Daisy Girl

Inspiration

Here's a cute card for a little girl - I love these "bittybloom" stamps from Stamping Bella - the daisy is one of my favorites.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Stamps

daisy Bittybloom (Stamping Bella)

Paper

Wild Wasabi (SU!)	5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4
PIxie Designer Paper (Memory Box)	4" x 5 1/4"
Rose Red (SU!)	2 3/8" x 2 3/4"
Stamper's Select White (Paper Trey Ink)	2 1/4" x 2 5/8"

Ink

Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Accessories

COPIC Markers (Imagination International)

Ribbon (SU!)

Bow Easy

Paper Flowers (Paper Studio)

Brads (Paper Studio)

Zip Dry glue

Sticky Tape (PKGlitz)

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer with straight & deckled blades (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Cut a piece of green card stock measuring 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", score it at 4 1/4", and fold.

MAT LAYER

Using a deckled blade, cut the patterned paper to measure 4" x 5 1/4". mount a strip of yellow ribbon using double-sided tape about 1 1/2" above the bottomn edge.

IMAGE

Stamp the image onto white card stock measuring 2 1/4" x 2 5/8". Color with COPIC markers. I used these colors:

• Flower Center: Y21
• Skin: E000, E02
• Shirt/Shoes: YG61, YG63
• Petals: R81, R56
• Shadow: C0, C2

Mount the image panel onto a mat layer of dark pink (2 3/8" x 2 3/4"). Mount the image on the designer paper mat layer, toward the right of the panel, just over the ribbon.

ASSEMBLY

Mount the three flowers on the mat layer using brads at the upper left corner of the image. Finish by tying a bow of yellow ribbon and mounting to the left of the image along the ribbon strip.

Thanks for stopping by!

You + Me = Friendship

Inspiration

Here's a card I made for a friend who also has a November birthday. I'm very drawn to the letterpress effect - it seems so elegant. I've been trying the letterpress plates, but still haven't quite perfected the use yet. I can't get the whole piece of paper clean, so I finally just cut out the image and used it by itself!

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Paper

Basic Black (SU!)	8 1/2" x 11"; scored at 5 1/2"
Creamy Caramel (SU!)	5 3/8" x 8 3/8"
Lap of Luxury DSP (SU!)	5" x 7"
Bravo Burgundy (SU!)	5" x 5 1/4"
Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)	5" x 5", and 3 1/4" x 4", and 1 1/4" x 2 1/4"

Ink

Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Bravo Burgundy (SU!)

Stamps

JavaBellas (Stamping Bella)

Sweet Serendipity (SU!)

Accessories

Classic Triple Scallop Edgeabilities (Spellbinders)

Classic Bracket Edgeabilities (Spellbinders)

Wonky Rectangles Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Corner Trellis Letterpress Plate (Sizzix)

Key Tag Punch (SU!)

Big Shot Pro (Sizzix)

Ribbon (Michaels)

Bow-Easy

COPIC Markers (Imagination International)

SU! Markers

Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura)

Shell White Microfine Glitter

Zip-Dry Glue

3-D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives)

Foam tape (Scotch)

Scissors (Cutter Bee)

Scor-Pal

ATG (3M)

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Start with a whole sheet (8 1/2" x 11") of black card stock, score in the middle at 5 1/2", and fold.

MAT LAYERS

Cut a piece of caramel card stock measuring 5 3/8" x 8 3/8", and cut/emboss one short end using the edger die from the Triple Scallop Edgeabilities set, and the Fleur de Lis decorative insert from the Classic Bracket set.

Cut a piece of patterned paper measuring 5" x 7". Mount a strip of ribbon across the middle, and mount the patterned paper onto the caramel card stock mat. Mount the mat layers onto the front of the card.

IMAGE

Use black ink on the letterpress plate, and press the corner image into a square of white card stock. Trim the pressed image out.

Stamp the image in black ink on white paper, and cut/emboss the image using a wonky rectangle die that allows room for the whole image.

Color most of the image with COPIC markers. I used these colors:

• Skin: E0000, E00, R11
• Hair: Y11, E15, E18
• Capris: E30, E33
• Chairs/Table: B32, W0, W4
• Vase/Rose: B00, R81
• Coffe Cups: E30, E47

For the sparkly shirt and dress, fill in the areas with the quickie glue pen, and cover in the microfine glitter. Then color over the glitter with the SU! markers. I used Sage Shadow for the shirt and matching shoes, and Bravo Burgundy for the dress and matching shoes.

Cut a burgundy card stock piece measuring 5" x 5 1/4", and mount on the card front. Mount the image in the lower right area of the burgundy mat. Add the trimmed letterpress to give the appearance of an awning using foam squares. Tie a bow matching the ribbon, and mount in the upper right corner of the image.

SENTIMENT

Stamp the sentiment in burgundy ink on white card stock, and punch it out using the Key Tag punch. Mount it to the left of the "awning" with foam tape (using foam tape makes it fit under the already mounted awning).

Thanks for stopping by!

Bella Diploma

Inspiration

It's right in the middle of "graduation season", and this year I only had a couple to make. This image from Stamping Bella is so perfect for those lovely female graduates - I've used it for a couple of years now. I always try to pick paper to match school colors - JJ Pearce in Richardson, TX, is easy - they are RED, WHITE, and BLUE!

Also, I got a COPIC airbrush system Friday night, and started playing with it on Saturday. I have to say, I think I'm going to love it, but it is really going to take some practice! This card has just a touch - red airbrush highlight on the sentiment.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size is 6" x 6"

Paper

Brilliant Blue	5 1/2" X 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Real Red	4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Stamper's Select White (PTI)	4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Inks

Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Brilliant Blue (SU!)

Stamps

DiplomaBella (Stamping Bella)

Congratulations (Hero Arts)

Accessories

Fancy Tags Shapeabilities (Spellbinders)

Classic Rectangle Nestabilities - Large (Spellbinders)

Classic Rectangle Nestabilities - Small (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

COPIC markers (Imagination International)

COPIC airbrush system (Imagination International)

Scor-Pal

ATG 714

Scissors

Rotary Trimmer

Instructions

Image

Stamp the figure on white paper in black ink, and cut it out with the largest die from the SMALL rectangle Nestie set. Cut and emboss red rectangle, using the largest die from the LARGE Nestie set. Color with COPIC markers. I used these colors:

• Face/Legs: E000, E00, R11, RV11
• Shirt/Shoes: B21, B23
• Flower/Tassel: Y35, R29
• Robe/Cap: C5, C7, C9, 100, R29
• Background: B0000, B000

Sentiment

Cut and emboss a fancy label from white paper, and stamp the sentiment in blue centered on the label. Before removing the paper from the die, lightly spray the label using the airbrush, and the R29 COPIC marker. Note - you can create an effect very much like this using a sponge, and red dye ink.

Assembly

Mount the image on the red rectangle, and mount it on the card front. Add the sentiment label below the red rectangle.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday, and thanks for stopping by!

Friend To Friend

Ingredients

Hello and Happy Easter! I hope you all have a blessed day.

Here's a friend-to-friend thank you note I've made for a new girlfriend who showed me real kindness on our very first meeting! I used SplitCoast sketch #328 to get started, and the Color Combos Galore #189 challenge for my color choices.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Paper

Blushing Bride (SU!)	8 1/2” x 5 1/2”, scored at 4 1/4”
Champagne Pearl Metallics (Wassau)	3 1/2” x 4 3/4”
Bashful Blue (SU!)	3 1/4” x 4 1/4”
Very Vanilla (SU!)	3” x 4”, and 1 1/2” x 1 1/2”
Almost Apricot (SU!)	2” x 2”

Inks

Basic Black (SU!)	Bashful Blue (SU!)
Almost Apricot (SU!)	Blushing Bride (SU!)
Sunshine Yellow (SU!)	Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Blush Blossom (SU!)	Going Gray (SU!)

Stamps

Javabellas (Stamping Bella)

Best Yet (SU!)

Accessories

Blender pen (SU!)	Gelly Roll Pens (Sakura)
1 3/8" Circle Punch (SU!)	Scalloped Circle Punch (SU!)
Ribbon (unknown vendor)	Glue dots
Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board	Scissors
ATG 714 (Scotch)	Rotary trimmer with straight blades (Fiskars)

 

Instructions

Image

Stamp the image in black on the vanilla panel. Color with blender pen, using the ink from the ink pads. Enhance the flower, vase, and table with the glitter pens.

Stamp the sentiment in blue ink on the small vanilla square. Punch it out with the plain circle punch. Punch an apricot scalloped circle. Mount the sentiment on the scalloped circle.

Assembly

Adhere the metallic paper to the base card, followed by the blue panel. Mount a strip of ribbon across the card, and secure the ends on the back of the card front. Mount the image panel over the blue panel and ribbon.

Loosely tie a bow from the same ribbon and and mount it to the right of the image using glue dots. Mount the sentiment over the bow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Valentine Petals

Inspiration

2 years ago when I first started blogging, I did a 14-day Valentine’s countdown, posting a different Valentine every day for the first 14 days of February.  Ever since then, I’ve been kind of slow on creating Valentines.  But I usually get “in the mood” and get a few made. Here’s my first design.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Riding Hood Red (SU!)	5 1/2” x 8 1/2”; score at 4 1/4”   2 1/2” x 3 1/4”   small scrap
Pink Pirouette (SU!)	4 1/8” x 5 3/8”   2 3/8” x 3 1/8”
Candy Lane DSP (SU!)	2” x 5 1/4” –         2 pieces with different patterns
Very Vanilla (SU!)	2 1/4 x 3”   small scrap
Stamper’s Select White (Paper Trey)	2 1/4” x 3”

Ink

Rich Cocoa (Memento); Riding Hood Red (SU!)

Stamps

Bluebell BittyBloom (Stamping Bella); Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!)

Accessories

COPIC markers (Imagination International); Pink Pirouette Ribbon (SU!); Word Window Punch (SU!); Modern Label Punch (SU!); Foam tape; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Glider 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the image in brown ink – once on the larger vanilla panel, and once on the white panel.  Using COPICS, color the feet on the vanilla panel  (I used E0000 and E00).

Color the full image (except the feet) on the white panel.  Here’s the colors I used:

• Face & Hands: E0000, E00, RV10
• Petals: RV000, RV10
• Shirt, Basket, Cap: R35, R37, E47
• Berries: R35, G21

Cut out the fully color image – trim it closely, and cut off the feet, the hair curls, and the stem on top of the cap.

Assembly

Mount the patterned paper on the pink panel. Tie a knot near one end of the ribbon, and adhere it across the panel covering the seam between the different patterns of the paper.  Mount this set on the front of the base card.

Mount the smaller pink panel on the small red panel, followed by the vanilla panel with the image on it.  Now add the trimmed, colored image using foam tape on top of the image on vanilla.  Mount this set on the card front to the left of the knot in the ribbon.

Punch a decorative label out of the red scrap.  Stamp the Valentine greeting in red on the vanilla scrap and punch it out with the word window shape.

Mount the sentiment on the red label, and add it to the card.

Final Notes

Inside, I added a vanilla panel sized 4” x 5 1/4”. I stamped a friendship greeting in red.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fabulous Diploma Bella

Inspiration

For a young lady graduating from junior college, and overcoming challenges along the way…  I wanted her to know how proud we all are!  I picked the diplomabella stamp from Stamping Bella just for her.

You’ll see in the ingredients I used 2 kinds of black ink.  Since I colored the image with COPICs, I used an ink that won’t smear – the Graphite Black Brilliance pigment ink gives a sharp clear image that is “smear proof” as long as you let it dry.  I used my old standby black dye ink from Stampin’ Up! for the sentiment.

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Sahara Sand(SU!), Bashful Blue(SU!), So Saffron(SU!), Darling Dots designer series paper(SU!); Paper basics White (PaperTreyink)

STAMPS: DimplomaBella(Stamping Bella), Absolutely Fabulous(SU!)

INK: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Basic Black(SU!)

ACCESSORIES:  COPIC markers (0, C1, C3, C5, C7, 100, E000, E00, E55, E57, Y17, Y21, G21, B41) (Imagination International); paper flower (Imaginisce); blue button(SU!); lace border punch(SU!); Prism green embroidery floss(DMC); Zots glue dots (ThermOWeb); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade(Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a piece of sand cardstock measuring 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”, and score it in the middle at 4 1/4”.

LAYERS: Cut a piece of blue cardstock measuring 5 1/4” x 3 3/4”, and punch one long side with the lace border punch.

Cut a piece of patterned paper, measuring 5” x 2 3/4”.

Cut a piece of yellow paper measuring 3 1/2” x 2 1/2”.

IMAGE: Cut a piece of white paper measuring 3 1/4” x 2 1/4”.

Stamp the diplomabella image using the black pigment ink on the white cardstock, and set aside.  It’s important for this to dry thoroughly – the COPICS will smear the ink if it’s not completely dry.  If you’re in a hurry you can heat it with a heat gun before you color the image with the COPICs.

TAG: Cut a piece of yellow cardstock measuring 2 1/2” x 1”; and a white strip measuring 2 1/4” x 3/4”.  Stamp the sentiment using the black dye ink.  Mount the white centered on the yellow.

FLOWER: Using an embroidery needle, thread through the button into the flower from the top, and come back through.  Tie a square not across the top of the button.

ASSEMBLY: Assembly is easy – simply mount each layer using adhesive.  Then add the tag at an angle below the image, and mount the flower with the glue dots.

INSIDE: For the inside, I used a simple “Congratulations” stamp from Hero Arts, stamped in black dye ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Saturday for Friendship

Inspiration

I am blessed with so many wonderful friends here in my Dallas hometown, and last weekend I had a leisurely brunch with two women I’ve formed a lasting bond with in my professional life.  We met each other at work, but found a deeper friendship based on affection and respect. So much fun to have time to catch up on each others’ lives.

So, this morning I’m posting a “girlfriend” card in honor of all my girlfriends I’ve known – the circle of friends I shared my childhood with from kindergarten through high school, the roommates at college who have shared the experience of becoming grown ups, my cousins and “in-law” sisters (I grew up with brothers), my crafty friends who inspire and encourage me, the Bunco girls who are at this moment in Las Vegas trying to win big bucks, and the professional women who are mentors and support when work is driving us all crazy.

This is a very basic card – some simple layers and ribbon trim.  I’m learning to use my COPIC markers to get a little more subtle shading (a bit of a challenge, but really a lot of fun).

If you’re interested in buying COPICs, I cannot recommend any vendor more highly than Ellen Hutson – she has matched COPIC markers very closely to the SU! shades, and her customer service is supreme!

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: From SU!: Lavender Lace, So Saffron, Whisper White; Patterned paper from Paper PIzazz

STAMPS: Java Bellas (Stamping Bella), On Your Birthday (SU!)

INK (all SU!): Lavender Lace, Basic Black

ACCESSORIES: COPIC markers, stitched ribbon (Michaels), Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch), Rotary trimmer with straight blades (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD:  Cut a piece of lavender cardstock to measure 11” x 4 1/4”, and score it in the middle at 5 1/2”.

LAYERS:  Cut these pieces cardstock:

• 1 yellow rectangle, 4” x 3 1/2”
• 1 patterned rectangle, 4” x 1 3/4”

IMAGE:  Cut these pieces cardstock:

• 1 lavender rectangle, 3 1/2” x 3 1/4”
• 1 white rectangle, 3 1/4” x 3”

Stamp the Java Bella image in black on the white rectangle, and color with markers.

FINAL CARD ASSEMBLY:  Put the card together in this order:

1. Mount the yellow layer on the base card, and stamp the sentiment in the upper right corner in lavender ink.
2. Mount patterned layer to the base card.
3. Add a strip of ribbon lengthwise across the card.
4. Mount the lavender image mat, followed by the image.

Enjoy your Saturday – Tell your friends you appreciate them!
(And don’t forget to set your clocks FORWARD 1 hour before you go to bed.)

Thanks for stopping by!