Christmas Season: Take 3 or Maybe 4

 Hi ladies!  Today's post is going to be super short and to the point.  I've been having so much fun using the Christmas Season stamp set that I wanted to share the idea with different colors.  You really don't have to use these images just for Christmas either.  Check out how cool this color combo is...

I don't have lots of pictures to share of this card.  It's already in the mail, so I'm lucky I have one picture to share.  The color combo is a mix of cool colors - Smoky Slate, Orchid Oasis, Soft Succulent, Mint Macaron with Crumb Cake and Soft Suede thrown in for the pinecone.

I love this stamp set used with this layout.  It's definitely a go-to idea for me.  And it's amazing just how quick this card comes together.  The plan is to get all your stamps mounted and ready to go with the ink used placed with each stamp.  Then start in with the two Mint Macaron branches angled across from each other.  Add the two layers of the pinecone next - Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.  Then I stamped in the berry stems with Smoky Slate ink and tucked in the berries with Orchid Oasis.  Next was the single pine needle branch using Soft Succulent ink.  These are tucked in around everything else.  Some are full strength, and some are 2nd and even 3rd generation stamping.  Lastly, the speckles were stamped in with Smoky Slate ink.  It's layered up on Orchid Oasis and then a Smoky Slate card base.  The sentiment I chose is from the Lovely You set and fits just about anything you might need.  It's stamped with Smoky Slate ink on Basic White and layered with Orchid Oasis. The ribbon is the 1/8" Metallic Woven Ribbon in Orchid Oasis, and there are silver Festive Pearls added for bling.  

That's all there is to it.  Now think about the many color combos you might try on this set yourself.  I'd love to hear what color combos you've come up with to make with this set.  Good luck and have fun!

Just so you know, Stampin'Up! has posted their list of what is retiring in the July - December Mini Catalog.  To make it easier on us all, they posted a 'Carry Over List' also.  Both the links are shown below for your convenience.  Thanks for hanging out with me today.  Hope we can talk soon.  

Last Chance Products from July–December 2022 Mini Catalog

Carry Over List

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Even More Geraniums

Hello again!  Glad you've stopped by to catch the latest installment in the Geranium Series.  In fact, I have two different cards to share today.  Both of them used parts of the geranium stamps instead of putting all the parts together.  Just more options for you.

I've got to be honest with you about this card.  It's been taken apart and fiddled with two different times.  Finally, I think I'm satisfied with the end results.  Sometimes, a card needs some tweaking, and I can't figure out just what it is that needs changing, omitting, or adding.  Do you ever have that problem?  Wish you were here hanging out with me and could help me at those times.  I really miss that!

Let's give you the particulars for the card.  The idea was to have many overlapping layers and textures building up to the focal image.  I started out with a Very Vanilla base cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half. The first layer is So Saffron that's cut at 5 1/4" x 4".  This is attached to the card base with adhesive.  Next is a layer of Pumpkin Pie that's cut at 2 1/4" x 4 3/4".  This was embossed with the Subtle Embossing Folder (retired) before attaching to the left side of the card front using MultiPurpose Liquid Glue.

The next layer here is Very Vanilla that's cut with the middle rectangle die in the Scalloped Contours Dies.  Continuing with the idea of lots of texture, this piece was embossing with the Tasteful Textures 3D Embossing Folder before adhering to the card front with Multi Purpose Liquid Glue.

The next layer is Pear Pizzazz.  I'm not positive what I used to die-cut the piece with, because it was already cut in my extra pieces.  I think it was probably the Layering Squares Dies (retired), but I'm not positive.  The piece is about 2 1/4" square.  It's been embossed with the Tasteful Textures 3D Embossing Folder also.  Then it was popped on the card front with Dimensionals.

The geranium flowers were stamped with So Saffron for the solid ones and Pumpkin Pie for the details.  The flowerpot was stamped with Crumb Cake for both the solid and detail stamps.  Both pieces were die-cut with the Geraniums Die set.  They were popped up onto the Pear Pizzazz piece using Dimensionals.  A double bow of Linen Thread was attached to the flowerpot using a Mini Glue Dot.  This made a nice accent.

The sentiment used is from the Lovely You stamp set.  I love the fonts and sentiments in the set and use them often.  This time it was stamped on a 1/2" strip of Crushed Curry using Early Espresso ink to stay with the warmer colors of the card.  The ends were finished with the Banners Pick A Punch before attaching.  A skinny 1/4" strip of Early Espresso cardstock was added right above the sentiment to give the card design some dark contrast.  This is where I was running into trouble.  All the colors on the card were too mid-tone with nothing for a contrast.  I think that little pop of color helped.  What do you think?

Three of the Brushed Brass Butterflies were added "just because"!

Here's the other card I want to share today.  It uses the stems and leaves with no flower this time.  It reminded me of waiting for the first blooms to open on my geranium.  Oh, the anticipation!  This card is done all in Soft Succulent and Basic Black.  The black layer with the pretty edge is the largest rectangle die from the Scalloped Contours Die set.  I do seem to use that set quite often.

The sentiment is from the Potted Geranium set and the die to cut it out is from the coordinating die set.  Love the little plant stake in the flowerpot too.  The flowerpot and stake were stamped with Sahara Sand this time.  

The background design is some retired white on white DSP that was colored with a Blending Brush and Soft Succulent ink in an ombre fashion fading out to almost no color at the top. 

Hope you liked the two very different cards made with the Potted Geraniums Bundle.  Did I mention that I really, really like this set?  This now makes four cards using the set.  Maybe I need to move on to something else and give this one a rest.  What do you think?  Needless to say, I will be revisiting this set again sometime soon.

Thanks for sharing some time with me.  If you're planning on ordering soon, please be sure to use the Host Code shown at the top of the blog page.  I really appreciate you so much.  Have a lovely day.

Happy stamping and creating!

Sharon

Petal Pink Cheer

 I have a friend that just had surgery so I needed to make a card to cheer her up.  I also thought this would be a great time to play with some new items I had gotten lately.  It's always fun to get out something new and figure out what to create with it for the very first time.

I chose to make a very sweet and simple card this time.  With the soft pinks and grays it's very feminine and soft.  It almost has a romantic look going on.  (Maybe it would be a really pretty wedding or anniversary card - just thinking here.)   It started out with a card base of Petal Pink cardstock, cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and folded in half.  I still have some pretty Peony Garden Designer Paper that just retired and thought it would be a good subtle layer here.  Before attaching it to the card front, I punched the corners first with the Detailed Trio Punch.  I actually used two of the three punches to get the rounded corners and the little eyelet cutout.  This seemed like a nice touch for the look I wanted.  Then I wrapped some 1/4" White Grosgrain Ribbon around it, and attached it to the card base using MultiPurpose Liquid Glue.  I also made a small bow and set it aside for when I decided where to attach it.

The next step was deciding on the color of the stems I would be die-cutting with the Meadow Dies.  I just love these silhouette stems!  There are six different flower stems along with a butterfly and a couple different tags.   So sweet!   To keep the look really soft, I chose Gray Granite and more Petal Pink cardstock to cut with these dies.  I trimmed the ends just a little on them because I wanted them a little shorter.  

The sentiment is from the Lovely You stamp set which has lots of sentiments to choose from that fit so many different needs.  I tend to use them quite a bit myself.  The sentiment was stamped on Basic White cardstock using Gray Granite ink.  This was then die cut using the smallest circle from the Tasteful Labels Dies.  Love the cute little edging on this!  The other circle in the die set cut out the Petal Pink stitched circle to layer under the white.  Aren't they sweet together?   

I attached the two Gray Granite die-cut stems over the white ribbon using MultiPurpose Liquid Glue.  Then the Petal Pink stem was attached with Mini Dimensionals under each flower.  Next up was the layered sentiment which was attached with more Mini Dimensionals.  The Gray Granite butterfly was also attached with Mini Dimenisonals.

Last up was attaching the small bow of white ribbon.  This was attached to the side and over the ribbon using Mini Glue Dots to finish it all up.

That's all there was to it.  Nice and sweet and quick too!  I think it took longer to write this post than to make the card!  *huge grins*  Hope my friend likes the card and it cheers her up.  I think that's one of my favorite things to do now - walk to our mailbox to see if there are any cards there.  If it brightens my day, I'm sure others feel the same way.  So I've been going all out to make sure I send out cards to different people each week.  Some weeks it might only be a card or two, but other weeks I keep the mailman busy!  Why don't you share some love and also some of your talents by sending out cards to your friends?  It might surprise them, but I'm sure it will make their day!

Thanks to all of you that have ordered already this month.  I really appreciate you!  If you are planning on ordering this month, please use the Host Code for May if your order is under $150.  I thank you so much for this and will be sending out cards again at the beginning of next month.  Love you guys!

Stamping hugs and inky wishes,

Sharon