Flowers in the Window

This is a card that I should have had on here a month ago, but I just found it under my scrap paper! This was the swap I did for my hostess club's August swap. I am so in love with this new SU set, it's a Level 3 Hostess Set (free for hostesses!!!), called Window Dressing. Basically it is an adorable window with lots of cute images that can go in the window. Too cute. I stamped the window on Natural White paper, and using a craft knife, cut out the window panes. I then used the NEW Scallop Edge Punch to create curtains and added some DSP scraps to make wallpaper. I watercolored in the top 'fan light' window with a little bit of blue. Came out kind of dark in these pictures. I stamped the 3 flower image that also comes in this set, and cut each of them out (took forever, but was worth it!), then I colored them with SU markers, and used a 2-way Glue Pen to glue them in the window. The 'brick' on the house is SU Real Red cardstock dry embossed with a Fiskars plate. The fence is SU Close to Cocoa CS using the Scallop Edge along the top corner. I scored down each panel (between curves) to create wood slats. Added some wood grain with WWC and blender pens. Stamped, colored and cut out the little bird, who also comes in this set, used a glue dot to set him on the fence. Stamped the HB from It's Your Birthday Set, and threaded through some hemp twine, and tied around the fence. I put the whole card front together then glued it to a So Saffron base. Here is a close up of the flowers in the window...
Well, I need a better camera I think for all this detail stuff, but you get the idea. I hope you like this card! Oh, also, the shutters were scored along the 'hinged parts' and they are folded out so they are not laying flat. Lots of dimension on this one! Enjoy... It's a rainy day here AGAIN, so a card that's cheerful should make us all feel better.

A Gift for Grandma

I don't think there's much in this world more special than a Grandma. My grandma's birthday is the day before mine in late Sept. Our entire family (let's see how well this goes...lol!) is vacationing in Hilton Head in early Oct. So, since grandma lives hours away, and we only see her twice a year, I wanted to make something special to give her on the trip for her belated birthday. I made this card using the now retired Porcelain Prints DSP. Not Quite Navy and Mellow Moss were paired with it for this easy, but elegant card for Grandma. It matches her gift below.
This is a squash book that I made for my grandma's gift set! I made the covers out of chipboard coasters, covered them in paper, sanded the edges. I then attached the inside book part to the covers and decorated the front. Here's a view of it open...
The 4 big squares will hold pictures of my sister and I with our babies for my grandmother to forever cherish. She's one of those precious grandma's who is so proud of 'her babies'. The Very Vanilla triangles will hold journaling for me to write the dates of the photos, and little things the kids have been up to this year. Here is a close up of one of the inside panels...
Well, this picture is a little fuzzy, hopefully you still get the idea here. I stamped around the edges of the main photo mats, the edges will show around the pics, and I wanted it pretty! I stamped the word 'joy' on one of those pieces in NQN ink, as that's what her great-grandchildren are to her.

I will also be making a clear glass candy jar filled with her beloved sugar-free peppermints decorated to match this set. I will try to finish that tonight and add some pics of it so you can see.

What do you all think of this gift set I made for grandma??? I hope she loves it, as she is unquestionably the most wonderful woman I have ever met, and she has had such an amazing impact on my life.

Domino Frame

Many of you answered my last poll about what you would like to see on my blog. Home Decor got several votes. Here is the first entry to my blog for home decor! I left the manufacturers photo in the frame so you could see what type of frame I used. This was purchased at Michael's (also known as the M store!), for $1.00! The dominoes are first edged in SU Pastels to add some color. Then they are glued (tricky to get it right, the domino part ends up much bigger than the frame), to the frame using Aileens Quick Drying Tacky Glue. I set a phone book on top of the dominoes until they dried to hold them in place. Once dry, I stamped images and words with Jet Black Stazon. Colored with blender pen and SU Pastels, and permanent markers. Some of the flowers are 'blinged' in the centers for a little sparkle. Will be sealed with matte sealer (after I run out and buy more, I am all out!), probably 3-4 light quick coats. This is my first attempt at this, and I have never worked with dominoes without sanding them first, so it was a little tricky as it's slippery to stamp on. To complete it, I will put in a cute picture of my two little girls together and put it in my almost 4yr olds room, colors in frame are pulled from her comforter. Enjoy!!!

Heartfelt Thanks

Sorry for the bad pic! Usually I shoot outside in daylight, but it's late at night, and I couldn't wait to post the card I made at nap time today! I used the new Pink Pirouette from SU's new In-Colors. Paired with Basic Black and Whisper White, it's very pretty. The only stamp set used was my all-time favorite, Heartfelt Thanks. The black strip down the side looks like ribbon (at least it supposed too LOL!!!, but it's actually a thin scrap of cardstock, one of my favorite cheap tricks! Two of the flowers are cut out and popped up on dimensionals (does SU sell stock in those things???), it adds so much! This card is so simple, yet I think it looks really pretty. I didn't want to over explain such a simple card, but if you have questions, (or comments!) feel free to post, I will always reply!

* Inspiration for this card is from a lady off of SCS! This is NOT my original idea. And I always try to give credit when credit is due! I changed a few things, but loved her card so much, I had to do my own!

Clear Birthday Card

A friend of mine has a birthday this week, so I sat down last night and made her this card! One thing I learned about clear cards, they are HARD to photograph! I propped the envelope behind this card so you didn't see the kitchen through it! This is an acetate card, with layered cardstock held in place with mini glue dots. The front panels hide the inside, and when closed, it looks like there's just tons of layers, but they are spread front and back on each acetate flap to create that illusion. I love this old SU set, I think it was in a Mini Catalog a couple years ago. There are 3 stamps that all say cute things, but look like eye charts! I used the New Scallop Edge Punch on the white layer. I stamped with Mellow Moss, and then in Perfect Plum. Of the Perfect Plum portion, I punched out only the DAY EVER part with the Word Window punch, and lined it with the Mellow Moss stamped image. Popped it up on dimensionals. Super easy card! However, acetate has a mind of it's own, and is not the easiest medium to work with. Hope you like it!

I know I said I was done...but I forgot this one....

This is the card we made at the hostess club this month. The technique was Cracked Glass, and everyone really loved it. This card has more layers than my normal style, but I really like it. The basic layout was inspired by a card I saw on splitcoast. I liked the layers, and decided to change it up and run with it. Colors are Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, and Basic Gray. I love SU Basic Gray, it is just the most beautiful neutral ever. It complements these colors nicely. Aside from the Cracked Glass technique, there is paper piercing in the top left corner, all edges are sponged for depth, we used the Word Window punch to make the corner tabs. Enjoy!

3x3 Box & Card Set

I love this little box! I have it standing on side in the picture so you can see the front. I used the new Fresh Cuts set, and the 5Petal Punch to make the front. Ribbon is run underneath to tie box closed. These little boxes are so easy to whip up and look beautiful when you put your own touch into the embellishing. This was a class my customers took a couple months ago. We made the box, and everything below....
These are the 6 3x3 notecards we made to go into the box. Everyone's turned out so great, and it was a fun class. I really think the matching envelopes just add to the whole project. The make great last minute gifts to have on hand as well. Who doesn't love handmade cards???
This is a close up of my favorite design for the box set. Heartfelt Thanks remains one of my favorite all time sets, and I use it all the time. With the friend stamp from All Holidays, it makes a great, just because you're my friend card. Whew. That's a few posts today. I think I will take a break now. Maybe tonight I can get some more stamping done, to have a few more new things to post soon. Happy Stampin' everyone!

Citrus Set...

Here is a set of cute notecards I made using the Tart n Tangy set! Who can resist this adorable fruit set??? In one stamp alone, you have an orange, a lemon, or a lime. I couldn't decide which I liked better, so I made one of each!!! I also stamped the fruit one time on the bottom corner of the envelopes that go with these. The insides remain blank so these adorable little cards would make wonderful gift tags! Below is the box I made to put these in! I will never make this exact box again, as it took too long, but I like this one! I also made jumbo paperclips to match! I think the paperclips holding the cards in matching envelopes onto a plain gift bag would be just adorable.

Here are the paper clips. The ribbon is all Whisper White, colored with markers to match my fruit! I love how the touch of black on these cards and box really makes the fruit pop! Well, enjoy, and more goodies coming your way!

Icecream Birthday

Well, summer is in full swing, which always makes me think of icecream! A very special little girl is turning 3 this weekend, and I decided she should have a 3-scoop icecream card! This card was very simple to make, I did it on my lap (my craft desk was full) in about 10 minutes. The base of the card is Lovely Lilac. The Whisper White layer was scored on all edges about about 1/4" to have that raised edge. Added pink eyelets to the corners. The icecream scoops are the round scallop punch, with all but 6 of the scallops cut off and rounded. The bottom scalloped edges are sponged in same color for texture. The cone is Creamy Caramel. It's a piece about 3" long by 1 1/4" wide. Simply cut from top outside to bottom middle on both sides for the cone. That is scored to make the texture as well, and sponged with CC ink to pick up the lines. I really loved this card, and I hope you do too! I got the basic idea off of Splitcoast Stampers, then just made it mine.