Celebrating my Grad Girl!

Today was my daughter's college graduation - So very proud of her!!  Just to brag a little, she graduated in 3 1/2 years and had a 4.0 gpa in her major!  She's going on to grad school for the next two years to get her master's degree in Speech and Language Pathology.  So proud!!

I made this card for her.  Mainly I used punches to create the cap, and then made the tassel from the Baker's Twine.  Pretty easy, and I didn't even need a specific graduation stamp set!  I used the saying from the Perfectly Penned set.

  

Her school colors are mostly red (and really blue too - but you never really see the blue on anything), so I kept it pretty simple with just the red, white and black layers! 

** Click HERE for my quick tutorial on making the graduation cap!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Happy Mother's Day!

We celebrated Mother's Day a little early with a BBQ yesterday!  So this is the card I made for my mom.  I was inspired by a card made by Niki Toll that I saw a couple of months ago.  I love these little layered banners!

 

I love how colorful and fun all the papers from the Summer Smooches Designer Papers set are!  And it's so cool that you can make a quick card with a bunch of scraps, then just add a great saying.

Have a Happy Mother's Day,

Julie B

Shamrocks Aren't Just for St.Pat's

I made this little gift box for my daughter to give to her friend for her birthday.  I adapted the size from a box I had lying around so it would fit the little items she wanted to put in it.

My daughter choose the colors, and then she wanted a four-leafed clover on it because it went with one of the gifts inside (a 'lucky' charmed bracelet).

 

Here's how the top opens.  It just has a 3/4" circle punched halfway so that it fits snugly under the scallop circle.

 

Here's a closer look at the four-leafed clover.  I used one of the hearts from the retiring punch Heart to Heart, and then I just hand-cut the stem from a scrap.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

 

My New "Top Note"!

So I made these quick little thank yous for stamp orders - and I decided to use the Framelits Labels Collection dies to make a cello topper.  The 3" x 5" cello baggies I used are being retired, and I'm sad to see them go cause I do use them a lot.  But I know I'll be able to use 4" x 6" cellos - just gotta put more stuff in 'em!!

And speaking of putting stuff in them, these little treats have two of my favorite kinds of salt water taffy (although there haven't been many taffys I don't like!!).  The brown and white one is Root Beer Float :) and the Pool Party colored taffy, besides being one of my favorite colors, is my all-time favorite flavor, cotton candy.  I've only found it in Cambria or Morro Bay - and when I do see it, I buy more :)  So I even decided to share some from my last batch a week or so ago!

 

And back to the project... I made a full Framelit Label for a fold-over topper, and then I made a second one the next size smaller, and cut it in half.  Then I just stamped and stuck the 'half' one onto the front of the topper!  Super fun and easy!!

Oh, and the stamp is a demonstrator only set I got at last years convention.




Thanks for stopping by,




Julie B

Some Goodbyes for this Friday!

Here's one of the cards we are going to make at Technique class this Friday.  We will be doing the Brayered Embossing Folder to a piece of Very Vanilla card stock to get the fabulous Vintage Wallpaper background piece.

 

Here's a little closer look at it.  After brayering the folder, and then placing the card stock into the folder in a secret way - it comes out perfect every time!  (I had tried it in the past, and it would be smudgey...)

 

And then we're going to add a pretty flower, which will include pieces from the retiring Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch.

 

And mine will have a Mother's Day saying, but this is a great card to leave the saying off - and have it ready for any occasion when you need it!

Hope to see you at Friday's class!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B 

Can You Wait?!...

Here's a fun card we made at my class at the beginning of April.  We got to use the new Summer Smooches designer papers and the new set, Bright Blossoms. Today is the last day of the Summer Smooches special, where you can buy these papers and the coordinating set (and other fun coordinating stuff!).  Otherwise, you'll have to wait until the new catalog on June 1!  I love all the brightness in these new products!!

Also, today is the last day to purchase from the Occasions Mini Catalog!

It's kind of bittersweet, I will miss some of the retiring products in the Occasions Mini, but I can't wait to see what's going to be in the new catalog too!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B   

A Simple 5 Birthday Greetings!

Here's a quick birthday card I made for my nephew today.  I had been thinking of lots of cute ideas for a card for him, and then time got away from me until I needed the card NOW!  That happens more often than not!!  So I'm always thankful to have great Designer Papers on hand, and it helps put together a quick idea!  Here I used the Big Top Birthday papers. 

 

And I used the Big Shot to cut out a number 5, and a 3" circle.  And I used a birthday saying from the It's Your Birthday set (which I will miss when it retires next month!).  Quick and easy, and heck, kids that are 5 usually care most about the gift - so no sense in making a time-consuming card anyway, right?!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Sweet and Simple Summer Smooches

  

Here's a quick and easy birthday card I made today with the new Bright Blossoms stamp set.  I needed a quick card - and I love how the Framelits Labels make for some quick, but elegant layers for the focal point of your card!  Then I used one of my good 'ol stand-bys, the Polka Dot Embossing Folder for a quick textured background for it.

And I decided to just keep it all on a  Whisper White base - another keeping it simple idea!  

 

But with an all-Whisper White base, I felt like it needed a little something - so, yep, some bling!  Rhinestone Jewels always make a good card into a great card!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Pretty Little Petite Purses!

I just love these new purses!! They're made with the new Petite Purse Big Shot die. And I 'borrowed' the idea for the handle from my stampin' buddy Liz. I used some Sticky Strip along the die cut handle. Then I stuck a piece of the Satin pleated ribbon over it. - I love how it makes the handle a little more sturdy. - You know how us girls always load our purses, and we need that strong handle!! And, even though the purse is 'petite,' you can fit 7 or 8 Hershey's kisses or about four Hershey's nuggets, or even a couple Ghiradelli squares. Probably a lot of other little goodies will fit, but those were the ones I tried so far.

Here's how I attached the handle - with some coordinating brads on the sides. Super easy!

Here's a close-up of the second one I made in Riding Hood Red. The little flower accent on the front was made with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie B

A Peek at Tomorrow's Class!

Here's a little Sneak Peek at one of the cards we'll be making at tomorrow's Technique Class. I love this Stained Glass card! I saw the idea from a few other demonstrators - and I just had to make one!

Along with the Designer Cuts Cards, you just need a small piece of Vellum card stock and the markers of your choice. It's so easy, and you can tailor the colors to whatever you like. Don't you think this would make a pretty Mother's Day card too? Hearts aren't just for Valentines...

Hope to see you at tomorrow's class.


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

PS - If you'd like to see the tutorial for this card, I found it HERE!