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Category Archives: Friendship
Butterflies & Flowers Decorative Stencils & Thank You Cards
Hello Stamping Friends, (click on the header if you are on a mobile device to view full blog)
In June I took a turn at hosting the shoebox swap and we had so much fun using the Stampin’ Up! Butterflies & Flowers Layering Decorative Masks.
. I saved so many ideas from Pinterest but I really liked what Jen Morgan of cardmum.com did with one full layered set of flowers and then a partial flower at the bottom right. I did a bit more greenery, used different colors of ink and added the Brass Butterflies- my new favorite bling!
Recipe For Layered Flowers
Note: Don’t attach your green layer to the base until the top art work is done and attached to the green layer so you can wrap the ribbon on the artwork and the green layer.
- Base: Thick Basic White, 11 X 4 1/4 scored at 5 1/2 (opens like a book)
- Layer 1 (X2): Evening Evergreen, 4 3/16 X 5 7/16 (I know, I know, but I wanted just a tiny bit of white base- just think – one tick less than 1/4 and one tick less than 1/2)
- Top Layer (X2): Basic White, 4 X 5 1/4
- Three Brass Butterflies and 12″ of Evening Evergreen Open Weave Ribbon
- Greeting: Shaded Summer Stamp Set stamped with Evening Evergreen Ink
- Inks: Evening Evergreen, Flirty Flamingo, Calypso Coral, Soft Succulent for greenery
Tips For Stamping with the layered masks:
- Mark the shiny side of your masks and sponge with the shiny side up
- Each step, completely cover any and all white that is showing with sticky notes, outside the mask and on the mask where the flowers/greenery are cut that you are not sponging
- Use the thin looking flower mask first sponging with Flirty Flamingo
- Use the thick looking flower mask second sponging with Calypso Coral
- There is a set of leaves that exactly matches the large flower -sponge this with Soft Succulent
- Using the vine mask, sponge two Soft Succulent vines at bottom left
- Wrap the corner with ribbon, then add a bow with a glue dot
- If you have any ink smudges you can add greenery to cover them up
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Recipe For Layered Butterfly
Note: Don’t attach your pink layer to the base until the top art work is done and attached to the pink so you can wrap the ribbon on the artwork and the pink layer.
- Base: Smoky Slate, 5 1/2 X 8 1/2, scored at 4 1/4
- Layer 1 (X2): Polished Pink, 4 3/16 X 5 7/16 (I know, I know, but I wanted just a tiny bit of white base- just think – one tick less than 1/4 and one tick less than 1/2)
- Top Layer (X2): Basic White, 4 X 5 1/4
- Three Rhinestone Basic Jewels and of Polished Pink Open Weave Ribbon 6″ to wrap and 8″ for bow
- Greeting: Hello from Forever Fern and ‘Love You Much’ from Pansy Patch and Amazing Silhouettes for the inside
- Inks: Smoky Slate and Polished Pink
Tips For Stamping with the layered masks:
- Mark the shiny side of your masks and sponge with the shiny side up
- Each step, completely cover any and all white that is showing with sticky notes, outside the mask and on the mask where the flower is cut that you are not sponging
- Sponge the full background butterfly mask with polished pink
- Sponge the butterfly detail mask with smoky slate
- Using Masking Paper, stamp a butterfly mask and cover your butterfly
- Using the background mask, sponge heavy on the corner and very lightly around the butterfly
- Stamp the outside greeting in Smoky Slate and the inside greeting in Polished Pink
- Use a Smoky Slate Marker to add a bit of artwork to make the butterfly look like he is fluttering
- Stamp your silhouettes, wrap the ribbon around the pink and white layers and add a bow and rhinestones
May 2022 Paper Pumpkin – Celebrating In Colors
The following pictures are my alternatives since I needed thank you notes:
I used the Amazing Thanks Dies and a thank you set from years ago.
Orchid Oasis and Sweet Sorbet:
Tranquil Tide and Parakeet Party:
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Starry Sky:
I like all those little dots! Where is that stamp from?
That stamp was in the May kit! Such fun!
Thank you for giving me a bit of your precious time! I hope you found some inspiration today.
SAL, Share A Love,
Karen. Click on little Sal in the computer to go to an online store.
Case The Creator Card – Collar Card May ’22
Hello Stamping Friends,
It’s time to look at May’s Case The Creator (CTC) card with instructions and a video from Chris Slogar of buckeyeinklings.com. There is also a printable pdf file if you like to have a hard copy of the recipes. 
Case The Creator #4 printable pdf file
My card uses the Designer Series Paper (DSP) Hues of Happiness. The yellow on the collar is actually the same paper as the blue on the second layer, so cutting one strip of the 12″ DSP at 4 1/4″ gave me enough to have two lengths of 5 1/2″ and it was one of those ‘serendipity moments’ when I looked at the blue part of the DSP and decided it would be a nice layer. (That layer is not included in the CTC instructions.) Plus, the leftover 1″ X 4 1/4″ was perfect to use on the inside. Nothing wasted on that 4 1/4″ strip!
To decorate I stamped the largest flower from the Happiness Abounds stamp set in Daffodil Delight ink as a second generation (stamp off once) and then stamped over the flower with a greeting from Celebrating You in Night of Navy Ink. I used a Lt Crushed Curry Stampin’ Blend to color the edges of the flower petals that weren’t covered by the greeting. I cut out the flower with the Blossoming Happiness Die and then used the Dk Night of Navy Stampin’ Blend to color the edge of the flower. I made a bow and a left edge embellishment strip using the Misty Moonlight 1/8″ ribbon from the Cotton Ribbon Combo Pack in the mini catalog after coloring the ribbon with the Dk Night of Navy Stampin’ Blend. The leaves are cut from the Blossoming Happiness Dies on a scrap of Granny Apple Green. The inside greetings are from the Limited Edition stamp set.
Wow! Sometimes you just need beautiful DSP to do half the work!
So true, Sal.
Let’s look at the cards prepared by the other creative stampers.
Jo Brooks’ card is beautiful with the contrasting colors she chose, and she added another DSP layer in the inside with an oval for the greeting! What a great way to pull everything together inside and out!
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Sharon Fincham made 4 CTC cards using different DSP’s or different greetings and even a different orientation!
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Ann Hausmann decorated the card by putting a greeting in the collar fold!
Lucille Kearin cut off the edges of the collar to make a unique CTC card:
Joy Meadows embossed the layer under the collar in her card!
Thank you all for participating! What fun to start with a simple set of instructions and then to see what each stamper uses to create a special and unique card.
Yes, I added a Case The Creator category or they can click on the Recipe Box tab and find the card I made and then by clicking on the thumbnail of the card image you will automatically be at the blog post for that card.
Thank you for spending some of your day with me as I bring you a “pinch of creativity to spice up your crafting world!”
SAL, Sharing A Love
Karen
Paradise Palms for May Swaps, Sweet Songbirds Catalog Launch
Hello Stamping Friends,
Let’s take a moment to remember those who gave their lives for their country!
Jo Brooks sent a swap card that is so perfect for the day:
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The little red star is attached to the left and fits inside the blue star creating an awesome hinge. Opening up the stars, Jo has inserted ‘A Soldier’s Poem’:
May we honor their sacrifice by protecting our freedoms as best we can!
Jo’s card uses many Stampin’ Up! Dies– Celebrate You, Basic Borders, Cross of Hope, Scalloped Contours, and Stitched Stars. What a great card for Memorial Day! Thank you, Jo!
I have so much to share I hardly know where to start. Grab a cuppa and settle in for some wonderful inspiration from my group of swappers and the projects at the catalog launch.
You had better hurry! You have so much to share.
Catalog Launch Fun
Stampin’ Up!’s new annual catalog made its debut May 3rd and it was so hard to decide what to showcase. I love birds and wasn’t sure about the Sweet Songbirds stamp set until I saw a card made by Sue Vine of Miss Pinks Craft Spot with the bird in the air so I went with that idea and voila:
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There are two different sets of eyes- open or closed- and two different feet -standing or walking- and a punch to punch out our little songbird! Laura Mellinger of laurasworksofgheart.blogspot.com designed the little nest which was perfect for a party favor!
I used the Tea Boutique Cards and Envelopes with strips of the new Tahitian Tide, Parakeet Party and Sweet Sorbet card stock adhered to the white side which I made the front. The clouds are from the Give It A Whirl Dies! The clouds have stitched edges for a fun look and there are hearts and circles and rectangles, a must for your collection, even if you never make a whirly card like I did here.
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. All the attendees got to see the new In Colors up close and personal as they made their color chart:
. Sweet Songbird In Flight Recipe
–Sweet Songbirds stamp set, Songbird Builder Punch
-Base, Tea Boutique Cards and Envelopes
-Basic White, 2 3/4″ X 4″; stamp the songbird and then punch out. Stamp and punch an extra belly to make the larger wing. Helpful Hint: Punch the songbird out of scrap to make a template for positioning the stamps on the Stamparatus. Save your template with the stamp set.
-Side Strips X2, 5 1/2″ X 3/8″ in one color for the songbird and one color to match your choice of card
-Basic White scraps, various sizes to die cut clouds with the Whirly Dies
-Baker’s Twine, 12″ and 3 Opal Round embellishments (There is Baker’s Twine to match the In Colors)
-Inks, Memento Black, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Tahitian Tide, Crushed Curry, Sweet Sorbet (Poppy Parade)
Sweet Songbird Favors
-Nest box, Soft Suede, 3X3, score at 1″ and 2″ on both sides, cut from one score line to the other on opposite sides 
-Nest, Soft Suede, 2 1/2 X 3, stamp two nests and fussy cut
-Bird, Tahitian Tide 2 X 2 1/4, punch – no stamping, Basic White scrap for belly, Daffodil Delight scrap for beak
-Sign, Basic White, 2 X 2, stamp the post full strength and then the rectangle after stamping off (2nd generation) so the greeting stamps nicely over top, stamp the notes in memento black and fussy cut
May Swaps
I chose the Paradise Palms stamp set and Palm Dies on a background of New Horizons Designer Series Paper (retiring June 30) with a Pale Papaya Base and Basic Black accents. The greeting and birds are from the retired Beautiful Moments stamp set. The coconuts are from the Pebbles Enamel Shapes . I added the setting sun and sponged a bit of extra colors in the sky.
I made a vertical book fold with the same palm tree design and a different piece from the same DSP for the inside of the card that looks like a beach with sea foam just coming in!
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Horizontal Paradise Palms Recipe
- Base, Pale Papaya, 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, score at 4 1/4
- Layer, Basic Black, 5 3/8 X 3 3/8; 1/16 reveal top and sides
- Top Layer, New Horizons DSP, 5 1/4 X 3 1/4
- Designer Strip, Basic Black, 3/4 X 5 1/2, die cut with Palms Die and center 1/8″ up from bottom and 1/8″ from black layer
- Palm Tree, Basic Black, 2 5/8 X 3 3/8, die cut with Palms Dies
- Greeting and birds, Memento Black Ink; stamp set – Collect Beautiful Moments
- Sun, use a sponge dauber to make a circle in Crushed Curry with a little extra sponged in the sky
- Embellish with Pebbles Enamel Shapes for coconuts and 3 In Color gems on DSP
- Inside Layer, Basic Black, 2 5/8 X 5 3/8
- Inside Top, New Horizons DSP, 2 1/2 X 5 1/4
- Inside Greeting, Memento Black, Paradise Palms Stamp set
Vertical Book Fold Paradise Palms Recipe
- Base, Pale Papaya, 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, score at 4 1/4; Turn 180 degrees and score at 3 3/8″ and 3 3/8 + 1/16, (7/16) for a decorative extra score line
- Layer (X2), Basic Black, 3 1/8 X 5 1/2, this will be flush with top and bottom with 1/16 reveal right and left
- DSP Top Layer (X2), New Horizons, 3 X 5 1/2; Hint: with 3″ in width you can make two from a 6 X 6 which is the goal if you are making multiples. Obviously, a different DSP used for inside.
- Designer Strip, Basic Black, 3/4 X 5 1/2, die cut with Palms Die and center 3/16″ from side and 3/16″ from black layer
- Palm Tree, Basic Black, 2 5/8 X 3 3/8, die cut with Palms Dies
- Grass, Basic Black, 3 1/2 X 1
- Greeting and birds, Memento Black Ink, Stamp set – Collect Beautiful Moments
- Sun, use a sponge dauber to make a circle in Crushed Curry with a little extra sponged in the sky
- Embellish with Pebbles Enamel Shapes for coconuts
- Inside Greeting, Memento Black, Paradise Palms Stamp set
Do you crafters really measure to the 1/16 of an inch?
Well, Sal, we often just eyeball the placement but that doesn’t make for very good instructions.
Let’s look at the swaps from the rest of the group. We saw Jo Brooks’ swap up top so now let’s look at Sharon’s swap using a tea cup very similar to our new tea cup in the Tea Boutique Suite. She uses three layers for the butterfly- a Fresh Freesia base, a Blushing Bride die cut and then tops her butterfly with a vellum die cut and a unique oval gem.
Heather used the Flowering Fields DSP (retiring June 30) and a greeting from the Flowering Tulips stamp set in beautifully layered circles on a gold foil circle. The base is Poppy Parade and she used a corner rounder punch on opposing sides of the DSP for a unique look.
Ann’s swap used embossed strips of the new In Colors on a Crumb Cake base and the greeting from Biggest Wish stamped in Parakeet Party with the ‘happy’ stamped over in Starry Sky. The ribbon is the 1/8″ Metallic Woven ribbon in Orchid Oasis
Lucille Kearin used the DSP with butterflies (retired) and a fun ‘hi’ Die. She embellished with white ribbon and Paper Studio Flowers.
Joy’s card uses the new Nature’s Prints stamp set and Natural Prints Dies. She used the Gray Granite side of the Sun Prints DSP, the Layering Circles Dies, a doily and beautiful gems. You would love the sparkly Wink of Stella she used on the branch but the camera didn’t capture the sparkle. Her gems really sparkled!
You must see the other card she made using the Nature’s Prints Dies! I love the shape of the greeting and had to go look up the dies since I hadn’t even noticed that die. She used the new Fern 3D embossing folder on a base of Starry Sky and then sponged the top lightly with white craft stampin’ ink.
Lori Moore made a slimline card on a white base with Design A Daydream DSP for her first layer and then a layer of embossed Basic White, a layer of Blackberry Bliss with the top layer of Basic White stamped with the Art Gallery stamp set flower in Berry Burst and Rich Razzleberry. The leaves and ribbon are Soft Succulent. The greeting is from the Floral Gallery Dies.
Wow, you will have lots of samples to show at your next party!
So true! Thank you everyone for participating in our monthly swaps!
Hopefully, I will have some cards from the May Paper Pumpkin to show you soon.
Now, now, Sal, be kind! Though you make a good point and I think I even missed the April swaps.
Thank you for spending some time with me!
SAL, Sharing A Lot of inspiration
Karen
Simple Side Step Card
Hello Stamping Friends,
Let’s look at a Simple Side Step Card. I saw this design on Lori Pinto’s Lollipop Paper & Ink blog and used it for my Case The Creator #2 Challenge with my stamping group. It is so cool to see all the different cards from one set of instructions!
Case The Creator #2 printable pdf file
And here is the file if you don’t want to print it out:
I used the SAB Daffodil Afternoon designer series paper for my background and the Daffodil Dies for my card:
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Joy Meadows used the Pierced Blooms Dies for her beautiful card:
Ann Hausmann used the Sale A Bration Friendly Hello set with the Friendly Hello Designer Series Paper:
. Heather Guitreau used the Art In Bloom bundle with its Bloom Hybrid Embossing folder and dies:
They are all beautiful and so fun to see the variety! Thank you for participating!
I made a thank you card using this same style. I used the Happy Hedgehogs stamp set and the retired Love You Lots stamp set and the SAB Thoughtful Blooms set. I used the New Horizons DSP and then sponged the front to match the DSP after masking the stamped images. The hedgehog is the little one in the set and I used the reverse image technique to face him toward the right. Just use a silicone pad and your stamparatus, stamp the image several times in Memento on the silicon pad and then carefully lay your paper on top and burnish to get a nice reverse image.
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Thank you for sharing some of your precious time with me!
SAL, Spring At Last
CTC #1 Pocket Card
Good morning, Stamping Friends,
Here is a walk down memory lane for a swiper St. Patrick’s Day card. When you pull the card side to side the pot of gold pops up:
You can click on the image to go to the post for detailed pictured instructions! We can change the images to a current product while maintaining rainbows, shamrocks and a pot of gold!
Now there’s a thought! And we could add a pepper shaker to be your friend!
Ann Hausmann cased Kirsteen Gill and made the cutest St. Patrick’s Day favor:
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Thank you, Ann!
February Case The Creator #1 printable pdf file (click on the blue)
Lynn Dunn of Stamptastic Designs is our creator! Thank you, Lynn.
I made a Valentines Day card since I had all those supplies sitting at my work table, and then I used the same design for February thank you cards. Another sincere thank you to all those who ordered in February! Oops…. That’s why I have you!
I used the ‘Always In My Heart’ stamp set for Be My Valentine on a banner die cut from the Floral Heart Dies. The paper is the ‘Sweet Talk’ Designer Series Paper in the mini catalog. I fussy cut candies for the inside. The Happy Valentine’s Day fits so perfectly in the opening and is from the retired ‘Heartfelt’ stamp set. The ribbon is the Faux Linen Real Red ribbon from the mini catalog.
For the Thank You card and a card for Mom I made these:
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The paper is from the ‘Flowering Fields’ designer series paper, also in the mini catalog and I used the ‘Jar of Flowers’ stamp set to make a bouquet the perfect size for the pocket opening. I had a stack of products by the time I finished:
- Delivering Cheer stamp set – shadow under the jar
- Positve Thoughts stamp set – Hugs, Prayers, Love
- Forever Blossoms stamp set – All of me loves all of you
- Prized Peony stamp set – Love & thanks to a dear friend
- Jar of Flowers stamp set – Tulips & stems, jar stamped on a window sheet with stazon ink
- Detailed Bands Dies – cut once in Basic White and once in Fresh Freesia
- Stampin’ Blends – Lt Fresh Freesia, Dk & Lt Soft Succulent, Dk Rich Razzleberry, Lt Highland Heather, Pineapple Punch
To the above CTC instructions I added a Gorgeous Grape belly band permanently attached – 1″ X 8 1/4″, score at 1/4″ and then gently fold to determine where it will wrap on the side, then score that fold.
For the bow on the jar I used a 1/8″ X 4″ strip of Gorgeous Grape and folded in a 45 degree fold to which I added a second 1/8″ X 1 1/2″ strip tucked in at the fold.
I also added a 3 X 4 Basic White piece to go on back of the insert for writing a message, a doily and three little brass butterflies.
. I love the little fussy cut flower laying on the ground in the insert! Nice touch.
Thank you, Sal! Let’s look at the cards from those who participated and sent me pictures.
Joy used the cut off for the pocket to make a second card and the Layering Ovals punch for two different greetings. She’s using products from the Art Gallery suite.
Sharon did three different cards – the pocket card and then used the pieces for two others. She used the ‘Expressions In Ink’ designer series paper and a paper bow from the ‘Pierced Blooms Dies’.
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Ann used the hostess ‘Pattern Party’ designer series paper and the ‘Pierced Blooms Dies’. I love the stripes that peek out from the back:
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Heather used the Poppy set in Pool Party for a lovely card:
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. Thank you, dear stampers, for participating and helping others see the variety of creations from one fun fold pocket card! We have a large flower in the opening, a whole bouquet in the opening, a lovely paper bow or even a heart in the opening!
SAL, Spring At Last
Karen
Click on Sal in the computer to go to my store:’
Pencil Box & Sympathy Cards/Eden Garden
If you are opening this blog post in your email be sure and click a second time on the header to go to the full blog. If you would like to receive an email when I add a new post be sure and put your email address in the box at the right on the blog.
Hello Stamping Friends,
The gold leaves are foil and just beautiful! I would like a whole pack of just that sheet! The sympathy greeting on Susie’s card is from the ‘Peaceful Moments’ stamp set.
So if you haven’t been making cards with the new set, what have you been doing?
Well, I haven’t been slacking, Sal (Slave driver At Large). October is pastor appreciation month and we have three main pastoral staff at our church so I purchased a nice pen and refill for each of them and then created a Pencil Box. Check it out:
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Here is the recipe for future pencil boxes to decorate with whatever you have in your stash:
Pencil Box Recipe
I started by measuring the pen and refill I was putting in the pouch. This takes a 12 X 12 cardstock.
- Base: 10 3/4 X 9 1/4; Score at 4, 4 1/2, 8 1/2, 9, 10 1/4
Fold and burnish all your score lines.
Place Tear & Tape on the 1/2″ flap at the right, fold over and corner round the edges.
I used the Crop A Dial to add an eyelet to the flap on two of the pencil pouches, the pink one I just tied with ribbon.
Angle your little side tabs when you cut them for ease and then glue them to the inside.
- First Layer (2): 3 3/4 X 8
- Second Layer (2): 3 1/2 X 7 3/4
- Envelope Flap: Gold Foil, 8 X 1 1/8 corner rounded
- Envelope Flap: DSP, 7 3/4 X 7/8 corner rounded
From there, I found the greetings I wanted and then let the creative juices flow.
“You make the ordinary extraordinary” – Simply Succulents
“You’re absolutely amazing” – Color & Contour
“Thank you”- Hand Drawn Blooms
“You Are So Special” – Tasteful Touches
Unfortunately, I also needed several sympathy/friend cards. Mary Ann Cowan used Soft Sea Foam on one she had made and it looked soft and comforting. The Hippo Dies gave me the layers and the Forever Fern Stamp Set and Forever Flourishing dies were used for the greenery. The Positive Thoughts stamp set has the ‘Hugs, Prayers, Love” greeting and the set also has the little flourish you see here under the ‘With Sympathy’ greeting from Lasting Lily(retired). The friend card uses the same little flourish and greetings from Welcoming Window (My Sweet Friend) and Seascape (I’m here for you …always).
- Base: Soft Seafoam, 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, scored at 4 1/4 and 2 1/8
- Layer: Soft Seafoam, 2 X 5 1/4, embossed with Tasteful Textile embossing folder
- Inside: Basic White, 4 X 5 1/4, emboss 2″ on the right hand side with Ornate Floral embossing Folder
- Vellum: 5 1/4 X 4
- Ink: Old Olive, stamped full strength on one leaf and stamped off on the second
- Dies: Forever Flourishing, Hippo Dies
- Stamp Sets: Positive Thoughts, Lasting Lily, Welcoming Window, Seascape
The greeting on the next one is from the Kindness and Compassion stamp set. Very Versailles was used for the vine and the words. The card stock used is Pale Papaya and Soft Succulent. It is so much prettier in real life. The die used is Detailed Bands. The sympathy greeting and rose are from the Painted Glass retired set.
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I need a scrapbook to look back on when I am designing cards and even if you are new to stamping, the layout can inspire you. I go to the blog Recipe Box when I need the measurements for a certain fold. Hopefully others find this useful as well. Please leave a comment if you have used the Recipe Box at any time. It is encouraging to know the time spent is valuable.
Did I sideline you with my ‘scrapbook’? I really want you to see Eden’s Garden so you don’t miss out on those beautiful papers!
Thank you, Brian, for a great view of the papers!!
SAL, Scrapbooking A Lot of ideas
Karen
Whirly Wednesday for October Swaps and Mystery Card #17
Hostess Code: ZRTHHK33
Use this code before you check out online if your order is under $150 and our club hostess will get credit so no dollars are left on the table.
If you are opening this blog post in your email be sure and click a second time on the header to go to the full blog. If you would like to receive an email when I add a new post be sure and put your email address in the box at the right on the blog.
For those of you who have followed me for years, it seems repetitive to say these things every time I post, however my circle of followers keeps growing so I need to help those who are new to blogs and such. Thank you for your patience!
So where are you going to start today with so many cards to show everyone?
Well, Sal, I had better start with my swap since I have two youtube videos to upload. I had trouble when I did an unscheduled Facebook Live. Facebook cancelled me when they decided I had gone long enough and I had to start a second Facebook Live.
The first video is the long one showing the coloring and cutting. The second shows the assembling.
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. Recipe:
- Stamps: Pretty Pumpkins, Delivering Cheer
- Dies: Give It A Whirl Dies, retired Pillow Box Dies for small leaves
- Inks: Tuxedo Memento Black, Old Olive, Early Espresso
- Tools: Small Brad, 1 3/4″ circle punch, Foam Adhesive Strips and Stampin’ Dimensionals, Masking Paper, Purple Tape, Cut and Emboss Machine, Stamparatus, Scissors, Tombow adhesive, Picker Upper Tool
- Stampin’ Blends:
- Lt Misty Moonlight (coat)
- Dk & Lt Pumpkin Pie(pumpkins)
- Lt Cinnamon Cider (gloves)
- Lt Cherry Cobbler (two sprigs, stocking stripes and scarf)
- Lt Mango Melody (stripe on sock)
- Lt Daffodil Delight (two outside branches & one stripe on sock)
- Lt Shaded Spruce (one sock stripe, four spruce branches)
- Lt Old Olive (two branches)
- Lt Soft Succulent (Pumpkin Leaves)
- Black Marker for drawing the arrows and adding detail between circle and the top layer
- Base: Cajun Craze, 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, scored at 4 1/4
- Layer: Beauty Of The Earth Designer Series Paper (DSP), 3 7/8 X 5 1/4, cut with large rectangular Give It A Whirl Die
- Top Layer: Basic White, 2 3/4 X 4 1/4, Cut with 4th smallest Stitched Rectangle Die
- Inside Layer: Basic White, 4 X 5 1/4, Cut with largest Stitched Rectangle Die
- Circle for the Spin: Basic White, 3 3/4 X 3 3/4
- Copy Paper: 5 1/2 X 5 1/2 for masking the die cut opening and a scrap to die cut a second circle for positioning foam strips
- Little Leaves: 2 1/2 X 3/4, punch three little leaves for embellishments (I used the retired pillow box dies)
- Circle Punch: Basic White, 2 X 2, punch with 1 3/4 circle punch
- Greeting: Pumpkin Pie, 3 1/2 X 1 1/2, stamp with greeting and pencil draw around the stamp to fussy cut
Tips:
- Mount the Delivering Cheer coat stamp on one stamparatus plate and mount the greenery stamp on the second stamparatus plate to stamp in line with the coat. Keep the greenery stamp in place. Once you have the pumpkins stamped on each opening, you will mask the pumpkins and stamp the greenery over the masked pumpkins.
- Cut the shape for the opening in the DSP and Basic White top layer (after stamping the coat), lining up the little circles
- Place a template of the large die cut circle on the back of the DSP to know where to put strips of foam adhesive so the circle will not touch the adhesive and get stuck
- The brad goes through the middle circle cut by the big circle die and then through the middle of the punched 1 3/4 circle (in which you created a little circle in the middle with the Take Your Pick tool or a hat pin). Place Stampin’ Dimensionals around the brad and mount to the base, temporarily holding the DSP in place to position the circle
- Summary of Layers:
- Base
- 1 3/4″ punched circle attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals after attaching to large circle with brad
- Large Circle attached to little punched circle with the brad
- DSP cut with the rectangular Give it a Whirl die with the opening cut, mounted with foam adhesive strips to base after mounting the whirly circle
- Stitched Rectangle stamped with coat and cut for opening, adhered with Tombow glue to the DSP
- Greeting attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals
. I think you may have gone over your word limit just like you went over your time limit on Facebook
It was really hard to explain in words and so much easier to show in the video. I make it sound complicated and I don’t want to scare people off when the Give It A Whirl dies lend themselves to so many fun cards and just making one shows you how easy it can be.
Let’s look at some of the other’s swaps:
Joy made a fabulous friendship card using Blackberry Beauty DSP, Be Dazzling DSP, and a Blackberry Bliss base. The circle is cut with the Encircled In Beauty dies and the leaves are cut with the Intricate Leaves dies. The stamps she used are Gorgeous Leaves and Quiet Meadow. I love how Joy used the background stamp with the little dots especially on the inside behind the little leaf.
. I have four fun Halloween swap cards; let’s take a look:
Jo made this fun monster card with the retired Stampin’ Up! Hallows Night Magic Stamp set (inside stamps), the retired Stampin’ Up! Boo To You, and the Peek A Hoot Dies from last year’s mini catalog. Love those googly eyes!!
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Heather used the Clever Cats stamp set, Frightful Tags Dies and the retired Spooky Bats Punch with nested circle dies for the card. The stars are from a Paper Pumpkin set, the blue layer is Island Indigo with miscellaneous scrapbook paper on top. I must show you the inside so you see how she stamped those bats around the greeting:
. Ann used the Frightfully Cute stamp set and the Textures and Frames stamp set with witches embossed with black embossing powder! She used Rectangle Stitched Dies, Black Glitter Paper, Cute Halloween DSP, Cute Stars Sequins and Old Olive Ribbon. The greeting is Zing! Leaf embossing powder and look at her bats on the inside flying toward you!
. Sharon’s card uses almost every one of the Frightful Tags Dies with a 3D sticker spider from her stash:
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. Lori is getting a head start on Christmas cards with a card made with the Whimsical Trees Bundle in the mini catalog. The blue DSP is part of the Whimsy and Wonder Specialty DSP – special because it has lots of foil embellishing the paper. The dies have six different sizes of Christmas trees and then fun embellishments to die cut.
. Why are the pictures of your cards not focused?
Well, Sal, I am cutting corners by sizing the cards for the blog with the tools in Word Press. If I size them using Gimp they are focused a little better but I would be here much longer and I have a Mystery Card to show everyone!
Mystery Card Challenge #17. Click on the blue to print
Mystery Card Challenge #17 printable pdf file
. It is a full pleated front card! I used the Expressions In Ink DSP and Artistically Inked stamps and a Pretty Pumpkin stamp. Which do you like better the one with dots of gold foiling on the Pale Papaya or the gold bling?
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The pleated DSP can go pointed to the bottom as I did, to the top as Sharon did or horizontally as Joy did.
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. That should be enough to spice up someone’s crafting world!
