Hello, Irresistible Easter Card

Hello there!  I've been getting started making some Easter cards.  The one I want to share today is truly beautiful, because the DSP is the star of this card.  The new Hello, Irresistible DSP is one of the loveliest I've seen in a long while.  It's one of the Online Exclusive items that are available only online.  I thought the Fancy Flora DSP was beautiful, and it really is.  I still love it and choose it when I'm in a creative mood.  But I think the prints and colors on this pack of DSP are another step up in what I like to work with when making cards.  Let me share a card with you that really focuses on one of these prints.

All I can say is if you like pastels, this Designer Paper is absolutely for you!  Isn't the print just gorgeous?  It gives the illusion of white embossing over the softly blended background.  But in reality, that's just the look it portrays. There isn't any actual embossing on the card at all.  Doesn't it just make this card though?  I only added a sentiment tag and some die-cut leaves to finish it.  Couldn't be easier.

To make the card, start with a card base of Soft Sea Foam cardstock that measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  It's scored at 4 1/4" and folded in half.

The DSP print paper is cut to measure 3 3/4" x 5".  This is attached to a Basic White piece of cardstock that measures 3 7/8" x 5 1/8".  The print paper is attached to the Basic White using Multi Purpose Liquid Glue.  I prefer this glue when I have a really skinny layer so I can get all the edges sort of slid into place nice and even.  This was attached to the Soft See Foam folded card base using Dimensionals.

Next up is deciding on a sentiment and what to stamp it on.  I'd been thinking about Easter cards, so I went with the Daffodil Daydream stamp set that's found on page 21 in the Annual Catalog.  I like the mixed font on these sentiments that give it a fun look.  It's stamped on a piece of Basic White cardstock using Basic Gray ink.  This was to keep in line with the soft look instead of using a harsher black ink.  

It was die-cut using the Tailor Made Tags Dies.  This is the 2nd smallest fancier tag die.  After die-cutting, it was placed on the card front as shown using Dimensionals to raise it up.

The Irresistible Blooms Dies were used to cut the leaves.  It has several open-work leaves to choose from.  I actually used two of them to cut leaves from backside of a scrap of this DSP.  It had a lovely mix of the yellows and greens that I liked.  The 3rd leaf was cut from Soft Sea Foam cardstock.

The leaf cluster comes from the Around the Bend Dies.  I had an extra Soft Sea Foam one cut from my last project that was still sitting on my work-table, so why not use it?  The leaves were all attached to the tag either on top of it or tucked in underneath to form a pleasing cluster.  

A length of white 1/4" Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon about 6-7" long was tied into a bow.  It was attached over the center of the leaf cluster.  A Mini Glue Dot was used to attach this.

The last thing here was to decide on what accents to add, if any.  After trying several different ideas, I thought the Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels worked the best.  No matter which angle you look at the card, either a green, yellow, or pink color flashes back at you.  Perfect with the background paper!

That's it for today's card.  It totally focuses on the Hello, Irresistible Designer Series Paper, and I think it is just gorgeous.  Now that I've make a simple card using this paper, I need to go back and create something more elaborate with it.  Hope you love this paper as much as I do, because you're probably going to see a few more card ideas using this new DSP.  Remember, it's not in any catalog - just online only!  Check out the Online Exclusives when you sign in to www.stampinup.com.  There are quite a few other products that are listed this way and you won't want to miss checking them out.

Thanks for stopping by again today.  Hope you're inspired to get out your stamps, papers, and inks to make yourself some lovely creations.  It's very therapeutic!!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Mother's Day Wishes

 First of all, I want to wish any of you who are moms a very blessed Mother's Day.  Children are the best gift God has given to us.  Even if some days it just doesn't feel like it.  Come on, I know you've all had days like that when you're pulling your hair out and asking "why?".  But really, those moments are usually few compared to the hugs, laughs, and companionship of our children.  I certainly wouldn't trade either of mine in for another.  Then there's the sons-in-law, or daughters-in-law for some of you. God truly blessed me with a wonderful one.  And lastly, the grandchildren.  Need I say any more?  Grandkids are the very best!!!  Anyway, today's post is for sharing the card made for my daughter.  This is being posted late so she won't see it before it's in her hot little hands.   Don't want to ruin the surprise.

