CASEing cards

I wanted to make a card. I had no inspiration. What to do?

CASE someone, that's what.

The lovely and talented Simone recently posted a cute card on her blog, and I just had to make something similar (as it turns out, very similar *g*). I changed out the colours and added an extra layer or two, but how easy is it to make?!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: I {Heart} Hearts, Best Yet (Hostess Level 1)
Ink: Real Red, Going Gray, Basic Gray, Basic Black
Cardstock: Kraft, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Heart to Heart Punch

The Blues

Every so often, I remember just how much I like the stamp set Upsy Daisy. The fact that it's a silhouette means that you can use it in many different ways, including with a detailed background as shown here.

Because the flowers were stamped in a dark ink, I didn't need to do any masking to incorporate the lighter background, just stamped straight over the top and voila! Instant card.

Honestly, this couldn't have taken more than 10 minutes to make - perfect for a last-minute card *g* (and if you're like me, if it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done!).

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Upsy Daisy, Tres Chic, Best Yet (Hostess Set)
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Other: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

What have I been working on ...?

Well, mostly these. Okay, so there's only four cards here, but what you can't see is the other 96 which I made recently (with the help of Sharon - thanks Sharon!).

My day job is for a small company which supplies raw materials to label printers. It has become something of a tradition that we send out handmade cards to our customer base (which all began when I first started there and the boss found out I was a cardmaker). At first it was a pretty easy task, but somehow we gathered more customers over the years and I'm wondering what monster has been created LOL.

Anyway, this year Sharon and I put our heads together and came up with this design (which is supposed to look kind of like a branch of a Christmas tree with baubles - or a pleasing abstract design, whichever you like), and we decided to do four different colourways so as not to drive ourselves insane doing 100 cards in the exact same colour scheme.

I like to think that our customers appreciate the effort - we have had some lovely feedback from them in past years, and when printers are liking your work as a cardmaker, you must be doing something right!

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp/s: Baroque Motifs, Always, Best Yet (hostess)
Ink: Card 1 - Old Olive, Rose Red; Card 2 - Pale Plum, Elegant Eggplant; Card 3 - Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy; Card 4 - Gable Green, Taken with Teal
Cardstock: Card 1 - Old Olive, Rose Red, Whisper White; Card 2 - Pale Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White; Card 3 - Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White; Card 4 - Gable Green, Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Other: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch

Always

A couple of weeks ago I was in need of a quick, easy and impressive card for a workshop I was doing (waves to Sue). While surfing around the net, I stumbled across this gorgeous card and was immediately inspired.

We were going to be using Stampin' Pastels at the workshop, so I used the heart stamp from Always to demonstrate a technique known as "poppin' pastels", where you stamp in Versamark and then dust over the image with chalks - the chalk sticks to the Versamarked image, but not so much to the cardstock surrounding it, giving a subtle and soft finish.

This is the card we made. And look! I actually cut into my precious stash of Designer Series Paper (this particular piece is from the collection known as "Sweet Always" which coincidentally matches the stamp set Always). We used the colours in the paper scrap to carry over to the chalked heart, that is Regal Rose and Pumpkin Pie.

One of the guests chose to use the other side of the DSP (all SU DSPs are double-sided, and come with two sheets of six designs per packet), which was a gorgeous look as the reverse of this striped piece is pink with a white floral design similar to that on the heart.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Always, Best Yet
Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Other: Stampin' Pastels, Sweet Always Designer Series Paper, Eyelet Border Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

While I was fluffing about trying to decide on the card the workshop guests would make, I did a few other variations, mostly to show different looks for the same layout using assorted techniques.

The first of this group is pretty much the same card, however rather than stamping with Versamark then chalking over the top, I chose to ink the stamp with the Versamark and then colour directly onto the (now sticky) rubber with the chalks, then stamp.

This gives a soft effect but more crisp than that achieved with the "poppin' pastels" technique.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Always, Short & Sweet
Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Other: Stampin' Pastels, Eyelet Border Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch

The next card uses the same techniqe on the heart, however with this one I also used the matching Always in Bloom wheel in Whisper White ink across the top of the base card to provide some depth.

A tip for seamless coverage when using a wheel - roll it across the cardstock diagonally. This camouflages the joins a little and looks more natural.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Always, Upsy Daisy
Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Other: Stampin' Pastels, Eyelet Border Punch, Always in Bloom Standard Wheel, Wide Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch

The last is my favourite - this time I ditched the pastels altogether and went for sparkly! The heart is inked first in Versamark, then directly into Regal Rose before stamping. This means you can utilise the stickyness of Versamark and the colour of the dye ink to create coloured embossing and glittering effects.

I used Heat & Stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds (I wish you could see it in real life) to sparkle up the heart, then before assembly used the Always in Bloom wheel and Whisper White craft ink to create a very subtle pattern on the Pink Pirouette cardstock. The Pink Pirouette is so pale you can barely see the white ink, but it really makes the card pop.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Always, Best Yet
Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Other: Eyelet Border Punch, Always in Bloom Standard Wheel, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Designer Label Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch

Dynamic Duos

Stampin' Up! colours aren't selected randomly ... they are designed specifically to coordinate with each other, and this is most obvious in the colour pairings knows as "Dynamic Duos". This means that two colours are the same, simply a different shade, as shown here with Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal.

It's a handy way of creating a card when you're a bit short on colour inspiration but want to ensure the finished result will please the eye.

I completely CASEd the layout of this card from one at Splitcoast stampers (kudos to the originator, I just wish I knew the link so I could show you), but changed the colours from green to orange.

Sadly the photo doesn't do the card justice ... the colours are more vibrant in real life and the whole thing isn't quite as blurry (poor photography skills showing through there *g*).

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Pocket Silhouettes, Inspired by Nature, Best Yet (hostess set)
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie
Cardstock: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Other: Designer Label Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch

"Deer" Me!

Isn't this just the cutest little stamp? This is part of the "Forest Friends" set from the current Spring Mini Catalogue. Along with the deer and tree shown here, there is also a rabbit and owl, all for under $25!

A word of warning ... this picture might be a little misleading. The finished card is actually made from a quarter sheet of A4, folded in half, so it is half the size of the cards I usually make (ie. the front is what I guess would be called A7, one-eighth of an A4 sheet). I feel I should point this out so you're aware that the images are quite small - the tree image for example is only 4.5cm tall.

This card took ages to make, even though it's so small, with all the design changes it went through. Originally I had stamped the tree in Rose Red on the Rose Red cardstock but it didn't stand out enough, then the greeting I had chosen originally didn't suit the style ... thankfully with advice from my kids we worked it out and this is the result.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Forest Friends, Best Yet (hostess set)
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red
Cardstock: Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery
Other: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch

Spring Mini Catalogue has arrived!

It only seems like yesterday we got our new 2009-10 Idea Book & Catalogue, and already it's time for a new Mini Catalogue!

The 2009 Spring Mini Catalogue is chock full of some lovely stuff which I know you're going to want to get your hands on. If you haven't got a copy of the Mini yet, you can check it out online, or contact me to receive a copy in the mail.

I think I've said this before, but one of the perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is that we get to preorder from the catalogue in the month prior to release so we can get our hands on some new items to create our samples from, and as always we weren't slow on taking up the offer!

I had to have this train set (called Choo Choo), not because I have little kids or even know anyone who I could use these stamps for, but just because they're so darned cute! And look, a matching standard wheel!

This is a somewhat different design for a greeting card, being a pocket into which the main layer slips so the result is a bit of a surprise *g*. You could slip some money in there for a really special treat.

I have used a couple of the new Jumbo Brads (in the smaller size ... which aren't nearly as Jumbo as the big ones!) to add detail to the outside of the card, and used a marker to ink up part of the words of a stamp from the Hostess set "Best Yet" as the greeting on the front.

Inside, I again used a marker to ink up just the phrase from one of the Fun & Fast Notes stamps because for some reason as yet unexplained, I don't seem to have many stamps that say "Happy Birthday", and none that suit this card style at all. An oversight I must rectify as soon as possible (perhaps with one of the new single stamps - yes, that's correct - from the Mini, "Birthday Wish").

Anyway, I'm excited by the new opportunities for creativity that this Spring Mini Catalogue presents, and hope to share more new creations with you over the coming weeks.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Choo Choo, Best Yet (hostess set), Fun & Fast Notes
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Bashful Blue
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, 5/16" Jumbo Brads, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker, Right on Track Standard Wheel

More Cards from the Show

I put a few cards up for sale on our stand at the recent Craft & Quilt Fair. Some are posted here, and I thought I'd share some more with you. These are the remainder of the One Sheet Wonder I created for this purpose.





Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Baroque Motifs, Inspired by Nature, Best Yet (Hostess Set), Weathered, Simply Said
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Whisper White
Other: Wide Oval Punch, White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack, Uniball White Gel Pen, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel

Dusting off the cobwebs

Okay, so it's been a while since I updated ... not as bad as some (not looking at anyone in particular but you know who you are) but still.

I have an excuse! We were busy preparing for the Craft & Quilt Fair last weekend, which went really well (hi again to everyone who came past on the Saturday evening and Sunday when I was there!).

I have yet to photograph the One Sheet Wonder display I sneak peeked a while back, which got some lovely comments during both Paperific and the Craft & Quilt Fair, but I hope to get to that this week.

In the meantime, here are some of the cards I put out for sale ... some sold, although I haven't checked to see which ones yet (but it was very exciting, as I've never made cards for sale before). Yes, I have used the One Sheet Wonder template yet again, because it is a great way of making a bunch of cards all at once - once you get the hang of it you can put the lot together in only a few hours.

This is a beautiful colour combination ... it turns out that one of the new In Colors for this year, Baja Breeze, coordinates wonderfully with Not Quite Navy, and I have rediscovered Elegant Eggplant, a dark purple which goes great with Pale Plum.





Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Baroque Motifs, Oval All, Best Yet (Hostess Set), Weathered, Upsy Daisy, Wonderful Favourites
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Whisper White
Other: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Tag Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch, White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel