The Open Sea Masculine Birthday Card

 This was last weeks Sketch Challenge at Split Coast Stampers.  I have not been able to play for the last couple of weeks.  I just saw today's sketch but it looked too frilly for a masculine card.  Though I should give it a try and make it work for a masculine card.  Now that would be a real challenge.  I did make a most needed masculine card using the Open Sea set.  I'm SO glad this is back in the new catalog!  It's a great masculine set.  Though I was hoping for some more masculine papers.  But we always seem to manage to do with what is here, don't we?  This paper is perfect with this set.  I had purchased several packages of it and have used them all up!  

For my card I used Early Espresso for the base of my card.  Then I used the decorative papers for the backgrounds. I layered them in Early Espresso.  I stamped the ship on Whisper White card stock using Night of Navy ink.  My panel is smaller than the one in the sketch but I had to make it smaller.  If I would have kept it that size there would have been way too much white showing on each end. It worked out and turned out just fine.  My nephew will like the card.

This was a fun sketch.  I think it is one that I will be using again.  The focal panel is big enough for many of the stamp sets I have.  

If you have time I highly recommend you give the sketches a try!  It's always fun to learn new layouts.  I keep mine in a photo album and when I'm stuck with an idea I just open the album and find a sketch that fits a stamp that I have in mind.  It works 99% of the time!  And yes, my album has 386 sketches in it.  I collected them all!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Triple Treat Flower Birthday!

Here is another card I had made at Terri's FABULOUS Stamp-a-Stack.  The best thing about Stamp-a-Stacks (other than the fabulous designs) is that everything is cut for you!  I have made thousands of cards and now and then it's nice to be able to just sit down and play without having to think of a design, colors or cut card stock!  I have always been in awe of Terri's cards.  She comes up with some very fun designs.  

This card was made using Whisper White and Melon Mambo card stock along with Melon Mambo decorative papers. 

I am sad to see the Sincere Salutations word set retiring.  It was one of my favorite sets to use.  The words were all about the same size so they fit well in some of the punches, especially the circle punches.  

The stamp set used here is Triple Treat Flower and that one is also retiring.  I'm not as sad about this stamp retiring as I am about the Sincere Salutations.  But that does not mean I'm not going to hang onto it.  I will keep it for a while.  Well, until another one becomes my favorite that is!!! LOL

These were very quick and pretty cards to put together.  One went out in the mail today!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Notes on Faith in Nature

I still have a big pile of 2.5" x 2.5" pieces of copier paper all punched and ready for notebooks.  Today I thought I would use the leaf from Faith in Nature.  That was a very fun and beautiful Hostess set I had gotten.  I mostly got it because I loved the pear image in the set.  Have you ever done that?  Got a set just for one image?  I still do if it involves a snowman!!! LOL

I am working on getting my stash of 2.5" x 2.5" notebooks built up for the fall craft fair.  They are a great money maker plus they draw shoppers to the booth because they make great stocking stuffers.  Once I get my holiday stamps and start using them I will be making more Christmas and winter notebooks.  Those seem to sell the best. Probably because they are being used for stocking stuffers!!!

These notebooks were pretty easy to make too.  I just cut a piece of Wild Wasabi card stock 2" x 2" and the white card stock 1-7/8" x 1-7/8".  I stamped on the small white piece using VersaMark.  Then I embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I sponged the color over the embossed image and this is what you get.  It's soft, subtle and pretty too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Notebooks Weekend Project

I'm working on getting my notebook stash built back up for the fall craft fair.  I just noticed that I have a shoe box size tote full of scrap card stock.  Most of my notebooks measure 2.5" x 2.5" so I can make quite a few with the scrap that builds up during the year.

These two notebooks measure 3" x 4".  Often I end up with excess copier paper and I will normally cut it 2.5" x 2.5" and sometimes there are odd sizes left and I will cut them a bit larger.  There's always some image that I would like to add to a notebook front.  And in this case that is what I did.

I SO love the Fabulous Florets set. I'm not all that fond of cutting out the images but will do it now and then.  The notebook in the back was made using the Fabulous Florets set.  The blue notebook was done using an Inkadinkado set I ran across in my carousel of hanging stamp sets.  I have a TON of stamp sets on that thing and I hardly use them.  As I was paging through the sets looking for something that had to do with graduation I saw this set and pulled it out.  This set is called Boxed Wishes.  There's 5 other images in the set and the next time I make notebooks this size I will probably head for that set.  Well, unless I find something new in the Stamping Up! sets I'm gong to get that will fit in that space!

I love making notebooks.  When I get caught up on things I may make blanks again for the web store.  Though I'm not sure there is much of an interest in them anymore.  I use to take orders for them and the covers were in any Stampin' Up! color but I got overwhelmed with orders and when there was a lull in the sales I quite offering them.  I LOVE the little 2.5" x 2.5" notebooks.  I use to use them for workshop gifts.  Anyway, I will be working on more of them soon.

Edited: Fabulous Florets replaced Field Flowers, an error in what stamp set was used.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Simply Soft Birthday

This is yet another set I have not played with much.  It's so sad when I look at them before I sell them and see that they were hardly used or not even used at all. I have a few of those too.  My shopping this time around will be much wiser.  Of course I'm going to be starting with all the new in colors!  The papers, inkpads, inkers, markers and decorative paper pack.  That was number one on my list.  After that it's a matter of making some wise choices. I made my wish list and I need to be careful with it and not buy everything at once like I did last year.  That was how I bought too much stuff.  I have open houses to go to and Stamp-a-Stacks so I need to spread it out!

Ok, now onto my fun card.  I used the "Simply Soft" hostess set (that you will be seeing in my web store sometime next month).  A set that was very gently used.  It's such a pretty set. I wish I would have used it more.  

I love the Melon Mambo color so I ran with it on this card.  Card stock, ink pad, and decorative papers!

I used the lace punch for part of the background.  It's confession time here.  I was going to copy a card and they had that running down the left side.  As I got working on my card I decided to turn the card and my image fit differently on the card so I added the Happy Birthday layers and made a totally different card!  I love it when I'm inspired by another card.  I think my Mojo is coming back!  

I hope you are all having a very enjoyable holiday weekend.

Thank you ever SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Ain't Love Grand

I had spent the early years of our sons life preaching to him NOT to ever use the word "ain't."  We told him that it doesn't make you sound very intelligent if you use that word.  I even had an English teacher that preached at us as students to never use the word and reminded us that it is not even a word!!  And here it is on my stamp set!!  Well, "ain't" that interesting?!?  LOL

This is a very fun set to play with though.  It is a hostess set that is retiring at the end of the month. I have only used two of the images in this set.  Which is too bad.  I thought it was such a cute set but I just never got around to using it much.  I had too many other sets to play with!  So in a week or so you will be finding this set in my web store. I will be adding some more of my clear block sets to the store soon too.  I need to get them off my self to make room for more new ones.  

I thought I would try my hand at making a get well card.  I don't have many on hand and I figured the more I had on hand the less I would need them (according to Murphy's Law!).  

The base of my card is white.  The next layer is a piece of black card stock and then another piece of white on top of that.  I used one of the embossing folders to give it some texture.  Then I stamped and layered the image.  I colored it and set it in place on top of the layers using some Dimensionals.  

I tied a piece of black ribbon around the black and white layer before I had taped it in place.  Oh and I used some decorative paper for the colored strip on the left and under the image.  I'm not fond of how it looked under the image.  I think I would have been better off using a piece of coordinating card stock instead.  But what's done is done and I'll know better the next time, right???  

I do like this layout.  It allows you to use some of the smaller images and yet have a nice looking Clean And Simple (CAS) card.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fun Fold Friday Easy Events

I would like to add one more card using the very fun fold that I showed you on Wednesday.  And speaking of Wednesday, I didn't even get a chance to play with Split Coast Stamper's Sketch Challenge.  I did print it out and it's somewhere on my messy desk!

This card was made by a very fabulous and talented stamper (and wonderful friend) Ann.  She needed to make some thank you cards and this is one of them she came up with.  I am SO loving this fold.  Terri always comes up with some fun fold cards. 

The measurements to this card can be found here.  It's a very easy card to put together.  Ann even simplified it more by not adding two layers to the side panel or the ribbon and I think it looks wonderful either way!

I want to wish you all a very fun and safe holiday weekend!  For those of you who are staying home.  Be safe, have fun stamping and watch out for paper cuts!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Easy Events Baby Shower Card

I had gotten some requests for measurements on yesterdays card so I thought I would make another card and measure as I go.  I needed to make a baby shower card for my husband's great niece.  Yup, he's going to be a great-great uncle (again!).  And no, he's not really that old!!  His sisters are 17 years older than he is so there's bound to be some generation gaps there! 

So to make this card you need to cut your card stock as follows:

Take a piece of card stock cut 5-1/2” x 4-1/4”.  Score it in half on the long side (your score line is 4-1/4” long). 

Cut the front flap off at 1-3/4”. 

The layer behind the decorative paper is cut 2-3/8” x 5-3/8”

The decorative paper is cut 2-1/4” x 5-1/4”

Put those two layers together and tie a piece of ribbon around the bottom.  Then tape that piece to the front of the card.

