Summer Afternoon Trio

Here is card three of the set I created using Summer Afternoon, Secret Garden & the Floral District DSP.

I also used the Needlepoint Border & Framed Tulips Embossing Folders & the Itty Bitty Banner set which was cut with the coordinating Bitty Banner Framelits. Here's a look at the full set.

If you want to learn more about each individual card scroll down to see the other posts. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Summer Afternoon in Secret Garden

On my last post I shared a card I created using the hostess set Summer Afternoon along with Secret Garden and the Floral District DSP. Since I had all these items out and was liking the results I created a set using each of the images from the Summer Afternoon set. Here's the second card...

I have a little "oopsie" to share on this one. I had already adhered my water colored image to a hand cut mat (traced around outside of framelit with pencil) of "Melon Mambo" only to realize it was actually Rose Red which I found out when I grabbed a real piece of Melon Mambo to emboss the Framed Tulip layer. So I had to go with Rose Red and just made sure to chose DSP prints that didn't have Melon Mambo in them so it wasn't too obvious. The ribbon & ink are a bit lighter/brighter but I don't think it takes away from the finished card. Other colors used here are Daffodil Delight & Baja Breeze.

I also used the Needlepoint Border EF, Itty Bitty Banner set which was cut with the coordinating Bitty Banner Framelits and the Labels Framelits.

Check back for my next post to see the final third card of this set.

Secret Garden on Summer Afternoon

Being in a Secret Garden on a Summer Afternoon sounds pretty darn good right now...doesn't it? Guess I'm longing for flowers and warm weather because I've been playing with both of these sets. Here's the first card of a series I created using those products along with the Floral District DSP.

Both the flower cart image and flower image were stamped on Whisper White with Black Stazon ink and then water colored using my Aqua Painter & Classic Inks pooled in the lid of my ink pads. That is my favorite way to color, and I get the best results by layering on the color and making sure not to let the water flow out too much...so be sure to have paper towel handy to blot excess.

I used two different embossing folders here as well...the Tulip Frame and one of the new Needlepoint Border EF. The greeting is from the Itty Bitty Banner set and cut with the coordinating Bitty Banner Framelits.

Make sure to check back here because I'll be posting the rest of the set this week.

Springtime Balloons

I got the new Cloudy Day Embossing Folder especially to use with my Up,Up & Away set but haven't had the opportunity to play with it...until now.

The clouds are formed of delicate dots and even cuter in person. I think it makes the perfect background for the hot air balloon images. Despite the weather...I'm trying to "think Spring", so that's how I chose my Springy color combo of Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Certainly Celery with some Rich Razzleberry thrown in because I felt like it.

I layered the Modern Label & Word Window punches over a stamped design from Creative Elements...and I really like that look. The "hills" were created using the Large Scallop Edgelit. To finish off my creation, I used Pool Party Satin Ribbon and a Basic Rhinestone for the little flower.

Now if only Stampin' Up! would come out with a balloon punch I would use this set even more! I guess I'll add that to my wish list...along with some nice, spring-like weather!

Sycamore Street Family Pages

Today I'd like to share a couple more pages that I created using basically the same supplies as in yesterdays post...Sycamore Street DSP along with the Daydream Medallions stamp set. I designed these pages especially for a scrapbooking class I recently had. The photos are from a family reunion we hosted here last summer.

The scallop along the edge was cut using the Tasteful Trim Die and then I stamped inside each scallop using an image from the Tiny Tags set. Here's a closer look at the left side of the layout.

I used the "family" stamp from the retired set That's Nice and embossed it for the title and the little strips which I cut apart. Here's a closer look at the flower embellishment created with the Daydream Medallions and coordinating Floral Framelits.

The center of the flower was cut using the smallest Floral Framelit and one of the prints from the Sycamore Street DSP. Here's a closer look at the right side of the layout.

