Inside

Espresso Adirondack ink pad (Ranger)

Labels Framelits (SU)

3/8" Not Quite Navy Taffeta ribbon (SU)

Square Lattice embossing folder (SU)

Masculine BirthdayVersion 2

This is version 2 of yesterday's card.  Original design by Laurie Schmidlin (see her card here).

FRONT

INSIDE



Supplies:

See yesterday's post for the rest of the supply list

French Script Paper (Canvas Corp.)

Very Vanilla CS (SU)

Dots on a Line embossing folder (Sizzix)

Masculine BirthdayVersion 1

I saw Laurie Schmidlin's card (see it here) and really liked the angled front on her card.  This is my first version of her card:

FRONT



INSIDE

Supplies:
Card Base: A2 Black CS (Michael's)
Kraft CS (Michael's)
Striped Paper (Glitz Design)
Distress Stripes embossing folder (ProvoCraft)
Be Happy stamp set (SU) - Front
Terrific Tags stamp set (SU) - Inside
Tea Die Distress ink pad (Tim Holz/Ranger)
Black ink pad
Punches:
Squares: 3/4" (SU), 1-1/4" (SU), 1-3/8" (EKSuccess)
Circles: 1/8", 1/4" (Fiskars), 1/2" (SU)
Tag Punch (SU)
Photo Corner Punch (SU)
Round Tab Punch (SU)

Layered Leaves

I started stamping and cutting out leaves, and I had no idea what I was going to do with all of them - this is how they ended up in a card:

Supplies:
A2 Card Base - White CS
Nature's Vein stamp set (CTMH)
Sentiment: Holiday Seasons stamp set (Inkadinkado)
Background: Forest Moss Distress ink (Tim Holtz/Ranger)
Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust & Always Artichoke ink pads (SU)
Espresso Adirondack ink pad (Ranger)
Sentiment: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (ProvoCraft)
1/8" Rust Holiday Ribbon (Michael's)
1/8" Circle Punch
pop dots for sentiment

Butterflies - Again!

Lately I seem to be on a butterfly binge!  Thank you to Glenda Jones for the original idea for this card.  I saw it and just had to try it.  I used two colors for two looks.  I hope you like them!

Supplies:

A2 Card Base

Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry or Not Quite Navy CS (SU)

Elements of Style stamp set (SU)

Sentiment: Elementary Elegance stamp set (SU)

Rich Razzleberry or Not Quite Navy ink pad (SU)

Beautiful Wings embosslit (SU)

Framed Tulips Embossing Folder

Rich Razzleberry or Not Quite Navy 3/8" Taffeta ribbon (SU)

Bisque Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

Doily Card

I just got my Delicate Doilies Sizzlit die last night and had to play with it right away.  The original idea for this card is from LeeAnn Greff (Thank you!), and I changed it up a bit to use the doily die and the Edgelit die I've had for a while.  LeeAnn's card was tan, cream and black, and I wanted more color!

Supplies:
Card Base: A2 Very Vanilla (SU)
Certainly Celery CS (SU)
Certainly Celery ink pad (SU)
Espresso Adirondack ink pad (Ranger)
Whimsical Words stamp set (SU)
Flowers #2 Embossing Folder (Sizzix)
Adorning Accents Edgelit Die (SU)
Delicate Doily Sizzlit Die (SU)
Circle: Plantin SchoolBook Cricut cartridge (ProvoCraft)
1/2" Cream Organdy ribbon (JoAnn's)
BowEasy Bow at 1-3/4"

Halloween Card #10

Splat Witch!

I admit right up front that I copied this idea from Sharon White (You can see her original design here: http://www.sharonsscrappyspace.com/2012/09/spooky-cards.html).  I saw her cute little witch and just had to play with the idea and this is the card I came up with - Sharon's "splat" witch (a witch running into a brick wall!).  Of course, I didn't have the right punches, so I used a Cricut cartridge instead.  So, here's my version of Sharon's witch:

Supplies:
Card base: A2 Black
Red, Lime Green, Purple, Orange CS (American Crafts)
Bricked & Checkered Embossing Folders (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)
Merry Monsters stamp set (CTMH)
Black Ink (sentiment)
Aged Mahogany Distress ink for bricked background (Tim Holtz/Ranger)
Pennants for Cape & Hat: Stand & Salute Cricut Cartridge (ProvoCraft)
Shoes: Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge (ProvoCraft)
Ovals: Plantin SchoolBook Cricut Cartridge (ProvoCraft)
Legs: Word Window Punch (SU)
Hair: Extra Large Oval Punch (SU)
Deckle Scissors (cape) (Fiskars)
Toothpick, copy paper & Close to Cocoa (SU) marker for broom
I free-handed her hands & used black marker for nails

Halloween Cards #8 & #9

Jar of Spiders

We made a similar card this past week at our monthly 10-Club gathering and I thought it was so cute.  I didn't have the same stamp sets, so this is my take on the card.  Thanks to Pam for the design!

Supplies:

Card Base A2 Black CS

Drippy paper (Cloud 9 Design)

Herringbone paper (My Mind's Eye)

Pumpkin Pie CS (SU)

Lime CS

Black ink pad

Pumpkin Pie ink pad (SU)

Spider stamp: Holiday Seasons stamp set (Inkadinkado)

Sentiments: Merry Monsters stamp set (CTMH)

Jar stamp: Little Treasures stamp set (CTMH)

Spider Web embossing folder (SU)

Large Oval punch (SU)

Modern Label Punch (SU)

Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (SU)

Lime 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (JoAnn's)

Halloween Cards #6 & #7

Owl Witches Style 2

These are another take on yesterday's cards.  Thank you Chris Kolly for the idea for these cute little witches!



Supples:
Card Base A2 Black CS
Pumpkin Pie & Very Vanilla CS (SU)
Lime & Light Green CS
Witch Hats paper (Cloud 9 Design)
Sentiments: Merry Monsters stamp set (CTMH)

Black & White ink pads
Owl punch (SU)
Large Oval punch (SU)
Curly Label punch (SU)
Lime 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (JoAnn's)