Papillon Potpourri Scratch Pad Cover Weekend Project

I was having some fun with the Papillon Potpourri set and the beautiful butterfly punch.  How much do you love that punch?  It sure does beat cutting out butterflies.

Today I made a cover for a scratch pad.  The photo makes this look a little bigger than it actually is.  It measures 3" x 5".  I just wrapped some white card stock around the back and over the front.  I scored the lines so they were crisp instead of looking "folded" over (like they did before I scored them).  You can also mark them and score them to avoid any folding over to find the right fold measurements.  I didn't measure anything.  I just set the card stock on the scratch pad and marked the edge that I needed to cut.  I don't measure these things because a lot of the times they are all not the same exact size.  

SO to make this cover I took Whisper White card stock and cut it to the width of the pad.  Then I wrapped and cored it around the pad starting from the back and going to the front via the top.  I cut off the excess and punched the butterfly.  Then I took the Wisteria Wonder and wrapped it from the top of the back to the front, covering about 7/8 of the front.  

I punched the butterfly out on the white piece and then I used a glue stick and glued it in place.  I marked on the front of the Wisteria Wonder piece where I wanted the texture to be and then I added it.  Next I set the Wisteria Wonder on the scratch pad and tucked the front piece under the white.  I traced the butterfly and then used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the butterfly in the exact spot I needed it on the Wisteria Wonder.  I used some tiny magnets to hold the flap down.  I could have used the stamped and punched out butterfly to act as a way to tuck the flap down.

I have over 200 Weekend Projects on my blog (WOW, that's a lot!!!).  Just click here to see more of them!  A lot of them are great for Craft Fairs, Stamp Camps, Make N Takes, Customer Appreciation Gifts, Hostess Appreciation Gifts and just fun things to do on the weekend!

This one will be added to the box of "stuff" for the fall craft fair.  It's slowly getting full.  But keep in mind, it's not a very big box!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Zoo Review Masculine Birthday Card

I'm in need of a masculine card and I'm going through my current decorative paper packs, which is pretty small now a days! I got to the point to where I thought I would switch gears and make the masculine card some other time and make a card with some of this pretty paper from Comfort Cafe.  As I was going through the pack I realized that there were a few papers in there that would serve well on a masculine card!!!  You tell me!  Aren't they masculine looking?  

I have had a lot of fun with the Zoo Review set and there are still a couple of images in there that I have not played with yet.  Mostly because they are a bit challenging. So I should take on that challenge and then I can say that I actually used every image in a set again!!!  How fun that is!!!  And this is coming from someone who will buy a set just because of one image in it!!  When I can use every image in a set I am thrilled and sometimes I don't want to part with the set when it retires!!! LOL

So back to my card.  The background paper is Soft Suede.  On top of that is some Whisper White that was dry embossed using the wonderful Argyle folder that I won!!!  Yup, I won it!!!  And then the layers of decorative paper and lastly the lion. Since I didn't add any words to this card it can be used for a masculine get well or even a sympathy card.  

The focal piece measures 2" x 3" and then add 1/8" more for the layer behind it.  The center piece measures 2-3/8" x 3-3/8" and then add 1/8" more for the layer behind that.  And the larger piece measures 3" x 3-3/4" and you will be adding 1/8" more for the layer behind it.  And that is all there is to this card. It's very easy to make and it's very masculine!  Mission accomplished!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouette Get Well Card

A dear friend of mine had surgery on Thursday and of course I was not on the ball.  I should have made this card right away so that she would get it when she got home from the hospital.  But no, I was forgetful and had a ton of other things on my mind.  So tonight I thought I would make her a card and get it out in the mail tomorrow.  The mail service is pretty fast so it shouldn't take more than a day or two to get to her.  She should be coherent enough by then to read it!!! LOL

This card was very easy to make.  I used marker for the image. I colored in all of the green leafy area with the Summer Starfruit marker and then I tapped the (Thumping Technique) Gumball Green color on.  And then I added the Raspberry Ripple to the flower parts.  All of these are the new in colors, including the papers.  

I REALLY do like the Gumball Green color.  I think i twill be a very fun color to play with come Christmas!

So now to get this card signed and ready for the mail tomorrow!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Tuxedo Shirt Card

Once again I was blog surfing.  I tend to do that a few times a week to get some ideas but mostly for inspiration.  I tend to find other people's card samples more than I find ideas and inspiration.  I get inspired to copy!!! LOL  But as you look at this, you can see why!  Isn't this card just adorable?  I think it would be a great card for a groom's dinner invitation.  The bow tie could be in the colors of the bridesmaids dresses.  There, hows that for an idea?  LOL

Connie at Inkspired Treasures made this card.  I have been to her site quite often and many times I find something there I just HAVE to make!  You can go to her link above for the basic directions on how she made her card.  I found it very simple to make and I think I will  be showing my sister this one for her son's grooms dinner (someday - nothing in the works right now).  This was a lot of fun to make and putting it together was a snap!  I love it when I can find great cards and they end up being easy to do too!!!  Ya gotta love that!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda. 

A Papillon Potpouri Birthday

Today I'm going to share with you a beautiful and fun card I made at Terri's last Stamp-A-Stack (SAS).  

Because of this card I had to order that decorative paper.  It's called Natural Composition decorative paper.  There's LOTS of fun designs in this pack.  I hope to use the entire pack up before it retires!!! That's a real challenge for me.  

Anyway, back to this fun card.  The base of the card is apiece of Soft Suede cut at 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  The Very Vanilla on top is cut at 4" x 5-1/4" and then folded in half.  After folding 1-1/4" is cut off from the bottom of the top piece.  

The decorative paper is cut at 3-3/4" x 3-3/4" and then decorated with the butterfly. 

The bottom part of the card was stamped with the Curly Cute Happy Birthday stamp and that was it.  Very simple and extremely elegant.  And I just love this layout.  It's fun and different.  My sister and I had a great time at the Stamp-a-Stack and we are looking forward to going again next month!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Card Winner

I have not heard back from the card winner Christi.  If I don't hear back from her by Sunday I will be drawing a new name!

Where are you Christi?  Email me with your snail mail address.

Bug Me Glow Worm

Back in July 8th of 2007 I had sent myself an email with this cute little glow worm saying!  

"I wish I was a glow worm,

A glow worm’s never glum.

‘Cos how can you be grumpy

When the sun shines out your bum!"

I always wanted to make a card using those words but I never got around to it and never found an image that would work.  Well, today I worked with the Bug Me set and made myself a glow worm so I could use the poem!!  Isn't it cute?  I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the end of the glow worm and on the top part of all the wings. That part looks SO much better in person! I used markers to color in all the parts of the glow worm and I also used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the wings.  I wanted them in a certain place and I wanted them a certain length so I had to get some help with that!  I got the fun shading on the wings by coloring the entire image with Basic Gray ink and then stamping off (on copier paper) twice.  What was left behind was just dark enough to give the wings a nice shaded look.

I had just used my computer to type the words.  The font size is set at 12 and it is called CurlzMT (whatever that means!).  I think it is one that came with the computer!

This was such a fun card to make, mostly because I've wanted to make something like this for a very LONG time!!!  Now I can delete that email to myself!  One less email in the inbox!!!  Mine is SO full of stuff I send to myself!  But see, it's good not to get rid of things, you never know when you will need them!  LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Papillon Potpourri Birthday Card

I not only love this Papillon Potpourri set because of the beautiful butterflies in it but because 3 of them fit in the new butterfly punch!!!  It's the best!  Not that it's hard to cut out the butterfly but when you can stamp and punch a bunch in no time, well why would you want to cut??

So today I was looking at Pinterest for some samples of this set and I got inspired.  I was surprised that I didn't copy anything.  There were some great cards to copy but I actually got inspired and came up with this.

I used the new background embossing folder and the sizzlet die at the bottom.  I also used the dotted folder and then added several layers behind it.  I used Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Pink Pirouette.  The butterfly and the words from the Petite Pairs set were stamped using Regal Rose.  

This was a very fun and easy card to make and I thought it has an elegant look to it.  A very soft look!  I hope it inspires you!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Card Winner

I didn't know how to get the photo of the Random Number Generator image on the post so I just took a photo of it with my phone and mailed it to myself.  It works, you can see the number. Lucky #3 and that is Christi and here is her comment:

christi said...

what an adorable card. i love the shimmer all over. i'm kind of a sparkly kid, myself. tfs

Christi, please email me with your snail mail address and I'll get this card off in the mail to you along with a little surprise in the package!!!  

Was this fun?  Would you like to do this more often?  I would be happy to share some cards with you all now and then!

Thank you SO much for playing it was great to hear from you!  And please stop back, I post daily!  I should put some Blog Candy up sometime soon too!  It's been awhile since I've done that!

Thanks again,

Wanda

A Bright Blossoms Birthday

I thought I would check out Split Coast Stampers and see what card samples were on there that I just HAD to make using the Bright Blossoms set.  I found this one by NWstamper.  I like the CAS (Clean and Simple) look of this card.  Plus I also like that it was SO easy and quick to make too!

I used the Summer Smooches decorative paper and the Bright Blossoms stamp set.  I LOVE the added touch of a rhinestone on the card.  

The words were done using the Petite Pairs set.  It's a fun little set and the words fit perfectly in that space.

I had cut my decorative paper 6" x 6" and I was able to make 5 cards using that one piece.  It didn't take long to stamp and punch out 15 circles (30 all together) for each card.  I was surprised at how quick this card was to make but yet so sweet looking when it was done.  

Being it's such a bright orange (Tangerine Tango) my sister is going to like it so it's a good thing I made 5, huh?  LOL

These were fun to make and I think I would like to try this layout with some of the other smaller images in sets that I have.

Thank you ever SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Mixed Bunch Summer Flower CASE

 As I was blog surfing I came across this bright and pretty card.  I needed a get well card and this card had such a cheery look to it that I knew if I made it and gave it to my friend that it would brighten her day.  It went out in the mail this morning so I can't tell you if it brightened her day but I'm pretty sure it did.

The original card was made by Jennifer at Northwest Stamper.  I was looking for another card she had made that I saw on Split Coast Stampers.  It's a cute card that I thought would be fun and quick to make, plus it's one I know my sister would love because of the bright colors.  I think this is one my sister may like too but she's not getting one!!! LOL

I was trying to be frugal with my decorative paper here so I cut it into thin strips and taped the strips behind the Daffodil Delight card stock.  It gives the appearance of being one big sheet behind the Daffodil Delight.  You sure can stretch the decorative paper when you use it like that!!

The words are from the Perfectly Penned set.  It's such a pretty font and it went well with the Mixed Bunch images.  

