Bold Blossom Bouquet

This is a CASE of one of my own cards! I made this card for Leadership, when the Occasions Mini catalog was just starting because I love the Bold Blossom set. And now the Bold Blossom set is not only continuing into the Summer Mini, but also they've added some cool stuff to go with it!

So I decided to make the card again, and add some new things! And it works the Just Add Ink Challenge - Just Add a Flower.

I added new Triple Layer Punch, Blossom Bouquet. I used two of the layer pieces to make these flowers - super fun! Then I added the 3/16" white brads for the centers.

And here's the new White Baker's Twine! I love that it goes with everything - almost love it as much as the Linen Thread (my all-time favorite)!

- And the Pear Seam Binding is going to carry-over, so you can still order it even though you won't see it in the Summer Mini.


Hope you're having a great weekend,


Julie

A Couple of My Favorites...

The Occasions Mini will be over April 30th, so I took one last opportunity to share a couple of my favorite things! I used the Nature Walk set, the Botanical Gazette Designer Papers, the Say it Simply set (that one is so easy to look past on pg. 41, but two great sayings for only 7.95), Crumb Cake Seam Binding and the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder. I decided to follow the Sketch from Stamping 411.

And here's the sketch!

Here's a close-up of the bird. I just stamped it in Early Espresso and gave it a little Aquapainter 'brush-over' to kind of blend the feathers! But when I stamped it, I left the cardstock a little longer and trimmed around his tail feathers just to give a little overlap on that edge.

And here's a close-up of the Say it Simply "for you." I punched it out with the shorter edge of the Decorative Label punch. Also, I think you can probably see the background a little closer here too. I used the Square Lattice folder first, then "Double Embossed" with the Framed Tulips folder second! It all got a little Espresso sponging - and tah dah!!


I hope you make sure and get your favorites from the Occasions Mini before they're gone (April 30th is the last day to order from it!).


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Perfect Plum Printed Petals!

I made this card tonight for a couple different challenges combined! I used the color challenge from Create with Connie and Mary (Perfect Plum, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi), and I used the sketch challenge from Stampin' Royalty. I used the sets Printed Petals and Word Play (which will be part of a special sale starting May 1st!); and I used a lot of Big Shot dies and folders!

Here's a close-up of the main flower, stamped from the Printed Petals set in Perfect Plum. I layered the 1" and 3/4" circles on the center and then added the Saffron button tied with our new Baker's Twine (also coming May 1st - Yay, White twine!!).

The accent flowers are made with the little Sizzix die, Flower Fusion. Then I put the pieces in the Square Lattice folder and embossed them. I wanted them to coordinate with the card base.

One of my favorite things about this card is the texture! I used the Square Lattice and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders to make things pop a little more. I didn't have my Designer Papers with me, but I think the Embossing Folders can really make plain cardstock feel more like a Designer Paper.


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Don't Waste that Cardstock...

Today I was playing around with the new Flower Garden Embossing Folder, and I used this piece of Pear Pizzazz to try it out. Well, it made a little weird crease in it - and I thought, "OK, now I know how that works." - And I was going to toss the piece.

But then I decided, well, what the heck I'll just make something simple out of it! So I added a little bit larger piece of Vanilla cardstock behind it, and then a Curly Cute saying, and some Crumb Cake Seam Binding around it - and onto a Crumb Cake card.

So now my cardstock waste became a card I can actually use! It's not the most stunning piece of work I've ever done :) - but it's at least a card to have on hand when you need a quick and simple one!

Oh, and yep, I did add a little sponging and shimmering to the embossed part!


Have a good one,


Julie

Another Pretty Postage...

Sorry about the picture being a little washed out here - but I did actually stamp the birthday candle cake in the center circle! I'm not at home to try again with my camera, so I'm kind of stuck with this picture. But it really does look better in real life - you can see the Baja candles on this cake, and they have daffodil flames!

This card is another one from the swap I'm participating in.

Here's a close-up, so hopefully you can see the cake a little better. I wanted to use some different punches (other than the Postage Stamp Punch) to highlight the stamps in this set. I used the 1 3/4" circle and the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle (with the Homemade single stamp in Espresso, stamped first).

I used the striped papers from the Nursery Suite DSP pack, and some Olive satin ribbon, and the new white Bakers Twine - Yay! Finally some white!!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Postage Can be Pretty!

I've been working on a swap with the set Pretty Postage (available on May 1st in the Summer Mini Catalog), and this is the last of the cards! I've only posted one other card that I made, but this is the fourth one I did. The colors I used are Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry and Always Artichoke. And I used the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder for the base of the card.

For the larger part of the layers, I used the Always Artichoke Patterned Papers, Basic Black and a Razzleberry Scalloped Border Edge.

Here's a closer-up of the Pretty Postage. I hand cut the "sweet" part, and then layered it onto a Postage Stamp Punch in Black. And those were dimensionaled onto a Scallop Square punch! I added the "friends" stamp from the Tiny Tags set, punched out with the Jewelry Tag punch. And I added a black brad with Linen thread - I love the linen thread! It works great in little and big spaces!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Happy Easter Lily Card!

I made this card for my hubby for Easter. It started out as a quick Easter card with a simple flower on it. Sure, just punch seven petals from the Blossom Petals Punch - sponge a little, put dots on them and stick them together with a few daffodil scraps in the middle. Hummm, didn't quite go that smoothly, but it all worked out!

I used the En Francais background stamp on the Crumb Cake piece. I love that stamp, but I kind of forget to use the background stamps now that we have the Embossing Folders.

Here's a close-up of the lily. It definitely makes this a no-envelope, not in the mail kind of card. But that's ok, it just went in the Easter basket!

And here's the tag, with the stamp from the All Holidays set. I used the small and large tag punches. And the ink color is Soft Suede (it made it more of a manly Easter card!). Actually I just love the vintage-y look of Soft Suede with Crumb Cake for ALL cards!!


I hope you have a wonderful Easter,


Julie

Fancy Favor Bunny Basket!

I wanted to make some 'quick' little table favors for Easter. So here I am the day before, with grocery shopping to do, the house to clean up, the never-ending laundry... and oh so many other to-do list things... and I finally decided on these little baskets! I guess I've always been a work-better-under-pressure kind of person.

I decided to make a basket similar to one I had done last year with the Fancy Favor die. And I even took some pictures along the way to show you how I did it!

First I used the Big Shot and the Fancy Favor die and cut out a basket. Then I scored it so that from the bottom score line up it measures 2 1/2". This gives the little fold over part.

Next I cut off the little end corner of the edging, and added a piece of Sticky Strip on the tab piece.

* On my final basket - I ran it through the Big Shot with the squares texturz plate at this step. I had to do it in two parts to make it work, but the seam ends up on the side of the basket so it's not too noticeable.

Then fold over the little scored edge part. and stick the basket ends together. I like the basket a little shorter like this for something different!

Fold up the bottom parts and Sticky Strip the last flap.

I made a 1/2" strip of cardstock (it was the leftover after I cut the Fancy Favor box). And I kept it simple, and just stuck the ends down to the inside bottom of the basket. I thought about brads... but kept it basic!

And then I used a tutorial by Mercedes Weber for the bunny. I added a Wide Oval for his body so I could stick him to the inside of the basket (and stuck his paws on the outside).

Finally, I put some grass in it, and added a little Taffeta bow on the side. I think I'll put some with pink bows (for the girls), and and some with blue bows (for the boys). And, of course, the baskets are finished off with the 'goods' inside - lots of chocolates and a plastic egg with jelly beans!


Well, I better be off to re-prioritize my to-do list today - and make 8 more of these!!


Have a happy Saturday,


Julie

Just One More...

...simply sponged card, that is! Or, maybe not... I'm really getting addicted to these easy, but "wow!" one-layer cards! They take so little time and just a half sheet of cardstock for such a cool outcome!

I went back to my favorite background colors, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive - and then I stamped the Easter Blossoms silhouette girl (and the saying) in Early Espresso. Oh, and the big detail work... I used the white gel pen on the eggs to bring them back to white! They are pretty cool in person though - the white sorta pops!

Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Bold Fun Flowers Birthday!

I needed a card for my sister's birthday this weekend, and I usually go pretty conservative for her. But since I knew I was just going to get her a gift certificate, I figured I could go BOLD for the card! Got keep something exciting, huh?

I did decide to use the Sketch Challenge from Create with Connie and Mary to help with the card layout. And I made it a 5 1/8" square card - kind of a fun change! I'm not sure what inspired me to go with these colors, Melon Mambo and Concord Crush, but I thought they were kind of a change of pace and fun.

I used the Fun Flowers Big Shot die for the flower parts. And I used the Clearly for You background stamp on the in-between flower layer. I also did lots of sponging with the Concord Crush.

Then I used the Happy Birthday from the Curly Cute set (love those words!). For the flower stem, I just free-handed the cutting. But for the leaves I used the Blossom Petals Punch. I also added some Perfect Polka Dots to the bottom part of the card, and a White Stain knot!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Easter Card for Mailing and my Helper!

Today I didn't have very much time for stamping, but I wanted to get a few quick cards ready to mail for Easter (yep, it's right around the corner!). When I know I'm going to be mailing a card, I usually go pretty simple. And usually not too many extras, like thicker ribbon, bling or buttons... ya know?! (Mostly just because I'm too lazy to go into the post office, wait in line, get it weighed and checked for lumps...)

So this was my quick and flat mailing card! I really like this girly silhouette image from the Easter Blossoms set - she's cute and super easy to stamp! I used the D size acrylic block for the shadow behind her. And I used Seam Binding - great for easy-to-mail cards!


And here's part of why I didn't have as much time for stamping today - Benny got a butch! I took him to the groomer, and he hadn't had a hair cut for almost six months - he was starting to look like a hippie! He probably wasn't too sad about having all that hair on him since the Spring weather still isn't quite here. But I like to get his hair cut really short - he just seems happier, and I think he looks pretty cute, kinda perkier or something!

For those of you that haven't met him yet, Benny's been my little helper since Jessie moved out. He had always been just Jessie's dog, but we've become good friends over the past couple years. He helps me deliver stamp orders, and he even has his own bed in the stamp room now! And most of all he's a good listener when there's no one else home to talk to!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Four Squares of Tiny Teacups

Today I decided to try a couple challenges. I made this card for the Create with Connie and Mary Color Challenge and the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge. I liked it that the sketch and the colors were all chosen, so I just just added a few things and put it together! Sure, just that easy!?! Well, kinda :)

I used the Tiny Teacup stamp, which is a single stamp for $5.95 - what a bargain! The stamp has the teacup and hello below it, but it's easy to stamp each part separately (it has a little space between them).

I added a bitty button with a Pacific Point punch behind it, and of course some linen thread.

For the bow, I knew the tails would be too much, so I made the 'tuck around the back' tails.


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Simplicity with Sponging!

Here's another quick card I made with a masked and sponged background. I was really inspired to make some more cards like this after seeing some of the cards made by Heather T. The technique brings me back to when I first started stamping, but for some reason it feels fresh and new again too! Who knows?? But I like it!

I used the tree from the Thoughts & Prayers set (love that set!) and the thank you is from the Just Believe set. The sponging is done in So Saffron, Peach Parfait, Pumpkin Pie and a little Regal Rose. The stamping is done in Early Espresso.

I know I still love to make cards with lots of texture, layers, bling and all that jazz, but it's so cool to know that you can make a beautiful card with just a half sheet of cardstock, a couple stamps, some sponges and a few colors of ink!


Happy Monday,


Julie

A Little Fun Flower Thanks!

I made a few of these little 3" x 3" thank you's the other day. It's a pretty quick little card. I used Daffodil, Espresso and the Sew Suite papers for the flower layers and the card base. I added a button from the Sew Suite button collection with a tag from the Tiny Tags set. After I added the Fun Flower layers, they pretty much filled the card front!!

Here's a close-up and side view of the flower layers - lots of dimensionals! The white string is a Sneak Peek of new "Baker's Twine" coming in the Summer Mini (coming May 1st).

So I've had the Fun Flower die since it came out, and I absolutely love it, but I haven't wanted to use it with class stuff because it's been on back order. And I really don't want to tease people - you can use mine, but you can't get your own... yet! Anyway, that's just kind of how I think about stuff on back order. But, now it's back in stock (and the ones I had that were on back order came in!! - And that's why I made these little thank you's too!).

So then you might think... well great, but now the Occasions mini is going to be over April 30th. But there will be lots of items that will still be available to order! So before April 30th gets here, you can prioritize the things you NEED! The stamp sets are always a gamble... they may or may not make it to the new catalog in July. So if you want any of the stamps, you probably better get them now. But on the accessories and dies... here you go...

When the Summer Mini starts on May 1st, you'll still be able to order these things. They just won't be pictured in the new Mini.


Have a great Sunday,


Julie

What's Old is New Again!

Alex, my son, needed a way-overdue Thank You card for his uncle. So I'd been on a search for a good masculine card. Even though the set Lovely as a Tree has been around for forever, I still think it makes some of the best "everybody" kind of cards (masculine and feminine, holiday...). - And I still really like it! So I was searching on Splitcoast - and I think I found THE most awesome card ever made with this set! So what did I do? CASE it, of course!!

The original was made by Heather T, and she has some of the most awesome no layer cards I've ever seen. I love to add lots of layers and accessories and smooch and all that stuff, but a good simple, stunning single layer card is just cool too!

Anyway, her card was made with a couple retired colors, so I did change the colors I used. Mine is made with Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive (for the masked and sponged middle). Then I stamped the focal trees and the saying in Early Espresso.

Here you can see that the trees in the background are also stamped in the masked area with Pear and Olive before the mask was taken off.

Kind of funny, but I'm super excited about this card! It's a technique that I've done lots of times, but it's cool to sometimes go back to an old technique and "do it up" again!!

Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

A Pretty Patterned Pentagon Tube!

I got this pattern from Kim Score of Paper Punch Addiction. She was featured on Splitcoaststampers for her pattern on this cute little Pentagon Treat Tube. I'd been thinking about what to use to make and decorate one of these little cuties... and then I decided I wanted to use my Springtime Vintage Papers (You can only get them for a couple more weeks from the Occasions Mini! I want to use mine up though, no more paper hoarding!!).

For the base of the pentagon tube, I used Vanilla cardstock and then embossed it with the Elegant Bouquet folder. You'll see in the tutorial that the measurements for the tube are super easy, and the top and bottom lids - you use the Fancy Flower punch (the secret to the pentagon shape!).

I made mine so that the lid comes off with the ribbon and tag all attached as one! And I filled mine with about ten Hershey's kisses (the cookies 'n cream ones!!). It is a pretty good size.

Here's a top view, just so you can see how the Fancy Flower makes into the Pentagon shape. Just kind of fun to get a different shape!

And I used this To & From Tag, from the single stamp section. It's pretty much a "must-have" stamp! For $6.95, why not? But also, you always need a To & From tag for something!!

I also used the Boho Blossoms punch and some coordinating brads to make some little flowers to add to the tag. I tied the tag on with linen thread, and attached it to the Baja Seam Binding bow. I'm hoping that we still will be able to order the seam binding after the Occasions Mini ends - I'm loving it!! We'll see!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie