Get Well Wishes

One of the things we do in the monthly meetings with my team members is two techniques, with an instruction card/sample and card front using the technique.  This goes on a large ring for them to use as ideas for workshops and classes. This week we're doing the Rock & Roll technique and Baby Wipe technique. This is the Rock & Roll sample card front they'll make to put on the ring:

Since it is a Get Well card, I'm going to enter it in the SU-Only Challenge 24, Get Well Cards.  Be sure to check their blog for fun inspirational challenges!


Stamps: Day of Gratitude, Thoughts & Prayers
Cardstock: So Saffron, Pool Party, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark, Pool Party and Not Quite Navy Classic pads, Not Quite Navy and So Saffron Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press embossing folder, Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Boho Blossoms Punch, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals

Sailing into Father's day

Yet another card for Operation Write Home! I so adore this new stamp set from Stampin' Up, called The Open Sea. My father is retired Navy, and I've always loved the old sailing ships from days gone by. We even have the world's oldest active sailing ship, an iron-hulled beauty called the Star of India, right here in San Diego! With the release of the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie, I want to say "arrr" when I see these ships.

Anyhoo, this stamp set is going to make those always-difficult masculine cards a whole lot easier now!!!  I really hope this set will carry over into the new Idea Book & Catalog.

If you look reeeeeally closely at the hemp twine, you'll see I tied an Anchor Knot, heh heh! I had to look it up, and found a great site that shows animations of different knots. But it still took me a few many tries to get it right....


Stamps: The Open Sea (greeting from $1 bin at M's)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Autumn Spice DSP (retired)
Inks: VersaMark, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Peach Parfait and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads
Accessories: Finial Press embossing folder, Big Shot, Hemp Twine, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Spiral Border Punch, 2"x1-3/8" Oval Punch, Old Olive 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool

This will be the last card for a week or so. I'm dealing with a very ill family member, and won't have a chance to play in the stamp cave for a while. (Cue the violins.)  

Semper Fi(do)

There were a couple of these sent to Operation Write Home, as well.  I'm sure Sandy's dog, Ciara, will like this one!  Dogs are such loyal companions that the Marine motto of Semper Fi (semper fidelis - always faithful) really applies. I hope the message has real meaning for the hero that sends this one home!

I couldn't resist putting a little Crystal Effects in the dog's eyes and nose for that shiny-eyed, wet-nosed, healthy look! Gosh, I miss having a dog.....

Stamp: Maker unknown, greeting printed by computer
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Autumn Spice Specialty DSP (retired)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers
Accessories: Early Espresso 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Neutrals Brads, Finial Press embossing folder, Big Shot, Crystal Effects

Any Hero

In addition to Father's Day cards (and others), I'm making "Any Hero" cards to send to Operation Write Home. These cards are to the service members, thanking him/her for their service to our country. This one uses the new Land of the Free single stamp in the Summer Mini.  It was so easy to ink the stars with a Night of Navy marker, and the lyrics with a Real Red marker.  Sponging the edges of the mat, the stars and the stamped image with Soft Suede really gives the card an aged, vintage feel.

Stamp: Land of the Free
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Night of Navy, Autumn Spice DSP (retired)
Ink: Soft Suede Classic, Real Red and Night of Navy Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Finial Press embossing folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Night of Navy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Large Star Punch, Star Punch (retired), Stampin' Sponges

Open House Make & Take

This was the easy-peasy card that was the make & take at the Summer Mini Open House yesterday. I love that the punched flower from the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch fits perfectly in the sun/flower image in the Touch of Kindness stamp set! It's almost like SU planned it that way..... :-D

Another set of cards going to OWH later this week!

Stamp: Touch of Kindness
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Old Olive and Basic Black Classic
Accessories: Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, Finial Press embossing folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad

Many Thanks

I had a wonderful birthday last weekend, and now I have a bunch of Thank You cards to make.  Here's one of them!

Stamps: Of the Earth (Hostess Level 1), Sweetheart
Cardstock: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay
DP: Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pad (FREE Sale-A-Bration item!)
Ink: Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Finial Press Textured Impressions Die, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, adhesive

O Holy Night

That is my all-time favorite Christmas carol!  It brings me to tears, when sung with the reverence it deserves.  (Can you tell I'm not too fond of more modern versions?  Two or three divas come to mind...trilling all over the place, which sounds like they're trying to find the right note. I'm not impressed with your vocal range, sweeties!) 

Anyhoo, this is the card I CASEd from Maria Bell's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog.  I just love the richness of the colors, and the tenderness of the image.  The spotlight technique really makes the highlighted part special, don't you think?

I didn't have a stamp for the sentiment, so I just printed it off the computer onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  (That's the Monotype Corsiva font.)  Also, I tried the card with the Stampin' Up! Brushed Gold, but it was too muted for the look I wanted, so I used a brighter gold foil cardstock I had on hand.  The image was colored with Copic markers. 

Stamp: Holy Triptych
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, gold foil
Ink: VersaMark, Bravo Burgundy, Copic Sketch markers
Accessories/Tools: Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Punch Windows die, Finial Press Textured Impressions die, gold organza ribbon

Happy, Happy Birthday, My BFF Barb!

In celebration of my bestest buddy in the whole wide world's birthday, I made this little card for her and tucked it in a box with a few Stampin' Up! goodies for her to play with.  If you recall, Barb is the person responsible for my financial woes  addiction  journey into paper creativity! She made this phenomenal card for my birthday earlier this year.  I can't compete; ain't even gonna try.  But I hope she likes this card, as simple as it may be.  Under the awning of the sweet shop is a message that says "Fat-free, Sugar-free, Guilt-free!" We are both battling the bulge.  I'm losing.

This is the card I CASEd, but I added my own twist to it.  There's an acetate sheet window, to look like glass.  I used DSP instead of plain cardstock (adhered to textured CS).  There's some embossing along the bottom window sill, inspired by Sandi McIver.  And I was going to put shutters on the sides of the window but ran out of time, so I added the little punched hearts instead.

The window frame was cut using the Paper Cutter.  I penciled the cutting lines on the back side of the cardstock, then used the slide cutter to carefully cut out each window pane.


Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes (111618), Yummy (retired)
Cardstock: Whisper White Textured (108589), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
DP: Razzleberry Lemonade (115675)
Inks: Melon Mambo Classic (115656), Soft Suede Classic (115657), Real Red Stampin' Write Marker (100052), White Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (105021)
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Finial Press Textured Impressions die (115963), Paper Cutter (104152), Scallope Edge Punch (112091), handheld heart punch (Fiskars)