Ooops...I cropped one of my photos too small. No problem! I just added a border of Tangerine Tango embossed with the Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder...I think it added a nice pop of color and looks like I planned it all along. The Tiny Tag attached to the Island Indigo Satin Ribbon has the date written on it, and the word "celebrate" was also a stamp from the That's Nice set.

The Sycamore Street Suite of products, which includes the DSP, ribbons & buttons used here, are only available during Sale-a-Bration...which comes to an end this Friday, the 22nd. So get them while you can!

Live Laugh Love Layout

Here is a two page layout I made using photos from a fun weekend with friends at Lake Michigan a couple summers ago. I thought the bold designs & bright colors from the Sycamore Street DSP would be perfect for these photos.

In case you are wondering...after seeing many of my layouts posted on Pinterest, I recently made the decision to blur out the faces in the scrapbook layouts that I post here. My reason for this is that I'm not sure how my friends & family would feel about having their pictures so "out there". I don't think my little blog gets that much traffic, but Pinterest is another story! Hopefully you won't think it detracts too much from the pages. Here's a closer view of the left page...

The weather that day was too chilly to go swimming but like always, we made the best of it and as you can see we still had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. The laughter definition image from Word Play created a nice accent here.

I used the Typeset Bigz Dies for my title along with a set of Sizzlets called Curlz. I stamped the Daydream Medallion set on several different colors picked from the DSP and cut them with the Floral Framelits. I like that the second to smallest die cuts around the shape in the DSP perfectly. (see the layer with the button) The scallops along the circles edge and the double scallop strip are cut using the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die. I swear I use that die almost every time I scrapbook...so I highly recommend it if you are a scrapper!

Here's a closer look at the right page.

Today is the last official day of Winter, but I don't think Mother Nature got that memo from the dumb groundhog who predicted an early Spring! Brrrr...it is still so windy, cold and snowy here in Michigan. I'm longing for a trip to the beach, so it was nice working with these photos.

Secret Garden Flower Pot Pocket Card

I've made several of these flower pot cards in the past and couldn't wait to try another one using the Secret Garden set & matching Framelits.

Each flower was embossed using Pool Party Embossing Powder & then water colored using the Aqua Painter & Classic Inks. Here's a look at the flower tag pulled out from the flower pot pocket base. The oval "happy birthday" tag was created using the Oval All set (retired) and Teeny Tiny Wishes.

The flower pot base was embossed using the Fancy Fan Embossing Folder which compliments the scalloped rim nicely...that was cut using the Large Scallop Edgelit and embossed with the Delicate Designs Embossing Folder. To give it a little more definition, I used a sponge dauber & Wisteria Wonder Ink to highlight the embossing. Here's a closer look.

I created this card to match a cute little cardboard container I found at the Dollar Tree. Since I wanted it to fit inside the box & appear to be part of the wrap, I wasn't worried about this card fitting into an envelope...which was rather nice when designing.

I chose my colors of Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Regal Rose, Lucky Limeade & So Saffron to coordinate with the gift box. Here's how it looks when it is in the box.

Doesn't this make a cute gift set for a Spring Birthday or Easter? Here's the link to another simpler version of the flower pot pocket card that I created in the past.

Thanks for visiting me today...have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday Cupcakes

Here's a cheery little birthday card using several products available during Sale-a-Bration.

Stamps: Patterned Occasions & Itty Bitty Banners (both are FREE selections during SAB)
Card stock: Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White & Sycamore Street DSP (DSP is FREE during SAB)
Ink: Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party & VersaMark
Accessories: Chevron & Needlepoint Borders Embossing Folders, Pool Party Embossing Powder, Banner Framelits, Pool Party Satin Ribbon (FREE during SAB), Boho Blossoms Punch & Basic Rhinestones

There's only about a week and a half left of SAB...so place your order today so you don't miss out on these exclusive products!

Just Because Butterflies

Here's a quick and easy card created with the Papillon Potpourri and Vintage Verses stamp sets.

