Birthday in the Meadow

Here's a quick and easy card for those always-difficult masculine birthdays. It uses the In the Meadow stamp set, and the greeting is from Party Pants, a free SAB set. (Sale-A-Bration ends in just over a week, so don't miss out on your favorite items. They will be gone forever....Stampin' Up! doesn't bring them back.)

And here's a BONUS for you - the Curvy Trio Corner Punch is 25% off as one of the weekly deals this week! It's like getting three punches for the price of one, woohoo!

The "How To" for this card
Small image panel: Very Vanilla 2-14" x 2-1/2"
Mat behind small image panel: Early Espresso 2-1/2" x 2-3/4"
Large image panel: Very Vanilla 3-3/4" x 5"
Card base: Early Espresso 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored and folded at 4-1/4"

1. Stamp mountains in Early Espresso to the right of the large image panel, about halfway between top and bottom, letting some of the mountain hang off the right edge of the cardstock.
2. Stamp trees on the left side, about halfway between top and bottom, letting some of the trees hang off the left edge of the cardstock. Punch upper right with Curvy Trio punch.
3. Adhere large image panel to card base.
4. Stamp deer in Early Espresso ink on small image panel and color with a Blender Pen and Soft Suede ink. Mat on small Early Espresso mat with adhesive.
5. Adhere small image panel and mat to left side of large image panel on card base using Stampin' Dimensionals. Add Candy Dots.
6. Stamp birthday greeting to the right of small image panel.

STAMPS: In the Meadow, Party Pants
CARDSTOCK: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
INK: Early Espresso, Soft Suede
ACCESSORIES: Curvy Trio Corner Punch, Blender Pens, Neutrals Candy Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Sale-A-Brating, Freak Style!

Hello, and welcome to another episode of "Things I Can't Live Without from Sale-A-Bration" also known as the Tour de Freaks blog hop! And, in case you haven't figured it out already, the theme this month is Sale-A-Bration. We are focusing on the wonderful FREE items you can get (with qualifying purchase) and Stampin' Up! has completely outdone themselves with this year's offerings! If you started the tour at the beginning, you just landed here from Wendy's blog, Wickedly Wonderful Creations, where I'm sure she dazzled you! I am stop number two (of sixteen) this month. Just click the links at the bottom of each blog to travel on to the next one and eventually you'll come full-circle.

There were three new items added this week to kick off the second half of SAB and I'm showing two of them, along with some other SAB items. So, without further ado, let me introduce the Party Pants stamp set and the AWESOME Metallics Glitter Tape! The tape is available in gold, silver, and WHITE....which can be colored any color you want with ink and sponge daubers! And that's what I did to make the blue banners on the card below. The background paper is from the Wildflower Fields DSP pack, also a Sale-A-Bration item.

Up next is the adorable chick from Honeycomb Happiness, with the greeting from Party Pants. In fact, all the cards today used greetings from that set! This one just cracks me up for some reason, like the bird is saying, "Put your party pants on, and let's GO!" The dotty background is from Wildflower Fields again, and the silver is the Metallics Glitter Tape. (That stuff is sooo easy to use!)

It's so hard for me to choose a favorite stamp set from SAB, but if I had to pick just one, I'd say it would probably be the very versatile Flowering Fields. You can create so many different looks with it! The background on this card was created with marker scribbles on a clear block, which was lightly misted and then stamped on watercolor paper.

Lastly, is a CAS card using the What I Love set. It's a three-step photopolymer stamp set, and makes the lovliest flowers with depth and dimension! And, of course, I couldn't resist the glitter tape. Can't help it; I'm part Magpie!

That's all for me this month. I hope you saw something that made one of these SAB rewards a "must have" item on your list! Now hop on over to Barb Mullikin's blog, Barb Stamps, and see what goodies she's cooked up for you!

Con te Partirò (Time to Say Goodbye)

Today is the last day you can get the first set of three 'limited time only' Sale-A-Bration items. These are on pages 16-19 of the flyer. The lucious Perfectly Artistic DSP, used on both of these cards, as well as the Hello stamp set and the Sky is the Limit stamp set won't be available after today!

I whipped up these cards in a jiffy to show how easy these products are to use. And by jiffy, I mean total time from design to implementation for BOTH cards was under an hour. That's got to be some kind of record for me, lol. Some cards take me days to get right. (Seriously, you don't want to see my waste basket!)

