Sunshine Flowers Gift Bag

Back in early February, I made a card (found here) using Heart-2-Heart #7 by Papertrey Ink that was case'd from someone else.  I love the bright sunshiny flowers and when I pulled it out of my card stash, I decided it was perfect for a friend of mine.  I needed to package up some thank you cards, so I copied the card design for my gift bag.

As you can see, I stamped the same flower in Daffodil Delight ink and leaves in Tuxedo Black ink on a white lunch bag in a random pattern.  I pulled a white cardstock circle from my scrap drawer, stamped the stems in black, and then added flowers and leaves cut using the matching dies.  I used black Candy Dots for the flower centers just like the matching card. 

Before stamping the sentiment from Luck of the Irish, I curved it on my acrylic block to follow the circle and fit above the flowers.  I love this sentiment and it suits my friend so well!  She's dealing with some difficult things, but always has a sunny outlook.  I admire her resilience.

I folded Daffodil Delight and Basic Black flags over the lunch bag and then added the circle.  Pretty simple!  It makes a fun gift bag.  I probably should have used a white square like the card, but it doesn't really matter.  They look like a set and the real gift is the cards inside!  :)

Stamps:  Heart-2-Heart #7, Luck of the Irish (Papertrey Ink) Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Daffodil Delight (Stampin' Up) Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Daffodil Delight, Basic Black (Stampin' Up) Misc:   Heart-2-Heart #7 dies (Papertrey Ink); Fishtail Flags Layers STAX dies (My Favorite Things); neutral Candy Dots (Stampin' Up)

Striped Thank You

Can I just say how much I love summer?  Not the heat, oh definitely not the heat.  I am an autumn girl.  I simply love the relaxed schedule and having my kids around all day.  They are older now and I love having the company.  I also LOVE not having to get up at 5am!!

I've been kicking back.  Watching movies and old TV shows, like Murder She Wrote.  Being silly.  Reading books and old Somerset Studio magazines.  It's been true bliss.  Yesterday, my daughter and I headed down to Charlotte to shop at IKEA for a white desk for her room.  We also picked out a fun bright pink swivel chair.  She's thrilled to have a place of her own to create and play.  (and do homework, but not for another month!)  It took a while to put the desk together, but so worth it.  In fact, she put together the chair by herself!

I haven't done any stamping since my Urban Garden streak earlier this month.  I did pull out some paper and cut it with dies, but it's still sitting on my desk unfinished.  This morning I needed a thank you card to fit a small regular envelope.  I was rather in a hurry to beat the mailman, so I used an old design from a year ago and adapted it.  You can see the original post here.

The card is about 6-1/4" by 3-1/2".  I cut Poppy Parade cardstock with a scalloped border punch and added a piece of striped paper from the retired Just Add Cake dsp pack by Stampin' Up.  It's quite convenient when the paper you have lying on your desk is perfect for the card you're doing in a hurry! 

I cut the "thank you" phrase using the Wonderful Words: Thank You die by Papertrey Ink, also using Poppy Parade cardstock, and then stamped the sentiment in black ink using Wonderful Words: Hello.  I love this design in this longer format!  It's just the right size to fit a check.  I love these summery colors too.   :)

Stamps:  Wonderful Words: Hello (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Poppy Parade, Just Add Cake dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Wonderful Words: Thank You die (Papertrey Ink); Scalloped Border punch (Stampin' Up)

Bird Stack

Today's offering is a set of five cards using For the Birds by Stampin' Up.  This is the final post in my Urban Garden series.  What's funny is that these are the first cards I started using this paper pack, but the last ones to be finished.

I matted the pretty blue circle patterned paper with Baja Breeze cardstock and mounted it on a white card base.  They sat on my desk for well over a week in that state!  Sometimes inspiration takes its time.

I cut out several fishtail banners from white cardstock and stamped this cute bird stack image.  I colored them with a Baja Breeze marker to complement the paper, adding tiny little dots to their bellies.  (easier to see if you click on the picture)  After gluing the banners to each card, I just wasn't quite happy with the cards.  They needed something!

After thinking about it overnight, I added a black dotted line from Love Birds above the colored image.  I was so nervous I would mess up!  Thankfully I didn't.  Sigh of relief!  I also added the large white die cut word at the bottom of the card.  For a final touch, I colored and fussy-cut one single bird to perch on the letters.  And yes, I put it on the "a" originally, but decided I liked it better on the "t".  Naturally, after I had glued the first one down.  lol

 

Voila!  Now I really like the cards and can declare them done.   :)  Not sure yet if these will be gifted.  Either way, these will be great to have in my stash.

Stamps:  For the Birds (Stampin' Up); Love Birds (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Baja Breeze, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Markers:  Baja Breeze, Barely Banana, Lucky Limeade, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Fishtail Flags Layers STAX die (My Favorite Things); Thanks Word die (Lil Inker)

Thoughts of You

I went back to the green pattern from Urban Garden for my next card.  I cut it and the Kiwi Kiss scalloped mat with the Sunshine Layers dies by Wplus9 Design Studio.  I glued them onto a white card base and then stalled.  Now what?  lol

I pulled out Bloom With Hope, a retired hostess set by Stampin' Up, and colored the images a pretty blue using Copic markers.  The three blooms were fussy-cut and then placed on the card.  I stamped the sentiment directly on the patterned paper.  It's from Tag-Its #3 by Papertrey Ink.

I only made two cards using this side of the patterned paper.  You can see the other card here.   Tomorrow I will post a set of cards made with the reverse side, a pretty blue circle print, which you have seen bits of already on two previous cards.

Stamps:  Bloom With Hope (Stampin' Up); Tag-Its #3 (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Kiwi Kiss, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  B37, B91, B95, E55, E57, E59, YG93, YG95
Misc:  Sunshine Layers dies (Wplus9 Design Studio)

Brain Dead

I forget people's birthdays all the time, so when I first saw this sentiment in Undying Love by Sugar Pea Designs, I just had to get the set.  It's perfect!  The fun zombies are a bonus.  :)

I used a piece of Urban Garden paper matted with black cardstock on the bottom of the card and stamped my sentiment above it.  I colored my zombie with mostly grays, along with ivory bandages and slightly blue skin.  After cutting him out, I used a bit of scrap cardstock for a shim and glued him in place.  Too fun! 

Now I need to mail this out to my brother, because naturally, I forgot his birthday.  :)

Stamps:  Undying Love (Sugar Pea)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  0, C1, C3, N0, N2, N4, T6, E41, E42, BG72

Bowl of Lemons

This is my 300th blog post!  Can you believe it?  I'm celebrating by posting a bowl of sunshine.  Okay, a bowl of lemons actually.  The stamp set is called Bowl of Sunshine, and my lemons are bright yellow, so it looks like a heaping bowl of sunshine on my card.  :)

 
I had three small pieces left of the Urban Garden paper and I stitched them to a white base using my sewing machine.  I haven't done that in a good while!  It was fun and nerve wracking, all at the same time.  I bent up the edges after stitching.  I punched a narrow Yoyo Yellow cardstock strip with a scallop border.  I stamped my sentiment (also from Bowl of Sunshine) on a Baja Breeze piece cut with an Initial Thoughts die.

I cut out white cardstock with the Bowl of Sunshine dies and then stamped the bowl in black ink.  I added the decorative strip in Baja Breeze ink.  I stamped the lemons and leaves (two separate pieces) using Yoyo Yellow and Pear Pizzazz ink.  Then I simply glued it all together.  After adhering the different elements to the stitched mat, I distressed the outer edges to add more texture.  The whole thing was placed on a Baja Breeze card base. 

This was a fun card to make!  I kept changing which Urban Garden card was my favorite as I created them, but now that I'm done with that paper, I must now declare this one as my very favorite.  I love the colors and that sweet bowl of lemons would brighten anyone's day.

Stay tuned for the remaining Urban Garden cards.  Three posts left to go!

Stamps:  Bowl of Sunshine (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Baja Breeze, Yoyo Yellow, Pear Pizzazz (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Baja Breeze, Yoyo Yellow, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Bowl of Sunshine dies, Initial Thoughts die (Papertrey Ink); Scallop Border punch (Stampin' Up)  

Urban Daisy

Let's continue on with the Urban Garden series, shall we?  I continue to be amazed at how many cards I got out of two sheets of 12x12 patterned paper.  For this one, I pulled out the retired Upsy Daisy stamp set by Stampin' Up.

I mounted a narrow piece of Urban Garden paper on black cardstock.  I stamped the Upsy Daisy image using black ink directly on my white card base and then added the patterned paper.  I stamped the sentiment from Painted Petals on a white circle, also matting it with black cardstock.  I stamped a portion of the stamp using Baja Breeze ink and cut out one of the daisies.  I tucked it in between the circles to add a spot of color and dimension.  Simple!

Stamps:  Upsy Daisy, Painted Petals (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Noir Black (Palette); Baja Breeze (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Circle STAX Set 2 dies (My Favorite Things)

Urban Candles

Okay, this card is a bit of a throwback.  I used an old retired stamp set called Big Birthday Candle by Stampin' Up.  Not a lot of patterned paper on this one, but you'll see that striped Urban Garden pattern yet again.

It makes fun candles, doesn't it?  I used Baja Breeze cardstock for the candle flames.  I added faux stitching on the white card base and the black cardstock using a black marker and white gel pen.  That used to be pretty popular in the stamping world.  lol  Then I added my sentiment from Whimsical Words on a white circle, popped up slightly for dimension.

Stamps:  Big Birthday Candle, Whimsical Words (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Circle STAX Set 2 die (My Favorite Things); Basic Black marker (Stampin' Up); white gel pen (Signo Uni-ball)

You Make a Difference

On my current quest to use up my Urban Garden paper, I had one strip left of this striped pattern and when I glanced at the current Mojo Monday sketch, I realized it would work perfectly.  I really like how it turned out, too!

I apologize for the strong shadows, but it was really bright outside when I had opportunity to take a photo.  Hot too!  Summer is in full force.  I used two different patterns from the Urban Gardens pack, paired with Basic Gray and white cardstock.  I embossed the white panel with a polka dot folder by Cuttlebug.  It echoes the circle patterned paper nicely and adds texture.

My sentiment is from Bloom & Grow by Verve Stamps.  I stamped and colored the butterfly from Blue Skies with a Baja Breeze marker to match the patterned paper and then cut it out.  I then placed it on the sentiment circle just like in the sketch.

I still have several cards to post in my Urban Garden series.  This card is actually one of the last I created, so it's a bit out of order, but I wanted to get it linked up for Mojo Monday #405 while that was still open.  Stayed tuned for the rest!

Stamps:  Bloom & Grow, Blue Skies (Verve)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Basic Gray, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Baja Breeze marker (Stampin' Up); Standard Circles dies (Spellbinders); Polka Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Urban Thank You

These two cards use the top edge of the stripey Urban Garden patterned paper where there are flowers similar to the retired Upsy Daisy set by Stampin' Up.  I kept the design really simple and just added a thank you sentiment.

The patterned paper is mounted on black cardstock and then on a white card base.  I stamped the sentiment from Iconic Images by Papertrey Ink on white cardstock cut with a Fishtail Flags STAX die by My Favorite Things.  I use those dies ALL. THE. TIME.  Such a great basic.

The three black accent dots were done using Ranger's Enamel Accents.  I like how it brings attention to the sentiment, but also echoes the lines of the flowers.  These were the quickest cards to make of my Urban Garden series.  (and my favorite!)

Stamps:  Iconic Images (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black, Urban Garden dsp (Stampn' Up)
Misc:  Fishtail Flags STAX die (My Favorite Things); black Enamel Accents (Ranger)

Urban Stripes

Oops, meant to post this yesterday.  This is the first card of several that uses this stripey pattern from the Urban Garden dsp by Stampin' Up.  These colors have been a challenge for me!

I mounted a large piece of the stripes pattern on black cardstock and adhered it to a white card base.  I layered two pieces of Basic Gray cardstock cut with the Notched Border die by My Favorite Things onto a strip of black.  I added narrow pieces of Baja Breeze and Basic Black cardstock on top of that.  After embossing the word "happy" in white, the whole thing was glued to the card.  The large "birthday" word was cut with the Birthday Trio die by Papertrey Ink twice and put together for slight dimension.  I glued it to the card at an angle.

This card has a definite masculine vibe, so it will be great to have on hand!

Stamps:  Peace Be Still (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  VersaMark
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Urban Garden dsp, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Birthday Trio die (Papertrey Ink); Notched Border die (My Favorite Things); white embossing powder (Filigree)

Tea For Two

I'm taking a little break from my patterned paper cards to post this simple one.  I was digging in my scrap drawer and came across a punched Doily Lace Trim strip from a couple years ago.  There was a Kraft card base sitting on my desk and voila, I had a little inspiration.

I glued the punched strip directly to the card base and stamped a sentiment from Tea For Two by Papertrey Ink just above it.  On the top portion of the card, I stamped the teaspoon from Tea For Two Additions in alternating directions.  I sponged Fine Linen ink all around the card edges.  Then I stamped my teapot on a pretty yellow floral paper and cut it out, placing on the punched strip.  It almost looks like a table runner or tablecloth. 

I guess I did use patterned paper.  lol  I have no idea what company made this one since it was tucked into a package of used stamps that I purchased last year.  It makes a darling teapot!

Stamps:  Tea For Two, Tea For Two Additions (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Fine Linen (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Kraft, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink), dsp (unknown)
Misc:  Doily Lace Trim punch (Martha Stewart)

Happy Independence Day!

I hope you are having a wonderful 4th of July!  I'm so grateful to live in this country where I have been blessed with so much.  I had hoped to get a new patriotic card made this morning, but got distracted by other stamps.  lol  Instead, I thought I would just re-post a couple of cards in celebration of this Independence Day.

Click on the pics to see the original posts.  I'm looking forward to grilled bratwurst and colorful fireworks later in the company of old friends.  I've got on my red, white and blue and I'm ready to celebrate!   :)

On My Mind

I've set myself a challenge to use up some of my patterned paper, particularly the bits and pieces of retired Stampin' Up packs that my demo gave me last year.  You saw my Beau Chateau card yesterday.  This time I am using Urban Garden.  I have just two sheets, both different, and one side I don't particularly like, so I've been working with three different patterns and making a variety of cards.  Here's the first one.

I paired this pretty green pattern with Kiwi Kiss cardstock on a white card base.  I stamped the Take Care tree branch (by Stampin' Up) on white cardstock and hand cut it out.  I actually used markers on the rubber stamp rather than an inkpad to get the green leaves.  I stamped the nest in Close to Cocoa ink and lightly sponged the finished cut image to tone down the white.  Then I added Baja Breeze speckled eggs.

My sentiment is from You've Got Mail by My Favorite Things and was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink to match the branch.  It's cut with the Vertical Greetings die and layered at the bottom with Kiwi Kiss cardstock.  I love the soft spring look of my finished card.

Now if it would just stop raining so I can take pics of the other cards!  :)

Stamps:  Take Care (Stampin' Up); You've Got Mail (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Kiwi Kiss, Urban Garden dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Vertical Greetings die (My Favorite Things); scissors

Many Thanks

I had one solitary sheet from an old dsp pack by Stampin' Up called Beau Chateau that I was determined to use up.  I needed a set of thank you cards to give a friend who's been dealing with breast cancer and I thought this soft pink pattern was just right for the job.

I love the combo of kraft and pink!  I glued the patterned paper directly onto a Kraft card base.  I cut a heart from Sweet Blush cardstock using one of the Limitless Layers: Heart Stitches dies by Papertrey Ink.  It frames my sentiment quite nicely and doesn't cover up too much of the paper.

I cut strips of Kraft cardstock with the Building Blocks dies and stamped my sentiment in three parts.  I used two sentiments from Embellishments, selectively stamping one of them to divide it up.  Then I glued the strips at slight angles over the heart to add interest.

Love it!  I was able to make six cards from the sheet of patterned paper.  Now I just need envelopes.  How on earth can I be out of envelopes??

Stamps:  Embellishments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  Kraft, Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink); Beau Chateau dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Limitless Layers: Heart Stitches die, Building Blocks die (Papertrey Ink)

Thanks Friend

I've been creating some new cards in my studio and remembered that I forgot to post this one I made over a month ago.  Better late than never!  :)

I used this year's anniversary set from Papertrey Ink, along with a sentiment from Bitty Bouquet.  It's a simple design.  I stamped the various pieces directly on the white panel, except for the flowerpot, which was cut out.  Quick and easy!

Stamps:  Petite Pots, Bitty Bouquet (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Hello Honey, Gumball Green, Poppy Parade (Stampin' Up); Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); Gumball Green (Stampin' Up)