Retiring Little Leaves

Ha! That post title makes me think of small, shy leaves, hiding in the background. What it really means is, the Little Leaves Sizzlits Die is on the SU retiring accessories list. I'm very sorry to see it go, because it's been a great addition to so many of my projects. And the Square Lattice embossing folder, too! Waaaahhhh! I'm really hoping there will be something fabulous to replace them in the new catalog (which I get to see on Monday - can't wait)!!!

This simple Thank You card was CASEd from Jill Franchette's square version. I made it an A2, adding banners, and a rhinestone in the "you". A little bling never hurts, right? Rather than sponge or stamp the color on the leaf, I used Pear Pizzazz cardstock to keep it even simpler.

Today is the last day for the Free Shipping special from Stampin' Up!, so if you'd like to order the Little Leaves Sizzlits Die (only $5.50!), or anything else, and have it shipped to your house for FREE, better do it today! And remember, if you order today, I'll send you a little token of my appreciation.

STAMP: Gifts of Kindness

CARSTOCK: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Pear Pizzazz DSP (Subtles DSP Stack)

INK: StazOn Jet Black

ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Squares Collection Framelits, Square Lattice embossing folder, Little Leaves Sizzlits, Banner Punch, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Continuing the Manly Theme

And another Julie Gearinger CASE! With my own twist, of course. I didn't want to attempt the straw technique, because I just know I'd pass out - I'm dizzy enough as it is!

So rather than blow the ink blobs with a straw, I opted for the baby-wipe technique, and to stamp the coral once with black StazOn, and then again with Midnight Muse (after stamping off once). It looks a little bit like more coral further away in the murky water, right? Right??

Other than the Midnight Muse mat under the image, everything else is pretty much the same, except I could NOT get the Fancy Fan folder to emboss the top part of the cardstock without getting wrinkles in the bottom, un-embossed part. Julie, what's your secret? I even tried embossing without Tab 1 - no luck.  So, I got out the Perfect Polka-Dots folder and it worked fine. We'll just pretend all those dots are bubbles, okay?

STAMPS: By the Tide, Lots of Thanks
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Glossy White (retired)
INK: Jet Black StazOn, VersaMark, plus Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, and Midnight Muse ink refills
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots folder, Heat Tool, Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, White Gel Pen, baby wipes (non-SU)

CASEing Julie

First of all, I have to say that I was so happy when Julie Gearinger was added as a SUO Challenges Design Team member! I've been an admirer of hers for a long time, so I knew she was going to fit in beautifully.

Okay, that disclaimer aside, I just had to CASE her Wetlands card, but change it up a little bit. In trying to simplify it for my Masculine Cards class, I opted to leave off the bow to make it more mailable (and easier on my bow-challenged stampers, lol). I probably should have left off the Antique Brad due to the thickness, and substituted a few Candy Dots, but I liked the little bit of classy bling that the brad added. Since we weren't using the Pool Party ribbon she used, I added some Coastal Cabana Core-dinations at the bottom, embossed and sanded for added dimension.

Since the scripty background is En Français, I guess that makes it a French Canadian Goose, 'eh?

Go check out the upcoming classes on my Events calendar. I just added a new card class for September 1st that covers all the bases!
 
STAMPS: Wetlands, En Français
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Coastal Cabana Core'dinations, Watercolor Paper
INK: StazOn Jet Black, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding, Smoky Slate, Whisper White Craft, Basic Gray Stampin' Write Marker (Neutrals collection)
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Antique Brads, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Sanding Block, Basic Black 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Stampin' Spritzer (retired)

A Big Batch of Thanks

I needed to make a bunch of thank you cards, so naturally I looked to Pinterest for inspiration. These are a CASE of Angie Juda's thank you cards, that just really jumped out at me, because they use the lovely new In Colors. I just LOOOOVE the new colors! After struggling with a certain In Color from last year that shall remain nameless - Summer Starfruit *cough* - it was like a breath of fresh air when I saw the new colors this year. I nearly swooned!

Anyhooo, I wanted to fancy the cards up a bit, so I looked for contrasting colors to give them a little pop. And the awesome new patterns in the Designer Series Paper Stacks added some extra visual interest, too!

Here are the In Colors, with their contrasting color:

•    Pistachio Pudding, Wild Wasabi
•    Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay
•    Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral
•    Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede
•    Strawberry Slush, Melon Mambo

And, because I really liked the black, white and Bermuda Bay combo from the other day, I made another!

Stamps: Chalk Talk, Lots of Thanks
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding, Wild Wasabi, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede, Strawberry Slush, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, plus coordinating DSP stacks
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Soft Suede, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Big Shot, Chalk Talk Framelits, Beautifully Baroque folder, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Sympathy for a Friend

Here's another one of those "difficult" cards to make, but this time it's not a masculine card. It such a struggle to make a sympathy card because of the emotion involved - there's just no way to turn a few pieces of cardstock and some ink into an expression of what I'm feeling. I can only hope the recipients receive a small measure of comfort that I was thinking of them, and keeping them in my prayers.

This is a variation of a tri-fold card. It was inspired by this card by Chris Smith. I moved the flap down a bit, and thought the greeting would be perfect just below the flap. The deep black of the satin ribbon belly band marks the solemnity of the occasion. It slips off so the bow doesn't need to be retied.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Loving Thoughts
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Edgelits Dies, Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Black Rhinestone Jewels (retired)

A Poinsettia CASE

Today I am eternally thankful for the talented people who so freely share their creative genius on their blogs....without whom I would be stuck for inspiration.  Occasionally two of my brain cells bump into each other and I'll have a great idea of my own.  But more often than not, I turn to the creativity of others to help get my mojo going.

Today's card is just such a piece.  This card was the source of creativity for today, found on Deb Burgins's blog, Heartfelt Inkspiration.  Thanks, Deb, for getting some ideas popping in my head!!!