Thanks for Being a Friend - Fab Flourets

Supplies:  Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock, Beyond Garden DSP, Pumpkin Pie ink and Black ink, 3/8 Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Stick-on Pearls, Flower Garden Embossing Folder, Stamp Set Happy Greetings by Stampin Up, Stamp Set Fabulous Flourets by Stampin Up, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Big Scallop Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Adhesive, Dimensionals

This is a case of Gretchen Barron's card.  I love her blog!  I always refer to her blog when I need inspiration!  I copied it to the T, except I tied a simple knot, instead of a bow, and only because I'm not the greatest at tying bows.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and are finding a way to stay cool.  It's extremely hot here in Kansas.  My stampin room is the hottest room in the house!  That coupled with never having any free time in the summer makes it very difficult for me to find time to make cards.  Sad!  I really miss my hobby!  I hope I can get back to creating very soon.

Simple Friendship

Supplies: SU "Simple Friendship" stamp, SU cardstock in Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Real Red, Pacific Point, and Whisper White, SU Markers, Black Ink, SU Organza Ribbon, Paper Piercer, White Gel Pen, Circle Punch, SU Eyelet Border Punch

I case'd this card from Dragana Skoro, with the exception of a couple minor changes. I added the ribbon, and didn't use a scallop punch, and didn't use celery (green). I think my blue was different too - many even my orange. But it basically looks the same. Her blog is here.

I thought this card was so festive when I saw it - I just had to make one!
I wondered what is was that captured my eye. Then, it hit me! It reminded me of this:
Memories of fun days in Mexico! Hope this brings a smile to your face today!

Four Shabby Chic Cards (Archiver's Class)

Here are the four cards I made during the Archiver's Shabby Chic Class last Friday morning. I can't believe this class was a week ago! It seems like yesterday. It is amazing how busy the weeks get in April and May. We are wrapping up the school year and the days just fly by.
I really enjoyed this class. It was such a popular class at Archiver's, they brought it back, due to popular demand. The cards really look better in person, and they are meant to be "shabby", and not perfect. A little messy is a good thing when you are doing this method.
This was the first time I've stamped with paint. There is no ink on these cards. Just Ranger Paint Dabbers (acrylic paint). It was a lot of fun, and it took some getting used to. I never got my card right the first time, and had to flip over and use the other side every time. And boy does it make a mess out of the acrylic stamps!
I also enjoyed using the shimmer paper - I think it looks great with the shabby look.
I really loved using the Hero Arts flowers. We applied the Ranger Rock Candy crackle paint and Distress Stickles on the flowers to make them stiff and shabby.
Another cool thing: we painted the brads (they were originally silver) with the Paint Dabber, let it dry, and then applied Distress Stickles. I will definitely use this little trick on a few other cards.
After the class, I did buy two of the Ranger Paint Dabbers, the Rock Candy, and the Hero Arts collage flowers, so I can try this at home.



Supplies
Cardstock: Antique Gold Shimmer, Arctic Gold Shimmer, Cream linen, Fudge, Lakeshore, Paprika, Royal Purple
Stamps: Hero Arts "Poppy", "Silhouette Vase", "Chandelier", "Truly Appreciated", "Silhouette Spray", "Silhouette Fern", "Huge Hugs", "Antique Engravings"
Ranger Paint Dabbers: Eggplant, Espresso, Gold, Juniper, Sandal
Embellys: Ranger Distress Stickles (Antique Bronze, Dusty Concord, Picket Fence, Spiced Marmalade), Hero Arts Gems, Hero Arts collage flowers, Making Memories 1/8 silver brads
Other: adhesive, glue dots

Beautiful Butterflies

A fun and funky card using the Bigz Beautiful Butterflies Die Cut. This is change of pace...a card for someone who really enjoys a unique pink and green combo. I've always loved pink and green together. Fashion designers used a lot of pink and green together a few years ago (think J Crew, Kate Spade, and Isaac Mizrahi) - and this year they are using a lot of orange with hot pink. Love that, too! I have a card with those colors in mind, as well.
We will be making this at our make and take tonight (Girl's Night Out).

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Strawberry Splash and Intense Kiwi, SU Rose Red, and DSP by Basic Grey "Green at Heart"
Punch: EK Success "Daisy Chain"
Die Cut: SU Bigz Beautiful Butterflies
Big Shot Machine
Cuttlebug Folder: Swiss Dots
Ink: Momento Black
Pearls: Hobby Lobby
Stamp Set: Inkadinkado "Dot Flourishes" and Fiskars "Sweetest Friend"
Other: Dimensionals, adhesive, glue pen

Our Spring Fling Make and Take Card - Manhattan Flower

Here is a look at what we'll be making at our Spring Fling Make and Take! I hope you like it! It looks even better in person - very soft, with lots of wonderful texture. We will make two of these at our class. I will post some of the other things we will be making, also. The great thing is...if you come to this class you will learn a new technique...how to sand designer paper to get this look. It is quick and easy.
BTW - Peggy and I will be doing this class together at her wonderful craft grotto! You will love it. And if you don't like the "Friend" sentiment, you can change it - we'll have lots of stamps to choose from.
Supplies:
Textured Impressions Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder
Big Shot Machine
Stamp Set: Oval All
Paper: Chocolate DSP, Whisper White, Pink Piroutte
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Punches: Oval Scallop, and Large Oval
Ribbon: Pink Piroutte Stripe
Other: Pretties Kit, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Scissors, Snail, Sanding Block

Note: This is a Mary Fish case. Well, Peggy and I did change the paper colors, the ribbon, and we changed the dew drops to pretties. But, I came up with the general idea for this layout from taking a look at her blog.

Great Friend Card in Baja Blue and Basic Gray

Here is the card I designed for the downline Swap! I hope everyone liked it! I made 10 cards...1 for each person in Jeri's group.
This stamp set is from our Occasions Mini Catalog. If you would like a mini catalog - please let me know! Right now, with any $40 order from this catalog, you get to chose a stamp set from pg. 208 from the Idea Book for free!

Supplies (All Stampin Up, except the Cuttlebug Folder)

Stamp Set: Great Friend

Cardstock: Baja Blue, Basic Gray, Walk in the Park DSP (mini catty), Whisper White

Ink: Baja Blue, Basic Gray

Other: Pearls from Pretties Kit, Dimensionals, Glue Dot (for the pearl), Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Cuttlebug Folder

Note:

I had to hand trim out the butterfly, and both "frames", because I didn't own the die cut that goes with the "frame" (Matchbox Bigz Die).

Bella Toile in Bravo Burgundy - Song in Your Heart

Here is the same card - just with Bravo Burgundy instead of Chocolate Chip.
For supplies and directions, please see my post directly below this one. The only other difference (other than the color of the paper) is the ribbon/fiber.
This ribbon is not Stampin Up. I bought it at Archivers a long time ago, so I'm not sure if they still carry it. It is EK Success "Adornment's"..."Fun Fibers for Fabulous Effects". I thought this card had a French feel to it...so I felt like it needed a little touch of velvet. I'm not sure if you can see the texture in the photo...but the ribbon/fiber is velvet.

Bella Toile in Chocolate - Song in Your Heart

I hope you enjoy the card I made today! Sorta makes you crave chocolate, doesn't it? Oh wait...that's just me...everything makes me crave chocolate.

I don't know about anyone else - but sometimes embossing stresses me out. If it's just a small stamped image, then I don't get flustered. But, when it is a large image like this one, I think it is kinda tricky. Maybe it is just me!

The sentiment stamp is from Hobby Lobby. I was there the other day, and I saw this stamp and just had to get it. The sentiment made me think of my friend, Lori. She is also adopting from Russia, and we have been through a lot together. The process is so hard...that sometimes you "forget the words"...

I made one card in chocolate, and one in burgundy. I haven't decided which shade to send to her yet.

The idea for this card came from Mary Fish! I found her blog the other day, and borrowed the layout and colors from her. I did change the stamped image in the top layer, and the style of ribbon.

Supplies (All Stampin Up! except the Sentiment Stamp)

Stamps: Bella Toile Background Stamp, "Diffusion" Hampton Art Stamp (Hobby Lobby)

Ink: Versamark

Embossing Powder: Black

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Ivory, Basic Black

Other: Vintage Brads (Black), SU Ribbon in Satin Chocolate Chip (sorry, this retired - it was in a mini about a year ago, but I think May Arts has a ribbon that is similar), dimensionals, adhesive.

Good Friend Card by Diana

Here is Diana's card from the Shoebox Swap. She designed the card and cut out the pieces for us (except for trimming out the bird, of course). All I had to do was Stamp, Emboss, Trim, and Ensemble! I love this one - isn't it cute?

Diana's blog is amazing and her stuff is always the bomb. It is far superior to mine, LOL. Maybe my blog can look like hers someday? Doubtful. One can dream.

Here is the link to her blog:

http://www.dianaball-seitz.com/

Supplies (All Stampin Up!)

Stamp Set: Good Friend

Ink: CRAFT ink is used, so it can be embossed. Chocolate Chip and Summer Sun

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Red Riding Hood, and Good Morning Sunshine DSP

Other: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Ribbon, Iridescent Ice EP, Bold Brights Brad, Scissors to trim out the bird, Adhesive, Dimensionals

Raspberry Tart Best Wishes Card

Here is the card I designed for the shoebox swap tomorrow. Yes! I actually came up with the entire design (for once)! I hope everyone likes it. There will be 10 demonstrators there (at Jeri's house). We are having a chili supper and lots of goodies. We will go around and make 1 of everyone's sample.
I just love this paper! I want to order a couple more packages.
Supplies (all Stampin Up)
Stamp Set: Best Wishes & More
Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP, Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette
Ribbon: Old Olive
Ink: I used craft (Rose Red) on the bird and embossed him with clear EP. For the verse, I used Black Stazon
Other: Scallop Border Punch, Dimensionals, snail adhesive

Double Line Doodles Card

Jody and I made these a couple months ago and I forgot to add them to my blog. All is Stampin Up! except the "C" Chipboard piece, the buttons, the black brad, and the ribbon. All that stuff is from Archivers.
Stamp Set: Double Line Doodles (Stampin Up)
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Pixie Pink
Ink: Black Stazon - then colored in with Stampin Up markers. Except the pink paisley on pink - that is the Pink Passion ink.
Other: White Gel Pen, Corner Rounder Punch

May Shoe Box Swap - Friendly Flowers Card

This was the card I designed for the May 30th Shoe Box Swap (my VERY FIRST shoe box swap - how exciting)! I forgot to put this on my blog back in May. The swap went off without a hitch! I was so excited! I cased this idea off Split Coast - but I changed the bottom bit to a designer label and then I changed the background - that is about all I changed. I love this card because it sorta reminds me of an antique quilt. Sorta homey. I sponged around all the ivory edges to give it a distressed look.
CS: Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Ivory, Chocolate Chip
Stamp Set: Friendly Flowers (Retired, 08 Mini Catalog)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (how easy is that)
Punch: Ticket corner, Designer Label
Brad: Vintage
Ribbon: the chocolate chip stuff from the mini catalog (twill)

Friend Mini Card

Just a mini 3x3 note card made using the SU! Three For You Punch Box.
These mini 3x3 note cards are nice to have on hand for:
1. Leaving notes on pillows for kids or hubby.
2. Putting them in a bag when someone purchases something from you.
3. Putting notes in lunch boxes.
4. Putting a card in a gift bag when you are in a hurry
5. Taping them on a small gift box or jar of goodies.
6. These are good for kids to have for when they want to write their friend a note
7. And also - these can be mailed if you stick them in a regular size envelope (just don't try to mail them in the little 3x3 envelope)!