Manly Tree

This card just sort of happened. I had not planned to use so many layers. All I did plan on doing was making a manly birthday card. This isn't the exact card we'll be doing for my class on Saturday, but it is very similar. Once it was completed I realized how many layers there were and decided it may intimidate the ladies. Besides, my pal Lorien stopped by yesterday and I showed her my cupcake card and she said, "Geez girl, there are a lot of layers on that!" When you are a demo it is very hard to separate yourself from cards that you really like making (lots of layers and embellishments) and cards that your customers feel they can duplicate. You don't want to scare your customers into thinking that a good card has loads of layers and lots of bling. Besides, that isn't everyone's style anyway! I used the tree from Thoughts and Prayers on this card (I know you have been seeing this image all over the place!) and the Congrats set. Congrats is a Sale-a-bration set you can get for FREE when you place a $50 order. This is a great all purpose set that will stay in my collection for some time! I hope you are having a great day. I hope it's warm where you are. It's not warm here! Snow was falling earlier, enough to coat the ground. I can't wait for spring!

Hip-hippo-ray!

Here is another sample for my class on Saturday. This uses the Sweet Slumber patterned paper that is in the new Stampin' Up! catalog. It isn't very often that I find a pack of paper where I feel the need to purchase more than one pack. As a matter a fact, I think I remember that I have only done that with 3 packs of Stampin' Up!'s designer series paper packs. This is one of those packs I may end up purchasing another package of. I have always liked shades of blue, red and yellow together, so this pack really fits the bill.

The stamp is from Pun Fun and the image was water colored with Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Ruby Red. The ribbon is the SAB Saffron FREEBIE! I'm ashamed to say that I purchased this set nearly a year ago when I was inspired by some cards my friend Robin was creating. (If you haven't seen her stuff, you really need to check out her blog.) This is the FIRST card I have made with this set! She did that to me with Embrace Life as well...I haven't made a darn thing with that set either. Maybe my next class I'll have an Embrace Life card all ready. I could do a Pun Fun card and we could call it a "Spin off a Robin Spinner class"!

I totally CASED this layout from a card in the Splitcoaststampers gallery, the only thing I changed was my designer paper. CASE-ing makes life so much easier!

Stamp Camp On Saturday

I have a birthday card stamp camp this Saturday from 10-2. I didn't sit down until last night to start preparing samples for it, but I got three of them done, which is pretty quick! So, to start off we may as well make the first sample scream birthday! How about this...does this scream birthday?? This sample uses the set Crazy for Cupcakes and started out being Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery (for some reason I have used that color combo several times with this set!) but I decided to make it gender neutral so that the ladies who are coming to the class can use this card for anyone that has a birthday coming up. I absolutely LOVE this stamp set, it by far my most favorite birthday set I have ever owned. I will admit that I have mainly used the image you see highlighted (cupcakes on a cupcake stand) and the greeting. I promise to try a card soon that uses the jumbo cupcake!

I used my square punches to really focus in on the small cupcakes. The Bashful Blue panel was wheeled with the matching standard wheel, inked with Bashful Blue ink. I really wanted to use my Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon so I tied it around the middle and added Pumpkin Pie "sprinkles" to the cupcake tops to tie it in. I love the color combo of Real Red, Bashful Blue and Pumpkin Pie. This color combo is one that was in some designer paper last summer. Really fun colors together!

Three Little Words Swap

Here is my final sample in Jami's New Catty Swap. This card uses Bella Rose paper. I really wanted it to be soft and feminine, I think I achieved that. I used the eyelet border punch (because I can't seem to stop using it!). I added the brads because the card just needed something more. I would have used pink pirouette brads if we had any. I'm off to create some more goodies! I have a class this coming Saturday and I need to get my projects designed!

Thoughts and Prayers...

Another favorite from the new catalog! This was my second submission for Jami's swap. I used the eyelet border punch as well...I don't know which I like better, the scallop edge or the eyelet edge. Hmmm....I have heard several people say that they are getting sick of the scallops. I don't know if I'll ever get sick of scallops but I am enjoying the even more feminine look of the eyelet border.

Another Jami Swap

A new catalog means a new swap with Jami. This is one of my submissions. As soon as I saw the Trendy Trees set, I knew I had to have it! I don't know what it is about it, but it is so cute! Paired with the Sweet Slumber paper and I'm in love! This card has lots of layers but it wasn't difficult. The only thing you need to remember with this set is that the Stamp-a-ma-jig helps ALOT!! I continue to be sad that this beautiful Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon will be retiring this summer. It matches the Ruby Red ink and paper so well! Maybe they'll keep it and just re-name it "Ruby Red Taffeta". A girl can dream right?