Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Fall Flower Silhouettes

It seems like Fall is ages away.  Don't get me wrong, I love Summer, but I've had enough of the days of 90+ degree temperatures lately.  I'd love a few days of 70s and 80s, but I'm not quite ready for Fall and the associated constantly cooling temperatures.

The color combination I used on this card screams Fall to me.  At first I thought of making a Halloween card, but I decided to stretch myself a little and use it in a non-Fall way.  I chose the Summer Silhouettes set, seeing as I just started using it this past week and I'm having fun making card samples with it.  These two colors--Pumpkin Pie and Wild Wasabi are this week's Dynamic Duos.  I stamped my garden and then added the greeting from the Sweet Essentials set.  My white layer is punched on the right side with the scallop edge punch and is mounted on a piece of Pumpkin Pie Patterns Designer Series Paper (from the Brights stack).  I tied some stitched Wild Wasabi grosgrain ribbon around that layer and then mounted everything on my Pumpkin Pie card base.


Monday, August 6, 2012

Triplet Trio Sailboats

A friend of mine just had triplets!  She has three girls and now has evened out her family with three new baby boys.  I decided that I need add some triplet cards to my idea gallery so this is my first.Have you ever needed a triplet baby card?  I haven't until now.  I'm hoping to make more so that I can give her a stack of cards that she can use as well, so when I get those done I'll be posting more of them.  

I used the sailboat from the Moving Forward set and the "hello, baby" from the Baby Bundle set.  The greeting is stamped on white card stock and then punched out with the smallest banner from the bitty banners framelits.  I layered each of those banners on the coordinating color of card stock cut with the bigger banner framelits on my big shot.  I chose my colors of Real Red, Summer Starfruit, and Marina Mist since they are this week's color challenge over at Pals Paper Arts.  My three background papers are from the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stacks (Brights, 2012 In Colors, and Subtles stacks) and are layered on a white card base.

StarfruitMarinaRealRed

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Pink and Simple



I'm finding that a lot of my cards lately need a lot of layers, so it was refreshing to find this sketch from Retro Sketches.  I wanted to keep my card clean and simple, so I picked a pink and white color scheme.  It's a little hard to see in the photo, but between the ribbons I have a row of stamped flowers (that match the centers of the punched flowers).  The flower comes from the Summer Silhouettes stamp set and the greeting is from Sweet Essentials.  I used pretty in pink stitched grosgrain ribbon and layered flowers from my new sizzlits die in my Big Shot.





Saturday, August 4, 2012

Friends and Flowers

Banners, pennants, and labels seem to be all the rage lately in card making.  I love all of the fun new products that have been released lately to keep up with this fun trend.  I combined a couple of those trends on this card with my banner and the label.  I'm enjoying not always using a rectangle for my stamped layer on cards (the labels framelits are a great change).  I made this card using the sketch from the newest sketch challenge over at Stamping 411.  My focal image is stamped with the Summer Silhouettes stamp set and the greeting is from Sweet Essentials, both of which are new Stampin' Up! sets.  The flowers, greenery, and stems are each individual stamps, which make it fun to "grow" the garden.  I cut the layer out with one of my framelits dies on the Big shot.  I used a colorful piece of Designer Series Paper from the Summer Smooches pack for my banner and layered it on Rich Razzleberry.  My base layer is Tempting Turquoise patterns dsp mounted on the same color card stock. 

Friday, August 3, 2012

Raspberry Bloom and Butterfly

Are you hooked on the new In Colors yet?  I love them all!  This card features Raspberry Ripple.  It's so rich and vibrant and works well for so many occasions and types of cards.  Lots of layers and a monochromatic color scheme make up this card.  I stamped the flower from the Summer Silhouettes set, layered it on Raspberry card stock and tied some of the new stitched satin ribbon around it, and layered that on white so that it would stand out.  I mounted this with Stampin' Dimensionals over the layer of Raspberry card stock textured with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder mounted on white.  My card base uses the patterns designer series paper on top of Raspberry card stock.  To finish it off, I stamped the Thank You from Stampin' Up!'s Sassy Salutations set in Basic Black and added a small butterfly from the new Papillon Potpourri set.  Thanks Just Add Ink for the sketch challenge for this fun card!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

In Color Summer Silhouettes

I'm a bit behind on stamping and blogging, but I'm trying to catch up.  Last week my Stampin' Up! order came and I'm excited to start using the new stamps and ribbons that I ordered.  Two of the new sets are Sweet Essentials and Summer Silhouettes, which I used in this card.  Sweet Essentials is a great word set that has a variety of greetings in a simple, and not too bold, font.  I chose the "friends" stamp for this card.  I love how you can build a garden with the Summer Silhouettes set, so that's what I did with Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, and Raspberry Ripple.  These colors are the color challenge at Stampin' Royalty right now.  I used my petals-a-plenty embossing folder on the gumball green card stock and then mounted it on white before mounting it on my favorite patterns dsp (the In Color stack) and finally onto a raspberry card base.  I also wanted to use my new ribbon, so I tied a bit of the raspberry ripple stitched satin ribbon around my main layer.  I really like these colors together, they are so rich and so pretty!




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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Simple Silhouettes

Here's a card with the new Summer Silhouettes stamp set.  I used Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, and Always Artichoke Ink for my stamped images. I layered the stamped images on Always Artichoke and River Rock (to help tone down the Summer Starfruit) and then layered it all on a strip of artichoke DSP.  I wanted to keep this card simple so I tied a piece of Raspberry Ripple stitched satin ribbon around it and called it finished.  I like to have some cards on hand that are without words so that I can use them for any occasion or as a just because card.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Embellished Events Circles and Cake

Circles seem to be my thing lately.  I've combined four different circles on this card--The 2-1/2" circle punch, the circles on the Pumpkin Pie paper from the Polka-Dot Parade DSP pack, the polka-dots on the Daffodil Delight paper from the Polka-Dot Parade DSP pack, and finally the textured polka dots from the embossing folder I used on my card base.  I layered the designer series paper onto white card stock so that it stands out more from the next layer.  I tied some white stitched grosgrain around the pumpkin layer and punched the daffodil layer with the scalloped edge punch.  I chose Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight as my colors--I love how vivid and fun these three colors are together.  My stamps are both from the Embellished Events stamp set.  I wanted my cake to have a multi-colored look, so I colored it with the cake with my Stampin' Write markers.  The greeting is punched with the oval and scalloped oval punch and the cake is punched with the 2-1/2" circle and both are mounted with Stampin' Dimensionals. Pin It

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Baby Blues Sailboat

I think the sailboat image in the Stampin' Up! Moving Forward set is perfect for baby boy cards!  I wanted to participate in the current sketch challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches, so I paired this set with two of the 2011-2013 In Colors--Pool Party and Island Indigo.  I stamped my sailboat in Island Indigo Ink and then punched it out with the 2-1/2" circle punch.  Do you have a 2-1/2" circle punch?  I'm finding that it is a staple that I've been using a ton lately!  I added a 3" square of patterns dsp from the In Color collection, layered it on white and then Island Indigo, then tied some Pool Party seam binding ribbon around it.  I stamped the greeting (that comes from Stampin' Up!'s A Word for You set) with Island Indigo ink on my Pool Party card base, then ran the front of the card through my Big Shot with the polka dot textured impressions folder.  It's a pretty quick and simple card, but that's what I need around here.  I'm one who realizes I need a card just before I run out the door to a baby shower or other event!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Birthday Pinwheel Layers

This is another card that we made at my stamp class just over a week ago.  The tool that this card showcases is the Color Spritzer (which splatters ink off a marker--in this case a Basic Gray Stampin' Write marker).  We used the same triple time technique that I used on this card.  The pinwheel comes from the Stampin' Up! Sweets for the Sweet set and is stamped in Daffodil Deight and Tempting Turquoise.  The Happy Birthday stamps is from the hostess set called Wacky Wishes.   I tied a bit of daffodil delight stitched grosgrain ribbon around the top layer and mounted all of the white layers on Tempting Turquoise card stock.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Layered Tulips and Blossoms

I've posted a couple of samples with the triple layered technique, but I decided to put a different spin on things.  For this card, I took a strip of card stock and stuck it to the middle of a larger piece and then did the stamping.  That way, the images line up where the layers meet.  Once I stamped it, I took the layer back off and then mounted it and the bottom layer on some Midnight Muse card stock.  I used the Bright Blossoms stamp set with some of the current In Colors (Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, and Midnight Muse).  I stamped the greeting and punched it with the oval punch and layered it on the decorative label punch.  Finally, I wrapped a bit of gumball green 3/8" stitched ribbon around the layers before mounting it all on the Raspberry Ripple card base. 

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Joy and Good Cheer

The pack of Designer Series Paper called Be of Good Cheer is such a fun assortment of paper.  I used three different patterns from it for the background on this card.  Earlier this week I made another card with this same color scheme--Very Vanilla, Gumball Green, and Cherry Cobbler. This time, I wanted to use it for a Christmas card.  Gumball Green is such a great Christmas Color and just an all around good green.  I chose Stampin' Up!'s Delightful Decorations set for my stamped images and punched them on Very Vanilla card stock then punched them out with the 3-/4" and 2-1/2" circle punches.  I layered the small one on a piece of gumball green card stock that I punched with the 1" circle punch.  All of my circles are mounted with Stampin' Dimensionals so that they are raised just a bit off the card.  Finally, I tied a bow with the 3/8" stitched Gumball Green ribbon and stuck it down with a mini glue dot.  This card layout was inspired by this week's Mojo Monday challenge.  Merry Christmas in July--there are only 5 months until Christmas :)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Double Layer Cake

I love Summer!  Okay, I'm not crazy about the 100 degree days that we have, but I love the more carefree feeling and the long days and warm nights.  I find that when I'm stamping in the Summer, I have a tendency to use bright colors, which are my favorite!  I chose bright colors for this birthday card--Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight.  I used my Chevron Textured Impressions embossing folder on my card base then layered some pumpkin stripes dsp (from the brights patterns dsp stack) and the daffodil polka dot (from the Polka-Dot Parade dsp pack) on top of the base.  My stamped images all come from the Topsy-Turvy Celebration stamp set.  I cut out the flowers to stick on the cake and then continued the flower theme with the Boho Blossoms punch (with brads in the center).  My layout was inspired by this week's Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge.  

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Cheery Cherry Tulips

I am in love with the cute little tulip from the Bright Blossom stamp set.  Most of the samples that I've seen with this set use bright colors to match the Summer Smooches paper, so I decided to try something a little different.  When I saw last week's color challenge over at splitcoast, I decided to not use it for a Christmas card, but instead use it with this fun set.  The colors are Very Vanilla (card stock), Gumball Green, and Cherry Cobbler.  I used the fabulous new Be of Good Cheer pack of designer series paper and picked a few patterns from it that didn't necessarily scream Christmas.  I added a piece of Cherry Cobbler scalloped polka dot ribbon and then layered the greeting punched with the oval punch onto a piece of cherry cobbler card stock punched with the designer label punch.  I used a few Stampin' Dimensionals on the label so that it stands up a little to finish off the card.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Primary Colored Pinwheels

I find that most of the cards I design have pinks, purples, ribbons, etc.--all things that make them more feminine (or "girly").  That's probably the case because: (1) I am a girl, (2) my first child was a girl, and (3) a LOT of stamps and craft products are designed for girls.  I've tried to be better lately about using colors and products that can be used for girls and boys, or even just boys since I have fewer masculine cards on hand.  I've also realized that a lot of those who attend my classes have boys and they want cards they can use, and, now I have a little boy and I need to make things that work for him as well.

I love this background paper from the Summer Smooches product suite.  I love how colorful it is, and how you can pick out just a few colors from it and make a fun, bright card (I used the primary colors: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, and Pacific Point).  I choose this layout from this week's Stamping 411 sketch challenge.  I've been using my 2-1/2" circle punch a lot lately--I love how the stamps fill the circle and how the shape really adds to the card.  I used my Sweets for the Sweet set for the pinwheels, the Itty Bitty Banners set for the greeting , and the bitty banners framelits to punch out the greeting in my Big Shot.  I also used the Big Shot to add the Chevron detail to the Pacific Point card stock--I just LOVE those embossing folders!  I added a strip of Daffodil Delight along the designer series paper and I punched it with the scallop edge punch.  Finally I added a very thin layer of white card stock and mounted everything on my Daffodil Delight card base.  I can't wait to use more of that Summer Smooches designer series paper and pick out different colors and see what look I can achieve.  Thanks for visiting!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Best of Simple Spritzed

