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!

Rediscovering Rub-Ons...It's Like Realizing You Like Brussel Sprouts When You Thought You Hated Them!

When I went to Convention last July, part of the goodies I received were Hidden Garden rub-ons. Frankly, I wasn't all that jazzed by them. I'm not sure why now, because I'm totally LOVING this card I made this morning.

The card base is Sahara Sand, which I chose because it coordinated with the chipboard. These little squares are the centers that could be discarded if all you were seeing when you received these little scalloped edge frames (check the archives sidebar for "chipboard frame" to get a visual). I have a hard time parting with pieces that I think I might be able to find a use for, and today I'm really glad I'm like that!

The rub-ons are really easy to use. Just cut around them--they come in sheets with images in white and Chocolate Chip--peel off the protective backing, and rub on the cover sheet with a popsicle stick (don't cringe, Lydia, it works!) and they stick!

When I finished the squares, I pulled out a scrap of Baja Breeze to mount them on, and the idea of turning them on the diamond point instead of aligning them as squares occurred to me. Yes! I'm cookin' with gas now! I love BB and CC together, so again I found a large scrap of 1.75" x 11" and cut them to 3 5/8" pieces to create a backdrop for my focal image.

But it looked kind of plain with nothing on those panels, so I went back to the rub-ons and found I had plenty of the white version of the same image I used in the center (what would you call that thing?), so I placed those accordingly. The parts that didn't make it on the panels just became part of the art on my grid paper.

The ribbon in the middle was also a response to jazzing this card up a little bit. I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch (like a hot knife through butter) two small holes on either side of the center. I was going to tie a bow, Sandra, but the ribbon's too wide and it didn't look right. The little knot is sweet and doesn't add to the bulk that is created by the chipboard and poppin' those little babies up on dimensionals (2 high for the center one).

As soon as I adhered everything, I realized I hadn't put a sentiment anywhere! The inside will work just fine, though, I thought. The newest trend in card crafting is decorating interiors, so I used a few more rub-ons and the sentiment from Best Yet, a level 1 Hostess Set from the about-to-retire catalog.

The craft room is all but disassembled, and I walked back and forth from the dining room and there to complete this card. Who knows what tomorrow'll bring, but I may move stuff around more often, if this is the result! Have a great day!