Monday, February 27, 2017

Tulip Queue


I love spring flowers, daffodils being my favorite. But coming in a very close second are tulips! This is a Penny Black stamp, and I used two other "contraband" items on this card, as well. One is the gold glitter brush that I used on the Bee Happy card. And the other is the stitched banner from My Favorite Things. Oops, make that three other contraband items....I used Arches Aquarelle 140 lb. cold-press watercolor paper, too.


Those gold-glittered tulips just begged for more glitter, so the mat is Mint Macaron Glimmer Paper, one of the free Sale-A-Bration choices! I'm trying REALLY HARD not to hoard that stuff, but I am making it last as long as I can, so here's my handy dandy thrifty tip for the day.....DON'T use the entire mat of glimmer paper under your image! That's just wasting all of that glittery loveliness!

You can die-cut some shapes out of the center first, making sure you leave enough of a border, or you can cut the center out like I did. First of all, I always switch the good blade out of my Stampin' Trimmer for an old blade when I'm going to cut glimmer paper. That glimmer paper can make your blade dull in a hurry!


Next, I line up the right edge of paper on the 1/2" mark to the right of the cutting track. Note that I have the paper face-down. It's easier for me to see the cut lines that way.


Starting 1/2" from the bottom of the paper, slide the blade up the paper and stop 1/2" from the top. Do that on all four sides, and you end up with a lovely frame to use for your mat, and an equally lovely leftover piece to be used another time!


Now don't forget to put the good blade back in your trimmer!

Product List

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Chipping Away at the Box


Here's another card using pieces from the BOUB*. The die-cut tree and Pool Party background were in there, so I just stamped the greeting and "bubbles", then popped them up on a Crumb Cake card base. Another easy card done. This one works for a any gender, too!

Here's a sneak peek at tomorrow's card:

Ooooo, sparkly!
*Box o' Useful Bits

Measurements
 Tree: Soft Suede 3-1/2" x 3-1/2"
 Background: Pool Party 3" x 4"
 Card base: Crumb Cake 5-1/2" x 8-1/2"
Product List


Saturday, February 25, 2017

Bee Happy!


I wanted to use the hexagon embossed piece in the bits box, and as I was going through it, I found a piece of vellum that was also embossed. I think it helped tone down all that yellow, and added some visual interest, to boot! The flower, leaves, and Stitched Shapes circle were in the box, as well, so all I had to stamp was the bee and the greeting strip.

Unfortunately, I haven't made a dent in the box.....I guess it's going to take many more cards, and possibly adding some of the less useful bits to the round file. *gasp!*


I used a SOB (Some Other Brand) glitter brush on the bee's wings. I like the CTMH gold glitter brush much better than the Gold Wink of Stella. I know we don't sell it, but I'm just giving my honest opinion here. I will always be honest with you about products I use and recommend!

Product List

Friday, February 24, 2017

Country Livin', Masculine in Monochrome


I got to spend the day stamping with my friend Sherry yesterday, and I made up my mind while I was at her house that this weekend I am going to doing some serious "weeding" in the Box o' Useful Bits! This is what it looks like.....


I know, not very pretty or organized, huh? Maybe I should decorate it with some retired DSP. As for organizing it, I haven't a clue. Group things by color? Group by texture? Group the die-cuts together? There are things that fall into multiple categories!

After digging around in it for a while (so many things I forgot were in there!), I pulled out the two embossed pieces and the stamped truck from Country Livin'. All I had to do was color the truck, add a couple of Soft Suede mats, some burlap ribbon, and stamp a greeting (from Oh So Succulent). Voila! Guy card DONE!


I think tomorrow I'm going to use that yellow hexagon-embossed "useful bit."

Measurements
 Truck image 2-1/4' x 3-5/8", mat 2-3/8" x 3-3/4"
 Sparkle embossed piece 1-5/8" x 3-1/4", mat 1-3/4" x 3-3/8"
 Seaside embossed piece 2-1/4" x 4-1/8"

Product List