This Horse is a Champion...

When I made this card I was thinking of a picture of a prize horse hanging on the wall with his blue ribbon attached to the frame.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP), which is from Epic Day, is supposed to represent the wallpaper.  I know no one would actually have wallpaper like that, it's just my interpretation.

I used my Aqua Painter to color the horse and my Sponge Daubers to color the background.  I chose to make the horse gray because there is Basic Gray in the DSP.  On the inside I stamped the horseshoe and one of the sayings that comes with the Horse Frontier set.  The ribbon is from Blue Ribbon.

I have been having a great time with this set, so expect to see more cards made with this beautiful horse.

TSSC 269 - Serene Silhouettes

Here's my design team sample for the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge (#269).

This card uses two stamp sets - Serene Silhouettes and Papillon Potpourri.  The scallop border was cut with the Tasteful Trim die and Big Shot.  The ribbon is Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon.  I also used the Bitty Butterfly Punch.  Colors:  Midnight Muse, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, and Whisper White.

Here is this week's sketch:

 You can see the other design team samples and link your entry here.  Hope you'll play along this week.

Graduation Card - She Believed She Could

I know most of you are through graduations, but I wanted to  wait until some of the cards and gifts were given before I posted them to my blog so that the surprise wasn't ruined.

Today's card is once again done in Brilliant Blue and Crushed Curry for Garner High School's colors of Blue and Gold.  In May, I did a variation of this card in Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo (not trying to match any school colors), but sent it before I took a picture.

The stamp is from Feel Goods and I think it's great for any female graduate, but especially for an advanced degree or someone who's overcome some difficulties in reaching her goal.  I embossed the words so that they would really stand out on the dark background.  It was a little tricky because the card stock is textured so some of the areas didn't get any ink the first time.  I used my VersaMarker (retired, but you could probably use VersaMark ink and some sort of applicator, like a Q-tip(?), to apply it) to fill in the empty areas and then embossed again.

The flower was cut with the Daisies #2 die (retired) and the Big Shot.  The corners were punched with the Scallop Trim Corner Punch (retired).

Bonus card:  Here's a variation of the graduation card using the Chalkboard Technique that I posted previously.  You can see a few changes - layered on a Naturals Ivory Background, frame cut from Early Espresso Core'dinations and sanded, fewer stamps to accommodate the smaller black piece (chalkboard).  You can see the original card here.

Graduation Gift

My daughter and I decided to make these for graduation presents for her friends.  I saw some similar items on Pinterest and I've gotten candy bouquets before, so this is what we came up with.  It turned out to be a family event with a little help from several people.  It's hard to see, but there are Hershey's Kisses in the bases.

 We etched each girl's first initial on their glass.  It's a little hard to see, but here's a close-up.  We made our own stencils using the Big Shot, Contact Paper, and alphabet dies.

The stamps are from assorted sets:  Word Play, Morning Post Alphabet, Blue Ribbon, and Whimsical Words.  I was wishing I had the Rosette Die as I scored and folded all those rosettes!  I had originally planned to just have the whole glass filled with Kisses, but they wouldn't hold up the inserts.  So, I ended up getting some floral foam (which the tissue is covering).  Then I put the Kisses on top.

They ended up taking longer than I thought they would, but my daughter was pleased with them and her friends all seemed to like them, so it was worth it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  I hope today's post has given you some inspiration.

Graduation Tri-fold Shutter Card

Here is the card I made for my daughter's graduation.  Yes, we gave it to her last week when she graduated.  It just didn't make it to the blog until now.

I chose to make a trifold shutter card because I think they make a very special card and I definitely wanted something extra special for such a big event.

Here is the front of the card.  I made a punch art gown and mortar board.  I tried to copy her graduation attire, but I left off one medal just because I couldn't get it to fit right.

 This card uses lots of retired items, mostly because her school colors are blue and gold.  When Stampin' Up! had the color renovation a few years ago, I hoarded Brilliant Blue because it is a perfect match.

The mortar board is just a square tilted to the side.  I cut the tassel out of card stock and attached it with a retired brad.   The purple cord was made with retired twine which I colored Elegant Eggplant with my Stampin' Write marker.  My hands were very purple afterwards!  I used one of the circles on the Owl Punch to punch the medal from Brushed Gold card stock.

Here are views of the card standing up and open (one from the front and then a top view):

Here's the card open and lying flat so you can see all the panels.  The stamps are from Word Play (retired - "Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams" is perfect for graduation cards),  Designer Typeset Photopolymer (the graduation year - "2013"), Teeny Tiny Wishes ("Happy Graduation" on the bottom of the right panel) and Pure Gumption (all the rest).  The Designer Series Paper is Razzleberry Lemonade (retired).  The right panel is blank to allow for a personal message and signing.

 Here's what a Tri-fold shutter card looks like if instead of opening it according to the cuts and folds you just open it like a regular card (basically fold back the front panel).   You don't really open it this way, but if you decide to try to make one, this view might be helpful in letting you know that everything is laying right.

 I hope you've enjoyed seeing this card.  I spent a lot of time on it and poured a lot of love into it.

TSSC 268 - Open Sea and Epic Day

I'm a day late with my Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge (TSSC) this week.  We just had so much going on with graduation and company that I didn't have time to get it done.  Sorry it's late.

The Designer Series Paper along the bottom is from Epic Day.  I love that DSP with my This and That Journal, but  it's also really nice for cards.  The ship stamp, from Open Sea, is stamped in Basic Gray ink on Pool Party card stock.  Both colors are on the DSP.  The base is Crumb Cake, which is also featured on the Epic Day DSP.

