NC SU Demos Blog Hop - In Colors

Welcome to the NC Demos Blog Hop! We are so glad you are here! You may have just came from Tracie Evans Langley's blog. Wasn't it clever how she used the tissue paper? We used the Challenge Dice to determine this month's theme. This is what we came up with: Theme: Friendship, Style: Clean & Simple - no more than 2 layers, Color Scheme: In Colors, Techniques: Sponging, and Accent/Embellishment: Ribbon or Twine. As I'm typing this, I realize I failed the challenge. I tried to do the challenge from memory and forgot the sponging. Unfortunately, it's too late for me to change now, so I've got to go with what I've got. The funny thing is, I do a lot of sponging, so I can't believe that's what I forgot.

I have always loved grid paper for some reason so when I first saw the 2020–2022 In Color Grid Paper, I knew right away that I wanted to make cards with it. These are the first 2 cards but there will be many more since there's 25 sheets of 11" x 17" paper in the pack. This paper is on the retirement list and is currently 25% off, but remember, retiring items are only available while supplies last.

In case you are unfamiliar with the grid paper, it looks like this. Each sheet has all 5 in colors on it. I added the copyright, per Stampin' Up! policy. It is not on the grid paper itself. I love using grid paper when I stamp to protect my work surface. It's so handy to have the measurements right there and I use the lines to help align my stamps. These sheets are so colorful, they add a little fun to my workspace. Plus, I can use them as a surface for crafting and then as long as I didn't mess them up too much, I can flip them over and have pretty paper to use for making cards. Talk about getting your money's worth!

For my first card I used the Celebrate Sunflowers bundle, which is currently 20% off as part of the Savings are in Bloom promotion. If you need an embossing machine, the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine is also 20% off as part of this promotion, as are several other bundles.

I selected an area of grid paper that included Just Jade and Misty Moonlight and cut it to size. In my head, I think of it as representing the grass and sky. I stamped the large sunflower image on Bumblebee cardstock with Early Espresso ink and then cut it out with the coordinating die. Because the theme is Friendship, I used the sentiment that says, "Know that you are loved," because friends are so important and I want my friends to know I love them. This was stamped on Bumblebee cardstock with Soft Suede ink. I left the Bumblebee cardstock a little longer than needed so I could wrap the Linen Thread around it. I wrapped it 3 times and tied a bow.

Here's how I finished off the inside of the card. This is the small sunflower from the same bundle. I colored directly on the stamp with my Bumblebee and Just Jade Stampin' Write Markers. The 2020-2022 In Color Stampin' Write Markers are also retiring and also discounted.

Here's another card I made with this pretty grid paper. You may have noticed the flowers in the bottom corner of the grid paper sheet. I fancy cut them and then lined the image up with two other colors layered behind it. The bow is from black twine out of the Baker's Twine Essentials Pack. I layered all of it on a Basic Black card base.

For the inside of the card, I layered a piece of Basic White with a strip of Bumblebee grid paper. I used the same sentiment as the other card but another sentiment from the same stamp set, Let's Celebrate You, would also be good because friends deserve to be celebrated.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and letting me share my project with you. Please stop by and see Tina Lesson’s post. I know it will be great!

After you finish the blog hop and you start shopping for supplies to make all the wonderful projects that you've just seen, remember to use hostess code HTKGYMKV when you order if you are my customer. If you don't have a demonstrator yet, please consider selecting me. I love helping people express their creativity through stamping.

Happy Stampin', Sue Root

THIS MONTH’S BLOG HOP LIST

Tina Lesson

Toni Campana

Jo Anne Hewins
FrancesWagner
Tracie Evans Langley

Sue Root - you are here

Celebrate Sunflowers Again

As promised yesterday, here's another card using the wonderful Celebrate Sunflowers bundle. I just love today's sentiment - Know that you are loved. Everyone should hear that message.

This card was CASEd from Australian demonstrator Alice Tomal. For those of you who don't know, CASE means Copy And Share Everything. It can be used as a verb as I've done here. We demonstrators love to share our creativity with others and when we're stumped for an idea are grateful for others who have shared. You don't always have to copy an idea exactly. Sometimes it's a stepping stone to get your own ideas flowing. Either way, I think it's always fun to see what other people create.

Supplies:

Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle: Celebrate Sunflowers stamps and Sunflowers dies

Cardstock: Bumblebee and Whisper White

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock Measurements:

4.25 x 11 Bumblebee – The card opens up rather than to the side with this cut. It is a design choice. 

1 x 2.25 Bumblebee 

3.5 x 3.5 Bumblebee for die cut 

4 x 5.25 Whisper White – 2 pieces, one for the front and one for inside 

I added pearls that I colored with my Blends marker. I used the Dark Daffodil Delight and did 2-3 coats to make it darker. Let dry in between coats and thoroughly before adding to project.

Here's how I finished the inside. Sorry about the shadows. I couldn't seem to avoid them.

And here's a CASE of my CASE. As I mentioned, other's ideas can be a spark for your creativity. I think the first card looks very bright and summery. I changed this one up a bit to seem more like fall. 

For this card, I didn't pop out all the little pieces from the die cut. I sponged the center and also a little bit on the petals to give them some definition.

I hope today's cards have inspired you to create something beautiful. If so, I'd love to see what you make. Please share a picture in the comments or on my facebook page. Happy stamping!

Celebrate Sunflowers

I'm a big fan of the Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle, which includes the Celebrate Sunflowers stamps and Sunflowers dies. Here's a card I designed that we made in my last online class.

Supplies:

Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle: Celebrate Sunflowers stamps and Sunflowers dies

Cardstock: Bumblebee, Old Olive

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock Measurements:

4.25 x 11 Old Olive – You will find it helpful to cut your 8.5 x 11 cardstock in half vertically for this card because it is much easier to line up the sentiment piece when neither side is a fold. 

1 x 4.25 Bumblebee 

3.5 x 3.5 Bumblebee for die cut 

4 x 5.25 Whisper White – this is for the inside

I stamped the background using the large sunflower stamp. The die cut sunflower is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals so it stands out a little more. The strip with the sentiment is flat on the card.

For the inside, I stamped the small sunflower in the bottom, right corner of the Whisper White layer. I always like when dark cards have a white layer inside. It's a nice pop when you open the card, plus it makes it easier to read the message.

Check back tomorrow to see another card using this bundle.