So true, Sal! If you would like to be a part of club or join with friends to create a club of your own, contact me by text at 303-815-0838 or email [email protected]. We have club on the second Tuesday of the month or an event here at my home if it is an off month for club. November 8th is the next club!
It’s time to think Christmas cards! I can help with that. Paper Pumpkin has a set in November that can help as well just subscribe by November 10th:
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Nine treat packages – three each of three designs. Hmmmm….. so the snowman is only one of the three. Sounds perfect for a small classroom or for a few neighbors. You can always adjust your order to get extras or buy refill kits.
You can order the subscription directly, just click on the picture above or go to the store and order one, three, six or 12 months so you can add paper and other supplies you need. Click on little Sal in the computer to go to the online store:
SAL, Sharing A Lot this fine fall day
Karen
Pinwheel Tower Cards
Hello Stamping Friends,
Remember to click the heading after you open your email to access the full blog.
The little pumpkin sandwiched nicely in the dash of my car made little Emma in the back carseat giggle as we headed to Steamboat Springs. She helped with the construction!
Pinwheel Tower Card
These cards are the new rage on social media so I had an open house crafting day to gather together and make one. There were so many different versions online that I sent out three videos and the stampers picked the style of their choice and brought the kit components to the house. It was a fun morning!
This is how my work table looked to start:
The card cuts here are those used by Meg Loven though all the colors are different:
Recipe:
- Tower Base: Granny Apple Green, 4 1/4 X 4 1/4; Score at 1″, 2″, 3″ and 4″. This leaves a little 1/4″ tab on which you will put a piece of tear and tape, then lay it flat on your work surface and bring the opposite side over and press it down on the tab. This works so much better than trying to hold it in your hands and match the sides.
- Panels (X4): Granny Apple Green, 4 1/4 X 2 3/4
- Borders (X4): Basic Black, 4 X 2 1/2
- Borders (X4): Basic Black, 4 X 1 1/2
- Layers for stamping (X4): Basic White, 3 3/4 X 2 1/4
- Layers for pretty (X4): Pattern Party DSP, 3 3/4 X 1 1/4
That’s really all there is for pieces and now comes the fun part of decorating! I used the Counting Sheep Stamp Set and Sheep Dies, (each are free during Sale A Bration (ends September 30) with a $50 order). Emma’s birthday is this month and she turns 3, so the three sheep were perfect! I used the streamers and bow tie from the Birthday Chick Dies and stamps from the Hey Birthday Chick stamp set.
The sheep are all stamped directly on the Basic White, however, by outlining the image with a Light Smoky Slate Blend and then using the Color Lifter to soften the shadow you create a look of a whiter white. The candles are from a retired punch and the frosting is a piece of doily. The flames are made real with a drop of our Shimmery Crystal Effects.
Even if you don’t need the sheep, the sheep dies have this cool pennant, the sun, the balloon, clouds and the birthday hat. The grass, the greeting and the birthday hat come from the Counting Sheep stamp set. The streamers are in the Birthday Chick die set.
On this side I used a number 3 from the Playful Alphabet set, more Hey Chick streamers, a doily and a cute bow tie from the Birthday Chick Dies.
The Happy Birthday is another die in the Birthday Chick die set and the balloons are in the Sheep Dies. I cut the words once in basic black and once in the Pattern Party paper with horizontal stripes for a different look.
This is what the work table looks like at the end of making the card:
Ugh — I thought all the skeletons and halloween decorations were scary but this is worse.
A normal day in the life of a crafter!
Let’s look at the cards made by the others. Thank you Stampers for your amazing creations and letting me share them!
Sharon Fincham’s Christmas Card:
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Joy Meadows also made a Christmas card and used the Whimsy & Wonder Specialty Paper and the Christmas Trees Dies. The sparkly gold is the Sale A Bration Be Dazzling specialty paper:
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Heather Guitreau- for a friend using the Pierced Blooms Dies:
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Heather Guitreau- for Halloween using the Cute Halloween Designer Series Paper, the Cutest Halloween Stamp set and the Frightful Tags dies with the Black Glitter Paper from Stampin’ Up! and other fun Halloween sets. Those ghosts are upside down tulip punches.
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Heather Guitreau- for her Mother
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Ann Hausmann made a Halloween card as well! I must say, the Black Glitter Paper just makes the card awesome as does the Designer Series Paper with bats and cute little ghosts. Of course without the dies to cut the glimmer paper into owls and spider webs, and a witch hat and a tree and a fence, well — yes, my pretty, we must have dies! (she says in a witch’s voice!)
Did those wonderful cards inspire you to make your own Pinwheel Tower Card? When it is a very special occasion, it is worth taking time for a very special card!
SAL, Smile A Little as you stamp your way to Christmas- only 87 days away
Karen. (Click on little Sal in the computer to go to the online store)
Paper Piecing with Summer Shadows Dies
Hello Stamping Friends,
Paper Piecing with Summer Shadows Dies:
I had fun yesterday making this video to show you how to do Paper Piecing with the ‘Summer Shadows Dies’ . They coordinate with the Shaded Summer stamp set.
Your customers keep asking about that technique.
I know, Sal, and this is the perfect set of dies to help out with paper piecing. There is a set of background dies and a set of detailed dies in exactly the same size! We can cut the backgrounds using the double back adhesive sheets and then die cut two colors in the detail dies for the paper piecing.
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An alternative using a different stamp in Shaded Summer:
That doesn’t look like the stamp in the set. It is not on two lines.
Shhh, Sal. I took my snips and cut the stamp apart so it would fit on the Tailor Made Tag.
Recipe:
This card was inspired by the diagonal strip that I saw on a card by Mary Deatheridge.
- Stamps: Shaded Summer
- Dies: Summer Shadows Dies, Tailor Made Tags Dies
- Markers: Cherry Cobbler, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green (DO NOT USE BLENDS-blends stain stamps)
- Base: Flirty Flamingo, 4 1/4 X 11, scored at 5 1/2
- Layer 1 (make 2-one for the inside): Cherry Cobbler, 4 X 5 1/4
- Layer 2: Designer Series Paper (DSP)- Painted Christmas, 3 7/8 X 5 1/8- NOTE: Do not mount until diagonal strip is on
- Layer 2-Inside: Basic White, 3 7/8 X 5 1/8
- Layer 3-Inside: DSP, 1 3/4 X 3 7/8 cut diagonally, Hint: if you make two cards, this is the remainder of two 3 7/8 X 5 1/8 pieces; Tip: Make sure when you cut your diagonal it runs the same way as the diagonal on the front. Yep – made that mistake.