Here's another card that we made at my card class last week.  I wanted to showcase the new Stampin' Spritzers, so we used them to create a simple background.  This is a super quick card to put together.  I filled my spritzers with alcohol and a few drops of reinker (the alcohol dries a lot quicker than water).  Colors are Summer Starfruit and Pacific Point and stamps are from the Best of Everything set.  We spritzed each color once on a white piece of cardstock.  Once that is dry (usually just a matter of seconds), stamp the flowers and greeting on in Pacific Point, layer on s piece of the Pacific Point card stock, add a bit of stitched grosgrain ribbon, and mount on the card base.  Quick, simple, with a literal splash of color thanks to the Stampin' Spritzers.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Bright Coral Blossoms

Today I mounted my new Bright Blossoms stamp set.  I love the style of the petite flowers and I'm excited to spend more time using it.  This is the first card that I've made with it.  I decided to combine using this new set with the color combo challenge over at Just Add Ink.  I decided to combine black and white with Calypso Coral.  I cut the three layers and temporarily adhered them together so that I could stamp on all of them at the same time.  After stamping, I used my color spritzer and speckled coral all over it.  My greeting comes from the A Word for You set and is also stamped in black.  Once things were speckled, I took the layers off and layered them onto pieces of Calypso Coral Cardstock (that were each 1/4" bigger than the white pieces).  Since I made my card the standard card size and my layers are squares, I filled in the extra space at the bottom with some patterns designer series paper.  To finish it all off, I added a piece of 1/8" black taffeta ribbon.  Have you tried a color challenge lately?

JAI Badge 2011HONORABLE MENTION!

Friday, July 20, 2012

In Color Circle Circus

Last night I offered a stamping class at my home and the theme was tools and techniques.  I wanted to give my customers a chance to try out some of the fun new products in Stampin' Up!'s catalog.  This card is a simple card to make and it showcases the new paper piercing templates.  It is a little hard to see, but around the thank you decorative label punch is a pierced border the same shape as the punch.  I used the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack which has templates for piercing circles, shapes (several that match punches), borders, etc.  The stamped layer uses the Circle Circus set--an oldie but a goodie.  I opted to use this set and this color palette so that this card can be used for both women and men.  The colors are all this year's In Colors: Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, and Midnight Muse.  I love how these four colors go together for a bright and fun combination.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Triple Layered Thanks

Do you recognize this card?  If you do, it's because you saw one almost identical to it that I posted yesterday.  Isn't it fun how a color change makes such a difference?  I just changed the layered card stock color so that this time the white is all mounted on Pink Pirouette.  I again used Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, and Baja Breeze ink with the Raining Flowers set (and Sassy Salutations for the greeting).  I'm always in need of a thank you card--and I really should write them more often. 

I cut all of my white card stock pieces 4x5-1/4, 3x4-1/4, and 2x3-1/4 and used a bit of adhesive to hold them together on top of each other.  I stamped my images and then used the Color Spritzer tool and Basic Gray marker to get some gray speckles all around.  Once I did that, I pulled the pieces apart and then layered them onto the Pink Pirouette card stock (8-1/2x5-1/2 card base, then 3-1/4"x4-1/2, and 2-1/4x3-12).  It may sound a little complicated, but it's actually pretty easy.  Just cut each layer 1 inch smaller than the other.  I think I'll try out some different sizes sometime.  Before I glued everything together, I tied a little Basic Gray stitched grosgrain around the first two layers to tie in the gray Thank You (from Sassy Salutations) and the gray speckles.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Raining Thanks

I decided to take a little break from using my new stamps and pull out my Raining Flowers set that I have neglected lately.  I wanted a card that had flowers randomly all over the place, and this was the perfect set.  I also wanted to make a card for this week's Dynamic Duos challenge, which is to use Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze.  I love trying out all of these new color combos.  Baja Breeze has been getting a lot more of my attention lately since it coordinates so well with the new In Colors as well as so many other colors.

Earlier this week I came across this fabulous card made by Angie Leach and I just had to try out this triple layout.  I love how stampers around the world share their ideas online so that we can all learn from and inspire each other!  I cut all of my white card stock pieces 4x5-1/4, 3x4-1/4, and 2x3-1/4 and used a bit of adhesive to hold them together on top of each other.  Then I stamped my images and then used the Color Spritzer tool and Basic Gray marker to get some gray speckles all around.  Once I did that, I pulled the pieces apart and then layered them onto the Baja Breeze card stock (8-1/2x5-1/2 card base, then 3-1/4"x4-1/2, and 2-1/4x3-12).  It may sound a little complicated, but it's actually pretty easy.  Just cut each layer 1 inch smaller than the other.  I think I'll try out some different sizes sometime.  Before I glued everything together, I tied a little Basic Gray stitched grosgrain around the first two layers to tie in the gray Thank You (from Sassy Salutations) and the gray speckles.  Have you tried a technique like this before?  I love how the flower pattern continues through the layers, but it is visually more interesting than just a flowered background.  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Sometimes the most important part of a card is what it says.  One of the first things I did with my Sassy Salutations set was to make some cards with the words and no other stamps.  I love the style of writing on this set, it works so well as the main focus of the card.  I think it also looks great in repetition like I did here.  This week's challenge over at The Paper Players is Wordsmith, so I thought it fitting to say thank you over and over again on this card.

I used Calypso coral, Daffodil Delight, and Lucky Limeade for my color scheme here.  The card base and the flower (punched with the blossom punch) are both textured with the petals-a-plenty textured impressions embossing folder.  I made the center with the 3/4" circle punch and put a printed In Color designer brad through the center.  The leaves are punched with the blossom petals xl punch.  I adhered the flower to my card with a Stampin' Dimensional so that it popped up a bit.


This week is Stampin' Up!'s annual convention, and I was sad that I couldn't make it this year, but a great friend of mine is taking some of my cards to swap.  I can't wait to see what fun ideas she comes back with.  I did a bit simpler version of this card for one of my swaps, so I hope the other swappers like it.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Celebrate Birthdays

I realized last night that I needed to make a birthday card for a dear friend (who shares my birthday) and get it in today's mail.  So, I decided it would be fun to use the current sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and combine it with my need for the birthday card.  I turned the sketch vertically so that it would fit my cake stack that I made with the Stampin' Up! set Topsy-Turvy Celebration.  I just love how I can make multi-colored cake stacks of various sizes with that set.  I have it in clear mount so that I can easily place one layer on top of another.  For this card, I combined Daffodil Delight with the new Raspberry Ripple.  I textured the bottom layer of Raspberry with the polka dot textured impressions folder.  I added some striped dsp from the current In Color Patterns stack and placed that on top of a strip of white card stock punched with the scalloped edge punch.  My yellow polka dots come from the Polka Dot Party designer series paper and have a bit of white stitched grosgrain tied just above.  I'd better go get this card in the mail now.  Happy Birthday Connie and to any others out there who have their birthday coming up!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Watercolored Reason to Smile

While I had my watercolor wonder crayons out for yesterday's card, I decided that assorted daisies would make a fun card.  I love bright gerbera daisies, they remind me of my wedding almost 10 years ago!  My flowers were assorted bright flowers, but the most prominent of those flowers were bold gerbera daisies. 

I stamped the daisy from the Reason to Smile several times as well as the congrats stamp from Sassy Salutations with my Basic Black ink pad.  I then scribbled some color from the brights collection of watercolor wonder crayons over the flowers and then blended the color with my aquapainter.  I layered this onto black and then onto my Regal Rose card base.  This is a simple card with just a couple of layers, but I think it turned out fun.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Reason to Smile Solo Daisy

Here's another idea with the promotional Reason to Smile set.  I've made a bunch of different cards with this set, but all have just used ink pads for the color (something that I do a lot of).  This time I decided to pull out my watercolor wonder crayons and aquapainter and give those a try again.  I really do like the watercolor wonder crayons, I just find that the majority of my stamps are bold and don't need to be colored in. Anyway, I stamped the daisy in black and then watercolored it, adding a little bit of very watered down blue around the edges of the stamp for a bit of a shadow.  I layered it onto Marina Mist and tied some black 1/8" taffeta ribbon around it, then layered it onto some black card stock.  The blue designer series paper comes from the Polka Dot Parade pack and is layered on some white that I punched with the scallop edge punch.  Finally, everything is mounted on my Wild Wasabi card base that I (surprise) textured with the polka dot embossing folder.  Have you watercolored lately?

Friday, July 13, 2012

Black and Red Wedding

I found this fun card sketch layout over at splitcoast (it's this week's sketch challenge) and decided that I needed to play along.  I haven't made a card with a triangle in the background, so I decided that I should try it.  I knew I wanted to use some designer series paper, but the problem was that I didn't want to chop it up into odd angles and waste any.  My solution was to pick some paper that I could use both sides of, so that is what I did.  I grabbed a piece of red dsp from the Polka Dot Parade pack and started cutting.  I flipped the two corners over and swapped them places so that they fit back together for my background.  I love this pack of paper and I also love that the two patterns coordinate well together.  Since this paper dictated my colors, I decided to add some black and make it a wedding card.  I thought it was kind of strange to have a black cake, but it is what worked with this card, it also seems like cakes are done up in any color these days, so maybe black and red isn't too over the top.  My cake comes from Topsy-Turvy Celebration and the Congrats comes from Sassy Salutations.  Can you tell that I really like those two sets together?  To finish off the card, I added a bit of 1/8" black taffeta ribbon.  Have you made a triangle backgound before?

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Crumb Cake Bicycle

This week's color challenge on Splitcoast is to make a card using Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, and the new Raspberry Ripple.  I like how these color challenges keep me out of a rut and help me come up with fresh new cards.  I textured my card base (something that I'm doing a lot of lately) with the polka dot embossing folder.  I added a layer of patterns dsp in Raspberry Ripple mounted on a strip of the same color card stock.  My bicycle is from the Moving Forward set and is stamped in Crumb Cake with Raspberry flowers in the basket and has a bit of patterns dsp in Pink Pirouette below it and is layered on Raspberry and Pink Pirouette card stock.  I added a couple banners cut with the bitty banners framelits (for the Big Shot) and tied a bit of white stitched grosgrain ribbon around the first couple layers.  I love that stitched grosgrain and I think I need it in about every color--I'll be adding some to my order tomorrow :)  The greeting comes from Sassy Salutations and is stamped in Raspberry Ripple.  Have you tried a color challenge yet?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Duo Cake Take 2

I find that most of my cards are more feminine (or "girly") and I try to come up with options at my classes for more boy cards.  A few weeks ago we made this card at my class, but I offered it in this color combo as well.  You can see the recipe and tips on the link for the original card.  The only difference here is that my colors are Pool Party and Basic Gray.  I sure do like the Topsy Turvy Celebration set--those cake stamps are just so fun!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Dynamic Duo Bird

I love getting color inspiration!  Lately, I have been mixing up my colors thanks to a bunch of color challenges.  This card was made for the Dynamic Duos challenge this week.  I've always loved Rich Razzleberry, it is such a fun, bold purple and it works with a lot of different colors.  I have to admit, I haven't always felt the same way about Old Olive.  I've been a demonstrator for 14 years and it's only been in the past few years that Old Olive has gotten regular use with my stamps.  Maybe it's because my old go-to greens were all retired a few years ago, maybe it's because Olive is more of a trendy color, and then maybe it's because I've just gotten out of my comfort zone and have started using it.  I found that it isn't such a bad color after all, in fact, I really like it now.  Funny how out tastes change over the years.

This card is a quick one to stamp--two stamps, that's it!  The layering is what takes the time, which isn't too bad either.  I textured the card base with the polka dot textured impressions embossing folder and then layered some pieces of the Polka Dot Parade designer series paper on card stock.  Under the Razzleberry layer, I stuck two banners from the bitty banners framelits (cut with my Big Shot).  I cut out my stamped layer with my 2-1/2" circle punch and mounted it on top of everything with Stampin' Dimensionals after I tied a bit of white stitched grosgrain around everything.  The bird stamp is from Betsy's Blossoms and the greeting is from Sassy Salutations.  Enjoy!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Summer Cake Stack

Ooooh, these colors just scream Summer!  We're in the midst of hot summer 90+ degree days around here.  These colors are so rich and juicy, they make such a great trio!  They (lucky limeade, calypso coral, and daffodil delight) are the color challenge this week over at The Paper Players.  Thanks for the great color combo!  My calypso coral ink pad has been very neglected until just recently, now it is one of my favorite colors!

For my card, I used the Topsy-Turvy Celebration set and made a 4-layer cake.  Instead of adding the typical candles at the top of the cake, I used the bow stamp from the same set.  I embellished the cake a bit with flowers that I cut out (also from the same set).  The top layer of the cake is actually the same stamp as the next two layers, but I masked off a side of it so that it wouldn't be as wide.  The greeting comes from my fav Sassy Salutations set and I stamped it directly on the patterned paper.  I've combined the Polka Dot Parade designer series paper with my traditional patterns designer series paper for the prints. I added a bit of white card stock that I punched with the scallop edge punch to the daffodil papers.  Lately I've gotten into not having my card base be plain, so I've run this one through my big shot with the polka dot textured impressions folder to pick up on the dot theme on this card.  Hope you enjoy!