Happy Birthday TWO you!

I had a chance to make some cards this morning and I missed a bunch of wonderful challenges this week. I maximized my card making efforts by combining some of the challenges...

Just Add Ink - JAI41 - Just add BIRTHDAY!
Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL114 - sketch

I also wanted to challenge myself to make some MALE cards because I seem to have a lack of those and I find them the hardest to make!
Here's what I came up with...



For this gray card I gained inspiration from the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. I chose this bracelet to inspire me.
I used textured paper and also textured the stars. I added a scored line and some brads. Here's a close up...




For the black card I wanted to play along with the one layer challenge - OLW26 - to use black, red and white on a one layer card. I hope punches don't disqualify this from being one layer. I wasn't sure.

I changed the scored lines for this one and also added one more brad.



So what did my husband think?.... are they good male cards?....
He said they're ok. He likes the black one better.
AGH - he's so hard to make cards for!

Another snowy day

Actually, it did snow today; however, the title was about the card.
Here's another Christmas card using the snowflakes die.

I used the colors from the challenge today - crumb cake, baja breeze, blushing bride - with the added option of pearls and lace.

The sketch is Fall to Layout 113 from Clean & Simple stamping.

I really like this card and I think it's going to be part of my class on Thursday.

More Christmas cards for the class

Here are the Christmas cards I made today for the class. I'm still not sure which ones to choose. What do you think?

Christmas cards and classes

I had some time to make some lovely Christmas cards today. I'm thinking about using them for my upcoming card making events. So if you're interested....

The wreath was made with the Autumn Days stamp set and I made the flower with the boho blossoms punch. This card was made using the colors from this week's color challenge - Concord Crush, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive.

The bird card is so simple, yet is elegant and packs a punch!

3D card and ornament

Here's the card we're making on Monday for my Stampin' Up! technique club.

The card is an easel card.
The main background is crumb cake with crumb cake ink on the embossing folder.
The ornament is punched 3 times from Elegant Soiree designer paper, then folded in the middle and attached to each other.

The wheeled image is gold embossed on the base. I also used red marker to highlight just one saying from the wheel, then punched it out.

I really love this color combination - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede!

Crinkle bird punched potpourri

I wanted to try the clean and simple challenge = crinkle again. I combined it with Just Add Ink's challenge = just add blue.



My first use of the new hostess set - Punched Potpourri.

For the background I crumpled vellum paper. The top note "negative" image of the frame is popped up. I stamped it with French Filigree background.

I got the idea of the crimped ribbon punch border from Mary Fish.

Misted medallion flip

I made this card a few days ago, but then forgot to post it!
This card is for my Stampin' Up! technique group!



The main image (medallion) was made by using different color inks, spritzing with water, and stamping on vellum!

I'm really happy with how this turned out. It's very striking and I love those colors together.

Orange Thank You

I got a chance to make a card today so I thought I'd combine a great layout with a color challenge. I've been wanting to use this layout inspired by this card for a long time.

The Curtain Call color challenge was to use Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, More Mustard and Old Olive. What great colors!



The orange in the top right is stamped again on cajun craze paper and popped up with a bling in the center.

The sentiment is punched out with the scallop square and I used the photo corners punch as well.

Stampin' Up! stamp sets: Elegant Thank You, Tart & Tangy

Very simple

I finally had a bit of time (and energy) today to make a card!

I started with the Friday challenge on Splitcoast - Hole in One!
I also used the layout from Clean and Simple Stamping.



I used some of the wonderful Elegant Soiree designer series paper. I punched a circle through it so the card base would show. I used a bigger circle to clip the edge of the white sentiment paper. I also added two rows of piercing.

Here's a close up.



I'm giving this card to my wonderful husband.

Vintage Z-fold (x2)

Finally, a blog entry! Sorry its been so long.

I paired up a cute and easy fold with the always gorgeous Vintage Vogue set.

The Z-fold is so easy. You just fold a card like regular and then fold the front back again lined up with the folded edge.



On the blue card I used the new elegant embossing folder with the new Elegant Soiree paper. I also used the new ribbon trim punch and pearls. There's a bit of piercing in the corner. The sentiment is new from Hodgepodge Happiness and I used the word window and oval punches.



On the purple card I did some faux stitching (piercing, then connect the dots with pen). I used the new rhinestones from Stampin' Up! I also used the word window and modern label punches, the dots embossing folder and a sentiment from Fresh Cuts.

The flowers on both are stamped, cut out and popped up with Stampin' dimensionals and layered.

Faux tearing with butterflies

I wanted to make a really clean and simple card and I wanted to give faux tearing a try. This is a one layer card, with the butterflies and button added.



To make the stripe of color I tore tow pieces of paper and put them overtop my card so that only one stripe of my card was showing. I sponged 3 colors of ink - baja breeze, marina mist and crumb cake.

The butterflies are made with the beautiful wings embosslit and I layered them.

Poppy on Parade - Medallion Inspiration

I checked out the inspiration challenge today on splitcoast. I also used a layout from Clean & Simple Stamping.

The medallion is embossed with Iridescent Ice and its hard to get a good picture. I added rhinestones for more bling.

This is the pillow I was inspired by...
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4201888

Back to Fall to layouts

It's been a while since I've made a card, or participated in a challenge. My internet is finally fixed and so I've been looking at a few of the challenges out there and browsing card galleries and blogs and have been inspired to try again.

I didn't want to pass up this week's great color combination - the New In Colors - Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait. I also remembered to go to one of my favorite layout sites - Clean & Simple Stamping. I used an older layout that I haven't gotten to until now. FTL101.

On this card I embossed the background with dots. The butterfly is layered purple and cork! I used a bit of ribbon too. I used the matching designer paper (hostess choice) with a scallop trim punch. The sentiment from Occasional Quotes (also a hostess set) was punched out with the large oval.

Fun card to make, I'm happy with how it turned out.

2 fall cards

Sorry I've been away, folks! My internet has been not working and I also haven't been making very many cards. I finally got back into it.

I made two very simple cards with the same very clean and simple layout. I didn't even use any challenges as a starting point for these! I just knew the stamp set, texture and cork that I wanted to use.


Here are the close ups of each...



I used two different Stampin' Up! embossing folders. The leaf is from "Autumn Days". I also used the new ribbon punch on the brown one.

Hoot Hoot Hooray!

I just wanted to show you a card I made for a Grab Bag Swap. It uses almost all retired Stampin' Up! supplies. I actually kind of made up a card fold for this one! It kind of just developed...



The above view shows a card closed and a card open. The card size is like a "regular" card size, just cut the long way. I started folding away, planning to make a stair-step card or something like that. I turned it sideways and glued down the little flap with stampin dimensionals.



Here's the inside! I think the stars with the saying look really cute and lead the eye along. There's lots of open space in the inside of this card to write on.