Viva la Verve & Father’s Day, 2013

 

        I have been meaning to enter Viva la Verve for a while now and found this month’s sketches in my inbox just prior to starting to work on Thom’s Fathers’ Day Card.  I wanted to let Thom know what a great father he is while keeping the card masculine.  I’m going to try to create cards with all of June’s sketches before the end of the month.  I sure would love to win one of their gift certificates to buy some dies and stamps!  J

·       Stamp set(s):  Heartfelt Creations – HCPC 3363, Inspire Me Sentiments & HCPC 3434 Book Frame 2;  Impressions Obsession – Happy Father’s Day; Stampin’ Up! Fabulous Phrases & Lovely as a Tree      

·       Ink(s):  Early Espresso (Stampin’ Up!) 

·       Paper:  The Paper Loft – Hooked on Fishing & Huckle Berry Pond; Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Blue Bayou (retired) & SU Core’dinations Early Espresso

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up – Apothecary Accents; Spellbinders Blossom Three; My Favorite Things Die-namics Washi Tape; Embossing Folders – Stampin’ Up! Chevron & Woodgrain

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up – Antique Brads, Designer Buttons Spice Cake(retired), and Linen Thread; Fiskars Heart Punches

Since the front of the card would not have a lot of stamping to make for interest, I decided to emboss using embossing folders to add depth and to distress later with sanding and inking.  The button in the upper right corner was added in addition to the sketch elements to add some interest to an almost monochromatic color scheme.  The proof of a card is in the reaction of the recipient, in this case my husband.  He loved it!  I rest my case!

As always, thank you for stopping my blog and taking a look!  I would enjoy hearing your comments!

Many blessings,

Donna

PS:  Here is what the inside of my card looked like!

Sycamore Street Perfect Day

This was a fun card that I did quite a while ago for a stamp class that I ended up not being able to do because of my husband’s hospital stays in February.  I found these colors very cheerful and light hearted.  I found the card set aside when I was putting together my husband’s birthday card.  Very similar colors and same sentiment – just down right cheerful!

·         Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! (SAB) Vintage Verses

·         Ink(s):  Both SU inks – Tangerine Tango & Midnight Muse

·         Paper:  SU (SAB) Sycamore Street DSP, Pool Party, and Midnight Muse

·         Dies & Embossing folders:   Vine Street TIEF from SU, Window Frames Collection Framelits from SU

·         Embellishments/Other things of note:  Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack, SU Basic Jewels Rhinestones;  Copic Markers in Y17 & 110

This card is an A2 size card:  5.5” by 4.25 “.  I made the card base from a piece of paper that was 4.25” by 11”.  The 2 score lines were placed at 3.25” and 2.25”.  I also embossed the two sides of the front on the card before I scored it so that I would be assured of having both sides of the front of the card completely embossed.

I hope that you have enjoyed this fun card.  It was quick & easy to do.

Many Blessings,

Donna

Sycamore Street Perfect Birthday

 

         I had yet to use the Marianne dies to make a cupcake and that had been bothering me since I’ve had it for over a year.  You know how it is!  LOL  Anyway, I decided to use a playful theme this year for my husband’s birthday card, so his birthday celebration will now have a cupcake theme to it!  (I’ve made Trader Joe’s Guiltfree Brownies in individual cupcake size and will frost them with the new CoolWhip Frosting for a lighter on the fat desert!)

•  Stamp set(s):  All by Stampin’ Up! – SAB Vintage Verses, Carry On (Hostess Only), and SAB Perfect Petites

•  Ink(s):  SU’s Tangerine Tango & Midnight Muse;  Color Box Chalk Ink, Chestnut Roan (Makes the cupcake “paper liner” looked like it’s been baked!  I thought that was a nice touch!)

• Paper:  SU SAB Sycamore Street, Midnight Muse & Pool Party, 2012-2014 Designer Stack

• Dies & Embossing folders:   SU Sizzlits S Pinwheels die, Cupcake Creatables by Marianne Dies, SU Sizzix Big Shot Top Note die & Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Ovals

• Embellishments/Other things of note:  Perfect Petites Punch; Buttons from Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack; SU Brights Brads; Martha Stewart Arch Lattice Border Punch; sponge daubers, round toothpick, pop up foam, and DMC Embroidery Floss

This card was made 6.5”x6”.  I love the playfulness of the dots & stars of the paper from Sycamore Street.  The pinwheel adds a touch of whimsy, too.  All in all, I liked the way it turned out.  With the dotted paper on the inside bottom of the card showing through and below the punched edge, it lends a nice touch to the card on the front and inside below the stamped sentiment.  I also like the way the round buttons imitate the round dots on the paper just below it.  All in all, I am well pleased with the playfulness of this card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Have a wonderful day!

Many Blessings,

Donna

PS:  Below are the pics of the inside of the card and the cupcakes!  BTW, those Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Brownies make an excellent CUPCAKE!!!  They were delicious and not too bad for my Weight Watchers’ Point Plus even with the frosting.  YUM!!!!

 

 

Delicate Asters Thank You

     My husband was in need of a thank you card for a young couple that he had met through his work.  When he returned to work after his 2 hospital stays, this young couple brought him a sweet treat for him to share.  A good turn like that deserved a special – not store bought – thank you card.  Since they are young folks, I used colors that I might not usually use.  I had just got in my Delicate Asters Die and Bold Delicate Asters SS so I thought I’d play a little bit with circles and dots to make a bright, fun young at heart card!

·         Stamp set(s):  Heartfelt Creations Bold Delicate Asters Precut Set (HCPC 3495) & Stampin’ Up! (SAB) Pretty Petites

·         Ink(s):  Pacific Point (sentiment) and Tangerine Tango

·         Paper:  From  SU:  Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, & Tangerine Tango; Daisyd’s Autumn Collection 6x6 pad Fall in Love

·         Dies & Embossing folders: Heartfelt Creations Die (HFC 726) Delicate Asters, SU Edgelits Adorning Accents (inside card) & SU Petite Curly Label Punch

·         Embellishments/Other things of note:  Ribbon – American Crafts;  Buttons – SU Designer Buttons Bright;  SU Basic Jewels Rhinestones;  Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots

The card is 4.25” x 5.5”.   The card base is done from SU’s Marina Mist.  If I had been taking a little more time with this, I might have used my Dotted Swiss Embossing folder for texture on the patterned paper.  Just in too much of a dash, I guess.  I hope you like my quick & easy card!  Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere!  The photography doesn't show it up really well, but the ribbon and Tangerine Tango Ink & Paper were perfect matches for the dots in the pattered paper!

Many Blessings,

Donna

PS:  Here is a peek at the inside of the card!   

Anniversary Card For My Guy

         Thom & I recently celebrated our anniversary – had a lovely time in Charleston, SC!  (It was a wonderfully romantic time away from home in a beautiful city!)  As I’ve mentioned previously, guy cards can be a challenge for a woman who loves flowers and bling, but I hope that I rose to the challenge.  I used the same stamp set as my previous post; just used the bicycle this time.  Thom & I like to bicycle when time and health permits so it just seemed to work for me.  I wanted to use my new Spellbinders Die Page Maps (designed by Becky Fleck) and the banners in SU DSP Pool Party seemed a perfect fit!  So here is my list of products used!

·        Stamp set(s):  SU Feeling Sentimental (SAB)  & Word Play

·        Ink(s):  SU Midnight Muse

·       Paper:  All from SU – Whisper White, Midnight Muse, DSP Pool Party, and DSP Pattern Stack, 2012-2014

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  All Spellbinders dies – Classic Scalloped Squares, Classic Scalloped Ovals, Large and Page Maps

·        Embellishments/Other things of note:  DMS Embroidery Floss # 311, Recollections Super Fine Glitter, SU Jewels Basic Rhinestones and SU Buttons, Bitty

Sometimes, we are our own worst critic.  At first I wasn’t satisfied with this offering, but the more I looked at it the card, the more I realized that I was looking at it through my FLOWER Glasses – the lens that I use for most of my designs.  I like the flow of the smaller banners on the paper when juxtaposed to my larger banners that I cut out with my new die.  I used the ric rac die that comes with the set to add some movement across the bottom of the card where I used a 1.75” strip of striped paper – say that fast – that I added glitter to.  Even my husband needs some bling now & again!  LOL  With a couple of heart buttons from the Bitty Collection, I felt that I completed the project.  Thom liked the card, too, and when it really comes down to it, that is what matters most!

Thanks for stopping by my little part of the web to take a look!

Donna

Celebrate Birthday Card for Your Guys

 

Being a lover of flowers and bling, I have found myself drawn most often to choose flowers and similar type stamp sets, but during SU’s recent Sale-A-Bration, I really fell in love with the Feeling Sentimental SS, so I choose this to send out to our son-in-law for his recent birthday!  So here is the list of what I used to create this card:

·         Stamp set(s):  SU Feeling Sentimental

·         Ink(s):  SU Early Espresso, Clear Embossing Powder

·         Paper:  Core’dinations Early Espresso CS, Crumb Cake CS, Very Vanilla CS (thru here by SU! and from my stash, 7 Gypsies, Louvre

·        Dies & Embossing folders:  SU Framlits Apothecary Accents & Labels Collections, SU Chevron Embossing folder

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  SU’s Linen Thread, SU Basic Jewels Rhinestones (I had to get some kind of bling going on!), SU Designer Buttons Brushed Bronze, Stamping Sanding System block, SU Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sizzix Big Shot

The card is 4.25” by 5.5” and opens on the right.  The card base is made from Crumb Cake CS.  The panel that was embossed is 4” by 5.25”.  The sentiment is popped up.  The linen thread was wound around the embossed and sanded panel prior to fixing it to the card base.

I hope that you have enjoyed the card.  I’d love to know who you are and please feel free to leave me a comment.  I’ve begun to get the Botanical SS from Technique Tuesdays and will try to get around to making some samples next week.  Until then, have a blest Easter!  He is Risen!

Donna

Thank you from the Floral District

          I recently was in need of a Thank You card for some very dear friends of ours who brought us a meal so that they could see my husband after his stays in the hospital last month.  My girlfriend is such a bright and cheerful person that I had to pull in some yellow as we all are longing for Spring’s late arrival despite what the calendar says.

          You may notice that not all the items listed are from Stampin’ Up!  I am letting my business go to spend more time with my beloved!  I don’t have a website anymore through the company so I don’t need to use all SU items.  It is a freeing experience!  I’m going to have to do some paper shopping next month to get some new Basic Grey and Graphic 45!  They have it going on right now!  J  So here’s the item list:

·        Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up!(SU)’s Perfectly Preserved (love this one and it is on trend!)

·        Ink(s):  SU’s Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso

·        Paper:  SU’s Very Vanilla & Pear Pizazz CS, and SU’s Designer Series Paper(DSP) Floral District (discontinued but still in my stash as I love anything floral)

·        Dies & Embossing folders:  SU Framelits Cannery Set(another on trend offering; Spellbinders Classic Large Ovals & Classic Scalloped Ovals;  SU’s Square Lattice Embossing Folder

·        Embellishments/Other things of note:  SU Designer Buttons, Brights Collection and SU Linen Thread

The card is 4.25” by 5.5”, left fold and right side open.  Thanks so much for taking a look!  Let me know what you think, and please sign up to follow my blog and leave me your blog address, too.  I have several that I follow and would love to see your designs, too!

Have a great Sunday!  Many Blessings,

Donna