Sweet Cirtus

 For my Stamping Class this week, I chose to use the Sweet Citrus stamp set and die cuts.  I like how the stamped images can be used to make oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and even coconuts!  

The fruits on my first card are supposed to look like Ruby Red grapefruits.  The tag is from Tailored Tags and to that I added the citrus images, some leaves and a few flowers.  

The photo looks a bit bleached out, but the card is really very colorful and bright.  Just so cute.  

Card #2 is an easy fancy fold card.  I started out with Lemon Lime cardstock and found some older gingham papers to match for the front of the card.

I used the Scalloped Contour dies for the focal point and then added some lime slices, leaves and flowers from the stamp set.  I stamped the saying, "Sending you a big squeeze" onto the white panel.

I like to embellish with rhinestones and for this card I found some old lemon lime flower accents that matched just perfectly with this card.  

It's another bright and easy card using the Sweet Citrus set.  :)

I got the idea for this Navy blue card from Yvonne Spikmans on Pinterest.  I love how different it is from what I usually tend to make!  I added a dry embossed piece of Navy blue cardstock to the front of the card and then white embossed the saying directly onto that.  Then I stamped and added more limes! Aren't they just so sweet?  (Get it - sweet?)   This time I stamped the little flowers in Navy blue and added the usual embellishments to complete the card. 

I love how it turned out.  The contrast of the Navy blue and the Lemon Lime colors really make the card pop.

 And last, but not least, I copied the coconut idea from Tami Hewlett from Pinterest.  First I embossed the white cardstock with the Citrus embossing folder and then sponged it with some teal ink.  I wanted it to have an ombre look to it, darker on one side and then getting lighter on the other.

For the white ribbon, I unraveled it a bit on the edges and then added the rinds of the citrus images.  I lightly painted the insides of the coconuts with a paintbrush.  I found that this technique worked better on glossy paper, so the fruit and flowers are stamped on that.

The green sprigs are from the Tropical Chic set that came out a few years ago.  

Are you loving the Sweet Citrus set after seeing my cards?  I loved using this set and thought that the images worked very well for my cards.  What do you think?  

To order the Sweet Citrus set, click here.  

Easter Cards & Magnets

When I first got the Mini Catalog, I wanted to get the Easter set with an image of Jesus in it.  I have a lot of rubber stamps, but I've never had one of Jesus.  

For my cards this week, I paired the Fancy Flora designer papers with Rejoice in Him.  This card is my version of the one in the catalog.  I added the sprig and some cut out flowers from the Queen Bee dies to my card.  The saying is embossed and Jesus is painted using the ink from the stamp pads.  I love the peaceful look of this card.  :)

After I started playing around with the Fancy Flora papers and the image of Jesus, I decided to make some Easter magnets for the ladies in my Bible study.  I have to say that you can't just make one of these!

I tried using different sheets of the designer papers and just loved the looks that they made.  So I made more!

I ended making a whole basket full of them!  I used metallic scraps that were sitting around and some of the cards are embellished in gold and some in silver.  I put the little cards into magnet holders that I had purchased from Christmas Tree Shops.  I love how they turned out.  :)

For my next card, I selected a paper that was a bit brighter.  I paired it with blue cardstock (this is Brilliant Blue, ha ha, a much older color that matched it!).  I also used a piece of gingham paper from the Country Lane pack.  The same sprig is used, cut from a piece of designer paper to complete this look.  You could really put any saying on this card.  It would not have to be for Easter.

Lastly, I made a pocket card using the purple papers from Fancy Flora.  I got the idea for this pocket card from Stamp It Up With Jaimie.  I love the font and sayings in the Rejoice in Him set.  

Country Floral Lane Valentine Cards

 One of the sweet new sets in Stampin Up's mini catalog is called Country Floral Lane.  It features a heart stamp set with a punch and two packages of pretty papers.  I had so much fun coming up with these cards this week.  I just couldn't stop making them!

My first card features designer papers from the Country Gingham set of papers.  I stamped the heart using the Stamparatus so that I could get a good image.  Then I lined up the second stamp which stamps the green leaves and the heart came out so perfect!  I had my stamping ladies use the Stamparatus to get their images stamped and lined up properly.  It was fairly easy.  Then we cut out the heart and used it as a focal point for our card.

I punched the red heart from the designer papers called Country Floral.  The punch that coordinates with this set matches up with the images on the papers.  I added a bow made with Pool Party sheer ribbon.  

As you can see in the photo, there is also a candy/gift card holder.  I put small Hershey's bars in the pocket envelope.  I used an old Sizzix die to make the holder.  Using the pretty papers, it coordinated so well with the card set.  

For the second card, I stamped a couple of sprigs onto the circle focal point from the stamp set, Country Bouquet.  Then I added the punch heart and leaves with dimensionals.  I added a tag with white heat embossing to the card for the saying.  Then I punched a couple more hearts out using the coordinating punch.  This card idea is from Amy Koenders.

This is pretty much the same card, only I used Mint Macaron for the card base and the gingham paper.  I added a cut out heart from the designer paper and added the punched heart and leaves, also.  The saying is from the Full of Love stamp set.  

For my third card, I stamped the sweet owl from the Sale-a-Bration set, Adorable Owls.  I saw the idea to put the mail in his hand on Pinterest.  The mail is cut out from one of the images in the Full of Love stamp set.  I added a couple of punched hearts to the card and the sayings.  I love how it turned out.  :)

This last card opens up at the top to reveal a pocket on the inside of the card to insert a note or a gift card.  Good idea, right?  I saw this idea from Simply Sweet in Ink designs.  The ladies who come to my class loved this card the best.  Maybe because it's a little different.  And who doesn't want a gift card?

I love playing around with this set.  I just need some more time to make more of these pretty cards.  I hope to send some out for Valentine's Day.