Hexagon Throwback

Another card featuring some great retired products. I know it retired a few years ago, but I can't seem to sell my Hexagon Punch. It's just so versatile. I can punch full hexagons, partial hexagons, or banner ends. I love using it so much! For this card, I punched a ton of hexagons from various pieces of retired DSP scraps. It's hard to see, but the floral piece at the bottom features copper foil, so it's awesomely shiny in person. Such a simple design, but this card is a great way to use up your paper scraps.

Stamps: Cool Treats
Inks: Watermelon Wonder
Cardstock: Affectionately Yours DSP (retired); Brights Collection DSP (retired); 2015-2017 In Color DSP (retired); Whisper White; Random scraps
Accessories:
Tools: Hexagon Punch (retired)

Bachelorette Party Invites

For the past month, I've been working on various projects for my friend's bridal shower. Last week, I detailed the invitations. This week I'm highlighting the Bachelorette Party Invitations. I went with a modern palette of pink (light and dark), black, lime green, and kraft brown for the shower invitations. This party called for something louder and brighter. I glanced through my card stock and settled on Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, and Rich Razzleberry. Nice and bright! These colors put together remind me of the Lisa Frank folders and trapper keepers I had in elementary school. Perfect throw back memory for a bunch of women in their early 30s.

The front side of the invites featured a fun coloring technique using the Irresistibly Yours DSP. This paper can be colored a variety of ways to show the white embossed design. I choose to create a starry night effect using my three ink colors. I simply sponged on each color into a random splotch pattern. After coloring, I took a baby wipe and gently wiped off the embossed areas until they were white again. I love the finished look! And each invite looks a little different. I added a stamped image from Your Perfect Day onto a die cut oval piece of cardstock. Simple but fun.

The back featured a piece of pattern DSP in one of the three colors behind the white cardstock with all the information. The back was looking a little plain so I added the stamped ring image. I had to fussy cut the rings, but they actually weren't too bad at all.

Detail of the ring

.Detail of the stamp.

Stamps: Your Perfect Day
Inks: Bermuda Bay; Rich Razzleberry; Melon Mambo
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay; Rich Razzleberry; Melon Mambo; Whisper White; Irresistibly Yours DSP; Brights Collection DSP
Accessories:
Tools: Oval framelits

Arthur's Birthday Photo Board

For Arthur's 1st Birthday party, I knew I wanted to make some sort of photo board, but how? After looking at many elaborate creations on Pinterest, I decided to scale back my intentions just a bit. I wanted something simple with the focus on the actual pictures and not the decorations. Enter the blessed land of Michael's. I was in the kid's art supply aisle for other things (felt or paper for apples) and found these lovely white display boards. They are meant to be for science fair projects and the like, but I thought it would be perfect for the photo board. After pulling paper, the pictures, and some embellishments, this is what I came up with:

The base layer is SU Gumball Green Coordinations and then Gumball Green, Pumpkin Pie, and Pacific Point DSP. I made a little sign for people to write Arthur a birthday note on PL cards (not pictured). And I added some silver glitter letters for his initials. I originally had his full name up there, but realized the pictures would not fit nicely with the entire name. So I shortened it down to just the initials. Much better!

The pictures are from our monthly photo shoots. I love being able to see his growth throughout the first year. I even included the one day old pic for comparison. Everyone really loved this at the party. I loved that it was easy to make and the base is reusable (look for it in the fall social crafts).

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

Gingham Garden Spring Cards

A few of my crafting friends and I went in together on a SU DSP share. We each bought three packs of DSP and then split the packs evenly. In total each of use got a 6x12 sheet of each design from 12, yes 12!, DSP packs. Well all the paper is really gorgeous and fun, it is all retiring at the end of May. This means that I want to try and use of this retiring paper to make room for the new designs. During my crafting open house at the end of April, I spent some time using the rest of the Gingham Garden DSP. I made 8 total cards from the rest of the paper.

Card #1

The first card used some die cut flowers that another crafting had leftover from her card. I cut a few more flowers and added a cute Mother's Day banner. Love the bright colors on this one.

Cards #2-5

In the end, I have just a few card layering sheets and a few a larger pieces left. I used a tried and true card design and just cut three banners per card. Add a sentiment and I have a complete card. I love the pattern play on these cards, especially the pink one (second picture, right side).

Cards #6-7

These cards came from my desire to use my Floral Frames die cuts. I can't believe I bought them weeks ago, but have never really used them. I grabbed a few of the patterns and just started cutting. The only frame I didn't use was the biggest one (too big to fit on a standard card). I love how they tuned out. They look even better in person due to the 3D nature of the cards.

Card #8

The last card is a replica of a card we made at April stamp club. While, i don't usually go super girly, I love the patterns and colors of the sample card much that I had to make another one.