An Improvement on a Good Idea

Sometimes you get a second chance. Today's cards are an example of card grace. I made this first card for my mom, whose birthday was yesterday. I wanted to use the ornament punch to create "pots" for flowers. I used the Garden Silhouettes set. The flowers were colored direct to rubber with Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, and Garden Green Stampin' Write markers. Dusty Durango was used to create the terracotta "pots".

Part of the trouble with this first card was that I didn't have the right base color for it (ended up using Soft Suede), and I wasn't entirely pleased with the scalloped edged strips. But time was of the essence, so in the mail it went.

Here's where the second chance comes in. That card was an original, and I wanted to use the layout and premise of a punch being repurposed for my upcoming Stamp-A-Stack featuring paper punches. So, I had to return to the drawing board and remake the card so my students would have a sample to refer to. Turns out, I like the second chance card better than the original.

Here's a closeup so you can get a better look. I cut the tip off the ornament punch so that the "pot" would have a sturdy base. I used a large tag punch and rounded the edges to make the tall vase. I stamped the flowers, starting with the middle bouquet, and then added the "pots". This focal image is smaller than the other as well, and no greeting is incorporated into it.

I also procured some Cameo Coral to use for my base and folded it as a gate fold for added interest. I placed a mat of Garden Green behind the focal image and still wanted a little more eye candy. I had popped up the middle "pot" on dimensionals, so I threaded some non-SU! ribbon underneath and tied a square knot. Proportionately correct--love it!

For the interior, I stamped the flower image with Versamark on the center panel and mounted some Very Vanilla for the greeting. Since I haven't decided if this is going to be a Mother's Day card or a birthday card, it's blank. My students will have their choice of sentiments. (Double click on the photo to more clearly see the details.)

You haven't heard from me much lately because I've had my nose to the grindstone working on a HUGE project that's due next Friday. I'm making invitations for a fundraising dinner, and one element of the design necessitated adhering 5 layers together 600 times. Yes, I know that I created this situation by designing the invite this way, but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment! I'll post more about these next week. Have a great weekend!

I Can't Help Myself! Another January SAS Card

I'm having such a hard time narrowing it down this time! Usually, I make 5 designs and cut up supplies for 2 of each, and I'm done. This time, I'm wanting to share everything I'm making, and that means making only 1 of each for some of the designs. Why? I don't have enough of the materials to make more than 1! Such is the case with this card.

I was perusing the Eastern Blooms gallery on SCS again, determined to find something to make with that set, when I came upon this card by fellow demo Cannie Hunter. Thanks, girl, for a very cute, easy card! Instead of using the flowery branch stamp though, I pulled out my Hidden Garden rub-ons and used those. Use up those supplies is my new motto! So much for using that stamp set, huh.

The background image is from Garden Silhouettes, one of my all-time favorites, stamped in Baja Breeze. Since the rub-ons come in either Chocolate Chip or Whisper White, you have to work with whatcha got. This is a 4"x4" square card, so it came together very quickly. I went to Michael's last night to see if I could get more of that ribbon. It's just so dreamy! Nope...can't find it anywhere. Oh well...it'll be GREAT while it lasts.

I know you wish you were coming to SAS, now that you've seen all the cards. Put Feb. 21 on your calendar, and you'll get in on the crafting goodness next month!

Beate's Inspiration Challenge

There are myriad, numerous, plentiful inspiration challenges in stamping blogland, and there are only a few that I have the time and/or the inclination to participate in. Beate Johns' Fresh & Fun blog is one of the most visited of all. She has over a million hits to her site and counting. Yesterday she posted this cute picture of a black and white Pottery Barn pillow and said, "do something with this."

I find white on black to be stunning, but also quite challenging. But the allure of the challenge was too much to withstand (with laundry being the other thing calling my name), so I accepted. I wanted to work with Garden Silhouettes again, a retired Hostess set from the Fall-Winter 2007 main catalog. I'll be needing a sympathy card soon (not something fun to know), so black and white was going to fit the bill for that as well.

I pulled out my favorite image, the goldenrod, and set to work with my Craft Whisper White pad. (There's another image from the set that would've been almost an exact match, but I didn't want to just replicate the design of the pillow as a card.) As dense as pigment ink is, white still has a hard time standing up to the blackness of Basic Black card stock, so it had to be enhanced with White Embossing Powder. Here's where the word "challenging" applies to this card design. While there are tools--an embossing buddy--and tricks of the trade--flicking excess with stiff rapping of the card stock--we stampers are taught to use when applying EP, dealing with stubborn, lingering particles always seem to impact my designs. This experience was no different than the other times, but I persisted.

Once I had the background completed, I moved on to the sentiment focal point. I stamped the same image with Black Staz-on (read permanent and intense black) ink on Whisper White card stock. Then I chose the sentiment from God's Blessings (sometimes death is) and determined that introducing silver into the design would add just the right dimension of shimmer to this somber card. So I inked the message in Versamark and embossed it with Sterling Silver EP, matted it with silver card stock, BB, and WW card stocks and the card was finished.

If you haven't already left a post to enter yourself in the blog candy contest that ends tomorrow, please go to yesterday's posting and do so! Let me be clear that this is NOT open ONLY to those who haven't yet subscribed to the blog. ANYONE can leave a comment and be entered! If you feel so inclined, tell me how you found my blog and where you're reading from (what state or country you reside in). The winner will be announced Friday.

A Productive Evening

The last card for Saturday's Stamp-A-Stack came together quickly last night, again with inspiration from Splitcoast. I used Garden Silhouettes again, and paired River Rock, Soft Sky and Always Artichoke. This card was what I CASE'd; it's called Artichoke Garden by scrapperaddict. Take a minute and follow the link so that you can admire her handiwork! It really has a lot more going on than mine does, but I still like how it turned out.

I didn't have the piercing kit, the designer paper she used, the hemp twine, or the jumbo eyelets, so I improvised. I created my own "designer paper" using AA card stock and ink, along with a stamp from another set. I substituted SS as the background mat for the main image, and added some twill ribbon that I had received on a set of towels. I'm getting hooked on what eyelets can add, and I think the silver works, don't you?

I cut all the pieces parts for each of the other cards except this one last night, so I don't have much left to do before Saturday morning. Good thing, since I need to get the main floor vacuumed because Bob invited 2 families for dinner tonight. I also picked up a shift at the store today, so that eats into the prep time for this company. At least you have something fun to look at as you start your day! Wish more of you were able to come Saturday, but I'll catch you next time. Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to reading your comments.

I Never Would've Thought of This...

on my own without seeing it at Splitcoaststampers! If you haven't ever perused all the fantastic photos of cards in its GINORMOUS gallery, you really owe it to yourself to do so! I would not be the stamper I am today without the generous community there.

If you can't tell, I LOVE fall! The colors are so rich, and this card's combo is no exception. But who would've thought that Bravo Burgundy and Really Rust would pair so beautifully? I'm a big fan of bronze too, so when I remembered that I had it sitting in my closet, with a strip from a previous project just waiting to be put to use, that completed the look for me. I love the versatility of this SU! Garden Silhouettes set. I'm short on sentiments, so I'll let the ladies choose what they'd like this card to become. I think it would make a nice sympathy card.

Four down, one to go! It's almost time to make the coffee drinks at Starbucks, but perhaps there will be time this afternoon to complete the final card. I'm looking forward to Saturday now!