While I was working on the Hello card, I had Adele in my head. "Hello from the other siiiide." So, I tried to think of something else, and Lionel Ritchie popped in, instead. "Hello, is it me you're looking for?" Aack! Then Neil Diamond took his place. "Hello again, hello." And THEN Pink Floyd stopped by for a visit! "Hello, is there anybody in there?" Aparently not, because I have room for all YOU people!

STAMPS: Sky is the Limit, Hello, Grateful Bunch
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Perfectly Artistic DSP, Vellum
INK: Basic Black Archival, Blackberry Bliss, Rose Red
ACCESSORIES: Blossom Bunch Punch, Silver Mini Brads, It's My Party Enamel Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Metallics Glitter Tape (new SAB item starts tomorrow)

TOY Cards

In this case, TOY doesn't mean a plaything; it means Thinking Of You. Although, I suppose the fun of making a card is almost like playing!

Besides receiving birthday and Christmas cards, which one can almost expect every year, it's really special to receive a card for no other reason than the person sending it just wanted to say "Hi, you're in my thoughts." What a wonderful feeling it is to be the recipient of a totally out of the blue and unexpected random act of kindness!

With that in mind, I sent these four cards out this week to put a smile on a few faces. It makes me happy to make cards (my craft room isn't called "my happy place" for nothing, you know!), and it makes me happy to make other people happy. Stamps, ink, and paper can be a pretty powerful thing, when you think about it.

The "How To" for this card
Image panel: Watercolor Paper 2-1/8" x 4-1/8"
Mat behind image: Basic Black 2-3/8" x 4-5/8"
DSP: 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"
Mat behind DSP: Basic Black 4" x 5-1/4"
Card base: Whisper White Thick 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored and folded at 4-1/4"
Scraps Whisper White for greeting and butterfly

Stamp images and color, using Blender Pens and ink pads, on watercolor paper. Add some Clear Wink of Stella, if you want to fancy it up! Cut into thirds (1-3/8" wide) and pop up on smaller Basic Black mat using Stampin' Dimensionals, spacing them apart evenly. There should be about 1/8" Basic Black showing all around. Stamp greeting on 1/2" wide strip of Whisper White. I used the Modern Label Punch (retired) and slipped the cardstock in from the back to trim each end so the label would be longer than the punch allows.

Adhere DSP to large Basic Black mat and then to card base. Center and attach Tea Lace Paper Doily to DSP. Cut Metallic Foil Doily in half, center and adhere to back of image mat, then attach to card base.

Stamp butterfly on scrap of Whisper White, color and fussy-cut. Pop butterfly up on half a Stampin' Dimensional. Edge greeting with Gold Wink of Stella and pop greeting up on Dimensionals.

STAMPS: Flowering Fields (SAB), A Dozen Thoughts
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Basic Black, Watercolor Paper,  Brights, Regals & In Color DSP Stacks (retired)
INK: Basic Black Archival, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Strawberry Slush (retired)
ACCESSORIES: Blender Pens, Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush, Gold Wink of Stella Glitter Brush, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Metallic Foil Doilies, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Birthday To...

...ME!

Yep, today is the day I celebrate the thirty-first anniversary of my thirty-first birthday.

Yeesh, how did THAT happen? I'm officially old enough to collect Social Security, but I don't feel like I've passed my forties yet!

So this is a quick, fun card that you can either stamp, as I did, or use Washi Tape for the cake layers and make it even quicker. The clear photopolymer stamps do make it easy to align the layers, though.

I chose the colors from the Wildflower Fields DSP, which is a Sale-A-Bration freebie. Speaking of Sale-A-Bration, there are three limited time items ending on the 15th and three new items starting on the 16th! I can't wait to get my hands on that glitter tape (said the Magpie, lol)! I am finally starting to use the Washi Tape I have, so some shiny, glittery tape is going to be put to good use!

The "How To" for this card
Image panel: Whisper White 3-1/8" x 4"
Mat behind image: Hello Honey 3-3/8" x 4-1/4"
Wildflower Fields DSP 1-3/8" x 5-1/4"
Card base: Whisper White Thick 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored and folded at 4-1/4"

Stamp the cake plate in Blackberry bliss, the bottom cake layer in Hello Honey, the middle layer in Calypso Coral, and the top layer in Old Olive. The banner at the top is also Blackberry Bliss. Punch a flower using the Itty Bitty Punch Pack and a scrap of Calypso Coral. Adhere to cake and add a Rhinestone Jewel. Fasten the DSP to the card base, then the stamped, matted panel, using SNAIL or your adhesive of choice. Add the Blackberry Bliss Washi Tape to the corners. Stamp "Birthday Wishes" in Basic Black Archival on the bottom cake layer. DONE!

STAMPS: Build a Birthday
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Whisper White Thick, Hello Honey, Wildflower Fields DSP (SAB)
INK: Basic Black Archival, Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Calypso Coral, Old Olive
ACCESSORIES: Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Bohemian Designer Washi Tape, Rhinestones Basic Jewels

Bringing Birthdays Back

As I mentioned in a previous post, Shannon West has started a movement to bring back the sending of traditional birthday cards in the mail. Too often these days we rely on social media to stay in touch, and I believe we are drifting further apart as a result. We can spend several dollars on a cup of coffee in a coffee shop, but then think it's too expensive to send a card or letter. Really? In my opinion, forty-nine cents isn't too much to tell someone happy birthday, or even that you're just thinking of them. And that birthday card might be the only one they get! How can you NOT send a card?! Okay, hopping off my soapbox now.

I did forget to mention in that post that I am also participating in the #imbringingbirthdaysback movement and will send a birthday card to anyone who sends me their name, address, and birthday. I promise to try to get it sent on time! (And if you want to reciprocate, my birthday is February 6th.)

The card above was sent to someone who didn't even ask to be a part of it, but his keynote speech at the Stampin' Up! Convention a couple years ago really touched my heart. I noticed his birthday was coming up (one good thing about Facebook, I guess), so I asked for his address. I hope he likes it!

I liked it so much that I made eight more similar cards, using up some neglected DSP. If you want to make some quick, cute birthday cards, these would be just the ticket!

Card base: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" colored cardstock to coordinate with DSP, scored and folded at 4-1/4"
Image panel: 3" x 4" Whisper White
Mat behind image panel: 3-1/8" x 4-1/8" same color as card base

Stamp balloon strings first, making sure to leave room for the stamped small balloons at the top. Stamp small balloons in whatever color your card base is, unless you are using black. (But I guess if someone is having one of "those" milestone birthdays, black balloons might be appropriate!)

If it's a darker color, stamp off once to produce a lighter color. The dots at the bottoms of the balloons can be full strength. On a scrap, stamp the large balloon and dots as you did for the small ones. Punch out with balloon punch or fussy cut, and pop up on Stampin' Dimensionals. Add whatever greeting you want. I did stamp the bow on the first card, but ended up tying little baker's twine bows for the others. I think they looked cuter.

Supplies listed below are for the first card.
STAMPS: Balloon Celebration, Sky Is the Limit (SAB)
CARDSTOCK: Basic Black, Whisper White, Cherry on Top DSP Stack
INK: Basic Black Archival, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Watermelon Wonder
ACCESSORIES: Balloon Bouquet Punch, Clear Wink of Stella, Stampin' Dimensionals

Doe, a Deer

We have a lot of deer around here and really enjoy watching them, as do our neighbors, Erika and Iven. His birthday is coming up in a couple weeks, so I thought a deer-themed card would be very appropriate. Iven is the one who told us about putting a salt lick out for the deer, which we did. They discovered it a couple days ago. They are such beautiful, graceful creatures!

STAMPS: In the Meadow, Sky Is the Limit (SAB)
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Kraft
INK: Basic Black Archival, Pool Party, Copic Markers BG11, E13, E15, E39, E50, G24
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Woodland embossing folder (coming back in the annual catalog in June!), Sharpie Extra Fine White Poster Paint Marker, Pool Party seam binding ribbon (ret.), Stampin' Dimensionals

Fun With Brushos

No, that's not a typo in the post title; it's not brushes! Brusho is an intensely pigmented water-based paint powder available in various colors. It's easy to use, and fun because you never know exactly how it's going to turn out. It's a surprise every time! The easiest way to use it (I think) is to heavily mist some watercolor paper, choose some colors and then sprinkle them on randomly. If you want, you can spritz extra water on to make the colors run more. This would be great for the emboss-resist technique! After it's to your liking you can let it air dry, or speed things along with a Heat Tool on the low setting.

Now for even more artsy-fartsy fun, dip your fingers in water and flick some droplets on the dried paper. Let it sit for a minute and then blot the drops off. It removes some of the color and creates a neat Bokeh effect!

As you can see, I'm still loving the Birthday Blooms stamp set. This time I used the smaller single blossom, stamped on watercolor paper and colored with a a blender pen and ink pads. Of course, I had to add a little sparkle with some Wink of Stella on the flower and its visitor. That tiny butterfly is from the free Sale-A-Bration set called Flowering Fields. Isn't it a cutie?

After the flower image was die cut, I treaced around the outside of the die to create a mat for the image. If you look closely, you can see the edges of the flower panel are edged in Gold Wink of Stella - really makes it pop!

STAMPS: Birthday Blooms, Flowering Fields (SAB) 
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Watercolor Paper, Have a Cuppa DSP Stack 
INK: Basic Black Archival, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Cucumber Crush 
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Dies, Blender Pens, Clear Wink of Stella, Gold Wink of Stella, Stampin' Dimensionals, Daffodil Delight ribbon (ret.)

More Sneak Peeks!

STAMPS: Birthday Blooms (coming Jan.)  CARDSTOCK: Shimmery White, Blushing Bride, Mossy Meadow, Birthday Bouquet DSP (coming Jan.), Blushing Bride Glimmer (coming Jan.)  INK: Basic Black Archival, Watermelon Wonder, Mossy Meadow, Mint Macaron, Clear and Gold Wink of Stella (coming Jan.)  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Framelits Dies, Softly Falling embossing folder, Aqua Painters, Itty Bitty Accents Heart Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

I needed some cards to send to my downline, and what better way to say "Hey, I'm thinking of you!" than to use a new stamp set from the Occasions Catalog. Now they'll have a sample to show their stamping friends, as well as a sample of the new Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper!

If you know me, you know I love to color, so the Birthday Blooms set caught my eye right away. I stamped the blossom on Shimmery White cardstock using Basic Black Archival Ink. The Shimmery White is sturdy enough for watercoloring, which is the technique I wanted to use. Can you believe that's Watermelon Wonder ink? You can see how if you dilute it you get a lighter shade. Aqua Painters are great for that!

How did I choose the colors for this card? Well, Stampin' Up! made that really easy for me. All I did was pick some of the colors used in the Birthday Bouquet DSP. That was how I chose Watermelon Wonder for the flower, and Mossy Meadow for the leaves. And I never would have thought to use Mint Macaron for the little accent flowers, but after stamping a sample I saw it coordinated beautifully. I should have known....SU wouldn't steer me wrong!

Shimmery White cardstock already has a lovely subtle glimmer to it, but I wanted to add more, so I used the Clear Wink of Stella over the buds and blossom. Yes, that's coming in the new catalog, too! And I used Gold W.O.S. on the stamen. It's difficult to get a good picture of it, but I tried!

Here are some of the cards that were sent out. Each one had more DSP samples inside. (That's one of the perks of joining my team! Click here if you'd like more information.)

Stay tuned....more sneak peeks are in the works!

Sending Special Thoughts (and Sneak Peek!)

STAMPS: Honeycomb Happiness (coming Jan.)  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper (coming Jan.)  INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers B18, B34, E17, Y26, Y28  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Elegant Dots embossing folder, Banner Punch

I have a friend who is dealing with some major health issues and wanted to send a note to let her know I'm thinking of her. This little chickie is in the upcoming Sale-A-Bration set called Honeycomb Happiness that is just too sweet for words, and I thought it, along with the one of the sentiments included, would be perfect.

I stamped it with Memento ink, then colored a little "blue bird of happiness" with Copic makers. The greeting was slightly askew, so I decided to turn the whole image so it isn't noticeable. Lesson for the day: Stamp the greeting before you color the image, in case you mess up like I did. I could have stamped it on a label and fastened it over the first one, but I was going for the CAS (clean and simple) look with no bulk for easy mailing.

See that luscious Glimmer Paper? That's Blushing Bride and will be available in the Occasions Catalog that starts January 5th!