Mixed Bunch

Here is a quick, sunny card that you can make for almost any occasion and in almost any color.  I used Daffodil Delight for my flowers.  They are from the Mixed Bunch stamp set.  What a fun set that is!! There are three flowers in the set and all are GREAT ones.

  Anyway, I stamped four of the flowers on the white front of the card.  I stamped another flower on a separate piece of cardstock, so I could punch it out using the Blossom punch.  I stamped 5 centers (also in the Mixed Bunch set)  using Tangerine Tango ink and punched 4 of them using the 3/4" circle punch and one out using the 1" circle punch.  I glued the 4 smaller centers on the card front and I popped up this larger center on my punched flower using dimensionals.  I also popped up the flower when I attached it to the card.  I did punch our another flower from Wild Wasabi cardstock and cut off some of the petals, so it gives the appearance of leaves behind the flower. 

The sentiment is from the Uppsy Daisy stamp set.

I can also picture this one done with purple or pink but haven't had time to make those yet. 
Enjoy!
Smiles, Laura

Sort of Herringbone but not....

While I was playing with the herringbone pattern, I wanted to try this two-layer card.  I saw one like this on someone's blog and saved the picture to try my own.  These stripes are also cut 3/8" wide but I didn not adhere them in a herringbone pattern, but just diagonally across the card front.  The smaller, top layer I just layered the opposite way.  I popped up the front smalelr layer with dimensionals and added ribbon and a purchased butterfly to it.  I love this technique, too.

 Here is a close up of the front.  I did not use SU designer paper on this one but it is SU cardstock.

 So I decided to make another card using Stamping' Up! designer paper and to add a flower I made.  Here is this one.  The card is Island Indigo and I used patterned paper in Island Indigo, Poppy Parade, Pool Party and Crumb Cake for my stripes.  I love that bright Poppy flowers---again using the Mixed Bunch stamp set.  The sentiment comes from the Sale-a-bration Elementary Elegance stamp set. 

 Now look closely at this one to see the difference.  For it, I decided I wanted the Indigo to be more subtle, so I flipped the Indigo designer paper over to its lighter side.  What do you think?  Which do you like better?

I hope these inspire you to make a striped card of your own. Remember the paper itself does not have to be striped.  You can cut narrow stripes and make hyour own stripe.  Have fun!!
Smiles, Laura

Herringbone

I recently tried an old technique that I haven't tried in some time--the herringbone.  It's a fun way to use up scraps of designer paper.  For this card, I selected four patterns in two color families.  I started out with one strip of the designer paper placed diagonally across the cardstock.  Oh, I did run that piece through my Xyron first to cover it with adhesive.  You can make this card without a Xyron machine, but it takes alot of adhesive.  I prefer the 5" Xyron.

I put one strip (and I cut the strips 3/8" wide) from corner to corner.  Then I put one strip perpendicular to that first strip on each side of it, but not directly across from each other.  (I should have photographed a tutorial of this!!)  I hope you can figure out the instructions I'm giving. 

 Then you start filling in the various colors and patterns in a herringbone fashion, until the entire front of the card is covered.  Layer that in a complementary color and attach it to the front of the card. 

 Here is another card I did for a "Black and White with a  Splash of Color" challenge I took part in.  You can see on this one more easily how the herringbone pattern goes.  If you have real trouble with this, email me and I'll add a pictorial tutorial to my blog.

Have fun with this one!!  I can't wait to try it in a bunch of other colors!
Smiles, Laura

I'm back!

I knew I had been away from my blog a long time, but I didn't think it was since March 11!!I'm sorry; all I can say is I've been busy with other things.  Stamping classes for one, but also redecorating a room at our church and now we are starting to work on a second room.  Also my 3 sisters and I had a Sisters Weekend last weekend.  We all went to Isle of Palms, SC, to stay with the sister who lives there and it was so fun!!  So I hope you haven't abandoned me entirely. 

I have a great card to share with you today.  I was waiting until I could demo this in my March classes before posting it here for you.  It's the Cascading Card.  I did show you the two Valentine ones I made on my February 14 entry, but did not give instructions.  Well, today you get the instructions.  This one below was made from Sahara Sand cardstock and I used the Mixed Bunch stamp set and the Blossom Punch and the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch to decorate it.

Here is a view from the top...

And I know it's after St. Patrick's Day but I have to show you the one I made for my son for St. Patrick's Day.  He was a March baby so this particular holiday has always been sort of our holiday.  I think he loved this card!
                                                   
OK, so here is how you make it:  I have put the instructions right on the picture.  I won't repeat them, but you can email me if you have questions.

(Since taking these pictures, I realized you can start with an 8" x 10.5" piece of cardstock and you will not have that 1/2" in the center to toss.  But if that confuses you, stick with these instructions.)

In case these instructions are too hard to see in the pictures, here they are:

Instructions:
• Start with an 8.5” x 10.5” sheet of CS. Mark one 8.5” side at 2.5” and 5.5” and mark the other 8.5” sideat 5.5” and 2.5”. Cut across the length of the card so that you end up with two “wedges”.

• Mark along the bottom of the two pieces at 1.75”, 3.5”, 5.25”, 7”, and 8.75”. Then score at each of these marks from the bottom to the slanted top.

• At the 1.75” score line, measure up to 2.5” (half way) and make a mark--on both pieces. At the 8.75” score line, measure up to 1.5” (half way) and make a mark—on both pieces.

• On one piece of CS, cut DOWN from the top to both these marks you just made on the two score lines. On the other piece of CS, cut UP from the bottom to both these marks you just made on the two score lines.

• Insert the two pieces into each other at the two cut lines, sliding one down and the other up into each other. Do this on both ends—at the 1.75” mark and at the 8.75” mark.

• Slowly fold up the two pieces, making alternating mountain and valley folds.  There is your cascading card! Decorate as desired.

Thanks for stopping in today.  I will see you again soon!!
Smiles, Laura

Simply Soft....

Today I am featuring a guest designer, my friend Rose Kerry.  Rose does beautiful work and I asked her if I could share this lovely card she made recently for a swap I hosted.  Look at these beautiful colors!   Rose used Island Indigo for the card and layered it with Lucky Limeade.  Rose was nice enough to provide us with a supply list (see at the end of this entry.)

 Here is a side view.  Rose used the Simply Soft hostess set for the image and the sentiment is from the Loving Thoughts stampset.  The photo above shows the sheen on the flowers.  Rose used Crystal Effects on those flowers to make them stand out.  What a small addition to a card but what a HUGE impact it makes.  I want to remember that trick!

We all call Rose the "Brad Queen" because she always uses so many brads on her cards. It's these special touches that  make her cards such a stand-out!  Big thanks to Rose for providing this LOVELY card for me to share with you today!!

Smiles Laura

Supplies:
Simply Soft hostess set #122565
Loving Thoughts #125843 Occasions Mini
Take it to Heart #125520 Occasions Mini


Old Olive Ink #102277


Cardstock:
Whisper White
Blushing Bride
Lucky Limeade
Island Indigo


In Color DSP2010-12 #117158
Twitterpated DSP #125406 Occasions Mini


For coloring:
Blushing Bride reinker #119676
Regal Rose reinker #105223
Old Olive reinker #100531
Aqua Painter #103954


3/8" Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon #122977
Regals brads #119737
2 1/2" Punch #120906
3" die #122125
Scalloped Circle #2 #113469
Crystal Effects #101055

Mixed Bunch

Today I'm sharing a card my friend Judy and I made recently when we had a "play day."  I used Blushing Bride for this card, and layered the three strips of 3 different designer papers with Baja Breeze.  I stamped the flower from the Mixed Bunch stamp set with Blushing Bride on Bride cardstock and punched it with the new Blossoms punch.  We are really going to enjoy that punch!  I punched two pink flowers and one from Baja,which I used behind the flower for leaves.

 I stamped the center of the flower in Baja Breeze on vanilla cardstock and punched it out using a 3/4" circle punch.

The finishing touch to this one is the bow and ribbon made using Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon.  It lays so pretty!  I thought this turned out to be a nice, feminine card, suitable for any of my friends.  What do you think?
Smiles, Laura

Kindness Matters

Today I want to share two cards we made in class recently.  This first one uses the Double Dutch Door layout.  I shared the instruction for how to do this in my January 27 entry, so look back at it.  I also have a version of this card opened up so you can see how it opens.  I used the Kindness Matters stamp set on this one.  You can get this set FREE during Sale-a-bration when you order $50 or more in merchandise.

Here is another card we made recently in class.  This one uses the Heaven Blessed stamp set from the Occasions mini.  This is another layout (with the striped designer paper down the center) that I've shared with you recently---when I made the masculine card with the tree on it.  It's fun to find a good layout and use it with many colors and papers.

Both these cards use the Labels Collection Framelit Dies from the Occasions Mini.  I'm wondering what I used before these came out! I find them so much fun to "play" with.

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles, Laura

Jessica's birthday...

I promised to share Jessica's birthday card I made for her.  She loves "cut out" cards like this, so I decided since she was turning 11 this year, I'd make the front an 11.  I layered it on some striped designer paper to cover up the inside, and make the 11 stand out.

 Here it is sort of opened up.  The front is attached to the back and the striped paper is glued inside at the fold.  I used Elegant Eggplant for the card.  Jessica LOVES purple.

 And inside is the stamp that I thouht was perfect for her this year, "On a scale of 1 to 10, you're an 11."  It's from the Perfect Words Hostess set.  Isn't that perfect for a girl turning 11.  She loved it.  Of course she loved the money I put in the card, too. Ha.

And I just had to add a picture of the pretty birthday girl!  Isn't she lovely! She's such a delight to me.  I just don't get to see her enough now that she's growing up!

Thanks for stopping by today.
Smiles, Laura

No excuse!

I have no excuse for being gone from my blog so long!  What can I say--I've been stamping!  Well, that's not ALL I've been doing.  We did celebrate Jessica's birthday and I'll be sharing her birthday card with you.  The kids and I also did some wall art that I'll share with you later, too. And last week all week I had a terrible cold and just wished the world away!  But now I'm feeling better.   

 Today I want to share a "telescoping" card with you--at least that's what some call it.  This one is cut using the new Stampin' Up Labels Collection dies. 

 Here is another shot of it all folded out or open.  Isn't this neat!  The back page is cut with one size die, the middle page with one smaller and the front cut with one yet smaller--so three descending sizes of dies are used.  The card is Tempting Turquoise and the front is Daffodil Delight.  I used Big Top Birthday designer paper for the middle.

The stamp set used for the images is the Everybunny set.  I just LOVE the cute bunnies on this one!  RThe sentiment is from the Blessings from Heaven set.  

This is a fun card.  You can make it with descending hearts, squares, triangles, anything.  Give it a try!!
Thanks for hanging in there with me and sticking with my blog!!
Smiles, Laura