I used the Rock 'n Roll Technique to ink my stamps - first in Calypso Coral then R'nR in Raspberry Ripple. For the blue butterfly - first in Baja Breeze then in Midnight Muse. Those are also the colors I chose for card stock as well.

Ornament Keepsake Pages

Here's a two page layout I created for one of my scrapbook classes using the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and matching Holiday Ornament Framelits.

I used the Festival of Prints DSP Stack along with the coordinating colors of Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla & Chocolate Chip. The title was created using the Letter It alphabet set and hand cut...wish there was a coordinating punch! Here's a closer look at the left side of the layout.

In case you are wondering...no, my family is not part of the witness protection program! lol Recently after seeing many of my scrapbook pages pinned on Pinterest I wasn't sure how my family & friends pictured in my layouts would feel about that? Actually, that is the reason I haven't shared any pages for quite a while. First, I tried photographing my layouts with white card stock cut to the size of the photos, but I really think the pages look better with actual photos. So, I think from now on I will probably blur the faces on my pages to protect "the innocent". While I am flattered to see others liked my pages enough to pin them, it also kind of creeped me out. I'd love to hear others thoughts on this. OK...on to the other half of the layout.

Each ornament is made of several layers including a layer cut from the beautiful Champagne Glimmer Paper. Each one is adorned with a Basic Pearl as well. The scalloped border along the bottom was cut using the Tasteful Trim Bigz Die and then piercing it with the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack. (this is a FREE choice during SAB)

If you are located near me, I have a class scheduled for next week using the Sycamore Street suite of products. Contact me if you are are interested.

Thanks for visiting today!

Bloomin' Marvelous Take Out Box

I love it when I find other uses for my Big Shot Dies to make them more versatile, don't you? Here's an adorable little box that can hold chocolates or other little goodies...made it using the SU! Petal Cone Die.

I had seen this idea quite a while back but since it was so long ago, I'm not sure where I first saw the idea. All I know is I had notes written down on a post it note so I'd remember where to cut & score.  So to better explain, here's a photo tutorial to show you how to cut and score the Petal Cone die cut to make this cute take out box.

First, you are going to want to die cut 2 Petal Cone shapes, just like you would to make the cone shaped box. Fold one die cut shape in half and lay on your paper trim as shown below, making sure to line up the first score line (just below the rounded top) on the 3" line of your paper trimmer. Cut off the pointed end of the box.

Next, move the die cut so that the same scored line is at the 2" line of your paper trimmer as shown below. Score your die cut here.

Repeat the first two steps with the other die cut piece. Now you will need to cut away part of the flap that joins the two pieces together, as shown below.

You will also need to cut up along the score line from bottom to the next score line in the center. This will create the flaps that you will fold to create the bottom of your box. Before you fold into shape, stamp your box as desired. Here's what mine looked like...

I used the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set (available during SAB) and the Rock 'n Roll Technique to ink my flowers...ink first with Pool Party, then rocked 'n rolled in Island Indigo, and the centers colored with Calypso Coral Marker. The leaves were inked in Lucky Limeade and then I stamped them 3 times per re-inking to create various shades of green.

I then assembled my box using Tombo Multipurpose Adhesive...I find this stuff is quick and easy, yet strong enough to hold together a box. After assembling I decorated it with some punched out butterflies, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon and a cute tag made using Pretty Petites and the coordinating Petite Curly Label Punch...these items are also available as a FREE selection during Sale-A-Bration.

Here's another version of this box that I made for the hostess at my last Stampin' Up! Workshop. I decorated this one using the Madison Avenue stamp set. It held some Dove chocolate eggs along with samples from the Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack.

My hostess loved it! These little boxes would also make pretty favors for a party. I will be making more of these to hold candy for my guests to take home from our Easter Brunch.

There is still a few more weeks left of Sale-A-Bration! Contact me to host a party of your own...OR you can place your order any time from my website...just click on the "shop now" button, and for every $50 you purchase in SU! product you can select one of the exclusive SAB products I've used above...OR one of the many other fabulous choices!