Cheers and Sips

Honestly, I had so much fun making these cards last week!  The colors from Celebratory Sips are so vibrant and happy.  And the papers have cute, colorful drinks on them that you can cut out.  :)

For my first card, I cut some green designer papers into strips and mounted them onto the card.  I offset them to give them some visual appeal.  I added a piece of the beautiful Celebratory Sips paper as the focal point.  Then I cut out a couple of "drinks" to add to the card.  

This set does not have to be alcoholic, they can just be lemonade and grape juice drinks.  Here is another version:

For this card, I used a darker colored purple for the background.  I think it makes the images stand out better.  I got the idea for this card online but don't remember where.  (Let me know if it's your card so I can give you credit.)  I love how it came out.  :)

For the second card, I made a couple of slits in the middle of the front of the cardstock so that it opens only in the middle.  The top and bottom layers are glued down.  The papers are so pretty and bright.  What a fun card to make.  :)

This card has a pink lemonade with a little umbrella - how cute is that?  I got the idea for this card from Karen Titus on Pinterest.

The third card is a side fold card, so when you open it you only have room on half of the card to write your sentiment.  The pretty pinks on this card make it a happy card for someone, no matter what their special day may be.

Or just make it a Happy Birthday card to celebrate someone you know.  I stamped the orange and strawberry for the right side of the card and also for the inside.  

The papers are so nice in this set that you don't have to really any drink images.  I ordered more papers so that I can make some more bright cards.  Which card do you like best?

 

Serene Love

Earlier this month, I made 3 cards using the Serene Love designer papers.  They were a special offering from Stampin Up and I got them on the Last Chance list.

For my first card, I made a frame with the papers using a couple of rectangle dies.  I cut out the flowers and added a couple of sprigs to match.  I like to keep the colors to a minimum because I like the cohesive look it gives to the cards.  

The "friend" cut out is from Friends for Life.  I love how it adds to the card!

My next card has a circle cut out with some designer paper taped behind it to create a focal point.  The flowers are fussy cut from the paper and then I added some sprigs from various die cuts to complete the card.  Funny thing is even though it is called "stamping class," there isn't much stamping at all on these cards, just the sayings.

My next card is a horizontal card with some designer paper at the bottom and a fancy die cut row to give it some pizzazz.  The circle is from Spotlight on Nature dies and then I added some sprigs and flowers.  

I love how these cards came out.  There are 2 other colors (navy blue and light green) in the Serene Love paper pack so maybe I'll make some cards using the rest of the papers.  

What do you think of them?  You could pretty much use any flowered papers to make similar cards.  

 

Mixed Florals with Coneflowers

This week I used the new sets, Mixed Florals stamp set along with Mixed Labels for the sayings and Elements of Text for background.  For this first card, I stamped the beautiful coneflower image (one of my favorite flowers) and colored it in with a Q-tip using Copper Clay ink pad.  I wanted a soft, natural look to the my flowers and that's why I used the Q-tip for coloring.

The papers are from Nature's Sweetness, one of last year's specialties.  I love the neutral look of this card and how it turned out.  The die cut is from Nested Essentials die set.  I added Wink of Stella to the flowers and although you can't see it in the photo, it makes them shine.  This card idea is from Teri Allen.  

My next card is made using the coneflower stamp, only this time I colored the flowers and leaves in with Blends markers.  I used the striped paper from the Mixed Media Florals designer pack.  I embossed it using the Timeworn Type folder.  The circle is cut from Spotlight on Nature die and I added a stamped image from Elements of Text, a new online set.  

This card has a delicate spring look to it and I added to my Sympathy card pile.  I saw the idea for this from StampwithRachel.  I added some twine along the side a textured cut out for more interest.  

The third time that I made the card, I used Crumb Cake cardstock for the textured cut out.  It gave the card a more neutral look with less pink.  This card also has Wink of Stella on the flowers.

For my third card, I went with a gray and red color palate.  The designer paper is from Country Lace paper set and image of the tulips is from the same set as the other two cards, Mixed Florals.  The white middle piece is stamped with the saying and then embossed with the Subtle folder.  These flowers have Wink of Stella on them, too.  It's my interpretation of a card from Jolanna Johnstone.  

I enjoyed making each of these cards this week and I just love the Mixed Florals set.  I can see myself making coneflowers in all sorts of colors.  But here a few ideas for you.  

 

Terrific Toadstools

I love to start out the New Year by offering some sort of desk calendar to my stamping friends.  This year I made a little Post-It holder calendar.  You can put a pen or pencil in the space next to the Post-It notes.  I used the Terrific Toadstool papers that are in the Sale-a-Bration catalog and just love their bright colors.

For this cute card using the Terrific Toadstool stamp set, I used some of the designer papers to add bright colors.  Then I stamped and cut out the mushrooms and added them to my card.

The saying, squirrel and bird are from an older set called Friendly Gnomes.  I thought that they would pair nicely with the toadstools.  I got the idea for this card from Jaimie Barbarczy.

Look how colorful this card is!  What a great way to kick off stamp classes in the New Year.  :)

The designer papers from this set are so bright and happy and they make pretty cards.  I added a bright pink circle from Spotlight on Nature dies for a focal point.  I stamped the mushrooms, grass and the little gnome and then cut them out.  

The saying is from an older set called Magical Day.  I could make these cards all day.  

The third card is made using papers from the Terrific Toadstools dsp.  I wanted to show that not all of the cards using this set had to be whimsical or have mushrooms on them.  I stamped the background using a new online work set called Elements of Text.

Then I added a sprig die cut to bring out the purple color a bit more.  A bow, saying and some embellishments finish up the card.  It has a side fold opening for some interest.  

What a great class to start out the New Year - lots of bright, happy colors and fun images to stamp with.  Which card do you like the best?

 

Reindeer Fun and Forever Forest

Finishing up my Christmas cards, I had a class where we featured the Reindeer Fun stamp set.  Every year I buy the sets with deer in them.  I think I see a pattern here!  

For this card, I fussy cut the reindeer image out of the designer papers.  I added him to a couple of circles from Spotlight on Nature dies and then stamped a tree from the set.  I like the little banner of festive lights that comes with this set.  

The card is actually an easel card and the ladies who come to the class were impressed with it.  I got the idea from Janet Phillips.  

I saw this card on Pinterest by Vicki Boucher and I love the neutral colors on it.  The tree die comes with this set and has all kinds of possibilities for a wintery scene.  

I colored in the deer using Stampin blends and cut him out with the coordinating die.  I added some die cut presents to make his scene more festive.  

He is prancing through the forest into his winter wonderland.  It doesn't get much better than this.  :)

This third card looks like a snowy mountain scene.  It reminded me of the tall mountains out west in the Grand Teton Park.  I found the sample online by Su Mohr and knew right away that I wanted to make this card.

The trees are die cut in copper and really stand out against the mountains,.  Both of the die cuts are from Forever Forest.  
 

I plan to use this set again to simulate some of the landscapes that I saw in my National Parks trip this past year.  Everyone loved it.  

Here is a little ornament that I made using a package of wooden cutouts that I had lying around (Ha ha).  I cut out the deer image from the designer papers with the die cut and then cut him 2 more times from plain cardstock.

I mounted the layers together to give the reindeer extra layers of thickness.  It is pretty much made the same way as the card.  

I have been experimenting on adding other designer paper images to the wooden cut-outs.  There are more to come.  LOL