Dad's Cards

Here's another one from Dad's stamping lessons. He had planned to color in the branches and blossoms, but his hand shook too much. I could see he was getting frustrated, so I showed him how to make a perfectly lovely card without coloring.

This was a stamp he bought at the craft store, and the wood is warped (something you'd never see on a Stampin' Up! stamp). We figured out that after inking it up thoroughly, placing a pad of paper under the cardstock, and pressing firmly while slightly rocking the stamp back and forth took care of the problem. (Personally, I'd take it back and get my $10 refunded - BOTH of those stamps on the shelf had warped wood blocks.)


Stamps: Three Little Words (greeting), unknown (tree branch)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Antique Brad, Hemp Twine

Tropical Vacation

I'm lovin' me some Calypso Coral! The funny thing is, when I first saw the new In Colors, that was my least favorite color, but now it's moved right up to share top billing with Island Indigo! I guess it's because it is so reminiscent of sunrise/sunset colors. This card is a minor variation on the one posted a week ago.  This time the palm tree stamp is in the current catalog (Plant Hope), and the card base coordinates with the tropical sea color.  Hemp twine tied with square knots adds a nice touch, but I think it needs another palm tree, with a hammock tied between, and an umbrella drink, don't you?

Stampin' Up! obviously planned the new In Colors to compliment their 2013 Grand Vacation - to Fiji! Talk about a tropical paradise!  I'd love to be able to earn this incentive trip. You could earn it, too. If you join my team, we could both be
from Paradise in 2013! Can't you just see the sunsets now?


Stamps: Plant Hope, Three Little Words (though I only inked two, lol)
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede Classic Ink, plus Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Color Spritzer Tool, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Hemp Twine, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Dimensionals