Hoppin' down the bunny trail

Hello!  Today's Easter card is full of whimsy.

At the time I made this (um, a year ago!), I had recently received Wplus9's Fresh Cut Florals in my mailbox.  This was my first chance to play with them, and I chose various shades of pink inks to create a garden.

The bunny is a lone ranger, found at a yard sale, all by himself, and without the rest of his Stampin' Up! set buddies.  I paper-pieced him with the same floral paper used for making a sun in the corner.

Hope you are seeing signs of Spring where you live!

Stamps: Fresh Cut Florals - Wplus9; bunny, sentiment (All Holidays) - Stampin' Up! Paper: yellow floral, yellow polka dot, Summer Sun cardstock - SU Accessories & Tools: White Opal, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls - Ranger; yellow marker

Guesting over at Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine

Hello everyone!  I'm truly excited about being a Guest Designer today!  Catherine, the publisher of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine, asked me to contribute to their weekly blog feature, Card Cafe Thursday.  It's a thrill to be asked.  :-)

I'm sharing the article I wrote for SCT with readers here at my own blog, but I certainly welcome you to visit the SCT blog and have a look around.  Their website is so bright, fresh, and lovely.They offer papercrafting challenges and sketches, free digital magazine content, and more. 

Here we go!:

I’d like to share with you a few cards that feature some of my favorite embellishments: sequins and pearls.  These little beauties always add pizzazz to a project.  I've long been a fan of pearls on my cards, but admit that my recent addiction to sequins might have taken over.  :0) I add ‘em to nearly everything lately!

Imagine this baby card without its deep orange and white sequins. 

When I first created the card, I thought the butterflies-in-a-jar motif added such a fun touch, and I thought it was finished…until I spied new-to-me Pretty Pink Posh sequins on my work table.  By adding a smattering of these little gems, this card suddenly came to life. 

Stamps: butterflies - Springtime Beauty II - Inspired By Stamping; sentiment - Absolutely Fabulous - Stampin' Up! Paper: Vintage Cream, white, True Black - Papertrey Ink; gingham - Garden Vignettes by Carina Gardner - My Mind's Eye Ink: Pumpkin Pie - Stampin' Up!; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Marshmallow, Bronze sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; Baby die - Papertrey Ink; Modern Label punch - Stampin' Up!

I love making black cards because they are dramatic, and very eye-catching.  On this example (my very first shaker card, woohoo!), I’ve got several details that take it to the next level.  A My Favorite Things / Die-namics ‘Fancy Flourish’ die cut, also in black, provides subtle texture, as does flocked patterned paper and a black seam binding ‘Colleen Bow.’  (P.S., I have a bow tutorial on my blog here.) 

The stitched rectangle frame adds more subtle interest, and how about that dotted acetate?  There are iridescent hearts, and even some lip sequins in this shaker.  Initially, I had trouble deciding where to put a sentiment on this card, and I put the project away to think it over.  The next day, the idea of a little tag at the top of the shaker popped into my head.

Stamps: sentiment - Fresh Cut Wreaths - Wplus9 Paper: True Black, white - Papertrey Ink; dotted acetate - Stampin' Up!; lavender and black flocked pattern Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: black seam binding - Hug Snug - The Zipper Stop Accessories & Tools: assorted sequins; Fancy Flourish die - My Favorite Things/Die-namics; lavender rhinestone - Queen & Co.; Tiny Tags die - Papertrey Ink; Stitched Rectangles die - L'il Inker Designs

One of my most favorite card-making styles is a shabby chic / vintage vibe.  And you know what I love to pair with that?  PEARLS!

The inspiration for this card was a piece of packaging from some stickers.  It’s pink, with text all over it, and I just couldn’t throw it out!  I had die-cut a spiral notebook page from it for another project, and saved the negative, which happily fit this card perfectly.  I backed it with some lined patterned paper, added an Altenew sentiment, a couple of buttons, and scattered pearls.

The rooster image, as well as the flowers, were trimmed from patterned paper and added with foam tape for dimension.  And do you spy even more pearls in the bower of flowers?  I’m telling ya, they make everything better! 

