Boxes, boxes

I feel like I've spent this month making boxes instead of making cards. Here's another one I made to house a book someone ordered from my etsy store. She wanted the book to be brown, burgundy with certainly celery ribbon (wouldn't have been my choice, but it actually worked!), so I made a little box to store the book in. Not my best work (boxes are frustrating sometimes--getting the bottom and lid to fit right is a challenge!), but it'll do.

Supplies: Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery DSP, Very Vanilla cardstocks
Boho Backgrounds stamp set
Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa ink
Brown Organza (non-SU) ribbon

Top Note Purse

This is a little gift I made for the blog candy winner (congrats, Anne!) at the beginning of the month--I think it's kind of cute! It's based on this design from Inking Idaho's blog.

Supplies:
Tangerine Tango (2 Top Note Dies, plus a bit extra for the lid)
Good Morning Sunshine DSP for box
Latte Button for closure
Orange ribbon for handle and loop closure
Copper eyelets from SU
Crop-A-Dile to set said eyelets
Sticky Strip
Russell Stover's Selects
Tart and Tangy Stamp Set
Tangerine Tango Ink

Clean and Simple thanks

This quick and simple card was CASEd from another swap I received from my mail swap in May, but it was unsigned, so I have no idea who to credit the original idea with. The original card used Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, but I didn't have any and so substituted cream satin ribbon instead.

Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla
Tangerine Tango Ink
Pocket Silhouettes
Cream satin ribbon

Using up scraps

This is another quick card I made using up some finished scraps from another project. (I guess you might call it card candy...) The poppin' pastels piece had been mounted on chocolate chip for another project, but then I went with a different color scheme and it got set aside. So I finally used it up on this card, which I think makes for a nice autumn birthday card.

Pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, whisper white cs
botanical blooms, hugs and wishes stamps
pumpkin pie, old olive ink, versamark
poppin' pastels (cameo coral/more mustard chalk)

Altered items: coffee sleeve

I had saved a coffee sleeve (one of those cardboard insulated jobbies that everyone puts on their to-go cup of coffee now) with the idea of using it on a card. I had seen someone do that a while back and thought it was a cool idea. Since I hadn't even inked my Sip by Sip set, I thought this would be a good place to start! I'm not totally happy with the paper piercing, but that's a learning curve for you!

Supplies
Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss Dsp, close to cocoa
Sip by Sip stamps
Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa (craft)
Paper piercing tool, mat pack, copper brads, insulated coffee sleeve

Thank you card sample with twine

Another sample I made for that batch of samples--I was trying to use up some of the scraps and things I had lying around, so this is the result. I had the front piece already stamped from another project (I ended up not needing it, but saved it anyway) and so just started layering and adding elements until I was happy with it. I'm sorry that I fell in love with Baja Breeze so late in the game--it took a long time to grow on me, and now I love it, but it's retired! boo-hoo. I'm hoarding what I have left. ;)

Supplies:
Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Real Red cs
Real Red ink
Pocket Silhouettes stamps
hemp twine, silver brads, ticket corner punch, dimensionals

Kerin's Sketch Challenge, Take 3

Okay, last card with this sketch. This one uses some card candy as well. I received a note from a friend a few months ago that had the taxi image on the top of the cardstock and I thought it was so cool I saved just the top part of the page, intending to use it on a card sometime. It is hard to tell, but the whole thing is heat embossed, including the yellow.

The only thing I wished I had done different was either to put the sentiment on a different color of paper or to use a darker ink so that it would stand out more, but I guess it is okay as is.

CS: Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Boho Backgrounds
Punches: Scallop Circle, Wide Oval

Kerin's Sketch Challenge, Take 2

So the interesting thing about this card and #3 (wait for it...) is that they use "card candy". I am in a marker club right now so that I can get all the markers over a period of months and I just got the soft subtles set. I was playing with Asian Artistry and the markers (unfortunately forgot to stamp on watercolor paper) and came up with this little piece of whisper white. I didn't know what to do with it after the ink dried (I used an aqua painter to watercolor and blend) and set it aside. When Kerin's challenge showed up, I saw that little piece sitting on my desk and decided to make something of it. I had some coordinating scraps lying around and just started fiddling. I needed to make an anniversary card for a priestly friend of ours and his wife, so this fit the bill! I ended up flipping the sketch to make the image fit.

So without further ado, here's #2:

CS: Perfect Plum (love it!), Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Kraft
Ink: Perfect Plum, Sage Shadow markers, basic black
Stamps: Asisan Artistry, Boho Backgrounds
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Ticket Corner Punch

Kerin's Sketch Challenge, Take 1

Kerin Sylvester posted another excellent sketch challenge last Thursday and I was so inspired, I made three cards in a row using it!

Here's the sketch:


Here is #1:

CS: Garden Green, Whisper White, Red Riding Hood, Bella Rose DSP
Ink: Red Riding Hood
Stamps: Yuletide
Ribbon: 3/8" grosgrain (non-SU)
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch

Animal Stories CASEd

I CASEd this card from a swap I received from someone in our Inker's Forum, but don't remember who made the original. The original used the now-retired Wild About You set, but I thought Animal Stories would substitute just as well!

Supplies:
Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Whisper White cs
Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Basic Black ink
Animal Stories, Teeny Tiny Wishes stamps
Hemp Twine

Watercolor with markers

In June at our Inker's meeting, one of my sidelines, Illina Crouse, showed us how to watercolor with markers. She is a master watercolorer and I can only hope to do it as well as she does! This is the card we all made using her technique.

Ruby Red, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White and Watercolor paper
Jet Black Staz-On, Stampin' Write Markers
Blender pen or Aqua Painter
Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon

Anniversary card for my god-daughter

On my way to Whole Foods a few days ago, I realized suddenly that my god-daughter's anniversary was at the beginning of August and I missed it! So one night last week I frantically made a card for her to get in the mail right away--I foolishly decided that it had to be an emboss resist card using my new brayer, so it took longer than it might have, but that's okay--I'm happy with the result even thought it took some fiddling to get it right (mostly because I made some newbie mistakes with the brayer while in the early stages). Michelle Zindorf makes it look so easy! I'm going to have to practice a lot more with it to get the feel for the brayer in my hand.

Supplies:
Red Riding Hood, Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa cs
Inspired by Nature, Teeny Tiny Wishes (on the inside) stamps
Ink: Red Riding Hood, More Mustard, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa craft, Chocolate chip, versamark
Accessories: Sponges, brayer, clear emboss powder, heat gun, gold brads, paper piercing tool, mat pack

Wedding Invitation Samples

Just a quick post today--some wedding invitation samples I made recently.

Supplies:
Bravo Burgundy, Ballet Blue, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze Cs
Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze ink
Thoughts and Prayers, Baroque Motifs, Boho Backgrounds stamps

Christmas in August

These cards use a set from the new Holiday Mini-Catalog, available September 1! There are so many great stamps and accessories in this catalog, it was hard to choose just one (but one needs some self-restraint...) This is from the Yuletide set, which I choose for its watercolor possibilities, but I needed to make some samples for an etsy seller who is giving me some free publicity and these were quick and easy. I love the vintage look of this set--I'm such a sucker for vintage things.

Supplies:
Cs: Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red
Stamps: Yuletide
Ribbon: Olive and Red Stitched Grosgrain ribbon
Brads: Gold and pewter brads (from Joann Fabric)
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch

I may offer these cards as a DIY kit, so stay tuned and be sure to let me know if you are interested!

Fresh Squeezed Summer

I also got the Tart and Tangy set in my August box and finally broke it out this week. I'm not really a glitter person, but I have to say, I'm liking the Dazzling Diamonds and two-way glue pen! It really gives a bit of pop to a card. I like how it makes the fruit shine on this card! I was inspired by this card on splitcoast, but ended up with a different look in the end. I created my own yellow dsp by sponging a piece of Whisper White and then stamping the orange in yo-yo yellow all over it.

This is a brighter card than I normally make, but I think it works. I never thought I'd have a reason to use up that Sherbet dsp from last year's catalog! (I got a few sheets in a dsp share and have despaired of ever using them!)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Green Galore, Yo-Yo Yellow, Sherbet dsp, Whisper White
Ink: Green Galore, Yo-Yo Yellow, Tangerine Tango
Stamps: Tart and Tangy
Accessories: Scallop square punch, 1 1/4" square punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, sponges, yellow stitch grosgrain ribbon, gold mini-brads, two-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds

Sesame Street Punch Pals

I wish I could take creative credit for this cute card, but alas, someone more crafty than me thought it up! My upline, Claire, took a picture of this card at the Stampin' Up trip in Hawaii this past spring, so I don't know who to give credit for the idea! I've been dying to make it since she posted it on our Inker's forum, but haven't had the right punches for it, until now! (Thank goodness for birthdays!) The original card was a birthday card and had the Hugs and Wishes birthday sentiment on it, but I thought it would make a darling invitation, and so used the You're Invited stamp from the same set instead. This card is great for using up little scraps!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Yo-yo yellow, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, textured Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red
Stamps: Hugs and Wishes
Punches: Scallop circle, 1/2" circle punch, 3/16" circle punch, large oval, modern label punch, 1" circle punch

Sympathy Card

In my ridiculously large August order, I got the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set, which has a lot of nice sentiments plus a great tree and floral vine images that can be used for a lot of different things. In any case, I needed to make a card to go with one of my little care packages for a grieving mommy and came up with this card. The blanket and book that I made to go with it were in purples at the mom's request, so I thought the card should be as well. The card is on top of the box I made to hold everything.

Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla
Ink: Kiwi Kiss
Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers
Accessories: KC& Co. butterfly sticker

Tags, tags, tags

The woman who ordered the close to cocoa scallop circle tags was back this month for a reorder of 200, followed closely by another vendor who wanted 80 similar tags with her logo and care instructions for her sewn bags. The second woman is getting to place her stuff in a brick and mortar store and wanted some cool price tags to go with them. Very nifty.

So I spent several hours one morning just punching scallop circles--280 in all. I have to say, my arms were a bit tired after that!


This is what 280 scallop circle tags looks like, all packaged and ready to go!

Matchbox favors

While at Meg Loven's Stampin' and Scrappin' Staycation in July, I was able to use a Big Shot to make some darling matchbox favors. I've seen these favors cropping up all over different blogs since the Occassions mini debuted earlier this spring and I really like them! So cute and there are so many ways to customize them! Here I've made two that are quite different--I envision the pink and brown one as a baby shower favor and the white dry-embossed one as a wedding or bridal shower favor. Need favors? Just ask! I have a listing in my etsy store for them.Supplies for "Adorable" box: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip cs, pink pirouette ink, Warm Words stamp set, Hero Arts baby feet stamp, flower brad in pretty in pink, dimensionals, Matchbox favor die with labels, Big Shot die cutting machine

Supplies for "Cherish" box: Whisper White cs, Sweet Always DSP scrap (for liner), Regal Rose ink, Warm Words stamp set, Matchbox die and labels, Big Shot die cutting machine

Busy Books

I'm not sure how to introduce this post, as it serves as an introduction to the other work that I do, which is that I make bereavement packages (gratis) for parents who have lost a baby. I share it because I'd like to share photos of some of the things I've made, not because I want acclaim. I've debated for a while whether to even share it, but decided that maybe my blog might reach someone who needs these things as well. I'm affiliated with Heavenly Angels in Need (hain.org), but most of my work recently has been through the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation parents' forum (nowilaymedowntosleep.org).

It all started when a woman named Mia posted an etsy request for her unborn (terminal) baby, Nevaeh Grace. She didn't have much in the way of means, and I was moved by her story and request for things for the baby. I decided to make her a package of things for her baby, in part because I couldn't stop thinking about her, and in part because of my own need to pay forward all the kindnesses we received when we lost our Philip. I think making these things for other grieving parents helps my own grieving process, which I find is still ongoing, even 2 1/2 years on.

Anyway, I'll post some pictures of Mia's package later, but I wanted to share pictures of the busy books I made for her two young daughters. I included a small coloring book with stickers and crayons along with the book for each girl. Each book had a "this book belongs to:" sticker in the front to identify them (each book is slightly different in page layout, but overall is the same).

I had part of a Simply Scrappin' kit left over from another project (more about that in a few days) and used the left over dsp and die cut stickers for these books. The books are blank board books from Oriental Trading Company. I bought them for a personal project that I haven't gotten around to yet, and since they come 6 to the package, I had more than enough for my needs!

Anything but a Card

These adorable little jars were designed by Rebecca Harvey for her stamp club members to make as a 3D item--aren't they cute? My mom made them both and gave them both to me! Yippie! One has pink lemonade and one has hot cocoa inside. You could also put loose leaf tea, and use the Dream Gardens set to put a teapot image on top. I'm going to be offering these in my etsy store soon, so be sure to check the store if you are looking for a little gift or a wedding or shower favor.

It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but the pink lemonade jar has dazzling diamonds on the top.

Supplies:

Provo Craft glass jars, Tart and Tangy stamp set, Pretty in Pink cs, Chocolate Chip cs, WW cs, two-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, dimensionals, scallop circle punch, white gel pen, chocolate chip twill ribbon, pretty in pink ink

The hot cocoa one uses sets I'm not familiar with, but I would probably use Sip by Sip to recreate it--there are several coffee mugs on it that will work just fine. Colors are Close to Cocoa and Old Olive ribbon.

Happy Birthday...but not to me

This is another birthday card I made at my mother's, based on a design by Rebecca Harvey. My mom made a similar card in her stamp club, then CASEd it herself again at home and then I CASEd that card, since I didn't have the stamps available to CASE the original. Anyway, here it is:

The small inset photo is the card with the insert inside. It's kind of a nifty concept, anyway. I'd like to have another go at it with a different set next time. I think I'd use sticky strip or a glue dot to hold the outer card together as well--the snail just didn't quite cut it on this one. This card would be darling using the new Circle Circus set, don't you think?

Supplies:

Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, White cardstock
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful blue
Stamps: Itty Bitty Buds, plus two sets long retired (one has shapes and one has the Happy Birthday sentiment, don't know the names)
Punches: 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch
Accessories: dimensional

Happy Birthday to Me!

I turned 30 on July 22, and got to celebrate my birthday twice as we celebrated at home and then again at my parents', as they had another little family celebration while I was visiting. So in addition to yummy brownies and turkey divan (I so love casseroles...), I also got some cool cards. My upline, Tara Gupta-Goldenberg also sent me a very nice card using Razzle Dazzle (another one on my ever-growing wish list!).

From my mom and dad:

From my upline, Tara:

(The inside was watermarked with the same stamp--so pretty!)

Crimped Envelope Card

This is another card CASE from my mom's stamp club, designed by Rebecca Harvey, but I think the original idea is from splitcoast, as I recall seeing a tutorial on there for it a while back. The card is very simple to make, although you have to use another larger envelope to mail it in. Otherwise, it's a good card to give for a wedding or a gift insert card. The original card used a Whisper White envelope with Pacific Point, Baja Breeze and Basic Gray Inks, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon and Pacific Point-backed inside card with Baja Breeze scallop circle accent and gray taffeta ribbon.

You first take your envelope and seal it, then cut off about 1 1/2" on the end. Stamp on the part that's left over as you like and then run it through the crimper. Make sure you crimp it tightly or it doesn't fit at the end. You can always run it through again if it doesn't work the first time--mine went through twice. Stamp the uncrimped edge and use snail to stick the ribbon down.

The card inside is about 3 x 3 (I think) but you can measure your envelope to be more exact. (Tip: Be sure to measure after crimping!). The scallop circle is also crimped (do that after you punch it out). The original card had a sentiment on it from the God's Blessings Stamp set for a wedding, but my mom didn't have that set, so I just used the sentiment in Fifth Ave. Floral, which I think works just as well.

Again, forgive the picture quality--the color isn't as true as it could be.

Supplies:
Cardstock: VV, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Regal Rose, Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette
Stamps: Fifth Ave. Floral
Ribbon: non-SU pink organdy ribbon
Technique: Crimping

Fifth Avenue Floral Pocket Card

My mom had made a version of this card at her stamp club using Baroque Motifs and Soft Suede with Dusty Durango. Lacking both the set (it was at my house) and those colors of ink, I decided to make do with what she had, so I used Fifth Avenue Floral (on its virgin inking) and Perfect and Pale Plum, which I think turned out lovely! I think this card would make a super cool wedding invitation too. I should say forgive me for the lackluster photo quality--I was having one of those days where I just couldn't take a decent photo to save my life!

Original card design by Rebecca Harvey.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Very Vanilla
Ink: Bashful blue, Pink Pirouette, Versamark
Stamps: Itty Bitty Buds, Fifth Avenue Floral
Ribbon: Non-SU wired pale plum organdy ribbon

Blog candy winner!

Random.org picked #2, which is...Anne! I'll be sending you a free gift--just shoot me an e-mail with your snail mail address.

And for my favorite on the program covers--#1 was my fave. I thought the extra very vanilla strip of card stock really made it pop. The bride agreed, but her beloved wanted to go with #2, so I think that is what we'll do!

Thanks for playing!

Birthday Gift for a Record Fiend

My sister, turns 23 this year (yowza--how did she get to be in her 20s that quick? In my mind, I often still think of her as about 5 or so) and her birthday was yesterday. I wanted to post this earlier, but she gets this blog by subscription and I couldn't risk it!

So here is her gift: she collects old LPs (records) and my parents got her a turntable this year. So I went to the Goodwill when I was home visiting the family and picked up a bunch that I thought she'd get a kick out of. Stopped by Hobby Lobby to get some silver tissue paper and I was off to the races. What is really cool is that my other sister got her a record themed photo frame, so she's really in the record this year! (ha-ha)

I first made the card, which I had decided needed to look like a record. So I used my mom's creative memories circle cutter (what a great tool that is!) and cut out two circles from black cardstock. I used a solid circle stamp (long retired, but my mom is fond of garage sales and picked the set up at one recently) and stamped it in white craft in the middle and then punched a little hole. I took the craft pad and sort of swiped it around the circle to create "grooves" and then attached the inside circle with a smaller circle and some lovely Tombow mono adhesive glue (great stuff, that). Used another retired stamp for the Happy Birthday sentiment (more garage sale finds) and my white gel pen to personalize it.

I then took some Taken with Teal cardstock and stamped it with another random retired stamp and some versamark to make a checkerboard pattern (if I'd had more time I would have designed a cool album cover, but I didn't so had to make do...) and then crimped the whole thing. I put it together to make a record sleeve for the card and put it inside with the record sort of peeking out the edge.

I took my silver tissue paper and wrapped the albums and then made a cute little tag with a long retired baby set that had a nice tag stamp on it (just replaced "baby" with "Bethie") and some record miniatures from the dollhouse section of Hobby Lobby. Gosh, I love that place; I wish we had one in Philly! Of course, that could be VERRRY dangerous, so it's probably best that I have to get on a plane and fly two hours and then drive two hours to get to one. ;) I did a bit of damage this time when I was home. (tee-hee)

So here is the result! I think it's pretty cool, myself.

The tag

The record card (on top of the "album sleeve" envelope)

Inside record card

Life as a Tree

My mom had recently purchased the Branch Out stamp set (currently dormant) but hadn't mounted it, so we decided that while I was visiting that week, we should ink it up and give the set a trial run. She had also purchased Fifth Avenue Floral (also unmounted) that I gave a whirl as well. Look for those cards in a day or two. My mom made a sample to put in the case with the stamps for reference and I made three cards with it. I like how the set allows such versatility. Playing with stamps I don't own is dangerous, though! I usually decide I want to add them to my wish list after ward! I'm still on the fence about this one, but I like the idea of using it for a gift card set or holiday cards.

Anyway, I made a "spring", "fall" and "holiday" card using that set plus Sincere Salutations (another one on my wish list--it's so long that I'm embarrassed to say how many sets are on it!) My mom didn't have any red ink and I didn't have any with me, so I think if I made the "fall" card over again, I'd put red in the leaves as well. The inside of that one says "Thanks Very Much" in old olive, in case you care. The others are blank inside.

Spring: Ivory note card
Branch Out and Sincere Salutations Stamps
Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Basic Black, & Old Olive Inks
Envelope is the same but stamped off once.

Fall: Ivory notecard
Branch Out and Sincere Salutations stamps
Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive inks

Holiday Card: Ivory Note card
Branch Out and Sincere Salutations Stamps
Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue and Sahara Sand Ink

I may offer the Holiday Greetings card as a finished boxed set or DIY kit for Christmas/Hannukah, so stay tuned! The SU holiday mini comes out September 1st and there are lots of great ideas for holiday cards--I'll definitely be offering some DIY kits, finished card sets and more! Let me know if you are interested in a particular design you see on my blog.