Retiring Series: I Like You and Park Lane

The new catalog is coming... But before we get there, I'm highlighting some of my favorite retiring stamp sets and retiring DSP. I Like You is one of my favorite stamp sets. I love being able to customize the coloring of the flower bunches. This has so many possibilities! For this card, I took my colors from the Park Lane DSP. I went with Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, and Calypso Coral to complete the flowers. Layering the flowers onto some basic coordinating cardstock makes them pop against the busy DSP background.

Stamps: I Like You
Inks: Blackberry Bliss; Mossy Meadow; Old Olive; Crushed Curry; Calypso Coral
Cardstock: Blackberry Bliss; Calypso Coral; Crushed Curry; Old Olive; Park Lane DSP
Accessories:
Tools: Circles Framelits

Orange and Yellow Floral Card

For my September swap card, I grabbed a few DSP sheets that called to me and then went from there. The end product is full of bright colors and florals. Not my go-to colors or patterns, but I really like how this all came together in the end.

I started with the Tangerine Tango floral paper and then pulled the Daffodil Delight paper for a contrast. Once I had my patterns set, I decided to add a colored in stamp from the I Like You Hostess Set. The greeting comes from the Hello There Hostess Set, but works so well with the design that I had to use it. Using the circles collection framelits and starburst framelits, I created a nice layered effect with my papers and sentiment. I hope my swap recipient likes the end product!

Stamps: I Like You; Hello There
Inks: Baked Brown Sugar; Tangerine Tango; Daffodil Delight; Night of Navy, Garden Green, Perfect Plum, Calypso Coral, and Cameo Coral Markers
Cardstock: Crush Curry; Whisper White; Flowerpot DSP; Park Lane DSP
Accessories: Brights Candy Dots
Tools: Circles Collection Framelits; Starburst Framelits; 1 1/4" Circle Punch

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

Simple Fresh Prints

The other day I pulled out my almost untouched Fresh Prints DSP stack. It's retired, but I love the colors and patterns so much. I did a quick peek at my Pinterest boards and pulled out the below card for inspiration.

Card #1

Card Inspiration from Stampin' on the Fly

My version

Really I just changed up the patterns the style of ribbon and sentiment. I ended up really loving this simple and easy card with its great use of DSP.

Stamps: I Like You
Inks: Real Red
Cardstock: Kraft; Fresh Prints DSP (retired)
Accessories: Brights Candy Dots; Coastal Cabana Ruffled Stretch Trim (retired)
Tools: Pansy Punch

Card #2

Just a slight pattern change to make a completely different card.

Stamps: I Like You
Inks: Real Red
Cardstock: Kraft; Fresh Prints DSP (retired)
Accessories: Metallic jewels (non-SU); Coastal Cabana Ruffled Stretch Trim (retired)
Tools: Pansy Punch

Fresh Prints Patterns

I pulled out my new I Like You hostess stamp set with the intention of creating a great background pattern for a card. I started working and things took a slightly different turn.

Card Inspiration from Cards and Scrapping

I wanted to recreate the inspiration card, but then my hands went in a slightly different direction. I did use the I Like You stamps to create a background pattern for the card. But I added a lot more layers and a different sentiment style. Overall this card looks much better in person. You can actually see the layers in person. The photo looks too flat. But I promise this does look nice.

Stamps: I Like You; Hello There
Inks: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Coastal Cabana
Cardstock: Kraft; Whisper White; Fresh Prints DSP (retired)
Accessories: Coastal Cabana Ruffled Trim Ribbon (retured)
Tools: Starburst Framelits; 1 1/4" Circle Punch

Sea Street Classic Nautical

Last Friday I went to our (area demos) monthly crafting night and crafted up a storm. I ended up only making 6 cards, but I'm really loving those six cards. Today I'm sharing two card featuring the Sea Street Stamp Set in classic nautical colors.

Card #1

Card Inspiration from Michele Reynolds at Inspiration Ink

My version

I ended up CASEing this one directly. I loved her design so much, I wanted a card just like it. I did change the DSP paper as I don't have the Maritime DSP (must rectify with next order!). And I didn't have her "Happy Day" stamp, so I just wrote "Hi" on my little flag. Still turned out really nice!

Stamps: Sea Street
Inks: Night of Navy; Real Red; Coastal Cabana
Cardstock: Real Red; Night of Navy; Coastal Cabana; Whisper White; Fresh Prints DSP (retired)
Accessories:
Tools: Journaling Pen; Banner Punch

Card #2

The second card was just me playing around with the Fresh Prints DSP stack (still have so much leftover!) and seeing what I could pair with the same classic nautical colors. I used one of the circle framelits but thought it looked too plain by itself. Add a starburst framelit layer in a red pattern and suddenly the card is complete!

Stamps: Sea Street; I Like You
Inks: Night of Navy; Real Red; Coastal Cabana
Cardstock: Real Red; Night of Navy; Coastal Cabana; Whisper White; Fresh Prints DSP (retired)
Accessories:
Tools: Circle Framelits; Starburst Framelits

JUGS248 and SSC79

Another day another challenge card. I again combined two challenges to design a card a little out of my comfort zone.

Color Inspiration

Word Inspiration

My version

With those colors, I thought I would make a floral card, but my initial attempt at stamping a floral background was crap. So I tried stamping the floral background directly onto the colored cardstock and liked it so much better. But it was still a bit plain. I went in with a couple of markers and did some selective coloring. I love the effect! I added the sentiment and little bird to complete the card. I definitely want to play with that floral stamp set more...

Stamps: I Like You; Morning Meadow (retired)
Inks: Wild Wasabi; Marina Mist (retired); Basic Grey; Gumball Green Marker (retired); Baja Breeze Marker (retired)
Cardstock: Marina Mist (retired); Wild Wasabi; Whisper White
Accessories:
Tools:

Comfort Cafe DSP Purge

Another retired DSP pack down... I'm really loving this set of cards.

Card #1

Card Inspiration from Stampin' Connection

My version

I love the simple blue and cream combo. Very pretty together!

Stamps: Papillon Potpurri; Sweet Essentials (retired)
Inks: Midnight Muse (retired)
Cardstock: Midnight Muse (retired); Very Vanilla; Comfort Cafe DSP (retired)
Accessories:
Tools: Labels Framelits (Spellbinders)

Card #2

Card Inspiration from North Shore Stamper

My version

I made two variations because I didn't have enough Midnight Muse Dahlias for both cards. I actually pulled these little heart wood veneers from my Take Ten PL kit. Perfect finishing touch.

Stamps: Sweet Essentials (retired)
Inks: Early Espresso
Cardstock: Summer Starfruit (retired); Midnight Muse (retired); Very Vanilla; Comfort Cafe (retired)
Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias; heart wood veneers
Tools: 1 1/4" Circle Punch; 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Card #3

Card Inspiration from DO Stamping with Dawn

My version

Simple yet lovely. I realize that my favorite cards are usually pretty simplistic. At the last minute, I added the wood veneers for that extra little something.

Stamps: Wacky Wishes (retired)
Inks: Midnight Muse (retired)
Cardstock: Brown (Michael's); Very Vanilla; Comfort Cafe (retired)
Accessories: Brown ribbon (Joann's); bird and feather wood veneer
Tools:

Card #4

Card Inspiration from Card Creations by Beth

My version

This card looks much better in person. The embossed Midnight Muse piece really pops and the dahlia adds a little extra touch.

Stamps: Vintage Verses (retired)
Inks: Midnight Muse (retired)
Cardstock: Brown (Michael's); Midnight Muse (retired); Comfort Cafe (retired); Very Vanilla
Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias
Tools:

Card #5

Card Inspiration from Stampin' Pretty

My version

This card is so bright and cheery! I don't have the ovals framelits (must put on wish list), so I substituted my new Starburst Framelits. And I don't have the same ornament stamp and punch, but I do have the old retired ones. Still works!

Stamps: Delightful Decorations (retired); Sweet Essentials (retired)
Inks: Midnight Muse (retired)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla; Midnight Muse (retired); Summer Starfruit (retired); Comfort Cafe DSP (retired)
Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias
Tools: Starburst Framelits

Card #6

Card Inspiration from Northwest Stamper

My version

This card really isn't my personal style, but it's pretty. I got the new hostess set I LIke You because watercolor images are so popular right now. This is the first time that I used it and I actually like it!

Stamps: I Like You; A Word for You (retired)
Inks: Really Rust (retired); Early Espresso
Cardstock: Cajun Craze; Early Espresso; Very Vanilla; Comfort Cafe DSP (retired)
Accessories: wood veneers
Tools: Hexagon Punch (banner end)

Card #7

Card Inspiration from My Creative Corner

My version

Simple layering of coordinating DSP makes for a striking card.

Stamps: Sweet Essentials (retired)
Inks: Early Espresso
Cardstock: Cajun Craze; Very Vanilla; Comfort Cafe DSP (retired)
Accessories: brown ribbon (Michael's)
Tools:

Card #8

Card Inspiration from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts

My version

Another card that just isn't my style, but it turned out okay. I like the contrasting paper and butterflies.

Stamps: Vintage Verses (retired)
Inks: Early Espresso
Cardstock: Cajun Craze; Very Vanilla; Comfort Cafe DSP (retired)
Accessories: 7/8" Natural Cotton Ribbon
Tools: Elegant Butterfly Punch; Artisan Label Punch

Card #9

Card Inspiration from Pretty Impact

My version

I think this card is my favorite of the entire bunch. I love the simplistic shapes and lots of texture. For me, the switch to the yellow cardstock for the sentiment banner really makes the card pop!

Stamps: A Word for You (retired)
Inks: Midnight Muse (retired)
Cardstock: Brown (Michael's); Midnight Muse (retired); Summer Starfruit (retired); Comfort Cafe DSP (retired)
Accessories: wood veneers
Tools: Hexagon Punch (banner end); Corner Rounder Punch

Card #10

Card Inspiration from WeeBeeStampin4Fun

My version

Turns out I don't have Cajun Craze ink in either a marker or an ink pad. I dug through my stash and found a Really Rust marker from a few years back. It' snot the same color, but I think it coordinates nicely with the Cajun Craze card stock.

Stamps: Vintage Verses (retired): Mixed Bunch
Inks: Really Rust (retired); Early Espresso
Cardstock: Cajun Craze; Very Vanilla; Early Espresso; Comfort Cafe DSP (retired)
Accessories: Gold brads
Tools: Hexagon Punch (banner end); Blossom Punch; 1" Circle Punch; Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder