I've discussed many times how the creative journey takes us to unexpected places. Today's project is the result of one of the wildest journeys I've ever taken. This design really started as a card for a baby!
My first design was made with Pink Pirouette and Bashful Blue. Eventually, that evolved to this color palette: Sahara Sand and Pacific Point. (Don't ask me what happened to the colors in the photo. It's a dull day here and obviously it affected my camera work. Sorry.)
The baby card started with hearts. This card was made with Circle Circus, one of my Go-To stamp sets in the current catalog. The sentiment was stamped with Layered Labels, then punched out using the Big Shot and the Apothecary Accents Framelits.
I stamped fewer images on the Whisper White background than I typically do. I'm working on simpler designs these days!
By the way, I have a tip for you. I stamped the sentiment first, then cut it out using the Big Shot. Nevertheless, the image was not positioned exactly where I wanted it. Look at the photo.
So, before attaching it to the card, I sponged the edges with Pacific Point ink. I exaggerated a little so that you can see the difference here. But, trust me; it's never noticeable on the real card!
By the way, if you'd like to see the original baby card design, visit my Facebook page and have a look. While you're there, please like my Facebook page. Thanks!
It's almost become an obsession. I just have to use my retiring colors before they're gone. Today's project is a masculine card in the retiring colors. What do you think?
Today's design process started with the colors, namely River Rock, Not Quite Navy and Bashful Blue. Oh, how I'll miss those shades of blue. Although, we still have some nice ones left, and once they introduce the In Colors 2013-2015 maybe we'll have yet another one!
Simple design. Lots of layers - both in card stock and in stamping. I pulled everything together by repeating the banner shape and the ovals. Tip: Repeating shapes is an excellent way to tie together your card design.
Do you want to be sure to have these colors in your own collection? Well, don't forget that if you shop today, you'll also enjoy free shipping. Don't wait until the last minute. I heard that Stampin' Up! is already out of the Certainly Celery Ink Refill.
I already shopped, so I'm in good shape. So, for now, I'll make a few more masculine cards in retiring colors!
Have you checked them out yet? Just in case you've been too busy, here is a quick look at the retiring colors.
Three blues are going. That makes me sad. But Island Indigo and Pool Party will be joining our Core Color Collections. That's great! I know that I've mentioned before Pool Party is my Go-To color. Don't forget, too, that we'll have 5 more In Colors with the new catalog. I can't wait to see what they are!
In the meanwhile, remember that products made in the retiring colors, like card stock, ink and ribbon, will be sold only while supplies last. So, please don't delay. Visit my online store.
Be sure to get your Retiring Color products soon. And, while you're at it, take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING over the next 3 days.
It's time to update our Stampin' Up! wardrobe. Unlike the popular reality shows, we won't toss out everything. But we will update our colors in the new catalog coming out May 31! Stampin' Up! calls it a Color Refresh.
This Color Refresh is exciting. It brings back 9 retired/retiring In Colors and introduces one new color (Smokey Slate). They colors will also be realigned, so that each Collection contains red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Well, the Neutrals Collection does not. However, with Smokey Slate, we now have a lighter gray to work with! That's great.
Unfortunately, that means 10 colors will be discontinued. Card stock, ink, markers and embellishments will all retire. That means you should stock up now. These colors will be available for sale until the end of the current catalog year, as long as supplies last.
Hmmm. Something else to buy. It seems that Stampin' Up! is running so many promotions lately. I really don't want to empty your wallets now - especially with the new catalog just around the corner (i.e. May 31). So, Stampin' Up! is offering something very special this weekend.
Free Shipping on all orders! No minimum. No maximum. On everything you purchase from Saturday, April 6 at 12:00 AM until Monday, April 8 at 11:50 PM. This is a Stampin' Up! promotion, so the times are fixed. Do not miss out. Maybe this is a good time to purchase This And That or the new Designer Typeset Photopolymer Stamp Set. Lots of decisions to make.
Have a look at your own craft and figure out what you'd like to add to your collection. Then get ready to shop this weekend to take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING!
I'm checking my closet - I mean craft room - to get ready for the new Color Refresh!
Last week I posted a photo of the envelopes used to protect my daughters' birthday cards. (Visit Never Send a Naked Envelope Again if you missed it.) Well, their birthday was yesterday - that's no April Fool's joke. Now that they've seen their cards, I can share them with you here. Each beautiful envelope contains a feminine, flower birthday card.
As many of my creative journeys, this card design started as something much bolder. I used the Oh, Hello stamp set, never intending to stamp that delicate flower. (You never know where the design process will lead you!) I created the texture with my Big Shot and the Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.
To stamp the flowers, I colored the rubber using Stampin' Write Markers. That's the easiest way to create a multi-colored stamped image. (Hint: After you color the rubber, huff on it to reactivate the ink. Your breath acts like the Breath of Life in this technique!) I punched out part of each flower with the Postage Stamp Punch, and then mounted each on a square from the 1-3/8" Square Punch. I tied a knot in and attached a strand of Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon along the bottom.
The design feature that makes this card stand out is the use of 3 dimensions. Besides all the elements discussed until now, I used a lot of Stampin' Dimensionals. There is one under each mounted flower. There are 6 under the dry embossed white layer. And there is another set of 6 between the white card base and the white level above it. That makes 15 Stampin' Dimensionals per card.
Now you may say that 15 Stampin' Dimensionals significantly increases the cost of the card, but it doesn't. With shipping, that comes to 21 cents per card. This is not an ordinary card. This one was designed for my favorite daughters! They are certainly worth an additional 21 cents!
By the way, I really wanted to design two completely different cards, but I kept coming back to this one. So, I varied the colors in them. Happy birthday, girls. You both deserve this beautiful, feminine, flower birthday card!
I like to know everything in advance. Do not surprise me. Let me know how the day will unfold by the time I reach my desk. However, sometimes, the creative journey can be so much fun and it can result in an Unplanned Card.
I started with shades of blue - you know that blue is my favorite color. I started with flowers - you know that I love to design cards with flowers. Yet, somehow, I ended up here. So, a card began as blue and feminine ended up being a masculine design in shades of brown, yellow and green. Go figure.
Stamp sets are Hearts a Flutter and Sweet Essentials. I used punches and Framelits. This gave way to lots of interesting shapes and textures. But the most notable texture on this card is made possible with the Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I believe it creates one of the most interesting backgrounds.
It's appropriate that this Unplanned Card happened today. Several years ago, I was told that I would give birth to my twins on April 23. Twins usually arrive a little early. My first thought was, "I don't want April Fools Babies!" I repeated that sentence over and over... until April 1 when my beautiful, healthy, perfect girls were born! Somethings just can't be planned!
That is why, my friends, today I'm showing an Unplanned Card! Happy birthday, Daughters!!
Happy Easter! Does this card look familiar?
I posted a similar card on Monday, to celebrate Passover. This card design is perfect for any spring holiday or event!
The stamp set is Secret Garden, which is quickly becoming my Go-To set this season. The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen, another of my G0-To sets! Colors are Certainly Celery, Rose Red and Whisper White.
For embellishment, I used the Decorative Label Punch and the Scallop Oval Punch. I sponged a little Rose Red ink on the edges of the scallop oval. Finally, I attached a couple of strands of Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon. This illustrates how it's not necessary to exactly match all colors on your card.
So, if you're celebrating this weekend, Happy Easter!
I've been scrapbooking since 2002 and hand stamping cards since 2004. Over the years, I've collected a lot of paper craft supplies, as well as finished projects. So, every now and then I find a "treasure", something that I forgot that I had. Today was such a day. I found this card in a pile of card stock. I remember making it. I thought I had written a post about it. But I can't find it. It's time to organize my Craft Room. If you've seen this card before, then please let me know!
I was working with these flowers, intending to use them in a monthly card class. I never did that. But, aren't those flowers cute? Each was made from 3 punched circles: 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch and 1-1/4" Circle Punch. I layered the circles close to one point on the side. A Rhinestone Basic Jewel highlights the asymmetrical design!
Of course I made good use of my Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine. The leaves were cut using the Secret Garden Framelits Dies. The pink background was dry embossed using the Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.
So, the fact that this card, or a design evolved from it, never made it to my Monthly Card Class is a bonus for you!
By the way, an organizational tip for you: I keep my finished cards in baskets, with a card stock label identifying the occasion. This card is now sitting in the Birthday section. How do you store your finished cards? Please leave a comment below and let us all know! In the meanwhile, I'm picking up all the "unsorted" cards and filing them in my baskets. It's time to organize my Craft Room.
Hi, I'm Sandi Phelan - a Stampin' Up! independent demonstrator and creator of cards & invitations for all occasions.
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