Here it is.  It uses some retired Fine Art DSP, some new Hues of Happiness DSP, and sentiments from two different sets - both current.  It's a fancy fun fold card too!  It took me awhile to get it made, like most of the afternoon!  But it's really worth it.  Just gorgeous!!  This is my version of a card made by JanB in the UK.  Thank you!

It starts with a card base of 11" x 5 1/2".  This is scored at 1 3/4", 3 1/2", 5 1/4", and 7.  The next layer (V-fold) is cut to 6" x 3" and scored at 3".  Then a 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" layer was cut.  I used Merry Merlot for all these layers.

Basic White layers:  2 7/8" x 2 7/8" - cut 2

                                 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" - cut 1

                                 3 3/4" x 5 1/4" - cut 1

                                 1 1/2" x 5 1/4" - cut 4

DSP layers:  design 1 -  1 3/8" x 5 1/8" - cut 2

                     design 2 -  1 3/8" x 5 1/8" - cut 2

                     design 2 -  3 5/8" x 5 1/8" - cut 1

Trust me on all these cuts.  It was a little confusing until I started putting it all together.

First of all, I die-cut the flowers from the Hues of Happiness DSP using the matching dies from the Happiness Abounds Bundle.  The pink shades of color on the flowers looked great with the painted look of the Fine Art DSP.  What a happy coincidence for me.  I ended up using 4 flowers and 7 leaf sets on the card.  

Decide what sentiments you want on the 3 white layers that show.  Make sure your embellishment (flowers) fit around the sentiments with no problem.  I used two sentiments from the Happiness Abounds set and the "Mother's Day" sentiment from the Daffodil Daydream set.  I used Merry Merlot ink for the sentiments.  Each sentiment layer was stamped, layered onto the Merry Merlot cardstock that fit.  Make sure you pay attention to the front and back of the 6" x 3" layer especially.   Then the flowers and leaves were added.  Set these aside.

Now work on the white strips and the DSP that fits on them.  Attach the four strips together.  I used MultiPrupose Liquid Glue to put all the layers together.  Decide how you want them on your card.  I did mine DSP 2 - front, DSP 1 - next fold, DSP 2 -3rd fold, DSP 1 - 4th fold.  On this picture, you can only see the 4th fold and the inside of the card.   The larger piece of DSP 2 goes on the large white layer and is attached to the inside of the back of the card.

Now it's time to add the single sentiment piece to the inside back layer.  Attach it with adhesive keeping it lined up in the middle and straight on both sides.  This is now your guide for adding the 6" x 3" V-fold piece.  Make sure you understand how this will go together before adding any adhesive!!!! 

I used a strip of Tear & Tape on the back very edge of the V-fold piece just where it will attach to the 3rd fold.  I took the covering off the tape for the back of the V and laid it over the back design, lining it up straight.  Then fold the front layer down over it to attach.  Now add one strip of Tear & Tape to the other back edge of the V-fold piece.  Fold in all the layers properly, then take off the covering on the tape and fold down over the 1st flap.

Here is another view showing how the folds and layers all line up.  I truly hope this makes sense.  It was confusing enough making it.  Writing how to put it together was even worse!

The final touch was adding a number of the Pastel Pearls in the pink color.  I thought these blended nicely with all the pink and rose shades.  Three pearls were added on the front panel, two on the middle panel, and one on the very last panel.  This would be quite bulky going through the mail and would absolutely require extra postage.  But it really is lovely, so I guess it's worth it for the right person.  😍

That's it for today.  Thank you for stopping by for a few minutes.  If you want to try this and really get lost, call me.  Or check out JanB - UK who has a blog post on May 8th.  She also has a video, but she was using measurements for the UK.  It was pretty confusing.  But like I said, the card really is gorgeous!  Have a very blessed day.

Happy Mother's Day, my friend,

Sharon