Invitations - Wedding Invitations

I prepared these cards as samples for wedding invitations for a friend who is getting married later this summer. 

The card base is white with a embossed white layer done with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  I wrapped a piece of wide white organza ribbon toward the bottom of the layer leaving room for the lattice die and taped the ends to the back. The lattice die was cut from aqua glossy card stock.  It was cut with the Stampin Up Lattice Die.  I placed a white felt flower cut with the SU Blossom Party Bigz die.  The small flower in the center was punched with a small punch in the same aqua card stock.  These layers are held in place with a tiny white brad through all the layers to the card front. I added some diamond shaped aqua pieces left over from the die cutting.  They are held in place with Zots.

The second one was a card with a top fold.  I placed a white doily on the card front and folded the extra to the inside of the card.  I cut a piece of vellum with the smooth circle Spellbinder Nestabilities which was adhered to the centre of the doily.  I then punched 2 hearts from white card stock with the Stampin Up Sweetheart punch.  They were embossed with the Sizzix Tropical Paisley embossing folder.  The one in front was adhered with 3D foam tape.  I added a piece of turquoise baker's twine wrapped around the card front above the doily. 

I will post the one she selected a little later once her guests have received theirs.

Mosaic Monday - Spring Snow

We had snow this week.  Wet and heavy which broke branches on trees.  On my walk Thursday I hear wood chippers in several areas.  We had one break in our side yard and the chipper was there early Thursday.  The arborist indicates that the wound should heal and the tree likely will survive. 
The daffodils were weighed down.
The purple pasque flower seemed to be faring better.  I love the way I captured the fuzziness on the petals of this flower.
The pigeons seem well fed.  I liked the way I had touches of green in this shot including the bird. 
Submitting this to Mosaic Monday hosted by Judith at Lavender Cottage.

1.25" Framelit - SU Four Square

The framelits I ordered for the Stampin Up Four Square stamp set arrived yesterday!  The set was designed for the1.25" punch which they no longer sell.  I set about finding a used punch or something else that would cut this set.  Eventually, after much web searching I found the Sizzix square framelits start at 1.25".  I ordered it 2 months ago and it finally arrived.  Here's how it does the job!  Diecutting is not as quick as punching but I got 7 other framelits which will help with the square layered greetings I have been using lately.  Better than that it takes way less room to store!

Photo - Pelicans

I spent a couple of hours in a wetland in Sherwood Park.  The pelicans have arrived.  The weather was great and the sun was shining.  I was so thrilled to see them.  Someone in the neighborhood was sharing that this is the first time he as seen them this year.  With much patience and very little dog activity I was able to get some great shots.  They are very silent birds compared to the others there, so I was not sure what shots I got of them flying in but got a couple good ones.  I'm super happy. 
I'll share the other birds in a later posting.

Card - Simply Sketched Sympathy

I made this card for a friend who lost his dad recently.
I started with a Crushed Curry card.  The stamps I used are from the Simply Sketched stamp set.  I chose the bird to make the card more masculine and stamped it in Crushed Curry and the sentiment in Baja Breeze as I don't have a Pool Party pad. I watercolored some background on upper and lower portions of the Whisper White card stock with an Aqua Painter and the same colors.  I put the bottom edge of the Pool Party layer through the Big Shot with the edge of the Scallop Square Bigz Clear die.  I dyed a bit of white cotton thread with some Crushed Curry ink to add a bit of repetition and fill in the space below the white layer.

Submitting this to the following challenges:
TGIF Challenges - 01 Color challenge
I skipped the Calypso Coral because it was a card for a guy.

R2G Occasion Stack Card Kit - Happy Birthday

This is a birthday set of cards in a Ready 2 Go Occasion Card kit.  With 12 cards suitable for boys and girls you will be set for the summer parties.
The set is based on the One Sheet Wonder for the 6x6 I designed earlier.
The designer paper is adhered to the card front.  A strip of white is placed over the edge of the designer paper. 
The greeting is color printed and then trimmed very close to the edge of the frame.  The greetings were cut to 3 inches. It is then layered onto a square of white card stock.  The greeting is adhered to the card front wit 3D foam tape.  The greetings are designed with Stampin Up So Happy For You, Owl Occasions, Punch Bunch and Blooming Marvelous stamp sets.  The designer paper is from the Patterns Print III pack.

The colors I chose are Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst on Lovely Lilac card and Really Rust.
These layouts are very versatile and can be put together wide or tall.  The images can be used for young and older recipients alike.  

R2G Occasion Stack Kit - Big Greetings

Another set of Ready 2 Go Card kits.  This time I designed large greetings with Stampin Up digitals.  The layouts are from the One Sheet Wonder that I designed a while back.  You can check it out here.

The greetings were color printed then trimmed right to the edge of the frame. The greetings were cut to 3 inches. It was then layered onto a square of white.  The designer paper is from the Patterns Pack III set.  I chose Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa and Certainly Celery.  Once it was cut it was adhered to the card front based on the layouts.  A .5 inch strip of white was placed over the edge of the DSP.  The greeting is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.  The greetings included are from the So Happy For You stamp set. 

The layouts are very versatile as they can be put together wide or tall.  This kit will put 12 cards into your stash ready for the giving. 

Card - A Christmas Wish

I created this card with several challenges in mind.
I started with a Stampin Up Whisper White card on which I printed a thin border on the card front in Pool Party.  I cut 3 pieces of Winter Frost DSP then applied them to non SU glossy card stock in an aqua which matches Pool Party leaving a small border. I glued them evenly spaced on the card front. I stamped the greeting "A Christmas Wish" from the Home for Christmas stamp set in Baja Breeze and clear embossed it.  I used a square punch to flag both ends of the greeting.  I cut 2 snowflakes with the Snow Flurry Bigz die.  The larger one in the glossy aqua card stock and the smaller in white pearl card stock.  The greeting was placed over the 3 panels and the snowflakes layered and placed to the left of the greeting.

Submitting this card to the following challenges:
Stampin Celebration - SC103 - Sketch
City Crafter Challenge - #260 - Mood Board Inspiration by Samra
Holly Jolly Christmas challenge - White with one color

Card - Simple Butterflies

I was out shopping on National Scrapbooking Day where many stores were having specials.  I found the Stitched Square Frames by Die-namics designed by My Favorite Things. I've admired these for quite a while and they were on sale so I said Sold!  

I printed a square background of my design in blue and the sentiment in the same color.  I cut the largest frame of the set of three from heavy white card stock.  I mounted it with 3D foam tape.  The butterflies were cut from alcohol ink backgrounds I made a while ago. The dies are the Sizzix Winged Beauties thinlits. They were mounted within the inside of the frame with 3D foam tape. 

Submitting to the following challenges:
Less is More - Colors opposite on color wheel  Orange & blue
Cute Card Thursday - Use a sentiment

Mosaic Monday - Nature

Here's a few photos from my recent walks.  Nature is bursting.
The leaves are starting to show on the trees.  The lilies were on arrangements which had been placed at a cairn in a park near my home. Wreaths has been laid as many people throughout the world mark the Day of Mourning to remember workers killed and injured on the job, the impact on their friends, colleagues and family members, and to recommit themselves to fighting every day for workplace safety.
The female duck had these great rings in water around her.  The reflection is not too bad.  The yellow tulip was in a flower bed on my walk. 

Submitting this to Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage hosted by Judith.

Card - Sunflowers are Yellow Flowers

The home page challenge on CST is yellow flowers.  Sunflowers are my favorite and I have not used this die in a long time.

I cut the Sunflower die by Spellbinder twice, once in gold yellow and another in a deeper yellow.  I found some navy blue gingham checkered designer paper which worked.  I matched the color of the card to one of the sunflowers.  I added a piece of yellow grosgrain ribbon across the designer paper below the flower. Taped it to the back then adhered it to the card front.  I added 3 small navy buttons held in place with Zots.  Punched a navy Stampin Up Scallop Circle then added a navy blue printed 1.25" circle greeting in the centre. 

Cards - Exchange Group

Here are the cards I am sending to the girls on my exchange group.
Card 1 - The card is hot pink to match the designer paper.  I cut a piece of black card stock to leave a large border and adhered it to the card front.  I cut a piece of designer paper into 2 rectangles and glued them at the top and bottom of the black piece.  A Stampin Up greeting on ivory card stock with a black border was adhered in the centre with 3D foam tape. 
Card 2 - Same pink card.  The greeting was adhered to the designer paper.  I placed 2 bands of black card stock across the card wide.  The greeting was then adhered to the left over the black bands with 3D foam tape.

 These are in the mail to you!

Christmas Card Challenge - May - Snowman - Paper Piecing - Tag

Here's my card for the Christmas Card Challenge for May which is Snowman, Paper Piecing and Tag.  

I chose the Tim Holtz Assembly Snowman Bigz die which made the paper piecing very easy.  I selected the background designer paper first.  It's American Crafts - Campy Trails.  I got a real winter feel from this paper so thought it went well with the snowman.  As a background to the tag I placed a piece of cream pearl card stock, cut to leave a large border all the way around. I decided to use the Jumbo Crescent Tag from Sizzix and cut it from the designer paper.  The paper has a warm white in it so I chose a warm white card stock to cut my snowman. The band on the hat is the same cream pearl card stock. Brown for his arms, a deep red for his scarf and orange for his carrot nose. I drew the eyes in with a black marker. I was tempted to put something on his belly but resisted.   I used quick dry glue from Scotch to assemble the pieces of my snowman.  I glued him to the large tag.  I added a soft seam binding in a complimentary color.  The tag was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Have you started your Christmas Card stash?  Today may be a good day.  I hope this card provides some inspiration for you to start or continue.  Leave me a comment if you have started!

How To: Lego Stamp Postioner

I decided that I needed a stamp positioner.  On my travels to thrift shops recently I purchased a small bag of block.  They are not the brand name but they worked well enough.
Place them 2 block high and create a 90 degree angle.  Cut a piece of clear acetate from packaging (good re use). Cut it to a good 90 degree angle.  Then you can follow the instructions to put that stamp exactly where you need it. 

Mosaic Monday - Blues and Greens

Here's a few photos from my recent walks.  The gazebo in the park at the end of the street with blue posts.  The flag at the top of the government buildings against a beautiful Alberta sky.  I thought this blue iron work on a fence was a great color.  The fresh green leaves of the spring bulbs showing up and it is great to see. They were on the public boulevard so someone near must be minding them.  A large hare with the light eyes.  The pink house is painted on the back of a building in the other park.  Pussy willows looking a different kind of fuzzy.

Submitting this to Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage hosted by Judith. 

R2G Christmas Stack Kit - Winter Green

Here's another Ready 2 Go Christmas Stack Kit made with the 6x6 One Sheet Wonder cutting plan and card layouts. 
This time I used a retired Stampin Up DSP called Winter Green.
I chose the stripes as well as this bold floral pattern. I pulled 4 sheets of 12 x 12 which I cut into 6 x 6 pieces.  I decided to not use the set with the Stampin Up credit in the corner and besides I needed a some paper to make my card samples so it was a win win.

I picked Always Artichoke, Soft Sky and Certainly Celery for the card bases.
I chose the Owl Occasions Stamp Set.  The greetings are put on white card stock and cut to 2.75" square.  The greetings are mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.
I chose Sage Shadow for layers on 2 of the kits and Certainly Celery for the other kit as I did not have enough of the Sage Shadow.  Good to have options.  The layers are 3.00" square.  The card stock strips are .5 inch by 5.5 or 4.25 inches.

The cards can be oriented in either wide or tall orientation.  The inserts provided allow the maker to choose.

This kit puts me in good shape for my June Christmas Stack Class.

R2G Christmas Stack Kit - Winter Frost

Here's the next Ready 2 Go Stack Kit designed with the 6x6 inch One Sheet Wonder cutting plan.
For this kit I used the Winter Frost 6x6 DSP pack. the designs I selected are this small snowflake and the other is bolder chain looking design. I choose Pool Party for the cards for this set.  I chose Basic Gray for the greeting, the square and the strip for the snowflake paper and Island Indigo for the bold chain design.  I ran out of Pool Party so I made 1 card in each design with the colors reversed (Basic Gray card with Pool Party layers) for the ornament.

The DSP and the strip were aligned with the fold and then trimmed on the open side as needed. The greeting layer is mounted over the strip with 3D foam tape.
The stamp sets I selected are: Calm Christmas, Keepsake Ornaments with Owl Occasions greeting and Come to Bethlehem. 
You can check out the Season of Style red and green kit here.

One Sheet Wonder - 6 x 6 inch DSP - 3 Cards

I did research a while ago for One Sheet Wonder plans.  For me I had hoped to find the cutting plan and the card layouts to go with it.  There were a few who included both pieces.  I was working on Christmas cards so repetition was okay with me.  My kits are 12 cards so I wanted a cutting plan that produced 3 cards per 6 x 6 sheet. Here's my inspiration posted by Sharon.

I believe the card layouts are very versatile because the cards can be assembled wide or tall.  The designer paper is double sided so you may be able to turn the paper around and get another look.  With the layers all being the same color, it cuts down on the complexity when cutting and stamping.  I suppose if one color would do across DSP designs that would be better.  Maybe black, grey, and some of the neutrals may work for several DSP designs.  I will put that in my thinking cap. 

I'm really happy with how my kits turned out.  I am posting another in the next post.

The greetings are cut to 2.75" with an accent layer of 3 inches. 

R2G Cmas Stack Kit - Season of Style

I've been working on card kits for my Christmas Stack class on June 8, 2015.  I designed these cards on a One Sheet Wonder of designer paper.  I will post the details in the next post.

On this set of cards I used the Stampin Up Season of Style 4x6 DSP Pack. I used the Cherry Cobbler stripe and the large white dots on Crumb Cake.
I chose 3 different images and greetings. The greeting, the square behind the Window Frame die cut and the images on the Window Frame are all the same color.  On the red I put Always Artichoke layers and on the Crumb Cake I used Basic Black layers. The strips of card stock are half an inch wide.












I chose Cherry Cobbler/Bravo Burgundy, Night of Navy/Not Quite Navy, and Early Espresso/True Thyme for the cards.

The stamp sets I selected are: Calm Christmas, Keepsake Ornaments with Owl Occasions greeting and Come to Bethlehem.  I'm really happy with the set and the concept.  I will use it again.  I've used another set of DSP so check the next couple posts.

Cards - Christmas Trio

This set of cards was my first sample for a technique I am working on for Ready 2 Go card kits.  More about that in a later post.

The greetings are from Stampin Up - Come to Bethlehem, Calm Christmas, Snowflake Soiree and Owl Occasions.  I used a light blue card with a star designer paper.  I added a .75 inch strip across the centre. Diecut with Deco Label and Window Frame framelits.