Dragonfly Thanks

Butterflies are usually my go-to when I stamp flowers on my card and the new challenge on the 'Just Add Ink' blog, is to Just Add Nature, JAI#296,  I'm adding a dragonfly and flowers as my nature items.  I used the colors listed in the current 'Color Tree Challenge' TCTC3 of Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Gold, and Mint Macaron to color my flowers and dragonfly.

I stamped the flowers twice (You've Got This stamp set) on Very Vanilla card stock using Basic Black ink, then cut out three extra flowers to pop up on top of the ones stamped on my Very Vanilla panel.  I colored the centers of the flowers using my gold Wink of Stella pen and colored the leaves in Mint Macaron.  Even though it's hard to see, I colored the flowers with the Wink Of Stella glitter pen.  I stamped the dragonfly (Awesomely Artistic stamp set) in Soft Suede, cut it out, then covered it in embossing ink to add stability and shine to it.  I stamped the sentiment (An Open Heart) in Mint Macaron.  I Used my Apothecary Accents Framelits to add my sentiment at the top of the card.

My Splitcoaststampers' Gallery.

On the Fringe

I am so glad to have time to play along with this very first Color Tree Challenge.  I thought it would be easy-peasy until I sat down in my craft room getting ready to craft ... My mind went blank.  I was in need of inspiration to start this project and found it on page 5 of the current Stampin' Up! Catalog.

The base of my card is 'Early Espresso' topped with a layer of 'Very Vanilla'.  I used my Stampin' Up! Fringe Scissors to fringe the So Saffron, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, and Perfect Plum layers.  The image panel is 'So Saffron' embossed with the Stampin' Up! Butterfly Textured Embossing Folder.  I stamped the flowers using the 'Remarkable You' stamp set onto 'Very Vanilla' card stock and fussy-cut them out and popped them up using 'Dimensionals'.  I colored the stamens in the flowers with 'Early Espresso' ink. I stamped the butterfly from the 'Butterfly Basics' stamp set onto 'So Saffron' card stock using 'Perfect Plum' ink.  The 'Venetian Crochet Trim' is topped by a bow made with 'Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon'. 

Here is an image of The Color Tree listing the colors for this challenge (Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, and Early Espresso).  So glad Perfect Plum was on the list because I was not aware of how low my supply was ... adding it to my next Stampin' Up! order.

I would love to add The Color Tree Badge to my blog but, for some reason, the link does not appear when I click the badge.  Nevertheless, I am looking forward to more of these challenges in the future.

Birthday Wishes to my Hubby

This is the front of the birthday card I made for my husband using retired Stampin' Up! DSP.  I have a ton of DSP that I've been hoarding for years and I have resolved to make use of it this year.

I wanted to make a card with a different type of fold and he got a kick out of opening up this card.

I once saw this fold demonstrated on the Carol Duvall Show when she was on the DIY and/or HGTV channel.  I loved those crafting shows and was sad to see them taken away one-by-one.  I found directions for this fold again on Karen Burniston's YouTube channel. 

I used a combination of Stampin' Up! DSP and stamps (Another Great Year, Big Day) and Tim Holtz's Dies to decorate this card.