SSINKCS24: Butterfly Birthday

Today’s card is featured over at Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration and features a fun card sketch challenge today. Looking at the sketch, I knew that I was going to jazz it up a bit, but how? After some initial thought, I was drawn to using the Watercolor Wings stamp set to create a birthday card for my Grandmother.

I first stamped the butterflies and cut them out. From there, I decided to add some fun pattern paper as a background. The layered paper still looked a little stark, so I added a bit of washi tape to add some visual interest. And still the card was too plain. So I added the sentiment in a repeating pattern. Much better! Finally I finished the card with a die cut butterfly and rhinestones. My grandmother's favorite color is purple and she likes butterflies. I really hope that she loves this card.

Stamps: Happy Happenings; Watercolor Wings
Inks: Blackberry Bliss; Rich Razzleberry; Perfect Plum
Cardstock: Pretty Petals DSP; Blackberry Bliss; Whisper White
Accessories: Rhinestones; Everyday Chic Washi Tape
Tools: Butterfly Thinlits

Washi Balloons

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to use some of SU's amazing washi tape. I love washi tape and it appears on many of my cards. For this card, I wanted something big and bold. How about covering my piece of cardstock with washi tape? That's definitely big and bold.

After covering the cardstock in washi, I cut out two balloons, added a sentiment, and finished the card with a little banner. A simple card, but it makes a big statement.

From the above card I had cut out two washi covered balloons. I couldn't just throw those in the trash. Instead I decided to make another birthday card. Another cut out balloon, a sentiment, and drawn on balloon strings complete the card. The perfect pair of cards featuring some great washi tape!

Stamps: Celebrate Today
Inks: Watermelon Wonder; Cucumber Crush; Bermuda Bay
Cardstock: Watermelon Wonder; Cucumber Crush; Bermuda Bay; Whisper White
Accessories:
Tools: Balloons Framelits

A Minty Birthday

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. Our theme for today was birthday cards. I've been relying heavily on the bright palette of the Cherry on Top DSP stack. But today I wanted to try something monochromatic and subtle. I decided on a Mint Macaron, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, and Whisper White color palette. And I love how this turned out! I even challenged myself to use multiple embellishments and it actually turned out great. I can't wait to give this card to someone special. (It could also double as a wedding card!)

Stamps: Build a Birthday; Papillon Potpurri; Chalk Lines
Inks: Basic Gray; Mint Macaron
Cardstock: Mint Macaron; Smoky Slate
Accessories: 2015-2017 In Color Blossoms; Rhinestones; Candy Dots; Tea Lace Paper Doilies
Tools: Decorative Dots Embossing Folder; Bitty Butterfly Punch; Elegant Butterfly Punch

SSINK July 2015 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration blog hop! I'm so excited to be participating in my first SSINK blog hop. As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number #5 on the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop - Darcy at Dj's Stampin Place. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

My demo group has recently started weekly challenges. Although I may not always have time to do the challenge, I love the idea. The card below was from our very first challenge over the Fourth of July. Our theme: Stars and Stripes. A few people made patriotic themed cards, but many of us took a different direction. I had fun with die cuts and pattern paper. A cute quick and easy birthday birthday card!

Stamps: Celebrate Today
Inks: Bermuda Bay
Cardstock: Cherry on Top DSP; Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Gold Sequins; Bermuda Bay Sequins
Tools: Stars Framelits

Blog Hop Participant List:

Jenny at Jenny G Paper Crafts
Diana at Stampin Fun with Diana
Leanne at Literally My Joy
Kim at Stamping with Kim
Darcy at Dj's Stampin Place
Tobe at The Craft Sea
Melissa at Stamp Doc
Donna at Organized Chaos
Bree at Craft-Somnia Momma
Jennifer at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life

Masked Single Layer Celebration

Today's card is featured over at Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration and features a single layer card. I decided to use of my current favorite stamp sets: Celebrate Today. I was so excited to see this stamp set carry over from the Occasions catalog.

My goal was to create a single layer card that didn't feel plain. I decided on a masking technique with the simple balloon stamp. I layered a few differently colored balloons and then had some fun embellishing the balloons. Rhinestones and candy dots were added to a few of the balloons. They add some great visual interest without any extra layers. Lastly, I heat embossed the sentiment on the middle balloon. The sentiment is hard to see in pictures, but shows up well in person. Overall, I loved the challenge of making a single layer card. Turns out I can actually do it!

Stamps: Celebrate Today
Inks: Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Versamark
Cardstock: Whisper White
Accessories: Pearl Embossing Powder, Rhinestones, Candy Dots
Tools: Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool

Candles Card

Next month we are holding our demo group's new catalog swap. We each pick a new stamp set from the catalog and make 8-10 cards. I chose Build a Birthday. I know it isn't July yet, but of course I finished my cards earlier and wanted to share them with you.

I've made a few Build a Birthday cards using the pieces to create a cake. this time, I wanted to highlight the ability to made candles. I found a similar layout on Pinterest and ran with it with some modifications. The pictures doesn't show it well but the piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock is actually embossed with the Lucky Stars Embossing folder. Adds a bit of texture to the card.

Stamps: Build a Birthday
Inks: Daffodil Delight; Watermelon Wonder; Pool Party; Cucumber Crush
Cardstock: Cherry on Top DSP; Watermelon Wonder; Bermuda Bay; Pool Party; Crushed Curry; Whisper White
Accessories:
Tools: Lucky Stars Embossing Folder; Circles Framelits; Hexagon Punch (banner end)

Build a Birthday Cards

One of my newest stamp sets and I had to play with it. I ended up making two different cards to start with: one for open house make n take and one for stamp club. For the make n take card I really wanted to highlight the new in colors. I decided to do a simple card with candles. Very cute! I love that you can customize this stamp set in so many ways.

Stamps: Build a Birthday
Inks: Delightful Dijon; Tip Top Taupe; Mint Macaron, Watermelon Wonder; Cucumber Crush
Cardstock: Watermelon Wonder
Accessories: Cherry on Top Washi Tape
Tools:

This card was made for my New Products Class. I wanted to create a cake with the build a Birthday stamp set. So cut! I layered the pieces to create a three layered cake. For the banner I just had to add some fun rhinestones to add that extra touch.

Stamps: Build a Birthday
Inks: Bermuda Bay; Daffodil Delight; Watermelon Wonder; Cucumber Crush; Pool Party
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay; Crushed Curry; Cherry on Top DSP
Accessories: Rhinestones
Tools:

Easy Masculine Card

I seem to always to need masculine cards, but hardly ever make them. This is the perfect simple card to men or women. I used the ombre technique to ink up the feathers. Ink up the stamp in the lighter color. Then add on the darker color on only park of the stamp. Such a neat look once they're done.

Stamps: Perfect Pennants; Four Feathers
Inks: Mossy Meadow; Wild Wasabi; Hello Honey; Lost Lagoon; Night of Navy
Cardstock: Night of Navy; Crumb Cake; Typeset DSP
Accessories: Gold buttons; Brown twine
Tools: Feathers Framelits

Fancy Folds Class - Part 2

In May I held a class featuring four cards with fancy folds. I tend to keep the same style of cards, but decided this was a great chance to learn some new techniques.

Card #1

I found a great little tutorial for a steps card. I love the finished look of these and knew I wanted to do my own. Take a piece of cardstock measuring 4 1/4" x 11" and score as 1 1/4", 2 1/2", 4 1/4", 6", 8 1/4". From there cut a separate piece of same colored cardstock to 4 1/4" by 5 1/8". Fold the card into steps and attach the other piece of cardstock to stand up the card. From there, I cut the DSP to 1" by 4", 1 1/2" by 4", and 4 3/4" by 4". I layered a smaller piece of white paper to put add a fun sentiment. To finish the card, I added some die cut flowers in coordinating inks.

Stamps: Wacky Wishes (retired); Secret Garden (retired)
Inks: Melon Mambo; Tangerine Tango; Pacific Point; Wild Wasabi
Cardstock: Melon Mambo; Beyond the Garden DSP (retired)
Accessories: Garden Party Washi Tape (retired)
Tools: Secret Garden Framelits (retired)

Card #2

Love this tri-fold class! Start with a 8" by 12" piece of cardstock. Line up the piece at a diagonal and cut. It doesn't need to be precise. You can make the angle as steep as you want. Score at 4", flip around, and score at 4". Fold the card and you're ready to decorate.

To decorate, I created my own piece of DSP with the circle stamp from Work of Art. Once that was done, I cut the pieces to add to the cardstock. Finally I decorated and cut out some balloons. Perfect!

Stamps: Celebrate Today (retired); Work of Art
Inks: Pistachio Pudding (retired); Crisp Cantaloupe (retired); Pool Party; Basic Gray
Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe (retired)
Accessories: Gray twin
Tools: Balloon Framelits

Retiring Series: Starburst Sayings and Birthday Bash

The new catalog is coming... But before we get there, I'm highlighting some of my favorite retiring stamp sets and retiring DSP. Starburst Sayings (and framelits) and Birthday Bash were made for each other. I love the bold look of this card. And the little Bermuda Bay candy dot finishes the card perfectly.

Stamps: Starburst Sayings
Inks: Bermuda Bay; Calypso Coral
Cardstock: Gold Foil; Bermuda Bay; Birthday Bash DSP
Accessories: Candy Dots
Tools: Starburst Framelits