Shaker Cards!

Happy Saturday, Everyone!!!

Today, I have a couple of graduation shaker cards to share with you.  I love shaker cards, but hadn't found a good product to use for the dimensional foam part -- UNTIL NOW, that is!  SU came out with these fantastic foam adhesive strips in the new catalog, and these make shaker cards totally easy and fast!  I am so excited about this product.  No more trying to cut 1/2" foam tape in half with an exacto knife!!!  I used the hearth and home thinlets along with window sheets.  For this first one, I made a masculine looking card using the neutrals sequins for the shaker contents, and the now retired fancy silver foil vellum, and star punch from the Itty Bitty Accents punch pack.  The second card, features a new In Color, my favorite, Sweet Sugarplum.  It is a beautiful orchid color that looks amazing with Rich Razzleberry -- as I've done here.  I had some silver micro beads hanging out in my stamp drawer for a very long time, and they matched our silver foil sheets perfectly! I used the Crazy for You stamp set and Hello You thinlets to die cut the word, "Happy", out of silver foil sheet.  I stamped a spring tree using the Sheltering Tree stamp set.  Did you notice that lovely ribbon on the second card?  It is the Sweet Sugarplum ruched ribbon!  I'll be honest, I haven't been that excited about our In Color ribbons in recent years, but THIS stuff is beautiful! and easy to tie.  I will be getting all the colors this time around!

For those cute little flowers on the second card, I grabbed my tree builder punch.  This punch is so versatile -- the tree topper makes the perfect cloud or scoop of ice cream or cupcake topper!  And, the little "rain drops" from the punch, make perfect leaves.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

It's Teacher Appreciation week!  I am so grateful for the teachers that each of my children have.  It is an often thankless job, I think, and they put SOOO much into our kids and help shape their lives in ways that we, as parents, can't.  So, thank you to all the teachers out there!  We appreciate what you do!

I, once again, headed up the teacher appreciation gifts for my son's school.  Three ladies, including my friend, Leah, whose kids don't even go to our school, came over and helped put these together. We gave out a little lotion in a cello bag with a cute washi tape tag on it, and a packet of four note cards -- stamped with the Perfect Peacock stamp, Bordering Blooms stamp set, Sheltering Tree stamp set, and a retired tractor stamp.  The SU note cards come in a pack of 20 for $5.95 each.  That is a lot of little cards with matching envelopes, making it a very inexpensive, yet awesome, little gift -- we could get 5 gifts out of one pack.  Score!  It was fun to see the looks on the teachers faces when we handed them out.  LOVE that part.

Other products used:  Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, and the following inks:  Bermuda Bay, Blackberry Bliss, Pear Pizzaz, Early Espresso, Lost Lagoon, Real Red, and Old Olive.  I just love stamping all the little parts that come with the Sheltering Tree stamp, and especially wanted to stamp that little bike.  However, after 65 of them, I was feeling like I had given that stamp set plenty of love!

Today, for Sabina's little pre school, we picked up drinks (of their choice) from Starbucks for each of her teachers, and gave out little card packets, and Sabina made them each a card as well.  She did a great job of giving them their little gifts and saying "Happy Teacher Appreciation Week".  Awwww - it's the little moments that make life grand!

Happy Friday, Everyone! and don't forget to thank your teachers!

Sheltering Tree meets white crayon resist

Happy Saturday, crafty peeps!

At my last stampers' techniques club, we did this card featuring a new stamp set -- Sheltering Tree -- from the Occasions catalog.  I LOVED this set from the first time I saw it.  It has great possibilities for every season, and good for showcasing a number of techniques.  I've been wanting to show the white crayon resist technique for a while, and this was the perfect set to do it.  For best results, use glossy card stock.  SU used to sell it but doesn't anymore, however, I think you could order it online or purchase it from Staples or somewhere?  Anyways, I think your ink blends better on the glossy.

First, I cut out a glossy card stock die cut, using my starburst framelits.  Next, stamp the tree in tuxedo memento black ink and let dry a bit.  Next, use a white crayon -- raid your kids' crayon stashes!-- and outline the branches with crayon, and make a snow bank at the bottom.  Next, sponge ink over top -- I used Lost Lagoon.  Rub a paper towel over the top to wipe off excess ink -- the crayon areas will resist the ink, and look like snow.  For that awesome background panel, I used the new FREE Sale-a-bration freebie paper -- the Irresistably Yours Specialty DSP.  It has a glossy (like embossed) pattern in the paper that resists the ink when you sponge or spritz over top.  I love the patterns -- stripes, vines, dots, stars, little flowers, and scallops.  To me, this paper doesn't look all that exciting at all until you use it and you realize how versatile and awesome it is. That sweet little embellishment, is also front the Occasions catalog -- Something borrowed embellishments.  Love these little beauties.  Really adds a touch of flair.  When the card was complete, I added some dazzling details to the branches of the trees and the snow bank to look a little bit 3-D on the snow.  Everyone seemed to love this card and decided they liked that SAB paper after all!

Wishing each of you a Happy Saturday!  Be sure to check out all the fabulous treasures you can get for FREE right now during Sale-a-bration with a $50 order.  I am most excited about the DSP featured in today's project, the Lotus Blossom stamp set, and the HUGE selection of Blendabilities markers you can get for free! Yippee Skippeee!!!