You 2 -- Before and After

Did you ever have a project that you thought was done but then, several months later, when you finally got around to putting it into the album you realized that it was missing something? This is that project for me.

I captured this photo of Melissa and my niece, Sarah, in New York City and it instantly became a favorite. So much so that I decided to scrap it big...I mean 8x10 big.  This is not a size that I am used to scrapping but I was eager to take on the challenge.  The plum color in my niece's jacket made me reach for my Studio Calico papers. Here's my original layout (please excuse the dark picture):

To begin, I fanned out the Studio Calico papers I selected on my table and adding a few others. After choosing my favorites, I began cutting each into varying widths. I thought I had the paper with the buildings in a 12x12 size but I only had it on a 6x6 pad. To make due I cut the piece to fit above and below the pictures. No one will be he wiser. I added a rub-on from my stash to the left of the picture, created my embellishment cluster (using the negative of the "2" on the tag as part of my title) and called it a day a month or maybe longer. Anyway, when I finally got around to putting this page in my album, I realized it was missing something. So, I pulled out some more embellishments and added to each cluster. Here is what I came up with: 

I added washi tape and some journaling tags plus a few other embellishments to each cluster. I also used a Studio Calico chevron stamp near each cluster to draw the eye into the page.

Here's a closer look

The chevron points down to bring the eye to the picture on the top right corner.

The journaling reads: When you were younger, you couldn't be more different. But the older you are, the more alike you become.

So that's that. Better put this one in the album before I want to change it again.

Supplies:
Pattern Paper Studio Calico; Pink Paislee; Basic Grey
Stamps: Studio Calico; Technique Tuesday, Dear Lizzy
Inks: Stampin' UP!
Tools: Fiskars Border Punch
Letters: American Crafts Thickers\
Embelishments: Elle's Studio tags, October Afternoon label stickers; Crate Paper sticker; Jillibean Soup corrugated die cuts; Studio Calico Fab Rips and flower; Recollection washi tape; My Mind's Eye chipboard banner; Simon Says Stamp mini hearts

Love You, Happy Birthday

Today, I am sharing the card I made for my daughter's 15th birthday. I was inspired by a card I had seen online which featured chunky, glitter covered letters. (Sadly I can't find the inspiration to link to.) Anyway, as soon as I saw the inspiration piece, I immediately thought of these Prima letters which I just had to have... several years ago. I loved them so much that I bought them in two colors and then...I never used them. So, somewhat ashamed that I had been hoarding a package of letters (or two four), I reached further into my stash and found patterned paper, ribbon, blossom and letter stickers that matched perfectly. Maybe I wasn't hoarding the stickers after all. Maybe I was just waiting to have the perfect assortment of matching supplies: Anyway, I reached for to the stamp set from the Simon Says Stamp March card kit which was already out on my table and the next thing you know, Melissa's card was done. Here's it is:

 To start, I used white ink to stamped the leaf pattern on the kraft cardstock that came in the kit. I love the dot stamp that enables you to go back and fill in the gaps. Next, I cut the various mats and banners, distressed the edges and adhered them to my card.I. (I tied the bow before adding my top layer.) Next, I added the letters, popping the "o" on foam adhesive and overlapping it on the other letters for a better fit. Finally, I added a wooden heart that came with the Simon Says Stamp February card kit. Here's a closer look:

So, what supplies are you hoarding...I mean saving?
Supplies:
Cardstock, Stamp (leaf and three-dot pattern): Simon Says Stamp March card kit;
Ink: Colorbox, Tim Holtz Distress Ink;
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye;
Dies: Nestabilties (labels), Papertrey Ink (banner);
Letters: Prima, Making Memories (Tiny Alphas);
Embellishments: Girl's Paperie (blossom), Simon Says Stamp February card kit (wooden heart), ribbon from my stash;
Tools: Cuttlebug, EK Success corner rounder punch

Thank You So Much -- Simon Says Stamp March Card Kit

I have a quick card share today because, frankly, this was a quick card to make.  I needed to make six thank you cards for Melissa and they all had to be mailed so an easy, one-layer design was key.  Here's whatIi came up with:

The left side of the card is a pattern paper strip layered over yellow-striped washi tape. It's so easy to mass produce with washi tape since no measuring or cutting is involved: For the sentiment, I started by stamping the yellow scallop border. I layered the sentiment on top of that and then added the flowers and dots. i added a twine bow to the left. Finally, just because I had to add a little something extra, I filled in the center of the flowers with Liquid Pearls.  And, because my collection of washi tape is growing, I thought I would use some to decorate the flap of the envelopes. Here's a closer look: 

Once I designed the card and cut the card stock and patterned paper, I spent five minutes making each card. Once again, the card kit totally simplified my choices.

Supplies:
Simon Says Card Kit (March 2013) plus ink (Papertrey Ink); Ranger Liquid Pearls; and My Mind's Eye twine.

Just Because You Are Amazing -- SSS March Card Kit

Today I am excited to share a card that I made entirely with the Simon Says Stamp March card kit  for their April Showers and/or Spring Flowers Challenge. Before I share it, let me give you a little background. Back in December, I decided to sign up for this subscription program. I loved the offering for that month (although by the time I decided to commit, my Christmas cards were made) and the price seemed reasonable for all the goodies that came in the kit. What I found most attractive was the fact that you can opt-out for a month with no penalty. Granted, every sneak peak has left me anxiously anticipating my kit but the option is there if I need it.

The January kit came and I made a few cards. I was busy in February and put the kit aside. Then came March and my need for 30 cards. Well let me tell you how easy it is to create with all of the supplies picked out for you. In my quest for a few unique cards, I wound up pulling out the January and February kits too. I have been making numerous cards with each kit with only a few additions of cardstock or twine. Love it!

Anyway, here is the card I made for a friend's birthday:

Notice...no patterned paper which is a bit of a departure for me. 

To create the stamped focal point, I reached for some water color paper and went to town stamping the flowers with distress inks. In the case of the small flowers, I stamped off for a layered look. After layering the stamps until I got the look I wanted, I spritzed the piece with a little water to get a more distressed feel. Next, I went around the edges with distress ink, stamped the sentiment in Memento ink and added a few jewels. Finally, I adhered this to the card base using  foam adhesive.  Here's a closer look at the stamped image:

My April kit just arrived and I can't wait to start creating with it! In the meantime, I will have a few more cards from past kits to share.

Supplies: 

Paper, Stamps: Simon Says Stamp March Card Kit; Stampin' Up! water color paper

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks; Memento Tuxedo Black

Embelishments: Recollections Jewels

Misc.: EK Success Foam Adhesive

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Oh if only this was true, my followers would be VERY fond of me! Ha! Once again, my apologies for a long absence. Busy work and family schedules have left little time for blogging. Notice, I didn't say anything about not being able to find time to be creative. In fact, it's been quite the contrary. In the middle of March, I made a list of the 30+ cards and gift tags I would need in the next 30 days and have been slowly checking them off my list. So, I do have lots to share. And, I am committed to finding the time to do it!

Let's start today with Easter cards. I needed 4 cards and two tags. To streamline the process, I used the same Papertrey Ink stamp on all. Let's start with the card I made for each of my great nephews. Here it is:

Simple was the key word here from the design to the paper (which was all from my Simon Says Stamp March Card Kit). To make this card, I die cut the bunny and tail from white card stock and then stamped the bunny. (I knew I would need four so I did all the die cutting and stamping at once.) Next, I stamped the word "BUNNY" onto kraft card stock and, using a square punch, made the banner. To add texture, I ran the banner through my sewing machine. I did this before adhering the strip to the card so that the stitching would not show through to the inside of the card. After adhering the pennant and bunny to the bottom of the card, I stamped the rest of the sentiment, added the strips of patterned paper along the top and tied some twine. This design was easy to duplicate and is one I know I will use again and again.

Next up, a general Easter card for my mother and a duplicate for a friend. This card was inspired by the creative genius of Danielle Flanders. You can see her original card here.  When I saw her card, I immediately thought of the Pebbles collection I had won last year. What better way to use up some of the papers and stickers.  Here's my card:

To make the sentiment pop, I outlined the letters with a white gel pen.

While the Pebbles papers were out, I mixed them with card stock from the February and March Simon Stamps card kits to create these tags:

I die cut the base for the tags using pattern paper and the bottom section of Papertrey Ink's wine bottle tag. (Note that the blue dot pattern at the bottom of the tag is actually the branding strip from the plaid print.) After rounding the top corners, I adhered to cardstock and trimmed by hand. Next, I stamped with VersaMark ink right onto the patterned paper and heat embossed with white Zing. I used the Martha Stewart fringe scissor to cut the grass and a Papertrey ink die for the sentiment and adhered. Easy peasy! As for the bunny tails on all the cards and tags, I used a piece of pom-pom ribbon that I had picked up on clearance at Target's post-holiday sale in 2011. Here's a closer look at the tail.

Supplies:

Some Bunny Loves You:

Cardstock and paper: Simon Says Stamp March 2013 Card Kit

Stamp and Dies: Papertrey Ink

Inks: Stampin' Up! (Soft Sky); Colorbox (Frost White; Chocolate)

Misc.: My Mind's Eye (twine); Target (pompom); Walmart (thread)

Tools: Cuttle Bug, Janome Sew Easy, Fiskars Square Punch

Happy Easter Cards: 

Cardstock: Simon Says Stamp March 2013 Card Kit

Patterned Paper and Stickers: Pebbles

Stamp and Dies: Papertrey Ink

Ink: White Signo Gel Pen

Tools: Cuttle Bug, EK Success corner rounder

Misc.: Target (pompom)

Happy Easter Tags:

Cardstock: Simon Says Stamp March 2013 Card Kit

Patterned Paper and Stickers: Pebbles

Stamp and Dies: Papertrey Ink

Inks: VersaMark, Colorbox (Chocolate)

Tools: Cuttle Bug, Martha Stewart fringe scissors

Misc.: Zing embossing powder (white); Target (pompom); Michael's (ribbon), jute twine from my stash

Long Time, NO Blog!

I am finally back after a long and unexpected hiatus from blogging.  What started out as a brief hiatus from blogging due to the turmoil from redoing our kitchen turned into a longer absence then originally planned. First, there was Hurricane Sandy and a power outage that lasted more than 10 days! Yep, 10 days without electricity, heat (and boy was it cold!) and the internet. I never realized I was so dependent on the Internet before that. Maybe I need a 12-Step program like Bloggers Anonymous.You would think 10 days with nothing to do would mean time for crafting but it was just too darn cold and dark to do any of that. (Insert frowny face here!) Anyway, by the time the power came back it, it was time to kick it into high gear and start planning for Thanksgiving dinner which I was hosting for 15 in said new kitchen and help my son get his college applications out. Thanksgiving preparations turned into Christmas preparations and another celebration dinner -- this time for 14! Anyway, you get the idea. So, new year...new start.

If you are still reading, then I guess it's time to share a card. This is a card that I made for my niece using the Rosie Posie stamp set from Papertrey Ink. The flowers and leaves were die cut and stamped onto PTI's chipboard coasters.  For extra dimension, I adhered the largest flower with foam adhesive. I used the doily to anchor the cluster of flowers.

I don't usually make resolutions but my One Little Word this year is "simplify." And, if I get that right, maybe, just maybe I will have more time for regular blogging.  My fingers are crossed!

Supplies:

Cardstock & Chipboard Coasters: Papertrey Ink;

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Indie Bloom);

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Rosie Posie);

Inks: Papertrey Ink (Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet); Stampin' Up! (Gumball Green); Ranger (Coffee);

Misc.: The Twinery (twine); Wilton (doily).

Celebrate -- An Anniversary Card

When I first bought this Itty Bitty Unity stamp, I envisioned using just two chairs for an anniversary card.  

So, I masked it, stamped it twice --once on cardstock and once on patterned paper -- and made this card:

Not only does this card use some of my favorite October Afternoon papers, but it also uses two of my favorite techniques, namely embossing (the doily stamp) and paper piecing on the chair.  Here is a closer look.

So now that I used part of this stamp on an anniversary card, I just may have another use for the entire stamp.  I just learned that my nephew and his wife are expecting their second baby!  I think the four chairs may offer some fun symbolism for a congratulatory card.  What do you think? Should I go traditional baby congratulations or stretch the chair stamp?  Let me know.
Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink;
Patterned Paper and Sticker: October Afternoon (Farmhouse);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Enjoy Your Company): Papertrey Ink (Mat Stack 1); Hero Arts (Circle Design);
Inks: Ranger (Jet Black); Versamark;
Tools: Martha Stewart Border Punch (Doily Lace Edge)
Misc.: Zing Embossing Powder (white) Ribbon (Recollections)