The flap is cut 3” x 6” and score it on the long side.  Fold the 3” score. 

Decorate your card as you wish.  Today I used the duck from the Easy Events set.  So there you have it, now get to work on it!!!

Check out yesterdays card to see what the inside looks like.  On this card I used Petite Pairs and the words are "welcome baby."  I still need to stamp the duck on the front of the envelope and get a gift card!  But now I have my card done early!  I have one birthday and one anniversary next month and maybe I should get those cards done early too!!!  Wouldn't that be nice to be ahead of the game?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Very Vermillion

 I don't know what goes in cyber space between my computer and Blogger.  My photos are sometimes sideways and the second photo here is actually upside down.  It reminds me of Star Trek when they would go through the teleports and come out on the other side the same as they left.  I wonder if these images make that noise before they are visible on the web page!!! LOL  

I have tried a couple of times to get that second photo to turn out right but I just couldn't get it to flip.  So just tile your head until you are looking at it upside down!!! UGH!

This is one of the cards that we made at Terri's Stamp-a-Stack.  I really loved the decorative paper that was used here.  I believe it is from the "Well Worn" pack.  One of my masculine favorites.

The card stock colors used here are Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla.  I do have this bird image and I have used it a couple of times.  I think I will hang on to it for a little while longer.  I just have not played with it enough!  

This card is not only pretty but look how fun it is when you open it!

I didn't stamp anything on the inside of mine because I wasn't sure what occasion I wanted to use it for.  I'll just add the wording when I know.

This is a very quick card to make too.  Not just because all of the stuff was cut for me in advance, but because it went together so easily.  Isn't this a wonderful masculine card.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

A Stamp-a-Stack Birthday!

Today’s card comes from Terri’s Stamp-a-Stack I went to last week with my sister.  We always have a great time at those.  She is now hooked on them and can’t seem to get enough of them.  She actually arranged her schedule so she can attend them!!!  She’s not only funny but dedicated!!! LOL

The set used here today is “Fox & Friends”.   I don’t have this set and that is another reason why Stamp-a-Stacks are great.  You get to play with stamp sets you don’t own!  I didn’t order it this time around either.  I don’t have any little kids around and I didn’t see myself using it very much.  But it was fun to play with it Thursday night.

I have a few more cards to show you from the Stamp-a-Stack.  I have some of my own that I want to make and show to you first though!!  But I promise I will share the ones from Thursday night with you.

Well, I'm off to spend a few minutes on a project I've been working on a bit at a time.  And of course I will share it with you!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today!
Happy Stamping,
Wanda

Bye Bye Baroque Motifs

I have had a lot of fun with the Baroque Motifs stamp set.  From wedding cards to just fun beautiful and elegant cards.  I'm not sure if I'm going to part with the set right away though.  But time will tell, won't it?

For this card I used Pacific Point for the base and on the circle behind the computer generated words.

On top of the base card stock is a piece of brushed gold card stock.  I also used the brushed gold on the round scallop.

I used the Dotted embossing folder and white card stock for the next layer.

On top of that layer is the Cherry Cobbler and the gold embossed Baroque Motif image.

The butterfly was set in place with Dimensionals and 3 pearls were added.  This was a very fun and easy card to put together.  This would also be a pretty wedding, anniversary, sympathy and get well card too.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

The Best of Everything

The Best of Everything set is one I have hardly used too.  I saw a card much like this at Terri's Stamp-a-Stack and of course I took a photo of it.  I do that for future reference.  I have thousands of photos on my computer of card samples and I often wonder how far into the future I was thinking when I took all of these photos!!! LOL

So since Thursday was only 3 days ago and I'm making the card, I think I'm doing well.  The set hasn't retired yet so I'm doing well there too!  Many of those stamp photo images are of cards that the sets have retired.  Some I still like to look at for reference for a different set but I never get around to making the cards.  Today I thought I would make this one and delete the photo from my phone!  

I didn't have the same decorative papers but I did find some that were close in color and colors I liked and wanted to work with!  Here I used Old Olive and Calypso Coral.  I added a piece of chocolate ribbon on top of the seams to hide them.  

The base of the card is Chocolate Chip with a layer of white card stock on top of that. Then the decorative papers were added.

I stamped the image on white card stock.  I used markers and colored in the image.  The "Direct to Rubber" technique.  And I did the same with the bird.  I huffed on the images and stamped them.  I punched out a flower for the tree.  I set the flower on a foam mat and took the end of an ink pen and rolled the pen around the center of the flower until the flower started to spin a little.  Once it does the spin thing I know it's curled up on the sides.  I set it in place and added a tiny pearl in the middle.  I stamped the words on (but don't look too close, they are crooked!) and that was it.  This was very fun to make and extremely easy!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Cheery Birthday Wishes

I was hoping to get this posted before the storm rolled through but alas, I'm typing with lightening all around me!!!  So then I got smart and went on the laptop on battery power!  

My sister and I was at Terri's FABULOUS Stamp-a-Stack on Thursday night and this was something like one of the cards she had on display.  I didn't have the same decorative newsprint paper for the bottom but I did have some printed out from the Night & Day download so I used that instead.  You can use whatever paper you have, anything printed like a newspaper will work there.

The words are from the "Happiest Birthday Wishes" set.  I didn't think I had those words and when I was looking through my stamps I found it so of course I had to use it!  

The flower was done by using a couple of punches and adding a rhinestone brad in the middle.  

The black strip in the back is a piece of ribbon.  

The top is a white piece of card stock that was dry embossed with the dotted folder.  

There isn't a lot to making this card and it did go together rather quickly.  The original card is an easel card.  There were two small flowers at the bottom that held the card up when it was opened.  I opted to make this into a regular normal fold card.  The original card was made by one of Terri's downline. I don't know who the talented gal is but if you do, please let me know so I can give her credit!

This was a very fun and cheery card to make!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Smarties Graduation Cap Party Favor Weekend Project

I cut a strip of black card stock 3/8” wide by 3-1/4” long.  I wrapped it around the Smarties package and poked a hole in the top one that went through the other end of the strip behind it but not all the way through.  I didn’t want it to poke a hole in the candy wrapper.  Then I punched out a 1-1/4” square and poked a hole in the center of it.  I took a brad and poked it through the square and then the two strip ends.  I folded over the brad ends and then slipped the band over the candy.   And the final touch is to tie a piece of Baker’s Twine around the brad to make it look like a tassel.  And that’s it.  These are SO simple to make and fun for that graduation party.  And it’s not chocolate so you can set them outside and not have to worry about them melting.

This was not a bit project I had brewing but it was sitting on paper for a few weeks now waiting for me to find the time to put it all together.  Lucky you, today was that day!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Have a Heart

Saturday is a benefit for my co-worker Caron. She needed a pacemaker and was scheduled to have one put in but her doctor backed out.  Caron has no insurance and when the doctor told her he was not going to do the operation we were all not only surprised but worried for Caron.  The battery in her current pacemaker was expired and she was just told that if anything happens to just call 911.  

Some time had passed and a new doctor stepped up and did the operation.  Caron is doing fine and this Saturday is the benefit.  I made two bracelets for the silent auction.  Both have hearts on them. The first one was just like this one except I used gold beads up the spine and some cranberry lined (greenish looking) for the leaves. It was pretty but not as pretty as this one turned out.  I LOVE the white background here.  I had gotten these hearts many years ago and in my sorting project (ongoing project) I have been putting all the heart beads I run across in a container.  I was surprised at how many I had.  The container is full.  I used one of the long Stampin' Up! clear containers to hold the heart beads.  I am having mixed feelings about these red hearts.  I have a few left and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know if the ones at Bead Basics were the same size and color as these are.  Do I want more hearts? Do I want more beads?  Want??  Ok, the correct word here is need!  Well, of course I don't "need" any more beads.  But want!  Yup, I always want more beads!  What beader doesn't?  I will more than likely get some more just to have them on hand.  It kind of defeats the purpose of using up things.  But then again I did have some left but not enough to make another bracelet.  See the battles I have with myself?  LOL  If I get some more I will make another bracelet like this one and put it up for sale in my web store.  I need to start getting more bracelets and other "stuff" in there so I can get some more fund generated to buy nice gifts for the family we shop for at Christmas time.  

I'm hoping that the bracelets go over well at the silent auction.  If you are in the Golden Valley Minnesota area on Saturday, stop in at Schuller's Tavern (7345 Country Club Drive) and check out the auction items!

I will have a very fun project for you to play with tomorrow so be sure to stop back!

Thank you every SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Zoo Review Birthday

This was another fun card I made with the Zoo Review stamp set.  The sketch I used here was #104.  It was one I had not used before.  I began doing the sketches at #126 so the ones before that are new territory for me!  I look forward to giving the other sketches a try!

I used the same Well Worn papers as I did yesterday.  But today I only used 2 of the colors and I used the fun giraffe image.  Yesterdays card was a Father's Day card so today I thought I would make a masculine birthday card.  

The words were made on the computer.  I print off a page full so I have more ready when I need them to put together a quick card.

I have just the person to give this card to!  I think I'm going to make another one because it's always great to have some masculine cards on hand!  I never seem to have enough masculine cards.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Zoo Review Father's Day

I have a confession to make.  I am late posting because I got stuck playing a game on the computer.  Something that I rarely do but when I do run across this game I just have to play it.  And then a half hour to 45 minutes go by and I'm behind on what I was planning on doing.  UGH!!  But what is important is I'm here now!  LOL

Last week I was very busy with the neighborhood garage sale and I didn't have time to play with the Wednesday Sketch Challenge on Split Coast Stampers.  So today I finally had a few minutes (minus that game) to play with the sketch!

I really liked this layout and it will work with TONS of stamp images I have.  I did cut my #4 panel a bit smaller than the original one is but I needed the lion from the Zoo Review stamp set.  I had mixed feelings about this set but the more I saw cards done using it the more I knew I needed to get it.

I used Well Worn for my background papers.  I had purchased the download so I am able to print out paper anytime I need it.  Ya gotta love that!  I know I do.  I always print these papers on 28 or 30 pound copier paper.  You want a thicker paper for this.  It will have a better look to it.  The colors will be more vivid and not so washed out.  And it will have a nice firm feel to it like the decorative papers do.  30 pound is my paper of choice.  It's a bit expensive but you don't use that much of it so it does last a long time.

The "Happy Father's Day" was done on the computer and punched out.  

I had a lot of fun making this card and knowing that I have a lot more images that will fit in the #4 panel.  The card went together rather quickly, which is another reason why I'm going to use this sketch again!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Kindness Matters

See, I told you I had the Kindness Matters set.  At first I didn't think I did because I couldn't find it.  But I did find it. It was with the clear mount stamps. I was looking for wood mount.  Don't you hate it when you are sure of what you are looking for and it turns out to be something different?  I always have that problem when looking for my portable hard drive.  I swear it's black but it really is silver tone.  The base is black. But every time I go to dig it out I overlook it because I'm looking for black and not silver!  You'd think I would just take any electronic thing out that is the size of a book and at least look at it, wouldn't you?  But no. I don't do that because I'm SO sure of myself that it is black!!! 

So with that said, lets move on to my card.  It's a simple card and one of my favorites.  I made the mistake of taking the photo of it on some craft paper and it didn't do the card justice.

The colors I used here are Wisteria Wonder and Concord Crush.  I was going to use Eggplant Envy but it just didn't go with the Wisteria Wonder as well.  And I got to use some more of my decorative paper from the In Colors pack.  I hope Stampin' Up! does it again with the next set of in colors!! I LOVE having decorative papers to play with.  

For my butterfly I just stamped it on a small scrap piece of white card stock and set it in place with Dimensionals.  The top two layers were taped together and then the butterfly when behind them.  The ribbon was also added and then Dimensionals were added to the back of those pieces and set in place.  Like I said it was a very easy card to do and it really doesn't take all that long to make.  The measurements to make this card layout can be found here.  I have made a lot of cards using this layout.  It's a perfect way to highlight those little images.

I'm working on a project to share with you in a few days.  Hopefully all will go well so I can get it done soon!

Thank you ever so much for visiting today,
Wanda

Happy Mother's Day!

I would like to wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day.  I hope that you will be doing something fun today.  Our son is having us over for dinner.  He's cooking. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not.  I have not eaten his cooking since he was in middle school and had to cook in home economics class.  I'm REALLY hoping that he has improved his cooking skills since then. Though I have been told he makes a wonderful mac & cheese (not from a box either).  I will not be posting a card or project here today.  I'm going to be seeing my mom in the afternoon and then visiting with our son in the evening.  If you do not see a post from me tomorrow then you will know his cooking has not improved!!! LOL

Happy Mother's Day!
Wanda

Delicate Doilies Indeed!

Delightful Doilies is a very fun set to play with.  It reminds me a lot of the Circle Circus set but with a doily look!

This card was from a Shoe Box swap and was made by Cyndi (a fabulous stamper!).  

The colors used here are Marina Mist, Pacific Point and Crumb Cake.  

A couple of rhinestones were added to the two larger doilies which gave the card a nice little bling.  It doesn't show up well in the photo though.  

Don't you just love how easy it is to do the scalloped oval layers with punches.  Anytime I can use a punch to dress up my card I'm so there.  With those punches I typically love 3 layers but since the smallest oval punch was retired I have to work with 2.  But because this image has lines around the edge it gives it the appearance of having 3 layers.  

This was a fun card to make and a pretty quick card to put together too!  I am thinking of making one using different colors.  It's always fun to have cards in different colors but the same layout so you can put them in a gift pack for friends.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Raining Flowers Thank You

Today it's a short but sweet post! This is a card I had gotten in a swap. I'm not sure if it was a shoe box swap or a regular trade swap.  I think it is a very pretty card.  I do not have the "Raining Flowers" set.  I had thought about buying it but I had too many other sets on my list that I wanted so I opted not to get this one.  As pretty as the set is I don't regret not getting it.  

This card was made by Denise.  She is such a fabulous stamper.  It's such a wonderful thank you card, isn't it?  And the colors are so warm and inviting.  It has a feeling of sincerity to it.

Thank you ever so much for visiting today,
Wanda

What a GREAT Find!

WOW, this has been a very busy day.  The garage sale is going extremely well.  We have sold TONS of stuff and there are still two more days to go.  I'm already exhausted though!!  

I did sell a TON of greeting cards.  I had 4 shoe box totes full of them and right now there is one left.  I still have cards in my sample drawers but they are no longer packed to the max!  It will be great to start collecting new ones as I make them!  

So lets talk about this card now.  As I was moving the tables out of my workroom and finding "things", I ran across the stamped image on the stamped background.  I was going to just set it aside but the more I looked at it the more I thought I should make a card with it so I won't have to run across it ever again!!!  I do not even remember the name of the set this was stamped with.  I honestly don't even remember stamping this image so it had to be a long time ago.  Or maybe a day ago!!!! LOL  Ok, my memory is a little better than that but not by much!

The words are done on my computer.  I had made a PDF file of them and you can purchase them in my web store along with 9 other occasions that fit in those same circles.  I love to have them on hand for a quick card. 

The base of the card is Bravo Burgundy and I also used Old Olive along with the Whisper White.  I love finding things like this, it makes putting a card together SO easy and extremely quick!

Thank you for stopping by today,

Wanda

Friendship Spinner Card

Today's card is one that was made by Terri (a fabulous Stampin' Up! demonstrator).  This is a spinner card.  The butterfly spins when you tilt the card.  It's a very fun technique and surprisingly easy enough to do too!

You can find the instructions to make a spinner card at Split Coast Stampers.  If you click on that link it will take you directly to the step by step technique.

This is such a pretty card too.  I LOVE the beautiful butterflies done in the Concord Crush.  A color I'm REALLY going to miss come Halloween.  But I do have my hopes up that a new purple will take it's place.  

I personally did not make this card and I have never done a spinner card but later this week I'm going to give it a try for myself.  

This week is a very busy one for me and I'm filling in my blog with some cards that I have in my stash that have not made it to my blog yet.  I like to have a few of them on hand so should I ever be strapped for time I can just take one and post it.  Just like I did today.  We were busy all day with the massive garage sale.  There were already people out shopping too!  So we did sell a few things which just makes room for other things we have to still set out!!!  I've never seen so much stuff!!! LOL

Oh and don't think I'm not working.  I have a project that I'm working on to show you soon.  I'm picking away at it a little each day (when I can steal a minute or two away to create!). 

Thank you ever so much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Kindness Matters Birthday

The card I have for you today is from the "Kindness Matters" set.  I had made a card the other day that used this set but I opted for a different set because I didn't have that set.  Well, as it turned out I did have the set.  I thought I had the wood mount one but I had the clear block set.  So I do have the set!!!  But it is retiring, which is sad because I have not used it very much. I bought the set because I loved the butterflies!

My card today came from Terri's Stamp-a-Stack.  I LOVE going to the Stamp-a-Stacks.  You can make a bunch of cards in such a little amount of time!!  And you don't have to do any cutting either!!!  Ya gotta love that!

This was a very quick and easy card to make too.  I loved doing the background on it. We used an ink pad and a bunch of rubber bands all bound together and just dotted them on the card stock.  A fun and easy technique to do!

I'm SO looking forward to the Stamp-a-Stack that Terri is having this month!!!  She always has such great cards to make!!

Ok, I'm off to tend to garage sale stuff.  On Saturday our area (yes area, not neighborhood) has a huge garage sale.  The sign next to the highway reads 200+ houses but there is a lot more than that.  The sign has read 200+ houses for the 26 years we've lived here.  I usually don't do garage sales but this year I decided I needed to get rid of some stuff. I call the family together and they always have stuff to get rid of too so it's usually a pretty big sale.  I'm going to be getting rid of a lot of my Stampin' Up! sets.  I have hardly sold any of them since I had started being a demonstrator and now there are about 5 or 6 boxes full of them.  I was having a bit of separation anxiety when I was setting them out to price them.  I don't like giving up my stuff (hence the full house) but it's time to let some of it go!  And I'm sure I'll survive it!  LOL

Thank you SO much for stopping by,

Wanda

A Mixed Bouquet Birthday

This card was inspired by one I found on Pinterest.  I went there for something else and ended up on there for hours!!  Don't you just hate it when that happens?   But I usually do find some fun stuff on there!  And I agree with you Carol, I'll take Pinterest over Facebook any day!

Ok, onto this card.  It is actually a quick and simple card to make.  The paper piercing took a few minutes to do but other than that it was pretty simple.

I stamped my words on the Wisteria Wonder decorative paper and punched out an oval.  Then I taped it in place on the card stock and punched the tiny holes around it.  

The flower was stamped and punched out.  The center of the flower was from the same set and punched out after stamping.  I set both the flower and the flower center in place using Dimensionals.  I taped the top piece to a piece of Wisteria Wonder card stock.  I tied a ribbon around the the layers and then taped all of that in place on the white base of the card.  And that was it.  A perfect card for a Stamp a Stack. It's simple enough yet has a few things to keep the card creators busy!  I SO love using the Mixed Bouquet set.  

Be sure to stop back tomorrow, I have a little project to show you!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Funky Four Birthday

This was a fun card to make.  I loved playing with the "Funky Four" set.  Sad to see it's retiring but it was fun to play with while I had it.  I found a card made by Deb at Artfelt Impressions that I copied the layout.  Her card is a bit different as far as the words and image goes but the layout is pretty much the same.  I actually wanted to make the card she did but I didn't have the stamp set.  I thought I had it but in searching through my stamps I didn't see it so either I lost it (which I doubt) or I only wished so hard I had it that I thought I did!!! LOL

Not having a stamp doesn't stop me from making the card!!!  I have learned that a while back. I stopped and asked myself what it was about the card that caught my eye.  Most of the time it is the color and sometimes a combination of the color and the layout.  And once in a great while it is the stamp image but not as often as it is the colors and layout.  So now I look at cards differently and I tell myself that I do not need to buy the stamp set just because I saw a card I liked that used it.  I can like the layout and/or the colors and find something else that will work.  Most of the time I can do that.  But there are those times that I just have to buy the stamp too!!! And of course I end up buying it.  But I have cut the stamp buying down a lot and have managed just fine using what I have and I still have sets that I have not used or have not used much at all.  Another sign of having too many stamp sets!!!!  I shop more conservatively now and I do survive!!! LOL I am excited to see the new catalog.  I have been saving my pennies so I can get all the new in colors of paper, ink pads, ink, markers and whatever goes along with that!  And of course a few new sets.  I have to have some new things now and then to keep me going but like I said, I will be more conservative.  I need to stock up on some more card stock too.  I'm running low on a few colors.  So I'm saving up for it!!

Well, back to my card.  The "Funky Four" set is retiring and I'm glad I used it as much as I did.  Here I colored on the images with markers, I huffed on the images and then stamped them on card stock.  The words are from the fun "Perfectly Penned" set and that was it.  The card stock colors are, Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight.  I set the top layers with the paper ribbon on the card with Dimensionals.  It wasn't a difficult card to make and it didn't take a lot of time to do either!! It was a lot of fun!

Thank you SO much for reading my ramblings and for stopping by today,
Wanda

Bath Fizzy Gift Boxes Weekend Project

I made a few of these gift boxes up for Mother's Day gifts.  I'll be making more to sell at a later date.  I want to have some made up for the fall craft fairs too.  

There are several ways you can make these.  You can make your own bath fizzies by using two small melon ballers and squishing the mixture together and setting them aside to dry or you can buy them (like I did this time).  I normally make my own but I usually make the bigger ones.  To find a recipe for the bath fizzies just do a Google search and you'll find a lot of them.  You can play with them and see which ones work the best for you and you can even come up with your own personal signature recipe for them like I did.  

Another thing you can do is to make your own box.  The box measures 2-1/2" long x 1-1/2" wide v 1-1/2" deep.  I took the short cut on these and ordered the boxes from Clear Boxes .com.  I didn't have time to whip up a lot of clear boxes in a short time.  You can go to the Super Deluxe box maker website to enter in your measurements and it will print up a box for you that you can use as a template. Or if using card stock you can have it printed directly on your paper.  You really don't want to print directly to the window sheets because the black lines will show through.  And yes, you can print on the window sheets but it has to be with a laser printer and not a bubble jet.  So after my two short cuts of not making my fizzies and not making my boxes I began the assemblage.  

I took the fizzies and set them in some little paper candy cups.  They look like tiny cup cake papers.  I set them in the box.  The two fit perfectly in the 2-1/2" space but there was a bit of wiggle room between the fizzy and the roof of the box.  SO I just took some shirt board (it's cardboard like the stuff on cereal boxes) and cut it in strips to fit inside the box.  It took 9 of them stacked to make it so these fizzies did not move around inside the box.  I just taped the 9 pieces together and then wrapped them in some decorative papers that matched the color of the bath fizzy.  I have a lot of scrap decorative papers so it was nice to be able to use a lot of them up.  After wrapping the shirt board pieces I slid the piece inside the box.  Then I added the fizzies.

No, it's not done yet.  I needed to head on over to my computer and make an ingredients and caution label for the bottom.  I ALWAYS add these, even if I'm not going to be selling them.  I just printed out the words on a label and ran a bunch off so I can add them to all the fizzie gift boxes I make.  Oh and don't forget the part about keeping it away from children and because it looked like a food item I did include on it DO NOT EAT.  Ya just gotta add that stuff!!  Then I tied a ribbon around the box.  I had gotten a HUGE spool of ribbon from Paper Mart . com.  It is a very soft pink.  Much like the color of Stampin' Up!'s Pirouette Pink.  I just tied it in a knot and clipped the ends.  I added a printed and punched label to the top of the box.  But before I added it I had sponged the edges so it dressed it up a bit.  I wanted to do some card stock layers there but this was SO much easier and quicker.  I bought a box of 8-1/2" x 11" label paper.  I just print out what I want on the sheet and punch them out as I need them.  SO simple.  

I have a craft drawer full of bath fizzies waiting to be packaged up.  I'm hoping to get that drawer emptied this month!!!  I have dreams (or delusions) of getting a lot of the drawers in my craft room emptied!!  Wish me luck on that one!!!

These were fun to make.  It was very relaxing just to sit (except for getting up to cut some box board) and assembling the boxes.  I think they turned out nice.  I may make a few more up tomorrow and put them in the garage sale next week at cost.  There's always little kids shopping for something for mom for Mother's Day and this would be a nice inexpensive gift for them to get her.  

Thank you ever SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Flower Fest Birthday

I have loved playing with this set and it's sad to say but it will be retiring at the end of this month.  I have mixed feelings about it though. As much as I love it I hate cutting out the pieces!  Most of the cards I made with it had the pieces cut out after embossing.  It just looked prettier that way.  The price of beauty!!! LOL

It was made by Vicki and posted at the Pinterest website.  To be honest I don't even know how I got there.  I was on Pinterest looking at something else and the next thing I know I spotted this card and just HAD to make it!!!  

I didn't have the same wording that Vicki used but these worked out just fine and if you don't compare them you won't know the difference!!!

I have a few birthday cards I need to make this month plus one anniversary. I want to try to play with some of the sets that are retiring.  I'm going to be putting them in my web store.  I need to get rid of them to make room for some new stuff.  And I am going to be more careful about what sets I order too.  I have way too many that I have not used.  That is a sign that I bought too many before time ran out!  I'm hoping the new catalog will not be full of too many tempting things, but it usually is!!!

This was a fun card to make but I don't think I'd like to have to make a bunch of them (only because of all the cutting).

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Zoo Review Masculine Birthday Card

 I just never seem to have enough masculine cards.  This weeks Sketch Challenge had the perfect focal panel for me to use the zebra image from the Zoo Review set.  I had gotten that set back during the Sale A Bration and I hadn't had a chance to use it yet!  It's a perfect set for masculine cards.  And a perfect set to use for today's Sketch Challenge at Split Coast Stampers!

The base of my card is Soft Suede.  On top of that is a piece of decorative paper from the Regals collections.  

The front strip panel was textured using the Lattice folder.  

Next the focal piece was added.  I stamped the En Francais background using Crumb Cake. I had tried the Soft Suede but it was way too dark. I even tried stamping off but that was just too light.  So I got out the Crumb Cake ink pad and it was a bit too dark too so I huffed on it and used the image one more time and it worked out perfectly. It was light enough yet dark enough to know there was something there!

Then I stamped the zebra.  I sponged the edges of that piece plus the Happy Birthday circle.

Oops, jumping the gun a bit here.  The circle piece was done using my computer and printer.  I punched it out using the 1-1/4" punch, then I punched the Not Quite Navy circle using the 1-3/8" circle and those two were layered on top of the Soft Suede circle scallop punched piece. 

And that was all there is to making this card.  It was simple enough even with all of those layers!!! I LOVED playing with this sketch and I can see myself using this one again and more than likely in the near future too! I have a lot of images that will fit into that focal space.  So if you have time, I highly recommend you giving this sketch a try!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda