Flag Card for Ivan

Card Base:  5 1/2" x 10"
Score at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
3 Flag Bases: 3 15/16" x 1 7/8"

Card Stock:
Dusty Durango (Retired Stampin' Up!), Whisper White, Basic Black

Inks:
So Saffron, Perfect Plum, Dusty Durango (Retired Stampin' Up!), Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Basic Gray

Stamps:
Hardwood, Wetlands, Just Believe, Floral Phrases, Flourishing Phrases, High Tide, Picture Perfect

Thursday's SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - Celebrate Earth Day.  This challenge gave me the opportunity to create a masculine Thank You card for a friend.  Hope he enjoys it.

Swirling Butterflies

I am finally getting a chance to post a card I made the other day for the SUO154 - Delightful Dies challenge.  

Dies:  Rose Garden Thinlits Die; Florish Thinlits Dies
Punches:  Bitty Butterfly; Elegant Butterfly
Paper:  Very Vanilla; Basic Black; Basic Gray; Flirty Flamingo; Timeless Elegance DSP

My card base is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored in half at 4 1/4".  I cut 2 1/8" from the right side of the front of the card.  I watched France Martin's YouTube Video for instructions on the Fun Frame that I attached to the half-front (easier to see the half-front panel in the second and third blog photos).

I used the Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Write marker to color the flowers on the Timeless Elegance DSP.

     

Thinking of You

I think I might have gotten a little carried away with this one.  I started adding flowers and I couldn't seem to stop myself.  I wanted to make a masculine card for a relative who has an incurable illness so the Kind Koala stamp set seemed to be a good choice because of his young age.  Somewhere along the way the card took on a feminine look.  I'll have to start all over on another card for him.

I used the Just-Add-Ink Sketch Challenge #300 to start my card.  The card stock and inks used were from The Color Tree Challenge #8 ... Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaron, Whisper White, and Gold.  I used my Gold Wink of Stella brush to color the Koala Bear because it was the only gold I had.  I  also added a touch of gold to the wings of the butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set. I also added a touch of gold on the letters of 'YOU'.

I stamped the blades of grass from the Inspired by Nature stamp set... I still love this stamp set.

My SCS Gallery

Pleats, Pleats, & More Pleats

Today's tutorial gives directions on making a Pleated Skirt card.  It was so easy that I made several much-needed cards.

I've got a lot of DSP that I've hoarded over the years and one of the SCS challenges from earlier this year is to Lose Weight Feel Great ... I'm losing weight by using up some of my old DSP.  I've also not used this Apothecary Art stamp set in quite a while.

SUOC141 - Happy Birthday is to make a Birthday Card. I hope this qualifies because one of my cards is a birthday card.  This card can really be used for any occasion.

Love my butterflies (Papillon Potpourri)

My Splitcoaststampers Gallery

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.

Spring Forward

Today is National Daughter's Day and I really miss my eldest.  Spring is just around the corner and I had her in mind as I made this card.  When she and her sister were little girls, they would always be on the look-out for the first flowers of Spring to pick and give me.  Next week her dad and I will place fresh flowers on her grave.  Angela... this card is for you...

SCS Challenges:

• IC484 Beautiful Cookies: As I waded through the cookies on today's Inspirational Challenge, I was reminded of the old mason jars I displayed my flowers in from my daughters when I came across these cookies.
• TLC524 Stamped Acrylic Block Background: I loaded my acrylic block with Soft Sky, misted with water, then stamped onto Whisper White cardstock.  I then loaded my acrylic block with Pink Pirouette, misted the block again, then stamped it on top of the Soft Sky ink.
•  F4A264 Baby Pinks & Blues: Pink Pirouette and Soft Sky.  I also used Lost Lagoon, Rose Coral, Strawberry Slush.  I really wanted a spring feel on this card.
• To get the dimension on the flowers, I used the rounded tip of a ball point pin to roll over the backs of the flowers to break down the fibers in the Cardstock and puff the flowers up in the centers. I attached the flowers with glue dots to slivers of clear plastic and extended them from the jar through a slit that I cut in the top of the jar, 
• CAS315 Ribbon:  Is any card really complete without adding ribbon or a butterfly.  I used some of the Rose Coral ribbon on the jar, then tucked a butterfly behind one of the flowers.
• WT521 Hoop It Up: My got plenty of use from my Framelits today.  I also used my Petite Petals Punch to punch out my flowers and added brads to the centers (Brights, Neutrals, & Vintage).

Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved, Petite Petals, Papillon Potpourri 

Framelits: Cannery Set, Ovals Collection, Circles Collection, Starburst, Edgelits

Papers: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Pink Pirouette DSP & Pink Pirouette Cardstock 

Inks: Memento Black, Rose Coral Chalk, Soft Sky, Pink Pirouette, Lost Lagoon, Strawberry Slush

Brads: Brights, Neutrals, Vintage

Ribbon: Rose Red

Butterfly Wishes

I spent the day making cards in my craft room and decided my final card of the day would be for the SCS Featured Stamper Gallery.  I wanted to use some of my new supplies and I wanted to use the Emboss Resist Technique on my card.

Stamps: Indescribable Gift, Butterfly Basics
Inks: Tangelo Twist, Mossy Meadow, Daffodil Delight, VersaMark

Beautiful People

This is for SCS TLC514,  'The Ones Have It': One piece of cardstock, one large stamp image, one sentiment, one color ink, and one ribbon.


Very Vanilla and Raspberry Ripple Cardstock
Raspberry Ripple Ink
Raspberry Ripple Ribbon
Stampset: People Like You

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" cardstock scored at 4 1/4" and folded in half.  I made a mask using the 'People Like You' stamp, then stamped the image on the outer edge of the folded card.  I placed my mask over the image and stamped another flower at the top.  I also stamped the top of the flower at the bottom of the card, then fussy-cut around the edge.  Tied a ribbon and added raspberry ripple cardstock inside (5 3/8" x 4 1/8")

Score This - Pyramid Card

The Stampin' Up! Creative Crew's challenge is a Catalog Focus: scoring tools.  Use all or one of these scoring tools--Simply Scored Tool, Simply Scored Borders Plate and/or Simply Scored Diagonal Plate to add interest to a gatefold card. 

For my project, I made this Pyramid Card.  The interesting thing about this project is that you can make it as large or as small as you want as long as you start with 2 square pieces of card stock.

The card unfolds so that it can be inserted into an A2 envelope if you use 4" x 4" squares.  I used magnets to hold my piramid card together.

Embossing Folders: Square Lattice, Fancy Fan.
Stamps: Loving Thoughts, flower Shop, Blooming With Kindness
Punches: Label Bracket, Pansy
Dies: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die

Happy Birthday Mother

This is a card I made for my mother and mailed to her in celebration of her 94th birthday this month (she turned 94 on Wednesday, March 19th).  We will have the large family gathering on Sunday at her home and I plan to make another card for that occasion.

Sunday will be both a celebration of her birthday and a time when we will reflect on the life of my brother who passed away last month.  We are all still mourning his loss but our plan is to share our memories of him in an effort to bring smiles to the faces of our mother and our sister-in-law.

I CASE'd this card from Karen Barber's gallery.  I am a huge fan of hers and admire each and every card she makes.  Her card can be found Here.

Get Well Soon

This card is not for a challenge... sometimes I like making cards just to use my supplies.  I purchased this stamp (Summer Afternoon) from Stampin' Up! and it retired before I used it... matter of fact, this is the first time I've used it.  This is also the first time I've inked up my 'En Francais' stamp and it was one of my 'Had-to-Have' stamps.

I've got so many more 'retired' stamp sets that I've purchased and never used.  I've also got packs and packs of retired, unopened DSP.  My mission this year is to use those 'retired' stamps and that 'retired' DSP on projects and cards so that I can free up space in my craft room for current products.

This is today's project using some of those unused products... a card using the old (retired) and the new/current.  One of the members of our weekly Noonday Bible Study group was hospitalized last week and I've made this card to send to him.

Stamps: En Francais, Summer Afternoon
Inks: Marina Mist, VersaMark. pear Pizzaz, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, White Gel Pin
Other products: White Embossing Powder, Black Embossing Powder, Sizzix Thinlits, Candy Dots, Piercing Pack

2014-2015 Calendar

For our final challenge, we were to make a calendar, to do list, booklet or journal for a friend to use in 2014.

I altered, rather than making a calendar.  This time of year, you can pick up these 2-year calendars for $1.00 and I grabbed a bunch to alter and give away as last minute Christmas gifts. The shaded section on the Crumb Cake card stock on the back of the calendar is from the gloss of the plastic holder.

Stamps: Everything Eleanor & Wetland
DSP: Soho SubwayDSP, Season of Style DSP,  Crumb Cake Card Stock
Inks: VersaMark, Chocolate Chip
Embossing Powder: Clear; Cherry Cobbler
Neutrals Brads

Imagine

This SCS Creative Crew Challenge was to copy someone's artwork who loves brads or candy dots; we are to use candy dots generously on our projects.  I CASE'd Jan Tink's 'Papillon Potpourri meets Hello Lovely & World Map' found here.

Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri; Loving Thoughts, Very Vintage Wheel
Punches: Bitty Butterfly; Elegant Butterfly
DSP: Modern Medley
Card Stock: Very Vanilla; Basic Black
Neutrals Candy Dots; VersaMark Ink; Black Embossing Powder

Peace on Earth

DH and I just returned from San Antonio, TX.  Our oldest daughter came in from Afghanistan and we wanted to be there to welcome her home and to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with her.

While in Texas, I checked the SCS website to find today's challenge (F4A197 - Let It SNOW!) found here. "Let It Snow" is also SUO Challenge #84 challenge found here.  I decided to CASE this card that I have had in my favorites forever.   I titled my card "Peace on Earth" because  this is my wish.



Stamps: Christmas Lodge, Lovely As a Tree, Serene Silhouettes, Calm Christmas, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: Chocolate Chip, VersaMark, White Gel Pen
Papers: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Silver Glimmer Paper
White & Clear Embossing Powder
Embellishments: Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Family Time

DSP/Color Focus: I used the Envelope Punch Board to make a File Folder Card and adjusted the measurements of the pages inside based on instructions from the Altered File Folder Tutorial found Here

For You

Here is my final submission for the September Creative Crew Challenge: Scrapbook and More Focus: Make a gift for a good neighbor as you celebrate National Good Neighbor Day (September 28th).

For You: This little Photo Wallet/Mini Scrapbook is for Alda, a dear friend who has been wonderful to me these past few months.  I have been having a few health issues and she has been right by my side supplying me what whatever I need as well as encouraging me whenever I am down.  I altered the tutorial a bit for my project but basic instructions can be found here.


Supplies:
DSP: Eastern Elegance
Card Stock: Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Basic Black
Inks:  Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate
Embossing Folders: Square Lattice,
Framelits Labels Collection, Big Shot Machine,
Stamp Sets: Everything Eleanor, Layered Labels,
Other Products: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Neutrals Brads, and Half-Back Mini Pearls,
Simply Scored Scoring Tool & Stylus, Bone Folder

So Grateful

Here is my third submission for the September 2013 Creative Crew Gallery - Holiday Focus: 911 Remembrance. It's not a holiday, but it's a day that has been imprinted on our minds.  Make a project with the Big Shot that allows you to remember a day from your past. If you wish to share the significance of this day, we'd love to read about it.

So Grateful:  9/11 will forever be a part of my memory.  I was in my office that morning when one of the ladies ran in crying uncontrollably.  She had been listening to the radio at her desk when the news broke.  I had a small TV in my office and we all gathered around and cried together as we watched in disbelief as the events unfolded.  We worked for the Court system and it was rumored that there would be an attack on Atlanta.  The Chief Judge of our Court issued an Order to close down so that we could go home and be with family.  I remember this day as both a tragic day but also as a day that brought us together as a Nation.  As Lee Greenwood sings in his song, “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free...”  I am so grateful and appreciative of the freedom we enjoy.

Supplies:
DSP: Eastern Elegance,
Card Stock: Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, Whisper White
Inks:  Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate
Embossing Folders: Square Lattice, Lacy Brocade
Framelits Labels Collection, Big Shot Machine
Stamp Sets: Flower Shop, Apothecary Art
Stamp-a-ma-jig, Neutrals Brads, and Half-Back Mini Pearls
Simply Scored Scoring Tool & Stylus, Bone Folder

Just For You

This is my second submission for the Creative Crew September Challenge - Catalog Focus: use any of the stamp sets on pages 111-119 in the annual catalog.  Make a project in a new way to you by using a technique you've never tried or a special fold never used by you before. Continue to use at least two of the colors from the color focus, crushed curry, coastal cabana, smoky slate or whisper white.

Supplies:
DSP: Eastern Elegance,
Card Stock: Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, Whisper White
Inks:  Coastal Cabana and Smoky Slate Stampin’ Write Markers
Paper Piercing Pack (Festive), Sticky Strip, Half-back Pearls, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Elegant Butterfly Punch, Word Window Punch, Framelits Labels Collection, Big Shot Machine
Stamp Sets: Beautifully Baroque, Papillon Potpourri, Label Love
Simply Scored Scoring Tool & Stylus, Bone Folder

Just For You:  The Carol Duvall Show was a crafting show that I looked forward to watching a few years back and was sad to see it cancelled.  One of her guests made a ‘Flag’ Album as a closing gift to Carol on her very last show.  I loved this album and was happy to see the instructions in the SCS Resources section (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/mini_album/).  I was really amazed at how easily it came together.  I plan to add pictures and journaling of my little grand and give it to our daughter & SIL (her parents) as one of their stocking stuffers this Christmas.

Butterfly Wall Art

Had to go back and re-add this post.  My original post disappeared into Blogland...

This is the beginning of my quest to make home decor projects using SU! products.

The walls of my craft room are bare and I am going to use products from Stampin' Up! to liven them up. One of my favorite stamps is this Swallowtail Butterfly. It is in the 'Background Stamp' category and is large enough to use as 'Wall Art'. My project today is 3-fold: decorating one of my craft room walls, SUO Challenge #78 - Ribbons and Bows!, and TLC444 - Stamping on Designer Paper,

I stamped the butterfly using VersaMark ink on Modern Medley DSP; embossed with black embossing powder.  Colored wings with markers then cut wings using craft knife but left body intact so that wings could pop-up.  Matted using card stock and DSP.

All products are from Stampin' Up!
Swallowtail Butterfly Stamp
Bigz L Bow Die & small die from Labels Framelits collection
Inks: Crushed Curry, Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana, Versamark
DSP: Modern Medley & Afternoon Picnic
Card Stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Coastal Cabana.