Touch of Ink

Touch of Ink is one of the stamp sets offered in the Sale-a-Bration promotion through Stampin Up.  It has pretty nature images and this week, I made 4 cards using the set.  

For this purple card, I used Highland Heather card stock and some gingham paper from last spring. I think anything made with gingham adds a touch of spring to it.  I saw this idea from Jan B on Pinterest.  

Next up is a pretty card made using Petal Pink with embossing in the background.  I added a scalloped cut out layer and then colored in some of the images with Stamping Blends, cut them out and added them on top.  I saw this idea from Martin's Mayhem.  I love how she added the white die cut strip and the white embossed banner for a different look.

For this card, I used the Ombre designer papers from the Sale-a-Bration catalog.  I added the oval focal point and the hummingbird.  He looks a bit psychedelic, don't you think?  I got this idea from Katie Drew.

This last card features paper from the Flower and Field designer paper pack.  I don't usually like to work with dark colors, but I saw this idea from Christy Gridley and decided to try it.  I actually love how it came out.  Different for me, but striking.  It kind of reminds me of a summer night when the fireflies are out.  :)

Four completely different cards, but I like using this set.  

 

Washi Tape Cards

Occasionally, one of my creative friends, Cindy, comes over to create with me.  One day she had stopped over at Michaels and picked up some pretty washi tape.  We decided to make cards using it.  We picked out some blue cardstock to match the washi tape colors and then cut out a heart shape with heart framelits using the Big Shot.

We added washi tape to the card in strips and then tucked that under the heart shape.  The decorative borders on the cards are just washi tape strips.

We even cut out butterflies from the washi tape to use as embellishments.

This card has some acetate under the heart cut-out and some beads and other confetti enclosed in the window to make it a shaker card.

And lastly, we just put washi tape in strips to make this card.  What fun cards we made.  And the best part - making crafts with my friend.  :)

Ah, Still More Summer

 I just love the end of summer when the air gets less humid and the nights get a little cooler.  This time of year I love sunflowers and the mellow yellows and browns.  I saw this card idea by Kathy Beck on Pinterest.  I used the Awesomely Artistic stamp set to make it. 

My next card using the same color scheme is this Happy Day quick-and-easy card.  I used The Perfectly Wrapped stamp set and then stamped and punched out the saying using the 2" circle punch and the 2 3/8" scallop punch.  I colored some pearls with a deep yellow Sharpie marker for the centers of the flowers. 

Which one reminds you more of late summer?

Craftin'

 This past weekend I had a booth at a local Spring Craft Fair.  Funny thing is - I woke up to a very snowy day!  Someone forgot to tell the weather here in NY that it is now supposed to be Spring.

Anyway, for the sale, I made more of the lovely vintage fabric hearts.  Didn't I say that I would love to make more of them? They are so much fun to make.

Start with a fabric heart for the background, add strips of various fabrics like you're making a crazy quilt, add some lace and fancy stitches along the seams.  Then stitch together the heart front to the backing.  Turn and embellish with some fabric yo-yo's and fancy buttons.  I hand-sewed the hanging ribbon to the top at the very end and added a button to cover up the ribbon ends. 

Before the sale, I shopped around at a couple of flea markets and picked up this vintage wire shelf.  I put some of my items on it for a display.  Even the antique linens that I had on display were for sale!

Check out this little vintage jar that I filled with antique spools of thread and embellished with some ribbon and stamping.  Of course the threads were peach, pink, cream and purple! 

I crocheted some face scrubbies in colors to match all of my items so that every item had something to "go with it" in coordinating colors!  The idea paid off when I showed each customer that every item had things to match it.

Little fabric bunnies were in abundance at my table.  I made them in peach, pink, cream and purples.

And what would bunnies be without carrots?  I have been wanting to make these for a couple of years and finally sat down to do it.  I cut out a long triangle, sewed up the two sides, then turned and stuffed them.  Then I gathered the top edge and stitched the oval leaves right into the gather.  I finished them off with a ribbon on the top.  I love how they turned out.

Then I made some epsom salt "bath teas" to go along with the crocheted face scrubbies.  I love to use epsom salts when I take a bath.  I decored them using toppers for the bags in the matching colors.

Remember the fabric flowers from last summer's Boho party?  I added some stamped cards to clip them onto (using all the same colors) and they sold like hotcakes!

My biggest seller was the matching cards.  I sold every card along with a coordinating item. 

And who wouldn't want one of these lovely gifts?

Butterfly Cards

 One of the pretty new things in the Stampin Up Occasions catalog is the Butterflies Thinlets.  For this card I cut out a couple of butterflies, one in Pink and the other in Crumb Cake and layered them to give a shadow to my butterfly.  I also used the new stamp set, Butterfly Basics, which give the card a slight collage look to it.  I saw this pretty card online at Stamp with Sandy. 

When you are using the Butterfly die, be sure to put a piece of wax paper in between the die and the cardstock.  This makes it a lot easier to remove the butterfly pieces.

Another pretty butterfly card that I made using the same stamp set is this, So Sweet of You card.  I used the Gorgeous Grunge set for the background and then added a 3D butterfly, again with cardstock behind it for a shadow.  I saw the idea for this card from Melissa Davies. 

 When I was making the Sending Wishes card, I layered the butterfly pieces two different ways, one with the pink butterfly on top and the other using the Crumb Cake for the top layer.  Which do you like the best?

Coasters Galore! (and Free Giveaway)

After making one coaster project this week into a Post-it note holder, I just had to make more!  They are so quick and easy, and just so cute!  It's like eating a Lay's potato chip, you can't make (eat) just one!  And in my stash, there are 100s of coasters waiting to be made into something!

The designer papers that I used, called Flashback, had smoky gray, real red, pool party and hello honey colors in it (Stampin Up's names for the colors).  So I made the card with the gray and added some red accents to it.  It's hard to tell in the photos, but I cut out a red heart to add as a raindrop.  The butterfly just seemed to tie it all in together.

Then I made MORE of the coasters!  I love the camera-themed paper on the one with the quirky looking bird. 

Here is a pic of a red one that I also made.  Check out the saying- Keep It Real!  Silly, but fun. You can make this easy project for any occasion- birthday parties, showers, gifts for your co-workers, etc.  I put a different colored paper on the back of them and they are reversible, too!

The idea for the coaster project is from Jen Sannes and the card layout is roughly from Narelle Farrugia. 

And, if you leave a comment (by Wed, Aug 6 at 9:00 am EST) letting me which coaster Post-it note holder that you like the best, I will send it to you!  (Debb R, you are the winner!)

Change Up the Color (and Free Giveaway)

I was playing around with the hexagon stamps and punch today and made some cards to send to some of my friends.  They're so easy to make- you don't even have to cut anything out.  Just stamp and punch!  First I started with the (oh, so loved) Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio and Cantalope colors.

I love how it turned out.  A simple and yet trendy card!  Then I wondered what this same card would look like made with different colors.

 I added the sunny Saffron and love how this card looks, too!  Reminds me of a summer day.  :)

Then I tried the Pool Party and love the peaceful, ocean-look that this card has.

Which one do you like the best?  Leave me a comment (before Mon July 7th) and let me know why you like that card the best and I will send you that card to give to one of your friends! 

Loving the New In Colors

I told you that I am loving the new In Colors from Stampin' Up!  This card is made using the Papillon Potpourri (say that 10 times fast!) and the two new coordinating butterfly punches.  I copied the idea from Nancy Amato.

This is one of the cards that we made to commemorate the new catalog that came out this summer.  I usually cut out the pieces for each card or project for the ladies that come over to stamp.  With what they are given, there is always the freedom to make the project in their own way. 

Some ladies (and you know who you are!) are very creative and alter the projects just enough to make them their own.  I love to see their creativity at work! 

Here is another sample of how one of the girls had altered this card.

Cute layout, right?  How would you change up this card to make it "your own?"