Happy Birthday To You

I really like using the Fabulous Frames die to be the center point of a card, especially if it's framing a sentiment.

I used Spring Moss cardstock for the card base, impressing it with stars.  I die-cut the frame with orange gingham paper and placed it on top of the sentiment.  The frame is on foam tape for dimension.

I die-cut and stamped the balloons in orange and green inks and adhered Honeydew and Marigold twine for the balloon strings.  I placed them on foam tape and added a sequin for a bit of bling.

"Celebrate Today" is stamped on a die-cut made from Summer Sunrise cardstock.  I added a couple more sequins to balance out the sentiment.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Amuse Eat Cake; PTI Bountiful Banners
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, White Stampers Select, Summer Sunrise; Amuse Gingham
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pear Tart, Cantaloupe
• Tools:  PTI Fabulous Frames Die, Birthday Style Die, Bountiful Banners Die, Star Impression Plate
• Other:  Twine; Sequins; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy 60th Birthday

This is one of those 10 hour (well, maybe not 10) cards....I kept changing the colors and design of the card.....I never thought I would get it done!  I'm glad I was happy with the way it finally turned out!

I used Hawaiian Shores cardstock for the card base.  On white cardstock, I placed my Starry Border die diagonally across the left top and ran it through the Cuttlebug, repeating the same process for the right bottom.  I was originally going to let the blue show through the punched out stars, but decided to place colors (Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, Limeade Ice) in the star negatives.

I cut a piece of Lemon Tart striped pattern paper and adhered it diagonally across the card.  I placed 1/4" scor-tape on either side of it and sprinkled coarse glitter on top.  I think the glitter really makes the card look pretty and festive!

I die-cut the "60" in Hawaiian Shores and Hibiscus Burst using regular number dies layered on my new number mats dies.  I also used my new Suffix Style dies for the "th", cut in Limeade Ice (yes, I'm using this color again!), layered on top of white.

The "birthday" is cut with Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dots using one of the Birthday Trio dies, with the "i" dotted with a star.  I die-cut the banner, stamped it with "happy" and placed it on foam tape, adding a few more stars to the end of the banner.  Caribbean and Pink Sorbet twines are tied around the spine as the final step.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Limeade Ice, Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dots, Lemon Tart Stripes, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Rose Bud
• Tools:  PTI Sketched Shapes Die, Suffix Style, Birthday Trio Die, By The Numbers Dies, By The Numbers Mats Dies; Lil' Inker Starry Border Die
• Other:  Twine; Scor-Tape; Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Smile

I am liking this Reasons To Smile stamp set more and more - I'm so glad I got it!

I used Scarlet Jewel for the card base and added a layer of beige check paper.  This paper is so old I don't even know who makes it - it's one of the first papers I bought when I started scrapbooking!  

On Vintage Cream cardstock, I stamped the flowers in rhubarb stalk and the leaves in pearlescent beige - it's nice to use a color other than green for the leaves.  I used Labels One nestabilities to die-cut the flowers and the layer behind it.  They are adhered to the card with foam tape for dimension.

I die-cut the banner and stamped Smile on it, adding 3 tiny pearls to the side.  I stamped another sentiment under the banner - it's hard to read and says "your birthday is destined to be simply amazing!"  All of these colors worked so well together!  It's nice to use darker, richer colors for a change.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI Scarlet Jewel, Vintage Cream; Unknown
• Ink:  Memento Rhubarb Stalk; Brilliance Pearlescent Beige
• Tools:  PTI Sketched Shapes Die; Labels One Nestabilities
• Other:  Pearls; Glitter; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Just A Note To Thank You

I needed to send a thank you card and thought since it's Fall, why not incorporate leaves into it.  I saw this idea on Heather Nichols blog - 1) where she made her leaves look like they are watercolor and 2) she inset the "thank you".  How clever!  It looked simple enough so I gave it a try and love how this turned out!!

