Background Bits Simple Thanks

While at the monthly stamping get together with my downline this week, I got to borrow her Background Bits host set again. I had used it once before on my anniversary card, but wanted to make a simple Thank You card this time.

After I got home and started putting things together, I decided to add some quick sponged color to make the image pop. And then of course, I had to add an embellishment because, well....shiny!

This is a VERY simple card to put together. If you are in need of a bunch of thank you cards to have on hand, this is the one for you!

Here's the "How To"
 Image: Shimmery White 2-1/8" x 2-3/8"
 Mat: Basic Black 2-1/4" x 2-1/2"
 Card base: Shimmery White 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored & folded at 4-1/4"

1. Using Basic Black Archival ink, stamp floral image on image panel and set aside to dry. Stamp border and greeting on card base.
2. Sponge So Saffron and Calypso Coral over image when dry, then adhere to black mat.
3. Wrap ribbon around and tie a square knot, trimming ends at an angle.
4. Adhere image to card with dimensionals.

Product List

Background Bits Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad

Stamping Sponges

Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic-Edge Ribbon

Stampin' Dimensionals

More Convention Pics and a Swap

Of all the swap cards I've ever made, this one was probably the most difficult for me. Why, you ask? It's so simple, what can be so hard about it?

Well, that was the problem. If you know me, you know I like my cards like I like my cake...with lots of layers. The more, the merrier! This Stampin' Addicts organized swap was for a single layer card. No matting images, no popping things up on dimensionals, no DSP, none of the usual shtuff. So that is why I had the hardest time with this one. It kept looking so nekkid, like it needed something more!


Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock: Shimmery White
Ink: Gumball Green (pad and marker), Raspberry Ripple (marker), Primrose Petals (marker), Bashful Blue (pad), Daffodil Delight (pad), Basic Black (pad and marker)
Accessories: Big Shot, Delicate Designs embossing folder, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Sponges

More display boards from Convention. Enjoy!

Another Get Well

The old salt (my father) is back in the hospital, this time with a staph infection.  He's going to be in there for two weeks, getting pumped full of antibiotics, so he won't be doing any stamping in the near future. I feel so badly for him....he was doing so well after the last hospital stay, and putting on some much-needed weight. At least this time he sounds much better, and his appetite is still good.

There were a few images left over from my Stampin' Addicts swaps, so this card went together really quickly. I know he's going to love it!

Stamps: Lovely As a Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: River Rock, Basic Black, Shimmery White, Mocha Morning DSP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, and Marina Mist Classic
Accessories: Metallic Brads Pack, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool

Now for the Birthday Boy

The Dinoroar stamp set is just so stinkin' cute to me. I like it a lot, and I'm not even a little boy! This card uses a lot of punches (yes, I am a punch junkie!) and was so quick to put together.  The part that took the longest was cutting out the T-Rex. He was stamped in Early Espresso on So Saffron cardstock, and colored with a Pear Pizzazz marker, leaving his belly untouched.

Stamps: Dinoroar, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand and Old Olive DSP (from the Paper Stacks)
Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede, and Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pads, Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Cupcake Builder Punch (clouds), Stampin' Sponges, Early Espresso 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, So Saffron Brads (Subtles Brad Pack), Stampin' Dimensionals

Having fun at the Stampin' Up! Regional in Phoenix today!!!

Sympathy

I had to make a couple of these, one for a friend whose dog died suddenly (I'll show it tomorrow), and one for someone whose nephew just died in a motorcycle accident. I can't imagine anything more tragic than losing a child, no matter how old they are.

Anyhoo, both cards use the absolutely yummy Mocha Morning Specialty DSP.  I love that stuff!  Besides the flocked pages (2 different designs), the others are printed in a subtle metallic ink that is simply luscious.

Stamps: Just Believe, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Shimmery White, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Basic Black, Mocha Morning DSP, Groom Specialty DSP (retired)
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black, Soft Suede, So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Marina Mist
Accessories: Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Sponges, Word Window Punch, Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, black brad

Next weekend is Stampin' Addicts New Catalog Blog Hop, featuring goodies from the new Idea Book & Catalog.  I'll be showing the Pennant Parade stamp set and coordinating punch.  Mark your calendar - you won't want to miss it!

A Wish for Peace

One of my stamping friends ordered this stamp set, and was looking for ideas for using it.  This is one that I came up with:

Stamp: A Wish for Peace
Cardstock: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist
Ink: Marina Mist, VersaMark
Accessories: White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Tinsel Trim, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Perfect Polka-Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

And the other one:

Stamp: A Wish for Peace
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Marina Mist
Ink: Night of Navy, Marina Mist, So Saffron marker
Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Basic Rhinestones, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Smooch Pearlized Top Coat (on church steeple), Frost White Shimmer Paint (used with Aqua Painter for snow in foreground), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (sponged lightly over all), sponges

Camera settings are still in the experimental stage, but getting better, I think.  Thanks for stopping by today!

I Can't Stop Sponging!

Help....I'm stuck in sky-sponging mode!!!  It's such a neat effect, so today I tried a night sky look, with a big ol' shimmery moon.

Another card is going in my new stack of cards for Operation Write Home!  I love how the sentiment says "Remember Me".  It was stamped in Night of Navy first, then on a scrap in Real Red.  The "me" was cut out and popped up on a Stampin' Dimensional for dramatic effect. :-)

Here is the rest of that stamp set - So Sorry, Get Together, Remember Me, Our Journey, and Marvelous Us - how clever is that?!

In a Word (W-117143, C-120057) is a really a versatile stamp set, and it's only available in the Summer Mini catalog until the end of this month!  It can be used for scrapbooking, as well as card making, because the words are a good size and won't get lost on the page.

Stamps: Upsy Daisy (111710), In a Word (W-117143, C-120057)
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla 101650), Shimmery White (101910), Night of Navy (100867)
Ink: VersaMark (102283), Marina Mist (119668), Not Quite Navy (103008), Night of Navy (102977), More Mustard (103162), Real Red103133)
Accessories: Black Stampin' Emboss Powder (109133), Embossing Buddy (103083), Heat Tool (100005), Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119251), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Big Shot (113439), Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder (115964)

Goblin Greetings

This was the second card the girls made at the workshop last Saturday (besides the Skull card).  Since I was short on time, instead of coming up with one on my own, I pretty much directly CASED this one from Marie Shaughnessy's card here.  The only real difference was the ribbon, and the way we made the moon a little lighter (Stampin' Pastels).  Oh, and I used Pumpkin Pie textured cardstock for the mats.  The girls loved it, and that's all that matters. :)

Stamps: House of Haunts (111574), Grateful Greetings (116511)
Cardstock: Basic Black (102851), Barely Banana (102701), Pumpkin Pie textured (108697)
Inks: VersaMark (102283), Basic Black Classic (101179), Pumpkin Pie Classic (105216), Summer Sun Classic (100537), Chocolate Chip Classic (100908)
Accessories/Tools: Black Stampin' Emboss Powder (109133), Heat Tool (100005), Stampin' Sponges (101610), Sponge Dauber (102892), Stampin' Pastels (105542), Pumpkin Pie ¼ inch Grosgrain Ribbon (109030)

Daddy's Birthday

Monday was my father's birthday.  He's really big on nature, so I think he will like this card.  His summer home is in Montana, so he gets to see this view a lot!

I really like how the textured background looks like tree bark. ;-)  Kinda keeps with the whole natural feel, don't you think?
 
Technique: Stamped, Masked, Sponged
Stamps: Noble Deer (retired), Lovely as a Tree, Riveting (retired)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor paper
DP: Parisian Breeze (retired)
Inks: Night of Navy, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue
Accessories/Tools: 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Build a Brad, brads, Stampin' Sponges, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Sizzix Distressed Texturz Plate, Chocolate Chip ¼ inch Grosgrain Ribbon

Scenic Greetings

Here's the other card we made at the workshop last Saturday.  I totally CASEd this card from Splitcoast Stampers, but I didn't use the brayer technique that was used in the original card HERE.  (I have yet to get satisfactory results with the brayer, but I know it's just a matter of practice.)

We did sponging instead, which I think produced as beautiful a card as the original, and was easier for the differing skill levels to handle.  I must say, I was really impressed with my stampers!  They all made awesome cards - none of the cards looked like newbies had made them!  This is how I feel about my stampin' ladies...

After cutting the Top Note from Shimmery White cardstock, we punched a circle from a sticky note to use as a mask for the moon.  Then we sponged Tempting Turquiose (getting lighter toward the bottom) and Night of Navy (down about half way) over it.  After removing the mask, we used a sponge dauber to add Crushed Curry to the moon.  Another sticky note was used to mask the sentiment on the Scenic Season stamp, because it was too long for the Top Note.  After inking up the stamp with Basic Black Craft ink, we removed the sticky and stamped the trees.  The sentiment, stamped in Basic Black Classic ink, is from the Snow Swirled set and fits perfectly!


Stamps: Scenic Season (115354), Snow Swirled (111690)
Cardstock: Shimmery White (101910), Basic Black (102851), Whisper White (100730)
Inks: Tempting Turquoise Classic (100814, Not Quite Navy Classic (103008), Crushed Curry Classic (115659), Basic Black Classic (101179), Basic Black Craft (102192)
Accessories/Tools: Top Note Bigz die (113463), Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Organza Ribbon (114319), 1¾" Circle Punch (112004), Stamping Sponges (101610), Sponge Daubers (102892), White Gel Pen (105021), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), sticky notes for masking