Jody's card swap

 This was Jody's swap at the Spring Into Stamping meeting.  I love how she was able to use the designer paper as her focal point and just add a flower and some ribbon as accents. 

Mary's card swap

   Another Jubilant Butterflies swap from Mary. I like how she used the tag topper punch to create a special way to close the card.  I just have to learn how to do that.  I hope that Mary will demonstrate that at our next meeting.

Karla's card swap

     I have loved every card I have seen made with the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  Karla's swap is simple but very elegant with the color variety she achieved with the background stamp.  I am thinking she maybe inked the stamp one time but stamped it several times without reinking.  Makes it look like she used 3 different colors.

Rhonda's card swap

     When I went to the Spring into Stamping in Champaign at the beginning of the month this was a swap I was given created by Rhonda.  What I love about this swap in the different designs Rhonda made with the same shape.  She added some clever elements to each hexagon.

Chrissy's swap card

     I will be heading to Ohio tomorrow to help my daughter get her house ready to sell, and to walk in the MS walk to be held in Cincinnati on Saturday.  I can't get the internet at her house, so I am posting some of the swaps I have received recently at events.  See which ones you like the best.
  I received this swap at the latest Jubilant Butterflies meeting from Chrissy.  What I love is how she overlapped the flowers to make them made the front edge of her card.

Happy Easter

     Happy Easter wishes to one and all.  This was one of the cards that was featured in my Everything Easter class held a couple of weeks ago.  I thought it would make the perfect post for today.

Supplies
Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pistachio Pudding, and So Saffron card stock
Early Espresso ink
Flower Garden embossing folder
Lattice Bigz die
Scalloped Oval, Boho Blossomx, Modern Label, Window punches
Little Leaves Sizzlit
Pearls

Fancy Folds Birthday card

     This looks like a really cute card to send someone on his or her birthday.  I have several grandkid birthdays coming and think this card will work for them. I learned how to make this card at the Spring Into Stamping event I went to recently. Does it look hard to make?  Maybe, but it is very easy.

1. Cut on piece of card stock in half making each half at the 5 1/2 inch mark. You will need one of these.

2. Cut another piece of card stock of the same color the long way at the 4 1/4 inch mark.  You will need one of these.

3. Score the first piece at 2 1/8 from each side

4. Score the second piece at 2 3/4 from each side.

5.  The pieces should fit on top of each other with piece number one on the bottom and piece number two on the top.  fold the pieces together like you would the top of a box.

     The inside can be decorated with a cute design that can be viewed when the card is opened up.  Who would you send this card to? What stamp set would you use for the message?

Easter Goodie Jar from Dina

   Isn't this a cute looking bunny jar?  I especially loved what was inside the jar.  My friend Dina gave it to me when I was in Champaign a couple of weeks ago.  The jar was stuffed to the top with chocolate Easter eggs.  Needless to say the jar is now empty.
  To recreate the bunny can you guess what punches would be used?

Scallop circle punch for the face
Heart from the owl punch for the nose
Owl punch eyes highlighted with a gel pen
Small Oval punch
Large Oval punch

The bunny is finished off with a cute silver ribbon bow

Who would you make this cute little Easter gift for?

Envelope Punch Board Card Box

     I love learning new things.  At a recent visit to my brother and sister-in-law's home, Jennifer taught me how to make a box using the envelope punch board.  The box is just the right size to hold several hand made cards.  Don't you just love seeing the Natural's Composition designer paper used for the box?  I never would have thought of that myself.  Jennifer told me that she actually learned how to make the box from Becky Kittaka who is a demonstrator from Ohio. Here are the directions on how to make a similar box.

1. Cut a 9 inch square of whatever paper you want to use for your box.

2. Lay one side on the 3 1/2 inch mark on the punch board and punch and score.  Do not turn your card stock yet.  Move the card stock so it is now on the 4 1/2 inch mark and punch and score.  This is the last time you will need to measure your box.

3. Move the card stock to the left and line up the pointer part of the punch board with the first score line you come to.  Punch and score.  Now move to the second score line on the same side and punch and score once more.

4. Continue doing this on all sides of the box making sure to punch and score two times on each side.

5. Fold your box together, making a tiny snip on the bottom score line to allow the box to fold easily.  I like to use sticky strip to put my box together for a great hold.

6. Tie a ribbon around the box to keep the lid closed and decorate as you wish.

   Have fun making your own box.  Who could you give some hand made cards to in your own handmade box?

Hoping for Summer Swap

    Most of the events I attend have an option to swap card fronts with other stampers.  I like to take advantage whenever I can.  This adorable card was one of the swaps I got recently at the Jubilant Stampers meeting.  Ann made the card.  I don't think I would change a thing.  Can you tell what is used for every single part of the owl sun bathers?

THE OWL PUNCH of course.

The bows are the hearts
The bathing suit bottom is the bottom of the owl with the feet cut off
The top of the bathing suit is the largest eye from the punch.

All I have left to say is  LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!  Thanks Ann for such great inspiration.

Oh Happy Day with the primary colors

   I love when things match.  When I was deciding what to do for the primary colored card I looked in my cabinet and noticed the Starburst framelits, and the matching stamp set called Starburst Sayings.  I had such fun trying to decide what colors to use with what framelit, and what accents to use on the pieces when I had them all laid out on the card.  This card made my day a happy one.

Added Supplies needed for card
Daffodil Delight, Whisper White card stock
Birthday Basics, Brights Designer paper
Real Red and Daffodil Delight ink
Brights Glimmer brads
Rhinestones
1/8 inch Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon

Monochromatic Colored Flowers

     My monthly club which is called The Press Club is a technique club.  I decided it might be fun to explore color a little bit with our club cards.  So the first card we made last month was a monochromatic card.  The Color Coach that Stampin'Up! offers has a great component for some of the colors.  It is a combination that they recommend for two step stamping.  I thought it would be just as easy to use one of those recommended combinations for my monochromatic card.  So I chose Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum. What do you think of this Sushi Original?

Supplies
Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Whisper White card stock
Elegant Eggplant ink
Subtles Designer Series paper pack
Honeycomb embossing folder
Flower Shop and Yippee Skippee stamp sets
Pansy and Decorative label punches
Large Rhinestones

HINT: In order to make the background behind the saying, I punched one decorative label out of Elegant Eggplant card stock and then cut it in half the long way. When I attached each half to the top and bottom of the saying it added just the right amount of accent to the card.

Elegant Congratulations

     One of the designer papers I sometimes overlook is this one called Natural Composition.  It is already embossed in clear designs.  I think it helps make this such a simple but elegant looking card.  Lots of fun elements are used here.  The pearls make the card look feminine, but leaving them off and using a different accent border could change the card and make it look masculine.
NOTE:  The embossing at the top of the card was done using the Framed Tulips embossing folder.  The card measurement fits nicely inside the border so only one line of the folder shows on the cardstock.

Supplies
Night of Navy, Whisper White  card stock
Night of Navy ink
Natural Composition designer paper, Regals Designer paper stack
Framed Tulips embossing folder
Pearls
Sassy Salutations stamp set

   This is the last card that is featured in my class coming up on April 21st called Fill Your cardbox with Congratulations cards.  Contact me on my website if you are interested in attending. www.sushi.stampinup.net , or email me with any questions at  sue.scheets@gmail.com.

Colorful Paint Splatters

    Gorgeous Grunge was one of our convention stamps last year and I have to admit I was a little disappointed.  I wasn't even sure what to do with it.  But now, it is a favorite.  I creates great accent pieces on a card like this one. Can't you see making this card and just changing the sentiment? 

Supplies
Gorgeous Grunge, and Itty Bitty Banners  stamp set
Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, and Pacific Point ink pads
Pacific Point, Whisper White, and Pumpkin Pie card stock
Island Indigo baker's twine
Pacific Point candy dots
Bitty Banners framelit

  Who would you send this card to and for what occasion?  I think I might send it to Abby for her part in the local spelling bee.

Banners and Flowers

     Do you like using designer papers?  I like to use them because they coordinate so well with each other.  For this card I used the Retro Fresh DSP for everything except the smallest flower.  And the great thing about using the DSP is I could have created this very same card using different papers or different DSP all together and then see a different looking card.

Supplies
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
Retro Fresh designer paper
Banners Framelit
Blossom and Pansy punches
In Color Boutique Details
Baked Brown Sugar card stock

   What colors would you use to recreate this card?

Graduation congrats

    I don't know about you but I love the colors of this card.  The black and grey together are very sylish.  Perfect card for a graduate male or female.  Can you image making the same card and instead of black and grey using the school colors?

Supplies
Blue Ribbon stamp set
Basic grey ink
Black, Basic Grey and Whisper White cardstock
Metallic brads
Polka-dotted ribbon (retired)

Congratulate with Butterflies

   Have you ever had an occasion come up and wish you had a card ready to go?  My Fill Your Cardbox class can help with that problem.  Each month we make 5 cards geared to a specific occasion.  This month it is Congratulation cards.

  I found a card I loved on Pinterest but needed to change up the colors.  So, I went to my color  coach and found that Pool Party and Bermuda Bay were recommended as colors you could use together.  I love the results, how about you?

Supplies used
  Bermuda Bay cardstock
  Pool Party cardstock
  Pool Party Designer Series Paper Stack
  Butterfly punch
  Papillion Potpourri stamp set
  Express Yourself Hostess stamp set
  Bermuda Bay ink
  Rhinestones
  Bitty Banners Framelit
  Fancy Fan embossing folder

Punch art Bookmark

     After another crafting day with Linda, I had this bookmark.  Doesn't this just make you smile.  I am making one for my granddaughter to put in the book I am sending her for her birthday.  Can you tell which punches have been used?

    1 3/4 Circle for the head

    Owl punch for the eyes

    Four petaled flower punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack with 2 petals cut off for the nose

    Modern Label punch, ends cut off for the hands

    Postage stamp punch for the squares
    
    1 inch circle punch for the alphabet

   Who would you make this bookmark for?

   

October Paper Pumpkin ideas

   I always seem to need note paper to jot down quick and easy notes.  Well, the October kit helped meet that need for me.  I found some cute ideas of ways to dress it up a little.  I have it placed in a corner of my office area of my stamping room where I can easily reach it.  You know how I like to find additional ways to use the same Paper pumpkin kit so here are a few clever card designs I found on Pinterest.

     I tore off a piece of the note paper, used the retired punch at the top and with some paper pumpkin stamps was able to make a cute thank you note.  I wanted the note to be smaller and able to fit into the crumb cake note card envelopes so I cut the cardstock to 7 by 3 3/4. 

    For the second card I used the to do stamp as a way to let the card holder know they should celebrate big time on their birthday.  Thanks to the ideas I found on Pinterest I was able to make good use of what at first seemed like a really simple project.

February Paper Pumpkin cards

     Guess where I went for some additional ideas of what to do with the paper pumpkin bags from the February kit?  Pinterest of course, like I seem to find myself doing every month.  This card is so simple and cute and a great way to use up the letters that tend to be leftover.  I can see XO on a card among other things.  What can you think of to do with odd an unusual letters that might be leftover?

   The February kit was the first kit to feature photopolymer stamps.  I don't know about you but I love them.  There is not problem with them falling off the block.  This was another card I found that used the stamps that came with the set.  It is also fun to combine stamps from other Paper Pumpkin kits.  What is your favorite kit and why?

   Did you know if you dropped out of Paper Pumpkin for some reason that you can join up again and not have to receive the beginning kit over again.  The kits are getting better and all the stamps from now on will be photopolymer stamps.

Gracie's Paper Pumpking Bag

   My granddaughter Gracie has just turned 6. I always get my grand kids a book for their birthdays and knew I wanted to get Gracie the book called Fancy Nancy.  She did not have the book at home so I was set.  The Paper Pumpkin kit for February was really cute gift bags.  So, I figured I would make one up for Gracie.  But, because of the book I was giving her it needed to be fancy. Here is how I did that.....

1. I added a rhinestone to each clothespin holding up the letters of her name.

2. I added some ruffled ribbon at the top of the bag to make it look more feminine.

3. Finally I added some large rhinestones in the middle of the trim to make the bag even more fancy.

  I think Gracie will like her special bag.  Now, what can I do when I make a bag for one of the boys?

Everything Easter Treat boxes

     This is one of the boxes you will be making in the Everything Easter class.  Does this box look a little smaller than the box you can order from the catalog?

 

 

 Well, this box is smaller. I recently watched a StampinUp video where someone demonstrated how to re size the large boxes you can order.  I will be showing everyone how to make the smaller box from the larger one.

   The second treat box will hold a Cadbury egg and will be perfect for that special chocolate lover in your life.

        The side view shows the little egg holder that is attached inside the container.  I know I would love to get one of these how about you?  Check out class times and RSVP on my website events page.