simplestampin-logo3-4

The Feminine version…..

IMG_4134

Happy Saturday and actually this is a super easy card that could easily be called a Simple Saturday Card! You might be hoping over from Mary Fish's blog and if you are ….welcome and this was a "not planned" blog post with Mary and I…..but as we all know sometimes spontaneity just works!

If you follow my blog, on Thursday I did a post very similar to this one but a "masculine" version…click here to see this card! Well….today – this card is one that I sent to Mary along with the box and she asked if she could share….well of course – I am flattered!

IMG_4136

This card comes together in a SNAP with the help of the 1" punch and then the sentiment was heat embossed with Blushing Bride with the classic touch of "pearls" here & there! Remember, little accents like tis can really "perk" up a card!

IMG_4133

I just had to send Mary some "goodies" from me….and I hope that they tasted good going across the country! I adore all of the packing that Stampn' Up! has come out with – click here to see all of the offerings!

This box is great and holds a "sweet spot" to me as it is the perfect brownie box! I decorated it with a sponge dauber and the Whisper White Craft Ink…so fast…so easy….but please let it dry well after you "dot" it up!

IMG_4125

The sky is truly the limit when decorating our boxes and bags! The best tip I can give you ….is "just have fun" This box is the "take out box" that is in the Holiday Catalog!

I follow my Mom's lead…she would say "There is nothing more special than a beautiful package" – I can remember that when I would give her something she would just like to look at the box and "fru-fru" and say, It's just too pretty to open!

135827G

The sentiment POPPED up for the fun to happen! This is from the (appropriately called) Oh My Goodies and it is just one of those great sets to have  – the sentiments are super fun and it is great that you can use our Deco Label Framlits and POOF!!!

134090G

Because I was trying to pull the packaging together with the color I used in the card…I stamped this in 2 colors, the Strawberry Slush and then the Blushing Bride. Our Extra-Large Oval Punch is perfect to POP out the sentiment and then POP it up with Stampin Dimensionals!

IMG_4129

We are so lucky to have soooo many options to have "paper crafting fun" I encourage you to have fun and be creative with doing simple projects! This was pulled together in no time and I think it delivers a fun statement!

Do you remember on Monday that I did the fun Birthday Card for a special young lady that is turning 17? Well, here is her box that I took to her with her card, click here to see the card and then you will see how they are "pulled together"!

IMG_4145

Well…..that's it! Fast …fun and makes a statement! You know that I adore "odd" size cards and you can clearly see with this square card that it is "totally hip to be square"

I hope that this post shows you how a simple thing like "brownies" can be jazzed up in a jif to create a special package! Stampin' Up! has it all…the stamps, the boxes, the ribbon – just have fun!

IMG_4143

I have been very busy with the November Stamp of the Month Club…. only have (4) spots left- Please click here and here  to see the post. True these are a labor of love but I adore that you are starting and completing a project…and having FUN while learning techniques!

You guys are the best and Mary is the best! Enjoy your weekend and remember….

Simple works….Simple is classic…and Simple never let's you down!

Until tomorrow!

 

“Heal” well my friend….

IMG_4159

Woot-Woot….it is Friday and bring on the weekend! I have a friend that just had hip surgery and thought a bit of flowers would be a great pick-me-up! I hope that this card makes you smile as much as I do….just love this stamp set!

This stamp set was totally overlooked by me when the catalog 1st came out and once I "discover it" – I thought…."Silly Susan" – how could you have overlooked that! This is one I call a keeper! It is called Pictogram Punches and just think about changing up the sentiments of this clean and simple card to make it work for so many occasions!

134264G

I realize that we are "knee deep" into Fall and I have used such soft/bright colors but what the heck – it's a card and I know that Ann will love it! This is what I call…."my kind of card"!!!

IMG_4155

This is a card that I hope that you CASE so I am going to make sure that you have all of the scoop on how to make it! Please feel free to email me if you have any specific questions that I have not provided for you!

IMG_4163

  • The card base is an A-2 but folded at the 5 1/2" line to make it a vertical card.
  • The next layer of Whisper White is 4" X 5 1/4" and then run through the Big Shot with the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (wow….just love the effect this simple step makes)

IMG_4163

  • The White piece that I stamped on is 2" X 2 3/4" and then matted just 1/8" larger (that little "peek" gives a big punch)
  • I did use the stamp-a-ma-jig…why???? Cause' I love it and I find it to bring the end result to alignment perfection! (I masked off the stems of the stamp and then cleaned it and then used the brush end of the Pear Pizzazz to stamp again)

IMG_4164

  • I do like to stamp the flower on the stamped image and then I use a piece of scrap paper to stamp and punch them out! I think it gives a polished effect as you can curl up the petals and still see a flower underneath! (hope that makes sense) The colors I used were Soft Sky and Lost Lagoon.
  • I have not been giving the "Designer Series Paper Stack" the attention it deserves lately as our DSP has been fun but this is just sunning! The In Color Paper Stack it the perfect compliment for the card (4" X 1 1/2") and also for the back flap of the envelope.

IMG_4162

  • The sentiment is from the MUST HAVE set, And Many More (the best assortment of sentiments all in one set) I popped it out with the Modern Label Punch and then matted it – love this look!
  • Some POPS with Dimensionals and before cleaning up my stamps….I made the mailman smile with a decorated front!

IMG_4172

Well….did this inspire you? I sure hope so as I just adore this! I think that I might make this card up in all different color schemes and add different sentiments to give as a gift…..I think I might do a Stamp A Stack with this and let the stampers pick different sentiments!

If you live near Maryland, please email me….I would love for you to join me for an event! I am super lucky to be able to use Johns office and he has a PERFECT stampin' spot!

If you do not have these 2 stamp sets, I urge you to click here and order them or easier yet, just click on the pictures below and they will go right into your shopping cart and then Mr. UPS Man will visit you with them!

Please pop back tomorrow as I will share with you a "feminine version" of yesterdays card.…it is fun and oh, so easy and then on Sunday – you do not want to miss a super post on an EASY-PEASY packaging that will make you get "crows feet" from smiling!

Until tomorrow!

Thursday PPA Color Challenge!

IMG_4097

Woot-woot…it is Thursday and that means it is time for a challenge! We were "off" last week because of the way the calendar fell and I am excited to play with these colors today! Will you come play with me and the rest of the Design Team!?!? Please pop over to the Pals Paper Art Website and see all of the great interpretations for this color scheme!

 

Screen shot 2014-11-02 at 1.15.05 PM

 

Before we get to the nuts and bolts of this fun card….I need to tell someone that they won my "Mid-Week"  (not Mid-Life) Blog Candy of a dozen handmade cards made by me! I thank you for your comments and I hope you know how much I enjoyed our "conversations" over the weekend and yesterday…..(drum-roll….)

Index

Woot-Woot to Cathi – Please email me your address and I will make the trek to the Williamsport Post Office for you! Please enjoy and many thanks for your comment!

Screen shot 2014-11-05 at 9.29.12 PM

Screen shot 2014-11-05 at 9.32.36 PM

Now….back to business! Isn't this a fun card? You will see that there is no envelope as I mailed it with a gift to a special friend! This is a layout that I often did when I was a Creative Memories Consultant!

IMG_4103

You know already that I adore odd size cards and this is a 5 1/4" square card! Using the 1" punch makes it easy-peasy to line up the 5 squares! I took a piece of 5" square paper and worked my squares on using the "green glue"….love that wiggle!

IMG_4101

After you get all of the squares completed – you can POP this piece up with Stampin' Dimensionals but before you do this let's add some simple and classic bling!

Using the Mossy Meadow ribbon, I anchored a piece ot the back and then took another piece and tied it. Them, taking some ravels from the burlap ribbon (thank you Jeanie for this tip….I use it ALL THE TIME), I simply laid it on-top of the ribbon and finished it with a knot!

IMG_4100

OOPS…I almost forgot about the sentiment….wowzers – the focal part of the card as this is the message that I am sending! It is from the fabulous set, Bravo and being that it is a photoploymer set….I actually stamped it twice to get a nice dark stamp (sometimes I find when working with Crumb Cake that the paper is more porous and soaks in the ink…..do you ever notice that?)

IMG_4098

One fun card….RIGHT? There are many of you that take on the personal challenge on Mondays so why not try this color challenge? If you do not want to upload it to the PPA site, please just play and have fun!

I am going to share with you a feminine version of this card over the weekend, please pop back and you will see it in a totally different way (guess what – I made a bow!!!!) With that said, how can you not pop back!

Thanks for your precious time and please know that it is as easy as pie to purchase any of these goodies today! You can simply click on the image at the end of the post and POOF – shop from home!

1571501_orig

This above strutin' chicken is Cathi as she is the WINNER-WINNER…..CHICKEN DINNER! Way to go and I adore all of your comments! Dear, wonderful John helped me again and here are the way you all voted!

Coastal Cabana – 39

Baked Brown Sugar – 22

Crisp Cantaloupe – 18

Strawberry Slush – 9

Pistachio Pudding – 7

My pick…well toss up – Strawberry Slush and Baked Brown Sugar!

Until tomorrow….you're the best!

p.s. – for some reason, very, very early in the morning there were (2) of the same posts that went off….please know that I took the (4) comments from that post and put them in the "pot" to win! (They were the 1st 4 that left comments)

 

And the verdict is….

Today is a fun post for me and I hope that you do not find it boring! Sometimes I think that I am too "simplistic" in how I post but to me it is so darn tootin' important for you to learn the basics.

Think about this, when you see a  young Sports Team (think little Middle School – High School) they need the fundamentals and basics to have success….it is the same with what we do!

We are briefly going to go over the weekend "polls" of the questions that we all had fun answering! One thing that made me super happy was the winner of the "Blog Candy"…Abbie, was SUPER excited to win and her cards and they are on their way to Arizona!

Day #1 – In Color Paper:

When I first started with Stampin' Up! , I was invited to a Stamp club and I loved it! I will say that I was not into the "lingo" that was going on around  the table and I will say that it took me about 6 months to figure out what "In Color" was….I know I am being super basic but….

In Color is the "special and limited" color palettes that Stampin' Up! unveils for a 2 year time-frame. This year are the below colors and here is a card that t I made when they 1st were unveiled earlier this year….(you might be seeing this card layout again!!!)

IMG_5868

The overwhelming results were that Blackberry Bliss was your favorite! It is such a deep and rich color! I actually liked all of the In Colors when they were unveiled – I knew that Lost Lagoon was going to be a hit but I could easily see me using Mossy Meadow at the Holidays!

What is the In Color of 2013-2015 that you are going to be the saddest to see leave!?!?!

Remember, the 2013-2015 are:

Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe,

Pistachio Pudding & Coastal Cabana

Please leave me a comment and guess what?!?!?!

 

 

 

YOU CAN WIN MID-WEEK BLOG CANDY…

I will give you 12 of my Handmade Cards and fun envelopes!

I just love our "conversations" thru comments and trust me, I have lots of cards that I would love to share with you so this is a super fun thing for me to do for you !

I already have my answer in my head and I am excited to see if we are on the same page. I think that it is great that Stampin' Up! offers new colors and sometimes if they are super popular, they might add them to the collection!

 

Day #2 – Your favorite Adhesive…

Well this was interesting! Hands down I used the snail when I first started with Stampin' Up! It was easy, predictable, and was very versatile but then I caught the sticky tape bug….just love that red tape adhesive (and I still do) but then everything turned GREEN to me…THE GREEN GLUE…..

When I first used it – I despised it…..it was too darn sticky, it was a HUGE MESS…it clogged up…..a total mess – and then…..I saw the light….

I simply could not be without it….and it is a bargain – just $3.95!  Please do not get me wrong, the 3 adhesives I use most are : The Green Glue, Snail and Sticky Strip! I totally feel the need of Sticky Strip for 3 D projects – always the best choice!

Here are some pictures for you that I think will help you with the amount of Green Glue that works and that does not work….

IMG_4147

IMG_4148

IMG_4149 IMG_4150 IMG_4153

IMG_4154

DAY #3 Stamp Preferences…

If you had a magic wand and all of our stamps came in all 3….Photopolymer, Clear Mount and Wood Mount…which one would you prefer?!?!?!

The choice was very, very interesting again to me! The photopolymer was a huge hit ! I have to admit, I purchased the very first one that Stampin' Up! came out with and I totally DID NOT like it. It actually took me a while to order another one and now I admit, I love them!

I totally "hear" all of the comments about the fact that they do not like the way they stain…(I agree, as the "type A" in me flairs up) but I have learned to live with that! It truly does not effect the way they stamp…they just look dirty!

The majority of my stamps are the clear mount! I find them super easy for storage and I think that the "key" factor in keeping them to stick is to not only keep the blocks clean (I use Dawn Detergent about once a month) and dry them very well and then also make sure that the tops of the stamps are clean from your fingerprints! (sometimes it is helpful to keep some alcohol swabs handy so you can keep the tops clean.)

I will say, If I have a choice for LARGE stamps…I do like the Wood Mount…..I just feel like I can get a good grip! There were many comments that people feel that they can get a good grip on the wood mount and I can see their point…I think it all comes down to preference and isn't it great that Stampin' Up! gives us that opportunity to choose?

Now to the Mid Week Blog Candy…..

So bring it to a close…the question for you to have the chance to win 12 handmade cards from me is…..sorry that I do not have a picture for you…but by now – you know me  – I will "hand pick" you 12 beautiful cards that I have made…just leave me a comment!

Images

This has been fun and Iook forward to more fun in the future! Until tomorrow!