Medallion Birthday

Here is another card we will be making at my upcoming card buffet next weekend.  The Medallion background stamp is great for making quick, yet beautiful cards.  As with any background stamp, the best way to get a perfect stamped image is to thoroughly ink up your stamp, lay it down -- face up -- on your work surface, position your card stock on top, then cover with a pc of scratch paper -- hold it firmly in place and rub over entire surface.

In real life, this card is super sparkly.  I used the two way glue pen to outline the entire edges of the large medallion and then added Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  Love that glitter.  It goes on so evenly and has just the perfect blend of sparkles -- i.e. there aren't weird colors in the glitter that don't match the project like some other glitters out there.

The Rich Razzleberry color is such a beautiful color of purple.  Here, I've paired it with the Blushing Bride, which softens it a bit, I think.  The center punch out is a stamp from the Circle Circus stamp set.  And, of course, the Basic Pearls once again!  Elegant, easy embellishment -- and you get a LOT for your money!  Gotta love that!

Supplies List:
Card stock: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry
Ink: Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry
Stamps: Medallion Background stamp, Perfect Punches, Circle Circus
Punches: Round Scallop punch, Decorative Label punch
Accessories: two way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 5/8" satin Rich Razzleberry ribbon, Perfect Pearls

Sunshine in February

If you're needing a little sunshine in your life right about now, this card will do it for you!  A super simple card featuring the stamp set, "Friends Never Fade" and the Greenhouse Gala Designer paper.  I'm generally not a huge fan of yellow, but the new color, Daffodil Delight, really does remind me of daffodils -- some of my most favorite spring time flowers.  I know it isn't spring YET, but none-the-less, I was wishing for some sunshine -- so here it is -- in the form of a card! :)

To make the center of the flower yellow, I used a sponge dauber to add just a little yellow.  Then, I used Crystal Effects on the center of the flower to give some dimension.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight
Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Scallop trim border punch
Crystal Effects
sponge dauber
1/4" celery grossgrain ribbon

Blissful Elegance

Here is another simple card we will be making at my upcoming "Sale-a-bration card buffet".

The new, FREE, Sale-a-bration set called "Bliss", is simply -- elegant!  While I'm not generally inclined to use the word, "Bliss", on projects, the rest of this set is very versatile and easy to create with. This card is created entirely with this stamp set. That flourish stamped behind the butterfly is a great size -- not huge, but not tiny, either.  I know I will be reaching for this set for years to come.

My goal for this card, was to use a black and vanilla plus one neutral color scheme.  I used a strip of designer paper from the "Newsprint" series, and a piece of the croquet trim to tie it all together.  Add a couple of the basic pearls, (one of my most favorite new embellishments), and it's a perfect wedding or anniversary card!  Of course, the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder that I embossed the Sahara Sand background cardstock with, DEFINITELY makes the card as well.  LOVE that folder.  I reach for it all the time.

Supplies List:
Card stock: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Newsprint DSP
Ink: Sahara Sand, Basic Black
Stamps: Bliss Sale-a-bration stamp set
Punches: ticket corner, scallop edge border, scallop oval, extra large oval
Big Shot plus Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder
5/8" Victoria crochet trim
basic pearls

Birthday Owl

This little owl is a stamp from the Free Sale-a-bration set called "Punch Bunch".  He is so cute and easy to stamp and quickly punch out.

 I used a 2" strip of some designer paper from the "Greenhouse Gala" series.  It's jut perfect to give some great pizzazz to this little birthday card.

Supplies list:
Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz, pumpkin pie, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Stamps: Punch Bunch, Short and sweet
Big Shot and Polka dotted and square lattice embossing folders
Punches: Dotted scallop border punch, modern label, 1 3/4" round circle, owl
Googly eyes

A Poppy For You!

Here is another of the cards we will be making at the "SAB card buffet".  It features the FREE Sale-a-bration stamp set -- "Punch Bunch".  I stamped the little poppy image in Certainly Celery ink, then again in Poppy Parade ink -- cut out the little poppies and added them with dimensionals.  Then, I stamped the background with the daisies image from Upsey Daisey stamp set.  Very simple card, but lots of color for winter!

Supplies:
Poppy Parade, Whisper White, and Pear Pizzazz card stock
Stamps: Punch Bunch, Upsey Daisey, Friends never fade
Basic Rhinestones
Poppy Parade ribbon
Scallop edge border punch
Round scallop circle punch

Ornate Blossom Beauty

I have been wanting this stamp -- Ornate Blossom -- every since I first saw it in the catalogue this year, and was thrilled when it showed up as a FREE Sale-a-bration stamp!  It is so elegant and easy to use in several different ways.  Here, I just plain stamped it -- but it looks awesome using the "kissing" technique, or colored with markers in contrasting colors, as well.

I love the fact that the Greenhouse Gala designer paper matches this stamp, as well as the "mini ornate blossom" from the "Friends Never Fade" stamp set -- I stamped the little blossom in Baja Breeze ink on the background of this card.  For that marvelous blue glitter around the circle, I used the Mono Tombo multi glue -- the stuff with the green lid -- put a little line of glue around the edge, and dumped the new Baja Breeze chunky glass glitter (from the new Occasions Mini) on it.  It really makes the central image POP!  LOVE IT!!! :)  I hope they make this glitter in lots more colors.  It's gorgeous and unique!

Supplies list:
Card stock colors: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, and Early Espresso
Stamps: Ornate Blossom, Friends Never Fade with Baja Breeze and Early Espresso ink
Big Shot and Scallop circle die, clear circle die
Early Espresso Satin ribbon
Greenhouse Gala designer paper
Basic rhinestones -- colored chocolate with a brown Sharpie
Baja Breeze chunky glass glitter

Sale-a-bration Card Buffet

It's Sale-a-bration time with Stampin' Up! -- a FREE stamp set, ribbon/button combo, MDS download, or chalkboard Decor Element with every $50 purchase!  And, yes, I just ordered a whole bunch of stuff because I really loved a lot of the free sets this year -- a better selection than we've had in a while, in my opinion. :)

So, what better way to celebrate than with a "card buffet"?  We are doing these 8 cards at my upcoming class on Feb 18th and 20th -- you can see all the class details on my meetup group site.  Here's the link -- http://www.meetup.com/Flathead-Valley-Stampers/events/16179645/  If you live in Kalispell, MT, then by all means, come and stamp with us! :)  And, if not, then draw some inspiration for some simple, yet elegant cards from my stash.  I tried to do a variety of colors and layouts.  Hope I succeeded.

Happy Stamping!