Splash & Relax Ideas

Hello fellow stampers!  Looks like our rainy cooler weather will be gone for another day or two.  Or maybe even a week or more!  We're back in the mid 90's and I gotta tell ya, that's just too dog-gone hot to be hanging outside for this ole lady!  So that means more stamping!  Woo Hoo!  This is the time of month I usually start planning for the cards being sent to the shut-ins from church for the next month.  This gives me a little time to think and plan, and throw out ideas that just won't work, you know?  I decided on an idea that I loved and wanted to share it with you too.

This idea hit me as pure summer.  What could be more fun than spending time at the beach or the pool on a summer day?  The stamp and die bundle used is called Splash & Relax, and it's found in the Online Exclusive section of the SU! store.  Isn't this perfect for a summer idea?  I started with a Thick Basic White cardstock piece for my base which measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  It's scored and folded in half.    Next, a 5 1/2" x 2 1/4" piece of Lemon Lime Twist cardstock was ripped in half along the full length.  These two pieces were attached to the top and bottom edges of the white card base.  I used "green glue" to adhere them.  This way I'd have a little "wiggle time" to get them exactly at the edges.

I'm not sure what these "water rings" are actually called.  I've really not spent much time playing in the water because I burn so badly, so my terminology is sadly lacking concerning beach/water toys.   

Whatever they're called, I stamped three of them using Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green, and Lemon Lolly inks.  The two darker colors were off-stamped before stamping the solid ring.  Then full strength in the same color was stamped over with the detail stamp.  I was concerned about how easy it would be to line up the detail stamp, but it was surprisingly quite easy.  Which was a really good thing considering I was prepping for 23 cards!   (What was I thinking?!?)  I only had a little problem with the Lemon Lolly rings because the color was so light it was hard to see through the stamp.  Note to self:  Use slightly darker colors to see them better.

After stamping them, it was easy to die-cut them with the coordinating die in the set.  At this point, I added three Dimensionals on the back of the rings but didn't take off the backing.  This way I could position them and get an idea of how it looked.

The sentiment came next, and it's from the same set.  I didn't want to use the entire sentiment, so only the end of the sentiment stamp was inked.  After trying a few colors of ink, I used the Coastal Cabana color.  It's dark enough that it can be read, and it played well with the other colors.  It's stamped onto a 1/2" strip.  Then the ends were angle cut for interest.

The card looked a little bare at this point, so maybe a cool pair of sunglasses would work.  The main color on these glasses is Shy Shamrock from a year ago.  It was a good contrast to the other colors, but it didn't overpower them.  The lens for the sunglasses was cut from Basic Black cardstock and then attached with adhesive to the glasses.

The rings were attached with their Dimensionals.  Then the sunglasses and sentiment were attached with Mini Dimensionals.

For a bit of splashy bling, the pale blue glitter dots from the Traditional Sparkling Sequins that were around either last Christmas or the year before.  I thought they were the perfect accent.

You would think that this is all I have for you today.  But no, you would be wrong.  Trying to figure out what color sunglasses to add to the card, I tried several different colors to go with the design.  So, what do you do with those extra sunglasses?  Ta-da...

For this card, start with a Balmy Blue card base that is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".

Next, a layer of Vellum was added.  It's cut at 5 1/4" x 4".  To give it a look of a swirly water background, it was embossed with the retired So Swirly Embossing Folder.  It was attached to the card base by adding adhesive under the covered area.

I've got a die that looks like a film strip that isn't SU!.  Yep, it's contraband.  Shh, don't tell anybody!  But I thought it would be a good way to display my pile of sunglasses.  It's die-cut from Basic White.

It's stamped at the bottom with a sentiment from the Splash & Relax set.  It's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  Then this was attached to the vellum with "green glue".  

The sunglasses shown are all the colors I tried for the previous card.  The top one is Coastal Cabana.  The middle one is Granny Apple Green.  The bottom one is Pool Party.  Each of them has two coats of Wink of Stella on them to make them sparkly.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get a decent picture of them.  Take my word for it, they're cute!

The perfect accent for this card seemed to be some iridescent gems.  They're called Flat Adhesive-backed Pearls from several years ago.  Yes, I always hang on to my gems after they retire.  You never know when it will be just what is needed.

Ok, that's it for my bout of sharing for today.  I hope you get in a summery frame of mind seeming these ideas.  I've got several more summer birthdays coming up yet, so this one just might end up as a birthday card.

Be sure and leave a comment so I know you've visited here.  Have fun in the sun if you can handle it.  I wish it was 10 years ago when I was outside playing with my grandsons in whatever scenario their little minds could think up.  It was always so much fun.  Tiring, but absolutely never boring!  Enjoy your summer in whatever way puts a smile on your face!  (like stamping!)

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Another Simply Leaves Card

Good afternoon to you on this gray and rainy day.  I'm glad the temps have been lower the last couple of days.  But because of the humidity, it almost feels worse than the heat.  Oh dear, that sounds like I'm complaining, and I certainly shouldn't be.  Since it's been so dry, this rain is absolutely needed!  And it means I don't have to go outside and water my flowers either!  See, it is a good thing.  Ok, enough of that.  Let's get going with another Simply Leaves card.  This one has an extra fold back to make it just a little different than a regular card.  I think these little touches are what make a card more interesting.

Is this bold and green enough for you?  It's not quite my personal style, but I try to come up with designs that are a little out of my comfort zone because not everyone has the same taste in color and design like I do.  

Start with a card base of Granny Apple Green that measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  It's scored at 3/4" and again at 4 1/4".  Fold the card base in half and then fold the flap back again.

Two pieces of Garden Green cardstock were cut:  3/4" x 5 1/4", and 3" x 5 1/4".  Plus, I used a piece approximately 3 1/4" x 2 1/2" to die-cut a label from the Sweet Words & Labels Die set.  

Next, a 5" x 2 3/4" piece of green print from Valley of Blooms DSP was cut.  This was attached to the larger Garden Green layers with adhesive.  Then it was attached to the card front.  That extra Granny Apple Green flap was folded back onto this to cover the edge of the layers.  I used "green glue" to attach so it wouldn't pop loose later.

Working on the focal images was the next step.  A slightly smaller label from the Sweet Words & Labels die set was used to cut a label from Basic White.  These nested together nicely.  The white was layered onto the Garden Green die with adhesive.  

I used the Two-Tone Garden Green cardstock on the light side to punch the largest leaf.  After punching, I stamped the veins using Garden Green ink.  From this same cardstock, I die-cut several leaves from the Sweet Words & Labels die set.  Both the light and dark sides of this cardstock were used to get different looks.  

The cute, checked leaves are made from one of the Simply Leaves stamp set.  I stamped one with Granny Apple Green and one with Garden Green onto Basic White cardstock.  Both of these were quickly fussy cut since there's no punch or die for it.

A large double bow was made from Linen Thread.  Then the leaves were all arranged onto the labels.  The largest was attached flat.  The two checked leaves were attached with adhesive at the stem and a Mini Dimensional at the tip.  The darker smaller leaf was attached the same way.  The bow was attached with Mini Glue Dots.  Then the light-colored leaf was attached over this with two Mini Dimensionals right over the Linen Thread bow.

The entire label piece was attached to the card front using Dimensionals to hold in place.  I kept this on the card front with nothing hanging over the open edge.

The sentiment for the card is from the Simply Leaves set.  It's stamped onto a 1/2" wide strip of Basic White cardstock using Garden Green ink.  Both of the ends were trimmed with Paper Snips.  This is attached with Dimensionals also.  This piece extends over the front edge to get close to the right edge of the back of the card.

For this card, the Holographic Gems were added to the card.  Instead of my usual three, there are five gems tucked around the design.  It seemed these gems were almost glowing on the card.  Perfect match!

The inside of the card has a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Basic White added.  Then the 3/4" strip of Garden Green that was cut is added to the right side, so it shows when the card is closed.

The inside sentiment is from the All Aflutter stamp set.  It said what I wanted and fit perfectly.  It's stamped with Garden Green ink. 

The checked leaf stamp was used again to stamp a Granny Apple Green leaf on the bottom corner.  One of the extra die-cut light-colored leaves was used to add to the corner.

That's it for a very easy and quick fun fold card.  Just that little bit folded back on the front makes a big difference.

I'll have to spend some more time playing with this Simply Leaves stamp and die bundle to see what else can be done.  This card has an overwhelming amount of green for my tastes.  I need to keep creating with this to see what else I can do with it.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Since it's still raining here a couple of hours after I started this post, I'm thinking I should go right back downstairs and play around with my stamps some more!  Right?  Isn't that what rainy days are for?

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Fall Card with Simply Leaves Set

Hello friends!  I don't know about you, but I seem to be a sucker for leaf focused stamp sets.  And this new Simply Leaves stamp and punch bundle is no exception.  Depending on the colors that are used, you can get almost a whole year's worth of seasons covered just by using this one set.  Today, it's hot and humid as all get out around here.  Perfect for looking ahead to the cooler days of fall, don't you think?  For the first card I made with this new bundle, which is an Online Exclusive item, I started with the idea of using the card featured with the set in the store.  I loved the earthy colors used with a glimmer of gold brightening it up.  Of course, my card ended up looking quite different from my inspiration card.  But what else is new!

If you've happened to click onto the SU! Online store and checked out the card sample I'm talking about, I'm sure you see the similarities.  But I have a problem copying anything just the way it's presented.  Always need to put my own spin on it, you know?

I started with a base of Pecan Pie cardstock that measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is folded at 4 1/4".  I made this into a top-fold card.  For the embossed band across the card, I chose to use the Two-tone Pecan Pie cardstock on the lighter side.  It's such a warm caramel color that worked for the card.  I cut a piece that measures 6" x 2".  This was embossed with the Leaf Fall Embossing Folder that has been retired but worked well for my fall themed card.  

After embossing, a sanding block was used lightly over the embossed areas to enhance the light core of the cardstock.  This gives it more interest but doesn't overpower the rest of the design. 

A piece of Gold Foil was cut at 2 1/4" wide to frame the embossed piece.  The embossed piece was attached to the foil with "green glue" and then to the card front with "green glue" also.  Paper Snips were used to trim off the two excess ends from the angled layers.

Now let's get to those leaves.  One print in the Delicate Dreams Designer Series Paper is a lovely neutral print that looks like a piece of linen cloth.  It would be a perfect base to stamp some of my leaves on.  First, one large leaf shape was punched from this paper with the coordinating punch.  Then the dotted veins stamp was added in the leaf shape with Pecan Pie ink.  Using a Blending Brush and Pecan Pie ink, the edges of this leaf were very lightly darkened. 

The small plaid leaf stamp was stamped once each with Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Cajun Craze ink onto the same linen print.  There's no small leaf punch, so these were all fussy cut with paper snips.  The design looked too plain, so another of the large leaf stamps was stamped onto Basic Beige cardstock with Cajun Craze ink.  This was also punched out.  Another of the small leaf stamps was used with Pecan Pie ink and stamped onto a Basic Beige cardstock piece.  This was fussy cut.

The sentiment comes from this same Simply Leaves stamp set.  It was stamped onto a 5/8" wide strip of Very Vanilla cardstock using Cajun Craze ink.  To add a little more interest, a Pecan Pie Dark Stampin' Blends was used to create stitches around the sentiment.

The leaves were arranged on the card.  The two larger leaves were attached near the stems with adhesive, but the tips of the leaves were loose.  Three of the smaller leaves were attached with adhesive at the stems and a Mini Dimensional near the tip of the leaves.  This helps them stand out from the card base.

A larger bow of Linen Thread was tied and attached behind the sentiment.  Then this was attached at the bottom of the leaves with Dimensionals.  

A sprinkling of the beige Pearls of Beauty was added to the card design.  The pearlized golden finish on these pearls really set off the added gold strips.

Very Vanilla cardstock was used for the inside layer.  One of the sentiments (from the same set) was stamped with Cajun Craze ink.  

I had one small leaf left over and needed another for the inside.  The stamp for leaf veining was stamped onto Basic Beige cardstock using Cajun Craze ink.  It was punched with the coordinating punch from the set.  A Blending Brush and Pecan Pie ink was used to highlight the edges.  The two leaves were attached with adhesive to finish the design.

Even though several of the leaves needed to be fussy cut, this was a quick and easy card to design and put together.  It certainly helped to see the artist's concept card ahead of time to get me started in the right direction.  Please don't ever overlook the huge treasure trove of ideas that Stampin' Up! gives us in the catalogs and online ideas.  It wouldn't be hard to stay busy for a good long time just using those ideas as a starting place for all the card making I do.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I've got a summery card idea ready to roll using the same Simply Leaves bundle.  It uses a very easy fun fold addition to make it just a little different.  Hope to see you soon!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Sweet Summer Birthday Card

Hi stamping friends.  Do you have a lot of summer birthdays coming up?  I sure do and today's card will be perfect for all those lazy days of summer birthdays.  There's a good amount of die-cutting involved and very little stamping, so the card is super quick to put together.  It took me a little time to find the extra sentiments that I wanted to use, but I have everything listed for you.  Of course, you may change any of the sentiments that you don't have with something that works for you.  Let's get started...

Doesn't this card feel perfect for a summer day?  What's better than flip-flops and summery colors?  I started out with the Beautiful Ordinary Life DSP.  I absolutely love these prints - both the pastels and the black & white ones.  They are so much fun to look at and just get me inspired!  I had a 2" strip of the pastel stripes.  It's cut to measure 5 1/4" long.

Paired with this is a card base of Basic White measuring 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and another piece measuring 5 1/4" x 4" for a crisp white-on-white look.  

The quarter sheet was embossed halfway with the Lazy Daisy 3D Embossing Folder.  The pastel strip of DSP was attached to the plain area with adhesive.  Then this was attached to the folded white card base with adhesive also.

The Summer Happiness bundle was used next.  The dies for the flip-flops were used to cut both the base and the thong parts for them.  They are cut from Pool Party, Strawberry Slush, and Daffodil Delight cardstock to match the DSP stripes.  The thong part is attached to each flip-flop with adhesive mixing up the colors for fun.  Then each one was attached to the top white section using Mini Glue Dots which did a great job of holding them securely.

The sentiment on the card front is from the Splash & Relax bundle.  It's stamped with Strawberry Slush ink on a 1 1/4" x 7/8" piece of Basic White.  It's layered onto a Strawberry Slush cardstock piece that measures 1 1/2" x 1 1/8".  It's angled on and attached with adhesive.

The drink cup is made from die-cuts from the Splash & Relax bundle.  The bottom is cut from Pool Party and the top from Daffodil Delight.

The beach ball is stamped on white with Pool Party and then is die-cut.

These pieces were arranged along the bottom half of the card.  All of them are attached with Dimensionals.  

The two little flower accents are from the Summer Happiness Washi Tape that was backed with Basic White cardstock and die-cut with matching dies.  They are attached with Mini Glue Dots.

The inside is stamped with a sentiment from Splash & Relax.  It's stamped with Strawberry Slush ink.

I was looking for a HB that looked like it matched the font and had a problem finding just what I wanted.  Each stamp set I checked was either too big or the fonts didn't look right together.  Arggh!  I settled for this one from the Sending Smiles set.  It's stamped with Pool Party ink.

Another flower from the Summer Happiness Washi Tape was added to the sentiment area to bring all the colors from the front inside the card.

I think my daughter will like this card for her birthday.  She loves summer and going to the beach/pool and soaking up the sun.  I think you probably know someone that this card would be perfect for too.  I'm happy with how the Summer Happiness and Splash & Relax sets combine so well together.  I know I'll need a few more cards combining these sets for sure.

Thanks for stopping by today to see what's been going on around here.  It's been way too hot and humid to spend more than a few minutes outside for hubby and me.  So other than doctor appointments, we've been busy downstairs.   I've literally been stamping up a storm in my nice & cool craft room.  In the evening I even need to wear a sweater!  Don't you love air conditioning!?  Hope to see you again soon!  Be sure and leave a comment to let me know what you're doing and what you think of my ideas.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Sweet Lily of the Valley Card

Hello friends!  Have we all recovered from the 250th Anniversary celebrations?  I guess it's time to get back to work here.  I had some cards lined up to share with you, and then things got a little busy with holiday celebrations and I never did sit down to write the posts.  That means I need to play catch up and start sharing these ideas that are piling up here.  Today's card features the Lily of the Valley stamps and dies and a lovely pastel plaid from the Valley in Bloom DSP.  I wish I could buy a whole pack of DSP in just this Peacock/Lost Lagoon plaid.  I just love it!  In fact, there's so much about this card that I'm happy to be sharing all this goodness with you.

Here it is - a study in darker pastels.  The whole card started with a piece of the plaid Valley in Bloom DSP that was left from a different project.  It measures 5 1/2" x 2 3/4".  It is the perfect shape to make a panel down the center of the card.  I decided the card base would be Lost Lagoon which measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".

It needed something to layer in between.  I remembered the new Luxe White Specialty DSP.  I hadn't really inspected it when it came, but I thought there might be something in there that would work.  Oh my, I didn't know what I was missing by ignoring this paper.  It's simply gorgeous!  The sheets all have a pearl-white print on white background.  Beautiful.  I chose the lily of the valley print and added a layer behind the plaid.  I like the difference between the elegance of the white-on-white print and the relaxed comfort of the plaid.

Next was choosing the focal images.  There are both single and double leaves in the die set.  I used the double leaf with the matching stamp to make leaves of Lost Lagoon cardstock.  The single leaf die has detail lines that give lots of interest.  I used this one to die-cut one Peaceful Pine leaf.

There's a single stem die of Lily of the Valley that I used to cut 2 stems from Basic White Thick cardstock.  The Peaceful Pine Light Stampin' Blends was used to color both of the stems, but not the flowers.

The stems and leaves were arranged on the plaid print leaving a little room at the bottom for a sentiment.  They all are attached only near the bottom of the pieces so there is some movement on the card.

Not sure if you can see how the pieces stand away from the card somewhat.

Also, this is a good picture to get an idea of how pretty the Luxe White Specialty DSP really is.  It's subtle until the light hits it and then it really shines.

The sentiment is from the Lily of the Valley set.  It's stamped with Lost Lagoon ink onto a left-over piece of the Valley in Bloom DSP that's about 1" wide.  The soft background on the DSP doesn't detract from the little flowers.  (I tried white for the sentiment first, but it pulled your eye away from the flowers)

Not sure where the sentiment is from.  I always hang on to all my sentiments and go through bunches of stamps every time I'm finishing a card.  If I don't write it down, you know what happens.  It's one of those many things that are just floating around in my brain that I'll probably never find again!  So just go through your stash and find a sentiment that fits your needs.

The flower at the bottom is also from the Lily of the Valley set.  Both of the sentiments and the flower are stamped with Lost Lagoon ink.  I also added this same flower on the bottom corner of the envelope it's being sent out in.  Love coordinating it all!

Just one little last look at this pretty card.  As I look at it now, I realize there were no embellishments added to the design.  It doesn't look like it's missing anything, so this is how it's staying.  Seems like there have been several cards lately with no extra bling.  Am I going to lose my status as one of the bling brigade?  I'll have to make sure I sprinkle some extra bling on the next card I make.  😄

Have you had a chance to look through all the new goodies that are available in the new Online Exclusives area of the SU! store?  I'm sure you'll fall in love with a few of those items just like I have.

Thanks for stopping by for another dose of creative juice.  I have so much fun sharing these ideas with you.  My fervent hope is that you find a little inspiration in my posts and they help keep you inspired to create something special yourself.  And don't forget to send those ideas on to brighten someone else's day.  We're here to encourage one another and do good. Have a blessed day.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

More Framed Violets Ideas

 Hello friends!  I'm so happy that July is almost here.  That means all the wonderful new items that are in the Online Exclusive store will be available to everyone!  This new grouping of online only products includes some of my very favorite new stamp and dies sets.  One especially favorite of mine is the Framed Violets bundle.  I've shared an idea or two already and today I've got two more cards to share with you.  For these two cards, I used the same stamps and dies, the same Violet Dreams Designer Series Paper, and the same layout.  The changes are all in the colors and DSP prints that I've used for the cards, so they are similar but still different enough to enjoy the looks.  Tell me which one is your favorite, and we'll see if I agree.  We'll start with the first one I made.

This card started with the pretty Violet Dreams DSP in the pale Hydrangea Hue diagonal stripe.  I thought this would make up into a sweet "girlie" card.  I cut a piece 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" to get me started.  

It needed a skinny frame of Hydrangea Hue cardstock to make it pop.  This measures 5 1/4" x 4".  From this piece, I die-cut a fancy layer from the center using the 2nd largest die in the Sweet Words & Labels Dies set.  I had already used the scalloped stamp and dies that came with the Framed Violets set, but again I wanted something just a bit fancier for this card.  After die-cutting, this layer was set aside for use later.

The striped DSP needed a little something added.  So a Stampin' Blends in Hydrangea Hue was used to spatter it a little near the top and bottom of this piece.  The DSP was then attached to the Hydrangea Hue layer with adhesive and then to the folded Basic White cardstock card base.  

I raided my stash of retired border punches to make the pretty lacy looking band across the card.  I wanted to add something quite feminine looking to the design.  This was attached with adhesive also.

Moving on to the focal point on the card, I stamped the little violet bouquet with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto a piece of Basic White cardstock.  The images were colored in with Stampin' Blends:

Flower petals - Hydrangea Hue Light & Dark

Leaves & stems - Peaceful Pine Light & Dark with touches of Color Lifter used as highlights

After coloring, the violets were die-cut using the matching dies.

Two different fern dies from the Fern & Flora bundle were used to die-cut ferns from Peaceful Pine cardstock for accent pieces.  I like how the darker color really highlights the lighter violets.

A Basic White layer to ground the pieces was cut using the 3rd largest die in the Sweet Words & Labels Dies.  This added a pretty layer with stitching details to the design.  This was attached to the Hydrangea Hue layer with adhesive.

First the two ferns were attached to the white layer using adhesive.  Then the violets were attached on top of these.  The stems have adhesive, but each of the flowers have a Mini Glue Dot behind it to give it more depth.

The focal layers were attached to the card front using Dimensionals.  Did you notice there is no sentiment?  I haven't decided how this card will be used yet, so for now there is no sentiment and the inside is bare.

To finish the design, I added a fairly large bow using two strands of white Baker's Twine.  It's still fairly subtle and doesn't demand too much attention.  This was added to the violet stems with a rolled up Mini Glue Dot to hold in place.

I debated about adding some sort of bling and I tried several that I had on hand.  I didn't think any of them really enhanced this design to any degree.  Hence, there is no added embellishment to this card.  Was that the right decision?  What would you have added?

I challenged myself to make another card with these parameters - same set, same DSP pack, same dies.  This next card really came together fast since most of my choices were already made.

The first thing I did for this card design was pick the DSP print again.  Using the darker print changed the whole feel of the card and I needed darker colors to coordinate with it.  

To match the print, the card base is Highland Heather this time.  The DSP print is attached to this using adhesive.

The same dies from the Sweet Words & Labels set were used.  The 2nd largest cut the Highland Heather cardstock and the 3rd largest cut the Basic White cardstock.  

A texture background stamp in the Framed Violets set was used to stamp Bubble Bath ink onto the center of the white layer.  You can barely see it, but I think it made a big difference.

The two layers were attached together with adhesive.  Then they were attached to the card front with Dimensionals.

Again, the violet bouquet was stamped on Basic White cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  For coloring this time, I went with Stampin' Blends again:

Flower petals - Highland Heather Light & Dark

Leaves and stems - Peaceful Pine Light & Dark

For this design, I tried to match the coloring on the DSP for the leaves.  They are quite a bit darker than in my first design even though the same color was used.  It just depends on how much of the Dark was used.

The sentiment comes from the Phrases & Frames stamp set.  The words are stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink onto a 3/4" strip of Basic White.  The ends were trimmed into flags.  The stems of the violets were attached to the back of the sentiment.  Then all of this was attached to the white layer using Dimensionals.

A retired sheer Highland Heather ribbon was selected as an accent here.  It's tied into a small bow and attached with Mini Glue Dots.

Several white Shimmering Dots were scattered onto the card for a bit of bling.  This card seemed to need just an extra bit of brightness to the design.

I totally forgot to take a photo of the inside.  Oops!  The matching anniversary sentiment from the Phrases & Frames set was stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink.  The single violet in the Framed Violets set was stamped in the bottom corner using Highland Heather ink as an accent.  

And there you have it.  I think I accomplished my goal of using pretty much all the same products and layout but still changing the look of the finished cards.  Do you like them?  And which look do you prefer - pastel or brighter?  Surprisingly, I would have to say I love the boldness of the second card which really doesn't sound like me at all.  I love them both, but for some reason the boldness of the second one just appeals to me today.  What do you think?

Either way, you can get this awesome suite of products starting July 1st.  Yay!  I think these are all really gorgeous items that you'll love using.  And with the beginning of a new month, that means a new Product of the Month will be available too.  I can't wait to see what it is and see what I can do with it.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you love these violets as much as I do.  They are just so simple and sweet and make me think more Victorian thoughts here.  Of course, we had a lovely crop of violets to enjoy this spring in our backyard.  (My hubby wasn't happy, but...)  I don't remember these in the yard back in Michigan, so I really enjoyed them before it got so incredibly hot.  

Oh, before I forget - I think this will be my last update on our blueberry crop.  From starting with two plus pints each picking, we're down to maybe 3/4 cup the last time I picked.  Looks like it's not worth the effort to pick anymore this season and the birds and squirrels can dine on the rest.  But we've got plenty for cobblers, muffins, and much more tucked away in the freezer that we'll enjoy all winter long.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Wild Bunch Ideas

Hello friends!  Have you gotten the Product of the Month for June yet?  I hope so, because it's just so cute.  And I'm having lots of fun creating with these darling creatures.  I haven't used all of them yet, but I've got cards showcasing three of the four to share with you today.  They are all simple cards that were fun and easy to create.  Try them out some day when you want to add a little joy to your life.  They are bound to make you smile.

Number one up is this darling Highland cow.  Or should that be a steer or bull?  Not sure, but it's so dog-gone cute.  My daughter just loves these and would be happy to raise one in her backyard.  (I think she'd have problems with zoning laws though.)  So, when I spotted this little guy, the first card made just had to be for her.

The colors for the card all revolve around the Timeless Plaid DSP that I have on hand.  My daughter loves the country look and that includes lots of plaids.  So, this was a perfect start.

The card base is Crisp Cantaloupe which blended with this plaid print very nicely.  It measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is folded in half.

I decided to add a skinny layer of Misty Moonlight to be a sort of "denim" layer for this card.  It's sandwiched in between the card base and the plaid print.

Next, I turned to the Branching Out dies to cut layers of Basic White and Misty Moonlight for the focal piece.  The white layer has a bit of Crisp Cantaloupe ink blended on the lower half with a Blending Brush where this little creature would reside.

One of the sentiments from the set was stamped near the top with Misty Moonlight ink to match the layers.  The layers were attached together with adhesive then added to the card front with Dimensionals.  Now, on to the star of this card.

The little guy was stamped with Pecan Pie ink on a Basic White piece.  He was colored in with Stampin' Blends:

Main sections - Cinnamon Cider Light & Dark, extra shading with Pecan Pie Light & Dark

Hooves - Pecan Pie Dark

Horns and muzzle? - Ivory

A little Color Lifter was streaked through that fluffy/bushy mop of hair he has to give it more texture

Isn't he just adorable???  He's been fussy cut then added to the die-cut layers using Dimensionals.

A retired black & white checked ribbon was colored with a Crisp Cantaloupe Blends to match the card better.  It was tied into a small bow and attached to the card front with a Mini Glue Dot.  

Some peachy-colored gems were added to make this little guy sparkle just a little.  I didn't want to make him feel too girlie, you know?  Doesn't he just want to make you smile?

Up next is little cuddly Katy Koala.  Isn't she sweet?  This card is going to my sweet little great-niece who is going through chemo treatments.  Since I can't give her a hug, I'm sending Katy Koala to do it for me.

For this card, I started with a pretty layer of the Everyday Essentials Mix & Match DSP in a colorful print of pink and yellow flowers on a Misty Moonlight background.  I thought this matched up nicely with the Bubble Bath cardstock that I used as a card base.

The same Branching Out dies were used for this card too.  They just have the perfect shape for this.  The smaller piece is Basic White cardstock with the layering piece being from a retired DSP from awhile back.  The pearlized print in this plummy shade seemed to work well here.

The koala was stamped in Basic Gray ink for a good outline.  Then she was colored with Stampin' Blends:

Fur - Smoky Slate Light & Dark 

Nose - Basic Black Light

After coloring in, I went back with the Color Lifter to add highlights under the chin and inside the ears.

One of the sentiments in this set was used for the card.  It's stamped with Misty Moonlight ink right under the koala.  

Then a heart from the set was stamped under the sentiment.  It was stamped with Bubble Bath ink.  Then colored in with a Bubble Bath Blends.  An Iridescent Pearl was added to each side of the heart.  I still thought it needed just a little definition, so the edges of the white die-cut were touched with just a tiny bit of Misty Moonlight marker.  Then the layers are attached to the card base with Dimensionals.

That's it for Miss Katy Koala.  Quick and sweet.  She's already off in the mail to cheer up this sweet little girl.  And we're on to the last little wild thing!

This little penguin's name is Penny.  She loves it best when it's cold and snowy, so I dug out a retired embossing folder to give her a snowy background made with a layer of vellum.

The card base is Secret Sea cardstock measuring 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  It's folded in half.  The DPS layer for this is from the Paper Medley.  I used the lighter area which reminded me of a dark wintery day.  The embossed vellum was attached over this with adhesive only in the center area which would be covered to hold in place.

The penguin was stamped onto a Basic White piece measuring 3 1/4" x 2 1/4".  It was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on the lower half of the piece.  The penquin was colored with Stampin' Blends:

Basic Black Light & Dark, Smoky Slate Light, Pumpkin Pie Dark for the beak and feet.  The ice was colored with a Water Brush and a light wash of Secret Sea ink.

Penny Penguin wanted to send lots of love, so the sentiment from this set was used.   It's stamped in Secret Sea ink.  She wanted hearts too, but the red ones just wouldn't do.  So, I talked her into some orange ones that would match her instead.  Two hearts from this set were stamped on scrap white cardstock.  I used Pumpkin Pie ink to stamp them.  They were colored in with Pumpkin Pie Light Stampin' Blends.  Then to make them shimmer, two coats of Wink of Stella were added to the hearts.  They were fussy cut then added to the card front with Mini Glue Dots.

There is a skinny layer of Secret Sea cardstock to frame up and define the layer.  This was attached to the card front with Dimensionals to finish it.

That's it for stamping with the fun Wild Bunch stamp set.  Each of these little characters were fun to create cards for and I think I'll be using them again soon.  They just make up some adorably whimsical cards that are sure to put a smile on someone's face.  Don't you need to send some of these cards out too?

These Product of the Month items are turning into some of the coolest things to get.  I love the Berry Vellum and the Eyelet Lace die.  I can't wait to see what will be coming up in July.  If you haven't gotten this month's Wild Bunch, you have a small window of time to pick this up for only $5 when your order totals $75 or more before any Reward Dollars are subtracted.  I'm betting you'll fall in love with the cute images and five sentiments in this set. Now that's a real bargain! 

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon