Friends 24/7 Birthday

Hello Friends,

Happy Monday!

Today's blog is dedicated to a great stamp set called, "Friends 24/7". This stamp set is a lot of fun to play with. In fact it, was my first bird set that I ever purchased. I love how it uses nature to share the beauty of true frienship. The card I am posting today is a beautiful birthday gift card holder.

This card was so much fun to make and only took 10 minutes! I love this stamp set because it has a beautiful decorative accent motif that you can use by itself or as background paper, which is exactly how I used it in this card. I popped up the bird and the greeting with some dimensionals so that it will stand out as the focal point of the card. I also added an adorable tiny pearl to the bird for his eye. The best part about Stampin Up's pearls is they make several sizes to choose from all in one packet. Sometimes adding just one tiny pearl makes all the difference in your design. Now when you open the card.....

It's the perfect giftcard holder!

Look--->

I used the decorative motif another way. I just love being able to use one stamp many different ways!! It is now part of my sentiment's tag. My sentiment tag is on the part of the card that will hold a gift card perfectly. You can also lift up the gift card holder and write a personal message to your friend. 

So love this stamp set? If so, then you only have 4 more days to order it from me! Yes... I am sad to say it is another soon to be retired set, so get yours fast, before you regret it :o)

Colors Used: Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Chocolate Chip.

Stamp Sets Used: Friends 24/7 and On Your Birthday

Materials Used:  Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake, and Perfect Plum Classic stamp pad, Basic pearls, daubers, and a 1" circle punch

I am also including a card I made using the shaving cream technique. In this card I used the shaving cream techniaue to make my sky background paper, but it also looks great with two or more colors! Now this a fun technique which makes an amazing look to your cards and gifts. Want to try it? Book a wokshop with me! This card has a few of the other stamps used from the stamp set.

Colors Used: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Stamp Set Used: Friends 24/7

Materials Used: Chocolate Chip Classic stamp pad, Stampin Write Markers, Bashful Blue re-inker

I wanted to share one more card with you. This one is called a Buckle card. I used the other parts of the stamp set that I haven't showed you yet. As you can see from all three cards, there is so much you can do with this stamp set!

Colors Used: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Whipser White.

Stamp Set Used: Friends 24/7

Materials Used: Stampin Write Markers, Chocolate Chip Classic stamp pad, and Word Window punch

I hope you enjoyed stopping by today!

Lastly, I want to leave you today with a quote from one of my most favorite artists, Georgia O'Keeffe:

Nobody sees a flower -- really -- it is so small it takes time -- we haven't time -- and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.

If you haven't talked to your close friends in awhile, check in with them and remind them how much they mean to you. Because they may be needing their friend at this very moment and don't realize it! Have a wonderful day!

Simply Said

Hello Friends,
The weekend is here YAY!!! Happy Saturday.
Today's blog is dedicated to Stampin Up's soon to be retired set, "Simply Said". This set is so sweet and I have really worn my set out. Take a look and if you love this set..there is still time to order from me. 6 more days to be exact, so don't miss out!

 This card is called a criss cross card. Please look to the right of my blog to find my new page added today, labeled Tutorials! It will house my tutorials which even though I am a little nervous I think I will have some fun things to share with you in the future. I decided to start by teaching you how to make this adorable little card. So once you finish reading this blog click on tutorials and have fun creating!

Color Used: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Certainly Celery (probably my most favorite color combo!

Stamp Sets Used: Simply Said, and Itty Bitty Bits

Materials used: Designer Series Paper from the Brights Collection, Certainly Celery 1/4" gross grain ribbon, Full Heart Extra Large punch, Modern Label Extra Large punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Basic Rhinestones, and Bitty Buttons.

 This card is a thank you card. I love it because its simple and sweet. I used the different heart stamps in the set to make my banner and then I used the flower stamps from this set to create the printed paper card base.

Colors Used: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, So Saffron, and Whisper White

Stamp Set Used: Simply Said

Materials Used: Card Stock, Stampin Write Markers, and Classic Stamp Pads in Basic Black and Rose Red.

Lastly, I wanted to also post a spinner card I made using the Standard Size Stamp Around Wheel(these are great for making a quick border, banner, or decorative background paper) called "Fast Flowers" which coordinates with the "Simply Said" stamp set. This spinner card is fun because when you tip it to the side the "Simply Said" flower spins and slides across the card. Such a fun card. One of these days I will have to post a tutorial on how to make one.

This card was made when I was not a Stampin Up demonstrator so I do not really have a color scheme to share with you, as I used whatever materials I had left over from my scrapbook stash.

Stamps Used: Simply Said and Standard Size Stamp Around Wheel called Fast Flowers

Okay now that your done reading go check out my tutorial and PLEASE PLEASE leave comments, I would love to know your thoughts, questions, or concerns about my first tutorial. Have a wonderful weekend!

Independence Day is Coming..

Hello Friends,

Today I am posting a card that uses a current stamp from Stampin Up's Summer Mini. This stamp set is called Land of the Free. The words on the flag incase you cannot read it are the words to our National Anthem. It is available until August 31, 2011, but if you want to get it in time to make some 4th of July cards for your family and friends make sure you contact me soon. I will be putting in an order by the end of the week and it should be delivered by next Wednesday. That will give you enough time to make a few cards. Other ideas for this stamp are inserts for tea light candle holders for your patio, string a few together to create a banner, attach them to a strip of paper and make them into napkin holders for your picnic, and cupcake toppers(would be super cute on a wooden dowel and then placed into a cupcake to look like a mini flag. I am sure you can see how fun this stamp can be. In fact, if you decide to create some of these ideas I mentioned send me a picture and I would love to add it to my blog!

For this card I wanted to create an Americana style card. I simply love the colors. Let me know what you think??? Enjoy your day!

Color Scheme: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, and Night of Navy

Card Size: 4 1/4" X 5 1/2"

Stamp Sets Used: Land of the Free and Every Little Bit

Materials Used: Crimper, Antique Brads, Night of Navy 1/4" gross grain. Hemp, Eyelet Border, Glue dots, and a 2 way glue pen

Summer is Officially here !!!!!

Hello Friends and Happy 1st day of Summer!

Today's blog is to spolight Stampin Up's "Tart and Tangy" stamp set. So sad to see it go as I love to make some fun projects with this stamp set as you will see in this blog.

This is the perfect set to create recipe cards, attach to a homemade food or drink item or to put on......

Yes!!

Popcicles!

Don't these adorable cards look Yummy???

I know it is hard to see the greeting but it is stamped onto the popcicle stick and says "sweet treats", which comes from the stamp set "Tenny Tiny Wishes". These would make a really cute gift card set for a friend. In fact, I have given them to some of my hostesses as a hostess thank you gift. They are a great way to send a hello to a friend over summer. They can also be great kids birthday cards, just need to add a Happy Birthday and your done. I hope you love these.

Colors Used: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, and Pear Pizzazz.

Card Size: 3" X 4 1/4"

Tools used: 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, corner rounder, and 1 3/4" scallop circle (for the little bite already taken from these delicious popcicles.

Next, I used the one stamp that I did not include in the popcicles to make...do you hear the drum roll????

CHERRIES!!!! Who doesn't love things with cherries?? I love them. Isn't this apron cute?

 I took two pictures of it closed so you can see the ribbon is for straps and not part of a purse, although this could make a cute purse card too. After completing the outside I just had to stamp one more set of cherries on the inside next to where you would write your message. I know you love this card. I blew myself out of the water. I saw some online and when I knew what I wanted mine to look like a created a template and went to town. I think this card would be a great baking invitation, maybe a Mom and Me day card, Mother's Day card, or even a little girls birthday invtation. Either way, I think it is cute cute cute!

Colors Used: Real Red, Whisper White, and Garden Green

Materials used: Real Red buttons and some hemp. The rest was a template I created and I do not have it online to share with you. Sorry.

I hope you loved today's cards and I look forward to sharing a few more retiring stamp sets in the next few days. Remember, if you love this set as much as I do and do not have it yet. It will only be available until June 30th so place your order ASAP. Have a wonderful summer day!

Dreams du Jour

Hello Friends

For this blog entry I wanted to start with one of my favorite quotes by Carl Sandburg, "nothing happens unless first a dream". Which I must say is how I come up with new ideas for my cards. I begin by thinking about a stamp set (I know you are probably thinking I am either way obsessed or maybe crazy or maybe a little bit of both, but its true I really do dream about things I want to create), then I go to sleep or work and an idea comes to me. Its wonderful if it happens when I am asleep because I can get up and work on it right away, but when I am at work all I do is watch the clock until it tells me I can go home and play. 

 But anyways.... To the point of my blog!

This is the card I created wile working on soon to be retired stamp sets. This card was created with one of the stamps from the "Dreams du Jour" set. It has a famous quote by Woodrow Wilson, "We Grow Great By Dreams". The set has a sweet little butterfly stamp, a Love You stamp with a flower which kind of looks like a postage stamp, and another quote by Vincent Van Gough which says, "The way to KNOW LIFE is to LOVE many things. Below the details of this card I will include a few other cards I have made using these others stamps as accents for some of my past cards. Enjoy and remember this is also retiring in 11 days!

Color Scheme: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, and Melon Mambo

Additional Materials:  Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon, Designer Series Paper, amd a Scallop Edge Border.

Simple but Sweet!!!

Here is a few more using this stamp set.....

 

 

 Enjoy and have a lovely evening!

A Flower For All Seasons



Hello Friends,
Today I am sharing a card set I have created using Stampin Up's, "A Flower For All Seasons". I love this set and will miss using it in workshops. You only have 11 days left to snag it up before it retires!

I decided to make some "Thinking of You" cards because I like to drop a card in the mail from time to my close friends to let then know that they are on my mind even when I am busy teaching, chasing my 5 beautiful children, and managing the household. With this set you can make a bunch when the creative mood strikes and then save them to send out any time throughout the year. In fact......

I did just that. I made a cute greeting card box holder to hold up to 8 of this beautiful cards.

The box is velcroed shut so you can grab the handle and go. A couple of things I wanted to mention about these cards are I used rhinestones on the poinsettia's flower centers to add a little sparkle, I also added pearls to the daisy flower centers, and to show some texture to the cards I used an embossing folder on the whisper white cardstock.

Colors used with these cards: Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink.

Materials: Brights collection Designer Series Paper, 2 3/8" scallop punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Whisper White 1/4" gross grain ribbon, 3/8" Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon, and Flower Designer Brads.

I hope you enjoyed stopping by, have a wonderful week!

Farwell Sock Monkey!

Hello Friends, Happy Wednesday!

Today I am sharing with you two cards that I made that will showcase Stampin Up's soon to be retired sets.

Three Cheers for this Wild Sock Monkey!! He is cruising at high speed to celebrate living life to the fullest!

This card uses several sets that will soon be retired; Sock Monkey, More Monkey Accessories, and Neighborhood Jumbo Wheel. I am so sad to see Sock Monkey retire as he is so versitile. I have used him for Valentine's Day, Thank You Cards, Birthday cards, and Baby Shower cards. However, there is another set called Sock Monkey Accessories that will allow you to dress up this cutie pie for Easter, Halloween, Christmas, and Graduation. 

Color Scheme: Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Whisper White, and Crumb Cake

Card Size: 5 1/2" X 4 1/4"

Stamp Sets Used: Sock Monkey, More Monkey Accessories, Neighborhood Jumbo Wheel, and Fifth Avenue

Have a birthday coming up, baby shower, bridal shower, or even a million Christmas cards to make (like me)? Well depending on the color scheme you use this card can be used for any occasion. For this card I used the More Monkey Accesories again to show the cute wagon used in another way. I also had to use Stampin Up's "Celebrations" Designer Series Paper since it will be another item that is retiring in two weeks! Yikes... Maybe I should order somre more too :o) The Pacific Point paper that I used behind the Whisper White was embossed using a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder giving just a little added texture to the card.

Color Scheme: Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Whispier White, Old Olive, and Real Red

Designer Paper Series: Celebrations

Card Size: 4 1/4" X 5 1/2"

Stamp Sets Used: More Monkey Accessories and Playful Pieces (hostess set)

Accessories Used:  Filigree Designer Brads, Designer Buttons in the Brights, and Hemp Twine

Tools Used: 1" cercle punch, Big Shot, and Stampin Up exclusive Textured Impressions Embossing Folder: Square Lattice

So, I know you LOVED these cards :o) Make sure if you don't have these items and want them to place an order with me before this month ends! Have a wonderful day and like my Sock Monkey, Seize the Day!

Birthday surprise

For the next few posts, I am going to focus on projects that have Stampin Up product that will be retiring soon. It is so sad that they are going away but exciting to see what great new items Stampin Up will have instore for us. So if you see something you like you will want to order it right away

Today's project I made for a special friend for her birthday. She is one of my crafty friends so giving a store bought gift just wouldn't do. This project is an explosion box/card.

When the box is closed it looks like a beautifully wrapped present. However when you carefully pull the lid off......

Surprise!!! The bottom of your box unfolds and the inside is revealed.

An explosion box can have layer upon layer of scrapbook pages, but for this one I was originally going to just make it into a card with cute stamped messages. However, knowing my friend, I thought it would be even better if I gave her a gift she could actually use so I left the pages open to add pictures of her special day. Therefore I just added one birthday greeting on top of the popped up cake.

Let's talk about this lovely cake... It was made by using one of Stampin Up's soon to be retired Big Shot XL dies, an embosslits die, a border punch, and some Designer Series paper. The three tier cake can be so versatile, you could use it to make a birthday cake, a wedding cake, a holdiday cake, whatever occasion you want. Changing the colors, the Designer Series paper, and the accesories will make this cake perfect for so many occasions. One of the other great qualities of this cake is the center piece of paper that holds the cake together can attach to the fold of your card or even a scrapbook page and by carefully closing the card or scrapbook after the cake is assembled, it will transform into a pop up cake when reopened. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post and if you love this cake and do not own the die cut for it you should defintely order it because it will only be available until June 30th, 2011.

Color scheme used: Certainly Celery, Melon Mambo, Pretty In Pink, and Whisper White

Lid size: 8" X 8" Designer Series paper from the birghts collection scored at 2" all the way around

Box/ page size: 12" X 12" Textured card stock scored at 4" all the way around.

Stamp Sets used: Party Hearty and So Happy For You

Father's Day cards

Father's Day is coming...  

I wanted to make some cards to honor Dads everywhere and to showcase one of the terrific Stampin Up stamp sets that can be found in the current 2011 Stampin Up Summer Mini catalog.

The first card  "Dress Casual" was made by using an orgami folding technique. I chose to use Desiger Series Paper because the folds were a lot easier to make because the paper is thinner than regular card stock. The tie was made by stamping onto some card stock and then cutting it out. It was mounted with some Stampin dimensionals to give the tie a little 3D effect. I also tore two corners of the card to give a little more of a rugged look to the card. I really love how this card turned out.

Color scheme for this card:  Very Vanilla, Tempting Turquoise, and Old Olive.

Stamp Set used: Best Dad Ever

Card Size: 4 1/4" X 5 1/2"

For my second card, "Ties for Dad", I wanted to stay with a monochramtic look. I used an embossing folder for the border called "Framed Tulips". I also used the same stamp set as the card above, "Best Dad Ever".

Color scheme for this card : Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake.

Stamp Set: Best Dad Ever

Card Size: 4 1/4" X 5 1/2"

If you like these cards and would like to make them, I will be hosting a class on Tuesday, June 14th.  Contact me for more information. Or if you would like to find the supplies to make them click on the link Sandi's Stampin Up Webste on the right side of my blog to place an order.

The beginning of the beginning...

Hello Friends and fellow stampers! I have decided to take a plunge into blogging. Hopefully this will be a place that you can come to view some of my beautiful stamped cards and creative gifts. My goal is to try to post something new every other day. Wish me luck and have a wonderful day!