This card was fun to make (even making 4 of them at the same time)!  As I look at it though, I think the Daffodil Delight could have used some texture.  It just seems to flat, smooth and dry looking.  I'll keep it in mind if I ever make anymore of these!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bright Blossoms Greeting Card Holder

 Since my sister was so generous to give me some fun little gifts (and I only gave her a card) I thought i would make her a pack of cards.  I decided to use the card I made the other day (you can see that card here).  These are colors that she really likes, that is why I opted to make a set of them for her.  If you notice, on these cards I added some greetings to the front.  It's something that I feel goes with a set of cards.  I suppose you could make them all blank so they can be used for any occasion but when I make sets of cards I like to have some type of greeting on the front.  I try to cover the basic 4 card needs, birthday, thinking of you, get well and thank you. 

I thought about making some cards and having the words on layers with Dimenisonals but not setting them in place.  That way whoever gets the set can add the words they want by removing the backing from the Dimensionals.  I thought I would make a couple of each of the greetings.  But I have never done that yet, it has not gone beyond the thought!!  Maybe one of these days!

I have made a lot of these Greeting Card Holders, you can buy the pattern here. You can make as many as you wish with this pattern and you can decorate them up and sell the finished ones at craft fairs. I like to have a bunch ready for the fall craft fair.  My numbers are not in the "bunches" yet!  I make some and give them away!!  UGH!  Oh well, at least they made someone happy and that makes me happy!

You can see in the final photo that I had taken a card out for you to see how it looks with the words added.  I used the Word Window punch and the Label punch.  The words came from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

The base of the card is a half sheet of Whisper White card stock folded in half.  Then a 1/4" piece of card stock was dry embossed  using the Dotted background folder.  Then it was cut to 4" x 5-1/4".  The ribbon was tied around the layer before it was attached to the base of the card.  Then the images were stamped and punched out with a 1" square punch.  Then the real Red card stock was punched out with the square stamp punch.  Then they were set in place with Dimensionals and so was the whole dotted background piece.  The words were stamped and then punched out and set on top of the punched out label piece.  Then they were set in place on the card using Dimensionals.   

These cards were quick and easy to make.  I did forget to mention that when I made the flowers I stamped the leaves using the Old Olive ink pad.  Then I used markers for the flower and the red dot above the flower.  I huffed on the markered images and stamped them just above the leaves.

I am sure my sister is going to like this set.  Like I said, these colors are something I know she likes.  It's SO "her!"

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

  

Card Giveaway

I am giving this card away!  All you need to do to have it sent to you is to be the lucky name that will be drawn on Tuesday.  And of course you need to leave a comment.  Even just an "I want it" comment will work!  But you do need to leave it on yesterday's post.  Just click here to get there!  You can get the specs on the card when you go there.  

I will not be posting a card or project today.  I am taking the day off.  I have not had a bread from posting in a very long time and my weekend has been just SO busy that I was not able to get anything ready to post.  I do have a few more different cards from the Stamp-A-Stack but I just decided to take one day off!  This is something you won't see happen very often.  I even make things up ahead of time and pre-post when we go on vacation but today, I'm just taking it off!  I will be back to posting tomorrow!

Be sure to leave a comment for a chance at having this card sent to you!

Thank you SO much,
Wanda

Love & Sympathy

Today’s card comes from you via the last Stamp A Stack that Terri had.  My sister and I went to it and had a GREAT time.  Terri is SO talented and her cards are always lovely and fun to do.  

This set is basically a sympathy set but all you do is just add different words to fit the occasion you need.  This would also make a great Mother's Day card, Thinking of You card, Get Well card and a Sympathy card.  

I opted to make mine into a birthday card because I use more of those in a year than the others.

The base of this card is Very Vanilla and on top of that is the new Midnight Muse card stock.  It's such a dark shade of blue and in the light it looks like a bit of purple too.  It may work well for Halloween.  I like to have a dark purple for Halloween but there isn't any now, just the Wisteria Wonder.

On the background of the card it's been textured using the embossing folders and then it's sprayed with the Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol and put in a misting bottle.  I need to ask Terri what the ratio of rubbing alcohol is to the paint.  I want to mix some up to have on hand.  I had done mine with water, which is ok but the water will stain the paper and absorb some too where the rubbing alcohol will evaporate and not ruin the paper.  

Anyway, back to the card.  Don't you love how the decorative paper is folded back a bit to expose the other side of it?  I love that look.  That paper is from the in color decorative paper pack.  An ribbon was tied around the focal panel layers and taped onto the front of the card.  It's such a pretty card with all that shimmery sparkle going on.  It's a soft sparkle and it's all over the blue.  It's VERY pretty in real life.  

Since I made 3 of these cards at the Stamp A Stack I will give one of them away to my readers!  Just leave a comment on this post (don't include your email address or last name, just a first name if it's not automatically added) and I will draw a name in 4 days and some lucky winner will get this card (along with the pretty stamped envelope too)!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda  

Bright Blossoms Card

Ok, I had this card all set up on my computer with who posted it. It was with a group of a few other cards because this person made them to take with to convention to swap.  Of course mine is a little different because I do not have the current ribbon this gal used.  If you know who made this card, please let me know so I can give them credit and a link back.  Thank you!

This card was easy to do but it was the colors of it that caught my eye.  It's really not a "me" type card, it's something my sister would LOVE so I thought I would make it for her.  I am considering making her a set of cards.  She had made me this cute holder "thing" using fabric and a coffee cup.  I had bought her the pattern for her birthday and she (like me) finally got around to making it.  And she also gave me some felted wool for a snowman I want to make.  And I gave her a card.  Yup, a single card!!  Nothing spectacular about the card either.  Just a card.  I did post that card a few days back. It was the "Bug Me" card.  She did love it though.  So tonight I think I will work on making her a set of cards in a card holder using this card sample!

This was a very easy card to make too.  The base is a half sheet of Whisper White card stock folded in half. Then a 1/4" was dry embossed using the Dotted background folder.  Then it was cut to 4" x 5-1/4".  The ribbon was tied around.  Then the images were stamped and punched out with a 1" square punch.  Then the Real Red was punched out with the square stamp punch.  They were set in place with Dimensionals and so was the whole dotted background piece too.  That's it.  SO quick and SO easy.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Bootiful Occasions

I bought this Boutiful Occasions set because I LOVED the witch boot image in it.  I want to use the cowboy boot image before I use the witch and Christmas one.  I have a few ideas for some Christmas stuff but I'm going to hold off for a little while yet.  I'm still wanting to do flowers, even though it's been SO hot out lately that I am wanting to welcome winter with open arms!  Today we have rain and better temps. I'm hoping we have cloud cover all day.  If that sun comes out after these thunder storms it could get nasty out there.  We need the rain but that's all, just rain, no hail, no strong winds or downpours, just rain!  Ok, weather report is over!  LOL

This card was not my idea.  I found it at Joan's Daily Stampede blog.  I have been asked how I run across some of these blogs.  I honestly don't know.  Sometimes I just Google the name of the stamp set I want to use and blogs pop up.  Many times I go to Split Coast Stampers.  There's a plethora of samples and other information there!

The background (SO cool looking) is from the Natural Composition Decorative Paper (DP) pack.  The wood grains are actually glossy looking.  And it has some substance to it, it's a lot thicker than the regular double sided DP is.

The boots were stamped using a marker on the outer edges and then stamped on the Polka Dot Parade DP and cut out.  Not one of my favorite techniques!!! I'd rather have punches to do that kind of work for me. Fortunately it was only two boots so I didn't whine too much!!! LOL

The words came from under the boot.  I had to mask the boot off when I stamped the words.  And I hoped I got them straight!  They are straight enough! 

I tied a red ribbon around the layers and then set them in place.  I didn't add the hemp like the original card shows.  I was too lazy to get up and get it!  Plus I liked the look of just the red anyway.  

This would be a great image to use for a shower card, wouldn't it?  Just type up some wording on the computer and add it where the words are on the card!  How cute would that be?  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

Serene Silhouette Masculine Card

In my quest to use all of the images in a stamp set I came up with this card.  And in using this image I have completed my challenge of using all four of the images in this set.  I did like making this card.  The tree image is very fun to work with.  This would also make a great Father's Day card and a nice masculine sympathy card too.  

I took the easy way out when I colored in the tree.  I stamped the entire image using Old Olive ink and then I colored over the ink with the Chocolate Chip marker.  It sure made the Direct to Rubber technique easier!!  My ink pad wasn't very cooperative though.  I think it needs to be replaced.  I REALLY do like the new pads.  You don't have to tap very hard on them to get the ink on the image.  I'm sure someday I will be replacing all of my ink pads, but for now it will be on an "as needed" basis.  I still have a box full of inkers too.  You can use the new inkers on the old pads but you can't use the old ink on the new pads.  I often use the ink on my markers too.  Two parts ink to one part distilled water.  ALWAYS use distilled water in anything you use where the water stays in it.  Tap water will start to make your items stick.  There's minerals in there that will cause bacteria to grow and then whatever you have the water in will stink.  I have spray bottles in my workroom with distilled water in them.  I even put distilled water in my iron.  The instructions told me not to use distilled water.  I often wondered what distilled water would do to my iron.  Well, I found out.  It made it last for over 20 years!  It still words as nice as it did the first day I bought it!! Hmmm, what does that tell you?  The tap water here is SO full of lime and calcium and things get clogged up fast.  I could imagine my iron would have been ruined by now had I followed their instructions!  Aren't you glad you know about my old iron now?  LOL

Ok, back to the card.  I used the Neutrals decorative paper pack (Chocolate Chip) for the background panels.  The lighter one is just the flip side of the dark dots.  I added some texture to the Very Vanilla background and added the layers.  I used the Split Coast Stampers Sketch Challenge #199 again but I just flipped it around a bit and I added the scalloped circle greetings at the top.  Fun card, huh?  I love using those sketches.  I just take the image I want to use and I flip through an album I keep them in and when I find one that the image fits in and that also fits the mood I'm in, I run with it!  The page was sitting open and I saw that the focal panel would work with this tree so that is why I went with this layout again!

I have some retired decorative papers I think I'm going to use to make some more cards like this.  I'll sell the finished cards at the craft fair.  People there don't care if the papers are retired.  They care about the look and quality of the card.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Serene Silhouettes Birthday

I have one image in this set left to use and I have accomplished my mission/challenge of using all the images in a set!  Something I don't do very often because many times I buy a set because of one image!!!    I did not buy this set because of just one image, there were two that caught my eye and I have used them already!!!  So maybe sometime this week I'll use the last image and then I won't feel bad if I happen to neglect the set for a while. But I doubt that will happen because I really do like the set!

For my card today I used the Daffodil Delight ink pad and inked up the whole image.  Then I took my Old Olive marker and colored in the greens.  I added a bit of More Mustard to the center and edges of the flower tips.  I added just a touch of Soft Suede to the same areas I used the More Mustard on.  

The words on the card were done on my computer.  I print out a full page of them and punch them out as needed.  Especially when I am in a hurry to make a quick card.  Today I chose them because I thought they would look nice with this card.  Use whatever words fit in the 1-1/4" circle.  I set them in place on the card using Dimensionals.  I think I use Dimensionals on about 80% of the cards I make.  No wonder I go through a lot of packs of those things!!! LOL

This was a very fun card to make and I like coloring on the rubber (Direct to Rubber technique).  Just color, huff on the rubber to moisten the ink with your breath and stamp.  As simple as that!

Thank you very much for visiting today,
Wanda

Need for Speed Masculine Card

I was looking at my stash of masculine cards and I realized how thin it is.  So I thought I'd give one a try tonight.  I don't have many masculine stamp sets, it's one of the things I wish Stampin' Up! would make more of.  

I took out my Need for Speed set and saw that I had already used the car image.  Hmmm, now what to do. I went on Split Coast Stampers to look for some samples.  I saw the airplane and thought I would play with that image.  I don't remember what the card I saw looked like, I just saw the plane and thought that would be the way I go.  I head to my Wednesday Sketch Challenge printouts and found #199 to be perfect for the space I wanted the image to go.  I textured the background with the Houndstooth embossing folder I had won!  Yup, I won something.  I wont a lot of fun somethings!!! It was great!  Lucky me!!!  I've been playing with some of the items I won and having lots of fun with them.  Ok, back to the card.  I textured the background and then did the layers.  The plane is set in place using Dimensionals.  The colors used here are Pacific Point and Whisper White.  Very simple, very clean and very easy!  And not to mention very masculine!  Mission accomplished, a masculine card and done in under 20 minutes!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Papillon Potpourri Birthday

I was on Split Coast Stampers and saw this beautiful butterfly card by chris'inkin.  My card is just a little bit different but for arguments sake I would say it's pretty darn close.  

I used the pretty Flowering Flourishes set and the Papillon Potpourri set.  For the words I used the Delightful Dozen set.  

I have to confess something here.  The words were done in a layered oval because when I had stamped them on the card stock they were crooked.  So to fix that I just stamped them on a scrap piece of card stock and punched them out.  I layered them on an oval scallop and set them in place with Dimensionals.  The butterfly is also set in place with Dimensionals.  

I had colored in the butterfly using markers and a blender pen.  The flourish was colored in using the Old Olive ink pad, a blender pen and the Pumpkin Pie marker.  I inked up the stamp with Old Olive and then I took the blender pen and removed the ink from the 3 flowers.  I then colored them in with the Pumpkin Pie marker. I huffed on the rubber and stamped it on my card stock.  

I sponged my edges using Pumpkin Pie.  My plan for the card was not to do that but in removing the ink from the flowers with the blender pen I got some ink on the corner of the card.  I thought I could cut it off when I trimmed the card but some remained.  Sponging was the only thing that would cover it up.  I was thinking that I should have made the scalloped oval out of Old Olive instead of Pumpkin Pie card stock.  It's got a softer look as it is but the Old Olive scallop would have brought out the Old Olive layer behind the sponged edges.  Sure, now you see the Old Olive layer!!! It's easy to miss if you don't look closely at it!

It was a fun card to make.  I SO love that butterfly and the best thing about it was I was able to use the new butterfly punch.  NO cutting it out with scissors!!! Now you know ya gotta LOVE that!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Bug Me Birthday

A Bug Me Birthday!

My sister is going to LOVE this card!  It's a CASE (Copy And Study Everything) by Connie at Inkspired Treasures.  It's such a fun and cute card to make.  Of course mine turned out a little different than Connie's did but it's ok, I still like it and I know my sister is going to like it too.  I actually made two of them so she could have her own card. 

I didn't really like cutting the antenna's but I did survive it!!! When Connie was explaining how she made her lady bugs she said she punched out a small black circle.  I just stamped the image and then put the cut out body just over the eyes on the head image.  I didn't want to mess around with little pieces of antennas.  

The colors used here are Old Olive for the base, Cherry Cobbler, So Saffron and Whisper White.  I do have to admit here that I don't use So Saffron much at all and I wouldn't be surprised if I am still working out of the first original package I bought when it first came on the market.  Another color I know I don't use much is Crumb Cake.  I still have the huge pack (40 piece pack) when it was called Kraft.  Though I am liking it much more now and use it a bit more often.  The ladybugs are on top of circles of Pool Party and Basic Black card stock.

The words are from the Curly Cute set.  Bakers Twine and rhinestones were added to the front of the card.  The ladybug and the whole layered panel they are on are set in place with Dimensionals.  The strip of decorative paper on top is from the Summer Smooches set.  I didn't have the same decorative paper that Connie used but that's ok.  Once I saw this colorful paper I knew it would be something my sister was going to love.  It's SO her. She loved the bright bold colors and this certainly has them!

This really was an easy card to put together.  I just didn't like cutting the antenna's.  Maybe it would have been better had it only been 3 of them instead of 6!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes Notebooks Weekend Project

As I was looking at the Serene Silhouettes set and thinking about my challenge of using every image in the set I figured this circle one might be the one that will cause me trouble.  I was going to use one of the other images to make a card, because that was the easiest thing to do.  I looked again at the circle image and decided to take on the challenge now and make something with it.  But what?  I thought it would look cute in the center of my little 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" notebooks.  I had just cut some inside filler pieces, punched them and set them aside.  Why not use them now too?  So the plan was set in motion.  Picking the colors was the next challenge but not too difficult.  I SO love the Cherry Cobbler color.  It reminds me of the Bravo Burgundy but not quite as deep.  And what to go with it. Well, why not the Midnight Muse card stock.  I have a couple variety packs and more and it's best to use them.  I look at the retired colors I have that I hardly used.  I'm sure they will be used for some notebooks coming up (that probably won't get posted on here) but they will get used.  I am going to try harder to use my papers, including the decorative papers more.  Why do you buy them if you don't use them???  Silly me!  But I do know I need to get some current ribbons.

I got some new watercolor crayons too.  It's always nice to have a new box of crayons, isn't it? Mine had an accident.  There was this open container of watercolor crayons, a cup of coffee and a cat.  Watercolor crayons and coffee do not mix well.  This happened when I had left for a few hours and when I got home it was too late for the crayons.  Those things can absorb a lot of liquid!  Maybe had it been water I might have been able to leave them sit and hope they dry out.  But coffee, nope.  There was no hope!! So now these things are guarded and coffee in my workroom now has covers!!  Helpful rules to live by!  

Anyway, these notebooks will be put in a container with the rest of the finished ones for the fall craft fair.  If you make things like this to see you do need to put the Stampin' Up! copyright stamp on the back.  It's their rules and ya gotta follow them!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Betsy's Blossoms Note Box Weekend Project

No, this is not the project I was talking about the other day.  That one is still in progress.  Not that it’s a difficult project, it’s just that I don’t have a lot of time to work on it.  I take a few minutes here and there to work on my projects.  I have a list of unfinished projects that I am trying to work through.  I’d LOVE to be at the end of my list before the new year starts! That is a wonderful goal but I'm not sure how achievable it is!!!  But I'm up for the challenge and the task!!  So you may be seeing a few more projects mingled among the cards here!  Which is always good for holiday handmade gift giving.

I had gotten these note boxes at Target's Dollar Spot.  I removed the paper from inside and used it. I use a lot of note paper and I ended up with quite a stack of empty boxes, and that's really a good thing!  I always took their ugly paper out anyway and added some cut copier paper that looked a lot nicer.  And their paper usually matched the front of the box.  These boxes had Monster's Inc. images on them and so did the paper that was inside.  It's cute but will not go with the new altered look.  

I used the Comfort Cafe decorative paper here (I used the downloaded one for this project.  I am going to make about 6 of these and I knew I'd run out of paper if I used it from the 12" x 12" pack so I bought the download and printed out my own.  

The front of the box is decorated using the Betsy's Blossoms set. The bird is stamped using the new Midnight Muse ink pad and it turned out SO dark, it almost looks black.  In person you can see it's a dark blue and not black.  I added a tiny pearl to the birds eye and one to the center of the flower on the belly band.  

 I did add a belly band around the box to hold it shut.  I use to tie them shut with ribbon but when shoppers would open them to look at the paper inside the ribbon was very difficult to tie back up and look nice.  So the belly band works the best. You just slip it off,they look at the inside and set it back down and all you have to do is slide the band back on.  I did stamp on the first sheet of the stack of loose papers in the box. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

For the Birds CASE

What a fun and adorable this card is!!  I saw this card on Sandy's Corner and I wanted SO badly to make it.  I had the supplies.  Well, almost all of them. I didn't have the ribbon and now that I'm looking at the photo I saw that I did not tie the bow on after I assembled the card! DUH!!  I can assure you the bow is tied on now!  Silly me!  As you can tell I don't pay much attention to details!!! LOL

This was such a fun card to make and I think what really drew me to it was the layout more than the image.  It's such a fun layout to play with.  I can see myself using it on other cards in the near future.  It's easy enough to do and allows you to use this size image plus a bit larger too.  A versatile layout is always a good thing.  

I have a fun project coming up here soon.  It all depends on how much time I can find to work on it.  I'm hoping to have it done by the end of the week, so be sure to stop back!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Fitting Occasion Graduation Gift Card Holder

I have one final graduation party coming up this summer.  It’s not until the end of the month but I thought I’d make the card now so I’m ready.  I ran across a card using this fun fold layout and I thought I’d create a new one using the new in colors and the fun  A Fitting Occasion set.  As I was looking at the set I thought I might change the front of the card so inside the circle is an owl instead of the horseshoe.  I’m not liking the horseshoe as much as I did when the idea first popped into my head.  An owl is more appropriate for a graduation. Something I will be doing once I’m done with this post!!!  So then it will be more of "A Fitting Occasion!"  I know, BOOOO!

This was a very fun card to make and I’ll tell you how the folds were made and the measurements too because I’m SO sure you want to make one!!

You will need a ¼ piece of card stock.  I used the new Gumball Green here.

The white piece was cut on the short side of an 8-1/2” x 11” piece of card stock at 4-1/8”.  I actually cut my piece at 4-1/4” and then trimmed of 1/8” because I didn’t want the other half to be too wide when I take it out of my paper stash for another project.  Just thinking ahead there!   Fold the piece in half.  Then fold the left side in half but fold it towards the outside to make a “Z” looking piece.  On the longer piece you will need to trim off 1/8”  Tape that piece in place on top of the Gumball Green piece.

Cut a piece of decorative paper to fit the front.  Mine was cut 2-1/2” x 4-7/8”.  Tape it in place on top of the folded piece.  Then I tied a ribbon around it.  On the inside I taped a piece of decorative paper measuring  2-3/4” x 4-7/8”.  Only tape the outer edges.  You need to create a pocket for a gift card or money. 

The front was decorated using a round scallop punch, the 1-1/4” circle punch and the 1-3/8” circle punch.  Decorate or embellish it as you wish!

That was it.  Very simple and easy!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Fitting Occasion Notebook Weekend Project

I made this notebook myself but you can find one an alter it to make it work for you as well.  

After I assembled my notebook (punching the holes and adding the coil) I began my decorating.  First I used the Color Spritzer tool and a black marker on the Real Red card stock.  Then I took some Frost White Shimmer paint and put it in a mister bottle with some water and then sprayed over the black dots on the paper.  I used the embossing tool to heat set the color and speed up the drying time.

Next I took a piece of Very Vanilla card stock and stamped the ladybug from the A Fitting Occasion set. I used black StazOn and then I colored in the ladybugs using the Real Red marker.  I cut a piece of Basic Black card stock for the layer behind the vanilla piece. Before I set them in place on the notebook I added a metal washer between the layers and the cover of the notebooks.  I set a weighted item on top of the notebook to help get the layers set in place.  

While that was setting up I took a piece of Real Red card stock and cut it for the flap. I cut two pieces and I also rounded the corners.  Then I glued the two pieces together with a button magnet between them.  Once they were set up I used the Color Spritzer tool to give the piece a bit of color.  I set the strip on top of the notebook just where I thought the washer was.  It found the washer all on it's own.  Then I folded the strip over the edges of the notebook.  I took the strip off the top and then used a bone folder to make the folds more crisp.  Next I glued that strip between the back cover and a layer on the inside of the back cover.  

For the finishing touches I tied on a piece of black polka dot ribbon that I had laying around.  I need to use up some of my ribbons!!  And then I punched out a ladybug and glued it to a 1" black circle I punched out and set it in place on top of the strip.  That's it.  It's not all that difficult to make a magnetic closure notebook!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes

Oh my, what a fun set this Serene Silhouettes is.  I haven't used it much but as I was making this card and looking at the images in the set (trying to make a decision) tons of ideas for cards went sailing through my head.  Unfortunately they just sailed on through but I'm sure once I sit down to make another card using this set I will remember a couple of those!!  Don't you hate it when ideas come one after another and then other times not a single one?  I think there should just be a constant flow of ideas, a slow trickle.  No overload and no dry spells!!  Wouldn't that be nice?  LOL

This card was very fun to make.  I used a Split Coast Stampers Sketch (#96) for this layout.  I know I've written this before but I always say it (just in case there are new readers - not because I'm getting old and repeating myself!  LOL) I began doing the sketches many years ago at sketch #126.  So this sketch was new to me.  How I came about using it is simple.  I print them out every week and when I need a sketch I just open the photo album I keep them in and find a focal panel that fits the image I'm wanting to use.  I thought this sketch would be fun to do because you get to show off both sides of a piece of decorative paper at the same time!  The decorative paper here was folded at an angle at the bottom.  That was part of the challenge on the sketch.  The paper here is from the Comfort Cafe decorative paper pack.  The base of the card is the new in-color Midnight Muse and I also used Very Vanilla. The ink is also the Midnight Muse.  I LOVE the new ink pads.  It didn't take much pressure on the ink pad at all.  It feels like the ink is always at the surface.  No more banging on the ink pads!!  That means I can stamp late at night and not wake anyone!!! LOL  

I do like how this card turned out but I think if I make another one I would add a bit of the base color to the folded part too.  It would stand out better against the other paper better.  But this is the way it has to be for today because it's all taped on there pretty darn well!!

This was a fun sketch and a fun set to play with!

Thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda

Bright Blossoms

I just can't seem to get enough of this Bright Blossoms set.  I know when I show my sister this card she will more than likely be taking it home with her!!!  These colors are SO her!

This card was SO much fun to make too.  I do like how colorful it is.  It is totally out of my comfort zone and it was a nice challenge for me to make this card.  Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone and try something different.  You never know how it will turn out unless you try.  And as you all know, when things don't turn out I share them with you anyway!!!  If I have to suffer looking at it then you should suffer along with me!!! LOL  Aren't you glad it doesn't happen very often?  

My card was easy to make too. I used the decorative paper from the new Summer Smooches set.  I tied a piece of red ribbon around the decorative paper. Ok, I didn't actually tie it around the paper.  I cut the ribbon just a bit past the length of the paper and taped it in place on the back.  Then I tied a bow on the front.  I like making my bows like that because it allows me to move the bow to the exact place I want it!  There is less stress making a bow like that.  

Next I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock and I used the scoring pad and made score lines every 1/8".  I cut the card stock 1-3/8" wide by 4-1/8" long.  I began my score 1/4" in and stopped 1/4" from the end for a total of 8 score lines.

Then I stamped the flower image using Real Red and Wild Wasabi ink pads.  I punched the image out with the 1-1/4" circle punch and behind that I punched out a Pacific Point 1-3/8" circle and taped the two pieces together.  I ran a piece of Whisper White card stock through the Dotted embossing folder and punched a couple of 1-1/4" circles.  One was layered in Real Red and the other in Daffodil Delight.  I made a couple of circle rings by taking the piece of card stock I used to punch out the 1-1/4" circle.  I lined up the 1-3/8" punch and cut out a ring, one of Pacific Point and one of Real Red.  I did glue those in place.  Taping them was just too difficult and messy!  I punched also punched out a couple of small dots using a "regular" paper punch.  I glued those in place as well.  And that was it.  Pretty quick and ever SO easy!!! And lets not forget about colorful!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Bright Blossoms Birthday!

I am still having a lot of fun with this new Bright Blossoms set.  It's such a fun set because you can make quick colorful cards.  This card took hardly any time at all.  I wasn't sure where I was going with it but once I got the punched colored circles set in place I knew I didn't want to set the image on the card in the "normal" way. I didn't want it straight!  So I tilted it a bit and then it caused me to have an issue with the words (which are from the Perfect Pairs set).  I was just about to head to the catalog to see what other options I had when I came back to my worktable with the catalog and saw how the words had landed on the card when I tossed them before I got up.  Hmmm, maybe there is something to  making card sketches and tossing the layers!!! LOL  I took some Dimensionals and set the words in place where they laid!!  And I liked how it came out.  I just like how bright and happy this card is.  It's a fun card, a fun set and I am not done using this set yet!! I want to make some more little notebooks using it.  I may use this image on the front of one of them. I like the colorful circle flowers!

And that's it, a very simple, quick and clean looking card to make!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Happy 4th of July Firecrackers Weekend Project

Are these "firecrackers" not the most adorable center pieces for the holiday that you've ever seen?  And SO easy to make too!  I found the idea at Amy's blog "Then She Made".  She had posted it on her blog last year and I had just run across it the other day.  I thought I had finished surfing the Internet and seen all there was to see!!! LOL  

My first quest in making these was to go to the store and get some rolls of Life Savers.  So I went to Walgreen's.  There's not too many places anymore that you can buy single candy.  I was informed that you can't get Life Savers in rolls until fall, more towards Thanksgiving time.  Apparently they have become a holiday candy.  So my next task was to go to the craft store or to the hardware store and get a dowel around the size of a Life Saver roll.  I had to stop at the fabric store, which was next to Michael's so I went there to get my dowel.  As I was in line to check out I turned to look at all the impulse stuff and next to that was candy.  And there I found rolls of Life Savers.  I picked up three of them and told the gal at the register I changed my mind on the dowel.  

I decorated the outside of the Life Savers with DP from the Bold Brights pack and the white one was from the Neutrals pack.  It didn't take much DP either!  After I wrapped the paper around them I glued them in place.  I thought glue would be better to use, it gives you time to straighten things out if you need to.  Once the glue was set up I slid the wrapper up the tube a bit and added a bit of tape to the foil wrapper.  Then I slid the outer wrapper down to where I wanted it to be and pressed the tape into it.  I did that to all 3 rolls.  Then I took some Glue Dots and taped the three rolls together.  Next I tied a ribbon around the 3 rolls.  

I tried to do the wire like the directions said but it didn't work for me.  SO I just poked holes in the top of each roll and took the wire and twisted the end and stuck it in the hole.  I did curl the ends before placing them in the holes.  They are not glued or taped to the inside.  They are just sort of stuck in there because the wire was so fine it didn't stay where I put it.  It became a bit loose inside the roll, which was a good thing because it then stayed in place inside the rolls.  

I punched out some stars and glued two together with the wire sandwiched between them.  I also glued a couple of stars to the white "firecracker" and after looking at it I liked what I saw and called it done!

It is the centerpiece for this evenings table.  Sorry I didn't get this posted sooner for you to make them for your holiday table but there's always next year.  You have plenty of time to find the rolls of candy!!!  I'm going to box these away for next year.  I may make another set next year too!  They were fun and just TOO stinkin' cute.

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July!
Wanda

Flowering Flourishes Card Holder

 Ok, I told you I was going to make more cards and a holder for them and I did.  The first photo is the front of the holder.  Just a clean and simple looking cover.  

The second photo is of the inside of the greeting card holder.  It's has a magnetic closure, which I LOVE.  It gives it a more professional look somehow!  There's two pockets and inside each pocket is 2 cards and 2 decorated envelopes.  The holder will hold up to a total of 8 cards and envelopes, depending on how thick you embellish your cards.  But the way this holder is designed, if you decide to just make 4 cards and 4 envelopes, like I did, there will be some room in the pockets but the cards won't fall out because once it's closed there are no open gaps for cards to slip out.  That is how I designed it and that is why I designed it that way.  I have seen a lot of card holders out there and many of them have the top or one side open and if you tile or turn the holder all the cards can fall out.  Tilt and turn this one all you want, the cards are going to stay inside!

And the last photo is of the contents of the holder.  The Petite Pairs set was perfect for the words on these cards.  They fit inside the 1-3/8" circle punch.  The cards are as follows: a thank you card, a birthday card, a sympathy card and a Best Wishes card.  I have made LOTS of these card holders and by the time the craft fairs roll around I have them all packaged up for sale and ready to go.  They are not difficult to make either.  And these are also great for a Stamp Camp project!  There's over 170 Stamp Camp projects on this blog.  Just click here to be directed to them.  

You can purchase the pattern here.  It's in PDF format and it's still on sale!  The pattern allows you to make as many as you wish and sell as many as you wish.  And you get at tip on how to save money on the button magnets too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda