Retiring Series: Label Love and Lullaby

The new catalog is coming... But before we get there, I'm highlighting some of my favorite retiring stamp sets and retiring DSP. Cute baby card featuring Label Love and the Lullaby DSP. I love the layers on this card, simple yet striking. I punched out the labels and layered those on top of a piece of Lullaby DSP. I tucked a piece of Coastal Cabana ribbon under the DSP and popped up some stars on top. This could have been made in girl or boy colors using the same products.

• Stamps: Label Love
• Inks: Coastal Cabana
• Cardstock: Baked Brown Sugar; Lullaby DSP
• Accessories: Coastal Cabana Stretch Trim Ribbon (retired)
• Tools: Artisan Label Punch; Stars Framelits

Use Your Scraps

For May I am featuring a class called Use Your Scraps. We all have a ton of scrap pieces of paper lying around. What to do with them? Here are three ideas for you:

Card #1 Long Banners

A simple way to use scraps is to make them into various length banners. For this card, I took some random pieces of Moonlight DSP and cut them into random lengths. The banners fill most of the card. Adding a punched sentiment and some candy dots completes the look.

• Stamps: Hello There
• Inks: Lost Lagoon
• Cardstock: Basic Gray; Moonlight DSP
• Accessories: Brights Candy Dots
• Tools: Scallop Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

Card #2 Hexagon Punch

The second card features my favorite scrap technique: hexagons. I love the repeat of patterns and colors in this card. A simple sentiment finishes the card.

• Stamps: Label Love
• Inks: Midnight Muse (retired)
• Cardstock: Gumball Green (retired); Summer Starfruit (retired); Print Poetry DSP (retired)
• Accessories:
• Tools: Artisan Label Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

Card #3 Short Banners

Lastly, I have a cute rainbow colored card featuring short banners. I love the play of patterns on this one.

• Stamps: Petite Pairs
• Inks: Rich Razzleberry
• Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry; Random scraps
• Accessories: Gumball Green Ribbon (retired)
• Tools: Banner Punch; 1" Circle Punch; 1 1/4" Circle Punch; Decorative Dots Embossing Folder

Faux Tiled Petal Potpurri

For February's individual swap card, I wanted something floral. It's feeling like spring around here even if the calendar still says it is winter. The temperatures have gotten me in the mood for floral cards. My March-April theme class is going to be All About Florals. But before I get to those cards, I wanted a nice simple floral card for my swap buddy. I went with the faux tile technique for this simple card. First I scored a piece of Whisper White in one inch intervals. Then I stamped multiple flowers onto the piece. The scoring creates a faux tile look to the stamped images. You can see the tiling better in person. I added a piece of brown ribbon and layer of Baked Brown Sugar before punching out a sentiment. To create a layered sentiment look, I punch out the stamped sentiment and then punched out another of just Baked Brown Sugar. I cut the stamped punched piece down a bit to allow the brown paper to show. Finally I popped the sentiment up on dimensionals to give some depth to the card. I hope my swap buddy likes it!

• Stamps: Petal Potpurri; Label Love
• Inks: Perfect Plum
• Cardstock: Perfect Plum; Whisper White; Baked Brown Sugar
• Accessories: Brown ribbon (not SU)
• Tools: Artisan Label Punch; Scoreboard

Children's Cards

I attended a fun little class taught by my crafting partner Colleen that focused on children's cards.  Between my friends and the parent's group, I will definitely have a use for these in the coming months.

Such an easy but striking design.  I can't wait to replicate this cute caterpillar.  

Legos!  I love the simple color blocks (complete with fake embossed circles) and big sentiment.  Perfect for any little kid birthday!

This was a birthday card, but I changed up the sentiment. A friend of mine is due any day with her baby girl.  I thought this would be the perfect card to send.

And finally, a cute birthday card using the stamp set that I can't believe I don't own myself: Zoo Babies.  My rhino is a bit off, but it's still a cute card.  I may just have to add this set to my next SU order.

Do you want to make amazing cards like these and live in the Bay Area?  Hop on over to the Mountain View Stampers and Paper Crafters Meetup site and join us!