Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma!

As I contemplated my Grandma's 80th birthday, I knew I wanted her card to really focus on that this is a special birthday - her 80th!!  I also really wanted to try to match her party theme too - hues of pink and white. :)

It came to me then, that I should make the same card I made HERE, but in pinks!  Perfect!  Well, not saying the card is perfect, just that I was pretty excited to make the idea of it happen. ;)




















Look familiar? ;)

On the card, I used retired colors Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink (one of my fave combos), also retired designer paper "Berry Bliss" and good ol' Whisper White cardstock as my neutral.

I used the "Memorable Moments" stamp set again, using Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink ink.

After stamping, I cut out those beautiful shapes with the Labels Collections Framelits and the NEW Magnetic Platform - I'll say it again - love it, sooo nice to work with!! The framelits stay in place so nicely - no moving around! :)  Also...(forgot to say this in yesterday's post), I paper pierced around the edge of the Regal Rose Label frame. Just gives it a little somethin' extra. :)

Using my Big Shot, I cut out the Pretty in Pink flowers with the Birds & Blooms sizzlit, and the leaves with "Little Leaves" sizzlit in Wild Wasabi cardstock. The top flower is from the itty bitty punch pack. :)  I sponged the edges of the flowers, and then applied the half-back pearls.

Well, what do you think?  Is it okay to use the same design, or should all special cards be original? :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day!
Crystal

Happy 5th Anniversary!

A couple weeks ago, I had a custom request on Etsy for an anniversary card.  Based on the questions I asked and the specifics they gave me, I came up with a couple of choices.

Here's the one they didn't choose. :)

The specifics?
A Soft Suede card base, layer of Baja Breeze cardstock, then the retired Elegant Soiree Designer Paper.

The main image is stamped from the set "Memorable Moments" in Soft Suede and Baja Breeze.

After stamping, I cut out those beautiful shapes with the Labels Collections Framelits and the NEW Magnetic Platform - oh, my goodness!  It is sooo nice to work with!! The framelits stay in place so nicely - no moving around! :)

The flowers are from the Birds & Blooms Sizzlit set, and I cut the leaves in Wild Wasabi cardstock with the "Little Leaves" Sizzlit (and Big Shot). Oh yes...the top flower is from the itty bitty punch pack, actually. :)  I sponged the edges of the flowers, and then applied the half-back pearls.

Well, what do you think?  I think I'll be adding this to my Etsy site for purchase very soon! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Another Thank You

I am such a sucker for thank you stamps.

Probably because I feel pretty strongly in sending a thank you card. I probably err on the side of too much.  I remember a period of time my mom would say, "what are you thanking me for now?"  Ha ha ha...Granted, that doesn't mean I can always get to it right away, but I do try to send one if I can remember. :)

The other day I was able to finally get up to my craft room (yay!) and create a couple thank you cards I'd been wanting to send out for quite some time.

I decided to try a few NEW things! :)  Stampin' Up has joined the photopolymer wagon (totally clear stamps). I wasn't really tempted by this until the "Another Thank You" set came out - cuz you can never have too many "thank you" stamps, right? ;)

I used the large script "Thank You" from this set for my cards. As you'll see, it looks like exactly the same card, twice. But if you look closer, you'll find that because of the technique I used, they will never be exactly the same card. :)



















(I was in a hurry, so the picture isn't that great - so sorry!)

I used two of the NEW InColors from this year for my cardbase: The bottom is Pistachio Pudding, the next layer is Coastal Cabana.  It was my first time using those colors together. Actually...the first time using either one, period! lol

What do you think that very top layer is? Why, it's our Watercolor Paper!
How in the world did she get it to look like that??

Here's what I did in 5 easy steps:
1) Embossed the "Thank You" on watercolor paper by stamping the image in Versamark Ink, sprinkling with clear embossing powder, and then heat-setting it with my Stampin' Up heat tool.
2) I then used my aquapainter to "paint" water on the paper.
3) Then, I painted over top of the embossed image with the Pistachio and Cabana inks and my aquapainter, blending the colors together here and there, leaving them their true colors in other places.
4) Wiped away excess color on the embossed image with a tissue.
5) Mounted onto the layers, and voila! :)

Hmmm...I shall call this technique...watercolor emboss resist! :) The emboss resist technique is not a new one to me...but usually I am sponging or rubbing ink over the embossed portions (which resist the ink). This whole watercoloring over the top is new to me. :)

PS - Here's a link to all the Photopolymer stamp sets SU now carries - including the newest one released yesterday (9/24), a Halloween set!  You can order this and any other supplies through me, 24/7! :)

Well, what do you think?
Do you feel the same way about thank you's, or do you feel like a verbal thank you is enough? Maybe you'd rather not answer that, and instead have something to say about the cards?  I'd love to hear from you! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

A NEW Tool!

Last week was SUPER busy, mostly with my daughter's birthday stuff (will share about birthday creations another time), but one thing I cannot wait ANY LONGER to share with you is a NEW tool from Stampin' Up!

I was skeptical, then intrigued, then...taken. :)
We've used it a few times now, and ohhh, how handy dandy!

On Sept 1st, we went to my nephew's 2nd Birthday party, and this little boy loves tractors. Sooo...as dairy farmers, it was a no-brainer - give him tractors! ;)  I picked up some RED ones (cuz those are the best - not the green & yellow kind - wink)....and of course, needed to make him a card to match his gift. :)

Warning: It's not a great card. Keeping in mind it was for a 2 year old, at a birthday party where things can be a little crazy, I didn't spend a lot of time on it. I stamped tractors, colored them in (red, charcoal at bottom, glitter pen on the grill), stamped the sentiment and framed it, and that's it. Glad I didn't spend much longer on it, because I was so right. ;)

So, yes...I made a card. BUT...I also made a matching envelope!!!  SOOO excited. Really wishing I hadn't gotten rid of a TON of older non-SU scrapbook/designer paper at a garage sale a few years ago, because it's perfect for this!!

See - it fits! :)  One of the things I love about this tool is that it creates customizable envelopes in up to 66 different sizes!! How's that for awesome??

Another thing? It's reasonably priced at $19.99!  Oh, and they've guaranteed it's going to be in next year's catalog, that's another great thing....It's super easy to use, it's small and lightweight, it has a slick scoring tool as well as a punch that lets you create rounded corners on your envelopes, and it's easy to keep it all together.

What's not to love? :)

I can't wait to show everyone at my Fall party how this works!

Did you know you can order this directly through me, but have it sent directly to YOU? More awesomeness. :) 

Be sure to check everything out while you're there - I know there's a butterfly bundle going on...save 15%!

Used: Stampin' Up's Sassy Salutations stamp set, Black Stazon ink, Basic Gray & Basic Black cardstock.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal