Woot-Woot….it is the weekend and I have a cutie for you today and guess what? This layout is one of those “formula types” that I love and try to encourage you to make! WHY? Well, there are a bunch of reasons but the one that comes to mind instantly is…they make card making super easy as all you have to do is find the formula…and adjust your stamp and color combination to whatever stamp set you are working with!
Easy and DONE! As I have blogged…I have become very picky about my purchases as let’s face it….there are soooooo many amazing crafting products out there…… that we just cannot have it all so my shopping the new catalog was very selective!
This stamp set, Accented Blooms is a keeper. I knew the minute I saw it….it would be living on Randall Lane. WHY? Well…..H E L L O….Look at that image…look at that FUN and LARGE “hello and thank you”….look at the sweet sentiments….the price is right and lastly – you see those 2 little stamps – the leaf and the flower….well I have an idea for them! (I think that it will make you smile!!!)
Today I used the Blends to color the image. Blends are the quickest method of coloring for me to do in a jif and when I made this card…I made 6 of them so I simply stamped the images out using the Stamparatus and then colored the image in when I was watching a show that I am kinda hooked on, Shark Tank!
I admit that it drives me kinda bonkers that there is just not one simple click of a button to get the blends….and/or a button to get the new ones that were just released. Oh well….(got that off my chest) – I am asked time and time again….what colors of Blends do I need…and I hold true to my answer – ALL OF THEM!
Hang tight here…..I know that you are thinking – WOW…they are expensive…and YEP, they are an investment but I was asked and I gave my opinion. The reason I say this is…it is such a hard decision to narrow it down as it all depends on the image you are coloring. One thing I will say FOR SURE is….if you are ordering them here and there….always order the combo pack (Blends are on page 205) as you really want the light and the dark of each color.
Now HOLD ON…..I am sure that many of you are thinking …I do not know how to blend!?!? Please do not think of them in this way as true…they DO have the ability to blend seamlessly but think of them just like they sound a LIGHT and a DARK….so…(2) markers in the same family but one is lighter than the other.
The moral of this story is (look at the leaf part of this card)…you cannot go wrong with putting the light color down first (light Granny Apple Green) and then where you have the lines that are on the stamp go over it with the dark one (dark Granny Apple Green) and then guess what? – YOU DID IT….as you become more and more comfortable you will begin to “be that turtle sticking your head out” and experiment with “blending” but we are not even going to go there today!
I always forget to mention this…you know that I am a BIG FAN of the Thick White Card Stock and yep, I do use that for all of my card bases but when I am using the Blends, I prefer to use the Regular White Card Stock to stamp the image on that I am coloring. I think that the thinner weight of the paper takes the markers easier and remember, the bleeding through the back of the paper is TOTALLY OK – that is what happens with alcohol based markers like the Blends are!
Whew…enough jabbering….let’s get to it! I know…I know – I am way too wordy but I am what I am! It is always my goal/intention to make sure you understand and feel comfortable with products. Trust me, I get it as we all learn from trial and error and as anything in life…it takes practice, practice and then more practice! That is exactly why I made so many of these sweet cards….I knew that the more I played with coloring this image, the more likely I would feel comfortable and have a great project!
Click on the below image to take you to all of the offerings!
As always, at the end of my post you will see the line-up of products that I used for the card. I want to remind you about the Buy 3, get 1 Free Designer Series Paper Sale that is going on for the month of July. This DSP that I used for todays card is from the Animal Expedition Paper. Great deal to stack up on the new paper….an instant $11.00 savings!
I love this pattern as it is very versatile but I was also excited to show you a practical card using this DSP Collection. Many at 1st glance think that this is a juvenile/kiddo paper…but as we all know….there are 2 sides to every paper! (ha-ha) I love it that one side is whimsical and then other…a fun clean and classic print!
Here are the dimensions for todays card. As I say with the formulas….I would make the time to make up a card using this formula even if you do not have this specific stamp….true you might need to tweak the measurements to adjust to whatever stamp you are using….but this way you will have PRACTICE (remember that IS that little thing that we need to do in life) and also write down the dimensions you used so you can quickly refer to it in the future!
Without further yada….yada…..
- Card Base is an A-2 (4 1/4″ X 5 1/2″) in the vertical orientation using the thick whisper white cardstock
- The DSP is the same size, 4 1/4″ X 5 1/2″ and it is from the Animal Expedition DSP Collection
- The White stamped image is 3 1/4″ X 4″ from the Regular Weight Whisper White and then stamped in Memento Ink using the Stamparatus to get a good coverage. The stamp used was Accented Blooms. and the punch used to coordinate with this fun stamp set is the Tailored Tag Punch.
- The Calypso Coral piece is 3 3/8″ X 4 1/8″
- The Blueberry Bushel Cardstock is 3 1/2″ X 4 1/4″ and then I ran it through Mr. Big with the Maps Textured Embossing Folder (this is one AMAZING new offering….I am not a fan of this suite but I sure love the DSP and this Embossing Folder)
- I colored the images with The Blends in Granny Apple Green, Pineapple Punch and Calypso Coral
- The accents of the ribbon is from the Pineapple Punch Grosgrain Ribbon and the Nature’s Twine (my FREE offering this month fro qualified orders)
- The envelope….same drill as always, it is super nice to make your mailman smile…..jazz up your envelopes…it DOES make a difference!
There you go my wonderful cyber friends! I do hope that this made you smile….made you look at the fact that it is TOTALLY OK to use your DSP to cover the whole front of a card and then PRESTO…with layers of paper and the texture from the Embossing Folder…BINGO…you have one beautiful card!
Below is this embossing folder! You will be seeing me use it a bunch this catalog…My guess is that many of you BREEZED right by it in the catalog. Please do not overlook the effect a simple embossing folder can give you. They so affordable and make a big impact!
If you are new to my Blog, 1st…WELCOME….but I also do invite you to check out my very generous rewards program that I offer when you place an order with me. Remember…..I too was a customer and I totally “get it” when you have opportunities to get a FREE STAMP! Those 2 words make my heart pitter-patter every time….FREE STAMP!!!!
Have a wonderful weekend and please feel free to email me and leave a comment sharing how you like this formula…..I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE THE DSP……no more hoarding…pull it out and USE IT UP!!! 🙂
Love, love, love it! Beautiful colors and great formula. Blends are so much fun to use. We all need to channel our inner Picasso. Enjoy the day. ?
Love this beautiful card, Susan. Great coloring and this pretty stamp makes it easy to have a stash of these cards on hand. Thanks for the measurements. Enjoy your weekend!
Love it ! I feel like I have just been to a Susan class on CARD DESIGN !!! I have the design paper and the punch but did not get that stamp set so I will do a substitute image ! What did you use those little stamps for that you mentioned ???
Yes, I completely overlooked that EF ! BUT…noticed that you secured the end of your twine on the roll with WASHI !!
Lastly … you can get two Blends for the price of ONE Copic !! I think they are modestly priced .
I will be cutting these pieces this afternoon to have until I can come up with some posies in my stamp stash !!
I will also be PONDERING (as Pooh says ) as to WHAT did you do with those little stamps that you teased us with at the beginning ????? I will reread to see if I missed it !
Love the joyful colors of your card. Your right! I completely overlooked that embossing folder and thought it was a different DSP that I had not noticed. Thanks for another formula card layout. They are all keepers.
LOVE your colors!! I had thought I did not need this set but you are such a good enabler!!!
Oh what a fun, bright and cheery card! This set is high on my wish list and I have the punch already. I thought this was one paper I could do without but now I am rethinking it as I am going to place an order for the 3/1 and think that would be a fun free one to get. I really like the pattern you used. I love the blends and plan on getting a couple more combos with this order. They are fun to use and I don’t care if I do the shading with the light source technical crap – I just like the way they glide on and look so pretty. The color lifter really does work too when I get carried away and color outside the line. As much as I want the Stamparatus – I think it will have to wait as I think I would like more blends and fun stuff first. Yes, it would come in handy for times when I would CASE this card but for now, I will go with the individualistic look on each card. I have 2 other embossing folders I want too – the subtle one and the tufted one. So, this EF will be a maybe purchase later on. As a learning curve for myself and customers – I want to use this set and color with the watercolor pencils (yep, getting the new colors of them) vs. using the blenders.
I sure hope my new ATM and checks come today so I can place my order. I do hope the woman who opened my account places an order too so I have another lady to have some stamping time with. She was really intrigued by the twist and turn card I made her thanking her for helping me with opening an account. I know she is more into scrapbooking and maybe that will help me grow and learn too.
Hey Chris, Not sure how to get in touch with you, but have been thinking about you a lot since hearing about the storm and tornadoes that hit Pella, Marshalltown and Bondurant yesterday. Do hope you, your husband and your dog are safe and that your home was spared from the all the wreckage. Take care. Looking forward to your next response.
Thanks for your concern. The tornado sort of skipped and skirted around the outskirts of town. Then it touched down on the east side of town about 3-4 miles from our house. It hit the Vermeer plant where it destroyed some buildings, employee vehicles etc. Each plant building had a concrete safe house so that was good for all the employees. Mike was at work at Camp Dodge by Des Moines and missed the whole thing. The tornado sirens were blaring. I finally went to the basement when the birds outside were quiet and the wind stopped. Ted wouldn’t gone down but laid on the landing where he could see me. One of the police was outside on the street getting orders to help close the farmer’s Market in the next block and get them to the tornado shelter at the church. He told me to take Teddy to the basement or to the shelter at the church in the next block. We ended up with minimal rain and wind at our house. I am thankful nobody was seriously hurt or killed in any of the tornadoes and storms. Thanks everybody for all your concern, prayers, and thoughts.
Glad to hear you are okay, Chris. I did think of you.
Susan
I love this card!! You always make everything look so easy. I haven’t used this set. I am trying to organize and get my stamps ready to stamp. Organizing them and my cardstock and then ribbon and then my accessories but it takes so long and I work full time. Thanks for sharing!!
Missing you – hope things are well with you.
Ditto to what Linda said. I bet you are helping your daughter settle in since you were in the neighborhood. I know I am dying to hear about all your adventures. Meanwhile, someone hacked into my email and I can’t access it yet.
Missing you as well…