So in Love-Template Thursday

So can you see what is new in this card?

This card uses the new Falling Petals embossing folder as its background.  Embossing folders make great backgrounds don't they.

Do you recognize the ribbon?  It is one of the free offers from the Sale a Bration catalog that ends on March 31.  I was not sure I would like the ribbon until I got my hands on it.  It is soft and has a subtle metallic look to it.

A second way to change the background of any card is to use designer paper.

This designer paper is called Falling in Love and goes well with the So in Love bundle.  The colors are soft and soothing.  This paper reminds me of the Bokeh technique.  I will have to feature that in a card soon.

Finally just using cardstock that contrasts colors is a quick and fast way like you see in this card.

I used Blushing Bride and Soft Suede cardstock as the background and Crumb Cake for the accent piece.  I was so glad to find my missing thinlit so that I could finish making this card.

Come back tomorrow to see what else I did with the thinlits I used on Tuesday's Technique card. I try to never waste anything when I am making cards.

So in Love-Wednesday Wow

  Can you guess why this is a Wow card for me?

1. Black and White with a spot of color

2. Embossing in white 

3. The card uses my favorite thinlit from the set........that happens to be the missing thinlit that was finally found.

Come back tomorrow to see how to change up the background of some simple cards.

Slider Card-Miscellaneous Monday

    This week I am featuring another fun action card called a slider card.  I used the set in the new catalog called Shooting Star.  It also has some thinlits that help create the slide areas, and several of the accent pieces.  In this card the plane image swirls and slides on the cut out groove.  

   Are you curious how I made the background.  I used watercolor paper, my aqua painter, and 3 colors of blue ink.

1. Open your ink pad a little and squeeze the top and bottom together.

2. Open the ink pad all the way and you  should see a puddle of ink on the lid.

3. Make sure the tip of your aqua painter is wet, then touch it to a tiny bit of the ink on the lid.  Spread it over the water color paper squeezing out a little water to make the ink spread if it looks too dark or thick when you first apply the ink.

I used, Soft Sky, which I put down first, then Marina Mist, then Island Indigo.  The combination turned out just the way I wanted it.

  I added some Gold Wink of Stella on top of the stars and to accent the plane.

   Come back tomorrow to learn the steps you need to take to make a slider card.  

Shaker card-Fix it Friday

Sometimes a simple card is all you need to say what you want to say.  I have always loved the look of a black and white card.  But what if you wanted to fix it up a little and add some gold and a shaker element?

Here is how I changed it up a little.

Added another tree and turned it into a shaker element. 
Made a second merry in gold foil card stock and added it on top of the black merry
Added some cold stars
Make tiny ornaments on the tree using the Gold Wink of Stella.

It's has been a fun week that has helped me realize how easy it is to make shaker cards. Take a look at all the cards I made this week.

I hope this week has inspired you to try out this technique.  Next week I will feature slider cards.  I will be having a fun class on Monday, August 29th at 12:30 or 6:30 called Movers and Shakers.  Check out my website for more details, or get in touch with me and I will add you to my email list.

Swirly Bird-Wednesday Wow

   So what made this my WOW card?

1. The simple design.

2. The tiny flowers and the colors.  Sweet Sugar Plum and Flirty Flamingo.

3. The long swirl feature that makes such a simple but great looking background piece.

   You might think that would be a lot of scissor work, but the thinlits help make the cutting go faster.

Come back tomorrow to see a template using one of my favorite items that Stampin'Up! sells.  What is it you wonder?  Well, come back and see for yourself.

Thoughtful Branches-Template Thursday

Summer with some yummy looking apples

  I saw a card on the Stampin'Up! blog page with a card similar to this.  The template is......
    The bare tree
     Some flowers or leaves
     Some grass

The creator of this card is on the Artisan team at Stampin'Up! and went on to create 4 cards similar to this one to resemble the 4 seasons.  I am all about the seasons so I put my own twist on to her cards.

  The artist cleverly cut come of the leaves off and placed them on the ground.  So now you can see some of the branch and notice the leaves that have fallen off the tree.  I colored the ground first with crumb cake to resemble the grass that dries out in the fall, with a little touch of green for the grass that still is that color.

 Next is a winter tree with no leaves and some snow on the ground and of course the Illinois State bird a cardinal.

Finally a spring tree most likely a cherry tree with its beautiful blossoms.  Are you liking this set as much as I am?  It will be available as a bundle for $52 during the month of August only.  And if you make a purchase of $50 this month you can earn a discount of $5.00 off that bundle.  Just go to the store at the top of this page and place an order.

Come back tomorrow to see the final card I will post using this set.  See how I fix up a simple card to make it stunning.

Happy Scenes

     You know how when you look through a catalog your eyes are drawn to certain stamp sets.  Well, this set Happy Scenes was one that I liked as soon as I saw it.  I found this card on Pinterest and though it looks like it would be hard to make it really isn't if you make it in stages.

1. Emboss the brick background.

2. Stamp all the images at the same time on green, red, and white cardstock.  Then cut them out using the matching framelits from the Festive Fireside framelit set.

3. Cut out the window and ledge using the Hearth and Home thinlit set.

4. Stamp the saying on the window ledge and assemble the card.

    Now doesn't that sound easier when you break down the steps?

Season of Cheer Designer paper

     I wanted a way to show off this really cool water colored Christmas paper called Season of Cheer.  Here's what I love about this card.

Designer paper
Color combo I never would have thought about
Simple saying from the Cheer All Year set I don't think the word Christmas shows up very
The Christmas Greetings Thinlits
Last but not least the snowflake embellishment.

   There is always room for designer paper.

Symapthy Card Buffet-Butterfly Thinlits

     Sometimes I like to make a card with just one main color.  This time I chose Smoky Slate.  You might wonder how I got the fancy look at the bottom of the card.

1. Choose the Lots of Label thinlit that fits the bottom of the cardstock.  Keep the majority of the card on top of the framelit.  Place the bottom of the card under the framelit so the cutting edge lines up with the bottom of the card stock.  The framelit will only cut the bottom edge.

2. To keep the butterfly in the cut out space just re-glue the butterfly back onto the card once all the little pieces are gone.

3.  Use the ferns from the stamp set Awesomely Artistic as the background of the saying making sure to stamp them off before applying the image to the card stock piece.

   Enjoy making this card in your favorite color combination.

Occasions Catalog Open House-Butterfly card

   Isn't this detailed butterfly beautiful?  I was nervous about cutting it out because I had troubles with getting other detailed designs to come out easily.  Well, I learned a new technique that makes this so easy.

1. Take 4 unscented dryer sheets and fold them in half.  Now you have the thickness of 8 dryer sheets.  Set them aside.

2. Place you thinlit die on the cardstock you want it cut from and roll it through the big shot back and forth 3 times. This will make sure the image is cut all the way through.

3. Now place this cut image which is  still inside the thinlit on top of the folded dryer sheets.  Run this stack through the big shot.

4. When it comes out the thinlit will easily lift off the dryer sheets and all the parts will be stuck to the sheets.  Gently lift one corner of the butterfly off the dryer sheets.

5. You will be amazed to see that all the parts will still be stuck to the dryer sheet and the butterfly will be in one piece.

CAUTION: If you have well used cutting pads, make sure there is not warp to the pads.  If there is then have the curved edge against the magnetic platform so that it looks like a smile.  If you don't then the cutting pad may not get to the platform to make a clean cut.

Have fun and enjoy this way to have a successful and great looking butterfly.

Julie's Undefined stamp

  This is one of the cards we made at the Jubilant Butterflies meeting this past Tuesday.  It uses the Thinlits Circle card that I used on my card yesterday.  But the best part of this card is the snail stamp.  StampinUp has come out with a new kit called Undefined.  I am so excited about this new kit.  It allows you to actually create and carve your own design.  Julie created the snail ands we all used it on our cards.
  I found out about Undefined at convention and have been a little nervous about actually carving my own stamp.  After Tuesday I have gotten the courage to give it a try and have a design figured out in my head.  Check out my blog tomorrow to see my design.

     The inside of the card we made on Tuesday.

Thinlits, Circle card for Halloween

    
   Now, that I had fun with the Expressions Thinlits, I thought I would try out the Circle card thinlits.  These are amazing.  You send your cardstock, and the thinlit through the Big shot and come out with a card that has cuts and score lines ready to go.  I used the Witches Brew designer paper, and the Best of Halloween stamp set to make the front of the card.  Then, Voila, you pull the edges of the card apart and this is what you see next.

  On the inside I used the scalloped shape that came as part of the Circles Thinlit set, the 1 3/4 inch scalloped punch and the Trick or Treat saying from Best of Halloween.  Don't you just love how everything coordinates so well.

Thinlits leftovers-What to do/

     After I made the cards I showed yesterday, I noticed the leftovers also showed each word in a different light.  So, I featured them in cards.  I tried to make the colors look about the same, but made sure what showed through the empty spaces would look good.

    I liked the silver look of the Winter Frost designer paper and decided some silver glimmer paper would look good behind the merry.  Don't you just love the look of the new Frosted Finishes embellishments.



    

     When I saw what was leftover after the love was cut out it looked rather odd, so I ran the word through and used the cut out loops as added features.  Now, at least it looks like the word love.
     How would you have fun using the new Expressions thinlits and the leftover pieces? 

Expression Thinlits Fun

   Wow, the time has really flown by since I lasted posted.  I have just returned from a family reunion in Angola, Indiana.  What great times we had. It took me a while when I returned to get back into the stamping mode, but a meeting of the Jubilant Butterflies last night helped me get back in the groove.
     I gave a brief demo on how to use the Expressions Thinlits in an easy and non-frustration manner.  Mary Fish has a tutorial you can access here that demos what I am talking about.

1. First if you have a magnetic platform your job will be so easy, otherwise a regular platform for a Big Shot will work just fine.

2. Layer in the following order cutting plate, cardstock or DSP, waxed paper, thinlit, second cutting plate.

3. Run through the Big Shot, then use a paper piercing tool to poke all holes and inside shapes out.

4. The cut out piece will come out so easy because of the waxed paper.  I tried several samples and they all worked out just fine.

   I can't wait to make some more cards using these delicate phrases.  Come back tomorrow for a great hint on how to glue the phrases to your project.