Soon To Be Gone...

Here are a couple of cards that highlight some of the retiring items:

The Designer Series Paper (DSP) already retired last year, but you could use one of this year's pretty DSPs. Maybe the retiring Succulent Garden Designer Series Paper which is only $6.60 at 40% off.

The fancy flower border on both cards and the flower and leaves in the bottom card are cut with the Botanical Builder Framelits (50% off, only $16.50). Both the Elegent Butterfly punch and the Bitty Butterfly punch are retiring. Basic Pearls (sold out) and Basic Rhinestones (50% off, $2.50) are on the retiring list, as is the Project Life Corner punch (used on the sentiment and its mat). I believe the embossing folder used on the small butterfly in the top card is also retiring.

The stamp set the sentiment came from has currently slipped my mind. I feel like it's there, but just out of reach. I tried to do some Internet searching, but no luck. Can you name the set? If so, please leave a comment to let me know.

EDIT: Thanks to Karen O'Connell for her comment. The sentiment comes from Rose Wonder.

Creating Pretty Cards – Sketch Challenge #57 Part 1

I decided to play along with this sketch challenge and got a little out of control. I'm going to share 3 of them in this post and 3 in a future post, so you can see lots of ways a sketch can evolve. You can head over to the CPC site and check out more ideas for CPC57.

This was actually the last one I made, but I think it's my favorite. It's much more vibrant in person. I wish I could have captured it in the picture.

 I started with this card. It matches the sketch pretty closely. The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is from the Pretty Petals DSP Stack. The punches are Elegant Butterfly and Bitty Butterfly.

 Then I moved to this card using the Lucky Stars embossing folder and Stars framelits. The DSP is It's My Party and the Washi Tape is the SAB Glitter Washi.

And here's another view of this card. When it's open, you can see I used the framelit on the edge. I lined the inside w/some cardstock that shows through when the card is closed and some DSP that is the same as on the front of the card. DSP is Pretty Petals. Framelits are Botanical Builder.

And here's the sketch that started it all:

Junior Legal Pads

A fellow NC Demo, Denise James, generously gave me a covered junior legal pad that she made for a swap. I thought it was really cool, so I decided to make some of my own. Sorry about the photo quality - but if I wait until I get better pictures it could be a while (which is also why there isn't one of Denise's). I figure it's better to share what I have. I made three styles:

 The butterfly ones use the Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper Stack. The butterflies were cut with the retired Beautiful Butterflies die and the Elegant Butterfly Punch. The big butterflies were also embossed. Just because is from And Many More. The background on the leaf one was stamped with Vintage Leaves. The letters are from Larger Than Life Alphabet and cut with the Circles Framelits. 

Here's the inside of the flower/butterfly ones. The clips were cut out with my Big Shot and the Project Life Paper Clip Thinlits.

 Here's the inside of the leaf one. The saying is from Lighthearted Leaves. The leaf was cut out with my Big Shot and the Leaflets framelits.

This was one of this month's club projects which met this morning and will meet again Tuesday evening. If you're local and would like to make one, contact me by Sunday evening. The class is nearly full, but we can still fit in another.

TSSC 356 - Butterfly Sympathy Card

Here's my design team sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge. Since this card isn't as flowery as most sympathy cards I make, I thought it would be good to send to a man.

Supplies:

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Coastal Cabana, Hello Honey, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper (DSP): Lullaby

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar

Punches: Elegant Butterfly

Big Shot: Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Here's this week's sketch. Use it to inspire you!

You can link your project and see the rest of the design team samples at the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge site. Hope you'll play along this week!

My First Card In A Box

I've wanted to make a Card in a Box for a while and I finally got the chance. I think it turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. You can make this card next week at one of the two classes I'll be having.

 Supplies:

Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri, Petite Petals, Flower Shop, Perfect Pennants

Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Garden Green, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper (DSP): Flower Pot

Ink: Blushing Bride, Crushed Curry, Lost Lagoon, Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango

Punches:  Pansy, Elegant Butterfly

Here's the card laying flat:

 

This is the back, where you can write a message:

If you'd like to learn to make this card, sign up for one of the classes next week. You can see details here. Be sure to reserve your spot because spaces are limited. Hope you can come.

And don't forget, all DSP, including the one used on today's card, is on sale this month. Buy 3 packs DSP and get 1 free.

Butterfly Card

We had a great time this morning at the Stampin' Up! fundraiser I put on for Relay For Life! Special thanks to my friend Karen Kline, who helped with the event.  And thanks to my friend Karen O'Connell, who supplied half the participants. The group was varied in both age and skill level. The teenagers really got into being creative and it was fun to see where that creativity led them. I wish I would have thought to take pictures!

This clean and simple (aka CAS), one layer card was the easiest of the four projects we made. Since the sentiment came from Teeny Tiny Wishes, the participants could choose whichever message they wanted.

We used the Simply Scored tool to make the decorative lines. Then we used the Butterfly Punch to punch butterflies from retired In Color Patterns Pack Designer Series Paper (DSP) and lined them up between the lines.

We used the Note cards and envelopes set for this card, so it is 3.5" x 5". The card is CASEd, but I can't remember where I saw it.

I'll post more of the projects next week, so be sure to check back. And thank, again, to everyone who participated in the Relay For Life fundraiser.

TSSC 308 See Ya Later

This special has ended. Be sure to follow my blog, Facebook, and Twitter to make sure you get notice of the next online only special. JUST ANNOUNCED - My first ever Facebook Flash Sale - 6hrs. only (through 8:00pm ET). See details here.

Here's my design team sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge. Note that the birthday stamp is part of See Ya Later, which is only available as a FREE Sale-a-Bration item through today, 3/31.

 Card Details:

Stamps: See Ya Later, Make A Cake

Cardstock: Raspberry Ripple, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Gray, Gold

Punches: Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly

Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape

Here is this week's sketch. You can see the rest of the design team samples and link your entry at the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge site.

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Hope you'll play along with this week's challenge!

Open House Card

What a great group at my Open House on Friday and Saturday!  Both days were very different - Friday was pretty laid back and Saturday had a crowd.  Both days we had a good time stamping and talking about stamping.  I think everyone went away with some new ideas - including me.

Here's the card that everyone got to make for free.

Stamps:  Feel Goods

Card stock:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

Ink:  Pool Party

Accessories:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Cloudy Day Embossing Folder, Sycamore Street Buttons, Big Shot