Dragonfly Birthday Card

 Hi there.  Glad you dropped by again.  Today's card is all about salvaging a really big oops!  I saw a fun fold card design that I really liked and thought I'd give it a try.  First cut I measured wrong, and it all went downhill from then on.  Or did it?!  Actually I love the finished card even though it really isn't the right size at all.  Maybe I need to make one using the correct dimensions.  But it's fun sometimes to see what you can do with those oopsies.  Come on now, you can't tell me you never have any mistakes, right?  This is how I salvaged my mistake, and I love it!

It has the look of a little square card, but it's really 4 1/2" x 4".  That's where I made my first mistake - it should have been cut at 5 1/2" x 11".  I cut it 1" too short at only 4 1/2".  That meant making adjustments to all the other dimensions.  Here are the dimensions I used for this card:

Card Base -  Bumblebee  4 1/2" x 11" 

scored @ 1 3/4",  3 1/2",  5 1/4", and  7"

Bumblebee  3" x 6"

DSP -  1st pattern   (4)  1 1/2" x 4 1/4"

            2nd pattern  (2)  2 3/4" x 2 3/4"

Basic White - inside - 3 3/4" x 4 1/4"  

                     - plus scraps

After scoring the long piece of cardstock, I did an accordian fold.  On the four sides that are 1 3/4" wide, I attached one of the strips of designer series paper.  For this card, I used the Dandy Garden 6" x 6" DSP.  Sorry, it was in last year's catalog so it isn't available anymore.  One of my friends uses this DSP so often, I keep forgetting it isn't current now.

With the DSP on all four panels, you get to see the pretty paper no matter which way you look at the card.  

Next was the 3" x 6" piece of cardstock.  This was scored and folded to make a 3" x 3" piece.  Laying it flat, attach the two 2nd pattern pieces to this with adhesive.  From the pictures, I think you can see how it's attached in the middle of the front.  Then it's attached inside the card on the 4th panel.  When the card is folded flat, there is an even margin all around the 3" x 3" showing on the front (see the first picture).  

The sentiment is from the Peaceful Moments stamp set.  It was stamped onto a Basic White scrap using Night of Navy ink.  It is punched out with the Rectangular Postage Stamp punch.  The dragonfly from Dragonfly Garden stamp set was stamped on white using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I added some color with the Smoky Slate, Balmy Blue and Night of Navy Stampin' Blends.  The dragonfly was also given a brush of shimmer with the Wink of Stella.  It was punched out using the Dragonflies punch.  Both the label and dragonfly were attached to the card front using Dimensionals.

The inner panel is Basic White cardstock and stamped with one of the sentiments in the Dragonfly Garden stamp set.  This time I used Mossy Meadow ink.

Wasn't this a fun card fold idea?  Julie Davison showed this fun fold and I just loved it.  Of course, now I have to go back and actually try making it again using the correct dimensions.  I'm sure I'll love that one too.  But I've got to admit, there's just something special about these smaller cards.  I think they're just too cute.

And just in case you're wondering why I chose blues for the dragonfly body, well let me tell you...  We have a fish pond at our new home and I just love it.  I do spend much time just watching the fish and frogs.  But we also have a large group of dragonflies always flitting about.  And their bodies are almost a neon blue - just gorgeous!  So that my reasoning.  This card is a salute to my very own nature preserve.  It's not too big, but I love spending time communing with nature at it's finest.

If you're planning on ordering this month, please use the Host Code shown here.  And don't forget, the nine Designer Series Papers that are still on sale until the end of July.  You don't want to miss out!

Host Code

73KERJRP

Thank you for coming and hanging out with me for awhile today.  Love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let me know what you're thinking about.

Happy stamping and have fun creating!

Sharon

Meadow Dies Meets Fine Art Gallery DSP

Thanks for checking back in today.  You know how sometimes you have little bits and pieces left over from other projects and they just sit on your table?  Well, maybe you don't have things sitting around like that, but I sure do.  I had two 1 1/2" x 4" strips of the gorgeous Fine Art Gallery DSP sitting on my work table.  They'd been sitting there a couple weeks (maybe I shouldn't admit to that!)  *grin*  And not only was the DSP there, but two pieces of the matching gold overlay was sitting there too.  I just had to do something with it.  It's too pretty to not create with it!!  So that's just what I did - two cards that are similar but still different.

First choice to make was what color of cardstock would go nicely with the bits of DSP, but would look different enough when finished not to look totally identical.  I decided on Blushing Bride and Pool Party for the two cards.  Old Olive gave me a nice base color for them both.  

Both of the layers were embossed.  Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the embossing folder.  When we moved many of my old retired catalogs were done away with, so I can't even look it up!  Nuts!  After embossing, I used my fave Blending Brushes to add color to the edges and corners of each piece using the same colors of ink to just give it a slightly darker look.

These were attached to the folded Old Olive card bases using adhesive.  The gold overlay pieces had Mini Glue Dots added behind the gold areas and then attached to the DSP.  Ooops!  If you look closely, the gold overlay on the pink card actually got put on upside down.  I tried to remove it, but it started to rip, so I just left it as is.  If you aren't looking for the mistake, I don't think you'd notice it.  At least I hope not!

Next up was die-cutting the Meadow Dies.  I just love these and tend to tuck them in and under all kinds of different images to give a fuller look.  The leafier branch was cut from Old Olive cardstock for both of the cards.  The single long stems were cut from Crumb Cake on this card and Soft Suede for the pink card.  They were attached to the cards using either Multi Purpose Liquid Glue or Mini Glue Dots.

The sentiment comes from the Dragonfly Garden stamp set.  I really like it when the sentiment incorporates two different styles of font.  It always looks so much more interesting to me.  It was stamped on a 3/4" strip of Basic White cardstock using Old Olive ink.  The ends were all cropped using the Banners Pick A Punch.   The banners were then attached with Dimensionals to pop them up over the stems.

The finishing touches for the pink card were the retired faceted Butterfly Gems in Rococo Rose, and a double bow made from linen thread.  This was attached with a Mini Glue Dot.

The Pool Party card has a double bow made with the retired Snail Mail pink baker's twine.  I also used a smattering of the retired Woven Threads Sequins from last year's catalog.  They were just the perfect color for this card.  Looks like I need to invest in some new, up-to-date embellishment bling.  Pretty much all I have on hand is now retired.  Oh dog-gone it, time to do some shopping.  *huge grin*

Here it is another month with another Host Code for you to use if you so choose.  I would really appreciate your order!

Just a big heads-up for you -  This month Stampin'Up! is having a lovely 15% off sale on select Designer Series Paper.  There is no limit on how many you can order - 1 or ??? Whatever you need.  Here is the list for you:

155841  Beauty of the Earth                             $9.78

155696  Bloom Where You're Planted              $9.78

155499  Hand-Penned                                       $9.78

152494  In Good Taste                                    $17.85  

155817  In The Wild                                         $9.78

155807  Pansy Petals                                        $9.78

155605  Sweet Symmetry                                 $9.78

155718  Tidings of Christmas                           $9.78

155686  You're A Peach                                    $9.78

This is an awesome grouping of Designer Paper to choose from and who doesn't love a sale?  With even a Christmas DSP to choose from here, you can always get a head start on those Christmas cards you want to make this year.  The sale lasts from July 1st thru August 2nd.  Make sure you don't miss out on this awesome sale.

Another reminder...  If you're one of my customers, you should be receiving the new July - December Catalog in the mail.  Because of a backlog of shipping problems, this catalog will not be 'live' until August.  And you'll also be getting the new Sale-A-Bration catalog!  Woo Hoo!  Two Sale-A-Brations this year!!  More information will be coming your way, so keep an eye out for it.  If you're not one of my customers and would like a catalog, please get in touch with me so I can get one to you.

Thanks so much for hanging in there with me through this long post.  Lots of great and important information!  Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Starting Over

  It's happening!  Some of you know how much we've been missing our daughter and family since they moved last June.  So we've decided to follow them to South Carolina.  We're moving within the month, so it's time to reinvent my business.  Who ever thought it would be a good idea to move over Christmas?  We must be a little nuts, right?   How daunting, this starting over again in a new state, new home, making new business contacts and new friends!  I thought this would be one good way to stay in touch with my Michigan friends that I'll be missing like crazy.  Of course, that means that you all need to add your comments and ideas to keep the conversations going.

  Since I'm starting this blog over new, I though this was the perfect time to start sharing the newest Mini Catalog that goes live in January 2021 and stays current through June.  One of the first stamp sets I purchased is the Dragonfly Garden along with the matching Dragonfly Punch.  Of course I had to get the Dandy Garden 6" X 6" Designer Paper to go with it!  It so happens my friend Judy's birthday was this month, so the first card I made with this was a birthday card.

Don't you love the blue and white color combo?  It's so crisp and clean looking.  The blue I used was the Misty Moonlight In-Color cardstock, ink, and ribbon.  Matchy, matchy, that's me!  The die set that I used for the sentiment layers is Stitched Rectangles.  And of course, the dragonfly punch is part of the Dragonfly Garden Bundle.  I do so love my little dragonflies.  Don't forget that by buying bundles you always save and that's a good thing.

The dragonfly set has a stamp that just colors a set of wings.  You need to flip it around to get the 2nd set of wings stamped.  I sponged both Misty Moonlight and Blushing Bride inks on the wings to give them more of an iridescent look.  The are also two tiny dragonflies punched from Blushing Bride cardstock to coordinate.

 I had to add a rhinestone to the dragonfly body to give it a little bling.  It was a clear rhinestone colored with Misty Moonlight Blends to match the card.  To give the card just a bit more bling, the wings are colored over with a light layer of Wink of Stella for extra shine.  Can't see it too well in the pic, but it really makes a difference in real life.

There you have it.  An 'almost' monochromatic card that was quick and easy to make.  Even better, it was a chance to play with new stamps and designer paper. These new items will be available January 5th in the new Mini Catalog.  Hooray!  What could be better than that?

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you come again soon.  It's good to be back.  (still a few glitches to work out, but we're working on that) 😄

Sharon