I used Kraft cardstock for the card base and added a layer of Canyon Clay cardstock.  First, I cut out the "thank you" on Rustic Cream cardstock and put it to the side.  Second, I stamped the leaves - to create the watercolor effect I inked up the stamp, spritzed it with a little water and stamped it on the card.  It really gives the card a pretty look!  I stamped all the leaves in a variety of colors and added the veins in brown ink.

Third, I placed the die-cut "thank you" back in the card - notice how it really stands out now!  I stamped "just a note" above it.  I like sparkle, so added some coarse glitter to the leaves.  Thanks Heather for the great idea!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Leaf Prints, Wonderful Words:  Thank You
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Rustic Cream, Canyon Clay
• Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch, Tangelo, Cantaloupe, Pistachio, Tuxedo Black; PTI Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart
• Tools:  PTI Wonderful Words: Thank You Die
• Other:  Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Enjoy Your Day!

This is a different color for me to use as a card base - Limeade Ice.  When I bought it, I wasn't sure I would like the color, but I decided to give it a try and I'm warming up to it (a little).

I stamped flowers from Mini Blooms on white, using light and dark orange inks, adding the green leaves.  The smaller flowers are stamped in Pink Grapefruit ink. I stamped the sentiment in black and added the swirly thing underneath.

I cut the white cardstock slightly smaller than the card base so you could see the green.  I added a little glitter to each of the larger flowers and a "pearl" made with yellow Pearl Pen to the smaller, darker orange flowers.  I tied Marigold twine around the spine to finish the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mini Blooms
• Paper:  PTI Limeade Ice, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tangelo, Pear Tart, Tuxedo Black; VersaMagic Mango Madness, Pink Grapefruit
• Other:  Sunny Yellow Pearl Pen; Glitter, Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sending Heartfelt Sympathy (CAS #37)

Nothing could be more simple than this card!  I found a pack of K&Company dimensional flowers when I was looking for something else and thought it was time to use them.

I used Plum Pudding cardstock for my card base, rounding the bottom corners.  I took a piece of white cardstock and impressed it with a canvas look.  

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and adhered the flower.  And the card is done......

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Year of Flowers:  Carnations
• Paper:  PTI Plum Pudding, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Linen & Canvas Impression Plate; Corner Rounder
• Other:  K&Company Cottage Garden
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Greetings

This is a newly released stamp set from Stampin' Up called Wetlands.  I saw cards made with this set all over Pinterest, and of course I had to get it!  It'll come in handy making masculine cards!

I used Kraft cardstock for my card base and added a layer of Dark Chocolate cardstock.  Next, I took a piece of white cardstock and placed masking tape along the edges, first tearing the tape to give it a jagged edge.  Using a blending tool with foam, I loaded it with Antique Linen ink and rubbed it on the white to create the "sandy beach".  I went over the light brown ink with Frayed Burlap, a slightly darker brown ink.  I stamped the ferns in the corners with Chocolate ink, stamping them once fully inked and once with the ink stamped off.

I created the sky the same way by inking up my blending tool and then rubbing the ink - by doing this I can make the sky lighter or darker as needed.  I stamped the ducklings in the middle of the card in Chocolate ink.  Aren't they adorable?  I die-cut the clouds and stamped the sentiment on the largest cloud, placing it on foam tape for dimension.

Now it was time to pull off the masking tape - and yes, it came out exactly as I wanted with a bright white edge to the card.  I tied jute around the spine to complete the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Stampin' Up Wetlands
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Dark Chocolate, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate; Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Tumbled Glass
• Tools:  PTI Heart-2-Heart #6 Dies
• Other:  Foam Tape; Masking Tape, Jute; Tim Holtz Blending Tool w/Foam
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

This white marks on this pattern paper are actually little doilies....and I knew I had some pre-made little doilies and thought it would make a cute card if I used one.

I used white cardstock for the card base and added the layer of doily pattern paper.  The white doily is from Martha Stewart - it's an assorted pack of 6 different styles.  I die-cut circles in Lemon Tart and white.  

The sentiment is stamped in grey ink; I placed the yellow circle on foam tape for dimension and tied Buttercream twine around the spine.  It needed something else and I remembered I had enamel dots and added 3 of them - I think it helps complete the card and they match the color of the pattern paper!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sketched Shapes
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Lemon Tart; Melissa Frances
• Ink:  Amuse Seattle
• Tools:  Standard Circle Nestabilities
• Other:  Martha Stewart Die Cut Lace Tag; Enamel Dots; Foam Tape; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Welcome Little One

Yes, another boy card.  Where are all the baby girls this year??

I used Spring Rain cardstock for the card base and added a layer of blue check pattern paper.  To give the bottom a little shape, I used card edgers to create a scalloped look.

I die-cut the doily in white and adhered it to the card. The carriage was die-cut in Spring Rain; I stamped the sentiment on it and added two silver circles to the wheels.  The carriage is on foam tape for dimension.

My final step was tying white ribbon around the bottom of the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Bitty Baby Blessings
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, White Stampers Select; HOTP
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Card Edgers #4 Die; Memory Box Baby Carriage Die; Cheery Lynn French Pastry Doily  Die
• Other:  Ribbon; Metal Adhesive Dots; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Make A Wish

I really need to start using some of my older stamp sets so I pulled out this one, "It's A Celebration".

I used Spring Moss cardstock for the card base.  I die-cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle mat die and stamped the cake, candle and confetti onto it.  The confetti and candle has a little sparkle on it from a clear gel pen.

I put a bow on the cake -- this is my new mini stitched bow from Lil' Inker Designs. It's very easy to create a bow from paper using this - it cuts 3 pieces that you put together to get this cute little bow.  I added a gem in the bow center for another touch of bling.  The white cardstock is mounted on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI It's A Celebration, Make A Wish
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, White Stampers Select; DCWV
• Ink:  Memento Pear Tart, Tuxedo Black; Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue; VersaMagic Thatched Straw
• Tools:  Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Mini Stitched Bow
• Other:  Foam Tape; Gem; Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

You Are In My Prayers

Sometimes it's nice to make a sympathy card not using traditional dark colors like black or navy blue.  And this card doesn't have to be a sympathy card, it could be for any occasion when you're letting someone know they're in your thoughts.

I used Summer Sunrise for the card base and rounded the right hand corners.  I stamped the leaves twice, once with the stamp fully inked and once with the ink stamped off.  I wanted to add some dimension to the card and die-cut and stamped the leaves on the right side and placed them on foam tape.  The flowers are stamped in two different colors of orange.

I stamped the sentiment and added a bit of glitter to the flowers to finish the card.  

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Embroidered Blooms, Gracious Vases, Harvest Berries
• Paper:  PTI Summer Sunrise, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Cantaloupe, Tangelo; Brilliance Pearlescent Thyme
• Tools:  PTI Turning A New Leaf Dies; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

Can you believe it's October already?  Where did September go??

I used Ocean Tides cardstock for the card base and layered it with this pretty pattern paper made of soft grey, pink and green, rounding the bottom corners.

I made a Mat Stack 3 die-cut in Soft Stone cardstock, stamped it with pink ink and placed it on foam tape for dimension.  I created the rose in a multi-colored pink pattern paper using my Rose Creations dies, cutting and shaping the six layers of rose petals with a bone folder.  I have a silver brad in the middle holding the rose together.  I die-cut the leaves in Ocean Tides and scored the center to simulate the vein in the leaf.

I stamped the sentiment in light grey onto a banner cut with Soft Stone cardstock.  I love everything about this card - the pattern paper was my inspiration and luckily I had other papers to match it perfectly!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mat Stack 3 Collection, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Soft Stone, Ocean Tides; Melissa Frances 
• Ink:  Amuse Seattle; Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid
• Tools:  PTI Mat Stack 3 Collection Die, Double Ended Banner Die; Rose Creations Dies; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Brad; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"