Stamps: Sentiments & Quotes - Altenew Paper: Pink Pirhouette, damask, rooster/flower/lined patterns - Stampin' Up!; text/pink packaging Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Walnut Stain - Ranger Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; Sahara Sand ribbon - SU Accessories & Tools: Spiral Notebook Page die - Papertrey Ink; pearls; pale blue buttons - SU

Since I tend to use gem and pearl stickers quite often on my projects, I keep a pretty box full of them near my work table.  Inside, gems and pearls are separated by color family in zip-top plastic sandwich bags.  My absolute favorite brand is Queen & Co., not only for the variety of colors, but also their budget-friendly price. 

Thanks for allowing me to share my joy about being a Guest Designer with YOU!

Paisley Punch

A friend from high school asked me to create some thank you cards for her.  She is fan of paisley designs, and I was lucky to find this patterned paper in my stash:

She is also into clean and simple cards that have some detail to them, so I used flower punches to create a decorative edge along the paisley.  Had to add some sequins to give it pizzazz!  (I find sequins addictive.  Do you feel the same way?)

Glad you could pop in today.  Thanks for taking the time to visit!

Stamps: Everyday Sayings - Hero Arts Paper: Bashful Blue, Rose Red, orange, pink patterns - Stampin' Up!; paisley pattern - Raspberry Suite - K & Co. Accessories & Tools: Metallic Gold sequins - MJ Trimming; Hydrangea punch - Martha Stewart; Itty Bitty Accents (smaller flower) punch - Stampin' Up!

A toy for baby

Hi!  I recently made this baby card for the shop, Arts Plus Gallery, where I sell some of my creations.  My inspiration piece:  this little toy duck stamp, which I've had in my unfinished project box for ---ew, quite a while.   I remember stamping a bunch of these at one time, to make THIS card and THIS card.  (Warning:  they're ancient!)

I jazzed things up with a Harlequin stamp (Inkadinkado) in yellow-on-yellow, added some punched stars and sequins, and a yellow ribbon.

Oh yes, I like this version the best.  Those other cards (linked near top of post)....not so much.  Ha!

Stamps: I don't remember, and sold the set, too! Paper: Barely Banana, Ballet Blue, Crumb Cake - SU Ink: So Saffron - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Daffodil Delight ribbon - SU Accessories & Tools: larger star punch - Fiskars; small star punch - Itty Bitty Accents - SU; Metallic Gold sequins - MJ Trimming; Sparkling Clear sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; markers

From prom dress to greeting card

Yes, I used a bit of a prom dress on this card!  My daughter's prom dress from last year had been shortened so that she could use it in her high school theater production, so there was excess material I saved (of course).  The netting was perfect to create this flower:

The dies I used to create the flower are listed below my signature at the end of the post.  And I believe it's the first time my Quatrefoil Background / Unity has seen ink!  I've only had it for, oh, you know, a few years. (wink, wink)

Are any of you also loathe to throw away scraps of fabric, in case you can use them on other projects?

Stamps: sentiment - Thankful Leaves - My Favorite Things; lattice - Quatrefoil Background - Unity Paper: white - Papertrey Ink; Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose - Stampin' Up!  Ink: Kiwi Kiss - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: tulle Accessories & Tools: Branch With Leaves, Floral Fusion dies - Sizzix; Simply Scallops Large die - My Favorite Things; Scalloped Circles dies - Spellbinders; Regal Rose brad - SU

Eclectic For You

Hey there.  :0)  The card I'm sharing today took on a life of its own.  I like when that happens!

My inspiration piece was this Anna Griffin floral stamp.  It was in my unfinished-pieces box, already colored and trimmed to this size.  Also on my desk at the time:  a piece of black and white plaid paper.  Now, normally, I would never think to pair an elegant floral with this paper, but  just struck me as 'right'.

On the card base, I used Stampin' Up!'s Bella Toile in a tone-on-tone combo.  The glittery die cut is from K & Co.

I had a smidgen of cocoa velvet ribbon (May Arts) on my desk, so that went under the Anna Griffin stamped panel.  The round circle sentiment from Inspired By Stamping is one I use a lot.  It is "comfortable" to use:  fits in a lot of different designs, just the right size, etc.

The plaid paper already has a distressed look to it.  I love how it appears on the bottom left corner of the card!

Thanks so much for coming by today!  I hope you are having a good day, in your little corner of the world.  :-)

Stamps: Bella Toile Background - Stampin' Up!; floral - Anna Griffin; sentiment - Cherish - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla - SU; plaid - Garden Vignettes by Carina Gardner - My Mind's Eye Ink: Crumb Cake, Basic Gray - SU; Old Paper, Antique Linen - Ranger Fibers: lace; cocoa velvet ribbon - May Arts; Crumb Cake ribbon - Stampin' Up! Accessories & Tools: pearls - Queen & Co; circle punch - Stampin' Up!; swirl glittered die cut - K & Co.; Copic markers

Hand-stamped Patterned Paper

One of the things that pleases me most in paper crafting is creating my own patterned paper.  Oh, I've got oodles and oodles of patterned paper pads, and they do make me happy, but there's nothing like choosing your own colors and your own stamps to create something unique.

This card was for my father-in-law's birthday:

I used Inkadinkado's Harlequin Background in a kraft-colored ink, and a flourish icon from TPC Studios' Classic Icons in pale gray on a white panel.  Then, the edges were distressed with kraft colored ink.

This leaf from Stampin' Up!'s With Gratitude has to be one of my favorite stamps.  I love the sorta-realistic, sorta-grunge look it has.  I stamped it on a vintage book page, adhered it to a scrap piece of cardstock, then trimmed.  That gives it more heft, making it sturdier to pop up on foam tape.

Thanks so much for joining me today!

Stamps: gray flourish - Classic Icons - TPC Studio; Harlequin Background - Inkadinkado; leaf - With Gratitude - Stampin' Up! Paper: Going Gray - SU; kraft, white - Papertrey Ink; vintage book page Ink: Going Gray, Crumb Cake - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Walnut Stain - Ranger Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: brass brad and buckle - Stampin' Up!

Pretty Postage

Hello!  A while back, last year, I was on a design team called Seize The Sketch.  Sadly, it closed before I had been there for very long.  This card was made for one of the sketches that never made it to fruition:

These postage stamp images may look familiar.  In 2013, I had designed these guys as little magnets.  Unfortunately, because of the thick layer of Crackle Accents (Ranger) on each one, they curled up and did not look so pretty on the refrigerator.  I removed the magnets, and adhered them to this card instead.  They were the inspiration for all other design choices here.

The pale pink damask paper is retired (of course) from Stampin' Up!, and the Harlequin Background / Inkadinkado was stamped with Milled Lavender.

Yep, sure do hate to throw anything away!  I always try first to repurpose before trashing.

So glad you could stop by today!

Stamps: Harlequin Background - Inkadinkado; sentiment - All Year Wishes I, postage stamps - Summer Postcard Add-On - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla, pale pink damask pattern - Stampin' Up! Ink: Milled Lavender, Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: crochet lace - Hero Arts Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; doily; vintage buttons; Bisque Liquid Pearls, Crackle Accents - Ranger; doily - Wilton

Mad for Plaid

My friend asked for some monogrammed cards, and she is WILD about plaid.  She says that plaid is her favorite color!  Isn't that funny?  :-)

She also loves wreaths, so I paired this glittery plaid paper from My Mind's Eye Garden Vignettes with a wreath image from Avery Elle's Happy Spring.  I snagged that AE stamp set from i{heart}papers when they first announced they were going out of business.

The alpha stamps are from Doodlebug Designs.

Thanks for letting me share this with you today.  See you soon!

Stamps: Curly Alphabet - Doodlebug Designs; wreath - Happy Spring - Avery Elle Paper: plaid - Garden Vignettes by Carina Gardner - My Mind's Eye; Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black - Stampin' Up!; white - Papertrey Ink Ink: Old Olive - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: circle, Fancy Tags Three  dies - Spellbinders; rhinestone gems - Queen & Co.

Tinsel & Twig Christmas

Happy Monday!  I've got some Christmas Joy to share today:

Nearly everything you see here is from the Girls' Paperie Tinsel & Twig collection.  I picked up one of these kits for $20 a few years back at a Tuesday Morning store in North Carolina.  It has so many cool things in it:  a stamp set, alpha chipboards, snowflake embellishments, ribbon and laces, and die cuts.  I remember how excited I was to happen upon it.  :-)

I've tucked this card into my Christmas stash, all packed and ready to be sold when the time comes.

Hope you have a blessed day!

Stamps: text, snowflakes - Tinsel & Twig - Girls' Paperie Paper: green cardstock Ink: Early Espresso - Stampin' Up! Fibers: crochet lace, red scallop trim - Girls' Paperie; twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: alpha stickers, snowflake die cut embellishment - Girls' Paperie; Champagne Liquid Pearls - Ranger