Color Makes a Difference

  
    
    Don't you just love the cute little presents in the Best of Birthdays stamp set?  I thought it might be cute to have the stamp in different colors on a card.  So, I grabbed a leftover piece of Pink Pirouette card stock that was the right size and started designing the card (Yes, another Sushi Original).  Something did not look right to me when I finished and my consultant (husband Sam) agreed.  I decided to let it be for the rest of the day and see what I thought the next day.

    
     I decided that the card needed a darker background for the following reasons.

1.  The designer paper and the presents seemed to show up better with the darker background.

2.  The Happy Birthday was too much of a contrast in the first card, but with the darker background seemed to blend.

3.  Did you notice I switched the presents so the the color matched the color of the Designer paper.  That decision was made with some help from  my friend and fellow demonstrator, Julie.  Check out her awesome blog.

     So, do you think I made a good choice by switching the background color?  Sometimes a simple thing like changing a color in one part of your card can be all it needs to make it look better.  Try this on a card of your own you might not be crazy about and see what happens.

 

Supplies needed 

Very Vanilla, Early Espresso card stock

Tea for Two Designer paper

Pink Pirouette, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso ink

Best of Birthday stamp set

Decorative Label, Extra Large Oval, 1 inch square punches 

1/4 inch stitched grosgrain ribbon 

Celebrating 25 years

     Did you know that StampinUp has been a company for 25 years!!!!!
This will be an exciting year full of all kinds of celebrations.  The Best of Stamp Sets are one of the new items that I love.  Here is what I think is great about these stamp sets.

1.  Each set has a theme to the stamps.

2.  The stamps in each set are from various stamp sets that have been issued in the 25 years of SU.

3.  One stamp in each set is brand new.

4.  You will receive a 25 sticker with each set that you order this year.

5. When you have collected 6 stickers you will be able to order a $14.95 stamp set of your choice for FREE.

6. The sets are offered until March of 2014 so you have plenty of time to order your favorites.

     This card features another stamp from the Best of Birthdays stamp set.  I wonder what the theme for the next Best of stamp set will be?  What do you think...Best of Thank Yous.....Best of Easter.....Best of Animals...

Supplies needed

Early Espresso, Very Vanilla card stock

Early Espresso ink

Best of Birthdays stamp set

Tea for Two designer paper

Glimmer Basic Brads

   

Best of Birthdays card sample

     Wouldn't you love to get a card like this for your birthday? I know I would. I made this card using one of the stamps from the Best of Birthdays stamp set. Check out the link for another card made using this same stamp set.
     I send out a lot of birthday cards each month, but since I am a great procrastinator I often am a little late in getting the cards into the mail. So, this year I have a new schedule for myself. At the end of December I wrote out envelopes and selected cards for all the birthdays in January and February.  In place of a stamp I put the date I need to send the card in the top right hand corner.  I try to check the stack of cards each day and send them out on time.  So far so good.  Do you want to know my plan and how it seems to be working out  so well?

1. Now at the end of each month I get the cards ready for two months ahead.  Example:  Since I had all the February cards ready, at the end of January I addressed and selected all the March cards.

2. I noticed I did not have very many cards appropriate for little girls and needed two of them for March.

3. I now have time to make several little girl cards and not be scrambling around at the last minute.

4. At the end of February I plan to get the April cards ready to go.

How long do you think I can keep this up?

Supplies needed

Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla card stock

Best of Birthdays stamp set

Scallop circle punches 

Stampin write markers

Tea for Two designer paper