- Diagonal Strip: Basic White, 2 X 5,
- Emboss with Tasteful Textile 3D embossing folder
- Border on Strip: Cherry Cobbler, 2 1/8 X 5 1/8
- Adhere the Basic White strip on this small Cherry Cobbler border
- Mount this bordered strip of Basic White on the DSP diagonally, the left side is about 2″ down from top, 3/4″ up from bottom
- Turn to the back and cut off the excess strip
- Now mount to the main Cherry Cobbler layer
- Tag: Basic White, 1 1/2 X 2 3/4, Stamp then die cut with smallest of the straight top Tailor Made Tags Die
- Flowers: the dies on the left are background dies, the dies on the right are detailed dies for the top and the two at the bottom are just cute dies I layered together without any paper piecing.
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- Adhesive Sheet, 3 X 4, Die cut the two background flowers and the large leaves background from the sheet. Place the die on the side that is NOT shiny when you cut.
- Cherry Cobbler: 4 X 2 1/2, die cut two large flowers and the little flower with the detailed dies; adhere to the adhesive sheet background
- Flirty Flamingo: 4 X 2 1/2, die cut two large flowers and the little flower with the detailed die;
- NOTE: Layer a piece of dryer sheet underneath the cardstock of the large flower detail dies before cutting; after cutting use tweezers to pick each inside piece off the dryer sheet and place on the adhesive backgrounds
- Layer the little flowers, no paper piecing with these, with a bit of the Cherry Cobbler peeking out from the Flirty Flamingo little flower
- Leaves:
- Garden Green, 2 1/2 X 2, Die cut with the detailed triple leaf die and the little leaf die; place the triple leaves on the adhesive background cut from the adhesive sheet shown above
- Granny Apple Green, 2 1/2 X 2, Use a dryer sheet underneath your cardstock and die cut with the detailed triple leaf die and the little leaf die
- Layer the little leaves, no paper piecing with these, with a bit of the Garden Green peeking out for a layer to the Granny Apple Green little leaf
- Flower Stamens: (sounds more scientific than the ‘inside of the flowers’) Daffodil Delight, 3 X 2 1/2, place the cardstock on a dryer sheet before die cutting
- Inside Stamping:
- Mount your large flower stamp from Shaded Summer on the Stamparatus and color your stamp with MARKERS in Cherry Cobbler and Granny Apple Green, then stamp the top left edge of the inside
- Color in the flower image with Flirty Flamingo marker
- Embellishments: 9″ Cherry Cobbler Twine, 5 Rhinestones
What if I don’t have double back adhesive sheets?
Good question, Sal. In that case you would cut the background pieces from a Basic White sheet, apply glue to the background pieces and then adhere your pieces starting with the color you want on the outside.
Start your bouquet at the left edge by gluing down the little leaves, then glue the little flower directly down. Here’s another conundrum – dimensionals don’t stick to the adhesive backing so if you want to pop them up, as I did here, you need to cut some of the larger dimensionals in half and place them where the cardstock shows through and not remove the adhesive backing sheet. I positioned the two flowers where I wanted them without gluing them down so I could place the triple leaf correctly. The leaf adhesive backing can be removed for a nice flat mounting. When it was mounted, I then mounted the two flowers.
I would love to see the colors you come up with in Paper Piecing using the Summer Shadows Dies! Post a picture in the comments below.
Thank you for sharing your precious time with me today!
SAL, Share A Love
Pansy Petal Product Class
Hello Stamping Friends,
Hostess Code: ZBP7XPBT
Have you been just thrilled with the new Annual Catalog? I held a catalog launch the day the catalog went live and later in the month a Pansy Product Class to use the new Pansy Patch Stamp Set and Pansy Dies with the gorgeous Pansy Petals Designer Series Paper (DSP).
We made a card that used the dies to cut out pansies from the DSP, a card using only the stamps, a gift card holder showcasing the Designer Series Paper (DSP) and a card using the dies to do awesome punch art— four cards, four different ways to use the bundle!
Can we see the gift card holder first?
That is a beautiful one! I cased one I saw on Lynn’s Locker changing up the greeting and cut outs and……
Pansy Petals Card #1 Gift Card Holder Showcasing the DSP
. Recipe: Pansy Petals Card #1
- Base: Blackberry Bliss, 4 1/4 X 11, scored at 5 1/2
- Layer: Pansy Petals DSP, 4 X 5 1/2, die cut with the largest Scalloped Contour Die
- cut out the middle with the 3rd smallest Scalloped Contour Die
- Greeting: Basic White 3 1/2 X 3 1/2, stamp with the greeting from the Better Places stamp set and cut out with the Scalloped Contour Die that has the dots and dashes
- Pansies: Pansy Petals DSP, die cut one large and one small pansy from the DSP with Pansy Dies
- Leaves: Pansy Petals DSP, die cut three leaves, one of each color, from the DSP with Pansy Dies
- Card Holder: Soft Succulent, 2 3/4 X 4, die cut with largest Scalloped Contour die
- Adhere with tear and tape on sides and bottom as close to edge as possible
- Embellishment: Flower Flourish with a rhinestone in the middle
- Ink: Blackberry Bliss
- Stamps: Better Places hostess stamp set
Pansy Petals Card #2 with Die Cut pieces on Scalloped Contour Die Layer and then popped up on Designer Series Paper
Recipe – Pansy Petals Card #2
- Base: Calypso coral, 11 X 4 1/4, scored at 5 1/2
- Layer 1: Evening Evergreen, 4 1/8 X 5 3/8
- Layer 2: Pansy Petals DSP, 4 X 5 1/4
- Top Layer: Basic White, 4 X 2 3/4, die cut with 3rd from smallest Scalloped Contour Die
- Inside: Basic White, 4 X 5 1/4
- Inside Strip: Evening Evergreen, 1/8 X 5 1/4
- Flowers:
- Top of leaves and stem: Evening Evergreen, 2 X 2 1/2
- Leaves: Soft Succulent, 2 1/2 X 1 1/4
- Edges of pansy, beard and inside of bud: Calypso Coral, 3 1/2 X 2 1/4
- Inside of petals at back of pansy and outside of bud: Pale Papaya, 3 1/2 X 1 1/2
- Largest petal of the pansy: Basic White, 2 1/8 X 1 5/8
Note: for those of you who may want to teach this class- Save the above pieces with the cut outs already made for a template for your students to follow; glue to a basic black cardstock like this:
- Embellishments: An Elegant Faceted Gem in the middle of the flower and a fussy cut bumble bee and inside flower
- Ink: Evening Evergreen
- Stamp Set: Pansy Patch
- Dies: Pansy Dies, Scalloped Contour Dies
Not so fast, Sal, there are two more cards that we made. The next one uses my favorite die set – the Curvy Dies and greetings from the Quite Curvy Stamp Set. You can only get this for the next two days then it is gone gone gone.
Pansy Petals Card #3 using the Quite Curvy Stamp Set and Curvy Dies (on sale until June 30):
I love how the plain stripes and the very busy flowerdy DSP balance each other out. I saw this combo on Aromas and Art.com with Su Mohr. The inside bottom stripes are from the cutout on the front so die cut the front carefully.
Recipe – Pansy Petals Card #3
- Base: Thick Basic White, 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, scored at 4 1/4
- Top Layer: Pansy Petal DSP, 5 1/2 X 2 1/2, Cut with the Curvy Die on 5 1/2 length; the cut of the curve is 2 1/2″ down from the top on the left and 2″ down from the top on the right.
- Bottom Layer: Pansy Petal DSP-Stripes going vertical, 5 1/2 X 1 1/2; the cut of the curve is 3/4″ on the left and 1 1/4 ” on the right hand side.
- Pansy: Pansy Petal DSP, Die cut one large pansy
- Leaves X 3 : Soft Succulent, 1 X 3 1/2, Die cut three leaves- the die does the embossing of the veins!
- Glue the leaves to the back of the pansy and pop it all up with dimensionals
- Embellishments: Three of the Evening Evergreen In Color Jewels
- Ink: Evening Evergreen
- Stamp Set: Quite Curvy
- Dies: Curvy Dies
Use the Stamparatus to position the curved sentiment from Quite Curvy between the two DSP sections on the front matching the curves of the DSP. If you are concerned that you may not get it stamped correctly, temporarily adhere your top and bottom and then stamp so that you can add a piece of Basic White if you mess up. With the stamparatus, I was able to draw the placement of the card on the grid sheet and the stamp was adhered to the plate with the correct curve. No one had a problem getting it correct.
Pansy Petals Card #4, Stamping the Pansies and Leaves
Recipe – Pansy Petals Card #4
- Base: Thick Basic White, 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, Scored at 4 1/4
- Layer 1: Pacific Point, 5 1/2 X 4 1/4, Cut with the largest Ornate Layer Die (Remember to put a folded piece of dryer sheet underneath your cardstock- it pulls out almost all the little dots so you don’t spend time pocking them out) Layer the dryer sheet, then the cardstock, then the die. Glue this layer directly to the base being careful not to get glue close to the holes.
- Top Layer: Basic White, 3 3/8 X 4 7/8, This will be stamped and then popped up on the Ornate layer
- Embellishments: Three of the Holiday Rhinestone gems
- Inks: Pacific Point, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake
- Stamp Sets: Pansy Patch for the front greeting, Encircled In Friendship greeting for the inside
- Dies: Ornate Layers Dies
To stamp:
- Stamp your greeting first at the top so you know how close you can get with the large pansy, full strength in Pacific Point
- Use Pacific Point to ink up the full pansy images, STAMP OFF, then stamp, one large pansy a little left of center and two small pansies. “Ink up, stamp off, stamp on”,,,,,, “Ink up, stamp off, stamp on”. I have to sing that to remember!
- Position the bud so it is above the small pansy and yet not off the paper, ink up in Pacific Point, STAMP OFF, stamp on
- Ink up the detail shadowy stamps in full strength Pacific Point and stamp them over the images
- Using Night of Navy Ink stamp the little beards on the three pansies
- Using Daffodil Delight Ink stamp the centers on the pansies
- Use the Waterfront stamp set and Crumb Cake Ink to stamp the ground in the bottom 3/4″, or freehand with a blender pen
- Now MASK OFF the pansies and the ground to stamp the greenery
- Using Garden Green Ink, ink and stamp the stem going to the bud
- Using Garden Green Ink, ink and then stamp the single stem three times coming down to the ground from the large pansy; one time stamping to the shorter pansy and twice to the taller pansy; use a garden green marker to soften where the edges of the stamp meet when you stamp multiple times
- Using Garden Green Ink, Ink up the small leaves full background, STAMP OFF, stamp on
- Using Garden Green full strength, ink up and stamp the detail shadows of the leaves
- Mine looked funny with the stem to the bud going out of a leaf so I masked the leaves and stamped a little stem between the leaves.
Variety is the spice of life, Sal, and I think we held to our motto of ‘bringing a pinch of creativity to spice up their crafting lives’!
Don’t forget the other pansy cards we made in a previous post- click their picture to go to that post for directions. There’s ribbon on both of these, Sal! I think I liked this sponged pansy best.
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And Joy’s swap card with the pansy:
. You now have a seven card collection of pansy cards! If you feel overwhelmed with the number of dies check out this guide made by Gail Ellis of Blue Rose Paper Treasures. Isn’t it great to have others to help us?! Pinterest also has guides to different colors to use for the pansies.
July 1 is the start of the Designer Series Paper (DSP) sale and you can buy the Pansy Patch DSP at 15% off. Here is a cute gif showing the other papers offered in this sale:
That makes me dizzy – may we have a list?
How about a picture and a list?
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Use Hostess Code: ZBP7XPBT if you do decide to order and you will help me to buy prizes with hostess dollars for upcoming events. Check out the JJ Mini one more time to make sure you don’t miss anything.
I thank you most sincerely!
SAL, Stamp A Lot, Smile A Little, and always be Salt And Light to those around you!
Karen
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