The Hardest Thing to Say...

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I always have a hard time with sympathy cards, but I have found recently that they can mean so much to the person receiving them that making one is worth the awkward feelings. This week's Friday Challenge was to create sympathy or get well cards, and I thought I'd make one that could apply to either.
For this card, I created a die-cut frame from chipboard and also stamped my simple sentiment on chipboard as well. I used a pretty border frame image in the background and applied some matching distress ink. For the sweet flowers, I took one large image, water-colored the blooms, and then cut it in half to wind around the frame. Just two tiny pearls at each popped-up flower's center completed the focal piece to my die-cut card base. I hope that when I need to use this card, it will bring comfort to the person who needs it.
BEAN NOTES: JustRite Custom Design Cardmaking Kit, Deluxe Square Monogram Kit, and My Garden Stamps; Tim Holtz Peeled Paint and Tattered Rose Distress Ink; StazOn Stone Gray Ink; Stampin' Up Very Vanilla Cardstock; Pearls (generic); Spellbinders Labels One Nestabilities; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares
HAPPY BEANS: Chipboard (generic)

Surf & Sand in La La Land...

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Dreary days are the best ones to make summer cards. It's pouring here (again!) They'll brighten up someone's day as well as my own! We've been away from California for a few years now, but we still miss it. I thought I'd make a card for a loved one back in La La Land.
For this card, I started off with a terrific sketch from Taylor Vanbruggen. As soon as I saw it I thought I'd try an easel card. (See sidebar for tutorial.) I wanted to create a beach scene to go along with my dreamy sentiment and started with this sunbathing little cupcake. I created a hammock out of a piece of an old burp cloth of my son's and strung it between two balmy palm trees. For the sand, I used some cork and for the waves I tore strips of blue vellum. I was inspired by the Moxie Fab Picking Up the Pieces Challenge to paper-piece most of the elements, including all the beach side accoutrement and laid them out for cuppie's enjoyment. When I was all done, I wanted to hop a plane to find some sunshine!
BEAN NOTES: Taylored Expressions Beach Bum Stamps; Stampin' Up Basic Black Classic Dye Ink; Designer Paper (unspecified); SU Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue; Crushed Curry; Wild Wasabi; Kraft; Cream Caramel; Green Galore; Pale Plum; Barely Banana; Whisper White Cardstock; Sakura Jelly Roll Pen; EK Success 1-1/2" and 1-1/4" Circle Punches; White Embroidery Floss (generic); Liquid Pearls HAPPY BEANS: Light Blue Vellum (generic); Cork (generic); Burp Cloth

The Easter Bunny is On His Way...

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I have one last Easter card to make, and this one is for my brother-in-law. I thought about trying to make a masculine card, but I honestly couldn't do it! It's actually okay because my super guy's guy recipient is really a big softie at heart. This was the only card I made this year with a bunny, and I know he will secretly love how cute it is.
Julee Tilman is hosting a project parade featuring Fun with Flowers. So, I decided to frame my sweet little bunny with some pastel blooms. After adhering all the flowers, I filled in their centers with some Liquid Pearls. So, not manly at all, but who doesn't like simple and sweet?
BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Tiny Treats: Valentines and Sign Language (sentiment) Stamps; Stampin' Up Baja Breeze Classic Dye Ink; PTI Pretty Pastel Designer Paper; SU Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White Cardstock; Baby Blue and Silver Liquid Pearls; Light Green Organza Ribbon (generic); Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities HAPPY BEANS: Pastel Paper Flowers (generic)

Spring Has Sprung...

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It's a dreary, rainy day here, so I'm cozied up inside dreaming about Spring. I wanted to try this week's Friday Challenge. It's called Mix 'n Match, which means mixing up stamp sets and coming up with interesting ways in which to use them. I may have gotten carried away a bit, as I actually ended up using five different sets, including a font set!
For this card, I wanted the inside of the card to really pop, so I kept the outside relatively simple. I stamped a custom sentiment, "spring" in Whisper White Craft Ink on some Groovy Guava paper and masked it so that I could stamp some pretty blooms to create some subtle background paper. I used the same color scheme as the inside for some cohesion.
For the inside of the card, I decided to go with a pop-up scene to drive home the rest of my custom sentiment, "has Sprung."

