Elegant Soiree Sympathy Card

Hi!

I made this card on commission, sadly a sympathy card to be sent a family who had recently lost a loved one.  These are always the hardest cards to make! 

I used the latest sketch at Stamping 411 as the basis for the card.  I haven't entered one of their challenges before, mostly as I've only just found their blog.  I was blog surfing while procrastinating on my Convention swaps!

Stamps: Punch Potpourri, Thoughts and Prayers, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel

Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede

DSP/Cardstock: Elegant Soiree DSP, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla

Other: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, Two Step Bird Punch, Sponge Daubers

Catch you later,

Tina

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi!

My husband Rob and I have never really been ones to celebrate Valentine's Day.  It's all a bit too much commercial for us.  I don't often give him a card on the day, but this year I decided I would.  It's our 13th Valentine's Day as a couple.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stamps: Punch Potpourri (Level 1 Hostess), Well Scripted

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White

Other: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Scallop Square Die, Full Heart XL Punch,Corner Rounder Punch, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Sponge Daubers

Catch you later,

Tina

Punch Potpourri Butterfly

Hi!

Today's card is a birthday card for a niece.  The Sweet and Sour Speciality DSP was already out on my craft desk, so I decided to use it on the card.  Lots of layering on this one!

Here's a closer look at the butterfly.  I used three layers all held together with a rhinestone brad.  The top layer is a stamped butterfly from the Punch Potpourri Hostess set, the second is more of the DSP and the bottom layer is Rose Red cardstock.  I drew some flight lines on the card freehand.

I needed a pocket for a gift card so I used more of the DSP.  It is adhered to the inside of the front of the card.

Finally, the inside of the card.  I have been trying to make sure I do the insides of my cards as well as the front.  Mostly I just stamp a coordinating image on the inside, as I have done here.  it doesn't take long to do and really adds to the card.

Stamps: Punch Potpourri (Level 1 Hostess set), Well Scripted
Ink: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie
DSP/Cardstock: Sweet and Sour Speciality DSP, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Other: Fire Rhinestone Brad (Pumpkin), Dimensionals, Stamp Positioner, Butterfly XL Punch

Catch you later,

Tina

Technique Blog Hop

Hi!

Welcome to our little blog hop.  Today a group of fellow Stampin ' Up! demonstrators are showcasing some stamping and papercrafting techniques for your inspiration.  We'd love to know what you think, so please leave us all a comment!  The stop before me was Amy Buchanan, and there are 5 stops in total on the hop - short and sweet!

I chose to demonstrate stitching on my projects today.  I hadn't attempted it before, but I'm pretty pleased with the final result.  Here's the card I made.

Each of the square panels has been stitched around using my sewing machine.  The hardest part of doing the stitching was getting the tension right on my machine.  I think if I do it again I would use a longer stitch length too.  Here's a close up of the stitching.

I tore around each of the DSP squares to give a bit of a shabby look.  In hindsight I should have torn first and stitched second. The stitching acted like perforations and made the paper want to tear along the stitching rather than just along side.

Here's a view of the centre circle, showing how I layered the different sections.  I used Dimensionals on some of the layers.

I also decided to make a coordinating gift card holder.  I based it on the boxes I've seen around for chocolate or DVD's.  Here it is in a closed position.

Here's a closer look at the front. I based it on the card, just making some minor changes.

And finally, an open view.  The recipient just pulls on the ribbon to reveal the gift card inside.

The gift card holder was pretty simple to make, but if you would like instructions or measurements please let me know in your comment.

So that's it for me. You're now off to see what the very clever Judy May has to show you.

Stamps: Punch Potpourri
Ink: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz
DSP/Card Stock: Hostess DSP, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride
Other: 1/2" Pear Pizzazz Stitched Poly Ribbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Sewing Machine, Two-Step Bird XL Punch, Full Heart XL Punch, 1 3/4" Circle XL Punch, Circle Cutter, Slot Punch (retired), Paper Snips

Here's all the stops:

Judy May

Nikki Sadler

Christine Blain

Amy Buchanan

Catch you later,

Tina

Blushing Bride Baby Card

Hi!

In a previous post I'd mentioned that I had to make a couple of baby cards, and that I had an idea that I was going to use for both of them.  The first card used graduating shades of pink for the sentiment.  I was going to do a similar thing on this card, but changed my mind at the last moment.

I changed my mind because my new stamp set, Punch Potpourri, arrived in the mail.  It had been on backorder as it was proving to be quite popular as a Hostess choice.  I decided to go for a more elegant look for this card so I used the butterfly stamp punched out and layered on a plain Blushing Bride butterfly punchie.  Here's a closer look at the butterfly.

So much softer and more elegant than the other, funkier card.

Stamps: Punch Potpourri
Ink: Blushing Bride
DSP/Card Stock: Blushing Bride Hostess DSP, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Other: Rhinestone Brad, Big Shot, Lots Of Tags Sizzlits, 2" x 1 3/8" Oval XL punch, Butterfly XL punch, 3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Chit Chat Rub On (retired)

Catch you later,

Tina