Butterfly Love

It's officially May which means it's time to say goodbye to all the retiring stamp sets. In total, I'm losing 18 stamp sets from my collection (although a few of those will be kept because I love them so much). Many of these stamp sets are still available, but they are no longer guaranteed. If you want any of the sets featured, buy now before they are gone!

I'm so sad to be losing the Watercolor Wings stamp set. These butterflies were perfect for a variety of card occasions. For my first card, I picked a fun piece of Petal Garden DSP to create a peekaboo base for my butterfly. The butterfly itself was made with Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, and Watermelon Wonder inks.

For my second card, I went a different direction and created a simple sympathy card. I took a nice piece of pattern paper, stamped a background stamp in Old Olive to create a tone-on-tone effect, and added some Copper thread. After adding the butterfly, I finished the card with a simple sentiment. The butterly itself was made with Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, and Mossy Meadow inks.

• Stamps: Watercolor Wings; Better Together; Playful Backgrounds
• Inks: Basic Black; Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder, Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow
• Cardstock: Petal Garden DSP; Calypso Coral; Early Espresso; Whisper White
• Accessories: Copper Thread
• Tools: Bold Butterfly Framelits; Stitched Shapes Framelits

Sympathy with Daisy

I don't like to make sympathy cards, but sometimes they are needed. Today's card features the gorgeous Delightful Daisy DSP as the main focal point. I let the DSP patterns stand by themselves. I added a strip of copper foil paper to tie into the copper heat embossed sentiment.

Detail of heat embossing:

• Stamps: Better Together
• Inks: Basic Versamark
• Cardstock: Delightful Daisy DSP; Copper Foil; Tip Top Taupe (retired); Old Olive
• Accessories:
• Tools: Copper Embossing Powder

A Rainy Day

Today's card is featured over at Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration and features a Sprinkles of Life card. Once again, I am using Sprinkles of Life for my Friday Favorite. I borrowed the set from a friend and have fallen in love with it!

I decided to play a bit with my new watercolor paper. I simply painted on some Lost Lagoon ink to create a stormy background. It looks much better in person I promise. From there, I added the clouds and raindrops to great the focal point of the card.

• Stamps: Sprinkles of Life
• Inks: Basic Gray; Island Indigo; Lost Lagoon
• Cardstock: Watercolor Paper; Smoky Slate; Pool Party
• Accessories:
• Tools: Tree Builder Punch

Sympathy and Congrats

One of March-April's featured classes is Special Occasions. You often need a sympathy, congratulations, wedding, and baby card throughout the year, but don't usually make them. This class fixes that problem while using some great new products from SU!

Card #1

The first card made is a sympathy card. I like sympathy cards that aren't fussy or overwhelmingly embellished. I also notice that I tend to lean toward monochromatic sympathy cards. This one hits all those points. 

For this card, I stamped onto vellum and heat embossed it with pearl embossing powder. I then sponged just the center of the flowers. Turning the vellum over, I stamped and embossed the sentiment in pewter. The flowers don't show up well in photographs, but they are gorgeous in person. This is a nice muted card with a bit of sparkle. As a last touch, I added Blushing Bride candy dots to the four corner to help hide the glue dot adhesive.

• Stamps: Flower Shop; Best of Greetings (retired)
• Inks: Versamark; Blushing Bride
• Cardstock: Blushing Bride; Vellum
• Accessories: Blushing Bride Candy Dots
• Tools: Heat embossing gun; Pewter Embossing Powder; Sponge Daubers

Card #2

For my congratulations card, I wanted to play with patterns. I love the Painted Blooms DSP and wanted to highlight it. The contrast between the leaves and subtle watercolor of the blue paper make a nice contrast. Add in the patterned ribbon, and I have a very visually striking card.

• Stamps: Lotus Blossom; Simply Wonderful
• Inks: Island Indigo; Lost Lagoon; Wild Wasabi
• Cardstock: Lost Lagoon; Painted Blooms DSP
• Accessories: Gumball Green Ribbon (retired)
• Tools: Scallop Tag Punch

October Month of Cards Week 3 - Part 2 (Butterfly Edition)

For October's big crafting goal, I am attempting to make a different designed card everyday.  Instead of flooding everyone's feed with tons of posts, I am just going to do a weekly wrap-up post with my cards. I went a little crazy with my butterfly stamps and punches.  So I thought a separate post was in order...

Day #17

A simple one of stamping creates a striking visual.

• Stamps: Papillon Potpurri
• Inks: Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry
• Cardstock: Whisper White; Kraft
• Accessories:
• Tools:

Day #18

I grabbed a ton of random scraps and went to town punching butterflies.  It might be hard to see, but the butterflies are two layers.  They definitely pop in person.

• Stamps: Petite Pairs
• Inks: Pacific Point; Melon Mambo
• Cardstock: Whisper White; Kraft; random scraps
• Accessories:
• Tools: Elegant Butterfly Punch; Bitty Butterfly Punch

Day #19

I wanted to use my butterfly punches again, but in a different way.  The colored paper all have a subtle design to them. Layering the butterflies helped to change the design just enough to give this card it's own day.

• Stamps: A Word for You
• Inks: Chocolate Chip
• Cardstock: Kraft; Very Vanilla; random scraps
• Accessories: Brights candy dots; Gold Chevron Washi Tape (not SU)
• Tools: Elegant Butterfly Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

Unite and Excite Swaps: The Rest of the Pretties

We had a great swap time at the Livermore Unite and Excite event on Sunday.  Here are the rest of the great swap cards I received:

Sara Grafton @ 1200 Some Miles

Vinnie Cespedes

Margery Chen

Alicia Valdez

Janet Smith

Deidre Wong

Denise Zachariah

Sarah Camarillo

Patti Mizutani

Paula Frieders

Maria Esther Fennelly @ Maria's Creative Place

Jeannie Barron

Raberta Gannon @ Inkabella Crafts

Carrie Vermazen @ Crafty Carrie

Cary Farruggia @ Cary's On Your Case

Colleen Becker

Sharon Tong-Robinson

June Card Class Roundup

Along with Stamp Club, I attended two card classes this June.  All three events were focused on using new products from the catalog.  I wanted to get some new ideas for my own cards and I did! I love the sunburst design and this one used some great new DSP and colors.

We made a cute card holder at club.  These would be great little gifts for Christmas or for craft sales.

Love this simplistic design.  I'll admit that the Work of Art stamp set confounded me at first.  I'm not that great with abstract.  But I've seen a few great designs lately.  This one was so much fun!

After seeing some great cards using Sea Street, I had to add it to my June order.  Now I just need the Maritime DSP.

Another adorable Sea Street card.  Perfect for a kid's birthday card.

Disappointed that my Moonlight DSP Stack is one backorder, so I can't recreate this card.  Once I receive it, I will definitely make a similar card.  I even have the stamp set (Hello There).

Pretty serene card using new DSP (Lullaby) and a nice color combination.

I haven't bought the Thinlit Die, but do love playing with it.  I changed up the sentiment on this one to make a cute new baby card.  And it's already been sent out to a friend who just had her second son.  Very adorable!

This card was made by inking up clear blocks.  I been meaning to try to the technique myself.  Thankfully we got to try it out at class.

I absolutely adore this card.  It's simple, but still has a ton of visual interest.  I may have to CASE this one soon...

First time trying out the decorative masks.  I own both sets, but haven't used them yet.  We got to try out one of them at class.  I am not a huge fan of the word bubbles, but I loved using the mask and the in colors.

I finally bought Sea Street but failed to order the Maritime DSP.  I need to CASE this card... love it so much!

Paisley Petals DSP Purge

Another attempt to get rid of my retired DSP.  This post's pack comes from a few years back.  I don't remember how old Paisley Petals is, but I do know that it's been sitting in my DSP box for at least a year.  After making the cards featured, I had a few scraps and some full sheets leftover.  I ended up putting the full sheets up for grabs to other crafting friends.  They kindly took them away from me.  One more pack down.

Card #1

Card Inspiration from Stampin Sunshine

My version

Loved the inspiration card.  My version turned out okay, but not the best.  I really need different layered framelits.  I'm getting a bit sick of using my labels.

• Stamps: Secret Garden (retired); Express Yourself (retired)
• Inks: Old Olive; Night of Navy
• Cardstock: Paisly Petals DSP (retired); Marina Mist (retired); Whisper White
• Accessories: Random brown ribbon (non-SU)
• Tools: Artisan Label Punch; 1 1/4" Circle Punch; Label Framelits (Spellbinders)

Card #2

Card Inspiration from Moxie Fab World

My version

Very cute inspiration card.  Mine is a bit plain, but much nicer in person.

• Stamps: Express Yourself (retired)
• Inks: Chocolate Chip
• Cardstock: Cajun Craze; Paisley Petals DSP (retired); Regals DSP
• Accessories: Silver dots; Rhinestones; Old Olive button (retired)
• Tools: Elegant Butterfly Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

Card #3

Card Inspiration from Creative Crafts by Lynn

My version

I rarely make no sentiment cards, but this one has so much going on that it seemed appropriate.  I love the layering...

• Stamps: Papillon Potpurri
• Inks: Old Olive
• Cardstock: Old Olive; Baked Brown Sugar; Paisley Petals DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Silver dots
• Tools: Elegant Butterfly Punch

Card #4

Card Inspiration from Handmade from Michelle

My version

Simple yet striking.  I love the pattern play here.

• Stamps: Best of Greetings (retired)
• Inks: Night of Navy
• Cardstock: Paisley Petals (retired); Night of Navy; Regals DSP
• Accessories:
• Tools: Artisan Label Punch; Scallop Edge Punch

Card #5

Card Inspiration from Handmade by Michelle

My version

I made this card, but something just seemed off...  Then I added the ribbon and everything worked so much better.

• Stamps: Work of Art; Morning Meadow (retired)
• Inks: Night of Navy; Old Olive
• Cardstock: Night of Navy; Whisper White; Paisley Petals DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Baked Brown Sugar Ruffled Stretch Trim (retired)
• Tools: Label Framelits (Spellbinders)

Card #6

Card Inspiration from Stamp-n-Paradise

My version

Love how simple this card is.  I just find myself drawn to the negative space.

• Stamps: Work of Art
• Inks: Night of Navy
• Cardstock: Baja Breeze (retired); Marina Mist (retired); Paisley Petals DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Rhinestones
• Tools:

Card #7

Card Inspiration from Scrappin' and Stampin' in GJ

My version

Not my favorite card, but interesting visual draw.

• Stamps: A Word for You (retired)
• Inks: Night of Navy
• Cardstock: Marina Mist (retired); Whisper White; Regals DSP; Paisley Petals DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Rhinestones
• Tools: 1" Circle Punch

Card #8

Card Inspiration from ...Confessions of a Stamping Addict

My version

I didn't think I would like this card in the end, but something pulls me in.  I'm loving the added butterfly on the side.

• Stamps: Sweet Essentials (retired)
• Inks: Old Olive
• Cardstock: Old Olive; Whisper White; Paisley Petals DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Old Olive buttons (retired)
• Tools: Bitty Butterfly Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends); Blossom Punch; Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder; Patterned scissors

Card #9

Card Inspiration from Paper Suite

My version

I played with the hexagon punch to ultimately create 5 different cards.  My favorite is the all over hexagon card.  Very striking!

• Stamps: Best of Greetings (retired); Hip Notes
• Inks: Night of Navy
• Cardstock: Marina Mist (retired); Whisper White; Paisley Petals DSP (retired)
• Accessories:
• Tools: Hexagon Punch; Label Framelits (Spellbinders)

Gingham Garden DSP Purge

I made up my mind to use the very last of my Gingham Garden DSP.  I had about two half sheets remaining.  Of course i had to scour my Pinterest boards for some great inspiration.  In total, I made six cards with just a few scraps leftover. Card #1

Card Inspiration from AE Stamps a Latte

My version

i flipped this card on the side because my paper cuts did not line up vertically.  I may be a bit obsessive, but the Gingham Garden pattern just didn't look right turned the other way.  I also realized that I was out of Island Indigo card stock, so I substituted Island Indigo DSP.  Beyond that I tried to use my current supplies to give the card it's own look.  My favorite part is the candy dots on the hexagons (they pop more in real life).  I've had the Brights pack for awhile now and had yet to use it.  I may have a supply hoarding problem.  I love how they add just a little bit more dimension to the card.

• Stamps: Six Sided Sampler
• Inks: Island Indigo, So Saffron
• Cardstock: Daffodil Delight; Gingham Garden DSP (retired); Brights Collection DSP; Whisper White
• Accessories: Brights Collection Candy Dots
• Tools: Hexagon Punch; Scallop Punch

Card #2

Card Inspiration from Too Cool Stamping

My version

I kept the basic design with just a few tweaks, mainly due to my own stash limitations.  I realized that I need to had Melon Mambo to my ink pads to buy list.  I am really warming up to that color.

• Stamps: Sweet Essentials (retired); Morning Meadow (retired)
• Inks: Regal Rose (retired)
• Cardstock: Melon Mambo; Whisper White; Gingham Garden DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Rhinestone Jewels
• Tools: Hexagon Punch (banner ends); Pansy Punch

Card #3

Card Inspiration from Stamp with Amy K

My version

I think this is my favorite card of the set.  I was going to make this a fall sentiment card, but after finishing it, I thought sympathy or get well card.  It is so cool and calm.  And I love all the layers.  I changed up the color combo slightly from the example.  Amy had Garden Green and Pear Pizzazz.  I went with Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz.  It gives just a bit of a softer look.

• Stamps: Magnificent Maple (retired); Sweet Essentials (retired)
• Inks: Old Olive
• Cardstock: Old Olive; Pear Pizzaz; Gingham Garden DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Brights Collection Candy Dots
• Tools:

Card #4

Card Inspiration from Nutz About Stamping

My version

I had used up all the Island Indigo gingham check paper, I decided to do a bit of substitution for this card.  With that change, I swapped out a ton of other pieces to create my own card.

• Stamps: A Word for You (retired)
• Inks: Island Indigo
• Cardstock: Daffodil Delight; Whisper White; Brights Collection DSP
• Accessories: Brights Collection Candy Dots
• Tools: 2" Circle Punch; Pansy Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

Card #5

This card came from my desire to use a ton of the scraps laying on my craft table.  I love how bright and cheery this card is.  I think the Melon Mambo really pops!

• Stamps: A Word for You (retired)
• Inks: Island Indigo
• Cardstock: Melon Mambo; Gingham Garden DSP (retired); Brights Collection DSP
• Accessories: Brights Collection Candy Dots
• Tools: Hexagon Punch (banner ends); Pansy Punch

Card #6

This card is so simple, but I love the mix of patterned paper.  As a late edition, I found an old Brights Collection Button Pack at the bottom of my embellishment box and had to add.

• Stamps: Sweet Essentials (retired); Morning Meadow (retired)
• Inks: Old Olive
• Cardstock: Old Olive; Pear Pizzazz; Gingham Garden DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Brights Collection Button (retired edition)
• Tools: Pansy Punch

Sweet Sorbet DSP Purge: Polka Dots Edition

Another attempt to use my retired DSP to make room for new fun stuff...  This time I'm highlighting cards made from the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack (Sale-a-bration 2014).  The following cards are primarily using the polka dot patterned paper.

Card #1

Card Inspiration from Wild West Stampin', Scrappin' and Crafts

My version

Description

• Stamps: Perfect Pennants
• Inks: Basic Black
• Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired); Whisper White
• Accessories: Boutique Details (retired)
• Tools: 1 1/4" Circle Punch

Card #2

Card Inspiration from Card Creations by Beth

My version

Description

• Stamps:
• Inks:
• Cardstock: Pool Party; Basic Black; Whisper White; Crisp Cantaloupe; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Boutique Details (retired); Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Stretch Trim (retired); Pool Party Ribbon (retired)
• Tools: Blossom Punch; 1 1/4" Circle Punch; Chevron Embossing Folder; Swiss Dot Embossing Folder

Card #3

Card Inspiration from Avery's Owlery

My version

Description

• Stamps: Morning Meadow (retired); Flower Shop
• Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe; Certainly Celery (retired); Summer Starfruit; Blushing Bride; Pretty in Pink
• Cardstock: Basic Black; Whisper White; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired); Pistachio Pudding
• Accessories: Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Stretch Trim (retired)
• Tools: Pansy Punch

Card #4

Card Inspiration from Stamp with Angela

My version

Description

• Stamps: Perfect Pennants
• Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe
• Cardstock: Basic Black; Whisper White; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired); Summer Starfruit; Pistachio Pudding
• Accessories: Boutique Details (retired)
• Tools: Chevron Embossing Folder; Swiss Dot Embossing Folder; Label Dies (Spellbinders)

Card #5

Card Inspiration from Uncanny Crafting

My version

Description

• Stamps:
• Inks:
• Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Boutique Details (retired)
• Tools:

Card #6

Card Inspiration from A Stamping Journey

My version

Description

• Stamps: Express Yourself (retired); Petite Petals
• Inks: Basic Black; Crisp Cantaloupe
• Cardstock: Whisper White; Crisp Cantaloupe; Pistachio Pudding; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Silver Dots; Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Stretch Trim (retired)
• Tools: Petite Petals Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends); Swiss Dot Embossing Folder; 1 1/4" Circle Punch; 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Card #7

Card Inspiration from Maine Mountain Stamper

My version

Description

• Stamps: Vintage Verses (retired); Flower Shop
• Inks: Summer Starfruit; Crisp Cantaloupe; Pool Party
• Cardstock: Basic Black; Whisper White; Pistachio Pudding; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Large pearls
• Tools: Pansy Punch

Card #8

Card Inspiration from Inkspired Treasures

My version

Description

• Stamps: Perfect Pennants; Petal Parade
• Inks: Pool Party; Pistachio Pudding; Crisp Cantaloupe
• Cardstock: Basic Black; Whisper White; Pistachio Pudding; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Rhinestone jewels
• Tools: Label dies (Spellbinders)

Card #9

Card Inspiration from Northwest Stamper

My version

Description

• Stamps: Banner Blast
• Inks: Pool Party; Crisp Cantaloupe; Summer Starfruit
• Cardstock: Whisper White; Crisp Cantaloupe; Summer Starfruit; Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired)
• Accessories:
• Tools: Banner Punch; Patterned Scissors