For the strip across the middle, I punched a 1" strip of Early Espresso Core'dinations on both sides with the Scallop Edge Border Punch.  I tried to offset the scallops so that it would look kind of like a rope.  Then I distressed it with my sanding block and my distressing tool.

Here's this week's sketch:

 

You've seen my sample.  Now head over to the TSSC site to link your own entry and see the samples from the rest of the design team.

Happy Father's Day! (Punch Art)

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful fathers out there!

Here is a punch art Father's Day card that we did in my most recent club.  The ladies loved it!  Who doesn't know a man who works with at least the most basic of tools, like the wrenches in this card?

Basic Gray base.  Basic Black layer.  Real Red Top Note die cut run through Big Shot with Stripes Embossing Folder.  Sentiment from Delightful Dozen stamped in Black StazOn on Whisper White and layered on Basic Gray.  Three silver brads.

Wrenches:  Basic Gray  pieces (all sponged around edges):  Rectangle.  1 1/4" Circle Punch - use Word Window for cut out.  Punch smallest flower from Boho Blossoms and then punch 1" Circle around it.

This card was originally posted by Paula.  I saved the link (back when I found this in 2009), but it's no longer valid.  If this is your post and you have more information, I'd love to hear from you so I can do a better job giving you credit.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Sue

Graduation Announcement - My Digital Studio

Hi Stampers.  Tomorrow is graduation day for my oldest daughter.  Here are the announcements I made using My Digital Studio (MDS).

TSSC 267 - Oh, Hello

So I just finally got Oh, Hello and the Ovals Framelits.  I'm not sure why it took me so long, except that I was busy buying so many other things... (lol)

Here is my sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge:

 I had to use retired Designer Series Paper (Floral District) because my new DSP doesn't arrive until Monday afternoon (Oh, Hello!  I do have some -- Epic Day, that I got with my This and That Bundle.  I right this moment remembered it, though.  Guess that's what I get for not putting it where it belongs.).

Here's the sketch for this week:

Head on over to the TSSC site to see the samples from the rest of the design team and to link up your entry.  Hope you'll play along this week!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Sue

Disney - Mickey and Minnie Punch Art Card

I needed a thank you card for some people who love everything Disney.  I found this adorable card made by Sara-Jane at Cards and a Cuppa and had to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) it.

The layers are a little different and my card must be a little smaller (based on the amount of white space around Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse), but otherwise it's pretty much the same.  I believe my card was 6" x 4 1/4" (but that's from memory, since the card's already been sent and I didn't write it down).  Basically, I used one 1 3/4" circle and two 1" circles per mouse.  Minnie's bow was made with one 1/2" circle and two petals from the Five Petal Flower Punch (which, unfortunately, is retired).  Sara-Jane has more details if you want them.

The ribbon is also retired, but I agree with Sara-Jane's assessment that it is just perfect for Disney.  If you don't have it, you could probably substitute Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

I'm glad you stopped by my blog today and I hope you enjoyed this cute, quick card that is perfect for anyone who loves Disney.

MDS Card

Today I'm sharing a card I did in My Digital Studio (MDS).  I have a friend who had a birthday on Monday and, well, I kind of missed it.  So, I turned to MDS to create a card to e-mail her.  If I wasn't already late, I would have printed it and snail mailed it, but with e-mail it could get there right away.

 I started with the Autumn Elements 7 x 5 Greeting Card Designer Template, which is included when you buy the MDS software.  I changed some of the colors to look less like Fall and more like Spring or Summer and I changed the words to a birthday message.

MDS is such a great product, not only for cards, but for scrapbooks, collages, and more.

TSSC 266 Patterned Party

Here is this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge Card.  It uses the retiring Stampin' Up! set, Patterned Party.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Patio Party (retiring, 25% off).  Both are available through today, June 3rd, and then they'll be gone.

 Here is the inside of the card.

 Here is this week's sketch.  Why not head on over to the TSSC site and enter your project?  You can also see the samples by the other design team members.

Here's a little bonus using the same DSP and stamps as my challenge card (and also the retired set, On Your Birthday).  It's the first stair step card I've ever made.  The view is from the top so you can see each section better.  Now that I know how it goes, I think next time I'll add some more to it.

Flower Folds Die Card and Scallop Square Bag

Today I have some projects using the retiring Flower Folds Die.  Remember, tomorrow, Monday, June 3rd, is the last day to order retiring items from Stampin' Up!  Place an order by 6/15 using hostess code WBEAXJTJ for a chance to win the hostess merchandise.  Each $40 in your order gets you an entry.

I made this fun card using my Big Shot and Flower Folds Die (retiring).  I also used one of the new small Scallop Circle Punches and a Designer Buttons - Brights (retiring) for the center.

Here's another flower I made with this great die.  The flower layers are offset instead of layered straight on top of each other.

Here's a bag I made back when these Scallop Square bags were all the rage.  I'm not the best at sewing, but I think it turned out kind of cute and with the Square Scallop Die it was super easy to cut out the squares for the bag.

 Here's a close-up of the flower.  It, too, was super easy to cut with the Big Shot and the Flower Folds Die.  In fact, with the thinner fabric, you can cut multiple pieces at a time.

I think it was before Stampin' Up! sold fabric.  One neat thing about this bag - the material is all post-consumer recycled.  In other words, they were clothes on the way to the landfill because they weren't even in good enough shape to donate.  I just found the parts that were still good and cut them up with my Big Shot.

 And this is just to show you how easy the petals fold up since they are scored.  I couldn't get a good shot, but it almost makes a little cup.  It's pretty cool and has lots of potential for ideas.

But don't forget - this product will be gone after tomorrow (6/3).

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Happy stampin', Sue