I wanted a hint of a whimsical look and so I actually began with the furthest layer, the hills, which I created with circle border stamps from three different sets. I then cut out the circles and voila, I had some cute hills. To make them "flowering" hills, I stamped a pretty heart-shaped wreathe stamp several times and cut out pieces of it, colored them, and then layered them all along the edges. I like to take apart stamp images to suit my needs!


Next, I cut out a little yellow house, scoring lines to simulate clapboard, and then used the Modern Label Punch to create my windows and door. I added trees and a few bushes. Though I was tempted to make them apple trees and put berries on the bushes, I refrained, reminding myself that this was Spring, not Fall! I glued on the house, making sure that my green hill with the sweet sentiment "framed" the roof, which was created with a border punch.

The lake was fun to create. First I stamped my sentiment and clear embossed to make it stand out. Next, I free-cut a lake shape and then added some gravel from my old house that I've kept in a baggie since we moved.

Finally, I made the white picket fence by cutting strips of white cardstock and then lining them up. To create the fancy rounded trim, I simply traced a circle (I actually used the side of a spool of ribbon) at equal intervals and then cut with scissors. I needed bigger flowers than the hills' for correct perspective and so I was lucky to find some in a different stamp that looked similar, but were the right size. (These were in a vase on the original image.) After gluing everything together, I had a fun little springtime scene...now if only it will stop raining!
BEAN NOTES: JustRite Seeds of Kindness, My Garden, Plant a Little Love, Favorite Occasions, Times New Roman 95 pt Upper & Lowercase Font and Stampin' Up Good Neighbors Stamps; SU Old Olive, Certainly Celery, and Wild Wasabi Classic Dye Ink; SU Whisper White Craft Ink; Papertrey Ink Sweet Blush Perfect Match Ink; Versamark Clear Ink; SU Stampin' Write Markers; SU Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Groovy Guava, Certainly Celery, Old Olive Cardstock; Clear Embossing Powder (generic); SU Ribbon Bundle Grosgrain Ribbon; EK Success Border Punch; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot
HAPPY BEANS: Gravel

You Rock!...

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My two-and-a-half-year-old son is OBSESSED with the guitar. His nursery school teacher gave him a pick and we got him a ukulele for his birthday and he's been rockin' out ever since. I really wanted to make a special card for his grandparents, who very generously are helping out with his upcoming pre-school tuition (we live in Manhattan...need I say more?) Nana and Papa are the little guy's biggest fan club, and I wanted to send them a thank you card that showed how much we appreciate all they do for us and for our rock n' roll rugrat.
For this card, I used three photos of my son with his beloved guitar and printed them small enough to fit across a standard card base. I was inspired by this week's fab Mojo Monday sketch, though I did change it up a bit to fit what I needed it to do! I stamped this cool background image with Encore Blue Metallic Ink, along with the sentiment. The guitar was stamped on white cardstock, the neck colored with a marker, and the blue flames with a glittery gel pen before carefully cutting and assembling. I popped up the pictures, as well as the axe, and added a few Liquid Pearls for good measure. Since he's the star of the show, I didn't clutter things up too much, but let the photos of our 'lil rocker take center stage.
BEAN NOTES: Taylored Expressions You're My Hero Stamps; Stampin' Up Basic Black and Whisper White Craft Ink; Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy Palette Inkpad; Encore! Blue Metallic Ink; SU Basic Grey Stampin' Write Marker; SU Basic Grey, Whisper White, Bleu Bayou, and Riding Hood Red Cardstock; Silver Liquid Pearls; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Sakura Blue Jelly Star Pen HAPPY BEANS: Photographs

A Tisket, A Tasket, it's an Easter Basket...

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This has been a crazy week, but I just had to make a card (don't we always just have to?) So, I decided to continue on my Easter cards and used this week's marvelous sketch from Margaret Moody for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. I was grooving to Stamping Around's Inspiration Challenge photo, which featured some fab colors and a perfect springtime basket of daisies.
I really loved the little basket and thought I'd try to recreate one for my card. After first running through some Rich Razzleberry Cardstock with the Top Note Die on my Big Shot, I used a paper-piercing tool to pierce a guideline for my woven basket. I then took up pieces of hemp twine, pushing them through each hole and then weaving them in and out into a basket shape. (Bean Tip: Hemp twine shreds very easily. Cut the end at an angle to create a sharp "needle" for embroidery purposes.)
I moved on to making my daisies, using a punch and cutting out some leaves freehand. I added some pretty yellow buttons for the centers. Now all I needed was some cute designer paper to match my color scheme, and some polka-dot ribbon threaded through for some flair. Perhaps this is a bit of a non-traditional Easter card, but isn't a fun one?
BEAN NOTES: (Unless otherwise noted, all materials Stampin' Up) Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment) Stamp; Rich Razzleberry Classic Dye Ink; Razzelberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper; Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi, and Melon Mambo Cardstock; Sizzix Top Note Die; Big Shot; 1/8" Hole Punch (generic); Modern Label Punch; Spring Flowers Punch; Crushed Curry Grosgrain Ribbon; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Yellow Buttons (generic); Basic Grey Notch & Die Tool HAPPY BEANS: Hemp Twine; Paper-Piercer (generic)

Taking Care of Business...

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It's Tuesday and I realized I hadn't had a chance yet to tackle this week's Friday Challenge: Go Green. It's a fun, "green" challenge, and one I like because I love to reuse anything if I can. For my project, I decided to recycle one of my son's multi-grain cereal boxes. We go through these like crazy and so I was happy to have a chance to put the material to good use. The cardboard is the same thickness as a full-size cereal box, and I discovered it's the perfect thickness to make handmade business cards.
To make my cards, I first cut the box into pieces the size of standard business cards (3-1/2" x 2".) I realized later that if I had made them a bit narrower, I could have gotten more cards, but I'll save that tidbit for the next batch! Next, I chose my paper and covered the pieces (Bean Tip: use a good quality glue stick as you will want to make sure the coverage is smooth and adheres completely!) I chose to put my patterned paper on the back of each card and a solid color for the front. I used three different colors for variety.
I really wanted a very clean and simple look, and so I chose my image with care, opting for this pretty daisy as spring is just around the corner. I stamped first and then used a white gel pen to color in the petals and finally sponged a bit of Soft Suede Classic Dye Ink in the middle of each daisy. I actually had to resist adding bling or dimensionals, reminding myself that these were business cards! I created a custom stamp using three font sizes and spelled out my name, blog title, and an email address. Of course, I could have put a mailing address, but I like to think of these as little calling cards, or rather, e-cards!
BEAN NOTES: JustRite My Garden and Times New Roman Small, 15 pt. and 25 pt. Font Stamps; Stampin' Up Soft Suede Classic Dye Ink; Papertrey Ink Pretty Pastels Designer Paper; SU River Rock, Sweet Blush, and Bashful Blue Cardstock; White Gel Pen (generic) HAPPY BEANS: SU Anywhere Glue Stick; Cereal Box

A Spring Fling...

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It's gloomy here, and so today I really wanted to make a spring card. I like to give these cards for Easter, too, so it's a good chance to get going on cards for this hoppy holiday. I haven't done a Mojo sketch for a while, and this week's is fun, if a doozy. I actually had a lot of trouble with it, but in the end I'm pleased with the results. For my color scheme, I chose to use Our Creative Corner's Color Challenge (pink, green, yellow, and brown.)
For this card, I actually began with choosing my paper. I didn't have a whole lot of time today, and so I couldn't really create any background paper as I like to do. After that, I cut out all my elements, embossing a piece of So Saffron for a bit of texture. Finally, I had to choose an image and this gave me a hard time! I usually like to build a card around an image or an element first, but as I did this backward, I ended up having to search through my supplies for a while. Finally, I settled on using a rub-on and created my own flower. For a final touch, I punched out a butterfly and let it fly just a smidge off the card...it's almost spring, after all!
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Love & Friendship Rub-On and Taylored Expressions A Year of Sweet Sentiments (sentiment) Stamp; SU Chocolate Chip Classic Dye Ink; Papertrey Ink Pretty Pastels Designer Paper; SU Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, and So Saffron Cardstock; SU Kiwi Kiss and Pink (generic) Textured Cardstock; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot; SU Scallop Border PUnch; Pink Grosgrain Ribbon (generic); Foam Dimensional Squares (generic) HAPPY BEANS: Fabric Flowers (generic); Chocolate Pearls (generic); Martha Stewart Classic Butterflies Punch

What Makes a Home...

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Now that my son's great-grandparents are settled into their new retirement digs, I wanted to make a card to welcome them to their new home. I was inspired by the Caardvarks Inspiration Challenge as well as this terrific sketch from the lovely ladies at 2 Sketches 4 You. I love birds and birdcages seem all the rage, and so I thought I'd feature one myself.
For this card, I created a custom sentiment that says, "What makes as house a home are the people in it." I stamped an empty bird cage on my white card base and then framed it with my sentiment and a Kiwi Kiss die cut. I added two punched border strips along the sides and a few Liquid Pearls. For the inside, I stamped the second half of my custom sentiment and added my two little love birds. I hope my son's great-grandparents enjoy their new home as much as they loved their last one.
BEAN NOTES: Basic Grey Aviary Clear Stamps and JustRite 50 pt. Times New Roman Font Stamps (Sentiment); Stampin' Up Old Olive and Kiwi Kiss Classic Dye Ink; SU Whisper White Craft Ink; SU Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White Cardstock; Spellbinders Labels Nine Nestabilities; Fiskars Upper Crest Border Punch; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: White Opal Liquid Pearls

Hop into Spring!...

It's my pleasure to welcome you to this month's Stampin' Pretty Pals Blog Hop! If you've hopped over from the fabulous Carla Bazehow's Carla's Scraps, you're right at the beginning of the Hop as I'm stop number 1! We hope you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find inspirational ideas for papercrafted creations showcasing all that Stampin' Up has to offer. Should you hop off course, simply click on any links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track! We're thrilled to have you visit and please feel free to leave as many comments as you'd like telling us what you think of our Spring and Easter-themed Hop...there are 18 blogs in all. Happy Hopping!


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For my Hop project today, I decided to keep things simple with a very "springy" Easter card. I wanted to try to see what I could do with my Big Shot, and I hope you enjoy the results. For this card, I began with the idea of a springtime basket. This is actually very easy to do if you have a little patience. I started with a regular folded greeting card base (in lovely So Saffron) and sketched the shape of a basket, leaving a fold at the very top of the basket to allow for the card to be all one piece. Next, I sketched out a window in the front panel of my card base, using a hobby knife to cut it away. (Bean Tip: Don't worry if your cutting isn't perfect...what you put in the basket will hide any minor flaws!)
To simulate a "woven" basket, I traced the bottom shape of the basket onto two more pieces of So Saffron and cut one in horizontal strips and one in vertical. Before gluing them to my card base, I sponged on a bit of So Saffron Classic Dye Ink along the edges of each strip for some shading. When it came time to glue down the strips, patience did come in handy (but again, it didn't have to be perfect)--any pieces that stuck out a bit were simply trimmed away!
Next, I broke out the Big Shot and the Flower Daisies #2 Bigz Die, and I zipped through a few pretty spring colors, layering each bloom twice for extra petally goodness. I also ran some Kiwi Kiss with the terrific Birds & Blooms Sizzlit to make some leaves. To finish off these cute flowers, I first ran some Close to Cocoa Cardstock through with a Textured Impressions folder before punching out circles. I "arranged" my daisies in the basket, gluing them to each other to hold it together.
For my sentiment, I wanted a little sign that I could poke into my arrangement. I used the Lots of Tags Sizzlit for a nice shape and stamped my sentiment. To match the Soft Sky background on the inside of the card, I sponged a bit around the edges. To make the "signpost," I just cut a long, thin strip of cardstock and folded it in half to give it a little more sturdiness. Finally, I tied on a bit of organza ribbon. Happy Spring & Easter to you!
BEAN NOTES: (Unless otherwise noted, all materials are Stampin' Up)** Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment) Stamp; Close to Cocoa and So Saffron Classic Dye Ink; So Saffron, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Soft Sky, Almost Amethyst, Barely Banana, Groovy Guava, Close to Cocoa, and Pretty in Pink Cardstock; Sizzix Flower Daisies #2 Bigz, Lots of Tags Sizzlit, Birds & Blooms Sizzlet Dies; Sponge Dauber; 5/8" Circle Punch; Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder; Green Organza Ribbon (generic) HAPPY BEANS: Hobby Blade, Big Shot
**To order these or any other current Stampin' Up products, please email me HERE.

More inspiring ideas await you at Mike Funke's Stampin'-Style, stop number 2 on the Pals Hop. Hop on over and see Mike's very cool and creative ideas. Thanks for "hopping" by!

Regina Mangum -- You're Here!
Mike Funke -- Stampin-Style
Martha Stewart -- Seasons of Stamping
Anne Beale Yancey -- Mukibug
Liz Hughes -- DIY Paper Creations
Mary Fish -- Stampin' Pretty
Jason Casper -- Jason's Stampin' Pad
Melanie Collins -- Oops a Daisy
Kris Kilcoyne -- Kween Bee Kreations
Tricia Gillam -- Soul Stamper
Barbara Furlong -- The Love of Stamping
Gina Shaw -- Cards by Gina
Kim Lampone -- Stamp, Scrap, Get Kreative
Debbie Pierce -- Stampin' Sunshine
Ann Schach -- The Stampin' Schach
Kalshelia Lloyd -- Stampin' Fabulousity
Lourdes Torres -- Cozy Crafty Corner
Carla Bazhenow -- Carla's Scraps

I'm Thinking of You...

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I received some very sad news today that one of my Pals lost her mother after a brave battle with breast cancer. I never had the pleasure of meeting this obviously much-beloved woman, but I am sure she was lovely, as she raised such a lovely daughter. To let my Pal know that I'm thinking of her and her family at this difficult time, I wanted to send her a card. She's a talented card-crafter, and so I think she of all people will understand my heartfelt condolences.
Sympathy cards are so hard to make. We think of card-crafting as a fun activity and it's a challenge to switch gears and try to create something out of sadness. The way I look at it is there are few chances we have to pour love and care into something tangible. Since I can't give my Pal a hug in person, I can send her one in a card. To help me along, I thought I would turn to a few of my favorite challenge blogs for some inspiration. Both the Friday Challenge and Julee Tilman are hosting tag challenges, and, though I've never been a real tag maker, I thought it would give me a little extra push to make something special for my friend.
I never realized that tags can make lovely cards with just a few simple steps. Today I thought I'd show how a tag can become a card. For this tag, I stamped my musical background image and then applied Distress Ink in three different shades. Next, I used the negative of some pretty punched butterflies and punched out square frames for each. I stamped and punched out my sentiment and applied more ink to both it and the butterflies. Finally, in honor of my Pal's mom, I tied on a pink ribbon.
To turn the tag into a card, I stamped my musical background again onto a larger piece of cardstock, distressing with ink to match my tag. Using dimensional squares, I attached the tag for a finished card. I hope my friend will know that I'll be thinking of her and sending her love.
BEAN NOTES: Just Rite Custom Design Cardmaking Kit and Cornish Heritage Farms Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock; Tim Holtz Tea Dye, Tattered Rose, and Vintage Photo Distress Ink; Stampin' Up Pink Pirouette and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly Punch; Paper Shapers 1-3/4" Circle, 1-1/8" and 1-3/8" Square Punches; Pink Organza Ribbon (generic); Foam Dimensional Squares (generic) HAPPY BEANS: Tag (generic)