Wishing a Happy Birthday

Hello, my stamping friends!  I've taken a step back from the Thankful Garden Bundle for a few minutes.  I needed a birthday card for a teen girl.  I don't know her personally, but I've been told she likes butterflies and bright colors.  So that's the beginning point for the card today.  I hope she likes her card and has a fabulous birthday.

For the bright colors, I thought the multi-color print from the Bloom Impressions DSP would work.  This was a Sale-a-bration free item that I'm sure most of you were able to pick up on.  That meant it was not a current item, but it fit the project.  The multi-color print on its own is a bit bright for me.  That meant for my happiness I needed to tone it down a little.  

I thought of the Spring Corners Bundle that has several die-cut corner designs.  One of these might have enough open area to reveal the print but wouldn't be over-powering.  I had a piece of Basic White cardstock left over from another project that measured 4 1/2" x 3 1/4" that would be a good size to do a die-cut corner.  I used the coneflower corner die that fit nicely with lots of space left over for my design.  The piece of DSP was attached behind the design area with adhesive.  Don't those slivers of color peeking through dance like sunlight through a stained-glass window?

While I had the DSP out, I die-cut a trio of butterflies from the same DSP print.  This die is from the Sketched Butterflies Bundle that is in the 2024-2025 Annual Catalog.  This is a lovely set with five different sentiments that match an array of butterflies just perfectly.  The butterflies are all hooked together into one piece, but I easily cut them apart.

Next was deciding on what color cardstock to use for the base and a layer.  Azure Afternoon seemed the best pick to enhance the DSP colors.  A piece was cut that measures 5 1/4" x 4".  I was planning on using Basic White for the card base, but at the last minute changed my mind and added Pretty in Pink cardstock instead.  

The die-cut sentiment from Delightful Wishes would be nice going across the card front.  Decided on Azure Afternoon for the sentiment layer on the "wishing" word.  It could be cut from the center of the card layer and then the layer could be used without it showing at all.  After cutting the sentiment, the Azure Afternoon layer was attached to the center of the pink card base.  It's attached flat with adhesive.

The more detailed "wishing" was cut from a piece of Basic White cardstock that had a strip of the Adhesive Sheets added to the back before die-cutting.  This made it easy to peel the backing and have a "sticker" to place over the blue layer.  (Oops!  I just noticed in the picture that one of the dots for the i fell off.  I'll have to replace that!)

The rest of the sentiment was stamped with Azure Afternoon ink onto a 3/8" strip of Basic White.  The words were snipped to separate them.  "Wishing" was placed slightly angled onto the card.  Then the rest of the words were cascaded down under it.  The first piece was attached flat, the second two were attached with Mini Dimensionals.  

The largest butterfly of the three was added to the top right corner to balance the colors.  It's attached with a sliver of a Dimensionals under the body.

Lastly three gems from the Tinsel Gems Four-Pack in the rosy color were added to the design.  They picked up and complimented the many pink colors in the cut-out design. 

I forgot to take a picture of the inside, but I'll tell you about it anyway.  There is another layer of Azure Afternoon with a layer of Basic White attached inside the card.  The sentiment inside the card is from the Translucent Florals and is stamped with Azure Afternoon ink.  The two extra butterflies were attached for a cute accent.

Hope you like this special card.  It's not often I can make a card to order for someone else to use.  The bright color was a little daunting, but I love the finished design.

Thanks for hanging out with me today.  Try making something different today than what you normally gravitate towards.  It's time to stretch your creativity!  And don't forget the Mini Catalog and the Annual Catalog will both expire the end of April.  That's basically just another month. If there's anything in the current catalogs that you've got your eye on, consider ordering it now before it's too late.  And then the new Annual Catalog will start is May - exciting!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Unbounded Love in Neutrals

Hi there!  Today's post will be quite quick.  At least that's the plan at this moment.  We'll see how well I stick with the short and sweet plan!  I was in the mood for neutrals today.  I've been doing most of my creating lately with lots of color.  Today I'm toning things down with a very simple but sweet card.  Let's get stamping!

The base of the card is the new Basic Beige.  If you haven't gotten this yet, you don't know what you're missing.  It's turning into one of my favorite colors.  Can beige be considered a color?  hmmm  Anyway, the base is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  It's scored and folded in half.  The next layer is Basic White.  It measures 3 7/8" x 5 1/2".  It's ripped on the bottom to give it a length of about 5 1/8".

The next layer is a pretty eyelet print from the Country Lace DSP (pg 51).  This is a very subtle print and I love it.  This layer measures 3 3/4" x 5 1/4".  This is also ripped along the bottom edge until it fits nicely on the Basic White layer.  This is about 4 7/8" or 5" in length.  Attach the DSP onto the Basic White layer using adhesive.  Then attach this to the card base using Dimensionals.

The sentiment and label die-cuts are part of the Unbounded Love Bundle featured on pages 54-55. This versatile set includes sentiments for both the inside and outside of your cards—a true essential! For the label, I utilized two distinct dies: the larger one to cut the Night of Navy base and the smaller one to cut the Basic White layer, which is one of the two pieces produced. The remaining outer frame is reserved for a different project. To coordinate with the frame, the sentiment is stamped in Night of Navy ink. Both pieces are then adhered together.

The cute little open-work leaves are another die from the set.  There is a single leaf and a double leaf die to choose from.  I actually cut one of each from both Basic White and Basic Beige cardstock to use here.  

The sentiment label is attached to the card front with Dimensionals.  The leaves are tucked in under the sentiment at opposite corners.  These were attached with small touches of "green glue".

A small bow was made from the white ribbon that is part of the Petal Pink and White 1/4" Diagonal Trim Pack.  It's number 11 and is found on page 113.  It's attached with a Mini Glue Dot just under the label.  I like the small tone-on-tone diagonal weave that sets this ribbon apart from just a plain white ribbon.  It's the little touches that make a card special, you know?

Lastly, I used something that isn't available quite yet, but keep your eyes open for it.  The gems are called Earth-tone Gems and I think they're great.  They are lovely, faceted gems that are opaque and are a nice touch here.

That's it.  With just this one stamp set, a pack of DSP, and some Basic White and Basic Beige cardstock, you can easily make this card.  It's a great basic set to have on hand for your creating.  

I think I managed the short and sweet part okay with this post.  I want to mention that Stampin'Up! is having a great sale starting June 5th - 30th.  Stamp and Die Bundles will be 10% off.  Also, the Stampin' Cut and Emboss Machine will be 10% off during this time.  If you're thinking about purchasing a Bundle or more, now would be the opportune time to get the extra discount.  Don't we love our sales ladies?  If you have any questions or would like help ordering, contact me at sharoncarr50@gmail.com.  I will get back with you asap.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon  

Another Encircled in Nature Card

 Hello friends!  I just love the Thoughtful Journey Designer Series Paper.  I keep grabbing it to make cards that I need right away.  It's so easy to create a beautiful card when you're starting out with some beautiful, printed paper to begin the process.  Today's card is sort of a mix of the window style card and the pretty paper as a focal point.  Hmmm.  The card is for a gentleman that I've never met in person but have gotten to know through mail and email over the last year.  He's one of the shut-ins at church that has been conversing with me.  He's such a sweetheart and he's turning 90 this month.  Wow, what a milestone that is!!  I can't imagine living that long and seeing all he's seen.  Amazing!  I wanted to make a special card for him that has a strong masculine look to it.  He's mentioned that he loves the outdoors, so that was a starting point.  Here's what I created to celebrate him.

I chose a print from the Thoughtful Journey DSP, which set the color scheme for my card. I decided on the new Basic Beige as a suitable neutral for the card base, measuring 8 1/2" by 5 1/2", scored and folded in half.

Next came a layer of Boho Blue cardstock that harmonized well with the sky in the DSP print. It measures 3 7/8" by 5 1/8".  On top of this, I placed a small frame of Basic White cardstock, measuring 3 3/4" by 5".  I adhered these two layers together with adhesive, then attached them to the front of the card base with adhesive.

Next is a layer of the Basic Beige cardstock that measures 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".  This has a window cut in it using one of the dies in the Stylish Shapes Dies.  It's about 2 3/8" square and is lined up about 1" from the top of the piece.  This gives you lots of room for the sentiment underneath.

I cut a 3" x 3" piece from the Thoughtful Journey DSP print to use.  I attached this to the back of the window by using Dimensionals.  The layer is then attached to the card front with Dimensionals too.

Next the row of evergreen trees die in the Encircled in Nature Bundle was used to cut some Old Olive cardstock.  I thought this matched well with the evergreen in the print but needed just a little tweaking.  Using a Small Blender Brush, I added touches of Mossy Meadow in several areas to bring in some of the darker green look.  Using adhesive on just the left tree and the bottom areas of all the rest, the trees were added to the card front.  The tops of all the other trees are loose and stand out from the print.  If you're looking for this bundle, you can find it only in the Online Exclusives area of the shopping sight.  You don't want to miss it.

Next comes the sentiment.  Okaaay.  I was sure I wrote all the information down for the card while I was making it.  But somehow, I missed adding the sentiment stamp set to the list.  I just spent 20 minutes looking through stamp sets to figure this out and came up with nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  There were several similar sentiments, but just not the one I actually used.  Sorry!  I have absolutely no idea what set this sentiment comes from.   I would suggest finding a stamp that fits the space and the occasion and use it.  I stamped the sentiment onto Basic Beige with Boho Blue ink.  There is a Boho Blue piece of cardstock that is layered behind this.

I wanted a bit of bling but not too much because this is a guy card after all.  The birds from the Brushed Brass Birds and Dragonflies I added were a nice touch.  Just enough to draw the attention, but not too girlie.

Big reminder here!  Free Shipping on Tuesday May 21st only.  Your order must total $75 or more to qualify for the free shipping.  Enjoy your shopping and stock up on some basics or even new sets or bundles.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Rocker Fun Fold Card

Hello to you on this fabulous Friday.  What a busy but very fun week it's been here - Bible study, Valentines Day, and lunch with friends.  What a jam-packed week and I loved every minute of it.  Too bad all weeks can't be as much fun!  Of course, if I was off running around every day, I'd never get anything accomplished at all!  And I really need creative time scheduled in almost every day to keep the creativity alive.  Do you find that if you are too busy to create for days on end, when you finally sit down, there's just no creative mojo anywhere to be found?  Is this just me???  Anyway, it has been a great week creatively for me, so I have another card to share.  I'd seen several rocker card ideas on Pinterest that piqued my curiosity and I had to give it a try.  For some reason I was in the mood to make a card with a little bit of quirkiness.  I need more birthday cards soon, so that's how this whole card got started.  Lucille, this one's for you!  Hope you enjoy...

Don't you love this sweet little bee?  And the movement on this card is awesome!  You've got the curved bottom, so it rocks.  Plus, the bee is on a wiggly base.  So cute!  When you try making a rocker card, I think you'll be surprised how easy it is and will want to make many more.  And one of the best parts about the card - it fits into a regular A2 envelope with no problem!

To make this card, I would really suggest having the Deckled Circles Die set.  This makes it so easy to get all the pieces die-cut to the right dimensions.  Let me give you a list of pieces to die-cut before we get started.

2nd largest - 1 pc of Basic White

8th largest - 1 pc of Basic White

11th largest - 1 pc of Basic White

13th largest - 1 pc of Basic White for the sentiment

Next, I cut the pieces of DSP for layering.  This lovely textured-looking print is rather overlooked.  It's from the Softly Stippled Designer Series Paper that is one of the Sale-a-bration free choices when you spend $50 or more.  If you haven't gotten this yet, you really should if you like soft and subtle patterns.  I've used several of these prints already and I find them very easy to work with.  Cutting sizes for the DSP is as follows:

3rd largest - cut only 1/2 of the circle to layer on the front

9th largest - 1 pc of DSP

Let's do the stamping before putting the card together.  On the second smallest white die-cut, stamp the stems from the Bee My Valentine stamp set using Parakeet Party ink - largest in the center and smaller one on each side.  Stamp the larger flower on the center stem using Sweet Sorbet ink.  Stamp the two smaller flowers on the side stems with Sweet Sorbet ink also.

On a scrap of Basic White cardstock, stamp the oval with Lemon Lolly ink.  The stripes on the bee are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  (I had to stamp mine twice to get really good coverage.)  Punch out with the matching punch.  Then the solid wings were stamped with Pool Party ink, then the outline was stamped with the Memento Tuxedo Black ink over the Pool Party.  These were punched out also.  Lastly, I stamped the heart with Sweet Sorbet ink and the antennae with Tuxedo Black ink.  Both of these pieces were punched out with the heart part of the matching punch.  

The birthday sentiment was stamped on the smallest die-cut using the Tuxedo Black ink.  The sentiment is from the Darling Details stamp set that I've used repeatedly.

Time to put this card together.  Fold the largest white circle in half to make the card base.  Measure the 1/2 circle of DSP to fit on this and trim off the top flat area if needed.  I ended up trimming about 1/4" on mine to make it fit nicely.  At this time, I would suggest stamping the inside of your card.  I waited until it was put together and that made it harder to do.  I had an old non-SU! stamp that had a cute sentiment that fit this card, so I used that.  It's stamped with Tuxedo Black ink.

Layer the smaller DSP onto the middle Basic White die-cut.  I used "green glue" so I could get it all centered properly.  Next, attach this to the folded circle card base.  Make sure you add the tape to only the bottom half of the circle, so it only attaches to the front half of the card.  I used Tear & Tape for this because I wanted a strong, heavy bond.

The bee is attached to the card front with a wiggly base.  These can be found online, or you could just use Dimensionals to give it some height.  If you have Wink of Stella, it would be perfect to add on the wings to make them appear more sheer and sparkly.  I ran out, so I'll add it later after I can get it ordered.  (Sheesh!  How could I have ever run out of Wink of Stella?!)

The sentiment circle is attached with a Dimensional on the left side.  One of the hearts I stamped is added under the sentiment with a Mini Glue Dot.  There are three pink sequins from the Adhesive-backed Sequin Trio added to the card.  One is the larger flower center in case you can't find it.  😉

That's my version of a Rocker Fun Fold card.  I'm sure there are many ways that you can make them, but this is my first attempt.  And I love this cute little card.  I was surprised by how simple it was to make.  As long as you have the Deckled Circles Die set, it's a breeze.  Don't forget about the Softly Stippled DSP that is a Sale-a-bration item.  This paper set is truly versatile, and you'll be reaching for it on many different projects.  Thanks for visiting.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  Thank you!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

email:  sharoncarr50@gmail.com

Painted Lavender Bouquet

Hello, hello.  I can't believe the sun is finally shining again after several rainy days in a row.  I've had more than enough rain this winter.  Of course, in the middle of a dry, hot summer I'll be praying for some of that rain, won't I?  And instead of whining about the excessive rain, I should be thankful it wasn't all snow!!  Seems like we're still adjusting to things down here, but certainly loving it.  Thinking ahead to spring, I was ready to make a card with the Painted Lavender Bundle.  These pieces make a up a bouquet in no time at all.  

I haven't made a gatefold card in awhile, so that was my plan.  For a summery feel, I chose a card base of Garden Green.  This measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", and it's scored at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8".  Folding these two sides in should give you a nice gatefold card as your base.

There are two pieces of Soft Sea Foam cut to layer onto the sides.  These measure 2" x 5 1/4".  To add some interest to these panels, they were embossed with the Softly Sophisticated Embossing Folder which is one of the Sale-a-bration items.  I love the delicate design on this embossing folder.  Can't tell you how many times I've used it already!  After embossing, the panels were attached to the card front using "green glue" making sure they lined up top and bottom.

Next, the Basic White panel was die-cut with the Perennial Postage dies.  I used the 2nd largest die, but it was still too wide for what I wanted to do.  Taking the largest die, I placed it over my die-cut piece and lined up the postage edge cutting off about 1/2" from one side.  This worked out pretty well.  I used two bits of washi tape to hold it in place while cutting.  A second piece was cut and left the full size to go inside the card for the sentiment.

On the trimmed down die-cut piece, first there is some Soft Sea Foam ink that is added to the center of the white using a Blending Brush.   The leafy stem was stamped with Garden Green ink in this area of the card at least twice and several times using 2nd and 3rd generation stamping to fill in a bouquet shape.  This gives a good base for all the die-cut stems that are coming next.

The die with the two flower stems was used to die-cut most of the pieces.  Stems were cut from Gorgeous Grape and Fresh Freesia cardstock.  There were also a set of stems cut from the Soft Shimmer 12" x 12" Specialty Paper in the Bubble Bath color.  A smaller die was used to cut stems from Highland Heather cardstock.   A Granny Apple Green Blender Pen was used to color the stems in-between the flowers.  

They were layered up in this order: 2 Gorgeous Grape stems, 2 Fresh Freesia stems, 2 Bubble Bath Shimmer stems, and the one Highland Heather stem last.  They were all staggered as they were added so they weren't lined up like soldiers. The stems were attached only on the bottom two-thirds of each stem using "green glue".  This kept the tips of the flowers looser and more natural looking.  After all the flowers were added, the stem ends that were off the card were given a trim with Paper Snips.

Butterflies from the Painted Lavender set were stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink on Basic White cardstock.  They were die-cut with the matching dies from the set and attached with Mini Dimensionals.  The sentiment from Darling Details was stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink onto a Basic White strip.  The smallest Perennial Postage die was used to cut it out.  

The left half of the lavender bouquet label has two strips of Tear & Tape added to the length.  Then it's attached to the center of the card front.  Make sure there is no adhesive on the right side of the label, or it will be glued closed.   And you don't want that!  The birthday label is attached with Dimensionals under the left side only so it's free on the right edge.

The 2nd die-cut label has a faint blush of Soft Sea Foam ink added to the center with a Blending Brush.  Now it's ready to stamp.  I used a sentiment from Everyday Details stamp set.  It is stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink.  Those butterflies that were used earlier are now stamped inside the card with Highland Heather ink, so they are lighter than the sentiment.  The layer is attached in the center of the card with "green glue".

The final touches on the card are the Purple Fine Shimmer Gems.  These are so pretty and there are three different colors of purple in this set.  I used one of each of the colors on my card.  They all matched with the multiple purples I used for the lavender stems.  Can you find them tucked in the design?  There is also a double bow made from Linen Thread.  It's attached with a Mini Glue Dot.

That's my first attempt at creating with the Painted Lavender set.  It's kind of funny that there's almost no stamping on the card, but still a lot going on.  I'll have to try stamping those gorgeous lavender stems the next time around.

Thanks for stopping in to see what's new.  If you're looking for a demonstrator, I'd love to fill the position.  Don't forget the month of February is almost half over so that means Sale-a-bration is almost over too.  I don't want you to miss out on one of the fun Sale-a-bration items for you to earn free.  If you don't know how that works, feel free to contact me.  I'd love to help.  

Hope you enjoyed and were maybe inspired to give this idea a try.  It was fun creating with all of these purple shades on one card, and I love how they look together here.   Today was definitely a creatively fun day!

Have fun stamping and creating,

Sharon

Sending... Card Set

Hello, hello!  What a week this has been so far.  Weatherwise we've gone from below freezing to the low 70's today.  Plus, there were heavy fog and rainy days too.  It's confusing trying to figure out what to expect and make plans to go out accordingly.  The weather has been really messing with my sinuses too.  Argh!  I feel like I'm falling apart some days!!  But today was a pretty good one and I got a few things accomplished.  Yesterday was a good mail day with several lovely cards delivered.  One in particular really caught my eye and I could easily translate the idea into a sympathy card that I needed.  So that was my plan for today and I had fun playing with the idea.  In fact, it turned into three cards.

Here's the card my friend Jean sent.  It's so pretty and after the foggy days we've been having, it put me in the mood for this softer Winter Meadow Designer Series Paper.  Yes, I know it was from the winter Mini Catalog, but I like it so that's what I used.

Jean used Basic White, Misty Moonlight, and a glossy white cardstock for the white layer on the sending.  It's so pretty, and it really inspired me to do some playing this afternoon.

This is the first card I worked on because I needed a sympathy card.  The first step to making these cards is cutting a 5" wide strip of the DSP from the 12" x12" sheet.  Then a piece was cut at 3 3/4" to be the print layer on this card.  A piece of Basic White cardstock was cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and folded in half for the card base.  

The Misty Moonlight cardstock layer was cut at 5 1/4" x 4".  The print layer was attached to this with adhesive.  Then these layers were attached to the card base with adhesive also.

The word dies from the Sending Die set were cut next.  The "bubble" layer was cut from Misty Moonlight cardstock.  For the white sending layer, I attached a strip of Adhesive Sheets (pg 138) to the back of a Basic White strip the same size, then cut.  It was so easy to take the backing off the word and layer it onto the blue layer.  I think these adhesive sheets make layering detailed things like this so much easier.

With the leftover white cardstock with the sticky backing, I die-cut several white flowers for a subtle accent on the card.  The die is from the same set.

The sentiment was stamped on Basic White with Misty Moonlight ink.  Then one of the skinny label dies from the same set was used to cut it out.

Both the "sending" and the label were attached to the card front with Mini Dimensionals.

Super tiny pearls from many years ago were added to the flower centers for an accent.

That was fun and I still had more of the DSP already cut, so why not put together another card or two?

This card has Orchid Oasis cardstock for the base layer of the card.  A layer of Basic White was added to frame the DSP.  

The sending bubble layer was Orchid Oasis with the same white layer on top of it.

The birthday sentiment is from the same set and is stamped with Orchid Oasis ink.  It's die-cut just like the first card.  The pieces were attached with Mini Dimensionals.

The gems used are a Berry Burst color from Tinsel Gems Four-Pack.  I liked how they picked up some of the mauve-y tones in the branches.

This card was changed to a horizontal look for fun.  The color layer is back to Misty Moonlight again.  It's used for the bubble layer of the sentiment too.

The words are from the same set.  This time when I die-cut the words, they were tucked over to one side so it's a much smaller label.   The "sending" word is attached flat to the card front, but the label is popped up with Mini Dimensionals.

The accent for this card is three of the Misty Moonlight color gems from the Tinsel Gems Three-Pack.  They picked up the color from the layers and the print.

Here are my three cards together.  Thank you, Jean, for a lovely card for inspiration.  Now I can get that sympathy card in the mail and still have two more cards for my stash.  

Hope you enjoyed this look at using the same piece of DSP and the same stamp set and still get some slightly different cards.  Of course, you can use any DSP you love and have on hand to play around like this.  You can change up the wording to make cards for birthdays, sympathy, thinking of you, or others.  Just enjoy yourself and have fun creating!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Earthen Textures Meets Joy Fold

Hello Friends!  What a crazy bunch of days we've had lately.  Severe storms with heavy downpours followed by bright sunshine and high tempuratures.  That 2" of rain in 12 hours was a little daunting.  I'd like it if things were just a little more even keeled around here.  But I'm so thankful that we don't have the hassles of flooding in heavy rains anymore.  That's something to rejoice about for sure!  Right?  Today's card is a fun fold that I haven't made in a while, so I had to look for my "cheat sheet" for the cutting dimensions for this idea.  I guess I could put this together without the directions, but having some simple directions really does help.  Do you do that?  Make up a sheet with basic dimensions for cutting and scoring with maybe a picture or a card included?  I find this so helpful when I haven't made a card style in months, or maybe even years!  Yes, when you've been making cards for close to thirty years, a lot of ideas seem to show up every so often.  With a change of colors and stamps, the idea looks all fresh and new.

See what I mean?  Does it look familiar?  Same Joy Fold, but a totally new look.  This card started with the choice of using the Earthen Elegance Designer Series Paper for it.  I chose the print, then started checking the cardstock color choice.  When I started, I planned to use Early Espresso, but the colors together didn't really appeal to me.  After trying several color combos, I settled on Pecan Pie.  There are two pieces needed for the card - 5 1/2" x 7 1/4" scored at 3" for the base, and 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" scored at 1" on one of the sides.

There is a layer of Very Vanilla measuring 5 1/4" x 4" for the inside of the card.  Another vanilla piece that measures 3" x 1 3/4" is for the card front.  

A 3" strip was cut from one side of Earthen Elegance 12" x 12" DSP print.  Make sure the print goes up and down if you have a directional print.  This one strip will be cut into all the extra pieces of DSP used on the card.

Here's a quick peek at the inside of the card.  But I'm getting ahead of myself here!

Let's start by getting the two pieces of Pecan Pie scored and put together.  The smaller side piece has the scored flap attached inside the folded card base.  I used Tear & Tape for this because I really wanted it to stay together.

Next cut the DSP to fit on the left flap of the card.  Cut a piece that's 5 1/4" long.  Trim a 1/4" piece from one of the long sides so this piece fits on the left flap perfectly.  Attach with adhesive.  The next piece is cut at 4".  This will be the inside flap layer.  Attach this with adhesive too.  That leaves you with 2 1/2" left to use on the front of the right flap later.

Let's move on to making the pottery.  The front pot is stamped with Pecan Pie onto Very Vanilla. After die-cutting, the Blending Brush and Pecan Pie was brushed top and bottom and in on the sides.  Leave the middle free for a highlight.  The feathery grasses were stamped with Early Expresso.  After die-cutting, a little Pecan Pie was blended onto this.  The grasses were die-cut from Distressed Gold Specialty Paper.  These pieces were set aside to finish later.

Inside pots - tall one is die-cut from Pecan Pie.  The banding design is cut from Very Vanilla.  After attaching together and trimming ends, the Blending Brush and Pecan Pie was added to the sides and bottom for shaping.

Short pot and handles - were die-cut from Very Vanilla then the pot embossed with the wavy lines.  A good amount of Pecan Pie ink was built up on the pot to show the texture.  After attaching the handles to the pot, an extra bit of blending was done to give the handle section some color and shape.  These pots were attached to the inside of the card with adhesive.

The final pot - was stamped with Early Expresso ink onto Very Vanilla.  Some Pecan Pie was blended onto this to give it a mottled look.  The design band was cut from Distressed Gold Specialty Paper and attached to the pot.  On the inside vanilla layer, a sentiment from Charming Sentiments was stamped in Early Espresso ink.  Along the bottom edge, a few feathery grasses were stamped using Pecan Pie that was off-stamped first to keep it really light.  The Very Vanilla layer was attached inside the card with adhesive.  

Cut the 2 1/2" piece of DSP about in half.  Attach one piece to the top and one to the bottom of the flap.  The Very Vanilla piece that's left over has a sentiment from the Lasting Joy set stamped with Early Espresso ink on the right side.  Along the bottom edge, those feathery grasses were stamped with Pecan Pie ink that was off-stamped first.  It's attached to the flap with adhesive.  It will barely overlap either one or both of the DSP pieces depending on your positioning.  Use Dimensionals behind the pot and grasses to attach it to the front flap.

For just a little bling, three of the Neutrals Adhesive-backed Sequins were attached.  I used the brown color that looked sort of bronze-y to me.  The gold tone ones seemed to jump out at me too much.  Going for subtle here.

Whew!  I think it took longer to write this out than it took to make the card!  lol  Hope you like the looks of this fun fold card.  It's really not too hard to make.  And fun fold cards are always fun to make, but even more fun to receive.  So make someone happy and mail a card today.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you're inspired to give this card a try.  If you don't want to do the fun fold, the pottery and DSP together are awesome!  Did you hear me singing that?

Just a quick reminder that Stampin'Up! has kits on sale this month.  There are some that I think are fabulous and a terrific bargain.  Check them out.  And USE YOUR BONUS COUPONS when you order!!  Don't let that money go to waste.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

ps - just thought you'd like to know we've got another severe storm warning going on this evening, and it's raining softly right now.  We'll see how it goes.

Textured Florals for Birthday

Hello Friends,  July is taking off with a bang.  It's the month that is jam-packed with birthdays for my family and friends too.  So that means lots of birthday cards need to be made.  I've got another one to share with you today.  I just realized it's another Fresh Freesia card.  Guess that's one of my favorite colors for feminine birthday cards right now.  If you like either pinks or purples, this is the perfect color choice to make as far as I'm concerned.  My sister loves purples in any shade, so each year her card always features purple of some kind.  This year it will be Fresh Freesia.  So, let's get stamping!

Hmmm, maybe I should just send her this picture because it looks more purple than the actual card.  LOL  The card starts with a base of Fresh Freesia that measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" that's scored and folded in half.  Can you see the faint design on the background?  It's made by using the Foursquare Decorative Masks (page 136), Fresh Freesia ink, and a Blending Brush.  The ink was added very lightly and faded out at the outer edges.  I love the look you get with the random color design instead of a solid coverage.  Remember to keep a light touch!

Next up are all the die-cut pieces.  There are three pieces of greenery die-cut using the coordinating Textured Floral die.  Two of the open, airy leaves were cut and one of the eucalyptus were cut, all from Lost Lagoon cardstock.  

The flowers and stem clusters are from the Textured Floral set (page 65).  The itty-bitty stems were stamped first on Basic White cardstock using Lost Lagoon ink.  The flowers are stamped in either Fresh Freesia, or Orchid Oasis that was off-stamped to keep it a lighter tone.  These were die-cut with the coordinating dies.  

The silver foil branches were cut using a retired set.  I liked how they added a bit of shine to the bouquet.

These pieces were all arranged on the card in a pleasing fashion.  The greenery was added first and was attached with adhesive.  Next the silver foil branches were attached with adhesive over the greenery.   The Orchid Oasis flower cluster was added flat, but the Fresh Freesia flowers were attached using Dimensionals for a little more depth.

The sentiment used here is also part of the Textured Floral set.  I thought this was perfect for my sister.  Smoky Slate ink was used for this.  It's stamped on Basic White and punched with a retired punch that fit the sentiment nicely.  The label was attached with Dimensionals over all the stems to cover where they all come together.  

The gems on this card are Fresh Freesia ones from the Tinsel Gems Three Pack.  These are clear colored gems with a tiny sprinkle of tinsel inside for a little extra sparkle.  A bow was added to the label.  It's attached with a Mini Glue Dot.  The ribbon is from last year's catalog and is one of the 2022-2024 In Color Ribbon.  It was the perfect touch here. 

I added a spatter of Fresh Freesia ink from the matching marker.  I love the added ink dots randomly going across the card.

The final touch came by finishing the inside of the card to match.  Small touches of the Blending Brushes and Foursquare Decorative Masks were added to two diagonal corners. This sentiment is from the Lasting Joy stamp set.  It's stamped with Smoky Slate ink to match.

I hope my sister likes her card.  A lot of thought went into what she might like.  Shhh... don't tell anyone, but this is her 75th birthday.  I thought about adding a big 75 to the card somehow, but I think she'd disown me for that.  😂😁😂

Just a quick reminder about Bonus Days!  For every $50 you spend, Stampin'Up! will give you a $5 off coupon that you can redeem with your order in August.  That sweetens the shopping experience nicely.  And don't forget to check out the Online Exclusives that are available and the Clearance Rack for some incredible bargains.  Any of these that you purchase will be added to the $50 needed to get your Bonus Days Coupon.  Have fun shopping!

Thank you for stopping by today.  Hope this gives you ideas for the cards that you need to make right now. Have yourself a wonderful summer spent with friends and family.  Stay cool and keep stamping.

Happy stamping and creating, 

Sharon

Beautiful Birthday Balloons

Hi!  What a beautiful day it is today!  There's not a single cloud in the sky so it's as blue as can be.  Yes, it is a little warm, but in the air-conditioning it's not a bother.  I do have some errands to run later and that will be a different story being outside in the sun.  Did I mention I got some sun poisoning the last day we were in North Myrtle Beach?  Oh yeah, not so fun times.  That means I really have to be extra careful when I'm outside.  Oh, speaking of our vacation, Heather and I spent a couple of rainy hours shopping.  The Amish Country Store was a big hit because they had these homemade cookies there.  Cookies like Molasses, Pumpkin Spice, Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Chip, and a couple extra flavors that I don't remember.  And they even let you taste-test them all!!  Woo hoo!  If we hadn't tasted them, I don't think we would have bought so many flavors to take back to the house with us.  Oh, they were sooooo good!  But on to other things, while we were shopping, Heather found me the cutest towel.  I didn't even see it in the store, and I don't know how she bought it without my knowledge.  But she did, and I've been meaning to share it with all of you. 

What do you think?  Perfect, right?  Hope you can read it around all the crinkles and wrinkles.  I just love it and it makes me smile every time I see it.  Remember when we had Dazzling Diamonds glitter?  I was forever wearing it no matter how careful I was.  Ah, the memories!

Ok, time to get this show on the road and get to the card ideas.  I need a birthday card soon, so it was off to the drawing board, or make that my stamping table for me.  I decided to use the Beautiful Balloons set and dies to make this card.  Because the recipient prefers pastels and pinks, I went with a palette of pinks and lavenders.

Here it is.  Hope she likes it.  I've got a tip or two to share with you about making this card, so hope you stay with me here.

To make the card I started with a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of Fresh Freesia cardstock.  It's scored at 5 1/2" and folded in half. 

Tip:  for making this card technique, it's easier to make it a top fold instead of a side fold.  Trust me on this, because I've done it both ways and this works better.

Next, the two layering pieces for the front were cut.  For that I used a piece of the Bright & Beautiful 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (page 129).  This measured 3" x 4".  I also needed a 2nd piece for the bottom of the card and chose to use another piece of Fresh Freesia cardstock.  This measured 2" x 4".  There is also a 1" strip of a coordinating print of the DSP that was cut at 1" x 6".

The Fresh Freesia layer was embossed with one of the Basic 3D Embossing Folders set that is an Online Exclusive item right now.  I thought the bold dots were a good match for the DSP print that I chose.  You can see I used Fresh Freesia ink and a Blending Brush to add a small amount of color to the raised dots.  I used a very light touch to keep the ink only on the tops of the dots.

After embossing and coloring the dots, the two pieces were added to the card front with adhesive.  You can see there is a small gap between the two when they're attached, but this will be covered with the 1" strip.  When adding the strip, you can put it straight across the card if you prefer, but sometimes it's fun to change things up and put it on a diagonal.  It's attached with 'green glue' making sure that all parts of the gap were covered.  Trim off the excess overlapping the side edges with Paper Snips.  Tip:  it's much easier to trim on an open edge than try to trim on a fold!

Multiple balloons were stamped and these were chosen:  a large balloon with Bubble Bath, medium balloons with Fresh Freesia and Highland Heather (off stamped), small balloons with Berry Burst. Both of the Berry Burst were off stamped - either once or twice otherwise the color was way too dark for the rest of them.  All of them were die-cut with the matching dies.

The large balloon was stamped with a sentiment from the Beautiful Balloons set.  It's stamped with Gray Granite ink.  The balloons were arranged on the card front.  Some were attached with adhesive, and some were popped up with a Dimensional.  

Some white Baker's Twine Essentials was used to add some strings for the balloons.  For one of them I used about 1 1/2" and tied a knot at the top.  This was tucked under the single balloon.  The others were done the same way, but all knotted together and tucked under the large balloon.  Before tucking the strings under the balloons, I added a couple of glue dots to the knot area so it would stay where it was put.

The inside of the card was finished using the same colors to coordinate.  The Basic White piece was cut at 5" x 3 3/4".  The sentiment was stamped about 1 1/2" down from the top so there was plenty of room for the added balloons.  Gray Granite was used for both the sentiment and later to add strings to the balloons.

Two of the small balloons were stamped with Bubble Bath ink and two with Fresh Freesia ink.  To add a little contrast, the little confetti pieces were stamped with Highland Heather ink.  That looked like a party to me.

Last look at the front of the card.  After checking the finished card, I decided to add two extra things.  It doesn't show up well in the pictures, but a crescent highlight was added to each balloon using some Crystal Effects.  It has been retired for a while, but I still drag it out for a little added 'something' every now and then.  The other addition is a sprinkling of Rhinestone Basic Jewels.  I think they showed up the best of all the embellishments I tried.

Hope you like this card idea.  Remember to follow the tips to make it easier on yourself.  I can imagine this card in a multitude of different color combos.  Use whatever your recipient might like the best!  Now I've got to hustle to get this card in the mail before the mailman comes.

Don't forget that Bonus Days are here again!!  For every $50 you spend, Stampin'Up! will give you a $5 coupon in your email that you can redeem on your order in August.  (Don't lose these coupons, because there's no way to track down the correct code for you later!) Make sure you also check out the Online Exclusives too.  There are some awesome products there.  What a fun way to spend summer - shopping!  LOL  Take care and stay healthy and safe.  Love you guys!!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Friendship Friday Again

Hello, hello!  As many of you know, last Friday was my birthday.  Yup, another year older, and hopefully just a little bit wiser.  But boy, did I ever get some beautiful and creative cards!  A couple of you have mentioned you missed seeing the cards I receive from my friends each month.  So I figured this would be a perfect opportunity to share some lovely cards with you.  So here goes...

created by - Judy Bur

Wonderful coloring and composition here!  Makes me want to find a window seat and relax

created by - Jean Mazurek

Those sweet tulips!  And add all the other die-cuts to give this card a lovely feminine feel to it.

created by - Sue Fabris

Wow, look at all the die-cuts!  A really fresh-looking floral card

created by - Kathy Hintz

Love Misty Moonlight and love that sweet little bird too

created by - Jan Hollmann

Nice, crisp looking card.  Love the black and white with a touch of green

created by - Barb Eisenman

Love the use of both this DSP and the Two-Tone Flora on the card front and the inside too

created by - Connie Juengel

Interesting front flap cut

created by - Shirley Krone

Beautiful layering on these flowers and the coloring of the hummingbird is gorgeous.

created by - Anita Wright

created by - Anita Wright

I just had to show you the inside of this card too!  Isn't it fabulous?

created by - Kathy Hintz

This isn't a birthday card, but it came during that time frame , so I figured why not add it?

There you have an overview of the wonderful cards that have been showing up in my mailbox.  They are all beautiful and I treasure the time and effort each of you ladies put into making them.  Thank you all (including the store-bought cards that came too) for making this birthday a special day.

Hope you enjoyed the peek at all this creativity.  You ladies are wonderful!

Keep stamping and creating!

Sharon